Weekly Takes - Monday, May 23 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, May 23 Edition

1. Say whatever you want about Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas, and Sheldon Keefe, but you cannot doubt their confidence in their core and their way of doing things.

I think what they said during Tuesday’s press conferences was correct, but goodness, the way they talked bordered on absolute ignorance.

This team has accomplished all there is to achieve without winning a round in the playoffs. They now have to win one next season. Otherwise, this will be a house-cleaning of epic proportions in Toronto this time next spring.

2. The Mark Giordano contract extension is a potential game-changer for the Leafs, as being able to pencil a top-four defenceman into the lineup for under $1M a season… rather ideal.

The ultimate hometown discount.

3. What is happening to the Panthers right now is a great example of why not all first-round victories are not equal.

Yes, they won a round, but it was against a far lesser opponent. From a Maple Leafs perspective, I would rather see them go seven games with an elite team such as Tampa Bay than to scrape by a borderline playoff team (Washington) only to get dummied by an elite team in round two.

4. What the Hurricanes are doing – and have done – in these playoffs is proof that the Leafs made the right decision in letting Frederik Andersen walk into free agency last summer.

He has developed into a “systems goalie.” The Hurricanes are the New England Patriots. It does not matter who is in the net as long as their head coach and current defensive core are not going anywhere.

5. What Connor McDavid is doing right now is next-level stuff.

It is one thing to dummy the Kings but it is another to look this good against a true Cup contender in the Flames. This playoff run may end up being the greatest stretch of hockey #97 will ever play. The Oilers better take advantage.

6. It is hard to complain about the spot the Blue Jays are in a quarter-way through their season.

They have had the toughest schedule in the league, some costly injuries, and hardly any off-days, yet they are still in a playoff spot. The division may be out of reach and that is less than ideal, but winning the division does not mean what it used to.

There is no doubt in my mind that this team is still a World Series contender and will peak at the right time. Their rotation is excellent, their bullpen is good, and their offence will not stay this bad forever.

There is no question that they will need to add to the bullpen and bench ahead of the deadline, though.

7. Bob Bradley was in a tough position with Yeferson Sotledo, so it was worth the try to bring in Carlos Salcedo to replace him, given his resume and TFC’s need on defence, but he now needs to do everything he can to, at the very least, bring Salcedo down from a DP to a TAM.

Because TFC is not winning anything with Salcedo as a DP.