Posts

Posted on

Buster Posey intrigued by ABS challenge system after debut in MLB All-Star Game

Buster Posey intrigued by ABS challenge system after debut in MLB All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears there is another polarizing change coming to MLB in the near future.

The automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system, which first was tested in the minor leagues in 2021, with implementation at the Triple-A level in 2022, made its debut at the MLB level in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Truist Park.

The system allows players to challenge a limited number of umpire calls at the plate and on the mound, and was used successfully on a few occasions in the National League’s eventual 7-6 win over the American League.

MLB is considering implementing the system as soon as 2026, and although it remains a very polarizing idea, even after it seemed to have a positive impact in Tuesday’s exhibition game, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey is intrigued by it.

“Yeah, I think it’s interesting,” Posey told KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Thursday. “We got to see it up close this spring. I think umpires will all tell you they want to get it right. These guys are so good behind the plate. We over-analyze so much a pitch they call that’s an inch or two off the plate or vice versa if they miss one that’s an inch on the plate. It’s a tough job, and I think as much as anything, the nice part about it would be if it’s a pivotal part of the game and it’s a pitch that should go one way or another, the ability to get it right is intriguing.

“I think it would be something that would add some entertainment value. There’s a few guys on our team that I know right off the top of my head — I won’t mention [who] — we would say, ‘You don’t get to challenge unless that pitch is middle-middle.’ But there’s that element to it too, where some guys like Brandon Belt, I felt like he knew the strike zone as well as anybody.”

Posey, one of the greatest catchers in the modern era, knew the strike zone as well as any player during his time, and understands how important pitch-framing is behind the plate.

The ABS challenge system likely would limit catchers’ ability to frame pitches slightly out of the zone as strikes, but if the change could make the game better, it appears Posey is on board.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far

Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have been patient this offseason.

As they wait to see how the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out, and how the dominoes will fall thereafter, they remain the only NBA team not to add or re-sign a player in free agency (h/t ESPN).

On the flip side, they have had to say their goodbyes to fan favorite Kevon Looney after the 29-year-old center signed a two-year free-agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

That now leaves a massive hole for Golden State, which, per multiple reports, plans to fill it with Al Horford.

Another player repeatedly linked to the Warriors is guard De’Anthony Melton, who was with the Warriors for less than two months before getting injured and being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season.

But on the 18th day of free agency, it’s been crickets and tumbleweeds for Golden State.

On this post shared to Instagram by ESPN and NBA on ESPN, young Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski shared choice words in the comments.

“Why everyone worried about us,” Podziemski wrote.

Last week, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy addressed Golden State’s quiet offseason in an interview with ESPN’s Katie George during halftime of the Warriors’ summer league matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

“So far, so far. We’ve got a ways to go here,” Dunleavy said. “I consider the offseason kind of from the time the season ends all the way to training camp, so we’ll give ourselves that buffer to add to our roster. … We’ve got the whole summer to do it.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

The Open 2025: first round updates from Royal Portrush – live

This opening tee shot is messing with a few heads already. KJ Choi skies his effort 176 yards into thick rough down the left. Even if that was straight it wasn’t reaching the fairway. In the next group, the 2022 champion Cameron Smith somehow manages to be even worse, a mishit low hook fizzing into the same native area, covering just 153 yards. Marco Penge, who came so close at last week’s Scottish Open, also sails way left, though he’s gone 226 yards at least. A lot of people will be mindful of Rory McIlroy’s quadruple-bogey eight start here in 2019. To repeat: OB left, OB right. Is it any wonder?

The morning wave look to have the more favourable conditions compared to the later starters. There are dark clouds rumbling over Portrush right now, but “intermittent rain … with briefly heavier bursts” is the worst expected this morning. The breeze will pick up though, and there could be a chance of 25-35 mph gusts and possibly “thundery downpours” later this afternoon.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: State of saves at the All-Star break

In this week's Closer Report, we review the first half in saves across the closer landscape and take a look at which late-inning situations are worth monitoring with two weeks left until the trade deadline.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader gave up another home run in his last outing before the break, blowing a save against the Rangers. Six of the eight home runs he's allowed have come over the last month. With four runs allowed over his previous two outings, it pushed his ERA from 1.80 to 2.53. Still, those numbers show he had some room for regression, and he remains the top closer for fantasy purposes.

Tier 2: The Elite

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Muñoz gave up two runs to blow a save against the Yankees last Thursday, then bounced back with a clean inning in a non-save situation against the Tigers on Sunday before the break. Muñoz recorded just one save in June before locking down four saves in six days to start July. The 26-year-old right-hander enters the second half with 21 saves and a 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 46/14 K/BB ratio across 36 innings.

Díaz, in his last outing before the break, converted a two-inning save against the Royals on Saturday, striking out one batter for his 19th save of the season to go with a 1.66 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 55/13 K/BB ratio across 38 innings. The 31-year-old right-hander is back dominating on the mound after missing the 2023 season and a disappointing 2024 in his first year back from injury.

Chapman has actually been the best closer in baseball over the last month, leading all relievers by a wide margin with a 49% K-BB ratio since the start of June. He added two saves against the Rays before the All-Star break, striking out five batters over two scoreless innings, extending his scoreless outing streak to 18 games.

Duran worked two outings against the Pirates before the break. He picked up a save on Friday, striking out two in a scoreless inning. He then took the loss on Sunday, giving up a run on three hits. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 1.66 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 49/16 K/BB ratio with 15 saves over 43 1/3 innings into the second half. Both Duran and setup man Griffin Jax are expected to draw major interest at the trade deadline. Jax would make a capable closer should he land in a favorable situation or if the Twins decide to move Duran. Both relievers still carry three seasons of team control, so the team would likely need to come away with a significant trade package to make a move.

Clase worked a scoreless inning to convert a save against the White Sox on Friday, then pitched two innings to come away with a win against Chicago on Sunday. The 27-year-old right-hander has converted 20 saves with a 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 42/10 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings. And in San Diego, Suarez worked a clean inning with one strikeout for a save against the Phillies last Thursday, then worked another perfect frame with a strikeout for his 28th save before the All-Star break.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels

Miller made three scoreless appearances in the days leading up to the break, including back-to-back saves against the Blue Jays. He appears to be getting back on track with eight consecutive scoreless outings. The 26-year-old right-hander now has 19 saves with a 4.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 57/17 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings.

After giving up two runs against the Blue Jays on July 2, Williams went into the All-Star break with four straight perfect outings. He fell in line for a win last Thursday against the Mariners, then struck out two in a clean frame against the Cubs. Meanwhile, Megill did not make an appearance since the last column and remains at 21 saves with a 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

Bautista pitched a clean inning against the Mets last Thursday for his 18th save. The 30-year-old right-hander has made an impressive return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 48/20 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

In Los Angeles, Scott struck out two in a clean inning on Saturday for his 19th save, then blew an opportunity Sunday, giving up two runs against the Giants. The 30-year-old left-hander allowed five runs over his last four outings. Blake Treinen appears ready to be activated from the injured list out of the All-Star break and could figure into some save chances based on matchups.

Vest blew a save in his only appearance this last week, uncharacteristically walking three batters against the Mariners on Sunday. Still, he's had a stellar first half, emerging as Detroit's primary closer with 15 saves, a 2.30 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 48/15 K/BB ratio across 43 innings.

Pagán made back-to-back scoreless outings against the Rockies last week, picking up a win on Saturday before locking down his 20th win on Sunday. The 34-year-old right-hander has had an excellent season in Cincinnati, posting a 2.93 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 50/13 K/BB ratio across 40 innings. Bednar also pitched both days over the weekend, converting his 13th save Sunday against the Twins. Meanwhile, Palencia grabbed two more saves Saturday and Sunday with two scoreless outings against the Yankees. The 25-year-old right-hander has been a breakout in the first half, recording a 1.57 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 39/11 K/BB ratio over 34 1/3 innings.

In San Francisco, Doval worked around a hit and a walk to convert a save against the Dodgers on Friday, then tossed a scoreless inning in a non-save situation on Sunday. Doval's walk issues and lower strikeout rate this season continue to make him a volatile closer. Still, he's generally gotten the job done since taking back the ninth-inning role.

Helsley took a loss on Saturday, giving up a run on two hits against the Braves. He bounced back on Sunday with a scoreless inning for his 19th save of the season to go with a 3.27 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 36/14 K/BB ratio over 33 innings.

Estévez struck out two in a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Mets on Friday, then fell in line for a win despite giving up two runs on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hoffman broke a nine-game scoreless streak with three runs allowed against the Athletics on Friday to give him a 5.03 ERA over 39 1/3 innings at the break.

In his only appearance this week, Fairbanks blew a save and took the loss with two runs allowed against the Red Sox on Friday. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 31/15 K/BB ratio across 36 innings. Finnegan also blew a save and took a loss, giving up three runs against the Brewers on Saturday. And in Anaheim, Jansen picked up a win with a scoreless inning of work against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

Strahm picked up a save for the Phillies on Sunday against the Padres, his sixth of the season. No saves out of Arizona over the weekend. Ginkel, Kendall Graveman, and Kyle Backhus could all figure into the saves mix. And the Rangers went without a save to close out the first half. Garcia did take a loss with a run allowed against the Astros on Saturday.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Calvin Faucher/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Seth Halvorsen/Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Last week's column touched on the trade speculation surrounding Minnesota relievers Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran. While it would be a surprise to see both relievers traded by the deadline, it may not hurt to take a look at who could step up in their place. Louis Varland has been the next reliever down in the high-leverage order. The 27-year-old right-hander has made the transition from starter to reliever this year and has been incredibly effective, posting a 1.81 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 43/11 K/BB ratio across 44 2/3 innings. And when healthy, Brock Stewart has flashed some strikeout upside over the last three seasons. The 33-year-old veteran right-hander's 29 1/3 innings so far are the most he's pitched since 2017. He's posted a solid 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 38/10 K/BB ratio.

The Angels remain in the Wild Card mix at four games behind at the All-Star break. But if they fall further behind over the next couple of weeks, we could see veteran closer Kenley Jansen on the move. His departure could open the door for Reid Detmers to step into the closer role. Despite the speculation that he could move back into a starting role, he'll reportedly continue to work out of the bullpen, where he's been most effective. The 26-year-old left-hander had a rough stretch in early May but has posted a 1.24 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 29 innings since May 9.

Posted on

Busy March, Early California Trip Highlight Penguins’ 2025-26 Schedule

The Pittsburgh Penguins had their schedule finalized for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday. 

Fans already knew they would be starting the season on the road against the New York Rangers on October 7, but were waiting for the rest of the schedule so they could plan which games to attend. The Penguins will have their home opener two nights later, on October 9, against the New York Islanders, before playing the Rangers in Pittsburgh on October 11. 

That second Rangers game will feature Mike Sullivan’s return to Pittsburgh for the first time since being named the head coach of the Rangers. He and the Penguins parted ways on April 28, paving the way for the Rangers to hire him on May 2. According to Bob Grove, this marks the first time the Penguins will open a season with three straight games against New York-based teams since the 1998-99 season.

Now that the full schedule is out, here are some quick miscellaneous thoughts on it. 

March is a gauntlet

The Penguins will have a super busy March once the NHL players return from the Winter Olympics at the end of February. They will play 17 games in 31 days and face some of the top projected teams in the league, including the Vegas Golden Knights (twice), the Carolina Hurricanes (twice), the Colorado Avalanche (twice), the Winnipeg Jets, and the Dallas Stars. It’s going to be a brutal stretch of games, and it may feature a short-handed Penguins team, as they will likely be sellers at the 2026 trade deadline. 

The California trip is early

This season’s California trip is beneficial for the Penguins because they will be able to complete it relatively quickly. After opening the season with three games against two of the New York teams, they will head to California to take on the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. The road trip will take place during the second week of the season in October before the Penguins come home to play the Vancouver Canucks. They will start in Anaheim, then proceed to Los Angeles, and conclude in San Jose. It’s never too early to start planning to drink some coffee or your beverage of choice for those late-night matchups. 

Apr 13, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks on before a face-off against the Boston Bruins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

16 back-to-backs

In addition to the Penguins’ busy March, they’ll have 16 back-to-back games throughout the season, the most since the 2017-18 season. Penguins fans should be used to a good amount of back-to-back games in the Sidney Crosby era, since this is the ninth time that the team has had at least 16 during his tenure. One of the back-to-backs that stands out on the schedule is when the Penguins host the Florida Panthers on April 4 and 5. Although this type of scheduling occurred frequently during the 2020-21 season due to pandemic restrictions, it hasn’t happened much since. It at least helps the travel for the Panthers while also allowing Penguins players to sleep in their own beds both nights. Get ready for the goalies to split most, if not all, of these back-to-backs when they come up on the schedule. 

Get ready to wake up early!

November will feature the NHL’s annual Global Series, with the Penguins taking on the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 14 and 16. The game on the 14th will start at 2 p.m. ET, but the game on the 16th will begin at 9 a.m. ET. It’s even worse for Penguins fans who live in California, as the game will start at 6 a.m. PT. Be sure to set your alarms to avoid oversleeping!

NHL Opening Night Features Poetic Reunion Between Mike Sullivan, PenguinsNHL Opening Night Features Poetic Reunion Between Mike Sullivan, PenguinsThe NHL announced the schedule for the 2025-26 season's opening night on Monday. The Florida Panthers will raise their second-straight Stanley Cup banner against the Chicago Blackhawks, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins traveling to New York to take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Opening night will conclude with the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Los Angeles Kings.

Only one trip to D.C. 

The Penguins and Washington Capitals have had a bitter rivalry during the Crosby and Ovechkin era, and it will continue for at least one more season. The two teams will play three times, with two of the games at PPG Paints Arena. That means the Penguins will only go to the D.C. once, but there’s a catch. The Penguins will play at Capital One Arena on April 12 in their second-to-last game of the season, right after they play the Caps on April 11 in their final home game of the season. If this is Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season, we could see quite a sendoff for two of the best players in NHL history. Both players have yet to decide if this will be their final season. Their contracts are set to expire at the end of this upcoming season. 

Each NHL season is unique, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the Penguins deal with some of these factors on their schedule when they come up. The season may still be a little more than two and a half months away, but it’s going to be here before you know it. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Posted on

Moesha Johnson wins Australia’s first 10km open-water swimming gold at world championships

  • Compatriot Kyle Lee takes bronze in men’s 10km race in Singapore

  • Events were postponed multiple times due to water quality concerns

Moesha Johnson has won Australia’s first 10km open water world title as compatriot Kyle Lee opened the team medal tally with bronze in the men’s race.

It is Australia’s fifth open water world title over all distances with Johnson and Lee in the quartet that will defend the mixed-team title at the Singapore world aquatics championships.

Continue reading...
Posted on

3 things to know about Nashville Predators 2025-26 regular season schedule

Start marking your calendars and budgeting for those parking garage fees on Broadway because the Nashville Predators have announced their 2025-26 regular season schedule. 

In 85 days, on Oct. 9, the Predators will open up their season against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena. 

Looking for a sound response after last season's disappointing finish, here are five things to know about the Predators' upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

3 players return to Nashville, 4 Predators face former teams on road 

Jan 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) celebrates his goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

There's going to be a lot ot tribute videos at home and on the road this season.

Three former Predators will return to Bridgestone Arena for the first time since being dealt or signing with their current team. Four current Nashville players will make a return to their former teams. 

The first of these homecomings of sorts starts with Thomas Novak, who was traded to Pittsburgh in March in a three-player exchange. While he won't be playing at Bridgestone Arena this season, he will face the Predators for the first time since being traded on Nov. 14 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the NHL's Global Series. 

On Nov. 29, Luke Schenn, who was traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline, will return to Nashville for the first time. The 17-season veteran played two seasons in Nashville from 2023 to 2025, recording `12 points in 94 games. 

Defenseman Nicolas Hague makes his return to Vegas on New Year's Eve against the Golden Knights. He was acquired via a three-player trade on June 30. He was drafted by the Golden Knights in 2017 and spent six seasons there, winning a Stanley Cup in 2023. 

About a month later, Erik Haula makes his return to New Jersey on Jan. 29. He returned to Nashville on June 18 in a steal of a trade that sent Jeremy Hanzel to the Devils. Haula played the last three seasons in New Jersey, scoring a combined 97 points. 

Late March will a busy month when it comes to these returns. 

Longtime Predator and fan favorite Colton Sissons, alongside Jeremy Lauzon, return to Nashville with the Vegas Golden Knights on March 21. Sissons was drafted by the Predators in 2012 and spent 11 seasons with the team, scoring 221 points in 690 games. 

Sissons also played a major role in the Predators run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Lauzon spent the last four seasons in Nashville, scoring 28 points. 

A week later, former defenseman Marc Del Gaizo could make his return to Nashville with the Montreal Canadiens. He is projected to play with the Laval Rockets after splitting last season between Nashville and Milwaukee. 

Lastly, Nick Perbix will return to Tampa on March 29 after signing as a free agent with the Predators in July. He was drafted by the Lightning in 2017 and spent the first three seasons of his career there. 

Compressed schedule for Olympics has Predators on 7-game road trip, 13 sets of back-to-back games 

Dec. 31, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) defends Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault (81) in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Similar to the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Winter Olympics are not doing any favors when it comes to a comfortable schedule. 

League play will take a 19-day break from Feb 6 to 24, once again shoving a handful of games into a small window. 

From December 23 to January 6, the Predators will embark on a seven-game road trip, starting in Minnesota and concluding in Edmonton. Including the break for Christmas, that's 15 days on the road. 

Nashville had a similar road trip last season, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 7, but it was 12 days and six games, and it was after Christmas. It didn't fare well for Nashville as it went 2-4, losing its first three games of the trip. 

To add to the difficulty, the Predators will be facing four teams on this trip that were in the playoffs: Minnesota (Dec. 23), St. Louis (Dec. 27), Vegas (Dec. 31) and Edmonton (Jan. 6). They will also face Utah (Dec. 29), Seattle (Jan. 1) and Calgary (Jan. 3). 

In addition, the Predators will play a whopping 13 pairs of back-to-back games, with the first set scheduled for October 13 and 14. 

While these players are familiar with what it takes to play an 82-game schedule, the compressed format is new to them. Last season was the first time players saw play pause for a mid-season tournament since 2014, the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics. 

More games, less time off, and another international tournament increase the risk of fatigue and injuries. It's going to be a grind for every team in the league.

On the bright side, two Predators are already confirmed for the Olympics: Roman Josi (Switzerland) and Juuse Saros (Finland). The Predators' final game before the break will come against the Capitals in Washington on Feb. 5. 

Global Series, facing defending Stanley Cup champs, trade deadline 

Feb. 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden forward Filip Forsberg (9) plays the puck against Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty (89) in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Four games jump out on the schedule for various different reasons. 

On Nov. 14 and Nov. 16, the Predators will play overseas for the second time in franchise history, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, in the NHL Global Series.

The last trip they made to Europe was in the 2022 NHL Global Series, where they played SC Bern and the San Jose Sharks at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia. They narrowly defeated SC Bern 4-3 and picked up a pair of wins over the Sharks. 

This will also be a homecoming for Filip Forsberg, Andreas Englund, and Adam Wilsby. Englund and Wilsby are both from Stockholm, while Forsberg is from Östervåla, located in eastern Sweden. 

Returning to the U.S., the Predators face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers at home on Nov. 24, which will be a great measuring stick to see where the Predators stack up against the league's best. 

Lastly, Nashville is playing a game on the trade deadline, at Buffalo on March 7. Depending on where the Predators are in the standings —toward the bottom, pushing for a playoff spot, or competing for a top spot in the Central Division —this could be a significant day. 

Posted on

Former Penguins Goaltending Prospect Re-Signs With Ducks

A former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending prospect has re-signed with the Anaheim Ducks.

On Wednesday, 23-year-old netminder Calle Clang signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Ducks. Clang was sent to Anaheim on Mar. 21, 2022 - along with forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon and a 2022 second-round pick - in the trade that brought scoring winger Rickard Rakell to Pittsburgh.

Clang - a third-round pick (77th overall) of the Penguins in 2020 - posted an 11-13-4 record with a 3.17 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage last season for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound goaltender has a 3.16 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 68 career AHL games.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

Featured image credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK