Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tanner Gordon (29) pitches in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
In a rare, nationally televised game for the Colorado Rockies, the goal is a series win over the San Francisco Giants in the final game at Coors Field before the All-Star break. The series kicked off with an absolute drubbing of the Giants on Friday before the bats fell relatively silent last night in a loss.
The final home game of the first half comes as the Rockies are in the middle of 17 consecutive games without an off-day with another seven–including a three game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers–to go after today before All-Star Game festivities begin.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Gordon will be making his 11th appearance and fourth start of the season for the Rockies this afternoon. The 28-year-old currently has a 6.69 ERa with 39 strikeouts in 40.1 innings of work so far.
His last time out, Gordon took the loss in a five inning start against the Miami Marlins in which he allowed five earned runs on nine hits–including a home run–while striking out four batters and issuing no walks. It was his first game back after a stint on the injured list for a hip injury.
On the bump for Los Gigantes is the right-handed Tyler Mahle. The 31-year-old journeyman has posted a 5.67 ERA through 13 starts with the Giants and has 64 strikeouts over 66.2 innings of work during his first season in the Bay Area. In his last start he went 4.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks while giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks.
Mahle has made six career starts against the Rockies previously with a 5.08 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and two home runs given up over 33.2 total innings. This season he is working with a five pitch mix anchored by a four-seam fastball that averages 92.4 MPH. He also uses a split finger, a cutter, a slider, and the occasional sinker.
The Colorado Avalanche have already taken a swing on a reclamation project this offseason, but some fans believe general manager Joe Sakic isn’t done yet—with calls growing for another gamble, this time on Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright.
Let's cut to the chase. Prior to the 2022 NHL Draft, Wright was widely projected to go first overall. But on draft night, he slipped to fourth. The reasons weren't about skill or hockey sense—those were never in question. Instead, scouts pointed to concerns about his intensity and, at times, his consistency of engagement from shift to shift.
So instead of the Montreal Canadiens taking him first overall, they went with Juraj Slafkovský, and in hindsight, that decision has aged remarkably well. The 6-foot-3 forward has developed into a true cornerstone in Montreal. In just his fourth professional season, the 22-year-old posted his first 30-goal campaign, finished with 73 points, represented Slovakia at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, and added 12 points in 19 postseason games. The Canadiens walked away with a legitimate star and a foundational piece.
The Seattle Kraken selected Wright, and to this point, it simply hasn't gone as planned.
While Slafkovský stepped directly into the NHL, Wright's development took a much different path. His first two professional seasons were split between the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the Kraken. During that span, he appeared in just 16 NHL games, recording five goals and two assists.
The last two seasons have been Wright's first real opportunity as a full-time NHL player.
In 2025-26, he appeared to be turning a corner, finishing with 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 79 games. While Seattle missed the playoffs, the season offered encouraging signs that the former fourth-overall pick was beginning to establish himself as an everyday NHL contributor.
That momentum didn't carry over.
With the Kraken finishing 34-37-11 and missing the postseason for a second straight year, Wright's production dipped to 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 74 games. The statistical regression reignited some of the same concerns scouts voiced before the 2022 NHL Draft. His talent has never been the question, but his ability to consistently impact games—particularly when the stakes aren't at their highest—has remained a point of debate throughout his young career.
Whether that's a fair assessment or not, it's become part of Wright's NHL story. Four years after entering the league as one of the most highly touted prospects of his generation, he's still searching for the consistency that made him the consensus No. 1 overall pick—until he wasn't.
That uncertainty has naturally fueled speculation about whether a change of scenery could unlock the player many projected would become a franchise centerpiece. It's also why some Avalanche fans have floated Wright as an intriguing buy-low trade target.
On paper, the fit is easy to understand. Colorado has built a reputation for identifying players whose value has dipped and putting them in positions to succeed alongside an elite core. If Sakic believes Wright's ceiling is still there, acquiring a 22-year-old former top prospect before he fully breaks out is exactly the kind of move contenders occasionally regret passing on.
The timing also makes the conversation more realistic. According to reports, the Kraken and Wright are mutually working toward finding a trade this offseason, meaning Seattle is open to moving the former fourth-overall pick if the right deal materializes.
But should the Avalanche be the team to make that move?
That's where the conversation becomes much more complicated.
Colorado isn't searching for reclamation projects anymore. It's searching for players who can help win another Stanley Cup immediately.
It's hard to imagine Shane Wright being a proper locker room fit with Nathan MacKinnon. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images
This is a locker room driven by Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Brock Nelson, Martin Nečas and Josh Manson—a veteran core that has built one of the NHL's strongest cultures around accountability, preparation and consistency. MacKinnon, in particular, the reigning Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy winner, has never hidden his expectations. If someone isn't pulling their weight, he'll let them know and sometimes in brutal fashion. It's one of the many reasons Colorado has remained among the league's elite for a number of years now.
Wright's talent has never been questioned. His consistency has.
Those same questions that followed him into the 2022 NHL Draft—his nightly engagement, intensity and ability to impact games every shift—still linger four years later. While there have been flashes of why he was once viewed as the consensus No. 1 prospect, they haven't become the standard.
Could Colorado's leadership group help him unlock another level? Absolutely.
But that's a different question than whether the Avalanche should spend valuable assets to find out.
The Avalanche have done well to replenish some of their draft capital this offseason and still possess intriguing young assets like goaltenders Ilya Nabokov and Trent Miner, along with defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev. Moving any combination of those pieces—or future draft picks—for a player whose development remains uncertain feels difficult to justify for a team operating squarely within its Stanley Cup window.
Wright may be one of the NHL's most intriguing change-of-scenery candidates this summer. But for a team with championship aspirations and a dressing room built on demanding standards, the risk may ultimately outweigh the reward.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 04: A general view of the ballpark is shown during the playing of the U.S. national anthem prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers at Globe Life Field on July 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 28: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on June 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have lost 4 in a row and 8 of their last 9, they are the worst team in all of the Major Leagues. If you told me that on March 25th, I thought you were crazy. Yes, they have a lot of key players hurt currently, but they weren’t that good when they were fully healthy.
JJ Picollo seems to be blaming this disastrous season on injuries, and no changes seem like they are going to be made now or in the offseason. Again, to a certain extent, he is right, but we saw what the fully healthy team looked like most of April.
Luinder Avila will try and stop the bleeding today. He has been up and down as a starter, with him being downright bad at home. His home stats are as follows: 6 appearances, 2 starts. 12.2 innings pitched, 24 hits allowed, 18 runs, 11 walks, 11 strikeouts. A 12.79 ERA in 12.2 innings. Personally, I think Avila should be getting closer reps for next season, but I’ll have an article out on that for a deeper dive soon.
Here are the Royals starters behind Avila for this afternoon’s contest. And yes, Josh Rojas is still on the team! I almost forgot he was. Oh, and Salvador Perez is back in there.
The Phillies got off to a horrendous start and fired their manager and now they are 11 games over .500. (Hm, interesting!) The back-to-back NL East champs are employing almost a carbon copy of last night’s winning lineup. Only the starting catcher is the difference.
Righty Aaron Nola will start for Philly. Nola has been bad this season, with a 6.04 ERA in 85 innings over 17 starts. He has been better on the road, but that doesn’t say a whole lot, with his road ERA still being at 5.40.
Here is the starting lineup for Philly behind Nola.
First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on Peacock, as part of a special MLB thing.
For the first time ever, a single network is bringing you EVERY SINGLE Major League Baseball game live nationally. Welcome to #StarSpangledSunday on Peacock TV!
It wouldn’t be far-fetched to see shades of Mason McTavish in new Vancouver Canucks prospect Adam Novotný’s game. After all, that’s the player the 24th-overall pick in this year’s draft says he models his game after.
“Rob Wilson, our coach [with the Peterborough Petes], he told me that I’m so similar to him, and then I started to watch him a little bit more when I was here,” Novotný told the media during Vancouver’s development camp. “He’s a great player, competitive, versatile, can play a lot of roles, and it’s just fun to watch him.”
The fact that Novotný fell to 24th was a surprise for many, including Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson. The forward was projected to go anywhere from 13th-overall to 26th, with the majority of scouts and media projecting him to be picked in the late-teens. Novotný didn’t have any particular inkling as to where he’d go until the Canucks’ pick appeared on the horizon.
“Honestly, I didn’t have any expectations from the draft, but as it was getting closer to the 24th pick and I knew the Canucks were there, so I had like a little bit of an inside feeling, and I’m happy it worked out this way, because it’s such a great organization and I’m so happy to be here.”
Evidently, Novotný is happy that things worked out with him landing in Vancouver. The Canucks couldn’t agree more.
“He was a guy that we targeted. The way he plays, again, his character, his interview was very well-received,” Johnson had said after drafting the forward last week. “He exudes winner, compete, along with obviously a skill set, the amount of goals he scored, his size, he’s already very physically mature, the way he skates — again, it was a player that we felt that at 24 we were extremely lucky to get, and again he’s got pro habits at a young age.”
Part of the comparison to McTavish comes from the fact that, like the now-St. Louis Blues forward, Novotný has also played for Peterborough in the OHL. The new Canucks forward also holds the potential of becoming a lethal goal-scorer while maintaining an eye for other sides of the game. This skill of his was apparent throughout camp, but most-notably so during the prospects’ scrimmage on the final day.
Two goals and a slick assist during the scrimmages were only the cherry on top of what was overall an impressive skate for the young winger.
“First of all, his awareness and his skating ability looks really strong with a good posture,” Canucks development coach Mikael Samuelsson said of Novotný after the camp’s scrimmage. “He’s skating around there with a smile on, and you can’t forget about that. Some guys get tight, but he seems to enjoy it, he seems to love what he does and that’s a good start.”
As a whole, however, the development camp experience is something Novotný didn’t plan on overlooking. With great resources in former NHL veterans like Samuelsson, Mike Komisarek, and Alex Edler, as well as Olympic medallist and PWHLer Jenn Gardiner, Novotný headed into camp just hoping to soak everything in.
“Just gives me so much experience, meeting new guys and great coaching staff here, and the organization is just really good,” he’d said during camp. “We have a great program here, and I’m enjoying every moment, because not every guy can experience this, and I’m so excited to be here, and it’s just so much fun.”
Photo Credit: Kaja Antic-THN
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As NHL free agency creeps into its fifth day, there's still a sizeable group of former Ottawa Senators waiting for the phone to ring.
Fifteen ex-Sens remain unsigned after becoming unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Some will almost certainly land NHL contracts. Others may have to settle for AHL deals, head to Europe, or begin thinking seriously about retirement.
Steve Staios says he's excited to see how William Eklund's skill meshes with the Senators' top forwards.
Four of the 15 unsigned former Senators were once first-round picks by the organization, making them a good place to start.
Former Senators First-Round Picks Still Unsigned
Colin White (21st overall, 2015)
Shane Bowers (28th overall, 2017)
Curtis Lazar (17th overall, 2013)
Logan Brown (11th overall, 2016)
Colin White, Ottawa's 21st overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, still appears on the books for the Sens. After buying out the final years of his contract, Ottawa will carry an $875,000 cap charge for each of the next two seasons.
White spent last season with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, where one of his teammates was another former Senators first-rounder, Shane Bowers, who also just became a UFA.
Selected 28th overall in 2017, Bowers was Brady Tkachuk's teammate at Boston U. before becoming part of the blockbuster Matt Duchene trade with Colorado just months after being drafted. After eight professional seasons, he's still searching for a breakthrough that has never come.
One former Senators first-rounder who's carved out a much better career is Curtis Lazar.
Senators fans will never forget Lazar picking up and eating a cheeseburger that had been thrown onto the ice during the famous Hamburglar run of 2015. While the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft never developed into an offensive threat, he's quietly put together a decade-long NHL career as a dependable depth forward.
After recording six points in 45 games with the Edmonton Oilers this past season, it'll be interesting to see whether another NHL team gives him an opportunity.
Then there's Logan Brown.
Chosen 11th overall in 2016, Brown spent last season with the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, producing 16 points in 31 games. His skating at the NHL level has always been a concern, but injuries have been an even bigger obstacle.
Unsigned Former Senators Goaltenders
Matt Murray (SEA)
Cam Talbot (DET)
Marcus Högberg (NYI)
Hunter Shepard (MTL)
Goaltenders make up another sizeable chunk of Ottawa's unsigned alumni.
The most intriguing name is Matt Murray.
Murray won back-to-back Cups with Pittsburgh in his rookie and sophomore seasons. But his game faded over the next three years, and so the Pens traded him to the Senators, who promptly signed him to a four-year, $25-million deal. He appeared in 47 games for the Sens over two frustrating seasons before they convinced Toronto to take him off their hands.
He appeared in just five games with the Seattle Kraken this season, but he was excellent, posting a 2.21 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. But a quick glance through Murray's injury history makes it hard to imagine another team investing significant money in him.
Cam Talbot is also still looking for work.
Pierre Dorion acquired Talbot from the Minnesota Wild in 2022 in exchange for Filip Gustavsson, hoping the veteran would finally stabilize Ottawa's crease. Talbot spent one season with the Senators before leaving as a free agent. Despite being 39 years old, his body of work suggests he could still attract interest as a veteran backup.
The other former Senators goaltenders still available are Marcus Hogberg and Hunter Shepard.
Hogberg who made a return to the NHL with the New York Islanders organization the past two seasons, and Hunter Shepard.
Shepard spent most of last year in the Montreal Canadiens organization after Ottawa traded him in March, along with Jake Chiasson, in exchange for forward Riley Kidney.
The Rest of the List
The remaining unsigned former Senators are:
Mike Reilly (Carolina Hurricanes)
Austin Watson (Detroit Red Wings)
Travis Hamonic (Detroit Red Wings)
Vladimir Tarasenko (Minnesota Wild)
Evgeni Dadonov (New Jersey Devils)
Matthew Highmore (New York Islanders)
Boris Katchouk (Philadelphia Flyers)
The list is an interesting mix of players at very different stages of their careers.
Although his production has declined from his peak years, a veteran winger like Tarasenko, with more than 300 NHL goals on his resume, will get a new NHL deal. When he signed with Ottawa three years ago, it was almost four weeks into free agency. He had a bounce-back year in Minnesota with 23 goals and 47 points.
For some of the others, the road back to the NHL may be more difficult.
Once the initial frenzy dies down, as it's starting to right now, jobs become increasingly scarce. Some of these players might still be on NHL opening-night rosters in October, but others have likely already played their last game in the league, even if they don't know it yet.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:
We're into the sixth day of NBA free agency, and amazingly, the top names on this list are the ones that were there when free agency started. That's not a shock with the restricted free agents, that's a battle of leverage, and in the case of LeBron James, he is taking his time and letting the market play out.
A few of the top names are off our board — Trae Young, Austin Reaves, Isaiah Hartenstein, Walker Kessler — but a lot remain. Here are our top 10 currently available free agents.
1. Jalen Duren (restricted)
Jalen Duren and his representatives have tried. They met with the Lakers, who called him a player deserving of a max offer, then Los Angeles traded for Walker Kessler, and that took them off the board. They met with Sacramento, and it was leaked how much Duren wanted to play for the Kings (something that met with a few eye rolls around the league). The sides discussed a sign-and-trade, but Detroit shot that idea down, especially with Domantas Sabonis at the heart of any proposed deal.
Duren wants to get paid, reportedly seeking a deal with an average salary north of $40 million a season, the Pistons are thinking mid-$30 million a year range. Duren's camp points to an All-NBA regular-season campaign for the 22-year-old big man, in which he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing elite defense. However, a playoffs where he largely disappeared in key moments (averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds) hurt his value. In the end, it sucks to be a restricted free agent in the NBA because you have no real leverage. The choices on the board for Duren are ultimately to sign a deal with the Pistons or play for the $9.6 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent. But with the Pistons likely offering four or five years, at mid-$30 million a season (five years, $180 million?), that's generational wealth and a lot of money to just leave on the table.
2. LeBron James
LeBron James, as he has done throughout his career, is now dominating the free agency spotlight — and he is going to bask in it. No decision is expected in the next few days.
There are six teams in the running for LeBron's services, listening to his agent Rich Paul lay it out: Golden State, Cleveland, Minnesota, Denver, Miami and Philadelphia. Since trading for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers became a hot name in rumors (that has cooled), and Minnesota is ramping up its recruiting of LeBron. However, the smart money is on him coming full circle in his career and finishing where he started in Cleveland. Golden State is a real possibility, and I would add keep an eye on Denver, a team that could really use him, could contend, and LeBron is friends with the owners. Wherever he lands, LeBron seems to accept that he will take a pay cut, going from $52 million last season to possibly below $10 million this season.
3. James Harden
Harden declined his $42.3 million player option and is technically a free agent, but he did so to help the Cavaliers' front office make deals like potentially bringing back LeBron. Harden and the Cavaliers will eventually work out a contract with a lower per-season number but a higher total, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. There isn't a lot of drama here, just a question of what the final contract looks like.
4. Peyton Watson (restricted)
Much like Jalen Duren, Watson is a restricted free agent hoping that some other team on the market will step up and make an offer that will at least force Denver to match a higher offer. Denver has made it very public that they intend to match any offer for Watson, a player who averaged 14.6 points a game last season, played well off Nikola Jokic, is a plus defender on the wing and shot 41.1% from 3-point range. Denver is also a team feeling a financial crunch under the aprons, which is influencing their decision on what to offer.
5. Rui Hachimura
Coming off an impressive playoff run with the Lakers (17.5 points per game, shooting 56.9% from 3), Hachimura was looking for a raise from the $18.3 million he made last season, but that market may not be out there for the veteran forward. With Tobias Harris going to the Spurs, the number of options for Hachimura is shrinking, and there is even some hope among Lakers fans that he will return at a much lower price (don't bet on it). A sign-and-trade to a team that needs him is possible, there are plenty of teams who could use a 6'8" forward who shot 44.7% from 3-point range last season and has shown the last couple of years that he can step up in the playoffs.
6. Draymond Green
As had been expected, Draymond Green has opted out of his $27.7 million player option for next season and is a free agent. However, much like the James Harden situation, there is no doubt he is going to re-sign with the Warriors, the only question is for how much (a slightly lower per-year number but with more total guaranteed money). The Warriors are trying to use the cap space Green has afforded them to make a bold move and improve the team, and Green won't be re-signed until the Warriors finish rounding out the roster.
7. Bennedict Mathurin (restricted)
Mathurin brings some things to the table that the Clippers need, especially with Kawhi Leonard now back in Toronto. After coming to the Clippers in the Ivica Zubac trade, he averaged 17.4 points per game, and his skill at getting downhill and drawing fouls would be a big boost off the bench behind Darius Garland (he also could play with just-drafted Keaton Wagler at points). It's hard to imagine he's anywhere other than back with the Clippers next season, but other teams may poke around and see if they can poach him. The real question here is how much does he end up signing for.=
8. Jonathan Kuminga
The bad news for Kuminga is that the Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, and as a free agent, he won't find a payday anywhere near that. That said, a few teams are interested in him — the Lakers and Cavaliers among them — but many of the teams that might be interested are also pursuing LeBron, so Kuminga may need to wait for that domino to fall before other teams will seriously talk deal.
9. Bruce Brown
Brown is no longer the guy who was so critical to Denver's 2023 title run, but he can be a solid backup guard at an affordable price. Brown averaged 7.9 points a night playing all 82 games for Denver last season, shooting 38.5% from 3. Maybe the market needs to shake out a little more for him to find a spot (and it could be back with Denver), but there are teams with an eye on Brown.
10. Jordan Clarkson
He just picked up a ring with the New York Knicks, but the former Sixth Man of the Year and longtime bench scorer is not returning to the champions. Clarkson, 34, could help a team looking for points on its second unit during the regular season. He averaged 8.6 points a night and provided a boost to New York last season.
Just outside the top 10: Khris Middleton, Russell Westbrook, Brandon Williams, Gary Trent Jr., Nick Richards, Nicolas Batum, Gary Payton II, Gabe Vincent.
Saturday’s four-game Summer League slate didn’t disappoint, and there are four more games on tap today as the California Classic heads into its third day of action.
I’m all in on the Sacramento Kings and Darius Acuff Jr. as they face the Warriors’ B-Team, the Golden State Blue. I’m betting on Yaxel Lendeborg staying hot for the Golden State Gold, and the power of friendship (and experience) will prevail for the Nets as they take down the Bucks.
Check out my NBA Summer League Predictions for Sunday, July 5.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 5
Pick
Kings moneyline
-244
Warriors Gold moneyline
-284
Nets moneyline
+143
Today's Summer League Picks
Kings moneyline (-244 at Kalshi)
No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. was electric in his Summer League debut, leading the Kings to a tight win over the Nets on Saturday.
Acuff Jr. led all scorers with 25 points in the 3-point victory, scoring some key late buckets and feeding Nique Clifford for a go-ahead triple in the waning seconds to account for his fourth and final assist of the contest.
Acuff Jr. is a true game changer who can take over when his team needs him the most, but Sacramento also gets second-year man Clifford, who saw 25.1 minutes per game as a rookie.
Fellow sophomore Dylan Cardwell logged meaningful minutes as a rookie, delivering 12 games with double-digit boards and 20 games with multiple swats.
Sacramento’s California Classic roster brings the electricity of Acuff Jr. and the experience of Clifford and Cardwell, making for a highly competitive squad. The Golden State Blue roster is significantly weaker, as lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg is suiting up for the Gold team. The Kings are heavy favorites for a reason.
Warriors Gold moneyline (-284 at Kalshi)
Golden State’s Blue team lost by double digits in its California Classic opener, but the same can’t be said of the Gold Team, which beat the Lakers 104-72.
Michigan standout Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 19 points, six rebounds, five dimes, a steal, a block, and perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
Lendeborg was joined in the first unit by Malevy Leons and L.J. Cryer, who each started a game for the Dubs a season ago, and Will Richard, who started 20 games in 2025-26.
The Blue Team has draft pedigree and experience, while only one of San Antonio’s starters (Miles Kelly) in its first game had NBA minutes. Spurs top pick Jayden Quaintance is sitting out Summer League, so San Antonio will prioritize minutes for Tarris Reed Jr. and its second-rounders.
The edge goes to the more talented and experienced Golden State squad.
Nets moneyline (+143 at Kalshi)
Milwaukee won its first game handily over a far less talented and experienced Golden State Blue team. Brooklyn, on the other hand, went toe-to-toe with arguably the best roster at the California Classic. It took a 3-pointer from Nique Clifford in the final seconds of the game for Sacramento to squeak past Brooklyn.
The Nets will have to wait at least one more game for No. 8 pick Mike Brown Jr. to debut, but the team has more than enough firepower to contend with the Bucks.
Brooklyn’s starting five in its first game featured three first-rounders from last year’s draft — Egor Demin, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf. Chaney Johnson logged 17 appearances with the Nets last season, and he and second-rounder Tyler Bilodeau rounded out the first unit.
Milwaukee has a pair of hungry players in Brandon Boston and Kira Lewis Jr., two four-year vets looking to make a return to the league, but Brooklyn has chemistry and recent NBA experience. I’ll give them the nod as they avenge a narrow loss to the Kings.
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Sunday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Kings moneyline
Warriors Gold moneyline
Nets moneyline
+363 at Kalshi
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It's been a little over a month since Chris MacFarland was hired as the Nashville Predators' next general manager, and he's stayed busy.
Since June 2, MacFarland has signed six players, traded for five more and drafted eight. He's also dealt three players, including Fedor Svechkov and Zach L'Heureux.
Erik Haula was also not resigned; he joined the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent, and Tyson Jost and Kevin Gravel have not been offered extensions as UFAs.
Making a handful of roster moves out of the gate, MacFarland hinted at more on the defensive end.
"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill and a little more transition as part of our game," MacFarland said. "It's not easy to do, right? As you can see by free agency, there weren't a lot of those defensemen available. There's a reason for that. Those are the hard-to-get assets."
The Predators' defense struggled immensely last season, which ran counter to Barry Trotz's notion that the defense had been "fixed" during 2025 free agency with the acquisitions of Nic Hague and Nick Perbix.
With the blue line seemingly on MacFarland's radar, here's which players are likely on the trading block.
Justin Barron
Feb 2, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators defensemanJustin Barron(20) skates behind the net against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Barron was extended a qualifying offer, but as of July 4, he has not signed it. If it's not signed by July 5 at 4 p.m. CST, he will enter player arbitration, a battle that will likely not go his way.
His last contract was two years, $2.3 million, with a $1.150 million annual hit. Barron's qualifying offer is reportedly listed at $1.2 million annually.
It may have been strategic by MacFarland and staff to offer Barron and force his hand. The 24-year-old defenseman recorded nine points in 52 games last season and had just 12 points in 45 games the season before.
While Barron is one of the Predators' more active defensemen, he has struggled to produce in his two seasons in Nashville. Negotiations for him to either get more money or a longer contract will likely not fall in his favor.
Nic Hague
Dec 2, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators defensemanNicolas Hague(41) awaits the face off against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Trotz talked a big game about Hague when he arrived in Nashville in the 2025 offseason. He said that Hague was going to play in the top pairing with Josi and would give the defense "back-end depth."
Hague was injured in the preseason and didn't return until late October. When he returned, Josi was injured, and the pair didn't get to play until late November, on an already compressed schedule.
While Josi eventually found his edge, Hague did not, putting up almost identical numbers to his time in Vegas when he was playing on the third pairing. In 62 games played, he had 15 points and a plus/minus of -10.
It can be argued that Hague could've put up bigger numbers if he wasn't injured, but at the end of the day he didn't make this defensive unit any better.
In the second year of a four-year, $22 million contract with a $5.5 million annual hit, it's a contract that's not impossible to move. At 6-foot-6, he brings a height edge that other teams may be looking for.
His six team no-trade list also doesn't come into play until the 2027-28 season.
Nick Perbix
Mar 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators defensemanNick Perbix(48) passes the puck away from Chicago Blackhawks left wingNickLardis (76) during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Another piece acquired by Trotz in the 2025 offseason, Perbix should have a bit more potential in the backend as one of the Predators' better skaters, but struggled to give them enough of a push.
In 79 games, Perbix had 20 points but a plus/minus of -14. Recording 197 speed bursts between 18 and 20 miles per hour, Perbix could be suited better for a role on Nashville's bottom pairing, but may not be ready for a top-four role.
He has proven before in Tampa that he can be a contributor with 20 points in the 2022-23 season and 24 points in the 2023-24 season.
In his final year of a two-year, $5.5 million contract, the Predators aren't risking too much by keeping him or trading him. Could get a little bit more back if he's traded, but it could be worth staying patient and trying him for one more year.
Adam Wilsby
It's likely that MacFarland will want to hang on to Wilsby as a 25-year-old entering the final year of his ELC. He's young and just finished his first full NHL season.
In 58 games, Wilsby had 16 points off a goal and 15 assists. He is debatably the Predators' fastest skater on the backend and could be a step closer to finding his game this season.
At the same time, that aspect could be enticing to other teams. He fits the build that more squads are looking for in their defensemen- guys that are quick and have an offense-first mindset.
Nashville will likely stay with Wilsby for another year, wanting to wait until he reaches RFA status, but it wouldn't be a massive surprise if MacFarland ops to trade him.
Brady Skjei
It's highly unlikely that the Predators will be able to move Skjei with a no trade clause a 15 team no-trade list and five years left on a seven-year, $49 million contract with a $7 million yearly hit.
While Skjei hasn't put up the same numbers that he did in Carolina, he's been a decent piece for Nashville on the backend.
This past season, he had 26 points in 82 games, recovering from a rough start to the year, during which he posted one of the worst plus/minus ratings in the NHL.
He's a player the Predators could get a bit more for on the market, but his contract is going to scare potential suitors away. At 32-years old, Skjei will be 37 by the time his deal is up.
Vingegaard keeps yellow jersey with six-second lead
Fires mean no spectators and ‘adapted route’ for stage three
Isaac del Toro took a victory orchestrated by Tadej Pogacar on stage two of the Tour de France in Barcelona as Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow jersey.
A day after Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike squad had their moment winning the opening team time trial, stage two belonged to their rivals UAE Team Emirates-XRG as they engineered a one-two with Pogacar allowing his 22-year-old teammate to take the win just two days into his debut Tour.
Vingegaard keeps yellow jersey with six-second lead
Fires mean no spectators and ‘adapted route’ for stage three
Isaac del Toro took a victory orchestrated by Tadej Pogacar on stage two of the Tour de France in Barcelona as Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow jersey.
A day after Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike squad had their moment winning the opening team time trial, stage two belonged to their rivals UAE Team Emirates-XRG as they engineered a one-two with Pogacar allowing his 22-year-old teammate to take the win just two days into his debut Tour.
Nick Kurtz's rise to major league stardom will now include a starting spot for the American League in the All-Star Game.
The Athletics first baseman assumed the starting position shortly after All-Star rosters were announced, when Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted out of the game, telling reporters he needs to prioritize overcoming a lower back issue.
That means Kurtz, who grew up about 90 minutes from Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park and earned the nickname "Big Amish," will get the start in what may be the first of several All-Star appearances in his career.
Kurtz, 23, was an instant smash after making his debut April 23, 2025, though his dominance of major league pitching came too late for him to earn an All-Star nod in his Rookie of the Year season. This year, he's hit 20 home runs and posted a .939 OPS for the Athletics, who are in their second of three seasons playing in West Sacramento's Yolo County before moving to Las Vegas.
Guerrero, who has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season, didn't exactly have the numbers to justify the position, yet the defending AL champions received such massive support at the ballot box that he held off Kurtz for the start. Nonetheless, he did not want to disappoint those who supported him.
"One of the hardest parts of not going," he told reporters. "It's very difficult for me. But I really have to take care of myself and I’ve got to put my team first for the second half."
Just four days into NHL free agency, Alexandar Georgiev is still without a contract — and what was supposed to be a reset opportunity is already looking more complicated than expected.
After terminating his deal with KHL Spartak and signaling a clear intention to return to North America, Georgiev re-entered the NHL market hoping to rebuild his value. Instead, he’s watching goaltending jobs disappear without his name coming off the board.
That’s a notable shift from where his career stood not long ago.
During his time with the Colorado Avalanche, Georgiev worked his way into a full-time starter’s role and reached his peak in 2023-24, when he led the NHL with 38 wins. He had also tied for the league lead in wins the season prior, briefly establishing himself as one of the league’s most productive regular-season goaltenders.
That same stretch also included one of the defining moments of his career — an All-Star selection in 2024, where he took part in the league’s skills showcase. In the one-on-one shooter-versus-goalie challenge, Georgiev stopped nine of 12 attempts from Connor McDavid in a minute-long showdown, earning $100,000 and a rare spotlight moment against the NHL’s best player. McDavid even joked afterward that Georgiev “had my number” in the event, a lighthearted but memorable highlight in his career arc.
But that version of Georgiev didn’t last.
His final stretch in Colorado during the 2024-25 season unraveled quickly, finishing 8-7-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage. After a move to San Jose, the struggles continued over a larger sample, going 7-19-4 with a 3.88 GAA and a .875 save percentage in 31 appearances.
That downturn reshaped his market in real time — and it carried straight into his next stop.
After landing with Buffalo on a one-year, $850K deal just before training camp, Georgiev’s situation never stabilized. The Sabres were ultimately so dissatisfied with his place on the depth chart that they claimed Colten Ellis off waivers, pushing Georgiev further down the goaltending hierarchy. That move effectively signaled where things were heading, and it eventually led to a mutual termination of his NHL contract so he could pursue an opportunity with Spartak in the KHL.
In Russia, he found steadier results, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage over 24 appearances. It was a clear step forward from his North American struggles, but not enough to fully restore his NHL reputation to anything close to starter status.
Now back on the open market, Georgiev is trying to find a landing spot in a goaltending landscape that has already moved quickly. With the first wave of free agency behind us, most teams have addressed their starter or backup situations, leaving fewer obvious openings.
And that’s where the concern comes in.
Even with a respectable KHL rebound, NHL teams are still weighing the same question: which version of Georgiev are they getting — the 38-win starter from Colorado, or the goaltender whose performance declined sharply in both San Jose and his brief Buffalo tenure?
At this point in the summer, uncertainty is more damaging than upside. And in a market that’s already thinning out, Georgiev’s path back to the NHL looks less like a return — and more like a waiting game that may not go his way.
Whether Georgiev finds his way back to the NHL, returns to Russia again, or ultimately decides to step away from the game entirely remains to be seen.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 28: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 28, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Probable pitchers: RHP Kyle Bradish (5-8, 3.77 ERA, 96 Ks) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.05 ERA, 42 Ks)
Where to watch: Peacock
The Orioles head into today’s finale of their Independence Day weekend series vs. the Reds looking for a couple of things. First, Baltimore is looking to complete only their third series sweep of the season, and their first one since sweeping the Rays at Camden Yards in May. Second, if they can complete the win, it’ll give the O’s their first four-game winning streak of the season. The often inconsistent Orioles have had six previous attempts at extending their winning streak to four, going 0-6 in those games with a combined -22 run differential.
And yet, since hitting their rock bottom of nine games below .500 after Tuesday’s loss to the White Sox, this has looked like a different Orioles team. They avoided a sweep in their series finale against Chicago, winning 6-1 behind a strong outing from Dean Kremer and a ruthlessly efficient offense.
The O’s followed that up with a 3-0 win in Cincinnati on Friday, as a rejuvenated Trevor Rogers combined with Rico Garcia, Yennier Cano and Tyler Wells combined for Baltimore’s second shutout of the season. Last night the offense stole the headlines, as a three-run homer from Samuel Basallo and multi-hit days from Adley Rutschman and Pete Alonso powered the O’s to an 8-5 win.
Carrying the hopes of Birdland this Sunday is former ace Kyle Bradish. The 29-year-old right-hander has had the highest highs of any Orioles starter this season, but is still searching for a measure of consistency in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery. On the Orioles’ recent West Coast swing, Bradish put together a two-start stretch against the Mariners and Angels where he tossed 15.2 innings, allowed only 11 hits, one run and punched out 21. However, in his most recent outing vs. the Nationals, he struggled with command, walking five in four innings while giving up four runs in an eventual 6-4 loss.
Bradish has faced the Reds one time previously, a 6-2 Orioles win at Great American Ballpark during his rookie season of 2022. That start was Bradish’s first back in the big leagues after a six-week demotion to Norfolk, and he rewarded the Orioles’ renewed faith in him by posting a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB and 7 Ks. Bradish has typically been strong against National League opposition, posting a 2.97 career ERA with a .217 BAA and 130 Ks in 121.1 innings against the senior circuit.
Opposing the Orioles’ right-hander is 28-year-old southpaw Nick Lodolo. After posting a career year in 2025, Lodolo started this year on the IL with a finger blister and has struggled to replicate last season’s form since his return in May. The former first-round pick out of TCU has been stronger of late, pitching nine shutout innings across two different starts vs. the Brewers in his latest outings.
The Cincinnati southpaw has faced the Orioles twice in his career, a win in Cincinnati back in 2022 and a lopsided loss also in Great American Ballpark in 2024. The last time the O’s faced Lodolo, they got off to a hot start thanks to an RBI single from Anthony Santander and a two-run homer from Jordan Westburg—both in the top of the 1st.
The O’s have been a below-average team against left-handed starters this year, ranking 22nd in baseball with a .702 OPS. Baltimore’s great neutralizer against lefties has been infielder Coby Mayo, with the 24-year-old posting a 1.056 OPS and 51.1% hard-hit rate against southpaws this season.
The start of Sunday's game between the Mets and Atlanta Braves has been delayed due to weather.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.
Once the weather clears, Nolan McLean (5-5, 3.78 ERA) will take the mound for New York, while veteran left-hander Martín Pérez (6-5, 3.27 ERA) will start for Atlanta.
The Mets have dropped the first two games of the four-game series against the Braves and are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
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