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How Good Will The Metro Be This Season & Where Will Islanders Finish?

Former NHLer turned analyst Mike Rupp made a claim on NHL Network about the Metropolitan Division heading into the 2025-26 NHL season:

This past season, the Washington Capitals were the second-best team in the NHL (111 points), but then there was a major drop with the remaining Metro Division playoff teams.

The Carolina Hurricanes finished at No. 10 (99 points), while the New Jersey Devils (91) came in at No. 16. 

The New York Rangers (85 points) and New York Islanders (82 points) missed the playoffs, finishing in 22nd and 23rd place, respectively. The Columbus Blue Jackets finished 20th (89 points).

So, what about the 2025-26 season and Rupp's claim?

The Capitals are coming off a magical season, but there's no way they can do it again, right?

The Hurricanes, regardless of what they do in the summer, always find a way to have strong regular seasons, so it wouldn't be a shock to see them finish atop the Metro this season.  They did land Nikolaj Ehlers and get a full season of Logan Stankoven

While the Devils didn't make any crazy splashes in free agency -- they'll be getting Quinn Hughes sooner rather than later -- their success sits on the shoulders of Jack Hughes and his ability to stay healthy. They should be a playoff team. 

The Rangers didn't do much and are going through a bit of an identity crisis at the moment, but when you have Igor Shesterkin in goal, defying odds is always possible. They did add Valdislav Gavrikov, who should help the defense. 

First-time general manager Mathieu Darche filled holes this summer, but will the new additions be strong enough to get this team back to the postseason? 

Coming off an emotionally driven season, the Blue Jackets could be a playoff team this upcoming season, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers aren't likely to be ultra competitive. 

The Islanders are likely to be fighting for a wild-card spot again, as they always seem to do. That projection can change if the Islanders can show some consistency out of the gate, as they've been anything but since Patrick Roy took over behind the bench mid-way through the 2023-24 NHL season. 

To get back to Rupp's claim, the Metro could very well be the weakest division in the NHL this season, which means an even stronger chance for the Islanders to find a way to get back into the postseason.

Projection:

CAR

WSH

NJD

NYI

NYR

CBJ

PHI

PIT

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PHOTO: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Reds outfielder TJ Friedl gets hit by pitch three times against Mets, tying MLB record

NEW YORK — Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl tied a major league record Friday night when he was hit by a pitch three times — by three different New York Mets hurlers.

The 5-foot-8 Friedl was plunked on the left forearm by a 91 mph fastball from left-hander Sean Manaea in the third inning and on the left foot by an 85 mph slider from right-handed reliever Alex Carrillo in the fifth.

Mets lefty Brandon Waddell then drilled Friedl on the left hand with a 91 mph sinker in the eighth.

“The lefties, it makes more sense because everything is away and I’m trying to stick my nose in there,” Friedl said. “The last one, that one stung!”

It was the 39th time in the modern era (since 1901) that a hitter got nailed three times in one game. It’s happened to 34 different players — the only previous Reds batter was Derek Dietrich at Milwaukee on June 21, 2019.

Two other major leaguers have been plunked three times in a game this season: Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams on May 31 at Arizona, and Colorado’s Tyler Freeman on June 17 at Washington.

Batting leadoff, Friedl finished 0 for 2 but scored twice in an 8-4 victory over the Mets. He expects to be in the lineup Saturday and joked that he didn’t want a day off anyway.

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Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)

According to Puckpedia’s numbers, the Montreal Canadiens have the most expensive goaltending in the NHL this season. They devote $14.8 million in salary to masked men, which accounts for the three goaltenders they have on NHL contracts and who aren’t waivers exempt: Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jakub Dobes. That works out to 15,5% of their cap.

The New York Rangers are in second place, with Ivor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick commanding a combined salary of $13 M, 13.7% of their cap. The Anaheim Ducks are in third place with $12.9 M for Lukas Dostal (who was just signed to a five-year contract with a $6.5 M cap hit), Petr Mrazek, and Ville Husso. The trio takes up 13.6% of the cap. The New York Islanders are in fourth place, having devoted $12 million to Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov, and David Rittich. That counts for 12.6% of the cap. Finally, the Boston Bruins wrap up the top-five with $11.2 M devoted to two goaltenders; Jaremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo that amounts to 11.8% of the cap.

How Halak (Eventually) Landed Laine For The Canadiens
Canadiens: Two Players Who Should Have Worn The C But Never Did
Canadiens Have Four Of The 23 Top Under-23 Players In The League

Among the top-five teams, only two have goaltenders who are or could be placed on LTIR, with only one who won’t ever come off it. That’s, of course, the Canadiens, with Price’s contract. Once he’s placed on LTIR or traded, the Canadiens’ cap hit for masked men will fall back down to $4.3 million, leaving them with one of the lowest amounts of money spent on goaltending.

That demonstrates the significant shift in direction the Canadiens have taken since Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton took over. Of course, they had no choice, since Price’s career was cut short by injury, but when he was hired, Hughes said in an ideal world, his team would be a fast and attacking one that would suit his coaching style. Since then, several moves have been made to achieve this goal, and there is no indication that the Canadiens will revert to a defense-first approach with the recent arrivals of Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov, and this off-season’s addition of Noah Dobson.

When Price’s contract comes off the books, be it by expiring or being traded, that money won’t be reinvested in goaltending or defending, since the blueliner is already looking pretty solid with the prospects in the pipeline. While Habs fans enjoyed watching the face of the franchise make great saves for years, this is undoubtedly a welcome change of pace.

Photo credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

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Mets reliever Max Kranick expected to undergo season-ending surgery

NEW YORK — Mets reliever Max Kranick is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow, the latest blow to New York’s injury-depleted bullpen.

Kranick was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 with an elbow strain. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and is facing a second major operation on his pitching arm in 37 months.

“He’s going to have a Tommy John,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before his team’s 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. “I don’t think we have a date yet, but he’s going to have the surgery.”

New York’s bullpen did get a boost Friday when left-hander Brooks Raley was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Raley had been sidelined since early in the 2024 season. He finished his minor league rehab assignment with eight scoreless outings across three levels.

“We saw it last year for the first couple of months — how special it is to have a guy like that that not only can get lefties out, (but) he’s a guy that, the way he spins the baseball, you feel good about whether it’s a righty or a lefty,” Mendoza said.

To make room for Raley on the roster, lefty reliever Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment.

Kranick, who turns 28 on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Mets from Pittsburgh in January 2024 and spent nearly all of last season in the minors.

He made his New York debut on March 29 — his first time on a major league mound since 2022. The rookie right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances covering 37 innings this year, though he allowed three runs over his final 4 2/3 innings before getting hurt.

Mendoza also provided updates on injured designated hitters Jesse Winker and Starling Marte.

Winker (back) received an epidural Friday and will be shut down from baseball activities for another seven to 10 days. Marte (bruised right knee) will continue to do baseball activities for another three to five days.

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Sharks Roster Projection: Mid-July Edition

The San Jose Sharks have completed most of their business for the summer at this point, and we have a rough idea of what the roster should look like on opening night. With an abundance of players fighting for a limited number of spots, though, there will be hard decisions and we’ll likely see some veterans, or even some younger players, placed on waivers when preseason comes to a close.

A lot can change over the next two months; however, we’re far enough into the off-season to start spitballing about the opening night roster, what lines will look like, as well as who will make the cut, and who will be left out. 

With the forwards, for the most part, it’s pretty clear. William Eklund, Macklin Celebrini, and Tyler Toffoli should be reunited on the first line, and it’s safe to say they’re all guaranteed a spot on the roster. The Sharks have made it clear that they want Will Smith to play center moving forward, as a resul,t he’s an obvious option as the second-line center. Alongside him, I’d pencil in two newcomers, Jeff Skinner and Philipp Kurashev.

The third line is where things truly get interesting, as Michael Misa will shake things up quite a bi,t whether he’s ready for the NHL or not. Personally, I think it would be hard for him not to earn a spot in the opening night lineup; however, like Smith, it would be logical to start him as a winger in his rookie season. Alexander Wennberg would slot in as the third-line center, and veteran Adam Gaudette would be on the right wing. 

Ironically, the fourth line is what gave me the most trouble. Barclay Goodrow and Ty Dellandrea are safe bets to have a spot on the Sharks’ bottom line, but the right wing spot creates some questions. Carl Grundstrom or Ryan Reaves would be the obvious choices. Both require waivers to go to the American Hockey League, and it’s very clear what each of them brings to the table. Instead, though, I envision both of them being scratched on opening night.

After heavily considering Collin Graf as an option to take that spot, instead I think he’ll start the season with the San Jose Barracuda, and Ethan Cardwell will earn the final spot in the lineup. It would be a shock to many, that’s for sure, but he impressed at both the Rookie Faceoff and training camp last season. He brings more defensive responsibility, and whether it was with the Sharks or the Barracuda last season, he always brought a ton of energy to each shift. Graf could certainly earn the job in training camp with a strong showing, but as of now, I see Cardwell just edging him out. 

The first major question on the blue line is, what happens to Sam Dickinson? If any of the other defensemen in the hunt for a job were waiver-ineligible, Dickinson would almost be guaranteed to get a nine-game tryout in the NHL before Mike Grier needed to make a decision. However, now that Shakir Mukhamadullin and Jack Thompson would require waivers to go to the Barracuda, it makes things a bit more difficult, and as a result, Dickinson could head back to the London Knights.

While I don’t think the OHL is the best option for Dickinson's development at this point, it’s also hard to risk him starting in the NHL, waiving a player to make room, then realizing Dickinson isn’t ready after nine games. As a result, I reluctantly left him off the opening night roster, but that could easily change with a strong showing in the Rookie Faceoff and training camp. 

Mukhamadullin is very likely to have a spot on the Sharks’ opening night roster. Given his value to the organization, it seems highly unlikely he gets waived; as a result, he’s almost guaranteed a job in the NHL. Mario Ferraro and two of the new additions, Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg, also appear to be locks. Nick Leddy, on the other hand, could find himself in the lineup, in the press box, or even on waivers once again. Ultimately, in my eyes, it seems like Timothy Liljegren and Thompson get the final two spots in the lineup, while Nick Leddy is a healthy scratch. As a result, Vincent Desharnais would be on waivers and start the season with the Barracuda if he clears. 

In between the pipes, it seems clear that Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic will be the tandem to start the season. I discussed the potential of that partnership earlier this week, but overall, it can be either one of the Sharks’ greatest assets or biggest weaknesses.

Lineup Projection:

Eklund - Celebrini - Toffoli

Skinner - Smith - Kurashev

Misa - Wennberg - Gaudette

Goodrow - Dellandrea - Cardwell

Reaves, Grundstrom

Ferraro - Klingberg

Mukhamadullin - Liljegren

Orlov - Thompson

Leddy

Askarov

Nedeljkovic

Of course, there are some names I haven’t mentioned who will likely see some playing time with the Sharks this coming season. Players like Cam Lund, Egor Afanasyev, Quentin Musty, Zack Ostapchuk, and Luca Cagnoni are a few that come to mind as potential recall options once injuries strike or players are moved near the trade deadline. I also left Daniil Gushchin out of the lineup, which could lead to an interesting situation with him, as he could be a player who is due a change of scenery.

The Sharks have a multitude of options in every position, which is a blessing, but it can also be a curse when many of them are around the same skill level. It’ll be a tight race for many of these players hoping to make the opening night roster, which means it should be a very interesting preseason this September. 

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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David Wright talks No. 5 retirement, his 'special' relationship with Mets fans

Saturday will be a massive celebration at Citi Field.

The Mets are retiring David Wright's No. 5 and inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame in a ceremony that kept the former Mets captain awake the night before.

Wright, who spent his entire 14-year career with the Mets, is still in disbelief at the generosity and support from the organization and former teammates and coaches -- plenty are in attendance -- as he spoke with the media before the ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

“Just the support, whether it’s my family, friends...the support walking around the city the last few days. Seeing No. 5 on the backs of so many people in New York is humbling," Wright said of the experience the last few days leading up to Saturday. "Former teammates, got a chance to hang out with them the last couple of days. As us old players like to do, reminisce about the good ol’ days. Just an amazing time. Just an amazing experience that's only going to get better.

"Thanks to the organization. Steve and Alex [Cohen]. They made this nothing but first class. They’ve gone over the top… and just welcomed me and my family with open arms, along with the rest of the alumni."

Wright will be the eighth Met to have his number retired, joining Tom Seaver (No. 41), Mike Piazza (No. 31), Jerry Koosman (No. 36), Keith Hernandez (No. 17), Willie Mays (No. 24), Dwight Gooden (No. 16), and Darryl Strawberry (No. 18).

It's an honor befitting of Wright, who captained the team less than 10 years after debuting in 2004. In 1,374 games from 2004-13, Wright slashed .301/.382/.506 (.888 OPS) with 222 home runs, 345 doubles, 876 RBI, 853 runs scored, and 183 stolen bases. He was one of the best players in baseball, but back injuries shortened Wright's career.

At the end, Wright was one of the greatest Mets to wear the uniform. He's first in hits (1777), doubles (390), RBI (970), runs (949) and third in home runs (242).

"Special day for the organization, for all of us here. We get to witness one of the best players, one of the Mets greats," current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Special career, obviously, but what a special human. Over a year and a half ago, I got with the organization and one of the highlights for me was meeting David last year in spring training. The humble, the quality of the person. It was pretty incredible. I was a big fan of his, watching him throughout his career and today we get to celebrate him, his family. And it’s an honor for all of us." 

When Wright wrapped up his career at the end of the 2018 season, he was emotional then and hopes he can be less so on Saturday. Although that's not likely, Wright reminisced about that day and how today will feel different.

"It’s certainly different. The biggest difference for me is, I hope I can keep it together better today," Wright said with a grin. "There’s something about taking off that uniform for the last time. I view this day as an incredible, organic relationship between me and my family, the organization, this fanbase. To me, the Mets fanbase is a blue-collar, bring your lunchpail to work type of fanbase. That’s how I was raised and that’s how I try to approach each day, coming to the ball park. Provide that blue-collar mentality. That’s why that relationship with the Mets fanbase has become so special."

That embrace from the fans and the organization has made Saturday feel more like a natural visit than a special moment for Wright, and he appreciates it.

"It feels like it was yesterday," Wright said. "It was a neat feeling. It’s the feeling when you come home from a long trip…seeing the familiar faces from ownership down to the team and the different smiles that you’re accustomed to seeing on a daily basis, now you see once a year or whenever you come back. It brings back a lot of memories…I catch myself reminiscing more than I ever did when I played." 

Wright expects to feel the love from everyone when he steps out on the field Saturday. For someone who was the face of the organization for so long, days like this still make the All-Star infielder uncomfortable. But what he's looking forward to most from the ceremony is celebrating with those who helped him on his journey.

"[I'm looking forward] to sharing it with my family, friends, the organization, the fanbase," Wright said. "It’s an uncomfortable feeling for me to be the center of the spotlight. I like to share it with everybody that’s had an impact in getting me to this point. That includes more people than I can name."

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The Open 2025: third round – as it happened

  • Rory McIlroy shot 66 in pursuit of Scottie Scheffler but the world number one powered on regardless

  • Official leaderboard

Ludvig Åberg has also made a fast start. Birdies at 2 and 3 bring him up to -4. The 25-year-old Swede’s short major career is very much one of contrasts: runner-up at the Masters on debut, tied for 12th at his first US Open, seventh on his second visit to Augusta. But he’s missed the cut in both appearances at the PGA, again at last month’s US Open, and last year at Troon, where he shot 75-76. A tie for eighth at last week’s Scottish Open showcased his ability on a links, though, and now he’s looking good for another of those high-placed major finishes. Will he ever finish in the middle of the pack?

Rory McIlroy’s second into 1, from the middle of the fairway, is distinctly average. He’s left himself with a tricky two-putt for his par from 36 feet. Well, that’s how the average player would process it. The putt has a huge right-to-left curl, but he judges it to perfection, the ball dropping into the hole at four o’clock. The crowd – and it is a crowd, a huge following – erupts in wild celebration. There’s barely a flicker on McIlroy’s face. No histrionics, just one finger pointing in the air, as if to say: that’s birdie number one, let’s go looking for the next. The start of one of his trademark leaderboard charges? Let’s see! He’s -4.

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Mets Notes: David Wright's lasting legacy; Francisco Alvarez awaiting return to majors

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared insight on a few topics before Saturday's game against the Reds.

Celebrating the Wright Way

David Wright will become the 10th player in franchise history to have his jersey retired when the Mets unveil his No. 5 in the rafters at Citi Field during a pregame ceremony. While his tenure in New York ended years before Mendoza's arrival, the skipper praised the former third baseman's legacy.

"It's a special day for the organization, for all of us," Mendoza said. "A special career, but what a special human. Over a year and a half now with the organization, one of the highlights for me was meeting David last year in spring training... I was a big fan of his, watching him throughout his career... It's an honor for all of us. Congrats to David, I'm going to be a big fan today."

When asked about the attributes he looks for in a clubhouse leader, Mendoza stressed humility. And it didn't take long for him to see how Wright treats people with respect and represents the Mets with class.

"The first thing that sticks out to me is, humble," Mendoza said. "You've got to be able to communicate and meet people where they're at. From the very first second I met David, I was like, 'Wow, this guy's impressive.' It was easy to see why he was able to do what he did, on and off the field... Accountability, responsibility. The care. Being around him, it's pretty easy to see it."

Alvarez keeps mashing in Triple-A

It's only a matter of time until Francisco Alvarez is called up from a weeks-long stint with Triple-A Syracuse that's allowed him to correct offensive and defensive flaws. At some point, the Mets won't be able to ignore the power he's producing.

Alvarez crushed his ninth homer in Triple-A on Friday, a 427-foot blast to left with an exit velocity of 111.8 mph and a launch angle of 23 degrees. Since his demotion in late June, the 23-year-old catcher has slashed .250/.329/.691 with 20 RBI across 68 at-bats (19 games).

Mendoza didn't put a timeline on when Alvarez's promotion will happen, but he's fully aware of the power numbers and particularly pleased with the progress reports on his efforts behind the plate.

"He continues to be in the conversation. He's doing everything we're asking him to do," Mendoza said. "[A promotion] could happen at any moment... We've seen the power, obviously, with the way he's been driving the ball to all fields. But the defense, the reports we're continuing to get are pretty impressive.

"The receiving, the blocking... We just wanted to see some consistency there. The framing, the blocking, just in general, as a catcher. And he's doing that. So, again, he's putting himself in a position where we continue to have those conversations. We'll see what happens here."

Bullpen carousel keeps spinning

The latest shakeup to the relief unit, made official on Saturday morning, featured right-hander Kevin Herget signed to the big league roster and left-hander Brandon Waddell optioned to Triple-A.

It's a second cup of coffee for Herget in Queens, as the 34-year-old began the 2025 season with the Mets but appeared in only one game before being claimed off waivers by the Braves in mid-May. He then logged a single inning with the Braves before receiving another demotion in early July.

Waddell's move to Triple-A comes as little surprise, as he registered 3.2 innings of relief in Friday's loss to the Reds and the Mets prefer a fresh arm in his place. Overall, the 31-year-old has produced a 4.00 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 10 appearances (27 innings).

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From The Archive: Pekka Rinne

Jun 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Former Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: over 2,000 issues of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors).

Oct 15, 2018

Top 100 Goalies Of All Time

48. PEKKA RINNE

Drafted so late that the round doesn’t exist today, he scored one of hockey’s greatest victories for deep-dive scouting

BY RYAN KENNEDY

BORN Nov. 3, 1982, Kempele, Fin.

NHL CAREER 2005-present

TEAMS Nsh

STATS 311-168-66, 2.37 GAA, .919 SP, 51 SO

ALL-STAR 2 (First-1, Second-1)

TROPHIES 1 (Vezina-1)

GIVEN HIS MODEST roots, it’s heartwarming to see goaltender Pekka Rinne as an elder statesman in the NHL, even as he continues to play some of the best hockey of his long career. Not only was he an excellent last line of defense for the most successful Predators team ever – the edition that went to the 2017 Stanley Cup final – but he has also become one of the most veteran Finnish players in the league.

At All-Star Game weekend in Tampa, young Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov stood by himself in the corner of a buzzing hotel lobby while other elite NHLers moved to and fro. Barkov was alone until Rinne, his fellow Finn, came over and chatted up the humble center.

On a more regular basis, Rinne has been a mentor for his Nashville backup, Juuse Saros. While Saros is one of the smallest netminders in the NHL at 5-foot-11, he always liked the 6-foot-5 Rinne’s style and idolized him growing up in Finland. Now, Rinne influences Saros in person.

“He has helped me a lot on and off the ice,” Saros said. “Any question I have, he’s usually got the answer. He even gives me tips on some players if he knows their habits.”

The story of how Rinne was discovered is well-known in NHL circles, but an abridged version is necessary. He was taken in the eighth round of the 2004 draft – a slot that doesn’t even exist in today’s seven-round draft – as a flyer by the Preds thanks to Finnish scout Janne Kekalainen.

Other members of the Preds brass (such as then-assistant GM Ray Shero) had only seen Rinne in warmups, because the youngster played behind Niklas Backstrom for Karpat Oulu and didn’t see the crease often.

Clearly the gamble paid off, as Rinne holds Nashville’s franchise records for wins, shutouts and games by a goalie. And just as Rinne has been a mentor for Saros, Backstrom was a mentor for Rinne.

“I always looked up to him and paid a lot of attention to him in practice,” Rinne said. “The way Niklas carries himself, he’s a super-nice guy, and he was very good to me, very helpful.”

It’s impressive what an incubator those Karpat Oulu teams turned out to be. Backstrom had a stellar career with the Minnesota Wild before returning home, while Jussi Jokinen has played in the NHL for more than a decade.

Mika Pyorala eventually did a year with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, as did Mikko Lehtonen with Nashville.

“We had so much talent back then on those teams,” Rinne said. “A lot of those guys had success either in Europe or here in the NHL, and it’s awesome. I have very special memories from those days, and that being my hometown made it special.”

While his long career is winding down, it’s too early to plan the retirement party. Rinne’s past two seasons have been his strongest since 2010-11, when he was a second-team NHL all-star. Going to the Cup final in 2017 was huge for the veteran, even with all his past individual success.

“Last year, we all as a team gained a lot of confidence, going to the final,” he said. “But also, it’s expectations inside the room. It shows on the ice. We expect to win, and it’s no different for myself. I’ve always believed that it goes hand in hand with the team, just that a goalie (on his own) can never make your team successful, and together we’ve done a great job.”

With his imposing frame and bear-trap reflexes, it’s amazing to think in retrospect that Rinne almost went undiscovered. But Nashville took the risk, and the team’s most important player ever was their reward.

“A lot of people have covered that story, it’s pretty funny how I was drafted,” Rinne said. “Never in my wildest dreams…of course I dreamed about the NHL, but the Finnish League was my main goal. But as you reach certain goals, you set other goals. I’ve been extremely fortunate. If you asked me back then, I never thought I would play this long in the NHL and have the success I’ve had.”

DID YOU KNOW?

RINNE AND MIKA PYORALA have an on-ice connection from their days with Karpat and also share a family bond.

Pyorala married Rinne’s twin sister Anna. The couple has two sons, and when Pyorala’s 2016-17 season with Karpat finished, the whole family came over to watch Rinne in the Stanley Cup final.

While Rinne missed the 2018 Olympics, his brother-in-law was there repping the family, as Pyorala suited up for Finland.

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Frustrated Cam Thomas rants against perception as 'empty calories ball hog'

Cam Thomas is one of four restricted free agents without a contract for next season, and the latest reports out of Brooklyn suggest that his representatives and the Nets have yet to seriously engage in contract talks. Thomas reportedly is seeking around $30 million a season, the Nets are thinking significantly less.

Perhaps that has Thomas a little on edge, because he went on an NSFW rant on X recently. It started with Zach Lowe of The Ringer saying on his podcast that Thomas is viewed around the league as an "empty calorie ball hog." That set Thomas off.

Two thoughts here.

First, Thomas can be as mad at Lowe as he wants, if Thomas doesn't realize that absolutely is the consensus thinking about him in league circles — and we're talking about how many people in front offices view him — then people around Thomas are not being upfront with him. That is how Thomas is viewed, fair or not — a guy who can get buckets but doesn't necessarily contribute the other things that go into winning (he's a negative defender, for example).

Second, Thomas has a point in that he does bring value, and he was near the top of the Nets' scouting report the past couple of seasons. That, however, says as much about the Nets roster as Thomas. He averaged 24 points a game last season (in just 25 games due to injury, but he played 66 games the season before), with a .575 true shooting percentage that is right about the league average (he shot 34.9% on 3-pointers last season, right about his career average). He's a player who can get buckets and create shots, but isn't particularly efficient in doing so. There is a role for him, and perhaps on a team that doesn't need him to rack up buckets like the Nets do, we would see more aspects of his game.

For now, Thomas remains in a stalemate with the Nets. He'll sign a deal with them one way or another before training camp starts, but don't expect anything quickly.

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Phillies place Bohm on IL, notes on Nola, Walker and Painter

Phillies place Bohm on IL, notes on Nola, Walker and Painter originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies placed Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left rib prior to Saturday’s game against the Angels.

The club recalled Weston Wilson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Bohm on the 26-man roster.

Bohm aggravated the injury during Friday’s loss to the Angels.

“He felt the rib thing last night in his last at-bat,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Saturday afternoon. “He came in today and he still felt it so he’s going to see the doctor.”

Turns out that visit to the doctor resulted in an IL stint.

Bohm sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch last Saturday in San Diego. He missed the final game before the All-Star break. The hope was that he would be good to go following the break.

Bohm is hitting .278 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 92 games this season. He’s hitting .304 in his last 64 games following a poor April.

Wilson hit .194 in 20 games with the Phillies earlier this season before being demoted to Triple-A on June 19th.   

Otto Kemp will play third base on Saturday. The Phillies will likely use a combination of Kemp, Edmundo Sosa, Wilson and potentially Bryson Stott at third base while Bohm is sidelined.

Sosa gets the start at second base on Saturday against Angels lefthander Yusei Kikuchi. Brandon Marsh moves over to left field with John Rojas playing center field.

It’s a rare start against a lefty for Marsh.

“I like the way Marsh is swinging the bat,” Thomson said. “And we get really good defense out there (with Marsh and Rojas in the outfield).”   

Good news for Nola

Aaron Nola’s live batting practice session on Saturday was a success.

“Very good,” Thomson said when asked how Nola looked. “34 pitches, two ups (innings). Command was really good. Curveball was really good.”

Nola will throw a bullpen session either Monday or Tuesday. If that goes well he could head out on a minor league rehab assignment.

Signs point towards an early August return for Nola.

Walker’s next opportunity

Taijuan Walker will make his 10th start of the season Saturday. Walker has spent his third season with the Phillies bouncing back and forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He’s made 11 relief appearances and has a 3.55 ERA overall.

Thomson raves about Walker’s team-first mentality.

“He’s been great,” Thomson said. “He’s been throwing the ball well, he really has. He’s battled. I felt for him last year and all the stuff that he went through. This year he’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do. And along the way, whatever situation he’s been in, he’s thrown the ball pretty well. Hopefully it continues.”   

Walker threw a bullpen session in Arizona during the All-Star break and should be more stretched out for tonight’s outing. He threw 63 pitches in his last start 11 days ago in San Francisco.

The fifth starter spot appears to be Walker’s to lose until Nola returns. Mick Abel and Andrew Painter are currently pitching for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Progress for Painter

Speaking of Andrew Painter – the Phillies’ top prospect will start on Thursday for Lehigh Valley. Painter has a 5.01 ERA in 12 starts in Triple-A this season.

Thomson discussed Painter’s progress prior to this weekend’s series.

“He’s healthy,” Thomson said. “I think his command isn’t quite where it normally is for him. But his stuff is good… we’ll just go start by start.”

Before the season Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski mentioned ‘July-ish’ as a potential Phillies debut date for Painter.

That timeline seems far-fetched with just 12 days left in the month.

 “You can’t put a date on it,” Thomson said. “I’ve always said the whole time that he’s got to be healthy and he’s got to be performing and there’s got to be a spot here. I think he’s going to get to the point where he’s Andrew Painter, the normal Andrew Painter. I don’t think he’s quite there yet.”

Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton echoed Thomson’s sentiments on Painter’s command issues.

“He’s getting there,” Middleton said. “It’s hard. I remember years ago talking to some trainers and some orthopedic surgeons and they said ‘when you have Tommy John surgery you lose five miles per hour off every pitch and you lose command. The velocity comes back pretty quickly. Command can take a while.’ I think he’s just experiencing as he’s gotten up into the higher ranks now, it’s testing his command. And that’s good, he’ll learn.”

Middleton was asked if he’s excited for Painter’s eventual big league debut.

“I’ll be excited when he’s shutting people down,” Middleton said. “Which he will. He’s a smart guy, he’s a determined guy. So he’ll get it right and he’ll get it when he gets it. And hopefully he’ll get it sooner rather than later for us.”

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Disastrous sixth inning derails Giants' bounce-back win hopes in deflating loss

Disastrous sixth inning derails Giants' bounce-back win hopes in deflating loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Logan Webb starts coming after a loss typically signal a get-right day for the Giants, and it appeared Saturday would be no different as San Francisco’s ace held a potent Toronto Blue Jays lineup scoreless through five innings despite plenty of traffic on the basepaths .

Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer was perfect through four innings himself before a towering Willy Adames solo shot gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth, and jolt of confidence that would be short-lived in San Francisco’s 6-3 loss to Toronto at Rogers Centre.

Toronto had runners on first and second with no outs in each of the first two innings, but San Francisco’s All-Star right-hander found a way to escape both jams.

Webb induced a double-play ball from American League All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning, before logging his only strikeout of the game by punching out Blue Jays third baseman Will Wagner with runners on second and third with one out in the second inning.

In the sixth inning, Webb’s magic ran out. Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and right fielder Addison Barger led off the frame with a single and a double respectively, once again placing Webb in a precarious spot.

For a brief moment, it looked like Webb once again was going to limit the damage after getting left fielder Joey Loperfido to pop up to short. With the bottom of Toronto’s order coming up, it would’ve been completely reasonable to envision a scenario where Webb and the Giants got back into the visitor’s dugout unscathed.

Instead, the 7-8-9 hitters ended up delivering the game’s decisive blow, recorind three straight hits to give Toronto a 4-2 lead that the Blue Jays wouldn’t relenquish for the remainder of the contest.

“Balls just started finding holes,” Webb told reporters about the sixth inning after Saturday’s loss. “They were swinging a lot, putting loud contact on balls throughout the game. Just that inning, didn’t make any good pitches, really … I thought I threw pitches where I wanted to, just seemed like they were on everything. So, I don’t know.”

It appeared the Blue Jays’ scouting report emphasized jumping on Webb early, as it seemed every Toronto batter would swing at Webb’s first pitch of each at-bat, creating a difficult outing for the two-time MLB All-Star.

“They don’t strikeout much. It seemed like they swung at every first pitch I threw. It seemed like they were on every first pitch I threw, so it wasn’t fun.”

Webb ended up surrendering 11 hits across six innings of work Saturday, allowing four earned runs — a figure which easily could’ve been astronomically higher given the amount of traffic Toronto had on the bases throughout his start.

Giants manager Bob Melvin lauded Webb’s ability to work out of trouble and give San Francisco a fighting chance as its offense attempted to decode Lauer’s stuff early on.

“He gave up some hits, but he also pitched around most of it until the sixth. He got a double-play ball early on when he needed it,” Melvin told reporters. “The one strikeout he had [came with a man on third, less than two outs. It was the guys at the bottom of the order who ended up getting him and doing all their damage. I mean, he goes into the sixth without giving up a run, they just made him pay in the sixth.”

While Webb is the pitcher typically tasked with righting the ship, the Giants are blessed to have two ace-caliber arms at the top of their rotation.

With Robbie Ray on the mound Sunday, San Francisco gets one more shot at salvaging this weekend series in Toronto.

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Kings 2nd-Round Draft Pick Contemplates Staying In Czechia Or Moving Overseas

Czech left winger Vojtěch Čihař, who turned 18 in March, was drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which happened to be in Los Angeles.

With the obvious long-term goal of making the NHL, Čihař is currently contemplating where to play in order to give him the best shot of fulfilling his dream. He has already played 57 regular-season and playoff games with Energie Karlovy Vary in the Czech Extraliga, where he has recorded only 10 points in a rather limited role. Should he stay there and try to earn more ice time in the pros, or should he go overseas to play for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, who selected him in last year’s CHL Import Draft?

Čihař was a member of the Czech team that won a bronze medal at last year’s IIHF World Junior Championship and he recently attended a summer training camp for the national junior team for the upcoming season. There, he spoke at length with Czech media about the Draft and all the considerations that are going into his decision.

The following excerpts come from Martin Voltr’s article at Hokej.cz:

First, can you explain what kind of experience it was to attend the Draft in Los Angeles?
“Well, I have to say that the Draft is unpredictable and everyone has to wait until the moment their name is called. Speaking for myself, as soon as I heard (my name) called by Los Angeles, I was really excited and even a little emotional. I had my family and girlfriend there, which was wonderful too. For me, the main thing was to have the people closest to me there.”

If you had to wait too long, it would probably turn into a bit of an unpleasant situation.
“Yeah, exactly. The whole time, my agent and parents talked about not making any predictions and just waiting for the moment. It was better than thinking about whether I should be taken somewhere higher. At the end of the first round, then at the beginning of the second … I thought to myself that it should go in the second. I was happy that it turned out that way – 59th is decent, in my opinion.”

The decentralized Draft seemed a bit bizarre. Did the fact that you were selected by the host team bring you any special attention?
“I guess so. As soon as I put on that jersey and went to do the various things that come next, I walked through the theater and the workers turned around, congratulated me and welcomed me to the City of Angels. Then I went somewhere to get a bag with things from the team and former Kings players who still work in their organization gave it to me. They also greeted me, people at the hotel recognized me … It was nice.”

Two Czechs Lead Off 2025 CHL Import DraftTwo Czechs Lead Off 2025 CHL Import Draft A pair of 18-year-old Czech forwards were the first two picks of the 2025 CHL Import Draft on Wednesday. They were part of a record 35 Czechs taken overall.

You said you treated the trip to Los Angeles as one big holiday.
“Absolutely! I really went there to enjoy it, thinking that if I was drafted, that would make it even better. We were in Hollywood and also quite close to the sign where we took the picture. We went to Beverly Hills to see the villas there, then we were on the beach in Santa Monica. I quite like the game GTA 5, which takes place in LA, and we also went to the observatory from that game. And then to Malibu Beach. We tried to travel there and of course we couldn’t miss the shops.”

Do you like hot weather and the beach?
“Oh yeah. I don’t really like the crazy heat, but the weather in Los Angeles is just right. The temperature there suits me quite well.”

So maybe one day you’ll enjoy it as an NHL player. How far off would you estimate that is?
“You know … Unfortunately, I don’t really have an answer for that, because it’s just so hard to say. Of course, I’d be happy if it were as soon as possible, but right now I mainly want to move on to the next step. Another year, two … I think that’s how we’ve set it up with the people in LA, so now we’re deciding whether I’ll stay in Karlovy Vary or maybe move somewhere overseas.”

Did they tell you that they would prefer you over there?
“They did say that because they haven’t seen me there yet. They don’t even know that some teams here in the Czech Extraliga have smaller rinks, so they meant it from the perspective of me adapting better there. Now it depends on when and how the Kings and Karlovy Vary reach an agreement. LA has the rights to me there, Vary here. I have to wait, but then the final decision will be up to me.”

Czech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHLCzech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHL Czech winger Adam Novotný, who turns 17 in November, is currently projected by most sources to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Do you have a personal preference?
“I’m always talking with the Karlovy Vary management about where I would fit in. Of course, I know that if I went to the Canadian juniors, I would get more ice time there. To have that in the Extraliga, I would have to play on the first line, but the competition is extremely demanding for a young player to get those minutes. It depends on what their thoughts are about me. I’ll decide whether to stay or go based on that. It depends on where I would develop more.”

If you weigh your options between the tough competition in the Extraliga and playing among top juniors, where you would be more successful, which do you think would win?
“I think that in terms of offensive development, overseas it would be … I don’t want to say easier, but I would have more opportunities to get chances and develop my offensive abilities. At the same time, I know how it works in the Extraliga, so if I stayed here, it would be almost on the same level as playing in the AHL, for example. If I were given more ice time, which I would have to earn, it would still be a good move to stay here. But if not and LA had other plans for me, then unfortunately there is also the possibility that I would leave.”

Why do you say “unfortunately?” Would it be a bad thing?
“I still haven’t planned to leave the Czech Republic anytime soon, but as far as my development is concerned, I’ll just do what’s best for me. On one hand, I’d be sad to leave, but on the other hand, I’d be excited to move on to somewhere else.”

Photo by Martin Voltr.

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training CampReport: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.
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Lukas Dostal’s Steady Rise In Anaheim Shows Why Patience Pays Off In Goalie Development

The Anaheim Ducks pulled off a nice bit of roster work this week, signing No. 1 goalie Lukas Dostal to a five-year, $32.5-million contract that carries an average annual value of $6.5 million. Dostal’s signing was the latest goalie news in an NHL off-season where teams quickly snapped up most of the available netminders.

For instance, in Philadelphia, the Flyers signed veteran Dan Vladar. In Los Angeles, the Kings signed Anton Forsberg. In San Jose, the Sharks traded for former Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. In New Jersey, the Devils re-signed experienced hand Jake Allen, and in Pittsburgh, the Pens traded for former Vancouver Canucks youngster Arturs Silovs. In Montreal, the Canadiens signed journeyman Kappo Kahkonen, the Panthers traded for former Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov, the Sabres signed Alex Lyon to ostensibly be their third goalie, and of course, Dostal’s former teammate, goalie John Gibson, was dealt from the Ducks to the Detroit Red Wings.

It’s readily apparent, then, that it’s extremely difficult to develop good netminders at the NHL level. And Dostal’s career arc is an instructive example of how teams should be signing and developing their goalies.

At 25 years old, Dostal already has 121 games of regular-season experience. He’s been brought along steadily and methodically, and his individual numbers, despite playing on terrible Ducks teams, have consistently improved.

Here’s what we mean: Dostal’s first extended taste of NHL hockey was in the the 2022-23 season, where he appeared in 19 games and posted a .901 save percentage and 3.78 goals-against average. Then, in 2023-24, Dostal appeared in 44 games, with a .902 SP and 3.33 GAA. And last season, with Gibson frequently out of the lineup with injuries, Dostal emerged as a legitimate No. 1 option when he appeared in 54 games and registered a .903 SP and 3.10 GAA.

Dostal’s evolution into a starter really couldn’t have gone better for Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. Rather than having to overpay on the free-agent market for a goaltender who didn’t come up in Anaheim’s system, the Ducks brought along their own young talent, who eventually pushed out the de facto No. 1 (Gibson) and allowed Verbeek to make a trade of his former No. 1 goalie from a position of strength and leverage. Dostal just naturally took over the starter’s job from Gibson, and that’s exactly what teams want to see from their young goalies.

Lukas Dostal (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

As of mid-July, most of the free-agent goalies were off the market, and most teams had established who’ll be patrolling their pipes in the fall. There are a couple of options still available – former Maple Leafs and Golden Knights veteran Ilya Samsonov chief among them – but for the most part, the game of musical chairs for goalies has come to an end.

In Anaheim, Dostal has secured a strong payday for himself for the next half-decade, and the Ducks have secured goaltending reliability for that period. In bringing along Dostal slowly but deliberately, Anaheim has done very well in terms of goalie development. And as they make a push for relevance in the near future, the Ducks can rest assured they did things the right way with what is arguably their most important position.

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Bettor reportedly placed 30 wagers on Terry Rozier prop bet unders for one 2023 game

The game in question was March 23, 2023: Charlotte's Terry Rozier started the game that Thursday night against the Pelicans, but played just 9:34 before leaving the game with a foot issue. Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists, all well below his season averages. He would not play in any of the Hornets' remaining eight games that season, but a team missing the playoffs being cautious with a player at the end of the season did not raise many eyebrows.

However, what happened that night did raise the eyebrows of federal investigators who saw unusual betting activity on Rozier prop bet unders that game — specifically 30 bets from one person at a Mississippi casino, all of which is detailed in a fantastic story by ESPN’s David Purdum on what is being investigated in that case.

On the morning of March 23, 2023, a bettor at a sportsbook in Biloxi, Mississippi, placed $13,759 in bets on the unders on Rozier's statistics in a game that night between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, according to the documents, which ESPN acquired through an open records request... In all, at least six sportsbooks in multiple states detected suspicious betting on Rozier props that day, with the bulk of the activity occurring in Louisiana and Mississippi, according to sources familiar with a report issued by U.S. Integrity, a firm that monitors the betting market for abnormalities.

The NBA investigated the situation at the time but determined no league rules were violated in this case. Rozier had not been on the injury report for the game. Rozier is not a target of the investigation, his attorney, Jim Trusty, told ESPN.

Trusty said Rozier met with NBA and FBI officials multiple times in 2023 and that the initial investigation determined that he had done nothing wrong.

"It's unfortunate that he's a big name in sports and is having to endure all this," Trusty told ESPN. "My hope and expectation is that at some point that they'll be done with their investigation and will be professional enough to let us know that it's 100% over and that they reached the same conclusion that was reached in 2023."

This betting investigation is linked to the betting scandal surrounding the Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter, which led to his banishment from the NBA. According to the report, some of the betting accounts involved in the Porter prop betting case were also involved in betting on prop bet unders in the Rozier situation.

The casino paid out the bettor who placed 30 bets in Mississippi because those were legal bets and nobody, as of yet, has been able to prove any wrongdoing on anyone's part.

This is unrelated to the ongoing betting scandal surrounding Michael Beasley.