Weekly Takes - Monday, September 5 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, September 5 Edition

1. With news that there will likely be a World Cup of Hockey in early 2024, here is what my Team Canada lineup would look like.

Forwards

Kent Johnson (21) - Connor McDavid (27) - Steven Stamkos (34)

Jonathan Huberdeau (31) - Nathan MacKinnon (28) - Brayden Point (27)

Mark Scheifele (30) - Anthony Cirelli (27) - Mitch Marner (27)

Brad Marchand (36) - Sidney Crosby (36) - Ryan O’Reilly (33)

Extra: Drake Batherson (25) and Connor Bedard (19)

Honourable Mentions: Andrew Mangiapane (27), Robert Thomas (24), Jordan Kyrou (25), and Sam Reinhart (28)

Defence

Devon Toews (30) - Cale Makar (25)

Shea Theodore (28) - MacKenzie Weegar (30)

Thomas Chabot (27) - Aaron Ekblad (28)

Extra: Owen Power (21) and Adam Pelech (29)

Honourable Mentions: Morgan Rielly (29), Noah Dobson (24), Drew Doughty (34), and Dougie Hamilton (30)

Goaltending

Tristan Jarry (28)

Darcy Kuemper (33)

Extra: Carter Hart (25)

2. Prediction: One of Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving will not be a Brooklyn Net a year from now.

3. The Donovan Mitchell trade is a home run for the Cavs. who instantly have one of the better young cores in the entire league.

It is a fine trade for the Jazz too, as they continue their scorched earth rebuild, but as is so often the case, the team getting the best player is the big winner.

4. My predictions for the upcoming NFL season…

AFC East

1. Buffalo (1)

2. Miami

3. New England

4. New York Jets

AFC North

1. Cincinnati (2)

2. Baltimore (WC3)

3. Pittsburgh

4. Cleveland

AFC West

1. Los Angeles Chargers (3)

2. Kansas City (WC1)

3. Denver (WC2)

4. Las Vegas

AFC South

1. Indianapolis (4)

2. Tennessee

3. Jacksonville

4. Houston

NFC East

1. Philadelphia (4)

2. Dallas (WC3)

3. Washington

4. New York Giants

NFC North

1. Green Bay (2)

2. Minnesota

3. Detroit

4. Chicago

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay (1)

2. New Orleans

3. Carolina

4. Atlanta

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams (3)

2. San Francisco (WC1)

3. Arizona (WC2)

4. Seattle

Super Bowl Prediction

Buffalo defeats Los Angeles Rams

My 2022 National Football League Individual Awards Predictions

- Most Valuable Player: Josh Allen

- Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Allen

- Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald

- NFL Rookie of the Year: George Pickens

- Offensive Rookie of the Year: George Pickens

- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson

- Coach of the Year: Sean McVay

5. With the College Football season underway, here are my four playoff teams…

1. Alabama

2. The Ohio State

3. Georgia

4. Clemson

I think we are looking at a two-team race for the national title this year, though there is no denying the performance by Georgia on Saturday.