ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 30: Atlanta Braves pitcher Joe Jimenez sits on the dugout steps prior to the MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the Atlanta Braves on August 30, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Late last night, the news got out that Reynaldo López would be heading back to the IL with shoulder inflammation and that JR RItchie would be coming up as a result. Ritchie will reportedly be making the start on Wednesday, so none of these moves were particularly surprising when the Braves announced it.
However, Atlanta ticked on an encouraging rehab assignment for a relieve that we haven’t seen for a very long time.
The #Braves today recalled RHP JR Ritchie to Atlanta and placed RHP Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Additionally, RHPJoe Jiménez tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers.
Well, would you look at that! Joe Jiménez is beginning a rehab assignment. I’d imagine that a lot of folks probably expected to see Robert Suarez’s name here considering that he’s been the one that we’ve seen most recently on a big league mound for the Braves.
With that being said, Jiménez had been throwing live BP recently and and there had been indications that he was doing that just to finally get back on the mound before the 2027 season. That honestly might still be the case as far as this rehab assignment goes, as it would be asking a ton of Jiménez to return at this juncture of the season with a Postseason run on the horizon.
Still, it’s good to see that Jiménez appears poised to make a return to the Braves — whether it’s this season or next. It’s been a long, long road to recovery for Jiménez and hopefully there are no more setbacks for the veteran reliever.
Ovechkin, who is the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, was pictured in a campaign advertisement with pro-Putin figures: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled RT network.
The campaign first appeared in Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, according to The Guardian.
Hockey fans were not happy with Ovechkin, 40, who is a Moscow native and longtime supporter of the Russian president.
“Alexander Ovechkin should not be allowed back into the USA, much less the @NHL. I hope the @Capitals do the right thing and immediately release him from their team,” former astronaut Terry Virts wrote on X.
NHL legend Alex Ovechkin appeared in an advertisement supporting Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. That has led for some to call for the star to be banned from the league. (@saintjavelin/X)
“Canada should place a visa ban on Alex Ovechkin. By appearing in a United Russia election ad alongside Lavrov, Simonyan etc., he is lending his celebrity to Putin’s repressive political machine + whitewashing Russia’s criminal war against Ukraine. This crosses all red lines,” Canadian journalist Marcus Kolga added.
“Ovechkin needs to finally be banned from the NHL. He is an active supporter of the genocide Russia is committing in Ukraine,” another X user chimed in.
“Hockey star Ovechkin likes living the comfortable life of a millionaire here in the U.S. while giving his support to a Russian tyrant who is committing war crimes,” another user said. “I won’t be attending any more #Caps games as long as this guy is wearing the team’s uniform. #NHL.”
Another X user added: “Shame for the USA and the NHL.”
Some social media users also slammed the Washington Capitals for their support of Ovechkin, including a social media post Monday that read “how we’re all looking at the big man today,” and featured an image of teammate Tom Wilson smiling at Ovechkin.
Ovechkin, the captain of the Washington Capitals, has been a longtime supporter of Vladimir Putin (Getty)
“Caps player Alexander Ovechkin just appeared in a literal United Russia campaign video, alongside designated war criminals. Now, Ovechkin’s team is doubling down and doing glowy crisis comms for him. Beyond the pale repugnant,” one X user noted.
Ovechkin has openly supported Putin for years, launching Putin Team in 2017 as a social movement to support Putin’s presidential campaign.
At the time, Ovechkin told the Associated Press, “I just support my country,” and said “It’s not about political stuff.”
When asked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin said “I hope it’s going to end soon and there’s going to be peace in both countries.”
Ovechkin has played for the Washington Capitals since 2004 (Getty)
“Obviously, it’s a hard situation. I have lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine, and it’s hard to see the war. I hope soon it’s going to be over and there’s going to be peace in the whole world,” he said at the time, according to ESPN.
Still, at the time, he held steady in his support of Putin, telling reporters, “He’s my president. But like I said, I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete. I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s a hard situation right now for both sides.”
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with the Capitals in July. He has played for the team since 2004, when he was the first overall pick in the NHL draft.
He has been captain of the Capitals since 2010, winning the team the Stanley Cup in 2018. He is one of 48 Russian players in the league. There are currently no Ukrainian players in the NHL.
Last year, he scored his 895th goal, passing hockey great Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record that was set in 1999.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 6: Jaylen Brown #7 and President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for a picture at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This offseason, new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey turned lemons into fresh-squeezed lemonade. Not only did the Sixers flip Paul George for Jaylen Brown and sign LeBron James to a minimum contract, but they also rounded out their depth by splitting the non-taxpayer mid-level exception between Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade and spending part of their bi-annual exception on Ariel Hukporti.
As long as they have all three of Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid on max contracts, the Sixers can’t be big offseason spenders. But the NBA’s latest salary-cap projection for the 2027-28 season could give them some unexpected financial wiggle room.
On Saturday, Fred Katz and John Hollinger of The Athletic reported that the latest cap projection jumped from the initial $174 million up to $176 million. The luxury-tax line is now projected to be $213 million instead of $211 million, and both the first and second aprons would increase by roughly $2 million as well.
That comes out to a roughly 6.7 percent increase, which still doesn’t fully cover the 8 percent annual raises in Embiid, Brown and Maxey contracts. But it’s better than the previous projection (5.5 percent), which could have put the Sixers into a tight financial bind next offseason.
If the $176 million projection holds—or even goes up further—the Sixers could start dreaming bigger about their free-agent plans in 2027.
Which MLE will the Sixers have?
Between Embiid, Brown, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe alone, the Sixers already have $180.1 million tied up in 2027-28. Add in Wade ($9.45 million) and Labaron Philon Jr. ($3.8 million), and they’re at roughly $193.3 million in guaranteed salary.
Simons has a $6.3 million player option for the 2027-28 season and LeBron has a $4.1 million player option. Both figure to decline those options, barring something catastrophic.
The Sixers also have relatively inexpensive team options on Justin Edwards ($2.6 million) and Adem Bona ($2.5 million). Edwards’ salary is almost identical to the projected minimum salary for 2027-28, while Bona’s is more than $100,000 below that. The Sixers therefore figure to pick up their team option on Bona, while Edwards’ roster spot may come down to how he performs this year and what other options they have next summer.
In the incredibly unlikely event that Simons and James both opt in and the Sixers pick up their options on both Edwards and Bona, they’d be at $208.8 million in total salary. That would leave them roughly $13.2 million below the projected $222.0 million first apron and $27.2 million below the $236 million second apron.
Every salary-cap exception increases by the same percentage as the salary cap itself. So, if the cap rises by roughly 6.7 percent in 2027-28, the non-taxpayer MLE will jump to around $16.05 million, while the taxpayer MLE will be about $6.5 million.
As the Sixers learned the hard way this past offseason, teams that spend the non-taxpayer MLE get hard-capped at the first apron. If Simons and LeBron both opt out, the Sixers would have enough room under the first apron to spend the full non-taxpayer MLE, but they’d have to remain mindful of leaving themselves enough spending power to fill out the rest of their roster with minimum deals.
The Sixers could spend some or all of their MLE to re-sign LeBron to repay him for the massive pay cut he took this season, provided he wants to keep playing in 2027-28. But if LeBron wants to maximize his chances of winning a fifth championship—or hopefully a sixth by that point—he’d re-sign on another minimum deal and allow the Sixers to spend their MLE elsewhere. It’d be even better if he took a one-year deal instead of a one-plus-one, so his cap hit would be around $2.6 million instead of above $4 million.
If LeBron is willing to take another minimum contract—or a 5 percent raise via his non-Bird rights—the Sixers could instead save their MLE for Simons if so desired. Otherwise, they could peruse the free-agent market and see whether anyone merited that type of payday. However, the first-apron hard cap could wind up costing them Hukporti and/or Dominick Barlow if they go that route.
The Sixers need to get through this season before they fully turn their attention free agency next year. We still have no idea what this team will look like, what it’s biggest needs are, if all of the main pieces will mesh, etc. It’s admittedly premature to look this far ahead at this juncture.
However, front offices don’t only get to operate on a one-year timeline. The Sixers have undoubtedly begun planning ahead not only for next offseason, but for the next few years. In particular, circle your calendars for the summer of 2029, as the contracts for all four of Embiid, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe are currently set to expire simultaneously then.
In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that NBA business keeps booming and sends the cap even higher. Having three max players with 8 percent annual raises puts the Sixers in a tricky financial spot, so the more that the salary cap rises year-over-year, the better.
American baseball player Slow Joe Doyle, New York Highlanders pitcher, United States, circa 1908. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before he was known as Slow Joe, Judd Bruce Doyle was a right-handed pitcher growing up in the middle of Kansas. Like most of the time, his love of baseball was not born in an organized league, but in the school lot and in local games in his community featuring players of all ages.
Judd Bruce Doyle Born: September 15, 1881 (Clay Center, KS) Died: November 21, 1947 (Tannersville, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1906-1910
Born before the turn of the century, Doyle was small even by the standards of the time. He was reported by most accounts at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. However, growing up working on the family farm made Doyle what many call country strong or stout. Despite having some strength behind his small frame, Doyle relied on changing pace and his arm slots to keep hitters off balance, much like former Yankee folk hero Nestor Cortes. Doyle and his mix of overhand and submarine deliveries tossed a drop ball, rise ball, changeup, and the legendary spitball.
Doyle’s professional baseball journey started right after he graduated from Clay Center High School in 1901. This kicked off a five-year run through the amateur ranks. In 1902, Doyle suited up for the Fort Worth Panthers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Then, in 1903, Doyle joined the Baton Rouge Red Sticks in the Cotton States League. In his first season in Baton Rouge, Doyle went 16-9 and helped the team win the league championship. He started the 1904 season back in a Red Sticks jersey, but would finish that season and play the 1905 season for the Wheeling Stogies.
After playing well for the Stogies, Doyle finally landed the coveted contract with a professional team when his rights were sold to the New York Highlanders in August of 1905. Slow Joe burst onto the scene a few days later, making his debut on August 25, 1906. In his first start, Doyle threw a six-hit shutout against the Cleveland Naps. He followed that up with another shutout against the Washington Senators in his second game. The rookie appeared in nine games total, tossing 45.1 innings with a 2-1 record and 2.38 ERA.
Following the hot start to his career, Doyle came into the 1907 season expecting to be a big part of the Highlanders rotation. Doyle appeared in 29 games, making 23 starts. This led to what would stand as his career-high 193.2 innings with an impressive 2.65 ERA and an 11-11 record. Doyle led the Highlanders with 15 complete games and 94 strikeouts. It was also during this run that his reputation for slow playing really took hold. The Washington Times referred to Doyle as the Human Snail due to his long stretches between pitches.
In 1908, Doyle’s third season, Slow Joe was officially the name adopted and used by the press as an unofficial, official name. Doyle’s arm did not handle the large workload from the year before well, and he was limited to 12 games, only four starts, and only 48 innings. Despite being effective when he pitched, the lack of availability started to be the story.
Doyle asked for extra days of rest between starts in 1909, and it led to a rebound. He pitched in 17 games, making 15 starts, tossing 125.2 innings, and going 8-6 on the year. Still just 27 years old, Doyle’s arm simply could not handle the workload of a normal pitcher of the time.
The Highlanders had Doyle on their roster to start the 1910 season but ended up cutting him halfway through the year. The Cincinnati Reds signed Doyle, and he pitched the final part of the season for them. After making five relief appearances for the Reds, Doyle’s major league career was over at just 28 years old after the 1910 season.
Beyond his memorable nickname, Slow Joe Doyle holds a legendary status among modern sports collectors due to one of the rarest and most valuable printing blunders in baseball history: the 1910 T206 “Slow Joe” Doyle error card. During the production of the iconic tobacco card set, the American Lithographic Company accidentally designated Doyle as playing for “Nat’l” rather than “Amer” in his New York uniform. After catching the mistake, the printers pulled the printing plate, scrapped off the “Nat’l” letters, slapped the plate back into the machine, and continued printing. Today, fewer than a dozen authentic copies are known to exist, making it more rare than the famed Honus Wagner T206 card.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Jonathan Santucci #12 of the New York Mets prepares to pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Had the McNeil Rule not been activated, MJ Melendez would be our Hitter of the Week. He hit .381/.519/1.000 with four homers this week and has been on an absolute tear over the last couple of weeks. Since August 1st, he is hitting .301/.368/.707 in 33 games with 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 12 home runs. Because Melendez is not eligible, Vidal Brujan is instead the Hitter of the Week.
The Mets traded for the veteran back in January, sending cash to the Minnesota Twins to complete the exchange. Not that he had much of a chance making the big league club, but he performed poorly in spring training, making it moot, and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. He ended up spending only a few weeks there before the Mets called him up to Queens, as Ronny Mauricio hit the injured list with a broken thumb at the beginning of May, joining Francisco Lindor.
Brujan did not play much, and when he did, his stats were unimpressive. A former top prospect in the Rays’ minor league system around the beginning of the decade, the same thing happened every time Tampa Bay gave him an opportunity. They eventually gave up on him, leading to a trade in November 2023 to the Miami Marlins. Almost a year later, the Marlins traded him to the Chicago Cubs for cash. He didn’t last the season with Chicago and was claimed by the Braves on waivers that August. Designated for assignment by Atlanta in January, he was claimed by the Minnesota Twins. Designated for assignment by them a week after being claimed, he was finally traded to the Mets for cash.
A light-hitting utility infielder, it is hard to imagine too many scenarios where the Mets would be in need of his services in 2027 at the major league level. He has performed fairly enough in Syracuse, and if he were re-signed and re-assigned there in the future, I’d have no problems with it, but at the same time, if he was signed elsewhere, I would lose no sleep over it.
Jonathan Santucci
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (Triple-A)
Now that the Single-A seasons are over, our player pool has decreased by 50%. As such, with only pitching performances from the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Syracuse Mets to choose from, and of those two teams, Jonathan Santucci had the best week. In past weeks, Santucci’s performance might not have passed muster to be Pitcher of the Week, but here we are.
The left-hander really struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the beginning of August. In his first four starts, he posted a 7.71 ERA in 14.0 innings, allowing 16 hits, walking 16, and striking out 18. He seems to have settled down and adapted a bit, posting a 3.00 ERA over his next three starts, allowing 15 hits, walking 2, and striking out 19 over those 15.0 innings. The drop in his walk rate stands out the most, shrinking the free passes he issued eightfold, from 16 to 2. Seemingly, a biproduct of issuing fewer free passes and throwing in the zone more, Santucci’s home run rate has increased over this “good” streak, allowing four homers in those 15.0 innings as opposed to the 1 that he allowed during his “bad” string of starts. Hopefully, that does not continue and become a trend.
With four Pitcher of the Week wins, the McNeil Rule is being activated. Santucci is the second player—and the first pitcher—to have the McNeil Rule activated this season. He is the first pitcher to be McNeil’ed since Jonah Tong in Week Eleven of the 2025 season (June 3-June 8) and the first left-handed pitcher since Zach Thornton a few weeks earlier in Week Nine (May 20-May 25).
Throughout the summer, many reports suggested that the Minnesota Wild and John Hynes would undoubtedly agree to a contract extension.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Wild and coach Hynes agreed to a multi-year extension that will keep the 51-year-old behind the Wild's bench.
Hynes enters year four as the Wild's head coach with positive results to build on. Hynes took over as the bench boss on Nov. 27, 2023, after the Wild fired Dean Evason. In Hynes' first three seasons with the Wild, he's posted a 125-79-23 record, good enough for a points percentage of .603, which ranks second among Wild coaches in franchise history.
Hynes has guided the Wild to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons, including a first-round victory over the Dallas Stars in 2025-26.
The Wild are the third NHL team Hynes has coached, having previously spent five seasons with the New Jersey Devils and then four with the Nashville Predators. Hynes also coached the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the U.S. NTDP before beginning his NHL career.
Hynes has an extensive coaching resume, which is built on his attention to detail and strong defensive play style. Under Hynes, the Wild allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL in 2025-26.
With superstars like Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, as well as budding stars like Matt Boldy, Jesper Wallstedt, and Brock Faber, Hynes has done an excellent job deploying them in situations where they can succeed.
The players and management have raved about Hynes as a coach throughout his time in Minnesota. With the uncertainty of his contract expiring upon the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, he and the players will feel a sense of calm now that this important business is handled.
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The Detroit Red Wings have named Shawn Horcoff interim general manager while the search continues for a permanent replacement for Steve Yzerman.
The team announced the news on Tuesday, Sept. 15, two days before training camp is schedule to start at Little Caesars Arena. Horcoff, 47, has spent six seasons as the team's director of player development and three seasons as assistant director of player personnel. He has been handling daily general manager duties since Steve Yzerman vacated the position in mid-July.
“As our process continues to find the best possible leader for Red Wings hockey operations, I’m appreciative of Shawn for stepping up to serve in this capacity,” Red Wings governor and CEO Chris Ilitch said in a statement. “His knowledge of our organization and range of experience allows us to operate with a clear decision-maker in place for the season ahead, while maintaining our commitment to carry out a thorough, methodical search process on our own timeline. Shawn has my complete support, and the authority to make decisions in the best interests of our organization."
Most immediately, Horcoff is on the clock to get restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson signed to a new contract. If it's done by the end of day on Sept. 15, there's still a chance for an eight-year deal; after that, teams are limited to signing their own players for seven years.
The team also announced Yzerman will officially transition to his new role of senior advisor to Ilitch.
"Our search has attracted significant interest in the head of hockey operations position from respected leaders across the industry, and several of those candidates, including Shawn, remain under consideration for the permanent role," Ilitch said. "Identifying and hiring the right leader is essential to our franchise's future, and we remain committed to being deliberate and thorough in this process. We're grateful for our players, staff, and fans for their support as we work toward this pivotal hire."
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 14: Matisse Thybulle #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on before the game against the Phoenix Suns during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Matisse Thybulle.
When Marcus Smart signed with the Houston Rockets over the summer, the Lakers lost more than just their best perimeter defender. They lost their defensive identity, spirit and chaos agent.
Regardless of why Smart wasn’t retained, it was clear the Lakers had to find a way to replicate the tangible and intangible value he added.
Walker Kessler being the interior anchor will go a long way, but to help shore up the perimeter, the Lakers will be betting on Matisse Thybulle being Smart’s proxy. As they did with Smart, the Lakers are adding Thybulle in hopes he stays healthy and rejuvenated while playing for a team with championship aspirations.
The gamble, albeit mostly safe given Thybulle signed at the minimum, is one that could pay off huge, or one that forces the Lakers back on the market in search of help.
What is his best-case scenario?
At the top of Thybulle’s priority list for a successful season is to be on the floor.
Although his reputation of being injury-prone is probably overstated at this point, he has recently simply been unable to stay healthy. This is a major reason why he was even available at the price the Lakers paid.
Thybulle has appeared in just a combined 45 games over the past two seasons. Fortunately, reports say he is fully healthy ahead of the new season.
If that is the case and he can remain that way for the majority of the year, that could be a major development for the Lakers’ defensive upside. Because when he’s on the floor, there are few — if any — more disruptive players in the NBA.
When comparing his activity to other wings, Thybulle has finished lower than the 98th percentile in steal percentage once, and never worse than the 92nd percentile in block percentage in his career.
Perhaps more important than Thybulle’s staggering disruption ability is the impact he has on his entire team’s defense.
Last year, the Portland Trail Blazers were an incredible 11.1 points better defensively with him on the floor than off. They also forced teams to turn over the ball 6.4% more in those minutes as well (the best on/off differential in the league in that category).
The other area Thybulle must prove proficient in if he hopes to bid for a major role is his 3-point shot. After early career struggles with his outside game, Thybulle has steadily improved. He has converted his chances at a 37% clip over the last three seasons.
If he can keep defenses honest and help shore up the perimeter on the other end, a best-case outcome could see Thybulle have a Smart-type year that the Lakers need.
What is his worst-case scenario?
If the key for a successful season for Thybulle is remaining healthy, the inverse is missing time again.
Although early indications are that he’ll enter the year ready to go, history has shown there may be a higher likelihood of follow-up incidents occurring. If they do, and he misses significant time, Thybulle could end up being a wasted roster spot.
Beyond health concerns, there is also a scenario where he experiences some defensive slippage after two years of lengthy absence. If his superpower is diminished at all, that could drastically impact his value.
The same could be said about his aforementioned improved 3-point stroke.
If he suffers any type of regression or is simply seen as a non-threat by the opposition, Thybulle could tumble down the depth chart. The prime example of this is Jarred Vanderbilt’s diminished role playing under JJ Redick.
This could especially be the case with the number of wings who will all be vying for minutes already on the roster. All of whom are younger and may be hungrier to secure a future in Los Angeles than the 29-year-old.
What is his most likely role on the team?
The safest outcome for Thybulle is likely somewhere in the middle.
Even if there is some slippage or games missed baked into the contract, he still possesses the highest upside to be the 3-and-D answer the team needs to surround Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
If he doesn’t reach that ceiling, he still likely will be able to play a similar role as he did in Portland. Whether that’s him being the steady veteran who could mentor the young wings on and off the court or being trusted to defend the opposing team’s best backcourt players, Thybulle’s floor will be comfortably high as long as he can stay on it.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social
The Chicago Blackhawks had good luck when naming Jonathan Toews captain in 2008 shortly after his 20th birthday, going on to win three Stanley Cups in five years.
The Blackhawks went young again on Tuesday, Sept. 15, naming Connor Bedard the franchise's 37th captain just 60 days after his 21st birthday.
The timing was right. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick recently signed a five-year, $75 million contract to show his commitment to the team. He is by far the team's best player since he entered the league, recording 203 points in 215 games.
He's constantly working to irnprove his game, a solid example for the team. And he was off to a great start last season before hurting his shoulder.
The only disadvantage is Bedard will miss the start of the season after injuring his shoulder while training in the offseason and having surgery. But Kane can fill that on-ice role until Bedard returns.
What Blackhawks said about naming Connor Bedard
“Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "From the moment he entered the league, Connor has led by example and has set a remarkable standard for himself while demonstrating his ability to make the players around him better. He has earned the respect of his teammates and the entire organization through the way he prepares, competes and conducts himself every single day, and there is no doubt that he is ready to take on this tremendous responsibility."
What Connor Bedard said about being named captain
"The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don't take lightly," Bedard said in a statement. "I'm grateful to the organization and my teammates for putting their trust in me to lead this team. We're building something really special here, and I'm committed to making the entire Blackhawks organization and our fans proud."
List of NHL captains
Bedard is the third NHL captain named this month, joining the New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 24 NHL captains and the eight vacances.
This has been a very, very good year in sports video games, with significant improvements being made to almost every marquee franchise. So, when NHL 27 boasted revamped presentation alongside the already solid gameplay of last year’s iteration, it fostered anticipation that it too would get an elite entry this year.
How utterly wrong I was.
Something is just off about NHL 27, as if something went horribly wrong during its development. There are so many small things that are wrong with this year’s entry that no one mistake is egregious enough to be a deal breaker, but in totality the entire experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
The good
There are some things to like about NHL 27. Attention to detail inside arenas, with a focus on introductions and real-world goal horns is extremely welcome and makes things feel alive. Instead of trying to build a soundtrack that evokes the spirit of hockey, EA Sports licensed some of the most iconic arena music of all time, which really makes goals feel alive.
Even the best new element to the game is sloppy in its execution. It’s nice to have attention paid to goal celebrations, but when the camera cuts to the same, generic, blocky fans who still look like they’re out of the PS2 era, that’s when things pull you right back out of the experience.
This new presentation is also slapdash. Some teams will feel somewhat true to life, but others have been largely ignored. In short: Unless you’re a fan of a team that skates out through an inflatable, it’s going to be a little disappointing. As a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s easiest to describe that experience, and as nice as it may be to have Petey Pablo’s Raise Up every time the Canes score a goal, EA Sports didn’t bother to get the far more important team tradition of skating out to the warning siren while Rock You Like a Hurricane plays.
Ultimately it feels like the developers of NHL 27 were given a shoestring budget and asked to add something new to the game. The intros and goal horns are nice, but also reek of a quick addition that could have been a few weeks of the development cycle — not the marquee addition to a yearly installment of the franchise.
The bad
NHL 27 feels like last year’s game when it comes to the on-ice action, for the most part. There are some very weird things that have happened to the computer A.I. that make it feel like a distinctly worse experience, and elements I haven’t encountered in several years of the game.
The computer no longer attempts to effectively clear the puck while on the penalty kill. Even in 5-on-3 situations you’ll see a defender try to skate it out of the blue zone, even over the center line when there are three forwards on the forecheck. It ruins the flow of powerplays to where a majority of powerplay goals no longer happen because you set up good puck cycling or crowding the goalie, instead you’ll poke check it away from a skater who never should have been trying to bring the puck up the ice, and have an easy breakaway.
John Buccigross made waves when he revealed that in addition to him doing commentary for the game, EA Sports was also using generative AI to flesh out more lines. In theory, I have no problem with that, so long as it comes with the announcer’s blessing, because it should mean more live diversity and fresher commentary — but not only is the commentary in NHL 27 terrible and sounds disjointed as if generated by AI, but it’s also extremely repetitive.
It’s one thing to make a comment about a 2-1 game being low-scoring in the third period, but you hear the same line every single time when fewer than four goals have been scored. The exact same line about “the tradition of thanking the fans” happens after the game, no matter which team you play as. In past years games we’d get the same line after each game, but at least it would be targeted more towards each individual fanbase and their traditions — rather than blanket comments.
This is when the commentary is remotely accurate, which too often it’s not. Far too many times I’ve poke checked the puck away only for the commentary to say that the puck carrier poked it away. During a Hurricanes game at home Buccigross commented about how many empty seats there were, and that “this franchise has struggled to fill the arena.” The Carolina Hurricanes have sold out every home game since the 2021-22 season.
The ugly
We’re going to discuss the player models, because they have been mocked endlessly online since the game released. In NHL 27’s defense the face scans aren’t as bad as the internet would have you believe, with most players being decent-enough representations of their real-world counterparts. Some are just abysmal …
Cole Caufield on his NHL 27 face scan:
"I don't know what happened there. I look a little lost. I look like I need some sleep or some water. I don't know. It's tough.”
Regardless of whether the player got a good scan or not, every single athlete looks like a monster when they emote. Whether celebrating a goal or being angered by a penalty call, the players turn into grotesque monsters as soon as their mouths and eyes move.
Final thoughts …
The on-ice action of NHL 27 is largely still fine, but despite making changes to puck carrying and dekeing, still feels a step behind last year’s game. The music is a big step forward with arenas feeling more alive, but it’s cold comfort with the myriad issues that have popped up which weren’t present in the past.
The development team behind the NHL series is clearly passionate and loves the game, but it’s apparent they are struggling for a lack of resources. While hockey is a niche sport that will never get the budget of Madden, it also deserves a lot more than it’s getting right now. I sincerely hope that EA Sports gets the message that fans see this as a low-point in the series, and tries to revitalize the franchise.
The Edmonton Oilers finished rookie camp with a 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames, giving several prospects one final opportunity to show the organization what they could do before heading back to their respective organizations.
The thing is, the Oilers are going to need call-ups throughout an 82-game season, and rookie camps can help determine who they can trust when that phone call needs to be made.
“They're in one mode now, and they're just looking for the next guy up,” Connor Clattenburg said. “You never know what that injury could be, and it's a very high energetic team right now, so it's just keeping the energy around and just play hard.”
Clattenburg was one of those guys last season, playing five games for Edmonton, scoring his first NHL goal, getting 17 hits in just over 36 minutes, and having a very realistic outlook on what it takes to stay there.
Clattenburg's game is built around hitting, forechecking and bringing energy to the bottom of the lineup, which gives him a defined role when the Oilers need another forward. Mike Babcock says he wants accountability and energy from his group, and if that's the case, Clattenburg has proven that and then some.
His current injury kept him out of Monday's rookie game, and he spent camp wearing a non-contact jersey while continuing his recovery. Getting healthy could keep him involved during the main camp.
Clattenburg will probably be one of the first names Edmonton considers when it needs somebody from Bakersfield.
The 23-year-old had 17 goals and 60 points in 72 games with Bakersfield last season. He centred Edmonton's second line Monday and picked up an assist on Isaac Howard's power-play goal in the third period.
Marjala looked really good during the rookie camp, and his production in Bakersfield has earned him a chance to move a bit higher up on Edmonton's list.
The injuries the Oilers now have to manage have left more openings for guys like him and Clattenburg. Marjala should not be overlooked when the time comes. Even if he doesn't get his opportunity immediately, his name should stay in the conversation all season.
Quinn Hutson scored 30 goals and 63 points in 67 games with Bakersfield last season and played in six games for the Oilers. He opened the scoring Monday on the power play and spent the night playing alongside Howard and Josh Samanski.
That's a pretty clear sign of where he stands with the organization, then again, thirty goals in the AHL will do that.
Hutson's time in Edmonton gave the Oilers a chance to see him in the NHL lineup, and he'll almost certainly get another chance in the main camp to show the coaching staff where he fits as roster decisions get serious.
The Oilers are trying to identify the players who can handle a role when Edmonton needs somebody in November, January or March. When injuries pile up, as they have now, and players miss games, somebody in Bakersfield needs to be the next guy up.
After all, Clattenburg didn't play a short number of games for the Oilers because they needed him to score 30 goals. The Oilers needed a player who could enter the lineup, play hard and handle the job he was given, which is exactly what Clattenburg did in five games.
Marjala and Hutson have put themselves in their position through production, and both will enter camp with some extra eyes on them.
Those are three names worth remembering when the Oilers start looking for the next guy up.
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On Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings found themselves at the center of two major storylines colliding at once with a major front office shake up that put assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff in the interim GM chair, and the arrival of the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to fundamentally reshape how contracts get done across the league.
Detroit confirmed Horcoff will step in as interim general manager while also taking on general manager duties for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the club's AHL affiliate, putting him in position to navigate one of the more consequential moments in recent CBA history right out of the gate.
The timing of the move seemingly brings Horcoff in just ahead of Tuesday's midnight deadline when the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in, bringing with it several significant changes to how contracts can be structured.
The rush of eight year contracts signed across the NHL over the past several days wasn't a coincidence. Teams and players alike were racing to beat the clock before the new rules took hold, since starting Tuesday, the maximum contract length shrinks to seven years for a player re-signing with his own team, and six years for a player signing elsewhere as a free agent.
The new agreement doesn't stop there as clubs will also lose the ability to defer salary on new contracts, and the practice of front loading deals, paying a player heavily in the early years to soften the cap hit later, will face much tighter restrictions. Together, those changes eliminate two of the more common tools teams have leaned on to manage the cap creatively.
So if Detroit wants to use the current rules to its advantage in getting an Edvinsson extension done, whether that means tacking on an eighth year or structuring the deal with deferred or front loaded money, the window is closing fast, and the price tag isn't getting any cheaper while they wait.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the FAN Hockey Show on Monday, that he had heard earlier in the summer a bridge deal was on the table for Edvinsson, however with the recent mega signings around the league, the price point in that once negotiated deal may have jumped significantly.
The market for young defensemen shifted dramatically when the Vancouver Canucks signed 20-year-old Zeev Buium to an eight year, $75.04 million extension carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit. With Edvinsson holding a stronger NHL track record than Buium at a similar stage of his career, it's fair to expect Detroit's young blueliner could command a deal in a similar range, and possibly a cap hit well into eight figures.
Now with Horcoff finally sitting in the GM chair and Edvinsson being vocal that he has been waiting for the situation to settle itself and is interested in returning to the Red Wings, there is a chance the bargaining between the two parties can begin as early as right now, with Horcoff likely looking to make his stamp on the interim GM job a meaningful one by getting a much needed piece of business done before a pivotal deadline.
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Petco Park on September 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nationals fans all know that Keibert Ruiz has had a great season. He has risen from the ashes to become one of the more productive catchers in the league. In a season full of offensive success stories, Ruiz is arguably the biggest organizational win. However, I still don’t think Ruiz is being talked about enough.
It has flown under the radar because the team has not been good, but Keibert Ruiz has been spectacular since the start of August. In 26 games, Ruiz is hitting .361 with a .936 OPS. He looks fresh and confident down the stretch, which is a great sign.
This hot run has Ruiz’s season stats looking really strong. For the year he is now hitting .289 with a .790 OPS. His wRC+ is now up to 113, by far his best in a full season. In 2024 and 2025, Ruiz hit .235 with a .610 OPS, making this turnaround borderline miraculous.
The biggest factor behind Ruiz’s offensive breakout is his batted ball profile. In the modern game, pulling the ball in the air has become a big emphasis. Those batted balls tend to get the best results. Among qualified hitters on Baseball Savant, nobody pulls the ball in the air at a higher rate than Keibert Ruiz. His 34.2% air pull rate just beats out Pete Crow-Armstong, who air pulls 34% of the time.
For a slower player without much raw power who puts the ball in play a lot, hitting it at the right angles matters a lot. We saw that last year with Ruiz. Even in 2025, he was barely striking out. However, his ground ball rate spiked, which saw his OPS drop to a career low .595. Ruiz was also pulling the ball at the lowest rate of his career.
This year he has totally flipped this switch. His 59.7% pull rate is the highest number in all of baseball by over 5 percentage points. Ruiz is constantly getting out in front of balls and finding green grass to the pull side from both sides of the plate. This extreme approach does not work for everyone, but it suits Ruiz, who has exceptional hand-eye coordination.
Pulling the ball in the air helps him find easy hits, but it also makes hitting home runs easier. At 380 feet, Ruiz’s average home run distance is one of the lowest in all of baseball. Everything that goes over the wall counts the same, so this is not a bad thing. It honestly shows how Ruiz is able to tap into all the raw power he has.
His skillset is very different from a James Wood, so he does not hit the same way. One thing that this staff has done well is tailor their coaching to the individual. They have core principles like elevating the baseball, but that does not have to happen in the same way.
Keibert Ruiz’s offensive turnaround has been remarkable. However, Nats fans always knew he had hitting ability. He was not this good, but back in 2023, Ruiz had a solid offensive season. I think Keibert Ruiz’s rise on the defensive side of the ball has been even more stunning.
Between 2023 and 2025, Keibert Ruiz was the worst defensive catcher in baseball. His fielding run value numbers those seasons were -22, -7 and -10. In all phases, Ruiz was an absolute mess. His blocking was poor, he could not control the running game and his framing was almost comically bad.
Under the guidance of new catching coach Bobby Wilson, Ruiz has become an above average defensive catcher in one season. This season, Ruiz’s FRV is +2. He still has limitations controlling the running game despite some flashes of success. The big improvements have come with his blocking and framing.
Keibert Ruiz with the cannon and CJ Abrams with an absolutely filthy tag 😮💨🔥
Over the past few seasons, Ruiz had been a consistently poor blocker. His blocks above average were in the negatives each of the past three seasons. This season that number is 0. Keibert Ruiz is an average blocker behind the plate. He is not exactly Yadier Molina, but average is absolutely fine with me.
The biggest leap has come with his framing though. Ruiz was a below average framer in every season of his career. His framing run value was -9 last season, -3 in 2024, -12 in 2023 and -5 in 2022. That seemed like a part of his game that was beyond saving. However, he is up to +3 this season, which is truly remarkable for him.
These improvements have made him a very valuable player. This season, Ruiz has 2.4 bWAR and 2.1 fWAR. Before the season, Ruiz’s 8-year $50 million contract looked like an albatross. However, he has easily outperformed his yearly salary this season. Ruiz has been an above average starting catcher.
You have to give a ton of credit to both the player and the coaching staff for this improvement. It never felt like work ethic was Ruiz’s problem, but now we know for sure that it was not. He just did not have the right guidance. The upgrade from Henry Blanco to Bobby Wilson as catching coach cannot be overstated.
Ruiz’s hard work and determination is also beyond questioning. His future was in doubt after a pair of dreadful seasons and concussion issues. Ruiz worked his butt off to get better on both sides of the ball though. This was a career saving season for the Nats catcher.
He may never be the star he was supposed to be when he came over in the Scherzer/Turner trade. However, Keibert Ruiz has finally established himself. This is likely to be one of his better offensive seasons, but I think he has the ability to be solid on both sides of the ball for years to come.
We have talked about the rise of Keibert Ruiz, but I still think it has been slightly underdiscussed. That is why I wanted to give him his flowers today. He has had a truly amazing season offensively and defensively. It is awesome to see a player you counted out get off the mat and produce in an unexpected fashion.
Sometimes Heroes and Goats doesn’t flow with the narrative of a game. This was a Pete Crow-Armstrong night. He had been in what amounts to a slump for him the last several games. Nothing extravagant, but when you have grown accustomed to him being one of the stars of every game, him being reduced to role player is striking. Even his first hit in this game, the two-run double, felt a little like he reached out his bat just trying to keep an at bat alive and got good wood on it, flipping it over first and down into the corner. Fangraphs did record it as a line drive, so I’m sure I’m underselling the contact and creating a narrative a little. But this just didn’t have the usual all over it type look of a PCA hit.
By the third hit, there was no doubt about it. He crushed that one for a two-run homer. Launching him into Cub history. With that, he tied Cub legend Billy Williams for the most homers ever by a Cub left-handed hitter. It’s an amazing record. Pete should own it all by himself before this season ends. He also stole his 37th base in the game. Our infatuation with round numbers as a society is always a fun thing. His season won’t be less magical if he ends with fewer than 40 steals. He won’t any less be the National League MVP. When you are arguably the league’s best fielder, arguably the league’s best hitter and one of the league’s best base runners, you are the MVP. Doing it on a team that will reach the postseason enhances that legacy. With the injury to Shohei Ohtani, voters were given an out. They shouldn’t need one, but this should be a runaway vote for MVP. A four-hit game against the Braves in September doesn’t hurt it any, for sure. One more fanbase and couple of sports writers sees up close what he can do and how he can affect a game.
It’s easy to lose David Peterson in Pete’s big night. Don’t lose David’s night, though. I wrote in my pre-series look at the Braves that they aren’t as good on the road as at home. But that’s still almost certainly a division winner in the league that was better this year. The league that has won the last two world championships. The league that has won six of the last 10 championships. The league that didn’t have investigations or high level accusations of sign stealing.
Peterson threw six innings of one-run ball. He allowed three hits and three walks before leaving one batter into the seventh. At the time he left, it was zero runs. Craig Counsell tried to get one (or more) outs out of him in the seventh but then pulled him after a leadoff single. It was a superlative performance. We talk here about how in a close game so many performances were all vital to the win. You usually can’t remove one and still have a win. I will make that same kind of observation about David Peterson in reference to the Cub season. I’m not sure where this team would have been without the lift he gave to them early on.
At the time the Cubs traded for Peterson, there were questions as to who even would start games for them. If the team had gone into a tailspin induced by weak starting pitching, then the trade deadline probably doesn’t happen. He was an enormous life raft at the time this team needed it most. He beat the Brewers in his first start. Got hammered by the Cardinals the next time out. He pitched decent in a loss in Baltimore (no decision for him). Then the Cubs won his next six starts. That streak ran from July 21 through August 22. They were 56-44 before that streak started and 74-56 by the time it ended. They improved six games in the standings. At a time when the Cubs won six straight Peterson starts.
As for deadline acquisitions, there was Ryan Zeferjahn working the ninth inning. Can not all of the way anointed closers have the same problem as long time closers? That is, pitching in non-save situations. How many times does a closer come into a low leverage situation, allow a few runners and then slam the door once the leverage is ratcheted up? Probably less than is romanticized in baseball lore. Two hits, strikeout, walk, game ending double play, the last of those against former NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.
The former MVP is a cautionary tale on getting too carried away with what PCA’s career will or won’t be. I already saw someone this summer doing projections and deciding that Pete was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Well yeah, when there are technically only a handful of data points and they are trending upwards towards Superstar performance, yeah that looks great. But in 2023 at 25 years old, Acuña had a 41-73 (!!!) season. He was over 8 bWAR that season and doesn’t have 5 bWAR since. He might go back to his MVP level or he might not.
You’ve heard this from me before. The future isn’t guaranteed. Enjoy what we are getting from Pete. Don’t worry about historical context. We can put his career in perspective, hopefully, 10-15 years from now. Or more. This year he is posting a historical season. Enjoy it for the best season any of us has ever seen a Cub have. Let tomorrow be tomorrow. Don’t make Pete spend his whole career chasing ghosts. He caught one (living) legend today. It’ll be fun if he finishes chasing down one more legend and claims ownership of the best fWAR season in Cub history. Interestingly, Baseball Ref doesn’t like Pete’s season nearly as well.
Another discussion for another day.
Three Positives:
David Peterson. 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K
Pete Crow-Armstrong. 4-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R, SB
Carson Kelly had a single and drew a walk and scored two runs. But I thought his biggest contribution was beating a double play. A run scored on the play and two more would score on Pete’s double that followed. That appeared to supercharge the night.
My lineup construction thought was a big hit. So how about Shōta Imanaga versus David Peterson for game four of a postseason series. Do me a favor and pretend that you can ONLY pick one of those two. The first three being Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd and Kevin Gausman in some order. I tell you I’m starting one of those two. Period. You are my advisor on this, which one are you suggesting?
Game 151, September 14: Cubs 7, Braves 3 (84-67)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: David Peterson (.213). 6 IP, 23 BF, 3 H, 3 BB, R, 7 K (W 5-2)
WPA Play of the Game: PCA’s two-out, two-run double gave the Cubs a three run lead in the second. (.161)
Braves Play of the Game: Reynaldo Lopez struck out Michael Conforto with runners at the corners and the game scoreless in the second inning. (.062)
Note: The top six WPA events in this game favored the Cubs. Included in that top six were three double plays induced. This game was actually lopsided enough that one of 77 plays registered at .000 and Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run homer in the seventh was only .022.
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 150 Winner: Miguel Amaya received 43 of 47 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +26.5
Alex Bregman +24
Carson Kelly +16.5
Ben Brown +13.5
Michael Conforto +13
Jameson Taillon -13
Seiya Suzuki -15
Nico Hoerner -15
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -17.5
Note: This game saw a lot of leaderboard action. Not only PCA passing Bregman back for the lead. But at the time of the game, four of the six podium members were in the top six in the overall standings (Assad being the one outside the top five, dropping now from sixth to seventh). Also Nico grabbed a point down near the bottom.
Scoreboard Watching: Hat tip to the Dodgers for tying the MLB record by notching their 14th consecutive playoff berth. They will go on to win the NL West for the 13th time in 14 years. So impressive, regardless of any thoughts you might have about the financial structure of baseball. The Padres won their eighth straight. They remain 1.5 games behind the Cubs. The Diamondbacks played a nail biter against the Marlins. They walked it off with a Corbin Carroll homer. They are four back of the Cubs and still out of the postseason right now. They are suffering to the red hot Padres.
Up Next: Game two of the three game set with the Braves. Kevin Gausman (9-11, 4.60) starts for the Cubs. He’s 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA as a Cub. Last time out, the Brewers beat him, scoring six earned runs against him in just four innings. Kevin lost to the Braves as a Blue Jay. He allowed four runs in six innings of work.
35-year-old lefty Martin Perez starts for the Braves. The Venezuelan native is on a nice run, though the record doesn’t show it. He’s 1-3 but has a 2.62 over his last seven games (just 34.1 innings). He did just throw seven scoreless against the Rays in a no decision. He threw 90 pitches in that one, the only time he’s thrown more since the trade deadline, the Brewers pushed him to 97 pitches in four innings. Walks are an issue. So look for a righty heavy Cub lineup and a very patient approach. He pitched in relief against the Cubs in May, throwing a scoreless inning. He’s 8-9 with a 3.16 as a starter (0-0 with a 1.93 in 9.1 relief innings). He’s been a fair bit worse on the road (4.76) than at home (1.80).
This is another winnable game. Go get it done. This remains the game Fangraphs is most confident with the Cubs winning. FG favors the Cubs to win six of the remaining 11 and win 90 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Will Horcoff may not be moving anywhere this year as he heads back to the University of Michigan for a second full season, but his father is making some moves within his current front office.
On Tuesday, Will's father, Shawn - former center who played 15 NHL seasons - was named Interim General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings and General Manager of the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 47-year-old was previously the Assistant General Manager of the Red Wings.
As specified in a statement releaased by the organization, Horcoff's new duties will include daily roster decisions, issues concerning the team's salary cap, and managing hockey operations and personnel.
This decision comes to bridge the gap with the search for a new permanent general manager, as Detroit announced earlier this summer that franchise legend Steve Yzerman would no longer serve as the team's general manager. As part of the Horcoff announcement, the Red Wings also confirmed what was already pretty much known about Yzerman transitioning to the role of Senior Advisor to the Governor and CEO, Chris Ilitch.
Horcoff was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 1998 draft, and he spent 12 seasons with the Oilers and was, briefly, the team's captain. For the final three seasons of his NHL career, he played for the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. In 1008 career games, Horcoff amassed 186 goals and 511 points.
