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Goaltender Michael DiPietro has had a rocky development road, but got back on track with an AHL All-Star campaign in the Bruins organization in 2024-25. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the former high-end prospect is generating interest as he heads toward Group VI unrestricted free agency in a few weeks.
If so, DiPietro might be aiming to land somewhere where there’s a potential opening for him to start the season on the NHL roster as a No. 2 option. Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff reported in March the Bruins were pursuing a contract extension with him, but considering there’s been no apparent forward progress since then, combined with today’s report, it’s clear he desires more of a shot than he’d have next year in Boston behind Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo.
A third-round pick by the Canucks in 2017 after winning the Memorial Cup with OHL Windsor, his development quickly stalled after turning pro two years later. He never became more than a fringe No. 3 option in Vancouver and lost nearly an entire year of development in the COVID-laced 2020-21 season, sitting on the taxi squad all year aside from four minor-league appearances.
After three NHL appearances and a few years of average minor-league play, the Canucks traded DiPietro to Boston at the beginning of the 2022-23 season in what looked like nothing more than a swap of AHLers at the time. DiPietro didn’t even manage an AHL role in his first year with the Bruins organization, playing just one game with Providence and spending the rest of the year with ECHL Maine, where he looked somewhat rejuvenated with a .918 SV% in 29 appearances.
A restricted free agent the following summer, the Bruins at least saw enough to tender him a qualifying offer. He signed a fresh two-way deal for the 2023-24 campaign, which saw him lock down a full-time AHL role again and replicate his forward momentum. While still Boston’s fourth-stringer behind Linus Ullmark, Swayman, and Brandon Bussi that year, he managed a strong 2.51 GAA, .918 SV%, 18-9-2 record, and four shutouts in 30 AHL appearances.
With an even stronger 2024-25 campaign, DiPietro’s development is finally on a linear track. The 26-year-old was a First Team All-Star and named the AHL’s top goaltender after superceding Bussi as Providence’s starter and posting a 2.05 GAA, .927 SV%, 26-8-7 record, and four shutouts in 40 games of action.
Goalies generally take longer to develop, and DiPietro’s winding road to this point could just be a victim of that cliché. He benefits from a pretty weak group of UFA netminders whose top options are Jake Allen, Anton Forsberg, and James Reimer. There are more than a few serviceable backups out there and even a legitimate 1B option in Allen still, but all of the options are known commodities at this stage. Aside from the veteran Allen, who was quite good in backup duties for New Jersey this season, DiPietro offers the most upside of anyone available for free.
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Blue Jackets' extension talks with young star will have major impact on salary
There’s no question that the Columbus Blue Jackets have one of the cleanest cap tables in the league, especially for how competitive they’re expected to be in the 2025-26 season. Still, as their younger players continue to age, the Blue Jackets are getting closer to potentially having to make difficult decisions, and their extension negotiations with Adam Fantilli will have a major impact on their salary hierarchy moving forward. Despite having a somewhat disappointing rookie season, albeit limited by injuries, the third overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft responded well last season, scoring 31 goals and 54 points in 82 games while averaging 17:29 of ice time per game. Fantilli still needs to improve in the faceoff dot and on the defensive side of the puck, but being a 30-goal scorer at 20 years old is nothing to scoff at. In a recent interview with James Murphy of RG Media, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell spoke about the upcoming negotiations with Fantilli, saying, "We’re going to talk here in the next couple of weeks. Pat Brisson is his agent, and we’re going to do some face-to-face meetings. When these kinds of players are up and these kinds of deals need to be made, I think you need to be in front of each other. I think you make a lot more progress than just over the phone. So that’s always been my theory, and Pat’s the same way. I’ve done a lot of deals over the years with Pat, so we’ll be fine and sit down face-to-face and get this done. As we get closer to training camp, I think we’ll be much further ahead, and we have some dates already planned that we’ll meet, so let’s go from there.” There technically shouldn’t be any rush on Columbus’s end, given that Fantilli is a few years away from even becoming arbitration-eligible. Still, for the sake of cost certainty and having one of its core pieces locked up long-term, the Blue Jackets are eyeing a long-term extension with Fantilli in the coming weeks. Waddell also spoke about a separate extension this offseason. On the eve of free agency this summer, Columbus re-signed defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year, $59.5M contract, which represented only a $1.75M yearly increase on his previous deal. Despite reports at the time indicating that Provorov might seek a larger deal on the open market, Waddell explained in the interview that there was no real concern he’d leave the organization. Murphy quoted Waddell, saying, “Well, the good thing is I was in dialogue regularly with Mark Andler, his agent, and there’s a lot of outside noise, but Mark kept telling me, and Provorov too, that his first choice was to stay here in Columbus.” Waddell explained that although Provorov’s cap hit may seem high, he believes it will look more favorable as the salary cap increases. Additionally, Provorov’s preparation for each season is expected to enhance his longevity throughout the duration of the contract. Lastly, Waddell touched on his excitement over the depth the Blue Jackets brought in this summer, particularly on offense. The team specifically targeted Charlie Coyle as a right-handed center and believes his leadership skills will prove a boon to the younger players on the roster. Meanwhile, the team’s general manager also remarked about the skill level of Miles Wood on the offensive side of the puck and Isac Lundeström’s skill on the defensive side of the puck. All three additions are expected to maintain important roles for the Blue Jackets this season and help the team return to the postseason for the first time since the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber makes all kinds of MLB history vs. Braves
Kyle Schwarber made sure his Philadelphia Phillies bounced back after being swept by the New York Mets earlier this week. Schwarber went 4-for-6 with four home runs and nine RBI in Philadelphia's 19-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. His first home run of the night came in the first inning, a solo shot for his 46th of the season. In the fourth inning, the three-time All-Star blasted his second home run of the night (47), this time a two-run knock. Schwarber’s third long ball came in the following frame, with his 48th being a three-run homer. Finally, in the seventh inning, Schwarber hit his fourth home run (49) of the night to right field to come within one dinger of 50 for the season. The 32-year-old made all kinds of history on Thursday against the Phillies’ division rival. He already surpassed his previous career high for home runs in a single season, but also became just the fourth player in franchise history to have four homers in a game and the first since Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt did so in 1976. Additionally, Schwarber is only the 21st player in MLB history to achieve this feat, and the fifth player all-time with at least four homers and nine RBI in a game. Plus, Schwarber joined the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz and Seattle Mariners’ Eugenio Suarez as the only players to have a four-homer game this season — the first time this has occurred. Clearly, Schwarber and the Phillies were anxious to get out of Queens and return to Philadelphia. The Phillies’ offense scored just eight runs across the three-game set against the Mets. They scored 19 runs off the Braves’ pitching at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber received “MVP” chants from Phillies fans on Thursday, and rightfully so. He’s on his way to breaking Ryan Howard’s previous franchise record of 58 home runs in a season, which earned him the 2006 National League MVP.
Jelena Ostapenko responds to racism allegations after post-match confrontation with Taylor Townsend
A heated post-match exchange between former World No. 5 Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend marred an otherwise action-filled fourth day of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. After Townsend defeated the 2017 French Open champion in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, Ostapenko accused her opponent of unsportsmanlike conduct, pointing out that the American didn't apologize when a net cord helped her win a crucial point earlier in the match. The Latvian wrote on social media that Townsend "was very disrespectful" and didn't show the proper etiquette expected of a pro tennis player. "If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants," she wrote in a scathing address of Townsend. Townsend offered more details on their post-match confrontation, which led to some suggesting she was racially targeted. "She told me I have no class and no education, and to see what happens if we play each other outside the U.S.," Townsend revealed. Townsend refused to call Ostapenko a racist. "I didn't take it in that way," she said, via BBC. "But also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated, and all of the things, when it's the furthest thing from the truth. Whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on." Ostapenko was widely lambasted on social media, with even World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka asking her to control her emotions. The under-attack Latvian responded to allegations of her being a racist, while reaffirming her stance on Townsend disrespecting her during the match. "I was never racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn't matter where you come from," she wrote on social media. Townsend will next face Russian teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the third round. The World No. 46 American is trying to reach the fourth round of her home major for the first time since 2019.
Aaron Nola quietly made Phillies history amid Kyle Schwarber's big night
While Kyle Schwarber stole the show on Thursday with his four home runs, Aaron Nola made some franchise history of his own. The longtime Philadelphia Phillies right-hander surpassed 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels (1,844) for third on the team’s all-time strikeout list with 1,845 punchouts. Nola’s historic strikeout came against Ronald Acuna Jr. in the sixth inning on a 79 mph curveball. Overall, he struck out four across six innings, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks. It wasn't the cleanest final line, but the Phillies’ offense supplied plenty of run support in a 19-4 win over the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia's longest-tenured player recently returned from a rare three-month stint on the injured list. He has a 6.47 ERA in 12 starts this season, with 66 Ks in 64 innings. So, being able to accomplish this career milestone must feel good. Nola achieved the feat across 280 career starts — all with Philadelphia, who drafted him in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of LSU. The 32-year-old made his big league debut in 2015. The one-time All-Star has compiled a solid 11-year career thus far as one of the most durable pitchers in the league. He owns a 107-86 record alongside a 3.81 ERA, six complete games and four shutouts. Nola is now just 26 strikeouts away from overtaking Robin Roberts (1,871) for second place on the Phillies’ all-time list. Steve Carlton has the most Ks in franchise history by a wide margin with 3,031.
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