32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Predicting NHL Awards Winners

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman run through the major NHL awards and who they think will win each; Hart (4:00), Norris (8:00), Calder (14:44), Vezina (20:36), & the Jack Adams (21:19). They begin the newsy segment by highlighting the top college free agent signings (27:19). They delve into the insane heater the St. Louis Blues have been on (34:31). Kyle and Elliotte touch on the Minnesota Wild's recent form (45:13). Elliotte shares some reactions to our goalie-interference conversations (47:45). They also talk about offside challenges (50:33). The fellas touch on the Canucks' & Flames' dwindling playoff chances and their respective seasons (54:00). Elliotte touches on the aftermath of the Tortorella exit in Philly (1:00:20). The Final Thought focuses on The Gr8 Chase and goal 890 (1:02:50). Kyle and Elliotte answer your questions and respond to your voicemails in the Thought Line (1:06:34). In the Final Segment Kyle and Elliotte show love for Kevin Bieksa's Fairmont Prep Academy who came second in the AAA High School US National Championship (1:38:57).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

And Reems like to the front looking for a little vetchkin deflection that went high. Alex is still there. Score! He can see the mountain top from here. We're at DEFCON 5. Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra, AT4X, Dom, Silver Slugger, Sramati, Kyle Bacoskis, and Elliot, I don't know if I solved anything, but I tried Friedman back with you once again.

You watched the segment on Saturday night, the Goal Tenor Interference segment, right? Yes, we'll get to that a little bit later. It was a segment, all right. So before we start the meat of this podcast Guess what I've been driving Whoa, it better be a GMC a Denali. I've oh my god a Denali Oh my gosh, only the no, do you know what I feel like driving this thing? Man, oh man. Oh man

like a million bucks, no, I feel like driving this thing. Man, oh man, oh man. Like a million bucks? No, I feel like Thanos. And not one infinity stone wimpy Thanos, but six infinity stones with the full glove Thanos. When you are sitting in this thing and you are driving it, When you are sitting in this thing and you are driving it, it is, it's a powerful feeling. Hey, I told you a while back, our family were, we were GMC pick-up family all the way through growing up. So I'm familiar with what you're feeling.

Nine feet tall driving this thing. Nine feet tall driving this thing. Yes. Anyway. I just wanted everyone to know that. There's a great line in Superbad I'd love to reference here but it's not appropriate. But that's what you describing how you're feeling in that truck made me think of it Dom just texted. Please don't eliminate half the universe with your driving. That's very good Dom and a

possibility yes So I know you were working Sunday night of the San Jose Toronto game But Sunday night was also the Juno Awards Elliot and you'll be happy to know that Tate McCray took home four Junos over the weekend. Nice! One of the big winners for the biggest award show in Canadian music of the year and with the awards season kind of theme that's been going on throughout pulp culture, movies, television, The Last Little Bit, Elliot. We are only a few weeks left in the regular season. Why do

we look through a couple of the league awards here as votes will be cast before we know it and just get a sense of who our frontrunners are, where we are leaning with just a few weeks left in the regular season. So I like to do this. I like to, right around the beginning of April, which is Tuesday, I like to start cutting my list. I have my long list and I like to start cutting my list. Now, I should say, I don't know if I have a vote this year, haven't been contacted, but I always prepare as if I'm going to vote. So I make my list. I check it twice.

It doesn't matter if you're naughty or nice. Because all nice does not win the Stanley Cup. So a little naughtiness is okay. All right. You want to go first or do you want me to go first? Well, you've got more experience here why don't you bat lead off? Show me the way. Okay so for MVP heart trophy my long list is Dry Cytl in no particular order, McKinnon, Hellebuck, Quinn Hughes, Jack Eichel, Zach Boranski, and Nikita Kucherov. Kaprizov was big there for me, but injury has ruined his candidacy. But that's my long list. How does that compare to yours?

How does that compare to yours? I'm all kind of around it. I'm all kind of around it. And I keep going back to Hellebuck right now, honestly. I know we don't have to. Hellebuck's your guy? I know you're not picking today. It doesn't matter. Things can still change.

But I mean, it's it's your splitting hairs. I feel like we're going through the process again of selecting four nations rosters. Like at a certain point, there's no real bad answers when you're talking about this. Oh, don't worry, the fans won't look at it that way. Oh, I know they won't. They never do. Which would make this all great. As I always say, if I don't pick your player, it's because I hate your city, your team, them and you. Yes, full on Joe Buck style.

That's good. That is very good. But Halil Buck's my guy right now. Okay, I mean that's a good pick. I know you're pandering to the Winnipeg audience, but that's a really good pick. Like, if Vancouver made it, I was gonna think long and hard about Queen Hughes. Yep, I was right there with you. But it's not looking good right now.

Columbus can still make it, and I will think long and hard about Zach Boranski. Right now though, my guy is probably dry-sidle. We'll see where things go, but probably dry-sidle. That overtime goal he scored Saturday, he looks like he's on his back heels. Like for him to still create that much torque and power from the high slot was unbelievable to watch. Tough one. Mckinnon, Kucherov, Hallebak. I don't think Eichel gets enough love for the year he's had. Yeah. I really don't. Eichel's had, you know, most points in Golden Knights history in one season.

I think he dominates the game. I don't think he gets enough love. Right now, probably Dry Cytl, but it's not locked in. I'm going Amber Root. I talked to Dry Cytl last week, so I have to vote for him. He gave you a high five, so you're like, he's my guy. He smiled at me, so he gets my vote. Yes. I just looked at Halibuck Elliott, I mean, leads the league and wins, goals against average, save percentage, shutouts, plays a ton as we know. I think only Vasilevsky has just

edged them in game started this year as we record this conversation. At last check, that goal saved above expected stat that I know some people when they hear they word expected throw it into a metric, the eyes glaze over and tune everything out and I understand but effectively you're looking at who's making the saves that maybe they aren't necessarily supposed to and he's the best at that and we always talk every year about the most important position in hockey and when he's got a clean sweep of all those categories man I understand he's got a good group that's playing in front of him too. That doesn't matter he's their best player group that's playing in front of him too. That doesn't matter. He's their best player.

That's where I'm at right now. Not your worst argument. You've had plenty of arguments worse than this one. Okay. This is good. Norris. Yep. I'll go first. Obviously, I have Hughes and Moranski there, because if I'm considering them for MVP, I

have to consider them for Norris. Kael McCarr. Kael McCarr. The guy who got ruined by injury, Haskinen. Haskinen, ruined by injury. Other names I've had around there, but like like I think Hughes were asking him a car are a tier above Everybody else there's those three guys and everybody else staring at them, but the other guys I've kind of put their headman Jake Sanderson

Like Jake Sanders and's starting to, like, you know, he's, maybe he finishes fifth with me, but Jake Sanderson's starting to get to the point where he's going to be getting consistent votes. Josh Morrissey, Josh Morrissey is a big one too. I have Chickering around there, I have Faber around there, but I'm there sort of like in the conversation to me Hughes, Oranski, McCarr Top three guys and everybody else is filling out the ballot Right. Yep. Well, you got anything different? No, I think that's good. Like I know You got anything different? No, I think that's good.

Like I know Victor Hedman's kind of become like a legacy type guy. But I mean, he's again had a pretty impressive year. Still not putting him in that triangle at the top, as you say, Elliot. I'm very much with you there. But he's another guy for you. What kind of triangle do you think it is? Isosceles, equilateral, or scalene? How could you be so obtuse?

I'm very obtuse. Yes. Max was just going through geometry a couple weeks ago so I actually do know my triangles right now. That's good. Fresh on the mind. Fresh on the mind. Who's at the top of the list? Well here's my other issue with this one. So a couple years ago, Adam Fox won the Norris when they didn't make the playoffs with the Rangers, right? There wasn't anybody who grabbed you. One of the reasons he won, and I voted that year, was there wasn't anybody who made the playoffs that you said had to win it over a non-playoff Fox. And I do believe in almost all these awards, playoffs matter, really matter. Because it's a hard league to make the postseason in, and it matters to me. I don't care if anybody agrees with me or not, it's my opinion and it

matters. And if Hughes and Moranski both don't make the playoffs, I don't see how you can give it to anyone but McCarr. If Columbus makes the playoffs, gonna be tough for me not to vote for Wuranski. And, and we'll get to this in one of the other awards, I think what Wurans ski and some of the blue jackets have done this year after the tragedy of the summer It's so impressive I If you go back to the beginning of the season did anyone think that Columbus would be anywhere near the postseason I would like to find the person who could possibly convince me that they thought this was gonna happen. And you know,

Wurenski, even if they miss, I might think about him for Norris. I mean you're not wrong in that at all. You know who would have Wurenski for the Norris if they had a vote though they don't? Who's that? Jake Sanderson. Big fan. Well give him a vote. Of Zach Wierenski. Well I don't make the decision.

I think, we've talked about this I think. I think Dues for the Professional Hockey Writers Association is something like $40 a year. Do you think if Jake Sanderson handed you $40 he could get a vote? Me? I don't know. I don't think I can wield that enough. I mean you should be able to hand forty dollars to somebody and make that happen. But I think we've talked about this right? I'm a big proponent of having some sort of player input in the voting process. Peer input. If he gave you one-t tenth of one Bitcoin, I don't even know what that's worth, but do you think he could get a vote? Sean McKenzie had the Bitcoin stuff going on

Saturday from crypto.com arena. Oh, that's right at the beginning. That was pretty funny. Yeah, that was very good. Yeah, he's a big fan of Zach Waranski. Who are you voting for I'm Kale McCarr right now and I think because you guys kind of look similar why would you disrespect Kale McCarr like that I can only imagine if he heard that the stomach churning that would be going on but I'll take it that's pretty good. You guys kind of look the same okay? No, I he's had to me. He's the most mesmerizing Defenseman to watch in the game, and I know that's all credible player It's just credible really hard, and it's almost like

They were kind of him and Devon Taves were kind of warming up throughout the year Then four nations hit and then out of that it's like bang they've hit another gear as they're ramping up towards the the playoffs. But Wawrinski I've really admired what he's done. He was what over 30 minutes in that shootout win over the Islanders, over 29 minutes Friday night against Vancouver over 29 minutes 24 hours later against Ottawa of course the production and just how much of the ice he commands and drives play for that Blue Jackets team I mean it's he's right there and Quinn Hughes I mean he's just a bit of time. Quinn Hughes is not a hundred percent. Yes which is amazing

considering what he's doing to this point. He's missed a bit of time. Not enough where you say you can't consider him, but it's, God, what a selection. When you miss, it makes it harder. When you miss, I think Wieranski to me has exceptional status this year as does someone else will talk about but you'll see I mean Right now voting today Canucks probably don't make it so for me, it's waransky or mccarr That's good. All right Calder Trophy. I know I've been a huge backer of

Dustin Wolfe and Calgary and still I'm a big believer but as time goes on here, well he's certainly in the conversation. Bring the whipped cream and the syrup. Kyle Bacoskas is waffling. And fresh strawberries if you don't mind, please. Slice strawberries. strawberries if you don't mind please slice strawberries but wolf is there celebreni is there yeah mishkov is there yeah and as time goes on here elliot it's becoming impossible to ignore lane hudson as the front runner impossible the you know

The you know, Calder is the one where I don't think playoffs is a cut line, but it sure helps. You know, I think we should mention I think those four guys Hudson, Wolff, Mishkov and Celebrini are sort of the four that have separated themselves. I think Stan Kovan, the one thing I really like about Stan Kovan is he got thrown a massive curveball in the middle of this season. And he has handled it like a guy who's been in the league for 15 years. He looks like a hurricane, eh? Now that he's there. Yes, he fits. Like they looked at that. Like one of the things the Hurricanes have absolutely done is is they've taken a look at

One of the Rantin wasn't really a stylistic fit and it became clear pretty quickly They've said if there's one thing we're learning about this. It's that we got to make sure we acquire players who fit and Taylor Hall has obviously been very good for them. Stan Kovan has been very good for them and I think that kid deserves a lot of credit. You know the one thing that people have kind of forgotten is that he was traded right before Dallas went into Vancouver and there were like 400 Stan Kovans who were going to go watch that game right?

Yes. Who were going to go watch that game right? Yes, and it ruined like I Don't know what? Food the Stankovans are eating that there's 400 of them in the family tree, but Because mine certainly is not that large But you know he handled it like a real pro like a veteran didn't pout didn't sulk Embrace the challenge doing his job. I really respect it. And Will Smith I think is another one. You know at the beginning of the year, it's interesting, I was talking to Jake Wallman in Edmonton and

I was talking about Celler Brinney and Smith and Celler Brinney just hit the ground running like right away. I mean he's a guy who's been around pro environments for a lot of his life because of his dad's work with the Golden State Warriors. So I don't think he's overwhelmed by this, at least the atmosphere. Like there's still the challenges of being successful as an NHL player, but the pro life doesn't throw him. At the beginning of the year, there were times Smith looked overwhelmed and one of the things Wallman said was that the veterans there were telling him,

you're talented, you're talented, just believe in yourself. Don't get rid of the puck all the time so quickly. Be smart, but try to make plays. And I think as this season's gone on, you see Smith doing that More and more, but it's those four guys. It's Hudson Wolf Mishkov and Celebrini Like watching Hudson against Florida on Sunday, I don't know how you couldn't Vote for him, especially if they make it

but He looks fantastic. I mean, Wolf has been great. Seller Brini has been good. Miscau has been very good. He's hot lately. To me, it's Hudson or Wolf. I mean, the reason, if you look at Calgary's underlying numbers,

and Vlidar has started to give them better games lately, but if you look at Calgary's underlying numbers, Wolfe has been incredible for them. Yes, and they're a team that doesn't score. They don't score very much until like last week when they started winning comeback games all over the place. But they don't score, and he had them right there. But we'll see how this goes for

for Hudson and Montreal, but right now I think he's my guy Still two weeks left. But right now he's my guy Yep over a point per game since the team started their run post four nations logged over 20 minute sheets to the last 12 games and at times a real heavy workload and just driving things for Montreal. It's been really, really impressive. How about Nicholas shooting the puck by the way at the end of the game? Yes, see you Tuesday, hey?

In a playoff game, I've seen stuff like that before and because you know they'll say oh the suit they're keeping souvenirs at the other end so or if a goalie is getting his first career shout out you know you've seen teams send it down the other end of the ice but yeah or that yeah right like Tim Taylor pretended he threw Ray Emmerich's puck in the garbage that one time and he gave it to him at the end of the series. But that was, that was the Panthers man. That is us saying we are sore losers. Just sore losers and we're doing that. And good on the Canadians for standing up for themselves.

Yeah, Kate and Gulley was like, ah we kind of have their number this year and they know it. It's good. Like it's good fuel for Tuesday night. Oh Yeah, that's a big game Florida back-to-back Montreal Toronto. Those are big games. Okay, Vesna. Is there a point of even talking about this? Yeah Especially after our heart conversation No, I mean so Thompson's had a great year. Yes No, I mean, so Thompson's had a great year. Yes. Andre's will spend eight seconds on this. You know what? We'll spend thirty seven seconds on this.

Oh, very good. Start the class. Connor Hellebuck is going to win the Vesna. Now, the general managers vote for this. Yep. So they handle it. Connor Hellebuck is going to win the Vesna and he's going to win it by a mile. Yes. There's been some other good performances this year, but it's Hellebuck all the way. All right, last one we're going to do here, the Jack Adams. This is kind of an interesting one this year. Who's your list? So the carburetor, Spenceruret is there. He got to throw Scott Arneal there of course with what Winnipeg's done. We mentioned Columbus. Dean Evison is going to be in that conversation

whether they get in or come up just short. Jim Hiller has done a really nice job in Los Angeles this year. I mean Craig Barube especially if the Leafs win the division, he's taken that group to a position that they haven't got to yet, aside from the Canadian division in 21. And then there's Jim Montgomery. I completely forgot about that. Brian Spear, the producer of Hockey Night, he pointed out on Saturday night that since 1967, the Maple Leafs have won the division title twice. Yeah. wow. That hasn't happened often.

Twice in almost 60 years. That's crazy. So that's why I threw Borube in there. And then also Jim Montgomery with St. Louis role in the way they are. Yes. Jim Montgomery is a really interesting one. We there is precedent for this. Bruce Boudreau, his first year coaching the Capitals.

He won it. And the timing the timing is very similar. Bruce Boudreau was hired American Thanksgiving. Jim Montgomery was hired right at American Thanksgiving. All the similarities are there and I think all those teams like Vancouver and Calgary that are still chasing the West they're probably not chasing the Blues anymore as much as they're chasing the Minnesota Wild. Yes. He's an interesting case. It's not again. You've had much worse takes than this

Now this is a bit of a funny one because the broadcasters association votes on this one now You and I are not members of the broadcasters association. I believe that's Similar to the Hall of Fame voting. I think it's only play-by-play people and color commentators who vote on those. If there's anyone else, I'm not aware of it, but that's who votes for the Jack Adams. So we don't have a vote for that. I have to tell you this.

If I had a vote, you mentioned a lot. I would also mention Jared Bednar. I would also mention Jared Bednar. I would also mention Jim Hiller. Um, there's... Yeah, I brought him up. Oh, did you? I didn't, I wasn't listening to you. Uh, did you mention Travis Green? No, I didn't.

But that's a good one, too. Why do you hate Ottawa? Um, you know, but I couldn't vote for anybody but Evison. For this award, I, I don't care. I could not vote for anybody but Evison. For this award, I don't care. I could not vote for anybody but Evison. It would have to be him getting my vote. Yeah, it's a great choice because, you know, because they were in Ottawa this weekend.

So I spent some time talking to some of the people around the organization before working that game on Saturday night. And right from the start, like he gave players the space that they needed. He allowed everyone to grieve, to process everything in their own way at their own time. But at the same time came in, it's his first year and was kind of blank slate. Everyone's going to get an opportunity. Here's your chance to show me you deserve a bigger role or more than what you've been getting previous for those that were in that situation.

And now you've got a great success story like a Math Matthew Olivier, who I think is absolutely benefited from that kind of mindset and messaging from the start of the year and through all of what we have talked about and what the Blue Jackets have dealt with. That's a great pick. Great pick. So whether it's Evison, the other guy that I was thinking about is again, Carberry were taking a Washington team that I don't think there were a lot of a lot of people. We didn't expect this. We did not expect this. And a

team that had a lot of new faces over the off season and finding roles for everybody and having a lot of success. He was the other name near the top of my list right now too. All good choices, but they're wrong. No I have no issue with where you're at. I just think this year I very good. They're all great choices I just think this year I couldn't I couldn't vote for anyone but Avison if I had a vote. All right anything Anything else you want to weigh in on there before we move on? This is a good exercise to get it started. We'll let the audience be the judge of that. Fair enough. We are gonna get destroyed for some of these

takes. There is nothing, nothing that infuriates people more than award talk. It's that time of year. Whether it's Tate McCray or Conor Hellebuyck, the people will let you hear about it. Yeah, Tate McCray, I'm a big fan. Ever since at the All-Star Game in Toronto, when our crew, which got there first thing in the morning, hours before anybody was there except Tate McCray and her crew, and they watched her prepare to perform at the Toronto All-Star Game, and they said to us, you guys think you take it seriously? You guys can't hold her jockstrap.

The way she drilled her team to make it perfect and drilled herself to make it perfect, I got all the time in the world for that. Very cool. Okay, as we move along here, this time of year also college hockey tournament going on, college hockey signing season. So with Boston College bowing out over the weekend, is it Ryan Leonard time in Washington? What about Gabe Perot and the Rangers? Jacob Fowler the goaltender, the Montreal draft pick. Any updates there? You know usually they try to wait past the day that they lose. Like, everybody knows what's going on, right? Like, the moment a team goes out, the representatives and the NHL teams start talking, but usually

they try to wait until the next day. Like, these are really, really hard moments. You know, for example, that Boston College team, they were the number one seed they lost to Denver. And so it's really painful, right? And I think everybody knows where all these situations are going to go. But you try to be sensitive to the players and the emotions of the moment. Look, Washington, they haven't hit it. They made it very clear. They kept enough cap room at the deadline to activate him, Ryan Leonard, and the expectation is they are going to do it.

And they have counted on it and we're all expecting it. Very interesting thing. There's a lot of people out there who watch a lot more hockey than I do who think that he can come in and be an impactful player right away. They said the thing that's going to be really interesting is he is an emotional, emotional guy. And it's a very mature room a great room with And that's been a big factor and why they've been so successful this year You know I had a couple guys tell me they're gonna be very curious to hear How like some guys come into a room like that? They're a top team in the league

They're number two overall and you kind of tiptoe into the room. I don't want to upset anything. I just want to fit in on the ice. Off the ice it might be a little bit quieter, but on the ice that is not Ryan Leonard. And so I had a couple people say to me, it's going to be interesting to see, you know, how much of an impact he makes right away because he is an emotional fiery guy and He won't be quietly entering any team on the ice. So that's gonna be interesting to watch I think Gabe Perot, I think people are expecting it in In New York, it sounds like that one is gonna happen too and York. It sounds like that one is going to happen too. And we'll see about Fowler. I know there's a lot of people expecting that one to happen as well. So I think the most

interesting thing is going to be Leonard's going to come in and play. What are the expectations for Perot? The Rangers are still in the playoff race and also too with Fowler, you know, what are the expectations? A lot of players want to come in and they want to burn a year, but not everybody is like that. I know that in Vancouver, there've been some reports about Tom Veland, the defenseman, when his time comes he may not want to burn the year because if your statistics aren't great or you're not ready right away in two years that can really hurt you in the negotiation stage.

But if you're a scorer or you're an impact player, you want to come in right way and burn that year. I mean, the challenge for Fowler is that every one of Montreal's games is a big game from here on in. So I don't know if that's even going to be an option for him. All right, what about Callum Tong of Port Moody Beach Sea, undrafted goalie from UConn? I'm glad you remind me about him. So Callum Tong is a really good story.

He's a really talented young goaltender, took a bit of time off and he played this year for UConn and people were drooling about him. Like there are a bunch of NHL teams chasing after this guy and the expectation is that he's gonna have an opportunity to go right away and probably will. He is a super talented young goalie. I know that Calgary was one of the teams that made a real chase at him, but it's a challenge for them

because obviously they have Wolf and the guy who beat Tong the other day, Arseny Sergeyev from Penn State. He was a seventh round pick in 2021. That kid looks like he's really starting to develop too. And so Calgary's a bit loaded with young goaltenders. So I think it would be a bigger challenge for them to get them, but I don't think the Flames were the only team looking at this kid and trying to convince them to come out. So we'll see where that goes over the next couple of days. And while we're talking about young goalies,

I did want to shout out Harrison Menegan from Medicine Hat. You know, he went through a really, really hard situation. His father, Derek, was at one of his games in Calgary a week ago. And Derek, unfortunately, had a heart attack and he passed away. just awful for the family. Harrison Meneghan came back last week before game one of the playoffs. Medicine Hat is playing Swift Current and Willie Desjardins the coach said post game that he wasn't going to play him

and Meneghan asked to start and so he started game one, he had a shutout, he won game two with medicine hat six to three so they're up two to nothing on swift current. There's no right or wrong answer in these situations. Some people need time, others say you know what the ice or the court or the field is where I feel most comfortable. It's where I can focus on something else besides what is affecting me in my life. I can just focus on the game and he chose that and he looked fantastic in their first two games. So just wanted to send the best to Harrison and just a great moment in very difficult

times just showing the intestinal fortitude as he did. Yeah and a really wonderful scene after that shutout game one and how he got mobbed by his teammates there. You could tell those players really like him right? Yeah. Really like him. It was beautiful to see. Really great. Alright, so that was beautiful, what the St. Louis Blues have going on lately, Elliott, beautiful, nine wins in a row. They end the Avalanche, 11 game home winning streak over the weekend. How about as the clock winded down there in the third period, those St. Louis players that were out for over two minutes, Jake Neighbours just like laying on the ice, he's got nothing left as the final horn goes and and the power of

Jobu the voodoo doll from the movie Major League that belonged to Pedro one of the characters that brought him good luck in trying to hit a curveball Jobu has been a fixture in the st. Louis Blues dressing room, like in the movie, has its own stall set up. Jordan Bennington said post-game Saturday that they had a real motivational intermission speech to get the group going. It's almost hints of Gloria in 2019 where something has helped grasp the St. Louis Blues, and they are running with lightning in a bottle right now. So his quote was, you've got to understand his language if you want to know what he says.

That was his quote I saw. How much do you want to bet, Kyle, that Jordan Bennington walked back into whatever area is behind the scenes, the trainer's room or whatever, after he finished that scrum, and he's like, you're never gonna guess what I just told these guys. Guess what I just told these guys.

And they're all probably back there laughing their heads off. You told them what? You told them he gave us a second intermission speech? Yeah, I would have bet Jake Sanderson's $40. Yes, and you would win. That's what I imagine after something like that is a player walks back into the room and says, guess what I just told these guys?

Yes, yes. Yeah, you'll never guess where I went this time. And what people forget is that in Major League the movie, eventually Pedro Serrano, who's the hitter who has Jobu, wins in spite of him. He swears at Jobu and says, I pray to you, I do whatever to you, and I still can't hit the curveball. Yes. So it doesn't end well for Joe Buu in that movie. I would think that too, if you're the Winnipeg Jets, I would think too that if you're the

Winnipeg Jets, you're looking at the Blues and saying, you never want to say you prefer one opponent over the other, but you wouldn't be too unhappy to see St. Louis move into seventh spot, wild card one. Yeah. Well, it's just like, oh my gosh, we've kept our lead so we don't have to worry about Colorado or Dallas in the first round. And wait a sec, now we've got the hottest team in hockey potentially in the first round. That's our gift for holding everyone off and winning potentially the president's trophy at the end of all this?

As a team, you're really not supposed to say you think like that. But internally, I bet you there's some people with the Jets saying, I'll admit, I'm thinking like that. The one thing that you really notice with them is that, you know, Mike Kelly had a stat from Sport Logic where he talked about how they're just not giving up rush chances, right? They're just way under the amount of rush chances that the average team gives up. And I saw that and I started looking at some of their games. It's amazing. Sometimes someone just needs to tell you something and you really see it.

Sometimes you see it yourself, but other times you need to be told something and then sort of like your biases open up and your bias to that and you're like Yeah, I see it. It was pretty obvious. They were defending teams. Well, they were slowing teams down They really protect the house, you know that what happened with Bennington? Like if there was ever any doubt in Bennington's mind and there probably wasn't but whatever what happened with him at the Four Nations like I remember when Ovechkin won the Stanley Cup and Capitals won the Stanley Cup we went to Washington the next preseason and we did a sit-down with him and he said like what's the next question you're gonna ask me you know what how are you gonna doubt me now?

And I said you know what like when it comes to hockey no one's ever gonna doubt you again You did it like it's over. You never have to answer the question and Bittington even though we won the Stanley Cup in 2019 You know because of the unique way in which it came on the scene and won it There was always this kind of was this a fluke always this kind of, was this a fluke, was this a fluke, was this a fluke. Well now, after that Four Nations, he never has to answer that anymore. Like it's over.

No one is ever going to question him again. And he's a confident guy and he really believes in himself, but I still think that's a weight off your world. Like no one ever doubts this guy again. And I think the Blues too as a team, you see that and obviously Pareko played with them. But the Blues are watching this and they're saying, look at the way this guy played here. If we just remember to defend and give him some predictability, who's gonna score on this guy? And that's what they do.

I do have to think that seeing the way he performed there, they were already trending better, they were doing really well, but I have to think that seeing the way that guy played there, if you're in that room, you're all looking and saying, as long as we do our jobs in front of them, why can't we be a threat after that? And the other thing too about Montgomery is he always had the reputation as being a really good offensive coach. I think he's showing here that he can teach you how to defend too. Yeah.

And teach you how to do both. And can be an incredible motivator with how he delivers his messages pregame or in the intermission and they seem to be hitting all the right notes right now. And you mentioned Binnington. Ten and two. Very good the Blues hitting the right notes. you caught that 10 and 2 since the Four Nations with the 209 goes against average a lot of guys playing really well Thomas playing great mm-hmm like a lot of players you know XO a yeah Holloway and Broberg playing great you know It's interesting. I'm a kind of person who never tries not to look back.

What happened happened. Learn your lessons. Move on. It's always easier with some things than others. But I really believe learn your lessons and try to move on. That's the Euler fans and the Eulers, especially Holloway. Like I mean he looks like such a stud right now. That's gonna sting for a while. You kind of have to say okay. You know this whole thing with offer sheets like I was talking about this with someone

on Sunday, Kyle, and they were saying to me, they were talking about this St. Louis thing and how well that did. And I think the interesting thing about this is, number one, the growing cap. On one hand, it's going to say, okay, we can make it easier for people to do offer sheets, but you're going to have to target some teams because for some of those teams, they'll make it easier for them to match them, the higher cap. Now, some teams might get stuck next year. And I had one guy say to me he wonders if what's gonna happen is you see some teams do big one-year offer sheets like when Vancouver was thinking of offer sheeting Jamie Ben all those years ago they were gonna do a one-year

deal that they didn't think Dallas could match and then do another deal. And that extension would be with Ben. It wouldn't be an offer sheet, but they do the big offer sheet for one year and then they do another deal. And like someone was saying to me, is that the way teams are going to do it? Because in a couple of years, everyone's going to have cap room, but next year, not everyone will. Like teams, teams are looking like, who are the clubs that are going to be aggressive. And they kind of look a little bit at Philly.

And Philly has in 2026, they have their first, they have their second, they have their third, they have their fourth. They've got seven draft picks in the first two rounds this year, not relevant, but they can stock up whatever they need to do. It's interesting, like teams are starting to look around saying, is that going to be the offer sheet team this year? Is that going to be the offer sheet team this year is that gonna be the offer sheet team this year? Like who's that team gonna be? Because there's no doubt the way Holloway and Broberg have played It's it's changing it I have to I have to say to you like I was I've been watching a little bit more Holloway lately I Don't think it's impossible

Kyle that he's on the Olympic team next year. Hmm. Doug Armstrong, right? There's that thread there. He had flashes of brilliance during the run last year. Like he saw what could be as he got older and more comfortable and more mature at this level. And it's interesting as you talk about all this offer sheet thing, because going back

early in the year, what did you say about this all? There are a lot of teams that were looking at this St. Louis situation as kind of a case study with what they did in the summer and how it was all going to go for them. Yeah. Right now it's going incredibly well. Went pretty well. Yeah. Looks not bad.

Cases. Absolutely. So it's going well there in St. Louis. Yeah, looks not bad cases absolutely So it's going while they're in st. Louis. It's been a so so Time in Minnesota the last little while Elliot. I mean they've been basically a 500 team since the calendar flipped to 25 Same 87 points with st. Louis, but played one fewer game. Big part of the equation, of course, has been injuries, namely, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksenek, but they practiced with the team for the first time on Sunday.

Doesn't sound like they're going to play on that upcoming road trip as they go through the New York, New Jersey area, but at least encouraging signs that they're back with their group. But at least encouraging signs that they're back with their group Yeah, I mean Bill Guerin said at the deadline they were gonna play this year Before the playoffs he wasn't expecting them to be out It's gonna be the biggest sigh of relief in the state of Minnesota when Kaprizov gets on the ice in a game Yeah, as long as you know you have that guy in the playoffs, you can breathe. Right. I just got to make sure you went enough that you still get in.

Yeah, Jets. That's right. You're right. Jets wild. Who? They've had some nasty series of nasty games. Yes. Yeah, not just in playoffs. It's gone through the regular season, too. By the way, how do you think, how angry do you think Bill Guerin was that his alma mater BC couldn't beat Denver to get Zee Booeyum to Minnesota a little bit quicker? Did you see him at the end of the game? No I didn't.

He taunted that BC bench. Oh. Yeah. Wow. He is a bold, bold guy. I think a lot of people are going to regret that kid falling. That's going to be one of the best things that ever happened to the wild. I mean, Kaprizov was a late pick. Nothing's going to beat that. But that's one that's going to be a big part of Garen's legacy, was drafting that kid. It's only a matter of time here now as Denver once again as the defending champions have reached the frozen four in NCAA hockey. So we mentioned off the top there the goalie interference conversation, the lecture you had on Saturday night with Ron on headlines. I mean we beat this topic up

pretty good the last few episodes and went through some of the examples you showed on Saturday but in terms of the reaction comments you got after Saturday night anything worth sharing here? Well it's just it was interesting I had a couple people say to me that like the one that threw me for a loop this week was the fair was was not the Farabee play because I wasn't surprised by the call but what he was told by the officials. Oh right about blockers side, glove side. If it had been on the other side,

it might have been a goal, because then you looked at, like I still don't get the one that Gallagher was mad at. Like I back Gallagher on that one a billion percent, but it looks like that's the way they're doing it, right? Like I had a couple players and a couple teams say to me that when they saw those three plays back to back to back Farabee no goal, Brink Forrester goal and then Olivier Lankanen no goal like they said it all started to make a bit more sense. Now I'll say this again not

everybody agrees with it. No, but two of the three I understood. And even I think, I know like Olivier was, you could tell when they took it off, he was mad at the bench going. Like I was- I understand why he's mad, but he's wrong on that one. No, but here's the thing. But if you watch the play live,

like when the puck initially goes in, he kind of sheepishly looks at the referee going, ah, I don't know if he's gonna call like he knew he was in trouble Real time after the fact he was mad, but you could tell he knew two of the three that you bring up I understood again. It's the Philly one were like you still scratching my head It's the outlier, but it certainly looks like and you all tell you this when you Ron Was emphatic that that Philly one was not a goal when he saw where Brink's skate was with Dobush's skate he was like that's not a goal didn't allow him to pass across yeah I

agree but this is what we're the the thing is they just have to stick to this right and I know some of the I heard that on Sportsnet radio in Vancouver, there were some complaints the talk it didn't challenge the Boone Jenner goal that made it five five. That was a crazy challenge if they did it. And he was right not to challenge it. Yeah, when you look at it. Jenner his skate is not in the crease until after the puck goes in the net. Yeah. Like that is not interference.

Yeah. That would have been a terrible challenge. Him doing a bit of lip reading there at the bench, he's gone like, I'm 50-50 at best, knowing the time of the game and the score and all that. It was the right move to let it go. Let it go. 100%. Now, I'll say this too. the right move to let it go. Let it go. 100%.

Now, I'll say this too. I know we're gonna talk about Canucks Jets here for a second, but there was the offside challenge in this game, and thankfully the goal counted, the Vancouver goal. Yep. You saw that one. I think if you get a challenge that that's close. That's that close

The situations rooms. She said she just say We're not changing that call Yeah, but what Okay, how close is that close? How close do you have to be to fall that one? That one was that one was like as That was a thin slice of the onion. I agree. You know what I think they should do? When it's that close, you know what I think they should do?

Unless you have 8K cameras, as Dom said. This is what you do. You say, okay, we got the call. We're going to look at it. Let's go pour ourselves a coffee. Let's eat a Mars bar. Yup, too close to call. And, and, that is not what we should be challenging. It's too close. That's like Seinfeld at the rental car center.

Can you talk to the manager about this, please? Yes. And then they're mocking it through them. I'm going to talk to you and make it look like I'm bringing up their case to you. And I'm really having a conversation here. Oh, yes. And now I don't think this way. And they come back and there's nothing we can do.

Sorry, sir. There's nothing we can do. Yes. That is not like those challenges make me crazy. I'll also say this too, Steve Iserman said at a GM meeting years ago that if it's close, the official should let the play go. I mean, wave it off?

He said they should air. Yes. Like on an offside? Yes. If it is that close like that, wave off the offside. Let the play go. Air on the side of goals. Now I'm sure there's some linesmen who are listening to this while they're driving and

they have just crashed into a utility pool. And I know they take great pride in their jobs and I would never insult them, but I have always believed that that is right. If you think it is super, super, super close, let the play go and let video reviews sort it out. Let's err on the side of goals. We do love goals here, but man, easy to say here. Different conversation in the moment where you've got to make a decision in a split.

Hundred percent. I just think that should be put in their heads. Yeah. So I'm putting it in their heads. It's not the worst thought you put into people's heads. Oh, some people will think it is. I already know who's going to text me about this on Monday. Oh, good people will think it is. I already know who's gonna text me about this on Monday. Oh good, I can't wait to hear.

So that offside challenge there, Vancouver, Winnipeg, I mean the Jets ended up pulling away there in the third period. That was a long road trip for Vancouver. Six gamer, they got six to 12 points out of it. I just thought I wanted to mention quickly, like watching Tocket there in the post game, I'm not suggesting, you know, he's resigned to anything. That's a guy

that's wired to keep fighting, to keep finding answers. But it just seemed like there is a sense of they're obviously missing some important guys, their most important player has not been at 100% though he keeps trying to make stuff happen. It was a long trip as I mentioned. The Jets are, they could win the President's Trophy. Just seems like, I don't know, reality's setting in a little bit there from the head coach. What's your sense? Well the tough thing is too is that so the Canucks have played the same games as the Wild, they have the game in hand on the Blues, and they're six points back. The Flames are seven back of the Wild and the Blues, they have more games in hand, two

on Minnesota and three on St. Louis. The challenge for both these teams are, they're really far back in the tiebreakers. Like Vancouver and Calgary have 26 RWs, Regulation Wins, which is the first tiebreaker. The Blues have 30 and the Wild have 33. It's borderline impossible to catch them in that. So what Vancouver and Calgary are really looking at is you probably can't just tie these guys. You have to beat them outright, right? So that's another point you have to get.

For all intents and purposes, the Canucks are seven points out of the playoffs and the Flames eight. It's a really tall order for Vancouver. You're never gonna quit, but it's a really hard, hard challenge for these two teams. You know, the thing with Calgary is,

there's already starting to be some grumbling I'm seeing about, well, now they're in the middle again. I think you have to look at the big picture in Calgary this year. The biggest success the Flames had this year was that they got, they made their players happy again. Like the last couple years, it was always about will this guy go, will that guy go, and finally it got to the point in Markstrom's case where he just didn't want to be there anymore. Right. And there were other guys who left too. But Markstrom in particular, it was like, I got to go.

I can't do this anymore. And they traded him in New Jersey. This year, the flames room has done a one 80. You look at Hubert Oh, rediscovered his game. You look at Hubert O, rediscovered his game. You look at Kadri, I wouldn't call it an MVP season because he's not on the list of top players in the league who are MVP candidates. But in a lot of ways, I thought Kadri played like an MVP this year. I thought guys like, you know, Anderson struggled a bit at the end,

but I thought he played great wiger played great and a lot of their kids like Coronado took a big step Wolf looks like a number one goalie. You know Zary really sad The injuries that happened to him, but he looks like a player like they look like to me this year in Calgary Even if you finish quote-unquote in the mushy middle Like to me this year in Calgary, even if you finish quote unquote in the mushy middle, it's a successful year for you because you're going into the summer and the questions aren't about who wants to be here. Now you've got to figure out Anderson signing a contract, but that's not about him not wanting to be there.

That's business. And business to me is different than I don't want to be there. We'll see how that sorts itself out. I think this was a big year for Calgary. You know, Vancouver, you know, I think the thing now is I think they've made target an offer. I think they've made Taket an offer and obviously that offer didn't get it done. I don't know how soon he's going to want to talk about it, but eventually it's going to get to a point where they all have to decide when when do they want to sit down and talk about this?

and like I think this is just a bigger conversation than just talk it as Does does talk it want to stay I think I? Think there's two conversations that are going to be had here the number one is the Okay, where are we going? What do we agree about on our roster? What do we disagree about in our roster? What's our process from here on in?

The thing about Vancouver is after last year, when they gave Edmonton everything they can handle, there's no way they saw this year developing as it did. And now they've got to sit there and say okay. Where are we? So and where are we going so that's number one? number two like I think also with talk it like He's got an option for next year. I can't see the Vancouver Canucks saying we're gonna hold you to that option if can't see the Vancouver Canucks saying, we're going to hold you to that option if we all agree this isn't the right path.

I just don't see that. So to me, it comes down to do you get a new deal or not? And some of that is going to be term and finances. And if they want to extend target, it's going to go into a bigger number than they've paid a coach in quite some time. And how do the Canucks feel about that? I think that's going to be as much the decision for Vancouver as it's going to be with anything else.

But I just don't know when they're going to sit down and discuss it because even though the math is not good, I'm not sure that he's going to want to do it while there's still a chance. I guess that's what an agent's for. Yes, yes, exactly. I can totally see going, let's talk once we get through this for good or for not so good over the next few weeks in Vancouver. All right, a couple more things to get through here, Elliot. Philadelphia, the John Tortorella dismissal aftermath, there were the reports of that verbal altercation between Tortorella and Cam York after that Toronto game.

York said he took full responsibility for his actions, understood the benching the next game against Montreal. Anything else you can kind of clarify and clear up with what went on there? Well, I don't think it was physical or anything. One thing you look into in this day and age is, is there any investigation or issue that's going to come out of this? And I've been told no, that that's not the case,

that it was just a really intense verbal dispute that didn't go into anything that was going to go any further than that. I think this, I think it's pretty clear now that since the trade deadline, things kind of just soured between the flyers and toward in the direction and where things were going. And while the comments brought it all to a head and the argument between York and Tortorello brought it all to a head, I think it's pretty clear to me that there was a lot bubbling under the surface that maybe we weren't as aware of until really Tortorello spoke his mind after that game in Toronto.

And I think one of the things like someone said to me, like, do you think it was because of the exchange with York that Tortorello was let go? And I don't. I don't believe it was as simple as that. I think it was just an accumulation of a whole bunch of things. And but that last night in Toronto, between the comments and the disagreement, I just think that just brought it all the pot boiled over. But I, I just don't, it sounds like to me, this is one of those things, this time goes on, maybe more will get out. It just seems like to me that it was just headed in that direction especially after the trade deadline and it probably the goal was probably

let it finish out the rest of the season but after that game in Toronto boiled over it was just couldn't wait anymore. The Flyers have scored 13 goals in the two games Since the coaching change All right time for the final thought which is brought to you by GMC and on Sunday Elliott 890 Alex Ovechkin brought his career goal total to so for from tying Wayne Gretzky 5 From taking over the record outright How soon do you think we could see that number become a reality?

So let me ask you something. Have you looked at their schedule this week? Yes I have. You know who has, you know who knows their schedule like the back of their hand? Amber? I'm sure he would be one. The other is Sean Reynolds because he is embedded

With Ovi in the caps until he breaks this record Like if they don't if he doesn't get it by the end of this season He is spending the whole spring and summer in Washington waiting until next season until we see 895 That's the worst places you could spend a spring and summer Worst places for sure. I like Washington. It's a very nice town. Great for walking around. Good cigar bar too. Okay, so this week Bruins, hurricanes, Blackhawks, and on Sunday the Islanders. I don't think it's impossible. That when we reconvene seven days from now, we could be talking about a new record holder for all-time scoring.

Only one of those games is a home game though, Elliot. This Friday against Chicago. I've got to tell you- You're comfortable with that. I'm comfortable with it. I'm comfortable with it I can tell you. Believe me I'm not the person who's going to be comfortable with this. And remember they said they're not holding him out. Imagine he scores like three between the Bruins and the Hurricanes and it's the end of the first period and Carberry staples them to the bench in Carolina. He sits the final 40 minutes.

I don't think it's impossible. I think it's impossible that he staples them to the bench. Yeah, that's true. I see what you're saying. Yeah, but I mean, Boston's had a tough go. Especially look at the Blackhawks, they're bringing in their youth right now, right? They'll be in awe. They're showcasing it, showcasing their guys. A couple more made their debuts on the weekend. Boston, Chicago, two bottom third teams in terms of goals against this year.

There's a window, Elliot. Poons are 26th in the NHL. Yeah, it's not impossible to believe that this could happen. I did want to say great to see Craig Loughlin back. Yes. Alan May did a great job, like a great job in the interim, fantastic work. Alan I really like Alan's work. Craig Loughlin should be there for this. He's been there the whole way and that is justice. He should be there for the record holder when it comes. So I was really happy. Happy to see Craig back just because he's healthy.

But secondly, like he should be there. Well said. That was the final thought brought to you by GMC. We will take our first break and come back once again with the Thoughtline. 32 Thoughts the Podcast continues after this. Alright, welcome back. Time once again for the Thoughtline, where dreams come true, where ideas are put into practice, anything is possible at this part of the show, Elliot. Yes, Kyle, all of that is correct, and I've got some additions and commentary based on the last thought line. First of all, someone said to me,

a big Spaceballs fan, that I did not correctly mention your yogurt. I hate yogurt, even with strawberries. Your excellent drop-in. Yogurt! Yogurt! I hate yogurt, even with strawberries your excellent drop-in. Yogurt! Yogurt! I hate yogurt! Even with strawberries! We were talking about expiring coaches and players. We did not properly credit Space Balls the movie as to where that reference came from. So I wanted to do that. Well those who knew knew. Those who knew knew, but this particular individual felt that Spaceballs was deserving of a mention,

being the great movie it was. That's very fair. And comedy classic. I also wanted to shout out producer Brian Spear, who laughed so hard when he heard me ask Trent Frederick if he was going to wear number 11. He said to me, what was your follow up? What about

99? And I wanted to mention that because I thought it was a really good line. Nice. Couple other things. So the sandals and socks debate has ignited a firestorm among listeners of this podcast. Kathy Broderick, our producer, sent me the picture of when the Leafs played San Jose and Patrick Marlowe, Joe Thornton met with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Will Smith and Macklin Siller-Briny that picture. Will Smith was wearing sandals and socks. So when you combine Will Smith and Connor Bedard with that look, I am not going to win this argument among millennials.

Those two have greater purchasing power, let's just say, than I do. I cannot compete with that. I am an old. Even though this look is awful, I cannot compete with that. I'd also want to shout out the broadcaster Kate Pederson, who does some stuff with Dave Pagnotta on the fourth period, used to work for the Canucks and the Predators. She sent in an Insta story of herself going shopping wearing sandals and socks. And I would also say that Kate Pederson is probably more popular among the listeners than I am too. However, however, I would like to shout out the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers,

who had a Sandals Sunday as part of their game against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. I guess it's Soul Flow Weekend. So they did this as part of it and all the videos and photos that were on their social feed. I saw Evan Rodriguez. I saw Nate Schmidt. I saw Anton Lindell and I saw Gustav Forsling. None of them wore sandals with socks So I feel validated that the reigning Stanley Cup champions and a legitimate threat to repeat All of them are on my side in this one credit for Schmidt for really Leaning into this not only was he wearing sandals with no socks But he was carrying a sand bucket and had zinc on his nose. Schmidt really went out of his way to play the part.

Um, a couple more notes, Kyle, a fan named Cody Yuntola was, uh, talking about our names that don't fit like the New Orleans jazz and the Utah jazz. And he brought up one that I think a lot of us have forgotten. The Los Angeles Lakers. Initially the Lakers were based in... Minneapolis, Kyle. You didn't know the Lakers are from Minneapolis? No I didn't, I missed that one.

Oh, okay. Well, you are young. So, I excuse you on this one. The Lakers were initially based in Minneapolis. Minneapolis, in the state of Minnesota, is the land of 10,000 lakes. So they were known as the Minneapolis Lakers. And there are people who are saying the Lakers is a stupid name for LA because there aren't that many lakes there. But I think it sounds so great, Los Angeles Lakers, that it should never be changed.

You were talking about tape on sticks, right? Yep. Jeff Murdoch brought up Ben Scrivins and December 30th, 2014 against the Los Angeles Kings, he mentioned that Ben Scriven was wearing orange tape on the top of his goalie stick, the knob of his goalie stick, and there is an NHL rule that the top of the goalie stick, if you're going to use tape, it has to be white. Now what Jeff didn't add and I went back and looked was that in the shootout the Oilers who Scriven's was playing for were playing the Kings and in the shootout after one shooter Darrell

Sutter pulled the old gamesmanship. He called the officials over and it was in that moment he demanded that Scriven's be forced to change the tape. He waited the whole game and waited for the right moment and it was during the shootout. Unfortunately for Sutter and the Kings, it didn't work. Scriven's held and the Oilers won 3-2. And finally, there's one listener and I can't find the message so I can't give it the proper credit. But we were talking about the Penguins in the Capitals in 2008 or 2009 playoffs, that great series, and how game four was in Pittsburgh and game five was in Washington, how rare it is for back-to-back games in a playoff series in different cities.

Well, he brought up the infamous, if you're a Toronto fan, very famous, if you're a Bruins fan, 2013 Toronto Boston series. Game 6 was in Toronto, I believe on a Sunday night. Game 7 was in Boston, I believe it was a Monday night, but they were back-to-back games in different cities. Sorry Maple Leafs fans for bringing up the it was 4-1 night, but that was the game and whoever sent that to me, you are correct. They were on back to back nights and Kyle, the thing I remember about that one was when the Maple Leafs lost game seven and we came back to work, whatever next day of work it was.

The CBC people, because we were still there at that time, they told us that you cannot understand how devastating that loss was for CBC. Not only for the Leafs and their fans, but for CBC. Mm-hmm. Worship. Yeah, and ad sales. So for game seven, I remember we came in, they told us that the intermissions were gonna be one minute shorter in Terms of content and we were like what's up and they go we are selling so much

So much ad space for this game that we have to shorten the content of our intermissions And when it was four to one in the third period They were they were getting so many calls. The phones would not stop ringing about advertisers wanting to buy up Leafs in the second round. And they said, we cannot tell you how devastating a financial loss that was when the Bruins came back and won it in overtime. That is one of the days I remember vividly as a Hockey Knight in Canada employee. Well and not to pile on but 2003 as well in the

playoffs. Toronto played Philadelphia in the first round, game six, Travis Green scores the overtime winner to force game seven. That was a back-to-back. The next night they were in Philly and that was a blowout for the Flyers to end Toronto's season then. So there's another example of back-to-back the next night they were in Philly and that was a blowout for the Flyers to end Toronto's season then so there's another example of back to back between cities in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Wow a lot of good listeners you guys are great always pointing out stuff bringing back memories that just stab us in the heart about how financially crippling some of these defeats were. Yes. And the memories of the great Minnesota Lakers. Let's get to walk down that one again. Boy, Dom hammered you there, man.

Yes. Well, I deserve it. I grew up as Los Angeles Lakers, and I guess I haven't done a good enough job educating myself on the franchise's history. I was going to excuse you but Dom was having none of that he was like this is a joke! Yeah that's fine Dom you need to get your licks in every now and then. All right on to today's batch okay here we go Levi from Lethbridge Alberta you mentioned on the last pod about the Flyers calling up players you said they had maxed out their call-ups and I was just wondering how that works what happens if there's like 10 injuries might seem like a stupid question love the pod keep it up no stupid questions here Levi what's that is not a stupid question there are situations where you

can go into emergency right yes so in those where you can go into emergency, right? Yes. So in those situations, you can make emergency call-ups. You are fine with that. And once your AHL team has finished playing, and for the Flyers, that's Lehigh Valley, then you can call up all your black aces, right? So all the players you want to call up and you have plenty. Um, but the thing about this particular situation with cam York is that they wouldn't say the league wouldn't allow you to use a disciplinary incident as an emergency. So that's why they had to dress him is they wouldn't be allowed to call up a player because it's not an injury or anything like that.

Okay. Blake from Newburgh, Indiana. Hello, Kelly Dom, longtime Bolts fan and pod listener. I've been having internal debates regarding the Capitals goal-tenning plans come playoff time, but I haven't been able to come up with a concrete plan since both goalies have been lights out all year and the team seems to play so well in front of them every game. Seems like a great problem to have for a coach. I would love to hear your thoughts on how the Caps approach their goal-tenning when it comes time for the playoffs.

Will it be one of Logan Thompson or Charlie Lindgren's net to lose or will they continue to rotate every other game like they have done most of this season? Thank you for all you do and Goal Bolts, a Lightning fan, with curiosity of the Capitals goal situation, Elliot. Interesting. I figured the Lightning fan would end the question about the Capitals goal-tenning with something like, I hope both of them lose, but very sporting, very sportsman-like. I have to say I'm very impressed. I think we're getting into the situation, and I believe Toronto is this way too.

And Kyle, you've seen a lot of Toronto this year where you should expect to see both goaltenders and simply not a question of performance but also just overall rest and Ability to handle the grind like I I think Thompson obviously starts the playoffs as the number one guy Like as we tape the pod on Sunday of this part of the pod anyway Logan Thompson's played 41 games and Charlie Lindgren's played 32. I think it would be fair to say if you're a Caps fan that Thompson is your number one goalie. I think he goes in as the number one guy and to me it's not only about performance, it's about how he handles the grind, right?

Like if you look at Thompson's history, the most games he's played in any NHL season is 46. That was last year. The most games he's ever played in any playoff season was four, and then he got hurt. So to me, it's all about how does he manage the schedule. Like when I look at Toronto and yes everything's about Toronto but also I think it's a good comparison in this in this particular case. You know Craig Barube has said he wants there to be one number one goalie. Like that's what everybody's comfortable with. But I think it was only a matter of time, the way

goalies play in the NHL now, that we got to this. Where you're looking at it with Toronto, where Stollers and Woll have never had absolute full-time number one moments. Where you're going into the playoffs and you're saying, hey, we might be using both these guys and not not because of performance but simply because we're gonna need them both because that's just the way our tandem is set up and in the in the history like in history NHL teams don't do that they haven't done that for a long time if ever so people are looking at this and saying it's never been done before. You can't necessarily do that. I think and I think we'll see it this season, Kyle, where we see teams like Washington,

but especially Toronto use both guys. And that really will go double depending on how the schedule looks like one thing I've heard for the playoffs is if you play the last Thursday the 18th you're not playing Saturday. So some teams might get a couple extra days off to sort this out but I think you're gonna see teams like Toronto and Washington say it's worked like this all year I know it's different we're're sticking with it. You do a I do I guess. We'll see it when it comes. But I go back to Boston last year where they were a perfect example of tandem all season. Swamen starts game one.

They win. There was like oh do you go back to him? Do you keep the rotation? They go all mark game two and he wasn't even the problem, but they lose. Swainman got the net back game three and they didn't look back from that point. Like it feels like once you get into that spot for a coach and an organization, if one guy wins a game, it's really hard to move away from that. I think it's more likely that happens in Washington than Toronto. But I look at Toronto in particular and I see those two goalies. And look, Anthony Stollers, the most games he's played in NHL season is this year, 29.

Yeah. Okay. Joseph, Joseph Wall, the most games he's played in the NHL season is this year, 38 and wall has played seven games over two playoffs. Both of them have injury histories. Like to me, it's all going to come down to their schedule. Like if Toronto gets one of those goofy schedules where it's like a lots of two days off in series, which I hate, I hope they don't, it doesn't happen, then maybe. But honestly, those guys, they both have had injury histories. They've both been hurt this year.

They've never played this many games. I think people are kidding themselves that they don't think they're gonna need both those guys. I might be proven wrong, but that's what I'm thinking right now. I hear ya, I hear ya. I just think if it's more of a constant back and forth to me, that says you're probably in trouble in a series.

What's the old saying? If you have two goalies, you have no goalies. Right, right. Like quarterbacks. Yeah, same thing. Like it's quarterbacks, goalies, same thing. I don't know, like the world is different now. I would have said that 20 years ago,

maybe even 10 years ago, Kyle, I would have said that, that you don't have a guy. But I think the world is different now. And I look at this Toronto team this year and like I worked their regionals with Nick and Justin and Dave, we're working Sunday night, the Anaheim game. And I really believe that that is antiquated thinking in Toronto's case in particular, and you have to be prepared to think differently. Maybe I'll be wrong, but if I was coaching, that's the way I'd look at it. I'd look at it like we might need both of these guys with the qualifier that maybe the schedule convinces me otherwise. Yeah.

I look forward to revisiting this topic as we get into the playoffs because it's gonna come up you know it will. 100%. Blake there you go the answer to your question about the capitals is that Joseph Wohl and Anthony Stolarz will both see time in the playoffs. And I think in Washington, yeah that's good call, I like that, and I do think in Washington Thompson starts as your number one. Yeah, but again I'm not gonna be surprised if you see Lindgren like the one I always remember and it was a one-off 2011 Tampa

East Eastern Conference final against Boston remember they had Dwayne Rolison and Matthew Garrah made a start out of nowhere and they just said Rollison's tired. Now that was a one-off but it was unconventional and it turned out to be a very smart decision and I've always said the only reason that doesn't happen more often The only reason that doesn't happen more often is that people are scared of it. It takes one. It takes one. And I wonder if this year Toronto or maybe Washington is the one.

All right. Brad from Victoria. Hey fellas and Elliot's nips. Victoria is getting ready to relive and celebrate the 1925 Stanley Cup win the last non NHL team to win the cup this yeah and the anniversary was actually the day we are recording this on Sunday Freach. Berkey's there. Oh very good.

So do you know what Berkey does every time I'm on the air? Turns the TV off? Well no he should that's a good answer. I'm guessing the air. Turns the TV off? Well, no, he should. That's a good answer. I'm guessing he texts you something. Yeah, yawn. He just puts yawn. And he goes, I'm in Victoria,

and I said, what are you doing there? He goes, I'm here for the Victoria 1925 Stanley Cup celebration. Very cool. And I said, what position did you play? And without missing a beat, he sends back Rover. I was very good. Oh, that's good.

Nice. That's very good, Berkey. All right. So Brad's question is, after listening to Friday's pod, when we talked about which franchises the records follow and in certain cases where they do not to a new city or location, does the Detroit Red Wings technically own the records for Victoria as they bought the franchise and the rights to the players or would it be separate at as it was the original WHL WCHL back then?

Whoa! I do have the answer. Okay because I I didn't know. Okay, good. What did you answer? So I had to check on this for sure, but because it was actually Detroit was considered an expansion franchise at the time. They bought the rights to a lot of the players, but the team itself was an expansion franchise. And one of the examples that was sent to me, Hap Holmes, so if you look up his stats from his time in the National Hockey League, they've got his numbers from when he played in Detroit, when he played in the Toronto organization for the arenas

prior to that, that's there. But his numbers with first Seattle and then later Victoria, that's not part of his National Hockey League stats because it was a different league and that stuff did not translate. So two separate sets of records between the Victoria Cougars and what were initially the Detroit Cougars and now more commonly known as the Red Wings. Wow, that I had no idea. Great question and Kyle, great work. By the way, Brad is actually, him and I played lacrosse together back in the day. Really? He's a, yes. Yeah. So Brad, thanks for writing in, buddy. Good to hear from you. Brad, I want to hear about

Kyle as a lacrosse player. There's a reason why I ended up here. La Crosse was not my future. What a workout and you'll learn a lot about yourself. Great sport. You'll learn a lot about yourself playing that sport. Great sport, yes. Okay, Ryan, up next. Hi, Dom and Friends. New episode of the pod.

Oh my god. That would be a very small circle of people. On the heels of that record setting five overtime game at the U Sports men's hockey championships between TMU and Mount Royal. I'm curious if there's a record for most time on ice by a skater in the NHL. Few guys on the ice that night likely would have been in contention. Yes, certainly. So we should qualify this first, Elliot, is that the National Hockey League did not begin recording individual time on ice until the 97-98

season. And when you look at the playoffs, the two longest games in playoff history both occurred in the 1930s. So surely one of the players from those games probably has the record, but there is just no way of knowing back then anyways. Do you have a guess? That's right. The modern day when that stuff was tracked? Was it Seth Jones in that bubble game? Yes, I remember that.

6506. That's just insane. I remember because when we were watching that game everybody, because I guess the old record was Sergey Zubov, right? Yeah, that Dallas Anaheim game, right? And I remember some people were like, we want this game to keep going just so Jones can get the record. Yes, and he got it. And the next year, Darnell Nurse, remember that overtime game Edmonton away? Yes.

He came close. I remember he was close and Three minutes shy. And I believe in the Jones game, Woranski was close. Yes. 61-14 that night. And I think Headman too that night. Like he had a big night. Anyway, so I think there's three or four players from that game who are like in the top ten yeah so that's playoff games do you know who has the most in a regular season game is it Cam

Fowler very good you're on top of it here today I just because he got traded this year and I remember that stat came up it's not because I'm smart it's because he got traded so thank you because of Pat Verbeek and Doug Armstrong, I know the answer to that question. 3854. Yeah, in a regular season game in April of 2023. So not even that long ago. Good question, Ryan. Very good. All right, we're gonna wrap with a voicemail here. Frej Josh from Lynchburg, Virginia.

I'll try not to be too long winded. So last night, I drove an hour to Roanoke with my five year old son to take him to his first hockey game. Nice. FPHL matchup and saw the Roanoke railyard dogs play the hell of a game. Scrapped right off the opening faceoff. Back and forth. 5-5 at the end of three periods. Went to overtime and the home team scored with 12 seconds left and three on three for the W.

Anyway, all this to say I'm maybe a little sentimental in my feels right now. Having taken my son to his first game was an awesome experience. He was stoked, albeit a little overwhelmed by all the chaos. But I'm saying all this to ask you guys if you have any special hockey memories with either friends or family that stand out to you. Simply put, it's a game but it ends up being a vessel for a lot of great connections and memories and me and my son certainly made one last night.

So anyway, if you don't wanna share one of those stories, feel free to just park a little bit more time to talk about how great St. Louis Blues are. That would be great. Let's go Blues. Let's go Rail Yard Dogs. And thanks for a great podcast. Been a listener since the beginning.

Well, I mean, you can hear the emotion in Josh's voice there. First of all, I'm glad you had a great time with your son. And I mean, to me, that's what sports is all about, that for families to have a great time together, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, everybody, that's what it's all about to me, like hearing you talk about Dan is pregnant, so you're about to have, and you and her are

about to have those years together and they're going to be awesome. I think a lot about, I do have memories. I have memories of going to games when I was a kid. I've told this story before, I'm from Toronto, so by as Moses, when I was a kid, I've told this story before. I'm from Toronto. So by osmosis, when I was a kid, I was a big Leaf fan, but I went to see the Leafs and the Blackhawks when I was about nine or 10 years old. It was a 2-2 tie and a bunch of Blackhawks stopped and signed autographs for me after the game. So that was obviously a big night in my life and it made me a Blackhawks fan. I remember I kind of jokingly got mad at my dad once. The Leafs hadn't won a Stanley Cup

in since 1967 and the Blackhawks, it was almost 50 years before they won one after their last one in 1961. I remember telling my dad, you couldn't have gotten me autographs from the Oilers or the Devils or something like that. Like somebody who actually won cups while all this was going on. But that was really huge. I would say this too, like with my son, he likes going to sporting events. He's more of a musician than he is an athlete. He's actually a very good athlete. I tell my wife that his real dad must have been an elite athlete because my son is a very good athlete. But we went, and, uh, but we went to go see Toronto, Minnesota last year and, um, William Nylander, uh,

scored in overtime and like, I don't really care who he cheers for. Uh, I let him pick his teams, but my wife, Steph was like, no, he's cheering for the Leafs. We're in Toronto. He's going to be a Leaf fan. I said, okay. And when, and so William Nylander scored a

beautiful overtime winner. Oh yeah. For Toronto to beat Minnesota. And he was like the first guy in the crowd to jump to his feet when he, when he, when they scored. And I was just kind of sitting there watching him and how excited he was by, it was a beautiful goal and it was just a really nice moment.

Cause like I said, my, Max is a good athlete. He just not much in terms of team sports. It was just a really nice moment. Cause like I said, my Max is a good athlete. He just not much in terms of team sports. It's just not for him. So to see him get so excited watching the game, I really liked it. So it was a very special memory for me. How about you with your family or anything like that, Kyle? Yeah, so the first NHL game I went to with my dad,

I've told the story elsewhere before, but I was, I think, six years old. Anaheim was my team, we talked about that. Paul Carey was my favorite player. So we were going to see the Mighty Ducks play in Vancouver. It was late March, and I think Anaheim was kind of in the playoff hunt then, like it was a big game for them.

I don't think Vancouver was good that year. Anyway, so we're sitting up in the third level and you know right over kind of top where the benches are and I just remember looking down at the tunnel as Anaheim came on the ice and you're waiting for nine to appear and like what a cool moment that was to like see him in person for the first time. Anyways, first period I don't think either Vancouver was up one nothing or there's no score. And intermission, we kind of sat and waited. And then we went out to the concourse went to the

washroom, intermission started to come to an end. And at this time, you know, a lot of the concession lines had started to dwindle as everyone made their way back to their seats. My dad said, why don't we get some food now? Well while the lines are short, and then we don't have to worry about the rest of the game. Okay, that makes logical sense. So we're standing in line, we order whatever we got. And you hear like commotion right out in the bowl. And we get back to our seats and we sit down. That's what it was. It was one nothing Vancouver at the time. And we

look at the video board. Now it's one one. And we're like, Oh my god, like Anaheim score, we missed it. And John Ashbridge, who was the PA voice there at the time, legendary voice, comes over the PA and says, Anaheim goal, scored by number nine, Paul Correa, assist to number eight, Tim Ussalani, and to number 20, Steve Ruchin.

Western Ontario. I'm like, oh my God, like, not only did Anaheim score my childhood idol scored and I missed it. The final score of that game. Elliot was eight to one Vancouver. I watched eight Vancouver goals and the one that I came for. Wasn't even in the bowl for it. I missed it.

I completely missed it. It was a blowout. And I remember like five or six one. My dad stood up and started applauding Vancouver's efforts and I just thought like you trader you trader standing up and cheering at that point I was so heartbroken and crushed like that's her first NHL game. And that was the result anyway. We laugh about it now. And actually when hometown hockey was in Campbell River, my hometown, a couple of years ago,

someone at sports that they went to the archives and found that goal, cause I told the story then. And so I got to see it finally, like my dad and I got to watch that goal live. Well, not live, but we got to watch it together after all these years later. But that was that was my welcome to the NHL moment as a kid. Wow. Oh, man. That's tough. Oh, boy. Yeah. Yes. Like even turning on I don't even like

to make fun of that. That's that's tough. That's really tough. It was rough waking up the next morning and turning on the highlights to try to see it there but it's like an 8-1 game. They're not going to show the low in Anaheim goal. So it took over 20 years to finally see it but anyway it was worth it. It's a good story now. A great story and you're going to have lots of great memories coming up Kyle. Best years of your lives. I appreciate that.

Yes, look forward to it. All right. Thank you for submitting that Josh. That was a fun one. And I'm glad you had a great time. I could tell by your message that you really had a great time. 1833 311 3232 if you'd like to submit a voicemail like Josh did or by email 32thoughts at Sportsnet.ca. One final break as we wrap up this episode of 32 Thoughts. The podcast continues after

this. Okay, welcome back. Elliot, before we go, Ron mentioned it and hyped it up a few times on Saturday, but wanted to send our best to Kevin BX's Fairmont Prep Academy. They were in the final of the USA Hockey High School 3A National Championship on Sunday just coming up short against Shattuck St. Mary's. Looked like a hell of a hockey game falling 3-2 in overtime for the national title. Well I just want to say congratulations to the Shadik kids, but I really feel terribly for Kevin's Fairmont prep team. First of all, you know Kevin I know how much he puts his heart into this He really loves coaching those kids he really loves this group in particular and I was looking at the box score and

It was two nothing for Fairmont Prep after 2. They gave up 2 in the third and won in overtime. They were outshot 40-17 so they were really, really battling to stay in that one. In the third period in overtime, Shadduck St. Mary's outshot them 19-4. So I wanted to shout out Matthew Bennett who was the goaltender for Fairmont Prep. He made 37 saves and I have no doubt that a lot of them were of the difficult variety. The winning goal was scored by Mark Allen Arugio from Shattuck St. Mary's. You know, Kevin and I, we like to poke fun at each other, but this, as far

as I'm concerned, is off limits. I know how hard his kids played. I know how much he cares. His son Cole, of course, plays for the team. Cole is going to play in the BCHL next season. And congratulations to Shaddock St. Mary, but I feel for Kevin and his kids. I know how much that one's going to hurt to get that close, be 20 minutes away. And even in a game where the ice is tilted against you and you're holding on, it still feels terrible. But that's a hell of a team and they've built a hell of a program there. That's the one thing about Kevin too, isn't it Elliot? Because I mean, we all see him on TV.

There's the charisma. There's the ability to give jabs and barbs and always have a comeback for anything. But when you talk to him about his team and that group of boys that he's been with for a number of years now and that was their their final season together, it's really neat to hear him talk about how much he cares and also trying to set that group up for success wherever the next step is, whether it's in hockey or life, whatever it may be. It's neat to kind of get a glimpse of that side of Kevin Biaxa too, apart from what we see and love so much about him on TV every week.

There actually is a really nice caring person there. You might not always be able to tell it on television, but it's there. Trust me, it's there. All right, some things to keep an eye on this week on the network. Tuesday night, if you're up late on the east or right in prime time out west, Edmonton is in Vegas. That can be seen nationally on Sportsnet 360 at 10 Eastern, 8 Mountain Time. Scotiabank Wednesday night hockey this week. The chase for the Atlantic Division continues. The Florida Panthers are in Toronto on the air at 7 Eastern.

Game time a little after 7.30, 4.30 Pacific. And then we've got another national night Thursday. Boston Bruins in Montreal, 7 o'clock Eastern, four o'clock Pacific. That will be the next day you and I convene in advance of Friday's pod. Have yourselves a great week, everybody. And you too, Elliot, have a great week. you