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'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In Camp

Goaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

In July, the Penguins dealt Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks and acquired 24-year-old netminder Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, and he has looked solid. Young Russian goaltender Sergei Murashov has opened a lot of eyes since training camp last season, and his 2025 camp has led many to believe he has star potential. And, of course, there's Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. 

But there is one guy who probably deserves to get a bit of a light shone on him, too, and that's 27-year-old Filip Larsson. 

Larsson was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2016, and after a few successful seasons in Sweden and a standout season with the University of Denver in 2018-19 - he went 13-6-3 with a .932 save percentage, 1.95 goals-against average, and four shutouts - he struggled in the Red Wings' organization in 2019-20 - which included an .843 save percentage in seven games at the AHL level.

After that, he returned to play in Sweden from 2020-24, and he posted save percentages at or above .920 in two consecutive seasons prior to 2024-25 - including a .929 save percentage across five playoff games in 2024 - which earned him a two-year deal with the Penguins the following summer. 

Then, there was last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins, where - for a good chunk of the year - he looked like the organization's best goaltender. An injury in the second half thwarted him a bit, but at the end of the day, he is looking to build off of last season, which concluded with a .910 save percentage and a 12-9-3 record.

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutPenguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season.

And his 2024-25 season with WBS proved that he is capable of performing at the highest levels of professional hockey.

“I know I can play at that level, and, obviously, my goal is to take another step this year," Larsson said. "I know there are a lot of really good goalies in the organization right now, so I’ve got to take my chance, wherever that might be."

Larsson acknowledged that he doesn't know where he'll end up for the 2025-26. As highlighted earlier, the goaltending battle in camp is a contested one, and that's not even accounting for Taylor Gauthier - currently out with a longer-term injury - who put up better ECHL numbers than even Murashov last season.

5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training Camp5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training CampOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season. And through three days, there has been a lot of action.

But, if anything, Larsson knows who he is as a goaltender. He also knows what he can work on to try and separate himself and add more to his repertoire, which is something that will be required if he hopes to make a push for the NHL roster at some point this season.

"A few things I can work on... obviously, when I watch NHL games, [I see] how really good some NHL goalies are with playing the puck. I think I can be better with that. I mean, our goalie coach [Kain Tisi] in Wilkes talked a lot about that last year, so that’s one area, I think, for the season.”

The biggest challenge for Larsson in camp this season - and as the season progresses, wherever he finds himself - is that he doesn't have the benefit of being a young, inexperienced goaltender anymore. Unlike Murashov, Silovs, and Blomqvist - who still have a lot of runway left in front of them - it's pertinent for Larsson to make an impact and an impression now if he hopes to be part of the organization's plans moving forward - especially as the team steers itself back toward contention.

Sep 21, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Filip Larsson (31) during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

And this is especially true for a new coaching staff that is coming into the fold with a clean slate. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas also said in his pre-season press conference that performances in camp and in pre-season - and, to a smaller degree, what they deem is best for each player's development - will "determine who the two goalies are to start with the Penguins."

Larsson will get his first chance to prove himself in game action when the Penguins visit the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET. And, even if he knows what he needs to work on in order to make himself stand out, he also knows what he's already good at - and he can use those strengths to his advantage against NHL-caliber competition.

“I feel like I have that calmness to read plays really well and be in the right position all the time," Larsson said. "I’m not a goalie who wants to slide to the boards when I make a save. I want to be in the right position every time. I feel like if I can continue doing that to be ahead of plays, that’s a huge play to get to the next step."

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

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Devils Off-Ice Personality Winning Over Fanbase

There have been several stories written about Arseny Gritsyuk this preseason. As the New Jersey Devils’ most anticipated prospect, it makes sense. From his strong offensive showing in the first preseason game to his work ethic in practice, the 24-year-old Russian has gained plenty of attention.

But his name is also making the rounds for another reason: his social media.

Now, he’s not the next Nikita Popugayev. Gritsyuk isn’t planning to ditch the Devils for a career as an influencer, so no need to panic there. Still, his posts have gained traction, drawing positive attention as the young forward looks to secure a spot on the Devils roster.

Gritsyuk has taken to Telegram, a platform described as:

“A free, cloud-based instant messaging app that allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and large files, join large groups, and subscribe to channels for news and content.”

He posts in Russian, sharing his thoughts as he begins his NHL journey.

When he traveled from Russia to North America in September, he documented the three-leg trip online. Since then, he has kept fans updated throughout training camp. On September 18, ahead of Day 1, he posted a selfie with the caption:

“Off to my first training session 👍 I'll tell you how it went a little later 🤙”

Later that day, he followed up:

“Today I skated with Cotter and Lammikko ))) The first ice was tough, we ran and caught our breath. Tomorrow is a new day and new exercises, we'll see how it goes 👍 For now, I'm going home to rest 😉 Hello everyone, and have a nice evening 🤙”

On September 20, before his first NHL preseason game, he shared:

“I'm reporting to you that I skated on a line with Cotter and Glass today, and of course, me too. Tomorrow we play the Rangers at 1 p.m.; it's exciting to test my skills against other teams! Now, as usual, we're heading home and relaxing. Thank goodness, no cooking today 😂 Have a good evening everyone! A hug and a warm welcome 👋”

After the game, he reflected:

“So, I have to share my impressions ))) To say it was hard is an understatement 😂 Yes, it really was very hard + I was a little nervous, but from the second period onwards I seemed to feel more confident. And the scoring started, the 1+1 looks great, and I'm happy with that, but starting with a loss, even in preseason, is still unpleasant. Now I have time to rest, analyze what happened today, and prepare for the future 🤙 Thank you all so much for your support))) Hugs and raises”

Ahead of last night’s win against the New York Islanders, he wrote:

“Getting ready for the Islanders game tonight at 7:00 ))) I'm playing on the 4th line with Lammikko and Halonen today! It's a little easier emotionally, but I'm still a little nervous. I hope it'll all be better after I get some sleep 😉 I gave everyone a big hug and a lift 🙃”

Following the 6–2 victory, he posted again:

“Good afternoon everyone, I'm already going to bed ))) Today we played our second preseason game against the Islanders and won 6-2. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to score, but I had good efficiency and played for the team 😂💪 Today I certainly felt better and calmer 😇 We'll work on finishing, and now I'm off to bed 🤙 I gave everyone a big hug 😂”

These posts don’t just add a lighthearted note to training camp; they give fans a direct line into his experience as he pushes for a roster spot.

His personality shines through, consistently optimistic and engaging, and it’s winning people over quickly. With his play on the ice and his approachable off-ice presence, Gritsyuk is setting himself up to become a fan favorite for the New Jersey Devils.

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It’s Time to Update Your Passwords, MLB Tickets Thefts Prove

Baseball fans from Los Angeles and Detroit to Miami and Boston saw coveted tickets to MLB games disappear from their accounts within the league’s Ballpark app earlier this month. Some faced disruptions while attempting to enter stadiums using tickets in the app, and many more got notices to update their account information. 

In a statement, MLB said it has uncovered “bad actors” who used leaked or stolen credentials from breaches of other websites to access fan accounts, adding that there is no evidence that MLB systems themselves were exploited and that its app is operating properly.

MLB’s Ballpark app was designed for fans attending baseball games, offering ticket storage and management capabilities, as well as other features such as stadium maps and weather alerts. Fans can also sell their tickets using a connection to SeatGeek or directly transfer them to other users.

“We are working tirelessly to address this matter and protect our fans,” the league said. “We want all of our fans to have a great experience when they come to the ballpark, and we are sorry that some fans have had to deal with an issue related to their tickets.”

While the frenzy seems to have been quelled with the league’s latest security updates, the issues highlighted the growing threat of identity fraud targeting sports fans, particularly within the frothy market for live event tickets. 

Reports of baseball tickets disappearing from the app spiked around the beginning of September, according to an MLB source granted anonymity to discuss the matter. Numerous fans took to Reddit to report similar issues.

One Philadelphia fan said seven tickets acquired for their brother’s bachelor party were swiped sometime before the day of the game. After the Phillies replaced their tickets, the group found people sitting in their seats, who said they’d bought the stubs online an hour before the first pitch. 

In many cases, fans were able to see that the tickets were surreptitiously forwarded to unrecognized accounts, presumably so they could be sold on third-party sites. In a legal complaint filed Thursday, an Illinois man said he missed the first hour of a Cubs tilt after his tickets vanished on the day of the game. The filing goes on to argue that “MLB’s data security obligations were particularly acute given the substantial increase in data breaches in various industries preceding the date of the Data Breach.”

The league declined to comment on ongoing litigation.

Fraud cost consumers more than $12.5 billion in 2024, a 25% jump over the prior year, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. In 2024, a separate report found that so-called “account takeover attacks” were up 24% year-over-year. Often, consumers can recoup their losses, Merchant Risk Council CEO Julie Fergerson said, with companies facing both lost revenue and a potential deflation of customer confidence.

While experts, including those at MLB, urge buyers to use different, secure passwords for each of their accounts across different sites, surveys continue to find that a majority of Americans don’t practice pristine password hygiene. Consumers are also encouraged to set up multi-factor authentication for purchases when possible, but only some do. 

“Especially in the United States, we love convenience over security,” Fergerson said.

Following data breaches, hackers identify uses for the stolen information, occasionally selling techniques in manuals for others on forums dedicated to the practice. That explains how instances of fraud strategies can explode overnight before being dealt with. 

As live event get-in prices rise, ticket platforms become a more enticing target for illicit activity. The move to digital stubs has cut down on old-school forgery, but other avenues for concern have emerged. Prior to this month, multiple users have complained online about their credit card information being used to purchase game tickets on top ticket marketplaces. In the case of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, a man in Northern Ireland allegedly racked up $100,000 in purchases for “Wicked” tickets using stolen card info.

A Ticketmaster data breach reportedly exposed up to 560 million North American customers in 2024. A Blue Jays fan appears to have lost control to his StubHub account, and the tickets within it, this July. For its part, MLB-owned Tickets.com has posted multiple job listings for a “fraud prevention analyst” this year, a position that a league source said is not new for the company (among the job perks: MLB tickets). At the same time, reports of speculative ticket sales—aka “ghost tickets”—have some potential buyers on edge. Others have attempted to set up automated bots that buy tickets from teams before humans can acquire them and then resell them at higher prices. 

MLB is unique among major leagues in operating its own companion app for game attendees across all its clubs. In other sports, teams typically work with different official ticket providers. Baseball’s proprietary platform allows it to roll out advances such as facial recognition-based stadium entry and in-app concessions purchases. On Apple’s iOS App Store, the app has 1.1 million ratings averaging 4.7 stars out of five. The league also touts the app’s “effortless ticket sharing” functionality, though for some, it proved too easy for tickets to change hands this month.   

Once hackers identified that some MLB Ballpark users were vulnerable to losing their account access due to having repeated or weak passwords—and that they held valuable assets that could be sold in relatively liquid markets—it makes sense that the apparent fraud accelerated quickly. But with the league now taking steps to mitigate the issue, it’s also likely that those involved have already moved on to focusing on their next potential target. 

“We hadn’t really seen something like it,” Binary Defense counterintelligence manager Jake Aurand said of the Ballpark exploit. “It blew up. … But if [MLB] make it difficult enough [for hackers], it’s likely threat actors will move on to the next thing.” 

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Long List Of Players Returned To The WHL From NHL Teams For The 2025-26 Season

The second weekend of the WHL season will feature plenty of familiar faces. With NHL teams reassigning players after training camp, some of the WHL's best will make their 2025-26 season debuts this week. Here is a look at which players have been reassigned to the WHL. 

Brandon Wheat Kings:

  • Brady Turko-  Anaheim Ducks 
  • Carter Klippenstein- Minnesota Wild

Calgary Hitmen

  • Brandon Gorzynski- Dallas Stars 
  • Axel Hurtig- Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oil Kings:

  • Blake Fiddler- Seattle Kraken camp
  • Max Curran- Colorado Avalanche
  • Adam Jecho- St. Louis Blues

Everett Silvertips:

  • Julius Miettinen- Seattle Kraken
  • Tarin Smith- Anaheim Ducks
  • Shea Busch- Florida Panthers 

Kamloops Blazers:

  • Tommy Lafreniere- Edmonton Oilers
  • Nathan Bhem- Chicago Blackhawks

Kelowna Rockets:

  • Tomas Poletin- New York Islanders
  • Nate Corbet- Los Angeles Kings
  • Hiroki Gojsic- Nashville Predators
  • Mazden Leslie- Vegas Golden Knights

Medicine Hat Tigers:

  • Kadon McCann- Calgary Flames
  • Nillio Muhonen- Dallas Stars
  • Jordan Switzer- Calgary Flames
  • Veeti Väisänen- Utah Mammoth

Portland Winterhawks:

  • Max Pšenička- Utah Mammoth

Prince Albert Raiders:

  • Max Heise- San Jose Sharks

Prince George Cougars:

  • Corbin Vaughan- New York Rangers
  • Josh Ravensbergen- San Jose Sharks

Red Deer Rebels:

  • Jaxon Fuder- Dallas Stars
  • Chase Wutzke- Minnesota Wild

Saskatoon Blades:

  • Evan Gardner- Columbus Blue Jackets
  • David Lewandowski- Edmonton Oilers

Seattle Thunderbirds:

  • Coster Dunn- Utah Mammoth

Swift Current Broncos:

  • Joshua McGregor- Carolina Hurricanes

Tri-City Americans: 

  • Charlie Elick- Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Jaxen Adam- Edmonton Oilers
  • Cash Koch- Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Giants:

  • Cameron Schmidt- Dallas Stars
  • Burke Hood- New York Islanders

Wenatchee Wild:

  • Blake Vanek- Ottawa Senators
Joshua Ravensbergen of the Prince Albert Raiders (Photo Credit: James Doyle/Prince George Cougars/WHL)

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News. 

Edmonton, Spokane, Everett & Kelowna Named To 2025-26 CHL Top-10 Week 1 Rankings

Rudolph Ready For Second WHL Season With Prince Albert Raiders

Vancouver Giants Defenceman Ryan Lin Named To Team CHL For 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Red Deer Rebels' Chase Wutzke Signs ELC With The Minnesota Wild

Standouts From Week 1 Of The 2025-26 WHL Season

The Hockey News
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Athletics star Nick Kurtz named Baseball America's MLB Rookie of the Year

Athletics star Nick Kurtz named Baseball America's MLB Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

No surprises here.

Star Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was named Baseball America’s MLB Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, the sports publication announced to Chris Townsend on “A’s Cast,” further solidifying Big Amish’s unreal introduction to the big leagues.

Kurtz, whom the A’s selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, absolutely has raked over 112 games during the 2025 season — after becoming the sixth-fastest player to reach the majors in franchise history following his promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas on April 23.

The two-time AL Rookie of the Month enters Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros carrying a sensational .995 OPS and 5.0 WAR with 117 hits, 81 RBI, 33 home runs, 26 doubles and 60 walks. Kurtz is slashing .291/.383/.612.

His magnum opus of the year came on July 25, when Kurtz became the first rookie to hit four homers in one game — a 15-3 win over Houston at Daikin Park. Kurtz finished with 19 total bases, eight RBI and six hits.

“It’s hard to think about this day being, you know, kind of real,” Kurtz told Chris Caray and Dallas Braden on “A’s Cast” following the win. “Still feels like a dream. So it’s just, it’s pretty remarkable. I’m kind of speechless. 

“I don’t really know what to say.”

The same can be said about Kurtz’s green-and-gold ascent.

On a team with fellow star rookie Jacob Wilson, who has a .318 batting average with 150 hits over 121 games this year, and two-time MLB All-Star slugger Brent Rooker, who has an .821 OPS with 30 homers in 2025, not many expected Kurtz to headline the A’s offense when he was first called up.

But as the Baseball America nod implies, Kurtz is the real deal. He should be a fan-favorite building block for the A’s for seasons to come.

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Fantasy Basketball 9-Cat Leagues, 101: Draft strategy for the 2025-26 NBA season

If you're new to fantasy basketball, you might find that it's a bit different from other fantasy sports. While there are a few ways to play, the most popular format is 9-category (or 9-cat) head-to-head. It's the classic setup, and if you're in a Yahoo league, there's a good chance this is your format. This guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know to build a winning team, from draft day to the championship.

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

For anyone coming from the world of fantasy football, the idea of "categories" might seem a little strange. Fantasy football is based on points, but in 9-cat, you're going head-to-head with an opponent each week across nine different statistical areas.

Those nine categories are:

  • Points (PTS)

  • Rebounds (REB)

  • Assists (AST)

  • 3-Pointers Made (3PM)

  • Steals (STL)

  • Blocks (BLK)

  • Field Goal Percentage (FG%)

  • Free Throw Percentage (FT%)

  • Turnovers (TO)

Each week, the goal is simple: win more categories than your opponent. If you win points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, but lose the other four, you finish the week with a 5−4 victory. These wins and losses pile up over the season to decide the league standings.

Think of your 9-cat draft as less of a race to grab the biggest names, and more of a puzzle. The best player available isn't always the right pick for your team. You're building a portfolio of stats, and every pick changes the equation.

1. The Balanced Build

This is the bread and butter of 9-cat strategy. The goal here is to build a solid team that can compete in every single category, every single week. You want to draft versatile players who stuff the stat sheet without torpedoing any of your categories.

Dan Titus' Category League Rankings

We've all seen it: A dominant center who grabs every rebound but shoots 50% from the free-throw line, single-handedly losing you that category. On the flip side, some score-first guards can tank your field goal percentage and rack up turnovers. Very few players are elite in everything. The key is to pay attention to how each player you draft affects your team's overall stat profile. Keep an eye on your projected totals after every pick and make sure you're not accidentally digging yourself a hole in one category. Speaking of which ...

2. The "Punting" Strategy

Now for a more advanced, high-risk/high-reward strategy: Punting. This is where you intentionally decide to ignore, or "punt," one or more categories so you can build a powerhouse in the others. It's a bold move, but if you do it right, you can create a team that's almost guaranteed to win you 5 or 6 categories every week.

Here are a couple of popular ways to punt:

  • Punt the Guard Stats: Load up on centers and forwards. By punting categories like Assists, 3s and Free-Throw Percentage, you can build a monster team in Rebounds, Blocks and Field Goal Percentage. You'll usually be solid in Turnovers, too, leaving you to fight for Points and Steals each week.

  • Punt the Big Man Stats: This is the reverse. You grab elite, high-usage guards and wings, aiming to dominate Points, Assists, 3s, Steals and Free-Throw Percentage. You basically concede Rebounds, Blocks and FG% from the jump. This can be a bit riskier, as there's less room for error when you're aiming for that 5−4 win every time.

  • Punt Percentages: Another way to go is to just focus on the "counting" stats (points, boards, assists, etc.) and forget about FG% and FT%. This works great if you plan to be very active on the waiver wire, because the more games your players play, the more counting stats you'll rack up.

The draft is just the beginning. Winning a championship is all about how you manage your team week in and week out.

Take a look at your opponent's team each week. What are they good at? Where are they weak? You can use your weekly waiver wire moves to counter their strengths. If they're loaded with guards, maybe you stream a center to lock up rebounds and blocks. And don't be afraid to bench players on a Sunday! If you have a slim lead in FG% and a risky shooter on your team, sitting them is a smart tactical move to secure the category win.

Having a dedicated streaming spot on your roster is a massive advantage. At the start of each week, look at the schedule. See which teams have four games or a nice back-to-back set. You can pick up a player from one of those teams to maximize your games played for the week. You'll get a huge boost in those counting stats, and you might even stumble upon a player worth keeping long-term. Sure, you'll make a few drops you regret, but the extra stats you gain over the season are well worth it. Also, learn to manage your losses. A tough 4−5 loss is fine, but a crushing 1−8 defeat can sink your season.

Honestly, one of the biggest keys to success is simply paying attention. Set your lineup every day, stay on top of the news and be active on the waiver wire. Just by being more engaged than the other managers in your league, you give yourself a considerable leg up.

Right now, the guard position is incredibly deep. My favorite strategy this year is to lock up solid forwards and centers in the middle rounds and then pounce on the guard value that falls late. You can find guys like Reed Sheppard, Andrew Nembhard, D’Angelo Russell, Keyonte George, Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Suggs and CJ McCollum well outside the top 100 picks. The big men in that range are often much bigger gambles.

Every single year, people get hyped and overdraft rookies. It’s the classic case of chasing the shiny new toy instead of the reliable veteran who just gets the job done. For every rookie who hits the ground running, there are five who disappoint based on where they were drafted. This pushes proven, steady players down the draft board, creating amazing value for you. My personal rule is to generally let someone else take the risk on rookies. You can often trade for them a month into the season if they start slow anyway.

At the end of the day, this is your team. While all this advice can give you a great foundation, you have to be the one to make the final call. A lot of fantasy decisions are basically coin flips, so you might as well go with your own opinion, right? Be confident in your picks and your strategy, and everything else will fall into place.

And remember, this is supposed to be fun! If you're not enjoying the daily grind of fantasy basketball, you're doing it wrong. Good luck!

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What Every Rangers Fan Should Know About What's Going On

 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

1. Minus Jake (The Rake) Trouba, Chris (Stop Crying He's Gone) Kreider and D'Andre (Not Captain) Miller around, the Rangers room is as peaceful as a churchyard. Also boring!

2. I can't wait for Captain J.T. (The Golfer) Miller's first address to the troops. Prediction: Something like "If you guys don't hustle, I'll kick your butt!"

3. Okay, fair enough; but who's gonna kick the captain's toosh when he doesn't backcheck? (Will Sully have the nerve to do that? Doubt it.)

4. Speaking of butt kicking, isn't that what Connor McDavid is doing to the fair village of Edmonton by not getting it over with  and putting pen down on an Oilers contract? (Sure is.)

5. Writing in The Hockey News Yearbook about the Rangers, Steve Zipay asks, "Can Mike Sullivan galvanize the defense and core forwards and develop some youngsters with a new voice and style?" (Answers below.)

6. A. To galvanize the defense, get Cale Makar; trade Slava Gavrkov; B. To galvanize the core forwards, get Auston Matthews and William Nylander; trade Breadman and meek Mika; C. To develop youngsters with a new voice and style, promote and keep Gabe Perreault, Brett Berard and Scott Morrow. (Make sure you let them talk to the media daily.)

7.  Sportsnet's Emily Sadler produced a list of "Players Under The Most Pressure." Vegas' Mitch Marner tops the list and his ex-Leafs buddy Auston Matthews is runner-up. No Rangers made the list.

8. Maven's List of Rangers Under Most Pressure; A. Fats Lafreniere; earn the dough or get traded; B. Breadman Panarin; reach the 100-point mark or get traded: C. Igor Shesterkin; either carry the team or get booed; D. Mika Zibanejad; Either reach a 70-point season or live in the press box; E. Slava Gabrikov: Either carry Adam Fox or Will Borgen will.

9. If rookie Matthew Schaefer makes the Islanders varsity and plays better than Gavrikov: OY VAY!

10. If nothing else, the Rangers – thanks to MSG Networks – will be blessed by the twin voices of Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney on the Blueshirts' telecasts.

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Thomson ‘didn't quite expect' this strong of a season from Luzardo

Thomson ‘didn't quite expect' this strong of a season from Luzardo originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In what will be his last start of the regular season on Wednesday, Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo will have completed a year that few expected. He will most likely be one of the three starting pitchers for manager Rob Thomson when the team begins their playoff run. The Phillies’ magic number to clinch the second seed is just one going into the middle frame of their series against the Marlins.

After coming over from the Marlins, Luzardo has gone through the normal ups and downs when joining a new team, but has impressed his manager with how he’s handled it.

“He’s had a really, really good year,” said Thomson of Luzardo, who will make his 32nd start of the season with a 14-7 record and a 4.08 ERA. “Didn’t quite expect this. He’s going to surpass his innings for a year, he’s going to surpass strikeouts for a year. Career-highs in both. He’s done a great job. Great pick up.

“A guy comes here for the first time there’s expectations, obviously. This isn’t the normal place to play because there’s a lot of expectations, there’s a lot of noise. So, when a guy comes in and starts off good and then goes into a little bit of a slump, whether it’s on the mound or at the plate, it’s good to see a guy come out of that and get to the other side. That was really something that has impressed me, that he has been able to do. To put the bad starts behind him and get going again. It shows how strong of a person he is.”

In his starts this season, Luzardo has compiled 176 2/3 innings pitched and 206 strikeouts, both just two off his career high. He has also yielded just 16 home runs. And while the ERA may not be eye-popping good, there are extenuating circumstances, such as a mini mid-season slump.

“I think it’s just, at the time, not executing pitches,” Thomson said. “There was one game in particular where I had to push him a little bit further because I didn’t have much bullpen. So, there are add-on runs that probably wouldn’t be there if we had a full bullpen.”

While Thomson wouldn’t commit to Luzardo being among his top three starters for the playoffs, it’d be surprising if he isn’t.

Health updates

The worst fears of an injury to J.T. Realmuto were erased Tuesday when X-Rays were negative on his right hand after taking a foul tip off it in the ninth inning. He was held out of the lineup by Thomson on Wednesday, however.

“J.T. is better today,” said Thomson. “There’s more mobility in his finger. It’s bruised. There’s still some swelling in there, some pain. But not as bad as yesterday.” Thomson said he’d like to see his catcher behind the plate before the regular season ends, if he’s able.

Bryce Harper missed his second straight game as he’s dealing with an illness. “Bryce is feeling better but still feeling the effects of the sickness. He hasn’t been in yet. I’m not sure if he’s coming in at all.”

As for shortstop Trea Turner, he continues to climb the ladder in his rehabilitation to get his hamstring to 100 percent as he continued his workouts at Citizens Bank Park.

“He got six at-bats, was fine then he ran in the outfield,” Thomson said. “Looked good.”

Asked if he’s running at 100 percent, Thomson jokingly put it in the 75 or 77 percent range. “I hope, I hope,” he said of Turner playing before the regular season ends on Sunday. “Just continue tomorrow get more at-bats for him, ramping up his speed. More ground balls. He’s done everything. It’s just a matter of getting that speed up to 100 percent.”

The manager stated that it’s not necessary for Turner to play before the regular season ends but he’d like to see it. “We’re not going to push him if he’s not 100 percent.”

Bullpen worries?

After Cristopher Sanchez threw seven shutout innings at the Marlins, the bullpen struggled by giving up seven hits and six runs (three earned) in four innings of work. David Robertson allowed three hits and an earned run in 2/3 of an inning, Jhoan Duran blew a ninth-inning save and Orion Kerkering was touched for a hit and an earned run in the 10th.

“Yesterday I think Robbie (Robertson) was just rusty. He had six days off,” said Thomson. “Kerk, I think it’s executing his slider. He’s just not getting a lot of swing and miss. He’s got to do a better job at that, and I know he will.”

Sosa returns

The Phillies brought infielder Edmundo Sosa off the injury list Wednesday and Thomson threw him right in the lineup at shortstop and hitting sixth. Infielder Donovan Walton was designated for assignment to make room for Sosa.

Sosa had been on the 10-day injured list with a sore groin that Thomson labeled as very minor.

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NHL Power Rankings: Setting The Stage For 2025-26

The 2025-26 season is just two weeks away, which means the NHL power rankings are back every  Wednesday. We are back, baby.

This pre-season edition ranks all 32 NHL teams based on their performance last season and also takes into account the moves they’ve made during the off-season. The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers obviously retain the top spot and will be on the hunt to accomplish something no team in the cap era has ever done before: threepeat. 

Even before puck drop, several key storylines have already emerged. There’s the pending superstar-laden free-agent class that includes the likes of Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin and Kyle Connor, which may significantly alter the landscape, and also the NHL’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

Without further ado, let’s take stock of where all 32 NHL teams stand. 

1. Florida Panthers (47-31-4, +29 goal differential)

Even without the services of Matthew Tkachuk for the first few months, the defending champions retain the top spot and will hunt for the coveted threepeat.  

2. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, +23)

Always the bridesmaid but never the bride, the Oilers only made minor changes to their roster, and we shall see if that will be enough. The pressure on Connor McDavid feels even more immense this season with the Olympics and free agency looming. No player in the league can change the fortunes of all 32 teams with one decision like McDavid can.

3. Dallas Stars (50-26-6, +53)

Peter DeBoer has reached the Western Conference final six times and a Stanley Cup semifinal eight times. Glen Gulutzan has reached the Western Conference final zero times. The new coaching change will be something to watch, and hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, hire ‘em. 

4. Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, +33)

Hey, look, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the Carolina Hurricanes winning a game in the conference finals! The Canes are running it back with the same coach and the same goalie tandem, and it’s either going to prove them right or be certifiably insane.

5. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, +56)

The Knights went big-game hunting again, this time landing Mitch Marner, giving them two elite superstar forwards. We should not forget, however, how much losing Alex Pietrangelo may hurt. 

6. Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4, +86)

Always seemingly more than the same of their parts, the Jets face a difficult challenge to repeat as Presidents’ Trophy champions. Only two teams have won back-to-back regular-season titles (Canucks in ’11 and ’12, and Capitals in ’16 and ’17), and they lost Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency and gambled on Jonathan Toews being their No. 2 center.

Jonathan Toews Making Immediate Mark On Winnipeg JetsJonathan Toews Making Immediate Mark On Winnipeg JetsWhen longtime Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain Jonathan Toews chose to sign with the Winnipeg Jets this summer as part of his NHL comeback, the questions began about how quickly he would make his mark on his new team.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, +37)

Life after Marner will certainly look different, but this can still be a strong defensive group with a captain who can be a 70-goal threat. 

8. Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4, +43)

The last time captain Gabriel Landeskog suited up in the regular season, the Avalanche won the Cup. The revenge tour after coming back from a potentially career-ending injury officially starts now. 

9. Washington Capitals (51-22-9, +56)

Just about everything went right for the Capitals in a storybook season. Sometimes, it’s difficult to get back to those emotional highs, and this season may mark the end of an exceptional era with Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson entering the final season of their contracts. 

10. Los Angeles Kings (48-25-9, +44)

Speaking of closing chapters, Anze Kopitar’s reign will end after 20 seasons and two Cups. Quinton Byfield is the ordained prince, and all eyes will be on him to carry the torch.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8, +75)

Following three straight trips to the finals, the Lightning have bowed out of the first round three straight times. Are they still a juggernaut team that had the misfortune of running into the eventual champions two years in a row, or are their best days over?  

12. Minnesota Wild (45-30-7, -11)

A healthy Kirill Kaprizov is enough reason to believe the Wild can be a contender. What’s scary, though, is the lack of an extension after the Wild made it clear they’re willing to make him the league’s highest-paid player.

13. St. Louis Blues (44-30-8, +21)

After Jim Montgomery took over, the Blues had the seventh-best points percentage in the league, and their offense blossomed. If there’s a dark horse in the West, it’s definitely the Blues. 

14. New Jersey Devils (42-33-7, +20)

If Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton can stay healthy, the Devils are a contender. But that’s a big if.

15. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, +9)

A playoff appearance for the first time in eight seasons and the prospect of a new rink closer to downtown? The Senators are rising to power.

16. Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11, -20)

Excluding the pandemic-shortened seasons, the Habs made the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. With Lane Hutson, Calder candidate Ivan Demidov and the acquisition of Noah Dobson, the Habs are a young, exciting team whose GM isn’t afraid to take big risks.

Montreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsMontreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsThe Montreal Canadiens had a game-changing off-season.

17. Utah Mammoth (38-31-13, -10)

The Mammoth have massive potential in a very new market, and their offensive talent makes them fun to watch. Ranking fourth in expected goals at 5-on-5, per naturalstattrick.com, but finishing tied for 18th in goals-for per game is a big clue this team will score goals in bunches. 

18. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-33-9, +5)

The Jackets are looking to build off a momentous season and finally – after a quarter-century – have unearthed a franchise center in Adam Fantilli. They’re in a major upswing, and the challenge is to keep the momentum going and find a reliable goaltender. 

19. New York Rangers (39-36-7, +1)

The Rangers are looking to put a tumultuous season behind them with Mike Sullivan as their new coach, J.T. Miller as captain and a revamped defense that, hopefully, won’t leave Igor Shesterkin out to dry. 

20. Vancouver Canucks (38-30-14, -17)

Speaking of tumultuous seasons, no team’s off-ice struggles took more attention away from their on-ice play as much as the Canucks. It was a relatively quiet summer, which means they’re betting on bounce-back seasons from nearly everyone on their roster.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Canucks' Hughes And Stars' RobertsonNHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Canucks' Hughes And Stars' RobertsonVancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson were frequently the subject of off-season trade speculation.

21. Calgary Flames (41-27-14, -13)

The Flames were surprisingly in playoff contention all season, which put a potential roster overhaul on hold. They will take another wait-and-see approach this season, but the ticking clock is pushing GM Craig Conroy into deciding whether he wants to keep his veteran core or focus on building a new one.

22. Detroit Red Wings (39-35-8, -21)

Will we be speaking of the Yzerplan this time next season? We’ve preached patience, but it’s been nine years since the Red Wings made the playoffs. Their promising young core needs to take a step forward, but can they do so if Steve Yzerman insists on signing veterans who are potentially blocking their paths? It’s a constant battle to decide which stage of the Yzerplan this team is in.  

23. New York Islanders (35-35-12, -36)

One of the biggest factors that will determine the Isles’ fortunes this season is Mathew Barzal’s knee. If it holds up, they can form a respectable attack to complement their elite goaltender and a budding franchise defenseman, Matthew Schaefer. 

24. Anaheim Ducks (35-37-10, -42)

Joel Quenneville returns to the NHL bench after a lengthy absence, and this is a talented roster that improved by eight wins from the previous season. Keep your head up – not only are the Ducks on the rise, but Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba might form the hardest-hitting right-side defense in the league.   

25. Buffalo Sabres (36-39- 7, -20)

A talented roster on paper, but the annual question is if they can put it all together. They can definitely score, and they can somewhat defend, but when you sign Alexandar Georgiev in a panic, it’s not a good sign to start the season. 

26. Seattle Kraken (35-41-6, -18)

Are the Kraken running out of patience? They made a big splash in free agency last summer, and coach Dan Bylsma lasted just one season. They’re now onto their third coach, entering their fifth season, and are still nowhere close to being a contender. Fair or not, the Knights set the bar very high for expansion franchises.

27. Boston Bruins (33-39-10, -50)

The Bruins have a lot of players poised for bounce-back seasons, but will it be enough to return to the playoffs? Jeremy Swayman enters the second year of a lucrative eight-year deal, and he’s as vital to their chances as David Pastrnak after allowing a league-high 176 goals last season.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-36-12, -50)

Sidney Crosby will do his darndest to keep the Pens competitive, but they’re obvious sellers at this point with Evgeni Malkin entering the final year of his contract and Erik Karlsson more likely than not to get traded at some point. Could you imagine if the Pens go Lemieux to Crosby to McKenna? Bless.

29. Philadelphia Flyers (33-39-10, -48)

Season 2 of Matvei Michkov should be exciting, but there are still so many holes in this lineup, especially the big gaping one in net. Rick Tocchet returns to Philly, where he had some of his best seasons as a player, and Trevor Zegras is reunited with his good buddy Jamie Drysdale. It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia, but there are definitely fewer dark clouds. 

30. Nashville Predators (30-44-8, -60)

The Preds were a disaster last season after many pegged them to have one of the NHL’s best offenses. Barry Trotz joked they’re out to prove the ‘experts’ wrong for the third straight season, which actually means they could go from bad to worse…

31. San Jose Sharks (20-50-12, -105)

The reason why the Sharks aren’t ranked at the bottom after finishing with a league-low 52 points is because they really bolstered their roster with multiple veterans, and their bright future isn’t difficult to see. Macklin Celebrini alone is worth the price of admission, and in the words of Yoda: “We shall watch your career with great interest.” 

32. Chicago Blackhawks (25-46-11, -70)

The narrative for Connor Bedard has changed quickly, going from the new face of the league to getting leapfrogged by Celebrini and wondering if he will live up to his potential. We forget that Bedard is just 20 years old and entering his third season, though you wonder how the Hawks are going to provide the support he needs after acquiring only *checks notes* Andre Burakovsky over the summer.

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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Rob Key insists Brook’s England promotion is not ‘scheme’ to oust Pope

  • Key all but confirms Woakes’ international career is over

  • Brook replaces Pope as vice-captain for Ashes series

Rob Key has all but confirmed Chris Woakes has played his last game for England and insisted Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain for the Ashes is not “an elaborate scheme” to oust Ollie Pope from the team.

Speaking a day after naming a 16‑man squad to take on Australia, Key, the team director, clarified the selections – not least the late switch in deputy for Ben Stokes – and confirmed Woakes missed out because of the dislocated shoulder sustained during the final Test of the summer.

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Guardians' David Fry hit in the face by a 99-mph pitch during bunt attempt: 'Scary moment'

Cleveland Guardians' David Fry falls back after being hit in the face by a pitch.
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry takes a fastball to the face Tuesday during a sixth-inning bunt attempt. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry was hit in the face by a 99-mph fastball thrown Tuesday by Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal at Ohio's Progressive Field.

During a sixth-inning at-bat, Fry was attempting to bunt when the ball missed the bat completely and hit him in the nose and mouth area. He fell to the ground and remained there for several minutes while being treated by medical staff.

Fry eventually was able to walk to a cart under his own power. The 2024 American League All-Star gave a thumbs-up signal as he was being driven off the field. The Guardians later said Fry was undergoing tests and observation, possibly overnight, at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

“He’s getting tested," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters after the game. "He stayed conscious the whole time. Definitely some injuries there, so I’ll give you an update tomorrow on David.”

Vogt added: "We're all thinking about Dave and his family right now. Obviously, we're glad he's OK, but obviously it's really a scary moment. So [we're] thinking about him."

As the incident took place, Skubal reacted in horror from the mound, immediately dropping his glove, removing his cap and covering his face with his hand. The 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner later told reporters it was "really tough" to see Fry like that.

Read more:How Bill Russell stayed connected to baseball, and reconnected with the Dodgers

“I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right," Skubal said. "Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.

“I know sometimes with those things that can change. So hopefully he’s all right. I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or [Wednesday] morning getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good because there’s things that are bigger than the game and the health of him is more important than a baseball game.”

Cleveland won the game 5-2 to pull to a tie with Detroit at the top of the AL Central Division after trailing by as many as 15½ games this summer.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.