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St. Louis Blues NHL Prospect Rankings: No. 6, Theo Lindstein

As the anticipation for the 2026-27 NHL season grows, TheHockeyNews.com will be taking a look at the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues' system, with Swedish defenseman Theo Lindstein coming in at the sixth spot.

The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.

The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs. 

Although his offensive production in the AHL was low, when he was called up to the NHL late in the 2025-26 season, he fit like a glove.

Playing alongside veteran Colton Parayko, Lindstein looked very comfortable as a puck mover, defending the rush and in his own zone. In 17 games, Lindstein posted two goals and four points. According to naturalstattrick.com, the Blues outscored their opponents 11-6 with the 21-year-old on the ice at 5-on-5. In the same scenario, the Blues owned 57.24 percent of the expected goals and a Corsi For percentage of 52.54 percent. 

He then returned to the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he recorded three assists in nine playoff games.

Five Blues Prospects Who Will Be Competing For An NHL Roster Spot In Training CampFive Blues Prospects Who Will Be Competing For An NHL Roster Spot In Training CampWith the prospect pool depth the St. Louis Blues possess, they have five youngsters who can compete for an NHL roster spot during training camp and pre-season.

The 29th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft doesn't have any singular traits that stand out, but he plays a solid all-around game. At six-foot, 197 pounds, Lindstein is about average size for a defenseman. He isn't overly physical, but he doesn't shy away from it either. He has the frame to defend the hard areas of the ice.

On the offensive side, Lindstein isn't an elite skater, but it's not a weak point either. He is confident enough in his speed to pick and choose when to step up into the rush and get back into position if need be. 

Lindstein likely won't ever become a top-pairing defenseman, but that is fine for St. Louis. With Philip Broberg locked in long-term as the team's No. 1 left-handed defenseman, Lindstein can serve on the second pairing, where he should thrive. 

At the time of the selection, Lindstein was deemed a safe, projectable NHLer, and now, three years later, he is still just that. 

St. Louis Blues Prospect Rankings:

7. Milton Gastrin

8. Dmitri Buchelnikov

9. Colin Ralph

10. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Honorable Mentions: Love Harenstam, Marcus Gidlof, Juraj Pekarcik, Zach Dean, and Lukas Fischer

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Orioles vs. Cardinals prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 27

The Baltimore Orioles (65-68) continue their late season push for the playoffs this afternoon in St. Louis where they will go for a sweep of their three-game series against the Cardinals (66-68). Last night the O’s wasted a big early lead but rallied late to earn their fourth win in their last five games, 8-7, over a Cardinals’ team that has now lost their last five.

 

Baltimore appeared headed for a comfortable victory after erupting for seven runs early, highlighted by a three-run homer from Leody Taveras and a two-run blast from Pete Alonso. The Orioles built a commanding 7-0 lead, only to watch the Cardinals storm back with a massive sixth-inning rally. Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, and Nathan Church led the comeback, combining to drive in five runs during the rally that tied the game at 7. The Orioles got up off the mat in the ninth. Christian Encarnacion-Strand ripped a tiebreaking RBI double, scoring Gunnar Henderson to ultimately win the game for the visiting Orioles, 8-7.

 

With the win, Baltimore remains 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final Wild Card spot in the American League while the Cardinals fell to six games behind the Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

 

Baltimore will hand the ball to left-hander Trevor Rogers (9-8, 4.14 ERA) this afternoon to close out the series. In his most recent start, Rogers went seven innings against the Rays and allowed six hits and three runs. While striking out six. IN four August starts, Rogers has allowed nine earned runs in 23 innings (3.52 ERA). As of this morning, the Cardinals had yet to announce their starter.

 

Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

 

Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Cardinals

  • Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
  • Time: 2:15PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, Cardinals.TV

  

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

 

The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Cardinals

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-116), St. Louis Cardinals (+108)
  • Spread: Orioles -1.5 (+135), Cardinals +1.5 (-163)
  • Total: 8.0 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers – Orioles vs. Cardinals for August 27

  • Orioles: Trevor Rogers
    Season Totals: 132.2 IP, 9-8, 4.14 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 114K, 36 BB
  • Cardinals: TBD
    Season Totals:

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Orioles vs. Cardinals

  • Pete Alonso is having an August for the ages - .391 batting average with 9 HRs and 22 RBIs
  • Ivan Herrera is 2-3 in his career against Trevor Rogers
  • Trevor Rogers has pitched at least 6 innings in 7 of his last 8 starts
  • Trevor Rogers has had 6+ Ks in 6 of his last 7 starts
  • Leody Taveras is 3-17 over his last 4GP
  • Jordan Walker is 2-15 over his last 4GP
  • Alec Burleson is riding an 12-game hitting streak (16-46)
  • JJ Wetherholt is riding a 4-game hitting streak (6-15)
  • Colton Cowser has had 2 hits in each of his last 3GP (6-10)

 

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Cardinals

  • The Orioles are 69-64 on the Run Line this season
  • The Cardinals are 72-62 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 67 times in Baltimore’s 133 games this season (67-62-4)
  • The OVER has cashed 57 times in St. Louis’ 134 games this season (57-70-7)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Cardinals

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

 

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

 

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Orioles and the Cardinals:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Orioles on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0

 

 

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Dodgers looking beatable as problems stack up

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott walks back to the dugout after giving up a go-ahead run, Image 2 shows Kyle Tucker of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his ground out with the bases loaded, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talks with Max Muncy

Code red.

Five-alarm fire.

DEFCON 1.

Any term used to describe a crisis could be applied to the Dodgers right now, and that would be the case even if owner Mark Walter wasn’t under federal investigation.

Problems are stacking up, and with only a little more than a month remaining in the regular season, who knows if the Dodgers will be able to solve them before the start of the playoffs.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talks with Max Muncy prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The Dodgers have offensive problems. They have defensive problems. They have bullpen problems. And in the wake of losing their first two games of their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, they could soon have postseason bracket problems.

The concerns have become pronounced enough to where manager Dave Roberts has started to back off his recent tough-love approach, probably because maintaining that demeanor under these circumstances would create an overly negative atmosphere. 

“We had opportunities,” Roberts told reports at Truist Park following his team’s 6-5 loss on Wednesday.

The offense is stuck in neutral, the broken hand suffered last week by center fielder Andy Pages complicating the team’s efforts to emerge from an extended slump.

In Pages and catcher Will Smith, the Dodgers are missing two premium hitters who play premium defensive positions. Pages has been replaced by Alek Thomas and Will Smith by Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt, and at both positions, the substitutes represent major offensive downgrades.

Smith is on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment and should have about a month of major league game time to develop a rhythm in the batter’s box for the postseason. Pages won’t have any such luxury, as he could miss the remainder of the regular season.

Kyle Tucker of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his ground out with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Pages, 25, and Smith, 31, are particularly valuable to these Dodgers because some of their more experienced players are in obvious decline. Mookie Betts remains up and down, Freddie Freeman hasn’t homered since Independence Day, and Teoscar Hernández has basically been a Mendoza Line hitter for the last two months. Newcomer Kyle Tucker has just stunk.

In their last 30 games, the Dodgers have won a game by more than two runs only three times. They have scored an average of 4.2 runs per game in their last 39 games, down from 5.3 runs per game in their first 94 games of the season.

The effects of the diminished offense has been magnified by the team’s defensive shortcomings, which started becoming especially noticeable in the week leading up to the All-Star break. With Hernández in left field and Tucker in right, the Dodgers have two below-average defenders in their outfield. A defensive mistake by Hernández in the fourth inning on Wednesday turned the Dodgers’ 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit.

The Dodgers have played clean defense before, and they should be able to do so again. But will they be able to close out games?

When imploding $69-million closer Edwin Diaz was placed on the 15-day injured list last week, the Dodgers looked as if they would be able to manage the situation. They had other options. When Diaz was sidelined earlier in the season, Tanner Scott performed well in his place. The Dodgers also had a safety net in Roki Sasaki, the starting pitcher who was their primary ninth-inning pitcher in the playoffs last year.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott walks back to the dugout after giving up the go-ahead run to the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

So much for that.

Scott was the losing pitcher in each of the Dodgers’ first two games in this series against the Braves, reverting to the form from his disastrous first season with the team last year. As for Sasaki, he will be placed on the injured list with a ruptured blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. 

Considering their variety of issues, it’s little wonder why the Dodgers have lost 13 of their last 15 games against teams with winning records. The only series the Dodgers won this month were against teams with sub-.500 records – the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Braves are now within two games of the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed in the NL. Only the top two seeds in each league will receive a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Regardless of whether the Dodgers can hold off the Braves, they will show up in October with a fighting chance.

The reason: Their starting pitching.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and either Shohei Ohtani or Tyler Glasnow will make up a postseason rotation that could be historically dominant.

If they don’t pitch up to that standard, the season could end with another emergency signal: Code blue.

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Padres salvage series with Pirates ahead of 6-game road trip

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 26: Bradgley Rodriguez #72 of the San Diego Padres celebrates during the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park on August 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was not the end to the homestand the San Diego Padres were looking for, but they did salvage the final game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-0 win that allowed them to finish with a 4-2 record before heading out on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds.

Randy Vasquez delivered another strong outing for the Padres with five scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit over that time and did not allow a walk. Vasquez finished with two strikeouts. He was staked to a one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a double by Jackson Merrill followed by an RBI-single from Luis Rengifo. That was all Vasquez and the rest of the San Diego staff would need to ensure the win.

The Padres did add runs in the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the eighth innings, but the quartet of Kyle Hart, Griffin Canning, Yuki Matsui and Bradgley Rodriguez were able to keep the Pirates off the board. Pittsburgh had its chances against more than one of those pitchers but never could break through. The Pirates finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the game while the Padres finished 3-for-5.

Merrill was the offensive leader for San Diego and turned in a 2-for-3 day with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Rengifo and Jake Cronenworth had the two other RBIs for the Padres and six players recorded hits in the game.

San Diego has an off day today before opening a three-game set with Tampa Bay on Friday.

Padres News:

Baseball News:

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DSL Twins 2026 Season Recap

The Dominican Summer League season wrapped up last week, and it was not a good one for the DSL Twins. They finished with a 19-35 record, allowing just under 9 runs per game, the 3rd most in the league. While its always good to win games, individual player development is prioritized in the minor leagues, and there are a handful of players that have stood out over the past few months.

The Pitching

As a team, the DSL Twins finished with a 9.33 ERA, totaling 374 walks and 372 strikeouts in 395.2 innings. While the staff completely lacked any amount of consistent production, there are a handful of intriguing arms that have the tools to turn into notable prospects.

Fernando Hernandez was the most reliable arm for the DSL Twins, posting a 4.05 ERA and 3.19 FIP and tallying 16 strikeouts and 2 walks in 13.1 innings. Still, this was in 1-2 inning stints with a 1.5 month absence in the middle. There is a solid sinker/slider combo, but with Hernandez standing at just 5’10” and turning 20 soon, this isn’t the young, raw pitcher with dreamy upside.

Enmanuel Mena and Josangel Braffit are 18-year-old righties with intriguing fastball/slider combos, but both struggled with command. Camilo Made was a late signing that showed off some impressive stuff with a plus fastball and a pair of nice breaking balls in limited action at 17 years old. Struggled a bit with command, but has long levers at 6’5” that could hold some nasty stuff if he can get his body in sync. These three have flashed some real potential, but need to find more consistent strike-throwing.

Right-handers Yolcar Garcia and Alam Soriano are the other two pitchers I want to mention, both being command arms with less explosive stuff. Garcia stands at six feet tall with a cut fastball around 90 MPH and a pair of average breaking balls. Soriano posted a 1.04 ERA and 3.20 FIP over his last 6 appearances after struggling with homers early on. His fastball pops at the top of the zone at 90-92. Slider gets solid spin and a little late bite. They are less exciting prospects with below average strikeout numbers, but the command feel gives them a significant edge over many of the other pitchers on the Dominican roster. If you look back at old rookie ball stats from current major league pitchers, size and command have a stronger tendency to translate than stuff and strikeout numbers.

Lots of 2-3 pitch repertoires in this group with a lack of changeup usage. This IFA crop lacks pitching talent, but there is no shortage of intriguing bats.

The $1.5 Million Man

The Twins’ top 2026 international free agent signing was infielder Enmanuel Merlo at just under $1.5 million. MLB Pipeline’s 34th ranked IFA signing showed off impressive tools in his first season as a pro. Merlo is 6’1” with some big power potential in his frame. Extreme ground ball rates limited his power production this year, but he consistently registered 100+ MPH exit velocities. As a switch hitter, he looked more polished from the left side, totaling more walks than strikeouts. Maybe a little more raw power, but also more whiff from the right side.

Merlo posted a 115 wRC+ on the season, but he slashed .403/.526/.581 over his last 20 games for a 175 wRC+ with 15 walks and 10 strikeouts. The contact numbers and approach have improved tremendously throughout the season as he looks more and more like a big league hitting prospect. With a strong frame and a talented bat that’s already showing great development at 17 years old, Enmanuel Merlo looks like one of the Twins’ top rookie ball hitters.

He split time between short and third this year, showcasing quality actions with an average arm. He has the type of frame that will typically beef up and turn into a bat-first corner infielder. He’s a little lumbery as a runner. Might make more sense as a first baseman if the arm doesn’t play enough at third. I’m seeing a Josh Bell profile with a high likelihood for more defensive value. His bat has a chance to push him through the minors very quickly.

The Walk Merchants

17-year-old 2B Jendy Martinez produced probably the most eye-popping statline on the team this year, tallying a ridiculous 58 walks to just 18 strikeouts. Martinez is a smaller switch-hitter with quick feet. He was primarily a second baseman, but mixed in a little center field. While he lacks raw power, the contact skills and swing decisions are looking incredibly advanced. His swing is smooth and simple from both sides of the plate. Over the last 20 games, Jendy slashed .403/547/.597 with 21 walks and 3 strikeouts. He mixed on 22 stolen bags on the season. He is a long ways out, but showing off a very fun profile in year one.

SS Daiyer Barboza cooled off after being one of the hottest hitters in the league for the first month or so. The 17-year-old has advanced spin recognition and contact skills from the left side of the plate while showing off quality power potential. He totaled 52 walks and 29 strikeouts on the season and smacked 4 homers while slashing .272/.487/.412. At 6’2” with a leaner frame, Barboza has room to add some muscle and grow into more power. He runs well and has played primarily shortstop so far, but may not have the quick twitch of a major league shortstop. Still, there is potential for positive defensive value somewhere in the infield.

Juan Holmann missed the last month of the season with injury, but his 170 wRC+ led the team as he slashed .310/.533/.535 in 27 games. Holmann has more whiff issues, but his patient approach led to him walking and striking out at a 29.5% clip. He looks a bit more muscular than the other two and generates excellent bat speed in his 6’0” frame. His swing reminds me a lot of Kaelen Culpepper. The righty infielder stole 14 bags and split time across the infield, showcasing a strong arm and quality defensive actions. At 17 years old, Holmann has hit tool concerns but is a high-upside bat with some advanced physical tools.

Talented Outfielders

While Abel Sosa and Jhon Gonzalez finished with average production in their age 17 season, they are toosly and talented players that add some nice depth to the bottom of the system and have a real chance to reach the majors.

Abel Sosa played a mix of center and right field this year. The righty stands at 6’3” with a lean frame, but impressive bat speed and a chance to grow into some real power. His swing is efficient and fluid. He is a more aggressive hitter, but struck out at just a 14.9% clip this season. While the contact rates were good and he showed off some impressive power, the quality of contact lacked consistency. He slashed .293/.385/.420, which was good for a 98 wRC+. Also showed off some solid movement skills. Has a good arm and projects to fit nicely into a corner outfield spot. Sosa’s bat is raw but could be well worth the wait.

Jhon Gonzalez possesses an intriguing set of tools as well. The 6’0” lefty is an aggressive hitter that struggles with chase and has some bigger whiff concerns, but there is real power potential and some impressive athleticism. There are some moving parts in his violent swing which contributes to the whiff concerns, but his 21.2% strikeout rate remained respectable. Gonzalez has flashed solid bat speed and exit velocities for a 17-year-old, but high ground ball rates limited his power production. He stole 10 bags in 46 games and was the team’s primary center fielder, showcasing a good arm and some range. It’s early, but Jhon Gonzalez has impressive tools with potential to impact the game in multiple facets.

While the DSL Twins struggled to win games, it was a good season for the offense, which once again included a handful of notable bats. The 2025 IFA class fared extremely well in the Florida Complex this year, and that level will be an important checkpoint for this 2026 group when they head to the states next season.

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Was that the game of the year (so far)? If not, what was?

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 26: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on August 26, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Boy, that was a memorable game for all sorts of reasons:

  • Matt Olson’s homer off the pole
  • Signs of life from Sean Murphy, including a dinger of his own
  • Outbarreling the Dodgers 5-1
  • Drake Baldwin having a huge game, but with his biggest hit coming on a defensive misplay by the Dodgers
  • Didier Fuentes walking in the tying run, but then getting what he needs — and escaping a second inning as well
  • Victor Mederos, pumped once again
  • The “I failed to field it cleanly but knocked the ball in the only direction that would’ve stopped the Braves from scoring” by Mookie Betts.
  • The original pinch run for Sean Murphy decision forcing Ha-Seong Kim to the plate for the first time in 15 days…

… and of course, Kim coming through with a solid, 100+ mph, nearly 75+ mph bat speed single to win the game.

Maybe the only competition was the Chadwick Tromp Game (Braves score two in the tenth to tie, including a Tromp RBI, then walk it off via Tromp in the 11th), but that came against the Nationals, so not quite the same level of juice. What do you think?

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Schedule Preview, Part I: East-heavy with four back-to-backs

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

NBA basketball is approaching closer than it might seem. As the final holdouts from free agency have agreed to deals, we’re only about a month out from Media Day and the start of training camp. With the full 82-game schedule plus NBA Cup groupings having been released, now’s a good a time as any to break it down into segments and evaluate each part of the Sixers’ upcoming journey.

These segments have been broken down into approximately 20 games to look at the season quarter-by-quarter. It’s important to remember that 82 games is a slog, with stretches of it that are more often defined by how the team itself is doing rather than their opponents — especially one with as many new moving parts as this Sixers roster.

Still, it’s time to go through section by section of the Sixers season and see what they’re up against. The first portion will be broken down to the first 21 games of the season, taking us right up to Thanksgiving, mainly because games 20 and 21 are a back-to-back.

The Sixers will play the minimum 14 back-to-backs this season and will have four of them in this first quarter of the season. The other thing that jumps out about the first quarter of the season is how Eastern Conference-heavy it is. Only two of the Sixers’ first 21 opponents play in the West: the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

The schedule will probably always lean that heavy with NBA Cup group games taking place in this part of the season. The Sixers will kick off group play this year on Oct. 30 at home against the New York Knicks, their second game against the reigning champions in the first 10 days of the season.

They’ll obviously start the season taking on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers for the home opener. Their first weekend of the season brings their first back-to-back, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks then the Detroit Pistons. Assuming health, it will be interesting to see how the Sixers attack back-to-backs with their older stars. One would imagine Joel Embiid and LeBron James won’t be playing both legs of them, and the Bucks-Pistons combo will be a first look at if the Sixers stagger guys between nights, or just go for it all on one night.

That back-to-back is conveniently two home games, but the other three in this early part of the schedule will require travel. After the Sixers host the Knicks they’ll shoot down to Charlotte to take on the Hornets. After the Indiana Pacers come to town on Nov. 15 the Sixers will take a train or bus up to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on the 16th. After their final game of Cup group play on Nov. 27, the Sixers will head to Houston for the 28th as they’ll finally start to face some Western Conference opponents.

A theme you might have noticed is that the Sixers won’t just be playing a lot of Eastern Conference teams early, but they’ll be seeing some of them multiple times early in the season. This was the case last year as well as they played the Celtics three times within the first month of the season. This year, they’ll see the Pacers three times before the month of December, while having played the Knicks, Cavs, Pistons and Bulls twice.

Three of those teams — the Cavs, Knicks and Pacers — are in the Sixers Cup group as well as the Miami Heat. That’s a strong group that doesn’t present any obvious weak link. It’s very possible that a team that just added Giannis Antetokounmpo or won the East 14 months ago is the worst team in this group. The Sixers haven’t had any NBA Cup success in its short history and this will be a tough year for their new-look group to break that trend.

Two more games to keep an eye on this early in the year will be Nov, 10 and 12 against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. While it’s a home game, this will be Jaylen Brown’s first game against his old team and, unsurprisingly, will be nationally televised. The interest in that second game is still pending a league investigation, but the Raptors could be an interestingly scary team.

This first stretch of the season will be a good litmus test for how much better and deeper this Eastern Conference is. Only six of their opponents in this stretch didn’t make the playoffs last year, and at least two of them in the Heat and Pacers will be trying to change that this season.

It’s one of the Sixers’ lightest stretches of the season in terms of travel with Houston and Chicago as the two furthest opponents, but the four back-to-backs are the tied for the most in any quarter segment of the season. To start the season the Sixers will find out just how good their conference is.

10/20: @Knicks
10/22: vs. Cavs
10/24: vs. Bucks
10/25: vs. Pistons (B2B)
10/28: @Pacers
10/30: vs. Knicks (Cup) 
10/31: @Hornets (B2B) 
11/2: vs. Bulls 
11/4: @Pistons
11/6: @Cavs (Cup)
11/8: @Bulls
11/10: vs. Celtics 
11/12: vs. Raptors 
11/15: vs. Pacers 
11/16: @Nets (B2B) 
11/18: @Magic 
11/21: vs. Bucks
11/23: vs. Trail Blazers 
11/25: vs. Heat (Cup)
11/27: @Pacers (Cup) 
11/28: @Rockets (B2B)

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35 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #35

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 35 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #35. 

Let's take a look.

Jean-François Labbé - 2003 - Labbé was undrafted out of Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Jean-François Labbé played in 14 games with the Blue Jackets over the course of two seasons. He went 3-5 with an .890 SV%. He spent the bulk of his time playing in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch. 

He left North America in 2003 for Russia. He then played in Germany and Poland before returning to Canada in 2009. After playing a season for Sherbrooke Saint-François in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, he retired. 

Labbé was primarily an AHL goalie, playing 261 games. He had a record of 131-97-25 and had 13 shutouts. He has won numerous awards in the AHL, including Best Goaltender and Most Valuable Player. For his efforts, Labbé was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2016. 

After retiring, he moved into coaching, where he was either a head coach or a goaltending coach at different stops. 

Martin Prusek - 2006 - Prusek was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 6th round of the 1999 NHL Draft.

Prusek played in 9 games for Columbus during the 05-06 season and had a record of 3-3. He also played 23 games for the Syracuse Crunch that year.

He returned to Europe after his time with Columbus, where he would play in Russia and Czechia until he retired in 2011. He moved directly into coaching, where he has been a goaltending coach in Czechia with various age levels ever since. 

Brian Boucher - 2007 - Boucher was drafted in 1995 with the 22nd overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers

On February 27, 2007, he was acquired on waivers by the Blue Jackets from the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in three games for Columbus and went 1-1. That would be the only games he would play for Columbus, as he would sign elsewhere the following season.

He played in the NHL until 2013, and then left for Switzerland, where he played one season before retiring. 

Nowadays, you can find Boucher doing Flyers games on NBC Sports Philadelphia and doing between-the-bench work for TNT during National games. Boucher has turned into a very respected member of the hockey media. 

Ty Conklin - 2007 - Conklin was undrafted out of Phoenix, Arizona.

Conklin's time in Columbus was short but somewhat eventful. He was signed by Columbus on July 1, 2006. He was expected to be the starter for the Jackets, but head coach Gerard Gallant went with Frederik Norrena instead. So, Conklin was put on waivers and sent to the AHL. 

He was recalled by Columbus in December of that year when Pascal LeClaire went down with an injury. He played in 11 games and went 2-3-2 during his time with the CBJ. On February 27, 2007, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and immediately had a 42-save win. His last season in the NHL would be the 2011-12 season. 

He moved into coaching, where he worked for the Blues and the University of New Hampshire for several years. 

Jan Hejda - 2011 - Hejda was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 4th round of the 2003 NHL Draft.

Hejda signed with Columbus in 2007 after playing one year with the Edmonton Oilers. In all, he played with Columbus for four seasons and totaled 302 games. He scored 11 goals and 67 points playing on the Columbus blue line. 

He left for the Colorado Avalanche in 2011 when free agency opened. He would play there until 2015. He signed a PTO with the Lake Erie Monsters in December of 2015, was released in January of 2016, and retired.

Veini Vehviläinen - 2021 - Vehviläinen was drafted by Columbus in the 6th round of the 2018 NHL Draft. 

Vehviläinen was supposed to be the goalie of the future in Columbus, or at least that's what many people thought. It turns out he was a forgotten goalie. 

Due to COVID and the Blue Jackets having Elvis Merzlikins, Joonas Korpisalo, and Daniil Tarasov waiting in the wings, he never really had a chance. After appearing in just one relief appearance, he would never sniff the NHL again. 

In March of 2021, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He would play in a few games for the Marlies, picking up a single win, but that was it. 

He left to play in Sweden in 2021 and now plays in his home country of Finland. After spending a season in Finland's second tier league, he's back in LIIGA for 26-27, playing for Jokerit. 

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Who should start for the Bucks at centre?

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Myles Turner #3 and Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Kia Center on February 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to Volume V of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, where we explore the Milwaukee Bucks’ options at each position. Read along, make your choice, and share your pick in the comments—if you dare!

The centre rotation is nowhere near as jammed up as the guard rotation with three viable options at the five: Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, and Jericho Sims. With Giannis gone, suddenly each of these players—less so for Sims—will have a license to explore the studio space just that little bit more. The “shooting bigs” will also have the chance to roll, while Sims will have more opportunities in general because he no longer has to be separated from a non-shooting power forward in GA.

Go on to OPTION 1.

1. The turn-around trade bait: Myles Turner

As the “elder statesman” of the team, Turner is an obvious choice to start—and majority of fans agree—if only to revive his trade value. I feel like last year’s fit with Turner and Giannis was good in theory, but it did lead to Turner standing stationary on the three-point line a lot of the time as Giannis bulldozed, when he has way more to offer than that. Like, Doc really wasn’t creative at all with how he utilised Turner, and now that Giannis is gone, he will surely be more involved. Get him screening more, rolling, popping, setting flare screens—all the stuff that made him so valuable with the Pacers. I don’t know about you guys, but I think MT is in for a big season (for however much of it that he’s wearing a Bucks uniform).

If you’re willing to give second chances, choose Turner. If not, turn to OPTION 2.

2. The Kryptonian: Kel’el Ware

By starting Ware at centre—and thus probably moving Turner to the bench—you are making the decision to go all-in on the future. Feed Ware all the reps that he didn’t get in Miami, and see what you’ve got: give him more back-to-the-basket opportunities and try to expand his game at the rim. After all, if there was one player the Bucks got back in the Miami trade—excluding Nate Ament—who you could say has a chance to be that “blue chip prospect” that everyone said the Bucks didn’t get, it would be Ware. Frankly, he’s one of the more unique players I’ve seen. At 7’0”, he’s explosive at the rim, has real touch in the paint, can block shots, and make threes at a 40% clip. There just aren’t many players who can do all of those things. As I’ll deep dive in an upcoming article, there have been major questions about Ware’s motor, but if he can sort that out—and it’s a huge if—he could be special. Look, I don’t hate the idea of starting Ware at centre from the jump, but I do get nervous about him being the full-time defensive anchor at this stage. Maybe those concerns are misguided, though—let me know in the comments.

If you’re ready for a new flame, choose Ware. If not, turn to OPTION 3.

3. The fleet-footed finisher: Jericho Sims

I feel like Sims is somewhat polarising, but my dirty little secret is that (whispers)… I thought he was straight-up better than Myles Turner for a good portion of last season. Yes, you aren’t getting much offensive versatility with Sims, but his ability to switch on defence is mind-boggling. Like, the number of times a guard would “try him” last season, only to back away and make the next pass because they simply couldn’t shake him was amazing. I truly believe the league missed by not offering him more than the minimum; his defensive ability is special. As long as there’s shooting at the other four spots, I think Sims could do a great job in a starting role. Now do I think that’s actually going to happen? No way. For various reasons, Turner and Ware need to play a lot, but I truly believe the Bucks must keep investing in Sims long term. His foot speed on defence is an outlier skill at the centre spot, and it’s only a matter of time until the league figures that out.

QUICK! Make a decision, you’re near the end. Choose Sims if you like your centre to rebound, set screens, and throw it down hard. Otherwise, pull a rabbit out of your hat and tell us who it is in the comments.

THE END

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PensBurgh Top 25 Under 25: No. 2 Harrison Brunicke

WINNIPEG, CANADA - NOVEMBER 1: Harrison Brunicke #45 of the Pittsburgh Penguins keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on November 1, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Pens 5-2. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

We’re getting close to the end of this year’s list of the top young players in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization. Today, at No. 2, we see the organization’s prized young defensemen who turns full time this season and looks ready to take the next step in his journey.

Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila, D
#24: Ryan Miller, F
#23: Finn Harding, D
#22: Peyton Kettles, D
#21: Zam Plante, F
#21: Brady Peddle, D
#20: Melvin Fernstrom
#19: Tanner Howe
#18: Tomas Galvas
#17: Pierce Mbuyi
#16: Jake Livanavage
#15: Owen Pickering
#14: Tristan Broz
#13: Avery Hayes
#12: Ville Koivunen
#11: Hendrix Lapierre
#10: Markus Ruck
#9: Mikhail Ilyin
#8: Joel Blomqvist
#7: Liam Ruck
#6:Will Horcoff
#5: Bill Zonnon
#4: Rutger McGroarty
#3: Sergei Mursahov

#2: Harrison Brunicke, D

2024 Ranking: No. 3

Age: 20 (May 8, 2006)

Acquired Via: 2024 NHL Draft, 2nd Round, 44th Overall

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 201 pounds

Elite Prospects resume:

The 2025-26 season was a wild one for Harrison Brunicke. He forced his way onto the NHL roster out of training camp – a rare feat for a teenaged defenseman. After nine games in the Show, next was a period of being a healthy scratch long enough to qualify for a loophole of an “AHL conditioning stint” for a 19-year old that by rule wasn’t allowed to play full-time in the top professional minor league due to his age. Following that, the Penguins assigned Brunicke to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships.

Out of sync, it wasn’t a good event that saw his ice time and role slashed drastically. A disappointing personal performance matched by a disappointing third place finish for the Canadians.

After that, the junior route was the only option that made sense. Brunicke was sent back to the WHL for the remainder of the season and told to focus on the areas that Pittsburgh wanted to see him improve on.

“It was unique,” Brunicke told The Athletic in June. “It was different. I bounced around a little bit. But going back to juniors, I was given things to work on by Kyle and Spez. Defending the rush, closing quicker, better gaps, stuff like that. Playing more minutes in juniors really helped me with that stuff. I just kept working on what the Penguins told me they wanted me to work on. And the communication was good and consistent the whole time. Early on, there was a ton of communication. They gave me stuff to work on and, honestly, that’s all I really have been focusing on.”

That ended up really growing his game, when Kamloops’ season was over there was one more change of leagues back to the AHL for Wilkes-Barre for the balance of the season. Brunicke emerged over three rounds of their playoff run as a legit top defender in the AHL.

“He was great for us,” WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald told the Tribune-Review. “He defended really hard. His skating ability really stands out, but I think just how he competes. His puck decisions really improved since the previous year, and even when he was with us for a conditioning stint in November. He’s a horse for us. He was playing huge minutes in every situation. Top power-play unit. Killing penalties. Every situation late in games. It was just really cool to see the process. I’ve gotten to know him as a player, and what he brought to the table on a long playoff run was great to see.”

Count his teammates as true believers.

“No one in the league can skate the way he can,” Wilkes-Barre forward Avery Hayes said. “And no one in the league can do the things from the blue line that he can do. I’m just having fun watching this guy play right now. Unreal hockey player.”

Coaches being coaches, MacDonald cut through the hype with what impressed him the most.

“Everyone talks about his skating ability,” MacDonald said. “And how he can move pucks. But did you see how many shots he blocked (in Game 4)? That, to me, is what separates him. The way he competes in the D-zone. He makes great players offensively for us at this level. But he’s great on the penalty kill. He’s great down low. Great stuff.”

Developing a consistent stopping game and refining his decision making is the final piece to the puzzle for Brunicke. It’s one of those things that only time and experience can fully unlock, by year’s end he was showing real payoff in strengthening his weak areas.

The question now is what comes next. Brunicke could take heart in the career path of Kris Letang — a defenseman who also forced his way onto an NHL roster as a teenaged for a brief debut at 19. Letang was reassigned to the AHL at age-20 in his first pro year but only stayed for 10 AHL games before getting called up and never seeing that league again.

In Brunicke’s case, more patience could be in store. The Pens are deep enough on the right side to where they could allow Brunicke more development time to settle in and keep growing in the AHL. It’s been a while since Brunicke had a full season to stay on one team at one level, without bouncing around up and down and all over the place. A little stability could go a long way to helping Brunicke’s progression.

That said, Brunicke had a great September last year, playing so well the Pens had basically no choice but to keep him. He is better now than he was 12 months ago. Numbers and veterans be dammed, there’s a case that Brunicke could show he’s among the top seven defenseman and work his way right back into the NHL group once again.

Regardless of the short-term placement, the Pens have to be thrilled about Brunicke’s performance in the AHL playoffs – where he looked like he could be a future big deal in the NHL one day. Between his size, skating, game control and now burgeoning defensive work, Brunicke has every single tool needed to become a top-pair defenseman. Now he just needs a little more time to keep putting it together as he seemingly finally transfers full-time into his pro career.

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Submit your questions for The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.

Join us live on Thursday night as Wes and Robbie discuss Pistons news late into August. What questions would you like to add to the show?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Thursday, August 27th at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

  • Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
  • Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
  • Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @RobbieBettelon, or @therealwesd3
  • YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

Go Stones.

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10 games to look out for during the Hawks 2026-27 season

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 16: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot as he is defended by Jalen Johnson #1 and Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on March 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re roughly a month away from training camp starting around the NBA, as teams will be getting back into the flow of things as they begin a new journey this season. For now, fans are still trying to enjoy what’s left of the offseason, and the schedule release a few weeks ago gave them some excitement.

The Atlanta Hawks have some interesting matchups that fans should look out for this season, and here are a few that could be enticing to mark on the calendar.

Oct. 21 vs. Orlando Magic

Not only is this the season opener, but this is against a team that has basically rivaled the Hawks over the past two seasons. It all started two years ago when the Magic injured Vit Krejci and Larry Nance Jr. in the same game, and from there, the mayhem began. The Magic defeated the Hawks in the play-in tournament that year, but last season, they got their revenge.

The Hawks swept the Magic last season, but they also injured another key player on the team, Jock Landale, who ultimately missed the remainder of the season and the playoffs because of it. There’s no doubt there’s still some hate brewing between these two teams.

Nov. 6 vs. Washington Wizards

The Hawks would have played the Wizards a few days before this, but this one holds more weight. First, it’s the start of the NBA Cup games, which means these matchups mean a little more. Second, this will be the official return of Trae Young playing against his former team. Young already received his video tribute last season after he was traded, but he wasn’t playing due to injury.

The Wizards should be coming into this season fully healthy, and Young is going to want to put on a show against the team that drafted him in 2018.

Nov. 18 @ Oklahoma City Thunder

This will be a return for Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins after they were traded from the Thunder this offseason. They helped the Thunder win their championship two seasons ago and there’s a good chance they’ll be getting their video tributes in this game.

This is also a game where the Hawks match up against one of the better teams in the Western Conference. They’ve played them close on the road for two straight seasons but haven’t been able to get the win in the end, and it would be big if they could walk out with a victory this time.

Nov. 29 @ New York Knicks

The first time the Hawks see the Knicks since the first round of the playoffs should be special, and it comes two days after Thanksgiving. The Knicks didn’t make many changes to their roster over the offseason, so the Hawks should know this team pretty well after seeing them several times the past season.

Dec. 27 @ San Antonio Spurs

This is also another game where the Hawks have come close on the road the past two seasons but haven’t been able to walk out with the win. The Spurs should once again be a top team in the Western Conference this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were better this year.

This game comes at the end of the calendar year, and it would be big for the Hawks to close out 2026 strong against a really good team.

Jan. 4 vs. Philadelphia 76ers

This will be the second time in the season when the Hawks will face the 76ers, and the one and only time at home. It’ll be interesting to see how the 76ers look by this point, but it will also be interesting to see how the Hawks have fared throughout the first few months of the season.

This game will be the second to start the year 2027, and just like the Hawks should want to end 2026 strong against the Spurs, they should want to do the same against the 76ers when the calendar flips.

Feb. 8 vs. Miami Heat

This game comes days before the trade deadline, and there’s no telling what has already happened by this time. Depending on where the Hawks stand, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see if they had made a move or two to improve the team. At the same time, there is a chance they wait until the actual deadline day to make a deal, and a win or loss around this moment could change a lot.

Feb. 26 @ Toronto Raptors

This could be a random game near the end of February, but it could also mean a lot to the Hawks. It was no secret that they struggled against the Raptors last season, and it could be big if they could turn that tide this season.

Mar. 29 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This game could absolutely have no importance for the Hawks internally, but fans are always excited when the Timberwolves come into town, and it’s because of Anthony Edwards. The hometown player will be coming toward the end of the season, and it’ll be interesting to see how they’ve done over the course of the season after the moves they made this offseason.

As for some Hawks fans, they’re still holding out hope that Edwards finds his way on the Hawks soon.

Apr. 11 @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The last game of the season always comes with some sort of playoff implications, and with how deep the Eastern Conference is supposed to be this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise that a lot of things were determined on this day. To make things even better, the Hawks will playing a team that is supposed to be in the Eastern Conference gauntlet, and this game could mean a lot too them as well.

Either these two teams are fighting for positioning by this time, or they’re resting their starters.

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Kevin Durant On LeBron’s 76ers Move, the Knicks Ring, Westbrook Retiring, & His NBA Future

Kevin Durant On LeBron’s 76ers Move, the Knicks Ring, Westbrook Retiring, & His NBA Future
In a special episode of Boardroom Talks, Durant sat down with Speedy Morman for one of the most candid conversations of his career.

Kevin Durant has been one of the most scrutinized, analyzed, and debated athletes of his generation. So when Speedy Morman sat down with the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer at KD's home for the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, the conversation that unfolded wasn't the one you might expect. It was looser, funnier, and more revealing than any press conference or postgame media scrum has ever managed to produce.

It started, as so many KD conversations do these days, with something that went viral for the wrong reasons. The Nobu bush photo -- Durant's beanie barely visible over a hedgerow, an image the internet immediately ran with as proof that the greatest scorer alive was hiding from paparazzi -- got addressed quickly and dispatched just as fast. He wasn't hiding: "Why would I hide behind the bush? Why do I need to hide? I wouldn't have went to Nobu then because Nobu is the paparazzi capital." He admitted the photo was funny and then they moved on. Which is exactly what KD did with the whole thing once the AI video of him jumping over the bush started circulating; some jokes you just have to let run their course.

From there, the conversation moved through KD's childhood in the DMV, the 2007 NBA Draft, NIL, the New York Knicks' championship run, Russell Westbrook's retirement, and LeBron James heading to Philadelphia. Durant's verdict on the Sixers was unambiguous. "That's going to be a juggernaut," he said, pointing to the championship-caliber front office and coaching staff around James, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey. "I think it's not no ifs, ands, or buts about it."

When Morman brought up Jalen Brunson's famous decision to leave $113 million on the table, Durant didn't pretend he would've done the same. "I don't think I would be advised to do that," he said. "I probably would've been like, 'All right, I'm cool with it.' And then I'd have sat down and talked to all my people — Rich, all my friends — and been like, 'What? You serious? Why do you need to take that risk when this dude's a billionaire?'" He paused. "But for him to make that decision and it come out the way it did, kudos to him."

Some of the most illuminating moments came when Durant talked about the parts of his life that rarely make headlines. His best teammates, for instance, aren't the names you'd expect — alongside James Harden and Nick Collison, he listed Nasi Muhammad and Daniel Marshall, guys whose families he knows, players he's stayed close with long after the locker room days ended. And then there are the friends he made playing video games, people he's now known for almost a decade, invited to his home, trusted completely. "I can call right now," he said of one of them. "He going to pick the phone."

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The CeraVe deal came up, the one that turned his legendarily ashy legs into one of the most memorable brand campaigns in recent memory. Durant's explanation for why he refuses to lotion before games was delivered with complete seriousness: The ball gets slippery, the sweat mixes with the lotion, and suddenly you're fumbling passes at the worst moments. The ashiness was simply an occupational hazard. "He knew what he was doing," Durant said of the original photo that launched the whole thing, then laughed.

Near the end, Morman asked KD what comes next. The answer was characteristically direct and unexpectedly revealing: He wants to keep making content, build relationships, and see what falls from them. But one goal stood above the rest. "One of my main goals is to be the GM of the Team USA," he said. "One of these Olympics, one of these years. I want to do that job one time."

He's got time. He's still, by his own account, got buckets left in him.

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Once-Promising Flyers Prospect Flames Out, Signs Overseas

Drafting has long been a point of contention for the Philadelphia Flyers and their fans, and another one of their recently selected prospects has already flamed out and signed overseas.

Several former Flyers players who recently played for the organization have signed with clubs in different countries to continue their playing careers.

Most notably, veteran forward Kevin Hayes, who emerged as a controversial figure at the end of his Flyers tenure and again during the Cutter Gauthier saga, signed with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan.

Defenseman Egor Zamula bounced around this season before winding up back home in Russia with CSKA Moscow, and winger Anthony Richard signed in Switzerland with his NHL opportunities with the Flyers greatly decreased.

Now, a former Flyers second-round pick is joining that group of castaways, heading over to Sweden's SHL for at least two seasons.

Earlier this month, once-promising Flyers prospect Samu Tuomaala signed a two-year deal with Linkoping HC, flaming out of North American hockey just five years after being drafted.

Tuomaala never made NHL debut, must fight to save his career

(Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
(Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

Tuomaala, 23, is still fairly young, though injuries have stalled his development and decimated his chances of cracking an NHL roster in the past few seasons.

Drafted 46th overall by the Flyers in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Tuomaala was picked ahead of the likes of Logan Stankoven, Aatu Raty, Matthew Knies, J.J. Moser, Oliver Kapanen, and Jackson Blake, and only 10 players drafted ahead of him (excluding Chaz Lucius, who medically retired) have also yet to appear in an NHL game.

Winger Danila Klimovich is one of those 10, and the Flyers just picked up the Vancouver prospect in free agency.

At the end of the day, skating and shooting were the two hallmarks of Tuomaala's game, but the shooting never quite came as the Finn scored just 26 times in 118 games across three seasons with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Then, after a scoreless three games with the Phantoms this year, the Flyers traded Tuomaala to the Dallas organization for defenseman Christian Kyrou, who tore it up for the Phantoms but was subsequently let go as well.

Former Flyers Flop Resurfaces with Division RivalFormer Flyers Flop Resurfaces with Division RivalFormer Philadelphia Flyers goalie Cal Petersen, who failed to live up to his lucrative payday, has resurfaced with a division rival on a tryout basis.

Putting those two players in a Venn diagram, they play different positions, of course, but both Kyrou and Tuomaala played skilled games as undersized players. Their problem was that they did not project to fill those premier roles at the top level, and so there was no fit for them left in the Flyers organization.

"We are very pleased to welcome Samu to LHC on a two-year deal. With Samu, we get another right-handed forward with good speed and a really good shot. He gives us more options in the power play and fits well into the hockey we want to play. We believe his best years are ahead of him and look forward to seeing him continue to develop and become an important player for us over the next two seasons," Linkoping GM Broc Little said in a press release.

In Sweden, Tuomaala will reunite with former Phantoms teammate Cooper Marody, who also left the Flyers organization during the previous season.

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Open Thread: NBA rules that changed because of a specific player

The Golden State Warriors' Zaza Pachulia (27) reacts after he was called a foul against him on San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by RAY CHAVEZ/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Over the past 80 years, the NBA had evolved. From the addition of a three-point line to the 14-second clock resetting with an offensive rebound, the league implements rules to make the game more challenging, fair, and interesting.

The post below listed a few of the changes that were specific to players. Even early on, the league has adapted everything from the design of the court to the durability of the rim to the way fouls are called. Check out how these players changed the game.

The first two mentioned involved enlarging the lane. The first time was a response to George Mikan, the second was due to Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Three of the biggest names from those early years. No wonder their talent shaped the game.

Dunkers have influenced the rim as durability has been tested time and again. Darryl Dawkins found that if he pulled down hard enough when dunking, the backboard shattered. Shaq called Dawkins “the father of power dunking” and referred to himself as “his best son.” He wasn’t wrong, as the league later reinforced basket supports to handle his powerful slams as well.

How about timing, you ask? Well the five second rule was designed because Charles Barkley and Mark Jackson dominated shot clocks backing guys into the paint. And the 0.3 second rule on getting a shot off is attributed to Trent Tucker.

And then there are the custom alterations to fouls. Kevin Durant’s rip through, Reggie Miller’s leg kick out, and James Harden swing through have all been changed to honor integrity of the game, not the foul-baiting aspect that many players utilize. The rip through is no longer a shooting foul, a crazy leg kick out may result in an offensive foul, and Harden’s methodology is now checked. Most of what he does counts as common fouls and no longer instigates free throws.

Shaq makes another appearance in the namesake rule that is probably the best known on the list. The Hack-A-Shaq is an away-from-the-play foul meant to send a not-so-great shooter to the free throw line, ultimately stealing an offensive opportunity away from their opponent. While the practice still exists, it garners a free throw and possession in the last two minutes, allowing dominant big men with limited free throw range to stay on the court when the game is at its apex.

Of course, the most famous Hack-A-Shaq in Spurs history:

And of course every Spurs fan has knowledge of “The Zaza Rule.” On May 14, 2017, during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Golden State Warriors big man Zaza Pachulia slid his foot into the landing spot of Kawhi Leonard, reaggravating an injury. The Spurs commanding lead withered without Leonard and the Warriors stole the game. Leonard was out for the remainder of the series and the Spurs were swept by the Warriors. Now, the exact tactics used by Pachulia to not allow a safe landing are reviewed by officials and can be upgraded to flagrant fouls.

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