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Who are the most fun teams to watch this season? Let's rank all 30
Imagine you're sitting at home on a Saturday evening, and you know you need to put the phone down, but your favorite team played an afternoon game. Which MLB teams do you most want to watch? We're back for our second annual MLB Watchability Index to identify this season's must-see squads.
The original formula was years in the making, but after conducting further research this offseason, we've tweaked it just a bit. We'll grade each team in five categories, plus the potential for up to five bonus points. The maximum total score is 40 points.
Here are the categories, all fitting into a general idea of: "What makes baseball exciting?"
Star power (10-point scale): We'll use our MLB Rank top 100 list as a guideline.
Young talent (10-point scale): We love young players! This focuses on players in their first or second seasons in the majors plus potential call-ups from the minors.
Baserunning (5-point scale): Speed is exciting. This includes not just stealing bases but overall team speed.
Defense (5-point scale): Does the team play good defense or have extraordinary defenders capable of highlight-reel plays?
Minutiae (5-point scale): Ballpark, uniforms, mascots, unintentional comedy, broadcasters, colorful characters, etc. -- fun factors that might make you want to tune in to watch this team.
Bonus (5-point scale): Anything else I want to reward.
In general, good teams are more fun to watch than bad teams, so while this isn't a power ranking, we should expect the best teams to rank high. Let's get to it.
Jump to team:
American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR
National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH
30. Chicago White Sox (10 points)
Star power: 1 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 1
Bonus (2): +2 for the possibility they could chase their own single-season loss record
The White Sox won 8-1 on Opening Day, which put them over .500 for the first time since Opening Day of 2023. Look, they probably won't be as bad as last year's 121-loss season, but the early returns don't exactly look promising.
They do have a couple of rookies in the rotation who are worth watching in Sean Burke and Shane Smith, but the real pitchers to watch are top prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, who both started the season in Double-A. Maybe they get called up, but there's also little need to rush them to the majors.
29. Colorado Rockies (12.5)
Star power: 1 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 4 | Minutiae: 1
Bonus (2): +1 for Brenton Doyle's arm (repeat bonus from 2024), +1 for mountain views
Outside of the defensive ability of Doyle in center field and Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop, there isn't much to go with here as the Rockies remain stuck in a rut of irrelevance. They even keep sticking with the same managers, with Bud Black headed for a seventh straight losing season in Colorado.
Rookie starter Chase Dollander, arguably the Rockies' best pitching prospect ever, just made his major league debut, so that's exciting. Good luck in Coors Field, Chase.
28. Miami Marlins (13)
Star power: 2 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 1
Bonus (3): +3 for the possibility of more weird, inexplicable managerial decisions
If weird, inexplicable managerial decisions are your thing, a game against the Mets last week showed why you might want to check out Miami. The Mets were leading 6-5 in the sixth inning and had runners on first and third with one out when first-year Miami skipper Clayton McCullough intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Pete Alonso. OK, that was weird enough. There were 15 intentional walks last season with runners on first and third. But seven of those came with two outs, five others came in the bottom of the ninth or later in a tie game, and one came with the count already 3-0 against Aaron Judge. That leaves just two that sort of replicate this decision -- and both were issued by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (to Jesse Winker and Yordan Alvarez).
Here's the kicker: Alonso is a prime candidate to hit into a double play, but McCullough then brought the infield in. Mets play-by-play man Gary Cohen, one of the best in the business, was beside himself. "What is going on? Why? Why would you set up the double play and then not play for the double play?" Alonso then doubled over the head of center fielder Derek Hill, who, as Cohen pointed out, was playing extremely shallow. It's going to be a long season for the Marlins.
27. Minnesota Twins (14)
Star power: 3 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (3): +1 for Prince Day on June 10, +1 for Joe Ryan's four-seamer, +1 for having a Harrison, a Bailey and a Griffin on the roster -- as first names
The Twins ranked low last year, and I'll repeat what I said then: The team itself is probably better than this ranking, but there isn't a lot of glitz and glamour here. No big star (Carlos Correa's shine has dulled and Byron Buxton really never got there in the first place), no big masher, no speedster on the bases or must-see ace on the mound. The youth score will go up if Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall get called up -- which might be the case given the early struggles of the offense.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (15)
Star power: 4 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (2): +1 for Paul Skenes' pitching highlights, +1 for Andrew McCutchen still getting the job done
Well, we got suckered last year, when the Pirates got off to a 9-2 start -- and that was before Skenes was even called up. Quote from the 2024 edition of this story: "This is not an overreaction to Pittsburgh's hot start. Nope. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY." We ranked the Pirates No. 10 overall. Turned out, it was most definitely an overreaction to Pittsburgh's start.
Look, the Pirates are watchable every fifth or sixth day when Skenes starts, but otherwise? I'll pass, at least until Oneil Cruz learns to play center field. It doesn't help that the Pirates started the season with two PR disasters in the Roberto Clemente sign situation and missing "Bucco Bricks" being discovered at a recycling park. At least it's a great ballpark.
25. Los Angeles Angels (15.5)
Star power: 5 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (3): +1 for Ron Washington, +1 for NOT having to watch Anthony Rendon struggle again, +1 for Kenley Jansen's cutter
The Angels are off to a nice start. Maybe they'll even be surprise contenders in a potentially weak AL West. But the team's star power is pretty much limited to Mike Trout, as young veterans such as Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe and Zach Neto have graduated out of the "youth" category without becoming established stars, although Neto could develop into one after a promising sophomore campaign.
The youth score could go up if 23-year-old Kyren Paris proves to be the real deal after a strong start at the plate. I'm skeptical given the fact that he hit .167 in the minors last season, but he has been crushing it early on.
24. Cleveland Guardians (15.5)
Star power: 4 | Young talent: 4 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 1
Bonus (2): +1 for the spicy stadium mustard, +1 for longest World Series title drought
I'm not trying to insult a team that reached the American League Championship Series last season, but the primary highlights are the great Jose Ramirez and a bullpen that was one of the best of all time. But ... bullpens. We love you, we love you not, but we don't really tune in to watch relievers.
Steven Kwan is an entertaining, scrappy player who puts the ball in play and covers everything in left field. Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio and Jhonkensy "Big Christmas" Noel fit into the young category, but the more intriguing young players are prospects Travis Bazzana and outfielder Chase DeLauter, two guys we could see in the second half. (DeLauter will have to bounce back quickly from core muscle surgery in March.)
23. Seattle Mariners (16)
Star power: 5 | Young talent: 1 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (3): +1 for the Sunday cream-colored jerseys, +1 for summer days in Seattle, +1 for Bryan Woo's fastball/sinker combo
As a Mariners fan, I was ready to give up on watching them on a regular basis after they hit .162 in their first eight home games -- aside from the marine layer making it a difficult place to hit, the park seems to be in their heads at this point (the Mariners do hit OK on the road). Then, the next game, they rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the final two innings to beat the Astros on Randy Arozarena's grand slam and three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Baseball, man, it has a way of sucking you back in.
22. Washington Nationals (16.5)
Star power: 2 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (1): +1 for pitcher Brad Lord making the Opening Day roster after working at Home Depot in the offseason
This team is a lot more interesting than it was in 2024, when Washington ranked last on the Watchability Index after starting the season with Jesse Winker in left field and Eddie Rosario in center. The Nationals were somehow 19-18 in early May before reality set in and they eventually turned to a younger, more dynamic outfield: James Wood, Jacob Young and, in September, top prospect Dylan Crews.
That trio, along with shortstop CJ Abrams and starter MacKenzie Gore, forms the core of the 2025 team. Wood looks like he's going to be a star, but Crews continues to appear overmatched at the plate, and as brilliant as Young is defensively in center field, he offers no power.
21. Tampa Bay Rays (17.5)
Star power: 1 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 1.5
Bonus (1.5): +1 for those glorious Devil Rays throwback jerseys, +0.5 for Yandy Diaz's biceps
The selling point for the Rays is the group of players just entering the majors, not just Junior Caminero's ceiling as a power hitter but a wave that includes Curtis Mead along with Shane Baz and Kameron Misner. The last two fit on our scale of players entering their first or second full seasons, even though those guys aren't all that young.
Now, if and when Carson Williams and Chandler Simpson (104 steals in the minors) get called up, the Rays will instantly become a lot more intriguing. Williams could be one of the game's next star shortstops, and Simpson has the potential to be baseball's premier burner on the basepaths. But, for now this team lacks star power and some of the defensive dynamism we've seen from it in the past.
20. Toronto Blue Jays (17.5)
Star power: 6 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 4.5 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (2): +1 for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension, +1 for cotton candy fries (it took until 2025 for somebody to invent this?!)
One of the best things about Guerrero's extension is that Jays fans can enjoy the season without worrying about what will happen to the face of their franchise in free agency. But we're all winners here: We don't have to spend all season speculating about potential Guerrero trades.
The Jays can improve on this ranking if Anthony Santander hits 44 home runs again or Bo Bichette returns to form or Max Scherzer finds his way back into the rotation. Amazingly, Toronto got off to a nice start even though Guerrero and Santander both failed to go deep until Santander finally homered over the weekend.
19. St. Louis Cardinals (18)
Star power: 2.5 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3.5 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (2): +1 for not trading Nolan Arenado, +1 for Masyn Winn's arm
The Cardinals are at least interesting as they transition to a younger roster. We'll see what Winn can do in his sophomore season, how speedster Victor Scott II will fare and whether Jordan Walker will finally hit enough to match his prospect hype. Eventually, starter Quinn Mathews will be up and JJ Wetherholt, the team's first-round pick in 2024, is in Double-A, putting him in line for a possible promotion as well.
The starting pitching probably ultimately limits the team's upside, and Ivan Herrera's injury after a hot start is a bummer, so Cardinals fans will have to be patient -- which isn't really in their playbook.
18. Detroit Tigers (19)
Star power: 4 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus: +1.5 for Colt Keith, Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler, all character names in Taylor Sheridan's next TV project
The Tigers have Tarik Skubal, and he's awesome to watch whenever he is on the mound. They also have an intriguing young group in Jackson Jobe, Trey Sweeney and Keith, but this doesn't necessarily register as the most exciting team around. They're certainly not flashy on defense or on the bases. Maybe Riley Greene graduates to star status this season, and the possible reemergence of former No. 1 overall picks Casey Mize and Torkelson certainly adds an intriguing subplot to the season.
17. Houston Astros (19.5)
Star power: 7 | Young talent: 3.5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (3): +1 for Hunter Brown's changeup, +1 for Yordan Alvarez's presence, +1 for Jose Altuve's left-field adventure
You can't lose Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker and expect to rank highly in watchability. Houston does still have Alvarez and Altuve, however, and Brown is quickly becoming one of my favorite pitchers. Cam Smith is one of the more intriguing rookies to watch after the Astros surprisingly promoted him to start the season, but he has struggled early so we'll see if he can avoid a demotion. Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena are fun defenders, and when Framber Valdez has his sinker dancing in on right-handed batters he's as good as any starter in baseball.
16. San Francisco Giants (20.5)
Star power: 5 | Young talent: 1.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4
Bonus (4): +1 for all the times we'll hear Buster Posey's approach described as "old school," +1 for Patrick Bailey's pitch framing, +1 for Jung Hoo Lee's swing, +1 for Mustache May
Maybe we're swayed by the Giants' hot start, but this might be the season they break out from the anonymous mediocrity of the recent past. Lee is healthy after injuring his shoulder early last season and looks terrific. Logan Webb is always a joy to watch as he moves the ball around the strike zone, and Justin Verlander is Justin Verlander, now an intriguing watch to see if he has anything left at age 42.
There isn't much on the youth side (I'm not counting Lee there since he played in Korea's highest league before coming to San Francisco), especially with top prospect Bryce Eldridge beginning the year on the IL in Double-A with a wrist injury.
15. Cincinnati Reds (20.5)
Star power: 6 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (4): +1 for Terry Francona's return, +1 for Matt McLain's return, +1 for Elly De La Cruz's surprising range at shortstop, +1 for De La Cruz's everything else
A year ago, I viewed the Reds as an exciting up-and-coming team. De La Cruz and Hunter Greene lived up to their hype and graduated into stars, with Greene looking even better so far in 2025, but several of the other young players failed to completely take off.
There are also mixed messages here: Last year, the Reds ranked third in the majors in stolen bases but near the bottom in overall baserunning value. Their defensive metrics were weak in 2024 but have been strong early on in 2025.
Pitchers Rhett Lowder, who started the season on the IL with a forearm strain, and 2024 top pick Chase Burns, could impact the rotation in the second half, raising that youth score.
14. Baltimore Orioles (21.5)
Star power: 5 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 3.5
Bonus (3): +1 for those glorious orange jerseys (the all-orange uniform, however, is a sartorial disaster), +1 for the B&O warehouse, +1 for Zach Eflin's control
What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Orioles were coming off a 101-win season, had traded for Corbin Burnes and had the hottest prospect in the game in Jackson Holliday. While they still made the playoffs, it seems fair to say the Orioles appear a lot less interesting entering 2025.
Ignore Gunnar Henderson's slow start coming off the injury in spring training; he'll be fine. But the other young players haven't really taken off in a big way, including Holliday, who has a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio, raising concern about the ultimate upside of his hit tool (he's still very young though). Coby Mayo is struggling in Triple-A and Heston Kjerstad hasn't hit in the big leagues. Maybe Samuel Basallo will make an impact later on.
The Grayson Rodriguez injury is a bummer, but the biggest bummer is the Orioles didn't land an impact starter in the offseason.
13. Athletics (22)
Star power: 2 | Young talent: 10 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 4
Bonus (4): +2 for my pal Eric Karabell dropping a Jim Thome comp on Nick Kurtz, +1 for Jacob Wilson's contact skills, +1 for Mason Miller's fastball
First of all, it's surprisingly pleasant watching these games being played in Sacramento, at a quaint minor league park with an outfield berm for spectators. Frankly, it's a better viewing experience than the old stadium in Oakland was, with those awful dark shadows in the outfield and empty seats.
Mostly, however, the A's have a fun group of young players: Wilson and Lawrence Butler and Miller and Tyler Soderstrom, who is off to a huge start. Kurtz will be up soon enough to join them as well. The A's probably don't have the pitching to compete, but the kids are fascinating.
12. Kansas City Royals (22)
Star power: 8 | Young talent: 1.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4
Bonus (2.5): +1 for Bobby Witt Jr.'s mullet, +1 for Seth Lugo's nine-pitch repertoire, +0.5 for Jac Caglianone minor league home run highlights
How much of this score is simply just Witt? A lot of it. Put it this way: How many players in baseball history have hit for power, hit for average, stolen 30 bases a season while also being one of the fastest runners in the league and played Gold Glove defense at one of the two marquee defensive positions? It's a very short list.
Witt isn't a one-man grade, however, as Cole Ragans is one of the top starters in the game, plus games at Kauffman Stadium always remind me of George Brett, and when the Royals wear those baby blue jerseys it's about as good as it gets.
11. Texas Rangers (22.5)
Star power: 5 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2
Bonus (3): +1 for dreaming on a full season from Jacob deGrom, +1 for Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker being in the same rotation, +1 for those 1970s throwbacks
The Rangers ranked fifth a year ago coming off a World Series title but tumbled a bit in this edition. Some of the star power is in question: Marcus Semien declined last year and is really struggling to begin the season; Adolis Garcia was incredible in 2023 but not in 2024; and deGrom still has to prove he can rise to his previous level.
Wyatt Langford and the rookie combo of Leiter/Rocker make for an intriguing youth trio, although Langford just landed on the IL with an oblique strain. The biggest knock against watching the Rangers: Watching a game played at Globe Life Field is like watching baseball played in an airplane hangar.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (23)
Star power: 8 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (3): +1 for Zac Gallen's goggles, +1 for Corbin Carroll's exit velocities, +1 for Ketel Marte "underrated" references
Several of the Diamondbacks have graduated from youth to veteran, so they lose points in that category, dropping them in the overall rankings. Carroll remains one of the game's most exciting players, although he's not stealing bases this year and might never come close to that 54-steal season he had as a rookie. Marte is one of the game's hidden gems, and Corbin Burnes helps give the rotation some star power. Josh Naylor is a fun player and even leads Carroll in stolen bases, 4 to 1. I love watching Gallen and his ability to change speeds and Justin Martinez throwing flameballs out of the bullpen.
9. Milwaukee Brewers (24)
Star power: 3 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 5 | Defense: 3.5 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (1.5): +1 for Jackson Chourio's hot start (but take a walk, Jackson!), +0.5 for Jesus Made hype
As always, the Brewers punch up: They're young and athletic, they scrap and claw, and they have a budding superstar in Chourio. Christian Yelich can still do some damage, and William Contreras, while off to a slow start, has emerged as the best catcher in baseball. Throw in Bernie Brewer, sausage races and a bullpen that always does the job, and this is a team that I expect will be closer to the top than everyone imagines in the NL Central. RIP, Bob Uecker.
8. Atlanta Braves (25.5)
Star power: 9 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 3
Bonus (3): +1 for Spencer Schwellenbach's deep repertoire, +1 for Spencer Strider's return, +1 for Michael Harris II glow-in-the-dark swag
We have to try to separate the Braves' awful start here as they should turn into a playoff contender, but other than Marcell Ozuna, nobody is hitting, which is what happened last season.
For now, they still rank high in star power. Strider returns this week after dominating in his Triple-A rehab and immediately becomes one of the must-watch starting pitchers. Not far behind is Schwellenbach, my preseason sleeper Cy Young candidate, who crushed it his first three starts and does indeed look like a Cy Young candidate.
The big question: When will they get Ronald Acuna Jr. back -- and how good will he be?
7. New York Yankees (26)
Star power: 8 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4
Bonus (4): +1 for torpedo bats, +1 for Paul Goldschmidt hitting leadoff, +1 for Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s custom cleats, +1 for Aaron Judge's Titanic blasts
Even without Juan Soto, the Yankees move up the rankings this season -- thank you, Aaron Judge and your potential for a 60-homer season. They also have one of the most intriguing rookies of 2025 in Jasson Dominguez; after hearing about him for years, let's see what he can do. Second-year catcher Austin Wells has All-Star potential, while Ben Rice is off to a big start filling in for Giancarlo Stanton at DH. The loss of Gerrit Cole means Max Fried needs to have a big year as the new staff ace.
6. New York Mets (26)
Star power: 10 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 5
Bonus (4): +1 for Gary, Keith and Ron, +1 for the whole "how will Juan Soto do in New York with this big contract?" thing, +1 for winning the USA Today best stadium food award, +1 for the Jose Siri experience
What's not to like here? A lineup featuring three of the biggest names in the sport in Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. The best broadcast crew in the business (the other day, Keith Hernandez was not only talking about the sponsor of his Little League team as a kid, but the sponsors of the other teams). Great uniforms. An owner who wants to win. Passionate and demanding fans. And the angst that comes with not having won a World Series since 1986.
5. San Diego Padres (28.5)
Star power: 7 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 3.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 5
Bonus (4): +1.5 for Luis Arraez's ability to almost never strike out, +1 for Jackson Merrill's new contract, +1 for the Petco Park vibe, +0.5 for Leo De Vries hype
The Padres have a well-balanced score: Star power in Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dylan Cease (although he's off to a shaky start); Merrill single-handedly gives them a nice score in the youth category; they've been aggressive stealing bases early on (including Machado); and they clean up things like ballpark atmosphere, broadcast crew and one of the best uniform sets in the majors. Michael King has turned into a top starter, and Yu Darvish, once he returns, is a longtime favorite.
Of course, the big question is: Can they keep pace with the Dodgers? Let's put it this way: Given last year's postseason, Padres-Dodgers is the No. 1 series to watch in 2025.
4. Chicago Cubs (28.5)
Star power: 4 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 5 | Defense: 5 | Minutiae: 4.5
Bonus (2): +1 for day games at Wrigley, +1 for Shota Imanaga's 91 mph fastball/splitter combo
The Cubs ranked sixth a year ago but didn't live up to that score, missing the playoffs once again while being a little less entertaining than we predicted. This year, we're even higher on their watchability. They have one of the most intriguing groups of young players with Pete Crow-Armstrong, rookie Matt Shaw and starter Ben Brown, and their defense up the middle is electric with PCA, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.
What they have lacked is the marquee headliner. Now, Kyle Tucker is off to a great start and is on the way to earning himself a huge contract and might even play himself into MVP consideration, but as good as he is, he has never been a guy you switch the channel to watch. Maybe that changes this season.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (29)
Star power: 10 | Young talent: 3.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 5
Bonus (5): +1.5 for Bryce Harper's Phanatic gear, +0.5 for Matt Strahm's baseball card collection, +1 for stories John Kruk can't tell on air, +1 for Zack Wheeler's splitter, +1 for the best uniforms in the majors
Harper is one of the sport's iconic figures, and his at-bats remain must-watch TV. Kyle Schwarber might not be one of baseball's best all-around players, but he proves that a three-true-outcomes approach can be entertaining. The Phillies also have perhaps the best rotation in the majors, with Cristopher Sanchez now throwing 96 and Jesus Luzardo looking poised for a big year after coming over from the Marlins. Wheeler is a joy to watch, as is Aaron Nola, who outthinks batters more than he overpowers them.
That young talent score is dependent on Andrew Painter reaching the majors at some point -- but also keep an eye on outfielder Justin Crawford (son of Carl), who begins the year in Triple-A.
The Phillies are good, they have fun players, they have the best mascot and they play in front of sellout crowds. Now they just need a World Series title.
2. Boston Red Sox (31)
Star power: 7 | Young talent: 10 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 4 | Minutiae: 4
Bonus (2): +1 for Garrett Crochet's fastball, +1 for Wilyer Abreu's hot start
The Red Sox are oozing with talent on the position-player side: Abreu, Rookie of the Year candidate Kristian Campbell and Ceddanne Rafaela, plus Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer in Triple-A. Jarren Duran was last year's breakout star, a guy who did everything -- hitting, defense, running the bases. Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers have done it for years, and Crochet gives Boston a Cy Young candidate.
I don't know how good the Red Sox will be -- Walker Buehler looks shaky and the back of the bullpen has to prove itself -- but this is going to be an entertaining team.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (32)
Star power: 10 | Young talent: 7.5 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 5
Bonus (5): +2 for the Shohei Ohtani returning to the mound, +1 for Mookie Betts being Mookie, +1 for Teoscar Hernandez's joy, +1 for Decoy
Don't be a hater. The Dodgers are clearly one of the most entertaining teams not just of 2025 but of all time. Ohtani is the sport's biggest star, a global icon whose every at-bat is worth checking out. And now he's slated to pitch again. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a pleasure to watch, and Blake Snell -- currently on the IL -- is as nasty as any pitcher in the game when he gets on one of his dominant stretches.
Throw in Dodger Stadium, Chavez Ravine, the most anticipated rookie of the season in Roki Sasaki, Dodger Dogs (OK, overrated), great uniforms and Mary Hart watching from behind home plate, and the Dodgers earn the top ranking for the second year in a row.
ITTF Mens and Womens World Cup Macao 2025 Day 1 Live!
The morning session of Day 1 concluded with a thrilling Mens singles showdown, as Feng Yi-Hsin edged out Anders Lind in a fiercely contested 4-game battle, securing a 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9 victory. The match featured exceptional stroke play from both players and witnessed the TTR system being utilized twice, adding to the intensity of this captivating encounter.
Egyptian Hana Goda started her campaign with a fairly easy 4-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8) win against local hope Seak Hui Li.
Goda, fresh off her ITTF African Cup win, showed no sign of nerves and attacked from the get go, never allowing Li to impose herself on the match.
Shunsuke Togami and Han Ying cruised to dominant 4-0 victories over Ovidiu Ionescu and Maria Xiao respectively.
Togami was relatively unopposed in his 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 victory over the Ionescu, dominating all aspects of the match in a flawless effort.
Ying, making her second World Cup appearance, was consistent with her defensive play as she chopped her way to a comfortable 11-4, 11-5, 11-2, 11-9 win.
Chinese prodigy and reigning World Youth Champion Huang Youzheng cruised to a dominant 4-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8) victory over veteran Mohamed Elbiali. Backed by enthusiastic crowd support, Huang dazzled with remarkable shot-making to seal the match swiftly.
The encounter also witnessed the tournaments first-ever Table Tennis Review (TTR), initiated by Elbiali after the umpire called a foul on his serve. However, the decision was upheld, leaving the Egyptian visibly frustrated and struggling to regain his rhythm thereafter.
Egyptian legend Dina Meshref scored a resounding 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 6-11) victory over Zhu Chengzhu, getting her campaign off to a winning start in her 8th appearance at the ITTF World Cup.
Eugene Wang produced a stellar performance to produce the first surprise result of the tournament, as he drew 2-2 (4-11, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11) against fancied Yukiya Uda.
The 39 year old brought all of his experience to the fore, shaking off a slow start in the first game to go 2-1 up in the tie. He used heavy backspin serves and slow topspin shots to disrupt Udas timing, forcing him to play slower paced rallies more suited to Wangs own speed. Wang also had a 9-8 lead in the fourth game and an opportunity to win the tie 3-1, but Uda regrouped at the right time to keep himself in the reckoning.
Sabine Winter and her new Anti-spin backhand continue to create waves on the circuit, as she won 3-1 (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7) in a tough encounter against Lee Eunhye. Winter used her backhand to great effect, constantly using changes of pace and twiddles to unsettle Lee. She also used her big forehand topspin to counter attack weak topspin shots from Lee, causing massive problems and thus taking the match.
I am very satisfied with my start and am happy to get the win. I think I managed to create a lot of pressure by winning the first game 11-4, as the format means that every game and point is important. She came back well in the third game, but I am happy with the way I adapted and glad I could close out the match, said Sabine.
Vitor Ishiy (Brazil) and Oh Junsung (Korea Republic) opened their campaigns with commanding straight-set wins over Finn Luu (Australia) and Dean Shu (New Zealand) respectively.
The Oceania representatives, who are also World Cup debutants, struggled to counter their opponents speed and power, succumbing to dominant rallies and consistent pressure.
Sreeja Akula ensured a happy day for the Indian contingent, as she won 3-1 (11-9, 11-4, 11-8, 6-11) against Constantina Psihogios, in a match that was closer than the score line suggests.
Great start to my campaign and I am happy that I got the win. She (Constantina) played really well, her attacks were really spinny and I had to fight hard. It was my first match, so I took some time to settle into the conditions. I now look forward to my next match and will prepare, said Sreeja.
Kanak Jha romped to a 4-0 (11-1, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3) win against familiar foe Horacio Cifuentes in a Pan American contest. Jha used his serves and counter attacks to great effect, never allowing Cifuentes to find any rhythm, securing the most lopsided of his victories against the experienced Argentine.
I have a lot of respect for Horacio, we have played many times over the years. He can be extremely dangerous and I tried to keep my level up throughout the match as every point is important, especially in this format, said Kanak.
In Group 2 of the Womens singles, German stalwart Xiaona Shan and Swedish chopper Linda Bergstrom delivered a 2-2 stalemate (10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8), marking the first draw of this years World Cup. Shan, seeking redemption after a 0-3 defeat to Bergstrom at the Singapore Smash 2025, squandered a 10-7 lead in the opening game to eventually go 0-2 down in the contest. However, she showcased remarkable resilience, mounting a spirited comeback to secure an evenly contested result.
Mens singles has its first winner, with Polish teenager Milosz Redzimski eking out a 4-0 win against Hwan Bae (11-8, 15-13, 11-4, 11-9) in the opening fixture of Group 1. The match had some thrilling rallies, with both players managing to entertain the crowd with aggressive shots.
Manika Batra is the first winner of Day 1 as she gets off to a flying start, defeating Giret Maylis 4-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4) in a Group 16 encounter.
I was well prepared for this match and felt very good. I tried to apply some of the tactics I plan to use against Bruna (Takahashi) in my next match and I feel confident, said Batra.
AVONDALE, La. The battle for this years USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire title continues.
The top two protagonists, Turn 3 Motorsports Alessandro de Tullio and Pabst Racing charge Max Garcia once again split the spoils today with a race win apiece.
But it is Garcia who continues to hold an edge in the battle for a scholarship to move up next year to Indy NXT, by virtue of de Tullio having made a mistake in the second race at St. Petersburg in March. They are separated by just 16 points with five of 18 races now in the books.
Each finished second to the other in todays exciting pair of 18-lap races that concluded the Continental Tire Grand Prix of Louisiana. Israels Ariel Elkin (TJ Speed Motorsports) and last years USF Juniors champion, Max Taylor (VRD Racing), from Hoboken, N.J., claimed one third-place finish apiece.
Fresh off winning the 350th race in USF Pro 2000 history dating back to the first National Championship Star Mazda race in 1990 on Saturday afternoon, de Tullio today continued his strong momentum for the Turn 3 Motorsport team founded by Peter Dempsey, who coincidentally, had won the 100th race at VIRginia International Raceway in 2009. De Tullio claimed his third Continental Tire Pole Award by virtue of setting a new record during qualifying on Saturday.
And there was no stopping the young Floridian come race time. De Tullio gamely fought off the attentions of early season title rival Garcia at the first corner and settled into a nice early rhythm.
Points leader Garcia continued to fill de Tullios mirrors, but rather than being able to concentrate on finding a way through into the lead, Garcia instead had his hands full in fending off Elkin, who charged impressively from sixth on the grid to third on the opening lap.
On Lap 11, the gap from first to second ballooned immediately from 1.3 seconds to over two seconds as Garcia cost both challengers a chunk of time by being forced to defend his position from Elkin under braking for Turn Nine.
Thereafter, de Tullio had a relatively easy cruise to the finish line to earn his third win of the season. Garcia just about hung onto second from Elkin, with New Zealander Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing) and a gradually closing Taylor following in their wheel tracks.
Michael Costello, from Naples, Fla., began to struggle in the late stages aboard a third Pabst Racing Tatuus IP-22, although he just held off the advances of Jace Denmark (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Brownsburg, Ind.
Denmark was later relegated to 11th place with the addition of a 10-second penalty for incident responsibility following an earlier clash. The adjustment promoted Vietnamese rookie Owen Tangavelou to an excellent ninth for VRD Racing, allowing him to claim the Tilton Hard Charger Award after battling his way from 19th and last on the grid.
This afternoons final race saw Garcia once again starting up front after securing his second Continental Tire Pole Award. The grid had been set according to each drivers second-fastest lap from the second qualifying session yesterday.
The youngest driver in the field at just recently turned 16, Garcia took off confidently at the start. De Tullio made a lightning getaway to vault from fourth to second, but Garcia maintained a narrow edge throughout the 18-lap race. There was one brief caution after a spin by Turn 3 Motorsports Tyke Durst, from Charlotte, N.C., but that was of little concern to Garcia, who again displayed remarkable composure for one so young.
Taylor chased gamely in third to secure his best result of the season, with Douglas setting the fastest race lap despite or perhaps because of intense pressure from Elkin, who remained hot on his tail.
Costello also was firmly in touch with the leaders, crossing the finish line just over four seconds adrift of Garcia, while Denmark once again was best of the rest in seventh.
For the second time in just a few hours, Tangavelou earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award after another strong drive to ninth after starting 18th.
BRISTOL, Tenn. He did it for Jon.
For the second straight day at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson dominated a NASCAR race and dedicated the victory to friend and PR representative Jon Edwards, who passed away suddenly during the week leading up to the race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.
On Sunday, Larson won the Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race in overwhelming fashion, leading 411 of 500 laps and sweeping both stages.
The victory was Larsons second of the season, his second straight at the 0.533-mile high-banked short track and the 31st of his career, and it came one day after the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran away with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Thunder Valley.
This ones definitely for Jon, said Larson, who finished second in Friday nights NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, one spot short of sweeping the weekend. Hes just a great guy. Successful weekend here. Wish he was going to be here with us to celebrate, but I know hes celebrating with us in spirit.
Just a flawless race once again here at Bristol for the 5 team. Really, really good car. That was a lot of fun.
Larson, who brushed the outside wall at the apex of Turns 1 and 2 with five laps leftwithout consequence finished 2.250 seconds in front of Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who fell one spot short of a third straight Cup victory. Hamlins teammate, Ty Gibbs, was 6.679 seconds back in third in a race that ran without caution for the final 235 laps.
However many laps of green we ran there was a lot of fun, Larson said. I was pretty comfortable with things, and then Denny came on really strong there before the pit cycle and kind of kept the pressure on from there.
After the final pit stops, Hamlin could close within a second of Larson in traffic but never threatened to take the lead.
You have to give that team their due just a dominant performance, Hamlin said. It looked like a pretty flawless day for them. It looked pretty easy. It was all I had to try to keep up there. Im glad we were able to give him a little bit of a run with our Progressive Toyota.
But this weekend, we are all thinking about Jon Edwards family, (racing journalist) Al Pearce, (team owner) Shige Hattori (all of whom passed away within the last eight days). Weve lost a lot of great people in our sport over the last week, so our thoughts are with them.
Wish we could have got one more spot, but I just wanted to keep him honest there at the end. That was all I was trying to do, but he was a little too much to handle.
Hamlin and Larson have finished 1-2 on seven occasions. Sundays race was the first of the seven times Larson has come out on top.
Contrary to strong indications from Saturdays practice, Bristols concrete surface rubbered in, and tire wear was not the factor that most teams and drivers anticipated. Ryan Blaney, for instance, ran 175 laps on one set of tires before pitting on Lap 440.
Chase Briscoe came home fourth, as JGR claimed the three positions behind Larson. Blaney ran long during the final green-flag run, led 48 laps after Larson pitted on Lap 390 for tires and fuel and worked his way back to fifth at the end.
Pole winner Alex Bowman led the first 39 laps before Larson grabbed the top spot for the first time. Larson went to win the first stage over Hamlin and the second over Bowman, who later fell out of the race when his engine expired.
The Stage 2 victory was the 66th of Larsons career, tying him with Martin Truex Jr for the most since stage racing was introduced in 2017.
William Byron charged forward to a sixth-place finish after starting 26th. Ross Chastain ran seventh, followed by Christopher Bell and A.J. Allmendinger, the last driver on the lead lap. Austin Dillon was 10th, the first driver one lap down.
LAS VEGAS Austin Prock and Dallas Glenn earned NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series victories Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Defending Funny Car world champ Prock returned to championship form on Sunday in Las Vegas, picking up his first win of the season with a run of 4.009 at 316.01 in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to hold off a quad that featured runner-up Paul Lee, Matt Hagan and Dave Richards.
Prock dominated at Las Vegas in the fall to all but clinch his first world championship, but the team made major changes on the car in the off-season. It was a struggle to open the year, falling in the opening round in Gainesville, but the team has slowly gained momentum and it was capped off by a sterling performance in Vegas. He made the quickest run in eliminations, going 3.964 at 322.88 in an impressive semifinal victory and then finished it off with another terrific run in the championship round.
We havent had the success that we had last year, but were still the same team, Prock said. We always expect to show up and win. We want to go set low E.T. every round, and we want to win every race, so when were not doing that, its hard to keep your head up when things arent going right, especially when your expectations are so high. So, for all of us to come together is great.
It feels really good, man. Opening up in Gainesville, it just wasnt a great weekend and we just struggled in Pomona after a good weekend in Phoenix, but just couldnt put it all together. You just want to hold one of these Wally [trophies] again because you dont know how long its going to take before you win another one.
Lee finished as the runner-up thanks to his run of 4.042 at 311.77. It his second final round of the year, as he jumped into the points lead as well. Prock moved to third in points after winning for the second time in Las Vegas.
In Pro Stock, Las Vegas continues to be very good to standout Dallas Glenn, as he won against a final quad that featured points leader Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford and Matt Latino on a holeshot, going 6.649 at 206.83 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro to win for the second time this season. Its also his third victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as Glenn used a strong .030 reaction time to hold off Hartford, who finished second with a 6.638 at 205.85.
Its the 15th career victory for Glenn and his third four-wide win as well, as Glenn finished second in the opening-round quad before winning the second-round quad with a run of 6.636 at 206.32. Hes been in every final round this season and continued his hot start to the 2025 campaign, one that is shaping up very well for Glenn, a former NHRA Rookie of the Year who finished second a year ago to Anderson.
Im really thrilled. Today was a very interesting day, I almost completely blew it in the first round. I was staging, and when I fired the car up my nose started to bleed, so I was dealing with that inside the car, Glenn said. That was an issue.
I dont know what I was looking at, but I didnt see lane two stage, and just didnt go on to the two-step until right before the tree came down. I was way late, just dead late, and got lucky enough with the horsepower to get the win. I still made a decent run going into second round and then the clutch pedal felt weird on my foot when I went on to the two-step and kind of overcompensated there.
Then I go into the final and made sure that I held it down, and probably held it down a little too hard. Greg was on his way to earning his next one until the luck streak ended for him. But, you know, its a good day. The car is working great. I didnt do too bad, but, you know, at the end, and youve only got to do good enough.
Hartford recorded his first runner-up of the season, winning his quad during the second round as well. Anderson will remain in the points lead after four races, with Glenn right behind in second.
LAS VEGAS Racing legend Tony Stewart picked up his first NHRA Top Fuel win on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, defeating a quad that included reigning world champion Antron Brown, Jasmine Salinas and Justin Ashley at the 25th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
Stewart went 3.870 seconds at 317.42 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT dragster to hold off Brown at the finish line, claiming his first career victory in the Top Fuel ranks and adding to the Hall of Famers long list of accolades. The former world champion in the NASCAR and IndyCar ranks won NHRA Rookie of the Year honors a year ago, and then went to the final round two weeks ago in Pomona before racing to the victory on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The team had performed well early in the season and then added to it in Las Vegas, qualifying fifth and then winning both of the first two quads on holeshots. He quickly tracked down Ashley and then Salinas, getting by Brown just before the finish line to claim a memorable win. Hes now won at every track on the property at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Stewart was certainly thrilled with Sundays result.
Its unreal. I havent been around the NHRA that long and I realize it takes a long time to win a race in this series, but everything in my career, I never had to wait over a year to win a race. I always figured it out in the first year, and multiple ones normally, so Im just very appreciative of this win, Stewart said.
Last year was so stressful after Leah (Pruett, wife) almost won a world championship, and I get in the car last year, and the people in the stands think Im the reason the car sucks. It wasnt that we had bad people tuning on it, it was just it was a different combination. There were different variables that change my body weight is different, tubing changes from rules changes but it was still really frustrating we could not get on a path to where we could make gains last year.
I think probably the one thing that may not sink in as much right now, but when Leah brought [son] Dom up on the stage there, thats an emotion that you cant even think about or dream of. When I saw her coming up those steps with him, my heart stopped. That was a feeling Ive never had in my life before, and I have a feeling when we lay down and put my head on a pillow tonight, thats going to be the one thing that I want to reflect on the most tonight.
Brown finished as the runner-up, going 3.912 at 302.35 in the final round. Stewart moved up to second points with the historic victory, while Shawn Langdon stayed as the leader in the category.
WASHINGTON -- The banged-up Washington Capitals could be getting a couple of their most important players back in time for the start of the playoffs or at least sometime in the first round.
Goaltender Logan Thompson has resumed skating, and forward Aliaksei Protas is on track to get back on the ice this week, coach Spencer Carbery said Sunday before the home finale against Columbus.
Thompson has been out with what the team is calling an upper-body injury, after leaving a game on April 2 at Carolina following a shot from Sean Walker that knocked off his mask. Carbery said Thompson skated on his own but did not face shots, which is a step in the process of returning.
Protas got an inadvertent skate cut on the top of his left foot April 4 against Chicago and has been walking around in a boot with the aid of crutches.
"He'll be a little bit longer," Carbery said. "Hoping that he touches the ice at some point this week."
Washington is locked into the top spot in the Eastern Conference and visits the New York Islanders on Tuesday night and Pittsburgh on Thursday night to finish the regular season. The Capitals will begin the postseason at home either next Sunday or Monday, April 21, against the Montreal Canadiens or the Blue Jackets.
Who starts in net for that Game 1 remains a question. Charlie Lindgren has shouldered the load since Thompson was injured. He has an .866 save percentage since replacing Thompson against the Hurricanes, though much of that has been a result of mistakes and missed coverage in front of him.
"Right now just from a results standpoint, I want to let in less goals, 100 percent," Lindgren said last week. "I don't like letting in three goals every single game. I want to get that number down. ... Just trying to figure out ways to work on my game and better myself because as we know goaltending in the playoffs goes a long way, and I want to make sure I'm doing my job and doing the best I can to put the team in the best situation possible."
Thompson is having a career season, winning 31 of his 42 starts with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. In late January, the 28-year-old signed a six-year, $35.1 million contract extension through the 2030-31 NHL season.
Protas is under contract through 2029 at a rate of $3.375 million annually. The 24-year-old has also shattered his career highs with 30 goals, 36 assists and 66 points, after putting up 55 points in his first 173 regular-season and playoff games in the league.
Carbery is trying to balance resting some older players versus getting the Capitals, who have lost six of their past nine games, ready for the postseason. Alex Ovechkin was a healthy scratch Saturday after getting honored Thursday night for breaking Wayne Gretzky's career goals record, and No. 1 defenseman John Carlson got the night off Sunday.
"We're just looking at it from an individual preparation standpoint," Carbery said. "John, a veteran player. [He has] played a lot this year. I think he's played every single game. We're playing a back-to-back. I feel like it's important for him to not play both and take today off."
U.S.-based Original Six all miss playoffs in NHL 1st
The Original Six teams based in the United States have a rich history, combining for 27 Stanley Cup titles.
And now, they share an unwanted distinction.
Detroit, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers will all miss the playoffs in the same year for the first time in NHL history.
The Red Wings have won 11 league championships to trail Montreal's 23 and Toronto's 13 and the Canada-based franchises have earned spots in the playoffs that start Saturday.
Detroit was slowly improving under general manager Steve Yzerman until this season. The Hall of Fame player was hired from Tampa Bay in 2019 and the patience he asked for is running thin.
A year after losing a tiebreaker for the last spot in the Eastern Conference, the Red Wings took a step back this season and were eliminated from postseason contention Saturday.
The Blackhawks are the last-place team in the Central Division for the third straight season and will finish ahead of only San Jose in the NHL. Earlier this century, Chicago was a league power with three Cups from 2010 to 2015 to give the franchise four.
Though the Red Wings and Blackhawks were predicted to have another lackluster season, the Rangers and Bruins were expected to be playoff teams.
A season after winning the Presidents' Trophy with an NHL-high 114 points and reaching the Eastern Conference final, the Rangers were hoping to hoist the Cup for the first time in more than three decades and fifth time in franchise history. Peter Laviolette's second season as coach in New York didn't pan out, guiding a team that was hovering around .500 and out of contention during the last week of the regular season.
Boston started the season with high hopes and will finish it with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The rebuilding franchise traded captain Brad Marchand last month at the trade deadline, dealing the last remaining member of its sixth championship team in 2011.
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday, adding their 2024 first-round draft pick to the roster right before the NHL playoffs.
The 19-year-old Buium just completed his sophomore season with 13 goals and 35 assists for Denver, which lost in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday. Buium was one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker award that goes to the nation's top player.
The native of Laguna Niguel, California, was the country's highest-scoring defenseman and ranked second among all NCAA players in assists. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the world junior championships.
Buium was the 12th overall pick last year by the Wild, who control the first wild card spot in the Western Conference entering their final regular season game against Anaheim on Tuesday.
There's a chance he may even dress and skate with the team against the Ducks. Though nothing was announced on Sunday, Wild general manager Bill Guerin, in an interview on KFAN last week, said, with regard to Buium's status this season and postseason, that "he will play. ... These kids, they're different man. They're made for this stuff. They're ready."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets secured the first Presidents' Trophy in franchise history Sunday night, when the East-leading Washington Capitals lost earlier in the day.
The Jets, atop the Western Conference most of the season, then went out and lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Sunday night at home, but with the prize for the league's most regular-season points in tow, coach Scott Arniel rested several key players.
"It definitely felt great," Jets forward Nino Niederreiter said when asked how the team reacted when the news was announced inside Canada Life Centre during the loss. "Everyone wants to be on top at the end of the day. And obviously, it was a great feeling to hear the cheer."
The Jets, who will be the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason, are the first Canadian franchise to win the award since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011-12. The Canucks did not win the Stanley Cup that season, and in many cases, the trophy winner does not even make the Cup Final. Last season, the New York Rangers cruised to the Presidents' Trophy only to lose to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals.
"It's nice. To be able to have that ability to have home-ice [advantage] throughout the whole playoffs, and hopefully we can go on a long run, and use that to our advantage," Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo said. "It's not the trophy we're after, but it is a nice accomplishment. It's been a fantastic year, it really has."
The Jets, according to ESPN Research, are the eighth Canadian team to win the award that was first handed out in 1985-86. The Edmonton Oilers, in 1985-86 and 1986-87, were the first Canadian winners.
"It's really appreciated," Arniel said when asked about the fans giving the club a standing ovation for the award. "They've been great fans, and they've been real loud, and supporting us all the way, and believe me, it is felt."
For Edmonton, Corey Perry had a goal and an assist, Connor McDavid had two assists, and Connor Brown, Adam Henrique and Viktor Arvidsson also scored in the victory. The Jets sat star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck along with captain Adam Lowry and defensemen Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk and Luke Schenn in the loss.
Winnipeg will end the regular season at home against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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