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Canadiens' Defense Get Massive Praise From Martin St. Louis

© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

When looking at the Montreal Canadiens' roster, it is clear that their defense is a major strength. This is because they have seven caliber NHL defensemen, and they have multiple prospect blueliners who are knocking on the door to becoming NHLers.

The Canadiens only strengthened their blueline this off-season, too, as they brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade with the New York Islanders. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens' blueline heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis certainly is confident in the club's defensive group heading into the season. While speaking to reporters, including Habs 360's Chris G, Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble revealed that St. Louis had some massive praise for the Habs' blueline.

"Marty was doing his rounds, calling guys in the summer. He was "I'll take out seven d versus anyone in the league, and I would agree with that," Struble said.

Struble then discussed why he agrees with St. Louis' take on the Canadiens' defense.

"We have some really good young talent," Struble said. "We have some good young guys. We have some good older veterans. We have a good mix of skill and hard-nose, so it's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting to see how the year goes, but I think I'd take out seven guys versus anyone's."

St. Louis being so confident in the Canadiens' defense is certainly nice to hear, and it clearly has resonated with Struble. The Canadiens undoubtedly have some very good defensemen to work with this campaign, and it is a big reason why there is plenty of excitement surrounding the club heading into the 2025-26 season.

Noah Dobson Thrilled To Play For CanadiensNoah Dobson Thrilled To Play For CanadiensEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They then signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract, so he will be a big part of the Canadiens' present and future. 
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Yankees win seventh straight after outlasting White Sox, 5-3, in extras

The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-3, in extra innings on Saturday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-We pick this one up in the 11th inning of a 2-2 tie. Unable to settle the score after 10 innings, New York took the lead in the top of the 11th. Cody Bellinger's single put the Yanks ahead before Jazz Chisholm doubled in another run and put runners at second and third with one out. 

Despite the second out being made at home, the rally didn't stop there as Anthony Volpe doubled in the third run of the inning to make things 5-2. Entering the frame, the Yankees had three hits and they doubled that in the 11th inning alone.

New York turned to Camilo Doval to lock down the win and the right-hander got two ground outs that scored a run before striking out his final batter to notch his 16th save of the season but first since getting traded to the Bronx.

-In the 10th inning, New York squandered its chance to score following another out at home, but Chicago came out for the bottom half against David Bednar who sent the game to extras after a scoreless ninth and failed to score, as well.

-Before extra innings, Austin Wells' solo shot to lead off the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave New York a one-run lead. The blast was Wells' 19th of the season and was crushed off Chicago starter Shane Smith, traveling 410 feet to right center field.

The home run was just the Yankees' third hit of the game at the time as Smith actually pitched well over 6.1 innings. Although, before Wells' long ball, Aaron Judge hit a tape-measure shot to center field that went 429 feet and had an exit velocity of 111 mph to start the scoring in the fourth inning.

-However, each time New York scored, the White Sox came back soon after. 

In the fifth, Mike Tauchman singled home Curtis Mead to tie things at one against Cam Schlittler who hit Mead to begin the inning. Immediately following the HBP, Schlittler had an injury scare after taking a line drive off of his backside before recording the out. The right-hander was deemed okay, but he'll surely have a bruise tomorrow.

Schlitter's final line: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. He now has a 2.61 ERA in 48.1 innings since being called up and has been a huge help for the Yanks' starting rotation.

-Following Wells' homer, the White Sox tied it again, this time even quicker. In the bottom of the seventh and facing Devin Williams, Mead led off with a double and came around to score on Chase Meidroth's single. It was Williams' fourth blown save of the season as his disappointing first season in New York continues.

-The win was the Yankees' seventh straight win and they'll go for their eighth on Sunday in search of a four-game series sweep in Chicago.

Game MVP: David Bednar

Bednar's two scoreless innings came at a crucial point in the game and allowed the Yankees' offense to eventually win it.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and White Sox finish out their four-game series with a Sunday matinee starting at 2:10 p.m.

RHP Luis Gil (2-1, 3.75 ERA) goes for New York and will be opposed by LHP Martin Perez (1-3, 2.02 ERA).

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Mitch Marner Explains Why He Vetoed Trade To Hurricanes

 James Guillory-Imagn Images

Mitch Marner was nearly traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

At around the time of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Marner was asked by Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a potential trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen.

Marner ultimately vetoed the trade and did not waive his no-trade clause. 

The superstar forward finally explained why he refused to go to Carolina, but it was nothing personal against the Hurricanes organization. 

“The last two years there were a lot of rumors going on, a lot of different stuff swirling around. You didn’t know what was going to happen,” Marner said via NHL.com. “Then the whole Carolina thing comes up in the middle of the season. It’s a bit of an awkward one. My wife was six or seven months pregnant, we really didn’t want to be a deadline player.

“I would have had to leave and go back to Toronto because my wife wasn’t coming down with me, so I was moving into Carolina myself if I did that. The logistics of it and everything, it just didn’t make sense and then from that point on, we told [the Maple Leafs] we were committed to [Toronto] and we were going to play it all out.”

Once this blockbuster deal fell through, the Hurricanes traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Logan Stankoven, a 2026 first-round and third-round pick, a 2027 third-rounder and a 2028 first-rounder.

Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in July and signed an eight-year, $96 million contract.

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Alex de Minaur marches into US Open last 16 as Daria Kasatkina bows out

  • Australian leads 6-7 (9) 6-3 6-4 2-0 when Daniel Altmaier retires

  • Women’s 15th seed knocked out in 6-0 4-6 6-3 loss to Naomi Osaka

Alex de Minaur has surged into the US Open second week for a fifth time with a business-like win over wounded German Daniel Altmaier.

Australia’s last player standing once more, De Minaur recovered from a set down to progress after Altmaier retired injured when the Demon was leading 6-7 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 2-0 on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

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Mets prospect Brandon Sproat pitches seven scoreless innings for Triple-A, Francisco Alvarez goes hitless in return to action

With the Mets having recently promoted two of their top pitching prospects this season, Brandon Sproat remains the last man standing and still pitching in the minor leagues. He was in action once again on Saturday, pitching for Triple-A Syracuse and made his latest case to be the next pitcher promoted to the majors.

Facing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 win for the Mets. He allowed just three hits (all singles) and two walks and even added a pickoff at first base. 

It was just the second time Sproat went seven innings this season.

The 24-year-old's fantastic outing came on the heels of one of his worst starts in which he allowed seven runs (five earned) in 3.2 innings. In fact, after an incredible July (0.67 ERA), Sproat had struggled in August and entered the game with a 6.63 ERA for the month.

With his seven shutdown innings, the prospect's ERA dropped from 4.50 to 4.24.

Also in the game was Francisco Alvarez who returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his pinky after a hit by pitch. Batting third and DHing, Alvarez finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

He shouldn't feel too bad, though, as Syracuse managed just three hits and struck out 11 times. 

As for other notable prospects in the game, Luisangel Acuña went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the leadoff spot while Ryan Clifford finished 1-for-4 with a run-scoring single.

Meanwhile, Jett Williams was scratched from the lineup right before game time with wrist soreness, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The team doesn't believe it to be serious.

The top prospect was batting second and playing second base but was replaced by Yonny Hernandez (batting eighth) who got Syracuse on the board with a solo shot in the top of the third inning.

In 16 games since getting promoted to Triple-A, Williams is slashing .197/.254/.348 with five extra-base hits and just one stolen base. Overall, the 21-year-old is still enjoying a fantastic season with his .268/.390/.477 triple slash line.