With apologies to the great Andy Williams, this is not \u201cthe Most Wonderful Time of the Year.\u201d<\/p>\n
That, traditionally, comes in June, yeah?<\/p>\n
But this is a close second, I\u2019d grant that.<\/p>\n
Happy Holidays, football fans.<\/p>\n
As we celebrate the season of giving \u2014 while looking ahead to the season of footballing \u2014 here are some appropriate gifts for each of the CFL\u2019s nine teams.<\/p>\n
RELATED \u00a0<\/p>\n MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n Peace of mind over a major move.<\/p>\n Middle linebacker Darnell Sankey<\/a> has been a leader in Montreal, a heart and soul linchpin of a ferocious Alouettes\u2019 defence.<\/p>\n But the team has decided to make the gutsy, gulp-inducing move of releasing<\/a> the 31-year-old after two-and-a-half seasons and 239 tackles, 101 of them last season alone.<\/p>\n However the Als decide to fill that big space in the middle of the defence, their gift would be to be right about the decision.<\/p>\n OTTAWA REDBLACKS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dru Brown<\/a> all season long.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been tantalizing to see Dru Brown<\/a>, when healthy, progress as a CFL starter. It\u2019s been equally frustrating to watch him play nicked up, or not at all for stretches and that\u2019s been the case in each of his two seasons in Ottawa.<\/p>\n Good health and a 4,500 yard season for Brown would be a welcome gift for the REDBLACKS.<\/p>\n Be a great gift for Brown, himself, too.<\/p>\n TORONTO ARGONAUTS<\/p>\n A Holley jolly season.<\/p>\n Defensive lineman Ralph Holley<\/a> was a fearsome force for Toronto during their 2024 Grey Cup-winning season and they missed him greatly in 2025.<\/p>\n Now, after a year away, the highly-disruptive interior lineman is back<\/a> and Toronto could really use him in top form to be a catalyst in kick-starting the defence.<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s D needs a little something, finishing as the eighth-ranked unit in the CFL last season.<\/p>\n HAMILTON TIGER-CATS<\/p>\n Juuuust a little more juice.<\/p>\n Does it seem like the Ticats were one of the offensive \u2018Big Play\u2019 kings in 2025?<\/p>\n They were, in reality, seventh in the CFL with 33 offensive big plays (20+ yards rush, 30+ yards pass).<\/p>\n Overall, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> completed 28 passes of 30 or more yards and attempted \u2014 by far and away \u2014 the most passes of at least 20 yards (118), completing just 43.2 percent of them.<\/p>\n Hamilton\u2019s offence was rather formidable last season. Imagine it with even a modest uptick in deep ball connectivity in 2026.<\/p>\n WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A more robust air attack.<\/p>\n A number of factors came into play in weakening Winnipeg\u2019s passing game in 2025, like the departure of receiver Kenny Lawler<\/a> in free agency and yet another injury to Dalton Schoen.<\/p>\n And an up and down year from veteran quarterback Zach Collaros<\/a>, who threw almost as many interceptions (16) as he did touchdown passes (17).<\/p>\n The Blue Bombers fell to the bottom of the CFL in passing yardage last season, averaging a mere 235 yards per game.<\/p>\n They were also last in passing efficiency rating, grading in at 86.1 as a team.<\/p>\n SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS<\/p>\n A consistent roster of receivers.<\/p>\n The Grey Cup champs are that hard-to-buy-for friend you\u2019ve got on your list. What could they really use?<\/p>\n A fleet of receivers that doesn\u2019t change over and over again due to injuries, the way it did in 2025.<\/p>\n Quarterback Trevor Harris did just fine even with all the switcheroos going on last season, throwing for over 4,500 yards and 24 touchdowns.<\/p>\n But what might he do in 2026 if the Riders get the gift of personnel consistency at the position?<\/p>\n EDMONTON ELKS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A decent start next season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been an all-too familiar tune for the Elks and their fans over the last handful of years. Terrible losing skids to begin new campaigns.<\/p>\n Oh-and-nine in 2023. Oh-and-seven in 2024.<\/p>\n Last year, Edmonton stumbled out of the gate at 1-6, and that includes two losses in quarterback Cody Fajardo<\/a>\u2019s first two starts, in Weeks 8 and 9.<\/p>\n
\u00bb\u00a0View the entire 2026 schedule<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0The Weekly Say: Moments to look forward to on the 2026 CFL schedule<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a05 must-watch CFL games in 2026<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a05 juicy rematches from 2025 in 2026<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n