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Canadiens: Shielding The Headliner

On this second day of the Prospect Showdown, the Montreal Canadiens decided to rest prized prospect Ivan Demidov, and to say the fans were disappointed would be an understatement. The mere presence of the young Russian in the building has the power to create some effervescence, and his absence on the ice for warmups was met with incredulity.

The organization had been advertising this event with Demidov as the headliner for months. Yesterday, Pascal Vincent, speaking about his first line formed with Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Florian Xhekaj, said it was a shame they only had two games to work on their chemistry. Given those circumstances, it’s hard not to understand the fans’ disappointment, especially since those who attended the Saturday game got to see Demidov and meet Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.

Canadiens: An Injury And A Hot Start
Canadiens’ Demidov Steals The Show Despite Loss
Canadiens: Vincent Looking To Expand Florian Xhekaj’s Role

Pascal Vincent explained that the risk of playing him two days in a row wasn’t worth it, given how big of a summer he had training-wise, and that the decision was taken by committee.

Still, there was a game to be played, and the Toronto Maple Leafs elected to do exactly what the Habs were doing, shielding their best player, meaning Easton Cowan sat this one out as well. With the most skillful player on each side being a no-show, the game soon turned into what some would call “old-time hockey”, and within five minutes, there had already been two fights.

Toronto opened the score late in the first with a shot from the high slot that didn’t look all that threatening, but it still found its way past Jacob Fowler, who played for half the game, just like yesterday. Montreal started strong in the second frame, taking five consecutive shots on goal, but they then got into penalty trouble, and while they were able to kill Owen Protz’s minor, they couldn’t do the same when both Kapanen and Vinzenz Rohrer were in the box. Luke Haymes scored with a one-timer off the draw, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Another fight followed this time between Tyler Thorpe and Sam McCue, but this one seemed to energize Montreal, and Filip Mesar scored to bring the locals back to within one. With 20 minutes to go, the Leafs had a 2-1 edge while Montreal had the lead in shots with 24 to Toronto’s 21.

The Canadiens made a valiant effort to come back in the third, firing 15 shots on net, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Ryan Tverberg added a couple of goals for the visitors, including an empty net goal with a minute to go in the game. For a second time in as many days, the Canadiens lost the game, this time 4-1.

Of course, this is only a prospect tournament and results matter very little, but still, on paper, the Canadiens should have fared better this weekend. While the decision to shield Demidov is understandable, his absence was a great way to demonstrate how much of an impact he had on proceedings. Without him, the Canadiens struggle to build real threatening attacks, and they couldn’t produce as many scoring chances as they did on Saturday.

On the bright side, David Reinbacher looked better than he did yesterday. There’s a steady progression there as the rust comes off, but he’s not ready yet for the NHL; that much is clear. He will benefit greatly from a heavy workload in the AHL.

Still, in the positives, Fowler has the kind of mindset needed to play in this market. He’s calm and collected, and he doesn’t panic, no matter what happens. That’s the kind of roc you need in the Montreal net. He’s not entertaining to watch, but that’s not a negative; it just means his positioning is good and he doesn’t need to make spectacular saves, unlike Jakub Dobes, for instance. He’s not NHL-ready, but so far, his progression is on the right path.

In Demidov’s absence, Owen Beck was promoted to the top line, and he was quite noticeable on the ice. Not because he has the same kind of talent as Demidov, but because he excels at all the little things. He’s the kind of player who’s ready to do the things that “aren’t fun to do,” as Martin St-Louis often says. Vincent explained that in a single shift, he blocked a puck, recovered it in a foot race, and then landed a hit; that’s the kind of hard worker that can make the NHL because they don’t mind picking up the challenging assignment, and they’re not hung up on getting the spotlight and the highlight reels.

The rookies will enjoy a much-deserved day off tomorrow as the Canadiens will hold their traditional season-launching golf tournament, but will be back in Brossard on Tuesday to close out the rookie camp.

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Oh brother: Thurams trade goals as Juve and Inter deliver a derby that had it all | Nicky Bandini

A sensational game had siblings as frenemies, an English defender’s first Serie A goal and a teenage match-winner

Igor Tudor sat down, straightened his tie and acknowledged we had all just witnessed a “particular game”. Seven goals (including some absolute screamers), back-and-forth lead changes, brothers as frenemies, a star turn from one of Serie A’s emerging talents and a deciding goal from a teenager. “Particular” was one word for this season’s first Derby d’Italia. “Completely bonkers”, might be two more.

Let us go back to the beginning. Juventus were hosting Inter on Saturday evening in a game that felt like it might have arrived a little too soon for everyone involved.

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Ramp to Camp: What's one thing you want to see from Jaylen this season?

Ramp to Camp: What's one thing you want to see from Jaylen this season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Shortly after the Boston Celtics’ season ended with a disappointing second-round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, Jaylen Brown sat at a podium inside Madison Square Garden trying to process what went wrong and what comes next.

But even in the face of a very murky future for his Celtics squad, Brown projected optimism.

“I know Boston looks gloomy right now,” Brown said while pointing to Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and the disappointing finish to a championship-or-bust campaign. “But there’s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

So, what is next for Brown and the Celtics?

For Week 3 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick one thing they want to see from key members of the 2025-26 Celtics squad. And, for Day 11, that spotlight lands on Brown.

Our question was intentionally vague. Panelists could pick any sort of benchmark for what would constitute progress from Brown during the new campaign.

For us, it’s simple: Consistency as the undisputed top option while Tatum is rehabbing. The Celtics need Brown to bring high-level, two-way impact on a night-to-night basis if they want to truly compete with a roster that has felt the talent squeeze of the second apron.

Brown produced two of his best playoff games on nights when the Celtics were without Tatum. Game 2 against Orlando (36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Game 5 against New York (26 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists) against New York were proof that Brown can shoulder the 1A load when asked.

But now he’s going to be tasked with that indefinitely. He has to bring it every single night without having the safety net of an All-Star sidekick. But Brown sounds invigorated by the challenge.

Can he summon the energy to be as impactful defensively, all while shouldering the brunt of the scoring burden on the opposite end? Can he tighten up his ball-handling as his usage rate rises and the Celtics run even more offense through him? Can Brown make his 3-point shot a more consistent weapon for a team that relies so heavily on that part of their offense?

Ultimately, the stat line doesn’t matter much to us. We feel pretty confident suggesting Brown will be somewhere in that 24-point, seven-rebound, five-assist output on a nightly basis. A return to the All-NBA squad is waiting if he does that over 65-plus games, and a lofty slot on that 15-man team is there if Brown’s rebound and assist numbers tick even higher while filling all the voids of the departed.

There simply can’t be pronounced dips in his production. Brown would be the first to note that his seven turnovers as Game 6 slipped away early against New York was far too many. Brown pulled his turnover rate down during the title season and must maximize possessions this season without Tatum on the court.

The opportunity for Brown to assert himself as one of the NBA’s elite is here for him. It’s a daunting challenge given the changes but one that he seemed ready to embrace from the very moment last season ended.

If Brown plays with consistent energy and impact, the Celtics are going to exceed most expectations for the 2025-26 season.

Let’s see what our panel came up with: 

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Improved playmaking. Brown averaged a career-high 4.5 assists per game last season, up nearly a full assist from 3.6 per game in 2023-24. But he’ll likely get the Tatum treatment this season with double-teams galore as Boston’s clear top offensive option.

How well Brown handles those double-teams — can he find the open man while limiting turnovers? — will go a long way toward the Celtics’ success this season. 

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I think he has to make an All-NBA Team. I’m sure people would love to see him make First Team, but considering he made the Second Team a couple of years ago, just being considered among the top 15 players in the league is a fair bar to a player of Brown’s stature to clear in a season when he’s going to have to be the man for his team.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Consistent playmaking. We have seen some big games from Brown as a playmaker in flashes, but without Tatum, there is a lot of opportunity for him to create for his teammates this season.

He will likely see more double teams and different coverages and will need to be able to make the correct reads and rely on open teammates. I think he is up to the task. 

Max Lederman, Content Producer

I want to see Brown continue to grow as a playmaker and floor raiser.

JB is coming off a season where he set new career highs in usage rate and assists per game, but the challenge will be much greater without Tatum sharing the load.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

I’d love for Brown’s desire to play aggressive offense — attacking the hoop and getting to the line consistently — to be infectious for this Celtics team.

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Warriors reportedly upped Jonathan Kuminga contract offer to three years, $75.2M

Warriors reportedly upped Jonathan Kuminga contract offer to three years, $75.2M originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It seems the Warriors are eager to put the Jonathan Kuminga saga to rest.

After months of negotiations without a deal, Golden State, late last week, upped its contract offer to the restricted free-agent forward to three years and $75.2 million with a team option for the third season, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported in a story on Monday, citing sources.

The Warriors, according to Charania and Slater, are requesting the same framework as their previous two-year, $45 million offer, with the team option and Kuminga waiving his inherent no-trade clause. Golden State’s unwillingness to budge on the team option in both of their offers, according to ESPN, is a major part of the holdup.

However, the Warriors also have offered Kuminga a three-year, $54 million fully guaranteed non-team-option deal as well, ESPN reported, citing sources.

Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner, according to ESPN, presented the Warriors with a counteroffer in the last week, which is a one-year deal on a negotiable number, which essentially is a “souped-up” version of the $7.9-million qualifying offer. This proposal would give Kuminga a financial bump for the 2025-26 NBA season while allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and giving Golden State the opportunity to use his contract as an expiring deal at the trade deadline.

The Warriors, according to ESPN, declined the concept.

Kuminga was selected by Golden State with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and in four seasons with the Warriors, has averaged 12.5 points, 4 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 50.7-percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent from 3-point range in 22 minutes per game while struggling to maintain a consistent role in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations.

It appears increasingly likely he will remain with the team for his fifth NBA season, but in what capacity remains to be seen.

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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Newcastle’s new striker makes his mark, Emiliano Martínez is in Villa’s good books again and Noni Madueke’s dream week

Is Gianluigi Donnarumma a Pep Guardiola goalkeeper? He may or may not be, but he is an exceptional goalkeeper. Manchester United didn’t offer enough of a test even to begin to assess whether Donnarumma is good enough with the ball at his feet to allow City to play as Guardiola would like them to. Nor did they test whether his starting position is advanced enough to sweep up behind a high defensive line and prevent the sort of chances City yielded up to Tottenham and Brighton. But his save to keep out a Bryan Mbeumo volley, hurling himself to his right to push the ball wide, was spectacular, and drew congratulations from pretty much all his teammates. Even if he is not the perfect stylistic fit, Donnarumma’s presence, his commanding stature, the aura he projects, makes him the right goalkeeper for now as City begin the process of rebuilding with a notably young squad. Jonathan Wilson

Match report: Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United

Match report: Burnley 0-1 Liverpool

Match report: West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

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Cal Raleigh matches Mantle, M's beat Angels, take sole possession of AL West lead with 9th win in row

SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle’s season record for most home runs by a switch hitter with his 54th, and the Seattle Mariners extended their winning streak to nine by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-2 Sunday to take sole possession of the AL West lead for the first time since June.

George Kirby matched his career high with 14 strikeouts as the Mariners completed a four-game sweep and won for the 20th time in their last 23 home games.

Jorge Polanco had three doubles and has doubles in seven straight games, tying the Mariners record.

Seattle (82-68) moved one game ahead of Houston (81-69) at the top of the division, winning nine in a row for the first time since a 14-game streak from July 2-17, 2022, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Mariners had not been alone in first place since before play on June 3.

Kirby (9-7) allowed two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking none and leaving after 101 pitches. He also struck out 14 Angels on June 8 in Los Angeles.

Batting left-handed in the first inning, Raleigh had a first-pitch homer to left-center off Kyle Hendricks for a 2-0 lead. Mantle hit his 54 homers for the 1961 New York Yankees. Raleigh’s homer was his record-setting 43rd homer this season as a catcher, one more than Atlanta’s Javy López in 2003.

Hendricks (7-10) gave up nine runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Mariners third baseman Yoán Moncada left in the middle of the fifth inning because of a sore left ankle.

Christian Moore and Oswald Peraza hit solo homers for the Angels. Denzer Guzmán got his first two big league hits.

Raleigh's homer.

Kirby had his 36th outing of no walks in six or more innings.

Angels: RHP Caden Dana (4-2, 6.32 ERA) starts Tuesday at Milwaukee, which sends RHP Freddy Peralta (16-6, 2.69) to the mound.

Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (4-6, 3.54) starts Tuesday at Kansas City, which goes with RHP Michael Wacha (9-11, 3.45).

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Don't Overlook This Penguins' Forward Prospect

In less than a week, the Pittsburgh Penguins will begin a training camp that figures to be more competitive than any in recent memory. 

And there may be one prospect to keep a keen eye on.

Signed to a two-year AHL contract during the summer of 2024, forward Atley Calvert has generated some buzz. The 21-year-old - a product of the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL - has shown some flashes of a game that could translate to the NHL level, and he can put the puck in the back of the net.

After an excellent season with Moose Jaw in 2023-24 - when he registered 47 goals and 95 points in 68 games, in addition to eight goals and 20 points in 20 Calder Cup playoff games - the Penguins' organization took a chance on Calvert, who was undrafted. They got a pretty good look at him, too, as he was the teammate of former Penguins' prospect Brayden Yager.

And the 6-foot-1, 194-pound center didn't take long to impress Penguins' brass. In 38 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers in 2024-25, Calvert had 13 goals and 36 points, and in 26 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), he recorded nine goals and 14 points.

Calvert may be somewhat known for his ability to score goals so far in his professional career, but he was heralded as more of a deceptive, playmaking forward prior to signing with the Penguins. He's an intelligent player in all three zones, which fits the mold of many of the young prospects Pittsburgh has added to their system recently.

Calvert has a goal so far at this year's Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, New York, and there may be many more in store this season for the young forward. Don't count him out as a potential standout in training camp this year.

Four Penguins Prospects To Watch At The 2025 Prospects ChallengeFour Penguins Prospects To Watch At The 2025 Prospects ChallengeThe Pittsburgh Penguins released their Prospects Challenge roster for this weekend's games in Buffalo on Wednesday.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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Mariners’ Cal Raleigh ties Mickey Mantle’s record with 54th home run of season

Cal Raleigh waves to the crowd after hitting his 54th home run of the season. Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP

Cal Raleigh hit his major league-leading 54th home run of the season, tying Mickey Mantle’s record for a switch hitter set in 1961, as the Seattle Mariners took sole possession of first place in the American League West with an 11-2 victory against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon.

Jorge Polanco tied a franchise record with three doubles and Julio Rodriguez added two more with two runs and two RBIs as the Mariners (82-68) won their ninth game in a row.

Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first with a single and Raleigh hit the next pitch from Kyle Hendricks, a sinker on the outside corner, 409ft into the Seattle bullpen in left-center field.

Related: The myth of the Big Dumper: how Cal Raleigh became a Seattle folk hero

Raleigh said he had talked about the record with his father. “I remember him talking about [Mantle] like he was a god. Which he was,” Raleigh said of visiting Yankee Stadium with his father when he was younger. “It’s kind of cool to think about that.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson paid tribute to Raleigh’s attitude. “To do what he has done offensively, to do what he does defensively, to do what he does with our pitching staff, you just marvel at all the things that he’s accomplishing,” Wilson said. “On top of that, making history, and just in a very humble way, that’s the kind of guy he is. He just wants to win, and that’s where it all comes from. That’s the driver.”

The Mariners’ last division title came in 2001, when they won 116 games. Raleigh said he is concentrating on helping his team end their drought.

“You know, in today’s age it’s hard not to go on your phone and people are talking about it, texting you about it,” Raleigh said. “I’m trying to do my best to block that out. I’m glad that we have something bigger to work towards.”