Sports

Rangers offseason mailbag, Part 2: Grading Drury’s moves, glaring long-term issues and more

Published

2 hours ago

July 29, 2026

Peter Baugh got us started with Part 1 of our offseason mailbag earlier this week. Now it’s my turn to dive in with Part 2.

(Some questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)

How would you grade GM Chris Drury’s offseason? — Steven K.

My initial thought is that a B feels right because the roster is more competitive now than when the offseason began. Since we won’t be able to properly judge many of Drury’s moves for a few more years, though, the real answer is probably TBD.

There are so many variables that will dictate how we look back on this summer. It starts with Pavel Dorofeyev and No. 5 pick Alberts Šmits, two players who were acquired to be franchise cornerstones and must now prove they can shoulder those responsibilities. Cole Beaudoin is another key figure, with the future development of the 20-year-old center a critical part of evaluating the Vincent Trocheck trade. Above all, what becomes of the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks the Rangers traded for Dorofeyev and Marcus Pettersson, respectively, will eventually tell us if Drury took the right course or set the franchise back even further.

Until we have those answers, the grade remains incomplete.

I definitely get the upgrades to our second-pair D, and I think those were good moves, particularly Pettersson. But where does drafting Šmits and all those other LHD, plus the extra D pickups, leave Drew Fortescue and Matthew Robertson? — Erik K.

You never want to put a ceiling on young players, particularly a prospect like Fortescue, who’s still only 21 and just turned pro. Maybe one (or both) forces their way into the lineup permanently, but the likeliest outcome is that Pettersson, Šmits and Vladislav Gavrikov hold down spots on the left side of the defense for years to come, thereby crowding out Fortescue and Robertson or pushing them to their off-hand side.

There may come a time when New York looks to move on from one of the veterans in favor of a younger option, especially if 2026 draft picks Ben MacBeath and Charlie Morrison come charging in a few years. But there’s also a chance that the Rangers use some of their defensive depth to target forwards, trading from a position of newfound strength to address an area they know needs more pop.

The reality is that some of these prospects won’t pan out, but if several do and a logjam is created, that would fall into the good-problem category.

The best offensive teams in the NHL scored about 3.5 goals per game last season. The Rangers sat at 2.87, and that was with Panarin for much of the year. To be even middle of the pack offensively and score three goals per game, where in the world are 252 goals coming from? — Jake E.

It starts with Dorofeyev, who scored a combined 72 goals the past two seasons (plus another 12 in this year’s playoffs) and gives New York a young shooter it desperately needed. But the 25-year-old is going to need help in terms of playmakers who can get him the puck and other scorers who can ease his offensive burden. For that to happen, the Rangers will need these three things to fall into place.

Alexis Lafrenière and Gabe Perreault, who combined for 43 points in New York’s final 23 games last season, build on that momentum and cement themselves as legitimate top-six wingers.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, who are entering their age-33 seasons, prove they can still be productive as a one-two center punch.
An upgraded D corps makes more offensive contributions following a season in which only two defensemen eclipsed 18 points.

That’s a lot of ifs, but most of it will have to come to fruition for the Rangers to improve their attack. (It’s also worth noting that they’re still trying to add reinforcements.)

With a legitimate PP2 QB on the team for the first time in ages in Sean Durzi, should we expect any shakeups in units or the mix of ice time? — Dan T.

Five-on-five offense remains a primary concern, but the power play can relieve some of that pressure. Last season’s debacle makes it easy to forget that the Rangers finished with the NHL’s fifth-best PP, converting at 24.7 percent. There were glaring hot and cold streaks, and they’re moving forward without their biggest weapon in Artemi Panarin. But they still have the makings of a high-quality unit.

Dorofeyev will replace Panarin on the right half wall, where he’s a natural fit as a left-handed shooter who finished second in the league with 20 power-play goals. That should open up more shooting opportunities for Zibanejad on the opposite side, where he finished tied for fifth with 16 PP goals. Add in one of the NHL’s best PP quarterbacks in Adam Fox, and there’s a lot to be excited about. I’d expect Lafrenière and Miller to occupy the net-front and bumper positions, respectively.

The second unit should operate more smoothly with Durzi at the point and Perreault, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Will Cuylle and possibly Noah Laba rounding out the five-man group. Still, I’d be surprised if the ice time doesn’t remain close to a 75-25 split in favor of clearly superior PP1.

What is your prediction for Lafrenière’s scoring totals (goals/assists/pts)? — Jeff C.

Given his expected top-line and PP1 usage, which he hasn’t had consistently in his previous six seasons, I’d imagine Lafrenière will eclipse his previous career high of 57 points, health permitting. I’m thinking somewhere in the 70-point range, with a chance to shatter last season’s high of 33 assists if he plays on a line with Dorofeyev and Zibanejad.

Braden Schneider to SEA for Shane Wright? — Felipe M.

I don’t think it’s a crazy concept, Felipe, but there are pretty clear hurdles. The Seattle Kraken are believed to be seeking scoring forwards, not defensemen, so I’m not sure this deal would meet their needs. I haven’t heard anything that suggests there’s traction there.

As I wrote a couple weeks ago, I still believe the Rangers would like to leverage Schneider into forward help of their own, especially given the improved defensive depth we discussed in response to Erik K.’s question. The market hasn’t yielded any sure-fire options to this point, so it may have to be a Wright-like reclamation project, if it happens at all. I’ve wondered about defense-needy teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, as well as change-of-scenery candidates such as Columbus’ Kent Johnson and Calgary’s Connor Zary.

The search continues, but I also sense Drury is content to roll with Schneider to begin the new season if the right deal doesn’t come along. The situation can be reassessed at the trade deadline or next summer, when Schneider’s one-year, $5.5 million deal will expire, but New York will retain his restricted free agency rights.

The Rangers’ most glaring long-term issue is the lack of definitive top-six, play-driving forward prospects (at least guys who haven’t played NHL games yet). What prospects DO we have who, in your opinion, have an outside chance of becoming that type of player? — Brendan M.

The names who come to mind are Dorofeyev, Lafrenière and Perreault, who the Rangers are banking on to become point-producing staples in their top six for several seasons to come. That has to happen if this retool is going to work, but they don’t exactly fall into the prospect category. Dorofeyev and Lafrenière left that status behind years ago, and while Perreault is still only 21, he’s no longer a rookie. All three are also wingers, leaving a gaping hole in terms of young, high-end centers. (More on that shortly.)

The next wave of forward prospects is led by Beaudoin, Malcolm Spence and Liam Greentree, another former first-round pick acquired as part of the Panarin trade in February. Scouts I’ve talked to see their upside as contributing middle-sixers, not top-of-the-line play drivers. Nathan Aspinall was a big riser last season, when he finished second in the OHL with 94 points in 65 games, and Tomáš Chrenko was an intriguing swing-on-skill pick in the third round last month. But I agree with your premise, Brendan, that the lack of top-six upside in the pipeline is the most troublesome potential stumbling block.

Looking down the road, do you see targets for a new 1C? — Mark S.

The best way to find one who can impact your roster for an extended period is through the draft, with the odds much better the higher you pick. The 2027 class should have exciting options near the top — Alexis Joseph, Jonah Neuenschwander and Milan Sundström, to name a few — but the Rangers’ offseason actions indicate they have no intention of picking in the top five again next year. They’ll likely have to go outside of the organization to acquire a true top-line center.

The obvious target is Connor McDavid, who left the door open by signing only a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers last fall. Even if he decides to leave, New York would have to distinguish itself among a lengthy list of suitors for the best player in the world.

Other pie-in-the-sky scenarios could include the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and the Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, with the former scheduled to join McDavid as a free agent in 2028 while the latter may decide he wants out if the Oilers’ situation doesn’t improve. Maybe the St. Louis Blues go back to entertaining offers for Robert Thomas, or another young-ish center follows the recent trend of leveraging contractual control to relocate. Any of those things are possible, but we’ve seen that finger-crossing is a risky strategy.

Other than McDavid and Matthews, there aren’t any marquee centers heading toward unrestricted free agency in the next couple years. There are some interesting RFAs, including the Boston Bruins’ Fraser Minten and San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith in 2027, then highly regarded prospects such as San Jose’s Michael Misa, Boston’s James Hagens and Chicago’s Anton Frondell in 2028. But the chances of any of them shaking free from their current clubs at those stages are slim, as we just saw when the Ducks matched a massive offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers for Leo Carlsson.

If none of that happens, Drury will have to hope he finds his version of the Zibanejad trade, which just passed its 10th anniversary. In that deal, the Rangers sent Derick Brassard — who recently returned to the team in a player development role — and a seventh-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 23-year-old Zibanejad and a second-rounder. It’ll go down as one of the greatest trades in franchise history, but convincing a team to part with a potential 1C at a similar age will be a herculean task.

Sports

Mauricio Pochettino, U.S. Soccer ‘close’ on deal to renew USMNT coach: Sources

Published

1 minute ago

July 29, 2026

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A deal between U.S. Soccer and Mauricio Pochettino for the Argentine to continue as U.S. men’s national team head coach is “close” but not quite done, as talks between the two parties have continued and progressed, multiple sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

Pochettino’s initial contract ran through the 2026 World Cup. Both sides have expressed interest in the partnership continuing, with an offer extended to Pochettino before the World Cup, though talks were tabled until after the U.S. run in the tournament ended.

Telemundo broadcaster Andres Cantor first reported Tuesday night that a renewal was close. The new proposed deal would be for four years through the 2030 World Cup, sources add. Financial terms and what remains unsorted amid the current discussions are not yet known.

Under Pochettino, the U.S. had a stellar group stage at the World Cup before being eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16 in a dispiriting 4-1 loss. The U.S. won multiple group games and secured first in the group after just two matches for the first time in program history and won its first knockout World Cup game since 2002 – albeit in a round that didn’t previously exist, thanks to the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams.

“Right now, it’s about resting a little bit, to think, have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy,” Pochettino said in the postgame press conference following the loss to Belgium. “We’ve built a very good relationship.”

Pochettino had indicated in a Spanish radio interview on July 17 that a decision on his future would be coming “next week,” though that stated deadline has come and gone without finality. Regardless, it appears there is forward movement toward his return.

“From a men’s national team coaching standpoint, we’re in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future,” U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said recently. “We all share a belief that the best days of U.S. Soccer are ahead of us, and they’re excited about the opportunity to impact soccer at all levels in every community.”

Batson added that Pochettino and his staff remained involved in the federation’s “long-term planning,” which included the recent hiring of former LAFC manager and U.S. men’s national team veteran Steve Cherundolo as coach of the men’s 2028 Olympic team.

Pochettino was named USMNT head coach in the fall of 2024 and took charge for his first games in October of that year. The lows, aside from the manner of the World Cup exit, included defeats to Panama and Canada in the March 2025 Concacaf Nations League final four and the program’s first four-game losing streak since 2007.

The highs, meanwhile, centered on a 5-1 friendly win over Uruguay in November 2025 to cap a five-game unbeaten run (4-0-1) and the riveting victories in the World Cup over Paraguay, Australia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What a deal would mean

If this deal gets over the line, both U.S. Soccer and Pochettino will have some important questions to answer. The most important: How committed is Pochettino to a four-year cycle? He openly flirted with a Premier League return multiple times during his less-than-two-year tenure with the U.S. ahead of 2026 and even had talks with AC Milan right before the World Cup.

Is the contract sound enough to keep suitors away all the way through 2030? Would it be in the best interest of U.S. Soccer to hire a coach who leaves midway through the cycle?

On top of that, Pochettino’s incredibly high salary was justified in the last cycle by those who said a coach of his stature was needed to push U.S. Soccer to the next level. The Belgium loss, at a stage the U.S. has previously reached multiple times, certainly wouldn’t qualify as such.

At a time when U.S. Soccer is trying to fix youth development and the pay-to-play model, what’s the justification for an enormous salary for the coach of a men’s national team program that has so much under it that needs to be reformed before it can truly challenge at a World Cup?

Pochettino and his staff have said they’re committed to fixing those underlying problems. Presuming this deal gets done, it will be important to hear their plan — and their pledge to stay until 2030.

Sports

How to watch Rockies vs. Padres: TV channel and streaming options for July 29

Published

9 minutes ago

July 29, 2026

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The San Diego Padres aim to sweep the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday at Petco Park, beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET. Griffin Canning (1-9, 6.97 ERA) gets the start for the Padres, who are 54-53 this season and third in the NL West. Gabriel Hughes (0-2, 2.79 ERA) is the expected starter for the Rockies, who are 42-66 and fifth in the NL West.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres

Rockies vs. Padres odds

Favorite Moneyline: Padres -250
Underdog Moneyline: Rockies +200
Total: 8
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Padres

Miguel Andujar: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Samad Taylor: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Jason Adam: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Jeremiah Estrada: 15 Day IL (Knee), David Morgan: 15 Day IL (Knee), Lucas Giolito: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Joe Musgrove: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Bryan Hoeing: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ramon Laureano: 60 Day IL (Hip), Nick Pivetta: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Rockies

Brenton Doyle: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Jeff Criswell: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Jaden Hill: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Blas Castano: 15 Day IL (Pectoral), Chase Dollander: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kris Bryant: 60 Day IL (Back), José Quintana: 60 Day IL (Elbow), McCade Brown: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), RJ Petit: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Welinton Herrera: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Pierson Ohl: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kyle Karros: day-to-day (Biceps)

Stats to know

San Diego’s Manny Machado has hit 23 home runs this season, which ranks 12th in MLB. He has also tallied 64 RBIs (19th in MLB) and has scored 55 runs. In 442 plate appearances, he has recorded a .216 BA, .302 OBP and .442 SLG with an 11.3% walk rate and a 21.5% strikeout rate.
In 469 plate appearances, Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .285/.353/.400 with a .753 OPS and 25 steals on 35 attempts. He has hit eight long balls, driven in 49 runs and scored 54 times.
Colorado’s T.J. Rumfield is slashing .294/.377/.469 this season with 13 home runs, 53 RBIs and an OPS of .846. He has a 14.4% strikeout rate and a 10.4% walk rate in 424 plate appearances, and he has scored 46 total runs.
In 353 plate appearances, Jake McCarthy has slashed .296/.338/.497 this season. He has hit 10 long balls and driven in 59 runs with a strikeout rate of 18.4% and a walk rate of 5.1%. He has stolen 16 bases on 19 attempts and has scored 45 runs.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Sports

Lucas Bergvall impresses in Sydney as Mathys Tel reminds Tottenham Hotspur of his quality

Published

16 minutes ago

July 29, 2026

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Tottenham Hotspur beat Sydney FC 4-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in regular time, continuing their positive start to pre-season.

Unsettled midfielder Lucas Bergvall was handed his first start of pre-season alongside Archie Gray, who captained the side for the second time in as many matches ahead of senior players like Ben Davies, Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.

Mathys Tel opened the scoring for Spurs with a free kick from 25 yards, before Takahiro Sekine levelled in the 55th minute for the A-League side after defender Kota Takai inadvertently poked the ball into his path. With the game drawn in normal time, starlet Luca Williams-Barnett ensured Tottenham started strongly in the shootout with a Panenka penalty, but Martin Dubravka was the hero, saving the decisive penalty from Alexandar Popovic.

Here, The Athletic dissects the main talking points.

How did Bergvall do?

Bergvall has been heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham this summer and boasts several suitors across the Premier League. Newcastle United had a £46million ($61.2m) bid rejected earlier this month, while Nottingham Forest have had multiple approaches rebuffed.

Despite the growing likelihood that the Sweden international will depart this summer, Roberto De Zerbi included him in his 35-man squad for the pre-season tour, and he earned his first minutes of the trip in Sydney.

Lucas Bergvall warms up with his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Bergvall started alongside Gray, who wore the captain’s armband for the second time in four days, and brought a sharp first touch and dribbling quality to the midfield before being taken off at half-time for Sandro Tonali.

The 20-year-old sees his best position as a No 8 and is keen to play there more often in the coming season after deputising in various midfield roles and on the wing last season. On the evidence of his performance at the Allianz Stadium, his desire to play more consistently in his preferred position is not without justification, though Sydney in pre-season is no comparison to Premier League competition.

But it seems likely those minutes will come away from north London. After being asked whether Bergvall’s inclusion indicates his future belongs at Spurs, De Zerbi told reporters he wanted “proud” players and those who are not “happy” or proud to stay at the club “have to leave”. But while Bergvall may be on his way out, his inclusion from the start suggests De Zerbi has not washed his hands of him completely yet.

Lucas Bergvall challenges Sydney FC's Takahiro Sekine

Bergvall was making his first start of the trip (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

What system did Spurs play?

Long-term injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and Xavi Simons, as well as a minor issue for James Maddison — who was sidelined for the majority of last season — mean Spurs are without any of their natural No 10s.

Conor Gallagher deputised in that position under De Zerbi last season, and Williams-Barnett is among the club’s most exciting prospects from the academy, but there does not seem to be an obvious candidate to play that role if the Italian opts to stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation next term.

Roberto De Zerbi barks instructions from the touchline in Sydney

Roberto De Zerbi barks instructions from the touchline (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

De Zerbi went with a single pivot for Tottenham’s 2-0 win over reigning A-League champions Auckland FC on Sunday, with Gray sitting behind two No 8s — a system the head coach could revisit in the early weeks of the Premier League season. Rodrigo Bentancur asked to return for pre-season training a week later than originally scheduled after a demanding season last time round, but De Zerbi insists he is a crucial part of the squad and firmly in his plans.

There is a chance he sees the Uruguayan operating alongside or behind their two record-breaking midfield signings, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

De Zerbi returned to a double pivot against Sydney, using Gray and Bergvall in the first period before Tonali and Jamie Donley came on in the second half. As in the latter stages of last season, when Pedro Porro would invert and play high in the opponents’ half when Spurs had possession, De Zerbi instructed Rio Kyerematen and Tye Hall — both typically midfielders — to occupy a similar role, suggesting that dynamic will continue into the new campaign.

Where does Tel fit in?

De Zerbi has made no secret about his desire to add attacking reinforcements to the squad, with Tottenham currently prioritising additions in the wide areas.

Manchester City and Brazil winger Savinho, 22, is among their top targets, resuming their long-standing interest from last summer. But Tel, who started on the left wing today, showed why he shouldn’t be overlooked.

Tel started every game from the left wing after Simons suffered an ACL injury in the 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in late April, and wowed and frustrated in relatively equal measure. It was his brilliant strike that opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United in Tottenham’s penultimate home game of the season, but it was also his wild attempted clearance that Ethan Ampadu threw his body in front of to earn a penalty and prevent Spurs from taking three much-needed points in the relegation fight.

Mathys Tel battles for possession with the grounded Wataru Kamijo

Mathys Tel leaves Wataru Kamijo on the deck (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

A brilliant free kick in the first half opened the scoring against Sydney — another demonstration of his obvious talent and excellent ball-striking ability.

Should he improve his decision-making and consistency, there’s no reason why Tel should not continue as an important contributor under De Zerbi next term, regardless of potential additions.