32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Who Makes the Olympic Cut?

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman are joined by David Amber and Michael Russo as they predict and debate which players will make the Olympic men’s hockey rosters for Canada (2:46), the United States (23:40), Sweden (43:45), and Finland.(55:49).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

Dom's a Slovakian, so Dom will shut out the Slovaks for you. Although Dave told me privately, he also thinks they're irrelevant. Oh, Lord. Come back next week for Dave Amber's updated, irrelevant, hot rankings. Welcome to a special edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast. As less than 24 hours from now, Team Canada will be on veiling the roster for the men's Olympic hockey team for the Milan winter games coming up in February. So with that in mind, we thought we would repurpose a fun exercise we did last year in the lead-up to the four nations.

We went through kind of our projections and have some discussion about who we thought will be, may not be on not only Team Canada, but also Team USA, team Finland, and Team Sweden. Michael Rousseau from The Athletic is going to join us a little bit later. But first, Elliot, back by popular demand, 32 Thoughts super fan. David Amber is here. And for still, I learned before we started recording, Elliot, a lot of listeners out there, Mr. Anonymous is here, finally revealing himself. Yes, yes. Okay, okay. Can we, can you guys stop this freight train that's going in the wrong direction?

I have people coming up to me on the street. Hey, are you the anonymous caller? I'm like, no, I'm not the anonymous caller. So have you not figured this? Have you guys not sleuth this out yet? I think it's BXA. I do think it's BXA, but it's funnier because you get angrier about it. And by the way, the best thing about Dave Amber and I say this,

I asked him once, do you listen to the podcast? And he said to me, I hear you enough. I don't need to listen to the podcast. So that's why I always love having you. line. It's not entirely true. I don't listen to your part. I fast forward to that and then I wait to hear from Kyle. So probably like the majority of the listeners. So there we are. Now that I know that's not true. But what's great is that because we've talked about our focus is shifted in on BXA for this whole anonymous charade. But the fact that there are enough listeners still out there

committed to keeping the bit alive that it might be Dave Amber and are still haggling him through all this, uh, really great. So Dave, it's great to have you back by popular demand here as we go through, uh, some of the who's in, who's out debate here over, well, four of the rosters that we'll see at the Olympics in less than two months from now. So why don't we start with Team Canada gentlemen? I know last time we kind of went through almost one by one, who did we all have, who was different. And I won't do it exactly the same way this time. But why don't we start with kind of who we see as the locks at forward for Canada and kind of move on from there. So, Elliot, why don't you start us?

So I see as my Canada forward locks, I have 12 guys who I think are absolutely on the team. In alphabetical order, Bennett, I know there's been talk about he hasn't had a great year. I don't care. He's going to be there. Bennett, Cele, Cerey, Crosby, Hagel, Marchand, Marner, McKinnon, McDavid, Point, Reinhardt, Stone, and Wilson. Those are the 12 guys I absolutely think are on this team. Dave, how does that compare to your list?

Yeah, I think you're probably right. They'll all be there. You know, listen, you brought up Sam Bennett, and he's a two-time cup winner, and we've seen him at his best. He was a big part of the Four Nations as well. You mentioned Tom Wilson, and I wouldn't say they're redundant in any fashion, but Wilson certainly brings a lot of what Bennett can offer and bring as well, and I do wonder if they'll both be there. They probably both will be, but it would be at the sacrifice of some other good forwards, if that is the case. I will say this, and Kyle, like the one thing that stood out to me is there was a penalty in one of the World Junior games,

the Czech-Canada game, where a player was thrown out for a hit. And I looked at that and I said, boy, if that's the way the Olympics are going to be called. Like, that's the one thing I look at with Wilson. I asked Wilson that face-to-face and the piece I did with him. And he said, I think by now I'm smart enough to know how to handle myself in any kind of game. But when I saw that penalty, I was wondering if anyone on Team Canada would sit there and say, wait a second. I think it's probably too late now

and I think they take them especially with the NHL having such a big say over how the Olympics get played and refereed. But that did Kyle cross my mind. Yeah, I think my mind went there too.

I still got him there. Call me crazy. Well, fair enough. I'm looking, the more I look at Brandon Hagel's name, which is insane because having another great year, I know he started a little

slow. Obviously, it has been hurt. He's one I didn't think I would be considering as, okay, if we're going to make room for some of the other names we see coming in that were not part of four nations, you know, of course there was the fireworks at the start of the first U.S. game and not backing down from Matthew Kachuk and standing in there going toe to toe, even maybe size wise, a little bit less so than Kach, but totally held his own. beyond that though like as a tournament went on you didn't see his fingerprints over things as much and that's why as I'm looking at I'm with you celebrini is there for sure Tom Wilson is there and I've got a couple other names that we'll get to in a bit but he is somebody I've really kind of taken a long hard look at and going is he going to be there which feels crazy to me to even say because I love him as a player but that's where mine's my mind's kind of at when you listed the first 12, Elliot. Sorry, I was, Elliot did his 12 and there was a lot of, it was a lot of names.

I just, maybe this will be easier if I just, I'm going to say a name because you didn't say it. Connor Bedard, I have them in my 14. Do you guys have them in your 14? I put him in, I have a list of a bunch of guys here. Bedard, Sorrelli, Horvette, Hyman, Jarvis, Johnston, Kineckney, Shifley, and Suzuki, who I think the last two will come from. I put Bedard in and I put Jarvis in. It wasn't easy because there's a I have a sneaking feeling and this is my opinion.

I have a sneaking feeling Horvats going to be there. I just don't know that to be true. The one thing though, and Kyle, to your point on Hegel, I, Sorrelli to me is the most vulnerable player, him and I would say him and connect me, are probably the two most vulnerable players from the Four Nations team. When I look at the guys who are on that, the forwards on that roster, I see them as the two most vulnerable guys. And I was thinking to myself, Kyle, if there's any chance that Sorrelli doesn't make it,

you're taking one of John Cooper's favorites off his roster. If you're taking one, there's no way. First of all, I think Hegel deserves to be there. But secondly, I don't think there's any chance Hegel's going off. Sorrelli does. But Dave, you have Bedard? Kyle, do you have Bedard too? Do you have them in? I did until the injury, Fridge, honestly. I mean, we'll see where it all plays out. We still got a bit of time. I saw he was, I mean, we're recording this on Monday, saw him on the ice a little bit before Blackhawks practice, doing a little bit of movement and handling the puck. I wonder if that gives them pause. You can always replace them.

After you can always remember. Of course. This would be my question. He was, I think, tied for fourth in points when he got injured. He's a one-shot score, which you need. We saw that when Marner got it to Connor McDavid in the championship-winning goal. You need a guy who can score on one shot. He can do that as well.

What else could he do to improve his candidacy? What else could Connor Bedard have done? If you just don't feel he's going to fit because you're not going to put him in your top six and he's not going to be a checking forward in your fourth line or whatever the case may be, then maybe that's the case that Doug Armstrong and the management group came to. But to me, I think he did everything possible to improve his candidacy. He improved immensely from the season past. He was one of the best players on a team that's not littered with star players at all, right?

I think he was lapping the field. I think he had 18 more points when he got injured than the next closest Blackhawk. He did everything possible to show he deserves the spot on that. team and I think he deserves a spot on that team. And this whole notion of, well, one of Celebrini or Bardard, I keep saying, well, why? I don't think that's a thing anymore. I, you know, honestly, Dave, I was one of those people who thought that for some time. I don't think that anymore. I think Celebrity to me is a five-star lock and he's going to play on the top six of this team. I think for me on Bedard, I think the only issue was they looked

at that gold medal game from the Four Nations and said, could Bedard? play in that kind of game. And I think that was, I think they have no doubt that Sellebrini could play in that game. I think they were just questioning yet whether Bedard was 100% ready to play in the game. To me, I think he deserved a shot to prove it,

that he deserves to be there. But, but you listen to those names. Like, there's a lot of players, like some very good players are not going to be on this team. And I just, I think

that is the number, I've heard that's the number one thing they've had to wrap their heads around. As great as he is, is he ready for a Canada USA one game winner take all on slightly smaller ice? Is that what they want? I would put them on the team, but I know that that's been the number one question they're asking. The rebuttal to that is for 35 games or whatever he played, who do you think the other teams were game planning for, right? They weren't game planning for anyone else

except Connor Bedard and yet he found a way to score goals and not just with that incredible shot but what really impressed me is how he was driving to the net and scoring in those tough to go to places.

He's fearless, you know, he's a dog, as they say, and he's, you know, the pedigree of a superstar when he's dressed in the Canadian red and white, it's only been championships at the world junior level sorts of records.

You know, I think it's not an open and shut case because, as you said, there's so many other good players, but I just don't see why he wouldn't be there. Yeah, Kyle, so how come you hate Bedard, Kyle? What's the issue here? I don't. I just, I'm trying to think through the minds of hockey Canada and after seeing the injury, okay, does that make them a little bit nervous? Because otherwise, as I said, I had him there because this season, as we are realizing, when you've got him, I think Andrei Barakowski has done real wonders for his team, or for Bedard in Chicago. He doesn't have to, it's not a little longer a situation where he's got to solely carry

whoever the other two guys that are on the line with him, you know? And of course, if he's going to a situation where he's playing for Canada, the Olympics, that's not going to be the scenario there either. I think we've seen his ability to be great, but not have to shoulder all of it. And like that's exactly what you would be asking of. of a player like him to do here. Like, to your point, Dave, he's on the inside more. He's meaner now as a player.

Like, we're seeing more edge to his game, more bite. He's faster. The speed is unmistakable. And just some of the, you know, in the moment, creativity where he's not even thinking as a player. It's all just instinct. It's been really wonderful to watch. The only other name where I'm like,

he's there for me that not at Four Nations. You said him earlier, Fridge. like Celebrini Wilson, Bo Horvatt. I think he's got to be there. Well, Bo Horvett, Doug Armstrong has always had a real like for Bo Horvatt. In 2022, when the NHL was about six weeks away from going before COVID shut down a chunk of their season and they canceled, Doug Armstrong made a late trip to Vancouver to personally scout Bo Horvatt when Horvatt was still with the Canucks. So I know there's a real interest there.

I also look for connections. Wyatt Johnston, like Jim Neal's on the management committee, he would be pushing for Wyatt Johnson because he knows what he can do there. Like I said, like Hyman, Horvett, Shifley, Suzuki, Kinectne. I mean, there are so many good names here. Like Canada in the U.S., the amount of good players that could be put on a team. Like if Canada in the U.S. wanted to put together a hybrid second team, that team could compete for a gold medal.

It's phenomenal. You mean like a team North America? Yeah. We did that. Say the 51st state, Kyle. That goes over really well right now if you go with the 51st state. No, I just, yeah, I'm saying they literally had that one year. It was all young players, but they had a hybrid.

Yeah, Luke Gostic and I put together for fun a second Canadian team. And I wouldn't be shocked if they meddled. I mean, gold tending obviously becomes a bit of an issue. but the forward group would be one of the top forward groups, and that's the leftover team Canada. The name that you throw out there, L.A., that I think should be on, and I really hope is on, is Zach Hyman. If you haven't been paying attention over the last three to four weeks

since he returned from that wrist injury from the playoffs, he's been the old 54 goals, Zach Heiman. He has instant chemistry with Connor McDavid. He does all the things in a hard way, and you mentioned the smaller ice surface or the NHL ice surface, however you want to put it. He will be a complete thorn in the side to every opponent. He's a great teammate.

He can power play, penalty kill. He could do whatever they call on him to do. And I really hope he's on that team. I actually thought for a time there, when I was watching McDavid light it up for all those games, what, 35 points in 11 games, whatever it is, Dave? I actually wondered if there was any chance they would take all three of them. Would they take Hyman, McDavid, and Nugent Hopkins as a line?

Now, I don't believe that. that'll happen, but it did cross my mind for a few days. That's interesting. It won't happen, but. Yeah. Popped into my head. All right, who do you guys? Okay, on the blue line, I'm thinking the same eight.

Doughty, Harley, McCarer, Morrissey, Peraco, Sanheim, Theodore, and Dave's. And the reason I've thought that is because last year, they got thrown some curveballs. Theodore got hurt, McCar you'll remember, got sick, and also Morrissey got sick the afternoon of the gold medal game. You know, basically three or four hours before the gold medal game, he declared himself out. And they didn't miss a beat. And to me, that matters. Now, I recognize Harley hasn't had a great year. Pereko hasn't had a great year.

Doubtie's been up and down. but I see, like, I look at Chikrin, phenomenal. I think Schaefer, terrific. Bouchard has really come on, but I would lean to taking the same eight. Yeah, that's where I'm at, too, Fridge right now. Dave, what about you? Dave was shaking his head as I was reading these names. Schaefer.

Schaefer is dynamic. I always think you need to build towards the future. It's not like it's a recruitment camp for future, Olympics or future World Cops, but Schaefer is not a liability. He's a dynamic player. He's smart. And I think he could take that eighth defenseman role where maybe he'll see the ice. Maybe he won't see the ice. But I think he would do it with a smile on his face and he would be a great addition. You know, it's hard to pick someone to pull off of that team. But I'd like to see Matthew Schaefer there. So who would you take off? Well, I'd probably take Sanheim off.

and that's not. Remember, Sanheim can play both sides. Yes. That's one of the reasons they really like him. If you get an injury, he can play both sides. Yeah, and he's like that matters. Understood. You know, I, what can I say?

I've got a man crush on Schaefer and I like to see him on the team. By the way, next time, Kyle, we invite Dave on the podcast, we should get his man crush list before because it absolutely affects his picks. like Bedard Man Crush he's on I'm shocked he didn't bring up Weiger Like he's your guy Weger can play both sides too So there you go

Weger you know he's He had a tough start to the season He's been much better in the last month Just like the Flames And I think that might have cost him A spot on the team But if he made the team somehow It'd be a long shot

I wouldn't have a problem with it at all So you're putting Schaefer on And Kyle you're staying same eight I yeah As you know I love the idea of Schaefer almost being the Macar insurance. I've loved watching Jacob Chikrin this year. But push down to shove.

I can't move off the age. No, no, it's got nothing to do with chickens. And to be honest, David, I'm telling you right now, if you're going to take anybody and put them on this team based on the way they've played this year, it should be Jacob Chikrin. He's been amazing. Jacob Chikrin is the most deserving Canadian defenseman. I mean, look, we all love Schaefer.

We all love Schaefer. Chikrin, to me, he's the guy who's actually made the biggest case to be on Team Canada who wasn't there. But I think when you win a tournament in chaos like they did on their blue line, that says something about the group of players that you have. Listen, that's very fair. And I would have, and maybe there won't be any changes. I wouldn't have an issue if they went with the same aid. I'd like to see Schaefer. Chikrin has made a great case.

You know, when you have Macar, you already have your number one power place sorted out, and you wouldn't need them in that capacity, but you certainly could use them elsewhere. You know, there's an embarrassment of riches here. There's a lot of good, hard decisions for Doug Armstrong's trying to make, and I'm sure he's going to be taken to task when we find out on Wednesday about some of the emissions that were made, and Jacob Chikrin's name, if he's not there, will probably be brought up, as well as Matthew Schaefer. So I don't know, I'm not making some massive declaration, and it has to be this way, but I'd love to see Matthew Schaefer there.

I don't think anybody's going to have a problem with Matthew Schaefer being there. I think as a matter of fact, David, it's a popular vote in the country. Yes. Badard became the people's choice of forward, and Schaefer could be that guy on defense. All right. What did you guys got in goal? Goalies. Does anyone not have Jordan Bennington?

I have them. I have them. I do too. Look, look, I've said this. I don't care if the guy's save percentage is 200. Basically on what he did last year, he deserves to be there, and there aren't three other Canadian goalies

who are definitively better than him. Well said. Okay. So I've been looking at Logan Thompson, I believe, has to be there. Yes. I think he's had another great year. And right now, my third guy, I took a long, hard look at McKenzie Blackwood,

but Darcy Kemper, is my pick. Elliot, you love to talk about how much hockey Canada values winning. He did it with Colorado. He is number three, or the third name and goal that I've got right now. I have that too, Bennington, Thompson, and Camper. Dave? I have actually Scott Wedgwood. I like his familiarity with Taves and McCar. First of all, it's their goalie, so I wouldn't necessarily expect him to see action. I like the fact that he would have that familiarity with two of the defensemen that would be on team Canada. He leads the NHL and wins, not that that's the most important thing, but he's in a winning organization right now. And he's been in a second year.

And he's been matters. You know, again, to me, the third goaltender, and I remember we did this process a year ago, and I said, what about Mark Andre Fleury? And you guys laughed to me. And I sort of said the idea of the third goalie. Well, no, I was making the case for flour. You guys were giving me the gears. Okay, the two of us then, and L.A. was laughing at it. Basically, my point is the third goal is...

You guys are still dumb. The third goalie's got to just be a great teammate and a guy who can be good in the dressing room and let the guys do their practice shots. And if he gets called into action, you're not worried about it. And Scott Wedgwood checks all those boxes for me. Would you guys not take Blackwood over Wedgwood if you were going for one of the Colorado goalies? Does that matter? I personally would, but everything that Amber laid. out, I don't have an issue with.

Because he is a great room guy, great teammate. He is. For everything you say about the role that the third goalie would play in this scenario, he would check all those boxes. But worst case scenario, oh my goodness, now we need option number three in goal

for us. I lean Blackwood. If it was coming down to those two. Kemper, solve the problem. Solve the problem. Take camper. You don't have to pick between Blackwood and Wedgwood.

Okay. Anything else on Team Canada before we move along here, Jens? They're going to be good. No, I think we've solved all the problems. We have brought world peace. You've got 18 forwards. Here's a future podcast for you guys. Do a second Canadian team at some point.

You have two months to whip it up. It honestly, when Luke and I were doing it, it was impressive how good that second team could be, specifically up front. I mean, we're, we're, we're, the first five castoffs from this team would be locks. And then we're not even, you haven't even mentioned, you know, the Quentin Byfields, etc. There's, there's a whole slew of, you know, great, great, or very strong players out there that, you know, aren't being given into consideration because there's just so many good forwards from Canada. Awesome.

I appreciate your concern for our lack of content. Or busy enough as is over here. Okay, so that's a look at Team Canada for a deep dive into Team USA earlier. We had a chance to catch up with Mike Russo with The Athletic. We'll play that for you right now. Please welcome back to 32 Thoughts, the podcast, Michael Russo of The Athletic, who covers the Minnesota Wild, the NHL as a whole, and will be overseas in Milan in February covering

the women's hockey tournament and also Team USA on the men's side. So that's why we have you on here, Michael. Welcome back to the pod. There's a reason. There's another reason we have Michael on here. Michael is the best cigar partner

in the national hockey team. The last time I hung out with you two together was in Milan at the NHMedia tour and we had a cigar outside that that was when we were trying to get Dom to go home and record this podcast, because it was like 1 a.m. your time. That's right. I forgot about that.

No better way to kill time before recording than to have a cigar on the patio. Michael is not only the number one. He's so good. I'm giving him spot number two. Everybody else is playing for third place. Okay, let's go, Kyle. Can I just, I probably should not say this,

but I just sit down yesterday here in Vegas with John Hines and let's put it this way. We each had a cigar, so. Oh, I know where you were there. We've been there. We've been there. It's okay. That makes John Heinz sounds better.

Yeah. That makes them sound better. Well, the entire USA front office and coaching staff, I mean, you know about Sully, right? So, I mean, there's a lot of people that enjoy their Stogi. And the Rousseau Stogey ranking, it was like Gretzky's final game in the NHL. He was the first, second, and third star. And Friege's mind, Rousseau just takes the top three spots. Our best cigar partner.

So as we sit here right now, Michael, we're days away from the United States, January 2nd, right? They unveil their roster officially. To your knowledge, and obviously you spent a lot of time around Bill Garron, who, of course, is at the front of things here for USA, along with the Minnesota Wild. Like, what are the biggest debates remaining for that roster? Yeah, so yesterday, December 28th, and today, December 29th, the World Juniors are obviously in Minnesota, Chris Drury, Bill Zito, Tom Fitzgerald, Stan Bowman, got into town. Obviously, Ben Beesbrook's there, Pat Kelleher, Chris Kelleher. And the goal was in these couple days to essentially pick the roster with some backup plans

because there are so many American players that are injured right now. I think the biggest debates right now is from a checking standpoint. With the way that Connor McDavid right now is performing and Kail McCarr and Nathan McKinnon, obviously there are many nations besides Canada, I don't think they want to just go full-on all-star team, best players total. I think they feel a very big need to have checkers on their team. So I think that guys like Brock Nelson and maybe, you know, a Vincent Trocheck and players that a lot of maybe haven't had the greatest years, although Brock's had a really good year. But we're on those Four Nations team that maybe some thought would age out.

I think they're very much in the mix. And the question is, do you put them on the team or do you put some of the best goal scores in the league this year on the team like Cole Cawfield or Jason Robertson? So those are the big debates right now up front. And I'll be really curious to see where this goes, because as of a couple weeks ago, everything I was hearing was even though Jason Robertson, who right now since mid-November has still had more goals than anybody in the NHL, I think that he was really trying to still crack this lineup, which I know will shock a lot of fans. But I don't think he is an absolute sure thing to make it right now. But we'll see there, I'm sure there's huge debates going on between the coaching staff and the management right. now. I got to tell you, I'm shocked about that because I make my roster and I had Robertson on there. I didn't even put them on there in pencil, Michael. I had them there in marker. Let's go

through it. Like I look at the, first of all, I always start with the Four Nations roster. And I thought the guys at Ford who were coming back for sure, Boldie, Eichel, Gensel, Larkin, Matthews, Miller, and the Kachuk brothers. I thought all of those guys were coming back. back for sure i totally agree with you i do think kyle conner um is coming back i mean i was curious about that because when he got scratched in the championship game i began to think maybe these guys don't like them that much yeah i think that they did that only because i he was my pick to uh have a breakout during the tournament on the 32 plus and uh i did as as i did mention larkin too but i i really obviously i'm a huge kyle conner fan i thought he was going to have a monster tournament it just didn't

work out that way. And in a short tournament like that, there just isn't a lot of runways. So he started off on the top line, if you remember, and, you know, they struggle, they moved him down. Next you know, he's just quickly out, sort of out of the mix because of the elevation, coincidentally, of guys like Larkin and players like that. So I do think that he is 100% on in a bigger tournament. He's one of the best goals scores that the United States has. Every time he plays the wild, he reminds Bill Guerin of that. He did it again the other night with a huge goal there at the of the second period and he's just you know their top line is so legit the winnipeg jets and Kyle conner is a huge reason for that the other one that didn't have a great four nations that

i think is definitely a shoe and is jack hughes um you know the one area that i'll be curious to see and this is more from a coaching staff perspective is that if you remember in the four nations he played wing you know he is a center um the way that he could deliver the puck by is transported. I just think that they got to find a way to put them in the middle. And if that does, how does that affect a J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck players like that, that's a debate for another day. But I think Jack Hughes is also a shoe in the team. The one other shoe in that I think that was a snub for the Four Nation is Tage Thompson. I think they realize. Yeah. It has to be there. Has to. And I don't know if you guys remember,

but last year we did a podcast going into the Four Nations. And I said that I didn't think that Nitt Thompson was going to be on the team. And I know it has surprised a lot of Buffalo Sabres bands, but, you know, he goes to the world championship. He showed him that one-nothing win in the gold medal game that he could check, which is a big, you know, Bill Guerrin must. And then he scores the winning gold to deliver them the, you know, the first, you know, championship in the gold medal in 90-some-odd years. So I think that he's absolutely on the team as well. So by my count, you were talking about, you mentioned Robertson. Is there anybody else you think is on the bubble?

Remember we're going from 13 forwards at the Four Nations to 14 here. So there's another spot. Who else you think is maybe battling for that last spot? I think Clayton Keller is the one. You know, he's another one that, again, was in that gold medal game and really showed them that he could check. You know, he is somebody, too, that if you have an injury on the flank on the power play, I mean, who's better than Clayton Keller to throw on that right circle?

You know, he brings speed. As I said, he showed that he could check. So I think it's almost he versus Robertson right now. I really do because I genuinely believe that Brock Nelson is going to be on the team. I think the coaches would riot if he's not. He's also playing tremendously right now for Colorado. And he adds so many dimensions. He could play wing, he can play center.

He could kill penalties. You could throw him on the power play if there's an injury. And then Trocheque, you know, he's so valuable in the middle in terms of faceoff. So if those two make the team, we just talked about 13 forwards. And that only leaves you one spot. Now, if Trochev doesn't make the team, and by the way, the one name that we're not mentioning is Kreider, so I think he is out. But if there's 13 forwards, including Nelson and Trocheque, that only leaves one spot for Keller, Robertson, Caulfield, De Brinket, Maddie Nyes. I mean, it's really unbelievable the talent that could be left back here.

And so I think when they make these final decisions, if Nelson and Trochechek make the team with Miller and Hughes and Connor and they've got their 13 forwards, the one thing Bill Guerin is going to have to really do is damage, with these players that don't make it and essentially tell whether it's a Keller or a J. Robb or Caulfield, look, you are, don't, you know, first of all, don't make your vacation plans right now. You know, if, you know, there's, as we've talked about, there's several guys that are hurt right now, you know, from Eichol. I mean, there's just so many that if something happens in the next month, you know, a J. Rob could, if he doesn't make the team, could immediately be pulled out of the bullpen, so to speak.

So I know this is shocking probably to some United States. States fans or Dallas Stars fans or Utah Mammoth fans that were Montreal Canadian fans that these incredible players might be left off the initial roster named on January 2nd. But everything I hear, they still value what a Miller or a Trochequec and Nelson could bring. And that really puts guys like Keller and Robertson and Caulfield in a battle for maybe the last spot. Well, that's what I was... We didn't even mention Cutter Goce.

Sorry, Kyle. Yeah. Yeah. I mentioned Cutter Goce. Yeah, no doubt about it. And I remember the Wild tried to get him. And so there's a lot of appreciation, I think, from Bill Garen with those guys. You know, I definitely think that he is in the mix.

But right now I hear that those other guys are sort of ahead of him. You know, even like the Troy Terry who's having a really good year for Anaheim. As I mentioned, I mean, Kreider's playing really well. You know, it looks like he's had a bounce back. He's healthy, which I don't think he was in New York at the end. But right now, I mean, if I don't think they're like. Team Canada, actually. I don't think there's going to be a ton of changes up front from the Four Nations

and less in goal and maybe even less on the blue line. Right. And that's what I was curious about, like, was there, did you get any sense that there was any kind of philosophy change from Garen and the Brain Trust in terms of what they prioritize after going through the Four Nations experience and picking their team here now for Milan? Sounds pretty similar. Yeah, absolutely not.

In fact, you know, it's funny you ask that, Kyle, because I ask Billy that all the time. because they were one goal short. And so to me, that, if it were me, that means that you need to add some gold scores. But in their mind, what it showed them is that the style of play that they played in the Four Nations could deliver gold in Milan. And look, remember that overtime, you know, that came out of nowhere with the McDavid goal on a couple bad plays behind the net, probably by Adam Fox. But earlier in that overtime, and Bennington made some unbelievable saves on Austin Matthews. that easily could have won the game poor United States. So they feel they were right there.

They loved the way that they played their three previous games in that tournament as well. So I don't think that even though they were goal short from winning the championship at Four Nations, that it's going to stop them to say, you know, we don't need Brock Nelson there. We don't need Vincent Trochick there. We're just going to have an all-star team and put a Keller or Robertson to Caulfield instead of those guys. I think they still value what those players bring. they are going to need penalty killers. They believe that in this type of tournament with different rules,

a mix of referees that there could be even more special teams. So it's going to be imperative to have really good players that could kill penalties, win draws. And so I don't think that that, I think it's actually the opposite where they just almost reaffirmed that the philosophy that they had in picking their Four Nations roster is exactly what the same type of thing that they have to make with Milan. Okay, so Michael, I'm looking at the D.

I see six locks. Faber, Hughes, McAvoy, Sanderson, Slavin, and Warensky. But me, I have a seventh. I think Seth Jones should be on this team. How do you feel about that? Completely agree with you. You know, wins a cup, logs huge minutes, can play power play, can play penalty kill. And he's a big right shot defenseman.

And right now, McAvoy, Faber, and they're your only right shot D that are locks on the group. So I think that he's on the team, which now. suddenly means that one of the two players that, because you could bring 8D, one of the two players that were in Boston and Montreal could be in peril of making the team. That's Noah Hanifin and or Adam Fox. I think that Hudson's in the mix. I think Lecombe's in the mix. But I think the 8th D is coming down to Fox versus Hanifan and we'll see who wins out there. If Jones makes a team, you kind of think that you would need another left shot, D. But, you know, look, Fox is somebody that if Werencki got hurt, if Quinn Hughes got hurt, you know, can easily go into the power play

and add a huge dimension there. But the other thing I think they think is that if that ever happened, they have McAvoy, they have favor, they have Slavin guys that can play the power play. They have Jones, that maybe necessarily the way that Fox played at the Four Nations, which seemed to be a pace of play issue there, could affect him here. So it'll be interesting because then you have the dynamic of solely coaching the team who now coaches him in New York. Fox has been hurt, but he's had a good year prior to being hurt.

Almost back. Yeah. And you have Drury on the management too. So I, you know, I really think that Fox now where I thought before he was not going to make the team, it wouldn't shock me if it's Spock's over Hannifin for that eighth spot. Okay. So here's my last question about the defense. When late in Bill Guerin's career, did John Carlson spear him in an uncomfortable place? That's the name.

Like, what's the deal there? Like, how come he gets no love? I don't know. I was shocked, too, that they didn't bring him at least to Plymouth, you know, for the orientation camp. And I know it's, I know for a million percent certainty, it is stung John Carlson. And remember, this is guy that for that internationally, yeah, for internationally for the United States, he's had some unbelievable games.

And so I don't know exactly what could be said there. but clearly, you know, he is definitely not in the mix to make the Olympic team. And it's a shame. And, you know, when it comes to the defense, I'm going to, the other thing I'll be really curious to see is what are their defense pairs? Because, you know, Faber and Slavin, I would assume, are going to be partners on the penalty kill. And they were such a great shutdown pair, you know, starting midway through that first game

at the Four Nations and then all the way to the end. But right now, Quinn Hughes and Faber in Minnesota have been absolutely sensation. And if they play another month like this, you kind of wonder if it, you know, could be maybe a Sanderson McAvoy and they just stick with Hughes favor, you know, when they get to Milan. I think right now, if you had to ask me, I think it'll be Slaven in favor. But the way that Hughes and favor are playing, it adds different dimension to this team that I don't think they expected before. Wow. And it's funny you mentioned Carlson, Ellie, because that was the other name I had him down. I had him when we did our projections for Four Nations.

had his name down and he's had another like great start to the year and it would give them you know four lefties four righties assuming set jones is a guy on there too i imagine that's part of the conversation as well and trying to flesh it out but uh adam fox of course a righty also okay so that leaves the defense goalies and it seems like there is probably the least debate of the three three areas of the roster i mean i wouldn't be shocked if it's the exact same three they had in montreal and blast and what are your sense there Yeah, you know, it's so funny, because I assume exactly what you just said, I really haven't done a lot of asking on this, but I assume that all three are back. I mean, obviously you're going to have Hellebuck and Ottinger without a shadow of a doubt. And to me, Swainman's had a really good year for Boston, so I don't see why you make any changes. I think Spencer Knight pushed. I think Thatcher Dempco pushed. Wolf. But, yeah, Wolf. I mean, obviously has been great. But, you know, to me, unless there's an injury, it's going to be Hella Buck Ottinger and Swayman. Yeah. All right. Okay. Hey, one other question, Mike, because you, you went to the orientation camp in the summer, right? You were just kind of a bird's eye view taking it. I don't know how much you can say about it, but like, was there anything from just being around that for a few days that stuck out? Yeah, no. I mean, it was, first of all, it was just awesome because there wasn't a ton of media there. And I flew there right from Milan, if you remember, right to that orientation camp. And, you know, the one player that we haven't talked about that I sat down with at the orientation camp is Patrick King. And he's had a really, You know, I know that it was his dream coming into the season to make that team,

but I just don't think that he's going to do enough to probably knock out some of those other players. I mean, if we're talking like maybe at Caulfield or J. Robb or a Keller might not make the team. I just think that probably Patrick hasn't done enough. And I know he doesn't want to be there on a charity case. But the orientation camp was really, really cool. It was laid back. Players just roaming around, mostly doing, you know, everything from their, you know, their credential photos to, you know, to, you know, all the social media stuff, to interviews, to, it was just a really cool setting.

So, you know, these guys were just literally hanging in the lobby of a really cool hotel. They had a golf outing. They did go on the ice, even though, you know, the NHLPA, I know didn't a lot of, didn't want these guys to go on the ice. But it was, it was a really, really neat setting. Nice. Awesome. You know one thing, and I don't know if you guys have asked about this, but one thing I learned yesterday, is the, so the players are in the, obviously, the village.

And then each team apparently only gets six staff members, and they're going to be the essential, you know, team services guy, doctors, trainers. So the coaches for these teams are staying in hotels and management. So, like, the United States has back-to-back games. So they have no, like, you know, where they're going to do meetings. Like, they don't, you know, it's going to be really a fascinating thing. Like, do they take these guys, get put them on a bus and bring them to the team hotel? Are they allowed to do that?

is there going to meeting spaces. So there's a, I mean, it's not, we keep on talking about all the rinks in, you know, the two rinks in Milan, but there's a lot of other stuff up in the air that isn't the most efficient thing for these teams. I have to tell you, Michael, at the Board of Governors, like, there were a few of them that were telling me that they, that when you think about what risk that some of them are taking with their teams and their players at this tournament, they really think they got hoodwinked on and completely rob blind about what they were given in exchange.

Yeah, I mean. Things like, you know, there's, you know, getting to and from games, there's no special lanes for buses, like they're, they just cannot believe the sweetheart deal they feel they gave the IOC to have their players there. Absolutely. And I know this is a huge deal. I mean, just from a meeting perspective, I mean, if you're having back to back games, you're not going down to the rink.

First of all, they don't even know if they're going to have meeting areas. You know, what that rink's going to be like, so this is basically going to be construction, you know, hammers down the day before the women's tournament. But it is just, like, there's been no direction given these countries right now on just anything like that, on how they're going to deal with this. And it's just so weird to me that you're going to have coaches and managers

in different places and the players. It's just going to be, like, what are you going to do, Zoom tutorials on the morning of games? is on a back-to-back. It's just the whole thing. I bet you the players will be thrilled. Oh, no coaches meeting rooms were crushed by this. Yeah, no video, nothing.

So it's just that was one of those things I learned yesterday sitting down with John Hines, who was on the staff. Wow. All right. Anything else for each? No, we're good. Okay. Michael, appreciate you doing this, man.

No, it's a busy time for you on the road covering the wild and everything coming down the pike here with the Olympics. So thanks for bringing us up to speak. with Team USA. Yep. See you guys on Milan. All right. Let's get into Team Sweden here, back with Dave and Elliot.

Can I just say this? Sure. This team is not getting enough respect for how good it is. I was sitting here and looking up and down the roster and in goal. And I just felt this is. This is a really good team. Really good team. Especially now, Landisog wasn't an option a year ago.

He is now. Like, there's another name to add into the forward group. Some interesting names on defense. So why don't we start? Like, I look through from a forward perspective, Brat's going to be there. Leo Carlson. Joel Erickson, Philip Forsberg,

Kempay, Nielander, Lucas Raymond, Zabana, J. I think Landisog's going to be there. I would think Elias Pedersen's going to be there as well. Okay, I've got to tell you, I have some guys who have question marks next to them. Really? Yes. And this is the first one I'm going to start with.

Does anybody have any question that Patterson's going to be there? I mean, I'd be surprised if he wasn't there. Having said that, you know, he did struggle in Four Nations, and we all know he's been absent for some time with the Canucks. But I would be surprised if Pedersen isn't suiting up for Sweden come February. Kyle? Yeah, for me, he's still there, but the conversation around him now, much different compared to when we were picking four nations a year ago.

I'm absolutely taking him, but I had to say that in my head, I asked myself, is he still 100% a lot? lock. And that was, same thing for Zabanajad. I think he's there, but I said to myself, is it 100% that he's a lock? Did either of you guys question that? A little bit, like I did. I did, honestly, but I still have him there. I hope he doesn't listen because you always say you love him. Breakups are hard. I can't see Zabanajad not being there. I Again, he's one of those one-shot scores. And sometimes a guy can struggle, and the Rangers have just been a mess this year.

But, you know, you put him with his countrymen in that setting, didn't he score, was it a world championship winning goals? He scored a winning goal in wearing the Sweden. Was it world juniors? World juniors, yeah. Yeah, World juniors. Overtime, against Russia, yep. By the way, Elliot, you talk about Sweden as a dark course. The last time the Winter Olympics were held in Italy who won gold.

That's right. Sweden did. Yes. The great goal off the broken Saku Kovu stick on the opening face off of the third period. Yes. You know, I'll tell you some, too. I had some other question marks, like guys who generally you would say are 100% going to be there. Ricard Raquel, he's been injured a lot this year.

Do you guys have him there? I don't. I don't right now. And he was, remember, he was an injury replacement at Four Nations. He wasn't initially listed there either. Hampas Linholm? I have him. I don't have him.

I mean, we can get to the blue line in a second, but I can tell you, William Ackland, like I have Heineman, I have Ackland, I have Zellon. I want to say, so I have Heimann, too. I'm with you on that. To me, to me, the way that guy's played this year, I would be shocked if Heineman wasn't on the Olympic team. The other guy that you didn't have, Kyle, the name name that I have, is Marcus Johansson. I think he's had a really good year in Minnesota playing with really good players.

To me, he's played his way on. Yeah, sorry, I did have him listed, but I just, I thought there would be maybe a little bit of conversation around him, whether, okay, do you take him or not? But he's on my list, too, Fridge. He's had a really good year. And I mentioned Berikovsky earlier when we were having the Bedard conversation. I also have him as part of the Swedish forward group. I wondered if you would conclude him. is that I didn't have Eklund, by the way, David.

I didn't, I don't think his year's been good. I really like Zetterland. The thing that's mentioned to me is Zetterland's been really good lately. So I wondered if there was a push. The other name that, you know, I kind of looked at Simon Holmstrom. I looked at Michael Backland. You know, Arvidsson had a good year this year before he got hurt. But the name that nobody's mentioned and he's injured right now,

and I got to think if he's healthy enough to play, is William Carlson. I just think if he's good enough to play, he's going to be there. He's a consistent team Sweden player and a very good one. Yeah, I mean, he's been out since the

first week in November, so it's just has there been enough of a resume built? A career resume, sure, but what have you done for me lately, resume? You know, who do you leave off? You know, someone will be left off potentially that's more game ready to be in this

type of tournament if Carlson has gone another three, four weeks. So that's the big question mark there. Yeah. I'm glad you guys are with me on Heinemann because to me, the way that guy's played this year, he should 100% be an Olympian. Yes, totally. Absolutely, I'm with you there.

So, okay, good group of forwards for the Swedes on defense. So I know you're looking at, I think Rasmus Anderson's going to be back there. Yep. I captain them at the worlds this past Spring, Brodine, Dahlene, Forsling,

Hedman, Eric Carlson. I mentioned I have Linholm. I have Hamas, Linholm, too. I also have Oliver Ekman-Larsen, who was part of that Swedish team that won silver in 2014. I'll start by saying I think Sweden's blue line might be the best blue line. I know that might seem crazy to some people. They're just, they're so solid top to bottom. They're certainly right there.

and I know the U.S. and Canada have exceptional blue lines as well. You know, a lot of me saying that would be dependent on Hedman being healthy again. And that's a big question mark. But I have those same guys, Dahlene, Hedman, Forssling, Rasmus Anderson, Carlson, Brodine, Edvinson. I have, I don't have Ekman-Larsen, I have Edvinson there. Edvinson. And there's some recency bias. I did the Detroit, Toronto game on Sunday night.

And I was watching specifically for him. Like, Edvenson's a first parody in Detroit now, playing with cider. You know, when you take Edmondson, you take Hampus Linholm, you have a little bit of a left-right issue there with Sweden that I see that people could puncture a hole in my argument. But I don't know. Like, to me, and I, and Ekman Larson, there's something weird between Ekben Larson and the Swedes. He gets kind of knocked off some of their teams and I don't really get it. But I think Edvenson, if I'm taking a team, I'm putting Edvinson on the team. And one of the reasons is, you know, he plays against McDavid a couple of times.

He's given McDavid some trouble periodically. Like, just because he's so long, I don't know. I'd be taking Edmondson, especially on a small ice surface. Yeah. I think his length and his skill, and we saw him finish that game versus Toronto. OEL I like too. His nastiness has been there this year. I mean, he should have been throwing out of the game against Detroit. He had a horrible cross check that was not went unpunished. It was a love tap, Dave. It was a love tap. You know, I have no problem with Ackholm or OEL there. And I probably put either of those guys ahead of Lindholm. And that's no knock on Lindholm. But I just, you know, and maybe I just have watched Ackholm and OEL more than I've watched Ham Piss Linholm this year. But I really like their blue line top to bottom. Broberg, Larson, Rasmus, Sandine,

like they got a lot of good D who aren't going to be there just because just because of how deep they are. I really like this team a lot. All right, Kyle, who you got in goal? How many of us have not one but two Minnesota Wild Netminers there?

I do. So do I. Wow. So Philip Gustafson and Yesper Wollstett and Jacob Markstrom's, my other one. Who do you do? I have them too. Okay.

I have him too. I was almost tempted to go Forsberg as my third. I mean, it's kind of a flip of the coin between. You know what, Dave, that's funny. I thought about that too. Yeah. I mean, Markstrom is just, he's been really up and down. He has an 883 save percentage this year.

And I know New Jersey's had a slew of injuries, but it hasn't inspired a lot of faith in me. I think you start with Gustafsson and Waldstad and you go from there. And again, it's the same. scenario of who will be the least problematic is your third goalie. And by problem, problematic is probably the wrong word. Who will be the most comfortable being the third goalie, whether it's Allmark, Forsberg, or Markstrom, who will be that great teammate? Also, too, I will not be surprised if Sam Erson is named here.

I know he hasn't had a great year in Philadelphia, but you remember guys, so their last game of the four nations against the U.S. I know they had a bunch of guys out sick in that, but they nabbed him to start. he was great. They won. And then go to the world championships. They could have had Allmark as a guy. He was willing to go after Ottawa got knocked out of the playoffs. Erson was their guy. He had very good numbers for Sweden over there. Like I think Sam Hallam and company with the Swedes, they've liked them. I just wonder if maybe how he's come out of the gate and some of the numbers he's put up in Philly. Does that, and how well

Wollstead has played in Minnesota? Does that do enough there to change their conversation? But it just seems like Erison's been a popular name among the Swedish brain trust. So if he ends up being part of the group here initially, I won't be shocked by it. You know, Kyle, that's a great point to bring up. Really well done. You know, we should just mention Allmark again taking a leave and we wish him the best. I think he probably would have been the third in a lot of our picks if he was in the roster right now. But it's interesting you say that, Kyle, because...

I also wondered about Forsberg, but the way, if you're going to simply say we're handing it to the Minnesota duo of Gustaf and Wallstead, you might just take Erson if you feel that for what he's done in the past and you feel that he won't rock the boat as your number three, why wouldn't you do that? Kyle, I've heard you have worse ideas. I'll say that. Thank you. We're getting somewhere. We're finally getting somewhere. Okay, anything else you want to add on the goalie combo with Team Sweden, Dave? No, I think we're all locked in and, you know, they have great chemistry there.

This Minnesota team has been fantastic and you start there and you see where that gets you. Yeah. And again, Sweden could be that dark horse. I don't know if it's fair to call Sweden a dark horse. I mean, they're a hockey power. But let's put it this way. Everyone's sort of saying Canada, U.S., and I'm still going to stick to Canada. But if Sweden makes some noise in Italy, it's not going to shock me.

I'll put it that way. If you were to say to people, okay, you can't pick Canada, you can't pick U.S., who's going to win the gold, I bet you 97% of people would pick Sweden. Yeah, that's why I said they wouldn't call them a dark horse, but I don't think many people are picking them as the favorite to win gold. Let's put it that way. I wouldn't shock me. If they won the gold medal, I would not be shocked.

No, their lineups are. I would be unshooked, de-shocked if they won the gold medal. now. Okay, let's finish with Finland. So up front, I mean, look, it's no bark of, not having Barcov. Patrick Linae's hurt. Actually, I have to tell, I put Linae on my team simply because I don't think he's been officially ruled out yet. Has he, Kyle? I don't think so either, but just he's hurt right now. Yes. And remember how many injuries they had to their blue line going into Four Nations. It was like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for them. And they, They still battled, as we know, they're a country that does not go away when it comes to international events.

David, who's kind of you got as the locks up front for the Finns? Well, led by Rantanin, Hintz, Granlin, Aho, Lekanin, Teravinen, Lusterinen, Lundel, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Those would be the eight locks. And maybe you guys would agree with these other picks, but I don't know if they're locks. I love what Oliver Capitan has done this year. I am 100% with you on this, David. Oliver Capitin, to me, is a lock on that team.

Yeah, 100%. And you're in agreement, Kyle, too, then? Yes, totally. So, you know, he's been great as a rookie. Yuel Armiya, I just think he heals penalties. He's a leader. You know, okay, so they're for all in agreement, too, Kyle, then. Yep.

That's 10. Here's where it probably gets a bit interesting. You know, these are the names I have. I have Kako, Eric Hala, Tullivan, and I have Yanny Neiman, who plays for Seattle, big, young, physical at times can score a little bit. Again, we're talking 14th forward status here, and I'm not going to nitpick about it, but that's who I have. Kyle?

So the only swap I have from your 14, Dave, I don't have Neiman. I do have Atchu Ratu. that's my 14th guy who I like that interesting that's that's not that's a nice that's a nice bold slightly out of the box but I like justifiable pick I like that I think Neiman is a great name Dave I really like that pick Kivaranta I kind of thought about but probably not Parson I thought about probably not um you know I did put Patrick Lainey there because for Finland it's always a question of can they score And if line A can play, then you're going to want that weapon in your arsenal.

So even though I know a lot of people are leaving him out, I'd search for a definitive answer. Is he out of the Olympics? I heard no. So to me, if I'm running a team, I put line A on and if I have to replace him with unless I really feel he doesn't deserve to be there, I put line A on and I replace them later because you just might need a goal. and he, almost as well as anyone in the world, can give you a goal.

I just think the whole thing that's amazing to me is just the complete disappearance of Kotkinemi. And, you know, he's had a rough year, and, but it's not like this is the deepest team around. And I think it's interesting that, hey, I understand if he doesn't make it, but nobody's even talking about him. I think it's just an incredible, incredible plot line for Finland at the Olympics, really. Yeah. Yeah, it's a good point.

It's a very good point because it was another name too where you're like, oh, did I forget him? And all the other names that we've already got out there, I'm going, no, I think they deserve to be there ahead of Cockaniemie. It's hard when it's, you know, 10 minutes a night in Carolina. You know, he's not playing specific, you know, big role minutes. It's, you know, again, there's no point of really nitpicking. We sort of went through the top 10 and we're all in agreement and how much impact the 13th or 14th forward are going to have for any of the teams, let alone team Finland, is very debatable. So I'm not going to, I'm not going to lose sleep over if cock and he's named to the team or not. I want you to lose sleep, David.

I like, I want you to be, I can't believe I can't sleep tonight. Kock and Yemi didn't make it. Okay. D. D. who do you got? So I wonder, and I don't know enough about this part of the world to be able to weigh in. Like, I'm just curious, do we see someone that's playing professionally over in Finland? Like, do they get named here?

I just, you know that the Finns, there isn't the deepest group of defensemen at the NHL level. There's seven guys in the NHL. Right. Seven guys in the NHL. So it's funny you see that because I asked someone over there. I did a, I actually did homework for this. podcast, which is unusual for me. And I was told one name.

It's Miko Lettinen, who plays 26 games for Toronto and Columbus in 2021. I heard that it would not be a shocker if he is named as one of Finland's eight defensemen. Okay. This is what we do, though, guys. This is what we know. Haskinen, Mika, Lindel are probably all going to play 28 plus minutes a game. That's just how it's...

40 minutes. That's just how it's going to have to be. It's like Sweden, Canada, in the U.S., which, you know, guys who would be, you know, at the top of some of Finland's board, you know, behind Haskinen, you know, the John Carlson's and the Chikrin's and guys who might be left off these other teams, they just don't have that ability. But Haskinen, Mikola, Lindel, are going to play massive minutes. And then it's going to be.

And Ristolin, who wasn't available a year ago. And Ristolinen is now healthy. Yes. Yes. Yeah, so that's how it's going to be for them. Yeah. And then you're going to have Yoka Harju, you're going to have Mata, you're going to have Matt and Paolo, and then, you know, Valamaki's been hurt. He just got back.

I don't know if they feel he's had enough runway, and there's Vacaninen, who I like because he told us it took Dobish 55 takes to do his signing videos. So he's a favor of mine. Or no, or Dostal. Dostle, not Dostle, not Dovish, Dostle, right, that's right. And Dawson said that's like, what's signing? Yeah, I have Aikenight and it's the last day defenseman. But again, these are, who knows? I mean, these are very insignificant decisions in the big picture of things.

Yeah. But remember, like, Matt and Palo became a really nice story for Finland who, I mean, hadn't got a ton of opportunity with Ottawa at that point. It was a late ad again because of all their injuries. He was great. Oh, he hasn't been an everyday lineup guy for the stands this year. But you wonder if there's that. who's the Nick, Matt, and Palo of Team Finland here coming up in Milan?

David, you know, there's going to be a headline in the Helsinki paper. Amber, our choices are irrelevant. I didn't say that. Don't misquote me. No, that's what I heard. Those reporters are going to come looking for you. I mean, we're going to do a whole, you know, inquisition in Canada regarding the 14th forward and the eighth defenseman in the big picture.

You know, we were there, Elliot and Sochi, and P.K. Suban was the eighth defenseman and, you know, a former Norris winner. And he barely, I'm trying to remember, I think he played one game. I could be wrong. Yeah, yeah. He played one. Yeah. You know, he barely got on the ice. And that's not, I'm not disparaging P.K. Suben, I'm just making a point of when the, when you're listed as the eighth defenseman or 14th forward, there's a significant chance, especially if your team's playing well, you're not going to necessarily see any time. So. Okay, in goal. Saros is going to be there. Anyone have Uco Peca Lukinen? I have him, and I wouldn't mind if he starts game one the way he's playing right now for Buffalo. Yeah, I've got him too. I really battled with this, actually, because for a long time, I did not have Lukin there, but the hot streak, just because of his ceiling, the hot streak put me there. So I had Sarros and I had Lukinen, and I really struggled, but I took Lankan over Corpusalo because Lankan. Lankinen was there last year.

Agreed. Okay. Kyle? I had Corpusallo over Lankanin. Yeah, it could go either way. Yeah. It could go either way. I actually, up until about two weeks ago, I had Saros, Corpusalo, Lankanin, and all

the sudden, Lucidin came shooting back up my list. Just because he's so good. Like, you're looking at his overall body of work. You're thinking he should be there. He's probably at his ceiling. the second best goalie to Soros. Yes, I agree with you there. That's also why I've got him.

All right, jents. How are we feeling about it all? Solved all the problems. Elliot picked the U.S. to win four nations. I remember we had Connor McDavid on the show, and he actually even... Boy, did you cut me at the knees there. That was...

That was one of the greatest moments of my life, I have to say. Actually, I do believe that. I actually think that's true. We're interviewing me, David. And I go, yeah, Elliot, picked the U.S. to win. And the look. David's face was personally. So are you picking the U.S. again, Elliot?

No, I'm picking Canada now, which is probably a bad thing for them. But, Dave, any Finnish journalist who wants Dave's phone number, just send me a DM, okay? Or you know what? Any Finnish hockey fan who wants Dave's phone number, just send me a DM. I think they're going to be pretty, they're going to always play hard. That is the thing. You called them irrelevant. That's what I heard.

Oh, man. All right, if that's how it's going to be. Yeah, listen, I'm excited for this. And if we're outside of these big four that we broke down today, is there a country you guys think could make noise to win a medal conceivably? You know, there's always a surprise. Chequia for me just because. It would be awesome, right?

Well, Germany is going to have, you know, a high-end talent there. Yes. There's no question about that. But, you know, I've been around long enough to know that, you know, the teams that play really good team systems, like Chakia plays a system. Switzerland plays a system. I just think that a lot, if you look at a lot of those victories, David, where they remember Switzerland beat Canada 2-0 in 2006, those were all on the big ice. I think on the smaller ice, it's harder to do that with Canada and the U. U.S.

Yeah, it's any given Sunday, you know, and I just think about Latvia game. I can't remember who the goalie was and Teddy Nolan. Yeah, and wasn't Teddy Nolan coaching and it was like 50. 50 saves. Yeah, 50 saves. Yeah, like on any given day and if you get a hot goalie and a team that's sort of prepared to shut it down as best they can, anything could happen, which makes it fun. It's what makes sports amazing and should make the Olympics an incredible run.

Yeah, we should shut out Dom's. Shramati, our producer, sent us on our group chat, a Slovak flag. Dom's a Slovakian, so Dom will shut out the Slovaks for you. Although Dave told me privately, he also thinks they are irrelevant. Oh, Lord. Come back next week for Dave Amber's updated, irrelevant, hot rankings. I can't wait to hear. I can't wait to hear.

I can't wait to. hear who Dave interviews next time. It said, Elliot picked the Americans again. But Canada has the checks out of the gate. That's their first game, February of the 12th. So, okay, here's a final question. If it keeps going like this for Bennington this year, Dave, are you starting him in game one?

I will start him game one. I think he deserves that. And as you, I mean, you eloquently put, if his say a percentage were 200, you'd still run with him. He's a Stanley Cup winner. He single-handedly, you could say, at some points, won them or helped win four nations for Canada. He's earned that right. But there would be a very short leash, not based so much on Biddington, but based on knowing that I'd feel comfortable with Logan Thompson, who's been sensational this year jumping in and grabbing the reins.

And we've seen that in prior years where one goaltender starts the Olympics and another goaltender pushes the team through. We've seen that repeatedly, especially on the Canadian team. So it wouldn't be, you know, the precedent is there. You have a guy and you let him do what he can do. And then if he stumbles at all, you have a second guy you feel very comfortable with. And I think that would be the role with Canada. And Binnington gets that first look. Okay.

Kyle, what are you doing? I'll go a different approach here. I remember the year Washington won the Stanley Cup, Barry Trots was the head coach, Braden Holpey struggled down the stretch in the regular season. And it was Gruberauer. he went to start their first round series against Columbus. And I remember asking people about it going, man, that must have been just an absolute dagger to Holtby's confidence. And someone just said, you can only imagine the conversation, I'm going, look, we're going to need you here at some point.

Right now, Gru Bauer's the hot hand. He's been playing better. Like, I've got to reward him, but we know we're going to need you. And sure enough, you know, Columbus won the first two games of that series. They make the switch. Holpe goes in. They rattle off four straight against the jackets and, you know, three more rounds after that. Stanley Cup champion.

So for that reason, I wonder if there is anything similar of going, Jordan, we know we're going to need you here at some point in a big, big spot. But right now, Logan Thompson's been the better goalie this year. So we're starting them game one against Chequia and we'll go from there. Well, I mean, there's been two times Canada's won the gold medal changing their goalie in the middle of its tournament. Yep. So there's history for it.

But I would still start Bennington game one. Okay. All right. We're all thanks to Canada right now. Thanks for having me on, guys. I understand you have a big following here, so I'm very excited to be part of this. We'll see how big our following is

in certain Scandinavian countries. All right, and by the way, speaking of that, I'll give a little plug. Wednesday night, Scotia Bank, Wednesday night hockey. After the reveal of Team Canada, we're going to give it wall-to-wall comprehensive coverage as we are previewing the jets and the Red Wings. Our pre-game's going to be pretty much all tied into the Canadian Olympic team.

So tune in Wednesday for that. Yeah, and that's 5.30 Eastern, right? It's a full hour before Jets and Wings. Is that correct? It's following the Predators game. As soon as the Predators game is done, which is on Sportsnet, we'll come on air. Elliot, Colby Armstrong, Sam Cousentino, Luke Gazzdick, and we will have, again, comprehensive coverage. We'll hear from some of Team Canada's management team, and we'll dissect who is there

and what the big omissions are, because there's going to be some big names, some superstar caliber players that we mentioned today that just there's just not enough space for them. And it's going to be a lot of debate and discussion surrounding that. Okay. Awesome stuff. Look forward to it.

Okay. Thanks, fellas. Thanks very much, Dave. And we'll talk to everyone again after the announcement on Wednesday. You know,