32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Deadlines Spur Action

Episode Date: September 14, 2026

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman discuss the new CBA taking effect Wednesday and the rush around the NHL to get contracts completed under the current rules. The guys dive into Chris Kreider signing with the Canadiens and what his role could look like in Montreal  (10:00) before talking about how winning can become one of the biggest recruiting tools for teams looking to attract players (17:00). The Final Thought focuses on the latest update surrounding Connor Hellebuyck (25:00).Kyle and Elliotte answer your emails and voicemails in the Thoughtline (30:24).In the last segment we have exclusive interviews with Zach Werenski (52:08), Jake Sanderson (1:06:37), and Jack Hughes (1:16:01).Listen to all the 32 Thoughts music here.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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So we land there, what, just after noon, local time after flying through the night from Vegas. And we get in our Uber. Let me just say too, Kyle, that flight from Vegas to Chicago was the coldest airplane I have ever been on. We flew air iceberg from Vegas to Chicago. And if you keep ripping my packers, I'll show everybody how you looked on air iceberg. That is a bad video. Welcome to 32 Thoughts to Podcast. Kyle Bukascus, Elliot Friedman, Dom Schramatti, back with you.

Hope you had yourselves a great weekend. Plenty to get to here in today's episode. The thought line is back in earnest today. Also, three more interviews that we bagged last week down in Vegas at the NHL-NhLPA player media tour. You will hear from Zach Werenski, Jake Sanderson, and Jack Hughes. Those are the three on the docket for today's pod. But before we get to all of that, the news, Elliot, it on Tuesday night.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Kyle, did the Vikings and the Packers play on Sunday? So, yeah, what did you text me and Dom earlier on Sunday? I didn't even know that they were playing. You go on 800 different platforms and shows every year, talking about how big of a Vikings fan you are. Week one of the season, you're hosting a divisional rival. you're like, I didn't even know.

I had no idea. So whatever you're about to say, you deserve to say it. But I'm going to make it worse. I'm not even going to hear it. So I watched a bit of the first half. I went golfing on Sunday morning. And I came home. I was like, see, you have to understand, like, the start of the NFL season has been very sour to me, Kyle.

because I was in Ireland at the time of my draft, the draft was at one in the morning. And I know that some people will say you should have been on it because real fantasy football people would do their draft, even if it was one in the morning. Yeah, I know. I couldn't. I just couldn't do it.

And you know what happened? They auto-drafted me five tight ends. Yeah, I saw where you were staying over there in Ireland. I really have difficulty having any kind of sympathy for you. I got to be honest. I know. So they auto drafted me five tight ends and not even the best ones. Like there's some good ones, but not the best ones, not the tight ends were at the top of the heap. So when I saw that, I was like, you can't be sour because you auto drafted, but believe me, I was sour when I saw the construction of my lineup. So I was kind of not paying attention.

And then to make this even worse, Kyle, I knew they were losing 22 to 10 at one point. and I went and I checked the score and I saw 3922. And I just assumed the 39 was the Packers. Yeah. As any rational sports fan would. What happened? How did you guys melt down so bad? I don't know.

I think when I got to, what was it? When they got up by three, I turned it off. I knew where this was all headed. You guys were a one-man team, man. Matt Lafleur Packer football in control through three quarters and just an absolute vomit machine in the fourth.

I was like, what are we like, I don't know how many penalties. Everyone looks lost. Anyway, welcome back NFL football. I love that vomit machine. They looked like, yeah, the fourth quarter, they were like playing in Australia. You guys are a one-man team,

Micah Parsons, one-man team. I still believe in the quarterback, but anyway, enough football. Don's happy. The Jets won. Yeah, I was happy for him, at least for that. No, you weren't. Until I saw the fourth quarter of my game and everything sucked. All right, let's get going.

Okay, here we go. We violated the Bucca Gross rule. Yes, yes. You're the culprit this time. Yes. Because I had no intention of getting into all that. So Wednesday, September the 16th, the new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in. So for all intents and purposes, midnight Tuesday is when things shipped over.

And that's relative because among the changes is not only when it comes to new contracts being shorter max term, gone from 8 and 7 to now 7 and 6. There's also changes in terms of how it can be structured, how many dollars can be allocated to signing bonuses, et cetera. So of those that are out there right now, RFAs that remain to be signed and that deadline looming, who are you kind of looking at where the next few days are of the utmost importance or could be? You know, what was interesting, Kyle, was I was just making some calls this weekend while I was unaware that the Vikings were playing the Packers. And so someone said to me that you're going to see some teams and agents wanting to get these done even before Tuesday because I guess last week when the Bruins extended Fraser Minton, the first contract got rejected by the league because something was off with it and they had to refile it. Like there was never any question that they were going to extend Minton. That was going to happen.

But the first time they filed it, Central Registry found something that wasn't set up properly. So they had to redo it the next day. So there were a couple of guys telling me the last thing you want is to wait to the last minute to file it and then find out it gets rejected. Now, that will happen from time to time. There was a contract done on July 1st I know of. I forgot who it was. I have it written down, but I know there was one July 1st deal that was done that they had to send back.

So it does happen periodically, like something doesn't get done properly. But the fact that that happened last week is up in everyone's mind because the last thing you're going to want is to go past the deadline and find out, hey, you guys did this wrong. So you're doing it under the new rules. So I know there's some teams and agents that want to rush and get this done. later today Monday.

So there's a lot of extensions out there and stuff, but the three big ones I think everyone's looking at are Goce for Manaheim, Cutter Goce, Batherson, Drake Batherson from Ottawa, and Adam Fantilli from Columbus. Those I think are the three. And I have heard in the last couple days that there is progress on Goce.

I think that's gonna be a huge deal. the biggest of the three. And just some word I was hearing out of some of the camps and around the league was that there had been some progress made there, that Anaheim's had enough trouble this offseason. And even though Goet is not eligible for an offer sheet, it sounds like they are motivated to get that one done. And I think that'll be a big, big deal. The other two, Batherson and Fantilli, I have.

heard less optimism as we record this again I always say one phone call can change everything and I have believed with Batherson there is definitely a path I believe there's a deal to be made there I think again I think the summer we've all seen this the Carlson the McCarr deals everything has changed and I think that's throwing a curveball into a lot of teams, but I heard Batherson was still a challenge. And I've heard that Fantilli is still a challenge. And, you know, we'll see. I think it's not only the number, potentially in these cases, it's also structure.

You know, Columbus has got another interesting one because Marchenko, if another team wants to acquire him and extend them under the current rules, that has to happen before Wednesday. And nobody's really sure of Columbus wants to do that. I think Columbus wants to get out hot, and they're obviously a better team with Marchenko than without him. But I've just heard, like the word around the league on Sunday, and again, this can always change with one phone call,

is that there was more. progress around Goce than there was with Batherson and Fantilli. But again, deadline spur action, we'll see if anybody else moves their position. So, okay, we'll start with Goce first. It's as simple as the fact that Pat Verbeek was able to get done with Chris Kreider at the end of last week getting his contract completely off the books and we'll get to him signing in Montreal a little bit later. Yeah.

But clearing that up, was that the simple one plus two equals three in terms of why now it's really starting to pick up some steam because the room's opened up a bit? It's probably that. And it's probably also that we're at a deadline now, right? Yeah. That and I don't think, I don't think Gochie will be signing for eight years. I think that's going to be five years, I guess. big number, not Carlson.

I don't think it's going to be there. I think it's going to be lower than that, but not much. And I think also the variance is probably the big one there. Like the max is going to be 60%, right? So that is probably the bigger issue with Goce than the term, I think. I think, I just think, Kyle, that like I said, Deadline spur action. That's what they do.

And going through my own negotiation this offseason, I saw it firsthand. And so it's at the top of my mind right now. Some people like to do it early. Some people want to do it early. The fact is it's almost always like this. Do you think, do you have a sense on Fantilli? Is he looking for term? Do you know what kind of the sticking points are there?

I don't think, I would, I would be surprised if that was an eight-year deal, too. Batherson, I could see being eight. Yes. Because he's obviously older, contractually. Batherson, I could see being eight. But Fantilli and Goce, I don't, I don't see that. And also, too, like there are some guys who are going to be free agents next summer, either UFAs or RFAs, that are going to be affected by this two. they're just and you know we already saw mitten sign although it was a seven-year deal not eight

but those players undoubtedly are thinking about this as well just that these three guys tend to be the most uppermost in our minds right and i should just ask like is anything's sinister going on with the batherson negotiation because i mean it was earlier on late august you're kind of going there's a path there. If you sounded more optimistic then than now is also. I still think there's a path to a deal there. I just think that like there's there's nothing auto is done. Sometimes Kyle, you know when a player and team are headed towards a divorce.

I don't get that sense that that's what the senators want or what Batherson wants. Like, you know, sometimes you hear around the league, oh, this guy is available. or the players unhappy. I haven't heard that in this particular case. You know, again, we'll see what happens in the next 24 to 48 hours, and the deadline is midnight Eastern Tuesday night. But I didn't get a sense that this was something that either side wanted to end. Just the ground has shifted so much.

you know, Batherson's number from where the summer started to where we are now, it's gone up like a lot of other players. Yes. And you definitely say looking at when these new rules come into effect in a couple of days, it certainly favors owners more than the players. I don't even talking about term limits, but more of the structure. It definitely favors. On the surface, you think so.

Now, I was talking to some agents about that, and they're like, well, this is what I would tell you. And this is how the agent would argue it, Kyle. They would say, okay, but if you have a good player, let's just say it was eight times, let's just say for argument's sake for Batherson. We're talking eight times 10. Okay. Well, an agent's going to say, well, if it was eight times 10, guess what? now it's seven times 11 and a half. Yeah.

I get that part, but also what you can do year to year. Yes, the variance. That's more what I was getting at. Yeah. Right? Like, as you know, a dollar today is better than that same dollar three years from now. 100%. And not being able to load as much up in certain cases where signing bonuses really becomes

part of the equation. Can't load it up the same way that we've seen in the past. I mean, Leo Carlson, one of the more recent ones. So we'll see what comes here over the next couple of days. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Elliot, could you imagine? Were you there in 2014, that Eastern Conference final? No, I was in the studio when that happened. Yes.

And I was reminded today, not only that, but that 2009 draft held in Montreal, and they take the Canadians with their first round pick, the local boy Louis LeBlanc. Yep. Big ovation. And Crichter and Crichter is the next pick to the Rangers. He went right after LeBlanc in that draft to New York. So it only took 17 years?

Now he is a Montreal Canadian. First off, how surprised were you when you found or learned that Montreal was going to be the landing spot for Cryder? So Saturday morning. the rumors came around that it was Montreal. And I couldn't get it confirmed and the Canadians announced it. So if you would have asked me when it first happened, I probably would have been surprised. But by Saturday morning, I was not. The Canadians were very aggressive.

And there's a lot of people in an organization who know him, Jeff Gordon, Martin San Luis, Jim Ramsey, the trainer. And Kreider is big Jim Ramsey fan. That is not a small thing there. So as it progressed, it made a lot more sense. And, you know, I think the thing is, if you take a look at it, Criter, he had a bonus of a million dollars on July 1st, and the base is 2.15.

And the bonuses that they've given them under this, new deal, you know, he basically lost four million by terminating his contract. He's got a good shot at making that and more. So Montreal knew the assignment that, you know, when you're a player like this and you do that, you're hoping that you'll make back what you lose. You don't always do it, but you're hoping you will. And Montreal structured it in a way that that Crider would do that. I heard, I don't know if anybody offered more. I heard Montreal was very aggressive.

Like they wanted this done and they got it done. By Saturday morning, the word was out privately. Although I said, I couldn't get it confirmed before they announced it. The word was out privately and I'd begun making calls. I heard that they were going to be the team. It's funny. We were down in Vegas last week asking everybody about U.S. players being traded out of Canada and here we've got a Massachusetts native choosing to go to the province of Quebec

and play for one of the original six franchises. It's going to be interesting because... If you win, people will go to you. And that's what I think, too. Yes. Because everyone's looking at how can Canadians fans, there's no way they're going to root for this guy. If he plays well, you know, that was a long time ago.

And if the guy's helping you win games, I think that's what matters here in in Kyle I remember 15 years ago we were doing stories that even Quebec born players didn't want to play in Montreal I had guys I had one guy tell me a story that he had someone in his family or a friend that owned like a body shop and he was playing for the Canadians at the time and he was going through a big slump and one morning somebody drove up to the body shop and they just asked whoever it was his cousin his friend whoever it was what the hell is wrong with your buddy like he didn't even have a problem with a car you just he just wanted to know like what's wrong with him he can't get a point and we were

getting told stories like that all the time and you know the Canadians weren't doing very well and so that was the narrative around them. But when you win or you have a chance to win, I always talk about this with Winnipeg. Look how many guys have signed long-term contracts in Winnipeg. And they've got their own situation now. But when you win, guys want to play there. You know, the moment Austin Matthews came to Toronto,

people were talking about always going to leave by the time he's signed for 12 if he plays the full 12 years in Toronto will see but he signed there for 12 years like it comes down to do you believe you have a chance to win

Ottawa look at all these guys who signed up there right and Montreal certainly had a great showing last year getting to the Eastern Conference final and Kreider 22 goals last year in Anaheim still has game, can still skate. He's, you know, 35 now.

I think there's still a lot there if you're looking at, okay, where's Martin St. Louis going to play him? I think you've certainly got options. Well, they remind me a lot of the ducks because the thing that Crotter will be able to do there is in Anaheim, a lot of the younger guys do the heavy lifting, right? And Crider will just go where he needs to go. He doesn't have to carry the puck. he's not their most important player

he can do what he can do and other players will do the legwork same thing is going to be the case in Montreal you know Crider's a specimen a physical specimen he's in great shape but you know he can't do the same things now

that he could do 14 years ago when he first showed up right so Montreal to me is the same younger guys will do all the heavy lifting, Crider will do what he does well. I think it's a great fit for him. And just going back to the other story that you told,

I think of all the markets in the league where some you say, it could be really tough to play here. You can't escape the scrutiny, the talk, all of it. I don't think anything touches being a Quebec-born player with family in that province playing for the Montreal Canadians. that's where the swarm you can't escape good and bad man i would love it that's hottest me too i would say i think that's if i was any good enough to play in the nchel give me the hottest spot that's where i'd want to go mm-hmm because the risks are high but the rewards are great

so that's where crider ends up and that's where zach balduke is staying four years 4.2 another part of that young core that I think certainly you're betting on potential there and had some great moments over this past season in Montreal also, Elliot. I think that was kind of what everyone was looking at in terms of how this was going to play out and what the next deal for Bullduke and the Canadians was going to look like. I think that's a good deal. Team and player. Bull Duke gets 17 million. Team gets some cost certainty for a while. The other thing though for me though, Kyle is that I'm looking at that Montreal roster, they got a lot of bodies. And I still

especially on defense. Yeah, and you know, I mean, the rumor is that Jack Eye could end up playing forward. We'll see, they still have to sign them. You know, we'll see how that all plays out. They're going to be a fascinating team, but you know, as some of these other situations here where

either players are unsigned or their futures are uncertain. You know, we talked about Marchenko. I think it's you know, Montreal, I I know you can always say this and you definitely can like some teams their roster

the way it's going to look in April is not going to be the same as it looks now Montreal is one of those teams that their roster could be very different very quickly you get the sense they got a lot of balls in the air like Doc is another guy I've kind of wondered about the more the more they keep adding people like I wonder where his fit is.

But guys get hurt and you need versatile players and he is. But I look at them and it's almost like you're almost with them, you're almost waiting for another shoe to drop. What are they going to do here? Well, I'll tell you this, Elliot. I don't know if there's a better image of hockey is back than the pomp and circumstance of the annual Montreal-Canadian golf tournament and LaValle Sir LaLac today Monday so maybe we'll get some answers there

I loved watching some of the I loved watching some of the rookie stuff like I met I met we met Bjork in Winnipeg yeah like there he scored the oak gala bump yeah he was at the oak gala um they are so excited about him there I mean you know I always used to say I don't get, I don't count the first week of the preseason. We're down to four games, right? So you've got to make an impression fast. But they're going to give this kid every chance to play there this year. And I think we'd almost be surprised if he didn't.

I enjoyed watching. It just was nice to see the highlights, like hockey's back. I don't take a lot of this stuff very seriously. I saw that one huge defenseman from San Jose get in the fight. I guess there was kind of a rough situation out there because they didn't have officials lined up. And apparently that's a no-no. I heard the league wasn't very happy about all that.

But I loved seeing rookie highlights. It's just hockey's back. It's fantastic. The Vikings pummel the pass. And hockey's back. How could life get better? That's right. I hope your golf game was half decent Sunday, too.

Not bad. Not bad. Okay. Not bad. All right. I was, I putted horribly, but I hit not bad. And another one this week will be, I think we'll all be watching Detroit, too.

Like, how do they, what are they, how are they going to navigate things? Yes. We know Dylan Arkin will be a training camp, but we know he will not have the sea on his chest. going forward. Okay, let's get to the final thought here, Elliot. So we teased it a little bit, and we talked about it last pod that we were headed to Winnipeg to be part of the Bruce and Anoke Foundation gala. It was on Thursday night, a wonderful evening. I think the most successful one that they have had yet. It was a great night. A lot of people turned out for it. However, so we land there, what, just after noon, local time after flying through the night from Vegas. And we get them. I just say too, Kyle, that flight from Vegas to Chicago was the coldest airplane I have ever been on. We flew air iceberg from Vegas to Chicago. And if you keep ripping my packers, I'll show everybody how you looked on air iceberg. That is a bad video, man.

You prioritize sleep. For anybody who doesn't know, I am the ugliest sleeper on the planet. I freely admit it. I am an ugly sleeper. So we fought off from that flight. We get to Winnipeg. It was a warm day in Winnipeg. It was great.

But we get to the hotel. I haven't even pulled our bags from the trunk of the car yet. And there's like three people that are asking you, what's going out with Helibuck? What's going on with Helibuck? No question was asked more than our 24 hours in Winnipeg than that one. Well, first of all. The gala raised $5.7 million that night, including one very generous, extremely generous donor. And it was a great evening.

You did a great job. Ron did a great job. People had a great time. Wayne Gradsky. You too. Well, Wayne Gratsky was in elite form. He was in elite storytelling form. So that made my job easy.

But so it was an awesome night. But you're right. Everybody was asking about Helloback. Everybody. Like, what's going on with? Hello Buck, what's happening with Hello Buck. And I don't think there's anything percolating right now, really. I think it's, again, anything can change with one phone call, but on the weekend, it was,

it was pretty quiet. I just think the biggest question this week is, you know, if he's going to show up to camp. The word in the summer was, if it wasn't done by the time camp started, he wasn't going to attend, because I think there was just a worry it was going to be too much of a circus, but we'll see if that's changing all this week. Yeah, I believe their golf tournament is today, Monday as well. Oh. So I don't know if we'll get any further clarity on things with that,

but it's getting to be that time, Elliot. I'll bet you if you play in the Jets golf tournament, they wouldn't cheat you out of closest to the pin. That's right. Is Rogers, do they have anything to do with it? No, all right, I've got a chance. I've got a chance. Yeah, great time in Winnipeg.

And man, it is every year you just get a greater appreciation for what that foundation is doing and continues to do. And we've talked about the Bruce Oak Recovery Center's been open for a number of years now. They have broke ground in the Ann Oak Family Recovery Center. And as you said, a record-breaking night in terms of money raised to help get that building up and running hopefully by just over a year from now. All right, that was the final thought. No, no, no, by the way, before we wrap up, the final thought, we should say what happened at the Oki event. Somebody came up to us and said,

Yes. Did Dom make the trip with you? And he was crestfallen when he heard the answer was no. Yes, Dom, it's the first time anyone has ever asked for you. Well, this person's very smart and, maybe it'll spur action. Maybe I'll be invited to these things. No, that's not what we want.

Look at that. It was almost a compliment. Rejected. Okay, now read the tagline. All right. The final thought, that was it. Dom's not wanted in Winnipeg, except for one person.

Okay, we'll take our first break. The thought line on the other side. So can I see this picture before we move on? All right. Time now for the thought line presented by BetMGM and make it legendary as is customary, Elliot. The floor is yours to begin proceedings. Well, first of all, I wanted to recognize there's a lot of people around the NHL feeling a bit of pain this weekend with the death of Brent Peterson, former player. and basically a long time fixture on the Nashville Predators scene. Just basically did everything for that organization,

just in a hugely nice and friendly person. And I just wanted to recognize Brent and also just the Predators hockey fans who absolutely love the guy and are really in mourning over the last 24 to 48 hours. So that's the first thing I wanted to mention. I wanted to do a couple of shoutouts as well. I got a really good DM from Alan Bass. And he writes, Hi, Elliot, I thought you'd appreciate this.

My wife and I were in northern Italy for vacation. We're staying at a hotel called Athos Milan. There was a Team USA jersey hanging in their bar. When I asked the manager what it was, he told me that the U.S. men's hockey team used their hotel as a home base, partied in the bar many nights, and hosted the massive celebration after the gold medal game. He explained that before the games,

he and the staff knew nothing about hockey, but by the time the gold medal game happened, they were all watching each game and cheering passionately for the U.S. hockey team. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through dozens of photos and videos of him with all of the players and executives. He befriended the USA hockey execs, and a few weeks later, when the execs came back for the Paralympics, they brought the jersey with them to give to the hotel as a thank you for their friendship during the Olympics.

Just thought that was a really fun story that you'd appreciate. Alan, thank you for sending. That was an excellent story. And finally, Kyle, a couple shoutouts, Jewish New Year's this past weekend, Roosciana, a couple people there. I met a boyfriend of a cousin. His name is Nick. He's taking his master's in kinesiology at York. He is a huge podcast fan, so I wanted to shout him out.

And I met someone named Heather, Kyle. And she said that she went to see the Maple Leaf in Pittsburgh on a Saturday night. last year, and she's doing it again this year, but she stayed at the same hotel you did, and she said that you were nice to her when she asked to take a picture with you in the Keystone state. And I said, I said, you must be thinking of someone else. That's right. Not my co-host. That's great. That's nice way to remember that. Yeah. Nice of you to do, Kyle. awesome stuff.

And awesome to be able to say the Griffin Porter is back for another year. All right. Curating this bad boy for us each and every week. So here we go. We'll begin with Nicola Graham. Great to have the podcast back on with Elliot, Kyle, and the team.

At 55, I have decided to join a ladies team in the UK women's National Ice Hockey League for the upcoming season. I will be playing for the Kingston Diamonds female ice hockey club based in Hull East Yorkshire, England. Senior women's teams don't exist in the UK, so I am on

the development team with a varied age group. I am the oldest player by five years, but I'm super excited for our first game on September the 20th. You're never too old to throw yourself into a new challenge. Looking forward to our season and the NHL season,

let's go Oilers. That is great. I think the proper phrase Kyle is you go girl Nicola enjoy it's never too late to start I hope you have a great season and I hope you have a great time

Best to luck of your first game on the 20th By the way Elliot the other night I had a men's league game or a beer league whatever you want to call it and the ice time before us was I think it would have been a U-18 Girls Hockey League

and it was like the top tier, like the provincial wide youth girls league, I was captivated. The speed, the skill, the physicality. And I'm looking at like that's going to be the next wave that'll push to whether you know, you're playing post-secondary, you're playing in the PWHL. It's just as far as the women's game has come in the last, what, 30 years? Yeah. Where it's going to go in the next five to I was I was floored watching it. It was so entertaining. So whether you're still youth age level or for Nicola,

finding love in the game later on in life, all great. I don't care who you are. I don't care where you're from. I just want to see you hold a hockey stick and have a great time. Okay, Danin, long time listener, with Connor Hellebuck asking for his trade after getting the long-term deal he wanted and was given. as well as other marquee players.

I know this would never happen, but couldn't the Jets say, nope, not going to trade you? And oh, by the way, you will now be our third string goalie and sit the entire year. Or better yet, the rest of the contract. What is stopping one of these owners

to say enough is enough and make an example of one of these guys? Again, I don't think it would ever happen, but would love to see it. Thanks. Shannon, I hope you are never my boss. Yes, that's number one, Danin. You know what?

The reason why it's counterproductive, Danin. You know, look, are there hard feelings here? Yes. Is this a very tough situation? Yes. Is it frustrating for everybody involved? Yes. But if Hello Buc shows up to camp, making him your number three goal,

I mean, he'd be your number two. He doesn't qualify for the number three. there's special rules and he couldn't be it. But you're making your own situation worse if you do that. As much as these things are frustrating to everybody involved, you can't electrocute yourself. You know, you just have to do it. You have to put yourself in a situation where you try to make the best of it

as difficult as it is. Like if you devalue HelloBucks trade value, you're not making things better for your own situation. So, you know, I think the thing is, Hello Buck is a little different in the sense, too, Kyle, that he's given more teams, like some of the other situations like Brady Kachuk, he's given more teams.

Like I heard Helobach basically will go anywhere he thinks he can win. Like the deal that was the closest one to happening was the Buffalo one. And I think that shows you, gives you an example of why, he's willing to do because there's not a lot of other players who would have been saying, okay, yes, Buffalo is on the top of my list. No offense to the Sabres and they're great fans. But after last year in the way he saw them play, he's like, I think I can win there. I'll go there. So I think his list is a little bit wider. I think what's interesting, Kyle, is one of the interviews

we did was with Marty Walsh, who's the executive director of the NHL Players Association. and Kyle, when we talked to him about, you know, the new CBA is just coming in. We're four years away from the next one, but he did say that he thinks that no trade clauses are going to be, he knows it could be a thing next time around. And one of the things that the Red Wing said to Larkin and the Jets said to Helibuck was,

hey, you have a no trade clause. If you want us to trade you, you got to open it up. Like we can go anywhere. And they said no. And although, like I said, Hello Box list, I think, is longer than anyone else's. It's a much, much bigger list.

But I do think next time around, that's going to be one of the big things. Well, it's funny you bring that up because no trade clause will come up here shortly on this edition of the thought line. But Kyle, if Danon's ever your boss, don't say you're ever thinking of leaving because you're going to work in a closet. That's right. Message received.

Okay, next from handsome Rick. Is there photographic evidence of this so we can decide if this is true? No. We'll see if we can track that down in time for Thursday's recording. It's just text right now. Okay. Just text for now. You have to take him out his word.

Hello, gentlemen. Great show. Listen to you guys on my way to and from work. Makes my commute enjoyable. Anyway, here is my question. How does terminating a contract work? I was listening when you mentioned Chris Kreider going on waivers for the purpose of terminating a contract last week. There has to be rules for it because I feel then every team would do this to get out of bad contracts,

which would defeat the point of the buyout window. Is there a penalty for acting against that? Thank you for your time. Let's go Islanders. P.S. Eliot, I give you permission to use Handsome in your title. handsome Elliot I will do that well first of all

handsome Rick if that is indeed your real name the thing is is that the player for this termination the player and the team have to agree to it

now there have been other situations and Patrick Bergland was one where a player refused to offer his services and the team terminated his contract. And Berglan said, no, I'm done. I'm not fighting it. And that was the end of that.

In Crider's particular situation, there have been some other ones over the past couple of years. Texier did it to go from St. Louis to Montreal. Zamula did it to go from Philadelphia to Columbus. Brandon Saude did it. to go to Vegas. Philip Zadena did it,

to go against the advice of his agent, to go from Detroit to San Jose. David Kamp did it last year from the Leafs. Yeah. And go back a number of years, Zach Bogosian. Zach Bogosian did it. So these ones happen in situations

where both the player and the team agree to it. Nor if the player doesn't agree to it or the team doesn't agree to it, it can't happen. Now, your question, Rick, was about does the league have an issue with it? They do when there's a signing bonus involved. In David Camp's situation, they fought the Leafs and they said, you paid him a signing bonus. We want the signing bonus to be repaid.

And ultimately, the league backed down, the Players Association, fought it hard. So they're allowing these things to happen right now. We'll see if that ever changes. but right now as long as the team and the player both agree, then it can happen. Okay, first voicemail of the new season from Mike. Hi there. With the discussion of NHL expansion this summer,

I was wondering how teams with numerous no-movement pause contract would be impacted by the protection limit of an expansion threat. Expansion requirements in the previous expansion were eight skaters, four, seven forward, a defense force. and a goalie, how would the NHL protection limits affect the team that has more no-movement clause contracts that go beyond these amounts? An example of this would be the Edmonton Oilers, who in 2027, 2028 have five forwards for defensemen with no-movement clauses. They could also sign Matt Savoy to a no-movement clause as well. My questions are, what takes precedence?

The no-movement clause contract rights for the N-Ans. expansion mandates. Could NHL teams use no movement clauses while negotiating upcoming contracts as an expansion protection blue pool? Thank you. Mike. It's a great question, Mike. And there were teams that got caught with this in both the Vegas and the Seattle expansion drafts. Our teammate Kevin BXA has told stories before about one of the reasons that Anaheim walked into trouble on the blue line was his no-telech. trade or no move clause. It has to be a no move. No trade can't save you from the expansion draft, but a no move can. And Kevin declined to waive his no move clause and Anaheim eventually lost

Shea Theodore. That was one of the reasons they backed themselves into a corner. Kevin has talked about that before. Now, I can't find it quickly. I was looking at it, but I know that now, As we think NHL expansion is looming in the near future, some teams have negotiated that with players. I believe Carolina did it. I can't find the player. And someone will tell me if I'm right or wrong about this. But I believe the hurricanes negotiated an extension with a player recently where they gave them protection but said they could be exposed in the expansion draft. and you will see, I think, that happened,

that some teams will negotiate it if they can. Yeah, interesting times with expansion. And as you touched on earlier, CBA, the next one coming in 2030, and how big of a fight that alone is going to be between the two sides. Mike, thank you for that. And we will conclude with this one, Elliot,

from Curtis in Calgary. Lots of good, good start to the, the thought line, like lots of good ones. Never worry about our listenership with this stuff. No, never worry. They're more talented than the people doing the podcast themselves. Yes. Curtis and Calgary, hi guys. I'm excited to have the pod back for my train ride into work and had a question that I've

been sitting on since last season. In Game 82 of the Canucks season, they lost 6-1 to Edmonton. That lone Connucks goal was Ty Mueller's first career goal and point, assisted by Curtis, great name, Douglas, and goalie Kevin Lankinen. Of those three people involved in the goal, Lankinen has the most career points with seven. I was curious, how many times has a goalie factored in on a goal where they have the highest career point total of the players involved?

Looking forward to this coming year and was glad to hear Elliot decided to stay after his UFA season. Oh, God. Well, I mean, off the top of my head, I wouldn't know that. But I'm trying to think, like, when you think about goalies who had a lot of points, like, Grant Fuhr, Martan Broder, but like, I'm thinking like Grant Fuhr, like, he was on the Oilers. Although later in his career, when, you know, maybe he was playing for Calgary or something like that, there was. But I'm thinking like, I think Haxstall had 30 plus points.

I think Belfour had 30 plus points. Bordure and Fuhr had like 40. I mean, I guess it's possible like later in their career. It could have happened. You are right. It has happened. No way. I was still surprised of the total amount of times this has happened in NHL history.

How many? Including the one that Curtis brought up at the end of last season. 17 times. Actually, I'm really surprised at that too. I never thought it would be that high. No. But a lot of those names that you threw out there are on the list. Broder on there a couple times.

Hextall, Belfort. Remember, Tom Barrasso had a lot of points too. He was on this list. He had the loan assist on a Marcus Naslin goal in Pittsburgh. and at that time, Barrasso had more career points than Naslin did. 42 to 35. Wow. The SportsSatstads pull this?

Of course they did. Man, they are off to a great start of the season. So 17 times total. And like the example with Vancouver at the end of last season, only seven of them have involved. a goal score and two assists, as opposed to just one assist on the goal from the goalie. So basically what I'm saying is there's seven examples

of where the goalie had more career points than two players, not just one. You know what I'd love to know. So, Bordure is the only guy who's got two goals, right? Did he ever assist on someone's first NHL goal after he'd already scored twice? Like would Broder have the guy scored his first NHL goal and Bruder says you've got one more to catch me

Yes so he assisted on a David Clarkson goal in 2007 That was Clarkson's eighth career point at that point I don't know if it was his first NHL goal you know what I bet you if I look quickly on hockey reference I could find it because they have the scoring logs, right? Yes. So, no, his first career point was a goal. So there you go.

That's a good one, though. That's a really good. I'd be curious to know if he, yeah, I just found that Broder assist. That was his first goal of that season, but his fourth career goal. Excellent. 17 times. Yeah, I didn't see that one coming. Great question, Curtis.

Great start to a new year of the plotline, Elliot. You guys are on top of your game. Impressive. And great to have you back, Griffin Porter. Glad to hear you had a great summer as well. Okay, we'll take another break when we come back. The interview portion of this pod, Werenski, Sanderson, Jack Hughes, all still to come on 32 thoughts. So this summer was an interesting one for Zach Werenski

because hey look, so many wonderful things going on in his life. Becomes a father for the first time in May. He wins his first ever Norris Trophy. On the heels of becoming an Olympic champion with Team USA. He got to go on stage at a Luke Combs concert, Crush beer at the shoe. What an experience. And yet all anybody could talk about over the summer months

is what happened in and around after the draft and free agency. Rumors starting to swirl. Did Zach want out of Columbus? Was he asking for a trade? How close were they to making a deal with Dallas? And he eventually nixed it. Holy smokes. A wild couple of days for Rorensky,

a guy who normally likes to keep things calm, cool, and collected. Even he couldn't help but feel, understandably. The water was a little rough for a few days. He was gracious enough to sit down with us for 10, 15 minutes in Vegas this past week. He was very thoughtful, very honest, and very, very motivated to get the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs this season. It is where he wants to be. So we will begin our interview series here today with Zach Werenski of the Jackets, followed by Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators and Jack Hughes, the golden goal scorer himself for USA and

and Star Winger with the New Jersey Devils. Enjoy it all on 32 Thoughts. So, Zach, I understand you love to travel. So if someone's to come to you to say, okay, I want to go on a trip, where should I go? What's the first place that comes to mind? What's at the top of your destination list for places to go see?

We love Japan. Tokyo, Osaka. We went there. That was an incredible trip. It's a little far. If there was any closer, we'd probably go back, more often, but that was one of our favorites for sure. What do you like about it?

I think just the culture, very impressive culture, extremely clean city for how big it is. And people are so nice there and so friendly. We had a few times where we were trying to get help with a few things. And even if they didn't speak English, they were like, wouldn't let us leave until they found a way to help us. Yeah, it was very, very cool to see you. Is there anywhere like a little closer that you can really like? No, because Japan's on my list. Like, I want to go.

Highly recommend it. Yeah, I'm in closer, like, in Europe. We did Istanbul last summer. I really liked it there. I thought that was awesome. Yeah, a really cool country. There's the Greece and Italy's. You know, everyone goes to that are really nice.

But we try and go to some different places than majority. Went to the pyramids last year. So, yeah, we like to travel. I mean, there's good things in every place you go to. So it's just fine in them. We just got back from Croatia. We loved it. I've been there yet.

Yeah, it's awesome. One of the best trips we've ever been on. Yeah, really cool. All right, I might as well just dive right into it. Basically, the way I was going to start this was, what did you dispute of Kyle's incorrect report from the offseason? Yes, we all know when I came out with that big report. No, I mean, I've read your quotes, like, just that you felt that some of it was not accurate or anything.

So I just wanted to ask you, give you the floor. Yeah, no, I mean, it's, um, I always try to be careful on how I say this because I know you guys have jobs to do and you get information from somewhere that you trust. And I felt like for me and my conversations that I've had with people about the whole situation, it wasn't how I felt the conversations went. So I felt like that's where for me it felt a little bit misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. I don't know who you guys talked to or your sources or any of that. but I felt like for me it was definitely a place that I never imagined it getting to.

You know, I had honest conversations with Don and Bones and people in the organization from the day the season I did about how I felt about things. And at the end of the day, I was always, I wanted to be in Columbus and win here. So I definitely got off their hills a bit, but happy it's back on track and I'm happy to be a blue jacket. Okay.

Did you ever expect it would get to a point where like there was a total trade and if you had wanted to do it, it could have gotten done. Did you ever see, think that there was like, imagine the possibility of that happening? Well, I think you always think of possibilities, right? Like, I'm not going to say I didn't think there was ever a possibility of it, but I knew deep down that I didn't, that wasn't what I was going to do. I knew I was going back to Columbus. I knew in my head that I wanted to be a blue jacket. And so yeah, I guess like I started to hear noise and the possibilities start to cross your mind, I guess. But it was never something

that was, I wanted to happen. So I saw your wife has said that you were the most calm, level-headed person she knows. Was that tested over those few days where things that you say got got off the rails for a bit? Yeah, I mean, honestly, it's probably a good question. I know you guys obviously won't ask her, but that's a good question to ask her because I did feel different. If you want to put her on the phone,

and we'll ask her right now. Yeah, I'm going to call her? Would. I think I just felt different around the house and even sleeping. I was like not sleeping great, and it just felt like a lot because I really wasn't sure

what was going on and like how it was all happening and I just wanted a clarity on it and that's when I called Don and we had a great conversation and got it back on track and kind of just left it behind us so yeah I mean I always trying to stay level-headed and I feel like I was but I definitely felt like I was a little different for a few days there somebody said to me that's like the guy who's been around for a long time, he's been traded a few times. He said that we were talking about it and he said that, you know, it struck him as your

guy who's never been in that position before. And sometimes when you go through it the first time, you think you know what to expect, but you really don't know what to expect. And all of a sudden it's way out of control and not what you envisioned. Was that kind of it? Yeah, yeah. Well, I was never hoping I was in that position fully, you know, like I, I wasn't. wasn't trying to be in that position.

So when you're in that position, not wanting to be, it's definitely weird. Yeah, I didn't really know what was happening fully until me and Don talked and we had a great conversation. And that was that. I mean, it ended pretty quickly. And definitely a weird time in my life, in my summer.

But it's something you grow from and you learn from and become a better person and all that stuff. So trying to take the positives from it, and that's just dealing with some adversity and dealing with a tough week there and becoming better from it and learning from all that stuff. But I just really happy with the outcome.

So that call with Don Waddell, your GM, it's clear your message at that time was, I want to be a blue jacket. What did you hear from him that kind of settled your mind and thought, this all blow over, it'll be okay? Yeah, I mean, I think we were just both on the same page immediately. It was a pretty quick call. I think even Todd got on the call.

A few people were on the call, and it was quick. I mean, it was just like, hey, this is where I'm going to be, and he's like, this is where we want you to be. It's Columbus. And at that point, we talked about how to kind of just get the thing back on tracks. I mean, they're so far gone. So statements were the best way to do it. And going back to my statement, it's everything that I believe and I stand by.

it was quick. It wasn't a long call by any means. It wasn't some like hour long call where we had to figure things out. It was a four minute phone call about how to get it back on track. And I think we're both on the same page with that. Are you worried about it all kicking up again at any time? Yeah. I mean, I think it's going to kick up until I have an extension. You know, I think that's just the nature of it. I think social media does that a lot as well. Fans are going to speculate. I think the Quinn's situation right now is, you know, on the forefront of everyone's mind what he's going to do. So, yeah, I definitely think it'll kick up again. I hope it doesn't. I hope, you know, and I believe that we're going to be a playoff team this year and there's nothing to talk about and we're just focused on that. But I guess I wouldn't be surprised if I saw it kick up and not because I want it to. It's just the nature of contracts and I guess everything that transpired over the summer. you said there that you believe you're a playoff team this year what convinces you what do you

like about the Columbus team yeah well I like our additions you get two guys that have won before and it's a chuchin and Lomburg I think they're that's you know experience you can't replicate and you have to go through in order to have it and we have those guys on our team now you have bones for a full year I think what he did with our group last year it was special and I feel like having him for a full training camp a full season it's really going to help our group for a lot of the mistakes we made early on that really hurt us last year. And I just like our core. I think we've been close the last two seasons and we haven't gotten it done.

You got a couple guys. He had bones for a full season and I just like our chances. Like we're a good hockey team with a lot of skill. I like our size. Goody, Lomburg, Olivier, like guys that can really fight and hit and bring energy that way. We kind of got a mix of everything. So I just think we're in a good spot for it. Not afraid to go into an alley with that group of guys.

No, not at all. It's honestly crazy the difference you feel when you have guys like that on your team. You feel like the game just feels different when you have Ali out there. We miss him the last like two weeks of the season he was out. It's a different game though. He's on the ice. And he's so good as well. Scores 16 to 18 goals a year.

I mean, plays 18 minutes a night. Like it's guys like him, you get Lombie in here. You get goody the way he plays. I definitely feel different when those guys are on your team. So, can I help but think about that, like when Rick Bonas at the end of the season, obviously there's a lot of emotion right in the immediate aftermath for everybody. And saying some pretty bold things, like however long everyone needed to just kind of cool off, when you connected with them again, what was that conversation like in terms of setting,

like, it's the correct tone for what is to come here this fall? Yeah, it was good. I had great communication with Bones all summer. I think the next day after, I was a little not caught off guard by it because he came in and addressed the team before he went on that rant. But I just felt like, I don't know,

I felt like kind of the way it came out was wrong and I probably handled it wrong the next day when I spoke to the media. And then me and Bones talked again and kind of got on the same page and understood his point of view and I actually agree with him on how he approached it.

But in the moment, I was like, I don't agree with that, like, this, that other thing. But that's another learning experience that I had this summer as well, is, I guess, like, trying to understand his message more than just, like, how it came out. Okay.

And his message was correct. I mean, you talk about our culture, like, we don't have a culture that makes the playoffs every year, and it's not our, like, it hasn't been our expectation every year. Like, we want to get there, but now it's like,

no, we have, to. I'm like, that's this culture we're going to build here in Columbus, and that's what he's bringing. And I think it's great for our group. And at first, like I said, I don't think I handled it the right way. And I think up for talking them and self-reflecting more as summer went on. I really understand his message, and I agree with him. How similar is he to Tortorella? It's a good question. They're definitely different, but have a few similarities. like I think like they're fiery

like they have a lot of passion and you want your coach to have a lot of passion like you can't fault a guy for caring as much as they do I think Bones is way more in the room

with the guys communicating a lot more than Torts did but in saying that Torts like I have a great relationship with him he just did it differently but they definitely they care a lot.

And I think that's where their similarities come. Like when they're pissed about something or they have emotions about something, like they're going to show it. And it's going to grab your attention. And I think that's a good thing. Captain C. Talked about it? No, haven't talked about it.

No, thought about it. But no, I haven't talked about it. Seems obvious to me from the outside. Yeah, I don't know. We'll say. Honestly, it was a crazy year. We have a lot of great leaders in our room. Just signed Charlie Quill, like I mentioned, Matthew Olivier.

We got a lot of guys that lead, Sean Monaghan, some young guys that are really good players that are going to be leaders for a long time. So honestly, I haven't thought about it. I feel like stuff like that comes organically. Whether that's through training camp or the start of the year, I don't know what their plans are. I got back last week.

I saw Don a couple times, but haven't seen Bones yet. I think he got in this week. So I'm sure those conversations will come up the next couple weeks here, but yeah, it'd be an honor. Obviously, I've been there for 10 years and love it there, and it would be great, but see what happens. I just, I mean, with all this we've discussed, Watson at all was a season that you won an Olympic medal and you won the bloody Norris trophy. Like, hey, have you allowed yourself to kind of appreciate what you accomplished and kind of how you view yourself? within the rest of the league? Yeah, I've definitely tried to take a step back

and just enjoy it. I think before all the craziness happened over the summer, I was enjoying it. You know, I was Olympic gold medal. It was our first kid, a Norse trophy a few weeks later. And I was just really enjoying all the milestones, enjoying being a dad. And, you know, when I won the Norris,

they were asking about the following season, and I really wasn't thinking about it. I was just trying to enjoy everything that just happened because usually it's always what's next. What's next you're going to bring? What's the next thing you want to accomplish? I think that's kind of how we're programmed is to focus on the next thing.

And I just kept telling myself, like, be present and enjoy all this because it's been a pretty incredible year. And, yeah, up until kind of like the draft time, I was enjoying it, got a little crazy, and then kind of flipped the switch just started getting focused for this season and, yeah, trying to have another good season. Fatherhood's the best. There's nothing better.

I'm early in it, but it doesn't matter. These last four months have been life-changing for sure. That's the best. Yeah. Okay, Jake, first of all, know you're a tennis fan. I also know you're someone that is big on taking care of your body, sleep, recovery, all of it. Did you stay up last night for Al-Cras and Sheldon? I didn't stay up for the whole thing, but I think with the time change,

It actually worked. Got to watch a little bit more than what I normally would on the East Coast. Yes, yeah. 3.30 after it. Well, 12.30 years, so not that bad. Yeah. What a match, though. Zegroes said he stayed up to watch it.

Really? Yes. Yeah. Well, he was there last week, I think. That's right. He strikes me as a guy who stays up later than you generally. Probably. Did you play a lot of tennis?

Not hard to do that. Yeah. Did you play a lot of tennis at the start? Yeah, that was good. Who's good? Like, who do you play with is good. Stephen Halliday. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, in Ottawa. He came to Montana for a week. And we skated, but like, right when we got off the ice, he's like, let's go. Let's go, let's go say. Let's go play tennis. He's a beast. Who wins? We actually, we have some good battles, but he's better than me.

Okay. Silky mitts. Silky mitts. He seems like a very interesting guy. He is, yeah. What have you learned about him? He's quiet. I think he's quiet in a big setting, but once you get a more.

one-on-one, he opens up for sure, and he just loves hockey. I think that's kind of just why I love hanging out with him. He's so driven, and I truly think he's going to be a great player one day. So who's a tennis player who's not good but thinks they're good? On our team? Or anyone? Well, Pins, like, talks the most smack. Like, Shane Pinto, like, he thinks, like, he doesn't play tennis at all, and he's like,

bro, I could beat you. I'm like, Shane, I play a lot in the summer. So I got to get a match against him one day to shut him up. Six love. I see it's six love. Yeah, I'll meggle him. You say, Shane, you can't have everything, right? He's great at golf, right?

He played that tournament auto the summer. You can't have everything. I remember your rookie year asking, so DJ Smith was still coaching at the time, asking him about you. And his answer was, this is my best DJ impression, but he goes, good lemur, doesn't drink, wants to be the best. That was his answer. That was the way he described you.

So in your pursuit of being the best, what were the focal points over the summer? What have you honed in on? I think just trying to find my weaknesses in my game and kind of exploit them. I think it's easy to train your strengths. I think for me it's easy to, I mean, continue to work on my skating.

Yes, I do. But I think this summer I kind of looked back on the season and how I felt. It's so hard to be consistent in the NHL and feel good every single night. So I think for me it was just breaking that down from a nutrition standpoint till sleep, like really looking at a really broad area of things. So do you like wear like, like I notice you've got a digital watch on? Do you wear, are you, do you pay attention to a lot of like those body rings and stuff?

I do. Yeah, I do. I love that stuff. I kind of nerd out about all that stuff. I bought like this special mattress this summer. that can track your sleep when you sleep on it and it like adjusts the temperature to your body um it's pretty cool hot room or cold room cold you gotta go cold yeah yeah he's a sauna he sleeps in a sauna that's crazy you gotta try cold you feel way bad i hate it i know it's better i just hate it i'm like

72 73 really these guys think it's disgusting yeah that's pretty hot i'll go like 64 65 oh my god i'll try to go as cold as i can honestly wow it's my ac bill through the roof. Montana, it's pretty warm there. Yeah, yeah, I know. All right, so we've got to talk about it a little bit, just the big trade of the summer. And, you know, you were one of the players

who did put a note on the Instagram. Just your reaction as it all developed. Yeah, it was a shock for sure. I think, I mean, looking back, I shouldn't be surprised that Brady wants to go play with his brother. I don't think anybody. should be surprised when they see that. But to see it actually happened is crazy.

He was such a big personality leader in our room. So things will be different for sure. I'm going to miss him a lot as a teammate. He was that big brother for me on the team was always there for me. So our friendship doesn't change by any means. But yeah, it's going to be different for sure. I just wondered, Jake, I mean, Steve Stales said he started to feel, I mean, even kind of coming out of four nations that things seemed a little different with Brady.

For someone that you're in the room with them every day, do you recall a time or at a certain point where you thought something seems a little off here? Yeah, I don't know. I think, I mean, me and Brady talk a lot. We're very close. And I think as the years went on and auto, we got even closer. The thing with Brady, he puts a lot of pressure on himself. I saw him just, you know, after tough games, after tough losses in the playoffs, so he wears it really heavy.

And, you know, I tried to be there for him, but he takes it so seriously as you should. And, but yeah, he's really tough on him. I don't know if I really saw a switch like that, what you're trying to talk about. but I think just the pressure was the main thing that he puts on himself. Do you think the players are glad it's over? Like one way or another, there's an end? With him gone?

Just like the questions are over. Yeah, yeah. I felt like this past season, a lot went on with our team and just a lot of white noise. We like to call it in Ottawa, and we try to not listen all that. But yeah, I think, you know, a few months have gone by now. Obviously, it'll still be a big topic throughout the season, but yeah, it's kind of just, you know, focus on our team.

What's done is done and move on. Have you thought about what that first game is going to be like when Florida comes to town? Because, I mean, the fan base certainly made their voices heard of how they felt about how it all ended. Yeah, for sure. And I don't blame them. I think they're so passionate. And, I mean, I don't think Brady blames them either. I think he understands where they're coming from.

but yeah, it's so weird, like, just being here, seeing him in that jersey. Like, it just doesn't, I don't want to say it doesn't look right. It's just so weird, like, with those colors. But, yeah, that game will be interesting for sure. I think, I mean, for me, as a friend of his and former teammate, I'll, you know, welcome him back, you know, friendly. But I know maybe some other people and fans won't. Big money on the board game. For him, oh, yeah.

And for you guys probably. Yeah, probably, absolutely. Yeah. Do you have a vote for the C? Ah, man, I think we have like four or five guys. I could just do an awesome job. I think somebody for me, I think G. Clodreux was just, I mean, yeah, Brady was captain and he was the leader, but so was G.

Like he just didn't talk a lot, but just showed up every single day and does the right thing. And I feel like we all see what he does and just follow him. Have you thought about yourself potentially in that role? You'd strike me as somebody who's more lead-by-example type, but you've been in the league for a number of years now. Clearly you're asked to do a lot on the ice for your team. Have you pictured yourself or thought about that possibility at all? A little bit, yeah.

I think going into my fifth season now, probably wouldn't. I think going into my first year, I was so shy and such a quiet kid, and I feel like I am still a little bit reserved. But just being more comfortable with my teammates kind of helps me open up and even getting older, just more comfortable in my skin. But yeah, I think once Brady got traded, I think, I mean, just, you know, be ready for anything. It was kind of my mindset. Not expecting it, though, but yeah, just in the back of my mind, just being ready for it. just the case. I was curious, Jake, after the deal,

did anyone from Ottawa ever come to you and say, hey, like, are you okay here? Like, is there anything that we need to talk about that would make you feel more comfortable or happier in Ottawa? Yeah, I feel like we have a lot of open conversation with, obviously with Steve Steyos, you know, even Michael Ann Lauer, our owner has done a great job with our organization.

So, and even our coaching staff, too, like, we love playing for our coaches. I think, you know, we have such pride going out there and working hard for them. Because they put a lot of time and effort into it too. So, yeah, I feel like, you know, in Ottawa, we have a lot of open, you know, dialogue and what the players need. So I think that's important. Thanks very much for your time, Jake.

Yeah. Thanks very much. Great to see you. Congratulations on your engagement again. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. So, Jack, first of all, did you stay up last night for Alcaraz Sheld?

No, we were on the plane. I didn't watch a second of it actually. Oh, that's too bad. We were flying here last night, and then it was crazy late when we got back when we got here. But it looked like a crazy match. Now, who would you be rooting for in that? Oh, I mean, I love Alcaraz. Obviously, I think everyone does, but pretty cool to see an American in the finals, whether it's TFO or Shelton.

Yeah. Who said the same thing to me that they love Alcarat? Oh, Zegra. Yes. Yeah. He said the exact same thing as we did. I mean, I saw Shelton the other day, and he's a beast. I mean, he's fun to watch.

How many, you guys went a couple times this year to US Open? We went once, we're going later this week. Okay. Probably for the Shelton TFO match. Oh, yeah. That's great. There's going to be American in the final. Regardless, right?

Yeah, that's big time. Jeez. So we had Quinn in here just not too long ago, and he was rattling off all the things that you guys have got to experience this summer. I'm sure that interview is more exciting than this one this year. Well, we'll see. We still got about 10 minutes.

We're not finished with you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like, where does your mind go and you think of the things you got to see, the places you got to experience, and people you got to be around? Yeah, it was just a crazy summer, obviously, but lucky to do some really cool things. Pretty much did it all with my brothers. That was the best part about it. Yeah, it was just a really fun summer.

And then August we completely winded it back and got refreshed and excited for the season. And now we're ready to play some hockey. Quinn said there was only one stick thrown this year and he threw it. Yeah, usually it's crazy out there. This year is pretty tamed. You got Larks. He had a good year. Last year, Cole had 50.

Me and Quinn did our thing. KC so it was a more chill summer. Z won the Norse. Yeah. So I think guys were a little mellowed out in terms of yelling at the coaches for bad passes. So what did caught, he wouldn't say, what caused him to throw his stick? Um, I don't even remember. I think it might have been a cross check he got from Zegris.

That's all I can remember what I think it would be from. That's fair. I wanted to ask you about you. And we finished with Quinn just about the goal and how proud he was and happy for you that you scored that. And he gave a lengthy great answer. But the thing he really talked about, obviously, he's hugely proud of you. He talked about how inclusive you are and that your teammates, because you're so inclusive,

they were so happy for you as much as they were for each other. But he said that, you know, he thought it was the start of a new chapter in your life. that everything had happened the past two years, that was the close of the door. You had an unbelievable tear when you came back, and it was like, he said, it was like a new start to your life. Do you feel that way?

Yeah, I mean, that's probably a pretty good way to put it. Just pretty much a bookend on everything. Like, had a crazy couple years there with all the surgeries and injuries, and, like, as much as you don't hear things, obviously you do. And yeah, like for that to, that's like to end that chapter. Like I pretty much come off my hand injury right into Olympics.

And then, you know, no one's talking about that anymore. They're talking about us winning a gold medal. Just a great way for me to just mentally put it all behind me and, you know, be so excited for the future. So that's kind of what I did. And, you know, that's why I'm so excited for the season. That image of you on the ice afterwards. like flag draped over your chest, the chip tooth, the fist in the air, and all of it.

Like where, where's some of the craziest places you've seen that since? I mean, probably just bars. Yeah. Yeah, it's a hilarious photo, honestly. But people love it. I have to say, I knew it was another level when people were to want to know who the dentist was that fixed the team. Oh, it was crazy. The amount of dentists that reached out to me.

Really? I don't want to see. Yeah. hundreds like it was crazy uh how many times have you watched that goal since yeah i've watched it over a hundred times for sure i was just talking about it in my last interview but uh more so like thought about it like you're you're just like it'll come up and you think about it like all the ways that it couldn't have happened like there because there's so many little things in the play that could have been different and get like nervous thinking about it.

Like it could have happened differently, but so glad it happened how it did. So I've made the argument that that might have been the greatest shift in hockey history. Really? I wouldn't say that. No, no, no. You ever seen like Brooks Orpick, the hit shift? I know. But the thing is, like, the reason I think about it, Jack, is that when you go back and look at it,

and this, like, as great as the goal was, I actually think the play you, made defensively might have been the greatest play of your career. Because it's three on three, you know who's coming at you, and you held them off. And I love your memory and the way you break things down. Can you break down that part of the play? Yeah, I think that, like, if I look at that shift, it's, I was probably on the ice for maybe 12 seconds, 15 seconds, but, you know, obviously you got the McDavid play. He could have definitely burned me.

then behind the net it's like a battle for a puck somehow it like shoots out then like I have the stab past my car where like that's a 50-50 puck it could be going the other way in an alternate universe like then like I don't even like the puck's flying again

we're in scheme of kinan like another 50-50 and it's like a weird 50-50 where like they're in it but they're not really in it and then next thing you know like I read route if I go a different route. I don't know if I'm getting that puck, but I reroute

to the backside and then it's on my stick. So, like, I could, we can dive into each part of that. The one I want is the defensive part. Yeah, I guess the defensive. I hate to talk too much about it because it's McDavid, best in the world.

Obviously, like, he's going to walk me eight out of ten times, right? I was just thinking, sink in because you know if he shoots it through me sure but I can't get burned wide like I've seen him burn to D wide a million

times and then like chip one over the goalie's glove or just take it to the backside and he beats the goalie at speed so I was just trying to sink in but he could have easily shot one through me I think earlier and overtime he he shot one through or he tried to

shoot one through maybe the first shift so he was capable that too but I just tried to sink in. Well, it's amazing about that is you think about the first game you played against Canada, Four Nations of Montreal and the goal he scored off the rush where he went wide and like to your point. Right, in tight.

I would just exactly what you were thinking. He's, you could say he's the best player of all time, so hard to sit here and talk about like this defensive play because he's the guy, but yeah, it just sunk in. Who have you met?

Like, is there someone you met and you were like, who said, I want to meet Jack Hughes. And you were like, holy smokes. Yeah, I mean, I mean, people always want to know, like, the notable people. I think the, it's definitely opened, you know, our world up a little bit to, like, people, no one even knows that are just crazy, impressive people.

Really smart, people you can really learn from. And that's something, you know, I've enjoyed, because obviously it's like, like I'm at Yankee Stadium, I'm talking to Aaron Judge, like what a legend he is. Obviously, like Morgan Wall, like there's so many cool things,

but like the people you learn from, like if you're a curious person, it's really, really cool, like some of the people we've met and been able to talk to. You have an example? I don't want to because we're on camera, but I mean, yeah, we've been fortunate.

Okay. Another thing when Quinn was in here that he said, he goes, he says that he feels at peace right now, which is kind of interesting because we're all going, what are you thinking? What are you going to do? What do you see from your brother right now? Yeah, I mean, he's, I feel like over the last couple years, he's probably maybe in the best spot he's been in just, you know, I know it's crazy because he won a Norris one year. And then like obviously Vancouver. to Minnesota, win a gold medal. Like, there's a lot that's happened in his life, but he's got like this huge decision to make, and it's not wearing on him at all. I think he's very relaxed.

I think he thinks he's in a really good spot, and I think he's just excited to play hockey, live his life. He mentioned that he was two doors down from the Kachaks on the shore, and obviously mentioned he skate with Werenzky, and it was a really crazy summer across the NHL for a lot of different reasons. And I asked him,

do you ever talk about all your futures together? He says, I don't want to be that guy. It's the summer. Do you and Quinn talk about it very much? Or do you talk with Brady or Werensky very much? I mean, you do, but you also don't because, like, of course, me and Quimwood, because we're together every day.

And, like, it would come up naturally. Like, you know, we're not just pressing it, but it comes up naturally. Like with a guy like Larks who I golf with, like, no, because we're just out there hanging out to hang. Z, like, no, like, everyone's got their own thoughts and you don't want to be pushy. And you probably really, like, I really don't care that much.

Like, you know, I just want the best for Brady because he's a great guy. I want the best for Werenstki because he's a great guy. Bucky, like all these guys, you know, just solid people. but I just hope they get what they're looking for. Devils. What do you think of the off-season? Yeah, I think we made some great moves,

and I think the evangelista trade recently really capped off a pretty solid summer, so I think Sonny did a good job and I'm excited for us, you know, just feels like a fresh start a little bit. I love Tommy Fitzgerald, but, you know, our team underperformed. And now we got a new GM, fresh faces. You know, all of our big guys are healthy and should be an exciting year. If you were playing Texas Hold'em against Sunny Mehta and he had this short stack, could you close him? I mean, I don't know.

Is he a great poker player? Yes. Yeah, he's very good. That's confirmed? Yes. So maybe not. He's very good card player. Other than poker, have you gotten to know him very well

and just picked his brain on how he views building a team? I know, I haven't really talked to him much. Okay. I'm sure I'll get to know him over the year better, but I think he's been busy just first GM job, figuring everything out, and I'm one of the least of his worries. So I haven't really talked to him much,

but I'm sure down the road we will. Do you like to be asked about, what the team's thinking, organizationally, move, stuff like that. Some players like it, some don't. I would say, I don't really know, you know. I think I want New Jersey in a good spot. I want us to become an actual team and be a legit team, playoff team every single year.

So whether that's me in the mix helping out great, whether it's not great, like I think we all have the same goal, but that's not a make or break situation for me. Did you have any doubt that he sure was going to sign this summer? Did you talk to him leading up to it? Yeah, I mean, I couldn't. Like, there's guys I can imagine on different teams, and Nico's not one of them. I feel like he really likes New Jersey, and I just couldn't picture him somewhere else.

I was really happy for him and happy he got that done. Thanks again to Jack and to Jake and to Zach for their time and thoughts and insight, all of it. That'll do it for this edition of 32 Thoughts, The Podcast. you will hear from us again Friday morning. By that time, media days across the league will be over and done with. Teams will be on the ice for training camp already. Preseason is coming fast and furious, and it's shorter than it has ever been before in a normal NHL season.

It's coming quick. We'll be ready for it come Friday morning. Have a great week.