10 WEEKEND THINGS

10 One-Timers

1 – Here’s a reason to watch Vancouver at Chicago in a Sunday matinee on NHL Network & Sportsnet: If Connor Bedard scores five times versus his hometown Vancouver Canucks, he’ll tie Patrick Laine and Dale Hawerchuk for the most goals by an 18-year old in his first 30 NHL games. Connor has 12 goals now, and will win the Calder regardless of what happens today.

2 – It was a fun question to throw out this week: Who’s the best Canadian NHL team at the moment? Our esteemed pundits mentioned the Oilers (who’ve since lost two in a row), Canucks and Leafs. I planted my flag on the Winnipeg Jets, who took over first place in the Central Division on Saturday with a 6-2 spanking of Colorado and set a club record for holding opponents to two-goals-or-less in seven straight games. Not just a pretty face over here.

3 – The best team in Florida right now – by a country mile – is the Florida Panthers, who at 18-10-2, are 3rd in the Atlantic Division while the cross-state Tampa Bay Lightning are a point out of a playoff spot. The Bolts just can’t ever seem to win at Calgary, and lost 4-2 there on Saturday while the Panthers silenced the Oilers 5-1 on Hockey Night In Canada. On our popular Cats ‘N Bolts podcast last week, former Panthers & Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon said the Panthers are a better team this year than last, when they won the Eastern Conference.

4 – One more on the Cats: For whatever reason South Florida hockey fans continue to flame Tallon for giving Sergei Bobrovsky a 7-year/$70-million contract back in 2o19, saying it put them in salary cap hell. Dale says he’d do it again. Let’s see — the Panthers are on track to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season and have raised Presidents Trophy, Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference banners in that time. Fans need to stick to what they do best.

5 – Scratch that. One MORE On the Cats: Matthew Tkachuk returns to the Saddledome on Monday with the Panthers and Calgary Flames fans are already talking about it. What are the odds he gets booed again like last year? Chucky played 540 games in the Flaming C but asked for a trade outta there and fans don’t forget. Meanwhile Panthers fans have gotten on my co-host Sarina for “hating on” Tkachuk on our Cats ‘N Bolts Podcast. Her response? “You didn’t even know who he was before he came to Florida so pipe down.” (The show’s popularity has exactly nothing to do with me).

6 –  CFL fans seemed initially up-in-arms Saturday night when Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton labelled the Detroit Lions – who’d just pasted his team 42-17 at Ford Field – “A good CFL team”. Ummmm, it’s a compliment. Payton was referring to the Lions’ 1st and 2nd down success and let’s not forget Sean played quarterback for the 1987 Ottawa Rough Riders after his playing rights were purchased from the Arena Football League for $1,000. Not every comment is a slight, and that’s a major sign of insecurity. Meanwhile this is why I remarked, “The CFL gets more respect in American than in Canada” but it flew over most peoples’ heads.

7 – Sum more NFL notes: Apparently the NFL plays no favourites. Kansas City’s Andy Reid was fined $100,000 and QB Patrick Mahomes docked $50,000 for commenting on officiating after their Sunday night loss to the Bills. As the darlings that they are, I thought they were going to get away with it. … In Monday’s commentary right here, I had it wrong. The refs were right. … I’ve got a double-or-nothing bet riding on Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito and the NY Giants at New Orleans on Sunday. The bet, actually, is a chicken cutlets dinner with my pal Chris From The Bronx. … Wagering sure makes the games more interesting, no? … Storms battering Florida have made for crappy football conditions, including Sunday’s Jets/Dolphins clash. Wind will be a major factor, which is rare in games here.

8 – #CFL: On one line I’ve got a guy begging me not to report that Jason Shivers is heading to Edmonton to be the Elks Defensive Coordinator – among other tidbits – while on the other line, RP Show football analyst Jim Barker blurts that news out on Friday’s show. The first guy’s response? “Oh well.” … I’m not sure what’s kosher when it comes to insider scoops anymore so I’ll just let those around me divulge the rumours and we’ll discuss them on the RP Show, here, and social media. We remain “The View For Sports Fans” on that show, daily on Game+TV in 4-million homes in Canada, WQEE Radio in Atlanta, and streaming.

9 – I was wrong! After Grey Cup I said there’d be nothing on the CFL news landscape between the Roughriders hiring Corey Mace as Head Coach, and then free agency. XXX! Thursday’s CFL schedule release perhaps wasn’t earth-shattering in all markets but it’s a big deal on the Prairies. There was some grumbling about five of nine Saskatchewan home games falling on Saturday because it KILLS the retail sector in Regina but as Ricky Nelson sings, “You can’t please everyone so you’ve gotta please yourself.” SING IT RICKY!

A “CFL Schedule Release” special on the RP Show would’ve been epic, with reps from all teams and Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: What do people have against Crocs? … We’d be all for the RP Show being a version of CFL-TV but we’d need 100% cooperation from the league office and all teams. We’re close to having that now, but not quite. So until we do, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing. … I really enjoy the hockey talk anyway. … This Thursday is the Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium featuring the University of South Florida versus Syracuse. We’re working on a live special with some great football guests. Stay tuned. … Heard it on ESPN Radio this week: “Potential is a thing that gets you fired.” … Heard it in a meeting: “It’s Alcohol-ISM not Alcohol-WASM.” Can’t let your guard down if you’re “one of us”. …  AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen