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St. Louis Blues 2023 Third-Round Pick Juraj Pekarcik Eager To Turn Pro After Enjoying Great Success Past Two Years

St. Louis Blues third-round pick Juraj Pekarcik (second from right) enjoyed great success for Moncton of the QMJHL last season, but the forward is turning pro for the 2025-26 season, most likely playing in Springfield of the AHL. (St. Louis Blues photo)

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Juraj Pekarcik already spent one year in North America in 2023-24, after making the jump from Europe to begin his trek towards making it to the NHL when the St. Louis Blues selected the forward in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 19-year-old spent a season in Dubuque of the United States Hockey League, and although it was a successful season (nine goals, 50 assists; 43 games) for the 6-foot-1, 183-pound wing, making the decision to play junior hockey turned out to be even more beneficial.

Pekarcik, with the help from his agent Gerry Johansson, who collaborated with the Blues to get Pekarcik to play for Moncton of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and not only did Pekarcik's game grow, he played important minutes for a side that won the QMJHL and competed for the Memorial Cup.

They were important games and important roles that Pekarcik grew into well.

"I feel like it was a great season for us, for the team," Pekarcik said last week at Blues development camp, his third and final one. "We won the (QMJHL) championship so a great experience for me. I learned from the year. I wish we could (have won) the Memorial Cup, but it was a great season.

"It was a pleasure for me to play in the Mem Cup. It was a great experience, and the teams were really good. London and Medicine Hat. I wish we could have been better and won the Mem Cup, but it was a great experience."

Pekarcik, who has also played for Slovakia in the past two U20 World Junior Championships, would greatly benefit from his one season with the Wildcats, finishing with 67 points (24 goals, 43 assists) in 53 regular-season games and a plus-34 rating; he would add 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists in 19 playoff games, helping Moncton win the title for the first time since 2009-10; he was a teammate of Caleb Desnoyers, who was selected by the Utah Mammoth with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft.

"I feel like I grow a lot," Pekarcik said. "I improved a lot of things in my game. The coaches there in Moncton helped me a lot, really a lot. I improved in the D-zone most probably. That's what I needed the most. I'm trying to improve everything. My shots on goals. Last year I had nine goals, this (past) year I had 24, so I think I improved that. I'm so happy for it.

"Yeah, it was a great move. It was. It was my agent and St. Louis Blues decision, and I was so happy for it. It was a great year for me, great year."

But as much as good times last, they also come to an end and a new chapter opens. For Pekarcik, it's time to turn pro; he will be at main training camp once again, and depending on his performance while in St. Louis, it will determine where his playing address will be for 2025-26.

Blues prospect and 2023 third-round pick Juraj Pekarcik (left) met and took part in development camp last week with 2025 first-round pick Justin Carbonneau. (St. Louis Blues photo)

"Yes, I'm always ready," Pekarcik said. "It was always my dream. I hope I'm going to make it. I can't wait.

"I feel like I need to play more physical during games and I'm going to try and improve that for sure, but overall, everything I need to improve and to be the best if I want to be in the NHL, so I'll do everything to be an NHL player one day."

As is the case with all their prospects, management will not rush the forward, but they recognized the success he had in his only season of junior hockey and realize the next step is necessary.

"Yeah, he had a great year," Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. "They raved about his character. His teammates loved him. He was really good in the playoffs for them. He was the type of kid that plays really big in big games, hard-nosed and has a nose for the net. We're excited for him. Obviously a steppingstone. This (was) his third camp. He's going to turn pro this year, and we have a lot of young kids turning pro this year so we're excited with that.

"Obviously he'll be coming to training camp and make a big impression on us. We expect him to turn pro and have a good year."

Pekarcik is likely to begin the season in Springfield of the American Hockey League but seeing how he's progressed each step the Blues have laid out for him will only fuel his fire since he will be one step away from the pinnacle of his dreams.

But in the meantime, he was able to enjoy another strong development camp, with many of the prospects that have the same aspirations as he does.

Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik makes the kids happy last week with a souvenir stick at development camp. (St. Louis Blues photo)

"I was so happy to come again," Pekarcik said. "It was a great experience. It's a pleasure for me to be here again. I'm so thankful. I just want(ed) to enjoy this one more time, the boys. I'm so happy here. I've learned so much from being here for these.

"I'm going to make it. I'll do everything I possibly can to be here. This is the next step, I have to be my best."

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This Is What Riley Nash Will Always Be Remembered For In His Maple Leafs Tenure

A former Toronto Maple Leafs player, with a brief history with the club, has called it a career. Riley Nash told the Western Canadian news outlet Castanet that he is retiring from professional hockey after 628 games in which he registered 63 goals and 113 assists.

“It is definitely something weird to say, and it hasn’t really sunk in yet, even though I basically had all of last year away from the rink, this year will still be weird,” Nash told the news site. “This is all I’ve done and focused on for the past 30 years, but now is the time to end this chapter (or book) and look at what’s next.”

The 36-year-old played for eight different NHL clubs, including the Maple Leafs; however, none of those aforementioned games were regular-season contests with the Blue and White. The Maple Leafs acquired Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in April of 2021. He was injured at the time with a knee sprain, but that didn’t deter the Leafs from acquiring him.

On the contrary, the Leafs were able to add the player and effectively use his entire $2.75 million in salary cap space within the long-term injured reserve pool. This strategy helped them acquire additional players like then-Jackets captain Nick Foligno and goaltender David Rittich in other trades. Nash healed up in time for the playoffs and dressed in two of the club’s seven games in their first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Nash himself found humor in it when he addressed the Toronto media for the first time ahead of the playoffs, saying, “It was definitely unique.”

While the Nash acquisition demonstrated creative cap management, new changes to the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will impact how teams can utilize similar strategies in the future. With the NHL ratifying its new CBA, there will be a playoff salary cap for the 20 players dressed on the ice. Additionally, the amount of cap space a team will get for a player on LTIR will be equal to the prior season’s average.

Not that the Leafs couldn’t do this again with another player of Nash’s type, but such moves may become more complex under the new rules. Nash’s tenure in Toronto was more memorable for the craftiness of the front office rather than the player’s effectiveness on the ice.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Marlies Sign Five Players, Including Four Players From Past Maple Leafs Development CampsMarlies Sign Five Players, Including Four Players From Past Maple Leafs Development CampsThe Toronto Marlies have made more additions to their club ahead of next season. Ex-Maple Leafs Assistant Dave Hakstol Lands New NHL Coaching JobEx-Maple Leafs Assistant Dave Hakstol Lands New NHL Coaching JobDave Hakstol is back behind an NHL bench. 'Mitchy Earned The Right To Go Wherever He Wants': Ryan Reaves Discusses Marner’s Depature And Time Spent With The Marlies Last Season'Mitchy Earned The Right To Go Wherever He Wants': Ryan Reaves Discusses Marner’s Depature And Time Spent With The Marlies Last SeasonBefore Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves calls it a career, he hopes to hit the milestone of 1,000 games.
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Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more

Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Chase Utley hopped on the Phillies Talk podcast to discuss his golf game, the current state of the team and what’s next for him.

“The Man” also discussed the trade deadline, Phillies Wall of Fame and much more with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Sean Kane and Spencer McKercher.

Watch the episode right here.

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Maple Leafs' Farm Marlies Home Opener Revealed

The Toronto Marlies' home opener has been revealed.

The American Hockey League announced on Wednesday that Toronto's first home game will be played on Oct. 11 inside Coca-Cola Coliseum against the division rival Rochester Americans. The AHL will release the entire season schedule on Thursday.

The announcement comes one day after Toronto made a second batch of AHL signings. On Tuesday, the Marlies signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals.

Rheaume, who just finished his third year of college, attended Maple Leafs development camp this summer. Four of the five players who signed AHL deals with Toronto on Tuesday previously participated in the organization's development camp.

'Mitchy Earned The Right To Go Wherever He Wants': Ryan Reaves Discusses Marner’s Depature And Time Spent With The Marlies Last Season'Mitchy Earned The Right To Go Wherever He Wants': Ryan Reaves Discusses Marner’s Depature And Time Spent With The Marlies Last SeasonBefore Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves calls it a career, he hopes to hit the milestone of 1,000 games.

The Marlies also had a round of signings on Monday, inking former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract. Johnstone departed the organization in 2023 after signing an entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made his NHL debut with the club on Dec. 8, 2023.

Toronto also added Ken Appleby on a one-year contract, while also re-signing Reese Johnson.

Appleby primarily spent last season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, posting a .910 save percentage in 24 games. The veteran goaltender had six shutouts, the second-most in the AHL last season. Appleby last played an NHL game during the 2023-24 season with the New York Islanders.

'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Johnson is coming off a season where he played three NHL games with the Minnesota Wild and the rest with the club's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In 49 games with Iowa, Johnson scored four goals and nine assists for 15 points. He played six games with the Marlies, scoring one assist after being acquired by the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline in exchange for future considerations.

The Marlies saw several departures this summer, including Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen, and Zach Solow, who signed in Europe; Matt Murray, now with the Seattle Kraken; Alex Steeves, with the Boston Bruins; Nick Abruzzese, with the Tampa Bay Lightning; and Kyle Clifford, whose playing career could be over after he was a coach at Toronto's development camp.

The Marlies' season concluded after two straight losses to the Cleveland Monsters in the North Division First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

(Top photo of Logan Shaw: Christian Bonin / TSGphoto.com via Toronto Marlies)

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Canadiens Have Three Of The Top 10 Point Scorers Of The 2019 Draft

The 2019 draft was a good one for the NHL and for the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs had the 15th overall pick and couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw that USNTDP’s scorer Cole Caufield was sliding because of his small size. Fans watching the draft were telling themselves not to get too excited because, sure, his slide would stop before the 15th overall pick. Still, the Florida Panthers selected Spencer Knight, and the Philadelphia Flyers opted for Cam York, allowing Montreal to grab Caufield with the 15th overall pick.

Looking back at this draft today and how productive some players have been, chances are, a few teams wouldn’t have drafted the way they did. It’s fascinating to compare the top 10 picks with the top 10 scorers today; the Canadiens are one of the winners of that draft. Six years later, they have three of the top 10 scorers.

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Here are the top 10 picks of that draft:

1. Jack Hughes – New Jersey Devils

2. Kaapo Kakko – New York Rangers

3. Kirby Dach – Chicago Blackhawks

4. Bowen Byram – Buffalo Sabres

5. Alex Turcotte – Los Angeles Kings

6. Moritz Seider – Detroit Red Wings

7. Dylan Cozens – Buffalo Sabres

8. Philip Broberg – Edmonton Oilers

9. Trevor Zegras – Anaheim Ducks

10. Vasily Podkolzin – Vancouver Canucks

Interestingly, seven of the first 10 picks are no longer with the teams that drafted them. Kakko is now in Seattle, Dach is in Montreal, Byram is in Buffalo (although that may change soon), Cozens is in Ottawa, Broberg has signed an offer sheet to join the St. Louis Blues, Zegras is now with Philadelphia, and Podkolzin is also in St. Louis.

It’s not necessarily because they all flopped; six of those ten players are also part of the top 10 point scorers of the draft. One of the three who stayed with his original team, however, isn't. Without further ado, here’s the breakdown of the top 10.

1. Jake Hughes – New Jersey Devils

Hughes needed a few seasons, but he soon became something other than Quinn Hughes’ little brother. In his third full season in the league, he scored 68 points and hasn’t looked back since. Now, in 368 games, he has 351 points. By the time his career is over, he’s likely to be more than a point-per-game player. New Jersey has no reason to regret its pick and would do it all over again.

2. Matthew Boldy

He didn’t make the top ten at the draft, but he was pretty close, being drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild. Now, he’s second in points from that draft class with 244 points in 285 games. Unsurprisingly, he remains with the team that initially selected him and turned out to be a much better pick than Kakko, who went second overall.

3. Cole Caufield

As mentioned earlier, he was the Canadiens’ pick at 15th overall, but in the top scorer standings, he advanced to third overall with 219 points in 287 games. Funnily enough, he’s now a teammate of the original third pick, Dach, and he has 98 points more than Dach, despite having played just 18 more games than Dach did. Dach made the jump right into the NHL, while the Canadiens instructed Caufield to stay in the NCAA for an extra year, and it looks like it was the right decision.

4. Dylan Cozens

The news is that Senator's center has put up 213 points in 362 games, all of which were played with a struggling Buffalo side, but the last 21, which is how long he’s been in Ottawa. He’s fared much better than original fourth-overall pick Byram, who’s got 110 points in 246 games split between the Colorado Avalanche and the Sabres.

5. Trevor Zegras

Say what you will about Zegras, but he does possess some offensive skills. His 186 points in 268 games make him the fifth-best scorer in the draft, two spots higher than where he was initially drafted. Meanwhile, the fifth overall pick, Turcotte, is nowhere to be seen on the top 10 scorers list; he’s only put up 29 points in 100 games with the Kings, and there’s room for improvement. This year was the first season he spent solely in the NHL.

6. Moritz Seider

Aside from Hughes, Seider is the only player who occupies the same rank in scoring as he was in the draft. The defender went sixth overall and has gathered 180 points in 328 games and a Calder Trophy to boot. The highest-scoring defenseman in the draft, the Wings really can’t complain.

7. Kaapo Kakko

The Rangers picked him second overall and eventually gave up on him, trading him to the Seattle Kraken for Will Borgen and a couple of draft picks (third round and sixth round in 2025). Still, his 161 points are the seventh-best total in the draft, and he achieved them in 379 games, the highest total of games played since the draft, indicating that he has remained healthy.

8. Matias Maccelli

The left winger was only drafted in the fourth round by the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes, but he somehow managed to become the eighth highest scorer in the draft with 130 points in just 224 games. He heard he was traded this Summer while playing a round of golf with friends. One of them saw news of the deal on the course and started screaming in excitement. Chances are, he’s one happy camper right now.

9. Alex Newhook

The second Canadiens player on the list was the 16th overall pick in the draft. He was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche right after the Habs grabbed Caufield, so he’s higher in the top ten list, which is a good thing. Still, in 296 games played, he’s gathered 126 points. That’s 0.43 points per game, which is quite a drop from Maccelli, who has a 0.58 average. This past season, Newhook put up just 26 points in 82 games, which is a significant regression compared to his 34 points in just 55 games the year before, but to be fair, he spent a lot of time on a line with Patrik Laine, who’s not that efficient at even strength.

10. Kirby Dach

Last and least (at least in terms of points), Dach, who was drafted third overall, falls to number 10 in the top 10 in points. In 269 games, he has 121 points, trailing Newhook by just five points, despite the latter having played 27 more games. If you look at it that way, it makes you wonder why Dach is getting so much flak compared to Newhook, and the answer there is probably because the expectations as to the capacity of being that top-two center were much higher towards Dach.

Still, it’s pretty remarkable that the Canadiens have three of the top 10 scorers of that draft, and if Newhook and Dach live up to their potential, it will be even more impressive. In a contract year and after having been publicly criticized at the end of season media availability, Dach should be eager to prove that he can be that second-line center and finally stay healthy. As for Newhook, a lot will depend on how the lines shake up, but in any case, they will be two forwards to keep an eye on this upcoming season.

Photo credit:  Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Rays slugger Junior Caminero to compete in Home Run Derby, start at third base in All-Star Game

Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.

In between, Caminero belted his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning of a 7-3 win in Detroit.

Caminero, who turned 22 on July 5, leads all American League third basemen in homers during a breakout season. He is hitting .254 with 58 RBIs for the Rays, who moved within four games of first-place Toronto in the AL East on Wednesday night.

“I’m going to put on a show. I’m going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,” Caminero said. “Just being there with all those other All-Stars, it’s going to be something very special.”

Caminero is the sixth player to commit to the Home Run Derby, joining the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Twins, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Braves. Two more contestants are still to be announced, and Buxton’s status is unclear after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs.

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., also headed to the All-Star Game, said Wednesday night he’d be interested in participating if asked. Chisholm hit two homers in a 9-6 victory over Seattle to give him 17 this season.

Caminero was picked earlier this week as the All-Star replacement for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps. Caminero learned he will start at the hot corner after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out of the Midsummer Classic so he could rest an ailing Achilles tendon.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Ramírez on the AL roster.

The only Rays players besides Caminero to participate in the Home Run Derby have been Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Randy Arozarena, who reached the finals two years ago before losing to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“We get to see (Caminero) do probably a modified Home Run Derby every time he takes batting practice. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his family,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Somewhat of a coming-out party for him. Hopefully, he gets the recognition that we’ve all seen in the talent and the ability to hit the ball a long way.”

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Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub; Tigers tie Dodgers for most Midsummer Classic picks

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for having the most All-Stars, too.

Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders Javier Báez and Riley Greene — all AL starters — and staff ace Tarik Skubal, who also is among the candidates to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta.

The five All-Stars for Detroit is tied for the most with the World Series champion Dodgers, who have DH Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith and first baseman Freddie Freeman starting for the NL along with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is scheduled to start Sunday for Los Angeles, so Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott has been picked to replace him.

McKinstry was among several replacements announced Wednesday for the Midsummer Classic.

Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of starting third baseman José Ramírez, the seven-time All-Star, who wants to spend the week rehabbing an Achilles injury; Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was selected as the replacement for Astros pitcher Hunter Brown; and Brewers closer Trevor Megill was added to the NL team in place of teammate Freddy Peralta, their scheduled starter for Sunday’s game against Washington.

The shuffling of replacements gives the Astros four All-Stars in Paredes, Peña, Brown and pitcher Josh Hader. The Brewers have two in Megill and Peralta. And the Twins have two with Ryan joining two-time All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton.

“This was the goal in the offseason,” said Megill, who struck out Freeman, Andy Pages and Tommy Edman in order in the 10th inning to secure the Brewers’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. “Just worked my butt off for it, and here we are.”

The four replacements make six total and 71 players players between the two All-Star teams. The other sub announced was Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for Boston’s Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps.

The Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the first half of the season. After going 86-76 and tying for second in the AL Central last season, they are off to a 59-35 start even after a 7-3 loss to the Rays in their series finale Wednesday night.

The versatile McKinstry has been a big reason why.

Along with playing every infield position besides catcher, and both corner outfield spots, McKinstry entered Wednesday hitting .283 with seven homers and 27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more homers and nine RBIs to set career highs.

Peña, who is hitting a career-best .322 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 82 games for Houston, has been out since June 28 with a fractured rib. He had hoped to return by the All-Star break but has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.

Paredes, his teammate, is headed to his second straight All-Star Game in his first season in Houston. He is hitting a career-best .255 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs for the Astros, who have a comfortable lead over Seattle in the NL West.

“My main focus is to work hard for the team and be able to give the most I can for the team,” Paredes said, “but as you can see now with the results that I’m getting ... those results allow me to get to the All-Star game, so it feels good.”

Ramírez was hit by a pitch in a game against Toronto on June 26 and has struggled at the plate since, though he said Wednesday that it was an Achilles injury that’s been bothering him. Even with the slump, Ramírez began the day hitting .299 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs and 24 stolen bases through 87 games for Cleveland.

“Everybody wants to go to the All-Star Game and especially for the support from the fans,” Ramírez said. “But I feel the best thing for the team is to be able to be resting (those) days and be able to contribute to the team in the second half.”

The 29-year-old Ryan, whose name has surfaced in plenty of trade talk recently, was one of the biggest snubs when the initial All-Star Game rosters were announced. The right-hander is 8-4 with a career-best 2.76 ERA across 18 starts, and he’s struck out 116 against just 21 walks over 104 1/3 innings for the Twins.

“The last couple years, I’ve had really good numbers at voting, then I’ve kind of scuttled the last two outings or so. I can see why optically it might not look as good,” Ryan said. “But putting it together, it was kind of a shock not to be in (this year).

“At the same time,” he said, “there’s so many good pitchers in the league right now. You’ve just got to hang with them and if you don’t like it, play better. That was kind of the mindset I was trying to shift into, but to get the news and be excited to go, it makes everything kind of go away and you just think about the future and going forward.”

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‘The decision came as a shock’: Christian Horner’s tearful speech at Red Bull HQ

  • Leaked clip shows team principal announcing departure

  • Horner marks ‘incredible journey’ with Instagram post

Christian Horner was reduced to tears when he announced to his Red Bull staff that his two-decade spell as team principal had been terminated.

The 51-year-old was removed from his role by the British-based Formula One team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, on Tuesday. Horner travelled to the team’s Milton Keynes campus on Wednesday to deliver the bombshell news to a stunned 1,500-strong workforce at 10am.

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HugoMania, Sophomore Scheierman and more to watch at Celtics Summer League

HugoMania, Sophomore Scheierman and more to watch at Celtics Summer League originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics begin a two-week stay in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon with their NBA Summer League opener against the Memphis Grizzlies (4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston). The Summer C’s will play at least five games on the campus of UNLV, giving us an extended glimpse at this collection of recent draftees and roster hopefuls. 

Set to be without five of their top nine players from last season — Jayson Tatum is rehabbing from Achilles surgery, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded away, Luke Kornet signed with the Spurs, and Al Horford is pondering a Boston-less future — the Celtics have minutes available to anyone willing to kick down the playing-time door.

Roster returnees Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman headline a roster that also features 2025 NBA Draft picks Hugo Gonzalez (28th overall), Amari Williams (46th), and Max Shulga (57th). Two-way forward Miles Norris is with the summer squad as well.

So, what will we be looking for from this group? Here are five storylines we’re monitoring.

1. Will HugoMania be running wild?

Walsh already set the Hugo Hype Train in motion.

After the Summer C’s wrapped their mini training camp in Brighton, Walsh said of Gonzalez: “He plays hard. Really hard. Fans are gonna love that. He plays hard, he dives on the floor, he’s a defensive menace, and he attacks the rim with force.”

Gonzalez, the highest draft pick of Brad Stevens’ tenure, is a bit of an international man of mystery. He saw limited floor time with veteran-laden Real Madrid squad last season but was projected as a lottery pick before the season. The highlight reel suggests a player who operates as if his foot is glued to the gas pedal. 

All Gonzalez has to do is hit the floor for a loose ball or show some defensive tenacity and Celtics fans will swoon.

Boston could benefit from someone who cuts hard and attacks the rim with purpose. Even if it’s just Summer League, it will be interesting to see how Gonzalez holds up against other NBA hopefuls and what stat lines he puts up in extended minutes. Still a teenager, he’s got plenty of runway. 

2. Third time’s a charm for Walsh?

Walsh had a forgettable 2024 Vegas visit. He missed the first 22 3-pointers he hoisted at last year’s event and didn’t look comfortable until Boston’s finale. Now it’s time to show all the progress he made in the aftermath. 

Despite the lackluster summer, Walsh made a strong case for a role early in the 2024-25 season before his minutes evaporated. After he appeared in 52 games for the Celtics last season, it’s time for Walsh to show he’s a cut above the players gathered in Vegas.

What’s wild is that Walsh is still the second-youngest player on Boston’s summer roster, ahead of only Gonzalez. Walsh won’t turn 22 until March 2026. With the Celtics chock-full of young wings, Walsh should yearn to make a strong summer impression with hopes of building off that when camp opens in October.

Celtics player spotlight: Last chance for Jordan Walsh to earn larger role?

3. No sophomore slump for Scheierman

Joe Mazzulla admittedly doesn’t love playing rookies, and Scheierman logged just 74 minutes before the All-Star break last season. But the Creighton product fully embraced the bigger opportunity that came in the second half of his first pro season, including showcasing some flashy playmaking and steady 3-point shooting.

Before departing for Vegas, Scheierman promised to do all the same stuff that endeared him late last season: Diving on the floor for loose balls, hitting 3s, and blowing kisses to the crowd.

It doesn’t feel like a stretch to suggest that Scheierman is the early favorite to carve out a real role with the parent team next season. But he doesn’t have quite the same luxury of time as Gonzalez and Walsh. Scheierman will turn 25 before the Celtics huddle for the start of training camp.

Celtics player spotlight: Can Scheierman earn a rotation spot in Year 2?

4. When the moon hits your eye … that’s Amari!

To say there’s a void in the Celtics’ frontcourt would be an understatement.

With the departures of Porzingis, Horford, and Kornet, the Celtics are losing 4,230 minutes of frontcourt playing time from last season. Neemias Queta is the team’s most experienced returning big, at least with Xavier Tillman Sr. playing sparingly last season.

Williams has a monster frame (7 feet tall, 7-foot-5 wingspan) and the scouting reports suggest someone with defensive prowess, rebounding chops, and playmaking potential. How Williams plays in Vegas will give us some clues about whether he might be able to log some time in Boston on a two-way contract next season.

Other summer centers, like former NBA big man Kenny Lofton Jr., will get every opportunity to show they deserve a training camp invite.

5. Any hints on how the 2025-26 Celtics might play?

We found it interesting when Stevens noted earlier this week that the Celtics’ coaching staff will be “trying a bunch of stuff out there now with our Summer League team that we haven’t done in the past, that I think will be good experimentation, at the very least.”

Stevens’ offseason moves suggest a preference for players who compete hard and embrace off-the-ball movement. We’re interested to see Boston’s pickup points on defense, how fast they get into sets on the offensive end, and the general pace displayed at Summer League. 

Given their loss of talent, might the Celtics try to make up for that by tweaking their play style in 2025-26? Summer League might give us an idea of what’s being prioritized.

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Kings rookie Nique Clifford reflects on being named after Hall of Fame player

Kings rookie Nique Clifford reflects on being named after Hall of Fame player originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nique Clifford was meant to be an NBA player.

From his first word as a baby to the inspiration behind his name, the evidence proves the Kings rookie guard/forward was born to ball.

In a conversation with NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan on “Kings Central,” Clifford, the No. 24 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, shared how his parents named him after a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. 

“He wanted to clear it up: his favorite player was Magic Johnson, but Dominique Wilkins was his second favorite,” Clifford revealed to Ragan. 

“They’re 1A and 1B, but Wilkins was a high-level talent.”

That he was.

Wilkins, who was Clifford’s dad’s basketball idol, earned the nickname “Human Highlight Reel” for head-turning dunks across 15 NBA seasons from 1982-99.

In addition, Wilkins won two NBA Slam Dunk Contests and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Clifford, while teasing his dad along the way, appreciates being named after one of the game’s greats.

“He was explosive, a fun player to watch,” Clifford added. “My dad loved his game and felt like he “played” similar to him back in the day.

“I haven’t seen the film, so I have to see it for myself. I give him crap, but it’s a great person to be named after. He’s a true legend.”

The 6-foot-5, 202-pound rookie averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 steals in 35.4 minutes per game last season at Colorado State.

Certainly, there’s potential for him to have a successful professional career, but if he wants to live up to the name, the high-flying moves will have to be a constant.

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