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WNBA Finals Roundtable: Aces vs. Mercury preview, key storylines, and predictions

We’ve made it to the end of the longest WNBA season to date — one which featured several twists and turns to make for an unpredictable and entertaining 2025 season. Fittingly, the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury have illustrated the unpredictability to a tee as the first-ever best-of-seven WNBA Finals gets underway on Friday night in Las Vegas.

Outside of their own locker room, who thought that the Aces would be able to withstand the storm that was the first half of the season? It took back-to-back A’ja Wilson 30-point, 10-rebound double-doubles to land a couple of wins before the All-Star Break to secure an 11-11 record at the midway point. Vegas got popped 109-78 by Minnesota less than a week after the break, before reaching rock-bottom with a 53-point thumping from those same Lynx eight days later.

Yet, the embarrassment of the near-record-setting defeat may have also been the turning point — led by a Wilson MVP run, they pulled off a remarkable 16-game winning streak to close the regular season, allowing them to have two crucial series-deciding home games against the Storm and Fever during this playoff run.

As for the Phoenix Mercury, the consistency shown throughout their 44-game regular-season games didn’t come with the same attention that the Aces’ final stretch did. After having players in and out due to injury and signing DeWanna Bonner to begin the month of July, their regular season was at times inconsistent. The Mercury ended their regular season with three straight losses to teams that didn’t make the WNBA playoffs in the Sun, Wings, and Sparks.

Still, the Mercury's seven postseason games may speak louder than what the Aces have done to get here. On the back of MVP finalist Alyssa Thomas, the Mercury served the final blow to the New York Liberty, who could rarely find cohesion this season in their first-ever title defense, before taking down the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in four games. With two championship favorites out, there remains one box left unchecked for the Mercury to capture their first title since 2014.

As we near the start of the WNBA’s first-ever best-of-seven championship series, our staff previews the matchup and key storylines, as well as our predictions for who will come out on top.

▶ What is the most obvious challenge each team will face?

Cole Huff: The most obvious challenge Las Vegas will face is scoring on Phoenix’s top-rated postseason defense. The Liberty and Lynx had top-five offensive ratings and were among the five highest-scoring teams during the regular season before running into the well-oiled machine that is the Mercury’s top-rated postseason defense. Phoenix held its semifinal opponents under 80 points twice in regulation and didn’t allow more than 73 points to its first-round opponent — Wilson and Jackie Young will likely need other Aces players to join the party offensively on a more consistent basis than against the Fever if they want to avoid being the latest offense to be handcuffed by the Mercury’s defense.

Coincidentally, the Aces currently carry the highest offensive rating of any team this postseason, which could deliver the Mercury plenty of challenges. Whether it's been a group effort, like in their Game 3 victory over the Fever in which five players scored in double figures or in the series-clinching win when Wilson and Young became the first pair of teammates to score 30 or more points in the same playoff game, the Aces have had the type of offense through eight postseason games that could overcome Phoenix’s defense.

Jackie Powell: The Mercury pose many challenges to the Aces and that includes how Las Vegas will attempt to guard Alyssa Thomas, the Mercury’s point forward that essentially operates on the floor like a point guard rather than a front court player. If A’ja Wilson is assigned to guard Thomas, the Aces run the risk of having to play their Defensive Player of the Year and MVP on the perimeter rather than protecting the paint and protecting the rim.

But besides how the Aces decide to guard Thomas, the most obvious challenge the Aces will face is how the Mercury approach physicality on both ends of the ball. The Aces struggled defending Aliyah Boston for that very reason and so how will they handle the ways in which Thomas can overpower opponents on offense while also suffocating them on defense.

Now on the flip side, how will the Mercury guard Wilson when Natasha Mack isn’t on the floor? Mack usually starts games but often hasn’t closed them as the Mercury have opted for a more offensive-friendly lineup that features DeWanna Bonner instead which is understandable since Mack doesn’t add much floor spacing and is most used offensively in the dunker spot. Or how about when Katheryn Westbeld, a serviceable stretch big, is subbed in Mack’s place. How are the Mercury guarding Wilson?

2014 WNBA Finals - Game Three
WNBA Finals champions, history: Full past winners list by year, Finals MVPs, most titles
Before the 29th WNBA Finals gets underway, dig into some WNBA Championship history, including Finals MVPs and which team has won the most titles.

▶ Who is each team’s X-Factor and why?

Huff: Calling a former Finals MVP an X-Factor could seem like a slight, but in this case, I truly think of Chelsea Gray as the difference-maker for the Aces. While Wilson keyed the Aces’ 16-game win streak to end the season, Gray was quietly very productive over that span. Her functionality as a floor general remains massive for the Aces’ offense. Still, when she’s been productive as a scorer during this playoff run, it’s usually yielded positive results for Las Vegas. If Gray can remain a consistent scoring threat throughout this matchup, life will be much easier for the Aces’ two all-stars.

On Phoenix’s side, I’m going to take the easy route here and give two names: DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb. Both veteran players come off the bench, log starter-level minutes, and provide the Mercury with perimeter shooting and high basketball IQ. Their values have already been on display down the stretch of some of these playoff games, particularly against the Lynx in the semifinals. Both players will have their moments during the Finals, but the number of moments they have could be the difference between wins and losses.

Powell: I agree with all of Cole’s picks, but on the Aces side I’m going to be really looking at how much Dana Evans contributes and how head coach Becky Hammon uses her to exploit the Mercury’s defense especially when Sami Whitcomb—who’s typically one step slower defensively—is on the floor. Evans puts so much pressure on the rim and when the Mercury are in one of their more offensive-friendly lineups without Mack and Monique Akoa Makani, where are they getting rim protection and high level perimeter defense from?

A number of the Mercury’s clutch moments in these playoffs have been as a result of DeWanna Bonner. If she’s made a circus shot at the end of the shot clock or finally hit a wide open three-pointer after missing so many previously, she’s been finding ways to lift the Mercury when they need it the most. Her heroics are going to have to continue if Phoenix is going to win this series. But also on the defensive end, the Mercury are going to have to leverage Bonner’s length especially when the Aces will look to exploit the Mercury’s size with speed. Bonner is going to be relied upon heavily on switches to impede the field of view of guards like Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd.

▶ The Aces will win this series if…

Huff: Much like their second-round opponent, the Aces will face a physical opponent in the Finals — they need to match Phoenix’s physicality to win this series. Thomas and Kahleah Copper, in particular, are likely to get downhill repeatedly, making it crucial for Las Vegas to defend without fouling and then clean up misses with defensive boards. The Aces have been one of the least productive defensive rebounding teams thus far — keeping the Mercury away from second-chance points and keeping them off the line would force their offense to put the ball in the basket to score points, which it hasn’t done efficiently to this point in the postseason. With said physicality and rebounding being necessities in this series, I expect NaLyssa Smith to play a big role for Vegas in its quest for championship No. 3.

Powell: If Aces head coach Becky Hammon can figure out how to exploit and successfully guard the Mercury’s inverse pick-and-roll where Thomas is screened by either Monique Akoa Makani or Sami Whitcomb, Las Vegas puts themselves in a very favorable position to win the series. That inverse pick-and-roll has been one of the Mercury’s most successful plays during the postseason and part of the reason why teams have struggled to guard it is because a strong guard has to be able to take a lot of contact on the switch from Thomas. Courtney Williams struggled with this in the semifinals and Sabrina Ionescu also couldn’t always keep pace with Thomas in the first round. The Aces, however, might have the strongest guard in the league in Jackie Young, who could be the very player to neutralize the play.

▶ The Mercury will win this series if…

Huff: While I could roll with the Mercury’s dominant defense being the reason why they run through the tape and earn their fourth WNBA championship, the more obvious factor, I believe, is receiving the best version of Satou Sabally. In the Mercury’s two playoff losses, she’s averaging 9.5 points on 5-of-28 shooting (17.9 percent); in the five wins, she’s up to 21.2 points on 31-of-69 from the field (44.9 percent). With her shooting stroke and ability to get downhill as a 6-foot-4 wing, Sabally has the tools to be a matchup nightmare for the Aces. Phoenix will bring home the championship if she has a big series.

Powell: The only times the Mercury have lost games in the postseason has been when their opponent has made more three-pointers and has rebounded better than the Mercury. That might sound simple, but this formula also applies to a seven-game WNBA Finals. Also, if the officials allow more contact rather than less as they have during the entire playoffs, the Mercury will use that to their advantage. Like Cole noted above, if Phoenix’s defense can wear down the Aces and subsequently successfully turn them over, the Mercury’s margin for error widens especially when Thomas can play make and create easier offense in transition.

Phoenix Mercury
Mat Ishbia’s investment into WNBA’s Mercury pays off fast with surprise run to Finals
As the WNBA enters an era of increased exposure and popularity, the Mercury are one of the league’s crown jewels.

▶ Prediction time: Who will win the series and in how many games? Who will win finals MVP?

Huff: The Mercury have put together an encouraging run thus far, despite other teams’ injuries, and have clear momentum entering Friday night — they’ve been the best team this postseason, in my honest opinion. That said, even with the Aces having struggled to put away some of the lower seeds, I’m picking them to win this series. Vegas defeated Phoenix in three of the teams’ four matchups this season, with the Aces’ lone loss being a game A’ja Wilson missed due to being in the league’s concussion protocols. All seven games will be needed, however, with homecourt advantage ultimately being what does it for head coach Becky Hammon’s squad. Wilson collects her second Finals MVP award along the way to add to her trophy room.

Powell: Cole and I differ on this one simply because I truly believe the Mercury have been the team of destiny this entire post season. They also have exploited the weaknesses of their opponents incredibly well and I don’t expect that to stop in the WNBA Finals. Head coach Nate Tibbetts has successfully gotten his team to buy into playing physical and sometimes exaggerated the defense they play which has led to even more inconsistencies from the officiating crews. Yes, I just went there! I don’t expect the Aces to roll over, especially when they have two of the best players in the league in Wilson and Young. But, reliable depth matters in a series that will be the longest in WNBA history. I trust the Mercury’s depth more than the Aces’ and so I’m picking the Mercury to win it in six games on their home court.

When it comes to the MVP, my choice is a bit unconventional. Thomas is going to be targeted by the Aces and she’ll be getting multiple looks throughout the series. But the ultimate matchup nightmare for Las Vegas might be Satou Sabally, who if she can keep her shot selection within herself instead of forcing shots, will have the chance to be the Mercury’s most efficient offensive player. Just like how the Minnesota Lynx a year ago had difficulty stopping Jonquel Jones because so much of their energy was on Breanna Stewart, I believe the same will happen this year with Sabally. Her combination of length, speed and shooting will be too much for an Aces team that’s best lineup is when they play smaller.

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No Beyoncé or K-pop so Argentina v South Africa will have to boost RFU’s bank balance

Twickenham needs to generate more cash but governing body’s grand plans are mired in red tape – just as well the Rugby Championship finale can offer respite

A quick look at Twickenham’s upcoming events and, alas, still no Beyoncé. No Bills, Bills, Bills for Mr Sweeney just yet. In fact, the Rugby Football Union’s ambition to host more concerts and thereby pay for Twickenham’s £660m rebuild has encountered a bit of a delay. It is understood that in July, Richmond council expressed its concern over transport links and told the union further exploratory work is needed.

A report, seen by the Guardian, reads: “Given the uncertainty regarding the ability of the rail industry to cater for the predicted increase in passengers, there [are] significant concerns about the additional demand placed on the transport and highway network by event goers and whether this demand can be satisfactorily managed. This is likely to result in a significant nuisance for Twickenham residents.”

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Stay or Go: Should the Mets re-sign Edwin Diaz?

Right after the Mets' season ended, Edwin Diaz was asked about his opt-out. And he was not ready to declare publicly that he is exercising it. 

"Not yet. I was waiting for the season to be over to go home, talk to my family -- always I like to make decisions with my family," Diaz said. "I want my family to feel comfortable, feel like part of my decision. Now I'm going home, I will start thinking about that and see what happens in the future."

Diaz was also asked whether he would want to return to the Mets if he opts out.

"Yeah, of course," he said. "I love this organization. They treat me really, really good. My family, everything. If I decide to opt out I would love to come back."

While Diaz hasn't stated his intentions just yet, it will be shocking if he doesn't opt out of the final two years of the five-year, $102 million contract he signed after the 2022 season -- when the Mets locked him up in November during their exclusive negotiating window.

Diaz, who will be entering his age-32 season in 2026, is coming off a year where he was one of the best and most dominant relievers in baseball. And it's fair to believe that he'll easily be able to exceed what's left on his current deal in terms of both years and dollars.

So Diaz opting out is just a matter of time it seems.

When he does, should the Mets bring him back?

Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET DIAZ GO

With Tanner Scott prying a four-year $72 million dollar deal from the Dodgers last offseason and then responding by posting a 4.74 ERA and the worst strikeout rate of his career, those in Diaz's camp can argue that someone of Diaz's caliber deserves a five-or six-year contract worth in excess of $20 million annually.

But it's hard to see Diaz getting that, given his age and the fact that the biggest deal ever given to a reliever in terms of present day value was to Josh Hader -- and it's difficult to envision a 32-year-old eclipsing that. Hader got a five-year, $95 million deal ahead of the 2024 season before his age-30 season. The deal Diaz signed after the 2022 season, while $7 million more than Hader's, had a significant portion deferred. 

Another thing to consider is that Diaz's average fastball velocity has been slowly starting to tick down.

He averaged an outrageous 99.1 mph in 2022 in the season before he suffered the knee injury that kept him out for all of 2023.

When Diaz returned in 2024, his average fastball velocity was 97.5 mph. In 2025, it was 97.2 mph.

In a world where Diaz's fastball starts to significantly dip, he could be especially hittable since his only other viable pitch is his slider. 

It's also fair to wonder how many lucrative, long-term contracts the Mets are comfortable having on the books.

With Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo all under contract through at least 2030, would New York be comfortable adding long deals to Diaz and potentially Pete Alonso to that group?

Sep 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) gestures after getting the final out against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field.
Sep 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) gestures after getting the final out against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. / David Banks-Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP DIAZ

Now that I'm done grasping at straws trying to come up with reasons to let Diaz go...

Diaz has shown no real sign of slowing down, fresh off a season where he had a 1.63 ERA (2.28 FIP) and 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. 

Since his forgettable 2019 debut season with New York, here's what Diaz has done over his last five seasons:

270.1 innings pitched
2.36 ERA
0.97 WHIP
14.6 strikeouts per nine

The stuff (while the fastball velo is a bit down from its peak) remains filthy.

Diaz ranked in the 99th percentile this past season when it came to xERA, xBA, whiff percentage, and strikeout percentage. He was in the 89th percentile or better in fastball velocity, barrel percentage, and extension. His ground ball rate, chase percentage, and the average exit velocity against him all graded out well above average.

Batters hit .133 with a .200 slugging percentage against Diaz's fastball in 2025, while hitting .179 with a .269 slugging percentage against his slider.  

New York Mets pitcher Edwin Daz (39) reacts after the final out of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
New York Mets pitcher Edwin Daz (39) reacts after the final out of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. / Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

In addition to what Diaz brings on the mound (and he's been incredibly reliable, making 54 or more appearances each of the last four seasons), there are the intangibles.

Diaz has not only embraced New York, but has proved that he can thrive here.

He also has a serious desire to be a Met, which he showed while quickly re-signing following the 2022 campaign and with his comments after this season.

VERDICT

This should be the easiest decision the Mets make all offseason. 

Beyond all the arguments in favor of Diaz is the fact that the Mets don't have anyone in line to replace him.

New York's bullpen for 2026 is basically Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter (who should be back healthy after missing most of this season due to a lat injury), and a whole bunch of question marks.

For a team that is going to enter next season with the expectation of contending for a World Series, finding a closer is of huge importance.

And they don't have to go far for him. 

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10 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #10

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 10 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #10. 

Let's take a look.

Serge Aubin - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 1994.

Aubin played 154 games for the Jackets and had 60 points.

He left for Europe in 2006 and played in Switzerland and Germany until he retired in 2012. 

He's currently the head coach for Eisbären Berlin in Germany. 

Trevor Letowski - 2004-2006 - Drafted by Phoenix in 1996. 

Played 154 games for the Jackets and had 60 points.

He finished his career by playing two seasons in the KHL. He is currently as assistant coach for the Montréal Canadiens, where he's been since 2021. 

Duvie Westcott - 2007-2008 - Westcott was undrafted and signed by the CBJ in 2001.

Wescott played in 201 games for the Blue Jackets from 2001 to 2008. He scored 11 goals and totaled 56 points. Wescott was described as "a gritty defenseman with a solid all-around game. Has good passing ability and powerplay skills." 

After playing for Columbus, Wescott went to Europe and played the next seven seasons in the KHL, DEL, and Swiss National League. He retired in 2015. 

Kris Russell - 2009-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.

Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin. 

He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022. 

Marián Gáborík - 2013-2014 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2000. 

Gáborík played only 34 games as a Jacket and had 22 points. He was traded to the LA Kings on March 5, 2014, in exchange for Matt Frattin. He officially retired in 2021 after playing 1,035 career games.

One scout said of Gáborík, "One of the best skaters in the world, Gáborík is known for his explosive speed. He is a highly offensive winger and thanks to good hands and an extremely sharp shot, an excellent finisher. On the downside, Gaborik doesn't always think team-first and has also had issues with commitment to defensive play."

Mark Letestu - 2013 - Undrafted out of Elk Point, Alberta.

Letestu was traded to Columbus by Pittsburgh for Columbus's 4th round pick on November 8, 2011. He played in 255 games in two different stints with the CBJ, scoring 44 goals and totaling 102 points. He also played 64 games for the Cleveland Monsters during the 2018-19 season, where he scored 50 points. He would play his last NHL game on October 13th, 2019, for the Winnipeg Jets.

In 2021, he was hired as an Assistant Coach by the Monsters, where he served until 2025. In the Summer of 2025, he was hired by the AHL's Colorado Eagles as their next head coach.

Jack Skille - 2015 - Drafted by Chicago in 2005. 

Skille played 61 games for Columbus and had 12 points. On July 6, 2013, Skille was signed as a free agent by the CBJ, but the following summer, he left in free agency. On October 5, 2014, Skille was claimed off waivers by Columbus, where he would play in 45 games. He left Columbus again, and would play a season in Colorado, and a season in Vancouver. 

In 2017, he left for Europe, where he played in Russia, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. He retired in 2021 and went into coaching. He's currently a skills coach and the Director of Skills Development for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies franchise. The Grizzlies are moving to Trenton, New Jersey, at the end of the 25-26 season. 

Alexander Wennberg - 2017-2020 - Wennberg was drafted in the 1st round of the 2013 NHL Draft as the 14th overall draft pick.

Wennberg came to North America and made his NHL Debut in 2014. After having three decent seasons, including a 59-point year in 2016-17, Wennberg was signed to a six-year deal on September 1st, 2017. 

Tom Wilson would seemingly derail Wennberg's career in the 2018 playoffs when he laid a devastating check on him. The next two seasons, Wennberg would only total 47 points. In October of 2020, the CBJ would buy Wennberg out, making him a free agent. The Jackets are finally about to make the final buyout payment to Wennberg this year. 

In addition to playing with the Florida Panthers since leaving Columbus, He's played for the Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks. After the 59-point season he had in 2016-17, Wennberg hasn't scored more than 38 points in a single season.

Jordan Schroeder - 2018 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2009.

Schroeder played 21 games as a Jacket and had two points. He left for Europe in 2019 where he still plays today. He plays for Brynäs IF in Sweden.  

Dmitri Voronkov - 2024-2025 - Drafted by Columbus in 2019. 

The big Russian forward played 148 games and has 81 points in his first two seasons. 

He will be looking to add on to that this season if he can stay healthy. He was challenged to come into camp this year and be in better shape. All indications are that he did just that. He will be counted as one of the young players to take another big step this season to help the Jackets into the playoffs. 

There are 10 days until opening night at NWA. 

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.  

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Fantasy Baseball 2025 Catcher Breakdown: Cal Raleigh’s power surge and 2026 rankings

With the 2025 MLB regular season behind us, it's time to review what we learned from a fantasy perspective and how we can apply it to next year.

In the coming days throughout October, we'll be breaking down the standout seasons, the breakout candidates, the prospects to know, and our early 2026 rankings.

We'll start at the catcher position, where one historic season stood out from the pack.

MLB: Athletics at Los Angeles Angels
2026 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Nick Kurtz in the first? Where does Gunnar Henderson go?
It’s never too early to look ahead. The Rotoworld Baseball crew and friends conduct an early 2026 mock draft to reflect on the 2025 season, identify risers and fallers, and set the tone for next year.

2025 POSITION BREAKDOWN: CATCHER

️ STATE OF THE POSITION

This probably won’t gain a ton of traction, but 2025 could be described as the Year of the Catcher. Cal Raleigh hit 60 homers and will finish first or second in the AL MVP balloting. Will Smith had a shot at the NL batting crown and finishing in the top five in the circuit in OPS until missing most of September. Salvador Perez and Shea Langeliers became the first catchers since 1999 and just the 11th and 12th all-time to finish with 30 homers and 30 doubles. Drake Baldwin is the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year, with Agustín Ramírez and Carlos Narváez also posting top-five finishes in their respective leagues.

In all, catchers had an OPS just 19 points lower than the league average of .719. That’s easily the closest mark in the years since the NL adopted the DH and pitchers stopped dragging down the league average. They produced most homers (604) than any position besides DH, first base and right field.

One imagines that OPS gap could narrow even further in future years, what with the ABS challenge system debuting in 2026 and devaluing catcher framing at least a little. It won’t produce a revolution -- the Giants probably won’t be casting Patrick Bailey aside just yet -- but if the number of challenges granted increases from two misses per game in year one to three or more down the line, framing will become less of a priority in selecting backstops.

2025’s Top Five Catchers

1. Cal Raleigh (Mariners)

.247/.359/.589. 60 HR, 110 R, 125 RBI, 14 SB

An outstanding real-world player who received AL MVP votes in both 2023 and ’24, Raleigh used to be held back for fantasy purposes by his struggles to hit for average while playing half of his games in an extreme pitcher’s park. His incredible breakthrough saw him best his previous career highs by 26 homers, 25 RBI, 32 runs scored and 15 points of average. He even stole twice as many bases and he did in his first 3 1/3 seasons combined. He’ll enter 2026 as the highest-drafted catcher this decade.

2. Hunter Goodman (Rockies)

.278/.323/.520, 31 HR, 73 R, 91 RBI, 1 SB

Goodman opened 2025 as a popular sleeper dogged with questions about playing time; just 19 of his 57 starts for the Rockies in 2024 came as a catcher, and he spent the spring battling for a spot to back up Jacob Stallings. Fortunately, the Rockies made the right call for once, turning Goodman into an everyday player between catcher and DH, and he wound up becoming the team’s All-Star rep. Goodman’s plate discipline remains an issue, but with Coors helping him along, he should again put up excellent power numbers, perhaps with a reduction in batting average.

3. Shea Langeliers (Athletics)

.277/.325/.536, 31 HR, 73 R, 72 RBI, 7 SB

It figured that the move from Oakland to Sacramento would give A’s hitters a nice boost, but that wasn’t the driving force here; Langeliers hit .278 with 12 homers at home and .274 with 19 homers in 29 fewer at-bats on the road. The big change was that Langeliers struck out just 20% of the time, down from 29% in 2023 and 27% last year, and he obviously did so without losing any power. Statcast thinks he was rather lucky, particularly in collecting 31 homers with 42 barrels. He also remains subpar defensively, though it’s not going to cost him playing time in the short term.

4. William Contreras (Brewers)

.260/.355/.399, 17 HR, 89 R, 76 RBI, 6 SB

Fantasy baseball’s top catcher in 2023 and ’24, Contreras suffered a finger fracture in May and simply spent the rest of the season playing through it. He was already off to a slow start before the injury and he did little for the two months after getting hurt, but he did pick it up in the end, hitting .293/.380/.510 with 11 homers in his final 51 games. Given that his decline is easily explainable, there’s good reason to think a bounce-back is in store for his age-28 campaign.

5. Salvador Perez (Royals)

.236//284/.446, 30 HR, 54 R, 100 RBI, 0 SB

The .236 average, his second lowest ever barely ahead of a .235 mark in 2019, suggests that Perez was in decline at age 35. Still, it’s really the only thing in his numbers that gives rise to the theory. He had a whopping 70 barrels in 155 games. That’s barely behind his career-best total of 74 from his 48-homer season in 2021. His 46% hard-hit rate was also better than his career average, and his 19.5% strikeout tare was his lowest mark since 2017. Statcast gave him a .365 xwOBA for his high mark since 2021 and third highest in the 11 seasons of Statcast. He’ll be back as an everyday player in 2026, and with Carter Jensen’s emergence in Kansas City, he figures to spend more time at DH, which shouldn’t be a bad thing.

2026 Breakouts

Ben Rice (Yankees)

If you put stock in Statcast’s expected stats, Rice already busted out; he finished 2025 with a .299 xBA and a .581 xSLG that were far about his perfectly solid actual marks of .255 and .499. He’ll likely be the Yankees’ primary first baseman next year, but hopefully he’ll catch often enough to maintain eligibility going in 2027.

Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks)

Moreno has been around long enough that it’s easy to forget he’s just turning 26 in February. His exit velocity numbers have gotten a little better each season, and he managed a .285 average and nine homers in 83 games while healthy this season. Durability is a concern, but a healthy campaign would probably make him a top-12 catcher in 2026.

Francisco Alvarez (Mets)

Alvarez opened the season on the injured list and probably should have finished it there, given the degree of the injuries he dealt with in September. He also spent a month in the minors due to a combination of subpar offense and defense. Still, when Alvarez was able to strike the ball, he usually crushed it, finishing with a 54% hard-hit rate that ranked 13th of the 309 players with 250 plate appearances. His contract issues haven’t gone anywhere, but he’s a 30-homer threat.

Kyle Teel (White Sox)

Picking up Teel from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade gave the White Sox two top-flight catching prospects, and Edgar Quero was able to win the race to the majors in 2025, joining the team in mid-April. Still, it was Teel who won out in the end, hitting .273/.375/.411 in 297 plate appearances and also looking more promising defensively, even if he still needs some polish there. That, as a left-handed hitter, he’ll probably sit against most lefties while playing for what still figures to be a rather weak team in 2026 dims his short-term prospects some, but he’s already pretty good and sure to get better.

2026 Prospects To Know

Samuel Basallo (Orioles)

Instead of bringing him up when the most needed him with Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez down, the Orioles waited until Aug. 17 to promote Basallo from Triple-A, just because they wanted him Rookie of the Year eligible next season. They then signed him to an eight-year, $67 million that took away any incentive for sending him back to the minors. It’s clear they think they can make it work with both Basallo and Rutschman for now (sending Ryan Mountcastle packing will likely be part of the deal), and Basallo could be a top fantasy catcher right away while spending considerable time at DH and maybe first base. In Triple-A last year, he hit 23 homers and posted an outstanding 58% hard-hit rate in 76 games.

Carter Jensen (Royals)

The Royals should have some regrets about not immediately promoting Jensen after trading Freddy Fermin to the Padres at the deadline. Jensen did come up in September and hit .300/.391/.550 in 69 plate appearances. He could have done even better; with his 10 barrels and 28 hard-hit balls in 48 events, Statcast had him with a .355 xBA and a .660 xSLG. Jensen might not play much against lefties as he likely alternates between catcher and DH in tandem with Perez, but he should be quite good while in the lineup, and it adds to his upside that he can run; he had 43 steals in the minors the last three years.

Moisés Ballesteros (Cubs)

Whether Ballesteros has a real future behind the plate remains in question, but there’s little doubt about his bat, which produced a .316/.385/.473 line in 114 games as a 21-year-old in Triple-A this year, He also came in at .298/.394/.474 in 66 plate appearances as a major leaguer. Still, the Cubs never really considered him at catcher while Miguel Amaya missed most of the year; he started 16 games as DH and caught just once during his time in the majors. If the Cubs lose Kyle Tucker and decide to make Ballesteros their primary DH next year, he could eventually be a top-12 catcher. First, though, he’d need eligibility.

Joe Mack (Marlins)

Ramírez should remain very much in the Marlins’ plans going forward, but it probably can’t be as a long-term catcher. Fortunately, the team has a superior defender on the way up, one who has made impressive strides offensively in hitting 45 homers the last two years. Mack, the 31st overall pick in the 2021 draft, has contact issues that aren’t ever likely to go away, but he’ll make up for it with major league power and strong defense, especially in terms of throwing. He might not ever be a No. 1 catcher in fantasy leagues, but he could be a No. 2, especially if he wants to have some fun on the basepaths; he was 9-for-12 stealing bases this season after trying just four and succeeding on three in his first two-plus years as a minor leaguer.

2026 Top 12 Catchers

1. Cal Raleigh: The slam-dunk No. 1, but probably not worth what it’ll take to draft him.
2. William Contreras: Still the closest thing to a five-category catcher in the league.
3. Ben Rice: So much hard contact. Could hit 30 homers and maintain a .270 average.
4. Salvador Perez: He’ll catch less but still play as much as anyone here.
5. Adley Rutschman: The hype is gone, but his EV numbers haven’t changed as his production has waned.
6. Shea Langeliers: A little lucky in 2025, but he could still run it back as a 30-homer guy.
7. Will Smith: Would be higher if someone else wasn’t always hogging the DH spot in L.A.
8. Hunter Goodman: With Coors helping, the likely step back shouldn’t be especially severe.
9. Drake Baldwin: Probably not yet enough power to be elite, but he’s getting there.
10. Samuel Basallo: Some risk if he gets off to a slow start, but the 21-year-old has a top-five ceiling.
11. Agustín Ramírez: Surprised with 16 steals as rookie. Value would jump if moved to first.
12. Yainer Diaz: Down season not backed up by EV numbers. 25 HR, 90 RBI within reach.

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Revisiting the Red Wings’ Stumble in Blashill’s First Season and Datsyuk’s Costly Injury

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Staring Down The Streak - Sept. 14 2015 - Vol. 69 Issue 3 - Bob Duff

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A decade, the Detroit Red Wings will answer to a new coach, as Jeff Blashill takes over for the departed Mike Babcock. And a lengthy search for a skilled, right-handshot defenseman ended when Detroit signed Mike Green via free agency. You could make a case either will prove the key addition as the Wings seek to extend their playoff streak to a quarter-century. Based on more recent developments, however, Detroit’s other free agent acquisition, center Brad Richards, might be the most important newcomer.

Pavel Datsyuk announced that the ankle surgery he underwent in June, which was supposed to sideline him only four to six weeks, will leave him out four to five months. Suddenly, at least to start the season, Richards has been thrust into the role as Detroit’s No. 1 center.

Wings GM Ken Holland acknowledged the signing of Richards was partially driven by Datsyuk’s status. “We were looking for a No. 2 center iceman and maybe even a No. 1 center, not being sure how long Datsyuk will be out to start the season with his ankle injury,” Holland said. “So in Richards we added a guy that’s a winner with two Stanley Cups.”

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

Even after Datsyuk is healthy, the Wings see Richards playing a vital role. “When we’re all healthy the thinking is it’s going to be ‘Z’ (Henrik Zetterberg) and ‘Pav’ together on one line, and Brad centering another line,” Holland said. “We’ve got lots of different wingers here.

“With Riley Sheahan in the three hole, we’re hoping – believing – that when everybody’s healthy we’re going to be able to roll four lines and three lines that can really provide offense on any given night.”

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Green isn’t the same guy who scored 31 goals and 73 points for Washington in 2008-09, but, at 29, he still has lots of hockey left in him and brings a skill element to Detroit’s back end that’s been absent since Nicklas Lidstrom retired in 2012. “We were really fortunate to have guys like Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski and Chris Chelios and Larry Murphy going back,” Holland said. “We always wanted to have defensemen who could join the rush and get the puck moving. That’s part of how we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve accomplished.”

Green’s 45 points last season would have led the Detroit defense. Niklas Kronwall (44 points) was the only Red Wing to finish among the top 40 blueliners in scoring. Green also provides the right-handed point shot the Wings have sought for their power play.

As for Blashill, Detroit always viewed him as Babcock’s successor, doubling his salary as Grand Rapids coach to $400,000 last summer instead of giving him the freedom to pursue offers from other NHL teams. Blashill has coached almost every player on the Wings roster, so the transition should be smooth. He shepherded Grand Rapids to a Calder Cup crown as AHL champ in 2012-13, and that club’s key contributors included current Wings Sheahan, Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Jurco, Luke Glendening and Petr Mrazek.

New Father Of Twins James van Riemsdyk Happy To Be With Red Wings New Father Of Twins James van Riemsdyk Happy To Be With Red Wings As one of the more active teams in free agency during the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings signed multiple new players for the 2025-26 NHL campaign, one of them being veteran James van Riemsdyk. 

While Blashill subscribes to many of the same philosophies as Babcock, he shouldn’t be viewed as a Babcock clone. “I coach similar in a lot of ways to how ‘Babs’ has coached here and in a lot of the same approaches as to who we play,” Blashill said. “But I’m my own person in how I deal with players and how I deal with things on a daily basis. I’ll have my own approach, and with my own approach will come change.”

One thing that won’t change? Expect the Wings to be playoff participants again in 2015-16. It’s one of the reasons Richards chose Detroit. “I’ve been in the Stanley Cup final two years in a row, and it gets addicting when you get a taste of winning,” Richards said. “I feel this team has a great chance.” 

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Canadiens Take 14th Place In NHL.com Power Rankings

Just like The Hockey News last week, NHL.com has included the Montreal Canadiens in its first power rankings of the new season. Where did the Habs land in those rankings? Two spots higher than on THN’s rankings, in 14th place.

Journalist Jean-Francois Chaumont writes that the rebuild is now a thing of the past for the Canadiens and that they are ready to make another push for a playoff appearance. For him, the summer’s new arrivals will be key to the Habs' fate this season. Montreal edged both the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers, who finished 15th and 16th, respectively.

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Given how well the Canadiens did in the preseason, this is not surprising. Although the Habs did have one game where they came out flat and didn’t put in the appropriate level of effort, they bounced back, and Ivan Demidov has been a standout in every game or scrimmage he has played in.

The young Russian has demonstrated that he can confound opponents with his ability to create space and time for himself through twists and turns. He’s also shown that even if he doesn’t have either, his deceptiveness can allow him to try a pass that very few players would attempt and even fewer would succeed in making. Looking one way, he can send a picture-perfect pass to the other side of the ice without breaking a sweat. His presence on the power play should really have a significant impact on the special team unit's success rate.

As for Zack Bolduc, he has impressed with both his speed and defensive play since the start of camp. He’s the perfect player to deliver the kind of play Martin St-Louis was after; he’s intense at both ends of the ice, and he worked on his defensive play in his rookie season, and it shows.

Noah Dobson made a good impression in his first preseason game, but unfortunately, he had to leave the second game with a minor groin injury. Judging by what we’ve seen at practice since then, though, it’s likely that he will suit up on Saturday for the Canadiens’ last preseason game.

On top of the new arrivals from outside the organization, I feel it’s important to mention the performance of Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj at camp. The three managed to see the Habs camp through the end, and whichever final decision is made by St-Louis, they can all be proud of their performance and how they handled themselves.

Right now, Kapanen appears to be the likely choice to stay with the team for the start of the season, but Beck and Xhekaj won’t be far behind on the call-up list if injuries start to complicate matters for the Habs. Beck has lost out to Kapanen because of the Finn’s better offensive game and readiness. The coach says he played a mature game and has taken a step in the right direction last season. As for Xhekaj, there’s still room to improve his defensive reads, but he has shown that just like his brother, he can bring some grit and sandpaper to the lineup. After the Washington Capitals and Tom Wilson roughed up the Canadiens in the playoffs, it’s a relief for the organization to see that they have a player who could eventually become their version of Wilson in their ranks in the younger Xhekaj.

On the blueline, Adam Engstrom has also shown interesting flashes, and he, too, saw the camp to the end, but the fact that Dobson and Kaiden Guhle dealt with injury helped in that respect. The 21-year-old Swede has developed very well in his first season with the Laval Rocket last year, but he can still use some seasoning and needs a lot of ice time, which he wouldn’t get now with the Canadiens.

For a second camp in a row, David Reinbacher didn’t end camp the way he would have liked since he sustained an injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, the injury is much less severe than the knee injury he suffered last season, and he’s only been ruled out for four weeks. However, even if he hadn’t been, he’s not ready for the NHL yet. The game was clearly coming a bit too fast for him in exhibition games. He needs to work on making decisions faster with the puck if he is to meet the lofty expectations the Canadiens have in him.

Still, the Canadiens have been impressive enough at camp to find a berth in the NHL’s Super 16, and it’s fully deserved. St-Louis wanted a more intense training camp that would see his men be ready for the season start on October 8, and that’s precisely what he got.

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Blackhawks Flavor Will Be All Over College Hockey In 2025-26

The Chicago Blackhawks have had a heavy presence in college hockey over the last couple of years. They have used first-round picks on college hockey players or young men committed to the NCAA  frequently since Kyle Davidson took over. 

Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Drew Commesso, and Ryan Greene, amongst others, have all played in the college ranks at one point or another. 

This year will be no different. There will be a handful of Blackhawks prospects playing across the college hockey landscape, and their scouts will be watching all of the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft with a close eye. 

At The Hockey News, our Ryan Kennedy ranked the top 100 NCAA players to watch in 2025-26. The Blackhawks and the players they will be scouting are all over the list. 

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XThe Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XWe have one of the most highly anticipated college hockey seasons of all-time coming up! @THNRyanKennedy’s Top 💯 NCAA Players to Watch: https://t.co/9NNtvLKBiD

For one, forward Gavin McKenna of Penn State and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota are the undrafted players to watch if you're dreaming of drafting in the top two. For the Blackhawks, there is a chance that this is their reality in 2026. 

McKenna is the number one-ranked player on this list, and Verhoeff was fifth. Of course, although the latter is projected to be a great NHL player, the former is labeled as a generational talent. Getting their hands on him would be another franchise-altering draft pick for Chicago. 

Although the Blackhawks are incredibly strong when it comes to underage defensemen, it is hard to see them passing on Verhoeff if they had the second overall pick. In that instance, you may take the best player available if the gap between two and three is that large. You can address the surplus at the position for help in other spots later. 

As far as players already drafted, the Chicago Blackhawks have four players in this top-100 ranking. Those players are:

25. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, U-Mass

Vaclav Nestrasill will head to U-Mass after being selected in the first round (25th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2025 NHL Draft. His game as a scoring winger in the USHL should translate to success in Hockey East, where he will prepare to become a contributor in the NHL.

32. Sacha Boisvert, C, Boston University

Sacha Boisvert was one of Chicago's first-round picks (18th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He transferred to Boston University after an incredibly strong freshman year at North Dakota. Boisvert is a two-way center who should thrive in his development under BU head coach Jay Pandolfo. 

52. Julius Sumpf, C, Providence 

Julius Sumpf, a fourth-round (98th overall) pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is already looking like a solid selection by Kyle Davidson. Sumpf playing for Providence will make this an exciting team to watch. The program keeps adding talented players who want to play for them, which adds to the competitive balance taking place in Hockey East. 

83. Adam Gajan, G, Minnesota-Duluth

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Slovakian goaltender Adam Gajan with a second-round (35th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He is now entering his second season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Gajan didn't have a great year in 2024-25, so he is hoping that another year older will allow him to start looking like a highly drafted net-minder. 

This year's group of Blackhawks playing NCAA hockey might not be quite as strong as it was in recent seasons, but this is still a great group. All four of these guys will likely be given the opportunity to be Blackhawks one day, and playing well in college is a key to their journey to the top. 

The first weekend of the college regular season is coming up. For those looking to check out Gavin McKenna's Penn State debut, it can be seen on the NHL's YouTube or NHL Network. That is only one of many reasons to check out the game at this level. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Rick Tocchet Issues Blunt Warning to Struggling Flyers Defenseman

(Photo: Marc DesRosiers, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost to the New York Islanders in Thursday night's preseason game, but their continued struggles on defense are of much greater concern.

With prospects like Emil Andrae and Helge Grans, at least temporarily, out of the picture, the Flyers have left themselves with Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning, Dennis Gilbert, and Noah Juulsen as their options to comprise the third defense pair.

If head coach Rick Tocchet prefers to keep eight defensemen and the Flyers oblige, then all four players will stick around.

Zamula, 25, is the incumbent in that battle, but his status might not last very long after a series of poor and uninspiring performances in the exhibition games.

On Thursday night, Zamula struggled greatly with unforced turnovers and stumbled to the tune of a 5-1 scoring chance differential and 17-8 shot attempt differential at 5-on-5 on Thursday night - both in favor of the Islanders - according to Natural Stat Trick.

Both Ginning and Zamula are 25 years old and on expiring contracts, but one player is clearly trending up and the other down.

Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

Tocchet has taken notice of Zamula's struggles, too, and bluntly addressed them after the loss to the Islanders.

"Yeah, he's gotta pick it up," Tocchet plainly assessed. "Yup, definitely."

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement from your head coach with as many as three teammates battling with you for playing time, a place in the lineup, and, potentially, a place on the roster altogether.

Much to the chagrin of Flyers fans, the organization appears to have already made their final decision on Andrae until something changes, and we're left to wonder what a healthy Oliver Bonk could do with this competition had he been available to play.

As for the injured Ethan Samson, I spotted him sporting a brace or cast of sorts on his right hand in the elevator after the game, and he was declared out 6-to-8 weeks by the Flyers last week anyway.

This is all to say that the Flyers have what they have at this point, but if Zamula doesn't tread carefully, Tocchet's patience with him could run out sooner than later.