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Red Wings Players to Watch in 2025-26: John Gibson

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman pulled off a pair of trades during the offseason, first trading the underperforming veteran Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild. 

Secondly, he acquired goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek, who had just wrapped up his second stint with the club after he was re-acquired in a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in March. 

The hope of Yzerman is that Gibson represents Detroit's first true starting goaltender in the last several seasons since the days of Jimmy Howard. 

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Starting in 2018, the Red Wings have featured the likes of Howard, Jonathan Bernier, Thomas Greiss, Alex Nedeljkovic, Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Cam Talbot, and Mrazek between the pipes, none of whom were able to firmly take hold of the starter's reigns. 

Additionally, no Red Wings goaltender has managed to record a save percentage better than .904 over the last four seasons. While Detroit's porous defense played a role in that statistic, the fact that no goalie was able to firmly emerge as a bonafide starter was a concern. 

Enter Gibson. This past season with the Ducks—his final one with the franchise that drafted him 39th overall in 2011—he posted a .912 save percentage, his best mark since recording a .917 in the 2018-19 campaign.

While he's only 31 years old, Gibson was made expendable in Anaheim due to the emergence of Lukáš Dostál.

A veteran of 506 NHL games with 204 victories, Gibson immediately slots in as Detroit’s No. 1 goaltender. If he can stay healthy, the Red Wings would like him to play around 50 games, which would allow 38-year-old Cam Talbot, who played well in his first season with Detroit, to settle comfortably into a backup role.

Whether the Red Wings can finally end their nearly decade-long postseason drought, the longest in franchise history, will largely depend on Gibson’s play and durability.

Fans will be hoping he can help bring playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time since the venue opened. Gibson, meanwhile, already brings multiple rounds of postseason experience to the table, and believes that the Red Wings could be on the cusp of making something special happen.

“Their resume over the last few years shows that they’re right there,” Gibson said via the Red Wings' official website in July. “That’s where I want to be. I want to be fighting for the playoffs and get in the playoffs. I truly feel that all you got to do is make it in the playoffs, and once you do that it’s a whole new season whether you’re the Presidents’ Trophy Winner or the eighth seed. You never know what could happen.”

Gibson’s acquisition was a calculated gamble by Yzerman, aimed at buying more time for highly touted goaltending prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine to continue their development, while also providing Detroit with an established starter in net.

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Phillies' struggles at Citi Field continue with eighth straight loss

Phillies' struggles at Citi Field continue with eighth straight loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – A turned parabolic microphone in center field disrupted Alec Bohm’s view of the pitcher’s release in the fifth inning Monday at Citi Field, causing a delay of about 10 minutes in the Phillies-Mets game.

If they had known what was to come, the Phillies wouldn’t have minded calling it a night right then and there.

As it was, play eventually continued and it went quite well for the Mets, as they scored 13 unanswered runs for a 13-3 victory on a beautiful August night. With the win, New York cut Philadelphia’s lead to six games in the National League East.

At the time of the delay, the score was tied 3-3 after the Phillies had given up an early 3-0 lead.

Cristopher Sánchez looked like his Cy Young-contending self in the first three innings, as he didn’t give up a hit on just 38 pitches. But his next 2 1/3 innings were disastrous and it got even worse as the game went on. The Phillies fell to 76-55 on the season.

Things were going well for the Phillies early as they got a triple from Trea Turner to lead off the game and he scored on a Kyle Schwarber groundout. They added two more in the third when Schwarber walked and went to third on a Bryce Harper single. Harper moved to second on the throw and both scored when Alec Bohm singled to right-center.

That was the good. The only good. The Phillies last hit was a leadoff, infield single by Harrison Bader in the fourth inning.

“I think for the whole season this was my worst outing when it comes to the changeup,” said Sánchez, now 11-5. “We could all see that out there. I missed a lot of pitches, too, throughout the start. They didn’t get me at the beginning but they made the adjustments and got me. I missed a lot of pitches early on. I felt regular at the beginning, a little bit more normal. But in the end they adjusted and I have to give them credit for that.”

Some strange happenings in the bottom of the fourth allowed the Mets to tie the game 3-3. With two outs, Sánchez allowed a single to Pete Alonso. He then balked him to second when he appeared to lose his balance on his follow-through and never let go of the ball. A wild pitch then sent Alonso to third. Sánchez then allowed consecutive hits, a walk and another hit for the tie game 3-3.

In the fifth, Sánchez walked Juan Soto with one out and then appeared to have him picked off. Soto got caught between first and second when Sánchez threw to Harper at first. Harper chased Soto towards second, but his lob throw was bobbled by Bryson Stott and Soto was safe.

Sánchez then walked Starling Marte before giving up a run-scoring double to Mark Vientos for a 4-3 Mets lead. After Sánchez gave up two doubles in the sixth, it was an end to his unusually rocky start.

Manager Rob Thomson thought that Sánchez’ slip on the mound may have led to his downfall.

“It was really strange because the next pitch was to the backstop and then from that point on he was kind of behind in the count and had to get in the middle of the plate,” he said. “I’m not sure if that affected him or not but it kind of looked like it did.”

David Robertson replaced Sánchez to finish off the sixth inning, but Jordan Romano got rocked hard in the seventh. He hit Vientos to begin the inning, walked Brandon Nimmo, and gave up a single to Tyrone Taylor to load the bases. Jeff McNeil hit a sacrifice fly before catcher Luis Torrens hit a three-run homer to right.

Not a good way to begin a series. A series that not long ago seemed so big … until the Phillies had a huge lead in the division.

Now, it might have a little more bite to it.

It was the eighth consecutive loss to the Mets at Citi Field, and their 22nd in last 28 games when you include playoffs.

“We’re just getting beat and obviously that’s a good team, they play us well,” said Bryce Harper. “We have to come in tomorrow and see what we can do.”

As Thomson likes to point out, games like this happen during the course of the long season. Which is so true. But after New York eliminated the Phillies from the playoffs last season and the two have been battling for the top spot in the East all season long, a series-opening clunker like this one surely doesn’t get forgotten about too quickly.

Or maybe it will. That will fall in the hands of lefty Jesús Luzardo on Tuesday in Game Two.

“I thought we did a good job on (starting pitcher Kodai) Senga,” said Thomson. “We got him out, put some pitches on him early and we hit some balls, but right at people. I thought the offense was fine, we had some opportunities. It really comes down to we just couldn’t hold them down. We got another one tomorrow. You just got to strap it on. You got to turn the page on this one. This was not what we were looking for coming in here.”

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Captain Dahlin Facing Intense Pressure To Lead Buffalo To Playoffs

Rasmus Dahlin (Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve just kicked off a series that analyzes each Sabres player and the expectations they’ll be facing next season. All of them as a group have one singular goal – ending Buffalo’s Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years – but as individuals, there are different things they’ll need to deal with. 

Some of that is due to the money they’re making, and some of that is due to the level of their skill. But we’re intrigued by looking at the Sabres’ roster player-by-player, and see if we can’t paint a macro picture regarding the nuances of Buffalo’s predicament.

The 25-year-old Swede faces a huge amount of pressure to lead this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs, because another year without playoff hockey may cause Dahlin to seek employment elsewhere – and it may cause the Sabres to oblige him.

We began the series with looks at Buffalo’s goaltending: first, with this look at Sabres presumptive starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; then, we looked at newcomer goalie Alex Lyon, and most recently, we looked at youngster Devon Levi. And today, we’re starting our look at the Sabres’ defense corps – beginning with the most talented, highest-paid player and most crucial D-man, captain Rasmus Dahlin. 

Player Name: Rasmus Dahlin

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 73 games, 51 assists, 68 points, 46 even-strength points, 24:14 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$11-million

2025-26 Expectations: After a sub-par season in 2023-24, Dahlin clapped back last season, returning to his impressive numbers from 2022-23. One interesting fact – Dahlin was still a minute-muncher, but his average time-on-ice was down a full minute, from 25:25 in 2023-24 to 24:15 this past season. 

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff gave Dahlin a couple fewer shifts per night, but given that Buffalo’s defense corps is relatively deep – with youngsters Owen Power and Bowen Byram not yet close to their peak – Dahlin should be utilized a little less, as he’d be fresher at the end of the year if and when the Sabres qualify for the playoffs.

That’s a very big ‘if’, of course. There have been baseless rumors in the past about Dahlin’s commitment to the Sabres, but even if he did feel ready to move on, could you really blame him? Dahlin has played seven full years for the Sabres, and in that span, the highest Buffalo has finished in the division is fifth – and even then, that came back in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The past two seasons have been a step back for the Sabres, and it would be only human for Dahlin or anyone else to grow exhausted with the losing.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Goalie Levi Must Show He Can Take Next Step, Establish Himself At NHL LevelSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Goalie Levi Must Show He Can Take Next Step, Establish Himself At NHL LevelThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re examining each Buffalo player and the expectations on them next year. Each Sabres player has the pressure to get this Buffalo team into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

Dahlin’s contract runs for another seven seasons at a team-high $11-million. He also has a full no-move clause in each year of his deal, but Dahlin might be more than willing to waive the clause if it meant going to an organization with a proven track record of winning, and if Buffalo can't figure out a way to finally get things right.

If that sounds unfair to the Sabres, you should know that it’s unfair *of* the Sabres to expect to keep talent around when you can’t even get to the playoffs, let alone grow into a legitimate Cup threat. It’s really just human nature for elite athletes to strive to succeed, and you can only take so many fruitless swings at the plate before you start looking for a different ballpark to play in.

Dahlin is going to be showcased by his native Swedish team at the upcoming Winter Olympics, but the bigger measuring stick for him must be how far he can lead the Sabres this year. As Buffalo’s captain, he has to be responsible for things, be they good or bad. And that can also grate on the nerves when you can’t get into the win column more often than not.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just around the corner, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve committed to analyzing every Sabres player and the expectations on them next season. Every Buffalo player has the pressure to get this Sabres team into the playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

When it comes to time-on-ice, Dahlin will continue to lead all Sabres skaters in 2025-26. And if he stays healthy, a season where he challenges his current career-best single-season point total of 73. Much is expected of him, but if he can have a positive impact at both ends of the rink, Dahlin could help provide the breakthrough season Buffalo fans have ached for, and start this Sabres franchise down a path where fans can legitimately be excited to see the team night-in and night-out.

The future for Dahlin remains bright, but he has to be part of a playoff win sooner than later. Otherwise, bigger changes for him and the entire Sabres roster could be coming.

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Mavericks reportedly 'likely' to extend contract of forward P.J. Washington

Dallas is stacked in the frontcourt. All-Star Anthony Davis is the anchor and will start at the four, although he will play clutch time minutes at center. Derrick Lilvely II likely starts at center with Daniel Gafford behind him. Then there is No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who ultimately is going to be a power forward in the NBA, possibly eventually playing more of a point forward (with Lively and Davis starting, Flagg likely starts this season at the three).

Then there is P.J. Washington. Wherever he fits in off the bench, expect the Mavericks to extend the contract of the restricted free agent, something that could happen as soon as Friday when he first becomes extension-eligible, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

League sources tell The Stein Line that an extension for Washington is likely. While he is no longer an automatic starter in Dallas after the Mavericks stunningly won the draft lottery in May and the right to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, Washington only just turned 27 himself on Saturday and has no shortage of admirers in front offices around the league.

That extension can be for up to four years, $90 million, although the Mavericks will want to get him in for under that number, maybe something closer to three years, $60 million.

Washington was traded to Dallas at the 2024 deadline and played well off Luka Doncic, helping the Mavericks on their 2024 Finals run. Washington averaged 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game last season when healthy (he played in just 57 games in Dallas). At 6'7", he's played the four and an undersized five, he's become a steadier 3-point shooter (38.1% last season), but his defense means he might be best suited on a contending team off the bench. We will see how he fills that role in Dallas this season.

Stein hints at a possible Washington trade, using the team's quality frontcourt depth to provide more rotation players at the wing and in the backcourt. If the Mavericks get Washington to agree to a fair extension price, plenty of teams would be interested in a possible trade.

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Senators' Defenseman Nick Jensen Provides Health Update

When the Ottawa Senators hit training camp next month, there probably won't be many roster battles to sort out. But one major variable remains: the health of veteran defenceman Nick Jensen.

The 34-year-old underwent off-season hip surgery in May, a procedure he’d hoped to avoid but ultimately couldn’t. The hip first locked up on him last November following a game in San Jose, and while he’d experienced similar issues earlier in his career, this time the problem didn’t go away. Jensen spent the rest of the season grinding through the pain, spending more time than he'd like on the trainer's table, before deciding surgery was the only solution.

Now, over three months removed from surgery, Jensen is back training, skating, and feeling optimistic. But when exactly he'll be back isn't clear.

“Personally, I'm just kind of grinding ahead one day at a time,” he said last week on the Coming in Hot Podcast. “I know it's easy for guys that when they go through surgeries they get these timelines in their head … I don't really take that approach.

"I'm really just focused on going to the gym every day and making sure that I do all the work that I can and all the work that I should, and it's been feeling really good.”

The biggest change, he admitted, is simply his quality of life. 

“Everyday life is way better. Family life, you know, and playing with my kids. It was a game changer right out of the gates,” Jensen said. “Training and stuff, I feel like it's going really well.

"I probably could have gotten on the ice earlier, but I just wanted to take the time and really hammer down the strength on my hip and make sure that’s ready. I think it paid off and now I'm starting to get on the ice more … Overall, I think I'm in a really good spot right now and I think I just hit three months out from surgery.”

Jensen’s hip issues last season began in San Jose after a November game against the Sharks, but at first, he wasn’t fazed because his hip had locked up on him before.

“Usually it cleared in three or four days, maybe a week. But this time it didn’t. We tried everything, injections, medication, all that stuff, and none of it really had the answer. I was like, I can't do this the rest of my career … I would almost rather retire than continue to try to play like this.”

What made it even tougher was the fact that Jensen and Thomas Chabot had gotten off to such a good start. Early on, they were one of the best D pairs in the league, which was just what GM Steve Staios was banking on when he traded away Jakob Chychrun to acquire Jensen from Washington.

Now, Jensen’s focus is on rehabbing properly and making sure the hip holds up for the long grind of an NHL season. But he’s not putting any timeline on things.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Sens signed Minnesota Wild free agent defenseman Cameron Crotty, an Ottawa native. Their recent stockpiling of right-shot defencemen, including Crotty, Jordan Spence, and Lassi Thomson, hints that Jensen may miss some time.

But once he returns, whenever that is, Ottawa gains back a reliable, steady presence on its blue line, and that could be a huge factor in whether the Senators can take another step forward this season.

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa

Read more Sens articles from The Hockey News:
Three Ottawa Senators Named To U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp
Senators' NHL Dream Began Over Pints in the Dressing Room
Former Ottawa Senator Travis Hamonic Signs With Atlantic Division Rival

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MLB Power Rankings: Brewers still No. 1, Padres rise as serious threat to Dodgers

Special thanks to David Shovein for handling this column last week while I was away. He did a great job setting the stage for what should be an entertaining stretch run. I'm certainly reinvigorated for some chaos.

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the division races in the NL West and AL West come into focus, Vinnie Pasquantino turns it on at the right time for the Royals, being a Bob is cool again, and Paul Skenes continues to do things pretty much nobody has ever done.

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

MLB: Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Samuel Basallo earns a starting role, Bubba Chandler is here
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, August 25.

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers are 3-6 since their 14-game winning streak, but they still own the game’s best record. Kudos to the franchise for their celebration of Bob Uecker on Sunday, including customized jerseys for the players.

2) Detroit Tigers

Last week: 2

The Tigers nearly pulled off a perfect homestand as Tarik Skubal reached the 200-strikeout plateau for the second straight season. The defending AL Cy Young Award winner and Garrett Crochet are going back-and-forth for the MLB lead at the moment.

3) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 5

The Phillies will bring a season-high seven-game lead in the NL East into a series against the second place Mets at Citi Field. It’s an opportunity to bury them for good, even though missing Zack Wheeler for the long-term is a tough blow.

4) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 4

The Blue Jays got exactly what they were hoping for in Shane Bieber’s first start back from Tommy John surgery last Friday against the Marlins.

Talk about a potential difference-maker down the stretch and into the postseason.

5) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 6

The Cubs are on the upswing again, and so is Kyle Tucker. It was revealed last week that he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which explains his sustained struggles. However, after going 25 games without a homer, he hit three in the span of two games during the team’s weekend sweep over the Angels.

6) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 11

31 games to go and the Padres and Dodgers are deadlocked in the standings. Oh baby. Nestor Cortes exacted a bit of revenge from last year’s World Series in Saturday’s start against the Dodgers, allowing just one hit and no walks over six scoreless frames. Speaking of trade deadline acquisitions, how great has Ramón Laureano been?

7) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 3

It’s safe to say that Shohei Ohtani is feeling this Dodgers/Padres rivalry.

Ohtani is up to 45 homers this year and boasts a 1.171 OPS for the month of August.

8) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 12

Speaking of embracing a rivalry, Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony homered in the first inning in his first game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. The bat flip wasn’t overly flashy, but still authoritative.

9) Houston Astros

Last week: 9

The Astros recovered from the sweep at the hands of the Tigers by taking three out of four against the Orioles over the weekend. They’ll bring a two-game lead over the Mariners into the week, and they might finally get Yordan Alvarez back from the IL on Tuesday.

10) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 8

The Yankees finally got the best of the Red Sox on Sunday after losing their previous eight games against the club. Up next is a big opportunity, as they’ll get the Nationals at home for three before hitting the road for a four-game series against the White Sox.

11) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 10

Two starts in and top prospect right-hander Nolan McLean has been a game-changer for the Mets’ starting rotation.

With Frankie Montas done for the year and potentially headed for Tommy John surgery, it’s possible that fellow prospect Jonah Tong could be next. The 22-year-old has been lights out through his first two starts in Triple-A.

12) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 7

It’s not even September yet and Cal Raleigh is out here setting records for a catcher.

The “Big Dumper” will understandably say that the focus is on winning games in a tight AL West race with the Astros, but he has a real chance to win the AL MVP Award.

13) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 14

No surprise here: Vinnie Pasquantino was named the American League Player of the Week after homering in five straight games to tie a franchise record.

Pasquantino’s streak got snapped on Saturday, but he got right back into the act in Sunday’s win over the Tigers.

14) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 13

In salvaging Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, the Reds remain the only team in MLB who hasn’t been swept this season. Nipping at the heels of the Mets in the NL Wild Card race, the Reds will play three against the Dodgers on the road to begin the week.

15) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 16

Just when you think the Rangers are out, they pull you right back in. It’s been that kind of year for the Rangers, who swept the Guardians over the weekend. Now all eyes on are on Jacob deGrom, who will make his first start in 10 days after dealing with some shoulder fatigue.

16) Cleveland Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 15

The Guardians have hit just .178 as a team while losing eight out of their last nine games, including five straight.

17) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 18

The Diamondbacks remain on the fringes of the NL Wild Card race, but it’s going to be a challenge to catch up. Arizona has the most difficult schedule in the majors the rest of the way, with the Brewers and the Dodgers coming up this week.

18) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 19

We’ve seen a recent wave of interesting prospects get the call, but could JJ Wetherholt be next? The 2024 No. 7 overall pick has done nothing but hit since his promotion to Triple-A, delivering a .328/.413/.648 batting line with nine homers, 20 RBI, and five steals across 31 games. He put together back-to-back three-hit games over the weekend as the clamoring continues.

19) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 17

This home run by recent call-up Bob Seymour was a special one.

Believe it or not, Bob Seymour is the first "Bob" to hit a home run in the majors since Bob Smith (of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) on April 19, 2002. Move over, Liams and Ashers of the world, we need more Bobs.

20) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 20

This hasn’t been the season Willy Adames and the Giants envisioned, but the shortstop’s return to Milwaukee on Friday was pretty cool.

21) Los Angeles Angels

Last week: 21

Rookie Bryce Teodosio is doing his best to make sure he’s part of the conversation for center field with the Angels next season.

Teodosio is already up to five defensive runs saved despite appearing in just 19 games.

22) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 22

Austin Riley is done for the year after undergoing core muscle surgery, but ace left-hander Chris Sale is close to making his return. The southpaw, who fractured a rib in June, allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start on Saturday and could be activated as soon as this weekend.

23) Miami Marlins

Last week: 23

Jakob Marsee just keeps humming along. He’s hit safely in seven straight games and owns a .346/.416/.705 batting line with four homers, 23 RBI, and seven steals through his first 23 games in the majors.

24) Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 24

Samuel Basallo is up in the big leagues. That’s exciting. He signed an eight-year extension with the club. That’s exactly what the Orioles should be doing. The bigger question from here is if they can also reach long-term agreements with the likes of Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg.

25) Athletics

Last week: 25

Jacob Wilson doesn’t believe in the idea of rust. He’s hit safely in all three games since returning from a forearm fracture. The 23-year-old has been surpassed by teammate Nick Kurtz in the AL Rookie of the Year race, but it’s fun to see him back in action as part of this young core.

26) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 27

Fun stuff for Pirates fans: Bubba Chandler is finally up in the majors and Paul Skenes continues to be synonymous with history.

With Zack Wheeler going down, Skenes should cruise to his first (of many?) Cy Young Awards.

27) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 26

The Twins turned to a pair of pitchers they acquired at the deadline over the weekend against the White Sox…and it didn't go great. Mick Abel (from the Jhoan Duran deal) gave up six runs in three innings on Saturday while Taj Bradley (from the Griffin Jax deal) was knocked around for seven runs in five innings on Sunday.

28) Washington Nationals

Last week: 28

This has largely been a lost year for Dylan Crews, who was a preseason favorite of mine. He missed nearly three months with an oblique strain, but here’s hoping he finishes the season strong. The vibes just feel different with him in the lineup.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

After a rough stretch at the plate, rookie Colson Montgomery is back to hitting dingers again.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

The Rockies were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday, just in case you were holding out hope.

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Angels manager Ron Washington recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery. It's the first time he has publicly addressed the health issues that have sidelined him since late June.

He made the announcement while visiting the Angels for the first time since the operation eight weeks ago in California, calling it a day he had been looking forward to while recovering at his home in New Orleans. He is not returning to manage this season, but hopes to have that opportunity next year. He said he should be fully recovered by December.

“(Doctors) told me by the time I reach eight weeks I could start doing some light work, but my light work was to come up to Texas and be with the team,” said Washington, at 73 the oldest manager in the majors. "I feel great, I really do. ... I didn't come here to work, I came here to be around my guys and have fun with them."

Washington last managed a game in a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on June 19. The following day, the team said Washington was out indefinitely because of health issues after experiencing shortness of breath and appearing fatigued toward the end of that four-game series in New York.

After being cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with his team, even though they initially wanted to keep him in New York, Washington underwent a series of tests in California. He said an angiogram there showed blockage in his valves that couldn’t be fixed by stents.

“This happened fast,” said Washington, who was hospitalized June 23, had surgery June 30 and was discharged July 7.

The Angels, without elaborating then, announced June 27 that he was on medical leave for the rest of the season.

“What happened to me saved my life,” said Washington, who added that he has quit smoking, changed his eating habits and is sleeping better. At one point, he raised the Angels hoodie he was wearing to reveal the scars from the surgery.

Washington wasn't so sure he had made it in the immediate aftermath of the procedure, when isolated and connected to medical monitors.

“Actually I thought I was dead because I was laying someplace where they had put me for a few days, and I said I didn’t make it," he said. "So I started pulling stuff off, and the guy saw me doing it, and he came running in and he grabbed my hand. He said, ‘What’s going on?’ I said, ‘Am I dead?’ He said, ‘No, you’re here.' Really.”

The well-liked Washington made the revelations before the Angels opened a three-game series in Texas, where he still has a residence. He plans to continue on to Houston with the Angels before skipping the final stop of the road trip in Kansas City. Washington hopes to be with the team the rest of the season after the Angels return home.

Washington is the Rangers’ winningest manager with a 664-611 record from 2007-14. He led them to their first two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.

After initially returning to the A's organization for two seasons, Washington was on the Atlanta Braves’ staff from 2017-23 and part of their 2021 World Series championship.

With a young roster after Shohei Ohtani’s departure in free agency and with three-time AL MVP Mike Trout limited to 29 games because of injuries, the Angels went 63-99 last year to set a franchise record for losses in Washington’s first season as their manager. They were 36-38 before Washington left the dugout this year, and went into Monday night’s game 25-31 with Ray Montgomery filling in for him.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who led them to their first World Series title two years ago, is the next oldest manager in the majors. The four-time World Series champion, who turned 70 in April, came into the interview room and went onto the podium to give Washington a hug while telling him it was great to see him.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Cal Raleigh hits his 48th, 49th homers to set MLB season mark for catchers, passing Salvador Perez

SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh had so much adrenaline pumping, he couldn’t even hear a crowd of 37,550 chanting “MVP!” following his record-breaking feat.

The Seattle Mariners slugger hit his major league-leading 48th and 49th home runs on Sunday against the Athletics, setting a single-season record for catchers and passing Salvador Perez's total with the Kansas City Royals in 2021. After hitting his second home run, which set the watermark for backstops, Raleigh exited the Mariners dugout to doff his helmet.

“With everybody on their feet cheering, I didn’t even notice,” Raleigh said. “It was just a really cool moment to tip the cap. That’s not something you get to do every day.”

Manager Dan Wilson, who has been beyond complimentary of Raleigh all season, had only one complaint about the catcher’s curtain call: That perhaps he didn’t stay out on the field long enough.

“What an incredible feat,” Wilson said after the Mariners beat the Athletics 11-4. “I don’t know that you can fathom how big that is when you look at some of the people he’s passed and just what the magnitude of that record is.”

Raleigh’s record-breaking home run also marked his ninth multi-home run game of the season, passing Mickey Mantle (eight for the 1961 New York Yankees) for most multi-home run games by a switch-hitter in a season in major league history. The overall record is 11 multi-home run games in a season.

The switch-hitting Raleigh, batting from the right side, homered off Athletics left-handed starter Jacob Lopez in the first inning to make it 2-0 and tie Perez. Raleigh got a fastball down the middle from Lopez and sent it an estimated 448 feet, according to Statcast. It was measured as the longest home run of Raleigh's career as a right-handed hitter.

In the second inning, Raleigh drilled a changeup from Lopez 412 feet. Both blasts prompted “MVP” chants from the hometown crowd.

“Obviously to do it anywhere would be really special,” Raleigh said. “But, to do it here in front of the fans and to give them that and see the appreciation was a really cool moment.”

The longballs were Nos. 39 and 40 on the season for Raleigh while catching this year. He has nine while serving as a designated hitter. Perez hit 15 home runs as a DH in 2021, and 33 at catcher.

Only four other players in big league history have hit at least 40 homers in a season while primarily playing catcher: Johnny Bench (twice), Roy Campanella, Todd Hundley and Mike Piazza (twice). Bench, Campanella and Piazza are Hall of Famers.

“I think we’re seeing that he’s starting to set a bar to nobody else that’s done this,” Wilson said. “And, that’s the newsworthy part of this thing is it’s getting to a point where you can’t compare him to anybody. He just keeps pushing that bar higher.”

Raleigh launched 27 homers in 2022, then 30 in 2023 and 34 last season. Should he continue at his powerful pace, Raleigh could become the first American League catcher to lead the major leagues outright in home runs.

A first-time All-Star at age 28, Raleigh burst onto the national scene when he won the All-Star Home Run Derby in July, just four months removed from signing a six-year, $105 million contract extension. He became the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. He’s the second Mariners player to take the crown, after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr.

With 31 games to go in the regular season, Raleigh also has an excellent chance of passing Griffey's franchise record of 56 home runs in a season.

Raleigh’s homer gave him 104 RBIs on the season. He’s the first catcher with consecutive 100-RBI seasons since Piazza (1996-2000), and the first American League backstop to accomplish the feat since Thurman Munson (1975-77).

But on Sunday, Raleigh stood alone when it came to major league catching royalty with one counting stat.

“We had a chance to see all-time history today, which is really cool,” Wilson said. “Forty-nine homers this season for a catcher, unbelievable.”

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Top Five NHL Goalies Who Have Never Won The Stanley Cup As A Player

A Stanley Cup championship is the ultimate goal for every NHL player, including goaltenders. 

Yet, some of the league's greatest goaltenders from the past and present have never had the opportunity to hoist the Cup.

Despite having all the tools, their on-ice careers never led to a championship. While there’s still time for at least one player on this list to win it all, for the others, that time has come and gone. 

Here are the top five NHL goalies who have never won a Stanley Cup during their playing career.

5. Curtis Joseph

Curtis Joseph, a.k.a ‘Cujo,’ is one of the most underappreciated goalies in NHL history. He played for six different NHL teams throughout his career, and it’s fair to argue that on some of those rosters, he was the team’s best player.

Undrafted, he began his career with the St. Louis Blues in 1989-90, playing there until 1995. He later joined the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs before playing the rest of his career in Detroit, Phoenix and back in Toronto.

In 943 regular-season games, Joseph had a 454-352-90-6 record, 2.79 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and 51 shutouts. The 1999-2000 King Clancy Trophy winner also had a 63-66 record, 2.42 GAA, .917 SP and 16 shutouts in 133 playoff games.

Joseph’s career included deep runs with the Maple Leafs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Those teams ran into playoff powerhouses, such as the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.

4. Henrik Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist will be remembered as arguably the best goaltender in New York Rangers history. He delivered 11 30-win seasons in his first 12 years – the one year he didn’t reach 30 wins was the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, when he went 24-16-3. Lundqvist also won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12, when he had a 39-18-5 record, 1.97 GAA, .930 SP and eight shutouts. 

Still, he never won the Stanley Cup. 

The Hockey Hall of Famer got as far as the 2013-14 Stanley Cup final against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite recording a 2.14 GAA and .927 SP in that post-season, Lundqvist’s Rangers lost the final in six games.

3. Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo has won the Stanley Cup twice, but not during his playing career.

Luongo’s been a special assistant to the GM with the Florida Panthers since 2019-20, winning the Cup in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

As a Hall of Fame netminder, he got close but didn’t win it all. He took the 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks to a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup final before the team became less of a contender in his final seasons there. Luongo's career took a turn when he rejoined the Panthers, but this was before they became the elite franchise they are today.

Luongo’s 489 regular-season wins are the most among NHL goalies who have not won the Cup as a player.

Connor Hellebuyck and Carey Price (Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images)

2. Carey Price

Carey Price carried the Montreal Canadiens before they embraced a full rebuild. He took them through deep playoff runs – including to the 2020-21 final against the Tampa Bay Lightning – but the team was never able to provide him with the right surrounding cast before injuries derailed his NHL career.

Price had 361 wins with a career .917 save percentage and 2.51 GAA. It’s a shame he’s no longer able to play in the NHL, given that the team is trending in the right direction with young, talented players who could turn that franchise into a Cup contender in the next few seasons. 

1. Connor Hellebuyck

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the only remaining active player in this list. Considering the Jets are the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, they’re in their Cup-contending window, and Hellebuyck remains in top form. 

Hellebuyck, 32, has won the Vezina Trophy three times, the Jennings Trophy twice and the Hart Trophy once. He has a career 2.56 GAA, .918 SP and 45 shutouts with a 322-185-44 record.

The Jets have advanced past the second round just once in Hellebuyck’s decade-long career. Will this be the season they get over the hump?

Honorable Mention: Ron Hextall

Ron Hextall was one of the most entertaining goaltenders in the NHL and arguably one of the better netminders of his era. His best chance at winning the Stanley Cup came in the 1987 final, but his Philadelphia Flyers were up against the dynasty Edmonton Oilers, which dominated the NHL, winning Stanley Cups four times in five seasons. The Oilers beat the Flyers in seven games, but Hextall still earned the Conn Smythe Trophy for a 15-11 record, 2.76 GAA and .908 SP. 

Hextall got another Cup final appearance in 1997, but the Flyers lost to the Detroit Red Wings in four games.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Aaron Boone issues vote of confidence in Anthony Volpe as Yankees’ regular shortstop despite benching

Anthony Volpe is out of the Yankees’ lineup for two straight games for the first time in his career. 

He was benched in favor of utility infielder José Caballero in Sunday’s must-win series finale against the rival Boston Red Sox and again for Monday’s series opener with the Washington Nationals. 

Volpe will be available off the bench again in the Bronx, and Aaron Boone confirmed that he is expected to jump back into the starting lineup for Tuesday’s middle game. 

From there, the skipper says the team will lean on the youngster regularly down the stretch. 

"I view Anthony as our shortstop," Boone said. "I plan on having him back in there tomorrow and probably in some way shape or form tonight at some point, but just wanted to give him a couple here at the start."

The hope is that the 24-year-old will be able to use this two-game benching as sort of a reset to help get him back into a groove over the final few weeks of the regular season. 

Overall, it's been an extremely rough year for Volpe on both sides of the ball.

The former Gold Glover has taken tremendous steps backwards defensively, currently leading the American League with 17 errors while also sitting in the fourth percentile with -7 Outs Above Average. 

He is on pace for a new career-high with 18 homers, but has been struck in a brutal 1-for-28 stretch at the plate over the team's last three series. 

Volpe is now down to an ugly .208 average and .274 OBP with 122 strikeouts on the season. 

"He’s shown all the signs that he can be a really good offensive player," Boone said. "A little more consistency is that next wave and that’s what he’s working really hard to do, I’m confident he’ll be able to get there."

For the Yankees to make some noise in the American League, they'll certainly need Volpe to get there. 

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The Wraparound: Which Calder Finalist Is Most At Risk Of A Sophomore Slump?

Kick off the week with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Which Calder Finalist Is Most At Risk Of A Sophomore Slump? by The WraparoundWhich Calder Finalist Is Most At Risk Of A Sophomore Slump? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jack Williams discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Will Brady Martin suit up for the Nashville Predators this season?

4:55: Which newcomer on the Florida Panthers has the chance to make the biggest impact this season?

8:15: Which Calder Trophy finalist from last season is most likely to have a sophomore slump?

11:32: Will Pat Verbeek and the Anaheim Ducks end up trading Mason McTavish?

15:20: Could the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins affect the direction of the franchise?

18:40: Do the Colorado Avalanche have the pieces to be the best team in the Central Division?

22:45: Do the Boston Bruins have a defensive core to compete for a playoff spot?

27:10: Who should be the next captain of the Bruins?

29:45: Should Tyson Barrie have ever been considered for the Norris Trophy?

32:19: Do the New York Rangers have the potential for a huge bounce-back season?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

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16-year-old Rio Ngumoha stuns 10-man Newcastle with 100th-minute Liverpool winner

Goodness knows what the man who was not there made of it all. Might Alexander Isak have felt the tiniest bit guilty at the sight of his increasingly overwrought understudy, Anthony Gordon, missing a couple of extremely presentable chances before being sent off for a ridiculous first-half tackle on Virgil van Dijk?

And how did Newcastle’s currently striking star striker assess Hugo ­Ekitiké’s attacking performance for Liverpool? Even as Isak continues to endeavour to engineer a move to Anfield, did he celebrate Will Osula’s unexpected late Newcastle leveller to make it 2-2? What, precisely, did he feel when the 16-year-old visiting substitute Rio Ngumoha won it for the champions in the 100th minute?

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Malik Monk reportedly likely to start season on Sacramento Kings roster

All summer long, the Sacramento Kings have explored the trade market for Malik Monk. He was linked to Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade to bring Dennis Schroder to Sacramento, but that deal got done without Monk. He was part of the Kings' sign-and-trade offer for Jonathan Kuminga that never got done.

Monk trade talk seems to have faded. The Kings are not actively involved in any trade talks for Monk and he appears likely to start the season in the California capital, which may impact the future of Russell Westbrook, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line on Substack.

"After Sacramento explored various trade scenarios earlier this summer involving Malik Monk, league sources say that the Kings are not actively engaged in such trade talks now. The Kings have maintained an interest in unsigned free agent Russell Westbrook, sources say, but I'm told that they have indeed explored the possibility of creating a backcourt opening for Westbrook by other means rather than dealing Monk."

This is the dead time of year for deals, largely because this is the time of year when NBA front office personnel tend to be on vacation. Things start to ramp back up — both for potential trades and with the still unsigned restricted free agents — closer to the start of training camp in a month. Talk of a Monk trade could ramp up then, but this may be more of a case where training camp starts and the Kings wait out the market, taking their time to see if a team realizes it needs guard help, or an injury changes the dynamic somewhere. The Kings are deep with guards and would be looking for frontcourt help, as well as just remaining financially flexible in the future to reshape the roster (how much longer Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis are with the Kings is up for debate).

For the Kings, swapping out Monk for Westbrook would save money (Sacramento is about $3.1 million below the luxury tax line and hard-capped at the first apron, another $7 million above that). Monk is entering the second year of a four-year, $78 million contract and is set to make $18.8 million this season — a fair market contract for what he brings to the table (arguably even a team-friendly deal). Westbrook, however, is unlikely to receive more than a veteran minimum deal.

Monk could provide guard depth for a lot of rotations around the league. Last season in Sacramento, Monk averaged 17.2 points and 5.6 assists a game. He's a career 35% shooter from 3 who struggled some with that shot last season (32.5%).

Monk may start the season in Sacramento, but it would be a surprise if he ends it there.