Wednesday Commentary: For The Best
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on January 6, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
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It’s Random Thoughts Wednesday on your favourite commentary. Here we go!:
#1 – It’s always fun when the Panthers and Leafs get together. I’ve got so many Leaf fan friends and as it turns out, I’m going to be buying a lot of lunches after Toronto spanked Florida 4-1 Tuesday night at Scotiabank Centre. That’s fine! I get to pick where to go, and besides … things always change in the playoffs, when it matters most.
#2 – 2026 may be the Year of the Hattrick in the NHL. Don’t look now but there have already been NINE hattricks scored by NHL players since the calendar flipped. The latest was the Islanders’ Anthony Duclair scoring thrice in New York’s 9-0 rout of the Devils on Tuesday.
#3 – Connor McDavid scored on a penalty shot in the Oilers’ 6-2 rout of Nashville. Do you know who’s scored the most penalty shot goals in NHL history with seven? It’s a tie between Pavel Bure and Brad Marchand. McDavid has four in his career, and last night’s was part of a hattrick too.
#4 – I’ve gotta watch more Winnipeg Jets games to figure out exactly what’s gone wrong there. From the President’s Trophy winners to the worst team in the NHL in half a year. Please don’t tell me it’s because Nikolaj Ehlers left in free agency. The Florida Panthers have stayed relevant without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk all season. There has to be something more to it.
And #5 – Wednesday’s going to be a very special day on the RP Show. Cody Fajardo returns to the program and it’s a rare day where we can combine our biggest viewing regions with the same guest (Canada and Nevada). Cody’s a star quarterback in the CFL, but also a Nevada Wolf Pack great who spends his off-seasons in Reno, NV. Two birds, one stone. Above all, he’s a dear friend and always will be.
I thought things would end differently in Saskatchewan for Cody because he was riding high and on the way to being one of the most popular players in franchise history.
Funny sometimes, how things turn out.
We have to believe it’s always for the best.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.
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Cody got shafted! He was playing behind a bad offensive line, ala Tom Clements in 1979. And, he made a mistake playing hurt a couple of games. Best of luck Cody.
The only thing he has in common with Tom Clements is two arms, legs and a head. For his time he was a serviceable and strong player. His problem in Saskatchewan was ever believing he was one of the people or he was appreciated. He was Mr Jesus. So was John Chick and in Saskatchewan it is nothing but a morally bereft public sector idol worshipping crowd. They worship their public sector pensions. Cody and John came through. Spread the word, were rejected and moved on to better. Trevor Harris on the other hand. He has played on so many… Read more »
Harris is a wandering cfl reject, he’s no football assassin, far from it! Harris is in regina because that’s where all old cfl players at the end of their careers get that one last big pay check. It’s the saskatchewan rider way to dole out big money on old past the prime castoffs. That rider gm needs to get off his big lard a** and scout his own player talent, it’s not good signing other cfl teams cast asides. Find your own players then pay accordingly to the on field results.
You do not understand modern CFL football. There is no more Paul Jones or Roy Shivers tunnelling players up from the MAC or WAC. Roy Shivers would send guys up from the HBCUs. There are 9 teams with the majority of players on 1 yr deals. It is similar to college and the transfer portal. Let someone do the heavy lifting. Evaluate all existing import CFL players. Create a scheme, and it is plug and play while managing the salary cap. The ethos remains QB, Canadians, Kicking game. I waited 14 yrs for Trevor Harris to finally find a landing… Read more »
Kent Austin Is far and above the best quarterback the cfl riders ever had so far, no doubt about it. End of subject!
Long in the tooth Winnipeg Jets general manager cheveldayoff has got to go, fired, gone, hit the road forever, git out of town, git outta Manitoba! The Jets are not going to win any Stanley Cup with him in charge of that NHL franchise as evident to how many years no results of a championship and none on the horizon, time for a major organizational reset.