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The Florida Panthers are riding high following their 2024 Stanley Cup championship. Heading into the new season, the roster has changed, but the core remains in place and ready to defend their title.
A huge part of the Panthers' offseason was negotiating a new contract with scoring winger Sam Reinhart. Coming off of a 57-goal season and a fantastic postseason, Reinhart was in line for an expensive extension. It took some time, but the Panthers and Reinhart agreed to a new, eight-year contract to keep him in Florida for the forseeable future.
Armed with a new contract, the Panthers expect Reinhart to continue producing at a high rate. For others, the expectation is that Reinhart will regress fresh off of signing his new contract.
ESPN recently published their fantasy hockey rankings and outlooks for the 2025 season. While Reinhart's teammate Matthew Tkachuk received a huge projection for the upcoming campaign, Reinhart's outlook is less optimistic. According to their projections, Reinhart is set to take a step back in 2025, specifically in the goal-scoring department. Ranked as the 24th player in the NHL, ESPN They wrote about why they see him as a regression candidate.
"Buoyed by a completely unsustainable 24.5 shooting percentage -- well above his previous career-best mark of 19.2 percent -- Reinhart scored 57 goals (and 94 points) in 82 games last season," they wrote. "The number placed him second in the NHL behind only Toronto's Auston Matthews. With no choice but to pay up following his career year and a Stanley Cup championship, Florida inked Reinhart to an eight-year, $69 million deal following the season. Reinhart is an excellent player on one of the NHL's best teams, but perhaps no player in the league is at greater risk of burning fantasy managers this coming fall. Don't overpay on draft day."
ESPN's outlook on Reinhart is incredibly pessimistic, but painfully realistic. He's been in the NHL full-time since the 2015-2016 season. Over nearly a decade in the league, he's recorded five 20 to 25-goal seasons, two 30+ goal seasons, and one season with more than 40 goals. There's no doubting that Reinhart is one of the better and more consistent scorers in the league, but there's no evidence to suggest he's more than a 30 goal scorer at this stage of his career.
Nonetheless, he remains an important piece for the Panthers. Set to turn 29 during the upcoming season, Reinhart aims to prove ESPN and his doubters wrong and post another 50-goal season.
More must-reads:
- Flyers first-round pick expected to commit to Michigan State
- Five-time Pro Bowler announces retirement from football
- The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz
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Penguins Poised for Potential Blockbuster Trade, But Draw Line in Sand
The Pittsburgh Penguins may be getting closer to making a big move, as multiple reports suggest the team is actively exploring trade possibilities involving defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed that the Carolina Hurricanes have shown interest in Karlsson. His $10 million cap hit for the Penguins is a major obstacle, however. For a deal to materialize, Pittsburgh would likely need to retain a significant portion of Karlsson’s salary. On the July 15 episode of the Steve Dangle Podcast, Chris Johnston said the Penguins aren’t going to retain half of Erik Karlsson’s salary for any team. A Karlsson deal might be more feasible closer to the March trade deadline. The 35-year-old former Norris Trophy winner also holds a no-movement clause, giving him final say on any potential trade. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports the Penguins have set steep asking prices for both Rust and Rakell. The front office is reportedly seeking a guaranteed first-round pick and a high-upside young player for Rust, while Rakell’s value is pegged at a B+ level prospect, a late first or early second-round pick, and a depth NHLer. Among the teams already being linked to Rust are the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs. GM Kyle Dubas is actively working the phones, and one of these veterans could be the centerpiece of a significant trade in the coming weeks. If not this summer, something it expected closer to the deadline. It has been reported that Dubas has told other teams, while the prices are up there, Pittsburgh is open for business. They are not afraid to make a bold move, and everyone not named Sidney Crosby is available.
Yankees Change Course With Anthony Volpe After Disastrous Game Against the Blue Jays
For the first time in 2025, the Yankees have dropped Anthony Volpe into the ninth spot in the batting order, a clear strategic shift from manager Aaron Boone to ease pressure on the young shortstop. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a foreign spot for Volpe. Over his three-season career, he’s started in the ninth hole 42 times, though most of his plate appearances have come batting sixth or seventh. That balance highlights Boone’s move: keeping Volpe in the lineup while providing a less pressurized environment in which to regroup. Volpe’s offensive struggles have mounted. He enters Tuesday’s game batting around .214 with an OPS hovering under .700. He’s slumping well below the expectations set by his promising rookie and sophomore seasons. His defense hasn’t offered a reprieve either. Leading the American League with 12 errors, Volpe has been the focus of criticism for miscues ranging from misplayed grounders to errant throws. Boone doesn’t generally like to do this, but he has clearly recognized that Volpe needs to have some pressure taken off his shoulders right now. The screams for him to lose his job are growing louder, and clearly, he’s starting to feel them. While it remains to be seen how long this adjustment will last, placing Volpe at the bottom of the order is a balancing act. The Yankees' only backup shortstop is Oswald Peraza, who is an automatic out in the lineup, and so he cannot really bench Volpe. This way, Boone is protecting his confidence while keeping him engaged in the field. Boone continues to show faith in Volpe’s potential, but for now, the ninth hole provides a temporary buffer for a player still finding his footing.
Magic Johnson Mourns the Unexpected Passing of a ‘Dear Friend’ on Monday
Malcom-Jamal Warner, who portrayed the beloved character Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” died at 54 in Costa Rica in a drowning accident, according to the Associated Press. The report claimed that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on the country’s Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the water. Following his death, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2002 inductee Magic Johnson mourned his passing. “Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend Malcom-Jamal Warner,” he wrote on X. “We were both super fans of the hit Cosby Show and continued to follow his career on shows like Malcom and Eddie and The Resident.” Warner was on “The Cosby Show” from 1984-92. He also appeared in television series such as “Jeremiah,” “A Different World” and “Here and Now,” while Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979-91 before making a brief comeback in 1995-96. “Every time I ran into Malcom, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life and business,” Johnson added. “He will truly be missed . Cookie and I are praying [for] his family and close friends during this difficult time.” Warner was in films such as “Drop Zone” (1994), “Fool’s Gold” (2008), “The Tuskegee Airmen” (1995) and “Tyson” (1995). He also received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. On the other hand, Johnson became a successful businessman after his NBA career ended by becoming a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Paige Bueckers Had Two Words for Angel Reese on Sunday
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese earned her second consecutive WNBA All-Star nod this season. She is currently averaging 14.0 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the 7-15 Sky. Reese has recorded 15 double-doubles during this campaign, and she is leading the league in rebounds per game for the second straight year. She is also contributing career-bests in both points and assists in 2025. During this year's WNBA All-Star game, Reese played for Team Collier, whose captain was Minnesota Lynx star and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier. Reese contributed six points and nine rebounds in the 151 to 131 win on Saturday evening. One of Reese's teammates during the event was Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers, who is averaging 18.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game during her rookie season. Bueckers scored six points and dished out eight assists in the All-Star win. On Sunday, Reese made a post on Instagram about her experience during her second All-Star weekend. Bueckers commented on the post and had two simple words for Reese. "5 wayyyyy," Bueckers commented. Collier brought home the MVP trophy for the All-Star game after scoring 36 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Skylar Diggins recorded the first triple-double in the game's history as well with 11 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds for Team Collier. Reese and the Sky will be back in action on Tuesday evening as they travel to Minnesota to take on the 20-4 Lynx. Bueckers and the Wings will also play on Tuesday evening on the road against the 14-9 Seattle Storm.
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