32 Thoughts: The Podcast - A Conversation with Marcus Foligno and Marc-André Fleury

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman sits down with the Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno and Marc-André Fleury for an exclusive interview ahead of MAF's final appearance in Montreal.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

Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra AT4X and welcome to a special edition midweek interview pod. So the Minnesota Wild have been in the news this week with the word that they're going to be without Kirill Kaprizov again for around four weeks having that surgery done to take care of the lower body injury. Injuries have played a role in their results of late but they have still been putting together a rather impressive season. Two of the great personalities on that team and in the entire league for that matter are Marc-Andre Fleury and Marcus Fellino. Now before facing the Maple Leafs on Scotiabank Wednesday night

hockey and before Fleury's final trip to the Bell Center in Montreal for his career, Elliot had a chance to sit down with both of them together. Now normally we would tack this on to our regular Friday pod but the conversation was so good in spite of Elliot we didn't want to wait to release this one So come for Foligno's clever Happy Gilmore reference, stay for Flurry's thoughts on his good buddy, Sidney Crosby. We hope you enjoy it. Here's Foligno and Flurry on 32 Thoughts. Alright, let's start with the easy one. We've got two members of the Minnesota Wild right next to each other. So Mark, we'll go with you first. Mark Andre, you've got to say something

about Marcus Foligno that nobody knows about him. Ooh, geez. I think his attention span is pretty short. So don't make the questions too long. You always try to ask me questions on my phone. Exactly, because you need distraction always. You can't just sit there, you're always like, talking on the phone. Exactly. Because you need distraction always. You can't just sit there.

You're always like talking on the phone. I'll give it to you. I'll give it to you. That's a good one. And no one on the team is worse, I assume? No. No. I know.

I mean, Bogle would watch you day to day. We laughed. It's a day on social media these days. You just flip through everything as fast as you can. On to the next. So I'll keep this question short. Is it my turn? Yeah, tell us one thing about him.

We don't know. Oh man. I mean, everyone knows that he does a lot of pranks. People don't realize or know how many times he actually looks at himself in a mirror. I think the amount of times he fixes his hair and looks at his nice pearly white teeth is kind of crazy. Just in the elevator all the way down here. I was looking at the reflection of the elevator, the doors closed, and then there's Flower fixing his hair looking at it as well.

I was like, no one realizes. That's why his hair is so good is he's always putting it in place every five seconds. I think it's just a lack of confidence. I just didn't know there was going to be a little camera or something. If it makes you feel any better Marc-André my wife says I cannot pass by a mirror without looking at myself so I completely understand where you are coming from. I totally get it. You know, you're coming here to Toronto, you're going to Montreal on Thursday night, the night after. And you know, Marcus, one of the things that someone told me is that the wild players, the other ones really appreciate, like Mark could have gone anywhere. He could have gone anywhere to finish out his career and that you guys really appreciate the fact that you're getting the chance to watch this last year and everything is going through with him. Is that true? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I

think when you have a guy that's invested in your team that way it's it sparks a fire on everyone. So I mean it's, I mean he's, he, yeah, like you said he could have gone anywhere and I think the biggest comment for our group, what I'm proud of is that, you know, he likes our group. And when he came here in the trade and got to know everyone, he felt comfortable right away. And that's not tapping our shoulders as a leadership group. But I mean, it's pretty special to hear that coming from a guy like him. So that's why it's special this year. I mean, we obviously know what's on the line and why it's special this year I mean we obviously know

what's on the line and know it's his last season we'll see but it's just one of those things where you want to you want to play for this guy and you want to you want to make it a memorable season. I've heard you say already you're not there's no way that you're coming back for another year after this one I have to follow up after hearing Marcus say, we'll see. Is there a we'll see here? My dream is that we win the Stanley Cup and I get the whole chant. One more year.

One more. No, maybe if that happens, I'll, I'll reconsider, but, um, I think I've been, I'm, I'm in a good headspace right now. I think I'm trying to enjoy the season as much as I can. Like you said, I feel very fortunate to be on a team that's such a good group of guys, too. It makes it fun every day. We've been winning more this season than last year, too, so that's more fun, too. But I think I'm still holding on to my thoughts. more this season than last year too, so that's more fun too, right? Yeah, but I think I'm still holding on to my thoughts. I don't know if you walk from your hotel in Montreal to the rink, but what it's going to be like to walk into that particular building one last time.

Yeah. I don't know, it's weird. I feel like it's just another team on the road. They have so many good memories from different building, playoff battles and games around the league, but Montreal is special for me. It was my favorite team growing up, always cheered for them.

And to have my friends and family, you know, so many of them at the game that day too will make it super special too. I think you're expecting a good number on the board that night too, right? Oh yeah. He'll be 29 with a little dash next to that number and we'll see. There'll probably be a little couple slots on how many you got to fill in there. I think I don't think it won't it'll be just I don't think he'll be alone up on that board that night for sure. So if you were sitting here alone right now what would Marc Andre be doing to your room? I'm smart though like I stay clear of what the problem is. He's rubbed off on Philip Gussis.

And Gussie's this sneaky, sweet, interesting cat. The puzzles. And I've had my shoelaces upside down last time it just he's starting to do stuff to me yet So now I'm thinking but now I'm thinking him, but I haven't done anything in the flower So why would he do this to me? So now the gusts he's playing mind games with me But it's all because of him of what he's shown him so if I was alone Up my room would probably be in the entrance of the elevator for For sure, but I stay clear of flower. I know those tricks and

He got me good at a Halloween party last year I think it was about to leave and and it was snowing we were at this place for a Halloween party and I come out to my car and My wife was pregnant at times she was driving and then There it is just completely covered in toilet paper and it's snowing so now it's all wet and sticky and I'm trying to get the windshield wipers going and now the the toilet paper is wrapped around my windshield wipers now I'm like honey let's just drive home for six minutes and get the hell out of here and there this guy he is he was dressed up as a him and his wife

one is Edward scissorhands but he was the the bush like the hedges yeah so he went outside for a little bit and blending with the hedges that were actually outside so I think when he was outside he was the one that did it so I have my I think we checked the cameras at the place after we found out but that's it that's the one and done I said I'm not I'm not dealing with this guy that that's the the first prank he ever pulled on me I don't know what's next but Well, you got me first in you That's a problem. You give me the I thought it was more of a celebration

Still stings in your eyes Put a rookie on that kid So will you you won't fire back? You'll be like I can see defeat and I'm gonna put a rookie on that kid. So will you, you won't fire back. You'll be like, I can see defeat and I'm not. Yeah, smart. Yeah, yeah. You always go out for the guy that can't deal with it, right? So that's like, it's like Brandon Duhame last year, right?

Yes. He's always got you like, he loved that he would always get fired up after flower pole prank or do something. And it just build up, build up, made it worse, made it worse. So I'm like, you know what, you just just laughing off and you just say good job and you stay away from it. I've always been curious, like what's your best one ever? I love the Ryan Whitney fish one. That's a great one in his car. But

You put fish in his car? His brand new car. Oh my God. I mean, Duhame, you put his car on blocks. Yeah, I think that one was my way. The fish. You got a jacket up. They get some jacks and then the right size lug nuts to like put some money into these pranks. That's what's crazy about

it. You go to Home Depot and buy a car jack. Yeah, I like those ones. Because I love it to help to doing it. The bedrooms and all hallway had some help. I think when you're a few guys doing things, you know what, you just get a good chuckle on the way. But I like the Brandon one though, with his car. I had a good laugh doing it. Now do you have any, before you retire, do you say I've got one great one left in me

that you've always wanted to do? No, taking the wheels off was the one I was thinking for a little bit. I was like, I'll take somebody's wheels off at some point, you know? And I did, so I'm happy that worked out. Yeah, to be honest, I don't have much in the... You like flood someone's basement or something. I don't know, something crazy. Or is there someone you've never pranked that you're like, before I retire, I have to

do it? Oh, who is it? One guy? No, no. You ever prank the owner of a team? Right to the top. I should get daily some time. No, usually I always went for the young guys

or somebody did something to me, right? Mm-hmm. Tried to one-hop him, you know, but... Yeah, I don't have anybody on my list right now. No. No, I don't watch them. Everyone's learning. Don't do it.

We got some smart ones on the team this year. Don't do it. So, I was curious. you guys watch a lot of hockey You guys love hockey last Friday night you guys you're at home You're playing Calgary on Saturday and the news breaks that Ranton is going to Carolina What's it like for an NHL team when news like that starts to seep out like what's it like on your group chat? What do you guys say to each other? I mean, yeah, I mean there's definitely conversation. I mean if you're shocked a little bit just because of the

The caliber of player that's being moved from one team to the next um And we've we seen colorado a lot. So that's the thing you're playing against ranted in a lot so I think it's more the conversation on that side of like a thank god he's out of the central division. But B, it's just like, you know, things, it's just the, you get a little bit of jolt of like this is our world that we live in, right? Like you got to, you don't know, nothing's solidified, nothing's, you know, set in stone. You know, you've got guys that can always get moved.

So just kind of understanding of our job even more that, you know, that's just nature of our business and that's gonna happen. And you know, you just, you're always trying to, you know, you see teams bulk up. I think that's another thing too, is you always wanna be in that position of a team wanting to do that,

rather than the other way, right? You've missed some times of missing playoffs and you're the team that's selling guys like that and it sucks. So, you know, I've been around the deadlines where you add flour to the team and it's like, oh my God, yeah, we're doing something. This is awesome.

So, that also kicks in the gear where you want to be in a position as a team to? Want to bring guys in like that. What do you think of when you hear that stuff? Yeah, a lot of Marcus Maybe they're gonna as a fan on the other side like I love hockey too. Yeah No, come on But I don't know you think like who won the trade like, you know, our rent ends going over there Chicago's retained money moving Oh, they only get a third round pick right? I'm like

To me didn't see much. Right, but then they were like, how does this work? Yeah, I don't know I Like I think it's exciting. Trade deadline is not as exciting when you're the one that's going to get moved, right? It's a little more nerve wracking. That's go through your head and some moving parts, you know, with families and moving around, right? But as a fan, I always think it's exciting to see a trade in a big trade like that too. And, um, just trying to analyze who got the best of, of that trade. All right.

So how happy are you that Renton is no longer in the central division? Yeah. Um, not to take anything away from, uh, Nikas and Drury, but, uh, Renton is a good, he's a good player, big guy too. Like when he stands in front, like he's, he's a big dude, big guy too. When he stands in front, he's a big dude. It's tough to see the puck, tough to find around him. And obviously, he had good chemistry with MacKinnon. And yeah, it was not easy to stop all the time.

That's not it, too. It's like you have that duo, right? And now you take that one away. It's weird to see you go and play in Colorado, right now you take that one away. It's just it's weird like to see you go in playing Colorado you got McKinnon. Yeah, but it's really like I always Respect ranting because I just think that he carries a lot of the load that I think people underrated in that fact like people I mean majority of it see it but you know that you realize how good he is And how much you know, he helps McKinnon too in some ways.

So that's crazy just seeing like, I mean, Netrus, like you said, is a really, really good player. But it's just, it's going to be weird not seeing Ranton and McKinnon together coming over the boards and power play and things like that. You know, the thing that really stood out to me was, so we ran the clips of McKinnon, him talking and Kevin Biaxel walked into the studio after we saw those and he was like I don't know if I've ever seen a player like that upset after a trade And I was wondering if that resonated with you guys like you guys have been moved you guys have seen other people moved

Like if you ever had something where you've seen a player look like that after a deal I think it's I think it's just I mean for me I think it's diff, I mean, for me, I think it's different because I think when you win a championship, like you go through that grind with that guy, so you become really close and I'm sure McKinnon and Renton, they won a championship together. So I think their relationship's at a different level.

Like, you know, I think it's just when you go through the battles with someone and they're that great of a player, to see them move on has got to be really difficult. So I can see that sense. And like I talked about, they're kind of the duo face of Colorado right now. So, or was. And I can see like, yeah, why he's down.

But from a standpoint of any trades like that, you get buddies that get traded for sure. But I think it's a little bit different if it's someone you've been through for a decade with that moves on and you're kind of stuck back Mark Andre any of the ones that you've seen that really stood out to you remind you of that? Yeah I'm just trying to remember I feel like there's been a you know many years of it but I think the hard part is always like Marcus said like losing friends you know

you see the guy every day right you win the cup with him or you get so close to each other and then he's gone and you don't see each other for so long. But I think one that might have been probably crazy was at Jordan Stahl's wedding. I think most of the team was there and then, yeah, gets a call, gets moved to Carolina. Who's on his wedding day? and then gets a call gets moved to Carolina. Who's on his wedding day?

Crazy. Yeah, so it's like all the joy of the wedding, right? All the guys are there, but then the sadness, you know, cause we had one together and he was obviously drafted in Pittsburgh and we grew up together and stuff, right? He's such a great guy too. And so I thought that one was tough, yeah. Probably had to rip up the checks and write new ones or something like that at that point in time.

For the moving expenses or something like that. That's not the boosted down a bit. Not on our team anymore, buddy. So what's with the Folinos and the Shens? I went back and I counted eight times, I think. I said to Luke in the box after we fought, I said, I think when we're all set and done, when we're all retired, we're going to go on a golf trip for a weekend, the Shens and the Folinos. And he said, absolutely. You know what?

They're kind of like us, right? I think they're just, they're built that way of good character guys, good guys that want to stick up for teammates and stuff and that's how we're raised. It just seems to be that we clash on some certain nights, but always respect those guys. Luke's always willing. I played against him right when I came in the league and he was a heavy hitter. I think he was in Philadelphia when I came in the league and he was a heavy hitter. I think he was in Philadelphia when I came in. And then Braden too.

I played World Juniors with Braden. So I haven't fought Braden and I choose not to. But him and my brother, it sounds like they're the ones that tangle. But they're just both blue collar boys that I know Braden obviously from World Juniors and just really good guys so I can see how Lucas too but they're just guys that when they play hockey they're going to show up. You know it must be you say you choose not to like you guys play on fierce rivals, you both play really tough games like it must be hard sometimes in the heat to say you know I

I really prefer not to do this. Yeah I don don't know. I never looked at Braden as like, I'm not saying that. He's more up there than I am. But I just feel like he's the captain of their team and plays a lot of crucial situations. And there's more things that he does effective. And we never really kind of butt heads in that situation where maybe someone got hit dirty or anything like that. It's always been, not to say I fought tougher guys

on that team, but there's been some guys that they've had on that team that's been a little bit tougher so run into those guys but Braden just knows how to hold his own but hey we're still playing never say never but we'll see. Still a time. Yeah still time. Yeah still time. I wanted to ask both you guys like Mark all the years you've been around you're coming up on 900 games now, Marcus, and you know, like, you guys have seen the league change, like things that were the case before aren't now, and you know, we're headed into like new eras now all the time, new different players. Like I wonder, what do you guys think have been the biggest changes since you came in?

And is there one thing you both would like to see? Like with everything we're looking at where the games going is there something that you both think is important that people should remember to keep hockey great? I think to me the biggest changes is the speed since I started Just the way the guys played all quickly moved they moved the puck around and the sticks too obviously. I think when I started, the third line was, they put it in, they grinded, physical line, the fourth line, a lot of guys would fight. Guys were still playing with wood sticks, you know. So some guys had good shots, had good clapper and stuff. But nowadays, everybody, all the D-men all the fours it every day get so much they lean on the stick and the puck comes quick so I think that was the

only biggest challenge maybe as a goalie it's just to always be ready it doesn't matter what they're shooting from like it's it's coming off the stick quick yeah I think I think that like I mean that's that's for far he's got to deal with a lot of that new stuff the new things that come in the league with sticks and equipment but I mean I think the biggest thing is yes speed and skill like these kids nowadays are coming in and it's it's you know 24 7 365 what they're doing on the ice like it's it's not like you know you take a month off. These kids are skating. They're doing skills sessions in the summertime.

And it's just so much more of a possession game, I feel like. When I first came to the game, I feel like Detroit was the team that played possession hockey. And I feel like now you're getting a lot of that from a lot of teams now where it's, let's not dump it in. Let's try to control it over the blue line or take it back if we have nothing like I feel like when I came in It was like oh you're playing the Red Wings like good luck I could try to get the puck back from them like that's what they want right if you're if you're for if you're forcing the Dump you're having a good game. So That to me is like the strategic of the game to is changed a lot

And that comes from like the third and fourth lines have changed. Everyone's gonna try to contribute offensively some way somehow. We talked about secondary scoring is so key now but that's the biggest thing and obviously you know coming from being a third and fourth line guy I mean it just the fighting is a lot less in a sense of how many guys can do it on a team. I think you're always gonna have, I mean you ask like what you want to instill or keep in this game. I think you just want the passion.

I think if you have the passion in the game, I think you're gonna have those like run ins and those those heated games. They're so much fun to play in that, you know, it's not always about fighting, but you just want to see the emotion come out, right? I think that's always gonna be something there But I mean it's amazing to see like the superstars now and what they can do The way these guys skate like flower said it's it's it's insane To how quick these guys are on their feet and their edges. It's it's impressive

is there anything you think like the game needs? Or like, you know, some people talk about playoff system and now we've got international hockey coming back. Is there anything you guys look at and say, the game needs this or please keep an eye on this? I mean, for the playoffs, I would like this to see one through eight. Yeah, me too.

I just feel like it sucks to be central when you've got a Winnipeg, Colorado, Dallas, and us, and you're just like, your first round is against one of those guys, right? Where we all could possibly be top four in the conference. So you would just like to see that go back to, I would like the one through eight, that'd be something I'd choose to be.

Because I feel like you grind all season too, right? Like it's such a long grind, and you battle to get so many points and stuff But then at the end it doesn't matter because you're playing a very good team in the first round right if you finish second or third Of your division so I think the one through eight I think it's a better Maybe no more travel, but better Better system I would say okay is the life still good like every generation is different right and the younger generations now They're more the video game generation and stuff like that.

Like is the camaraderie still there? Is the life still good? It's a big reason why I, when I got to write a mini, I really enjoy it. I know I want to stay here. Guys take the time to go for dinners together as a group, you know, a bunch of guys and then just, you know, two or three, right? I think we have larger group like we used to. Grab beers once in a while, you know, pick our spots obviously, but I can't say we have guys like missing dinners because they're staying by themselves in a room and to play video games and stuff, you know. So yeah. Yeah, that's the biggest

thing is now you get a lot of guys that are this is the social aspect of it all right, you just I I Grew up in it so I can see like how you you you grab someone and try to open them up a little bit and you know make them feel comfortable around you and I always knew that by Watching my dad like invite people over the house and my mom would cook and like it was just one of those things like he Brought trainers and coaches and players over and that's the only one thing I kind of like knew how to do is like you got to just talk and like get to Know them and yeah, you know And then we talked about how it's going for a beard like it doesn't have to be about that

but just inviting people over the house and getting a one-on-one conversation with them can go a long way and I think like now you're seeing a little bit of just guys coming in seeing a little bit of just guys coming in that are a little bit sheltered and not wanting to open up as much and just it's just the way maybe that the way they're being raised now or what have you but that's one thing that I think that's great about our team is we have guys that will call you out for that so you're never safe but no I just I take pride in in like, you want everyone to be together. If one guy goes, we all go.

And that's the thing too. I think that sticks with our team mentality is, you know, we went to Utah and went to Park City and it was one of those things where we're like, ah, should we go? And then it was, no, we're gonna make it all mandatory. Like everyone just show up and go for dinner or what have you and you can leave whenever.

I know it's 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City, but it's just one of those things that the whole team shows up. You have a good time, you get to know each other and maybe you're stuck with someone at a table that is a first-year or European guy and I just think it makes everyone feel that much better in the locker room. Do you guys still play credit card games? Does that still happen? Oh yeah.

Yeah, still does. Big time. Who always loses? Right now it's Matt Boldy. Yeah, he's in the middle of the street. He's getting crushed right on. But you know what, it's okay. He's doing alright. You always feel bad for the guy, well everyone is okay, but you always feel bad for the one that's making the minimum or whatever. So like I wish maybe split this one up into two but when Boulds gets it you're like you got it. It's always fun playing those games that's always a good laugh at the end of the dinner. No because that's the thing I guess you spoke Russian to Kaprizov when he first arrived like you learned some ways to communicate. I think I was doing the Google translator yeah and then I think he wrote me back in complete English text message You've lied to her Guerrero was famous for that too

Like apparently the is bad senior that he spoke English, but he said no, I only spoke Spanish so VAD senior that he spoke English but he said no I only spoke Spanish so you can avoid him too like a hundred percent. Just is Kaprizov is a guy who's having unfortunately he's going to have the surgery now but I'd be curious to know like you guys practice see him every day tell us something about Kaprizov because a lot of us really don't know him as well yet. I think he loves playing hockey too I think that's. That's why he's so good. He stays on the ice after practice. Even in morn skate, he stays on shootback passes with Zuccarello. He's just always around between drills, comes down to a little quick breakaway, takes it to rebound, keep playing. Obviously,

everybody sees how hard he works in the games too, but he's the same in practice. You know, he leads the way that way, you know, with his effort and trying to score every time, you know, or always dishes the puck around, you know, so he's he's the same in practice and same as the games. Yeah, he's the best honestly. He's he's just world class. I think just like even when he first came over for me being here, like we didn't know really what we were getting. And I think

for me, it was just like the mentality that he had. A, like the first year was tough. It was a COVID year and he had to come over and do it, you know, when the world was going on with the world. And it wasn't great for him but like social aspect is you know we had to stay inside and things like that so it was tough but I think for him like the thing I saw was like the mentality on the ice the way like he just dedicated and worked on his craft was insane like like flower said like practices over sometimes 30 minutes right you're out there for quick and I think he's on the ice for another like 45 minutes, hour,

just shooting pucks one time or working on a shot, passing, shooting at the empty net at the far end. Like it's just insane. And then on top of that, it's the mentality side of like being a good teammate, the character, the work ethic. Like it's not one of those things where he doesn't show up some days

because he's our best player. Like he's in it, he's puck battling guys. He's stripping guys in practice like he's he gets nasty in games sometimes and that's what's just like you're like Wow, give me more of this guy like it's insane. So We're lucky to have him and then on top of that he's what are you doing for dinner? Let's go for dinner He's one of those guys too He's hanging out with the guys all the time Cracking jokes. I mean I think what's really helped him is the bromance between him and Zuccarello right

away. I think that was awesome and special and it's been a special duo ever since. But that's really helped out Carreel and yeah he's been he's been definitely you know big factor for us obviously but now like you know a leader for sure. How long did it take? Some players come over and everybody in North America is like, okay, let's see what we really got here. How long did it take before, and I know you weren't there at the time, but how long did

it take before you realized, okay, he's his advertise? I think like a game. I think honestly it was like training camp like you're like, okay Like he was he was really good. Like there was just something I think the edge work was like We've seen it but we haven't like seen how powerful he is on his skates Because it's just like stuff where he gets like pushed into like corners and stuff where he comes out with a puck or he can make another pass and and hold off guys and he's holding off big guys too and that's the stuff that like we didn't know about it and then you know it was just a production after that once he got you

know confident then he started picking up points and then that stuff takes off but I think for me it was like he can go into a corner with pressure and he can something that I'm gonna be a guy that probably switches corners with it and chips into the other one so it can dump off onto someone else's plate but he can something that I'm gonna be a guy that probably switches corners with it and chips in the other one so it can dump off onto someone else's plate But he can like hold on for a split second make something out of it And that's that's why he's so special. I'll do a zoom when it came over. I think on his Russian passport he said 21 but I think he's 30 and

I think he's 30 and 20-22-21. Yeah, I think he's 40. I think he's 45 right now Yeah, no, yeah, he's been he's been unbelievable he's yeah and and like I said just a mentality of them all like he's he'd never You know complains about anyone, You know, you don't do... He always wants to puck on his stick and always wants to be the one to make the pass or make the shot. Okay. Just a couple more for each of you. So first of all, I'm asking you to think Marc Andre into the future. Like in 25 years from now, when you and Chris LaTang

and Evgeny Malkin and Sidney Crosby say, let's get together, where are you guys all gonna be and where are you gonna meet and what are you gonna do? Like when will you see each other? What are you gonna do? Like in 25 years, like, is it gonna be golf? Is it gonna be cards? Is it just gonna be sit somewhere and reminisce?

Like. You're just gonna tell him, meet me me at the ninth screen at nine trick and prank them there That's a good question like boy I hope we do help we do get together again like this far away I hope we do get together again like this far away. Because sometimes I see those guys when they won the cup and then they have a cup reunion, right? They bring everybody in for the weekend or for a game. I think it's so cool. You get to see all your teammates and stuff like that. So hopefully we can do something like that at some point.

I don't know, I'm not a big golfer, but never known 25 years. I'll be bored. I'll probably start practicing or something. The live tour. No. I don't know, at least I don't know, but I got some time to think about it for 25 years. But the only thing I know is I would love to do it, love to catch up with the guys and spend some time together and think about all old battle stories. Okay, here's the hardest question I have for you. Will Sidney Crosby ever wear another uniform besides Pittsburgh?

Oh, geez, that's a tough one. Yeah, what do you know? I don't know. The good thing is I think he's, he can decide what he wants to do. He's such a loyal guy towards his teammates, his team. I don't know, I think it would be weird, hard to see him in another jersey, but I don't know how many more years he's going to play, but obviously he's signed two more years and it's not like the Penguins are fighting for the cup right now. He's such a winner. He has it inside of him. It would be weird, but I kind of wish him to find somewhere else that he can, it's hard, it's hard to leave, you know, at first I thought I was going to

play my walk here in Pittsburgh, right? And I was sad to leave, but then you get other opportunity, meet other people, new friends and stuff. So it's, it's not the end of the world, but for him, I just wish him he can find a place where he can keep playing his best and keep chasing another cup. Because I know that's what he wants. Marcus, have you ever given your brother any more trouble for not signing with Minnesota when he had the chance? Oh yeah.

Yeah, every day. Actually, last game too. I said, hey, you want to hop on our bus? Yeah. As much as you. It's been two deadline deals. I have not been able to recruit my own brother. I'm not going scouting. Lost that job for sure. Yeah, I would, I'll never say never. Yeah, I would I'll never say never Yeah, he's got one more year after this so we'll see but Yeah, I would I would that would be that'd be something. I hope before that Nick's done playing

We can we can share the same uniform. Okay, last one for both of you is As you guys talked about earlier you guys are in a brutal division like there are a lot of good teams there So, how are you feeling like just after halfway in the season how do you feel about your group? Is there anything you guys look at and say I'd love to add this but you guys once again it's a good team like a really good team in the middle of a big fight. How do you feel about where you guys are and where you're going? Yeah I think I think we just dealt with a lot of injuries too and I think we're on the tail end of it and we've you know we spiraled a little bit with the last two weeks of our play but I feel like there's been a lot of

positives throughout that stretch of dealing with those injuries and guys coming in and playing well and a lot of up-and-down guys too that playing well. I find where we're a team when mean, our road record speaks for itself when we just play and we just don't think too much. It's really good hockey out there. I think there's times where we get caught wanting to do more and trying to find that identity, especially the past two weeks. But I really like our group But I really like our group.

I really like our group. I really like how we're built. You know, we got some, our back end is very strong. I mean, goaltending is really good. And no, that's another thing too. Goaltending has been phenomenal this year. Really started the season. That was one thing that stood out to us.

I mean, we had some times in games that we won where there's been a breakaway here or there that's been stopped that stood out to us. I mean we had some times in games that we won where there's been a breakaway here or there that's been stopped and it's been crucial. So I feel like our defense too, like we're missing Brodean, who I think people don't understand how good this guy is. He's a big, big missing piece for us right now and I think that that's someone when we get back it just makes our team a lot different and in such a good way and I know we have a stretch now with without Coril and that's going to be something that you know character and just guys have to step up myself included just need to do more and get us through these you know this this time without Coril and then when he comes back

to be flying and be in a good position we're in a good spot. Like we really feel confident about our team. It's just trying to rattle off some winning streaks here and keep it going to look like that team that's kind of a beast. So we're at the top of the league, top 10 for a reason. And that's the mentality when you're going forward. Yeah, I think that's been said there. But we had a good start, right?

Good start to the season. And I think that bought us a little buffer, right, for something like that. Like you said, having so many injuries for a few weeks. And I think that's something we didn't have last year. And when we had that stretch where so many guys were hurt, and we kept digging our hole a bit, right? So I think because of that, we're still in a good spot.

And obviously, we'll miss Kirill. It's obviously a great asset for us. That might be a little hard but still a lot of hockey to be played. We just got to keep grinding. It's a long season. But I love, like Marcus said, our team's built. I think we're good when everybody contributes. Everybody plays some minutes and everybody contributes to our success you know if it's defense

jumping in again some chances and stuff again just simple plays right again out there's on quick in there quick and I think if we keep doing that well being a cheap just remember as Marcus said if you win the cup, you're coming. You have the one more year t-shirts. Thanks a lot guys, really appreciate it. Alright, thank you once again to Marcus and Mark Andre for that conversation. Thank you to Aaron Sickman of the Minnesota Wild as well for having coordinate all of that on a travel day for Minnesota. And thank you to Steven Coyle, the man behind putting the audio and recording all of that

for us on the ground in Toronto. For our producer, Dom Schiamatti, Elliot and myself, thank you for tuning in to this specialty pod midweek. Back to our regularly scheduled podcasting come Friday. We'll talk to you then.