For the fourth time in his historic 24-year NBA career, LeBron James will make his debut with an entirely new franchise.
The Philadelphia 76ers will face the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 20 for the marquee matchup of the NBA’s triple-header regular-season tipoff. James and his new team will watch the Knicks raise their first banner in 53 years, and a palpable energy will once again course through Madison Square Garden.
But what will James’ time with the 76ers actually look like?
The preseason offered some hints, with one caveat.
During preseason, teams don’t reveal their full schemes, in order to protect competitive advantage. And when a team like Philadelphia is incorporating so many new faces – the Sixers also landed forward Jaylen Brown in a trade with the Celtics – installations tend to be gradual.
All to say: what we saw from the 76ers in preseason won’t necessarily be what we see the rest of the season. But it did become clear that James will serve a few key roles.
One, he’ll likely play all over the floor. James, as he has been throughout his career, is as close to a positionless player as there is in the NBA. He can literally line up at all five positions on the floor, even at center when opposing teams go small ball.
Two, James’ best asset, at this stage of his career, is play-making and distribution. It looks like this will be his focus with the Sixers.
Philadelphia opted to operate with the ball in James’ hands plenty during the preseason, both in half-court sets and in transition. James’ vision is superb, and he threaded passes all over the floor to rack up gaudy assists numbers.
If you take James’ preseason stats (in 43 minutes played) and project them to a per 36 minutes basis (to mimic his projected playing time per game throughout the season), he averaged 15.2 points, 10.1 assists and 10.1 rebounds.
He was also a plus-22.7 in plus/minus, which led the team in the preseason.
The assists and rebounding numbers are significant and likely due for a bit of a regression during the regular season. But, for the sake of comparison, the NBA leader in assists last season was Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, with 10.7 per game.
One issue that does need some resolution is turnovers. They plagued the Sixers, overall, but James averaged 6.7 on a per 36 minute basis. Some of this is unfamiliarity with his new teammates and learning how they like to play and how they like to space the floor. The preseason is indeed a time to experiment and fail – on a small scale – but turnover numbers should improve over time.
It’s also worth noting that the 76ers probably won’t look to James to be a pure scorer, and James seemed to acknowledge this; he was deferential during the preseason and took just 10 shot attempts, with only a pair coming from 3-point range.
Which brings us to point three. What did stand out from James’ scoring during the preseason was his ability to charge downhill in transition, draw contact and get to the line. In 43 total preseason minutes, James went to the line 11 times, converting eight of those. Those are well above his averages from last season, when he made 3.9 free throws per game on 5.3 attempts.
Either way, this season should be fascinating in Philadelphia, which is carrying massive, championship expectations into the season. James has won four championships in his career.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 11: Aaron Bummer #49 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the sixth inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aaron Bummer has truly had a fascinating career. If we’re judging solely by the eye test, he’s had the type of career that makes you wonder if he just walks under ladders, breaks mirrors and hangs out with black cats all the time because of his hilariously high BABIP-against numbers and the fact that he still remained productive regardless of the bad luck. Bummer made it through two seasons with the Braves while still being a pretty solid reliever — though 2024 was clearly better than his 2025.
With that being said, things finally hit the wall for Bummer in 2026, as he ended up not being too much of a positive factor for the Braves during his time here. It’s time to check out how things went for Bummer and the Braves in 2026.
How Acquired
The Braves initially picked up Bummer in a trade following the 2023 season that sent Riley Gowens, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake, Jared Shuster and Michael Soroka. Following the 2024 season, the Braves restructured their deal with Bummer and he ended up making $3.5 million for 2025 and was set to make $9.5 million for 2026.
What were the expectations?
Based on the contract restructure, it was clear that the Braves figured that Bummer would play a key role in the bullpen and bounce back from what was a rocky (and injury-affected) season in 2025. Remember, Bummer ended up going down for the season with shoulder inflammation during August 2025, following a pretty strange year in which he was asked to do a lot of things he didn’t usually do, like pitch long outings and make starts that saw him stay in the game until he was falling apart. Did those things cause his shoulder injury? It’s hard to say. In any case, maybe the expectations should’ve been lower considering that that’s a pretty tough injury to come back from in a lot of cases. Still, Bummer made the Opening Day roster and was put in a position to take on some quality innings early on in the season.
Projections-wise, his outlook was basically a repeat of his 2025 (0.4 fWAR in 54 innings). That was actually substantially worse than his prior performance (1.1 fWAR in 55 innings as a Brave in 2024), but was probably a good gauge given the injury situation.
2026 Results
Bummer just never looked right during his time with the Braves, which only lasted through mid-May. In the occasion where he didn’t give up an earned run, he still looked shaky at best getting through an inning or he likely surrendered a run from the situation that he inherited. This wasn’t a case of bad luck affecting him like it had in the past — Bummer was just unable to get any type of good results while he was here. He only ended up throwing 15.1 innings the for Braves this season and finished with an ERA of 7.63 (182 ERA- and remember, 100 is league average) and a FIP of 8.64 (208 FIP-, again, 100 is league average). Nor was this a case of some sort bad-results-only thing, as his xFIP was 6.05 (144 xFIP-).
The nadir came on May 18, which is when the Braves sent him out there while down 6-0 just to hopefully eat an inning. He did eventually finish the inning but that was only after he walked five batters and gave up two homers and a single on his way to surrendering six runs across 11 batters faced. Bummer was released two days later, then the Cubs signed him to a minor-league deal on May 27. He opted out of that deal on July 17, signed with the Royals on July 20, which is where he made two appearances for Kansas City in early-August. He gave up three runs in each of those appearances and was promptly sent down to Triple-A following the second appearance. Bummer elected free agency on August 7 and that was the last time he’d been seen near a big league organization.
What went right?
He pitched a scoreless inning against the Dodgers on May 8, so that was cool. The Braves didn’t win that one but it was certainly an outing to be proud of, as he sat down Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman in order with three straight fly-outs. Though, given how Bummer succeeds, even that kind of tells you there was an issue, since giving up contact in the air really hasn’t been part of his game.
Bummer did manage to record two shutdowns (to five meltdowns) on the season, but just like the Dodgers outing, they didn’t feel right. His highest WPA outing of the year came back on April 10: Bryce Elder had given up the go-ahead run to the Guardians and departed with the bases loaded and two out. Bummer came in and got a pop to shortstop to end the game; the Braves then turned the game into a blowout in the next inning, hitting three homers in the span of eight batters.
To find an actual throwback Bummer outing, you have to go to April 24. The Braves had just turned a deficit into a two-run lead, and Bummer was asked to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Both grounded out meekly to second: Schwarber after a 12-pitch battle and Harper on the first pitch. Then, there was an infield single before Brandon Marsh flew out. That was probably Bummer’s best outing-in-a-close game of the year.
What went wrong?
Other than that, this was a nightmare season for Bummer. His velocity continued to drop precipitously and that was likely due to the fact that he hadn’t fully recovered from his shoulder ailment in 2025. Baseball Savant’s metrics aren’t the be-all, end-all of player evaluation but if your page is looking about as blue as a Toronto Maple Leafs home game, that’s not great at all!
The only thing that went remotely well for Bummer is that he was still inducing ground balls at a pretty high rate but that doesn’t really mean much when the average exit velocity is still sitting around 92 mph. It was also a notable drop — from 60 percent in 2024 and 53 percent in 2025 to 45 percent in 2026. Bummer also gave up six home runs in 2026 — he did that in just under 16 innings pitched, while it took him 109 2/3 innings to give up five homers across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His strikeout rate was the lowest of his career, his walk rate was his highest since 2023, and his HR/9 had absolutely skyrocketed. In a cruel twist of fate, his BABIP was as low as it had ever been but perhaps it was proof that there was nothing that Bummer could blame this on but himself and the injury issued that he tried to work his way through. It just didn’t work out for Aaron Bummer in 2026.
It’s hard to pick a low point in a few weeks full of them, but April 13 could do the trick. The Braves had just battled back from a three-run deficit to tie the game, and on came Bummer for the fifth. There were two groundball singles, and then Agustin Ramirez whacked a three-run homer and the game descended into a Marlins blowout. Bummer hadn’t been pitching well to that point, but he had actually managed to avoid getting charged with any runs… but that outing was kind of the dam starting to show some cracks and the deluge eventually washed him off the roster.
2027 Outlook
Aaron Bummer is a left-handed reliever, which means that someone out there is going to give him an opportunity to pitch for them if he even shows remote signs of returning to form. It’ll all depend on whether or not he can actually get over his shoulder injuries and get back to his style of success. If that happens, then it wouldn’t be particularly shocking to see him latch onto another organization at some point. If not, then this may have been the last we see of Bummer in the big leagues since his velocity and command had both dropped to a point where any major-league caliber hitter would be able to do some serious damage against him.
Either way, it speaks to how weird this Braves team was. Bummer figured to be an important part of this bullpen, only ended up throwing just under 16 innings and Atlanta’s bullpen ended up performing at a high level, regardless. Man plans while the baseball gods laugh. Hopefully Bummer will be able to make a comeback in the future — it just likely won’t be with the Braves.
While he’ll probably get a shot, he was so bad in 2026 that his outlook is pretty much “below average reliever” at this point… which is really just an average of “no longer playable” and “recovers from shoulder injuries and is back to his old self.” Sure, someone will take a flier with little financial commitment, but banking on a reliever coming off shoulder woes and an awful season is even riskier than banking on a reliever where neither of those things are true.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 24: Blake Adams #57 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 39, Blake Adams (-0.2 rWAR)
The Colorado Rockies have gotten several years of minor league production out of right-handed pitcher Blake Adams, but whether he fits in their major league rotation remains a question mark.
The University of Arkansas turned Kansas State prospect was selected in the 13th round of the 2022 draft by the Rockies. In college across both universities, he started 15 games and appeared in 10 others, posting a 7-6 record, a career 5.75 ERA at the college-level, and 101 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched.
Since then, he’s logged innings across all levels of minor league ball and slowly risen the ranks. He debuted with the ACL Rockies with 5.1 innings over five appearances in 2022. He split 2023 between the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies and the High-A Spokane Indians, before moving between Spokane and the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats in 2024.
He remained in Hartford for 2025 before the next call-up to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2026. In 2026 with the ‘Topes, he posted a 3-6 record in 21 games played with two games started. He logged 61.1 innings of work, posting a 7.48 ERA and a 1.745 WHIP.
His numbers in Triple-A highlight an unnerving trend: They’ve gotten worse with each level he’s climbed. Skipping over his very limited rookie league innings, Adams had a 2.60 ERA in Single-A, 3.68 in High-A, up to 4.76 in Double-A, and then 7.48 in Triple-A.
That said, also evident is a lack of consistency within each of those levels. His ERA, win-loss record, strikeouts and walks over nine innings, and WHIP have fluctuated each year, typically improving after his first year in a given level.
Although Adams earned promotions through the Rockies’ farm system, his performance became less reliable as he approached the majors. His brief improvement in Double-A was encouraging, but his struggles in Triple-A suggest that he still has work to do.
In 2026, he finally got the call. With some roster shuffling around Kyle Freeland’s move to the injured list, the Rockies selected Adams’ contract in late August.
He got roughed up in his only big league appearance, making his MLB debut in August in a rough 13-3 loss to the Washington Nationals. He entered in the seventh inning, giving up two runs in the frame. He attempted to start the eighth inning but was pulled after allowing a three-run home run and following that up with a walk. In all, he posted one inning of work, giving up five earned runs on five hits with one walk.
Overall, Adams’ minor league numbers are modest. a 21-23 record, a 4.52 ERA, a 1.307 WHIP, and 367 strikeouts across 394.2 innings. His strikeout rate of 8.4 per nine innings is respectable, but his overall run prevention has been more inconsistent, particularly against advanced hitters. His 2026 season was challenging, raising questions about whether his arsenal of pitches can hold up against major league hitting.
Adams has lots of experience, but as a whole, it suggests more of an organizational depth role than an MLB prospect with starting rotation or even relief utility. Provided he improves his command and consistency, bigger sample sizes at both the Triple-A and MLB levels will tell us more about how long he could stick around in the big leagues.
With the departure of Pete Alonso last offseason, the Mets' first base situation became unsettled for the first time since 2018.
New York attempted to address it in part by signing Jorge Polanco, whose ultimate role probably would've been to be the designated hitter pretty often. But Polanco struggled badly as he attempted to play through an ankle issue that eventually resulted in season-ending surgery, further complicating things.
While attempting to patch first base together, the Mets turned mostly to Jared Young (74 starts at first base) and Mark Vientos (58 starts), and also gave Brett Baty a look there (16 starts).
Throughout the course of the season, Eric Wagaman, Christopher Morel, Gabriel Arias, and Luis Torrens also saw time at first base.
As David Stearns and the front office strategize, what seems apparent is that there will be some external help added this offseason to bolster first base.
Whether that's a bigger free agent addition or a lower-cost right-handed hitter who can platoon with someone like Young remains to be seen.
Who are the Mets' options at first base for 2027, and how should they proceed? Let's break it down...
After bouncing around a bit over the first three seasons of his career, playing 44 combined games for the Cubs and Mets between 2022 and 2025 (Young spent part of the 2024 season in the KBO, posting a 1.080 OPS in 38 games), Young emerged as a key lineup cog for the Mets in 2026 in what was his age-30 season.
In 103 games, Young slashed .266/.330/.429 (.759 OPS, 113 OPS+) with nine homers, 17 doubles, and three triples across 342 plate appearances before his season ended in scary fashion on Sept. 17 at Citi Field, when he suffered a concussion during a collision at first base with Nolan McLean.
There are numerous things Young does well, including impacting the baseball and limiting strikeouts, but it's fair to wonder whether he has enough power to be the regular first baseman on a team that is expected to contend.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect /
Young hit just nine homers this past season after hitting a combined six home runs over 44 games for the Cubs and Mets from 2022 to 2025. In the KBO in 2024, Young mashed 10 homers in 38 games while slugging .660. But the competition in the KBO is not viewed as stiff, so those numbers need to be taken with a big grain of salt.
Another mark against Young is that he hasn't fared well against left-handers in his big league career, with a .674 OPS. This past season for New York, Young's OPS against lefties was just .606.
Stearns talked Baty up after the season, and it feels like he'll be part of the equation in 2027 -- whether it's as a semi-regular presence at first base or second base or as a possible super utility player.
But while Stearns remains bullish on Baty's potential, he has been clear about the need for more consistency.
With both Young and Baty being left-handed hitters (and Baty posting a .500 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2026), it's possible Baty is viewed more as a second base option or as a fit for the aforementioned utility role.
The second is that his production in 2026 was dismal. Polanco posted a .431 OPS in 135 at-bats, though it's fair to believe a lot of that had to do with his physical limitations.
The third is that even if Polanco is healthy and productive in 2027 (two enormous ifs), he probably won't be a regular presence at first base given his recent health issues and lack of experience at the position.
Another potential option is Vientos, who is arbitration-eligible this offseason. But when you combine Vientos' worsening offensive production and continued fielding issues, it feels more likely he'll be traded or DFA'd this offseason than be a serious candidate for playing time at first base.
Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) gestures during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. / Darren Yamashita - Imagn Images
The External Options
Teruaki Sato
Sato will be posted by his Japanese team relatively soon, giving interested MLB teams the ability to sign him before the expected lockout begins on Dec. 1.
For the Mets, Sato would be a huge swing. And his upside is tantalizing.
Sato, 27, won the Triple Crown in Japan this year after slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI in 143 games for the Hanshin Tigers. He hit .278/.345/.579 with 40 home runs, 34 doubles, and 102 RBI in 139 games in 2025 as he won the Central League MVP award.
Primarily a third baseman and outfielder in Japan, there are those who believe Sato's best defensive fit in the majors is first base, which would obviously work perfectly for the Mets.
While Sato's power is undeniable, there are questions about his swing-and-miss tendencies, which are not dissimilar to the ones that surrounded Munetaka Murakami before he signed with the White Sox. Sato fanned 164 times in 143 games this past season for Hanshin. While that strikeout rate is not alarming, it would figure to go up in the majors.
For reference, Murakami struck out 196 times in 127 games this past season for Chicago. In his final season in Japan, Murakami fanned 180 times in 143 games.
Ty France
In 133 games for the Padres this past season, the righty-swinging France slashed .295/.363/.502 (.865 OPS, 139 OPS+) with 21 homers and 24 doubles. Was it an aberration or a late breakout from a player in his age-31 season?
What's not in question is how good France's first base defense has been the last two seasons. He won the NL Gold Glove in 2025 after being in the 96th percentile in OAA, and followed that up by being in the 93rd percentile in OAA in 2026.
A tier below France is Jake Bauers, who had a similar mid-career eruption, posting an .874 OPS in 144 regular season games for the Brewers.
The Mets could theoretically add the righty-hitting Bohm or Goldschmidt to share the first base job with Young.
Bohm (.816 OPS against left-handers in 2026) and Goldschmidt (.967 OPS against lefties in 2026) aren't bad options, but the fit for Bohm would be curious given his poor defensive metrics and the fact that he remains an everyday player -- something he should not be with the Mets if signed.
***
A look at the Mets' roster right now shows that they're set at all three outfield positions as well as shortstop, catcher, and third base (unless Bo Bichette surprises nearly everyone and opts out).
That leaves first base and designated hitter as the logical places where improvements can be made this offseason, but Stearns has never seemed eager to clog up the DH spot (except for New York's brief flirtation with Kyle Schwarber last offseason). That would leave first base as the spot to upgrade.
While New York could conceivably make first base work by adding a right-handed hitting complement to Young, they shouldn't be aiming to just get by.
The goal here should be to make a serious improvement and make the position a plus, whether that comes in the form of Sato, France, or someone else who isn't yet on their radar.
Australian endured a torrid day in Gqeberha as the brilliance of South African captain Temba Bavuma and his lower order left the visitors fighting for survival with two days to play.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs Game Preview:
For the second straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the best record in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned his second consecutive MVP, and it looked like the Thunder were on the way to defend their title, claiming the No. 1 seed in the West.
Oklahoma City swept the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers, but lost in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
“What we did last year doesn't matter at this point,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. “We're all at the bottom of the mountain, all 30 teams trying to start our journey.”
San Antonio finished with the second-best record, earning the No. 2 seed in the West and its first trip to the playoffs since 2019.
The Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five, the Minnesota Timberwolves in six, and the Thunder before losing the Finals to the New York Knicks in five.
“We have a good team, we had a very good playoff run, and we had a very good regular season. But what’s even better and greater is our potential,” Wembanyama said in July.
The 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year, a unanimous selection, was eligible for a supermax extension, worth up to $303 million, but chose to sign a 5-year max extension in July, worth up to $252 million.
The Spurs, returning most of their roster, look to become the first NBA Finals runner-up to reach the Finals in consecutive seasons since Cleveland in 2018.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs - 9:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock
How to watch 2026-27 NBA games on NBC and Peacock?
The NBA is back on NBC and Peacock for the 2026-27 season with 100 regular-season games across its three marquee nights of the week: Peacock NBA Monday, beginning Oct. 26; Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, beginning Oct. 27; and Sunday Night Basketball, beginning Jan. 24, 2027.
All NBA games presented by NBC Sports will stream live on Peacock and all Peacock-exclusive games on Monday nights will also be presented on NBCSN. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language broadcast network, will present 10 Sunday Night Basketballgames as well as the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 21, 2027.
What is the full 2026-27 NBA on NBC and Peacock schedule?
You can see the full schedule of 2026-27 NBA games airing on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN, and Telemundo here.
How do I sign up for Peacock to watch NBA games?
Peacock is available across a variety of devices. To get started, find or download the Peacock application on your device or head directly to PeacockTV.com to create a Peacock account. Then, you’re ready to watch!
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 13, 2026 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Year ago, when Austin Reaves was going through the NBA Draft process in 2021, he and his agents famously declined to be drafted in the second round because they felt signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent would prove itself a better fit.
Of course, that became a wonderfully clairvoyant call. Reaves has thrived since his rookie season and turned himself into a star with the Lakers, set to begin the first year of a four-year $184 million signed this past summer. An inaugural All-Star berth is absolutely on the table for Reaves, who was one of several players to ink a deal with Los Angeles this offseason.
Unlike Reaves, though, the rest of these players have never suited up for the Lakers. As his new teammates prepare to play for one of the world’s most prestigious teams, Reaves is offering whatever insights he can about how to navigate the expectations associated with joining a legendary franchise.
“I don’t know anything else. This is what I came to. But, obviously, it’s the Lakers and it’s one of the most covered sports organizations in the world, so they’re going to praise you when you’re doing good and not when you’re not,” Reaves told reporters following Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. “Whatever goes on outside these walls doesn’t really matter. It’s just what you know goes on inside these walls and if anybody has any questions, I’ll give them the best knowledge I have.”
Between steering his way to the Lakers in 2021 and the relief he felt signing a new deal this summer, Reaves’ love for the organization is quite evident. He wanted to be a Laker half a decade ago and couldn’t wait to extend that partnership in free agency this year. If he can stay healthy, he should be primed for a tremendous season in 2026-27. He’s shown excellent chemistry alongside Luka Dončić and the new surrounding pieces should help foster a dynamite group offensively, one Reaves will help spearhead and be crucial in its success.
Reaves and the Lakers kick off the regular season Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when they host the Golden State Warriors.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Ray Davis, Managing Partner and Majority Owner of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to Game Two of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field on October 28, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At this point, anytime there’s a post that features a photo of Ray Davis, it doesn’t bode well, does it?
I’ve kind of put off doing this, because I don’t want to think about the Texas Rangers’ payroll situation for 2027, or their budget, or the looming lockout, with Rangers owner Ray Davis reportedly being one of the salary cap hawks on the ownership side.
That being said, we are going to take a look at the Rangers’ current payroll situation this morning. As always, Cot’s Contracts is our invaluable source for most of this information.
As a sidenote…the past few seasons, when we have done this exercise, we have looked at both the actual payroll and the payroll for luxury tax purposes, in order to get a handle on where the Rangers are relative to the luxury tax thresholds. Given that the organization has made it clear that ownership is not going to spend close to the current luxury tax levels,* there’s no reason to deal with that.
* With the CBA expiring, we don’t know what the luxury tax threshold will be in 2027, or even if there will be a luxury tax anymore. However, if the luxury tax threshold moved up at the same rate it did throughout the expiring CBA, teams with over $247M in luxury tax payrolls in 2027 would pay the luxury tax. Each team pays roughly $20M in player benefits and the pre-arb bonus pool, so that would mean a team could get to approximately $227M in player payroll without paying the tax, in that scenario.
Texas currently has five players under contract for the 2027 season:
Jacob deGrom — $37,000,000
Corey Seager — $31,500,000
Nathan Eovaldi — $24,000,000
Brandon Nimmo — $20,500,000
Danny Jansen — $8,000,000
In addition, the Rangers have $1M due to Kyle Higashioka to buy out his mutual option for 2027, and $1.25M due to Jakob Junis to buy out his mutual option for 2027.* There’s a mutual option with Joc Pederson, as well, but no buyout.
* Mutual options are almost never picked up, since a club is either going to decline the option as being more than they are willing to pay, or a player is going to decline the option because they think they can do better on the open market, or at least want to explore their options.
In looking at this list, there are only two players who I see as being potential non-tenders — Jake Burger and Logan O’Hoppe.
The Rangers got Burger two offseasons ago for three prospects who the team doesn’t miss (and who don’t appear in the current BA Marlins top 30 list), and he’s given the team two cheap seasons of middling performance at first base. $6.9M is in the ballpark of what middling first basemen cost on the open market — it does not, at first blush, appear to be the sort of discount against market value you hope to capture with players in their arbitration years.
Complicating things for Burger is that Sebastian Walcott is knocking on the door. Were it not for his elbow injury, which cost him most of 2026, Walcott may have already kicked the door down and staked a claim for a major league job. Still, his strong performance over the final couple of months, when he returned to action (though primarily at DH), as well as his Arizona Fall League performance, would suggest he may be a viable option for an infield job in the majors in 2027.
The Rangers could move Josh Jung — who graded out as below average defensively in 2026, and has been underwhelming with the glove the past three years — to first base, opening up the third base position. The hope, I imagine, would be for Walcott to earn the spot in spring training, with Cody Freeman, Justin Foscue (who would be at second base, pushing Ezequiel Duran to third base), and an NRI or two also vying for the job.
That would theoretically make Jake Burger expendable. Of course, the Rangers still don’t have a DH, and we all know about the durability concerns with Jung, so a team that isn’t pinching pennies might see Burger as having value as the DH and backup first baseman.
My guess is that the Rangers look to sign Burger to a modest raise from the $3.2M he made in 2026 — say, $4.5 to $5M — and let him know he’ll be non-tendered at the November 20 contract tender deadline if he doesn’t agree. It would make for a difficult decision for Burger, who is old for an arb-eligible player (he turns 31 in April), has a skill set and profile that doesn’t tend to be financially rewarded by the market, and who would be on the market for less than two weeks before the lockout hits.
As for O’Hoppe, the Rangers got him from the Angels, along with Chase Silseth, for little other than taking on his salary (which was offset by the Rangers dumping Josh Smith and his salary in the subsequent deal with the Jays, and if you’re curious, MLBTR projects Smith as getting $3.875M in arbitration this year). The DMN reported just this past week that they view him as a long-term project on defense, which would suggest that they are interested in keeping him around and working with him. Given the lack of catching depth in the upper levels, keeping O’Hoppe around, even as a third catcher who you can option to the minors, would make sense, if you think the defense is salvageable.
O’Hoppe made $2.63 million in 2026. My guess is that the Rangers do with O’Hoppe what I am guessing they do with Burger, offering him around $2.5 million — perhaps on a split contract — and non-tendering him if he doesn’t accept. Catchers are always in demand, but with the concerns about O’Hoppe’s receiving, I don’t know what the market for him would be like, and he could end up landing in the pile of fungible veteran catchers who get NRIs every spring.
To head off any comments about Gore being a non-tender candidate, he’s made 96 starts over the past three seasons, is lefthanded, and has quality stuff. He’d get more than one year at $8-9 million if he were a free agent. And that’s without even getting into the fact that the Rangers traded five prospects for him last offseason, and non-tendering him would be an admission of failure that I don’t think the front office wants to make.
So let’s assume that the Rangers keep all ten of their arb-eligible players, at the MLBTR projected salaries, except for Burger and O’Hoppe, who we would slot in at $5M and $2.5M, respectively.
That would put us at $159.05M for 2027 payroll. Add in roughly $12M for the rest of your pre-arbitration players rounding out the active roster and the 40 man roster, and that’s a $171.05M payroll
To put this in perspective, Cot’s has the Rangers’ 2026 year-end payroll at $191.7M. So if the Rangers were to keep payroll static, they’d have $20 million to spend this offseason.
That is not a lot.
On the other hand, the lineup and starting rotation don’t have a lot of holes right now. You’re bringing back all your starters in the lineup except for Pederson at DH, though if you are moving Jung to first base and Burger to DH, that problem is solved.
You probably want a righthanded hitting outfielder who can play center field to either platoon with Evan Carter, or push him to the bench if he continues not to hit, though they could opt to put Duran in the outfield — at least against lefties — and use Justin Foscue or Cody Freeman at DH. Or, hell, they could let Burger go and put Foscue at DH, now that I think about it.
And you also need a backup catcher, unless you decide you’re confident in O’Hoppe, though if they have Jansen and O’Hoppe and feel like O’Hoppe is a potentially viable backup option, they could just go with some veteran NRIs and, if O’Hoppe doesn’t have the Chopp-es behind the plate in Surprise, have one of them back up Jansen.
The rotation currently features deGrom, Eovaldi, Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Cody Bradford. The latter three all have questions and concerns, but overall, I don’t see the Rangers spending money on adding starting pitching. There will be your usual collection of NRIs brought in as depth, of course, but I can’t see the Rangers going out and spending money to add a middling innings eater, given where things stand now.
The bullpen, of course, is the bullpen, and once again, the Rangers will be going out into the market to get cheap, functional arms. That said, they are bringing back Garcia, Silseth, Jacob Latz, and Peyton Gray, which would represent half of their projected Opening Day bullpen. Young, Fenstermaker & Co. will probably need to add three or four relievers, and will likely do it, as they have the previous couple of seasons, on the cheap.
So if the Rangers are looking at a 2027 payroll in line with what they had in 2026, they don’t have a lot to spend, but would be able to fill the holes.
The problem, of course, is that the Rangers don’t have the financial resources to make any real upgrades or improvements to the roster in this scenario. They’d essentially be running it back — something that the front office seems to have signaled they don’t want to do. If they want to upgrade a spot, they’d likely need to increase payroll from 2026, make a trade that would cost prospects and/or current major league pieces, or move one of the four veterans with large salaries in an effort to re-allocate those funds elsewhere.
Its a conundrum. And its made all the more difficult by the pending lockout, and the uncertainty of the future financial landscape with a new CBA.
Boston, MA - October 14: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks to guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in the second quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game at TD Garden on October 14, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
BOSTON — When the Celtics rotated their bench into the game against the 76ers in the preseason, Jayson Tatum stayed on the TD Garden parquet joined by Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta — a lineup that could easily stand as Boston’s starters.
While the regular rotation players sat out the preseason opener in Cleveland, third-string center Luka Garza, the depth wings and training camp invite Devin Carter led the team to a win over the Cavs’ starters (minus James Harden). In Philadelphia, a group of G-Leaguers and Boston’s bench defeated four of the vaunted five Sixers starters this upcoming season.
The Celtics look prepared, again, to win games no matter who’s available.
“I’m really interested to see how the depth not only is utilized [but] as an advantage,” Brad Stevens said to begin training camp. “But there is gonna have to be some sacrificing at that level for guys that have tasted a little bit of success at different times throughout the year. But the one thing that I know about Joe (Mazzulla), and the one thing I know about our players, is they all know their opportunities will be plentiful. If they’re not coming today, they’re coming down the road.”
Mazzulla leaned into that mantra by allowing assistants D.J. MacLeay and Tony Dobbins to handle the Cleveland game, spending the night in the film rooms. When Mike Conley, who started that night, exited for the first time and went to the bathroom, Mazzulla greeted him with three clips in the locker room. Jordan Walsh received another start against Philadelphia, and Sam Cassell took over the sidelines in the preseason finale. Three centers who have all shown capable of starting have also bought into a by-committee approach at the position.
That bodes well for a Celtics team that features more health concerns to begin the season than last year. Jayson Tatum begins his first full season since his Achilles tear joined by Paul George, who averaged 48.8 games played per year over his last six, and Mitchell Robinson, who only played 20.7 minutes per night across an average 36 appearances in each of the last three seasons. All three players began camp feeling good, while Tatum and Robinson both told 98.5 The Sports Hub that they’re available for back-to-backs, which wasn’t the case in 2026.
“It’s been a struggle, offensively for me, just getting rhythm, getting my legs under me, getting conditioning down,” George said on Monday. “But I think the beauty in it is I’m healthy. That’s stuff that I can iron out as the season goes on, as the practices go on and so I think that’s the positive out of all of it.”
Teammates also see a rejuvenated Tatum, who looked closer to his former self and seasoned by the nearly one year spent watching the game from the sideline. His return to MVP candidacy would massively lift the team’s ceiling, but he’ll need a secondary scorer to emerge, whether that’s Pritchard, Derrick White, George, or a committee of all three. The challenge for an array of young wings who showed growth during the preseason, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman and Walsh among them, will become shifting between smaller and larger roles on any given night and eventually translating their impact to the postseason.
There’s little doubt this group can play the numbers game all season and rack up wins through shooting volume, offensive rebounding and an intriguing ability to force turnovers driven by George, Scheierman and others in the preseason. Boston won the shot margin in Cleveland by seven, by 13 and 16 in the two Philadelphia games, and by 17 to beat Charlotte in what started as a dreadful shooting game. Before it began, Mazzulla described weighing the prospect of one great shot versus three quality shots, and sounded like he preferred the latter.
“There are a bunch of different ways to be top-five,” Mazzulla said. “If people could pick their poison, they’d pick to be the best shot selection team in the league, but you have to ask yourself what’s more feasible? … we probably had guys that were better at crashing the glass than we have guys that are better at creating better shots. So that gives us the best chance to do it. This year, it might be different … you also have to ask yourself entering a season how much do you want to make your strengths better or leverage your weaknesses? You probably have to do a little bit of both, but … we were able to be at the top of the list offensively because we hammered down on our strengths, which was our ability to get a decent first shot more times than not, but our ability to create more shots for ourselves. That’s an interesting question. Would you rather have one good shot or three average shots? I know a guy in our organization who wants three average shots.”
If this Celtics team does what last year’s did in an enhanced way, we’ll be watching both fun night-to-night basketball and they can surpass last season’s total. Then, the playoffs loom, featuring seasoned conference champions like New York or Indiana, or stars who have won championships before like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard. The Sixers will become a point of comparison for years to come, and a scary out if they’re fully loaded in any given playoff round. The Celtics will need to show, before then, an increased proficiency at creating quality shots, or make the roster maneuvers to get there that Stevens has teased since the Jaylen Brown trade.
In a world beyond that deal, the comparisons to Philadelphia, a search for a second star and the likely reality that the Celtics aren’t quite in that championship conversation yet will remain in the backdrop of however fun this regular season proves. Yet, development matters, culture does too, and you’d rather be a group that’s almost expected to win even when three starters sit out than one whose fortunes would become doomed by an injury. Last year’s Celtics achieved remarkable health, Tatum’s absence aside, which is a big point to set aside, and for all the optimism they’ve gained going into this year with him back, it’s worth remembering how much of that built on how well they played without him.
It’s a different league, though, and a conference in particular that’s expected to be far more competitive. Mazzulla himself recalls the 0-3 start to last season, how much they needed to overhaul the defense and his ability to identify where they needed to shift the rotation on the fly cemented his status as Coach of the Year. If veterans move in-and-out of the lineup, especially for extended periods, that could create instability the 2026 team didn’t deal with. But with everyone intact, defenders swarming and balanced lineups knocking opponents down in waves, the Celtics are excited about this season — it is a new year after all for all the similarities.
Mazzulla, true to form, is cautiously optimistic.
“I do love this team,” he said. “I do want to see who we are when it doesn’t go our way. So I want to say ok, I love our team, but what are we gonna be, after a winning streak, after a losing streak, after four games in five nights. All those things. I love this team. I love who we can become, but I’m also excited … to go through all the s*** that the NBA season gives you. I’m excited to lose with this team, I’m excited to win with this team … do all those things to see who we become on the other side of it.”
MACAU, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of Houston Rockets during NBA China Games 2026 between Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 11, 2026 in Macau, China. 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 Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA scheduling powers that be are doing the Dallas Mavericks zero favors to start the 2026-27 season.
The Mavericks’ first six opponents of the year sport a combined record from last year of 292-200. Dallas faces the Rockets (52-30) twice, the NBA finalist San Antonio Spurs (62-20) once and the only team in the West that had a better record than the Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18), once in that span.
The Indiana Pacers are the one team the Mavs face in that span that had a losing record a year ago (19-63) — and they are a popular pick this year to have the biggest turnaround in the league, with Tyrese Halliburton working his way back to health after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals. That, along with the additions of Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr. could put Indiana back in the catbird seat in the Eastern Conference.
Not to mention, the Miami Heat, also one of the Mavericks’ early opponents, netted the biggest catch of the 2026 offseason after a 43-39 campaign a year ago. Giannis Antetokounmpo now resides in South Beach, seated at the helm of a remade Heat roster that also harbors the likes of Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, and former Mavericks Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson. So, if nothing else, that game will be an interesting one lumped in with a bunch of tough tests to start the year.
The Mavericks started last season with a 2-4 record, and it only got worse from there. Then-General Manager Nico Harrison was fired as the sour stretch to start 2025-26 dragged to 3-8. Then it got to 3-10 after losses to the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. It would be easy to see another 2-4 start to this year, or perhaps even 1-5. Another 3-8 start is definitely on the table this year.
If the Mavericks are going to take a significant step forward this year, that would mean bouncing back to play something close to .500 basketball the rest of the way. Is that asking too much from a cobbled-together roster led by a first-year coach coming to the NBA from the college ranks? As currently constructed, the Dallas roster still has one foot stuck in a previous iteration while also looking forward with something of a youth movement after team president Masai Ujiri’s first offseason at the controls.
You’d have to think that Cooper Flagg’s second-year maturation, plus the addition of a healthy Kyrie Irving, could help the Mavs improve upon the 23-46 mark they recorded after that 3-10 start a year ago. If the team gets a little injury luck, which has not been granted in either of the last two seasons, Dallas could be one of the surprise teams in the league this year.
There are a lot of “ifs.” There are a lot of possibilities. But one thing to watch out for will be how the Mavericks meet the challenge the first six games of the year present.
If Dallas goes 2-4 or 1-5 to start the year, don’t lose hope. A bumpy start may always have been built in here. But if they can somehow start the year 3-3 or, heaven forbid, better, watch out. It may be the first sign that this team could possibly, just maybe, be, better than average? Bordering on good?
I don’t know if I can quite squint and see that vision. But I’m willing to be shown the way.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs hoist the The Oscar Robertson Trophy with his teammates 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s finally here! After a shorter-than-we’ve-gotten-used-to offseason thanks to the Spurs making it to the NBA Finals last season, they are back in action and ready for a re-match of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season’s match-up represented a rivalry reborn from 10 years prior, and what a rivalry it is becoming. The two teams now stand a clear tier above the rest of West — which, while still deep, may be falling behind the East in terms of number of contenders — with both teams knowing that anything less than another Conference Finals appearance will be a major disappointment.
The question now is, will the chip the Thunder are carrying on their shoulders from the loss to the Spurs in the WCF outweigh the chip the Spurs are carrying from their loss to the Knicks in the Finals, or will their quest for Redemption 2.0 reign supreme? We’ll find out starting tonight!
San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0)
October 20, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: NBC/Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris — out (calf); Jayden Quaintance — out (knee)
Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber — out (knee); Nikola Topic — out (back); Otega Oweh — out (Achilles)
What to watch for
Dynamic Guard Trio
Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson said at media day that they would play the guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper more than last season, although he couldn’t say how much. Well, he’s throwing them right into the fire as part of the starting line-up on opening night, with Tobias Harris’ calf injury offering the opportunity to experiment a bit. What makes this approach even more interesting is despite losing some size with three guards, Johnson is sticking with Devin Vassell as the fourth starter instead of going back to last year’s starting PF, Julian Champagnie.
Of course, this is in line with their preseason approach after Harris was ruled out, and in the final two games when all three guards were available, they faired well, albeit against a Suns team sitting all their starters and a completely inept Kings team. This will be their first real test, and it will be interesting to see how what is a essentially a four-guard lineup does against a much taller Thunder squad, with the 6’5” Vassell matching up against 7’1” Chet Holmgren. Speaking of which…
Chet vs. Wemby round bajillion, or is it Mara time?
The Thunder will be entering this season with a purpose after the Spurs embarrassed them in the regular season last year, then rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win the Western Conference Finals. Wemby certainly got his revenge on Holmgren for many defeats dating back to childhood, and Chet didn’t seem to want any part of that match-up, as Isaiah Hartenstein mostly covered Wemby unless he and Holgren got switched onto each other. Now, with Vassell at the four, Holgren may find more ways to attack on offense.
That being said, OKC is probably hoping it drafted a new future Wemby stopper in Aday Mara: a 7’3”, 255 lb Spanish big man with a 7-6” wing span and reigning NCAA champion and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Of course that is nothing like the Alien’s 8-foot reach, but if Holmgren isn’t up for the challenge, Mara may get thrown into the fire early to see how he matches up. It wouldn’t be fair to expect him to be a Wemby stopper in the first NBA game of his career, and he is expected to be a work-in-progress for a season or two, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Mark Daigneault wants to see what he was right away just for reference. Afterall, similar to the Spurs, the Thunder may eventually have to start considering if they can handle three players on max contracts, and there will be a very heavy burden on Holmgren to prove himself against Wemby this season if he doesn’t want to be the odd man out.
“Most importantly, I just want to be myself … I’m not a savior in any way shape or form. I just want to be able to contribute to the team and try to help this team win games.”
Jalen Brunson said the quote above shortly before his first regular season game with the Knicks. Tonight, he’ll play his 285th regular season game in New York. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Brunson still wouldn’t call himself a savior.
But the ring on his finger and the banner hanging above his head Tuesday night will say it for him.
Brunson is a forever athlete in New York. He will be celebrated as a savior for the rest of his career and long after that.
Tonight will be a chance for fans to celebrate what he and the Knicks accomplished last spring.
And after the celebration, Brunson and the group will be ready to turn the page on the pomp, circumstance and parties. They all understand what’s ahead.
But hopefully they can all take one moment Tuesday to soak in the adulation from fans in the building.
It will be pouring out of the Garden rafters as players/coaches/execs get their rings and the banner is raised.
“You’re going to have a lot of people in there that are shocked, still can’t believe it actually happened,” Carmelo Anthony said in an interview with SNY at an American Express Tip Off event in Manhattan on Monday night. “I think it’s going to be very emotional. I think you’ll see a lot of tears in there.”
You probably won’t see Brunson overly emotional tonight. He’ll get his ring, watch the ceremony and then get ready to play LeBron and the Sixers. On to another season full of challenges and adversity.
Brunson and his team are ready for the challenge. Hopefully they can take a few moments to soak in the moment before they get down to business.
"I think it's having a real plan, a real strategy. Being able to have a vision on what type of team you want"
At the AMEX Tip-Off event, Carmelo Anthony joined @IanBegley to discuss why the Knicks were able to achieve success under Leon Rose https://t.co/AjbvL4zHkO
Something worth noting from preseason/training camp: the Knicks have been impressed by two-way guard Jaden Akins. His play and approach to his craft have not gone unnoticed by the organization. The Knicks are optimistic about his future. Something to keep an eye on as the team navigates the second apron. New York will not spend above the second apron threshold in team salary, per owner James Dolan. Unless that stance changes, the club will need to find young players on team-friendly deals who can impact winning. Based on early feedback, it sounds like they think Akins has a chance to be one of those guys.
DUREN WAS DUG IN
Detroit and Jalen Duren eventually agreed to a $200 million contract in the offseason. But it took a while to get there.
There was speculation that Duren would take the qualifying offer this season for $9.6 million and become an unrestricted free agent next season. Some analysts questioned whether Duren would actually pass up the $200 million offer from Detroit and take the risk of playing this season out on the qualifying offer. But it turns out that Duren’s stance was not an empty threat.
According to league sources familiar with the matter, certain steps were taken over the summer for Duren to take the qualifying offer; those steps included the purchase of a sizeable insurance policy against potential injury. Obviously, things ended well for Detroit and Duren. But he was certainly preparing to play the coming season on that qualifying offer.
To kick off their four-game East Coast road trip, the Anaheim Ducks traveled to Manhattan on Monday evening to take on the New York Rangers.
The Ducks entered play on Monday after two disappointing 4-2 home losses to the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins, both of which the Ducks led. This game was to be the first leg of a back-to-back, as they’ll travel to face the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
The Rangers are off to a somewhat surprising hot start this season, but entered play on a two-game winless streak and were hoping to return to the win column.
Ducks captain Mikael Granlund missed the team’s previous game against Boston with an upper-body injury, but was back in action for this one. Veteran defenseman and UFA signing from the 2026 offseason Nick Jensen made his Ducks debut in this game and slotted in on the listed bottom pair alongside Pavel Mintyukov.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Killorn-Carlsson-Klepov
Vatrano-Granlund-Senneceke
Greer-McQueen-Gauthier
Malott-Washe-Caulfield
LaCombe-Warren
Hinds-Luneau
Mintyukov-Jensen
Ville Husso got his second start of the season in this game for the Ducks and saved 25 of 30 shots while under siege from puck drop. He was opposed by rookie netminder Dylan Garand in the Rangers’ net, who stopped 29 of 31.
“Disappointing more than anything, a game like tonight,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville told media after the game. “We didn’t have much, and when I say that: possession of the puck, play recognition, second battles. They played well. We didn’t really have anything that was dangerous to them.”
Game Notes
The Ducks had improved in certain defensive aspects early in this season compared with recent years, and they’ve taken steps back in others. In this game, every area that had plagued the team in the past and present reared its head and directly contributed to goals against on the scoreboard.
Breakouts/Exits: With a young blueline and the sheer number of new faces up front, this has been the area in which the team has struggled the most this season. In this game, the young defenders, misreading time and space on occasion, reverted to sending empty rims to the near and far halfwalls in hopes their winger would win an ensuing board battle and clear the defensive zone.
Too often those wingers allowed opposing pinching defenders to jump the routes to those rims, and even when those battles were created or won, second touches out were elusive, whether it came in the form of attempted slips to centers or chips into neutral ice. Telegraphing first passes and failure to read pinches led to minutes-long cycle sequences for the Rangers.
Ville Husso: This game could have gotten out of hand far quicker had it not been for Husso’s performance against a multitude of high-danger chances. Said extended cycles could have prolonged had he not displayed quality rebound control and game management, remaining square amid flurries and finding ways to freeze pucks, allowing his teammates to reset for a faceoff.
Recoveries/rush defending: The poor exit sequences didn’t end when pucks made their way past the defensive blueline. Too often, New York won the neutral zone puck battles and turned play quickly back up ice, which took advantage of overeager forwards flying the zone and defensemen too delayed in closing gaps against transition.
When opposing rushes were defended well, there were often still sorting issues, which led to open seams and defenders struggling to recover and eliminate dangerous options.
Roger McQueen/Nikita Klepov: Though both of the Ducks’ top prospects had quality sequences in this game that showcased their ultimate potential, they performed expectedly like rookies with only a few career games under their belts.
With the puck on his stick, Klepov navigated tight spaces and read how lanes developed on the rush to a level beyond his years. He was one guilty of misreading developing or broken sequences in his end. He too often flew the zone when more support was needed and struggled to identify seams.
McQueen is translating his effective reach to both rush and cycle sequences on the offensive side of the puck and generated a few quality looks. However, in his end, though he was efficiently in position, his reads were somewhat delayed, as he squandered a handful of second touches up ice, which halted rushes before they began.
Overall, these are details that can be acquired with reps at the NHL level, but were costly in this game in particular.
The Ducks will have a chance to quickly flush this game, as they’ll head to Long Island to take on the Islanders on Tuesday at 4 pm PST.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: A general view of American Family Field during Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB World Series is now set, as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians to join the Milwaukee Brewers.
This feels like the perfect match-up for a feel-good World Series. Neither team has ever won a championship, despite many recent playoff appearances. So it’s kind of fun to go into the series not really having a strong preference, and feeling good about either winner.
Game 1 of the World Series will take place in Milwaukee on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox.
How are you feeling about this World Series match-up?
Kurt Helin
