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The 2026 All About the Jersey Top 25 Under 25: Trending Upwards From 15th to 11th

Not many in this Top 25 had the chance to play NHL games for the Devils in the “Jersey Jersey,” but Topias Vilen made his NHL debut in his. | Getty Images

Happy weekend and happy game day, Devils fans. As we wait for our matinee against the Canucks, please feel free to read about another set of our Top 25 Under 25!

15. Nikita Shcherbakov (LHD) — Last Rank: N/A — Age: 18 — Team: Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

The New Jersey Devils’ third pick from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, selected at 44th overall, kicks off our top 15 this year. Nikita Shcherbakov is already looking like he might be one of the steals of the draft. Last season, Shcherbakov played seven scoreless games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, spending most of his season in the VHL (Russian second-tier) with Toros Neftekamsk, where he had four goals and six assists in 35 games. He also had 10 assists in 15 games for Tolpar Ufa in the MHL, or Russian juniors. By our expectations, we would have been happy to see Shcherbakov have a good season in the VHL, improving from the slow production he had there last year. We would have been thrilled with some modest production in the KHL.

So, who would have expected that Shcherbakov would already have two goals and four assists in 14 games for his KHL club? For a KHL rookie, Shcherbakov positions himself aggressively enough to contribute to the offense. Of course, this might not last forever. According to the KHL website, Shcherbakov only plays about 10:06 per game, and he has neither received penalty killing nor power play shifts to this point. Still, he has a chance to make history. In the 18 years that the KHL has existed, the all-time leading scorers among 18-year old defensemen are Anton Silaev and Mikhail Gulyaev, who had 12 points in 63 and 64 games, respectively. The all-time leading per-game scorer among 18-year old defensemen is Shakir Mukhamadullin, who had 10 points in 39 games.

14. Shane Lachance (LW) — Last Rank: 11 — Age: 23 — Team: Utica Comets (AHL)

While he did slip a bit in these rankings, Shane Lachance still has a very good chance of making the NHL. At 6’5” and 218 pounds, Lachance’s easiest path to the big club is by establishing himself as a consistent netfront presence. Last season, we saw a glimpse of that when he scored a preseason goal against the Capitals with the Devils’ power play, but Lachance played one game for the New Jersey Devils in the regular season. On a floundering Utica Comets team for most of that season, Lachance only had 10 goals and 15 assists in 62 games after having a goal and an assist in two games for them in 2024-25 upon his departure from Boston University. It was hard not to notice that players like Lachance and Cam Squires looked outstanding immediately after leaving their juniors or college teams only to have strongly disappointing full seasons with Utica.

This season, we hope for more from Lachance. The team as a whole is built far more competitively, including multiple former NHLers such as Vladislav Kolyachonok and Colin White along with higher-scoring AHLers such as Ben Steeves and Riley Tufte. Having multiple layers of scoring threat built throughout that lineup means that games no longer hinge on whether players like Lachance, Melovsky, and Hameenaho are the absolute key to whether they win or lose, as opponents will be forced to make tougher matchup decisions. Utica played their first game eight days ago, but their season finally resumes this evening. Let’s hope for a display of improved skating and high-danger scoring from the big Lachance.

13. Matyas Melovsky (RH C) — Last Rank: 16 — Age: 22 — Team: Utica Comets (AHL)

Prior to Sunny Mehta’s trade of Jacob Markstrom for Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, I would have thought that Matyas Melovsky was a strong candidate to make the NHL this season as a fourth-line center. The Czech right-hander was drafted in 2024 as a double-overage selection by the Devils in the sixth round, and this move has proved to be a rather solid one. Melovsky grew as a goal scorer over time in the QMJHL, going from a pure playmaker to a dual-threat with two-way success that made him one of the best players in the league at the time. Last season, in his professional debut for the Utica Comets, Melovsky had 10 goals and 16 assists in 55 games while having some of the best on-ice results on the team.

This year, Melovsky is off to a good start with an assist in Utica’s only game to date, as he got the primary assist on a goal by Ben Steeves. What makes Melovsky so easy to project into the NHL is his skating ability and positioning. He always seems to be making the right plays, far from being a selfish player. The New Jersey Devils might not have an easy way for Melovsky to get onto the team this season, but I expect him to be the regular number one center for Utica, above Schmelzer, White, and McLaughlin, by November. Of course, I think he should already be there.

12. Topias Vilen (LHD) — Last Rank: 18 — Age: 23 — Team: Utica Comets (AHL)

Continuing the theme of this entry of the Top 25 Under 25 being dominated by Utica Comets, Topias Vilen is the prospect in this section who played the most games in the NHL last season. Those two games might not stand out, but Vilen held his own in his cup-of-coffee NHL experience. Personally, I was not surprised by this, as Vilen has been playing professional hockey since he was 17, when he played in the Finnish Liiga. Since coming to the AHL in 2023, Vilen has been very consistent with 24 or more points in each season and a total of 80 points in 174 games.

This season, Vilen has to contend with a more stacked left side of the defense in Utica. Playing with Anton Silaev and Ethan Edwards, Vilen’s best chance of getting 20 minutes a game would necessitate him playing on the right side where Vladislav Kolyachonok is currently slated (especially while Seamus Casey remains out). Along with Kolyachonok, Vilen was among the final cuts from the New Jersey Devils’ roster going into the regular season, so there is a chance that we see him again this season. But if injuries arise, Mehta and Keefe will need to decide whether they prefer the steadiness of Vilen’s game or the potential of the speedy Edwards, the giant Silaev, or the NHL-experienced Kolyachonok.

11. Ethan Edwards (LHD) — Last Rank: 15 — Age: 24 — Team: Utica Comets (AHL)

The gap between Vilen and Ethan Edwards, in my opinion, is razor-thin. Honestly, going by pure production, Vilen is probably a bit better. Edwards is nearly a year older and was a four-year college player, where he was never a huge point producer at the University of Michigan. But Edwards’s skating has always been extremely intriguing. He has good edges and straight-line speed with the potential to be a good two-way defenseman that can close gaps quickly and join the attack. Last season, Edwards even had 10 goals for the Utica Comets, though his total of 23 points in 69 games still lagged well behind Vilen’s overall pace.

Edwards has one very big issue to take care of this season, though. In the 2025-26 season, Edwards had the third-worst on-ice goal rates out of 10 defensemen who played 10 or more games for the Utica Comets. And with most of the power play time last season going to Calen Addison, Seamus Casey, and Topias Vilen, Edwards was unable to push for power play time, while having significantly less success in extended penalty killing minutes than Vilen. First and foremost, Edwards needs to get his five-on-five play under control, proving that he can put his excellent skating to good use. Second, Edwards needs to find a special teams niche in the AHL, whether it is on the power play or penalty kill. If he can do that, he might put himself in position to push for a roster spot by next year. With Edwards being ranked so high, we are betting big on physical tools and athleticism.

The Vote

See below for the tally today.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are at the point where the variance in rankings has reduced significantly. The true average ranks for each of these players sat between 12 and 14.33, while the worst individual rank for any of them was 20 and the best individual ranks were as high as 9. This is where the slight disagreements came from everyone:

  • I had Nikita Shcherbakov (17->15) and Shane Lachance (16->14) in the top 20.
  • James had Matyas Melovsky (16->13) in the top 20 and Lachance (9->14) in the top 10.
  • Jared had Ethan Edwards (10->11) and Shcherbakov (9->15) in the top 10.
  • Jackson had Topias Vilen (17->12) in the top 20.
  • Tim had Lachance (20->14) in the top 20 and Melovsky (10->13) in the top 10.
  • The community had Shcherbakov (20->15) in the top 20 and Edwards (9->11) in the top 10.

We are largely in consensus over the general range of these prospects. By this point of the rankings, we are hoping that at least three of the five players here turn into true NHLers. They might not be superstars at this range (though Jared may have been onto something ranking Shcherbakov so high when he did), but there should be NHL depth, third pairing defensemen, or bottom six forwards of the future here. After these five, the expectations take another jump.

Your Thoughts

What did you think of today’s rankings release? Who are you excited to follow throughout this season? What do you think of Shcherbakov’s historic start in the KHL? Do you think Melovsky or Lachance will appear for the Devils this season? Do you think Vilen or Edwards might serve as injury fill-ins at some point? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

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Flyers Announce Major Series of Injury Updates

Ahead of Saturday afternoon's road game against the Boston Bruins, the Philadelphia Flyers announced a slew of unfortunate injury updates that will have major impacts on the team's short- and long-term plans.

According to Flyers general manager Danny Briere, forward Travis Konecny (lower-body) and Cam York (upper-body) are both day-to-day and will not play against the Bruins on Saturday.

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who accompanied the Flyers for their three-game road trip, has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 3, making him eligible to return as soon as he is ready to play.

With Ristolainen on injured reserve, the Flyers activated defenseman Helge Grans, who started the season on season-opening injured reserve due to a lower-body injury suffered in the preseason.

With York and Ristolainen out, Grans will make his season debut against the Bruins on Saturday on a defense pairing with Simon Benoit.

The most significant and unfortunate piece of injury news comes from a player who has hardly played in the last seven months, a trend that will linger into the foreseeable future.

Energetic young winger Nikita Grebenkin, who has not played a competitive game for the Flyers since March 21, will be out a minimum of four months after undergoing back surgery.

Grebenkin, 23, missed most of training camp with his injury but eventually returned to skate in a yellow no-contact jersey before playing against, ironically, the Bruins in a preseason game on Sept. 24.

In that game against the Bruins, Grebenkin was apparently injured by a collision along the wall, but eventually returned to the game. The Russian forward has been out since then.

Updated Flyers lineup

With the slew of injuries mentioned above, here's how the Flyers are expected to line up against Boston on Saturday, and potentially Carolina on Sunday night, too.

Christian Dvorak - Trevor Zegras - Tyson Foerster

Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov

Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Porter Martone

Garrett Wilson - Noel Acciari - Michael Bunting

Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - David Jiricek

Simon Benoit - Helge Grans

Having a back-to-back this weekend complicates things, as the Flyers have just one spare healthy skater on the roster in Carl Grundstrom.

Grundstrom did not play against Ottawa on Thursday night and will remain out in favor of the long-time tough guy Wilson as the Flyers face the hosting Bruins in the most important game of their winless 0-3-2 season thus far.

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Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened

Dominic Solanke earned a deserved point for Spurs despite Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card

Spurs get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

The teams are out. Manchester United in their famous red, white and black, Tottenham in second-choice dark blue with diagonal multi-coloured neon nonsense. Meanwhile here’s the first line of a song ringing out loud from all four corners of Old Trafford: “You know what you are.” No prizes for guessing the rest of the lyrics, or which club they’re serenading. Don’t look back in anger? Good luck with that! We’ll be off in a minute.

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Trent Grisham and the Yankees’ flawed philosophy

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees bats against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Batting order alone doesn’t dictate a team’s fortune, but it does make a difference. This is especially so in short series, where even the tiniest edges and flaws are magnified. And no place in the lineup matters more than the top spot. Suffice it to say that Aaron Boone and the Yankees faced an extremely important decision when choosing the leadoff man for Game 3 with the season on the line.

So why in the world did they land on Trent Grisham? 

To state the obvious, Grisham did not have a good year in any shape or form. He had a .308 OBP. His wRC+ was 98. And these numbers are what he recorded before landing on the IL at the start of September with a strained hammy. To his credit, Grisham did record two hits during the party against the dregs of the Red Sox bullpen in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, but he was a non-factor in Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series. This isn’t the resume of someone to whom you’d like to entrust the leadoff spot in an elimination game . And yet, that’s precisely what the Yankees did.

Of course, it’s easy as an armchair manager to fall into the trap of hindsight. It would be wrong of me to point to Grisham’s 0-for-5, three-strikeout night and say, “I told you so.” But that’s not what I’m going to argue. My point is that hitting Grisham first was the wrong call, even if it had worked out, because the decision-making process had a fatal flaw — one that explains so much about this current era of Yankees baseball. 

That flaw is this: the Yankees’ way of evaluating players has become far too rigid. Once they make up their mind about a player’s true talent, they will adhere to it adamantly, even if the on-field results suggest that something is wrong. It takes a mountain of evidence to pile up for them to consider recalibrating their view of that player, and by the time that happens, the damage has already been done.

Trent Grisham is but the latest example. When asked postgame whether he regretted placing Grisham in the leadoff spot, Aaron Boone had this to offer:  

“No. I mean, look, obviously, we really struggled to score runs in the first two games, and I was pretty convicted on trying to find a way to be able to get Benny a chance to come up with runners on or be in a position to do that more often tonight…it’s a decision I made to try and create a little bit of traffic, and obviously it didn’t work. But you’re going to live with that.”

I get wanting to give Ben Rice more chances to hit with men on base. But even if that made sense, Grisham was not the answer. The man isn’t a high-OBP guy. Not counting 2020, his career high over a full season is the .348 mark he posted last year; in all other years he’s failed to reach .330. He’s a high-walk guy, I’ll give him that, but his abysmal batting averages have generally dragged his OBP down to unremarkable levels. To wit: Grisham’s career walk rate is a robust 12.1 percent, but his career OBP is a pedestrian .319.

Boone’s reasoning only makes sense if you assume that Grisham’s superb 2025 represented a new baseline for him, and that version of him was still somewhere within him, despite his subpar 2026 numbers and his late-season injury. It seems, in short, that Boone and the Yankees were clinging to the best version of Grisham in their minds, a version detached from reality.

When viewed in this way, the Grisham decision turns from an isolated blunder to the latest case of a widespread issue. Recall how the Yankees kept running Austin Wells out until June, despite him hitting for a 26 wRC+ for the entire month of May. The team only took action when Wells went to them, suggesting that they might have been unaware that something was ailing Wells if he hadn’t.

I don’t think it’s too farfetched to theorize that they viewed Wells’ disastrous offensive performance as merely a bad slump, and that they were planning on simply running him out there until he experienced positive regression, without making any inquiries into his health. The Yankees had an idea of how Austin Wells was supposed to hit, and when the on-field results weren’t there, they assumed that their idea of Wells would eventually translate to reality, rather than readjusting their evaluation of Wells given recent results.

Wells’ case is reminiscent of how the Yankees handled Anthony Rizzo’s concussion in 2023. It took 46 games of Rizzo hitting .172/.271/.225 for the Yankees to do anything, and even then, Rizzo had to go to the team, not the other way around. And this goes beyond how the Yankees have mismanaged injuries; in 2024, we saw them keep trotting out Alex Verdugo in left field when it was clear by mid-July that it wasn’t working out. In 2025, they stubbornly kept on using Devin Williams in high-leverage situations, a crucial factor in them losing the division race. Then there’s the ongoing shortstop question, with the Yankees being stubborn at various points about both Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Anthony Volpe’s abilities. Time and time again, the Yankees of recent years have shown a reluctance to change their minds about their own players.

Admittedly, there is something to be said for not overreacting to small sample sizes. Even superstars can have bad weeks and months; look at how Pete Crow-Armstrong and Fernando Tatis Jr. started their respective years, compared to the numbers they finished with. Closer to home in 2024, Aaron Judge followed an awful April with a preposterous .352/.488/.777 triple slash with 52 homers in 127 games as he won MVP. Making rash, drastic changes based on the tiniest fluctuations in performance is not a winning formula by any means.

However, there needs to be a balance. Teams can, and should, try to constantly update their understanding of players’ abilities based on new data, while keeping in mind that small sample size caveats apply. Right now, the Yankees’ modus operandi appears as though it’s set in stone. If that’s due to a philosophical stance about trying not to be influenced by granular data points, then that stance needs to be relaxed. And if that’s due to complacency and hubris, then I’d like to remind them that it’s been 17 years since their last title. Something needs to change.

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Pistons vs Wizards preview: Get better during preseason

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons is interviewed after the game against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA preseason is a great time to work out some kinks, give reserves more opportunities to thrive, and for players to get their legs back under them. The Detroit Pistons did most of that in their first preseason win over the Phoenix Suns.

Detroit travels to the nation’s capital in a matchup with 2026 first overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards. The Detroit key players only played around 20 minutes Monday night. Let’s see if J.B. Bickerstaff ramps that up a bit and gets Jalen Duren out there, or will it be the Ebuka Okorie show.

GAME VITALS

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

When: 7:00 PM EST

Watch: TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET

Odds: Pistons (-4.5)

Bickerstaff said Duren will play in the preseason and could make his debut tonight. Duren said he wants to improve as a rim and pick-and-roll defender. If he does suit up for a bit tonight, he’d have plenty of opportunities to show PnR growth with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Deandre Ayton spamming actions. Washington has downhill guards he can sway away from the basket if they manage to get by Detroit’s perimeter defenders.

Ausar Thompson showed growth in his biggest swing skill for this Pistons build to work: creation. His jumper is always at the top of the conversation, but being a legit playmaker next to Cade Cunningham unlocks this team.

Ausar was aggressive getting to the rack, keeping his options open versus the Suns. He’d rim run to score or to throw dimes to Paul Reed and spot-up shooters. Seeing his midrange jumper drop spoke to his mindset in that outing. The makes were cool, but the attempts were better. Getting them up to gain the defense’s respect will aid his playmaking chops.

Ron Holland attempted the most shots on the squad. Some were good looks, some were out of control, but his game-wrecking defense was there as always. Holland flew around the court terrorizing Phoenix backups. The Wizards have a ton of guards with off-the-bounce juice. Holland will see plenty of Tre Johnson, Tre Mann, and maybe Young tonight.

Okorie was thrown into the fire with 10 minutes to go and did not disappoint. His defensive effort was there. The microwave scoring was as good as advertised. We should get used to those extended finishes. Okorie uses every bit of his 6-foot-8ish wingspan and turbo jets to get by defenders and finish from different angles. Bickerstaff praised the 19-year-old’s ability to finish at that age. He’s ahead of the curve.

Alex Sarr is questionable after missing Washington’s first preseason game. He’s a do-it-all big that Isaac Jones, John Collins (who had a Detroit-like debut), and Reed will deal with in their minutes. Jones was more than solid defensively Monday night. He set advantage-creating screens that freed up himself and his teammates.

Preseason is like a practice test. See what you got wrong and drill those principles for the real thing. The starters came out flat offensively, but Bickerstaff acknowledged that a new offense takes longer to click than defense. Use this game to get going.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren

Washington Wizards: Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What do you want to see from Jalen Duren the most this season?

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Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin out for the season with knee injury after fall against Capitals

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for the season after injuring his right knee Friday night in a game at Washington, the team announced Saturday.

Shesterkin did not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ice by teammates after an awkward fall into his own net against the Capitals.

Shesterkin came well out of his crease to challenge a shooter midway through the second period and fell as he scrambled back to the net. The 30-year-old Russian jammed his right skate into the right post as he slid back into the crease and collapsed into the net in pain.

“It's awful, you know? He's a pillar of this team. It stinks," Rangers captain J.T. Miller said following the 3-1 loss to the Capitals.

Coach Mike Sullivan said after his team's four-game winning streak was snapped: “He's an elite goaltender and you never want to see anyone get hurt. Obviously, he's an important player for us.”

The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner missed a month last season with a lower-body injury, contributing to the Rangers finishing last in the Eastern Conference.

Shesterkin was off to a strong start this season with a 3-1 record and 1.76 goals-against average. Last week, he became the first Rangers goalie to score a goal when he lofted the puck the length of the ice into an empty net late in New York’s home opener against Tampa Bay.

“We're not going to let that take the wind out of our sails,” Miller said about Shesterkin's injury. “We love the way we're playing most of the time.”

Shesterkin stopped 13 of 14 shots and left with the score tied 1-all. He was replaced by 24-year-old backup Dylan Garand, who gave up the go-ahead goal late in the second but finished with 11 saves on 12 shots.

It was the fifth NHL appearance and second this season for Garand, recalled last week from Hartford of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers. Garand made 22 saves in a 2-0 shutout at Detroit last Friday with the Rangers playing their second game in two nights.

Garand went 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in three starts for the Rangers last season.

New York acquired veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins last summer to be Shesterkin’s backup. But the 32-year-old Finn was placed on injured reserve last week and was week to week with a lower-body injury.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Igor Shesterkin out for season after scary injury in Rangers nightmare

Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is helped off the ice by teammates after suffering an injury.
Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers is helped off the ice by Marcus Pettersson #26 and Sean Durzi after suffering an injury during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.

The Rangers saw their worst fears realized Saturday morning. 

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tRY IT NOW

Igor Shesterkin, the face of the franchise and one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders, is out for the remainder of the season with what the team is terming a lower-body injury. Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan declined to offer any other details after practice Saturday. 

It is a crushing blow for the Blueshirts, who were off to a solid start after a nightmarish 2025-26 campaign. Then Friday night happened. In the second period of a 3-1 loss to the Capitals in Washington, he appeared to jam his right skate into the right post as he scrambled to get back into the net. His right leg then bent awkwardly as he fell to the ice.

The 30-year-old Shesterkin was helped off, unable to put any weight on his right leg. 

“It’s obviously horrible to hear. A guy like that who means so much to our team, we’re still kind of processing that and you just feel terrible for him,” alternate captain Adam Fox said. “I personally dealt with injuries the last few years and him too. It sucks when you’re not able to be out there and help the team. He’s such an important piece to this team and what we’re able to do, you just feel for him.” 

Now, a season that began with such positive vibes is in crisis. Dylan Garand, less than two weeks removed from being placed on waivers, will be the No. 1 goaltender for the foreseeable future. The 24-year-old has made four NHL starts in his entire career. 

Veteran Joonas Korpisalo, acquired in the summer in a trade with the Bruins to serve as Shesterkin’s backup, is on injured reserve and is expected to be out another month due to a lower-body injury. Spencer Martin (lower-body injury) is healthy and expected to be called up to serve as Garand’s backup on Sunday at the Garden against the Canucks. 

Asked if he can envision the franchise looking outside the organization for a goalie, Sullivan shot down the possibility. In other words, don’t expect a trade for an established netminder. 

Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is helped off the ice by Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi after suffering an injury during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

“I’m going to coach the twenty-something guys that we have here,” Sullivan said. “We like the group we have.” 

Saturday, alternate captains Fox and Mika Zibanejad expressed sadness for Shesterkin, but belief in Garand and the team around him. They also believe the Rangers have the fortitude to survive this, that this devastating injury won’t ruin their season. 

“The season doesn’t stop. We still have 77, 78, whatever it is, games to go,” Fox said. “We have confidence in our goalies in here, confidence in our team, to play well in front of them and keep going. We have to keep pushing and keep trying to play good hockey.” 

Sullivan doesn’t expect a woe-is-us mentality to pervade the locker room. He’s seen too much good so far for that to happen. 

“I’m not worried about this group from that standpoint. We’re not looking for excuses,” Sullivan said. “We like what’s going on around here, and we’re going to continue to work at becoming the best team we can become. There are certain things you can’t control, and it’s an unfortunate injury. We’ve got very capable guys. We feel like we’ve built a pretty good team up to this point. We’re going to continue to try to develop that.” 

Shesterkin, the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner and a two-time All-Star selection, had started the year very well. Across four previous starts, he notched a 3-1-0 record with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. He also scored his first NHL goal in a victory against the Lightning on Oct. 1. 

Igor Shesterkin (31) of the New York Rangers is injured on a play as his skate hits the post during the second period of an NHL game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Getty Images

He has battled injuries throughout his career. Last season, he missed 13 games due to a lower-body injury and was limited to 51 games. But this is obviously by far the worst one yet. 

“I couldn’t be more disappointed for Shesty. I know how much playing means to him,” Sullivan said. “He’s obviously one of the cornerstones of this organization. I’m disappointed for him because he’s such a fierce competitor and he loves hockey. He loves playing.”

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Warriors sign Brandin Podziemski to 5-year, $110 million extension

Brandin Podziemski shooting a free throw.
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 4: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 4, 2026 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s safe to say that Brandin Podziemski has been the star of training camp for the Golden State Warriors. The fourth-year guard earned rave reviews at the start of camp for his play, looks to be in pole position for a starting job, and has shined in the team’s preseason games. And now he’s getting paid.

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that Podziemski and the Warriors had agreed on a contract extension for five years and $110 million. Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the first year of Podziemski’s deal (2027-28) will pay him $18.9 million, with subsequent pay raises pushing him to $20.4 million, $22 million, $23.5 million, and $25 million. The final year of the deal (2031-32) is a mutual option and, like most large NBA deals, the contract also includes a trade kicker, meaning Podziemski will receive a pay bump if the Warriors trade him (though the kicker can be waived to facilitate a deal).

Podziemski, who averaged a career-high 13.8 points per game last year while playing in all 82 of the team’s games (and starting 43 times), is in the final year of his first-round rookie scale contract. While the lefty made it clear that he was more focused on basketball than on future deals, there was a little bit of urgency in getting an extension sorted out because of the timeline. Players entering the final year of their rookie-scale contract have until the eve of the season to sign an extension; if a deal is not agreed upon by then, it cannot be signed during the season, and the player will enter restricted free agency in the offseason.

The deal makes lots of sense for both sides. For the Warriors, it’s a fair rate when you account for both the player Podziemski currently is, and the player the team hopes he can continue to develop into, while also locking him in for a great price if he has a breakout season, and keeping him from running up the price in a free agent bidding war. For the 23-year old Podziemski, it gives him a hefty pay raise (he’ll make $5.7 million this year), and also offers him security from any setbacks this year, such as injuries.

We’ll see if Podziemski celebrates by going off in tonight’s preseason game against the Sacramento Kings.

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What we learned as playoff-hopeful Sharks get good test in loss to Oilers

What we learned as playoff-hopeful Sharks get good test in loss to Oilers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The San Jose Sharks lost a hard-fought 3-1 battle to the Edmonton Oilers.

It was good test of a playoff hopeful in San Jose and a playoff-hardened Edmonton. The Sharks actually probably outplayed the Oilers most of the night, that’s impressive, but there’s something to be learned about keeping it up for 60 minutes.

Here are some takeaways.

Mack Is Back

Macklin Celebrini didn’t miss a beat in his return to the line-up, after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

He looked fast and strong as ever, particularly on his goal, when he bullied Alex Formenton for the puck on the forecheck. He could’ve had more, hitting a post too.

Bad Timing?

You have to love Kiefer Sherwood’s balls to the wall game.

But his early third period penalty, a late side swipe of Leon Draisaitl, seemed unnecessary. The Sharks were controlling the game, up 12-8 shots at that point, and you were opening the door to letting a stifled Oilers offense feel the puck.

San Jose managed to kill the penalty, but Edmonton rolled up three shots on that PP, and scored two goals in 2:27 shortly thereafter, to make it 3-0, and basically put the game out of reach.

There’s something to be said about letting sleeping dogs lie.

Matching Up With McDavid

Alex Wennberg is Warsofsky’s go-to defensive center, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him up against Connor McDavid as much as he was on Saturday.

But it’s impressive to see 19-year-old rookie Ivar Stenberg remain on the line, along with Kiefer Sherwood.

Stenberg-Wennberg-Sherwood did solid work against Vasily Podkolzin-McDavid-Leon Draisaitl. According to Natural Stat Trick, Wennberg’s line outshot McDavid 5-1 at 5-on-5 through two periods, when both were on the ice together.

McDavid did get an assist on the game-winning Vasily Podkolzin goal, but it was against another line.

Stenberg showed lots of poise tonight in every zone, really impressive, despite not coming up with any points.

Chernyshov Demoted, Then Promoted

It wasn’t a surprise that Igor Chernyshov was demoted to the fourth line this afternoon. This, despite starting on the top line on Thursday at the St. Louis Blues.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky was already showing displeasure in the young Russian winger’s game in St. Louis, yanking him off the power play in the third period. Then, pointedly, when asked about Chernyshov’s game afterwards, Warsofsky didn’t speak on it, choosing to talk about other topics.

The eye test saw a winger trying to do too much and who was careless with the puck. Stathletes’ micro-stats back it up: Chernyshov completed a team-worst 33 percent of his 5-on-5 passes and 52.94 percent of all passes. Just for context, teammate Tyler Toffoli completed 100 percent of his 5-on-5 passes and 95.24 percent of all passes.

Chances are, Warsofsky wants Chernyshov to simplify his game and be more aggressive attacking the net. And he did just that against the Oilers, putting his head down on multiple occasions and bull-rushing the net with the puck.

Chernyshov was rewarded in the third period with a promotion onto Celebrini’s line.

Chernyshov might be, this side of Will Smith, the Sharks’ most talented winger. But there’s nothing wrong with reminding a youngster every once in a while — Chernyshov is just 20! — about how to play winning hockey.

Sharks x PWHL San Jose

It was Sharks x PWHL San Jose Day at SAP Center.

A point made by my colleague Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News, the Sharks’ embrace of PWHL has appeared to be much stronger than any other NHL team that share cities with a PWHL sister squad.

Love that from the Sharks! PWHL San Jose drops the puck on their season on December 5th at SAP Center.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

The lowering of the Shark Head is one of the great traditions in hockey. A great Sharks playoff tradition is the lowering of the Shark Head to the tune of Hans Zimmer’s “Do You Think I’m Saxon?”. The Sharks, however, have been using this intimidating, sounds like it was composed in a forge lead-up for all their home games this season. Call me boring, but I love this classic intro to be saved for special occasions, the home opener and the playoffs. Yeah, I get we haven’t heard this intro a lot over the last seven playoff-less years. But it’s not going to hit the same in the playoffs after I hear it in Game 66 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

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Championship roundup: Swansea fight back to beat Norwich; Middlesbrough go second

  • Leaders earn 2-1 home win, Boro beat Wolves 1-0

  • Burnley rout Watford; Birmingham edge West Brom

Vítor Matos praised his Swansea side for overcoming a lack of training as they strengthened their position at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 comeback win over Norwich. Second-half goals from Moussa Yeo and the Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah wiped out Jacob Wright’s strike just before the half-hour mark.

It was the third time Swansea had come from behind this season to win, and, after West Ham’s draw the previous night, it gave them top spot in the table. Idah, though, limped out of the action and could be a doubt for Tuesday’s visit to Millwall.

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NHL Rumors: 2 Canadiens Who Be Traded Next After Jayden Struble

The Montreal Canadiens made an early-season trade on Friday, dealing defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick.

With the Canadiens having a defensive logjam on their left side, it seemed likely that one of their defensemen would be moved. Now, Struble is the player that they have decided to part ways with.

With the Canadiens trading Struble, let's look at two more Montreal players who could be on the move next. 

Kirby Dach 

Questions about Kirby Dach's future with the Canadiens have come up for a while now. He has been the subject of early-season trade rumors, and he could be a good trade chip for Montreal to dangle to upgrade their roster elsewhere.

Dach is signed for the 2026-27 season and is a pending unrestricted free agent. Thus, if the Canadiens do not view him as a long-term part of their plans, it would not be too surprising if he got moved this season. 

In four games so far this season, Dach has one assist and a minus-2 rating. 

Samuel Montembeault

Samuel Montembeault will be sidelined for the next 10 to 14 days due to injury. Although this is the case, he is still a goalie who should be watched as a trade candidate this season

Montembeault is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Canadiens have Jacob Fowler waiting in the wings. With that, it would not be surprising if Montembeault is traded to another team by the deadline. This is especially so if he has a solid year for Montreal once he returns from injury. 

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Garrett Whitlock injury news raises new questions about Red Sox medical staff

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 24: Garrett Whitlock #22 of the Boston Red Sox following his nomination for the 2026 MLB Roberto Clemente Award before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park on September 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Friday morning, a picture was posted to Instagram from Garrett Whitlock’s wife, Jordan, showing an offseason beach picture of Garrett, overlooking the beach, with the hashtag #thriving. Less than notable, living his best life. Except for, you know, the walking boot that Whitlock was wearing.

We learned later on Friday from Gabrielle Starr that Whitlock had been pitching with “a fractured right tibia that was not properly diagnosed until after the Red Sox were eliminated from the postseason last week, the 30-year-old reliever told the Herald on Friday.”

This season, we also had Garrett Crochet’s shoulder and lat soreness that lingered from late April into September. We had Roman Anthony’s hand/wrist injury which, as Matt Gross outlined in great detail, was a wrist sprain (day-to-day), and then a minimum IL stint, which was actually a ligament in his ring finger for a bit more than a minimum IL stint, which was also a sprained right hand/wrist progressing slower than expected, to not swinging a bat a month later, to getting sent to Fort Myers which may or may not have been to send a message, to missing nearly four months of MLB game action.

During Monday’s press conference, when asked about why Anthony did not get any additional imaging after early July, Breslow pushed back asking why they would need to do that if the player hadn’t asked for it.

Good for Garrett Whitlock pitching through his injury to the tune of a 0.00 ERA in September, but perhaps this team’s medical staff needs to be a little bit more proactive when it comes to identifying injuries and not just trusting the player that “they’re fine.”

Discuss this, and whatever else you have on your mind about baseball in October in the comments, and be good to each other.

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After A Rough Ending In Chicago, Andre Burakovsky's Fresh Start Begins Saturday

The Senators are getting one of their injured forwards back just as another heads to long-term injured reserve.

Andre Burakovsky is expected to make his Senators debut on Saturday night when they host the Nashville Predators at Canadian Tire Centre.

The veteran winger's return comes at an important time for the Senators, who just placed William Eklund on long-term injured reserve after a serious ankle injury in Thursday night's 2-1 home-opening victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

During training camp, newcomer Andre Burakovsky, who will make his Sens debut on Saturday, looked back at his tough finish to the season in Chicago last season (Senators YouTube).

Eklund was hurt in the first period after taking a hit from Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit and awkwardly jamming his skate into the base of the boards. He needed help getting off the ice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

The Senators haven't confirmed the exact nature of the ankle injury or provided a timetable for his return, but head coach Travis Green said Eklund will be out for "an extended period of time."

The move to LTIR means Eklund must miss at least 10 games and 24 calendar days from the date of his injury.

Based on the morning skate combinations, it looks like Green will plug Burakovsky right into Eklund's spot alongside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson.

Burakovsky participated in Saturday's morning skate wearing a regular jersey, as did defencemen Artem Zub and Kurtis MacDermid. While that's encouraging news on the injury front, Zub isn't ready to return against Nashville.

For Burakovsky, it's a great chance to turn the page on a very rough finish to last season.

The Senators acquired the former Stanley Cup champion from Chicago during the offseason, hoping a change of scenery might help him rediscover some of the offensive production that once made him a valuable top-six forward.

His final stretch with the Blackhawks was especially tough. Burakovsky managed just four points in his final 32 games last season, despite spending much of that time playing alongside Connor Bedard. But he started the year with 29 points in his first 43 games, and the Sens would be thrilled with that version of the player.

The Senators enter Saturday's game with a 3-1 record, having won their first two games on the road against Toronto and Boston before looking tired and stumbling in Detroit.

They bounced back Thursday against Philadelphia, with rookie defenceman Carter Yakemchuk scoring the game-winning goal on a third-period power-play one-timer.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a recurring theme in the Sens' victories this season. Jake Sanderson was injured in the opener against Toronto, Linus Ullmark left the Boston game as a precaution following a collision, and Eklund went down against Philadelphia.

Ullmark returned Thursday and was excellent, stopping 28 of 29 shots in the victory.

Nashville will provide the opposition on Saturday. It's the Predators' final stop of a three-game trip through eastern Canada, and they've already collected three of a possible four points.

They opened the trip Tuesday with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs before bouncing back Thursday with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

On Friday, the Predators acquired 25-year-old Canadiens defenceman Jayden Struble in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick originally belonging to Vegas.

Struble, who was a healthy scratch for Montreal on Thursday, brings a strong, physical element to Nashville's blue line. He was on the ice with the Predators at Saturday's morning skate, so he's a good bet to play against the Senators.

Here's how the Sens are projected to line up on Saturday night.

Forwards

Andre Burakovsky – Tim Stützle – Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig – Dylan Cozens – Fabian Zetterlund
Michael Amadio – Shane Pinto – Claude Giroux
Warren Foegele – Stephen Halliday – Nick Cousins

Defence

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence
Tyler Kleven – Carter Yakemchuk
Hoyt Stanley – Nikolas Matinpalo

Goaltenders

Linus Ullmark
Samuel Ersson

Zub rotated in with Matinpalo and Stanley during Saturday's morning skate, but his return doesn't appear imminent. MacDermid also participated in a regular jersey.

But the biggest lineup development, of course, is Burakovsky's debut. For the Swedish veteran, there's no better time to start proving that a change of scenery was exactly what he needed.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Why Dodgers could face trouble in Brewers NLCS rematch: ‘Feels like a different team’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal celebrates the last out against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of Game 1 of the NLDS, Image 2 shows Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres in Milwaukee, Image 3 shows Milwaukee Brewers teammates drench Jackson Chourio with Gatorade after his game-winning hit against the San Diego Padres

The numbers from last year’s National League Championship Series speak for themselves.

Runs: Dodgers 15, Brewers 4

Hits: Dodgers 32, Brewers 14

Home runs: Dodgers 6, Brewers 1

Innings led: Dodgers 26, Brewers 1

Wins: Dodgers 4, Brewers 0

“They were utterly embarrassed last year,” a rival scout said of the Brewers this week while reflecting on the Dodgers’ pennant-sealing NLCS sweep last October. “They had the best record in the National League, and they just got their a– handed to them.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki and catcher Will Smith celebrates their win against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Los Angeles. AP

Now, 12 months later, they will have a chance for redemption.

On Sunday, the Dodgers will travel to Milwaukee again to open a second straight NLCS between the teams.

In many ways, this year’s matchup is being played against a similar backdrop as a year ago.

The Brewers are the higher-seeded team and hold home-field advantage, coming off a 103-win campaign in which they maximized their low-payroll roster. 

The Dodgers, however, are the clear-cut favorites, with a high-priced and star-studded core trying to add to their modern-day dynasty.

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Atlanta Braves in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, Thursday, October 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Thus, this week, the California Post spoke to two rival NL scouts to ask if this year’s series could play out differently.

The short answer: Yes, with both evaluators seeing a pathway for the Brewers to pull off a payback-minded upset.

“It just feels like a different team [this year],” Scout 1 said.

“I think a big part of this entire season for them is the redemption factor,” Scout 2 added.

Ahead of Game 1 on Sunday night in Milwaukee, here are the factors that could decide who reaches the World Series:

The Miz-ing Piece

Jacob Misiorowski was part of the Brewers’ playoff push last year. He even threw five innings of tantalizing bulk relief in a nine-strikeout effort during Game 3.

This year, though, he represents that biggest difference between this Brewers squad and those of failed Octobers past.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski reacts after pitching in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The breakout 24-year-old star is the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner. He is expected to start Game 1 opposite Tarik Skubal. And if Milwaukee is to challenge the Dodgers, it’s likely to begin with a couple strong outings from him.

“It’s elite stuff,” Scout 1 said, stating the obvious of a 6-foot-7 right-hander with a 105 mph fastball.

But …

“The Dodgers know how to take at-bats against elite pitching,” he added.

Indeed, the main question will be whether the Dodgers can do to Misiorowski what they did to Chris Sale in the NL Division Series, driving up his pitch count and pouncing on rare mistakes.

“They’re gonna step into that box and just say, ‘We probably aren’t going to beat this guy, but we just need to get him out of the ballgame as early as possible,’” Scout 2 said. “They could just wear him down, fouling pitches off, taking pitches.”

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during the first inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kayla Wolf

Misiorowski faced a similar grind in the NLDS, when he needed 88 pitches just to get through four innings of two-run ball against the Padres.

But, his track record against the Dodgers is nonetheless promising. In addition to last year’s NLCS appearance, he has a pair of six-inning, one-run starts against them in the last two regular seasons, combining for 18 strikeouts in those two wins.

“I absolutely wouldn’t be shocked if he pitched a two-hitter, struck out 11 and the Brewers win 3-1 that first game,” Scout 1 said. “But if he doesn’t get out of the third because he’s thrown 65 pitches, [I’m not] going to be shocked, [either].”

Another year wiser

The real question in this NLCS is whether the Brewers can hit Dodgers pitching, after they batted a stunning .118 in last year’s matchup.

This October, Milwaukee’s lineup is roughly the same but also notably different.

Jackson Chourio has graduated from young talent (who was also battling an injury last October) to bona fide star. Brice Turang and William Contreras are another year older and more experienced. And others like Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell have emerged as dependable complementary pieces. Even former MVP Christian Yelich, coming off a career-worst regular season, showed signs of renewed life in the NLDS.

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) and catcher William Contreras (24) drench left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) with Gatorade after Chourio hit the game-winning hit against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

To Scout 1, it has made the Brewers reminiscent of another current contender that had to grow from repeated playoff setbacks.

“I think that they’re like the Dodgers, when the Dodgers were a lot younger,” he said. “They grind out at-bats. They’re hard [to pitch to]. Obviously not as talented from one to nine … but they have the same kind of mentality.”

Indeed, the Brewers were best in MLB this season in batting average (.258), on-base-percentage (.341), walk rate (10.6%) and chase rate (a league-low 26.6%). Though they hit the second-fewest homers in the majors, they scored the second-most runs.

“To beat a team like the Dodgers, I think they’re going to have to work counts, [make] no easy outs,” Scout 1 added. “You might still not get a run off of Skubal, but if you can get him out of the game in the sixth inning, and you get to the bullpen, you’re in a tight game.”

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal celebrates the last out against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of Game 1 of the NLDS, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post

The Brewers, of course, failed to do that last year. 

But, as Scout 2 noted, their pitching staff — which also includes standout rookie starter Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA) and a deep bullpen that ranked third in reliever ERA (3.40) — may be better positioned to put their own clamps down on what’s been a homer-reliant Dodgers offense.

“You need to be able to manufacture runs, so I would be more concerned about the [Dodgers’] approach, where you’re relying on the long ball,” Scout 2 said.

Echoed Scout 1, while referencing the Dodgers’ NLDS against the Braves: “The Braves kind of [kept games close]. They just didn’t get the big hit … So it’ll be the same kind of principle, but I think the Brewers are better at it than the Braves are. It just feels like they’ve been there.”

No Sho’ thing

One other key difference in this year’s NLCS: The reigning series MVP is nowhere near his normal self.

Unlike last year, Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for the Dodgers amid ongoing right arm and left knee injuries. But the bigger problem has been the four-time MVP’s slumping bat, with Ohtani having failed to hit a home run since Aug. 18 and coming off an underwhelming 2-for-13 showing in the NLDS.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Getty Images

The Dodgers were able to compensate for that in their defeat of the Braves. Other stars like Max Muncy (three home runs), Freddie Freeman (two home runs) and even the recently resurgent Kyle Tucker (5-for-15) helped pick up the slack.

Still, at some point, Ohtani’s lack of production could threaten to trip them up.

“If you don’t have your legs, then you look like he looks,” Scout 1 said. “There’s times when he’s healthy, you throw him a mistake and he’s fooled, but it’s in the zone and he can still hit it 400 feet because he’s healthy. But he’s not doing that right now. He can’t get his legs under him. He just doesn’t look healthy to me.”

Scout 2 concurred, noting the mechanical disconnect Ohtani’s injuries seem to be causing.

“He’s still producing bat speed,” Scout 2 said. “But the effort that it’s taking him right now to get there, that’s what’s holding him back.”

It was just one more reason why both scouts were bullish on the Brewers’ chances.

They thought Milwaukee’s lineup is better equipped to handle Dodgers pitching than last year. That the combination of Misiorowski, Henderson and a deep and talented bullpen could frustrate LA’s own offense. And that in a series likely to be full of tight, low-scoring games, the Brewers’ ability to do the little things could tip the scales.

“Would I be shocked if they got swept? No, because you’re, they’re going to face four Cy Young Award [contenders],” Scout 1 said. “But if the Brewers get one of those games at home to start the series, I think they win in six.”

“They got to win one of the first two games,” Scout 2 agreed. “Then they got to come to Dodger Stadium and they got to win a three-game series, which they’re more than capable of doing. So they win a three-game series at Dodger Stadium, they go back and they close it out in Game 6 at home.”

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Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs: Key Players to Watch in Saturday’s Matchup

Jaden Schwartz has never scored 30 goals in an NHL season, but four games into this year, he’s making that milestone look like a distant memory. The Colorado Avalanche forward has six points already, and he’ll look to keep it going Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena.

Toronto is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to Vegas on Thursday. The Leafs built a 3-0 lead in the first period but couldn’t hold on. Saturday marks their only trip to Denver this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews

Matthews has given Colorado trouble throughout his career. He has 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 18 games against the Avalanche, including two goals and an assist in his last four appearances at Ball Arena.

He scored a hat trick in Toronto’s 8-3 win over Colorado on Dec. 1, 2021. The Avalanche were 11-7-1 at the time, months before winning the Stanley Cup.

William Nylander

Nylander has 13 assists in 17 career games against Colorado. He’s been effective at setting up teammates in this matchup, and the Avalanche will need to keep him from finding too much room.

Gavin McKenna and Easton Cowan

McKenna, the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has one goal and two assists through five games. Cowan scored on a breakaway against Vegas on Thursday.

Both players have the speed to take advantage of turnovers. Colorado has given the puck away at times early this season, and those mistakes could give Toronto some dangerous chances.

Sergei Bobrovsky was impressive in Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, so head coach Jim Hiller may give the two-time Stanley Cup champion another start. The 38-year-old has a 12-6-2 record in 21 career games against the Avalanche, with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

Colorado Avalanche

Jaden Schwartz

Schwartz has three goals and three assists through four games, including two goals in Thursday’s 7-3 win over Calgary.

He’s never scored 30 goals in an NHL season, but his current pace has him on track for 63. It’s still early, but Schwartz has been outstanding and is giving Colorado another scoring threat alongside its star players.

Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon has eight points through four games this season, including a goal and two assists against Calgary. He’s also had plenty of success against Toronto, with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 24 career games.

He’s recorded seven points in his last four meetings with the Maple Leafs.

Cale Makar

Makar had two goals and an assist against Calgary. He has 10 points in 12 career games against Toronto, including five in his last four matchups.

Brock Nelson is another player to watch. He scored a hat trick in Colorado’s 4-1 win over Toronto on Jan. 25, 2026. Martin Necas has 14 points in 16 career games against the Leafs, although 12 of those came during his time with Carolina.

Colorado has been finding the net with little trouble, but Toronto has the speed to make the Avalanche pay for mistakes. If Colorado can limit the turnovers, it will have a good chance to keep its hot start going at home.

If we have to make an educated guess, Mackenzie Blackwood will probably get the nod in between the pipes. The 29-year-old has a record of 2-2-1 in seven games with a goals against average of 3.52 and a save percentage of .886 against the Maple Leafs in his career. However, he has two out of his last three starts against Toronto.

Scott Wedgewood hasn't fared much better. However, he has not played against the Maple Leafs since he was a member of the Dallas Stars. The 34-year-old is 1-3-2 in six appearances with a goals against average of 4.15 and a sub.900 save percentage against the Leafs. 

Puck drop is at 5 p.m. local time. 

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