PHOENIX — San Francisco third baseman Matt Chapman left the Giants’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an abdominal strain that he suffered in the sixth inning.
The five-time Gold Glove winner is scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
The 33-year-old Chapman charged in on a ground ball, fielded it cleanly with his bare hand and threw out Gabriel Moreno at first to end the sixth, but was in obvious pain as he gingerly walked to the dugout.
Chapman said his abdominal area had been bothering him some over the past several weeks, but the pain had been manageable until the incident.
“It’s been hot and cold where I’m trying to figure out what’s going on,” Chapman said. “I made that bare-handed play and that was the first time that one specific play made me cringe and go down a little bit, where I was actually in a lot of pain.”
He batted in the seventh and was retired on an infield pop out before leaving the game.
Chapman is batting .235 this season with seven homers and 42 RBIs.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners makes a diving catch during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rick Rizzs Happy Totals: 13 Dan Wilson Tough One Tonights: 14 Run Differential: -17
Beef Boy Bombs: 1 Josh Naylor SB: 3 for 4 Julio HR-SB: 2-7 Ty France Memorial HBP Counter: Randy Arozarena, 4
Luke Raley wOBA rank: 235 of 236 (May was 1 of 260) Dominic Canzone Barrel%: 16.1% (15th) J.P. Crawford Innings Played at 3B: 104 Colt Emerson OAA at SS: -1 Rob Refsnyder PA: 33
Piggyback starts: 1 Logan Gilbert Fastball%: 50.9% Emerson Hancock ERA/xERA: 5.19/5.01 Bryce Miller K%-BB%: 38.1% (1st, min 20 IP (2nd place is 31.8%))
BOSTON — Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was tossed for a second straight game after throwing his helmet toward Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli during a heated exchange that ended with the benches clearing and multiple ejections.
Cavalli struck out Contreras looking on a full-count pitch in the top of the fourth of what eventually became an 8-1 victory by the Nationals. The 27-year-old right-hander then shouted at Contreras as Contreras made his way back to the Boston dugout.
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said he heard Cavalli yell “Sit down, boy” after fanning Contreras.
Asked what his specific words to Contreras were, Cavalli told reporters, “I don’t know. I just lose my head in it. I’m competitive. I just told him to sit down.”
The term “boy” has a racially charged history in the U.S.. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, demurred when asked if he felt there was a racial component to Cavalli’s word choice.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Contreras said, later adding he plans to “let MLB handle that.”
Contreras, who hit a three-run homer off Washington’s Miles Mikolas and celebrated with a massive bat flip that he later apologized for, then approached Cavalli on the mound. The two jawed at each other as both dugouts emptied.
“He struck me on a good pitch, I was walking back to the dugout, and then he did what did, and the rest was history,” Contreras told reporters afterward, later adding, “He was like, instigating, and I snapped.”
Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez tried to hold Contreras back, but Contreras broke loose long enough to leap and throw his batting helmet in Cavalli’s direction.
Things settled down quickly after that, though the brief dustup ended with Contreras, Tracy, Boston outfielder Nate Eaton and Mikolas being ejected.
Cavalli pointed to an incident at the end of the top of the first when Contreras nearly ran into the pitcher as both exited the field as the spark that set things in motion.
“He’s just been doing stuff,” Cavalli said of Contreras. “In the first inning, he just runs past me and brushes me. It’s just something you don’t do in baseball. I think he knows that. I didn’t say anything. I just looked at him. And a few words were said after the strikeout. It’s part of the game. And he’s going to let everybody run out there and try and do whatever he does, throw a helmet and get himself tossed.”
Cavalli stayed in the game and allowed one run on one hit with 13 strikeouts over seven innings in what became an 8-1 romp.
“After everything that happened, the people that they chose that were going to leave the game, I just felt like the other pitcher should have been one of them too,” Tracy said. “That was my biggest complaint.”
The early exit was the second in as many nights for Contreras, the first time that’s happened to a Red Sox player in the club’s 126-year history. The 34-year-old Venezuela native — who acknowledged he is having a difficult time while his native country tries to recover from a pair of devastating earthquakes — was ejected in the second inning at the start of the series for mimicking an appeal call after striking out on a checked swing.
“I feel like everything is against me right now,” Contreras said. “I got ejected last night from nothing. I got ejected today even though I was walking back to the dugout.”
With summer baseball in full swing as the All-Star Break looms, the game's next generation is preparing for its moment in the limelight with July's MLB Draft, Futures Game and HBCU Swingman Classic. Amid the excitement, fans can look forward to a behind-the-scenes journey following six of baseball's top prospects and draft hopefuls with MLB Road to the Show, a new five-part docuseries streaming on Peacock.
The series, produced by MLB Network and narrated by content creator and YouTuber Dan Sarmiento, follows these players through Spring Training and right into the season. Fans can expect the series to highlight breakthrough performances, setbacks and personal milestones.
Get everything you need to know below with the series' featured players, full episode release schedule, and how to watch information.
Which MLB prospects and college players will Road to the Show follow?
MLB prospects
Jesus Made, SS, Brewers (MLB.com's No. 1 prospect)
After becoming just the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off HR in their debut, Braden Montgomery looks to be the latest wave in the White Sox’s emerging youth movement, with a “new guy stepping up every night.”
MLB Road to the Show episode release schedule
Episode 1: Wednesday, July 1 Episode 2: Friday, July 10 Episode 3: Sunday, July 19 Episode 4: Sunday, July 26 Episode 5: Sunday, August 2
How can I watch MLB Road to the Show?
You'll be able to watch all five episodes of MLB Road to the Show on Peacock. You can also watch several clips from episodes on the NBC Sports YouTube channel.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
MLB on NBC 2026 schedule
Click here to see the full list of MLB games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
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Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club’s home television territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Junior Caminero knows the All-Star Home Run Derby doesn’t begin for a couple of weeks.
The Tampa Bay slugger is ready to go anyway.
Just hours after committing to participating in the event in Philadelphia on July 13, Caminero homered in his fifth straight game, a three-run shot off the Royals’ Noah Cameron. It was his eighth in the past seven games — something nobody in club history ever has accomplished — and it sent Tampa Bay to a 10-4 rout of Kansas City in the opener of their three-game series.
Asked to put Caminero’s hot streak in perspective, Rays manager Kevin Cash replied: “I don’t know if I can.”
“He’s really seeing the ball well,” Cash said, “and when he gets a ball to hit, he’s doing it.”
Caminero, the AL player of the week after launching seven homers and piling up 15 RBIs, put on a show last year in the Home Run Derby. With his multicolored bat sending social media ablaze, Caminero advanced to the final round before losing a close contest to Seattle slugger Cal Raleigh. The final was 18-15 in a long-ball hitting showcase.
Caminero, who is set to turn 23, went on to hit 45 homers last season, finishing sixth in Major League Baseball.
He may beat that number with ease this season. Caminero already has 23 for the AL East-leading Rays.
“I’ve feel really comfortable the last two weeks,” he said. “I’m trying to be aggressive in the zone.”
The only other players in Tampa Bay history to have homered in five consecutive games are Jose Canseco in 1999, Carlos Pena in 2010 and Mike Zunino in 2021. Pena’s streak extended to six straight games, the franchise record.
Caminero will try to match that against Kansas City.
“I mean, thank God he’s on our team,” Rays pitcher Griffin Jax said with a smile. “The way he’s doing it with the power and the not chasing and the not whiffing is just so impressive.”
In an era of faster-paced games thanks in part to the implementation of a pitch clock, MLB has decided to eliminate a similar clock from its Home Run Derby this summer. Each hitter will have 20 swings in the first round of this year’s contest. The change coincides with a switch in broadcaster to Netflix.
Any player who homers on his 20th swing will keep on swinging until he doesn’t connect for home run. The top four hitters advance, with the distance of the longest homer being used as the tiebreaker if necessary.
The way he’s been swinging the bat, Caminero has a good shot at being there at the end.
“He gets a pitch to hit and he’s not missing,” Rays catcher Nick Fortes said. “I’ve never experienced it so I don’t know how to describe it.”
The Cincinnati Reds are +144 underdogs when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers (-150) tonight, with Shane Drohan looking to continue his impressive form.
My Reds vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks are targeting Drohan to pitch well, while Milwaukee will jump on the struggling Andrew Abbott.
Who will win Reds vs Brewers today: Brewers -1.5 (+134)
Shane Drohan is throwing the baseball well for the Milwaukee Brewers. While his 5.03 FIP over his last two outings doesn't jump off the page, the underlying metrics suggest he's in line for another quality start. The left-hander has allowed just 0.96 home runs per nine innings during that span while limiting opponents to a 32.4% hard-hit rate over the last month.
As for Cincinnati Reds starter Andrew Abbott, he owns a 5.34 FIP across his last five outings while allowing 1.98 home runs per nine innings and a 41% hard-hit rate. Across Abbott's last two starts alone, he has an alarming 6.98 FIP.
Drohan holds the edge, and Milwaukee's 140 wRC+ over its last six games makes this a favorable matchup.
I'll play this pick up to -110.
COVERS INTEL: This Brewers lineup has a .227 ISO in the last week, compared to a .142 mark overall this season. That's a recipe for success against the home run prone Andrew Abbott.
Reds vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-126)
The Over offers value. I expect Milwaukee to do damage against Andrew Abbott, while Shane Drohan has been capable of allowing a few runs himself. A 4-2 or 5-3 type game before the starters exit is certainly on the table, but the bullpens could push this total even higher.
Milwaukee's relief corps owns a 5.22 xERA over the last week while walking an alarming 7.43 hitters per nine innings.
Cincinnati's bullpen hasn't been much better, posting a 7.96 FIP across its last 20 innings while allowing 2.70 home runs per nine. That's a dangerous combination against a Brewers lineup swinging the bats well.
I'll play this pick up to -140.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 32-29, +0.62 units
Over/Under bets: 34-26, +3.40 units
Reds vs Brewers weather
Conditions at American Family Field should be favorable for hitters tonight. Temperatures will remain warm, starting around 92°F before cooling into the mid-80s, while 13-15 mph winds could give well-hit balls a little extra carry. With virtually no chance of rain, the weather shouldn't interrupt play and may provide a slight boost to offense.
Reds vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Reds +144 | Brewers -150
Run line: Reds +1.5 (-138) | Brewers -1.5 (+133)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-122) | Under (+117)
Reds vs Brewers trend
The Brewers have covered the run line in 30 of their last 50 home games for +15.70 units and a 27% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Brewers.
How to watch Reds vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
First pitch
8:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Reds starting pitcher
Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.90 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.12 ERA)
Reds vs Brewers latest injuries
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.
St. Louis Blues defensive prospects Luke Schairer, Nick Bogas, and Landon Nycz have been invited to Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster.
The camp, which will feature practices and games between players from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, will be held July 26-Aug. 1 at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. It’s the first evaluation step for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
But also featured on the roster are a trio of Blues prospects.
Luke Schairer was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 75th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft. Schairer is a 6-foot-3 right-handed defenseman set to play with the Peterborough Petes in the 2026-27 season. Schairer is a great skater who projects to be a shutdown defender with a solid NHL frame.
Landon Nycz, another defenseman, was drafted by the Blues one round later, in the fourth round, 107th overall. Nycz is a 6-foot-2, left-handed defender set to play his sophomore season with the University of Massachusetts next season. Nycz is also more of a defensive defenseman, but he was born in late 2007 and is entering his final year of world junior eligibility.
The final player invited to the camp is Nick Bogas. Bogas was taken in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the Blues in the 2026 NHL draft. Although he is listed at just six feet, Bogas is a physical defender who thrives on the defensive side of the puck.
At the moment, these three Blues prospects are the outside looking in for making the 2027 world junior roster, but strong camps could put them on the radar.
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A two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2024, 2025): He anchored the Florida Panthers to back-to-back championships, solidifying his legacy as an elite big-game goaltender.
A two-time Vezina Trophy Winner (2012–13, 2016–17): Won both during his tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, making him one of only a handful of active goalies with multiple Vezina Trophies.
Bobrovsky was 27–23–1 and posted an .877 save percentage. The 38-year-old improves Toronto's goaltending. He's reunited with Anthony Stolarz. Both won a Cup together in Florida in 2024.
Bobrovsky To Toronto Imminent?
1:56 p.m. ET — Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggests that Bobrovski's arrival in Toronto is imminent.
I do believe the Sergei Bobrovsky to Toronto arrival is upon us
1:35 p.m. ET — Perhaps a Zach Werenski trade will not be happening on July 1.'
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver and Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell all spoke in an effort to clear the air and talk things down.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
The Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in adding Roslovic as a free agent last season but couldn't agree on salary and term. He ended up signing with the Edmonton Oilers.
He scored 21 goals and 15 assists in 69 games with the Oilers last season. The Leafs get someone who can put the puck in the net.
Leafs and Sissons Talking
12:22 p.m. ET — Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs are engaging in talks with free agent forward Colton Sissons, but nothing is done yet.
The 32-year-old played in a bottom-six center role with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. His cap hit last season was $2,857,143.
End Of The Nick Robertson Era In Toronto
11:04 a.m. ET — Just two days removed from the Toronto Maple Leafs tendering Nick Robertson a qualifying offer to retain his rights, comes word that the club has moved him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick
Robertson goes to Pittsburgh, where he will be reunited with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.
The 24-year-old has 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 games with the Leafs in 2026.
Werenski chatter
The Maple Leafs are making a play to try to acquire defenseman Zach Werenski. TSN's Darren Dreger was a guest on First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo, saying chatter between the two clubs has NOT included forward Matthew Knies, who himself has been the subject of much trade speculation.
10:26 a.m. ET, Dreger clarified his comments on Werenski.
It’s been assumed Knies will be part of a package if Toronto lands Zach Werenski. See how things develop, but there’s a chance the Leafs won’t have to give up the power forward if this trade comes together.
There has been a lot of chatter surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and goaltender Sergei Bobrovski. The former Florida Panthers goalie is expected to hit the market at noon. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, a last-ditch effort from the Panthers to keep him fell apart after Bobrovski asked for $21 million over three years.
Is that the right price for Toronto? Time will tell.
Bobrovsky Scotiabank Arena Photo Was Real
Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli feels a union between the Leafs and Bobrovsky is inevitable. There was a picture going around a few weeks ago that showed Bobrovsky on the jumbotron at Scotiabank Arena. Seravalli was a guest on The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday and said the photo was real.
"I've confirmed that was real," Seravalli said. "This Bobrovsky thing was a 'hey, get this ready in case he's coming and we can pitch him in person, it was one of those situations. This didn't mean in the moment that it was locked in, but there were planning to be pursuing him."
Updated regularly...
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Ariel Hukporti is leaving the Knicks to sign a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Hukporti's contract will pay him $3.4 million with the Knicks' Eastern Conference rivals.
Acquired in a draft night trade with the Mavericks in 2024, Hukporti played just 25 games as a rookie but saw his role expand in his second season, playing 54 games while averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds.
The 7-footer provided some quality depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, and also logged some key minutes during this year's championship run, averaging 10.8 minutes per game in the four-game sweep of the Sixers.
With Philadelphia, Hukporti will provide depth behind Joel Embiid and Adem Bona.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not every trade or roster move needs to be a franchise-altering move to also be considered a smart move.
Tuesday’s Kaedan Korczak for Parker Wotherspoon trade is a good example of that for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It is not something you are likely to look back on and say, “that is a major turning point for the franchise.” But it is something that makes a great deal of sense, and I’m a little surprised at the mass confusion (and even some criticism) that it has received.
Wotherspoon ended up being an excellent signing for the Penguins, and one that worked out significantly better than anybody could have hoped for a year ago when it was completed. Wotherspoon shockingly filled out the left-side role on the top-pairing next to Erik Karlsson, was a strong complement to him, and had by far the best season of his career.
And now the Penguins trade him?
Well.
Yeah.
And I completely get it.
For as strong as Wotherspoon played and worked out during the 2025-26 season in his role, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
He is entering the final year of his contract and, given the ballooning rate of mid-level and lower-level NHL player contracts under the rising salary cap, his number was about to rise. Dramatically.
Would that have been a smart investment for the Penguins? He is going to be 30 years old when that next contract kicks in, and has really only excelled at the NHL level while playing alongside a future Hall of Famer in Karlsson for one season. If you want the Penguins to get younger, giving a 30-year-old defenseman that has a limited track record of NHL success a big-money deal is not going to accomplish that.
Prior to joining the Penguins he had 16 points in 108 games and was mostly an organizational depth defenseman. His numbers and contributions away from Karlsson, even this past season, kind of matched that level of play.
What Wotherspoon did have going for him initially was that despite the lack of production and games played, he had mostly posted strong underlying numbers in smaller roles that he typically won.
The latter point is key for Korczak, because he is basically in the same situation coming from Vegas. He is a younger version of what Wotherspoon initially was for the Penguins.
From an underlying numbers perspective, Korczak has been wildly effective in his smaller, depth roles.
Over the past three seasons the Golden Knights outscored teams by a 102-68 margin when Korczak was on the ice during 5-on-5 play. That was the best 5-on-5 goal-differential among Vegas defensemen, and fourth-best among 295 defensemen that logged at least 500 minutes.
His 54.51 expected goal share was fourth-best among Vegas defenders over that time and 19th among the aforementioned 295 defenders across the league.
His 2.12 expected goals against (and 1.88 actual goals against) per 60 minutes were tops on Vegas. That expected goals against number was third-best in the NHL while the 1.88 actual goals against were ninth-best.
This isn’t to say that Korczak is one of the best defensemen in the league, or that he was even Vegas’ best defenseman. That’s not the point here. The point is he was given a specific role, even in sheltered minutes, and performed exceptionally well in that role. He’s probably earned a bigger opportunity and a bigger role to see what he does with it. Maybe he gets better and handles it well. Maybe he doesn’t and he remains as a highly effective depth defenseman. Either way, it’s a younger player onto the roster.
He is also four years younger than Wotherspoon and already signed long-term with some cost-certainty on what should be a favorable contract with a $3.25 million salary cap number. When you see what bottom-pairing defensemen are going to start going for, it’s going to look even better. Especially as the salary cap skyrockets in the coming seasons. A $3.25 million cap hit on a $104 million cap is the equivalent of a $2.95 million cap hit under the 2025-26 cap of $95.5 million. When the cap rises up to $113 million in 2027-28 it will be the equivalent of a $2.6 million cap number.
The Penguins needed to find a defense version of Egor Chinakhov. They needed to find some younger legs, especially on their back-end where most of their 2025-26 roster was either on the wrong side of 30, or rapidly approach it. This is a nice swing at that. And even if Korczak doesn’t blossom the same way here, it’s still a nice brick to have at the bottom of your lineup that you know can fill a specific role.
Kyle Dubas made mention after the draft of this potentially being a more methodical brick-by-brick process.
This is a brick.
It’s a smart brick with a little bit of upside at a fair cost.
I’m also not overly concerned about the left spot on the top-pairing on July 1, because a year ago at this time we also had no idea who the left spot on the top-pairing would be. If you had proposed it being Wotherspoon, even after he was signed, you probably would have been laughed at. There is a lot of time to fill that spot, and as long as Karlsson is on the roster I am confident the Hall of Famer will make it work. Just as he did with Wotherspoon.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: Defenseman Alexander Nikishin #21, Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov #52 and Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the Stanley Cup Final on June 14, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matthew Bolt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
First of all, happy Canada Day to our friends north of the border!
The trade and free agent rumors are hot and continue to be flying. Late last night it was revealed that Zach Werenski vetoed a trade to Dallas. Supposedly the Hurricanes are still trying to sign John Carlson.
Also, Alexander Nikishin’s name has been in everyone’s mouths.
Free agency officially starts at noon today.
The nice thing about all of this is that the Canes are not desperate and they don’t have to do anything if they choose not to. Worst case scenario might be to just keep the rights to Nikishin and let him think about taking a lesser salary than he wanted, or go back to Russia.
Although, I still would not be surprised to see Carolina do something big no one has talked about.
If you have thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments of our “open thread”
NHL free agency opened at noon ET on Wednesday, July 1, and a lot more could go on than just unrestricted free agents changing teams.
The unrestricted free agent pool includes two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky and defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson.
Players whose contracts run out in 2027 are free to sign extensions. Key players in that group are reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini.
Big-name restricted free agents such as Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier also need new contracts for next season.
He'll average $7 million in a three-year deal, according to multiple reports. Bobrovsky, 37, has won two Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies, but he's coming off his worst season. Still, he's an established goalie who can help the Maple Leafs as they try to come back from the end of their nine-year playoff run. He'll be reunited with Anthony Stolarz, his former backup in Florida.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
He'll average $8.25 million in the deal, up from $8 million in his last contract. He adds a physical presence to the Sharks and he scored 10 goals last season with the Ducks.
He'll average $3.75 million over two years. The question is whether he's a backup or is the No. 1. The Jets are listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck. By signing Skinner, who has been a No. 1 goalie (albeit up and down), the Jets don't need to get back a goalie if they trade the former Vezina Trophy winner and U.S. Olympian. Skinner went to the Stanley Cup Final with Edmonton twice and was traded to Pittsburgh last season.
He'll average $8.5 million in the seven-year deal, per reports. Andersson was acquired from the Flames during the season and reached the Stanley Cup Final.
He'll average $5 million in the deal, per reports. He played a key role in the Panthers' two Stanley Cups and also played for Finland at the 2026 Olympics, winning bronze.
He will average $2.2 million in the two-year deal. Ersson struggled in Philadelphia last season and was traded to Toronto and then Ottawa. He'll back up fellow Swedish goalie Linus Ullmark in Ottawa.
Korpisalo will take over the backup goalie role from retired Jonathan Quick. The Bruins receive minor league forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick. Korpisalo has one year left on his contract.
He could get five years with a $7 million average, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Marchment's late father, Bryan, played six seasons with the Sharks.
Zuccarello is getting a one-year deal with bonuses, according to multiple reports. Haula's deal is two years at $3.6 million a season. per reports. Haula adds to the Kings' center depth after Anze Kopitar's retirement. Zuccarello will help the Kings' power play. NHL insider Frank Seravalli also said the Kings are signing Corey Perry, who started last season in Los Angeles.
He'll average $9.125 million in the extension, which kicks in during 2027-28, according to his agent, Dan Milstein. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting with 62 points in 82 games.
Demidov extension breakdown: 27-28, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 28-29, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 29-30, $9.5 M SB, $1 M salary 30-31, $6.7 M SB, $1 M salary 31-32, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 32-33, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 33-34, $5.8 M SB, $1.7 M salary 34-35, $7.5 M salary
He'll average $1.5 million in his six-year deal, per reports, to help with the Panthers' cap hit. Gudas' rights were acquired this week. He had won the Stanley Cup in 2024 before leaving for the Ducks.
Bourque, a forward, and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin are headed to Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. Bourque had 20 goals and 41 points last season. The Predators continue to load up on scoring depth after earlier adding Jack Drury, Ross Colton and Nils Hoglander. The Stars gain cap room with restricted free agent Jason Robertson still to sign.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports that GM Steve Yzerman would like a top-six center and a winger in return for Larkin, who has five years left on his deal. Yzerman said after the draft that he would act in the best interest of the Red Wings and "I cannot make any guarantees or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Blue Jackets had a verbal agreement on a trade with the Stars, but Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski vetoed it. Stars defenseman Thomas Harley would have been part of the return package, Friedman said.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky is heading to free agency after the Panthers couldn't reach a deal and the team acquired two goalies. Here are the top NHL free agents:
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club is signing the bottom-six forward to a two-year, $5.6 million contract, according to a report Wednesday by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club agreed to terms with the bottom-six forward on a two-year, $5.6 million contract. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: Mason Fluharty #68 of the Toronto Blue Jays warms up ahead of playing the New York Yankees, in front of Canadian flags for Canada Day celebration, ahead of their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
COVERS INTEL: This Brewers lineup has a 
