Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
You know the drill.
This is now an open thread
Now be honest. You were thinking “Here we go again” after the Cubs didn’t have a hit through the first four innings — just like Thursday in Washington. And this was true even though the Cardinals didn’t have a hit through five, thanks to Clay Holmes mowing down St. Louis hitters.
Fortunately, all’s well that ended well. Holmes, Ryan Rolison, Ryan Zeferjahn and Jacob Webb combined to three-hit the visiting Cardinals and a Seiya Suzuki three-run homer was all the Cubs needed to start the homestand on a winning note, 3-0 over the Cardinals in front of a festive full house of 40,374.
Those first five innings went by quickly, in little over an hour, because both Holmes and Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore were retiring batter after batter. Holmes, in fact, started getting his signature ground ball outs after a few fly balls in the first and second. At one point he retired seven straight Cardinals via the ground ball.
The Cubs ended any thought of a Cardinals no-no with Nico Hoerner’s single with one out in the fifth. Nico stole second, but Carson Kelly and Ian Happ struck out to send the game to the sixth.
Holmes retired the first 16 Cardinals, but with one out in the sixth any thought of a no-hit or perfect game bid was over when José Fermin singled to right. Holmes retired the next two Cardinals in order to take a one-hitter into the seventh.
Before that, though, the Cubs scored the only runs of the game. Tyrone Taylor led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and stole second. Taylor then took third on a single by Dansby Swanson, and Swanson also swiped a base, his 17th, putting runners on second and third. Pete Crow-Armstrong popped up, though, leaving those runners in scoring position with one out. The Cardinals removed Liberatore for George Soriano.
That’s when Suzuki launched a pitch into the bleachers [VIDEO].
More on Suzuki’s blast from BCB’s J0hnW53:
Seiya Suzuki’s tie-breaking homer was the Cubs’ 25th with two on base, most by any team. Nationals and Yankees have 22, and Mariners 20. The combined average of the 29 other teams is just 16. Suzuki’s was the Cubs’ 156th of the year, so their 25 with two on is 16 percent, about one of every six.
The Cubs did attempt to score more runs in that inning. Alex Bregman followed the homer with a walk and Michael Busch singled, but Hoerner hit into an inning-ending double play.
Holmes retired the first two hitters in the seventh and Craig Counsell left him in to try to finish the inning, but he walked Jordan Walker. Holmes then left to a loud ovation. Here’s more on Holmes’ outing [VIDEO].
And more on his pitch selection — that sinker was really working [VIDEO].
Still more on Holmes’ day from John:
Clay Holmes’ start was just the 22nd by a Cubs starter since 1901 of at least 6.2 innings pitched, with no runs, no more than one hit and no more than one walk.
Kyle Hendricks had been the last to do it, on June 10, 2023, at San Francisco: 8.0 IP, one hit, one walk.
The last at home had been Marcus Stroman, on May 29, 2023, vs. the Rays: a complete game with one hit and one walk.
Holmes’ was the 12th at home and second vs. the Cardinals. The first was 67 years ago, on April 21, 1959, by Glen Hobbie: a one-hit, one-walk complete game.
Frank Hiller did it at St. Louis on June 28, 1951: another one-hit, one-walk complete game.
Jake Arrieta and Ted Lilly did it twice, so Holmes is the 20th different Cub to achieve the feat.
Ryan Rolison relieved Holmes and did retire the only hitter he faced, Nathan Church, though it took 11 pitches and a bunch of foul balls.
Ryan Zeferjahn threw the eighth and struggled a bit with command (27 pitches, 17 strikes), but he did finally strike out JJ Wetherholt with two runners on base to end the inning [VIDEO].
The Cubs got a couple of runners on in the bottom of the eighth but could not score, and so it was left to Jacob Webb to nail things down. Webb allowed a leadoff single and then Swanson and Bregman combined on this amazing force play [VIDEO].
This is a perfect example of how good the Cubs defense is — and not only the great stop by Swanson, but the situational awareness by Bregman to know that Nico was not going to be in position to take the throw and so he had to cover second. Great stuff here.
Speaking of Nico, he made this nice grab for the final out [VIDEO].
Great pitching, solid defense and timely hitting — those are the hallmarks of the 2026 Cubs, and all combined Friday to make a satisfying win over the Cardinals.
Here’s Carson Kelly with some postgame comments about Holmes [VIDEO].
The Cubs move to within 3.5 games of the Brewers in the NL Central, pending the Brewers game against the Dodgers later this evening at Dodger Stadium (9:10 p.m. CT). The Cubs will go for the series win Saturday afternoon (weather permitting!) at Wrigley Field. Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs and Michael McGreevy will go for the Cardinals. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hosting the red-hot Boston Red Sox for a three-game set this weekend at PNC Park.
For the first matchup in the series, the Pirates will hand the ball to Bubba Chandler, who was coming off arguably the best start of his career. On August 8, Chandler pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits in a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets. It was his second straight victory, and he looks to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are going with rookie Jake Bennett, who is making his 14th career start. Bennett debuted for the Red Sox on May 1 and has been solid throughout his time with the team. The 25-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, rattled off four consecutive victories in the month of July, but he has lost two of his last three starts, including his most recent appearance against the Athletics. Bennett pitched 5.1 innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs in a 7-3 loss at Fenway Park.
Since July 1, the Red Sox are 27-9, but five of those losses have come just in the past week. The Pirates could take advantage of their cold spell if they can build off of their 13-1 victory from yesterday’s contest against the Miami Marlins.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA) vs. Bubba Chandler (5-8, 4.26 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below for the game day thread. Enjoy!
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of forwards, which is good for them in their quest to be a better team in 2026-27. However, that doesn't mean that they must be satisfied. There are improvements that they made, but they must not overvalue players in their organization either. If there is help out there, they should take swings.
One of those swings could be free-agent forward Patrik Laine, who is still on the market looking for his next hockey home. Of course, Laine was the second overall pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft. Since then, Laine has had tenures with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens.
Early in his career, Laine was one of the best young snipers in the NHL. In his rookie year, a second place Calder Trophy finish to Auston Matthews, he had 36 goals. He followed that up with 44 one year after, and 30 in year three. In his fourth year, he scored 28 in 68 games before the league was shut down by COVID-19.
139 goals in the first 305 games of an NHL career is elite production. However, when the league resumed for the 2020-21 season, things slowed down a little bit for him. He was traded, the goals didn't come in bunches like they were before the pause, and his reputation as a top-five scorer quickly faded.
The thing is, however, that Laine still has 3 20-goal seasons since then, including as recently as 2024-25. In his last 186 games played, he has 74 goals, which is more than solid.
During the 2025-26 season, Laine only played in 5 games, so he was not able to get his game going the way he is capable of.
However, there are reasons to believe he can still score a ton of goals if he comes into camp healthy and motivated. He is only 28 years old and has a lot of good hockey left if he wants it.
His shot is what made him so lethal, and that is not something that has gone away from his game. Even if his skating were to slow down, he'll almost always have that booming wrist and slap shot.
There is room for a sniper of Laine's caliber in Chicago's top six. With playmakers like Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane, and Frank Nazar around, he might find himself with a lot of high-danger scoring chances at even strength.
On the power play, they could use him as a sniper on either unit. Separating him from Anton Frondell with the man advantage would give them two big one-time shots to work with. Overall, Laine would make them a much deeper team.
Don't mistake Laine's sniping prowess for lack of solid playmaking ability, either. He has 198 assists in his NHL career, which do not grow on trees. Other goal scores on Chicago's roster could also benefit from an addition like him to the group.
Teuvo Teravainen is a fellow Finnish-born forward who could be there to help Laine get acclimated too, which we've seen be important in the NHL before. There are some stars aligned that make a transaction like this look feasible for Chicago.
Laine likely won't command a ton of money, either, which would make it a low-risk, high-reward type of move. They could get a lot of goals for cheap. Even if they give him a PTO with a chance to earn a spot out of camp, which he likely would if healthy, they give themselves a chance to add a high-end sniper.
There are plenty of examples of players having a career resurgence down the road, and Laine is only 28, which is not old in hockey years at all.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Raúl Jiménez marked his return to Wolves with the stoppage-time equaliser that saved them from an embarrassing start to their return to the Championship. The Mexico striker, who scored against England during the World Cup, came off the bench to convert a penalty given for handball by Ryan Alebiosu that would have had VAR questioning whether the defender was in the area when Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross struck his arm.
One minor consolation from Wolves’ relegation is that the video assistant referee is no longer their problem. Jiménez, who had bought scarves for all supporters in the South Bank in gratitude for their welcome home, tucked away his first goal in this second spell for the club he graced during their recent heyday before leaving for Fulham.
Continue reading...
DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors’ all-time leader in games played, minutes, played, and points scored, will not be making his way back to Toronto, after all. DeRozan parted way with the Kings and there was wild speculation as to where he might end up. Rumours abounded that he was destined for a return to the 6ix, or perhaps headed to Miami, but in a cruel twist of irony, he is going to join the team that the Raptors beat for the 2019 Championship to play alongside Stephen Curry, as DeRozan enters his 17th season in the league.
Shams Charania reported the news today on August 13th, conveying information from DeRozan’s agent. The 8.4 million dollars is far from the veteran’s minimum, but is a far cry from the more than 24 million he earned last year. This will be his lowest earning year since the 2012-13 season when he was on the Raptors.
This fresh start for DeRozan will see him stay in his home state of California, close to his native Los Angeles. While I personally believe that it’ll be good for the shooting guard to be both close to his roots and in a new city, it stings that we won’t see him play in Toronto at this juncture. Am I blaming the Kawhi uncertainty for this? Yes, and no. I don’t think it helped the Raptors’ position that they don’t have any clear idea of whether or not they’ll have a starting small forward in Leonard this season, but regardless, I didn’t see DeRozan playing a massive role in Toronto — at most, leading the bench mob — so it certainly makes sense that the wing would be happier in some different pastures.
While it’s currently unknown what type of role he’ll play in Golden State, the Warriors are indeed in need of some veteran presence and a baseline level of competency, considering how rough things were last year when Stephen Curry was out, a disadvantage even more pronounced now that Jimmy Butler remains out with a torn ACL. It’s likely that DeRozan will be in a starting role, one where he’ll be able to play off against Curry, his best teammate in years, and certainly his most pedigreed co-star.
I’d like to see DeMar get back to a 20+ppg form on the Warriors, even if he’s not with us. I think legacy is what comes to mind the most in the latter years of NBA stars, so I wish DeRozan the best in the twilight years, even if they’re not in the red and black.
At least, yet.
Cleveland has been flirting with a sign-and-trade for either Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson, but they needed more cap space to bring one of them (or anyone else of note) in, as well as re-sign James Harden. Which leads us to Friday's news.
The Cavaliers are trading veteran point guard Dennis Schroder to the Hornets for Tre Mann and cash, a deal first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charlotte will be Schroeder's 12th NBA team, tied for second most in league history (Ish Smith is at 13). Charlotte's head of basketball operations, Jeff Peterson, has a long history with Schroeder dating back to when both were in Atlanta at the same time.
The Cavaliers free up about $6.8 million in cap space in this deal, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac, putting them approximately $29.6 million below the first apron of the luxury tax (and by extension about $40.3 million below the second apron). That's still not enough room to trade for Watson or Kuminga and re-sign Harden, so either Max Struss' salary will have to go out in any deal, or he would be traded elsewhere (Mann also could be moved again). Cleveland has more options now.
Cleveland has remained in contact with Harden and his camp throughout the summer, Charania notes. Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option for this season to give the franchise room to chase players like LeBron James (who chose Philadelphia), or make a move for a player like Watson or Kuminga. Harden will re-sign with Cleveland for less per year but more total money across the multi-year contract.
The Hornets moved on from LaMelo Ball this offseason, now have Coby White running the point and were looking for a steady backup for him (Mann was not that guy). Schroeder will step in and be solid, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 assists per game last season, splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland.
Schroeder is a force in FIBA games (under international rules) and has played for the German national team this offseason as it works to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Matthew Liberatore was his best self Friday afternoon as the St. Louis Cardinals entered the gauntlet of Wrigley Field to play the Cubs for the start of a crucial weekend series. The problem was that Cubs starter Clay Holmes was even better. The first 2/3 of the game was a scoreless and nearly hitless duel. Wheels would start to come off for the Cardinals in that last third of the game, though.
There are no offensive highlights to share with you from the first half of the game. However, there were a couple of defensive gems provided by the middle infield of the Cardinals. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong was robbed by Masyn Winn. ROBBED!
The very next batter Suzuki was also denied base access, this time by future Gold Glove second baseman JJ Wetherholt. ROBBED AGAIN!
The Cubs would threaten to break through the scoring drought in the bottom of the 6th inning when Liberatore handed out a leadoff walk to Taylor. Dansby Swanson singled to center which gave Chicago runners at first and third with no outs. Matthew was able to get PCA to foul out to third for the first out, but that would be the end of Liberatore’s strong outing Friday. George Soriano was brought in to face Suzuki. During his at-bat, Swanson stole second giving the Cubs two runners in scoring position. The stolen base wouldn’t matter as Suzuki connected on an 88 mph changeup as it cleared the wall in left field traveling 390 feet and giving Chicago a 3-0 lead.
The Chicago Cubs 6th inning wasn’t over yet as Soriano followed the Suzuki homer with a walk to Alex Bregman and a single to Michael Busch still with just one out. Fortunately, JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Winn combined on a double play on a grounder from Nico Hoerner to end the inning with the damage already being done. The final stat line for Matthew Liberatore would look less impressive than the eye test where he looked extremely sharp for the first 5 innings. Matthew tossed 5 1/3 innings striking out 6 and only walking 1, but those 2 earned runs that crossed the plate along with the 1 Soriano was responsible for were a killer.
Peter Strzelecki handled the Cubs in the bottom of the 7th after the Cardinals failed to generate an offensive threat in the top of the inning. He pitched around an infield single by Carson Kelly to keep Chicago from adding to their lead. Ryan Zeferjahn was the Cubs solution for the top of the 8th inning. He struck out Masyn Winn, but Bryan Torres managed to pull a single into right field to give St. Louis a tiny bit of hope. José Fermín fought through a tough at-bat to draw a walk to give the Cardinals runners at first and second with just one out and the potential tying run coming up. César Prieto was that potential tying run, but all he could manage was a flyout to center for the second out. That brought up JJ Wetherholt who has had a solid season against Chicago pitching. Could he come up with a clutch hit? Nope. JJ struckout to end the Cardinals 8th. Wetherholt was 0-4 Friday.
Peter Strzelecki remained in the game to deal with the Cubs in the bottom of the 8th inning, too. He allowed a one-out double to Suzuki and also a two-out walk to Bregman to give Chicago runners at first and second for one more scoring chance. Fortunately, Strzelecki got Hoerner to ground out to keep St. Louis within 3 runs.
The St. Louis Cardinals top of the 9th inning would start with Iván Herrera. He would face Cubs reliever Jacob Webb who he would rip a single off of. Alec Burleson was next and he grounded into a fielder’s choice where Swanson and Bregman forced Herrera at second for the first out. It was Jordan Walker’s turn next. He quickly struck out on three pitches. Last hope for the good guys was Nathan Church. He flew out to end the game as the Cubs grabbed the victory.
It’s game 2 of the weekend series tomorrow as the St. Louis Cardinals battle the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field Saturday afternoon. Cardinals will give the ball to Michael McGreevy while the Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd. First pitch is set for 1:20pm central time with the game broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
Mark Vientos was back at Citi Field ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Nationals.
Vientos has been building his way back up at the team facility in Port St. Lucie.
Back in the Big Apple, though, interim manager Andy Green said the team is encouraged by Vientos' progress.
“He looks really good,” he said. “He’s hitting, he’s progressing -- it’s good to see him bouncing around, taking groundballs and hitting, so he’s moving right along.”
Despite the positive progression, the Mets still don’t have a timeline for a return to game action.
Vientos, of course, has been sidelined since fracturing his right hand on a Michael Wacha hit-by-pitch during a game in the beginning of July.
The slugger had been in the midst of another disappointing season at the time.
His struggles on both sides of the ball mainly relegated him to the short-side of a platoon with Jared Young at first base in the weeks leading up to the injury.
Vientos was hitting .211 with just 20 XBH’s and a .644 OPS across 73 games.
Young, meanwhile, has taken hold of the bulk of the playing time against both righties and lefties in his absence so it'll be interesting to see exactly how Vientos will be used upon his return.
Valeri Nichushkin knows better than most what the Colorado Avalanche looked like at their peak.
He was there when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. He played through a broken foot to help finish the job. Seven years later, he is leaving Denver — and his comments about the Avalanche's aging core are impossible to ignore.
Speaking with RB Sport, Nichushkin admitted he hasn't had much time to process the trade to Columbus.
“Honestly, I haven’t had time to think about it yet,” Nichushkin said. “I stayed in America because of family circumstances, and then when I came to Russia, I was getting settled.”
Leaving Denver will be an adjustment for Nichushkin after seven years in the city.
“I knew every street,” he said. “Now everything will be new. I’ll have to find a new place to live. But there’s nothing terrible about it. I’ll adapt.”
The hockey side of the move, however, doesn't concern him nearly as much.
Some have viewed Nichushkin going from Colorado to Columbus as a clear step backward, considering the Avalanche remain a Stanley Cup contender while the Blue Jackets are still trying to establish themselves as a consistent playoff team.
Nichushkin doesn't necessarily see it that way.
“At first glance, perhaps it looks that way,” he said. “But on the other hand, Colorado is now already one of the oldest teams in the league.”
Then came the comparison that really puts Colorado's evolution into perspective.
“When we won the Cup, we were in the top five youngest teams,” Nichushkin said.
That is a significant observation coming from someone who was right in the middle of that championship run.
The Avalanche's core has aged considerably since 2022. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the veteran foundation that helped Colorado dominate the NHL are still among the league's best, but the roster is no longer the young group that Nichushkin remembers from the Stanley Cup run.
And Nichushkin doesn't believe that automatically means Colorado is headed in the wrong direction.
“There are very good players in Columbus, a good balance,” he said, pointing specifically to Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko. “And that's how it happens in the NHL: a couple of trades — and everything can change very quickly.”
Nichushkin knows what he's talking about when it comes to Colorado's championship window.
He was instrumental in the Avalanche's 2022 title run, scoring nine goals and six assists in 20 playoff games as Colorado went 16-4 and captured the Stanley Cup. He also played through a broken foot late in the postseason, showcasing the toughness that made him such a valuable part of the team.
Nichushkin finished his Colorado playoff career with 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points in 74 games.
He finished his final regular season with the Avalanche with 49 points, scoring 17 goals and adding 32 assists in 72 games. He then recorded four points in 12 playoff games.
Colorado officially traded Nichushkin to Columbus on June 25, receiving a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028. That 2026 second-round selection ultimately became Egor Shilov.
For Nichushkin, the trade offers the chance to take on a larger role.
“There is an opportunity to get a more interesting playing role there,” he said.
For Colorado, meanwhile, his comments offer an interesting reminder of how quickly a championship roster can change.
The Avalanche are still built around elite players and still expect to compete for the Stanley Cup. But according to one of the players who helped deliver their last championship, the team has entered a very different stage.
The young Avalanche that Nichushkin helped lead to the top of the NHL are gone.
But can Colorado rebound from last year's disappointment of getting swept?
Time will tell.
The New Jersey Devils are a couple of weeks away from having training camp to prepare for what they hope is a bounce-back season.
Part of that will be making sure the young players feel good about themselves as they look to take the next step in their careers.
Not every prospect is going to play pro hockey in 2026-27. Some of them will be in college, some of them will play major junior, and a handful will be in pro leagues across North America and Europe.
With some of the graduations the New Jersey Devils have had over the last handful of years, they are no longer seen as a team with a top-10 farm system. However, there are some good players that the organization feels can be impactful down the line.
With the off-season winding down, this is a quick look at their top-ten prospects:
1. Mikhail Yegorov - G
Unless Nico Daws starts to truly dominate in 2026-27, the New Jersey Devils don't have their future goalie on their NHL roster. In the system, however, they have Mikhail Yegorov, who may end up being a star one day.
Whenever a goalie is a franchise's top prospect, they clearly have a ton of faith that they will one day see him in the crease at the NHL level.
Yegorov played in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers for a while before landing at Boston University in the middle of the 2024-25 season. He appeared in 18 games for them and lit the NCAA on fire with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
The Terriers rode that wave all the way to the Frozen Four. In front of him was a great team, but he really stole the show.
2025-26 wasn't quite as strong, but still good. The team in front was much weaker, but Yegorov would tell you he'd like to be better than the 2.73 goals against and .904 save percentage that he had.
When Yegorv eventually turns pro, he is likely to get some run in the AHL before coming to the NHL. By then, the organization would love for his skills to be defined enough to make an impact as a future pillar within the franchise.
2. Anton Silayev - D
The New Jersey Devils took a risk when they selected Anton Silayev with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. They likely would go in a different direction with the benefit of hindsight, but that doesn't mean that Silayev isn't a noteworthy prospect.
Silayev will play in the NHL, and it could be as soon as this upcoming season. He is a big, mean defenseman who keeps his opponents away from high-danger scoring areas with regularity.
There isn't much offense in his game, but as a middle-pair defender, he can make an impact by being very difficult to play against while other guys are relied on for breakout passes/offensive contribution.
3. Alexander Command - C
The New Jersey Devils selected Alexander Command with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is a young prospect within the organization and has a lot of development to do.
Command is a center who puts heavy emphasis on playing a 200-foot game, which would obviously translate to winning hockey in the NHL if he were to ever bring his game there with his full potential.
If he ever reaches the heights of being a high-end third line center behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, with a lot of similarities to Hischier, the Devils will have gotten the player they wanted when they drafted him.
He will never have to carry the load offensively or defensively, but he could if needed, which is exactly what the Devils will need out of their long-term 3C.
4. Lenni Hämeenaho - RW
Lenni Hameenaho just finished his first pro season in North America, split between the NHL and AHL. He is sure to graduate off this list by the start of the 2027-28 season.
Hameenaho was a key force for Finland in their World Championships win, so he should enter training camp confident and ready for more.
5. Seamus Casey - D
When Seamus Casey was dominating games at the University of Michigan, there were high hopes for him at the NHL level. Then, he had a strong 14-game stretch to begin his NHL debut in 2024-25, which heightened expectations even more.
Casey dealt with some injuries and inconsistencies in 2025-26, which has lowered his stock a little bit. He only appeared in 31 games, and 29 of them were in the AHL. Now, he has to work his way back up with good play in 2026-27.
Those key high-end skills are still there, which gives him hope; he just has to put them to good use on the ice early and often.
6. Matias Vanhanen - LW
Matias Vanhanen was incredible for Everett en route to a Memorial Cup runner-up finish. Now, he is going to head to Boston College where he is looking to get bigger, stronger, and faster.
If Vanhanen makes it to the NHL, it will likely be as a play-making forward who adds some offensive depth to a lineup. There is work to be done physically, but his ceiling would find him in the NHL.
7. Nikita Shcherbakov - D
The New Jersey Devils selected big defenseman Nikita Scherbakov with a second round pick (44th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.
This player has a lot of development left to go, as he spent most of 2025-26 in Russia's second-tier league behind the KHL. Still, you can't teach a defenseman to be 6'5", which gives him an advantage when it comes to pushing to become an NHL-caliber defender.
Some believe that Scherbakov has another level to his game that he could get to offensively, because he doesn't give much at this time, but the Devils should be focused on him becoming a great defensive defenseman with the ceiling of a shutdown third-pair guy.
8. Conrad Fondrk - C
Conrad Fondrk was a second round pick (50th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in 2025. He was with the United States National Team Development Program in his draft year before spending his D+1 year with Boston University.
Frondrk has seen his stock fall as his offensive numbers that he was capable of putting up have been declining year over year. It was a disappointing 2025-26 season at BU, and this is his chance to bounce back and show why he was a second-round pick.
Another lackluster year with the Terriers likely gets him bumped out of the top ten by this time next year.
9. Shane Lachance - LW
The New Jersey Devils landed former BU captain Shane Lachance for bridging a trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins back in 2025. Now, he is in New Jersey's system, trying to climb the ranks.
Over the course of his pre-NHL career, Lachance has shown the ability to create chances for himself and his teammates. Every team he's been on seems to outshoot their opponents when he is on the ice. That is a tool that could help him become a middle-six forward on a good team.
Being a captain of a top NCAA program like Boston University is no joke either. That level of leadership capability is sought after in NHL locker rooms.
Lachance did play in 62 games for the Utica Comets in 2025-26 and scored 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. He made his NHL debut, as well, but he didn't have any points in his one game.
Unless Lachance dominates training camp and the preseason, he will likely begin the year in Utica, but don't be surprised if he plays some NHL games in 2026-27.
10. Étienne Morin - D
Etienne Morin was a part of the package that New Jersey received in the Simon Nemec trade that they made with the Calgary Flames earlier this off-season. Now, he is a hopeful NHL prospect hoping to make his way up the ranks in New Jersey's system.
Morin was a second round pick by the Flames (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He is a 21 year old defenseman.
In 2025-26, Morin was a bit disappointing in the AHL for the Flames. They gave up on him and let him go to get Nemec, and now he is a project for the Devils. The two first round picks were New Jersey's top acquisition for Nemec, but Morin could turn into something if they work with him.
It is the offensive upside from the back-end that makes Morin worthy of another look. He has incredible puck skills, but it didn't translate to more than 1 goal and 7 assists during the 2025-26 season.
Visit The Hockey News New Jersey Devils team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Seven-time major champion beaten 6-2, 6-2
Williams, 46, loses 11th match of the season
Tsitsipas advances as Dimitrov squanders lead
Colombian Emilia Arango handed Venus Williams a 14th straight loss dating to July of last year, defeating the fading seven-time grand slam champion who is currently ranked 615th in 66 minutes by 6-2, 6-2 at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters.
The 46-year-old Williams was given a wild card entry at an event where she reached a semi-final a dozen years ago. She has played and lost 11 times this season while competing on organizer free entries.
Continue reading...
The stage is set for the Atlanta Braves to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Let’s take a look at the rosters.
Drake Baldwin is back in the leading spot and playing catcher. And hey! Look who’s batting in the ninth hole: Jim Jarvis is geared up for shortstop.
Now, both teams have put up similar numbers against each other’s pitcher, with all reaching above .500 OPS and over a .235 batting average. Both Chris Sale and Arizona’s Brandon Pfaddt are coming off successful stints in their past three games and have continued to show consistency landing their pitches in the zone.
Tonight will just be a matter of which team will show up the best.
Tune in at 7:15 PM to find out.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
Runs will be tough to come by tonight, as Seattle walks into Houston as +105 underdogs on Polymarket.
George Kirby and Peter Lambert go head-to-head, and we're leaning on their large sample size in this matchup as part of our Mariners vs. Astros predictions.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 14, and grow that bankroll before the weekend.
With 184 plate appearances under his belt, I'm tapping George Kirby to get the job done and cash us as a live underdog at Polymarket.
Over that span, the Houston Astros own just a .250 xBA and .286 xwOBA, while walking at just a 2.7% rate against the Seattle Mariners ace, giving us plenty to work with.
On the other side, Randy Arozarena (.251 xBA) and Julio Rodriguez (.358 xBA) are a combined 5-for-10 with a home run against Peter Lambert — let's ride this duo to the bank.
COVERS INTEL: One of the main reasons to feel warm and cozy about Mariners moneyline is Yordan Alvarez's numbers against Kirby. Over 22 at-bats, Alvarez is rocking a 29% K rate with just four hits to his name.Runs are going to be few and far between with this pitching matchup.
While Lambert doesn't have as large a sample size in this matchup as Kirby, he has still done a great job of suppressing runs here. Across 42 plate appearances, the right-hander is striking out this Mariners team at a 33% clip, limiting them to a .187 xBA.
Between these two pitchers, we should sail comfortably Under this number. I'd play this up to -130 at Polymarket.
Rodriguez has the most success out of everyone on the Mariners against Lambert. The three-time All-Star is 3-for-5 with an xSLG of .942 in his small sample size.
It also helps that Daikin Park has given up the fifth-most homers in all of baseball. Rodriguez has found his power stroke, too, hitting a long ball in three of his last eight games.
Daikan Park features a retractable roof, so the weather will not affect game conditions tonight.
The Under is 7-1-1 in the Mariners' last nine games against teams with a winning record. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.
| Location | Daikin Park, Houston, TX |
| Date | Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 |
| First pitch | 8:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | Mariners.TV, Space City HN |
| Mariners starting pitcher | George Kirby (8-9, 3.68 ERA) |
| Astros starting pitcher | Peter Lambert (8-6, 3.09 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
There is a difference between a prospect hoping to make the NHL and a prospect who believes he belongs there.
Tij Iginla sounds like the latter.
After a season in which he finally stayed healthy and continued to make meaningful strides, Iginla isn't approaching the 2026-27 season wondering whether he's ready for the next step.
He's approaching it with a much simpler objective: make the Utah Mammoth.
“I think I’m ready,” Iginla said during Utah’s development camp. “I’m looking forward to a big summer of training and pushing myself hard in the gym, but I feel ready.”
That confidence isn't coming out of nowhere.
Iginla, Utah's first-ever draft selection, has now spent two years inside the organization's system. More importantly, he finally put together a healthy season and believes the experience helped him add another layer to his game.
He doesn't point to one dramatic adjustment that suddenly transformed him. His improvement has come through the accumulation of smaller details — changes in his skating, movement and decision-making that can eventually turn a promising prospect into an NHL player.
He's even spent part of his offseason skating alongside Gavin McKenna, giving him another opportunity to study the subtle differences that separate elite players from everyone else.
“I'm just trying to keep adding those little details to my game,” Iginla said.
Now comes the biggest test.
Iginla's goal isn't simply to have another impressive development camp or show well during the preseason. He wants to arrive at training camp in September and force Utah to make a difficult decision.
“My goal is definitely to make the team,” he said.
That makes Iginla one of the most logical candidates to crack the opening night lineup.
But there is another prospect who could make the Mammoth's final decisions considerably more complicated.
While Iginla may have the clearest path among Utah's prospects, Dmitri Simashev could be the dark horse who forces his way into the conversation.
The 21-year-old defenseman has already had a taste of the NHL, appearing in 28 games for Utah last season. But his most encouraging work came in Tucson, where he emerged as a legitimate offensive contributor and finished with 35 points in 40 AHL games.
That production matters because Simashev isn't simply trying to prove he can survive at the NHL level anymore.
He's trying to prove he belongs there permanently.
With Utah's defensive depth leaving a potential opening on the third pairing, Simashev enters training camp with a legitimate opportunity to claim a full-time job. His size, mobility and ability to contribute offensively give him a different path to the roster than Iginla, but the underlying question is the same:
Who is ready to stop being a prospect and become an NHL player?
That makes Simashev a fascinating wild card.
Still, Iginla has something Simashev doesn't: the chance to directly address an area of the lineup with his offensive skill set and potentially force his way into a forward group that has room for a young player to emerge.
And he isn't waiting for an invitation.
During development camp, Iginla played with the urgency of someone who understood that every opportunity matters. He attacked drills, competed hard and eventually scored a hat trick during the scrimmage.
Of course, nobody earns an NHL roster spot in July.
But that wasn't really the point.
Iginla wanted the organization to see that he's coming for a job.
“No one is making the team out of development camp,” he acknowledged. “But the goal coming in here is to plant that seed.”
That seed has now been planted.
When training camp arrives, Iginla will have a chance to turn it into something much bigger.
Utah is entering another important stage of its development, and the Mammoth need their young players to begin pushing established NHLers for jobs.
Simashev could make the race more intriguing
But if one Utah prospect is most likely to make the opening night roster, Iginla has already made a compelling case that it should be him.
