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Shohei Ohtani to hit leadoff for NL in All-Star Game, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr. of host Braves

ATLANTA — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Truist Park, and the Los Angeles Dodgers star will be followed in the batting order by left fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves.

Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte will hit third in the batting order announced Monday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, followed by Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman, San Diego third baseman Manny Machado, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes will start his second straight All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced last week. Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal will make his first All-Star start for the American League.

“I think when you’re talking about the game, where it’s at, these two guys … are guys that you can root for, are super talented, are going to be faces of this game for years to come,” Roberts said.

Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Tigers left fielder Riley Greene, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr,. Baltimore designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero, Tigers center fielder Javy Báez and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson.

Ohtani led off for the AL in the 2021 All-Star Game, when the two-way sensation also was the AL’s starting pitcher. He hit leadoff in 2022, then was the No. 2 hitter hitter for the AL in 2023 and for the NL last year after leaving the Los Angeles Angels for the Dodgers.

Skenes and Skubal are 1-2 in average four-seam fastball velocity among those with 1,500 or more pitches this season, Skenes at 98.2 mph and Skubal at 97.6 mph, according to MLB Statcast.

A 23-year-old right-hander, Skenes is 4-8 despite a major league-best 2.01 ERA for the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year has 131 strikeouts and 30 walks in 131 innings.

Skubal, a 28-year-old left-hander, is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. He is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA, striking out 153 and walking 16 in 121 innings.

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NHL season to begin with Florida Panthers raising Stanley Cup banner before facing Chicago Blackhawks

We now have a date to circle on our calendars.

On Monday, the NHL announced its 2025-26 season Opening Night tripleheader.

Featured prominently at the top are your defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Florida will raise their second Stanley Cup banner on Tuesday, October 7 when they host the

Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.

The game is set for an early 5 p.m. puck drop.

Also on the Opening Night docket are the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. and the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.

One thing that immediately raises an eyebrow is regarding the league decision to give its back-to-back champions, and their fans, a non-traditional, arguably inconvenient start time on Opening Night.

We get it, the Penguins and Rangers are going to draw bigger audiences, but that’s going to happen regardless. It’s also a game that features two non-playoff teams from a season ago.

Speaking of teams that didn’t make the playoffs, Chicago actually finished one spot above worst in the NHL last season.

Again, we get it. It’s another big market, Original Six team, but putting them up against the defending Stanley Cup champions on opening night?

Where are the Lightning? Toronto? The Bruins? 

It was Boston who Florida opened last season against, and who Florida has faced twice in the past three postseasons. 

Maybe the league just thinks very highly of Seth Jones and Spencer Knight facing their former teams for the first time.

One thing that will be interesting to see play out on Opening Night will be how the Panthers fans react to Knight’s return to South Florida.

Long after the Trade Deadline deal that swapped Knight and Jones, Panthers fans continued to shout “Knight!” during the National Anthem.

To be fair, as games went deeper into the playoffs, there were a growing number of groaning, booing fans who didn’t seem to agree with the continuation of the “Knight!” chants.

But with Spencer returning for the first time, perhaps we’ll get one final, extremely loud “Knight!” to honor the young goaltender, who will likely be starting in net for the Blackhawks.

The rest of the 2025-26 NHL schedule is expected to come out on Wednesday afternoon.

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Photo caption: Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers players watch from the ice as the team lifts the championship banner before the game against the Boston Bruins at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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Steph Curry reveals Warriors' key to success during crucial 2025-26 NBA season

Steph Curry reveals Warriors' key to success during crucial 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry revealed the key to the Warriors’ success for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe, the four-time NBA champion detailed how Golden State can return to glory.

“I mean, we’ll talk about X’s and O’s and the philosophy of how this particular team that’s coming in next year needs to play to win, and that’ll evolve over the course of training camp and the 82-game schedule,” Curry told Poole. “Right now, it’s everybody taking advantage of an unfortunately longer offseason to get refreshed and rejuvenated, mentally and physically. Our last 35 games and the playoffs felt like a full-on sprint.”

There is no secret formula for the Warriors’ potential success in Curry’s eyes. Golden State simply has to take advantage of its time off.

The Warriors have played into the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in nine of the last 13 seasons. Golden State, too, might have earned its seventh trip to the NBA finals in 11 seasons if Curry didn’t suffer a hamstring strain in the semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves and miss the remainder of the 2025 postseason.

So, yes, the Warriors must value rest when they have it.

Regardless, there still are several unknowns surrounding the Warriors’ upcoming 82-game slate; will key players such as Jonathan Kuminga or Gary Payton II still be with the team? Will Curry or star teammates Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green show their ages? Does Golden State enter the season with an ideal center, say, like Al Horford?

No one knows. However, Curry and the Dubs have been there and done that. The 11-time NBA All-Star isn’t too worried about Golden State at this point in time.

“We know how to win; we know how to play; pieces fit,” Curry told Poole. “We’ll kind of commit to that and embrace the challenge of trying to climb the mountaintop again.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Islanders Sign Victor Eklund But He’s Probably Returning To Sweden Too

Swedish winger Victor Eklund, 18, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him 16th overall at the recent NHL Entry Draft, the club announced on Monday.

In all likelihood, however, Eklund will be returning to Djurgården, the Stockholm-based club where he has played since his childhood, like his longtime teammate Anton Frondell.

Last season, Eklund had 31 points in 42 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier of professional hockey. He then had seven points in 16 playoff games, helping Djurgården gain a promotion to the top-tier SHL.

“I don’t know,” Eklund said back in October when asked where he himself playing next season. “I haven’t talked to anyone. I’m in Djurgården now and (I hope) we’re going to the SHL. I hope there won’t be any weirdness there.”

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training CampReport: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

It was recently reported in Swedish media that Frondell, who was chosen third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the same draft, will sign with Chicago this week but will not attend the team's training camp this September, instead choosing to prepare for and start the season with Djurgården without interruption. If that’s the case, it would seem likely that Eklund will do the same.

In addition to Eklund and Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the upcoming season will also include veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Chicago, Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg.

Photo © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Victor Eklund: “It’s Gone Quite Well So I’ll Just Continue With It”Victor Eklund: “It’s Gone Quite Well So I’ll Just Continue With It”Victor Eklund is off to a flying start in his draft year. The 18-year-old left winger has seven goals and four assists in 13 games for Djurgården in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league. Last Friday, he netted a hat trick in a 7-6 shootout loss to Björklöven.
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The Devils Have Three Cups and Still Don’t Have a Single Season 50-Goal Scorer

The National Hockey League released its list of the most recent 50-goal scorers by franchise.

Active players like the Bruins’ David Pastrňák (2022–23), the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (2023–24), and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (2021–22) made the list. Some franchises, however, featured much older names, such as the Kings’ Luc Robitaille (1992–93), the Canadiens’ Stéphane Richer (1989–90), and the Flyers’ John LeClair (1997–98).

Seven teams were listed as “N/A,” having never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

Which teams didn’t make the list?

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth (no surprise there), Vegas Golden Knights, and, last but not least, the New Jersey Devils.

Out of all the teams that didn’t have a 50-goal scorer, the Vegas Golden Knights are the only other team with a Stanley Cup win besides the Devils. 

That’s right: the New Jersey Devils have won three Stanley Cups, and never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

They’ve had players come close, but none have hit the milestone.

John MacLean had three 40-goal seasons and leads the franchise in most such seasons by a single player. He scored 42 goals in 1988–89, 41 goals in 1989–90, and posted a career-high 45 goals in 1990–91.

Eight other players have recorded one 40-goal season each for the Devils: Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta, Jack Hughes, Claude Lemieux, Alexander Mogilny, Wilf Paiement, Zach Parise, and Pat Verbeek.

Brian Gionta holds the franchise record for most goals in a single season with 48 in 2005–06. He finished that year with 89 points, just two goals shy of the elusive 50-goal mark.

Wilf Paiement scored 41 goals in 1976–77 while playing for the Colorado Rockies, a predecessor to the Devils. Paiement was drafted second overall in 1974 by the Kansas City Scouts, who later became the Rockies, and eventually, the New Jersey Devils.

Paiement played two seasons in Kansas City before the team relocated to Colorado.

It’s worth noting that Alexander Mogilny hit the 50-goal mark before joining New Jersey. In 1995–96, he scored 55 goals and 107 points for the Vancouver Canucks. But his most impressive season came in 1992–93, when he scored an astounding 76 goals and finished with 127 points.

There is hope for a future 50-goal scorer in New Jersey.

Jack Hughes tallied 43 goals in 78 games during the 2022–23 season. However, over the past two years, Hughes has been limited to 62 games due to two shoulder injuries. He underwent surgeries on April 9, 2024, and March 3, 2025.

Could Hughes become the first 50-goal scorer in Devils history? If he stays healthy, it’s possible. And if not him, perhaps someone else will finally remove that “N/A” from New Jersey’s entry on the NHL’s 50-goal list.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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Penguins, Leafs And Oilers Face Intriguing Goalie Tandem Questions

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks added to the NHL’s goalie moves this off-season.

In Vancouver, the duo of star Thatcher Demko and understudy Kevin Lankinen meant the Canucks felt comfortable trading Arturs Silovs to the Penguins. At the beginning of the month, Pittsburgh’s rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, added Dan Vladar to help address the team having the worst save percentage in the NHL this past season.

With that said, there are other goalie tandems that have significant questions about them. Here are three teams’ netminding pictures and what’s so intriguing about them.

1. Will Newcomer Silovs Thrive In Pittsburgh – And Take Pressure Off Jarry And Blomquist?

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired youngster Arturs Silovs from the Canucks in exchange for AHL winger Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in 2027. 

The move comes at a time when the Penguins’ goaltending has been anything but dependable. The 24-year-old Silovs came off a career season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, where he powered the team to the Calder Cup championship as playoff MVP.

Unfortunately for Silovs, he’ll play behind a Pens squad whose defense has been porous, and it could get worse if Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas trades away star Erik Karlsson. But if Silovs can come in and provide some above-average netminding, he’ll take the heat off veteran Tristan Jarry, whose past season was so rough at times that he cleared waivers and played 12 games in the AHL. Jarry’s contract has three years left at a $5.375-million cap hit per season, so unless he rebounds, he may become one of the NHL’s most highly paid backups if things work out well with Silovs. 

There will also be competition from 23-year-old goalie Joel Blomqvist, who played 15 NHL games and put up an. 885 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average this past season. But as it stands, Silovs will have every opportunity to win the starter’s job and secure a major pay raise when he becomes an RFA next summer. 

Time will tell if he’s the long-term solution in net for the Pens, but Silovs’ acquisition should inspire some confidence that things will get better between the pipes in Pittsburgh.

2. Who Will Get More Playing Time In Toronto – Stolarz Or Woll?

The Maple Leafs had a terrific duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll this past season. Stolarz posted a .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in 34 games, and Woll put up a .909 SP and 2.73 GAA in 42 appearances.

Leafs coach Craig Berube will likely lean on Woll and Stolarz equally in 2025-26. The only reason Stolarz didn’t play more often last season was due to injury. So long as he and Woll stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect either one will get significantly more playing time than the other. Being a 1A-1B tandem this past season worked.

If there is any added motivation, it’ll be for Stolarz, who is coming into a contract season. Toronto GM Brad Treliving has more than enough cap space in the years ahead to re-sign Stolarz, but at a time when the goalie market isn’t deep at all, it may make more sense for Stolarz to be patient and go to market next summer. Regardless, there may be no more equally balanced tandem in the league than the one in Leafs Land. Toronto’s players can be confident with either goalie in net.

Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

3. Will The Oilers Really Run It Back With Skinner And Pickard?

The Edmonton Oilers made it to two Stanley Cup finals with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. That’s the positive view, at least.

The pessimistic view is that they’ve lost two Cup finals with Skinner and Pickard, who each had a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs. In the regular season, Skinner had a .896 SP and 2.81 GAA, while Pickard had a .900 SP and 2.71 GAA. 

If any team had the impetus to change up their netminding situation, it’s Edmonton. 

However, instead of trading for a veteran, such as former Anaheim Ducks veteran and new Detroit Red Wings starter John Gibson, the Oilers stood pat with Skinner and Pickard so far. That may drive Edmonton fans to ruin if the Oilers stick with the same duo for a third straight season and once again are not able to get to the promised land.

The Oilers are basically capped out at the moment, and that may be what’s behind their decision not to make a change in goal. But we’ve got a hunch Edmonton GM Stan Bowman will let patience be a virtue and revisit the issue during the regular season. At that point, injuries and other trades may free up valuable cap space, and some teams may be more willing to make a trade for a goalie by then. But there are no other viable goaltending options on the free-agent front, and unless Bowman has some sort of trick up his sleeve, the Oilers will start the year with the same duo in net.

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Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh makes history with 2025 MLB Home Run Derby win

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh makes history with 2025 MLB Home Run Derby win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round Monday night.

The Mariners breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night.

Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.

Becoming the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title, Raleigh had reached the All-Star break with a major league-leading 38 home runs. He became the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr.

Raleigh was pitched to by his father, Todd, former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina. His younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. did the catching.

Just the second Derby switch-hitter after Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman in 2023, Raleigh hit his first eight left-handed, took a timeout, then hit seven right-handed. Going back to lefty, he then hit two more in the bonus round and stayed lefty for the semifinals and the final.

Caminero beat Minnesota’s Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semifinal.

Atlanta’s Matt Olson, Washington’s James Wood, the New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Athletics’ Brent Rooker were eliminated in the first round of the annual power show.

Cruz and Caminero each hit 21 long balls and Buxton had 20 in the opening round. Raleigh and Rooker had 17 apiece, but Raleigh advanced on the tiebreaker of their longest homer, 470.61 feet to 470.53.

Cruz’s long drive was the hardest-hit at 118 mph.

The longest derby homer since Statcast started tracking in 2016 was 520 feet by Juan Soto in the mile-high air of Denver’s Coors Field in 2021. Last year, the longest drive at Arlington, Texas, was 473 feet by Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna.

Wood hit 16 homers, including a 486-foot shot and one that landed on the roof of the Chop House behind the right-field wall. Olson, disappointing his hometown fans, did not go deep on his first nine swings and finished with 15, He also was eliminated in the first round in 2021.

Chisholm hit just three homers, the fewest since the timer format started in 2015.

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Islanders’ Sorokin Shocked By Dobson’s Trade To The Canadiens

It’s been a little over two weeks now since Ken Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens stole the show at the NHL draft when they traded picks 16th and 17th overall, plus Emil Heineman, for top-pairing defenseman Noah Dobson.

Even better, it was a sign-and-trade deal, meaning the Canadiens now have eight years of Dobson at $9.5 M AAV, an amount which is inferior to what the player was reported to be asking from the New York Islanders.

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In a recent interview with RG.org, Isles’ number one netminder, Ilya Sorokin, mentioned that he was surprised Dobson was traded, but added that the salary cap does force teams to make tough decisions.

For the netminder, it was clear that with their cap situation, the Long Island outfit had to make a choice; they couldn’t keep Dobson and former Canadiens’ defenseman Alexander Romanov, who’s a good friend of his.

He mentioned to RG.org that Romanov has grown and matured a lot, and that his hard work earned him his new eight-year, $6.25 M AAV contract. Considering Romanov was already a hard worker when he played in Montreal a few years ago, that’s not hard to imagine at all. The Russian blueliner was always the first player on the ice in Brossard and trained with a smile every day, a contagious attitude that makes for a good leader.

Back to Dobson, Sorokin adds that the PEI native got a good deal with the Canadiens and that he wishes him nothing but the best. The goalkeeper also mentioned former Habs netminder and now Isles’ coach Patrick Roy in the interview, explaining that the goaltending legend doesn’t usurp the role of his goaltending coach. Roy only gave goaltending advice a couple of times throughout the year.

With Romanov, Heineman, and Jonathan Drouin now playing for New York, Roy coaching the team, and Mathieu Darche being hired as the GM, the Islanders have got themselves quite a former Canadiens contingent. Will the Islanders become the Quebecers’ second team like in the good old Mike Bossy days? It remains to be seen.

Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

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Report: Former Devils Forward Linked To 2 KHL Teams

After not being re-signed by the New Jersey Devils this summer, Daniel Sprong remains an unrestricted free agent (UFA). This comes after the 28-year-old winger posted two goals, seven points, and a minus-1 rating in 30 NHL games split between the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, and Devils this past season. He also had 11 goals and 25 points in 19 AHL games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2024-25. 

Now, after a tough 2024-25 season, Sprong is reportedly on the radar of two KHL clubs. According to Sport-Express’ Mikhail Zislis, CSKA Moscow and Avangard Omsk are both interested in Sprong. 

It is not hard to understand why these two KHL clubs reportedly have Sprong on their radar. While he had a down year in 2024-25, Sprong has had offensive success at the NHL level in a bottom-six role in the past.

Just back in 2023-24 with the Detroit Red Wings, Sprong recorded 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games. This was after he set career highs with 21 goals and 46 points in 66 contests with the Kraken in 2022-23. Thus, he certainly could have success in the KHL if he decides to sign overseas. 

While Sprong is generating interest from overseas, the possibility of him staying in North America still should not be ruled out. The 28-year-old winger could be a decent pickup for an NHL team looking for depth offensive production if he bounces back. Thus, this could be enough for an NHL club to take a chance on him with a one-year, prove-it deal, but time will tell what happens on that front. 

In 11 regular-season games with the Devils after being acquired from Seattle at this past deadline, Sprong recorded two assists. He zero points and a minus-1 rating in one post-season game for the Devils this year. 

Ex-Devils First-Round Pick Traded To CanucksEx-Devils First-Round Pick Traded To CanucksFormer New Jersey Devils first-round pick Chase Stillman is on the move again. 

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return following blood clot

Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return following blood clot originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months, he told the French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday.

A person familiar with the situation later told The Associated Press that the Spurs have indeed received word that Wembanyama has been cleared to resume play and, barring anything unforeseen, will be able to fully participate in training camp when it opens this fall. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not revealed that detail publicly.

It has been expected that the team anticipated Wembanyama would be able to start this coming season, though there was no official word until now.

“I’m officially cleared to return. … I’ll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again,” Wembanyama told the French sports daily.

The fact that Wembanyama has been cleared suggests that his type of DVT was provoked, which would rule out a genetic predisposition to a clot returning. The Spurs have not disclosed specifics of Wembanyama’s shoulder issue, but there is a type of DVT that appears when a blood vessel in someone’s upper arm can be compressed by a rib (the top rib is removed in some cases to relieve the compression, if that is the cause) or a muscle. Such issues have proven to be treatable in the past.

Many other athletes have dealt with similar issues. Serena Williams came back to dominate women’s tennis after a clotting issue following the birth of her daughter; Williams needed four surgeries to address the matter. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh had to eventually retire from the NBA after he was diagnosed with multiple clots. In hockey, Tomas Fleischmann developed clots and went on to play for years afterward; Tomas Vokoun needed surgery to relieve his clotting problem and never played in the NHL again.

“I was afraid of not being able to play basketball anymore,” Wembanyama said in the interview. “I think that we all have thoughts sometimes. Irrational thoughts about the things we care about most. But this type of thinking also changes you as a person, for the better.”

Wembanyama was the league’s rookie of the year two years ago, Spurs guard Stephon Castle won that same trophy this past season, and the team has added another high pick — this year’s No. 2 selection, Dylan Harper — to a super-promising young core. Wembanyama was the front-runner to be defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February.

“My injury was an adventure, obviously, but the hardest part is over,” he told L’Equipe. “I’m much better today, physically and mentally.”

Wembanyama was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists per game when he was shut down in February; the only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76.

There will be an obvious ramping-up period before Wembanyama is playing at full speed again, though there is plenty of time between now and training camp for him to get back to that level.

“I have to continue specific work on my shoulder and especially get back into everything related to my basketball habits,” Wembanyama said in the interview. “It’s been five months since I’ve played a 5-on-5 match. If I had to have a game tomorrow, it would be risky. There are plenty of reflexes to find, both conscious and linked to muscle memory.”

Wembanyama has traveled extensively in recent months and spent time last month at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more.

Wembanyama told L’Equipe that he studied kung fu and Buddhism during his stay there, but added that he does not identify as Buddhist.

“We were initiated there to the life of a warrior monk, which combines Buddhism and intensive kung fu practice,” he said. “It was very hard. We discovered movements that we had never done in our lives. It was more than 1,000 kicks to do per day, jumps, balance exercises, stretching. … We used muscles that we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded. I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life.”

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Sabres To Host Four NHL Clubs In Prospects Challenge

The Buffalo Sabres announced that they will host the 2025 Prospects Challenge at the LECOM Harborcenter from September 11th to 15th. The tournament will feature youngsters from the Sabres, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, and Pittsburgh Penguins, with only the Ottawa Senators not returning to the lineup from last season. 

The roster for the tournament will not be released until September, but it will likely include most of the 2025 draft class, including first round selection Radim Mrtka, who is slated to play for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds next season, as well as 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius.

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First-rounders Ryan Johnson (2019), Isak Rosen (2021), and Noah Ostlund could participate, since they did not see significant playing time in the NHL last season, but a number of the club’s prospects (Adam Kleber, Brodie Ziemer, Luke Osburn, Jake Richard) who took part in the club’s development camp earlier this month, will not be available due to them being collegiate prospects.   

Schedule

Thursday, September 11

New Jersey vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Friday, September 12

Pittsburgh vs. Boston, 3:30 p.m.

New Jersey vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 13

Columbus vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 14

Boston vs. New Jersey, 12 p.m.

Columbus vs. Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, September 15

Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo, 12 p.m.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Paul George undergoes procedure on left knee after offseason injury

Paul George undergoes procedure on left knee after offseason injury  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2024-25 Sixers’ injury woes have bled into the offseason.

The team announced that Paul George “underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his left knee” Monday to “treat an injury sustained during a recent workout.”

George’s procedure was performed by Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow, who also did Joel Embiid’s arthroscopic left knee surgery in April.

“George will now begin a rehabilitation program and his progress will be monitored regularly,” the Sixers said in their statement. “He will be re-evaluated prior to the start of training camp.”

The nine-time All-Star forward dealt with injuries throughout his first season as a Sixer and wound up playing in 41 games. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. George was ruled out for the season in March because of left knee and left adductor muscle issues. The 35-year-old also picked up a left pinkie injury during the Sixers’ 24-58 season.

“I think we were just in a scramble all year,” George said at his exit interview. “To be honest, I think we were just in a scramble. One player comes in, one player goes out, and it kind of was just that cycle all season long. I give Coach (Nick) Nurse a ton of credit for just picking up pieces … trying to figure things out as we were going throughout the year.

“But I think, again, there was no consistency in terms of lineups, personnel and who was on the floor in general. … There’s no consistency with just the guys being on the floor together.”

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told reporters Friday in Las Vegas that Embiid is on track to be ready for training camp. Morey said Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery) is on track, too. 

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Former King, Flyer, Islander Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland

Canadian forward Andy Andreoff, 34, has signed a two year contract with the ZSC Lions, the Zurich-based National League team announced on Monday.

“With Andy Andreoff, we're gaining a physically strong forward who knows where the net is,” said Lions’ sports director Sven Leuenberger. “Just as important for me is that Andy can be used to kill penalties and is strong on faceoffs, because that’s where we needed more after the departures of Juho Lammikko and Vinzenz Rohrer.”

Leuenberger continued, “Andy can also play on the power play and operate as both a center and a wing. Our quota of six import players is now complete.”

Born in Pickering, Ont., Andreoff played junior hockey for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round, 80th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2014 and 2023, Andreoff played 188 NHL regular-season games for the Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders, recording 27 points and a whopping 225 penalty minutes. He also played one playoff game with Los Angeles in 2016.

Rohrer & Lammikko Leave Zurich For NHLRohrer & Lammikko Leave Zurich For NHLA pair of forwards who have been members of the Zurich Lions back-to-back championships in Switzerland and the team’s Champions Hockey League title this past season have signed contracts with NHL clubs this weekend.

Andreoff spent the past two seasons in the KHL playing for Sibir Novosibirsk, where he talllied 81 points and 89 penalty minutes in 137 regular-season and playoff games.

Zurich has been Switzerland’s most successful team in recent years, winning back-to-back National League titles and also winning the Champions Hockey League final on home ice last season. Andreoff joins a roster that includes ex-NHLers Yannick Weber, Derek Grant, Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto, Rudolfs Balcers, Dean Kukan and Mikko Lehtonen.

Photo © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.

Zurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For SwitzerlandZurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For SwitzerlandFor the second year in a row, a Swiss team has defeated a Swedish team in the Champions Hockey League final. On their home ice, the ZSC Lions defeated visiting Färjestad 2-1 before a sell-out crowd of 12,000 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.