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2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 3

The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.

Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 11-20 this season.

If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.

Mason McTavish

2025-26 was a very mixed bag for McTavish. He missed the start of training camp due to a contract dispute, but got off to a hot start in October and November while playing on a line with fellow youngsters Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke.

However, the second half of his season was a bit more inconsistent. Some of that can be attributed to being split up from Gauthier and Sennecke, but McTavish was also given the opportunity to fill in as the top line center while Leo Carlsson was recovering from surgery to remove a Morel-Lavallée lesion and still wasn't able to produce consistently, even with the increased ice time.

An upper-body injury in late January sidelined McTavish for six games, and things didn't get much better for him upon his return as he managed just 11 points in the final 26 games of the regular season. A shift to the wing and a couple of healthy scratches in mid-March and twice during the playoffs have caused trade rumors to crop up this summer.

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Rumor Roundup: 6/19/26

With McTavish under contract for five more years, this situation feels much different from what transpired last June, when Trevor Zegras was dealt for the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Poehling. Moving on from McTavish now would signal that general manager Pat Verbeek does not believe McTavish is capable of being the Ducks' 2C behind Leo Carlsson. 2025 10th overall pick Roger McQueen may get a look during training camp this fall, but it's unfair to expect him to come in right away and have an immediate impact like Sennecke did last October.

Mikael Granlund is more than capable of acting as a second line center, but he is 33 and missed 24 games this past season due to various injuries. The aforementioned Poehling can also fill in in a pinch, but is more suited for a third line role on a perennial playoff contender, which the Ducks hope to be moving forward.

Improving his foot speed and defensive habits are two focus points that McTavish touched on during his exit interview in May. A faster, more defensively-inclined McTavish, while maintaining his offensive abilities, would dissuade any worries that have started.

Jansen Harkins

When Harkins signed a two-year contract with the Ducks on the second day of Free Agent Frenzy in 2024, not much was made of it. It appeared to be a simple signing to strengthen the Ducks' AHL depth. But just four games into the regular season, Harkins was recalled by the Ducks after Frank Vatrano returned home for the birth of his second child. After being sent down following that game, Harkins was again recalled 11 games later and remained on the NHL roster for the rest of the season.

Harkins likely would have been on the 2025-26 opening night roster if he hadn't suffered an upper-body injury during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. He missed a month with the injury before returning to the NHL roster and was a regular fixture in the bottom-6 up until December. He, along with Nikita Nesterenko, was a healthy scratch for almost the entire month.

May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) shoots and scores an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) shoots and scores an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Upon his re-insertion into the lineup on Dec. 22, Harkins once again became a regular in the bottom-6 before suffering a hand injury in late March. Hand surgery ruled him out for a minimum of four weeks and he didn't return to game action until Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Harkins is a pending UFA and, at his best, is a reliable depth forward who forechecks well, brings energy and can play on the penalty kill. He is also capable of playing all three forward positions. His price tag shouldn't be too high in the event of a return, but there are also several players from AHL San Diego who need to get NHL action at some point or be moved on from (Ex: Nathan Gaucher).

Ryan Poehling

As mentioned above, Poehling was acquired from the Flyers in the Trevor Zegras deal and demonstrated his ability to be a jack of all trades during his first season with the Ducks. He began the season as the team's fourth line center, but was elevated to the third line after Granlund suffered a lower-body injury eight games into the season.

Granlund's return in November ironically coincided with Poehling being sidelined due to a back injury. He missed seven games with the injury before returning, but continued to nurse it throughout the season. Poehling continued to provide secondary scoring in his role as a bottom-6 forward, even getting elevated to the second line for a bit in February. His stellar debut season with the Ducks was good enough to earn him a four-year contract extension, which was signed on Mar. 5. His contract carries an AAV of $3.75 million.

Depending on how things shake out with McTavish this summer, Poehling will likely be the Ducks' third line center next season. He is a vital part of the penalty kill, forming a tandem with Alex Killorn on the top unit. His season came to a premature end after he was on the receiving end of a violent hit from defenseman Brayden McNabb in Game 5 of their playoff series against the Golden Knights. Poehling has a history of concussions, so there was concern about the after-effects. Fortunately, the Ducks announced in their season-ending injury report that Poehling did not have any lingering symptoms.

Jeff Viel

Another player whose addition to the roster initially received mixed reactions, Viel was acquired from the Boston Bruins on Jan. 16 for a 2026 fourth-round pick and made his Ducks debut the very next day against the Kings. He did his best to have an immediate impact, fighting Samuel Helenius in the first period. He would then have three points (two goals) in the next three games, quickly endearing himself to the Anaheim faithful.

A gritty forward, Viel found himself playing all over the lineup, with head coach Joel Quenneville finding plenty of ways to deploy him. But Viel saved his best for last. For the first round of the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, Quenneville chose to run a line of Viel, Tim Washe and defenseman-turned-forward Ian Moore against one of the NHL's best players in Connor McDavid. Their job would be suppressing the Oilers star as best as they could, and they did quite well. Viel also had two big goals in Games 3 and 4, both of which the Ducks won. His impact wasn't as profound in the Vegas series, but he did provide two assists, with both again coming in Anaheim victories.

Viel is also a pending UFA and finds himself in uncharted territory after setting a new career high in games played. His sandpaper style of play is attractive to many teams and his performance on the national stage surely will not go unnoticed. It's possible that he prices himself out of the Ducks' price range thanks to those performances.

Related articles:

Troy Terry to Miss 5-6 Months Following Surgery

The NHL Buyout Window is now Open, Anaheim Ducks May Need to Use It

Report: Defenseman John Carlson will not Re-Sign with Anaheim Ducks, Set to Hit UFA Market on July 1

Former Anaheim Ducks Goaltender Frederik Andersen is a Stanley Cup Champion

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Report: Canadiens Not Among Teams Pursuing Rangers Star Center

The Montreal Canadiens are in need of an upgrade at their second-line center spot. Because of this, they have been viewed as a potential fit for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, who is one of the NHL's top trade candidates.

While Trocheck would have the potential to be a nice pickup for Montreal's 2C spot, it appears that he is not on the Canadiens' radar.

According to The Athletic's Vincent Z. Mercogliano, the Canadiens are not among the teams targeting Trocheck this off-season.

"Many of the teams believed to have interest are the same as The Athletic reported in March, but others have emerged as potential suitors in recent weeks. The Montreal Canadiens are not one of them, according to a league source, who noted there has been no contact between the two clubs about Trocheck," Mercogliano wrote. 

With this update, it seems very unlikely that the Canadiens will be the landing spot for Trocheck this off-season. While the Pittsbrgh, Pennsylvania native could be a nice pickup in theory for the Habs, he is also 32 years old, and the Rangers want a lot for him in a move. Due to this, it would make sense for the Canadiens to explore other options who would be a long-term fit on their roster. 

In 67 games this past season with the Blueshirts, Trocheck had 16 goals, 37 assists, and 53 points. 

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First of all, Jose Alvarado got to get paid

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: Jose Alvarado is seen outside City Hall at the New York Knicks ticker-tape parade on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

Just when we thought everything was rosy and the Knicks were on their way to never dealing with a loss for the remainder of eternity, things went south, or at least a bit southwest.

First, it was James Dolan who dropped the bomb right before a historic ticker-tape parade took place in the Canyon of Heroes, making it very clear—albeit we’re still debating whether or not he knows what he’s talking about—he’s not interested in pushing his franchise into the second apron for the 2026-27 season.

That, of course, comes with the consequence of, inevitably, losing one—if not both—of unrestricted free agents Mitchell Robinson and Jose Alvarado.

And hey, the Boricua is reasonably and completely understandably saying what we would all say as he approaches free agency, having a player option in his deal worth $4.5 million, but likely having suitors with more dough waiting on the wings.

Alvarado appeared on The Breakfast Club and revealed his early-offseason plans, as well as discussing many other interesting stuff. This is what he said when asked if, after winning the championship, he still has the chip on his shoulder and how he’s getting ready to get his first big contract.

“Hell yeah, I got it. First of all, I got to go get paid. Hopefully, God willing (I’ll get the big deal). I want to be in this for a long time. I love this life, I love the NBA life. It feeds my family and it puts me in rooms where I can never be at. I’m here with y’all, you know what I’m saying? So, I got to work.

“I always made my way. So, it was always like, ‘Yo, every time I got to come here, I got to prove to myself.’ And that’s what my life is about, and that’s fine with me, though.”

Did Alvarado say he’s leaving? Nope. Did Dolan hint at not paying him, not at least as much as he might deserve and want? You bet.

So, there’s that. What do you think about the free-agency situation? Will Dolan relent and let Leon Rose cook his way? Will he put the clamps on the FO and limit their operation, bringing a sudden-and-sad end to the Knicks’ winning team? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Giants-Marlins Series Preview: The Marlins’ best hitter was (briefly) a Giant

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 17: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 12-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You probably don’t remember the hiccup in time when infielder Otto Lopez was a San Francisco Giant, but it did happen. For 5 weeks or so, the team had a 25-year old second baseman who had hit .300/.365/.413 in 2,255 minor league plate appearances. Then, they designated him for assignment and he was claimed by the Marlins. Since then, he’s hit .275/.322/.395 across 2+ seasons (1,343 plate appearances) and with some well above average defense has amassed 7.8 fWAR. This year, he’s playing at an All-Star level: .336/.368/.473 (132 wRC+), 2.9 fWAR. He’s been exactly as valuable as Luis Arraez, but was this another miss by the previous front office?

You know, it’s pretty interesting to chart how we got to the “Aw, geez, I’m just trying to figure it out; baseball is hard” dynamic of the current front office. A general disgust and distrust of computer numbers and “phantom” value, certainly some anti-Dodger sentiment mixed in, and the inability to find a proper post-Bochy figurehead in the dugout; but mainly, the missteps and misfires piled up. I think six seasons was good and plenty for that experiment, but I’m starting to wonder if Buster Posey & Zack Minasian are simply speedrunning the Zaidi era.

Both Posey & Zaidi were both wiz kids in their respective areas of the industry. Both hired similarly inexperienced GMs to work under them. Both hired new managers after their first season on the job — those managerial choices were extremely controversial (for wholly different reasons, of course). Those managers were both well-groomed and appearance-focused. They both were prone to word salad. They both ticked off beat writers and fans alike for basically the same reason. Their managerial choices were somewhat inscrutable, though Gabe Kapler’s strategizing worked out more often than Vitello’s has. But, Buster has undermanaged and understrategized with the roster while Zaidi overmanaged and overstrategized. Both have had managers receive their vote of confidence only to see that manager lose control of the clubhouse (or, in Vitello’s case, never really seem to have had it at all). The key difference might be the upcoming minor league talent, which appears to be thriving a lot more under the new regime.

I mention all this because the Miami Marlins, led by Peter Bendix as the President of Baseball Operations, and now Gabe Kapler as their GM, seem to be what it would’ve looked like if the Zaidi era had gone right. A steady stream of important trades and savvy waiver & rule 5 pickups coalescing into a scrappy team that doesn’t cost much but stays competitive. Part of that is “analytics,” sure, but I’m not blind to the Marlins having a lot of useful inventory to sell over the years and get back some quality, well-scouted (both by human scouts and data analysts) major league talent. Their primary starting lineup does not scream home grown:

C —1st round pick (2021)
1B — Acquired in trade with Orioles for Trevor Rogers (2024)
2B — Acquired in trade with Rays for a pair of minor leaguers (2022)
3B — International free agent signing (2019)
SS — Waiver claim (2024)
LF — Acquired in trade with Orioles for Trevor Rogers (2024)
CF — Acquired in trade with Padres for Luis Arraez (2024)
RF — Acquired in trade with Cubs for Edward Cabrera (2026)
DH — Rule 5 pick (2024)

For this, the Marlins have a middle of the pack lineup (97 wRC+). I didn’t look at the pitching side, but that’s the 10th best in MLB heading into this series. If you’re the Marlins, you need to be able to stay on top of the roster by constantly reinventing it, but if you’re the Giants, all you really have to do — and, it’s not easy, as they’ve shown — is build a roster that is then supplemented by free agents rather than need to rely on them. A quick comparison.

C — Rule 5 pick (2025)
1B — Acquired in trade with the Red Sox for a bunch of dudes (2025)
2B — Free agent (2026)
3B — Free agent (2024)
SS — Free agent (2024)
LF — 2nd round pick (2020)
CF — Gilbert: trade, Bader: free agent
RF — Free agent (2023)
DH — 1st round pick (2023)

Of course, the real comparison point is the results. Since Buster Posey took over, the Giants are 112-124. The Marlins over this same span are just 116-121. Well, okay, that’s not right. The other comparison point is the cost. The Giants have committed $376.2 million since the start of last season while the Marlins have only committed $144.7 million. There’s also a bit more of a lottery ticket/upside play going on with the roster — and if any of the younger players really blossom, they become trade bait that can help refresh the system and the cycle can start anew.

Has the Marlins’ approach been better? Hard to say. But the Giants have been penny wise and pound foolish. Ditching the thought of Kevin Gausman only to spend a lot more money finding a #2 starter. Their inability to draft, develop, or acquire younger players has necessitated resorting to free agency again and again.

But this ship has sailed. The Giants have turned away from the analytical approach and the notion of building a roster from the bottom up — unless, of course, Randy Winn has really transformed the Giants’ farm system into a real winner, because that would really be nice, and there wouldn’t have to be much too much consternation when a player leaves the Giants and is productive elsewhere.

Who: San Francisco Giants (31-43) at Miami Marlins (37-38)
Where: loanDepot park | Miami, Florida
When: Friday at 4:10pm PT, Saturday at 1:10pm PT, Sunday at 10:40am PT
National broadcasts: None

Projected starters
Friday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-7, 4.24 ERA) vs. Lake Bachar (RHP 0-0, 2.97 ERA)
Saturday: Trevor McDonald (RHP 2-4, 4.64 ERA) vs. Max Meyer (RHP 7-0, 2.75 ERA)
Sunday: Logan Webb (RHP 4-4, 3.46 ERA) vs. Ryan Gusto (RHP 0-2, 7.24 ERA)

Players to watch

Marlins

Liam Hicks: In June, he’s been just slightly better than Otto Lopez, posting a 159 wRC+ to Lopez’s 152. He’s done so by hitting for a bit more power (.189 ISO) and a higher on base (.422) thanks to impressive walk and strikeout rates (13.8% and 10.8%, respectively). On the season, he’s hitting .280/.362/.477 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI, a 10.2% walk rate and 9.5% strikeout rate. The Marlins got him in the Rule 5 draft from Detroit. The 27-year old left-handed first baseman/catcher has been another impressive find by the Marlins’ front office.

Kyle Stowers: He was the main piece of the Trevor Rogers deal with the Orioles back in 2024 and quickly became their middle of the lineup hitter, posting an impressive .912 OPS last season in 457 PA. He started this year on the IL and got off to a fast start (6-for-his-first-15), but it was a rough April and May after those first four games (.198/.276/.331 in 134 PA). However, in June, he’s picked it back up, with a line of .241/.323/.537 in 63 PA. He’s hit 4 homers and driven in 16 over this span, too. He has an .841 career OPS against the Giants, too (44 PA).

Lake Bachar: Don’t be fooled by the name. He might sound like a sixth-billed sitcom star from the 80s, but he has swing-and-miss stuff throughout his arsenal. A ~95 mph four-seamer hitters have just a .190 BA against; a 2,669 rpm slider with a 45.5% Whiff rate, a similarly wipeout sweeper, a curveball that has a 37.5% whiff rate, a splitter, and a sinker. He’s basically a reliever, but because the Marlins have two starters on the IL (Janson Junk and Eury Perez), they’ve resorted to opener/bullpen game situations, and you can see how this arsenal makes him a perfect option. This month, Bachar has appeared in 5 games, starting 3 of them, and in 10.2 innings combined he’s struck out 13, walked 3, allowed just 3 hits and a run (0.84 ERA / 1.78 FIP).

Giants

Jung Hoo Lee: .364/.391/.364 in 6 games (23 PA) at loanDepot park and in the last calendar month (so, since May 17th; 80 PA) he’s hitting .468/.475/.597 with a homer, a triple, 5 doubles, 3 stolen bases, just 1 walk (oof), but only 3 strikeouts.

Luis Arraez: .349/.385/.454 in 105 games (446 PA) at loanDepot park is a good sign, I think. Also, in the last calendar month (so, since May 17th; 129 PA), he’s hitting .339/.362/.513 with a pair of homers, 4 triples, and 6 doubles. He spent about 7 months in a Marlins uniform but was an All-Star for them in 2023 (.354/.393/.469 over the whole season). Chances are he’ll be the Giants’ sole representative this season… unless he’s traded before the All-Star Game.

Logan Webb: He certainly looks like he’s returned to form after that IL stint. He’s made just 2 starts in his career at loanDepot park (yes, the ‘p’ in park is lower case), but they came in 2022 & 2023; so, is his 6.35 ERA in 11.1 innings a portent or a fluke? The Giants are hoping for the latter, of course, and Miami’s middle of the pack strikeout rate and high groundball rate for a lineup (43.8% — 5th in MLB) certainly suggests that a Logan Webb who’s on point will be setup to have another great game.

Prediction time

This section sure has gone off the rails, hasn’t it? I blame myself, of course, but it would be nice if I could put a poll down here in place of any rambling narrative I think up at the last minute, don’t you think? Anyway, the Giants took 2 out of 3 from the Marlins back in April, which seems impossible given how bad the team has been this season, and the Giants have also taken the series in Miami the last two seasons, which also seems impossible, given how tough the Marlins have been on the Giants, historically.

Yhe Marlins are running out two relievers to stanch the bleeding in their rotation, but they’re also 23-16 at home this season with a +30 run differential. Hmm. But the Giants also have their two best starters going in the series, and even if one of them is unsalvageable bigot, I’ll still say the Giants manage to win the series.

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A center with ‘fantastic' hockey sense could give Flyers option to trade down

A center with ‘fantastic' hockey sense could give Flyers option to trade down originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in a while, the Flyers are coming off a playoff run.

That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.

But that was when the Flyers drafted a foundation piece, grabbing Tyson Foerster at 23rd overall.

So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.

“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”

After the recent trade with the Maple Leafs, the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.

“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, with six coming over the first two rounds. Porter Martone was their headliner at sixth overall. Now the Flyers will try to hit on a pick in the 20s.

“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).

“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Egor Shilov

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 177
Shoots: Left
Team: Victoriaville

Scouting report

Shilov is highly skilled and under control when the puck is on his stick. He’ll survey the ice and generate offense with creativity. He also possesses a sneaky shot.

“I feel like he’s best when he plays the game a little slower and he can slow things down and make those right decisions,” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Because he doesn’t make a lot of bad decisions. Like, I think his hockey sense is actually fantastic and I think he’s a really good playmaker.”

The 18-year-old Russian led all QMJHL rookies with 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 63 games for Victoriaville. He had two hat tricks and a pair of five-point performances.

“When he goes 1-on-1, he doesn’t really miss many plays, he doesn’t make many mistakes,” Ellis said. “He can go up there and he’ll pull off a quick move and defensemen seem to really struggle with that.”

Shilov’s methodical pace may elicit concerns from NHL teams. Will he be able to make plays through contact and with far less time and space? Can he do it along the boards? The QMJHL is geared toward offense and open ice.

“He’s afraid of going anywhere near a physical player,” Ellis said. “He does really shy away from that. I think there are just points where I want to see him make plays at a higher speed and quicker. … The real question is did he get a lot of points this year because he’s a good player or did he get a lot of points because he was playing against lower than average QMJHL defensemen? I think that’s what makes it interesting.”

But Shilov is pretty sound in his two-way approach. He won 54.8 percent of his faceoffs and had a minus-11 rating on a team that sported a minus-69 goal differential. He’s the 26th-ranked player on Ellis’ final top-120 draft board.

“He has got the ability to shut down guys when he really wants to; it’s just being able to do that every single time,” Ellis said. “The one name that gets thrown around a lot is you’re hoping he kind of has a Matvei Gridin development where he has got that talent and if he could just show it every shift.”

Gridin went to the Flames at 28th overall in 2024. He had 20 points in 37 games for Calgary this season.

Shilov is No. 18 on Button’s June 17 list and No. 26 on EliteProspects.com. Among North Americans (because he played in the QMJHL), he’s No. 19 on NHL Central Scouting.

(Alex Garneau/Victoriaville Tigres)

Fit with Flyers

If the Flyers like Shilov and they feel he’s a reach at No. 21, they could trade back to grab him later in the first round. Considering the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, it would give them an opportunity to gain another one.

Shilov plays a premium position and the Flyers could use more options down the middle in their system. He’d also be able to relate to Matvei Michkov and potentially play on his line in the future.

But it’s fair to wonder if the Flyers will target a player with more speed and size to his game.

More targets

• Could Lawrence’s early jump to college have him fall to Flyers in draft?

• Will Flyers eye 6-foot-4 forward with ‘goal-scoring hands’ at No. 21?

• Palmieri ‘type of player’ may be available for Flyers at No. 21 in draft

• Russian center with pro build has interesting case for Flyers at No. 21

• Lin has ‘Brandon Montour profile,’ but will he be there for Flyers at No. 21?

• D-man with ‘unbelievable maturity to his game’ could be option for Flyers at No. 21

• ‘Second-line center all day long’ should intrigue Flyers in draft

• ‘This kid is a hell of a player’ — Flyers could draft 45-goal, 104-point winger

• Is Novotny, a winger that’s ‘so dangerous around the net,’ a fit for Flyers?

• A Drysdale type of defenseman for the Flyers at No. 21 in the draft?

• Another OHL first-rounder for Flyers? Klepov, with 97 points, has tons of appeal

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3-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews announces his retirement

Jonathan Toews

Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews (19) reacts to a call during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes in Chicago, Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.

The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.

Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.

He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.

Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.

His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.

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Penguins Hire Ron Francis For Front Office Role

It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins are adding a franchise icon to their front office staff.

On Friday, president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas announced that the team has named Ron Francis as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations. According to the press release from the Penguins, Francis will "assist the Penguins' hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes to help further implement best practices within the organization."

He will also support the minor league and player development staff, and he will play an advisor role in next week's NHL Entry Draft as well as free agency, training camp, and the trade deadline. 

"Ron's playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to our organization and all members of our management team," Dubas said in the press release. "We look forward to having a person of Ron's experience and character in our front office as we continue to work to build the Penguins back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender."

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Francis's NHL career resume speaks for itself, as the two-time Stanley Cup champion finished his 23-year NHL career with 549 goals and 1,798 points, which ranks fifth all-time. He spent eight seasons with the Penguins from 1990-98, winning both of his Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and notching the best season of his NHL career in 1995-96 with 119 points. 

He is a three-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (1995, 1998, 2002) and also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2001-02 as well as the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 1994-95.

Most recently, Francis was with the NHL's newest team, the Seattle Kraken, starting in 2019 as their general manager and as their president of hockey operations in 2025-26. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a member of the the Carolina Hurricanes' front office staff from 2006-2018.

What Should The Penguins Do With Their 22nd Overall Pick? Here's The Case For Each Scenario.What Should The Penguins Do With Their 22nd Overall Pick? Here's The Case For Each Scenario.The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially eight days away, and speculation is beginning to run rampant for a lot of teams. Trade rumors are flying high. Draft boards are populating social media and various substack sites. Names are circulating like crazy.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

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Exeter threaten Northampton’s title ambitions in final where underdogs thrive

Despite finishing third in the regular season table Exeter Chiefs are confident they can cause an upset at Twickenham

Prem finals do not always unfold as anticipated. Six of the last seven editions have been settled by six points or fewer and favourites are not guaranteed to have it their own way. Remember Freddie Burns’ late drop-goal to edge Leicester past Saracens in 2022? Or Harlequins coming from behind against Exeter the previous year? In Twickenham’s summer heat – it’s uncanny how often the weather plays ball – the best of plans can easily go awol.

In 2024 Bath were undone after Beno Obano’s first-half red card and 12 months ago Michael Cheika’s Leicester came within a couple of points of causing a big upset. The common denominator? Finals can be unpredictable occasions and, under pressure, what looked a dead cert last week becomes as relevant as last year’s lottery numbers.

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LeBron James and Steph Curry together is the thrill ride NBA fans need next season

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows LeBron James (Lakers) dribbling the ball while Stephen Curry (Warriors) defends him, Image 2 shows LeBron James and Stephen Curry smiling at each other on a basketball court, Image 3 shows LeBron James and Stephen Curry celebrating their Olympic gold medal win for Team USA

LeBron James should go to the Warriors. 

Hear me out. 

Yes, his family is rooted in Los Angeles. He’d be able to earn more money with the Lakers than with Golden State or Cleveland. And if he remained with the purple and gold, he’d finish his career with the franchise for which he played the most consecutive seasons and carried to its first championship in 10 years in 2020. 

LeBron James teaming up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the Bay Area would make for a thrilling season in the NBA. Getty Images

But if you listen to James’ words, he has made it clear he’s only going to keep playing if he remains excited to show up to arenas five hours before games. If he’s still committed to putting in the type of work that has allowed him to remain a superstar into his 40s. 

What would excite him more than joining forces with Steph Curry and Draymond Green? 

James going to the Warriors feels so wrong that it feels right. 

Longtime rivals but also good friends, Curry and James would become instant must-watch TV next season for Golden State. Getty Images

He faced them in four straight Finals when he was with the Cavaliers. They were the mountain he had to climb to overcome a 3-1 series deficit before leading the Cavaliers to their first championship in 2016. Curry and Green commanded his respect more than anyone in the modern NBA. They were his nemeses. 

They’ve since become something else to him. 

In an episode of “The Shop” in 2022, James said if he could play alongside anyone in the league it would be Curry. 

As for Green, James recently told the California Post that he’s his “brother.” When Green was asked if he ever dreamed of joining forces with James, he told this publication, “I’ve always wanted to.”

The thought of James playing alongside Curry and Green would be thrilling. It would be the revenge of the old men who refuse to age. 

Curry can still shoot the lights out. James can still single-handedly carry a team in a playoff series, as we witnessed in the first round against Houston in April. Green would give Victor Wembanyama a run for his money as the best defender in the league if he truly believed he had another shot at winning a championship. (Just look at what Green did against Kawhi Leonard in the Warriors’ play-in game against the Clippers in April.)

That trio would be exciting. It would be fascinating. It would infuse all of their careers with a newfound sense of purpose. 

Despite a long and physical history with one another, James and green are also extremely close friends off the court. NBAE via Getty Images

There’s something that feels stale about James returning to the Lakers.

He watched the purple and gold become Luka Doncic’s team after they acquired him in a blockbuster trade in Feb. 2025. He slipped to being the third offensive option this season, behind Doncic and Austin Reaves. 

Did he make it work? Of course. The Lakers went 16-2 last spring.

But there’s something unnatural about watching someone who has been a circle all his life jam himself into a square peg, even if he’s good enough to shape shift. 

While Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss have both said they’d love for James to finish his career in Los Angeles, it’s obvious they’re looking forward. It’s equally obvious that James has felt disrespected at times. 

The two greatest players of their generation teaming up for one more NBA Finals run against the next generation would be something never seen before. Getty Images

Things would be different in Golden State. 

Instead of placing their hopes on a young hotshot, they’re still looking at the rearview mirror. They’re trying to make that view relevant again. They’re celebrating it. 

They’re trying to extend Curry’s championship window. They’ve made it clear they still believe in Green. If James joined the Warriors, he’d still get the respect of being arguably the greatest player of all-time, instead of being reduced to taking a supporting role. 

He’d still be him. He’d be playing alongside the greatest shooter of all-time. Neither of them would have an ego when it comes to one another. Just look at the 2024 Olympic team, when James won MVP but Curry played hero. It just worked. They genuinely celebrated each other. They won gold together. 

If James remains in LA, things are going to get muddy. 

There’s no way the Lakers are going to offer James (who made $52.6 million last season) a maximum contract extension. The problem is he’s still playing like a maximum contract player. 

The Lakers would likely offer James something in the $20 to $30 million range, while trying to retain Austin Reaves and building out their roster around Doncic. That would be a tough pill to swallow for a player who resuscitated the franchise after it missed the playoffs six straight seasons. 

Having long wanted to play with one another, Curry and James led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in one of the greatest basketball games of all time. AFP via Getty Images

The Warriors currently have even less money to offer James: The $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. But somehow that feels like less of a slight. There’s no history there. James would be choosing a massive salary cut instead of begrudgingly accepting one from a team he poured himself into over the last decade. 

Sure, James would be leaving a lot of money on the table, an anathema for a guy who has been famously opposed to doing that sort of thing in the past. 

But it would also mean a fresh start. A new challenge. A new purpose. 

The four-time champion would join forces with players who have won four championships. James, Curry and Green have some of the sharpest basketball minds in the league. They’d form a supercharged think tank together with unknown capabilities. 

It would be the geriatrics against the young bucks. It would be must-watch television. The three of them would deeply have something to prove. 

There would hardly be an adjustment period. 

James has studied Curry’s and Green’s games over four championship rounds. They’ve earned their PhDs on him. They probably know each other better than any of their current teammates.

Green and James have long talked about playing with one another, and could now be on the verge of making that a reality. Getty Images

James has earned the right to do whatever the heck he wants. He has shattered nearly every record in the books. He has arguably had the greatest career of any athlete ever. His longevity is unprecedented. 

On paper, returning to the Lakers makes the most sense. 

But now’s not the time to play it safe. If he doesn’t retire, this will be his final hurrah. Why not put everything on the line? Why not do something that will light a fire under him? Why not go after what could be most fun?

James’ goal was to become the first player in NBA history to play alongside his son, Bronny. He accomplished that. It’s time for Bronny to spread his wings. And it’s time for James to try and soar one last time. 

James going to the Warriors would be the ultimate candy for a fanbase that wants to see the faces of the league thrive before the league moves on. It would be a defibrillator for James’ mind.

It would be a new final chapter. 

Instead of the same tired story, it would be a must read.

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The Phillies are owning the lousy and mediocre

Jun 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) celebrates with teammates hits a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Phillies 3-9 record against the current three NL division leaders — Braves, Dodgers and Brewers — tells a pretty clear story.

Those three clubs are all significantly better than Philadelphia.

It was clear to see on the field in the two series against Atlanta, the series in Los Angeles and in the Phils’ trip to Milwaukee.

Here is how the Phils have fared against clubs currently holding down a playoff spot in the National League:

  • Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2)
  • Atlanta Braves (1-5)
  • Milwaukee Brewers (1-2)
  • San Diego Padres (6-0)
  • Washington Nationals (2-1)

That’s a collective 11-10 record, although more than half of those victories came against one team, the Padres.

If you factor in the American League playoff teams they’ve played, it looks like this:

  • Chicago White Sox (2-1)
  • Cleveland Guardians (1-2)
  • Athletics (2-1)

That would improve their record against current playoff teams to 16-14, 10-14 against teams not called the San Diego Padres.

Where the Phillies are doing real damage is against everyone else, which, makes a lot of sense.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks (1-2)
  • Boston Red Sox (2-1)
  • Cincinnati Reds (1-2)
  • Colorado Rockies (4-2)
  • Miami Marlins (5-1)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates (3-0)
  • San Francisco Giants (4-2)
  • Texas Rangers (1-2)
  • Toronto Blue Jays (2-1)

They’ve gone 23-13 against teams that currently do not hold a playoff spot. The Marlins came to town this week and the Phils bludgeoned them by a combined score of 15-2 in the first two games until Miami beat up on a now-demoted rookie starting pitcher, Andrew Painter.

Here’s the good news. The schedule look mighty nice heading into next month’s All Star break.

  • 3 vs. NY Mets (33-41)
  • 4 @ Washington Nationals (39-36)
  • 3 @ NY Mets
  • 4 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (37-37)
  • 3 @ Kansas City Royals (30-45)
  • 3 @ Cincinnati Reds (35-38)
  • 3 @ Detroit Tigers (30-44)

Over their next 23 games, they play four games against teams with a winning record, next week in DC against the Nats. Their opponents have a combined record of 204-241 and a winning percentage of .458. The Phillies have a better record than all of them.

It’s a recipe for the success they’ve experienced since Don Mattingly took over as skipper to continue into the All Star Break.

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The World’s Game: Mariners vs. Red Sox Series Preview

Boston, MA - May 13: Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela wears the Wally the Green Monster head after hitting a home run in the sixth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on May 13, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Even with the returns of Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford, the Mariners continue to be beset by injuries. Julio Rodriguez was held out of Thursday’s game with a minor hamstring injury and Luke Raley missed the entire series against the Orioles thanks to the flu. Somehow, the only part of the team that hasn’t been affected by injury is the starting rotation. We’ll see the return of the piggybacking strategy this weekend to alleviate the issues the six-man rotation caused over the last few weeks.

GameTimeMariners StarterRed Sox StarterMariners Win%Red Sox Win%
Game 1Friday, June 19 | 7:10 pmRHP Bryce Miller / RHP Luis CastilloLHP Ranger Suarez52.3%47.7%
Game 2Saturday, June 20 | 7:10 pmRHP Emerson HancockLHP Connelly Early53.4%46.6%
Game 3Sunday, June 21 | 1:10 pmRHP Logan GilbertLHP Payton Tolle57.4%42.6%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewMarinersRed SoxEdge
Batting (wRC+)104 (3rd in AL)90 (15th in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)-18 (14th)16 (1st)Red Sox
Starting Pitching (FIP-)89 (3rd)99 (8th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)92 (5th)90 (4th)Red Sox

The Red Sox entered this season looking like one of the stronger teams in the AL East. They had navigated an awkward transition away from their older core, graduated a bunch of top prospects in 2025, and brought in a bunch of talented players during the offseason. Things quickly went off the rails. Manager Alex Cora was fired at the end of April after the team had limped to a 10-17 start to the season. Injuries to Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony further depleted the talent on the roster and the lineup has been one of the most punchless in baseball. Things have gone so bad in Boston, the team is already considering selling at the trade deadline despite the gross mediocrity plaguing the entire American League.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Mickey GasperDHS10319.4%6.8%0.07583
Ceddanne RafaelaCFR27220.2%5.1%0.163116
Wilyer AbreuRFL30719.9%8.5%0.152106
Willson Contreras1BR29226.0%9.2%0.253153
Jarren DuranLFL29729.0%6.7%0.18076
Caleb Durbin3BR22914.0%5.7%0.13053
Isiah Kiner-Falefa2BR13213.6%9.1%0.08496
Marcelo MayerSSL20817.8%7.7%0.08661
Connor WongCR92228.0%8.7%0.101103

It turns out, it’s really difficult to replace superstars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers. Those players were shipped out of Boston in the name of payroll flexibility, but the team has done an extremely poor job of replacing that talent on their roster. The result is an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the AL with a 90 wRC+. Sure, Roman Anthony was supposed to be a core piece in the lineup, and he has missed more than a month due to a sprained finger, but he had only produced a 91 wRC+ before getting injured. The lone bright spot has been the excellence of Willson Contreras. Acquired from the Cardinals to fill the gaping hole at first base, he’s been one of the best at the position in baseball this year, blasting 16 home runs and running a career high 157 wRC+. 

The real problem for the Red Sox is guys like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Caleb Durbin all taking a hefty step backwards this season. Combined with the lack of development from former top prospect Marcelo Mayer and you can see why the team has struggled to consistently score runs this year.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Ranger Suarez7024.5%7.3%5.8%38.0%3.212.83
Bryce Miller3528.8%4.0%11.1%40.2%1.542.96
Luis Castillo66.221.8%8.4%11.1%37.2%5.004.25
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam19.1%27.5%91.884931210.316
Sinker20.5%41.1%90.696128700.318
Cutter27.1%2.4%88.292661180.299
Changeup17.5%7.3%81.394931050.300
Curveball15.3%16.0%75.51101311580.204
Slider0.4%5.6%78.0

After a stint in Philadelphia where he was constantly overshadowed by the bigger names in the Phillies’ rotation, Ranger Suarez signed a huge five-year, $130 million deal with the Red Sox this offseason. He wasn’t a big name prospect, doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he owns a 3.25 ERA and 15.2 fWAR since joining the starting rotation full time in 2021. Excellent command, a bit of deception, and a deep repertoire all combine to help him run excellent strikeout-to-walk ratios while also limiting the amount of hard contact he allows. His sinker is one of the best in baseball and his curveball provides plenty of whiffs when he really needs to get a strikeout.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Connelly Early75.222.0%8.9%15.7%40.7%3.814.99
Emerson Hancock79.224.0%5.4%12.5%41.5%3.283.80
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam38.9%34.3%93.8104109940.336
Sinker13.7%51.1%92.396103850.354
Changeup24.9%3.4%83.610268780.330
Curveball15.1%3.4%79.910559770.390
Slider7.4%7.7%86.8100
Sweeper0.9%28.3%82.2100

Connelly Early made his big league debut last fall, showcasing strong strikeout stuff with good command. Ranked fourth overall on this year’s Red Sox prospect list, his first full season in the majors has been a little shaky this year. He moved through the minor leagues extremely quickly after being drafted in the fifth round in 2023, so it’s possible his struggles this year are simply normal speed bumps in his development trajectory. He’s got a deep six-pitch repertoire and likes to mix and match his pitch mix to avoid becoming too predictable. He’s got a pair of strong fastballs, an excellent changeup, and a trio of breaking balls to attack batters with.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Payton Tolle58.125.4%6.8%6.4%34.4%2.933.08
Logan Gilbert86.226.6%5.8%12.3%32.9%3.433.79
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam51.7%41.4%96.11261231060.190
Sinker20.4%34.0%95.098941140.394
Cutter14.2%19.9%88.41021051560.240
Changeup4.3%0.0%88.5
Curveball9.4%4.7%82.3120

Payton Tolle raced through the Red Sox farm system last year. After being drafted in 2024, he made his pro debut the following spring and was eventually pitching in the big leagues by the end of the season. His fastball is one of the best in all of baseball; he throws hard from the left side, the pitch has tremendous carry at the top of the zone, and his 6’ 6” frame provides a ton of extension down the mound. His secondary pitches are still a work in progress but his plus plus fastball has enough quality that he can get by without a breaking ball or offspeed pitch. If he ever develops a consistent secondary weapon or two, watch out.

The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Mariners39-370.513—+23L-L-W-L-W
Athletics37-380.4931.5-46L-W-L-L-W
Rangers35-390.4733.0-12L-W-L-L-L
Astros35-410.4614.0-41W-L-L-W-W
Angels30-460.3959.0-44L-L-W-L-L
TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Rays41-300.577+6.0+5L-W-L-L-L
Guardians40-350.533+3.0-7W-W-L-L-W
Blue Jays37-380.493—-13L-L-W-W-W
Athletics37-380.493—-46L-W-L-L-W
Twins36-400.4741.5-24L-W-W-W-W
Rangers35-390.4731.5-12L-W-L-L-L

The Athletics wound up losing their series against the Pirates earlier this week but started off a four-game set against the Angels with a win last night. The Rangers were swept by the Twins, slipping down the Wild Card standings into a tie with Minnesota; Texas hosts the Padres this weekend. The Astros just took two of three from the Tigers and will get an opportunity to affect the AL Central standings even further with a series against the Guardians.

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Yankees Sequence of the Week: Cam Schlittler (6/13)

TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 13: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 13, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees finally conquered one of their personal demons last weekend, winning a series at the Rogers Centre for the first time since September 2023. Principal to their success was the performance of the pitching staff, holding their hosts to just four runs across the final two games. Cam Schlittler was the catalyst for that stretch of shutdown pitching with his seven innings of one-run ball on Saturday to nullify another dominant start against the Yankees from his opponent, Kevin Gausman.

We join Schlittler with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. The score is tied, 1-1, following a Kazuma Okamoto solo shot in the third that Jasson Domínguez canceled out with a clout of his own to lead off the following half-inning — the only hit that Gausman would give up in his seven innings of work. With Domínguez having made it a new ballgame in the top-half and having seen how untouchable Gausman was on this given day, the pressure is on Schlittler to keep putting up zeroes.

However, he’s gotten himself into some trouble with runners on second and third with one out, Brandon Valenzuela drawing a one-out walk and advancing to third on a Yohendrick Piñango double. Schlittler then got Charles McAdoo to line out to pull within an out of escaping the jam. Schlittler could really use a strikeout, but stepping to the plate is a pesky hitter who has always been difficult to punch out in Andrés Giménez.

Schlittler’s typical M.O. against lefties is to attack early with the cutter, hoping to get to two strikes, where he can then target up and away with the four-seamer or up and in with cutters hunting the chase, whiff, and strikeout. True to form, Schlittler starts Giménez with a first pitch cutter up and in at 96 mph.

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Giménez must be hunting something either low in the zone or out over the plate, because he never looks interested in offering at this cutter up and in that catches a lot of the strike zone. It’s still a devilish pitch at 96 and command to that location, and any contact would likely saw Giménez’s bat off at the handle.

Now that Schlittler has show Giménez an in-zone fastball with late movement down and in, he sequences the four-seamer trying to throw it out of the same tunnel as the previous pitch. If he can achieve that, it should look like a cutter that is going to break into the hitting are, only to then hold its vertical plane above the strike zone. The idea is to fool Giménez into chasing and whiffing under a pitch that looks the same as the previous one but does not break the way the hitter is expecting.

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Of course, you actually have to execute to your spot for this strategy to work. Instead, Schlittler sails this four-seamer way above the zone. It’s a classic overthrow and a completely non-competitive pitch that achieves nothing in this encounter with respect to setting up future pitches.

Perhaps Schlittler didn’t like the way that four-seamer felt coming out of the hand, because he goes right back to the cutter with the count 1-1. Giménez was passive against the first one up and in so maybe Schlittler can extract a similar result with similar execution.

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Schlittler commands this cutter to almost the same spot he hit with the first pitch of the AB except just a few inches higher. Interestingly, Giménez does swing this time at a pitch that is much harder to hit than the one he took for strike one. He has no chance of putting this pitch in play and only manages to foul it back with the handle of his bat.

With Giménez now showing a willingness to offer at the high fastball, and with the count to two strikes, all of the momentum is in Schlittler’s favor. The plan has become conveniently simplified: continue to pour in high heaters and let Giménez get himself out.

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This is a perfectly located 1-2 four-seamer. It’s close enough to the zone to extract a chase but high enough to make solid contact almost impossible. Similarly, at 99 mph and in on Giménez’s hands rather than elevated but out over the plate, the hitter has zero time to pull his hands in and somewhat miraculously gets off an emergency hack to fight the pitch off foul and stay alive.

Two fastballs elevated above the zone and two chases — Schlittler simply needs to keep climbing the ladder just one rung higher than the previous pitch and eventually Giménez will be unable to raise his swing high enough to make contact.

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Ask and you shall receive. Schlittler goes incrementally higher with this 96-mph cutter, and at last Giménez can’t adjust. Schlittler gets the swinging strikeout to strand the pair of baserunners in scoring position and hand it over to his offense with the score still knotted at one apiece.

Here’s the full sequence:

This sequence showcased several of Schlittler’s many talents. He has a unique ability to get chases and whiffs in bunches when he throws the four-seamer or cutter above the zone, which in addition to precise command suggests to me that his pitches just don’t move how hitters are expecting them to. We also noted that Schlittler recognized how Gausman was shutting down his teammates, necessitating that the likely All-Star be extra precise with his locations whereas he might have been able to attack the zone more freely had he been pitching with the lead.

Schlittler by his own admission was not at his sharpest in this game as evidenced by a season-high four walks. Still, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Schlittler held Toronto to just one run across seven strong innings, a feat that very few starters in today’s game are capable of producing. I sometimes find myself falling into the trap of taking Schlittler’s ability for granted that he can go this deep in the game on a day when he doesn’t have his best stuff and/or command.

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Where to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Yankees: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, June 19

The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fifth in the NL Central with a 35-38 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 45-28 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -285 moneyline compared to the Cincinnati Reds' +225. Starting pitchers are Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati, with a 4.60 ERA, and Cam Schlittler for New York, with a 1.82 ERA.

  • Cincinnati Reds: 35-38 (fifth in NL Central)

  • New York Yankees: 45-28 (first in AL East)

  • Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees -285 / Cincinnati Reds +225

  • Over/Under: 8.5

Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder (3-3, ERA: 4.60, K: 37, WHIP: 1.43)

New York Yankees: Cam Schlittler (7-3, ERA: 1.82, K: 96, WHIP: 0.91)

Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 80°F at first pitch

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Tarris Reed Jr.’s NBA Draft comparisons

After three straight years, it’s becoming a norm for a UConn player to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. The only other schools with that distinction in the last three years? Duke and Baylor, a couple of five-star daycares with questionable methods.

I still remember the delight of hearing James Bouknight’s name called. 

But for the streak to continue, they’ll need teams to fall in love with Tarris Reed Jr or Alex Karaban. Both have been projected as fringe first-rounders, but as we saw with Liam McNeeley last year, draft night comes with a lot of uncertainty. 

Since NBA front offices are obviously reading The UConn Blog Dot Com, here is my sales pitch for Reed. You can read Karaban’s here. Maybe this can push them solidly into the first round.

It Pays to Be Big

I found five comparisons based on combine measurements and play style, three from the current generation and two slightly older ones. Combined, they all reflect a sort of best-case, best-floor comparison.

Pace and space is still a thing in the NBA, but some are bucking the trend. Jumbo lineups — like what Michigan did to UConn in the title game — are starting to enter the picture. If you’re trying to stay ahead of the jumbo curve, may I interest you in a 6 ’10 (barefoot), 260 lb. center with ballerina feet, a 7′ 5 ” wingspan, and feathery touch around the rim?

What if he has above-average passing skills, exceptional switchability, and shot mechanics that indicate potential shooting range later in his career?

With the first comparison, let’s aim high.

The Detroit Pistons were the no. 1 seed in the East in part due to Jalen Duren’s emergence as a space-eating low-post anchor with two-way athleticism. 

That’s the almost unrealistic, peak comparison for Reed Jr. out there right now; he comes into the league and picks up right where he left off in April. His rebounding translates, his defense continues to tighten up, the motor is revving, and he shows he can score over NBA size consistently. That’s a lot of “ifs” but that’s also Jalen Duren-lite.

Duren was a one-and-done at Memphis, and came in with more of a pedigree after reclassing into the 2022 recruiting class as the no. 1 player overall. He was 18 years old when drafted, a mammoth project with unlimited tools. 

Reed’s path was a little longer, featuring a change of scenery and a little senioritis needed to unlock the full potential. After an inconsistent run as a Husky, something clicked for him this past March. All that enticing potential was realized and the staff’s vision was fulfilled. 

It doesn’t matter when the light comes on, as long as they turn on. 

Here are the combine measurements for comparison:

Tarris Reed Jr

Height (Barefoot): 6’9.75”

Weight: 263.6 lbs

Wingspan: 7’4.25”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Standing Vertical: 29.5”

Jalen Duren

Height (without shoes): 6’9.5″ 

Weight: 250 lbs

Wingspan: 7’5″

Standing Reach: 9’1″

Standing Vertical: 37”

Duren’s age and explosiveness make him even more of a freak than Reed Jr, but that’s why he was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was a baby then, and is Tarris’ age now. Duren improved his statistical profile in his first four years, averaging 19.7 ppg and 10.5 rpg last year, earning his first All-Star berth, third-team All-NBA, and defensive player of the year votes.

A team taking Reed isn’t automatically getting the next Jalen Duren. But maybe they’re getting a more NBA-ready, albeit less athletic Jalen Duren. Less ceiling, more polish. Backup big men don’t just fall out of the sky.

Duren is the pie in the sky. Back on earth, can I interest you in a Day’Ron Sharpe comparison?

Sharpe opted out of the combine measurements back in 2021, but the Nets list him at 6 ’10 265, pretty close to Tarris’ measurements. Sharpe was a one-and-done out of North Carolina that fell to Phoenix at pick 29, and promptly traded to the Brooklyn Nets on draft day. He’s been there as a reserve big man, averaging 7 ppg and 6 rpg in 15.5 mpg.

The way Sharpe seals and uses his body is very reminiscent of Reed, except the latter’s post moves are more polished because he’s older. This is probably what scouts see, with Reed’s upside coming from his bullish trajectory and potential to expand his game.

Former Georgetown Hoya Thomas Sorber is another match.

Thomas Sorber 

Height: 6’9.25″

Weight: 262.8 lbs

Wingspan: 7’6.00″

Standing Reach: 9’1.00″

Vertical: 42 inches

Reed is taller, but Sorber is younger and more explosive. He put up nine points and 10 rebounds against UConn in 2025, a game in which Reed played 12 minutes and scored three points.

Sorber tore his ACL in September and never saw the court for Oklahoma City, but if you watched the Spurs take down the Thunder last month, you know his skillset is sorely needed.

Now for the throwbacks. Walk with me down memory lane, fellow millennials.

Al Jefferson

Height (without shoes): 6’8.25”

Weight: 289 lbs

Wingspan: 7’2.5”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Big Al came into the league smaller but heavier than Reed. Before the one-and-done era, he was a highly-ranked prospect in high school (noticing the trend?). Big Al and Tarris have the below-the-rim post game with an array of moves in their bag. 

Pace-and-space left Big Al behind, but look at some of this footwork.

Awfully reminiscent of Reed this past March, except Reed has flashed the mobility to adapt to today’s game. Big Al played 14 years in the league and finished with career averages of 15.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg. He averaged 23 and 11 in 2008-2009 for the Timberwolves, and was third-team All-NBA in 2013-2014.

I also saw some Derrick Favors comparisons floating around out there on the internet. 

Here are his measurements from the 2010 combine:

Derrick Favors

Height: 6’8.75”

Weight: 245.2 lbs

Wingspan: 7’4”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Standing Vertical: 31.5 inches

Similar to Duren, Sharpe, Sorber, and Jefferson, Favors was a blue-chip, one-and-done freakazoid prospect. Except he never really ascended to Duren’s heights, or Jefferson’s. Favors played 12 seasons in the NBA, finishing with career averages of 10 ppg and 7 rpg. He was a solid rim-runner who protected the rim well with Rudy Gobert.

Reed is taller by an inch, but Favors was more explosive and younger coming out (the youngest player drafted by the Nets ever). 

Breaking it Down

Five players with very different ceilings. Duren is a franchise cornerstone. Big Al was on his way to being one, until his knees gave out. Favors never ascended, but career earnings of $130 million (Jefferson made $137 mil) is far from a bust. Sharpe looks like he’ll carve out a reserve role for the next decade. The jury’s out on Sorber due to injury.

It sounds silly to rattle off these highly successful comparisons for a player like Reed that’s barely projected to go in the first round. As I said before, there are a lot of Ifs, and that’s why he’s a fringe first-rounder. But it’s hard to ignore the success of these players with similar physical measurements, combined with the switch that Reed flipped in March.

That’s not to say big men of his stature are automatic. In the last decade, James Wiseman Jr and Marvin Bagley had roughly similar measurements and didn’t pan out. However, when you really broke them down, the comparisons didn’t entirely add up; Reed is heavier than both and a different type of player.

Age is Just a Number

There are a lot of factors working against Tarris. His age, the potentially historic draft class, career inconsistency, and overall game trends can all be docked against him. After all these optimistic comparisons, the downsides need to be addressed.

College players at 6 ’10, 260 lbs. are usually one-and-done material. Even if they’re projects, most of the time they’ve been developed in an NBA organization, not the program. All of the comparisons above were five stars, making Reed’s Top 40 four-star ranking out of high school look pedestrian.

Reed represents a different path because he’s three years older. But let’s investigate that a little further.

First, the Juwan Howard factor. How would any of the above players have succeeded under a Howard regime? Second, the NIL landscape informs a lot of ‘stay or go ’ decisions now.

With no NIL around, maybe 15 years ago, Tarris heads to the NBA a year or two earlier with that coveted ‘raw potential’ label. Would Al Jefferson stay another year in college if a school offered more money than he’d make in the late lottery, which was where he fell? And if he somehow didn’t perform, every year in college would tank the sense of his potential, even though he eventually became a force inside.

What would Da’Ron Sharpe’s numbers look like if he stayed three more years? Would he average 19.5 ppg, 13.2 rpg, and 1.5 blocks per game in the NCAA tournament?

For a variety of reasons, Tarris took a little more time to cook. That’s okay! He’s not a senior citizen though; he’ll only be 23 next season. I understand the financial advantages a GM gets from a 19-year-old’s contract vs. a 23-year-old’s. But there are still risks.

A savvy GM should look at the March emergence and see an NBA-ready guy. Given how suddenly he flipped the switch, maybe there’s still more left to unlock. 

His measurements have a pretty good track record at the next level. There are more success stories for guys with Tarris’ combination of size and skill out there than cautionary tales. The college game is more like the G-League than ever before, so age shouldn’t be as big a knock on a player’s draft stock. This applies to Karaban as well, who surely would have gone to the NBA earlier without the benefits of NIL.

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Leafs acquire Darren Raddysh from Lightning and sign him to an 8-year contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency, acquiring Darren Raddysh's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenseman to an eight-year contract.

The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because financial terms were not disclosed.

Raddysh will count $8.5 million against the salary cap through the 2033-34 season. He had never made more than a million dollars a year until now.

The 30-year-old late bloomer cashed in on a breakout season in which he set career highs with 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games. That's the same amount of points he put up in the previous two seasons combined since becoming a full-time NHL player as recently as 2023.

Raddysh provides an immediate upgrade for the Leafs, who have a new coach in Jim Hiller and a new front office led by general manager John Chayka and franchise legend adviser Mats Sundin. Getting Raddysh's rights from the Lightning for a fifth-round pick before he could hit the open market is Chayka's second trade after clearing cap space earlier this week by sending goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled to add a defenseman of Darren’s caliber to our organization,” Chayka said. “Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness and strong play in all three zones. He strengthens our blue line in every situation and is exactly the type of player we want helping lead this team.”

Raddysh was undrafted despite helping the Erie Otters win the Ontario Hockey League at the junior level in 2016-17. He signed with Chicago, got traded to the New York Rangers and inked a free agent deal in 2021 with the Lightning.

He spent a vast majority of that time in the minors and was an All-Star in the American Hockey League before earning a job with Tampa Bay. He thrived this past season while the team dealt with injuries all over and led all players in the league at the position with 10 power-play goals.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL