CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 16: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 16, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers were hit by the injury bug again, as left-hander Blake Snell left Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds early due to left groin tightness.
Blake Snell left tonight's game due to left groin tightness.
Snell completed a scoreless first inning, facing the minimum after picking off first baseman Sal Stewart following his two-out single. Snell tossed just 19 pitches on Wednesday, allowing just one hit and striking out one before departing early. Blake Treinen replaced Snell for the bottom of the second inning.
If this marks the end for Snell’s 2026 regular season, he’ll finish with a 4-1 record and a 1.86 ERA, striking out 52 and walking 16, tallying 38 2/3 innings over eight starts. Snell did not allow a single home run over his eight starts.
The former Cy Young winner told reporters he went through his normal pregame routine but felt his groin grab at him on the second to last pitch of his bullpen session. He monitored it through the first inning and retired the side in just 19 pitches, after which he talked with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and did not return to the mound for the top of the second. Blake Treinen entered the game in Snell's place.
"That's what I thought was best," Snell told reporters after the Dodgers' 6-2 loss. "I'll see where I'm at day-to-day, but I should be good."
It looks as if Snell and the Dodgers dodged a bullet, which Snell credits to learning from the four previous times in his career that he's dealt with groin injuries. On two previous times, he felt a similar pull but pushed through and ended up with a strain both times. He thought the groin injuries were behind him after his last strain with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, but Snell is confident that the work he's done with stretching and injury prevention – primarily Copenhagen planks – helped on Wednesday.
And this time around, he shut it down early and avoided a more severe injury.
"For me to stop, that's a first. Maybe I'm growing up, I don't know, but that was definitely the right move," Snell said. "Next couple days, we'll see where we're at and go from there."
Both Snell and Roberts are hopeful that he can still make his next scheduled start but acknowledged that how he feels over the next days and what comes back after imaging once the team gets back to LA will determine when he pitches again. Either way, Snell wants to get at least one more start in before the postseason.
"I don't think anyone can sit here right now and say what's going to happen in the next week to 10 days," Roberts told reporters. "So I think it's first, let's see how he comes in. But I'm glad it's not worse and we caught it early."
Blake Snell 2026 stats
Injuries have limited Snell to just seven starts this season, but the 33-year-old has made the most of a small sample size, posting a 1.91 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 1.09 WHIP through a career-low 37.2 innings. He's been effective when healthy, he's just rarely been healthy in 2026.
Snell began the season on the IL with left shoulder fatigue and didn't make his 2026 debut until May 9, but struggled as he gave up five runs – four of them earned – on six hits and two walks against the Atlanta Braves in just three innings pitched. He was put back on the IL six days later with loose bodies in his left elbow and underwent a minimally invasive "NanoNeedle" procedure to speed up his recovery. Snell was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 29 and began his throwing progression in early June.
Injuries have devastated the Dodgers' rotation all season, but Snell seemed to alleviate those concerns with his 1.01 WHIP since returning on Aug. 11.
Dodgers rotation
Roki Sasaki threw four simulated innings on Wednesday and is inching closer to a return after landing on the IL in late August with a blister on his right middle finger. While he'll likely pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason, Roberts told reporters that his next outing will be as a starter.
Tyler Glasnow told reporters on Sunday that he was "still figuring out some things physically" after a rough start in Miami in which he never really looked comfortable. Glasnow also missed a chunk of the season with a back issue and returned on Aug. 25 against the Braves but has struggled for the most part, giving up four runs in each of his last two starts. Roberts said that Glasnow threw his normal bullpen session on Wednesday and will pitch on an extra day of rest on Friday. He has no concerns about Glasnow's availability going forward.
The San Jose Sharks's 2026 Training Camp is set to start on Thursday, so let's take a look at each individual player and discuss a question surrounding each of them heading into the 2026-27 season.
Forwards:
Alex Barre-Boulet: Can he bring elite scoring to the Barracuda, or potentially even steal an NHL roster spot?
Filip Bystedt: Is it finally his time to break into the NHL?
Ethan Cardwell: Has he been passed on the depth chart by too many players to ever have a chance at cracking the NHL roster?
Macklin Celebrini: How many of his own franchise records can Celebrini break this year?
Igor Chernyshov: It's clear he belongs in the NHL at this stage, so where does he fit and whose job does he take?
Ty Dellandrea: Can he hold off some young guns pushing for a roster spot or will be be buried in the AHL?
Tye Felhaber: Can Felhaber get back to his AHL scoring pace from the 2024-25 season?
Andre Gasseau: Historically, Rookie Faceoff standouts tend to regress in training camp against stiffer competition. Can Gasseau be the exception?
Adam Gaudette: Does Gaudette's edge on goal-scoring save him from being the 13th forward or does he sit on most nights?
Patrick Giles: What does Giles need to do to move from a fringe player to legitimately competing for an NHL job?
Barclay Goodrow: If enough young players outperform Goodrow in training camp, how far can his leadership and off-ice qualities go toward keeping him in the lineup?
Collin Graf: Considering Stenberg seems set for the first line in an ideal scenario and both Marchment and Chernyshov are expected to get top-six roles which line makes sense for Graf?
Jake Gustafson: How much can Gustafson learn in his first NHL training camp and what effects does it have on his WHL performance this season?
Donavan Houle: Can Houle establish himself as a full-time AHL option or is the ECHL in his future once again?
Jimmy Huntington: Can Huntington's experience and leadership help him earn a few depth call-ups this season?
Brett Leason: After a season spent mostly in the AHL, can Leason return to his previous form and force himself into an NHL role once again?
Cam Lund: While it's clear he's a talented player, can Cam Lund stay healthy enough to earn another chance in the NHL at some point this season?
Mason Marchment: Many on social media have stated that they feel signing Marchment was unnecessary given the Sharks' logjam of forwards, can he prove them wrong?
Michael Misa: The Sharks are banking on Misa being their second-line center of the future, but after a relatively disappointing Rookie Faceoff, can he take that role right out of the gate?
Quentin Musty: Does Musty's new style of play, which embraces the grit required to play a bottom-six role, help him break into the NHL?
Zack Ostapchuk: Even though his new contract carries a relatively low cap hit, signing any bottom-six player with just over 100 games of NHL experience for four years is risky. Can Ostapchuk show that he's worth that commitment?
Kiefer Sherwood: Sherwood's goal-scoring dropped off considerably after joining the Sharks, can he return to the same pace he had with the Vancouver Canucks last season?
Will Smith: Is this the season that Smith joins Macklin Celebrini in superstardom and massive contracts?
Ivar Stenberg: How quickly can he adapt to the North American style of play and do the Sharks follow the same development plan they've used with Smith and Misa?
Tyler Toffoli: Is age starting to catch up with Toffoli or was last season just an outlier?
Anthony Vincent: Can Vincent maintain his role with the Barracuda despite the new additions?
Alexander Wennberg: How long can Wennberg hold off Misa and remain the Sharks' 2C?
Carson Wetsch: Can Wetsch use his momentum from the Rookie Faceoff to snatch away a bottom-six role at the NHL level in his first professional season?
Defensemen:
Nolan Allan: Allan hasn't played in the NHL since the 2024-25 season when he appeared in 43 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, can he take the final defensive job?
Luca Cagnoni: Are the Sharks confident enough in Cagnoni's ability to play with on his off-hand side to give him the final spot on the blue line?
Sam Dickinson: Early last season, Dickinson seemed like he wasn't quite ready for the NHL but had to be there due to a lack of options. Is he truly ready now?
Libor Hajek: North American hockey fans haven't seen Hajek in roughly four years, is he an NHLer or AHLer at this stage?
Mattias Havelid: Havelid missed some time with the Barracuda last season, appearing in just 44 games. Can he stay healthy enough to provide a boost to the blue line?
Alexander Karmanov: Karmanov's size was a huge advantage and helped overcome his skating issues in the Rookie Faceoff, will he look out of place against NHL level talent?
Michael Kesselring: Last season, Kesselring struggled to get anything going in Buffalo. Will he bounce back to being the player we saw in Utah?
Roland McKeown: Can McKeown's leadership help the Barracuda when times get tough?
Darnell Nurse: Will Nurse's change of scenery truly be beneficial?
Mack Oliphant: Will Oliphant be able to secure himself a full-time role with the Barracuda or is he Wichita bound?
Dmitry Orlov: Heading into the final season of his contract, do the Sharks look to prioritize youth and play the veteran in a lower role or do they give Orlov substantial ice time on a nightly basis?
Eric Pohlkamp: Pohlkamp looked solid at the Rookie Faceoff and his shot seems to be a game-changer on the power play, can that elevate him into the NHL right away?
Leo Sahlin-Wallenius: How quickly can Sahlin-Wallenius adapt to North American hockey, especially in a rough league like the AHL?
Phillip Sinn: Coming out of the DEL, not much is truly known about Sinn at this point in time. What does he bring to the table and at what level?
Jacob Trouba: Trouba's contract has earned the Sharks a lot of flak this summer, can he prove that he's worth his cap hit?
Goaltenders:
Yaroslav Askarov: Can Askarov truly step up and prove that he deserves to be the Sharks' long-term starting goaltender or should they start looking toward a future with Ravensbergen?
Eric Comrie: While many feel like Comrie is destined for the AHL, he's been in the NHL for quite a while at this point. Can he use his experience to unseat one of the Sharks' other goalies?
Matt Davis: Can Davis do enough to convince the Sharks to sign him to a two-way deal or will he remain on an AHL contract moving forward?
Brady Knowling: At the Rookie Faceoff, Knowling seemed to be playing well above expectations. Can he keep the momentum rolling?
Alex Nedeljkovic: Can Nedeljkovic unseat Askarov as the starting netminder, will he remain the backup, or will he be passed by Comrie?
While quite a bit of the Sharks' roster already seems set, there are a lot of questions that still need to be answered and only time will reveal the true answer.
]The Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 season was a huge relief to long-suffering Sabres fans, as they finished first in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. They also beat the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2. Things are definitely looking up for this Sabres squad.
Meanwhile, here at TheHockeyNews.com, we're analyzing the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series titled “Know Your Enemy”. For the second straight season, we’re breaking down how Buffalo played against each East team, as well as how they’re likely to fare against them in 2026-27. And in this particular file, we’re focused on the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils made some notable changes – first and foremost, in net. But what can we expect from New Jersey this year?.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS
NEW DEVILS PLAYERS: Sunny Mehta (GM), David Rittich (G), Anthony Mantha (LW), Evan Rodrigues (RW), Jesper Boqvist (LW), Luke Evangelista (RW)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Devils 1-2-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: December 26, at Buffalo; January 12 at Buffalo; February 20 at New Jersey
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Devils dealt veteran Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, and to replace him, New Jersey signed journeyman Rittich, who posted a save percentage of .894 or worse in each of the past two seasons. That shouldn’t cause Devils fans to be overly optimistic about their chances of making the playoffs this year – unless, say, new GM Mehta pulls off a blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets superstar netminder Connor Hellebuyck. If that happens, all bets are off for the ceiling for New Jersey.
However, as it stands, the Devils are a very beatable group. The Hughes Bros., Luke and Jack Hughes, may be waiting on brother Quinn Hughes if he leaves the Minnesota Wild. And again, if that’s the caliber of player Mehta can bring in, suddenly New Jersey rockets near or at the top of the Metropolitan Division.
The Sabres will see the Devils three times in less than two months, beginning on Boxing Day and ending 55 days later. But two of the games against New Jersey will take place in Buffalo, and the Sabres need to take advantage of that. Buffalo’s home record last season was a solid 26-10-5, and that means there’s no excuse for them not to make the most of their games at KeyBank Center. And that goes double against the Devils, who were a thoroughly-mediocre 21-20-0 on the road.
New Jersey is clearly still a work-in-progress, so the Sabres can’t take their foot off the gas simply because the Devils aren’t particularly imposing at the moment. If Buffalo is to repeat as Atlantic regular-season champs, they have to make the most of games against teams they ought to beat – and right now, the Devils are most-definitely a team they ought to beat this season.
Giving up valuable standings points to non-elite teams will only hurt the Sabres, and coach Lindy Ruff must ensure his team are stone-cold killers against weaker opponents.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Friday, September 11, 2026.
CINCINNATI –– For all their other problems lately, the Dodgers could at least cling to the fact that the heart of their starting rotation was healthy.
On Wednesday night, that threatened to suddenly change.
After just one inning and 19 pitches at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds, left-hander Blake Snell left his start early with left groin tightness, according to the team, forced to exit with an injury that has plagued him previously in his career.
Snell said he felt his groin “grab” on the second-to-last pitch of his pregame bullpen session, and that it continued to bother him through a scoreless first in which his velocity was noticeably down.
Thus, when he returned to the dugout, he alerted the Dodgers coaching and medical staff of the issue. From there, they made what one source with knowledge of the situation described as a “precautionary” decision to remove Snell from the game.
“I was gonna try to get through five [innings],” Snell said. “But I just knew I didn’t really have a good shot at doing that and remaining healthy.”
In the immediate aftermath of the game, Snell struck a hopeful tone that –– by not attempting to pitch through the injury further –– he had avoided anything serious.
He said he and the team will monitor how he feels in the coming days, but was optimistic that he “should be good” moving forward, perhaps to even make one more start before the end of the regular season.
“[Coming out of the game] was definitely the right move,” Snell said. “Next couple days, we’ll see where we’re at and go from there. But I think I’ll be good to go.”
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Friday, September 11, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Still, any concern with Snell represents a troublesome development for the Dodgers, who have been resting their World Series three-peat hopes, first and foremost, on the strength of a starting rotation led by him, Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.
And while manager Dave Roberts echoed that the team will take a wait-and-see approach with the two-time Cy Young Award winner, he also emphasized that they will be extremely cautious with his health so as not to risk his injury getting worse before October.
“I don’t think anyone can sit here right now and say what’s going to happen in the next week to 10 days,” Roberts said. “So I think it’s first, let’s see how he comes in [tomorrow]. But yeah, I mean, I guess it’s under the ‘I’m glad it’s not worse,’ and we caught it early.”
Roberts added that the Dodgers would decide whether Snell needs medical imaging on the issue once they get back to Los Angeles for the start of their final homestand of the season Friday.
When asked about the possibility of Snell starting again before the beginning of the playoffs, Roberts was noncommittal.
“We’ve got to make sure that whatever start he’s going to make, he’s going to be able to make it and come out of it healthy,” Roberts said. “I like where his head is at, but he just can’t afford any more setbacks.”
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell, center, hands the ball to manager Dave Roberts (30) as he is relieved during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne SladkyLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell walks to the dugout before a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Lately, Snell had been perhaps the stoutest pitcher on the Dodgers staff, allowing just four runs over six starts since returning from a surgical procedure in May to remove loose bodies from his elbow.
However, injuries have been a recurring problem for him since he joined the Dodgers on a five-year, $182 million contract two offseasons ago.
He missed much of last year with a shoulder problem, though was healthy enough in the playoffs to make six outings with a 3.18 ERA en route to the club’s World Series title.
Ongoing shoulder issues sidelined him again at the start of this year, before his elbow injury popped up after his first start back in early May.
Snell has also had left groin injuries before. He missed more than a month in 2024 when he strained his groin while playing for the San Francisco Giants, and in 2022 when he suffered a similar adductor strain with the San Diego Padres. An adductor/groin strain cost him the final three weeks of the regular season in San Diego in 2021, as well.
“I use my legs a lot, just pretty explosive in my legs,” Snell said of why his groin has been a repeated issue. “And just over time, I [have had to] find ways to maintain, keep it stronger, healthy.”
If Snell were to face another extended timeline to return again now, it could put his availability for the start of the playoffs in jeopardy.
If that were to be the case, the Dodgers would have to scramble to replace him, with Roki Sasaki (who pitched four innings of live batting practice on Wednesday afternoon in what the Dodgers hope is the final step of his recovery from a blister) representing the most logical rotation alternative.
For now, however, there was at least initial hope that this episode might be more minor for the 33-year-old.
The fate of the Dodgers’ October chances could depend on it.
“We’ve got to make sure that he comes out ready to go in the postseason,” Roberts said. “So that’s kind of where my head is at personally.”
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The Atlanta Braves face off against the Chicago Cubs today looking for their ninetieth win of the season with ten games to go. Their magic number is at five and after the Cubs series they have the Astros, then the Marlins and Reds. If the Braves win this evening, there is still a world where they could get the two seed since they hold the tie breaker over the Dodgers.
JR Ritchie was likely called up to pitch tonight to ensure Chris Sale gets the extra rest he needs for the playoffs. Ritchie struggled before he was sent back down, but over his past two starts in AAA he has twenty-four strikeouts and only three walks. If Ritchie shows his AAA starts were legit, he may just earn himself a playoff roster spot.
Follow along in the comments as the Braves attempt to clinch a playoff spot.
Former Australian international Matthew Wade has called time on his Big Bash career nearly 15 years after playing in the T20 competition’s inaugural season.
May 13, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Daniel Lynch (52) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
With just 11 games to go in 2026, the Royals will face off against Houston in the second game of their road series tonight. Daniel Lynch is running out of opportunities to prove he deserves to stay in the rotation next season, so he needs to be careful to avoid the Crawford Boxes tonight. Christian Javier will start for the Astros. He is having a tough year but is coming off back-to-back solid starts against the Phillies and Diamondbacks. It will be a pretty standard Royal lineup.
Aug 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) goes into the windup against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s not every day that an NBA star offers to pay a fine levied against a player who wears a helmet and spikes.
Yet, Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving did exactly that Wednesday, Sept. 16, when he offered to pay for Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s $11,492 fine for an unauthorized message written on his eye black.
During Houston’s 36-31 loss Sunday, Sept. 13, Al-Shaair had “Hind Rajab” written on his eye black, referring to a Palestinian girl who appeared to have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in January 2024, according to The Washington Post.
The NFL has strict rules against personal messages. Per the league’s rulebook, “players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
In a social media post that was responding to the news of Al-Shaair’s discipline, Irving replied, “I’ll take care of his fine.”
Al-Shaair had previously been fined a similar amount during the 2025 playoffs for writing “STOP THE GENOCIDE” on his eye black, a pro-Palestinian message alluding to the death toll resulting from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Irving has similarly shown solidarity with the pro-Palestinian movement.
In February, at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, he wore a navy blue T-shirt that read “PRESS” in white letters, in support of Palestinian journalists who have died while covering the conflict.
In the past, Irving has also worn a chain with the Palestinian flag and, in a separate occasion during a post-game press conference, a keffiyeh, which is a headdress worn across the Arab world.
Sep 15, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (21) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning against tNew York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Probable pitchers: RHP Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.88 ERA, 66 Ks) vs. Xzavion Curry (0-0, 3.44 ERA, 12 Ks)
Where to watch: ESPN
After last night’s dramatic win that included Pete Alonso’s 300th career home run, it might be natural to experience an emotional letdown in the next game. The Orioles don’t have that luxury. Tonight’s series finale is the most winnable game in the Orioles’ last 10 of the season, which makes it a must-win if the O’s want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Taking the mound tonight in Queens for Baltimore is right-hander Chris Bassitt. The 38-year-old enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career with the Mets back in 2022. That season, Bassitt was especially stingy in Citi Field, pitching to a 2.95 ERA in 16 starts while limiting opponents to a .227 average. He’s been just as good in Queens since leaving the Mets, tossing 7.2 shutout innings with the Blue Jays in 2023 and another 6.2 shutout innings against New York in 2025.
Bassitt has been solid for the O’s since returning from the IL a month ago. In 34 innings across six starts, he’s posted a 4.24 ERA while giving up a .281 average. Perhaps more importantly, the Orioles are 4-2 during that stretch. Last time out in Toronto, he pitched to a line of 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB and 5 Ks in a 7-4 Orioles win.
Opposing Bassitt is journeyman right-hander Xzavion Curry. This will be the 28-year-old’s first start since 2024 with the Guardians. However, the Mets did use him for five innings in relief in a game against the Marlins at the end of July. Curry has also pitched at least two innings in each of his last six major league appearances. He last faced the Orioles in 2024, when he allowed 6 hits and 4 runs over 3 innings in a 7-4 Orioles win.
“I’m not really championship chasing trying to find the best team I could win (with),” Leonard said on the Raptors’ Open Gym YouTube channel.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks. USA TODAY Sports
“I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back.”
Leonard, who was fined $700,000 for his involvement in the Clippers’ scandal, is already in Toronto preparing for his second stint with the Raptors. In 2019, the star forward led the organization to an NBA championship and earned his second Finals MVP award.
This time around, Leonard isn’t looking to be Toronto’s clear-cut leader.
“I’m not here to take over anything,” he said. “I’m just here to win. If it’s Scottie’s team, it’s his team.”
The Raptors have already put Leonard’s locker next to that of Scottie Barnes, Toronto’s budding star. Since the NBA opened its investigation of the Clippers, Leonard has said little publicly.
Now that he has moved on to Toronto, Leonard has been quick to express his feelings about returning to the city he once led to an NBA championship.
Kawhi Leonard discussed the trade to the Raptors for the first time. Getty ImagesThe Clippers got clarity on their future on Monday by trading Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors. AP
Astros right-hander Mike Burrows will restart his rehab assignment and pitch three innings for Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend, manager Joe Espada said Wednesday.
On the IL since July 7 due to right elbow neuritis, Burrows was shut down after his third rehab start because of right shoulder inflammation. Espada said Burrows could rejoin the Astros’ pitching staff before the end of the regular season if all goes well.
In his first season with the Astros, Burrows went 4-9 with a 5.99 ERA before landing on the IL.
Left-hander Steven Okert, who has been on the IL since Sept. 1 with a right hamstring strain, has been playing catch. Espada said Okert has a doctor’s appointment Thursday that will determine his next steps.
Okert has a 2.13 ERA over 68 appearances and has been one of Espada’s most trusted bullpen arms.
On Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers will kick off their on-ice portion of their 2026 training camp, and with a shorter overall camp and preseason this year, the roster battles and jostling for ice time will be as fierce as ever.
But, before anywhere, we have to establish the present to give context to the future. After all, the NHL roster is already looking considerably different than it did this time last year.
Rookies Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey are all primed to stick out of the gate this year, while players like Noah Juulsen, Egor Zamula, Sam Ersson, Garnet Hathaway, Nick Deslauriers, Rodrigo Abols, and Bobby Brink are all out of the picture entirely.
Until we see how things stack up, it'll be nearly impossible to predict how the Flyers will line up and who will play with who, which is why an assessment of the overall depth chart will be our most useful tool in the meantime.
As a reminder, these aren't line combinations or predictions, but more of a representation of a given player's role and usage in the lineup.
Forwards
Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett - Christian Dvorak - Matvei Michkov
Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Porter Martone
Nikita Grebenkin (inj.) - Sean Couturier - Noel Acciari
Alex Bump - Jett Luchanko - Carl Grundstrom
Zach Aston-Reese - Jacob Gaucher - Danila Klimovich
Nolan Foote - Jack Studnicka - Cole Knuble
Noah Powell - Riley Thompson - Devin Kaplan
Rationale
The placements of players like Matvei Michkov, Martone, Barkey, and Bump is going to depend largely on how head coach Rick Tocchet wants to deploy them.
If Michkov is really in much better shape than he was this time last year, he should be squarely ahead of the less experienced Martone.
Barkey and Nikita Grebenkin, who is currently dealing with a setback, have skills that lend themselves better to a bottom-six role than what Bump has, though I expect all three to make the NHL roster.
The Flyers only want Jett Luchanko in the lineup if he's going to play and one of the 12 best forwards on the team, but in the event of injury (particularly long-term), he should be the first man up for them.
Cole Knuble has been impressive throughout rookie camp, but some of the journeymen are going to be ahead of him in the pecking order for now having considerably more NHL and AHL experience.
With their penalty-killing skills, I expect Tyson Foerster and Travis Konecny to be the two wingers deployed the most, with Trevor Zegras reprising his role as the go-to guy for this Flyers team.
Defense
Jamie Drysdale is poised to take another big step forward in 2026-27. (Photo: Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)
Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale
Cam York - Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler - David Jiricek
Simon Benoit - Oliver Bonk
Ty Murchison - Helge Grans
Hunter McDonald - Cam Dineen
Jackson Edward - Spencer Gill
Rationale
When it comes down to it, defense should be the most polarizing group on the Flyers' roster. Although trade rumors persist and on an expiring contract, Rasmus Ristolainen remains with the Flyers, while Jamie Drysdale continues to trend towards becoming one of the better two-way defenders in the NHL.
Cam York is a fine second-pair guy, and everything after those four is a bit murky.
Veteran Nick Seeler regressed last year and turned 33 years old three months ago, while David Jiricek, still just 22 years old, must prove himself at the NHL level or risk being exposed to waivers for the first time in his young career.
Newcomer Simon Benoit is the likeliest to take up Juulsen's mantle as the meat-and-potatoes No. 7 guy, though Flyers GM Danny Briere left the door open to carrying eight defenders when doing his press conference on Tuesday.
That means opportunity for someone like Ty Murchison, who could very well grow into an option superior to Benoit or Seeler at a lower price, or Oliver Bonk, who has continued to impress after earning an NHL debut and Stanley Cup playoff debut late last season.
For now, Hunter McDonald and Helge Grans remain on the outside looking in, though they could jump up the depth chart quickly with tidy preseason performances. The numbers game just doesn't work in their favor, and especially not for Grans.
I could see McDonald and Murchison replacing Seeler and Benoit by season's end, particularly if the Flyers are sellers at the trade deadline.
You all know how much I like Spencer Gill, but with the considerable amount of time he's missed due to injury since being drafted in 2024, I think the Flyers are committed to letting him spend the full year in the AHL to gain experience and continue developing.
Brent Burns, the 41-year-old defenseman who's entering his 23rd season in the NHL, showed up at the Colorado Avalanche's training camp on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with a different look.
Gone is the long hair and long bushy beard. It's replaced by a trimmed look that makes him appear younger. His gap-toothed look is gone, too.
The facial hair had been legendary and Burns embraced it by wearing a Chewbacca mask at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game skills competition in Nashville.
Here is how Burns looks this week, plus how he looked last season:
