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Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge's late-game heroics could be key to MLB success

Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge's late-game heroics could be key to MLB success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO — When Giants executives have talked about Bryce Eldridge‘s development this summer, they have often brought up his continued effort to get up to speed at first base. 

Eldridge has gotten strong reviews for the work he has done in recent months to improve his positioning, range and decision-making on the dirt. He is learning how to properly prepare for every pitch, but he also has learned that it’s not always a bad thing to let your mind wander.

A few weeks ago, Eldridge was standing at his position in the top of the ninth with the Sacramento River Cats trailing by three runs. He knew he was due up third in the bottom of the inning and was confident in the two guys ahead of him. 

“These guys are going to get on base and I’m going to tie this game,” he recalled during an interview for the “Giants Talk” Podcast. “I’m just thinking of what I’m going to do and what (the pitcher) is going to throw me. I ended up putting it over (the wall) and we ended up walking it off later in that game. That’s just kind of how I think in those situations.”

Eldridge’s premonition that night proved correct. He came up with runners on the corners and crushed a hanging splitter over the wall in left-center. Five days later, he had a similar moment, hitting a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth to give Sacramento a one-run lead.

In July, shortly after returning from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Eldridge hit a walk-off homer. Last Saturday, he hit a game-tying double off the top of the wall with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth. 

Eldridge’s big season — he has 23 homers and a .845 OPS in the minors — has been filled with game-changing swings in big moments, one of many reasons why the Giants are so confident he’ll be a franchise player for years to come. He’s the kind of talent that could lead them back to the postseason consistently, and once he’s there, it’s clear that Eldridge won’t shy away from the moment.

Through Thursday’s game, the 20-year-old is hitting .317 with a 1.147 OPS with runners in scoring position. That latter figure is the highest among Triple-A players with at least 50 at-bats, and Eldridge is tied for second in Triple-A with eight homers with a runner on second or third. It’s when the game is on the line, though, that he really turns it up. 

In situations deemed “late and close,” he is 6-for-19 with three homers and 10 RBI. He has a 1.277 OPS in those plate appearances. 

“I think that’s just something that I look forward to,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area. “That’s something that I dream about and when I get that opportunity, there’s not a bone in my body, there’s not a thought in my head, telling me that I’m not going to get the big hit in that moment. I think that’s just something that I’ve been blessed with, is wanting that moment. 

“It really just starts with the half inning or inning before and preparing myself and telling myself I’m going to get that at-bat in that situation and kind of envisioning in my head what I’m going to do.”

If that translates to the big league level, that could be Eldridge’s biggest contribution to the lineup. The Giants rank 29th in the big leagues in OPS in “late and close” situations, and they’re 23rd in OPS with runners in scoring position. 

President of baseball operations Buster Posey is hopeful that drafting and developing more contact-heavy players will help, but the biggest boost could come from a powerful first-rounder left by the previous regime. 

Eldridge’s feel for the moment was something that drew the Giants to him in the 2023 MLB draft. While representing Team USA at the Under-18 World Cup, he hit a three-run homer in the gold medal game and then took the mound for a scoreless inning.

“That was pretty cool,” Eldridge said. “That was a moment I’ll never forget.”

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Canadiens: Hutson And Hush. Raise $25,000

Lane Hutson lives and breathes hockey; that much has been established in his rookie season, and it’s therefore not surprising to see him partner up with the company Hush. to put up a fundraiser in Brossard in the dog days of summer.

On a Thursday at 5:30 PM in Brossard, shortly after the kids returned to school, the event still managed to sell out the Montreal Canadiens' CN Sports Complex, and as a result, they were able to make a $25,000 donation to the Manoir Ronald McDonald Foundation.

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Before hitting the ice with Patrice Brisebois and Paul Byron for the Battle of Generations event, Hutson was made available to the media for 20 minutes. While we had hoped to obtain his comments on the topic of the summer in Montreal (related to his contract), any questions on the subject were shut down by the organizers. When asked why he would like to stay in Montreal, though, he did say that he loves hockey and feels the fans love it just as much as he does.

The sophomore blueliner credits his dad as a role model growing up, which influenced his desire to get involved in community events. Regarding the new arrival, Noah Dobson, he said he skated with him earlier this week and that he looks good, with a great shot. He added that he’ll be an exciting addition to the team. As for being surprised, he said he wasn’t, as there have been numerous changes around the league.

Asked if he was disappointed not to have been invited to the Team USA orientation camp ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics, he explained:

Yes, I mean, there are some great players with USA Hockey and some great NHL players, so I wish them the best. For me, I’ve got a season to get ready for. […] I’d love to play, and it’s a long season, so you never know what could happen. If the opportunity presents itself, it’s certainly something I’d like to do.
-

As for Ivan Demidov, he praises his intelligence on the ice and the things he’s able to do. Asked if he would pair him with Patrik Laine if he were coach Martin St-Louis, he laughed and said they seem to have developed a bit of chemistry over the course of a couple of days, so that it could be a possibility; you never know. He added that either way, they will do great. Asked if he could see himself playing with Dobson, he replied that the Canadiens have a lot of great defensemen and plenty of options.

The youngster didn’t take much of a break from the ice this summer, spending most of it on the ice, coaching at his dad’s hockey school. He’s clearly as motivated as ever and hopes to get another taste of playoff hockey at the end of the year. Don’t expect his mum to spend as much time in town this year; all of his brothers are now out of the ice, and she’ll have plenty of visiting to do.

Hutson, Brisebois, and Byron were put through their paces on an obstacle course that was much easier for the current NHLers than for the retired players, unsurprisingly. Then, there was an accuracy shooting event, and a passing event; the youngster also dominated both, while Brisebois looked better in an in-close shooting challenge against the goalies. One of whom was Arseni Radkov, the Canadiens’ third-round pick at the last draft. In the end, it mattered very little who did the best since the point of the evening was to raise funds for the Manoir Ronald McDonald. Tickets were available via a presale at $15 each. The general admission was $30, or four tickets could be purchased for $60. Additionally, a limited number of VIP packages were available for $180.

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Mitch Marner Reveals Intense Backlash And Had 'Full-Time Security' At His Home Following Maple Leafs’ 2025 Playoff Exit

Mitch Marner is weeks away from playing for a different team for the first time in his career. The Vegas Golden Knights forward is in Calgary for Hockey Canada’s orientation camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics to be held in Italy in February.

During that time, he spoke with TSN’s Mark Masters, his first time speaking to Toronto-based media since he departed the Maple Leafs, his hometown team of nine NHL seasons. In the interview, Marner revealed that the toughest part of leaving was saying goodbye to his teammates, particularly Auston Matthews. The two played their first NHL game together on Oct. 12, 2016, a night when Matthews scored four goals. Marner had tried to arrange a time to talk before Matthews departed for Arizona for the summer, but it didn’t work out.

Marner also revealed that he left Toronto because it was “time for a new chapter” and later went into detail about some of the fan harassment and safety concerns he dealt with over the last couple of years, particularly in the aftermath of Toronto’s 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of their second-round 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs series.

“We play Game 7 as we do in a non-enjoyable way of all time probably,” Marner recounted. “You know you get home, you're pretty disappointed, you're pretty devastated at that. The thought also that it was my last Maple Leaf game at home. And then I get a phone call probably about five or so minutes after from… I think it was my wife's father called me and goes, ‘I just want to let you know we've got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting your address online saying that if people want to come pay us a visit and say their goodbyes—in a quotation way—here’s the address.’ It was a little tough.”

Marner said he and his family had dealt with similar issues for the last two years.

“The market's very passionate. They love the team,” he said. “I know it. I was born and raised there. I've been a part of the Leafs Nation for a long time. But when your family's safety comes into question, especially having a new son, I don't think it's acceptable having full-time security pretty much at your house for two weeks after the playoffs just to make sure no one's coming to the house. And for safety, trying to walk your dog and your child. So it was a little unfortunate, but yeah, we all deal with this stuff.”

While Marner received some hate, there are also many fans of the skilled winger who led the Maple Leafs in points last season. He noted that while he knew he was getting some love from fans, the hate seemed louder.

“The problem is that the love comments don't come out as much as the hatred ones,” Marner said. “And that's just the way life goes, and that's the way social media has turned into in a way.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude for his time in Toronto. “I'm forever grateful to be a Maple Leaf and wear that crest on my… my chest for nine years. I mean, I tried to give everything I had for those nine years.”

The Maple Leafs completed a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Marner’s rights to the Western Conference club. Marner then signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights.

Marner will return to Toronto to play against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 23, the second night of back-to-back games, which he said he doesn’t like. “I would’ve liked to be one day in Toronto,” he added.

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‘One of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player’: Osaka hits back at Ostapenko

  • Latvian criticised for saying Taylor Townsend had ‘no education’

  • Ostapenko strongly denies US Open comments were racist

Naomi Osaka has condemned Jelena Ostapenko’s comments during her courtside confrontation with Taylor Townsend at the US Open.

The incident on Wednesday has been one of the most talked-about of the tournament, with Ostapenko accusing the American Townsend of having no education and no class after their second-round match. The comments, which Ostapenko justified as a reaction to Townsend not apologising for a shot that hit the top of the net, have prompted accusations of racism.

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Steph Curry's ‘alternate universe' as youth basketball coach still a possibility

Steph Curry's ‘alternate universe' as youth basketball coach still a possibility originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

STANFORD, Calif. – In an alternate reality, Warriors fans and the NBA world at large never got to experience the mind-blowing greatness of Steph Curry. 

There wouldn’t be highlight compilations of Curry crossing defenders and shooting from unimaginable distances. Mike Breen’s double-bang is locked in a box begging to be released. The Warriors might still be waiting for their first championship since 1975. Chase Center would have never been built, and the 3-point revolution isn’t even a concept. 

One man changed the game that much. 

But in reality, Curry and basketball were bound for each other. Maybe not in a Warriors jersey, and maybe not wowing crowds of all ages and backgrounds. The holy matrimony between the two was inevitable, one way or another. 

Even if that meant coaching. That’s the path Curry once saw, and not patrolling the sidelines of an NBA arena. 

“I didn’t know that he was going to end up playing basketball,” Curry’s wife, Ayesha, recently revealed on an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “He said he wanted to be a high school basketball coach. I thought I was going to be, like, the girl out there getting it. I didn’t know.” 

Curry laughed but didn’t deny Ayesha’s admission in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area on Wednesday at the Stanford Golf Course during his sixth annual Workday Charity Classic. 

He grew up in locker rooms and on basketball courts. His father, Dell, played 16 seasons in the NBA for five different franchises and was named the 1994 Sixth Man of the Year as a member of the Charlotte Hornets when he averaged a career-best 16.3 points per game off the bench while shooting 40.2 percent from deep. Curry can credit him with having the game in his blood, helping turn a skinny kid into the greatest shooter of all time. 

However, Dell isn’t the reason Steph saw coaching in his future. The leadership and community impact he witnessed from his mother, Sonya, opened his eyes to that being his likeliest career. 

“My mom was an educator growing up, so I kind of understood how to connect with people,” Curry said. “Seeing people learn a skill, or learn anything really, and that joy that comes with accomplishment, that always got me going.” 

This year marked the ninth Curry Camp, bringing some of the best boys and girls high school basketball prospects to the Bay Area for three days. It also was the first year that the Curry Camp model was brought overseas to China as part of his 2025 Curry Brand World Tour.

Back in March, he even accepted a role as assistant general manager for the basketball programs of his alma mater, Davidson College, and later hosted the men’s team for a surprise workout last month in the Bay Area, going through drills, sharing shooting tips and plenty more.

Curry has been influential from afar and through his camp for an always-growing long list of current NBA and WNBA players. Winning four championships, two MVPs and having a trophy case that can fill an entire living room is a life Curry wouldn’t change. Nobody would.

Coaching high school basketball also is something he says would have been an incredibly fulfilling life. What about coaching, at any level, in the future? Never say never. 

“I mean, anything is possible,” Curry said. “Who knows what the future holds. But the idea of yeah, that alternate universe, I would have been happy as hell to be a high school coach, knowing how important that presence is for kids. Everybody has a role to play. I took a different path.” 

The title of Coach Curry rolls off the tongue. Numerous all-time greats have picked up a clipboard in their post-playing days. Maybe one day that will be his reality. Maybe in a different life, Curry is counting his coaching championships at Charlotte Christian. 

Rest easy, Dub Nation. The slightest possibility of Curry one day coaching can be put on the backburner. All that he cares about in his basketball life right now is the chase for a fifth championship, counting down the days until he’s back on the court with his Warriors teammates.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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‘Next time, don’t wonder why I hit you’: Tsitsipas rages at opponent’s underarm serves

  • Former world No 3 beaten by Daniel Altmaier at US Open

  • German deployed underarm serve in fourth set

A frustrated Stefanos Tsitsipas took exception to his opponent’s tactics after blowing a match point and exiting the US Open in the second round courtesy of a five-set loss to Daniel Altmaier on Thursday.

The 7-6 (5), 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat means the former world No 3 Tsitsipas will end the season without playing in the third round of a grand slam for the first time since 2017.

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Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina defy Australian exodus to reach US Open third round

  • De Minaur and Kasatkina keep hopes alive in New York

  • Four other Australians crash out in second round

Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina have expressed relief for different reasons after saving Australia’s blushes with contrasting second-round US Open victories in New York.

As Alexei Popyrin, Adam Walton, Tristan Schoolkate and Maya Joint all crashed out, De Minaur hit the go button in a straight-sets victory over Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.

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Western United wound up as court rejects last-ditch attempt to save A-League club

  • Federal court orders club to be wound up in insolvency

  • Decision comes after months of financial turmoil

The embattled A-League club Western United is officially defunct after the federal court ordered its management group be wound up in insolvency.

Lawyers for the club had sought an adjournment to proceedings, claiming they had found a fresh $15m investment to pay off their debts.

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Kyle Schwarber has 21st 4-homer game in MLB, drives in Phillies-record 9 runs

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs Thursday night against Atlanta to become the 21st major leaguer and fourth Phillies player to accomplish the feat.

Schwarber was 4 for 6 with a Phillies-record nine RBIs in the 19-4 victory. He took the outright National League homer lead with a career-high 49 and moved within one of Seattle’s Cal Raleigh for the major league lead. Schwarber leads the majors with a career-high 119 RBIs.

“It’s pretty cool,” Schwarber said. “It was a fun night, great atmosphere. Wouldn’t want to do it with a better group of guys than we have here.”

Mike Schmidt was the last Philadelphia player to hit four homers in a game, doing at the Chicago Cubs in April 1976. Schwarber had the third four-homer game of the season, following Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz.

“It just cooperated,” Schwarber said. “You can do everything right and get out, and you can do everything wrong and get a hit. Got some pitches and put some good swings on it.”

The Philadelphia star started the power surge with a solo shot in the first off Cal Quantrill, sending a 2-1, curveball into the seats in right field. Schwarber hit a flyout to center in the second.

After Quantrill was lifted with one out and two runners on base in the fourth, Schwarber greeted lefty Austin Cox by sending a 3-2 curveball over the wall in right for his fourth multi-homer game of the season.

With “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants ringing down from Phillies fans in the fifth, Schwarber launched a three-run, opposite-field drive off Cox to put Philadelphia ahead 15-3. In the seventh, Schwarber hit a three-run shot to right off Wander Suero to make it 18-4.

Schwarber popped out in the eighth.

“I stink against position players,” Schwarber joked. “All you’re trying to do is get a good pitch. I got the pitch. Just popped it up.”

The 32-year-old Schwarber has 333 homers in 11 seasons in the majors with the Cubs and the Phillies. His previous career high was 47 in 2023 for Philadelphia.

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Yankees' Anthony Volpe snaps career-worst slump with multi-hit game vs. White Sox

Anthony Volpe was mired in the worst slump of his career and one of the worst in Yankees history.

The young shortstop entered Thursday's series opener against the White Sox 1 for his last 37. That .027 OBP (one hit, no walks) over his last 11 games was the lowest by a Yankee non-pitcher ever (minimum 30 plate appearances). That stretch led to him being benched in consecutive games for the first time in his career, but the Yankees are trying to get Volpe right, and starting him seems to be their solution.

And for at least one game, it worked.

Volpe went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the Yankees' 10-4 win in Chicago. 

"Hopefully, it’s something that will get him going," manager Aaron Boone said after the game.

But Thursday's performance wasn't always pretty for Volpe. His first at-bat saw him reach on a fielding error, but he stole second -- his first stolen base since Aug. 6 --  and scored on a Ben Rice single. He then finally got a knock, lacing a double down the left-field line in his second at-bat before singling through the right side in his third AB. Thursday was Volpe's first multi-hit game since Aug. 1.

Boone was asked if Volpe had changed anything at the plate and the Yankees skipper said he didn't because he noticed there were good at-bats being had during his slump.

"Going back the last four games, there’s been an at-bat in each game where he hasn’t got rewarded where he squared it up," Boone said. "But in and around that, he’s had some at-bats that haven’t gone well. Little more consistent, little more disciplined tonight and good to see him get results."

"Nothing [has changed]," Volpe said of his approach at the plate. "Sticking to my approach and staying on the pitches."

Volpe said mentally, he's kept his perspective during his recent rough stretch. He's felt the frustrations of his performance but felt that he was close to breaking through.

"It’s a balance. It’s obviously frustrating. At the end of the day, you want to get results and help the team. When you’re not doing that, it’s frustrating," he said. "At the same time, I felt like I was close and taking good swings, putting together some good at-bats. Just a balance." 

He added, "I was barreling up the ball and getting pitches I can drive. There’s some bad at-bats in there, but I felt good."

Any major leaguer can explain that the last thing a struggling hitter can do is take their offensive woes to the field with them. Volpe has often done that season, and it happened in Thursday's game. In the second inning, Volpe booted a grounder right at him, and it resulted in four unearned runs. It's Volpe's 18th error of the season, tied for the MLB lead.

To Volpe's credit, he didn't let it affect his defense for the rest of the game or at the plate. He picked up his two hits and even produced a sac fly to tack on a run in the later innings. 

"After the error there in the second inning, I thought he made three stellar plays. Good to see him bounce back from that," Boone said. "We need to get him going. He’s such an important part of what we do. Hopefully, this is something he can build on."

Boone says that it's hard for a young player to push past making an error in the majors but knows Volpe has that makeup, which is what helps him stand out.

"Wiring-wise, he’s made for it. Gotta keep playing. I feel like he’s always kinda done that," he said. "I think it’s an important trait to have in our business. You better be able to get past some failures or mistakes, or this game will sink ya." 

"Just part of the game. There’s no other alternative," Volpe said of burying a mistake.

It's been a tough season for Volpe. Although his numbers this year are close to what he did in his rookie campaign, three seasons in and the team, fans and Volpe himself expect more out of him. In 132 games, he's slashing .207/.271/.397 with an OPS of .668 to go along with 18 homers and 66 RBI. And that includes his defensive errors and miscues that have cost the Yankees games this year. 

But as the team gets ready for a postseason push, perhaps Thursday's game can unlock something in Volpe for the stretch run. 

Cody Bellinger, who had three hits, including a homer on Thursday, can attest to what a little confidence boost can do for a player.

"Confidence is huge," he told YES Network's Meredit Marakovits on the field after the win. "A lot of balls right at people lately. That’s tough when things aren’t going your way. Credit to him, honestly. He stays locked in, stays positive. He’s a great baseball player. It’s exciting for him, especially today."

With three more games in Chicago, the Yankees and their fans will see if Volpe can indeed build off of this.

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Under-The-Radar Penguins To Watch In 2025-26

The Pittsburgh Penguins enter the 2025-26 season having gone three straight seasons without qualifying for the playoffs, and it appears likely to become four unless they exceed expectations. 

They are still super talented up front, led by captain Sidney Crosby. He's still one of the best players in the NHL and is coming off three-straight 90+ point seasons. He may be 38, but he still has quite a bit left in the tank. 

Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are coming off career-best seasons and look poised to start the season with the Penguins after being involved in trade rumors over the summer. They also still have 39-year-old Evgeni Malkin, who can still make some things happen and will likely have better linemates for this season. The other two spots in the top six will be up for grabs during training camp and the preseason.

There are other good players on this roster going into the season who have already had big seasons for the Penguins, but let's take a look at a few under-the-radar players who could break out this year. 

Tommy Novak

Novak was acquired by the Penguins in the Michael Bunting trade before the 2025 NHL trade deadline and played only two games for the Penguins before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished the season with 13 goals and 22 points in 54 games.

He's now back to full health and has the makings of a player who can do it all. He can play third-line center, but he can also slide into the top six if necessary. There's a good chance that he and Malkin get some minutes together this season since Novak is an excellent distributor and an underrated finisher. Both elements work really well for Malkin's line. 

Before this season, Novak finished the 2023-24 season with 18 goals and 45 points in 71 games. Six of those goals came on the power play, so expect him also to receive PP time this season, whether it's on the first or second unit. 

Novak is someone who Penguins fans should be excited about for this season. 

Mar 15, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) handles the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Arturs Silovs

Silovs was acquired by the Penguins on July 13 from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and forward Chase Stillman. Silovs wasn't going to get much playing time with the Canucks next season due to their goaltending duo of Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen, so they found a new home for him. 

Silovs will have the opportunity to compete for Tristan Jarry's backup spot and is coming off an outstanding run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, winning the MVP and leading the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup title. He finished the playoffs with 16 wins, a 2.01 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. 

He's still only 24 and has also already played in some big games for Team Latvia at the World Championships and for the NHL's Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He helped his country win Bronze at the 2023 World Championships and has a knack for playing well in big games. 

If that play in big games can translate to the NHL for a full season, he'll have a good chance of earning a new contract with the Penguins since he's a restricted free agent after the season.

Penguins Name New Roving Coach To Organizational StaffPenguins Name New Roving Coach To Organizational StaffThe Pittsburgh Penguins have made yet another new hire on their organizational coaching staff.

Filip Hallander

I've said this before, but fans shouldn't sleep on Hallander going into the season, considering his performance over the last two years in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League). He looked like a different player in Sweden, finishing this past season with 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games. His 53 points ranked second in the league, and his goals also ranked second. 

His all-around game significantly improved during the last couple of years in Sweden, following two seasons in North America with the Penguins' organization. The Penguins picked him in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, but he didn't get to North America until the 2021-22 season. 

After this past season, Hallander signed a contract with the Penguins at the end of April and is ready to fight for a full-time spot in the lineup. If he can bring over what he did in Sweden to the Penguins, they may find themselves with a solid depth contributor for pennies on the dollar. 

Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

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'It's Special For All Of Us': Crosby's Presence Looms Large For Team Canada. And He's Not Finished.

Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Even though there were three players sitting through a press conference ahead of Team Canada's Olympic Orientation Camp, a lot of the questions and answers seemed to center on one of them. 

And he also happens to be the eldest of the group.

Yes. More than a decade since the NHL's last Olympic appearance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the man who captained that squad just so happens to remain the talk of the town - and the talk of the country.

Sidney Crosby may be 38 years old now - and his famous and fateful "Golden Goal" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is now the stuff of history books - but the shine still hasn't worn off for those around him. 

"It’s not lost on our generation," Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart remarked during the presser. "I think the biggest motivation there for us is that it doesn’t look like the window is closing for him any time soon. He’s a day-by-day guy focused on the now. That’s motivating for us, so we’re excited about that opportunity.”

Unlike Reinhart and Edmonton Oilers' superstar Connor McDavid - the third leg at the press conference - Crosby has been here before. He is familiar with the Olympic stage, and he knows not to take any of these experiences for granted.

Crosby had an opportunity as an 18-year-old to crack the 2006 Olympic roster for the Turin games, but he was cut. He went on to score the Golden Goal in 2010 and captained Canada to gold in 2014, and - given the circumstances around the past two Winter Olympic games in 2018 and 2022 - many were worried that they may never see Crosby don the Olympic maple leaf jersey again, let alone get to share that Olympic ice with stars like McDavid and Reinhart.

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The rest of the hockey world may have been worried, but Crosby wasn't. Part of him always knew that he'd be back on this stage.

"With the way things went and so many things out of our control in the two prior times leading up to that, I try not to think too far ahead and just try to let it play out," Crosby said. "I was pretty confident that we’d find a way to get back, and I wanted to be a part of that, obviously. I guess I kept the belief.

"But, I think it wasn’t something that I gave a whole lot of thought as far as missing out on the opportunity. I just tried to be optimistic and positive about it.”

And after the success of the 4 Nations Face-off back in February, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic and positive about international hockey coming back to the forefront. Folks are talking about hockey who wouldn't normally do so. Many realize that there is more talent in the league than, arguably, there ever has been, and 4 Nations was the first time many of them got a taste of what international competition entails. 

Guys like Crosby, though, know what to expect. But that doesn't mean there won't be some surprises and differences in style of play, especially since the game is much faster than it was the last time Crosby stepped onto an Olympic stage.

"We’ll probably go over some stuff here in the next couple of days, so we’ll probably get a better feel for that," Crosby said. "It’s NHL ice surface, so I would think that, as far as structures and things like that, it would be pretty similar. But, obviously, you look at the skill level, the speed… it’s a whole other level. If it’s anything like 4 Nations, it’s going to be fast.”

Even if the game is fast, though, that doesn't mean Crosby can't keep up. He tied McDavid for the 4 Nations lead in points with five, and he continued his dominance as a point-per-game player with his 20th consecutive NHL season at that mark in 2024-25, which set a new NHL record. 

The game may be faster, but Crosby continuously finds ways to adapt. He takes that energy into both the NHL season and international play, and it doesn't go unnoticed by his peers - many of whom idolized Crosby as kids watching him score the most famous goal in their nation's history.

Canada's Sidney Crosby scores in overtime against USA goalie Ryan Miller to win the gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. © H. Darr Beiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

And they are grateful for the opportunity to finally share the ice with him on the world's biggest stage.

“There’s no shortage of what Sid means to me, I think that’s been well-documented," McDavid said. "Obviously, growing up watching Sid and idolizing him, and seeing him score that goal... You know, he’s cut from the ‘06 team, then in ‘10, he scores that goal, and then you see him captain the ‘14 team. So, for our generation, for him to still be here and being the captain and still playing a massive role… it’s special. It’s special for all of us."

Some of the talk surrounding Team Canada and Crosby this time around feels too eerily like a farewell tour. But, as McDavid pointed out, Crosby is still playing a "massive role" for Team Canada, so - perhaps - ruling him out for future Olympic games may not be the best bet. 

After all, this is Captain Canada we're talking about. This is a top-five player of all time. This is Sidney Crosby. 

Penguins' Sidney Crosby Lands High Rating In NHL 26Penguins' Sidney Crosby Lands High Rating In NHL 26Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby simply won't slow down. During his 20th career NHL season in 2024-25, he was once again one of the league's most dominant players. In 80 games on the year, the 2005 first-overall pick recorded 33 goals, 58 assists, and 91 points. With this, he set an NHL record by having his 20th NHL season producing at over a point-per-game pace.

Regardless of what happens in the future, though, Crosby is focused on the present. And he is eager and thankful to, once again, be representing his country at the peak of his sport's competition.

“[I'm] just grateful for the chance to still be competing and having the opportunity to do this," Crosby said. "You never know. It’s a tough sport, and it’s competitive. To be part of this, I think I'm just grateful, but I also know how special the opportunity is and what it means. So, in knowing that, it’s motivating. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of. You can feel the energy coming off of 4 Nations. That was huge, and I think everyone got a taste of international hockey and, obviously, what the Olympics are going to look like.

"A lot of different emotions, but just excited, motivated, and grateful for the opportunity to be at it again.”

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Defensive miscues cost Mets against Marlins: 'They capitalized on every opportunity we gave them'

The Mets, riding high after a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, had the chance to capitalize with the lowly, youthful Miami Marlins in town. But on Thursday night at Citi Field, the team pushing for the postseason played like the team that played nine rookies.

“We didn’t execute, we didn’t play a clean game, and they made us pay for it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the 7-4 defeat. “Didn’t do the little things, fundamentally, some routine plays there gave them some extra outs, some extra bases, and cost us a game.”

The tale of the tape: three Mets errors resulting in five unearned runs, including three unearned in the seventh to put the visitors ahead for good.

“Game got away from us there,” said Pete Alonso, who committed the first error of the seventh and was involved in another. “We gave the Marlins an opportunity, and they capitalized on every opportunity we gave them."

Mendoza dismissed the notion that this game was a bit of a hangover effort following the three-game sweep of the Phillies.

“I thought today the guys were in a good spot, prepared, just didn’t execute,” the skipper said. “Take the lead, we put pressure right away that first inning, and then it kinda gets away from us. We give up three runs in that third inning; we didn’t make routine plays.”

Playing with a 2-1 lead in the third, the Marlins had a runner on third and one out, and Jeff McNeil fielded a slow roller, and rather than taking the sure out at first, he fired home even though he had no chance to get the runner at the plate. The extra out came back to haunt them, as with two outs in the inning, Alonso fielded a grounder and threw to Clay Holmes covering first, but the starter had the ball pop out of his glove to score another run.

“I felt like I was in position to make the catch. It just kinda hit the part of my glove where it just jumped out of it,” Holmes said. “Goes in the pocket, it's probably an out, an easy catch. Kinda just stabbed at it, hit a part of the glove that was a little stiffer, and it just hopped out. 

“A routine play that I should make 10 out of 10 times, but I didn’t make it there.”

Holmes, who allowed a third run to score in the inning with a single to put Miami ahead 4-2, said he wasn’t expecting it to be an underhanded toss from Alonso, who threw the ball overhand and on a line.

“We didn’t make plays behind him,” Mendoza said of the starter’s five-inning outing. “He’s a ground ball pitcher, he’s gonna rely on the defense, and today we didn’t execute.”

In the seventh, after Alonso tied the game with a two-run home run, his 30th of the year, the sloppiness returned. After a leadoff single, Alonso fielded a grounder cleanly, but lost the ball as he went to transfer it to start a double play. A single to left should have loaded the bases, but Brandon Nimmo bobbled the ball, allowing the go-ahead run to score. 

A passed ball from catcher Hayden Senger put two runners in scoring position, setting up a one-out grounder to McNeil, and again with the infield in, another run scored as Liam Hicks' head-first dive just beat the tag. A sac fly plated the third run of the inning.

With 28 games left to play, dwelling on the loss isn’t in the plan ahead of three more against the Marlins over the weekend. 

“Good thing is we got another game tomorrow,” Alonso, who went 2-for-4 at the plate, said. “Learn from it, flush it, and full speed ahead.”