32 Thoughts: The Podcast - 882 Down. 13 to Go.

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman talk about Alex Ovechkin's "Gr8 Chase" for the NHL goal scoring record. The guys delve into the latest with Mikko Rantanen and his future with the Carolina Hurricanes (13:45) before unpacking how teams could be looking into acquiring BOTH of the Schenn brothers (20:36). Kyle and Elliotte talk about Seth Jones' market on the trade deadline (24:02) and Elliotte provides a theory on where he could see Erik Karlsson fitting post-deadline (33:05). They also talk about the Boston Bruins finally waving the white flag on the season heading into the deadline (39:30). They touch on the Flames as they inch back closer to the right side of the playoff bar (43:38). Kyle and Elliotte talk about a couple of dangerous hits from Trevor Zegras and Casey Cizikas (46:54). The Final Thought focuses on the NHL Draft Gary Bettman's interesting comments (54:27).Kyle and Elliotte answer your questions and respond to your voicemails in the Thought Line (1:05:15).In the final segment Kyle and Elliotte talk about the Skate for LA Strong charity game (1:38:28).Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates

It's trade deadline time. I become match.com. I'm an internet dating site, Kyle. You are eHarmony. I just sit there and I look at matches. Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra 84 X Tom Schermati Elliot Friedman Kyle Bacoskas with you once again as we have all come out of our four nations hangover and right back into NHL regular season play and a busy weekend at that to get us snapped back into things 14 games on Saturday 10 more on Sunday and the tight checking no room hockey we saw over the Four Nations, Elliott. Well we didn't quite see that carry over to the regular

season. The offense is back not everywhere but certainly in a lot of places no more so than in Washington that racked up eight against Pittsburgh on Saturday, seven more against Edmonton on Sunday, and Alex Ovechkin, another hat-trick. He's 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. I was thinking if he hadn't broken his leg, he might have done it already. Yes. Jack Michael said that on the air on Sunday.

Did he really? Selfishly. If he hadn't broken the leg, maybe we would be calling his record-breaking goal today. I want people to know that I am not stealing Jack Michaels material. I didn't hear him say that. I thought of it on my own. I would also say this. If I really wanted to steal Jack Michaels material, I would end this podcast with, the pleasure was all ours. So I just wanna say, I thought of that independent of Jack. 39 years old, a guy's on an absolute tear.

One of the things I wondered about, Kyle, was would the Capitals want to ensure that Ovechkin breaks this record at home as in would they consider not playing him on the road? Whoa, whoa, whoa. Can I finish my sentence here please no interruptions yet no interruptions yet. Would they ensure this happened in front of the home fans? And I'm told that is not going to happen and Ovechkin wouldn't even stand for it if they took him out of road games. Well, sorry, the reason why I jumped in so excitedly because look at history, all right?

Wayne Gretzky, he broke Gordy Howes record that was a home game when he was with the Kings Barry Bonds became the home run leader in his home park in San Francisco LeBron James became the all-time points leader in the NBA that was a home game with the Lakers Emmett Smith broke the all-time rushing yards record. That was a home game with the Cowboys. So if you let fate do its thing and try not to plan around it, it will take care of you. And. And.

Look at you with the positive reinforcement. The good people at Sportsnet Stats put out on Sunday that Alex Ovechkin is on pace to break the record on April 4th versus the Blackhawks. Yes, Elliot, that is a home game for the Capitals that day. Let nature take its course. That's all I'm saying. And you know, it's funny because you remember last year, Ovechkin went into the All-Star break, nine goals in 44 games. He finished the year 22 and 35.

Now he was much better off the hop this year with 26 and 39 before Four Nations. But here we are, he's got three with two games played out of that break. So if he continues the theme of finishing strong after a mid-season refresh, boy it could be quicker than April 4th when we see the record broken. Who's gonna score more goals this year? Ovatskin or Jacob Chickren? Jacob Chickren, only

Kale McCarr and Zach Wurenski have scored more goals among defensemen in the whole league than Jacob Chick... only Kale McCarr and Zach Wurenzki have scored more goals among defensemen in the whole league than Jacob Chickren. Who's going to score more goals? Jacob Chickren is the Aaron Judge of free agent defenseman this year. Oh very good. Breakthrough season at the exact right time. You know what, if you go back and look the shortened season, I know that was a weird year for a whole host of reasons. But the 56 game year, he was effectively on this pace. He had 18 goals in

56 games with Arizona that year. Good call. The production is very similar this season. But the dynamic is, of course, a little bit different. He's been fantastic. He's been really good. By the way, since we started this whole, you don't talk about my team enough a few weeks back. We've been getting a lot of, you need to talk about Washington more as the top team in the NHL.

So we're giving it to you here. So the other thing it does too, is because they have such a lead in the Eastern Conference and they're so comfortable, they can do things like in the game against Pittsburgh have Ovechkin play five minutes on the power play in the third period. Pull the goalie at your own peril against Washington now. Well and you know what, they are putting them out there in those situations Absolutely. He's had a few empty net goals but like that's the thing this year that they're in such great shape and they're in such command of their division and

In a lot of ways they're in such command of the conference, too. They're 11 points up on Florida for first place. That it allows you to do things like this. It's kind of interesting because I've heard coaches say before, no matter how big a lead you have, if you're that team, fortunate enough to be that team, you want to go into the playoffs playing like you have to play, right? But this is different. This is unique. This is an all time goals chase. The Capitals have earned the right to fudge it a bit and because of his place in their organization's history, he's earned the right to have it fudged a bit for him. It's like, and we'll get to Crosby in a second,

because I do want to talk a little bit more about him. But you know, the Penguin said, it doesn't matter how injured you are, you can go play for Canada and the four nations. Like you've earned the right to make this call and you go do it. It's the same with Ovechkin and the Capitals right now. A lot of other guys probably wouldn't be left out there for five minutes in the power play or get every empty net chance that you can possibly get, but the luxury of what they have, they can do it with him and he's earned it there, right? How much more valuable is that franchise because Ovechkin was drafted to it. So you bend the rules for him even more than you probably would normally. You know, the thing about

the Capitals is I really wonder what they're going to do here on it in terms of, you know, with a week and a half to go before the deadline. They really have a kind of magical chemistry this year. And every move they made in the off season has been an upper deck home run. Chickron, Roy, Logan Thompson, DuBois even worked out for them where it hasn't worked out elsewhere. How much do you want to fidget with that? Yeah, not know, the one thing you know, the one thing I

remember, I bet you Brian McClellan remembers it too. They had a year there was probably about 15 years ago, Boudreaux was coaching, George McPhee was the GM. And they went out and they got a whole bunch of guys at the deadline, Scott Walker was one of those guys. And they had out and they got a whole bunch of guys at the deadline. Scott Walker was one of those guys And they had too many players They had a good team and all of a sudden they they decided to beef it up and they had too many players And and they got knocked out earlier than they hoped it was a real disappointing playoff

And they admitted later it screwed up with their chemistry like they have They have a you you watch all those carberry postgamegame videos they're every one of them is better than the previous. I think they're looking at adding another forward and they do have Ryan Leonard coming right? Oh yeah and and that kid looks like he's capable of making an impact right away. I wonder how much they're really going to want to tinker. Yeah and you think about the year they won the cup too, I think their biggest acquisition was Michael Kebney on the back end. And he turned out really good for that. Right. Just a good complimentary piece.

Yes. But didn't completely restructure their blue line where guys that have been certain spots all year are now having to adjust because of different people that they brought in to your point earlier. Yeah like a third liner Scott Lawton type I could see that but I would be very very careful about messing with what they have. Isn't Alexi Protis a lot of fun to watch? Oh. Like I remember when he first kind of came up a few years back

at huge body obviously you can't miss him when he's out on the ice and you just thought okay how is he going to handle the pace? Can he move at the level you need to at the NHL? And now he is. He's in year one of a five year deal, like it's under three and a half million. He should eclipse 30 goals this year. And one thing I had heard, I guess the coaches there, they showed him a lot of video of Austin Matthews actually

and how when he's in those opportunities to shoot, how quickly it's on and off his stick. That was one thing they really hammered home with him about. When you're in those spots like it's got to be quick. The decision to to shoot. And I think that's part of that mindset. And taking that approach has helped a lot as the offense has ticked up in a big way for him this year.

He's broken out as well. You know what I think every time I see that guy? What? That it's two people on stilts underneath a trench coat. He is massive. I know I've said that before how big he is. I'm just struck by how big that guy is. I'm trying to imagine, you know the way they played defense in the 80s and 90s, you could defend that guy. I am trying to imagine people trying to defend that guy now. It's not humanly possible.

No, it's not going very well. He has Austin Powers and Mini Me. So when I see the Capitals and they torch teams today like obviously the Penguins and the Oilers are very different ends of the spectrum right now in the NHL but they destroyed both those teams and They have the best of both worlds right now They can coast and they can prepare for the playoffs and they can enjoy a run For the record.

There is no team in the NHL that's gonna have a more enjoyable final 26 games in the capitals, Will. And you can see. This podcast is gonna make Brian McClellan sweat. It's gonna be like, don't talk like this about us. But you can see how it's galvanized the rest of the group. Oh yeah. This whole goal chase, right? Like, it's not something where,

as you were mentioning earlier, you're worried about everything being thrown off because of the pursuit of this one thing. They could be all right. When... I remember, I was still doing baseball at the time that McGuire and Sosa were going for the home run chase and the other players on the team would talk about how much fun it was right it was late in the season and it was just fun.

That's when it's the best. That's when it's the best. So 13 away is Ovechkin from breaking the record of 894. So that was a big story. I still can't believe it. I actually still cannot believe this is a thing, that this is actually going to happen. I can't believe Amber's not shoving it down our throats more, because he was one of the first to even throw this out in what, 2016? He was the first guy I ever heard that from, and I thought he was nuts. As close as this gets, and it it is reality now it's going to happen it's no longer if but when and now the only if is if it happens this season

right yeah I still can't believe we're talking about this so that continues to be a big story last pod Elliot we talked about Miko Rantanen yeah we saw him in the Hurricanes in Toronto. It was ugly early. They almost improbably made it a game late in the third period. But on Saturday headlines, you had the news that Rantinen's representatives met with the Hurricanes in person over the Four Nations break and that the Hurricanes made an offer into the nine digits.

So assuming that would be a max eight-year term we're talking at least 12 and a half million per season. Where do things stand there as we record this late on Sunday night? I don't think anything has changed since Saturday night as far as I know. The one thing that a couple people said that I should have said on Friday that I did not was that even if he's not signed by March 7th the deadline, the Hurricanes will have the option of keeping him and either A believing they'll get him to sign or B, just saying, you know what, we're gonna go for the Stanley Cup.

So that is something else, but you know, I stick to it, it is true. There are teams out there who are saying we're not so sure we should rush into anything else until we know for certain what's happening with this player. else until we know for certain what's happening with this player. And so I don't want to say that Ranton is holding up the trade deadline because I don't believe that's true. But I do think that there are teams who are looking at it and saying, maybe we don't make our biggest move until we know for sure what his situation is. Now, the 100 million, it makes sense because if you look at seven times 14, which you would think he'd be the most he could get

as an unrestricted free agent is 98. So it makes a lot of sense for the Hurricanes to make sure they're above that. I'll tell you a couple things, without knowing exactly what the offer is, I'll tell you a couple things without knowing exactly what the offer is. I'll tell you a couple things. I don't believe it's eight times 14. And I don't believe it's in that area. I also don't believe it is eight times 12.5. I think it's a little bit higher. So that's where I think we are. And as I said, the one thing that happened with Gensel last year was it took the hurricanes

too long to get where Gensel wanted to go. So this particular case, they've respected that Rantanen is in an emotional whirlwind and still is, but they've put their stake in the ground, a big one, and said, we're serious and we want you to know we're serious right off the bat and he knows. I think this is now purely a matter of waiting for Ratnan to make his decision one way or the other. And, you know, Kyle, I don't know what your love life has been like historically, I would suspect before you locked into

your beautiful bride, it was terrible. But when you break up with someone, it can take a long time to get through it. Everybody here listening to this podcast knows exactly what I'm talking about. We all know what it's like to go through a shocking breakup. Rantnan went through a shocking breakup, not with his personal life, but with his NHL life. And it's just a matter of when he's comfortable to make the decision. And so we'll see. And you know what's interesting,

like who there in Carolina, in a lot of ways, can relate to the Rantinens situation? You know what, I'm so glad you bring this up because I totally forgot to mention this. By the way, he really likes you. I could tell by the way he talks to you. He thinks very highly of his fellow BC boy. Rod Brendan Moore? Yes.

Well, not just BC. We're from the same hometown, Campbell River. Right. Of course. Yes. So he of course, yes. So I just said BC, I just, I just said BC boy because it's alliterative. Yeah. I could have said Campbell River Chums. Campbell River Chum. Campbell River running mate. Yes. He remains the mayor of that town. Yes. Oh, he remains the mayor of that town. So Rod Bryndemore, because as you know, Elliot, he was in

Philly for a long time, almost nine years. He didn't win a cup there. But they went to a final. They were a good team in a lot of ways. He was a flyer. Then he gets traded to Carolina. That addition of the hurricanes, I mean nowhere close to where the hurricanes are now in terms of how successful they are and where you think they could be potentially in the short term. I don't profess to know exactly what he was thinking at the time of that trade. I know when you interviewed him a couple of years ago, you did talk about that period of his life, but I can imagine going from a contending team in the

flyers to the hurricanes. And there's no way he would have thought, well, I could see myself spending the rest of my life here. The moment the trade went down. But look how it's played out for him. Yeah, years later, wins a cup. And now he is everything about the Hurricanes. And I'm not suggesting that well, 20 years from now, Miko Ratnick could be coaching the

Canes. But I just wonder if that conversation does come up between coach and player because I'm sure there was a time. Bryndam or looked at the situation new team. New environment and Raleigh you thought. Jeez. What do I really think about this? And now I don't know if he could picture himself anywhere else. So that intrigues me. That's a great point.

Very good point. I like it. That really intrigues me. I like the way you think. Dom, can you clip that off, please? You know what, you should keep that as an audio clip and just play it Every time you think you make a good point on the pod whether I say it or not

Yeah, I need my own soundboard So ranting in was a big talking point over the weekend Elliot also Not just Braden Shen, but the Shen brothers. And the idea that teams could be looking at acquiring both of them. Now, let me just say, yeah, this podcast is a Shen brother stand podcast. First and foremost, however, I just have to ask, why do you think teams will be doing that? It's a great story. Don get me wrong but just the idea of if you have both on the same team it perhaps brings the best out of each of them. What's the thought process? I just think there's a lot of respect for those guys. Braden can play a role, he can play a

center, he could play wing, he can play all over your lineup. He plays hard. He's a very popular guy in dressing rooms. You know, Luke, right hand shot, veteran, plays a heavy game, been on a Stanley Cup champion before just like Braden has, you know, the kind of player that you need on your blue line during a playoff in long hard series. We'll have to see if someone pulls it off and then you know you can see if there's a specific reason. I just heard it and I heard more than one team. Like sometimes you hear something like this and you think oh there's one team that's trying to do it. I don't think that's the case here. I think a couple

have discussed it. So I don't know if it's gonna be possible but I know it's been talked about and it's one of those things you mentioned in on the air and then you hear a couple things more. And what I heard on Sunday is that it's more than one team apparently that has tried this. Wow. I think what this could also be about is the team wants to sink their hook hooks Into the media rights of the Shen Brothers podcast When it finally happens

When these guys become the mannings of the NHL That's tailor-made for them. Oh yeah. We'll all be out of jobs. Yes. That could be a lot of fun. That could be a lot of fun. And seeing them on the same team would be really neat too if someone out there was able to pull it off. Yeah. You know, the other thing too is like Nashville's trying to get younger faster You know you could see them if it creates some flexibility for them you could see them saying yeah We'll do that. I think it's a harder one for st. Louis. He's their captain

It's not that it's impossible, but they set a really high price on him Again, I don't know what the likelihood of this is. It might be impossible but I Was told there were two teams legitimately at least that have thought about it or asked about it All right, how about Seth Jones another name that was out there this week after Ben Pope out of Chicago had the story that, you know, Jones not formally requested a trade, but does sound like he's open to a potential move. He would like to give himself a chance to win, as he put it.

Now, he didn't go full Roberto Luongo saying, my contract sucks, but he acknowledged the money is not an easy thing to move Five more years after this one at nine and a half the Blackhawks do have one retention spot left for this season What's kind of the tea leaves telling you here a week and a half out from deadline? So he hasn't given a list of teams or anything like that, from what I understand. I think he said he prefers a contender. And I think the Blackhawks have also indicated that if it doesn't work, I don't think they've got a problem with keeping him. This sounds like it's more Jones-driven than Blackhawk-driven.

Because one of the things I really do think about Chicago is that they recognize. One of the things I think that happened this year is, two things happened in Chicago this year that I think have really made them think about what's all going on. Number one was the outdoor game and Kyle Davidson going in there and telling his players that's not acceptable. And number two was I think the heat that Bedard has come under, like some of the national criticism has reminded the organization that they've

got to get some better players around him to help them. As I said at the time, if I was Connor Bedard, I would take some of that criticism as a compliment because I'm the number one pick and at at that level, people are going to judge you more intently than others because you're that guy. But I also think if I was the organization, I would say, you know what, we have to protect that guy. And I think the Blackhawks do look at it that way. And so if you trade Jones, you're, especially if you

trade him simply to move him, your defense is going to be worse. So I think at the end of the day if it doesn't work, I think they're like we can, we'll be okay with Seth Jones on our roster. They still need players to play around Bedard. Anyway, I think there are some teams that have the ability to take his contract, but those teams aren't contenders. And it was really interesting watching some of the comments about Columbus because Columbus has really had a much much better season than I think anybody even remotely

would have predicted. Zach Warrensky has taken a new leap into the stratosphere and he continued it at the four nations and you know that's a team that could make it work. I would be curious, I saw Jones quotes, but I would be curious, like, does he think that qualifies as a contender? I'd be very interested in that. But because a lot of the other contenders, like, you know, a lot of people have said Dallas, for example,

it's going to be harder for Dallas with what they have coming in the next few years contract wise to make this work. Tell you one thing, other thing about Dallas I want to mention before I forget. Peter DeBoer at the Four Nations, very complimentary of Jamie Ben. Like when you talk about Dallas' contract situations and the ones they have to deal with, Jim Neal has said he wants to keep Jamie Ben and Peter DeBoer was very complimentary of Ben, especially during all the injuries they've had this year. So that's another one that they're probably going to have to deal with. had this year. So that's another one that they're probably going to have to deal with. So a team like Dallas, if you're going to acquire them, it's either retention or Chicago has to take a contract that Dallas doesn't want, stress that this is purely my own thinking.

Matthew Kachak, I don't know what his timeline is gonna be yet. I think he was like the one thing I'm always careful about and I do recognize this could be a while. Remember we were hearing lots of rumors about Patrick Aline when he got hurt this year, whole season six months and what did he miss two and a half because he found one doctor that said, hey, there's a different path here for you. So I'm always even though I do think it's going to be some time here for Kachak, I just want to wade through the process with this, with this groin

injury he's dealing with. If he misses time, I wonder if Florida does it. Florida needs another defenseman, a right shot. They've been looking for a right shot all year. And I admit, I haven't looked a lot into the future of what how all the pieces would fit but from a pure hockey point of view I wonder if Florida tries to do it for Seth Jones oh boy boy. But it would it right now it would take Chuck being out for the rest of the regular season. And I just don't know if that timeline fits yet. Yeah,

just something that jumped into my head. Right. Because you know at Vlad is up. Yep. So where does Sam Bennett's up Sam Bennett's up caps going up? Jones still has five years after this one as we mentioned, so you got to have a plan And I think on a team like that with players like that, I think he'd be rejuvenated I like Seth Jones I like him as a player He I mean different players, but is that not in a way what happened to Oliver Ekman Larson to an extent last year with them? Different players different situations contractually

Yeah, he'd be making more money, but yes, I like the idea that Ekman Larson got refreshed by going there. Yes Yeah, yeah to the point where his teammates were, we almost took it for granted that we have that player on our third pairing. You know what I mean? Yeah. But boy, that would be some heavy lifting for each. You know me. I like to lift heavy. Yes. Actually, I think we get into that in the thought line later on. Yes, yes, we do. But that the only sometimes you just sit there and you go through fits, right? And what makes sense? What can work? Yeah. Okay, what else is your brain concocting?

So here's the other one. Pittsburgh. What a weekend for them. Holy cow. Aye, aye, aye. Got clobbered by Washington. Did the Rangers forget how to play hockey over the break? Well, I know Rob Reyes certainly would agree with you on that. You know what the funniest line I heard about that and I don't know who said it. Whoever said it, it was the best line. I can't remember. They said it wasn't Rob Ray swearing because the puck hit him. It was the puck swearing because the puck hit Rob Ray. That is good. Yes, if

anyone missed it, he took a deflected puck as Rob Ray. That is good. Yes, if anyone missed it. He took a deflected puck as Rob Ray works games between the benches in Buffalo. And just kept going. And just kept going. Let out a brief release and then kept going. Marvelous to watch. But anyway, yeah, that was... We always knew he was tough should be no surprise, but

So the Rangers got ones just pounded the Rangers up and down the ice and lost. Yeah Jonathan quick beat them Yeah But so here's my theory Eric Carlson again, I want to stress theory Okay, mm-hmm He played really well Oh, did he have the four nations he looks so rejuvenated sounded rejuvenated, you know who I could see him thriving with?

Albeit who? Dallas. Oh, again, same thing we just talked about. Don't know if it's possible. It's a big cap hit. Remember his cash really goes down this summer, especially after his bonus is paid. Now, maybe, maybe whoever goes and gets them waits until after that, but you know Peter DeBoer knows him, had him in San Jose. Don't think times were always easy there in that whole situation, but he knows him.

Jim Mill was there for team Canada, watched them. I'd be curious. The thing always with Dallas is can they score enough? Boy do they defend. Great defensive team. Robo's getting hot. Hat-trick Sunday night. And then Nick scored twice.

Talk about something happening in their game. And then Nick scored twice. Talk about something that happened in their game. Yeah, Nick scored twice. Great night for the Robertson parents. I really like talking to Nick. That's a nice kid. But it's trade deadline time. I become match.com. I'm an internet dating site, Kyle.

You are eHarmony. I just sit there and I... You're the matchmaker. Look at matches. Anyway, I was thinking Carlson Dallas. I wonder if Dallas would ever do it. I mean, that was one of the big takeaways of that whole event was just seeing. I mean, it was just a level that we haven't

seen from Carlson and in a little while, because the environment was, I mean, it demanded that of them. So I guess to your point, put them on a team that could win this year and see what you might get. Yep. I got to say something too about Crosby. So Crosby was phenomenal for Canada.

Great was great in that tournament. Just excellent. just excellent and to a man you ask everybody on that Canadian team how he ran the room calm they all listened to him doesn't matter if you've been in the league for one hour or 1,000 years you listen to him he talked about in the interview we did with McKinnon before the tournament when they sat down together He said it was closer than people thought After it was over somebody told me that the Friday before the tournament and

Remember they all went to Montreal on the Sunday night for the Super Bowl, but on the Friday before the tournament They didn't think he was going to be able to play. And he played and he played great. He could have been the MVP. We won't go back into the voting again, Kyle, but you know, he could have won. He could have won the MVP. I could not believe he played on the weekend. I was shocked. Both games.

Both games. And I was shocked. And you know, someone laughed. He said to me, one of the listeners of the podcast said, Crosby probably heard you say that he struggled a bit with the injury in the final. And he said, that's it it I'm playing on the weekend and I said that's not I know that's not true because there's no way he listens to this garbage but I Think it's incredible. I think it's abs and I know there's other people out there including I would bet the penguins

Who can't believe he's playing Just the commitment level of this guy is unbelievable. His commitment to Pittsburgh is off the charts. As loyal as they come. As loyal as they come. Someone who knows that very well is Don Sweeney of course because he was in charge of selecting Team Canada for the Four Nations, also the general manager of the Boston Bruins, who are one point back of a wild card spot right now in the East. Sweeney spoke to the media on Sunday, went through a couple of different things, updated

the Hampus Lindholm situation. He's been dealing with a knee injury, had surgery done earlier. Sounds like he's going to have another procedure done to take care of some things. Not sure about his return. Said Charlie McAvoy doing well, but no timeline there for when he could be back. And then went into the trade deadline. And he admitted historically, since he's been there. They've been pretty aggressive and we've seen countless examples of that out of Boston from over the years, especially where

They think they've got a chance, but he said They'll probably take it much more Cautious approach this year. Is that the general manager doesn't sound like they're going into cell mode Waving the white flag. We are preparing for boarding And was the last time we saw the Boston Bruins do that couldn't tell you Cuz even 2015 2016 I don't think they 2015, 2016, I don't think they waved a flag. It's been a while.

It's been a long while. I mean, 2017, they made the coaching change in early February, got into the playoffs. And since then, you could argue they've been a contender every year. Until this one. And it's the right decision. It is the right call. Can't argue with it. No McAvoy for at least an undetermined period of time. No Lindholm. Right. It's just been one of those years there. I started hearing a bit more Trent Frederick noise. I think they're going through their options there. That's definitely going

on. And I think they're taking a very serious like He reiterated today he wants Marchand to stay. Marchand made it very clear at the four nations he wanted to stay. I think they're working through that too. But the other thing too is I don't think it's just rentals here for Boston. I think they're also trying to figure out, it's like Montreal, right?

If they could get a player that could stay with them for a while, I think they'd do it. A player they value. This is not just about Boston moving the rentals. I think they're also thinking, when they're talking about retooling, it's not just sell off and struggle to the end. I do think they look at long term. If there's someone out there that makes sense that they could keep, I think they would do that too. A couple of other things out there. Maselli, Utah.

He's been scratched a bit lately. Scratched Sunday night to against Vancouver That's one to watch One of the things the Utahns have looked at is upfront They're kind of small Now I think they got some prospects coming who are bigger but kind of small. Now I think they got some prospects coming who were bigger, but they need some bulk up front. You look at that group, Karkone, smaller guy, Cooley really talented

But you know six foot 191 that's what he's listed at Keller great player five ten 175 Maselli 511 185 I Think there's just I Think they look at even Dylan Gunther. he's 6'1", 191 and he's still a young guy, but he's only going to be 22 this year.

But I do think they look at that and say, we need a bit of beef here. And like I said, there's more coming I think some of their prospects are bigger but it's hard to win like that in this league and and right now I think Miss Sally is one of the guys who's kind of losing out because of that lack of size. So that's one to watch. Okay, do you got an update regarding the the grievance that the NHLPA filed back in September on behalf of Ryan Johansson after his contract was terminated by the Flyers? Yes, that's being heard. I think Monday, I don't know if it's a one-day thing or it's more than that But that is finally coming to a head this week. That one's being heard All right, did you see who scored the winning goal for the flame Sunday Are you talking about team Canada Four Nations member Joel Hanley?

Yes sir. In case nobody knows what I'm talking about here, when Thomas Harley and Joel Hanley played together in Dallas, I always mixed them up. It's ridiculous. There is no good excuse for this, but I just always did it. And so when I was on the air with Amber talking about Thomas Harling being added to Team Canada, I said, the first time I mentioned his name and said, Joel Hanley, newest member of Team Canada, like on the air live.

And Amber is looking at me like I'm insane. And I couldn't believe I did it, but I've done it many times before. So I laughed when Joel Hanley scored the winning goal. And then the, I actually, I saw this goal happen, and I look at X and the flames are like Nacho scores. And I'm like, who's Nacho?

I just saw him score, and I'm like who's nacho I just saw score and I had no idea who nacho was I had no idea this guy's name is nacho yeah I thought it was Thomas and it makes you feel any better mine mine is another yeah well that was one point back of Vancouver, oh. That last. Tough weekend for the Canucks. Yeah it was. The last five minutes there, San Jose had to kill two penalties

while trying to tie the game and I'm sitting there watching going, like San Jose still looked just as dangerous as if it was even strength the whole time. Like it was four. San Jose outplayed them all night. Yeah. The Flames escaped with that one.

That was a Houdini. Yes. Cadbury has 20 goals. It makes you feel any better. My mind scramble on that with the names is Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgwood and now they play on the same team. Oh, you're in trouble. Yeah. But that's my drill and the Thomas Harley. Should we talk about the hits Sunday? Yeah you know one thing about Vancouver I know there's

a lot of uh Besser talk right now and I do think term is a big issue there. The one thing I always remember about the Canucks is JT Miller, his contract extension came out of nowhere. All of a sudden the Canucks wanted it done and two days later it got done. Kevin Lankenen, that one came out of nowhere. All of a sudden the Canucks wanted that one done and it got done in a day. So that's one thing I always remember with them.

I do think there's a legitimate term issue here, but Vancouver's history is Rutherford can wake up one day and say, okay, we're getting this done. That's the one thing may not happen, but it's the one thing I kind of think about. Yeah, the hits. Yes, the hits Sunday. So what do you want to do first? Zygrass or Sezekes?

Well, I have to think Zygrass is going to hear from the league. Like that's a textbook pick to the head. Yeah. And Rasmussen's hurt. Right. That one wasn't penalized. In game and I give Anaheim credit to like they're making this interesting. So there's six points back. I think they play Vancouver. Is it this week later this week that

could suddenly have some real weight to it. Yes. And Gibson got hurt again. You know, I know everybody's heard my Edmonton-Gibson thing. There's no way Edmonton can do that. They just can't. No. I'm with you. He just keeps getting hurt. So we're wondering if Zygrassis is gonna hear from the league on that one Sazekis meanwhile in the New York Dallas game Gets a match penalty

for an illegal check to the head Yeah, I heard from a couple teams about this They were really curious about that process. So I went back and watched that process again, because someone told me to do it. Said, watch the process, what do you notice about it? So Zeekas hit Bixl, and the official announces The official announce is five minute major. Doesn't say what for. It just says five minute major. And I have no problem with this in the sense of, let's take a look at it. These calls, it's so fast, split second.

Take a look at the play. I don't have a problem with that. Make sure you get the call, right? They give them five minutes for an illegal check to the head. Rule 48. Now, here's the thing about that. If you go to the rule book and you read that rule, it's 48.2, there's a minor penalty. There's no major. You cannot give a major penalty for a legal check to the head. You cannot give a game misconduct for a legal check to the head. There's a minor and a match. 48.5 Match Penalty.

The referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head. And that's where I think Sezekias got himself into a bit of trouble. Well here's the thing. Do you think he attempted to injure Bixl or deliberately injured Bixle? Do you think he did that? No, because I'm not going to try to go into his mind and figure out what he was thinking the exact moment. But there's no

way he was trying to attempt to injure him or deliberately injure him. No, you could argue he was careless. You can argue that you didn't like the hit. People can say whatever they want. I don't have a problem with that. But the way that rule is written is if you're going to give a match penalty for a legal check to the head, it has to be an attempt to injure or deliberately injure. And I don't see that there.

And the reason that I think a couple of teams pointed this out to me is that they said if that becomes precedence, teams are going to finish playoff games with 11 players. Yeah, my only and I agree, like I don't think he was either. My only point and again going back to what you just read there for what's in the rule book look at where his eyes were tracking he wasn't looking at making a play with the puck his eyes were looking at Bixle and I wonder and I wonder if that's why the officials made the call that they did. Whatever the reason. People can give all the reasons they want. I'm sure there's people

out there who didn't like the hit. All of this is fine. It's fine. But you can only call a match penalty for an attempt to injure a deliberate injury. I don't see that there. Now I didn't look at his eyes. I'll just take your word for it here. So clearly, and Sazekis is a big hitter, clearly he wants to deliver a big hit. Yeah, and it doesn't mean he's deliberately trying to injure him. I'm curious to see where that one goes.

Yeah, because I had a couple teams reach out and say, did you see that one? Because we're going to see a lot of that hit in the playoffs and if the standard changes, if that's the standard for the playoffs, that's a big deal. Right. So now how player safety handles it will be. I can't see him getting suspended for that. I can't.

I don't see that at all. That is not a suspendable hit. And also it was a big punishment. It was a close game. Yeah. And he got thrown out of the game and they could have used him. There were a lot of weird things that happened in that game. It was very interesting listening to Patrick W Patrick what the end of the game saying when

that was the when when that tying goal was disallowed because Engvall was in the crease. It was says. If they call it a goal Dallas has to take the risk of challenging but But because they call it no goal, we're the ones that have to. I understood why they called it no goal. I did. But it's just I always like hearing why a coach thinks that or how a coach thinks. Yeah, it's a big swing in those ones. It's a it's a huge one. It really, he's right. It, you

know, it's the risk, it tells you who has the risk. But I thought that was a significant penalty of the Islanders. They lose to Zekes, they lose the game. To me, there's no supplemental discipline coming from that. But I just thought it was interesting how a couple teams pointed out that because the way that rule is written, it's either two minutes or a match penalty. And both those teams said to me they did not think they would be very disturbed. That's my word. If their player was deemed to being deliberately trying to injure someone on that play. Okay, Elliot, before we get to final thought, so it's official. The 2025 NHL draft will be in LA this June, the 27th and 28th, at the Peacock Theater.

Gary Bettman says the first decentralized draft, as we all know, the teams will be remote. Not everyone will be in the same venue as it's been for many, many, many years in the National Hockey League. Betman will be the one announcing the picks now with this new setup and the quote that he had over the weekend. Such a good quote. And remember the clubs asked for this, Betman said. The clubs. He is telling us something. So at the last NHL GM meeting, which was in Toronto around the time of the Hockey Hall of Fame, a couple of managers said to me when they talked about

this upcoming draft, he was using lines like the draft that you guys wanted or this is what you guys wanted. I don't think he likes this. Oh, he's made that clear a few times. And he and in Betman code, he is making sure everybody knows that. When I saw these quotes, I started laughing. So all of the people out there who don't like this decentralized draft, and I don't like it, I've said it, the commissioner has let this happen even though he doesn't like it, which means if, if, and the last, one of the last things I remembered, he let this happen even though he doesn't like it. Which means if, and the last,

one of the last things I remembered he let happen even though he didn't like it was compensation for executives. He said don't give me any trouble. And of course it gave him a ton of trouble. And he canceled it. GM's better get it right this year. One of them was laughing about it with me. He says, man, the first one of us that screws up a pick, we're all going back to the draft.

Yes. Can you imagine? He could set the wrong name or something. He might... I was thinking about this. He might call them back during the draft. Everybody get on a flight, get down here. That's right. The draft has been put on pause until all 32 clubs have arrived in Los Angeles. With all 20 people at your table. Yeah. Yes.

That would be great. By the way, did you see Gavin McKenna's assist over the weekend? Oh my god. Tigers. Boy, he's got 103 points in 50 games. A reminder, he's not draft eligible until next year. 2026. Connor Bredard had 162 in his season before his draft year. It's just incredible what he's doing. And the Tigers are a bit of a wagon there in the WHL this year. But unbelievable. Over 76. I'm very curious where he's going to be playing next year.

Yes. Yeah. We talked about that. Yeah. Going talked about that. Yep. Gonna be interesting. And the NHL's starting to flex their muscles on this too, right? Oh, I can imagine. I can imagine. I think the NHL's gonna say, we're gonna try to sort some of this out. Okay, well with that, let's get to the final final thought which is brought to you by GMC. So the aftermath of this Four Nations face-off. There is an All-Star game scheduled next year on Long Island just prior to the Milan Olympics. So how

do we go back to this All-Star format? One of the funniest parts of me over the last week, Elliott, when we had Canada-US round one on Saturday night coinciding with NBA All-Star weekend, and that was getting ripped to shreds. The four nations were getting praised. And you saw some people, like the Chester, popped out and be like, and this is why the NHL doesn't

write and it was like, well, hold on a sec. Every other year. We've had some bad All-Star games before too. We've been doing the same dang thing that the NBA was doing. So it's not like we've been batting a thousand here for eternity. But how do we go back to another All-Star weekend after what we witnessed over 12 days? So we have one next year. It's sort of the gateway to the Olympics.

It's on Long Island. The Islanders are hosting. I have an idea. No game. No game? No game. Skills competition one night. No game.

Instead you have an NHL convention. One night is the skills competition. They draft, they pick teams. And they do the skills competition. And like the course skills, like we saw in Toronto? Yep. Yep. The rest of it, the next day.

Because there's one reason we have all-star games You know what it is? sponsors the sponsors The sponsors want to spend us the big spenders and you know what that's fine If you're gonna spend a ton of money you want an all-star game. We'll give you we'll give you an all-star experience All right, Steve Mayer You tell him and his gang of crazies, create a convention. Players come for a day.

Comic-Con, but for the NHL. Yeah, NHL Comic-Con. You, you, you, you... Well, two days, I guess. Skills competition, and, two days, I guess. Skills competition and the second day you kiss babies, you do your media, but it's televised. Players, they do roundtables. You know, maybe they do some clinics or drills with fans, young kids.

The Islanders, one of the reasons the Islanders wanted this All-Star game so badly is they're very proud of what they're developing around their new rink. Show it off. Give us stuff to see. You make it like a made for TV fun day. NHL players horse racing at Belmont Park. The jockeys. Yeah. I gotta tell you, I feel bad for the horse that gets Tom Wilson. But I would never play another All-Star game again.

Like I went to the NBA All-Star game when it was in Toronto. When you watch them play and nobody's playing defense against them. Like the way they all can shoot, like it's incredible to watch live. But you watch Kucherov last year you know some guys get into it for the skills but the game is atrocious and the NBA game this year again it was atrocious it's bad I I I really do think all-star games are beyond repair. I agree with you there. So go with a really good skills competition.

And give us. Let the sponsors and the fans. I don't know if mingles the right word, but gets, but gets something from the NHL players. Maybe they go on. Like I said, maybe they all go on the I am willing to hear ideas. Throw them into the thought line. Stop giving me a killer trivia questions on the thought line that make my brain start to whirl like a car engine

breaking down. Oh, but it's so fun. Give us ideas. I know. Give us ideas of what you'd like to do with players at an all-star game. Obviously, clinics is big. Autograph sessions. Yeah, well, especially now with Fanatics in the picture with the league.

Yes. That could be huge. As a matter of fact, you know, I'm glad you said that. Fanatics should be there and let fans design a shirt or something like that. Let them see what they're planning. Like it should be a day long or a two day long, whatever. Players only have to be there for a day. NHL convention. Islanders show off their building. What do you want to show us at your building or around your building? The sponsors get their mix and match. Maybe we have a big gala. You know they get their opportunity to meet the players. One night skills, one day

convention, no game. And this one you can make special because it's the gateway to the Olympics. You can make it Olympic themed. They're all leaving from here. Man, you're a matchmaker this pod and you're a creator. I am a matchmaker and a wedding planner. Oh There you all in one Stop and shop

That's my idea. What kind of flowers? Real or fake real or fake you have to do real Who is it that told us the flowers are really expensive? Oh, we're and you couldn't believe how expensive Yeah, no you just go fake and it looks the same in pictures. Well done. I I'm you've got my attention here, Elliot. And now I'm and don't forget, we've got one next year. We don't have another one. We've basically got one every two years. Next one's 2029. But enough with the All-Star Games. Give us something else.

All right, with that, that's the final thought. Brought to you by GMC. We'll take our first break and come back with a Thoughtline as 32 Thoughts the Podcast rolls on. Stay tuned. All right it's time once again for hockey's favorite safe space, the Thought Line. Elliot, anything on your mind before we get rolling today? Yes, so we had a thought from or a question from a couple weeks ago that I thought we needed to update and so it and you asked someone who upon hearing the pod immediately apologized now I am not naming this individual because a I'm practically a saint B this individual had just woken up from a nap when you reached out to them.

And C, they also got sick. They also got sick. Yes. Plucked drop like start times. Yes, yes. For broadcast. And this individual also, like just like Mika Zubanajad and Josh Morrissey and Kale Makar

This individual was affected by the four nations flu So I am giving him a Gat of Jail free card Because when he heard the pod he realized he gave you a terrible answer. Okay So if you asked about puck drop, or you were interested in that puck drop, he said, the better answer is it depends on the country and the network. Okay. And he apologized and sent a full note of how it works

pucktrock times for regional games are all 08 or 38 depending if it starts at the top of the hour or the bottom of the hour. Canadian National Television Wednesday night hockey the puck drop is at 12. Hockey Night in Canada's prime East game which is 7 East 15. Hockey Night in Canada's prime West game which is at 7 West 7 p.m. Pacific Time is 10 US national TV the ESPN early game is at 10 the ESPN late game is at 45 ESPN also has what's called a slide 5. They can move the late game puck drop back five minutes in the second intermission of their early game. So if they see this is going late they can move it back by five minutes for a second game. TNT single game is 22 and 52. TNT double header, the early game is between 07 and 10.

And the late game is 52. So that is the true answer to your question, not the insanity we provided, I believe, two podcasts ago. Let the record state this here, Elliot, okay? You go back and re-listen to that. The question was why doesn't it start right at what it would say other at seven o'clock, seven 30. That was what I was providing the answer to. And then you went rogue and started throwing specific times out there about if it's a regional game, it's 10 after if it's national, it's this. So I believe this person who reached out to you,

I think didn't want to make you feel bad, shouldered the blame on himself, and gave you the answer after you recklessly threw times out there. Okay, whatever. After the backhand compliment to start, you tried to get an answer, and then go into your explanation. No, no, no, no, no, I am not ripping anybody here. I was actually crediting you, You actually tried to do research.

I was giving you credit. You were trying to do research. And I think this person felt bad. No, no, no. I'm not ripping you. Believe me. If I was ripping you, I would happily do it and I would admit it. This was not a rip job. You tried to do the research. You tried to get the answer. And one of the people at our place who knows gave an unfortunately incomplete answer, but I am giving them a break because like I said, they were attacked by the four nations flu and were out of commission for like three days. So I cannot pummel this person. All right.

I'm sorry I responded so aggressively then. Well, you know what? Like I understand, like you've got a really thin skin. Well, it's from doing this show for the last six months. Ha ha ha. So I also got a note over the weekend from Steve Mears, the play-by-play voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Right, yes.

Because on Saturday, Joseph Labate suited up for the Jackets, and it was nearly eight years he had gone between appearances in the NHL. So he was like, this is a perfect thought line type question. He was wondering where he fit amongst the longest gaps of NHL appearances.

He's way off the top, but he provided the list here. There's a long list of names that have gone, He's way off the top, but he provided the list here. There's a long list of names that have gone, at least seven year gaps between games in the NHL. Mo Roberts, the longest, 17 years in between games. 17 years? 17 years. This is back, so the last game, 1933, and then again in 1951.

Oh he would have been 27 when he played in 33-34. Wow. And what's that about 46 when he played again later on with Chicago. So, Mirzy went on to explain he served in World War II. And then as he came back, he was working as an assistant trainer. And he had to come into a game because of injury. Is a goalie. I see. I didn't realize that. So yeah, I see it. So Mo Roberts played in 1941 and 42 with the Pittsburgh Hornets and the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. Then there's a gap that would fit with World War II service. And then there's 24 games here with the Washington Lions of the Eastern Hockey League in 1945-46.

An appearance in the Ontario Senior Hockey League in one game with the Blackhawks 20 minutes in 1951-52. Wow. Crazy. I'm glad you didn't make me guess that one because this pod would have been five years long until I figured out how to get to Mo Roberts. It would have been, you would have been the same gap as he went between NHL appearances.

Mo Roberts from Waterbury, Connecticut. Monday's pod is a little late. You'll understand when you hear it. Yes. Yes. Sorry, gang. We're still recording. So Steve, thank you for sending that in over the weekend. Is there anybody more recent that you saw on that list

or so he was the third player to have a gap around that length in the 2000s. So it's actually it's quite a long list. Miko Koskinen went over seven years the goalie. Yeah. JP Cote. Jonas Anderson. Hmm. Over eight years in between games. So those were the other ones in the 21st century. That's a thanks. Thanks very much, Steve. Appreciate that. I like that the thought line has achieved such status that a guy like Steve Mears, who's really talented guy, is broadcasting his own games and wondering how it would work. Yeah, and he went and got down to the bottom of it himself, so appreciate it. He didn't even have Sportsnet stats. Steve's too smart for Sportsnet stats.

Yes, he was kind enough to send along the info. That's great, Steve. Thanks very much. Yeah, okay, here we go. Ben and Henry from Minnesota. Hey, Dom Griffin, Kyle and Elliot. My son Henry and I are big fans of the pod. Listen to them together in the car. Appreciate you doing that guys. When we were listening to the Brock Nelson interview, and we learned that Billy and

Dave Christian were a father son duo to win gold medals in the Olympics, made us wonder, are there any father son duos to win the medals in the Olympics made us wonder are there any father-son duos to win the Stanley Cup as players? I know the Bowmans have won but not as players. Keep up the great work, love the pods. It has happened. You have any guess to how many father-son duos? Does it count that Mark Howe won it as an executive? No, we are just strictly players. Okay. Well, I mean, looks funny.

Matthews won, but Keith never did. Sill won, but Sill Jr. never did. All correct. I think the Patricks would have won. Yes. Oh, wait a sec. Obviously, the Hulls. Yep.

So I'm going to say, I'll say seven. Oh my God. No way. It's seven. That was like your guess. That was a, yes. That was a pure guess. I take no credit for that.

Pure guess. Pure guess. They remember the the Friends episode where they play the trivia game. Yes. How many how many kinds of different towels? Yes. Yeah. Monica categorizes her towels. How many categories are there? Everyday use, fancy, guest, fancy guest, two seconds. Oh, 11? 11, unbelievable, 11 is correct.

Yes! Yes! Yes! That's a great episode, they win the apartment. That's a fantastic episode. Yes. Okay, so we've got the Hulls and we've got the Patricks. Yeah, so the most decorated father-son duo,

Emile Butchbouchard and Pierre Bouchard. Nine Stanley Cups between those two. Oh, you know what? That's a good one. So we've got the Patricks, we've got the halls. We've got the bouchards Yeah We've got the Connakers bingo

Yeah I can't remember how it all works, but there was I think it was was Brian Connaker one in 1967 and the other Conachers had won earlier. Yeah, Lionel won too. Alright, another one. Think early day Edmonton Oilers. Early early day. I guess we don't need to go through all of them.

He just started to go on a roll. I was more concerned about how many there were. No, I want to, so we've got the Hulls, we've got the Patricks, we've got the Conakers. We've got the Bouchards. The Bouchards. I believe he was the first captain in Euler's history. Blair Mc- I thought, oh like WHA or NHL? I guess it would have been NHL.

Was the first captain in Euler's history, I thought that was Lee Fogelin. So that's the name. I guess technically their first captain was Ron Chipperfield. Okay. But my mind was Lee Fogelin. So Lee and Lee Jr. both have a Stanley Cup to their name. Oh geez, I never would have thought of that. You know, I always remember Fogelin because I think Blair McDonald had the captaincy at one point there, but Fogelin was the one who gave it to Wayne Gretzky, I remember. Yeah. Okay. So I wouldn't have got that. So that's five.

That's five. The foots have cups. Oh, of course, yes. That's six. And there's one more. And what era are we talking about here? Forgot about the Foots. What era for the last one? Early early days.

Okay. Want to give me a team? Toronto. Okay. And the Ottawa Senators. That's really early. Yes. Like we're talking about one-eyed Frank McGee early.

Alright, give it to me. Jack and Fleming Mackell. Over my head. You know, I it to me. Jack and Fleming Mackell over my head. You know, I'll admit this. I remember Fleming Mackell, his name is a player, but I would never have remembered his father played in the NHL and was Jack. I wouldn't have gotten that. That's a great trivia question. Yeah.

Great trivia question. Ben and Henry, thank you for the submission. All right, we go to Andrew now from Southern California. Hey fellows, about the discussion in last Friday's episode in regards to the idea that the hurricanes could trade Miko Rantinen at the deadline, it got me thinking. I'm pretty confident in the answer, but I just want to hear it confirmed. There is no way the NHL would approve any kind of trade where Rantinen is moved back to the avalanche.

Is that right? Keep up the good work and go Kings Go. And I hope the Kings get a solid winger at the deadline. Yes, there's a rule in the CBA where if you've been traded as part of a retained salary transaction which Ranton was through Chicago you are not allowed to be traded back to the team that you originally traded from. Bingo. As you can imagine there were a few submissions over the weekend Elliot with regards to the Ranton scenario and. And we have another one here. It's a voicemail. Dawson from Leduc, Alberta. I just had a quick question about retaining salary.

And with Meikle Rantinen with the hurricanes and already at 50% retained, could Carolina, could somebody trade for Rant in and then get theoretically a hundred percent of his salary retained if they use a third team with Carolina and has that ever been done before like is it possible for a team to Have a player and not be paying them Thanks, Dawson Andrew. I can tell you guys are fantasy football sharks. I would not want to be in the same league as you guys, although I was like that too. I used to try to bend rules as much as I could. We already answered Andrew's question, no you can't do that, there's a rule. And Dawson, the

same thing goes for your scenario, no you can't do that there's a rule a salary can only be retained twice so the minimum you can pay is 25% so you couldn't have Carolina trade him somewhere else and they keep slicing the onion till eventually it gets to zero it can go to 50 It can go to 50, it can go to 25, and then that is it. Wishful thinking for those. Look at all these rule benders, man. Hey Kyle, like just like I figured that was right up your alley. Bend the rules. Oh yeah, I love it. I love it. I respect the effort. I do. I have to say that, yes. Yes. All right, Dylan from Saskatchewan.

You guys were saying Thomas Harley's brother was cheering for USA until he found out Thomas was playing. That was his brother's buddy, right? It was his brother's buddy. Yeah, it was his brother's buddy, yes. That's right, yes. Yes, so on Wikipedia it says he chose to represent Canada because he was raised Canadian.

For dual citizens How does it get decided who you play for? Do you have to declare a team or? Do you wait for invites from both countries and then decide are you stuck with that country forever? So there is basically when it comes down to is There is basically when it comes down to is You there comes to a point where you have to pick a lane yeah, okay I believe it's at the u18 level if you're representing your country at that age Yeah, like some of these tournaments even though they're international. They aren't official like double IHF tournaments Even though they're international, they aren't official like double IHF tournaments.

Basically what happens is if you get to a international ice hockey federation elite level tournament, like the world championships or the world juniors, things like that, those big ones, you have to decide which country you're gonna play for. Like they don't make you do this when you're like 14. Basically once you get to one of the major double IHF events, that's the simplest way to say it, you have to pick a lane. You have to say from here on in, I'm representing Canada or I'm representing the United States, or you pick, you know, whichever the countries you have to decide from, you have to pick one. That's why the Joey DeCord thing was so interesting earlier this year, that he is, had never played for any of these countries at a major international event. So, he was a free agent.

And the wild thing about it was, DeCord was supposed to play for the U.S. last year at the World Championships, which would have locked him in, but he got hurt and I can't remember if he got surgery or he just needed to rest. He didn't have to play. He didn't play so technically he was still open now there are options for later in life to change it and basically And basically, it comes down to, do you switch countries, become a citizen in the country, and you have competed for that country in that league for a long time. Okay.

And I think you only get to do it once. Like you can't become this mercenary that constantly switches countries. In the Olympics a few years ago, I did weightlifting. That was one of the sports I did. You competed or you covered it. That's pretty funny, Kyle. Yes, I have been doing some lifting lately, but not enough to get me into an Olympic level competition. That's pretty good, actually.

That's good for a laugh. And they had a phase where some of the Middle Eastern countries wanted to win more Olympic medals and they basically bought weightlifters from places like Romania or Bulgaria, countries that were very good at that, and they gave some of those weightlifters Middle Eastern names and they competed for those countries. I do remember this happening. Basically in hockey, you get one chance to do it, but it means you have to be a citizen of the country you want to move to, and you have to have competed at a high level in that

country for several years. Yeah. And on the flip side of Thomas Harley, you've got, I mean, Jake Sanderson, who, born in the U.S., father Jeff Canadian, and Brett Hall. Yeah. But Sanderson played a lot of his youth years in Calgary in that area, he went to that edge school where Landon Dupont played before now plying his trade in Everett of the WHL. And he ends up

going through the US program plays with them the U 17s, U 18s. And at that point becomes going through the US program, plays with them in the U-17s, U-18s, and at that point becomes part of the US program and represents the USA at international events as time has gone on, was great for them at the Four Nations, but I'm sure some Canadian hockey fans are feeling maybe he was one that perhaps got away. Watching him play, how much would you love to have him playing for Canada? Another one who is, you're going to see, it's going to be really weird when you look at

Finland's lineup at some of these international events and you see Brad Lambert, because that doesn't sound like a really Finnish name, but? But he was born there his dad played there his mother is from Finland and he is competed for Finland at the World Junior So you don't think it'll be too long until he's potentially competing for Finland at either world championships or four nations or Olympics Okay, Tom from Minnesota. Hey guys with Michael Grandlin speaking of Finns getting a lot of talk lately deservedly So I wanted to mention an interesting Superstition or routine he has every game He uses black tape on his stick for the first and second periods But always switches to white in the third and if it goes to overtime, I've always thought this was interesting

the third and if it goes to overtime. I've always thought this was interesting. It's as if the white tape is some kind of good luck charm. It worked against the Swedes in overtime at the Four Nations face-off as well as it did ten years ago against the Avalanche in the playoffs back in 2014. Also gave the Canadians quite a scare last Monday too. My question to you both is what strange gearisms have you noticed throughout the league and which ones stick out the most in your opinion? First time reaching out, big fan of the pod and the hockey night coverage, keep up the good work.

PS Minnesota loves Canada. Thank you Tom. Thank you Tom. I think though one of the things you really notice a lot is the I mean shoulder pads is one Sydney Crosby has a pretty famous jock That has been joked about several times I think sticks

Is a big one lies Patterns the flex nowadays flex. Yeah flex like you remember we we remember talking to Connor Bedard at the beginning of the year. He's in the low 70s and he even moved it from the high 60s and you could tell he wasn't even crazy about that idea, but he recognized he had to do it, right? Yes. I remember we were talking to somebody in Montreal who said that Bedard, even if it's a percentage point difference in terms of flex, he'll know right away. I believe that.

He's so crazy how much he's dialed into that stuff. So that stuff is always fascinating. You mentioned Crosby. Him and McDavid, I think are, I don't know if they're the only two guys in the league, are one of the few now that still use the old-school Blade holders right like now so many guys have the quick release ones and you see the blades come out at times in games Like they theirs are not wired that way You still need tools to get the blades on and off the blade holders if you want to take them off

I know remember asked sit about it. He said I just I like it. It feels stiffer than the quick release ones, which is wild another stick one Jesper Bratton, I believe Kevin Fiala as well They'll take like an exacto knife along the bottom of their blade after they tape it So it's like the very bottom of the blade the part that touches the ice They peel the tape away from that but there's tape around the rest of the stick just for a little extra glide. Little things like that is wild. I mean helmets was always a big one too. I mean Gretzky and the Jofa helmet, like for years people were like that thing's not safe and he didn't

care and he just wore it because he was comfortable with it. I guarantee to you there's like when I was a kid and I played I had a pair of gloves I loved so much and they just got hacked up and I didn't care I wanted them and finally the league made me they said you can't they said you know it's actually a penalty to have gloves with holes in them yeah oh and you're like Brad Marchand that's great they're like and I was like you understand this is like Adam hockey right and I was like no I really love these and they and they finally they said to me if you go on the ice with those you're gonna get penalties so I had to get a new pair of gloves.

Wow. I love that 90s early 2000s era where there was such a gear boom like there was all these different companies and brands to choose from and a lot of it you could see at the NHL level. Gosh the selection and just different looks and styles were tremendous back then. Okay, Ben from Toronto. Hey guys, my question is about camera operators for the broadcasts. Watching the Four Nations, I was struck when the camera pivoted to show the reaction of Dylan Larkin's family. My question is, how do they know to find the family? Are they given a section with the loved ones and just know what the family looks like? Are camera operators handed a seating chart with all the family members beforehand? How does this work? Thanks, love the pod."

So actually for this event, Elliot, they were, all the teams involved were quite helpful where we got kind of a list beforehand and there was in this case family seating sections like for the different teams a lot of the family members and relatives that were on the guest list were all for the most part in one section so that helped and there was just a whole list of all the different players like last name okay section 107 row 13 seats 14 to 17 for example then, so our production would get that, and then it's just about on our end of things, knowing what Dylan Larkin's dad, for example, would

look like. And when, you know, usually it'd be during a commercial break when our camera would do its searching and through the seats and go to that part of the building where we have the seat location for and okay is that his dad? Yes we're confident and that is that is him and then you kind of go from there. Otherwise during the regular season you know you got to kind of dig a little bit more just with the given teams where say if you've got a player making his NHL debut and they've got family or it's a player coming back

to their hometown so you know they're gonna have a bunch of family on hand, then the team is usually pretty good about helping out, okay, where are their seats located, but that's all for the most part worked out beforehand, and then it's just about, you know, knowing what they look like and who they are, and sometimes too, Elliot, as you'll know,

we'll send a runner up from our production group up to the seats you know during warm-ups or something just to check in with a family and just say hey you know we want to make sure your Elliot Friedman's family members here to watch him play tonight and make sure that we're not showing the wrong people by accident. Great answer Kyle. The other thing I would say is at the draft we know where everybody is. At the draft we know where all the families are, who's sitting where.

That way, for example, when Seneke gets drafted third overall by Anaheim and he's shocked and you get the great reaction shot. It's because the truck knows the pick and they tell the cameraman and we have a list of where everybody is and the cameraman is focused on the family for when the announcement is made and that's all I'm discussing on this subject. Actually, I'm glad you brought up the draft because that reminded me, I mean, sometimes you just got to go on a bit of a fishing expedition because we were told that year, last year in Vegas, that Steve Nash was going to be there to watch Macklin Sellebrini go first overall. And I was trying to

nail down where he was seated. And all I got was we think he is in the 200 level somewhere in the speed. Well the thing is he wouldn't be part of the family right? Exactly. Like if he was with the family he we would know where he was. I know I know so he wasn't in this case and... Why do you have to make things so much more complicated? No I'm just it's a different example sometimes you just gotta go on a wild goose chase and so I did I was like I'm going up to the two-hider level and thankfully it was like the second section I scanned I'm like there he is so he went and said hey and he ended up coming on with us after Macklin was picked it was he was very kind to do that. There's many ways to

try to find family and friends in the crowd at sporting events. Okay, one final one. Another Ben. First one is from Toronto. This one's from Ontario. But not Toronto. Maybe not. Hey, Elliot, Kyle and Dom, after seeing Carey Price around Montreal for the Four Nations Tournament, it reminded me of the Stanley Cup final in 2021. Montreal went from being in the cup final that year to finishing dead last the following season. My question is, has this ever happened the other way around?

A team finishing dead last one season only to make the cup final the following year? The answer is yes. It has happened. It's been a long time since it's happened, but it has happened. Are we talking original six? Yes. I would make sense. Right, less teams to climb over.

Yeah, that would make sense. It's happened twice. I wonder if it's one of those years the Rangers or the Bruins made it. So very good. The Rangers, 1948-49, dead last. I wouldn't have gotten that specifically. I wouldn't have gotten that specifically. Oh, so 1949, they were last.

In 1950, they lost the Cup in Game 7 overtime. Is that the one? Yes. Well, they lost the Cup in Game 7 overtime? Is that the one? Well they lost in 50. Yeah, because that's the only time the Cup has been decided in Game 7 overtime. The only time. Oh, good memory there. Yeah, Pete Babando, Red Wings.

That was the first time it's happened, and then nearly 10 years later, the Toronto Maple Leafs, dead last in 57-58 and they too lost in the cup final the following year in 59. That was what that was the second last of the Canadians five in a row. Right. The record five in a row. You've got good memory for the 50s. Yeah, I just, uh, I just remember that even though it was 20 years before I was born. Yeah, I'm glad you pointed that out.

I'm sure people were wondering. That's good. All right. That was a heck of a thought line. Thanks for playing along, Elliot. And thank you all for submitting either via voicemail at 1-833-311-3232 or by email at 32thoughts at sportsnet.ca. We'll take our one final break and come back to wrap this thing up. 32 Thoughts, the podcast continues after this. All right, welcome back. Before we go, a couple things we wanted to mention. First off, a couple of colleagues in the hockey space. Jesse Cohen of the All the Kings Men podcast. Elliot, we were interviewed by both Jesse and Zach Dooley when we were out in Los Angeles back in September. Also Jason Mertitis of the Flyers Daily podcast. Those two

gentlemen going through some health challenges right now and we just wanted to say we are thinking of them and wish them all the best as they make their way through this. Hang in there boys, we're all with you. So Sunday night in Los Angeles, Elliot, it was the Skate for LA Strong benefit hockey game with the proceeds going to the relief efforts for those devastating wildfires in LA back in January. It was a star-studded event, first of all. There was a lot going on over the course of those games. Congrats to our teammates. A-Fridge, Ron and Kevin were out there. They won.

They won, Team Red, coached by Vince Vaughn and Canadian Colby Smulders. Yes. A shutout victory to claim the championship. Looked like a fun night. How I met your mother and the Avengers. You betcha. Married to Taryn Killam of Amanda's Show fame amongst others. That one's over my head. I'm sorry I don't know what the Amanda's Show is. I don't mean to belittle or denigrate anything, I just don't know what that is. No, that's okay. When you start spouting off stats

from what went on in like the 1958 season, like that's over my head too. As much as I try to be in the loop of all the things that happened before I entered this world, some of those are past me, yeah. So it was a dynamite Kid show once upon a time, but it would have been well after your time. I have to say this.

It was kind of wild watching BX and Edler on the blue line a bit. Yeah, just like old times, hey? It was amazing. The only thing that I kind of missed, and by the way, I thought they did a great job. There were some times it was kind of difficult to figure out who was talking because there were like five people screaming over each other.

But everybody was enthusiastic. Everybody was energetic. I really have to shout out Kevin and Ron. It's been a long couple weeks through the four nations and we flew home on Friday. Kevin actually went to go drop the pocket of Burlington know we flew home on Friday. Kevin actually went to go drop the pocket of Burlington Cougars game on Friday night. Then we worked Saturday and Kevin and Ron I think had 8am flights on Sunday to LA to be there in time. Like those guys put in a lot of people at our work put in a real shift over the past couple weeks

but they made an extra day out of it, and Ron has to come home. The only thing I really wanted to see is Kevin's son Cole, who's become a pretty good player. I would have loved to have seen him come on for a shift with Kevin. And I guarantee you, they would have made it work. Just, Cole, throw on the equipment,

go out and play a shift or two with your dad as his defense partner. And plus like Cole, you would have been the conscience of that pair while BX was throwing pizzas up the ice. Yes. Well, that was double championship for the BX family over the weekend, right? So Cole and Fairmont Academy win their Division I high school championship on Saturday. And then Kevin's team red victorious in LA on Sunday. More winning for the BXs. More BXWs.

Some of the players there had some pretty good moves, too. I was pretty impressed. Snoop Dogg was hilarious. Danny DeVito was pretty funny. Yeah. Will Ferrell was pretty impressed. Snoop Dogg was hilarious. Danny DeVito was pretty funny. Yeah. Will Ferrell was into it. Yeah, there was a lot of voices going on during the game. There was some good mic moments too. Yeah, it just seemed like a fun night for a great, great cause. So hopefully they raised a whole whack of money for what's important out there. Great to see how many people came out for it. And as I was saying-

Well, I think the other thing too is they put it together so quickly, right? Yes. And they did a really nice job. Like it was a really nice job. And it was a good list of people. Like, you know, I've become, as I've gotten older, I've become a bigger Bieber fan,

just in appreciation for what he's accomplished. And I did get a good laugh out of him fighting Jeremy Roenick. Yes, right, he's come a long way from Chris Pronger plastering him against the glass during the 2017 celebrity All-Star game in that same building all those years ago. We were looking at that pic,

Kevin had never seen that picture before. Really? So yeah, I showed it to him on Saturday night. He'd never seen it. You know, the NHL, the thing I give them credit for was they were like, we're doing this and you throw something together that quickly on this scale. Like there's always going to be things that aren't perfect, but who cares? It's all about do we get it done? And they got it done. It was a really good event.

All right. Well, with that, just a couple of games to keep an eye on the early part of this week. Oh, wait, wait, one more thing. One more thing. Sorry. So by the way, there was one friend of mine said Ron plays with the biggest visor he's ever seen and I was like his His whole face is his career, right? You know, like I'm actually I told him I'm actually surprised. It's not even bigger. He's got to protect his face to be on television He's like, oh, okay, good point. I'm like, what's wrong with you?

Yeah, I recently made the switch back to the cage after years with the visor. Did you really, eh? Yeah, yeah. Well, your face is your career, too. Right, I've got no chance. Jackie Childs, your face. Your face is my case.

Yes, that's good. That is good. Yeah, I didn't need that case. I thought there was no sense because you're going, there's no one to blame but myself if something happens. So yeah, he would have had, Ron had like the Danny Heat Levi's are going and for good reason. Absolutely. Okay, a couple of games to keep an eye on the network the early part of this week for those that want their hockey fix over the next couple of days. Tuesday night the Oilers road trip

continues they try to right themselves against the Tampa Bay Lightning 7 30 Eastern 5 30 Mountain Time that's on Sportsnet 1. Scotiabank Wednesday night hockey this week is an all Canadian affair. The Winnipeg Jets the class of the Western Conference come into Ottawa who have been struggling the last little while will see if they get Brady Kachuck back in their lineup. That one gets underway 630 Eastern the pregame show 7 o'clock for Pacific from

our nation's capital. Elliot have yourself a great week. We'll talk to everyone again on Friday.