Tennessee Basketball has sold out its season-ticket allotment of 14,500 for a third straight season, the Vols announced on Wednesday.
Phillies ride Luzardo's 12 K's and small-ball rally to sweep Mariners
Phillies ride Luzardo's 12 K's and small-ball rally to sweep Mariners originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The ebbs and flows of a season have been a common theme for Rob Thomson.
For Phillies lefty Jesús Luzardo, in his first season in Philadelphia, ‘ebbs and flows’ might be an understatement.
The southpaw’s masterful outing Wednesday afternoon was the difference as the Phillies swept the Mariners with a 11-2 victory.
Luzardo entered the day with a 3.50 ERA in the month August after posting marks over 5.00 in each of the previous three months.
“Attack hitters. Trying not to be too fine, just go get them. Trust your stuff and power the ball through the zone,” Thomson said before the game when asked about the key to Luzardo sustaining success.
The southpaw looked like he was taking the message to heart. After running a 3-0 count to Randy Arozarena to open his outing, Luzardo battled back to record the out. He struck out Cal Raleigh before Julio Rodríguez golfed a 1-2 slider for his 25th homer. Still, Luzardo fanned the side in the first.
He struck out the side again in the second, giving him six punchouts for his first six outs. By the third, he had eight strikeouts among his first nine outs — becoming just the seventh Phillies pitcher since 1974 to do so.
When Luzardo notched his ninth strikeout in the fourth, freezing Eugenio Suárez, it marked the most strikeouts by Phillies starting pitching in a three-game series since 1901 with 31 K’s.
The Phillies’ offense gave him early support. Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning triple, then scored on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly.
In the second, Harrison Bader singled and advanced to third on Suárez’s throwing error before Bryson Stott doubled him home to make it 2-1. Stott is hitting .308 with an .870 OPS with runners in scoring position.
“I’m just trying to take good at-bats and put the ball in play somewhere,” Stott said of his approach with runners on.
In the fourth, Max Kepler added on with his 13th homer of the season to right field, pushing the lead to 3-1.
Thomson had voiced confidence in Kepler before the game, noting, “I think Kepler’s swinging the bat pretty good.”
Luzardo’s outing came to an end when Thomson turned to veteran David Robertson for the seventh.
His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
Coming into the start, Luzardo leaned on his fastball and sweeper — 35% fastballs and 28% sweepers. Against a righty-heavy Mariners lineup with plenty of swing-and-miss, he flipped the mix. The southpaw threw 43% sweepers and 35% fastballs, inducing 11 whiffs on the sweeper.
“My stuff felt great today. Obviously, a lot of sweepers and it really worked out,” Luzardo said on his outing. “We did some work in between [starts], just understanding my mechanics and trying to get a little more in front on certain pitches and I think that that helped the sweeper today, but just physically, I’ve been feeling really good.
Suárez, who has gotten off to a slow start with Seattle, greeted Robertson with a solo shot into the left-field seats to bring the Mariners within one, 3-2. It was the first run Robertson had allowed in his third stint with Philadelphia.
The Phillies turned to small ball in the seventh to break the game open. Brandon Marsh drew a leadoff walk and Bader was plunked, setting up Bryson Stott, who executed a hit-and-run to perfection with a single the other way that chased home Marsh. Stott then swiped second, putting two runners in scoring position for Trea Turner.
Turner chopped one back up the middle off Cole Young’s glove to bring in Bader for his fourth hit of the afternoon, giving him a Major League-leading 44 multi-hit games this season. After Turner stole second, Schwarber punched a two-run single through the right side and Bryce Harper followed with an RBI knock of his own.
“We can beat you a bunch of different ways,” Turner said on their identity as an offense. “We’re gonna have to walk, we’re gonna have to slug … and it makes it tough for those guys over there.”
By the end of the inning, the Phillies had strung together four straight singles, five runs and 17 total hits on the day, stretching their lead to 8-2.
In the eighth, José Alvarado came on … and so did the standing ovation.
“That was great,” Thomson said of the ovation. “I didn’t know how the fan base would react, but I think they understand that it was an honest mistake. And I really love the fact that they welcomed him back.”
“It’s something that makes me really happy,” Alvarado said through a team interpreter.
Making his first appearance since serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, the lefty worked a scoreless inning and struck out Raleigh to end the frame.
In the series, Raleigh — who has a league-leading 47 homers — was 1-for-12 with 8 strikeouts.
“I know he’s a really good hitter,” Thomson said of Raleigh. “I think we just kept him off balance. That’s really the key to him.”
In the bottom half of the eighth, Turner hit his way on again. This time, an RBI-infield single — his fifth hit of the game and tenth total hit against M’s pitching.
And it wouldn’t be an exciting series without a Schwarber roundtripper, right? The Phillies slugger drilled a two-run shot — his 45th of the season and the team’s 20th hit of the game — giving Philadelphia a dominating 11-2 advantage.
Joe Ross recorded the final three outs and the Phillies move to 74-53 on the year, notching their 40th victory at home.
1901 was the last time the Phillies had multiple games with 20+ hits twice in a three-game span.
Even with the victory and historic performances, the team is still feeling the absence of their ace, Zack Wheeler.
“He’s a key piece for us, a leader, he’s a father and a husband … so that comes first and foremost,” Luzardo said.
“We want to make sure that the person, Zack Wheeler, is okay,” Stott added. “We’re just going out there and playing our game … we’re thinking about him and he knows that.”
A sweep, now what?
The Phils will open another three-game set Friday at home against the Washington Nationals.
Coming off an off-day Thursday, Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.34 ERA) will make 16th start of the season.
Walker has fired at least six innings or more and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his past three starts. In his last start against Washington (Aug 16), he allowed just two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings.
The Nats have yet to announce a starter. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Phillies ride Luzardo's 12 K's and small-ball rally to sweep Mariners
Phillies ride Luzardo's 12 K's and small-ball rally to sweep Mariners originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The ebbs and flows of a season have been a common theme for Rob Thomson.
For Phillies lefty Jesús Luzardo, in his first season in Philadelphia, ‘ebbs and flows’ might be an understatement.
The southpaw’s masterful outing Wednesday afternoon was the difference as the Phillies swept the Mariners with a 11-2 victory.
Luzardo entered the day with a 3.50 ERA in the month August after posting marks over 5.00 in each of the previous three months.
“Attack hitters. Trying not to be too fine, just go get them. Trust your stuff and power the ball through the zone,” Thomson said before the game when asked about the key to sustaining success.
The southpaw looked like he was taking the message to heart. After running a 3-0 count to Randy Arozarena to open his outing, Luzardo battled back to record the out. He struck out Cal Raleigh before Julio Rodríguez golfed a 1-2 slider for his 25th homer. Still, Luzardo fanned the side in the first.
He struck out the side again in the second, giving him six punchouts for his first six outs. By the third, he had eight strikeouts among his first nine outs — becoming just the seventh Phillies pitcher since 1974 to do so.
When Luzardo notched his ninth strikeout in the fourth, freezing Eugenio Suárez, it marked the most strikeouts by Phillies starting pitching in a three-game series since 1901 with 31 K’s.
The Phillies’ offense gave him early support. Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning triple, then scored on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly.
In the second, Harrison Bader singled and advanced to third on Suárez’s throwing error before Bryson Stott doubled him home to make it 2-1. Stott is hitting .300 with an .855 OPS with runners in scoring position.
In the fourth, Max Kepler added on with his 13th homer of the season to right field, pushing the lead to 3-1.
Thomson had voiced confidence in Kepler before the game, noting, “I think Kepler’s swinging the bat pretty good.”
Luzardo’s outing came to an end when Thomson turned to veteran David Robertson for the seventh.
His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
Coming into the start, Luzardo leaned on his fastball and sweeper — 35% fastballs and 28% sweepers. Against a righty-heavy Mariners lineup with plenty of swing-and-miss, he flipped the mix. The southpaw threw 43% sweepers and 35% fastballs, inducing 11 whiffs on the sweeper.
Suárez, who has gotten off to a slow start with Seattle, greeted Robertson with a solo shot into the left-field seats to bring the Mariners within one, 3-2. It was the first run Robertson had allowed in his third stint with Philadelphia.
The Phillies turned to small ball in the seventh to break the game open. Brandon Marsh drew a leadoff walk and Bader was plunked, setting up Bryson Stott, who executed a hit-and-run to perfection with a single the other way that chased home Marsh. Stott then swiped second, putting two runners in scoring position for Trea Turner.
Turner chopped one back up the middle off Cole Young’s glove to bring in Bader for his fourth hit of the afternoon, giving him a Major League-leading 44 multi-hit games this season. After Turner stole second, Schwarber punched a two-run single through the right side and Bryce Harper followed with an RBI knock of his own.
By the end of the inning, the Phillies had strung together four straight singles, five runs and 17 total hits on the day, stretching their lead to 8-2.
In the eighth, José Alvarado came on … and so did the standing ovation.
Making his first appearance since serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, the lefty worked a scoreless inning and struck out Raleigh to end the frame.
In the series, Raleigh — who has a league-leading 47 homers — was 1-for-12 with 8 strikeouts.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Turner hit was way on again. This time, an RBI-infield single — his fifth hit of the game and tenth total hit against M’s pitching in three games.
And it wouldn’t be an exciting series without a Schwarber roundtripper, right? The Phillies slugger drilled a two-run shot — his 45th of the season and the Phillies’ 20th hit of the game — giving Philadelphia a dominating 11-2 advantage.
Joe Ross recorded the final three outs and the Phillies move to 74-53 on the year, notching their 40th victory at home.
A sweep, now what?
The Phils will open another three-game set Friday at home against the Washington Nationals.
Coming off an off-day Thursday, Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.34 ERA) will make 16th start of the season.
Walker has fired at least six innings or more and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his past three starts. In his last start against Washington (Aug 16), he allowed just two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings.
The Nats have yet to announce a starter. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Who has the best college football uniforms? Top 25 looks, ranked
Some college football teams sport iconic, crisp looks every Saturday in the fall. Which teams have the best ones? We rank them:
54 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #54
The Columbus Blue Jackets have only had two players wear #54, and none since 2019.
Today we'll look at who has worn it, what they did, and where they are now.
Scott Harrington - Harrington played 185 games for the Blue Jackets after being traded to Columbus by Toronto with a conditional pick in 2017 NHL Draft for Kerby Rychel on June 25, 2016. Those 185 games would be spread out over six seasons, with 2018-19 being the year he played the most games at 73. He scored 7 goals and totaled 37 points in his career with Columbus, with the 18-19 season being his most productive with 17.
During his time in the Columbus organization, he would also play 52 games for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 7 total points.
Harrington would sign with San Jose in 2022 and then be traded to New Jersey in February of 2023. New Jersey would then put him on waivers a few days later, where he would be picked up by Anaheim and play 17 games.
In 2023, Harrington would leave for Europe and play for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss League. After playing just 14 games in 23-24, he would return to North America for the 24-25 season and play for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL.
As of now, he hasn't signed on anywhere to play for 25-26.
Adam McQuaid - Columbus originally drafted McQuaid in the 2nd round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. McQuaid would never play for the CBJ, though. While he was still in the OHL, he was traded to Boston by Columbus for Boston's 5th-round pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, on May 16, 2007. The pick that the Jackets sent to Boston ended up being Jamie Benn.
After playing nine years in Boston, he was traded to the Rangers in 2018. But in 2019, McQuaid was traded to Columbus from New York to help the Jackets with their playoff push. He played in 14 games to end the season before suffering an injury that would ultimately end his career.
On March 28, 2019, Montreal’s Andrew Shaw gave McQuaid a nasty blindside shot that took him out of the game, and his career. McQuaid told The Athletic, “I definitely wasn’t in a good place physically. Then it weighed on me mentally. I wasn’t feeling like myself. I had many injuries throughout my career, unfortunately. That became part of my story. I look at it more as having overcome different injuries, come back, try to play the same way and not have it affect my outlook on playing. But I was probably at a point where I had the most going on. I had so many different things that were really nagging me. I felt like I wanted to give more. But you hear guys say that they’re asking their bodies to do things and just not getting the response they want.”
McQuaid would finish his career 73 points and one Stanley Cup.
Who was your favorite #54?
There are 54 days to go until opening night at NWA.
Let us know what you think below.
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Yankees become 1st MLB team to hit 9 home runs in a game twice in one season
TAMPA, Fla. — José Caballero hit two home runs in 86 games with the Tampa Bay Rays this season.
The speedy utilityman matched that total in one night as the New York Yankees put on quite a power show.
“I think it’s from hanging around with these guys,” Caballero explained after helping his new team to a 13-3 victory over the Rays.
In his first game back at George M. Steinbrenner Field to face his former club, Caballero connected twice for his first career multi-homer game.
And he hardly was alone.
Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger both hit two home runs, Aaron Judge launched his 40th of the season and the Yankees equaled a franchise record with nine longballs in a game delayed nearly two hours by rain at the start.
New York also hit nine homers in its second game of the year, a 20-9 victory over Milwaukee on March 29 at Yankee Stadium. That makes the 2025 Bronx Bombers the first squad in major league history to hit nine home runs in a game twice in one season.
“We have a really good offense,” Bellinger said. “You’re going to have ebbs and flows of a 162-game season. It’s not always going to be pretty, but we all believe in each other and the talent is there. We’re doing a good job of putting it all together. It’s really fun to be a part of.”
It was just the fourth time a big league team has hit nine or more homers in a game. The record is 10, set by the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 14, 1987.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice also went deep for the Yankees, who won their fourth straight and looked awfully comfortable in a road game at their spring training home.
New York took full advantage of the cozy dimensions before a crowd of 10,046 at George M. Steinbrenner Field, where the Rays are playing while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs.
Judge, Bellinger and Stanton went back-to-back-to-back off Shane Baz to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead four batters into the game.
With that, New York became the first MLB team to hit three consecutive homers in the first inning three times in one season (also March 29 and April 29).
“The first three were just kind of no-doubters, with Judge hitting it almost all the way up the batter’s eye, and then Belly really leaning on one,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “And then Giancarlo, getting to two strikes there, just shot it the other way. In their own kind of way, three really good statement at-bats.”
Bobby Witt Jr. hits 100th homer, joining some select company in MLB history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bobby Witt Jr. knew the ball was gone the moment it left his bat.
Only later did the young Kansas City Royals star realize what kind of company it allowed him to join.
The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth.
But it also was the 100th career homer for Witt, making him the youngest in franchise history to reach that mark. He made it at the age of 25 years, 66 days, faster than Carlos Beltran when he accomplished it during the 2003 season.
“I want him up there every inning,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I mean, you look at the lineup and you’re trying to figure out, ‘How many times can we get to the plate? How many guys can we keep on base for him when he does come to the plate?’
“I mean, that’s an immense amount of pressure on a younger player to understand that’s how everybody feels about him,” Quatraro said. “But he has the physical ability, the makeup and the mental capacity to handle it.”
The latest no-doubt shot, which came off Texas reliever Cole Winn and landed an estimated 449 feet to dead center field, made Witt only the fourth player with at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases through his first four big league seasons. The others are Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds — some pretty select company.
Witt also become one of six shortstops in the last 95 years to hit at least 100 homers through his age-25 seasons. That list of luminaries includes Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr., Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Hanley Ramirez; of those players, only Rodriguez and Ramirez also had 100 steals by the time they were 25 years old.
“It was special,” Witt admitted, “just seeing the kind of names on the list or whatever they showed. But now, it’s just kind of on to the next. It was special. We enjoy it. And now it’s just onto the next game.”
They keep getting more important for the Royals, who have won five straight and seven of their last eight. They head into the third-game of their four-game set against the Rangers with a chance to inch closer to a wild-card spot, and they proved last year that they could do some postseason damage if they can only get in.
Witt continues to be the catalyst of their second-half surge, too. He’s hitting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs.
“It’s special when he goes out there,” said the Royals’ Seth Lugo, who allowed just two runs on three hits while pitching into the seventh inning. “I’ve been saying it for two years: He goes about his business the same way. He doesn’t get up or down on himself. He’s a master of consistency. That’s what he does.”
Witt also happens to be a slick fielder with a Gold Glove in his trophy case.
But at the plate is where Witt has become a bona fide star. He led the majors with a .332 average last year, when he hit 32 home runs, stole 31 bases and finished with 109 RBIs. And while he may not quite replicate the average, homer total or RBI numbers in this campaign, he already has 32 stolen bases while getting caught just seven times.
“There’s not too many guys that get to 100 (homers),” said Vinnie Pasquantino, who also homered. “And the fourth player in MLB history with 100 stolen bases? It’s not a list I’ll ever be on. I mean, it’s kind of unbelievable."
“He’s one of the best players in the league for a reason,” Pasquantino said. “A superstar.”
‘People will be hurting’: WRU recognises anger at plans for two men’s regional sides
Welsh union’s plan could see two teams cease to exist
Abi Tierney: ‘Change is hard and this is hard for fans’
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has recognised the “hurt and anger” caused by its proposal to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo would be a mistake.
Welsh rugby’s governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the game at club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and its chief executive, Abi Tierney, has urged people to “improve on the proposals” and provide “something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby”.
Continue reading...Mookie Betts staying at shortstop despite Dodgers’ outfield struggles
DENVER — Mookie Betts has played strong defense in his first full season as a shortstop, but the recent outfield play for the Los Angeles Dodgers has manager Dave Roberts fielding questions about whether the 2018 AL MVP would be more valuable to the team in right field.
Outfield defense has been a problem for Los Angeles, and Roberts called out Teoscar Hernández’s play in right after a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Hernández failed to catch Ezequiel Tovar’s high popup that landed for a double in the ninth inning, and Tovar scored the winning run two pitches later.
But Roberts isn’t ready to move Betts from shortstop, where he has played all but one inning this season. Betts has a .984 fielding percentage and has committed just six errors in 376 chances.
“There’s got to be an alternative, right?” Roberts said. “And I think right now, the way Mookie’s playing at short, not bouncing him around, I think we feel very good about it.”
Betts met with Roberts after Monday night’s loss but the manager said it was just to check in.
“Mookie pops in my office all the time and we were just talking about his swing,” Roberts said. “I wanted him to check in with me about where he’s at, certain checkpoints as we go through the season, and that was a check-in.”
The Dodgers have options in the outfield, but Michael Conforto has struggled at the plate and Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández and Hyeseong Kim are on the injured list.
Edman and Hernández can play infield and outfield, which would strengthen the defense.
Teoscar Hernández, despite his recent offensive struggles, is a stronger option with the bat than Conforto. The slugger had an RBI double in the first inning that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
“Given everything that we were going through, we’ve gone through, we’re still finding ways to win a lot of ballgames,” Roberts said. “Just in totality, we can all do a better job, all of us. And so I just refuse to try to pin it on one position, one person. ... That’s just not what I do.”
2 Devils Who Could Be Nice Surprises
The New Jersey Devils will be looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025-26 after getting back into the playoffs this past spring. They certainly have a good-looking roster on paper, as they have big-time stars in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt leading the charge.
Yet, the Devils have some players who could be nice surprises for them in 2025-26, too. Let's discuss two of them now.
Cody Glass
Cody Glass proved to be a solid fit after the Devils acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. In 14 games with the Devils following the trade, he posted two goals, seven points, and a plus-4 rating. This was after he had just four goals in 15 points in 51 games with the Penguins before the trade.
Clearly, the move to the Devils benefited Glass, and it is going to be interesting to see if he can build off it in 2025-26. The potential for the 2017 first-round pick to be a strong part of the Devils' top nine is there if he can tap into his offensive potential a bit more next season.
Thomas Bordeleau
Earlier this off-season, the Devils acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau from the San Jose Sharks. While this was one of the smaller moves the Devils made this summer, fans should not sleep on Bordeleau. He has shown in the past that he can produce at the NHL level, and it will be interesting to see if the change of scenery benefits him, like it did Glass.
Bordeleau showed promise with the Sharks during the 2023-24 season, specifically, as he recorded six goals and 11 points in 27 games. If he gets the chance to play on the Devils' NHL roster, the 23-year-old could give them their solid secondary scoring, which is a real need.
New Devils Projected Top Six Has Interesting LookThe New Jersey Devils certainly have some decisions to make when it comes to their NHL roster. After bringing in multiple new players, there should be plenty of competition during training camp. This is especially so when noting that they also have young players who should be competing for spots, too. Jacob deGrom to miss scheduled start for Texas Rangers due to shoulder fatigue
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Texas Rangers are going to skip Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start because of shoulder fatigue, but the club said it merely is managing his workload and he is not expected to spend time on the injured list.
The five-time All-Star, who was supposed to start Wednesday night in Kansas City, was examined in Texas by Dr. Keith Meister, and the checks came back clean. That means deGrom could make his next start as soon as next week.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has pitched 140 1/3 innings across 24 starts this season, going 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA. That is by far the most innings deGrom has thrown since 2019, when he eclipsed 200 for a third consecutive year with the New York Mets.
The right-hander missed most of the 2022 season with a stress reaction in his shoulder. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery the following year, and made it back in time to make three brief starts last September.
A Breakdown Of Tsyplakov's Latest Russian Interview
New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov sat down for an interview with The Slippery Ice program, and he touched on a lot.
ЦЫПЛАКОВ | Из-за Овечкина остановили игру, Разборки со Спартаком, Штрафы в НХЛ | ЛЕДИнтервью с Максимом Цыплаковым: переход в НХЛ, адаптация в «Айлендерс», жизнь в США. Максим делится историей отказа от контракта со «Спартаком», выбором «Айл...With the help of Hockey News Hub, here's some of the tranlsation from the interview:
Why did Tsyplakov choose the Islanders?
“I had offers from Boston, Vegas, and Florida, but with the Islanders I saw the best chance to actually play — not just 5–7 minutes a game."
“They told me they saw me with Palmieri and Nelson. At first I didn't believe it, but then I was really playing on that line."
Tsyplakov also made a note that he wasn't chasing a dream to come to the NHL and would have stayed in Russia had Spartak offered him a fair team.
What was his first NHL season like?
“I scored in my very first game — over 21 minutes of ice time. I was exhausted."
"The NHL game is different. It's more direct - everything forward, no risky passes. At first it felt robotic compared to Russia."
“I proved to myself I can play at this level.”
Tsyplakov wished he had scored more than 10 goals, but said that he saw a lot of growth in his game and is hopeful that he can make more of an impact on the scoresheet in year two.
Lamoriello & Fines
"Lou Lamoriello is strict - clean shave, dress code, everything. But I actually like that kind of discipline."
“I got fined around $15,000 after my suspension — that money goes into a league fund. It stings.”
“Fines for small things in the locker room are $500. You learn quickly.”
Tsyplakov was fined and suspended for his hit against Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Peopling back on Jan. 16.
“I still don't fully understand why I was suspended. To me, it was a clean hit.”
“The team supported me. Lou said, 'Better not to fight this one, so they don't target you later.'”
“My mistake was not fighting right away — then the guys kept coming after me.”
"In Philly, they kept cross-checking and chirping all game. Finally I dropped the gloves with Lawton. We wrestled more than punched, but at least it was done."
“Matt Martin gave me advice - who you can fight, who you shouldn't. That helped."
On his teammates:
“I asked if I could play music in the room. They said no. I put it on anyway - same as I did in Spartak.”
“Sorokin sold me out — he told everyone I blasted my playlist on day two.” (laughs)
“Palmieri, Bailey, Cizikas, Clutterbuck — the older guys all help. Having Russian guys like Sorokin, Romanov, and Varlamov also made it easier.”
Adapting to a new way of life:
“My English isn't perfect, but I studied with a tutor and forced myself to talk to foreign teammates. It gets easier.”
My wife had it harder - she didn't know English at first. Luckily, we found Russian-speaking neighbors with kids the same age."
“We rented a place, didn't buy. With a rookie contract, you don't know if you'll stay.”
"American food is so greasy. At first, it was uncomfortable. In Moscow, you get small portions - in New York, they bring a bucket of salad."
“I miss buckwheat and dumplings — we'd drive to Brighton Beach for Russian groceries."
On Patrick Roy:
"Patrick Roy can be fiery. He once screamed at me for a mistake in the last 30 seconds of a period. He said, 'In the last five minutes, no risks — just dump it in.' I learned quickly.”
"The hardest thing was the long preseason — I felt overtrained before camp even started. Then came Roy's brutal conditioning drills. My legs were dead."
“Compared to Jamnov, Roy is more emotional and explosive.”
"Kovalchuk worked with me a lot in Spartak. He taught me how to create space near the boards and how to change tempo - slow down, then burst past a defender. That helped me in the NHL."
Agency Issues:
“My first agent disappeared after I signed. Didn't help me with housing or anything. Luckily a Russian-speaking friend of Romanov's helped with everything.”
“I later changed agents. Now I have people who actually care.”
Tsyplakov is now represented by Ryan Barnes of Quartex.
On Facing Ovechkin:
“When Ovechkin scored, the game basically stopped. We just stood there, legs burning, watching. It was special.”
“After the game I shook his hand and told him, 'You're a machine.' It was my first time meeting him.”
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2 Penguins Who Could Be Nice Surprises
The 2025-26 season is rapidly approaching, and it is going to be interesting to see how the Pittsburgh Penguins perform after their busy off-season. When looking at their current roster, they have some under-the-radar players who could end up being nice surprises for them in 2025-26. Let's discuss two of them.
Philip Tomasino
The Penguins acquired Philip Tomasino during this past season after he had a cold start to the campaign with the Nashville Predators. After posting one assist in 11 games with Nashville in 2024-25, Tomasino had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with Pittsburgh following the trade. Overall, the 24-year-old had a solid start to his Penguins tenure and will be looking to build off it.
Tomasino has also shown early on in his career that he has the potential to provide decent offense when playing at his best. Perhaps this will be the year that the 2019 first-round breaks out and cements himself as a true top-six forward.
Justin Brazeau
Justin Brazeau is a new Penguins forward who fans should not sleep on in 2025-26. The 6-foot-6 winger has shown promise early on in his NHL career, as he can provide decent secondary offense in addition to grit. During this past season, he set career highs with 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points, and 123 hits in 76 games split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild.
When noting that Brazeau is only entering his third NHL season, the possibility of the 27-year-old breaking out should not be ruled. Thus, he could end up being a nice surprise for the Penguins in 2025-26.
New Penguins Top Six Projection Has Intriguing LookThe Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players this off-season, so their lineup will certainly look different next season. They will also have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to assembling their lineup, so they will need to be watched closely during the pre-season. Milan Lucic, 37, who last played in 2023, gets a tryout with the Blues
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues are bringing in 37-year-old forward Milan Lucic, who last played in 2023, for a tryout.
Lucic was a member of the Boston Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup championship team who also played for the Kings, Oilers and Flames before returning to the Bruins in 2023. He had two assists in four games that year before he took a puck off his ankle and went on long-term injured reserve.
Three weeks later, police were called to Lucic’s home by his wife, who told them he pulled her hair and tried to choke her. He was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a family member, but the charges were dropped when his wife declined to testify in court.
Lucic entered the league’s Player Assistance Program. The Blues say he has completed the program and has been reinstated by the NHL.
Lucic has 233 goals, 353 assists and 1,301 penalty minutes in 17 NHL seasons. He had a career-high 32 goals with 30 assists in 2010-11 and assisted on the overtime winner in Game 7 of the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens to help the Bruins win their most recent Stanley Cup title.
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest Boston Bruins Trade Buzz
After their eight-year playoff run ended last season, the Boston Bruins made moves to bolster their roster for a bounce-back performance in 2025-26.
They acquired right winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers and signed free agents Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris.
Nevertheless, there's speculation suggesting the Bruins might not be done making moves during this off-season.
RG.Org's James Murphy recently reported Casey Mittelstadt's future in Boston could be in question. The Bruins acquired the 26-year-old center and prospect winger William Zellers from the Colorado Avalanche in the Charlie Coyle deal before the March NHL trade deadline.
Murphy claimed some observers believe the promising Zellers was the real target for the Bruins as they restock their prospect pool. They wonder if Mittelstadt could be dangled in the trade market at some point.
If so, it'll mark the third time since March 2024 that Mittelstadt would be on the move. Back then, he was sent to the Avalanche by the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram.
The Hockey News’ Michael DeRosa said Mittelstadt is one of the Bruins’ top centers, but he only put up six points and a minus-17 rating in 18 games after last season’s trade. At his age, he has bounce-back potential.
Murphy also indicated that trade rumors have dogged Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forward Pavel Zacha since the NHL draft in late June. However, Korpisalo's agent denied that his client was unhappy in Boston and wanted out, while Zacha's representative dismissed the chatter as “just rumors.”
Boston Hockey Now's Andrew Fantucchio dismissed the notion of Mittelstadt or Zacha being shopped this summer. He indicated the Bruins intend to contend for a playoff berth this season, which they can't do by further depleting their depth among their top-six forwards.
DeRosa, however, says it would not be surprising if the Bruins shake up their roster during the season if they struggle again.
NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 17, Boston BruinsWe’re now reaching the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series with the Boston Bruins at No. 17.
Meanwhile, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited a recent rumor suggesting the Bruins could be cooking up a deal that would see them ship right winger Fabian Lysell to the Oilers.
Lysell, 22, was the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2021 draft. However, he's struggled to establish himself as a full-time NHL forward.
Staples rejected speculation suggesting the Bruins' asking price for Lysell might be promising forward Matthew Savoie or speedy winger Vasily Podkolzin. He doesn't see Lysell as a fit with the Oilers unless he's a ferocious checker like Savoie.
The move would make sense if the Oilers were attempting to shed Podkolzin's $1-million cap hit. They currently have around $225,000 in cap space. However, acquiring Lysell's $835,000 wouldn't be much of a savings. Sending him to the minors after trading away Podkolzin would leave them thinner up front.
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