32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Last Stop: Hamilton

Episode Date: October 7, 2022

And the 32 Tour comes to a close. In front of a packed house in Hamilton, Jeff and Elliotte do a live taping of the podcast discussing the Jason Robertson (4:50) and Mathew Barzal signings (12:00), talks of an Alex DeBrincat extension in Ottawa (16:30), what’s happening with Jakob Chychrun (18:40), the Flyers send Cam York to the AHL (19:10), the Flames extend MacKenzie Weegar (24:10) and what they are watching for this weekend (23:40).The guys also catch you former NHLer and newly hired special advisor for the Edmonton Oilers, Steve Staios (38:45). Steve tells Jeff and Elliotte about his new role in Edmonton, his time with the Hamilton Bulldogs, how hockey has evolved over the years, what impressed him most about Mason McTavish and trading for his son, Nathan Staios, in 2019.Jeff and Elliotte also address the ongoing Hockey Canada investigation (33:00).This podcast was produced and mixed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman. Editing support by Mike Rogerson and the technical engineer for this episode was Steven Coyle.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.PS - Elliotte officiated a wedding (28:00)

Yeah, yeah, let's get that out of the way and get pizza. Jeff, Jeff, what time does the 7 o'clock podcast start, Jeff? Elliot, we are in Hamilton as we kick off another edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast, alongside a packed house here at Boston Pizza and our producer, Amil Delic, as always. We started this off in Peterborough like this, and I want to do it in Hamilton as well. We're going to get to all the news of the day. We're going to get to your Robertsons. We're going to get to the cuts. We're going to get to Barzell and all of it. When I think of Hamilton, as a kid, I always thought about the new Westminster Bruins from the West facing off against the Hamilton

Fincups, and that was the big rivalry, East meets West. And then I got a little older, and it became about Cops Coliseum in 1987. People like Rick Lee, people like Pat Quinn, people like Dave Andrachuk. When I say Hamilton and hockey, what comes to your mind? Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to my mind is Kevin Bieksa.

And I think about the Hamilton Mafia that Kevin is always promoting. Ben Sherratt. Also, my new favorite player on the peak of an NHL career, Arbor Jekai. We were just talking about him a couple of seconds ago

and how the Bulldogs got him. I love the guy. I love watching him play. Hang on. What was DJ Smith's reaction when we said jack i when we saw him in ottawa a couple of weeks ago i don't remember he was oh that guy yeah oh that guy yeah so you have an identity right so honestly jeff when i first think of hamilton i actually don't

think of hockey first i think of the old iverwind Stadium. Because, you know, I was, you know, I, like, I did a lot of CFL games when we were still at the CBC. We hosted a lot of games from Hamilton. I remember even before I worked on the CFL on CBC at the time, especially like the games against Toronto, like there were fights on the field and there were fights in the stands. And when you're young and you first see people fighting in the stands, it's the favorite thing you've ever seen. So I actually have to say when I first think of Hamilton, I first think of the old Iverwind Stadium. But when I think of hockey in Hamilton, I think of 87 Canada Cup. I still say the greatest hockey I've ever seen. I think of BXA. I think of Sherrod. I think of Jack Eye, I think of Jack, I think of all the Hamilton hockey players.

Pat Quinn is a great, like Pat Quinn, he was really proud. Like he would glare at you and he would look like he wanted to smash you into bits. But when you mentioned Hamilton, like the big smile came on his face, you know, we're going to talk to Steve Steyos in a second, but whenever you asked him about his parents' store, like he always talked with pride about his parents' store. And I know Michael, too. Like, if you're from the Hammer, you speak of it with pride. There's no doubt about it. One of the things that I always admired about Quinn is, you know, always considered very much a player's coach.

And how many times were you part of this? After a tough loss loss more specifically on the road he could do this a lot more than at home he would stand outside of the dressing room and filibuster while everybody inside got themselves together maybe after a tough loss composed themselves maybe a couple snuck out the back door as well and he did it deliberately to make sure the microphones and cameras didn't get in the room quick to catch a player off guard. I always remember that. He would just stand there, like in front of the door,

like physically protecting his players from cameras and microphones. Yeah, I really loved that as a reporter, man, when I was doing it. I understood and respected it. The other thing I remember about Quinn was there was always a game I remember. I think it was against Vancouver. I think Messier was playing for Vancouver at the time. Glenn Healy was getting a rare start because it was the Curtis Joseph years and, you know, Curtis faced all the good teams. So Healy was getting a night where to play and he had a 4-0 shutout

going until the last minute. And I think it was Messier who scored in the last minute. The Leafs lost their concentration and Healy lost his shutout and Quinn came out and he was steaming he was like I thought these players considered Glenn Healy a popular teammate and he was just mad that Healy had lost his shutout and I always remembered that because you come out after a night like that where you're dominant for 59 minutes and you think as a coach you're like oh that was great But he was mad that in that last minute where they let up, Healy lost his shutout. I always thought that was a good snippet of who Pat Quinn was. Absolutely. Okay. So we're going to get to the news of the day here and get

to our guests a little bit later on. So I'm going to go wander because apparently this stick works now. We're all good to go. When Amal's here, we're used to about 47% functioning equipment. Let's see if Amal leaves that one in the podcast tomorrow. I'm just going to sort of's here, we're used to about 47% functioning equipment. Let's see if Amo leaves that one in the podcast tomorrow. I'm just going to sort of wander here, Elliot, and get buried in Hamiltonians. The Jason Robertson saga, we'll kick it off there. So that comes to an end. We heard this thing had all kinds of twists and turns

and acrimony and frustration, but it's over. It is a four-year deal. It is $31 million. The AAV is 7.75. He is back in the Dallas mix. I have to believe that the number that everything changed on was 9.3 because that's the actual salary in the fourth year.

What do you make of this deal? Well, first of all, I would like to say, Jeff, I committed a major rookie mistake on Wednesday night. So Wednesday night, I thought, you know, the season's a week away, six days away. I'm going to score some wife points by watching like a few episodes of Cobra Kai with her and then going to bed at a reasonable hour.

You and Steph are romantic gay cobra kai all right cobra kai and a reasonable night of going to bed like i have to say like that's what i love about her she's an easy person to please i thought i was born to be mild look at you two guys so we we do that and i fell asleep about 11 30 now like during the season i think i'm like a lot of people who cover the sport you don't go to bed until the last game is over and you make sure nothing immediately important happens in the aftermath of it but the season doesn't start so you know i figured i'd go to bed reasonably early and i woke up this morning to a bunch of texts are you awake jason robertson's

closing in we're hearing and credit to Kevin Weeks, who stayed up late to break the story. And immediately, I said to my wife this morning, okay, no more Cobra Kai and no more early nights. I guess it's a reminder, it's time to work. And I do think that settling that 9.3 in the last year was a big deal, because now when he's done, that 9.3 in the last year was a big deal because now when he's done so Jason Robertson has five years until his non-restricted free agent so in that after that fourth year they'll have to qualify him at 9.3 million to keep his rights at the very least that'll be his salary for that last year before unrestricted free agency and it's a big deal like to bring it in Ottawa's in the same situation but I think what really happened here,

Jeff, is that there came to be a realization. We had talked on the last podcast that there were a lot of people who were getting frustrated because they felt this thing should have been done. That it was close enough to being done and there was no need for there still to be a contract dispute at this time. And I think that it was because an eight-year deal, everybody realized it just wasn't feasible. And what Dallas could do and what Robertson and his camp may have been asking on an eight-year deal,

I believe, I don't know this for sure, this is my educated guess, on an eight-year deal, Robertson felt he was in the tens. And Dallas just couldn't do that right now. They just don't have the room to do it. Dallas was able to keep the room, and they specifically were smart enough to keep the room to do something in the seven to eight range, but they couldn't do the tens. So I think once everybody kind of realized here that they couldn't do term, it had

to be shorter, and that last year was what you said it was, I think it fell into place finally reasonably quickly. But I think it took until this week for everybody to realize that a long-term eight-year deal just wasn't going to happen. And to be honest, I think the team knew a little bit ago that they weren't going to be able to do term. I think Robertson didn't want to miss any games. I think that was a big part of it. But I think they just had to come to grips with the fact that an eight-year deal was not going to be possible at this time. You know, any type of eight-year deal with, as you mentioned, something in the tens for Jason Robertson,

you know, the whole time we're watching this thing and saying, okay, let's see how much cap space Dallas has. And if it got into the 7-5, 7-6, 7, getting into 8, they were going to have to make a move. Like it was going to cost them players off their roster. Now, do you think they still do something? I mean, they have three goalies right now, and everyone's looking at Anton Hudobin. Well, I think that's the thing.

Like, what do they want to do with Hudobin? You know, Dallas has been hurt by health the last few years in goal they've had a lot of injuries Bishop Holtby but the thing is you can't keep three goalies around we'll see what the move is but they've had teams asking them about Hudobin but as you know teams want them to eat money or pay them to do it it's not always something you want to do Dallas has championship aspirations and i think everything they do is about protecting themselves for that i'd be surprised but obviously at this point in time what other teams are asking dallas to do to move that contract right they're not willing so here's how i measure the value of insiders and the worth of insiders along a lot of people be

how many stories they break, how many trades they get on trade deadline. You know how I do it, Elliot? I shudder to hear this answer. I know I'm going to score low on this scale, whatever it is. No, no, no, because I see you on your coffee shop days with your makeup off, so I know you're legit. I measure it based on how dark the rings are around your eyes by the end of a season. Now, you mentioned going to bed early yesterday there's one litmus test that i always have for insiders what's that where were you when chris stewart and kevin shattenkirk got traded for eric johnson st louis colorado at

2 30 in the morning that's always been my litmus test were you there for it that was really before my days as an insider so i can't really say that that was kind of my job then but i do remember that there was one i think it was matt dumba's contract with or arbitration award or contract or something like that with minnesota i think i broke that one at like three in the morning or something like that. Someone sent me the note. The next morning I had texts from people who were kind of involved who were like, do you ever freaking sleep? It's funny. Some people react like a really funny way to this story.

And some people think it means that I'm pathetic. And some people think it means I'm really dedicated. So I'm always curious to see where people fall on this but I think the last two times I ever really turned off my phone were the birth of my son for obvious reasons and then the last time after that I turned it off Dion Phaneuf was traded from Calgary to Toronto so I'm like I never really turn it off anymore and some people look at that story and say turn it off anymore and some people look at that store and say you're really dedicated and other people look at that store and say you're really pathetic so I I guess it's it's your opinion how you see it uh what does your wife think uh she leans to

pathetic I did get one you're better looking in person tonight just so just so you know, I got one tonight, yes. Well done. Congratulations on the promotion, Elliot. It was not from anyone I work with who's here, just so you know. Sinking to new heights and rising to new depths, Elliot Friedman. We sort of talked a little bit about this when we were in Vegas at the Players Tour, and that's Matthew Barzell. Eight-year deal, $72.2 million, $9.15 on the AAV. What do you make of this? We talked about how maybe the NHL is completely missing the boat on this guy

as far as marketing goes, both on and off the ice. Your thoughts on Barzell and this deal? I think we knew. I don't know how many of you listened to the interview we did with him from Vegas, but there were a lot of people who thought after they heard that interview that he's staying. And you'll remember we talked about how after that interview aired, I got a phone call and someone said, they're working on it now. And you know, it's Lamorello world, so it's tight. It wasn't a big shocker that it didn't get out before the Islanders announced it. It's interesting. There was some big debate about the numbers. You said it's 9.15. And the fact that Barzell's counting

numbers aren't that high. Well, number one, he's an unrestricted free agent, so it's always higher. And I've quoted this book before. And I always tell people, if you want to understand how a good agent thinks, this is the book you should read. It's called The Bald Truth. And it's by a guy named David Falk, who in his heyday, he represented Michael Jordan, he represented Patrick Ewing, he represented James Worthy, he represented a lot of big NBA stars as the NBA really started to grow. And one of the things he talked about was when you're a good agent, just like a good negotiator for a team, you sort of manipulate things to your benefit. Like, you know, some people will come at you and say well okay your guy had 20 goals last year well this guy had

25 and he's making six million dollars. So there's no way you should make a penny more than that guy. And a good agent will say well that's their situation this is your situation and your situation is not the same as that situation and you know I was talking about this with a few agents and a few GM's and the thing that they all understand is first of all in the Islanders the way they've played and it would work for them nobody's knocking it nobody scores a time okay so Matthew Barzell is playing in a system where nobody scores a ton.

And people recognize that. And it might not change a lot. But does that mean that Matthew Barzell is not valuable and that valuable to the Islanders? No, it's not. Because if he leaves, it's devastating to your fan base, especially on the heels of Tavares. It's a lot of what Ottawa did this year, Jeff. It's you have to win your fan base, especially on the heels of Tavares. It's a lot of what Ottawa did this year, Jeff. It's you have to win your fan base. It's you have to, there are times when you have to do things that maybe you wouldn't do in a normal situation,

but you have to send a message to your fan base. You just had a year, you missed the playoffs. Tavares walked a couple years ago. You've got a new building. Your fans are excited. I had an Islanders fan I know was like I'm in tears when he saw Barzell sign the other day that's worth the value and I think maybe he's never going to score in New York we'll see how they play under Lane Lambert

maybe he's never going to score like McDavid playing for the Islanders but that doesn't mean that the Islanders know or don't know that if he goes somewhere else, he won't do that there. So I think sometimes people look at it and say, ah, well, this guy's making eight or seven or six and he's better than that. It's not about comparables. It's about someone's worth in your own situation. And for Burzell and the Islanders, someone's worth in your own situation and for berzel and the islanders he's worth all of that he's worth that salary one one of the things that we've seen with the islanders is that they haven't really changed their team much like last year was a disappointment we know all about the road trip the new rink all of it covid which hammered the islanders is there any reason to expect something

different from the islanders this season in your estimation? I think they'll be better for all those like last year I had someone from that organization tell me and after hearing this part of the podcast Lou Lamorello will start his spyware search of phones. But someone from that organization told me you had no idea how hard last year was on everybody there between the road trip and the COVID and and that was a team that was on fumes during that whole COVID situation because they were trying to open their building they said they they just never got out of the muck that was the phrase he used we got caught in the muck and we could never get out of it and I think for that reason alone they'll be a lot better everybody was burned out there last year everybody needed a break i want to get to some of the games this weekend some of

the decisions that the teams have on the horizon one big decision that philadelphia flyers just made you know what do you want to do just to bring cat quick we want to do cat sure alex to bring it well we should just mention it because there you know was a report that they were talking deeply i don't know how far along it is. You know, the one thing is that unlike Stutzla and Kachuk, who are restricted free agents, Dobrynka's a UFA. He's just getting there. I think he's going to have a monster year. He's making nine this year and his qualifying offer like Robertson next year is nine. So there really is no incentive for anyone to rush here because you know that he's making nine this year and nine next year so I don't know how quickly this is going to happen I mean if he's

a great player and I always think if you're signing great players you sign them for as long as you can as quick as you can because the price never goes down but I think if you're Ottawa there's some reason to wait and look and see here how the marriage works too. I don't know that anyone here is in a rush. So here's the thing about Debrinket as well. You're right. Like next two seasons is $18 million.

You look at Debrinket, he's coming off the 41 goal campaign. Second time he's done it in his career. And the question becomes, can he do 50? Can he score 50 goals? And he'll start by playing with Stutzler and jeru can slide batherson down there as well in a pinch as well dj smith has that option i think the way it calculates elliot if he can get off two more shots per game he can get 50 like is there any reason to doubt that

alex the brinkett can score 50 for the Sens? No. I think he could. That power play is going to be killer. Yes, it is. And there's going to be some long faces, some boo-boo faces of players that don't get on the first unit. Some real good players. Jacob Trickman, what's the latest? I think the plan is that he'll resume skating

with Arizona next week. He hasn't skated with them yet. Arizona's on a trip. I think when they get back, the hope is he's going to start skating with them. I always worry in this business because things change with one phone call. Everything I'm hearing right now is it's a little premature to say anything's happening right away. He's going to start skating this year. And I said a lot. There's been a lot of rumors around Chikrin, and I think one of the things, and I understand it, I think the player would like this to be over. I really do, and I can understand that. The Coyotes are willing to wait

to be a bit more patient. I think teams want to see him healthy, and like I said, I heard he could be skating next week, but it can always change with one phone call. I've just heard it's a little quiet right now. I wonder if it changes when he starts skating next week. And of course, the moment I say this, he's going little quiet right now. I wonder if it changes when he starts skating next week. And of course, the moment I say this, he's going to get traded and I'm going to

look like a big idiot. We've talked a lot and for good reason. Anytime that John Tortorella shows up as a first year coach with a new team, there are stories. And the story this week was Cam Yorick getting sent down to the American Hockey League. Good young defenseman, former first-round draft pick, played 30 games with the Flyers last season. Some already penciled him in the lineup, I'm sure, with the Philadelphia Flyers. He goes down to the AHL. Your thoughts? You know, the thing about this is we have to,

like, it's got to be disappointing for York and on some level the Flyers, but I often think that sometimes we say if someone gets sent down on the minors they're a failure and I don't like saying that because there's still script here to be written the one thing I've learned over the years and the greatest thing about working at a place like Hockey Night canada is that people will talk to you a little longer and a little more honestly about what's really going through their

head and one of the things that players have taught me throughout the years jeff is that like you cannot lie to players about who deserves to play they know the truth they know who deserves to be in the lineup and who doesn't deserve to be in the lineup. And the other thing too is Philadelphia, they're trying to set a tone. The Flyers may not admit this personally, but everybody's looking at their situation this year and nobody expects them to win this year. Nobody. But it gives you a bit more runway to set a tone and you can say cam york you didn't have a great camp and we can't let that slide like there's a kid i was reading about today or the last couple days in boston mike mclaughlin yep he had a great camp and they sent him down you know boston's trying to win and he doesn't need waivers i I bet you that, knowing that team especially,

where there's a lot of really mature veterans, they're probably all going to him and saying, you deserve to be here. Sometimes that's the way the business works, and you'll be back. But Philly can afford to make the decision with Cam York. Boston's trying to win. They probably can't afford to make that decision. But the one thing I've learned over the years, Jeff,

is you cannot fool the players. They know who deserves to be in the lineup, and they know who doesn't deserve to be in the lineup. You know who, just hearing you talk about that, whose name comes to mind right away for me in this preseason is Lucas Dostal, who's Anaheim Ducks goaltender, who, I know the old stereotype of standing on his head. I don't know what more Stostel could

have done to make it on the Ducks. And to a person there, I'm sure they'll tell you, he played his way onto the team. But the numbers are the numbers. And the waivers are the waivers. And sometimes, even though it's not fair, you kind of got to just eat one and go down to the American

League. He's going down to San Diego one more time. But that guy looks fantastic for the Anaheim Ducks. One more thing with the Flyers. This was a flashpoint. And Elliot, I don't think it's over. Because if you know the Flyers and you know the Islanders, it's not over. Ronnie Adderd, who hadn't had a pro fight in his life fights ross johnson islanders for your first one he didn't pick a shrinking violet didn't go easy the thing about it too and i don't think this was lost on the philadelphia flyers ross johnson did not let up and adder did all right like for a kid and he's a big boy but i don't know that this one's like if i'm john twitter i'm saying really of all the guys to

pick you're going after this defenseman you're going after this guy I'll be curious to see because you're right they'll have a short memory about it and the Flyers have talked about how they're determined to be a tougher team but we again we talk about what players earn Philly didn't send that kid down the next day like Like John Tortorella said after that game, I'm not sending the kid down because we can't send him down right after doing that. And I think that's a thing that people notice and players notice. Like you'll remember last year, one of the reasons Keith Yandel's consecutive game streak ended in Philadelphia was because Nick Seeler fought Nick DeLaurier.

And they're like, we can't take him out of the lineup after doing that. And I think that's a thing that people notice. It's a small thing, but it's a big thing. Calendars, flyers. Circle your calendars. Once again, it's 1982, ladies and gentlemen. It's 1982. What are you watching for this weekend? We're heading into a big one. We have cuts on the horizon, big decisions to make. You know, I think there's some interesting ones.

Well, first of all, still watching some of the last remaining uh decisions contract wise nick haig i wondered if the golden knights were waiting to maximize their ltir to sign them i'm told that's not the case i don't think they're too far apart but it's still a little bit of a stalemate. So we'll watch for that one. Mackenzie Wieger, I think the flames and his agent are grinding away at trying to get that one done. We interrupt this program to bring you a special report. That's my breaking news slash insert music. I'm sure amal will come up with something better but that's the best thing i could come up with off the top of my head so it's friday afternoon and before we drop this podcast we had to put in an insert and an update because news is breaking that a contract extension is coming this afternoon for Calgary Flames

defenseman Mackenzie Weeger. Now, it's not officially signed as we do this. It's an eight-year extension. We believe it's in the $50 million range, which is approximately $6.25 million a season. A couple weeks ago, Jeff and I had speculated that they were working on this, and the target was Hampus Lindholm, whose extension in Boston is eight times six and a half it comes in a little bit less than that but it's still a great deal for Uyghur it's a great deal for the Flames the only negative about it is that Uyghur's number is 52 and his overall salary for

the next eight seasons just misses that if you're one of those people who's into that kind of mysticism and numerical romance. But obviously the Flames are happy to get the deal done, and Uyghur is happy to get the deal done. At this time, when we're putting this insert in, I don't think they've finalized the exact trade protection and language that still has to be officially agreed to. So we're just waiting for that to happen.

But Uyghur will sign an extension with the Calgary Flames when it comes to Nick Haig you know one of the things I was kind of wondering about is would the Golden Knights want to wait until the first day of the season or right as rosters are set to sign him to maximize their LTIR that's one of the tricks teams play, and it's a smart trick to play, but I was told that's not the case. Vegas isn't waiting to do that. It's just a bit of a stalemate right now between Haig and Vegas.

Obviously, nobody wants to continue this into the season. He's a good player. It's not good for the player. It's not good for the team, but as we do this, there's still a stalemate on their one year and whatever how many year agreements they want to make we'll see where it goes

but that's your quick insert for friday afternoon now back to our program and then the roster decisions like toronto john tavavares, Engvall, Muzzin. How's their health? Do they start short at the beginning of the year so as not to put Tavares on long-term injury? Brad Lambert and some of those young defensemen in Winnipeg. What are they going to do?

Brent Clark in L.A. Let's not forget, Lambert went 30th. Yes. But I love that pick for Winnipeg. They had multiple firsts. That's where you take that shot. Brent Clark in L.A. I know he's a guy you've watched quite a bit.

Nick Robertson in Toronto. What else does he have to do to show he makes the team? Hang on. The weird thing about Brent Clark, and I'm not sure that he makes it with the L.A. Kings, but what a story that would be. Not wanted on the voyage for Team Canadaada the world juniors this past summer and then makes an nhl team right afterwards that would be a unique story that would definitely but sometimes you need that kick in the butt right and that's obviously worked with him so i love this last weekend of games because i love watching just some of the people on the bubble are not sure

but we find out if they're gonna make like Sonny Milano it didn't work out for him in Calgary is someone else gonna pick him up Cody Eakin like you've heard there's European interest for him does he wait or does he go overseas absolutely okay you know what I enjoyed the last few days what's that actually this goes back to more than a more than a couple of days goes back to more than a couple of days. It goes back to the weekend. I really enjoyed seeing pictures of you on the Internet officiating a wedding. What's the story for each? I really hoped this was going to go under the radar.

But obviously it got out. I have no problem with that. And some of my coworkers started saying, like, what is this? They saw the pictures. When Heat Daddy put it on his Twitter account, like the secret was out of the barn door. So like I said, I'd really hope to keep it quiet, but, you know, that's life today, and it's okay.

There's a gentleman on the Internet in the hockey analytics world. His name is cory schneider his twitter handle is at shutdown line and i i've really enjoyed cory's work over the year like he he keeps track and he works like that's the thing i like about him the most is that he you can tell he puts a ton of effort into his work and you know he keeps tracks of small things that i think are big things things like who's good at zone entries or defending the blue line, who recovers the pock, who wins battles, things like that. Like stuff that I think does do a little bit of a good job of telling who are the really impactful players and who aren't. If I ever ran an NHL team, and the good news for 32 teams is I never will but if I ever ran an NHL team I would

have him on my staff I'm a huge fan of his work and I've reached out to him from time to time and asked him things so a few years ago he he met someone her name is Sarah you know they got engaged and a few months ago Sarah sent me a DM on Twitter and said, you know, would you want to officiate our wedding? Like, Corey, you've been so good to Corey. He's such a big fan of yours. I kind of want to do this as a surprise. And initially when I saw it, I was like, you've got to be kidding me. There's no way that you want me to officiate your wedding.

And she told me no. She was quite serious. And, you know, I said, let me think about it and just let me check my schedule. And to be honest, at the beginning, I didn't want to do it. The thing that I was most worried about for them is they'd look back in 20 years with their family and their kids would be like, why do you have this idiot doing your wedding? I really thought that. The wedding was a big day for me, but it was really about my wife. You do everything you can to make sure that she's happy. And I just wanted to make sure that in 20 years, they wouldn't

regret asking me to do it. And what my wife said to me was, just imagine how much courage it took her to ask you, to think about that like someone really put themselves out there you all know like you can have one slip up and you're that person on the internet for one day and even though it was a dm and i would never share it like she said like this person put themselves out there to ask you so you should think about about it. So I did. And I really wasn't sure I could go, but eventually I did. And I went in day in, day out. It was an hour outside of Chicago. As I was going there, I was like, I have to tell you, I don't think I've ever been as nervous for anything in my life. Like this is someone's wedding. So I wrote notes. I usually, I never

write notes. I wrote notes. I thought of what to say. I was really nervous about this. I wanted to do a good job. And I'll tell you something else too. Their colors, they told me, were green and gold. And I kind of had a green and gold outfit I was going to wear. And after I left the house and drove for about five minutes to go to the airport, I actually turned around and went back and changed because I was like, minutes to go to the airport. I actually turned around and went back and changed because I was like, don't be dressed like this at someone else's wedding. Wear a conservative blue suit. And it wasn't until later I realized the pants weren't tapered that great. But like the one thing I could tell is I could tell that they really appreciate it. And so I was really happy to do it. Again,

I didn't really want to explain this. I wanted it to keep private, but it's out there and I figured I'd better explain it. And, uh, you know, I just wanted to say thanks to Corey and Sarah, because like that is an enormous, enormous honor. I still, on some ways, as I say, I officiated someone's wedding. I still kind of can't believe it, but you know, like they were obviously hugely appreciative and I appreciate the invitation. I'm, I'm glad they thought I did a good job because I took it very seriously. Like I said, this is someone's wedding. You have to do it the best you can. Okay. So this is like your new side hustle. Like what else are you available? What

else are you available for? You know, I'll tell you this. I got a DM tonight from someone asking me if I would do theirs. And I'm like, no, I think I'm retired. One was enough. Did you ever wonder why they didn't ask the good-looking guy from the podcast to do it? They did, Jeff. They did. Ladies and gentlemen, that's the podcast for tonight. Thanks so much.

Pizza available next door. When we come back, you'll hear from Steve Steyos. Thanks for joining us here at Boston Pizza. Elliot, it's Thursday night. The final stop of our 32 tour is over. We're in Hamilton. Wanted to take a few minutes and talk about Hockey Canada.

We've seen major sponsors pull out or reprioritize their money. We saw Andrea Skinner do amongst and say amongst other things, blame the media for what's happened. How did you see the last few days of Hockey Canada. Jeff, a couple weeks ago, I did a big rant after the World Women's Championship about how the medals were presented. And I don't like doing it again simply because I've said this to you many times. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes.

I don't like lecturing or admonishing people because it makes you sound like you're morally superior. You believe you're morally superior to others. And I really don't like talking from that position. But they've left us with no other choice. Like the thing about this week is it was so avoidable. It didn't need to happen. And what clearly has been lost here, what's been completely lost

is the recognition that you're not just representing yourself. That you're a face and arguably even the face of hockey in this country i've told you this many times i've said this to the audience many times that every time i go on hockey night in canada i'm really worried about sullying the reputation of hockey night in Canada I'm not just going on the air as Elliot Friedman I'm going on the air as a hockey night in Canada as Elliot Friedman and that's a show with a 70-year history and I'm not just representing myself I'm representing that it's

not something I really like talking about but when I made the mistake in the swim race I didn't care about myself but I was frightened for my family and I was embarrassed I let down the other people I worked with at the CBC Olympics so every time I do something I'm not thinking about myself I'm thinking about who else is depending on me to do my job properly. And the thing that happened the other day was, who's getting hurt? It's everybody in the hockey community that is trying, trying to recognize that there are things we have to fix.

There are things we have to do better. There has to be improvement in the way that people are treated and then when this happens it sets it all back and you know what i think it was this week jeff is it was like a kick to the solar plexus as like this didn't need to happen and you know all of these organizations that are pulling support this week none of them would be pulling their support if the testimony was in any way showed any humility but because it didn't show humility and we've forgotten that you're speaking not just for yourself you're speaking for hockey in the country we have another firestorm and i think that's the most infuriating thing is it didn't need to happen and we've forgotten the humility here of you're

not just acting for yourself you're acting for basically everybody in the sport in this country one thing that i will always remember and i think other people will too and i'm sure if she had a mulligan she wouldn't have said it but the idea of will the lights stay on in the rink if there's a change with Hockey Canada. Here's something we always, I think, Elliot, have to remember. And that was a moment for me where I said, that's a pretty arrogant stance to take, especially now. You know what's going to be okay,

even though it needs changes through all of this? Hockey. Capital H. Hockey. going to be okay even though it needs changes through all of this hockey capital h hockey kids will still want to play people want to pick up sticks and try this the game will continue there is lowercase h hockey issues to deal with no one is bigger than it especially not hockey canada that's how i felt coming out of this one i think that's very fair i think that's very fair jeff i mean i hate lecturing people i i hate moralizing i really do it like, you've heard my line. I don't like people telling me what to do. So I don't like telling other people what to do. This was avoidable. This didn't need to happen. And whatever advice the people at Hockey Canada are getting, find some new advisors. The newsmaker of the day, one of the newsmakers of the day is going to be joining us next.

He is Steve Staios, who really needs no introduction here in Hamilton and needs no introduction, Elliot, to where he's going next. And that is the Edmonton Oilers. Today named special assistant, special advisor, I should say, with the Oilers. He joins us now. He is Steve Stahos. So first of all, congratulations. Thank you. How long was this one in the discussion phase? one in the in the discussion phase well I mean you know Michael and I kind of embarked on this OHL journey seven years ago now and I think after the first

couple years I started to get a little bit of interest mostly just kind of casual conversations on timing and you know let us know when you're ready to move up and you know this time in Hamilton has been extremely, you know, rewarding for, I think, both Michael and I. He can speak to that as well. But I was a little bit hesitant. I really did enjoy running the team here in Hamilton. And this one in particular with Edmonton sort of started up midway through last year and conversations continue to go on. We went on a special run here with the Hamilton Bulldogs and won our second OHL championship here and uh so I you know I was not getting distracted by any

other of the conversations but it kind of ran into the summer got a little bit more serious and uh you know I think uh just as recently as uh uh you know a couple of days ago is when I really decided that this was the right next step for me. So what are you going to be doing? What are your responsibilities? Yeah, so it's a little bit of an evolving perspective right now, but player development is one area where Edmonton is, there's a bit of a gap there. So I think the importance nowadays with, you know, the salary cap and making sure that you get your young players in and developed and work to make them impactful players at a younger age I think becomes critical I mean drafting and development you know teams talk about it we talk about it here in Hamilton but at the NHL level I think it becomes

more important and my first opportunity post playing career was with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brian Burke had you know brought me on to become player development advisor. And I think I realized early on that that's a it's a great segue for any player who's just finishing their playing career and wants to stay involved. And so I got an opportunity there to sort of see that through for about two plus years. And then, you know, they made a coaching change in Toronto and I was assistant coach for half a season there before I joined Michael here in Hamilton. in Toronto and I was assistant coach for half a season there before I joined Michael here in Hamilton but uh the player development portion of the Oilers is uh going to be my initial focus but um you know Ken Holland has talked about other areas where I could help out and uh and be part of it that's really the intriguing thing about this role for me

was Berkey the worst boss you ever had I'll try not to get too long wind in the story because I can't carry it the way CeCe does but so the way I got hired really I mean not totally hired but I knew that Berkey was interested was so my last year I was at 936 games and you know I was ready to retire and sort of got convinced by my agent Pat Morris that it's a good idea to go in on a tryout and so it sort of came full circle you get drafted in the NHL and you kind of you play and then he talks me into going in this tryout I'd already like sort of checked out a little bit I thought you know it's going to you know I'd retire and I didn't have in mind like getting to a thousand games played it just wasn't i know it's a great accomplishment but it wasn't something that

i kept my eye on long and short of it i'm i'm playing with the islanders and i'm 37 years old and i'm beat up and i was injured for the game against the toronto maple leafs were in uh long island playing and so i was injured up in the stoop and uh after the first period our general manager gar snow comes over and taps me on the shoulder. He said, hey, Berkey's here and he wants to say hello to you. So I kind of crawled in. Speaking, I thought CeCe, you're going to say like the worst play-by-play boost might have been at the Coliseum because the upper deck, it's really hard to get around. And all I remember is trying to make my way around and I finally sit down and there's Berkey, right?

He says, have a seat, kid. So I sat down and, you know, Berkey and I knew each other from Vancouver. He was my general manager for a very short period of time. And so he said, listen, he goes, do me a favor. After we talked for a few minutes, he says, do me a favor. When you're done playing, give me a call. He said, I want you to take a year off and then, you know, maybe come up to Toronto. I think you're going to make a great coach. And here I was, and I looked at him and go, well, I don't know if I want to to take a year off and then, you know, maybe come up to Toronto. I think you're going to make a great coach.

And here I was, and I looked at him and go, well, I don't know if I want to coach, Burke. He goes, well, what do you want to do, you know? And I said, I'm not sure, but I've spent a long career playing, so I think probably after I'd want to do something in hockey but have a little bit of flexibility. And he said, well, whatever you do, he goes, take a year off and then give me a call. And here I look at him again. I said, I don't think I'm going to take a year off. And then he starts kind of giving me a couple F-bombs.

Like, what are you, kind of talking back to Brian Burr. Yeah, I can't believe that happened. Yeah, right? Shocked. So now he's lighting me up up there. I'm like, jeez, I'm still playing for the Islanders. Anyway, that's how it really is. So he said, okay, just make sure I'm your first phone call. So about two weeks after that season with the Islanders, I called Brian Burke and we met in New York. And then I, that's how I

sort of started my post-playing career. So I actually texted Berkey today before I was announced with the Edmonton Oilers to thank him because he was the first one to give me an opportunity post-playing career. So what you're saying is Brian Burke tampered with you then, as you remember the New York Islanders, it was accusations of tampering already early in the interview. Gary Bettman doesn't listen to this, does he? No, I can most assuredly convince you he does not.

We hope not. Do you want to be a GM? Is that what you see as your future? I mean, how many more years does Ken Holland have under contract? I mean, Mike and Mike knows this. Mike Andler knows this, that, you see as your future? I mean, how many more years does Ken Holland have under contract? I mean, Mike and Mike knows this. Mike Andler knows this, that, you know, with all these conversations you bring up, Jeff and NHL teams asking if I have interest for right or wrong. I was, I'm focused on what I do and I haven't sort of plotted out a course and this is what I need to

do. And this is how I need to get there to become an NHL general manager I have a role with the Edmonton Oilers I'm very grateful for it I'm going to do the best job I can in whatever capacity they ask me and and and take it from there so that's the truth of the of where my head's at the thing about Elliot's question is though and I'm listen you were always very gracious all season long when I bothered you with texts and phone calls are you interviewing here are you? Cause your name was out there. Like, I think Steve Staios might be here. Staios might be there.

Like you're aware that your name was sort of, I mean, it's a, it's a compliment that your name was sort of out there attached to that position. Yeah, of course. I mean,

it's, we proves that you're doing a good job and getting noticed and, you know, building the program in Hamilton and best in class, but you don't do that with a great owner. Like all the resources I had to put it in place, but I mean, we've had great success in Hamilton and, you know, I go by the adage, you had the right people, you know, you just, you kind of put the right people in place. But certainly when I was talking about the phone calls that I got, that's probably where they emanated, but none of them really, some of them got a little bit more serious, but it was, I think more teams kind of, you know, asking me if I'd be interested. And again, for right or

wrong, I had no, I, of course I had interest, but I got, I got a job to do, you know, I'm working with the Bulldogs and that was my main focus. When you did retire, and you mentioned the conversation with Berkey and going that route, there were a lot of people in media that were glad that you didn't choose to go into media. Because as CeCe mentioned, like, you're always a great, you're a money interview. Like, who do you want for the walk-off? Staios. Who do you want to talk to? Staios.

Did you ever consider doing media? Well, I did a bit of the panel on you know so as a player I guess I like to be in the competition I like to feel the the wins more than losses but that's me that's how I'm cut so that's kind of the way I am but but CeCe just to your point like as far as like a go-to we didn't have always great teams in Edmonton we had good teams and what I always found was at the end of the game anytime we lost a game I was like the last one in there like all the guys sort of scurried out so I got kind of I was kind of you know I got was battle tested because I I no one wanted to talk to me

after a win because I didn't score the goals right you know or make the big plays so I think maybe I got a little bit battle tested with the I gotta ask you something about this because this actually brings back memories I won't well the team was Detroit but I won't say who the players were I remember doing a playoff series with Detroit where they were lost a couple of games and it was always the same players who were out doing the interviews after losses and i remember one player exploded he i heard him he's like where the bleep are the rest of you guys like the same guys have to answer the questions when we lose like did you ever get mad because you were always very gracious did you ever like because we all know that like pronger would go run and hide if after a loss so like would you

ever say hey chris get your ass out here and answer the questions with the rest of us uh yeah i think i called them out called those guys out behind the scenes but i was okay with it i mean i've always been you know that was kind of what i did in the national hockey league i played the you know whatever role i was asked and you know i stuck up my teammates, so I guess that's another way that I was able to do it. You mentioned you ran for your 1,000th game that year in New York. You ended up with 1,001. I think the greatest thing about your story, Steve,

is that you played 1,001 games, and you didn't play your first NHL game until almost five years after you were drafted. That's hard. How old were you when you got drafted? 19. So you didn't play your first game until you were about. Like, that's hard. How old were you when you got drafted? 19. So you didn't play your first game until you were about 24, right?

So to get to 1,000 games when you don't play your first one to 24, that's really impressive. And I was just wondering, did you ever think that maybe you weren't going to make it, like in all those years? Oh, yeah. I mean, I was two and a half years in the in the minors i mean back go

the international hockey league i was in the ihl and i knew i thought i was in trouble in my i was in my third year of my my contract you know three cent a three-year deal and in that third year you know we had the ihl as in peoria illinois for the two years the rivermen and then uh in that third year uh they branched off to the American League. So, you know, when the St. Louis Blues were making cuts, all the top prospects went to the American League. And here I was, and they're like, you go to the IHL. And I was playing with all these veterans who were just sort of riding it out, like great guys, like Darren Veach, Greg Poslowski, the Evans brothers. But, you know, I'm a 22 or 23 year old at the time and all the 22 and 23 year olds are in

Worcester and so God rest his soul Jimmy Roberts was the coach in Worcester and I had gotten sent down to Peoria and I was literally moving my stuff I was in a few days I found an apartment I was moving in and I thought I was probably done and I got a call from St. Louis saying, hey, we want you in Worcester. And I kind of found out, like, Jimmy Roberts is like, yeah, send the kid to me, you know. And you'll love this story. So if you guys ever got to meet Jimmy Roberts, just one of the greatest guys of all time. And I remember walking in with my gear coming in from Peoria, and I was walking down this long hallway, and Jimmy had his office on the one side of the hallway, and the dressing room's on the left. And as I was turning the corner to go in the dressing room,

Jimmy Roberts yells over and goes, Hey, kid, come on in here. And so I dropped my gear, and I came in, and Jimmy was sitting there, and he had his feet up on the desk. And he was sitting back, and he was staring at me. And finally, it takes about 10 seconds, he stares me down, takes his feet off the desk, and looks over at me and he goes, you want to play in the National Hockey League?

I said, yes, sir, I do. He goes, learn how to play F in defense. Now get the F out of here, is what he said. Because I came out a junior as this hot shot, like I'm going to score a bunch of goals as a pro and stuff. And that was the moment. And so Jimmy taught me how to be a pro. Get in lanes, play tough play tough shop lock shut down and uh thank god for jimmy as elliot mentions playing a thousand games and i

asked cc about you know favorite broadcast location and all that one of the things i always wonder about with um uh with players and players that weren't shy. And, you know, you never ducked. You know, you were a physical guy. Like, you didn't mind. I'm always curious about which rinks were the toughest to play in. And one thing in specific, which arena had the toughest boards? Like, which rink did you go to, like, ugh? Because for the longest time, it was Montreal. Like, Montreal's boards did not move at all.

And it wouldn't show up in that game, but you'd be playing. Two nights later in Minnesota, I was like, I can't move. It's because I just played in Montreal. Were there rinks like that for you, or by then were they all the same? It's funny. I'm trying to think back, Jeff. But the toughest rinks were always, they're all predicated on the lineup. So when you go into Chicago and you're looking at ProBird and, like, all you, you know, so I kind of remember more of the toughest rinks being by the toughest teams that you played against.

And, you know, reminiscing a little bit earlier with Michael and CeCe about how the games changed. And they used to put the lineup on the board. And the guys would all come around and they're under gear and you're kind of taping your stick or getting yourself ready and uh the lineup wasn't like we got to watch out for austin matthews because of his wrist shot or you can't what you got to keep an eye on patrick king because he's slippery it was like that guy throws left that guy likes to do uppercuts and this guy throws both hands and we literally that that was sort of our scouting

report so so who scared you the most like who was like who was the guy like who were the people that you remember like oh my god i can't believe this tonight i was lucky because i wasn't a heavy heavy weight so i didn't have to really but they all they they all scared me really i mean um one of the toughest guys that i fought was Todd Federick. You know, man, could he chuck him. Fridge, I think, was his nickname, right? I fought a lot of those guys. What about in the IHL, though?

Because sometimes the guys that never get the call up to the NHL, they exist, they get a mythical status in the minors. Anyone from the IHL you can recall? Well, yeah. By the way, the name Andy Bezo came up on the show the other day. Elliot dropped that one. I thought that was a pretty cool reference. So I played with Beez in Niagara. Yeah, Niagara Falls. I played with Andy Beez. Did you watch his kid play in St. John with the Memorial Cup? Of course I did, against us. Yeah, and I think there was only one fight in the Memorial Cup, and it was him. It was his kid. But no, Beez was incredibly

tough. But I remember, I think my first, it might have been my first preseason game in the IHL, and we're playing against Minnesota and Basil McCray and Shane Churla. You know, and I was like a yappy, like, you know, I was coming out of junior, like I can kind of handle myself. And I got in a little bit of a skirmish, and one of the veterans was like, don't know, kid. Like, from my own team, pulled me out and goes, no, no, don't do that. You know?

veterans like don't know a kid like from my own team pulled me out goes no no don't don't do that you know so um i i started to sort of get to know the league and the guys a little bit just you know for self-preservation well maybe when the game changed and you were playing more of of your role like who were the the players who gave you the most trouble whether it was their way they battled in the corner or battleled in front of the net, or someone who would come down on you one-on-one, and you were like, this guy is a load to handle? Well, as far as with a little bit of both, like when you talk about toughness and, you know, agitator and things like that, like I remember being an oiler, and you know, the Battle of Alberta had not calmed down, like we still had our rivalry, but the Canucks were the team, right? Because they're a good team. And, you know, you got Kessler and Burroughs, and those guys were tough guys to play against.

And it wasn't because you had to fight them, because they were tough, but they had skill, you know? So I think that was sort of the transition, where if they had a tough guy on the other team, you could choose not to or fight him. Or if you didn't do something egregious, then you probably didn't have to fight him but those types of guys you know and from a full skill perspective like I remember playing against Patrick Kane

early and I remember this Kane kid comes up and you know guys like okay let's get a lick on this guy right let's get a body on this guy and he was like a ghost where you can't find the kid you know you go you go and try and hit him on one shoulder he spins off he's going to the net so I was fortunate enough to play where it was like kind of that big tough yeah first five years kind of like tough grapple rule changes sort of came in the transition with the league and that's where you see the skill level and everything that's going on now but so I got to see sort of the middle turn and then I got to see really the high-end talent with the you know the smaller players and just the incredible IQ, you know, with the Canes, a great example.

But there was a number of those guys that came in at that time. I want to ask you about the Bulldogs because you mentioned the Memorial Cup, and we referenced off the top Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL champions last season. Is that the ring you're wearing, by the way, last season's ring? This is from 2018. Michael hasn't given me my 2022 one yet. And you're not getting it now because you're leaving. Oh, shit. I should have waited a couple of days just to get my ring.

But as you mentioned, like, outstanding work. And I know these things don't happen overnight. And it was brick by brick and piecing things together. But bringing in Mason McTavish. Like, I think we're all on the same page at how impressive a young man this guy is or what and you look at all the different places like I don't even think that he knows where home is at this point he's played so many different teams so many

different locations like where's home Mason I don't know when you got him like I'm sure you watched him tons in Peterborough but when you got him what did you think well to me he's the real deal I remember he wasn't even our player but he's going into the NHL draft and you get calls from teams and kind of poking away at the Ontario Hockey League and literally the text came through tell me what Mason McTavish and I just wrote these the real deal skill grit toughness hockey sense shot all of it so speaking of home he did have a home he was at he was at our house for six months. We billeted him. So my wife Susanna was, the kid can eat. Let's just put it that way.

But just a terrific young man and, you know, a little bit of a throwback. Like he's not distracted. You know, we've had the pleasure, Mike and I have had the pleasure of, you know, really getting to know this generation of player and they're phenomenal. Don't get, don't kid yourself. Like these, they're incredibly dedicated and intelligent and, but, you know, Mason's a bit of a throwback where he's at the house, you know, he's out for practice, comes back, has lunch. We have a shooting pad in the back, just a, you know, with a hockey net and he'd go there after you know being at home for an hour and a half after practice and and shoot pucks for a while and it's just you know be

watching a game on tv and he'd come up and sit with me and we just get to sit back and watch hockey so he's just a really incredible young man what kind of questions would he ask you know you talk about skill and all that stuff and when we've had other billets at the house you're talking about look at that player look at that skill and he would pick out And when we've had other billets at the house, you're talking about, look at that player, look at that skill. And he would pick out, look at that, even the compete on a guy or a puck battle. I think there's just a little bit of a more mature mindset at this age for an 18-year-old on some of the things we talked about.

But we talked about power plays, talked about line combinations, all of it. Did you and him talk about the play that saved the game? I only sent him, I sent him, he was bombarded I'm sure after that, but I sent him a note, I sent him a picture of him, you know, with the OHL championship trophy and a couple of celebrations and I sent him a photo of the, him with a gold medal on and maybe a photo of the hit, the save that he made and I said, pretty good year, eh kid, you know, it was like, but I haven't talked to him about it, though.

When you saw it, what did you think? That was an incredible play. Well, I thought the game was over. I was actually, you know what? I thought I was yelling at the TV because I thought it was a penalty on Mason. He was back retrieving the puck behind the net and got tripped up. And that's what I was sort of focused on. Then the play happened real quick.

And, you know, he had the thought to get right back to it. Then you talk about mature habits. He goes right to that right area where he's going to be, but an incredible hand-eye play. I want to ask you about Nathan Quick, your son. The first time I met him was with you in Windsor at the Memorial Cup. We were at the gym, and we were talking, and you introduced me to him. Five years later, he's on your to him and you know five years later

he's on your team and you've won the ohl championship and you're going to the memorial cup can you be hockey dad for a sec steve can you stop being you know hockey guy and future gm and you know all that can you just be hockey dad for a second talk to us about your son yeah incredible i think i i have to talk about being the GM because I think it sort of paints the whole picture but uh it just far exceeded my expectations of uh you know I always knew that he was going to be a very good junior player uh but what he did this year and becoming OHL defenseman of the year CHL defenseman of the year and And, you know, not only that, but really some of his play was at the most crucial times for the Hamilton Bulldogs, you know, you know, game four against Windsor,

you know, plays in the Memorial Cup. And that's what I think I'm most proud of is now he was there for his teammates in a number of ways, playing through injuries, all that. But he really stepped up in the big moments, which I thought was a real sign of, you know, the player when you start to evaluate these players. And that was really what was impressive. But, you know, the trade almost never happened. You know, we talk about winning a championship this year, but in 2018, you know, you take a deep breath, you look at your roster and think, how are we going to do this again? And how long is it going to take? And we had a defenseman on our team by the name of Ben Gleason from you know Michigan really dynamic kid signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars our power play quarterback and I said you know

when we look identified I was sitting with Matt Turek and Ian Mahar at the time so we're going to have to find ourselves another power play quarterback can we do it through the draft or let's go through our list of players in the league and they're like yeah Nathan Steyos and I'm like okay next guy no no no Nathan Steyos okay you know so I kind of to the point where they looked at me and said you know you're kind of being selfish you have a job to do for the Hamilton Bulldogs this is the player that you need to go and get and you know I knew that the pressures on the kid how does it look to the rest of my players which mean a lot to you know like our environment in hamilton like what's it going to look like so you know thankfully it all worked out now have you already told ken to acquire him

like from florida he's got i think nathan's got a lot to prove before he could do that my last question to you is who do you keep in touch with? Like, after you retired, who were the players that you, the teammates that you kept in touch with after your career was over and their careers were over? Oh, I mean, well, Jason Smith, who I thought was maybe the best captain that I've ever played for, you know, kept in touch with Jason, Ethan Morrow, Fernando Pisani, who I just talked to again today.

But, you know, that Edmonton group, I think we became pretty close on that cup run. Here and there, everybody gets a little bit busy and, you know, I get focused on my work. And so you're always in touch, but it doesn't seem to be often enough. Some bittersweet moments from Hamilton hockey fans today. One, really proud of you. Two, really sad to see you go. We'll end on this one. A couple of things from you about your time here in Hamilton. What will you miss? Well, the one thing that I miss to start out the night is,

you know, you asked Elliot about Hamilton hockey, and I was sitting on the edge of my chair. He talks about Andrew Chuck, and he talks about all these other people. I thought he was actually going to bring me up, but didn't no i mentioned your parents place okay that's good you met my parents but not myself well you know who's more important you or your parents got that right your parents i'm gonna miss everything about it i mean michael i'm grateful for the opportunity you know it's one thing to be working in hockey it's another thing to

to be trusted to run your whole program and Michael allowed me to do that and I think I made it I told him when I he offered the position to me I said I won't let you down you know so we've had so many special moments in Hamilton but junior hockey is so rewarding you get to draft a player at 15 years old 16 years old they come in you watch them continue to develop you get to meet their, you watch them continue to develop. You get to meet their families. You put them in a bill at home. There's a real connection, you know, and I think I'm not sure how that's going to be at the next level. To me, I think it's a differentiator. I think that's what I'm going to try and bring to Edmonton as far as, you know, making everybody

feel special and being part of it. But there's so much i'm going to miss i mean doing what we did in our hometown and winning two championships you know my relationship with michael is never going to go away so i'm not worried about that coming to the rink and watching our players and preparing for the games and the relationship with the coaching staff i'm sure there's going to be a lot of that at the next level as well but uh it's really been a special run you've done it listen you've done a great job with a lot of players and you referenced you know uh the regina 100 you anniversary the memorial cup we'll remember that team uh robert thomas you know comes in for you guys there he did a great job finishing him up getting him ready for the nhl and we think to last year with mason mctavish and we say ditto well done good luck with the edmonton oilers

steve sales now the edmonton Oilers thank you Jeff appreciate it Steve Stahos now the Edmonton Oilers special advisor working in player development thanks Steve