For the second straight season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were left watching their opponent lift the Grey Cup after a heartbreaking loss.
The Montreal Alouettes stunned the Blue Bombers with a game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left last year to make it back-to-back losses in the championship game.
Whether those scars will provide motivation or expose a chink in Winnipeg’s armour will be something to watch right from the start.
The Blue Bombers have a chance to set the tone right and send a message when they host Montreal in a Grey Cup rematch in the CFL’s season opener on Thursday.
When it comes to the rest of the division, here’s our best guess at how the West could play out this year. Teams are listed in order of predicted finish.
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Last season: 14-4, first in West, lost to Montreal in Grey Cup.
Head coach: Mike O’Shea (96-62 in nine seasons in CFL, all with Winnipeg, won two Grey Cups).
The skinny
There were concerns as to whether the Blue Bombers were going to lose key members of their roster in free agency.
It started with the departures of three-time all-star offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, veteran receiver Rasheed Bailey, cornerback Winston Rose, linebacker Malik Clements, Janarion Grant and Thiadric Hansen.
However, the Blue Bombers were able to retain two of key offensive pieces in Brady Oliveira, who was named the Most Outstanding Canadian, and receiver Dalton Schoen. They also made an under-the-radar signing bringing in receiver K.J. Hill who spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL and had a productive college career at Ohio State.
On defence, the retirement of Jackson Jeffcoat is a big blow on the defensive line but nothing is more concerning than Adam Bighill already expected to miss the start of the season. The linebacker has been banged up quite a bit suffering a partially torn calf in the Western final that he tried to play through in the Grey Cup, but it was clear that it impacted his play.
Regardless, the Blue Bombers roster is still formidable, especially with Zach Collaros at quarterback. There will be tougher competition in the West but given the foundation and continuity, the division remains the Blue Bombers’ to lose as they try for their fifth straight Grey Cup appearance.
2. B.C. Lions
Last season: 12-6, second in West, lost to Winnipeg in division final.
Head coach: Rick Campbell (73-83 in 10 CFL seasons, three with Lions, won Grey Cup in 2016).
The skinny
This is a pivotal season for the Lions for various reasons.
The Grey Cup will be held in Vancouver for the first time in 10 years, so what better time to end a 12-year championship drought?
The front office prioritized keeping as much of the core together after back-to-back West final appearances and believe they are the division’s best chance to dethrone the Blue Bombers.
B.C. did make some additions in free agency signing former NFL receiver Travis Fulgham, defensive tackle Christian Covington and running back William Stanback.
After a great 2023 season, the Lions had some tough departures including Canadian defensive lineman Mathieu Betts (who signed in the NFL with Detroit) and receiver Dominique Rhymes.
Of course, the Lions’ ability to reach the Grey Cup hinges on Vernon Adams Jr. who led the CFL with 4,769 passing yards in 2023. He also had 31 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while completing 68 per cent of his passes.
His play earned him a contract extension during the off-season but he made it known what his priority is this season.
“It’s Grey Cup or bust. Everyone needs to be dialled in from day one. I’m saying this at training camp, 18 games, sacrifice what you need to sacrifice,” he said after signing his extension.
“We’re tired of getting stopped (in the Western final). We know it’s time.”
It would certainly help the Lions’ chances if they were to finish first in the division and get the automatic bye to the West final.
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last season: 6-12, fourth in West, did not make playoffs.
Head coach: Corey Mace (first year as head coach in CFL, won Grey Cup as a player, two as an assistant coach).
The skinny
After two straight seasons going 6-12, the Roughriders decided to make sweeping changes to the coaching staff, bringing in former Toronto Argonauts defensive co-ordinator Mace to be their head coach.
When it comes to the roster, the team was able to land running back A.J. Ouellette, offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, defensive lineman Malik Carney and linebacker Jameer Thurman in free agency. Those are significant additions, especially on defence which has usually been a strength for Saskatchewan.
Ouellette’s addition should hopefully take some pressure off of Trevor Harris this season. The 38-year-old quarterback suffered a tibial plateau fracture of his right knee in Week 6 last and the injury derailed the Roughriders’ season.
The emergence of Shawn Bane Jr. and Samuel Emilus last season along with a healthy Kian Schaffer-Baker sets the Roughriders up with an intriguing trio of receivers.
There is an opportunity for Saskatchewan to get back into the playoffs, but there is a clear pecking order in the West that will challenge this new-look Roughriders team.
4. Calgary Stampeders
Last season: 6-12, third in West, lost to Lions in West semifinal.
Head coach: Dave Dickenson (79-41-2 in eight CFL seasons, all with Calgary . Won Grey Cup in 2018).
The skinny
You never expect to see the Stampeders with a sub .500 record but it’s a new reality for a team that used to be the class of the CFL.
Aging players, some brutal injuries and a lacklustre offence were the downfall in Calgary last season. With the competition in the West getting tougher, the Stampeders have their work cut out for them once again.
It doesn’t help that they were dealt a tough injury blow in training camp with top receiver Malik Henry suffering a season-ending knee injury. This will put more pressure on the offence to try and turn things around.
Expect running backs Dedrick Mills and Peyton Logan to see a heavy workload while Jalen Philpot will be counted on to help fill the void at receiver.
The pressure will be on quarterback Jake Maier to bounce back from a subpar season where he threw 19 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. If he isn’t able to get the job done, the team brought in former Tiger-Cats quarterback Matt Shiltz as competition for playing time.
If Calgary wants any chance of being a playoff team this season, they’ll likely need to lean on their defence which includes key veterans Mike Rose, James Vaughters, Cameron Judge and newly-acquired all-star cornerback Demerio Houston.
5. Edmonton Elks
Last season: 4-14, fifth in West, did not make playoffs.
Head coach: Chris Jones (61-65 in eight CFL seasons, third in Edmonton. Won Grey Cup in 2015).
The skinny
The second go-around for Chris Jones in Edmonton hasn’t gone as planned with the team going 4-28 the last two seasons.
With the pressure on Jones to get the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, he signed former Toronto Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson after the veteran spent the 2023 season in the USFL.
Is his addition going to be enough to turn this team into a playoff team? Can he rediscover the chemistry he had with Kurleigh Gittens Jr. in 2022 in Toronto?
Those are two of the many questions facing the Edmonton offence which is hoping that receiver Geno Lewis can remain healthy and running back Kevin Brown rushes for over 1,000 yards again.
What happens with Canadian quarterback Tre Ford after a promising rookie campaign where he took over as the starter but lost his job to Bethel-Thompson? Assistant general manager and former CFL player Geroy Simon said during an appearance on 630 CHED that they think Ford isn’t ready to lead the team right now but still view him as the future of the team although he is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
While many eyes will be on the Elks offence, the defence will be an area of focus given all the changes it went through. Gone are A.C. Leonard and his 12 sacks, Jake Ceresna, who was traded for Gittens Jr. and Kony Ealy. Can the Elks’ new-look defensive line and new co-ordinator Jason Shivers get enough out of this group to be competitive in the West?
Even if Edmonton is able to get the job done on defence, the offence is going to have to show that they can put up points against some of the top defences in the league.