KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 22: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s series finale time, and the San Francisco Giants are in need of a win to split their four-game date with the San Diego Padres.
Righty Landen Roupp takes the mound for the Giants, making his 22nd start. Roupp has had an up-and-down season, and is 7-9 with a 4.12 ERA, a 3.38 FIP, and 114 strikeouts to 48 walks in 113.2 innings. He struggled in his last outing, giving up four runs in 3.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.
For the Padres, it’s lefty Kyle Hart, after scheduled starter Michael King was pushed to Monday. Hart, who is presumably an opener for a bullpen game, has made 28 appearances this year, and is 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, and 36 strikeouts to 13 walks in 40.2 innings.
Emilien Pitre | (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Mets finally found a package they liked for Freddy Peralta, moving him to Tampa Bay for three prospects most fans have likely never heard of. Indeed, none of these prospects ranked in the Rays’ top-10 per MLB pipeline. There’s more to like to this return than you might think, however.
Émilien Pitre is the headliner (insofar as there is a headliner) of this deal. Taken in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Kentucky, Pitre is an undersized second baseman originally from Canada. He returned to High-A to start this season after an unremarkable 2025 and has basically done nothing but hit since then; 128 wRC+ at A+, 155 wRC+ in Double-A, and a .308/.438/.447 slash line across two levels with more walks than strikeouts. The knock here is the lack of power, as Pitre has only average-ish EVs and a propensity for ground balls. The realistic projection is a table-setting, OBP-heavy 2B with solid defense who could be ready by the middle of 2027, with upside for a bit more if the Mets can coax out improvements to his vertical spray.
Aidan Smith is almost a mirror image of Pitre. He’s got plus exits, run times, and overall athleticism, but he’s managed to strike out more than 30% of the time in the low minors while posting a combined line 30% worse than league average. He probably just can’t hit, but occasionally these guys do put it together. He’ll have the rest of 2026 and all of ‘27 to figure it out in the Mets’ system before they’ll need to make a call on adding him to the 40-man roster. Overall it’s high-risk, high-reward swing on a prep that was at one point very highly regarded (was part of the return for Randy Arozarena in 2024).
Finally, we have Gary Gill Hill, a local product (born in New Rochelle, attended high school in Somers) who was selected as a prep arm in 2022. Like Smith, his surface level stats are unimpressive; K% under 20% and a mid-4s ERA in Double-A this season. Unlike Smith, the path to improvement is a bit more clear. Gill Hill has a diverse arsenal and feel for multiple pitch shapes. Refining those shapes and/or adjusting his mix could lead to quick gains, and there’s mid-rotation upside here on a fairly reasonable time horizon.
Back to the view of the return as a whole. First, the Rays have (as usual) one of the deepest systems in baseball; getting three players outside their top-10 for Freddy Peralta and his high-4s ERA is by no means a bad return in a vacuum. Second, raw system ranks are not the most useful of measurement tools, particularly at this point in the season (maintaining list quality on a running basis in-season is hard, and Pipeline is not the best source in the first place). There is a lot to like here, combining both floor and upside, proximity and long-term value.
Finally, we should make the point that this return is likely more valuable than the present value of the players the Mets gave up for Peralta in the first place. Yes, both Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat were top-100 names at the time of the deal, but both have seen their stock decline significantly this season to the point where it’s not longer clear that either will be meaningful contributors. Given how poor Peralta was as a Met, recouping this much value should be regarded quite positively.
We’ll have full grades for every deadline deal the Mets make once all the moves for the deadline have been made. Check back in for those next week.
Jakob Poeltl R of Toronto Raptors fights for a rebound with Myles Turner of Milwaukee Bucks during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season match between Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto, Canada, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Even when Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors was nothing but a fantasy, fans have long clamoured for a very specific type of archetype.
It’s a need that the front-office has struggled to fill since leaning on champions Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka – a two-way stretch five.
Anytime a player like Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, Christian Koloko or Jontay Porter knocked down a three, Raptors supporters and analysts alike didn’t hesitate to post a clip to social media. During the 2019 championship run, Leonard thrived playing next to an effective stretch-five, particularly as he probed the mid-range areas.
While Toronto has never found a similar weapon to maximize Scottie Barnes’ strengths, it makes sense that fans believe this should be a priority for General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster.
With the start of pre-season beginning on Oct. 3, Raptors fans can continue to voice their expertise and knowledge during the upcoming season on FanDuel.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Manny Machado #13 congratulates Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres after he scored on a sacrifice fly ball during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on July 31, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Francisco Giants (47-64) at San Diego Padres (57-54), August 2, 2026, 1:1o p.m. PST
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 27: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball over Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns surprised the masses last season. Going 45-37 and reaching the playoffs after trading away Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal, the year was considered a resounding success by many in the league. Sure, Dillon Brooks had the best season of his career, Collin Gillespie outperformed his contract, and role players like Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen brought the intensity and shooting that made Phoenix a frisky regular-season team, but the main person leading the charge was Devin Booker.
After his fifth All-Star selection, Booker joined Giannis Antetokounmpo as one of only two players in the NBA to average at least 25 points per game in each of the last eight seasons. He’s had better seasons, including multiple All-NBA campaigns, but once again, he led the charge for Phoenix.
Here’s a look at his best games of the season:
Honorable Mentions:
The 38-piece against the Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 20: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on December 20, 2025 in San Francisco, California. | Getty Images
Booker had two 38-point outings against the Golden State Warriors, both of which ended in road losses. In the second contest, Phoenix had a 44-32 lead but couldn’t hold it, with Golden State taking a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Booker shot an impressive 21-for-23 from the charity stripe in the two games combined and 23-for-39 from two. In the first matchup, he scored more points than the number of minutes he played, something he didn’t do too much this year.
In the first two months of the season, both losses came amid some of the Suns’ best basketball of the year. The first defeat was sandwiched between the team handing the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs their first loss of the season and a five-game winning streak, while the second came before a four-game winning streak.
Booker’s 40 not enough to beat the Celtics
In one of the team’s most back-and-forth matchups of the year, Booker had a 40-piece against the Celtics, his second-highest-scoring outing of the season. However, thanks to poor execution and cold shooting late, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum had the last laugh, with Brown scoring nearly half of his 41 points in the fourth quarter.
Booker did most of the damage from inside the arc, scoring 26 points on 13-for-17 shooting.
3. Domination in Indiana
On the first leg of a back-to-back, Booker and Jalen Green went off for a combined 79 points in a mostly easy 123-108 victory over the Pacers, with Booker scoring 43, his most in an outing during the 2025-2026 campaign. In a year when he had a lot of struggles from three, Booker went 4-for-7 from deep and 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
When the Pacers cut the lead to two late in the third quarter, it was Booker who took care of business for the Suns, hitting multiple triples and ending the quarter with a step-back jumper to help Phoenix extend its lead to eight.
The victory was the team’s fourth in a row, and the 39-27 record it boasted after the win marked the most games above .500 it had been all year.
2. The Dagger against the Thunder
By no means was this Booker’s best statistical performance of the season. In fact, he took only 11 shots and scored below his season average with 24 points, but when his team needed him most, he delivered.
With All-NBA defender Alex Caruso draped all over him in a 105-105 game, Booker hit one of the biggest shots of his career to complete the team’s double-digit comeback against the team with the league’s best record, which had handed Phoenix its worst loss in franchise history in the semifinals of the NBA Cup the month before.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
Booker’s shot capped off the team’s most impressive win of the season and marked the start of a month when Phoenix beat the No. 1 seeds in both the Eastern and Western conferences en route to Jordan Ott winning Western Conference Coach of the Month.
1. Book’s double-double hands the Spurs their first loss of the season
Only the Oklahoma City Thunder started the season stronger than the San Antonio Spurs. After San Antonio won its first five games, Phoenix handed the Spurs their first loss of the year in dominant fashion, with Booker leading the way, scoring 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting to go along with a season-high 13 assists. In one of his six double-doubles of the season, the team was plus-26 when he was on the court as the team limited All-NBA First Team selection Victor Wembanyama to nine points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field and forced him into six turnovers.
The victory was the team’s first of the season against an opponent that would finish above .500 and the start of a 10-5 month. While Booker played point guard for a significant chunk of the season, no game demonstrated his playmaking skills more than this one, as the team led by more than 30 points at times. After this game, the Suns played with a newfound confidence for the rest of the regular season that helped them remain above .500 for nearly the rest of the year.
It's not often that an executive is attached to league-altering trades in two different sports, but Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam can etch his name in the trivia books after this summer.
Haslam has been known to have some questionable transactions under his watch, and the latest gambits were both eye-opening to fans, analysts – and even family members — like Haslam's 95-year-old dad.
Speaking with reporters, Haslam said his father, Jim Haslam, had a small reality check moment with him in the wake of the deals.
"My dad's 95 and a half, but still follows every sports move we make, and he called me up after we traded Giannis and said, 'Do you know that in the last month you've traded Myles Garrett and Giannis?,'" Haslam told reporters with a laugh recently. "I said, 'Yes, sir, I know that.'"
As a minority co-owner of the Bucks, Haslam had a hand in dealing Antetokounmpo to the Heat in July, ending a years-long saga of whether or not the team would deal the superstar. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an NBA championship in the 2021 NBA Finals and also added league MVPs to his mantle.
Garrett didn't have the luxury of being a piece of a championship team in Cleveland, but earned plenty of personal accolades, including two Defensive Player of the Year awards and five first-team All-Pro nods (while also becoming the single-season sack record holder in 2025).
Haslam weighs in on Giannis trade
The trade that sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat rocked the NBA as one of the biggest dominos of a massive summer across the league.
Haslam said he believes rebuilding in the NBA is more difficult than in the NFL, and that the only way to judge the Antetokounmpo deal is by what happens next. The Bucks netted Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakučionis in the deal, alongside multiple picks.
"Listen, it's all about what you get, and Giannis is a generational player, won a championship, but we felt the need to get younger," Haslam said. "He was the best asset we had. We had mortgaged our future going forward and I think we got four really good players, and we got two draft picks – No. 1 draft picks - couple of swaps, and second, so, time will tell.
"We've gotta use those picks wisely – just like we have to do with the Myles trade – but cautious optimism. Although, you gotta be realistic, rebuilding is no fun."
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 7: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers returns to the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during game one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on July 7, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rough start to the road trip in San Francisco, the Brewers have turned it around with two straight wins against the Angels. They can make this a winning road trip by completing the sweep this afternoon, and Jacob Misiorowski is on the mound for it.
Since the All-Star break, the Brewers have been deliberate with building Misiorowski back up slowly to help manage his workload. His previous start was last Sunday, when he pitched five innings and struck out 12 against the Rockies. His last two starts were limited to 65 and 83 pitches, so he will likely be limited to under 100 pitches again today. Misiorowski still leads all of MLB in ERA (1.58), strikeouts (185), and FIP (2.02) across 120 innings pitched this season.
For the Angels, Walbert Ureña gets the start today. He is a 22-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic who made his MLB debut at the start of the season. So far this season, he has a 2.70 ERA, 3.88 FIP, and 88 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings pitched. He has had four consecutive starts allowing one run or fewer, with the last of those coming Monday against the Astros. In that start, he allowed just one run in six innings while striking out five.
With the righty on the mound, Christian Yelich will get the day off. Jake Bauers takes the DH spot instead with Andrew Vaughn playing at first. Garrett Mitchell moves up to third in the lineup, with Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, and William Contreras in their usual spots. Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton round out the lineup.
Today’s game will be broadcast nationally on Peacock at 2:15 p.m. It will also be on the Brewers Radio Network.
Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt has called time on his professional hockey career, bringing an end to a remarkable journey that took him from the BCHL to the NHL, the AHL and ultimately a gold medal with Team Canada.
The 37-year-old Hunt announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, closing the book on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included stops with seven NHL organizations — including the Avalanche.
His connection to Colorado, however, went beyond his time in the NHL.
Before and after his stint with the Avalanche, Hunt became a familiar face within the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. He served as the Eagles’ captain and spent two seasons with the club, appearing in 94 games while recording 23 goals and 47 assists for 70 points.
That production was indicative of the offensive ability Hunt consistently displayed throughout his AHL career, while his leadership made him an important figure in the Colorado organization.
Hunt eventually got his opportunity with the Avalanche during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 47 games. The 5-foot-9 defenseman recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points during his lone season in an Avalanche sweater.
While Hunt was never a household name around the NHL, his career was defined by persistence. He continually found ways to carve out a role despite being overlooked because of his size, eventually playing 288 regular-season games at the highest level.
His final professional season came overseas with Sport Vaasa in Finland’s top domestic league. Hunt produced seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in 53 games during the 2025-26 campaign.
After wrapping up his playing career, Hunt reflected on just how far hockey had taken him.
“Hockey has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. From dreaming about playing in the NHL as a kid, to living that dream for so many years … I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every teammate, every coach, every organization, and every person who helped me along the way.”
Hunt’s NHL résumé stretched across parts of 14 seasons. In addition to Colorado, he suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.
Across those 288 NHL games, he finished with 20 goals and 60 assists for 80 points.
But the NHL represented only a portion of Hunt’s professional career.
He spent the majority of his time in the American Hockey League, appearing in 422 games for the Chicago Wolves, Oklahoma City Barons, Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles and Hershey Bears. Hunt amassed 84 goals and 214 assists for 298 points in those games.
His consistency in the AHL earned him six All-Star selections. Hunt appeared in five consecutive AHL All-Star Games from 2012-13 through 2016-17 before earning another selection in 2022-23.
He also surpassed the 40-point mark four times and produced two 50-point seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s more productive offensive defensemen.
Hunt’s path to professional hockey began in the BCHL with the Burnaby Express.
Over parts of three seasons, he registered 20 goals and 69 assists for 89 points in 122 regular-season games. His best campaign came in 2007-08, when he erupted for 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 59 games.
That performance helped pave the way to Bemidji State University, where Hunt spent four seasons.
He finished his collegiate career with 24 goals and 88 assists for 112 points in 150 NCAA games before beginning his professional journey.
For a player who entered the hockey world without the imposing frame traditionally associated with NHL defensemen, Hunt’s career was a testament to finding other ways to stand out.
Hunt’s final chapter with Canada provided an especially fitting conclusion to his playing career.
He represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Finland, recording three assists while helping the country capture a gold medal.
Two years later, Hunt would make his way to Finland permanently for the final season of his professional career.
Now, after years of chasing the game from one league and organization to another, Hunt is stepping away with an NHL career, multiple AHL All-Star selections, a stint as an AHL captain and a world championship gold medal on his résumé.
Hunt’s time as captain of the Eagles further cemented his connection to the organization and the Colorado hockey community — a fitting part of the journey for a defenseman who spent his career proving that size was never going to determine how far he could go.
Guerschon Yabusele will forever go down as a weird blip in Knicks history. Many years down the line, the Frenchman’s name will be brough up in trivia and reminiscing conversations, not just for his very tumultuous time as a Knick, but also for the incredibly selfless gesture he made that allowed the Knicks to acquire Jose Alvarado.
Yabusele, the player, left a lot to be desired. There’s really no way around it. He was put in a difficult situation where he was used in a way that maybe didn’t fully highlight his strengths. And he was playing in a very limited and inconsistent role that likely made getting into a rhythm difficult. But he did himself no favors. Yabusele started off by coming into the season a bit heavier than in the season prior. When the season began, while the effort was there, not much else was. The shooting was inconsistent, if not downright bad. The paint looks, be it in transition or off of a PnR, didn’t feel or look much better. And he just didn’t offer much in any specific area of the game.
But Yabusele unexpectedly won over the hearts of fans by doing them an incredibly big favor on his way out. To make the Knicks’ trade for the Brooklyn-native possible, he amended his contract to remove his $5.8 million player option. He didn’t need to do it, especially after the way his time with the club had gone. By that point in the season, Yabusele had fallen out of the rotation, racking up occasional DNPs and playing very sparing minutes even when he did enter the game. The Knicks have the option of presenting Yabusele with a ring and he fully deserves one after the role Alvarado had in bringing the city it’s first NBA championship in 53 years.
Recently, Yabusele spoke with as.com about his decision to leave the NBA again. “I spoke with my wife, my agents, my mentor. It’s an important decision. And it’s not something I’m saying easily; it was a long process, there were many questions.” Yabusele said. “I remembered French teammates who had gone through the same thing, who were there without playing for years. I can’t do that. And it was me who decided to leave, not them. I prefer to be the one who decides .”
On his time in New York, the reserve big man did open up about how tough it sometimes was. While he still has fond memories of the city, he did candidly say, “In New York, after two or three bad games, they’re already asking to trade you”.
On conversations he had with head coach Mike Brown about his playing time and role, he revealed that, “[Mike] explained that he wanted his five starters to play 38 minutes each, plus Mitch, who deserved his 26 minutes. And that already gives you an idea of what to expect. What puzzled me most was what the coach didn’t mention about others . He talked to me about the five starters, he talked to me about Mitch, but he didn’t talk about Landry, he didn’t talk about Jordan Clarkson, he didn’t talk about all the others who were also there. If you add all of them up, technically there are no minutes left. So I understood very early on that it was going to be a very complicated year.”
One interesting point was what Yabusele said about the offensive system the Knicks were running. “ What’s curious is that when I was there, if we had moved the ball like we did at Real Madrid, a bit like in Europe, moving it around, shifting it … New York would have finished first in the conference ,” Yabusele said.
The Knicks did not finish first in the regular season, but did hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, thanks in part to adopting a more ball-movement and player-movement oriented offense for large portions of the postseason.
Yabusele concluded the interview by speaking briefly about public enemy number one in New York, Victor Wembanyama. Having played with Wembanyama on the national team, Yabusele knows him and his game well. “It’s a problem with no apparent solution. He’s still so far from his best. Every summer you come back, play against him again, and he has a new trick up his sleeve. Just when you think you know him, something new comes out.”
Yabusele, the player, ended up being a disastrous mistake, arguably for both sides. But he seems to be a genuinely selfless, caring, and team-first kind of guy. While it’s unfortunate that the signing, which at the time brough excitement, didn’t work out. Fans should be thankful for his gesture, and root for him as he becomes one of the top three highest paid players in European basketball.
It’s been quite the off-season for the Chicago Blackhawks. They made a big trade, signed some depth players, and brought back a franchise icon. Now, they are hoping that the 2026-27 season is another improvement over the year prior.
Part of making these additions is taking up roster spots from guys who thought they might have cracked the lineup. This has become a hard team to make for every player on the bottom half of the roster, especially at forward.
Multiple players with significant NHL experience may be on the outside looking in. It’s good to have depth, but some of these guys may begin the year in the AHL because of the additions pushing them down.
It’s even harder for unproven prospects at this stage of their careers. If one of these rookies, not including Roman Kantserov, makes the team out of camp, it would mean that they were sensational in camp and the preseason:
Sacha Boisvert
Sacha Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in the NCAA two years ago at the University of North Dakota. One year later, he transferred to Boston University, where things didn’t go as smoothly due to injury and inconsistencies. As a former first-round pick by the Blackhawks, he has the pedigree to eventually be a great contributor on a winning team.
After his 2025-26 season at BU ended, he signed his entry-level deal with Chicago and played in 7 games. In those seven games, he had one goal and one assist, along with a fight to emphasize the physical nature of his game. Sometimes, he looked outmatched when it came to size and strength, despite being a physical player, but his skills belong in the NHL even now.
This summer, a lot has been made about his bulking up. With the additions made to Chicago’s lineup, the AHL will be a great place for him to work on his game at the pro level before graduating to the NHL full-time. Injuries and potential trade deadline selling could force Boisvert into the lineup at some point, but starting in the AHL feels realistic.
AJ Spellacy
At the end of the season, it seemed like AJ Spellacy would have a chance to impact the Chicago Blackhawks as soon as opening night. Everywhere he goes, whether it be major junior or the World Junior Championships, Spellacy makes a difference.
Spellacy, a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, was not a high-end offensive producer with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He did, however, have a knack for scoring big goals when the lights were brightest, and that applied to his time with Team USA at the World Juniors.
Spellacy has the tools to be a solid bottom-six forward in the NHL. His ceiling might not be as high as other prospects, but his floor is much higher. He is NHL-ready now on a team that could afford to play prospects in middle-six roles for a while.
For now, Spellacy will have to make his pro hockey debut as a member of the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). That league is perfect for him, as he will be able to prepare for the NHL by playing pro hockey against good players who are hungry to reach the NHL themselves.
There is a specific role that will have to open up for Spellacy to make his NHL Debut, but he will stay ready in the AHL under the development staff there.
Marek Vanacker
Marek Vanacker is an incredibly skilled forward whom Chicago took with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He is one of the many Brantford Bulldogs to enter the Chicago Blackhawks system over the last handful of years.
In 2025-26, Vanacker took his game to another level to follow up his injury-riddled season the year before by having 47 goals and 35 assists in 82 games played. Those 47 goals led the OHL, beating out former Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham by one.
Now, after all of that success, he is a bit blocked at the NHL level for now. As moves are made within the organization, Vanacker is going to get his chance, but the Rockford IceHogs will be calling his name on Opening Night unless he is so spectacular in the preseason that the Hawks have no choice but to play him.
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DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 29: New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May is introduced during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this week we had a poll up asking you to grade the Dallas Mavericks’ offseason. This was a question where I simply assumed fans would give the team an A. The results were really interesting!
There’s a lot to derive from results like this. Make no mistake, the vast majority of respondents thought Dallas had a good offseason, with 73% giving either an A or a B. But the differentiation here interests me. I am the site grump; I tend to be negative about the team, and when looking at the offseason so far, I really like what they’ve done! I voted A. There are elements of what the team’s done that I am lower on, take the Morez Johnson Jr. selection for example, but by and large I am impressed with where the team started before the draft and where the team is right now. And that doesn’t factor in any additional moves to occur before the season starts.
That a significant portion voted either B or incomplete says to me that they still want more from the team. Which is understandable, given how many things are still up in the air with the roster. Perhaps if any of these more confusing logjams at forward get sussed out, then anyone feeling less than excited about the offseason will have more reason for optimism.
Those who voted C, I’d like to know more. What has the team done that you didn’t like to grant that kind of grade? I’m curious if it’s more draft or free agency-focused. If you’re high on team there’s a number of win-total bets you can make over at our partners at FanDuel.
This week’s national poll centered on the Eastern Conference. The results, particularly following LeBron James heading East, are interesting.
I think the Knicks as clear favorites here is wild; while I don’t totally believe in the 76ers, I think the Knicks got hot and played well at the ideal time. Making it last for a playoff run is different (and harder) than being the best team in a division for the regular season. But that’s why we play the games.
The former Minnesota Wild defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade and took him through the NHL, AHL and Europe.
Hunt's journey to the NHL was anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Bemidji State University, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season.
Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, Hunt appeared in 288 regular-season games with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. He finished his NHL career with 26 goals, 60 assists and 86 points.
Minnesota fans will remember Hunt from his three seasons with the Wild from 2018-21.
After being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, Hunt carved out a role as a dependable depth defenseman with an offensive touch. He played 100 games for Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points while quarterbacking the second power-play unit at times.
His best offensive season came in 2019-20 when he set NHL career highs with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 59 games.
Following his stint with the Wild, Hunt spent the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks before helping the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 campaign. He later continued his career overseas before announcing his retirement.
Although he never became a full-time top-four defenseman, Hunt's perseverance made him one of hockey's better underdog stories. From going undrafted to reaching nearly 300 NHL games, he proved that determination and offensive skill could earn a lengthy career at the highest level.
His retirement closes the book on a professional career defined by resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to chasing the NHL dream.
Among the holes left unaddressed by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason was defense, where the club added only Simon Benoit at the expense of Emil Andrae. If the Flyers want to take another step in the rebuild, they'll need to do more than that.
Fortunately, a young, potential future top four defenseman can be had via trade, and they needn't look very far to find him.
Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to agree to a new contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin who, according to himself, would like north of $8 million a year on his next deal.
"Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenseman smiled and said: 'More.'" RG's Daria Tuboltseva wrote in her exclusive interview with Nikishin.
"My agents handle that. I don't push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they'll call me. Right now there's nothing concrete about the contract," Nikishin said. "The salary cap keeps growing, and defensemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time."
By the sounds of it, Nikishin, 24, is backing himself to earn his improved salary and do the Hurricanes, or a team like the Flyers, a favor by taking the money now instead of later.
With the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and trade links to Zach Werenski, it's been well-established that the Flyers are able and willing to spend big money to improve their roster.
Nikishin, with 11 goals and 33 points in his first NHL season, would provide an upgrade already, even while not yet reaching his full potential.
Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were the only Flyers defensemen to crack 30 points last season, and they were also the only two to have more than five goals (Sanheim had 11).
The young Russian blue liner already has 17 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, winning it all with the Hurricanes this year while playing in a reduced role, and he's also a former teammate of Matvei Michkov's from their SKA St. Petersburg days in the KHL.
With Nikishin in need of a new contract and the Flyers willing to spend, plus the added element of familiarity, the trade fit between the two sides is obvious.
However, at the same time, other teams are pursuing the 6-foot-3 defender, and the Flyers will have to beat them to the punch if they are serious about making another upgrade this summer.
Recently, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues have interest in trading for Nikishin, and other teams will begin to realize soon, too, that the 24-year-old is worth the chase.
The Blues have enjoyed great success going this kind of route before, landing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg with offer sheets that pried them out of Edmonton.
If a team like St. Louis is willing to pony up again, even if not necessarily an offer sheet, that might say something about Nikishin.
According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have $14.88 million in cap space remaining and only need to re-sign Nikita Grebenkin, so the decision to trade for and re-sign Nikishin is entirely up to them.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets connects for his seventh inning solo home run against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on July 31, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – LF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Luis Robert – CF Jared Young – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B Jorge Polanco – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Robert Stock – RHP
Marlins lineup
Liam Hicks – DH Kyle Stowers – 1B Otto Lopez – SS Xavier Edwards – 2B Griffin Conine – LF Owen Caissie – RF Jakob Marsee – CF Joe Mack – C Javier Sanoja – 3B
SP: Sandy Alcantara – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on July 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are finishing off their four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds, but they won’t have it easy in the final game before the MLB Trade Deadline tomorrow.
Mitch Keller gets the start for the Pirates, and he’s looking for his first win since June 28, when he last pitched against the Cincinnati Reds. He went six innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs in a 9-4 victory at PNC Park. The Bucks have won each of Keller’s last two starts in 10 innings, including his latest appearance on July 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he went 5.1 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs.
The Reds are giving the ball to their ace, Chase Burns, who is 12-1 so far this season. In his last start against the Pirates, he went six innings, giving up nine hits and five earned runs, but the Reds rallied late to win 9-7 at PNC Park. After that appearance, he won his next three starts but came away with a no-decision in his latest appearance on July 28 against the Cleveland Guardians. Burns went five innings, giving up five hits and one earned run, but the Reds lost 6-5.
Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
