Weekly Takes - Monday, November 6th Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, November 6th Edition

1. My three stars from the Maple Leafs lifeless loss to the Kings on Tuesday…

1. William Nylander

2. Morgan Rielly

3. Tyler Bertuzzi

It was tough getting to three stars in this one, as Nylander was the only one buzzing all night long. An ugly loss.

2. My three stars from the Leafs shootout loss to the Bruins on Thursday…

1. Ilya Samsonov

2. John Tavares

3. Nylander

Samsonov’s best game of the season, reminding people of the top-ten goalie that he was a season ago.

As for the Marchand trip of Timothy Liljegren, it has to be called a penalty. Has to. It happened for everyone to see, including the two refs on the ice. More importantly, there has to be a response from the Leafs, whether it is Ryan Reaves, Bertuzzi, or Max Domi. It was deflating not to see a response. It is a damning, damning moment and this can never happen again.

Lastly, can we please stop with David Kampf starting overtime? He is not so much better at face-offs that it is worth starting him over Auston Matthews or Tavares. It is a silly look for everyone involved.

3. My three stars from the Leafs awful loss to the Sabres on Saturday…

1. Matthews

2. Noah Gregor

3. Nylander

The reality is, the Leafs simply do not have enough players playing well enough to compete. Thankfully though, almost all of these players have a history of showing they are productive NHL players. That, combined with the fact that it’s early, and the fact that they haven’t dug themselves a hole, is enough reason to not panic.

4. With that being said, Sheldon Keefe needs to throw the lines in a blender and see what may end up sticking. I would go…

Forwards…

Domi - Matthews - Mitch Marner

Matthew Knies - Tavares - Nylander

Bertuzzi - Holmberg - Calle Jarnkrok

Gregor - Kampf - Reaves

Domi has a history of success with Marner, while he adds another layer of speed and skill to the first line that has started to round into form.

Tavares and Nylander are playing as well as they ever have together, while I have always thought Knies would be a great fit alongside Tavares.

The third line looks out of place, but that is going to remain true until the Leafs trade for a third-line centre. Find a third-line centre and Bertuzzi and Jarnkrok are a duo that should be able to combine for more than enough third-line scoring

Fourth line wise, Kampf is at his best when playing with a speedy winger and Gregor can be that. The issue is Reaves, but the Leafs should start looking at their internal options to see who he can come out for. Max Ellis is an interesting name as the season develops, while Bobby McMann is an interesting name in the now. Nick Robertson does not make sense for the fourth line.

Defence (when everyone is healthy)

Reilly - T.J. Brodie

Jake McCabe - Liljegren

Mark Giordano - John Klingberg

The only need bigger than 3C is 2RD. Two holes that have to be addressed at the deadline. The idea with Klingberg was you hope his offence makes up for the defence. It is not happening and it is making him unplayable.

5. One has to wonder if Pierre Dorion will ever have a job in hockey ever again.

To be so incompetent that it costs your franchise one of the more prized assets any organization can have,... woof.

6. The Sharks being as bad as they are is better than being stuck in the middle of the pact, as they at least have a direction.

But what they are doing right now is beyond “scorched earth.” They tore their entire program down and it is going to take years to build it back up. It amazes me that no one really followed the 2015-16 Maple Leafs example of a dignified tank. That is how a tank should be done in the modern era.

7. If Ken Holland fires Jay Woodcroft, it would be as cowardly of a move as a general manager can make.

The blood is on his hands for signing Jack Campbell. No coach can win without decent goaltending. What is happening in Edmonton is all on Holland.

8. The Texas Rangers bought their way out of mediocrity, with just enough smart trades and draft picks to go with their money splurge in the last two years

In a copycat league, it would not surprise me if more teams began to try and buy themselves out of trouble.

I think that would be a mistake, as the Rangers just happened to land two franchise middle-infielders in the same free-agent class, but it will make for interesting offseasons, anyway.

9. As for the Rangers, I did not take them seriously due to their bullpen + injuries to their starting rotation.

A mistake, given their rotation and bullpen was more than fine to go along with their elite offence.

One of the more impressive playoff runs in recent memory.

10. My free-agent targets for the Blue Jays, based on needs…

Starting Pitchers…

1. Shohei Ohtani

2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

It is a good year to not need starting pitcher, as I do not think the Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Sonny Gray, or Marcus Stroman contracts will age well. Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez will be nice gets for whoever signs them, but signing a starting pitcher only makes sense for the Jays if it is a star.

Relievers…

1. Josh Hader

2. Reynaldo Lopez

3. Jose Leclerc

4. Michael Fulmer

I doubt the Blue Jays will be in the market for an elite or high-end reliever, but it is a great class if the Jays do want to splurge. With that being said, I think they end up making one Yimi Garica type-signing this offseason and call it a day.

Catchers…

• No One

First Basemen/DH

1. Rhys Hoskins

2. Josh Bell

3. Joey Votto

Finding a Brandon Belt replacement will be important, as you cannot go into the spring handing Spencer Horwritz the job.

Second Basemen…

• No One

The second base market is an awful one, so unless the Blue Jays want to dip into the trade market for one, they are probably better off hoping Cavan Biggio and Davis Scheinder can continue their second-half surges into 2024. Orelevis Martinez is on his way, too.

Shortstop…

1. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa

A season ago, it was a real conversation as to whether or not the Jays should move Bo Bichette to second base and sign a star shortstop. That is no longer the case after the season Bichette had, but they still need to find a true backup shortstop. It is going to be Kiner-Falefa or bust, unless they dip into the trade market, which they may have to do.

Third Basemen…

1. Evan Longoria

A stop-gap option until Addison Barger is ready. Third base is the Jays biggest hole heading into the offseason.

Outfielders…

1. Cody Bellinger

2. Tommy Pham

3. Hunter Renfroe

4. Harrison Bader

Bellinger would be the prize target, but the latter three would be more than find replacements to Kevin Kiermaier.

Overall, a starting third basemen, starting designated hitter, starting outfielder, and a backup infielder are all must signings, with a mid-reliever being ideal, too. Ohtani, Yamamoto, or Bellinger would be amazing, but if the Jays end up using their remaining money to round out the roster, that is a success on its own.

11. The James Harden trade is a win-win for the Clippers and the 76ers.

Trading for Harden is always a sign of desperation, but the Clippers are desperate. This is their last chance to win in the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era and they know it.

As for the 76ers, they acquired draft pick capital that they can use at the trade deadline to improve the team in the now, while they also acquired serviceable depth pieces on expiring deals to help them win now while still having lots of money to spend in the summer.

12. My takeaways from the second week of the Raptors season…

• Scottie Barnes continues to emerge as a superstar. His defence, both on the ball and off the ball, is high-end. His shooting is better. He is more aggressive going to the rim. We are witnessing the emergence of a Toronto sports superstar and it is completely changing the complexion of the Raptors future.

• Otto Porter Jr. needs to be a regular in the rotation and there is no debate about it. If he is healthy, he should be playing.

13. Anyone can find anything interesting about any team to determine that they are worthy of watching on any given night, but the Spurs are a true “must-watch” team, regardless of how many games they win this season.

The brilliance of Greg Popovich + the greatness of Victor Wembanyama is the perfect combination.

14. My thoughts on the trades made at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday…

• The Commanders should officially be in “scorched earth” mode after trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Their skilled position players + their front seven made them an interesting enough team to believe in, but it is officially rebuilding time in Washington.

• As for Young and Sweat, the 49ers – if they did not already – have the best front seven in football after acquiring Young. If Brock Purdy can simply show he is somewhat capable of playing from behind, the 49ers have as good of a shot as anyone. As for the Bears trading a day-two pick for Sweat, I fail to understand that. They get an early start on signing him long-term now, but that is not worth a day-two pick.

• The Bills could not have the deadline come and go without trading for secondary help, as coming into the day, they were simply not a Super Bowl contender. That changes by trading for Rasul Douglas. I am still down on them due to all of their injuries, but this gives the Bills a reason to think they can go on a run come playoff time.

• I like the Vikings trading for Josh Dobbs. They can finish the season strong and sneak into the playoffs with him, which is all you can ask for if you are the Vikings this season. From there, draft defender after defender in the draft and they can be a serious threat in 2024 and beyond.

15. The Raiders had no choice but to fire Josh McDaniels, who will never be a head coach in the NFL again.

The face of the ‘some coordinators are born to be coordinators” statement.

16. My Week 10 NFL Picks, after going 7-6 in Week 9…

• Bears (-3)

• Colts (-4.5)

• 49ers (-1)

• Bucs (-1)

• Ravens (-3)

• Texans (+9.5)

• Vikings (+3)

• Steelers (-3)

• Falcons (-1.5)

• Lions (-1.5)

• Cowboys (-14.5)

• Seahawks (-6)

• Raiders (+2.5)

• Bills (-7.5)

On the season, I am now 62-67, with MNF still pending.