標籤: lineup

It will be very difficult to argue against the unexpected impact of the Montreal Canadiens’ depth players in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

While the first line has scored exactly one goal at 5v5, the top five goalscorers are far from the guys you would consider star players in Montreal.

Alex Newhook leads the way with five goals, while Kirby Dach is close behind with four. Once we overcome the gap between the above players and the rest of the lineup, we reach the players who have managed to score two goals: Alexandre Texier, Zachary Bolduc and Josh Anderson.

Yes, you read that right, only Newhook, Dach, Texier, Bolduc and Anderson have scored more than one 5v5 goal.

If it’s not related to the division of the NHL’s youngest team, it’s very interesting.

Room for another veteran

And yet, I would argue there is room for another veteran in the mix.

An experienced player who is the oldest player in the organization.

Yes, I’m talking about none other than Brendan Gallagher, the oft-maligned winger who gets far more criticism than he deserves, while also admitting that his talent level has dropped significantly in recent years.

Consider this: In three playoff games, not only has Gallagher scored a goal, but the Habs have outshot the Lightning by a huge margin whenever he’s been on the ice.

During his shift, the Canadiens controlled nearly 70 percent of the shots, expected goals and high-danger scoring opportunities.

The sample size is small, but Gallagher has provided the Habs’ best individual results in the playoffs from an underlying numbers standpoint.

More importantly, Gallagher quickly made his way to his natural habitat and created chaos in the crease, troubling opposition goalkeepers with ease.

In addition to frustrating opposing netminders, he quickly takes his coverage to the wall, making for a frustrated, unfocused opponent.

The playoffs are truly made for players like Gallagher.

And you know he will never hesitate to put his body on the line to ensure his team gains even the slightest advantage.

This struggling lion won’t roam the Savanna forever, but it’s quite clear that he’s not quite satisfied with his last kill.

Considering his dedication to the organization, not to mention his excellent on-ice numbers, using Brendan Gallagher vs. the Buffalo Sabers could be the kind of small advantage that could swing a series in Montreal’s favor.

All Montreal Canadiens and Brendan Gallagher statistics via Natural Stat Trick.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens (4-3) will face the Buffalo Sabers (4-2) in Game 1 of their series on Wednesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Canadiens needed seven games to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round series, with netminder Jacob Dobbs serving as their most valuable player. The Sabers needed only six games to eliminate the Boston Bruins, with goaltender Alex Lyons providing a strong effort while also guarding the net.

With this in mind, the series is not expected to be particularly high scoring, but there is a good chance that some games in the second round series will have more scoring opportunities than previous games.

Statistically speaking, the gap between the Canadiens and Sabers is not as stark as it is between the Habs and the Lightning, which means head coach Martin Saint-Louis’ team may face a tough challenge in the second round, but not an impossible one.

As always, the team with the best start in Game 1 will hold a significant advantage going forward, and given that they are both young, talented clubs, the first period of the first game could go a long way in determining the overall winner of the series.

Possible Lineup Changes

Saint-Louis is keeping its cards close to its chest, but based on practice reports, it looks like Arbor Zekaj will be back in the lineup. Czekaj is a physical player, but he also put up some great underlying statistics in the first round, a reminder that players excel when they get some degree of consistency from the coaching staff.

Joe Velano is also expected to be inserted into the Game 1 lineup, with veteran Brendan Gallagher potentially making way for the Montreal native. The 26-year-old Velano has yet to appear in a playoff game for the Canadiens, but he was one of the players with the most physical depth in the lineup throughout the regular season.

Of course, whether the depth players perform or not, the Canadiens will need more consistency from their top line, which struggled at 5v5 in the first period. Nick Suzuki managed to score a 5v5 goal, but he was the only member of the top trio to do so against the Lightning.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj – Noah Dobson

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

How to watch Hubs Vs. saber

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and they could be getting a very interesting reinforcement in the form of NCAA star Michael Hayes.

The 19-year-old Hayes enjoyed a stellar sophomore season with the University of Michigan, scoring 13 goals and 39 assists in 39 games. He finished the season with 52 points, more than Gavin McKenna (Penn State), Porter Martone (50 points, Michigan State) and James Hagens (47 points, Boston College).

But for Hayes it’s not just a matter of production.

His playing style is the epitome of dynamic hockey.

He executes his plays at full speed, combining elite playmaking with high-level vision. This is the driving force behind Hayes’ No. 1 ranking among Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted on by Habs fans.

In that way, despite the fact that he has only spent two seasons in the NCAA, and has yet to play a single game of professional hockey, you can argue that Hayes is one of the team’s most NHL-ready prospects.

“Michigan lost, the Michael Hayes clock is on,” Elliotte Friedman explained on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast. “We’ll see where it goes in the next few days.”

michael hayes status

We can expect Hayes to sign a contract in the near future, although the nature of said contract may vary. As established by Nicolas Cloutier, the contract will not necessarily last in the NHL, even though this is the most likely scenario. There is a possibility that Hayes and the Canadiens will want to test the waters in the AHL through an amateur tryout before signing an NHL deal.

However, in all likelihood Hayes will want to waste a year of his entry-level contract by signing in the NHL, which will lead to some important decisions in Montreal’s lineup.

Hayes is currently dealing with an injury that caused him to miss a few playoff games for the University of Michigan, so rushing out a contract signing is not a priority when it comes to signing, but once he is ready to play, head coach Martin St-Louis will need to establish the ideal usage for the talented prospect.

It’s a situation that’s complicated by the team’s injuries, or lack thereof.

The Habs are a remarkably healthy team at the moment, a rare occurrence for an organization known for overstocking hospitals.

On the flip side of the coin, just because a player is given the green light to play in the NHL doesn’t mean they aren’t going to struggle with minor issues. Many, if not most, NHL players have persistent health issues that are not serious enough to keep them out of the lineup.

With that in mind, the Canadiens may be able to rest some of their players in the final stretch of the season. Of course, the fact that first place in the Atlantic Division is still up for grabs may influence Montreal’s roster decisions, but I digress.

Montreal Canadiens Forward Situation

The only forward who is still on the mend is Patrik Laine, leaving 14 healthy players fighting for 12 spots. That number will increase to 15 if Hayes signs a contract, allowing at least three forwards to see games in the press box as healthy scratches.

It’s also important to remember that Hayes is expected to eventually become one of the top-six players for the Canadiens, meaning the ideal usage would involve filling that role as early as possible. Hopefully, the days of forcing an extremely talented young player to be on the fourth line in a role unsuitable for his skill set are over.

Given that there is little chance that Saint-Louis will want to disrupt his elite first line (again), the second line signals for the hedge.

And yet, given that the only two relatively permanent players on the second line are also first-year players (Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen), there is some logic in suggesting that running a trio with three rookies could spell trouble.

But if there’s one coach in the NHL who will give the experiment a legitimate shot, it’s definitely St.-Louis.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Last year, Bryce Aldridge was considered the future of the San Francisco Giants. Rated as the 22nd best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Aldridge has been hailed as one of the best first basemen in the minor leagues. He had an .836 OPS at Triple-A Sacramento and earned a call-up to the major leagues in September. So what is he doing in Triple-A to begin the 2026 season?

One reason Aldridge is doomed in Triple-A is that the Giants’ roster is a mess. The Giants are essentially carrying three thirds of first basemen on the roster: Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Casey Schmidt. Because Chapman is the best defender, he is the third baseman, moving Schmidt to play first base and Devers to the DH slot. This stops Aldridge in his natural position.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 1, see where the SF Giants landed

The Giants also signed Luis Erez last offseason and are asking him to play second base. Erez fits better defensively at first base, but Devers has covered first base, forcing Erez to play second base, where he is rated as one of the worst players defensively in baseball.

Then there’s 28-year-old career minor leaguer Gerard Encarnación, who is listed as a probable DH on the depth chart (although he has not started a game as a DH yet this season). He is a first baseman and right fielder, also blocking Aldridge on the depth chart.

Ultimately, between Devers, Schmidt, Encarnación and Arraez, it’s hard to see how Aldridge will get playing time.

Why should the Giants prioritize a better player?

However, when you look a little deeper, it’s not hard to see what the Giants’ answer should be. Schmidt has a career 0.4 bWAR and 88 OPS+. These are hardly numbers that scream “keep this guy in the lineup at all costs.” Last year, he had a league-average 100 OPS+. Schmidt is also not a first baseman; He is a utility infielder who is being asked to play the position because the team’s best first baseman (Arez) is at second, Devers is DH’ing, and Schmidt’s natural position at third base is blocked by Gold Glover (Chapman).

Obviously, Aldridge didn’t help himself in his ten-game MLB audition last year, when he slashed .107/.297/.179. The important thing to keep in mind, however, is that this was a ten-game audition in September, when the entire Giants offense was declining. This was not the best moment to call out a 20 year old rookie.

Aldridge is now a year older, and has nothing more to prove at the Triple-A level. If San Francisco wants league-average production it can continue to start utility men like Schmidt and Encarnación at first base. Or they could call up Aldridge, who offers a lot of upside and needs to develop at the big league level.

Playing it safe and putting Schmidt in the lineup over Aldridge isn’t going to help the Giants. In the NL West, playing safe is the wrong strategy. San Francisco won’t be able to overtake the Dodgers by playing it safe. Playing it safe is what kept the Giants as a .500 team four years in a row.

If Aldridge comes up and struggles, it’s good to know the Giants have a guy like Schmidt who can play first base if needed. But San Francisco needs to give their top prospect a chance, and soon.

If anyone had predicted two years ago that Miguel Andújar would be a key member of the Padres’ offense in 2026, no one would have taken them seriously.

Yet, here is Andújar, batting fifth for the Padres as the primary DH for a team that needs an offensive boost. He has proven to be a versatile addition to the San Diego Padres lineup, which explains why the team targeted him in free agency.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 1, see where the Padres land

The veteran journeyman was once the Yankees’ starting third baseman, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He was considered a future star in New York, but injuries and slumps held him back over the next three years. He bounced from New York to Pittsburgh to Oakland, and ultimately ended up with the Reds, where he broke out in 2025 and became a key part of a surprise playoff push in Cincinnati.

In 34 games with the Reds, Andújar was worth 0.6 bWAR, hitting .359, slugging .544, and finishing with a .944 OPS. This helped him earn an $8 million deal with the Padres in free agency, the most he ever made in his nine-year MLB career.

No one in San Diego expected Andújar to match his .944 OPS with the Reds, and perhaps he would never do so again. However, he has continued to perform well. The utility man is slashing .261/.320/.391 for a .711 OPS through his first seven games. He’s getting good at-bats as the Padres’ DH, but still has the versatility to play third base or the corner outfield.

Fans are still getting used to the idea that Andújar can be a consistently good major league player. Recent evidence suggests that Andújar is a legitimate bat going forward.

comeback story

Between 2019 and 2022, Andújar was viewed as a marginal major leaguer. During those four years, he played in 114 major league games, was worth -2.0 bWAR, and had a 61 OPS+. He also played 93 minor league games in that span.

Something changed in 2023 when Andújar was in the Pirates’ minor-league system. With Triple-A Indianapolis, Andújar had a .944 OPS in 103 games, while hitting .338. He proved good enough to earn a call-up at the end of the season and a place in the Athletics in 2024.

Since being called up in 2023, here are his MLB numbers: 205 games, 1.3 bWAR, .296 average, 113 OPS+, 39 doubles, 18 home runs and 94 RBI. He’s been an above average hitter at the big league level for 205 games so far, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

The Padres suddenly seem to have identified Andujar as an underrated player who could provide an immediate spark to their offense, and so far, he’s been exactly that. Against former All-Stars like Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and Nick Castellanos, he has the fifth-highest OPS ever on the team.

Andujar may not be a superstar, but he has been the middle of the lineup spark the Padres need.

Who’s on the pole for tomorrow’s NASCAR race? The NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup has been determined following qualifying for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. In the 37-driver field, tire wear is expected to be a big story for tomorrow, so the starting order from today’s session could prove crucial for the points.

Let’s dive straight into the Goodyear 400 starting lineup following the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying results at Darlington today. Ahead you can find the starting grid for tomorrow’s NASCAR race.

RELATED: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debuting lineup at Darlington

NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying results at Darlington: Goodyear 400

Here is the starting lineup for the Goodyear 400 for Sunday’s Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.

RELATED: NASCAR driver sheds light on tire strategy, potential chaos at Darlington

Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 Starting Grid

Here’s the starting grid for today’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Darlington

RELATED: NASCAR Stage Winners 2026, This Season’s Stage Results Tracker

Who’s on the pole for tomorrow’s NASCAR race?

Tyler Reddick is on the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway. Reddick and Bubba Wallace will lead the starting grid for the Goodyear 400, with the top 23XI Racing drivers taking the top two pole positions.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

toronto blue jays

• c alejandro kirk
• 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 2B Ernie Clement
• SS Andres Jimenez
• 3B Kazuma Okamoto
• Jesus Sanchez’s
• OF Daulton Varsho
• Edison Barger’s
• DH George Springer

After losing the World Series (by mere inches) to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays were not satisfied with simply “running it back”. Last season, they gave superstar Wlady Jr. a chance to keep him in Toronto for his entire career.

Despite losing second baseman Bo Bichette in free agency, they were in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, signed one of the big international free agents in Okamoto, and traded top prospect Joey Loperfido for Sanchez to play in the outfield.

The Jays are hungry to get back to the Fall Classic after coming so close to winning it all, and they have certainly made the right steps to repeat as American League champions.

New York Yankees

• C Austin Wells
• 1B Ben Rice
• 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• SS Anthony Volpe
• 3B Ryan McMahon
• Cody Bellinger’s
• Trent Grisham’s
• Aaron Judge’s
• DH Giancarlo Stanton

New York, on the other hand, is content to run it back. That’s a bit minimalistic for a team that will have top player Gerrit Cole returning from injury. But not much has changed on the offensive side.

Perennial MVP Aaron Judge and Stanton will definitely (as usual) hit a ton of home runs. Chisholm Jr. is trying to go 50-50 for the second time in MLB history. And the Yanks did a good job of retaining free agent Cody Bellinger despite lengthy talks about his departure.

Whether or not they achieve all of those goals, this is a club that won 94 games last season and is seeking a return to the Fall Classic in 2024 after losing to Los Angeles. They’re definitely ready to make a run for it.

boston red sox

• c charles narvaez
• 1B Willson Contreras
• 2B Marcelo Meyer
• SS Trevor Story
• 3B Caleb Durbin
• jerren duran’s
• sedan rafela
• Roman Anthony’s
• DH Willier Abreu

To say the Sox had an active offseason would be to sell general manager Craig Breslow a bit. After clinching a postseason berth in 2025, they lost to the rival Yankees in a three-game wild card series.

Their only major departure from the starting group is Alex Bregman who will be replaced by NL Rookie of the Year finalist Durbin at third base. The crowded outfield lineup will make the math difficult (especially for outfielder Masataka Yoshida). But this is arguably the Sox’s greatest strength, with Duran, Rafaela, Anthony and Abreu being some of the best outfielders in the game.

Additionally the Red Sox are excited to see Story have a full healthy season at shortstop, with Contreras starting behind Tristan Casas for the first time. This club’s attack looks stronger than in recent years, and (in a competitive division like this) they will need all the help they can get.

baltimore orioles

• c adlerushman
• 1b pete alonso
• 2B Blaze Alexander
• SS Gunnar Henderson
• 3B Kobe Mayo
• Taylor Ward’s
• Colton Cowser’s
• dylan beavers
• DH Tyler O’Neill

Last season was a major disappointment for Baltimore, with the club finishing last in the AL East after making the postseason in both 2023 and ’24. This led to the firing of manager Brandon Hyde midway through the 2025 season.

The O’s needed to prove something to their fans in the offseason, and they did. They traded pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward. They then signed top free agent Pete Alonso to take care of the cold corner. They finished their lineup moves by trading Alexander to play second while Jackson Holiday is dealing with an injury.

They have had great young players come through (Henderson, Rutschman, Cowser, Beavers), but their results last season were disappointing and inconsistent. If they can put it together again, and the pitching holds up, they will run the AL East standings once again.

tampa bay rays

• Nick Fortes
• 1B Jonathan Aranda
• 2B Gavin Lux
• SS Taylor Walls
• 3B Junior Caminero
• Jake Fraley’s
• Cedric Mullins’s
• OF Chandler Simpson
• DH yandy diaz

So far, the Rays have their star slugger, with All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero returning after the Electric World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic. But there isn’t a lot of help behind that.

They traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates to play second base after dealing Brandon Lowe, and they signed Mullins to help their outfield. Speedster Chandler Simpson will return to the club after surprising MLB with his ability to run around the diamond, and Yandy Diaz provides the club with a helpful veteran presence.

Don’t get your hopes up too quickly for a Rays postseason run just because they’re back at Tropicana Field. But, at least, there is hope for the near future.

It’s not that common for rookies to make a team better defensively. Enter Phoenix Suns first-year players Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluch. Both of them have received immense support and praise from head coach Jordan Ott.

Ever since the Suns selected Maluach and Fleming in the 2025 NBA Draft, they have seen the potential. Both have the defensive abilities to switch, play pick-and-roll, and play bigger than their respective sizes.

As a result, this has allowed Ott to experiment and be creative. There may be offensive limitations, but the defensive promise far outweighs any shortcomings on the other end.

For example, they had a lineup at the five on small ball with Royce O’Neal, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jalen Green, and Fleming.

It’s an extremely small sample size, but that lineup posted an offensive rating of 141.7 and a defensive rating of 100 in just six minutes.

Will this lineup achieve a net rating of 41.7 every time it’s on the court? Probably not, but it’s a good metric to assess and see what the potential might be.

Fleming’s 7’5 wingspan and 9’1 vertical reach make him the ideal small-ball center. Not to mention, his physicality and athleticism far exceeds that of a typical rookie.

Again, the numbers are small, but it seems like Ott is optimistic about moving forward with it based on the scenario.

“Both games (vs. Milwaukee and Indiana), it felt great,” Ott explained via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on Twitter (formerly Twitter). “When to really get near it. Facing massive pullouts again.”

“Some of the challenges we’re having with guarding those guys with our bigger players are new. Just new situations that (7-foot freshman Khaman Maluach) has been in. Thought we were able to respond in the game to try to find another way to get a win on the road.”

Defensive combo of Rasheer Fleming + Khaman Maluach = Jordan Ott for the Suns

Again, Fleming and Maluach, being rookies and picking up minutes, may have some skeptics, but they have earned their fair share of respect from their teammates and coaches.

Tireless work, playing with the G-League Valley Suns and constantly staying prepared are all parts of the process that helped him get here. Eventually, the Suns relied on Fleming and Maluach by trading Nigel Hayes-Davies and Nick Richards at the trade deadline.

While part of this was for salary cap purposes, it shows the confidence the organization and the entire team have in these two rookies.

As for the former St. Joe’s forward, he has all the makings of an elite defensive player. As mentioned earlier, her mentality as well as physical gifts have attracted many people.

Even Suns teammates Grayson Allen and Colin Gillespie shared that Fleming’s ceiling is so high. Devin Booker noted Maluach as having high basketball skills for a center, and for a young man like himself.

Given where we are in the season, a contending team typically doesn’t aim to keep two rookies around for a significant amount of time. However, Ott appears to have a lot of offensive and defensive potential.

Trust is growing with teammates, lineup experiments are going well, and Maluach and Fleming seem to be playing freely.

Phoenix’s defensive rating is already the tenth-best in the association. The influx of lineup combinations could disrupt a set five-man unit. However, this may be a blessing in disguise because of the opportunity both Fleming and Maluach have.

Meaningful minutes and impacting the game on the defensive end with strong rim protection, perimeter defense and a never-ending hustle is exactly what Ott was good at — and it’s paying dividends.

los angeles dodgers

• c will smith
• 1B Freddy Freeman
• 2b hyesong kim
• SS Mookie Bates
• 3B Max Muncy
• Teoscar Hernandez’s
• by andy pages
• kyle tucker’s
• DH Shohei Ohtani

The Dodgers are (more or less) on a rebound from last season. For the two-time defending World Series champions, this is a solid strategy. They have one of the best lineups in baseball and undoubtedly Shohei Ohtani is the best player on the planet.

They solved their problems in the outfield by signing top free agent Kyle Tucker to a 4-year, $240 million contract. He projects to be the starting right fielder with the DH slot closed for Ohtani.

San Diego Padres

• C Freddy Fermin
• 1B Gavin Sheets
• 2B Jake Cronenworth
• SS Xander Bogarts
• 3b manny chado
• Ramon Laureano’s
• Jackson Merrill’s
• Fernando Tatis Jr.
• DH miguel andujar

After making the postseason two years in a row, the Padres struggled to get anything done this offseason (largely due to the payroll crisis that seems never-ending in San Diego).

Even with the departures of Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn, their offense was mostly filled out. Nevertheless, they added Andújar as a powerful right bat. The Friars have said throughout the offseason that the first base void will likely be filled internally. Sheets is projected to start in that role in 2025 after his breakout season.

san francisco giants

• c patrick bailey
• 1B Bryce Aldridge
• 2B Luis Arraez
• SS Willie Adams
• 3B Matt Chapman
• Heliot Ramos’s
• Harrison Bader’s
• jung ho li ki
• DH Rafael Devers

Apart from the gaps on the left side of their infield, the Giants’ offense was fairly set. Devers factors into becoming the primary DH so top-prospect Bryce Aldridge can get reps at first.

Arraez was the big acquisition by San Francisco in the off-season, signing a 1-year deal to become their everyday second baseman. Arraez has spent the offseason working on his fielding as his weak defense has hurt his free agency case.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• C Gabriel Moreno
• 1B Carlos Santana
• 2B Kettle Marte
• SS Geraldo Perdomo
• 3B Nolan Arenado
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• Alec Thomas’s
• Corbin Carroll’s
• DH Pavin Smith

Dubex made some solid contributions to their offense this offseason. After incredible seasons from perennial stars like Carroll, Marte and Perdomo, they traded for 10-time Gold Glover Nolan Arenado and selected veteran Carlos Santana in free agency.

Unfortunately, trading out Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at last year’s trade deadline didn’t help them. But it’s unlikely either would have re-signed with the club in free agency. Replacing them with Arenado and Santana is certainly an offensive meltdown, but they will fill the spots serviceably.

colorado rockies

• C Hunter Goodman
• 1B TJ Rumfield
• 2B Willie Castro
• SS Ezequiel Tovar
• 3B Kyle Carros
• Jordan Beck’s
• Mickey Moniak’s
• Brenton Doyle’s
• DH Zack Wayne

A historically poor 2025 encouraged the Rocks to build on the good parts of last season. They have an abundance of young talent to be excited about. Most of their contributors are returning along with veteran utility-man Willie Castro.

Colorado adds Paul DePodesta moneyball His front office gained fame for leading baseball operations. After finishing with a 43-119 record last year, expectations are incredibly low for Colorado. If they can do anything to improve on that then they will consider this season a success.

What a strange time it is to be the New Jersey Devils.

There are a lot more questions than answers about the status of the organization between now and July 1, or perhaps, through the summer. One of the main questions will be on the blueline, and whether their veteran $9 million defenseman will still be with the Devils or their former second overall pick in 2022.

The Devils GM’s comments on the matter made things even more confusing. More information on that is in the link below.

Also below, some notes from practice and Tuesday’s lineup changes.

Elsewhere, Matthew Nease trade rumors, the latest 2026 NHL Draft rankings, and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Yesterday’s deep dive highlighted GM Tom Fitzgerald’s latest denial of the Dougie Hamilton debacle, Hamilton’s ongoing media unavailability since the agent drama unfolded, and how the whole situation has made the blueline picture even bleaker heading into the summer. The noise surrounding the $7.4 million signing bonus he received on July 1 is keeping the trade buzz alive, and it’s raising real questions about Simon Nemec’s long-term fit in New Jersey.

On the ice yesterday, the Devils practiced Tuesday afternoon at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House with three games left in the current seven-game homestand. All expected players were on the ice (Brett Pace is week-to-week with a lower body issue).

Biggest change: Jesper Bratt and Arseny Gritsyuk switched positions. Gritsyuk is back with Cody Glass and Lenny Haminaho. Head coach Sheldon Keefe explained that by finding his game intellectually away from Jack, Bratt has been reunited with Jack Hughes – who operates on a whole ‘nother level, and if you’re not on pace, it’s hard to succeed (no pun intended).

📺 devil’s rink report: While on the blueline, I asked GM Tom Fitzgerald about his relationship with Dougie Hamilton after his public debacle earlier this season. His answer made things even more confusing. I looked at the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼 Check out the full Devils Rink report here

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

sportsnet: Look, if the national media can recognize the growing pressure in New Jersey, so can the Devils organization. Even they know the fact that they did nothing at the NHL trade deadline is shocking, especially in light of their recent history, like the previously mentioned Hamilton sermon and yesterday’s Simon Nemec discussion.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

athletic: With the way New Jersey has gone this season and the possibility that they will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, you should probably all be familiar with this list of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft. Here are the latest rankings.

pittsburgh hockey now: Captain Sidney Crosby took a morning skate with the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday. Here is the latest injury report from Dan Kingarski.

Montreal hockey now: Matthew Neese was at the center of trade rumors, and reportedly, the Montreal Canadiens could be in the mix.

Forever Blueshirts: New York Rangers captain JT Miller is making progress toward recovery from an upper-body injury, participating in the optional morning skate — his first time on the ice with teammates since landing on IR last week. Coach Mike Sullivan said he had had singles skates before and called it a sign of progress and expected to return “sooner or later” while taking it day by day.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers first acquired Luka Doncic last season, he immediately developed strong chemistry with Jaxson Hayes in the pick and roll. That chemistry has continued to develop this season, and head coach JJ Redick has even built some of the Lakers’ lineups around that pairing.

Ahead of the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, JJ Redick pointed out how some of the team’s most successful lineups have included Luka Doncic and Jaxson Hayes at the same time. That lineup was able to make a positive impact on the last game against the Denver Nuggets, even though it resulted in a loss.

“We’ve had a chance to run some lineups with Jackson and Luka and shoot around that recently, and they’ve been really positive lineups for us. It gives Luka an outlet, it gives Jackson room to run,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “He did a really good job for us last night, Jackson staying behind the defence, forcing Luka [Nikola] Jok has to make a decision there and allow that leg.”

“And sometimes, Luka was able to score the basketball. We’re not going to be able to do that every game. Denver doesn’t switch on, what we call flips or backside screens. We try to switch to blow him up,” Redick said. “The perimeter guy’s first screen last night, we were able to get some separation, and then from there it’s a quick pitch and roll from Jackson. We got a lot of good things from him.”

According to Databaller, in the Lakers’ top five offensive five-man lineup, Doncic and Hayes are both on the court. Those lineups also include players like Rui Hachimura, Jake Laravia and even rarely used Dalton Knecht, all of whom have been consistent 3-point threats at times for the Lakers.

One reason Hayes is more effective among 3-point shooters is his better decision-making ability in short rolls. He has done a much better job of being able to read defenses faster and recognize corner 3-point shooters.

And when it comes to most assists per 36 minutes when they’re on the floor together, Doncic and Hayes are in the top 10 in the league with 3.5, according to NBA.com.

There’s no doubt that Doncic and Hayes are very happy with each other when they are on the court together. Hayes gives Doncic a legitimate threat that opposing defenses have to be aware of. Defenders will have to choose their poison between Hayes getting a free lob or Doncic getting single coverage on his step-back jumpers.

Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, it will be interesting to see how Redick continues to utilize the team’s different lineups.

The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of an important homestand that could help them clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference. That means they have to play some of their best ball, and that comes with making changes to the lineup to put them in the best position to win.

Head coach Quin Snyder did just that recently, inserting C.J. McCollum into the starting lineup and moving Zachary Reisacher off the bench. This is not new territory for McCullum, as he has been a consistent starter for most of his career. He was asked about the lineup change at the recent Hawks shootaround.

“It’s part of the game. I’ve played 840 matches in my career,” McCullum told reporters. “I’ve obviously started 10 years in a row, and I’m comfortable with that. When I came here I told them, whatever you need me to do, I’ll do. I’ve played a lot of different roles in my career. I’ve been a DNP guy to start. I’ve been to the 7th, 8th and 9th man. I’ve been a starter. So whatever’s needed to help the team, I’ll do.”

With what McCollum has brought to the Hawks since being traded, they may be looking to keep him in the starting lineup instead of coming off the bench. Meanwhile, Riescher has not performed particularly well in his second season and it is time for a change.

“That group of guys that finished the game, their Nets rating is 10 points higher than any other combination,” Snyder said after their game against the Brooklyn Nets. “This is our best lineup. Not starting CJ gives us ball handling and some scoring punch off the bench. But we don’t get that lineup as much.”

Not only would this move help the Hawks get off to a strong start to games, but it could also give Resacher a chance to regain his confidence in a new role.

“I think the biggest thing is that this in no way reflects our and my personal confidence in Zack,” Snyder said. “I thought being in a different phase of the game against different matchups with different guys could be really positive for him. And I was glad to see that I think that was the case. He looked relaxed, and he competed. Jack has all the right things. His development is something that will continue, whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.”