The stubborn Brooklyn Nets were closing in on a “play-in spot” prior to their most recent 2-8 run. Now, they are firmly back in the lottery hunt (9.8% chance at the #1 pick according to Tankathon). Does their unexpected success this season lead to another sell-off (i.e., Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton), or will GM Sean Marks build around this new core?
Due to shoulder surgery, Jack Hughes season ends with 70 points (27g, 43a) in 62 games. He continues to be a dominant player when healthy, but he’ll finish this season having missed 85 (18.7%) of all regular season games in his six-year New Jersey Devils career. As we said after the “4 Nations Face-Off”, he needs to continue to get stronger if he’s going to maximize his potential.
The New York Giants have been busy during the first 48 hours of free agency; however, they remain with only one (Tommy DeVito) QB on the roster. Reportedly, they are negotiating with both Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. If neither commits to Big Blue, I could see the Giants going the veteran journeyman route (i.e., Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston) and concentrating on the draft now that Jaxson Dart has joined Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders as potential top 10 picks.
The rumors that the New York Islanders were open to trading Noah Dobson might have excited several fanbases around the NHL, however, they turned out to be greatly exaggerated. Dobson (25), Ilya Sorokin (29) and Matt Barzal (27) remain the core that the Islanders will retool around moving forward.
The New York Jets have one opening on the offensive line, and they could do a lot worse than a reunion with unrestricted free agent Mekhi Becton, who established himself as a guard while winning a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles. The “Big Ticket” ranked 21st among all guards, and the Jets current RG Alijah Vera-Tucker has previously proven he can play RT.
ICYMI Link “The New York Jets Need 10 Starters in Free Agency & NFL Draft”
The New York Knicks currently rank 13th in Team Defense even though five of their top seven players (OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Miles McBride & Mitchell Robinson) are considered above average defensive players. Not sure if it happens this year or next, but this group has the talent to gel into a true championship contender.
The New York Liberty commence their title defense in 66 days, when they open the 2025 season against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, May 17th at 3p at the Barclays Center.
Spring training stats are normally considered useless, but in his first 18 at-bats for the New York Mets, Juan Soto has 3 homers, 19 total bases, 444 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, 1.056 slugging and 1.556 OPS. Time to re-negotiate?
I though GM Chris Drury was crazy when he signed Jonathan Quick in July, 2023, because the 3x Stanley Cup Champion looked washed in his last two years with the Los Angeles Kings. However, the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer has had a major impact both in goal and the locker room for the New York Rangers, earning the one-year extension he received today.
Quietly, there is a youth movement within the New York Yankees everyday lineup who are expected to start Jasson Dominguez (22), Anthony Volpe (23), Austin Wells (25), Oswaldo Cabrera (26), Jazz Chisholm, Jr (27). Plus, 23-year-old Everson Pereira is in the running to pick up some of Giancarlo Stanton’s vacated DH at-bats.
ICYMI Link “No State Taxes the True Star of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline”
