32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Stanley Cup Final Preview & Interviews

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman look ahead to the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.In the second half of the podcast, Kyle and Elliotte sit down with several people from media day in Edmonton. Hear from Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice (18:38), Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (30:34), Oilers forward Corey Perry (38:14), and Oilers forward Connor McDavid (46:35).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

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me see your hair. Put your picture, put your camera. Let's see your haircut. It's just did you even get your haircut? That's not a haircut. What like you like the guy only cuts the side of your head. What kind of haircut is that? That's all I did. I didn't want I wanted to keep the top on. How much did that cost you?

Forty bucks. Forty bucks to cut the side of your head. Well, that's with tip. That's what the tip added on. What do you tip? $39? $39.50? I give him a fiver every time. By the way, a couple pods ago, we were recording, and the light was hitting your head just right,

so I could just see the perfect curvature of your scalp. It was as if you were bald. I was like, oh. I am practically bald. I can't wait oh, so this is why I'm practically bald. I can't wait for that first show on hockey night when you just show up. Just skinhead. Just bit. I wish I could do it. I really do. I don't think it suits you. Tom, you have to understand no matter what I do, I'm gorgeous. Wish I had that kind of confidence.

I wish I had that kind of confidence. Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra AT4X. Tom Schermati at his home in Vancouver. Elliot, you and I are in Edmonton because this is the Stanley Cup final preview podcast. Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers for a second year in a row. We've got a handful of interviews we gathered from Media Day from Edmonton Oilers for a second year in a row. We've got a handful of interviews we gathered from Media Day from Edmonton on Tuesday. We'll get to those in a little bit. But Elliot, as we sit here recording this about 24 hours before Game 1 of this final series, one of the interesting things here, first of all, on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers took the long flight from Sunrise here to Edmonton Tuesday morning.

Didn't skate here in Edmonton on Tuesday. They're a team that has prioritized rest. They waited till the final off day to come up to Edmonton both times last year during the final. That was an interesting one to begin our day here on Tuesday. Trust the science, Kyle. They are big into that. The science tells you what to do and you cannot argue with science. Bill Nye would agree. So I'm not gonna argue. No. How are you feeling about things as we get set here for game one?

Because I think a lot of the conversation over the last few days has been, OK, how is Edmonton different? How is Florida different from one year ago? I like what Paul Maurice said. And you're going to hear Maurice's interview in a few minutes here. But he talked about how last year Edmonton was an elite offensive team and Florida was an elite defensive team.

And he said this year, Edmonton is much improved at what they weren't as good at. They're a much better defensive team. While Florida is much improved at what they weren't as good at last year, they are a much better offensive team. He thinks both teams are better. I tend to agree with that. I think both teams are better than they were last year, which is a bad sign for anybody playing the Panthers because they are the defending Stanley Cup champions. To me, I see four things that stand out for me. Number one, the goalie matchup. Skinner's got to be the

way he's been since he came back in for Calvin Pickard. If Skinner gives Edmonton that type of goaltending, they could win. If he doesn't, it's trouble. Number two. Of all the things Edmonton has done in this playoffs, the thing I've most been blown away with is the fact that they won 11 games without Ekholm. I wouldn't have believed it. It was possible and I guarantee you there are members of the

Oilers organization who weren't convinced it was possible. And I guarantee you there are members of the Oilers organization who weren't convinced it was possible. But how did they do it? They went out and as Chris Knoblach said on Tuesday, they deserve a lot of credit for finding guys like Klingberg and Wallman who could get the puck out of their zone. And he said, we're an offensive team. We need our offense. You need to get the puck out of their zone. And he said, we're an offensive team. We need our offense. You need to get the puck out of their zone.

And they prioritized and found guys who could do it. And those guys have been a big part of their group. I think that is a huge part of it, Kyle. Florida is a great four-checking team. They win battles. They trap the puck low against you. If Edmonton can continue to get the puck out the way they have in the first three rounds, I think Edmonton can win. If not, they're in big trouble.

Number three for me is breakaways. Florida's the way they play, and I was talking to someone on both this on Tuesday who said it to me, Florida will give up breakaways. When you have Sergei Bobrovsky, you'll take your chances. It's not the best strategy always, but they will take the risks because they have the best in the world at the end of their ice. I've said this before that if I was picking one goalie now to win a game to save your mortgage, I would pick Bobrowski. Look at William Nylander, for example. There were times he beat Bobrowski, but there are other times Bobrovsky beat him,

including, you know, there were a couple times with that series on the line where Sergei saved their butts because he stopped Nylander on breakaways. Overtime in game three. Overtime in game three and also later in the series. Edmonton, I mean, we all saw what McDavid did on the breakaway in game five against Dallas. If you capitalize on your breakaways and you will get them, Edmonton can win. If not, you're in trouble. And for me, number four, it's the McDavid

factor. I can't tell you, it's a total intangible. It's not a real thing you can measure, Kyle, but I can't tell you how many people in the last couple of days have said to me, we cannot see McDavid going this far and losing twice in a row. As good as Florida is, and they're a great team, I can't tell you how many people have said that. At least 10. Cannot see McDavid going this far and losing twice in a row. And I think about that a lot. So last year they were overwhelmed. I remember in the 2007 Stanley Cup final, Ottawa got beaten Anaheim in the first two games.

They eventually lost in five. I remember talking to John Muckler on the day of game three. He was the GM of the Sanders at the time. And he said that the Sanders that year reminded him of the first Euler team to make the final when they lost to the Islanders, the Islanders fourth in a row. He said we were so overwhelmed that we didn't even know what hit us. And he said that reminded him of Ottawa in 07. Well, let's go to last year.

The Oilers were down three nothing before they knew what hit them. I think it'll be different. I have so much respect for the Panthers. At the beginning of the year. I picked the Oilers. I never changed my pick Until the team I have is out I'm not changing my pick. I think it's gonna be a hell of a series. I can't wait for it to start. I Remember like Craig Simpson was big on that too. Like you haven't gone through it He did it twice with Edmonton right in 88 and 90.

And he says, you work so hard, so hard just to get to the Stanley Cup final. And in a matter of days, like the rug could be pulled out from under you if you're not wired right off the hop. And I mean, Edmonton almost pulled off the unthinkable when it looked like they were left for dead down three last year. But that is a great reminder of all the work you put in and bang over the course of a week now you're trailing by three and the odds are so far gone. It took near history for them to just come up short a year ago. Different group now

they've been through it before. The mindset, the attitude, the tone of everything for them from the outset once they started rolling again against LA in round one has been completely different from one year ago. As I keep saying, they're just something, to your point, the McDavid factor, the look in his eyes looks a little different. Someone who has been a killer from the beginning and now is so close to getting this thing over the finish line for good. And it's it's so cool when you think of it's the right two teams here because they have been the two best teams in the playoffs. They're the ones that

deserve to be here. They're both better than they were a year ago, though a little bit different. And I again look at stylistically, I'm right with you there, Elliot, after watching Florida up close the last two rounds, how aggressive they are in the offensive zone. That's part of why they can give up breakaways. are in the offensive zone. That's part of why they can give up breakaways. And if Edmonton can't find a way to break through that and get out of their zone efficiently enough times, that's where you see the accumulation effect. Like what Paul Maurice, the great line from the Amazon series of pound their D because in game seven, they'll have nothing left. If they're not able to break through that, that's where that starts to come into the play because those guys are so good at rolling around in the offensive

zone. It's one of the neat things about watching at ice level at this time of year where they're not even looking when the puck comes to them and it's either funneled back down the boards, it's bumped to the middle of the ice. They know where the next guy is going to be. And of course, that's a sign of a team that can grab a championship. So it's great. It's got seven games again written all over it though, I imagine we'll get there in a much different way than one year ago. But man, it's tough. Who are you picking? I'm leaning Edmonton right now again too, because I think I mentioned on the podcast, but in talking to Stuart Skinner last year, his big thing was if game seven's in our building

last year, we think it's a different outcome. We really like our chances. And the fact that the series starts here in Edmonton, if it goes as far as seven, it'll be here in Edmonton. I know nowadays home ice advantage isn't the same as it once was. I think it's going to matter here this year. This is a true home ice advantage. It's a true home ice advantage. This is not an inexpensive building to get into, but it's not a dead crowd. Everybody's wearing a jersey. It's

lively in here. It is a true home ice advantage, a real credit to the fans of Edmonton. That's one of the things though, I don't know if I put as much stock in for this series, Kyle, because Florida is so good on the road. Yes, I know. That's the thing. They have made a habit, these playoffs of... The Edmonton fans are going to be throwing garbage at me for saying that but it's just my respect for the Panthers they they don't care where they are home or road you're bang on like I know and I know that and I don't mean to be talking out of both sides of my mouth but I believe for the Oilers that is going to matter for them.

Knowing full well, Florida's the last six weeks have tormented the opposing crowds. Yeah. Won all three in Tampa. We know what they did in games five and seven in Toronto. Sorry, what? I can't remember. It was something similar to what we're seeing in Roland Garros right now. 6-1, 6-1. And then Carolina. They go in there and won all three games in that building, including the one to end the series. So this is what they've done all playoffs, but with the way the Oilers play in this building, I think it could have a factor.

Travel, of course, too. Edmonton's doing one less trip. You know what? That's a good point. I can't wait. A couple things before we start, though. You and Amber and BXA were trashing me because of the Dry Cytl vote. Yeah. So if you're not familiar with this, I did an interview before the playoffs with Dry Cytl. And he said that I asked him about winning the Sulky this year. And he said that would mean more to him than any other individual award.

So I voted, I put a first on my sulky ballot and it turned out I was the only person to do it. Um, and then, so I, I talked about it on radio and I guess it's one of the Euler's blogs wrote about it. And I had a player text me and say, hey, I want to win the heart trophy. That's good. That's what I said. Right. Anyone out there, if you want to win an award, just let Elliot know how much it would mean to you. I'll say this. The best text I got was from another media man where he says,

I really wanted to trash you for this. But the playoffs has shown that Dry Cytle is actually a very legitimate vote. No, I mean, honestly, the biggest surprise is that you were the only one. I would have thought there would have been at least a handful. Well, Leon should talk to us, should lobby more. He should hire a lobbyist. That's right. There's a whole campaign that's launched.

Because evidently we're just easily bought. I also want to shout out, I think the Brad Marchand interview that we did is running before game one, Wednesday night. Man, is he, he is in elite form right now. Elite form. Everything's coming up 63. Everything is coming up 63. He's just fantastic in this interview.

And then there's one thing I want to tie up or we want to tie up from a previous pod. And we want some audience participation. Okay, we're running into that now? Yeah, let's do it now. All right, so this will be the final thought which is brought to you by GMC. So a couple of episodes ago,

we got an anonymous voicemail, okay? And we were convinced after first hearing it, that it was the doings of David Amber. If you don't forget, if perhaps you missed that episode, we'll run that voicemail back for you right here here Dom Rollit. Hello Dom, Kyle and Elliot. This is anonymous. I have a question. You often mention how your colleague and I suppose friend David Amber is so high maintenance. What exactly is it that makes him so high maintenance? What does he do? And are you trying to tell me that you are not high maintenance, Elliot?

Farewell for now, gentlemen. So if topic du jour here on Media Day, Elliot, was if you're the Florida Panthers, how do you stop Conor McDavid? One A was, hey David, good job sending in that voicemail to the podcast. How many people went up to him and commented about that? But he is adamant. Okay, I just listened to this again. There is no way that's not Amber. But you're right, he is adamant. Okay, I just listen this again. There is no way that's not Amber, but

you're right. He is adamant. He is sworn on like every family member that it's not him. I don't believe him. I don't believe him for a second. I think that's a thousand percent him, but I want audience participation. A, do you think it's him? And B, if no, who is it? Because we were starting to brainstorm that a little bit. He is adamant that's not him. Scott Oak's name came up, though I can't see him putting it in the drawer. Oakie's got that kind of a warped and twisted mind that yes, he would do it. I could just see him, he's going,

that's a waste of my time. That's the only thing. His name came up. Yeah, that could happen too. Like one or the other. It's either this is a waste of time or yes, I'm going to do it. Yes.

So we wanna know what you think. But he is adamant. And I, my knee-jerk reaction is to believe him because of how hard he was going at that. But you know him way better than I do and for far longer. So the way you feel about this has given me pause about it all. It's keeping me up at night. It is. It really is. Oh my gosh. anonymous caller, you have thrown this podcast into a pretzel. All right, that was the final thought brought to you by GMC. We'll take our first break and come

back with our four feature interviews that we recorded at Media Day. Paul Maurice, Sergei Bobrovsky, Stuart Skinner, and Corey Perry. We will have those for you after this. Okay, welcome back. As promised, a quartet of conversations we had from media day here at Rogers Place in Edmonton beginning with the head coach of the defending champion Florida Panthers, Paul Maurice. Enjoy. We have three straight trips now to the final four-year group and it's the three years you spent in South Florida. And I wonder at any point have you allowed yourself to take in just the uniqueness of that feat? Well, we take stock of that home quite regularly.

It's a grind. The National Hockey League can be a time. The source of that is this is a really, really good team. Like, they had 122 points when I took over the year before, and 92 when I was done with them the first year. So this is not a team built by the coach. It's, they had all the pieces there, had a little bit of experience in kind of a certain kind

of game that Bill Zito believed they had to get to. Right? So, and you saw that in the trades that he made that summer. He watched his team. He came and watched the team. It was a really, really good team. We also lost about seven guys in the Girouds and Hougredos of the world where some skill

went out the door and had to, caps and all that other stuff. And then he felt we needed to go to a different place with the team and I had some experience. You know, the thing that paid off the most, I had a lot of years there where you had to scratch and crawl, I went for a while clutch and grab until they got rid of that. You had to scratch and claw to compete with teams

whose payrolls were two or three times yours. So we just kinda added a bit of that idea to a very skilled group. So I am grateful more than anything else. I have a really good understanding of my value and role in this. So I'm not, I didn't walk in here and make these guys good. They were better before I got here. I just kind of got them going in one direction a little bit.

Have you ever thought about if Chicago wins that game in Pittsburgh, how everything could be different? Okay, but the timing of that's not right because we still had another game. We didn't expect, I'm at home in my mind, Pittsburgh's winning that game all day long. But we still had Toronto and Carolina left. Now when you look back at it, we lost to Toronto. We might have lost Carolina too, but we would have had to have won one of those two games to get in. But what was also about that was we were grinding from mid-December. It was, and our schedule was heavy in January, it was hard. But we went to the rink. So Chicago wins that game

and you walk in the rink that night physically and then physically feel completely different than you felt for three and a half months Like you're exhausted. You're flat. There's there's no juice in your room and we go and get beat the next day easily, right? But but it was a that was a hard hard run So I do wonder sometimes if Chicago Chicago had lost, we would have stayed wired. I still think we're gonna win, both those games are one of them. Toronto's a very good team, Caroline's a very good team, so there's no guarantee.

But then you stay wired right into it. And you think that's good, but we needed that little bit of, we needed a little bit of that break, a little bit of rest, we got four or five days rest, and then it's the Boston Bruins, right? So back at her, but it timed out pretty good for us. So, excuse me, would you ever imagined that we'd be on the eve of the Stanley Cup playoffs and the biggest controversy surrounding Paul Maurice is

handshakes? Yeah, I'm okay with that. I'm good with that. I don't need more controversy. But so the story goes like this. When I came into this that, I'm good with that. I don't need more controversy. But so the story goes like this. When I came into this league, that never happened. He never shook hands. Well, we lost to no two. I didn't even see Scottie. He was putting his skates on

because he had never skated around the Stanley Cup, but the coaches shook hands. Stand on the boards. Steve Iserman actually came over and said, congratulations, that's his place in my mind. If he wants to do that, that's his place. But I think we've lost something with that. I think it's something beautiful about our sport that just the players shake hands. I'm not a player. And the people that are new to that idea would think I'm being disrespectful. The opposite is true. If we

beat that team, their players should not have to shake 12 guys behind me's hands that they don't know. It's the players and there's none of that left. Because when you win or you lose, but when you win you go back to your locker room, there's 50 people in that room with cameras and half your team's out doing interviews. You never see your team again. But that's the place for me to players and for the fans to kind of appreciate just them, the guys. I don't think that that's our place.

It's not a, I don't want to shake your hand. It's a recognition that you really shouldn't have to shake mine. I'm not a player. So get on the boards, you shake the coach's hand, that's good. We talk a little bit, really good. You shake the trainer's guys' hands, and they do too. So that's our little area where we should be, not on camera.

Camera should be solely focused on those players and their interaction there, because it is an incredibly special part of our game. Now, I don't control it. I'll do what everybody would want, I just don't think. And based on the texts that I've gotten from some old time media guys and some old time coaches, they all agree.

It's the player, it's okay if the players have a place. Not everybody gets to go everywhere all the time, just because you want to. The players should have their place, that's how I feel. Everybody should just do what they feel comfortable with. Yeah, I mean, I'm not beefing a coach if he wants to shake the guy's hands, but then that puts me in the spot

that while he's being respectful, here, I'll give you my favorite one. I didn't shake the hands of the Montreal Canadiens when they beat us in Winnipeg, but I got roasted for it. It was in COVID. I had just spent six months knowing I couldn't go within 14 feet of a guy. And now how would that be?

I got COVID and I give it half the Montreal Canadiens before they go on to play in the final. Not so good. So that was where I kind of, what are we doing here? It's the players' place. I think it's special for them. It's a bit sacred in my mind. It's just the players.

It's okay that I'm not invited to every party. I haven't earned it. I'm not a player. I spent 20 years not being invited to every party. There you go. And I'm talking about it. There you go. 20 seems light. Seems light. Kyle got invited to every party. There you go. And I'm talking about that with you. There you go. 20 seems like.

Seems like. Kyle got invited to every single party. No, only because I know it. Yes, he did. He threw the most of the fighters. He had the most here. That's it. I heard it too.

It may surprise you. All I just wanted to ask, Paul, and I respect your stance on all of it. I'm just curious, because we've seen you, obviously, in the past, the first round against Tampa. So did you just get to the point where you were like, I think it's time? Oh, John was already in line in the first round.

Oh, he didn't give you a chance? He never gave me a chance. He was still mad at me, so he went off his once a bit to the light. And then it's just there was a lot more, as you know, in Toronto, there's a Craig standing there. And I'm going, Craig, I don't want to shake your guys' hands. It's nothing.

And he goes, yeah, I don't want to. We don't want to do that. We're more afraid of being viewed as disrespectful. That's what this is for me. I'm not trying to take a stand. I don't deserve to be in that picture. I don't want to be in that picture. It's theirs.

It's okay if they have some stuff just for them. I'm not that important. It's just the truth. The players are the key to all of this. And they should not have to shake a bunch of hands with people they don't know, especially when they lose. Let the players have something, I think. Now, at the end of the series, one of us is going to win, one of us is going to lose.

And whatever Chris wants to do is fine. Three parter. Okay. How are the Oilers different this year? How are the Oilers different this year? How are the Panthers different this year? And how is Paul Maurice different this year? Oh, so I'm gonna answer the first two together. Both teams come into last year and this year

with a definable trait that everybody would agree that they're good at. They're the two best offensive players in the world, pretty good offensive team. We've got a Selkie Award winner, three-timer, and then we've analytically, we tell you that we've been a pretty good defensive team, number one last year and then last pretty good. Those are our strengths. What both teams have done is, and I'm not going to call it a weakness, the thing that's not their strength, they've improved.

They're a better defensive team than they've been in the past by personnel and by structure. And some of that's just, you know, both teams now have been in their structure for a few years with the coach. So they've spent more time being defined on how they're going to play. And then we are a better offensive team than we were. And part of that is Seth Jones and Brad Marshankham in, but Anton Landell's not 21 or 22 anymore. This guy's a driver now. So we've gotten, so the things that were not viewed as our strengths, we're both better at. And I think we've maintained, we certainly haven't lost any of the strength. We're still pretty good defensively.

Still awesome. For me, the biggest change, and this has happened over the three years, is the, I've learned so much about from the players. How they interact with each other on a daily basis is far more now how I interact with them. These guys love each other. They work their butts off every day in practice. All I got to figure out is not give them too much because they will just go and go and go.

So I keep cutting back practices. They support each other. They laugh with each other. They're on when they're supposed to be on. And they are the nicest human beings in the world. I'll advice truly to our people, our staff, Addy, all the equipment people, all of those people around, they treat them as equals as they should. But that's true. The flight attendants, the bus drivers, it's the people they come in contact with. So what I've learned from these guys is you can be wired and on, drink all your coffee and say all the things you say on game day,

but you don't have to be like that every day. And you can actually just sit there relaxed and enjoy them as people. Be your own personality, be yourself, and just be people. And so you really do get a reprieve from the intensity of the coaching job, and I learned that from them. Because to piggyback on that,

there's the last one for me, Mark, because you said these last three years have been, the impact it's had on your life being with this group. AJ Greer was talking to him. He said he's learned more this year with the organization than any year previous as a professional hockey player. So I just wonder, how did it all come together?

Because surely it's not something as simple as no state tax in the state of Florida. There's much more going on. Oh, the least of it. There are two great stories in a room. There are the players and the other great stories, how they got there. So Bill Zito was a big part of this. He's this great big Italian restaurant owner manager that cooks, cleans, makes sure everybody gets fed. And there's just an incredible

sense of love. But he's also a trial lawyer. And if he gets his teeth into you and you're wrong, he's not coming off you. Right? So he's got this great loving personality, but incredibly intense in the room. So I guess maybe where it comes from, we all got our personalities. And if the two of us were sitting out, we're having a beer, we can make each other laugh. And that would be the best interview, right? Two people just talking. When you're just yourself, Bill Zudow is...

So look at all these guys that have come out of nowhere and what they've become is actually just themselves. You can be your own personality. And I had a player tell me that at an exit meeting. I said, what happened? Because this game just took off. He said, I figured out I just got to be myself.

I don't have to be funnier than I am, tougher than I am. I don't have to go out if I don't want to. I can stay home with my family. That's what I love to do. So I'm just myself and I think that's the key. And I think Bill Zito is the driver of all of it. Wow. That's awesome. Great, thanks very much, Paul.

Yeah, just be yourself. That is awesome. Every word I just said to you is true. It's exactly what I've been through and it was kind of, I couldn't. What I said, I kept getting off the phone when I first took the job, Carter Verhanging. I got off the phone.

These guys are different. They're weird. That's my experience here. So I don't know where the star of the ethos is, but I know I believe they love each other. I think that's the difference. So Sergey, one of the neatest stories I learned throughout these playoffs is the gifting of wine bottles to your teammates after shutouts. And that came about from Lundquist, right? Was that, was kind of where they got the inspiration from? So, I mean, are you gonna have to start your own winery here at some point,

just to keep up with the supply, or where do you source these? No, I mean, I obviously just buy the wine, and yeah, and it's my way to appreciate the guys, how hard they work in front of me. You know, we have a good defensive system and a good defensive group, you know. And it's just, again, it's just my way to appreciate that. You know, like, thank you guys for everything.

Thank you for your effort in this particular game. Is there a certain kind of wine that you buy for them? It's different. I just try that. It's a nice wine. Is there a certain kind of wine that you buy for them? It's a different, I just try that it's a nice wine. It's a good wine. Are you a wine guy? I'm not drinking, no, I'm not drinking anymore. So it's, yeah.

Okay. I think one of the things that your teammates said, they're like, of course, the gift of wine is lovely, they're appreciative, but you also just write a little note, you sign in that, like the fact that you personalize it, they're like, that takes it to a new level of just the impact it means to them. Yeah, I feel like it's a little more like soul to soul. It's more like, I don't know, it makes it a little bit more special.

I don't know if the guys are going to drink it or not, but you just put it there and sign and I don't know I just feel that it's it's the right way to do it and just to feel just guys it's not just like a give it like here is here is the wine thank you and that's it you just write it down like thanks for your effort and and that's I don't know it stays there I feel that's that's the right way one of my favorite stories about you is there's a lot of players who have made NHL money for longer than they expected because they would go on the ice with you every morning and they would shoot with you. Steven Lorenz talks great about you.

Zach Dalpe talks great about you. I guess it's Jesper Bokefos this year. Why is your shooter so important? Yeah, he's like and those guys are just great guys. That's that's why they say that so it's for sure there they They they are great players and then Stevie had a good season this year, too It was it was good challenge to play against them this this year, you know against that against our own serious They were great. So it wasn't easy and it was, they, they gave us a good challenge, but the shooter is important.

So because the guys, basically they, they, it's, it's not easy for them to do, you know, to like, you know, to shoot where I ask them, because it's, it's basically they go off their own way to look, you know, to, to make me better, to develop me. And again, I appreciate that a lot. So it's maybe not fun for them to do, but they still do that. It's also, it's every day, pretty much it's every day, and I appreciate that effort.

You know, Sergei, there's a bunch of young goalies who are gonna listen to this, and they're gonna wanna know, how does Sergei Bobrovsky practice So maybe tell us one or two things that you do that you would say if you're a young goal and you want to be successful Do this I would say you know I yeah there I have those kind of questions all the time But I would say to young goalies I only can say enjoy the game

You know have the love for the, have the passion for the game. And game will teach you what to do. Game will teach you your own path. You're going to learn the way how you want to be, how you want to approach the game and approach your development. Because there is so many great goalies that approach the game in a different way. You have to be, it correlates with your personality and your, the gut inside, you

know, what tells you what's better, how to play better. And again, going back to young guys, I feel like it's important to have that love for the game. I'm 36, but I'm still that little kid from a small town in Russia, you know, that loves the game, loves to compete. And I'm excited for the upcoming challenge to play against the best team in the West and compete against those great guys, great players. So I hear that. I think of one thing. When you're 40, will you still be playing?

We'll see, we'll see. We take one day at a time, so we'll see. Well, one of the things that Spencer and I, one of your old partners said, like his biggest takeaway from working with you was for as long as you've been doing it, as successful as you've been, you're not somebody who is rigid and going, it has to be always done a certain way.

Like you're open to new ideas and different ways of doing things. How often are you kind of thinking of or looking into, is there a better way to prepare? Is there a better way to recover? Yeah, I will always say exactly. I always open for the new things. I do not, there is some things that I kind of love to do.

There is some kind of foundation, but I'm also open to challenge that. Because that's maybe how the evolution goes. You challenge new things, you challenge the old things, and you come up with the new things that makes you better. That's how the, I feel that is important for growth, for developing, to always play, always be open for the new things, new opportunities. So I was watching online YouTube back in 2013, 12 years ago, you won your first Vezna, and you came on the set with us in Chicago

at the Stanley Cup final and we presented you with the Vezna trophy and it's not like you're old but back then you looked so young and I wanted to ask you when you look back at yourself when you first came back over to the NHL what is the thing about you that you would most look back at and laugh at about how you were? I think more it's the one thing, it's the stubbornness probably. It's just like it's, that's talking about the new things. It wasn't the case. It just has to be my way, that way. That's it. That was, that was makes it fun for sure. So now as you get older, you learn that like,

there is not only one way to do this, to approach the thing. Don't have to play every game. That's stubbornness, I think, that's makes, brings smile to my face when I think back. What was the thing you were most stubborn about? It's like, it's just, I don't know, it's just everything.

The practices, it's just, I don't know, it's just everything. The practices, everything is just, it was kind of like locked and you can't like move it. Wow. I just wondered, Sergei, like back here for a second time as a defending champion, like the Edmonton Oilers, you've got them for potentially seven games again. So how are you approaching that from your position? Yeah, it's exciting.

You know, they got a good team, they got a good goal tender, they got a really good defense, obviously great offense. It's going to be a good challenge, and it's going to be good hockey game. So I just want to enjoy every time, every minute and compete.

It's going to be ups and downs. It's going to be lots of things happening, but I just wanted to be ups and downs. It's going to be lots of things happening, but I just wanted to be present and And take the the the full advantage of this opportunity All right. Thanks very much. Sorry. I appreciate it so much. Thank you so Corey how Fast how slow has time gone for you considering five times in the last six years here and six times dating back to? 2007 how does time

Compute in your mind. It's gone both ways because there's been highs there's been lows You know, obviously, you know seven it's the highest feeling that you know You're gonna get in this game is getting a chance to hoist that trophy over your head and say like have a Stanley Cup in your hands. And then you can say, yeah, there are some rough patches in the middle there, being bought out by Anaheim. That was a pretty low moment,

but I put it behind me, I focused on what was ahead and it's gotten me to five finals. I haven't had a chance to win, but I've been there, I've been a part of it and it's something that I'm still chasing. You know, I was watching Colby's interview with you from a couple rounds ago and the funny line where your son said, mommy said one more year.

And I actually was thinking about that. I can't imagine you not in the NHL. And I can't imagine what you would think that it would be like not to be in the NHL because clearly you love it so much. Well, that's the thing is I love coming to the rink every day. I love being a part of the bond, the brotherhood, being a part of training camp and seeing new faces

that are coming to the team and seeing that grow over the course of the season. I love being on the ice every day with the guys and obviously that competitive fire is still inside me. And yeah, I mean, you know, he said, Mom said one more year, you know, but we'll see where it goes. Daddy said three more years. I said last year five more, so we'll see where it goes. Daddy said three more years. I said last year five more so we'll see where it goes. I wonder like who's on this team like I remember Alex Patrangelo

talked about one of the things he loves still about playing is being in the room and guys busting each other's chops. So like on this team who dishes it out really well and who takes it really well? I would say Pickard's probably the one that takes it the best. He's just a character. He keeps the guys together. He's everywhere. He's talking to everybody. He's always talking. But the guys that dish it out, it's pretty much everybody. Everybody can dish it, everybody takes it, because they have to, because that's what brothers are. You have to be able to take it, and you have to be able to give it.

So what goes into the art of getting under somebody's skin nowadays? Because obviously, the game has changed, the world has changed. How do you do that effectively today? I can't give you away my secrets. That's something I won't. But, you know, it's just, that is who I am. Just what I do. I don't, sometimes it's not even me to do it.

It just happens. And it comes across that way. But, you know, it's just who I am and how I'm built and how I play the game of hockey. What's it about this team that you like so much? Well, I think we're mature. We're older and not just in age, in growing, in growth. And from, you know, everybody we knew, so what happened last from, you know, everybody we need to, so what happened

last year, you know, losing, having that feeling in game seven, taking the summer to reflect and going through a whole season. How are we going to get back there? What are we going to do? And I think you see in the playoffs, you know, when our backs been against the wall, we've been able to come out and change the script and do anything that you needed to be done to win a playoff game and then win a playoff round. And we've done it all sorts of ways. We've scored a bunch of goals,

and we've done it on the defensive end. So, you know, we take pride in our defensive game and start from our net out. And that's how we've been talking about all playoffs. When you won your first cup, you had Niedermeyer, you had Pronger, you had Solani. I don't wanna, I would like to ask about how, because McDavid and Dreissa are clearly the leaders

of this team and they're clearly respected. Can you just, like, did those two compare to those guys in the way they lead a team and ran the room and things like that? Well, you could say they're pretty similar in some ways. I mean, not the way, maybe the way they play the game as well, but Prawnx was on a different level. He was nasty, he was hard to play against and in the room, he demanded a lot.

He demanded everybody play that same way. And I think that's the same way in that dressing room is Leo and Connor. They demand a lot. They want perfection. You're not going to get perfection every night, but that's what they're looking for and not just in themselves, but everybody else around them. And that's what's brought us together is, you know, they've taken charge of this team and running with it but everybody's following, everybody's pulling on that chain together. So I'm just fascinated to kind of learn a little

bit more about what that looks like. I imagine of course with things that were said, how they go about playing and setting the standard that way? Is it sometimes just something as simple as a look? Or how does that all work internally? Sometimes it's just the look. Sometimes it's what they do on the ice. A back check, Connor blocking a shot in the anchors against LA.

There's just little moments that you can pick from that shows you how much they care, how much they want it, and what they'll do to get there. Does Connor ever give the same look to teammates as he does to me? You want to ask him a bad question? I'm sure he does. I'm pretty sure I've seen it. It's good to see that we're not the only ones who get that look too. I just wanted to ask you, was there a moment in the postseason this year, Corey, where you looked and you said, we're going now. We got this. It was probably against LA when we were down by two goals in game three in the third period.

It could have been the last couple of minutes, if I'm not mistaken. And we found a way to come back. It might have been game four, I'm sorry, where we found a way to come back and win in overtime. And I think when we got that win it flipped the script on how we have to play. We have to start in our zone and work our way out. We can't just, we can't give up five goals and expect to score six every night to win. That's not how the playoffs work. We can do that if that needs to, if that does happen, but that's not how you have a successful team. And I think guys have really

bought into that. I remember just talking to you midway through the year and you were saying how you've adjusted your off-ice training in season to better prepare you for now So I wonder kind of where in what ways are you feeling the benefits of the work you put in leading up to? Well, I always had those guys in Anaheim in who we mentioned pronger and Niedemeier Solani The list can go on but those three guys in there always working out and you know a young kid. Yeah You know, I don't need to do that whatever I'll get to it later and never do it but now you know I'm probably one of the first couple guys here in the gym every morning doing my thing because I'm four years old I have to stay you know stay

up to speed with all these young guys they're all bigger faster and stronger coming in the league and I love where our game's going. It's getting fast. But I've put in the extra work to just stay up at that speed and still be effective. Kyle is a big equipment guy. OK. And he noticed, have you been using skates

from the time you first entered into the NHL during the playoffs? Um, Defy's a big equipment guy. He's probably noticed that I've used those my whole career. A little bit at the beginning of this year. Yeah, I was using some different ones. Just comfortable in those skates, love those skates. Yeah. Yeah, he noticed it was like kind of on and off. Yeah. So I was wondering if there was a particular time

that you picked them or a particular thing? No. Okay. No, I mean, if we got into all the details of it, we'd be here all day, so. There are a lot of gear nerds out there though. They like this kind of stuff. Yeah, and so do I.

My skates are my tools. Guys are serious about their sticks or guys are serious about different things for me. Very particular about my skates. The way I move on the ice is what sets me apart. I need to have skates that allow me to move the way I want to. Are you the only one that uses those anymore? Is there anybody else?

I would think so, but yeah, I think so. Okay. And is there a particular reason, is there a particular reason that you go to that pair in terms of the way you're feeling or what you're looking for? Yeah, I'm looking for a specific feeling, a specific, um, yeah, I'm looking for something particular in skates that, um, but, uh, and I feel like those ones give me that, that, that, that feeling that I'm looking for.

Um, ultimately that's what it comes down to. They allow me to, uh, play the game that game that I want to play, move the way I want to move, do the things that I can do and I'm comfortable in that pair of skates. Stan Bowman was meeting with the media earlier today and he said from the moment he first met you when he got here, that's all you guys have been talking about, the Stanley Cup. It's written the sole purpose on your mind and I don't think that surprises anybody, but just in terms of the way you prepared for this year

to get back to this point, was there anything different that you really did that you thought made a big difference? I think this year's been different. Just with how low maintenance the year has been, you know, there hasn't been any dramatic, you know, collapses like we've had in years past in the middle of the year, or dramatic, terrible starts, or this year has been kind of just like a slow march.

That's the way it's felt all year long, you know. And this group has never been more prepared to be in this situation, to win. Yeah, the group's in a really good place. You know, I really like hearing you talk like that because on the outside, everybody's always like, the fans and the media were always like this. So it's kind of funny to hear that you,

it's just interesting to hear that you never felt it was like this. You always thought there was a pain. It's interesting that this year, more so than others, I would say fans and media have been up and down on us. But in the room, I feel like it's been more steady. Where in years past, you know, our game has been, you know, we lose, we're two and 15 to start, you know.

And then we have this dramatic, you know, kind of rise from the dead. And then in the year before that, we're a great team. And then we can't win a game for six weeks. It's like, it's, you know, I would say, years past has been a little bit more up and down. This year has just been kind of like a slow, steady, you know, march to this point, as I said.

Corey Perry said it's a very mature team. Understands everything about this. You agree, obviously. I agree, you know. It's funny, like, you know, the coach always says, you know, we're a mature team. I always joke, you know, we're the oldest team in the league. We should be mature, you know. Everybody's over 30, so,

no excuse not to be the most mature team. But I feel like we are, you know. There hasn't been, you know, any moment that's been too big or any, you know, loss or disappointment that's been too big to overcome. Yeah, it's been a fun group to be part of. You know, the thing that was most oppressive to me, just me watching Connor was,

I didn't know if I believed you guys could win 14 games without Ekholm. I really didn't know that I believed that. And were you worried about that at all? Anytime someone like Ekhi goes out, you're worried. But it speaks to the depth that we have. We've had incredible performances from guys that you know, you wouldn't expect the way, you know, Klinger stepped in coming off of his, you

know, lengthy, you know, rehab. The way Stachars played and just been so solid and steady. The way all the guys have played back there, Wallman's been a great add. You know, losing Ekky is devastating no matter what. But we've had so many guys step up in different times and to win and be in this position and get Ekky back healthy now, I think makes us even more dangerous. And the thing too is that you guys, and it's also became defense out, like our zone out.

And I've loved watching you joke with people, like, we can play defense. But the thing that really stands out is that even with a player like him out, you guys arguably became even better. It's funny how that works sometimes. It takes someone like that works sometimes it takes it takes someone like that to to really focus your attention on on on that side of the game you know

it's easy to get distracted by offense and wanting to play you know in their zone and do all that stuff but I've said all along you know we know how to play defense this is a stingy group I think if you ask anyone that we've played we defend well we do and it takes buy-in from everybody. I think if you ask anyone that we've played, we defend well. We do. And it takes buy-in from everybody, and I think we've got that. We've got that in spades. So it's been fun to watch.

One of your teammates said, the best thing about Connor and Leon is that as demanding as they are of us, they're not as demanding of us as they are of themselves. It's only gone to a new level this year. Do you feel that? Yeah, I think if you're going to be a good leader, you've got to lead the way in terms of your own game. No one listens to a guy whose own game is a disaster. So I think if we take care of our own game, Leo and I,

usually good things happen. And it gives us the freedom to ask more from other guys and lead the way that we need to. But this group has been so easy to lead, I guess, in a way. No one needs any extra motivation. The big mistakes, you don't see them. There's no shooting ourselves in the foot with a stupid mistake, you know, they happen from time to time but it's not a it's not a regular habit that that needs fixing so it's been a really easy group

to be a part of. Perry laughed and he said I said does Connor give the look in the room like he gives to me when I ask him a terrible question? He goes yes I have seen that look. Well I mean you don't think they don't ask to me when I ask him a terrible question. He goes, yes, I have seen that look. Well, I mean, thankfully, you don't ask too many bad ones. So, yeah, you're all right. Okay. This last one I want to ask Connor is, I think the thing that's been most impressive,

aside from the way you guys play, is what we've seen now more of you guys as a true team, going to Zach Hyman, FaceTiming him, Connor Brown coming out of the TV stand and stuff like that. Just behind the scenes, what do you see of this group that's made it so close? Well I think that stuff is only coming to light just because of where we are. I think that stuff goes on throughout the course of the year, always.

There might just be a little bit more attention on it now and people are realizing that we are a close group. But this group has been together for a really long time, you know, a couple pieces in and out, but everyone that we brought in, you know, feels like they fit in right away. I'm sure the Panthers say the same thing,

but that's what it takes. It takes everybody, It takes a team. And we are that. We've had great performances, as you said, all up and down the lineup, both goalies. I think we've had a number of different forward score. I think we've played like nine demons. So it's been a total team thing that's gotten us to this point. And it'll need to continue that way through this round. Last one. Before game one or anytime over the next couple days, will you say anything special

or important to your teammates? I think as the leader of the team, we're always thinking about, you know, is there something I can do? Is there something I can say? And if there's something that pops up, for sure. If not, I don't think anything needs to be said. I think this group knows what we're after. We've been here before, you know, we know what it's gonna feel like, the emotions, the, you know, everything. There's not gonna be anything that catches us off guard, easy for me to say.

But, you know, as the leader of the team, we're always taking the temperature of the room every day. There's something that needs to be said. I got no problem saying it. If there's not, I got no problem leading by example. Okay. Thank you to the Oilers. Thank you to the Panthers. Thank you to the NHL staff that helped

coordinate everything for us on media day. It was a well-oed machine here on Tuesday. Okay, time to drop the puck. Game one of the Stanley Cup final from Edmonton tonight. 7.30 Eastern, 5.30 Mountain Time. Hockey Central is on the air with the pregame show and then a little after 8 Eastern, 6 Mountain. From Roger's Place, game one, the rematch between the Panthers and the Oilers. We will talk to you next the day after game one and after every game

throughout the Stanley Cup final, however long it goes. Enjoy this final. Talk to you on Thursday.