Weekly Takes - Monday, December 23 Edition (Retroactive to Dec 16)

Weekly Takes - Monday, December 16 Edition

1. My three stars from the Maple Leafs shocking overtime win over the Devils on Tuesday...

1. Anthony Stolarz

2. Anthony Stolarz

3. Anthony Stolarz

Sometimes, over the course of 82 games, your goalie will steal you a game.

Stolarz did that and then some in this one.

2. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Ducks on Thursday...

1. William Nylander

2. Max Pacioretty

3. John Tavares

The Leafs did just enough to win this one, against a very bad team.

3. My three stars from the Leafs sloppy loss to the Red Wings on Saturday...

1. Auston Matthews

2. Mitch Marner

3. Matthew Knies

Toronto is lucky to be 2-1 on the week. They need a "get right" game against Buffalo.

4. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Sabres on Sunday...

1. Tavares

2. Max Domi

3. Bobby McMann

A "get right" game, indeed. The Leafs were done in due to poor goaltending early on, before a much-needed breakout game from the Leafs third line. There is no chance that line has a long-term future together, but maybe it can help Toronto get out of the rut they have been in.

5. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Stars on Wednesday...

1. Joseph Woll

2. Max Domi

3. Bobby McMann

Here are the two realities with Toronto, going back to last Monday...

1) They have not played well enough to win most of their games

2) They have a winning record in this stretch because of elite goaltending and high-end talent. Most teams can not get away with playing this poorly. The Leafs can.

6. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Sabres on Friday...

1. Domi

2. McMann

3. Nick Robertson

Depth scoring is getting the Leafs through an otherwise ugly stretch. Who would have thought?

1. My three stars from the Leafs loss to the Islanders on Saturday...

1. Nylander

2. Steven Lorentz

3. Connor Dewar

The Leafs are limping to the Christmas break. One of their worst performances of the season.

7. I have no idea what is happening to the Rangers, but I feel as though I have missed something.

Why are they trying to blow up a core that has constantly knocked on the door for years?

8. My 2025 World Junior Predictions...

Gold: Canada

Silver: USA

Bronze: Sweden

Best Forward: Easton Cowan (CAN)A

Best defenceman: Zeev Buium (USA)

Best Goaltender: Trey Augustine (USA)

9. The Kyle Tucker trade is one that I admire from Houston.

They saw what Juan Soto got, knew Tucker was not going to be affordable, so they moved on. No sideshow, unlike what the Jays are doing with Vladimir Guerrero Jr..

10. Two things can be true...

    
    

    1) The Yankees would have been better in the long-term if they re-signed Soto

    
    

    2) They have nailed their "post-Soto" moves out of the park and are clearly the best team in the AL.

11. The Andres Gimenez trade is a good one for Toronto without any context, as they add a borderline All-Star at second base.

But he is a below-average hitter and the Jays did not need a second baseman.

Without multiple other moves, this trade makes no sense.

12. Super Bowl power rankings, after Week 16...

1. Bills (+3 since Week 10 ranking)

2. Kansas City (-1)

3. Lions (-1)

4. Eagles (+2)

5. Packers (-)

6. Steelers (+3)

7. Ravens (-4)

8. Vikings (New)

Out: 49ers, Commanders, and Bengals

I cannot doubt Kansas City -- and that is why I still have them so high - but the Bills have to be number one. They are simply the best team in football.

That was the Lions until the David Montgomery injury for me. They have dealt with so many injuries but surviving the Montgomery one is going to be so difficult. Their run game was their identity.

I think there is a gap after the top four teams, but how can you rule out the Packers and Steelers with the way Jordan Love and Russell Wilson are playing? And for as tough as it is to believe in Sam Darnold and the Ravens secondary, the Vikings and Ravens are still more than capable of going on runs.

The Commanders, Chargers, Texans, and Rams are interesting, but I doubt they have more than one playoff win in them.

13. It would be easy for the Falcons to hang on to Kirk Cousins and refuse to admit that they made a mistake.

I respect them ripping the band-aid off and moving on from him.

14. My College Football Playoff Predictions... (Made before Friday)

First Round...

• Texas defeats Clemson

• Penn State defeats SMU

• Norte Dame defeats Indiana

• Tennessee defeats The Ohio State

Quarterfinals...

• Oregon defeats Tennessee

• Georgia defeats Norte Dame

• Bosie State defeats Penn State

• Texas defeats Arizona State

Semifinals...

• Oregon defeats Texas

• Georgia defeats Boise State

National Championship...

• Oregon defeats Georgia