Samwise CFL Newsletter
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Lose Two Canadian Defenders to Retirement Ahead of Training Camp
Two Hamilton Tiger-Cats defenders have retired from the Canadian Football League ahead of the 2026 season. Linebacker Kyle Fisher, 25, was projected to start at the weak-side position entering camp after being signed by Hamilton last offseason. Defensive lineman Luke Brubacher, 25, from Listowel, Ontario, missed all of 2025 after suffering a shoulder injury during training camp. Both players announced their retirements on May 1. The Tiger-Cats open their 2026 regular-season schedule on June 4 against the Montreal Alouettes at Tim Hortons Field. Hamilton’s defence will have to replace both domestic player contributions as the team begins preparation for training camp, which opens league-wide on May 10.
Sources: 3DownNation
Ottawa Redblacks Sign First Overall Pick Vaccaro and Four Other 2026 Draft Selections
The Ottawa Redblacks signed five members of their 2026 Canadian Draft class plus two national free agents ahead of training camp. The group includes first overall pick Giordano Vaccaro, a Purdue offensive lineman and Winnipeg native who appeared in 12 games last season, along with second-round selection Emeric Boutin from Laval University and fourth-round pick Charlie Parks, a University of Saskatchewan product from Regina. Ottawa held the first overall selection after finishing last in the East Division in 2025. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie added quarterback Jake Maier and linebacker A.J. Allen as key free-agent additions during the offseason. Rookie camps open May 6.
Sources: 3DownNation
Toronto Argonauts Sign Three Members of 2026 Canadian Draft Class Ahead of Rookie Camp
The Toronto Argonauts signed three selections from their 2026 Canadian Draft class ahead of rookie camp. The group includes second-round pick Niklas Henning, a Queen’s University offensive lineman taken second overall in the draft, along with second-round selection Ethan John, a Windsor University product who appeared in 10 games in 2025. Toronto held the second overall pick after Ottawa selected Giordano Vaccaro first. The Argonauts carried the largest draft haul of any team in 2026 with eleven total selections across both drafts, per 3DownNation. Rookie camps open across the league on May 6, followed by full training camps on May 10, ahead of the regular-season opener on June 4.
Sources: 3DownNation
CFL Promises New Website After Draft Tracker Crashes for Second Straight Year
The CFL’s official website experienced its second consecutive draft-night failure this week, crashing during the April 28 Canadian Draft and again during the Global Draft on April 29. The league acknowledged the repeated outages on May 1, promising that a redesigned website and updated application remain on track for release in 2026, though no specific launch date was confirmed. Fans attempting to follow picks in real time were left without access to the official draft tracker. The back-to-back failures drew criticism from fans and media, particularly as the league had identified technical reliability as a stated priority heading into the offseason. A new platform is expected later this year.
Sources: 3DownNation
Chase Claypool Attends Green Bay Packers Minicamp as Saskatchewan Holds His CFL Rights
Canadian receiver Chase Claypool is attending rookie minicamp with the Green Bay Packers this weekend, May 1 to 2, seeking his first NFL contract in two years. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native was a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 and later played for the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills before a season-ending injury in 2024. The Saskatchewan Roughriders hold Claypool’s exclusive CFL negotiation rights, having added him to their list in April 2024. At six-foot-four and 238 pounds, he remains a notable target option. If Green Bay does not sign him after the minicamp, the defending Grey Cup champions could pursue him ahead of training camp.
Sources: 3DownNation
Analyst Calls CFL Eight-Team Playoff Expansion a Step Backwards for the League
The CFL’s announcement of an eight-team expanded playoff format starting in 2027 has drawn pushback from analysts. TSN Radio Ottawa analyst Duke Ellingson argued on May 1 that the changes are a step backwards, contending that a larger postseason dilutes the regular season and rewards mediocrity. The CFL and CFL Players’ Association jointly announced the format change on April 28 alongside a shifted season start date tied to Victoria Day weekend beginning in 2027. The Grey Cup that year will be held in Regina on November 7. Supporters of the expansion argue the broader postseason increases late-season engagement across more markets.
Sources: TSN Radio Ottawa, 3DownNation
Gridiron Academy and Football North Shine as Canadian Programs Lead 2026 CFL Draft Class
Two prominent Canadian football development programs received recognition following the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft on April 28. Gridiron Academy produced three of the top four rated prospects in the draft class according to TSN, while Football North contributed multiple selections in the middle rounds. The first round featured Purdue OL Giordano Vaccaro first overall to Ottawa, Queen’s OL Niklas Henning second to Toronto, and Rutgers LB Dariel Djabome third to Edmonton. The draft’s Canadian-program depth reflects growing investment in domestic player development pipelines that feed the professional league, and a trend toward university-level Canadian talent competing for early-round selections.
Sources: TSN, 3DownNation
Eastern Division
2026 Pre-Season — Camps Open May 10
Montreal Alouettes — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Toronto Argonauts — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Ottawa Redblacks — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Season opener: June 4, HAM vs MTL
Western Division
2026 Pre-Season — Camps Open May 10
Saskatchewan Roughriders — 0-0-0, 0 pts *
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Calgary Stampeders — 0-0-0, 0 pts
Edmonton Elks — 0-0-0, 0 pts
B.C. Lions — 0-0-0, 0 pts
* 112th Grey Cup Champions (25-17 over MTL, Nov 2025)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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