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Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. Today, we’ll be taking a look at soon-to-be NHL sophomore, Jonathan Lekkerimäki. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2024–25 Season

The 2024–25 season was Lekkerimäki’s first in North America, as he not only made his NHL debut, but also played in his first semi-full season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. He skated in a total of 24 NHL games, scoring his first career NHL goal the game after his debut back in November. Lekkerimäki finished the regular season with three goals and three assists for Vancouver. He had a solid rookie showing in Abbotsford as well, scoring 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games, along with three goals and four assists in 16 playoff games. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2024–25 Letter Grade

For the 2024–25 season, The Hockey News - Canucks site gave Lekkerimäki a B-, which is solid for a rookie season — nevermind his first on North American ice. With his sophomore season ahead, Lekkerimäki will look to improve on his play in 2024–25, whether that’s in Vancouver or Abbotsford. As solid as he was for a young player, there were some parts in the season where he could have been a little more consistent. This was most prominent during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, in which he sat for four games but later reared back with a two-goal game. Staying consistent throughout the season will be something for the young forward to work on while still adjusting to an 82-game season. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2025–26 Predictions 

Lekkerimäki is likely to split his time with both Vancouver and Abbotsford in 2025–26, though the forward could spend the entire season in the NHL or AHL depending on the season’s injury circumstances. Had it not been for the injury to Brock Boeser back in November 2024, it’s uncertain whether Lekkerimäki would have even played during that stretch. The prospect has shown skill but should benefit greatly from more consistency — staying with one team for a longer period of time or avoiding injury could help with this. Sophomore seasons have tended to be trickier for players to navigate, so a season slump could be the case for Lekkerimäki. Even so, Lekkerimäki has shown he’s more than capable of bouncing back from slow stretches. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Adam Kierszenblat’s Stat Prediction: 10G, 5A, 15P  

Izzy Cheung’s Stat Prediction: 8G, 6A, 14P 

Bold Prediction: Lekkerimäki plays in 35+ games with the Canucks 

Jan 11, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) carries the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Player Preview Articles

Derek Forbort

Tom Willander

Arshdeep Bains

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Evander Kane

Kiefer Sherwood

Kevin Lankinen

Elias Pettersson (D)

Tyler Myers

Filip Hronek

Nils Höglander

Thatcher Demko

Marcus Pettersson

Linus Karlsson

Aatu Räty

Conor Garland

Jake DeBrusk

Brock Boeser

Elias Pettersson (F)

Quinn Hughes

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Izak Rankine hit with four-game ban by AFL for ‘highly offensive’ homophobic slur

The AFL says Izak Rankine is paying a “significant price” for using a homophobic slur during the weekend’s game against Collingwood, after the Adelaide star’s season was potentially ended by a four-match ban.

“Compelling medical submissions” were considered in reaching the verdict, which fell short of a possible five games and keeps the door open for Rankine to feature again this season, but the AFL CEO Andrew Dillon would not elaborate on what those medical considerations were.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Iglesias returning to form, extends scoreless streak

In this week's Closer Report, Raisel Iglesias extends his scoreless streak to 13 games while locking down five saves in what was an impressive week on the mound for the veteran closer. That and more as we break down the last week in saves across the league.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers

Muñoz struck out one batter in a clean inning of work against the Mets on Friday for his 29th save of the season to go with a 1.31 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 61/23 K/BB ratio across 48 innings. On the other side of that matchup, Díaz gave up a run with two strikeouts over the final two innings against Seattle on Saturday for his 24th save. His two-inning save comes after Ryan Helsley blew late-inning leads on back-to-back days. Helsley then bounced back with a scoreless appearance on Sunday. And Megill joins this tier after picking up his 29th save against the Reds on Friday. He then pitched the tenth inning on Saturday, giving up an unearned run before falling in line for a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.09 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 53/16 K/BB ratio across 43 innings.

Tier 2

Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Chapman pitched a clean inning before falling in line for a win Friday against the Marlins, then recorded the final out of the game Saturday to earn a save. He then struck out the side in an inning of work against the Orioles on Tuesday. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander has converted 22 saves while posting an incredible 1.13 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and a 69/14 K/BB ratio across 48 innings.

Duran matches Chapman's 22 saves after converting two more this week. That makes six this month since joining the Phillies. The 27-year-old right-hander has recorded a 1.80 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 58/18 K/BB ratio across 55 innings.

No saves for the Padres this week. Suarez surrendered a solo homer against the Dodgers on Sunday to take the loss before pitching a scoreless ninth with a four-run lead against the Giants on Tuesday. Mason Miller made a pair of scoreless appearances behind Suarez.

Tier 3

Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Randy Rodríguez - San Francisco Giants
Bryan Abreu - Houston Astros
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Kyle Finnegan/Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates

Palencia surrendered a solo homer against the Pirates on Friday to take the loss and was unavailable due to an illness for the next two days. Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge stepped in to pick up saves in his absence. Palencia returned to pick up a save with a scoreless inning against the Brewers on Tuesday, then gave up one run Wednesday before holding on for his 18th save.

Bednar locked down two saves for the Yankees this week with a pair of clean outings against the Cardinals before giving up two runs Wednesday in Tampa to blow the lead. Devin Williams stepped in to pitch the tenth with a three-run lead and allowed the runner on second to score before striking out the side for his 18th save. Bednar is still likely to get the next save chance and has had a great season overall, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 68/14 K/BB ratio across 47 1/3 innings.

Pagán was charged with a pair of blown saves this week. He gave up an unearned run against the Brewers on Saturday, then surrendered two runs on Sunday. Still, he's been one of the most valuable closers this season, converting 25 saves with a 3.10 ERA over 52 1/3 frames.

Fairbanks locked down a pair of saves against the Giants. He's up to 22 with a 2.53 ERA over 46 1/3 innings. In Anaheim, Jansen worked around two walks and a hit, striking out two in a scoreless inning against the Athletics on Sunday before falling in line for a win. He then took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs to the Reds in the ninth.

Hoffman struck out the side in back-to-back outings last week against the Cubs and Rangers, picking up a save and falling in line for a win. He then pitched a clean inning with one strikeout against the Pirates on Tuesday. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched better in the second half, posting a 1.52 ERA after posting a 5.03 mark in the first half.

Estévez made three perfect appearances this week, picking up two saves. The 32-year-old right-hander brings his total to 32 saves on the season while posting a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 46/20 K/BB ratio across 55 1/3 innings. With both Estévez and Lucas Erceg unavailable Tuesday after pitching three times in four days, John Schreiber stepped in for a save against the Rangers.

Rodríguez continues to operate at the Giants closer. He took a loss after giving up a run against the Rays on Friday, then bounced back with a scoreless inning against the Padres on Monday for his fourth save. Behind him, Ryan Walker has pitched much better in the second half, working his way back into a primary setup role and likely next in line for saves in the bullpen.

Abreu and the Astros didn't see a save chance this week. He made a pair of scoreless appearances, including a three-strikeout outing against the Orioles on Saturday. Josh Hader will likely remain out through the rest of the regular season, with hopes of returning during the playoffs. Meanwhile, Smith, another reliever who recently stepped into a closer role, notched two more saves with the Guardians before blowing an opportunity Wednesday, giving up a game-tying solo homer in the ninth against the Diamondbacks. Still, the 26-year-old right-hander has had an impressive season, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 77/19 K/BB ratio across 57 1/3 innings.

Iglesias had a fantastic week on the mound, extending his scoreless streak to 13 games with five scoreless appearances, picking up five saves. The 35-year-old right-hander goes from 16 saves to 21 in the last week with a 3.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 58/10 K/BB ratio across 53 2/3 innings.

Finnegan and Vest continue to work in a committee. Finnegan picked up a save against the Twins on Saturday with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Vest worked both the eighth and ninth against the Astros on Tuesday before falling in line for a win. And in Pittsburgh, Santana added two saves and a win to his record with three scoreless outings this week.

Tier 4

Jojo Romero/Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Phil Maton/Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers
Blake Treinen/Alex Vesia/Ben Casparius - Los Angeles Dodgers
Ronny Henriquez/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Jose Ferrer - Washington Nationals

We move on to mostly committees and unfavorable situations for saves, starting with the Cardinals. Romero took the loss against the Yankees on Sunday, then bounced back with two scoreless outings. But it was O'Brien who picked up a save Tuesday against the Marlins. In Texas, Maton's time with the Rangers hasn't gone so well. He surrendered a run to take the loss on Friday against the Blue Jays. Shawn Armstrong stepped in for a four-out save. And there continues to be no clear answer for the Dodgers in Tanner Scott's absence. Jack Dreyer recorded the team's only save this week, a three-pitch outing to record the final out against the Padres on Friday.

Tier 5

Keegan Akin/Yennier Cano - Baltimore Orioles
Justin Topa/Cole Sands - Minnesota Twins
Sean Newcomb/Tyler Ferguson - Athletics
Juan Morillo/Kyle Backhus - Arizona Diamondbacks
Grant Taylor/Steven Wilson - Chicago White Sox
Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies

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Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori overcome singles stars to win US Open mixed doubles final

  • Defending champions beat Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3 5-7 10-6

  • Italians went up 4-0 in tiebreak before Swiatek double fault sealed win

Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have retained their mixed doubles title at the US Open on Wednesday, overcoming Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3 5-7 10-6 in the competition’s reimagined format that drew some of the top singles players.

The defending champions, who needed a wild card entry into the competition that prioritised singles rankings, relied on their veteran experience to outfox the Polish-Norwegian duo.

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Dodgers' Ohtani roughed up by Rockies, leaves game after getting hit on right thigh by line drive

DENVER — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had a forgettable outing in his first career pitching start against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Ohtani left Wednesday's game after giving up five earned runs and nine hits in four innings and getting hit in the leg by a comeback line drive.

With runners at second and third and one out in the fourth inning, Ohtani got hit by a 93-mph line drive off the bat of Colorado's Orlando Arciao on his right leg that caused him to limp and grimace in pain. The liner struck the reigning National League MVP on the knee and ricocheted toward the first base line. Ohtani gave chase and grabbed the ball on the line, spun to make a throw, but had no play as a runner scored.

After a mound visit from manager Dave Roberts and team medical personnel, Ohtani stayed in the game and got the last two outs of the inning, with the Dodgers trailing 5-0 at the time. The Dodgers lost to Colorado 8-3.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game that the line drive hit Ohtani on the thigh and managed to avoid his knee and any on-bone contact.

The earned runs that Ohtani allowed matched the most he had permitted since July 2022, and the nine hits allowed matched a career high.

Ohtani stayed in the game and drew a walk in his at-bat in the fifth inning, but did not bat in the eighth. He was replaced by Alex Call, who struck out.

Ohtani was making his 10th start of the season after not pitching in the 2024 season while recovering from elbow surgery.

He entered Wednesday without a decision and a 3.47 ERA. This season, he hasn’t thrown more than 4 ⅓ innings or 80 pitches. Against the MLB-worst Rockies, he threw 66 pitches, 49 for strikes.

Ohtani is batting .284 with 44 homers, one behind NL-leading Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, with 83 RBIs.

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What Will The Penguins' Bottom-Six Look Like This Season?

Mar 7, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Minnesota Wild forward Justin Brazeau (15) rests during warm up prior to a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

If one thing is for certain when the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp a month from now, it’s that they have a whole lot of players in the mix for precious few spots on the roster.

And that is, perhaps, most evident when taking a look at the forward group.

Right now, the Penguins have 13 forwards on their active roster, which - if no trades are made prior to the start of the season - will include surefire top-six players in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. There is a lot of talk about who will occupy those other two top-six spots, but - realistically - anyone slotted there will certainly have to earn it.

Top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen come to mind, as they showed they belonged in a brief stint to end the season. But even they are not guaranteed to make the roster, as they are not even part of that group of 13. 

Aside from those two, however, nine other players will compete for not even just top-six time, but roster spots in general. That includes free agent signings Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau as well as returnees in Philip Tomasino, Connor Dewar, Tommy Novak, Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte, and Noel Acciari.

So this begs the question: What will the Penguins’ bottom-six shape up to be in 2025-26?

It’s largely dependent on the team’s goals for this season

At the end of the day, we will see just how committed Penguins’ GM and POHO Kyle Dubas and new head coach Dan Muse are to shifting the focus to youth and development.

Should players like McGroarty, Koivunen, and Filip Hallander push for roster spots and make the NHL team, it’s safe to say they value prioritizing where their youth talent should be playing rather than where it’s most convenient. 

But, if not, it says a lot about where the team is headed next season. Aside from committing to the tank, there’s no discernible reason to keep two or three young players who are certainly ready and capable of playing NHL minutes from, indeed, playing those minutes.

However, that would require some maneuvering on the current NHL roster. The Penguins could take a gander at the trade market to test the value of some of their bottom-six veterans or ultimately waive a few players by the end of camp in order to make room for the youth movement. 

If a situation arises where all three of McGroarty, Koivunen, and Hallander make the NHL roster - and McGroarty and Koivunen are iced in the top-six - the bottom-six could end up looking something like this:

Hallander - Novak - Mantha
Dewar - Lizotte - Brazeau
Hayes, Tomasino

It is reasonable to suggest that Acciari could be dealt prior to training camp for the right price, and both he and Heinen are players that the Penguins could ultimately decide to waive at the end of training camp if they are not able to find suitors for them. It’s also possible that they waive or deal one more of Hayes or Tomasino in order to keep eight defensemen instead of 14 forwards.

Should Two Top Forward Prospects Make Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Should Two Top Forward Prospects Make Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Even if the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t making a huge push to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2025-26, they have had a relatively active summer up to this point. 

And if they do commit to the tank…?

Well, then, we’re unlikely to see at least McGroarty and Koivunen make the roster out of training camp. 

To be clear, Dubas has said that he wants the younger players to earn a roster spot instead of it being handed to them. He believes creating that competition will, hopefully, help separate them as opposed to block them.

“I think the key thing is that we want these guys to earn it,” Dubas said prior to free agency. “So, if we just start handing the guys spots, we’re going to very quickly lose what I think the Penguins have been about for a very long time and what’s made the Penguins a great team in the league since the early 90s.

“It’s right there for them. We’re not going to block them, but they’re going to have to go out and prove that they can be here, and they’re going to have to earn their way here… It’s trying to find that balance between not blocking players but making them earn it and also having enough depth to be competitive on a nightly basis.”

While Dubas seems very sincere in wanting this to be the case, it’s definitely worth considering - once again - that a roster spot is even open for them as of now. While it very well could be all about creating healthy competition, it could also be about not wanting to rush development if Dubas feels like the team will bottom out this season.

Sans McGroarty, Koivunen, and Hallander? Mantha and either Novak or Tomasino likely lands in the top-six, which leaves a potential bottom-six of:

Heinen - Hayes - Tomasino
Dewar - Lizotte - Brazeau
Acciari

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Predicting The Top 3 Penguins Scorers For 2025-26

Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for a third-straight season last year, they still had some very productive players.

Captain Sidney Crosby led the team with 91 points in 80 games, which was 10th overall in the NHL. It was also his third-straight 90+ point season despite being in his late 30s. He's showing no signs of slowing down entering the 2025-26 season. 

Rickard Rakell set career highs in goals (35) and points (70) last year, and looks poised to return for this season, even though he has been involved in a lot of trade rumors over the past several months. That can obviously change with one phone call, but that's how it's looking right now. 

The same goes for Bryan Rust, who also set a career high in goals with 31 and has drawn a ton of interest from other teams this summer. They appreciate his championship pedigree and how he has developed into a strong leader. Still, Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas is being patient with the trade market. 

With all of that in mind, let's try to project the Penguins' top three point producers for this year. 

Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) on his 200th career NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Sidney Crosby

Crosby is still one of the 10 best players in the sport, and it's not changing anytime soon. He did it all for the Penguins last year, even when they were out of the race going into the final weeks. 

He had a ridiculous stretch to end the season, compiling 30 points in the Penguins' final 21 games to secure his 20th consecutive point-per-game season, the most in NHL history. Crosby had been tied with Wayne Gretzky at 19 before breaking the record this year. 

He is the heartbeat of the Penguins, and as long as he stays healthy for this season, he will lead the team in points. He's also closing in on more history since he's only 36 points away from tying Mario Lemieux for the Penguins' franchise record in points. He needs 37 to pass him for that record and be eighth on the NHL's all-time scoring list. 

Steve Yzerman and Marcel Dionne are seventh and sixth on the NHL's all-time scoring list, and Crosby will also pass both of them if he secures a fourth-straight 90-point season. He'd be on the cusp of breaking into the top five going into the 2026-27 season, which is the last year of his current contract that he signed last year. 

2. Erik Karlsson 

This pick may take aback some fans since Karlsson only had 53 points last season, but that was good for fourth on the team. He's also involved in trade rumors, but what if the Penguins decide to keep him for the entire 2025-26 season?

Someone has to put up points from the blue line, and Karlsson is easily the Penguins' best bet for that since he's their best defenseman and he's still really good at generating 5v5 offense. His 33 5v5 points were tied for fifth among all NHL defensemen last season. 

He still has more to give and has a good chance of finishing in the 60-to-70-point range if a new staff can tweak a few aspects of his game. He will more than likely get the top-pairing minutes on the right side and will also get a good chunk of playing time with Crosby next season.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

3. Bryan Rust 

I went back and forth between Rust and a few other players for this spot, but I chose Rust because I see him being a jack-of-all-trades player again, whether it's at 5v5, the power play, or on the penalty kill. He can play in any situation for the Penguins. 

Rust has been a consistent 20+ goal player throughout his career and has also been a solid playmaker over the last four seasons. He has compiled at least 26 assists in each of the previous four years and matched his career high of 34 this past year. 

He'll be another year older this year (33), but I see him having another strong year and finishing in the 60-point range if he stays fully healthy. Rakell, assuming he also doesn't get traded, will be right there with him, but I have Rust beating him out by a hair. 

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Mets Notes: Kodai Senga punished by mistakes; Luis Torrens avoids serious hand injury

It wasn't too long ago that quality starts were the norm for Kodai Senga, who undoubtedly served as the ace of the Mets' rotation during the first half of the season with a stellar 1.39 ERA. But who knows if that dependable version of him is coming back anytime soon.

At a time when length from Mets starters not named David Peterson seems to be rarer than a total solar eclipse, Senga couldn't eat enough innings in Wednesday's deflating 5-4 road loss to the division-rival Nationals. He gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four across five-plus frames.

While the right-hander retired the Nationals in order through two innings, his struggles arrived in the third. A leadoff walk to Dylan Crews and a catcher's interference error on Luis Torrens sparked a bases-loaded rally that produced two runs on an infield single and a sac fly.

In the fourth, the Nationals tacked on another two runs with a pair of doubles and a triple, and the last extra-base hit that Senga served up was a solo home run to Josh Bell in the fifth. By the sixth, the Mets had rallied for four runs to cut their deficit to one, and Senga went back out for another inning of work. But his leash was short, as a leadoff single ended his night.

"I think I was able to attack the zone well, but I just couldn't finish them off, and that's what led to those multi-run innings," Senga said through an interpreter. "There's things to improve on."

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn't seem too discouraged by Senga's performance either, but he left pitches in the middle of the zone that the Nationals punished. 

"Stuff-wise, he was good, like the velo. He just left a 0-2 to [Paul DeJong], a sweeper up in the zone, and then a couple of pitches like middle-middle," Mendoza said. "We've been asking him to compete in the strike zone, but then especially when he was ahead, today he left pitches down the middle and they made him pay... They were all over pitches in the strike zone."

Senga logged six-plus innings in six of his 14 starts before the All-Star break, and held opponents to a measly .199 average. Over his last six starts, the right-hander hasn't completed six innings even once, and his second-half ERA sits at a bloated 6.00. He just hasn't looked the same since returning from the injured list in mid-July.

His next start is scheduled to come on regular rest against the division-rival Phillies on Monday night at Citi Field.

Torrens avoids serious hand injury

As if Brandon Nimmo's second-inning exit from Wednesday's game due to neck stiffness wasn't troubling enough, Torrens gave the Mets a pretty good scare behind the plate shortly thereafter.

After the leadoff walk to Crews in the third, Torrens injured his glove hand on a swing from Drew Millas that resulted in catcher's interference. While there was a chance of rookie backup Hayden Senger entering as a replacement, Torrens didn't leave the field with the training staff. He went on to play the remainder of the game.

"Just a little sore, but it's nothing out of the ordinary," Torrens said. "It was like a shock, just because it hit me right on the finger. But it's part of the game. I was able to finish the game, so that's good."

Torrens also felt some soreness gripping his bat, but he doesn't believe any tests on his hand are warranted. He finished 0-for-4 with a double-play groundout that ended the game.

The Mets can ill afford to lose Torrens for any stretch of time, as the team just placed Francisco Alvarez on the injured list with a disconcerting right thumb sprain. Aside from Senger, they currently don't have another catcher on the 40-man roster.

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GOLDEN KNIGHTS COUNTDOWN: 49 Days Until Puck Drop with #49 Ivan Barbashev

Ivan Barbashev, who is approaching his third full season with the Golden Knights and fourth since being acquired during their championship run in 2023, is also approaching a couple of milestones.

Barbashev has played 585 games in his career, and barring anything, he could play his 15th game of the season - and 600th of his career - in Vegas against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The 29-year-old is also approaching his 300th career points, as he's sitting on 290 (126 goals, 164 assists).

Barbashev, who signed a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $5,000,000 in 2023, was acquired by Vegas from St. Louis on February 26 at the 2023 trade deadline.

The forward has appeared in 175 games since joining the Knights, and has recorded 112 points.

Since arriving in Vegas, his 112 points rank third on the team, while his 48 goals are fourth highest. His 64 assists rank fifth.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion's +52 is second-best behind Brayden McNabb (+66) on the plus/minus chart.

FUN FACT: Barbashev made his professional debut in the 2015-16 season with the St. Louis Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves would later become Vegas' affiliate when it entered the league, before the franchise purchased San Antonio's AHL franchise and moved it to Henderson.

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Giancarlo Stanton's pinch-hit homer lifts Yankees to 6-4 win over Rays in extra innings

Giancarlo Stanton saved the Yankees with his two-run blast in the 10th inning after David Bednar's blown save as the Yankees defeated the Rays, 6-4, on Wednesday night in Tampa.

Bednar had been great for the Yankees since his meltdown in Miami, but he struggled a bit in the ninth inning on Wednesday, allowing a one-hit walk and then a single to Junior Caminero. After a strikeout, Hunter Feduccia hit a high fastball that hit the top of the centerfield wall, driving in two and tying the game at 3-3.

In the 10th, Stanton came off the bench and hit a leadoff two-run shot. Austin Wells then followed with a solo shot to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead.

Devin Williams was tasked with the 10th inning, and after a leadoff single drove in a run, Williams would strike out three of the next four batters to earn the save.

The Yankees' winning streak is now at five games, and with the Mariners' loss earlier in the day and the Red Sox idle, New York is now 1.5 games ahead of Boston.

Here are the takeaways...

-After hitting nine homers on Tuesday, the Yankees picked up where they left off when Trent Grisham hit a leadoff shot off of Drew Rasmussen.

Rasmussen would settle down after throwing 20 pitches in the first inning but Wells, making the start behind the plate, launched a hanging 81 mph curveball down in the zone to deep right field. Wells' 409-foot blast was the catcher's first home run since July 25.

Grisham would add another homer to the counter in the eighth inning, putting the Yankees up 3-0. It's his third multi-homer game this season.

-Schlittler was on his A-game to start, getting the Rays in order across the first six innings, striking out six while tossing 66 pitches. However, Chandler Simpson singled up the middle to lead off the seventh to break up the perfect game. The young right-hander struck out Yandy Diaz to bounce back, but after a walk, Schlittler found himself in his first jam. 

The 24-year-old struck out Caminero but walked Josh Lowe on six pitches to load the bases. Schlittler was pulled for Luke Weaver, who struck out Feduccia to end the inning and put a bow on Schlittler's masterful game.

Schlittler had his best start as a major leaguer, tossing 95 pitches (67 strikes) across 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and walking two, while striking out a career high eight batters. 

-Weaver started the eighth and allowed a one-out solo shot to Bob Seymour on a high fastball that the young left-hander caught up to. The blast cut the Yankees' lead to 3-1. It's Seymour's first career homer, and the first blast Weaver has allowed since July 25.

Weaver bounced back to get the final two outs of the eighth with no issue, giving way to Bednar for the ninth. 

-Jose Caballero was ejected after arguing with the umpires after he was caught stealing in the 10th inning. This forced Stanton to play the outfield.

Game MVP: Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton completely shifted the momentum of this game with his pinch-hit homer.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees travel back home to host the Boston Red Sox for a crucial four-game series in the Bronx.

Luis Gil (1-1, 5.14 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees while Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.63 ERA) is on the bump for Boston.

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Mets' Brandon Nimmo considered day-to-day with neck stiffness

Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo exited Wednesday's game against the Nationals due to neck stiffness, but the issue doesn't appear to be serious.

Following the team's 5-4 loss at Nationals Park, manager Carlos Mendoza deemed Nimmo day-to-day, revealing that he woke up with stiffness on the left side of his neck and tried playing through discomfort that didn't subside.

"He didn't think much of it, but it just didn't get better," Mendoza said. "As he was ramping up to get ready for the game, it continued to get worse. He was like, 'I'm going to try it.' And then after the first at-bat and playing the outfield, it got to a point where he couldn't do it."

Nimmo validated Mendoza's postgame update moments later, explaining that he quickly felt like "a detriment on both ends" and couldn't contribute. He, too, believes it's a day-by-day recovery.

"Sometimes, depending on how serious it is, I can kind of tough it out and play through it, but this one was affecting the swing and me running," Nimmo said. "I wasn't able to do what I wanted on defense either. I wasn't able to look up... So we decided to go ahead and get out of there... When it pops up, it just takes a few days to get out."

After playing the field in the first inning, Nimmo took his at-bat and grounded into an inning-ending double play. He was pulled shortly thereafter in the second inning, and Starling Marte served as his replacement.

The neck trouble is a recurring ailment for the veteran outfielder, who was pulled from a late May game against the Dodgers for the same reason. After that game three months ago, Nimmo gave background on his neck history.

“It’s from 2019 when I ran into the wall and we’ve been really good with the training staff and myself about keeping it under control and at bay," Nimmo said at the time. "Sometimes with the travel and just everything, it pops its ugly head and it takes a few days to deal with it."

Mendoza isn't at all concerned by the details Nimmo provided, and no tests are currently scheduled.

"He's dealt with this before. It's usually 24-48 hours, we'll see what we've got tomorrow," Mendoza said. "But like I've said, he's day-to-day. I don't know if it's the same side, but he usually deals with this. He doesn't think to be too concerned."

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Canadiens: Where Nick Suzuki Ranks Among NHL's Best Centers

The Montreal Canadiens took a major step forward in the right direction in 2024-25, and captain Nick Suzuki was a big reason for it. The 26-year-old was fantastic for the Canadiens, as he scored 20 goals and set new career highs with 59 assists and 89 points in 82 games. This als marked the fourth year in a row that Suzuki set a new career high in points. 

Now, Suzuki has landed some big praise after his excellent season, as he has made the NHL Network's latest Top 20 Centers Right Now list. 

Suzuki secured the No. 10 spot on the NHL Network's list, which is certainly quite the achievement for the 2017 first-round pick. This is especially so when noting that he ranked ahead of fellow star centers like Jack Hughes, Robert Thomas, Sebastian Aho, and Nico Hischier. 

When noting that Suzuki is coming off such an excellent season, he certainly has earned this top 10 spot on the NHL Network's list. He only seems to be getting better with each season that passes, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of year he puts together for the Habs in 2025-26 from here. 

Canadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonCanadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising young winger Zack Bolduc in separate trades. They also improved their depth by bringing in Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais, and Kaapo Kahkonen through free agency.
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NCAA pushes back on ruling granting WVU players eligibility

In response to a federal judge’s ruling granting four West Virginia football players eligibility this season, the NCAA issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the decision. The organization argued the ruling could weaken academic standards and once again called on Congress to step in with legislation to bring consistency to eligibility rules. “This ruling will lead […]

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Kodai Senga struggles, Mets' rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Nationals

The Mets were unable to extend their winning streak to four games on Wednesday night, as a lack of rhythm and length from Kodai Senga proved costly in a 5-4 road loss to the division-rival Nationals.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Brandon Nimmo's first at-bat of the night was unfortunately his only one, as TV cameras caught him running gingerly out of the box on a double-play groundout in the first inning. While he came back out to play left field in the bottom half, he was ultimately pulled in the second inning with what the Mets called "neck stiffness" and replaced by Starling Marte. Call it a troubling development, as Nimmo has an established history of neck issues.

-- To make matters worse, the Mets suffered another scare in the third, when Luis Torrens injured his glove hand on a swing from Drew Millas that resulted in catcher's interference. The training staff checked out Torrens as backup, Hayden Senger started putting on his pads, but no substitution was made. Torrens flexed his hand a few times while being evaluated and then remained in the game. The Mets can ill afford to lose Torrens, as they just placed Francisco Alvarez on the injured list with a disconcerting right thumb sprain.

-- Senga looked comfortable through the first two innings, retiring the Nationals in order with two strikeouts on 19 pitches. But the Mets' starter labored in the third, as a leadoff walk to Dylan Crews and the interference error on Torrens sparked a bases-loaded rally that produced a pair of runs on an infield single and a sac fly. Senga's off-speed pitches were hit much harder in the fourth -- he gave up two doubles and a triple that pushed the Nationals' lead to 4-0.

-- The Mets cut their deficit to three in the fifth, when Brett Baty crushed a two-out fastball from Brad Lord to right-center that landed in the second deck for a mammoth 455-foot home run. But the Nationals' lead quickly went back up to four in the bottom frame, as Senga served up a solo shot to Josh Bell that also found the right-center field seats. Senga has now allowed 18 earned runs over his last six starts.

-- The Nationals tried to steal outs with Lord in the sixth, and the plan backfired. The inning began with back-to-back walks to Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, and then with one out, Pete Alonso ripped an RBI double to right that cut the score 5-2. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Jeff McNeil kept the rally going by slicing a two-run double down the left-field line that brought the Mets within one, 5-4. The Mets threatened to take the lead after Lord's exit with one out, but their bases-loaded opportunity against Cole Henry was squandered by a flyout and groundout.

-- Senga returned for a sixth inning of work, but his leash was extremely short. He gave up a leadoff single to Daylen Lile that prompted the Mets to yank him at 84 total pitches. Yet another underwhelming outing from Senga, who allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He also hasn't completed six innings in any of his seven starts since coming off the injured list in mid-July. His season ERA rose to 2.58. Tyler Rogers entered in relief of Senga and logged three outs by inducing a double-play and a comebacker.

-- The Nationals turned to relievers Shinnosuke Ogasawara and Clayton Beeter for the seventh and eighth innings, and the duo retired the Mets in order on a combined 19 pitches. The ninth inning belonged to lefty Jose Ferrer, and while he gave up a one-out infield single to Cedric Mullins that placed the tying run on first, he managed to induce a double-play groundout from Torrens that earned him the save. The Mets have yet to win a game in which they've trailed after eight innings this season.

Game MVP: Josh Bell

The lefty slugger's two-run homer to right-center in the fifth pushed the Nationals' run total to the magic number of five. 

Highlights

What's next

The Mets (67-59) will play a matinee rubber game against the Nationals on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 4.78) is slated to take the mound, opposite LHP MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.04 ERA).