It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..
First headline…Canadiens unicorn Hutson should be lock for Calder, The numbers say plenty about why young blueliner is the N-H-L’s top rookie this season. My reaction…Check out who the writer of the opinion piece is – Jack Todd from, wait for it, Montreal!! At this time of year, there’s all kinds of people in the different N-H-L cities who think a player – or coach or G-M – from the team they follow and see the most of, should win a regular season-ending award! In Edmonton, the media hounds there believe Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl should be the M-V-P. There’ll be lots of arguments from Colorado for Nathan MacKinnon and from Tampa Bay for Nikita Kucherov. As for rookie, there’s lots of braying from Calgary about freshman goaltender Dustin Wolf and from San Diego for first overall pick and rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini! I’ll pay attention when a T-S-N or Sportsnet panel comes up with a concensus pick for all of the awards, thank you!!
Second headline…Titans debating options at Number 1. Reaction…this is for Darren Dupont, the only Tennessee Titans fan I know of. With their record for making questionable selections on draft day, the best options for Tennessee with the first overall pick on April 24th – is to drop back 15 yards and punt!!
Next headline…Q-B Alexander to enter training camp as the Als’ undisputed leader. Reaction…gee, you think?! Yes, that’s dripping with sarcasm because everyone knew that would be the case when Montreal dealt “Corn Dog” Cody Fajardo to Edmonton, leaving Davis Alexander as the de facto starter under centre. Seriously, I know the Alouettes got an aging McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the Fajardo trade as back-up insurance. But, I did say aging when describing M-B-T, hence it’s boom or bust for the Als with Davis Alexander!!
Last headline…Flagg, Broome, Clayton are among the players to watch this weekend, Cinderella didn’t make the ball in 2025, with the nation’s best teams dominating. My reaction…and, yet, there were still enough upsets that having all the regional top seeds make the Final Four meant nobody will get to claim Warren Buffett’s billion dollars for having a perfect N-C-Double-A tournament bracket!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
