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Sabres Prospect Profile – Jake Richard

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#8 - Jake Richard  - Forward (Connecticut - NCAA)

Richard was the Sabres sixth-round pick at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal who opened some eyes last year at the club’s development camp. A native of Jacksonville, FL, the 6’1”, 194 lb. winger played his youth hockey in Florida and a year with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) before being selected 170th overall.

The following season, Richard split time between the Lumberjacks and Tri-City and increased his goal total to 31 and compiled 62 points in 57 games. As a freshman at Connecticut, he finished fourth on the club with 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists). Last season, the 20-year-old finished second in team scoring in his sophomore campaign, averaging over a point per game (15 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games, and at the club’s 2025 development camp once again showed his scoring prowess. 

If Richard has another good year with the Huskies, the Sabres should try to coax the young forward out of college with a professional contract offer, before he gets ideas of becoming an unrestricted free agent after his senior season in 2027. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Canadiens Trade Carey Price's Contract To Sharks: Recapping Goalie's Time In Montreal

The Montreal Canadiens traded Carey Price and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

The Canadiens received defenseman Gannon Laroque in return.

Price, 38, last played five games in the 2021-22 season for the Canadiens. The goaltender hasn't played since due to injury.

The Sharks take on the final year of Price's contract, which carries a $10.5-million cap hit but just a $2-million base salary. They still have more than $9.2 million in cap space.

Montreal, meanwhile, has about $4.57 million in cap space. They can accrue that space instead of putting Price on the long-term injured reserve, which means they could make a bigger move at the trade deadline next March.

Laroque, 22, is in the third year of his entry-level contract. In 2023-24, he played nine games with ECHL Wichita, recording two assists there, and nine games with AHL San Jose, where he had a goal and an assist. The Sharks drafted him 103rd overall in 2021. He didn't play last season due to injury.

Price's Time With The Canadiens

Price set franchise highs during his 15 seasons playing for the Canadiens, which selected him fifth overall in the 2005 NHL draft.

His 712 games played and 700 starts are the most among all goaltenders in the Canadiens' 107 NHL seasons. Hockey Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup champion Jacques Plante is second, with 556 games and starts.

Like Plante, Price is a Hart Trophy winner, receiving the most votes in the 2014-15 season, when he also captured the Ted Lindsay Award, Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy. Price had a 44-16-6 record with a 1.96 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and nine shutouts that season.

Price also recorded the most wins by a goaltender in Habs history, with 361, 47 more than Plante. His 49 shutouts are in third place. 

Price had at least 30 wins in a season five times, at least a .910 save percentage nine times and a goals-against average lower than 2.50 seven times.

Overall, Price, a member of Ulkatcho First Nation in British Columbia, had a 361-261-79 record, 2.51 GAA and .917 SP with the Canadiens in the regular season.

In the playoffs, Price went 43-45 in 92 games with a 2.39 GAA, .919 SP and eight shutouts. He's third in franchise history in playoff games played, fourth in playoff wins and fifth in save percentage among Habs netminders who played at least 10 playoff games.

The furthest Price got in the playoffs was in 2020-21. He backstopped the Habs to a comeback seven-game series win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, a sweep over the Winnipeg Jets and a six-game win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the semifinal.

The Canadiens won the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl for the first time ever, considering that trophy usually goes to the Western Conference champions. It went to them due to temporary divisional realignment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the final, Montreal faced the defending-champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts won the first three games before Price stopped 32 shots to cut the series deficit to 3-1. Tampa Bay won the Cup in Game 5.

That was Price's last playoff game with the Canadiens and almost certainly his NHL career. He missed most of the 2021-22 season due to a torn meniscus injury before playing five games in April 2022, winning one of them.

He hasn't officially retired since he's still under contract, but there appear to be no plans of playing again in hockey's top league for the father of three children.

Correction: Laroque last played in 2023-24, not 2024-25.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Will McDavid's Next Cap Hit Set The Bar For Kaprizov – Or Vice-Versa?

There are big-name players whose contracts will expire following the 2025-26 season. Arguably, none are bigger than Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov.

Even though the two forwards are in separate divisions and don't share the same agents, they could affect the outcome of each other’s new contracts, for better or worse.

McDavid and Kaprizov have been eligible to sign new deals since July 1 but haven’t yet. However, whoever signs their contract extension first will likely set the table for the other star player.

McDavid, 28, already has 1,082 points in 712 regular-season games and 150 points in 96 playoff games. He's won the Art Ross Trophy five times, the Ted Lindsay Award four times, the Hart Trophy three times, the 'Rocket' Richard Trophy once and the Conn Smythe Trophy once. After back-to-back Stanley Cup final losses, he's focused on winning it all multiple times.

Kaprizov, 28, has 386 points in 319 NHL games, and in only 25 playoff games, he's put up 21 points.

It’s no surprise that both of these players will receive groundbreaking contracts and could set financial records in the NHL. But what remains unclear is how much these players will earn.

The current bar for the highest-paid NHL player by season is McDavid’s Oilers teammate, Leon Draisaitl, whose new deal carries a $14-million cap hit. There’s a great possibility that McDavid and Kaprizov will exceed that number, especially with the rising salary cap in consideration.

McDavid is considered the best player in the sport by some margin. With that, he’ll likely be paid as such, unless he takes a page out of Sidney Crosby’s book and accepts a lower-than-expected cap hit for the team.

Nonetheless, with Draisaitl’s $14-million cap hit to reach, McDavid will likely surpass that by a few million, possibly a range of $16 million to $18 million.

But what if Kaprizov and the Wild come to terms for a contract that pays him $15.5 million or $16 million per season? That could force the range for McDavid’s contract to go even higher, just out of respect for him being the best player in the NHL.

Furthermore, Wild owner Craig Leipold said an agreement between the team and Kaprizov is “not that far off,” according to The Athletic.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/mcdavid-talks-contract-and-oilers-my-belief-has-never-been-higher

In addition, this situation goes both ways. McDavid could be the one to restrict Kaprizov’s contract if GM Stan Bowman and the Oilers put pen to paper quicker than the Wild and GM Bill Guerin.

If Edmonton’s captain were to take a relatively team-friendly deal, between $14 million and $16 million, that would likely force Kaprizov to cash in a lower cap hit than his camp might’ve planned initially.

Of course, there are other factors that go into each player's situation, and one player signing first won't be the only basis for the next player's contract.

Based on some calculations and assumptions done in The Hockey News' 2025 Money & Power issue, a Wild player pays a higher percentage of their contract in taxes than in Edmonton (47.91 percent to 47.01 percent).

Kaprizov's agent, Paul Theofanous, has also secured some massive contracts for other star players, such as Artemi Panarin's $$1,642,857 average annual value with the New York Rangers and Sergei Bobrovsky's $10-million cap hit with the Florida Panthers. McDavid signing a team-friendly contract doesn't mean Kaprizov will as well (and vice-versa), but it could make it more difficult.

As for other pending UFAs, such as the Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor, Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel, Colorado Avalanche's Martin Necas and Rangers' Panarin, if their camps have any concerns about teams using McDavid's next deal as a comparable, they may want to set the bar themselves.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Yankees' Aaron Judge returns to right field Friday against Blue Jays

For the first time since returning from the IL, Aaron Judge is back in right field for the Yankees, who begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

Prior to Friday's game, Judge had been strictly serving as a DH due to the flexor strain in his right elbow that caused him to miss nearly two weeks shortly after the All-Star break. It will be the first time Judge is in the outfield since July 26.

With Judge back in right field (and batting third), Giancarlo Stanton assumes his position as the DH and is hitting fifth. 

Due to his own fielding deficiencies, Stanton had been the odd-man out many times while Judge was the DH, as New York would only play Stanton in the outfield during home games due to the smaller dimensions of right field at Yankee Stadium. On the road, Stanton would mainly only come in for pinch-hitting assignments, which was a big blow for the Yankees' offense.

Now with both players in the lineup and at their ideal positions, New York is at full strength as it aims to commandeer first place for the division from the Blue Jays, who are 3.0 games in front entering play on Friday.

Hopefully a return to DH for Stanton will break him out of his recent slump in which he has just one hit (a home run) in his last 21 at-bats.

Meanwhile, Judge has been on a tear offensively lately after enduring a slump of his own over the last month.

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Bulls reportedly have four-year, $88 million offer on table for Josh Giddey, still well below what he seeks

Chicago's stumbling point is simple: Just more than a year ago, the Bulls gave an unproven Patrick Williams a five-year, $90 million contract ($18 million a season), based on his potential (the front office really believes in him). So what is a proven scorer and shot creator like Josh Giddey worth to them?

About $22 million a year, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports. He said Chicago has an offer of four years, $88 million is on the table for Giddey — not that much more than Williams and well below the closer to $30 million a season Giddey is reportedly looking to make. That $88 million number is up slightly but largely in line with previous reporting of the Bulls offering around $20 million a season for the 6'8" point guard.

Giddey has yet to accept the Bulls' offer, with an Oct. 1 deadline looming in the distance for him to pick up the one-year, $11.1 million qualifying offer, play out this season in Chicago, and become a free agent next summer (the path Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas has already taken).

Giddey believes he should be paid in the Derrick White and Tyler Herro range of around $30 million a season. His case is based on how he played after the All-Star break last season, when he averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists a game for a Bulls team that went 17-10 in that stretch. The Bulls may not be as convinced by that stretch of play, and in the bigger picture, they are trying to clean up their books and gain flexibility. While Giddey knows how to run their offense, he is not a great defender and needs to show his hot shooting from 3-point range after the All-Star break last season (45.7%) was not a fluke (he is a career 33% shooter from deep).

The other question Giddey and his representatives need to ask themselves: Will the money he wants be available next summer? While there are expected to be up to 10 NBA teams with considerable cap space, are they going to want to spend a lot of that on Giddey? His perception in league circles is that of a good player but not a contending team franchise cornerstone, more of an 82-game player than a 16-game player. If Giddey were to take the qualifying offer, he would have a season to prove his doubters wrong with his play.

Most likely, both Giddey and the Bulls will compromise as we get closer to training camp. Neither side wants to go the qualifying offer route, but the Bulls have all the leverage in these talks while Giddey just has the one card to play. The closer we get to Oct. 1 without a deal, the more realistic that option becomes.

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Igor Shesterkin Ranked As Third Best Goalie in NHL Network’s Top-10 Goalie List.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Igor Shesterkin ranked no. 3 in the NHL Network’s Top-10 goalie list. 

The only two goalies that ranked ahead of Shesterkin on this list are Andrei Vasilevskiy and Connor Hellebuyck. 

This past season, Shesterkin signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the New York Rangers, making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. 

At the pinnacle of Shesterkin’s career, he won the Vezina and was a Hart Trophy finalist for League MVP in 2022. 

On top of that, Shesterkin has helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final twice through his tenure as the team’s starting goalie. 

During the 2024-25 campaign, the 29-year-old goalie recorded a 27-29-5 record, 2.86 goals against average, and .905 save percentage. 

Gabe Perreault Reaffirms His Primary Goal Of Securing A Roster Spot With The Rangers Gabe Perreault Reaffirms His Primary Goal Of Securing A Roster Spot With The Rangers Gabe Perreault continues to make his goals loud and clear. 

The goalies ranked behind Shesterkin on this list include Sergei Bobrovsky, Jake Oettinger, Ilya Sorokin, Jordan Binnington, Filip Gustavsson, Darcy Kuemper, and Linus Ullmark.

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Clippers considered naming dome after bankrupt firm at center of Kawhi Leonard allegations

Inglewood, CA. April 24, 2025 - Game three of the first round of the NBA playoffs game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles Clippers take on the Denver Nuggets in an NBA playoff game in April at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

More details are emerging about a company that allegedly paid Clippers star Kawhi Leonard millions, including that the team came close in 2021 to granting naming rights for its Inglewood arena to Aspiration Partners.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer nearly granted naming rights to the company, but ended up choosing financial services firm Intuit to grace the $2-billion venue, a source familiar with the matter said. Intuit, which has a $186-billion net worth and developed TurboTax, Credit Karma and QuickBooks, ended up paying a reported $500 million over 23 years for the naming rights. The source requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Four years later, Aspiration, a sustainability firm that also generated and sold carbon credits, is out of business. Co-founder Joseph Sanberg has agreed to plead guilty to defrauding multiple investors and lenders. Listed among creditors in Aspiration's bankruptcy documents is Leonard, raising questions about whether his $28-million endorsement deal with the company skirted NBA salary cap rules.

One of the investors Sanberg defrauded was Ballmer, listed by Fortune magazine as the sixth-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $157 billion. The Clippers owner invested $50 million in Aspiration, which in turn entered into a $330-million sponsorship agreement with the team.

This week, the Athletic reported allegations that Aspiration agreed to pay Leonard $28 million for a job with no responsibilities. Anonymous sources quoted by the outlet said the payment was an effort to circumvent the NBA salary cap.

Ballmer was interviewed Thursday night by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and denied involvement in Leonard's deal with Aspiration, but the NBA has launched an investigation.

Ballmer said he was "conned" by the company and that the Clippers did not circumvent NBA salary cap rules, which the team was accused of doing in a podcast report by Pablo Torre of the Athletic.

A plane flies over the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
A plane flies over the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ballmer told Shelburne that Aspiration offered more than Intuit for dome naming rights, and a Clippers spokesman confirmed that account. However, Ballmer insisted that the Clippers did not violate NBA rules against skirting the salary cap, and the team had agreed to a contract extension with Leonard and the sponsorship deal with Aspiration before the player and the company met.

Read more:Questions over Kawhi Leonard payments put focus on NBA salary cap

"We were done with Kawhi, we were done with Aspiration," Ballmer said. "The deals were all locked and loaded. Then, they did request to be introduced to Kawhi, and under the rules, we can introduce our sponsors to our athletes. We just can't be involved."

The Clippers signed Leonard to a four-year, $176-million contract in August 2021 even though he was recovering from a partially torn ACL in his right knee that kept him sidelined the entire 2021-22 season. Ballmer said the sponsorship deal with Aspiration was completed in September 2021 and that the Clippers introduced Leonard to Aspiration two months later.

"As part of our cooperation with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, we produced texts and emails," Ballmer said. "It was part of the document production in their investigation. We even found the email that made the first introduction [between Aspiration and Leonard]. It was early in November.

"Where could any of this circumvention happened? It couldn’t have, it didn’t. The introduction got made and they were off to the races on their own. We weren’t involved."

The Boston Sports Journal reported that Leonard did not appear in promotional material as other endorsers did because Aspiration executives "saw no brand synergy with Leonard and chose not to use his services. They instead preferred to partner with climate-focused influencers."

Ballmer couldn't explain why Leonard did no marketing or endorsement work for Aspiration, telling Shelburne that he never spoke with the player about his deal with the company.

"I don’t know why they did what they did and I don’t know how different it is, I really don’t," he said. "And, frankly, any speculation would be crazy. These were guys who committed fraud. Look, they conned me. I made an investment in these guys thinking it was on the up-and-up and they conned me. At this stage, I have no ability to predict why they did anything they did."

The salary cap is a dollar amount that limits what teams can spend on player payroll. The purpose of the cap is to ensure parity, preventing the wealthiest teams from outspending smaller markets to acquire the best players.

Circumventing the cap by paying a player outside of his contract is strictly prohibited. Teams that exceed the cap must pay luxury tax penalties that grow increasingly severe. Revenues from the tax penalties are then distributed in part to smaller-market teams and in part to teams that do not exceed the salary cap.

The NBA said it will investigate the allegations laid out by Torre. Ballmer said he welcomes the probe. If allegations were made against a team other than the Clippers, "I’d want the league to investigate, to take it seriously," he said.

"We know the rules, and if anything is not clear, we remind ourselves what the rules are. And we make it absolutely clear we will abide by those rules."

The cap was implemented before the 1984-85 season at a mere $3.6 million. Ten years later, it was $15.9 million, and 10 years after that it had risen to $43.9 million. By the 2014-15 season it was $63.1 million.

The biggest spike came before the 2016-2017 season when it jumped to $94 million because of an influx of revenue from a new nine-year, $24-billion media rights deal with ESPN and TNT.

Salary cap rules negotiated between the NBA and the players’ union are spelled out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Proven incidents of teams circumventing the cap are few, with a violation by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000 serving as the most egregious.

The Timberwolves made a secret agreement with free agent and former No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Smith, signing him to a succession of below-market one-year deals in order to enable the team to go over the cap with a huge contract ahead of the 2001-02 season.

The NBA voided his contract, fined the Timberwolves $3.5 million, and stripped them of five first-round draft picks — two of which were later returned. Also, owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale were suspended.

Then-NBA commissioner David Stern told the Minnesota Star Tribune at the time: “What was done here was a fraud of major proportions. There were no fewer than five undisclosed contracts tightly tucked away, in the hope that they would never see the light of day. … The magnitude of this offense was shocking.”

According to Article 13 of the CBA, if the Clippers were found to have circumvented the cap, it would be a first offense punishable by a $4.5-million fine, the loss of one first-round draft pick, and voiding of Leonard’s contract. However, the Clippers don’t have a first-round pick until 2027.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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'Absolutely I Want To Stay In Edmonton': Veteran D-Man On Possible Extension

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Veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm was asked about his own contract situation on Friday, specifically if he's looking to re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers.

Understanding that Connor McDavid is getting the bulk of the attention, Ekholm is among a handful of pending UFAs on this Oilers roster that could be signed this summer or anytime during the season.

“Is This Real?” Insider Says McDavid’s Comments Has NHL on Alert“Is This Real?” Insider Says McDavid’s Comments Has NHL on AlertConnor McDavid’s contract status has clearly become the NHL’s biggest storyline heading into the 2025–26 season. Fans and media are hanging on every word McDavid says and reading into the things he doesn't say. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says the hockey world is right to be on edge.

“Absolutely I want to stay in Edmonton, but I know you have to take care of the big boys first," said Ekholm. He added, "Once he (McDavid) gets done I’m sure we will talk."

Ekholm, 35, is in a slightly different situation than other UFAs on the Oilers. He's on the back nine of his NHL career and it might not be wise for the organization to commit long term. However, salary cap flexibility is paramount and one of the ways to keep his AAV down is by offering more term.

How Much Is Connor McDavid Worth?

Oilers Unique Defender Storming To A Big Season

The Oilers have to ask themselves, at what point does Ekholm start not being worth the investment? He's aware that's a question that will need to be answered.

"I’m getting up there (age) but I know what I bring,” Ekholm said on entering the final year of his deal. The 2025-26 season is an important one, not just for the team but for the player. If he has a big year, signing him is just a matter of dollars and cents. If he doesn't, or he struggles to stay healthy, questions about what to offer him come into play. 

When asked how he feels after his injury during the playoffs last season, he responded, "I feel great, I feel a lot better... It was tough just 'cause you're more out there to survive than creating something or playing your game." Ekholm played with a torn adductor muscle in final against the Florida Panthers. The injury severely limited his effectiveness. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

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Two-start pitchers: Logan Webb headlines the group of dazzling options for the week of September 8

Hello and welcome to the 23rd installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

The Orioles continue to roll with a six-man rotation following the addition of Tyler Wells last week. That means in a six-game week, none of their hurlers will toe the slab twice. If anyone gets scratched or pushed back, it’s at least possible that Kyle Bradish could fall into a two-start week (vs. Pirates, @ Blue Jays), but don’t count on it.

As things currently stand, it doesn’t appear as though anyone will start twice for the Astros next week. They have been operating with a six-man rotation and play only six games. However, with Spencer Arrighetti landing on the injured list, the team could revert back to a traditional five-man rotation, in which case Framber Valdez would line up for a two-start week (@ Blue Jays, @ Braves). He should be locked into fantasy lineups regardless if he gets one start or two, so there’ no actionable items to take away from here.

The Dodgers have been rolling with a six-man rotation for most weeks, though occasionally they skip Emmet Sheehan. If they do so again this week, that would line up Shohei Ohtani to pitch twice (vs. Rockies, @ Giants). Is that enough to use him as a pitcher in weekly leagues instead of a hitter? It may depend on your categorical needs at this stage of the season.

The Pirates are another team that’s currently employing a six-man rotation, so unless any changes are made this week, none of their starters will get the ball twice. If anything does change, it looks like it would be Carmen Mlodzinski getting the honor of a two-start week (@ Orioles, @ Nationals).

Zebby Matthews had been lined up to make two starts for the Twins next week (@ Angels, vs. Diamondbacks), but the return of Pablo Lopez on Friday has thrown things into flux. If they go back to a six-man rotation to accommodate Lopez, then no one on the Twins will make two starts next week. If someone (Simeon Woods Richardson maybe) gets bumped from the rotation, we could still see Matthews make two starts, in which case he would be an intriguing option in all league sizes.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of September 8.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of September 5 and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Garrett Crochet, Red Sox, LHP (@ Athletics, vs. Yankees)

Not much to be said here. Crochet is an absolute beast and has been for the duration of the 2025 season. A true ace for fantasy purposes. He should be locked into 100% of all lineups every week, regardless of matchups. The battle against the Yankees on the back end of this double is tough, but you simply can’t bench your star southpaw at crunch time.

George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Angels)

Kirby has shown more inconsistency than we like to see in his return from the injured list. He has been hit especially hard as of late – giving up seven runs twice in his last four starts (@ Mets, @ Rays). He threw two gems in between those outings though (vs. A’s, @ Guardians) and another just before he was lit up by the Mets (@ Orioles). He gets two very strong matchups this week and both of them are in Seattle. The stellar matchups, combined with his track record, there’s no way that I would be benching Kirby in any leagues for this tantalizing two-start week.

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Angels)

This should have been an easy decision, as Woo has been one of the most dominant forces in the American League this season and gets two dream matchups against the Cardinals and Angels at home for the upcoming week. Something hasn’t been quite right with the M’s right-hander over his last two starts though. After going six innings or more in each of his first 25 starts on the season, he has failed to do so in each of his last two starts. Last time out he also issued an uncharacteristic three walks – a season-high. It’s probably just a blip on the radar and he’ll get back on track for this dream week, but it’s at least in the realm of possibility that he’s battling fatigue or an underlying physical issue. I’d still be starting him in all formats, just understand that there’s more risk involved than you’d usually expect from Woo.

Ryan Bergert, Royals, RHP (@ Guardians, @ Phillies)

All Bergert has done this season is dominate when given an opportunity. The rookie right-hander holds a stellar 2.61 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 65/29 K/BB ratio over 69 innings in 17 appearances (13 starts) between the Padres and the Royals. It has only led to two victories somehow, but that’s not his fault. He has to go on the road twice next week and take on a pair of strong opponents, but Bergert still makes for a strong start in all league sizes.

Decent Plays

José Berríos, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Astros, vs. Orioles)

Berríos comes into the week with a bad taste in his mouth after lasting just two innings and allowing six runs (two earned) against the Reds his last time out on Tuesday. It’s not going to get any easier for him as he has to take on a dangerous Astros’ lineup to start the week before finishing up with the Orioles at home. He’s a threat to win every time he takes the mound these days and should pile up close to double-digit strikeouts over a two-start week, but there is ratio risk here. Unless you absolutely need to protect your ratios, I’d roll with him in both 12- and 15-team formats.

Logan Allen, Guardians, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. White Sox)

Normally an option worth considering for his two-start weeks, Allen has given us pause here with his recent stumbles. Over his last three starts he sports a horrifying 9.00 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 16 innings of work – though most of that came in a nine-run disaster against the Rangers in Arlington. His saving grace is that he has owned the White Sox this season – dominating them in Chicago just before the All-Star break and in Cleveland early in the season. If focusing on wins and strikeouts, I’d definitely roll him out there in all leagues. Even if ratios are a concern, I still might roll the dice given the quality of the matchups.

Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (@ Guardians, @ Phillies)

Cameron has quietly been one of the top performing rookies in the American League this season, registering a 3.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an 88/36 K/BB ratio over 113 innings of work through his first 20 starts. He may be getting a bit fatigued though, as he has given up nine runs over 10 innings against the White Sox and Angels his last two times out. The matchups are tough and both of them are away from Kauffmann Stadium, but Cameron has actually been a bit better on the road this season than he has been at home. I think you trust what he has shown you so far and use him in both 12- and 15-team leagues, just understand that there’s more ratio risk than you’d typically expect by looking at his overall season stats.

Adrian Houser, Rays, RHP (@ White Sox, @ Cubs)

For whatever reason, Houser just hasn’t been the same pitcher since leaving the White Sox and joining the Rays. Through six starts with his new ballclub he holds a disappointing 4.91 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 27/10 K/BB ratio over 33 innings of work. Will a matchup against his former mates in his old stomping ground be what he needs to get back on track? Only time will tell. If he gets through that one though, he still has a tough matchup lineup against the Cubs at Wrigley Field to finish the week. In 15’s you probably just have to roll with it and hope for the best. It’s possible that you could have safer alternatives in 12-teamers though.

Yoendrys Gomez, White Sox, RHP (vs. Rays, @ Guardians)

Since joining the White Sox’ rotation, Gomez has posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 27/12 K/BB ratio over 23 2/3 innings in his first five starts with the only real disaster in the bunch coming against the hard-hitting Yankees. Neither one of these matchups are overly terrifying, which makes Gomez and intriguing play for the upcoming week –especially in deeper leagues. The strikeouts should be there regardless and even if he’s unable to secure a victory he should wind up being a viable option. I’d actively target him in leagues where he’s available.

Caden Dana, Angels, RHP (vs. Twins, @ Mariners)

Dana looked terrific in his return to the Angels’ rotation last week, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four against the Royals. He could be worth a look as a streaming option in deeper leagues, especially with a strong matchup against the Twins to start the week. He’s much more intriguing than many other options on the board this week.

Will Warren, Yankees, RHP (vs. Tigers, @ Red Sox)

Overall, Warren has done a nice job for the Yankees this season – posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 153/60 K/BB ratio over 141 innings in his 29 starts. For fantasy purposes, he’s usually an option in two-start weeks given his strong upside in the strikeout department. That would be the case this week as well until you look at the matchups – having to battle two of the best offenses in the American League. We also just saw the Red Sox get him for five runs on seven hits over four innings in late August. If your only concerns are wins and strikeouts and ratios don’t matter, by all means fire away here. If you’re trying to protect those valuable ratios though, I simply can’t advise trusting Warren this week.

Jake Latz, Rangers, RHP (vs. Brewers, @ Mets)

Latz has been terrific in whatever role the Rangers have deployed him in this season, compiling a 3.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 62/31 K/BB ratio across 68 2/3 innings in 28 appearances (five starts). He threw 71 pitches and went 5 1/3 innings his last time out against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, so we shouldn’t be concerned about the workload here. The only real negative is the matchups – having to battle two offenses that are absolutely sizzling at the moment. He’s a decent streaming option if you need volume, but I wouldn’t go overboard here.

At Your Own Risk

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. White Sox)

After a strong start to the season, we have seen Cecconi really fall on hard times in recent weeks. Over his last five starts he holds a cringe-inducing 8.28 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 22/3 K/BB ratio over 25 innings. That includes disasters against the White Sox, Braves and Red Sox. It’s also worth noting that Cecconi hasn’t won a game since July 18. While a pair of matchups against lighter-hitting divisional foes may seem intriguing on the surface, I’m inclined to sit this one out.

Luis Severino, Athletics, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Reds)

Taking a quick glance at Severino’s overall line on the season may lead you to believe that he’d be a viable streaming option for a two-start week at home. If you look at his splits though, you’ll see why we’re sitting this one out. In 13 starts at Sutter Health Park, the 31-year-old right-hander is 1-9 with a horrific 6.34 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 71 innings. That’s not even factoring in the fact that he’ll face a pair of strong offenses. There’s no reason to go here this week, just stay away.

Sawyer Gipson-Long, Tigers, RHP (@ Yankees, @ Marlins)

Gipson-Long looks like he’ll be given an opportunity to take the rotation spot that was vacated by the struggling Chris Paddack. He struggled mightily in his first start back though, giving up six runs over four innings against the Mets. A showdown against the Bombers at Yankee Stadium certainly isn’t going to help make things better. There’s talent here, but it’s an unnecessary risk to take this week.

Kyle Hendricks, Angels, RHP (vs. Twins, @ Mariners)

Hendricks is someone that is almost always available to be added from the waiver wire and occasionally makes for a decent streaming play when the matchups line up favorably for him. The showdown against the Twins to start the week certainly fits the bill, though taking on the Mariners in Seattle is no easy task these days. He comes in rolling after two strong starts against the Astros and White Sox in which he allowed just three runs over 12 frames, albeit with only two total strikeouts. I’d only go here if I needed to make up ground in wins. Otherwise I’d stay away.

National League

Strong Plays

Logan Webb, Giants, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Dodgers)

Webb is having perhaps the finest season of his career in what’s somehow only his age-28 season. He’s 13-9 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 194/39 K/BB ratio across 178 2/3 innings. His 194 punchouts already match his career-high and he’s going to soar past that in the month of September. The matchups aren’t ideal this week, but he gets to make both starts at home in the spacious confines of Oracle Park. He’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week and should be started with complete confidence in all leagues.

Shota Imanaga, Cubs, LHP (@ Braves, vs. Rays)

Imanaga just continues to get it done whenever he takes the hill. The 32-year-old southpaw boasts a terrific 3.15 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 97/23 K/BB ratio across 123 innings through his first 21 starts on the season. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 14 of his last 15 starts – the only exception a rare clunker against the White Sox in July where he was tagged for seven runs on 12 hits in just three innings. Aside from something inexplicable like that, Imanaga should deliver another quality week here and should be started in all formats.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (@ Padres, @ Athletics)

Lodolo was hit hard in his last time out, but it was against the Dodgers in Los Angeles so we’ll give him a pass on that one. Overall, the 27-year-old left-hander holds an outstanding 3.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 130/25 K/BB ratio across 134 1/3 innings on the season. The matchups aren’t ideal – having to battle the hard-hitting Padres before having to battle the bandbox that is Sutter Health Park against the Athletics, but there’s no reason that Lodolo can’t succeed in either spot. He has earned the trust of fantasy managers and should definitely be used for his two-start week.

Ranger Suárez, Phillies, LHP (vs. Mets, vs. Royals)

Suárez has been terrific for the Phillies and for fantasy managers this season, compiling an 11-6 record, 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 128/32 K/BB ratio across 137 innings. He was especially brilliant his last time out, with six shutout innings in a critical victory over the Brewers in Milwaukee on Thursday. He’s an easy start in all leagues for the upcoming week, though there’s a chance he winds up with just one start if the Phillies opt to insert a sixth starter (Walker Buehler perhaps?) to give the rest of their rotation an extra day of rest during a tough stretch.

Decent Plays

Eury Pérez , Marlins, RHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Tigers)

We have seen flashes of greatness from Eury Pérez this season, but we have also witnessed bouts of rust and inconsistency that should be expected after such a long injury layoff. He has been hit especially hard over his last two starts – giving up 12 runs over just 4 2/3 innings against the Mets and Nationals. It’s not encouraging that he’ll have to face those same Nationals to open his two-start week before hosting one of the better offenses in the American League in the Tigers. If you’re not worried about losing a little ground in ratios and are looking for help in wins and strikeouts, go ahead and roll with Pérez. Otherwise, you may want to give it some serious thought instead of mindlessly locking him into your lineup.

Jose Quintana, Brewers, LHP (@ Rangers, vs. Cardinals)

Quintana has been a stabilizing force in the Brewers’ rotation this season, going 11-5 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 83/46 K/BB ratio across 121 innings. The only real drawback from a fantasy perspective is his lack of strikeouts, though that’s mitigated by the additional volume of a two-start week. He’s a terrific bet to add at least one more victory to his total this week and should be used in all weekly leagues without hesitation.

Yu Darvish, Padres, RHP (vs. Reds, vs. Rockies)

While his 5.75 ERA jumps off the page and scares fantasy managers away, Yu Darvish has actually pitched decently through his first 11 starts since returning from the injured list this season. He holds a strong 1.18 WHIP and a 48/17 K/BB ratio over 51 2/3 innings and his xERA (3.64) and xFIP (4.37) hint that he may have been a bit on the unlucky side so far in terms of that elevated ERA. He gets two matchups at home this week – including one against the bottom-feeding Rockies – and he should be a favorite to earn a win in both spots. Don’t let the ERA scare you away, Darvish makes for a nice play this week in all leagues.

Nestor Cortes, Padres, LHP (vs. Reds, vs. Rockies)

It has been another rough season on the mound for Nestor Cortes who sports a 6.29 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and a 29/20 K/BB ratio over 34 1/3 innings in his first eight starts between the Brewers and Padres. If you’re trying to protect ratios, stay away. If you’re looking to stream volume to make up ground in wins and/of strikeouts, by all means start Cortes this week. That matchup against the Rockies over the weekend looks particularly ripe for the picking to earn a victory.

Nabil Crismatt, Diamondbacks, RHP (@ Giants, @ Twins)

We have seen some intriguing things from Nabil Crismatt as the 30-year-old hurler finally gets his first opportunity to start in the big leagues. He holds a 2.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 14/6 K/BB ratio over 21 innings in his first four outings and has already earned a pair of victories. He’s widely available in fantasy leagues and makes for a decent streaming option in leagues of all sizes. While the strikeout totals won’t be huge, he’s unlikely to crush your ratios and he’ll have a chance to earn another this week with the strong Diamondbacks’ offense backing him and a battle against the Twins on tap for the weekend.

Cade Cavalli, Nationals, RHP (@ Marlins, vs. Pirates)

The 27-year-old right-hander has done a decent job through his first six starts with the Nationals this season, registering a 4.85 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 28/8 K/BB ratio over 29 2/3 innings. Yes, those ratios are terrible, but most of that damage was from one brutal eight-run disaster in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees in New York. Aside from that, he has actually been a useful fantasy option in deeper mixed leagues. That should continue this week with a pair of strong matchups against the Marlins and Pirates. He’s readily available in most leagues and would make a nice addition to your lineup for next week.

At Your Own Risk

Aaron Nola, Phillies, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Royals)

Historically, Nola has alternated great seasons with no-so-great seasons – much to the chagrin of Phillies’ fans and fantasy managers across the land. This season has been particularly brutal, posting a nauseating 6.78 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 72/23 K/BB ratio over 69 innings. He has given up six earned runs or more three times in his last five starts. It really doesn’t matter who he’s facing at the moment, Nola shouldn’t really be anywhere near fantasy lineups for the stretch run.

Joey Wentz, Braves, LHP (vs. Cubs, vs. Astros)

While his overall line on the season looks unappealing – a 5.12 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 75/37 K/BB ratio over 82 2/3 innings – there has at least been some predictability to his game. Wentz tends to perform well against bad teams and struggle against good ones. It’s that simple. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, he’s lined up to face the Cubs and Astros this week. Don’t be tempted by the strikeout upside, let someone else absorb the ratio damage this week.

Mitchell Parker, Nationals, LHP (@ Marlins, vs. Pirates)

Mitchell Parker hasn’t done a whole lot right this season, stumbling to a 7-15 record, 5.87 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 98/54 K/BB ratio over 145 2/3 innings. He has been one of the worst pitchers in all of baseball and the underlying numbers support that. It’s a bit admirable that the Nationals continue to trot him out there every fifth day to take his medicine. It may look intriguing to stream him with a pair of strong matchups on tap against the Marlins and Pirates, but avoid the temptation. He was just hit hard by the Marlins his last time out. Stay away.

Adam Mazur, Marlins, LHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Tigers)

We haven’t seen much reason for optimism through Mazur’s first three starts on the season, posting a 5.74 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 12/5 K/BB ratio over 15 2/3 innings. Could he suddenly spin a gem in one of these starts and produce a useful week for fantasy purposes? Sure, though it isn’t likely. There are better gambles to take this week.

Chase Dollander, Rockies, RHP (@ Dodgers, @ Padres)

Never Rockies. Just don’t do it. Especially don’t do it for a pair of matchups against the Dodgers and Padres. There’s no reason. Stay away.

German Marquez, Rockies, RHP (@ Dodgers, @ Padres)

Never Rockies. Just don’t do it. Especially don’t do it for a pair of matchups against the Dodgers and Padres. There’s no reason. Stay away.

Miles Mikolas, Cardinals, RHP (@ Mariners, @ Brewers)

It pains me to say that Mikolas has actually been somewhat serviceable through 27 starts on the season, posting an uninspiring 4.89 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and an 86/33 K/BB ratio over 136 1/3 innings. If the matchups were better, I may have even considered him a decent streaming option for the two-start week. The matchups are not in his favor though, having to start on the road twice against two surging offenses. Even if you aren’t concerned with ratios, he’s unlikely to help in wins and strikeouts, so the upside is minimal. Take your shot elsewhere.

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How to Watch Serbia vs Finland at EuroBasket 2025: Nikola Jokic vs. Lauri Markkanen

Group play is over and EuroBasket is down to the 16-team knockout rounds — and right out of the gate we get a showdown of two All-Star NBA big men.

Nikola Jokic and pre-tournament favorite Serbia will take on Lauri Markkanen and Finland in a win-or-go-home game on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know about how to watch that game.

EuroBasket 2025: Serbia vs. Finland: How To Watch

Serbia vs. Latvia tips off Saturday, Aug. 31 at 2:45 PM ET (9:45 PM local time where the game is played in Riga, Latvia).

In the United States, games can be streamed on Courtside 1891, FIBA's official streaming platform. All EuroBasket games can also be viewed through DAZN on the Courtside app.

Jokic vs. Markkanen

Markkanen, who missed considerable time in Utah last season with injuries, has looked healthy and impressive at EuroBasket — he is third in the tournament in scoring, averaging 25.4 points a game. He is doing all that while opposing teams have him at the top of the scouting report, not fearing anyone else on Finland to beat them.

Jokic has looked like, well, Jokic — the best player in the world. He is averaging 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game for a 4-1 Serbian squad (their lone loss was to Alperen Sengun and an impressive Türkiye side).

Whatever happens with the NBA big men, Serbia is a heavy favorite in this game (-16.5 points on the betting line) because of the depth of its roster. Serbia features NBA players Nikola Jovic (Heat), Nikola Topic (Thunder) and Tristan Vukcevic (Wizards). They also have former NBA players Vasilije Micic, Filip Petrusev, and Alen Smailagic. Finland has Miro Little, who plays his college ball for UC Santa Barbara, as well as Olivier Nkamhoua, who played at Tennessee and Michigan in college and now plays professionally in Italy.

Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Clippers, who was the Serbian team captain and a key part of their team, is out for the tournament with a hamstring injury.

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From The Archive: Canucks Spurred By Towel-Waving Vancouver Fans

Welcome to this edition of "From The Archive". In this recurring series, we open The Hockey News' vault and display some of the top Vancouver Canucks related articles from the past. Today's article comes from Volume 35, Issue 32, where The Hockey News wrote about the "The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs."

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here and read the full issue here.

Canucks Spurred By Towel-Waving Vancouver Fans, Volume 35, Issue 32, May 14, 1982

The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs appeared to be catching on with Vancouver hockey fans and if anything it seemed to be providing the Canucks with the incentive they needed to knock off Chicago in their Campbell Conference final series.

The Canucks split the first two games in Chicago and then came back home to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven conference final for the right to oppose the Wales Conference winner—either the New York Islanders or the Quebec Nordiques—in the Stanley Cup final.

The Canucks, fined $11,000 by the NHL for waving towels on the end of hockey sticks in protest over the officiating, were getting some unexpected support from their hometown fans, who were shelling out $4.95 each to purchase the specially marked towels to wave at the Black Hawks.

Following are the capsule reports of the Campbell Conference final series.

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Game One: Jim Nill’s goal at 8:58 of the second overtime gave the Canucks a 2-1 victory and first blood in the Campbell Conference championship against the Black Hawks, but the real story once again was the goaltending of Vancouver’s Richard Brodeur.

The Canucks’ 5-7, 160-pound netminder stopped all but one of 47 shots hurled his way in bringing his playoff record this year to a sparkling eight wins against just one loss. Brodeur was particularly frustrating for Doug Wilson and Tom Lysiak, two of the Black Hawks’ leading scorers, who combined for 15 shots on the Vancouver goal and came away empty.

The only goal that got past Brodeur was a backhander rolled in by Terry Ruskowski in the first period which tied the contest at 1-1 at the 10:11 mark. And it remained that way for close to 79 minutes before either team could score again.

Thomas Gradin opened the game’s scoring at 8:02 of the first period when he put in a pass from Curt Fraser for his fourth score of the playoffs.

Ruskowski notched his first playoff goal after a great set-up by Rich Preston, who carried the puck out from the corner.

Brodeur kept the Black Hawks from ever gaining the lead and his mates finally got through against 39-year-old Tony Esposito, who was coming off a shutout in the series-clincher against St. Louis.

After Brodeur made another excellent stop off Wilson five minutes into the second overtime period, the Canucks got control in the Chicago end. Defenseman Harold Snepsts sent a shot which Esposito stopped but the rebound came to Nill, who was heading towards the goal. Nill flipped the puck into the top of the net and the Canucks had a win on the road.

In fact, it was the Canucks’ fourth consecutive playoff win on the road in as many tries.

Tue. April 27 VANCOUVER 2, CHICAGO 1

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Game Two: A pair of third-period goals by Chicago’s Denis Savard put the lid on the Canucks’ comeback attempts and allowed the Black Hawks to stretch a 2-1 lead to a 4-1 victory which evened the Campbell Conference final series at one game each.

The game was a long, raucous affair with 188 minutes in penalties dished out by referee Bob Myers, who banished Canucks’ coach Roger Neilson and players Dave Williams and Gerry Minor to the dressing room when the trio placed white towels on the ends of hockey sticks in apparent disgust with Myers’ officiating.

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For the second game in succession in the series, the Black Hawks dominated first-period action, finally grabbing their first lead on a goal by Glen Sharpley at 18:28. Sharpley came up with the puck behind the Canuck goal, skated out front, and while two Vancouver defensemen concerned themselves with Ted Bulley, shot one at Richard Brodeur and then flipped in the rebound.

The Canucks exerted some pressure against Hawks’ goalie Murray Bannerman in the second period, outshooting Chicago 15-9, but the only goal of the period was scored by Hawks’ defenseman Doug Feamster who scored on a drive from the point.

In the third period, the Canucks climbed back into the contest when Stan Smyl blistered a 45-footer past Bannerman and into the net at 1:01 of the period.

Then Savard took over.

First, he circled behind the Vancouver net and slipped a shot past Brodeur while swinging around the defense at 4:42. Then with less than four minutes remaining, Savard finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play, shooting into the open side after relays by Bob Murray and Tom Lysiak.

Thu. April 29 VANCOUVER 1, CHICAGO 4

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Game Three: Stan Smyl stepped out of the penalty box to score a breakaway goal which proved to be the game-winner as the Canucks held on for a 4-3 victory over Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in their Campbell Conference series.

Smyl scored at 2:05 of the third period to give the Canucks a 4-2 lead on a play which was initiated by the Black Hawks. The Hawks had controlled the play inside the Canucks’ zone for more than a minute, passing the puck although they weren’t able to shake free for any shots. Denis Savard sent the puck in around the boards behind the Vancouver net and the shot bounced off the boards and out to Smyl, who had just stepped out of the penalty box. Smyl broke in alone on Chicago’s Murray Bannerman and beat him with a shot to the far side.

Rick Paterson got the goal back for Chicago a little more than a minute later to cut the deficit to one, but it was the Canucks who enjoyed the better chances for the remainder of the period, outshooting Chicago, 14-8. Bannerman was forced to make key saves off Curt Fraser and Tiger Williams to keep the contest close.

Chicago opened the scoring at 10:18 as Glen Sharpley notched his fifth goal of the playoffs. Vancouver answered with a pair of goals, the first by Thomas Gradin, also his fifth of the playoffs, and the second by rookie defenseman Neil Belland, his first of the playoffs. The Hawks’ Doug Wilson tied the game before the period ended with his third of the playoffs, a blistering drive which Richard Brodeur partially stopped with his stick but couldn’t keep out of the net.

Fraser had the only goal of the middle period, a long slapshot which beat Bannerman at 10:03.

Black Hawks’ center Denis Savard was handed a gross misconduct after the game when he waited for van Hellemond and then swore and spat at the ref in the corridor outside the officials’ room. Savard was complaining about the Canucks’ clutch and grab tactics.

Sat. May 1 CHICAGO 3, VANCOUVER 4

ImageThe Hockey News, Volume 35, Issue 32 (Photo Credit: The Hockey News Archive)  

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Mets' Kodai Senga optioned to Triple-A after consenting to minor league stint

Mets right-handerKodai Senga, who has struggled since returning from a hamstring injury on July 11, has given his consent to be optioned to the minor leagues.

Because of a stipulation in his contract, Senga had the ability to refuse the assignment. 

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reports that the minor league stint for Senga should last about two starts, adding that the pitcher's relationship with the Mets is "in very good shape." Martino notes that Senga "felt respected by the process and consented without issue."

With Senga sent to Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets added recently-signed reliever Wander Suero to the active roster.

"As we talked to Kodai throughout this, I think it became clear that, from both of our perspectives, this was the right thing to do for the team and the player," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said ahead of Friday's game in Cincinnati. "Kodai has a very set routine, he feels very confident in his routine. So a role transition at this point didn't feel like the right thing to do for either party.

"I think Kodai also recognizes that the results right now aren't what he's looking for, what we need. He wants to figure this out. We think getting him a little bit of time away from elite competition, away from the pressure of a playoff race is the right thing to do. He was amenable to it and we certainly appreciate that."

It's been a tale of two seasons for the 32-year-old Senga, who had a 1.47 ERA in 73.2 innings over his first 13 starts of the year before getting injured.

He suffered a hamstring injury while covering first base during his start on June 12, and did not return until July 11.

Senga fired 4.0 shutout innings in his return, but has not been right since then.

In eight starts from July 21 to Aug. 31, Senga posted a 6.56 ERA (6.11 FIP) in 35.2 innings while allowing 39 hits (including eight home runs) and walking 22.

During the aforementioned eight-start span, Senga failed to complete 5.0 innings on five occasions, and never pitched more than 5.2 innings in any start.

Senga's struggles came to a head against the woeful Marlins in his last outing, when he surrendered five runs on seven hits in just 4.2 innings.

After that outing, Carlos Mendoza was non-committal about what would be next for Senga, saying all options were on the table. The right-hander's next start would've come on Sunday against the Reds in Cincinnati, but Mendoza said on Wednesday that David Peterson and Jonah Tong would be starting on Friday and Saturday, respectively, adding that Sunday's starter was to be determined.

It was reported on Thursday that Brandon Sproat will be starting on Sunday, in what will be his major league debut.

"The plan is for him to go and throw a couple of bullpens before we put him in a game," Mendoza said Friday about the plan for Senga. "So we're looking at potentially a game over next weekend. So for him to work on his mechanics, we got to get him back in sync."

As far as Senga, he has cited issues with his mechanics as one of the reasons for his downturn. 

"There’s definitely some frustration," Senga said through an interpreter following his performance on Aug. 31. "I’ve never experienced something like this for this extended period of time. There’s some confusion why I’m not able to perform, but at the same time, when I’m able to prepare well and able to do what I’m capable of out there, I know that I’m able to put up a good performance."

Senga, who signed a five-year deal for $75 million ahead of the 2023 season, is under contract through 2027. His contract contains a conditional club option worth $15 million for 2028 that would kick in if he has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days between now and then.

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Notable Changes Reportedly Coming For Future Red Wings Seasons

It's been over 30 years since the Detroit Red Wings, or any other NHL club for that matter, has played more than 82 regular season games.

Following the lockout that wiped out half of the 1994-95 campaign, NHL regular seasons have been set to 82 games (aside from another lockout shortened year in 2012-13, along with the interrupted 2019-20 season at the onset of COVID-19). 

Now, the NHL is reportedly not only going to return to an 84-game schedule, but will be pushing back the start of the season to late September. 

As indicated by NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the 2026-27 NHL season will feature a return of an 84-game schedule and will begin weeks earlier than what has been a traditional early October starting dat

It will mark just the second time since the 2007-08 season (Detroit's last Stanley Cup-winning season) that regular season play started in September; the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings faced one another at the 02 Arena in London, England to begin that campaign. 

Another notable change is the preseason schedule being cut in half, reduced from eight games to just four.

With the extra pair of regular season games, the Red Wings will now face every one of their Atlantic Division opponents no less than four times a season.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The revised schedule and start dates are part of the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which takes effect next September.

During his media availability after Development Camp in early July, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman expressed his support for the scheduling changes.

“I think it’ll give more balance to divisional games,” Yzerman said. “I’m not exactly sure what the matrix is going to be as far as divisional games and what not, but it seemed to make sense to us.”

As for a potential downside to the reduced preseason schedule, Yzerman noted that it provides less time to evaluate the progression of younger players in NHL action.

“I think the four preseason games, it’s a bit of a challenge. You’re always weighing how many games your veteran players need to play," Yzerman said. "The guys that are really knocking on the door, the guys that you can consider call-ups and then those players that are here trying to push to make the team. It’s going to be hard to get everybody in a reasonable number of games with four. That’s the downside to it, but we’ll manage it.”

The last time the Red Wings played an 84-game schedule, in 1993–94, was still three seasons before their 1997 Stanley Cup victory.

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Clippers' Steve Ballmer defends self, team from accusations of cap circumvention, 'They conned me'

In his first public comments since allegations broke that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to get more money to Kawhi Leonard through an endorsement deal with a fraudulent company, team owner Steve Ballmer defended himself and the organization as innocent, saying that they were victims of scammers, like many other investors.

During a 16-minute interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Ballmer said that while the Clippers made the introduction of Leonard to team sponsor Aspiration — a "green bank" company dealing in carbon emission credits that eventually went bankrupt, and its CEO admitted to $248 million in fraud — neither he nor the team had any idea what endorsement deal Leonard had with the company. Ballmer said he was one of the many investors scammed by the company, and that his $50 million investment in it gave him less than 3% of Aspiration, and he had no board seat or control.

"These are guys who committed fraud. How would I be able — look, they conned me. They conned me. I made an investment in these guys, thinking it was on the up and up, and they conned me. At this stage, I have no ability to predict why they might have done anything they did, let alone the specific contract with Kawhi."

An explosive bit of reporting bythe Pablo Torre Finds Out (PTFO) podcast linked Ballmer's $50 million investment in Aspiration to a $28 million "no-show" endorsement contract Leonard got from the company, one where he literally did nothing to promote Aspiration in any form (there is no public record of him doing anything). Multiple Aspiration employees told PTFO that they were instructed not to question the Leonard endorsement deal, which existed to help the Clippers circumvent the salary cap.

Reporting by John Karalis of the Boston Sports Journal found Leonard later had a second deal with Aspiration for $20 million in stock options. While those stock options ultimately turned out to be worthless, at the time that would have brought Leonard's endorsement compensation up to $48 million, close to how much Ballmer invested in Aspiration.

Ballmer made his case that he and the Clippers knew nothing about the relationship and contract details between Leonard and Aspiration, and they were not trying to circumvent the salary cap. Through their public statements and this interview, the Clippers have pushed back on the allegations and said they thought they had a deal with a legit green company — the Clippers and Aspiration had a $300 million partnership tied to making the then-under-construction Intuit Dome carbon neutral — and that they broke off that deal in 2023 when Aspiration didn't live up to the contract. That was it. Ballmer said the company duped him and that neither he nor the Clippers knew any details about Leonard and his endorsement deal.

Ballmer said he welcomed the NBA's investigation, adding that the Clippers have nothing to hide and will fully cooperate.

"I'd want the league to investigate, take it seriously.... Salary cap circumvention rules are important to the league, and I'd want the league to investigate," Ballmer said.

While there may be no "smoking gun" email or direct evidence that Ballmer or anyone with the Clippers knew Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration was a sham — there was that paper trail with the last serious cap circumvention case in the NBA, in 2000 with the Timberwolves and free agent Joe Smith — there is a tsunami of circumstantial evidence and coincidences that are hard to explain away.

While Ballmer answered questions on Thursday by a seasoned reporter in Shelburne, he and his public relations team made a massive mistake in not responding to PTFO initially when it asked for comments on the allegations before they aired.

It was Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban who went on a new edition of PTFO to defend Ballmer, saying essentially that everyone gets scammed at some point but that Ballmer was too smart to trust this company to pull off a cap circumvention scam.

"So the minute Aspiration was under investigation, I guarantee you, in the immortal words of Charles Barkley, I guarantee it that the NBA took a hard look at it. And not only that, that Ballmer, if he did something illicit and under the table and tried to, you know, um, work around the salary cap, then he's got to be s******* bricks, right? Because at that point in time, he's the dumbest human being on the planet because he trusted these scammers to do something he knew was against all NBA rules. A) I just don't see that happening. B), the NBA would have found it easily. Three, and this alludes to the Steve Balmer can't be that dumb thing. I've been scammed. Everybody's scammable but in order for this to work, in my opinion, he has to trust that whole company. And at that point in time he trusted them enough to give them an investment at some level. But I don't see how he would trust that company to keep probably his darkest secret as an NBA owner so that it wouldn't get out. I just don't see in any way, shape, or form that all those things could happen."

Pablo Torre responded that he was on team s****** bricks — and that's where a lot of fans and people around the league are, as well.

The NBA investigation into the case is underway. The NBA's Board of Governors — the 30 NBA owners — meet next week in New York and this will be the hot topic. It already is around the league, as is what punishments the Clippers will ultimately face in this case.