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Ranking the best games on the Kings 2026-27 NHL schedule

The Los Angeles Kings are that much closer to returning to the ice at Crypto.com Arena.

The NHL released its 2026-27 schedule for all 32 teams on Thursday, July 16. It's a new look for the league's calendar, with each club set to play 84 games -- four of which will be against each division opponent -- and the season opener scheduled for Sept. 29.

The Kings are coming off an up-and-down 2025-26 season in which they fired head coach Jim Hiller on March 1 after a prolonged slump left them out of the playoff picture. They rebounded under interim head coach DJ Smith with an 11-6-6 record to close out the season and qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in Anze Kopitar's last ride. They were swept in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.

This year, the Kings and new head coach Peter Laviolette will open the season how the last one ended -- against the Avalanche. They follow that Sept. 30 game in Denver with a trip to Northern California to face the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 3 before returning to LA to host the Florida Panthers on Oct. 6.

With the full slate of Kings games officially set, here's a look at the top five best matchups on their 2026-27 schedule.

Sept. 30 at Colorado Avalanche

What better way to start off this list than with the season opener. The Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and looked to be well on their way to another championship last season as winners of the Presidents' Trophy (best record in the regular season). They made quick work of the Kings in the first round but ultimately suffered the same fate themselves, being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals.

Laviolette will get a chance to start his reign on a strong note if he can lead the Kings to a win in Denver.

Oct. 3 vs. Florida Panthers

The Panthers have been the perennial power in the NHL, winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and '25 though injuries and inconsistent play last season led them to miss the postseason for the first time since 2019. In fact, Florida became the first defending champion to miss the playoffs since ... the 2015 Kings.

Nov. 27-28 vs. Anaheim Ducks

LA has 10 back-to-backs this season in total, though none (at this point in time) carry more weight than their rivalry series against the Ducks in late November. The Kings have had success in the Freeway Face-Off, but that fortune flipped in 2025-26 when the Ducks won three of the four meetings. LA's lone victory was a decisive one -- a 6-1 thrashing on Dec. 27, 2025, in which Alex Laferriere scored his first NHL hat trick.

Dec. 30: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Kings fans should circle this matchup on their calendars for two reasons: It'll mark fired coach Hiller's return to Los Angeles with the Maple Leafs after he was hired on June 17, and it will be their first chance to get a look at 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna.

Jan. 6: vs. Washington Capitals

From first glances at a top prospect to a potential last glance at a legend. Alex Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension to stay with the Caps for his 22nd season, but his future after that remains up in the air. This could be the last time fans at Crypto.com Arena get to see the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, who enters the season needing 11 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's record for combined regular season and playoff goals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking the best games on the Kings 2026-27 NHL schedule

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Analyzing Flyers Cap Space Situation After Trevor Zegras Contract

Now that the Philadelphia Flyers have finally completed their most important piece of offseason business, they have the clearest picture yet of what they can and cannot do going forward in terms of improving the roster.

On Wednesday night, forward Trevor Zegras finally signed his highly anticipated contract extension with the Flyers, agreeing to a four-year, $36.5 million deal worth $9.125 million annually.

The Flyers give Zegras a pretty good chunk of change for a more modest term than many had expected and/or hoped for, but the 25-year-old top-six forward will remain in Philadelphia until 2030 nonetheless.

At the time of this writing, the Flyers still need to re-sign defenseman Jamie Drysdale, forward Nikita Grebenkin, and prospect Hunter McDonald--all of whom are restricted free agents.

Drysdale, who, like Zegras, filed for arbitration, is set to have his case go before an arbitrator on Monday, though the expectation is that a deal with the Flyers will be struck before then.

Accounting for Zegras, now the Flyers' highest-paid player on a per-season basis, the Flyers have $20.44 million in cap space to fit in Drysdale, Grebenkin, and McDonald, according to PuckPedia.

PuckPedia also has top center prospect Jett Luchanko on the Flyers' NHL roster, so, provided he starts the season in the AHL as general manager Danny Briere expects, that will add another $941k to the table.

Flyers Should Lure Alexander Nikishin Away From Hurricanes with Matvei Michkov's HelpFlyers Should Lure Alexander Nikishin Away From Hurricanes with Matvei Michkov's HelpDefenseman Alexander Nikishin is the perfect trade target for the Philadelphia Flyers this late into the offseason.

With Drysdale, reports have indicated that the former Anaheim Ducks rearguard will sign a shorter-term deal, similar to Zegras, with a cap hit expected to be in the range of Travis Sanheim's $6.25 million, which would either tie him with Sanheim, or make him the highest-paid defenseman on the roster outright.

McDonald, 24, figures to sign a one- or two-year deal cheap enough that, when assigned to the AHL, won't count against the NHL salary cap at all.

Grebenkin's situation is a bit trickier to figure out, knowing that he is coming off a season-ending injury and still rehabbing with the Flyers while he awaits a new contract.

The 23-year-old Russian was arguably the team's best fourth-liner last season before the injury and a slew of lineup changes.

Injury or not, once Sean Couturier, Luke Glendening, and Garnet Hathaway found their mojo together, Grebenkin wasn't getting back into the lineup, for better or for worse.

Hathaway is gone now, though, and Glendening's place has been presumably taken by free agent addition Noel Acciari.

Briere still views Grebenkin as a valuable bottom-six piece for the future, especially as someone well-liked in the team's locker room.

An uneven but promising first full season in the NHL should see Grebenkin get another crack at sticking in the big leagues on a one- or two-year deal worth between $1 million and $2 million annually.

All Roads in Flyers' Bid for No. 1 Center Point Back to Elias PetterssonAll Roads in Flyers' Bid for No. 1 Center Point Back to Elias PetterssonAt some point, the Philadelphia Flyers may have to make an uncomfortable trade for dimming Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson.

Assuming that Grebenkin gets $1.25 million and Drysdale gets $6.25 million, the Flyers will be allocating $7.5 million to those two players, leaving them with $12.94 million in cap space to operate with after the big Zegras deal.

That, of course, would not have been enough to fit the $18 million cap hit they gave to Leo Carlsson, but it's water under the bridge now.

What this does tell us, though, is that the Flyers are not considering another blockbuster offer sheet of the like at this time, if for no reason other than they cannot reasonably afford it.

To create the requisite cap space, they could always trade Rasmus Ristolainen and his $5.1 million cap hit to one of several interested teams, but those teams would also be aware that the Flyers need to shed his cap hit, destroying all leverage from Philadelphia's side.

The 2026 NHL free agency market remains very thin at all three positions, though the Flyers may want to insure themselves going forward with a power play quarterback, such as San Jose's John Klingberg.

In any case, regardless of what they want to do to add to the team, the Flyers still have a large chunk of cap space to work with.

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Game Thread: SummerKnicks vs. SummerWarriors, July 16, 2026

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Jack Kayil #77 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks continue their NBA Summer League schedule tonight, facing the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. New York’s young core, including Mohamed Diawara, Pacôme Dadiet, Tyler Nickel, and Dillon Jones, will use the reps to continue their development, while the Warriors are headlined by highly regarded rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Your correspondent is far afield in the wilds of Canada, so enjoy it without me, fans.

Tip-off is 7 pm EST on ESPN2. This is your game thread. This is Golden State of Mind. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!

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Madison Square Garden sues Wired over article alleging celebrity 'risk scores'

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation filed a defamation lawsuit on July 16 against Wired Magazine over an article published last week that claimed the midtown Manhattan arena used surveillance to track celebrities’ race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

According to the Wired article, published on July 9, celebrities and other dignitaries who have attended home games at Madison Square Garden were assigned "risk" scores, ranging from "low risk" to "DO NOT HOST." The article also alleges the database labeled nearly 100 people as “LGBTQIA." There are nearly 40,000 entries in the “talent” database, each with specific labeling designations.

The lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY Sports and filed in New York State Supreme Court also names Wired contributing editor Noah Shachtman, co-author Maddy Varner, and Wired Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond as defendants and alleges that the article was "unethical and inflammatory." MSG alleges in the lawsuit that Wired and the article's authors continued to promote the piece in the days following publication "without concern for the truth and with the intent to cause maximal public impact."

"Wired combed the dark web, obtained data stolen from MSG by an extortionist hacking group, and cherry-picked fragments of that data to manufacture a false narrative portraying MSG as targeting the LGBTQIA community for discriminatory purposes," the lawsuit reads.

The magazine also reported in April that security staff for New York Knicks owner James Dolan tracked a transgender woman's movements using that surveillance and spying on her for the better part of two years. A class-action lawsuit filed against MSG claims that this private data leak was a direct byproduct of owner Dolan’s surveillance operations after The ShinyHunters collective, a hacking group, released 45 GB worth of data on June 16.

Wired says it stands by its reporting and will "vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit."

"We look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan's use of technology across his entertainment empire," Wired said in a statement. "It's one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account."

Madison Square Garden's lawsuit says that the implication that the company maintained a database with a sexual orientation field for exclusionary, discriminatory, security, or risk-based purposes is "a lie" and that Wired constructed a false narrative drawn from a standard customer relationship.

"Defendants knew there was no nefarious “list” of gay celebrities, and Defendants knew that the stolen data contained dozens of fields per customer—including mundane fields such as address, phone number, and dietary restrictions—used for relationship management purposes, not discrimination," the lawsuit says.

In the 40-page lawsuit, MSG is seeking a jury trial, along with compensatory, presumed, special, and punitive damages; a correction or retraction of the false and defamatory statements and implications; and attorney's fees.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Madison Square Garden sues Wired over article alleging celebrity 'risk scores'

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Buster Posey’s ‘frank evaluation’ of Tony Vitello hints at Giants manager’s standing

An image collage containing 2 images,

The Giants have disappointed so far during the 2026 season.

They were 41-55 at the All-Star break, ranking 24th in MLB in runs per game (4.11) and 22nd in ERA (4.46).

First-year manager Tony Vitello is taking much of the blame, as that’s the natural order for an underperforming team.

Tony Vitello has hit some rough patches during his first season with the Giants. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But Buster Posey, the legendary Giants catcher turned president of baseball operations, isn’t publicly blaming Vitello. This was evident in Posey’s response when asked about Vitello during a Thursday appearance on KNBR’s â€œMurph and Markus” show.

“My frank evaluation is Tony and his staff are doing a really good job,” Posey said.

He then added, “You mentioned people want to grab articles, and clickbait, and stuff. Maybe they’ll say, ‘Buster says Tony’s staff is doing a great job, and they’re 15 games under .500.’ But I get to be there every day, I get to see their interaction, I get to see their work; I get to see them trying to solve this puzzle that we’re in right now.

Buster Posey has had some challenging times during the 2026 season. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

“So, I think Tony and his staff are doing a great job,” Posey said.

Perhaps it would have been unfair to expect Posey to call out Vitello publicly for their team’s struggles so far this season. Although some Giants fans are calling for Vitello to be fired, Posey’s display of confidence shows that Vitello is probably not on the hot seat yet.

But the bottom line is that Vitello’s team has underperformed. And given that he signed a three-year contract that’s worth $3.5 million annually, there’s an expectation that he’ll produce wins in San Francisco.

Vitello has struggled communicating at times with his players after leading the University of Tennessee’s baseball program. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tony Vitello’s tough Giants start isn’t just about San Francisco’s record

While 41-55 is not where anyone associated with the Giants expected to be, Vitello’s subpar start isn’t just about San Francisco’s position in the NL West standings.

Vitello has been under fire for having poor communication with his players, including when starting pitcher Tyler Mahle wasn’t informed that he was limited to 85 pitches in the Giants’ June 29 loss to the Diamondbacks.

How Vitello communicated with the Giants’ roster was a major point of interest heading into the 2026 season because Vitello arrived after leading the University of Tennessee’s baseball program.

Therefore, Vitello’s communication with his team is under the microscope. And the chatter around Vitello’s standing will only get louder if the Giants continue to struggle in the second half of the season.

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Poor air quality moves time of Phillies-Mets, threatens several Friday games

Major League Baseball's seemingly annual midsummer conflict with smoke from Canadian wildfires could impact the start of the second half for several teams.

The Philadelphia Phillies moved up the start of their Thursday, July 16 game against the New York Mets from 7:05 to 6:10 p.m. ET, with air quality expected to worsen as the night continues from Citizens Bank Park. The air quality index 45 minutes before game time was 176, or very unhealthy. It is scheduled to peak at 180 by 9 p.m., according to Accuweather, as the Phillies and Mets play the lone game on the schedule following the All-Star break.

Yet MLB faces more significant problems Friday.

With all 30 teams in action, air quality is forecast in the "dangerous" range as games begin in Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee. The Guardians play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:10 p.m. in Cleveland, where the current air quality is 350 and forecast to be 313 at game time Friday.

It is the same story in Chicago, where Major League Soccer's Fire postponed their Thursday game with the air quality at 597. It has since dropped to 304, still in the dangerous range, and is projected to remain at 299 as the Cubs prepare to open the second half with a 7:05 p.m. CT start against the Minnesota Twins.

The dangerous, or hazardous plateau begins at 301, which constitutes a health warning and outdoor activities are strongly discouraged, per the Environmental Protection Agency's standards. The Mets and Phillies are scheduled to play Thursday under a red, or "unhealthy" advisory, which the EPA defines as "some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."

In Milwaukee, the AQI exceeded 600 for a time Thursday before settling in at 337 in the evening and is forecast to maintain a similar level before the Brewers play host to Miami on Friday night. The Brewers can close the roof at their home ballpark, but fans and employees getting to and from the game would remain a concern.

MLB has postponed or moved games on two occasions in recent years due to air quality. On June 7 and 8, games were postponed in New York, Philadelphia and Washington due to poor air quality. In 2020, a Seattle Mariners game was postponed – and then relocated to San Francisco – after the Mariners and Athletics played through poor conditions.

The league does not hew exclusively to AQI in making such calls. Yet there are numerical thresholds where protocols and levels of scrutiny go into place, triggering deeper dives into current conditions and projected changes in air quality as MLB, in conjunction with the MLB Players' Association, consults with medical and weather experts.

Other markets will appear to avoid the worst of it. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees host games Friday evening, but a forecasted changed in wind directions is expected to improve the AQI in New York from 138 (unhealthy) to 56 (poor) by the time the Yankees play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Similarly, Boston is forecast to improve from 80 to a "fair" reading of 47 by gametime Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Poor air quality moves time of Phillies-Mets, threatens several Friday games

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Lance McCullers didn’t want to leave Astros — until the owner called him

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park.

Lance McCullers Jr.’s 14-year run with the Astros organization came to an end this week when he accepted a trade to the Brewers on Wednesday.

But waiving his no-trade clause was not a sure-fire decision.

A talk with Astros owner Jim Crane, however, made the call easier.

McCullers, in a sit-down with The Athletic, explained that the idea of playing for a different team was a mental hurdle he had to clear.

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I didn’t want to ever wear another team’s uniform,” McCullers said. “This organization took a chance on me when I was an 18-year-old kid. This has been my home ever since. My daughters were born here. This is where my wife and I will live forever. I never thought about playing somewhere else or being somewhere else, but I think all things, obviously, have to come to an end.”

The Astros, sitting at 47-51 and three games back in a relatively weak American League West, decided an offer to send McCullers and lefty Colton Gordon for prospect Jayden Fielder — the son of former All-Star Prince Fielder and grandson of Cecil Fielder — was the right call for all sides.

Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees to close out the eighth inning in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images

In the end, the 2012 Astros first-round pick knew it was time to move on. McCullers said Crane made him understand that now was an opportunity for a fresh start with a Brewers team that’s five games in front in the National League Central.

“I spoke to Jim Crane on Monday and we both thought — he thought — that this was going to be a good opportunity for me and that it would leave the Astros in a good situation leading up to the deadline and for the rest of the year,” McCullers said. “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Crane. And out of that love and respect, I told him on the phone that I would waive it.”

McCullers played a critical role in several deep postseason runs by the Astros, famously recording the final 12 outs of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees en route to Houston’s first World Series win.

He signed a five-year, $85 million extension with the Astros in 2021, but injuries have largely kept him off the field. He’s only thrown 94 2/3 innings since the end of 2022, 39 1/3 of which have come this season.

McCullers is hopeful things will work out for both Houston and Milwaukee.

“Ultimately, I think it’ll be a good decision on both sides,” he added.

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Canucks Bring Back Edler To The Organization

The Vancouver Canucks are adding another former player to the organization. On Thursday, the Canucks announced that Alex Edler will be joining the player development department. As per the team press release, Edler will be "working closely with prospects throughout the organization."

Also included in the press release was a statement from GM Ryan Johnson, who wrote, "Alex knows first-hand what it means to be a Vancouver Canuck. His past experience in the NHL will really help in our players development, he understands the demands of what it takes to be a good pro both on and off the ice, while his skill set and communication will be a big plus when it comes to coaching and mentoring our prospects. Earlier this month we saw Alex’s hands-on approach at our Development Camp in Abbotsford, and the feedback we received about the job he did was excellent."

Edler played 1030 games in the NHL, which included 925 with Vancouver. He was part of the team's run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and ranks second all-time in franchise history for points by a defenceman with 409. In addition to his NHL career, Edler represented Sweden multiple times, including winning a Silver Medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Jan 16, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Vancouver Canucks defensemen Alex Edler (23) during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Vancouver Canucks defensemen Alex Edler (23) during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

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4 notable moments from the Mavericks’ 97-87 Summer League win over the Oklahoma City Thunder

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Sergio De Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Steven Ashworth #18 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) controlled Thursday afternoon’ Summer League game agains the Oklahoma City Thunder (0-4) at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Arena, 97-87, and this one had something for every sicko.

Dallas really looked connected and cohesive as the game went further and further along, which is rare to see in a Summer League game. Does it give you hope for the future? Not necessarily, because not all of these players are going to remain with the team longer than a few more days.

But in identifying the real connectors, you can see where Dallas may have found a diamond or two in the rough. Dallas built a 22-point lead in the second and third quarters behind six scorers in double figures, but then gave some of it back in the fourth.

The Thunder put together a late 13-2 run to cut the Summer Mavs’ lead to seven points midway through the fourth, but let’s not pretend like any of that matters. We’re just here for wild projections.

Here are some of the highlights.

Eyes on Larry

After Monday’s 16-point, 12-assist eyebrow-raiser against the Summer Grizzlies, all MFFL eyes were on Sergio de Larrea to see what he might do next. Just like all three of the Summer Mavs’ previous games, he started slowly from the field, but did a great job of finding open teammates with creative passing.

His lob passing continues to be incredibly impressive. He threw another beauty to second-round pick Tobi Lawal with seven minutes left in the third quarter. He had 11 assists before the third quarter was over, but at that point he was also just 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from 3-point range.

His 12th dime was even prettier than the rest, on a spinning dribble move to Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu as crunch time neared. He threw a 13th to Akobundu-Ehiogu on the baseline with 2:25 left, forcing the broadcast team to remind us all that the NBA Summer League record for assists in one game is 17. He finished with 14 (and nine rebounds), and we are officially in love. He’s making us think ridiculous thoughts — like — is there a universe where, in December, de Larrea is the best guard in this year’s rookie class aside from Darryn Peterson?

We’ve seen enough. He’s got great touch and great feel. The shot will come. Rest, young man.

Seva’s turn

As the sleepy Mavericks offense found its footing early on, Vsevolod “Seva” Ishchenko made some nice plays to keep Dallas afloat. He hit the team’s first bucket of the game on a clever drive to the hoop before finding John Poulakidas on a cross-court pass for a 3-pointer that made it 9-7 Thunder with six minutes left in the first. He may not look 6’8” out there, but he plays like it. He does the things that a 6’8” body needs to do on the basketball court, but he also makes plays like a guard at times.

He’s got a nice game. He found Akobundu-Ehiogu for an incredible highlight alley-oop later in the first quarter. He and de Larrea played off one another well on a pick-and-roll action that provided de Larrea room to throw Akobundu-Ehiogu another of his three first-quarter lob finishes.

Our intrepid correspondent Tyler Edsel posited in his latest post that he didn’t think Ischhenko was ready to be on the NBA roster yet, and that may well be the case. But there’s some there there with Seva. He filled it up in the first for six points, three rebounds and a pair of assists before finishing with 12, seven and a pair of steals for the game.

Dusty May interview

First-year Mavericks head coach Dusty May was interviewed in the second quarter of Thursday’s game on the Amazon Prime broadcast. Here are some of the high points.

On where he’s at with his team at this early juncture:

“I’m still trying to learn our roster and get to know these guys and analyze what they do well. I’ve done a lot more observing than teaching or talking. Hopefully the learning curve will be small because of that.”

On this team’s defensive potential:

“You’re not going to be a championship level team at any level if you’re not playing well on both sides. Obviously, when you have a PG like Kyrie [Irving], we’ll be able to score quickly, but we have a switchable team and a good base of guys.”

On Sergio de Larrea:

“Sergio has been amazing. When you win at the level they won at with Valencia, we knew there was something to him. He’s finding his voice — learning how to lead. When he gets stronger and gets the jump shot right, he’s got a bright future in the NBA.”

On how to best deploy Cooper Flagg:

“Last year [Flagg] played a lot of point, and that expedited his growth. I foresee us playing him anywhere from 1-4. He’s one of those guys who can get 15-20 [points] without running a play for him. He runs the floor, he’s on the offensive glass, he’s competitive. I think he’ll shoot more 3-pointers. We have to get him more space.”

What to make of Akobundu-Ehiogu

Is Akobundu-Ehiogu benefiting from de Larrea’s passing, or is his own athleticism enough to make him worth a look this season? He was at the rim all afternoon once again against the Thunder, shooting 5-for-8 from the field for 12 points and five rebounds in the win.

Kao scored 16 on Monday in a similarly high-flying performance. It will be interesting to see what the Mavericks do with him after a pleasantly surprising Summer League stretch.

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Carolina Offseason Tidbits: Volume 4 – NHL Schedules Released

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 11: Fans cheer for the goal during game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 11, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The National Hockey League released the schedules for their teams on Thursday. The World Champion, Carolina Hurricanes, will start things off with a match against the Florida Panthers on September 29, at 5 PM.

The Canes, who year after year need to have several away games during the annual October State Fair, will have four home games before they travel out west this season.

After Tuesday’s home opener, the Canes will face the Capitals at home on Friday night. Then they go on the road to face the Flyers and Habs. Check out the full schedule here:

View Link

It has been a quiet time the past week or so with even rumors drying up. In the meantime, Alexander Nikishin still needs a contract or will he be traded?

The team did announce recently that they signed William Hakansson to an entry level contract. The defenseman, who was drafted in the second round in the recent draft, impressed during his visit here while attending Carolina’s prospect camp.

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Mets have informed teams they're open for business ahead of trade deadline, and deals could come sooner than later

As the Mets floundered through June and early July, David Stearns insisted they were not ready to sell just yet. They were going to give themselves time to see if they could recover before making the decision to buy or sell. Plus, with the draft looming, offices around the sport were distracted with preparation. 

But as the second half begins Thursday night, it seems the time has come: A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and the obvious, Juan Soto, isavailable. That doesn’t mean everyone will go. But it means the Mets will listen on just about everyone, which is in keeping with what people familiar with their thinking have signaled for weeks. 

That the Mets are fielding calls already suggests they will be spreading out their sell-off over several weeks, rather than waiting until the week of the deadline when the market has settled and time constraints create a more frenetic process. Some executives argue that selling earlier, before more teams have identified themselves as buyers or sellers, can increase returns and take advantage of immediate desperation while demand is low. 

The Mets, it seems, will be testing the theory. 

The most likely players to go remain those on expiring contracts. Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are as sturdy lefty relievers as the current market has to offer. Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are likely to be coveted by the many contenders who need starting pitching.

Despite Peralta’s struggles and Holmes’s current injury, both should bring the Mets a helpful return - in part because it will be relatively easy to determine whether the Mets are getting more in a trade than they would holding on: Both Holmes and Peralta would likely receive a qualifying offer at the end of the season, meaning any return for either would have to eclipse the value of the compensation pick teams receive if players who decline the qualifying offer go elsewhere.

The Mets could still extend Holmes, according to people familiar with their thinking who anticipated conversations with Holmes’s agent to occur between the draft and the deadline. While Stearns’s front office has been reluctant to give long-term deals to starting pitchers in his tenure, Holmes’s early career years as a reliever mean he has fewer innings on his arm than the usual 33-year-old starter with ace capabilities.

As for players with control beyond this season, Luke Weaver will be one of the best relievers available in terms of 2026 performance, and the fact that he will be under control through next season should make him enticing for contenders with money to spend. Huascar Brazoban will also have some suitors, but the Mets do need to build their bullpen around someone in 2027.

They also need someone to catch for them next year, though Francisco Alvarez’s plus-power and Luis Torrens’ steady defense could both draw interest in a still-forming catching market. That both have control beyond this year means the Mets would need to receive more value in return than the value one or either would provide next year.

As for other players under control beyond this year, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio could be attractive for teams with immediate or future infield needs. An executive with one current contender said they plan to check on Baty’s availability, and Mauricio currently has no clear path to big league playing time, either.

And as for Francisco Lindor, no one has given any indications the Mets are shopping him, though no one has said he is off the table either. He is an MVP-caliber player making MVP-candidate money for the next five seasons. Any team wanting to make a deal will likely need not only to be able to pay him that money, but also give the Mets a return that includes viable 2027 big league talent. Few teams seem willing and able to meet those asks. But with a noticeably weak free agent market for hitters looming, it feels unwise to rule anything out.

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Home Run Derby on Netflix draws worst ratings in more than two decades

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Yankees star Ben Rice was among the contestants in the Derby, Image 2 shows Cardinals star Jordan Walker, Image 3 shows Actors Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Tatro served as commentators for Netflix
MLB home run derby

The Home Run Derby saw plenty of baseballs leave the yard — and even more viewers leave the broadcast.

MLB’s annual dinger demonstration’s debut on Netflix drew just 5.3 million viewers, marking the lowest total since 2003, when the event saw 5.2 million spectators, according to Sports Business Journal.

It was also a drop from last year’s event — in which American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh reigned supreme — that drew 5.7 million viewers on ESPN.

This year’s spectacle saw not just a new network but also a revamped format that eliminated timer-based rounds for hitters in favor of swing total.

Cardinals star Jordan Walker came back to win the 2026 Home Run Derby, upsetting Philadelphia’s own Kyle Schwarber. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The format paved the way for a thrilling finish inside Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park as Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker came back to upset Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.

The event also drew criticism from viewers for its presentation and the inclusion of Will Ferrell, with one fan calling it “one of the worst home run derby broadcasts I have ever watched.”

Actors Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Tatro served as commentators for Netflix on the field before the start of the 2026 Home Run Derby. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Sports Business Journal added that Netflix did well with younger viewers but lost a segment of the older demographic.

Netflix will have the derby for at least two more years after signing a three-year, $50 million contract with MLB to stream the event.

Yankees star Ben Rice was among the contestants in the Derby. Getty Images

Next year’s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby with be at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

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LeBron James details what is important to him in free agency decision

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics

To the frustration of many, LeBron James didn’t announce where he was going to play next season at his live recording of the Mind the Game podcast at Fanatics Fest on Thursday afternoon. James did, however, mention in a separate interview with Rich Kleiman that he is inching closer to a decision.

“I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said on Thursday.

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More importantly, James detailed the factors that would influence his decision about where to play next. What’s best for his family, especially his 12-year-old daughter, Zhuri, will play a crucial role in what he decides to do.

James detailed that he pulled his daughter aside to tell her that he wouldn’t be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers next season. And because of that, he wouldn’t be home all the time, and wanted her input on the situation as an example of how much the family fit matters.

“The family portion is a big thing too,” James said. “My daughter, my wife, things of that nature. I’m a big family guy. So it’s a lot of things [that factor into this]. People are like, ‘Hurry up and make a goddamn decision Bron.’ It’s not just about the team.

“[There’s] so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now. Not only what best fits me as a player, but what fits me as a person, my happiness, and also my family as well. … The family portion of it is huge to me.”

It’s easy to see these comments and read this as meaning LeBron is going to come back to Cleveland. He still has plenty of ties to this area, and it’s a place his family has a lot of familiarity with. From that perspective, it seems like this is just setting up for a final reunion in Cleveland.

However, LeBron also seemed to indicate that the family may not be going with him to his next destination. If Los Angeles is still the home base, places like Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia aren’t exactly close by. Maybe the Golden State Warriors are more appealing in that situation — even though it seems like they’re currently behind the Cavs in that race.

We’ll see how this all unfolds soon enough. If we trust LeBron at his word, we hopefully won’t have to wait “too much longer” to find out where he’s planning on playing next season.

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Opinion: When Former Sabres Star Returns To Buffalo, Sabres Fans Need To Cheer Him For Fighting A Good Fight

Alex Tuch (Brian Fluharty, USA TODAY Images)
Alex Tuch (Brian Fluharty, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL schedule was released Thursday, and Buffalo Sabres fans likely looked at it with one date in mind – the return of now-former Sabres star right winger and new Washington Capitals sniper Alex Tuch. But while Buffalo plays the Capitals in Washington on October 24 and November 19, Sabres fans won’t be able to cheer or boo Tuch in Buffalo until the two teams clash for the third and final time on March 18 – eight full months from now.

That said, it’s this writer’s opinion that, when Tuch does return to Buffalo, Sabres fans should be giving Tuch a warm welcome.

The end for Tuch in Buffalo comes after he’s spent five seasons in Buffalo following a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights. And in those five seasons, Tuch delivered solid results, even when the Sabres team around him was unable to be a Stanley Cup playoff team. He generated at least 33 goals and 66 points in three of the past four seasons, at a very team-friendly $4.75-million-per-season salary. 

While the Sabres team he was part of continued to struggle to make the playoffs, Tuch never complained or big-timed anyone. He was reliable and gave Buffalo a power forward that only a few teams can boast of employing, and he could’ve signed an extension with the Sabres long ago. So now, both the Sabres and Tuch made their own business decisions, and each side had every right to choose to move on. And that’s what’s happened here.

The salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. Tuch gave the Sabres a lot of good years, even when the team has struggled. He could’ve asked out at any point in time, and he didn’t.

And Buffalo could’ve kept him for the long haul by re-signing him before he hit the open market this summer, but the Sabres chose not to. If you’re going to boo Tuch for that, you should be booing Sabres management and ownership just as much. And you can do that starting in Game 1 of their home schedule on October 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

But it’s easier to just lob raspberries at Tuch rather than the bigger picture in Buffalo, isn’t it? You can call a player ‘selfish’ for getting as much money as the market will bear, but we’re not going to do that. The Sabres had a roller-coaster season, but Tuch played his part, putting up 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games. And he deserves credit for that.

The NHL’s salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. He gave the Sabres some of the best years of his career,’and in the end, both the team and Tuch have, of their own volition, chose separate paths. That happens sometimes, even in the best scenarios. And Tuch isn't the villain for making the best business deal he could.

By the time Tuch rolls into Buffalo in mid-March, Sabres fans will have three-quarters of the season to debate and discuss, so we predict that will take some of the anger out of Sabres fans when they see Tuch in person. 

Tuch has accepted a deal that everyone would take were it offered to them. And we don’t believe he should be crucified for that decision. He’s now 30 years old, so Tuch has less road ahead of him than behind him. It’s natural he’d want to go to a team he thinks has the best chance at a championship. And the reconstituted Capitals certainly have an easier road to a Cup final than the Sabres do in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.

In the end, Tuch took the best deal he could get in a businessman’s decision. You can be upset that he didn’t stay in Buffalo for the rest of his career, but there’s no question that Sabres ownership and GM Jarmo Kekalainen should also be targets of your anger and frustration. 

When Tuch steps on the ice in Buffalo as a member of the Capitals, the right thing to do is to cheer him for the time he spent in Western New York. He didn’t win a Cup with the Sabres, but Tuch fought a good fight for Buffalo, and he deserves a happy sendoff as he and the Sabres move in their own preferred direction.