*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.
*******
Some news and notes for a hot Sunday in late July…..
With the Olympics in full swing in Paris, one has to look past the league-created and flawed Four Nation Face-Off next February to 2026 and the Winter Olympics in Milano/Cortina and who from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As of right now, a 35-year-old John Tavares would be on the fringes and Morgan Rielly might be in the mix, but the near lock for Team Canada is Mitch Marner as a top-six winger.
Auston Matthews will either be Team USA’s top-line or second-line center, but if he has a big second season, do not be surprised if Matthew Knies (with his international experience at the WJC and Olympics) gets consideration.
William Nylander will be a top-liner for Sweden, but Oliver Ekman-Larsson could be a consideration as a bottom-pairing defender depending on how he plays for Toronto this season.
**
Delving into the world of baseball, the Blue Jays have moved out the likes of Yimi Garcia, Nate Pearson, and Danny Jansen, but it does not appear that a big move of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette will happen before July 31, in spite of Toronto being well out of the AL wildcard race.
The Jays are facing a similar dilemma to the Leafs in that their big bats are coming up for new deals at the end of 2025, and management has to decide if they want to spend big money to keep them or move them at the Winter Meetings or next July. Bichette’s bad 2024 season could make a choice on him easier, but Guerrero will draw a ton of interest from teams looking for a slugger and he could end up the highest paid first baseman in baseball if he hits free agency.
**
Interesting note on the recent Flyers signing of Travis Konecny. The 27-year-old was selected with a first-round pick (24th overall) obtained by the Leafs from Nashville in the Cody Franson/Mike Santorelli deal, but was swapped to Philadelphia for a late first (29th overall) and the last pick in the second-round. Toronto then traded down from 29 to 34 with Columbus and got an extra third-round pick.
In all the maneuvering, the Leafs ended up with Travis Dermott in the second, Jeremy Bracco in the late second, and Martin Dzierkals in the third. Dermott played 50 games for Arizona last season and is a free agent, Bracco never played in the NHL and is currently in the KHL and Dzierkals played last year in Sweden, while Konecny scored over 30 goals for the second straight year last season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»