32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Roster Freeze and Boiling Tempers

Episode Date: December 19, 2025

In this episode of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman dig into Craig Berube’s pointed postgame comments and the noticeable shift in tone around the Maple Leafs’ room. They examine Edmonton’s goaltending situation after Tristan Jarry exits with another injury (14:30), the Oilers’ background work on Alex Lyon (15:52), and Jarmo Kekäläinen stepping into a leadership role in Buffalo (18:44). Elliotte provides an update on the complicated Phillip Danault trade talks (30:16) and league-wide rumblings ahead of the roster freeze (34:55), while also breaking down Florida’s push back into the playoff race and the mentality forged by years of battles with Tampa Bay (40:00). The Final Thought focuses on the Seattle Kraken, who have hit a rough stretch with ten losses in their last eleven and growing concern around the direction of their season (14:14).Kyle and Elliotte answer your emails and voicemails in the Thoughtline (54:13).Today we highlight Vancouver Indy Pop band Vox Rea and their single Art Oracles. Check out their music here.Listen to all the 32 Thoughts music here.Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates

Apparently, I was told that he has fined people for being late to meetings before. Find them. Yeah. That's what someone said to me. And he said, if you worked for Kekeleinen, you wouldn't be able to afford your mortgage. That's right. All the money was going to the, uh, was the fine. Sabres year end party.

Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast. Happy Friday. Elliot, Kyle, producer Dom Shramati back with you once again, another busy week in the National Hockey League, Elliot, the holiday roster freeze coming into effect later on tonight. Before we get to all of that, though, I mean, it's busy night, Thursday across the NHL as well. We should probably not that we are often looking to in this podcast, but we can't not in this case start with Toronto. And the reason why, Sean McKenzie kind of laid it out perfectly before the Washington game Thursday where you could look at the record and say there's six two and two. I think a lot of teams would take a run like that. It just hasn't felt like a six two and two run around Toronto. On Thursday, it was their second lopsided loss, their last three games shut out at the hands of the capitals. We've seen Craig Barubi go at his team on the bench.

We've seen him go at individual players at the bench. There's been a few times in the media where it's looked a little different. Thursday night was a lot different. We often say, Elliot, there's some quotes you read online and then you hear them and see them and go, well, that's not as bad as it looked in print. Thursday night was not the case. Let's have a listen. To me, they play with more passion than we did tonight.

I mean, that's what it boils down to. It looked to me like they had way more. urgency in their game more passion in their game that's the difference how do you explain that considering where you are at the same ask those guys not me that's a wow that's a wow so kyle after the game getting changed getting ready to leave chatting with nick and dave amber and jason Bukala and someone sends me that a tweet with that quote on it and the and I look at it and I'm saying that sounds awful but I go and I say I'm going to check this I'm going to watch the video as you said sometimes you read something and it sounds worse than the way it looks this was not the case

This was look equally as bad as it sounded. I was astonished at that one tonight. They just came off a really emotional victory. They stole a game from Chicago and there's nothing to apologize for there. When you need Ws, like they need Ws, you never have to apologize for a win. They don't ask you how. They ask you how many you take the W. to follow that up with that effort, and this is the thing, like, Kyle, you know you're going to lose games.

The best teams in the league lose 25, 20 to 25 games a year. It's going to happen. The shocker for me is how passionless it was, how easily accepting it seemed to be. Like, there are teams in the league. In Florida, I would say would be the perfect example right now. They are sore losers. if they're getting blown out in a game, they're going to kind of start running a muck on people and seeing what they can do.

And I think that if you're a fan of a teen, in a game like that, you don't mind seeing that. You know, in the 80s when I was a kid or a teenager, the last eight minutes of a 4-0 game like this one would take 45 minutes to play because everybody would be out there trying to get a piece of each other. Now, maybe you don't want to go back to that. that, but you want to see some fights, some spirit, some energy.

Like, I didn't mind what Matthews did the other night with the ear because he was showing some swagger, some ego, some sass, some edge. I know you're booing us. Here we go. There was none of that tonight. And this whole thing with Barubei, you know me, I do not like to overreact to one game. How many times does this happen? been this year already.

Yeah, that's the thing. It hasn't been one game. It hasn't, like, maybe he doesn't always say it to the media post game. Like the other night, he yells at them on the bench because they've only got one shot through the first half of the first period against Chicago. But in the post game, he's talking about how they really battled. But it just, there's so many times this year where he's visibly during a game gone after a player or yelled at them on the bench, which is all.

okay but this one tonight like go ask them that's a line in the sand that's a that's a line in the sand and you know the way this toronto season is going and let's remember one very important thing they still have 49 games to go there are only four points out of a playoff berth but there's six teams in between them and the second wild card. But there's a long way to go. The way this one unfolded tonight and the way Barube spoke post-game, Toronto is headed towards a lot of very uncomfortable conversations if they don't sort this out. ones they haven't had to worry about for a long time for a long time what's our direction

where are we going what do we think about some of the players on this roster you know if if this season doesn't turn around it's the kind of season that has consequences and i know the coach is under a lot of heat right now and that's fine that's life in the big city but this is not all on the coach this is I see games like this and nobody walks away unscathed like if I was an owning if I owned a team or I ran an organization I would look at some of the games that have happened lately and I'd be saying if anybody thinks that one person is taking the blame for all of this, no, there is plenty of it to go around. And that's what I thought after this game was over tonight.

We're seeing too much of this. We're seeing too many situations where, you know, tempers are flaring in public for everyone to see it, whether it's on the bench, whether it's verbal in the post game. If they don't figure this out, there are going to be some really uncorroding. comfortable decisions and conversations in Toronto about where they, who they are and where they're going. I may have mentioned this earlier in the season, but I mean, bears repeating that. I remember having a conversation with someone last year, Baroube's first in Toronto,

and his whole philosophy to the team was, so long as the effort's there, I'll protect in the media. I won't throw any gasoline on the fire if the effort's there. I know there's going to be bad nights, mistakes are going to happen. I'll look after that side of things to not make any situation a little brushfire turn into a full-on blaze. So I thought about that again, hearing and reading what he said in the post game on Thursday, and it just feels like, okay, now there's almost the paradigm shift. like the wedge has now been inserted maybe just temporarily

but it's been inserted between coach and players because he's gone I've tried to protect him when it comes to fielding questions post game or at any other point and he's going I can anymore because of what he saw not only Thursday night but as we've talked about many nights here this year And I have to always keep the thought in the back of my mind of you look at any team around the league, their version of Chris Tanev, their version of Brandon Carlo, go down the list from there, not having those bodies available, that makes a difference. But it's not a case of where we're looking at this group saying, man, they are playing hard.

They just don't have the depth to keep up with a team like Washington right now. like that's that's not been the issue it's running much deeper than that so regardless of who's been in a lineup you're going to lose like the the question is do you compete in your losses like i thought hildeby played his head off tonight i thought he was really good saves on ovi early on really good i mean if you haven't seen it the third goal and you know bobby mcman's taking a lot of heat for that third goal and he could have played it better. But that pass to the far side of the ice, it's going about half a mile an hour and it turns into like a half breakaway goal. These things should not be happening. I mean,

you know, here's the thing. We're going to talk about Florida a little bit, okay? And this whole Hegel situation, Florida, they're all for one, one for all. Right? You mess with one of us. You mess with all of us. That's a reason that they've won two Stanley Cups in a row. Not the only reason, but it's a reason. Toronto's not like that right now.

And again, I do not like to overreact to one game. But we're 33 games in here, and it's a pattern. They've got a really tough back-to-back. now I think they're staying in Washington and they're practicing their Friday and then they're flying to Nashville and then they got to play in Dallas on Saturday on Sunday like that's a tough

back to back I am really curious what this lineup is going to look like really curious because you know Craig Barubei he's the kind of guy you need a win and sometimes coaches are like

I need the win, and that's more important, but there's also times to send messages. I am really curious to see what he throws over the boards on Saturday night in Nashville. Yeah. I mean, you saw some shades of it Thursday, too, like starting the second unit on the power play in the third period. Just things like that where, you know, Craig Simpson pointed it out. I mean, that was pretty damning when you look at where things are at and the personnel they've got. at their disposal, but going somewhere else because of how poorly, and the PowerPlay particular has been just so uncharacteristically for that team

when you look over the last seven, eight years, very poor. Awful. The microcosm of a lot of the season to this point for Toronto. Another ugly night there, Fridge. Ugly night, great night for all the team Canada hopefuls. Logan Thompson shut out I think he's on the team Tom Wilson I think he's on the team and Jacob Chikrin missed a hat trick by what

one tenth of a crossbar yeah yeah he's making a case it's uh he's on the long order there too yeah he's he is you know I've said this I would keep the eight from last year McCar was in and out of the lineup. Theodore got hurt. Harley showed up midway through, played great.

Morrissey got hurt, sorry. Morrissey got the flu hours before the championship game and those D held up. Like to me, that unit did a phenomenal job considering how guys were in and out and how guys got affected by things kind of out of their control. Now, I understand that maybe they're looking at Schaefer, but Chikrin, he's not just knocking on the door. He's blasting it down. And if he made it, he'd be extremely deserving.

The way that unit played last year through the injuries and other distractions, I'd be really worried about tinkering with it. But, hey, if Chikrin went, I'm not arguing with it. I'm not arguing with it at all. No, he's really, and it's a really, and it's, so often never been a question of ability with him. It's always availability, but he's, you know, knock on wood, been on a really great run the last couple of years and tearing it up this year, leading all

defensemen and goals with two more on Thursday night against Toronto. So some other things from Thursday, Frazier, or anything else you want to put a bow on with the leaves before we move on? No, no, I think we've all had enough of that. A big weekend for them starting Saturday night in Nashville on hockey night. So the Edmonton Oilers, I mean, talk about a team that had been kind of mired in a bit of a fog as they've kind of done the last couple of years out of the gate. We're showing signs and continue to show signs of coming out of it. The trade a week ago today for Tristan Jari saying

goodbye to Stu Skinner and Brett Kulak, Jari had looked good. And then, ah, Thursday night in Boston, they get the win. But at the expense of Jari leaving the game, game late in the second period due to injury. Calvin Picker comes in, provides what they needed to get a W. And even he was saying to Gene Princepe post game, you know, when he watched as a fellow goalie, watching Jari trying to push across the way he did there and goes, oh, that didn't look good. He knew right away there was a chance to go in. Chris Knoblock didn't have an update there, but it's always a concern when goalie leaves prematurely, especially when you just traded for. and this was one of the worries about him, Kyle.

Mm-hmm. Jari, it's as much about health as anything else. Now, as you mentioned, the trade freeze comes in and the roster freeze comes in at midnight tonight. I mentioned, actually, I wrote last week, Edmonton did a lot of research around Alex Lyon. I heard last summer, they did too. He was one of the guys they did kind of a deep dive on a bit,

And we know Yarmalkelein has said the three-goly experiment is coming to an end in Buffalo. Now that's Lugan, that's Lyon, that's Lyon, and that's Colton Ellis. And Ellis has been out, he's been injured. One of the things I heard that when Kekeleinen arrived and the Sabres previous to him getting there was they both thought very highly of Alice. the Sabres had done some work on him and they were big on him before they got him on waivers and Keck Alinen had seen Ellis before and he liked him too. So he's theirs. Luchanan, I don't think he's getting traded now while you're still trying to make the playoffs.

So Lyon's probably the guy. And I have great respect for Lyon. I think he's a guy who has saved how many. teams with good 10 to 15 game stretches. Like I said, Edmonton's spoken about them. They've done their research on them. They looked into them again this season. They called the savers a couple times in recent weeks,

I think before Keckleline was officially hired. It comes down to his Buffalo ready to do this. And it also comes down to how seriously Jari might be hurt. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if Edmonton makes a call to Buffalo on Friday. they hadn't already. Wow. So another one potentially. I guess,

yeah, ultimately comes down to how serious of an injury this is for Jari. 100%. 100%. Like, that's exactly what it's about. Now,

if they think it's not a big deal, then nothing happens. But if they think it's a problem, it could happen. And like Yarmus said, he's ready to move one of those goalies away. They don't, That three-goly situation is not working in Buffalo.

So we'll see. We'll see where it goes. But Edmonton could do a heck of a lot worse than him if they needed a stopgap. No question. So and gosh, where does the three-goly system work? It ultimately just becomes a headache at some point. You know what I mean? Yeah, your Campbell River buddy needs a giant accedron to deal with it in Carolina.

He's not crazy about it either. Yeah, exactly. I remember Montreal a few years ago and they weren't even in a position of trying to win yet and that was a talking point that wouldn't go away. So it's beyond temporary, never ideal to have three goalies going at one time. So you mentioned Buffalo.

You want to talk a little bit more about the Sabres while we're here? So we heard from Keckleinen on Tuesday, heard from Lindy Ruff and the rest of the players on Wednesday, Thursday night the first game back after the long road trip, after the GM chain, with Kevin Adams out. They defeat Philadelphia and regulation. I guess, I mean, there's a few lines that Keckleinen had that stood out.

You know, you mentioned moving on from the three goalie system, taking charge of the Alex Tuck situation. Yeah. And the line about Terry, Bagula, the owner has given me full autonomy to run the hockey department. What all stood out to you? So I thought it was interesting that the first thing he did was talk about the playoffs. Like, we can still make the playoffs. right? And I started thinking about Jim Mora, the great Colts coach. Playoffs.

Oh, yeah. Talking about playoffs. Are you kidding me? You kidding me? But there's a method to what Kekeleinen is doing here. First of all, as someone pointed out to me, and you just mentioned, when he took over, they'd won three in a row. If you walk in and talk about how bad the team is, you're basically nuking your credibility with the players right away. So the players feel good about themselves. They've won three in a row. As you said, Kyle, it's now four with the win on Thursday night. It took them a while to get going. Like they were getting stampeded early in that game and they got better the second half. But, you know, someone said to me, if you're Kekyllian, you walk in there and you talk about how this team is no good when they're finally

feeling a little bit good about themselves, you're destroying yourself with the players. So that's one of the reason that he's talking about the playoffs. The other thing is, is that the word on the sabers is that they aren't grinders, that if their skill isn't good enough to win a game, they don't win, as in they can't will themselves to victory. In the skill versus will debate, they can win the skill one, they can't win the will one. That's what, the knock on them is. When the going gets tough, they don't compete as hard. They don't check as hard.

They can't lock you down and win a game. And I think if Kekeleinen also goes in there and says, you know, we'll use the rest of the year to evaluate, we probably won't make it and we'll see what we do in the offseason, it gives the players an out. Him walking in there and saying, we're still going to make the playoffs. And I heard he did tell them privately, I expect you guys to compete for the playoffs. and I think he told them exactly what I just said, which is that our roster is good.

Our roster is good. Like we should be in the playoff race here. So why don't we compete hard enough to get there? And I already mentioned the word compete quite a bit when he met with the players. So, you know, they got a big win. They lost Connor Timmons. That was too bad.

He's out for six to eight weeks. But the thing that's interesting here is, I don't think that Yarmu Kekin-Line is the kind of guy, Kyle, who needs to walk in there and say, I'm in charge here and do something huge just to show he's in charge. I don't think he's wired that way, but I do think that there are people in there who expect that he's going to, he's not going to wait around too long to start doing things. for example the goaltending for example the tuck the tuck the tuck thing is interesting to me because you know the moment can't be signed the word was the talk was going to go right for

that number okay and now i heard two different things i heard that buffalo one wanted to sign tuck around tage thompson's number which is in the sevens and there's no way that was going to get it done i also heard that buffalo never really put an exact number out there those are the two different stories i heard whatever the case is it wasn't close now i've heard that Kekechalana believes there is a deal to be made there, that he legitimately does believe that he can get a deal done and there is a deal to be made there. From the other thing I heard about the Sabres is

if they felt, if they wanted to do tuck at the number he wanted, which again is around Tempe, can't be just over 10 and a half, it means that they're going to have to make some tough choices elsewhere, that they didn't necessarily believe that they could do it. You know, Benson is up for a new contract. That's one. Josh Dohn, who is rapidly becoming a cornerstone player on this team, needs a new contract.

that's two and plus you've also got Jeff Skinner's buyout money and next year that number is six almost six and a half million dollars so now it goes down after that it goes back it goes down to two and a half uh following but it's a six and a half million next season and And apparently the Sabres felt that if they wanted to do Tuck at that number, it might affect what they could do with others. So we'll see what Kekyllainen does with that now, but I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes an immediate priority. The other thing I heard about them is that, you know, some people kind of thought over the years

that, you know, Samuelson would be a guy who might get squeezed out of there. I heard they're really happy with him. Okay. I heard they really like Samuelson and that he's a player. He took a penalty late in the game and then he got out of the box and got an assist on the empty netter. Yeah, great extra effort. Yeah, great extra effort. He's a guy that I think has really risen in the organization.

organization's eyes this year. Like, those are some of the things I've kind of heard over the last couple days there, that they feel they should be better. He's going to challenge them to be more competitive. He's going to address the three goalies situation. He is legitimately going to go hard after tuck. But I'm curious to what it means for some other players on that roster. And, you know, there's the whole question about,

Lindy Ruff is coach and obviously if you keep winning that solves itself but Keckleinen said really positive things about Ruff although he made it clear that everyone's under review so I think he wants so on one hand I see a guy who's trying to talk up as players because they've won four in a row but on another hand I I see a guy who wants everyone to be just a little bit uncomfortable. That nothing here is guaranteed. I did get one guy who called me and said, I've heard you talk on the podcast about your lateness.

You could never work for Yarmal Kekalainen. And I said, well, I don't think he has anything to worry about because I don't think he's planning on hiring me anyway. And he goes, he goes Kekalinen. hates people who are late. Apparently, I was told that he has fined people for being late to meetings before. Find them. Yeah, that's what someone said to me.

And he said, if you worked for Kekeleining, you wouldn't be able to afford your mortgage. That's right. All the money was going to the Sabres year end party Yeah Don't have a place to live But it'd be a great end of the year bash And that was part of kind of the week

That was in the NHL too, right? Like Zabanajad You know, just a New York traffic kind of day Left Shunov Here in Toronto Lef Shunov didn't play in Toronto Yeah Because he was late

Anyway So One more thing about Buffalo If I could say this, Kyle Is that there were some guys who were kind of seen as Adam's favorites. Samuelson was one and it sounds like they're really happy with him. The other one was Owen Power.

Hmm. I'll also say this. I've been working on like a notes piece and I'll probably drop it another 32 thoughts blog and I'll probably drop it after the, after the freeze. I don't think Buffalo was really too big into Hughes. I know it got out that they were a player. I had that really disputed to me by a few people.

Because, yeah, they've got some things internally on their blue line to figure out where ultimately they want to go. Right. A couple year extension for Bowen Byram. You mentioned Owen Power. Dahlene, I think this was a big year, right? Still is a big year to kind of figure out where his head's at going forward. Though I did love after the game, he did the interview with Butcher Gross and A.J. Moleseco after the win. And John asked him, you know, how would you kind of assess your career to this point and what you've accomplished kind of thing?

He goes, I'm still consider myself a young player. Like, I got a long way to go. It was just, it was a good answer. I kind of like that from him going Yeah, you know what, I'm 25 years old Got a lot of hockey left in front of me To build any type of career resume That one day I'll look back on

I agree with that Motivated guy that wants to Play in some games that matter Like you could just tell It's been a lot of the same for him Much of his career in Buffalo to this point And so we'll see where the

Kekeleinen era takes things in in Buffalo but it was it was an interesting first couple of days there no question okay the L.A. Kings Elliot's a big win on the road

on Thursday in Tampa 2 to 1 another game that Badly needed it badly needed it it's another game that Philip Dono did not dress in and I remember like last Saturday you were like hey

Dono's not playing tonight for L.A., but Don't go sound in the alarm bells. He was sick. Again, not in the lineup on Thursday, but you wanted to touch on his situation again. So I spoke to somebody about this, and, you know, they just said this one is complicated. And it's clear that the two sides are ready to move.

move on from each other here that deno is ready to move on from the kings and the kings are ready to move on for from deno however things are never as simple as they seem l a center's byfield copatar deno turcott deno deno was a little bit higher when byfield and copatar were playing together now he's dropped down to the third line and you can tell he's not happy with the role. The problem is he's under contract for one more year. He's been a good player for them. And even though they can't beat Edmondson in the playoffs, he's been a good player for them in those series. And the Kings are like, we're not interested in getting worse. We still want to be competitive. And if we trade Philip Dono, we want to

center back, who can do what he does. And next, year when Kopitar retires, he could be their number two center again, in theory. So they need somebody who can do that. Now, Kyle, we already know how hard it is to trade for one center. Imagine two of them in a deal. De Nove for another one. So I think the kings are willing to do this, but they've got to get a similar player back. And there aren't a ton of those. So they're kind of stuck with each other for now. Now, maybe it changes and maybe Friday they find a solution and everybody here gets lucky and fishes their wish and gets to move on. But that's what I've heard the issue is, is that the kings are like, all right, if we lose you, we need you back.

Right, right. And when we were talking to somebody in Colorado Springs a couple of weeks ago, like that was the exact point because we had just discussed to know a few days prior on the podcast and it was like well everybody's looking for a center around the league why would we go and just simply trade one of ours when there's no guarantee you're getting to your point equal value back like that's a role that they need and they value greatly like i think everybody involved here would probably tell you that the situation can't stay the way it is. But that was a huge win for L.A.

They needed that win desperately in Tampa, desperately, and they got it. Stop the bleeding a little bit. But they've made it very clear. Like, hey, player may want to go, and we may want that too but it's got to make sense and so far it doesn't make sense you know i'll say this like so i did have someone say to me like you know that whole jari thing for a while edmonton wasn't

willing to do koolak and then they did kulak and they wanted jari and skinner together and finally they got it to a point where they said we just have to move on from skinner people tell me that that's happening a lot like teams are saying one week we're not doing this and the next week we're changing our mind so like the thing about to know is i just explain why where it is where i think it is but someone could change their mind tomorrow and today is the last day teams will have to do anything like that before as you say the roster freeze goes into effect at midnight so anything else you're kind of keeping an eye on around on the league on that front? A couple of things. That to know one, obviously. I've mentioned Mason Marchman's name a couple of times. And I was under the impression it wouldn't happen until Jaden Schwartz got back.

There's been some talk that maybe it might. Unfortunately, that's just an experiment that hasn't worked out. between the Cracken and Marchment, and I know we're going to talk about Seattle in a couple of minutes a bit more. I think Winnipeg is kind of dipping around in there to see what possibilities exist for it. I don't have specifics,

but I think they're at least looking. You know, suddenly that Central Division's gotten a mite tougher and they won again, the wild did, on Thursday night against Columbus and Dallas Scoring machines Dallas won. Yeah, Dallas won the sharks gave them everything they could handle, but Dallas beat them.

Yeah. Avalent still the holders of the in-season cup. Avalanche still the holders, yes, of the in-season cup, much to my disappointment. Yeah. But we got a big tilt Friday. Yes, today, which I hope you lose. Uh, you know, so I think Winnipeg is looking around what's available for us.

Like someone said to me in the past couple of, a couple years, we've had trade freezes over Christmas that have been, people have put their phones away at like two in the afternoon. This is one where nobody's making me any promises. But they're saying something could happen. Hmm. Interesting. You know, it's, it's been talked about the Jonathan Taves experiment. Has it gone perfect? No, but should we be shocked given how much time he's missed?

No also. I can't imagine them completely abandoning that one. You talked about on the radio guy like Gus Nyquist. Yeah. Hasn't totally been a fit there in Winnipeg either. just trying to think as you say if they're potentially a team that could be around a Mason Marchment

how that all could end up coming together a couple names out there for the Jets after that was a tough bad loss for them on Wednesday night in St. Louis after seemingly getting a boost with Hellebuck returning on the weekend so they got some stuff to figure out there

no question I don't know that they're going to do anything But did you watch much of Ottawa On Thursday shut out Pittsburgh A little bit I just I'm still not sure How to totally feel about them You know what I mean

I'd like to see a bit more consistency there Yeah Like they're right there I know they're outside of the top eight in the east But they're right there Yep They play great in their captain's absence went through a puzzling spell once he returned the fact that he scored a

couple on thursday i think that's going to go a long way to get like him feeling good about himself again all mark first shut out of the season i'm with you like i just need to see a little bit more still think there's a potential of a playoff team there oh yeah no question about that just got to see it's sustained over a little more of a long term Also, I wonder if we're going to look back at last week. I mean, they had been punching above their weight class to this point, but we look back at last week and those multi-goal blown leads in succession for Pittsburgh and say, like, is that what ultimately turn the season? Yeah, south, because they haven't looked the same since. When does Malkin get back?

Yeah. He's been good. By the way, we reported it at the time, and I'll mention it again, when the Hoffman's first appeared on the scene in August about buying the penguins, I think they indicated that if they took over the team, it would not affect Kyle Dubus's situation. Because I had a couple people ask me, do you think an ownership change could affect Dubus's strength?

And I believe the answer is no. I believe he was assured of that. when this process began. So I wanted to throw that out there. Okay, got a couple more things. Let's talk about Florida for a second, okay? Yeah. So this,

so Hegel didn't play on Thursday night against the Kings. And Florida, by the way, they're starting to come on. They played the Kings the night before, and I thought they looked terrific. The best I've seen them play this year. And like I said,

I was not worried about Florida at all. I think they're too good, too smart. They understand too much, too professional. They were going to sort themselves out, and they are going to win me $100 from a dummy who bet against them to make the playoffs. You know what they've kind of been like, how I looked at them?

They're like, and maybe it's the recent life change I've gone through in the last six months playing a role in the way my brain went here, but it's the baby asleep in the career, rib and you see them through the monitor, right? The first early bit of the year, you're like, oh, baby's out cold, calm, peaceful. Just leave them alone. Don't touch them.

And then you look back at the monitor every now and then. Oh, still asleep. Perfect. Harmony, peace. Everyone else can go and enjoy what they're doing. And then at certain point, you turn and look at the monitor, and now the baby's eyes are open. And you're like, oh, chaos is a coming.

Like, Panthers just, that was the Panthers. And now they've opened their eyes. and you're like, oh, boy, could be trouble for everybody else now. Hydrogen bomb versus coughing baby, and the coughing baby has a chance. Yeah, exactly. So what's Anthony Stewart's dad's famous line? Are you a team or are you a club? Okay, so Florida is a team.

You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. And I think it's a big part of why they've won two-street. straight Stanley Cops, and I think we'll make a run at a third this year. I don't like what's going on with Hegel. I don't, because I think it's bad for the overall game. I completely understand why they wanted

payback for the big hit on Barkov last year. Like, even though Hegel got suspended for that in the playoffs, it's the Panthers DNA, you stand up for your captain, and you try to get revenge. I'm, or payback, I'm good with that.

I like mean, tough, heavy hockey. I understand what Hegel was facing, and I think he would too. It's now three games in a row, Kyle, where he's been knocked out since Florida, since that happened. And I remember an old English teacher of mine used to talk about sentence structure. And they would say, if it sounds wrong, it's probably wrong. And maybe there's not anything suspendable or actionable from the plays that were Hegel's gotten hurt. But it's still, it looks bad to me. And I am a person who tries to be proactive.

If I was the league, I would be looking at a situation where a guy got knocked out three times in a row against one team. And if I was in the commissioner's shoes, I would be saying, Maybe you don't think anything bad has happened, but that doesn't mean that if we don't stop this, something bad can't happen. So I don't have a good answer. I don't even know really what I'm talking about on some level, other than I don't think this is good for the NHL

the way that this has unfolded since. The Panthers have got their payback. They won. there's something here that just doesn't sit right with me. Especially no penalty call on the one on Monday was perplexing. And that, as you're kind of hinting at, we're only add to the anger on the other side. Yes, Florida is a team that you come at one of us,

you come at all of us, and who was the standard bearer for that for a number of years? Tampa Bay. Tampa. But I used to bully Florida, and now Florida's bullying Tampa Bay. And you know what? That's sports. I don't have a problem with that.

Right. But I see what you're saying. I said this a million times. The reason the Florida Panthers are, who they are, is because they were tired of getting this sand kicked in their faces by the lightning all those years. The bullied have become the bullies. That's fine. Turnabout is fair play.

I don't like this. I don't think it's good for anybody. Right, because you worry about getting to a point that we all regret. The escalation. I'm with you, and I also don't know how you solve it, but the patterns emerged where it's no longer coincidence. Yep. Okay, well, with that, let's get to the final thoughts

and the Seattle Crack and Elliot, It's been a tough run for the Cracken. After a pretty good start to the year, all of that has been undone. Thursday night had a lead going into the third against Calgary. Gave that up, lost in regulation, the flames come back. That's now 10 losses in the last 11 from Seattle. Tumbled well outside the playoff picture. Then there was the postgame scene after the loss to Colorado earlier in the week,

where it was just a team employee. It was the one fielding questions to head coach Lane Lambert, press commerce that lasts at all of what, just under a minute. Yeah. It was just a bizarre scene there. So do you have a thought on that and just the overall sense of what's been a very tough three weeks in Seattle? Well, when I first heard that happened after the game against Colorado, I was surprised simply because in all my dealings with the Cracken, I find them to be very professional and very helpful. Like, they can't, like, I've broken a few stories with them, and they're not always happy about them.

And they, they can't always help me, but they're always, but they never lie. And which is, which I really do appreciate, they will not answer rather than lie, which I appreciate. and they generally try to be helpful. So I find them very professional and I was shocked that this happened. The bottom line is they had a bad day. And me, who's had bad days before publicly, I'm very understanding of this. And I heard that they threw themselves on their swords.

They apologized. They took responsibility for it. They apologized to the reporters and they said it'll never happen. again. And as far as I'm concerned, that's all you can do. Like, one of the problems about social media right now is that, so this happens on Monday night, and it's not just enough for, you know, people to be critical of you for it. People have to pile drive you through the center of the earth. And then it, you know, you can sit there and say, I, I'm sorry, I'm wrong. I did this badly. I accept responsibility for it. But you're still going to get pile driven to the center of

the earth. And that's just kind of the world that we live in now. So they apologized. Great. Learn your lesson. Don't do it again. And I don't think they ever will. Thankfully. To me, though, Kyle, after I sorted out that part and everybody sorted out that part, I began to think what kind of goes into your thought process to even do it. And I just think we started this part of the podcast talking about the Maple Leafs and what it must be like to be there right now. I think internally in Seattle, it's the same. I think they're incredibly disappointed. They just made a GM change. They just made a coaching change. And they don't like the path they're going down. They don't like where they are. And I think the frustration and

the pressure and the disappointment out there is enormous. And I really do believe that, um, you know, like I, I have talked about this before, but I remember when I flubbed the swimming race in 2016, I had trouble going back on the air the next day. Like I, I almost couldn't do it. I was so afraid of making a mistake and I was for like a week. I was not myself. And it's a very bad position to be in

because the whole world's watching and anything good that happens, they're going to see it, and anything bad that happens, they're going to see it. And I think that the pressure and the disappointment and the way that Seattle's season's gone lately,

and Lane Lambert's been saying, you know what, we're actually playing better than when we were winning games. And if you look at the underline, line numbers he's right like some of the games they've lost recently they've played pretty well in um but i just think that's the kind of mistake that you make when you're really feeling it when you're really struggling and the pressure and the intensity is really on and i just think

behind the scenes there there's there's a lot of disappointment and concern about the way this year is going and um you know i just want to say like I empathize with that. I've been there. You learn from your mistakes. You move on. You try to pull yourself back together. But sometimes when you're really struggling and you can't hide in a corner, Kyle, you are so afraid of making a mistake that you end up making more of them.

So I'm more sympathetic to what happened now that I believe they've learned their lessons and they're not going to do it again. yeah for sure that does have it and I remember especially covering living in Ottawa covering the senators through a number of pretty dark seasons now at times there would be the occasional unforced error from the organization a decision was made doing something a certain way that didn't go over well in the fan base or the market or what have you and you know it was not often an that never happened in Ottawa yeah yes But I guess my point was I just usually those stuff don't happen when things are going swimmingly. So, yeah, I think, again, an indication of the angst that's been building there. And it's kind of felt like since Seattle's come into the league, I don't know, year two was a pleasant surprise. They knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champs, Colorado and round one. But otherwise, it's kind of been a reoccurring theme around there. just like the angst and some of the stress going on below the surface they've had a number of coaches go through already some of the changes that have already gone on there it just seems like as much as it's been a success great building great fan base clearly very passionate i haven't covered a game there yet but we see how cool the atmosphere is in that building but a lot still to be settled internally it feels like anyway

within that organization to really take off and start running. My off in that reading in any way? No, no, I don't think you're off. I think we've talked about it. They've considered making a big swing, like they almost made one for Cairo with the draft last year. Yeah. They're going to take a big swing at something.

All right. Well, hey, before we go, so Elliot, we learned, we shouldn't have been surprised at the flames storm back in the third period because we learned on Thursday that a certain columnist who spends a lot of time around the flames had some travel issues, didn't make it to the dome

on Thursday night. So clearly the shackles were off for the flames. A certain somebody wasn't in the building and they played out of their minds to come back against Seattle. You're talking about Eric Francis, couldn't get back? Yeah, yeah, right? We learned

that it was, weather was horrible for a number of hours, at least in Calgary here on on Wednesday, would have been when they were coming up back from California. So we wondered if Calgary looks really good on Thursday, which they did for a lot of it, enough to win. Was it just joy from the team? I just assume we didn't let them back into the country. He was held up at the border.

He's on the no-fly zone. I also assume that they won because Tate McCrae was there. That's also a good boost. Yeah. It's cool that she does that. Like, she's an international star, mega star. I agree. Hanging out at the dome.

Flames jersey on. Good for her. Yep. Good for her. Okay. That was the final thought. And with that, we'll take our first break. Come back with a thought line.

You're listening to 32 Thoughts, the podcast. All right, welcome back. We've reached another edition of the thought line and Elliot when you think about everything that's gone on in the last week. The Edmonton-Pittsburg trade, the Quinn Hughes deal, changes at the management level in Buffalo. And yet the two most popular topics in the thought line. And the thoughts on the thought line had to do with jersey gifting and shoes with a certain color of suits. Oh, yeah. I got a bunch of these two.

I got a bunch of these two. Yeah. All right. What do you got? Okay. So let's do the suit first. Okay. Okay.

Okay. So Ryan Ruggles. Hey, Elliot, huge fan of the pod and watching you guys. on Sportsnet all the time. Just finished the Monday pod and the blue suit and brown shoes comment. Google strongly disagrees, and I think you owe Kyle an apology

from Alberta, working in Argentina. Well, maybe I owe Kyle an apology, but he's not getting it. Kyle Wonderling, brown dress shoes are fine with a blue suit. They are actually more accessible. than black shoes.

And finally, Mickey Evans. Hey, Fridge, I'm finishing Monday's pod, and listening to you and Kyle talk about blue suits and brown shoes. They definitely go together. That was the style of my tucks at my wedding in October. So no, Kyle isn't crazy. You may be a little.

I really hope they go together, Mickey, because I don't want to tell you your entire wedding was out of style. You? Okay, so we got a number of thought line submissions on this, but after you told me what you had heard from Deb Berman over the weekend, reaffirming your whole stance on this, I sent her a text on Monday. I said, I got to be honest, Deb, like my whole world has been flipped upside down. Basically, my entire career, I've always looked to go brown shoes with blue suits.

I have one pair of blue shoes, sometimes I'll slide in, but typically I'm a brown and blue guy. And I'm like, this is, you know, it's over 10 years now of doing it wrong, I was worried. So she writes back, no, brown shoes look great with most blue suits, but dark, dark navy should be with black or chocolate brown, okay? Plus, his, as in you, Elliot, were not in green. shape, and they were tan with running white shoe soles. So not only did you have an old pair of beaters in the studio, they weren't necessarily brown at all. They were tan, and they had the white souls going, which you didn't mention any of.

Okay, let me say something about all this. That's Deb's fault. That's not my fault. Oh, don't. No, no, no. And I'm going to tell you why it's Deb's fault and not my fault. You cannot expect me knowing what you know of me, what Don knows of me, and what the world out there knows of me, to know the difference between tan and brown and what goes with a dark blue suit. It's Deb's fault for even giving me the option of putting those on.

Deb that's I it's not your fault it's not your fault as brilliant and as much of a miracle worker she is that woman can only do so much when it comes to you but now you know now I know Dan Brown who cares what's the difference tomato tomato

yeah Well, at least your excuse, you are no longer bad. Just slightly ungood. Slightly ungood. To slightly ungood. Are you ready for the gifts? Jari, Jersey Gate. Okay, there were a lot of good ones.

Congratulations, everybody. And I figured I'd start with this one. Derek Michael. I had to reach out and say that Kyle and D.E. Dom are complete bozos. I was listening to the last pod in your favorite recording spot, the shower. I love that this guy's listening to this in the shower. And when you mentioned still giving the wife the jari jersey and letting her choose if she wants to exchange it, I thought that's perfect.

Then Kyle and Dom had the awful idea of telling her you got a jari jersey but took it back. He writes in capital letters. he mentioned from the start jari was her favorite he played like seven seasons there odds are after that long she still loves the player and would wear the jersey with pride despite him no longer being there i think you vindicated your awful gift-giving reputation with your idea okay okay I literally pick that one. I just wanted to start with a bag. Lauren Tupa, coming from a wife, your take on the Jari Jersey Christmas gift, was objectively correct. Kenny Strandberg from Stockholm, he should get an old, preferably game worn one from the season that he became her favorite player as a memory of him on her husband's, favorite team.

By the way, Elliot, thanks a lot. I cannot stop saying Detroit. Sorry, Kenny. Carter Grossart. Elliot, although you are frequently wrong, Puma, and he writes with a question mark, I cannot agree more with your take on the Jari-Jurzy gift.

Maybe you aren't the worst gift giver after all. Also, I saw Kyle at the Flames game against the Wings, last week, wearing blundstone boots with his suit, I don't know that he has the fashion sense, you might think. They weren't blenstones, relax. What were they? They were like dress boots. Oh, okay.

Anyway, Kyle, you're getting beaten up here. Snowy in Calgary. Matt Peters, I don't want this to go to your head, but I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding only regarding the jari sweater. I may have unintentionally discovered that my wife. wife has gotten me a Canucks Quinn used jersey for Christmas, and although it is painful as a lifelong Canucks fan to be reminded of his departure, he will go down as the one of the best to ever wear the sweater. I, for one, will be happy to keep it. Let me just say, Matt, not only is that great,

but you understand that the love of your life has gotten you this gift. It matters. Thank you. DJ Daniel from Springfield, Virginia. I am taking the time out of my extremely busy and important workday to furiously let you know that you, Kyle, and Dom are all wrong about the jari. Although, as usual, Kyle is the least incorrect. That's my new nickname for you. The least incorrect. The only right answer.

is that the listener who posed the question should purchase a blank penguin's jersey. He should then explain that he was going to get her a Jari jersey, but given the trade, wanted to leave the name on the jersey up to her. This way, his wife can decide she still wants to customize it with Jari or another player or blank for the time being. As somewhat of a jersey collector myself, this is the objectively proper way to go about it.

A couple more. And in Lovis, you are 100% right on the pot about the Jari jersey. Those other knuckleheads are ridiculous. Yuri Kralovic, the guy should just return the jersey. The obvious right answer is to return it, give her a blank, then go get it customized together. It's still her call, but you can make a day out of it. I had to stop driving to write about this. Did romance die?

Come on, guys. And finally, listening to the pod thought line about Jake's Jari jersey, you are right. Kyle is insane. He wants to tell his wife that he bought her something she would love and that he returned it. Is it really so wrong to wear a jersey of a former player had no idea that was a faux paw? Boy, oh boy. And I'll say this, Kyle, there were more. I had to cut them off at this.

People were having a great time with this one. Yeah, and they went into the thought line, too. Griffith Porter said, I mean, he gave kind of a Cole's notes on some of them, but he was like, there's more here if you need. I thought, no, I think we'll be plenty fine with who we have. Like, couple one to point out, Lee from California, asked his wife who was right. She said Elliot. Yeah.

Lee, I love your wife. In a purely platonic way, Lee, a purely platonic way. Josh from Langley This is Elliot When it comes to hockey insiders You're second to none But when it comes to gift giving Well the jury is still out

But Kyle and Dom had it perfect Return the jersey And let your wife pick out a new one With whatever name she wants There was a few suggestions to You know, keep the jarring penguin's jersey And then get one with him In an Oilers jersey

And then you have one of each But she is a penguins fan At its core though But here's the thing we don't know Like is she a hardcore fan that would appreciate the thought or seeing his name on the back of a penguin's jersey would that only make her more upset understanding what is no longer there anymore for when she turns on her beloved pens to watch? As we don't know. And my thing too, it's like you give your wife a gift and it's like, here, honey, here's the gift of having to make a decision. so I don't have to.

I don't know. I disagree with that. Like poor Steph. If that's how you're wired. There's a lot of different reasons to say poor Steph. Yeah, but this was, so this is a story that kind of derives from the jersey conversation that I wanted to include. It comes from Jacob from Indiana. Hey, guys, was listening to the podcast when the story about the Jari jersey came on and it made me think of the day I got

my first ever NHL jersey. I was a 13-year-old Penguins fan who loved hockey, but didn't have social media or easy access to information like we do now. Back then, my insider was my dad. Anyways, I was awoken early one morning in late June to start the long drive up to Vermillion Bay, Ontario, where we would spend the summer with my grandparents. As we were about to leave, my dad gave myself, my brother, and my sister, each a Jordan Stahl, Penguin's jersey. We all wore those jerseys the entire car ride. I was so proud of my new Jordan Stahl jersey, that is, until we got the U.S. Canada border and the officer gave us his condolences for the trade.

What trade, I asked. He simply pointed to my jersey and laughed, saying, if there's time, I should trade it for a Carolina jersey. Turns out, my dad bought them online at an incredible discount after Stahl was traded to Carolina only a couple days earlier and didn't inform us his own children. My sister was heartbroken, my brother was beside himself, and I was impressed. Savvy moved by the old man, looking back with how expensive jerseys are and for him to put three kids through hockey and soccer. school. He had to find a bargain somehow. He meant well and wanted to get his kids a jersey of their favorite player. Now, those tall jerseys are a running joke in the family and a very

cool relic of the time. My final two thoughts, give her the jari jersey. And my dad might be worse than Elliot at giving gifts. Happy holidays, gentlemen. Thanks for all you do. stuff great stuff that was a really good story thank you jacob for sharing that great stuff jacob okay let's move on here a voice by the way i should i should i should say i should say this i probably will go back to reading fewer of these i want them to come through the thought line but there were just so many good ones i had to I had to go with these today. It's been a great, great wrinkle into this whole segment. Okay, we do have a voicemail this week, and it comes from Connor from New York.

What's going on, boys, Connor from New York? Just had a thought, listening to another podcast. They were talking about the whole Sagan situation if he's going to be able to, or if the Dow Stars are going to be able to use any of his salary for the LTIR. I'm kind of thinking I know that we have a hard cap in the NHL Has there ever been any ideas floated about borrowing against the cap for the future?

So like a team can use X amount against next year's cap Let's say they want to go $5 million over But then they're capped $5 million less than the rest of the league for the next year Or maybe there's a penalty where it's like $6 million The next year or $5 million for the next two years I feel like I could get teams really created for that playoff push and we get some really stacked, you know, changes at the trade deadline.

It could be interesting. Have a good one. Connor, there is one way to do it, and it happens periodically. And that is there are three kinds of players who are eligible for bonuses. One is a player on your entry-level contract, like a Connor Bedard or a Macklin Celebrini. There are bonuses that they can reach, and that's one group. The second group is players who are over the age of 35. If you are over the age of 35, you are entitled to performance bonuses.

The third is players who have missed a lot of hockey, whether injury or otherwise. Those players are eligible. There's a set number. I think you have to be under a certain amount of games for the previous couple of seasons, like Jonathan Tays, for example, since he didn't play, he'd be one of those guys that qualifies for this. And the way it works is if those performance, if they reach performance bonuses and get those numbers and it goes over the cap, if you have the cap space, it doesn't matter. It just stays on your cap for this year. But if you don't have the cap space, it goes on to

next season and you lose that space. Like if you're a team that's tight to the cap, and you get into a situation where somebody starts hitting bonuses, you can lose cap space for the next year if you don't pay it off this season. That's the example you're looking for, but you have to have one of those three types of players. Like a regular player who isn't eligible for bonuses, can't do it. That would be kind of fun, though.

A team applying for, okay, to use Connor's example, We're taking an extra $5 million in cap space, and there's a certain day you have to declare it by. And it comes off what they're able to spend the next year. But if they're like, we think this is our chance we're maybe one big ad away from being a legit Stanley Cup contender. So we want a little more room. And then it balances out after the next season.

Maybe that's that you can't add two years in a row. You need one season to kind of allow it to balance back out again. I don't know. I think it would be kind of like it would just bring more opportunity for teams to add at the deadline. Like that's ultimately what you want in terms of an entertainment standpoint and teams being in the mode of let's try to win versus, well, let's just play it safe and see what happens over the next five years. Mm-hmm. The other thing too is that I think it was Berkey at one point who said maybe we should be able to trade cap space like if I have extra cap room can I trade it to another team for something and I asked

him years later did it ever come up he goes oh yeah we brought it up and he kind of smirked and I go didn't go very far did it he said I didn't even finish my sentence well that's too bad yes I I appreciate the thought from Connor in New York. All right. Travis from outside Calgary. Hey guys. Is that like you outside Calgary? Yeah, yes.

You guys are neighbors outside Calgary. Yeah. He hand delivered the submission. It's in his own letterhead. Hey guys, after watching Leon Drys Seidel scores 1,000 point against former teammate Stuart Skinner, I thought to myself, has there ever been a player who reached a thousand, thousand points and had a goaltender teammate be there

the whole way. Clearly, I don't mean the same goalie a net for every point, but one that was on the team for the whole trip from point one to 1,000. A safe bet would be Gretzky and Fuhr, so if that's true, who else? Thanks, guys. Great work, Kyle Dom, and

good work, Elliot. Oh, thank you very much. I really appreciate it, Travis. By the way, that video of Skinner, like, just standing there while they were all celebrating. It was kind of tough to watch, I have to say. Yes.

Like, was he not banking on him getting there in either Toronto or Montreal on the weekend before showing up in Pittsburgh? Holy smokes. It was like, yeah, the time just all conspiring against Stu that night, unfortunately. Okay, so Travis thought the safe bet would be Wayne Gretzky and Grant Fuhr actually does not apply here. because Gretzky came into the league a couple years prior to fewer arriving in Edmonton. So he missed point one. Elliot, there is one goalie in the history of the NHL that can claim this.

Okay, I am going to admit to everybody, I am going to cheat by at least looking at the 1,000 point scores. I just want to look at the list because I really want to try. try to get this. So I want to look at the list. And can I throw in another wrinkle just to help you a little bit? Sure. So it's one goalie, but he has done this with two teammates.

Really? There for 0.1 and 0.1,000. Okay. Wow, what a dynamite. That is a dynamite trivia question. I was kind of worried there wouldn't be anybody. Hold on. I have a guess.

Oh, no. Flurry was gone by the time Malkin did it. I was going to guess Flurry with Crosby and Malkin, but he was gone by that time. Okay. Like where your heads at? Is it Glenn Hall for Bobby Hall and Stan McKita? No. Ah! Good guess.

See, like, goalies become a lot more transient. Yeah, you're writing your thinking there. Like, this is, the answer did not come in the 21st century. The, another guy I'm kind of thinking about here, I can't, it's, when did Billy Smith get traded to the Allenders? Elliot. Because, you know what, if I look at it, he could have three guys, Trache, Bossie, and Potfan. So it's Pot Phenambossi in this case. Well done.

Yeah. Okay. Now, I don't know if I would have gotten that without looking at the list of 1,000 point scores. I think the listeners will forgive you and understand this one. I'm not so sure about that. Yes, I hope they don't, but I think they will. And he, Billy Smith, he started three of the four games. He was the backup, the night Denny Podfen hit 1,000.

Okay. You know, Kelly Rudy probably started that game then. Oh, yeah, you might have. 87? So that would have been. So Kelly, in kind of an indirect way, a part of history here, too. Yep. That's awesome.

good job for age thanks bud like i said i needed help redeemed yourself from the butch goring fiasco earlier this year that's right okay it's a good place to leave it 1 833 311 32 always leave on a high always leave on a high yes i'm out like costanza i told my best joke can't do better that's right heading for the exits so that was the number to call if you want to leave a voice mail like Connor did today, or you can email us at 32 Thoughts at Sportsnet.ca. One final break here on 32 Thoughts, the podcast. We'll be back after this.

All right, time for our usual programming note, whip around for some games to keep an eye on across the SportsNet family of channels this weekend. Beginning tonight, the Vancouver Canucks continue their tour through the New York area. They face the Islanders at 7 Eastern 4 Pacific. That can be seen nationally across all SportsNet regions. Ditto Saturday afternoon with the Oilers in Minnesota, the Juggernaut Wild now, of course, with Quinn Hughes part of the fold there, underway at 3 Eastern one mountain time,

and that should nearly roll perfectly into Hockey Central Saturday at 6.30 Eastern. Ron McLean and Company, three early games this Saturday. The Maple Leafs are in Nashville. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins visit Montreal and the Vancouver Canucks on a back-to-back. They are in Boston, all of those at 7 E.T. A lone late game this Saturday. The Calgary Flames hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 E.T. 8 Mountain. This week's guests on After Hours.

Rasmus Anderson with Scott Oak and Eric Francis. You know with Rasmus Anderson. If you ask him a question, he will give you an honest answer. Should be great late-night programming on After Hours this weekend. Okay, taking us out today, a track by Vox Ray, the Canadian indie pop collective fronted by sisters Kate and Lauren Courtyac, craft cinematic, introspective soundscapes that blur the lines between poetry and philosophy. Their sound blends Laurel Canyon harmonies with the dreamlike allure of Lana Del Rey and the haunting intensity of Jeff Buckley.

Their sophomore album, Art Oracles, was recorded in a cabin on southern Vancouver Island and is a meditation on fate, freedom, and the weight of time. Inspired by the staggering beauty of the West Coast, the album weaves natural imagery into a sonic tapestry of existential longing and emotional catharsis. Both the album and their new single of the same name were released by 604 records and are available now. This song, along with all of the others we've featured this season to this point, can be listened to on Spotify and the 32 Thoughts, The Music, playlist. Here's Vox Ray and Art Oracles on 32 Thoughts, the podcast. Hold on. I go up, I get down, I've been spinning all around, but I've been running the show for too long. I, oh, I, I want to feel it.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I want to feel it. are horribles jumping down my face it's horrible am I going insane I've been thinking my time for too long I've been spending my life

all wrong I count up I count down But it never comes around I've been running the show for too long I want to, I, I, I want to feel it Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I want a feeling Our horacles, jumping through the race

It's a miracle that I even stay Everybody's trooping, but I can't remember my life It's horrible Am I going insane? Why will I get in it?

Go, go, go When we go's because, but we try to wish that we need to go Go, go, go, go, go, go. Oh, go, go. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I want to feel that.