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The NHL trade deadline is a week away, and while calls around the league are heating up, expectations are being tempered. I spoke to one general manager this week who cautioned that things seem “a little slow.” He called it a thin market, with few impact players available as rentals.

“But it could mean we get more surprises of players being moved that you don’t expect,” the GM said. “And that could be exciting.”

Here’s what I’m hearing could transpire over the next seven days.


THE CALGARY FLAMES have held the keys to the NHL trade deadline. The domino effect is always real at this time of year. Calgary kicked off the trading season when it moved Elias Lindholm to Vancouver on Jan. 31. Two days later, the Jets traded for Sean Monahan, one of the next-best centers available. As you can see, one team sets the market, then others — who missed out on that player — move quickly to their next option.

The Flames likely got things started again after trading Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. Several teams need a right-shot defenseman and Tanev, 34, was atop most of their lists. Tanev has 41 games of playoff experience, and ranks second in the league in blocked shots. So who are the best available options now?

The next day, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Ilya Lyubushkin from Anaheim.

Sean Walker is likely the next man up. Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere told me he’d like to re-sign both Walker and his defense partner, Nick Seeler, but he didn’t know if it would be possible. With little traction for new contracts, it appears they’re poised to be moved — especially Walker. Other right defensemen who are definitely available: Matt Dumba and Tyson Barrie. Other right defensemen who are possibly available: Alexandre Carrier and Erik Johnson.


YES, THE FLYERS are in playoff position and it seems counterintuitive to be sellers. But general managers typically get one chance to rebuild their team from the foundation up, and it’s right away when they start. The Flyers would like to make the playoffs, but would rather build the team sustainably to contend for several years — and management clearly thinks they’re at least another season, but more likely two or three, away from that.

Briere was adamant with me that he is not shopping Scott Laughton, but rather fielding calls on the center (who has two additional years remaining at a $3 million cap hit) because of how attractive he is to other teams, and it’s bad business not to consider recouping value.

So far, it doesn’t seem any team has been willing to step up to the steep asking price.


NOAH HANIFIN PASSED on a contract extension with Calgary in hopes of exploring the open market. The Massachusetts-born defenseman would like the chance to play in the United States. That devalues his market, as some teams might not want to trade for Hanifin without the wink behind the scenes that he’d sign an extension with them. It’s almost inevitable Hanifin will be traded, but also trending toward Calgary not getting its ideal return. Keep an eye on both Florida-based teams, and potentially Boston and New Jersey here.


ON THE GOALIE front, the Wild let teams know that Marc-Andre Fleury is committed to stay in Minnesota. Fleury had control of the situation with a full no-movement clause, and he wants to see it through with the Wild. From what I understand, the Devils are the only team to make a significant offer to Calgary for Jacob Markstrom. Those talks fell through, but the expectation was New Jersey may re-engage.

The Devils also called Nashville about Juuse Saros, though those conversations didn’t appear to get as far. The Predators are comfortable holding on to Saros, tabling any potential trade talks for the summer.

The Boston Bruins have wanted to keep both goalies, but enough teams have called on Linus Ullmark that it’s worth mentioning as a possibility.

Montreal’s Jake Allen and San Jose’s Kaapo Kahkonen might be the only two goalies on the move.


WHAT I KEEP hearing about the Predators, after they won six straight to separate themselves in the wild-card race — they’re not sold on anything. Take for example, Tommy Novak. The 26-year-old center is a late bloomer just coming into his own offensively. At less than $1 million a season, Novak has become a hot name for several teams. Nashville would still listen on offers if someone were ready to wow them, but it seems likelier that they’ll try to get an extension done and make Novak part of their future.


THE PANTHERS AND HURRICANES are in similar situations. They don’t want to trade away first-round picks (though the Canes have way more draft capital). But they do have significant salary cap space available. So they’re telling teams: Call us, we’re open for business. Both teams seem to be circling around on impact players, wishfully hoping the prices will drop.


I KNOW MANY opposing fans (and teams) rolled their eyes when Mark Stone was placed on long-term injury reserve, giving the Vegas Golden Knights the perfect opportunity to spend his cap space and welcome him back in the playoffs — the exact same situation as 2023. But when Stone was ready for Game 1 of the opening round last year, a team lodged a complaint. I’m told the NHL investigated, and found nothing sketchy about the timeline.

Stone’s new injury (not related to last year’s back surgery) was described to me as so serious, the entire first round is in question for him — and maybe even beyond that. Even still, there are sure to be eye rolls again because the Golden Knights are aggressively looking for top-end wingers.

This could be the destination for Jake Guentzel, Pavel Buchnevich or Jordan Eberle. And don’t discount a Reilly Smith reunion.


THE EXPECTATION AROUND the league is that both Guentzel and Smith will be on the move from Pittsburgh. Though Guentzel loves Pittsburgh and has the utmost respect for Sidney Crosby, it’s probably time — especially considering the road ahead for the Penguins to be top contenders again. Guentzel is already skating and it sounds like he’ll be good to go on March 10 when he’s eligible to come off LTIR. I don’t think anyone has matched the Penguins high asking price for Guentzel (two first-round picks, or the equivalent) but it sounds like several teams are circling, including Edmonton, Colorado, Detroit, Carolina, Vegas and Florida.


THE COLORADO AVALANCHE move stealthily. They were a serious contender for Tanev. I’m told they’re looking to add and have been scouting nearly all of the top targets at forward, specifically at center. After looking at Lindholm and Monahan, they’ve also scouted Adam Henrique and Laughton. Not sure what the Avs are going to do, but it sure feels like something.


THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS have been one of the busiest teams over the past two seasons in terms of trades. But all is (mostly) quiet in Chicago entering the deadline. The Blackhawks re-signed of their most desirable trade chips in Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson and Petr Mrazek. GM Kyle Davidson told me he’s receiving calls about his other pending UFAs, but those would be minor deals if anything.

The Blackhawks have one space remaining to retain salary as a third-party broker. But even that might not happen. Plenty of teams have stepped up in the third-party broker game (now that it’s in vogue, it’s much easier to get the sign-off from ownership). Also, the Blackhawks have 17 draft selections over the first three rounds in the next three years — how many more picks do they need?


THE NEW YORK RANGERS will probably be one of the more aggressive teams, looking for both a center and a right wing (filling the spots lost for the season by Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler). I was told the Rangers are fine parting with their first-round pick, as long as the deal is worth it, though their top two prospects in Gabriel Perreault and Brennan Othmann are off-limits.

Flexibility is also important, as nobody knows whether Chytil will be ready for next season. When it comes to the Rangers, fans are always curious about reunions. I heard Pavel Buchnevich is likely not happening. But other players who left — Frank Vatrano, Vladimir Tarasenko — are options. Tarasenko, who has a no-trade clause, is trending to be on the move. More than one league source suggested the Islanders could be a fit there.


AS WE TALK about draft picks on the move, I asked one director of amateur scouting to give a quick rundown of what to expect talent-wise. He said the 2024 draft is considered good, and defensemen-heavy. The top is strong, but not as generational as the Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli trio we saw in 2023. As for the 2025 draft? Similar to 2024, but no Macklin Celebrini or Bedard, Carlsson or Fantilli. He said his gut is that after picks 5-6, for the next two years the player pool from picks 10 to 40 is very similar.

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.

On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.

With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet

Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.

Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.


2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.


2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.


2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.


2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet

Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.

Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.


2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet

Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.

Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.


2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.

Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.


2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet

Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.

Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.

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Reds’ Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

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Reds' Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jake Fraley was activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.

He had injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch June 23 against the New York Yankees.

An MRI revealed a partially torn labrum that will eventually require surgery. Fraley received a cortisone shot and will try to play through it for the rest of the season.

The Reds were 7-4 in his absence.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who hasn’t played since Noelvi Marte returned from the IL on July 4, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen was scratched from Saturday’s start due to an illness.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa replaced Lorenzen for the game against the visiting New York Mets.

Lorenzen, 33, is 5-8 with a 4.61 ERA through 18 starts this season.

Zerpa, 25, is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 40 appearances out of the bullpen this season. His last start was in August 2023.

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