Scruffy’s This N That

1 – ON TO THE PLAYOFFS: It once again wasn’t pretty for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but they finished the regular season with a win (16-9 over Edmonton on Saturday). With both teams not fielding their usual lineups and a big-time wind rolling through Mosaic Stadium, the Riders ended the regular season with a 10-8 record meaning they are off to B.C for the West semi-final next Saturday.

Some wondered going into the game whether or not the team was basically saying they wanted to run their playoff road through the East by not dressing Trevor Harris and others, but I think suggesting that is an insult to Corey Mace as you want to win every regular season game you play, even if the lineups resemble the first pre-season game in a way. 

This gave the Riders a chance to see what Jack Coan and Brayden Schager could do. Both got reps and for Schager, who some believe is the guy to lead the team in the post-Harris era, it was his first game action. I don’t know if the windy weather allowed the coaching staff to get a true gauge of their performance, but they got the reps that many had called for. 

So now we see what happens. There are five more games in the season with six teams having a chance to win it all. Everyone is 0-0 again and while Edmonton and Montreal “appear” to have the easiest paths to the Grey Cup, no one knows what the playoffs will bring.  I said at the start of the year it will be Montreal-B.C in the Grey Cup and I stand by that with the Lions winning. 

2 – CHAD KELLY:  The soon to be free agent quarterback is apparently looking for a contract that would see him get around $1-million per season. I realize the salary cap is going up, but it’s not going to take a big jump until 2028. I don’t think Kelly nor any other quarterback will be getting one million a season unless that cap is going up a lot more than I think it is. We all know the quarterback is the most important position in the game and that in most cases there is a big dropoff between QB1 and QB2. 

The Argos obviously have the deep pockets to keep Kelly, but I don’t know if MLSE wants to make that type of investment because they don’t really make a big investment in the team. 

A reunion with Ryan Dinwiddie in Ottawa has also been mentioned, but can the REDBLACKS afford to pay that much? Can any team afford to pay that much because Kelly will take out a huge chunk of the cap? Would you want your team to pay that much for your starting QB? At the end of the day, players can ask for what they think they are worth, but we all know if no one is willing to pay that you take what you think will be the best offer. That is what Kelly will likely do at a salary much less than what his Saskatchewan-based agent thinks he should get. 

3 – OOPS:  The Regina Thunder captured the PFC Championship after beating the Saskatoon Hilltops at Leibel Field last weekend. As it came time to celebrate, there was something missing. The Hilltops apparently forgot to bring the championship trophy with them. Some have told me that was pure b-s and that the trophy would have showed up had Saskatoon been winning or if the game had been close because it was either on their bus or in the vehicle of a board member. I don’t know if that’s true or not and really, I hope it isn’t because it would say a lot about the organization—-one that has been labelled as arrogant by some in the past.

The questions I have is when was this noticed, could no one from Saskatoon that was at Leibel Field and realized that the trophy wasn’t there make a call or two? Meet in Davidson if you have to for the handoff. How does the PFC Executive not have the trophy in their hands? To me, this falls on them. Someone from the league executive should have been asking for the trophy. A “yeah, we are bringing it with us” is not an acceptable answer. 

The Thunder had a moment taken away from them and if it was the other way around, people in Saskatoon would be outraged and for good reason. Good on the Hilltops to put out a public apology on social media, but sometimes it’s a little too late. I’m interested to see if the PFC has any teeth to punish the Hilltops in some fashion. Probably not!

4 – NFL WEEK 7:  Some great games dot the Sunday NFL calendar with the Vikings, San Francisco and Chiefs trying to avoid their first loss. The first six weeks have had fans on the edge of their seat as 31 games have featured a game winning score in the final five minutes which is the most in league history through six weeks.  Here are some tidbits leading into this weekend’s play.

• San Francisco is 6-0 for the fourth time in franchise history (1984, 1990 and 2019). Going into their game at Atlanta, the 49ers are one of two teams, along with Kansas City, to rank in the top-five in both scoring offense (29.5 points per game) and scoring defense (18.3 points per game allowed) this season.
•  In 10 career regular-season games versus the Ravens, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase has 1,204 receiving yards (120.4 receiving yards per game, most by any player against any team since 1970
• Each of the Buccaneers past 12 games has been decided by one score (eight or fewer points), the longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history, trailing only the 1989-90 Chargers (14).
• Denver Broncos (former Calgary Stampeders) linebacker Alex Singleton had 13 tackles in a win over Seattle last week to give him the league lead at 68. Singleton has had at least eight tackles in Denver’s last three games. 

5 – BRADY TKACHUK: Brady Tkachuk made his first appearance in Ottawa since his trade to Florida and the reaction is what you would expect. Brady is public enemy #1 in Ottawa for good reasons. While he said a lot of the right things when speaking to reporters before and after the game, he failed to confirm what everyone knew and tried to deny it. 

I said before the 4 Nations Tournament that as soon as he could, Brady would go play with his brother because it is what the two wanted. Add the fact that Dad was OK with that plan, and you knew it would happen. I don’t care if Matthew is playing in L-A, St. Louis or Florida, the two were going to be on the same team as quickly as Brady could get there.  I just don’t think he can publicly admit that for obvious reasons.  Quinn Hughes hasn’t signed his extension in Minnesota and if he ends up in New Jersey to play with Jack and Luke, you will know why. 

Ottawa fans can be mad at Brady all they want. I completely understand it. The face of the franchise said he didn’t want to be there anymore and that would anger anyone regardless of the political climate. He also said he enjoyed his time in Ottawa and that he gave it everything he had which I legitimately think he did.   Johnny Gaudreau and Tkachuk were met with boos in their first game at Calgary and that was before the relationship between Canada and the U-S started going south. Dylan Larkin was told by Red Wings fans what they thought of him wanting to leave on opening night. Henry Burris was booed mercilessly by Riders fans because he didn’t want to be here anymore. It’s not a surprise. Just please don’t tell us family had nothing to do with this move when many know it was.

6 – CONNOR HELLEBUYCK: The New Jersey Devils let teams know they have entered the “Gates of Helle” on Friday as they were the winning bidder in the Connor Hellebuyck derby.  It’s a trade that I really like for both teams.  Winnipeg gets Swedish forward Alexander Command, who was New Jersey’s first-round pick this year, they get a 20-goal man in Dawson Mercer, a good faceoff man in Nick Bjugstad and a promising goaltending prospect in Nico Daws along with two draft picks.  I think they could have been better picks, but whatever.  

New Jersey gets one of the game’s best goaltenders, they don’t give up a top 6 forward, and they keep their top prospect. 

Like many others, I wonder if this is a move that puts New Jersey in the playoffs and makes them a Stanley Cup contender? Yeah, Hellebuyck is the best goalie the team has had since Marty Brodeur, but I don’t see them being a team that makes a long playoff run if they even get there—-not this year. If he had gone to Utah, that would be a different story as he could have elevated the Mammoth into SC talk.

The question now is will Hellebuyck suit up for the Devils November 10 when they visit Winnipeg? I am guessing he needs some time to get into game shape. I am also guessing he is looking at things and has no desire to be in the crease or on the bench for that game because he will get hammered on and he knows it. The abuse he will take might make Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa look tame. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Hellebuyck says he will get in the crease after that November 10 game to avoid the wrath of Jets fans until next year with hopes that the mood of Jets fans will soften somewhat.  This just in—it won’t! 

7 – INTERFERENCE: Officiating in any sport is criticized. It is part of the game. The biggest reason for the criticizing is the lack of consistency.  What is a penalty, a strike or a foul in the eyes of one official is not what it is to another.  It drives me crazy watching a hockey game when I see how officials continue to allow the amount of interference that we see during a game go uncalled yet chintzy calls result in a guy going to the penalty box.  Montreal’s Jakub Dobes was called for interference in overtime this week in a game against San Jose when he skated into a player cutting through his crease.  That gets called and yet a defenceman doesn’t get called nineteen times out of 20 when a forward speeds by him on a chip and chase and he impedes his path to the puck? It’s a textbook call so why isn’t it called? Same with other penalties, but interference is the one that is most obvious.  If you called every interference penalty, you would likely have some three-hour games which no one wants but the consistency has to be there and it isn’t.  It’s because of that consistency or lack of it why those in charge of calling the games will always be scrutinized for their performance. Fans want these calls to be made but do you if a game is going to be three hours long because that is what will happen. Is it too much to ask for tighter reins to allow the players to play at the best of their ability without being impeded or hacked? If you do that, the players will have no choice but to adhere. 

8 – WORLD SERIES: What’s not to like about the World Series? You have the team with the most wins in baseball (Milwaukee) taking on the team that won the 3^rd most games in MLB and the most in the American League (Tampa). Some say it is the worst World Series matchup ever, but I don’t know where people get that idea considering their records.  We don’t get a lot of 1 vs 1 so why are people pissing all over it.  One of these teams will be crowned baseball’s best for the first time. What is wrong with that? 

These aren’t two teams that got hot in October.  They are teams that deserve to be playing right now and if Game 1 is any indication, it is going to be a hard-fought series. Admittedly, they will be hard-pressed to match the drama of last year’s World Series which arguably was the most dramatic one we have seen in the 2000’s

What has been done is two teams considered as small market vying for a title which has those against a salary cap saying it can be done.  Commissioner Rob Manfred says a salary cap is needed and while Manfred is a walking, talking dunce in my opinion he is right here.  The NHL is thriving with a salary cap and so is the NFL. MLB will as well. 

9 – MEMORIAL CUP CHANGES: Is something I have wanted for years about to come to fruition? There is a report coming out of Quebec stating the 2029 event could be an eight-team double elimination affair.  YES!! 

I have been calling for expansion of the Canadian Hockey League championship for years because some years the host team should maybe not be there but win if they have a good week. I have wanted a six-team tournament that sees the host team and the championship team in the league that hosts with the winners and runner-up of the two leagues going.  I don’t know how they would get to eight teams, but changing the format is something I would love to see.  If events like the Telus Cup and the Centennial Cup can see more teams involved, why can’t the Memorial Cup! I hope this comes to fruition as it would be good for all. 

10 – REGINA PATS: The more I see the Regina Pats, the more I like. This team is a lot more than Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue and it is time the Regina sports fan start paying attention. Yeah, I know attention on the Pats doesn’t really start until after the Riders are done, but with the /=S=/ having played their last home game it is time starting Tuesday when Everett comes to town.

Regina gave a good beating to the Seattle Thunderbirds Wednesday night at the Brandt Centre with Schultz and Pue once again turning the red light on in a 6-0 victory and they followed that up with a thumping of Moose Jaw Friday.

The goaltending is solid; the defence is solid and there is a lot of depth at forward as Regina didn’t have three key forwards dressed due to injury in both games.  I’m not close to saying this is a team that will be a serious contender for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, but this team is a LOT better than ones we have seen the past few years and you know GM Dale Derkatch is looking for ways to improve the squad. The East Division has a lot of good teams meaning there should be some entertaining great nights at what is a much more affordable Brandt Centre.  It’s without a doubt the best team Regina has iced since Connor Bedard’s last year. They are worth a night or two at the rink.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: 

• Connor McDavid is on pace for a 260-point season.  That is unattainable—at least I think it is.  If 97 plays every game for the Oilers this year, how many points can he end up with? If the over/under was 199.5, what are you taking?
• The New York Knicks were presented with their NBA Championship rings at Madison Square Garden prior to their opener. It can’t happen in the CFL because of roster turnover but how crazy would have Mosaic Stadium have been if the Riders got their rings before the season opener?
• When the 2027 CFL season begins and the goalposts are at the back of the endzone, where are you placing the ball for a convert? I would think it is the 10-yard line as it will still make the kick a 32 yard one. 
• Why did the CFL have both games Saturday on at the same time? 

That’s all I got.  Have a great week!