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On draft day, there are many aspects to keep an eye on.
Will Ivan Demidov slide to the Habs? Is Zeev Buium a real option? Will Cayden Lindstrom scare the Habs? #Dos
But the fact remains that the Habs aren’t afraid to step outside the box. To borrow a phrase from Martin St-Louis, the Habs have to go where the draft tells them to.
And if it’s through a defenseman, it’s through a defenseman.
Jeff Gorton said yesterday that he expects to draft with his pick, which suggests that the club doesn’t expect to back out of the draft if a forward isn’t available. A chance!
The Habs VP also opened the door to drafting a defenseman if need be. It’s a door that had been closed a bit by Kent Hughes a few weeks ago, but which wasn’t completely barred.
And we agree that, with the quality of defensemen available, it makes sense.
On this subject, Corey Pronman, in his mock draft of the day, even placed Zeev Buium fifth… while Russian Ivan Demidov was still available to the Habs.
One last 2024 NHL mock draft. https://t.co/Gvz88vKs0E
– Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 28, 2024
We know that some people put Lindstrom ahead of Demidov. But now Buium is potentially ahead of the Russian too? #WingerOrDefender #Utility
Note that he’s not the only defenseman the Habs like. Also in the same paper, Pronman talked about the Habs’ plan for the future and had this to say:
I think Montreal has a lot of interest in Anton Silayev if he slips in the draft. – Corey Pronman
Will the defenseman be drafted by the Habs? If I had to bet, I’d say no, because I see him going out to Anaheim. However, it’s normal to see Habs management paying particular attention to the prospect.
In Overtime
– Steven Stamkos: not good. Victor Hedman: doing well.
In addition to this bit of news, BriseBois said the Lightning hope to announce a Victor Hedman extension soon. He is eligible for one on July 1 https://t.co/NHxlNxfDlC
– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2024
– As relevant as the debate over the Habs’ #5 pick.
They’re debating about their golf games
, is this real?
– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 28, 2024
More must-reads:
- Is Kirill Kaprizov worth a record-setting contract?
- Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
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Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Big Changes, Bigger Expectations
Even though not every offseason move was entirely within their control, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally made significant changes following yet another playoff letdown. The departure of longtime president Brendan Shanahan was met with applause from fans hungry for a new direction. The other major change—the trade of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights—was more circumstantial. The team opted to trade him before losing him for nothing as a UFA. Still, despite the drama, the most optimistic among the fans believe there’s reason to believe this Maple Leafs squad could be even better in 2025–26. Here are three quick hits for fans to watch as the season unfolds. Quick Hit One: Could a Healthy Matthews Be a Game-Changer? Auston Matthews’ 33-goal, 78-point campaign would be stellar for most NHL players—but by his standards, it was a down year. Lingering injuries clearly held him back, and though he played 67 games, he was a shadow of his 69-goal self from the season prior. With a full summer to recover, Matthews is expected to return to elite form. A healthy, fully engaged No. 34 means Toronto’s top line could once again be one of the most dangerous in the league. Quick Hit One: Could the Maple Leafs Goalies Be Vezina-Caliber? The Maple Leafs didn’t have a goaltending problem last year—they had a goaltender health problem. Anthony Stolarz was lights out when available, posting a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% in 34 games. Had he played a full season, he’d have been a serious Vezina contender. If Stolarz can stay healthy and Joseph Woll continues to progress, Toronto’s goaltending duo could be one of the best in the NHL. Quick Hit Three: Will Less Noise in Toronto Bring More Focus? With Marner gone, the daily off-ice circus surrounding his contract and future is over. Fair or not, his presence was a season-long distraction. Now, the remaining members of the Maple Leafs’ Core Four—Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares—are locked in, and the dressing room can shift its focus entirely to winning. Throw in rising talents like Matthew Knies and the addition of skilled winger Matias Maccelli, and there’s real potential for a more balanced, less drama-filled group. The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs still need to prove it in the playoffs. But the noise is quieter, the roster is deeper, and the stars are healthy. If that continues, the 2025–26 season could be the one where this team finally takes the next step.
Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.
Bill Simmons adds new dimension to Micah Parsons-Jerry Jones drama with crazy conspiracy
The Dallas Cowboys’ ongoing stalemate with Micah Parsons has been front-page news, but Bill Simmons has another theory. Jerry Jones is a smart businessman, and because of that, the ongoing discourse with one of his greatest players seems odd to say the least. A man worth $15 billion would typically know that publicly frustrating your star players is not exactly the greatest way to do business. The feud has led many former players to chime in with their opinions, and it wouldn’t be the first time that Jones has waited until the final moment to sign one of his stars to an extension. Simmons believes Jerry Jones causes drama with his players on purpose, keeping the Cowboys front of the queue The Dallas Cowboys have typically been late to sign their stars in recent years, namely both Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Many are starting to notice a pattern, with Jerry Jones holding out on the players that matter the most, often getting dangerously close to the season starting before eventually committing to a new contract. In 2024, CeeDee Lamb had to wait until many other wide receivers had gotten their deals before he got his. Justin Jefferson had signed a four-year, $140 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings on June 3rd, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had agreed his deal with the Detroit Lions in late April. DJ Moore agreed his extension with the Chicago Bears on the final day of July, but CeeDee Lamb was forced to wait until August 26th, just a couple of weeks before Week 1 of the new season. Oddly enough, he still got his extension before Dak Prescott, who signed his four-year contract just hours before the first game of the season on September 8th. It wasn’t a small deal either, with Prescott signing his name to a $240 million deal the morning of the game. Now in 2025, history is repeating itself, with Micah Parsons being forced to wait for an extension while the likes of Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, TJ Watt and company have all signed theirs already. Bill Simmons has a theory about it all, as he suggested on the latest episode of his podcast, with guest Diana Russini. Simmons said: “There’s this Cowboys documentary coming out on Netflix, and it’s actually really good. I think it’s going to be a big deal, and it’s about the Jerry Jones’ ’90s Cowboys and the celebration of this really meaningful team…” “Part of me wonders does he (Jerry Jones) just do this sometimes with these holdouts just to get people talking about the Cowboys all month, when he knows how this is going to end? They’re not trading Micah Parsons, nobody’s doing that.” It’s a theory that has surfaced before, but one that would require Jerry Jones either playing with fire with his star players, or cutting them in on the scripted drama in order to make sure his team steals the headlines. The drama has really spiraled out of control in recent weeks, with Jerry Jones naming former star Dez Bryant as a player he once had a problem with. Suggestion that Micah Parsons is in on the drama as Jerry Jones continues late-extension trend If the theory is correct, you would have to imagine that Jones is letting his players know about his plan. CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott may have had their deals agreed in principle long before they were made official, which in a way would be smart business. As other teams sign their stars, their names fade from the headlines and TV shows, leaving only those with outstanding negotiations to be discussed. It seems a little suspect that in recent years, the Dallas Cowboys always seem to be one of those teams, with a star player waiting to get the deal he feels he deserves. Parsons could be in on the deal and may already have the figure agreed with Jones and the Cowboys. They can then gallivant around on social media and at press conferences as if there is an ongoing feud, coercing the fans into the drama before agreeing the contract at the final hour. Many believe Jones, the Cowboys, and Micah Parsons will have a deal agreed before the 2025 season begins, which would only play further into Simmons’ theory. If it’s true, it certainly works, but it isn’t a particularly positive way to portray the franchise.
Jets Predicted To Replace Justin Fields With Young QB Prospect
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to be their new franchise quarterback. Fields has a lot of potential and has looked solid in camp so far. All signs are pointing toward the Ohio State product finally breaking out at the NFL level this year. But there are still a lot of critics who are skeptical of what Fields can and will do with the Jets offense. Pro Football Sports Network's Jacob Infante recently predicted the Jets would replace Fields with Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik in the 2026 NFL Draft. "The New York Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year deal, but if they finish second-to-last in 2025, it likely means he didn’t pan out — putting them right back in the market for a long-term quarterback," Infante wrote. "Cade Klubnik made considerable strides in 2024. He’s an accurate passer with good poise in the pocket and underrated mobility. His consistency, rhythm, and decision-making all give him a high floor and project him as a potential long-term starter in the NFL." It would be quite shocking to see the Jets commit the offense and $40 million to Fields during this offseason, just to replace him once given the chance. But if the Jets land the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft next offseason, that likely means they only won three or four games. At that rate, Fields had to have been pretty bad. Either way, it's tough to predict what the Jets will do in the 2026 NFL Draft because we don't know what Fields looks like in a Jets regular season game yet. If the young quarterback shines and shows a lot of potential, he's likely going to turn into the team's franchise signal caller. It wouldn't make sense to draft a quarterback if Fields looks the part.
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