The Detroit Red Wings officially open the 2026-27 NHL season on Friday evening against the visiting New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena, and continue to face more questions than answers.
Former captain Dylan Larkin hasn't rescinded his trade request (at least, not publicly) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson returned to Sweden while his representation tries to hammer out a deal with interim GM Shawn Horcoff.
Additionally, the Red Wings lost a key source of offense during the summer with the departure of Patrick Kane, and also remain in a holding pattern with regard to who will permanently fill the role vacated by Steve Yzerman in mid-July.
In this piece, we answer the questions submitted over the last few weeks, looking ahead to the club's 101st NHL season.
Q: When will the DRW announce who the new GM is?
A: Right now, that's still completely up in the air. The role currently belongs to Shawn Horcoff on an interim basis, and the organization indicated that he'll have a chance to essentially audition for the full-time role.
Right now, I don't realistically see a permanent GM being hired by the club until after the 2026-27 campaign, and I'd expect Horcoff to carry the interim tag for the duration of the campaign.
Q: Will this year be another close but no cigar year? Or will they be the worst team in the East?
A: It goes without saying that the Red Wings play in hockey's toughest division. The Atlantic is a gauntlet. The Canadiens are on the rise, the Maple Leafs made significant upgrades during the summer, the Panthers are far healthier than last season, and the Lightning still have no shortage of star power.
Right now, it remains to be seen whether clubs like the Bruins, Sabres and Senators can remain consistent enough to make a return trip to the postseason.
For the Red Wings to have a realistic shot at ending their playoff drought, a lot is going to have to go right.
They can't afford another slow start from goaltender John Gibson. Viktor Arvidsson will need to provide an offensive boost to help offset the loss of Kane, while the defense will have to tighten up.
Not having Larkin for the first two games or Edvinsson due to his contract stalemate are both considerable setbacks. However, seven of Detroit's first eight games are at home. If the Red Wings can get off to a strong start, the club—which didn't experience any major roster turnover over the summer—could potentially resemble the team that held a playoff spot for most of last season.
Naturally, it will all come down to how they perform when the going gets tough in the spring.
Q: Will Larkin be a DRW all season long, or a trade candidate at the deadline?
A: This remains to be seen. During his press conference in September on the opening day of Training Camp, Larkin declined to answer whether his trade request was still in effect.
He also suffered an off-ice training injury before Camp, limiting his availability; he's already confirmed as being unavailable for at least the first two games of the season.
Larkin will not be paid by the club if he refuses to practice or play, the situation that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finds himself in.
The Red Wings won't trade Larkin for pennies on the dollar, or simply just for the sake of moving on from him. He could very well be with the club for the entire season, but it's also conceivable that he could be on the block at the Trade Deadline, especially if reports that he's expanded his trade list prove true.
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\n\n\n\tATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Sebastian Walcott #1 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images\t\n\n
The 2026 Arizona Fall League schedule kicks off tomorrow, October 3. There are six teams involved in AFL play, and all three teams will be playing on Saturday. The Surprise Saguaros — the team that the Texas Rangers’ prospects will be playing for — play their first game at 5:30 p.m. Central against Scottsdale in the middle game of the tripleheader.
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You can see the full Surprise roster here. We did a write up back in mid-September when the initial rosters were announced, and the Rangers contingent that was announced at the time was fairly underwhelming. The best prospect out of the eight members of the organization announced at the time was either pitcher Jacob Johnson, pitcher Mason McConnaughey, or outfielder Paxton Kling.
Walcott was briefly part of the 2025 Surprise Saguaros squad, but appeared in just one game before being sidelined with an elbow injury. He ultimately ended up undergoing elbow surgery in February, which put him on the injured list for the majority of 2026, and limited him to DH duties for most of the year. Having just logged 187 plate appearances in the minors in 2026 (with a .325/.401/.590), primarily at AA Frisco, this gives Walcott the opportunity to make up some of the reps that he missed.
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Something to keep an eye on is where in the field Walcott plays for Surprise. Walcott has primarily played shortstop in the minors, with some games at third base, though he played just two of his 41 games this past season at DH, with two appearances at shortstop.
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Walcott could be ready to be a major league regular at the start of the 2027 season, in which case, the Rangers will have to decide where in the field he would play. Corey Seager is the team’s shortstop, and is still quite capable there, so Walcott would presumably not be an option at shortstop unless Seager is trade this offseason (which I sadly acknowledge is not out of the question). Third base and right field, however, are viewed as Walcott’s most likely long-term home in the majors.
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The Rangers have Josh Jung at third base, though his defensively metrics have not been good at the position, particularly in 2026. Putting Jung at first base, with Walcott taking over at third, would seem to be the most viable solution. The Rangers could then decide if they wanted to keep Jake Burger around in a DH role or as depth — and given Jung’s injury history, it isn’t unreasonable to think that they need a quality Plan B behind Jung, regardless of what position he plays.
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Alternatively, the Rangers could look at putting Walcott in right field, where Brandon Nimmo played in 2026. That would allow them to either have Nimmo get the bulk of his plate appearances at DH, while also picking up some playing time in the outfield when one of the regular outfielders sits or gets a DH day, or put Nimmo in left field, with Wyatt Langford moving to center field.
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Where Walcott gets his playing time won’t necessarily tip the Rangers’ hand in regards to their 2027 plans with Walcott — shortstop is the most challenging defensive position (other than catcher) in the field, and moving from there to another position farther down the defensive spectrum is easier than the other way around. If Walcott gets most of his reps there, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Seager is gone, or that Walcott is destined to start the 2027 season at Round Rock.
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However, if we see Walcott getting a bunch of starts at third base or right field, it would potentially hint at where the Rangers view him most likely contributing in 2027.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 28: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are in the middle of training camp, where fans were in long lines to attend an open practice at Capital One Arena yesterday. Before that practice, Bub Carrington was interviewed on WUSA-TV where he said that the Wizards were “held back because [they] were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”
Watch the video below.
Bub Carrington says the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa 👀👀
"We haven't been told to be the best version of ourselves. We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret" pic.twitter.com/yASjsgnUWD
Given the vision of Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, I’m not surprised the Wizards prioritized youth over a competitive record. From that standpoint, the Wizards are held back. But of course, it’s not like Winger or General Manager Will Dawkins will tell the Wizards players explicitly to lose games.
The Wizards have less incentive to lose games this season because they have Dybantsa now as their presumptive franchise player. A new lottery system that takes effect for next year’s draft penalizes the bottom three teams in the standings.
Do I think Carrington had to say this out loud? No. That’s simply because the Wizards’ actions indicated their direction quite clearly over the last several seasons.
On Friday, after the Phillies fell in the National League Wild Card Series, Bryce Harper said he expects the team to look “a lot different” next year.
He later clarified that he was referring, at least in part, to the number of players who can reach free agency this offseason.
And there are plenty.
Seven players from the Phillies’ 2026 roster are set to become free agents: Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez, Adolis García, Edmundo Sosa, José Alvarado, Brooks Raley and Tim Mayza. Three of them — Bohm, Sosa and Alvarado — have been around since at least the Phillies’ 2022 run to the National League pennant.
How aggressively Philadelphia approaches replacing or retaining them comes with another layer of uncertainty. The league is heading toward an unsettled offseason with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2026 season, creating questions about how teams will operate financially.
The Phillies do have significant salary coming off the books. Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker, both released before reaching the final seasons of their contracts, account for $38 million alone. If none of the seven impending free agents return, roughly $78 million in 2026 cash salary would no longer be committed.
A good portion of that relief is already spoken for.
Kyle Schwarber, Jesús Luzardo, Brad Keller and Cristopher Sánchez are all due raises in 2027, combining for roughly $38 million in additional salary. Jhoan Duran, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh are also arbitration-eligible again as they enter their final seasons of team control.
So there will be flexibility, but perhaps not as much as the raw number initially suggests.
Here’s a look at each of the Phillies’ seven impending free agents:
Bohm represents the most significant homegrown decision of the group. The Phillies’ first-round pick in 2018 remains a premium run producer at a time when productive right-handed hitters are increasingly difficult to find. He is one of only seven right-handed hitters to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the last four seasons.
His final numbers also don’t completely reflect the hitter he was for most of 2026. After a difficult offseason off the field and a rough opening month, Don Mattingly gave Bohm two days out of the lineup to reset. From May 9 through the end of the season, Bohm hit .274 with 14 homers, 73 RBI, 41 extra-base hits and a .773 OPS over 120 games while batting .347 with runners in scoring position. Prorated over 162 games, that’s a 19-homer, 99-RBI pace.
And he had quite the Wild Card Series, hitting the would-be game-winning homer in Game 2.
The complication continues to be where he plays. Bohm moved from third to first after the Arraez trade, but finished with minus-11 Outs Above Average and ranked in the first percentile among MLB fielders. His right-handed bat has value, but he reaches free agency without one obvious long-term defensive home.
Luis Arraez, 2B, age 29
Phillies stats: 46 G, .278/.309/.369, 2 HR, 21 RBI, .678 OPS 2026 salary: $12 million Approx. salary with Phillies: $3.5 million
The Phillies acquired Arraez and right-hander Caleb Kilian from San Francisco at the deadline for pitching prospects Marty Gair and Ramon Marquez. The three-time batting champion arrived hitting a league-leading .324, but his production dipped considerably after joining Philadelphia.
His influence went beyond his batting average. Arraez gave the Phillies a hitter who rarely swung and missed, while his arrival triggered several positional changes: Bryson Stott moved to third, Bohm shifted to first and Bryce Harper returned to right field. The defensive alignment improved, with Stott in particular showing how much value his glove could provide at third.
Arraez’s absence late in the year also showed why the Phillies wanted his skill set in the first place. He sprained his left ankle on the final Thursday of the regular season and never played again, missing the Wild Card Series while Philadelphia again struggled with chase and consistent contact.
The Phillies took a one-year flier on García hoping a change of scenery could help revive some of the power that once made him one of the American League’s more dangerous hitters. It never came together consistently. García continued to swing and miss at a high rate, striking out 84 times in 259 plate appearances while hitting below .200.
What he did provide was some of the best right-field defense Philadelphia has seen since Harper moved to first base. García’s arm remained a weapon, he covered ground and brought stability to a position that had been a defensive weakness for years.
He also quickly became a respected presence inside the clubhouse. His season ended in June after he tore his right latissimus dorsi while making a throw home, requiring surgery and cutting short any chance for the Phillies to see whether his bat could come around over a full season.
Sosa’s season-long numbers were a little deceiving considering how strongly he finished. Over his final 50 games, he slashed .275/.313/.493 with 16 extra-base hits and an .806 OPS in 149 plate appearances.
A large portion of his offensive value again came in key situations. Sosa hit .323 with a .923 OPS with runners in scoring position, with that OPS ranking in the 89th percentile among the 298 hitters with at least 70 plate appearances in those situations. He also ranked in the top 16 percent of MLB players in Outs Above Average and sprint speed.
Sosa played through discomfort late in the season and remained available wherever the Phillies needed him. He has been with the organization since the 2022 trade deadline, becoming a fan favorite while filling just about every role imaginable across the infield and outfield. His versatility and right-handed bat could make him attractive to several teams looking for more than a traditional bench player.
Few players have experienced more of this Phillies era than Alvarado. He joined the organization before the 2021 season and, at his best, developed into one of baseball’s most overpowering left-handed relievers.
But 2026 was a significant step backward. Alvarado continued to miss bats, striking out 70 in 58⅓ innings, but his 5.86 ERA and 1.65 WHIP pushed him away from the high-leverage role he once owned. The Phillies exercised his $9 million option for 2026 after his 2025 season was interrupted by an 80-game PED suspension, but the dominant version of Alvarado never returned consistently enough.
That makes this offseason different from previous ones. Philadelphia is no longer simply planning around Alvarado as one of its late-inning fixtures. It has to decide whether there is still enough upside to keep him in a bullpen that already figures to undergo changes.
Brooks Raley, LHP, age 38
Phillies stats: 16 G, 7.94 ERA, 11⅓ IP, 11 K, 1.94 WHIP 2026 salary: $4.75 million Approx. salary with Phillies: $1.4 million
Raley looked like one of the safer bullpen additions available when the Phillies acquired him from the Mets at the deadline for outfielder John Spikerman and right-hander Luke Gabrysh. He arrived with a 1.96 ERA in 45 appearances for New York.
Almost none of that success followed him across the division.
Raley allowed 10 earned runs and four home runs in only 11⅓ innings with Philadelphia, finishing with a 7.94 ERA after the trade. His struggles eventually pushed him far enough down the bullpen pecking order that the Phillies left him off their Wild Card roster.
At 38, Raley reaches free agency after two completely different halves of a season: one that made him an appealing deadline target and another that kept him from being usable when the Phillies reached October.
Mayza quietly became one of the steadier pieces in an otherwise volatile Phillies bullpen. He gave them 67⅓ innings, handled six opener assignments and finished with a 3.48 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.
He was never deployed as a traditional late-inning reliever, but his ability to handle left-handed hitters, cover multiple innings and occasionally open games gave Mattingly useful flexibility over a long season. For a club that will once again have bullpen holes to fill, Mayza provided considerable value relative to his $1.75 million salary.
The Phillies now have to decide whether that reliability is worth bringing back or whether the bullpen needs a more significant overhaul after another season in which the rotation carried a disproportionate share of the pitching load.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals scores a run in the third inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Dylan Crews’ first two seasons with the Nationals fell short of the expectations that followed him into professional baseball. He hit .218 with three home runs in 31 games after his 2024 debut, then posted a .208/.280/.352 line with 10 home runs in 85 games in 2025. There were flashes of power and speed, but little sustained production from a player expected to become a cornerstone of the rebuild.
There were circumstances worth considering. His 2024 season was a brief introduction to major league pitching, while a left oblique strain cost him nearly three months in 2025. Those interruptions made development difficult, but they did not erase the concerns surrounding his bat.
Entering his third major league season, 2026 offered a fresh start. Blake Butera took over as manager, and a new hitting staff led by Matt Borgschulte, with Andrew Aydt and Shawn O’Malley, brought different perspectives to a young lineup. Crews seemed like an obvious candidate to benefit from the new perspective of the analytically minded coaching staff.
The preseason optimism made sense. A healthy season and new coaches offered hope that the former second overall pick could begin translating his talent into consistent production. After two disappointing years, a breakout would have helped establish his place alongside the Nationals’ emerging core.
It was clear from the beginning that a Dylan Crews breakout wasn’t going to occur right away, as on March 20, the Nats optioned Crews to Triple-A Rochester after he hit .103 through his first 12 spring games. A season that was supposed to establish him in the majors would begin with him trying to earn his way back. The decision was controversial, but the fact of the matter was Crews had areas he needed to improve if he was going to have consistent success as a big league hitter.
His time in Rochester eventually produced encouraging results. Crews hit .258/.345/.432 with five home runs in 41 games. Over his final 17 games there, he hit .308 and slugged .585 while lowering his strikeout rate to 22.5 percent. He earned himself another opportunity in the bigs, getting called back up in mid-May.
Through his first 25 games back with the Nationals, Crews hit .189 with a .567 OPS. The return to the majors did not immediately bring the breakthrough fans had hoped for, and his offensive struggles continued. He was hitting the ball harder than ever, but also swinging and missing at a career-high clip.
July finally offered a glimpse of a more complete hitter. Crews drew 14 walks and finished the month with a .372 on-base percentage and an .801 OPS. The improved patience was significant. He was finding ways to contribute beyond hits, giving himself better opportunities to reach base and do damage.
Then August brought another reversal. His OPS dropped to .558, and he hit one home run in 28 games. Just when his approach appeared to be coming together, the production disappeared again.
September supplied some renewed encouragement. By September 9, six of his previous seven hits had gone for extra bases, including five doubles. He also homered and scored three runs in the Nats’ September 25 win over the Mets.
Crews finished with a .223 average, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .663 OPS. It was a slight improvement over his 2024 and 2025 numbers, but nowhere near close enough to guarantee Crews a starting spot on the 2027 Nationals, a team that in all likelihood will be aiming to compete for a playoff spot.
So where do the Nationals go from here with Dylan Crews? The draft pedigree and the flashes of success make him a tantalizing player that you want to give regular playing time to see if he’ll break out, but the struggles, especially against right-handed pitching, make it difficult to play him every day when better options may be available.
The Nationals coaching staff showed a lot of faith in Crews in the back half of 2026, hitting him near the top of the lineup even against righties, who he struggles mightily against. Paul Toboni has also said they view Crews as a key piece of their competitive rosters in the future. But through 225 big league games over the course of 3 seasons, Crews is not growing at a rate that suggests he can flip a switch and be an above-average regular one day, and he is creeping closer and closer to reaching arbitration, where he will receive a sizeable pay increase compared to his current salary.
I’d like to see the Nats give Crews one more shot to prove himself as a big league regular in 2027, but if they were to consider other options, such as a trade this offseason or turning him into a platoon hitter only against lefties midseason, I wouldn’t be opposed. If the Nats plan on taking another leap in 2027 into contention, they need to be maximizing value everywhere they can on the roster, and that starts with Dylan Crews proving he’s worth giving everyday at bats.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My brain melted yesterday, thought it was Sunday, not Thursday.
Anyway, today’s Friday. I guess.
Here’s the latest from Tarrytown as we keep hearing from different Knicks.
Mike Brown tells a story from over the summer about how he was riding his motorcycle and was recognized by a family of Knicks fans that followed him home pic.twitter.com/xSfvK355ok
On Josh Hart’s injured finger and the toughness it reflects:
“Josh, he’s a handsome young man. But that finger is ugly. So, I don’t look at it. But it adds to his toughness. Josh is a tough son of a gun, man. I can’t even watch when he [shakes his hand], because I’m just like, oh, my gosh I can’t imagine having a finger like that.
“But it just shows who he is. He’s tough but, more importantly, there’s dedication there to wanting to be a great shooter, and you’ve got to put it into work. And he puts in the work, even though his finger’s bothering him. And even though it’s a little crooked, he’s putting in the work to get it right. [Shooting coach] Pete [Patton] and the rest of the coaches are helping him out, and it shows that he can shoot at a high level with the dedication he has in the first place.”
On OG Anunoby’s playoff performance boosting his All-Star case:
“It should help him a ton because guys that are quiet naturally, they have a hard time getting the necessary publicity and promotion toward being an All-Star, unless you’re doing something extraordinary and people start talking about it — like OG in the playoffs. So doing it in the playoffs and having people talk about it should have carryover, in my opinion, since he helped us win the championship.
“And he was in the conversation for [NBA] Finals MVP. That should definitely help create calls for him to have a case to be an All-Star this year. He’s still got to go earn it, but he should be in everybody’s conversation from the beginning.”
On Anunoby’s shooting ability:
“He’s not [at Stephen Curry] or [Klay Thompson’s] level but the next tier. He’s way better than I thought.”
On Anunoby’s confidence, shooting and the Knicks’ spacing:
“His confidence is really high. And I thought during the playoffs we did a really good job of touching the paint and taking the right 3s. With OG being 6-foot-7 with long arms, if you’re closing to him with a smaller guy or a guard, it’s going to be good for us because they try to put their best player on Jalen, and sometimes, their best player is a bigger perimeter defender.
“So that means OG may have a smaller guy [defending him]. That’s not impacting him when he shoots the basketball.
“So I think first starts off with him, yes; he’s way better than what I thought. I would categorize him as a great shooter. But more importantly, I thought our spacing and our ability to touch the paint and spray it helped out a lot.”
On his plans for the preseason games:
“We’ll try to ease them in. The last game is always a dress rehearsal, but we’ll try to build them up leading to that game.”
On the Knicks’ conditioning entering camp after a short summer:
“All the guys look like they’re in pretty good shape, especially for a short summer. We have a conditioning test that we did last year and this year that the guys have to pass to get into camp and they all passed it.”
On James Wiseman’s presence at training camp:
“Fantastic human being, fantastic young man…. Good to see him in the gym. When you’re that long and that athletic, with skill – he has skill – there’s a place for you in this league. Sometimes it takes the right moment, the right team, the right situation, all that stuff, to be able to fit someplace and grow. We have a lot of great guys in camp that have potential of impacting us in a lot of different ways throughout the course of the year. He’s definitely one of the many guys that we have that we’re excited about.”
On Tony Bradley after his training camp signing:
“We’re looking for bigs. Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game, knows how to play the game the right way and he’s hurt us in the past. To be honest, when a guy hurts you in the past, you tend to remember him more than others. So to be able to add him to camp was a positive for us because again, I said this last year, (Karl-Anthony Towns) has one of the most (challenging positions) out of everybody because I want to move him around when I play him at center. I want to play him at power forward; (when he’s at) power forward 1-4 is interchangeable. Same with OG (Anunoby). OG we put him at the 5 last year. We probably will do it a little bit more this year as well.
“But to be able to do that, you’ve gotta have enough centers around on the team, so having Tony here with his skill set and feel is definitely a blessing because we’re looking at that position heavily.”
Question for Josh Hart on Jalen Brunson: "Was there a moment this summer where you were like, 'Holy crap, my best friend from college is so freakin' famous now?'"
“The only option for my finger at this point, because of how damaged it is, is a full joint replacement. With a joint replacement, you can’t have the banging, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that. You can’t do that. So if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn’t be able to play. So I guess it’s either wrap it until I retire or cut it off. I guess that’s the other option. That’s really the only alternative: either joint replacement, let it go, or, I guess, amputation.
“I mean, there was a lot of stuff that I had to get checked, and that was one of them. It was just with how it deteriorated, the joint and the bone and everything, that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully, they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if y’all didn’t realize. So I’m hoping after that joint replacement it can kind of get a little straighter.”
On how the pain in his finger varies from day to day:
“Some days, it’ll be good. Some days it’ll hurt to catch the ball. It varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up what’s gonna be good, what’s gonna be bad. Somedays it’s good, like a regular functioning finger. And other days it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist.”
On why a joint replacement would prevent him from playing basketball:
“You can’t have the banging, you know, repetitive, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that; you can’t do that. It was just with how it deteriorated — the joint and the bone and everything — that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if you know y’all didn’t realize.”
On the appearance and functionality of his injured finger:
“I mean, it’s it’s not the prettiest to look at. I would love to have a straight finger, but you know, it works.”
On the physical toll of an NBA career and what fans don’t get:
“I think people think money is everything, and for me, obviously, you want to be compensated fairly for your performance and all that. But at the end of the day, just because you get paid, be blessed in a position to get paid well and take care of our families, [it’s not like] we’re not humans at the same time. I’m sitting here thinking, my knees are aching a little bit, but I want to leave the game and be able to run around and play with my kids when they’re you know 10, 11,12-plus. So that wear and tear, it’s significant to a certain point. If you’re in this league for 14, 15, 16 years, and you see some of these guys that are older, they they got limps, knees are barking, those kind of things. So I think that definitely gets overlooked. But that’s also why I don’t think I’ll play till I’m 40.”
On OG Anunoby’s increased recognition helping his All-Star chances:
“It’s extremely impactful. Obviously, you have to be a gifted and good player to make an All-Star team, but also you have to have the press and all that kind of behind you, bolstering it. So it’s good for people to see how talented he is, how impactful he is on both sides of the ball in the game. So hopefully that recognition will continue throughout this year, and hopefully we’ll be able to get him in.”
On Jalen Brunson’s increased fame following the Knicks title:
“He’s not LeBron, let’s relax.”
On planning to attend Yankees Game 3:
“I think I’m going to be able to get to Game 3. We have a preseason game the next day. So I’m excited, man. I’m excited for New York. Excited for that team.”
"I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn't know it was a thing until then. I'm glad it worked out."
On OG Anunoby’s playoff success boosting his confidence:
“That’s definitely a boost of confidence going into this year. OG knows how good he is, and we know how good he is. So he’s gonna continue doing what he does.”
On learning the backcourt rule during his late Game 4 possession:
“I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn’t know it was a thing until then. I’m glad it worked out.”
On what has allowed the Knicks to embrace their roles:
“We care for each other, we compete, we want to get each other better”
On whether he always planned to return to the Knicks before signing his extension:
“In my mind, yeah. ‘I want to stay here, I want to stay home.’ We had a chance to do that, and we did it.”
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays salutes the crowd before pitching against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 27, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is a slow time of year for baseball news, if your team isn’t in the playoffs. MLB doesn’t like teams to make news during the playoffs, because they want the focus to be on the playoff teams, which is fair.
Jameson Taillon is going to have elbow surgery next week. He’s had Tommy John twice but says ‘there is a good chance’ he can get by with the internal brace this time. He’ll be a free agent this off-season, and likely won’t be getting the $18 million he got last year.
And Ross Atkins talked to the press the other day. I used to be interested in the ‘end of season’ questions and answers thing, but I’ve come to realize that they don’t tell you anything. I used to make fun of Alex Anthopoulos talking a lot and saying nothing. I figured he knew the longer he talked the fewer questions he would have to take.
But Ross said all the things you have to say, Ernie Clement isn’t guaranteed the second base job. They are putting together a plan for Vlad. They need to find some power. And they need to find some starting pitchers who can make 30 starts a year. And “everything needs to be assessed”.
Anyway, use the thread to talk about the Wild Card round or the Jays off-season or anything you’d like.
Eight teams remain in the hunt for a World Series title after the conclusion of the wild-card round, with best-of-five matchups on tap to determine which teams make the American and National League Championship Series later this month.
There’s no denying the blockbuster that rocked the NHL on the eve of the season start has impacted both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. On Tuesday, Kirill Marchenko seemed to be everywhere against the Montreal Canadiens, and he got an assist. On Thursday night, in his first game as a Blue Jacket, Matthew Knies scored two goals, added an assist, and was named the first star of the game.
Unsurprisingly, the blockbuster was discussed at length on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast by Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. The NHL insider confirmed that Habs GM Kent Hughes tried everything to land Marchenko:
I tried to figure out what Montreal did at the end; I heard that Montreal was trying to be really creative. I think they were trying to involve other teams. I’m not 100% sure whether they were trying to get other teams to get one of these extra Columbus guys, or whether they were trying to take a player from another team and put them in Columbus. Because I just always heard that Columbus wasn’t crazy about what Montreal offered. There were some good players in there, some futures; Columbus didn’t really want futures, and they just never had anything close to Knies. Like, I heard there was another player they were trying to get to Columbus from another team. I thought I knew who that guy was, but the other team has denied it, so I’m still working, Kyle, on who that guy was or who the guys were.
At this stage, this shouldn’t surprise anyone. Hughes said he was very active this summer but didn't manage to close the deal on his main target. Of course, the Canadiens’ GM didn’t confirm who his target was, but with multiple reports identifying Marchenko as the target, it makes sense.
As we mentioned in the hours following the trade, Hughes didn’t come away with the big prize despite trying; Friedman confirmed it came down to the Jackets not wanting what they had to offer. What’s new, however, is that they tried hard to involve other teams to get the Jackets what they wanted, even if it wasn’t from the Habs themselves, but it didn’t work. Still, the insider also confirms that Montreal was one of the most active teams this summer:
Montreal, no question, had been the most serious pursuer all summer. From the moment that Marchenko was potentially available. He’d let the Blue Jackets know he wasn’t going to re-sign there. They were the team that chased the hardest. And word behind the scenes was that he was more than happy to go there. I think that’s one of the most interesting storylines about this whole thing, Kyle: is that word early in July was that he was willing to go to Montreal, but he wasn’t so crazy about Toronto. Somewhere over the summer, that changed.
- Friedman on Marchenko wanting to come to Montreal
That might be a consolation for Habs fans; it's further proof, after Noah Dobson and Chris Kreider, that players want to come to Montreal now. If Marchenko had been free to choose his destination, the Canadiens would likely have been his choice. However, the Blue Jackets were in the driver’s seat, and they handled a difficult situation very well.
Hughes’s back to the drawing board if he wants an impact player, but that may have to wait until the offseason; who knows. With the salary cap rising, though, if a star player becomes an unrestricted free agent, it wouldn’t be a shock if they chose Montreal as a landing spot. The Canadiens have the money, the cap space, and a coach the players love. Until then, the players must do their part: keep winning, because at the end of the day, that’s what will make players chasing a Stanley Cup choose this team. Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars will be a UFA this summer, and the summer after that, it will be Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers have allowed 13 goals through two games; their goaltending still isn’t sorted out, and neither is their defense. Whether they want it or not, they are slowly but surely pushing McDavid toward the exit.
MESA, AZ - MARCH 23: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Monday, March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The long offseason is upon us. The A’s have lots to do this offseason. First things first, the team needs to decide on a new General Manager, one that’ll lead the team into Las Vegas and hopefully build a winning playoff team before long. Whoever gets the job will be given the bones of a quality position player group, but with lots to fix on the pitching side of things. It won’t be an overnight fix and the new voice will want to build the team in his or her imagine, but the sooner we pick a person to lead us the better.
Turning to the schedule this offseason, there’s a few critical dates that we should all have on our calendars. A lot of this will obviously depend on the possibility of an impending lockout. If the owners and players can’t agree to a new deal before December 1st (which seems likely), then that’ll throw a huge wrench in the plans of every team in the league, including the A’s. Nothing we can do about that though.
End of the World Series
The day after the Fall Classic is over, the rest of baseball is technically able to begin trades and sign their own players to contracts or extensions. There isn’t usually any big moves or news during this time but it’s always a possibility. Teams and agents can talk to each other during this time, but only the previous team can come to terms with an official contract.
During this time teams and players also need to decide on their options for next season. This year the A’s have a couple decisions to make, both of which should be easy. Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil will both see their options for next year declined, sending them to free agency. On the other side of the coin starter Luis Severino is almost certain to pick up his $22 million option for next year, rejoining the club for a third year.
Five Days After The World Series: Free Agency Begins
Once the shock of the World Series subsides, the rest of the league can begin turning their attention back to their own organizations. Free agents are now able to sign with whoever they want but unlike in other sports there’s not usually a sudden rush of signings. Still, this is the day where any big contract announcement can come at any moment the rest of the winter.
Mid-November: Award Season
Once baseball is over it’s time to start handing out the end-of-year awards. The A’s won’t have anyone take home any trophies this offseason but there might be some honors. Langeliers could win the Silver Slugger for AL catcher even with the missed time. And while he won’t win the award, it’ll be interesting to see where Henry Bolte finishes in Rookie of the Year voting.
Friday, November 20th: Non-tender Deadline
This is a big date for the Athletics this offseason. The team will need to decide which players they want to keep paying, and which they’re comfortable cutting and letting hit the free agent market. Cornerstone guys like Shea Langeliers and Zack Gelof are clearly not going to be non-tendered, but there are players under the knife. Is it time for the A’s to move on from guys like Darell Hernaiz and Joey Estes instead of giving them raises? Lots of decisions to make before this date.
Second Week of December: Winter Meetings
If there is a deal in place, this year’s Winter Meetings would likely take place between December 7th and 10th. During this time there’s lots of deals and trades being made, as well as plenty of groundwork for later deals and trades that come later on. The A’s haven’t been especially active at these meetings and that’d be unlikely to change with a the new GM still likely getting their sea legs under them.
Another event that usually happens during the Winter Meetings is the Draft Lottery. The A’s are tied with the Rockies and Angels for the best odds to win the top pick at 16.5%. The lottery hasn’t gone the Athletics’ way in recent years but they’ve made it work (Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Jamie Arnold). One way or another there’ll be a lottery, it just may be delayed if there’s no deal.
Last Day of Winter Meetings: Rule 5 Draft
Again, this could be one of the first casualties of a lockout. The 2022 lockout didn’t cost games but delayed the season and the Rule 5 draft was cancelled altogether. That’s an entirely possible outcome again this time around, which is especially disappointing for the teams at the bottom like the A’s. Since we ended the year with one of the worst records the Athletics would have one of the top picks. No guarantee of getting a good player, but the A’s need all the opportunities to add talent and the Rule 5 draft being cancelled would deprive them of one more path to adding a potential piece.
January 15th: International Signing Period Begins
The A’s have always dipped their toes into the international market but have yet to have much success on that front. Lots of teams and players have already come to handshake agreements for contracts but this would be the date they put pen to paper. The A’s will likely have around $7-8 million to spend on a lottery ticket so to speak.
Arbitration deadline: Mid-January
Assuming all goes normally this offseason (a massive hypothetical), the deadline for arbitration-eligible players and teams to file their proposed salary figures is roughly around this time. The A’s have a small arbitration class this year headlined by Langeliers. The other four are Zack Gelof, lefty Hogan Harris, and righty Luis Medina. The A’s should be able to wrap those four contracts up without the need to go to a hearing.
February 9th/10th: Pitchers & Catcher Report
While it hasn’t technically been announced, pitchers and catchers generally arrive to camp 10 days before the first spring training game. That’d mean we’re looking at around February 9th or 10th for when the first players arrive to camp.
February 14th/15th: First full squad workout
Five days later the position players will arrive to camp and the full team will be together for the first time. They’ll be with these guys for the better part of the next seven months.
February 19th: First Spring Training Game
And then we finally get our first game action on the 19th, a Friday afternoon matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Only 140 days to go!
Title rivals bring upgrades to first Grand Prix in Malaysia since 2017 on a demanding but well liked circuit
While the byzantine nomenclature of this weekend’s “Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia” will have Formula One’s statisticians muttering darkly under their breath for years to come, the import of the sport’s return to the Sepang circuit remains all too straightforward at the sharp end. Complicated only perhaps by a Red Bull resurgence and an enthused Max Verstappen, determined to make his mark on the championship run-in.
The return to Malaysia for its first race since 2017 has been welcomed in F1. It is a much-liked circuit among drivers, albeit the high temperatures and humidity make for an enormous physical challenge.
Just over 24 hours before the most eventful and surprising offseason in the history of the Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was, at long last, scheduled to conclude, general manager Pat Verbeek had one more trick up his sleeve as the team announced on Thursday, the day before the puck was set to drop on their 2026-27 campaign, that they’d signed young defenseman Tristan Luneau (22) to a six-year, $7.2 million AAV contract extension. The contract will go into effect at the start of the 2027-28 season.
Upon the news breaking, the majority of the hockey world understandably questioned Luneau’s merit to earn such a significant payday and Verbeek’s methodology in handing out a contract to someone with Luneau’s experience (or lack thereof).
So, who is Tristan Luneau and why did the Ducks sign him to such a large contract?
“It’s great. I get to play hockey for six more years,” Luneau stated moments after putting pen to paper. “It’s a great moment for me and my family. It’s a group I want to be a part of for a long time, and I believe in what we’re all working for.”
Luneau (53rd in 2022) is four years removed from his draft, when he was selected by the Ducks in the second round. He was a first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft in 2020, selected by Gatineau Olympiques, but a nagging knee injury, repaired following his 2020-21 season, hindered his production in his draft year, where he scored 43 points (12-31=43) in 63 games, causing the talented right-shot defenseman to fall to the second round of the NHL Draft.
The season following his draft (2022-23), he bounced back significantly and scored 83 points (20-63=83) in 65 games and added 17 (2-15=17) in 13 playoff games, earning him QMJHL Defenseman of the Year honors.
The Ducks’ plan for Luneau as it pertained to the next season, 2023-24, was to start him in the NHL and send him to the AHL on a conditioning loan before he was to represent Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He sustained an infection in his leg en route to the tournament and was sidelined for the rest of the season while he recovered, and only ended up playing 13 games between the NHL and AHL.
He mostly spent the next two seasons (2024-25 and 2025-26) developing and playing substantial minutes for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL with two brief stints in the NHL for the Ducks.
Luneau finished his AHL career with 95 points (19-76=95) in 135 games, and prior to signing his contract, he had just four points (2-2=4) in 14 NHL games. So, given his resume, it’s justified for the hockey world to have their collective eyebrows raised when a former second-round pick with 14 games of NHL experience signs a deal like the one he did on Thursday.
Luneau possesses an NHL frame (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) and every on-ice tool to become a No. 1 defenseman. With the puck, he’s strong, elusive, and dynamic. He fends off forecheckers, makes smart, decisive outlets, and can join or lead rushes up ice. In the offensive zone, he fiercely patrols the blueline, activates downhill at will, and smartly gets his heavy shot through traffic with consistency.
On the defensive side of the puck, he’s just as aggressive, displaying tight gaps, knowledge of angles, and an influential, active stick. He’s difficult to gain ice against in the tight areas, and he’s tenacious in front of his net.
Over the past four years, he’s developed and translated his offensive game to every level below the NHL and has put in the work to iron out his defensive game. He’s gained the necessary size, skill, and strength to succeed against the world’s top hockey players. He’s as NHL-ready as a defense prospect has ever been.
Why?
"Signing Tristan to a long-term contract was a priority as we see him as a top-four defenseman for years to come,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek stated in the Ducks’ press release that followed the signing. “Getting the deal done before the season started was a key part of our planning for now and the future."
The Ducks can easily be considered the main character of the 2026 NHL offseason. Following a year where they seemingly put their rebuild in the rearview mirror, an offer sheet to their franchise player, Leo Carlsson, sent shockwaves through the organization and the NHL as a whole.
When all was said and done, the Ducks signed their three highest-profile RFAs coming off ELCs (Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov) to larger contracts than they were anticipating. As a result, they saw a mass exodus of roster players who found new homes over the summer, including Mason McTavish, Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, John Carlsson, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger.
Given the volume of defensive contributors who are now off the roster, only subsidized by the addition of Nick Jensen (36), Luneau, someone whom the front office greatly believes will step in and immediately flourish in a top-four role, now has a clear path toward a breakout season. He’s slated to start the year on the top pair alongside Jackson LaCombe, run the point on the Ducks’ second power play unit, and may even kill penalties.
Since he accepted the job as the Ducks general manager in Feb. 2022, Verbeek has established a reputation as a shrewd negotiator with his team’s RFAs, especially those coming off their ELCs. Past talks with Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Mason McTavish, players once considered part of the Ducks’ future core, extended well into training camp, arguably leading to injuries and/or underwhelming following seasons.
Verbeek seemed to be heading toward similar negotiation timelines with Carlsson, Gauthier, and Mintyukov in 2026, but Carlsson and his representation found a way to quickly end talks when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Carlsson to an earth-shattering five-year offer sheet that carried an AAV of $18 million. Days later, the Ducks signed Mintyukov to a five-year, $7.2 million AAV extension, presumably to avoid a second OS. They matched the offer sheet for Carlsson, but the landscape of their cap sheet and the NHL would continue to feel the ripple effects. One of those ripple effects was signing Gauthier to a six-year, $13.5 million AAV extension just before 2026 training camp.
In his training camp-opening press conference, Verbeek pledged to be more aggressive in signing his RFAs to better avoid another scenario like the one he faced this summer. “I think that we're going to attack, you know, some of our players coming off of their ELCs, be more aggressive in that, start communicating and having more talks sooner,” he said.
“I think when you look at things, just being a little more agile, getting more adaptive, and probably just react a little quicker to situations or just see them,” Verbeek continued.
“There's going to be a lot of different scenarios to manage, and you're going to have to be proactive in all of this stuff. So certainly the variables have changed, and you're going to have to really start taking into account all the different variables that can happen and plan for it.”
Verbeek began to make good on his statement over the course of training camp/preseason when he signed depth center Tim Washe to a four-year, $2.25 million AAV contract extension that will begin at the start of the 2027-28 season.
Luneau’s new contract is further proof of the implementation of Verbeek’s new approach, but to an even more extreme level. Verbeek and the Ducks clearly believe in Luneau’s talent and projection. If he were to head into the 2026-27 season without a contract extension and make the most of the opportunities he’s being given, he’d be due a significantly larger AAV than the $7.2 million per year that he’ll earn between 2027-28 and 2032-33.
It’s a gamble, like every NHL contract that’s signed, and it can be considered an “overcorrection” to a degree, but the price for Luneau was likely never decreasing, and he’s now signed until he’s 29 years old, the majority (or entirety) of his prime. This is the type of gamble on young talent that has traditionally aged well in the modern NHL.
Luneau is now on the radar of those unfamiliar with him and his game, and these are the kind of deals, especially given where the salary cap is projected to be heading, that fans and media crave from NHL front offices: betting on young talent.
Following their 6-2 loss in Game 3 of the Wild Card series in Atlanta last night, Bryce Harper voiced a reality that he, and his teammates, were trying to avoid with one, last, deep playoff run (quotes via MLB.com).
“I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year,” Harper said. “The guys that are leaving this clubhouse. We’ll see.”
Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa and Jose Alvarado are key free agents who are likely to leave. Others could, and should, leave in trades.
It will look different.
One could almost understand why Dave Dombrowski decided to bring back most of a roster that won 95 games, their second straight NL East title, and fell in a very close series to the eventual World Series champions. Many didn’t agree, but there was an argument to be made it was the correct decision.
That argument cannot be made any longer.
The 2026 Phillies got another year older and the team is going backwards. After running out of gas in the 2022 World Series and choking away a return trip by losing Games 6 and 7 of the 2023 NLCS at home, this group failed to get past the NLDS in ‘24 and ‘25, and now lost to a superior Atlanta Braves team in this year’s wild card series.
The reason fans are feeling less anger and more resignation following their three-game loss to the Braves is the realization that the roster simply wasn’t good enough.
They won just 88 games this year, a 7-game drop-off, their +15 run differential, only 7th-best in the National League, meant their expected won-loss record was 83-79.
They were lucky to win even 88.
They were 19th in runs scored, 22nd in OPS and dead last in OPS+. Their team-wide Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs) among their non-pitchers was just 12.0, 26th in MLB. Only the A’s, Reds, Angels and Rockies got less from their non-pitchers. Those teams finished with 64, 75, 62 and 58 wins, respectively. The two teams ahead of them, the Giants and Mets, won 65 and 74 games. The playoff team closest to the Phillies in this metric were the Braves, whose 17.5 non-pitcher fWAR of 17.5 was 21st. They played terrible defense all season long and lacked athleticism on the bases. They also finished tied for 16th in home runs, with only two players (Schwarber and Harper) finishing with 20 or more. No team hit fewer homers in September.
But the bullpen was also a disaster. Dave Dombrowski tried to do things, like signing Brad Keller to a free agent contract as a set-up man, and added Caleb Killian and Brooks Raley at the trade deadline. Two of those guys got hurt and one was an abject failure. Returning relievers Orion Kerkering and Alvarado became utterly unusable by year’s end, and Jonathan Bowlan ran out of gas. Their 4.43 ERA ranked 21st in baseball, consistently a bottom-10 unit all season.
Still, the Phillies tried to paper their way through October masking all these deficiencies and, had they not frittered away the final week of the season, might have pulled off at least a first round upset in Atlanta.
They would not have needed Zack Wheeler to start Game 162 if the lineup hadn’t gone ice cold. Had Wheeler been able to start Game 1, perhaps Jesus Luzardo could have been employed as a reliever, and Jhoan Duran wouldn’t have been asked to come up with a 50-pitch, two-inning hold/save. Perhaps that Austin Riley homer never happens and the Phils sweep the Braves in two games.
Perhaps Aaron Nola isn’t asked to pitch on two days rest in Game 161. No one can be sure how that affected his performance in Game 3 last night, but it couldn’t have helped. And the Luzardo injury itself came at the worst possible time, forcing Don Mattingly into the Nola decision on the final Saturday of the season, jamming up the roster for the wild card round. Luis Arraez’ injury in the final week also didn’t help, although he was not very impactful during his two months with the Phillies anyway.
Dombrowski cannot fool himself into thinking his team is better than it is. He has a remarkably good starting rotation, and that is a great place to begin to rebuild a roster. The floor is already pretty high when you have Wheeler/Luzardo/Cristopher Sanchez/Andrew Painter as your 1-4. But when you’re sporting a bottom-third bullpen and the 5th-worst group of position players in the entire sport, the numbers on the paper match the psychological need to shake things up.
The players realize it, too. The team needs to be different, and it almost doesn’t matter how it happens at this point.
Dave Dombrowski is not a creative general manager. He doesn’t pull rabbits out of his hat. He’s also not great at building farm systems. Both those areas of weakness have shown up as he’s tried to cobble this roster together. This past year, almost every major move he made failed.
He failed to add a new bat to the lineup, with Bo Bichette signing with New York. He re-signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract, then watched as he turned into one of the worst hitting catchers in baseball. The Keller signing was a disaster, although not entirely his fault, and none of his trade deadline acquisitions appeared in the wild card round at all.
So what does he do? What can he do?
Everything should be on the table. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner all cannot be traded without their permission, and it’s unlikely they would give it. But, Dombrowski should be open to it if an offer comes through and the player is intrigued enough to consider moving on. Should they offer one of their big-time starting pitchers for multiple pieces at multiple positions that might help? Bryson Stott may be the best overall position player on the team, but is inconsistent at the plate and has a career .181 batting average and .515 OPS in 142 career post-season plate appearances. He may be the guy most teams ask about in trade conversations.
Brandon Marsh should be traded. Turner should be moved to center field if he can’t be moved (and he can’t). Justin Crawford looks like a solid bench outfielder, but not a big league, everyday starter. The rest of the outfield is an utter mess.
The MLB lockout that will begin on December 1 will delay all these decisions. It’s likely Alex Cora becomes the new manager before that happens (likely right after the World Series), but in terms of player changes, we’re all going to have to wait. And when the season does officially begin, it’ll be a sprint to get things done, with little time for creativity.
The Phillies will be hard-pressed to spend their way to a solvent roster, unless they move on from players who have proven that, together, they are not good enough to get it done.
The psychology of so many playoff defeats together necessitates drastic change. This was actually true last off-season, but Dombrowski didn’t want to hear it.
At least these Phillies gave us one last thrill in Game 2. And at least they made their ending quick and relatively painless with a non-competitive effort in Game 3. No hand-wringing, no what-ifs, just the hard, cold reality that they simply weren’t good enough.
The “fake it until you make it” masquerade simply couldn’t hold up any longer.
In recorded MLB history, no team has ever followed a streak of postseason performances like this, with the same roster largely intact, and gone on to win a World Series afterwards.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres celebrates at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during Game One of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, the playoff field is set and the Red Sox are no longer in it. We’ve got White Sox-Guardians and Yankees-Rays in the American League. Braves-Dodgers and Padres-Brewers in the NL.
So the question is: who are your pulling for to win the World Series? A Brewers or Rays triumph would be a delicious entry into an offseason in which the owners are going to spend months lying about competitive balance. But maybe you want to get weird and pull for the White Sox. Maybe you’re a contrarian who thinks a 28th Yankees ring is what John Henry and FSG deserve.
As or me, the choice is easy. The Padres have been one of the most interesting and fun teams in baseball for years now. They are run by a front office that has been steadfastly dedicated to putting a winning team on a field. They are enthusiastically supported by an engaged fanbase in what is now definitively a baseball town. They’ve got Xander Bogaerts, who is still making magic in October. They’ve got Don. Let’s go, Friars.
Talk about the playoffs and whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
DENVER — For T.J. Hughes, Wednesday night was about more than the Colorado Avalanche opening their season at Ball Arena.
It was the night he finally made his NHL debut.
The former University of Michigan standout showed flashes of why Colorado believes he belongs at hockey's highest level, while also looking like a player experiencing his first NHL game. Hughes was good at times and less so at others — an understandable combination for someone taking his first steps in the league.
Not every rookie walks into the NHL and immediately looks like Wayne Gretzky. Even Auston Matthews, now the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, set an almost impossible standard when he scored four goals in his NHL debut.
Nathan MacKinnon following a two-goal performance and a two-piece combination on Brandt Clarke.
Hughes didn't find the back of the net Wednesday.
But he came close — several times.
The opportunities started early. In the opening period, Hughes nearly converted on a rebound that narrowly missed the net.
A short time later, he found himself with another chance at his first career NHL goal, jamming away at a loose puck in front of Los Angeles Kings goaltender and former Avalanche netminder Darcy Kuemper as he tried to poke it across the goal line.
Hughes kept battling for the puck before taking a hard cross-check from Kings captain Drew Doughty. The hit ultimately helped turn a 5-on-4 power play into a 5-on-3, and Nathan MacKinnon made Los Angeles pay, finding the back of the net for Colorado's second power-play goal of the night.
The Avalanche scored four times with the man advantage, but Hughes' first goal would have to wait.
MacKinnon wasn't concerned.
“He played well,” MacKinnon said. “He had a couple good looks. It’s really hard to play your first game, especially sometimes getting a hat trick early. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of hype, so I think he’ll continue to settle in.”
MacKinnon also pointed to Hughes' maturity and commitment away from the ice.
“He’s a mature guy and a great guy, and such a committed player on and off the ice,” MacKinnon said. “So, you know, chemistry hopefully will develop here.”
That chemistry will come with time, as will Hughes' adjustment to the speed of the NHL.
You could see that adjustment taking place early Wednesday.
At times, Hughes looked just a fraction behind the play. In the first period, he found himself in position for a one-timer but was a step too slow getting his body fully into the shot, resulting in an awkward deflection.
At Michigan and later with the Colorado Eagles, Hughes routinely stood out as one of the more dynamic players on the ice. He produced 14 points in 17 games during the Eagles' Calder Cup playoff run last season.
The NHL, though, is another level. The time and space Hughes was accustomed to finding simply aren't there as often.
That's the biggest adjustment Bednar expects him to make.
“What he’s going to work on is getting used to the pace of play and the size and the strength of guys,” Bednar said. “That was a whole different level of intensity tonight.”
Bednar isn't asking Hughes to reinvent his game. Instead, he expects the young forward to learn how to make the same decisions he has always made, only faster.
“I like the habits he plays with,” Bednar said. “But just getting used to the pace, the intensity, the size and strength of the guys, how quickly time and space disappears. So the decision-making and thinking, yeah, it’s going to be that.”
Hughes also got an immediate lesson in what can happen when those decisions don't come quickly enough.
Colorado scored four power-play goals Wednesday, but the Avalanche also surrendered two shorthanded markers. One came after Hughes had his stick lifted by Joel Armia while trying to exit the defensive zone.
Armia turned the turnover into a break the other way and beat Mackenzie Blackwood, giving Los Angeles a free score and Hughes a costly lesson about the consequences of a mistake at this level.
Still, Bednar saw plenty to like.
“He’s a really intelligent player,” Bednar said. “I have full confidence he can do that. I thought his game was good. It was good. You could tell he’s learning and thinking, and it’ll become more instinctual for him as it goes on.”
That was perhaps the best way to describe Hughes' debut.
There were mistakes, and there were moments when the game appeared to move a little faster than he wanted it to. But there were also plenty of flashes — the scoring chances around the net, the willingness to battle for loose pucks and the offensive instincts that repeatedly put him in position to make something happen.
“He makes a poor play tonight,” Bednar said, “and it’s just a matter of time before we get that out of his game.”
The first NHL goal will have to wait.
For Hughes, though, the more important milestone was already accomplished.
He made it to the NHL.
Now comes the process of figuring out how to stay there.
