Scruffy’s This N That

1 – TRADE DEADLINE: I don’t know about you but to me the NHL Trade Deadline this year was maybe just a level or two above being a dud and it might very well have been had Nazem Kadri not gone back to Colorado in a deal announced well after the 2 o’clock Saskatchewan time deadline. For awhile,  I thought the highlight might have been the TSN intro featuring James Duthie and his insiders breaking into Bob McKenzie’s home in a segment that should win awards at the Yorkton Film Festival. 

Vincent Trocheck didn’t move, Robert Thomas didn’t move, Ryan O’Reilly didn’t move, Sergei Bobrovsky didn’t move and either did Jordan Binnington. The Vegas Golden Knights did nothing, the Carolina Hurricanes did nothing and the Montreal Canadiens did nothing. Toronto certainly didn’t get the return they were looking for in Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. 

Just some thoughts: 

• If Colorado wasn’t the favourite to win the Cup before, they have to be now by adding Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri. I’m not sure if Roy was worth a first-rounder but we’ll see.
• The Wild didn’t make the splash that many thought they would, but perhaps they did in getting Quinn Hughes earlier. Minnesota added some pieces and I still like them to have a long run but they needed one more big add and they had the money to do it. 
• What type of deals did Carolina turn down?  They have a real chance to win the Eastern Conference and did nothing.
• Logan Stanley is a nice add for Buffalo, but Colton Parayko would have been better had he agreed on a trade for the Sabres because of the playoff and international experience he has. 
• Chicago now has two first-round picks in 2026 and two in 2027. They also have three second-round picks in 26 and two in 27.  GM Kyle Davidson has the draft capital he needs to build around Connor Bedard in the off-season and get the Hawks into the playoffs. 

2 – NO MOVEMENT CLAUSE:  Times have changed and I do understand why it is done, but I would like to see the NHL do something with no movement clauses. I know the chances of that happening are the same as the CFL getting rid of one-year contracts, but players have a little too much in the decision-making process especially those under the age of 30.  Players like Colton Parayko, Mackenzie Weegar and Tyler Myers and yes even Edmonton whipping boy Darnell Nurse have every right to reject trades if they have a no movement clause even if it hurts the team they play for, but there are some under 30 who have no right to have a NMC no matter how good they are and yes, I am talking about Robert Thomas who is a very good hockey player but is only 26. There isn’t going to be a new CBA in the NHL for a few years, but would it be too much for ask that players have to reach a time of service or an age like 30 before they discuss a partial or full no movement clause in their deal. I’m guessing it won’t change, but it would be nice. If only it was that easy, right?

3 – MEDICINE HAT MANIA: The Medicine Hat Tigers don’t have Gavin McKenna in their lineup.  One can only imagine how much better they would be if he was. I checked out the Tigers on their visit to the Brandt Centre this week. To say that team is more than capable of defending their league championship is an understatement and that is not an insult to Prince Albert and Everett. 

After about 10 minutes of the first period, the Tigers just dog-walked Regina to a tune of 11-2. Bryce Pickford, who has 41 goals as a defenceman in just 49 games, is more than complimented by the likes of twins Liam and Markus Ruck, Bryce Woo, Andrew Basha and others.  I asked one hockey mind in the 2^nd intermission of the game if this Tigers team was better than last year’s and he said yeah because he thinks the goaltending might be better.

4 – BEST RINK: There’s no correct answer on this, but it came up on the RP Show while I was on Tuesday.  What is the best rink—new or old? The Whitney Forum –the home of the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers—came up but when RP asked me, I did not hesitate in saying the Montreal Forum or Maple Leaf Gardens. I was fortunate enough to attend games in both. It got me thinking as to how many rinks I have visited and there are many. From my time in the SJHL, I had a chance to see all of the venues and yes, the Whitney Forum was one that just reeked of history.  The area where the Bombers Hall of Fame sits showing guys like Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach is something that all hockey fans should see. If the Whitney Forum was in central or southern Saskatchewan, it would be a place for all to see, but maybe that makes the mystique of that building better. 

When it comes to the WHL, I have been in games in all Saskatchewan centres, the old Medicine Hat Arena, Lethbridge and Seattle when the T-Birds played in the old Seattle Centre Coliseum which is now the home of the Kraken and looks much different.  While in the NHL, I have seen games in Edmonton (Northlands and Rogers), Calgary, Winnipeg (the Arena and MTS Centre), Toronto as mentioned, but not Scotiabank Arena, Montreal (both), and Denver.  Let’s just say, there wasn’t a bad one—OK, there was La Ronge. What arena is your favourite all-time one? 

5 – QB ROOMS: TSN put out a graphic this week ranking the QB rooms.  We are still a few months away from training camp, but I am guessing that any QB’s signed now are just training camp arms.  When I look at the QB position with the various teams, I think those that have experienced CFL arms in the 1 and 2 slot have a leg up on the rest. I might say Toronto has the best one with Nick Arbuckle and Chad Kelly who I am presuming will be back on the field this year.  Hamilton with Bo Levi Mitchell and Tre Ford is also up there as is Montreal with Davis Alexander and Dustin Crum.  Winnipeg and B.C might be in the worst shape as it is Zach Collaros and Terry Wilson with the Bombers and Nathan Rourke and Chase Brice with the Lions.  The Riders might have to be in the bottom half as well seeing Jack Coan has had limited reps which is more than Tommy Stevens.  When you look at what all the teams have at the QB position overall, what are your top 3? 

6 – CEBL:  The Canadian Elite Basketball League will be starting another season soon, but don’t look for games on TSN. Not sure whose decision it was, but the league announced this week it has signed a five-year TV deal with CBC. It will see some games on CBC with all regular season and playoff games on CBC Gem and CBC Youtube.  That is great, but unless you are a hardcore fan for the league which is still basically in its infancy how are you going to know when games are on?

On TSN, they would show highlights and promote upcoming games with scores on the ticker. I am guessing that won’t be happening anymore and I have never seen anything CEBL related on Sportsnet. With no show like a Sportscenter or Sportscentral how is the league supposed to attract viewers—especially new ones? 

The league has a major marketing job in front of them to keep eyes and get eyes on the league which is a good one for basketball in our country.  Good luck! 

7 – WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC:  It’s a nice little appetizer for the start of the baseball season later this month as the World Baseball Classic is underway. 20 nations are taking part, but one would be hard-pressed to think the US with their lineup that is stacked with the likes of Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Junior aren’t celebrating at the end unless Shohei Ohtani and Japan can spoil things as they did the last time this event was held. 

I sort of look at this event for Canada like I would for Switzerland at the Olympics or World Juniors.  They are a team that is good with a lot of pros, but they don’t have enough to compete with the big boys. Not being in a pool with the US helps Canada a lot as they look to get to the 2^nd round for the first time ever. 

8 – GOING OUT WITH A BANG: I said in last week’s column that with the Brier being in Newfoundland, it is almost a guarantee that Brad Gushue will be in the final.  We are a couple of wins away from that statement being true.  The future, the present and the past of Canadian men’s curling are the final four for this year as Gushue, looking for his 7^th Brier in 23 appearances, is joined by Olympic champ Brad Jacobs, Kevin Koe and Matt Dunstone meaning the weekend should provide great theatre.  It has been a Gushue love-in all week with some complaining that TSN is spending too much time on his games.  Say what you will about men’s curling in this country, but Gushue is the one who stirs the drink and with his next loss being his last loss, TSN is going to show you every moment like it or not. 

There has been discussion this week as to whether or not Gushue is the GOAT. How can he not be? Look at his resume! I think a lot of people in the 306 would like to see Dunstone, who represented Saskatchewan so well for a few years ago, win his first Brier and others would like to see Regina’s Ben Hebert add another Tankard to his great resume.  Bottom line is many eyes will be on the playoffs this weekend to see who comes out on top.

9 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• Why did it take the LA Kings so long to fire Jim Hiller? In my mind, he should have bounced after last year’s first round playoff exit to Edmonton. 
• How many players that were on the ice for the gold medal hockey games in Milan end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
• They aren’t winning the NL Central, but the Pittsburgh Pirates might be a fun team to watch this year. 
• Is there a more iconic sports phrase in Canada than Vic Rauter’s “Make The Final”?

That’s all I got.  Have a great week.