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Chicago Extends Knight, But Blackhawks Still Miles From NHL Contention

By virtually all accounts, the Chicago Blackhawks are still a number of assets away from being a bona fide Stanley Cup playoff contender, let alone a legitimate Cup frontrunner. However, on Saturday, the Blackhawks firmed up their goaltending picture for the foreseeable future with a contract extension for No. 1 netminder Spencer Knight. 

Beginning next season, the 24-year-old Knight will get a raise of approximately $1.33 million, from his 2025-26 salary of $4.5 million to $5.83 million in 2026-27. At first glance, that may seem like a dangerous investment in a goalie who has only 95 games of NHL experience to his credit, and who has never played more than 37 games in a single season. But making projections on young players by giving them high-end money isn’t a new exercise for NHL GMs. Indeed, they do that all the time, and Knight’s case is no different.

The 24-year-old Knight, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers last season, didn’t have the best season from an individual statistics perspective. In 15 appearances for Chicago after the trade, Knight posted a .896 save percentage and 3.18 goals-against average. But on a true elite team like the Panthers, Knight’s 2025-26 numbers – including a .907 SP and 2.40 GAA – were significantly better. That’s what Hawks GM Kyle Davidson had in mind when he traded for Knight, and now, in giving Knight contract security through the 2028-29 campaign, he’s locked up a potential difference-maker between the pipes.

With Knight now secure in the knowledge that he’s going to be ‘The Man’ in net for the Blackhawks, Davidson can continue on with his roster-building for the future. But unfortunately for long-suffering Chicago fans, there’s still a very long way to go before the Hawks can have a realistic shot at making the post-season. 

Chicago has some key pieces of the puzzle, including forwards Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, and defensemen Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov. The problem is, they don’t have nearly enough depth to run with first-rate Central Division teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars. Especially up front, the drop-off in talent in Chicago is severe, and although the Blackhawks currently have $18.6-million in salary cap space, you don’t see NHL free agents climbing over one another to sign a contract with the Blackhawks.

So while there may come a day when Knight’s numbers look like the ones he posted in Florida before the trade last season, the Hawks are going to go through more growing pains this coming year and more than likely, a year or two after that. Once you’re out of the playoff picture in the salary-cap era, it’s extremely difficult to claw and climb your way back into the playoff mix. And even with new coach Jeff Blashill giving every Blackhawks player a clean slate, Chicago is going to have a very difficult time being anything other than cannon fodder.

The Hawks haven’t made the playoffs for the past five seasons, and the 2025-26 season is likely to look very similar for them. Knight has a commitment for the next four seasons, and that’s a good thing for Chicago. The problem is the rest of the roster has multiple holes to fill, and they won’t be filled (a) easily or (b) soon.

Spencer Knight (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

It’s probably hard to hear if you’re a Blackhawks fan accustomed to the glory years of the modern era for the franchise, but the truth is, Chicago isn’t anywhere close to being a playoff team at the moment. And while Knight may be good enough to eventually backstop them to a playoff spot, that day isn’t likely to come this coming year, or anytime rapidly after that.

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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Eichel’s Defining Year: Can Vegas’ Star Center Reach A New Level Alongside Marner?

Over the course of his 10-year NHL career, star center Jack Eichel had his share of highs and lows. The highs included a Stanley Cup championship with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, and a 66-assist, 94-point performance for Vegas last season. The lows included what now feels like many wasted years as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, and a near-constant battle to stay healthy, averaging only 61.6 games-played per-season since he broke into hockey’s top league in 2015-16.

But as he enters Year 11 of his NHL career, the 28-year-old Eichel is poised to have his biggest season yet. He’s entering the final year of a contract paying him $10-million per season, and he’s likely to benefit from being a linemate of new Golden Knights star right winger Mitch Marner. Are we about to see a new level from Eichel that we haven’t seen before?

Now, does Eichel have anything to prove to anyone? No. After winning a Cup, he’s achieved the most lofty goal any NHLer can hope to achieve. But there is a nagging sense out there that we’ve yet to see the best of Eichel. He's only been in the top 10 in scoring twice in his career, and aside from one 23rd-place finish, he's been outside of the top 50 players in the league, either due to injuries or to being a rookie/sophomore. 

In his defense, Eichel has been excellent in the playoffs in the past three years, posting 33 assists and 43 points in 40 career post-season games. But the Golden Knights are famous for moving on from players who don’t fit into their long-term picture – and while we’re not here to tell you Eichel is at that stage in his time with Vegas, there’s absolutely going to be pressure on him to at least maintain the standard he set in last season in particular.

Some of those expectations will be heightened because Marner will make his new Golden Knights teammates better. But Marner is regarded as more playmaker than play-finisher, so unless Eichel is able to get to the 30-goal plateau – something that’s happened only two times in his NHL career – Eichel is going to have to help Marner score more often and elevate his assist numbers to the 70-assist level or better.

The Golden Knights are projected to have approximately $29-million in salary cap space accounted for in 2026-27 (when you take into account defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s health issues and likely-permanent place on Injured Reserve), so Vegas does have more than enough space to keep Eichel in the fold beyond this season. However, the expectations on the Golden Knights have increased exponentially with the addition of Marner. So if you think Eichel isn’t going to be dealing with significant pressure to ratchet up his game this season, you’re fooling yourself.

All things considered, there’s a very good chance Eichel can make a push to new heights this coming year. He’s still in his prime and will be there for the foreseeable future. But there’s no question the Golden Knights are going to need more out of him than ever in 2025-26. Vegas has every intention of a deep playoff run, but they’re going to need all hands on deck to do so, and if Eichel isn’t going to play in every game and be just as effective as he was last season, the Knights’ chances of being legitimate Cup frontrunners will drop notably. 

Jack Eichel (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Eichel may not be a top-10 player in the league, and he may never get there, but so long as he’s contributing above-average numbers and the Golden Knights are doing great things as a team, Eichel will almost assuredly be in Vegas for most of the rest of his career, if not all of it. Eichel doesn’t have to be ‘The Man’ for the Knights to do great things, but he does have to pull his weight – and if that doesn’t happen, Vegas’ chances of winning its second Cup will drop considerably.

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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What we learned as Giants' loss to Dodgers further tightens NL wild-card race

What we learned as Giants' loss to Dodgers further tightens NL wild-card race originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants had an opportunity to move into a playoff spot with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. For nearly the first half of the game, it looked like their postseason hopes were becoming a reality.

But things change fast in the game of baseball, and despite a commendable comeback effort, the Giants couldn’t overcome their fifth-inning collapse as they fell to Los Angeles 13-7 in the second matchup of a three-game set at Oracle Park.

San Francisco’s offense got off to a hot start, taking advantage of 37-year-old Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw. The Giants scored four runs in the first inning.

While Kershaw struggled, Giants ace Logan Webb’s outing wasn’t much better. Just one day after witnessing a 1-of-1 pitching duel between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Justin Verlander on Friday night, the series was met with quite the opposite less than 24 hours later.

Webb’s final line: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR

Kershaw’s final line: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

The Dodgers scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a commanding 9-4 lead. The energy at Oracle Park had completely shifted. The deafening “Beat LA” chants turned into “Let’s go Dodgers!” roars.

But not for long.

Jerar Encarnacion’s RBI double scored Matt Chapman in the bottom of the fifth. Then Dodgers pitcher Kirby Yates walked Luis Matos. Next to bat was the man who hasn’t seemed to face a moment too big for him, Patrick Bailey, who had the walk-off grand slam in Friday’s exhilarating win.

Bailey extended his hit streak to five games and drove in two more runs to shrink the Dodgers’ lead from five to two runs.

But Los Angeles’ offense stayed aggressive, while San Francisco’s gave out.

Here are the takeaways from the loss.

Webb Struggles

No one wants to win as badly as Logan Webb. No one wants to beat the Dodgers as badly as Logan Webb.

The Giants ace, however, didn’t necessarily live up to his expectations on Saturday.

Through 4.0 innings, Webb gave up 10 hits and six runs (six earned) while striking out five and walking two. He also gave up one solo homer to Shohei Ohtani.

While his outing likely didn’t go as he had hoped, he salvaged what could have been a disaster for San Francisco in the top of the second inning. With bases loaded and no outs, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas popped out to second for Los Angeles’ first out.

Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt was next to hit with Ohtani on deck.

The Giants did literally exactly what they needed to do in that moment, as Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt grounded into a double play as Webb and the Giants managed to escape a no-outs, bases-loaded jam.

Webb returned to the mound in the third inning, giving up two runs as the Dodgers crept within one. Webb escaped the fourth inning with no damage done, but after he walked two Dodgers batters to load the bases for the second time Saturday, Giants manager Bob Melvin pulled him.

While San Francisco hoped that was the remedy, the Giants’ bullpen couldn’t pick up Webb’s slack, either, as Los Angeles scored [NINE] more runs after Webb’s exit.

Kershaw Crumbles

One of the greatest pitchers of this era and a future Baseball Hall of Famer, Kershaw has given the Giants (and many other teams) plenty of issues for nearly two decades.

But Fathertime appeared to have gotten the best of the 37-year-old on Saturday, and the Giants took advantage.

San Francisco scored four runs in the first inning.

In 61 appearances against the Giants in his career, Kershaw has a 27-16 record with a 2.00 ERA and 413 strikeouts.

But he gave up five hits and four runs (four earned) while walking four and striking out two.

While he’s not signaled at retirement, it’s looking more and more like the writing is on the wall for Kershaw after this season. And that’s music to Giants fans’ ears.

NL Wild Card update 

The Giants had an opportunity to move into a playoff spot with a win over the Dodgers on Saturday. The New York Mets’ epic collapse continued with an eighth consecutive loss earlier Saturday afternoon against the Texas Rangers.

The Mets now are 76-73 on the season and again a half-game ahead of the Giants (75-73) for the final NL wild-card berth.

The Cincinnati Reds were a game behind the Mets entering their game against the Athletics on Saturday night in West Sacramento. That game had yet to finish at the time of this writing.

That final postseason berth remains fair game.

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European football: Juventus’s Vasilije Adzic snatches thrilling win over Inter

  • Napoli stay stop after Højlund scores in win at Fiorentina

  • Mbappé helps 10-man Madrid win; Kane double for Bayern

Juventus snatched a dramatic 4-3 win at home to Inter, with Vasilije Adzic netting a stunning added-time winner in a game in which a Thuram brother scored for each side, but Napoli stayed top with a 3-1 win at Fiorentina.

In Turin, Juventus took the lead in the 14th minute through Lloyd Kelly. Inter equalised on the half-hour mark with Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike but Juventus were back in front thanks to Kenan Yildiz eight minutes later.

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Four High-Risk, High-Reward Potential NHL Young Star Signings

NHL teams are increasingly betting on young players with limited experience, trying to lock in future stars at bargain rates before the salary cap skyrockets. Hit the mark, and you save millions, but miss it, and you’re stuck with an expensive contract that doesn’t deliver.

We saw two such deals recently when the Chicago Blackhawkssigned forward Frank Nazar to a controversial $46-million extension after just 56 NHL games. We saw another deal this week, as the Calgary Flames signed Calder Finalist Dustin Wolf to a seven-year, $7.5-million per season contract.

Who else might fall under this high-risk, high-reward category?

Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

With 84 NHL games under his belt, Lane Hutson has shown elite skill and tremendous upside as one of the NHL’s great future defensemen. The Montreal Canadiens know he will eventually cost them a bundle to extend, but the question is, when do they do it?

Is GM Kent Hughes willing to gamble on Hutson’s upside now? He could secure a long-term deal before the cap makes him unaffordable, but his rookie season might have been a benchmark he has trouble repeating in his sophomore campaign. 

The risk Montreal runs is that Hutson not only matches last season’s totals but also becomes even more impactful offensively while adding elements to his two-way and defensive play. 

Lane Hutson (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks

Cutter Gauthier, with just 45 points in 83 NHL games, is another forward attracting attention. He appeared to break out for the Ducks in 2024-25, scoring 44 points in 82 games, but it’s not clear how much more he has to give as he gets more used to NHL games. 

There is a lot to like about his game, and the Ducks are in a position to gamble on his contract. They have loads of cap space over the next several seasons, including $56-million starting next season. 

Early extensions here are risky, but if he hits his ceiling, the payoff could be huge. 

Other Notable Options

Brandt Clarke and Simon Edvinsson, each with 103 games, have recently established themselves as NHL regulars. 

There were trade rumors surrounding Clarke this summer, so it’s unclear how loyal the Los Angeles Kings are to the defenseman. His upside, however, is incredible.  

Edvinsson, a 6-foot-6 defenseman, is part of the young core the Detroit Red Wings are trying to develop. He took a giant step forward, and he has the potential to be a No. 1 defenseman.

Locking them in now could allow teams to save big if they blossom into top-pair defensemen.

Less Risky Bets

Macklin Celebrini (70 games), Will Smith (74) and Matvei Michkov (80) are still in Year 2 of their contracts, but it’s a bit clearer about what they are. All still have untapped potential, but these are three players their respective teams understand to be future franchise commodities. 

Teams may pursue short-term “bridge” deals this season, giving flexibility while evaluating long-term potential. So too, the players themselves might prefer gambling on their potential and what could be massive pay raises in the next three to four seasons.

Lessons From Nazar And Wolf

Nazar and Wolf signed huge contracts with minimal NHL experience, showing the potential upside of early investments. Both sound like good bets on the surface, and perhaps the two teams would rather be wrong and have to slightly overpay than be right and have missed the opportunity to sign both. A skyrocketing salary cap makes it so that teams have to take these kinds of calculated risks and work the math. 

The Canadiens, Ducks, Kings and Red Wings may feel the same way. If Hutson, Gauthier, Clarke or Edvinsson follow similar trajectories, these contracts could be steal deals in the coming salary cap boom.

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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Scorching Phillies slash NL East magic number to 1 with comeback win

Scorching Phillies slash NL East magic number to 1 with comeback win  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The scorching Phillies are on the verge of cementing the 2025 NL East crown.

The Phils won their sixth straight game in comeback fashion Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, earning an 8-6 victory over the Royals. 

Their NL East magic number sits at one ahead of Sunday afternoon’s series finale. The Mets remained in a dramatic free fall Saturday, blowing a 2-0 eighth-inning lead to the Rangers and losing an eighth consecutive game. 

The Phillies would love to clinch at home.

“It’d be fantastic,” Kyle Schwarber said. “Our fans have been great all year, filling up for us. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Wednesday getaway or a Sunday night game, I feel like they’ve just been showing up for us. We feel the energy every single night and we latch onto those things.

“If we can do it at home in front of them, let them celebrate with us, that would be a really cool thing for us.”

Taijuan Walker tallied the win for the Phillies. He threw five innings, allowed seven hits and four runs, struck out three and walked one. 

Walker looked on his way to a much cleaner start than his four-run first inning last time out against the Marlins, but the first inning’s final out was a struggle. 

Vinnie Pasquantino doubled with two outs. A Maikel Garcia liner zoomed past Bryson Stott’s dive and into left-center field. Salvador Perez lifted a high full-count cutter 398 feet. All told, Walker wound up conceding three runs and five hits in the first. 

“Honestly, I thought I made better pitches today in the first inning,” Walker said. “The cutter up and away, I thought it was a good pitch to Salvy. He just put a good swing on it. I look back at it and some of the pitches were on the black. … I’ve just really got to figure out that first inning because after that, I feel like I get in a good groove and kind of coast the rest of the way.”

The Phillies took no time to trim their deficit against Royals righty Ryan Bergert. Brandon Marsh delivered a two-out, two-RBI double to left in the bottom of the first. Over his past seven games, Marsh has eight extra-base hits and eight RBIs. 

Perez did it again in the third inning. He ripped an 0-2 Walker splitter for his 300th career homer. 

The Phils pulled to within 4-3 in their half of the third. Harrison Bader led off with a single to post a sixth consecutive game with multiple hits. He’s 15 for 29 over that stretch. After Schwarber and Bryce Harper walked, Bader sprinted home on J.T. Realmuto’s sacrifice fly. 

The Royals brought in lefty reliever Angel Zerpa to begin the fifth inning and Schwarber clubbed his third pitch over the right-field fence. He’s at 51 home runs with 13 games to go. 

Harper then walked, Realmuto reached on an infield single, and Marsh chopped a grounder to second that advanced both runners into scoring position. Nick Castellanos pinch-hit for Max Kepler and came through, hitting a fly ball to center that was easily deep enough to score Harper and put the Phils on top. Otto Kemp — yet another Phillie on a hot streak — followed by nailing an RBI double off of the left-field wall. 

Walker gave the Phillies scoreless fourth and fifth innings. Tanner Banks was flawless in the sixth and Schwarber provided an insurance run in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single.

Kansas City got a run back against Matt Strahm in the seventh … and Marsh replied by clobbering a leadoff homer. As a team, the Phils have 42 runs and 64 hits across the last five games.

The Royals stayed in the contest and scored on David Robertson in the eighth, but Jhoan Duran locked down his 14th save in 15 opportunities as a Phillie.

While there’s bigger games on the horizon, the 89-60 Phillies’ performances of late haven’t lacked focus whatsoever.

“We’ve got goals beyond just getting in or winning the division,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “So we’ve just got to keep going, keep winning series. Including this one, we’ve got five series left. And that’s the goal, to win every series.”

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Scorching Phillies slash NL East magic number to 1 with comeback win

Scorching Phillies slash NL East magic number to 1 with comeback win  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The scorching Phillies are on the verge of cementing the 2025 NL East crown.

The Phils won their sixth straight game in comeback fashion Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, earning an 8-6 victory over the Royals. 

Their NL East magic number sits at one ahead of Sunday afternoon’s series finale. The Mets remained in a dramatic free fall Saturday, blowing a 2-0 eighth-inning lead to the Rangers and losing an eighth consecutive game. 

Taijuan Walker tallied the win for the Phillies. He threw five innings, allowed seven hits and four runs, struck out three and walked one. 

Walker looked on his way to a much cleaner start than his four-run first inning last time out against the Marlins, but the first inning’s final out was a struggle. 

Vinnie Pasquantino doubled with two outs. A Maikel Garcia liner zoomed past Bryson Stott’s dive and into left-center field. Salvador Perez lifted a high full-count cutter 398 feet. All told, Walker wound up conceding three runs and five hits in the first. 

The Phillies took no time to trim their deficit against Royals righty Ryan Bergert. Brandon Marsh delivered a two-out, two-RBI double to left in the bottom of the first. Over his past seven games, Marsh has eight extra-base hits and eight RBIs. 

Perez did it again in the third inning. He ripped an 0-2 Walker splitter for his 300th career homer. 

The Phils pulled to within 4-3 in their half of the third. Harrison Bader led off with a single to post a sixth consecutive game with multiple hits. He’s 15 for 29 over that stretch. After Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto walked, Bader sprinted home on J.T. Realmuto’s sacrifice fly. 

The Royals brought in lefty reliever Angel Zerpa to begin the fifth inning and Schwarber clubbed his third pitch over the right-field fence. He’s at 51 home runs with 13 games to go. 

Bryce Harper then walked, Realmuto reached on an infield single, and Marsh chopped a grounder to second that advanced both runners into scoring position. Nick Castellanos pinch-hit for Max Kepler and came through, hitting a fly ball to center that was easily deep enough to score Harper and put the Phils on top. Otto Kemp — yet another Phillie on a hot streak — followed by nailing an RBI double off of the left-field wall. 

Walker gave the Phillies scoreless fourth and fifth innings. Tanner Banks was flawless in the sixth and Schwarber provided an insurance run in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single.

Kansas City got a run back against Matt Strahm in the seventh … and Marsh replied by clobbering a leadoff homer. As a team, the Phils have 42 runs and 64 hits across the last five games.

The Royals stayed in the contest and scored on David Robertson in the eighth, but Jhoan Duran locked down his 14th save in 15 opportunities as a Phillie.

While there’s bigger games on the horizon, the 89-60 Phillies’ performances of late haven’t lacked focus whatsoever.

“We’ve got goals beyond just getting in or winning the division,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “So we’ve just got to keep going, keep winning series. Including this one, we’ve got five series left. And that’s the goal, to win every series.”

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Takeaways From Maple Leafs' First Game Of Prospect Showdown Against Senators

Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects falling to the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 at the Prospect Showdown in Montreal, there were some positives as the players became more comfortable in their first game since the summer break.

Toronto went down 3–0 early before getting two straight goals from Luke Haymes and Jacob Quillan. Ottawa would get one back later in the third period to make it 4-2 before Ryan Kirwan scored on the power play to make it a one-goal game again.

The Maple Leafs pushed for an equalizer, however, they couldn’t find one as Ottawa’s Jackson Parsons stole the show. Here are a couple of the bright spots among the Maple Leafs’ prospects in their first game in Montreal.

Ben Danford’s smoothness

Entering this mini tournament (or whatever you’d like to call it), Danford was one of the prospects I was most keen on watching. He didn’t get a rookie showcase last September after suffering a concussion, so with this being his first game in a Maple Leafs jersey, there was a lot to look for.

The defenseman is a big, strong body, and it showed on Saturday afternoon. Whenever it seemed like Danford was under pressure, he found a way to move the puck. But even without the puck on his stick, he was able to smother several chances before gaining possession and quickly moving the puck south.

Danford calms everything down, which is a positive trait to have, especially at an event like this, where each prospect is attempting to showcase themselves.

Luke Haymes continues production after strong AHL stint

Luke Haymes entered the organization last spring following three seasons at Dartmouth College. Almost immediately, the 22-year-old started producing with the Toronto Marlies, tallying two goals and six points in his first nine games.

Haymes centered Toronto’s second line on Saturday with Matthew Barbolini and Braeden Kressler on his wings, and continued his production. He scored the Maple Leafs’ first goal of the game in the second period, spinning and firing the puck past Parsons.

The Ottawa, Ontario product then added an assist on Kirwan’s power play goal in the third period to cut the Senators’ lead to one goal. As we approach Maple Leafs training camp, it’ll be fascinating to watch how Haymes handles the pace and physicality of Toronto’s top players before likely returning to the Marlies for his first pro season.

Easton Cowan continuing to get comfortable

There’ll be a lot of eyes on Easton Cowan in this tournament and for good reason. Cowan had a big summer — gaining nine pounds of muscle — following his massive Memorial Cup win with the London Knights earlier this year. 

His goal is to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp, and this game was likely the beginning of his audition. There’s a lot to like about Cowan, from the way he works to his hockey sense on the ice. However, you can still see moments where the young forward is timid going up against bigger competition.

Six of Ottawa’s eight defensemen at the Prospect Showdown were over six-foot-three, and they definitely didn’t make it easy on any of Toronto’s players. I thought that as the game progressed, Cowan became more comfortable, showcasing his skill, speed, and playmaking ability.

Cowan had an assist on Quillan's goal in the third period to make it a one-goal game.

How he’ll fare on Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens, who are pretty loaded with prospects, will likely dictate how he enters Maple Leafs training camp next week. I'd expect a strong game, especially against a team like the Canadiens, with the Bell Centre likely packed to the brim.

Other positive notes from Game 1

  • Quillan’s goal should give him confidence going into Game 2 of the Prospect Showdown. He looked fairly confident, and so he should, following a full year of pro and a taste of the NHL last season. Quillan might not make the Maple Leafs out of training camp. But he’ll be someone to watch for a call-up as the season runs on.
  • Miroslav Holinka had a strong game with plenty of chances to find the back of the net. There were countless moments where he was found on the left side of the ice for a one-timer, but couldn’t beat Parsons. He’ll look to have a strong game against Montreal.
  • Tyler Hopkins caught my eye a fair bit. He, like Holinka, had a couple of great scoring chances but couldn’t bury them. It’ll be interesting to watch him on Sunday vs. a smaller Canadiens d-core.

Latest stories:

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'My Dad Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World': Tyler Hopkins Excited To Play First Game With Maple Leafs At Prospect Showdown

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The 2007 Mets explain how current squad can avoid same late season fate

What Willie Randolph remembers most were the sleepless nights. Out of nowhere, it seemed, the division lead was slipping away from his 2007 Mets over the final few weeks of the season, somewhat like the Wild Card lead is for Carlos Mendoza and the current ballclub.

“There were nights when I just couldn’t get to sleep,” Randolph told SNY Saturday at the Mets’ Alumni Classic. “You toss and turn, and you go over so many scenarios, trying to think of anything you can do to get everything going in the right direction.

“I think this year’s team still has time to get it going again, but I feel for Mendy, because I remember it can get to the point where you feel almost helpless. You put guys in the best possible position to succeed every day, and then guys have to go out and perform. Whatever you’re going through, I remember always being sure today was the day we were going to turn it around. Right until the last day.”

For those '07 Mets, of course, it came down to the last day, when a loss to the then-Florida Marlins knocked them out of the postseason, famously blowing a seven-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies over the last 17 games of the season.

It remains to be seen how it ends for the ’25 Mets, but their current plight became something of an impromptu theme of Saturday’s alumni proceedings, with Randolph on hand and several players from that ’07 team as well.

“It’s hard to forget about what happened the day before when you’re going through it,” Jose Reyes said. “You can get caught up in feeling everything is going against you, and you really have to work at clearing your mind every day and giving yourself the best chance to win. It all happened so fast that it was almost a blur.”

Carlos Beltran said Saturday that he still can't "pinpoint what exactly happened" that fall 18 years ago.

"We were scuffling. We were not getting the job done offensively, defensively," he said. "There were days where we felt like we had opportunities, but the mentality as a team, even though we all wanted to come out of that situation, it was hard for us."

That team, remember, was sailing along until mid-September, looking as if it would repeat its 2006 NL East title, when it went 5-12 over its final 17 games to lose the lead.

This year, it has been more of a long spiral, as these Mets have played 17 games under .500 since June 13, when they entered the day with the best record in the majors (45-24), and are only four games over .500 and 0.5 game up for the final postseason spot entering Saturday.

Yet their seven-game losing streak going into Saturday’s game has created a similar feel to that fateful September ’07. Players who went through it were asked if they could give any advice to the current team.

“Going back to that time, I would say, ‘just go for it,’” Beltran said. “Be aggressive, be who you are. Don’t be timid. You’re still where a lot of teams want to be, fighting for a playoff spot. So just go out there and play hard baseball.

“If it’s meant to be, great. If it’s not meant to be, at least you go down giving it your best.”

Beltran added, "You wish you could have it back, but now thinking about this team and what they're going through, I hope that they just forget about the past and focus on these games left."

Added Carlos Delgado: “Don’t look back at what happened yesterday. Every day is a new day.”

Randolph said he still believes the ’25 Mets will start winning again and hang onto a Wild Card spot.

“They’ve got some great players, and that’s what you want in a situation like this: Great players will rise to the occasion for you," he said. “On the other hand, some things are out of your control. I remember we had some key injuries in ’07, especially to our pitching, and that made things tough. But I never really doubted that we’d pull out of it and win the division.

“That’s just the way you’re wired, as a player or a manager. In baseball, you play every day and you know how fast it can turn in either direction. I’m sure Mendy feels the same way. I’m sure he’s thinking today’s the day, today’s the day.

“When it finally ended for us that last day, it was almost like nobody could believe it. I know I couldn’t.”

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Has Martin lost backing to turn Rangers around?

"We'll see".

That was the answer Rangers head coach Russell Martin gave when asked if he was certain his board would continue to support him given what was unfolding at Ibrox.

It was far from convincing - and in stark contrast to his previous statements where certainty oozed out during what has now descended into a critical mess for the club.

"Will you resign?" he was asked in his press conference, to which he responded with a firm "no," after a fan media representative explained an overwhelming amount of the Rangers support want him to leave.

That exchange edged on hostile to say the least.

This all came after enduring the quite venomous wrath of a majority of fans, with the 2-0 defeat at home by Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts leaving Martin's side 10th out of the 12 teams after five winless games.

It's unthinkable for Rangers and a support given renewed, and long-awaited, hope of challenging Celtic earlier this year after a US-led consortium took control.

Four draws and now this defeat is beyond a crisis given the demands of being in charge of the club. It's been 47 years since they failed to win any of their opening five league fixtures.

You then chuck in a humiliating exit in the Champions League play-off to Club Brugge.

The question now, after so much turmoil on and off the park since the former Southampton manager took charge in June, is whether he can turn this around or whether he will be given the opportunity to do so.

Ibrox turns toxic after another nightmare unfolds

It was clear at Ibrox that if things didn't go Rangers' way, there was a strong chance the support would be quick to turn, with Martin the focus of their ire.

It unfolded exactly like that. Boos were deafening at times and "sacked in the morning" was sung by some home supporters.

Many simply left, it was all too much to bear.

The build-up had been dominated by his decision to continue to omit Belgian international midfielder Nicolas Raskin despite claiming an issue with the player had been "resolved".

That issue seems far down the pecking order right now.

"Only results will convince them," Martin told BBC Scotland afterwards.

"My job is to convince the players and the staff inside the building after a difficult afternoon and give them enough support and detail to improve.

"It is not going to be an easy journey for me to win favour. It hasn't been from day one with a lot of people, but we'll keep working and make sure it does.

"Professionally, it hurts a bit because nobody sees how hard you work.

"No-one sees the stuff you have to deal with, but it is what it is and is the job of a football manager."

Victorious Hearts manager Derek McInnes felt compelled to explain how unfair he felt Martin's treatment had been during the match.

That perhaps shines a light on how toxic this became.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann was part of Barry Ferguson's interim coaching team last season, and has doubts whether Martin can survive this latest setback.

"I'm not sure," he said. "I really felt for him and he looked really uncomfortable at the end of the game.

"I know he's not one for walking away but when the fans show their disdain and their displeasure like that then it's really difficult to come through it.

"He would have to go on an enormous run to turn that fanbase because they demand better."

Case for the defence?

Martin has only been in charge for just over three months. It is so early in his tenure and the level of change Rangers required was, and has been, drastic.

Most observers would recognise that might take time to embed, but time is one thing you don't get at Rangers. Not anymore, at least, after sustained underachievement.

Martin clearly believes the squad is now there to challenge for the title, but the horse may have already bolted in terms of taking on Celtic, or maybe Hearts given their current nine-point advantage over the Ibrox side. Brendan Rodgers' defending champions visit Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Martin spoke of "difficulty managing expectation" and players "feeling the weight of it" as they try to establish themselves.

He insisted the pace of change, with a substantial squad overhaul, was required as they were "not coming into a place that is winning a lot", referencing a lack of trophies.

There does look the basis of a strong squad, but it already seems a long road back for Martin given the level of anger he endured against Hearts and in his post-match exchange.

When you lose the fans, the outcome often becomes inevitable.

"The Rangers fans have had enough," said Billy Dodds, who was also an assistant to Ferguson last season.

"They needed to get results to dampen it all today and they've not done that.

"It's not nice when things don't go well at Ibrox. Four draws and a defeat, you're going to come under pressure."

Fan view: 'Martin could get Rangers relegated'

We asked for Rangers fans to share their thoughts after another dismal outing:

Here's a selction of their views:

Paul: This game may well be Russell Martin's last. This cannot go on any more, if there are Rangers fans still in the stands by the end of this debacle I will be surprised. The fans will vote with their feet in their droves. Martin isn't cut out for this, we need someone who knows what they're doing and we need it now!

Brian: Russell Martin could get us relegated. He's the only person on Earth who thinks this is acceptable.

Brian: Martin is deluded, heard him say before the game, "we are in a good place at the moment". What? After a draw at home with an awful Celtic team? Sack him, he is an embarrassment!

Lee: Martin surely has to go. If you don't have the players to play the way you want you have to adapt. He isn't being a manager he's being a dictator. You can't force players to play in a way that they clearly can't.

Alex: How many chances does Russell Martin need to get? It is clearly obvious he is out of his depth and cannot manage. It was doubtful before he got the position and now it is firmly confirmed that he is the wrong person for the job.

Jackie: I think Martin needs to be given more time. Can't just keep changing manager after a run of bad results. At some point we have to stick to someone and see it through to the bitter end.

Baz: I said it after the first game of the season how worried I was about Russell Martin's appointment and how long a season it's going to be. Sadly, I've been proven correct and if he isn't sacked tonight or tomorrow, the crowds will start dropping and the players confidence will get even lower if that's possible.

Garry: Martin's tactics are the definition of insanity - doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. No wins, no progress, and no prospect of being the manager by Christmas.

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Sabres Have Only Two Players Ranked In Athletic’s Top-150

The Buffalo Sabres face the challenge of snapping a NHL-record 14-year playoff drought this season and after a summer in which the club traded away their second-leading scorer in JJ Peterka in exchange for winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring and made only depth additions in Justin Danforth, Conor Timmins, and Alex Lyon, the onus will be on internal development and their core players playing up to expectations. 

In the Athletic’s tiered rankings of the Top 150 NHL players, the Sabres have just two players in defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forward Tage Thompson listed. 

The 2018 top pick and team captain was listed in the “franchise player” tier after a 68-point season and an impressive performance at the 2025 NHL Four Nations Face-Off, describing him as an all-situations, everything player”, but the critique of Dahlin had little to do with his talent or performance, but his situation with the Sabres, and that he would be more appreciated in the league if he was not on in Buffalo.  

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Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Thompson was listed in the “all-star player” tier after bouncing back from an injury-plagued 2023-24 with a 44-goal performance last season. The main critique of the big forward is at the defensive end of the ice, which is less of a liability when playing the wing. 

Notable omissions from the Sabres on the list were winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Owen Power. Tuch, who is entering the final year of his contract, tied a career-high with 36 goals and was invited to the US Olympic Development Camp last month. Power, the top pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, achieved career-highs in goals (7), assists (33) and points (40), but the reason for that is likely the 6’6”, 226 lb. blueliner’s lack of physicality.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

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NHL Pre-Season Fan Survey: Rule Changes, Shootouts, Referees And Fighting

Welcome to part two of The Hockey News’ three-part series of the pre-season fan vote. In part one, the first set of results was revealed, including fans' favorite teams and players, predictions for the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup, and much more.

This second part will reveal fans’ perspectives on NHL rules, and whether some should be removed or changed, including the shootout, overtime and fighting.

Which Rule Should Be Removed/Changed?

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Don't see the chart? Click here.

There was a clear top two in the results for this question – delay of game and the trapezoid rule. 

Many fans would like to remove the delay-of-game penalty when a player flips the puck over the glass in their own zone. Some said that it should be treated more like an icing, where a faceoff occurs in the offending team’s zone, and they aren’t allowed to line change. Others would like the option to carefully review the play, to see if it deserves a penalty or not.

The trapezoid rule prevents goaltenders from fishing for pucks in the corners, below the goal line. This allows a better flow of offense, and limits the goalie’s ability to enter open ice with the skaters. However, fans want to see the netminders explore beyond their crease a little more.

Other goaltender regulations were mentioned, including the red line rule that prevents goalies from passing the halfway mark, and goaltender interference – whether that means removing it entirely or changing the way coaches challenge it.

A handful of fans also voted to change the point system, including the removal of the overtime-loser point.

Remove Or Keep The Shootout?

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Don't see the chart? Click here.

If the tie isn’t broken in overtime, teams are forced to go to a best-of-three shootout. Hockey fans are split on whether to keep the shootout or remove it.

This survey tells us that the debate between fans for the shootout is as close as it can be. About 50.5 percent of fans voted to remove the shootout, versus the 49.5 percent who want to keep it. 

If the shootout were to be removed, fans made suggestions on how to replace it. The most popular answer was to extend overtime. Even Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark voiced his opinion during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour.

“We should add five more minutes of overtime, like at the 4 Nations. Because it comes down more to play.”

A handful of fans suggested the return of a tie. The NHL hasn’t had games decided in a tie since the 2003-04 season. In fact, the last tie game in the NHL was on April 4, 2004, between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.

Should Referees Have Post-Game Press Conferences?

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Don't see the chart? Click here.

Just like the shootout riddle, the split between fans who think NHL officials should or shouldn’t attend post-game press conferences was close. While this vote wasn’t decided by 0.5 percent, 55 percent of fans would like to see the referees face the mic, versus 45 percent who don’t see a need for it.

Since it’s rare for a referee to face the media, it’s unclear how that process would work out. However, the purpose of this would likely be to address controversial calls that were made during the game, or for officials to explain their thinking and reasoning. 

Former referee Dave Jackson, who officiated over 1,500 NHL games, has been incorporated into ESPN’s broadcasts. He explains or discusses the reasoning behind a call made by a referee, controversial or not. In a way, Jackson provides the thought process of NHL referees, adding context in real time.

Should The NHL Alter Fighting Penalties?

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Don't see the chart? Click here.

For the final question related to rule changes, the survey asked fans if the severity of fighting penalties should change. In the NHL, every fight results in a five-minute major penalty, unless otherwise specified. However, other leagues, such as the QMJHL, have banned fighting.

The majority of fans voted to keep fighting penalties the same. They also had the option to vote for lighter or heavier penalties. Lighter penalties could mean shorter time in the penalty box, or even no penalty at all.

Meanwhile, heavier penalties could mean longer time in the box, such as 10 minutes, or even ejection. Along with the QMJHL, fighting in the NCAA and some European leagues results in expulsion. Nonetheless, nearly 80 percent of fans are happy with the way things are.

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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Canadiens: Suzuki On New Arrivals

When he attended the NHL media day, Montreal Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki was asked what he thought about his team’s new additions this offseason, and he made his feelings quite clear.

If the captain had asked GM Kent Hughes not to make any moves at the trade deadline, he made no such request this offseason, and with Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak’s contracts coming off the books, the GM knew precisely how he wanted to use the cap space.

Canadiens: What Suzuki Did During The 4 Nations Face-Off Break
Canadiens: Pair Of Rookies Ready To Fill The Void In Montreal
Canadiens: Rookies Getting Ready For Their Big Day

Hughes first went out and traded his two first-round picks and Emil Heineman to the New York Islanders to fill a considerable organizational need, a prominent right-shot defenseman in Noah Dobson. With David Savard retiring, the Canadiens desperately needed some help in the right-shot blueliner department, and they didn’t just replace Savard; they got an upgrade.

With Dobson filling what could have eventually been Logan Mailloux’s spot, the GM went out and traded the blueliner to the St. Louis Blues in return for Trois-Rivieres native Zachary Bolduc. The right winger was coming off a great rookie season with the Missouri outfit, putting up 36 points in 72 games on top of sporting a plus-20 rating and seeing some action on the power play, picking up seven goals on the man-advantage.

What did the captain have to say about the moves? Here you go:

I think they’re going to fit in perfectly. They both play the style that we like, and I think they’re going to love the way we play. […] It’s pretty impressive that we managed to get those two young guys in trades this summer.
- Suzuki on Dobson and Bolduc

In other words, you can add Suzuki’s name to the list of Hughes’ fans in Montreal. Those acquisitions weren’t for players who had underperformed, and the organization hoped could find their groove in Montreal, like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but rather for two players who have already shown what they can do at the highest level and can help address some issues in the Canadiens’ lineup.

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