Seravalli Survey says Toronto Maple Leafs will win NHL's all-Canadian North Division | Canada News Media
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Seravalli Survey says Toronto Maple Leafs will win NHL’s all-Canadian North Division

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Attempting to accurately predict the North Division over the past few weeks was an exercise in mental futility.

Begin to sort through the permutations and possibilities, and it’s easy to make an argument than any one of six teams – outside of Ottawa – could fall anywhere from first to sixth in the all-Canadian club.

So, we decided to leave it to the experts.

We anonymously polled 22 people across all walks of life in the NHL – including TSN analysts, GMs, head coaches, analytics and salary cap managers, and other front office members – to see how they think it will all shake out. None of the respondents had an affiliation with a Canadian team.

There were 10 questions, but their toughest task was deciding the order of finish in the North Division.

Seravalli Survey says …

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: 35 points
2. Montreal Canadiens: 59 points
3. Calgary Flames: 77 points
4. Edmonton Oilers: 79 points
5. Vancouver Canucks: 90 points
6. Winnipeg Jets: 99 points
7. Ottawa Senators: 152 points

Scoop: The ballots were as varied as you might expect. Like golf, lowest score won, with each position in the standings worth one point. Every single Canadian team received at least one vote to finish in sixth place. Five out of the seven teams received a first-place vote. In the end, the Leafs and Habs were clear cut in first and second place, but the Flames/Oilers and Canucks/Jets were closely grouped together.

2. Which Canadian team improved the most?

Montreal Canadiens: 16 votes (73%)
Calgary Flames: 4 votes (18%)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 2 votes (9%)

Scoop: GM Marc Bergevin traded for Josh Anderson and the rights to defenceman Joel Edmundson, then inked free agent Tyler Toffoli to a four-year deal, acquired a capable backup to help better split the workload with Carey Price – all while insulating his still growing group with bargain veterans Corey Perry and Michael Frolik.​

3. Which Canadian team improved the least?

Vancouver Canucks: 13 votes (59%)
Winnipeg Jets: 5 votes (23%)
Edmonton Oilers: 4 votes (18%)

Scoop: For the Canucks, this wasn’t a referendum on the additions of Nate Schmidt or Braden Holtby, but rather the losses of Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, Tyler Toffoli and Josh Leivo – who all ended up on other Canadian clubs.

4. Pick one Tkachuk for the rest of their career.

Matthew Tkachuk: 18 votes (82%)
Brady Tkachuk: 4 votes (18%)

Scoop: This was surprisingly lopsided for Matthew. Yes, he checks every box in today’s NHL as the heartbeat of the Flames – the five-tool hockey player – but is it possible that Brady has more offensive upside? He’s collected 15 per cent more goals than Matthew over their first two NHL seasons and did it while surrounded with a lot less help in Ottawa.

5. Which rookie will have the biggest impact this season?

Tim Stuetzle (Ottawa): 19 votes (86%)
Alexander Romanov (Montreal): 3 votes (14%)

Scoop: It’s been two decades since there was this much excitement about an 18-year-old rookie in Ottawa, back when Jason Spezza broke into the league. Stuetzle was recently named the best forward at the World Junior Championship while carrying an undermanned German roster.

6. Which player is under the most pressure to perform in Canada this season?

Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary): 15 votes (68%)
Patrik Laine (Winnipeg): 4 votes (18%)
Mitch Marner (Toronto): 3 votes (14%)

Scoop: The heat is on in for Gaudreau, who is coming off a season in which his production dropped by 35 per cent and there were cries in Calgary to blow up the Flames’ core in the off-season after a first-round loss to Dallas.

7. Which player will be the best value signing this off-season?

Dominik Kahun (Edmonton, $975,000): 9 votes (41%)
Mikko Lehtonen (Toronto, $925,000): 7 votes (32%)
Corey Perry (Montreal, $750,000): 6 votes (27%)

Scoop: Voters are banking on Kahun’s chemistry with Leon Draisaitl dating back to minor hockey in Germany, which has paid early dividends in training camp with the Oil. Perhaps another addition to the poll might have been Joe Thornton in Toronto at the league minimum $700,000 if he’s going to be productive on the Leafs’ top line.

8. Which player was the best off-season trade acquisition?

Josh Anderson (Montreal, for Max Domi): 12 votes (55%)
Nate Schmidt (Vancouver, for third-round pick): 10 votes (45%)

Scoop: Anderson has already opened eyes in La Belle Province for how well he moves for a big man. He’s added some much needed heft to a team that had a reputation for being muscled around.

9. Which two teams will meet in the Stanley Cup Final?

Colorado vs. Tampa Bay: 9 votes (41%)
St. Louis vs. Tampa Bay: 3 votes (14%)
Montreal vs. Boston: 2 votes (9%)
Philadelphia vs. Colorado: 2 votes (9%)
Pittsburgh vs. Colorado: 2 votes (9%)
Montreal vs. Colorado: 1 vote (4.5%)
Montreal vs. Tampa Bay: 1 vote (4.5%)
Boston vs. Vegas: 1 vote (4.5%)
Washington vs. Vegas: 1 vote (4.5%)

Scoop: No shortage of options here. No surprise that one of the best teams in the NHL in Colorado – which made two key additions in Brandon Saad and Devon Toews in the off-season – was picked to go head-to-head against the defending Cup champion Lightning, which brings back most of the same lineup (minus Nikita Kucherov to start the season). What a delicious matchup that would be.

10. Which team will win the Stanley Cup in 2021?

Colorado Avalanche: 11 votes (50%)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 5 votes (23%)
Boston Bruins: 3 votes (14%)
Philadelphia Flyers: 1 vote (4.5%)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 1 vote (4.5%)
Vegas Golden Knights: 1 vote (4.5%)

Scoop: Giddy up.
Contact Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @frank_seravalli​

Source: – TSN

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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