Weekly Takes - Monday, February 24 Edition (Retroactive to Feb 17)

Weekly Takes - Monday, February 24 Edition (Retroactive to Feb 17)

1. My three stars from Canada’s thrilling overtime win over Sweden last Wednesday…

1. Sidney Crosby

2. Nathan MacKinnon

3. Cale Makar

One of the best sporting events I have ever attended (Montreal simply does big events better than anyone) and one of the more intense hockey games in recent memory. The return of best-on-best hockey lived up to its hype, with Crosby showing that he still may be the best “big game” player the sport has to offer.

Here is hoping Mitch Marner’s overtime goal can be a turning point moment for him, too. 

2. My three stars from Canada’s loss to the Americans last Saturday…

1. Connor McDavid

2. Thomas Harley

3. Mark Stone

The best hockey game in a long, long time, with both countries showcasing the absolute best of the sport.

Unfortunately for Canada, not many players came to play, outside of McDavid, Stone, and the Harley-Drew Doughty pairing. 

Marner and Sam Reinhart need to be way better at the top of the lineup, while the likes of Brad Marchand and Seth Jarvis need to offer way more at the bottom of the lineup.

How on earth was Marchand irrelevant in such an intense game on Saturday?

3. Here are the lines I’d go with against Finland if I was Jon Cooper…

Forwards…

Reinhart - McDavid - Brayden Point

Stone - Crosby - Nathan MacKinnon

Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Marner 

Brad Marchand - Sam Bennett - Travis Konency 

Defence…

Devon Toews - Cale Makar 

Harley - Doughty 

Josh Morrisey - Colton Parayko 

Goaltending…

Aidn Hill

Jordan Binnington 

In net, Binnington had made some massive saves in big moments, but has allowed far too many stinkers. 

Defensively, it is going to be tough to split up the Harley-Doughty pairing.

4. My three stars from Canada’s win over Finland on Monday…

1. McDavid 

2. MacKinnon

3. Reinhart

Canada will have to stick with Binnington on Thursday, for as concerning as that is. They cannot simply throw Hill into the mix for the biggest game of his life. 

Meanwhile, it was nice to see Reinhart have a breakout game. But more is still needed from the likes of Marner and Marchand if Canada is going to beat the Americans, nevemind the depth guys who have provided next to nothing.

5. My three stars from Canada’s historic overtime win over the Americans on Thursday…

1. Binnington

2. Marner

3. Bennett

A game – and tournament – that will be talked about for generations, with McDavid – the world’s best player – providing a moment that will be talked about for generations.

The best week of hockey in our lifetimes, with Canada reminding our southern brothers that they are forever our little brothers.

The most important win by Hockey Canada – when equating for the political implications – since 1972. This was about national pride – something that has returned to this Canada after fleeting away over the last decade.

6. Let it not be lost how amazing Marner and Auston Matthews were in this game, too.

Marner was brilliant throughout – making multiple magical plays with the puck on his stick – while Matthews (and Brady Tkachuk) were dominant every time they were on the ice for the Americans. At no point did Canada have an answer to their forecheck. 

If they can play like this come playoff time, this spring will go a lot different for the Leafs.

7. Last Four Nations thought: Wayne Gretzky cemented himself as an embarrassment to Canada. 

No pride, no backbone. Just a rich guy who has decided to side with evil south of the border.

He and PK Subban have made their beds.

8. With the Four Nations complete, here is my Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics… 

Forwards…

Macklin Celebrini - McDavid - Zach Hyman

Stone - MacKinnon - Crosby 

Reinhart - Point - Marner

Hagel - Bennett - Nick Suzuki 

Extra: Connor Bedard

Defence…

Toews - Makar 

Harley - Doughty

Morrisey - Alex Pietrangelo 

Extra: MacKenzie Weegar

Goaltending…

Binnington 

Logan Thompson 

Extra: Hill

In: Celebrini, Hyman, Suzuki, Bedard, Harley, Pietrangelo, Weegar, and Thompson

Out: Marchand, Cirelli, Konnecy, Jarvis, Shea Theodore, Payrako, Sanheim, and Sam Montembeault 

Binnington earned himself a spot on the team. Simply put, he is a big-game goalie. 

Konnecy, Jarvis, and Sanheim looked a tier below the rest in this tournament and should not at all be on the team in 2026. Marchand, meanwhile, looked like he has declined greatly.

Cirelli and Payrako should still be in consideration. But some players will simply have to come out for the likes of Celebrini and Pietrangelo. 

(It should be noted that the likes of Cirelli and Hagel did not get the chance to provide their full worth, due to the fact that Canada was rarely in the box. With IIHF officiating ready to go for the Olympics, Canada is going to need elite penalty killers.)

9. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Canes on Saturday…

1. Alex Steeves 

2. Pontus Holmberg 

3. William Nylander 

The Leafs top players were fine, so their depth players sure picked a great night to step up in a big way.

Steeves may give the likes of Connor Dewar a run for his money on the fourth line. 

He can forecheck and chip in offensively. Sure looks like an NHLer to me. 

10. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Blackhawks on Sunday…

1. Nick Robertson 

2. Max Domi

3. Pontus Holmberg 

A slump-breaking game for Robertson and Domi, who seem to come and go in waves.

The best two-game stretch for Holmberg, meanwhile, of his season. 

11. The Blue Jays not re-signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is what everyone says it is.

The end of a wasted era, the beginning of hopelessness, the end of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins in Toronto, and, truly, one of the worst moments in Toronto sports history.

Shapiro and Atkins are who they have been this entire time. Losers who lose.