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Even At 38, Sidney Crosby Remains A National Draw For The NHL

ESPN and TNT announced their national game schedule for the 2025-26 NHL season on Wednesday. 

There will be 172 combined games on the platforms, which is the most ever. One hundred of those games will be exclusive to ESPN platforms, while the other 72 will be exclusive to TNT.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will appear on national television 16 times, which ties them for the third-most appearances in the league, alongside the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and New York Rangers. Only the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Detroit Red Wings have more nationally televised games than the Penguins. 

10 of the 16 national games for the Penguins will be on ESPN platforms, while the other six will be televised on TNT. Despite low expectations for the Penguins this upcoming season, it highlights the strength of the Pittsburgh hockey market while continuing to emphasize the importance of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on a national level.

While Crosby might be nearing the end of his career, both networks want to televise his games as much as possible because he remains one of the best players in the league. He has been in the NHL for 20 seasons and remains one of the faces of the league entering his age-38 season. 

They don't want to miss an opportunity to see him do something really special. He's also chasing down more history this upcoming season as he tries to become the Penguins' all-time leader in points. Crosby is only 37 points away from breaking Mario Lemieux's record (1,723) and also having the eighth-most points in NHL history.

One of the games on the Penguins' national schedule is against the Oilers on December 16 at PPG Paints Arena. TNT will have coverage of the game, and while it'll be great seeing Crosby go up against Connor McDavid, there's a good chance the network could witness history that night. 

It will be the Penguins' 32nd game of the season, and considering that Crosby has been over a point-per-game player his entire career, he'll have a chance of breaking the record in front of a national audience.  One of the networks could also call the game later in the season when he notches his 1,100th assist, becoming only the eighth player in NHL history to accomplish that feat. 

Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) reacts with center Connor Dewar (19) after Crosby scored a goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Outside of records, the network scheduled games where Crosby will get to go toe-to-toe with some of the Penguins' biggest rivals and teams he has feasted on his entire career. Three of the four matchups against the Rangers will be televised on ESPN/ABC, including the opening night game on October 7. Crosby has 40 goals and 109 points in 88 games against the Rangers. His 109 points are the third-most against any team in his career, only behind the New York Islanders (137) and Philadelphia Flyers (134). 

Speaking of those latter two teams, the Penguins will face the Islanders on February 3 on TNT and the Flyers on October 28 and January 15 on ESPN. Crosby will look to add to his point totals during those matchups and in the other games against them during the year. 

Penguins Will Have 16 Nationally Televised Games In 2025-26Penguins Will Have 16 Nationally Televised Games In 2025-26ESPN and TNT announced their television schedules for the 2025-26 NHL season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be heavily featured on both networks. 

The networks always love the Crosby-Ovechkin matchups, and with this year potentially being Ovechkin's final year in the league, it was obvious that both were going to put all three Penguins-Capitals matchups on national television. The first one will take place on November 6, and the other two will occur on April 11 and 12. 

Who knows, maybe we'll get another dueling hat trick game for old time's sake. 

Crosby also has a blast going up against Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who is also his best friend. The two teams will play in Denver on March 16 on ESPN. Crosby has had some great moments against the Avalanche during his career, including a natural hat trick in 2018. He brought the Penguins back from 3-0 down to tie the game in the third period before the Avs scored three more goals to win by three, 6-3.

The Penguins may be in rebuild mode, but Crosby gives everyone a reason to watch them on a nightly basis. You never know when he might do something special, and the networks are trying their best to prepare for that. 

Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Who Will Be The Starting Goaltender In WBS This Season?

The NHL goaltending situation for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26 already figures to be an interesting one.

With the acquisition of Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this summer, he and Tristan Jarry will likely be the frontrunners for the starting and backup positions. Rookie Joel Blomqvist may have a legitimate shot at the NHL roster out of camp as well. 

But perhaps even more interesting is the battle that will take place at the AHL level this season for the Penguins.

Even though Pittsburgh may have some uncertainty ahead, one certain thing is their goaltending depth. Beyond Blomqvist, there are a handful of others who all deserve to be starting AHL games: Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson, and Taylor Gauthier. The problem is that - akin to the situation with the NHL roster - the WBS Penguins will more than likely keep just two goaltenders on their roster.

Alas, there is quite the conundrum down on the farm for the WBS Penguins. Here is the case for each of the four goaltenders who will, presumably, be competing for the AHL starting workload.

The case for Joel Blomqvist

Blomqvist, 23, has more to prove this season than any of the other candidates for the job.

As mentioned before, he will probably get a fair shot at beating out Silovs for the second NHL job, assuming Jarry stays put. Blomqvist did have two stints in the NHL last season with the Penguins - the first went very well, while the second was a bit of a struggle - but Silovs may have the slight advantage because of his prior success in the NHL playoffs and his upside. 

So, if Blomqvist does happen to miss out on the NHL roster, there is no doubt that he should get a fair share of the split at the AHL level. The Penguins and Blomqvist have reached a point where they need to see what they have in him and if he figures to be part of the organization’s future plans. 

For that reason, he’s pretty much a lock to be in the AHL if he’s not on the NHL roster come Oct. 7. 

4 Penguins With The Most To Prove In 2025-264 Penguins With The Most To Prove In 2025-26The NHL season is a month and some change away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into it with a true mix of youth talent and veterans, which is a nice change of pace from the past several seasons.

The case for Sergei Murashov

The case for the 21-year-old Murashov is quite simple: He is, by most accounts, the Penguins’ best goaltending prospect. 

And he proved last season that he is capable of dominance.

After some injuries in the second half of the season, Murashov was called up from the ECHL - where he put up a 17-7-1 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average - to the AHL. And, during that stint, he set a new rookie franchise record with 11 consecutive wins and tied the general franchise record for consecutive wins. 

His ECHL playoffs didn’t go as planned, and there is still very much a rawness to his game that needs refinement and some fine-tuning. But the talent and the athleticism is there - dating back to his days in the KHL - and the Penguins know it. 

If they’re serious about contending again “as urgently as possible,” Murashov should be playing a full season in the AHL. He has not only proven he’s ready for the jump, he’s also a key piece of the Penguins’ future and represents their best chance at having a legitimate star goaltender at the NHL level. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Beginning To Turn HeadsTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Beginning To Turn HeadsHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

The case for Filip Larsson

For a large chunk of the season last year, there was a strong case that Larsson, 27, was the organization’s best-performing goaltender. Signed to a two-year contract worth $775,000 annually last summer, he was excellent to start the AHL season and actually saw the bulk of the workload in the first half.

But an injury in the second half of the season thwarted him a bit, and his performance fell off upon his return. He still managed to put up a .910 save percentage on the season and a 2.84 goals-against average on the season, though, and he is more refined than his two younger counterparts. 

This is likely Larsson’s last shot at cracking an NHL roster sometime in the future, and he did enough to earn his spot last season. It would be a tough break for him to get stuck behind both Murashov and Blomqvist, so with a strong training camp, there is a chance he could beat out Murashov for the other AHL job - or force the team’s hand into rostering three goaltenders, however unlikely.

Penguins' New Projected Defense Has Intriguing LookPenguins' New Projected Defense Has Intriguing LookThe NHL's official Facebook account recently shared their projected defense pairings for each Metropolitan Division club. Here is how they see the Pittsburgh Penguins' defense looking once the 2025-26 season is here.

The case for Taylor Gauthier

The unfortunate thing for Gauthier, 24, is that he is blocked by three other goaltenders in the system. Because, by all means, he absolutely deserves to be starting AHL games. 

Gauthier played in one AHL game last season and posted a 32-save shutout. He has a career .908 save percentage at the AHL level, and his past two seasons in the ECHL have been nothing short of spectacular. 

After being named ECHL Goaltender of the Year in 2023-24 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a 923 save percentage, Gauthier somehow followed that up with a better 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.06 goals-against average along with a .928 save percentage in 30 games for the Wheeling Nailers.

Like Larsson, Gauthier - who signed an AHL contract with WBS this summer - will need to have a very strong camp in order to beat out Murashov. But his chances are about level with Larsson’s, so it would be quite the story to see Gauthier earn an AHL spot for good out of camp.

Penguins Facing Uncertain Goalie Split Entering 2025-26 SeasonPenguins Facing Uncertain Goalie Split Entering 2025-26 SeasonOnce again, the Pittsburgh Penguins face goaltending questions heading into a season. 

Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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NHL Insider: Red Wings' Axel Sandin-Pellikka Has Top-4 Potential

One of the most anticipated prospects within the Detroit Red Wings system is Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika, who was Detroit's opening round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Sandin-Pellikka is an offensive-minded defenseman with a widely-projected high ceiling, and has already demonstrated his abilities playing with Skelleftea AIK as well as for Sweden in the 2025 World Junior Championship.

His skills were on full display during the tournament, scoring four goals (including a hat trick in the tournament opener against Slovakia) and earning recognition by not only being named to the World Junior Championship All-Star team, but also taking home the title of Best Defenseman at the tournament for the second year in a row. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

He also got his first taste of professional hockey in North America, joining the Grand Rapids Griffins for a pair of regular season games followed by three Calder Cup playoff games. 

Dan Cleary, the Red Wings's Director of Player Development, said in early July that he anticipates Sandin-Pellikka playing full time in the upcoming 2025-26 season with the Griffins and to have a regular role on the power-play. 

Could Axel Sandin-Pellikka Make Red Wings Main Roster?Could Axel Sandin-Pellikka Make Red Wings Main Roster?Red Wings fans anxiously await the arrival of high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka on the main roster

While discussing Detroit’s top prospects with fellow writer Max Bultman on The Athletic Hockey Show Podcast, Corey Pronman, senior NHL prospects analyst for The Athletic, stated that Sandin-Pellikka has the potential to develop into a top-four defenseman. 

"Sandin Pellikka is going to be fascinating, because his offense is special, but without scaring Red Wings fans too much, the story reminds me a little bit of David Rundblad," Pronman said. "A little bit it reminds me of Nils Lundkvist.....You have offense, but you need to defend really well at that size to be able to be a legit top 4D and I think he can." 

However, Red Wings fans will hope that Sandin-Pellikka's offensive potential is far higher than either Lundqvist or Rundblad, neither of whom ever scored more than six goals in an NHL season.

Like Sandin-Pellikka, both are fellow Swedes. Nils Lundkvist, a 2018 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, is currently with the Dallas Stars, while David Rundblad, selected in the first round by the St. Louis Blues in 2009, now plays for MoDo Hockey in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan after a 113-game NHL career with multiple teams. 

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Shohei Ohtani pitches like an ace as Dodgers sweep the Reds

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Thayer/For The Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani pitches during the first inning against Cincinnati on Wednesday. (Eric Thayer / For Los Angeles Times)

Ever since resuming two-way duties earlier this year, Shohei Ohtani had been throwing the ball well.

It wasn’t until Wednesday, however, that he finally pitched like a frontline starter, too.

Coming off his second career Tommy John surgery this year, Ohtani immediately lit up the radar gun with 100-mph fastballs and amassed gaudy strikeout totals with a devastating sweeper. In his first eight pitching starts of the season, he gave up just five runs in 16 innings for a 2.37 ERA, racked up 25 punchouts against just five walks, and looked every bit of the hard-throwing ace he was before spending a year-and-a-half rehabbing his right elbow and only serving as a designated hitter.

But, during that time, Ohtani was also throwing in only short bursts, as part of a deliberate effort to slowly build him up. He tossed one inning in his first two starts. Two innings, then three, then four, in each pair of outings after that. Rarely did he face a lineup two times through. At no point did he see the same batter three times in the same game.

He was, in effect, an opener.

And in that role, raw stuff was enough.

Recently, however, Ohtani had encountered a new challenge. Since getting the green light to make more typical five-inning starts, he had failed to actually complete the fifth in his first two attempts.

The struggles weren’t surprising, with five of the nine runs Ohtani had given up in his previous two outings coming in either the fourth or fifth innings. For all of Ohtani’s talent, it was clear there was tactical rust that still needed to be cleared.

“I think we’re still in the [process of] finding out who he is, what he is, getting his bearings for him,” manager Dave Roberts acknowledged ahead of Wednesday’s game.

“But,” the skipper added, “I’m expecting him to get through five [tonight], pitch well and just continue to get better.”

Read more:Shaikin: The National League has one .300 hitter. What's up with that?

In the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani was indeed better.

Both in his results, and his process for getting there.

The right-hander not only got through five full innings of one-run ball, but did so by adopting a new, more unpredictable plan of attack, keeping the Reds off-balance over the duration of his 87-pitch effort.

Instead of leaning predominantly on fastballs and sweepers as he did earlier this year, Ohtani threw the kitchen sink at the Reds; using his curveball a career-high 23 times and his splitter a season-high 11 times.

Along the way, he yielded only two hits (one of them a solo home run from Noelvi Marte in the third), recorded nine strikeouts (his most in a game in more than two years) and, for the first time this year, showed the kind of ability to work deep into a game that could be pivotal in determining his October pitching role.

Before Wednesday, there was still an open question over how the Dodgers might use Ohtani’s arm in the postseason.

Ideally, he could help headline their star-studded rotation, joining Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and maybe Clayton Kershaw to form the kind of deep starting pitching arsenal the Dodgers have sorely lacked in recent playoff treks.

But first, he had to show he was capable of navigating an opposing order multiple times.

“In general, I think it’s figuring out where the secondaries are at,” Roberts said. “I don’t think fatigue had anything to do with it.”

Against the Reds (68-66), Ohtani went to his secondary stuff early and often. His 12 curveballs in the first two innings alone were more than he had thrown in his 10 previous outings this year combined.

It led to temporary trouble in the second, when a lack of command led to two walks that Ohtani needed back-to-back strikeouts to strand. With one out in the third, he misfired on a first-pitch cutter to Marte, leaving it down the middle for a home run that was clobbered to the left-field pavilion.

Read more:Dodgers Dugout: The 10 best right fielders in Dodger history

After that, however, Ohtani found a groove. He retired the final eight batters he faced. He finished his start by getting Cincinnati leadoff man TJ Friedl to ground out in their third meeting of the evening. And he concluded his performance with 14 swings-and-misses overall, the most whiffs he had generated in a game all year.

By getting through five innings, Ohtani also qualified for his first pitching win of the season.

The Dodgers (77-57) made sure they didn’t squander it.

After starting the game with nine straight outs against Reds starter Nick Lodolo, the club finally broke the game open with a four-run rally in the fourth, when Kiké Hernández and Dalton Rushing each had two-run, bases-loaded singles. Michael Conforto added a solo insurance homer in the eighth. And the bullpen tip-toed in and out of trouble over four scoreless innings of game-sealing relief.

The victory helped the Dodgers grow their National League West lead to two games over the San Diego Padres, who dropped a series rubber match to the Seattle Mariners earlier in the day. It ran the team’s recent winning streak up to four games, its longest since the start of a 21-25 run dating back to July 4.

What was most important, though, was the way Ohtani looked.

Long ago, he had erased any doubts about the life he still possessed in his surgically repaired arm.

Wednesday showed he remains capable of translating it into successful, full-length, dominating starts, too.

Freeman, Call out

The Dodgers were without Freddie Freeman and Alex Call on Wednesday, but are hoping both will be available for their next game on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Freeman was absent from the lineup because of a “stinger” in his neck and right shoulder, Roberts said. Freeman has dealt with similar issues before, and Roberts said they wanted to give him the opportunity for two consecutive days off (including Thursday’s off-day) to let it calm down.

Call was also out of the lineup after being removed from Tuesday’s game with a back flare-up. He, too, has dealt with similar issues in the past. Roberts described Call as “day-to-day” and said the team would re-evaluate his status Friday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets catching lightning in a bottle after Nolan McLean dominates Phillies to continue torrid start

With the Mets looking to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Citi Field to pull within four games of the NL East title and get right back into the division race, the stage couldn't have been brighter for starter Nolan McLean.

Not only was it a huge opportunity for New York, it was also just McLean's third career start. And although the right-hander aced his first two tests and entered the game 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA, there was certainly some added pressure facing the team the Mets are chasing in the standings and knowing what a sweep would mean.

But the pressure didn't faze McLean one bit. In fact, it looked like it added some extra motivation to the 24-year-old who rose to the occasion with eight scoreless innings against a loaded Phillies lineup.

"All I can say is wow," said manager Carlos Mendoza after the game. "That was super impressive. He dominated one of the best lineups in the league. He made it look easy. Just everything about the kid, you know? Not only what we’re seeing on the mound, but the way he’s carrying himself. 

"He’s got electric stuff, but he’s got pitch ability. He knows what he’s doing on the mound, he knows how to manipulate the baseball, he knows what hitters are trying to do to him. He’s not afraid to use all of his pitches."

McLean had Philadelphia in his pocket from the start. It started with a 1-2-3 opening inning in which he struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches and needed just nine pitches in total before walking back to the dugout. 

The right-hander was rolling from there and faced the minimum through six innings by utilizing his entire mix of pitches to keep the Phillies off balance and guessing all night. Bryce Harper's two-out single in the seventh inning was just the second hit McLean allowed after Alec Bohm had a single in the second (erased on a double play).

"I knew about the lineup going into it, that I was gonna have my hands full and was gonna have to have some good stuff," McLean said. "I mean, top to bottom, they’re stacked with hitters, so I definitely knew I had to bring some good stuff tonight."

Bring it he did.

With the Mets' offense continuing its hot stretch and giving their rookie some runs early, McLean was able to focus on making his pitches and attacking hitters, which he did the entire outing. In fact, McLean was so dominant, he entered the eighth inning with just 76 pitches thrown.

It was in that eighth inning that the first sign of trouble came for the rookie. Despite making what he believes to have been good pitches, McLean allowed the first two runners on after consecutive singles put runners on the corners.

While New York was safely up 6-0, the sudden traffic on the basepaths was enough to make anybody nervous, especially with the aforementioned offensive juggernaut that Philadelphia possesses. Yet, after a talk with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and with battery mate Hayden Senger, McLean was able to flip the script and, once again, rise up to the occasion by retiring the next three batters to not allow a run -- a microcosm of the pressure-filled game itself.

"First and third, and he continues to make pitches and kinda like ‘let me flip it back here and let me use my secondary pitches.’ That’s pitching there," Mendoza said while adding that he could tell McLean still had a lot left in the tank towards the end. "... You get to this level and guys like that, they’re wired differently. They take it to the next level. Obviously, trusting the catcher, the game plan, trusting your defense behind you."

Overall, McLean went eight shutout innings, allowed four hits, walked none and struck out six to notch his third win in his first three career starts -- the first pitcher in Mets history to accomplish that. His brilliant outing also lowered his season ERA to 0.89 in 20.1 innings.

With numbers like that, it's not a surprise to find that the right-hander exudes confidence and moxie on the mound.

"I’ve always been a believer in my stuff. I’m a confident guy," McLean said. "Obviously, the hitters here are the best in the world and I know that, but I also know I have good stuff and if I go out there and execute, I can get a lot of guys out as well."

In regard to pitching in big moments like Wednesday's game, McLean said, "That’s exactly what I want."

It's an attitude and a charisma that the Mets have lacked for much of the season, especially from their pitching rotation. But with McLean now appearing poised to break out and top prospect Jonah Tong getting ready to make his highly anticipated MLB debut on Friday, New York suddenly has a bolt of energy shot into the starting staff.

"We’ve been missing that type of performance pretty much the whole year and here we are when we gotta go," Mendoza said. "And just as a team, knowing that when he takes the baseball, you feel pretty good about your chances. That’s a really good feeling. It tells everyone in that room that I’m here with you guys, let’s go."

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Samuelsson A Valuable Component Of Buffalo's Defense Corps

Mattias Samuelsson (David Kirouac, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres have made changes to their roster this summer, but the core of the team is still essentially the same. And so are the expectations on all Sabres players in that they know this is a make-the-Stanley-Cup-playoffs-or-bust season for them.

That said, specific expectations are different for each of Buffalo's players, and that's what we're analyzing in this player-by-player series for THN.com's Sabres site.

As part of this series, we'll be looking back at each player's key statistics, as well as what's expected for them next season. We started the series with looks at Buffalo's goaltenders, and more recently, we moved into the Sabres' defense corps. And in today's file, we're looking at veteran blueliner Mattias Samuelsson.

Player Name: Mattias Samuelsson

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 62 games, 14 points, 19:18 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary: $4.285-million

2025-26 Expectations: Samuelsson is currently slotted in as the Sabres' second-pair blueliner, and with the development of younger players Bowen Byram, Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, Samuelsson doesn't have to do the heavy lifting for this Buffalo team,

The Swedish blueliner will likely have some flexibility as to where they play, he could be on Buffalo's first 'D' pairing. And that could be music to the ears of Sabre fans.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: D-Man Byram Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To ClearSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: D-Man Byram Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To ClearThe expectations on every one of the Buffalo Sabres' players are all about getting this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But other than that, the expectations change from player-to-player. And to that end, THN.com's Sabres site is breaking down the expectations on each and every Buffalo player this coming season.

At age 25, Samuelsson is being compensated handsomely, and while he's never going to be mistaken for Colorado 's Cale Makar as the NHL's best blueliner. And he's shown in the past that he can be an above-average player for Buffalo, eating up more than 19 minutes per night on average.

Samuelsson still hasn't played an 82-game series at the NHL level, with his 62-games this past season a career high. The Sabres need more out of him than that, And Buffalo's improved defense corps should have a positive impact on him.

Buffalo's group of blueliners is one of the deepest groups of defensemen in the league. But everyone on the back end has to their part, and that mean Samuelsson must put in a better effort than he did last season.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His GameSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His GameThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is only a handful of weeks away, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve started a player-by-player series that analyzes each Sabre this past season and their probable contributions next year. 

Samuelsson doesn't have much flash-or-dash to his game. He's a straightforward stau-at-home defenseman, and even if he didn't have the best year in 2024-25, the same can be said for just about every Sabres player.

Samuelsson definitely has to be considerably better next season, because if he doesn't come through with a strong show, the Sabres will definitely look to send him packing. 

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Ottawa Senators Reunite With Minor League Affiliate In Texas

The Ottawa Senators and their AHL affiliate in Belleville announced on Wednesday that they’ll once again partner with the ECHL’s Allen Americans for the coming season.

“We’re proud to once again team up with the Allen Americans as our ECHL affiliate for the 2025-26 season,” Belleville GM Matt Turek said in a league press release. “Having a solid affiliate will be significantly beneficial to both clubs and provide a clear pathway to the NHL. We have the utmost trust in the leadership of head coach Steve Martinson and his staff, and we’re confident they’ll provide the right atmosphere for Senators players to continue to grow.”

The agreement marks the third time in four years that Ottawa and Belleville have turned to Allen as their ECHL partner. The Senators didn't have an ECHL affiliation last season, but partnered with the Americans in the two seasons before that when several young Senators flowed through the Allen, Texas pipeline.

That includes goalie Leevi Merilainen who suited up in Allen before playing 14 games with Ottawa — 12 of them last season, where he went 8-3-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average.

Related:Senators Sign Goalie Leevi Merilainen to New One-Way Contract

Ottawa Senators Sign Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen To New One-Way ContractOttawa Senators Sign Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen To New One-Way ContractThe Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender Leevi Meriläinen to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.05 million.

Defenseman Donavan Sebrango also moved between Allen and the NHL, where he debuted with his hometown Senators last season.

The Americans are entering their 17th season in pro hockey and already have four championships since their founding. They’ve previously partnered with NHL clubs like the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth, in addition to Ottawa.

“This affiliation has so much potential for the Americans,” Martinson said. "Having many conversations with Matt Turek and Sean McCauley (Ottawa's Manager of Hockey Operations), we know that they like the same style of play as we do in Allen. It’s great to be able to work in concert to add elite players to our roster.”

The Americans are fixin' to fire up the new season on October 18th, when they'll host the Wichita Thunder.  

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at THN.com/Ottawa

Read more Sens articles from The Hockey News-Ottawa:
Staios: 'We’re Not Dismissing That Carter Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Senators' NHL Dream Began Over Pints in the Dressing Room
Former Ottawa Senator Travis Hamonic Signs With Atlantic Division Rival

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Nolan McLean tosses eight shutout innings as Mets complete sweep of Phillies

The Mets blanked the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6-0 on Wednesday night, completing a three-game sweep to get within 4.0 games of first place in the NL East.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- Coming off two terrific starts, Nolan McLean was dealing once again, allowing one hit (an Alec Bohm single) but facing the minimum through three innings to go along with three punchouts. The 24-year-old made it look easy against a talented Phillies lineup, needing just 49 pitches to get through the fifth while still facing the minimum.

-- The Phillies rarely made hard contact off of McLean, but even when they did, they still couldn't get runners on base. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Harrison Bader smoked a ball to left center that looked to be at least a double, if not a homer, but Jeff McNeil made a terrific leaping catch at the wall to end the frame.

-- McLean was a strike-throwing machine and the definition of efficiency. With a pitch count in the mid-50s to start the seventh inning, McLean allowed a two-out single to Bryce Harper, breaking a streak of 15 straight Phillies retired in order. J.T. Realmuto popped out harmlessly to end the inning, though, as McLean finished the seventh at just 76 pitches. 

--The only bit of trouble McLean found himself in all night came in the eighth, when back-to-back singles put runners at the corners with no one out. But shallow fly balls to right and left, and strong throws by Soto and Brandon Nimmo, respectively, kept Bohm from scoring from third, and Bader tapped back to the mound to end the threat.

McLean's night ended after 8.0 pristine innings of shutout ball, as he allowed just four hits and struck out six without a walk. McLean now has a 0.89 ERA through three major league starts.

-- The Mets just kept passing the baton in the third inning, scoring three runs on five hits against former Met Taijuan Walker. What started with a Brett Baty hustle double eventually led to three straight RBI hits by Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. The Mets took a 3-0 lead, and with the way McLean was throwing the ball, that would end up being more than enough.

Walker battled to give the Phillies 5.0 innings, but he gave up another run on aMark Vientos two-out RBI knock in the fifth. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on 10 hits while striking out three and walking one.

-- Vientos provided an exclamation point in the bottom of the seventh, again with two outs. This time, Vientos clobbered a two-run homer to left off of Tanner Banks, breaking the game open at 6-0. Vientos proved last season that he can carry an offense when he gets hot, and he certainly appears to be back in a groove at the plate.

Game MVP

McLean, who electrified the Citi Field crowd for 8.0 shutout innings. McLean became the first Mets starter ever to win his first three starts.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets stay home for a four-game series against the Miami Marlins, starting on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Clay Holmes goes for the Mets, while the Marlins have not yet announced a starter.

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Dodgers' Freddie Freeman sidelined by recurring neck nerve issue

LOS ANGELES — All-Star Freddie Freeman was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Wednesday because of a nerve issue in his neck.

Manager Dave Roberts said Freeman had a "stinger," which typically affects a network of nerves extending from the neck into the shoulder and arm.

“It’s something that is recurring, but it’s been kind of showing itself a little bit the last couple days,” Roberts said. "I think that just giving him a couple days, with the off day tomorrow, he'll be back on Friday.”

Kiké Hernández was set to start at first base in place of Freeman against the Cincinnati Reds. Hernández was 2 for 3 with a run scored Tuesday in his first game since July 6, when he went on the injured list.

Freeman was 1 for 4 with a double in the Dodgers' 6-3 win Tuesday. He leads the National League with a .302 average in pursuit of his first career batting title. He's tied for the league lead in doubles with 34.

Outfielder Alex Call was out of the lineup with a back issue that flared up when he was running the bases Tuesday, Roberts said.

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Brewers sign veteran pitcher Erick Fedde and place All-Star closer Trevor Megill on injured list

MILWAUKEE — Right-hander Erick Fedde joined his third organization this season when he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, who also placed All-Star closer Trevor Megill on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with a right flexor strain.

Fedde was activated in time to be available for the Brewers’ home game against Arizona. Fedde signed with the NL Central leaders three days after he was released by the Atlanta Braves.

The 32-year-old Fedde was 1-2 with an 8.10 ERA in five games with Atlanta after going 3-10 with a 5.22 ERA in 20 starts with the St. Louis Cardinals, who designated him for assignment last month.

The Brewers need healthy arms to eat innings in the midst of an 18-day stretch in which they’re playing 19 games.

“Great pickup, I think, for the situation we’re in,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

Murphy also said Quinn Priester, who had been scheduled to start Wednesday's game, was pushed back to Friday due to a wrist issue. Aaron Ashby is expected to work as an opener on Wednesday, with Fedde entering the game later.

Megill, 31, is 5-3 with a 2.54 ERA and 30 saves in 44 appearances while striking out 58 batters over 46 innings. He has blown three of his last four save opportunities.

He underwent imaging that revealed the flexor strain after throwing 34 pitches Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Megill said it's only a mild strain.

“Nothing too serious,” Megill said. “No damage to the ligament or anything. I've just kind of been grinding through it for the last week. ... Just taking a step back and get this right for the postseason.”

Murphy said Abner Uribe will get the first shot at save opportunities in Megill's absence. Uribe is 2-1 with three saves and a 1.71 ERA in 63 appearances. He has 78 strikeouts over 63 1/3 innings.

The Brewers also transferred right-hander Logan Henderson to the 60-day injured list.

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"We Didn't Win Enough": Former Coach Jeff Blashill Reflects On Time With Red Wings

Just over a decade ago, former Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock accepted an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs to become the highest-paid coach in NHL history at the time, ending a Detroit tenure that included the 2008 Stanley Cup championship, multiple Presidents’ Trophy wins, and several Central Division titles.

The Red Wings quickly filled the vacancy by promoting Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill. Blashill appeared to be the ideal successor to Babcock, having coached many of Detroit’s then-current players during their time in Grand Rapids.

Two seasons earlier, he had also led the Griffins to a Calder Cup championship.

While Blashill guided the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in 2015-16, it remains their most recent postseason berth.

He and the team soon found themselves at the start of a difficult rebuilding process, highlighted by the painful 2019-20 season in which Detroit posted the worst record of any NHL franchise since the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in 1999-2000. 

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After compiling a 204-261-72 record over seven seasons as head coach, Jeff Blashill was informed he would not be returning following the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.

He soon joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach under close friend Jon Cooper, a role he held for three seasons before accepting the head coaching position with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this summer.

Much like the Red Wings during Blashill’s tenure, the Blackhawks are in the midst of a difficult rebuild and have not advanced beyond the regular season since 2017.

Blashill recently made a guest appearance on the Ozzy and Keats podcast, hosted by newly retired Bally Sports Detroit anchor John Keating and former Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood, where he discussed his excitement about joining the Blackhawks while also reflecting on his time in Detroit.

"I'm really excited, to be honest with you," he said of taking over the role of Blackhawks head coach. "I said it kind of as we werew going in the process into my press conference that every job in the NHL is a great job, and this one seemed for a couple reasons why it was kind of the one I wanted the most." 

"In Detroit, we were obviously in the midst of a rebuild, but I learned a ton through that experience."

Blashill was asked by Keating if there was any surprise on his part when he was informed by Yzerman in 2022 that he wouldn't be back for an eighth season behind the bench. While Blashill admitted that he could sense a change in direction was coming, it was still a sobering reality to experience.

"For Sure": Alex DeBrincat Says Red Wings Have Pieces In Place For Postseason Run While the Detroit Red Wings ultimately missed out on qualifying for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one of the positives that they took with them into the offseason was the return to form of goal-scoring forward Alex DeBrincat. 

"To say I didn't see it coming at all would be a lie," Blashill said. "I think when I got the call from Steve (Yzerman) after our last game to meet him the next day, I realized that was probably what was coming. It's probably a bigger gut punch than I thought it was going to be, you think you're tough and you can handle whatever, but when it happens, you have to face failure in essence. That's never an easy thing to do."

"We didn't win enough, but that's part of being in a rebuild, that's the reality of it," he continued. "There are hard things to go through. What I did do was able to learn a ton - was it hard?  Yeah, it's hard on you and your family." 

That being said, Blashill looked back on his time with the organization with nothing but fondness, especially considering the fact that he grew up rooting for the Red Wings as a native Detroiter. 

"You think about how lucky I was," he said. "One, I got to coach my hometown team, and I'll never forget driving in the night before my press conference and driving through downtown Detroit. I was born in Detroit and grew up in Sault Ste. Marie , but the Red Wings were my team the whole time, that was the team I cheered for." 

"I think I got a chance to close Joe Louis Arena and a chance to open Little Caesars Arena, that's a cool, cool thing to be able to sit back and think about. But I probably didn't enjoy it enough at the time." 

With the Blackhawks, Blashill reunites with former Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who is entering the second year of the four-year contract he signed last offseason.

In addition to coaching 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard, Blashill will also oversee the continued development of Michigan native Frank Nazar, who played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth as well as the University of Michigan.

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