MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim played the first six holes in 6 under before stalling Saturday at tree-lined Sharon Heights, leaving her with a five-stroke lead over Nelly Korda with a round left in the Fortinet Founders Cup.
Kim, the 30-year-old South Korean player ranked eighth in the world, shot a 6-under 66 to get to 17-under 199. She won the tournament in 2015 in Phoenix for the second of her seven LPGA Tour titles.
“I’ve been in the lead, so I want to finish tomorrow well,” Kim said.
Four shots ahead entering the day, she had four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 fifth in the opening burst that ended with a bogey on the par-5 seventh.
“The start up to hole 6, I believe, was unbelievable golf and I can’t even believe it,” Kim said. “I had a lot of birdies and eagle, too. But I did also have some bogeys I shouldn’t have done. The start felt like almost a game.”
Kim opened the back nine birdie-bogey-bogey-birdie, then birdied the par-4 16th to get back to 17 under. She left a 15-foot birdie try a foot short on the par-3 17th and parred the par-5 18th after driving into the left rough.
Korda birdied 16 and 18 in a bogey-free 66. She skipped the Asia swing after winning the season opener in Florida.
“It’s nice to have a clean scorecard wherever you play,” Korda said. “Doesn’t matter. With kind of how tough it is off the tee and into the greens, just really happy with my round today.
On Thursday, Kim holed out for eagle on 8 for a 63 and a two-shot lead She pushed the advantage to four Friday with a 70. Coming off a third-place finish last month in Thailand, she's the defending champion next week in Arizona.
Ruixin Liu of China and Gaby Lopez of Mexico were 11 under. Liu eagled the fifth in a 66. Lopez had a 68 playing alongside Kim.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul (69) was 9 under with Erika Hara (67), Karis Davidson (69) and Hye-Jin Choi (69).
The tournament began as a tribute to the 13 founders of the LPGA. It began in Arizona in 2011 and last year was the second event of the season and played in Florida. It has attracted eight of the top 10 players in the world ranking and kicks off a four-tournament stretch in the West ahead of the first major of the year.
PORTLAND, OR — Texas is going from First Four to Sweet 16.
The 11th-seeded Longhorns are keeping their March Madness run alive, upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga, 74-68, in the second round of the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament for their third win in five days.
Fresh off slaying AJ Dybantsa and No. 6 seed BYU in the first round, Texas went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs in a game where the lead changed 10 times and neither team led by double-digits.
Both teams traded buckets for the majority of the second half, but a spurt with just under seven minutes left gave Texas its largest lead at six and forced Gonzaga to have to catch up. The Bulldogs were able to make it a one-point game in the final minute, but Texas' Camden Heide, who hadn't scored all game hit a clutch 3-pointer with 14 seconds left that sealed the win.
In a physical game that was mostly played near the basket, Texas outmuscled the Zags, efficiently scoring while 46 of their points in the paint, compared to Gonzaga’s 38. Another key factor was Texas capitalizing on mistakes with 11 points off turnovers, compared to just two from the the Bulldogs.
Of course, the bigs were the stars of the night. Matas Vokietaitis followed up his big night against the Cougars with 17 points and nine rebounds, with another 17 points coming from Jordan Pope. The Longhorns were able to withstand another star opponent in Graham Ike. The Bulldogs senior had a game-high 25 points, but limited him to just three rebounds.
Texas becomes first First Four team to reach the Sweet 16 since UCLA’s Final Four run in 2021, and while it is by no means a Cinderella considering the resources it has, the Longhorns keep the magic of March alive, guaranteeing a double-digit seed makes the second weekend of the tournament.
Only four such teams were able to make the second round, and one of them – Texas A&M – lost earlier in the day.
The Longhorns’ run is remarkable considering how it entered the tournament on a three game losing streak, which forced Texas to have to play in the First Four to reach the field of 68. Tramon Mark’s game-winning shot against NC State on Tuesday, March 17 started the hot streak.
Gonzaga’s loss was also a rarity for the established program. It won 10-straight against double-digit seeded teams, not having fallen to one since 2016. The last team seeded 11th or higher to know the Bulldogs out of the tournament was Wyoming in 2002.
Texas now heads to San Jose, California, where they await the winner of Purdue and Miami (Fla.) on Thursday, March 26.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros throws a bullpen during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 14, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Looking at the schedule and the Astros’ plan to open with a 5-man rotation, there are certainly clues.
Back on January 5th, at the press conference introducing SP Tatsuya Imai, Astros manager Joe Espada said the team would likely employ a 6-man rotation frequently this season and that we would “probably see it from the get-go.”
With 26 games in 28 days to open the season, and their new prized pitcher used to pitching once a week in Japan, it seemed to make the most sense the Astros would utilize the 6-man rotation as much as possible to keep things as close to “normal” for Imai as they could as he adapted to the MLB schedule and level of play.
A little over a week ago, that started to change, and the Astros were unsure whether they would go 5-man or 6-man to start the year. That question was answered today by the manager.
Astros manager Joe Espada said the club will open the season with a five-man rotation.
That definitive statement was made before the Astros took on the Mets in Port St. Lucie today, in their penultimate Grapefruit League game of the 2026 season. It was a game stated by Mike Burrows, who followed Hunter Brown as the Astros line up their rotation for the season.
Cristian Javier will pitch tomorrow. Imai, who hasn’t pitched since he threw 3 shutout innings March 11, is scheduled to pitch Monday (March 23) in Houston against the Space Cowboys. The regular season begins March 26.
Lance McCullers Jr., who last pitched March 17, would presumably follow as the fifth starter. Spencer Arrighetti, the other prime candidate for the rotation’s fifth spot, has not started a game this spring and he was just away from the team due to the birth of his twins. He will likely either begin the season in the bullpen.
The Astros will play 7 games in a row to open the season. Right now, the way the Astros lineup, that rotation would run Brown, Burrows, Javier, Imai, McCullers, Brown, Burrows, DAY OFF.
Houston would then play six straight games: Javier, Imai, McCullers, Brown, Burrows, Javier, DAY OFF.
They would then play 13 straight games, and this is where the sixth starer would be introduced: Imai, McCullers, Brown, Burrows, Javier, Arrighetti as 6th starter, Imai, McCullers, Brown, Burrows, Javier, Arrighetti, Imai, DAY OFF.
After that stretch of 26 games in 28 days, they have a 3 game series with the Yankees and then another off day. This could lead to McCullers being skipped and giving him some extra rest before he would make his next start.
Against the Yankees, the Astros could go with Brown, Burrows and Javier all on 5 days rest.
Houston will then play 9 straight. With McCullers having been potentially skipped for the Yankees series, that could ultimately lead to Arrighetti not starting again until they need to create a fifth day of rest for Imai again.
The rotation coming out from the off day following the Yankees series could be Imai, McCullers, Brown, Burrows, Javier, Arrighetti, Imai, McCullers, Brown.
The Astros will want to keep Imai on 5 days rest, and in the 4th starter spot, it all seems to lineup that way for him.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 113-110. 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
A new reality for the Lakers in the Luka Dončić era will be the accumulation of technical fouls. After years of having LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the faces of the franchise — two players who did not often complain to officials or accumulate technicals — life with Luka will be different.
On Saturday, Luka was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season on a double technical with Magic center Goga Bitadze, the magic number that will result in a one-game suspension, meaning he will not be available for the Lakers’ game against the Pistons on Monday.
Looked like Luka Doncic and Goga Bitadze were exchanging words while Luka was shooting FTs late in the 3Q.
It’s possible that Luka’s technical could be rescinded. There was nothing particularly egregious about the moments leading up to the technical as it came after trash talking between Luka and Bitadze. But it will have to be a decision that comes quickly with the Lakers set to play the Pistons on Monday.
League rules state that, at 16 technical fouls, players will be suspended for one game. For every other technical after that, he will be suspended for another game. So, for his 18th, 20th, 22nd, etc., technical fouls, he will be suspended for a game.
In short, it’s less than ideal.
Prior to the Lakers’ game against the Nuggets on March 5, head coach JJ Redick spoke about Luka, who entered the contest with 14 technical fouls.
JJ Redick on Luka Doncic’s 14 technical fouls – two away from a suspension: “He’s aware that he’s close. And he’s trying [to not draw more]”
In those instances, Luka’s 15th technical came late in the season. That was not the case for the Lakers, who still had 20 games remaining when Luka moved to within a game of an automatic suspension.
Given the prior evidence, this is going to be something Lakers fans are going to have to monitor in the coming years of the Luka era.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket on Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Fiserv Forum on March 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Josue de Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Mexico at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers major leaguers are done with the Arizona portion of spring training, but there’s one more game at Camelback Ranch, with Dodgers prospects taking on White Sox prospects in the spring breakout game.
Dylan Garand knew the number off the top of his head. He knew that, between the regular season and playoffs, he’d logged over 160 games with AHL Hartford, and he was right. Before the Rangers recalled him Friday, Garand had served as the Wolf Pack’s goaltender 165 times.
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In a way, it captured the breadth of experience the 23-year-old has collected after the Blueshirts selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, but it also doubled as a glimpse at how complicated his path to the NHL has been.
With Igor Shesterkin entrenched as their $92 million goaltender and 40-year-old Jonathan Quick — the winningest American-born goaltender in hockey — entrenched as the backup for at least another three weeks, Garand’s chances have been limited.
Even when the Rangers needed a goalie to give Quick the occasional reprieve earlier this year with Shesterkin on injured reserve, they turned to Spencer Martin instead of their top goaltending prospect.
But this week, Garand could finally make his NHL debut. He could finally get a chance to show the Rangers that he could be their backup next season behind Shesterkin.
Dylan Garand is the Rangers’ top goalie prospect.
Robert Sabo for NY Post
With Quick day to day due to an upper-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan said that “depending on how this week plays out, I would anticipate Dylan playing.” The Blueshirts have five games in eight days starting with a back-to-back Sunday and Monday.
It would mark the latest instance of the Rangers testing their youth while in the middle of a public retool, and while Garand said he doesn’t want to think too far ahead, the debut would be a long time coming.
“A little bit,” Garand said after practice Saturday in Tarrytown, when asked if he’s thought about his debut. “… I think for me, especially over the last year or so, I’ve really gotten to know myself, and thinking about the future and stuff like that, I don’t tend to play my best. So just trying to stay in the present moment, and if I get an opportunity, then great. It’s just another game. I’ve played, including playoffs, over 160 American League games, so it’s just another game.
It hasn’t been a smooth regular season for Garand — his save percentage has dipped from a .913 last year to an .896 through 36 games — to this point, but Garand felt as if he had played “really well” over his last nine or 10 games with the Wolf Pack.
That marked a different tone from early January, when Martin was summoned after Shesterkin’s injury and Sullivan said Martin, the 30-year-old who’d appeared in just six games for Hartford at that point and was more than two years removed from his last NHL game, gave the Blueshirts the “best chance to win.” Garand had earned call-ups before, including earlier this season when Quick landed on injured reserve, but that never led to an appearance.
Dylan Garand is likely to soon get his Rangers debut. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Since The Letter 2.0, the Rangers have given 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault an extended look on their first line. They’ve given 22-year-old Jaroslav Chmelar consistent reps on the fourth line. They’ve used time on the penalty kill as windows of opportunity to experiment with younger pieces such as Tye Kartye. Garand, then, would be another player to capitalize on the organization’s current strategy.
“There’s a lot of things that have gone into the decision to bring Dylan up,” Sullivan said. “The biggest point is that he’s played extremely well in Hartford. He’s given those guys a chance to win night in and night out, and he’s deserving.”
Until this point, the marquee start in Garand’s career occurred last May, when he logged a game for Team Canada in the IIHF Men’s World Championship and stopped all 11 shots against Slovenia.
He occupied a place on the goaltending depth chart alongside likely future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington — gold medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, respectively. That allowed him to get a taste of NHL life, Garand said.
When he’s with the Rangers, he’s able to observe and learn from Quick, who he asked Saturday about what he remembered from his first game, and Shesterkin.
And finally, according to Sullivan’s tentative plan, Garand might get a chance to translate that knowledge, that experience from all those AHL games, into an NHL game.
“The thing about the American League, it’s the second-best league in the world but nobody really wants to play there in the sense that we all want to play in the NHL,” Garand said. “Like, we don’t take it for granted. We’re playing professional hockey for sure, but everyone’s dream is to play in the NHL.”
It’s a Spring Breakout solo game for the final time — by next year, it will be a prospects tournament during Spring Training. | (Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Among two games that won’t count, the more interesting contest pits top White Sox prospects at the top Dodgers prospects, held conveniently enough at Camelback Ranch. Ostensibly this roster represents the top players in every organization, and thus it stands to reason that the best at each position are starting in this game. See if you agree:
I mean, see if you agree with the White Sox; as of 100 minutes before game time, the Dodgers had not produced a lineup. Pro tip: It will be a really, really, really, really good one. Bonus pro tip: Some of these guys will be White Sox one day, given the habit the front office has had in trading with L.A. over the past decade or so.
No argument with anyone here, really. Interesting to see that Caleb Bonemer is already being pushed to third base, with Billy Carlson earning the start at short. Grant Magill gets the start at backstop somewhat by default; with the talent on the major league roster, the White Sox are top-heavy at catcher for sure.
Hagen Smith earning the start over, say, Tanner McDougal or Noah Schultz, is instructive — possibly. Coming off of a stellar (short) start on Sunday, Smith may be positioning himself as first man up when the inevitable injury hits the big-league rotation.
This originally was an afternoon game, but due to the scorching heat squatting on Arizona it’s now an 8:05 p.m. Central start. It’s listed as both a CHSN and MLB.TV game, but these days your guess is as good as ours.
With games that go on their permanent record looming (remember when adults threatened you about stuff going on your permanent record?) and a bunch of the NRIs playing in the Spring Breakout game, the White Sox are sporting a starting lineup that is at least very close to what they’ll feature in Milwaukee on Thursday, when things count.
Well, except for the pitcher. MLB listed Ryan Borucki, but he was cut yesterday. So, opening on the mound will be Rule 5 draftee Jedixson Paez, who appears to have made the team despite a lousy spring line (seven earned runs in 8 2/3 innings, but six came in one one-inning outing).
The Reds counter with 2025 All-Star lefty Andrew Abbott, who is set to be their Opening Day pitcher with Hunter Greene out for months. Abbott is having a horrific spring of 20 earned runs in 13 innings. Unfortunately for his spring stats, Abbott won’t be facing any minor-leaguers tonight:
Paez will also be facing most of the lineup the Reds are apt to use against the Red Sox come Thursday:
First pitch in Goodyear is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Central, when the temp may have drifted below 100° for the first time since early morning. No TV or radio on the White Sox side of things, as the broadcast teams are at the prospects game; try Reds radio, if you can.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 09: Mike Tauchman (50) of the New York Mets bats during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins on March 09, 2026 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that outfielder Mike Tauchman is set to undergo an MRI for a knee issue that he experienced in the team’s split-squad spring training game against the Astros this afternoon.
Tauchman collided with the right field fence early in the game and was visibly uncomfortable while continuing to play in the game before exiting before the top of the fifth inning got underway.
Signed to a minor league deal in mid-February, Tauchman seemed like a very shrewd acquisition and figured to earn a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster if healthy. If the results of the MRI don’t show a significant injury, perhaps that’ll still happen, but it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if he were to begin the season on the injured list, even if only for precautionary reasons.
Fellow outfielders Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr. are locked into the starting gigs in left and center, of course, and Tyrone Taylor always looked like a near lock to make the roster despite his poor 2025 season. And both Tauchman and top prospect Carson Benge appeared likely to make the roster. If Tauchman were to miss any time, Benge would obviously be lined up to the take the vast majority of reps in right field during his absence.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 04: Houston Astros shortstop Brice Matthews (0) dives back into first base to avoid being picked off against the Baltimore Orioles on March 4, 2026, at Ed Smith Stadium at Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After he went 2×4 with a 3-run HR today, Astros manager Joe Espada said he believes Christian Walker’s bat is coming around:
"He's not playing tomorrow, so a good way to end camp," Espada said. "He's making some adjustments. The timing, it looks like it's coming." https://t.co/BekKqXDm3w
Espada raved about SP Mike Burrows, who has been better than advertised this spring:
Joe Espada said Burrows has exceeded their expectations: "He had one heck of a Spring Training. We're really happy with his performance, but also (being) open to some ideas for us to help him. We're really happy with the way he compares and the way he competes."
Did Espada hint that OF Zach Cole may need some more seasoning in Triple-A?
Espada on Zach Cole: "He's getting on top of fastballs. When they're missing with offspeed pitches, he's driving the ball. He needs to do that. We need to have him find the barrel more. He's always swung at good pitches, but needs to be more consistent making solid contact."
The Astros have decided to open the season in a 5 man rotation:
The Astros will open with a five-man rotation, Joe Espada said, then likely go to a six-man during a stretch of 13 games with no off-day starting April 10.
This may indicate that Tatsuya Imai will open up as the 3rd starter in the order based on the Astros schedule and off days. It will also lead to bullpen decisions that will likely include multiple relievers who can go multiple innings.
SS Jeremy Pena has swung a bat 2 days in a row as he tries to be ready for Opening Day:
Jeremy Peña swung a bat yesterday and will do so again today, Joe Espada said.
Could Brice Matthews make the team as an outfielder?
Everything the Astros are doing signals that Brice Matthews could make an impact as an outfielder. Some matchups early in the season could give Matthews a runway for regular at-bats — and perhaps bring some stability to left field – https://t.co/Tw28pZmXlX
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Leo de Vries #83 of the Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during the second inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Enjoy these short games while they last, because this one could have gone on for hours. The A’s and Dodgers ended their Saturday afternoon contest in a tie, finishing the game after nine innings of work and tying 5-5 uner the hot sun. Who wanted those extra innings anyway?
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24, 2026: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
We are down to the closest representations of real regular season baseball that Spring Training has to offer. In a televised night game, Seattle is running out a largely-accurate lineup for their big league club, with their starters likely to go as long as possible and George Kirby making his final tune-up start before the season begins.
Seattle gets to face a batch of big leaguers, but decidedly the B-team for the Cubbies. On the hill at least will be Colin Rea, a starter for Chicago’s main rotation who should provide a proper test against the M’s top lineup.
Roster Moves:
The Mariners optioned OF Rhylan Thomas to Triple-A Tacoma formally before today’s game, and functionally did the same with INF Colt Emerson. The latter move is at least a minor surprise, with J.P. Crawford still not entirely shipshape. Seattle had the option to see Emerson showcase his position while Crawford returned to health. Instead, Cole Young will get additional play, with the club’s approach seeming to be that of Young for shortstop, and a possible Ryan Bliss/Leo Rivas/Miles Mastrobuoni combination to take 2B reps until Crawford can return.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 7: Ethan Salas #90 of the San Diego Padres stands on deck during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres Prospects at Chicago Cubs Prospects, March 21, 2026, 6:05 p.m. PST
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The journey is long from over for the Nashville Predators, but for the first time this season, they are in a Wild Card spot.
Saturday's 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights pushed Nashville ahead into the Wild Card 2 spot with 73 points. However, it needed some help to stay there.
Los Angeles needed to lose to Buffalo in any fashion, while Seattle needed to lose to Columbus in regulation in order for the Predators to maintain possession of the final playoff spot.
The Sabres scored three unanswered goals in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and handing the Kings a 4-1 loss. That kept Los Angeles one point out of WC2 with 72 points.
Seattle fell into a 3-0 hole against Columbus and was unable to recover, losing 5-2 and trailing the Predators by two points with 71. If the Kraken were to win, they would've tied the Predators in points, but have the tiebreaker in regulation wins.
To add a cherry on top, San Jose (70 points) lost to Philadelphia, 4-1, and Winnipeg (68 points) lost to Pittsburgh in a shootout, 5-4.
The Predators were the worst team in the NHL for the first two months of the season before turning things around at Thanksgiving.
By New Year's Eve, following a 4-2 win over the Golden Knights, the Predators were just a point outside of Wild Card position, the first time they'd come within a game of a playoff spot.
However, for two and a half months, the Predators could not get past the threshold, coming within a point of WC2 multiple times. Saturday's win was the first time that Nashville has actually been in the playoff spot.
It's an exciting moment for Nashville, but there are still 13 games left in the regular season. There is still more than enough time for the Predators to clinch and lose the Wild Card.
Its biggest challenge will come in a six-game road trip from March 29 to April 9; it'll see Los Angeles twice, San Jose, along with Utah (WC1), Tampa (Atlantic 2), and Anaheim (Pacific 1).
The Sharks also come into town on Tuesday, trailing the Predators by three points for the final Wild Card spot.
Nashville has a quick turnaround from Saturday, playing the Blackhawks in Chicago at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
In November of 2023, Roby Jarventie had every reason to believe his Ottawa Senators' career was well on its way.
From November 4-24 that year, the Senators' 2020 second-round pick played in seven games, including their two Global Series games in Sweden that year. But after being returned to Belleville on Nov. 26, that when the injuries set in, and he hasn't been back in the NHL since.
29 months later, that will change on Saturday night.
After Leon Draisaitl's injury, Jarventie was recalled earlier this week and will skate on the Oilers' fourth line with Adam Henrique and Josh Samanski.
"Yeah, I always knew if I stayed healthy, I'd have a chance (to get back to the NHL)," Jarventie told the media. "So, yeah, just really happy to be here, just enjoying every day."
Jarventie was one of Pierre Dorion's top draft picks in 2020 (33rd overall), but a month after the big winger's seven-game run in Ottawa, Dorion was fired. Two months after that, Jarventie ended up having knee surgery to correct a problem that had been hampering him for several years.
"It's unfortunate for him," former Belleville head coach David Bell told the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. "It's just a nagging knee that they've tried to band-aid along the last couple of years, and it just got to the point where he needed surgery to get this thing completely fixed.'
Five months later, new GM Steve Staios opted to package Jarventie up with a 2025 fourth-round pick (David Lewandowski) and sent him to Edmonton for forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson.
Jarventie was asked on Friday if he was given a fair shake in Ottawa, and trailed off a little as he tried to choose his words carefully.
"(My NHL debut) came pretty early in the year (2023), my first call-up," Jarventie said. "I remember I had a pretty good camp. I almost made a team out of camp and was probably the last one to get sent down. And then, yeah, pretty early, I got my call-up, so a couple of injuries, but, yeah..."
After the trade, in his first training camp with the Oilers in the fall of 2024, Jarventie's other knee began barking at him. As a result, he played all of two games in AHL Bakersfield last season.
So when this year rolled around, he was under strict load management orders. Early in the season, the. Condors treated him like a starting goalie, not allowing him to play back-to-back games. It seems to have worked out. He's had a career-high 36 points in 52 AHL games before his recall to Edmonton this week.
The Senators got Bourgault up to Ottawa for two games this season, so we're a long way from adding the Jarventie trade to the Sens' list of regrets.
But his draft selection is a different story, and it's not exactly a tale of hindsight either.
When Jarventie was picked 33rd overall, John Peterka was sitting right there, chosen by Buffalo with the very next pick at 34. The Sens had just chosen Peterka's German teammate, Tim Stutzle, third overall and fans figured Peterka was the obvious selection.
On Saturday, as Jarventie prepares to play his eighth career NHL game, now with another organization, Peterka, now in Utah, has 192 points in 308 career NHL games.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
