32 Thoughts: The Podcast - A Goaltending Roller Coaster

Episode Date: December 18, 2023

Jeff and Elliotte dive into Anti Raanta's demotion to AHL Chicago and which teams might be in line for his services, if any. They also talk about what the Edmonton Oilers are going to do in net as Jack Campbell has been struggling in Bakersfield (12:19). Jeff and Elliotte get into the St. Louis Blues and their new coach bump (19:42). Elliotte outlines the latest details he's been given about an Olympic meeting this coming week (25:18). Also, more Shane Pinto/Senators news (29:09)? They wrap the podcast by talking about a couple more big hits from behind this past weekend (46:02). The guys answer your questions in the Montana’s Thought Line (33:13).Audio Credits: Bally Sports Midwest Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call the Montana's Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.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.

I think that is super stupid for every reason except one. And that's a minute of my life. I'm never going to get back and I hate you for it. But the only reason I like it is you know my theory, right? That the referees changed their call because you were doing this? I don't. I take no responsibility. If that happens, we're going to know it's true.

Expect goalie talk and maybe some complaints welcome to 32 thoughts the podcast presented by the gmc sierra merrick friedman and dom schramatti now i got a few things i want to get off my chest now hold on before before we get some things off your chest and by the way oh they're heavy though they're really weighing down on me elliot i need to i can imagine and i'm sure all the Carolina Hurricanes fans are really enjoying you killing them every time they go into an overtime. Just twice.

By you saying, let's watch Ajo and Natchez now, and they lose twice. It's just Nashville, and Forsberg killed them, and then I want to talk about what happened on Sunday night in that overtime.

Okay. But first of all, I just want to announce this is the first ever Merrick Friedman 32 Thoughts poker podcast. I am actually playing a game at my buddy's place tonight. It's one of our regular games. It's the first time I've ever left the game

to do the podcast, and I have to say, I am in violation of poker etiquette. And this has to go pretty quick because I am up money. And anybody who plays cards knows that the worst thing you can do is leave the table when you're up money because those other people there, they want their money back. And I want to give them the opportunity to win it back. I once played with a guy, and you know who you are if you're listening to this who left the table after winning money to talk to someone and he was lucky he left with all four of his limbs i don't want that fate to fall to me tonight so i gotta get back and give these people

a chance to win their money back first of all I am very impressed at something that you do on a consistent basis and you've taken it to a whole new level today you know what that is what's I'm always impressed at the new creative and inventive ways you find to ignore me on the podcast and today you're actually doing the podcast while you're playing poker no no i left the table i left the table sir okay well then let me have the table give me a quick chance to grouse about something and then we'll get to actual news and things that happened over the weekend um as elliot mentions yes i've been tweeting about the the aho natures overtime show which has been really good it's just the last few times friday and then sunday they didn't really get a chance to touch the puck and sunday specifically for all of you people out

there for everybody who grouses about the endless neutral zone regroups and how it's because overtime has become very boring and stayed um and it's just you know playing percentages and can't waste a shot and possession and circle back i don't know elliot if i've ever seen a three on three and listen people track these things they can tell me if i'm wrong i think that is the most that a team has controlled the puck in overtime but controlled it in their own zone was Washington owned the puck and just did circles in their own zone the entire time. Now, one, I thought to myself, okay, maybe that's because Carolina defensively is so good, and they are.

Like, they are exceptional, and a great play by Brady Shea on the goal line to save it for the Carolina Hurricanes. Like, they're great tactically. So maybe that's one thing. And then the other thing I thought of, well, maybe they're thinking to themselves themselves let's just get to the shootout because darcy kemper is perfect in the shootout this season for all those people that grouse about the overtime and say that it's

become boring that overtime was a protein shake for them that's the one you put up there and say this is why overtime needs to change elliot i i have to say i didn't think i'd see a worse overtime than the one on saturday between minnesota and vancouver until i saw that one on sunday this was worse it was it was almost as if spencer carbury known as the carburetor in hockey night in canada lore said you think that one stunk will you see what i got on tap for you tomorrow? Okay, Elliot, speaking of the Carolina Hurricanes, as we're going to talk a lot about goaltenders on today's podcast,

your thoughts on Antti Ranta. So he gets waived, he clears waivers, goes to AHL Chicago, the Wolves. Interesting story there. We've talked about that before. Just your thoughts on what's happened here with Ranta. You know, Sebastian Ajo talked about everybody on the team needing to take a deep look in the mirror after this player was waived you can tell that you know this one cuts deep with the Carolina Hurricanes your thoughts on this situation well I wasn't surprised that Ronta wasn't claimed because he's a 1.5 million dollar guy and there's

simply not a lot of teams that can fit that at what he's doing i think if his numbers had been a little bit better or he had played a little bit better what you know what's interesting about this is is how many people just reached out to say that they felt terrible for ron to the person because they really like him personally but the bottom line is at the end of the day Jeff this is a results oriented league and he's a 1.5 million dollar guy who's unfortunately this year one of the worst statistical goaltenders in the NHL so nobody was surprised he wasn't claimed you know there was a report about Frederick Anderson potentially on Sunday maybe maybe getting closer to playing.

I was just told to be careful with that one. It's just really uncertain. I don't think anybody really has a good idea what Anderson's status is going to be this year. And the Hurricanes have cast their lines in the NHL pond. They are asking around. They are looking around. They would do anything on any goalie if it made sense to them. So I think they're kind of just going through that process right now

because there isn't a ton of clarity yet on Anderson. So what I think we've got here, Jeff, is a little bit of a goaltending rollercoaster. You know, we've got the teams with three goalies. Detroit, it doesn't sound like Iserman is too interested in breaking up the three-goalie routine right now. Of course, I'm always terrified to say that with Iserman because he's the kind of guy who like out of spite

would then trade one right after the podcast ended. You know, Buffalo's got three goalies up there right now. But the thing about Eric Comrie is, let's just say he was the guy you were going to move. He's at 1.8. And I think that just, again, just like Ronta, it makes him very difficult to move. I definitely think Montreal would do something if it made sense for them. And I'll tell you, the other team is Columbus here.

Now, you know, I don't think they're going to do anything with Tarasov. He's just getting back, and they've got a lot invested in him. I mentioned Spencer Martin's name the other night. He doesn't make a ton of money, so he'd fit in some situations a little bit better. But to be honest, I wonder if the opportunity was right if the Blue Jackets were do Merzlikens I had a couple people on Sunday say that they could see the possibility of that that maybe

Both the Blue Jackets and Merzlikens feel it's time for him to try Somewhere else but again in the middle of the season That's not an easy number for a lot of teams to absorb. So there's a few things that might have to happen here. I definitely think the goalie carousel is going. You know, I mentioned L.A. They put Copley on LTIR. He's out for a while. He got hurt in practice the other day.

They've got Riddick up. I think L.A. is looking for a 2-3. I don't think they're against letting Riddick go with them for a while. They do need another goalie to play. American Hockey League is that kind of 2-3 area. I think if they make their big move for a goalie, Jeff, I think it will be closer to the deadline, but I don't think they're in a rush to get a big name right now.

But I do think the goalie carousel is is running around a little bit and the other team that's going to have to make a decision sometime down the road is going to be toronto although martin jones or as we say in french martin jones looks like he has drunk from the fountain of youth. Yeah, he looked good on Saturday. Can I say something about that Pittsburgh-Toronto game on Saturday night? Sure. You know, I got to say this.

I remember Butch Carter, coach of the Raptors. They traded for Antonio Davis. His first game in Indiana, they got killed. And Butch Carter was furious. Furious. He said, this is a guy who's supposed to be popular in our dressing room. He goes back to Indiana for the first time ever, and we got our asses kicked. That should not happen to a player who's popular.

Ron brought up a game he was at. Pat Burns, when he left Montreal to coach Toronto, the first game against Toronto in Montreal, the Maple Leafs won in a great game. And do you remember Burns doing the big fist pump behind the bench? Oh, the pumper nickels were going. I remember that well. Oh, yeah oh the pumper nickels were going i remember that well oh yeah the the pumper nickels were going like i know kyle dubas is not a player but

the penguins know how meaningful that game was for dubas he may deny it and he probably would deny it but i don't believe it because i know how i would feel and i think i'm like most people that was a bitter divorce it was one of those divorces that they make a movie out or turn it into a netflix miniseries it was a bitter divorce if i was in dubas's seat and again i'm not talking for Dubas I'm talking for myself it would have killed me to see the team lose that way in my first trip back to Toronto and if I was a player I'd feel terrible I really would I would be embarrassed because you know the high fives that are going on in the Toronto suite as that one's going like that I I'd, um, I'd feel bad if I was any member of those Pittsburgh Penguins, but specifically

any of the new members of the Pittsburgh Penguins that Kyle Dubas brought in. Those were the ones, those were the ones that I thought about on Saturday. Cause I'm like you, I'm watching this thing and I'm thinking, you know, the, the, the sidecar story to all of this is Kyle Dubas' team returns to Toronto. And no matter what happens, that is going to be a story. Whether the Penguins win or the Penguins lose, the Penguins trounce the Maple Leafs or get stomped themselves. And that's what happened.

For all those new players that Dubas brought in, those were the guys that I was thinking of. Those were the ones. And listen, I did think that Martin Jones played real good on Saturday. Happy for him. And I guess the Maple Leafs were lucky that he didn't get claimed on waivers when they sent him down.

A couple more things about goaltenders. One team specifically that I wonder about, and listen, you talk about the Carolina Hurricanes feeling bad for Antti Ronto, the person. I get that. And I think a lot of people felt bad for Jack Campbell, the person. He's struggling in Bakersfield. That's not exactly a secret.

Told again on the weekend. I know. He's having a tough time. Yeah. Again, you cheer for the person, just one of the great guys of the game. And that's true. Ask anyone who's ever encountered Jack Campbell. But again, results-oriented business, etc. What about the Oilers and a net-minding conversation slash decision?

Well, Calvin Pickard had won the first two games right, and he played really well. And they did not have a good game on Saturday night. I don't think you should overreact to one game. But the whole team didn't have a great game. Like, they weren't very good. And, you know, it's tough when Florida goes two straight games without scoring and then they pump five past you, right? Like, it's a night you're looking and you're sitting there like, what happened?

Look, I have no doubt the Oilers are looking. No doubt at all. You know, the problem is, as you said with Campbell, they were going to call him up a week ago and he had a terrible start on the Saturday night or it was two weeks ago. I think they were considering the idea of do we ease him back in on the road as the Oilers are about to go on the road and now he got pulled from a game on Saturday night. So, like, I think the Oilers, you know, I've said this a million times. People who've listened to this podcast, they've heard me say it. It was always about, let's bring Campbell back up,

but he keeps on, unfortunately for him, he just keeps on struggling down there. Like, the Oilers are sitting there saying, I don't know. I think they're a bit stuck. And I don't have a good answer on this one. Like I was wondering if the Oilers would pick up Ranta. They were very guarded about it. Obviously didn't do it.

I understand why they didn't do it. They have to be looking out there and seeing what are other options. Like the one thing that um you know to his credit picker did was he bought them time with a couple of good performances true now what are you thinking like you don't want to burn out skinner um what are you thinking oh by the way we should mention john gibson you'll love this so john gibson was phenomenal through two periods against the Devils on Sunday night,

and he leaves because of an illness. I think he made 18 saves. And people are texting me, did Gibson just get traded to the Devils mid-game? And I wish I could show you the text I got when I checked it. And someone said to me, he's sick. Honest. I'm it and and someone said to me he's sick honest i'm not lying to you like he's sick because they knew how this was all going to be taken but you know edmonton has to be looking here too there there's no question about it that

you know we're we're getting close to the the christmas And, you know, someone said to me, the goalies are the most talk right now. And in addition to Gibson, Adam Henrique, who once scored a very big goal in that rink in New Jersey, had a hat trick against the Devils on Sunday night. Sent up a tweet, always special to come back. I think he's probably someone who doesn't get enough attention. I think there's going to be a number of good teams looking at him down the road. He's an unrestricted free agent after the season. Good player.

Now, I think there's some other teams that were, like, I'll tell you, Columbus, really tough week. You Columbus, really tough week. You know, really tough week. That game in Toronto where they were very, very fortunate. They got the win. Yeah, they got two points free. Yeah, it would have been a disaster if they lost. But Saturday night, they had a really bad game at home.

Elliot, Elliot, Elliot, what's the old... Go back to that game against the Maple Leafs. Don't ask how, they ask you how many. The old saying, you know, sometimes you paint a Picasso and sometimes you paint a barn. It doesn't matter. You take the two points and you go home. Come on. Sometimes you finger paint. That was finger painting. Fair, fair.

But you know what? You're right. They don't ask you how, they ask you how many, but I just sense among the fan base there in Columbus, there's a lot of unrest right now. I think St. Louis was looking around at some things. I think Columbus is really looking at some things.

But the teams that are looking for goalies because I think there's some teams here wondering how much longer can we go until we sort this out. And it was tough. Ronta, when he gave up that winning goal to nashville on

friday night you could see it and i heard you know the way he was described in the dress room after the game you could see it like sometimes teams have to be harsh they have to say we've given this enough of a runway and we can't let it go anymore and carolina was at that point okay you mentioned a couple of things there that i want to pick up on i want to get to st louis here in a second but really quick going back to that edmonton florida game you talked about on saturday i'm of the belief that if the oilers would have challenged the montour goal they would have won the challenge for one very specific reason. And I always look for this. Kachok was in the crease?

Not just was in the crease, but how he went into the crease. Like the puck wasn't anywhere near it. And what I've always been told by people who are in a position to explain things like goaltender interference, when you go in the crease voluntarily, i.e. not chasing a puck, not digging at a puck. You've been reading Dan Goes Brown today? No, no, no. He's really good on it too, though. Yes.

When you go in voluntarily, your liability goes way up. Yeah. Way, way up. And I saw that and I thought to myself, I bet if they challenge this Montour goal, because Kachuk goes in there. Now, did the defenseman nudge him in? That might be a point of conversation,

but it looks to me like he goes in on his own. So your liability is sky high. I bet they would have won the challenge. Yeah, here's why I disagree with you, Jeff, because when I saw it live, I felt the same way. And, you know, Brian Spear, the producer of Hockey Night in Canada, we've been friends for 30 years. I said to him, I want to argue this because I think they should have challenged.

And the other thing that happened was after it was 2-0 and they let the goal stand, Florida scores right away. So, you know, I mean, it was 3-0 anyway. But if you look at it from the overhead, Pickard runs into Nurse first, right? So if I was ruling on it and admit I'm not the be all and end all of this maybe hockey ops would have seen it differently but if I was ruling on it I would say Pickard wasn't able to make the save because he ran into nurse and Kachuk didn't even matter and you know Brian Spear the producer you know he could have

showed that replay first on saturday night instead of making me look terrible but i think spears he was playing a practical joke on me yeah um i think because he ran into nurse first i don't think kachuk mattered i don't i still think kachuk would have mattered because it didn't allow him to move to his right no but but the thing is he was already stuck because he hit Nurse. I mean, who knows? I get that. I get that. Who knows?

All I'm saying is, I wouldn't audit this one, but I think they would have had a good shot at winning the challenge. I get it. But that's the second goal, and you're saying to yourself, maybe if you're the Oilers,

do you want to send a guy in the box if you fail? I get it. The St. Louis Blues. So the St. Louis Blues story was Jordan Cairo. the St. Louis Blues story was Jordan Cairo. The St. Louis Blues story was Jordan Cairo and gets a goal. He's first star. The fans are cheering him. The fans are loving him again.

And you know who I thought of? Who's that? Lou Skizis from ROB TV. Lou Skizis from Report on Business Television, who told me something a couple of decades ago when we were working together at 640 he was talking about making mistakes and what you do when you make a mistake and he said here's the rule you have to remember i've never forgotten this he said when you mess up fess up and dress up and that's exactly what and dress up. And that's exactly what Jordan Cairo did.

100%. That is to a T when you mess up, fess up, and dress up. That's what Cairo did, and they love him again for you. And you hear the cheers here tonight. You love these fans, don't you? It's awesome. I love playing here. I love this rink.

It was a great win by us tonight. You know what we said on Friday's podcast is everybody's going to move on because he handled it the right way. And then he played great the next game. And look where we are. Ovation. You're totally right. That's a lesson to everybody.

Lose rules. By the way, notice St. Louis is getting the coach bounce. Oh, yeah. Oh, oh i know you know what every coach every coach who's uh on a losing streak now is really concerned because teams are getting the coach bounce st louis minnesota edmonton if you're a uh if you're a coach on a team that's uh that's teetering here you're're probably watching your back and maybe turning your phone off more than you're used to. I'll say this also. St. Louis, they were really looking around. Now, I wonder if it dies down

because you made the coaching change instead and they're starting to win some games, but St. Louis was really looking around. And the other team really looking around, Colorado. They made that Thomas Tatar trade. So... And everybody is saying, okay, what's the other shoe?

And I think they need to wait because they've got some cap issues and roster issues, but there isn't a contender in the league who isn't trying to figure out what the avalanche are up to i know some people suspect lindholm um but they're not the only ones but i know some people suspect that that's one of the guys that they're eyeing so i'm glad you i'm glad you got us there because you mentioned this on saturday too i looked at the thomas tatar deal um he goes to seattle we know they need scoring and he'll get more opportunity to

play obviously in seattle and they have some injuries and burkowski and schwartz etc that should help we hope um ron francis's team but i kind of looked at that trade like and i heard you talk about it on saturday and i kind of thought to myself okay so that's colorado establishing the jab and then everyone's now waiting for the right to come. They're establishing the jab with the left. And then here comes the right. And I think like you do. So you're saying the avalanche aren't lefties.

They're not southpaws. They are jabbing, jabbing, jabbing, setting up the big right. And I think we're all curious what that move is going to be. Because I have a hard time believing that that management group is going to be quiet or sit on their hands. I think they do something. I don't know how big, but I think they do something significant to help their team for each. Yes, I agree with you on that. I think Lynn Holm is one of the guys they're looking at, but I'm sure there are others. Again, I don't know what's going to happen,

how much is going to happen before the freeze. And like I said, Colorado's got some roster issues and some cap issues. They might have to wait, but they're lurking. There's no question that they are lurking out there. You know, someone just said to me, there's lines in the water they're not sure how much is going to happen like like for example toronto they're really going now

you know they they win seven nothing without matthews we all know about the injuries they're one or one a goalie whatever you want to call him he's out of the lineup right now like it's bought them time like i think toronto is another team they're sitting there i think they know exactly what it would take to get a guy like tanf if they wanted to get him but they're also sitting there saying you know what else do we need what other assets do we have out there they're they're not interested in trading they're too young team canada forwards cowan and minton so if they want to do things what other assets are they are they looking at out here like that's what i think is going on out there teams are kind of figuring out of all the things that we might need to do,

and Toronto might be looking at multiple kind of things to kind of fix themselves up or strengthen themselves. What kinds of assets are we going to need? Okay, one more thing to finish up here before we get to the Montana's Thought Line coming up here in a moment. Again, more real good questions. I want to follow up on a,

on a couple of things you mentioned on Saturday's headlines, one Olympic meeting on the horizon, and we have a new phrase in the hockey lexicon, Elliot rank shaming. So that's Wednesday. I believe the meeting it's the league, the players association, the double IHF and the International Olympic Committee and one of the things that I've kind of been told there is that

you know sometimes you wonder if someone is playing to an audience like one of the things I've said about Bettman before is when he talks to us, he's not talking to us. He's talking to someone else. And occasionally he wants to put a message out there that you want someone to hear. And with a little bit of time, I kind of realized like when the governor's walked out of that meeting on that Tuesday in Seattle, one of them was laughing with me about the arena in Milan he's like have you heard they haven't started building it yet and he was laughing and I said are you serious like could the Olympics blow up over this and he said to me no like Gary knows the player would want to go and Gary knows the fans want to go and we kind of have to go

he said we think we're going and we've been told prepare to go but he was laughing about the arena so i think betman you know just decided he was going to see what hornet's nest he could kick up and you know when i was talking to some people on saturday they said to me that there were people that were embarrassed by that. Like the people that matter, they didn't like the fact that was a story. And as I wrote last week in my notes, there's also a story about the sledding events, like the skeleton, the bobsled, the luge, and about how countries like Switzerland and Austria and Germany and the U.S.

were asked, could you hold it if we need to do it? Like, I think they find all this embarrassing. And I think, and someone said to me, don't be surprised if that bobsled story got out because of what Bettman did, because it's simply like, we, we, this is embarrassing and we can't have this. So I think at the very least, if they're not going to play the hockey in Milan, they're going to play it in Turin, where we were there in 06. I believe Switzerland was also brought up as a possible site, but they're going to, it'll be Turin, if not Milan. But I got to tell you, that sent some shockwaves through.

I heard the International Olympic Committee, they did not like both that story and the slotting story coming out because it doesn't make them look good. It makes them look disorganized. What was that establishment you had all your post-day, post-game wrap-ups? Oh, Camillo's. I couldn't remember. Kelly said he was

yelling it at the TV. Camillo's, Camillo's. And you couldn't hear it? No, I couldn't. Kelly's got a good baritone but still that story was we would always go there and after our all of our hockey in italy we would go to camillo's and we'd have they had beautiful fresh italian pizza freshly made there, and they had two-liter beer steins. Oh, my. And when I left the Olympics,

I had no idea how I'd gained so much weight at the Olympics. It just was a mystery to me. But those were great nights. And when Canada lost to Russia in the quarterfinals 2-0, I remember that Team Canada brain trush showed up at camillo's to drown their sorrows and it was uh it was it was quite a night it was those were great nights at that place with our crew so we've heard about the frosh 15 there's also an olympic 15 that goes along with it or do we aim like an olympic 40 i'm embarrassed to say um okay uh. Before we wrap and get to the Montana's Thought Line,

anything else we should go over? Well, Shane Pinto had an Instagram exchange with Thomas Shabbat on Sunday night. And I went to our Ottawa expert, Kyle Bukoskis. And Kyle told me that was the Ottawa Christmas Market in Lansdowne, where I believe Kyle has shoplifted from before. And he said that that's where Shabbat is. So last week we talked about how Pinto was going back there.

I'm guessing that Shane Pinto is back there. Can't play until January 21st. You know, I have to tell you i i was watching that game i really think in ottawa mike and lauren steve steos and and now you know ryan bonus is a very big part of that that hockey decision making process now you know what it's like there's that cartoon out there where a whole crowd of like thousand people is coming at one guy and one guy is saying i'm right and you're all wrong that's what those three are like right now they are they are really really trying to hold things off like they they have

told people we are trying to get to know everyone and everything about this organization before we make any decisions. You know, it's tough. They are really, really trying not to make a coaching change before they are ready to do anything. It's got to be tough for them right now. For sure. They've got a vision, Jeff, of how they want to do this but it's just not going very well it really isn't uh i want to give a plug to a friend of ours as well you mentioned kyle bakoskis he will be on with alexis downey the great alexis downey on duck stream coming up

this week oh yeah they want to have a really not viewed highly episode k Kyle was charming as I understand it and was excellent. And you know what, Jeff, finally, you know, one of the, I'd like to recognize the Winnipeg Jets as well. That was a butt kicking of the avalanche. That really was. On Saturday night. What a week for them. That big money on the board victory over LA.

Like we talked about Pittsburgh losing to Toronto. That was a game for Lardy. That was a game for Lardy game, man. That was awesome. But still, like they were down. They were losing to a really, really good team. And they came back. Like they know that's a money on the board game.

That is a meaningful game. That's the opposite of what happened with pittsburgh and then they beat the avalanche really badly they're on a really really nice uh run right now and um you know i i'm really curious to see what shovel day off and the jets do here like a lot of shovel day off moves are really paying off right now. But when you look at the Jets in their past, whenever they've been close, they've added. And they've got some time here to figure this out. I'm really curious to see what the Jets are going to think they're going to add or going to need if we get to that point.

Because they look really good right now, but every good team always says, how can we make ourselves better? Interesting times. And yes, congrats to the Winnipeg Jets. Without their lead sniper as well, all of this we should mention, Kyle Conner. Yes.

So this is even doubly impressive. Well done. Team Manitoba. On that we'll hit a break. Montana's Thought Line coming up next. Listen to the 32 Thoughts Podcast ad-free on Amazon Music. Included with Prime. Time now for the Montana's Thought Line.

Montana's barbecue and bar, Canada's home for barbecue. The I didn't do it kid now says. Try the ribs. 32 thoughts at sportsnet.ca. No giggle at the Simpsons do it kid now says. Try the ribs. 32 thoughts at sportsnet.ca. No giggle at the Simpsons poll. Jeez, Elliot. That was good.

I have to say that was really good. 32 thoughts at sportsnet.ca. 1-833-311-3232. Please save a little place in your heart for the pecan salad as well. All right. We'll start with Scott in Edmonton. This one is right up your alley, Mr. I know everything about the salary cap freedman. Scott from Edmonton. I definitely don't.

I can tell you that. Well, let's just see. Let's test that. Let's stretch your brain here. Hi, Elliot, Jeff, and New Dom. The past couple of episodes, there have been a couple of rabbit holes you guys have gone down, much to Elliot's chagrin. That's true. And I figured I would try a pile on.

Is there a cap on how many times a player could have his salary retained in a trade? For example, could a team trade for a player in a four-team trade that would require each team to take half? By my math, that would equate to getting a player at 12.5% of their cap hit, or could it be taken a step further and have it run through five different teams? Love the pod. Great job by all Scott and Edmonton. That's a great question, Scott.

The answer is yes, it's two. So your contract can be up to 50% retained twice. So if you'll remember, for example, last year's deal between Ryan O'Reilly, Toronto and St. Louis, initially O'Reilly was traded to Minnesota and then he was traded to Toronto. So one team can retain 50%, the original team,

and another team can retain up to 50% more. So in theory, Toronto or any other club could acquire such a player at 25%. So the answer is yes, it's two. Good question. From an email, we go to a voicemail and this one has a historical slant.

Kevin in St. Louis. Hey Jeff, Elliot, Dom, love the pod. Kevin from St. Louis here.

As I was watching the game on Tuesday, blues and red wings, you know, Kevin Hayes scored two goals in about 30, 40 seconds, something like that. And after the second goal, I saw him return back to the bench and I thought, you know, kind of wish he would have stayed out there on that same shift for go for his hat trick. So my question is, I wonder, has anyone ever scored a hat trick on the same shift without leaving the ice? Thanks, guys. Love the pod. Good job, Jeff. Good job, Elliot. Good job, Dom.

Have a good one. A little too polite towards us, I think. I was expecting a shot there. I'm disappointed in you, Kevin. Well, Kevin, I would say this that, and by the way, speaking of Kevin's, remind me to tell you a story about BXF. Uh-oh.

The answer is yes, and it's the most famous hat trick, or at least one, I shouldn't say that, one of the most famous hat tricks in hockey history. Because someone might come up, some nerd nerd like you might come up with another answer but Bill Mosienko holds the record for the fastest hat trick in NHL history it was three goals in 21 seconds and that was in 1952 and while I have to say i have not looked at the footage from that game i'm going to be assuming that he did not leave the ice in any of that time let me uh let me push that one step further you're right bill mozienko did not leave the ice and further he almost scored a fourth

after he scored the third goal on the next rush, he fired one and it just went wide. He could have had another goal on that same shift. The other one that I'd like to draw attention to is 1955 Jean Beliveau, who scored three power play goals against the Boston Bruins in 1944. And because of that, well, not just that scenario,

but because of the Montreal Canadiens and how they used to fill the net on power plays, you know what the NHL did the next season? That was when they cut the power plays after you scored? That became a rule of change, sir. So for the 56-57 season, once you scored a goal, the penalty was over. Do you know what other record was set on mossianko's goals

oh there was another record set yes i actually learned this later when i had to introduce this player at a golf tournament no what was it i'm curious well on all three of those goals gus bodner had assists so he set the record for three assists in 21 seconds oh talk historical to me elliot talk historical to me i love it uh derrick king by the way i can feel your voice just softening oh my my voice all of a sudden has dropped an octave elliot when you get historical with me. I want to point out as well a couple of others. Derek King, 1991, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, three goals in one minute, 18 seconds. Braden Point in 2018, three goals, all power play, much like Beliveau, in one minute, 31 seconds.

That again against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Okay, here's a neat one. John in Toronto. Oh, by the way, before we get to John, speaking of Kevin. Yes. We recorded one of our greatest victories last podcast. We did? Kevin said he was driving to hockey one morning,

listening to our podcast, and he almost spit out his coffee and drove off the road when he heard our description of him and his socks he said we grossly misinterpreted the story and made him sound worse than it actually was i had made my night i had a lot of comments uh about that one as i'm sure you did too and someone uh someone from the league said in a hockey room that's fine anywhere else offside so there you go uh john in toronto uh hey guys john in toronto here make sure you try the triple a sirloin from montana's next time you're there. I have a question about NHL lockers slash stalls in the locker room and who sits

where? Take the Maple Leafs for example. Obviously the players like Matthews, Marner, everyone who's a regular will have their own locker but what about the fringe guys who go up and down between the minors throughout the year? For instance, Bobby McMahon has been called up and sent down multiple times with different players in his place each time. Would he keep the same locker in the room each time he's

called up or would he have to find a new one if a different player took his? Given the superstitious value players place on things like this, wouldn't that lead to tension? As always, great job, Jeff. Acceptable job, Elliot. P.S. Sending support from the best university in Ontario, U of T. Oh, not even a chance. I think two things we can align on is our mutual disgust of any other university other than ours. So no way. Every time I drive by U of T, it's like driving by a bunch of zombies walking around. I've never seen a school with less school spirit than U of T.

You know what, though? There is one U of T t building i think it might still be a u of t building at one spadina crescent which holds the largest collection of human eyeballs really at one spadina crescent i'm serious you've seen the building numerous times and every time i drive by it i always myself, the largest collection of human eyeballs exists in that building. Yeah, you got me on that one. I didn't know that. Okay. That's what I got for you today.

That's what I'm bringing to the podcast. Sorry, what was the question? I don't even remember the question. You're thinking about eyeballs i am i'm completely lost um basically when you're a player who's up and down you take what's available now i will say this i remember and i want to say it was the sanders but i could be wrong about that i think i believe one of the equipment managers of the sanders told me once that you do try to keep when a player comes up and down

the same locker for them therefore there's a sense of familiarity a sense of belonging it was a team building thing they tried which i really liked i i remember someone told me that story once but it's not always possible. So you're at the mercy of kind of who's there and who's taken what, but that team at least did try to keep it the same. My favorite stall story was the Bruins under Zdeno Chara.

When they came to Toronto, because Toronto has two goalie stalls in the visitors room which are bigger for obvious reasons but when Boston came to town the starting goaltender got one of those stalls and Chara got the other one so whoever was going to be the backup had to dress in a regular stall and did it without complaint okay one more Elliot and um we're going to go historical with this one. So stop thinking about eyeballs.

Start thinking about history and start thinking about goaltenders. Dan in Rochester, New York. Jeff and Elliot and Dom, greetings from Rochester, New York. Go Amherst. Is that you guys? I'm looking out across the lake and I think I can see the outline of a podcast being recorded. Interesting. A bit cloudy today.

Please let me know. With Tristan Jari's recent goal in mind, I'm curious if any goalie has ever scored a game winning goal. I figure usually goalies are taking cracks at the empty net when they've got a two goal lead advantage and a potential icing penalty isn't going to hurt their team's chances to win as much.

So it must be rare if it's ever happened at all. Please have Jeff read my question so I sound smart. Dude, I've been mangling my tongue lately. It's not going to make you sound any smarter. Ribs, pecans, good job to all of Canada. Oh, wow. Take a bow, Canada, according to Dan from Rochester.

The answer is yes. There is one goaltender in the NHL who has scored a game-winning goal. Elliot, do you know who it is? I'm going to say... I don't remember any of these goalie goals coming in a one-goal game, like where someone scored after, which made it the goalie goal, the winning goal.

So tell me who it is. Martin Brodeur. And it's one that he didn't shoot the puck in the net. It's one where he was credited with the goal. Is it like the Jordan Stahl one? No. Where he shot at his own net? Yeah, it's like that.

Oh, because I think two of Brodeur's goals were own goals. So Martin Brodeur against the Philadelphia Flyers, February 15th, 2000. The goaltender of record for the Flyers that night was brian boucher and actually this actually winks at a at another sort of interesting twist to goalie goals which is there's only been one goaltender to score a goal while his team lost the game do Do you know who that is? Let me think about that one. Well, first of all, on that Brodeur goal,

the Flyers must have scored after Brodeur scored it, because that's the only way that can happen. Okay. In a loss. In a loss. There's only been one NHL goal. Can I ask you something? Sure. There's only been one NHL goalie goal. Can I ask you something?

Sure. Was the Billy Smith one that one? You got it. The one that was the first one? That was the very first NHL goalie goal, and it was in a loss. You're right. Good for you. Billy Smith against the Colorado Rockies, 1979, Rob Ramage. I was trying to think of one I remembered that wasn't at the end of the game,

and that's the first one that jumped to my head. All right. Well, well done. You put your history cap on today for today's version of the Montana's thought line. Thanks to everyone who took part in 32 thoughts at sportsnet.ca. 1-833-311-3232.

Montana's barbecue and bar Canada's home for barbecue. We're back to wrap up the pod in a moment. Okay, Elliot, a couple of things to wrap up the podcast here as we look forward to another week of hockey. A couple of big hits from behind this weekend. David Pasternak, Jacob McDonald. Jeff, why does nobody listen to me why is it because i'm annoying i mean i don't i can't speak for anyone else is it simply because i'm annoying like my wife doesn't listen to me either no as we say you know what's funny about this is that whenever i make a joke about my wife on this podcast somebody from the family ends up

texting her stop doing that people elliot's talking about you again she says what did you say about me on the podcast oh nothing hun anyway they could have cut this down at the beginning of last week they didn't they could have cut this down at the beginning of last week they didn't there were a couple of calls during the week and now we got two big ones at the end Pasternak and then Jacob McDonald and they're not really guys that you would think would be guilty of this but you know hopefully the the penalties that get people ejected is going to end this but you know I said last week they're going to have to have a bunch of calls to knock this off because it's just happening too much

and we're getting too many guys hurt. It's just bad. Because then your sport ends up on CNN for all the wrong reasons, right? They might have to go to suspensions. And again, I don't like being the one calling for this because I like a tough game with lots of hitting. I don't like being the one calling for this because i like a tough game with lots of hitting i don't like to see this we're getting too close here lingren and malinsky like

when they were down you're looking at this like this is not good i don't know where this is heading i don't i i really don't part of me just wants to say you know what it's a it's an eruption that's happened over the last seven days and then it'll calm down and go back to the way that it was before but elliot i really don't have i really don't have any idea and i understand your idea of going to the suspensions but to me this is this is something the players have to do. This is something the players have to do. I look at it from the big picture. Again, I love a tough game. I love a tough, mean game.

Just like when Kevin and I are working, I love a tough, mean broadcast. With smelly socks. With smelly socks. But I also worry about the way your sport looks right and this is a little phase right now where we're lucky that nobody is really getting hurt and you sometimes you just have to it's like your kids Jeff. Sometimes you have to dial down the temperature. Calm it down.

You know, in that Boston New York Rangers game on Saturday that you referenced, the Pasternak, Ryan Lindgren hits, there were a couple of interesting things there. There was some old school code in that one. And no surprise, it's Jacob Truba, who was invited into a fight by Trent Frederick and obliged because of the memory that Trent Frederick has of the slash you know there's a there's a lot of players that in that same situation would feel no obligation to answer for it, but not Jacob Truba.

I know there's a lot of people out there that really don't like Jacob Truba. I get it. I understand it. He's a player that plays on the edge. I like Jacob Truba. And the old school hockey person in me looked at that and said,

you know what? Good on Jacob Truba. I'm with you. Oh, and by the way, I don't think it's impossible that Matthew Poitras could end up going to the World Juniors from the Bruins. They kept a spot open. I don't think it's impossible it happens.

The other thing, speaking of Trent Frederick, do you know what we got because of Trent Frederick on Saturday? Cookies? No. We have a goal. Now, hang on a second second here i don't want to talk about that i want to talk about one idea that someone sent me this week and i absolutely love so for all the officials god help us hang on who want to say we have a good goal that's fine but here's the thing about we have a good goal the word good is boring or as Or as Jim Collins famously said as a title of one of his books, good is the enemy of great. If you're going to dress up a goal by saying it's a good goal, take it one step further and say, we have a magnificent goal. We have a tremendous goal. We have a dynamic goal. We have a tremendous goal we have a dynamic goal we have a fabulous goal what do you think of that

because if you're gonna go if you're gonna describe the goal really describe the thing i think that is super stupid for every reason except one and that's a minute of my life i'm never gonna get back and i hate you for it but the only reason i like it is you know my theory right that the referees changed their call because you were doing this i don't i take no responsibility if that happens we're gonna know it's true if and if there are any officials listening right now if you want to give an indication that you actually care about what elliot and i talk about the next time it goes to review and the goal stands please we have a tremendous goal we have a magnificent goal jeff and i cannot change anything important but get more teams in the playoffs but we can change the stupid stuff. You know, the other thing, San Jose, they had some pretty good games this week.

Yeah. Anthony Duclair, healthy scratch on Sunday night. That's worth watching, too. Yeah, pay attention. Because Duclair can help someone. Any team that needs speed on the wings? That's a lot of them, if not all of them. And with that, we'll wrap up.

Thanks for lending us your ears as the beatles once said uh we'll be back on friday morning again enjoy the next few days of hockey action three of a kind beats two pair back to your table flush beats straight get your cigar royal flush beats four of a kind go play Poker Flitch you good boy