Posts

Posted on

What feud? Shaquille O'Neal to be presenter for Dwight Howard at Hall of Fame

In a couple of weeks, when Dwight Howard is inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Shaquille O'Neal will be by his side as one of his presenters. Shaq's addition to the list of Patrick Ewing, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman, and Dominique Wilkins was announced by the Hall.

It's an interesting choice, given that Shaq and Howard have had a public feud that goes back more than 17 years. It was an inevitable tension as Shaq was not willing to cede his spot among the best centers in the game to another player, especially one Shaq saw as appropriating his "Superman" image.

This feud continued after Shaq's playing days, with him once suggesting Brook Lopez was a better center than Howard (who had been named First Team All-NBA for five straight years at that point). Howard said Shaq was retired and needed to let it go. Shaq later said all this was a motivational tactic to fire up Howard, but it continued even a year ago when both were out of the game (Howard was inspired by the Mike Tyson/Jake Paul "fight").

Now, though, it's apparently all good. The two men have a lot in common, including both being the No. 1 pick of the Orlando Magic and leading that franchise to the NBA Finals, and both were dominant at their peak.

hen Dwight Howard deservedly enters the Hall of Fame next month, Shaq will be there to present him and welcome him to the club.

Posted on

Pirates are going to call up Bubba Chandler, baseball’s top pitching prospect

PITTSBURGH — Baseball’s top pitching prospect is getting called up to the majors.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to promote 22-year-old right-hander Bubba Chandler ahead of their game Friday against the Colorado Rockies, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the roster move was not yet official.

Chandler will join a staff that already includes 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.

The person told the AP that Chandler will initially work in a “bulk” bullpen role. Chandler got off to a hot start in Triple-A this year but has stumbled lately and is currently 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 100 innings pitched this year for Indianapolis.

The Pirates have been careful with Chandler’s workload since he moved to pitching full-time ahead of the 2023 season after being projected as a two-way player when he was drafted in 2021. Chandler saw time at shortstop and as a designated hitter early in his minor-league career but struggled at the plate, hitting just .184 with Class-A Greensboro in 2022.

Asked in February if he missed hitting, Chandler joked he learned in the minors that for a position player, he’s a pretty good pitcher.

And potentially a very good one. Yet Pittsburgh has been cautious in bringing Chandler along. He pitched 106 innings in 2023 and 119 innings last season.

Chandler got off to a scorching start at Triple-A this spring, posting a 1.33 ERA in April and a 2.54 ERA in May. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, however, had been hesitant to promote Chandler, citing his relative inexperience as opposed to Skenes, who had a standout career at LSU before the Pirates called him up in May 2024.

Chandler’s effectiveness has waned of late. He went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts this month for Indianapolis.

Yet with Pittsburgh heading for a last-place finish in the NL Central, Chandler will get an extended audition in the majors as the club points toward 2026.

The top of the Pirates’ rotation for next year appears to be set with Skenes and Mitch Keller. The other three spots are a question mark at the moment, with Jared Jones (who has missed all season after having Tommy John surgery), Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo (who made his second start after having Tommy John surgery of his own in late 2023), all in the mix.

Chandler can join them with a solid showing, with the club likely looking for chances to put him in low-leverage situations. In that way, having him available for a weekend series against MLB-worst Colorado makes sense.

Posted on

REPORT: Jan Rutta Will Sign In Switzerland

Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report.

Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.”

If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay.

Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland.Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in SwitzerlandCONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

According to the report, Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalJan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalThe Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.
Posted on

2 Blues Who Could Be Nice Surprises

The St. Louis Blues' goal this upcoming campaign will be to build off their strong 2024-25 season. When looking at the Blues' current roster, it is clear that they are trending in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that they brought in some good new talent this off-season.

With the Blues' season opener starting to get closer, let's take a look at two of their players who could be surprises for them during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Mathieu Joseph

Mathieu Joseph had a tough first season with the Blues, as he posted four goals, 10 assists, and a minus-6 rating in 60 games. While Joseph struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, his past seasons demonstrate that he has the potential to bounce back. 

Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa Senators, Joseph scored 11 goals and set career highs with 24 assists and 35 points. With this, the possibility of Joseph getting his offense back up and being a nice surprise for the Blues next season should not be ruled out. 

Logan Mailloux

Earlier this off-season, the Blues traded forward Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Bolduc was a promising young forward for the Blues and had a solid 2024-25 season, fans should not ignore Mailloux. He has the potential to become a key piece for the Blues moving forward. 

Mailloux is a former first-round pick who is still trying to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. The promising blueliner should get more opportunities on the Blues, and it will be fascinating to see if he can break out for the Central Division club because of it. In seven games last season with the Canadiens, he had two goals and four points. 

Blues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderBlues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderThe St. Louis Blues signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout (PTO) on Aug. 19. With training camp still being roughly a month away, there is still time for the Blues to bring in another player or two on a PTO before the pre-season begins if they wish to. 
Posted on

2 Canadiens Who Could Be Nice Surprises

The Montreal Canadiens are undoubtedly one of the NHL's most exciting teams heading into the 2025-26 season. They have plenty of young talent who have the potential to break out but also have a nice veteran core.

Yet, let's look at two Canadiens who could end up being nice surprises for the Original Six club next season.

Owen Beck 

Owen Beck will be an interesting prospect to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old forward is still working on his development, and he certainly possesses good upside. With this, it would be significant for the Canadiens if he took a nice step forward next season and cemented himself a spot on their NHL roster. 

Beck had a solid first AHL season with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, posting 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. He also played in his first 12 career NHL games with the Habs in 2024-25, posting one assist. With a year of professional hockey experience under his belt, Beck is a sneaky breakout candidate to keep an eye on for next season. 

Joe Veleno

Joe Veleno is one of the new players the Canadiens have brought in this off-season. While he may not be as flashy as fellow newcomers like Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, he is a player who fans should not sleep on.

Veleno showed during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings that he can chip in offensively, as he posted career highs with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games. If he can get his offense back up to these totals while maintaining his heavy style of play, the 25-year-old could end up being an excellent addition to Montreal's bottom six. 

Canadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterCanadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterIt is an exciting time for the Montreal Canadiens right now. The Atlantic Division club is a clear team on the rise due to their nice mix of impactful veterans and promising young players. With this, they are undoubtedly among the most intriguing teams to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. 
Posted on

Bulls' Nikola Vucevic handling trade rumors like a vet, 'There are always rumors. Most of them are false.'

He was linked to the Lakers. He was linked to the Warriors. He was linked to pretty much any team in need of a solid center. Then, there were rumors that the Chicago Bulls would buy out the final year of his $21.5 million contract, allowing him to sign elsewhere as a free agent.

Nikola Vucevic brushed them all off. The 14-year NBA veteran has been dealing with rumors his entire career, and he has been traded a couple times, he knows what that experience was like. What was happening this summer was nothing like that, he told BasketUSA in an interview as he practices with Montenegro for the EuroBasket championships starting in a week (hat tip to Real GM for the translation).

"The Bulls' GM [Marc Eversley] had contacted me after all the rumors about me, confirmed that nothing was true and that everything we had said to each other after the season was still relevant. I knew it but it's always nice when your GM contacts you to tell you...

"There are always rumors. Most of them are false. It's a bit of nonsense. For example, the buy-out was misinterpreted in Europe: the journalist wrote that if there was no 'trade' during the season, there might be a 'buy-out' option before the 'deadline.' I know how the business works, in the last year of a contract, there is always speculation. Since I can't control anything, I try not to worry about it."

Last season, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, shooting 40.2% from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts a game. He is a high-quality offensive center who could help a lot of teams and has become a key part of the Bulls' attack, but is not the defensive anchor at the position that a lot of teams are seeking in the modern game.

Vucevic added in the interview that he is "almost certain" he will be with the Bulls when the season opens, which makes sense as he is clearly the starter at the five and one of only two true centers on the 15-man roster (Zach Collins is the other).

Whether he is in Chicago when the season ends is another question. He's a 34-year-old center in the final year of his contract — players in that situation are often available in trades, and can be bought out to save money after the trade deadline. That is possible here, depending on what other moves Chicago makes. The Bulls front office has to be thinking about what comes next at the five, although figuring out the Bulls front office's long-term vision is a challenge in and of itself.

Whatever that plan is, it includes Vucevic at the five to start the season.

Posted on

In the System: William Strömgren

William Strömgren is a smooth-skating Swede with Top-Six potential.

Player Snapshot

Strömgren is a 6’3”, 175-pound left winger from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Selected by the Flames in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, he spent time in the SHL before making the jump to North American hockey. Known for his size-skating combo, Strömgren has the frame of a power forward but the finesse of a playmaker, making him an intriguing offensive piece in Calgary’s system.

Last Season in Review

In 2024–25, Strömgren appeared in 70 games for the Wranglers, scoring 14 goals and adding 35 assists for 49 points. It was a steady step up from his first full season in North America, where he posted 27 points (7 g, 20a) in 68 games. His confidence with the puck grew noticeably, as did his willingness to attack defenders one-on-one.

He also saw more time on the power play, where his quick release and ability to find soft spots in coverage helped generate scoring chances.

© Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Playing Style & Strengths

Strömgren combines long, powerful strides with deceptive hands, allowing him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into dangerous areas. He’s comfortable on either wing, has a strong reach, and can protect the puck effectively along the boards.

His offensive instincts are sharp — he knows when to pull the trigger and when to look for a teammate — but his defensive game has also improved, earning him more trust from the coaching staff.

What’s Next for 2025–26

This season is about pushing his offensive ceiling. A 50 to 60-point season in the AHL would signal he’s getting ready to push for NHL looks. He’ll also aim to add a bit more size and strength to withstand the grind of top-six minutes and sharpen his play without the puck.

Bottom Line

With size, speed, and skill, Strömgren has the tools to develop into an NHL-caliber winger. Continued offensive growth and consistent defensive play will be his ticket to the next level.

Posted on

Why The NHL's Stanley Cup Favorites Could Or Couldn't Win

Entering a new NHL season, all 32 teams begin with the same record, but each of them has different goals.

Most teams are on the pursuit of greatness, looking to win a Stanley Cup, while others are in a different phase, looking for small wins to use as stepping stones.

Predicting who wins the Stanley Cup is always fun to put together, even if it's quite challenging to get it right. Each contender has their strengths and weaknesses.

Here are the five teams with the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26, according to sportbook BetMGM, and why they could or could not win it all.

Florida Panthers

To the surprise of very few, the Panthers are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, currently at 7.00 odds (+600).

The Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and are returning with virtually the same roster. Although some moves will need to be made to fit under the salary cap once Matthew Tkachuk returns from his injury, the Panthers are expected to roster a lineup as strong as it was last year after the trade deadline, when they added Brad Marchand and Seth Jones.

Why they could win: The Panthers have more depth and experience than any team in the NHL. They play a physical brand of hockey that translates to playoff success, and whether they are outmatched in skill or not, they'll outwork their opponents until they win. They have the true makings of a modern-day dynasty. 

Why they could not win: Fatigue will eventually play a role. They've been to the Stanley Cup final three straight times, have had significant injuries to key players, such as Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, and their top players are expected to go to the 2026 Olympics. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is also 36, and he's played a lot of hockey that could catch up to him.

Chasing History: Can the Panthers Pull Off the NHL’s First Three-Peat Since 1983?Chasing History: Can the Panthers Pull Off the NHL’s First Three-Peat Since 1983?By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News intern.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are tied for the second-best odds of winning the Stanley Cup at 9.00 (+800), according to BetMGM.

With superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche are always a threat to make a long run. Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog will hopefully be healthy all season long, and Martin Necas' chemistry with MacKinnon should only improve. 

Why they could win: The Avalanche have the playoff experience as well and the stars to back it up. MacKinnon and Makar alone have the skill to win a series, but their secondary scorers and the value they provide outside of their offense can win them games.

The Avs are the fastest team in the league, according to NHL Edge. If they can use their home-ice advantage effectively, they can beat any team.

Why they could not win: Although they were crowned Cup champions in 2021-22, they haven't made it past the second round since then. In fact, they have only made it past the second round once in the MacKinnon Era. They have the roster to do so, but putting it together has proved to be a difficult task to replicate. Considering the time Landeskog and Nichushkin have missed since the Cup win, it's uncertain whether they will be able to play the full season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Tied with the Avalanche in odds are the Golden Knights, which used this off-season to bolster their lineup with superstar playmaker Mitch Marner.

Their post-season experience stretches further than the Avalanche's, and their play style differs, but they remain a threat to win their second Stanley Cup championship. 

Why they could win: The Golden Knights are the last team to defeat the Panthers in the playoffs, and they did so by being stingy defensively and physical.

Led by Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights blend skill and grit to a tee. Marner's playmaking should elevate Eichel's game, and they can balance out their scoring by separating Mark Stone from Eichel.

Why they could not win: The Golden Knights are an older team, and fatigue has caught up to them in recent years. When the playoffs roll around, the Golden Knights seem to be getting worse, increasing the mental errors a team usually cleans up by the playoffs. If their offensive philosophies remain the same and they enter the playoffs fatigued, similar results will occur. 

Mitch Marner Should Make Golden Knights' Jack Eichel A Rocket Richard ContenderMitch Marner Should Make Golden Knights' Jack Eichel A Rocket Richard ContenderNew Vegas Golden Knights teammates Mitch Marner and superstar Jack Eichel are expected to create magic in Sin City.

Carolina Hurricanes:

The Hurricanes, too, went out and continued to chase big names, adding Nikolaj Ehlers to their core. Their odds now sit at 9.25 (+825).

Ehlers may not solve Carolina's size or physicality issue, but he'll improve the quality and the quantity of chances the Hurricanes create. The Canes never seem to have much of an issue escaping the Metropolitan Division, but the Eastern Conference final has proved to be a task too big for them to tackle.

Why they could win: Like the Avalanche, the Hurricanes play fast, are relentless on the puck and use home ice to their advantage, going 31-9-1 at home last season. The Hurricanes, at their best, can skate teams out of the building, and they are more than equipped to do so again this year. 

Why they could not win: Physical teams that shrink the ice, such as the Panthers and previously the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers, have not only defeated the Hurricanes but steamrolled them.

The Hurricanes have yet to find a way to break down these teams' defensive structure and are unwilling to change their play style to do so. If nothing changes, it'll be another year of similar results for the Hurricanes. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers came out empty-handed in their two straight runs to the Stanley Cup final, but just accomplishing what they did is no small feat. The Oilers find ways to win in the playoffs, and that's a valuable trait that not many teams possess. Their odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26 are 9.50 (+850). 

Why they could win: With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers always have a chance to win. The duo steals games singlehandedly more than any other duo in the NHL, and it's why they've gone on long playoff runs.

Why they could not win: Goaltending and depth have been issues for the Oilers since McDavid was drafted, and it appears to be an issue again heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

At times during their playoff runs, the Oilers got plenty of depth scoring and strong goaltending, but it came in spurts. When the well dried, the Oilers felt out of place. The 2026 NHL trade deadline will be key for the Oilers, but it's hard to imagine roster changes that can fix all their holes. 

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.

Posted on

William Nylander's Italy Trip: What This NHL-Serie A Partnership Actually Means For The Maple Leafs

William Nylander was already heading to Italy in February to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the Toronto Maple Leafs forward is going a bit earlier. The player is one of 25 who will take part in the annual NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour on Friday.

For the first time, the tour will be in Italy as the NHL and Lega Serie A begin to reveal more details about their content collaboration partnership that was announced last month. The media tour takes place one day before the 2025-26 Serie A season kicks off. Nylander is no stranger to the European media tour, having participated in it before. He spends his offseason in Sweden, so he doesn’t have to cross the world for it.

Both leagues have framed the partnership as an opportunity to promote both their brands and sports and create cross-sport opportunities ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The partnership was inspired by a collaboration back in March that saw Scudetto’s Andrea Pirlo and Marco Materazzi exchange jerseys with New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad at Madison Square Garden.

This partnership may even lead to bigger cross-sport opportunities in the not-too-distant future, such as an exchange of jerseys between Nylander and a Serie A club player, or even the NHL's Global Series games expanding to Italy.

The Story Behind NHL's Serie A Partnership

Here's what actually matters about this NHL-Serie A collaboration.

It started back in March when Rangers center Mika Zibanejad exchanged jerseys with some Serie A legends at Madison Square Garden. Now both leagues are trying to milk this cross-sport promotion ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. The media tour happens right before Serie A's 2025-26 season kicks off. Smart marketing timing, if nothing else.

What This Could Mean for Future Maple Leafs Content?

The partnership isn't just about photo ops and jersey swaps. We might actually see some interesting crossover content coming. Think Nylander trading jerseys with AC Milan or Inter Milan players. Maybe even some behind-the-scenes content showing how European hockey players and soccer stars train differently. Could this lead to NHL Global Series games in Italy? The league is definitely planting seeds for that possibility.

Will This Impact Nylander's Season Preparation?

This is essentially a one-day media commitment in Europe. Nylander does these European tours regularly anyway. He knows the drill, and it's not going to mess with his training schedule. The guy spends his entire offseason in Sweden, so he's already in European time zones. This won't affect his readiness for training camp or the season.

The Bigger Picture for Hockey in Europe

This NHL-Serie A partnership shows how serious the league is about European expansion. Italy isn't exactly a hockey hotbed. But with the 2026 Olympics coming to Milano Cortina, the timing makes perfect sense. The NHL wants to capitalize on that Olympic spotlight. Having star players like Nylander involved helps legitimize these international partnerships.

What Leafs Fans Should Actually Care About?

This is mostly just good PR for the NHL. Nylander gets some international exposure, which is never bad for his brand. The Leafs benefit from having a player involved in league-wide initiatives.

Latest stories: 

Matthew Knies Invited To USA Olympic Camp Alongside Maple Leafs Teammate Auston Matthews

Maple Leafs 2025-26 Regular Season Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday

Why The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline