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Berube's Imprint On Leafs' Roster Could Overshadow Marner's Departure

Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger William Nylander is one of the multiple players taking part in the NHL/NHLPA's European player media tour, which kicked off in Milan earlier this week.

On Friday, he talked about the impact of former teammate Mitch Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer.

As Nylander told NHL.com, Marner "was the one making sure that we had team events like Halloween parties, dinners, all those kind of events. He would set those things up. Somebody’s going to have to take on that role now because he did an incredible job doing all that stuff." 

Marner’s role as the Maple Leafs’ social convenor has its value, but let’s be honest here – Toronto's fans really couldn’t care less about who replaces Marner in that position. The Leafs have one goal, and that’s on the ice. The Buds have a clearly defined target this coming season – getting further in the Stanley Cup playoffs than they have in the past 25 years – and no Leafs fan could give a whit what they do away from the rink.

The more important element in the coming season for the Leafs – and the one that not enough people are talking about – is the imprint Toronto coach Craig Berube is having on the makeup of the Maple Leafs’ roster.

As Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley said this summer after firing team president Brendan Shanahan, Berube will be more involved in making key decisions for the team.

“I'm a firm believer that the coach has to be involved more than just on the day of the game and in the dressing room,” Pelley said of Berube. “I have my utmost confidence in (Leafs GM) Brad (Treliving) and my utmost confidence in Craig.” 

That statement should resonate with Leafs fans as they look at the changes Toronto has made this off-season. Treliving didn’t go out and get some happy-go-lucky veteran player to make the Leafs’ dressing room a delightful place to be. Rather, the new additions that he brought to Toronto have Berube’s fingerprints all over them.

Indeed, arguably the two biggest additions to the Leafs are rugged players who have earned their reputation as being gritty and determined to make opponents’ lives miserable: center Nicolas Roy (acquired in the Marner sign-and-trade with Vegas) and left winger Dakota Joshua (picked up in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks).

Neither player shies away from a physical game, and that fits in perfectly with the type of team Berube wants to coach. And nothing else really matters in terms of changes to the team.

In the post-Marner era, the Maple Leafs will want to have a different identity than the finesse game Marner plays. Of course, Toronto will miss the offense Marner generated, but with Pelley’s words about Berube being more involved, it’s easy to see the different route the franchise is plotting out. It’s going to be more about snot and snarl for the Leafs next year, and that’s in no small part because Berube wants a tougher lineup.

It’s natural for NHL teams to try to mirror the blueprint for success of the most recent Stanley Cup winner, and that’s what’s been happening courtesy of Treliving and Berube. The back-to-back Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, imposed their will on opponents, Toronto included, by grinding them into the ground. That’s going to be job No. 1 for Roy, Joshua and the rest of the Maple Leafs.

As Nylander indicated, Marner was a fun teammate to have around. But that amounts to a hill of beans when playoff success has been hard to come by, as it’s been for Toronto during Marner’s time as a team leader and franchise cornerstone.

William Nylander and Mitch Marner (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Halloween parties and team dinners are nice ways to take the pressure off of players for a short spell, but the Maple Leafs don’t need those things nearly as much as they need players who can make opponents regret going into the hard areas of the ice. That’s what Berube wants, and that’s what Leafs fans should want as well. 

There’s no question that Marner will be missed in many regards. But if Toronto goes deeper into the post-season than they have in the modern era, no one will be complaining that the Leafs’ dressing room wasn’t as jovial as it used to be. And Berube’s influence on the changes Treliving has made to the roster will be completely validated.

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Zack Wheeler to undergo surgery, will miss rest of Phillies season

Zack Wheeler to undergo surgery, will miss rest of Phillies season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies announced Saturday that pitcher Zack Wheeler will be out for the rest of the season.

A statement from the team said: Wheeler was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, and the recommendation is to undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks. Details of the surgery are forthcoming. The timeline of recovery from the surgery is generally 6-8 months.

Wheeler had been dealing with something unknown in the shoulder since around the All-Star break and it caused him to be moved back a few days on a start. A dip in velocity and command heightened questions about what may be wrong, but it was after a start in Washington on August 15, in which Wheeler pitched five innings, gave up two runs and struck out six, where concerns grew. Though Wheeler said he felt really good during his outing, after the game he described “heaviness” in the shoulder area. That’s when red flags went up.

“Yeah, so that’s it (heaviness),” said Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit. “They weren’t very subtle but having some heaviness and fullness was one of the symptoms where we said, ‘hey let’s get this looked at’.

“He had a venous thoracic outlet syndrome, so it’s not the same as, say, a neurological vascular outlet, so the recovery can be a little bit different. The fact that he wasn’t dealing with this, it was more of an acute issue, that also is in his favor that he wasn’t dealing with this for a long time prior to going under for the procedure. He wasn’t exhibiting any of the symptoms that ultimately drove us to get the Washington Nationals docs involved in evaluating it, which they were great, by the way in expediting everything. We do think they were independent. Typically, these things kind of have a cluster of symptom patterns. He wasn’t exhibiting any of those until we had him evaluated.”

Wheeler underwent a thrombolysis procedure to remove the blood clot on August 18.

“He’s doing well,” said Buchheit. “He’s doing fine. (There were) two second opinions and they were the leaders in the industry on this topic.”

The human aspect of something like this always comes first, and from management to players that is first and foremost on everyone’s mind. After that, however, there is the business of baseball and the absence of Wheeler is a huge blow to this baseball team.

“He’ll miss this season, but then we figure he’ll come back in the six-to-eight-month time period and come back and be the Zack Wheeler of old,” said president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “That’s what we were told. Unless something unanticipated happens, he’ll be able to come back and pitch like he has before this.”

Dombrowski said he hasn’t spoken to Wheeler but has shared texts. He also said Wheeler was at the ballpark Friday.

How the rest of the season will play out with the starting staff is now a little more mysterious. Manager Rob Thomson was on the cusp of implementing a six-man rotation just before Wheeler went out. Now, it’s all in a bit of flux.

“I found out a little bit more last night and he’s healthy,” said an obviously relieved Thomson. “It’s disappointing to lose him but we have a lot of depth on our club. So, the six-to-eight-month recovery was encouraging to me. I talked to him yesterday; he was in here yesterday.

“Our offense has kicked in. The three lefties threw very well. I was proud of (Taijuan Walker) getting us through five innings last night. We’ll see what (Aaron Nola) has today, I’m expecting more out of him today. I think they’ve responded very well (to not having Wheeler).”

While the tail-end of the recovery period takes Wheeler to about the beginning of next season, it really is all speculation at this point. So many factors will come into play over that time but for the time being, positivity seems to be prominent.

“If you have symptoms from a neurological perspective, they may be present for a long time and it takes a while to evaluate, treat through,” said Buchheit. “A lot of times you don’t go to surgical options right away. With Zack it was an acute onset. He doesn’t have that long, protracted time period where he’s been battling things. The surgeons say that he’s going to have a really good prognosis with this.

“The protocols on this are pretty general. A guy can start throwing, maybe eight weeks after the procedure. But that all really depends on how he’s presenting, how the procedure goes and how he’s doing in the rehab process.”

In the meantime, we will see how it all plays out without their ace’s presence. Does Andrew Painter get the long-awaited call-up? Is there someone else in the wings? Is there another game-plan? That is the challenge facing upper management.

“It’s disappointing but I think everyone knows it’s out of our control,” said Thomson. “We’re happy that he’s going to be healthy cause it’s a very serious thing that he went through. They’re baseball players and they kind of move on. We’ve got a game today and they’re not going to cancel it and we’ve got another game tomorrow.

“We just got to keep moving forward.”

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Detroit's Moritz Seider Links Up With Famous Swiss Soccer Player During Euro Media Tour

Red Wings’ Moritz Seider Meets Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer in Milan During NHL’s European Media Tour

As the NHL’s European media tour made its stop in the heart of Milan, Italy, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider took a break from his packed schedule to link up with a fellow elite athlete Yann Sommer, the veteran Swiss goalkeeper now guarding the net for Inter Milan.

Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) on XInter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) on XWhen 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚 meets 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 🏒⚽️ Jersey swap complete! 😍 @NHL

The meeting of the two stars, one from the ice and one from the pitch, took place at Inter’s training facility just outside the city. With both athletes sharing a love of elite performance and a mutual respect for each other’s sports, the vibe was relaxed but full of admiration. The two posed for photos, Seider holding an Inter Milan jersey, Sommer grinning with a Red Wings sweater in hand. 

The NHL has a packed slate of events for European media with one of them being several players attending the Inter Milan season opener on Monday. 

Divisional Focus: Red Wings Must Counter Rising Canadiens Divisional Focus: Red Wings Must Counter Rising Canadiens Almost as tough as it was seeing the Ottawa Senators return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for fans of the Detroit Red Wings was simultaneously seeing the Montreal Canadiens do the same. 

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

For Seider, it was a chance to celebrate hockey’s reach beyond North America and prepare the local population for the arrival of the NHL during next year's 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. For Sommer, it was a welcome reminder of the global camaraderie that sports can create and could lead to him appearing at a Olympic game in the near future. 

On the ice, Moritz Seider has become a force for the Red Wings. In the 2024‑25 NHL season, he suited up for all 82 games, notching 8 goals and 38 assists for 46 points, all while leading the team in hits (162) and maintaining a team-leading 25 minutes of average ice time per game. 

Yann Sommer is a professional soccer player from Switzerland who plays as a goalkeeper, the player who protects the net and tries to stop the other team from scoring. He currently plays for Inter Milan, one of the top soccer clubs in Italy. Sommer joined Inter in 2023 and quickly became an impact player on the team. In his first season, he helped Inter win the Serie A championship, which is the top league in Italian soccer.

Who’s Next? After Fedorov, Eyes Turn to Next Red Wings Jersey RetirementWho’s Next? After Fedorov, Eyes Turn to Next Red Wings Jersey RetirementWith Fedorov’s No. 91 set to be retired, the Red Wings’ centennial season raises the question of which legends might be next.

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Former NBA star Shawn Kemp given 30 days of home monitoring for Washington parking lot shooting

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was sentenced Friday to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot.

Kemp must begin home monitoring within two weeks, The Seattle Times reported. He must also serve one year of state Department of Corrections supervision and complete 240 hours of community service.

Prosecutors had recommended the six-time NBA All-Star be sentenced to nine months in jail, a year of supervision and pay restitution.

Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court found the circumstances surrounding the crime warranted a lesser sentence, allowing Kemp to avoid incarceration.

Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence. He then repeatedly made the sign of the cross with his hand.

Kemp, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997, pleaded guilty to an assault charge in May as part of a plea agreement.

No one was hurt in the March 2023 shooting.

Kemp said he acted in self-defense and returned fire after one of the men shot at him from inside their Toyota 4Runner vehicle.

The defense also claimed that the two men Kemp shot at provoked the shooting by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle. The judge agreed.

Using a phone-tracking app, Kemp located and briefly tried to talk to the driver of the 4Runner that was circling a casino parking lot, according to the trial brief. The men in the vehicle afterward dumped some of Kemp’s belongings but hung on to the phone, the brief says.

Kemp later saw his phone was near the Tacoma Mall. He drove there, spotted the same 4Runner and “expressed his understandable frustration” with the driver, according to the brief. The man in the back seat “fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp returned fire and attempted to disable the Toyota. It did not work,” the document said.

The 4Runner fled, and when the vehicle was found abandoned days later, an empty holster was found inside but there was no gun, according to court documents.

After the hearing, Kemp said in an interview that “the last three years have been tough.” He said he plans to be an advocate against gun violence, especially among youth.

“Think twice,” he said. “Think twice when you get mad. Think twice when you get a little upset.”

Several people sent letters of support to the court on Kemp’s behalf. About 30 people attended the hearing, including his pastor and former NFL star Marshawn Lynch.

Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando and was known for his high-flying dunks.

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Yankees Notes: Aaron Judge progressing in throwing program; time off for Anthony Volpe 'in play'

As the Yankees look to bounce back after back-to-back losses to the Boston Red Sox, manager Aaron Boone addressed a few big issues facing his club before Saturday's matinee in The Bronx.

Aaron Judge progressing 

The Yankees slugger is still dealing with the effects of the flexor strain in his right arm, but he has progressed in his throwing program as the wait for his return to the outfield continues.

Boone said that he believes Judge was throwing with “a little more intensity” on Friday and was out to 150 feet. “I think we’re getting to introduce some paces, so hopefully we're getting close,” the skipper said.

With the reigning AL MVP limited to just hitting, Boone dismissed a question about whether the injury was impacting the slugger at the plate. “I don’t,” he said.

Giancarlo Stanton was in the lineup in right field for Saturday's game, his seventh start in the outfield since Judge's return from the IL.

But since coming back from the injury during the first week of August, the slugger has just 11 hits in 51 at-bats (.216) with a double and three home runs for a .412 slugging percentage and .806 OPS (boosted by 15 walks) through his first 15 games as a DH. 

In the 15 games before the injury, Judge had just 11 hits in 54 at-bats (.204) with three doubles and five homers for a .537 slugging percentage and an .836 OPS. He had nine walks to 21 strikeouts in that span compared to 14 since the injury.

Anthony Volpe could get a day soon

Boone said he didn’t consider giving Volpe a day off for Saturday’s game with Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet on the mound, but amid the shortstop’s struggles at the plate and in the field, it is something he is considering. 

“Especially now with [Jose] Caballero [able to play short], I gave him one the other day,” Boone said about a start for the trade deadline acquisition. “So those can be in play here, but wasn’t gonna do it with the lefty here.”

Volpe has struggled again at the plate this year as his .209 average entering Saturday's game matches his mark from his rookie season. His .403 slugging percentage is a career high, but his .276 on-base percentage is a career low.

The numbers have been particularly dire of late, as the 24-year-old has just eight hits in his last 18 games is slashing .127/.179/.254 for a .433 OPS with four walks and 18 strikeouts. 

Through his first 446 career games, Volpe is slashing .222/.285/.381 for a .666 OPS for an 84 OPS+ and 86 wRC+ (average is 100).

And his once-reliable fielding has abandoned him with 16 errors already this season (not including a mental error in Friday night's game) and a minus-7 outs above average (fourth percentile in MLB). On the other hand, his three defensive runs saved on the year are good for eighth among qualified shortstops. So he hasn't totally regressed.

On Friday, with a runner on second and nobody out in the ninth inning, Volpe fielded a grounder right at him and tried to get the runner at second rather than taking the out at first. Instead, the Sox got two on and nobody out.

“It’s obviously not the right play,” Boone said after the game Friday. “It’s a little bit of a heady play, too. He almost caught a guy off in scoring position there, and then he doesn’t come around to score anyway. He makes a really good play on the contact play. Are we going to really dive into that one a lot? I mean, I get it. It wasn’t an out, but it’s kind of a heads-up. Almost got a guy napping.” 

Fernando Cruz nearing return

The veteran right-hander is set to come back after a lengthy stint on the IL that has seen him sidelined since late June, either on Sunday or Monday, the skipper said. 

Cruz pitched to a .300 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 33 innings over 32 appearances. He had 54 strikeouts to 14 walks, thanks to an absolutely wicked split-finger that had a 60.2 whiff percentage and .119 expected batting average against.

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Malik Beasley no longer a target of federal gambling probe, his lawyer says

Malik Beasley is no longer a target of a federal investigation into gambling on NBA games by NBA players, his attorneys have said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is conducting a broad investigation and Beasley's attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told multipleoutlets that Beasley is no longer a target in that investigation. The U.S. Attorney's office has not confirmed that, although it is not their policy to talk about who is or is not under investigation.

Beasley had been a person of interest in the case, with reports that the feds were specifically looking at a 2024 game (when Beasley was with the Milwaukee Bucks) that was flagged by at least one sportsbook. In that game, the prop bet of Beasley under 2.5 rebounds changed from +120 to -250 after large bets were placed. Beasley had six rebounds in that game. Here is what attorney Hanley told Shams Charania of ESPN:

"Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation," Haney told ESPN. "An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence."

Beasley and the Pistons were reportedly in discussions about his re-signing in Detroit for around three years, $42 million, when news of the investigation went public. After that, any free agent talks around Beasley dried up. Announcing that he is no longer a target in the investigation — and Hanley's comments — are clearly about getting Beasley a roster spot in the NBA next season. Unfortunately, that is just tougher at this point in the offseason, when most teams have filled up their rosters and the kind of money Beasley was about to sign for is not really available as teams are dealing with the luxury tax and its aprons. For example, the Pistons now have 14 players under guaranteed contracts.

Beasley, 28, averaged 16.3 points a game while shooting 41.6% on 3-pointers for the Pistons last season.

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Canadiens: Big Acquisition Arrives In Town

The Montreal Canadiens shook the draft when they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on day one of the annual event. At the end of the season, Kent Hughes had identified two areas of need on his team, and he managed to fix one so early in the offseason, while also managing to have the asset commit to an eight-year contract, which was an absolute coup. Since then, fans have been eager to see what their new blueliner can do, and after a Summer of waiting, the time has come.

The Canadiens may not play their first preseason game for another month, but according to Alexa Dobson’s Instagram account, the player has now arrived in town. The new Mrs. Dobson posted a picture captioned “Last day” and another one showing the couple’s following itinerary: PEI-MTL. Meanwhile, the Habs’ X account is prompting fans to ask them questions for their new blueliner, yet another clue that he’ll be in town to work with.

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The hype for Dobson may not be as high as it was for Patrik Laine’s arrival last season, but fans are still sure to flood the CN Sports Complex in Brossard to catch a glimpse of his first on-ice strides as a member of the Sainte-Flanelle.

The defenseman will wear number 53 with the Canadiens; he wore number 8 with the Islanders, but that number belongs to Mike Matheson in Montreal, a tribute to his grandfather, who died at age 53, seven years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Seven players have worn the number in Habs history; the last one to do so was another defenseman, Victor Mete.

Dobson was the Islanders’ first-round pick at the 2018 draft and the 12th selection overall. The 25-year-old has already got 388 games of NHL experience and has so far gathered 230 points. His most productive campaign came in 2023-24 when he scored 70 points in 79 games, but he could only manage 39 points last season after falling out of favor with bench boss and former Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy.

In his first full season under Roy, Dobson’s ice time decreased by 1:15, and his point-per-game production dropped from 0.89 to 0.55; his career average is 0.59. His power play production was slashed in half, as he only managed to gather 12 points with the man-advantage (compared to 24 a year ago) despite having the same ice time on the power play. The Islanders had the second-to-worst man advantage in the league with a 12.6% success rate, just ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.

It will be interesting to see how Martin St-Louis chooses to use Dobson and where he slots in on the Canadiens’ power play. It seems unlikely that Lane Hutson will be removed from the top unit, and with the kind of firepower the Tricolore will have up front with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Patrik Laine, it’s doubtful that the coach elects to use two blueliners on the top unit. Still, the second wave should be much more threatening than it was last season, and could provide Dobson plenty of opportunities if he does land on it.

Whichever way the pilot decides to use him, though, his arrival should help alleviate some of the pressure on Hutson and Matheson, which should benefit them both immensely. That’s particularly true for Matheson, who had a tough season last year, spending over 25 minutes per game on the ice, making him more prone to commit mistakes. The veteran’s role changed tremendously with Hutson’s arrival, and it should keep morphing with Dobson’s. It will be interesting to see how the Pointe-Claire native handles that in what will be a contract year for him. According to TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, Matheson is a player often mentioned when he asks Canadiens’ players who has played a mentor’s role for them. It goes to show how much goes on behind the scenes, and if Montreal elects to sign him to another contract, that mentor role will no doubt have something to do with it.

Dobson had a whirlwind of a summer with the trade at the end of June, a wedding days later, and moving into his new custom-made house in Prince-Edouard-Island with his wife, Alexa. The eight-year pact he signed will, however, provide him with stability for years to come in Montreal, and he comes to town with a friend waiting for him in Captain Suzuki, who he played with at the 2018 World Junior Championship.

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GOLDEN KNIGHTS COUNTDOWN: 46 Days Until Puck Drop with #46 Jonas Røndbjerg

LAS VEGAS -- As a restricted free agent, Jonas Røndbjerg was signed to a one-year contract for the upcoming season on July 6.

The 26-year-old has played in 76 NHL games, all with Vegas, and has registered 10 points along the way (3 goals, 7 assists) over the past four seasons.

The Danish forward skated in 56 AHL contests during last season, producing 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) for the Henderson Silver Knights. Røndbjerg's 11 goals were tied for seventh on the Silver Knights last season, while his 15 assists tied for eighth.

Røndbjerg represented Denmark in May at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and scored twice in five games. In August, he helped his country qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

FUN FACT: Røndbjerg has been a part of Vegas' organization since its inception in the NHL. He was drafted by Vegas in the third round (65th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Knights' first-ever presence in the draft.

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Stars And Slugs: How NHL Teams Copied The Florida Panthers This Summer

Fielding questions from the media in the aftermath of his second consecutive Stanley Cup, Florida coach Paul Maurice had praise for all of his Panthers in their six-game victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

But he only got emotional when he spoke about one particular player: Tomas Nosek.

Nosek, of course, wasn’t one of the Panthers’ stars and, in fact, started the Cup final as a goat when his puck-over-the-glass penalty late in the first OT period led to Edmonton’s power-play game-winner in Game 1.

After that setback, Maurice had assured reporters that Nosek’s team would rally around the veteran. And in the end, the gaffe was merely a footnote in hockey history.

But with the title clinched and all of Pantherdom in rapture again, Maurice practically teared up when talking about Nosek and what he meant to the team. The coach believed that one of his own errors on a line-change call had cost his Cats in a different game, so he felt an affinity with his fourth-liner. Nosek hadn’t been on the 2024 edition of the Panthers, but now he and Maurice were champions together.

And this wasn’t the first time Maurice had brought up his fourth line.

Several times during the final, he made it clear that Florida probably wouldn’t have beaten Toronto in Round 2 if it weren’t for the play of Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich and A.J. Greer. The Leafs were already up 2-0 in the series and in control of Game 3 when the fourth line helped flip the momentum. So, with the clock winding down in Game 6 against Edmonton and the Cup secured, Maurice made sure it was Nosek’s line out on the ice.

The long-winded message here? Depth matters. In a copycat league, those who wish to depose the Panthers in 2025-26 should realize that a couple of superstars can’t win a title by themselves – it takes all four lines and all three ‘D’ pairings.

2025 Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

So, perhaps it’s not surprising that several teams looking to take that next step in the playoffs made sure to shore up their own depth this summer. Toronto was one of them.

Though the Maple Leafs lost superstar Mitch Marner – a big blow to the depth chart, no doubt – Toronto got a couple of playoff-style bottom-sixers in the wake of Marner heading to Vegas. Nicolas Roy was the return in the Marner sign-and-trade, while crash-and-bang winger Dakota Joshua came via a trade with Vancouver later in the off-season.

For some Toronto fans, this could cynically be seen as an upgrade. They believed that Marner was often rendered ineffective when playoff series got serious, so bringing in two players who could help in such games while losing one who hadn’t is just simple math. And Roy and Joshua do fit the profile of players who could beat the Panthers. Roy already did it, in fact, when his Golden Knights ran over Florida in the 2023 Cup final.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Devils made similar tinkering moves to augment a team with deep playoff aspirations. Connor Brown, who has been to two finals in a row with Edmonton, has taken his talents to Newark, while Evgenii Dadonov comes in from Dallas, where he made three solid post-season runs with the Stars.

Obviously, any playoff success in New Jersey is going to hinge on Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, but Brown has proven to be a deft penalty-killer in recent times, while Dadonov can provide secondary scoring. These are the days of crossing all your T’s and dotting your I’s.

Of course, both of those Eastern Conference teams may have to go through the actual Florida Panthers if they want to become the next Florida Panthers, and we know the real Florida Panthers aren’t about to lay down during their burgeoning dynasty.

And when it comes to depth signings, I haven’t even mentioned perhaps the most significant of the summer, at least in terms of amusing kismet: the one team that has basically guaranteed itself a spot in the next Cup final is the Los Angeles Kings.

Do I say this because of the addition of bottom-sixer Joel Armia or veteran blueliners Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin? No, though those guys will help, but the player I’m talking about is the ageless Corey Perry, who has played in five of the past six finals. It seems you can’t have a Cup showdown without him these days. So, that’s just lateral thinking on the part of the Kings, frankly.

This article appeared in our 2025 Yearbook and Fantasy Guide. This issue features team reports for all 32 NHL teams heading into the 2025-26 season, including an analysis of their offense, defense and goaltending, as well as our prediction for where we think they will finish in the league standings. We also include features on Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top skaters and goaltenders ahead of the coming season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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Matt Chapman returns from IL, back in Giants' lineup; Tyler Fitzgerald optioned

Matt Chapman returns from IL, back in Giants' lineup; Tyler Fitzgerald optioned originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Third baseman Matt Chapman is back in the Giants’ lineup after spending the minimum 10 days on the injured list due to right hand inflammation.

To make room on the 26-man roster, infielder/outfielder Tyler Fitzgerald was optioned back to Triple-A Sacramento.

Chapman is batting sixth against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday at American Family Field.

The 32-year-old five-time Gold Glove Award winner has had two stints on the IL this season because of the hand injury.

On Thursday, Chapman fielded grounders at Petco Park before the Giants’ series finale against the San Diego Padres, hinting that a return was imminent.

In 96 games this season, Chapman is slashing .229/.337/.423 with 15 doubles, 16 homers and 44 RBI.

Fitzgerald hasn’t been able to recreate the success he had last season, bouncing back and forth between the big leagues and Triple-A this season.

In 72 games with the Giants this year, the 27-year-old is hitting .217/.278/.327 with four homers and 14 RBI.

The Giants (61-68) enter Saturday’s game 7.5 games out of the final National League wild card spot, and hope is fading fast. But Chapman’s return might give them the shot in the arm they need to make one last push for the playoffs.

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Mets at Braves: How to watch on SNY on Aug. 23, 2025

The Mets look to build on Friday night's offensive explosion in the middle game of the three-game set with the Braves in Atlanta on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Francisco Lindor is on a 10-game hitting streak, in which he is slashing an absurd .512/.563/.907 with a 1.469 OPS with four home runs, five doubles and 8 RBI
  • After a slow start to the second half, Juan Soto has seven homers and 13 RBI in his last 14 games with a 1.082 OPS
  • Brett Baty, after a four-hit night Friday, is slashing .386/.449/.682 for a 1.131 OPS in the last 13 games with four dingers and seven RBI. He's raised his OPS+ to 113 on the year
  • Clay Holmes makes his 26th start of the season, and has a 3.64 ERA and 1.344 WHIP in 131 innings with 105 strikeouts to 53 walks. He's posted a 4.88 ERA (3.73 FIP) over 27.2 innings since the break
  • Cal Quantrill, recently claimed off waivers from Miami, makes his first start for Atlanta. He pitched to a 5.50 ERA and 1.386 WHIP in 109.2 innings over 24 starts with the Marlins. The righty tallied 82 strikeouts to 30 walks
METS
BRAVES
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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Spurs stun the Etihad again as Johnson and Palhinha strikes sink Manchester City

How to rally Tottenham after the Eberechi Eze farrago: turn up at Manchester City and mastermind a dominant 2-0 triumph that takes your side to the top of the Premier League – for a few hours at least.

By doing so Thomas Frank issued a fine calling card regarding his professionalism, and suggested his Spurs project will be as strategic as Ange Postecoglou’s was gung-ho. Witnessing how the visitors caused Pep Guardiola’s men headaches caused one wag to question if Eze might change his mind (again) about which club to join.

Continue reading...
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Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26

Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are approaching their first full NBA season with Jimmy Butler in the mix after a successful half-season sample size.

Everyone, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, will be keeping an eye on how Butler helps Steph Curry and Co. as they make a run at the 2025-26 NBA title.

Smith recently revealed his list of the top five players to watch during the upcoming NBA season, and the pundit has Butler ranked at No. 4, ahead of Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving and behind new Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić and Mavericks center Anthony Davis.

“Here’s why [Butler] is so important,” Smith said on “First Take” on Friday morning. “Because his teammate [Curry] is the greatest shooter God has ever created, who, by the way, hospitalizes opponents who chase him around stupidly, trying to find out how you can do what you can with him and then they got to go to the hospital for oxygen, for air, because Steph Curry can do that to you, OK?

“You can’t ask him at age 37 to continue to do that without stepping up and showing Jimmy Buckets who the hell Jimmy Buckets is, reminding the world of Jimmy Buckets and what he brings to the table. Didn’t see much of that against Minnesota after Steph Curry went down. Got to make up for that this upcoming season, a full season under your belt in Golden State, because if Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry are on their game, noise can be made in the Western Conference.”

Butler, last season, joined the Warriors’ lineup on Feb. 8. Entering that game against the Chicago Bulls, Golden State had a 25-26 record, but went 23-8 to close out the regular season with a 48-34 record, good enough to secure the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and the top spot in the NBA play-in tournament, which they advanced out of.

In the Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Rockets, Butler averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in six contests. He did sustain a pelvic contusion in Game 2 of the series that caused him to miss Game 3. He played in the final four games against Houston and scored at least 20 points three times, including 27 points twice.

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, Butler was forced to carry the load for much of the series after Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1, which the Warriors ultimately won. While Butler averaged 20.3 points in the four games without Curry, Golden State lost all four contests.

Curry gives any Warriors team a chance to win, but the franchise knows it needs him and Butler at the top of their game if they want to compete in a stacked Western Conference.

Dub Nation, the NBA world and Stephen A. all will be keeping a close watch on how Butler helps the Warriors this season.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Nolan McLean dazzles, bats pound Braves

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...