Weekly Takes - Monday, July 7th Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, July 7th Edition 

1. Mitch Marner will have success in Vegas, just like Jack Eichel did when he left Buffalo.

But that is not Toronto’s concern. All that matters is he was never going to win in Toronto. Not with his attitude, not with his agent, not with his father. 

The most disappointing career in Toronto sports history. 

Good on Brad Treliving for managing to get a third line, defensive, right-handed centre for him. 

2. I love the addition of Matias Maccelli by Toronto. 

A young, playmaking winger who can hold his own defensively. 

A nice fit at 2LW with John Tavares and William Nylander. 

It has long been hoped that Max Domi could be inserted in that spot, but he makes that line a tire fire defensively. 

With Maccelli, who is passable defensively, and Tavares, who is good defensively, the Leafs all of sudden do not need to shelter their second line as much. 

Securing 2LW and 3C ahead of free agency is great work by Treliving, more so with how thin the free agent class is. 

3. The NHL absolutely needs to address the contract lengths of players over the age of 35. 

Brad Marchand has no business signing a six-year deal in Florida. There is a zero percent chance he does not end up on LTIR at some point.

4. My winners and losers of NHL free agency…

Winners…

• Panthers

• Canadiens 

• Hurricanes 

• Canucks 

Losers…

• Kings (They spent worse money than any other team)

• Oilers (They need to add a goalie)

• Bruins, Sabres, and Kraken (what are they trying to accomplish?)

• Blackhawks (Surely they are going to try and improve their roster at some point… right?)

• Jets (A Cup contender who got worse)

5. The Steelers were big winners in Monday’s blockbuster trade with the Dolphins, trading a declining safety for a top-five tight end and a cornerback who I would argue is still a top 15 ish CB. 

Doing so without trading any 2026 draft picks is a big win by Omar Kahn, who has surrounded Aaron Rodgers with a Super Bowl calibre roster. 

6. Toronto FC can officially begin a new era — and at long last, a rebuild — after finally ridding themselves over their two overpaid Italians. 

They could say whatever they want and do whatever they could, but they were always going to be a disaster until they officially moved off the Italians. 

The beginning of a new chapter.