SAINT PAUL, MN - MARCH 18: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 18, 2023 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s been a pretty good start to the summer for Patrice Bergeron.
Just a few days after the Bruins announced that they’ll be retiring his #37 this season, Bergeron learned today that he has been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
This year was the first year Bergeron was eligible for induction, and it’s no real surprise that he got the call the first time around.
Bergeron will officially be inducted into the HHOF in this year’s induction ceremony on November 9.
The Leafs usually have a Hockey Hall of Fame Game around the induction too…might be a nice time for the Bruins to visit town.
From an NHL news release, Bergeron had this to say:
“This honour is the pinnacle of my career and represents the coaches and players that I went to battle with. It’s a surreal honour and I’m thankful that hockey has given so much to me and my family.”
Joining Bergeron in the 2026 class are:
Brian Burke (in the Builder Category)
Cindy Curley, a Massachusetts native who starred at Providence College and with the U.S. Women’s National Team
Pekka Rinne
Carey Price
Keith Tkachuk
It’s cool to see Bergeron go into the Hall with two other stars of his era in Price and Rinne, the former of whom had plenty of great match-ups with the Bruins teams of Bergeron’s prime years.
Tkachuk is the outlier here in that he comes from a different era of the NHL, but he finally earned enough votes this year to get himself in.
(Maybe Brady can demand to be included in the HHOF too.)
Looking at the stats that got Rinne elected as a Hall of Famer, I can’t help but wonder if he’ll one day be joined by a fellow Finnish goalie who spent his whole career with the Bruins.
Rinne has around 60 more career wins than Tuukka Rask, though he also started 122 more games than Rask.
Other than that, their career numbers are pretty similar. Rask has a slightly better save percentage and GAA, while Rinne had more shutouts.
Rask had better playoff stats than Rinne as well, while each of them won a single Vezina Trophy and were in the top-ten finalists five times.
Anyways, we can argue about that another day.
Congrats to Patrice Bergeron, who is already in the IIHF Hall of Fame and in the Hall of Fame of My Heart!
The projected top four in this year’s NBA draft — AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson — are all No. 1-caliber most years. The next wave of Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, Aday Mara, Kingston Flemings and Nate Ament have incredibly high ceilings. Teams that fell in the lottery will wind up with strong prospects.
Yes, this draft is that deep. Experts have been raving about this class for months, calling it one of the best in recent memory.
“There’s four or five at least perennial All-Stars in this group,” a longtime NBA scout said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Not rotational players, but actual All-Stars.”
It gets going Tuesday night at Barclays Center. The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the eagerly anticipated first round with his mock draft:
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, BYU (F, 6-9 , 217 pounds)
I can see the Wizards debating No. 1 right up until their selection. There is no easy answer. Darryn Peterson may have the highest upside, but there are major red flags, from his health issues in his one season at Kansas to his at times inconsistent motor. Cameron Boozer is a safe bet to be a productive player for a long time to come, but he may not be a superstar, due to athleticism questions.
That’s why Dybantsa is the pick in the end. The BYU one-and-done standout has the fewest concerns, the highest upside and floor. It’s easy to envision him leading the league in scoring one day.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson, Kansas (G, 6-5 , 199 pounds)
There were times at Kansas that Peterson looked like the college version of Kobe Bryant – the game came easy to him. He dominated Dybantsa in a one-on-one matchup for a half, before an injury limited him to three second-half minutes. Peterson met with the Jazz over the weekend, after initially only spending time with the Wizards.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer. Getty Images
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer, Duke (F, 6-8 , 252 pounds)
If not for injuries to his supporting cast, Boozer may have become the first freshman to lead his team to a national title since Anthony Davis in 2012. He’s a two-way dynamo, a bruising forward with playmaking skills who was just the sixth freshman to be the consensus National Player of the Year after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 39.1 percent from 3.
4. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (F, 6-9, 211 pounds)
Five years from now, don’t be surprised if the Bulls landed the best player in this draft. Wilson is that talented. A supreme athlete, willing defender and fierce competitor, in a normal draft he is the No 1 pick. He brings a combination of production in his lone year of college – Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Tar Heels – along with immense potential growth.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville (G, 6-7, 221 pounds)
When healthy, he made Louisville appointment viewing. The electric guard has drawn Damian Lillard comparisons – although a back injury, which limited him to 21 games, is somewhat of a concern. Brown set an ACC freshman record with a dazzling 45-point showing in a rout of NC State and made at least three 3-pointers 10 different times.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (G, 6-2, 185 pounds)
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. Getty Images
You remember the Nets, right? Professional basketball team that plays in anonymity in Brooklyn. It’s just so easy to forget about them considering the Knicks’ spring takeover en route to their first championship in 53 years. The Nets falling to No. 6 after a tanking campaign that resulted in 20 wins was not ideal, but in this draft, it’s not a complete disaster. While the Nets are flush with point guards after drafting Egor Demin and Nolan Traore in the first round a year ago, they lack the Arkansas lead guard’s promise. He was the first player to lead the SEC in both points and assists since Pete Maravich in 1970.
7. Sacramento Kings
Keaton Wagler, Illinois (G, 6-5, 188 pounds)
There were supposedly 149 high school prospects better than Wagler in his class. Then, he started 6-for-21 in his first three games against high-major competition. From there, the freshman was one of the premier guards in all of college basketball, averaging nearly 18 points per game while shooting a shade under 40 percent from 3 on significant volume. Most importantly he won, leading Illinois to its first Final Four in 21 years. The Kings, who have suffered through 18 losing seasons over the last 20 years, can certainly use a player who impacts winning.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Aday Mara, Michigan (F, 7-3, 225)
The biggest riser in this draft, the 7-foot-3 Mara was a defensive linchpin for national champion Michigan. He’s a natural fit for the contending Hawks, who desperately need a quality big man to join their young core of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil-Alexander Walker.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Kingston Flemings, Houston (G, 6-3, 183 pounds)
One NBA scout believes the Houston one-and-done guard is being undervalued. He defends, can make shots and is used to being coached hard after a season with Kelvin Sampson. “I think he’s going to end up being really good. He does all the things you want your point guard to be able to do,” the scout said.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Ament, Tennessee (F, 6-10, 210 pounds)
Ament has the length, shotmaking and physical tools teams covet on the wing. His efficiency numbers at Tennessee – 39.9 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from 3 – were underwhelming, and he needs to get significantly stronger to avoid getting picked on defensively. Still, those are things that can be easily addressed, and Ament will have time to develop with the rebuilding Bucks.
11. Golden State Warriors
Brayden Burries, Arizona (G, 6-2, 215 pounds)
The Warriors are looking to win and not rebuild, making this a no-brainer choice. Burries can contribute immediately at both ends of the floor, and if his shooting in his freshman year at Arizona (39.1 percent on 4.6 attempts from 3) is an indication of his development in that area, his ceiling may be higher than some have projected.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (F, 6-9, 241 pounds)
There isn’t a better story in this draft. Six years ago, Lendeborg was working at a warehouse, thinking his basketball career was over. His mother refused to allow him to give up. From junior college in Arizona to UAB and Michigan this past season, the 6-foot-9 forward from Pennsauken, N.J. is living out a dream he didn’t even think was possible.
13. Miami Heat
Hannes Steinbach, Washington, (F, 6-10, 248 pounds)
All it takes is one elite skill to stick in the NBA, and Steinbach can count rebounding as his. He led all of college basketball in that category (11.8) in his lone season at Washington, and his 22 double-doubles equaled Boozer for the most nationally. The German forward will get you extra possessions – he averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds, third most in the country – and he has a refined post game.
14. Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan (F, 6-9, 250 pounds)
The unsung hero of Michigan’s first national championship team in 37 years. He’s a switchable defender, has untapped offensive upside and is a max effort guy that plays with an edge – attributes the Hornets could use up front, especially with Miles Bridges, Grant Williams and Josh Green all slated to hit free agency.
15. Chicago Bulls
Cameron Carr, Baylor (G, 6-5, 184 pounds)
One of my favorite fits in this draft: The silky-smooth Carr with the uptempo Bulls. He has pogo sticks for legs and in-the-building range. Pairing Carr with Wilson is a fun young tandem for new coach Tiago Splitter to work with.
16. Memphis Grizzlies
Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (F, 6-8, 222 pounds)
The lone international prospect in my first round, Lopez needs time to further develop his perimeter jumper and ball-handling skills. But the Mexican-born Lopez has NBA athleticism, plays with physicality and has the potential to be a defensive menace with his 7-foot wingspan. He scored 358 points in 2025-26 in the Australian National Basketball League Next Stars program, the most ever by a draft-eligible player, and that list includes LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr. A popular comparison: Aaron Gordon.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder
Dailyn Swain, Texas (F, 6-7, 211 pounds)
A strong perimeter defender who can touch the paint with a creative bag of counters moves sounds like a perfect match for the drive-and-kick Thunder. Swain lived at the rim this past season for Texas and shot an impressive 63 percent there, according to Synergy. Even if his 3-point shot doesn’t improve – Swain shot 34.4 percent from distance on limited volume for the Longhorns – he’s at worst a quality wing contributor for a winning team.
18. Charlotte Hornets
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama (G, 6-3, 176 pounds)
It’s the annual draft debate: Production or projection? Philon had a fantastic sophomore season for Alabama, tallying 22 points, five assists and shooting 39.9 percent from distance on 6.1 attempts. But teams are concerned about his thin frame holding up against NBA physicality and his agility testing at the combine created questions about his lateral quickness. It’s why he’s still here in the late teens.
19. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa (G, 6-3, 186 pounds)
The shooting-starved Raptors can use someone like Stirtz, one of the top 3-point marksmen in this class. He can initiate offense and spread the floor. The Iowa standout is comfortable on and off the ball, which makes him a fit in Toronto’s Scottie Barnes-centric system.
20. San Antonio Spurs
Chris Cenac Jr., Houston (F, 6-10, 240 pounds)
The Spurs need help on the interior to support Victor Wembanyama, and Cenac can provide backup minutes to the superstar Frenchman and play alongside him. He has potential to stretch the floor and profiles as a high-level rebounder with his 7-foot-5 wingspan, averaging 7.9 boards in only 24.8 minutes as a freshman at Houston.
21. Detroit Pistons
Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech (G, 6-1, 180 pounds)
Detroit wants to add offensive firepower, especially from long distance, to make it tougher on teams to load up on star Cade Cunningham. Anderson fits that need as arguably the top shooter in this class.
22. Philadelphia 76ers
Allen Graves, Santa Clara (F, 6-8, 226 pounds)
Graves bet on himself by passing on a huge college payday to go pro after an impressive season at Santa Clara. The 6-foot-8 forward has a 7-foot wingspan, soft touch from deep (41.3 percent from 3 on 2.6 attempts) and possesses offensive hub potential. Has an advanced feel for the game, a byproduct of playing point guard prior to a late growth spurt.
23. Atlanta Hawks
Koa Peat, Arizona (F, 6-7, 245 pounds)
Major bust potential. Non-shooting wings like Peat who don’t project to be a difference-making defender rarely stick in the league. In the Final Four, Peat was overwhelmed by Michigan’s size – the kind of length and athleticism he will see nightly in the NBA.
24. New York Knicks
Isaiah Evans, Duke (G, 6-6, 186 pounds)
Duke guard Isaiah Evans (3) Getty Images
The big guard flashed lottery potential at times as a sophomore, but lacked consistency. He went from a spot-up shooter to a multi-faceted scorer in his second season at Duke, and has upside to be a steal in this spot. A potential Landry Shamet replacement if the valuable reserve leaves in free agency.
An old school-style big man, Reed was dominant in Connecticut’s run to the NCAA Tournament championship game, posting 19.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks. Improved as a passer and defender this season, and has the physicality and length with his 7-foot-4 wingspan to be effective against more athletic big men.
26. Denver Nuggets
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State (F, 6-8, 246 pounds)
Editor’s note: The author is part of the Iowa State forward’s fan club, and with good reason. He may not have one elite skill, but Jefferson does everything well. He rebounds, he guards, he distributes, he can score and the 3-point shot is improving, too. Productive college players tend to impact winning at the next level – just look at the world champion Knicks.
27. Boston Celtics
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s (F, 6-8, 245 pounds)
Detractors point to Ejiofor lacking a true position as an undersized big, and see offensive limitations. A smart team – like the Celtics – focuses on his immense improvement in recent years, his winning traits and high character as valuable assets. The face of the Rick Pitino era at St. John’s has a motor that is difficult to teach. A scout compared him to a modern-day Charles Oakley.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Ebuka Okorie, Stanford (F, 6-1, 186 pounds)
He’s undersized, at 6-foot-1, but that didn’t stop the freshman from averaging 23.2 points and shooting 46.5 percent from the field in the ACC. Okorie can contribute right away in a reserve role, and the Timberwolves will be in need of firepower in the backcourt. Donte DiVincenzo is recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon and Bones Hyland could potentially leave through free agency.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas, Arkansas (G, 6-3, 190 pounds)
The Cavaliers appear committed to running it back with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and that duo could use more perimeter shooting to space the floor. Enter Thomas, a terrific shooter on the move as well as in spot-up situations. Shot 41.6 percent from 3 as a freshman for John Calipari at Arkansas. Should be able to contribute immediately as a microwave scorer off the bench.
30. Dallas Mavericks
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky (C, 6-9, 253 pounds)
If not for questions about his surgically repaired right knee, the rim-running, shot-blocking prospect would have gone in the lottery. After ACL surgery in March of 2025, Quaintance appeared in only four games a year ago. One of them, a win over St. John’s in which he had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes, showcased his tantalizing talent.
As we slowly inch closer to the 2026-27 season, we're beginning to get an idea of what the new season will look like. With the NHL expanding its regular season schedule to 84 games, the San Jose Sharks certainly won't be the only team with a condensed preseason, but we now know exactly how many games they'll play and when.
The Sharks will open the preseason on the road in Anaheim on September 20. They'll then return home for a quick two game homestand against the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights before heading for Vegas to close out the preseason on the road.
9/20 1:00 PM - @ Anaheim Ducks
9/22 7:00 PM - vs Vegas Golden Knights
9/24 7:00 PM vs Anaheim Ducks
9/26 7:00 PM @ Vegas Golden Knights
As of now, it's unknown exactly when the regular season will begin, but it's expected to start in late September, leaving little time between preseason and opening night.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A new NBA champion being crowned is always followed with the tradition of the other 29 teams asking themselves “what can we learn from this?” or “what does it take for us to reach that mountain?” The thorough ass-kicking the Sixers received from the eventual champion New York Knicks to send them home in the second round of the playoffs made it easy to evaluate their own status as a title contender. In the words of their new front office, they are not one just yet.
Still only a year removed from a franchise-derailing 24-win season, that fact doesn’t present an existential crisis it would have in years past. The Sixers have a long road ahead of them to get back to title contention. A big stretch of that road may very well be patience for VJ Edgecombe to age into his prime.
If this eight-year pattern of no repeat champions continues for the league, there’s definitely a lesson the Knicks have taught the Sixers and the rest of the league when it comes to team building, and it’s that there is no one right way to do it.
The now infamous example of the Knicks bucking conventional wisdom when it comes to roster construction is winning with a small guard as the best player on the team. This has been a hot topic in New York since Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon voiced her concerns about Jalen Brunson being capable of being the best player on a championship team on an ESPN segment back in 2023.
Building their team around a small guard was just the start of the Knicks’ unorthodox path. They hardly built any of their team through the draft. The only rotation regulars they drafted were Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride. Three of their best players spent several years in college as opposed to being one-and-dones. They burned the last of their draft capital in a trade not for a star to push them over the hump, but for a role player.
At no point did the Knicks stop and try to put a team together the “proper” way — they just kept tinkering with pieces around Brunson until the puzzle came into place.
Even perhaps the most universal truth, it takes one of the best players in the world to win a championship, has started to become challenged. Two of these last three champions, the Knicks and the 2024 Celtics, have done so without a top-five player in the league. Both Brunson and Jayson Tatum are surefire All-NBA players, but you’d be hard pressed to find them in the top five in anyone’s player rankings.
The point of this post was inspired the God of Pacers and frankly, basketball coverage, Caitlin Cooper. She pointed out how different in play styles each of the last few champions have been compared to each other. Her observation in the difference in play also highlights how different each team’s path was in getting to the championship.
The Thunder didn’t play like the Celtics, and the Celtics didn’t play like Nuggets, and the Nuggets didn’t play the Warriors, and the Warriors didn’t play like the Bucks. If anything, the lesson from the playoffs is that there isn’t a lesson from the playoffs. Find your own path
The Thunder underwent a long rebuild, but still lucked out a bit in acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a part of the Paul George trade. The Celtics were more traditional in building around two top-five draft picks, but the Nuggets didn’t draft their star until the middle of the second round.
If there is one pattern here, it’s that all of these teams still needed a bonafide star to win a championship. That’s been the case even for Brunson and Tatum.
Now, this will matter a whole let less if the 7-foot-4 alien who just lost to the Knicks ends this era of parity, which he and the San Antonio Spurs still look well set up to do. If they don’t, the good news for the Sixers is they believe they have one, potentially two of those guys who can be that in Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
With Paul George and Joel Embiid having years left on their contract, it won’t be a straightforward path to get the Sixers to optimize their backcourt. Recent history has shown the path isn’t always obvious.
They just have to find the one that works for them.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 26: Aaron Judge #99 and Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees stand on second base between innings of an MLB game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on May 26, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Earlier this afternoon, MLB released its second All-Star balloting update. The Yankees are well-represented, with Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and Cody Bellinger all in position to advance in the voting.
As a refresher, MLB uses a (semi-convoluted) multi-phase system for its All-Star ballots. We’re currently in Phase 1, which will end on Thursday. At the conclusion of Phase 1, the top vote-getter in each league will automatically earn a starting spot in the All-Star Game. Then, the top two (top six for outfielders) finishers at every other position advance to a run-off stage in Phase 2.
Judge leads all Yankees and all outfielders with 1,788,499 votes, pulling ahead of Mike Trout by just about 50,000 votes. Despite the right rib fracture that’s kept him out the last three weeks, Judge looks likely to make the team. However, he isn’t the top overall vote-getter in the American League at the moment, thanks to a surprise surge from Ernie Clement of all people. The Toronto second baseman paces the Junior Circuit with 2,054,130 votes.
Rice is second in voting at first base, a bit of a travesty given the middling year that the leader, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has put together so far. The Yankee first baseman’s 174 OPS+ dwarfs Guerrero’s 101 figure, but Guerrero now leads by about half a million votes. No matter, Rice should advance comfortably to the runoff stage with a chance to make his first All-Star team.
Also polling well is Bellinger, who clocks in with 1,067,622 votes, fourth among outfielders behind Judge, Trout, and Byron Buxton. Remarkably, the 2019 NL MVP has not made an All-Star team since securing that MVP award, but he has a great shot at breaking the streak this year. Bellinger has been excellent in every phase of the game for the Yankees, and his 3.8 rWAR is actually tops among AL outfielders.
In the running at second base is Jazz Chisholm Jr., though he is far back of the leader Clement. Chisholm stands in fourth with 419,777 votes, about 100,000 votes behind the second-place second baseman, Ezequiel Duran, so he has his work cut out for him if he wants to advance to Phase 2.
Outside of Judge, Rice, Bellinger, and Chisholm, no other Yankee hitter is really within striking distance in the voting. The team will surely also send a pitcher or two to the All-Star Game, but the pitchers that make the roster are not chosen by fan vote. You can find full details on the voting thus far, as well as results for the National League, here.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The sneakers worn by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) reacts after a play against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of game seven in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Max Strus’s 2025-26 season was definitely not the plan either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Strus envisioned. However, the Cavaliers needed Strus for the postseason, and from that perspective, he was up to the task.
Regular Season Stats
11.2 points
5.4 rebounds
2 assists
44.3% FG
40.2% 3PT FG
77.8% FT
Late last August, it was announced by the Cavaliers that Strus underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. It was initially estimated he would be sidelined for three to four months. Well, one setback after another, it became a real concern whether Strus would even be able to suit up for the Cavaliers at all this past season. Then, it was announced with 12 games left in the regular season that Strus would be able to get some minutes under his belt before the postseason.
Strus did his best to make up for lost time in his return. Against Dallas, Strus was running around like a man on fire. His lack of conscience resulted in a 7-9 shooting night (6-7 from three), ending with 24 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.
While it wasn’t like the Cavaliers were a Strus away from being a title team, he is one of the more adaptable players on the roster. Strus is someone who isn’t just a one-dimensional offensive player, which plagues more of the team’s role players. His ability to operate as a secondary ball handler, get defenders to bite on pull-ups, and try on defense are little things that add to his well-rounded game.
Strus, in his limited 12 games in the regular season, scored in double digits six times. Not too shabby for someone who missed the first 85% of the season. It felt like Strus was able to fast-track his ramp-up period in time for the Cavaliers to make a serious playoff push.
In the postseason, Strus had pivotal performances as the Cavaliers made their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Strus couldn’t find a rhythm against the Knicks, but neither could anyone on the team. However, in the first two rounds, Strus was tasked, along with Dean Wade, with guarding the bigger-bodied ball handlers like Scottie Barnes and Cade Cunningham, and performed admirably.
Strus is far from an elite defender; however, he did a great job of hustling enough to stay on their hips and playing the role of on-ball pest. Offensively, Strus provided enough with his movement shooting and as a secondary ballhandler.
When you take the one-thousand-foot view of Strus’s season, it is incredible that a guy who could not play for 70 games to start the season was able to step into 25+ minute playoff games for a month and a half. Strus has always been an emotional leader of the Cavaliers. He is someone who has an edge that the team can respond to. This year showed just how valuable he is.
Jun 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Wyatt Langford (36) hits a three run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 22, 2026 against the Miami Marlins: starting pitchers are Tyler Alexander for the Rangers and Tyler Phillips for the Marlins.
Texas starts their final really long road trip of the season today in Miami. Its a 10 game, 10 day trip, and if the Rangers go .500 in the next ten games, I think we’d call it a success. A pair of Tylers are functioning as openers today. Tyler Phillips, you may recall, was originally a 16th round draft pick of the Rangers all the way back in 2015.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — CF
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Osuna — LF
Diaz — C
Lopez — 2B
5:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +110 underdogs.
Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Umpire Malachi Moore tries to separate Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) and Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) after Ramirez slid into second with an RBI double during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Guardians and White Sox will determine who is the early AL Central leader over the next three days
The Guardians are 41-37 with a -7 run differential, 23rd in wRC+ at 92 (70 wRC+ since Jose Ramirez went down), tenth in baserunning runs above average at 2.4, 11th in Defense at -6.1, eighth in starting pitching ERA at 3.81 (4.15 FIP), and tenth in bullpen ERA at 3.76 (3.71 FIP).
The White Sox are 39-37 with a -4 run differential, 13th in wRC+ at 102, 19th in baserunning runs above average at -1.6, 13th in Defense at -7.3, 20th in starting pitching ERA at 4.53 (4.41 FIP), and 18th in bullpen ERA at 4.30 (4.41 FIP).
The Guardians will have to outpitch the White Sox to win this series and keep scores low.
MATCHUPS: Game One, Monday, 7:40PM ET: Gavin Williams, RHP 3.83 (4.03 FIP) vs. Anthony Kay, LHP 4.61 ERA (5.32 FIP). Game Two, Tuesday, 7:40PM ET: Parker Messick, LHP 2.70 ERA (3.21 FIP) vs. Sean Burke, RHP 3.89 ERA (3.97 FIP) Game Three, Wednesday, 2:10PM ET: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.03 ERA (4.66 FIP) vs. Erick Fedde, RHP 4.46 ERA (5.60 FIP)
The Guardians need their three best pitchers to actually pitch like it this week. Time to show what you’re made of, Gavin, Parker and Tanner. The boys need ya.
Watch out for Sam Antonacci 130 wRC+, Miguel Vargas 127 wRC+, Tristan Peters 121 wRC+, Colson Montgomery 120 wRC+, and Chase Meidroth 103 wRC+ on the White Sox. Also, Randal Grichuk is hitting well at the moment and I’m not sure what to make of that. Chicago better avoid Travis Bazzana, Kyle Manzardo and Brayan Rocchio… and that’s about darn it.
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 23: Pierce Johnson #52 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeffrey Dean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds finally welcomed back some proven reinforcement to their overworked bullpen on Monday afternoon ahead of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Great American Ball Park.
Veteran righty Pierce Johnson was activated off the 15-day IL, while the Reds also chose to select the contract of righty Julian Garcia from AAA Louisville. Making way on the active roster were Zach Maxwell, who was optioned back to AAA, and Chris Paddack, who was designated for assignment.
Johnson last pitched for the Reds on May 26th, landing on the injured list with an elbow issue shortly thereafter. He only pitched in a single game on rehab with Louisville, allowing a run on two hits (with a strikeout), but apparently that’s enough for the club and the 35 year old to know that he’s ready once again to tackle big league hitters.
Garcia, though, is a whole different story. The 31 year old will be making his big league debut the moment he takes the mound in a Reds uniform, a former 10th round pick out of Metro State in Denver who spent most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons pitching for the Kansas City Monarchs in indy ball. While at Louisville this year, though, the slide-piece specialist strug out 54 in just 35.2 IP while pitching to a 3.03 ERA, and even has been good at limiting walks (12) in a way no other Reds reliever can really claim. Obviously, it will be quite the story to follow to see if the Reds have uncovered a diamond in the rough with him.
As for the other moves, Maxwell struggled mightily in this stint with the Reds and will return to the minors to sort things out. Paddack, meanwhile, will almost certainly move on to another organization after being signed to help rescue the starting rotation in May when it was dealt a number of costly blows. His role had been reduced to mop-up duty after his final start on May 29th, and pitching out of the bullpen did no favors to him or to the Reds. He will, though, potentially go down in Reds lore for teaching Chase Burns a new changeup, something that was on full display on Sunday in the Reds victory over the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Ozzie Albies #1 and Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves smile before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are you tired of the Hamilton-adjacent cosplays yet? Well, Braves Country isn’t throwing away its shot to send some Braves to the All-Star Game. But some help may be needed.
With three days left remaining in Phase 1 of voting, Major League Baseball has released the second balloting update for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. As of last week’s update, five Braves were poised to advance.
Much is the same in this update, which is what we like to see.
Our recently-returned reigning ROY Drake Baldwin and recent walkoff hero Ozzie Albies lead their positions at catcher and second base, respectively. Baldwin, sporting a cumulative 1,755,668 votes, has a decent lead over LA’s Will Smith. If a late push to get J.T. Realmuto in at his home field happens, he’s more than welcome to fight it out with Smith. We love the Drake.
Things are much tighter in the race for second base. Ozzie’s holding at first with just shy of a million votes, but is nearly 200,000 votes above Phillie Bryson Stott in second, and just over 300,000 votes separate him from Luis Arraez of the Giants in fifth. The Ozzie Albies game came with a relentless push to vote Ozzie, and our short king could use your support.
Matt Olson remains (criminally) in second place with Freddie Freeman in first for NL first basemen, but is still poised to advance to Phase 2. If a last-minute comeback for Bryce Harper in voting sinks this for Matty O… I don’t even want to think about it.
The outfield has the one mildly unpleasant update. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s current placement on the IL may be dampening his All-Star voting for the outfield. He’s slipped from second place to third behind Andy Pages and Brandon Marsh. The latter has surged but has a slim ~40k lead. Michael Harris II is right there behind Ronald at fourth. Both would still advance to Phase 2, but of course we’d much prefer to see Acuña Jr. earn the starting spot in the OF over a Phillie, right?
TL;DR: Baldwin and Albies are in line to start at catcher and second base for the National League, while Olson, Acuña Jr., and Harris II are in good shape to advance to Phase 2 of voting.
As for our other Braves, Austin Riley surged in voting a little to overtake Nolan Arenado to be third for third baseman. The gap between him and Alec Bohm isn’t impossible to close, but it could be tough to find 300k+ votes. Ha-Seong Kim, Dominic Smith, and Mauricio Dubón all remain at the same spots as last update in their positions (sixth, third, and eleventh, respectively). Full vote totals can be found here.
The marching orders seem clear to me: help secure Ronald’s spot in the Midsummer Classic and keep voting Braves. Consider submitting your five daily votes today through Wednesday while we’re waiting around all day for these Pacific Time games. Phase 1 of the voting ends at 12:00 p.m. ET sharp on June 25. Finalists will be announced at 6:00 p.m ET that same day and Phase 2 begins on June 29.
Entering the week of the 2026 NHL draft, there's been some new speculation surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and the next assignment for GM John Chayka to improve the team this off-season.
With already trading away Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers, and acquiring Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing him to a new contract, another move appears to be on the cards, potentially.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has connected the Maple Leafs to Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as a possible move this off-season on the 32 Thoughts podcast.
"Wouldn't shock me if (Bobrovsky) ended up being their guy potentially," Friedman said on the podcast.
With that speculation, what would it look like if Toronto really acquired Bobrovsky? Well, here are some pros and cons of a potential marriage between the Maple Leafs and the two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
Pros
There has been some movement and discussions around the Maple Leafs' goaltending depth and pipeline.
For starters, Woll is no longer on the Leafs roster from that aforementioned trade with the Flyers. However, Toronto received goaltender Samuel Ersson, as well as defenseman Emil Andrae, in that trade.
Regarding Ersson, it doesn't seem like the Leafs are fully committed to him, as the Swedish netminder is a pending RFA and hasn't put up great campaigns in the NHL since his debut season in 2022-23.
"Even though (Toronto) traded for Ersson, I'm not convinced they keep them," Friedman mentioned.
If the Leafs are looking to let go of Ersson, Friedman sees the Panthers taking him off their hands since both their goaltenders are pending UFAs.
"I wonder if (Florida) look at a guy like Ersson because it doesn't sound like Toronto is married to him," he said.
So, business from that perspective could be handled in some way.
Aside from the convenience it could bring to both parties, bringing in a netminder of Bobrovsky's stature and experience could have a positive impact on Toronto's goaltending department.
It would be specifically effective for the development of 24-year-olds Dennis Hildeby and Bobrovsky's fellow countryman, Artur Akhtyamov. Both Hildeby and Akhtyamov will be looking to break into the NHL soon, whether that's with the Leafs or somewhere else, and Bobrovsky could be the perfect mentor for the Toronto Marlies' Calder Cup-winning tandem.
That leaves Anthony Stolarz, the remaining NHL goalie for the Maple Leafs. There's an easy connection between Stolarz and Bobrovsky, as they were teammates in Florida and won the 2023-24 Stanley Cup together.
Though Bobrovsky saw most of the action in that regular season and post-season, they were an excellent tandem together. If the Maple Leafs go on to acquire Bobrovsky's talents, they would have a couple of Cup winners in their crease for 2026-27.
Cons
Although Bobrovsky has multiple honors in a career that will likely be acknowledged by the Hockey Hall of Fame someday, the Russian goaltender is getting up there in age. Bobrovsky will turn 38 years old before the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Part of this could be because Panthers GM Bill Zito signed Brad Marchand to a contract extension last off-season, who was the same age as Bobrovsky now. Marchand ended up signing a six-year ticket at $5.25 million per season. Now Bobrovsky is seeking similar treatment.
Bobrovsky's reported demands come after one of the worst campaigns of his 16-year NHL career. He posted a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average in 52 games for the Panthers. That is indeed the lowest SP he's ever recorded, and the second-worst GAA.
On a broader scale, among NHL goaltenders who played a minimum of 40 games last season, Bobrovsky has the third-worst SP, only behind Kevin Lankinen and Jordan Binnington.
Also, he can indeed help guide the young pair of goaltenders from the Marlies, but the truth is Bobrovsky would be taking one of their spots on the NHL roster.
So, with a mix of his age, reported contract demands and his play from last season, acquiring Bobrovsky this off-season may not be the answer for the Maple Leafs.
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks speaks during a press conference after being named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year at American Airlines Center on April 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week’s survey centered around the upcoming NBA Draft, which takes place over two days this week, Tuesday and Wednesday. Dallas picks 9th in the draft, a maddening position considering how bad the team was this year.
The first question was a simple yes/no question about your concern level about the availability of players in the draft for the Mavericks when they select in the first round.
A slight majority says yes, they are concerned. That’s the group I fall in, but if you’re hopeful and like the quality of players available in the range Dallas picks in, I get it. There’s a lot of interesting players, so maybe I need to relax.
The second question asked if you want the Mavericks to try to trade up.
A slight majority said no to this question which tracks with the first question. If you believe in Dallas and the players in the range, there’s no need to trade up. Hint, I want them to trade up but know they don’t have the assets to do so.
The third question asked whether you wanted Dallas to trade down (and, theoretically, acquire more assets).
Only two in five fans want Dallas to trade down. The majority of fans seem to want Dallas to stay put and draft whoever is there. Man I get it but this is the last time Dallas has a lottery pick they control maybe for the decade. If you want to place a bet on who the Mavericks might draft, or anyone else in the NBA, you can do so via our partners at FanDuel. It’s fun, I recommend it.
The national poll asked questions about the NBA Finals.
2 out of 3 fans enjoyed the Knicks title fun; count me as one of them. But begrudgingly.
This question is stupid and heavily influenced by Knicks fans. Brunson shouldn’t have beeb allowed to walk, but trading Luka is worse. Come on now.
Most fans think the Thunder come back with a fury and I have to agree.
Just days after he reportedly declined his $49 million player option, Young reportedly plans to sign a four-year, $212 million contract to remain with the Wizards, as the team looks to elevate itself into contention.
The Wizards also hold the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, whose first round is set for Tuesday, June 23.
Young, 27, played just 15 games last season and averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists per game. The Hawks traded him in early January, and Young played just five games for Washington, as he dealt with a quad injury. The Wizards, who were in a race for the bottom, also didn’t press the issue and were happy to let Young and Anthony Davis, another acquisition, recover from their injuries.
Now, the Wizards can pair Young with Davis, 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alexandre Sarr and whoever the franchise ends up with Tuesday night.
Young also has the chance to establish himself as the clear leader in the locker room, as the Wizards do have a trio of younger guards who could look to him as a model: Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington.
That could be magnified further if the Wizards opt to select Darryn Peterson out of Kansas with the top selection Tuesday night.
On the other hand, if Washington chooses to select AJ Dybantsa from BYU, Young’s play-making ability could free up Dybantsa to play off the ball more as a slasher.
Either way, the Wizards, who finished with the NBA’s worst record at 17-65, suddenly appear like a team that’s poised to make a leap in 2026-27.
Young, a four-time All-Star, led the NBA in assists two seasons ago with 11.6 per game.
The hockey world was stunned on June 21 when news broke of Brady Tkachuk being traded to the Florida Panthers from the Ottawa Senators, fetching Ottawa a grand total of four draft selections — 9th and 25th in 2026, a top-10 protected first-round selection in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.
Where this gets intriguing is the consideration of the picks regarding Ottawa’s future. The Senators made the post-season for the first time in seven years in 2025, though both last year and this year’s playoff runs ended in the first-round. Whichever players the team picks up at 9th and even 25th during this year’s draft will definitely become impact players — but only time will tell how long it takes them to.
Vancouver has found their name embroiled in trade chatter throughout the past few weeks, with the names most mentioned being veteran players like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Jake DeBrusk. Some reports have even tied specific players to certain teams, such as Pettersson and the St. Louis Blues.
From the standpoints of both teams, especially now that Ottawa has a tidy crop of three first-round draft picks, a deal for DeBrusk would work pretty well. A consistent 40 to 45-point player, DeBrusk can chip in to Ottawa’s offence without having the expectation of being one of the team’s key pieces.
In this scenario, the other trade Florida conducted on June 21 works decently in the Canucks’ favour.
Prior to acquiring the younger Tkachuk, the Panthers flipped forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for the 25th pick, now Ottawa’s, as well as a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
There are two obvious differences in what DeBrusk and Samoskevich could provide a different team with.
For one, DeBrusk evidently demonstrates more of an immediate impact offensively. The forward was still able to put up back-to-back 40+ point seasons with the Canucks, even when they finished 32nd in the league this year. He’ll fit decently with the Senators’ window, which appears open now.
Samoskevich, on the other hand, is much younger. A middle-six forward, the 23-year-old logged back-to-back 30-point seasons in the NHL since playing in his first full season in 2024–25. With youth comes the potential to become a big-time producer later on down the road — but for a team like Ottawa, having a proven goal-scorer is something that would help the Senators’ puzzle feel closer to completion.
Mar 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) stick checks Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (7) as Tkachuk scores on this shot in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Where this impacts the Canucks is dictating the right package for a player like DeBrusk. If Ottawa is still interested, they’ve got a good chunk of assets they can now use to potentially acquire the Canucks winger, and maybe even another player, if it works well for both sides. When looking at what Samoskevich fetched Florida, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that DeBrusk could also command a first-round pick from the Senators — likely 25th if not moved as part of a package.
At the end of the day, however, as much as Vancouver would likely jump at the opportunity to grab another first-round pick in this year’s draft, the Senators will probably want to use the assets acquired in the Tkachuk package to make a big splash and acquire a bigger-impact player. If they do decide to go down the route of obtaining secondary pieces that can produce offensively, a trade with the Canucks for DeBrusk could be one to look out for.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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