Mets Legend Passes

During the early days of the New York Mets franchise, they were a team struggling to find an identity. They were looking for guys to help establish the franchise on the field and off it as well. The first guy to really take that mantel was second baseman Ron Hunt. He spent a short time in New York, but he left his impact on the team, the city and the sport. The legendary 2nd baseman passed away last week at the age of 86.

Hunt spent twelve years in the Majors, the first four of which were with the New York Mets. He was the first Mets player to be elected to not only the all star game but to start an all star game. He was the starting second baseman for the National League in 1963. He then went on to play one year with the Dodgers, three with the Giants, five with the Cardinals and his final year with the Cardinals in 1974. He's ability to crowd the plate and make the strike zone almost disappear. That style at the dish lead him to getting hit by a pitch a record (at the time) 243 times in his career. During his career, Hit had 1,429 hits, 39 home runs, 370 RBI's and was a .273 lifetime hitter. All this to go along with those hit by pitch totals. He made both of his all star appearances playing for the Mets in both 1964 and 1966.

What Hunt did was establish himself with the Mets as one of the early stars for the franchise. He had a solid all around game and really gave the Mets their first star that the fanbase could get behind. He put the team in a sense on the map. He had a unique style of play for this game and it was something that other players studied during the years since his career ended.

Ron Hunt was the first kind of star that the Mets had and he will be forever remembered.

Big Contract In Windy City

When you are becoming the face of a franchise, one would hope you would get paid as such. That's what the Chicago Blackhawks have done. Even though he's going to be missing time at the start of the season, Conor Bedard is going to be staying put for a while in the Windy City. Bedard just inked a new five year deal in Chicago worth $75 Million, coming out to $15 million a year on average.

Bedard was taken first overall three years ago by Chicago, and outside of having his time cut a little his rookie year due to injury, played in all 82 games two seasons ago. Last year his game played numbers dropped again due to injuries, but the point totals went up for the third year in a row. Now, he is slated to miss the first couple of months of this season after having surgery on his shoulder. He injured it during a workout a couple of weeks ago. Bedard was coming near the end of his current deal, having been a restricted free agent going into this season.

Chicago is showing plenty of faith in their budding young superstar by getting him locked up to this kind of a deal now. There's no doubt in anybody's mind that Bedard is going to be the guy in the Hawks lineup and the face of the franchise for years to come. The offensive numbers he's put up when he's playing are worthy of the money he's making.

That might be the only thing that leads me to question this contract. He has had injuries the first few years of his career, including this one, which make it hard to justify the price tag. At the same time, the offensive numbers do justify the money. Bedard will be more than worth his payday and then some, when and if he can have a long healthy career after this current setback.

Bedard getting his new contract does lead one to wonder out loud. If Bedard got this kind of a payday, what's that going to mean for Macklin Celebrini out in San Jose? Celebrini was taken first overall the year after Bedard went in the exact same spot. Celebrini just turned twenty a month ago and is entering his third year of a four year deal he got when he came into the league. He finished 4th in the league in scoring last year with 115 points as a teenager. Celebrini is for the Sharks what Bedard is for the Hawks. He's going to be a big deal in the league for a long time, and he's almost done with his rookie contract, and is going to be due for a massive pay increase. One of which is defiantly going to be worthy of, as he's; making less than a million dollars a year.

Bedard's contract is going to be a sign of things to come for contracts of the big stars, and the young guns, around this league.

NHL Schedule Released

The time has come. it's now. Start marking down your calendars folks! The schedule has just been announced for the 2026-27 National Hockey League season. For the first  since 1994, the NHL will have an 84 game regular season. And what a packed one its going to be.

Now we will dive into more details on things when we do our season preview in a couple of months. For right now, its just the announcements of the schedules. So before we dive into the teams we cover, lets look at some of the important dates for around the league this year out of the 1,344 regular season games.

September 29th: Opening night, five games start the season off!
October 13th and April 10th: All 32 teams in action!
October 21st: Panthers @ Senators (Brady's return to Ottawa)!
October 25th: Canadians @ Jets: Heritage Classic (outdoors)!
November 12th and 14th:  Hurricanes vs Kraken (Global Series Finland)!
December 18th and 20th: Blackhawks vs Senators (Global Series Germany)!
December 21st: Golden Knights @ Hurricanes (Cup Finals Rematch)!
December 31st: Avalanche @ Mammoth (Winter Classic)!
February 6th: NHL All Star Game (UBSA Arena Long Island)!
February 20th: Golden Knights @ Stars (Stadium Series)!
March 6th: Maple Leafs @ Panthers (Bob returns to Sunrise)!

Now lets get right into it. Here's the schedules for the Lightning, Islanders and Rangers!

October:
Oct 1 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
Oct 3 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 5 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Oct 8 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Oct 10 @ Islanders 7:30 PM
Oct 13 @ Rangers 7:15 PM
Oct 15 vs Seattle 7:00 PM
Oct 17 vs Vancouver 4:00 PM
Oct 20 @ Vegas 10:30 PM
Oct 23 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Oct 24 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Oct 29 vs Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Oct 31 @ Nashville 2:00 PM

November:
Nov 3 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 5 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Nov 7 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Nov 8 @ Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Nov 11 @ Buffalo 7:30 PM
Nov 12 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Nov 14 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 17 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Nov 19 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Nov 22 vs Buffalo 5:00 PM
Nov 25 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Nov 27 vs Ottawa 3:00 PM
Nov 28 @ Florida 6:00 PM

December:
Dec 2 @ Montreal 7:30 PM
Dec 5 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Dec 7 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Dec 10 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Dec 12 vs Pittsburgh 3:30 PM
Dec 13 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Dec 15 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Dec 17 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Dec 19 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Dec 20 @ Detroit 5:00 PM
Dec 22 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Dec 26 @ Florida 6:00 PM
Dec 28 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 29 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Thu, Dec 31 vs Montreal 2:00 PM

January:
Jan 2 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Jan 5 @ Seattle 9:40 PM
Jan 7 @ Vancouver 9:00 PM
Jan 9 @ Calgary 3:30 PM
Jan 11 @ Edmonton 8:30 PM
Jan 14 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Jan 16 vs Ottawa 3:30 PM
Jan 18 @ Boston 1:30 PM
Jan 21 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Jan 23 @ Detroit 1:00 PM
Jan 26 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM
Jan 30 vs Islanders 7:00 PM

February:
Feb 2 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Feb 3 @ Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Feb 12 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Feb 13 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Feb 16 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Feb 18 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Feb 20 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Feb 23 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Feb 25 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Feb 27 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Feb 28 vs Utah 7:00 PM

March:
Mar 3 @ Los Angeles 10:00 PM
Mar 5 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Mar 6 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Mar 8 @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Mar 11 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Mar 13 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Mar 15 @ Washington 1:00 PM
Mar 17 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Mar 18 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Mar 20 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Mar 23 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Mar 25 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Mar 27 vs Rangers 7:00 PM
Mar 30 vs Toronto 7:00 PM

April:
Apr 1 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Apr 3 @ Boston 3:00 PM
Apr 5 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Apr 6 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Apr 8 vs Montreal 7:0) PM
Apr 10 vs Boston 8:00 PM

September:
Sep 30 @ Toronto 7:30 PM

October:
Oct 3 vs New Jersey 7:30 PM
Oct 6 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
Oct 8 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Oct 10 vs Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Oct 13 vs Vancouver 7:45 PM
Oct 15 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Oct 17 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Oct 20 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Oct 22 vs Los Angeles 7:30 PM
Oct 25 @ Dallas 6:00 PM
Oct 27 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Oct 29 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Oct 31 vs Edmonton 3:30 PM

November:
Nov 5 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Nov 7 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Nov 9 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Nov 12 @ Los Angeles 10:00 PM
Nov 14 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Nov 17 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Nov 19 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Nov 21 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 23 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Nov 25 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Nov 27 vs Winnipeg 7:30 PM
Nov 28 @ Philadelphia 7:30 PM

December:
Dec 1 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Dec 3 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Dec 4 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Dec 7 vs Colorado 1:00 PM
Dec 10 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Dec 11 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 15 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Dec 16 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Dec 18 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Dec 20 vs Rangers 7:00 PM
Dec 22 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Dec 26 @ Boston 7:00 PM
Dec 27 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Dec 30 vs Washington 4:00 PM

January:
Jan 2 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Jan 5 @ Vancouver 9:00 PM
Jan 7 @ Calgary 8:00 PM
Jan 9 @ Edmonton 3:30 PM
Jan 13 vs Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Jan 15 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Jan 16 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Jan 18 vs Nashville 3:00 PM
Jan 20 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Jan 22 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Jan 23 vs Seattle 7:30 PM
Jan 26 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Jan 28 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Jan 30 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM 

February:
Feb 1 @ Florida 1:00 PM
Feb 3 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Feb 12 @ Islanders 7:00 PM
Feb 13 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Feb 15 vs Utah 3:00 PM
Feb 18 vs Rangers 7:00 PM
Feb 20 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Feb 22 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Feb 23 @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Feb 26 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Feb 27 @ Columbus 7:00 PM

March:
Mar 1 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Mar 4 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Mar 7 vs Pittsburgh 1:00 PM
Mar 9 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Mar 12 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Mar 13 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Mar 15 @ Boston 7:00 PM
Mar 17 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Mar 20 vs Philadelphia 3:00 PM
Mar 21 vs Buffalo 3:00 PM
Mar 25 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Mar 27 vs Detroit 7:30 PM
Mar 30 vs Carolina 7:00 PM

April:
Apr 1 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Apr 2 vs Ottawa 7:00PM
Apr 4 vs Montreal 7:30 PM
Apr 6 vs Detroit 7:30 PM
Apr 8 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Apr 10 vs Columbus 5:00 PM

September:
Sept 29 @ Boston 8:00 PM

October:
Oct 1 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Oct 2 @ Detroit 6:30 PM
Oct 4 vs Utah 6:00 PM
Oct 6 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Oct 9 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 11 vs Vancouver 6:00 PM
Oct 13 vs Tampa Bay 7:15 PM
Oct 15 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Oct 17 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Oct 19 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Oct 22 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Oct 24 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Oct 26 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM

November
Nov 1 vs Edmonton 6:00 PM
Nov 3 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM 
Nov 5 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Nov 7 @ Seattle 5:00 PM
Nov 9 @ Edmonton 8:00 PM
Nov 11 @ Calgary 7:30 PM
Nov 13 @ Vancouver 9:00 PM
Nov 16 vs Montreal 7:30 PM
Nov 22 vs Carolina 1:00 PM
Nov 25 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Nov 27 @ Chicago 5:30 PM
Nov 28 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Nov 30 vs Carolina 7:00 PM

December
Dec 3 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Dec 5 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Dec 7 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 8 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 11 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Dec 13 vs Columbus 6:00 PM
Dec 15 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 16 @ Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Dec 18 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Dec 20 @ Islanders 7:00 PM
Dec 22 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 27 @ St. Louis 5:00 PM
Dec 29 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Dec 31 @ Dallas 9:00 PM

January:
Jan 3 vs Columbus 6:00 PM
Jan 5 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Jan 7 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Jan 9 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Jan 11 @ Los Angeles 10:00 PM
Jan 12 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Jan 16 vs Boston 12:00 PM
Jan 17 vs Dallas 6:00 PM
Jan 19 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Jan 21 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Jan 23 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Jan 25 vs Seattle 7:00 PM
Jan 27 vs Florida 7:30 PM
Jan 29 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Jan 30 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM

February:
Feb 3 vs Winnipeg 7:30 PM
Feb 12 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Feb 14 @ Montreal 1:00 PM
Feb 15 vs Buffalo 3:00 PM
Feb 18 @ Islanders 7:00 PM
Feb 20 @ Philadelphia 12:00 PM
Feb 21 @ Carolina 1:00 PM
Feb 23 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Feb 26 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Feb 28 @ Pittsburgh 1:00 PM

March:
Mar 3 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Mar 6 @ Buffalo 3:00 PM
Mar 7 vs Vegas 6:00 PM
Mar 9 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Mar 11 @ Colorado 9:30 PM
Mar 13 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Mar 16 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Mar 18 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Mar 20 vs Pittsburgh 8:00 PM
Mar 21 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Mar 23 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Mar 25 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Mar 27 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Mar 29 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM

April:
Apr 1 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Apr 3 vs Florida 12:00 PM
Apr 6 vs Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Apr 10 vs Toronto 7:00 PM

Legacy Weekend In Tampa Bay

In the final weekend before the all-star break, the Tampa Bay Rays honored one of the very best players to ever step on the diamond at Tropicana Field. Evan Longoria was inducted into the Rays Hall of fame on Saturday and followed that up with having his #3 retired on Sunday. It was an honor befitting not only the face of the Rays franchise, but one of the biggest faces of Tampa Bay Sports.

We've already discussed, at length, what Longoria has done for the Rays during his ten-year playing career here in Tampa Bay. So, we are going to pass that for the time being. What the events this weekend at the at Tropicana Field did for me was twofold. One it led me to wonder who the next version of Evan Longoria for this Rays franchise could be. The other is who besides Longoria is that athlete here in Tampa? Who was that guy that helped elevate Tampa Bay sports to the next level in the national spotlight.

As for who's the next possible Longoria for the Rays, that seems like a fairly obvious answer. That's the guy who's currently at third base here in Tampa, and the starting third baseman for the American League at the All Star Game, Junior Caminero. The numbers that Junior have at this point in his career are almost an exact mirror of what Longoria did during that same time frame. If Junior can stay healthy, and improve his defensive game just a little, he has all the ability in the world to be the next version of Longoria and what he did for baseball in this town. Here's hoping that Rays management finds a way to keep Junior here and playing at third for his entire career and properly build around the guy.

That's what Longoria did for the Rays. When he came up in 2008, it was the first of two world series trips in Tampa. And from that Longoria put his stamp on this town and this team because of how good he was. He wasn't going to be the greatest player in the league, but he was for this team. He was such a solid all around player and person, that he helped make Tampa a place to watch baseball. He really helped put Tampa Rays baseball on the map and that's his greatest achievement.

Now it is safe to say that Longoria is the best player that the Rays have ever had and he helped really put them on the map in the game of baseball. What other Tampa athletes seemed to do that for the teams they played for. For the Bucs, there's three names that come to mind right away for what they did for this city and this franchise. LeRoy Selman is the first name to think of for how bad the Bucs were at that time. Sane thing can be said for either Warren Sapp or Rhonde Barber when they got here. And Mike Evans did that on the offensive side of things for the Bucs, and Mike Alstott as well.

For the Lightning, the three names that really come to mind as being the legacy for that franchise are Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Lecavalier got them on the map as being the main guy to build the Lightning around and turn that franchise around. Same thing can be said for the two guys who passed him on the points list in Stamkos and Kucherov.

So it's been a big weekend in Tampa Bay and there's more to come in the future.

Bronx Bats Whiffed

Being a hitter in Major League Baseball is a tough thing to do. Doing it as a collective team needs to be done if you hope to win games at that level. Striking out is a part of the game. But at the rate the New York Yankees have gone the last couple of days, well it's quite alarming if we are being honest with ourselves.

Over the last two games in Tampa Bay against the Rays, the Yankees struck out a total of 34 times combined, and yet still came away with a split of the first two games. It was 17 strikeouts on Monday in a 5-1 win, followed up by ANOTHER 17-strikeout game in a 6-4 loss last night.

Ian Seymorew and Griffin Jax had done the most damage against Yankees hitter. Seymopre struck out 12, while Jax fanned 10 the night before. During Jax start, the Yankees made up for the swing and misses by hitting home runs to get their runs across the plate. Again, that's turning into an alarming number. The Yankees are still nine games above .500 (as of this writing) and four games back of the Rays for first place. To be fair, the Rays have had a good pitching staff this year, and showed it off the first two games against the Yankees. And it proves the old adage that good pitching beats good hitting.

It is a scary observation that they are swinging and missing that much, which is a possible explanation for why they have won just two out of their last ten games. It's not going to get any easier for the Yankees for having to deal with Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen the final two games of the series. It won't get much easier going against Zach Littelle and Cade Cavalli as two of the three starters in the Washington series heading into the All Star Break.

Thankfully the Yanks have built themselves enough of a cushion to get through this bit of a rough stretch. At the same time, it's starting to set off alarms with what the offense is going through. Not only in the Bronx but around baseball as well. The trend that its either strikeout or home run for hitters around the league.

IT's kind of scary what the game of baseball has become. Don't get me wrong I love dominating pitching performances around the game, but this is a little much. I'm old school in that I'd rather see a guy take the mound, go seven innings and make the ball move, rather than blowing people away with straight gas. That's why we won't see another 300 game win in the sport. Same thing goes for 3,000 hits by hitters. It's because its home run or nothing. It's rare we see good all around hitters in this sport anymore now a days. And what we've seen from the Yankees the first two games in this series in Tampa Bay have proven that.

Play Like An All Star

We are a little over a week away from the 2026 Major League Baseball All Star Game. July 14th, the best of the best will gather in Philadelphia for the 96th midsummer classic. It's one of the rare times we get to see the games best line up with different lineups and it really does lead to some fun scenarios and matchups.

We don't have to wait any longer. Here's the full roster and lineups for the All Star Game this year.

American League:
Starters:
Catcher: Shea Langeliers Athletics (1st)
1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays (6th)
2nd Base: Ernie Clement Blue Jays (1st)
3rd Base: Junior Caminero Rays (2nd)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. Royals 3
Outfielders: Byron Buxton Twins (3rd), Aaron Judge Yankees (8th), Mike Trout Angels (12th)
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez Astros (4th)

Reserves:
Catchers: Dillon Dingler Tigers (1st), Adley Rutschman Orioles (3rd)
1st Base: Nick Kurtz Athletics (1st), Ben Rice Yankees (1st)
2nd Base: Travis Bazzana Guardians (1st)
3rd Base: Miguel Vargas White Sox (1st)
Shortstop: Kevin McGonigle Tigers 1
Outfielders: Randy Arozarena Mariners (3rd), Cody Bellinger Yankees (3rd), Riley Greene Tigers 3rd)
Designated Hitter: Yandy Díaz Rays (2nd)

Pitchers:
Bryan Baker Rays (1st), Dylan Cease Blue Jays (1st), Aroldis Chapman Red Sox (9th), Jacob Latz Rangers (1st), Parker Messick Guardians (1st), Drew Rasmussen Rays (2nd), Joe Ryan Twins (2nd), Cam Schlittler Yankees (1st), Cade Smith Guardians (1st), Ranger Suárez Red Sox (2nd), Louis Varland Blue Jays (1st), Michael Wacha Royals (2nd)

National League:
Starters:
Catcher: Drake Baldwin Braves (1st)
1st Base: Freddie Freeman Dodgers (10th)
2nd Base: Ozzie Albies Braves (4th)
3rd Base: Max Muncy Dodgers (3rd)
Shortstop: CJ Abrams Nationals (2nd)
Outfielders: Brandon Marsh Phillies (1st), Andy Pages Dodgers (1st), Juan Soto Mets (5th)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani Dodgers (6th)

Reserves:
Catchers: William Contreras Brewers (3rd), Hunter Goodman Rockies (2nd)
1st Base: Bryce Harper‡ Phillies (9th), Matt Olson Braves (4th)
2nd Base: Luis Arráez Giants (4th)
3rd Base: Sal Stewart Reds (1st)
Shortstop: Otto López Marlins (1st)
Outfielders: Corbin Carroll Diamondbacks (3rd), Pete Crow-Armstrong Cubs (2nd), Jordan Walker Cardinals (1st), James Wood Nationals (2nd)
Designated Hitter: Kyle Schwarber Phillies (4th)

Pitchers:
Chase Burns Reds (1st), Jhoan Durán Phillies (1st), Raisel Iglesias Braves (1st), Max Meyer Marlins (1st), Mason Miller Padres (2nd), Jacob Misiorowski Brewers (2nd), Eduardo Rodríguez Diamondbacks (1st), Chris Sale Braves (10th), Cristopher Sánchez Phillies (2nd), Paul Skenes Pirates (3rd), Logan Webb Giants (3rd), Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dodgers (2nd)

So what do you think? Did anybody get snubbed from the game?

Hockey Hall Makes Call

Getting induction into a hall of fame, in any endeavor, means you are one of the very best at whatever you do. There are six new names that are getting enshrined into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2026. Going into the builder's category will be Brian Burke. In the players category we will see the induction of Cindy Curley, Keith Tkachuk, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron. All of these members will take their place in the hall on November 9th in Toronto.

We start with the builder's category and the only new member in the form of Brian Burke. Burke began his career in professional hockey in 1987 as vice president and director of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks. He held that role until 1992 when he took over as GM of the Hartford Whalers, lasting there for a year before moving to the NHL offices as senior vice president and director of hockey operations for the league. It was a position he held until 1998, when he ended up back in Vancouver as the GM of the Canucks. He then went on to become team president for the Ducks, Maple Leafs, Flames and Penguins. Some of the moves that Burke made during his career have drawn some ire from fans, but more often than not, Burke did an admirable job of being able to build and run teams.

Now starting with the players category, we have to look at Cindy Curley. She helped put women's hockey on the map in the US. She starred at Providence College from 1981 to 1985, winning back to back national titles in 1984 and 1985. During her time there, she scored 110 goals and 115 assists for 225 points. She joined the US national team in 1987 after a successful tryout for the team. She had a big impact on the global stage during the inaugural 1990 IIHF Women's Hockey Championships. She also won silver in 1992, 1994 and 1996. Knee troubles cut her career short, but doing what she did in not only college but at the national level, helped put women's hockey on the map before it truly went global.

Coming from the NHL level, we have to start with Keith Tkachuk, who after 15 years, finally got his induction. He w3as drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 19th overall in the 1990 draft and made the jump to the big club in 1991. He played in Winnipeg until 1996, when he moved with the franchise to Arizona. He stayed with the Coyotes until halfway through the 2000-01 season, when he was traded to the Blues. He played in St Louis until 2007 when he spent half a season in Atlanta. He then went back to St Louis for his final three years, retiring in 2010. Tkachuck played 1,201 games, scoring 538 goals, 527 assists and 1,065 points, to go along with 2,219 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he played 89 games, scoring 28 goals, 28 assists for 56 points and 176 penalty minutes. Keith played in five all star games during his career and made his legacy as one of the top power forwards in the history of the game. Before his induction, Tkachuk had the 2nd most goals of anybody not already in the hall (behind only the 566 scored by Patrick Marleau). He could hit, he could score goals and was a very hard man to move from in front of the net. HE played almost with a sense of a bull in a China shop.

Another big name, getting in on his first year on the ballot, was at the opposite end of the spectrum in Patrice Bergeron. Picked 45th overall in 2003 by the Boston Bruins, Bergeron joined the team that first season, and became a fixture in Boston after the lockout in 2006. He spent his entire career in Boston, retiring  in 20923. While in Boston, he played 1,294 games, scoring 427 goals, 613 assists for 1,040 points and just 494 points. Come playoff time, Bergeron played in 170 games, scoring 50 goals and 78 assists for 128 points. Bergeron played in three all star games, won the Mark Messier leadership award in 2021, the Stanley Cup in 2011 and a six time winner of the Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward in the game. That's what made Bergron successful during his career. Not only was he a great leader, having been Bruins captain for the final two years of his career. He had the offensive skill to be a top six forward in Boston and was one of the elite defensive forwards the sport has seen.

Going from forwards we go to the goal, where we have two netminders getting induction. First is Carey Price, who was taken 5th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2005. Price joined the team that first year out of the lockout and played all 15 years of his NHL career in Montreal. He played in 712 games in Montreal, winning 361 times, with a career .917 save percentage and a2.51 lifetime goals against average. During his career, Price was a seven time all star, winning the Jennings Trophy, Vezina Trophy and most importantly of all the Hart Trophy in 2015. Playing internationally for Canada, he won gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics, the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship. He had such q1uick movements in the nets he was hard to be able to really get a read on what he was going to be able to do.

A guy that he inspired was fellow hall inductee Pekka Rinne. Rinne was drafted by the Predators 258th overall in 2004. He joined the Preds in 2008 and played his entire 13 year career in Nashville, retiring in 2021. He played 683 games, collecting 369 wins, had a .917 save percentage and 2.43 goals against. He was a four time all star and winner of the Vezina Trophy in 2018. He is tied for seventh in NHL history in GAA and tied for fifth in save percentage among goalies with 500 games played. Rinne may not have been as technically sound as a guy like Price, but what got him to the level he did was his athletic ability. He had made some pretty athletic saves during the course of his career that are highlight material.

So, what say you. Did the hall get this right? Any big snubs left out this year?