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Recapping The Vancouver Canucks’ Contract Signings One Week After 2025 Free Agency Opened

It has been one week since the 2025 free agency period opened, and the Vancouver Canucks made a crop of signings, including netting one of the biggest available free agents of this year’s class. Let’s take a look at what the Canucks have done so far during free agency. 

The Day Before July 1 — 10:00am PT

The Canucks announced four different signings before free agency had even started. On June 30, they re-signed key members of the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup-winning season and extended qualifying offers to two others. Max Sasson and Guillaume Brisebois each inked one-year contract extensions at $775K, while Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Räty signed two-year deals. Jett Woo and Nikita Tolopilo were the lone players who were given qualifying offers (with both signing their respective ones today), with the Canucks choosing not to qualify Christian Felton, Ty Glover, Cole McWard, and Tristen Nielsen. 

Contract Extensions Kick Off Free Agency — 7:00am PT

Vancouver kicked off the opening day of free agency by announcing two big extensions. While reports had broken the week prior, the Canucks made Conor Garland’s contract extension official. The forward, whose deal was set to expire in 2026, inked a six-year, $36M contract with Vancouver that will keep him in the organization until 2032. 

Another Canuck that got a contract extension was Thatcher Demko, who was also entering the final year of his contract in the 2025–26 season. However, Vancouver saved themselves the worries of last-minute negotiating (for Demko, at least), signing the goaltender to a three-year extension worth $8.5M per year.

The First Player Leaves — 9:00am PT

A little after the 2025 free agency period opened, the first Canuck parted ways with the team. Noah Juulsen signed a one-year, $900K contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Coincidentally, this is also the team that former Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet was recently named head coach of. 

Return Of The Brock — 9:30am PT

Many weren’t sure what Vancouver was going to do in free agency. One thing they were sure of, however, is that decade-long Canuck Brock Boeser would not be returning to the team. In the rumour mill, Boeser’s name had been paired with teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, and even the Edmonton Oilers. But, in a stunning turn of events, news broke that one of the premier free agents in the 2025 free agency class — Boeser — had re-signed with Vancouver. His seven-year, $7.25M contract will take him to the end of the 2031–32 season. Most importantly, however, it will keep a long-tenured and well-loved member of the franchise in a time when stability is needed most. 

Goodbye Abbotsford, Hello Home Province — 10:00am PT

With fans still reeling from the sudden news that Boeser would remain a Canuck, Abbotsford was hit with some bittersweet news. Sammy Blais, who had developed into a fan-favourite especially during the team’s Calder Cup run, signed a one-year deal with his home province team, the Montréal Canadiens. 

Canucks Make Three Depth Signings — 2:00pm PT

After the departures of Juulsen and Blais, Vancouver decided to make some depth additions to their organization by making three signings. They signed former St. Louis Blues forward MacKenzie MacEachern to a two-year, two-way contract worth $775K per year. As well, they brought back a familiar face in Joseph LaBate, who had been picked 101st overall in the 2011 NHL Draft by Vancouver. Their final signing of the day was Jimmy Schuldt, a defender, who earned himself a two-year, $775K AAV contract with the Canucks. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Release Details On 2025 Training Camp In Penticton

Canucks Sign Jett Woo To A One-Year, Two-Way Contract Extension

Canucks Sign Nikita Tolopilo To A Two-Year, Two-Way Contract Extension

A Depth Player Departs — 4:00pm PT

The Canucks lost a depth player in free agency after Phil Di Giuseppe, who had been with the organization since 2021, signed a contract with the Jets. His new deal with the Jets lasts one year and pays $775K. Di Giuseppe’s departure was the last bit of Canucks-related free agency news to break on July 1. 

Day 2 Defensive Depth Signing — 11:30am PT

Vancouver made one signing the day after free agency’s opening day. They agreed to a one-year, $775K contract with former Pittsburgh Penguins and Blues defender Pierre-Olivier Joseph. So far, Joseph has been the last signing made by the Canucks in the 2025 off-season. 

See You, Suter — 2:00pm PT

On the same day that they signed Joseph, Vancouver said goodbye to one of their biggest breakout players in the 2024–25 season — Pius Suter. The center, who proved himself to be a capable middle-six center in the NHL, signed a two-year, $4.125M AAV deal with the Blues. 

Feb 4, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate their victory against the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Mets' Sean Manaea strikes out five with Triple-A Syracuse in final rehab start

Mets southpaw Sean Manaea completed what should be his final rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse.

While it wasn't his most efficient outing, the left-hander struck out five batters across 3.2 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Manaea's night started off great, striking out two in a 1-2-3 first inning. But he got into trouble in the second, allowing a one-out walk before Rafael Lantigua singled to put runners on the corners. Rodolfo Castro then lofted a 78 mph sweeper that hung over the middle of the plate, over the left field wall to put the IronPigs up 3-1.

Mets manager Carlos Mendozabroke down the plan for Manaea prior to Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles, and said Manaea was slated to throw 70-75 pitches -- he threw 73 pitches -- and if the starter recovers well, he'll be activated for Sunday's series finale. It's unclear whether Manaea will start Sunday's game, but he and Clay Holmes will both pitch in the final game before the All-Star break.

If Tuesday was indeed Manaea's final rehab start, the southpaw completed six appearances (five starts). His last start saw Manaea allow two runs in three innings with Double-A Binghamton. His last, and only other start, with Syracuse came on June 19 when he allowed just one run across 5.1 innings while striking out seven. His best start in the minors this season.

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2 Former Canadiens Who Are Still Free Agents

The NHL saw several unrestricted free agents (UFAs) sign their new contracts during the first few days of July, which was expected. With this, the majority of this year's notable UFAs are off the board.

While the free-agent market is noticeably smaller than it was when it opened on July 1, there are still some intriguing names left for the taking. Two are former Montreal Canadiens players, so let's take a look at them now.

Max Pacioretty

Former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty is one of the more notable UFAs still available. The 36-year-old winger posted five goals, 13 points, and a minus-2 rating in 37 regular-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25. While he dealt with injury trouble during the regular-season, he was a big bright spot for Toronto during the playoffs. In 11 post-season games, he recorded three goals, eight points, and a plus-1 rating. This included three consecutive two-point games from May 5 to May 9. 

Ultimately, Pacioretty showed during the playoffs that he can still be a solid contributor at the NHL level. Due to this, it would not be particularly surprising if the Maple Leafs looked to bring him back on a cheap one-year deal. If not Toronto, the veteran forward could still generate interest from a team looking for more experience and forward depth if he chooses to continue his career.

Pacioretty was selected by the Canadiens with the 22nd overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In 626 games over 10 seasons in Montreal, he recorded 226 goals, 448 points, 800 hits, and a plus-36 rating. 

Jon Merrill 

Former Canadiens defenseman Jon Merrill has also not been signed yet and remains a UFA. The 33-year-old blueliner just completed his fourth season with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25, posting two goals, four assists, 85 blocks, and a minus-8 rating in 70 games. 

While Merrill is not the flashiest of players, there could be a team out there willing to sign him to an affordable short-term deal. He is a serviceable bottom-pairing defensive defenseman with plenty of experience, and teams are often on the hunt for more defensive depth. 

In 13 regular-season games with the Canadiens during the 2020-21 season, Merrill recorded zero points, 10 hits, and 12 blocks. He also appeared in 13 playoff games for the Habs in 2021, posting zero points and a minus-4 rating. 

Interesting News About The Canadiens’ First Pick At The Last DraftInteresting News About The Canadiens’ First Pick At The Last DraftThe Montreal Canadiens didn’t have a first-round pick at the last draft, thanks to the Noah Dobson trade, but their first pick in the second round was a first-round pick in their book. Nick Bobrov and Martin Lapointe seemed rather excited about Alexander Zharovsky, and they aren’t the only ones.

Photo Credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Giants, Athletics make MLB history with thrilling inside-the-park home runs

Giants, Athletics make MLB history with thrilling inside-the-park home runs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants and the Athletics teamed up to make MLB history in their respective wins on Monday night.

Early in the evening, Lawrence Butler led off the Athletics’ eventual 10-1 over the Atlanta Braves with an inside-the-park homer.

A few hours later, Patrick Bailey delivered a wild walk-off inside-the-park homer to lift the Giants to a 4-3 win over the Phillies.

Those two feats had never been accomplished on the same day.

Butler also is the first A’s player with a multi-homer game in which he hit both an inside-the-park and a fence-clearing home run since Billy Williams on Aug. 23, 1975.

As for Bailey, it was the first inside-the-park walk-off homer hit in MLB since Cleveland’s Tyler Naquin on Aug. 19, 2016, against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bailey is the first Giants catcher with an inside-the-park home run since Bob Brenly on Aug. 29, 1984, against the Montreal Expos.

The Giants and Athletics have been tied at the hip for decades, so it’s fitting that they combined to make history on Monday night.

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Lawrence Butler makes history as Athletics crush five homers in rout of Braves

Lawrence Butler makes history as Athletics crush five homers in rout of Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

What almost began as a leadoff home run turned into… a leadoff home run.

Lawrence Butler cracked the first pitch of the game to deep centerfield and while it missed being a traditional home run by mere feet, it did turn into an electric inside-the-park homer for the 24-year-old.

“To be honest, when I hit it I didn’t think I got it that good,” Butler told Jenny Cavnar and Dallas Braden on “A’s Cast” following the game. “But, I kind of looked at the right fielder and he was looking at the center fielder like he didn’t know where the ball was and I looked at the center fielder and he didn’t even move so I kind of was like ‘Maybe it’s a home run.’ And then I saw the ball hit the ground and bounce off and I was like ‘I gotta score.

“It was a crazy play, especially to start it off for the boys but hey we’ll take an inside-the-park any day. Home run. It’s the same in the books.”

But Butler wasn’t done. In the third inning, the man who reps “Zone 4” in his hometown of Atlanta crushed another ball against his hometown Braves – this time over the fence for his second home run of the game.

It was Butler’s first multi-home run game of the season, and it became the first time an Athletics player hit two home runs — with one of them being an inside-the-park homer — since Billy Williams did it in 1973.

“For Law, he’s the spark plug, really,” manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game. “He set the tone tonight with the first at-bat, got the energy going, excitement about that play. It’s always great to witness an inside-the-park home run. You saw him hit another gear, I think, when he saw the ball going towards right field. He had a great night, great at-bats.”

In all, the A’s cranked out five home runs with three coming in the first inning.

Brent Rooker and Max Muncy each added two-run homers to give the A’s a five-run lead after the first frame and they never looked back.

“It was a good game for the whole team, offensively and defensively,” Muncy told Chris Townsend and Steve Sax on “A’s Cast.” “Pitching was great, Springs and all the other guys. I think it was just a great all-around win.”

While that first inning had plenty of thrills for the A’s, there was a scary moment when Jacob Wilson was hit by a 97-mile-per-hour fastball from Braves rookie Didier Fuentes in his left hand. Luckily for the rookie, it was just diagnosed as a contusion.

“We did the X-rays,” Kotsay told reporters. “X-rays were negative which is a great sign. He did get squared up pretty good so he’ll probably most likely go day-to-day and well just evaluate him tomorrow.”

In the second inning, rookie Nick Kurtz decided he wanted to get in on the action, as well, and delivered his first-career grand slam — it was his 14th home run of the season and gave him a tie for most by a rookie this season with Agustin Ramirez of the Miami Marlins.

After three innings, the A’s lead was 10-0 and it would be more than enough for starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs, who went six strong innings while giving up six hits and one earned run.

Springs’ outing was his fourth straight outing of allowing two runs or fewer while going five or more innings. He has a 1.90 ERA over that span and boasts a 2-1 record for the team.

Mitch Spence will take the mound for the A’s on Wednesday when they square off with the Braves in the second game of the three-game set.

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Nikola Jokic reportedly tells Nuggets he will not sign extension this summer

The headline can raise eyebrows, but the reality is this is what was expected all along.

Jokic is eligible for a three-year, $206.4 million extension as of July 8 — and Nuggets management has said they would offer it — but he told the Denver Nuggets that he is not going to sign it this summer, waiting to discuss a contract with the team next summer, reports Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

The reason: He can get nearly $80 million more in a max extension next summer. The projected max he could sign at that time is $285.4 million.

It is in Jokic's interest to wait. Jokic, 30, is not an older player or one with an injury history where there is an added motivation to grab the money on the table now because it might not be there in a year. It will be. Jokic is widely considered the best player in the world and is at the peak of his powers, coming off a season where he averaged a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game — and finished in the top two in MVP voting for the fifth consecutive season.

Jokic returns next fall to a team that is going to be different. David Addelman is now the full-time head coach, having taken over for Michael Malone late in the season and leading the Nuggets to the second round and a Game 7 against the eventual champion Thunder. Michael Porter Jr. is gone, replaced by an equally good shooter but better defender and more consistent player in Cameron Johnson. There is more depth on the bench in the form of Tim Hardaway Jr. and the return of Bruce Brown. These Nuggets enter the season as legitimate title contenders.

And after what should be another impressive season, a max extension for Jokic will be on the table next summer.

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Golden Knights Sign Lukas Cormier To A One-Year Contract

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed defenseman Lukas Cormier to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Cormier was drafted by the Golden Knights in the third round (68th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, Cormier has spent his last three seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he’s appeared on the ice for a total of 139 games. In that time he’s recorded a total of 64 points (14 Goals, 50 Assists). 

The 23-year-old stands out with his sharp shooting skills and knack for slipping into open spaces near the net. He’s known to be quick, he sets up teammates by targeting sticks for deflections or generating rebounds. 

He has had a few NHL appearances playing in two games for Vegas. He recorded an assist during his debut on January 4, 2024, as part of a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders at T-Mobile Arena. 

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy had talked about Cormier’s performance that night, “I thought he played the game in front of him. He didn’t chase it. He didn’t get caught out of position. He’s inside the dots.” 

Before turning pro, the Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick native spent four seasons in the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders, where he made history as the first player to be recognized twice as the league’s top defenseman.

PHOTO COURTESY: Henderson Silver Knights

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Patrick Bailey's inside-the-park walk-off sparks wild stats, social media frenzy

Patrick Bailey's inside-the-park walk-off sparks wild stats, social media frenzy originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Anyone who stayed up late to witness Giants catcher Patrick Bailey’s unbelievable walk-off inside-the-park home run probably was glad they didn’t go to bed early.

Except for Philadelphia Phillies fans, of course.

Those who did stay awake had plenty to say on social media, including NBA star and Phillies fan Joel Embiid, who was left in disbelief.

Needless to say, walk-off inside-the-park home runs don’t happen every day, so Bailey’s unbelievable hit sparked some crazy stats that were shared on social media as well.

Clearly, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that Giants fans might never forget.

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Start of Tuesday's Mets-Orioles game delayed due to inclement weather

The start of Tuesday's Mets-Orioles game has been delayed due to inclement weather in Baltimore.

First pitch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards is scheduled to take place at around 7:00 p.m. on SNY.

Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.99 ERA) will take the mound for New York, while Brandon Young (0-3, 7.02 ERA) will start for Baltimore in the first game of a three-game series.

The Mets' lineup on Tuesday night will also feature Jesse Winker for the first time since May 4 as he was activated earlier Tuesday and Starling Martewas placed on the IL.

Holmes allowed two runs on three hits over 5.1 IP against the Milwaukee Brewers last time out on July 2 and got a no decision, as he's 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA with 23 strikeouts over his last seven starts (38.2 IP). While many starters will be having their last outing before the All-Star break, manager Carlos Mendoza said prior to the game that Holmes will throw again on Sunday in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals. It's undetermined if he or Sean Manaea, who'll make his season debut, will get the start.

Young, 26, is making just his fourth start of his career. He made his debut on April 26 against the Detroit Tigers, but was then sent back down to Triple-A. He returned to the bigs on June 25 vs. the Texas Rangers and most recently started on July 1, also against the Rangers, allowing three runs on six hits over four innings.

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What we learned as Patrick Bailey delivers wild inside-the-park walk-off homer

What we learned as Patrick Bailey delivers wild inside-the-park walk-off homer originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – From misery to joy in one swing.

Patrick Bailey lifted a night’s worth of frustration off the Giants’ shoulders with a thrilling three-run inside-the-park walk-off home run in the ninth inning, securing a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park.

Before Bailey’s heroics, it had been a night filled mostly with frustration for the Giants.

The Giants stranded numerous runners on base in the early going and failed to score in the eighth after getting their first two runners on base.

It worked out anyway and should add some momentum to an already hot Giants team as it preps for this weekend’s showdown against NL West leaders Los Angeles Dodgers.

On a cool evening at Oracle Park that began with numerous police motorcycles lining the warning track as part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Night, the Giants were criminally quiet offensively for most of the game until Bailey got it done.

They remain six games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Jung Hoo Lee and Casey Schmitt had two hits apiece for the Orange and Black.

That helped on a day when starter Robbie Ray was not at his best.

Five days after throwing his second career complete game, Ray sputtered through an uneven night on the mound. He allowed only one run and four hits but walked three and pitched with runners on base only twice in his 5 2/3 innings of work. Ray had five strikeouts.

Here are the takeaways from a win that boosts the Giants to 51-42:

Ray’s day cut short

Five days after throwing an absolute gem and earning the second complete-game victory of his career, Ray struggled through one of his roughest outings of the 2025 season.

The All-Star pitcher lasted 5 2/3 uneven innings and allowed four hits and one run with five strikeouts and three walks.

Unlike the masterpiece he threw in Arizona last Thursday, Ray pitched with runners on base in three of his five innings of work. He kept the damage to a minimum, striking out the side in the second inning after giving up a leadoff walk.

Although his stat line was respectable, it wasn’t the type of outing that Giants fans have come to expect when Ray is toeing the rubber.

No heavy lifting required

The Giants scored their first run quietly. No power swings into McCovey Cove or drives into Triples Alley. Just simple, old-fashioned baseball to keep the line moving.

Mike Yastrzemski drew a leadoff walk in the second inning, advanced to third on Lee’s hit then scored on Dominic Smith’s check-swing single to left.

It was the first RBI in three weeks for the Giants’ first baseman. Not a huge turn of events but it’s definitely encouraging to see after Smith’s batting average tumbled from .367 in mid-June to the .239 mark he had entering Tuesday.

Buckle to the knuckle

Throughout the 2025 season, Ray has relied primarily on his fastball and slider as his dominant pitches. Against the Phillies, it was Ray’s wicked knuckle curve that had Philadelphia’s batters swinging at air.

Ray doesn’t use the pitch that often – 11 percent of the time, according to Baseball Savant – but it proved to be a great put-away pitch Tuesday.

Of the five strikeouts that Ray had, three came on a knuckle-curve that hit dirt as batters flailed away at the plate.

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MLB All-Star Game: Rotoworld staff picks for the 2025 Midsummer Classic

We are just a week away from the Midsummer Classic airing at 8 pm ET next Tuesday, July 15th. The MLB announced the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game last week, but we had a few thoughts of our own.

Below you'll find the Rotoworld Baseball Staff's picks to start the MLB All-Star game, plus some of our favorite reserves. Everybody was asked to choose their starting position players, one starting pitcher, one reserve hitter, and one reserve starting pitcher from both the American League and National League. We tallied the votes and awarded starting spots to those who came out ahead in our mini competition, but then we also took the other hitters and starting pitchers to received votes and put them in our reserves list. Since each writer did not create a full bench, you're primarily seeing players who got starting votes, which means not every player we think deserves to be in the All-Star game will be represented below.

Also, it should go without saying, but this is just an exercise for fun. We wanted to shine some light on players who we felt had a great first half that weren't awarded the starting spot that we felt they deserved, and also salute some who were.

American League Starters

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (unanimous)
1B: Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3B: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians (unanimous)
SS: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

"Not only has Jonathan Aranda outperformed nearly every first baseman in the American League this season, but he deserves to be introduced to a wider baseball audience where he isn't a household name. I'm a firm believer that the All-Star Game needs an injection of fresh faces every summer to avoid becoming stale, and giving someone like Aranda an opportunity seems like a way to do it on the American League side, where there are plenty of established stars in the mix at each position group." - George Bissell

"Bobby Witt Jr. had some inspired competition this year in the form of Jeremy Peña and Jacob Wilson, but I believe in voting for the best player, not just the one that had the best first three months, and the 2024 AL MVP runnerup hasn’t exactly been dethroned in hitting .296/.346/.503 with 24 steals and stellar defense at short. Fortunately, all three wound up making the team anyway." - Matthew Pouliot

OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (unanimous)
OF: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
OF: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers (unanimous)
DH: Brent Rooker, Athletics

"It's surprising to us that Byron Buxton wasn't named a starter since he was selected on all but one of our ballots. The 31-year-old has remained healthy in the first half and hit .270 with 20 home runs, 16 steals, and an .879 OPS while posting an Outs Above Average score of 5 in his outfield innings. He's 5th in the entire American League in WAR and trails only Aaron Judge when it comes to outfielders. He deserved to start." - Eric Samulski

"Brent Rooker isn’t as worthy of an All-Star nod this year as last, but among the players actually listed as DHs on the AL ballot -- and with Rafael Devers obviously no longer eligible -- I’d say he deserves the nod over Ryan O’Hearn and Ben Rice, in part because of his 39 homers and 165 OPS+ last season. He’s been no slouch in coming in at .271/.348/.486 this season, and while O’Hearn has been a little better, his line benefits from him sitting against tough lefties." - Matthew Pouliot

SP: Tarik Skubal (unanimous)

Reserves (others receiving starter votes, plus honorary mention starting pitchers and bench bats:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B - Toronto Blue Jays
Brandon Lowe, 2B - Tampa Bay Rays
Jeremy Peña, SS - Houston Astros
Javier Baez, 3B/SS/OF - Detroit Tigers
George Springer, OF- Toronto Blue Jays
Yandy Diaz, 1B/DH - Tampa Bay Rays
Jacob Wilson, SS - Athletics
Hunter Brown, SP - Houston Astros
Garrett Crochet, SP - Boston Red Sox
Jacob deGrom, SP - Texas Rangers

"I voted for Jeremy Peña as my starter at shortstop, and he got three votes from our group. In truth, it's a legitimate toss-up between him and Witt. Pena has the better batting average and on-base percentage, and similar slugging. His wRC+ of 145 is better than Witt's 128 mark, but Witt is the better defender. I just wanted to award a player for making a huge jump and having a career season, so I'm just happy to see that Pena makes it on our team somewhere." - Eric Samulski

National League Starters

C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous)
1B: Pete Alonso, New York Mets (unanimous)
2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (unanimous)
3B: Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

"Pete Alonso has been the most impactful first baseman in all of baseball this season. He leads the position with 20 home runs, 73 RBI, and a .422 xwOBA while starting all 91 games his Mets have played. There's an argument that Michael Busch could have been the pick over him with a slightly better slash line across the board, but that would be splitting hairs. Especially after Alonso was so vital to the Mets' early-season surge while Juan Soto was still scuffling. He is the obvious pick here." - James Schiano

"The voting for third base in the NL was the most spread out for us with five votes for Eugenio Suárez, three votes for Manny Machado, and one vote for Matt Chapman. Suárez has helped to keep the Diamondbacks afloat during the first half of the season with his monster offensive performance. His home run (28) and RBI (74) totals dwarf every other third baseman in both leagues, with Junior Caminero (21 HR, 57 RBI) the next closest. His .881 OPS paces the position league-wide as well. It’s a travesty that Alec Bohm will be the National League’s starting third baseman instead of Suárez, but fortunately, the 33-year-old slugger was named to the squad as a reserve, making it the first time that he has appeared in the Mid-Summer Classic since the 2018 season." - Dave Shovein

OF: Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs (unanimous)
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (unanimous)
OF: James Wood, Washington Nationals
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous)

"Choosing players for the All-Star is about two things: who has played the best in the first half and who Major League Baseball wants to represent them on one of their biggest nights of the year. James Wood easily checks both boxes. His .940 OPS leads all National League outfielders by a decent margin while his 23 home runs and 67 RBI are both inside the top-three. No matter how you slice it, he's one of the premier players in this league. Add in the fact that he's doing this at 22 years old, and we could be looking at a future face of the sport. That's someone the entire country should have a chance to watch against the league's best." - James Schiano

SP: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

"Zack Wheeler has never started in the All-Star Game before, despite being one of the best pitchers in baseball for the better part of the past several years. And while he doesn't match the ERA of Paul Skenes, he has the edge in terms of strikeout percentage and walk percentage. Another narrative angle to keep in mind is that Wheeler is from the Atlanta metro area, so the timing is right to give him the starting nod." - D.J. Short

Reserves (others receiving starter votes, plus honorary mention starting pitchers and bench bats:

Michael Busch, 1B - Chicago Cubs
Freddie Freeman, 1B - Los Angeles Dodgers
Elly De La Cruz, SS - Cincinnati Reds
Trea Turner, SS - Philadelphia Phillies
Manny Machado, 3B - San Diego Padres
Matt Chapman, 3B - San Francisco Giants
Ronald Acuña Jr., OF - Atlanta Braves
Andy Pages, OF - Los Angeles Dodgers
Paul Skenes, SP - Pittsburgh Pirates
Cristopher Sanchez, SP - Philadelphia Phillies
MacKenzie Gore, SP - Washington Nationals

"The cosmic ideal for constructing these Midsummer Classic rosters manages to blend franchise icons with emerging superstars in a way that melds the past and present for casual fans. Voting for Manny Machado to make his seventh All-Star Game appearance just a few days after notching his 2,000th career hit seems like a no-brainer. The added dramatic tension of seeing San Diego's franchise cornerstone interact with Los Angeles’ superstars throughout the event doesn't hurt either." - George Bissell

"Andy Pages has made tremendous strides as an all-around player in his second season in the majors. The 24-year-old outfielder has been one of the leaders in the National League both in the field and at the plate, with a 128 WRC+ that ranks eighth among NL outfielders behind a .823 OPS, 17 homers, and seven steals while also ranking among the 95th percentile in Baseball Savant's Fielding Value. His overall contributions make Pages deserving of All-Star honors." - Jorge Montanez 

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The NHL's Atlantic Division Remains Ultra-Competitive After Start To Free Agency

As the NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy slows down, some teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division haven’t made moves as big as expected. 

In Toronto, the biggest move the Maple Leafs made was trading for mid-tier left winger Matias Maccelli. In Buffalo, the Sabres’ biggest additions have been defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The Ottawa Senators’ biggest acquisitions have been journeyman center Lars Eller and defenseman Jordan Spence, while the Detroit Red Wings brought in John Gibson.

Not exactly a cast of all-stars, to be sure.

You can point to the Montreal Canadiens trading for top-level blueliner Noah Dobson and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers surprisingly retaining all of stars Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad as examples of marquee talents arriving in or staying in the Atlantic. Those teams’ splashes certainly stand out among the rest of the Atlantic.

The retooling Boston Bruins were also busy, as they acquired Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris, among others. But they were more depth moves than big moves.

But while some might’ve expected even more from the Atlantic’s playoff teams this summer, the truth is that it simply speaks to how good many of those teams are that they didn’t need to bring in new big names – at least, not right away.

Indeed, compare the splashes Atlantic teams made with teams in other NHL divisions, and you’ll see what we’re getting at. 

In the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks traded goalie John Gibson, traded for former New York Rangers star winger Chris Kreider and signed veteran center Mikael Granlund. In Los Angeles, the Kings signed a slew of veterans, including defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, wingers Corey Perry and Joel Armia and goalie Anton Forsberg. The Seattle Kraken traded for forwards Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau and signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren. And the Vegas Golden Knights made a huge splash by acquiring superstar Mitch Marner and re-signing left winger Brandon Saad.

Similarly, in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers signed first-pair D-man Vladislav Gavrikov, and the New York Islanders signed winger Jonathan Drouin. The Carolina Hurricanes added defenseman K’Andre Miller and right winger Nikolaj Ehlers, while the New Jersey Devils added forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. The Philadelphia Flyers added goalie Dan Vladar and centers Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, while the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for D-man Connor Clifton and signed wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau.

Again, not many of those acquisitions can be labeled Grade-A acquisitions, but the number of moves made tells you how many holes needed plugging, in contrast to the holes in most Atlantic teams.

Sam Montembeault and Sam Bennett (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

All things considered, the Atlantic Division’s teams didn’t make massive additions because they came into the off-season stocked to the gills in most key areas. The Panthers, Maple Leafs and Lightning made their trades of consequence at the trade deadline, so there’s no impetus for them to swing deals after deals this summer. 

While there’s still plenty of time for teams to make additional moves, if the season started today, the Atlantic would still be the league’s most competitive division. That’s why there weren’t as many teams in the Division making big splashes, and that’s why the Atlantic will once again be the NHL’s most competitive division for the foreseeable future.

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Is Carter Yakemchuk In The Ottawa Senators' NHL Plans For This Fall?

When training camp kicks off in September for the Ottawa Senators, one of the most compelling storylines will center around what the team decides to do this year with their 2024 first-round draft pick, Carter Yakemchuk.

You’ll remember that last season, Yakemchuk was the Senators’ final cut, despite leading the team in preseason scoring. Actually, Yakemchuk didn’t just lead the team; he finished tied for sixth among all NHL scorers with seven points in four games.

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If that weren’t enough to win over Senators fans, his coast-to-coast overtime goal to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in an exhibition game certainly sealed the deal.

Though disappointed by not cracking the roster, Yakemchuk returned to the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen to focus more on his defensive game and improve his skating. That shift in focus appeared to come at the cost of some offensive production, and his numbers took a noticeable dip.

Some have speculated that, like many junior-aged players, Yakemchuk may have let that initial disappointment get into his head. But Senators amateur scout Don Boyd didn’t see it that way.

"He didn't seem to get too ruffled about it at all," Boyd said shortly before this summer’s draft. "I'm sure he used it as a motivational tool. I was with him shortly after those decisions were made.

"I didn't spend two days with him, but I was with him right after the game and he was fine. He was his usual composed self. Inside, he might be burning, but he's not showing you that."

In his draft year, Yakemchuk turned heads with 30 goals, 71 points, and 120 penalty minutes. This past season, he played 10 fewer games and managed 17 goals, 49 points, and 82 penalty minutes.

But the Senators aren’t concerned.

"I think Carter did some things that we asked him to do," Boyd said. "I know that his numbers weren't as good last year, but he paid a lot more attention to detail in his game. You know, contrary to some people's beliefs, he played a better defensive game. I don't have a problem with Carter's game."

By all accounts, Yakemchuk was a standout at development camp last week. So now the question every Sens fan is asking is this: how close is he to cracking the NHL roster?

"Well, I don't know," Boyd said. "You saw him in exhibition games last year. He was pretty good. You know, once again, it's, you know, do we need him now? That's a question. Or is he better served playing some time in the American League? Or is he ready to go now? There's so many questions that Steve (Staios) and the management have to answer, the coaches, that I can't answer.

"We like him. We like where he is. We like his development."

Yakemchuk’s challenges over the past year didn’t end with being sent back to junior. It was widely assumed he’d be a key player for Team Canada at the World Juniors in Ottawa, but Hockey Canada didn’t even invite him to the pre-tournament camp.

More recently, his imminent path to the NHL just got a lot more crowded. The Senators re-signed 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson after a year in Sweden. They also added Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings at the draft. Then there's the rise of Nik Matinpalo, now on a one-way, two-year contract. And looming close behind is this year’s first-rounder, Logan Hensler.

But Yakemchuk, who'll turn 20 in September, is taking it all in stride and using it as fuel.

"I thought I had a really good camp here and obviously was really disappointed to not get named to that roster," Yakemchuk said at development camp last week. "But I use it as motivation to try and make the Senators this year."

Realistically, giving Yakemchuk time to ease into the pro game with a stint in Belleville wouldn’t be the worst idea, more of that Best in Class theme. But if that happens, just like last year, Carter Yakemchuk is bound to make that decision a tough one for Senators management.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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