Reconsider?

By: Mike Rifkin

The Winnipeg Jets are one of the more intriguing teams in the NHL this upcoming offseason. Centers Pierre – Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele, Winger Blake Wheeler, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have one year left on their contracts. 

Last week I wrote about how the Jets should approach this offseason (https://thesportsinsanitynetwork.com/2023/06/05/failure-to-launch/), and it all hinges on Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets have said, based on these potential moves, they wouldn’t be going through a rebuild, but is that the right approach? 

According to multiple reports, Hellebuyck is unwilling to sign an extension with the Jets, and Dubois has requested a trade. What they do with Wheeler, Scheifele, and Nino Niederreiter is to be determined, but the Jets must figure out their direction soon. If Hellebuyck is going to be moved, they have to consider the rebuild option.

Now they have pieces there for a new core. Kyle Connor has five 30-plus goal seasons and is under contract through 2026-27 at 7.14 million dollars per season. Josh Morrisey is under contract through 2028-29 at 6.25 million dollars per season. Adam Lowry is under contract through 2026-27 at 3.25 million dollars per season. Cole Perfetti is still on his entry-level contract. 

With all the news surrounding the Jets, they should consider a mini rebuild or retool on the fly. Another reason they should look into this is simple. The Central Division is a nightmare. The Stars just played in the Western Conference Finals and have the bulk of that team returning; the Avalanche won the Cup last year and still possess one of the best rosters in the NHL; the Wild have a solid team. The Blues and Predators are expected to be active during free agency and have draft capital they can use to make moves. The Blackhawks will draft Connor Bedard first overall and have plenty of cap space to use, and the Coyotes have draft capital and could make some fascinating moves. The Jets have been in the middle for years, and that is the worst place to be. If they decide to rebuild, as much as the fans might not like it, at least the team will have some direction. Again this is not a blow to the core situation. It’s just where everything lies in Winnipeg, and they have some decisions to make. 

Locking Up The Core

By: Mike Rifkin

Last season the Baltimore Orioles finished with an 83-79 record and just missed the playoffs. You could see that things were changing in Baltimore as it was their first winning season since 2016. The Orioles are proving last season was not a fluke; they are 41-24 and 5.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East. 

The last time the Orioles had to make a significant financial decision, they signed First baseman Chris Davis to a seven-year 161 million-dollar contract. That contract had a significant impact on the organization. The first being that the team was forced to trade superstar third baseman Manny Machado before he could leave during free agency. It also impacted how the Orioles would go after free agents. Now the Orioles have a young core with Catcher Adley Rutschman, Austin Hayes, Cedric Mullins, Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, etc.… The Orioles are also regarded as having one of the best Farm Systems in all Baseball. 

The Orioles should examine what the Braves have done with their young nucleus of Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, etc.… The Braves have bought out the arbitration years on those contracts and have very talented players on reasonable contracts. It could financially help the Orioles by having these young players under contract at a reasonable price, but also they could pluck from their farm system if they want to be aggressive at the trade deadline. It also shows your fanbase you believe in this group and that they have a reason to come to the ballpark every day. 

The Chris Davis contract hamstrung the Orioles badly, and they’ve had to watch Manny Machado continue his potential Hall Of Fame career in California. They don’t want to witness the same situation with a group that could be on the preface of something big in Baltimore. 

Yeah, Nay or Okay: Money in the Bank Winners

By Allison Weiner

As my 2nd favorite PPV, Money in the Bank approaches, I thought now would be a great time to post my next yeah, nay, or okay blog to celebrate and rate all the previous Mr. and Ms. Money in the Bank holders. Here is the list of all the MITB winners, changes, ratings, and my predictions on who will become the 2023 MITB holders.

  • 2005: Edge- Yeah (As the inaugural MITB holder, he set the bar for what being Mr. Money in the Bank should be. This also help him become a top heel at that time.)
  • 2006: Rob Van Dam- Yeah (For being the 1st person to announce his cash-in at an ECW PPV, he put on an excellent showing when facing John Cena)
  • 2007: Mr. Kennedy- Nay (He never got the push he deserved as Mr. Money in the Bank. He was also the 1st to lose the briefcase in a match.)
  • 2007: Edge-Okay (As the first 2x MITB holder, this wasn’t his best time holding it. The only positive is that he landed an excellent feud with the Undertaker going into the summer of 2008.)
  • 2008 and 2009: CM Punk-Okay (Minus the current controversy, these back-to-back occasions helped CM Punk become the top star he is today coming out of ECW.)
  • 2010: Jack Swagger-Okay (Although he held it for the Smackdown after Wrestlemania, this was his peak as a WWE superstar. It didn’t help him later on in WWE.)
  • 2010: Kane-Okay (The 1st to cash in on the night of Money in the Bank, It was an interesting choice to go straight for Rey Mysterio who was the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, but he was able to hold it until the fall of 2010.)
  • 2010: Miz-Yeah (This opportunity Miz had as Mr. MITB while being the United States Champion elevated him as the ultimate heel for the next decade. He even gave us a fan meme after he cashed in and won the WWE title off of Randy Orton.)
  • 2011: Alberto Del Rio- Yeah (Minus his controversy, 2011 was the year of Del Rio. After losing his Wrestlemania match he deserved after winning the Royal Rumble, it was no doubt he would win this and cash in right after Cena vs Punk 2 at Summerslam.)
  • 2011: Daniel Bryan-Yeah (Was his underrated time as a main title holder, Daniel Bryan’s character improved with this briefcase.)
  • 2012: John Cena- Nay (First off, he didn’t need the briefcase at all, because he was already a top superstar. Second, he was the first to no successfully win the title from a cash-in that he announced for Raw 1000.)
  • 2012: Dolph Ziggler- Yeah (Dolph gave us an excellent run as Mr. MITB and had one of the biggest pops the Raw after Wrestlemania 29 when he cashed in on Del Rio to win the World Heavyweight title. Unfortunately, this was also his peak as a WWE superstar.)
  • 2013: Damian Sandow- Nay (He was one of the last people I wanted to win MITB, and he deserved to lose the cash-in via pinfall.) 
  • 2013: Randy Orton- Yeah
  • 2014: Seth Rollins- Yeah (Gave us one heck of a heel of WWE and topped it off with the “heist of the century”. He became the only WWE superstar to cash in during the main event of Wrestlemania.) 
  • 2015: Sheamus-Okay (I guess you can say in 2015, anyone but Roman to have the WWE title, especially after Sheamus cashed it in when Roman finally reached the top in Survivor Series 2015.)
  • 2016: Dean Ambrose-Yeah (Although he cashed in immediately after winning it, he helped make history as all three members of the SHIELD have held the WWE title simultaneously.)
  • 2017: Baron Corbin-Nay (This was supposed to be the push Corbin needed to be a top heel on Smackdown. Unfortunately, he shouldn’t have cashed in too soon. I thought he should have waited until after Summerslam to cash in.)
  • 2017: Carmella- Yeah (Although technically James Ellsworth was the 1st Ms. Money in the Bank, Carmella set the bar and unfortunately is currently the only Ms. Money in the Bank to not cash in on the same night as winning it.)
  • 2018: Braun Strowman-Nay (He a fair run with the briefcase, but he didn’t get the job done. He pulled a Cena announcing his cash-in and failed like Cena to win the Universal Title) 
  • 2018: Alexa Bliss-Okay (Bliss didn’t need the briefcase, but used it to attack both opponents to cash in on the same night to win back the Raw Women’s Title she lost at Wrestlemania 34.)
  • 2019: Brock Lesnar- Okay (First off, he shouldn’t have been in the match. He doesn’t need a briefcase that he turned into a boombox. However, he made it enjoyable, keeping us on our toes with his cash-in.)
  • 2019: Bayley- Yeah (This not only made Bayley the 1st Women’s Grand Slam, but this pushed Bayley, even after changing her character and looking to become the ultimate heel in the women’s division.)
  • 2020: Otis- Covid-Nay (I don’t know how he won it, but he did nothing with it and lost the briefcase in a match at Hell in a Cell 2020.)
  • 2020: Miz-Covid-Nay (Although he pulled an Edge, he didn’t need it. The only positive was that he became the 1st double grand slam in WWE.)
  • 2020: Asuka-Covid-Nay (Only because she never won the briefcase, but instead was handed the Raw Women’s Title because Becky was about to go on maternity leave)
  • 2021: Big E-Yeah (This gave him an ultimate push as a babyface and had probably one of the best cash-ins on Monday Night Raw. Sadly, after losing the title, he got injured. I hope to see him get the briefcase again and win the title he never got a rematch for.)
  • 2021: Nikki Cross/A.S.H.-Okay (This was the push she needed to be a top star in the women’s division and to main event a memorable Wrestlemania)
  • 2022: Austin Theory-Nay (Not only he shouldn’t have been in that match, but he cashes in on the United States Title and loses it.)
  • 2022: Liv Morgan-Yeah (The cash-in on Ronda gave her the ultimate push she deserved and made her worthy of holding a Women’s Title)
  • Predicted 2023 MITB Winners: Mens: Cody Rhodes (To finally finish the story he was writing since the Royal Rumble) or Finn Balor (To elevate Judgment Day and see him lurking on both brands with the briefcase until cashing in on Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title) and Womens: Iyo Sky (Just to a feud between her and Asuka and to have her break away from Bayley) or Bayley (Having the briefcase made her win the 1st time. If she wins again, I think she will be holding for a long time and will cash in on the Smackdown Women’s Title and bring it back to where it belongs.)

PGA and LIV: Together at Last

By : Ross Mazin

 Earlier this week, LIV and the PGA Tour decided to merge along with the DP tour. I don’t think anyone saw this coming. LIV is the Saudi-backed golf league and has frequently been accused of sports whitewashing. The pact is complicated and incomplete, and numerous golfers hate it. They are directing their wrath at the architects of the deal. The proposed merger between the PGA Tour and its Saudi-funded rival LIV Golf stunned everyone from golfers to Wall Street bankers this week – leaving many with questions about what the merger could mean. The deal was announced following months of feuding and antitrust lawsuits between the two leagues. The agreement would end all pending litigation.

For months, Rory McIlroy walked the ramparts of the PGA Tour fortress, besieged by the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. He and other holdouts spoke about staying true to the PGA’s traditions, even as their peers accepted millions and millions of dollars in incentive money and guaranteed payouts to join its rival. McIlroy says he feels like “a sacrificial lamb” after the PGA Tour made a deal to merge with LIV Golf’s backers, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. That’s not all he’s feeling: McIlroy ranked the world’s No. 3, still sees LIV Golf as the enemy. “I still hate LIV. Like, I hate it. I hope it goes away, and I will fully expect that it. McIlroy acknowledged that if he sets his personal feelings aside, the deal might prove to be a good thing for pro golf. But he also said many details still need to be worked out — from how to compensate golfers who stuck with the PGA to how to handle pros who want to return from LIV. Observers say it’s the Saudis’ latest attempt to flex their influence across a breadth of American institutions, from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, and mine economic opportunities despite tense relations with the West in recent years brought on by accusations of human rights abuses and the 2018 killing of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi. “This is a huge feather in the cap of the Saudis, and it’s a huge victory for them on a number of levels,” said Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University who has written about political and social changes in the count

What A Mess

By: Mike Rifkin

For the third consecutive night, the New York Mets couldn’t hold a multi-run lead in a loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves. It’s their sixth consecutive loss for the Mets, and they are 3-7 in their last ten games. 

On Wednesday night Max Scherzer couldn’t hold a 4-1 lead, and Adam Ottavino gave up a home run to Michael Harris in the bottom of the eighth inning. On Tuesday, the Braves scored four runs against Carlos Carrasco and Drew Smith in the sixth inning on their way to a win. Carrasco and Smith could not hold a 4-1 lead as well. On Thursday, the Mets bullpen couldn’t hold a 10-6 lead. Now the other issue was Justin Verlander gave the Mets just three innings in a game the team needed. For the first time in franchise history, the Mets have lost three consecutive games where they have had three-run leads.

The Mets are three games under .500 and are 8.5 games back of the Braves. If you think back to September when the Braves swept the Mets to overtake them for the NL East title, they have not recovered from that series. Yes, it is a new season, but mentally, this team has never recovered; they have massive flaws which go back to the winter. The first two-plus months have been a massive failure for the team with the biggest payroll in baseball. Now, what to come next depends on what happens to Pete Alonso, who was sent to New York to get a CT Scan and additional tests on his wrist a day after getting hit by a pitch on his wrist. If Alonso, who leads baseball in home runs, needs an IL stint, that will be a massive blow to a lineup that needs his production. 

Now I am not saying firing everyone, and that’s the solution to the problem. But the Mets need to figure this out sooner than later. But there is a positive, and that is all you have to do is make the playoffs and look at what the division rival Phillies did last year. But for now, meet the mess; step right up and meet the mess. 

Failure To Launch

By: Mike Rifkin

In 2018 the Winnipeg Jets lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Finals. This year, the Jets again lost in the first round of the playoffs when the Golden Knights dispatched them in five games. Since their appearance in the Western Conference Finals, the Jets have won one playoff series, and that was in the 2020-21 season, where they played in the all-Canada division. 

Head Coach Rick Bowness was asked about his overall thoughts on the series and said, “I’m so disappointed and disgusted right now. There was no pushback. It’s the same crap we saw in February.” Bowness then went after his top players, saying, “We’ve got to push back. There’s got to be a pushback. There has to be pride. You’ve got to push back when things aren’t going your way. Their best players were better in the regular season, and they were better in the series.” The Jet’s best player all year was goalie Connor Hellebuyck, nominated for the Vezina Trophy. In the series against Vegas, Hellebuyck had a 3.44 Goals Against Average and a .886 save percentage. Hellebuyck had a 2.49 GAA and a .920 save percentage in the regular season. 

According to multiple reports, the Jets are willing to listen to trade offers on Hellebuyck and Centers Pierre – Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele, all entering the final year of their respective contracts. According to the same reports, the Jets don’t intend to have a full-scale rebuild. Now as someone who genuinely likes the nucleus of this team, I understand that there has to be some form of change because it can’t always be the coach. That being said, if I was in Kevin Cheveldayoff’s shoes, there’s one of the three that I wouldn’t move unless I had to. I would keep Hellebuyck. I know he had a bad series against Vegas, but the Jets only had a successful season because of how good he was. Hellebuyck is in the upper echelon of goalies in the NHL. While the return would be substantial, I am still determining how you can give up the most important player on the team and claim that this is not a rebuild. If you want to give up Scheifele or Dubois, that’s fine. A Center will also get you an excellent return, especially if they sign a deal with the team acquiring them and can be replaced. I don’t know how you replace one of the best goalies in the league when the solution is not out there. Then there’s another factor here; the Jets could consider this a rebuild and blow this core up. They could consider a rebuild because of how tough the Central Division is and will be. The Stars, Avalanche, and Wild are all great teams. The Blues and Predators should be improved with busy off-seasons. The Blackhawks won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, and the Coyotes have some talent. 

The Jets might be the most compelling team to watch this summer. Connor Hellebuyck is the key to the Jets’ offseason, and whatever they do with him is the direction the team will go in. But if it were me, I’d be holding the star goalie. 

Golden Knights 

By: Mike Rifkin

The Vegas Golden Knights have had a rich history since their inception in 2017. Now they will be making their second appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith have become cogs in the lineup for Vegas since the expansion draft; both players were acquired from the Florida Panthers, who Vegas will play in the Stanley Cup Final. 

Marchessault scored 30 goals for the Panthers in 2016-17. The Panthers left Marchessault unprotected in the expansion draft, and Vegas took advantage of the situation. Since becoming a member of the Golden Knights, Marchessault has 348 points in 432 games. Marchessault also has 30 goals and 63 points in 83 games in the playoffs as a member of the Golden Knights. 

The Knights also traded for Reilly Smith for a 2018 fourth-round pick. Since joining the Golden Knights, Smith has 286 points in 399 games played. Smith also has 16 goals and 62 points in 83 career playoff games for Vegas. Marchessault and Smith are a combined +53 in the playoffs for Vegas. 

Marchessault and Smith are in the top five for the Golden Knights in games played, goals, points, Plus Minus, Power Play Goals, and game-winning goals. Yes, it’s a short history for the Vegas Golden Knights, but Marchessault and Smith have been important players for the franchise as it looks to win its first Stanley Cup against the team that let both players go. 

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP

By Ross Mazin

Brooks Koepka is you’re 2023 PGA Championship winner. This is his fifth major win. He has become one of the more polarizing players on the tour this year due to his involvement in LIV golf. He is one of the more outspoken players on the tour this year. He was leading into last Saturday’s round. He used the course to his advantage. Oak Hill is one of the more challenging courses on this year’s tour. He played some of his best golf this year.

Leafs Of Change

By Mike Rifkin

On Friday, Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shannahan announced the team would not renew the contract of General Manager Kyle Dubas after five seasons as the team’s General Manager and nine years with the organization. In the regular season, the Leafs had a record of 221-109-42. This year the Leafs won their first playoff series since 2004. In my opinion, the Dubas firing is only the start of what should be an enticing and exciting offseason in Toronto. Before I dive into what I think the Leafs should do or at least consider doing, I have one burning question. Why does Brendan Shannahan get to make another decision? Shannahan has been in charge of the Leafs for nine years and, like Dubas, has one playoff series win. Now I don’t care about semantics and whether this came down to money or what Dubas said at his season-ending press conference where he wanted to discuss this with his family. All I know is one guy is gone, and the other guy is still around. So what happens if the Leafs fail again? Will that smell like the end of Brendan Shannahan?

Like I said before, if I were in charge of the Leafs, the Dubas firing would be the start of some off-season changes in Toronto. If a new General Manager is coming in, they should get to pick the coach, so the first thing the new gm should do is fire Sheldon Keefe. Keefe has a record of 166-71-30 in the regular season and a 13-17 playoff record. Do they bring in a first-time coach or someone with experience, and what kind of coach is the new GM looking for?

Then there’s the “core four” of Auston Matthews, John Taveras, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. Matthews and Nylander can sign long-term contract extensions starting July 1st, Mitch Marner’s no-trade clause kicks in July 1st, and John Taveras has a no-trade clause with two years left on his deal. Now if you listen to the Breakaway Bandits podcast (cheap plug), I’ve said for a couple of years that I would move Nylander if I’m moving someone off the core four. That has now been changed, Nylander has been very consistent the past couple of seasons, and he has been outstanding in the playoffs. I don’t think Taveras will garner that much in a trade unless it’s a cap hit for a cap hit so that leaves Marner or Matthews. Whoever gets moved, the new gm would have to get a significant haul back, and history would suggest that a Center should get you more than a winger. If Matthews doesn’t sign his extension on July 1st, I think he’s the guy who has to be moved. I know Matthews is a cornerstone player who has already won a Hart trophy and scored 60 goals in a season, but this team cannot run it back with the same group. Now if Matthews is the guy that the new GM would move, there is one spot for him to go to. Sending Matthews to the Los Angeles Kings for a haul that would include former second-overall pick Quinton Byfield makes a ton of sense. Moving Matthews could also allow the Leafs to bring back Ryan O’Reilly, who they acquired at the trade deadline and played pretty well for the Leafs. 

I’m not sure what the Leafs will do this summer, but one thing is for sure it will be a fascinating offseason in Toronto. 

WHAT A SCHEDULE

By Mark Halpern

    The NFL season schedules were released this past Thursday, and the Cowboys have a long and fun season ahead. The Cowboys will play the usual division rivals at home and away (Giants, Eagles, and Commanders), but only 6/17 games they will play. Of the non-divisional games, games I am most excited for.

WEEK 2 vs. New York Jets. This is not surprising, especially with the signing of Aaron Rodgers. The Cowboys will face a solid NYJ defense that did well stopping the run and limited on the pass. However, the offense is now operated by Rodgers (who has the Cowboys’ number), and a young and hungry offense will put the Dallas D to the test. However, the Cowboys know Rodgers and how he plays. The Jets offensive line must stop a brand-new D-line and blitzing linebackers all day. This game will be decided by whose defense shows up to play.

Week 5 vs. 49ers. The Cowboys’ rivalry with the 49ers is one of the most legendary. They have met nine times in the playoffs, six NFC Championship matchups. From the Clark catch in 1982 to Aikman to Harper in the 92-93, these teams always bring their best even if they are at their worst. They’ve played in the playoffs the last two years, both of which saw the Niners victorious. The last matchup came in the NFC Divisional game this past year, in which the Cowboys lost (if Prescott would have saw Hilton), and they will be looking for complete redemption on a big Sunday night matchup.

Week 16 vs Dolphins. I know, I know, Leon Lett. Can we please get off of that for now? The Dolphins are no joke as they have one of the best WR cores in Hilton and Waddle (rookie card shout out to Papa Rifkin), who have made Tua a star but not the other way around. This will be one of the more challenging games this season. I am not saying this will be a trap game, but it will test Gilmore and Diggs more than any other team this year. Miami has the offense. Its defense is where problems lie, and if Dallas can’t capitalize early, it will be a very long Defensive game that might be decided by three or fewer points and on Xmas Eve too.

Week 15 Buffalo. Just like I am asking to give up on Lett, I won’t go easy on the team that we beat not once but twice in the Super Bowl (92/93 & 93/94.) However, this doesn’t mean this game will be a cakewalk. We are going to see the matchup everyone has been waiting for, and that is Diggs Vs. Diggs (Stefon Buf and Treyvon Dal.) This will be a fun battle, and we may see some pushing and shoving, but if Mama is in the stands, something tells me it will be fine. This Buffalo team is nothing like the 90s version, but it just means Dallas needs to be healthy and ready.

Week 4 vs New England. This year is the year the AFC EAST to face off against Dallas in a long time, and I am excited because Dallas doesn’t have a walkover schedule, and they will be tested—the greatest coach who runs NE to step on a football field Bill Belichick. New England brings a reworked offense and defense to Dallas in week 4. I wouldn’t take this game lightly cause New England will be prepared. It will depend on the offensive game from the Cowboys to win this one, as their defense should be up for the challenge. I want to see Bellicheck lose but lose to DAK. He has been very critical of him over the years, and it would be fitting for DAK to get this win and put a notch on his belt.

This season will be exciting for Dallas, and their only competition will be from the Eagles. I think that Daniel Jones will be the Giants’ downfall, and the Commanders are finding out their identity once again with the sale of the franchise (Thank God), and that’s how the old man sees it.