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Flyers Mock Draft 2.0: NHL Draft Lottery Nightmare Realized

Potential Flyers draft target James Hagens goes first overall to his hometown Islanders. (Photo: Eric Canha, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers are confirmed to hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft following Monday's draft lottery results. In other words, this was the worst-case scenario for the Flyers.

Before the draft lottery, Philadelphia had a 9.5% chance of picking either first or second, but those picks now belong to the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, respectively.

The Isles moved up nine spots to win the lottery, and to make matters worse, the Utah Hockey Club jumped the Flyers, moving up 10 spots to receive the No. 4 overall pick.

So, by the end of it all, the Flyers ended up with the sixth pick, despite having the highest odds for the fifth pick and finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL.

While this outcome is invariably going to sting in the moment for Flyers fans, there are still plenty of prospects worth discussing. The following mock draft is my gut feeling for the top-six teams at the moment, followed by my reasoning for the Flyers' draft selection post-draft lottery.

Flyers Mock Draft 2.0

1. New York Islanders: James Hagens, C, Boston College

2. San Jose Sharks: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Misa, F, Saginaw Spirit

4. Utah Hockey Club: Porter Martone, W, Brampton Steelheads

5. Nashville Predators: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats

With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs

I think most Flyers fans would like to see with the Orange and Black go with Anton Frondell here, but I'm not nearly as high on Frondell as some are.

In my mock draft 1.0, I selected Frondell, who has an elite shot and can be a bully along the walls, at pick five, but there's a growing concern about his true position at the next level. Plus, he's not great in transition, and the Flyers desperately need strong puck transporters.

Are the Flyers the team that can unlock Frondell's potential and find his best position? Given their recent draft and development history, I wouldn't bet on that.

Someone I would bet on, though, is Brantford's Jake O'Brien.

Not to conjure up some old memories, but O'Brien is far better than former draft bust Jay O'Brien was. Not to worry, friends.

O'Brien, 17, has the build of a prototypical center at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Like most young athletes his age, he'll need time to physically mature and fill out his frame.

The Toronto, Ontario, native is a playmaker in the purest sense, finishing second (66) to only Michael Misa (72) in assists amongst OHL draft-eligible skaters this season.

Additionally, O'Brien, with his 98 points, was a distant second to Misa (134) in overall scoring, but he was notably level with Porter Martone, albeit while appearing in nine more games.

The drop off between a Martone and an O'Brien might feel or seem significant based on the differing media coverage between the two, and while Martone is certainly the better prospect, O'Brien absolutely deserves his flowers, too.

In this scenario, Caleb Desnoyers goes earlier than anticipated with Nashville opting to draft for need, which leaves the Flyers with question marks at the center position in Frondell and Roger McQueen.

I like O'Brien better than all three of them, plus he's ranked seventh on Bob McKenzie's latest rankings, which are largely based on industry consensus.

While McKenzie's scouts around the NHL like Frondell and Desnoyers a bit more than O'Brien, the latter is more the Flyers' speed.

O'Brien is an expert manipulator when he's on the puck, and he's sneaky-good defensively, too. A responsible player all around who can be a handful to contain when paired with equally opportunistic players, like a Matvei Michkov or an Alex Bump.

He's a pass-first player, so he'll have to develop his shot and mentality as he goes along. When O'Brien adds some mass and if he adds an extra gear of speed to his game, he could really become a menace.

St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas was the 20th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and while it took him some time to hit his stride, he would be the No. 1 center on a number of aspiring contenders.

Thomas, 25, is a little shorter and bulkier than O'Brien at 6-foot, 190 pounds, but they play a very similar game. Both centers are smart, instinctive, creative, responsible, and not afraid to engage physically when necessary.

And, Thomas, of course, now has back-to-back 80-point seasons under his belt, on top of his 77-point 2021-22 season.

Not every good center in the NHL was a No. 1 pick. Whether it's O'Brien or another player they draft, the onus is on the Flyers to develop the kid they draft into his best self.

O'Brien, with his size and skillset, could very well be the talisman they crave if all goes according to plan.

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‘Remain respectful’: Willie Rioli escapes sanction for message to Bulldogs player Bailey Dale

  • Port Adelaide forward apologises after message for Bailey Dale
  • AFL gives warning but will not take further action against Rioli

Willie Rioli has apologised for a threatening private message sent to a Western Bulldogs player that caused a stir and was referred to the AFL.

No further action will be taken by the league after the Port Adelaide forward contacted a teammate of Bulldogs opponent Bailey Dale.

Continue reading...
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2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could Fall

Matthew Schaefer (Brandon Soto / OHL Images)

The NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.

The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, so they moved up from 14th overall to fourth.

So let's get to the fun part and mock draft the first 16 picks of the 2025 NHL draft, shall we?

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): The Islanders could honestly use high-end help at any position for the future, so let's just go with the best player available here. Schaefer is a game-changing defenseman who can do it all, and while he missed most of the season due to injury, it won't take him long to get into an NHL uniform on Long Island.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL):The Sharks could probably use a D-man more at this point, but with a pick this high, only a forward would be prudent based on this class. Misa is an incredibly skilled and competitive center who would make for a daunting one-two punch down the middle with Macklin Celebrini. With Will Smith there too, the Sharks have the option of putting one of them on the wing.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): Connor Bedard needs help and Martone could be his Tom Wilson or Matthew Tkachuk. Martone has plenty of skill, but he's also big and mean. The Hawks have the luxury of already having Bedard and Frank Nazar at center, but they could use a power forward.

4. Utah Hockey Club: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): GM Bill Armstrong likes his players big, though Utah could use more size up front. Frondell gets the nod here over James Hagens because he's bigger and stronger. On his own merits, Frondell also has a wicked shot and has proved he can handle himself against men, helping Djurgarden get promoted to the Swedish League recently.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A bit of a gift here for the Predators, as Hagens brings excellent skill and perhaps the best hockey IQ in the draft class. He's in a great situation at Boston College and should probably stick there another year to get stronger, but Hagens is the type of elite talent Nashville needs.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Desnoyers would be loved by Flyers fans: He brings skill, leadership and a 200-foot game that doesn't have any holes in it. He's a strong kid playing on one of the best junior teams in Canada and he absolutely racked up the points for Moncton this season.

7. Boston Bruins: Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): If you're going to play for the Bruins, you have to work and Eklund will do that. Eklund plays much bigger than his frame and has an unceasing motor, on top of enough skill to get him onto Sweden's world junior team this past winter. He also helped Djurgarden's pro team get promoted to the SHL.

8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Coming off a scintillating world under-18s with gold-medal Canada, Smith brings a little bit of everything to a Kraken pipeline that is still growing. He's a great skater with size and physicality and the offensive potential was really on display at the World Men's Under-18s.

New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL):Sabres fans need a reason to cheer and Aitcheson will lift them out of the seats one way or another. He put up a bunch of points from the blueline this year, but his trademarks come in his own end, where the Colts D-man is a physically punishing intimidator who has no problem dropping the gloves.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): With so many young players already in the lineup, the Ducks can think more long-term here. McQueen missed much of the season due to injury and scouts worry about his back, but Anaheim can be patient. If he turns out, he's a 6-foot-5 center who can shoot the puck and has top-five skill in the draft class.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): The Penguins need a center of the future and O'Brien is a whip-smart pivot who can play in all three zones and produce offense at an elite clip. Get him in the same dressing room as Sidney Crosby in a year or two and you've got a perfect mentorship situation.

12. New York Rangers: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): For a team in need of a culture refresh, Martin would be a great future building block. He's a farm-boy strong center who dazzled at the World Under-18s for Canada and played great for a Soo team that didn't have much else. Great skater who competes and plays the right way.

13. Detroit Red Wings: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Scouts absolutely love Cootes, who has the triumvirate of skating, skill and hockey sense. He didn't have much help in Seattle, but still drove the play, contributed in all situations and got results. Another player who made a difference for Canada at the recent World Under-18s.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): There's a lot of potential in Mrtka thanks to his big frame and length. Coming over to North America from Czechia during the season, Mrtka really found his offense as time went on and while that won't be his calling card, it's nice to know he has it in his quiver.

NHL Draft Lottery Through The Years: From McDavid And Matthews To Bedard And CelebriniNHL Draft Lottery Through The Years: From McDavid And Matthews To Bedard And CelebriniThe NHL draft lottery is the most exciting time of the post-season for the clubs that missed out on a playoff spot.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): While he got hurt near the end of the year, Bear showed scouts enough to have them impressed. High compete, a 200-foot game and intense as a competitor, Bear has a very coach-friendly game. The fact he can put the puck in the net regularly doesn't hurt, either.

16. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY): Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Habs have a lot of great young players in the lineup already, so we'll go with potential here. Hensler is a great skater with size and strength and while he didn't put up big numbers as a freshman, he's still pretty young. With time and patience, he could be a solid defender.

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James Harden still has the support of Clippers' front office despite dismal playoffs

Inglewood, CA. April 24, 2025 - LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives the ball.
Clippers star James Harden, right, tries to drive past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on April 24. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Clippers All-Star James Harden has been highly criticized for another dismal playoff performance against the Denver Nuggets, but he does have a supporter in the organization.

President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank views Harden as having done a “great job leading the way” while Kawhi Leonard sat out the first 34 games because of right-knee injury management and liked how the team responded to the 16-year veteran.

Frank spoke with reporters at a season-ending news conference Monday about how Harden played in 79 games this season, played the fifth-most total minutes in the NBA (2,789), was fifth in the league in assists (8.7), averaged 22.8 points per game and was the only player this season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

Read more:Clippers upset they failed to meet their expectations for season: 'I'm pissed off'

Frank did not mention how Harden was underwhelming in the postseason, averaging just 18.7 points per game in the series the Clippers lost to the Nuggets and how he scored just 33 points combined in Games 4, 5 and 7 losses, including seven points in Game 7.

“When it was James this year with no Kawhi, with Norm [Powell] and [Ivica] Zubac and the rest of the group, we really asked James to do a lot,” Frank said via Zoom because he was away with his family at a New York hospital because of a family medical issue.

“And at his age to deliver what he did…[He played in] 79 games, and he does that time and time and time again. We have a deep appreciation for that sort of availability and to be able to deliver and do what he did…We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year.”

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks against the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on May 1.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks against the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on May 1. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Harden has a player option for next season that pays him $36 million, and he has to let the Clippers know his decision by June 29. He can decide to opt-in, which means he can’t get an extension, or he can opt-out and work with the Clippers on an extension.

Frank said Harden, who will be 36 in August, is the team’s “first priority.”

“Now, because James has a player option, it would be irresponsible for me not to have contingency plans with it,” Frank said. “But I’m going in with the intent that if he doesn’t pick up his option, that we’re going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers.”

Frank was happy that Leonard was healthy following the season and that his best player has two years left on his deal for $100 million.

Powell, 31, has one year left on his contract at $20.4 million and he also will be looking for an extension. Zubac begins his three-year extension for $58.6 million next season, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all under contract and are top role players. Nicolas Batum has a player option for $4.9 million, but is expected to return.

The Clippers will look to improve their team in the draft — they have a first-round pick (29th overall) and a second-round selection. They can use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million per season and they have trade exceptions of $6.5 million, $4.2 million and $2.1 million.

“Make no mistake, we want to contend in the present,” Frank said.

Read more:James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout

“We also will plan for the future and we’ll take the necessary steps to implement it.”

Frank said what happened in Game 7 in which the Clippers trailed by 35 points was “extremely embarrassing and also uncharacteristic” for this team. But he offered some perspective on the entire season.

The Clippers finished the season with a 50-32 record, won 18 of their last 21 regular-season games and were the fifth seed in the West.

“So, I don’t want to diminish the fact that we lost in a seven-game series,” Frank said, “and also not share the fact that [I’m] very prideful about the inspired play we had for much of the year.”

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets lefties A.J. Minter, Danny Young officially set to undergo season-ending surgery

The Mets will officially be without two of their key left-handed relievers the rest of the way.

A.J. Minter is set to undergo season-ending lat surgery next Monday in Chicago and Danny Young has elected to undergo Tommy John surgery, as recommended by team doctors.

This is the second consecutive injury-shortened season for Minter, who underwent surgery to address a left hip issue last August while he was still a member of the division-rival Atlanta Braves.

The veteran southpaw made just 13 appearances during his first year with the Mets before suffering the injury while throwing a pitch on April 26 against the Washington Nationals.

He was expected to serve as a key piece at the backend of the bullpen this year and had allowed just two earned runs while striking out 14 batters before going down.

Young had a bit of an up-and-down start to the year, but he'd also established himself as a valuable piece for this bullpen over the past two seasons, and was going to be leaned on more with Minter sidelined.

He was dealing with the forearm issue for a few weeks, though, and his last appearance came on April 27.

He had been pitching better of late, allowing just two earned runs over his last five outings, but he finishes the season with a 4.32 ERA across 8.1 innings of work.

While the Young news was expected, the Minter update is an unwelcoming surprise for the Mets, as according to SNY's Andy Martino they initially hoped that he'd be able to make a return over the final months of the season.

Instead, the Mets will be forced to look elsewhere for left-handed options out of their bullpen.

For now, they'll have to lean on their internal depth until they can potentially make an external addition, and thus far veteran Génesis Cabrera has thrown relatively well in a small sample size -- allowing just one run in two appearances.

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Penguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th Overall

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; A general view in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

In past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

This time around, not so much.

After the results of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, the Penguins slid from the ninth overall draft slot to 11th overall. The Penguins - when the last of the four lottery balls was about to be drawn - were tied for the highest odds at 18.5 percent, but, ultimately, the New York Islanders - previously slotted at 10th overall - won the first overall pick.

The Utah Hockey Club - previously positioned at 14th overall - won the second lottery selection and moved up 10 spots to fourth overall. Because two teams behind the Penguins in original draft order leapfrogged them, the Penguins dropped two slots to 11th.

In addition, the New York Rangers slid from 11th to 12th in draft order. The Penguins acquired the Rangers' 2025 conditional first-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade on Jan. 31. 

The pick is top-13 protected, and the Rangers have up until 48 hours before the draft on June 27 to let Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas know if they want to keep their 2025 pick or defer the pick to 2026.

Marc-Andre Fleury Reunites With Sidney Crosby At IIHF World ChampionshipsMarc-Andre Fleury Reunites With Sidney Crosby At IIHF World ChampionshipsThe Minnesota Wild were recently eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup, ending Marc-Andre Fleury's legendary career.

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Sabres Slip To Ninth Overall; Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres will be selecting ninth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles next month. 

The NHL held its Draft Lottery before the opening of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, and the Buffalo Sabres, because of two teams below them in the standings moving up into the top four, will be selecting ninth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles in late June. 

After the balls were drawn by Commissioner Gary Bettman,  the New York Islanders, who finished 23rd overall and had a 3.5% chance, will be selecting first overall, while the Utah Hockey Club, who missed the playoffs by seven points (19th overall) move up from the 14th to the fourth overall pick. The Sabres, who had a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery and were in the seventh slot, moved down two spots to the ninth overall pick. 

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The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, had the top odds (18.5%) but moved down to the second overall pick, with the Chicago Blackhawks moving down from the second slot to third overall. The big losers were the Nashville Predators, who slipped from potentially the third overall pick to fifth, the Philadelphia Flyers dropping from fourth to sixth, and the Boston Bruins dropping from fifth to the seventh overall pick.  

The late winning streak by the Sabres cost them better odds of finishing in the top five, where they would have been in the mix for Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer, Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, or Swedish center Anton Frondell. At ninth overall, players who Buffalo could be in the mix for are Roger McQueen of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Frondell’s teammate Victor Eklund of Djurgardens IF, Brantford Bulldogs C Jake O’Brien, and Jackson Smith of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

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Knies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over Panthers

Apr 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (23) carries the puck against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

With a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

The two teams went at it again, two years after their first series, which Toronto lost in five games. Since then, the Maple Leafs have brought in a new coach in Craig Berube, while the Panthers have added a Stanley Cup to their resume.

Toronto eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six games. William Nylander led the way with nine points—three goals and six assists—in the series. New father Mitch Marner (one goal, seven assists) is one point behind Nylander for the team lead through six games.

Nylander led the Maple Leafs in points during the game with two goals and an assist, now with 12 points in seven games. Matthew Knies scored the game-winner, his fourth goal of the playoffs, with six minutes remaining in the third period.

Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz, three former Panthers, face their former team in the postseason after winning the ultimate prize last June.

Florida eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Selke Trophy nominee Sam Reinhart led the team in points with two goals and four assists during the series. Sergei Bobrovsky had a .901 save percentage in the five games played.

3rd Period

During the second intermission, Sportsnet showed Stolarz appearing to throw up on the Maple Leafs' bench. After stopping four shots in the middle frame, Woll led the Maple Leafs out for the third period.

As the final period began, the team announced that Stolarz wouldn't return to the game and remains under evaluation. Dennis Hildeby is Toronto's third goalie.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettMaple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation took an unexpected turn in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, as Anthony Stolarz was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after appearing to take an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

At 1:39 of the third period, Eetu Luostarinen one-hands a pass from Anton Lundell in front, which beats Woll over the glove to make it a 4-2 game.

Nearly three minutes later, Uvis Balinskis beats Woll over the shoulder to cut Toronto's lead to just a goal. Brad Marchand assisted on Florida's second and third goals.

Domi finishes his check on Matthew Tkachuk, putting him into the boards, before joining the rush with Bobby McMann on a two-on-one. McMann gets the puck across to Domi, but Bobrovsky stops the chance.

Shortly after Domi's scoring opportunity, Knies finds himself behind the Panthers' defense. Marner ties up Nate Schmidt's stick before sending the 22-year-old on a breakaway.

He pulls the puck to the backhand and beats Bobrovsky with six minutes left in the third period, putting Toronto up 5-3. It's Knies' fourth goal in seven playoff games this year.

With 1:53 remaining in the third period and Bobrovsky on the bench, Tavares tries to clear the puck, but cannot, and Bennett's shot goes off two Maple Leafs sticks before beating Woll over the shoulder.

2nd Period

After not scoring on a power play early in the period, the Panthers went to the man advantage following Pontus Holmberg's interference with Jones in front of Florida's net.

The Panthers weren't able to score, but had some strong chances, including one at the end of the power play where Sam Bennett's forearm hit Stolarz in the head.

Tanev's knuckler of a point shot beats Bobrovsky, putting Toronto up 4-1 at 7:50 of the second period. It's the 35-year-old's first goal since the regular season finale against the Detroit Red Wings.

McCabe tallies his second assist of the game, and Knies gets his first assist of the playoffs. Toronto's defense now has seven of the Maple Leafs' 23 goals during the postseason.

Joseph Woll enters the net at 10:14 for the Maple Leafs after Stolarz goes to the dressing room. Stolarz was in good spirits, speaking and smiling with Woll during the TV timeout.

Knies buries Jones in the corner of Florida's zone before setting up Auston Matthews for a chance. The Maple Leafs' captain's shot just goes wide.

1st Period

Nylander scores the series-opening goal 33 seconds into the game. It's his fourth goal in seven games, with assists going to Max Pacioretty and Jake McCabe. Bobrovsky couldn't see anything with John Tavares and Seth Jones battling in front.

Toronto's second line continued with another chance a few minutes later. Nylander finds Tavares in the slot, and his shot is stopped by Bobrovsky before going out of play.

The Maple Leafs' third line gets involved after a few chances from the second line. Max Domi deflected Chris Tanev's point shot before it took another deflection as it travelled to the net. Bobrovsky made the difficult stop with his glove.

Domi takes a cross-checking penalty 6:38 into the first period after getting tied up with Brad Marchand following a whistle. Toronto's coaching staff was surprised by the call. The Maple Leafs allowed one shot on Florida's power play.

McCabe throws a massive hit on Dmitry Kulikov, heating the game even more than it already was.

Nylander scores his second goal of the game and fifth of the playoffs at 12:51 after Ekman-Larsson's rebound bounced to him. It's the defenseman's first assist of the playoffs. Nylander shimmied left and right before going upstairs on Bobrovsky.

The Maple Leafs have two goals on their first six shots of the game.

Toronto takes a too-many-men penalty midway through their power play. Jones gets the Panthers on the board with his second goal of the playoffs at 16:57 as his point shot beats Stolarz.

Nineteen seconds after Florida cut Toronto's lead in half, Morgan Rielly found himself on a two-on-one with Tavares after a pass from Nylander. Rielly beats Bobrovsky over the blocker for his third postseason goal, putting the Maple Leafs up 3-1.

Nylander's third point of the night ties him for the playoff lead with Mikko Rantanen and Kyle Connor.

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Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean promoted to Triple-A Syracuse

Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLeanis now just a phone call away from Queens.

McLean, who had been dominating this season for Double-A Binghamton, has been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse.

The 23-year-old right-hander, who is in his first season as a full-time starting pitcher (after transitioning from being a two-way player during the 2024 season), has immense upside.

In 26.1 innings over five starts for Binghamton this year, McLean had a 1.37 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 30 strikeouts.

On May 2, McLean fired 6.0 innings of shutout ball while allowing five hits, walking two, and striking out four.

McLean features an elite sweeper and high-octane four-seam fastball, and also utilizes a changeup, two-seam fastball, curve, and cutter.

With McLean now in Triple-A, three of the Mets' top four pitching prospects (McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Blade Tidwell) are now at the highest level of the minors.

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park / Jim Rassol - USA TODAY Sports

Jonah Tong, ranked as SNY contributor Joe DeMayo's third-best Mets pitching prospect and No. 7 overall prospect, is with Binghamton, where he has been excelling.

Tong has a 3.38 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 21.1 innings over five starts -- an eye-popping rate of 16.0 strikeouts per nine.

Tidwell made his big league debut during Sunday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, while Sproat and McLean are expected to get their first taste of the majors later this season.

As their starting pitching prospects get closer to making meaningful big league contributions, the Mets continue to get strong performances from their current rotation of Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning -- and that group is expected to get reinforcements around June with the returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas.

The Mets, who have been using a sixth starter recently (sometimes utilizing openers), are expected to go to a more regular six-man rotation when they're closer to full strength.

How New York utilizes its top pitching prospects in the majors in the coming weeks and months remains to be seen, but it's getting close to the point where their impact will be felt.

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2025 NHL Draft Lottery: Islanders win first overall pick, Rangers to select 12th

The Islanders don’t currently have a GM, but whoever they end up hiring just picked up a pretty significant asset. 

New York officially won the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday night -- meaning that they now own the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft. 

The Isles entered the night with just a 3.5 percent chance of landing in the top spot, but they somehow had the luck of the draw on the first roll of the night and are now in a good spot to take the young talent of their choice.

One of the top prospects in this class is 18-year-old Long Island-native James Hagens, who produced 11 goals and 26 assists this season with Boston College. 

How bout the Blueshirts?

The Rangers, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. 

With the Utah Hockey Club jumping up to the fourth overall pick, they actually moved down a selection and will now be at No. 12 this year. 

They now have until two days before the draft to decide if they want to keep that pick and use it themselves or send it to Pittsburgh by way of the Vancouver Canucks to help complete the J.T. Miller trade. 

If they do keep it, they’ll send the Penguins a 2026 unprotected first-round pick. 

Here's a look at the rest of the order:

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Flyers Locked In At No. 6 For 2025 NHL Draft

The Philadelphia Flyers officially hold the 6th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

For general manager Danny Brière and the rest of the Flyers front office, the draft continues to be a cornerstone of the franchise’s long-term rebuild. Though the Flyers exceeded outside expectations at times, team leadership has consistently reiterated that their strategy is rooted in patience, development, and building a sustainable contender through the draft.

The Flyers have invested heavily in their amateur scouting department in recent years and have reaped early signs of that investment. Players like Matvei Michkov, Jett Luchanko, and Denver Barkey represent a promising wave of young talent. Adding a sixth-overall pick to that group offers another chance to secure a difference-maker—potentially one who can grow into a franchise-altering piece.

While much remains uncertain leading up to the draft, the 2025 class is shaping up to be strong at the top, with high-end forwards and puck-moving defensemen available—all of which will be of interest to the Flyers. Philadelphia’s position at sixth overall puts them in prime position to draft one of the most NHL-ready players in the pool or take a calculated swing on long-term upside.

There is also intrigue around how the Flyers could use this pick within the broader scope of their offseason plans. Even more interesting is that the team has multiple selections in the early rounds and a stocked prospect pipeline, which gives them flexibility if opportunities arise—something Briere is known to be open to.

Still, the message remains clear: the draft is one of the pivotal parts of the Flyers’ rebuild. With the sixth overall pick secured, the organization now turns its focus to final evaluations and preparation for a decision that could help shape their future for years to come.

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New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?

The New York Islanders have selected first overall four times in the NHL draft, taking Billy Harris in 1972, Denis Potvin in 1973, Rick DiPietro in 2000 and John Tavares in 2009. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

The Islanders had the winning combination that awards them the first overall pick and the chance to improve their franchise moving forward. The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw to move up 10 spots to fourth overall. That means the San Jose Sharks have the second overall pick.

Although most lists are beginning to put Matthew Schaefer at the top spot, there are a few, including my own, that have Michael Misa ranked first. 

Let this officially open the debate as we dig into which top prospect makes the most sense for the Islanders.

Let’s start with the underdog in the race for first overall, Misa. 

Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)

The Saginaw Spirit center was undeniably dominant in the OHL this past season. His 62 goals were second in the CHL, and his 134 points led the entire CHL in scoring. 

Misa showed himself to be one of the most intelligent players in the draft class throughout the year and continually grew his game. Not only was his offensive game a force to be reckoned with, but he was a positive defensive presence as well, even playing on the penalty kill. 

Misa’s ability to elevate those around him was evident all season. He was more than capable of playing any role asked of him on a line. The Spirit captain showed an amazing amount of maturity and mental toughness throughout the season, becoming a more well-rounded player as the season wore on. 

The big separator for Misa compared to most other high-end offensive scorers at the junior level was his attention to detail. From positioning himself on the right side of the puck to understanding his leverage in a board battle, Misa used his strengths in those situations. Misa can be a top-line center with a legitimate two-way impact.

2025 NHL Draft: Michael Misa's Historic Year Has Him Pushing For First Overall2025 NHL Draft: Michael Misa's Historic Year Has Him Pushing For First OverallTop-level NHL draft prospect Michael Misa tore the OHL apart with a season that rewrote the history books.

Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL) 

Matthew Schaefer is the front-runner in discussions about the first overall pick since at least the world juniors. 

Not only did he make Canada’s U-20 team, but he was its most effective defenseman before his season-ending injury. He pushed the pace, showed offensive prowess and controlled the flow of play as a 17-year-old. 

Unfortunately, the collarbone injury he suffered when he crashed into the net in Canada’s second game kept him out of the lineup for the second half of the season. 

What makes Schaefer special is his fluidity in all aspects of his game. His vision on the ice is incredible. He handles the puck with impressive control and is rarely in a situation where he loses the puck off his stick. His passing is crisp and precise, hitting targets in motion with ease. 

Defensively, Schaefer leverages his skating and play-reading ability to close on puck carriers in transition, and he wins battles in the tough areas by playing through opponents' hands. He doesn’t have the raw strength to throw guys around or blow players up, but he’s no slouch along the boards because he understands how to position his body.

Instant Reaction: NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2025 Draft RankingsInstant Reaction: NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2025 Draft RankingsNHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL draft.

Who’s The Better Fit?

The biggest question is how Schaefer and Misa would fit with the Islanders and where they would project in the lineup next year and down the line.

It’s an interesting question because the Islanders are entering a new era without former GM Lou Lamoriello after parting ways. The search for a new GM continues.

Looking at the current roster and their prospect pool, there are needs all over the lineup. Center prospect Cal Ritchie was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade at the deadline. Ritchie has been electric at times in the OHL, and his development as a two-way forward has been fantastic. He may not project as a true first-line center, but he has top-six talent. 

Cole Eiserman is a scoring left winger who was quite good for Boston University this year. He is a one-shot lethal scorer who could look great alongside Ritchie down the line. 

Danny Nelson has shown some promise in college, playing for the University of Notre Dame, but he projects as a bottom-six center. Outside of those few players, there is still quite a bit of work for the Islanders to do in rebuilding this team back to true contention. 

Notably, all of those players are forwards. Although Misa is a first overall worthy prospect, the logical pick for the Islanders is Schaefer, who would instantly become their top prospect. He would be the centerpiece of their blueline for years to come.

A pairing of Schaefer and current No. 1 defender Noah Dobson would push the pace and create an offensive advantage that most teams would cause most teams a headache or they could opt to spread out the puck-moving ability and consistently have the best defenseman on the ice at any given time.

There is plenty of work to do for the Islanders’ scouting staff, and things could change, or they could opt to load up down the middle.

James Hagens grew up as an Islanders fan and started the year as the top-rated player, so there is always the chance that he comes in as the dark horse. There will be plenty of intrigue heading into the NHL draft in June.

2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could Fall2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could FallThe NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.

Sharks Get No. 2 Pick

Since a team can only move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the a lottery draw, Utah climbed from 14th to fourth.

That means the Sharks get the second pick and the intriguing possibility of adding Misa to pair down the middle with last year’s first overall pick, Macklin Celebrini. Their fourth overall pick in 2023, Will Smith, played mainly on the right wing this season.

The one-two punch down the middle could make them a force out West for years to come. Two complete centers who have 30-goal, point-per-game potential is a prospect that almost no NHL team has and that could be the Sharks reality for the next decade.

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Cavaliers' Kenny Atkinson wins NBA Coach of the Year, beating out previous Cavs coach Bickerstaff

For the previous couple of years, with J.B. Bickerstaff as coach, the Cavaliers were a good team — they finished fourth in the conference both years. Last season they had 48 wins, had a +2.5 net rating, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to the eventual champion Celtics.

Cavaliers management wanted more, so it made a coaching change: Bickerstaff was out, Kenny Atkinson was in. With essentially the same roster in place, Atkinson's Cavaliers started 15-0, finished with 64 wins (the second most in franchise history), a +9.5 net rating and were the No. 1 seed in the East.

That earned Atkinson the Coach of the Year award, the NBA announced Monday.

Atkinson got 59 first-place votes from the international panel of 100 media members, with 33 second-place votes.

After being let go, Bicketstaff was hired by the Pistons, taking over a team that had the worst record in the NBA each of the past two seasons. He helped turn them around into a 44-win team that finished sixth in the East (and pushed the Knicks to six games in the first round). That earned Bickerstaff second in the Coach of the Year voting, with 31 first-place votes and 44 second-place votes.

The Rockets' Ime Udoka finished third. The Thunder's Mark Daigneault finished fourth in the voting (two first-place votes), and the Clippers' Tyronn Lue finished fifth (one first-place vote).

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The Anaheim Ducks will Select 10th Overall at the 2025 Draft

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Stian Solberg is selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The NHL conducted their annual Draft Lottery on Monday night ahead of the Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game, which was game one of the second round.

Report: The Ducks Ongoing Search for Next Head Coach

An extremely unlikely scenario unfolded and the Anaheim Ducks will be selecting 10th overall at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, to be held on June 27 in Los Angeles.

The Ducks finished the 2024-25 season with a 35-37-10 record, good enough for 80 points and the eighth-best odds to win the lottery.

The Lottery featured two draws, one for first overall and one for second. The Ducks came into Monday with a 6% chance to win the first overall pick and a 6.2% chance to win the second overall pick. They won neither, and their fifth most likely outcome transpired, as they had a 3.2% chance of dropping to the 10th overall pick.

For the Ducks to drop from eight to ten at the draft lottery, two teams that finished the season with better records had to win the draws. The New York Islanders won this year’s draft lottery with a 3.5% chance, and the Utah Hockey Club won the second draw with a 3.2% chance. 

Utah was only eligible to move up a maximum of 10 spots, so they will select fourth. The San Jose Sharks will select second overall. 

The 2025 Draft will be the 32nd in franchise history, and they’ve never selected first overall. They’ve never had a first overall pick even on their roster at any point in time.

This will mark the third time the Ducks will have drafted 10th at the NHL Draft. They selected Nick Ritchie 10th in 2014 and Pavel Mintyukov in 2022.

The 2025 draft class isn’t like most years, where there’s a clear-cut prospect at the top of everyone’s (or most everyone’s) list. In 2024, there was no doubt that Macklin Celebrini was going to be taken first. In 2023, there was even less doubt that it was going to be Connor Bedard.

This year, consensus indicates the top selection is between Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, with Schaefer seemingly having the edge at this point in time.

After Schaefer and Misa, there’s a cluster of three to five players that draft experts view as the next tier, including forwards James Hagens, Porter Martone, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers.

As the annual draft combine nears and subsequent reports leak out, a lot of information will be uncovered.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and assistant general manager/director of amateur scouting Martin Madden have marched to the beat of their own drummer during their three previous drafts together when they selected Pavel Mintyukov (10th overall in 2022), Leo Carlsson (2nd in ’23), and Beckett Sennecke (3rd in ’24). When it comes to the Ducks’ front office duo, it’s best to expect the unexpected at the draft.

Opinion: The Anaheim Ducks Deserve to Win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery

2025 Anaheim Ducks Draft Lottery Preview

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Blackhawks Will Make 3rd Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft

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On Monday night, the National Hockey League conducted the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. The San Jose Sharks led the way with a 25.5 percent chance of winning. The Chicago Blackhawks were in second with a 13.5 percent chance. 

Any team could only move up a max of 10 spots. For the Blackhawks, that meant that they could pick anywhere from 1-4. 

The first draw led to the New York Islanders winning the first overall pick. They jumped up from 10 to earn this selection. New York will pick first for the first time since 2009 when they selected John Tavares. 

The second lottery went to the Utah Hockey Club, so they will jump up from 14 to 4. That means that the Sharks will go down to 2 and the Blackhawks will drop to 3. 

This will be the third year in a row that Chicago will make a draft pick in the top three. In 2023, they took Connor Bedard first overall, and they took Artyom Levshunov second in 2024.  

A lot of conversations will take place in regards to who Chicago will select with this pick. There are some great options as players like Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer, James Hagens, and Porter Martone are projected to go in the top four. 

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will begin on June 26th, 2025. 

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