Texas and Ohio State are used to dealing with pressure. The expectations for both programs going are at fever pitch as the top-ranked Longhorns and defending national champion No. 3 Buckeyes meet in one of the most-hyped openers in recent memory.
No. 8 Alabama aims to overcome road woes against rebuilding Florida State in opener
If No. 8 Alabama is going to return to the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide will need to play better away from home. It starts at rebuilding Florida State.
Chris Wingert tells INSANE stories from his MLS career, playing with Pirlo and Lampard & winning the MLS Cup
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros talk with former MLS player Chris Wingert about his time in the league playing with soccer legends, his MLS Cup win and his time now as an agent.
Red Sox place Nathaniel Lowe on paternity list and activate Rob Refsnyder
WASHINGTON — The Boston Red Sox placed first baseman Nathaniel Lowe on the paternity list and activated outfielder Rob Refsnyder from the 10-day injured list.
Lowe, who signed with the Red Sox Aug. 18 after being released by Washington two days earlier, is hitting .296 with a homer and seven RBIs in nine games since joining Boston and immediately becoming its everyday first baseman.
Refsnyder missed 12 games with a left oblique strain. The 34-year-old is hitting .272 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 54 games and was in Boston’s lineup as the designated hitter against Baltimore.
“We needed it,” manager Alex Cora said. “We struggled against lefties lately. I think the quality of the pitchers is one of the reasons and not having him is the other one. He’s just a good at-bat against them. He puts them in a spot where they have to make decisions later in the game or early in the game. Bring in a righty and then we can maximize the bench and use them accordingly.”
The Red Sox also activated right-hander Justin Slaten from the 60-day injured list and optioned lefty Jovani Morán to Triple-A Worcester. Slaten was 1-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 games but has not pitched for Boston since May 28 because of shoulder inflammation.
Morán has a 6.75 ERA in two appearances this season but did not pitch in two games after the Red Sox called him up.
Blockbuster Champions League draw is intriguing but ultimately irrelevant | Jonathan Wilson
Fans will continue to lap up massive games but perhaps the teams involved will conclude they are not that important
Liverpool v Real Madrid! Arsenal v Bayern! Chelsea v Napoli! Madrid v Manchester City! Bayern v Chelsea! Newcastle v Barcelona! Inter v Liverpool! PSG v Bayern! City v Napoli! Madrid v Juventus! Chelsea v Barcelona! It can’t be denied that the Champions League draw threw up some ties that look like massive games.
These are games that have massive teams in them. They are happening in a massive competition. There will be famous players in famous kits in famous stadiums. There will be Champions League branding. They will play the Champions League theme tune. They will use the Champions League ball, taking its cues this season from the night sky and featuring hand-drawn zodiac signs in gold that symbolise heroic deeds and heavenly destiny. It will all look like something really important.
Continue reading...No Moves, No Trades: Devils Feel the Effects of an NHL Standstill
It has felt like a remarkably slow off-season for the New Jersey Devils. Aside from a few moves at the start of free agency, not much has happened in the past month when it comes to trades or roster changes.
And it’s not just the Devils. A recent post from @NHL_Rosters pointed out that the NHL hasn’t had a trade since July 25. Today is August 28, when the San Jose Sharks acquired Oskar Olausson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Danil Gushchin.
There hasn't been any trades in the NHL since July 25th. There were 8 trades during August of last year, plus the Dylan Holloway/Philip Broberg offer sheets.
— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) August 28, 2025
That’s right, one month and three days without a single trade. The Devils aren’t alone here; the entire league seems to have been on pause since just a few weeks after free agency opened.
This is unusual. Last August, there were eight trades across the NHL. Now, as we approach the final days of the month, it looks like August will close out with zero.
So why the standstill?
There isn’t just one answer. Some teams may simply be taking the time to map out their long-term plans. For the Devils, it likely comes down to managing cap space and preparing for a new long-term deal for 21-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes.
New Jersey currently sits just under $7 million in cap space. Not every team is as fortunate; many are already over the limit or right up against it. That’s allowed in the off-season, but teams must be cap-compliant by opening night.
Of course, there’s still time. In the next few days, the Devils, or any team, really, could make a splash that shakes up the league.
Still, August has been uneventful. The Devils don’t open their 2025–26 season until October 9, giving GM Tom Fitzgerald plenty of time to maneuver. He’s made it clear that locking up Hughes before then is a top priority.
The question is: at what cost? Signing Hughes could mean moving out another player currently eating up cap space.
When that deal will be finalized remains unknown. But one thing feels certain: the off-season won’t end quietly. Big news could drop any day now.
Unflappable Mets rookie Nolan McLean has that special, star-like quality
There was a palpable buzz inside Citi Field on Wednesday night as the Mets faced the Phillies.
Yes, it was due in part to the fact that New York was going for (and eventually securing) a three-game sweep over their division rival in what has all of a sudden become a tight race for the NL East title.
But what made it feel truly different on Wednesday -- the reason every fan was on the edge of their seat and perhaps timing their bathroom, food, and beer runs differently -- was the pitcher on the mound in orange and blue.
Nolan McLean, who tossed 5.1 shutout innings in his big league debut on Aug. 16 at Citi Field and followed that up with seven innings of one-run ball against the Braves on Aug. 22 in Atlanta, took it up several rungs during a masterful performance that left the Phillies flailing.
While firing eight shutout innings, McLean allowed just four hits, walked none, and struck out six.
He had everything working so well and Philadelphia so off-balance that he was at only 59 pitches with one out in the seventh inning -- truly outrageous.
McLean's ball-to-strike ratio was elite, with 71 of the 95 pitches he threw going for strikes.
The stuff, of course, was what allowed him to lay the hammer down so emphatically.
But there was also the mound presence (which has been evident since his first start), the confidence he displayed while deploying his arsenal (he said after the game that he's totally comfortable being more in the zone with New York's defense behind him), and the unflappability that seems to envelop him.
As McLean toyed with the Phillies, whose batters twice had the bat fly out of their hands, he relied heavily on his dastardly sweeper, a four-seam fastball, a sinker that had a ridiculous amount of movement and topped out at 96.4 mph, and a curve that dropped off the table. He also mixed in his changeup and cutter for good measure.
He generated 13 swings and misses and got 24 called strikes, and only came close to walking a batter once.
When McLean found trouble for the first time with runners on first and third and no one out in the eighth, he wiggled out of it, generating two short fly outs and a dribbler in front of the plate.
It was the kind of performance that makes you dream about what this Mets team can do, and obviously leaves you wondering just how good McLean can be.
Through three starts, McLean's numbers are eye-popping.
In 20.1 innings, he has posted a 0.89 ERA and 0.69 WHIP while allowing just 10 hits, walking four, and striking out 21.
And on Wednesday, McLean became the first MLB pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1988 to have a 3-0 record with 20+ innings pitched, 20+ strikeouts, and a sub-.200 opponents batting average through his first three career starts.
While McLean's dazzling display on Wednesday should make people look forward, his outing -- and how he's looked overall since arriving in the bigs -- should also leave you glancing back at two former Mets pitching stars who had similar qualities: Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom.
To be clear: McLean is not Harvey or deGrom. He will forge his own path and career.
But the way he's arrived as a dominant force seemingly close to a finished product is reminiscent of how Harvey looked in 2012 when he first took the ball in Arizona and how deGrom looked in 2014 when he made his first start against the Yankees at Citi Field.
Like Harvey and deGrom, McLean has taken it up a notch since arriving in the majors.
And like Harvey, it could be McLean who helps usher in a new era of homegrown starting pitching.
Jonah Tong, who put up video game numbers this season in the minors, will make his first big league start on Friday against the Marlins at Citi Field.
Then there's Brandon Sproat, who could be on track to join the Mets shortly after the rosters expand on Sept. 1.
But for now, the focus is rightfully on McLean, who has helped give the Mets the spark they desperately needed while taking the league by storm.
24 Nashville Predators in 24 days: Jonathan Marchessault
Is it October yet?
Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player.
Today's player profile is forward Jonathan Marchessault.
24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series
As an NHL prospect
From Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Marchessault spent his four seasons with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL.
playing in 254 regular-season games from 2007 to 2011, scoring 98 goals and 239 points. In his final junior season, 2010-11, he scored 40 goals and 55 assists for 95 points in 68 games. He was a First-Team All-Star that season.
In the postseason, he played 52 games, recording 54 points. The Remparts' best finish in Marchessault's time with the team was the 2011 playoffs, where they got as far as league semifinals, losing to Gatineau in seven games.
Professional career
Marchessault went undrafted, signing with the Connecticut Whale, the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate at the time, in 2011. During the 2011-12 season, Marchessault scored 64 points in 76 games and was named to the AHL All-Star Game.
The following season, Marchessault signed an entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing in two games during the season. He spent nearly the entirety of the season with the Springfield Falcons, scoring 67 points in 74 games and earning a second straight AHL All-Star Game bid.
Marchessault returned to Springfield for the 2013-14 season, playing in 56 games and scoring 41 points before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the deadline. He'd finish the season with the Syracuse Crunch, scoring 15 points in 21 games.
The following season, he played two games in Tampa, scoring his first NHL goal and earning a point in each contest. Marchessault played 68 games with the Crunch, scoring 67 points and earning the third AHL All-Star Game bid of his career.
The 2015-16 season was when Marchessault began to see more NHL minutes. He played 47 games with the Lightning, scoring 18 points. That offseason, he signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers and followed with a 51-point season in 2016-17.
Marchessault moved again in the 2017 offseason, as he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights eighth overall in the Expansion Draft. The move to Vegas would end up skyrocketing Marchessault's stock as a player in the league.
In seven seasons with the Golden Knights, Marchessault played in 514 games, recording 193 goals and 225 assists for 418 points. In his first season with the Golden Knights, he recorded a career high of 75 points in 77 games.
During the 2023-24 season, Marchessault scored a career-best 42 goals. And that's only his regular-season stats.
In the playoffs, Marchessault recorded 36 goals and 39 assists for 75 points in 95 playoff games in six postseason appearances, which included the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, 2021 Western Conference Finals, 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals and the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
In 2023, Marchessault won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smyth Trophy, scoring 25 points in 22 games as the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers in five games.
During the 2024 offseason, Marchessault became a free agent after the Golden Knights couldn't settle on a new contract. He'd sign a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Nashville Predators.
Marchessault saw a 13-point dip from the previous year during the 2024-25 season, scoring 56 points in 78 games.
What role will he play this season?
The Predators are likely expecting Marchessault to stay consistent.
56 points in 78 games isn't bad considering the Predators were the worst scoring team in the NHL, but it's the whole "what if" of it all and how good Marchessault would've been last season if the Predators had a decent team.
This is still a player in the prime of his career and last season put some fog over that. The Predators have him on a long contract, which will expire when he is 38 years old, but he's a late bloomer who's still playing very well.
It's worth noting that since 2021, he has had fewer than 55 points in a season, peaking at 66 points in 76 games during the 2021-22 season. Funnily enough, the Golden Knights had missed the playoffs that season.
Marchessault was a player who didn't take a huge dive last year and should be thrown into that first line mix. Alongside Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg, two other players who were also positives coming out of last season, this is the line that should lead the Predators' offensive charge.
The Predators wanted a scorer when they signed Marchessault and considering last year's situation, they got one. Establishing consistency across the entire roster will enable Marchessault's game to truly flourish.
Top 10 Highest-Rated Players In NHL 26 And Their Standout Stats
EA Sports revealed the highest-rated players in NHL 26 this week.
Not only did the video games giant reveal the ratings for the top players by position, but it also listed the top 10 players on each NHL team. That means ratings are known for 320 players so far, with Calgary Flames right winger Martin Pospisil sitting 320th, with an overall rating of 80.
Here are the top 10 players in the game, some standout stats from NHL Edge and whether they improved from this time last year. For more NHL 26 coverage, check out The Hockey News' dedicated gaming site.
Honorable Mentions
Six players have a 94 rating, but EA Sports did not give them the same ranking. The first tie involves 38 players at No. 99 with an 87 rating.
That means Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov sit 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively, despite having an overall rating that's tied with eighth place.
Kaprizov is the highest-rated left winger in NHL 26, while Eichel and Matthews are ranked sixth and seventh among centers.
10. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 93
At 32, Hellebuyck's rating continues to increase. That 93-overall rating in NHL 25 was two notches higher from his 91 overall in NHL 24.
His 2.00 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and eight shutouts last season were career highs. He's won the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy in each of the last two seasons, and he was voted the Hart Trophy winner in 2024-25.
Hellebuyck posted at least a .900 save percentage in 44 games last year, five more than Andrei Vasilevskiy in second place. Yes, he started 62 games, but recording at least a .900 SP in 71 percent of his starts also led NHL netminders.
9. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 95
Pastrnak's rating takes the slightest dip after exceeding 100 points for the third straight season. His 43 goals last season were down from 47 in 2023-24 and 61 in 2022-23, and his 106 points fell from 110 and 113.
The right winger's 94-overall rating is a whopping 10 points higher than Boston's second-best forwards in the game, Casey Mittelstadt, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, with 84 ratings. If the retooling club hung onto Brad Marchand, they'd at least have another forward with a top-50 rating.
Pastrnak led NHL forwards in slapshots last season, with 68, scoring on five of them. He had a maximum shot speed of 98.03 miles per hour, which backs up his 93 slapshot-power rating.
8. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 94
Crosby's still got it.
The Penguins captain cracked 90 points for the third straight year and the ninth time in his 20 NHL seasons, which doesn't even include some outstanding performances in years shortened by injury, the 2012-13 lockout or COVID-19.
At 38 years old, Crosby skated 264.12 miles (425.04 kilometers) last season, which ranked him in the 97th percentile of NHLers. That's longer than the distance from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh to Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
Crosby ranked 15th in assists last year and continues to be an elite playmaker, reflected by his 95 passing rating.
7. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 94
Barkov's rating gets a boost after winning the Stanley Cup again.
The Panthers captain received a 95 passing rating after putting up 51 assists in 67 games and another 16 in 23 playoff contests. Barkov has exceeded 50 helpers in each of the last three seasons, despite not playing more than 73 regular-season games each year.
Barkov is known for his elite two-way ability, winning the Selke Trophy in the last two seasons and three times overall. His offensive and defensive awareness ratings are both 96, and he possesses an X-factor ability in NHL 26 called "Quick Pick," which enhances his interceptions and defensive deflections.
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6. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 95
Makar won the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career last season, and he finished a career-high sixth place in Hart Trophy voting.
The 26-year-old's 94 speed and 95 acceleration ratings are no surprise. He had a top skating speed of 23.63 mph last season, which ranked seventh among NHL defensemen. He did rank first in speed bursts of 20-plus mph, with 206, and 22-plus mph, with 27.
Makar also deserves credit for his goal-scoring. He was the first D-man to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09, and he took 33 shots of at least 90 mph, which are the eighth-most among blueliners.
5. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 95
Hughes' 94 acceleration rating is lower than Makar's 95, but the Canucks captain has a higher speed rating, at 96.
Hughes had only 115 speed bursts over 20 mph and seven over 22 mph, which are still among the most in the NHL. But his top speed of 24.56 mph is the fastest among defensemen and second-fastest among all players, next to Avalanche left winger Miles Wood, who reached 24.82 mph.
The 25-year-old had 16 goals and 60 assists for 76 points in 68 games last season, missing time due to injury. He also has the edge over Makar in the passing rating, but the latter has higher ratings in slapshot and wrist shot power.
4. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 95
Kucherov was tied with Nathan MacKinnon for recording the most assists last season, with 84. But over the previous three seasons combined, nobody's had more helpers than Kucherov. If his 267 assists in that span were points, he'd be tied with Lightning teammate Brayden Point in 13th place.
As a result, he has a massive 98 passing rating in NHL 26.
The 32-year-old's top shot speed of 96.28 was ranked in the 97th percentile. His 17 goals in high-danger areas ranked in the 93rd percentile, and his 10 goals from mid-range were in the 90th percentile.
Kucherov is the highest-rated right winger in the video game.
3. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 95
The top three players in NHL 26 are centers, and even still, Draisaitl has only the second-highest rating among Oilers players.
He does have a higher slapshot and wrist shot power than that "other elite Oilers center" after winning the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy last season. Draisaitl recorded 52 goals, seven more than Leafs right winger William Nylander in second place.
Draisaitl has exceeded 50 goals in three of the last four seasons and 100 points in six of the last seven seasons – although getting 84 points in a 56-game year in 2020-21 is masterly.
The 29-year-old scored 25 times in high-danger areas (99th percentile) and 14 from mid-range (97th). That said, his top shot speed was 87.42 mph, which is in the 62nd percentile.
2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 96
Remember how Crosby skated about 264 miles last season?
Well, his fellow Nova Scotian ranked first among forwards in skating distance, with 291.89 miles (469.73 km). That's roughly the driving distance from Ball Arena in Denver to... Dull Center, Wyo. Go figure.
MacKinnon also had the most speed bursts of at least 20 mph among forwards last season, with 547. He has a 98 acceleration rating in NHL 26 as a result.
The 29-year-old has the second-most points of all NHLers in the last four seasons, with 455 in 297 games. After winning the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2023-24, he finished fourth in Hart voting in 2024-25.
Nylander Or McDavid: Which Player Deserves An X-Factor For Having 'Elite Edges'?If it's in the game, then it's in the video game.1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
NHL 26 Rating: 97
NHL 25 Rating: 97
McDavid remains the best of the best.
The Oilers captain actually finished 10th in Hart Trophy voting last season, which is the lowest he's placed since his rookie campaign, when he didn't receive a vote.
He still had 100 points in 67 games despite suffering an ankle injury earlier in the year and a lower-body injury in March. His top skating speed last season was 23.97 mph, a small decrease from the 24.19 mph burst he recorded in 2023-24, which ranked second among players that year. His acceleration and speed ratings are 97 and 98, respectively.
McDavid has the most points in the last three seasons, with 385 in 225 games. In the last five seasons, he has 613 points, 79 more than Draisaitl in second place. His passing rating is 98, while his slapshot and wrist shot power ratings are 91 and 92.
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Phillies open 4-game set vs. Braves looking to move past New York woes
Phillies open 4-game set vs. Braves looking to move past New York woes originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A little home cooking is exactly what the Phillies need.
At least that’s the hope.
The Phillies are back at Citizens Bank Park for a four-game series against the Braves after being swept out of New York. They were outscored 25-8 in three games against the Mets, stretching their Citi Field losing streak to 10 games in the process.
Rather than create more separation between themselves and the second place Mets, the Phillies let their NL East rivals back in the race. They have a four-game lead with 29 to play.
“It gets back to the experience of the players,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday when asked how his club will move past being swept in New York. “They just have to be themselves. Because who they are is pretty good. We have a really good group. Don’t try to do too much, just be yourself.”
The fact that the Phillies are a veteran team gives Thomson added confidence that they won’t dwell on one bad series.
“These guys have short memories,” Thomson said. “They’ve been through this for a long time. The last couple years, going into the playoffs we’ve had stretches where we didn’t play well, losing streaks and things like that… they come out of it.”
The Phillies’ home ballpark should provide a nice change of scenery. They have a 42-22 record at Citizens Bank Park this season, the fourth best home winning percentage in baseball.
Despite what transpired at Citi Field earlier this week, the Phillies are still in the driver’s seat in the NL East. The sense of urgency remains high.
“These guys want to win and they want to perform,” Thomson said. “They want to win a world championship. That’s what they play for. And a lot of these guys, they haven’t done that yet. They’ve been paid a great deal of money but they haven’t won so that’s on their mind, they want to get it done.”
This has been a lost season for the Braves, who begin this series in fourth place in the NL East with a 61-72 record. But Atlanta has played better lately – they’ve won 13 of their last 18 and scored a total of 23 runs in their last two games.
“They’re swinging the bats well, they’re scoring runs,” Thomson said of the Braves’ recent resurgence. “Their bullpen has been excellent. They’ve been playing well, they’re very talented.”
The Phillies have a 5-4 record against the Braves this season. This series represents the final four games of the season between these two division rivals.
Familiar foes
Aaron Nola will try to set the tone in Thursday’s series opener. This will be Nola’s 38th career start against Atlanta, his most against any opponent. It’s his third outing since returning from a three-month stint on the injured list.
The longest-tenured Phillie showed significant improvement in his last start, allowing two earned runs in six innings against the Nationals last Saturday. Nola’s velocity was up – his fastball topped out at 94.1 miles per hour and averaged 92.6, his highest in a start this season.
What are the expectations for Nola against the Braves?
“Exactly what he did the last time,” Thomson said. “Command the fastball. He threw a lot more curveballs (in his last start) than he normally does but that was part of the gameplan and he had a really good one. I want to see him command his fastball, keep people off balance and just attack the zone.”
Nola needs four strikeouts to pass Cole Hamels (1,844) for the third most career strikeouts in Phillies history. Steve Carlton (3,031) tops the list, followed by Robin Roberts (1,871).
Nola will be opposed by Braves righthander Cal Quantrill, who was claimed off waivers last week. Quantrill made 24 starts for the Marlins this season, including two against the Phillies. He posted a 12.27 ERA in those outings with 10 earned runs in seven and one-third innings of work.
Red Wings Reveal Uniform Numbers For New Players
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was active in both the trade market and free agency this offseason, not only unloading Vladimir Tarasenko but acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
Additionally, the Red Wings inked free agent forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, along with defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic and Ian Mitchell.
Early on Thursday afternoon, the Red Wings released the uniform numbers that all of the above new players will be donning this season.
As he's done in multiple cities throughout his NHL career, van Riemsdyk will be wearing No. 21; it was last worn by Auston Czarnik during the 2023-24 season. Gibson will keep his No. 36 he wore for the entirety of his tenure with the Anaheim Ducks; it was most recently worn by Christian Fischer from 2023 through earlier this year when he was claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Appleton will also be keeping his No. 22 that he previously wore with the Winnipeg Jets. The most recent Red Wings player to wear No. 22 was depth forward Matt Luff in 2022-23.
Bernard-Docker will be the first Red Wings player since Taro Hirose to wear No. 25, while Hamonic will be the first No. 52 in a Red Wings uniform since Brogan Rafferty in 2024; it was also recently worn by Jonatan Berggren and, for over a decade, Jonathan Ericcson.
New guys, new numbers! pic.twitter.com/JwRS11Ts9w
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 28, 2025
Red Wings Add Blue Line Depth With Signing of Travis Hamonic Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has already signed defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell so far this offseason, but another new name has been added to Detroit's blue line.
Gibson immediately slots into the top spot on Detroit's goaltending depth chart, giving Cam Talbot, who was signed last offseason, to settle comfortably into the backup role.
van Riemsdyk could potentially play a top-six role with the Red Wings, while Appleton is expected to slot in on Detroit's third or fourth line.
Bernard-Docker, Hamonic and Mitchell will all be competing for a roster spot with one another in Training Camp.
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The Hockey News Big Show: Who Will Be The NHL's Biggest Star In 10 Years?
It's time to discuss more big NHL and hockey topics on The Big Show.
Who Will Be The NHL's Biggest Star In 10 Years? by The Big ShowundefinedHere's what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:
0:00: Is it only a matter of time before Connor McDavid re-signs in Edmonton?
08:50: Who will be the biggest star in the NHL 10 years from now?
12:20: Which NHL team has the best in-arena experience?
17:15: Which second-year coach is on the hot seat?
21:45: Which newly hired coach will have the most success?
28:30: Will Alex Ovechkin break Gordie Howe's age-40 goals record?
29:50: Will the Washington Capitals be able to replicate their success from last season?
33:00: Which of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ biggest assets is most likely to be dealt?
36:50: Which throwback jersey would you most want to see return?
37:45: Which player do you expect to fall off this upcoming season?
38:50: Who is one player not enough people are hyping up going into next season?
41:00: Should the NHL start the season earlier or end the season earlier when it goes to 84 games?
42:30: Picking Team Canada’s 13th forward for the 2026 Olympics
Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.
Red Sox should make a run at AL East crown after 7-1 road trip
Red Sox should make a run at AL East crown after 7-1 road trip originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A little over a week ago, after letting games against the Marlins and Orioles slip away in ugly fashion, it was fair to question whether the Red Sox could — as the saying goes — take care of business down the stretch.
The eight-game road trip that followed wiped away most of the doubt that might have cropped up. As a result, the Red Sox can now set their sights a bit higher than simply hanging on to a wild-card spot in the American League.
And if they want to get greedy, they can place the AL East crown in their crosshairs.
The Red Sox completed a four-game sweep in Baltimore on Thursday, eking out a second consecutive 3-2 victory. They outscored the Orioles 15-7 after outscoring the Yankees 21-11 in four games over the weekend.
Thursday’s win featured Garrett Crochet allowing two runs over six innings, Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela each making a game-changing double play, Romy Gonzalez delivering a clutch game-winning RBI in the eighth (against a righty, no less), and Steven Matz locking down his first save as a member of the Red Sox (and just the second save of his career).
“I feel great,” manager Alex Cora said postgame, per NESN. “It’s hard to do. To beat a team in the big leagues four times in a row, you know, it’s hard. To go 7-1, New York, Baltimore, against the pitching that we faced, it was a great road trip.”
With Toronto off on Thursday, the Red Sox were able to gain a half-game in the standings. They’re 3.5 games out of first place, having picked up 2.5 games since Aug. 19.
And while the Red Sox playing strong baseball will be their biggest asset moving forward, the schedule should be a major help, too.
While they will face NL Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes on Friday night, they should be able to handle the last-place Pirates in a weekend series at Fenway. The Pirates are 21 games under .500 overall, but they’re 20-46 on the road — a winning percentage of just .303. They’re 15-37 (.288) in road games not started by Skenes, and just 5-9 in his road starts.
The Red Sox will then host the perfectly .500 Cleveland Guardians for three games before heading out west to face the Diamondbacks (66-69) and Athletics (63-72).
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, will have a rougher go of things. They’ll host the Brewers, who own the best record in baseball, before heading to Cincinnati to face the 68-66 Reds and then to New York to face the 73-60 Yankees. The Blue Jays then return home to face the AL-West-leading Astros (74-60) before finally getting a respite with a home series against the Orioles.
The Red Sox’ next series against a team that’s currently over .500 will come when they return from Sacramento … but they’ll facing the Yankees, against whom they are 8-2 this season. After that, they’ll host the A’s for three more games before heading to Tampa. They’re also 8-2 against the Rays this year.
All told, that’s 21 games where the Red Sox should go about 13-8 or 14-7. If they pull off the latter and if the Blue Jays go 12-10 over their next 22, it would set up a series in Toronto between the two teams with first place on the line, with Toronto’s lead cut down to a single game.
In that scenario, the Blue Jays may have the advantage for the final weekend of the regular season, as they’ll be hosting the Rays while the Red Sox will be hosting the Tigers.
But separating from specifics, the point is much simpler: Just making the playoffs is no longer the mission. The Red Sox now have a 96.2 percent chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs. They are making the playoffs, barring a 2011-style meltdown.
The more interesting story over the season’s final month will be whether they can actually push the Blue Jays to the final days of the season for the AL East title. Even if they end up falling a game or two short, making that push should set the foundation for an offseason of investment from ownership and the front office. It’ll be a lot easier for them to be convinced that a World Series run is possible next season if the current roster maximizes its opportunity this season.
With a 7-1 record on the road against divisional opponents over the last eight days, they’ve altered the outlook. What they do over the next seven series will determine what, exactly, that will mean.
Jay Vine’s solo attack wins Vuelta’s sixth stage as Vingegaard loses lead to Traeen
Australian seals stage win in adopted home of Andorra
Vingegaard more than two minutes behind overall leader
Australian cyclist Jay Vine launched a solo attack off a breakaway group in the final 20 kilometres to win stage six of the Vuelta a España on Thursday, with Torstein Traeen of Norway taking second place and the overall race lead from Jonas Vingegaard.
Vine was part of a 10-man group which got away early on the 170.3km ride from Olot to Pal in Andorra, before the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider went for broke and held off the chasers to secure the third individual Vuelta stage win of his career.
Continue reading...Former Minnesota Wild Prospect Signs One-Year Deal With Columbus
The Minnesota Wild drafted five players for the 2020 NHL Draft. Marco Rossi, who was taken ninth overall, is the only player still with the team.
Daemon Hunt was taken in the third round of that draft with pick No. 65. He played 13 NHL games with the Wild and 125 in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild.
He was eventually traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a first round pick in the 2025, a third and fourth round picks in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027 for defenseman David Jiricek.
Hunt, 23, recorded two goals and 14 points in 48 AHL games for the Cleveland Monsters during the 2024-25 season. He has now signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Blue Jackets for the 2025-26 season.
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