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Depth players thriving, Dobbs impact, youngest team

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Depth players thriving, Dobbs impact, youngest team

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed Tuesday.

montreal canadiens news

  • The Habs are one of the best teams in the NHL when it comes to handling adversity. On Monday night, Alex Newhook again played the hero and won his second series in a row. The Newfoundlander has been one of the most important players in the playoffs, stepping up when the Canadiens needed him most. [Canadiens Highlights: Newhook Clinches The Series]
  • It’s always fun to remember that this is the beginning of the Habs’ potential dominance. They still have a lot of work to do when it comes to roster construction, but they are clearly in the midst of one of the most efficient rebuilds in league history.
  • With all due respect, that’s a dubious amount, seeing your team lose instead of winning is the epitome of denial.
  • Prospect Filip Messer scores for Slovakia in a 5–4 win over Slovenia at the World Championships.
  • The experience of listening to calls in other languages ​​is absolutely amazing. The French broadcast continues to produce incredibly energetic clips.
  • There’s no doubt that rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs is enjoying a strong playoff run. He’s also in good company when it comes to winning a pair of Game 7s. Hall of Famers Ken Dryden and Jaroslav Halak are the only other Canadian netminders to manage this impressive feat.
  • If we filter the results a bit further, only Dryden and Dobbs have accomplished the above feat on the road.
  • Speaking of Dobbs, his confidence continues to grow, and his personality is really starting to shine through in post-game interviews.
  • Montreal Victoire has two more chances to win the Walter Cup. Their first game will come on Wednesday, when they travel to Ottawa for Game 4. [PWHL]

Sportsknot Network

  • New Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has begun his very busy offseason. It started with a stroke of luck and winning the draft lottery. His next move was to fire head coach Craig Berube. Could a player like William Nylander be on the docket next? [Toronto Maple Leafs]
  • Sheldon Keefe is safe, but Sunny Mehta is cleaning house. He is serious about improving the New Jersey Devils. Earlier on Tuesday, the Devils announced that goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been relieved of his duties. [New York Devils]
  • When the Colorado Avalanche needed to wrap up the final minutes of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, head coach Jared Bednar sent out his trusty second line. In its center was Nazem Kadri, on his wings were Valery Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog. [Colorado Avalanche]
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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Depth #players #thriving #Dobbs #impact #youngest #team

Dodgers gain outfield depth in trade with division rival

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Dodgers gain outfield depth in trade with division rival

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been a juggernaut for several years now. They have won consecutive World Series titles and are in the running for their third title. They will be the first National League team in history to do so. This is largely due to a roster that doesn’t have too many weak links. Sure, the bullpen isn’t always spectacular, but it’s often pretty solid. Yet one area has remained a point of concern in recent years: the outfield.

That doesn’t mean their outfield is bad – far from it. The Dodgers solved most of their problems this offseason by signing top free agent Kyle Tucker. This was a huge achievement which led to a significant improvement in their outfield group. But there isn’t much certainty behind Tucker and up-and-comer Andy Paige.

Sure, Teoscar Hernandez may slip from time to time, but his age is starting to show. Behind him are unproven commodities like Alex Call and Hyesong Kim, both of whom have struggled to produce consistently at the big league level.

business for young talents

Enter Alec Thomas. The 26-year-old center fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks was recently designated for assignment to make room for top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. He has made a good start and now looks like he could permanently replace Thomas in the outfield.

On Tuesday morning, the Dodgers traded for Alec Thomas, reducing the possibility of Jose Requena to Arizona. In the same move, the Dodgers DFA optioned outfielder Michael Siani to make room for Thomas on the 40-man roster. Requena was signed by Los Angeles in last year’s international signing class. He has not yet made his professional debut.

This is a move that immediately improves the Dodgers’ outfield depth in several ways. For one, Thomas is in control of the club until 2028. That means Los Angeles can keep him at a relatively low price over the next two and a half years. It’s worthwhile to get a typical defensive glove with a solid – and potentially much better – bat at that price.

Thomas has shown signs of an offensive breakout. In 2025, he posted a career-high .249/.289/.370 slash line with a respectable .659 OPS. Those numbers were much better than his usual numbers, indicating a step forward in 2026. But this has not happened. Instead, Thomas is off to the worst start of his career, batting .181 in 28 games this season. He will serve as depth in Triple-A for the Dodgers. Behind Andy Paige, Los Angeles lacked a true backup option in center field. Thomas could fill that role if anything happens with Paige.

#Dodgers #gain #outfield #depth #trade #division #rival

Caufield Trophy Finalist, Depth Scoring, Laval

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Caufield Trophy Finalist, Depth Scoring, Laval

Montreal – It feels like there’s more Montreal Canadiens news every hour, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we always recap relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Make sure you don’t miss any news from Canadians by signing up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for a daily newsletter covering various other NHL teams, or the most exciting developments in the game.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

  • Elliotte Friedman officiated in the first round series between the Habs and Lightning. Or more precisely, they immediately discussed a penalty, which at first seemed imaginary, but was actually a legitimate penalty on Oliver Kapanen. In this particular case, I would argue the point was that the referee’s hand did not go up until Dominic James oversold the contact moments later. Either way, the Canadians cannot focus on umpiring in this series, as it is a factor they cannot easily control.
  • Even though the results on the ice at 5v5 have been less than ideal, Lane Hutson has done a great job when tasked with defending star players 1v1.
  • Lost in the shuffle over the weekend, the Canadiens re-assigned defenseman David Rickenbacker to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The Rockets’ playoff push begins on Wednesday, with a series against the Toronto Marlies on the menu.
  • Members of the organization who met with the media on Monday included Alexandre Texier, Alex Newhook and head coach Martin St-Louis.
  • The Habs are now one game away from advancing to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Veteran Brendan Gallagher was again included in the lineup, and he made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal of the game. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier provided the other goals in a vital 3–2 win. [Canadiens Highlights: Gallagher Leads Way In Huge Win]
  • Rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs was great, stopping 38 of 40 shots sent his way, including nearly 10 high-danger saves.
  • Defensive defenseman Lane Hutson had another outstanding game. It should also be noted that he has maintained his ridiculous production rate in the playoffs. The phenom has registered his name on the scoresheet 10 times in 10 games of his career.
  • While the Canadiens were taking a series lead against the Lightning, the Laval Rocket were busy doing the same in the AHL. Laval beat the Toronto Marlies 3-1 on Wednesday to take a 1-0 series lead. Florian Czekaj, Joshua Roy and Samuel Blais scored for the Rockets, while Kaapo Kakkonen made 20 saves to ensure the win.
  • The entertainment factor is through the roof when it comes to this Lightning Fan Crash.
  • That’s not the case anymore, but there was a time when some doubted whether Lane Hutson’s impressive production would translate to the NCAAs. And then he questioned whether he could do it in the World Championship. And World Juniors. In the nhl. And finally, the playoffs. At this (very early) point in his career, there is little left to prove.
  • Sniper Cole Caulfield is one of the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player in the league who displays the best type of sportsmanship throughout the season. In 81 games played, Caufield accumulated only 14 penalty minutes. [Caufield Among Finalists For Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]
  • The French call of Alexandre Texier’s game-winning goal is absolutely brilliant.
  • Veteran Brendan Gallagher had his mother on his mind when re-inserting him into the lineup on Wednesday. Considering how much he has sacrificed for the franchise, it was a fitting start to their playoff run from the perennially underappreciated forward.
  • Unfortunately for the organization, the Laval Rocket also dropped their playoff game, losing 6–2 to the Toronto Marlies. Laval actually established a 2–0 lead midway through the first period, but the Marlies’ four powerplay goals were too much to handle. [AHL]
  • One of the main reasons the Canadiens have been able to keep up with the Lightning is because of the play on the team’s third line. Or is this his fourth line? Either way, Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc are scoring at a first-line pace. [Caufield Among Finalists For Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]
  • Caufield, one of the players who has struggled at 5v5, was quick to send his praise.
  • As for Bolduc, he is one of several young players in the province who were inspired by the experienced Brendan Gallagher.
  • Gallagher is appreciative of the support he has received since returning to the lineup.
  • With all due respect to Henrik Lundqvist, the game clearly lacks respect for Jacob Dobbs. Sure, he’s a rookie, but you could argue he’s done just as good a job as the veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy.
  • big bill It truly epitomizes what it means to be a member of the Montreal Canadiens.
  • Noah Dobson skated on Friday, and by all accounts, it looks like he’s as close as possible to returning to the lineup. There were also some whispers that he was almost cleared to play in Game 6.
  • Juraj Slafkowski decided to take a shot at Max Crozier, who was taken out of the lineup for Game 6.
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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Caufield #Trophy #Finalist #Depth #Scoring #Laval

Las Vegas Raiders WR depth chart 2026: No obvious starter

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Las Vegas Raiders WR depth chart 2026: No obvious starter

Entering the NFL Draft, one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest needs was at wide receiver. They selected a pass catcher – but not until the sixth round. While their draft has been praised, with good reason, the Raiders could not fill every need.

For a team that desperately needs an option for the future of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, waiting until pick No. 195 says a lot about where general manager Jon Spytek stands on the current roster. Let’s take a look at where the room stands and who could emerge as the playmaker they’ll need in 2026

Depth without a star: Breaking down the current receiver roster

NFL: Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders
Stephen R. sylvany-imagen images

The Raiders used second- and fourth-round picks on Jack Beech and Donte Thornton Jr. last year. The two combined for 30 receptions and 359 yards as rookies – not exactly eye-popping. In fact, both will feel extra pressure as they enter training camp later this summer.

Additionally, Trey Tucker led the team with 57 receptions for 696 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 — a modest stat line that is a baseline, not a ceiling, under new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak. Tucker’s speed is advantageous, but he hasn’t done anything to establish himself as a primary receiver during his career, even in the slot.

Free agency additions filled the depth chart without solving a key problem. Jalen Naylor, who spent time with Kirk Cousins ​​at Minnesota, averaged nearly 440 receiving yards with 10 combined touchdowns over the past two seasons as the fourth receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Jordan Addison. Not exactly WR1 type ability.

Derek Young, a special teams standout in Seattle, and veteran Phillip Dorsett — a Super Bowl champion who spent last season on Atlanta’s practice squad and hasn’t appeared in a regular season game in two years — round out the group. Cedric Jackson and Brandon Rice have the lowest NFL track records.

The room is versatile and well-rounded. It’s not deep with proven pass catchers.

Also Read: Las Vegas Raiders Draft Recap: Getting to know the picks including Fernando Mendoza

There is no clear No. 1 in sight for the Raiders

NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagen Images

No one has locked down the No. 1 spot yet and this is really an opportunity. The question is who steps up and runs Kubiak’s offense through them.

The dominoes begin to fall at the training camp. Chemistry with Mendoza and Cousins, learning Kubiak’s system, creating roles — it all gets sorted out between now and September.

Bech and Tucker are the likeliest candidates to lead the group, but don’t expect them to look like they did in Chip Kelly’s attack a year ago. The scheme is different, the quarterback is different and the opportunity in front of them is bigger.

Kubiak’s offense thrives on versatility. Last season in Seattle, Smith-Njigba was the engine, lining up outside, in the slot and in the backfield and turning jet sweeps into chunk gains. He was everywhere, and defenses couldn’t stop him.

The Raiders don’t have Smith-Njigba. But Tucker plays a similar style: fast, playful and dangerous in space. This makes him the most natural fit for that role in Kubiak’s system.

Without a true No. 1 receiver on the roster, Kubiak is betting on his current group for production. The blueprint is clear: Re-create Smith-Njigba’s versatility and production, with the pieces already in the building.

Also read: Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 draft pick ‘May never play football again’

Malik Benson brings versatility, special teams value

Syndication: The Register Guard
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY Network via Imagine Images

Malik Benson arrives in Las Vegas with legitimate production. He led Oregon with 43 catches for 716 yards and six touchdowns last season, lining up outside in the slot and turning touch passes into jet sweep gains — the exact type of versatility Kubiak is looking for.

Benson’s calling card is speed – he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.4 seconds in high school and it shows on tape. He cleanly tracks the deep ball at full speed, forces defenses to respect his vertical presence and creates separation without relying on 50/50 balls.

At Oregon, his intermediate and deep route production took a significant jump, and his catch rate increased while drops nearly disappeared. He’s not a short field weapon or run blocker, but in a system that wants to push the ball downfield, he can bend coverages in ways that benefit every receiver around him.

Benson will have opportunities not only on offense, but on special teams as well. He was the Ducks’ punt returner last year. He had a breakout season as a punt returner, totaling nine returns for 161 yards, including an 85-yard punt return touchdown.

He is not coming in and taking charge. But after roster cuts, there will be four months of reps talking.

ALSO READ: Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft recap: Best class in years, but the wide receiver room still needs an answer

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Braven Honda graduated from San Diego State with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, … More about Braven Honda


#Las #Vegas #Raiders #depth #chart #obvious #starter

Cleveland boosts forward depth with latest signing

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Cleveland boosts forward depth with latest signing

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Riley Minnicks to a two-way contract, the team officially announced Saturday. He is the 18th and final member of the wine-and-gold roster, bolstering the Cavs’ forward depth as they continue their momentum in the G League.

Minix has played 12 games for the Cleveland Charge, averaging 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in over 31 minutes per contest. He’s shooting a stellar 55.6% from the field, including a 45.7% clip from long range on nearly six attempts a night. The Cavs’ G League affiliate acquired Minix from the Austin Spurs on January 13 in a three-team trade with the Westchester Knicks. Cleveland gave up both 2027 first- and second-round selections in the deal.

Before coming to charge, the 25-year-old had spent the previous two and a half seasons with San Antonio’s organization. Starting his career undrafted out of Morehead State and spending the past four years in the NAIA Southeast, Minix’s performance at the 2024 NBA Summer League earned him an Exhibit 10 contract and an invitation to training camp. The Spurs changed his initial terms to a two-way contract which expired.

Minix appeared in just one NBA regular-season game for San Antonio in early November 2024. He had a solid campaign with Austin, but it was cut short due to a torn left labrum that required surgery. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound swingman returned for his second summer with the franchise and spent the preseason with the Spurs on a new two-way contract.

On November 2, against the Phoenix Suns, Minix scored a career-high 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting in four and a half minutes of floor time. He played 11 games during the Showcase Cup portion of the G League season before being called up by Cleveland to move on. He averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one steal in over 33 minutes per game with Austin.

Minix joins Tristan Enaruna and Emmanuel Miller as the Cavs’ third two-way player. Since being acquired by the Charge, he has produced multiple 20-point outings, including a 27-point showing on 6-of-10 shooting from long range in a win over the Raptors 905 two nights ago.

His teammate Norchad Omier was named G League Player of the Week and will represent the team in the NBA G League Next Up game on Sunday. Heading into the final stretch of the season, things are looking good for Cleveland head coach Eli Klay-Abrams.


#Cleveland #boosts #depth #latest #signing

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