ROYAL OAK, MI — The Battle Creek Battle Jacks closed out the two-game set against the Royal Oak Leprechauns with a 1-0 win on Tuesday at Memorial Park. For the second consecutive day, this proved to be a pitching duel between Battle Jacks starting pitcher Craig Kabat and Cal Rutherford for the Leprechauns. Kabat struck out the side during the first inning and continued his strong play, dealing two more in the top half of the second. The third inning saw the lone run of the game as the Battle Jacks scored in the top half of the inning, as Sonner Moses drove in the game-winning run. Abel Ortiz came into the contest to end the fourth and built off the strong start of Kobat. Ortiz closed out the game for the Battle Jacks, securing their second straight victory. A strong defensive play by Hunter Morgan led to a double play to end the seventh inning, and got the Battle Jacks out of the bases loaded. The Battle Jacks are back in action on Wednesday as they host the Richmond Flying Mummies in the team’s home opener at 7:05 pm.

By Nicholas Giannone | May 25th, 2026 ROYAL OAK, MI — The Battle Creek Battle Jacks opened the 2026 season with a 1-0 win on Memorial Day against the Royal Oak Leprechauns at Memorial Park. This matchup proved to be a pitching duel from the very beginning, as Jackson Phelps dominated on the mound, while Drew Tolfree from the Royal Oak Leprechauns looked sharp in the season opener. The Battle Jacks’ defence continued to steal the show throughout the night, with strong plays in the fourth, a double play to end the fifth, and a tumbling grab from Hunter Morgan to end the sixth proved to be critical. The seventh inning opened the door offensively, as Jake Stedman drove in Christian Lopez to give the Battle Jacks a 1-0 lead. Ian Junkin entered in relief for Phelps in the bottom half of the inning, looking to carry forward the momentum from the starter. In the eighth, the Leprechauns mounted pressure by loading the bases, but the threat was erased with a double play to end the inning. Jacob Janisko came in relief to close out the game for the Battle Jacks in the bottom of the ninth, where he made no mistake, as the Battle Jacks opened the season with a 1-0 win. The Battle Jacks finished the night with four hits, while committing one error. The Battle Jacks continue their road trip on Tuesday against Royal Oak with an 11:00 am first pitch at Memorial Park. About the Battle Jacks & the Northwoods League The Battle Creek Battle Jacks are a proud member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 33rd season, the 26-team Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history, drawing significantly more fans in a more friendly ballpark experience than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 410 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson; three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR); two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford; World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL); 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL); and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM).

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews reportedly met with general manager John Chayka, along with senior executive advisor Mats Sundin, over Zoom last week, according to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Reports from the beginning of the offseason suggested that Matthews was planning on having a meeting with the organization to understand the direction of the team before committing to the Maple Leafs long-term. For the time being, there is no reason for Maple Leafs fans to panic, as it seems the meeting between the three went well. Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs and Matthews conversation “I understand at some point last week, there was a lengthy Zoom call. Matthews, I believe John Chayka and Mats Sundin were on it as well. And it was their first in-depth conversation. They still have to hire a coach. They still have to make some moves. They’d like to accomplish a few things to change their roster next year. And it’s not like they’re asking for Matthews’ approval or anything like that, or he’s making decisions or anything like that. But I think it was the first time they could really have a conversation about what they’re thinking, and what their plan is, and what their vision is and how they’re going to do it. I heard it was a positive meeting. Right now, we’re all watching the smoke signals. Is there anything problematic here? Is there anything for Toronto to worry about how Matthews feels? I was told right now, things are in a good place.” Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts the Podcast. An in-person meeting is unlikely to occur anytime soon, due to multiple complications, with the upcoming draft and coaching interviews beginning in the near future. With Matthews just having surgery and recovering in Arizona, there doesn't seem to be any sense in a rush for the two parties to meet in person. What stood out most and should make Maple Leafs fans happy is what Friedman reports in terms of the Maple Leafs front office not making any decisions to please their captain. Maple Leafs are not asking for Matthews approval "I just don’t think an in-person meeting is feasible right now. It's not like they're asking for Matthews' approval or anything like that, or he's making the decisions or anything like that, but I think it was the first time they could really have a conversation about what they're thinking and what their plan is and what their vision is and how they're going to do it," Friedman said. The Scottsdale native is under contract with the Maple Leafs through the 2027-28 season, at a cap hit of $13.25 million per season. From the sound of the conversation, it doesn't sound like Auston Matthews wants to leave the Maple Leafs, while looking to be part of the team's future moving forward. After two down years, we can expect Matthews to regain his form during the 2026-27 campagin.

Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images | Bob Frid-Imagn Image The Los Angeles Kings have begun contract extension conversations with former Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton, according to Dennis Bernstein of the Fourth Period, making the possibility of a return to Toronto unlikely. The Toronto Maple Leafs sent Scott Laughton to the Kings during this past season's trade deadline in a deal that sent a conditional third-round pick, which later turned into a second-round pick due to the Kings qualifying for the postseason. Maple Leafs fans were hoping for a reunion involving Laughton Many Maple Leafs fans were hoping Laughton would return to the Maple Leafs this summer, as he was the heart and soul of the lineup. He played in all different kinds of situations; however, he never truly got a chance under former head coach Craig Berube. Laughton often played fourth-line minutes despite being one of the most consistent forwards they had. The Maple Leafs never gave Laughton his chance to prove himself within the lineup, which, looking back at it, was a terrible decision to acquire him during the 2024 trade deadline, especially for the price they had paid. In 63 games played for the Maple Leafs dating back to last season, Laughton produced 16 points, including 10 goals. His production with the team was underwhelming, but a lot of this can be blamed on Berube for mismanaging his assets. In 21 games with the Kings, the Oakville native registered eight points, nearly the same as he did over the course of his tenure with the Maple Leafs. It should also be noted that with the Kings, Laughton had a time on ice of 15 minutes, opposed to his 13 minutes in Toronto. The 31-year-old thrived under DJ Smith, but no decision on whether he will be behind the Kings' bench next season has been made. Scott Laughton enjoyed his time as a Maple Leaf Scott Laughton said time and time again that he truly enjoyed his time in Toronto, explaining that he fulfilled a childhood dream. "I've loved it here, and I've loved my time as a Maple Leaf. That's all I really can control," Laughton said. "I don't get into conversations too much. I'm a Leaf, and that's where I want to be. We'll see where it goes." The Maple Leafs have a lot of questions to answer heading into a crucial offseason with the future of the organization on the line. Unfortunately, at this point, a reunion involving Scott Laughton does not seem to be in the cards.

Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is questionable heading into next season following complications of an offseason surgery. Domi will be reevaluated heading into training camp and is listed as out indefinitely, the Maple Leafs announced on Monday. Domi played the 2025-26 season with an undisclosed injury that ultimately hindered his performance and was bad enough to require surgery. Domi posted 36 points, including 12 goals in 80 games this season. He also recorded a minus-29, which was the worst mark of his NHL career, and second-worst on the Maple Leafs, only behind Matthew Knies. Could Max Domi's struggles be due to his undisclosed injury? Domi, throughout the season, received a lot of criticism for his poor play. It is tough to imagine when the injury happened, as there was no note of this during the course of the season. The Winnipeg native was a healthy scratch in the end portions of November and into early December, leading to his two-game absence; whether or not that had something to do with his injury remains in question. At times during the season, Domi was a strong contributor for the Maple Leafs, especially when the team was looking to turn their season around during Christmas and January. Ultimately, the 31-year-old struggled this past campaign. He was lacklustre on the defensive end and didn't contribute the way many expected. Heading into the 2025-26 season, Domi was heavily relied on to produce offence in the absence of Mitch Marner, which simply did not happen. When the Maple Leafs' season virtually came to an end, Domi struggled to produce any points with just three in the team's last 10 contests, while looking invisible in Auston Matthews absence. This could have been due to the injury, but it is not certain, as if he was that badly injured at that point in the season, there was no reason for him to be playing. Domi likely with the Maple Leafs moving into the future Domi is under contract with the Maple Leafs through the 2027-28 season with an annual average value of $3.75 million. With lots of questions surrounding the Maple Leafs, every player's future within the organization seems to be in question. However, for Domi, it seems highly unlikely he will be moved this offseason, because of his close ties with senior executive advisor Mats Sundin, as Domi's father, Tie remain extremely close with Mats and were teammates during each of their tenures with the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs are hoping for a smooth recovery from here on out, as Domi is set to play a critical role with the Maple Leafs next season.

Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs had a very disappointing 2025-26 season, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. However, one of the very few bright spots the Maple Leafs saw during the season was the play and production of Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Anyone surrounding the Maple Leafs understands there needs to be a change. In terms of the front office, much of the change has already occurred during the regular season. MLSE CEO Keith Pelley fired Brad Treliving as the team's general manager, hiring John Chayka and Mats Sundin to take over the role. Just weeks following the hiring, the Maple Leafs decided to fire Craig Berube as the head coach of the Maple Leafs, leading to a clean house within the organization. The next order of business for the Maple Leafs will be to decide on which players they are looking to keep, while trying to move on from certain pieces. With lots of questions regarding many players' futures, Oliver Ekman-Larsson spoke during the IIHF World Hockey Championships about his time with the Maple Leafs, while staying hopeful to remain with the team. Ekman-Larsson speaks on his future with the Maple Leafs "I think the whole situation became even more unique because we were expecting a baby just two weeks later. Obviously, it’s tough when you enjoy being somewhere and want to stay somewhere, and then something like that comes up. But when a team is struggling and things aren’t going the way they’re expected to, changes usually happen. It’s never fun. It was something new for me to go through in the middle of a season." Ekman-Larsson said. I’ve been bought out before, and I’ve been traded before. But this was different; I probably knew a little more than the outside world did. As I said, when you enjoy being somewhere and want to stay there, it’s never fun when those rumours come up. Our whole family loves it there, and that’s where we want to be. But it’s not something you can walk around constantly thinking or speculating about. That’s how I see it." Ekman-Larsson was rumoured to be traded this past season at the trade deadline; however, he was happy the move never came to fruition, as he has finally looked to find his role in the NHL and be a solid defenceman, something he hasn't been able to do over the past couple of seasons. The Swedish defenceman was the Maple Leafs' most consistent blueliner, finishing with 39 points, including eight goals in 78 games, leading all Maple Leaf defencemen. Ekman-Larsson wants to remain with the Maple Leafs I’ve gone through other things earlier in my career, and there’s really no point wasting energy on something before it actually happens, or if it even happens. If something does happen, then you just try to deal with it however you can. You never know. As I said, something will probably happen with the team there, but exactly what that is, I don’t know. Again, I’m not going to speculate on those kinds of things. The people sitting above me, John, Mats, and the rest of the organization, are the ones making those decisions." Ekman-Larsson later added. The next couple of months are going to be interesting with lots of crucial decisions waiting to be made. Ekman-Larsson understands the business side of hockey, but wants to be a part of the Maple Leafs' future, helping them get back to the postseason during the 2026-27 season.

Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs finished the 2025-26 regular season outside the playoff circle for the first time since 2015-16, signalling major changes within the organization. With a new front office, John Chayka and Mats Sundin will have some tough decisions to make while strengthening the team in all areas. The Maple Leafs struggled everywhere this past season. On the defensive end, they couldn't stop the opposing team from scoring, while their offence was widely inconsistent, and their netminders at times couldn't stop a beach ball. The Maple Leafs quite simply didn't have the star power to compete with the top teams in the NHL this past season. Maple Leafs need more depth down the middle One of the areas where they didn't have consistent depth was on the offensive end. John Tavares, at 35 years old, was tasked with carrying a massive load of the offence. Tavares signed a team-friendly $4.3 million deal last summer, leaving cap space for the Maple Leafs to make additions to the roster; however, that did not end up happening, and they can't make that same mistake this time around. Throughout the course of the season, Tavares slowed down. He was extremely productive to begin the season, but as time went on, he wasn't able to play to the level people are accustomed to. Despite this, he still managed 31 goals and 71 assists playing all 82 games, something the Maple Leafs did not want to do heading into the season. With how inconsistent the team was, Tavares was never able to catch a break within the lineup, which obviously hurt him down the stretch. Important summer ahead for the Maple Leafs Heading into this pivotal offseason, general manager John Chayka needs to understand the importance of adding talent up front, especially down the middle. If the Maple Leafs can acquire a top-six centre, it can relieve some of Tavares duties, leaving them with a deep centre core which every team needs, if they want to go on a run for the Stanley Cup. A top six featuring Matthews, Nylander, Matthew Knies, and another solid centre would allow Toronto to spread out scoring much more effectively. An acquisition at that level can allow younger players such as Easton Cowan to enter better offensive situations instead of being forced into difficult assignments early in their NHL careers. A deeper forward group and a reduced workload for Tavares could benefit the Maple Leafs forward core. If the Maple Leafs want to become a more complete team capable of returning to contention, this may be exactly the type of change they need moving forward.

The Washington Capitals re-signed former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren on Wednesday to a two-year extension paying $6.5 million. Liljegren’s contract will carry a $3.25 million annual average value. This signing comes shocking to most, especially Maple Leafs fans, because of the inconsistency the Swedish defender has shown over his career. The 27-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with both the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals, posting 11 points, including one goal, in 47 games. Inconsistent Play Throughout Liljegren’s NHL Career The former Maple Leafs first-round draft choice spent six seasons with the Leafs before being dealt to the Sharks in 2024 in exchange for Matt Benning and third- and sixth-round picks, with the sixth-round pick being for this upcoming draft. Liljegren’s best season with the Maple Leafs came during the 2023-24 season, where he tied a career-high 23 points in 55 games, showing promise for the young Maple Leaf defenceman. Unfortunately, this did not last, as he continued to struggle and only suited up in one contest for the Maple Leafs during the 2024-25 season. Signing That Came as a Shock to Many For the Washington Capitals, this signing is shocking to many. The Capitals are not in a great situation when it comes to cap space. Following the Liljegren signing, the Caps have just over four million remaining, and for a team attempting to get back into the playoff mix, this doesn’t seem like a wise use of their money. During his tenure with both the Maple Leafs and Sharks, the right-handed defenceman never truly found his footing in the NHL, being taken out of the lineup on multiple occasions and isn’t trusted by many coaching staffs. Liljegren’s NHL career still has a lot of time to turn around, and this new contract shows the Capitals have trust and believe in his game moving forward. Playing next to former Maple Leafs prospect and close friend Rasmus Sandin can help his play. People of Leafs nation should be rooting for Liljegren, but his play concerns many around the league.

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images | Sergei Belski-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into their most important offseason the team has seen in decades, after a disappointing season missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. John Chayka, newly hired general manager, is expected to make major decisions regarding the team. According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs are looking to shuffle their roster. They are eyeing major blockbuster deals, but list Auston Matthews as the only player who remains untouchable. Chris Johnson states Auston Matthews remains untouchable “One of the things I’ve been told by other teams with the Leafs is that the message that’s come out from their front office is that they’re willing to discuss any players on their roster, except Auston Matthews,” Johnson said on the Chris Johnson Show. "They’re open to hearing what you have to say on any player but Matthews. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the Matthews’ situation. I don’t think there’s anything new to update there. I find it kind of interesting. The word around the league is they’re willing to listen to a lot of players, who, in the past, they haven’t been. Keep in mind, guys like Morgan Rielly and William Nylander have no-movement clauses. John Chayka is considering basically anything outside of his captain." Johnson added. Turnaround from reports surronding Auston Matthews future with the Maple Leafs This is a fast turnaround from the rumours we have been hearing since the Maple Leafs season came to an end. Whether the rumour surrounding Matthews' questionable future with the Maple Leafs is factual or not, this should make fans feel a slight sigh of relief. John Chayka had said that he and the Maple Leafs captain are scheduled to meet regarding the team's future as well as his thoughts on the organization moving forward. No date was released, and the conversation could have happened leading to this report. Morgan Rielly makes the most sense for a major player to be dealt this offseason, as he has fallen short of expectations over the past two seasons. With the 2025-26 campaign being one of the worst of his career, rumours have been swirling since the trade deadline surrounding the longest tenured Maple Leaf. The 32-year-old is signed through the 2030 season at $7.5 million AAV with a full movement clause. As for the rest of the Maple Leafs roster, do not be surprised if significant changes are made over the next six weeks, as John Chayka is expected to be actively engaged in trade discussions across the league.

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to be able to shape where they will be selecting in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26th in Buffalo. With the Buffalo Sabres' round-two exit after a heartbreaking overtime Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, the draft order for the team eliminated from the postseason has been finalized. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, this means they will be selecting 59th overall in the second round due to the Scott Laughton trade they made at the trade deadline. The process towards the Maple Leafs gaining the second-round pick, and how the Buffalo Sabres affected this, is quite confusing. How the Maple Leafs are picking in the second round The Maple Leafs acquired the pick from the deal they made with the Los Angeles Kings, when they sent Scott Laughton to the Kings in exchange for a conditional third-round pick; the condition included that if the Kings made the postseason, it would turn into the Buffalo Sabres ' second-round pick, hence the reason why they are picking in the second round. With the Sabres now eliminated from the postseason, it has been determined where the Maple Leafs will slot in. This will be the Maple Leafs second pick in the draft, after their first overall selection. Big offseason ahead for John Chayka and Mats Sundin Being able to pick in the second round can help out the Maple Leafs tremendously, for a team that has little to no draft capital. This has become huge for their future. While there is no guarantee that whoever they select in the second round will turn out to become a solid NHL player for them, it certainly helps out their prospect pool, giving the Maple Leafs more players to develop. The Maple Leafs are heading into one of their most crucial offseasons, as they just missed the postseason for the first time in a decade, with general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin facing a lot of pressure.

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images As the IIHF World Hockey Championships are well underway, many of the Maple Leafs participating have seen success as key contributors to their countries; however, Joseph Woll has struggled with Team USA to begin the tournament. Joseph Woll has appeared in two games for the USA so far, and hasn't performed to the standards anyone believed he would heading into the championships. Rough start for Woll at IIHF World Hockey Championships In the USA's first game against Switzerland in a gold medal rematch from last year, Woll stopped 17 of the 20 shots he faced in a 3-1 loss. This loss came as a shock to many, but Woll's play was underwhelming to say the least. He didn't get the start in their 5-1 win over Great Britain, but was given another chance against Finland on Monday. During Monday's contest, the Maple Leafs netminder was pulled after giving up five goals on ten shots. Woll was replaced by Devin Cooley in the second period as the USA lost 6-2. Joseph Woll's play is starting to become concerning Woll's play should be concerning for the Maple Leafs, as people expected Woll to use this tournament as a chance for him to refind his game. During the Maple Leafs media availability, Woll took responsibility for his game, understanding he needs to be better heading into next season. “I think it was a bit of up and down. I felt like I had some stretches where I was feeling good about my game, and some stretches where things weren’t necessarily going my way. At the end of the day, I felt, if I look at the season as a whole, I feel like maybe I’ve had some stuff left on the table." Woll said at the Maple Leafs' end-of-season media availability. Right now, it looks as if his game is beginning to trend in the wrong direction. While there is still lots of time during the IIHF World Hockey Championships for Woll to bounce back, Don Granato, USA's head coach, may begin to cut his minutes moving forward. While his play is concerning, the summer is just beginning, and Woll has lots of time to get his game back in the right place as the Maple Leafs hope to get back into the playoff circle heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Craig Berube back on May 13, following a disappointing 2025-26 season where the Maple Leafs missed the postseason for the first time in a decade. The Edmonton Oilers fall into a similar situation where they fell short of expectations. After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals back-to-back seasons, the Oilers weren't able to get to that same level during the regular season, as well as during the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks in six games. The Oilers, just days after they lost general manager Stan Bowman, decided it was time to cut ties with Connor McDavid's former junior coach, Kris Knoblauch. And now, they're turning to a familiar name to try and right the ship. Edmonton Oilers speaking with Craig Berube According to Sportsnet's NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs granted the Oilers permission to begin talks with Craig Berube. Later, according to Ryan Rishaug of TSN, the Oilers are expected to conduct a formal interview with the former Stanley Cup champion. For the Oilers, Berube could be the coach they need to finally get over the hump. They still haven't been granted permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy, as the Vegas Golden Knights are in the Western Conference Finals, and will likely keep the Oilers and other teams waiting until their Stanley Cup run comes to an end. So, as of right now, Craig Berube remains the frontrunner for the Oilers' next bench boss. Is Berube the right choice for the Oilers? Craig Berube in Edmonton could be a very interesting combination; whether or not he fits the way their star players like to play remains a question that won't be answered until the season begins, if hired, of course. Similar to the Maple Leafs, the Oilers play a fast offensive brand of hockey, in which Berube ultimately changed. This resulted in Matthews becoming a far more rounded player; however, his offensive numbers took a turn for the worse. Could something like this happen to Connor McDavid, to the extent of Matthews? I don't believe so, but as the main driving force of the Oilers offence, they need him to be able to produce at the same level we have seen. As the Oilers remain at the opening stages of their coaching search, Berube being hired is just speculation; however, with initial talks underway, we could see this developing into more very soon.