32 Thoughts: The Podcast - The In Season Cup

Episode Date: September 29, 2026

In this edition of 32 Thoughts Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman welcome in Luke Gazdic and David Amber to compete for the 26-27 In Season Cup.Listen to all the 32 Thoughts music here.Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

First of all, I've never felt so alive being on the, the podcast is still a thing, right? You guys, this is actual. I have to say, everybody, the number one thing Dave always says to me is, I haven't listened to your podcast, so I don't know what you're talking about. What you're about to hear is the beginning of a journey, not for the faint of heart. The psychological demands that come with this competition can be so severe. It is now banned in six countries.

Elliot Friedman is the commissioner and perennial loser of the insubborn. Season Cup, an idea born out of Elliot and his buddies and their thirst for supremacy in their youth. Now, Elliot, as you know, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we look to the West to see how this in-season Cup movement has grown. Yes, the Western Hockey League. I have to say, I am really, really impressed. I love the idea. And I'm glad that it is growing and growing and growing in power and popularity as a high school geek 40 years ago, I never imagined it would be at this position. Okay, so it's time to meet two brand new competitors this year.

And we remind everyone that two years ago, in the words of Elliot, I had the worst performance ever in the history of the in-season cup. And last year, I took the crown for most days total. proof that here anything is truly possible. So introducing first, he is a Toronto boy and makes a great first impression. One NHL game, one NHL shift, one NHL goal, is used to hearing five for fighting, but has 100 years worth of stories to show for it. No case for the Mondays with this guy on the panel.

Please welcome Luke Gazzdick. KV, what an intro. The applause, too. Great to have you here, Luke. How you feeling? Feeling good, man. I appreciate the invite this year, guys. And what a wonderful intro.

Thanks, Kyle. Appreciate it. Great to have you. Okay, finally, another product of the GTA, a closeted, diehard, 32 Thoughts, the podcast fan, but as vocal as any when it comes to supporting Canadian NHL franchises, you can take your pick,

but really, who else would you rather choose? He's done 20 pushups, during this intro alone. Say it with your chest. David Amber, everybody. Hello, DA. Oh, that was good. That was good.

I'm nervous. First of all, I've never felt so alive being on the, the podcast is still a thing, right? You guys, this is actual. I have to say, everybody, the number one thing Dave always says to me

is I haven't listened to your podcast, so I don't know what you're talking about. So this is it. I'm on the podcast. You are on the podcast. Oh, wow. I'm nervous. You've been on before, but yeah. I'm nervous.

And as the inaugural inseason cup champion, I have to come back for a second championship. That's what I'm thinking right now. That's right. You are a returning competitor, which is great. I think the first one we've had in this iteration of the end season cup, a returning competitor beyond the host. Okay. The Edwin Moses of our podcast. Yes.

So let's go over the rules here. for those that need a refresher or those that are new to the program. Momentarily, we will have the draft where we will each pick our eight teams. It's a simple snake order draft. Up and down we go. There are two crowns up for grabs at the end of all this. The most days accumulated with the Cup over the season and whoever is the rightful holder of the in-season cup after the final day of the regular season is over.

The winners will decide what the punishments are for the two. losers, which reminds me, Randeep and I, because Emily Agard has now gone to work for the WWE, she's got much more interesting things going on in her life now than worrying about this. Randeep and I have to determine what Elliot the loser has to do in humiliation after last season. So the hurricanes, they are-

Just co-hosting a podcast with you is humiliation enough, I feel. Yes. Hey, you chose this life. That's right. So the hurricanes, They are the defending Stanley Cup champions. They will begin with the in-season cup. They'll put it on the line later today when they raise their banner and welcome the Florida Panthers.

So let's say the hurricanes cap off their night with a victory. They beat Florida. If you look, they do not play again until Friday against Washington. So the hurricanes and whoever drafted them would accrue three days with the cup. The day that the game was played on and the two off days before their next game. And then eventually, whoever would beat Carolina would take the in-season cup from them. That day, they begin their count of days until their next game is played and so on and so forth. So in theory, over the course of the whole year, all 32 teams at some point could end up with the in-season cup in their hands.

Are there any questions before we proceed here, gentlemen? I think I'm good. I forgot about the punishment portion, but I think I'm good on logistics here, fellas. Yes, you got a long time to think about it. Two years ago we had, yeah, Elliot had to produce the fan pregame show for Alish who won, and I provided a great dinner for them, and I did the same on the fan hockey show. Those were good prizes. Those were good prizes.

You did a good job, and Barbarans did a great job. Okay, time to hand it off to producer Dom Shramati to determine the order of this draft. Dom, over to you. Welcome to 32 feud on 32 Thoughts, the in-season Cup. All right, so 32 thoughts, we always do some sort of trivia or something to get the order of how we determine the in-season Cup draft. Well, this year we're going to do family feud style, 32 thoughts, and since we need some teams, we're going to go Kyle and Elliot, because you guys are the host of the show. And then the other team will be Luke and Amber.

Yes. We're going to keep this hockey theme. We're going to keep it fun and light. First up, the first round, we're going to go for positions one and two. And then the second round will go for positions three and four in the draft. So to keep this as simple as possible, your buzzer is your name. So if you have an answer, you say, Kyle, if you have an answer, you say Kyle. Luke, if you have an answer, you say Luke.

Whoever buzzes in first, they have a chance. Wait, wait, sorry. What do I say if I have an answer? Elliot. Oh, okay. I know it's hard for you to understand rules, but, you know, we'll try. Hot air is also accepted and buzz in as. So we'll get things started.

This is for positions one and two. We've asked 100 hockey fans, name something a fan hopes will happen. when they go to a professional hockey game, we'll go Kyle and Luke head to head here. Name something. Kyle went first. Okay, Kyle. A fight?

Sorry, Kyle. Can I have a new teammate? That was awful. Fight was not in the one of the 100 answers in the top floor. There's 100 answers? Yes. No, no, 100 people. We surveyed 100 guests, Kyle.

I just said. Okay. Luke, it's over to you. Goals. That's on the board. So Luke and Amber, you are first. Would you like to play or pass? Let's play, Lukey.

Yeah, let's play. We always play, baby. All right, three answers left on the board, David. Get a puck. Oh, that was mine. That is correct. Two answers left on the board. Luke, by the way, you have two strikes.

We'll give you two strikes. Get on jumble. Jumbotron? That is wrong. Jumbotron, not on there. You guess, though. David, you got one more, you got one more chance, and then Kyle and Elliot have a chance to steal.

Your team wins. The home team wins. That was the number one answer. All right. Luke, we have one answer left, and you only have one strike left. The wave. Oh.

A terrible answer, Luke. All right, Kyle, Elliot, you have a chance to steal one answer left on the board. All right, well, Elliot, I'm looking at you. You're so disgusted by my guess to start. Autograph. That's wrong. Oh, okay. The last answer on the board was see a hatrick.

14 people said, Cia Hattrick. Oh, my God, Kyle, that was Kyle's idea. He texted it to me. Oh, Kyle, I apologize. I thought that was a terrible one. All right. So Luke and David will play for spots one and two. Kyle and Elliot, please sit this next question out.

So between Luke and David, if a hockey player had a garbage sale, or garage sale, rather, name something you'd probably see for sale. Luke. Luke. Stick. That is the number one answer. So we got two, three, and four left. David? Why don't we say

a rookie card Hockey cards? Hockey card is not on the list. That's a horrible game. Luke? I'm embarrassed. Let's go skates.

Skates is correct. All right, David, if you don't answer this correctly, Luke gets the number one pick. Oh, man. I don't know. He said, uh, uh, he said stick.

and skates. Sweeter. It's got to be sweater. Sweeter is correct. All right, Luke, if you get this right, you still get the number one pick. I'm going to go gloves. Gloves is correct. So Luke will pick first overall, and David will pick second overall.

For the final question here between Kyle and Elliot, name something a hockey mom might do at her kids game that would result in her getting thrown into the penalty box. Elliot Elliot Sorry I forgot my name for a second Yell at the referee Correct

That's the top answer Kyle Um argue with opposing team's parents That is the same answer Is screaming or yelling Oh it's just screaming or yelling

Yeah Thanks for clarification after Tom, I got to tell you, we've been doing this for I don't know how many years. This is the worst intro game that's ever been. No, come on. We're having fun. Okay, how many more are there? Four more.

Have too much alcohol. No, that was not on the list. Oh, God, it would have been high on some of the lists I've seen over the years. Kyle, you've got four different ends. That is correct. All right, Elliot, three more here. I will say, hmm. You've run out of time.

We don't have all day. Kyle? Too many noise clap, like, noise makers. Correct. That is on the list. Who are these people that are you talking to? That is on the list. All right, Elliot, either answer this correctly or Kyle gets the third pick.

late for a game. No, that is wrong. All right, so now we've got our order. Luke picks first, followed by David, then myself, and Elliot. Once again, Snake Order Style. So, Luke, you have the honors. Who are you taking first in the 26, 27 in Season Cup? Give me the defending Stanley Cup champion, Carolina Hurricanes.

All right. Okay, hold on. Before Dave makes this pick, I have to take a call. And I got to do it. So you guys are going to have to pick my teams for me. Okay. Here we go. This I know in fantasy football, I got five tight ends. I have a feeling this is going to turn out worse than fantasy football. I got to take this. I'll speak to you soon. Wow. So the first time ever, we have an auto draft for the in-season cup. I love it. Dave, you get his first one. I'll get the second one.

Yeah. Okay. David, your pick, too. All right. With my first selection in this year's in-season cup, I will take the Washington Capitals. All right. I'm buying high right now. Maybe I'll wait.

I'm going to take Colorado Dave Dave that's hot I like the caps That's high It's what we do baby I love that They're the sexy pick right now

Okay Dave So two picks for Elliot You guys decide who he's taken Well I know Elliot is a huge Canucks guy I've heard that about him And I know

I know he goes out every year He does a telethon He's big in the community there and I think he'd like to have connects. I think he thinks they're going to have a strong showing this year. Oh, yes. So this is the route we're going on for free, hey? Yeah, that checks out.

He does, hey, he's not wrong. He does go out there for their telephod. He does. That's what I would say. I think that's where he was leaning, but that's just speculation on my behalf. Yeah, that's like, well, he's not here. So you know him better than the rest of us,

so I trust you. All right, Luke, who's your second pick for Elliot here? Well, do we keep the theme here, Dave? Like, strong. Let's Let's, let's give him something. Let's give him a ball in here, no?

How about? Totally your call. Let's stay in Western Canada. Let's give him the oil. All right. So some mercy from Luke Gazzdick. By the way, Elliot has the Oilers in the Cup final this year,

so he will appreciate that. Okay, so I'm in Colorado. I'm buying high this year on Montreal. I'm going to take them here. Ooh, I like that. I love that. Ooh, Rana, okay, this is getting interesting. I'm going to take the Dallas Stars.

Wow, wow, wow. Back to the start? So I get two here? Two picks, yep, you sure do. Wow, okay, let's go. Montreal's off the board. Let's go with the Tampa Bay Lightning. All right.

And you know what? Let's stay in the state of Florida. I'll do both Florida teams. Wow. I'll go to back to back. I'll go Tampa and Florida. Oh, mama. That's.

That's pretty good right there. Okay. You know what? I'm going to take... I'm going to take Minnesota. All right. So you go two central picks. Going with the wild.

Spread it around here a bit. I'm going to go Vegas. It's a great pet call. All right. That's interesting. So now we're back to Elliot. Do you want to select one? Do you want to select one?

for your podcast partner there, Kyle? Yep. Do I keep the Canadian theme going? So he did a wonderful job helping to host the Oak Charity Gala in Winnipeg earlier this month. And so for that reason, I will give him the Jets. All right. Now we need another one for him.

You know what? Go ahead. No, you can say, what are you thinking? So last year when we did this, he tried to go all in early, his first pick, because the season started with Florida as the defending champion playing against Chicago. And his first pick, he took Chicago, thinking that they were going to upset him night one and take the cup right away. I'm going to give him Chicago here. Okay. Now I'm going to go again.

Man, there's still some great ones on the board here. Yeah. All right. I think San Jose is in the playoffs this year. I'm going San Jose. Ooh, I like it. I'm going to head back to the east. I'm going to take the Ottawa Senators.

All right. Wow. Okay. Well, I'm not saying I didn't think they'd be here by now, but give me the Toronto Maple Leafs. All right. Toronto boy taking the least. They are among the most fascinating. Fascinating.

Let's, I might have to go to the west here. Ooh, or maybe, no, I got to get out of the Atlantic, right? Yeah, I got to get out of the Atlantic here. Let's go with the Utah Mammoth. Oh, good one. It's not bad. Okay, it's back to me, isn't it? It sure is.

I am going to, sorry, my screen froze there. I'm going to take the New York Islanders. Okay. I will take another team in that same division, the New Jersey Devils. Love that. Now we're back to Elliot. Okay, boys.

I have an idea, Kyle. Yeah. I was talking Elliot a few days ago, and he really thinks the Cracken are going to be coming on this year. He does, eh? He's always got the inside track on things. Yeah, he was, he's fought on the Crackings. I think.

All right. The Cracken belong to Elliot. Oh, God. And he's got another pick. What are you thinking

here, DA? Oh, here. Hey, boys. And preach? Just in time. He's come back. So, it's just in time because it's your pick.

Okay. You have five teams so far. Five teams? You're now just entering the sixth round. Okay? Okay.

So let me, I'm going to go through like my middle group of teams and you tell me who's taken. Is Boston taken? No. No. Is Columbus taken? No. Is New Jersey taken?

Yep. Ylanders. Yep. Philly. Nope. Toronto. Yep. Chicago.

Yep. Anaheim. Nope. San Jose. Yep. St. Louis? Nope. Jets.

Yep. Okay, so do I have one pick or two? Because I know I'm at the bottom. I'm going to take the ducks. All right. Dare I ask who I have already? One way or another you'll find out. Okay.

We got all your favorites. Yeah. Luke is trying not to laugh, so I know this is really going to be good. Who do I have? Luke actually showed you mercy. So David, because of your philanthropic efforts, gave you Vancouver with your first pick. Okay.

And Luke gave you Edmonton with pick number two. Oh, okay, nice, nice. Because of your great job at the Oak Gala earlier this month, I gave you Winnipeg. Okay. And Chicago. Okay. And David was saying you were telling him that you really think

the Crocken can surprise some people this year. So he gave you see a year. Seattle, and then you follow that up with Anaheim. So I got Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chicago, Seattle, and Anaheim. Yes. You guys might as well just quit right now. I am going to clobber you. You are just all west.

You are west as best right now. Oh, my God. He has six teams in the West. They all are in the West. Okay. I'm going to take St. Louis here. David? Okay.

So I'm going to take Well, he just took Anaheim, didn't he? I did. You know what? I'm going to take Philadelphia. All right. Okay, honestly not sure how they're still here either,

but I'm going to take Buffalo. Buffalo wasn't taken? No, I just got them. I didn't even put them that far down because I figured for sure. stunned they're still here. That's malpractice for the three of you. So we got, I got another one back to back here.

Has anyone, have the Florida Panthers been taken? Can I just ask this? Third round. Yes, I got them in the third. Okay, so we'll go Sabres. And I'm going between two teams right now, but I think I'm going to go with the Pittsburgh Penguins. All right.

Okay. It's getting a little tight now, fellas. Hmm. Utah's gone, right? Correct. Oh, boy. Okay. Sorry, bear with me one second here.

Should you have an equal distribution, West and East? Is that a strategy here? No, no. There is no strategy to this. No. Okay. Well, if that's the case, then I'm, no, screw it. I'll just take, I'm going to take Calgary.

All right. Last year at the dome. Yeah. Maybe cooking up some magic before they move into their new building. Okay. I'm going to take the Bruins. So Philadelphia is still there? No.

No, Dave, he just took them. Okay, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. Is L.A. still there? Yes. Yes. I will take the Kings. Elliot takes the Kings, and that brings us into the eighth and final round.

Yeah, I have first pick. Uh-huh. Give me the blue jackets. CBJ for EF. Okay. I will take Detroit. So, Dave, what? It's down to Rangers and Nashville.

Nashville. Who do you want, buddy? I'm going to take Nashville. All right. So that leaves me with the New York Rangers. Yep. So I'll just go over everyone's teams here. So we've got it once and for all.

Team Luke, Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Toronto, Utah, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, the Rangers. Way. David. Yep. Team David. Washington, Dallas, Minnesota, Ottawa, the Islanders, Philadelphia, Calgary, Nashville. Yes, sir.

Team Kyle, Colorado, Montreal, Vegas, San Jose, the Devils, St. Louis, Boston, and Detroit, and Team Elliot, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chicago, Seattle, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Columbus. There you have it. Just hand me your money and prepare to be punched. That was great, boys. This is going to be fun. This is going to be fun. A reminder that the account on X at in-season cup, they are your source for everything that goes on with this league this year.

Let's throw a little C-note on for each of us, too, for the winner. Okay. You got a deal. You got a deal. You got a deal. I know you're playing your craps winnings in this one. You're playing with house money from the cup last year. May the best team win.

Boys, thank you so much for agreeing to do this. Thanks, boys. Have a great year. Thank you, fellas. And remember, show no mercy. All right. Enjoy, fellas. Thanks for having us on.