Posts

Posted on

ICYMI in Mets Land: Bats back up David Peterson in all-around win

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

Phillies notes: Outfield playing time in flux as Bader adjusts, Marsh heats up

Phillies notes: Outfield playing time in flux as Bader adjusts, Marsh heats up originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The outfield playing time controversy strikes again.

Despite scoring 29 runs over the past three games and going 15-for-32 with runners in scoring position, there’s a sense of tension lingering in the Phillies’ clubhouse.

Nick Castellanos has the day off. After starting 236 straight games before his streak was broken in mid-June following a disagreement with Rob Thomson, a knee issue has made him more mindful of his workload.

“He’s had a little bit of a knee problem since Yankee Stadium, so just mindful of that. Although it’s not really bothering him right now … I just want to keep him healthy,” the Phillies’ manager said.

In the clubhouse this morning, Castellanos told reporters that newly acquired Harrison Bader has been a bit frustrated with his playing time.

Bader, who posted a .778 OPS with Minnesota before being dealt at the July 31 trade deadline, has hit just .171 in 41 at-bats with Philadelphia. A consistent run could help the 31-year-old find his stroke.

“I don’t know,” Thomson said when asked if Bader could get everyday playing time. “I have to keep the other guys going, too. I think it’s probably going to be more of a rotation than anything else.”

“I think it’s a normal reaction to a new team, just trying to do too much,” Thomson said of Bader’s struggles. Bader bats seventh today.

Brandon Marsh, meanwhile, has forced his way into regular action, especially against right-handed pitching. Over his past 22 games, Marsh is slashing .367/.391/.683 with a 1.074 OPS. Of his 22 hits during that stretch, 11 have gone for extra bases. The lefty is hitting sixth in the series finale.

As for Max Kepler, the skipper has seen encouraging signs.

“I think Kepler’s swinging the bat pretty good,” Thomson said.

Kepler’s overall OPS sits at .663, but the underlying metrics suggest better results could be ahead. His squared-up percentage ranks in the 80th percentile, while his average exit velocity, strikeout rate and walk rate all remain above league average. He gets the start in right field today, batting eighth.

J.T. stays behind the dish

Who’s hotter than the Phillies’ backstop right now?

J.T. Realmuto slugged a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday, the difference in a 6-4 win over the Mariners.

Aug 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) celebrates his two-run home run with first base Bryce Harper (3) during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners in the dugout at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Over his last 30 games, Realmuto is batting .342 (40-for-117) with four homers and 15 RBIs.

Some might have expected Realmuto to sit today, but with an off day Thursday, the catcher remains in the lineup, hitting cleanup.

“I’m trying to line it up for New York, too. So we’ll probably give him Sunday off,” Thomson said.

Today’s pitching matchup

The Phillies hand the ball to Jesús Luzardo (11-6, 4.21 ERA). The 27-year-old lefty has had an up-and-down season but has entered in good form this month. Only Donovan Solano has had notable success against him, batting .538 with a 1.109 OPS in 13 career at-bats.

Seattle counters with veteran right-hander Luis Castillo (8-6, 3.48 ERA). In his last outing, he was roughed up by the Mets, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in four innings. Kyle Schwarber has Castillo’s number — in 20 career at-bats, he has four home runs and a 1.417 OPS.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.

Posted on

Five NHL GMs With The Most To Prove In 2025-26

NHL GMs are under pressure every year to prove they can craft a successful squad.

Every team's GM must ensure they have the pieces in place to compete for a Stanley Cup, whether it's right away or down the line. If their team's stuck in a rut, and they can't prove they can craft a roster, coaching staff and management group that takes the franchise to another level, then it's time to swap them out for someone else.

Some of the five NHL GMs with the most to prove in 2025-26 are undoubtedly on the hot seat, while others might not be at risk of getting fired but do have to show their vision can work.

In alphabetic order, here are five NHL GMs who must prove they're on the right track with their clubs.

Kevyn Adams, Buffalo Sabres

No GM in the NHL has more to prove than Adams, who's held the Sabres job since June 2020.

Instead of ending a lengthy playoff drought, the Sabres have extended it by five years under Adams to a shocking 14.

Not only does Adams have to prove he can build the Sabres into a playoff team, but he also has to prove he can make Buffalo an attractive destination for NHL players. 

That has been a serious challenge for Adams’ predecessors in the Sabres’ front office. Until Buffalo makes the playoffs, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Adams & Co. to convince NHLers the Sabres are a legitimate threat to win the Stanley Cup. 

Adams likely has only this year to get that job done, because if Buffalo fails to make the playoffs for the 15th straight season, someone else will likely be Sabres GM next season. The Sabres are a laughingstock, and nothing less than a post-season appearance will prevent Adams from being dismissed next summer – or sooner.

Kyle Dubas, Pittsburgh Penguins

Dubas has been Penguins GM since June 2023.

While he did prove he could build a championship team at the AHL level by steering the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup victory in 2018, he hasn’t done the same thing in the NHL. His five years as Toronto Maple Leafs GM resulted in only one playoff series win – and Pittsburgh has failed to make the playoffs both years under Dubas.

Dubas now has to prove he’s putting the Penguins on the right road to success, including guiding them to a playoff spot in the next season or two and/or setting up the franchise to thrive in the long term. Thus far, Dubas hasn’t achieved either goal, and Pens fans accustomed to consistent playoff runs aren’t going to sit by idly if Pittsburgh’s struggles continue. He has made steps to restock the prospect cupboard, which is a decent start toward looking toward the long term, but there are still veterans he could move and hasn't, which makes it important that they be a competitive squad.

Dubas can still show he’s the right man for the job this upcoming season. But the pressure to achieve something positive is very real, and time will tell whether he’s succeeded in one form or another.

Five NHL Goaltenders With The Most To Prove In 2025-26Five NHL Goaltenders With The Most To Prove In 2025-26With the skill level and speed at which the current game is played, NHL goaltenders have struggled to perform at a high level season-to-season.

Bill Guerin, Minnesota Wild

The Wild made the post-season in five of the last six seasons, but winning a round has been another story altogether. They haven't won any in that span, including the qualifying round in 2020. Guerin has to be given credit for running things for the Wild since August 2019, but at the same time, he has yet to make a roster that can go deep in the post-season.

Guerin has the respect of the hockey world – you don’t get named GM of Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics team if you’re not doing a lot of things right. That said, Minnesota fans have been aching to have a Wild team capable of winning a Cup.

Sooner or later, Guerin needs to demonstrate he can be the architect of a team that’s a playoff menace. Securing a contract extension for Kirill Kaprizov and doing something with Marco Rossi would be crucial steps.

Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators

Trotz has enjoyed tremendous success as an NHL coach, winning a Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2017-18. However, he’s still in his early days as a GM in hockey’s top league, rejoining the Predators as GM in 2023. Since then, the Preds have lost in the first round in Trotz’s first year as GM, then missing the playoffs completely last season.

Needless to say, Trotz has to show that last season’s disappointing results were an anomaly, and the Predators can not only make the playoffs in 2025-26 but also do some actual damage once they get there.

As a coach, Trotz has nothing to prove to anyone. But he understands that the Preds haven’t had many long post-season runs in their 26-year history, and he has to show fans the future is bright. 

Right now, the Preds’ future is cloudy. And Trotz’s job is to clear that up and instill a sense of optimism that better days are immediately ahead.

Five NHL Wingers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26Five NHL Wingers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26As is the case in every NHL season, certain players are coming in with something to prove. Whether it’s to justify a pay raise or a trade or to bounce back from a subpar year, some players have every motivation to improve on their results at any given time.

Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings

Yzerman has a ton of pressure to prove himself in Detroit. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for the past nine seasons, and although Yzerman has only been GM for six of them, there's not much time left to be patient.

Yzerman’s was an on-ice legend with the Red Wings, and he’s had a lot of trust and time to rebuild the roster and develop a new Stanley Cup contender. But Red Wings fans accustomed to decades of playoff appearances and four Cup wins in the last 30 years are clearly nearing their wits’ end watching this team flail and wail.

Yzerman won’t have much longer to prove to Wings fans that his blueprint for success is working. If there is more misery this coming season, you’d have to think Yzerman’s time running the team will be coming to an end.

If he gets the Red Wings into the playoffs this year, Yzerman buys himself more time. But if Detroit is once again on the outside of the post-season picture looking in, Yzerman will be looking to prove himself a top-tier GM with another organization.

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

NHL Free Agent Victor Olofsson Nearing Deal With Avalanche; Islanders Never In The Mix

On Tuesday night, news broke that unrestricted free agent Victor Olofsson was getting close to choosing his team for the 2025-26 season. 

The Hockey News confirmed that the Islanders were not involved in any discussions with Olofsson's camp during the free agent process. 

Puckpedia shared that they believed he would be signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

For the New York Islanders, Olofsson would have made sense early on in free agency as a player who could help them at 5-on-5, but more importantly on the power play.

He also always seemed to be a player, especially during his time in Buffalo, who would always find the back of the net against the Islanders. He has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 22 games against Long Island, the second-highest point total behind his 17 against the New Jersey Devils (seven goals, 10 assists).

However, as free agency progressed, the Islanders brought aboard wingers to bolster all parts of their offense. They have Jonathan Drouin, Maxim Shabanov, and Emil Heineman now, along with a hopefully rejuvenated Anthony Duclair. 

While we don't expect any forward that wasn't on the NHL roster a year ago to push for a roster spot outside of Calum Ritchie, we've touched a lot about the options Patrick Roy has when filling out his lineup card.

Islanders 2025-26 NHL Projected RosterIslanders 2025-26 NHL Projected RosterOn Tuesday, NHL.com posted Stefen Rosner's New York Islanders team reset piece. Included in that story was his projected lineup for the 2025-26 season:

That's going to be the biggest thing to watch during training camp. All we know right now is that Drouin will be skating alongside Bo Horvat, and Mathew Barzal will be going back to center-- that's at least the plan. 

Colorado doesn't seem like a great fit for Olofsson, with power-play time going to be hard to come by, but it's never a bad thing to bring in scoring depth, especially on a cheap short-term deal. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Posted on

'He has to go now' – heat on Rangers boss Martin

Russell Martin sits in the Rangers dugout
Russell Martin, who was sacked by Southampton last season, was appointed Rangers manager on 5 June [Getty Images]

It was a Rangers performance so lamentable it had fans leaving Ibrox before half-time - and questions being asked of Russell Martin's future at full-time.

Martin has only been in charge since June and the season only began in earnest a month ago, but the new manager is already under serious pressure.

The 3-1 humbling by Club Brugge does not just leave Rangers' Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, it has also cast doubt on Martin's future as manager within three months of him taking over.

We asked Rangers fans for their verdict on their team and their manager, and they were unsurprisingly vigorous in their responses...

'Please resign, Mr Martin'

Russell Bremner: Russell Martin needs to go before he is sacked.

Michael Kearney: Too early into his tenure as Rangers manager for him to be sacked? Normally I would agree, however what we are seeing on a game-by-game basis is quite possibly the worst Rangers team we have ever seen. Nobody fears us. Nobody fears coming to Ibrox. It's still early in the season - if we act now it's possible we can recover... but not with Martin as manager. He has to go, and go now.

Kevin Ord: Not sure Martin has anything to be proud of, another mountain to climb away from home again. Far too many players just not good enough.

Michael Beck: Team selection all wrong. We needed energy in the middle of the park, which [Lyall] Cameron would have given. [Mikey] Moore should have started. Martin can talk up his philosophy until the cows come home but it just won't work. The players don't buy into it, therefore it's dead in the water. Teams know how to play against Rangers. A high press forces the defence deeper and the mistake will come.

Lorna Stenhouse: Russell Martin reverts back to "the way the club has been for many years" in nearly every interview as one of the reasons the club is not moving forward and this needs fixed. I'd like him to clarify what is he trying to fix? What has been going on?

William MacFarlane: The manager has to go now. He is poor and not a Rangers manager - let him go. The team is poor but he has to go.

Callum Carmichael: I never thought Martin was the right manager for us from day one but having appointed him I was prepared to back him until things went wrong. Things have now gone wrong in a dramatic way and the fact that he won't change his style of play means that it's the end for him. Please resign, Mr Martin.

Kevin Sandison: Not even close to being good enough. A lack of tactical knowledge from the manager means he is already on very thin ice. Failure to beat St Mirren, get a better result in Belgium and then the Old Firm could see him out of work on 1 September.

Peter Cooper White: All my years watching Rangers, it's one of the craziest 20 minutes I've witnessed. Then after the game Martin said he was proud of his team. He is so deluded it beggars believe. The board must give him an ultimatum; improve quickly or you're off.

John Walker: Said it from the beginning - worst appointment Rangers could have made. Russell Martin is a joke - he should have stayed down in the lower Leagues in England, possibly the National League, and he might have won the odd game.

Andy Cumming: The fans didn't want Martin and he's turning this Rangers side into a carbon copy of his Southampton side. Look how open and terrible they were. How could he have been the outstanding candidate for the job? And whoever employed him should get moved on too.

Charlie Low: An utter shambles. I have seen U-15 teams better organised defensively. Our defenders are too slow and erratic. We have players who have no passion for our club and our manager is as bad as Paul le Guen - and he was atrocious. What were our new owners thinking when they picked him? His track record is poor.

Owen Lawson: The appointment of Martin was very strange given his dreadful performance at his previous club. No other form of employment rewards failure like football does. Giving the manager time won't work when his ideology is not suited to Rangers, who must win every game. P45 must be issued soon if this season is to bring any form of success.

Colin Gardiner: Worst Rangers team I have seen and the manager must go if we get beaten in our next two games.

Dave King: Absolute shambles, he's got to go. He doesn't seem to know what his best 11 is and what his tactics are. Embarrassing.

Paul: One shot on target all night. Russell Martin says the tie isn't over and will relish being underdogs as will his players. He honestly thinks with that defence, they will go to Belgium and not concede and score more than two? Honestly, he's just a total embarrassment to himself, his family and his club.

Jim Foster: Martin hasn't got a plan B. After they lose the next three games, he is gone!

Minority report: The case for Martin

Tim M: Every Rangers fan should listen to and absorb Russell Martin's post-match news conference. He is exactly right: whenever the club has been successful over the last 10 years has been pure vibes and occasional individual brilliance. You cannot simply will a club into being successful these days based on history. If you want to build a dynasty you need to build it.

Sadly fans just want instant success and have a sense of entitlement largely because the domestic league is so weak. Rangers are only at the start of building something, and they need to do it properly if they want to break the cycle that has seen Celtic win 12 of last 13 league titles. Give Martin the time to deliver on the pitch.

David Murdoch: Going to go against the grain here and say this tie isn't over. We outplayed them in the second half after our horror start and we were unlucky not to get another goal. It is a big ask, but I back this team to go over there and get a result.

Posted on

Crowd boos Padres security for tackling young fan who ran onto field during game

Crowd boos Padres security for tackling young fan who ran onto field during game originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When an adult runs onto the field at an MLB game, it’s common for the crowd to cheer after security has wrangled down the trespasser.

When it’s a young fan, it’s a different story.

That was the situation at Petco Park Tuesday night during the San Diego Padres’ 5-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.

During the eighth inning, a young fan ran onto the outfield grass, prompting a chase from the ballpark’s security team. Video shows one security guard wrapping up the fan and holding him upright before another guard raced in and tackled the young fan to the ground from behind.

Padres fan
A young fan is tackled by security after running onto the field during the eighth inning of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 19, 2025 in San Diego (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The response drew boos from the San Diego crowd. Padres reliever Jason Adam also grimaced as he watched the situation unfold from the pitcher’s mound.

The security team wasn’t done for the night after escorting the young fan off the field.

Another spectator made it onto the diamond in the ninth, prompting another security response.

Padres fan
A fan is tackled by security after running onto the field during the ninth inning of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Aug. 19, 2025, in San Diego. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Posted on

Moses Itauma should take ‘baby steps’ before fighting Usyk, warns Amir Khan

  • British heavyweight destroyed Dillian Whyte

  • Khan thinks Joseph Parker a good option for youngster

Moses Itauma should continue to steadily build his journey through the heavyweight ranks rather than risk getting hurt by taking a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk “too early”, according to the former unified light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan.

The Chatham southpaw Itauma extended his perfect record through 13 professional fights with an impressive first-round knockout of his British rival Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Saturday. The 20-year-old’s devastating performance against the former WBC interim heavyweight champion Whyte, 37, led to Tyson Fury claiming that Itauma would beat the undisputed world heavyweight champion, Usyk.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Draymond Green brutally claps back at Alperen Şengün's Warriors-Rockets remarks

Draymond Green brutally claps back at Alperen Şengün's Warriors-Rockets remarks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even in the NBA offseason, Draymond Green won’t bite his tongue.

So when he came across Alperen Şengün’s recent comments about the Warriors’ first-round playoff series win over the Houston Rockets, Green had to fire back.

“That’s a tough thing to say after you lose,” Green wrote on Threads. “You have to win to [say] stuff like that.”

Şengün appeared on the “Socrates Dergi” podcast and candidly shared his point of view on how the physical series played out.

“They’re a very experienced team,” Şengün said. “They fouled a lot. In the playoffs, they don’t call it. But they were the ones crying all series about fouls not being called.”

The gritty seven-game series was filled with different fouls, from personal to technical, and even consisted of a number of ejections. But the Rockets never finished a game with more fouls called on them than the Warriors.

In Game 1, Golden State had 18 fouls, Houston had 15. In Game 2, it was 18 to 17. In the third game, the Warriors finished with 21 fouls, while the Rockets finished with 17. It was close in Game 4, but the Warriors had 22 and the Rockets had 21. Golden State had 27 fouls in Game 5, and Houston had 22. The largest discrepancy came in Game 6, when the Warriors had 12 more fouls called on them (30) than the Rockets (18). In the win-or-go-home Game 7, both teams finished with 14 fouls.

Overall, the Warriors were called for 150 fouls, and the Rockets were called for 124.

That didn’t matter for Golden State in the end, though, as Buddy Hield’s historic Game 7 helped lift the team to the Western Conference semifinals and ended Şengün and the Rockets’ season.

“Hold that L,” Green wrote in response to a post of Şengün’s comments.

The Warriors host Şengün and the Rockets on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving, for their first regular-season matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season at Chase Center.

Get your popcorn, turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie ready.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Carolina Hurricanes 2025-26 Theme Nights

The Carolina Hurricanes have released their theme-night schedule for the 2025-26 season.

Single-game ticket sales will go live to the general public on Thursday at noon EST, but season ticket members will be able to purchase tickets a day earlier.

In addition, fans can get early access to single-game tickets on Thursday morning by signing up for the team’s text alerts by texting SGT25 to 919-705-0896.

But here's what fans can expect to see this season:

(The team's official website also states that additional theme nights will be announced at a later date).

Opening Night

The Carolina Hurricanes will kickoff their season at home, facing the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Margaritaville Night

vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Night

vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Halloween Celebration

There's no game on Halloween day, but the Canes will be celebrating spooky season with a Thursday night matchup (Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.) against the New York Islanders.

Women in Sports Night

vs. Minnesota Wild
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

Veterans Day

vs. Washington Capitals
Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.

Hockey Fights Cancer

vs. Vancouver Canucks
Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

First Responders Night

vs. Calgary Flames
Sunday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.

Stanley Cup 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Hurricanes will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their 2006 Stanley Cup championship across two games. Sunday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. against the San Jose Sharks and Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Holiday Hockey

vs. Florida Panthers
Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.

Star Wars Night

vs. Dallas Stars
Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.

Hockey is For Everyone Night

vs. Florida Panthers
Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

Kids Day

vs. Buffalo Sabres
Monday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Whalers Night

It'll be the battle of large mammals as the Hurricanes don the Hartford Whalers gear and take on the Utah Mammoth on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.

Olympic Send-Off Game

The Hurricanes' final home game before the Olympic Break will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. against the Ottawa Senators. Carolina has three confirmed Olympians in Sebastian Aho, Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers plus a few hopefuls like Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis.

Special Needs Night

vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.

NC Night

Celebrate local art, food and culture as the Hurricanes take on the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

Mental Health Awareness Night

vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

Military Appreciation Night

vs. Montreal Canadiens
Sunday, March 29 at 5 p.m.

Grateful Dead Night

vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m.

Fan Appreciation Night

Carolina's final home game of the regular season, a Tuesday night matchup against the Boston Bruins (April 7 at 7 p.m.) will be Fan Appreciation Night. Usually the night features a lot of giveaways and ends with the team giving the jerseys off of their backs to a few lucky fans.

Recent Articles

• How Will Carolina Divide Up The Net This Season?
• Sebastian Aho One Of Clutchest Players In NHL According To Key Stat
• Hurricanes Betting On Risky Approach To Give Them Competitive Edge
• Jaccob Slavin Invited To U.S. Olympic Camp
• Projecting the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Opening Night Roster
• Will The Carolina Hurricanes Alter Their Power Play Units?

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.