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NHL tracker: Stars defenseman lands lucrative eight-year extension

The 2025-26 NHL season is underway, which means trades and other moves are taking place.

Already this season, last year’s rookie of the year, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, received a lucrative eight-year extension. The Los Angeles Kings traded for a goalie and the Vegas Golden Knights brought another one into their organization.

In the latest news, the Dallas Stars handed defenseman Thomas Harley an eight-year extension that will make him the second highest paid player on the team.

Follow this tracker for the latest moves from the 2025-26 NHL season.

Oct. 28: Stars’ Thomas Harley gets 8-year extension

Harley, 24, will average $10.587 million in the deal, which kicks in next season. That puts him behind only Mikko Rantanen ($12 million). The extension, which will make Harley the NHL’s fourth highest paid defenseman next season, is a recognition of his ascension. He had a career-best 50 points last season and joined Canada’s victorious 4 Nations Face-Off team as an injury replacement. He is off to another strong start this season with eight points in 10 games.

Harley is signed through 2034. Fellow defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell are signed through 2029 and 2030, respectively.

Oct. 25: Canucks acquire Lukas Reichel from Blackhawks

The Blackhawks get back a fourth-round 2027 pick. The Canucks had been dealing with injuries, particularly to Filip Chytil. Reichel, named to Germany’s Olympic team, had four points in five games with Chicago this season.

Oct. 16: Carter Hart joins Golden Knights roster

Goalie Carter Hart, one of five players acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, is joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization. He won’t be able to play in the NHL until Dec. 1. Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty by a judge on July 24. Justice Maria Carroccia ruled she didn’t find the accuser’s testimony about what allegedly happened in a London, Ontario hotel room in June 2018 to be ‘credible or reliable.’ Hart hasn’t played since going on leave in January 2024 to address the charges.

Also: The Sharks claimed defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers from the Capitals.

Oct. 15: Kings bring back Pheonix Copley in trade

Pheonix Copley is returning to the Kings organization in a trade with the Lightning, who had claimed the goalie earlier on waivers. The Kings made the move with Darcy Kuemper day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Lightning get future considerations in the deal.

Oct. 15: Blackhawks’ Nick Foligno goes on leave

The team and their captain announced that Nick Foligno will take a brief leave of absence as his daughter ‘undergoes follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease.’ Milana, 12, had her first heart procedure when she was three weeks old, per NHL.com.

Oct. 13: Canadiens’ Lane Hutson gets 8-year extension

Montreal’s Lane Hutson is the latest young NHL defenseman to cash in with a major contract extension.

The Canadiens announced that Hutson, 21, will average $8.85 million in the eight-year deal. The $70.8 million contract will start next season and run through 2033-34.

Hutson won rookie of the year in 2024-25 after recording six goals and 60 assists. He tied the all-time NHL record for assists by a rookie defenseman (Larry Murphy in 1980-81), and his 66 points set a record for a Canadiens rookie defenseman.

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes reset the market with a seven-year, $63 million contract on Oct. 1. Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe matched his $9 million cap hit in an eight-year extension the following day.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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What if Texas is better with Matthew Caldwell at QB, not Arch Manning?

  • Texas quarterback Arch Manning is in concussion protocol and may not play this weekend.
  • Backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell could start against No. 11 Vanderbilt in Manning’s place.
  • Caldwell has performed well in limited action, including throwing a game-winning touchdown against Mississippi State.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Arch Manning is in concussion protocol and may not play this weekend for Texas. 

Now, the reality: that may not be such a bad thing for the Longhorns. 

Whatever you think of Manning and his Ron Powlus ride as the Texas quarterback (Google it, kids), this is no time for the weak at heart. The calendar is moving to November — and the games to remember. 

So if that means Matthew Caldwell — the nobody to center stage Texas backup quarterback — has to play against No. 11 Vanderbilt, should it really be that concerning?

What if — hold onto your 10-gallon hats, everyone — Caldwell plays better than Manning has all season and the Longhorns win?

“The moment’s not too big for him,” says Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. 

Which is the opposite of what we’ve seen from Manning for a majority of his uneven first season as a starter.

To be fair to Manning, he hasn’t had much help from a leaky offensive line, and receivers aren’t exactly running free in the secondary and making tough catches. The throw game is a three-pronged, meticulous machine: protection, throwing on time and with anticipation, and receivers getting open and catching the ball. 

If any of those three steps are compromised for any reason, the play can blow up. 

So before we bury Manning for his inconsistent play in this ballyhooed framework of the preseason No. 1 ranking, the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft all rolled into one, cut him some slack. Like he said numerous times, he never asked for any of this. 

And that’s where we drop a pin in this story. 

Because I want a guy playing the most important position on the field who asks for it. Who wants it all, who thrives in the pressure of the moment and doesn’t back down. 

If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work — at least he went down swinging. 

It is here where we reintroduce Caldwell, and his rags to sitting behind the riches college football career. Got his start at Jacksonville State in tiny Jacksonville, Ala. (pop., 14,651), known more for its overpriced hotels on race day in Talladega than a college football power. 

When that didn’t work, he left for FCS Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. (pop., 4,759) and spent two seasons as a backup before transferring to Troy in Troy, Ala. (pop., 17,341). Spent a season with the Trojans, and started the final five games of the season.

Then he got a call this spring from Sarkisian to spend his final season as the backup to the next big thing in college football. In the largest fishbowl in college football (pop., the heart of Texas). 

The next thing you know, he’s thrown into an overtime game against Mississippi State, after Texas had rallied from 17 down in the fourth quarter, and after Manning got hit in the head while scrambling on the first play of overtime. 

Next play: run for seven yards. 

Next play: false start, Texas ― because Caldwell is busy getting players lined up correctly for what looks like another isolation run to protect the backup quarterback, and the cadence isn’t the same, and my god, this is a mess. 

Next play, screw it, let’s chuck it in the end zone — and Caldwell tosses a perfectly thrown fade to Emmett Mosley for the game winning points. 

Piece of cake. 

‘He’s played well every time that we’ve put him in the game,” Sarkisian said. “What gives me confidence is who he’s been, so I feel very comfortable with Matt whenever he’s in the ballgame.”

Look, no team likes to lose the starting quarterback two months into the season, with or without the Manning name. This is when Texas, which has struggled all season to find any cohesive rhythm, needs to find a groove and use wins over Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M as a springboard to the College Football Playoff.

You want the story of the season? Here it is. 

And it has nothing to do with NIL deals or Heismans or national titles or the NFL draft. 

If Caldwell plays against Vanderbilt (that’s still up for debate) and plays well in an upset of the Commodores, does Sarkisian go back to Manning? There’s only one way out of this thud of a season: a November to remember. 

Could Sarkisian actually put the season in the hands of a backup quarterback by way of Jacksonville State/Gardner-Webb/Troy, who has thrown all of 11 passes in Texas uniform — and only two against Power conference teams?

To be fair to Caldwell (like we’re trying to be fair to Manning), he was inserted into two wild environments, and made two perfect throws. The touchdown against Mississippi State (that saved the season), and a beautifully-executed, second-level throw to Ryan Wingo on the last drive of the loss at Florida. 

‘He’s earned the respect of his teammates,” Sarkisian said. “They respect the fact that he’s ready.”

That may not be such a bad thing after all. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Metals Focus: Bullish on Platinum, Bearish on Palladium in 2026

Platinum and palladium have their own unique drivers, but both are basking in gold’s glow in 2025.

Of the two, platinum has been the biggest winner in 2025. The price of the precious metal briefly hit a year-to-date high of US$1,725 per ounce on October 16, a 90 percent increase from the start of the year. Although it’s since experienced a pullback below the US$1,600 level, the platinum price remains at 12 year highs.

As for palladium, its price was up nearly 80 percent by October 16 to reach its 2025 peak of US$1,630 per ounce. It too has fallen back since then, currently sitting at the US$1,430 level.

What’s next for platinum and palladium after those price runs? In its annual Precious Metals Investment Focus report, published on October 25, Metals Focus outlines key supply and demand trends, as well as its outlook for prices.

Platinum market reflecting more than gold’s shine

Platinum is no doubt benefiting from strong investor demand for precious metals. But the metal’s robust supply and demand fundamentals are also at play, according to Metals Focus analysts.

Aboveground inventories of platinum remain tight, while future mine production is bogged down in operational challenges. “In Southern Africa, outages and heavy rainfall have disrupted production, while North America is undergoing restructuring,” notes the report.

On the demand side, platinum usage from the jewelry sector has posted significant gains this year, especially in China. As the price of gold skyrockets, platinum jewelry has become a much more attractive alternative. Investment flows into platinum exchange-trade products in China and the US are another key demand driver for the metal this year.

Platinum and palladium prices.

Chart via Metals Focus, Bloomberg.

While platinum prices are at levels not seen in 12 years, palladium prices are only experiencing a two year high.

“Palladium has also benefited at the margin, but remains a laggard, with a more lacklustre fundamental outlook limiting investor enthusiasm,” according to Metals Focus.

2026: Platinum bull, palladium bear

Platinum prices will continue to benefit from the overall upward trend in precious metals prices for the remainder of 2025 and well into 2026. The ongoing supply deficit in the platinum market is also highly price-supportive.

Metals Focus is forecasting a third consecutive physical platinum deficit for this year, totaling 415,000 ounces as platinum mine output is expected to decline by 6 percent year-on-year.

Demand is projected to fall by 4 percent largely due to lower output in the glass and automotive sectors.

Platinum’s supply deficit is expected to continue into 2026 and grow to an estimated 480,000 ounces as mine supply falls by 2 percent to a 12 year low (excluding 2020). “With few new projects coming online after years of underinvestment, mine supply is undergoing structural decline,” the report’s authors note.

This will be happening at the same time as an expected 1 percent rebound in demand, buoyed by renewed industrial usage, specifically out of the glass and chemical sector in China.

Even so, Metals Focus cautions that demand out the automotive and jewelry sectors is likely to contract.

The trend toward electrification is the auto industry may have slowed, but it’s still expected to erode platinum demand, especially as catalytic converter manufacturers shift back to more cost-effective palladium.

Metals Focus is forecasting a 2026 average platinum price of US$1,670 per ounce, up 34 percent over the previous year.

Platinum and palladium price outlook.

Chart via Metals Focus, Bloomberg.

Looking over to palladium, Metals Focus has a more bearish view.

The firm is projecting palladium prices to average US$1,350 in Q4 2025, falling to US$1,150 by Q4 2026. Although the palladium market has been in a physical deficit for the past few years, that deficit is expected to shrink from 566,000 ounces in 2024 to 367,000 ounces in 2025 before narrowing even further to 178,000 ounces in 2026.

The same structural issues plaguing platinum are also of course weighing on palladium mine supply, which is forecast to fall by 3 percent in 2026. However, secondary supply is projected to increase by 10 percent as recycling activity recovers.

Overall, total palladium supply is expected to grow by 1 percent for the year. At the same time, demand for palladium is set to decline by just over 1 percent in 2026 on a drop from the automotive sector.

Investor takeaway

Both platinum and palladium are considered precious metals based on their rarity and use in jewelry fabrication and physical bullion. As such, they both are known to benefit when investor sentiment for safe-haven gold is high.

However, not all precious metals are precious to investors at the same time — just ask silver. Industrial usage of these metals is a much bigger driver of demand compared to the investment space. For 2026, it’s platinum that will continue to ride gold’s rally and provide investors with plenty of upside based on its strong fundamentals.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Rio Silver Receives Conditional Approval for $2.2M Private Placement

Rio Silver Inc. (‘Rio Silver’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX.V: RYO,OTC:RYOOD) (OTC: RYOOF), announces it has received ‘Conditional Approval’ from the TSX Venture Exchange to close its upsized non-brokered private placement, as described in the company’s press release dated Sept. 25, 2025, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,200,000.

The offering involved the issuance of 22,000,000 units at a price of 10 cents per unit for gross proceeds to the company of $2,200,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one non-transferable warrant. Each whole warrant is exercisable into one common share at 15 cents per share for three years from closing. If, following the final closing date of the private placement, the company’s common shares close at or above 25 cents on the TSX Venture Exchange (or such other exchange on which the shares may trade) for 15 consecutive trading days, the company may accelerate the warrant expiry date by issuing a news release. The warrants would then expire 30 days from the date of that notice.

In connection with the offering and subject to compliance with applicable laws and TSX-V approval, the company will pay finders’ fees or commissions of $74,520.00. and issued an aggregate of 745,200 non-transferable common share purchase warrants to arm’s-length finders of the company, the ‘brokers warrants’, in consideration for locating purchasers to participate in the offering, with each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share of the company at an exercise price of 15 cents also for a period of 3 years from the date of exchange acceptance

The gross proceeds from the issue and sale of the units, excluding warrant proceeds, will be used to acquire and advance certain exploration / exploitation projects in south central Peru, for general working capital purposes and for settlement of debt.

The securities issued in connection with the offering are subject to a four-month hold from the date of exchange acceptance, under applicable Canadian securities laws. The offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Other News

Rio Silver is anticipating exchange approval on the acquisition of the Maria Norte Au-Ag-Pb-Zn project, amended and news released on September 17, 2025, in the coming days.

About Rio Silver

Rio Silver is a resource development company that has been selectively identifying and acquiring precious metal assets that are anticipated to produce near term cashflow to best assist the Company’s exploration / development plans, in a non-dilutive, shareholder friendly way. We remain ever impressed and optimistic by the resilience and ingenuity of our host country as Peru continues to endorse supportive mining policies and continued growth, as evident by the tremendous investment being witnessed throughout Peru.

We seek safe harbour.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF Rio Silver INC.

Chris Verrico

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information,

Christopher Verrico, President, CEO

Tel: (604) 762-4448

Email: chris.verrico@riosilverinc.com

Website: www.riosilverinc.com

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable laws.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Patrick Tuohy: Gold’s Status Has Changed, Higher Price is Inevitable

Patrick Tuohy, global head of sales and marketing Goldstrom, shares his outlook for gold, saying its position as a store of value has been reestablished.

In his view, the yellow metal has found a new price floor at US$3,000 per ounce.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Apollo Silver Closes $26.78 Million Private Placement Offering

Apollo Silver Corp. (‘ Apollo Silver ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) (TSX.V:APGO, OTCQB:APGOF, Frankfurt:6ZF0) is pleased to announce the Company has closed the final tranche of its previously announced upsized non-brokered private placement (the ‘Upsized Offering’), raising gross proceeds of $1,641,503 through the issuance of 455,973 units (the ‘Units’) of the Company at a price of $3.60 per Unit. The Company previously closed the first tranche of the Upsized Offering, as announced in its October 22, 2025 press release, for gross proceeds of $25,134,145. In aggregate, the Upsized Offering raised total proceeds of $26,775,648 through the issuance of 7,437,680 Units.

Each Unit issued pursuant to the Upsized Offering consists of one common share (a ‘Share’) in the capital of the Company and one common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant’). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $5.50 for 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration provision, such that if at any time after the date that is four months and one day after the closing, the Company’s Shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the ‘TSXV’) at a closing price of $7.50 or greater per Share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Company may accelerate the expiry of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders thereof and, in such case, the Warrant will expire on the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of such notice (the ‘Acceleration Provision’).

The Company would like to thank existing and new shareholders including Eric Sprott, Primevest Capital, Sprott Asset Management, Commodity Capital, Jupiter Asset Management and others for their continued support through participation in this financing.

‘We are very pleased with the strong interest in our private placement and deeply appreciate the confidence shown by the institutional, retail, and strategic investors who have backed management’s vision to advance our Tier 1 assets,’ said Ross McElroy, President & CEO of Apollo Silver. ‘The funds raised from this financing position the Company well to advance our Calico Silver Project in San Bernardino County, California, and to support ongoing efforts toward securing surface access and advance the Cinco de Mayo Project in Chihuahua, Mexico.’

In connection with subscriptions received in the Upsized Offering, the Company will pay aggregate finder’s fees totaling $901,395.18, payable in cash and/or Units to BMO Capital Markets, Canaccord Genuity, Red Cloud Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation and SCP Resource Finance.

The securities issued under the Upsized Offering are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Upsized Offering to continue advancing the Calico Silver Project in San Bernardino, California; support community relations initiatives at the Cinco de Mayo Silver Project in Chihuahua, Mexico; cover ongoing property maintenance costs at both projects; and for general corporate purposes. The Upsized Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSXV.

The Offering included participation by certain insiders of the Company for an aggregate of 405,557 units totaling gross proceeds of $1,460,005.20. Such participation constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61-101’). The issuance of securities to insiders is exempt from the valuation requirement pursuant to section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as the Company’s shares are not listed on a specified market, and from the minority shareholder approval requirement pursuant to section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties does not exceed twenty five percent of the Company’s market capitalization.

The Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Apollo Silver Corp.

Apollo is advancing one of the largest undeveloped primary silver projects in the US. The Calico Silver Project hosts a large, bulk minable silver deposit with significant barite and zinc credits – recognized as critical minerals essential to the US energy and medical sectors. The Company also holds an option on the Cinco de Mayo Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, which is host to a major carbonate replacement (CRD) deposit that is both high-grade and large tonnage. Led by an experienced and award-winning management team, Apollo is well positioned to advance the assets and deliver value through exploration and development.

Please visit www.apollosilver.com for further information.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ross McElroy
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Email: info@apollosilver.com

Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the intended use of proceeds from the Upsized Offering; receipt of final approval from the TSXV; the advancement and potential of the Company’s Calico Project and Cinco de Mayo Project; the Company’s plans and expectations relating to exploration, permitting, and future development activities at Calico and Cinco de Mayo; efforts to obtain and maintain surface access and community support at Cinco de Mayo; and the anticipated benefits to the Company and its shareholders. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of the management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may have caused actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Company’s projections and estimates; realization of mineral resource estimates, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; and changes in Project parameters as plans continue to be refined. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of silver, gold and barite; the demand for silver, gold and barite; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective matter; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws .

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Barbie, Monopoly toymakers see bright holiday season despite tariff pressure

President Donald Trump’s tariffs are hitting toy giants Mattel and Hasbro as the critical holiday season nears. Still, both companies see a successful year end ahead.

“This quarter, our U.S. business was again challenged by industry-wide shifts in retailer ordering patterns,” CEO Ynon Kreiz said on Mattel’s recent earnings call. “That said, consumer demand for our products grew in every region, including in the U.S.”

During the most recent quarter, which ended Sept. 30, Mattel said sales slipped 6% globally, led by a 12% decline in North America. International sales rose 3%.

Some of the company’s top performing categories included Hot Wheels and action figures, primarily from the “Jurassic World,” Minecraft and WWE franchises.

Other Mattel brands saw a drop in sales, however, including Barbie and Fisher-Price.

With retail stores waiting until the last minute to assess the level of tariffs that would apply to their holiday orders, Kreiz said “since the beginning of the fourth quarter, orders from retailers in the U.S. have accelerated significantly.”

Retailers “expect strong demand for the holiday and they are restocking,” he added.

Meanwhile, rival toy giant Hasbro’s revenue jumped 8% in the quarter and it raised its financial guidance for the rest of the year.

Key drivers of that included “Peppa Pig” and Marvel franchise toys, as well as the Wizards of the Coast games.

Hasbro “managed tariff volatility with agility” and used price hikes to protect its margins, said Gina Goetter, the company’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer.

The company remains “firmly on track” to achieve its financial targets.

“As we calculate the various scenarios of where that absolute rates will play out, we’re really putting all of our levers to work,” she said on the company’s recent earnings call.

“From how we think about pricing, how we’re thinking about our product mix, how we’re thinking about our supply chain, and how we’re managing all of our operating expenses to mitigate and offset the impact” of tariffs, she said.

For its part, Hasbro also saw “softness” in the U.S. during the quarter due to retail chains waiting longer to place holiday orders, but said momentum is accelerating as the season gets underway.

In July, Mattel’s chief financial officer, Paul Ruh, said that the company was raising prices because of tariffs.

“We have implemented a variety of actions that will help us withstand some of those headwinds and those include … supply chain efficiencies and some pricing adjustments, particularly in the U.S.,” Ruh said on the company’s earnings conference call.

“So with that array of actions, we’re able to withstand some of the uncertainty that is mostly coming in the top line,” Ruh said. “Our goal is to keep prices as low as possible for our consumers.”

Still, Kreiz said that “consumers are buying our products and the toy industry is growing.”

He also said that consumers are taking price hikes in stride and those increases haven’t hurt demand: “We are not seeing any slowdown in consumer demand so far.”

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks said the company has also raised some prices, but it was “pretty surgical” in what it chose to adjust.

“In terms of ongoing pricing, I think we just kind of have to see how the holiday goes and the consumer holds up,” he told analysts on the company’s earnings call.

Cocks also cautioned that there may be a two-tier economy forming, something other executives and economists have observed in recent months.

“Right now, I think it’s really kind of a tale of two consumers. The top 20%, particularly in the U.S., continue to spend pretty robustly,” he said. “The balance of households are watching their wallets a bit more.”

On Friday, the Labor Department released the latest consumer price index data, which showed that inflation is rising at a 3% annual pace, up from August’s 2.9%.

In May, Kreiz told CNBC that approximately half of the company’s toys were sourced from China.

Beijing has faced some of the steepest tariffs from Washington of any U.S. trade partner, as Trump has rolled out his disruptive trade agenda this year.

Mattel’s Ruh said the company continued to adjust its supply chains in response to shifting global tariff policies.

“We will be continuing to work with our retailers to make sure that the product is on the shelf,” he said.

At the same time, Hasbro’s Goetter said the company is diversifying its supply chains away from high-tariff countries.

“By 2026, we expect approximately 30% of our total Hasbro toy and game revenue will be sourced from China and 30% of our revenue will be based in the U.S., as we opportunistically lean into our U.S. manufacturing capacity,” she said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Dodger Stadium put up a plaque for a Shohei Ohtani home run. Here’s why.

Not only did Shohei Ohtani put up legendary performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, but he also joined some Dodger Stadium history.

The second of his three home run performance was a moonshot that went 469 feet and out of Dodger Stadium, reportedly ending up in bushes behind of the outfield seats.

With a home run that cleared the roof of the outfield pavilion, Ohtani’s home run got recognized with a special plaque at Dodger Stadium before Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dodger Stadium home run plaques

The Dodgers commemorate every home run that clears the roof of the outfield seats, no matter the player or team that did it.

In fact, Ohtani was the second person to get a plaque in the 2025 postseason after Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber hit one out of the stadium during the National League Divisional Series.

Now, there are eight plaques at Dodger Stadium honoring those who hit them out of the park. Those players are:

  • Willie Stargell – Pittsburgh Pirates, 1969
  • Willie Stargell – Pittsburgh Pirates, 1969
  • Mike Piazza – Los Angeles Dodgers, 1997
  • Mark McGwire – St. Louis Cardinals, 1999
  • Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins, 2015
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. – San Diego Padres, 2021
  • Kyle Schwarber – Philadelphia Phillies, 2025
  • Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers, 2025
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Umpire’s hesitation costs Blue Jays in World Series gaffe

LOS ANGELES – Mark Wegner was slow to the draw. And the homeplate umpire cost the Toronto Blue Jays at least one run with his deliberate actions in the second inning of World Series Game 3. 

With Bo Bichette on first base and a 3-1 count on Daulton Varsho, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow threw a pitch above strike zone. Pitch tracking indicated it was ball four. 

And Wegner, the homeplate umpire, indicated it was ball four – by doing nothing. 

Varsho paused, heard no strike call and took two tentative steps toward first. Bichette wandered toward second base to advance. 

And then Wegner casually initiated his called-strike mechanism. The count was full – but Bichette was about 30 feet off the bag by then. 

And Glasnow tossed the ball to first baseman Freddie Freeman, who tagged Bichette for a huge first out of the inning. 

How huge? Well, Varsho did eventually walk. Alejandro Kirk followed with a single to right field that Bichette certainly would’ve scored on. 

It theoretically could’ve been 1-0 Toronto, with runners on first and second and nobody out. 

Instead, Bichette was erased, Addison Barger struck out and Ernie Clement lined out to center. 

Inning over. No runs for the Blue Jays. And manager John Schneider helpless, save to continue the conversation with Wegner, also the crew chief, between innings. 

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George Springer injury update: Star pulled from World Series Game 3

LOS ANGELES – George Springer delivered the Toronto Blue Jays to the World Series. But he might be exiting for good after sustaining an injury in Game 3. 

Springer, Toronto’s designated hitter and leadoff man, winced and immediately walked toward the dugout after a seventh-inning swing as he faced Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski. 

Springer, who has been playing through significant knee pain, clutched his left lower back after his swing, consulted briefly with manager John Schneider and a trainer and walked to the dugout. 

He was replaced by pinch-hitter Ty France, who struck out. 

Springer’s three-run, seventh-inning home run in Game 7 lifted them to victory in the AL Championship Series. He was 3-for-11 in the World Series at the time of injury. 

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