Weekly Takes - Monday, September 26 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, September 26 Edition

1. With training camp underway, here is what my Leafs lineup would be heading into camp, once everyone is healthy/here…

Forwards…

Michael Bunting - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner

Nick Roberston - John Tavares - William Nylander

Pierre Engvall - David Kampf - Calle Jarnkrok

Zach Aston-Reese - Alexander Kerfoot - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

13F: Wayne Simmonds

Competing for spots: Alex Steeves (4LW), Pontus Holmberg (4C if Kerfoot moves to 2LW), Curtis Douglas (4C if Kerfoot moves to 2LW), and Joey Anderson (13F)

Defence…

Morgan Rielly - Rasmus Sandin

Jake Muzzin - T.J Brodie

Mark Giordano - Timothy Liliegren

7D: Justin Holl

Competing for spots: Victor Mete and Jordie Benn

Goaltending

Matt Murray

Ilya Samsonov

Overall, this is the best Leafs team of this era. They have never had this much depth up front or on defence, they have many players who are made for “playoff hockey”, and they have a bunch of guys who can play multiple different positions. It is really going to come down to goaltending and whether or not this core can finally push through.

With that being said, whoever is advising Sandin is giving him some pretty bad advice. He has a massive opportunity this season to become a major piece of this team. There is too much depth on this team for a player to sit out of training camp and expect to be slotted into the lineup right away.

As for some of the fringe players, I expect Kyle Clifford to slot into the “Rich Clune” role for the Marlies. Anderson will have to have a great camp to beat out a veteran like Simmonds for the last roster spot and avoid going on waivers.

Denis Malgin and Adam Gaudette will have a chance to make the team but I doubt they are around beyond October. Both will have to have fantastic camps.

2. My three stars from the Leafs preseason loss to the Sens on Saturday evening… (I missed the afternoon game)

1. Jarnkrok

2. Bobby McMann

3. Matthews

No question that Jarnkrok can shoot the puck and add value on the bumper on PP2. Aube-Kubel showed off his speed and tenacious play, which was advertised. Mete to me looks like someone that can be a star defenceman in Europe.

3. The Jays splitting their most recent series against the Rays is season-changing.

They are making the playoffs without question, so their one and only job for the rest of the regular season is to secure the number one Wild Card seed.

Facing the Rays or Mariners will not be easy, but it becomes a whole lot easier when you are playing the entire series at home rather than Tampa Bay or Seattle.

4. The Steelers have a great set of skill position players but as long as Mitch Tribuisky is the starting quarterback and as long as Matt Canada is the offensive coordinator, they will have a below-average offence.

They can still make the postseason with a below-average offence, given their defence’s ability to get to the quarterback and create turnovers, but even then, without T.J. Watt, the team’s pash rush has been close to nonexistent.

It may be tough sledding for Pittsburgh in a tough AFC.

5. The Bills were dealing with an absurd amount of injuries, I know, but make no mistake about it: The Dolphins are a true contender in the AFC.

6. A thought while watching Lions-Vikings and Saints-Panthers: A very bad team is going to secure the last playoff spot or two in a depleted NFC this season.

7. Trevor Lawrence, the most hyped prospect since Andrew Luck, probably deserved more preseason hype than he received coming into his second season.

He had legitimate options around him offensively and was no longer being coached by Urban Meyer, which is a pro. He sure looks like a franchise quarterback to me.

8. My Week Four NFL picks…

• Dolphins (+2)

• Vikings (-2)

• Ravens (+3.5)

• Cowboys (-2.5)

• Colts (-3)

• Browns (-3)

• Jets (+3.5)

• Jaguars (+7)

• Seahawks (+6.5)

• Bears (+3)

• Chargers (-6.5)

• Cardinals (+1)

• Packers (-8)

• Broncos (+1)

• Chiefs (-2.5)

• Rams (+2)

I went 7-8 in week three, with Monday Night Football still pending.