Weekly Takes - Monday, October 14 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, October 14 Edition

1. My three stars from the Maple Leafs opening night loss to the Habs on Wednesday...

1. Anthony Stolarz

2. Mitch Marner

3. Auston Matthews

The first line did everything but score. Ditto with the fourth line.

I thought the third line -- especially Max Pacioretty -- played well in the first before dying off the rest of the way, though Pontus Holmberg was impressive on the penalty kill, which has the potential to make David Kampf rather irrelevant if that trend continues.

The second line needs to be better, though I thought John Tavares played well.

Overall, the forward group played more than well enough to score a few goals, at even strength at least. They got goalie'd.

The power play on the other hand was awful. That has to be the worst game they play on the power play all year.

Defensively, Chris Tanev was as advertised, while I like how aggressive Oliver Ekman-Larsson was. Jake McCabe and Simon Benoit were their usual selves, while Connor Timmins looks too slow.

If he is not going to play on the power play, I do not see the point of having him on the team. The Leafs are better off playing Timothy Liljegren, who is better 5-on-5, or Philippe Myers, who offers value on the penalty kill.

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

1. Bobby McMann

2. Steven Lorentz

3. Dennis Hildeby

McMann should be a regular moving forward. He had an underwhelming camp but he is a difference-maker who can play up-and-down the lineup.

As for Hildeby, I still think Matt Murray should be the third goalie moving forward so that Hildeby can continue to develop in the minors, but he has all the potential in the world to be the goalie of the future in Toronto.

3. My three stars from the Leafs win over the Penguins on Saturday..

1. Matthew Knies

2. Matthews

3. William Nylander

A dominant game from Knies, who looks to be taking a massive step. Another impressive game from Ekman-Larsson too. He sure looks like a top-four guy.

The fourth line, meanwhile, has played better through the first three games of the season than they have in any stretch in the Matthews era.

The Leafs do not lack the depth this season.

4. Russell Wilson may make the Steelers passing game a bit better, but not so much to the point where it is worth taking Justin Fields' running ability out of the lineup.

Fields had his worst start as a Steeler on Sunday, yet the offence put up 30+ points in large part due to what he did on the ground.

Ride or die with Fields.

5. The Cowboys need to fire Mike McCarthy.

Of course, they should have done that after losing to the Packers in the playoffs, but it is pass the point of return now if you are Jerry Jones.

They are not going to make the playoffs without a drastic change.

6. As for the Lions, the loss of Aidan Hutchinson is crushing.

He was going to win DPOY at the pace he was going at.

The gap between the Lions and the rest of the NFC is a lot smaller after Sunday.

7. The Browns made the biggest mistake in NFL history by trading for and signing Deshaun Watson, but they can at least say they exhausted every option in trying to get him to turn the corner.

But the jury is out. He is cooked. There is no reason for him take another snap as a Brown.