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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 04: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game One

These Oilers Can Take A Punch

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Patrick Redford

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Kathryn Xu

A baseball game being projected onto the side of a French bulldog.

This Is So Stupid

Let’s Figure Out What Dodgers Game They Watched On The Bulldog

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 18: of the Florida Panthers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 18, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 6-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Florida Panthers v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Seven

Something’s Over In Toronto

TORONTO, ON- MAY 14 - Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf (64) battle in the snow in first period action as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 14, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs oplay the  Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs

Toronto Once Again Wins The Stanley Cup Of Angst

DALLAS, TX - MAY 13: Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) scores a goal for a hat trick during game 4 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 13, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 13 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Mikael Granlund Takes Jets Downapeg

DALLAS, TX - MAY 11: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) tries to block a shot during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 11, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 11 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Rulebook Aficionados: Let’s Ride

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 08: &lt;&gt; of Game Two of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 8, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Two

It Only Takes A Second

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 7: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates at the bench in Game One of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on May 7, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

On His Third Team Of The Season, Mikko Rantanen Is Second To None

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 30: Saturn, by Jamie Cooper. This image showing Saturn with six of it's moons was taken on 26th January 2006 at 22:11 hrs UT using a webcam attached to a 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. The moons are from left to right: Titan, Mimas,Tethys, Rhea, Enceladus and Dione. (Photo by Jamie Cooper/SSPL/Getty Images)

Saturn, by Jamie Cooper.

Why Is This So Good?

I Implore You To Look At Saturn Through A Telescope

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: John Tavares #91, Max Domi #11 and Scott Laughton #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warm-up before Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Arena on April 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Five

Do Not Say The Leafs Could Blow This Series. Don’t Even Think It!

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 27: Corey Perry #90 and Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate an overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl #29 to win the game against the Los Angeles Kings during Game Four of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

The Kings Are Wearing Out

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 24: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on April 24th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: APR 24 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†First Round Golden Knights at Wild

Vegas Can’t Answer The Call Of The Wild

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period during Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez /NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings – Game One

The Oilers Are Getting Carved Up Like A Moist And Tender Turkey

Los Angeles, CA - April 21:Kings Warren Foegele, #37, jumps out of the way of a shot by Kings Phillip Danault, #24, to score past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the final seconds of the third period in Game 1 of the first-round series at Cypto.com Arena on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Kings beat Oilers 6-5 in game one of first round of NHL Playoffs

It Rocks When A Hockey Game Is Funny

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 10: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the third quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on April 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons

The Knicks Gave The Pistons A Lesson In Playoff Entropy

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 19: Winnipeg Jets players celebrate on the ice following a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game One of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on April 19, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

St. Louis Blues v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

That’s About As Hot As It Gets In Winnipeg

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anaheim Ducks v Minnesota Wild

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All

messiergraphic

Mark Messier, Namesake And Sole Voter Of Mark Messier Leadership Award Presented By Mark Messier, Knows How To Fix The Rangers: Mark Messier

OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 29: Gavin McKenna #9 of Team Canada skates in the first period against Team Germany of the Group A match during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Germany 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Canada v Germany: Group A – 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

It’s Never Too Early To Get Ready For Gavin McKenna

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 08: A general view of the Progressive Field scoreboard with Opening Day signage prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox v. Cleveland Guardians

Are The Cleveland Guardians Creating A Dynamic Brand Experience That Deepens The Connection Between The Team And Its Fans, And Reflects The Team’s History, Its Commitment To Cleveland, And Its Vision For The Future, On And Off The Field?

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks v New York Yankees

If You’re Going To Get Food Poisoning, At Least Visit Flavortown First

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 08: Victor Mancini #90 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by his bench after scoring a goal during the third period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 08, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks v Dallas Stars

Canucks Forget They’re The Canucks For One Historic Minute

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

Alex Ovechkin Scores

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring his 894th career NHL goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena on April 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin's goal ties him with Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goal scoring record. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)