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Phillies’ Edmundo Sosa leaves with bruised back after collision with teammate Brandon Marsh

Philadelphia third baseman Edmundo Sosa left Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees after he was elbowed in the back by left fielder Brandon Marsh in a collision while catching Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s seventh-inning popup.

Sosa was diagnosed with a bruise and will be evaluated further, the team said.

Sosa, Marsh and shortstop Trea Turner converged on the ball in short left field. Turner peeled off, Sosa made the catch, then was knocked to the ground by Marsh. Sosa’s fall caused the ball to pop out of his glove.

After Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit and manager Rob Thomson came out to attend to Sosa, the third baseman walked off slowly with Marsh’s arm around him.

Umpires initially awarded Chisholm a hit, but the call was changed to an inning-ending out in a video review as they concluded Sosa had possession of the ball before hitting the grass.

Otto Kemp pinch hit for Sosa in the eighth.

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NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 23, Nashville Predators

THN.com’s Summer Splash series continues – and in this file, we’re focusing the spotlight on Team No. 23 in our rankings of teams’ off-seasons – the Nashville Predators.

In this team-by-team series, we’ve been analyzing every NHL team’s off-season, moving in reverse order from the teams that got the worst to the best, and the ones that finished in between those two poles. To create the rankings, we’re breaking down every organization’s notable additions and departures, including trades, free-agent acquisitions, departures, and hirings and firings if applicable.

We’re now moving into the stretch of teams that have more or less stayed the same this summer. At the end of this article, you’ll see the teams that finished beneath the Predators. But for the moment, the focus is entirely on the Preds.

Additions

Erik Haula (LW), Nicolas Hague (D), Nick Perbix (D) 

The Breakdown: The Predators were a massive letdown last season, finishing seventh in the Central Division – their worst finish since they finished sixth in the division in 2013-14. As a result, some observers were expecting Preds GM Barry Trotz to make extensive changes to their roster this summer, but that hasn’t happened.

Instead, Trotz went out and acquired Haula in a trade with New Jersey. After that, he traded for former Vegas Golden Knights D-man Hague, and finally, he signed former Tampa Bay Lightning blueliner Perbix to a two-year deal carrying an average annual salary cap hit of $2.75 million. Haula will contribute to Nashville’s bottom-six group of forwards, while Hague and Perbix will firm up the Predators’ defense corps. 

Other than that, this is largely the same Predators team that underachieved greatly last year. Trotz did hang onto $10.1 million in salary cap space, so more moves may eventually be coming for Nashville. But Trotz is banking on a revamped group of defensemen to improve what was the NHL’s sixth-worst defense last season, averaging 3.34 goals-against per game.

Departures

Colton Sissons (C), Jakub Vrana (LW), Kieffer Bellows (LW), Jeremy Lauzon (D), Marc Del Gaizo (D)

The Breakdown: There are few departures from the Predators – at least, when it comes to players who were notable performers in Nashville last season. Sissons was the most-utilized player who is now a former Predator, but even then, Sissons was a fourth-liner who posted just seven goals and 21 points in 72 games. Preds management hasn’t lost all that much this off-season, but you won’t find an NHL team that hasn’t lost a handful of players one way or another.

Three of the four departing Preds players were forwards, while the other two were fringe defensemen. And the additions of Hague and Perbix will cover off any drop-off in play resulting from those changes at forward.

Trotz has shown in his time running the Predators that he’s not afraid to swing for the fences, mostly when it comes to free-agent acquisitions like star forward Steven Stamkos, winger Jonathan Marchessault, center Ryan O’Reilly and defenseman Brady Skjei, but those moves last season did not lead to playoff success. So Trotz is moving in the other direction and doubling down on his 2024-25 roster.

The Bottom Line

The Predators play in arguably the NHL’s toughest division in the Central Division, so getting back into the playoff picture will be a serious challenge. But if star defenseman Roman Josi can return to action after dealing with a nervous system disorder last year, and if Trotz’s changes to his group of blueliners improve Nashville’s back end, the Preds should be more competitive in 2025-26.

Still, for the purposes of this Summer Splash ranking, we have to note that the Predators essentially have stayed the same. The losses they’ve dealt with up front have been traded off by the improvements they’ve made in their own zone. And Nashville now has to hope for a better result in the win/loss columns next season.

Nick Blankenburg celebrates a goal against the Utah Hockey Club. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

If the Preds hadn’t made those two additions on defense, they’d have finished at or near the bottom of these rankings. But even with Hague and Perbix in tow, Nashville feels very much like a team that’s running it back with the same lineup and hoping for better results. Father Time will render his own judgment on that approach, but for the moment, Trotz will be counting on the benefit of the doubt in the hope he can turn things around after one terrible year.

Summer Splash Rankings

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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Tour de France Femmes 2025: Marianne Vos seizes stage one in dramatic finish – live

The legendary Dutch rider took the win at the line after a speedy and treacherous first stage

49.5 km to go: And Rijnbeek takes the two mountain points on offer while back in the field there’s a couple of near-collisions. It’s a nervous peloton, and last year featured some heavy crashes.

55km to go: The gap is closing, and at 20 seconds, the peloton are within sight as the escapees split. Rijnbeek decides to leave behind Tomasi, and in chase of polka points on that cat.4 climb. She opens up a gap again, to 30 seconds or so.

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Will Max Pacioretty Return To The Maple Leafs, Go Somewhere Else Or Retire?

Veteran winger Max Pacioretty, who spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Montreal Canadiens, flipped the script for the 2024-25 NHL season, signing a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His regular season was rather uneventful as he missed all but 37 games, mostly due to injury. However, when the playoffs rolled around, the 36-year-old was arguably one of the Leafs' top performers, putting up three goals and eight points in 11 games.

While it initially appeared that Pacioretty might choose to retire from the NHL after the playoffs wrapped up, that may not be the case, as it was reported back in June that the Leafs and Pacioretty have mutual interest in teaming up for another season.

But what do you think? Will Pacioretty return to Toronto, head to another team or will he ultimately choose to retire? 

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Phillies’ Aaron Nola will make his first minor league rehab start on Thursday

Philadelphia pitcher Aaron Nola will make his first injury rehabilitation start Thursday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Worcester as he works his way back from a sprained right ankle and fractured rib that have sidelined him since May.

Nola threw batting practice on Friday. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Saturday the 32-year-old right-hander will throw about 60 pitches in the Triple-A game.

Nola hurt the ankle during agility drills on May 8. He made a pair of ineffective starts and was placed on the IL effective May 15. Nola threw a bullpen session June 1 and felt sore a few days later. An MRI showed a stress fracture of a rib, Thomson revealed June 10.

On the IL for a physical injury for the first time since 2017, Nola was 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA in nine starts and 49 2/3 innings.

Nick Castellanos sits after hurting knee

Right fielder Nick Castellanos was out of the starting lineup Saturday, a day after getting hurt in the Phillies’ 12-5 win over the Yankees.

“The last play last night where he went back towards the wall, just kind of jammed his left knee a little bit,” Thomson said. “He came in a little bit sore today, so keep him out, see how he is tomorrow.”

Alec Bohm update

Alec Bohm is to meet up with the Phillies on Sunday, travel with the team to Chicago and be evaluated.

Bohm broke a left rib when hit by a 92.2 mph Yu Darvish pitch at San Diego on July 12. The third baseman and first baseman returned July 18 following the All-Star break, then went on the injured list.

“Still a little bit sore,” Thomson said.

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Sources: Knicks assistant coach target Pablo Prigioni staying in Minnesota

The Knicks have been trying to find assistant coaches to help new head coach Mike Brown in his first season in New York and it appears another name is off the board.

SNY's Ian Begley reported that Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni is staying in Minnesota. The news comes a few days after New York received permission to interview Prigioni for a role on Brown's staff.

With Prigioni no longer available, the Knicks are quickly switching gears and have their radar on a new candidate: Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Brendan O'Connor, per Begley.

O’Connor has a strong defensive acumen while working for the Clippers under head coaches Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. 

The Knicks had previously targeted New Orleans Pelicans’ James Borrego and Dallas Mavericks’ Jay Triano before Prigioni, as well as others, for the assistant position under Brown. 

They will presumably continue to look for an assistant to help on offense, even if they add O’Connor to help guide the defense.

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Pretty much a picture-perfect win for the Phillies at Yankee Stadium

Pretty much a picture-perfect win for the Phillies at Yankee Stadium originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – Perhaps the only thing wrong with the Phillies on a perfect Saturday for baseball was when Bryce Harper changed the clubhouse music before the game from Meatloaf to Dolly Parton. And even that is debatable to some.

That’s how well the Phillies went through their day at Yankee Stadium as they pinned an emphatic 9-4 loss on the home team and  lashed out 13 more hits (following 14 on Friday), got another solid starting pitching performance and saw the big bats produce again. All this done in front of a sellout crowd that was overrun with Phillies fans who sprinkled in the obligatory E-A-G-L-E-S chant every so often.

These two games in the Bronx have showcased a team that Phillies fans mostly expected when the season started – quality pitching from the starters and a boatload of offensive prowess, particularly from the players who scoop up the majority of the payroll. Ranger Suarez battled through 108 pitches and 5.2 innings of one-run ball to pick up the win, while Trea Turner got on base four times, including a pair of doubles, Harper homered, Kyle Schwarber knocked in a couple and J.T. Realmuto had two hits. 

Offensively, the two days of work has combined for 21 runs and 27 hits, which includes seven doubles and five home runs.

“It’s the ebbs and flows,” downplayed Rob Thomson about his team’s current hot hitting. “We have a lot of guys swinging bats well right now and that comes and goes. (Trea Turner)  is using the field. He’s hitting line drives to right field. He’s swinging the bat well. He’s a catalyst. Ever since the San Francisco game where he had the four extra base hits (Bryce Harper) has been really good.

“I think a lot of times they feed off of Harp but I think they’re feeding off each other right now. It’s like our rotation, trying to keep up with the Joneses in the lineup. They’re doing a good job.”

It didn’t take long to get started Saturday as Turner led off the first with a double and scored on a Realmuto single. Harper bombed one in the third to left-center before the Phils tacked on two more in the fourth on four walks, one hit and a fielder’s choice for a 4-0 lead. It really was all Suarez would need as he struck out seven in upping his record to 8-4 while lowering his ERA to 2.59 on the season.

“I felt good,” said Suarez. “All my pitches were working today. When you compare to last start (4.1 innings, nine hits, six earned runs and four walks), the curve ball was there and the changeup, too, was working well. All my pitches felt good today.”

When the question of velocity, which has decreased by Suarez slightly in his last few outings, was asked, Suarez just laughed it off. “I don’t know,” he said. “Last start I tried putting a little more into it and we all saw what happened there. At this point I just think I’m one of those pitchers that rely on pitch location and control and command of the pitches other than rely on velocity.”

While it felt like a Phillies home game with all the red, white and blue in the seats, Suarez continued his road dominance. In eight starts this season away from Citizens Bank Park, Suarez is 5-3 with a 1.48 ERA.

The Phillies did get a scare in the bottom of the seventh when third baseman Edmundo Sosa drifted back on a ball to short left. Brandon Marsh came in hard from his spot in left and ran into the back of Sosa, who caught the ball before he headed to the ground. He stayed there for quite some time before getting to his feet and helped to the bench by Marsh. Sosa left the game with what the team called a back contusion.

“I saw the ball was hit, figured it was Trea’s ball but he couldn’t see it because of the sun,” said Marsh. “When I looked down at Sosa and Trea I just noticed the ball was in the middle of them so I had to go and make a play. Sosa said he was saying he had it but I didn’t hear him so it’s my fault.”

The Phillies were without the services of Nick Castellanos, who jammed his knee Friday night making the game-ending catch near the wall in right field. For now, he is listed as day-to-day.

Those were really the only blemishes Saturday, allowing Thomson to go to the deep part of his bullpen to close out a game where the lead grew as big as 9-1 in the seventh with the help of a two-run home run by Sosa. Two innings prior, Sosa struck out with a runner on second and showed his disgust after a bad at-bat. Sosa said after the game that Harper came and talked to him and that was part of the reason he was so focused before the homer.

“That’s not me. That’s not who I am,” said Sosa.

Who the Phillies have been as a whole in these two games has been more than good enough.

NOTE: 

The Phillies made a move Saturday by acquiring outfielder Brewer Hickman for cash considerations from the Detroit Tigers. He was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 29-year-old has 12 at-bats in the majors through the years. 

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St. Louis Blues Re-Sign Nikita Alexandrov

The St. Louis Blues announced they have re-signed forward Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract. 

The contract will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 at the AHL level with a $350,000 guarantee. 

The 24-year-old recorded 21 goals and 49 goals in 48 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds last season. 

A second round selection of the Blues in 2019, Alexandrov has appeared in 51 career NHL games with the Blues and has three goals and six assists. 

The Burgwedel, Ger., native has been nearly a point per game player at the AHL level over the past three seasons and has 58 goals and 129 points in 170 career AHL games and 10 points in 23 Calder Cup Playoff games.

The Blues have a deep forward which will make it difficult for Alexandrov to make the team out of camp but he will be relied upon to drive the offense for the Thunderbirds. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.  

Photo Credit: © Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

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Aaron Judge is out for the Yankees’ game against the Phillies because of an elbow injury

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge was out of the lineup Saturday against Philadelphia and was sent for imaging of his right elbow, a worrying development for a team that has been sliding down the standings for two months.

“Obviously concerned,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ll wait and see as they read the imaging.”

Boone wouldn’t speculate whether the injury involved Judge’s ulnar collateral ligament.

“Hopefully it’s something that is manageable and we can get through,” Boone said.

A two-time AL MVP, Judge leads the major leagues with a .342 batting average and 1.160 OPS. He has 37 home runs and 85 RBIs for a New York team that opened a seven-game AL East lead by late May but started Saturday a season-high 5 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto.

Judge winced at Toronto on Tuesday after catching Alejandro Kirk’s seventh-inning fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as Dante Bichette tagged up and went from second to third. Judge was seen by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.

“He had a throw in Toronto where it zinged him, it hurt,” Boone said.

Judge was a designated hitter the following day in Wednesday’s series finale, which Boone said then was planned. He was in right field for Friday’s series-opening 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, then was out of the lineup for the second time this season.

“Felt like he was fine on the off day and then just last night was really dealing with it. He couldn’t really throw well from the outfield,” Boone said.

Boone said Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad was to read the imaging Saturday.

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Top Six Under-25 Cores In The NHL

The key to having a successful team in the NHL is drafting and developing young players so they can someday lead their team to glory, and some teams are way ahead of the game when it comes to young talent and a young core.

Here are the top six teams with the best under-25 cores in the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield (RW), Lane Hutson (D), Juraj Slafkovsky (LW), Alex Newhook (LW/C), Zack Bolduc (RW/C), Ivan Demidov (RW), Kaiden Guhle (D), Jakub Dobes (G)

The Montreal Canadiens have been increasingly threatening over the years, especially last season, when they made the playoffs after a three-year drought. 

However, GM Kent Hughes and the Habs are just getting started as they have plenty of fun years ahead of them with the young roster they’ve got.

According to eliteprospects.com, the Canadiens are the youngest team in the league for this upcoming campaign, with an average age of 25.35. Their U-25 core consists of several elite players, including Cole Caufield, who recorded his first 70-point season, and Lane Hutson, who is coming off a Calder Trophy-winning season.

With that, Martin St. Louis’ team has an abundance of skill around their main guys, and that’s what puts them at the top of the list.

The 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, along with Alex Newhook, Ivan Demidov and newly acquired Zack Bolduc, completes a loaded top-nine forward group for Montreal.

On the back end, Kaiden Guhle joins Hutson and 31-year-old Mike Matheson to fill out the left side of the Habs’ defense. Since his NHL debut in 2022, Guhle has averaged 20:52 of ice time in the regular season and 21:48 in the 2025 playoffs.

In addition, goaltender Jakub Dobes had his coming-out party this season, recording a 2.74 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

Anaheim Ducks

Leo Carlsson (C), Mason McTavish (C), Cutter Gauthier (LW), Jackson LaCombe (D), Pavel Mintyukov (D), Olen Zellweger (D)

The Anaheim Ducks have not qualified for the playoffs in the last seven seasons. However, with the setup of their young roster and season-by-season progression, Ducks fans might not have to wait long until they see the post-season again. 

Next season,  players such as Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier will all be one year older and a little more seasoned. All three of those forwards registered their first 20-goal seasons, with McTavish scoring the most points of the three with 52.

In addition to the trio of forwards, Anaheim has a loaded left side on the blueline with Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov. LaCombe has led the way from the back end for the Ducks, scoring 14 goals and 43 points in his second full season.

Along with those three left-defensemen, Drew Helleson is set to suit up for his sophomore season after scoring 13 points in 56 appearances last year. These four defensemen complete two-thirds of Anaheim's blueline.

Ottawa Senators

Tim Stutzle (LW/C), Jake Sanderson (D), Ridly Greig (LW/C), Dylan Cozens (C), Leevi Merilainen (G)

Compared to other teams in this article, the Ottawa Senators have a shorter list of U-25 players. However, there is no shortage of quality in their young core as they hold some of the best U-25 players in the entire league.

In addition, during NHL.com’s “Young Stars Week,” they made rankings of the top 10 forwards, defensemen and goaltenders, and each list had a Senator on it.

On the forwards and defensemen list, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson were ranked No.1 in their respective positions, and with great reason.

Stutzle and Sanderson are considered leaders on the Senators as much as captain Brady Tkachuk and veteran Claude Giroux are in terms of how they play on the ice.

Stutzle and Sanderson have the potential to compete for individual awards and milestones, with Sanderson finishing in the top 10 for Norris Trophy voting, while Stutzle is capable of reaching the 100-point mark over the years he has remaining in his young career.

With that, in the top 10 list of goaltenders under 25, Leevi Merilainen was ranked fourth on NHL.com’s list. The 22-year-old netminder is set to be Ottawa’s backup next season after recording a 1.99 GAA and .925 SP in 12 games last season.

It doesn’t stop there for the Senators as they have tremendous young center depth down their lineup. Ridly Greig and Dylan Cozens complete the Sens’ middle-six forward group with scoring and grit.

Philadelphia Flyers

Matvei Michkov (LW/RW), Trevor Zegras (LW/C), Bobby Brink (RW), Tyson Foerster (RW/LW), Jamie Drysdale (D), Cam York (D)

After a rough campaign last year, the youth of the Philadelphia Flyers will be looking to spark some new energy in Rick Tocchet’s first season behind the bench.

Leading the way in Philadelphia’s U-25 core is Matvei Michkov. The Russian was a top-five rookie in the NHL last season, equalling Macklin Celebrini’s 63 points for second-best in the league, and he also finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting.

Alongside him in the forward group is Trevor Zegras, who will be putting on the Flyers sweater for the first time next season after his trade from Anaheim. Zegras is looking to find his footing after his last two seasons were cut short.

Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster continue to rise after they recorded their first 40-point seasons last year, with Foerster scoring 25 goals. The two wingers will look to solidify their roles in the top six in 2025-26 under Tocchet.

As for the blueline, Jamie Drysdale and Cam York highlight Philly’s young D-core. Drysdale was able to play 70 games in his first season with the Flyers last year. He’ll want to get his development back on track after missing a chunk of games in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.

In some ways, York will also get a fresh start with a new voice behind the bench. Last season, there were reports about an altercation between York and former coach John Tortorella, which contributed to Tortorella’s firing. Now with Tocchet in play, York will have a chance to play more freely than before.

Utah Mammoth

Logan Cooley (C), Dylan Guenther (RW), JJ Peterka (RW)

The Utah Mammoth are an overlooked team at times, but with the elite young players they have, they won’t be an afterthought much longer. After finishing just seven points shy of a playoff spot, it’s not such a stretch to think Utah could make its first post-season appearance in franchise history next year.

Center Logan Cooley and right winger Dylan Guenther lead the way for the Mammoth’s young core. They both had breakout seasons with Cooley recording 25 goals and 65 points in 75 games, and Guenther scoring 27 goals and 60 points in 70 games.

With that, Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong made a splash and traded for right winger JJ Peterka from the Sabres. Similar to Cooley and Guenther, Peterka scored 27 goals and 68 points in 77 appearances for Buffalo last season.

While it’s not a long list, there is no denying that Armstrong’s club has an exciting trio up front and will be running Utah’s offense for years to come.

New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes (C), Dawson Mercer (RW/C), Luke Hughes (D), Simon Nemec (D)

The New Jersey Devils are a product of great drafting. They’ve developed their own talent and turned them into stars. Jack Hughes is a prime example of that

Not only is Hughes one of the best players on this list, but he’s also one of the top centers in the NHL. In his last three seasons, he’s recorded at least 70 points, including a 99-point campaign in 2022-23.

With that, Hughes was selected by Team USA to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was one of four players on that team who were under 25 years old.

Along with Jack, his brother Luke is also considered a member of New Jersey’s U-25 core as a defenseman. He registered two straight 40-point seasons to complete his entry-level phase as he looks for a new contract.

Also on the Devils’ back end is Slovakian D-man Simon Nemec. He was selected second overall in the 2022 draft, but hasn’t been able to find a rhythm in the NHL because of New Jersey’s blueline depth. Last season, he played just 27 games after a 60-game campaign in the season prior.

Dawson Mercer was shot out of a cannon when he entered the NHL in 2021-22, scoring 42 points in his first season and 56 points in his sophomore year. Since then, he has dipped mildly, but has shown resilience and durability as he’s never missed a regular-season game in his four-year career.

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.

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Former Ottawa Senator Mark Stone Jokes That It Wasn't Always Easy Playing On Brady Tkachuk's Line

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will always have a soft spot for Ottawa. Six years after he was traded away by the Senators, Stone still spends most of his summers in the city. He has a boatload of friends here, and he’s pleased to see that the Senators—his former team—are playing so well again.

Stone appeared this week on the Coming in Hot podcast with hosts Brent Wallace, Jason York, and Graeme Nichols, and shared some thoughts about his former team, including his friend, former teammate and tenant, Brady Tkachuk.

Stone says it hasn’t been much fun to play against Tkachuk or his brother, Matthew, including a pair of international tilts during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off. In truth, Stone joked, he sometimes wasn't even big on playing with Tkachuk.

“I’d be lying if I said I wanted to play every night against [the Tkachuks], that’s for sure,” Stone said. “I mean, there were some nights I didn’t even want to be on Brady’s line in Ottawa because you knew you were going to have to be in a scrum every second shift. I’m like, ‘All right, buddy, let’s just relax here.’”

That was, in no way, an attempt to throw shade at Tkachuk. The interview was fun and respectful throughout. Stone says he believes that the Sens captain has toned things down a bit and is starting to realize just how valuable he is on the ice.

“As he goes, the team goes, in my opinion. He’s their engine. Obviously, he’s the captain at such a young age. He had learned so much, but had so much to learn as well. I think the experiences – whether it’s Four Nations or getting to the playoffs for the first time, even the negatives, right? Even going through those years of struggle, I think it probably put it in his mind, like, ‘I don’t want to be back there,’ right? ‘I never want that to happen again.’

"I think he’s really done a good job getting through that adversity and getting ready, and putting this team in a great position.”

As a personal observation – Stone said nothing to this effect at all – but the tough times Brady and the Senators have gone through in Ottawa the past six years probably galvanize Stone's belief that he got out at just the right time in 2019. 

Stone described his affection for the Tkachuk family when asked about Brady’s bachelor party three years ago, which happened right after Stone and the Knights defeated Matthew and the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

“Yeah, we’re obviously friends, good friends,” Stone said. “You know, obviously love that family. So we had a great time at that bachelor party. The last one I’ve been to, actually. So as I said, they’re such good, good people. I’m so happy that they were able to win the next year. You know, I’m sure it was tough for him, congratulating me. But yeah, it’s impressive now what they’re doing in Florida.”

If Stone’s time in Ottawa and in Vegas have something in common, it would be the fairly high roster turnover. But the reasons for the volume of roster changes couldn’t be more different.

“Well, I think you look at Vegas two ways. You’re losing buddies, but you know, when I was in Ottawa, unfortunately, it was losing friends for the wrong reasons. In Vegas, it’s the nature of the business. It sucks, but we’re always looking to get better, so that’s what is very attractive to me. There’s just a ton of internal pressure to try and win every single year, and that’s something I love being a part of.”

Stone has now been gone from the Senators for six years but says he’s only been back at Canadian Tire Centre for two games since the 2019 trade, which he described as 'brutal.'

“I love coming back here. Still spend my summers here. Super happy with where the (Senators) are going, right? I like to say I’ve got a lot of friends on the team, but there are only three guys left from when I was here (Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Drake Batherson). But I still love watching the guys play. So I love coming back into the facility, seeing the staff, because the majority of the staff is still the same, which is awesome.

“Those guys were some of the best in the league, still are, whether it’s the equipment guys, the medical staff, strength staff. They’ve got a great, great staff there.

“So I love coming back in.”

Mark Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights will visit Ottawa on January 25.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
2018 World Junior Trial Ends: Former Senator Alex Formenton Found Not Guilty
Croatia's NHL Trailblazer: Sens Prospect Bruno Idžan Takes NHL Road Less Travelled
Top 3 Ottawa Senators Bounce-Back Candidates For 2025-26
Sens Captain Brady Tkachuk Celebrates Hard at Brother Matthew's Wedding
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
An Early Glance At The Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

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Damian Lillard talks time in Milwaukee, return home to Portland

Damian Lillard was always going to retire and enter the Hall of Fame as a Portland Trail Blazer, but his return to the city ended up happening much sooner than expected. After Lillard tore his Achilles in an April playoff game, and with rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's frustration growing, Milwaukee shocked the league by agreeing to waive and stretch Lillard, buying him out and making him a free agent. That cleared his path to a return to Portland.

In recent interviews, Lillard spoke about all of it. When discussing his tenure with the Bucks, injuries were the main topic — Antetokounmpo missing Lillard's first playoffs with the team, then this year with his Achilles — with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big. You gotta be healthy and you gotta be playing your best at the right time and I think we just had bad luck."

He also talked about loving the experience of playing alongside Antetokounmpo, despite some criticism of his production and play.

"But I think Giannis and I, we was the highest-scoring duo during that time. We won a [NBA] Cup. I think a lot of people for me personally was like, we want to see Dame do this and Dame do that, but I'm playing with a 30-plus point per game scorer, a guy who plays with the ball in his hands the same way I've done my whole career. He's aggressive and attacking and I still managed to score 25 points per game and seven assists over my two years pretty much. So I think it's kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn't the same) because of the way I played in Portland. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different. But I think for how productive I actually was I think it's been viewed unfairly."

Now, Lillard is just happy to be home, as he told Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press.

"Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland," he said. "All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon."

It did. He is going to spend this season more as an assistant coach working with young guards like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. He will join them in the rotation in a year.

For now, he's just happy to be home.

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Penguins Made Good Move Signing Big Forward

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made multiple moves this off-season. This included bringing in several new players, including winger Anthony Mantha. The Penguins signed the 6-foot-5 forward to a one-year, $2.5 million contract earlier this month.

Mantha, unfortunately, missed the majority of this past season after tearing his ACL early on in the campaign and undergoing surgery. As a result, he appeared in just 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, posting four goals, seven points, 16 hits, and a plus-6 rating. Overall, he was on pace to have another solid season before his injury.

While Mantha did not play much this past season due to his injury, he has the potential to be a very good signing for the Penguins when looking at his resume. He has demonstrated for much of his career that he can be an effective point producer, and the Penguins will be hoping he can be just that for them in a top-six role next season. 

Just back during the 2023-24 season, Mantha posted 23 goals, 21 assists, and 44 points in 74 games split between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. He has also recorded at least 20 goals and 40 points three times during his career, so he undoubtedly can make an impact when playing at his best.

Overall, with the Penguins needing more offense, there is no harm in them taking a shot on a big and skilled winger like Mantha with this one-year contract. If he stays healthy, he could end up being a very nice part of their forward group in 2025-26. 

Former Penguins Forward Signs PTO With RangersFormer Penguins Forward Signs PTO With RangersAccording to the New York Post's Mollie Walker, the New York Rangers have signed former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary to a professional tryout (PTO).

Photo Credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

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Yankees' Aaron Judge placed on 10-day IL with right flexor strain; no tear in UCL

The Yankees had some relatively good news to share in regards to Aaron Judge and his "elbow issue."

Aaron Boone revealed on Saturday that Judge is suffering from a flexor strain, and on Sunday the Yankees officially placed him on the 10-day IL.

The good news is that the UCL is intact, meaning there is no tear in the ligament.

"Overall, we got some good news. It is going to require an IL stint with the thought it’s right about that 10 days and those few days coming off, probably in DH mode and then starting throwing in around then," Boone explained after Saturday's game. "And then hopefully, get back to the outfield shortly thereafter…as long as the symptoms are what they need to be."

Judge has already taken a PRP injection and will sit for a few days and then start swinging the bat again and see where they are at when they get to the 10-day mark. Boone is optimistic Judge could return in the minimum 10 days.

The Yankees skipper has already spoken with Giancarlo Stanton on potentially getting work in the outfield to see if he's an option when Judge returns. This week is when they'll start working that into Stanton's routine, but there's nothing imminent.

Judge was missing from Saturday's lineup and Boone said that the Yankees Captain had felt something in his elbow on a throw during the previous series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. After starting as DH on Wednesday and the off day on Thursday, New York felt as though Judge was fine, but the injury popped up again in Friday's loss.

"Just last night (he) was really dealing with it," Boone said prior to Saturday's game. "He couldn’t really throw well from the outfield."

Judge spoke to the media after the results came in and said that he felt something off in his elbow on a throw home, a play prior to the one he winced on. He's never had an elbow injury before and even tried to convince the team to let him avoid an IL stint so he can still bat. But the organization advised against it. Boone said that they didn't want to risk Judge injuring himself further by hitting and wanted to take care of the strain immediately.

"Throwing is the main concern. Hitting, it happens too quick and it’s not the motion where I haven’t felt anything," Judge explained. "The muscle that’s hurt is the muscle that’s used to grip. There might be some issue with that, but I’ve been hitting with it the last couple of days. If I can hit, I can be out there."

As for who will take Judge's spot on the roster, the Yankees have a few outfield options in Triple-A. Everson Pereira and Bryan De La Cruz are likely options as they are both right-handed, and then there's prospect Spencer Jones, who has been tearing the cover off the ball with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, Jones missed Friday's game with back spasms.

Despite that, it's unlikely the Yankees will call up Jones, as he's not on the 40-man roster and this would be a temporary stint that won't come with enough at-bats to justify the move.

Judge was asked about whether the team can withstand his absence and the AL MVP front-runner said he believes in his teammates.

"Guys are going to step up, that’s what it comes down to," Judge said. "I always go back to that 2019 team where I felt everyone got banged up and everyone stepped up and played bigger roles than what they signed up for coming into the season. I expect the same for guys… especially now in the second half, going to the end of the stretch. We have to make a push."

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Blackhawks Have Intriguing Free Agent Target To Consider

It is fair to argue that the Chicago Blackhawks' current roster could use more secondary scoring before the start of the season. When looking at the unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who are left on the market, one intriguing option who stands out is forward Victor Olofsson. 

Olofsson, 30, just had a strong 2024-25 season as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. In 56 games with the Pacific Division club, the 2014 seventh-round pick posted 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points, and a plus-17 rating in 56 games. With numbers like these, he would certainly have the potential to give the Blackhawks' bottom six and second power-play unit a boost. This is especially so when noting that he can play both left wing and right wing.

Olofsson has also shown for much of his career that he has the ability to put the puck in the net. The seven-year veteran has scored at least 20 goals three times during his career, which includes him scoring 28 times during the 2022-23 season with the Buffalo Sabres. He has also record at least 40 points three times, so he could give the Blackhawks more offense if brought in.

On a one-year deal, Olofsson could be a very solid veteran for the Blackhawks to add to their group. It will be interesting to see where he ends up signing, but the Blackhawks could be a good potential landing spot for him. 

Blackhawks Should Swing Trade For Bruins ForwardBlackhawks Should Swing Trade For Bruins ForwardThe Chicago Blackhawks have had a quiet off-season thus far, but the possibility of them making another addition to their roster before the season is here should not be ruled out. They currently have over $21 million of cap space and could use it if it means bringing in a player that would help them beyond the 2025-26 campaign.

Photo Credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images