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Going into Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp this season, it’s safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

Defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke? Maybe, but even that was a huge question mark. The Penguins had four right-side defenseman with NHL experience penciled in to crack the roster, even if Brunicke had already impressed the Penguins’ organization during his 2024 camp.

But, against all odds, both teenagers did make the NHL roster out of training camp and earned at least a nine-game trial with the big club.

Brunicke, 19, registered his first NHL goal Thursday in a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders, which was a beautiful wrist shot through a screen from the slot. Kindel, 18, scored his in the very next game – a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday – which was a Phil Kessel-esque long-range wrister from the right wing off the rush.

Both players have one goal and are a plus-1 after three NHL games. Both have shown improvement with each passing pre-season and regular season game. And both players could be sent back to the Western Hockey League (WHL) before their respective entry-level contracts kick in at Game No. 10.

Three games in, it is already looking like they no longer belong in junior hockey. Now, they’re making a very strong case to stick around for good.

It’s important to note that Kindel and Brunicke are not a package deal. One has an additional year of seasoning in junior hockey, they play different positions and fill different needs for this Penguins’ team, and they are at different places in their development, even if they are both showing well in the early parts of the season.

On A Night Of Firsts, Penguins Defeat Islanders, 4-3
It was a night of firsts for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ players in Thursday’s home opener against the New York Islanders.

For one, there is a size factor to consider, even if it should not be the deciding factor in terms of whether a player stays or goes. Brunicke is 6-foot-3, 201 pounds, while Kindel is 5-foot-11, 181 pounds. Development also looks different for forwards and defensemen. Oftentimes, it takes longer for defensemen to fully develop and settle into their NHL roles.

There is a very real possiblity that only one of them – even none of them – will stay in the NHL beyond nine games this season. There are players set to come off of injured reserve, including forwards Kevin Hayes and Rutger McGroarty, at some point. Hayes made the road trip to Southern California, meaning there is a chance he will play sometime this week.

For Hayes to be activated, someone has to go – whether that’s Hayes himself or someone else – as the Penguins are at their full 23-man roster capacity. With Ville Koivunen already optioned back to the AHL level, that means that no one on the roster is waiver-exempt aside from Kindel and Brunicke, neither of which are AHL-eligible and must be sent back to their junior teams.

If they are sent back to their junior teams, they must remain there until the end of their respective junior seasons. And something about that just doesn’t seem fair to either player.

Youth Movement Cultivating Fresh Identity For Penguins
On Thursday night against the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins’ rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke became the first teenager to score a goal for the Penguins since Daniel Sprong in 2015.

Brunicke is already proving to be one of the Penguins’ best-six defensemen, and he’s probably not at the bottom of that list, either. His skating is a marvel to watch, and his hockey sense – especially his offensive instincts – is impressive for a teenage blueliner. He does still have some room for improvement as far as his decision-making in the defensive zone, but those reads will come with more experience at the NHL level.

Quite simply, there is nothing left for him to learn in junior hockey. His development, at this point, is best-served to happen at the NHL level this season, even if he doesn’t play in all 82 games. There is a lot of value in him being taken under the wing of veterans like Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang and learning from them, especially since he has a high degree of offensive upside.

Things aren’t much different for Kindel on the forward front. He has been centering the third line – primarily with Tommy Novak and Filip Hallander on his wings – and he doesn’t look a touch out of pace. Kindel’s hockey smarts are off the charts, and his reads are already up to NHL speed. He’s winning battles on the walls, he’s beating guys to pucks, and he is finding and creating the space to generate chances – both in the offensive zone and transitioning out of the defensive zone.

Yes, Kindel could return to the Calgary Hitmen for a year and dominate the league. His 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games were second only to Michael Misa in CHL scoring among 2025 draft-eligible forwards last season. But, if he’s already miles ahead of his junior competition – and has already proven capable of measuring up to NHL competition – is there any real benefit for his development in sending him back, especially if they can manage Kindel’s workload in a similar way to Brunicke’s?

Honestly, a large part of whatever decisions Kyle Dubas and company make with regards to these players may come down to whether or not they’re comfortable allowing either or both players’ three-year contract timelines to begin this season. But, even still, is that worth potentially stunting their development if they are indeed ready to compete at the NHL level?

One thing is for certain: This Western road trip is a critical one for both players. There’s still a small possibility that one or both of them could take a step back in the next three games, which could make any decisions a bit easier for the Penguins.

But if they continue to trend upward, those decisions will almost certainly be made harder. It would be the easier path for the Penguins to simply pull the plug on one or both instead of placing veterans on waivers in order to make way for the teenage rookies to stick around, especially since there are other, slightly older prospects who are probably deserving of a shot at the NHL roster as well.

In this case, the Penguins should take the hard path. If this team is truly keen on prioritizing youth and development at the NHL level this season, they are at a place where they need to show a culture shift, let the kids play, and figure out the rest.

After all – so far – they’ve earned their stay.

Mike Sullivan’s Time In Pittsburgh Deserves To Be Celebrated
If folks have been keeping tabs on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last year and a half, they very well know that the organization is going through a plethora of change.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 10: Jorge Polanco #7 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting the game-winning RBI single during the fifteenth inning against the Detroit Tigers to win game five of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The deciding 15-inning Game 5 of the Mariners-Tigers American League Division Series was a five-hour exercise in beautifully exhausting tension.

In a game with 115 plate appearances, there was never one where a batter for the trailing team stepped to the plate without a chance to at least tie the game.

The Mariners stepped to the plate in the bottom of seven innings with a chance to walk off to the American League Championship Series, and they finally did so in the 15th inning when Jorge Polanco singled to right to drive in J.P. Crawford.

The game was also an exercise in exhaustion for many East Coast baseball fans as it finished much later than a normal game, which is to be expected for 15 innings. The game ended at 1:07 a.m. But considering this was a 15-inning nail-biter, the game was a remarkable example of just how much quicker baseball, even the longest games, are being played these days.

While this game went past 1 a.m. ET, it is the 14th-latest finish in the postseason since 2015. So while some may be bleary eyed this morning, last night wasnâ€t the battle against sleep that the 2017 NLDS game between the D-backs and Dodgers. Thanks to a brutal (for the East Coast) 10:30 p.m. start time, that game didnâ€t finish until 2:08 a.m. ET despite being a not particularly long (for 2017) gametime of 3:37.

Hereâ€s a look at the latest finish times in the postseason since 2015. Any East Coasters who made it to the end of the wondrous 18-inning 2018 World Series game between the Dodgers and Red Sox deserves a commendation of some sort.

SeasonGAme
TYPEScoreEnd
TIMEGame
LENGTHMINUTES
PER BATTER2018W. CardRockies 2, Cubs 1 (13)1:04 a.m.4:552.892025ALDSMariners 3, Tigers 2 (15)1:07 a.m.4:582.592020NLDSDodgers 12, Padres 31:12 a.m.4:042.742018ALCSRed Sox 8, Astros 61:13 a.m.4:332.972019NLDSNationals 4, Dodgers 21:14 a.m.3:372.892015WSRoyals 5, Mets 4 (14)1:18 a.m.5:092.692016WSCubs 9, Guardians 31:19 a.m.5:093.862020NLDSDodgers 5, Padres 11:32 a.m.3:543.002017WSAstros 13, Dodgers 12 (10)1:38 a.m.5:173.232017NLDSDodgers 3, D-backs 11:44 a.m.3:363.092022NLDSPadres 5, Dodgers 31:54 a.m.3:462.902017NLDSDodgers 9, D-backs 52:08 a.m.3:372.782018NLCSDodgers 2, Brewers 1 (13)2:25 a.m.5:153.122016NLDSGiants 6, Cubs 5 (13)2:43 a.m.5:042.872018WSDodgers 3, Red Sox 2 (18)3:30 a.m.7:203.36

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The Belleville Senators announced on Friday that defenseman Scott Harrington has signed a two-year American Hockey League contract with the club.

Harrington, 32, brings a wealth of NHL experience to Belleville. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft, the Kingston, Ontario native has suited up for 255 NHL games, most of them with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s also suited up for Pittsburgh, Toronto, San Jose, and Anaheim, along with 247 career AHL appearances.

“Weâ€re excited to welcome Scott to the Belleville Senators family,†Belleville Sens GM Matt Turek said in a team press release. “Scottâ€s impressive NHL career, character and leadership ability will all be keys in helping our group to take the next step. As a native of Kingston, growing up just down the 401 from CAA Arena, he’ll be a fantastic representative of the Senators and 613 Country.â€

Outside of the NHL, Harrington has shown a knack for winning. He captured an OJHL championship with the Kingston Voyageurs, followed by back-to-back OHL titles with the London Knights, where he served as captain in 2012–13.

On the international stage, Harrington represented Team Canada at multiple levels, earning gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, silver at the World Under-17 Championship, and bronze at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He’s represented Canada twice at the World Juniors.

Harrington’s last NHL season was 2022-23, when he got some looks as Erik Karlsson’s D partner in San Jose before being included in the blockbuster Timo Meier trade that season with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils waived Harrington the day after the trade, and Anaheim claimed him.

Seven years earlier, Harrington was part of an even bigger trade when Phil Kessel was traded from Toronto to Pittsburgh. Harrington came back the other way, and unlike the Meier deal, Harrington was a much bigger piece in this one. In fact, he made the Leafs’ opening night roster for the 2015–16 season.

Two seasons ago, Harrington tried his hand in Switzerland. He was injured for much of that season but returned with Zurich for the 2024 playoffs, and he won yet another championship, skating alongside former Senators Rudolfs Balcers and Derek Grant.

After Harrington returned to North America last season and signed a one-year deal with AHL Springfield last season and now returns for another AHL tour of duty with the B-Sens.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Pinto Scores Twice As Ottawa Senators Win Season Opener 5-4 in Tampa Bay
Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
Travis Green Says Senators Are ‘Headed In the Right Direction’
Senators Send Yakemchuk To The Minors, Place Batherson And Kleven On IR
Sens Land A True NHL Heavyweight In A Deal With The Devils
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN

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NEW YORK – The 2025 Yankees are gone sooner than they expected, undone by a team they never quite solved.

For all their late-season fight and the backs-against-the-wall drama of Aaron Judgeâ€s unforgettable October moment a night earlier, they ran out of answers against the Blue Jays on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, falling short in a season-ending 5-2 loss in Game 4 of the American League Division Series.

“We didnâ€t do our job; didnâ€t finish the goal,†Judge said. “We had a special group in here, a lot of special players that made this year fun. But we didnâ€t get the ultimate prize, so we came up short.â€

Coming off the game of his life in the AL Wild Card clincher, rookie Cam Schlittler pitched well into the seventh inning, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. booted what could have been an inning-ending double play ball. The miscue proved costly when Nathan Lukes connected for a two-run single off Devin Williams, effectively putting New Yorkâ€s season on ice.

“Iâ€m still going to be thinking about this, even probably when the season starts next year,†Chisholm said.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer also drove in runs for the Blue Jays, who cycled through their pitching staff effectively in a bullpen game. Ryan McMahonâ€s third-inning solo homer tied the game at the time, but the Yanks were unable to generate anything more until Judge’s RBI single in the ninth.

“The ending’s the worst, right?†said manager Aaron Boone. “Especially when you know you have a really good group of guys that came together so well at the right time, the final couple months. Credit to the Blue Jays and the year they’ve had. They beat us this series, simple as that.â€

As Boone noted, these Yankees played some of their best baseball down the stretch, completing the regular season with eight consecutive victories and matching last yearâ€s 94-win total in pursuit of a second straight AL East title.

But Toronto claimed the division crown via the head-to-head tiebreaker, forcing New York into the Wild Card Series and an early October gauntlet. The Yankees could only watch the Blue Jays celebrate, a foreboding glimpse of what was to come.

That Wild Card Series against the Red Sox delivered a brief, thrilling reprieve. Forced to play win-or-go-home games twice after dropping Game 1, the Yankees clawed their way back to life. They evened the series behind Chisholmâ€s daring dash around the bases in Game 2, then rode Schlittlerâ€s right arm the next night.

For a fleeting moment, the idea of another pennant run didnâ€t seem far-fetched – but then came Toronto again.

The Blue Jays pounced on the Yankees†pitching early and often – Luis Gil and Max Fried both taking heavy damage – as Toronto piled up 23 runs across the first two contests.

“They hit the crap out of the ball,†catcher Austin Wells said. “They didnâ€t miss, and they took advantage of every free base we gave them.â€

Judgeâ€s unforgettable homer sparked hope in Game 3, but with passports in hand, the Yanks couldnâ€t extend their season a second day.

“I want to get back out there right now,†Judge said.

So the Yankees have fallen short of their goal to return to the World Series following last yearâ€s loss to the Dodgers. They instead join the growing list of powerful pinstriped rosters that fell short of the Canyon of Heroes, left to explain why the most decorated franchise in American sports hasnâ€t hoisted a trophy since 2009.

It was a turbulent year from the outset. Juan Sotoâ€s departure in free agency forced a recalibration: signing Fried, trading for Cody Bellinger and signing Paul Goldschmidt. All three delivered – Fried emerged as a staff leader, Bellinger provided steady professionalism and Goldschmidt served as a quiet, unflappable presence.

Still, they were tested constantly, especially during a swoon that spanned June into August. Gerrit Cole never threw a pitch, undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. Fried stepped into the ace role, while Carlos Rodón set career highs in numerous categories.

Judge hit .331, becoming the tallest batting champion (6-foot-7) in history, along with 53 home runs, 114 RBIs and AL-leading marks in on-base percentage (.457), slugging (.688) and OPS (1.145). Judge, Mickey Mantle (1956) and Jimmie Foxx (1938) are the only players to win a batting title and hit 50 or more homers in a season.

Around him, new stars emerged. Trent Grisham belted a career-high 34 homers. Chisholm joined the 30-30 club, just the third Yankee ever to do so. Ben Rice showed signs of becoming a foundational piece. The Yankees had plenty of talent – just not the answers for Toronto.

“We didnâ€t execute enough to win these games,†Giancarlo Stanton said.

And because these are the Yankees, the verdict will always be “championship or bust,†a mission statement that still comes from the top. When the Dodgers celebrated last October, Judge called the season a “failure.†This time, he said, “Not a good year.â€

It has been 16 years since the Yankees last stood atop the baseball world, a drought unthinkable to previous generations of pinstriped royalty. This group, defined by star power and flashes of dominance, has been unable to complete the job.

The window remains open, but each October exit makes the frame a little smaller, the questions a little louder.

“Itâ€s the worst conversation to have,†Stanton said. “So you do whatever is possible to not be here at this moment. Obviously, the frustration adds each year, and each time weâ€ve got to come up and do this.â€

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 08: Louis Varland #77 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Four of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

I know that there are a lot of baseball fans who dream of a day when we can once again see a Madison Bumgarner-style ace take a team and carry it on his back to a World Series title.

Instead, we have games like Wednesday, where the Blue Jays knocked out the Yankees in a game started by reliever Louis Varland and finished by a never-ending wave of seven additional Blue Jays relievers.

Love them or hate them, the bullpen game is a strategy that is working consistently for playoff teams. We wrote about this last year, and if anything the trend has grown since.

This postseason, teams are 5-0 in bullpen games, and no team that has used a bullpen game has been eliminated, at least yet. The Blue Jays are in the ALCS having used a bullpen game to knock out the Yankees.

The Brewers are one win away from a spot in the NLCS having used a bullpen game. And the Tigers, who love the bullpen game more than anyone, are playing a deciding Game 5 against the Mariners.

Last year the Dodgers used a trio of bullpen games in the postseason on their way to winning the World Series. The Mets used the strategy in winning the Division Series. It didnâ€t work in the LCS against the Dodgers, but they were foiled by a Dodgers team that was bullpenning themselves.

Between the 2024 and 2025 postseasons, teams are 10-4 in bullpen games. Teams using bullpen games have won eight postseason series in the past two years (a number that would climb if the Tigers and/or Brewers win their series). Since 2019, teams are 19-15.

From 2015-2018, there was no postseason game that could be called a bullpen game. Since then, they have quickly become a fixture in the playoffs.

Defining a bullpen game can be tricky. For these purposes, weâ€re not calling a game where a team uses an opener and then hands it over to a starter to hopefully turn over the lineup two times.

The Blue Jays ALDS decider was indisputably a bullpen game. Not one Blue Jays pitcher threw two innings in the deciding game that eliminated the Yankees.

What happened in the other ALDS game was a little trickier. On the same day in Detroit, the Tigers staved off elimination in a game where Casey Mize, one of the teamâ€s starters, threw three scoreless innings, and then was pulled to turn the game into a bullpen game.

Mize is a starter, but  the design was to only let him pitch three innings, even when he dominated early on.

“When I talked to Casey, I took him in the tunnel. Those cameras are a funny thing; they follow me everywhere. I just wanted to tell him that the best chance for us to not only keep this game close but win this game was to continue to throw different pitchers at them. It’s been a successful strategy for us. Casey definitely could have gone out, but when the game dropped us off at Naylor and we have our full allotment in the pen, including Troy, Tyler, I knew Finnegan, Vest was going to throw career-high pitches if we needed, we were all hands on deck. And so the aggressive move to the pen was to try to give them a lot of different looks,†Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

It seemed like a risky move at the time, as Tyler Holton, following a short Mize outing for the second straight time this postseason, failed to get an out.

But Kyle Finnegan, Troy Melton (a starter in another Tigers†bullpen game this postseason) and Will Vest held Seattle relatively silent as the Tigers rallied back to beat the Mariners and force a deciding Game 5.

The Brewers used Aaron Ashby and Jacob Misirowski in shortened stints earlier this week to go up 2-0 in their NLDS series.

This year, weâ€ve already seen five bullpen games this postseason. Last year there were nine. Even with none in 2022, there has been an average of five per year since 2019.

And all of that makes what Cam Schlittler did this postseason seem even more special.

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Fox and its related networks will televise next year’s World Baseball Classic, obtaining U.S. English and Spanish rights to the tournament.

Seven games from the upcoming WBC, including the title game, will be aired on Fox, the network announced Tuesday. In 2023, Fox broadcast the U.S. opener against Britain, as well as the championship game between the U.S. and Japan on FS1 and Fox Deportes.

Among the seven games Fox will air are three Pool B games that include the United States team, along with two quarterfinals games and the championship game on March 17 from Miami’s loanDepot Park.

All other games will air on FS1, FS2, the Fox Sports app, Fox One or Tubi. Fox Deportes will broadcast 28 games as well — all in Spanish — including the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship.

Netflix previously announced it would air WBC games in Japan.

The sixth WBC will include 20 teams competing in four first-round pools in Tokyo; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston; and Miami starting on March 4 and 5.

“The World Baseball Classic embodies everything we love about the game — passion, pride and world-class talent,” said Fox Sports executive vice president Bill Wanger. “Following the tournament’s wide-spread excitement and unforgettable finish from 2023, we’re honored to once again deliver this premier global event to fans across the country.”

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2026 World Baseball Classic games to be broadcast in U.S. on FOX Sports

\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” 2026 World Baseball Classic will again be televised and streamed in the United States by FOX Sports; it was announced today by World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI). WBCI is an organization that is owned by Major League Baseball and jointly operates the tournament with the Major League Baseball Players Association.\n\nFOX is set to air seven games, including three Pool B games featuring the United States team, two Quarterfinals games and the World Baseball Classic Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 from Miamiâ€s loanDepot Park.\n\nThe remaining matchups will air across FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi – full schedule and designations to be announced at a later date. In addition, FOX Deportes will carry 28 tournament games in Spanish including all four Quarterfinals games, two Semifinals contests, and the Championship Game.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”* **2026 World Baseball Classic:** Buy tickets | Venues | Full coverage”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”FOX Sports aired its first World Baseball Classic in 2023 with the Championship Game between USA and Japan averaging 5.2 million viewers in the United States. The game peaked at 6.5 million viewers when the game was decided in the bottom of the ninth with Major League Baseball superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, Angels teammates at the time, squaring off in one of the more memorable at bats in recent baseball history.\n\n“The World Baseball Classic gives the best players around the world an opportunity to represent their countries on a global stage and embodies everything we love about the game – passion, pride, and elite talent – like nothing else†said FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Programming and Scheduling Bill Wanger. “Following the tournamentâ€s wide-spread excitement and unforgettable finish from 2023, weâ€re honored to once again deliver this premier event to fans across the country.â€\n\nWith FOX broadcasting Major League Baseball games since 1996, the World Baseball Classic will precede the networkâ€s 30th season of MLB coverage. The announcement was made live on-air during FOXâ€s American League Division Series pregame coverage with former World Baseball Classic participants Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez. The announcement can be seen here.\n\n“FOX Sports has been a great partner to MLB for decades showcasing the skill of the players, storylines on and off the field, and intensity of the competition, which will all be on full display during the World Baseball Classic,†said Noah Garden, MLB Deputy Commissioner, Business and Media. “While itâ€s known as Americaâ€s favorite pastime, baseball also is a global game with talented players coming from around the world. In again bringing the World Baseball Classic to baseball fans in the U.S., FOX Sports will help increase the eventâ€s profile and capture the incredible result of when baseball competition meets national pride.â€\n\n“Since the World Baseball Classic’s inception in 2006, Players have experienced a special sense of pride in representing their countries on the international stage,â€â€ said MLB Players, Inc. President Evan Kaplan. “We are proud to partner with FOX Sports to amplify the incredible talent and commitment of our Players, whose passion to the game helps expand baseballâ€s popularity and enhance its stature as a truly global sport.â€â€\n\nThe World Baseball Classic features elite teams and players from around the globe and stands as one of the most highly anticipated international sporting events. The 2026 edition promises to deliver world-class competition, with Team Japan aiming to defend its championship title.\n\nThe 2026 World Baseball Classic will be the sixth iteration of the global baseball tournament and will feature 20 teams competing in four first round pools in Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; and Miami, Florida, with the first game starting in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in U.S. time zones, Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Japanâ€s time zone.\n\nThe World Baseball Classic is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) as the sportâ€s official National Team World Championship.”,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/fox-sports-to-air-world-baseball-classic-2026″,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:”47 Tournament Games Set to Air and Stream Across FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App, FOX One and Tubi; FOX Deportes to Televise 28 Games in Spanish”,”summary”:”The 2026 World Baseball Classic will again be televised and streamed in the United States by FOX Sports; it was announced today by World Baseball Classic, Inc. 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47 Tournament Games Set to Air and Stream Across FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App, FOX One and Tubi; FOX Deportes to Televise 28 Games in Spanish

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Looking back someday, it may be hard to identify the exact moment when soccer altogether lost the silhouette that had loosely contained its shape for a century. When its governing bodies let go at last, handing the reins to the horses. When the last line holding against the sportâ€s self-immolating avarice collapsed and all were free to just do whatever they want. When crotchety pundits were finally right and the game was fully gone.

Or maybe weâ€ll know precisely when it was: 6 October 2025, when the Uefa executive committee declared in an extraordinary release that it was opposed to domestic league matches being played abroad – while allowing two of them “on an exceptional basis.†Barcelona and Villarreal will stage an ostensibly domestic La Liga game in Miami in December. Milan and Como are to play a Serie A match in Perth, Australia – a mere 20-hour flight from Italy – in February.

In their statement, Uefa took pains not just to express its opposition to the measure, but also to lay the blame for it at the foot of Fifa, whose rules it said were “not clear and detailed enough†to merit a rejection. Uefa said it wants to work with Fifa to create new rules to curb league games played abroad – presumably in a way that will not run afoul of Relevent Sports, the sports promotion company whose antitrust suit got Fifa to drop its statutes. Relevent dropped Fifa from the suit without prejudice, meaning it can be reopened at any time if things arenâ€t to the promotion companyâ€s satisfaction.

“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent,†Uefa president Aleksander ÄŒeferin said. Itâ€s hard to see how that can be true. This is not how precedents work.

The floodgates are open. The toothpaste has been squeezed from the tube. The foundation upon which professional soccer is built, structured primarily as a series of domestic circuits, is cracked. Any game can now theoretically be played anywhere, wherever the highest bidder happens to be. Once the Spanish league – or any league – is no longer a thing that can only be played on home soil, there is no going back.

We have been on a long, unrelenting march to this place for decades. And the forces that carried the sport there were powered at least partially by American money and methods. We have to be frank about that.

The La Liga president, Javier Tebas, spent more than seven years working to put a Barça league game in Miami in an effort to keep up with the Premier League – a cash-churning colossus created through the American model of sporting monetization. He and others have done this because all of soccer sees the United States as an ATM with no pin number, luring one competition after another. In this effort, Tebas was abetted by Relevent, an American promoter.

Clubs will now be free to chase after revenue anywhere they can find it. People may try to get in their way on account of the sportâ€s – or the players†or the fans†– best interests, but they stand little chance of actually stopping anything with so much money at stake.

Villarreal will play 18 home games this season, to every other La Liga teamâ€s 19. Their fans will get one fewer match in their city, although they will be compensated with offers of free flights to Miami. Barça and Villarreal players – not to mention those of Milan and Como – will have travelled substantially more for their domestic competition than their rivals have this season. The impact of this in-season barnstorming on title races, relegation and promotion is inevitable.

A great many people were clear-eyed about the ramifications downstream. Real Madrid – co-instigators of the failed European Super League, authors of the sportâ€s Galacticos era that kickstarted the financial arms race – sounded like the improbable voice of reason here.

“The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams,†the Spanish club wrote in a statement. “Unilaterally modifying this regime breaks the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting. If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football.â€

The Spanish Professional Footballers†Association was opposed as well. As was the Football Supporters Europe group. So has ÄŒeferin been, who before Mondayâ€s announcement said in an interview: “Football should be played in Europe, and fans should be able to watch it at home. They cannot travel to Australia or the United States to see their teams.â€

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Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer

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The European Unionâ€s commissioner for sport, Glenn Micallef, in his own lament, argued that “strong, community-based clubs are the heart of the European sport model. Moving competitions abroad isnâ€t innovation, itâ€s betrayalâ€.

Ah well, nevertheless. Ultimately, Uefa did not make this decision alone. The leagues made it. Fifa made it by agreeing to change its policies when it was dismissed from the Relevent lawsuit. Soccerâ€s professional ranks made it a long time ago, when they started playing domestic super cup competitions far afield, in China and in the Gulf and the United States.

Whoever you want to blame, European soccer has now become fully Americanized, opting for unfettered capitalism, bound by no border or tradition. And now, officially, something essential is lost.

• Leander Schaerlaeckens†book on the United States menâ€s national soccer team, The Long Game, is out in the spring of 2026. You can preorder it here. He teaches at Marist University.

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After a long summer of patiently waiting, a new hockey season is finally upon us!

On Tuesday, the NHL will lift the curtain on its 2025-26 campaign, with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers getting things started.

Florida will raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena ahead of a 5 p.m. puck drop against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Then, after the sun goes down, two more marquee matchups will take place on Tuesday, followed by another four on Wednesday.

Opening Nightâ€s primetime matchup will feature two longtime divisional rivals who are both looking to bounce back after failing to make the playoffs last season as the New York Rangers will host the Pittsburgh Penguins, then the nightcap will feature a pair of Western Conference playoff teams from a season ago looking for better postseason results when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Los Angeles Kings.

Wednesday will bring another four fun matchups, as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals welcome the Boston Bruins to our nationâ€s capital, then weâ€ll get the battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames before the Vegas Golden Knights start their season by hosting the Kings, who get a fun back-to-back set to start their season.

With the pre-Opening Night excitement hitting its peak, The Hockey Show co-hosts, Roy Bellamy and David Dwork from THN Florida, have put out some fun predictions for the first games of the season.

You can check out their picks in the video below. Let us know in the comments which you agree and disagree with!

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Itâ€s almost time for the 2025-26 NHL season to begin. Headed into the NHL regular season, all eyes are on the Florida Panthers, who will be playing in pursuit of a three-peat Stanley Cup win. But thereâ€s also the 2026 Winter Olympics to contend with. This upcoming season will feature a break in February so that NHL players can compete in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. The regular-season action kicks off this Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a triple-header featuring the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers, and the Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings.

Are you ready to watch? Hereâ€s what to know about how to watch the upcoming NHL season, plus the full first week schedule.

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How to watch NHL games in 2025:

Dates:Oct. 7, 2025 – Apr. 16, 2026

TV channel: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, truTV

Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, HBO Max and more

When does the NHL season start?

The 2025-26 NHL season kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a stacked triple-header slate. The regular NHL season runs through Apr. 16, 2026.

Will the 2025-26 NHL season take a break for the Olympics?

For the first time since 2014, NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics. That means the NHL season will break from Feb. 3 – Feb. 22 so that players can compete in Beijing. Thereâ€s no confirmation yet on who will be playing for Team USA.

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2025-26 NHL season opener schedule:

• Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers: 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings: 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

What channel are NHL games on in 2025?

This season, NHL games will air across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV.

How to watch NHL games without cable:

DirecTV offers access to NHL games across ESPN, ABC, TNT and more. The platform is currently offering a great deal for subscribers who use a Gemini device with their plan — right now, all DirecTV Signature Pack customers with a Gemini device will get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited included in their subscription at no additional cost. DirecTV packages start at $49.99 for the first month and $85/month thereafter.

The new Disney+, Hulu, ESPN bundle is currently available for a promotional rate of $29.99/month for a limited time and will eventually cost $35.99/month after the promotional rate expires. This offer through DirecTV provides considerable savings.

DirecTV’s Gemini streaming device connects viewers to 4K HD DirecTV programming and loads of streaming apps, including Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, Netflix, Max, Prime Video and more — all from within the DirecTV platform. Gemini devices cost around $10/month on top of your DirecTV Signature package subscription.

Try free at DirecTV

ESPN’s new streaming service is divided into two tiers: the ESPN unlimited package and the ESPN select package.

For $29.99, the ESPN unlimited package includes access to all of ESPN’s linear networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews and ESPN Deportes, plus access to programming on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. That means sports fans will get coverage of more than 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, original programming and more.

Right now, for a limited time, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu and pay $29.99/month for 12 months — that’s like getting those other services free for a year! Even if you’re a current subscriber to Disney+, Hulu or even the bundle, you can still upgrade to this great deal.

Not interested in a bundle? ESPN select (also referred to as ESPN+) is still also an option. For $11.99/month, you can tune in and get exclusive access to events like select NCAA football games, F1 driver cams, simulcasts of certain sports that air on other channels and PPV access to UFC fights.

$29.99/month at ESPN

Fubo’s new skinny sports bundle, Fubo Sports, includes local broadcast stations owned and operated by ABC, CBS and FOX, plus additional affiliates in select markets, as well as ACC Network, Big 10 Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Fubo Sports Network, ION, NFL Network, SEC Network and Tennis Channel. It also includes free access to ESPN’s new ESPN unlimited plan. Fubo subscribers get unlimited cloud DVR storage too.

You can get $10 off your first month, which brings the cost to $45.99; after that, it goes up to $55.99/month. The platform offers a free trial period, so you can check it out for a few days of the 2025 NHL season and decide if it’s right for you this year.

$45.99 for your first month at Fubo

NHL 2025-26 season Week 1 schedule:

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

• Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers: 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings: 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

• Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals: 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT / Max)

• Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights: 10:00 p.m. ET (TNT / Max)

Thursday, October 9, 2025

• Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / Hulu)

• Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Utah Mammoth at Colorado Avalanche: 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / Hulu)

• Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Saturday, October 11, 2025

• Los Angeles Kings at Winnipeg Jets: 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames: 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Washington Capitals at New York Islanders: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks: 7:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)

• Utah Mammoth at Nashville Predators: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Columbus Blue Jackets at Minnesota Wild: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche: 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Sunday, October 12, 2025

• Washington Capitals at New York Islanders: 7:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)

Monday, October 13, 2025

• Colorado Avalanche at Buffalo Sabres: 12:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins: 1:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)

• Nashville Predators at Ottawa Senators: 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers: 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs: 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Utah Mammoth at Chicago Blackhawks: 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

NHL 2025-26 season key dates:

When is the NHL Hall of Fame game?

The Bruins vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs Hall of Fame game will be on Nov. 8.

When is the NHL Global Series?

The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and 16.

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When is the Stanley Cup Final rematch?

The Panthers will play the Oilers in a rematch of the last two Stanley Cup Finals on Nov. 22, and again on Mar. 19.

When is the NHL Winter Classic?

The Panthers will host the Rangers for the NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2, 2026.

When will the NHL season take a break for the Olympics?

The NHL season will break from Feb. 3 – Feb. 22 so that NHL players can compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

NHL trade deadline date:

The NHL trade deadline is Mar. 6, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET.

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season will conclude with six games on April 16, 2026.

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More ways to watch the 2025-26 NHL season:

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