32 Thoughts: The Podcast - The Real Questions Surrounding Crosby

Episode Date: February 7, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman talk about Sidney Crosby's health and the likelihood of him playing for Team Canada at the 4 Nations. You'll also hear an outstanding poem from a Penguins fan urging Crosby to chase one more Cup ring elsewhere. They delve into where Team Canada stands with Drew Doughty (12:42). The switch focus to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their targets in the trade market (21:13). Kyle and Elliotte talk about Mikko Rantanen's growing pains with Carolina (28:24) before addressing the NHLPA's appeal of Ryan Hartman's 10 game suspension (34:34). Elliotte mentions how active the Tampa Bay Lightning are in the trade market (38:38). The Final Thought focuses on the struggling Connor Bedard (40:07).Kyle and Elliotte answer your questions and respond to your voicemails in the Thought Line (48:43).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

Did that voice kind of sound like McKinnon's a little bit? I was trying to decide. Is that McKinnon? Mccarr? I don't know. Maybe Jared Bednar using a voice disguiser or something like that. The fix is in. All right.

Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra AT4X. Dom, Elliot and Kyle all with you once again. Elliot, you are home in Toronto. I am out in Shremati country on the West Coast, Vancouver getting set for Leafs and Canucks on Saturday night or late afternoon out here. Are you guys in the same room right now? No. We only saved that for when all three of us are together.

We didn't want you to feel left out. I appreciate that. That's very kind. So Elliot, over the last week, we have been reminded that Canadians are very capable of coming together around a common cause that is important to them. And one of those causes that have come up from time

to time over the years has been the health of Sydney Crosby. Especially when we are getting so close to an international event. Four Nations is under a week away. It all gets underway next Wednesday. Canada and Sweden and Montreal. So, Crosby. Tuesday night

he gets banged up against New Jersey, finishes the game, had some incredible shifts in overtime, but didn't practice Wednesday. Thursday, we saw him for a little bit, skated predominantly on his own, didn't skate with the rest of the group. Mike Sullivan said that the team will likely have something more substantive in terms of an update come Friday, a little bit after this pod releases. What are you hearing right now with regards to the status of Pittsburgh's and Team Canada's captain? What I have heard is that he wants to play in the Four Nations. The question is, is he going to be able to?

I watched as much video as I could on Thursday morning and you could tell he was being very protective of whatever is ailing him on that arm. He wasn't really pushing it. And we'll see how he looks. They're playing the Rangers on Friday night. So we'll see how he looks. They're playing the Rangers on Friday night. So we'll see how he looks at the morning skate now I don't know how this is gonna go here aside from saying again that I I'm under the impression. He really wants to play So we've seen Patrangelo out who's still playing

We're awaiting a decision on Quinn Hughes Right here. We've had a bunch on Quinn Hughes right here. We've had a bunch of players from William Carlson to Jacob Markstrom to Miro Heiskanen already proclaimed out because they are missing games. To me, I think Crosby has earned the right and might be the only guy in the tournament who you could say has earned the right to play in this tournament even if he misses games, NHL games. I think if Sidney Crosby says he wants to play even if he can't play the Penguin's last two games before the break, he should be allowed to play and nobody should be complaining about it. Nobody. It's his call and he's earned the right to

make it. Now, I'll say this, I could see him mortified at this idea that he deserves any special treatment. But I'm saying it. I don't care if he's able to play in the NHL right now or not. If he wants to play in this tournament, he should be able to do it. So teams have until the day before the tournament begins to have their rosters finalized, correct? So they have a little bit of time here. I don't forget that when when Patrangelo was out, Team Canada said they want to take their full team to Montreal and their first practice

day is the 10th of Monday, right? Right. So you were just saying this is also a bit of a unique case here. This is so I could see them saying, you know, we'd like to know if we need to bring another player on the Monday. But I don't care. It's Crosby. If he wants to play and he thinks he's healthy enough to play, doesn't matter if he's able to play in HL games.

And nobody should question it. His loyalty to the Penguins, you can't even challenge it. He just signed a two-year extension at 8-7. You cannot challenge his loyalty to the Penguins. Nobody should. Yes, so you're saying, especially because you're right, when you think about across the four rosters, someone anywhere even in the ballpark of his caliber of player, like nobody's really in a similar spot where maybe the NHL club is in a difficult situation in terms of where they're at in the standings.

Pittsburgh, eight points out of a playoff spot in the East. All those things factor into even if he misses some time with his club team, if it allows him to suit up for Canada, every action should be taken towards giving him the opportunity to do so. I'm with you, very much with you. And I'll say this too. I don't want to hear any complaints about this

being Canadian homerism. If Sidney Crosby was American or he was, I don't know how you say Sidney Crosby in Swedish or Finnish, maybe it's simply just Sidney Crosby, but I don't care which country he was from. If he wanted to play in this, I'm all good. All good. No complaining. Don't want to hear it. Okay, fine then. So I'll spin it to you this way because as hockey fans from Canada and hockey fans from Pittsburgh, watch on to see where this is ultimately going to go here. I was thinking back to when you sat down with Marcus Foligno and Marc-Andre Fleury a couple

weeks ago. You remember that conversation, right? I do. Okay. And towards the end of that interview, for those that may have forgotten or missed it, first of all, what are you doing? It was a great conversation. But one of the last questions you asked Marc Andre. What are you doing?

Talking to your significant other? We know that's not happening. One of your last questions to Marc Andre about was about his old teammate Crosby and he started at the question was could you ever see him wearing another jersey other than the Penguins in his NHL career? He started the answer by saying it's a tough one to answer because as you mentioned Crosby is a very loyal guy but he later went on to say this it's not like the Penguins are fighting for the Cup right now you know he's such a such a winner you know he has it inside of him right so I it would be weird but I kind of wish him to find someone else

that you can... It's hard, it's hard to leave, you know? At first I thought I was gonna play my walk here in Pittsburgh, right? And I was sad to leave, but then you get other opportunity, meet other people, new friends and stuff. So it's not the end of the world, but for him, I just wish him he can find a place where he can

keep playing his best and keep chasing another cup because I know that's what he wants. So A, that speaks to your point you made earlier, Elliot, about his desire to win and why every opportunity should be given to him to suit up for Team Canada starting next week. But also, I mean, he did a brilliant job couching it but he's someone who is of the mind that he would love to see him get a crack at winning another championship elsewhere despite all of the history and the loyalty that he has to Pittsburgh. Did that surprise you at all?

Honestly the only thing that surprised me about it Kyle was that for a second I thought Flurry was gonna stop and not answer. You could tell the whole time he was like, I don't want Sid mad at me. Please don't let Sid get mad at me. I don't want any angry texts from Sidney Crosby. He got his message across but that was the only thing that worried me was he was like, I don't want Sid to get upset. Okay. So the reason we revisited that answer was because now typically Elliot, we save the thought line submissions for the designated thought line segment. But we got something over the last couple of days that was too good to hang on to. We needed to put this early on in the pod, all right? This is a voicemail that I'm about to play

for you and our listeners. It doesn't have a name attached to it, but I don't think it matters in this case. Elliot, I give you the poem from Pittsburgh. Hey, fellas, love the pod. Thanks for all your hard work. I'm a lifelong Penguins fan. Yes, we've had many wonderful years, but the future is bleak. I was hoping to get a message out to Crosby on behalf of all Penguins fans in the hopes that he could see his situation from our perspective. I typed out a poem. I was going to email it, but then I thought it'd mean

more if I read it, so here it goes. Our boy Sid, we know this is tough, but the next two years in Pittsburgh are going to be rough. You've dedicated your life and became Penguin's royalty. Please know that no one will ever question your loyalty. These past 20 years we will never forget, but holding you back is something we would regret. Like a young baby bird who is leaving their nest, moving on for you will be the best. We want you to end up in the top three all-time scoring. For that to happen, your team needs to be soaring. We ask this with love though it tears us all up. Go join kale and Nate and win

another cup. We are eternally grateful. We love you man. Written by Sluice your number one fan. loops. You're number one fan. Wow. Wow is right. Suddenly I feel even better about my stance that he should go play in this four nations tournament for Canada. Well, that's not the reason why I played this but why that was collateral. That is excellent work. Like This is an individual with true artistic talent,

and thank you very much for sending it to us. We are glad and proud to make it a part of the podcast. Wow, wow. Did that voice kinda sound like McKinnon's a little bit? Yeah, I was trying to decide. Is that McKinnon, McCarr? I don't trying to decide. Is that McKinnon? Mccarr? I don't know. Maybe Jared Bednar using a voice disguiser or something like that.

The fix is in. Well, I mean, because through all of this, we're like, well, how do Penguin's fans feel about everything? And at least we know how one feels. I have to say this. I can't imagine any penguins fan like true hardcore penguins fan would ever have a question about Crosby's loyalty or have a problem with anything he decided. No way.

No way. He's a Titan of that franchise. That fan base has been very, very fortunate over the last 40 years. They've had some incredible players. You know, you never think you'd ever say, here's someone who's right up there as like a statesman and a player like Lemieux. He's right there with them. Right there. Absolutely. Absolutely. Wow. So right there. All right. Well, everyone will wait with bated breath here across the country to see what happens and how Crosby is feeling

over the coming days as we inch closer to four nations. And while we're on the topic of Team Canada, Elliot, Drew Doughty. Yes. Where is Team Canada out with him? Now he spoke to media a couple of days ago and said they had a conversation with Ryan Getslap who's part of you know the management team there who basically asked him you know do you think you're ready to play at that level in such a short time? His answer was yes. Told them that he wants to be on the team that he's going to be ready to go. He also, I don't know if he saw the line he's like I gotta be honest because I wasn't on the team I knew I going to be ready to go. He also, I don't know, he saw the line. He's like, I got to be honest, I, because I wasn't on the team, I knew I probably

wasn't playing, I'm not even sure who did make it. So not even, it didn't have a sense of what the rest of the roster looks like. Uh, but Drew Downey. Or you think he's just saying that? I kind of like, he just volunteered it. I kind of do. Yeah, actually with him, it could go either way. Yes a good point. Yeah, so drowdy's chances So where are we at?

So I wrote on my notes on Thursday morning that the way doubt is playing Doesn't he have to get in or something like that and I gotta tell you nothing I wrote I got a lot of feedback for different things. I wrote in Thursday mornings notes Wednesday nights Thursday mornings notes I got a lot of feedback for different things I wrote in Thursday morning's notes, Wednesday night's Thursday morning's notes, but nothing got more pushback than the Doughty line. And some of it was from Kings fans, like sending me DMs like, have you been watching them play lately?

I mean, Kings fans, man, that's your, him and Kopitar are your current standard bearers, your cornerstone players, your retired numbers. I couldn't believe some of the messages I was getting about Doughty. And I got a call from someone he's like in the league and they're like, okay, I saw your blog was posted at 1am on Thursday morning. Am I to take this as you kind of had one like the the Kings-Canadians game on in the background while you wrote? And I go, yeah, that's pretty fair. He goes, Doughty had a really rough night. And because you know, the last game he had was the Carolina game on Saturday. And I didn't get a chance to watch a lot of that one on Saturday night,

because we had a bunch of great games on hockey night but I went and I watched a bunch of his stuff on Sunday and because someone said to me that was the best game Doughty's played so far the Carolina game and you know he was typical Doughty like there's some plays you're like oh but there's a lot of really good there and I was like oh okay he's coming on so I figure he's going to be okay but like Wednesday night was was a really rough night for him. And I do admit it, like those people who called me and questioned me or sent me DMs, you were right. Like I wasn't watching that game as closely as I should have. You know, I'll say this, I think the Kings have done Doughty a real favor. They've done really right by him, throwing him in there, giving him every chance to show that he's ready. Like they have not eased him in. And, you know, for a guy who's

been a superstar in a Hall of Famer for them, I think the Kings have done really right by him. But I think there's a big question, and this is kind of what I heard on Thursday morning after I wrote it, I just think there's a big question about whether or not he's ready. And I don't like I think Tannin has got a shot at it if it's not him. I think Uyghur's got a shot at it if it's not him. You know, we'll see. But I just believe that I think there's a real worry there that he really has had enough time to get up to speed. These are going to be high paced, fast games right away.

And you know, I just had a couple people say to me that that might not turn out to be the smartest thing you've ever written. I'm a dowdy Stan I'm a huge dowdy fan and and I would admit that I Have some rose-colored glasses when it comes to him I'm a huge fan But I did get a lot of pushback on that one particular line Some from fans and some from people in the game There was one thing I wanted to point out actually from that Kings game when I went back and I kind of

watched it a bit more on Thursday because so many people called me on on that line. There was one thing I noticed and that was you know, Brent Clark had kind of had a rough second period and we were talking about last week about how you know, he'd been scratched a couple games, you know, that going to mean teams are going to call, say, what's up there. Jim Hiller put Brent Clark out right at the start of the third period and he had a big play as the king scored. I think that if you're going to say, hey, this is where you're kind of looking at it and saying, is the match perfect?

You have to give credit where credit is due. And you know, Hillard like didn't bench him for the whole game or anything like that. He put him out there at the start of the third and Clark made a big play. So I wanted to point that out too. But overall, I just wanted to shout out the people who said to me that they felt that I was not accurate on my doubted prediction because I went back and I watched. Interesting. One thing I heard out of LA is that, I mean, since he's come back, obviously his presence on the bench is unmatched. His passing has been terrific by and large, but, and even Doughty admitted the other day, the defensive side of things. He's going like I'm running on a treadmill that's already at speed

nine. And even for a player that's been around it and works as hard as he does, it does take a bit of time to adjust. So yeah, it would be a great story. Is there a runway? Is there a runway? Can I tell you something else? Someone was saying to me, you know, is it disrespectful to doubt he'd take him as the seventh guy? Like say we're just going to skate you and you might not play, but because he's got such a high level possibility, if you do bring him in, you know, there's like there's nobody you could bring in who's got a better upside than him if he's if if he's ready to go and You know it was suggested to me Like do you just skate that you don't play him in game one?

You see how things go you just skate them hard and hope he catches up and someone said to me That's disrespectful to doubt and I'm like, you know, I hope that I never think like that in life that I hope that I never think like that in life that Even if I was a Hall of Famer at anything which God knows I'm not But even if I was and they said to you we're bringing you in a reserve role and there might be the opportunity For you there. We just can't promise you anything if it was for something like this. I would be like You signed me up. I remember at the 2014 Olympics, you'd see guys like Mike Smith, PK Subban, Marty Sanlui did it a lot even though he was playing. Just the guys who weren't playing, they were skating every morning.

They were having, you could tell those guys were just thrilled to be there. And I just can't imagine at this point in his career a guy like Drew Doughty would find that to be an insult. I think he would understand. I think he would say, yeah, I missed three months. Right, it's all circumstantial. Yeah, I understand the decision here, though. If they say, look, it's too fast, he's just not I get it, but you know I wanted to shut out all those people who

Because you know sometimes Sometimes people say you're stupid and you just ignore them and other times you get enough people saying I really disagree with this point You go back and you look that's all yes. Yes Well it if they do go that route like it's a fresh body who is highly, highly motivated to make the most of an opportunity like that, if it were to come his way. So lots to consider there as Team Canada's roster is still not set in stone this close to game number one against Sweden. Another point you had in the blog this week, Elliot, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now we talked not too long ago about who they were looking for. You know that they've been trying to find a

centre and that's no secret. You mentioned in the blog they went hard after Brandon Saad amongst other teams. They are looking dangerous again offensively with John Tavares and Matthew Nye's back in the fold. But as we sit here and record this on Thursday evening, what do you think is kind of the plan here? Because one of the other notes you had is that they would like to go for a bigger name at center, but how big can they conceivably look at trying to bring in? So it's funny how this works sometimes, Kyle. You write something and then the information comes to you.

And I think like Toronto's got, I would call it a wish list that they are working through. Here's this person that we kind of like, what would it take? Here's this person we kind of like, what would it take? Here's this person we kind of like, what would it take? And I think it's a combination of A, how much do they like the player? And B, what's it going to cost to get that player? So I think they're working through that. And I think, like, I think some of them could potentially be like two C's, but not all of them. And so, and that's what you're supposed to do, right?

You kind of have your group of people that you like and you try to figure out what can you do, like what is reasonable. And so, I think the Maple Leafs are kind of going through this all right now and saying, okay, if it's X, we have to give up Y. If it's Z, we have to give up Q. Or is this not even really a possibility at all? And I think that's what they're doing.

I think that's what they're trying to figure out is how much it's gonna cost and what they're comfortable with doing. I think they's what they're trying to figure out is how much it's going to cost and what they're comfortable with doing. I think they're going to do something and I think part of this is they know if they as long as the certain options are still available they can circle back on some of them. But I think that's what they're doing and you know they don't have a first-round pick this year. Next year's draft is better than this year's. I think that's a concern for them. I think they would like to keep next year's first rounder. So I mean how high are they willing to go and

does that mean they go into one of their top prospects since they don't have a first rounder this year? I think they're weighing all of that stuff. And sometimes you get the decision made for you, because someone calls you, like Carolina gets to a point where they have to make a choice, one or the other with Vancouver and Colorado, and everybody puts all their chips in and you see where you end up.

But I don't know that that's the case yet with Toronto. I still think they've got some time to figure it out here but I I think that's what they're doing you know it was interesting there was a there was a there was a report about you know Braden Shan and last year there was a team that made a pitch for Braden Shan and I don't think the Blues were thrilled at all that it got out. Like they were kind of like that's our captain and we don't really want him in trade rumors so I don't have any fault with the reporting I mean that's what I do but I just remember how the Blues felt about that last year with

with Shans name being out there but that's I think that's I think Toronto's process I think that's kind of what they're thinking right now. Got it. As I've watched the Leafs this year I mean clearly they're a different team and how they play they don't score as much as a group as they have in years past but the top guys have in large part delivered most nights like they've carried the bulk of the load. As things have gone on here and you're trying to predict, okay, when playoffs roll around, how much of this is going to translate?

Like, I still just don't, don't know yet. And I don't mean that as a criticism, like I'm skeptical. I just really flat out don't know how it's all still gonna come together for Toronto. And as you say, I mean, if, if they add someone else into the mix here between now and the deadline, that completely changes the conversation around them. Um, I just wonder again, like they, they are probably as top heavy as, as they've ever been, and despite the fact that they're playing a little more sound and direct as you know, often hear Barube refer to. I just don't know yet if that's gonna allow them to have

sustained success come the springtime. I don't know what I think that's what they're I think that's why they're looking. Like that that's why they're that's why they're looking and I think they're looking down the middle. I I think they would love to see if they could swing for a two C which might not be possible but I think they would love to see if they could swing for a 2C, which might not be possible, but I think they'd consider it. You know, the other team I'm watching,

like I'm watching Washington and they won again, and Ovechkin scored again. Alex Ovechkin's. He's within 16. I thought for sure when they put him out there for the empty netter opportunity against Philly that he was gonna score again, that we were gonna be at 15 at the end of the night, but it didn't happen.

And I think Washington's going to add one more forward, and I'm wondering what they do. Like that Radish-Eller-Frank line, like Radish was on the fourth line earlier this year, and he was great, and Frank has had big big moments and you were saying Eller had a big night on Thursday. But I thought that was a heck of a goal he scored against Philly on Thursday. What a release. That was a great goal but you can tell they're not 100% comfortable with that trio as a group.

So I think they go out and they get one more forward and I'm really curious to see what they're going to do. do is it gonna be a score you know they've got Monjapani on the fourth line he's been a little bit better lately but you know what do they do do they go out and add another score do they go out and add another grinder like what are they looking at her I don't think you can ever have enough goals as tough as the playoffs are I Just never think you can score enough in this league. It's never bad and You know they like everything they did in the offseason looks like a home run right now

So big time you you think you they you think they have a pretty good idea of what they need to do Like I'm watching Chikran Chikran's got 14 goals right now I'm watching Chickron. Chickron's got 14 goals right now. And they're trying to sign him too, but I can only imagine what he's asking for right now. I mean, that's just got to be a big, big number because he's having a monster season at just the right time as the cap is going up. But I really like that team and we're sitting there, we're thinking about, okay, what's Toronto going to add? I'm looking at Washington and I'm saying if they add another forward, that's going to be a tough, tough out, really tough out. Big thing for Chickert too, just the last two years years as you know, Elliot, he's healthy again. Hadn't been that way for a long while. So I think I have 14 goals last year with Ottawa and already

at 14 with Washington this year. So good on him getting a good run of being able to be in the lineup every night. Well, speaking of teams in the East that have added a forward, Elliott, the Carolina Hurricanes, however, I guess some understandable growing pains, five goals total in the last four games, Miko Rantinen, one goal, one assist in six games with the Hurricanes. I always think back to the line that Craig Simpson used from time to time, especially this time of year at the trade deadline and for someone like Rantanen and just all the circumstances around it where you know in a lot of ways it came out of nowhere clearly it caught him off guard and Craig's line of like just the simple fact of you get traded somewhere you're not necessarily

expecting it and just like putting on different colored socks after being somewhere for so many years like just the shock value of all the different newness in your life especially for rent and you want a cup with Colorado of course I just wonder if you know there's just a little bit more time to get comfortable for him and the team that maybe everyone had hoped when all this first happened well it's just if you watch that game against Minnesota on Thursday night like that's everything you're talking about. Like they have one shift there where they hold the puck in the Minnesota zone for, it seemed like 25 minutes and then they take an offensive zone penalty at the end of it. And he had another great chance that just missed.

You know, he's got one goal, he's a little bit out of sorts. There's no, like he could have four or five goals there. And you look at Natchez, he, uh, just points after points in Colorado. I'm watching him light it up here for the avalanche again, against the flames. You know, it's kind of funny. The Colorado had to trade rant in cause they felt they couldn't make this all work. Pretty soon nature's going to be walking in there asking for 14.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah, the price just keeps going up. Remember when you didn't want to pay Rantanen? Well, my numbers are kind of comparable. Yeah. Yes. How do we end up back here again? You can see the frustration on Rantanen. He's like, what's happened to me here? The interesting thing about that too is after the game, Bryndamora called their power play like basically a disaster. It's been a nightmare for them all year.

I'm watching this and you look at Colorado and they get so many chances that when you miss one or two it's kind of like, eh, you know, we're going to get four or five more. You know, right now the way unfortunately it's going for Carolina, you miss one chance and you're not getting as many as the avalanche generates. So I think that's the bigger frustration too. I think it's everything you mentioned, the shock think it's everything you mentioned the shock. It's different He's out of sorts but also when you when you not getting as many chances when you miss these ones and he's like they're

Glorious opportunities that nine times out of ten. He'd bury you're sitting there and you're frustrated You're like what is happening to me now? The chicklets guys did a big segment where they said they don't think he's going to sign. You know, the one thing I always think is number one, I do think the biggest challenge that Carolina has here, and I wish I would have written this in all of the stuff I talked about on Thursday in the notes is the shock. Like how long does it take until the shock value wears off for

Rantanen where he feels like he can make a decision? Like the number one thing I tell people in life is do not make decisions when you are emotional. Never ever. Especially life-altering decisions. You never do that because 99 times out of 100 you regret it. So, Rantonin is still in shock and he's probably frustrated with the way this is going. It's not good for him to be making lifetime decisions in those cases. But the thing is, like there's still a month to go. The deadline's March 7th and know, we'll see what Carolina does if they don't have a clear vision by then. But the one thing I have is, I don't like to make proclamations saying there's no way this is going to happen. Because what is true today may not be true tomorrow or in two weeks or in three weeks now it might turn out to be totally right that He may not sign, but I have what I call the McDonough rule the Ryan McDonough rule

Ryan McDonough was so mad when he got traded from Tampa to Nashville You never thought that he would be back in Tampa. Lo and behold where is he young Bukaskis? In Tampa with a two-game sweep over Ottawa this week. Yes and he's had a great season in McDonough. So I always look at that I was like I was like you know I've heard things like before like this guy will never sign there and that and maybe he doesn't I don't know But I always I have it's the McDonald rule like there are times you hear I'll never do this I'll never play for them again

Things sometimes change you've got to let it play out And like I said it might turn out to be right. He might not sign. He might sign I don't know but the one thing I always protect against is sometimes, we're all human right, our minds change, I think the biggest challenge for Carolina is beating the shock value. I think from a purely logical point of view, the Hurricanes were prepared for this. They knew what he got offered or what hadn't got it done. They were prepared. We talked about the math. Unless someone's offering him more than seven times fortune on the open market, they're comfortable. They can outbid it. I just so I think they're prepared for all that.

The biggest challenge is the emotion and it hurts too that he's struggling and they're struggling right now Never ever say never ever ryan hartman Uh pa announced that they are going to appeal his 10 game suspension this week So I went and did some looking, okay? Because the two other times where we have seen long suspensions reduced by the independent arbitrator, right, Tom Wilson, Dennis Weidman. Yes. So Tom Wilson was 16 games into his 20 game suspension when it was reduced back to

14. From the day that they filed the appeal to win, the arbitrator ruled the decision, 39 days total. Okay? Okay. Dennis Weidman's case, 20 games reduced to 10, there's 37 days total between announcing the appeal and the decision. There are 32 days between the day that Hartman and the PA filed their appeal back on Wednesday and the 10th game that the Wild are slated to miss. So of course part of the appeal process is to see if you can try to get a little bit of salary back out of this, but you got to get through Bedman first. I know before the independent arbitrator comes into play, do you think there's a chance because of the four nations break

That's gonna spread out how long how many days until you hit the tenth game here for Hartman in the Minnesota wild Do you think there's a chance there's a resolution before then? Yeah, I think it's possible Kyle I mean the timeline that you're providing there says to me that it could work It could work like Batman has had one he decreased recently and that was in 2021 it was Jason Spezza he got six and he dumped it down to four but Spezza had a clean record like Spezza and Hartman in this situation are not comparable so I don't think Hartman will get reduced and even to be reduced beyond the independent arbitrator

It would have to be cut in half and Betman is certainly not doing that like he's not cutting this in half. So we're going to the independent arbitrator at some point here But you know, it's it's it's a tough case But as I've said to you before, I generally don't think the Players Association appeals them unless they got a chance, they think they have a chance to win. Like you don't want, these are all lawyers, right? And you don't want precedent against you in stone. And everybody here with a law degree on both sides is is well aware of that.

You know, and the other thing too, and I did mention it in the notes on Thursday is that I did hear that one of the things that came up was that the one at least one of the referees had warned Hartman during the game that he was in danger of losing control and there are a couple times where when play was stopped I guess they were having I don't know arguments conversations I didn't see it I only heard this second hand but I know it was brought up that there were arguments, conversations at the bench during whistles, during commercial breaks. And if you watch the offending play itself, the official is looking right at Hartman. It's like, he's like, okay, I know the history of this game. I know he's been mad. He was looking right for it. So and I

did hear that was a big part of the prosecution, I guess, for lack of a better term. Right. Because I've used you have said in the past, too, like when they get a whiff of revenge or retaliation, that's part of anything. The Department of Player Safety does not like that at all. No, they do not like that at all. All right Elliot, we brought up Ryan McDonough and the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier. Anything else going on with the bolts that it's on your mind or we should be aware of? Well I mentioned that they they were pretty serious about sawW, didn't get them. I heard they're really looking out there.

Yeah, they're another top heavy group. Yeah, they're back in third by points percentage over Ottawa. That's going to be a great race between Toronto, Florida, Tampa, Ottawa, Detroit. And I'm talking about mainly the Atlantic side. I mean, Columbus is there through the metro, still Boston and the islanders have at least made this interesting, Rangers, Montreal, let's just name the whole conference.

Yes, that's right, for the 11th time. Yeah, the Rochester Americans. Uh, the New Haven Nighthawks, are they still around? Oh my goodness, very good. No, I heard Tampa's really, really looking for a forward and I had some of the Tampa and Buffalo fans asking me about my note about Tuck. I don't know what Buffalo is going to do here. I really don't. But I do think Tampa's asked about him.

So we'll see. But they're just they're not going to sit pad. I've got too many people telling me this week that the lightning are active and they they want to strike. they want to strike. They want to strike. All right. And that takes us to the final thought, which is brought to you by GMC and Elliot Connobadar. And his play is back in the news this week for a couple of different reasons. So I guess the timeline, you go back to last weekend, Mark Messier and the ESPN broadcast had some criticism for his play watching the chicago game and then wednesday night with mcdavid and the

oilers in town paul bissonnette in the tnt panel during i think it was the second intermission right he had some criticism for bedard as well use the term pawn hockey bedard answered the questions about it on thursday said look what i make mistakes i know i'm not watching broadcasts or anything so I'm playing hockey. You know, their job is to say what they see. You know, I couldn't really care less to be honest with people on the other side. Think of me or us or whatever but of course I'm not gonna be black haired if someone says I'm a bad player or someone. I don't care, it's their job to say what they feel and I'm not going to take anything for granted.

How do you feel about how last night went for you? Yeah, it was good and bad, so I'm just trying to clean up the bad. Just to kind of follow up, do you listen to some of the criticisms of the game and see if they have a point or not? Um, hey man, I know if I messed up a play and like I said it's their job to point that out or to say how they feel about something so But, I mean if I make a mistake I know, you know, so I don't need to watch a TNT broadcast to figure out if I made a mistake, you know, I'm gonna know. As I've taken all this in, Elliot, like I'm really curious your thoughts here, but like, is it alright that nobody is wrong in this case? Because you know, like, especially someone like Bisson Adami, Messier's been doing it,

played for a bajillion years and now is a commentator, and Biss will be the first guy to pump a guy like Bedard's tires when it's warranted. And the players take an ownership for it in a way, too. And I love even Lundquist remarks on the back end of all that on Wednesday, saying that, you know, look at, let's remind ourselves of the situation that he is in and where the Blackhawks are as a team. So that changes the dynamic a little bit too in terms of how

he's trying to produce for his club. I think there's a situation here, I don't know if you agree, where I don't know if anybody is wrong in this case to react the way that they did and feel the way that they feel. Well number one, if I was Bedard, I would take it as a compliment. And the reason I would take it as a compliment is Wayne Gretzky's game got picked apart, Mario Lemieux's game. Mario Lemieux, before Pittsburgh got good, people were ruthless about his game,

I remember as a teenager. Crosby's game was picked apart. Yeah. McDavid's game was picked apart. Matthew's game has been picked apart. The best players of their generations when they first got into the NHL, all of their games were picked apart. So on one level I think that is a compliment of Bedard that so much is expected of him. He's a number one pick, he's a really talented player and when people tune in they want to be impressed and I don't see anything that anyone is saying about him being any different than was said by

about all those other players I listed so I think on one level it is a compliment to Badaar that a lot is expected of him I don't understand how anybody can criticize Marc Messier the guy's one of the greatest players in the history of the NHL he's played a a billion games. He has a million points. He's got six Stanley Cups. If Mark Messier is gonna say that, who's criticizing him? Like seriously, how can you criticize Mark Messier for saying that? I don't see how it could. I actually like Bedard's answer because I actually think kind of like the same way about myself. Like I know if I have a good show or a bad show or if I have a good

podcast or a bad podcast. Nobody needs to tell me. I know if I've done a good job or not. The one thing I think that's tough for him and this is the challenge is that there just isn't a lot else to watch on Chicago right now so if he's on a nationally televised game he is going to get picked apart and that's why I think Chicago is gonna like if market or Marner hits the market this year or any of those guys they're gonna throw I'm convinced they're gonna throw a big number at them they tried last year with Gensel they didn't get them they were disappointed I think they go again and one of the reasons I think they're gonna do this is because they know they have to protect him like I've watched some people like I've asked some people like I like that in his are I think he looks like a good player And a few and I think there's people out there who agree with me I think some of their young defensemen have chances to be really good players really solid defensemen

And I think a lot of people out there agree with me, but he needs someone now Who can really help him and take some of the heat off him, right kyle? Who can really help him and take some of the heat off him right Kyle? So yeah, I like because that's the thing right now when you watch the Blackhawks he's the guy you're watching and so like remember we did that game in Vancouver where he went back and he was so crushed and Disappointed and like his game got picked apart on our broadcast to that night. It was a really tough night for him It's because when you're talking about Chicago, that's who the fans want to hear about, good or bad. If you're a commentator, that's who you're watching, good or bad. There's nobody else that you're watching as much as him. So it's almost set up for the fact that, hey, we've

got the Blackhawks on our national broadcast tonight who are we gonna talk about well we're gonna talk about Badaard and everything that he does is going to be spotlighted if it's good it's really good if it's bad it's really bad and that's why I think they need to find elite level help for them not just because you want to get better and you want to entertain your fans and you want to win games, but because you take some of the heat and the spotlight off him as well. So that's the way I look at it. On one level, I think it's a real compliment that much is expected. On another level, I look at it as, hey, if I'm a national broadcaster and I'm doing a Blackhawks

game, who else am I going to talk about? Right. It's like that comedian, you know, make me laugh and you sit back with your arms crossed and you just wait. Exactly. It's like, all right, well, there's only one way to go about this now. And he just, again, getting to know him a little bit and you see how he handles it all. Clearly, he's not one that seeks out the spotlight when it comes to the media responsibilities,

but he does them. He just feels like a guy who is wired of like, through all of this, the difficult early years playing on a team that doesn't have a lot around him, still think he's going to be just fine. I agree agree, and you know, I will say this. I've, this year, like, this year I've heard much more criticism of his play. Like, how good is he really? I think that is way, way premature. Way premature. Oh yeah.

I think he's, I again. Doubt at your own peril. I, exactly, doubt at your own peril. I exactly doubt at your own peril. I think it's I think it's crazy. Some of the stuff I've heard about him this year. But again, it's because of who he is. He's the number one pick. And every number one pick gets criticized hard. The final thought brought to you by GMC.

We'll take our first break and come back with the Thoughtline. Thirty two thoughts. The podcast continues after this. All right. Welcome back. Time once again for the Thoughtline. Elliot, did you get any good responses after that WWE tag team battle royale question we got at the end of Monday's episode? I got a couple. One of them disagreed and said that I shortchanged Mike Foligno because I should have used penalty minutes per game instead of all penalty minutes and Keith Kachak played

more games than Mike Foligno so therefore Foligno is actually tougher than Kachak so the Folignos would have won the match. That was the most in-depth complaint I got. What about you? Yeah I got a few and a reason why I brought that up is because our first voicemail here today, Nathan in Edmonton, has a thought on that topic and also a hockey question as well. So Nathan, take it away. Hey guys, Nathan here. I am a Canucks fan in Edmonton. I am actually just calling for two reasons. one to say listening to your previous Podcast if the Kachaks are a WWE wrestling combo

They are clearly size notwithstanding the Hardy boys They are two guys willing to give up their bodies for anything to happen No holds barred absolutely just willing to go to the difficult places. Second thing, I just wanted to say the Canucks fan with the JT Miller trade complete and there being some rumours about some unhappiness about that in the locker room, whether those are true or not, I'm just curious if in history of hockey would have been kind of some of the most disastrous trades where a trade has been made to better the team and has ended up kind of blowing up in their faces

and having teams spiral or kind of go south rather the intended direction. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work. You guys are awesome. So first of all, Nathan makes a great point on the Hardy boys and I was thinking they're too big. They're too big. Yes that's why I didn't go there. That's why I didn't go there. I understand what Nathan's trying to say I just can't picture it because they're they're too big. Yes and also like Edge could cut a hell of a promo still can and you know, both kachucks are great on the microphone So that's why I initially had said edge and Christian over the Hardy boys, but I do like where his heads at. Okay

trades in history where Dunn intended to improve the club in the here and now and Ended up backfiring anything come to mind for you Yeah, I mean, I think I think a lot of people would think about that Montreal trade with Ryan McDonough for Scott Gomez. That was one I think that people would look back and say it didn't work. You know, one that was really unfortunate was Columbus with Jeff Carter, they traded for him from Philadelphia, and Carter just didn't want to be there. And he went to the Kings and turned out to be the final piece of their championship puzzle, right? They I remember

that year the Kings when they traded for Carter, I think they had the fewest goals in the NHL. And Dean Lombardi made the bet that we were with they were so good defensively that if they got more goals, they'd win and he was right twice. I would think. The Philip Forsberg one was a big one and I would say Joe Thornton to to San Jose. I know that had a real effect on Boston after he got traded. What are you thinking?

Well, the one that came to mind for me, local angle from where I live, but like the Matt Duchenne deal here in Ottawa, and that's not a discredit to Duchenne. Like that was a ended up being a very flawed roster. And as we learned over time, there were a lot of problems that needed to get sorted out with that organization. But a team that had just come off a goal away from the Stanley Cup final a year previous, you think you're making that kind of move to bolster another crack at trying to go deep in the playoffs again. You remember that was also the year where the images of, remember Duchenne at media day with the avalanche and you could just the look on his face like it was all so uncomfortable. Yes.

And the trade happens to Ottawa and you think, okay, he's out of that situation in a different spot now. And shortly after that trade, remember Ottawa and Colorado went over to Sweden and played two games over there. That's right. Ottawa won both of them. The Sens won both of those games. And then you look at where the two franchises went from that point on it was

two opposite directions of course. Yeah that was one where you thought from the Sends perspective it was a win now type deal and really it ended up being kind of the the first piece of what's been a long long rebuild that they're still trying to get out of once and for all. You know, I remember too, one of the, and it kind of looked like it was gonna work out terribly, but they wanted Stanley Cup after it. Pat Burns once told a great story about when the Montreal Canadiens had Chris Chalios, and he got a call from Sarah Savard,

and Sarah Savard told him, "'I just got you Denny Savard, and he's like, all right, who did we give up? And Savard told him they gave up Chris Cellios, and Pat Burns said, what? We gave up who? And Savard said, oh, my phone's ringing, I gotta call you back, and then he never heard from him.

Like he didn't, Savard just didn't call him back. And so I always remember that story being really funny, but the Canadians won the Stanley Cup and remember Savard. It was such a great team moment. He didn't play a ton through that, but you could tell how happy they were for him that he wanted. I still remember Savard lifting the cup, even though he wasn't a huge, on ice part of that team.

You could tell how beloved he was by the fact that they made sure he was a big part of the celebration. But I always remember that story of Pat Burns, what? Chris Cellios and then Savard not talking to him again. I love that. That's good. That is great. All right, Nathan, thank you for submitting that. Okay, on to Kyle from the Sunshine City of Orillia, Ontario. Hello gentlemen, big fan of the pod. I've noticed a trend in the NBA where teams trade multiple first round picks in a single deal, sometimes for drafts like six or seven years away. How does the NHL handle this? Are there limits on how far ahead teams can trade their picks? Thanks and keep up the great work. The answer is no. There isn't anything that prevents them from doing that. The NHL can

block any trade if they think it's ridiculous, but the NHL generally values draft picks much more than the NBA does. That's one thing I've learned over the years is that especially if you're if you tend to be good in the NBA, you tend to think that players are going to want to come play for you. So unless you're really tanking for the top of the draft, teams don't value their first round picks in the NBA as much as the NHL does. Very good. Okay. Tyler from Chicago-ish. Chicago-ish. Hey, Kyle, Elliot and Dom. Was listening to the I'm imagining where Tyler is from here.

Ish. Yes. That's like you are Toronto-ish. No, I actually live in Metro Toronto. So I'm not Toronto-ish. You're Ottawa-ish. You don't live in... I'm Ottawa-ish.

I'll give you that. Yeah, I'm not Toronto-ish. I'm Toronto. Okay, well that's not as fun. Yeah. Okay, Tyler, was listening to the final thought the other day about Utah and their name. You mentioned that there's a chance that they could reveal their team jersey and logo with their upcoming first round pick, which got me thinking, does that make their first rounder

untradable from a team perspective? That's obviously a pretty big moment in team history, but with the constant injuries to Utah's blue line, it feels like they could very well benefit from trading this pick for a replacement. It'd be a shame to not have that first rounder to do anything with, but it also feels like a pretty hefty sacrifice to not really have that at their expense for a possible trade. No right answer here, but it feels like a pretty big discussion between management and ownership. Thanks and go Hawks." Interesting point. That's a great question. I'm gonna say Tyler is from Aurora, Illinois, home of Wayne and Garth. Oh, excellent. That's what I'm going with.

Tyler from Chicago-ish, yes. I'm guessing you're from Aurora, excellent. That's what I'm going with. Tyler from Chicago-ish, yes. You are, I'm guessing you're from Aurora, Illinois. So, I think Tyler that the the the Utahns are going to do what is best for them hockey wise. It sounds like that is at least a possibility, but I would also think if they trade for a star player or the kind of player they would give up their first round draft pick for, then you do it. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule that they're not going to trade the first round pick because of the possibility of unveiling the jersey. For example, if you trade for a star player

for argument's sake or you sign a star player, maybe you use that opportunity to unveil your jersey for the first time. So I think there are different possibilities there. I understand the question, I totally get why you're asking, but I don't see that as a hang up. I'll tell you one thing that's really interesting was Kyle is that like one of the top prospects I guess what they're gonna do the draft this year in LA at one of the theaters there and one of the one of the family members was saying to me who I happen to know is it really gonna be that much fun to go like it's not the full draft do you really want to go and my answer was I still think you should go it's not the full draft do you really want to go? And my answer was I still think you should go. It's a great experience. You get to walk out there. You get to go you

get a trip to California like to me and I also mentioned that one of the rumors that if you get picked by Utah maybe you're the first person to wear the jersey. Wouldn't that be cool? And he kind of thought about it and said, you know what, that actually would be pretty cool. So not only is this Utah idea great, but Kyle, I just saved the draft. Yes, now if you could just get it back to an in-person draft with your next trick, that would be great.

Oh yeah, I'm all over that. I am all over that. I'll tell you a funny story. I heard the NHL's not crazy about this whole thing. Like one of the GMs was telling me. Oh, you can tell listening to Gary. Yeah, one of the GMs was telling me. It's what you guys wanted. Yes, exactly, exactly. That was the phrase that was used. Absolutely. Yes. Yeah. Yes. I'm with the commissioner on this one. That's great. So am I. Yeah. Okay. Justin from Newfoundland.

Hey guys. It has been emphasized in recent months that Elias Patterson's no trade clause is not effective until July 1st. If a team acquires him before this date, do they have the option of not honoring or accepting his no, it's actually a no move clause, similar to how Nashville did not honor PK Subban's no move clause in 2016 when they acquired him from Montreal. If so, why? If not, why not? The Subban situation is the only other instance of this I can recall.

Have there been others? That is a great question. And you know why it's a great question Justin because it led to a CBA change. So you are right that when PK Subam was traded from Montreal to Nashville, Nashville did not accept the no trade clause and that was their choice at the time. However, the next time that this came up in negotiations, which I believe was COVID, it was written in that even if a player waves to go to you, or you are traded to a team because you're not on their list, they get to keep whatever clause they have.

So you inherit the contract. So even if a player waves to go to you, once they come to you, whatever clause they have is back intact. That was changed because of what happened to Subban and others. So, there is that situation, yes. Right. And I will say this, it happened in more than one case Not players weren't always traded, but there were situations where teams made it known

They would not pick back up the no trade clause and also another rule that was changed Was and Pederson is not eligible, but it happened with Carey Price Carey Price. Carey Price had a contract. When he signed his big extension in the previous contract, which he went into his last year, he did not have a no trade clause, but he was eligible for one. So the Canadians agreed that they would add the no trade clause or no move clause or whatever it was To the final year of his current deal and that you're allowed to do if the player is eligible

And that is the Jeff Carter rules we talked about earlier because Jeff Carter was a guy who got burned He cited no move clause with the Flyers, but before it took effect they traded him So Pedersen's not eligible yet. So he couldn't get one now, even if he wanted to. But if you sign a player to an extension, and they would be eligible for a no trade clause in the last year of their current deal, you can add it if you wish. Yes. Carey Price, technically still under contract, or his contract still runs for one more season

After this one, and it's funny they mention, you know the Subban trade in and around all these questions with Pedersen I mean Vancouver was all over that when Subban was thought to be available in 2016 am I Pierre if Pierre-luc Dubois was available when Vancouver.K. Subban was going to the Vancouver Canucks. Right. Holy smokes. Amazing, the button black. But he went third to Columbus, and that ended that.

Correct. And then that was Ole O'Levy for Vancouver, right? They ended up taking the defenseman to their own. Two picks later, yep. All right, AJ from Wilmington Delaware speaking of Wayne and Garth hi I'm in Delaware after the trades last week the Canucks had as many Pettersons as Canadian-born players on their roster at one point. I know the NHL is way more international nowadays, but three seems to be quite low. What's the fewest number of Canadians ever on an NHL roster, and if it's less than three, what's the fewest

ever on a Canadian team? So you do research here? Yeah, between not only our group at Sportsnet stats, but NHL stats as well. There was some real digging done to get to the bottom of this one. Wow. Well, first of all, before you say it, thank you to everybody who actually did the work on this. It sounds like this was real work. Yes, it was. So thank you is right. Actually. So just earlier this week, when Vancouver hosted Colorado,

there were four that dressed in that game. Suzy, Debrus, Juleson, and Myers. That is the most recent instance of the fewest on a Canadian team. It actually has happened once where only two Canadian players have dressed in a regular season game in the NHL. Wow. It would be foolish of me to ask you have any guesses because that's a really a fair question. So only twice have only two players direct to Canadian players dressed. No, I think there's they provided one example. One time

there was two. Okay, so so so excuse me. So only once they found an example of two Canadian players dressing in like the history of the NHL. Yes, for one team on a given night. And it happened kind of recent post post COVID shutdown.

post COVID shutdown. Post COVID shutdown? Okay. How many more questions do we have in this particular thought line? This is it, buddy. Oh, you should have asked me this one first. Then I could have taken some time to think about it. Post COVID shutdown.

This is almost like, how do you even begin to try to decipher? I just wanted to think if I could think of something. I assume it's got to be a US team, right? It is, yep. OK. OK, post-COVID shutdown. Get the Japanese music ready, Dom. This is going to take me a few seconds

Okay, stop. It's distracting me. Western Conference. Yep. Pacific Division. Yes. I am thinking sharks. Oh, geographically you are so close. Wait a second, hold on? I was thinking

California. I didn't think Kings because they always had Doughty, so I figured they had enough guys. I was thinking sharks or ducks. No, it was the Kings. It was the Kings? Hold on, hold on. Really? Yeah, and a game that Drew Doughty did not play in. Ah, that's why I just assumed that, I just assumed it was Doughty and so they would have had a couple more. I was thinking sharks or ducks for sure and I discounted Kings because of Doughty. Okay, hold on. So let me think. I'm trying to think of who the Canadians would have been on the roster. What year is this? This is 2021. 2021. So I'm trying to

think of which Canadians they would have had at that time. And here's the tricky part. Okay, so 2122 or 56 game season Kings. 2122. Okay. And there's a bit of a trick to one of the answers. Oh Is it one of those people that was like? dual citizen or something like that it's They are born in Canada, but they have but there could they tend to be American they have represented the US internationally over their career oh Well, I gotta think on that team. Oh my god, what a team.

Would byfield have been one of them? Nope. Would Sean Dersie have been one of them? Yes. The other one's a defenseman too. Oh, is it Anderson Dolan? No. Who is it? Dolan? No. Who is it? Christian Wallanan. Oh, right. I we would have been here all day. I never would have got that. What a question. What great work by our stats crew and NHL stats crew. Very impressive. Double team that one. So as I said AJ, thank you for submitting that Elliott says that was the last question I had for you However, it is not the last question of this edition of the thought line. We have one more voicemail left Dom Pay attention to this one

Hey guys, Matt from Advertisers here. My question is actually for Dom Dom what in the world is your schedule? By my calculations, the guys finished talking after midnight on Thursdays and Sundays, and you magically have the podcast ready to go Monday and Friday morning. Do you work all night? What's the rest of the week look like for you? You have a side gig that's also a night shift, and how in the world do you have a personal life? Love the pod. Keep it coming, guys. Good work, Griffin and Dom and company. I actually like this question. I think people are really interested in how the sausage gets

made. Good question. Yeah. So to answer your question, I work the podcast Sundays and Thursdays and I work at Sportsnet 650 from Monday to Wednesday. So my weekend. But what he doesn't know is that that's in Vancouver, which is the real key to all of this. That's the key.

Correct. And so my weekend, in quotes, is Friday, Saturday, unless there is a Canucks hockey game in which case I work with Dan Murphy and collect postgame audio with the TV side. So there might be weeks where like for this Sunday for example we recorded half the pod before the game and then the game happened, I worked, I went home, we recorded the back half of the pod, and then you guys went to bed, I think it was one o'clock your time, and I was up until midnight editing

and putting everything together. Yes, so I think it's important to mention, first of all, Dom works hard, it's very true. Secondly, because Dom is based in BC, he's three hours behind us, which actually works really well. I don't think anybody intended it to be this way, but the best discoveries are by accident often. And because that is true that sometimes Kyle and I finish at 1 a.m., it's 10 for Dom and he can get it done at a reasonable hour by NHL standards.

The other thing to mention here that we should tell people is that we don't do the full pod at that late at night. We usually, on pod taping days, we usually meet twice. Once in the afternoon where we do the thought line and the final segment, and once after all the games are done or close to when all the games are done

to keep the news fresh because you people demand it and we do try to deliver. Yes, and what about your social life, Dom? Yeah, Dom, do you have a personal life? Yeah. Yeah, let's not talk about my social life on the 32 Thoughts podcast. What did you do on-

I'm gonna be in Vancouver this weekend What I'm gonna want Vancouver this weekend I'm gonna be sleuthing about get to the top. What did you do? You do this pod is out on Friday, what did you do Wednesday night? We're not doing this Good good luck sleuthing Kyle Thanks for the insight, Dom. He is a standout rec soccer player in the greater Vancouver area and also the producer of this podcast, Dom Schermati.

All right, that'll do it for this edition of the Thoughtline. We'll take our final break and come back and wrap this thing up. 32 Thoughts the Podcast continues after this. Alright, as we get you set for this weekend, wanted to let you know things to keep an eye on on our network in terms of hockey and games to keep you occupied. Saturday, Hockey Night in Canada as usual gets underway 630 Eastern, 330 Pacific, two games in the early window. Ottawa is down in Florida to face the Panthers, big game there with Atlantic Division implications. It's amazing how that division along with the whole Eastern Conference playoff race feels very much undecided this deep into the season. The Toronto Maple Leafs wrap up their

Western road trip in Vancouver. Yes the good old four o'clock local start for Canuck fans out on the West Coast at seven o'clock Eastern on Sportsnet and CBC. Also that game can be viewed on APTN as it's another one of the Hockey Night in Plains Cree broadcasts. Earl Wood and Company will have you covered there as well for those to choose who take in the game that way. Multilingual as well as Hockey Night in Punjabi as well for the Canucks and the Maple Leafs. Nightcap, the Seattle Kraken and the Calgary Flames

from the Saddle Dome to wrap up Hockey Night in Canada, our final national night of NHL coverage before the Four Nations face-off next week in Montreal. Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the football, and the hockey, of course, too. We'll talk to you again on Monday. Music