32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Things Will Happen on McDavid’s Timeline

Episode Date: September 5, 2025

Kyle and Elliotte recorded this podcast from the 6th Annual Hockey Night in Canada Gala in Winnipeg. If you'd like to donate to the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation you can do so hereIn this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman delve into where things stand with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers (5:00). They follow that up by unpacking he said he said between Mitch Marner and the Leafs (22:36). Elliotte fills us in on a possible Kirill Kaprizov extension (27:17) and what to expect with Mason McTavish (30:38). The boys discuss the new rules that are coming with the new CBA (33:04.579).  The Final Thought focuses on Elliotte's racoon conundrum (46:22).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

I got to tell you, like, this is like a divorce, right? Some people support one partner, some people support the other partner, and the least fans, they're the kids. Oh, man. Whose story do you believe? Classes in session. Welcome to 32 Thoughts, the podcast, presented by the GMC Sierra AT4X. Kyle Bukascus, Elliot Friedman, Dom Schramatti, back with you again. And we are past Labor Day weekend.

Summer, as we know it, is effectively over. School is back. The NFL is back. Elliott is shaving more regularly. And the hockey talk is taking up more and more oxygen each day. It feels like we have arrived at the early days of the 2025, 2025, 2026 season. Elliot, we touch base a couple of times throughout the summer. We were in Italy a few weeks ago.

but how do you reflect on the off season? How did it all go for you? Good summer, really good summer. I feel refreshed. I have to say, Kyle, I haven't always felt that way at the end of every summer because I don't get enough of a break. I still feel like I have to get myself more into the work. I'm not immersed there enough yet as it is, but I feel refreshed. A lot of concerts, some good travel.

Great summer. You? I don't feel refreshed. I've got a 10-week-old baby boss controlling mine and my wife's lives, but would not have it any other way. We talked to it earlier, we made the move, packed up the family, moved out west, finally getting more settled on that front. So it's been a busy summer, all in our own doing, but it's been wonderful. And the chance to get into a routine doing this again back for another year is really excited. And we should mention you and I are actually in Winnipeg as we tape this late Thursday night central time. We just wrapped up attending and being part of the six annual Bruce and Anoke Foundation gala at the Met in downtown Winnipeg.

And so Ron McLean, of course, was the principal host for the evening. And he had the funny line that the event is titled as one night only. And now you've had six of them. So that speaks to the magic and the wonderful things that have been gone on. First to get the Bruce Oak Recovery Center done was Scott and his family and the support that he's gathered here in the city and the province. And now we hope next March they will officially break ground in earnest for the Anoke family recovery center. Elliot, you had a great fireside chat with Scott Arneal, the head coach, the Jets at the event.

I did this for the first time two years ago. You've been at this gala a handful of times over the years. It is an eye-opening, powerful experience to see what real change is going on in this space that the Oak family, of course, has been immersed in for many, many years here now. What was the night like for you? I thought it was a fantastic night, very emotional, some great speeches, including one from someone who had his life turned around by his time at the Bruce Oak Recovery Center.

It was very, very powerful. I am still, I know this violates the Butchagros rule of get to the news, but I am still blown away by the trick that Darcy Oak, the great magician, did tonight. So he threw like a foam brick out into the audience. Yeah. When I set the scene from the beginning? Sure.

So, well, basically he had everybody scream out their birthday at once. Yes. And then he threw out a full year. Month day year. And then he threw out a foam brick. And one person caught it and he said, throw it again. And another person caught it. And he said, throw it again.

And a third person caught it. And that was his person. He goes through the old, like, we've never met each other. No. We didn't talk before this. No. you know, he says, I'm going to write down the date of your birthday on a small chalkboard, like a handheld chalkboard.

And so he says to the guy, after he does it, what's your birthday? And he goes, March 13th, sorry, it was March 17th, 1963. And so Darcy flips around the chalkboard and on it, I don't remember the exact number, but it was around 22,786. So we're all looking at this chalkboard and we're saying, what does 22,786 have to do with March 17, 1963? And then Darcy grabs his phone and said,

Siri, what date is 22,786 days ago from today? And it was March 17, 17,000. 1963 and my head exploded. It was spinning like a top. Yes. It was like that Mr. Bunting SNL sketch. It was absolute carnage there and the Met room there for a while there. It was amazing. Yeah. Incredible. We saw Darcy here in Winnipeg a few years back that myself, Craig Simpson and Jeff Geard, I went on a Friday before a Saturday game and yeah, one of the best to do it. So that was great. A really good touch and just one small piece.

I have to say the whole evening could have ended right there and they could have, it would have been a success. Yes. But it was, it was a great night and, you know, it was just nice, you know, you made sure that you blamed me for the fact that you missed the last two, but it was nice that you and I and Ron, particularly Ron, could be there to support Scott in a great. great event. Yeah, really fantastic. All right, Bucci, I know you're listening. So let's get to it, Elliot. Where do we start? I suppose we have to start with the captain of the Edmonton

Oilers. No? Yes. I think you are right. Your news hound knows really has taken you in the right direction on this one. Starting to figure this thing out. So McDavid spoke with the meeting in Edmonton after a captain skate on Thursday. I have a lot of places where I can go from here. Let's start with this, Kyle. I have to say, I admit, I'm surprised at this. I thought we would get back to camp in Edmonton and we'd find out that Connor McDavid was signing a short-term deal with the Oilers.

And, you know, the one thing I would stress right now, And I really believe this is that I think guessing what McDavid is going to do here is a loser's game. And the reason I think it's a loser's game is because I believe that the amount of people who really know what McDavid is thinking here is kind of small. So there's been speculation he's not going to sign before the season. I believe that now more than I ever have before, but I wouldn't come out on this podcast and say, I 100% believe that's going to be true. Because I think McDavid and what he's considering here

is only known to a small group of people, and I just don't want to guess. But I admit, I'm surprised that we are here. I think the biggest thing his words have done or his actions have done, Kyle, is they have other teams asking, is this real? Like, is there honestly a chance that Connor McDavid is going to be an unrestricted free agent next July 1st? Because if you believe you have a chance at him or you want to have a chance at him. You have to make sure your decks are clear. All of a sudden, you have to be sitting there

and saying, wait a second here. Do I really believe I could, if this is real, do I really believe I have a chance at him? And if so, I better be in position to be able to get him. I can't do anything that's going to prevent me from getting them if this actually occurs 10 months from now. And that is the big question around the rest of the league. Is this real? So that's one thing. Why do I think this is happening? McDavid's now and the Oilers have lost two straight Stanley Cups in a row. You remember Christopher Walkin from Saturday Night Live? I have a fever, and the only thing that can cure it is more cowbell?

The only prescription. I'm sorry, I quoted it incorrectly. Connor McDavid, I've been told now by several people in the aftermath of that defeat, the second one, has become even more fanatical about winning. Like, all he cared about was winning before. Now he's in another stratosphere about it. The only prescription is a Stanley Cup. And I think he sees it as he's got to go to another level.

And the team has to be able to continue. you at another level. And the thing is, you know, Kyle, there's no guarantees. Like, in the last couple days, I've been calling around to ask people what they think. And, you know, there's a few people who said to me, it's kind of hard to understand why a guy who's gone to the Stanley Cup final twice in a row, even though he's lost, might think that he's going to have a better chance somewhere else, especially when he's such a huge part. of that team being a contender. There's no guarantee he's going to go anywhere else, and the other team he goes to is going to go right to the Stanley Cup final twice in a row.

Like this league is so unpredictable. Every year there's teams we think are going to be good, and they're terrible, and there's other teams we think are going to be terrible, and they turn out to be really good. But there's been a couple times now, and he did it again on Thursday, where he used the phrase, this year.

And I think that's exactly what this all comes down to, is that he thinks this team can win now, but he's not convinced that if he signs for any kind of term, three to five years from now, that he believes the team has the staying power. Now, they've traded for Savoy, they traded for Howard, and, you know,

There are plenty of people who think these two guys are going to be players, but they're not yet. They lost Broberg and they lost Holloway last year, players who could be cornerstones of the future for the Oilers, and that's left some holes that they're still trying to fill. And I think that's purely what this is about, is the two losses, Kyle, have angered him and disappointed him and pained him so much that it's he he will not allow himself to be put into a situation where he doesn't think he's capable of winning. So he's put the Oilers on notice and he said, I want to believe that this team can still be a Stanley Cup contender in three to five years. It's an older team. It's a really good team, but does it have staying power?

And I think that's what he's telling them. Are we sure we're going to have staying power? And how can you help convince me that this team is going to have staying power? And if you're the Oilers and you're Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman, you can't panic. I do believe he wants to win there first and foremost. I don't think he's lying about that. But all you can do is say, all right, we're. We're going to show you and prove it to him.

Do you think looking back, I mean, we were hearing the stories just over a year ago about when the news came out about the offer sheets of Broberg and Holloway to St. Louis. I mean, and how he reacted to that for those that were training with them, you know, just north of Toronto at the time, I mean, do you think now in hindsight that's all part of this conversation too? it's impossible to believe it's not like you heard Dylan Holloway on the Cam and Strick podcast yeah

because that's what I really as I'm totally with you like there's a there's a very very small number of people that that really knows what McDavid's thinking as it should be at this stage but I keep going back to okay if he's looking to see that this is a place that

he can continue to contend for a Stanley Cup in, then what exactly is it that he's looking for? I know he told Mark Spector, hey, it's don't need to see anything, it's just we're not in a rush. Time is on our side here.

But I keep going back to that. Like, is it trying to figure out the long term or long-air-ish-term outlook on goal-tending? Three to five years, Kyle. Everything. three to five years

that clearly has brought success to the team some of the he's known for a long time dry saddle locked up there's other guys that have committed for a long while there in Edmonton just wonder what else needs to satisfy

in his mind before he puts pen to paper I think there's no negotiating to be had here no no when he decides that he's, when he decides he's going to sign if he does, he's going to say, this is the term and this is the number.

And I'll tell you something else. I don't think this number is going to be a backbreaker either because McDavid knows he can't say, I want a championship team around me and then take a number that makes it impossible. Like, what's the point of that? So I actually think the number in Edmonton would be lower than it might be somewhere else. Like if he hits the market, my bet would be it would be at a higher number than he would have signed for in Edmonton.

Because there's no dry saddle, likely where he'd be going, likely. And then speaks to, yeah, higher number, tougher time to. make a team that is able to contend year after year after year. The other thing, too, you can't sit there and say, oh, I want to win and make it impossible. He's not going to do that. 20%, please. The other thing, too, though, is just like when we were,

that was, of course, the one big story that came out of when we were in Calgary for the Hockey Canada orientation cap there. And we'll get to the other big story from those couple of days there in a little bit here. But when he had said, you know, we don't need any distractions coming out of the gate. Everyone's got to be focused and dialed in. And I agree with your point that he's the kind of guy that won't necessarily be bothered by all of this that's being discussed and the questions that naturally are being asked as we have got into early September and no new contract has come to fruition.

But just because he's not bothered by it, I mean, you have to think the surrounding ripple effects that if you get to opening night in October, against Calgary, and something's not done, the circus is only going to keep getting bigger. Three rings becomes four, becomes 16. Don't you think? I think there's a possibility of that in Canada, especially too. Here's the thing. Not only do I think he's mature enough to handle it,

I think the other players are mature enough to handle it. Like, it's a veteran team, so I don't think the noise is going to bother them. Where I think the danger starts, Kyle, is if, for whatever reason, the owners get off to a bad start. Like, I look at Vancouver last year, it got to a point where the noise absolutely affected them. And they weren't playing well. Their year didn't go well. strange things started happening and the noise

affected them absolutely if you're winning you can shut out a lot of stuff but if for whatever reason Edmonton starts badly then you that's where you really risk it that's where you risk it

you know I think the other thing I wanted to mention is a year ago we saw him explode after game two I'm not sure what's on tape but I heard he wasn't really happy in that room after game six so that's where I think this all is and I know I'm repeating myself but I really want to reiterate it when someone asked me what this is all about it's two losses in a row in the finals

and he can't freaking stand it. It makes him crazy. It's a scary thought for the rest of the league in the short term, but potentially a very intriguing thought for the rest of the league in the longer. You know, one other thing, yes, one of the thing I wanted to mention

is I was really curious about something that he said to Mark Specter or that was in Mark Specter's article on Thursday. And he talked about reaching a higher level. He talked about proving that 50 or 60 is not a one-off. I think he looks at the way the last two Stanley Cup finals ended, where he, you know, it wasn't that he wasn't a factor, because I think that's insane to say, but he didn't produce at the highest level.

And Florida deserves a lot of credit for that. They're a great team, and they make life really hard on him, which is what great teams do. But I think, Kyle, that's his way of saying I have more to give in those moments, and I know it. That's a really interesting point you bring up there too because I remember talking to someone in the immediate aftermath of Four Nations who was trying to channel McDavid a little bit then of at the time going, even in that, final, of course he's always going to be a factor, but it was kind of like there weren't a ton of great A's that he had throughout that night and then the one chance comes in overtime and full credit to him, he buries it. But I mean, if Bennington doesn't make the save on Matthews moments prior to that, I mean, it could have been another big game where he didn't have the big impact at some

point in the night, right? So the person I remember just saying to me at the time, like, that's got to be a huge relief for him to get that of like, okay, wasn't the same thing as game seven in Florida a few months prior. And now two years in a row of that, absolutely, that only stokes the fire further. And I think it's very important that you can't demand anything out of others that you won't give of yourself. So I think that's him saying this isn't only on my teammates or this isn't only on

the front office. This is also on me that if I'm expecting everyone to take that final step, I have to be a big part of that final step too. Okay. Man, this has gotten really interesting. suddenly over the last couple of weeks here, Elliot. Should we talk about the other big story to come out of that orientation camp last week in Calgary,

at least on the men's team side? Yeah, Marner. And the Mitch Marner interview. I got to tell you, like, this is like a divorce, right? Some people support one partner, some people support the other partner, and the lease fans, they're the kids. Oh, man.

Whose story do you believe? So, you know, like in life, if I ever ask someone out or I ever dating anybody, and then they decided they didn't want to be with me anymore, it was kind of like you have to get to that point where you move on. If someone does not want to be with you anymore, there's, you just got. to take the L and go. Okay.

And eventually, to me, it's a lot like the ranting and stuff from last year. Like eventually we're going to have either like a six-part podcast or someone's going to put together a documentary on the rantingan year and the Marner year and what happened. Like the Marner stuff is crazy. There are so many conflicting rumors. There are players that believe that they knew that when Marner didn't sign last summer, there was no way he was staying. There are others who believe, like I've said, I think if they beat Florida, they find a way, and he finds a way. And there are others who believe that.

But again, it's a wildly different opinion. I say there are others who were adamant that he was gone when he didn't sign. There are people who say he was offered eight times 12. There's others who deny it. There are people who say he was offered eight times 12 and a half. There are others who deny it. There are people who say that the Maple Leafs were told that they should probably trade them at some point during the last year, and there's others who denied it.

There are so many things going on. out there, we probably won't know the full truth for years. At some point, I think it's just healthiest for everyone just to move on. Now, I know that game this year, which, by the way, we have now made a national game, Kyle. Oh, good. Yes, Leaves, I looked at the NHL schedule, leaves Vegas when he comes back is now a national game. I mean, that's going to be a crazy night. But I generally do believe, as I have in my own failed relationships in the past, of which, Kyle, there were many, that the sooner you turn the

page, the better off everyone's going to be. Boy. And it felt like that was headed in that direction. And then suddenly the old wounds were ripped open again. Happy belated anniversary. By the way, that was just the other day, wasn't it? Yes, it was Thursday, 16 years. And I always remember PJ Stock asking Steph the first time he met her, did he rescue you from a burning building? You know, the thing is, there's a lot of talk about the threats and stuff. You know, I'll just say this. I've had that before.

I've dealt with that before. I roll my eyes at it. I, I, I, but. But not everyone's wired the same as you. Not everybody's wired the same as me. And also like whenever, like if it's just me, like, like, whatever. But when you have family involved, it's different. Uh-huh.

Right. I don't think, I don't think anybody should discount how someone feels about that kind of a thing. No, like, right. Your line, that's like. from the big city. There's certain things you sign up for criticism-wise, but there are also certain circumstances

where you're going, nobody should be subjected to it. All right, a couple of the things to keep an eye on here as we are into the early days of September, Elliot. Should we be expecting, speaking of massive contracts

and big, big numbers in this new era of leaping salary caps year over year, an eight-year extension for Kirill Caprizo coming anytime soon. soon? What's your sense there? Craig Leopold certainly

sounded very confident the other day, right? Yes, he did. At the new Grand Casino Arena, newly named Grand Casino Arena. Yes. Definitely sounded grand. There's no question about that. He sounded very confident.

You know, Caprizo's coming back into town next week. I think we get, you know, the one thing is that I never worry about this stuff. too much in the summer. I believe that this is a pressure point now, like this time of year, because you have to decide, like McDavid does, can you handle the aggravation? Do you want the scrutiny? Do you have something else in mind?

This is the time now that Caprizov is coming back, that everybody really puts their cards on the table, and everybody gets a true idea of what everyone's thinking. I don't know if this is where it's going to end up, Kyle. But there are rumors out there. The wild will go to eight times 16 for Caprizov. We'll see. That's a very, that's a hundred and twenty-eight million. That is the budget of your Brill-Cream.

You think I use Brill Crime? We've worked together all this time And you think I set aside Budget for Brill cream? I got news for you. I'm not looking at what's inside your toiletry bank. Actually, that's not true Because a week ago, we rolled up to do a shoot somewhere

and you said, do you have some hair product I can use? And I reluctantly shared it with you. I had to buy brand new stuff afterwards. Had to be thrown out. It was the best you looked in year. on camera. In years, yes. But that's the rumor out there that's been out there. We'll see if it turns out

to be true. Carill, the Brill, Caprizov. Multi-Mill, Caprizov. Boy, then Leopold has long said, no one will sign him longer and for more money than the Minnesota Wilde. And he seems, as you say, quite confident.

I think he, what, he stood there, he opened the jacket up and kind of joked. I've got the contract right in my pocket. in front of everybody so he's a guy he's an owner who doesn't seem too worried about getting that one done the mike russo i used to know would have reached his hand in into the pocket and pulled it out leeping up on stage what's mike doing up there that's great um on the rfa front like anything to keep an eye on here i mean luke hues is of course a big name there's Like I said, I think Zeri, one sounds like there's been some progress to it.

For McTavish, I think it's a little bit different because Verbeek and the ducks in the past have shown a willingness to keep guys out until they get what they are comfortable with. So I always look at that and say, could if they don't find a deal they like could they keep them out longer

and be comfortable with that and the history of the ducks is yes they would now a couple things about them someone said to me the other day if you really look at the ducks like they still have a lot of cap room but over the next few years look at some of the contracts that could be coming

up. Cotter Goce. Leo Carlson, Mason McTavish, Jackson Lecombe. Now, Munchukov, Zellweger, they're still pretty young, and they've got ways to grow, but they're going to be up for contracts. They just signed Dostle to an extension. And what someone pointed out to me is if all these guys hit and some of the forwards look really good, all of a side, and the Ducks are going to have a lot of money committed to some really good young players. Now, you know, Verbeek can always try to bridge, but the one thing I've consistently heard over the last little while is I heard they're not crazy about bridging McTavish. Now, maybe that'll change.

Maybe they'll do it, but I've heard that they prefer long term. and I can still see if you want to do long term what is that six years like a lot of these young players are doing seven years eight years like all of a sudden you're getting into pretty big numbers so I don't have the answer yet unto what's going to happen on this one I don't think they want to trade them but I've heard they're not crazy about a bridge deal It might not be easy for the two sides to agree on a longer projection. Okay, the new rules that have stemmed from the collective bargaining agreement deal that won't take effect, the CBA, that is, the new one, until September 16th of next year. But some of those new rules will be implemented this season. So the GMs and coaches of the National Hockey League, We were meeting in Detroit this week.

Playoff salary cap. The headliner in terms of the new rules being brought in the 25, 26th season, no longer does the cap go away come game one of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. So can you describe for us, Elliot, the impact of that, and all the changes that will be implemented here right away starting this fall? Yes. So basically the things for this year that people have to know is that as we talked about in our podcast with Bill Daly in Milan, the contracts aren't changing. But what is coming this year, and it caught teams by surprise. It's the second time in a year the league is really caught teams by surprise. Remember during last season, when we talked about Kyle how the cat. was going to go up in a big way. Yeah.

And the teams were like, we haven't been told this. And they kind of denied it for a while. But then they admitted, yes, the cap was going to go up. So a couple of teams were telling me, like, we're like the last ones to find out anything. So the players seem to know. The media seems to know. We don't know anything. And I said to this guy, hey, you won the draft.

Betman gave you the draft. And he were kind of laughing about how they got given the draft while all this other stuff comes in that they don't know about. But that's actually one of the things that actually this guy said to me too is he said that one of the one of the things they're noticing about the CBA is that there were a lot of things that annoyed the NHL that they seem to have gotten rid of here. the double retention now 75 days between like I hate that it's going to make trade deadline worse it's going to make it harder for teams to do things um as a matter of fact one general manager said to me that there's going to be a smart team out there that is going to trade guys early because they're not going to be in the race or they're going to be out of the race and they're going to say I'm getting this guy out of here early and because I know that some team is going to want them and I'm getting what I can get for him now because he actually mentioned Pittsburgh because as we've discussed they're the one team that's kind of not going hard this season. If Kyle Dubis looks at a guy like say Raquel, let's just use him for an argument's sake

and he's not going to get as much at the deadline because Raquel can only go with 50%. This guy says, don't you think Pittsburgh might try to trade him early so that the two and a half months are up by the time the trade deadline comes around? And I was like, that's interesting. We'll see, because smart teams will try to figure out ways

to get around this, but there's no question the league is. made it harder. The 75 days before you can do another retention, that's a big change. This one, like, I'll tell you, so one of the guys I was talking to, he looked at the injury, the new LTIR rules. And, you know, one of the things we were kind of wondering about because at the time we record this, the league hasn't been given the official documentation, the memo. This is only the MOU. So there's, there's, there's, there's, room for interpretation.

So one of the things he was talking about is, okay, so let's just say, Kyle, you're a $7 million a year player. I know this is a far-fetched scenario. Crazy. Crazy. Yeah, you're a $7 million a year player. And you go to, you get hurt. And now, under the new rules, the only way a team will be able to get full $7 million back, is if you're out for the year, including playoffs.

They have to declare you out for the year, including playoffs, or the maximum that they can get back is a player making last year's average salary or less, and that's about $3.8 million. So one of the things that I was talking about with some people around the league is they were looking at what's in the memorandum of understanding, and they interpreted it as a couple people did this. They interpreted this as, all right, well, maybe what I can do is I can acquire two or three players underneath the average salary last year as long as I don't go over

the $7 million. So what I could potentially do is get one guy making $3.3.5. five, one guy making 3.3, bang, I've got two guys. They're making a combined 6.8, and I've got a better team. And I was told that's not the case. That's not the way that this is going to work, that you can acquire multiple guys, but they can only equal last year's average salary. So if you go down at 7 million and they want to add two or three guys, it can only equal. the 3.8. So they're really going at this hard. And the other thing here is that

the way it's counted for the playoffs, let's say you're a $10 million player, Kyle. This is getting even more far-fetched. And the new team gets you at a $7.5 million salary. It's prorated during the regular season, but it all counts in the playoffs.

Like, everything you have on your cap counts in the playoffs, buyouts, full cap hit, any bonuses you may have. Like, these cap people, the salary cap experts, they are really going to be earning their money, really going to be earning their money. I don't like any of this I like the fantasy of being a $7 or $10 million player that part I'm okay with but these new rules I don't know I don't know Elliot

I don't like the double retention rule 75 games because it makes the trade deadline worse I don't like that at all I think all of it could potentially make the trade deadline worse the LTIAR playoff thing like I didn't care the last few years. I'm a loophole guy. I use them in my fantasy football. At least it's going to be the same rules for everybody, right? I can deal with that. I can deal with that. Do I think it's less

chaos? Yes. But I can deal with it. I don't like the I don't like the double retention rule. Yeah. But I mean, the old LTIR rule was the same for everybody across the board, but I understand it's circumstantial. Some teams have greater injuries. issues or players that command more of the cap being out. But I just think of like, like there's one example, the shock value of that Marshawn trade at the deadline last year, Elliot. Like that's not happening anymore. And maybe we look back on it more amazingly now because of what happened with Florida

and the fact that they won again. But for you and I sitting in these chairs. I wouldn't say it's not happening anymore, but I would say it's harder. to happen anymore. Right. Well, I guess, yeah, under these certain new rules, Matthew Kachukh isn't coming back game one.

Right? And if you looked at that situation last year. You're right. It's harder. Like, you're going to have to submit your roster. And, you know, one of the things I was wondering, and Eric Engels asked this, is it, is it the end of game time decision? And apparently there's going to be a mechanism there where if you have to make the

change you can make the change right because as it's worded right now it's what five hours or three o'clock eastern kind of whichever one is earlier where you've got to submit your roster so that's a rank like i just remember the crazy one was the 2013 stanley cup final where ben smith didn't even take warm up hosa took warm up and all the sudden he couldn't go and ben smith's mama driven down to boston to meet him for lunch that they're like hey get in there. Wow. That's, yeah, I forgot about that.

That's good. Anyway, like that's, for you and I, like, we're in the business of entertainment for as we consume this. So I just love as many possibilities possible to make entertainment. And fans love it too. You're right.

But this is it. They always will. Like there's always, that's the one thing. I think there are always people who think about loopholes. It is the league's job to make this less fun, and clearly they tried to, and they accomplished it. Now it's up to the chaos agents to find ways around this stuff. One of the other things, just to keep an eye on over the next couple weeks, Kyle, is the rookies signing. And the reason is that one of the the things they phased in as of March 1st is the new entry-level contract numbers.

So you will be able to sign for a bit more money if you wait until March 1st as opposed to now. Now, I don't know the number, but if you take a look at the amount of players, who have signed from this year's draft, it's down from last year at this time. I don't know exactly what the numbers are, but it's down significantly. So, you know, for example, as we do this, the number two overall pick, Michael Mesa,

he hasn't signed. Now, we'll see what happens here, but there's definitely a realization that if you wait in March, you could make a little bit more money. Now, some of these guys will make up for it if they stay at the NHL level this year. Like a guy like Schaefer, who you expect is going to spend the year and the NHL, it doesn't matter for him and anyone else who thinks they're going to spend this year in the NHL.

It probably doesn't matter for them. But if you're not sure, you might be more inclined to wait. Yeah. Yeah. So I guess I wonder from the San Jose perspective, you brought up Michael Mesa is at a situation where they're going, look, you're going to be part of this here in a big way one day? We've just got to manage how many young bodies we've got here in the meantime. It sounds like they want to sign them. Okay. They do. All right. Yeah. Oh, by the way, Kyle, one other guy I just wanted to mention, you always start checking around.

and is there anybody we're missing at this time of year who isn't signed or wants to play? And the name I heard the other day was Kevin LeBank, who played last year in Columbus, 12 points. And I've heard he's still looking, wants to play, looking for work. So that's a name we could see over the next few days, sort something out, career high, 56 points in 2018-19 in San Jose. All right, good to know. So that'll take us to the final thought, which is brought to you by GMC.

Elliot, it is about time. We fire up the thought line again. So when we reconvene next week from Vegas to the Player Media Tour, The thought line will be open. In fact, it'll be open as of this podcast recording. For those that need a reminder, 1833, 311, 321, 32, 32 to leave a voicemail. Or you can email us at 32 Thoughts at Sportsnet.ca. Banner year for the thought line last season, Elliot.

Be tough to one-up it, tough to replicate. But I never, never, ever doubt the creativity and the brilliance of our listeners. I definitely would not doubt anybody's ability to beat that. Your creativity every year, people, constantly amazes me, considering I have no creativity. Yes, it's not you and I inspiring, and that's for sure. A couple of things here. I'm annoyed at myself for losing their names. I don't know how I did it, but this summer I met a couple from Newfoundland.

who were going over to the UK to elope and they said they were big fans of the pod and I said if I mention this am I going to be causing you any trouble and they said no because by the time you do it it's already going to have happened so I wanted to wish that couple all the best and I hope everything went great and I'm just annoyed I lost your names I wrote them down my phone and now I can't find them but I hope you had a great great great trip okay I have a question for you okay I was sitting out on my back deck this year during the middle of the day one day and we have a cover on our barbecue

and all of a sudden I heard a noise coming from the barbecue now understand this is the middle of the day and a raccoon came out from underneath

the cover boy now if you know anything about raccoons first of all we have a big problem with raccoons around our house it's awful if you know anything about

raccoons, if you see one during the day, you do not want to be anywhere near it. It's a bad, bad sign. But it became pretty clear, pretty quick that this raccoon had been sleeping and had been woken up by whatever I was doing, and it just wanted to go somewhere else. It could sleep. Like, it wasn't, thank God, rabbit, because that's a problem nobody needs. but then I was having a debate with Steph is there any level of cleaning that would be acceptable for you, Kyle, to use this barbecue again

or are you like got to get a new barbecue? No, I think like excessive heat can be a pretty powerful cleaning agent, can it not? You can burn off a lot of stuff that you don't want around. So I would lean towards finding a path to restore the barbecue. I'm guessing you were leaning the same way. Yes. Steph was like, throw it into the sun.

It's a good barbecue, too. Right now we still have it. We haven't made a decision, but I wanted to crowdsource an answer. That's like in the movie Dennis the Menace where the big blob of paint and wood chips falls into Mr. Wilson's barbecue as he's cooking the chicken, and then he can taste it as he's eating it afterwards. I miss this movie, but I'll take your word for it. Brilliant Walter Mathout performance. But, yeah, you just got to make sure you don't taste Raccoo and the next time you grill your steaks on there. Yeah, so we have to figure out what we're going to do here.

but I wanted some I wanted some guidance and some feedback. So you were confident it was like under the barbecue hood not just the cover. Like you think it was hanging out right on the grill?

I don't know. I don't know. It can't all I just heard it because I was on the phone and I heard it come out. And like I went and I looked and I didn't see anything. but that doesn't mean anything.

Did you debate not telling Steph at all? Ignorance is less sometimes. Yes, yes, it is. There's a lot of ignorance in our household. I'll tell you that much. Okay, well, you need to keep us updated. Remember, whenever someone asked this question, did you ever watch Saturday Night Live?

when Phil Hartman would do Bill Clinton? No, like, I don't recall Phil so much as Bill Clinton. No, that would have been a little bit before my time. There's one where he goes out running and they stop in at McDonald's and he starts eating like people's fries. It's pretty funny skit. Oh, yeah. I think I've seen snippets of that.

And the Secret Service agent says, don't worry. Mr. President, we won't tell Mrs. Clinton about this. And his response was, Jim, let me tell you something. There's going to be a whole bunch of things we don't tell, Mrs. Clinton. And whenever someone brings up, did you tell Steph about this? That's always my, it's always the first thing that comes into my head. Oh, gosh.

There's a lot of things I haven't told Steph. There's a lot of things we won't be tell here. Yes. You have to keep us posted on it. on Barbecue Gate. Yeah, I'll let you know. All right. Cranking the heat up.

32 thoughts, the podcast is back for another season. And with that, we'll take our first break. That was the final thought. Brought you by GMC. We'll come back and put this baby to bed. Stay tuned. Okay, so that'll all about do it for this edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast. As we mentioned off the top, Elliot and I were in Winnipeg on Thursday for the Bruce and Ann Oak Memorial Foundation gala.

We will include a donation link in the show notes. If you would like to donate, I understand money is still tight these days. But if you are able to spare any type of funds, it goes to just a really remarkable and impactful cause. Next week, Ellie and I will be in Vegas. A few weeks back we were in Italy for the European Player Media Tour. Next week is the North American Player Media Tour.

Sidney Crosby's going to be there. Austin Matthews. Jack and Quinn Hughes will be there. Nick Suzuki will be there. Gabe Landis God will be there. The list goes on and on and on. So a really good opportunity over a few days down in Henderson, Nevada to speak to some of the big stars in the game for interviews that

will come later on the podcast, on television as well. And we will speak to you at some point next week. And beyond that, we'll be back to our regular rotation of Monday and Friday podcast drops. The new season is very quickly upon us as we move into the month of September and inching closer to the opening of training camps. Have a great rest of your week and weekend. We'll speak to you next week. from Vegas.