Posts

Posted on

Yankees sign Paul Blackburn, who was recently released by Mets

The Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn, who was released last week by the Mets after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers.

Blackburn, 31, will work out of the bullpen for the Yanks.

In a corresponding move, right-hander Allan Winans was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

"Some depth, some length, our pen right now is not filled with a lot of guys who can give us a lot of length," manager Aaron Boone said before Thursday's game. "Obviously, a track record of success in the big leagues. A guy that’s built up who can give us some coverage if we get in a situation where we need some real length."

Blackburn had a 6.85 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 23.2 innings in seven games (four starts) for the Mets this season.

His stint in Queens stretched from the second half of last season to a few days ago, and was marred by injuries (including a cerebrospinal fluid leak that required surgery this past October) and ineffectiveness.

In 24.1 innings for the Mets in 2024, Blackburn had a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

He is set to be a free agent after the season.

Posted on

Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Named To NHL Network's Top 20 Centers

The name that has been circling the internet all summer has officially made an appearance on an NHL Network list. The Top 20 Centers Right Now countdown features Golden Knights star Jack Eichel at No. 6. 

The 28-year-old center has truly made his mark in this organization, proving consistent improvement every season. Though not one of the “Original Misfits”, he continues to be a fan favorite in the community. 

Playing a total of 241 games during four regular seasons in Vegas, Eichel put up some impressive numbers showing his reliability on the ice.  After his departure from the Buffalo Sabres back in 2021, Eichel had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) at the end of the regular season. 

He played a significant role in the historic championship run for the Knights the following year. He posted 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in the regular season and led the team in postseason scoring with 26 points in 22 playoff games. 

This past season marked a breakout year—his best yet. Over 77 games he racked up a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists). 

Eichel continues to be an invaluable asset to the Vegas community. He’s a regular presence at youth hockey camps and actively participates in the annual Battle for Vegas charity event. The buzz around him certainly isn’t just hype; it’s earned.

EXCLUSIVE: Jack Eichel Talks Summer Vacation, Starting Camp With Newest Knight Mitch MarnerEXCLUSIVE: Jack Eichel Talks Summer Vacation, Starting Camp With Newest Knight Mitch MarnerLAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights star Jack Eichel knows what it means to leave an organization and city that brought you into the NHL, and then having to start over in a brand-new city.
Posted on

Why Five NHL Vezina Trophy Favorites Could Or Couldn't Win

The goaltender is arguably the most important position in hockey. Across the NHL, there are several elite netminders, guiding their respective teams to victory.

At the end of every season, the best goaltender is awarded the Vezina Trophy. The winner is decided by a vote consisting of all 32 GMs in the NHL.

While it may be too early for anyone to confidently predict the winner of the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy, BetMGM has the futures odds. The goalies with the top five odds are on another tier from the rest.

Here’s why these five candidates could and couldn’t be crowned goaltender of the year.

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

It should surprise no one that the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, is the odds-on favorite on BetMGM to win the Vezina Trophy next season, at 4.10 odds (+310). 

Why he could win: The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has proved to be the best in the NHL over the last two seasons. He’s won the Vezina Trophy in both seasons, and he will go for his third straight and fourth total.

Among goaltenders who have played at least 25 games last season, Hellebuyck led the NHL in goals-against average (2.00) and was second best in save percentage (.925 percent).

Why he couldn’t win: Winning the Vezina as many times as he did forces Hellebuyck to continuously outperform his peers between the pipes. The 32-year-old has put himself on a pedestal, and the moment he can’t play up to his standards, even if it is above-average in comparison to the rest of the NHL, he could lose his title. Other top-tier goalies can put up an excellent season as well.

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

Igor Shesterkin is entering his seventh season with the New York Rangers and his first under his new contract extension, which is worth a goalie-high $11.5 million per year. His odds of winning the Vezina this upcoming season are 7.75 (+675).

Why he could win: Shesterkin has won the Vezina Trophy before. It was in the 2021-22 season when he recorded a 2.07 GAA and a .935 SP. Since that campaign, Shesterkin has had two top-10 Vezina finishes. He ranked seventh in the NHL in goals saved above expected last season, with 21.6, according to moneypuck.com, even though he had somewhat of a down year by his standard.

Why he couldn’t win: Shesterkin's goals against average and save percentage have regressed since winning the Vezina in 2022. Last season, he ended with a .905 SP and 2.86 GAA, the worst of his career so far. Those numbers aren't respectable for a Vezina candidate.

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

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Following his fellow Russian, BetMGM lists Andrei Vasilevskiy with 8.50 odds (+750) to win the Vezina. 

Why he could win: Vasilevskiy has been in the Vezina Trophy conversation for nearly his entire career. Besides winning it in 2018-19, the Tampa Bay Lightning netminder has had six other top-10 finishes for the award, four of them in the top three.

To win this trophy, goalies need help from teammates, and it’s no secret that the Lightning are a top team. Since Vasilevskiy’s NHL debut, Tampa Bay has only missed the playoffs once.

Why he couldn’t win: While the 31-year-old has been an elite goaltender for years, the Lightning have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for three straight years now, which could be a sign of the team getting weaker. That could ultimately affect Vasilevskiy’s numbers and chances at earning his second career Vezina.

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

Devan Dubnyk's predicted winner for the Vezina Trophy, Jake Oettinger, has 16.00 odds (+1500) of winning the award for the first time in 2025-26.

Why he could win: For the last few years, the Stars have been one of the best teams in the league, making the Western Conference final for three straight seasons. With Oettinger being just as impressive as Dallas’ D-corpsand the rest of his team, it’s a great recipe for him to stand out in the list of top goaltenders in the NHL.

Why he couldn’t win: Even though the 26-year-old has been consistently solid for the Stars, he needs to reach the next level and be consistently elite. All the winners of the Vezina Trophy in the last five years have recorded a .920 SP or better. Oettinger has not been able to reach that level just yet. Last year's 2.59 GAA and .909 SP aren't strong enough.

Why The NHL's Stanley Cup Favorites Could Or Couldn't WinWhy The NHL's Stanley Cup Favorites Could Or Couldn't WinEntering a new NHL season, all 32 teams begin with the same record, but each of them has different goals.

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

Coming off an impressive rookie campaign, Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames has 19.00 odds (+1800) of winning the Vezina in his sophomore season.

Why he could win: Wolf will have to use his underdog title to his advantage in the race to win the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy. While it may feel like a long shot, he could be considered for the award with a stellar season. He was tied for the 10th-best save percentage (.910) last season, so if he continues to trend upward, he can reach another level.

Why he couldn’t win: The 24-year-old is going into his sophomore season. It’ll be a tremendous challenge for him to enter the conversation of the Vezina Trophy, never mind winning the award outright, especially considering opponents scouted him in his rookie year.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Cam Thomas reportedly choosing between Nets two-year, $28 million offer or his qualifying offer

Cam Thomas is willing to bet on himself, but how much?

Thomas is a restricted free agent, and there are rumors that he ideally would like a contract close to $40 million a season. That's not happening. League sources not tied to the negotiations told NBC Sports they think an offer closer to what the Warriors reportedly have put in front of Jonathan Kuminga — two years, $45 million — would get a deal done. When The Athletic’s Fred Katz surveyed 16 league executives about Thomas, most said they think he's worth between $20-$30 million a season, but they only wanted to do a two-year deal for the 23 year old.

Brooklyn has all the leverage here and with that has offered just two years at the mid-level exception of $14.1 million, with the second year of that being a team option — a very tradable contract. That leaves Thomas with the choice of taking that offer or playing for the $5.9 million qualifying offer, then being an unrestricted free agent next summer. NBA insider Jake Fischer said in a Bleacher Report livestream that if any restricted free agent would play for the qualifying offer, it would be Thomas.

"Cam Thomas's situation seems to be a decision between taking his qualifying offer or a two-year deal with the team option that is north of the qualifying offer from Brooklyn somewhere around $14 million in average annual value."

Thomas is a bucket getter who averaged 24 points and 3.8 assists per game last season, shooting 34.9% on 3-pointers. Brooklyn will need that scoring next season, paired with Michael Porter Jr., and Terrance Mann, on a rebuilding roster in need of scoring.

It's August, a time with very little pressure to make a decision — training camp doesn't start for more than a month and the decision date on the qualifying offer is Oct. 1 — so it's easy for both sides to dig in and not compromise. That changes as it gets closer to the start of camp and the qualifying offer deadline.

Thomas and his agent, Alex Saratsis, must decide whether the market for Thomas's services will be there next summer and if he is willing to bet on it. Even at the Nets' current offer, he would be leaving $8 million this season on the table (a lot for a player who has yet to make more than $4 million in a season). Is it worth the risk? Do the sides find a better compromise closer to the deadline (a player option rather than a team option for next season, or some guaranteed money on that second season)?

It's something to watch as we move into September. Thomas might be the one guy willing to make that big a bet on himself.

Posted on

Mets' Jeff McNeil dealing with right shoulder soreness

Jeff McNeil is dealing with right shoulder soreness, Mets managerCarlos Mendoza said before Thursday's game against the Nationals.

McNeil is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale in Washington, D.C.

Per Mendoza, McNeil has been experiencing the soreness since last week, which is why the versatile defender served as the Mets' designated hitter on both Saturday and Sunday against Seattle.

The hope is that giving McNeil a day off on Thursday will allow the soreness to ease up, as the Mets don't anticipate McNeil needing an MRI.

"It's just the throwing. It's been hard for him," Mendoza explained. "Give him the day, see where we're at."

"We don't think it's anything serious," Mendoza added. "We're not planning on taking imaging or anything like that. We're gonna put him on a medicine, and hopefully calm it down."

Despite not being in the lineup every day and shuffling through multiple defensive positions, McNeil has had a strong season, slashing .259/.351/.444 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI, and 30 runs scored.

HIs 127 OPS+ is the highest he's posted since his All-Star 2022 campaign.

Posted on

Sloppy Giants continue to look overmatched by Padres after ‘frustrating' series

Sloppy Giants continue to look overmatched by Padres after ‘frustrating' series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres already had the best ballpark food in the National League, but this spring, they decided to kick things up a notch. A mini donut stand showed up down the first base line, and several concession stands now sell replica Western Metal Supply Co. buildings filled with banana pudding and nilla wafers. 

The dessert is the greatest addition to Major League Baseball since the pitch clock, and judging by how many Padres and Giants fans were carrying it around over the last four days, it might singlehandedly cover the next $300 million contract that Padres executive A.J. Preller decides to hand out. 

In just about every way — ballpark atmosphere, food, scoreboard graphics — the Padres are ahead of the curve. Giants employees can feel it when they visit a ballpark that used to be jokingly known as AT&T Park South, and that extends to the field, too.

Thursday’s 8-4 loss was the sixth in seven games between the NL West rivals over the past two weeks. The Padres outscored the Giants 44-13 over those seven games, and the difference between the two teams — once competing for the same Wild Card spot — is now 11 games. 

Overall, the Giants went 3-10 against the Padres this year and got outscored by 36 runs. It’s one thing to finish well behind your division leader, but the Giants now trail the Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres by double-digit games. Given their trajectory — they have the worst record in baseball over the past five weeks — there’s a chance they finish 20 back of two teams in their own division. 

From the top step of the dugout, it has certainly felt like the Giants have been working uphill in just about all of these matchups. 

“If you get behind them, their bullpen is pretty tough to score on. We’ve done that often against them and we haven’t done enough offensively to put any pressure on and keep some of their plus guys out of the game,” manager Bob Melvin said. “They have a good lineup. They played well against us. Earlier in the year, I felt like we matched up a little bit better against them, but certainly it’s frustrating. 

“It’s a team in your division that you feel like you should play better baseball against. To go 3-10 is bad.”

The Padres are addicted to star power, but that’s not necessarily the reason the Giants have been overwhelmed. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have had good years, but not MVP ones. Jackson Merrill’s sophomore campaign has been ruined by injuries. Their bullpen is the best in the league and is even stronger with the addition of Mason Miller, but their rotation has been patched together. 

They do, however, do several key things that the Giants do not. They’re last in the National League in strikeouts, more than 200 behind the Giants, and that’s what stood out to Justin Verlander when asked about the matchup. 

“They put the ball in play a lot,” he said, pausing for several seconds. “They put the ball in play a lot.”

That was on full display in the fifth inning, which ruined Verlander’s day and left him with a 1-10 record. The Padres put down three consecutive bunts, one of which was thrown into right field by Casey Schmitt. When the rolling ball was dropped by Luis Matos, it became a two-error play that led to two runs. 

The Giants caught a couple of breaks early, too, which led to two runs. But they have been unable to fully make an opponent pay in recent weeks. The Padres did, with Machado lining a two-run double off Verlander after the errors, making it a 6-2 game. 

“It’s just their ability to capitalize on mistakes,” Schmitt said. “They capitalized on my mistakes.”

Schmitt made four errors in the series, which generally was filled with sloppy baseball by the Giants. That’s particularly frustrating for the staff, given that Buster Posey’s main directive after executing a trade deadline sale was to play cleaner baseball. 

“It looks terrible,” Melvin said. “When you’re not hitting and you play bad defense, it just looks awful. Two errors on one play — you look at Justin’s line, and he certainly did not pitch to that line. His stuff the first couple innings was just as good as we’ve seen it and we scratch a couple (runs) and then obviously the fourth and the fifth just got away from us.

“We continue to work on it. We do have some guys playing some different positions at this point in time and some new guys here, but that’s no excuse. We have to play cleaner defense.”

Verlander has pitched well in recent weeks, but he was charged with seven earned runs. He has had unfathomably bad defensive luck, run support and help from the bullpen this season, and on Thursday, the frustration showed. The future Hall-of-Famer chose some words carefully, knowing that not much needed to be said about how shaky the defense was behind him.

But he also called it “one of the more frustrating games of my career.” 

“Especially with the season I’ve had, you’re kind of scratching and clawing to find your way out of it and you feel like you’ve finally found something to grasp onto, and then you have a game and inning like that,” he added. “I’m being tested, for sure.”

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

Posted on

Canadiens Defenseman Appears On New Trade Board

Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has released his latest NHL Trade Block Big Board for the month of August. Among the 15 players who made Richardson's trade board is Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. 

Seeing Matheson among the players on this trade board is not necessarily surprising, as he has been the subject of trade speculation throughout this off-season. With the Canadiens having several young defensemen and Matheson entering the final year of his contract, there have naturally been questions about his future in Montreal. 

Yet, if the Canadiens were to trade Matheson during this off-season, it would undoubtedly come with risk. The 31-year-old is still an important veteran and leader on the Canadiens' blueline, so his absence would be felt if he were to be moved. 

In 80 games this past season with the Canadiens, Matheson recorded six goals, 25 assists, and 31 points. This was after the left-shot defenseman scored 11 goals and set career highs with 51 assists and 62 points in 82 games with the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.

Nevertheless, with Matheson entering next season as a pending UFA, some fans will naturally wonder if the Canadiens could trade him by next year's deadline. Yet, a contract extension would put the trade rumors surrounding Matheson to bed. It will be interesting to see what happens with him from here. 

Canadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonCanadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising young winger Zack Bolduc in separate trades. They also improved their depth by bringing in Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais, and Kaapo Kahkonen through free agency.
Posted on

Report: Kaleb McGary set to miss time with injury

The Falcons will be without one of their key offensive players for a bit.

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, right tackle Kaleb McGary will miss time with the apparent leg injury he suffered during Wednesday's practice. But at this point, McGary's timeline for recovery is unknown.

McGary, 30, was carted off the field during the midweek session. He was scheduled to have an MRI to determine the extent of his injury.

A first-round pick in 2019, McGary has started 92 of the 93 games played in his career. With Michael Penix Jr. being a lefty quarterback, McGary’s position has that much more importance as he protects Penix’s blindside.

Posted on

Northwestern Football Hazing Scandal: Fitzgerald’s Rise and Fall

Northwestern University fired its longtime football coach Pat Fitzgerald in July 2023 after allegations of hazing within the football program were revealed. “I recognize that my decision will not be universally applauded, and there will be those in our community who may vehemently disagree with it,” university president Michael Schill wrote in a letter to …

Posted on

Five Wingers Poised To Break Into The NHL Full-Time In 2025-26

Over the past week, TheHockeyNews.com has examined prospect goaltenders and defensemen who look ready to make the jump to being full-time NHLers.

Now, it’s time to see the wingers who look to join that group, and they’re an exciting bunch.

As for the criteria, it’s the same as the defensemen list, so these players must have been either AHL or NCAA regulars last season, still eligible for the Calder Trophy and are at least 20 years old. 

Without further ado, here are five breakthrough wingers for the 2025-26 NHL season.

Matt Savoie, Edmonton Oilers

Everywhere Edmonton Oilers prospect Matt Savoie has played, he’s found success. He averaged more than a point per game in the United States League and WHL in juniors. By the end of his first full AHL season in Bakersfield, the 2021 ninth overall pick from the Buffalo Sabres has blossomed into a player ready to make that jump to the NHL.

There are still questions about Savoie’s game at the next level. 

Will his diminutive 5-foot-9 stature hinder his ability to remain an offensive threat? Can he create consistently at the NHL level rather than rely on being an off-the-puck finisher? 

These questions are valid, but they’re so far overblown by all accounts. 

Savoie has the skating, the smarts, the deception and the skill to be a capable offensive second-line-caliber guy. 

Even if Savoie tops out as more of a supplementary offensive player, we’ve seen players in that mold succeed on first lines next to genuine stars, such as Capitals playmaker Dylan Strome next to Alex Ovechkin last season or previously, Mike Hoffman with Mark Stone on the Ottawa Senators. 

With Zach Hyman potentially missing time next season recovering from wrist surgery, Savoie could have opportunities to play with the best of the best, such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Savoie is listed as the third-best right winger on the Oilers' depth chart in The Hockey News’ 2025 Yearbook & Fantasy Guide. 

Gabe Perreault, New York Rangers

In Gabe Perreault’s draft year, he netted the most points in USA Hockey National Team Development Program history with 132 over 63 games. He beat out a plethora of NHL stars, such as Auston Matthews (117 in 60), Jack Eichel (87 in 53) and NHL 26 cover star Matthew Tkachuk (95 in 65), to name a few. 

Unlike those mentioned above who were selected well within the top 10 of the NHL draft, Perreault fell to the New York Rangers at 23rd overall.

Draft concerns included his skating, a lack of bulk and how he’d do without his NTDP linemates, Washington Capitals pick Ryan Leonard and the San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith. 

While his skating has marginally improved, and he’s become more physically engaged and mature with time, the concerns surrounding Perreault’s reliance on his linemates are worth amplifying. Since Smith’s arrival in San Jose, Perreault’s stat line from his first to second seasons in the NCAA fell by 12 points. Given this, Perreault’s lack of significant skating improvements may hinder his truly elite upside. He should be more well-rounded to fit lower in the lineup.

With the Rangers’ youth movement in full swing, The Hockey News projects Perreault as the No. 2 right winger on the team. Given this opportunity, Perreault should succeed despite his skating, as he has the tools and hockey sense to become a high-end cerebral playmaker at the NHL level.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s PipelineNHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s PipelineThe NHL prospect pool overview series is our annual summer series breaking down every team's prospect pipeline.

Ville Koivunen, Pittsburgh Penguins

Ville Koivunen’s stock has skyrocketed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

He was overlooked when the Carolina Hurricanes included him in the trade to Pittsburgh for beloved star forward Jake Guentzel at the 2024 trade deadline. While the 2021 second-round pick averaged close to a point per game in Finland in 2023-24, he struggled to produce in an AHL stint the season before. However, from the moment he joined the Baby Pens in the AHL, things took off.

In his first full-time AHL season, Koivunen led the Penguins' affiliate in points with 56. This led to an eight-game NHL call-up where he put up seven assists thanks to his exceptional vision and deception. 

Koivunen is ranked as the No. 1 left winger on the Penguins, and one would have to imagine what a full season next to Sidney Crosby could do to fast-track his development. 

Bradly Nadeau, Carolina Hurricanes

Drafted late in the QMJHL, USHL and even his home province’s Maritime Junior Hockey League, Nadeau quickly rose to prominence in the BCHL, scoring 45 goals and 68 assists for 113 points over 54 games in his draft year. 

The impressive play led to him being drafted 30th overall in 2023 by the Hurricanes. He was considered a project player at the time.

Just one year later, Nadeau made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes after a seismic 46-point rookie campaign in the NCAA with the University of Maine. 

Needing some more seasoning, Nadeau played his age-19 season in the AHL with Chicago and very quickly adapted to the pro game, adding more physicality and playmaking to his game alongside his dangerous shot. 

Given this, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nadeau sneaks onto the Hurricanes roster out of camp despite being ranked as the No. 5 right winger on the team in the 2025 Yearbook.

Five Goalies Poised To Break Into The NHL Full-Time In 2025-26Five Goalies Poised To Break Into The NHL Full-Time In 2025-26Anticipate a wave of newer faces looking to prove themselves in net this NHL season.

Liam Ohgren, Minnesota Wild

When Liam Ohgren got the call-up to the Minnesota Wild after a string of injuries last season, the 2022 19th overall pick made them count. 

The six-foot left winger showed off his speed, willingness to engage physically and a deceptive, NHL-level shot. By season’s end, the 21-year-old amassed 24 more games of experience in the big league, scoring two goals and three assists. 

Ohgren’s work rate has seemingly transitioned off the ice as well as the youngster looks swole in off-season training photos. The additional bulk and conditioning might be just enough of what Ohgren needs to make the Wild’s bottom six full-time next season. He’s currently positioned as the No. 5 left winger in THN’s Yearbook.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.