(This article is adapted from Frank Stanisci and David Morassutti latest CFL offseason preview show)
Two weeks removed from Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup triumph, CFL analysts Frank Stanisci and David Morassutti reunited to break down what the championship revealed — and what it sets in motion heading into one of the most intriguing CFL offseasons in recent memory. From quarterback uncertainty to organizational reshuffling, the duo explored how every franchise enters winter with questions, ambition, and a league defined by razor-thin margins.
Saskatchewan’s Win and the Parity Ripple
The Roughriders’ Grey Cup victory didn’t shock Frank or David — all four of their panelists predicted Saskatchewan would win on championship day. It felt like a logical conclusion to a season where both Saskatchewan and Montreal earned their place through consistent, resilient play.
Yet even with the dust settled, David noted lingering “what-ifs,” especially in Montreal. With Davis Alexander battling injury in the postseason, Alouettes fans can’t help but wonder how a fully healthy roster might have rewritten history. But, as both analysts agreed, injuries are part of football, and both teams were deserving finalists.
With parity rising league-wide, Frank argued that any of the top teams could realistically find themselves back in the Grey Cup next year — but so could several non-playoff teams if they correct their early-season stumbles.
The Next-Tier Contenders: Who Moves Forward?
Three clubs stood out to both analysts as potential disruptors in 2025: Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa.
- Edmonton showed late-season promise under Cody Fajardo, sparking hope that they’ve finally course-corrected after an uneven start under Trey Ford.
- Ottawa’s hiring of Ryan Dinwiddie as head coach/general manager has injected instant credibility. Frank emphasized that Dinwiddie transformed Toronto almost overnight — why not Ottawa?
- Toronto, meanwhile, enters the offseason with the most uncertainty in the league. Their coaching vacancy, roster questions, and organizational structure loom large despite back-to-back powerhouse seasons.
David stressed that parity means the gap between the elite and the rest is much smaller than in other eras. Teams like BC, Calgary, Hamilton, and Winnipeg all experienced fluctuating forms — and those wide swings mean the playoff picture can shift dramatically year-to-year.
Quarterback Questions Define the Offseason
Frank summarized the CFL’s eternal truth: “If you don’t have a number-one quarterback, you don’t have a chance.”
This offseason offers fewer marquee quarterback openings than usual, yet the looming decisions are monumental:
- Saskatchewan must decide whether Trevor Harris will return or retire.
- Hamilton faces possible transition away from Bo Levi Mitchell.
- Edmonton must make a difficult financial decision: pay Cody Fajardo starter money and carry Trey Ford’s large contract? Or move Ford and roll fully behind Fajardo?
David pointed out that Edmonton can’t afford to pay two quarterbacks at starter-level salaries — not under the cap. If Fajardo stays, his production demands a raise. Ford, under contract and expensive, becomes a major offseason storyline.
The analysts floated potential destinations where Ford could develop without pressure — Montreal behind Davis Alexander, or Ottawa under Dinwiddie.
The Toronto Argonauts: The League’s Biggest Question Mark
Frank described Toronto as “the only CFL team without hope at the moment” — not in a fatalistic sense, but because uncertainty clouds every major position in the organization.
Toronto must:
- Hire a new head coach
- Decide on Chad Kelly’s future and the fallout around him
- Rebuild key areas of the roster
- Restore internal stability after Dinwiddie’s exit
- Address the perception issue of starting 2025 with multiple “home” games on the road
Both analysts dismissed the idea that extra road games should scare off quality coaching candidates — unless, as Frank put it, “you’re a coach who cowers at challenge.” A strong coach should treat it as motivational fuel.
Far more concerning is the organization’s shrinking “brain trust.” The Argos have not replaced key personnel in scouting and Canadian-talent evaluation, and the Canadian pipeline — historically Toronto’s backbone — has slipped. Losing players like Kian Schaffer-Baker still hurts.
“Winning solves everything,” Frank said, but before winning comes assembling the right people in the room — and right now that room is small.
What Every Franchise Wants This Offseason: Hope
As the show wrapped up, Frank emphasized a final point: every successful CFL offseason starts by giving fans hope.
Most teams already have it:
- Saskatchewan and Montreal have championship cores.
- Calgary and BC proved they’re close.
- Edmonton sees a path forward.
- Ottawa is energized by Dinwiddie’s arrival.
- Hamilton has reason for optimism with pieces already in place.
- Winnipeg stabilized after retaining Mike O’Shea.
But Toronto? Until they hire a coach and reestablish stability, Argo fans are in wait-and-see mode.
David agreed: “You need to show you’re pushing forward in spite of what people are saying.”
That, ultimately, is the theme of this CFL offseason — a league where every team, from powerhouse to rebuild, has a pathway upward… but only if they solve their toughest questions first.
