Tag: The Sports Nerd Speaks

The Nerd’s NHL Draft 2024 Grades

Image Credit: Jeff Vinnick/NHLI

The 2024 NHL Draft has concluded, and the offseason has officially kicked into high gear.

The past two days at Sphere in Las Vegas saw a flurry of activity. Players and picks were moved around throughout, causing the landscape of the NHL to change dramatically within the last 48 hours. Above all else, however, 225 young men got the chance to see their dreams become reality and their hard work be rewarded with a draft selection. Now, it’s time to give immediate reactions to all 32 draft classes.

Let’s start with the obvious: yes, these, and really any, immediate draft grades are an exercise in futility. Most of the prospects drafted won’t see the NHL for at least the next two or three years, and the true impact of the class won’t be made clear until the next five. So, what’s the point of doing something like this? The answer is mostly to analyze which scouting departments are doing their due diligence. General managers could get some great value on certain prospects, or filled certain needs in their organizational depth chart. While it’s impossible to say with certainty that a class will succeed or fail, these grades provide a look at what each class offers their respective organization.

Which NHL teams came out of Vegas with brighter futures? And whose gambles are looking shaky? Let’s find out.

1. San Jose Sharks (A+): Mike Grier’s tenure as Sharks GM has seen some lows, but this draft was a masterclass at first glance. Macklin Celebrini was the no-brainer first pick, but trading up and having arguably the best defenseman not named Levshunov in Sam Dickinson fall into their laps at 11? The Sharks could have stopped there and won the draft already, but they landed serious contributors with just about every pick. Igor Chernyshov and Leo Sahlin Wallenius were excellent values as second-round picks, Carson Wetsch projects as a fourth-line monster, and later picks like goalie Christian Kirsch and defensemen Colton Roberts and Nate Misskey have NHL tools at their disposal. If the Sharks find themselves back amongst the league’s elite in the next few years, this draft class will almost certainly serve as the catalyst.

2. Chicago Blackhawks (A): Artyom Levshunov effectively gives the Blackhawks their top defensive pair of the future alongside Kevin Korchinski, which should take the pressure off Connor Bedard. Moving up twice in the first round netted Chicago two strong forwards in Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they serve as two-thirds of the Blackhawks’ future third line. Kyle Davidson then proceeded to emphasize speed in the third round, taking three of the class’s best skaters in John Mustard, A.J. Spellacy, and Jack Pridham; Spellacy, in particular, has the makings of an excellent fourth-liner in the NHL. Similar to San Jose, the Blackhawks got several potential contributors in a single class, and their rebuild is coming together nicely.

3. Montreal Canadiens (A-): The craziness in the early goings led Ivan Demidov to fall directly into Montreal’s laps, and his addition feels like a “final piece” to their top six. The dynamic Russian forward has game-breaking offensive ability, which the Canadiens have sorely needed for a while now. Michael Hage was an excellent value in the first round, and he will likely have a spot in the middle six within the next few years. Montreal’s Day 2 may not have had the projectable contributors of the classes above them, but there’s still excellent value to be found here. Aatos Koivu, son of longtime Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, is a legitimate prospect in his own right, and Logan Sawyer showed promise in the lower leagues this season. Even later picks like fourth-rounder Owen Protz and fifth-rounder Tyler Thorpe have some qualities that could get them some games. The Canadiens deserved a high grade on the back of an excellent first day alone, but give them some credit for continuing to stock the cupboards the right way.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets (A-): Thought the Columbus lineup was lacking snarl last year? New GM Don Waddell apparently agreed. Cayden Lindstrom has serious top-six potential, regardless of if his future position is center or wing. I somehow ended up liking the Charlie Elick pick in the second round more, though, due to his skillset. The Blue Jackets didn’t have anybody with Elick’s physicality in their defensive corps, and pairing him with a prospect like Denton Mateychuk could be devastating for teams to deal with. Evan Gardner had an excellent first year in the WHL, and the Blue Jackets must feel comfortable tabbing him as a potential goaltender of the future by slightly overpaying for him. Luca Marelli, Tanner Henricks, and Luke Ashton are all big defensemen with some good tools to go along with it. For the first time in a while, the Blue Jackets felt like they were trying to establish a clear identity with their moves, which is a victory in and of itself.

5. Calgary Flames (A-): The Flames drafted easily the smartest player in the class in Zayne Parekh, and he is a near-lock to quarterback Calgary’s power play in the next year or two. I’m not one hundred percent sure he would have been my first choice (Dickinson’s comparison to Noah Hanifin made me think he would go to Calgary), but that’s more nitpicking than an actual complaint. Matvei Gridin, Andrew Basha, and Jacob Battaglia are all talented wing players with NHL futures, but Calgary might not have room for them all with the players currently in their system. The same can be said for third-round defenseman Henry Mews, who will have to compete with prospects of similar styles. Keep tabs on centers Luke Misa (fifth round) and Hunter Laing (sixth round), who won over some draft pundits with their skillsets during the process. While I do question if the Flames got a bit redundant at times, it’s better than having to reach for needs, so an A- is a fair grade.

6. Anaheim Ducks (B+): It was no wonder why Beckett Sennecke had the best reaction of anyone who was drafted; his rise to third overall shocked just about everybody. The Ducks definitely needed a right wing of the future, so the fast-rising Sennecke slots in that role well. Stian Solberg is going to be a fan favorite in Anaheim with his physical, hard-hitting style. He can be safely penciled into a top-four role beside either Pavel Mintyukov or Olen Zellweger. After securing two high-end talents in the first, Anaheim focused on the worker-bee type of players in the next three rounds (Lucas Pettersson, Maxim Masse, Ethan Procyszyn, Alexandre Blais). Tarin Smith was also a nice third-round development option, and he has an opportunity to secure a third-pairing role if all turns out well. The Ducks left Vegas with a Trevor Zegras-sized question left to answer, but they’ve been building well enough to prepare for when the other shoe finally drops.

7. Minnesota Wild (B+): Trading up one pick with Philadelphia may have seemed a bit confusing at first, but Zeev Buium was the perfect player for them. Minnesota lacks dynamic players on the back end outside of Brock Faber, so why not draft an electric playmaker who just broke the NCAA scoring record for draft-eligible defensemen? What the Wild’s draft will ultimately hinge on, however, is their next two selections: second-rounder Ryder Ritchie and fourth-rounder Aron Kiviharju. Both have been on scouting radars for a while, and their ability to put points up in bunches was something Minnesota sorely needs. That said, both saw their draft years wrecked by injury, and red flags popped up in the times they were on the ice. Minnesota fans are already crossing their fingers that last year’s first round selection Charlie Stramel can get it together, and they now have two more instances of praying for luck. Buium alone should make the class a good one, but it has the potential to be great if at least one of Ritchie or Kiviharju cleans up their game.

8. Utah Hockey Club (B+): Arizona fans got an extra twist of the knife here, seeing the new Utah Hockey Club finally making moves to get them to competitive status. They had to give up some key assets to land Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay, but he and John Marino from New Jersey instantly made Utah a more difficult team to play against. The first round saw them stay true to their identity of getting tougher and more competitive, with Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin being great selections. Will Skahan and Tomas Lavoie continue GM Bill Armstrong’s desire to get bigger on the back end, while Veeti Vaisanen’s well-rounded game can see him paired with just about anybody. The rest of their picks weren’t particularly fantastic, but fifth-rounder Owen Allard’s skating and compete level could net him a fourth-line spot down the line. Utah is willing to build off the excitement of the team they have, and they got better both next season and long-term in the two days of the draft.

9. New York Islanders (B+): I’ve raised some questions about Lou Lamoriello’s decisions as of late, but it’s hard to criticize what the Islanders did in the draft. Cole Eiserman was a surprise to see slip down to 20, but he’s a perfect fit for the Isles. His defensive game is definitely a work in progress, but a defensive-minded team in desperate need of goal-scoring just got arguably the best shot in the draft. Jesse Pulkkinen and Kamil Bednarik strike me as prospects in the Islanders’ mold: good at just about everything with some traits being better than average. Marcus Gidlof is a towering goalie with good traits to find in the fifth round, while sixth-round defenseman and Harvard commit Xavier Veilleux earned some love in the scouting community throughout the year. For a team that was in desperate need of new blood in the farm system, the Islanders came away with plenty of good prospects worth keeping an eye on.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (B): Even with Don Waddell now in Columbus, Eric Tulsky is keeping the Hurricanes’ drafting tradition of swinging for the fences alive. Dominik Badinka had first-round value on him, so the Hurricanes’ decision to trade down still landed them a quality prospect early in the second. Nikita Artamonov lacks the dynamic ability of some of his countrymen drafted before him, but he played well against grown men in the KHL this past year, and Carolina is arguably the team most undeterred by the Russian factor. Noel Fransen, Oskar Vuollet, Justin Poirier, and Timur Kol all had profiles that screamed Hurricanes prospects, and the team didn’t have to reach for any of them. Waddell has tried to build a sustainable contender throughout his time in Raleigh, and it’s good seeing Tulsky aiming to continue that work now.

11. Seattle Kraken (B): I disagreed a bit with the Kraken’s first pick; don’t get me wrong, Berkly Catton was a good choice at 8, but they had plenty of great defensemen like Dickinson, Parekh, and Buium all still on the board for a system that lacks an elite prospect on the back end. Julius Miettinen and Nathan Villenueve may have been slight reaches, but they play hard enough to comfortably slot in to Seattle’s bottom six in a few years. Alexis Bernier was my favorite pick the Kraken made this draft, due to his size-athleticism package and strong finish to the QMJHL campaign. I could see him landing a spot on Seattle’s third pairing within three years. Ollie Josephson, Clarke Caswell, and Jakub Fibigr were also worthy mid to late-round fliers with some NHL-level tools to their games. The Kraken could have gotten a little better value out of their selections, but it’s hard to knock them too much for sticking with their gameplan.

12. Washington Capitals (B): The Capitals are the classic case of a team where a confusing first day of the draft gave way to a more positive Day Two. 17 was too high for Terik Parascak for me. He was a strong two-way player in the WHL this past season, but his heavy skating and below-average foot speed would get exposed instantly at the NHL level. There’s plenty of hit potential, but there’s just as much of a chance Parascak doesn’t develop further. Cole Hutson was a bit more reasonable as a second-round choice due to his offensive skill level, but he’ll need to earn a coaching staff’s trust defensively if he wants to land a full-time role in the NHL. After that, however, I had no real issues with what Washington did. Leon Muggli held his own against grown men in Switzerland’s top league and could emerge as a solid third-pairing option. Ilya Protas and Eriks Mateiko also have skating issues, but they play the heavy game that Washington typically likes to play on the bottom-six, so the stylistic fit is there. Nicholas Kempf, Petr Sikora, and Miroslav Satan are all long-term projects, but the upside is there for them to get some games. Washington was also active in the trade department, getting the Hutson choice out of Buffalo for Beck Malenstyn and flipping a pair of third-rounders to Vegas for a potential starting goaltender in Logan Thompson. While maybe not to the same degree as Utah, it was good of Washington to not rest on their laurels and continue building for both the present and future.

13. Nashville Predators (B): Barry Trotz has traditionally loved two-way players who can make an impact on both ends of the ice, and his first two selections in Yegor Surin and Teddy Stiga exemplify that. Surin is a nice blend of skill and physicality, and Stiga would have likely been a surefire first-round selection if he was three inches taller. The Predators also added a pair of high-end skill players in the middle rounds with Miguel Marques and Hiroki Gojsic, the latter of whom quickly became a favorite of mine during the process. Jakub Milota will be the next to enter Nashville’s solid goaltending development program, while Erik Pahlsson transitioned nicely to the North American game after coming over from Sweden this past season. This draft class is similar to the Predators as a team: greater than the sum of its parts.

14. New Jersey Devils (B): In hindsight, the decision of the Devils to hang on to their top selection proved fruitful with Anton Silayev falling into their laps at 10. The Devils lacked a true shutdown defenseman to pair with more dynamic option like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, but Silayev is a monstrous presence who should slot in nicely beside either one. The John Marino trade to Utah gave New Jersey a potential goaltender of the future in Mikhail Yegorov. Yegorov’s stats certainly aren’t pretty, but he played on a bad team in the USHL and he earned a lot of starts, so the hope is that he’ll continue to improve and land on his feet at Boston University after next season. After securing their two top needs, the Devils emphasized size with the rest of their selections. Kasper Pikkarainen, Herman Traff, and Matyas Melosky, in particular, have plenty of skills that go beyond their large frames, so bottom six spots could be theirs to earn. The Devils made plenty of interesting moves to suggest that there’s a clear plan going forward, which is admirable. They even got Paul Cotter and a third next year out of Vegas…and overpaid massively for it.

15. New York Rangers (B-): The next two teams on this list didn’t have a lot of picks coming in to the draft, but they still came away with value. Starting with the Rangers, they selected a rearguard in EJ Emery with their first-round selection. Emery won’t light the world on fire offensively, but the Rangers have had success with athletic stay-at-home defenders like K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider before. Emery feels like an ideal fit to keep the Rangers’ defensive identity intact. I also liked their fourth-round pick in Raoul Boilard, who put together a nice campaign in the QMJHL. I have questions on if the offense can translate to the higher levels, but he provides a safe floor as a bottom-six center. Nathan Aspinall’s size should give him a shot, but there will be some aspects to clean up for him to make it further. Emery and possibly Boilard look to have NHL futures, and that’s enough for a team with current Cup aspirations.

16. Vegas Golden Knights (B-): Vegas belongs firmly in the middle of the pack because their draft was arguably the biggest mixed bag of all. Trevor Connelly has all the makings of an excellent middle-six wing for Vegas, but the character issues that have followed him around could threaten to derail his NHL chances. Pavel Moysevich’s KHL contracts runs until 2027, but his continued development could give Vegas a top goalie in a few years. Even seventh-rounder Lucas Van Vliet has potential as a fourth-line center. Where Vegas won was in the trade department. Losing Logan Thompson to Washington stung a little, but swapping Paul Cotter and a third to New Jersey for former top-10 pick Alexander Holtz and 2023 playoff hero Akira Schmid was a massive win for Kelly McCrimmon at first blush. While Vegas hasn’t held on to a lot of young talent, moves like these lead me to believe that there could be a minor shift in that philosophy.

17, St. Louis Blues (B-): The Blues seem on the verge of a defensive turnover, as their top three picks were all defensemen. Adam Jiricek endured a lost draft year due to injury, but he is a prototypical NHL defenseman in terms of physical makeup and playstyle who already has pro experience in the Czech leagues. Colin Ralph is more of a work in progress at this point of his development, but he has the size and physicality necessary to be a shutdown presence in the NHL. Lukas Fischer rounds out the trio, and he combines Jiricek’s well-rounded play with Ralph’s size. All three could very well take spots in St. Louis’s defense in a few years. The rest of their draft was okay; Adam Jecho and Tomas Mrsic are both mid-round swings on tools, and even seventh-round Matvei Korotky had a nice run in the MHL playoffs in Russia. The defenders will be what this class is focused on, but any of the forwards emerging as solid contributors would be a nice bonus.

18. Boston Bruins (C+): The Bruins did relatively well with a limited number of picks, but they get a lower grade than the likes of the Rangers and Golden Knights due to the risk factor of their first rounder. Dean Letourneau offers a rare package of size, skating, and skill, but he also played at a lower level than most of the other early-round prospects. There’s risk that his domination was more a reflection of his competition than his own skillset, but the Bruins could have also landed an excellent middle-six component if all checks out. Elliot Groenewold wasn’t bad in the fourth round, but he lacks a given trait that jumps off the page. I preferred their selection of Jonathan Morello, whose speed and aggression are great traits to build off of. Similar to other contenders, Boston came out of this class with at least one possible contributor, even if it’s no guarantee who it ends up being.

19. Los Angeles Kings (C+): Similar to the Bruins, I have some questions about the Kings’ class. Liam Greentree possesses an intriguing size/skill combination, but there are times where that size could be used better. His skating is also below NHL-level, and he was not at noticeable at the World Junior Championships as some people would have liked him to be. There’s obvious things to like, but the risk potential may be a bit higher than initially expected. Carter George has had great success in the OHL and internationally for Canada, but 6-foot-1 is definitely on the smaller side for a modern NHL goaltender. I am intrigued by Jared Woolley, however, who came up from the lower leagues to join the powerhouse London Knights in the OHL this past season. His development curve is certainly on the ascent right now, and the Kings made a good bet on upside late. Similar to the Bruins, I have questions about the early picks, but a good late-round dart throw could make a difference.

20. Detroit Red Wings (C+): The Red Wings didn’t come out of this draft with a game-changing prospect, but they focused on building the middle and lower parts of their future lineup. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Max Plante, and Ondrej Becher are all players with middle-six potential going forward, with MBN and Becher being my personal favorites out of the group. Their other picks all have some question marks, though. Landon Miller has the size of an NHL goalie, but he was rough at time for the Soo Greyhounds this season. John Whipple and Austin Baker both come from the U.S. NTDP, but I question if both have the skill to make it beyond organizational depth. Even if just the top three picks emerge as NHL contributors, Steve Yzerman would be alright with that.

21. Winnipeg Jets (C+): The Jets spent their first pick on Alfons Freij, who may be the most polarizing prospect in the class. Depending on which scout you ask, they either believe Winnipeg got a good deal on a potential power-play quarterback, or swung too early on a defenseman who struggles in his own zone. Freij’s ceiling would be in a sheltered role until proven otherwise. I did like later selections of Kevin He in the fourth round and Kieron Walton in the sixth. He came alive in the second half of the season, showcasing a wicked shot to go with some great skating. He’s got a chance to emerge as a secondary scorer. Meanwhile, Walton has some great size to go with improved skating and deceptive puck handling ability. A bottom-six fixture in the sixth round would be a good deal. Freij’s variance as a prospect leaves some room for concern, but that can quickly be erased if He and/or Walton continue their trajectories.

22. Ottawa Senators (C+): I was fine with Carter Yakemchuk as a high first-round selection, but at 7? That was a little rich for my blood and, even if they coveted a right-shot defenseman, Parekh would have been my selection there. Their second round choice in Gabriel Eliasson has two outcomes: he either becomes a fan favorite for his all gas, no brakes approach and propensity to deliver bone-crushing hits, or his alarming lack of discipline makes him a constant source of frustration for coaches and fans alike. Lucas Ellinas only popped up on radars recently, but he has good speed and is still early on his development. Javon Moore and Blake Montgomery are also intriguing projects, with both having good size-speed combinations that Ottawa has seemed to covet recently. What worries me about Ottawa’s draft is that the floor is as low as the ceiling; Yakemchuk, Eliasson, and the trio of forwards all have good potential attached to them, but there’s the risk that Yakemchuk is outperformed by the defensemen taken below him and the others don’t take the next step up in their development. The epitome of a “wait-and-see” class.

23. Edmonton Oilers (C): The Oilers finally broke through to the Stanley Cup Final and are officially pushing their chips to the center of the table. They traded to get the final pick of Round 1 and used it on Sam O’Reilly, which might have been a bit of a reach to me. That said, O’Reilly’s a smart two-way forward developing with a top program in the London Knights, so it’s something I would be able to live with. Eemil Vinni was another slight reach, but he’s also one of the best European goalies in the class, and Edmonton was looking at a goalie run going on in the draft. Once again, context makes the pick look a lot better. Their later picks did little to move the needle, but I did like their pick of Dalyn Wakely in the sixth round. While he isn’t the most dynamic player, Wakely has the defensive capabilities and penalty-killing ability that could make him a fourth-line fixture if he makes it to the NHL. Edmonton likely didn’t land a star with their draft class, but two or three solid contributors should help the cause.

24. Colorado Avalanche (C): The Avalanche used their first selection on goaltender Ilya Nabokov, and it’s certainly an intriguing fit. Nabokov’s 6-foot-1 frame and advanced age (21 years old) were slight knocks, but his athleticism makes up for his lack of height. More importantly, he dominated the KHL and the postseason, winning the Gagarin Cup and being named MVP of the playoffs. Should that continue, Colorado may have a long-term option to answer their goaltending woes as early as next season. Will Zellers was arguably the top high school prospect in the class, and it’s not difficult to see why after watching him play. A North Dakota commit, Zellers plays with a good combination of skill, skating, and toughness. A few years in the college ranks will do Zellers good before he aims at a middle-six role. Jake Fisher, Maximilian Curran, and Christian Humphreys are an interesting trio of centers to keep tabs on, Louka Cloutier is an interesting development goalie option at Nebraska-Omaha, and defenseman Tory Pitner has the defensive chops to be a steal. Similar to Edmonton, I’m not one hundred percent sure if Colorado got a superstar, but they likely ended up with some solid contributors (don’t be surprised if Nabokov shoots this class much higher up, though).

25. Pittsburgh Penguins (C): The Penguins didn’t start their draft until the middle of the second round, but their two selections in that round in Harrison Brunicke and Tanner Howe are both at least somewhat interesting. Both prospects are more jack-of-all-trades players with high compete levels, so there’s NHL potential with both. Brunicke could slide into Pittsburgh’s third pairing, while Howe strikes me as a third-line option. Their later picks were a bit more questionable, but the C grade comes from Joona Vaisanen and Mac Swanson. Sixth-round pick Vaisanen was one of the best defenseman at the USHL level last season, while Swanson is a small forward whose skill set is reminiscent of Jonathan Marchessault. If their development continues positively, Pittsburgh may have found two steals late. The Penguins follow the pattern of teams this late in the ranking: not a stellar class, but they still came away with things to like.

26. Florida Panthers (C): The defending Stanley Cup champions didn’t have to light the world on fire during the draft, but they did alright with the limited capital they had. They traded up in the second round to grab Swedish center Linus Eriksson, who performed well in the second-tier Allsvenskan. A modern playmaking center, Eriksson emerged as a leader internationally for Sweden, which can help his chances of carving out a role. A third-line spot is certainly a possibility. Matvei Shuravin lacks a signature skill, but the defenseman also performed well against men this past season. He has prototypical NHL size and does well enough on both ends of the ice to warrant at least some NHL games. I could see him on a third pairing in a few years. Simon Zether is another big center with surprising puck skills, but his below-average skating might have exposed some issues in his game last season. It’s something that will have to improve, but his compete level and ability to get points could net him a bottom-six role if all breaks right. There’s definitely no game-breaking prospect here, but Florida’s barren farm system will gladly accept any NHL potential that it can be given right now.

27. Buffalo Sabres (C-): Similar to some other selections in the early-to-middle part of the first round, Buffalo’s first pick may not have been the best fit. Konsta Helenius is a good choice in a vacuum, but Buffalo’s system is loaded with young, smaller forwards already. Helenius’s defensive chops should ensure he’s fine, however, even if he’s looking at a third-line role. I preferred their next two selections of Adam Kleber in the second round and Brodie Ziemer in the third. Kleber is a huge presence that should bolster Buffalo’s third pairing behind a potentially elite top-four group, while Ziemer is a hard-nosed player whose skillset is tailor-made for an NHL bottom six. I wasn’t crazy about the rest of Buffalo’s draft, but they took some interesting fliers on Michigan State defenseman Patrick Geary and OHL goaltender Ryerson Leenders. At some point, things have to start turning around in Buffalo, but this class might not have anybody who helps push the timeline along.

28. Vancouver Canucks (C-): With a limited number of picks and not selecting until the end of the third round, the Canucks were always going to be up against it to come up with a good class. Their top three picks of Melvin Fernstrom, Riley Patterson, and Anthony Romani are the main choices with NHL potential, and all have roughly the same scouting reports attached to them. All three performed exceptionally this season in showcasing their offensive creativity, but all of them are also questionable skaters, at best. This lack of speed in their games draws some questions about how translatable their success at their current levels will be later on, and that has to be a concern. Odds are at least one of them gets a chance at a few NHL games, but there’s plenty of work to be done before that even becomes a consideration. Consider this the turning point of the classes, where the criticisms become a bit more apparent and the chances of meaningful contributions start to dwindle.

29. Dallas Stars (C-): With an NHL-low three selections, the Stars didn’t have much of a presence in this draft. Continuing with their tradition of Finnish players, the Stars used their first-round pick on Emil Hemming. Granted, that was a good selection for them, as Hemming’s offensive skillset suggests a future middle-six role as a secondary scorer. The only other two picks were nothing to write home about, although fifth-round Niilopekka Muhonen has some nice size and defensive chops that could make him worthwhile. Other than that, Dallas did nothing except hand Chris Tanev’s signing rights off to Toronto for table scraps. All in all, it was an expectedly dull period for Dallas. Speaking of Toronto…

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (D+): The Leafs are in a precarious position right now, and this draft did virtually nothing to quell those fears. Moving back in the first was fine, but Ben Danford may have been a reach at 31. He is a defensively stout player on the back end, though, and his offensive game showed positive development this past season. He should be a third pairing guy at some point. Outside of that, though, there was little from the Leafs class that really stood out. The one pick I did like was fifth-rounder Miroslav Holinka, who played well above his age level in the Czech leagues and has the potential at a bottom-six role. Getting Chris Tanev’s rights was fine, but there’s still a lot left to be answered for Toronto’s offseason; specifically, are they trading Mitch Marner, or do they plan to go the Last Dance route with the Core Four?

31. Philadelphia Flyers (D+): Flyers fans will be forced to question yet another rebuilding effort if they had Zeev Buium in their hands only to let him go elsewhere. Meanwhile, their own first-round pick in Jett Luchanko wasn’t a bad choice due to his rising stock, but the next selection in Konsta Helenius felt like the higher-upside play. Luchanko’s high compete level and playmaking ability should make him a favorite of John Tortorella, but he needs to get on the scoresheet more often to live up to his draft slot. A middle-six role is likely, but I can’t help but feel he’s more likely going to get pushed to the wing. Second-round picks Jack Berglund and Spencer Gill are both big bodies, but neither are great skaters. Berglund stands out as a bottom-six forward, while the defenseman Gill is a bit more confusing due to his wiry 6-foot-4 frame and contributing more offensively than at his own end. Heikki Ruohonen has some nice defensive chops, and Noah Powell looked great at the USHL at points (not to mention he’d be only the second deaf player in league history if he made it), but they both have long odds to reach the NHL level. Between leaving upside on the board and potentially not getting a lot out of their later choices, the Flyers run the risk of not getting much out of a draft class at a pivotal time. At least Matvei Michkov arriving earlier than expected can cushion a possible blow?

32. Tampa Bay Lightning (D): The Lightning didn’t start their draft until the fourth round, so it’s hard to criticize them too much for how things turned out. Still, trading away Sergachev to Utah and Tanner Jeannot to Los Angeles while also likely leading Steven Stamkos to the open market was not a good pretext. Jan Golicic is big, but his size really is the only thing I’ve seen most people point to to justify his selection. The better choice ended up being Hagen Burrows, who has some NHL traits to his game that could be amplified with better skating. After that, I have questions about just about everyone the Lightning drafted. Seventh-round choices in forward Joe Connor and goaltender Harrison Meneghin both enjoyed good seasons, but what are their ceilings exactly? The Lightning seem like a team bound to hit a wall sooner than later, and this class does little to change that opinion. At least they likely got Jake Guentzel?

Nerd Rage: WWE Has Changed the Game with Trio of Debuts

Image Credit: WWE

It’s rare to be surprised by much in the professional wrestling world nowadays. Between journalists and dirt sheet writers providing daily blurbs of information to theories floating around on social media, the unprecedented access of fans to the behind-the-scenes aspects of sports entertainment has been both a blessing and a curse. While it’s always nice to hear of the debut or return of a performer, knowing about it ahead of time runs the risk of creating inauthentic or, worse, deadened reactions at times.

Leave it to the world’s leader in sports entertainment to flip the industry completely on its head.

On all three of WWE’s weekly programs this past week, three game-changing debuts occurred: fans witnessed the jarring debut of the Wyatt Sicks faction on Monday Night Raw, the surprise appearance of TNA star Joe Hendry on NXT, and former Major League Wrestling champion Jacob Fatu adding a new twist to the Bloodline saga on SmackDown.

So what is there to make about all of this? What are the short and long-term ramifications of these moves?

Let’s start with the Wyatt Sicks, whose debut has been about a year in the making. The brainchild of the late, great Windham Rotunda (aka Bray Wyatt), the groundwork for the faction was laid out during his Firefly Funhouse segments and built upon as time went on. Rotunda’s meticulous storytelling highlighted a true love for his craft, making for compelling television whenever he appeared on screen. Unfortunately, health problems would derail the storyline and, tragically, lead to Rotunda’s passing last August due to complications brought on by COVID-19.

However, a good story doesn’t die so soon. Rotunda’s real-life sibling Bo Dallas, making his return to WWE, took the mantle of Uncle Howdy in 2022 and has now been tasked to spearhead the latest act of this story. That act was revealed to be the Wyatt Sicks faction, a group donning real-life depictions of Firefly Funhouse characters. Alongside Dallas as Uncle Howdy, the faction sees the return of Erick Rowan as Ramblin’ Rabbit and the repackages of Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy as Abby the Witch, Mercy the Buzzard, and Huskus the Pig Boy, respectively.

On the June 17 edition of RAW, the group orchestrated arguably the most bone-chilling debut in WWE history, beginning with the lights going out in the arena and showing the Firefly Funhouse door, similar to how Wyatt would come out on stage. This time, however, Nikki Cross in a Kayako from The Grudge-esque portrayal of Abby the Witch crawling towards Wyatt’s signature lantern before standing and pointing backstage. The audience saw the backstage area in disarray, complete with the members of the Wyatt Sicks amidst the carnage, until the sight of a bloodied Chad Gable gave way to the appearance of Uncle Howdy. Howdy would then lead the faction to the entrance ramp before shouting “We’re here!” and blowing out the lantern, also akin to Wyatt’s entrances.

The debut was as emotionally charged for the participants as it was for the audience, as Dallas finally has the opportunity to bring Rotunda’s storyline to reality. He won’t be the only one with personal investment in this endeavor, however; Rowan also possesses a deep connection with Rotunda. Rowan debuted alongside Wyatt in the Wyatt Family in 2012 and has been closely associated with ever since. Another wrestler who debuted alongside the two was Luke Harper, who also went by Mr. Brodie Lee in All Elite Wrestling. Tragically, Harper (real name Jonathan Huber) would pass away in December 2020 due to pulmonary fibrosis. With Rowan being the remaining member of the Wyatt Family, he will certainly have an emotional stake in this story. Cross, Lumis, and Gacy all have experience playing unhinged characters in the past, and there is the possibility that another member could be added as the story progresses. Whatever the case may be, the Wyatt Sicks’ debut has certainly put the RAW brand on notice.

However, the debut was not the most-watched clip on WWE’s social media channels this week. That honor would go to Joe Hendry, whose debut on NXT has hit over six million views and counting on WWE’s YouTube channel. While his appearance was brief, the notable crowd reaction and backstage segment with Shawn Michaels indicated that it will certainly not be the last time Hendry pops up on WWE programming.

To those unaware of Hendry’s work, this clip is the perfect example of what the Scottish star brings to the table. A former musician and fixture of the United Kingdom wrestling circuit, Hendry has seamlessly bridged the gap between music and professional wrestling. His popularity has reached the point where his current theme song, “I Believe In Joe Hendry,” topped the music charts in the United Kingdom. Hendry doesn’t just apply his musical chops to his entrance music, however, as he has also covered popular songs in his promos. He can also perform well in the ring, winning championships in several United Kingdom-based promotions and reaching the top 100 in the 2023 PWI 500, Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s list of the top 500 wrestlers in the world.

Hendry is just the latest TNA star to cross over into WWE programming since the two companies began their working relationship. TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace appeared at the Royal Rumble and challenged NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground, and Frankie Kazarian also appeared in a battle royal alongside Hendry. The early results have likely surpassed even the most optimistic of expectations, and has likely opened the door for an expansion of the partnership between the two companies. Hendry will almost certainly be one of the major players of this crossover, and his already astonishing popularity should only increase from continued exposure on WWE.

The hits would only keep on coming, as SmackDown would see Jacob Fatu emerge as the latest member of the Bloodline. The story of the Bloodline faction has continued to be a focal point of SmackDown after WrestleMania XL, when Roman Reigns’s 1,316 day-long reign as WWE Universal Champion came to an end at the hands of Cody Rhodes. Since then, Reigns has been absent from WWE, while his cousin (and son of WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi) Solo Sikoa has emerged to take control of the faction. Since then, Sikoa has almost entirely rebuilt the Bloodline in his own image, removing Jimmy Uso and adding Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa from New Japan Pro Wrestling to the fold. The addition of Fatu, however, has the ability to provide added legitimacy to the group, especially while Reigns remains off television.

Son of the Tonga Kid and nephew of Umaga and Rikishi, Fatu is most known for his time in Major League Wrestling. In his six-year tenure with the promotion, Fatu held the MLW World Heavyweight Championship for a company-record 819 days. A free agent in February, Fatu was arguably the most coveted name on the market, with every major promotion vying for his signature. His debut on SmackDown put an exclamation point on his decision, and he will likely get to compete against some of WWE’s top stars as part of the Bloodline.

Fatu’s debut also comes with long-term ramifications, especially due to his involvement in a long-existing storyline. Umaga’s son Zilla Fatu sent a message on Instagram saying “See you soon,” indicating that the Bloodline may be gaining another member soon. Eventually, however, things will unravel, especially when Reigns makes his return to television. Both Jimmy and Jey Uso will likely re-enter the storyline at some point, and even The Rock could pop up again at any time. A program between Reigns and the Rock for control of the Bloodline is certainly one that needs no added stakes or hype, and it would be a penciled-in main event for one night of WrestleMania XLI if the stars align.

It’s rare that fans get to witness a debut that changes the complexion of WWE. This past week, the WWE Universe was treated to not just one, but three such occurrences. The Wyatt Sicks adds a new chapter to Bray Wyatt’s legacy and can create plenty of new stars in the process. Joe Hendry has the potential to be the face of the collaboration between WWE and TNA. Jacob Fatu can establish himself as a major player in WWE with his work in the Bloodline, and there is every reason to believe he can be their next Samoan superstar. Where these storylines ultimately end up is still very much a mystery, but this has been the most excited I’ve personally been for WWE’s content in a while. It’s a saying that’s been used frequently in the past few years, but it rings truer now than it has in most cases: it’s a great time to be a professional wrestling fan.

NHL Power Rankings: Scary Edition

Image Credit: NBC Sports

With the first month of the NHL season almost over, we can finally get a fair assessment of how the hockey landscape looks.

During the first few weeks, these rankings have had to be organized and re-organized due to the endless amount of storylines coming early into the season. Some teams have worked to exceed expectations, while others have fallen well short of them. Teams are establishing themselves as Stanley Cup contenders, while others are searching for Connor Bedard highlights already. Whatever the case may be, the shifts we’ve seen already in how strong each team really is are remarkable.

For this week, given it is Halloween, I wanted to have a little fun and figure out what the “scariest” part of each team is. Whether that implies scary good or scary bad is subjective, although these rankings will probably be a fair indication of what to expect. Regardless, every team has some aspect that deserves to be examined closely, as it is something to either build off of or work to fix moving forward.

How scary is each NHL team? Let’s find out.

Disclaimer: these rankings are based on games played and stats recorded from October 30.

1. Boston Bruins (15): The scary part with the Bruins is simple. Their 4.22 goals per game is far and away the best mark in the league, and Brad Marchand just returned to the lineup. Yikes.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (3): The Hurricanes might not even need Max Pacioretty with how scary good the second line has been. Andrei Svechnikov is emerging as a legitimate superstar, Martin Necas is having a breakout year, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been an analytics darling early on.

3. Calgary Flames (7): Despite having the league’s toughest strength of schedule, the Flames have impressed with a 5-2 start. Given that they’ve defeated potential playoff foes like Edmonton, Vegas, and Colorado early, Calgary has some impressive momentum on their side.

4. Vegas Golden Knights (16): Not only does Vegas have the best record in the West, but they’ve done it with dominating defense and goaltending. Logan Thompson and Adin Hill have given the Knights the highest combined save percentage in the league, and they’ve only given up a league-low 1.7 goals per game (for context, the next highest mark is Dallas and Boston at 2.33).

5. Colorado Avalanche (1): While the Avalanche haven’t been as dominant as expected in their Cup defense, they’re also currently missing captain Gabriel Landeskog and leading scorer Valeri Nichushkin. When those two come back, the chance for Colorado to go on a rampage increases dramatically.

6. Florida Panthers (4): Matthew Tkachuk has been as advertised, but the defensive depth has been tested with Aaron Ekblad out with an injury. Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling have a combined 14 points and +10 differential; the rest of the defensive corps has a combined five points and +4 differential (Josh Mahura has +8, for context)

7. Edmonton Oilers (5): The Oilers may have a Jack Campbell problem and a Stuart Skinner solution. While the prized free agent Campbell has struggled so far this season (.888 save percentage and 3.89 GAA), his supposed understudy has provided Edmonton with much-needed stability in net (.955 and 1.59)

8. New York Rangers (9): Stars like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have continued to play well, but the Rangers have inconsistent metrics and some bad losses to the likes of San Jose and Columbus on their ledger. This team may very well be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and that’s an aspect that must change sooner rather than later.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning (2): While the Lightning have started to win some games, the metrics still have them as one of the most inconsistent teams in the league. Which version of the Lightning is real: the one that started 1-3, or the one who has currently won four of its last five?

10. Pittsburgh Penguins (10): Losing to the Alberta teams is one thing, but losing to Seattle and Vancouver? These are teams that the Penguins should be beating, so this current losing streak has to be cause for some alarm.

11. Dallas Stars (17): Will the Stars be willing to say goodbye to a long-time leader this offseason? Between Jamie Benn’s poor production (three assists and -2 differential), Stars owner Tom Gagliardi publicly calling him out this offseason, and his potential replacement in Mason Marchment doing well (four goals and seven points), the captain is looking like a sleeper buyout candidate.

12. Minnesota Wild (8): Just when everyone was starting to write his obituary, Marc-Andre Fleury has risen from the dead. After a rough start, Fleury has come alive in the past week, winning all three of his starts and recording an impressive .927 save percentage and 1.95 GAA.

13. New Jersey Devils (24): Jesper Bratt’s next contract meeting is going to be a scary one for the Devils. Currently at fifth in the league with 15 points (ahead of the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby), Bratt will likely be looking for an extension well above the $5.45 million bridge contract he signed this offseason.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs (6): Auston Matthews has been snakebitten thus far, and the Leafs just got swept on a West Coast road trip. It’s probably a case of defensive injuries and bad puck luck, but have the Leafs and their fans ever been known for patience? Sheldon Keefe and Kyle Dubas are in very real danger.

15. Washington Capitals (13): The Capitals were already missing Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson, and now the injury list includes T.J. Oshie and John Carlson. There seems to always be a team that can’t play up to its potential due to serious injuries; is Washington playing that role this year?

16. Winnipeg Jets (25): The Jets have started to look better, and Connor Hellebuyck may have regained his form. Just this week alone, the Vezina-caliber goaltender recorded a 2-0-1 record with a .949 save percentage and 1.96 GAA.

17. Buffalo Sabres (27): It took four years to get there, but Rasmus Dahlin is finally playing up to his top overall pick status. His five goals and ten points are only second among defensemen to San Jose’s Erik Karlsson (six and eleven), and Dahlin’s +7 differential well surpasses Karlsson’s -2. He’s effectively on Norris Trophy watch.

18. Ottawa Senators (20): While the Senators are starting to find their form, the potentially season-ending injury to Josh Norris makes them worryingly thin at center. Expect them to be in on the likes of Bo Horvat, Jonathan Toews, and any other center that finds themselves on the rumor mill between now and the deadline.

19. St. Louis Blues (11): Similar to Dallas, the Blues may also be willing to part with their captain next summer. With extensions handed out to Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, Ryan O’Reilly may be finding himself as the odd man out; if he can’t shake off a rough October (one point and -10 differential), there’s a real possibility St. Louis lets him walk in free agency.

20. Detroit Red Wings (19): Good news: Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Larkin are both at ten points already, and Ville Husso looks good in net. Bad news: no other Red Wing has more than five points, and defending Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider only has one across eight games.

21. Los Angeles Kings (14): While Gabriel Vilardi’s breakout has been noteworthy, the Kings won’t return to the playoffs if the goaltending doesn’t improve. After finishing with a .901 save percentage last season, Los Angeles currently has a league-worst .868 mark this season.

22. Nashville Predators (12): After defeating the Sharks twice in Prague, the Predators have only won one of their last seven games since returning to North America. The culprit has been easy to spot; their 2.44 goals per game is only better than San Jose and Anaheim.

23. New York Islanders (21): The Islanders are low for now, but they have the potential to make a big leap soon. They’re currently fourth in goals for, sixth in goals against, and they’ve had some nice wins over Colorado, Carolina, and the Rangers lately. Keep an eye on them as a potential sleeper team moving forward.

24. Philadelphia Flyers (31): In terms of scary, Gritty and the fear of John Tortorella chewing someone out in a press conference comes to mind. Good news is that the latter hasn’t had to happen yet, with the likes of Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny, and Carter Hart having bounceback years.

25. Seattle Kraken (26): While I disagree with usage of Shane Wright and don’t think Martin Jones can lead a team to the playoffs anymore, Seattle’s offense has looked much improved this season. After mustering only 2.6 goals per game in their inaugural season, they’ve managed to put up a more respectable 3.3 goals per game this season.

26. Montreal Canadiens (28): Martin St. Louis has had the Canadiens playing at least closer to their potential since getting behind the bench, and nowhere has that impact been more profound than with Cole Caufield. Currently tied for second with seven goals (Connor McDavid has nine), Caufield looks like a Rocket Richard Trophy candidate for now and the future.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (30): The Blackhawks have been extremely inconsistent so far, going from a four-game winning streak to dropping their last three. It feels like only a matter of time until at least one of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews gets traded, and Chicago would firmly put themselves in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes if that’s the case.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (22): So much for the renewed optimism in Columbus. Despite Johnny Gaudreau playing as advertised, the Blue Jackets go into a series against the Avalanche in Finland after getting blown out in their last three games, including giving up six goals to Arizona.

29. Vancouver Canucks (18): After losing their first seven games, the Canucks have scored their first two wins of the season, including a blowout victory over Pittsburgh. That said, the team still misses the likes of Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko’s start (.874 save percentage and 4.05 GAA) leaves a lot to be desired.

30. Anaheim Ducks (23): Anaheim’s defense is starting to approach lost cause territory. John Klingberg has been one of the more disappointing free agents this season, Jamie Drysdale will likely lose a season of development with a shoulder injury, and only Columbus and Arizona have given up more than Anaheim’s 4.22 goals against per game.

31. San Jose Sharks (29): Mike Grier may have avoided trouble by not extending Timo Meier this offseason. After scoring a career-high 35 goals and 76 points last season, Meier has been ice cold to start this campaign, only scoring once in 11 games.

32. Arizona Coyotes (32): It appears the Coyotes’ fate will be left to the polls in November, as their proposed arena project is likely going to a public referendum. If any problems arise between now and then, what happens next?

NFL Power Rankings: Week 1 Edition

Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images

It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything NFL-related on this blog, but why not try it again and see how the dice lands this time around?

Week 1 is always one of the most anticipated weeks for a football fan. Despite all the offseason hype that rolls around, the first game of the regular season is a true litmus test to determine just where your team stands in the NFL hierarchy. Whether it be how impressive the rookie crop has been in training camp or how a specific player earned a roster spot with a strong preseason, Week 1 is where the fans can gain concrete evidence for or against specific narratives.

Granted, Week 1 is also prone to delivering serious overreactions in the aftermath. No, your team isn’t going to the Super Bowl because you dominated your first opponent, nor should you start your rebuilding plan because of a bad opening loss. We won’t truly know where the teams stand until the first month of the season comes to a close, hence the chaotic nature of a ranking this early on.

That said, that’s the fun of doing these rankings. It’s fascinating to look back and seeing where a team started and questioning how you thought so highly or negatively of them in the first place. It happens every year in every sport, so there’s no shame in admitting that you were wrong about a certain team or player. The only question now is juggling this with the NHL when it starts up next month (your problem, future me).

So where does your team stack up?

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: There are noticeable chinks in the defending Super Bowl champion’s armor, such as an inconsistent running game and a lack of quality secondary depth. Until Father Time solves the riddle known as Tom Brady, however, there’s no reason to doubt the Bucs can close out games and be a force throughout the season.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: Make that 11-0 with a 35-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio for Patrick Mahomes in September, and the offensive triumvirate of Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce remains the deadliest in the NFL. The Chiefs might be hoping for repeat performances; the defense has issues that Tyrann Mathieu’s return won’t fix, so expect plenty of firefights all season long.

3. Los Angeles Rams: The Matthew Stafford era in L.A. started with a bang, highlighted by two long touchdown throws that should continue to open things up for Sean McVay’s offense. If one of the running backs can step up in the absence of Cam Akers, a chance for a hometown Super Bowl would increase significantly.

4. Seattle Seahawks: New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron made his mark on the Seahawks early, as Russell Wilson, Chris Carson, Tyler Lockett, and D.K. Metcalf all had big days against a typically-stout Indianapolis defense. However, we’ve seen this movie before; if the Seahawks want to be taken seriously as a contender, they need to continue to produce these efforts with consistency, especially in the playoffs.

5. Cleveland Browns: The Browns came shockingly close to leaving Arrowhead Stadium with their first season-opening win since 2004, but three costly second-half turnovers put a stop to those ambitions. They’re still in the top five because they’ve shown they can be a serious competitor against the top teams; now it’s just a matter of eliminating the mistakes before playoff time.

6. Buffalo Bills: The Super Bowl talk cooled significantly in Buffalo, as they did virtually nothing against the Steelers in one of the more surprising outcomes of the week. It’s far too early to panic, but if Josh Allen continues to look more like the raw prospect of his rookie season than last year’s potential MVP candidate, there could be serious causes for concern.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Who saw that coming? Whether it was Kyler Murray kicking off his MVP campaign with a five-touchdown performance or a surprisingly strong defensive effort headlined by Chandler Jones five-sack afternoon, the Cardinals dominated Tennessee in just about every facet of play. It’s hard to think of a team with a more impressive Week 1 effort…

8. New Orleans Saints: …well, maybe not. Despite having their first home game relocated to Jacksonville due to Hurricane Ida, the Saints looked right at home. Between Jameis Winston’s hyper-efficient stat line and the defense forcing reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers to the bench in the fourth quarter, they showed that they can still be competitive without Drew Brees.

9. San Francisco 49ers: All four NFC West teams being in the top 10 should be an indicator of how difficult this division is going to be. The dominant storyline coming from San Francisco wasn’t the ongoing quarterback battle between Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, but how the defense completely fell apart after the loss of Jason Verrett. They made a key stop outside of the red zone to stave off a Detroit comeback, but that defensive effort won’t cut it in a division loaded with quarterback talent.

10. Los Angeles Chargers: Despite having all the ingredients of a typical Chargers loss, this unit managed to pull out a gutsy road win over Washington. While Justin Herbert will deservedly get the adulation for shaking off two costly turnovers with a game-winning drive and being aggressive on third down to burn the clock away, the new-look offensive line spearheaded by first-round pick Rashawn Slater deserves credit for keeping one of the league’s best pass-rushing units at bay.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rumors of the Steelers’ demise may have been exaggerated, especially after putting together a clinic against a Bills offense that was near-unstoppable last season. Their own offense still has some question marks, but it’ll be a relief to Ben Roethlisberger and crew that their defense will give them a chance to get into a rhythm.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Despite a heartbreaking loss, Cowboys fans are likely rejoicing over Dak Prescott’s return to form. Questions still linger, however, regarding Ezekiel Elliott’s confusingly low usage, how long a young defense will adjust under Dan Quinn, and how this team will respond to Michael Gallup’s injury and La’el Collins’s suspension. The next couple games are going to be crucial.

13. Baltimore Ravens: Maybe all those injuries on offense were more critical than we thought, as exemplified by Lamar Jackson’s enigmatic performance on Monday. Two costly fumbles and having to deal with constant pressure isn’t going to help him develop as a passer, and now they draw the Chiefs on a short week? Yikes.

14. Green Bay Packers: The NFL’s version of The Last Dance started out with a twisted ankle, courtesy of Jameis Winston and the Saints. When Jordan Love looks better than the reigning MVP and Green Bay’s best hope for a Lombardi Trophy, that’s the epitome of a “burn the tape” game. Better days are likely ahead, but if they don’t, could this be a situation that gets toxic?

15. Tennessee Titans: The Cardinals just put on a master class on how to defeat the Titans: stop Derrick Henry consistently, build up a big lead against a shaky defense, and force a passing game not yet in sync to throw their way out of a deficit. Taylor Lewan’s accountability after getting victimized by Chandler Jones warrants respect, but it’s hard to find anyone on this team NOT deserving of blame for…whatever that was.

16. Miami Dolphins: If you were looking for Tua Tagovailoa to finally establish himself as a legitimate NFL franchise quarterback, you came away from this game sorely disappointed. If you were looking for a team playing to its strengths and looking good in key situations, you took away plenty of positives. The whole Xavien Howard drama’s cleared up long-term…right?

17. New England Patriots: The good news for the Patriots is they seemed to make the right decision on Mac Jones, as he actually outperformed Tagovailoa in the first battle of Alabama quarterbacks. The bad news is that Damien Harris went from hero to goat with a fumble that ultimately cost the Pats a winnable game, something Bill Belichick won’t be happy about.

18. Denver Broncos: Minus Jerry Jeudy’s injury, this was exactly the performance Broncos fans wished to see: a capable offense led by Teddy Bridgewater shoring up a strong defensive effort. Von Miller made a case for Comeback Player of the Year with two sacks, and such performances will be necessary if the Broncos want to snatch a spot in the playoffs.

19. Indianapolis Colts: Despite Carson Wentz deserving credit for avoiding the mistakes that plagued his final season in Philadelphia, nothing saved them from being dominated on both sides of the ball by Seattle. Frank Reich and his staff will have to bounce back quickly; even in the weak AFC South, two straight home losses to start the year could be the difference between the postseason and sitting out come January.

20. Washington Football Team: Taylor Heinicke had flashes in both Washington’s playoff game against Tampa Bay and the Chargers on Sunday, but he’ll now be called upon to guide the WFT after Ryan Fitzpatrick was put on IR. If he struggles to push a team loaded with talent over the edge, Cam Newton might want to think about putting Ron Rivera’s number on speed-dial.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: It’s hard to think of a first-year head coach who had a better debut than Nick Sirianni, who oversaw Jalen Hurts dominating an overmatched Falcons defense and a defensive performance that punished Matt Ryan. If they can catch a San Francisco team reeling from a near-loss, the Eagles could convince a lot of people about their legitimacy as a team on the rise.

22. Carolina Panthers: Sam Darnold was successful in his revenge game against the Jets, and having a reliable running back and safety valve in Christian McCaffrey can only help him as he gets acclimated to his new team. If the young defense can prove they’ve taken key steps against tougher competition, Matt Rhule might be on to something here.

23. Cincinnati Bengals: Despite a poor fourth-down decision by Zac Taylor opening the door for the Vikings to take Cincinnati to overtime, the Bengals were able to slam said door into their faces with Taylor redeeming himself on a much more sensible fourth-down call. Joe Burrow looked good coming off of knee surgery, JaMarr Chase erased some doubts towards his ability at the NFL level, and Joe Mixon’s strong game hopefully allows the offense to be more balanced this year.

24. Chicago Bears: It was the right decision to send Andy Dalton in front of the firing squad known as the Rams defense, but is Justin Fields’s inevitable debut (possibly as soon as this Sunday) going to really save this team? The defense hasn’t looked right in the last couple of years, and more ugly performances on that side of the ball could force the highly-touted Fields into an unmanageable situation.

25. Las Vegas Raiders: It took an epic comedy of errors to reach the end, but the Raiders did manage to open Allegiant Stadium to fans with a huge Monday night victory. Clelin Ferrell’s healthy scratch just two years after the Raiders drafted him number 4 overall is a massive knock on the Gruden-Mayock regime’s draft decisions, but Maxx Crosby and Bryan Edwards at least seem like hits.

26. Minnesota Vikings: While Vikings fans might call refball on Dalvin Cook’s costly fumble call, the truth is that Minnesota lost this game on their own. Kirk Cousins still doesn’t scare anybody from stacking the box on Cook, and the offensive line and defense are still serious issues. With a tough slate coming up ahead, could we seriously consider Mike Zimmer as a candidate for a mid-season firing if these struggles continue?

27. New York Giants: In 27 career starts, Daniel Jones now has 30 fumbles and 40 turnovers, including one that iced the game in Denver’s favor. That and several questionable decisions on both sides of the ball isn’t a good look for a team that’s seeing a lot of people requiring good seasons to keep their jobs.

28. Houston Texans: Sometimes, not having the weight of expectation is a good thing. While this victory should be taken with a grain of salt (the Jaguars’ only victory last season came in Week 1), the Texans shook off claims of being the worst team in football with a statement win over, ironically, the Jaguars. Also, if you had a Tyrod Taylor redemption arc on your 2021 NFL bingo cards, good on you.

29. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, I am so sorry. Your overall solid day was marred by how terrible the Jets’ offensive line is, and an injury to stud left tackle Mekhi Becton does not help matters. Whose name do I burn in effigy if Wilson gets Joe Burrowed mid-season?

30. Atlanta Falcons: So much for Arthur Smith and Kyle Pitts bolstering the offense. The defense struggled as expected against Jalen Hurts and crew, but it was clear how much the Falcons missed Julio Jones on offense. Not much good to be said here.

31. Detroit Lions: For as hysterical as Dan Campbell’s press conferences have been, the Lions nearly stealing victory from the jaws of certain defeat shows his team is already responding to their new coach’s energy. And then Jeff Okudah goes down for the season with a torn Achilles. Ladies and gentlemen, the Detroit Lions.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence will likely follow the Peyton Manning route and struggle in his rookie season, but can we talk about Urban Meyer for a second? Multiple reports are circulating about him already losing control of this team, and now being heavily outcoached by David Culley in what was supposed to be a statement win? It may be a Week 1 overreaction, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Meyer hire sets the Jaguars back years.

The Sports Nerd’s 2021 NHL Mock Draft

Credit: University of Michigan

From one draft straight into another…

Just 48 hours after the Expansion Draft is completed (and believe me, I have PLENTY of thoughts about that), the Seattle Kraken will join the 31 other NHL teams and participate in the 2021 Entry Draft. While a lot of the focus may be on how thin the draft class is this year compared to recent history, there can always be gems worth finding.

It’s also fair to note that this year, due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the most difficult to scout players from. The Ontario Hockey League was shut down for the season due to public health orders, resulting in many of the players playing professionally in Europe. The NCAA was forced into a bubble, and several universities were not able to play this season as a result of shutting down sports for the semester. It leads to a strange scouting environment, where talent has to be evaluated largely off of the eye test.

Regardless, the draft will still go as planned, headlined by two Michigan Wolverines: defenseman Owen Power and center Matt Beniers. This is especially relevant after the draft lottery favored the Kraken, as they are positioned to take the prospect Buffalo does not choose at number 1. Either way, they’ll be able to start out their NHL life with a potential franchise talent.

So how will tomorrow’s NHL draft unfold? Let’s give it a go.

1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, Michigan: After months of wondering which prospect would emerge as the top prospect in the class, Power has managed to become a near-unanimous decision. A great combination of size, skill, and hockey IQ, Power has all the makings of a top-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. Even if he does elect to stay at Michigan for another season, Buffalo likely won’t be concerned too much about it; it might be better for him to develop in college instead of sink-or-swim in Buffalo to start his career.

2. Seattle Kraken: Matt Beniers, C, Michigan: With a lack of true center depth from the expansion draft and news of likely top-line center Yanni Gourde needing shoulder surgery, the Kraken can’t miss the chance to take someone who can emerge as a top-line center for the next decade. A point-per-game player at Michigan, Beniers plays a solid two-way game and can play in multiple situations. It also helps he represented the United States at the World Hockey Championships and didn’t look out of place against NHL-level players, so add that as a bonus.

3. Anaheim Ducks: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL): The Ducks finished dead-last in terms of offense again this past season, and that will have to change if the Ducks want to make any noise in the Pacific Division. Luckily for them, they’ll have a chance to take Guenther, an offensive dynamo who tore up the World Junior Championships and the shortened WHL season. A future top line of him, Trevor Zegras, and Maxime Comtois is a frightening thought.

4. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D, U.S. NTDP: The third Hughes brother to enter the NHL, it will likely be too tempting to pass up a brother act of Luke and former first overall pick Jack. Very similar to fellow defenseman Quinn, Luke is largely considered a top prospect due to his strong two-way ability, skating, and hockey IQ. The X-factor regarding Hughes will be his size, as his 6’2″ frame could allow him to be more physical as he fills out and learns how to use his frame to his advantage. Add him to the growing stable of intriguing Devils defensive prospects.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (SHL): Some of the centers remaining on the board could be in play, but I expect the Blue Jackets to land one of the top two defensemen remaining to replace Seth Jones quicker. A strong combination of size and mobility, Edvinsson has serious number 1 defenseman upside. There are a couple of technical issues to work out, but those tend to get exposed when you’re playing against grown men like Edvinsson is in Sweden. Expect further development to help him out before he comes to North America.

6. Detroit Red Wings: William Eklund, LW/C, Djurgardens (SHL): The pick here was once Jesper Wallstedt with a bullet, but a surprise trade for another young netminder in Alex Nedeljkovic has likely altered those plans. The good news is Detroit can stay in Sweden and draft the best player available in Eklund. A playmaker who really found his game this season in the Swedish Hockey League, Eklund’s speed and offensive ability should be perfect for Detroit to build around. He could pair nicely with a natural sniper such as Jakub Vrana or fellow number six overall pick Filip Zadina.

7. San Jose Sharks: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SHL): Wallstedt’s slide only lasts one pick, and it’s to quite possibly the most goaltender-desperate team in the NHL. Despite trading for Adin Hill before Seattle could snatch him up in the Expansion Draft, the Sharks are in desperate need of a legitimate future franchise goaltender. Enter Wallstedt, who put up amazing numbers in the SHL and has been hailed as one of the top goaltender prospects in recent memory. It’s as easy a selection as it gets, at least beyond the first couple of picks.

8. Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL): With the Kings building up a strong group of forward prospects in recent years, the defense should be looked at in terms of adding another top prospect. Being the last of the top defensive prospects available, Clarke should be the choice here. Despite the OHL’s shutdown, Clarke turned some heads by playing professionally in the Czech Republic and putting up some impressive numbers. He’ll learn quite a bit from Drew Doughty before eventually taking his spot as the Kings’ defensive leader.

9. Vancouver Canucks: Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL): Another OHL prospect who impressed while playing in Europe, McTavish put up a near point-per-game pace in Switzerland this season. After another emergence at the World Juniors, a lot of people started to put more stock in McTavish, which would make this a dream selection for Jim Benning and the Canucks. An Elias Pettersson-McTavish-Bo Horvat trio would create an effective three-headed monster at center.

10: Ottawa Senators: Kent Johnson, C, Michigan: Make that three Wolverines in the top 10. The Senators have been using the college ranks to build a nice farm system and, in this mock, Johnson becomes the latest addition to that pipeline. A versatile, offensively-gifted forward, Johnson could become a key piece of Ottawa’s top nine in a year or two’s time.

11. Chicago Blackhawks: Cole Sillinger, C/LW, Sioux City (USHL): A second-generation prospect, Sillinger stands out as the most likely prospect to emerge outside of the top ten as a legitimate star at the NHL level. One of the best combinations of size and skill in the class, Sillinger lit up the USHL with 24 goals in 31 games. Even with Jonathan Toews returning, the Blackhawks should look at improving their center depth in this draft. Whether his NHL future is at center or on the left wing, however, could be of interest to some teams.

12. Calgary Flames: Chaz Lucius, C, U.S. NTDP: A knee injury destroyed Lucius’s chances of breaking into the top 10, but what matters is that he didn’t seem to lose anything as a result. Lucius was still a dominant force offensively, scoring a total of 26 goals and 38 points in a combined 25 games for the U.S. NTDP and the national World Juniors team. With the Flames having precious little elite prospects and Sean Monahan on the trade block if Calgary intends to blow up their core, the decision to add Lucius will bear fruit sooner rather than later.

13. Philadelphia Flyers: Brennan Othmann, LW/RW, Flint (OHL): The Flyers have a decent array of wings to choose from at this spot and, while there is merit to the likes of Fyodor Svechkov and Matthew Coronato here, Othmann is more of a natural fit to Philadelphia’s identity as a team. A hybrid of a sniper and power forward, Othmann is not afraid to throw the body around and be a physical presence in his own end, on top of his finishing ability on offense. He’d be someone to earmark as a future Claude Giroux replacement.

14. Dallas Stars: Matthew Coronato, LW/RW, Chicago (USHL): Similar to the Ducks drafting Guenther, the offensively-challenged Stars would be smart to take a prospect who showed he could score goals in bunches. While it’s unlikely Coronato matches his blistering scoring pace at the NHL level, even finishing with half of his 48 USHL regular season goals would be a great year in the big leagues. His toughness and scoring ability are very similar to Alexander Radulov, who the Stars could be looking to find a successor to in the near future.

15. New York Rangers: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL): With the Rangers loading up on talented wings like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, and Vitali Kravtsov, it’s time for them to start looking into improving their center depth. Svechkov was one of the class’s biggest risers throughout the season, with his value reaching its peak after a 10-point performance at the World Juniors. A largely defensive-minded center with some offensive touch, Svechkov would be a nice complementary piece for the middle six.

16. St. Louis Blues: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL): Don’t be surprised if the Blues go after a wing such as Fabian Lysell or Nikita Chibrikov, especially if news surrounding Vladimir Tarasenko confirms a trade. While Lambos doesn’t have the top-tier upside of the four defensemen taken earlier, he did have an alright stint in Finland while the WHL was delayed, and there doesn’t seem to be many holes in his overall game. We’ll call it a high-floor pick for now.

17. Winnipeg Jets: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL): The Jets have been long-maligned for their weaknesses on defense, especially on the right side after the likes of Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers left. Ceulemans would be a pick designed to be a long-term plan on defense, with his two-way game showing a bright future in the NHL. He could pair nicely with someone such as Logan Stanley or Ville Heinola in the near future, depending on what attribute the Jets covet more.

18. Nashville Predators: Isak Rosen, LW/RW, Leksands (SHL): At this point, we’re starting to reach the prospects where the scouting reports tend to vary a bit more. While the diminutive Rosen struggled in the SHL this season, he flashed his offensive upside at the World Juniors with a goal-per-game pace. With the Predators losing a consistent offensive piece in Calle Jarnkrok to Seattle, Nashville could get his replacement right here and give him a couple seasons of development time.

19. Edmonton Oilers: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL): With Cossa’s selection here, this draft becomes the first since 2012 to have two goaltenders drafted in the first round (Andrei Vasilevskiy and Malcolm Subban). With the Oilers being forced to re-sign Mike Smith and little help coming from the pipeline, they might be willing to trade up if it means drafting their future franchise netminder. Coming off of two straight spectacular seasons in the WHL, Cossa has NHL-caliber size and technical ability. This mock would mean getting at least three games of Cossa vs Wallstedt in the near future, which should excite any hockey fans who value great goaltending.

20. Boston Bruins: Fabian Lysell, LW, Lulea (SHL): With no first round pick last year and a thin farm system, the Bruins would be wise to go best player available here. There are serious questions surrounding Lysell’s game, especially after a rough transition to the SHL, but there’s no denying his speed and explosiveness could translate well at the NHL level. With the talent the Bruins now have in their forward group, they can afford to give Lysell two or three seasons’ worth of development. Medium risk, potentially high reward.

21. Minnesota Wild: Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): The Wild have started their Russian invasion with Kirill Kaprizov, and it could continue with another KHL product in Chibrikov. His size is on the smaller side and there are questions about his play off the puck, but he has shown skill and the ability to produce points. The Wild would certainly be hoping that he can earn some trust in the KHL, a league notorious for limiting the minutes of younger, non-superstar players.

22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington): Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga): With the Red Wings having already made a selection in the first round and needing a center to take Joe Veleno’s spot in their farm system, the Red Wings could decide to take the plunge on Raty. Once seen as a potential number 1 selection, a rough rookie season in Finland’s top league caused his stock to plummet. Scouts already know what his ceiling could be, and Steve Yzerman knows a thing or two about what makes a great center. If Raty can improve his game and emerge into anything at least close to the player he was presume to be at the start of the season, this is a slam dunk selection.

23. Florida Panthers: Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL): The Panthers sure love their two-way centermen; with Aleksander Barkov shedding the underrated label and Anton Lundell a top-six center in the making, Florida would be smart to create a three-headed monster and draft Bourgault. One of the more well-rounded forwards in the class, Bourgault showcased his ability to drive offensive play and the intelligence needed to make plays in all three zones. He’d become an immediate favorite of Joel Quenneville’s when he arrives in Sunrise.

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto): Francesco Pinelli, C, Kitchener (OHL): With the Jackets opting for a defenseman in round one, center has to be the selection here. While Pinelli is more of a jack-of-all-trades type of player, that’s not a bad thing to be at this stage of the draft. A playmaker who put up points in the OHL, professionally in Slovenia, and the World Juniors, Pinelli should develop into a solid middle-six center at the NHL level.

25. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh): Daniil Chayka, D, Guelph (OHL): With Ryan Suter bought out and Carson Soucy now part of the Kraken, the Wild will need to get a few more bodies into their defensive corps. Chayka showed a lot of promise as a two-way defenseman in the OHL, but his time in Russia brought up some questions about his game. If he’s learned from playing against stronger competition and develops consistency, this pick could be one of the best ones in the draft.

26. Carolina Hurricanes: Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL): While the Hurricanes have a strong defense at the NHL level, Jake Bean’s graduation leaves their prospect system without a top defensive option for the future. The reigning Mr. Hockey as the best player in Minnesota’s high school ranks, Peart was able to transition seamlessly from there to the USHL. A St. Cloud State commit, the Hurricanes can monitor Peart’s progress and let him develop his two-way game. A good spot for one of the draft’s top sleepers.

27. Colorado Avalanche: Sasha Pastujov, LW/RW, U.S. NTDP: Regardless of Gabriel Landeskog’s status, the Avalanche’s lack of true impact prospects out on the wing should make that a point of emphasis with this pick. A Notre Dame commit, Pastujov led the U.S. NTDP in scoring with 30 goals and 65 points, showing great offensive skill to pair with his size and hockey IQ. His dynamic offense would give the Avalanche a nice helping of secondary scoring in the future, which could be the key to making good on their Cup window.

28. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders): Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea (SHL): The Devils have high-end talent at virtually every position, but they could use a grinding power forward to help tie it all together. Robertsson has the potential to be that for them, as he’s shown solid forechecking ability and has the size to play the role well. His scoring ability does have to improve against more mature competition, but he could be a fan favorite in New Jersey if he develops properly.

29. Vegas Golden Knights: Logan Stankoven, C/RW, Kamloops (WHL): A team in need of center depth and that can afford to add toughness on top of their skill. Sounds like a perfect fit for Stankoven, a small forward who’s not afraid to combine his speed and skill with physicality and ability to play in the rough areas. He’d be a good replacement for Jonathan Marchessault if he chooses not to re-sign after his contract expires in a couple years, and a good complement if he does.

30. Montreal Canadiens: Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL): With Phillip Danault likely on his way out of Montreal and the Canadiens running surprisingly thin on homegrown talent, they can land some good value with Bolduc. A strong two-way center, Bolduc has based his value on his impressive playmaking ability to go with plus speed and hockey IQ. While the center position is still safe with the emergence of Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, adding Bolduc into the middle six would be helpful.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay): Zach Dean, C, Gatineau (QMJHL): The Blue Jackets elect to double down on centers by selecting Dean for more depth up the middle. Injuries plagued Dean’s draft year, but he’s already gaining a reputation as a pest and consistent net-front presence, both of which Columbus doesn’t really have at the moment. With skill in place, the Blue Jackets would certainly be hoping Dean’s physical style translates to some hard-fought victories.

From the Watchtower: NFL Week 2

As I said last week, Week 1 is usually a time for overstatements and hasty analysis over first impressions. Week 2 is a nice little palate cleanser in that regard, telling fans what might be real and what was just a bunch of hot air.

Opinions over how teams will fare should be mostly flexible until around the first month or so, but it’s still interesting to figure out which teams are looking strong. There are plenty of Super Bowl contenders that can be identified, and at least a few others that are investing in a shiny new tank.

For the interest of time and efficiency, the format of this segment will be changed, at least for this week. Instead of putting in the scores and giving an analysis of each team, I’ll make a list of the 32 teams, put their performance from last week in, and explain what I think about each team.

Let’s have some fun. Unless you’re a Dolphins fan. You deserve better than what you’re getting.

Arizona Cardinals (lost to Baltimore): There were obviously going to be kinks in the Cardinals offense, but their biggest one is alarming. The red zone efficiency for the Cardinals has been terrible, going 2-for-8 in two games. This week’s showing was especially damning, with three red zone drives ending in Zane Gonzalez chip shots. In a six-point game, those missed opportunities are that much harder to take. I think we’re starting to see the big problem with Kliff Kingsbury’s new scheme. Maybe try running the ball from time to time?

Atlanta Falcons (defeated Philadelphia): One word: clutch. That is the only way to describe a gutsy Sunday night performance. Matt Ryan saved an otherwise on-and-off day with a screen pass to Julio Jones that turned a fourth down into a touchdown. Isaiah Oliver stepped up and tackled Zach Ertz to prevent a first down. It was a nice bit of redemption after last week, where the Falcons struggled to get anything going. With the Saints dealing with issues (you already know what,) the Falcons suddenly have a real chance at the division.

Baltimore Ravens (defeated Arizona): It’s Week 2, and Lamar Jackson is still a top-two candidate for MVP. If last week’s game against Miami didn’t signify his improvement as a passed enough, this week showed his prowess as a dual threat. He threw for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also getting 120 yards on 16 carries as a runner. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews picked up right where they left off last week, and both have developed nice connections with Jackson. An offense that needed playmakers seems to be stocked with them now. For those asking about competition, Kansas City is this week. Get excited.

Buffalo Bills (defeated New York Giants): The Bills have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the league so far, dominating their in-state brethren to start. Josh Allen looked better, putting together a consistent game. The running game seems to be fine with Frank Gore and Devin Singletary, even if the carries should tilt more towards the latter. The defense got over an early hiccup to dominate the Giants for most of the game. This feels similar to the Panthers and the Dolphins last year, starting strong but tailing off before too long. At least they can beat up on the Dolphins and Jets like the Patriots?

Carolina Panthers (lost to Tampa Bay): The injury bug looks to have turned Super Cam into Clark Kent. Cam Newton, he of the banged-up throwing shoulder last year, has not looked right in these first two games. He’s in the negative for rushing yards this season, has been held without a touchdown in four straight games, and has dropped his last eight starts. Now with a foot injury from the preseason flaring up again, Newton is not a guarantee to make amends next week. This preseason saw one former number 1 pick retire due to injuries. I can’t help but feel we’re in for another shock sooner or later.

Chicago Bears (defeated Denver): Congratulations, Matt Nagy, you mad genius. You have found your kicker. After one of the more underrated and hilarious storylines of the offseason, it appears that the double-doink is slowly being erased. Eddy Pineiro has stepped in to his new role rather well, and proved it last week with three field goals in three tries. Even more crucial was his final kick, a 53-yard laser that gave the Bears the game. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Bears, as Mitch Trubisky will need more than 120 yards to get the Rex Grossman comparisons out of his ears. As we said with Nagy, get it together, man.

Cincinnati Bengals (lost to San Francisco): This was the team I expected to see in my predictions. The Bengals went from being a surprise to finding themselves back under fire. The culprit was undoubtedly the defense, who could not hold San Francisco on third down and got gashed for 259 yards by a team missing its top two running backs. This team gave Russell Wilson fits, but Jimmy Garoppolo and crew was too much? No matter where the real Bengals fit between these two extremes, the result likely isn’t very good.

Cleveland Browns (defeated New York Jets): Just what the doctor ordered. After last week’s embarrassment against the Titans, beating down a weakened Jets team felt like a stress reliever. While Mayfield didn’t play a perfect game, he showed flashes of last year when he turned a quick route to Odell Beckham Jr. into an 89-yard touchdown. The real number 1 pick that has been playing amazing so far has been Myles Garrett, who notched three sacks and looks to be a dark horse for Defensive Player of the Year. There’s still competition, but the Browns still have a good shot to break their league-leading streak of missing the playoffs.

Dallas Cowboys (defeated Washington): And the price tag just went up a little bit. Dak Prescott put together another strong performance against a divisional rival last week. To be fair, this week was a complete game from the team, with both sides of the ball looking solid. Prescott, however, was under scrutiny for how he would fare in a contract year. Needless to say, he’s been outperforming even the most optimistic of expectations so far. He’ll be licking his chops against Miami this week, which should serve to put at least another million in his pocket, at least. Anyone else want to feel bad for the Dolphins now?

Denver Broncos (lost to Chicago): There are reasons to be concerned in Denver right now. Joe Flacco being up and down as usual. Phillip Lindsay being outperformed by Royce Freeman again. Most shocking, however, has been the defense. Everyone was excited about what Vic Fangio would bring to the table defensively. So far, it has been nothing. Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and the pass rush have come up empty. The No-Fly Zone has come up with zero interceptions. If the Broncos want to make something out of this season, those numbers will have to come up soon.

Detroit Lions (defeated Los Angeles Chargers): Detroit fans had to enjoy being on the other end of the comeback for once. The plan continues to be turning Kenny Golladay into the new Megatron. While there’s no comparison at this point, the young receiver looks to be making good on becoming Matt Stafford’s new playmaking weapon. It wasn’t a perfect game, as the Lions benefited from the Chargers making too many mistakes. Either way, the Lions start out undefeated, so that’s at least something to celebrate.

Green Bay Packers (defeated Minnesota): Once again, Aaron Rodgers no longer will be asked to bail this team out. The defense pulled through, with Kevin King being the hero this time. Aaron Jones proved why he should be the bellcow for the Packers. Matt LaFleur’s offense looked nice to start before sputtering out. Consistency issues aside, the Packers are now gunning for the division. Now if only LaFleur can commit to making Aaron Jones like Derrick Henry. That man can ball.

Houston Texans (defeated Jacksonville): This time, the running game took center stage for the used car salesman. While Deshaun Watson and crew struggled, Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson came through. Hyde went from dead in the water in Kansas City to someone who might be a feature back in Houston, while Johnson continues to prove why he’s as underrated of a player as it gets. Despite J.J. Watt’s absence from the sack total, the Texans still came away with four total. The bad news is they also gave up four sacks, the eighth time they have given up that number or more. Don’t waste the first real franchise quarterback your team has had. Please?

Indianapolis Colts (defeated Tennessee): Another week of the Colts looking better than expected, except they end up with the win this time. Jacoby Brissett threw for three touchdowns, and the defense got 4 sacks against a helpless Marcus Mariota. Other than Derrick Henry, no Titan was able to have a productive day. The focus after the game, however, was on Adam Vinatieri. After missing two extra points this week, his status for the season was unclear. While he’ll play next week, continued struggles may see him follow Andrew Luck into the sunset. We’ll see what happens.

Jacksonville Jaguars (lost to Houston): While the legend of Gardner Minshew and that sweet, sweet mustache grows, the land of Duval received some troubling news. Jalen Ramsey, the star of the Jaguars secondary, has requested a trade. The writing was on the wall after an argument between Ramsey and coach Doug Marrone, but this feels like a move more akin to the NBA. Several teams have been linked to him, such as the Chiefs and Eagles, making it appear that Ramsey is a week-to-week proposition. Thursday could very well be his final game in a Jaguars uniform.

Kansas City Chiefs (defeated Oakland): Patrick Mahomes is already one of the most dominant quarterbacks of his generation, and he just turned 24. Including this game, Mahomes has now played four games where he has thrown for more than 350 yards and four touchdowns. Even more concerning? The Chiefs defense held their own and stopped the Raiders from scoring in the final three quarters. This is the only team that can hold a candle to New England right now.

Los Angeles Chargers (lost to Houston): Ty Long went from hero to zero just like that. After a game where he performed admirably in double duty, he melted down and missed two field goals that would have put the Chargers in the win column. His mistakes weren’t the only ones that hurt the team, but they have to be highlighted. With no word on kicker Michael Badgley’s status, the Chargers may be forced to play more special teams shenanigans again. The Spanos curse is alive and well.

Los Angeles Rams (defeated New Orleans): This wasn’t a true rematch, given the injury to Drew Brees. Still, Rams fans will be more than happy with a convincing performance. The offense showed signs of progress, but they still have yet to really hit their full potential. Meanwhile, Aaron Donald still has yet to produce a sack this year, something that should be expected to change soon. Once everything clicks, the Rams will be right back to the team that went to the Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins (lost to New England): Fitting how history can be made in the league’s 100th season. Let’s put some things in perspective. The 1981 Baltimore Colts hold the record for the most points given up at 533. The 2012 New Orleans Saints gave up the most yards with 7,042. At the current pace, the Dolphins are expected to shatter both. Forget 0-16 being a very real possibility. This may actually be the worst team in NFL history. And again, Dolphins fans deserve much better. If you want to jump on any bandwagon, I understand. P.S.: Want to pull the plug on Devante Parker now?

Minnesota Vikings (lost to Green Bay): Kirk Cousins is on his way to becoming one of the most hated sports figures in Minnesota. A quarterback expected to be the final piece of the puzzle for the Vikings, he failed to reach the playoffs last year and struggled in a key divisional matchup. Three turnovers, including a game-sealing interception, is not a way to endear yourself to a long-suffering fanbase. If the Vikings fail to reach the playoffs once again, expect Rick Spielman to look long and hard for a potential replacement in next year’s draft.

New England Patriots (defeated Miami): No one’s going to say this win meant more than last week, but it goes to show the divisional dominance the Patriots have had throughout this century. The only real storylines here are Antonio Brown and Chase Winovich. Brown’s Patriots debut went as planned, grabbing four receptions for a team-high 56 yards and a touchdown. Preseason star Winovich also had a big day against a ransacked Miami offense, leading the team with 1.5 sacks. There will be comparisons to the almost-undefeated 2007 squad, which are a bit overblown…for now.

New Orleans Saints (lost to Los Angeles Rams): Even in the Big Easy, life comes at you fast. With just one injury, the Saints went from Super Bowl contender to a team in pure survival mode. Drew Brees will be gone for the rest of the first half of the season, so it will be up to Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill to salvage whatever hope there is left. At this point, the season hinges on how well one or both do at keeping the ship afloat. That said, is the Saints’ biggest rival the Rams or the referees? Your call.

New York Giants (lost to Buffalo): Well, Shurmur, you did it. A move that was met with ire from Giants fans last year has suddenly been accepted with a cold reality: Eli Manning was no longer starter material. Some may question the suddenness of the move, but let’s be real. Shurmur has one of the hottest seats in the league right now, and he has to show development at the most important position. Daniel Jones has Shurmur’s coaching life in his hands. The formerly-maligned sixth overall pick suddenly has a chance to make things right. Worked out for a certain Latvian unicorn that got flak from the New York faithful, so why not make it double or nothing?

New York Jets (lost to Cleveland): The Jets are one of the few teams that can safely press the panic button. Sam Darnold is out indefinitely with a case of mononucleosis. Backup Trevor Siemian is now out for the season with a broken leg. Luke Falk was respectable, but is he really a guy who can navigate a team out of trouble? $72 million cornerback Trumaine Johnson has now been benched. Star safety Jamal Adams looks like he wants out. The next games on the schedule are two against the Patriots, the Eagles, and the Cowboys. And the team gave up on third-rounder Jachai Polite before the season even began. This season has already been a butt fumble out of 10.

Oakland Raiders (lost to Kansas City): It was always going to be a tough ask for the Raiders to beat Kansas City. They did get a 10-0 lead before Patrick Mahomes remembered he was last year’s MVP. It hasn’t been a complete mess for the Raiders, which is a nice sign after the drama-filled offseason they had. It won’t be much easier, however. Five of the next six games for the Raiders are on the road, with one game in jolly old London and all five teams being at least .500. This is “the stretch” that determines whether teams are for real or nothing but poseurs. Good luck.

Philadelphia Eagles (lost to Atlanta): Some losses are hard to swallow. After coming back to almost surprise the Falcons, the Eagles just couldn’t come through in the clutch situations. Nelson Agholor dropped a surefire touchdown. Zach Ertz couldn’t get the first down. The team was ravaged with injuries. The good news is that the Eagles possess one of the best depth charts in the league, and Wentz is still the talented quarterback that Philly fans expected. They should still be okay, but this hiccup puts them a bit behind Dallas in the division.

Pittsburgh Steelers (lost to Seattle): The Triple B’s era is truly dead now. After parting ways with Bell and Brown in the offseason, Big Ben became a casualty of this year’s QB injuries. Unfortunately, the elbow injury suffered by Roethlisberger will end his season. With an 0-2 start and relying on Mason Rudolph to save the season, Pittsburgh has reached the nuclear winter. Minkah Fitzpatrick should help, but he can only add so much. A team that had hopes of the playoffs suddenly finds themselves in dire straits.

San Francisco 49ers (defeated Cincinnati): Similar to the Bills, an undefeated start was not something the 49ers were expected to have. Jimmy Garoppolo shook off a tough Week 1 by torching the Bengals defense. Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert made Jerick McKinnon look obsolete. Deebo Samuel may have had his breakout moment. Chances are Dante Pettis will be traded if he remains underused. After a summer of questions, Kyle Shanahan can breathe a bit easier, at least for now. The NFC West looks competitive this year, so there’s no time to rest on his laurels.

Seattle Seahawks (defeated Pittsburgh): Russell Wilson proved why he was worth the extension he was given. 300 yards and three touchdowns on the day is nothing to sneeze at. It helps that Will Dissly popped up with one of his signature games out of nowhere. There are a couple hiccups, such as the two lost fumbles and the four sacks taken. So far, though, the Seahawks look like a team aiming for the playoffs. I get this feeling Pete Carroll is the new Jim Harbaugh, where he makes the team better than it probably is. That’s a scenario for another time, however.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (defeated Carolina): Who would have thought the savior of the Bucs would be Todd Bowles? His defensive work has gone unnoticed, and has taken the spotlight off a below-average tenure as the head coach of the Jets. Shaquil Barrett, in particular, has looked like a star with four sacks in the first two weeks. Bowles’ defense has only let go of one touchdown so far, and absolutely dominated Christian McCaffrey in this primetime game. The offense did at least see the Chris Godwin that was hyped by fantasy gurus alike, so it’s not a total one-sided effort. As long as it produces results, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Tennessee Titans (lost to Indianapolis): Hey, Titans, you do realize the used car salesman role is taken, right? After a dominant performance against the much-hyped Browns, the momentum skidded to a dead stop with the Colts. Derrick Henry was the only offensive player who looked good for Tennessee. Marcus Mariota got nothing going, no receiver topped 40 yards in the game, and Adam Humphries’s face is close to being put on milk cartons on every grocery store in Nashville. Ladies and gentlemen, we may have found our first cut candidate from this free agent class.

Washington Redskins (lost to Dallas): Two straight division losses to start the season. Ouch. The Redskins never got any pressure against Dak Prescott, and the running game was as bad for them as it was good for Big D. Trent Williams is only proving why his value is justified with each wall of defenders Derrius Guice or Adrian Peterson hit. With Jay Gruden’s job on the line, you have to wonder when he pulls the same move as the Giants and gets Dwayne Haskins in the starting lineup. Case Keenum’s been doing just fine, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

May the next week bring kinder fortunes. Good luck.