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👋 GOOD MORNING
Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start! It’s never too early to start thinking about the return of football, and make sure you continue to check back for everything related to the NFL Draft in April. I’m sure I’ll go through many mock drafts in this newsletter as the big day nears, and Johnny, Bo and Damon have you covered when it comes to what to watch for at the upcoming NFL combine, which kicks off on Thursday.
Don’t forget to check out ALLCITY draft expert Fran Duffy’s Diehard Draft Guide, which is honestly one of the most comprehensive guides I have ever seen. And yes, there will be much more to come in the newsletter once the combine wraps, as well.
On to the show!
Roadrunners Climbing Standings in the Nick of Time
The Roadrunners’ recent slide seems to be in the rearview mirror, and that couldn’t have come at a better time.
Tucson entered February on a six-game losing streak, and it took a few games to settle in, but all of that (thankfully) feels like a distant memory. The team has now won three of its last four, and is 5-3-0-2 over its last 10 games. It was able to survive a road trip that lasted almost the entire month of February — from Feb. 7 through Feb. 19, and has since won its first two games back home after sweeping this past weekend’s series against the Abbotsford Canucks.
AHL Playoff Race Heating UP
It’s important to remember that seven of the 10 teams in the Pacific Division qualify for the postseason, and there are no guarantees even once you’re in. The Roadrunners witnessed that first-hand last season after getting bounced in the First Round despite entering as the division’s second overall seed; The Calgary Wranglers won both games in the best-of-three series, forcing a once-promising season to come to a screeching halt.
So, can Tucson keep pace and make a run to reach the playoffs yet again?
- The Roadrunners currently occupy the last playoff spot in the Pacific, but Bakersfield trails by just three points with two games in hand.
- Five points separate Tucson from San Jose and Abbotsford, who occupy the sixth and fifth place positions, respectively.
- The Roadrunners picked up ground by sweeping the Canucks last weekend.
- Nearly all of March features games against division opponents, offering a critical opportunity for a strong stretch run.
My Take: It is tough to get a read on this team, which is well-coached by Steve Potvin and his staff. We have witnessed the benefits of that coaching firsthand through the development of players like Dylan Guenther and Josh Doan, and the roster is still loaded with talent from NHL drafts of years past. Prospects like Maveric Lamoureux, Aku Räty, Julian Lutz, Sam Lipkin, Max Szuber and Artem Duda are just some of those names, and if the team can pick up some steam down the stretch, you never know what can happen once you’re in the postseason.
Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley
That’s Impressive: Arizona baseball Third baseman Mathis Meurant was named the Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week after hitting .625 with seven runs scored, one double, two home runs and five RBI. He shared the honor with Kansas State pitcher Lincoln Sheffield.
Moving Forward: ASU men’s hockey forward Kyle Smolen was named NCHC forward of the week following an incredible weekend against No. 3 Western Michigan, a series in which the Sun Devils took four of a possible six points. He notched two goals and an assist over the weekend, and the honor marks the seventh time an ASU player has been named player of the week, following Ryan Kirwan’s Forward of the Week honor in Week 15.
Getting Warmer: The D-Backs continue their Spring Training slate at 1:05 pm today against the Cubs, having just earned their first win of the preseason against the Guardians yesterday. Zac Gallen allowed one earned run while striking out two in one inning of work as the starter, while Eugenio Suarez was another standout, going 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk.
🧢 Tip of the Hat
Check out our first PHNX Cardinals mock draft this offseason!
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