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Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Aatu Räty To A Two-Year Contract

The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed center Aatu Räty to a two-year contract extension. The deal will carry an AAV of $775,000 and will keep the 22-year-old in Vancouver until the end of the 2026-27 season. Räty was scheduled to become a restricted free agent after wrapping up his entry-level contract. 

In a statement, GM Patrik Allvin wrote, "Aatu had a strong year in Abbotsford and also showed some promise when being called up to the NHL. It was another good step in his development as he continues to learn and grow as a pro. We expect him to have a good summer and come to training camp in September ready to compete for a job in Vancouver."

Räty set a new career high this season with 33 games played at the NHL level. The left-shot center scored seven goals while recording 11 points. Räty was also strong in the faceoff dot, winning 57.7% of his draws. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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As for his time in the AHL, Räty played 43 regular season games with the Abbotsford Canucks recording 40 points. He also played six games in the post-season before suffering an injury. Räty will be competing for a full-time spot on the NHL roster and is a front-runner for a spot in the bottom six. 

Apr 6, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Aatu Raty (54) celebrates his goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Jordan Poole jubilantly welcomes ex-Warriors teammate Kevon Looney to Pelicans

Jordan Poole jubilantly welcomes ex-Warriors teammate Kevon Looney to Pelicans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With center Kevon Looney reportedly agreeing to a free-agent contract with the Pelicans, a pair of ex-Warriors teammates will be reuniting in New Orleans.

On Monday, former Golden State guard Jordan Poole posted an excited message on social media after news broke of Looney’s agreement.

“OMG!!! It’s so lit,” Poole wrote on his Instagram story, along with some excited emojis.

The two Milwaukee natives played together for Golden State from 2019 to 2023 and were pivotal keys to the Warriors’ title-winning squad in 2021-22.

Looney’s contract is worth $16 million over two years, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, as the veteran center is set to depart after 10 seasons in the Bay Area.

On June 24, Charania reported the Pelicans’ acquisition of Poole from the Washington Wizards in a trade that sends guard CJ McCollum and forward Kelly Olynyk to the nation’s capital.

Though New Orleans struggled mightily with a 21-61 record last season, the team clearly hopes these former Warriors can help turn things around.

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MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers back on top, Astros dominate in June

Featured in this week’s Power Rankings, Tarik Skubal shows out, the Astros are back among the game’s elite teams, Sonny Gray throws a super-charged Maddux, the Guardians' bats are having a historically-bad June, James Wood gets the Barry Bonds treatment, and the Marlins are unstoppable.

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

Let’s get started!

Syndication: Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jurickson Profar returns, Jacob Lopez is on a heater
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 30.

1) Dodgers ⬆️

Last week: 2

It’s been a little while, but the Dodgers have reclaimed the top spot in our rankings. Max Muncy has been one of the best hitters in the majors since he began wearing glasses on April 30 to address an astigmatism, batting .296/.422/.593 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI over 51 games. Somebody get this man a Warby Parker endorsement deal.

2) Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 1

It was pretty cool to see the Tigers featured on Sunday Night Baseball this week. Tarik Skubal was obviously amped up for the occasion, as he struck out eight batters (including seven in a row) through the first three innings against the Twins. He ended up fanning 13 batters while allowing just one hit over seven scoreless frames. He’s on another level right now.

3) Astros ⬆️

Last week: 7

The Astros were No. 11 in the June 2 edition of MLB Power Rankings, but they’ve climbed into the top-three with an MLB-best 19 wins this month. Rookie outfielder Cam Smith has found his comfort zone of late with four homers and 15 RBI with a .342/.398/.566 batting line over his past 20 games. The club has to hope that Jeremy Peña’s fracture rib won’t keep him out for long.

4) Cubs

Last week: 4

Great sign for the Cubs last Thursday, as Shota Imanaga blanked the Cardinals with five-innings of one-hit ball in his return from a hamstring injury. The southpaw now holds a 2.83 ERA across his first 38 starts in the majors.

5) Phillies ⬇️

Last week: 3

The Phillies’ rotation has featured some excellent pitchers in recent years, but what Ranger Suárez is doing right now outshines them all. With another gem against the Braves on Sunday, he’s now posted a 1.19 ERA over his last 10 starts. That’s the lowest by a Phillies starter over a 10-game stretch since Cliff Lee put up a 0.93 ERA over 10 starts to finish the 2011 regular season.

6) Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 5

The Yankees’ lineup continues to be boom or bust at times, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been locked in since returning from the injured list on June 3. Including a four-RBI game in Sunday’s win over the Athletics, Chisholm is hitting .318/.379/.600 with six homers, 18 RBI, four steals, and 14 runs scored in that timespan.

7) Rays ⬆️

Last week: 9

Maybe it's the Ken Griffey Jr. nostalgia in me, still something special about seeing a player hit a home run to the warehouse at Camden Yards. This one from Jonathan Aranda in Saturday’s rout against the Orioles traveled 467 feet, the third-longest home run by a Rays player in the Statcast era. Just another accomplishment on his resume this season as All-Star selections approach.

8) Brewers ⬆️

Last week: 11

Joey Ortiz has struggled miserably out of the gate this season, but he’s turned the corner in a huge way recently with three homers, 11 RBI, and a .326/.354/.522 batting line over his last 11 games. He had just two home runs over his previous 70 games this season.

9) Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 13

Sonny Gray needed just 89 pitches to complete a one-hit shutout — with 11 strikeouts and no walks — against the Guardians on Friday night. While a “Maddux” is all well and good, but even cooler for Gray was that it was his first shutout in nearly 10 years.

10) Mets ⬇️

Last week: 6

The Mets have lost 13 out of their last 16 games and were outscored 30-4 while being swept by the Pirates this past weekend. Tenth might be too high given their pitching struggles/injuries and ice cold offense.

11) Padres ⬆️

Last week: 10

All the talent on the Padres and would you believe that Gavin Sheets leads the team in RBI? It’s true. Sheets was in the middle of everything in Saturday’s win over the Reds; he went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, two doubles, and this excellent catch in left field.

A great victory for Padres general manager A.J. Preller.

12) Giants ⬇️

Last week: 8

Bad times. After being swept by the Marlins, the Giants went on to lose two out of three to the White Sox over the weekend. The Giants are now 4-8 since the Rafael Devers trade.

13) Blue Jays

Last week: 12 ⬇️

The Blue Jays sit three games behind the Yankees for first-place in the AL East going into a four-game series at Rogers Centre to begin the week. It doesn’t get bigger than this in late June/early July.

14) Reds ⬆️

Last week: 17

In the same game where Nick Martinez came within three outs of a no-hitter, Spencer Steer put up a three-homer game Friday against the Padres. Bothered by a lingering shoulder issue during spring training, Steer endured a rough start to the season, but he’s hitting .442 (19-for-43) over his last 11 games.

15) Mariners

Last week: 14

Cal Raleigh’s first half has already been a great story, but it has a chance to get even better at the Home Run Derby next month. Cal’s dad, Todd, is expected to throw to him and the hope is that his younger brother, Todd Jr., will serve as the catcher for the festivities. Sure, Ronald Acuña Jr. will be the hometown hero in this one, but how can you root against this?

16) Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 20

The Rangers continue to hover around the .500 mark, which has basically been their life dating back to late April. At least there’s room for positivity within the starting rotation. Jacob deGrom is coming off a no-hit bid, Nathan Eovaldi is back from the injured list, and Kumar Rocker has enjoyed the best three-start stretch of his young career.

17) Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 19

The Diamondbacks blew a four-run lead on Sunday while getting swept by the Marlins. The bullpen has been a sore spot, as they rank 28th in the majors with a 5.22 ERA.

18) Angels ⬆️

Last week: 23

Jo Adell has finally arrived? The 26-year-old is tied with Juan Soto for the MLB lead with 11 home runs this month. He’s cut down on his strikeouts and is showing an uptick in barrels and average exit velocity, so there’s plenty to like here. In fantasy baseball, this is what we call a post-post-post hype breakout.

19) Braves ⬇️

Last week: 16

For the Braves, it has routinely been one step forward and two steps back. Are they running out of time? In theory, there’s a boost for the offense on the way, as Jurickson Profar is set to make his return on Tuesday from his 80-game PED suspension.

20) Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 15

Saturday’s 15-run explosion is more of the exception since the Rafael Devers trade. The Red Sox are hitting .215 with a .656 OPS since the trade. Oddly enough, the Giants have the same batting average and OPS during that time.

21) Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 18

The Guardians have hit just .206 in the month of June. According to the Associated Press, that’s the third-worst batting average in franchise history for a month with at least 13 games played.

22) Twins

Last week: 22

The Twins’ bullpen somehow has a 6.80 ERA this month. Nobody will be happier to see that calendar flip to July on Tuesday.

23) Royals ⬇️

Last week: 21

The Royals snapped an 11-game home losing streak (and a six-game losing streak overall) in Saturday’s victory over the Dodgers. The Royals have lost 17 games this month, their worst month since August of 2023.

24) Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 27

The hottest team in baseball is…the Marlins? Thanks to a five-run eighth inning against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, the Marlins have won seven straight games. Rookie slugger Agustín Ramírez continues to be a force and Edward Cabrera is delivering on the promise he’s shown in the past.

25) Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 28

How dominant was the Pirates’ three-game sweep over the Mets over the weekend? We’re talking something that hasn’t happened for the Pirates in 90 years kind of dominance.

R.I.P. Dave Parker

26) Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 24

It’s always eyebrow-raising to see a team score 22 runs, as the Orioles did on Friday night. But it’s even more interesting that the Rays held a 6-0 lead in the second inning. How many O's fans do you think turned off that game early?

27) Nationals ⬇️

Last week: 25

This year has spiraled out of control for the Nationals, but there’s already immense respect being shown to 22-year-old slugger James Wood. The Angels gave him four intentional walks on Sunday.

28) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 26

Has Luis Severino been traded yet? What about now? Severino hasn’t been shy about his thoughts about playing in Sacramento. And while he got crushed at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, he has seen much better results at home than at Sutter Health Park. It’s a tricky spot given the three-year, $67 million deal (largest guaranteed free agent deal in franchise history) he signed with the A’s this past offseason, but it sounds like an untenable situation.

29) White Sox

Last week: 29

Signed in May, Adrian Houser has turned into a nifty little trade chip for the White Sox. The 32-year-old has reeled off a 1.90 ERA over his first seven starts with the club, including seven scoreless frames against the Giants on Saturday.

In other news, check out White Sox rookie Chase Meidroth going all Matrix to avoid this tag at second base on Sunday.

30) Rockies

Last week: 30

Marveling at Tyler Freeman’s month of June. He’s hitting .373 with a .478 on-base percentage and has struck out just four times in 92 plate appearances. One of those strikeouts came on Sunday and he was ejected (along with Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer) for his disapproval.

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Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Arshdeep Bains To Two-Year Contract

The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed BC local Arshdeep Bains to a two-year contract that will keep him within the organization until the end of the 2026-27 season. According to PuckPedia, both years of the deal will pay $775,000. 

“Arshdeep had another solid season in Abbotsford as he continues to develop and mature,” said Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “His game found another gear late in the AHL playoffs when he stepped up and helped lead the way offensively with several big goals. Arsh is now familiar with our system and style of play, and we expect him to push hard for a spot in September.”

Bains was first acquired by the Canucks back in 2022 after Vancouver signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. He played 13 games with Vancouver in the 2024-25 season and made his NHL debut the season prior against the Colorado Avalanche. He scored his first NHL goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 26, 2024. 

Throughout this season, Bains has made a mark as one of the Abbotsford Canucks' most consistent forwards both offensively and defensively. He led Abbotsford in points during the 2024-25 regular season, scoring 11 goals and 32 assists in 50 games played. In the team's Calder Cup campaign, he finished second in scoring with seven goals and 17 assists in 24 games. All seven of his postseason tallies came within the final eight games of the playoffs. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Bains is not the only member of the Calder Cup-winning Abbotsford team to receive a new deal, as Max Sasson, Guillaume Brisebois, and Aatu Räty also agreed on extensions today. 

Oct 30, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains (13) skates during warm up prior to a game against the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News
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Alexei Popyrin crashes out of Wimbledon after losing to world No 461

  • Much-fancied 20th seed suffers opening day upset

  • Jordan Thompson brightens gloom for Australian contingent

One of Australia’s biggest Wimbledon hopes, Alexei Popyrin, has crashed out of tournament to a British player ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue a poor start for the Australian contingent on the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam.

Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men’s hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday.

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Mets vs. Brewers: 5 things to watch and series predictions | July 2-3

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Brewers play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

5 things to watch

The Mets' starting rotation has been a big issue

As bad as the Mets' weekend sweep at the hands of the Pirates was, two of the losses can be chalked up to poor starting pitching, as David Peterson and Frankie Montas got jumped early to make Friday and Sunday's games relatively non-competitive.

In the cases of Peterson (who has had two bad starts in a row after being tremendous before that) and Montas (who was great in his first start back from the IL), it's fair to expect they'll be fine going forward.

Peterson gets the start in the series finale on Thursday, which will follow starts by Clay Holmes and Blade Tidwell during Wednesday's doubleheader.

Holmes was solid against the Braves last Wednesday, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball while allowing three hits, walking four, and striking out two. His issues with bases on balls and his increased workload will continue to be something to watch, though.

As far as Tidwell, he was hit hard in relief against the Pirates on Friday, surrendering four runs in just 3.1 innings. That came after a decent showing against the Phillies on June 20, when he allowed two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings.

Can Mark Vientos shake off the rust?

Vientos returned on Friday but didn't provide much, going 1-for-13 while striking out five times.

That Vientos looked rusty shouldn't be a surprise, given the fact that his rehab assignment was relatively short and that he had gone nearly a month without an at-bat in a big league game.

But the Mets badly need Vientos to provide better at-bats, which would help lengthen a lineup that has been very inconsistent lately.

Vientos had been hitting relatively well in the six weeks before his injury, and he has the type of power bat that can make a serious impact if he finds his footing.

When are the reinforcements coming?

As the Mets hope for their rotation and offense to stabilize, help is on the way.

Sean Manaea, whose rehab was briefly paused due to a cortisone shot in his elbow after a loose body was discovered, will make another rehab start on Wednesday. That could potentially be Manaea's final one before returning.

Feb 15, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) looks on during a spring training workout at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Feb 15, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) looks on during a spring training workout at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Then there's Kodai Senga, whose return could possibly come shortly after the All-Star break.

Senga is nearing a rehab assignment. And once he gets in rehab games, it might not take long for him to return. Despite being out with a hamstring injury, Senga has continued throwing - and threw off the mound last week.

Another key cog the team could get back soon is Jesse Winker, who is in the middle of a rehab assignment.

Jacob Misiorowski

Misiorowski, one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, has been a force of nature since debuting on June 12.

In three starts, he has allowed just two runs on three hits while walking seven and striking out 19 in 16.0 innings.

The wiry right-hander features a fastball that regularly touches triple digits, and a devastating slider that he throws in the low-90s. He also mixes in a curve and changeup.

Misiorowski gets a start during Wednesday's doubleheader.

The Brewers have been hot

During a season that started with Milwaukee being a bit of an afterthought when it came to the playoffs, they're again right in the middle of things.

The Brewers have won eight of their last 10 games, trail the Cubs by just 2.0 games for first place in the NL Central, and are holding the second Wild Card spot.

A lot of that can be linked to Milwaukee's solid starting pitching, which includes Freddy Peralta, former Met Jose Quintana (who starts on Thursday) and now has Misiorowski.

Offensively, they're getting strong contributions from the usual suspects. That includes Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Rhys Hoskins, Sal Frelick, and Brice Turang.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Francisco Lindor

Lindor is overdue for a breakout.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Clay Holmes

Holmes carries a 2.97 ERA and 1.24 WHIP into Tuesday's outing.

Which Brewers player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Rhys Hoskins

Hoskins seems to relish playing the villain in New York.

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Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah Mammoth

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.

The 5-foot-11 winger had eight goals and 10 assists in 55 games last season. He’s a play-maker who broke out into the NHL in 2022-23 when he led all rookies in assists. He also received Calder Trophy consideration and ultimately landed on the NHL’s all-rookie team that same season.

In acquiring Maccelli, the Leafs are betting that they are buying low on a season that saw the Finnish player have a dip in production. Some of that was attributed to dips in production from his linemates. If paired with elite talent in Toronto, there is certainly potential for the player to see a rebound next year. A deeper dive into the analytics of his season showed a player where contributed 1.78 shot assists above average per 60 while leading the NHL in generating chances off the rush. 

Other critics of Maccelli's style focus on his play away from his puck, which could use some improvement. It's believed the lack of hard-nosed physical play led to him falling out of Utah's top-six forward group and that will be something he will need to get better at under Craig Berube, who demands a hard-nosed, heavy north-south game.  But with a skilled player like Mitch Marner seemingly on his way out of Toronto, a play-making winger was needed. He isn't Marner, but there was a good reason for Toronto to give this a shot, given the low cost.

The 24-year-old Maccelli carries a salary cap hit of $3,425,000 for next season. After that, the player will be a restricted free agent.

Macccell first exhibited his skillset when he moved to the United States to play in the USHL beginning in 2017. In his second season, he scored 31 goals and 41 assists in 62 games. The Arizona Coyotes selected him in the fourth round (98th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft.

In his first season in professional hockey, he scored 13 goals and 27 assists in 43 games with Ilves Tampere, winning the Liiga rookie of the year award. The Coyotes subsequently signed him to a three-year entry-level contract at the end of that season 2019-20 season.

Leafs salary cap situation following trade

After acquiring Maccelli, the Leafs have $10,145,581 in salary cap space, according to PuckPedia.com as they get set to enter the feee agency period, which opens at noon E.T. on July 1.

(Headline Photo Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Report: Maple Leafs Are Frontrunners For Brad Marchand If He Hits Open Market, Could Still Re-Sign With PanthersReport: Maple Leafs Are Frontrunners For Brad Marchand If He Hits Open Market, Could Still Re-Sign With PanthersIf Brad Marchand hits the open market on Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will reportedly be among several teams interested in the forward's services. And likely one of the frontrunners to land him. Report: Maple Leafs Trying To Re-Sign Steven Lorentz Before Free Agency OpensReport: Maple Leafs Trying To Re-Sign Steven Lorentz Before Free Agency OpensThe Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly attempting a last-minute effort to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Steven Lorentz. Maple Leafs Prospects Easton Cowan And Ben Danford Highlight 2025 Development Camp RosterMaple Leafs Prospects Easton Cowan And Ben Danford Highlight 2025 Development Camp RosterThe Toronto Maple Leafs have announced their roster for this year's development camp.
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Is EA Sports reviving its college basketball video game franchise?

EA Sports sent a cryptic tweet on Monday that hints at the revival of its college basketball video game franchise. Although not as popular as its college football franchise that was revived last year, EA was among the industry's leaders in basketball gaming in the early 2000s. Its NCAA Basketball games (with earlier iterations named NCAA March Madness) were discontinued in 2009.

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Golden Knights Trade Nicolas Hague to Predators for Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons

The Vegas Golden Knights have traded defenseman Nicolas Hague and a conditional third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons. 

Lauzon, 28, is a seven-year NHL defenseman who has played for the Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, and Boston Bruins. He has appeared in 316 NHL games, including 187 with the Predators, recording 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) over four seasons. Lauzon set career highs during the 2023–24 season with six goals, 14 points, and 383 hits in 79 games. He has also made four appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, twice with the Bruins and twice with the Predators, skating in a total of 22 postseason games.

Sissons, 31, is a right-shot forward who’s appeared in 690 games with Nashville owning 221 points (95 Goals, 126 Assists) and holds a plus-18 rating over 11 seasons. Known for his physical style of play, Sissons leads all Nashville Predators skaters in hits since the 2015–16 campaign, accumulating 1,131, including a career-high 188 in the 2021–22 season. In the 2023–24 regular season, he set personal bests with 15 goals and 30 total points across 72 games. 

Sissons has appeared in 71 playoff games, tallying 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. He played in all 22 games during Nashville’s memorable run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, contributing 12 points (6 Goals, 6 Assists) and finishing with a plus-7 rating. One of his most iconic performances came in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final that year, when he recorded a hat trick to help the Predators clinch their first-ever trip to the championship round. Nashville will retain 50% of Sissons’ salary as part of the trade. 

Hague has signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Predators. 

PHOTO COURTESY: Golden Knights

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Sabres Deals Addressed Needs, But Were Budget-Conscious

The Buffalo Sabres made a pair of trades before and during the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles which were as much about changing the makeup of the roster as they were about trimming the budget of the club in advance of the beginning of free agency on July 1. 

The JJ Peterka trade brought back two players in defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan under contract for 2025-26. Kesselring will make $1.4 million and is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next summer, so the Sabres have control over him for two seasons. Doan is on the final year of his entry-level contract, and after this season Buffalo has four years of control over him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

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Peterka obviously wanted out of Buffalo, but it is not clear if it was an issue with the organization being a perennial non-playoff club, if it was that the Sabres would not give him a significant raise and a long-term contract or all of the above. Clearly, the Sabres were not willing to pay a 23-year-old who at this point was not a complete two-way player the five-year, $38.5 million deal that Utah signed him to, and they did not want draft picks had Peterka gone the way of an offer sheet.

The trade sending a 2025 second round pick and defenseman Connor Clifton to Pittsburgh for defenseman Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau was an obvious salary dump. GM Kevyn Adams indicated that it was likely that Clifton would not be back after the final year of his three-year, $10 million deal, and that the Sabres had coveted Timmins for awhile, but not mentioned was the fact that they gave up a high draft pick to save likely $2 million in salary if Timmins takes his qualifying offer. 

After re-signing winger Jack Quinn to a two-year, $6.75 million contract extension, the Sabres now have just under $21 million going into free agency on Tuesday, but it remains a question whether this summer will be different than other recent ones where Adams is on a budget and leaves significant cap space unspent.       

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has a rib fracture and is headed to the injured list

HOUSTON — Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña has a fractured rib and will be placed on the 10-day injured list.

The team revealed the extent of the injury Monday, saying it was a small fracture in Peña’s left rib cage. The IL move will be retroactive to Saturday.

Peña was hit in the ribs by a pitch from Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton in the second inning of the Astros’ 7-4 victory on Friday.

He didn’t leave the game until the fifth, and the team said X-rays taken that night didn’t reveal the fracture. An MRI and CT scan on Sunday revealed the fracture, according to the team.

The 27-year-old Pena is having a breakout season, ranking fourth in the major leagues with a .322 batting average. He hit .361 in June.

Pena will be with the team on a six-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Colorado, according to the Astros. A corresponding roster move will be made Tuesday, the team said.

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Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has a rib fracture and is headed to the injured list

HOUSTON — Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña has a fractured rib and will be placed on the 10-day injured list.

The team revealed the extent of the injury, saying it was a small fracture in Peña’s left rib cage. The IL move will be retroactive.

Peña was hit in the ribs by a pitch from Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton in the second inning of the Astros’ 7-4 victory .

He didn’t leave the game until the fifth, and the team said X-rays taken that night didn’t reveal the fracture. An MRI and CT scan revealed the fracture, according to the team.

The 27-year-old Pena is having a breakout season, ranking fourth in the major leagues with a .322 batting average. He hit .361 in June.

Peña will be with the team on a six-game road trip that starts in Colorado, according to the Astros. A corresponding roster move will be made, the team said.

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Maple Leafs Prospects Easton Cowan And Ben Danford Highlight 2025 Development Camp Roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced their roster for this year's development camp.

All six of Toronto's selections from the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 64, Tinus Luc Koblar; No. 86, Tyler Hopkins; No. 137, William Belle; No. 153, Harry Nansi; No. 185, Rylan Fellinger; No. 217, Matthew Hlacar) will be in attendance for the three-day camp.

Seventeen of Toronto's draft picks, including the 2025 selections, and picks from previous drafts will be present, highlighted by Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. The other names on the list are 2024 picks, Miroslav Holinka, Victor Johansson, Matthew Lahey, Nathan Mayes, Sam McCue, Alex Plesovskikh; 2023 picks, Noah Chadwick, Hudson Malinoski; and 2022 third-round pick Nick Moldenhauer.

The Maple Leafs will also have four NHL-signed players at the camp: Luke Haymes, John Prokop, Blake Smith, and Borya Valis. All four players played at least one AHL game with the Toronto Marlies after signing in the spring.

Report: Maple Leafs Trying To Re-Sign Steven Lorentz Before Free Agency OpensReport: Maple Leafs Trying To Re-Sign Steven Lorentz Before Free Agency OpensThe Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly attempting a last-minute effort to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Steven Lorentz.

Four players signed to AHL contracts, including Ryan Kirwan, Rhett Parsons, Chas Sharpe, and Landon Sim will attend the camp. Aside from Sim, who won the Memorial Cup with Cowan and the London Knights, all three players have appeared in a professional game.

A total of 48 players (29 forwards, 15 defensemen, and four goaltenders) are attending development camp this year. All four goaltenders are free-agent invites; none of Toronto's drafted goaltenders will be at the camp.

Matthew Knies Avoids Restricted Free Agency, Inks Long-Term Deal With Maple Leafs: 6 Years, $7.75M AAVMatthew Knies Avoids Restricted Free Agency, Inks Long-Term Deal With Maple Leafs: 6 Years, $7.75M AAVMatthew Knies will be a Toronto Maple Leaf for six more years.

The three-day camp will feature approximately 10 hours of on-ice work for the prospects from Thursday, July 3, to Saturday, July 5. Maple Leafs assistant general manager, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser, will speak at the beginning and end of the camp.

(Top photo of Cowan: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)

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Orioles at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 30

It's Monday, June 30 and the Orioles (36-47) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (41-43). Trevor Rogers is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Patrick Corbin for Texas.

The Orioles are coming off a much-needed series win over the Rays. They beat the Rays 22-8 in the first game of the series and 5-1 in the third. In game three, Dean Kremer struck out six batters and didn't give up a run in 7.0 innings.

The Rangers and Orioles faced off in a mini-series a few days ago. The Rangers got the better of the Orioles in both games, winning 6-5 in the first game and 7-0 in the second.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Rangers

  • Date: Monday, June 30, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Rangers Sports Network, Victory+, MASN, MASN+

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (-110), Rangers (-109)
  • Spread:  Orioles -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for June 30, 2025: Trevor Rogers vs. Patrick Corbin
    • Orioles: Trevor Rogers, (1-0, 1.62 ERA)
      Last outing (Texas Rangers, 6/23): 8.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Patrick Corbin, (4-7, 4.25 ERA)
      Last outing (Baltimore Orioles, 6/23): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries, and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions, and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Rangers

  • AL West teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL East sides
  • The Under is 30-12 in the Rangers' home games this season
  • The Rangers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.84 units

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Rangers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread, and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information, and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Orioles and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Brad Marchand staying with Panthers on six-year contract: Report

Brad Marchand staying with Panthers on six-year contract: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Brad Marchand isn’t just staying with the Florida Panthers, he is committing to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs for six more years.

Yes, you read that right.

The 37-year-old veteran is “closing in on” a six-year contract worth just under $32 million with the Panthers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Monday. The salary cap hit will be less than $5.5 million, which is pretty good value for Florida.

If Marchand plays out this entire contract, he’ll be 43 years old when it expires.

Marchand spent 15-plus seasons with the Boston Bruins before they dealt him to the Panthers at the trade deadline in March.

He made a seamless transition to the Panthers lineup and was arguably their best player in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 postseason games, including six goals in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers won the series in six games to secure back-to-back championships.

The Panthers have done a masterful job re-signing their own free agents this offseason. In addition to Marchand, Florida has kept top-six center Sam Bennett (eight years, $64 million) and star defenseman Aaron Ekblad (eight years, $48.8 million).

The Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Mammoth reportedly were going to have interest in Marchand if he hit the free agent market Tuesday, but now those teams will have to pursue other options.