Colorado coach Deion Sanders also had a personal connection to trailblazing Bill Collins, who died July 31. 'Small world,' he said.
Championship roundup: four-star Bristol City stun Sheffield United
Late Langstaff strike gives Millwall victory at Norwich
Charlton, West Brom and Portsmouth secure wins
Rubén Sellés’s tenure as Sheffield United manager got off to a nightmare start after a 4-1 home defeat by Bristol City. The Spaniard was thrust into the Bramall Lane hotseat following the surprise sacking of Chris Wilder after the Blades’ playoff final defeat, but his stint could hardly have begun any worse.
Scott Twine’s double and goals from Ross McCrorie and Anis Mehmeti ensured Gerhard Struber’s first game in charge of the Robins was much more enjoyable. Tyrese Campbell had levelled for Sheffield United but this performance will raise big questions about their promotion credentials.
Continue reading...Where Wild's Zeev Buium Ranks In Calder Trophy Voting
Minnesota Wild rookie defenseman Zeev Buium burst onto the scene in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round. He had just finished his sophomore season at the University of Denver where he was up for the NCAA's Hobey Baker Award as the top player in College Hockey.
The 6-foot defender had 11 goals and 50 points during his freshman year in 42 games for Denver. He recorded 13 goals and 48 points in 41 games during his second season at Denver.
He signed with the Wild after his season at Denver ended. In four playoff games for the Wild, Buium recorded one assist. His one assist was a primary assist on a Kirill Kaprizov power-play goal.
Buium, 19, is set to enter his first season in the NHL. He is currently being ranked second in Calder Trophy betting. The Calder Trophy is given to the NHL's top rookie during the season.
Montreal Canadiens' forward Ivan Demidov is currently the favorite but Buium is not far behind.
Other Wild News
Minnesota Wild Potential PTO Candidate: Victor OlofssonThe 2025-26 season is just a few months away. Training camp for the Minnesota Wild will begin in just over a month from now. Wild hockey will be here before we know it.
Where Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Ranks Among Wingers In The NHLThe NHL Network is putting together some lists of the top players in the NHL among different positions before the 2025-26 season starts. They just dropped the top-20 wingers in the NHL list.
Who's In Charge? Wild's Power Play Has Three CommandersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild enter the 2025-26 season with a good problem on its hands. Who runs the top power play? In previous years, the Wild never really had a sure-fire number one type of defenseman who could run the top unit. Turner slugging away from home, outfield merry-go-round continues
Turner slugging away from home, outfield merry-go-round continues originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
ARLINGTON, TX – A laugh, a shrug and a shake of the head is the reaction given Friday night from Trea Turner following the Phillies 9-1 win over the Texas Rangers. He went 2-for-4 with five RBI, a double and a home run.
That isn’t what particularly caused the response from Turner after the win … it was when the subject came up concerning his home and away power numbers.
Here’s the breakdown heading into Saturday’s game: Turner has 12 home runs on the road, none at Citizens Bank Park this season. His RBI totals are 14 at home compared with 37 on the road, and his slugging percentage is .500 on the road to .365 at home.
Pretty interesting when you consider Turner has played 58 games at home and 55 away and has only eight more at-bats on the road. Most of the rest of his numbers are comparable in the home and road splits, it’s just those power numbers.
“I have no idea to be honest with you,” Turner said of the disparity. “So I looked at my heat zones for home and away, and away I have a lot more zones. And then at home, I’m just hitting the ball away really well. I don’t think I’ve ever had that in my career to where I’ve always been good at pulling the ball. I take my hits the other way but at home it just seems like that outer third is kind of my sweet spot. I couldn’t tell you why. We were talking about it in the cage and I have no idea. Hopefully with a little adjustment the last few days, hopefully that kind of turns around and goes back to normal.”
In a nine-game stretch from July 27 to August 5, Turner hit a bit of a lull where he went 4-for-38 and saw his average dip down to .280. His last three games before Saturday, Turner has seemed to find a rhythm with six hits in 12 at-bats with a home run and six RBI.
“I have no idea what that is,” said Thomson of the road power surge. “I think it’s just coincidence, really. He’s hit home runs in CBP before. I don’t know what it is.”
Thomson’s extended plan for outfield rotation
The search for a “regular” outfield lineup continued Sunday as Nick Castellanos got a day off and the outfield consisted of Brandon Marsh in left, Harrison Bader in center and Max Kepler in right to go against Jacob deGrom.
“So, it was pre planned,” Thomson said. “I didn’t give it to you yesterday because I hadn’t seen Casty yet. This turf is, I like the turf because it plays a little bit more like grass than other turf but it’s pretty firm, pretty hard. So, I was trying to give all the outfielders one day off on it. That’s one thing. Plus, Bader’s had pretty good success against him. Three at-bats but he’s hit the ball hard twice and he’s got a couple of hits. I just felt it was a good day to give Casty the day off. I just thought, where we’re at, we’re trying to figure out who everybody is and how we’re going to align this thing. Just the matchup and the surface is probably the best day to do it.”
So, the question was posed, once you do figure it out, will there be pretty much a set starting outfield moving forward?
Thomson was non-committal.
“It’s probably just a day-to-day thing right now, unless somebody gets super-hot and then we have to go with the hot hand.”
Odds and ends
Thomson said that Jhoan Duran would see action Saturday, no matter what. “He needs to pitch today. Banks has had four days off, he’s had five days off. Although we had up last night and he got hot, he doesn’t like to go more than five days without seeing hitters. We’ll get him in tonight for sure. And Banks is really good when he pitches more often so we need to get him in too.”
On the pitching front, Thomson added that reliever David Robertson will join the team Sunday after his stint in Lehigh Valley. Aaron Nola will get another start there on Tuesday, and if all goes well it appears he will join the Phillies after that and possibly get a start next weekend. José Alvarado will pitch for the Iron Pigs on Sunday and then go again either Tuesday or Wednesday. He can rejoin the team on August 19th.
Rafael Devers' hot stretch at plate coincides with growing comfort at first base
Rafael Devers' hot stretch at plate coincides with growing comfort at first base originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Rafael Devers, daily, is taking extra work to improve his defense at first base and get more comfortable at the position.
If the three-time MLB All-Star can get that to match his comfort level at the plate, there’s no limit on what the veteran slugger can do.
One day after making a pair of spectacular defensive plays, Devers went deep for a second consecutive day when he connected for a home run leading off the sixth inning.
It was the seventh time Devers has gone deep in 45 games in a Giants uniform, showing why president of baseball operations Buster Posey targeted him just before the trade deadline.
“I think it’s just him being Devers at this point,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said in the aftermath of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park. “He’s just a really good hitter who knows what his strengths are.”
That was the scouting report on Devers before joining San Francisco: A well-accomplished slugger with a career .277 batting average who has clubbed 10 or more home runs in each of his 10 MLB seasons.
Things didn’t start well for Devers with his new team on the West Coast. He had some inconsistencies at the plate and in the field, leading some to question the trade with Boston.
A lot of that noise has been muted lately.
Devers is playing a lot more effectively at first base and is currently one of the hottest hitters in Melvin’s lineup.
After ending July in a 0-for-14 funk, Devers has found a nice rhythm at the plate. In eight games this month, he has gone 9-for-28 (.321) with three home runs, eight walks and seven RBIs.
In the 45 games since his acquisition from the Red Sox, Devers has 22 RBIs.
“Just basically doing the same thing that I’ve done all year, just making sure that I take advantage of all my at-bats,” Devers said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I don’t think that it’s necessary for me to change anything. I’m just being the type of player that I am. Things are beginning to work out for me.”
That includes playing first base, one of the issues that led to his exit from Boston. He was reluctant to play a position he had never played before at the big league level.
Devers faced early criticism from the media and Giants fans but has quieted that chatter with some smooth fielding. That included a heads-up play Friday when the Nationals loaded the bases and hit a grounder to first that Devers snagged and wisely threw home to get the out.
“Every single day, I’m always making sure that I work at first and make sure that I’m ready for everything that’s going to be thrown my way,” said Devers, who had two hits and two walks as the Giants’ designated hitter on Saturday.
It’s worth noting that Devers’ comfort level on defense has coincided with his output at the plate. It makes sense that less stress and concerns in one area would translate into success in other areas.
Devers isn’t sure if that’s what’s happening but acknowledged that playing in the field keeps him more engaged.
“I really don’t know if that’s something that’s working out. I just know that when I play first base, I’m more involved in the game,” Devers said. “You’re thinking about different aspects of the game, not just thinking about your next at-bat.”
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre: ‘I feel for Aaron Boone, I’ve been in that place’
The Yankees are going through it right now.
They were defeated by the Houston Astros in extra innings on Friday night, cutting their lead for the final wild card spot in the American League to just a half game.
They've now dropped six of their last seven games, and with each loss, Aaron Boone’s seat seemingly gets hotter and hotter.
The boos have been loud and heavy lately in the Bronx.
Joe Torre has been there before; he understands what the long-time skipper is going through.
“People always ask me who I root for, I root for people,” he told SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod at Old Timers' Day. “I feel for Aaron, I’ve been in that place before -- you’re trying to rearrange the furniture and hopefully it makes a difference.”
Though things aren’t looking good right now, Torre remains confident in the team under Boone’s leadership.
The four-time World Series champ certainly knows what it takes.
“This club is too good to not have a run, there’s still time left,” he said. “If it were Sept. 1, I’d be more concerned, but I have a lot of confidence -- Booney has been down this road before, he’s a third-generation major leaguer.
“I feel that they’re going to make a run and will be where they are supposed to be at the end of things.”
Yankees legends provide insight on team’s current struggles: ‘Teams aren’t afraid of us anymore’
Wille Randolph.
Jorge Posada.
Tino Martinez.
Johnny Damon.
That’s just a few of the Yankees stars who were in attendance at the Stadium on Saturday afternoon for this year’s Old Timers’ Day festivities.
It’s the 77th annual Old Timers' Day game, but the first since 2019.
The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2000 World Series championship.
While that team and all the great memories they shared were a hot topic of discussion, so was the current state of the organization as they fight through a brutally tough stretch.
The Yankees currently find themselves trailing the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the AL East and hold a slim advantage for the final wild card spot after dropping Friday’s series opener in extra innings to the Astros.
“They’re going through a tough time,” Damon told SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod.
“Teams are not afraid of us anymore,” Randolph added. “We need to get that mojo back to where when they come into Yankee Stadium and places like that, they know they’re going to be in for a big fight.”
Though things are looking bleak, there is still plenty of baseball to be played.
“They’re struggling right now, but they’re still in the hunt,” Martinez said. “As long as you’re there this time of year and you can improve from here, they have a chance, but they have to minimize the mistakes and play better baseball.”
“It’s more of an attitude than anything,” Posada added. “They have to get a little angry, hopefully a fight or something to get them going -- they need to have that chip on their shoulder, they need to play like that.”
Could Kevin Durant's contract extension with Rockets be for considerably less than max?
Kevin Durant in Houston feels like a hand-in-glove fit. The Rockets wanted Durant, and Houston was on his short list of places he wanted to be traded. When asked about the organization, Durant praised the Rockets. He fills the need for a half-court scoring threat that will open up their offense.
The only question is the money on Durant's contract extension.
Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $57.4 million. The Rockets can offer him a max two-year, $122.1 million extension (no team can offer Durant more than two years because of the over 38 rule). There was always an expectation that Durant would take a bit of a haircut off that max number, but that cut may be deeper than just a haircut, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Hoopshype).
MacMahon: "By all appearances and by what I've heard, they're not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant. Now, doesn't mean it won't happen, but there've been rumblings of KD not going to push for the full max. I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max."
Windhorst: "I think the Rockets are like it's not ideal, but I don't think they would panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant just on the contract that he's on just on the on the expiring deal... I'll say this, Rafael Stone, since he's been the GM of the of the Rockets, he's signed quite a few giant contracts, but a lot most of them have been short."
The contract has to be short in this case, but what is a fair number for the future Hall of Famer? One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season. However, maybe that number is too high. Maybe Durant will take less — he has the right to make whatever choice he thinks is best for him, his legacy and his family.
Maybe everyone is comfortable going into the season without an extension and seeing how things play out. That said, we are more than a month out from the start of training camps, and a lot of deals get done right around the beginning of camp. This is all just something to watch.
Devers homers early and Giants blank Nationals 5-0
SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers and Casey Schmitt homered, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Friday night to snap their longest home losing streak in more than a decade.
Matt Chapman had two hits and an RBI for the Giants. Dominic Smith added two singles to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) pitched five smooth innings in relief for his first major league win. The 26-year-old from Taiwan followed opener Matt Gage and allowed three hits with one walk with four strikeouts.
Joey Lucchesi, José Buttó and Tristan Beck each retired three batters to complete the four-hitter.
The Giants had lost eight straight at Oracle Park — one shy of their longest home skid of the San Francisco era — before beating the Nationals for the third time in four meetings this season.
Devers, acquired from Boston in June, launched his 21st home run of the season off Jake Irvin (8-7) in the first. Chapman’s RBI single later in the inning made it 2-0.
Schmitt’s homer, a two-run drive in the sixth, was his second in six days.
San Francisco added a run in the eighth on Patrick Bailey’s infield single.
Irvin allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings.
Key moment
After the Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, Devers fielded a grounder to first base and threw out Josh Bell at home plate before the next batter, Jacob Young, grounded into a double play.
Key stat
Teng threw 64 pitches in five innings and allowed only two runners past second base.
Up next
Giants top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt (1-0, 4.35 ERA) faces Nationals right-hander Brad Lord (2-6, 3.42) on Saturday.
Wisconsin center Jake Renfro listed as week to week after suffering lower-body injury
Wisconsin center Jake Renfro suffered a lower-body injury in practice, putting his status for the start of the season in question.
Dwight Gooden discusses outlook of struggling Mets, Yankees
It’s been a tough stretch for New York baseball.
Despite adding a handful of big pieces ahead of the trade deadline, both the Mets and the Yankees have remained in their deep slumps over the past week.
The Mets now sit 3.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East after dropping their fifth consecutive game in frustrating fashion on Friday night.
The Yanks were knocked off by the rival Houston Astros in the series opener Friday too, and they now find themselves with just a half-game lead for the final AL wild card spot.
They are 3.5 games back of the Red Sox for second in the AL East and 6.5 games behind the Blue Jays for first.
Things are not looking good for either World Series hopeful team right now, but a former New York baseball legend is confident they'll be able to turn things around down the stretch.
“I think the Mets are going to be okay,” Dwight Gooden told SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod at Yankees Old Timers' Day. “I still like to say pitching wins, you have to have consistent pitching because the lineup is nice, but they have to get more consistent.
“The main thing is they have to stay healthy because they are right there -- once you get into the postseason, it’s the hottest team that wins, not always the best, so I think they’ll be okay, they just have to get more consistent.”
Gooden feels the same way about the Yankees, who he says are playing not to lose.
“You just have to have confidence you’re going to win,” he said. “When you go out there and try not to lose, you put a lot of pressure on yourself -- they just have to take things one game at a time, sometimes all it takes is getting back to the basics.”
Both teams will look to get back on track on Saturday.
The Mets face off with right-hander Tobias Myers in Milwaukee, while Luis Gil makes his second start of the season against ace left-hander Framber Valdez in the Bronx.
5 potential targets for Knicks' last veteran minimum spot
The offseason appears all but wrapped up for the Knicks, coming off some housekeeping items in filling out their coaching staff and signing Mikal Bridges to an extension.
They still don’t have a full roster, however, with an open spot to sign one of their second-round picks and another to add a veteran on a minimum deal. The latter has been cause for speculation, with a few intriguing targets available and multiple needs the Knicks could potentially address.
Here are their options for the last veteran’s minimum spot and who might be the most valuable this season...
Ben Simmons
According to ClutchPoints’s Brett Siegel, the Knicks are favorites to land Simmons, the former first overall pick, Rookie of the Year and perennial All-NBA Defensive First Team selection.
Unfortunately, fans expecting that level of production are likely to be disappointed, as Simmons hasn’t been the same since his back issues and holdout season.
In fact, he hasn’t been a fraction of his former effectiveness. In his three seasons since, Simmons hasn’t eclipsed 51 games played or seven points per game in those games, totaling twice as many turnovers as free throws.
Simmons can still push the ball off a defensive rebound and bring it up in the half-court, but has lost all aggressiveness on offense. He rarely looks to drive and when he does, it’s rare he actually attacks the rim with any real intent to score or draw in the defense.
He can screen and make connective plays from there, a tantalizing prospect under Mike Brown’s Domantas Sabonis playbook -- but this and some decent defense won’t make him anything more than a spot minutes specialist.
Even his defense has slid off a cliff, lacking the foot speed to stay with quicker guards and the verticality and imposition around the rim to protect it. There’s a reason his playoff minutes quickly descended to multiple DNP’s as the Clippers learned of his decline the hard way.
That said, none of the available options are the swing piece between the Knicks winning a championship and falling short, and Simmons represents the highest upside and biggest frame of the bunch, which makes his case viable.
Malcolm Brogdon
New York beefed up its guard position with the addition of Jordan Clarkson, rounding out their rotation of Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Kolek looked the part as a break-glass-in-emergency point guard last season, and is in line to fill that role as the team’s fourth guard this year.
If the Knicks have any reservations, signing Brogdon would be a nice insurance policy on their backcourt options. Like Simmons, he’s likely past his prime but can provide some reliable playmaking.
Unlike Simmons, he’s only two years removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year and currently has some more credible NBA skills. Brogdon is a career 38.8 percent shooter from three and has evolved into more of a distributor in his last few seasons.
His numbers have been otherwise unimpressive as of late, but he’s spent two years mired in unclear roles in rebuilding situations. Putting him in position to help more sporadically for a championship chaser may be just the thing he needs to have a strong year.
This minimum contract may be better utilized at a position of more value or need, as the Knicks can always lean on Kolek or their non-guards to facilitate. If they’re dead-set on a guard, Brogdon isn’t their only option.
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook looks like a long shot, given rumors don’t tie him to New York and there’s no clear path to consistent minutes in this rotation. With that being said, he’s proven much more impactful than Brogdon or Simmons in recent years, and would be an absolute firecracker of an add if the Knicks pulled it off.
What Westbrook’s lost in athleticism and scoring efficiency, he’s learned to make up for with his defensive tenacity and high-motor play. He does not take a play, let alone a game, off, and is always full tempo when he’s on the court.
These are valuable things to bring off your bench, especially in a limited role on a small deal, it’s just unlikely Westbrook takes one with three guards ahead of him on the depth chart. Fun to think about, especially in the context of a slower Knicks team, but not much else to consider here.
Thomas Bryant
One position the Knicks may want to heavily consider using this spot for is the center spot. Their current rotation is made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, and if they start the double-big lineup, this essentially leaves them one backup five to start the year.
They have interesting alternative options at the center like sliding newly-signed Guerschon Yabusele down a position or playing OG Anunoby there, and can always move Robinson back to the bench. However, signing a depth piece at the position like Thomas Bryant gives them more security in case injuries hit.
Fans will remember Bryant from his timely threes against the Knicks in the conference finals. He’s now bounced between five teams in his eight-year NBA career, but can step in in a pinch with some offensive rebounding and rim deterrence.
A report from Kevin Martorano of Sportando stated that Bryant may be packing his bags for Greece, in which case the Knicks may need to turn to another center option. Other names they can target are Bol Bol and Bismack Biyombo.
Landry Shamet
Another thing this roster could use is some pure shooting, as their two offensive hubs are also their best shooters, and their role players could sometimes be iffy from range. Their two bench pickups this offseason are reliable, but nothing extraordinary from there either.
Enter Shamet, who was one of New York’s best bench pieces in 2024-25.
If he’s interested in returning on a veteran’s minimum without assured playing time, the Knicks would happily welcome back his career 38.5 percent clip from deep.
Unlike some of these other options, Shamet has some positional flexibility, with the ability to play and guard one through three. He was clutch in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, shooting 7-15 from three in the series and playing some stifling defense after not playing for essentially the entire postseason.
There’s also Delon Wright, who’s still a free agent after giving the Knicks dependable spot minutes in last year’s regular season and playoffs. He’d be another worthwhile signing if they’re looking to go smaller and more defensive.
Penguins Have Interesting Goalie Battle To Watch
With it now being the middle of August, NHL training camps are not too far away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for an interesting one. After bringing in several new players this off-season, there will be plenty of players fighting for spots on their NHL roster.
One of the most notable battles to watch at training camp this year for the Penguins is for the backup goaltender spot. With the Penguins acquiring Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, he should compete for the backup role with Joel Blomqvist.
Silovs spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he posted a 14-5-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average in 21 games. However, he more notably thrived in the playoffs during Abbotsford's Calder Cup championship run, recording a 16-7 record, a .931 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average. With this fantastic play, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Given how well Silovs played in the AHL with Abbotsford, especially in the playoffs, he undoubtedly will be in the running for the Penguins' backup job. The 24-year-old has limited NHL experience, however, as he has recorded an 8-8-2 record, a 3.13 goals-against average, and a .880 save percentage in 19 career regular-season NHL games. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for Vancouver in 2024, posting a 5-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage, and one shutout.
Blomqvist, on the other hand, appeared in his first 15 NHL games this past season with Pittsburgh. During them, he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage. Overall, he had some troubles during his first NHL action, but he should compete for the Penguins' backup role at camp.
Blomqvist also played in 18 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, where he had an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average. This was after he had a 25-12-6 record, a 2.16 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage in 45 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With this, there is no question that he has good upside.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see who ends up winning the Penguins' backup goalie role from here.
Penguins Gritty Forward Is Player To WatchAt the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins quietly acquired defenseman Connor Timmins and forward Connor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. While the Penguins have since traded Timmins to the Buffalo Sabres, Dewar remains on Pittsburgh's roster heading into the 2025-26 season. Dallas Stars' Tyler Seguin Ready To Accomplish More Goals Following A Short 2024-25 Season
By Ella Tsotsos, The Hockey News intern
Tyler Seguin, born in Brampton, Ont. has had many incredible seasons in professional leagues. Seguin was selected second overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins and accomplished a Stanley Cup win in his rookie year.
In his major-junior years, Seguin played for the Plymouth Whalers and became the first member of the team to win the Red Tilson Trophy as an MVP in the OHL. His best season with the Whalers was in the 2009-10 season, in which he had 48 goals and 58 assists and 106 points.
During the 2024-25 season, Seguin suffered a significant injury that required surgery. Seguin returned to play in the season finale in the playoffs with the Dallas Stars.
Last season. Seguin played 20 games and had 21 points, and with his major hip surgery, he was unable to play until the playoffs. After a successful surgery, the 33-year-old Seguin played in one pre-playoff game with the Stars in Nashville. His physical recovery was praised, as there was much work to be done for regaining his mobility and ensuring he would be fit for play, but he managed to average 15:06 minutes of ice time on average for Dallas in the playoffs. His post-season concluded with four goals and four assists in 18 games.
Seguin’s best season with the Stars came in his first season with the team in 2013-14, during which he recorded 37 goals, 47 assists and 84 points in 80 games. Seguin is a six-time All-Star and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, as stated earlier.
Although, like any hockey player, goals and milestones are in place. He has played 989 games and has 809 points, and Seguin is inches away from having 1000 in both categories. However, a major remaining goal is to win a cup with the Stars.
During his rookie year in 2010-11, Seguin played amongst significant veteran players including Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas, who are players that rookies looked up to for guidance. Learning from veteran players and being under their wing is admired, and for Seguin, this is a role that is now becoming his.
During an interview, Seguin answered the question regarding any advice he had for players in the minors who want to succeed and enjoy the game.
“Just have fun with it, make sacrifices, don’t party too much and enjoy your time, " Seguin said.
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What we learned as Carson Whisenhunt allows three homers in Giants' loss to Nats
What we learned as Carson Whisenhunt allows three homers in Giants' loss to Nats originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Rafael Devers homered for the second consecutive day and reached base four times, but the Giants’ offense was otherwise muffled in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Oracle Park.
One day after putting up five runs during a shutout victory in the series opener, the Giants generated good traffic on the bases but couldn’t cash in on the opportunities. Manager Bob Melvin’s club stranded seven runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the third.
Devers provided one of the few offensive highlights with his 22nd home run of the season and seventh in a Giants uniform. He also singled and walked twice.
Wilmer Flores added a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth to drive in San Francisco’s other run.
It didn’t help that the guy holding down the Giants’ offense was rookie Brad Lord, whose only career victories came in relief. Lord allowed four hits and one run over six innings.
San Francisco needed much more from its offense on a day when top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt lasted four innings in his third career MLB start. Whisenhunt allowed three runs — all solo homers — and five hits in four innings while striking out five with three walks.
Carson Seymour helped ease the pain of the afternoon with three innings of solid relief. He allowed one run and four hits.
Shortstop Willy Adames gave the Oracle Park crowd a jolt with a defensive gem in the eighth inning, chasing down Daylen Lile’s grounder up the middle, making a 360-degree spin and then throwing to first base for the out.
Heliot Ramos singled twice to extend his career-high on-base streak to 22 games.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s loss that drops the Giants to 59-58:
Serving it up
Whisenhunt had surrendered two home runs through his first two starts this season but was battered for three solo shots in the first three innings against the Nationals.
The rookie pitcher seemed to settle down after James Wood hit his third pitch out of Oracle Park in the first inning, pitching out of a mini-jam in the second.
Things really went south in the third when Washington’s batters were squaring up nicely and hitting almost every pitch hard. The back-to-back homers by Paul DeJong and Josh Bell – both estimated longer than 420 feet – gave the Nats a comfortable lead.
All three home runs came off sinkers, which have been Whisenhunt’s most effective pitch this season.
Devers heating up
Devers’ career with the Giants got off to a shaky start but the three-time AL All-Star has been dialing in at the plate lately and has homered in the last two games and three of the last six.
This is the hitter whom the Giants believed they were getting when they traded for him in June, a game-changing bat with the capabilities of carrying an offense. Devers also showed good patience at the plate, drawing two walks.
Lucky No. 13
Clean-up hitter Dominic Smith’s fourth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest by a Giants player since Brandon Belt’s 14-game stretch in 2021.
During the streak, Smith has wielded one of the hottest bats in manager Bob Mevlin’s lineup, going 16-for-44 (.390) with three extra-base hits and three walks while raising his batting average from .235 to .280.