Atomic

They're terrible?

It's not really that early. The playoff teams are usually about 80-90% settled by then, if you go back and look at the last decade or so. If you're not in by US thanksgiving, it's pretty unlikely you're going to get there.

Apparently Wild was doing push-ups on the sideline yesterday. IIRC he was out with an arm issue so that has to be a good sign.

GNR is notorious for hitting the stage late.

It's true. Most of the guys who have had an impact are 3rd rounders or later. 3rd - Christophe Mulumba, Dondre Wright, Tunde Adeleke 5th - Kwaku Boateng 7th - Jordan Herdman Beyond that, no one from the 2017 draft is really having an impact yet.

That thought crossed my mind as well but I don't think they would do it. He's just too good. It's gotta be Okpalaugo.

Which is great, but we need to start winning now because you can't keep everyone forever. "Draft & develop" starts to lose its appeal when you see former high picks walking out the door. It hasn't happened yet but it is inevitable. At some point you have to say "This is the core" and say you're ready to win. I think we're there now, with the players you mentioned. We've been building for the future, but the future is now, and the window closes quickly.

Beast on special teams. Should be playing at WIL over Knox IMO.

Ratio issues though. With the roster they posted, they have to sit 2 Americans.

I'm not a huge Carmella fan but at this point she is a pretty well-established wrestler so I can't see her riding shotgun with Big Cass as a manager/valet. Kane mask would be funny but they have to have the storyline for that. Put him in a feud with Bray Wyatt when he comes back and have Bray burn down a house that Cass is locked inside. Now that's wrestling!!!

I look at David Backes as a good comparable for Bryan Little. 50-60 point guy, top six forward. Signed for 5 x 6M last offseason at age 32.

He needs confidence more than anything. Being out that long probably won't help. But luckily he is seven feet tall so he'll have lots of chances to get it right.

Hurt!

Interesting depth chart. Fogg and Alexander start in the secondary. Loffler still in the lineup. Jake Thomas listed as a starter at DT. JFG will play. Okpalaugo backs up Jeffcoat at DE.

He was hurt for a bit but has returned to practice. He blocked a punt and recovered the ball in their second pre-season game. He's battling for a spot on the bottom of the roster so special teams plays like that will be key. He's got a shot at making the 53 but is by no means a lock.

Yeah that's true. I believe he will be gone at some point but whether that is this season or if they sign him long-term and then trade him, like Kane... I don't know. We'll see.

Damn, that's rough. It's an interesting time for him to leave, with how he was just starting a heel run.... I'm curious how they handle his eventual return. He could come back as a star babyface but I don't know if that's what they want for him.

Yes. Ideally Roslovic can be the guy. He's not there yet but maybe within the next 2 or 3 years like you say. I think asking Little to take a 2 or 3 year contract is a bit of wishful thinking. He'll be wanting 5 years x 6 million. Not sure we can swing that, though.

ROOOOOOODE!!!

I would keep him around. What happens if Scheifele or Little get injured.... who is our centre in the top six? Copp? Perreault? Lowry? Or could Petan be the best option of all? Let's also not forget that Little is a pending UFA after this season. If he does not re-sign we will need someone to take his place and it would be nice if Petan could prove the doubters wrong and be that guy.

Strictly in terms of in ring action, there were 3 matches on Summerslam better than any match on takeover - both tag title matches and the fatal four way.

Depending on cap space I could see interest from Ottawa, Montreal, or even Hamilton if they can get him on a multi-year deal.

Well I'm not going to sit here and defend Roman Reigns. He is what he is. But NXT is just so unbelievably bland. There is nothing to hook you in. Slap the Summerslam label on NXT takeover and present that to the fans and everyone would be cancelling their network subscription. It's just wrestling for the sake of wrestling. Why should anyone care? That's the big piece that's missing. Take a guy like No Way Jose and bring him up to the main roster and see how long that stupid gimmick will carry him. It's just silly. People like NXT because the wrestlers are fresh. Not because they are any better than the main roster. But because they are new. That's really all there is, and it doesn't do anything for me.

Wait, does Aleister Black even have 3? There's the kick.... the uhh... other kick.... the "sit down in the middle of the ring and look brooding"....