PHOENIX — Even with longstanding traditions, it’s not a bad idea to change things up a little every so often.
This year’s League of Alternative Baseball Reality drafts were unique in that they were held in conjunction with the annual Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference at Arizona State University.
So for the first time in its 33-year history, LABR paired with SABR. Pretty cool.
That could also describe the auction room, where – outside of Shohei Ohtani at $47 and Ronald Acuña Jr. at $40 – the bidders seemed intent on conserving their cash.
In contrast to the LABR AL auction the day before, the top NL players at several positions went for what felt like slight bargains.
Through early drafts this season, either the Braves’ Matt Olson or the Phillies’ Bryce Harper lead the way at first base. However, Rafael Devers of the Giants was the most expensive in this one, going for $30, which was $3 more than Harper, $4 more than the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and $5 more than Olson.
On the other corner, third basemen Manny Machado, Eugenio Suarez and Austin Riley barely cleared the $20 mark.
Bidders were a little more willing to spend on outfielders, but after a power trio of Juan Soto ($39), Kyle Tucker ($32) and Fernando Tatis Jr. ($31), just seven other flychasers made it into the $20s.
That reluctance to spend early on the most talented performers had serious repercussions later when demand outpaced supply on middle- and lower-tier players.
One of the first things any fantasy manager should do in preparing for a draft is take a good look at the player pool. When breaking down the NL, one thing that stands out is the exceptional depth in the middle infield.
Coming off an outstanding 2025, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (22 HR, 107 runs, 37 SB) was the first infielder nominated. Predictably, the talented 24-year-old set the bar at $33, but those who missed out were still able to find capable alternatives.
Eight other shortstop-eligible players fell in the $20 range, with eight more between $11 and $19. Similar depth exists on the other side of the keystone.
As a result, 10 of the 12 LABR NL teams paid double-digit prices for both their primary second baseman and shortstop.
DHs invade the NL
Another wrinkle in the NL player pool is an unusually large number of hitters who are eligible only at the utility spot.
Certainly, Shohei Ohtani is in a class by himself and also able to slot in on the pitching side (but not both at the same time). But managers who drafted Kyle Schwarber ($27), Ivan Herrera ($17), Christian Yelich ($16), Marcell Ozuna ($9) or promising Cubs rookie Moises Ballesteros ($7) had to tie up that utility spot for the rest of the draft.
As a result, those players seemed to come at a decent discount – especially Schwarber, who was the NL’s third-most valuable fantasy hitter last season.
Precarious pitching prices
Defending NL champion Matt Cederholm, Baseball HQ’s injury expert, had the honor of kicking off the auction with the first nomination, calling out the name of … Brandon Woodruff.
The oft-injured Brewers ace, who was part of the title-winning squad last year, returned to his old (Cedar?) home for $17, even though he might not be ready for opening day.
From there, prices on the top starting pitchers – with the exception of $35 for reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes of the Pirates – didn’t really set the auction room ablaze. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez was the second-most expensive pitcher at $30, but only six others even went in the 20s.
The bidders’ reluctance to spend on the elite arms had serious consequences in the middle and later stages, with prices getting pushed up on far less-talented pitchers. A total of 28 starters (2.3 per team) fell into the $10-19 range. That made it almost impossible for teams to find late bargains to round out their pitching staffs.
With closers, there’s a distinct tier of four elite ones in the NL And you’ll have to pay up to get them.
Jhoan Duran, Edwin Diaz and Mason Miller (nominated in that order) all went for the exact same price of $24. New Mets closer Devin Williams joined them at a slightly discounted $20.
After that quartet, it’s anyone’s guess how the rest will shake out. On this day, the Reds’ Emilio Pagan was next at $16, with Raisel Iglesias of the Braves and Daniel Palencia of the Cubs just a dollar less. Perhaps the most interesting bullpen situation is in Milwaukee, where Trevor Megill cost $14 and Abner Uribe $10.
NL prospect watch
Finally, one of the most exciting things about the NL this season is the wealth of top prospects expected to see big-league action.
Here’s how optimistic LABR managers were about this year’s crop:
NEW YORK (AP) — The Athletics had the highest success rate using the robot-umpire system to overturn ball/strike calls during the first 10 days of spring training, winning 69.2% of challenges as teams prepared for its regular-season debut March 25.
San Francisco was second at 66.7%, followed by Cincinnati, Miami and San Diego at 61.9% each, Major League Baseball said Monday.
The World Series champion Dodgers had the lowest rate, winning 21.4% of appeals to the Automated Ball-Strike System. Baltimore was at 25%, the New York Mets at 35.3% and Texas at 38.1%.
MLB's overall success rate was 51.3%, with an average of 2.3 challenges per game.
The New York Yankees averaged the most challenges at 3.8 per game, winning 52.6%. Minnesota was second at 3.6 (winning 58.3%), followed by Boston at 3.2 (55.2%) and Colorado (55.6%) and San Francisco at 3.0.
Baltimore averaged the fewest challenges at 1.2. The Dodgers were at 1.4 and Detroit was at 1.5 (46.7%).
Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season.
A team out of challenges for a game tied after nine innings would get one additional challenge in each extra inning.
Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler fired back at former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl over Pearl's criticism regarding the undefeated RedHawks' NCAA Tournament at-large credentials.
The 29-0 RedHawks have been the center of debate on whether they are a lock for March Madness in the event they don't win the MAC tournament since they have piled up 29 straight victories. If the RedHawks don't win in Cleveland and get the automatic bid, they could still make the tournament and steal a spot from a Power conference team — like Auburn.
"U are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East," Sayler said on social media Monday, March 2. "The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors! Even slipped in a 'we' when talking about Auburn, nice work!"
@coachbrucepearl u are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East. The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors! Even slipped in a "we" when talking about Auburn, nice work!
Sayler's comments stem from what Pearl said as TNT analyst Saturday, Feb. 28, where he argued despite being the only team without a loss, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) shouldn't be in the NCAA Tournament if it doesn't get the automatic bid by winning the MAC tournament.
"Here's the deal. Are we going to select the 68 most deserving teams? Or are we going to select the 68 best teams?" he said. "If we're selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion, because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country, and that's going to be a difficult choice for the committee."
He then added mid-major teams like the RedHawks "recognize their only going to be a one-bid league."
The criticism of Pearl only grew when he advocated for Auburn — the school he last coached and is led by his son, Steven — on "Wake Up Barstool" on Monday morning. The Tigers are 15-14 and 6-10 in the SEC with seven losses in their past eight games, but Pearl believes they are "last four in" territory and just need to beat LSU on Tuesday, March 3 and win their first round game of the SEC tournament to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
"They've got five Quad 1 wins. They've got the best win in college basketball on the road at Florida. As far as that margin, it's either the best or one of the best. So they got a little bit more work to do," he said.
Pearl added "there's no love of my son. I mean, there's no nepotism involved here."
Miami (Ohio) is slated as an automatic qualifier and a No. 11 seed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, while Auburn is also a No. 11 seed.
The Denver Nuggets face a major contrast in competition when they visit the Utah Jazz on Monday, March 2.
After facing the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Boston Celtics in the past three outings, taking on the likes of Utah (18-42 SU) is like slipping into a warm bubble bath after swimming with sharks.
With an extended break ahead for Denver, my Nuggets vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks call for course correction — and an ATS cover — from Nikola Jokic & Co. tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz prediction
Nuggets vs Jazz best bet: Denver Nuggets -11.5 (-110)
Normally, a stop in Utah after running the Denver Nuggets’ recent gauntlet would give pause in fear of a letdown spot. But Denver desperately needs a positive.
There could be a couple of those tonight. Not only does this matchup with the Jazz set the table for a much-needed victory (won by 23 at Utah in December), but there’s a shot Aaron Gordon gets back on the court.
The Utah Jazz have lost five in a row by an average of more than 13 points, with foes enjoying 51% success from the floor in that span. That’ll kick-start the Nuggets’ top-tier offense.
Nuggets vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Nuggets are 17-6 SU and 14-9 ATS off a loss this season. After going 1-2 versus Boston, OKC, and Minnesota, Denver needs a “get right” win tonight. Nikola Jokic is at the wheel of an efficient Nuggets attack that utilizes his scoring and playmaking on the blocks and high post to hit active cutters – something Utah struggles to defend.
Jokic’s projections sit as high as 11+ assists, and he recorded 13 dimes in his first meeting with the Jazz back in December. Denver’s playbook flows through the multi-time MVP against a Utah defense giving up a league-high 30.5 assists per outing with an assist-to-FGM rate above 68%.
Kyle Filipowski is in an offensive funk, shooting a collective 11 for 27 over the past three games. Denver doesn’t push back much defensively, and player forecasts sit as high as 16+ points from the Jazz big man tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Denver Nuggets -11.5
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Kyle Filipowski Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: The jokes on Utah
Nikola Jokic is in a rotten mood after two straight losses and a cheap shot from OKC. Projections for the Joker have ceilings of 32 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds tonight.
Nuggets vs Jazz SGP
Denver Nuggets -11.5
Nikola Jokic Over 28.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Nuggets vs Jazz odds
Spread: Nuggets -11.5 | Jazz +11.5
Moneyline: Nuggets -550 | Jazz +400
Over/Under: Over 243.5 | Under 243.5
Nuggets vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Jazz are horrible when catching double-digit points at home over the last three seasons, going 3-13 SU and just 5-11 ATS (+10 or higher) despite all that cushion from the oddsmakers. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Jazz.
How to watch Nuggets vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
ALT, KJZZ
Nuggets vs Jazz latest injuries
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BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Yorke (38) tags out Minnesota Twins right fielder Alan Rodeo (18) who tried to stretch a single into a double on February 26, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
And the injuries just keep piling up. While spring training stats and records do not matter, the Twins do have the worst run differential through nine games across the majors this spring. That being said, we did have some good news on the injury front. Royce Lewis’ recent MRI is clean (Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune), and he’s expected to return to the team this weekend. Meanwhile, while the team expects to place David Festa on the injured list to start the season, Pablo Lopez did not get full reconstructive surgery on his torn UCL and could return by Opening Day next season (Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune). Unfortunately, Walker Jenkins has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. While he was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, it’s definitely not providing any confidence to Twins fans that the newest star in the making could also just be another injury-prone player.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
With spring training underway, game threads are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we prepare for Opening Day.
James Fillmore recaps the Stratton Story for our Twinkie Town Movie Night. Stop Making Sense is now on deck.
The 18-year-old recorded four goals, becoming the first rookie this season to score 20 after a two-goal night in the Islanders' 4-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.
He added one assist to go along with those four goals, for five points in three games, helping his team to a 3-0-0 week. The Islanders trailed 2-0 in each of those three games.
Against the Montreal Canadiens, Schaefer scored two goals in 55 seconds to tie the score at 2-2 in a 4-3 overtime win.
Schaefer has 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 61 games played this season, averagin 24:07 minnutes per game. x.com
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Johan Oviedo #29 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a picture during the 2026 Boston Red Sox Photo Day at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 17, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is the game on TV?
Yes, first pitch is at 1:07 PM (what? why?) on NESN. I’m guessing this broadcast be similar to a few days ago, though, when NESN simply streamed the home team’s feed, so don’t expect to get your daily dose of Tom Caron.
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch for?
Man, would you get a look at that dog of a lineup? This is the worst type of Spring Training game. Thankfully, though, Franklin Arias gives us a reason to watch. And it’ll be nice to get a second look at Johan Oviedo.
Mar 1, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) bats during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 17: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) pitches in the first inning during a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals on September 17, 2025, at Busch Stadium, in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals begin their trek through the 2026 Spring Training schedule with a Monday game against the Miami Marlins. According to MLB.com, Andre Pallante gets the start for St. Louis while the Marlins will send Adam Mazur to the mound.
FORMER CUBS IN REDS CAMP: P. J. Higgins — who has become the best catcher at getting ABS challenges overturned, per this chart.
CUBS NUMBERS TO DATE: (Minimum 11 AB). Alex Bregman, .455/.571/.909 (5-for-11, two doubles, one HR, three walks. Dylan Carlson, .455/.647/.545 (5-for-11, a double, five walks). Jefferson Rojas, .313/.389/.625 (5-for-16, two doubles, one home run, five RBI, two walks).
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
A new week of NBA action tips off with just four games on the schedule, but there’s still plenty of value to be found in the player prop markets.
I’ve found my favorite plays for today, which include the Celtics efficient big man coming off the bench, and the Jazz rookie Ace Bailey continuing to flash his potential.
Those and more NBA picks for Monday, March 2, below.
Nikola Vucevic has been thriving in his new role with the Boston Celtics. He’s averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds coming off the bench and has recorded four double-doubles in nine games since being traded.
Tonight, he gets a great matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are a bad rebounding team. Without him, they’re downright awful. They enter this matchup with the NBA’s fourth-worst rebounding rate.
Vucevic to record a double-double at +350 is worth a look, but our best bet is Over 7.5 rebounds, a number he’s topped in four of his last five games.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-Boston, FDSN-Wisconsin
Prop #2: Ace Bailey Over 15.5 points
-120 at bet365
It’s on to next season for the Utah Jazz, so now it’s time to figure out how guys like Ace Bailey and Kyle Filipowski fit into their plans.
Bailey has recently shown why he was considered a top prospect heading into last June’s draft. He’s averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over his last 17 games, and he gets a sneaky good matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets have struggled to prevent buckets all season long and enter this game ranked 21st in defensive rating. Bailey has topped 15.5 points nine times during this 17-game stretch.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ALT, KJZZ
Prop #3: Brook Lopez Over 4.5 rebounds
+100 at bet365
The Golden State Warriors have had to battle without Steph Curry. Their offensive rating drops to 21st in the NBA this month.
The Dubs are missing more shots, and they don’t have much in the realm of rebounding. They rank 22nd in rebounding rate and 19th in opponent rebounds per game heading into tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers have several good rebounding options in this one, and my favorite is Brook Lopez. The big man has reentered the starting lineup and is averaging 6.6 rebounds over his last five games, hauling down six plus four times.
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NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 16: John Gil #97 of the Atlanta Braves singles in the third inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s a road spring training game, folks, so that means the Atlanta Braves are going to be letting their organizational depth shine in this one. With that being said, there’s still plenty of reason to tap in. Bryce Elder is right in the thick of the race for the final spot in the rotation and he’ll be looking to make sure that he can continue to fortify his position in this particular race.
Also, rising prospect John Gil will be leading off for the Braves in this one. Gil has already crushed two homers so far this spring and all eyes will be on him as he sits at the top of the order in this one. Here’s the rest of the lineup for the Braves:
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET and the good news is that it will be televised! Yeah, it’s on ESPN but that’s still TV! If you prefer the radio, then make sure to tune in to 103.7 FM in the Atlanta area.
All the major conferences have one week left before their respective postseason tournaments. Arizona (Big 12), Duke (ACC), Michigan (Big Ten) and Florida (SEC) ― all ranked inside the top 7 of the Feb. 23 poll ―have claimed at least a share of their conference championship.
On Friday, Feb. 27, No. 3 Michigan earned a dominant 84-70 road victory over Illinois to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten, just two years after finishing dead last in the conference. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Feb. 28, Florida dismantled No. 17 Arkansas by a tune of 111-77 to clinch its first SEC regular season title since 2015.
No. 4 Iowa State, No. 8 Purdue, 9 Gonzaga, 11 Virginia and No. 14 Kansas all stumbled over the weekend, which could have an impact on this week's rankings. Just how much?
Here’s a look at the latest Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 for March. 2:
Others receiving votes: BYU 74, Kentucky 47, Louisville 47, Missouri 40, Wisconsin 27, Clemson 16, Utah St. 10, UCF 7, High Point 7, Dayton 5, Villanova 4, Navy 3, NC State 2, TCU 2, Ohio St. 1, Santa Clara 1.
After routing Virginia to win the ACC regular-season title, Duke retains the No. 1 ranking for a second week, once again claiming 28 of 31 first-place votes. The other three top nods once again went to Arizona, which holds the No. 2 position following an impressive defeat of Kansas. No. 3 Michigan also stays put, though the Wolverines looked just as dominant as the Blue Devils and Wildcats over the weekend in winning at Illinois.
Connecticut and Florida each move up two positions to round out the top five, as No. 6 Houston and No. 7 Iowa State each fall two spots. Michigan State vaults five places to No. 8, edging ahead of No. 9 Nebraska. Texas Tech also leaps back into the top 10, gaining six positions after an important win at Iowa State.
Illinois keeps the No. 11 spot by a single poll point over Gonzaga, which slips three spots to No. 12 with its loss to Saint Mary's. Purdue takes a six-place hit sliding to No. 14 with two losses in the week.
Saint Mary’s joins the poll at No. 21 after upending Gonzaga, and No. 23 Miami (Fla.) also moves in. Louisville and Brigham Young drop out.
The NHL’s trade deadline is scheduled for March 6 at 12 PM PST, and this season has a unique landscape as that anticipated date on the calendar approaches.
Typically, around the 60-game mark, the list of “buyers” and “sellers” has been all but solidified, but with the deadline just a week away, all but four teams (New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks) are either in a playoff spot or within ten points of the final wild card spot in their respective conference.
The list of true Stanley Cup contenders (judging solely by the standings) is relatively short as well, with just five teams with a points percentage over .650 (Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars).
The rest of the teams in the NHL will likely conduct themselves as “soft buyers” or “soft sellers,” meaning franchise-altering pieces will likely remain in place unless said piece is seen as a substantial player for whichever acquiring organization beyond the 2025-26 season.
The Anaheim Ducks are currently in line to achieve the mandate set forth nine months ago by owner Henry Samueli and general manager Pat Verbeek: to take the next step in their build and make the playoffs.
As of Monday morning, the Ducks currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division standings and are just one point behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights.
A fully healthy Ducks lineup (based on their most recent games) roughly resembles something like this:
Kreider-Carlsson-Gauthier
Killorn-McTavish-Sennecke
Granlund-Poehling-Terry
Johnston-Washe-Viel
Vatrano-Harkins-Strome
LaCombe-Trouba
Zellweger-Gudas
Mintyukov-Moore
Helleson
Dostal
Husso
With the Ducks’ playoff contention window seemingly just opening and their potential cup-contending window still at least a couple of years in the future, it’s safe to assume they won’t be in the market to add significant rental pieces that the front office doesn’t project to be part of the roster beyond this season.
A glance at the roster won’t uncover any glaring holes, just an underdeveloped young core surrounded by mostly post-prime veterans. Again, unless a young or prime-age impact player can be had, minor upgrades here and there may be the focus heading into this trade deadline for Verbeek and the front office.
With just 23 games remaining on their 2025-26 schedule, the Ducks remain one of the poorer defensive teams in the NHL, both in traditional numbers and 5v5 underlying numbers. They rank 31st in goals against per game (3.49) and 21st in shots on goal allowed per game (29). At 5v5, they’re 25th in shot attempts allowed per 60 minutes (59.66), 23rd in shots on goal allowed per 60 (27.85), and 29th in expected goals against per 60 (2.86).
Three areas to focus on heading into Friday’s deadline for Anaheim could be a top-line forward, a depth defensive-oriented forward, and a top-four right-shot defenseman. Let’s take a look at some of the more consistent impact names currently available on various outlets’ trade boards that could fit the bill, to give an idea of what the Ducks could look to add should the opportunities present themselves.
Top Line Forward
The Ducks deploy four dynamic young forwards in their top-six on a nightly basis: Leo Carlsson, Beckett Sennecke, Cutter Gauthier, and Mason McTavish. Filling in the gaps are Troy Terry, a prime-age complementary scorer, and a trio of savvy veterans with varying skillsets: Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, and Mikael Granlund. Another high-end talent who can become or remain a core piece when the Ducks’ contending window is truly open could round out the top of their roster, especially so if that player provides a positive defensive impact.
Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks)
27, $11.6 Million Cap Hit, Full NMC, Expires 2032
Pettersson is in year two of a massive contract extension, but three years removed from his most productive season in 2022-23, where he notched 102 points (39-63=102) in 80 games. His last three seasons have been full of both on and off-ice turmoil and injury concerns. He can play wing or center, and he can kill penalties, but the question remains if Pettersson can recapture his production from a few years ago. If an acquiring team isn’t 100% certain, that contract becomes the riskiest of risky gambles.
Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues)
26, $8.125 Million Cap Hit, Full NTC, Expires 2031
Over the past four seasons, Thomas has been one of the most consistent and healthy 75-90-point centers in the NHL, who controls the game in all three zones. He’s run into a bit of injury trouble this season, and the Blues seem to be heading in the opposite direction for the talented playmaker. The ask is reportedly high, justifiably and predictably so, but a player of his caliber could round out an up-and-coming forward group. These kinds of players aren’t available often, so if a deal can be made, GMs in Verbeek’s situation would be wise not to hesitate.
Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues)
27, $8.125 Million Cap Hit, Full NTC, Expires 2031
With an identical contract to Thomas’, every point made above can be echoed for Kyrou. He attacks dynamically with pace, and though he doesn’t kill penalties, he produces quality defensive metrics likely due to his team’s possession time when he’s on the ice. His potential fit with Anaheim isn’t quite as obvious as Pettersson’s or Thomas’ due to Terry and Sennecke’s presences, but that would be a good problem to have, and shouldn’t be seen as a deterrent, again, if a deal can be had.
Other Notable Candidates: Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers), Nazem Kadri (Calgary Flames), Steven Stamkos (Nashville Predators)
Depth Defensive Forward
Having a true 200-foot forward that the coaching staff can deploy on the penalty kill, against opposing top lines, and provide offense from the bottom six would relieve some pressure from the LaCombe-Trouba pair, as well as some of the Ducks’ top offensive players who haven’t developed on that side of the puck quite yet.
Ryan O’Reilly (Nashville Predators)
35, $4.5 Million Cap Hit, NO trade protection, Expires 2027
The Preds are suddenly in the playoff mix, but if they decide to sell, O’Reilly is a suitable candidate for several middle-sixes across the league. He doesn’t have an NTC, but Nashville has stated they’re treating him as if he does, indicating he will dictate where he’ll land if he moves. He’s been one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards for most of his long career, and he’s on pace to set a career high in points, as he’s scored 57 points (21-36=57) through 59 games this season.
Blake Coleman (Calgary Flames)
34, $4.9 Million Cap Hit, 21-Team NTC, Expires 2027
For a player who plays as physically taxing a brand as Coleman does, he’s been surprisingly durable through the course of his career, is good for 35-50 points a season, and is a proven playoff performer. Coleman is the type of player who will likely command a sizable return, but his trade protection could mute that somewhat. However, one wouldn’t be surprised if a first-round pick is exchanged in a potential deal.
Warren Foegele (Los Angeles Kings)
29, $3.5 Million Cap Hit, 5-Team NTC, Expires 2027
After back-to-back 40-plus point seasons, Foegle hasn’t been able to find that same level of production in his second season in LA. He had even served as a healthy scratch earlier in the year. The Kings just made a change at head coach, bringing in DJ Smith, and they seem to be interested in making a playoff run in Kopitar’s final year. If Foegele is available, he can provide a versatile middle-six role, blending speed and tenacity, and is one of the first forwards over the boards on the PK.
Other Notable Candidates: Scott Laughton (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jason Dickinson (Chicago Blackhawks), Erik Haula (Nashville Predators)
Top Four Defensemen
Jacob Trouba has elevated his game and has been an impactful defenseman opposite the club’s #1 defenseman in LaCombe. However, he’s unlikely to assume that role, even if re-signed, too far into the future. Similarly, the same could be said for Radko Gudas, who’s in the last year of his deal. Gudas would likely be most effective in bottom-pair minutes at this stage in his career and into the playoffs should the Ducks make it that far.
Tyler Myers (Vancouver Canucks)
36, $3 Million Cap Hit, Full NMC, Expires 2027
The towering 6-foot-8 defenseman is being held out of Vancouver’s nightly lineup in anticipation of a trade ahead of Friday’s deadline. Seemingly a product of environment, Myers has had a rollercoaster career for the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks. His best years were alongside Quinn Hughes with the Canucks as the defensive-oriented half of a dynamic pair. The Ducks have three young, dynamic defensemen on their current blueline (LaCombe, Mintyukov, Zellweger), and if paired next to one, Myers has a chance to recapture some of that magic in the later stages of his career.
Justin Faulk (St. Louis Blues)
33, $6.5 Million Cap Hit, 15-Team NTC, Expires 2027
Faulk has been the Blues’ most consistent all-situations defenseman for the better part of a decade. He moves pucks, kills penalties, and has performed well in his five career trips to the playoffs. The underlying metrics haven’t been kind to Faulk since arriving in St. Louis from Carolina in 2019, but perhaps a slightly lesser role on a contender would iron some of that out. Again, St. Louis probably has phones ringing off the hook due to their volume of tradable assets, as they will hope for a quick reset with plenty of young talent either on the roster or in the way.
Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers)
31, $5.1 Million Cap Hit, NO trade protection, Expires 2027
Another towering right-shot defenseman on trade boards, Ristolainen is coming off an impressive Olympic performance, earning a bronze medal with his native Finland. Injury concerns are real, as he’s barely played more than 100 games (116) over the past three seasons for the Flyers, and a saturated right-shot defense market may drive the price down. However, his lack of trade protection could recoup some of that lost value. He still skates well, he’s still physical in the small areas, and he is still prone to some unfortunate, costly mistakes. It will be interesting to see how his market plays out over the next few days.
Other Notable Candidates: Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils), Luke Schenn (Winnipeg Jets), McKenzie Weegar (Calgary Flames)
Clearing Space
When healthy, the Ducks will have 15 current NHL forwards on their roster and seven NHL defensemen. Frank Vatrano has yet to be activated from IR, and when he is, some type of move will have to be made, one way or another.
The Ducks also have young players in the AHL, with the San Diego Gulls, pushing for NHL ice time at every position: Nathan Gaucher, Sam Colangelo, Nikita Nesterenko, Tyson Hinds, and Tristan Luneau.
For whatever reason, this season has been unkind to Verbeek’s first two UFA signings from when he first took the Ducks’ GM job in 2022: Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano. With the emergence of young players, they’ve had a difficult time carving out depth roles for themselves, leaving them as fourth-line or healthy-scratch players. Combined, they make $9.6 million against the Ducks’ cap, so something will have to give at some point, especially with projected expensive contract extensions likely due to young core pieces in the summer.
Verbeek will have his work cut out for him shaping the Ducks’ roster, especially over the summer. However, it’s unclear how much business he’ll get done, if any, before Friday’s deadline.
Nikola Vucevic
Ace Bailey
Brook Lopez