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Goals for the New Jersey Devils Goaltenders and Roster Hopefuls in 2026-27

Feb 26, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) slams his stick into the boards as he is replaced by goaltender Nico Daws (50) in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A key point in the New Jersey Devils’ struggles during the 2025-26 season revolved around one thing: goaltending. To outside eyes, it might seem like the Devils have done nothing to resolve that issue, but Sunny Mehta’s trade of Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers was a true addition by subtraction situation. In Jake Allen, the Devils have a goaltender who has had two solid seasons for them, albeit in a high-end backup role. But the Devils have other goaltenders in Nico Daws and David Rittich who may be factoring into a better team goaltending outlook. Let’s dive in.

Click here for previous goals posts on forwards and returning defensemen.

The Goaltenders

Jake Allen

Goal: Handle a 42-Game WorkloadWithout Getting Injured

The number one issue for whether the Devils’ current goaltending situation will work out revolves around Jake Allen’s ability to play a high number of games. If Allen can play half of the NHL season without getting hurt or seeing any major performance dips, it might not even be necessary to carry three goaltenders. Since the 2018-19 season, when Jake Allen was the 28-year old starter for the St. Louis Blues, Allen has only played 42 games once: in 2022-23, when he had an .891 save percentage and a 3.55 goals against average behind a horrendous Montreal defense. Since joining the Devils in 2024, Allen has a .904 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average in 77 starts and 81 games.

The most recent season, in which Markstrom was hurt for much of October, was Allen’s most games played since that 2022-23 season. Allen had a .903 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in 36 starts and 37 games, which is right in line with the rest of his Devils tenure. But, diving into that a bit more: Allen had a .912 save percentage when he was the primary team goaltender in the first half of the season. Due to Markstrom’s injuries, Allen played 21 games out of the team’s first 40, and he had an 11-8-1 record (with another team win when he was pulled due to cramping). Over the rest of the season, Allen played 16 out of the team’s 42 games and had an .891 save percentage with a 6-9-1 record.

Per Natural Stat Trick, Allen was very good throughout the entire season, with 15.71 goals saved above expected. 11.92 of those goals saved above expected came in the first half of the season, with the rest coming in the second half. This, of course, indicates that Allen had a much tougher per-game workload than Markstrom had. Compared to Markstrom, Allen had a higher goals against average (3.04 vs. 2.87) in the second half despite having a better save percentage (.891 vs. .883). Maybe if the Devils give Allen the kind of defense they were trying to pull Markstrom across the finish line with, he can last a season without breaking down at all.

Nico Daws

Goal: Make It Unnecessary to Carry a Third Goaltender

In Nico Daws’s career, the 25-year old German goaltender has a 24-24-1 record with an .898 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average. All things considered, that is well within regular backup range in today’s NHL, which featured a league average save percentage of .893 in the 2026-27 season. But I am interested by whether Daws can be more than just a 20 or 30-game backup if he is used in a rotation that does not either have him sitting for long stretches or playing every single game for periods of time. That has been his career experience so far, for the most part.

When Nico Daws was first called up in the 2021-22 season, he played a few games here and there in October and February, putting up a .918 save percentage in six games with a 3-1-0 record. Daws was kept up in March and April, and from that last game in February, he played 20 out of the team’s 23 games. During that stretch, he only had an .891 save percentage with an 8-11-1 record. Breaking that down by stretches before a rest game looks like this:

  • First nine games: .901 SV%, 4-5-0
  • Next five games: .872 SV%, 2-3-0
  • Next five games: .892 SV%, 2-3-0
  • Last game: .885 SV%, 0-0-1

After getting hip surgery following the season, Daws’s usage pattern did not change in the 2023-24 season. Again, he was leaned on for long stretches that saw his performance dip over time. He had a relatively normal first eight appearances with an .895 save percentage and 3-5-0 record. Then, he played seven games in a row in February. Over the first four, he had a .942 save percentage, including his legendary Metlife Stadium performance when he stopped 45 of 48 shots. Most organizations would probably remember to sit a goaltender right after that game, considering his recent hip surgery, but he pressed on for three more games where he had an .800 save percentage, including two games giving up five or more goals.

Since being relegated to third goaltender status in the Markstrom-Allen regime, Daws has had a .925 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average in nine games with a 5-2-0 record in seven starts. In this period, Daws has only had to make consecutive starts once: the team’s 4-0 loss to Boston at the end of the last season in which Daws had an .846 save percentage.

Of course, Daws will have to make occasional consecutive starts if he’s going to share the net with Jake Allen alone. But the more Daws can reduce the need for a third goaltender, the more he can establish himself as a true NHL goaltender and possibly never get sent back to the AHL throughout the rest of his career. Sheldon Keefe might really just need to purely alternate their starts.

David Rittich

Goal: Play Every Game Like It Could Be His Last

David Rittich is in a different spot of his career than Jake Allen or Nico Daws are. Allen has a long-term contract and Daws is only 25. Rittich, by comparison, is 34 years old and coming off of two seasons where he had a save percentage under .900. Of course, Rittich has had positive goals saved above expected numbers in two of the last three seasons, but he has been incredibly inconsistent. He has been so inconsistent that I am not sure how much value he brings to a three-goalie tandem if he cannot play to a level that demands regular starts. And even then, I am not sure how much appetite I have for an all-or-nothing goaltender after experiencing Jacob Markstrom for two seasons. From HockeyViz, Rittich has clearly had very strong and very weak periods since joining Los Angeles in 2023-24.

Further negative streakiness could largely end Rittich’s career at this point, so he needs to make certain that he is at the top of his game every time he steps on the ice for the New Jersey Devils this season. With a contract that is under the threshold to be buried in its entirety in the AHL, Rittich has no protection from waivers. It would cost the Devils nothing. So, if Jake Allen and Nico Daws look like they can play 84 games without him, why would they keep him in the NHL? And if they need a spot starter, and Jakub Malek outplays him in the AHL (if Rittich goes unclaimed), why would they be certain to use Rittich as the third goaltender?

Goaltending is a fun position, though, in the sense that performance usually dictates opportunity. If Rittich plays like he did in the first half of his Islanders tenure, he could make something out of this situation and extend his career further.

Roster Hopefuls

As I noted in last week’s article, the Devils’ defensive depth is stacked. And with the length of that article, I thought it would be wise to separate them a bit into returning veterans and hopeful depth. We are starting off here with Declan Chisholm.

Declan Chisholm

Goal: Prove Sunny Mehta Right

Sunny Mehta is a big fan of Declan Chisholm. It does not even sound like Mehta believes Chisholm should be the seventh defenseman on the team, saying on Spittin’ Chiclets that “at times, he’s kind of dynamic offensively.” And as JP Gambatese pointed out when he was acquired, microstat tracking indicates that Chisholm does actually do a lot of good things with moving the puck in transition. Of course, Chisholm only played 26 games last season for Washington after playing 66 for Minnesota in the previous year, so I do not think we should pencil Chisholm in above Brenden Dillon just yet. But in Chisholm we have one of Mehta’s first big proclamations: that this is a guy who has been overlooked by just about everyone else and just needs a proper shot to show how good he is.

Let’s see if he can do it.

Vladislav Kolyachonok

Goal: Force a Platoon with Dillon or Chisholm

Personally, I have just as intrigued by Vladislav Kolyachonok, who was signed in free agency, than I have been by Declan Chisholm. Both players have been about as productive as the other in the NHL so far, but Kolyachonok has two things going for me: he’s a year and a half younger and seems to have a little more luck getting the puck into the net. Kolyachonok has five goals in 87 NHL games, averaging only 13:58 per night, while Chisholm has six goals in roughly 800 more NHL minutes played. Kolyachonok largely does this through seeing-eye shots (which is a skill), but he has scored some good-looking goals as well.

What Kolyachonok does not have going for him as much is that Chisholm has played enough to actually have more sample size in his analytic profile. So while Kolyachonok looks good in his minutes so far, that could change if he were more exposed over a larger sample. Still, I would like to see it put to the test at some point, but his best hope is to play well enough in camp that he gets a handful of games on the third pairing in the regular season.

Seamus Casey

Goal: Force a Defenseman Trade

Unlike players acquired by Sunny Mehta, Seamus Casey does not have a good analytic profile in the NHL, per public models. He has weak shot impacts, but has not played very much: not many conclusions can really be drawn from this data yet, even fewer than can be said about Chisholm or Kolyachonok. Also unlike players acquired by Sunny Mehta, Seamus Casey is a true blueline goal scorer, and he already has eight points in 16 NHL games.

Unfortunately, Casey’s time outside of the NHL has not been so smooth. Over the last two seasons, Casey has only played 59 games in the AHL due to injuries, putting up 37 points in that span. Frankly, you would want to see more. But Utica has been an utter mess under the neglect of Tom Fitzgerald and Dan MacKinnon, and it’s rather difficult to judge anyone’s production there, especially for an oft-injured player like Seamus Casey.

Now with Mehta and Birch at the helms of the NHL and AHL teams, Casey actually has one thing going for him in Mehta’s excitement for Declan Chisholm. The right side of the defense is more ironclad. No matter what you think of him, Dougie Hamilton is a Sunny Mehta player, and he isn’t being traded regardless of what goes on elsewhere on the roster. Brett Pesce and Johnny Kovacevic also have full trade protection this season which weakens considerably in the offseason. But if Seamus Casey plays so dynamically that Sheldon Keefe could be convinced to give him games, we could be looking at some Chisholm-Casey third pairing games this year instead of Chisholm-Kovacevic or Dillon-Kovacevic.

Of course, Seamus Casey is waivers-exempt. If he plays any NHL games this season, he will lose his exemption next year. So with how many NHL-capable defensemen there are in the mix for the Devils this season, he is going to have to show out in training camp to get that kind of play. And if he does get that far, the only way he sticks on this roster is by playing so well that Sunny Mehta trades a left-handed defenseman to make him the extra defenseman on the roster.

Anton Silayev

Goal: Throw a Wrench Into All of This and Push for a Top-Four Role

I have no expectation that Anton Silayev will be an NHL defenseman this season. However, I believe that he is already good enough to be one. Silayev has already played 187 regular season games in the KHL along with 19 playoff games. He only turned 20 in April, though. At his age, coming off a season where he played lesser minutes because of a new coach that overprioritized veterans, it may be in his best interest to start off with the Utica Comets where he can play 21, 22, or 23 minutes per game, possibly even mixing in some power play time in there.

But I think Anton Silayev was a tenth overall pick for a reason. If he comes into camp looking like a massive mobile beast on the blueline, I do not think the Devils should stop him from playing NHL minutes. But we do have to be aware of the realities on the blueline. As it is, the only truly tradeable contracts who are not obviously valued by Mehta are Brenden Dillon and Jonas Siegenthaler. All players listed above here, other than Seamus Casey, are waivers-eligible. The Devils might be able to sneak Vladislav Kolyachonok to Utica, but they won’t have any luck trying that with Declan Chisholm. If Silayev’s play demands a roster spot, a trade will be necessary.

But Silayev should only get this chance now if he can be given top four minutes. If Jonas Siegenthaler stays above him on the depth chart, there would be no reason to have Silayev play 16, 17, or 18 minutes per night, especially as Luke Hughes possibly pushes up to 24 or 25 minutes per night. The Devils can get Dillon, Chisholm, or Kolyachonok to provide something between fine and good third-pairing play, so they do not need to ask Silayev to possibly stunt his development by playing that role.

But be aware, he’ll be here sooner than later.

Your Thoughts

What do you think of the goals I set for the players in this article? Do you agree or disagree with them? Do you have any extras? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

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The Washington Nationals recent homegrown bullpen additions are impressing early on

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 31: Erik Tolman #73 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after recording his first career save against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on August 31, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Unless you have been living under a rock this year, you would know that the Nationals bullpen has struggled. The unit has an ERA over 5 and has blown a mind boggling 35 saves. However, in the last couple weeks the Nats have called up three home grown relievers who have all gotten off to impressive starts.

It is still very early days for Erik Tolman, Jared Simpson and Jack Sinclair, but so far they have impressed Nats fans. For Simpson and Sinclair, the jury is still very much out, with both only making one appearance. Tolman has plenty to prove as well but at least he has done it over multiple outings.

With the largest sample size, Tolman is the first name I want to talk about. His first five big league outings could not have gone much better. Through 6.2 innings, he has yet to allow a run and has struck out 8 batters. It also feels like he is getting better each time he takes the mound.

In his last appearance, Tolman came in with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 8th. He responded by getting a strikeout and double play to stamp out the threat. The 27 year old southpaw came back for the 9th and struck out the side. It was extremely impressive stuff from the rookie.

We have talked a lot about Tolman’s story, but his performance on the mound has been almost as impressive. His 97 MPH fastball gets on hitters in a hurry. With opponents fearing the fastball, Tolman can drop in his 85 MPH changeup which gets hitters way out in front. Against lefties, he will also feature a slider.

In the minors, command was an issue for Tolman. However, he has only walked two hitters so far in the big leagues. With a few more impressive outings, Tolman could easily lock down a spot in the 2027 bullpen. The raw stuff is impressive and the command has been better than expected for the former 14th rounder.

That is a theme for all of these guys. All three were late round picks who have command concerns. However, in the early going, all of them have been throwing strikes. Throughout his baseball life, Jared Simpson has struggled throwing strikes. It has gotten better this year, but he is still walking over 5 hitters per 9 in the minors. 

However, if you just watched his debut, you would not know that he has any command issues. The lefty out of Iowa was pounding the zone with his 4 pitches. He throws a 4-seamer, a sinker, a splitter and a slider. The sinker has been a massive addition this year and has been a big part of his breakout.

Like Tolman, Simpson came into his last appearance in a tough spot. He made his MLB debut facing the top of the Braves lineup with runners on first and second with nobody out. Simpson responded by getting a double play and flyout.

Just like Tolman, Jared Simpson kept going. He got nine outs while facing just 8 batters. At first, he was pitching to contact a lot. However, as he built up confidence, the strikeouts began to come. Simpson finished his outing by striking out the last two batters he faced. I can’t wait to see the former 8th rounder pitch again.

Jack Sinclair was the latest homegrown reliever to make his debut. He was thrown into a more forgiving spot than Simpson. Sinclair came into a 5-0 deficit, so the stakes were lower. However, he still had to face Max Muncy to start his MLB career.

Sinclair ended up winning a 10 pitch battle with Muncy, finishing him off on his signature sweeper. That sweeper is a pitch that Sinclair will lean on a lot. However, with a sinker at 96 and a 4-seamer that can touch 99, he has enough heat to keep guys honest.

After a breakout 2024 season in AA, Sinclair really struggled in Rochester last year. This season, his ERA was around 4, but he got a lot of strikeouts. His FIP of 3.65 was also encouraging. With the Max Kranick experiment failing, the Nats pulled the plug and decided to give Sinclair a look.

Last night was a good start for the righty, who tossed a 1-2-3 inning. The former 16th round pick looked the part in his debut. All of these guys were drafted by Mike Rizzo, but took major strides with the new regime. Tolman and Sinclair added velocity, while that sinker unlocked a lot for Simpson.

We still need to see more from all of these guys, but at worst, they are quality depth. These three have proven they can get outs at this level and have good stuff. To get full time spots in the bullpen moving forward, they need to do more. However, these are all intriguing arms that the Nats can use as optionable bullpen pieces.

The process to get here has been ugly, but the Nats are finally starting to build some bullpen depth. If Paul Toboni can find a closer this offseason, I actually think the bullpen can make massive strides. These three under the radar arms can be a part of that.

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European football: Martínez seals thrilling comeback for unbeaten Inter

  • Champions Inter and Roma pull off stunning comebacks

  • Schalke 0-0 Bayern Munich; Hoffenheim 2-3 Dortmund

Lautaro Martínez scored in the 91st minute as Inter rallied from two goals down ⁠to secure a stunning 3-2 home victory over Napoli, continuing their 100% start to their ⁠Serie A title defence.

Napoli looked ⁠to be ​on course for victory when Matteo Politano and Rasmus Højlund put them 2-0 up after 53 minutes, but Martínez’s ⁠first goal halved the deficit and Marcus Thuram equalised eight minutes from the end. Both sides had excellent chances to win ⁠it after that but it was Inter who took theirs when the Argentinian stabbed ​home the ball at the back ‌post from a corner.

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New York Islanders Tied For Best Metro Team in EA Sports NHL27

NHL27 has officially been released to those who bought the game early, and with it a whole slew of new rankings and ratings for every team in the game.

The full ratings for the New York Islanders have come out, and they are ranked in a tie for the best team in the Metropolitan Division, at a team rating of 88 overall.

That's anchored by Ilya Sorokin at 93, Matthew Schaefer at 91, Ryan Pulock, Mathew Barzal, and Bo Horvat all at 88, and Adam Pelech at 87.

The overall ratings have the Islanders jointly tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, alongside the Washington Capitals.

The Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup this past Spring, led by stars Sebastian Aho and Jaccob Slavin.

Slavin and Aho both come in at 91 overall in NHL27, while other key players such as Seth Jarvis and Nikolaj Ehlers land at 89, respectively. Shayne Gostisbehere is an 87 overall.

Long Island sensation Brandon Bussi checks in at an 86 overall, a huge leap from previous years in the video game.

Logan Thompson leads the Caps with a 90 overall as one of the premier goalies in the NHL. Alexander Ovechkin and Jakub Chychrun lead the Capitals' skaters at 89 overall each.

Jordan Kyrou is an 86 overall.

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Second bidder steps up for Seattle expansion team, wants to build new arena outside city

It was already public knowledge that there was one bidder for an NBA expansion team in Seattle: One Roof Sports and Entertainment, the majority owner of the NHL's Seattle Kraken, led by Samantha Holloway.

Now, there is a second, reports Christian Clark and John Hollinger of The Athletic:

BlackSun Private Equity, a New York-based firm that in August submitted a bid to bring the NBA back to Seattle, is working with the Tulalip Tribes to build the arena on tribal-owned land if it secures the franchise.

Those new arena plans would be in Marysville, Washington, which is about 35 miles from Seattle. The plans are not just to build an arena but also an "entertainment district" on the tribal lands. The challenge would be making the commute relatively easy and convincing people in Seattle proper to make the trip out to Marysville.

Both potential ownership groups have been eager to say they want to bring a team to stay in the Seattle area, after the previous SuperSonics were bought and moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.

The NBA is moving forward with bids for both the Seattle and Las Vegas expansion franchises, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver saying he hopes to see a decision made by the end of the year. While the two Seattle groups have made preliminary bids, the groups vying for the Las Vegas franchise face a second deadline for a more detailed bid in mid-September. Reporting suggests the NBA wants to move forward with the Vegas bid first, which is expected to be the larger one, then choose the Seattle team second.

The NBA is reportedly looking for bids of at least $7 billion for the teams, ideally more for the Las Vegas franchise. If that money is not there, it's possible the expansion process is put on hold. Again.

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Dodgers 2027 spring training schedule

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20: A detail view of the hat and glove belonging to Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch on March 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Major League Baseball on Friday announced spring training schedules for 2027, which count as the most tentative things on the baseball calendar. Amid an upcoming offseason of labor uncertainty, you can take to the bank that these spring schedules will be altered in some way as negotiations drag on.

In the lockout during the 2021-22 offseason, the Dodgers originally-planned spring training was scheduled to begin on February 26, with 33 games over 32 days getting ready for an opening day on March 31. A labor agreement wasn’t reached until March 11, which meant a new spring training starting on March 18, and opening day pushed to April 7.

So take this 2027 spring training schedule, but here is the original plan of games, which includes 30 games in Arizona, including 17 at Camelback Ranch, beginning Friday, February 19 against the Chicago White Sox. The Freeway Series against the Angels runs from March 21-23 with the first game at Dodger Stadium and the final two games in Anaheim.

Game times will be announced at a later date.

DateOpponentLocation
Fri, Feb. 19White SoxCamelback Ranch
Sat, Feb. 20RoyalsCamelback Ranch
Sun, Feb. 21at MarinersPeoria
Mon, Feb. 22at AngelsTempe
Tue, Feb. 23RockiesCamelback Ranch
Wed, Feb. 24at GuardiansGoodyear
Thu, Feb. 25GiantsCamelback Ranch
Fri, Feb. 26at A’sMesa
Sat, Feb. 27at BrewersMaryvale
Sun, Feb. 28at RockiesSalt River Fields
Mon, Mar. 1Mariners (ss)Camelback Ranch
Mon, Mar. 1at Royals (ss)Surprise
Wed, Mar. 3RangersCamelback Ranch
Thu, Mar. 4at D-backsSalt River Fields
Fri, Mar. 5CubsCamelback Ranch
Sat, Mar. 6BrewersCamelback Ranch
Sun, Mar., 7PadresCamelback Ranch
Mon, Mar. 8“at” White SoxCamelback Ranch
Tue, Mar. 9AngelsCamelback Ranch
Thu, Mar. 11RedsCamelback Ranch
Fri, Mar. 12at RangersSurprise
Sat, Mar. 13“at” White SoxCamelback Ranch
Sun, Mar. 14D-backsCamelback Ranch
Mon, Mar. 15at CubsMesa
Tue, Mar. 16GuardiansCamelback Ranch
Wed, Mar. 17at GiantsScottsdale
Thu, Mar. 18at Padres (ss)Peoria
Thu, Mar. 18at Reds (ss)Goodyear
Fri, Mar. 19A’sCamelback Ranch
Sat, Mar. 20MarinersCamelback Ranch
Sun, Mar. 21AngelsDodger Stadium
Mon, Mar. 22at AngelsAngel Stadium
Tue, Mar. 23at AngelsAngel Stadium
(ss) = split squad
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Top 40 Prospects – Where Does Ellis Fit In The Sabres Goaltending Trio?

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

6. Colten Ellis - Goalie (Buffalo - NHL)

The Sabres showed how much they soured on the professional prospects of Devon Levi based on their roster maneuvering to start the 2025-26 season. With starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injured before and during training camp, the club chose instead of keeping Levi on the NHL roster to back up Alex Lyon, to claim Colten Ellis off of waivers when the St. Louis Blues attempted to send him to the AHL, and demote the waiver-exempt Levi to AHL Rochester. 

Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?

The 25-year-old was a 2019 fifth round pick of the Blues, who played four years in the QMJHL with Cape Breton, Rimouski, and Charlottetown before turning pro in 2022 with AHL Springfield and St. Louis’ ECHL affiliate. Ellis played full time in ECHL Tulsa in 2022-23, and split time between the two leagues again in 2023-24, before breaking out as a full time AHL starter in 2024-25, posting a 22-14-5 record, 2.63 GAA, and .922 save % with the Thunderbirds. 

Both former GM Kevyn Adams and Kekalainen indicated that the young goaltender’s puck-handling abilities was one of the attributes they liked. Because of his inability to clear waivers, the Sabres were forced to carry three goalies on their roster, but injuries to Luukkonen and Lyon throughout the season made having Ellis there a necessity. In 16 games, he posted an 8-4-2 record, 2.90 GAA, and .903 save %.

Barring a trade for Connor Hellebuyck, it is expected that Buffalo will carry three netminders again this upcoming season, but with Lyon entering the final year of his contract, it is possible that Ellis will see more action this year in preparation of being Luukkonen's primary backup next season. 

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

 

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Vuelta a España: Marco Brenner wins stage 14 but extreme heat forces shorter stage 15

  • Mas retains red jersey; stage 15 to be shortened

  • Tadej Pogacar to miss rest of season after surgery

Germany’s Marco Brenner fought off the Bahrain Victorious rider Santiago Buitrago to claim victory in stage 14 of the Vuelta a España – a first Grand Tour stage win both for the rider and his Tudor team. However, organisers later announced that 40C-plus temperatures on Sunday had caused them to shorten Sunday’s 189.7km stage from Palma del Río to Córdoba to a 110.2km stage.

In a climactic duel, Brenner tailed Buitrago ⁠into the last 500m and timed his kick superbly, gritting his teeth as he sped ahead during the ascent to Sierra de La Pandera, finishing one second ahead of the Colombian.

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Yankees vs Padres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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San Diego is a slight market favorite after winning Friday’s opener, but I prefer the New York Yankees as a short underdog behind Carlos Rodón.

The Yankees have the better overall run-prevention profile, a stronger available bullpen and more offensive upside against a Robbie Ray season that has been better by ERA than by underlying metrics.

Here are my Yankees vs. Padres prediction and MLB picks for Saturday, Sept. 5.

Who will win Yankees vs Padres today: New York Yankees (48%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

The New York Yankees are my side against the San Diego Padres. New York’s strength is pitching depth, while San Diego’s weakness is its starting staff. Yankees starters own a 3.33 ERA, compared with 4.34 for Padres starters, and available bullpens will favor the Yankees.

Carlos Rodon has averaged only 4.1 innings over his last five starts, but the Yankees can cover that risk with the better bullpen.

Robbie Ray’s 3.14 ERA is less convincing underneath: his 4.58 expected ERA ranks in the 38th percentile among qualified MLB pitchers. I suspect that his bottom 30 percentile barrel rate and hard-hit rate will loom large against a Bombers offense that has gotten going more over the last two weeks.

I’d play the Yankees to 52% for two units.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Robbie Ray has allowed 20 home runs across 149 innings this season, creating a clear power vulnerability for the Padres.

Yankees vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (51%)

This Under is built around matchup-specific starting pitching.

Rodon has held the current Padres to a .278 wOBA, .207 xBA and .320 xSLG across 78 career plate appearances. Ray’s overall profile is less convincing, with a his previously mentioned underlying metrics, but the Yankees have just a .182 xBA against him over 83 plate appearances. That is a much better matchup for Ray than his season-long numbers suggest.

Rodon’s limited workload is the biggest threat to the Under. However, the relative strength of the Yankees bullpen should be enough to keep even a flimsy Under in tact.

With both lineups facing pitchers who have suppressed this specific group of hitters, I’d play Under 7.5 runs to 53%.

Yankees vs Padres home run prediction: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13%)

I love Jazz music on a Saturday. The left-handed matchup is not ideal on the surface, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. has hit five homers in 157 plate appearances against lefties this season.

He also brings 19 home runs, a 42.9% hard-hit rate and a 90.8-mph average exit velocity. 

Ray’s primary four-seamer and slider have allowed a .426 and a 409 xwOBA.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 49-45, +5.28 units
  • Over/Under bets: 55-39, +18.44 units

Yankees vs Padres weather

Temperatures should sit in the upper 70s around first pitch, with mostly cloudy conditions and a chance of showers. There is no major wind advantage expected, so the weather does not move me off the Under.

Yankees vs Padres odds

  • Moneyline: Yankees 48% | Padres 52%
  • Run line: Yankees +1.5 | Padres -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Yankees vs Padres trend

The New York Yankees have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 45 away games (+10.40 Units / 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Padres.

How to watch Yankees vs Padres and game info

LocationPetco Park, San Diego, CA
DateSaturday, Sept. 5, 2026
First pitch7:15 p.m. ET
TVFOX
Yankees starting pitcherCarlos Rodon
(4-3, 3.20 ERA)
Padres starting pitcherRobbie Ray
(11-7, 3.14 ERA)

Yankees vs Padres latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Haaland edges Manchester City past Coventry as Fernández sparkles on debut

Enzo Fernández started for Manchester City after Nico O’Reilly’s back injury during the warm-up and sparkled, showing why the club paid a British-record-equalling £125m for the midfielder. The winner came courtesy of Erling Haaland’s 300th goal in club football and Fernández had a key part, feeding Antoine Semenyo, whose cross from the right was crashed home.

In the second half Coventry hammered away, but their wait for a first top-flight goal since Mustapha Hadji’s second in a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa on 5 May 2001 goes on. The visitors did not like losing, but were heartened by holding the star-studded hosts to a slender win, though the bottom line is all three of their Premier League outings on their return have been defeats.

Continue reading...
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Michael Hutchinson's Next Chapter Keeps Him Close To Home

Michael Hutchinson may have retired from professional hockey, but the former Winnipeg Jets goaltender certainly hasn't left the game behind.

Just over a month after officially calling time on an 11-season NHL career, Hutchinson has landed his first coaching role, joining the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Selkirk Steelers as goaltending coach for the 2026-27 season. 

For Hutchinson, it's another indication that his post-playing career will unfold in the same province where his NHL career truly took off.

The 36-year-old Barrie, Ont., product has made Winnipeg his permanent home after a professional career that took him across North America and eventually overseas. Now, instead of packing his bags for another training camp, Hutchinson will make the roughly 30-minute trip north of Winnipeg to work with the next generation of Manitoba goaltenders.

Photo by James Carey Lauder/USA Today 
Photo by James Carey Lauder/USA Today 

It's a fitting next step for a player whose connection to Winnipeg has long extended beyond the crease.

Hutchinson signed with the Jets organization in 2013 and eventually appeared in 102 games over parts of five seasons with the club. His breakout came in 2014-15, when he posted a 21-10-5 record, 2.38 goals-against average and .914 save percentage while helping Winnipeg qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the franchise relocated from Atlanta. 

He ultimately appeared in 154 NHL games between Winnipeg, Florida, Toronto, Colorado, Columbus and Detroit before finishing his professional career with SaiPa in Finland.

But no matter where hockey took him, Winnipeg remained home. Hutchinson's wife, Jenna, co-founded Winnipeg-based Jenna Rae Cakes with her twin sister, Ashley Kosowan. The bakery has since grown from its original location into one of the city's most recognizable local brands.

The Hutchinsons also maintained their roots in Manitoba throughout Michael's hockey travels, eventually building their permanent home in Winnipeg and returning to the city following the conclusion of his playing career.

And it hasn't taken Hutchinson long to find ways to remain involved in the sport.

He launched Hutchinson Goaltending in Winnipeg, offering private and semi-private lessons, team skates, consulting and video analysis to local netminders. His new role with Selkirk now provides another opportunity to pass along knowledge accumulated through more than a decade of professional hockey.

The Steelers announced the hiring this week, pointing to Hutchinson's 154 games of NHL experience and five seasons with the Jets as reasons for their excitement in adding him to the staff. 

His return to Manitoba hockey won't be limited to coaching, either. 'Hutch' is also the lone goaltender currently listed on the Winnipeg Jets roster for the 2026 Alumni Game against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 24 at Canada Life Centre. He'll share the ice with a collection of familiar Jets 2.0 names, including Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Paul Stastny and others. 

When Hutchinson announced his retirement in July, the Jets' message to their former netminder included a telling line: they couldn't wait to see him at the Alumni Game.

It turns out fans won't have to wait until October to see Hutchinson involved in hockey again. After years spent bouncing between organizations, cities and countries in pursuit of the next opportunity between the pipes, Hutchinson has finally stopped moving. Manitoba is home.

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The Short Porch is looking at Daniel Palencia’s splits

The final game of the Cubs four-game series against the Brewers saw the Cubs eke out a series split on the back of a pitcher’s duel. Kevin Gausman and a pair of Ryans (Zeferjahn and Rolison) combined to hold the Brewers to one run while striking out 10, walking just one and surrendering five hits.

It’s exactly what you want from a bullpen on the back of a great start from Gausman, who threw seven innings, giving up the one run (it was a solo shot to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth). He gave up five hits and one walk, but stranded all of them while striking out nine. The bullpen was flawless, delivering two innings of scoreless, walkless, no nonsense or shenanigans relief. Let’s take a closer look at Gausman’s gem [VIDEO].

It was a radically different look from the pitching adventures of the prior two games, and while there is a lot of blame to go around for both of those outings today I want to zero in on the struggles Daniel Palencia has faced this season. A lot has been made of him “needing more time” to come back from injury, or whether a trip to the minors would help, but I have a sinking suspicion neither of those is the key to Palencia returning to closer form.

To be clear, there are signs that Palencia isn’t all the way recovered from injury. For starters, his four-seamer velocity is down, and while he stills throws gasolina, it’s worth noting that he’s only thrown one four-seamer over 100 miles per hour since returning from the injured list. That pitch averaged 100.3 miles per hour last July, and 99.9 miles per hour before he hit the injured list in May. Admittedly, these are tiny sample sizes, but it’s down to 99.1 miles per hour in August and 98.1 miles per hour so far in September. That is a meaningful dropoff and could explain some of the magnitude of different outcomes we’re seeing from Palencia since he’s returned from injury.

But the bigger issue for Palencia are his splits against left handed batters, and unfortunately, that’s an issue that predates 2026 as you can see from the table with his results by handedness below:

SeasonHandednessGIPTBFK/9BB/9K/BBHR/9K%BB%K-BB%AVGOBPSLGwOBA
2023LHH2511.25010.807.711.400.7728.00%20.00%8.00%.154.327.308.294
2023RHH2616.26910.262.164.751.0827.54%5.80%21.74%.254.319.381.309
2024LHH105.12915.1910.131.500.0031.03%20.69%10.34%.348.483.435.412
2024RHH109.1406.755.791.170.0017.50%15.00%2.50%.182.325.273.282
2025LHH492310611.355.482.071.5727.36%13.21%14.15%.242.340.473.345
2025RHH5229.21099.710.6116.000.3029.36%1.83%27.52%.210.239.267.225
2026LHH248.24710.386.231.674.1521.28%12.77%8.51%.415.489.780.530
2026RHH2112.14510.220.7314.000.0031.11%2.22%28.89%.167.200.214.187
Select stats

Palencia has had pretty drastic splits against lefthanded hitters almost every season he’s pitched in MLB. 2023 is an outlier, but even last season, there were hints that lefties were seeing the ball better against Palencia. That .340 OBP and .473 SLG jump off the page relative to his results against righties. This is where wOBA is particularly interesting, because as a solid proxy for OBP with slugging incorporated, we can see that the on-base and slugging advantage lefties have against Palencia has been pretty consistent through his, admittedly young, career.

While the Cubs pitching lab surely has thoughts on how to fix this over the long-term, the Cubs postsason chances and hopes in 2026 are extremely short-term. Even with Thursday’s victory over the Brewers they’ve fallen half a game off the top Wild Card spot. That is the difference between hosting the Phillies at Wrigley or having to play Philadelphia in Citizens Bank Park. Not all home field advantages are created equally, but it’s hard for me to imagine a bigger gap than playing the Phillies at home or on the road.

Unfortunately, with the Cubs desperate for innings due to the slings and arrows their pitching staff has suffered over the course of the season, that likely moves Palencia into lower leverage situations where he doesn’t have to face lefties down the stretch. He can still help the Cubs in September and October, but it may be a different role than we all envisioned at the start of the year.

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Senators 2026 First-Round Draft Pick Gets Shifted To Centre

As most fans are aware, one of the Senators’ strengths as they enter another season will be their depth at centre.

Tim Stützle, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto and Stephen Halliday will likely occupy the four centre positions to begin the season. But the Sens also have several wingers with varying degrees of NHL experience in the middle, including Claude Giroux, Ridly Greig, William Eklund, Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio and André Burakovsky.

Now, the organization’s depth chart at centre may be about to get even deeper.

Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether the Sens will re-sign Drake Batherson while he's still eligible for a max eight year deal, and whether missing the Sept. 15th deadline is really that big a deal..

London Knights winger Jaxon Cover was selected by the Senators in June with the 32nd and final pick of the first round. His amazing story has been well told this summer. He grew up playing roller hockey in the Cayman Islands before making the switch to ice hockey as a teenager.

Because Cover has only been playing ice hockey for less than six years, his potential for improvement is already extremely high.

So that already makes him a fascinating prospect, but he may be adding another intriguing dimension to his game.

As Henry Brown at @SensProspects pointed out, Dale Hunter and company are currently auditioning Cover as the Knights’ second-line centre. He played there during his first two OHL preseason games, and clearly his saucer pass game is on point.

#AppleSauce

The Victoria Royals are hosting the Knights in a rare two-game interleague series they've billed as “Clash of the Kingdoms." The Royals won the opener 7-2 on Friday night, and the second game is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Sens fans can stream Saturday's game here.

This could simply be the Knights kicking tires on possibilities, as most teams do in preseason. However, if the experiment continues, and especially if he thrives in the role, it would be an intriguing development for the Sens.

Success in the middle this season could even lead to Cover playing there again when he begins his freshman season at Penn State next year.

All else being equal, centres are generally valued more highly than wingers at the NHL Draft because of the additional responsibilities that come with the position. It is fair to wonder whether Cover might have been selected even earlier had teams already viewed him as a potential centre.

The Sens drafted Cover as a winger after he recorded 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 67 games with London during the 2025–26 season.

Even if he eventually returns to right wing, spending time at centre should benefit his development. The position demands greater defensive awareness, more responsibility down low, and a stronger understanding of all three zones.

Learning those details could help Cover become a more complete two-way player.

If he takes to the position, it would also make him valuable as an organizational asset. Every NHL team is searching for additional depth down the middle, and that would only increase Cover’s value, whether it's in Ottawa or as a future trade chip.

While in Victoria this week for exhibition games, Cover spoke to the OHL’s digital team about attending his first Senators development camp shortly after being drafted.

“Going to the Ottawa camp, just seeing the next level that those players have, and just how much stronger and faster they are… I want to just try to bring that level (to the Knights) and do the best I can with it.”

Again, two preseason games at the position do not make Cover a full-time centre, but the experiment is worth monitoring. First-round picks all enter professional hockey with major value. Some maintain it and become NHL players; others see their stock fall off.

But Cover now has two potential sources of untapped upside: his limited experience on the ice and now, the possibility that he could develop into a centre.

Few prospects from the 2026 NHL draft have more room for their stock to rise.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:

Brady Tkachuk Tribute Will Feel Like Watching The Wedding Video After The DivorceBrady Tkachuk Tribute Will Feel Like Watching The Wedding Video After The DivorceThe Senators will play a tribute video for their former captain in what promises to be a complicated homecoming.

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SB Nation Reacts: Mazzulla’s seat is, well, lukewarm

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A second round exit to the Knicks after a devastating injury to Jayson Tatum? We can stomach that.

A subsequent first round exit against another hated rival? It hurts to lose to the 76ers, but a rough shooting streak and losing Tatum for Game 7 adds a little context to another disappointing playoffs.

Now, heading into Year 5 after a Coach of the Year campaign, the Celtics are arguably better with Tatum replacing Jaylen Brown as the #1 option and veterans Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley Jr. rounding out the young roster.

However, the East has retooled, too. Brown is now with last year’s ousters — along with LeBron James — and New York is defending the title. Can Boston eclipse the 56 wins they posted last year and more importantly, go deeper in the playoffs? Where we are in April, May, and June might determine just how hot Mazzulla’s seat is.

Here’s reader RJB33 on what Mazzulla needs to do to continue as the Celtics’ head coach:

I’m still not totally over the Eastern Conference Finals collapse from 2023, so I’d really like to see the Mazzulla Celtics overachieve in the playoffs at some point. In ’24, they did what they were supposed to do with a fair amount of matchup luck. (Which isn’t nothing, obviously, when it brings a banner. But there’s an argument any competent coach could have done it.) The other three years, they got upset and embarrassed.

Mazzulla has a strong track record in the regular season. But if you can’t get it done in the playoffs, that can actually hurt you by weakening your draft position to no avail. I think he’s got it in him to have a great coaching career, but he’s got to show the playoff performances were a fluke, ideally this year, or it will be time to try something else.

Our friends at FanDuel are bullish on Boston and still have the Celtics (+1400) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+230), Spurs (+280), Knicks (+1000), and Sixers (+1000).

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The worst trades in Knicks history

Inglewood, CA - March 09: LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Intuit Dome on Monday, March 9, 2026 in Inglewood, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

So… the Clippers, huh.

The year-long probe surrounding alleged salary cap manipulation ended on Wednesday and handed down one of the biggest punishments in professional sports history, suspending multiple key officials, fining the organization $30 million, and taking five first-round picks. It’s not entirely unprecedented (see: Joe Smith), but it’s pretty damn startling.

While there are many things to take away from this ruling (particularly with how Kawhi seems to have completely gotten away with this), the biggest thing might just be how unimaginably bad the Kawhi Leonard era went in LA.

To get Leonard to sign with them in 2019, the Clippers had to trade for Paul George, a trade that has gone down as one of the worst in league history due to the sheer magnitude of picks traded and how it kickstarted the Thunder’s contention window by giving them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In seven years, it was disappointment after disappointment, with the highlight being a trip to the 2021 Western Conference Finals that ended in a blowout defeat at home in Game 6. George left and was replaced by James Harden; Harden left, and Leonard is choosing to return to Toronto after burning this franchise to the ground behind him.

In total, with Leonard (likely) going to the Raptors at some point, this is what the Clippers gave up for his services, both to convince him to sign and convince him to stay:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • Danilo Gallinari
  • 2021 MIA 1st (#18 – Tre Mann)
  • 2022 LAC 1st (#12 – Jalen Williams)
  • 2023 1st Pick Swap (not conveyed)
  • 2024 LAC 1st (#26 – Dillon Jones)
  • 2025 MIA 1st (Lottery Protected, became Thomas Sorber)
  • 2025 1st Pick Swap (Conveyed, Nique Clifford)
  • 2026 LAC 1st (#12 – Aday Mara)
  • 2029 IND 1st (voided by NBA)
  • 2030 LAC 1st (voided by NBA)
  • 2031 LAC 1st (voided by NBA)
  • 2032 LAC 1st (voided by NBA)
  • 2033 LAC 1st (voided by NBA)

Good grief.

This is, hands down, the worst trade in NBA history. It destroyed an entire franchise’s future 10-15 years for three playoff series victories in seven years. At least Billy King only messed up the Nets for five years.

It does get you thinking, though. How bad has it gotten for the Knicks? We can recall some pretty nasty trades from recent or even less recent history, but just how close do they get to the utter franchise-alteringly bad level as the Paul George trade?

Gene Shue To Detroit Fort Wayne (April 1956)

Knicks Receive: Ron Sobie
Pistons Receive: Gene Shue

We’re starting old school, back when the Pistons were still based in Fort Wayne. Before researching this, I had no clue who these guys were and would be very surprised if we had anyone in our community who’s been around long enough to remember watching them play (prove me wrong if so!)

Shue, the No. 3 overall pick in 1954, was sold to the Knicks just six games into his rookie year, but was nothing more than a regular role player in his near-two years in New York, averaging 9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 1955-56.

Very shortly after the season, the 6’2” guard was dealt on draft night to Fort Wayne for Ron Sobie, the No. 7 overall pick. Sobie didn’t do much in four years, playing 191 total games and averaging 8.5 points and 4.1 rebounds before being sold to Minneapolis in December 1959, where he’d play just one more game ever.

As for Shue? He grew into his own as the Pistons moved to Detroit, being named to his first All-Star team in 1958 before getting down-ballot MVP votes over the next several seasons. He eventually grew into a 23-PPG scorer and made First-Team All-NBA in 1960. Five All-Star teams, two top-10 MVP finishes, and two All-NBA selections in six years in Detroit.

The Knicks would actually get a chance to rectify their mistake with Shue, re-acquiring him for Darrall Imhoff before the 1962-63 season, but he started to regress in his age-31 season, and he was out of basketball by the end of 1964.

While Shue never won Detroit a championship, he would’ve been a tremendous help to a Knicks team that went through its first Dark Ages prior to the 70s revival. In the six years with Shue in Detroit, the Knicks had one losing season and won sub-30 games in three of those seasons.

Choosing $4.8 Million Over Julius Erving (1976)

This is, unequivocally, the worst decision in franchise history. All of these other moves were trades that went wrong, but in the spirit of bad decisions, we’re going to cover this as well.

When the Nets were among the teams chosen to join the NBA after the ABA merger in 1976, the Knicks demanded that they pay a fee of $4.8 million (over 10 years) for encroaching on their territorial rights, a request that was sustained by the NBA alongside their $3.2 million fee for joining the league. In total, the Nets had to come up with $8 million just to exist.

The Knicks would get their money, alongside eventually suing the Nets and forcing them to move from Long Island to New Jersey, but made an unforgivable, disgusting error in the process.

Dr. J made $350,000 during this time, but wanted a renegotiation. As such, the Nets were willing to offload his salary and offered him to the Knicks, then owned by the Graham Paige Corporation and ran by Eddie Donovan in the front office.

The Knicks said no. They chose a few million, which was a lot at the time to be fair, over a future Hall of Famer.

Philadelphia purchased Erving for $3 million, and the rest is history. The Knicks let a rival get the best incoming ABA talent available and watched him lead the Sixers to a championship in 1983 while spending over a decade as a top-five player in the game.

Oh yeah, not to mention that the Knicks were mostly irrelevant during his time in the league and got swept twice by the Sixers in 1978 and 1983. Imagine if the Knicks could’ve gone from Clyde and Willis Reed to Dr. J. Ugh.

Maurice Lucas to the Suns (July 1982)

Knicks Receive: Truck Robinson
Suns Receive: Maurice Lucas

In the time between the Knicks’ eras of relevance in the 70s and 90s, it wasn’t anything too bad in the 80s, just inconsistency as they waited for the next big thing in Patrick Ewing to get them back into contention.

They seemed to stumble upon something huge in the summer of 1981, when the New Jersey Nets sent them a 28-year-old Maurice Lucas as a form of compensation for signing Ray Williams in free agency. Think of it as a precursor to a sign-and-trade. Nonetheless, the team got a former All-Star and All-Defense power forward still in his athletic prime.

In his one year in New York, Lucas averaged 15.8 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 50.3% from the field. It was his best overall season since he was in Portland, but the Knicks never saw him a long-term option, shipping him to Phoenix for Truck Robinson one year later.

The deal made sense at the time, as Robinson was even more productive than Lucas the season prior, but he hit hard regression in his age-31 season in 1982-83 and only lasted two seasons in New York, flaming out by age 33. He would hear it from the fans, being nicknamed “Dump Truck” for his startling fall-off.

Meanwhile, Lucas made his fifth All-Star team in his first year in Phoenix as part of a second prime that slowly dissipated a few years later. While Lucas would only have 2-3 years of All-Star level talent post-trade, it was a helluva lot better than Robinson.

They could’ve used that force at PF, you know. Bernard King and Bill Cartwright carried the Knicks to consecutive playoff appearances in 1983 and 1984, with the latter team being a game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Just imagine how it would go if Lucas were there instead of Robinson.

Then again, if not for the dismantling of that team following the 1983-84 season, Ewing might not have ever been a Knick. Food for thought.

Rod Strickland To San Antonio (February 1990)

Knicks Receive: Maurice Cheeks
Spurs Receive: Rod Strickland

The Knicks had their reasons for making this trade, it just aged badly.

Strickland was a solid backup point guard in his first year and a half in the league, but was blocked by Mark Jackson. The Knicks, who had risen to become a perennial playoff team in the late 80s, were thinking about getting to the next level, so they traded a young guard who was blocked for a 33-year-old veteran who could fit the role better as one of the league’s best defensive guards.

Cheeks, an NBA champion in Philly in 1983 and again as an assistant on this year’s staff, played a total of 107 games as a Knick, averaging eight points and five assists while adequately raising his game in the postseason. He was shipped out prior to 1991-92 for a pick that became Charlie Ward before retiring a year later. The player they got was fine, but they definitely could’ve used Strickland.

Jackson had a ceiling as a Knick, one that he reached quite early and led to his departure after 1991-92. Strickland, meanwhile, would become a great starting guard in San Antonio and Portland, eventually averaging 19 points and nine assists in his prime during the mid-to-late 90s.

I wonder if an offensively challenged Knicks team, one that relied on gritty defense without a true point guard and having to rely on John Starks (more of a 2-guard) to provide playmaking. Imagine if Strickland was the point guard instead of Doc Rivers in 1994.

The Eddy Curry Fiasco (October 2005)

Knicks Receive: Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis
Bulls Receive: Jermaine Jackson, Mike Sweetney, Tim Thomas, 2006 NYK 1st, 2007 Pick Swap, 2007 NYK 2nd, 2009 NYK 2nd

Isiah Thomas is damn lucky I’m only including one of his trades.

This was really bad. Eddy Curry was a fine player for the Bulls, one who was worth a decent salary and averaged 16 points and five rebounds at the end of his rookie contract. Putting aside the fact that he was seven-foot and grabbed way less rebounds than an average center, it’s a fine guy to trade for.

But that much? In a sign-and-trade? And you give him $60 million over six years to make the 23-year-old the sixth-highest-paid center in basketball? After seeing the Bulls drag their feet on an extension because of an irregular heartbeat? Seriously?

The players they gave up weren’t a big deal. Jermaine Jackson never played for the Bulls. Mike Sweetney replaced Curry as the starting center and was much worse before being out of the league by 2008. Tim Thomas played just three games as a Bull before being cut.

It’s the picks. It’s the hubris of believing the team was an Eddy Curry away from turning things around.

When Leon Rose traded a mountain of picks for Mikal Bridges, he understood that it might not result in a championship and assumed risk down the road, but also knew it wouldn’t immediately blow up due to the team having a very high floor as constructed. Worst-case scenario, the Nets get good picks in 2029 and 2031, not 2025 or 2027.

Isiah was not as wise.

The Knicks won just 33 games the year before. They added Curry, Jerome James, Nate Robinson, and rookies Channing Frye and David Lee, and hired the man who won a title with a Pistons team that was better than the sum of its parts two years prior. They made a gamble that it would all work.

It didn’t. At all. They won just 23 games despite James Dolan paying luxury tax. They had the second-worst record in basketball, and they’d get nothing for it. The Bulls got the No. 2 pick in the draft and had future All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge fall into their lap. Now, they messed that up by sending him to Portland for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa, but the point remains.

The following year, the Knicks won just 33 games after Isiah took over as head coach. The Bulls won a bunch more, exercising the swap and taking the No. 9 pick, which became future Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah.

The two top picks traded for Curry became two of the best big men of their generation. The second picks didn’t result in much, but the Bulls traded the 2007 2nd for Thabo Sefolosha and the 2009 2nd in a weird future swap with Portland, but the damage remains.

As for Curry on the Knicks, he had a great 2006-07, averaging 19.5 points and seven rebounds. After that, with four years left on his contract, he played a total of 69 more games as a Knick as he battled injuries, his weight, and a bad work ethic. Complete, franchise-altering disaster.

Tracy McGrady Becomes a Knick (February 2010)

Knicks Receive: Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez
Rockets Receive: Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, Hilton Armstrong, Kevin Martin, 2011 Pick Swap, 2012 NYK 1st
Kings Receive: Joey Dorsey, Carl Landry, Larry Hughes

This trade wasn’t catastrophic by any means, but it’s inclusion is meant to represent all the times over the years that management traded draft picks for absolutely no reason, headlined by its most baffling.

A first-round pick, a swap, the guy you picked in the lottery literally eight months ago, and Jared Jeffries… for a 31-year-old rental who’s past his prime. It embodies the incompetence of the Knicks back then.

Jordan Hill wasn’t good, but they picked him between Steph Curry and DeMar DeRozan in June 2009. It’s ridiculous to give up on this guy that quickly, and it says a lot about the front office’s drafting ability and thought process. Jeffries and Hughes were okay role players. None of these guys would come back to bite you.

But like the Curry trade, it’s the damn picks. The 2011 swap didn’t convey because, unlike Isiah, Donnie Walsh actually added good players in between to ensure no collapse, as Amar’e Stoudemire lifted the Knicks to the postseason in 2011 (disregard that Houston had a better record and the West being a gauntlet was the only reason the swap didn’t convey). The 2012 pick landed at No. 16, but the 2012 draft was hilariously shallow, so Royce White doesn’t come back to bite him.

As for McGrady and Rodriguez? Neither of them played for the Knicks past April 2010. McGrady, particularly, played abysmally in 24 starts down the stretch and had to settle for a veteran minimum with the Pistons that summer. For a team that, at the time of the trade, was well below .500, it’s completely inconceivable.

Well, I guess it was meant to open up cap space for LeBron and company that offseason, and while Amar’e was a solid consolation prize (for a minute), the franchise’s incompetence at that point made it rather foolish to think the best player in the world was dying to come there. Good thing we didn’t do this again nine years later!

Acquiring Carmelo Anthony (February 2011)

Knicks Receive: Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams, Corey Brewer
Nuggets Receive: Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, 2014 NYK 1st, 2016 Pick Swap, 2012 GSW 2nd, 2013 NYK 2nd
Timberwolves Receive: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, 2015 DEN 2nd

Here’s a bold one, and no, I’m not saying this as someone who doesn’t like Melo. He was my favorite Knick when I first got into this team and I’ll always have a soft spot for him. The trade itself is relatively fine; the problem lies with the circumstances surrounding it.

Melo was due to be an unrestricted free agent that summer. The Knicks had plenty of space to give him the new max contract he desired from Denver. Instead of waiting until the summer to pair him with Amar’e in a move many believed was obvious, a paranoid Donnie Walsh was terrified of the crosstown Nets getting him instead, with the whole “Jay-Z as part-owner” schtick. Melo was not choosing the damn Nets, but the Knicks weren’t taking that risk.

It was a huge, 13-player trade, one that also involved dumping Curry’s contract to Minnesota. Let’s break down the guys that came with Melo, who’s story in New York is well known already:

  • Renaldo Balkman, who was drafted by the Knicks and traded to Denver in July 2008, played just 17 games after this trade in the next two seasons.
  • 34-year-old Chauncey Billups actually played very well in 21 starts down the stretch as an expiring contract, which convinced the Clippers he still had it (he played just 42 games in the next two seasons).
  • Anthony Carter played 19 games as a Knick before signing with the Raptors that offseason. He played his last game in 2011-12.
  • Shelden Williams played 17 games (started six) down the stretch. The big man ended his career with New Jersey the following season, playing just 58 more games.
  • Corey Brewer spent six days on the roster before being waived. He won a ring in Dallas that year, and his best years were ahead of him. Whoops.

As for what they gave up? Felton would eventually return a few years later, but the other three had solid NBA careers where they made a lot of money (looking at you, Mozgov). Gallinari’s marksmanship and Chandler’s solid play as a bench wing could’ve been useful off the bench during the Knickstape era, but they were just so horrified of Jay-Z.

The real kicker is the picks, again. Not that they were too damaging, just how funny it wound up being:

  • 2012 GSW 2nd: Landed No. 38, turned into Quincy Miller. Unrelated, Khris Middleton went one pick later. Good job, Nuggies.
  • 2013 GSW 2nd: Landed No. 51 and was traded to Orlando in the complicated Dwight Howard trade. Became Romero Osby, who never played in the NBA. Did I mention they got these two seconds for trading away David Lee?
  • 2014 NYK 1st: Landed No. 12 after a shockingly bad 2013-14 season, but was also sent to Orlando in Dwight trade. Became Dario Saric, who was then sent to Philly

Then there’s the 2016 pick swap. Both Denver and New York stunk in 2015-16, but the Knicks did lose one more game, landing them the No. 7 pick, which would then go to Denver. That became All-Star guard Jamal Murray.

I got good news and bad news from here.

Good news: by virtue of the swap, the Knicks landed the No. 9 pick in the draft, so the swap wasn’t that bad!

Bad news: because of the next trade, they didn’t make that selection.

The Andrea Bargnani Trade (July 2013)

Knicks Receive: Andrea Bargnani
Bulls Receive: Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, Quentin Richardson, 2016 Swap Worst w/DEN, 2014 OKC 2nd, 2017 NYK 2nd

Where do I even begin?

Vibes were high in the Summer of ‘13. After all, the Knicks had gotten to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Sure, it was a disappointing exit at the hands of the Pacers, but they felt as if their core still had some mileage in it with Melo, Amar’e, Tyson Chandler, Mike Woodson, and friends.

Let’s add another chef to the mix. Enter Bargnani, a failure of a No. 1 pick who enjoyed some solid seasons as Chris Bosh’s second fiddle before becoming a 20-PPG scorer in 2010-11. The two seasons before the trade, he was limited to 65 games, while his stretch-four abilities waned and his three-point shooting regressed sharply. An elbow injury suffered the year before the trade seemed not to dissuade management.

The players they gave up were more sentimental than skilled. Camby was a remnant of the transition from Ewing to Houston/Sprewell, having rejoined the Knicks that past season for the final 24 games of his career at age-38. Richardson was effectively the same, having played one game in 2012-13 in his second stint as a Knick after a nice, four-year run in the 2000s before retiring. Discount Double Check was a fan-favorite sniper, but one that was moved on from at the right time as his minutes and production completely cratered post-trade.

Once again, it’s the picks.

The OKC 2nd landed at No. 59 and was worthless. The 2017 pick landed at No. 36, which was eventually sent to Philly and became Jordan Bolden. Good thing this wasn’t a 2018 pick, phew. The real problem was a swap

The Knicks elected to make a rare move, trading the back end of a pick swap they had already traded. Essentially, Toronto got the worst of their picks and Denver’s picks. The odds of that being in the lottery were slim, but it handed Jakob Poeltl, a solid NBA big man for the last decade, right to them at No. 9.

As for Bargnani’s Knicks career, he sucked. He was the poster child of the team’s failure to maximize the rest of Melo’s prime, as Amar’e regressed hard, Chandler was traded, and this guy made eight figures to make boneheaded decision after boneheaded decision while battling injury. He played just 71 games as a Knick, made $23 million, and was dumped out the door after 2014-15. What a waste.