The world of professional sports rarely slows down, and this week has been no exception, with major signings and contract extensions shaking up both the hockey and baseball landscapes. From the Florida Panthers bolstering their Stanley Cup-winning roster, to the Allen Americans adding promising talent, and the Baltimore Orioles locking in their top catching prospect, there’s plenty for fans to talk about as anticipation for the 2025-26 seasons builds.
Let’s start in Sunrise, Florida, where the Florida Panthers—fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs in 2024 and 2025—made headlines by signing forward Luke Kunin to a one-year contract. Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito praised the acquisition, stating, “Luke is a physical and highly competitive forward who possesses excellent leadership abilities and strong character.” With the Panthers aiming to defend their championship yet again, it’s clear they’re not resting on their laurels.
Kunin, now 27, split his 2024-25 season between the San Jose Sharks and the Columbus Blue Jackets. He tallied 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 63 games for San Jose before being acquired by Columbus, where he suited up for 12 additional contests. Notably, Kunin led San Jose forwards with 163 hits and served as an alternate captain at the time of his trade—underscoring his reputation as a physical presence and locker room leader. The previous season, he paced all San Jose forwards with 165 hits, and back in 2021-22, he ranked second among Nashville Predators forwards with 223 hits. Clearly, Kunin brings grit and consistency wherever he goes.
His journey to the NHL began with two impressive seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where he recorded 70 points in 69 NCAA games and captained the Badgers as a sophomore. Internationally, Kunin’s leadership was on full display: he earned gold medals for Team USA at the 2014 U17 World Hockey Challenge, the 2015 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship, and the 2017 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship. He captained the U.S. squad at both the 2017 World Juniors and the 2015 U18 tournament, posting significant points and goals in each. Drafted 15th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2016, Kunin’s NHL career has spanned 434 games across four teams, with 73 goals and 69 assists to his name.
Panthers fans eager to see Kunin in action can secure their spot for the upcoming season by purchasing a Partial Plan through the team’s website or by calling the PUCK line. With the club eyeing a historic three-peat, every addition counts, and Kunin’s combination of experience and tenacity could prove vital as the Panthers look to stay atop the NHL.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the Allen Americans of the ECHL are making moves of their own, announcing on August 22 the signings of defenseman Jackson Decker and forward Carter Savoie for the 2025-26 season. Both players bring unique skill sets and impressive resumes to the Americans’ roster, signaling the team’s intent to compete at the highest level.
Jackson Decker arrives in Allen after wrapping up his collegiate career at Canisius College. In the 2023-24 season, Decker finished fourth on his team in scoring, amassing 17 points over 35 games—a notable feat for a defenseman. He was named alternate captain for the 2024-25 campaign and contributed 13 points in 34 games, further demonstrating his leadership on and off the ice. Before his college days, Decker honed his craft in junior hockey, playing two seasons with Omaha in the United States Hockey League and one with Chippewa in the North American Hockey League. The Algonquin, Illinois native is expected to bring both poise and playmaking ability to the Americans’ blue line.
Joining Decker is Carter Savoie, a forward whose professional experience and scoring touch make him a valuable addition. Savoie has already played 171 professional games, including 109 with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors from 2022 to 2024. In the 2023-24 season, he notched 22 points in 63 games and finished with an impressive +22 rating—a testament to his two-way game. Most recently, Savoie led the Greenville Swamp Rabbits with 24 goals in 57 games during the 2024-25 season, cementing his reputation as a reliable goal scorer. The Americans will be hoping Savoie can replicate that offensive spark and help drive the team’s success in the coming year.
Shifting over to Major League Baseball, the Baltimore Orioles made a splash of their own by announcing an eight-year contract extension with catcher Samuel Basallo, covering the 2026-33 seasons and featuring a club option for 2034. The deal, revealed on August 22, locks in one of baseball’s brightest young stars and signals the Orioles’ commitment to building a sustainable contender.
Basallo, just 21 years old, made his major league debut on August 17, 2025, at Houston, becoming the first player signed and developed by the Orioles’ international program to reach the majors. His rise has been meteoric: Basallo is currently ranked the No. 7 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 8 by MLB Pipeline, and is considered the top catching prospect by both outlets. Orioles Control Owner David Rubenstein called the agreement “a catalyst for the next exciting period of Orioles baseball,” while Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias added, “His debut and this extension are big achievements for our organization, beginning with the work of our international scouting staff and carried forward successfully by our entire player development operation.”
Basallo’s journey began in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he signed with Baltimore as an international free agent in January 2021. He steadily climbed the ranks, breaking out in 2023 with 53 extra-base hits—including 20 home runs—across 114 minor league games at Single-A, High-A, and Double-A levels. By mid-2023, Basallo debuted as a top-50 prospect on both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, and his stock only rose after an appearance in the All-Star Futures Game in 2024. Off the field, Basallo completed his high school diploma coursework in June 2024 through the Orioles’ educational program, joining a select group of 30 players to graduate since 2020.
The Orioles will hold a press conference with Basallo and Elias on Saturday, August 23, at 2 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, giving fans and media a chance to hear directly from the organization’s new cornerstone. With Basallo’s extension, Baltimore is betting big on its homegrown talent to anchor the team for years to come.
As the summer winds down, these moves across hockey and baseball show just how quickly the landscape can shift. With new faces in new places and young stars committing their futures, fans have every reason to be excited for what comes next. One thing’s for sure: the next chapter in each of these stories is just getting started.
