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What we learned as Justin Verlander shines in Giants' walk-off win vs. Dodgers

What we learned as Justin Verlander shines in Giants' walk-off win vs. Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN FRANCISCO — To get back to the postseason, the Giants are going to have to go through the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’re off to a strong and thrilling start. 

On a raucous Friday night at Oracle Park, the Giants won 5-1 when Patrick Bailey hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th. They will face the Dodgers seven times over 10 days, and on night one, at least, the rivals did nothing to stop their momentum. 

The end of a tense game was absolutely insane. After tagging on a shallow fly ball and getting thrown out to end the ninth, Grant McCray unleashed a rocket from right field to cut down the potential go-ahead run at third in the top of the 10th.

In the bottom of the inning, Bailey came up with the bases loaded and crushed a Tanner Scott pitch into the seats in left.

With the win, the Giants picked up a game on the entire NL Wild Card field. Counting the tiebreaker, they’re just 1 .5 games behind the New York Mets, who dropped a seventh straight game earlier Friday. 

The Giants jumped out to an early lead when Willy Adames smoked a double into the left-center gap, scoring Rafael Devers, who had reached with his 102nd walk of the season. The ball was bobbled at the track by center fielder Andy Pages, but Matt Williams was on it the whole way and aggressively waved Devers, who scored without a throw.

Justin Verlander entered as one of the game’s hottest starters and extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings before Michael Conforto opened the top of the seventh with a solo shot to dead center. It was the second homer at Oracle Park this season for Conforto, who hit three at home all of last season as a Giant. Here are three more things to know …

Ageless

Verlander gave up three balls at 100+ mph in the top of the seventh, but after Ben Rortvedt hit a double off the left field wall, manager Bob Melvin showed faith. The Giants intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani and Verlander was left in to face Mookie Betts, who flew out softly to right on Verlander’s 105th pitch. 

On a night when Verlander reached 20 years of MLB service time, a truly outrageous number, he looked like he was still in his prime. He allowed just one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four. Verlander’s slider was as good as it’s been all year; he threw it 25 times and got 20 strikes and eight whiffs. 

The latest dominant start lowered Verlander’s ERA to 3.94. This is just the second time it has been under 4.00 all year. It was 3.60 after his first start of the year but ballooned from there.

The Other Side

Before the game, Melvin said he couldn’t imagine a better weekend of pitching matchups. In Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, there are three pitchers who should get down-ballot Cy Young votes. Verlander and Clayton Kershaw — who faces Webb on Saturday — are locks to be first-ballot Hall-of-Famers. Tyler Glasnow, who will face Ray on Sunday, might win a Cy Young one year if he can stay healthy for 33 starts. 

The first game lived up to the hype, with Yamamoto matching Verlander through seven. Six days after losing a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth at Camden Yards, Yamamoto allowed just one hit and struck out 10 Giants. He has 20 strikeouts and just two hits allowed in his last two appearances. 

Costly Save

With two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth, Andy Pages hit a grounder that looked headed for the hole at short. Matt Chapman cut it off with a dive and made a strong throw to first baseman Dominic Smith, who did the splits while receiving it. The play saved at least one run and ended the inning, but it proved costly. 

Smith went down right away and grabbed at his right leg. He tried to jog it off as the Dodgers challenged the call, but he eventually walked slowly off the field and went right back to the clubhouse with head trainer Dave Groeschner. Wilmer Flores hit for Smith in the bottom of the inning and the Giants later announced it was a right thigh injury. 

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Formal Agreement in Place to Sell The Trail Blazers To Tom Dundon

James Guillory-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers franchise will be sold to a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. 

The price of the sail is expected to exceed $4 billion, as Dundon will own his second professional sports team. 

Dundon admitted last month that he’s “very excited” about the sale. 

The Trail Blazers’ valuation is listed at $3.65 billion according to CNBC’s latest Official NBA Team Valuations.

Dundon purchased a stake in the Hurricanes in 2017 and became the team's majority owner in 2018, as the franchise has seen unparalleled success since his arrival.

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The Wraparound: Do The Detroit Red Wings Have A Breakout Player In Waiting?

The Wraparound is your show for rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Do The Detroit Red Wings Have A Breakout Player In Waiting? by The WraparoundDo The Detroit Red Wings Have A Breakout Player In Waiting? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jake Tye discussed in today's episode:

0:00: What team can make the best pitch to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a Sidney Crosby trade?

5:22: Breaking down Dustin Wolf’s extension with the Calgary Flames

8:28: Could Marco Kasper have a breakout season with the Detroit Red Wings?

11:20: Will Michael Misa make the San Jose Sharks’ lineup this season?

15:09: Will Kirill Kaprizov end up testing free agency next summer?

19:45: Have the Philadelphia Flyers built a good foundation for the future?

23:45: What will Jack Eichel’s next contract look like with the Vegas Golden Knights?

26:45: After signing Alexandar Georgiev, how will the Buffalo Sabres organize their goaltending depth chart?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Winnipeg Native Reece Vitelli Returns Home, Aims For Impact Role With Hometown Moose

Winnipeg native Reece Vitelli aims to carve out a meaningful role on his hometown team this upcoming season. 

The Winnipeg Jets organization is filled with intriguing storylines across every level of its development system from the early stages in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, all the way up to the NHL, where star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is making headlines as a frontrunner for the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player. 

Amid the spotlight on big names and major accolades, there are also compelling narratives emerging from the AHL, where rising talents are quietly shaping the future of the franchise. One such storyline centers around Reece Vitelli, the newest member to the Manitoba Moose and a hometown native of Winnipeg. 

Six Jets Crack The Athletic's Top-150 Players ListSix Jets Crack The Athletic's Top-150 Players ListOn Thursday, The Athletic revealed its list of the Top-150 players currently serving in the NHL.

After spending three seasons throughout the AHL and ECHL in the Arizona Coyotes organization, Vitelli returned home with a call up to the Manitoba Moose towards the end of last season. The 24-year-old forward is excited for the chance to play at home once again and is looking forward to working on carving out a meaningful role at the AHL level. 

"It's definitely cool to come home and play, my whole goal last year was to get called up somewhere and then I heard it was, it was back in Winnipeg, It was truly cool and to have those last few months here was something I'll never forget for sure,” Vitelli said.

Moose sign forward Reece VitelliMoose sign forward Reece VitelliA good day in Moose land 🫎Winnipegger Reece Vitelli posted three assists in 15 games with the #MBMoose to close out the 2024-25 season. He also notched 52 p...

The former Prince Albert Raider has been spending the off-season improving on his shot as Vitelli has struggled scoring at the AHL level with a pair of goals in just 36 games. When asked on how to transition his game from the ECHL to the AHL, he noted it was confidence that’s the biggest factor. 

"It all comes down to confidence, I think coming in last year, I was just trying to just play my game and everything, but also, trying to not make mistakes and stay in the lineup and stuff, so hopefully try and come into the year and just be more confident with the puck and know that I have that skill I can make plays and just help produce more offense for the team," he said. 

When describing his play style, Vitelli used a comparison on the current Jets roster as a player that can be used in multiple positions, up-and-down the ice and make an impact in different ways. 

"My biggest assets is probably my speed, my skating, I like to use my feet a lot, and get the forecheck first and and be reliable, and kind of just be a Swiss army knife out there, play anywhere the team needs me to play and to be reliable, in all those, those different positions, kind of like an Anthony Cirelli kind of player or even Alex Iafallo up with the Jets too,” Vitelli explained ”They're playing in a lot of different positions, penalty kill and getting thrown on the power play and that kind of thing, so those are definitely some guys that I look up too."

One of the most interesting aspects of Vitelli’s career so far has been the players that he’s been on the same team as that have broken out into big roles at the NHL level. The notable two are Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring, who Vitelli played with during his time with the Coyotes AHL affiliate in the Tuscon Roadrunners. He stated that he could tell the players were going to make a difference in the NHL some day during their time playing together. 

"Obviously great players, you can tell by how they play, and they're great people, too,” Vitelli said “Great teammates,I  had a blast playing with them in Tucson and it was a fun two years with them, so it was super good and they're just great players and they're definitely gonna help out Buffalo this year."

The hope is now the narrative turns to Vitelli and now he gets his chance to make an impact, this time closer to home than ever before. Moose head coach Mark Morrison has a system more reliant on aggressive forechecking in speed, according to Vitelli and he noted this goes well with his game. Hopefully Moose fans can rally behind one of their local hometown players and help him keep his confidence to play well enough to stay at the AHL level.

Moose Defenseman Dawson Barteaux Eyes Full-Time Role With Hometown Team in 2025Moose Defenseman Dawson Barteaux Eyes Full-Time Role With Hometown Team in 2025Manitoba Moose Defenseman Dawson Barteaux aims for a full-time role in third season with his hometown team. 
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Carlos Mendoza reflects on Jacob deGrom's career with Mets: 'It was a show'

Even though he never managed the right-hander in Queens, Carlos Mendoza understands the significance and impact that Jacob deGrom has in Mets lore.

So, before the former Met returns to the mound at Citi Field for the first time since leaving New York in free agency after the 2022 season, the skipper was asked what deGrom, who made 209 starts in the orange and blue, means to the Mets.

"He represented a lot and meant a lot to this organization," Mendoza said. "You’re talking about a homegrown player and what he was able to do while he was up here -- he was an ace. 

"You felt good about your chances every time he took the baseball. It was a show. This is a guy that people came to the ballpark to watch him pitch. Special."

For most of his nine-year stint in New York, deGrom was the best pitcher in the game. From the moment he made his debut in 2014, a season that ended with him winning Rookie of the Year, the Mets knew they had something special.

Despite his selection in the ninth round out of Stetson University where he played shortstop, it didn't take long for the right-hander to come into his own. After a few great seasons following his rookie campaign, deGrom turned otherworldly and dominated the league unlike any other pitcher of his time.

From 2018 to 2019, deGrom made 64 starts and won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons after pitching to a 1.70 ERA in '18 and a 2.43 ERA in '19 and totaling 524 strikeouts in 421 IP. 

Shockingly, his record was 21-17 during that stretch with the Mets consistently unable to give him any run support -- making his numbers even more impressive with how stressful the innings were.

Overall, deGrom went 82-57 in New York and pitched to a 2.52 ERA (0.99 WHIP) with 1,835 strikeouts in 1522.2 IP. He was also a four-time All-Star and  regularly finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young award as well as two top 10 finishes for MVP.

Injuries towards the end of his time with the Mets, including making just 11 regular season starts in 2022, his final season in New York, concerned and precluded the club from offering him the massive deal he was hoping for and eventually got with the Texas Rangers, signaling the end of his career as a Met.

New York was proven right in the short-term with deGrom only making nine starts for Texas in his first two seasons with the Rangers due to injury. 

However, in his age-37 season, deGrom has been healthy all year for the first time since 2019 and continues to dominate like he did for the Mets for so many years with "electric stuff" and his "ability to command the baseball."

"You’re still looking at 98, 99 (mph) with the fastball," Mendoza said.

And with New York struggling mightily and having lost six straight games, it now has to contend with its former ace to try and get back on track and stabilize what has been a worrisome free fall.

"He meant a lot to the fanbase and organization, but here we are today (hoping to) find a way to beat him," Mendoza said. "... It's a tough matchup."

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Philogene fires hat-trick in Ipswich’s rout of rock-bottom Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene scored a hat-trick as Ipswich thrashed the Championship’s bottom side Sheffield United 5-0. The heavy defeat heaps pressure on to Blades head coach, Rubén Sellés, who has now lost all five matches since taking over at Bramall Lane in the summer.

George Hirst and Jack Clarke were also on the scoresheet as Ipswich chalked up their first win of the season and their first at Portman Road since beating Chelsea in the Premier League in December.

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Where Knicks stand after signing Malcolm Brogdon

The Knicks are signing veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal, which will see the veteran receive strong consideration for a roster spot.

Landry Shamet, who agreed to terms to re-sign with the Knicks on Thursday, will also get strong consideration for a roster spot.  

If the Knicks want to keep both Brogdon and Shamet, they will have to trade one of their own players to create the roster spot.

Trading either Pacôme Dadiet or Miles McBride would clear enough cap space to sign both Shamet and Brogdon. (There are other combinations of players the Knicks could trade to create the space to add both veterans, but those two are being mentioned because it would be the most direct path for the Knicks to take if they wanted to keep both vets.)

I’d be surprised if the Knicks made a move like that ahead of training camp. I’d assume that they let things play out in training camp/preseason before making decisions on final roster spots. It’s also worth pointing out that they have always held McBride in high regard and haven’t been receptive to any past trades involving the now 25-year-old.  

As things currently stand, the Knicks have enough room under the second apron to keep a veteran free agent like Shamet, Brogdon, or Garrison Matthews and to sign a rookie to a minimum deal. The rookie needs to have been drafted by the Knicks. So the plan heading into camp is for New York to sign Mohamed Diawara to that rookie deal.

The Knicks have also had other veteran free agents in for workouts lately. Thomas Bryant, who played well against New York in the Eastern Conference Finals with Indiana, has been in New York for open gym workouts and really impressed the Knicks, per SNY league sources.

Bryant is the best big man free agent left on the board. The Knicks don’t have a rotation role for him at the moment. But they are certainly fans of the 28-year-old.

I’d expect New York to host some other veterans for workouts ahead of camp. As noted on Thursday, big man Trey Jemison III is also squarely on the Knicks’ radar ahead of training camp.

With Brogdon aboard, there will certainly be a competition in preseason for the open roster spot. If two of the veteran players separate themselves from the pack, the Knicks will have to trade one of their rostered players to bring those vets in. Certainly something to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.  

As for Brogdon, the Knicks were looking for depth at point guard, and they did well to land the veteran at this point in the offseason. When healthy, Brogdon had a solid season last year for the Wizards. He averaged 12.7 points and 4.1 assists per game. But he was limited to 24 contests (13 starts) due to injury.

During his nine-year career, which has also included stints with the Bucks, Pacers, Celtics, and Trail Blazers, Brogdon has averaged 15.3 points and 3.6 assists. His agreement with the Knicks was first reported by ESPN.

This offseason, in addition to Brogdon and Shamet, New York added guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Guerschon Yabusele.

Jake Fischer earlier reported the Knicks’ interest in Bryant. I’m sure the Knicks would love to have Bryant in camp, but they have depth at center – Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Ariel Hukporti – so there is no room in the rotation for Bryant.

The Knicks, it should be noted, will also be able to add a veteran free agent later in the season because they will be able to fit the pro-rated contract under the second apron.

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Buehler joins Phillies' fun in winning debut vs. Royals

Buehler joins Phillies' fun in winning debut vs. Royals  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Walker Buehler stepped right into the Phillies’ winning ways Friday night. 

The 31-year-old righty made a victorious debut at Citizens Bank Park as the Phils became the first MLB team to rack up 50 home wins this season with an 8-2 decision over the Royals. They’ve lost just 23 times in Philadelphia. 

With their fifth straight win, the 88-60 Phillies surged closer to clinching the NL East. The Mets’ loss to the Rangers dropped the Phils’ magic number to three.

Buehler pitched five good innings, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one Royal and struck out three.

“He fits right in,” Bryce Harper said. “He fits into that mold of a Philadelphia baseball player. It’s just a lot of fun to be around somebody that’s won in his career, has obviously pitched in big situations, big moments deep into the postseason. Getting a guy like that in our clubhouse is huge for us.”

Kansas City did grab a lead in Buehler’s first inning as a Phillie. Bobby Witt Jr. singled up the middle, stole second base with two outs and scored on Maikel Garcia’s RBI knock. 

The Phillies bounced back with a run against Michael Lorenzen in the second inning. Otto Kemp lined a leadoff double and eventually came home on Rafael Marchan’s sacrifice fly. 

Buehler worked around a solid four-seam fastball that averaged 93.8 mph and threw strikes on 26 of his first 35 pitches. Even with that zone-attacking approach, the Royals didn’t hit many balls on the nose vs. Buehler. They had one ball in play with an exit velocity over 100 mph through four innings, which was five fewer than the Phillies.

“Most of this year and even last year, I struggled a lot with the fastball command,” Buehler said. “I’ve thrown one way my whole life since I was 10 years old and I think the last two years, coming off of (Tommy John surgery) rehab, I just haven’t thrown that way. If I can get my arm to the slot, move the way I want and all this baseball mumbo-jumbo stuff, the feel of everything kind of comes back and makes sense to my hand and my brain.

“There’s room for an uptick, hopefully. To be able to execute and make some pitches is I think a great first step.”

The Phils went on top by teeing off against Lorenzen to begin the bottom of third. 

Harper laced an opposite-field two-run homer. Brandon Marsh then drove a high sinker to the same region as Harper’s dinger, raced to third base, slid in safely and pumped his fist in exultant celebration. Kemp singled to left through the Royals’ drawn-in infield.  

The fourth inning was even worse for Lorenzen. Marchan, Harrison Bader and Kyle Schwarber all doubled, the Phils stretched their advantage to 6-1 and Lorenzen exited. The Phillies reached double-digit hits for the fourth game in a row. 

The bullpen comfortably got the job done.

Tanner Banks, Tim Mayza, Orion Kerkering and Max Lazar combined to record the last 12 outs. Bryson Stott’s two-run long ball in the seventh inning made the Phils’ route to the finish line even a little less stressful.

The one late-inning negative for the Phillies was Edmundo Sosa’s exit in the seventh with right groin tightness, which manager Rob Thomson said he’d been dealing with “a little bit” recently.

“He’ll be day-to-day,” Thomson said. “We’ll check him out tomorrow. I just saw him favor it a little bit while he was on defense, so I checked him out. He said, ‘Yeah, it’s a little sore.’ Precautionary for now. We got him out of there.”

Bohm moving through rehab process 

Thomson said pregame that Alec Bohm will “hopefully” be able to return as soon as his 10-day injured list stint ends. The Phils placed Bohm on the IL on Monday with left shoulder inflammation. 

“He’s running,” Thomson said. “He’s going to do some glove work today. Hopefully, tomorrow he’ll start swinging the bat.”

Kemp started his fifth consecutive game at third base without Bohm and went 2 for 4. He’s had an excellent stretch since rejoining the Phillies, going 7 for 20 with two home runs and six RBIs. 

On deck 

The Phils’ Taijuan Walker (4-8, 4.03 ERA) and Kansas City’s Ryan Bergert (2-2, 3.48) will start Saturday night. Aaron Nola (4-8, 6.24 ERA) and Noah Cameron (3.00 ERA) are slated to pitch Sunday afternoon’s series finale.

Once the Royals leave town, the Phillies will embark on their final road trip of 2025, a six-gamer with series against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. 

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Buehler joins Phillies' fun in winning debut vs. Royals

Buehler joins Phillies' fun in winning debut vs. Royals  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Walker Buehler stepped right into the Phillies’ winning ways Friday night. 

The 31-year-old righty made a victorious debut at Citizens Bank Park as the Phils became the first MLB team to rack up 50 home wins this season with an 8-2 decision over the Royals. They’ve lost just 23 times in Philadelphia. 

With their fifth straight win, the 88-60 Phillies surged closer to clinching the NL East. The Mets’ loss to the Rangers dropped the Phils’ magic number to three.

Buehler pitched five good innings, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one Royal and struck out three.

Kansas City did grab a lead in Buehler’s first inning as a Phillie. Bobby Witt Jr. singled up the middle, stole second base with two outs and scored on Maikel Garcia’s RBI knock. 

The Phillies bounced back with a run against Michael Lorenzen in the second inning. Otto Kemp lined a leadoff double and eventually came home on Rafael Marchan’s sacrifice fly. 

Buehler worked around a solid four-seam fastball that averaged 93.8 mph and threw strikes on 26 of his first 35 pitches. Even with that zone-attacking approach, the Royals didn’t hit many balls on the nose vs. Buehler. They had one ball in play with an exit velocity over 100 mph through four innings, which was five fewer than the Phillies.

The Phils went on top by teeing off against Lorenzen to begin the bottom of third. 

Bryce Harper laced an opposite-field two-run homer. Brandon Marsh then drove a high sinker to the same region as Harper’s dinger, raced to third base, slid in safely and pumped his fist in exultant celebration. Kemp singled to left through the Royals’ drawn-in infield.  

The fourth inning was even worse for Lorenzen. Marchan, Harrison Bader and Kyle Schwarber all doubled, the Phils stretched their advantage to 6-1 and Lorenzen exited. The Phillies reached double-digit hits for the fourth game in a row. 

The bullpen comfortably got the job done.

Tanner Banks, Tim Mayza, Orion Kerkering and Max Lazar combined to record the last 12 outs. Bryson Stott’s two-run long ball in the seventh inning made the Phils’ route to the finish line even a little less stressful.

Bohm moving through rehab process 

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that Alec Bohm will “hopefully” be able to return as soon as his 10-day injured list stint ends. The Phils placed Bohm on the IL on Monday with left shoulder inflammation. 

“He’s running,” Thomson said. “He’s going to do some glove work today. Hopefully, tomorrow he’ll start swinging the bat.”

Kemp started his fifth consecutive game at third base without Bohm and went 2 for 4. He’s had an excellent stretch since rejoining the Phillies, going 7 for 20 with two home runs and six RBIs. 

On deck 

The Phils’ Taijuan Walker (4-8, 4.03 ERA) and Kansas City’s Ryan Bergert (2-2, 3.48) will start Saturday night. Aaron Nola (4-8, 6.24 ERA) and Noah Cameron (3.00 ERA) are slated to pitch Sunday afternoon’s series finale.

Once the Royals leave town, the Phillies will embark on their final road trip of 2025, a six-gamer with series against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. 

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Jett Luchanko Injury Update: Top Flyers Prospect Will Return Soon

(Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Top Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko will be out for rookie camp, but his return to the ice should be imminent.

According to an update released by the Flyers Thursday, Luchanko, 19, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp next week.

The 2024 first-round pick was, however, held out of Thursday's rookie camp practice session for precautionary reasons, potentially related to the groin injury that held him out of development camp two months earlier.

Luchanko is not expected to play against the New York Rangers in the first rookie series game between the two teams Friday night, which effectively rules him out for the second game Saturday, too.

To that end, defenseman Oliver Bonk, who also didn't participate on the ice at development camp in early July, is also out against the Rangers for Friday night's game. 

It would appear that the Flyers truly are just exercising the most caution to ensure two of their recent first-round picks have every opportunity to compete for an NHL roster spot, starting with training camp next week.

Flyers Brass Not Giving Up On Aleksei KolosovFlyers Brass Not Giving Up On Aleksei KolosovThe Philadelphia Flyers may appear set at the goalie position at the NHL level this year, but anything can happen, and the book isn't closed on prospect Aleksei Kolosov yet.

Luchanko will either have to make the NHL or return to the OHL this season, whereas Bonk will be turning pro and will be closer to home under the watchful eye of the Flyers, whether he's in the NHL or in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Watch for Luchanko to return to the ice for the Flyers within the week as training camp creeps around the corner.

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Fleury Returning To The Penguins Is A Perfect Finale

Veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said that the 2024-25 season would be the last of what is surely a Hockey Hall of Fame career. So it came as somewhat of a pleasant surprise Friday when it was announced Fleury was signing a professional tryout offer with the Pittsburgh Penguins – the team with which he won three Stanley Cup championships.

Fleury intends to get one last kick at the can by playing in parts of a Sept. 27 pre-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets – but no one should take that to mean Fleury will be on Pittsburgh’s roster when the NHL season begins.

Indeed, at 40, Fleury is long past his peak. But his choice of getting some final game action as a Penguin tells you all you need to know about where his heart is – and where he’ll likely be working in an off-ice role if and when he decides to do so.

The Pens are where Fleury had the grand majority of his success, and Pittsburgh has long been Fleury’s home. So it makes complete sense as to why Fleury wants to ride off into the sunset with the Penguins.

In some cases, NHL icons choose to sign a one-day contract with a team before retiring. Doing so Is a low-impact way to say goodbye.

In Fleury’s case, he’s going to get a little bit more of a goodbye than that. Taking the ice against the Blue Jackets will give Fleury one more game to participate in, and when it’s over, he’ll be able to say he went out on his own terms in front of the fans he's spent the most time with during his storied NHL career.

Fleury told The Athletic at the World Championship, where he reunited with Sidney Crosby, that his age has caught up to him, and he really felt it the morning after a game. So if you think there's some sliver of potential that he will return to the NHL full-time this season and give it another go, don't lose sleep over it. He won't be the solution to any goaltending issues by stepping in the crease himself.

But the good-natured Fleury earned legions of fans – in Pittsburgh. Vegas, Chicago and Minnesota, where he spent his last season – because he was always smiling, always finding the joy in the sport and always a terrific teammate. He did that from his first day until his last.

Marc-Andre Fleury To Return To The Pittsburgh Penguins For One Last GameMarc-Andre Fleury To Return To The Pittsburgh Penguins For One Last GameMarc-Andre Fleury is playing one last game with the Pittsburgh Penguins this pre-season.

There was no artifice, no tactical moves to get people on his side. He did that just by being his authentic self. So no one begrudges him for signing a PTO and suiting up one final time. Fleury has earned that right, and fans at that pre-season game in Pittsburgh will get a special treat on what will undoubtedly be an emotional night for Fleury and his friends, family and fans.

He’s been a dynamic netminder, a fantastic ambassador for the game and a joy to watch. When you look at everything you want a player to be – a role model, a difference-maker and an amazing teammate – Fleury checks all those boxes.

In fact, he's the type of person any team should want after his playing career as well. Whether he can impart his wisdom and advice on other netminders or become a team ambassador of some sort, Fleury has plenty of ways to be an effective part of the coaching or management crew if he wants to.

And if he does get a job to create a new chapter of his hockey life, it would be hard to imagine him being anywhere else than with the Penguins.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Brett Murray, Daniel Walcott, And Josh Lopina Sign PTOs

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed Brett Murray to a PTO and the Florida Panthers have signed Daniel Walcott and Josh Lopina professional tryouts, per Frank Seravalli. 

Murray notched 27 goals and 49 points in 66 games with the Rochester Americans last season, finishing second on the team in both categories.

The 27-year-old has 206 points in 325 career AHL games and six points in 26 career NHL games. 

A fourth round selection of the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, Murray would be a great veteran addition to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and could play NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins if needed.

Walcott had four goals and 12 points in 61 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season.

A respected leader, the 31-year-old served as an assistant captain with the Crunch for eight seasons and won the AHL's Yanick Dupré Memorial Award for his involvement in the community in 2024. 

A fifth round selection of the New York Rangers in 2014, Walcott has 147 points and 568 penalty minutes in 495 career AHL games and is pointless in one career NHL game with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Lopina recorded three goals and 13 points in 62 games with the San Diego Gulls last season.

A fourth round selection of the Anaheim Ducks in 2021, he has accumulated 44 points in 203 career AHL games. 

Murray and Walcott were named on our top remaining AHL free agents list earlier this week. 

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.  

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Sabres Sign Georgiev Due To Looming Concerns Of Luukkonen’s Injury Status

The Buffalo Sabres appeared to have well-stocked shelves in goal, as the signing of veteran Alex Lyon in July added a third goalie with NHL experience alongside Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi, but on Thursday the club added another netminder to the fold, as the Sabres signed Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year, one way deal for $825,000. 

The 29-year-old Bulgarian is an eight-year veteran, signed as an undrafted free agent by the Rangers out of the Finnish SM-Liiga in 2017 and made his NHL debut with New York in his first season in North America. Georgiev served as the backup for Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin on Broadway for five seasons before being dealt to Colorado in the summer of 2022. 

Georgiev was acquired by the Avalanche to be their primary starter and in his first season with Colorado made a career-high 62 starts, and set marks for wins (40), goals-against (2.51), save percentage (.919) and shutouts (6), but the following season he was overworked by head coach Jared Bednar early in the season (starting 33 games in the first half), leading to plummeting numbers and a loss of confidence from the Avs organization. 

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After a woeful start of the season (8-7-0, 3.38 GAA, .874 save %), Colorado dispatched Georgiev in December to San Jose in a deal for Mackenzie Blackwood, where he served as the workhorse for a rebuilding Sharks club. 

The signing raised questions regarding the Sabres goaltending situation. Lyon was signed to a two-year contract, presumably to be the backup for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Youngster Devon Levi (who also signed a two-year extension in July) has played mostly in AHL Rochester since being sent down in January 2024, when Luukkonen became the primary starter. 

After a strong second half, the Sabres signed the big Finn to a five-year contract extension, but last season he regressed significantly, going .500 (24-24-5), with a 3.20 GAA and sub .900 save %, which led to head coach Lindy Ruff using backup James Reimer heavily in the last month. There were no indications at the time that Luukkonen’s performance or lack of action was related to an injury. 

In Friday’s Buffalo News, Rachel Lenzi reported from an NHL source that the signing of Georgiev was precipitated by an unspecified injury to Luukkonen. The injury was described as a "tweak" and no length of time was given for a potential return for Luukkonen. The 26-year-old has an extensive injury history, with hip surgery in 2021, and ankle surgery at the end of the 2022-23 season, but he has not had anything of a serious or lengthy nature the last two years. 

After the signing of Lyon, it was expected that Levi was destined to start the season with the Amerks, sharing duties with first-year pros Scott Ratzlaff and Topias Leinonen, but Luukkonen’s injury status and the addition of Georgiev have clouded the Sabres situation between the pipes.