Browsing: lineup

It’s been a long road to the NHL for young Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson.

Robertson was selected back in 2019 with the 49th overall pick in the second round of the NHL Draft, and he spent his first four seasons stashed down in the AHL before receiving a call-up down the stretch last year.

With New York eliminated from the playoff race, he appeared in the final two games of the regular season, finishing with three shots on goal and a +3 rating.

After more changes to the defensive core this offseason, Robertson cracked the roster as the extra defenseman to start this season, but with injuries and sluggish play he’s quickly made his way into the lineup.

Thus far, the 24-year-old has taken advantage of the opportunity.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Robertson told Mollie Walker of the NY Post. “I came into camp not knowing what to expect and I’m just grateful for the opportunity. Trying to make the most of every opportunity I get and trying to get better each day.”

Robertson certainly has looked the part as he’s skated in the Blueshirts’ last four games.

He finally found his way onto the scorers’ sheet on Saturday night, firing a shot from the point past Montreal’s Sam Montembeault to give him his first career goal and the Rangers their first lead in the third period.

That made up for the first big mistake of his pro career, which occurred just a minute and a half into the opening period, as a turnover sent the Canadiens the other way for an odd-man rush and the game’s opening goal.

Mike Sullivan liked how he was able to shake it and bounceback later on.

“As a young player, sometimes that can affect a guy,” the head coach said. “What I loved about it is just his response — his ability to shake it off and just play. Watching him the rest of the night, he was competing and playing hard, it didn’t effect his confidence or swagger.”

If that confidence and swagger continue growing, perhaps Robertson can solidify himself as a mainstay in the lineup.

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SEATTLE — Did you really think George Springer would miss this game? No chance.

When John Schneider texted Springer on Sunday morning ahead of Game 6, Springer told his manager to stop asking. When Schneider approached Springer in the clubhouse after he arrived at Rogers Centre, Springer told him to beat it. Respectfully, of course, but there was no conversation left to have.

If Springer could walk, he was playing, and heâ€s back in the lineup for Game 6 of the ALCS, batting leadoff.

Springer took a 96 mph fastball off his right kneecap from Seattleâ€s Bryan Woo in Game 5, and in the moment, it looked more serious than the “right knee contusion†Springer has escaped with. Springer underwent an X-ray in Seattle, and he then went straight for a CT scan after the Blue Jays landed back in Toronto near 3:30 a.m. ET.

“He was in good spirits yesterday, I think just getting some reassurance with the CT scan coming back [negative],†Schneider said. “It was going to take a whole lot more, I think, to keep him out of the lineup. So he was feeling better yesterday, feeling better today.â€

Springer is a necessary piece of this team, fresh off a renaissance season in which he hit a career-high .309 with 32 home runs and a .959 OPS. Heâ€s set the tone for the Blue Jays on the bases, too, inventing the new position of “OPâ€, which means “offensive player.†Being a DH involves running the bases, too, Springer believes, so youâ€ll see OP, not DH, next to his name in the lineup that hangs in the Blue Jays†clubhouse.

These are the types of games the Blue Jays brought Springer to Toronto to have a moment in, too. The 2017 World Series MVP came to Toronto with a reputation as one of the best postseason players in Major League Baseball. Even though itâ€s taken this organization a while to get Springer close to the World Series again, heâ€s got one more shot, and itâ€s going to take more than a heater to the knee to make him miss this.

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PXG’s latest zero torque putter is built on one of its most unconventional shapes.

The company is releasing the new Mustang ZT, its fourth zero torque putter in what has become one of the hottest club categories in the sport.

“With the Mustang ZT, we’re expanding the Zero Torque lineup to give golfers even more options that fit the way they play,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons in a release.

Keep reading below for more on the Mustang ZT putter, who it’s for and my thoughts on the new design.

What is the PXG Mustang ZT?

The Mustang ZT is PXG’s fourth in their line of ZT putters, and it builds on their Mustang II shape, which is one of the most unique shapes in their putter line.

Starting with an anser-style blade, the Mustang has the corners pinched out further from the center of the putter to increase MOI. To give this putter “toe-up” zero torque properties, PXG uses its patented “S” hosel to place the shaft axis directly above the CG of the putter.

This design allows the clubface to stay square throughout any stroke type (pendulum or arc) and eliminates the need for a center-shaft design.

PXG also uses a hollow-bodied design injected with its proprietary S-COR polymer to increase MOI further by concentrating mass in the wings of the putter.

To help the player’s hands stand ahead of the clubhead through the stroke, the Mustang ZT is designed with 1 degree of integrated shaft lean.

The Mustang ZT’s unique shape looks realtively normal at address.

PXG

Who is the Mustang ZT for?

If you’re looking to get into a low-torque putter model but don’t like the typical center-shaft design or prefer looking at a high-MOI blade-style putter, the Mustang ZT might be one of your few options.

While the Mustang ZT isn’t a traditional blade, it is one of the few high-MOI blade-style options in the low torque space, which has been dominated by mallet shapes.

The Mustang ZT will also appeal to players who like a bit of firmer, milled feel and faster ball speeds off the face, thanks to PXG’s ultra-thin face and pyramid milling technology.

My thoughts

PXG’s putter options have become very robust over the past several years, and just over one year after introducing their first ZT option, they now have their fourth.

Within PXG’s ZT putter lineup, you can now choose between a high-MOI mallet, a wing-style mallet, a wide-bodied blade and a high-MOI wing-style blade.

It’s clear PXG believes their S-hosel can be applied to many different shapes they already make, which is only going to give players more options to find the best putter for their games.

The Mustang ZT is a unique shape, but not one that will upset the modern player. A player who is increasingly willing to trade looks for performance.

As someone who is very pro-blade and anti-center shaft, I’m eager to try getting a putter that matches the narrower shape I prefer and offers low torque characteristics without a center shaft.

Price, specs and availability

The PXG Mustang ZT is available starting October 16 at PXG stores, fitting studios and PXG’s website. It will cost $449.99.

Stock loft and lie are 4˚ (which plays like 3˚ with the 1˚ forward shaft lean) and 70˚ lie, but these can be customized when ordering.

The headweight is adjustable, with the stock setting at 365 grams and options ranging from 350 to 385 grams.

Want to find the best putter for your game?Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

AEW has announced a new match for the three-hour Dynamite and Collision block airing Wednesday night, October 15.

AEW owner Tony Khan has revealed in a social media post that Megan Bayne and Harley Cameron will go one-on-one on Wednesday’s three-hour special. Khan wrote:

Harley helped Willow fight off Megan/Penelope Saturday! Before they collide at #AEWTailgateBrawl, Harley will fight the woman who broke her nose, Megan Bayne, 1-on-1 TOMORROW NIGHT!

Cameron and Willow Nightingale will team against Bayne and Penelope Ford on Saturday’s Tailgate Brawl special on TNT and HBO Max. The one-hour Tailgate Brawl serves as the pre-show for the WrestleDream pay-per-view on Saturday night beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

The updated lineup for Wednesday:

AEW Dynamite & Collision (October 15) —

• AEW Trios titles: The Opps defend against La Faccion Ingobernable
• Kenny Omega & Jurassic Express vs. Josh Alexander, Hechicero, and Mark Davis
• Jon Moxley/Darby Allin face-to-face
• The Hurt Syndicate vs. GOA
• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Roderick Strong
• Kris Statlander/Toni Storm Famous Last Words
• Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia vs. Orange Cassidy and Kyle Oâ€Reilly
• Skye Blue vs. Jamie Hayter
• Megan Bayne vs. Harley Cameron

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• 

  Sean AllenOct 14, 2025, 05:00 PM ET

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  Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.

Individual performance can only take a player so far in a fantasy manager’s esteem.

That is true for the most part. Your Nathan MacKinnon’s and Nikita Kucherov’s of the world notwithstanding, it’s important who a player shares the ice with when determining the hopes for their fantasy forecast.

Imagine you played in a fantasy hockey league in which, instead of drafting players, you drafted lines or defense pairings. And imagine you only got fantasy points from those lines or pairings when all the players in each unit was on the ice at 5-on-5.

In reality, our fantasy picks aren’t literally joined at the hip in this way, but it’s a good visualization of which lines are clicking or which pairs are working at the dawn of the season.

Here are the top lines by total fantasy points earned, but only when all three members are on the ice together at even strength.

Fantasy points

Forward line

Team

TOI20.6Colorado Avalanche45:5915.4Columbus Blue Jackets33:3713.4Los Angeles Kings38:5213.3Winnipeg Jets33:2112.9Chicago Blackhawks35:2712.1Detroit Red Wings29:3212.0Pittsburgh Penguins27:4211.8Montreal Canadiens22:2411.5Ottawa Senators20:4211.4Nashville Predators25:36

The takeaway here is simple: grab a piece of these lines where you can. Lehkonen, who is still available in 60% of ESPN leagues, is an obvious first target. But Monahan (73.0%) and Kuzmenko (81.7%) are also accessible ways into some of the top lines.

The Blackhawks unit should be widely available and all three have been getting power-play time with Connor Bedard.

In deeper leagues, Brazeau and Mantha will only go as far as Malkin carries them — and he tends to run hot and cold in recent seasons.

Jump ahead: Goalies | Power Play | Droppables

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But the gem to highlight overall here is Zack Bolduc (C, Montreal Canadiens, available in 40.3%). His even-strength line with veteran Gallagher and a healthy Dach has been getting fantasy points together in every standard ESPN category. Which is fine information on its own, but if we take the 5-on-5 restriction off on the points by line combinations, the Habs top power-play checks in with 12.8 fantasy points by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Bolduc.

Meaning Bolduc is a part of two, separate top 20 fantasy lines in the early going. His role on the top PP wasn’t a sure thing before the season, with rookie Ivan Demidov expected to get reps. But Bolduc makes sense as a specialist, especially given his run on power-play stats late last season with the St. Louis Blues.

Fantasy points

Defense pair

Team

TOI9.8Dallas Stars23:359.6Washington Capitals37:318.9Los Angeles Kings45:338.4Boston Bruins40:338.3Colorado Avalanche48:167.6Carolina Hurricanes25:227.5Toronto Maple Leafs39:517.4New York Islanders40:237.3Los Angeles Kings49:317.2San Jose Sharks26:05

Defense is a little different. You don’t necessarily want to just get “access” to a pair, as the points are muted and there isn’t quite as much trickle down points to be had. For example, Carlo doesn’t belong on fantasy rosters just because he and Rielly are a top 10 duo for fantasy. But there are still some possible back-end roster options that crystalize.

Lundkvist, Fehervary, Ferraro and Zadorov all have a case to be on rosters in deeper leagues.

The ice time allotted to Gostisbehere is probably the most actionable item though, as pairing up with Nikishin is boosting his overall totals. He was sheltered by the Canes at 5-on-5 last season, but this partnership is working exceptionally well so far. In addition to being in the mix for the lead on duo fantasy points, the Hurricanes have scored five goals while this pair is on the ice — most in the NHL for a pairing — and allowed only one.

Gostisbehere is available in 40.7% of leagues, with Nikishin available in 89.5%.

Goalie notes

play

0:15

Cam Talbot robs Maple Leafs with save

Cam Talbot robs Maple Leafs with save

Obviously the “this week” and “season” statistics here are basically the same thing, but to stick with the format we’ll use all season, we’ll keep it. There’s not a lot to say about the goaltending field yet beyond a few injuries, as there just isn’t enough of a sample to plant any flags anew.

Colorado Avalanche in four games (four last week):

• Scott Wedgewood (crease share season/week: 100.0%/100.0%, fantasy points season/week: 19.4/19.4, 50.7% available)

We went through some of this “will he, won’t he” with Wedgewood last season, as he flirted with stealing extra playing time from Mackenzie Blackwood following a few strong performances before the trade that brought the tandem together. But the Avs handed Blackwood both the reins and the contract, so there won’t be much debate about who’s No. 1 once he’s healthy (possibly later this week). Still, Wedgewood retains value in daily lineup formats given his results to date and a likely 35% crease share.

Detroit Red Wings in three games (four last week):

• Cam Talbot (crease share season/week: 79.3%/79.3%, fantasy points season/week: 10.4/10.4, 90.1% available)

• John Gibson (crease share season/week: 20.7%/20.7%, fantasy points season/week: -8.4/-8.4, 76.8% available)

Well, this is an awkward start, isn’t it? We can’t write off Gibson just yet, but Talbot has gone from an afterthought to a must-roster goalie overnight. Hopefully your fantasy season doesn’t hinge on this crease battle, but value is value and it looks like the Red Wings might win enough games to make it matter.

Montreal Canadiens in three games (three last week):

• Sam Montembeault (crease share season/week: 66.3%/66.3%, fantasy points season/week: 2.4/2.4, 19.8% available)

• Jakub Dobes (crease share season/week: 33.6%/33.6%, fantasy points season/week: 8.0/8.0, 94.2% available)

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A rock-solid opening stretch for this duo, with Dobes continuing to answer the bell whenever called upon. The next few weeks should clarify how the starts are divided, but for now, it’s not quite time to scoop up Dobes. If his share pushes past 40%, it might be.

Utah Mammoth in three games (three last week):

• Karel Vejmelka (crease share season/week: 66.9%/66.9%, fantasy points season/week: 5.0/5.0, 65.7% available)

• Vitek Vanecek (crease share season/week: 33.1%/33.1%, fantasy points season/week: -1.8/-1.8, 99.0% available)

With Vanecek’s start already out of the way on Monday, Vejmelka could take all three of the Mammoth’s remaining games this week. After facing the Flames, Sharks and Bruins, his availability percentage might look a lot different than it does now.

Power-play notes

play

0:48

Leo Carlsson wins it in OT for the Ducks

Leo Carlsson lifts the Ducks with a clutch goal in overtime to defeat the Sharks 7-6.

Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks (available in 76.7%): The Ducks have been dumping buckets of pucks at their two opponents so far this season. Carlsson is absolutely central to their attack and his role on the power-play is a prime one.

Sean Monahan, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (available in 73.0%): With 3:24 of power-play time per game so far, Monahan is helping drive the top unit for the Blue Jackets. That wasn’t guaranteed given Adam Fantilli’s continued emergence, but it strengthens the case for Monahan as an early-season waiver add, especially considering his top-line role at 5-on-5.

Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks (available in 80.0%): In 11:04 of total power-play time so far, Chicago’s top unit has managed only five shots on goal, while the second unit cashed in during Monday’s win. If the top group doesn’t start clicking soon, Rinzel is the most likely swap-out for a new look, with Artyom Levshunov and PP specialist Matt Grzelcyk waiting in the wings.

David Tomasek, RW, Edmonton Oilers (available in 99.3%): It would be an easier sell if Tomasek had a meaningful 5-on-5 role, but there could still be value here based solely on power-play exposure. He’s locked onto the first unit, which has two goals through two games and is generating plenty of chances.

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Anton Lundell, LW, Florida Panthers (available in 34.1%): The Panthers’ top unit has two power-play goals so far, but the second unit has four in less than half the ice time. Lundell is a must-add across all formats with three power-play points in four games.

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild (available in 62.9%): With two more power-play goals on Monday, the Wild’s top unit is up to six on the season (and a seventh came when Marco Rossi subbed out for Vladimir Tarasenko). This group is ridiculous, and Buium should be rostered everywhere for the power-play points alone.

Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils (available in 14.9%): After two games of balanced power-play units, the Devils swapped Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes off the first unit for Timo Meier and Dougie Hamilton on Monday. The result? The top unit’s first tally with the man advantage.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (available in 79.1%): It’s likely just an effort to add some punch to the second unit, but for now Bjorkstrand remains a fixture on the first, while Brandon Hagel skates with the second group. If only Bjorkstrand could wedge his way into the top six at 5-on-5.

Droppables

Editor’s Picks

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There aren’t any must-drops this early in the campaign, at least not ones you don’t already know in your heart of hearts. It’s still a little too soon to cut bait on slow starts, but another week or two of weak production will start to separate the expendable from the essential.

In the meantime, here are a few names and early ice-time trends worth monitoring. We’ll revisit with a larger sample size if these players don’t start seeing more minutes.

• Frank Vatrano, RW, Anaheim Ducks (rostered in 76.5%): 12:14 TOI per game, 1.2 FPPG

• Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (rostered in 95.3%): 15:40 TOI per game, 1.6 FPPG

• Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche (rostered in 68.3%): 13:51 TOI per game, 0.5 FPPG

• Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens (rostered in 49.3%): 13:15 TOI per game, 0.4 FPPG

• Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers (rostered in 87.3%): 14:25 TOI per game, 0.1 FPPG

• Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks (rostered in 97.6%): 15:57 TOI per game, 1.5 FPPG

Wait … less than 16 minutes per game for Pettersson? Really? That’s one we’ll be keeping a close eye on in the coming weeks.

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October 10, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

Some of Englandâ€s hottest young prospects will step up to the big stage after being awarded wildcards for the WTT Star Contender London.

Jakub Piwowar, Larry Trumpauskas, Abraham Sellado, Kacper Piwowar and Max Radiven have been granted wildcards into the qualifying rounds of the Menâ€s Singles.

They will be joined there by seasoned campaigners David McBeath and Andrew Baggaley, plus young Seniors Joseph Hunter, Louis Price and Felix Thomis.

Tom Jarvis, Sam Walker, Connor Green and Paul Drinkhall are all elevated from the qualifying rounds into the main draw as wildcards.

In the Womenâ€s Singles, Anna Green gets wildcard for the qualification stage, while Tin-Tin Ho and Tianer Yu are elevated to the main draw.

Sophie Earley, Ella Pashley, Jasmin Wong, Mari Baldwin and Sienna Jetha had already been confirmed in the qualification stage.

The qualifying rounds are on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 October at the Copper Box Arena, with the main draw beginning on Thursday 23 October.

As well as English athletes, a number of international stars have been given wildcards.

In the Menâ€s Singles, Japanâ€s Mizuki Oikawa (WR 53) will be in the main draw, while Uzbekistanâ€s Doniyor Makhamov and Romaniaâ€s Hunor Szocs get a place in qualifying.

In the Womenâ€s Singles, Japanâ€s Miyu Nagasaki (WR 14) joins several of her high-ranked compatriots in the main draw, while Mille Stoffregen of Denmark gets a wildcard into qualifying.

What about the doubles competitions?

We already know GB star Anna Hursey is partnering Romaniaâ€s European No 1 Bernadette Szocs in the Womenâ€s Doubles, with the pair elevated into the main draw thanks to a wildcard.

Ho & Earley receive a wildcard into the main draw, while South Koreaâ€s Yoo Siwoo & Lee Zion are in the qualifying rounds.

With regular Mixed Doubles partner Liam Pitchford injured, Hursey will partner Paul Drinkhall. The pair have a wildcard into the main draw. Walker & Ho will start in the qualifying stage.

In the Menâ€s Doubles, Walker & Drinkhall, plus Jarvis & Green, are in the main draw, with a wildcard also awarded to Portuguese pair Tiago Apolonia & Marcos Freitas.

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After the Blue Jays clinched their first ALCS appearance since 2016 in the Bronx Wednesday night, two-time All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette told reporters that he’s “made a lot of progress recently” in his recovery from a left knee injury that’s kept him out since Sept. 6.

Bichette also said he’s “optimistic” about his chances to return for the championship series.

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The Blue Jays will host Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS against the winner of Friday’s ALDS Game 5 between the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.

“I still have some hurdles to clear, but I’m optimistic,” Bichette said, via MLB.com.

He added: “I’m feeling better every day.”

The 27-year-old Bichette suffered a PCL sprain during a 3-1 loss to the Yankees last month. Zooming home as the potential game-tying run, he made a beeline for the plate from second base after Nathan Lukes roped a single into right field in the top of the sixth inning.

But Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger delivered a one-hop throw to catcher Austin Wells, who tagged Bichette out as he rammed into Wells’ shin protectors while sliding feet first.

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Bichette then hobbled off the field. Although he returned to the game after a subsequent, nearly two-hour rain delay — and his X-rays came back clean — Bichette experienced soreness in his knee the following days, per MLB.com. He eventually received an MRI, which identified the sprain.

Bichette was placed on the 10-day IL, but his return has taken much longer than that.

His recovery timeline was readjusted in the middle of September when Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Bichette would miss the rest of the regular season.

The hope was for Bichette to be back for the start of the playoffs, but he was left off the Blue Jays’ ALDS roster.

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“Good news the last couple of days,” Schneider said of Bichette Wednesday, per MLB.com.

“He was out there running today, and he actually hit off Max [Scherzer] and Chris [Bassitt] back home. He hit against [veloctiy] and hit in the game. He didnâ€t run, but he took 14 swings off of them. Heâ€s just trying to feel out his timing. These last three days have been pretty good for him.”

Schneider said last week that his staff doesn’t plan on using Bichette in a hero-spot role. In other words, he needs to be healthy enough to play regularly. His running progression will be key.

Bichette, whose .311 batting average this season was tied for second best in the majors, is notably in the final year of a three-year, $33.6 million deal and is set to hit free agency this offseason.

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At the moment, however, he’s trying to do everything he can to get back in the lineup and help the Blue Jays advance to the World Series.

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ST.
LOUIS – From
the moment that agonizing, excruciating loss against the Winnipeg
Jets ended their season in May, the St. Louis Blues have counted down
the days until they can begin the process of growing from such an
experience and rectifying the agony.

That
time has come with the 2025-26 season opener on Thursday when the
Blues entertain the Minnesota Wild (7 p.m.; FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

When
the puck drops, the Blues want to get off on the front foot and
regain the momentum they had at the end of the regular season when
they made it into the playoffs as the second wild card but lost to
the Jets in seven games, a 4-3 double overtime loss, despite leading
game
7 3-1 with two minutes remaining.

That
stench probably sits in many players†minds, and knowing it all
gets going for real tonight makes it even more meaningful to start
off on the right foot.

“It
makes your life a lot easier when you start out good,†Blues
center Robert Thomas said.
“I think every team wants to get a good start so they donâ€t have
to do that on the back half. We feel like we can keep that momentum
going from last year. The majority of the teamâ€s the same except
for a couple new pieces who are really excited. Weâ€re really
excited to have them. We feel like we can keep that momentum going
and put ourselves in a good spot in December, January.â€

Enterprise
Center will be loud. It was loud during the playoff series against
the Jets, and Blues coach Jim Montgomery said home ice dominance will
be imperative.

“We
know we love playing in front of our great fans,†he
said.
“We know itâ€s going to be loud here tonight. Itâ€s our job to
make sure they stay loud.

“I
think itâ€s really playing on your toes and trying to get to our
identity as quick as we can. Teams like Minnesota, they got to their
identity right away. They had a great start. Thatâ€s the way you
want to start is get to your identity. Having watched a lot of games
over the last two nights, you see some teams that are playing slow
and the teams that are playing fast and to their identity know what
theyâ€re doing when they get to the puck. Theyâ€re playing fast and
itâ€s pretty evident that theyâ€re a little bit ahead of the
curve.â€

Thereâ€s
been a certain style of play that makes Montgomery feel good that
this group can, and will, start off well.

“How
sharp our goalies and defensemen have been,†the coach said. “I
think thatâ€s what gives me confidence that weâ€re going to start
off well and weâ€re going to get to our identity pretty quick. Our
defensemen are long, they skate pretty well, their gaps have been
really good and our physicality has gone up in our D-corps. That
gives me a lot of confidence and when you have (Jordan) Binnington in
there, someone that is just serene in nets how calm he makes the rest
of us. Thatâ€s something that obviously gives you confidence you can
get off to a good start.â€

–
– –

Since
the Blues know what theyâ€re going to get from the defense and
goaltending, or at least Montgomery believes, they could use a jolt
from their top-line players, like Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich and Jimmy
Snuggerud, who will be looked upon to supply a load of the firepower.

And
what needs to happen for that to be optimal?

“I
think possession, having the puck, being all over the puck,†Thomas
said. “Thereâ€s nights where even if youâ€re trying to make a
play, it gets tipped but youâ€re so quick and youâ€re on it again.
Thatâ€s what makes us really successful is we can make plays off the
rush and we can do that every night, but in the zone, those broken
plays, being on pucks, spreading it around, making teams try and
defend us, I think thatâ€s what creates our really good nights.â€

It
was pretty clear that Thomas and Snuggerud have developed quite the
chemistry already.

“Itâ€s
pretty easy. Heâ€s got a great shot. Heâ€s fast,†Thomas
said. “He can make
that extra move to get into a scoring chance and shoot it. Me and
‘Buchy†have played together four years. It definitely takes
time, but weâ€re happy to have him, heâ€s going to be a big part of
our future. Itâ€s a great time to get it rolling.â€

For
Snuggerud, who has the potential to be a Calder Trophy candidate,
just be ready to shoot the puck.

“Expect
the puck at all times, thatâ€s No. 1. And No. 2, get yourself in
position to score, whether itâ€s off the rush, driving backdoor,
whether itâ€s in the offensive zone getting inside the dots, not
outside the dots so when he gives it to you, youâ€ve upgraded your
scoring opportunity,†Montgomery said.

And
for Buchnevich?

“I
think heâ€s done everything he has to do as far as being in real
good shape, being healthy right now,†Montgomery said. “And then
the rest is just trusting his instincts. Another guy with high-end
offensive and defensive instincts. Him just trusting what he sees and
natural second- and third-effort with his health, I think weâ€re
going to get the type of player that complements those guys well and
they complement him really well.â€

Thomas
will put up the numbers, undoubtedly, but what about those tough
matchups, like the one he will get with Kirill Kaprizov, who just
recently signed the biggest contract in NHL history ($17 million
average annual value for eight years)?

“Obviously
heâ€s one of the top players in the league, so creative,†Thomas
said of Kaprizov. “He
finds ways to score, not just by shooting but by tips, by positioning
himself. Heâ€s very slippery, he finds those quiet areas really well
and everyone kind of looks for him. Itâ€s a really tough test, itâ€s
exciting to get a test like that right off the first game of the
season. Iâ€m excited for it.

“Whatever
helps get the win. Every nightâ€s different, whether you try and
produce more or try and just be overall better. It kind of depends on
the night. If you can come out with a win and either of those happen,
then you can be happy with it.â€

On
Kaprizov, Montgomery said, “What
separates him, I donâ€t know if it separates him from the great
players. The great players, theyâ€re all ultra-competitive, they all
want the puck, they donâ€t stop until they get the puck. His ability
to drive offense as a winger is very similar to (Artemi) Panarin and
(David) Pastrnak, guys that even if they donâ€t have, and Iâ€m not
saying he doesnâ€t have it, Iâ€m just saying all these guys Iâ€ve
seen them do it without your prototypical {Aleksander) Barkov,
(Nathan) MacKinnon or (Connor) McDavid at center, they assume role
and they carry the puck through the neutral zone. So they almost as a
winger, they act like a center. And then just how dangerous he is
everywhere. He scores goals, the beautiful goals, the one-timers, the
off-the-rush goals and heâ€s really dangerous and really persistent
in getting to the net front in the O-zone. Thereâ€s a lot of ways
and you have to be aware of him. Defensemen have to be aware of him,
forwards have to be aware of him.â€

–
– –

Thursday
marks the debut of defenseman Logan Mailloux, who was acquired from
the Montreal Canadiens for Zack Bolduc, who scored in his Canadiens
debut on Wednesday, on July 1.

Mailloux
will be paired with Tyler Tucker, and has enjoyed every minute since
his arrival.

“Itâ€s
more excitement than anything,†Mailloux said. “I think Iâ€m
just looking forward to getting some games and then get back to the
schedule of a season. I havenâ€t played 82 games either so itâ€s
going to be a lot. Itâ€s good because after the summer break, youâ€re
kind of itching to get back to playing games and stuff like that. Iâ€m
definitely more excited than nervous.

“Itâ€s
definitely a different style of play (in St. Louis). I feel like all
of the defensemen are pretty involved here, whether itâ€s jumping in
the rush. Iâ€m not saying that they arenâ€t in Montreal. Obviously
thereâ€s some skilled offensive defensemen there, but I feel like
itâ€;s how our system works where itâ€s a five-man unit. All the
guys are going whether itâ€s off of breakouts or in the O-zone
play.â€

–
– –

Blues
Projected
Lineup:

Pavel
Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud

Dylan
Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Jake
Neighbours-Pius Suter-Mathieu Joseph

Alexey
Toropchenko-Nick Bjugstad-Nathan Walker

Cam
Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip
Broberg-Justin Faulk

Tyler
Tucker-Logan Mailloux

Jordan
Binnington will start in goal;
Joel Hofer will
be the backup.

Healthy
scratches include Alexandre
Texier and
Matthew
Kessel. Oskar Sundqvist (lower body) is
considered week to week and will miss at least the first three games.

–
– –

Wild
Projected
Lineup:

Kirill
Kaprizov-Marco Rossi-Matt Boldy

Marcus
Foligno-Joel Eriksson Ek-Vladimir Tarasenko

Yakov
Trenin-Ryan Hartman-Marcus Johansson

Liam
Ohgren-Hunter Haight-Vinnie Hinostroza

Jacob
Middleton-Brock Faber

Zeev
Buium-Jared Spurgeon

Zack
Bogosian-David Jiricek

Filip
Gustavsson will start in goal; Jesper Wallstedt will be the backup.

Healthy
scratches include Daemon
Hunt and
Danila
Yurov. Jonas Brodin (upper body), Mats Zuccarello (lower body) and
Nico
Sturm (back)
are out.

Blues Have Experience On Defense, It Will Be Key For Tucker, Mailloux To Make Group Whole
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. — When
the puck drops on the 2025-26 season for the St. Louis Blues against
the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, they will introduce what they hope
are a pair of mainstays on the blue line for some time.

Jim Montgomery To Reunite Most Prolific Line Down Stretch Last Season For Blues
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. — Jim
Montgomery knew all along.

Blues Know Jordan Binnington Is Elite, Yet Goalie Has To Prove Once Again He’s One Of The Best
ST.
LOUIS – The NHL season for 2025-26 drops the puck on Tuesday. For
the St. Louis Blues, it opens Thursday at home against the Minnesota
Wild.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors are two games into the NBA preseason, and as they glance ahead they can see at least one caution light blinking.

The light that gauges the effectiveness of their perimeter defense, particularly at the point of attack.

That element is one of several essentials to Golden Stateâ€s success, and it has been considerably less than stellar. Opposing guards, some speedy and others shifty, are penetrating with regularity, resulting in paint points, free throws or kickouts to open shooters behind the arc.

That was visible Wednesday night in the first half – with all minutes going to starters and rotation players – of a 129-123 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. It took a massive fourth-quarter comeback by the far end of the bench to wipe out a 16-point halftime deficit.

Moses Moody started in the role of primary POA defender against Portland, with coach Steve Kerr pairing him with Stephen Curry in the backcourt. This vulnerability also was visible last Sunday, when Brandin Podziemski started alongside Curry in a 111-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

While itâ€s unreasonable to expect fantastic defense in the first week of the preseason, the Warriors canâ€t be delighted with a defense that allowed 39 points in the first quarter and 73 in the half.

“They were flying by us,†Kerr said. “And then we were collapsing, probably too much.  And then they had a ton of threes. I think they made 10 threes in the first half.â€

Wrong, coach. The Blazers drained 12 triples in the first half. They also posted a 24-16 edge in paint points.

This was Golden Stateâ€s first look at a starting lineup that might start the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Curry and Moody in the backcourt, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green at forward and Al Horford at center. All five posted negative plus/minus numbers in the first half.

“I didnâ€t think we were ready to play,†Kerr said. “I donâ€t know that we got a good enough look at that lineup to really know. It should fit, with Alâ€s shooting and we have a lot of length. Moses on the ball. They took it to us right away.â€

Starting Moody against the Blazers was logical because heâ€s a rangy defender (6-foot-5, 7-foot wingspan) and a good 3-point shooter. The possibility of him as lead bird dog emerged late last season, after the Warriors traded Andrew Wiggins as part of the deal to acquire Jimmy Butler III, as Kerr explained before tipoff.

“He got to guard the ball,†Kerr recalled of Moody. “He got to be in the starting lineup, and he became our point of attack defender, like Wiggs was before. And so, with Wiggs leaving, that opened a void on this team, because Jimmy’s not that.â€

Moody has the potential to be all of that, but itâ€s clear heâ€s still trying to master the art of staying in front of quick guards. Itâ€s a tough assignment. He has made 74 starts over four NBA seasons, but starring in that role took Klay Thompson about 300 starts.

“They came out and hit us early,†Moody told NBC Sports Bay Area. “It felt like a different game than [against the Lakers]. “We didnâ€t do much game planning and preparation. But I think their speed, especially in transition, got us.â€

Portland guard Shaedon Sharpe finished with a game-high 22 points in 23 minutes, on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-8 from deep. He was plus-14 for the night. Backup guard Blake Wesley, blasting into the paint with relative ease, finished with nine points and six rebounds.

Three nights earlier, four Lakers scored in double figures on Sunday – and all were guards: Gabe Vincent (team-high 16 points), Dalton Knecht (12), R.J. Davis (11) and Jack LaRavia (10). Along with their 49 combined points, they accounted for 12 assists.

Golden Stateâ€s POA defense so important because there is no Victor Wembanyama waiting at the rim. There is no Anthony Davis or Rudy Gobert or Chet Holmgren. Not even a Donovan Clingan

The preseason is a time for experimenting, for seeing what might work and what shouldnâ€t even be tried. Itâ€s a work in progress, and there is plenty of time to patch it. But the early returns are worth watching.

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Tour Edge is readying for its 40th year in 2026 with the latest iteration of its Exotics metalwood lineup.

The new Exotics line includes three drivers, three fairway woods and a hybrid, all featuring new technologies from the company, such as Pyramid Face Technology — plus the company’s new logo.

With the driver and fairway woods, Tour Edge also is introducing a new “Lite” model, expanding on the ever-growing segment of the market that demands lighter swingweights to help create launch and speed.

“We are extremely proud of these clean, visually appealing head shapes at address,” Tour Edge CEO David Glod said in a press release. “Combined with the visible and internal technologies engineered into this lineup, our tour player, amateur and robot testing all confirm that these metalwoods deliver outstanding results across a wide range of player types and handicaps. We’re eager to see how golfers benefit from the new Exotics Lite driver and fairway, which rank among the lightest options on the market.”

Keep reading below for details on all the metalwoods, who they are for and my thoughts on this new release.

What is the new Exotics metalwood line?

Tour Edge’s new Exotics line consists of three drivers (LS, Max and Lite), three fairways (LS, Max and Lite) and a Max hybrid offering.

Tour Edge’s new Exotics metalwoods feature a Pyramid face technology.

Tour Edge

All of the new clubs feature a new full carbon construction, with 50 to 80 percent more carbon than the prior generation; a new “Pyramid Face Technology,” which reduces excess mass from the face and helps boost ball speed on off-center strikes; and more tungsten in the perimeter of the clubs to increase MOI.

The drivers and fairway woods also have a new “360° Ridgeback Technology,” with titanium or steel wrapped around the club to reinforce it.

Who is each club for?

With the new Exotics Line, each club type is optimized to fit a specific player type.

The Tour Edge Exotics LS driver and fairway wood.

Tour Edge.

LS Driver and LS FairwayWoods:The LS driver and fairway woods are the most compact shapes, designed for better players with a lot of speed looking to minimize spin. The driver checks in at 440 cc, but offers a best-in-class MOI of over 8,700. The LS fairway wood features a full titanium construction with a new RyzerSole, which pushes weight low and forward to promote high launch and low spin.

Both LS models feature adjustable hosels and front-to-back interchangeable weights to dial in launch and spin characteristics.

The Tour Edge Exotics Max family.

Tour Edge

Max Driver, Max Fairway Woods and Max Hybrids: The Max models are going to be your high forgiveness models, with the driver reaching over 10,500 MOI and appealing to the majority of golfers. The Max driver also has an adjustable rear weight to tune heel-to-toe CG placement and adjustable hosel. Both the fairway wood and hybrid adjustable weight allows swingweight adjustments with options from 5g to 20g.

The Tour Edge Exotics Lite driver and fairway wood.

Tour Edge

Lite Driver, Lite Fairway Woods: A newcomer to the exotics lineup is the Lite models, which are 5 percent lighter than their siblings and are paired with 40-gram shafts and a 42-gram grip for players who need a little help generating speed and launch. The Lite models are also draw-biased with an offset hosel, heel-concentrated CG and the most upright lie angles in the family.

My thoughts

The new line does a good job of promoting the idea that Tour Edge wants to enter a new era while staying true to what has kept it going for 40 years.

While these new woods have a decidedly “Tour Edge” look to them, the all-black design along with a full embrace of carbon offers a more premium appeal.

There is a price jump with the driver of $100, but at $500, that’s still $100 to $150 below the major OEMs’ drivers, and Tour Edge clearly thinks there’s a market for golfers who don’t want to pay more than $500 for a single club.

You’re also seeing some good segmentation with the models and clear identification of who should play what. These days, almost everyone knows that “LS” models are aimed at better players, and the ever-growing ultralight category is well represented by the “Lite” options.

Price, Specs and Availability

All of Tour Edge’s new Exotics line metalwoods are available for pre-order starting Oct. 7, and will officially become available on Nov. 4.

All three driver models will cost $499.99, the LS Fairway Woods come in at $399.99, the other fairways cost $249.99, while the max hybrid retails for $229.99.

The featured stock shaft offering for the metal woods is the Fujikura Ventus with Blue/Black, Red/Black and White/Black available. More shafts are available through TourEdge’s custom program.

Want to find the best woods for your game?Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.