32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Will Everything Come up Vegas on July 1st?

Episode Date: June 23, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman unpack the latest developments with top free agent Mitch Marner as we approach July 1st. They also touch on John Tavares (6:05). The boys react to the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup celebrations and whether Bill Zito can keep all three of his big UFAs (10:13). Afterwards, they talk about Rasmus Andersson's future with the Calgary Flames (25:41) before analyzing what the Edmonton Oilers do this offseason (31:51). Kyle and Elliotte talk about Jonathan Toews returning home to Winnipeg (35:19). They dabble with some pre-draft speculation (41:31). The Final Thought focuses on top prospect Gavin McKenna and his decision on where to play (47:32).  Kyle and Elliotte answer your voicemail and email submissions in the Thought Line (49:57).In the final segment, Kyle and Elliotte interview potential 1st overall pick Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters (1:07:38).Follow this link to view the full Schaefer documentary > https://youtu.be/yGFQ_7eqfawEmail 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 thinks he's being smart. He's like, you dummy. He sends me a text. Oh, you dummy. That's just your father in law. No, it's not. He's married to my wife's sister. So it's not my father in law. Yeah. Okay. All right. All right. The second one is already off the rails.

Ancestry.ca That's right. Twenty three and me. We've dropped your DNA all over the internet. Welcome once again to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by the GMC Sierra AT4X. Elliot, Kyle, Dom back with you. Elliot, we begin with a pop quiz.

What does Nico Heescher and Ilya Kovalchuk have in common? They are both European. Yes they are. Not the answer we are looking for, but you are not incorrect. Okay, what are you going with here? Well, of course, both were also first overall picks and both were taken first overall on this very day, June the 23rd, eight years ago for Nico Hescher, 24 years ago for Kovalchuk. Of course, this year's draft is not today. It's on Friday in LA. You'll be there for it. A potential first overall pick this year, Matthew Schaeffer is going to join us a little later on in the pod today. So that's something to look forward to. All of this to say, it's a big week around the league. The draft is one thing and a lot of teams are sorting out their own business with the

players they already have in house as we are two Tuesdays away from July the 1st. So why don't we run through some of the biggest stories and we begin with Mitch. Well hold on the biggest story, first of all the biggest story, how's Dana feeling? She's good, she's good. The heat this weekend in southern and eastern Ontario hasn't helped but we're at the point now as I was saying at dawn before we started recording, when we get up in the morning, I say, how are you feeling? And she responds, still pregnant. I remember, so Max was born in October and Steph told me the biggest mistake she made was having the timing that she was pregnant during the summer. So let me just say like Dana is ahead of the game. I'm glad she's feeling okay. Okay, so yeah, let's go through the

storylines because this is a big week. I think this is the week where I think, you know, when it comes to some players the teams still have rights to, I think the teams are like, okay, we got to know what's happening here. We need a clear answer. Right. So why don't we begin with Mitch Marner right now, still under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yep. What's the next step there? Well, so we talked a week ago on this podcast

about how the word was that Marner is thinking of setting up meetings around July 1st and then making a visit or two. As I wrote this week and talked about last week on the pod, I had a few people say to me, it's a great idea in theory, but in practice teams are going to want to know that I want to know fast if he's coming because I've got to enact my plan B if he isn't. I just think there's a lot of people who are, when the time comes, they want to see what Vegas offers. Like when you start to sit down, this is the week you sit down and start figuring out,

okay, who do I think is going where? Who's going here? Who's going here? Who's going there? And I think there's a lot of people just wondering about, is Vegas the team to beat here? But is that is the idea and we talked about it a few pods ago and similar to McDavid and Edmonton though the situations are a little different. But short term with Mitch Marner, is that becoming more and more of a realistic option for him? I don't know. Like, again, it was a couple weeks ago, I think we mentioned the rumors of a four-year deal. I had some people say to me, that's not going to happen.

I had some other people say to me, it could happen. There were some other reports, I guess, on the weekend that it could be a two- or three-year deal. You know, one of the things that's very obvious here between the teams and the agents is now that the cap is going up, but we only know the total for three years. I think everybody's trying to figure out what all of this means, right? And what the next contracts are going to look like. So I don't have a great answer on that.

I just think that a lot of different options are on the table. But if you ask most people about Marner and where they think, you know, a lot of people are kind of like they think, rightly or wrongly, they think that Vegas is the team to beat. Okay, of all the conversations you've had over the last few days, any part of those made you feel any different about I guess the Unlikelihood that Marna remains in Toronto. I don't think so. I would be surprised I think they would be surprised too. I would be surprised Okay, the other big ufa for the Leafs John Tavares Sounds like they've been a part and kind of where the expectation is that you mentioned the Brock Nelson comparable the three-year deal Yeah, I've got in Colorado How do you think that one ends up?

See, this is the danger of this week. Like, I'm not, like the one thing, again, I want, I'm not, I have no interest in taking a shot at other people's reporting because as I wrote on Saturday, this is the time of year where there's so much information. It's like trying to drink out of a full bore fire hose, right? Like it's crazy. And I think the thing is that it's very important is that, especially with things like negotiations, like you've got a team trying to get Tavares to the best deal they can get, and you've got an agent trying to get Tavares to the best deal they can get. And you've got an agent trying to get to virus to the best deal they can get.

And there's going to be ups and downs and there's going to be moments where it looks close and there's going to be moments where it looks like it's not going to happen. I this is the week where it's like, you know, bleeper, get off the pot. Right. So I think we'll find out this week, obviously, how serious everybody is. The word that I've heard here is that Toronto was trying to be creative. Like Toronto doesn't want to give Tavares, like I think Tavares could get the Brock Nelson deal on the open market. I think it's possible. And I just don't think

Toronto wants to do that. Do I think Tavares wants to stay in Toronto? A billion percent. Do I think Toronto would like to keep Tavares and maybe knows that he wants to stay and they're trying to use that leverage a little bit? Absolutely. The word I've heard is creative. Now it wouldn't surprise me here if Toronto is trying to defer money too. I don't know that for sure, but I think it's possible. And this could be the last year you're allowed to defer money.

I think it's like, it just, well, from what's seeping out of the CBA, there's a chance that all of this deferred money could go away. But I've heard that Toronto is trying to be creative. And right now, Tavares isn't biting on what they're doing. But again, like, this time of year, things change fast. All it takes is one phone call.

And again, this is the, like last week, you can still posture a bit. This week, we find out what's real. And you know, I always remember last year, Reinhart and Florida, which was such an incredibly happy marriage, they got that one done right by the deadline, right? Like right there.

So there's always time. And I just, I don't wanna make any proclamations except that I know Toronto's trying to be quote unquote creative. And so far, Tavares hasn't bit on what that is. Right, and I can see it because you can understand, okay, Tavares is older now. He wants to be in Toronto.

That idea of taking a little less to play in his hometown. And I think the leverage from the player side is if Tavares isn't there, who's their second line center? Like it can get thin very, very quick there. Of course, not knowing what else they do come July 1. But there's a real need at this point still to have somebody of Tavares' experience and capabilities in that lineup, don't you think? Yeah, well, I think that's the thing. Like if you lose Marner and you lose Tavares, those

are two big holes in your lineup, right? And yeah, I don't disagree with you. I think it looks like you're going to have one anyway. So now two, yeah. And I mean, it's, I have no doubt that that's one of the things the Maple, the game theory that the Maple Leafs are doing is if this, then what? And that's one of the big questions out there. Okay, so that's the latest in Toronto. How about the two-time champion Florida Panthers, Elliot, who on Sunday enjoyed a second straight parade as well. Not as much rain this time for the range of champions, but they were making it rain. Oh, my goodness. With anything, they could get their hands on.

I don't know. Like I was watching Sam Reinhart this week. I'm wondering if he's going to be able to play in October. Like, when is that guy going to finally dry out? So so you are. Do you have were you, were you a Motley Crue guy at all? I know you're really young, but did you ever... I mean, I'm familiar with their music growing up. I never saw them live or anything like that. Yeah. So, Motley Crue, I read the book on Motley Crue. It's just an incredible book. And so, there's a famous poster of them in a bathtub. And I didn't know this until I read the book

that Mickey Mars, who was a key member of Motley Crue. So and now you now that I read this, I can't unsee it. Right. So in that poster, it turns out that he was in such bad shape that day that they put glasses on him and they leaned him up against the bathroom wall so that they could take the picture of him so he could be in the poster, okay? Like I cannot believe Reinhardt made it to that Dairy Queen the morning after one of those parties. He reminded me of that.

He was like, just lean him up against the wall and stand him there. Oh my God. He was weakened at Bernie's. He was at another fast food joint, right? Of course, Marshawn was at the DQ and Reinhardt was at a different outfit all together. Oh, he was? I just thought they were at the same one. Oh, I didn't realize that.

They took the whole area by storm. It was a spread offense. No, my one connection to Motley Crue, the rock station of my hometown, they had Nikki Sixx had like a syndicated radio show that he did. Oh, really? I don't know if it appeared anywhere in the Toronto stations, but it played where I was.

And so anyway, I got used to the voice and it wasn't until years later that I realized that Nikki Sixx was the bassist from Motley Crue. I just, he was an interesting radio voice up until a certain time in my life. So that's my connection to Motley True. I gotta tell you, just looking at Reinhardt, I was laughing my head off. You know, those guys are having a great time. You got any problem with this? Because I think that's

some people are starting to ask like, what is what is too much? You got any problem with this? I don't like they won. Yeah, go celebrate. I understand it can get to a certain point where okay, you want to be respectful through it all. But man, oh man, as I say, like I'm exhausted, just following the playoffs. I cannot imagine playing in it. And then you actually win the thing and to do it twice in a row. And I guess there's also like, it was such a crunched, truncated celebration last year because of how late it went. They're taking advantage of the extra few days.

So get on them. It's like you talk about being in good shape, the stamina that they are showing now, maybe more impressive than any other long road trip or the playoff grind itself. Well, we talked on the last pod about the real dislike, I think, between Kachak and that Oilers team. I think that's very real because of those Battle of Alberta games. I would look at it this way. I always ask myself, like, how would I feel

if this was happening to me, okay? So first of all, the celebration, I think leading up to the parade, do whatever you want, right? Like, I don't think watching the Panthers celebrate, whether it's Bennett saying eight more years or anything like that, as long as you're not going over the line and doing anything illegal or anything like that, As long as you're not going over the line and doing anything

illegal or anything like that. I'm like, hey, as you said, it is hard to win you go celebrate and I think the general majority of fans really love it. I think they like to see the way these players celebrate and they like to see them human, you know, as for some of the shots at McDavid and stuff if I was on the receiving end. I would just remember. Like I wouldn't feel like I wouldn't be begging anyone to leave me alone or stop making fun

of me. Like I don't care about that stuff. But I would be like, if it takes me one year or 20 years, it's like Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I will have my revenge in this life or the next, right? Yeah, very good. That's the way I kind of am about this stuff. So I would just be like, okay, okay, I will get my revenge someday. It may not be tomorrow, but it will happen eventually.

And I wouldn't complain about it. That's life in the big city. I would never complain about something like that. All right. So through all the celebrating, whether it's Bennett, but did you text him by the way, like this, right? Um, but When he did that like I was up writing I had a blog that came out the next morning So I was actually up when that happened but I wasn't looking at social and all of a sudden I got some notifications all of a sudden I had a ton of notifications and I was like, what is

going on here? Like, what do I have all these notifications all of a sudden? And I thank all of the great hockey fans out there who were watching online, saw the celebration and tagged me with it and said, is this true? Is this real? And so I was like, you know what, like if this is real, it's a it's a big story. And I have a number for Bennett. And I know, like, and I know it has worked before, but I haven't used it in a long time. And so I texted it at 226am. And I'm like, if this is not his number, then I, then I really won't I might I really woke someone up. I'll say this, Kyle, I have not received a reply. Okay. So it's possible it's still his number. Like I figured

if usually if a player has changed his number or someone's changed their number, I get a note from the person saying, oh, you better change it. Like, this is not the correct number anymore. I've had people say to me like, like I had one person who said, I like you really Elliot Friedman, can you take a picture of yourself? And because I don't my friends think that you're pranking me. And I'm like, No, this is this is really me. This used to be an NHL players number. And the person said to me really like whose number was this? I don't have the text anymore. So I don't know who it was. But I

told him what this was a while ago. And I and I told him a player was he's like, That's awesome. I now have X's former number. Right. So yeah, it was just it was just but I haven't received a number but you know, a, like at that, like that's a big story. You know, if you're up and hey, I know he's awake. I don't know if you're going to answer any text, but I know he's awake. But I didn't get an answer. So what's that? My thing was, if he if you did get a response back on, yeah,

eight times seven and a half, knowing what they were up to that night, knowing what time it was in the night. Like, what do you do with that then? So what I also did was I sent a few others, and I'm not gonna say where, but I sent a few others on that one, and I started getting, like I had one response at, I think it was just before 6am saying when I woke up it

was there just before 6am saying you know don't go with it and then I got a couple others too saying don't go with it it's like and so you're right I think at that point in time I don't think I would have gone with it because I could see Bennett and a couple of the Panthers like a Couple of the Panthers saying yeah, tell them it's like eight times 14 It's like an episode of impractical jokers Well, they're behind the screen the microphones yeah yeah. Tell them it's eight times ten. Eight times fourteen, 95% in signing bonuses, full no trade clause, and 1% of the franchise.

See, he tweets it. Oh my God, he tweeted it. That's good. Okay, well, can Bill Zito keep all three? That's the question. So he said it on the ice after, and you know, it's a really tough spot. We all put them in in that moment because what's he going to do? Say no, I'm letting two of them walk and yes, is there celebrating the Stanley Cups? And so, you know, I think in the moment

you're wondering, okay, is that just the emotion of the moment? But I did hear on the weekend, Kyle, that they had said, we are going to try. Now I think it's fair to say there are differing opinions on. Whether or not they can do it, whether or not it's feasible, but they are going to try. You know, I think one of the things that kind of happens here is that teams like the Panthers really try to lock down information to begin with. But I think also what happens is they try to lock it down so they can, you know, they're they almost are like we in some ways it's almost like they don't want each

player to know how much of the pie is there. Because you know, especially if you get one or you get two and you don't get the third, what's left? Or if you get all three, what's left for all of them? So I've talked a lot about how I think the offer for Bennett was eight times seven, similar structure to Verhege. I think they've budged on that.

I think they're at about seven and a half. I don't know if that'll get it done. We'll see. I mean, the thing about Bennett going on stage and doing that is that, like a few people were saying, would Bennett really go out there if he didn't think it was real. And I think the other thing is I would bet that there's at least one other team out there that is going to try to make

him an offer that he can't refuse and it's's everyone's job, like the agent's job to figure out, okay, what could that offer be? What is what do I got here? You know, how does he feel about all that? I still I have always thought Bennett staying, and I think he will stay. But I think someone is out there always trying to tempt you. But I think he stays. You know, the Marchand one, there's been a lot of noise about Toronto, there's been a lot of noise about Utah. I think first, does anybody get the impression he really wants to leave Florida? Like to me, this is it all it all looks like, you know,

I heard with that blood, I think the Panthers are likely going to try to give them term and spread it out over term and see if they can make it work. I don't see why they can't do the same kind of thing with Marchand. If they want to, like to me before it becomes Toronto or Utah or anyone else from our sand I Think you've got to give him a reason to leave, Florida Right. Well cuz when he was on the stage on Sunday their parade

He said, you know, it's nice to know I don't have to play against these guys anymore Because if he was gonna continue to play with them, I know. These guys, I don't know, these guys are the ultimate trolls. I know. I mean, you can't believe like these, you can't take anything they see seriously until they until it's done. But that was more trustworthy. Players at the Cup Parade or GMs around the draft.

Yeah, it's both tied for last. But you know what? Like, why would you want to leave there? Yeah, I know. Well, that's what I felt about Bennett having not spoken to him directly or really know anything about the inner workings of it is just it seems that it all seems to fit there. And so how much money has to be offered from somewhere else for him to go?

Oh, boy, I've really got to consider this. Yeah, that's what I've always felt there. And I don't know, the Martian want to be it's a bit of a different situation, of course. But it I think the one that's caught people by surprise, Kyle, is that blood like I watched because all the people who were tweeting out like those speeches that night, like Eklad's speech was very much like I don't like you could see like, I don't know if I'm going to be here, right? Yeah. And and he said during the cup final, this is where I want to be. I want to make it work.

I had heard that and yet he actually kind of talked about it on Saturday. He said they they take a while here. They go to the last minute. They're going to try. I'll say this like the eclad one could really shake up because there were teams out there. I think we're going to take a real run at him. Like he was going to be there were teams lining up for him right-hand

shot D the way he played. If Florida does find a way to keep him. And I think he absolutely would be leaving money on the table to stay. But you know, don't forget when that blad's deal was signed his last one. It was very controversial among other teams because it was such a big deal.

It changed this like his deal was what changed the trajectory of contracts for defensemen and players coming out of their ELCs. That was an industry changing contract back when he signed it. And so he got more than expected back then. And he would have to leave money on the table now. But if he takes it, he really changes the market. Especially like, especially if teams are right that if Gavrkov is not staying in LA, and people think he's going to New York, because they think there's a limited amount of teams he really wants to play for. Again, we'll find out if this is all true.

Like handedness, obviously not everybody shoots the same. Ekblad or Reidy. But if Ekblad stays, first of all, it's great for a guy like Provarov. But if you're looking for a defenseman, that really hurts the market. That really changes the market. Absolutely. OK. That could be good for Calgary. Well, that's where I was going to go now.

So I'll just say anything else on the Panthers before we get to another defenseman who's not quite at U.F.A. status yet, but it does reside as of now in southern Alberta. No. Okay. Well, let's get to Rasmus Anderson then because he was number one bullet point one on your latest 32 thoughts blog.

It's nice to read that again, by the way. It's been a while. Well done. Yeah. Yeah, I know. And you know, I got to tell you something like, like this is one thing that I, I know. And you know, I got to tell you something like, like, this is one thing that I, I really like, look, I'm not doing rocket surgery or anything like that. I don't really have an important job. But if I'm going to do that blog, I want to do it properly. And it's just there's, I get a bunch of people, whenever I write it, they're always like, I really like this better than the podcast. And I just I understand it's just I want to do it right. And it's tough to find the time. I have to do better at finding the time.

So like the thing is when when players and teams. Like there were reports this week that nice and the Maple Leaves were far off, right? And sometimes I think that's two sides putting a stake in the ground and you just have to weave your way to the middle, right? This one is different. This is one of those things when you have a player in a team that know each other really well. I think generally... This is Raz and Anderson we're talking about here.

Yes, Raz and Anderson. Like the player knows what he's worth, the team knows what he's worth. I think you know you should never negotiate against yourself. You should always put down like a number slightly higher than you may think you get and teams often will put a number slightly lower than they think you get. Like it's rare that two teams walking two sides walking in negotiation. They're like, oh, I'm at eight. You're at eight. Oh, wow. We've got a done deal. It doesn't usually work like that. I just heard I don't know what the numbers were here, but I heard they were so far apart

that it was like when it kind of got around the league, a couple of people said to me, it's just, that's when you know it's time, right? Because the number comes to you to Calgary and you just kind of know, okay, this number means more than just the contract. And I think Anderson feels it's time. And I think Calgary understands that.

Like I don't think there's any hard feelings here. Like it's the same thing like in Edmonton, I think Arvidsson and the Oilers, they're like, it's time. Nobody's knifing anyone else on the way out. The Oilers aren't going to say anything bad about Arvidsson. I don't think Arvidsson is going to say anything bad about the Oilers. It just didn't work. It's time to move on. I think that's kind of the thing with Anderson here. They've been together for a long time and I don't think he's got anything bad to say about Calgary. I don't think they've got anything bad to say about him, but you get to the point where it's time. I think everybody in the league sees that. I think Calgary sees that. I don't know if it's been communicated to them in so many words,

but you reach a point where everyone kind of recognizes for a player, it's time. And it's hit there for Calgary and it's hit there for Anderson. He's been a really good player for them. He turned out to be a great draft pick and a really good Calgary flame. Again, I don't think anyone here has anything bad to say about anyone else, but it's just, it's time for something new for him. And I think at the very least, you know, I'll say this, if you're the Flames, you're probably hoping Ekblad signs, because I still think you're going to be able to do well regardless, but now you're really going to be able to do well if if that bleds off the board. Right, one less guy. And so that's why I thought about because he's still got one more you left

on this deal Anderson does. So with that in mind, I mean, will it ultimately be the offers that Craig Conroy gets? I mean, that could largely dictate whether something happens this summer or is there still a chance that they could begin training camp and he's still a member of the flames going into the last year? I think in theory that could happen, Kyle. All I can say is that I heard people were serious. Okay. Like, I don't think, like this is your best chance to make your team better, right? And yeah, like I'll tell you what one team said to me. They said that

You know, everybody's trying to sell tickets everyone wants to sell hope everyone wants to make their team better You don't want to be if you really believe that Anderson can help you, you don't want to be the person who didn't get them because you were fooling around, right? So, I mean, I don't know what I would say the percentage is, but I've heard there's legit interest. One of the teams said to me, someone's going to be very serious about this. So a few of us should be. Got it. Right. And the Flames do have Bruce DeWitt's, Parek coming right, couple of right shot defensemen.

So they've got the next wave coming on their back end there for sure if this is it for Rasmus Anderson and the Flames. I went back and watched his end of season media, Anderson's, and it was really interesting and he just said like this is probably the first time in his career he's had a real big decision to make. He's a great talker. I have to say that about him. I've always really liked talking to him. He's honest, he's blunt. He's, I really, from the limited amount I've gotten to speak to him,

I find him a really interesting and fascinating guy. And it sounds like he's made the decision. All right, north of Calgary. Speaking of funny tax and stuff like that. So I called, I reached out to Ryan Leslie and Eric Francis, just to let them know I was going to be reporting that. And you know, so Leslie's out and he gives me a shout. And Eric texted me he

goes, I'm just on the bullet train in Japan. What's up? Like, don't worry about it. This is what I'm just on the bullet train in Japan. What's up? I'm like, don't worry about it. This is what I'm working on. Exactly. You don't need to talk to me. Enjoy the bullet train. Oh, great. Well, it's good. He's enjoying some downtime. Oh, that's funny. All right. So North of Calgary then in Edmonton, you mentioned Arvidsson. What else do think kind of the the Oilers are deciding at least in the the short term about some guys? Yeah so like I said I think Arvidsson you know it was interesting they talked about the D is pretty good and

goaltending you know I think they're starting to meet this week to go over some of their plans but I do think like I said I think there's going to be they're going to work on a solution for Arvidsson. Like he has control, but I think he's going to work with them. I think the other one there that's that's going to be interesting is what's Bouchard's like we've all talked about McDavid. We don't need to talk about anymore. We'll see what that is.

I think what Bouchard's deal is going to talked about McDavid. We don't need to talk about anymore. We'll see what that is. I think what Bouchard's deal is gonna look like is a really interesting one because his Arb case is so massive, right? So I, like someone was saying to me, like even if you wanna sign up to a two or three year deal, if you wanna do that, the number is still probably 10 million. Right.

So, you know, so I think it's going to be really fascinating to see what they do there. I think obviously the biggest question is in gold. Like the best goalie available on the free agent market is Jake Allen. I don't know that, you know, that's what they're going to do. But at the very least, it's clear they're going to be looking into the trade market there. I think that's one of the things that they kind of, I wouldn't be surprised if that's one of the things they kind of go over with some of their, like they've admitted they

talked to some of their top players about it, right? Like what do you guys think? And I wouldn't be surprised if they go to some of those guys and say, Look, if if we could, like, we're not getting Connor Hellebuck, right? Yeah. So I wouldn't be surprised if they go over some of their players, some of their options and say, Here's what we could do. And, and, and what do you like? Because I can remember Ken Holland at the time when you

know, Bouchard was due the current contract, the two year deal that's about to expire just because of their cap situation then it was like it had to be a bridge, it's gonna have to be a bridge to keep the AV down. And I guess yeah, even if you go short term with them now to try to figure some things out in the meantime, that's still going to be a big number. Yeah, like I keep because I was like anymore, because because he's got his arbitration is like right near there, right? So like it's whether you're

going long or short term, it's a massive number. I also do think there's a decent chance Kapanen stays. Okay. He found kind of a home there. There's a spot for him there. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays. All right. I just wanted to ask you quickly on the Jonathan Taves news coming back to Winnipeg, the hometown kid signing a one year deal, just because we got a few submissions into the thought line about it, Elliot, and how the contract all broke down.

So the $2 million base salary, and then the potential for up to 5 million in bonuses. And of course we live in a world now where fans more than ever are in tune with, okay, what does this mean for my team's salary cap structure and all of it? So if you could shed some light on how that all breaks down for Taves and the Winnipeg Jets as he comes to play

for his hometown team after not playing for the last two seasons. Well, first of all, I think, like, I remember looking and saying, this is why I could never be an agent. Like, I just wouldn't have thought about all this. Or my head would have exploded. Like, Scanners, David Kronenberg, if I tried to put a package together like that. I was like, wow.

Like, it was one of those things where I was like, let me add it up. Let me add it up a second time. Let me add it up a second time. Let me add up a third time just to make sure. Because, you know, if I add it up wrong, like people on social and be like, you moron, it's this. So I like that was my most fears. Yeah. Like, am I going to add this correctly? You know, I think, you know, obviously, Colorado was in it.

Tampa Bay was in it. A bunch of other teams called, but it's pretty clear that Winnipeg was in a great position from day one. And I think it's obvious that he was very interested in doing it. You know, Adam Lowry, you know, he's hurt and you never know these timelines. So it's some added insurance that doesn't cost you anything aside from the money. You know, Adam Lowry, you know, he's hurt and you never know these timelines. So it's some added insurance that doesn't cost you anything aside from the money.

You know, basically there's three kinds of people that can get bonuses in the NHL. First entry level players, second over 35 players, and third players who've missed a significant amount of time due to injury over the last few years. And Taves obviously qualifies for that. So that's why they can do it that way. This is the way it works with, with bonuses, like the base salary counts against your salary no matter what he technically has a $7 million million dollar cap hit but the base the bonus is if you go over the cap anything that's bonuses you can move to the next season so if the Jets are in a situation where they go over the cap they you can have something called a

bonus overage so it's like a credit card you pay now or you pay later. If they don't go over the cap next year and whatever Taves earns, he earns, they can keep it on next year's cap and it's done. But if he starts earning all those bonuses and they go over the cap, whatever doesn't fit under next year's ceiling gets moved to 2026, 2027. That's how it works. With bonuses, you are allowed to slide them a year if you need to. And some people were saying, oh, the Jets gave up too much. Oh, the Jets get... No. If the Jets pay that guy $7 million next year, they'll have won the Stanley Cup. They will pay him $777 million if they win the Stanley Cup. Now one thing about these bonuses, Kyle, there's a couple other players who you look at and

say, you know what? It makes a lot of sense that this could be the kind of blueprint that we see for them. One is Jamie Ben. Jamie Ben is 35 years old. He can sign to an over 35 deal. You could see Dallas looking at this kind of structure potentially for him. And the other is Claude Giroux in Ottawa. Same thing. And I do think that Giroux and the senators have been battling about the bonus structure. But Pat Persan who did this deal for Taves, also represents Giroud. So if it ended up being something like this, I don't think anybody would be surprised. Now I believe that part of their pitch to Ehlers was, hey, Taves is here and he could

play with you. I don't know if that's going to work. You know, I understand why everybody is skeptical. Taves hasn't played in a long time. I just think if you're committed like one thing that Gabriel Lannis got proved to me this year is like first of all, there were people who thought he was never going to play again. And then even when

he came back, they were like, can he skate two days in a row? There were people shocked. He could play back to back games that first weekend in the HL. They didn't think it was possible. And then he played in the NHL and he looked pretty good. Like, like after Gabriel Landiscau this year, I think if you're serious and you're committed, I think it's possible. We'll see.

It's different. You know, Tavs had a different issue completely than Landiscaug did. So you never know. This is not something I think a lot of us really know about. So we're all going to learn together what the challenges are or aren't. But after watching Landis Gogh and the doubt I heard behind the scenes that he could be a factor, I have an open mind about this. Because if you're a committed athlete and you're an NHL player with all of the advantages you get as a pro athlete in terms of training and the facilities available to you. I

think you're crazy if you write this off after what I saw of Landiscock. Yeah and I like you I'm a big believer and if you can call your own shot on the way out do all you can to do it and he seems to be giving himself a terrific opportunity to do just that so really great to see. How about this year's draft, Elliot? I know you and I aren't certainly the experts when it comes to who is going to be picking who, particularly at the top. So what are you hearing as we are, what,

we'll be five days out from round one in Los Angeles on Friday night? What's kind of the chatter about what the teams at the top end of the draft are thinking about how those first few picks could go. Well, so when it comes to our place, I always defer to our top guys, right? Like I always, um, I always go to Sam Cosentino. Um, and I, and I go to Jason Bucola, right? Like those are the guys I always look at and say, okay, how are they feeling?

I'm looking at Sam's most recent. He said he's got a 12 and then a drop off. If you read Jason's most recent article, he's got six. Okay. They've both got Schaefer one. And then it's interesting because Sam had Misa two, Jason has Mane Wye two and Sam has Dane Wye three. And now I've heard this rumor this week and it's been written about, I'm not the only one who's heard it, that teams are beginning to wonder could Frondell actually go second overall to San Jose. And he's a really good player.

I don't think people would be shocked if it happened, but it's not something that's been predicted and I think a bunch of people are trying to wrap around is with is this the everybody lies or is San Jose really going to do this? And so. Like I'll say this. I know he Sam believes that the playoffs and the way the playoffs are played reminded everybody of Brady Martin and his draft stock could really rise because of it. Sam also is a big believer in Braden Coots who he has ranked 14th because he says he's kind of like Bennett like right and he thinks that teams are going to look at a guy like Bennett

and like Coots for that. Anyway, I just think this is going to be a totally wild draft. Like I was really interested in that report the other day that Philly's thinking about Hagens at number six because Philly like for like Philly like they kept the cutter go che thing secret until they got traded. Right. secret until he got traded, right? Mm hmm. For, oh, Philly's thinking about Hagens. That one smelled a little bit to me. Like it's wild. Like, Dan Wye, I've heard he's rising.

Brady Martin, I've heard he's rising. Roger McQueen, he was hurt a lot last year. I think there's a lot of really interesting questions about him. Like, I think like it just sounds like from team to team, there is so much variance. And also, I think some of these teams are willing to move around. Like last year, nobody was willing to move around. This year, they are.

I always say it every year, and it's never as crazy as I hope. But I think this draft year, I hope I'm right this year. It's like the housing bubble is going to burst. One of these years, we're going to be right. I really think this one has a chance to be crazy. And this Frondell thing, number two, again, he's a he's a good player. But people are trying to decide was San Jose is this real? Or is this another draft smokescreen?

Hmm. One thing I heard too, like you mentioned, you know, a kind of rising, like if he gets into potentially second or third, and then there's a player available at four that maybe other teams didn't anticipate being there and four belonging to the Utah Mammoth who would love to do something big. Like someone just made the point to me like, there's the opportunity could present themselves that a team that's excited about a player there at the four spot, offer up something for Utah to give them immediate help. And suddenly that pick becomes in play. Like, yeah, you're right.

I think there's a few teams like that. I think there's, there's, there's a few like that. So the way this draft is shaping up, there could be lots of opportunity to move around. I think there's some teams here that could really set tones. I think, um, I think Utah could, I think Chicago could, I think Philly could, I think Buffalo could because they got players people are trying to trade for. I wonder if the Rangers try to move up. Like that's another one. I'm kind of wondering there.

Um, Darsh is a really interesting one. I know, like, Darsh just got the job. I'm wondering if he's having trouble finding time to breathe right now because there's so many rumors flying around the islanders. You can't keep track of them all. Try to figure out which ones are real and which ones aren't. There are some teams here that could really, really set the draft on its year. Yeah, boy, at least when I mean, it's Kent Hughes picks Lev Kovsky first overall his first year at the helm in Montreal, but he had a lot bigger of a runway than Matthew Darshel have with the New York Islanders in terms of getting your ducks in a row before stepping on that stage. I guess it won't be him stepping on the stage this year though.

Making the call in from the zoom from home base on Long Island. All right, well with that draft conversation, that'll take us to the final thought, which is brought to you by GMC, the likely headliner of the 2026 NHL draft. Elliot, Gavin McKenna, we've discussed him a few times, certainly as his medicine had Tigers moved into off-season mode, and a lot of questions about what is next for some of those top CHL players,

with now the opportunity to make the jump to Division 1 hockey in NCAA. What is the latest you are hearing on Gavin McKenna? So we talked a couple of weeks ago about when I was asking around and we mentioned Penn State and that was the name we were hearing the most. I heard over the past couple of weeks, he did some Zooms. He did Penn State, he did Michigan State, he did Michigan and he did Denver. And it sounds like it's probably coming down to Penn State, who we guessed, and Michigan State. to Penn State who we guessed and Michigan State. Nothing decided, but it sounds like that's where he's at. So we'll see where it goes.

I mean, I have to like, like I said before, it's not something I'm on top of like the CHL and the NCAA, but judging from the reaction the last time we talked about it, people are really interested. They're really into this. So we'll see how it ends up. Potentially join his medicine hat teammate, Caden Lindstrom in Michigan State if he did that. But holy smokes, yeah, whether it's them or Penn State who have really emerged on the scene as we talked about on the men's division one level Boy, what I get what I get that could be for any program With the opportunity to add Gavin McKenna into the fold That's gonna be of that category. That'll be the biggest story this summer is where he ends up playing in the fall

Yeah, a lot of eyeballs on that. All right. That was the final thought brought to you by GMC. We'll take our first break We still have our interview with Matthew Schaefer to come but before we get to that the thought line 32 thoughts the podcast continues after this All right, welcome back. Time once again for the Thought Line. Elliot, anything stuck in your craw before we get to today's submissions? So before you came on as the co-host of this pod back in, we'll call it maybe like 2BK before Kyle. I talked about how I love the Aritzia Cafe at Yorkdale. I like to go there and have a coffee. Yes. Yeah. So, we had a birthday for two of my nephews on Sunday. I had to go pick something up at Yorkdale. So I went for my Aritzia coffee and I go to the house and my brother-in-law's dad is there.

And he's like, he sees my coffee cup say Aritzia and he goes, really? Aritzia coffee? And I'm like, they make really good coffee. And he goes, I hate coffee snobs. And I said, Sandy, I am not a coffee snob, but I will tell you who is. And I said, if you don't like coffee snobs, you would not like my podcast co-host.

Oh, but I'm not a snob. Yes, you are. Don't pin me. I don't judge folks can enjoy their coffee however they want. No, Dominic. It's not my father-in-law. It's my brother-in-law's dad. So he's not my father-in-law.

Father's brother's cousins, former roommate. Yes. Dom thinks he's being smart. He's like, you dummy. He sends me a text. Oh, you dummy. That's just your father-in-law. No, it's not. He's married to my wife's sister. So it's not my father-in-law. Yeah. Okay. All right. OK, all right. Oh, the segment is already off the rails. Ancestry.ca. That's right. 23andMe.

We've dropped your DNA all over the Internet. Oh, my gosh. So what is it about Aritzia coffee that you like so much? You have an Americano there, too? Yeah, they just make great coffee. Oh my gosh. So what is it about Aritzia coffee that you like so much? I don't know. You have an Americano there too? Yeah, they just make great coffee. Good. I'd love to try it someday.

Off season adventure. All right, we begin today. Mark in Detroit. Hello, Sound Master Sharmati, Gatekeeper Griffin, Fashion Icon Elliot, and and ticket agent Kyle. A few weeks ago. I don't know. I don't know, Mark. I like that. That's your new nickname.

You're the ticket agent. Yeah. Need a deal. Tickets. Anyone? I'm your broker. A few weeks ago, I watched the Champions League final. Immediately after the final whistle, the CBS camera cuts to a shot of an engraver working on putting the name of the winning team on the trophy. I thought it was pretty cool that it happened so quickly and wondered what it would take to get the NHL to do something similar. Couldn't the two finalists submit their lists of names ahead of time before the series starts?

I can't imagine it would be very different from what they would submit after it's all said and done anyways. And there are two cups. Why not bring out the show one for the presentation and have an engraver already working on adding the team name to the original. That way the players could already point to their names when they get their traditional day with the cup over the summer. And if they work fast enough it might even be done in time to go into the locker room celebration Then trade off the show one with the original to engrave that one as well It seems like it would be well received by all the winners

So I'm counting on the 32 thoughts crew and their immense poll with the league We all know Gary is an avid listener to make it happen. Don't let me down That's not a bad idea. It's not. I just think in practice because of that trophy. 52 is a lot. 52 names, right? It is. It is. Yeah. So, and they have been for years going to the same silversmith in old Montreal. So that's where they go get the trophy done.

And I guess as of this recording, they're in the final steps of getting confirmation from the Florida Panthers, the 52 names that they want to have on the cup. So this year's process, Elliot, they're hoping to have it engraved by the end of June, kind of into early July. And what is kind of neat about this, because Mark asked about having the names engraved by the time the players get their day with the cup. So for many, many years, that was something that happened at the end of the summer. But in 2023, when Vegas won, George McPhee and the Knights agreed that it would be great to have it prior to the cup tour in the summer. So they delayed the start of that for a few days to have the names put on. And then as it toured around, as every player got their day with the cup over the summer,

they and their families and friends and everybody that came out to see it could see their name on it. So since 2023, that has become a tradition in the summertime with the Stanley Cup champions. Kyle, that was a good story, actually. And I was just looking this up, but there's a story from Anna Kulisa on nhl.com on July 13th showing the engraving, right? Yeah. And I think I if I believe the Panthers last year actually were allowed to have 53 names because one wasn't included initially and they went back and said we really need this name on there. So I think the Panthers were given a 53rd name. Good answer though, Kyle. Like, good research, man. That's a good question. Like, in theory, it would be wonderful. But I just think in practice, it may not be with the Stanley Cup. And they need a bit of time to get that engraving

done right. And it's neat that they've been going to the same place in old Montreal, of all places, the same place in old Montreal of all places to get that. That's cool. Yeah. That's really cool. Yes. And maybe this year they only get 51 if they had 53 last year. Balance it out. I don't think that's right.

Cut it to one. Yeah. Has to be a total of 104 one way or another. All right. Up next, a voicemail. Have a listen here, Elliot. Gentleman from St. Louis. I couldn't quite make his name out when he says it, but let's have a listen.

What's up, guys? My name's Clay out in St. Louis. I was calling because on the last episode that came out on Friday, Elliot talked about how there were some teams that couldn't even get involved with Mason Marchment because he had some protection. So it kind of led me to wonder, is there a running list of what a guy's no trade protection is and the team's on it? Or is it something where the team finds out whenever they call to inquire on the player? Love the show boys. Thanks. I can't tell. I thought it might be Carlo. But there was a bit of an extra extra syllable. Like it almost sounded like Carlito, but I or Coolio, Coolio and the gang. Well, Carlo Carlito Coolio, please write in and tell us what it was because we're settling an argument here. I'm sorry we couldn't tell, but I can

answer your question. So if you have any kind of no move or no trade, if you have a partial no trade clause, there's two ways it's done. There's either a date it has to be submitted by or with some players, if a team can say, okay, we're thinking of moving you, or we've gotten offer, we need to have your list in

So a lot of times it's the end of the year Like so if you have a lit if you have a list you can change it every year So a lot of the time it's June 30th. You better have your new list in on June 30th Other time like there's some contracts where it says at a different point in the year like I know there's one player who had it earlier in June. So by that day in June, he had to have it in and like I said, there are other players. It's when the team request it. We want your list and if you're late, the teams are eligible to say,

look, your list was late, the old one has elapsed, we can do whatever we want. And the famous one was the Rhino rally trade from Buffalo to St. Louis, where Patrick Berglund's list was late getting in. Buffalo was on his no trade list before, the new one didn't get in on time and St. Louis made the trade so that's how it works. Okay and I think the other thing he was wondering too like if you're another team in the league and you're looking at trading for a player that has

some sort of no trade protection like how is there something that they can go a document they can go find or is there some way of accessing hold on that guy has trade protection do you think we are on it like how would they find that out? Usually you can ask the agent or the team. Okay all right. Now players can change their minds there's definitely been situations before where a team has been on someone's no trade list, and maybe the team's doing better. And they say, Oh, you know, would this guy investigate coming to us? That's happened. Like players have waived no move clauses before as everybody knows. So there are situations where someone can change their minds.

So there are situations where someone can change their minds. Excellent. All right, Ben from Peterborough. G'day Griffin, Dom, Kyle, and Mr. Friedman. I believe of Western alumni, it never comes up and is always hard to find out where Western graduates went to school because they never talk about it. And then he says, I can make that joke.

My wife and her best friends all went to Western and I have more Western t-shirts gifted to me than I do my own Trent shirts. That's because nobody admits they ever went to Trent. Oh man. I don't understand these jokes as a BC guy, but I figured you were coming back with something like that. I should say this and I want to make it very clear. I am NOT a graduate. I don't want anyone accusing me of fraud and claiming that I'm a graduate. So I still have not graduated. Okay so Ben goes on to say even as a Sabres fan and Having top 10 draft picks since Elliott was finishing his Western sports write-ups at the spoke

Right, that's true He said yes, I would drink beers there when visiting and waiting for my wife to finish class The draft is usually good boyfriend. Yes, good boyfriend. Good husband. Good man can see why it's lasted this long Yes. Good boyfriend, good husband, good man. Can see why it's lasted this long. Yup. The draft is usually not a very fun affair in terms of who is being drafted out of the first top few, which is usually a foregone conclusion anyway.

However, after the trade deadline in July 1st, it seems like draft day has some of the most exciting opportunities for player movements with trades. And I feel I'm not alone in feeling this way. So my question is this, how many trades do you have a strong gut feeling or even know for a fact occurred because GMs and hockey executives happen to be chatting around the draft floor

or even while polishing the bar top with their sleeves? If you think it is common, do you think we miss out on some of that excitement this year? Thank you for all you guys do. My wife and our Western friends are down here for the weekend in Peterborough, so please make the podcast extra long so I don't have to spend too much time listening to how much better Western is than Trent. That's pretty funny. That's good. I like that. You know, I'd say this. I do think some of that is going to be lost. I think that's one of the reasons that some of the GMs wanted to try this this year because

they didn't like people being able to see. You could walk into say like a hotel lobby or a hotel bar and you would see people talking and you knew something was going on because A, they were sitting, not only because they were sitting next to each other, but they would see you there and they'd be like, Oh God. So they didn't like that. There will definitely be something missed to all that. You can always do business better face to face. For example, I remember going into a hotel bar once and at our hotel just to have one late night and I saw a GM and an agent and they rolled their eyes when they saw me, probably

just because it was me, nevermind that they were doing business. You know, it's tough because I think there are some, I don't think you should ever have a problem with saying, okay, I saw this person talking, but you know, you're in a bar area, people have to be careful in this day and age. I always have questions about it,

but I remember the next day when I when I heard about an extension getting signed I remember thinking because I said, you know, I did say the next day You know, I've got to ask what were you guys talking about and they weren't giving it up And then when I saw an extension being signed between a certain player and team I was like I texted them both the extension. I was like, okay, now I know when they both kind of laughed. So I do think that happens. I think that's, that's very real. And that's honestly, having been to a couple of them, the coolest part, if you're a hockey fan, if you go to the draft, like it's kind of Disney World, but for the NHL, because

of how many people that work in that space are all in the same, like it's kind of Disney World, but for the NHL because of how many people that work in that space are all in the same city are all kind of staying within a however big radius to the arena where the draft is occurring. It's a really neat fan experience with that too, that of course, you won't see this year, but hopefully again next year. I hopefully it'll be back. One final hopefully be back. One final, hopefully we'll be back.

I agree. One final one. It's a voicemail from Alex in Atlanta. Hey, this is Alex from Atlanta. I have a question for Kyle and anyone else who might be there. Don't really know. Um, but I need you guys to either get me hyped up or break my heart and tell me What does it look like in terms of this Atlanta NHL project?

While my hopes are actually very high. I'm a former pressure season ticket holder But I need to hear someone I trust so for Kyle or anyone else Please tell me how I should feel and whether or not you're getting my hopes up. Thank you guys. Have a good one That's pretty funny. Well, Kyle, since there's nobody else here, do you wanna answer the question? Yeah, no, I think he can trust your word over mine in this case.

Like Alex, I think it's real, I do. I think the NHL is interested. Obviously they went over a big hurdle a couple weeks ago getting the project approved. I really do think that sometime over the next few months, we're going to get a better idea of what we're dealing with here, but I think it's real. One of the things in the CBA negotiation is some of the players who are a bit more involved They've told me and that the impression is definitely Been made to them that

Expansion is is likely if not possible So we'll see where it goes, but I don't want to get your hopes up, but I think over the next few months We're gonna have a much better idea of what really is on the table. Right. Because well, Vernon Krause, who's of course the head of Krause Sports and Entertainment, and that's the group that got their plans approved for that $3 billion development. He said not too long ago that like one of the next big steps after getting that out of the way is going to New York and presenting what he called a completed package to Gary

Bettman in the NHL of what that all would look like. And he thought likely to do it not long after the Stanley Cup was awarded. So the idea of having something more tangible in the next few months, as you say, Elliot, it all seems to be tracking that way. Mm-hmm. I agree. So Alex, thank you for the question and way to hang in there as a one-time thrashers season ticket holder and maybe not have to hang on for too much longer. Okay. That'll do it for the latest edition

of the Thoughtline. Thank you to all who wrote in, who called in, 1-833-311 edition of the Thoughtline. Thank you to all who wrote in, who called in. 1-833-311-3232 or sent an email to 32thoughts at sportsnet.ca. One final break in our interview with Matthew Schaeffer on the other side. You're listening to 32 Thoughts. All right, welcome back as promised, a conversation with Matthew Shaver, who could potentially go first overall in this year's draft Friday night in Los Angeles to the New York Islanders. He was recently the recipient of the CHL Top Prospect Award, has just been a winner as he's grown up. Gold at the Canada Winter Games, gold at the U-17, gold at the U-18, gold at the Hylinka Gretzky, captain on three of those teams. He is a leader. He's dealt with incredible tragedy already at such a young stage of his life.

But the way he has handled it, he is somebody that is in possible not to root for our conversation with Matthew Schaeffer here on 32 thoughts. So pleased to be joined by Matthew Schaeffer. The Erie Otter is one of the top prospects of the 2025 NHL draft. So Matthew, like first off, days away from draft day in Los Angeles, where's your mind at? How's your energy level? It's been a busy month here in June. How are you handling all of it so far? Yeah, exciting times this week's gonna go by pretty fast. But obviously, once I get to the draft, I'll worry about it now.

But really, I'm just out, getting my body ready. But looking forward to it. It should be some fun times. I haven't been to LA before, so looking forward to that. I'm just curious of all the things that you've kind of been through the last few weeks. If someone was to say to you, what was the craziest thing that happened to you? The one thing that stands out, what would you say it was? Oh, it's just in like the last couple weeks or you know from my start of the season to the end of

the season. You pick, this is your interview, you pick. Well obviously in life I've gone through quite a bit of stuff and I don't think I would be the person I am today with everything I've been through. I think going through the draft, the combine, I wouldn't be as calm with it. I lost my mom and I lost my bell mom in the same year. So that was a really tough thing to go through. You never want anyone to go through cancer as scary as what my mom went through. But things like that have made me so much stronger in life and

I'm happy she's not suffering where now I find myself so much more calm with things and there's a lot worse things that can happen in life. And everyone gets super stressed out about the draft and the combine, but it's all fun to me. Like going to the combine, being with all your friends, meeting people from different teams, going through that kind of process, it's pretty cool to me. And I honestly don't think I'd be the same person I am today if I haven't gone through all the ups and downs.

Okay. Now, when you were at the combine, you spoke to some young people about it. And I don't want to spend too much time on this topic, Matthew, but I, I understand you and I have something in common. I lost my mom at a very young age too. And I don't want to talk so much about that as I want to talk about your message to people. Cause nobody goes through life unscathed. Nobody goes through life. It just depends on when in your life it happens

to you. So when you speak to young people or when you speak to people, what is the advice you give them about, okay, this is how you're going to take the next step. This is how you're going to try to turn this into a positive. This is how you're going to make things better for yourself. Yeah, I think that's a big thing. I, the biggest thing for me is I really want to do a lot of grief awareness visits, foundations. I mean, I know, I know you do the smiles on foundation too. So saw you there this year.

So that's a big thing I want to do. But the biggest thing for me, I did a grief awareness visit when I was in Buffalo, I had some time off. So I went to go visit, uh, this grief awareness place that just opened. It was two months, I had some time off, so I went to go visit this grief awareness place that just opened, it was two months, you know, freshly opened and they let me come in and talk to all these kids and families that have gone through so much in their life.

And the biggest thing that I wanna get across is, yeah, it sucks to lose someone, but you gotta remember that, you know, the good memories you guys had and a thing that I always say is, I only had 16 years with my mom, 15 years with my mom, but those are gonna be, you know, some of the best 16 years of my life

because all the good things that we've been through. And, you know, I'm just gonna remember my mom for who she was and I wanna carry that legacy on. You know, she was walking in every room, smiling, lighting up a room. She was going through cancer, but she was still the happiest person in the house. So there's a lot of things that my mom has taught me that I want to go on and do and I know when I do these

Visits she's looking down smiling at me. And I think the biggest thing people do is when they grieve they like to keep it in I want them to know that there's other people than the same situation that they have to you know Talk out and I know a lot of people grieve differently and you know Maybe it's not their favorite thing to do is talk out but I encourage them to try to you know talk it as as best as they can because it definitely helps more when you can meet people that have gone through it you know similar stuff like you know Elliot if I was talking to you I can we can you know see how you went through it and how I went through it and you know some of the similarities we had

and you know what you did to cope with all that stuff. So, um, yeah, I really encourage people to talk out and you know that they're not alone. Excellent. So Matthew, I really just am curious hearing you talk about how you're handling all that's going on at this point in your life, uh, the calmness you speak of, like it would make sense when you get to maybe Elliot's age, a little later

on in life, that much more life experience. 21 years old. Thanks Kyle. 21 years old. Yeah, thanks a lot Kyle. Thanks a lot. I didn't say a number. I didn't say a number. But when you get, when you have a little more experience in life, it makes sense to be able to approach it with that kind of vision. But for you at 18 to look at it that way, it really is fascinating. And I just would love to know how you got to that. Yeah, I think me and my dad and brother, we all take it a little bit differently. My dad and brother, I love talking about my mom. I also think it helps when I can rely on the game a bit.

You know, my brother's working, he's starting a new job. It's stressful where, you know, I'm doing something, you know, hockey. I want to grow up. I've been playing it since I was a kid. I get to rely on it that way. But me and my family are super close to me and my dad and brother, and we have each other's backs along the way.

And you know, whether we're watching videos and we're crying, it's more happy tears that we miss her, but we're still super strong. But for me, I love talking about my mom and the person she was. And if anyone asks about my mom, I'll sit there for hours and they'll know exactly who she was because I love talking about her. But for me, when we lost my mom, I remember going back home to take a break

because I wanted to go see her at the hospital. And then there was the funeral and everything. So I was there. And then I remember going up to my dad and saying, you know, would she want me to go back and play for her? Would she want me to stay? And I knew exactly my dad was she want me to go back and play for her? Would she want me to stay? And I knew exactly my dad was going to say, go back and play because she wouldn't want you to stay at home,

be sad and grieve. She wanted me to go and play. And I know she was watching me along the way. And I know my mom's always with me no matter what. And, you know, I look for little things like signs. And when she passed, I saw a lot of ladybugs. So, you know, things like that, you see a lot of signs down the road. And I know she's always with me,

but she's in a better head space where she's not suffering. And you know, she's happy up there, but I know she's right beside me in spirit. So I think that puts me at ease a little bit more. What's your brother's name? Jonathan, he's nine and a half years older than me. So he's 27, he played in the a half years older than me. So he's 27. He played in the OHL for five years.

So yeah, so I guess that's how I kind of got into hockey was watching him grow up. And what's his new job? What's he doing now? So he's working in business. He's in sales. So he's working in Mississauga. So it's, I mean, every time you start a new job, it's a little bit stressful, but he has such a good mindset. And he, he's already doing a lot better than he was at the start, right. So

he's, he's gonna do good. And he loves it. Now is Jonathan a good salesman? Is he a good salesman? Yes, I mean, yes. I mean, a lot of hockey players love talking, my family loves talking. So my, he's a good salesman, he can, you know, get you some stuff. All right. So Jonathan Schaeffer, if you need stuff, Jonathan Schaeffer is the guy. Now, Kevin Biaxa asked you a little bit about Todd, your dad. And I have heard your dad is quite a character that when the players get together on hockey trips and things like that

Todd Schaeffer is usually the ringleader. Is this true? Yeah, yeah, I'd say it's pretty true. Sometimes I'd maybe say it's not true. So often people believe me, but yeah, it's true. It's It's pretty true. I You know, I you know whether we're at team Canada events, you know anywhere But yeah, it's true. It's pretty true. Whether we're at team Canada events, anywhere, he also loves to take his shirt off. I think that's a go-to. Yes, I've heard this. Maybe his birthday or something down the road,

I might need to get him a tie down so it can cause the shirt not to come off. But I think I'll find a way to take it off anyways. But yeah, he he's a character He's I mean a great person he cares, but everyone loves them because they think he's so funny But I'm so used to it So I don't I see him as just the same jokes over and over but other people when they meet them they do laughing And all the jokes he's making I've heard I've heard I just wonder, like I've heard your dad is a great guy. I just wondered all Matthew, if you ever see him and there's a point like, I know

where this is going, it's my cue to exit. Oh, a hundred percent. Whether, so he'd always do these like jokes where like if new kids came to our team, they do jokes like on the new parents and all that stuff. And once he, you know, brings it up, I'm like I'm like oh here we go and then all the kids come and watch because they want to see you know Tali do some jokes or whatever but yeah there's there's a lot of go-tos where I know when he opens his mouth I'm like I know I know where this is going. Well it's funny because Matthew if you know

this or not so David Amber our colleague is often a punching bag on this podcast from time to time. And I heard there is a roundabout connection with him, your dad and Tom Goularty and a good joke that they played on David not too long ago. So I think what happened was my dad, so I've Bank of it, Frank of Anchor, Vic knows them and my dad got it from Frank of Anchor, Vic to tell him. So my dad wasn't a part of it. He was just passing the message.

Oh, okay. Yeah. And then Amber was kind of like, Oh, you were a part of that. And then I was like, no, no, I wasn't a part of that. I was just passing it along. But yeah, that's great. So Matthew, the combine like that's this year. I guess it was even more intense because there's no central draft.

Like what was it like for you? What were, what were some of the things that released it out? Yeah, it was, it was, it was pretty cool to combine. It's, it's, you know, so well run. When you go there, you're seeing all your friends and guys you played on team Canada with, and you, you know, you haven't all your friends and guys you've played on Team Canada with and you know you haven't seen them in a while but it's your last you know event before the draft. You're meeting all new GMs, teams, people you've seen you know throughout the whole

season whether you're doing zoom calls and stuff so you mean you get to meet new people but you also get to see people that you you know seen throughout the um season but yeah it's amazing I mean you got your testing, you got everything. So it was so well run and I really enjoyed it. Who was the most intense team? I think a big one was Montreal. They would ask you scenarios. They had their doc in there

and the doc would ask you all these scenarios and he'd try to get in your head and it was funny. It gets your mind thinking on some of the things where if you're in the desert and one guy has water but you have a baseball bat, what are you doing? The next water is 24 hours away so you're not making it. What did you do? What did you say? So my one of my buddies got that question and they're like I'm smoking the guy in the head at the baseball bat but I think the other guy was Sydney Crosby for example so it's like you know you're gonna hit Sydney in the head to

get water like you're gonna share so I guess they're seeing you know what you think there they but they get their mind thinking. So yeah, I'd probably say Montreal. Okay, so I have to ask you now. Yeah. If it was you and Sidney Crosby in a desert and Sidney Crosby had water and you had a bat, what would you do? Yeah, I'd probably have to hit him off the head to get the water. As much as it's like, oh, it's Crosby, I don't know.

But no, I mean, yeah in that scenario I think whether whoever it is you got to do that to get the water to live. So Well, we don't know how this is gonna go Matthew, but I can guarantee you this answer You just sold 10,000 more Islanders shaver jerseys First matchup in PIP Oh, that's funny. Can't wait for the first matchup in Pitt. Oh, it's funny. Okay, you're a native of Stoney Creek. When you were on with Rah McLean and

Kevin Bixe during the cup final and Michael Miesio was there with you as well, the four on four league in Hamilton was brought up. So tell us about that and what it was like being a part of. Yeah, so my brother actually played against BX in it, I believe. When my brother was playing in, BX was playing in a while ago. And then we put some teams in the last couple years and we've been playing and it's just down the road for me. So it's fun. It's good hockey. I mean, you're going out, you're playing four on four and for me, just coming into the OHL, I was playing against guys that are already in the OHL. it was good for me so uh yeah it's it's a fun league and I played it the last couple years.

All right so who are some of the other names that maybe hockey fans would would know that are featured there? Yeah so Michael Haag played in it uh Florian Jack guy the Jack guys they're they're hamilton native so they played in it um, yeah, like it's majority OHL guys had a couple of teammates, Malcolm Spence, Sam Alfano. So a lot of it was, it was majority OHL guys. And it was fun because you got, you got your main teams that, you know, go, go at it every year and you always want to play in the finals to get the trophy. Um, even though, you know, it's a four on four league, but it gets a little

competitive, so yeah, it was fun. What does your brother say about Vexa? Tough to play against. I think Vexa wanted to take my brother's head off the one time, I think. I don't know what he did, but yeah, I don't know. I just remember him playing. He's like, yeah, he's a great player, but tough to play against too. You know, Matthew, it's interesting, like a lot of guys your age, especially

ones who are about to get drafted. Um, they're not always as outgoing as you are. Like I saw you on the desk with Michael Misa and Ron and Kevin at the Stanley Cup final and you and Michael were very comfortable. I hear you doing this interview with you now. You're very comfortable. I've heard a lot of your other interviews. You're very comfortable.

Do you think that's you or do you think this generation now of young players is just more comfortable with all this? Yeah, I think well my family well, we love talking My dad's on here. He's talking for hours. So thank God he's not but We yeah, I think it's you know me. I, I mean, obviously me and me are pretty close. So it's, it's easier when you know someone on there too, but you've done so much media over the years, just from, you know, I, I, if I guarantee you, if I put, you know, this kind of interview, uh, to my first interview in the OHL, it's a big difference for sure. So I don't think I could put a sentence together in my first interview.

So, um, no, but you really develop all these skills over time and it becomes like normal and it becomes enjoyable. But I've always loved to talk and whether it's about anything, but I love talking and it keeps me busy. And anytime, I mean, you put me and my dad and brother, we brother were talking forever So yeah, honestly, I think it's just the way that we brought up I I love talking and just seeing you know my family and you know how they love to talk. It's pretty easy So where do you think you got your sense of humor from then? I mean, obviously we hear the stories about your dad, but you know It sounds like your mom Jennifer was quite the character as well. I'd say a bit of both

I mean my dad says the jokes, everyone's laughing. My mom says the jokes, she's laughing at her own jokes. Yeah, that's good. Yeah. So I remember my mom would pull out a typical mom joke and then we'd kind of look at her and she'd be howling and we'd be laughing at her laugh because it's, you know, you're not going to miss it. It's super loud. So yeah uh, yeah, I, I, I've been a both for sure.

Now your representative is Pat Morris. What has he told you about this week? Yeah, me, me and I'd consider Pat family now. He's obviously my agent, but he's family. He's done so much for me, you know, throughout life, he, he's so involved in me and everything I've been through. And he's always been there for me throughout life. He's so involved in me and everything I've been through and he's always been there for me and my family. Just this week, he's helped me, but in life,

he's helped me so much too. But yeah, this week, he's always there for me in hockey and in life, but yeah, this week he's excited for me. He cares about me and all his players he represents. So to have him in your corner, it means a lot and to go through this process means a lot. Has to go through this process, it means a lot. Has he told you what to expect this week or what this... Because I can imagine for you,

it seems like this week is going to go on forever. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you're doing so much. You keep busy. Honestly, you don't think about the draft till that, you know, Friday, you know, whether I think it's 4 p.m. there are a lot of times. So, I mean, you really just keep your mind busy. draft till that Friday, whether I think it's 4 PM, there's an LA time. I mean, you really just keep your mind busy. You enjoy it though.

I think the biggest thing he tells me is just enjoy it. Don't worry about anything. Everything will fall into place. There's really nothing you can do now. You showed your personality at the combine. You showed the way you played this year. So just enjoy it and whatever happens will happen. How did you played this year. So just enjoy it and, you know, whatever happens will happen. Hmm.

How did you navigate this year, Matthew, like just after the injury, how did you keep your mind sane knowing how big of a year this is and how wired you are just to play the game of hockey and sort of have to sit out for a while? How did you navigate it all? Yeah, like I said earlier,

obviously I've been through so much in life. And I think once once I broke my collarbone and ran into the post, I came back and I was crying not because I was in pain or anything. It was because I was not going to be able to play the rest of the tournament. That was a big tournament I was looking forward to. It's one you always want to play in for your country. You always watch it at Christmas time and to be playing in front of, you know, your fans out on home soil.

It's something, you know, you've always wanted to do. So I think I was just really sad in the sense of not being there for my team, but I was able to, you know, get surgery and then stay there with my team, which was a big thing for me. And, you know, I was really happy to do in any way, whether it was, you know, reading lineups, you know, patting the guys on the back doing anything I could to help them in the tournament even though I wasn't on the ice. But yeah I think it you know obviously no hockey player doesn't want

to play hockey and wants to watch so it just hurts me not being able to play but I was trying to help you know my team after the tournament in Erie and when I was at the tournament in any way and when I was at the tournament in any way possible. Were you concerned at all, Matthew, that the injury and not being able to play would affect your draft stock? Well, yeah, definitely. After the tournament, obviously I talked to Pat about those things, but no, not really.

I thought I left everything out there that I had to show this year. In my draft, you're only playing 17 games. So, you know, I think in those 17 games, I left it all out there where if I didn't, then maybe I was thinking that, but I left it all out there, you know, what I thought. So yeah, I think it was a bit easier, but obviously it's never tough not playing hockey and you know, to miss that much hockey as a hockey player, it's not fun. And I feel like I get a little bit more stressful when I watch the game that I'm playing. So now that you are back on the ice skating, Matthew, someone that's been on the ice here

quite a bit with you lately, Mark Giordano. How did that come about and what's been the best part of his influence? Yeah. so I'm working out at Brian Marshall in Mississauga. So Mark Giordano used to work out there. So I'm working out there and then I'm on the ice with Gio. So he's the best. He's, you know, he knows so much. He's played so much in the NHL and he's telling me all these things.

I mean, I went up to him my first game and I said, Gio, my ears are wide open. You tell me anything and everything. because I want to take everything that you know. So then I'll be ready at that next level. And he's like, if you see me, you know, you know, not working as hard as you think I should like get on me about that. Because like I want him to, you know, treat me like he would himself. And I want him to prepare me like he would himself to. And I almost want to be like his son where he can take me under his ring and, you know, show me everything I need to know.

So then when I get to that next level, I'll be ready. Cause I mean, he was a Norris trophy winner and he's done a lot. So, um, I mean, he's a great person and he really cares about, you know, the person and player that I want to be. And he has my back to it all. So has he gotten ever gotten on you like, has he given it to you? About what? Why does he given it to you? About what? What does he give you? I mean, I think I've only I've only stayed with him like a couple of times and he's very you know, like

he's not a big yeller I don't think or I haven't seen it yet, right? So, um, but no, he's honestly if anything, we'll just talk out like if I, you know, say we're doing like a fake or we're going to do retrievals and I and I did something but he wants it A little bit better He'll show me way and then we'll talk it through like, you know, whether we're doing drills all talk about be like hey Do you want it this way and then he'll kind of show me? You know what he wants it like but there's a lot of conversation in it Um, you know whether he wants this way But a lot of it's just learning and I love to just, you know, pick his mind about some things.

So I love talking to him, you know, all the time just to hear what he has to say. Now what's the best advice he's given you about the next level? Well, he's been through ups and downs in hockey, didn't get drafted to the NHL, didn't get drafted to the NHL. I think just work hard, have fun, obviously be a good person, but work hard. He's, you know, worked so hard his whole life to get to the point he has been today. So just watching his work ethic and, you know,

the way he carries himself on and off the ice, I think that's a huge thing. But I think for me, he just says enjoy it and, you know, don't ever wish time away or anything, but just work as hard as you can and just enjoy it. It goes a long way. So yeah. So as you say, like, ears wide open, you were saying that, you know, particularly after

the injury happened at the World Juniors, like you heard from some pretty prominent names in the hockey world, like is just whole year has unfolded, Matthew, like, is there any one interaction or conversation with someone that stood out in a big way where you thought, I never thought I'd hear from that person? Yeah, obviously I think that the biggest one was right after the tournament, we retired McDavid's Jersey.

And obviously I was hoping to play in that game, but then I got to talk about him in the press conference and on the ice when we were retiring as Jersey. And I went in there and I wasn't expecting to talk. I was just like, Oh, I'll just go up and watch. And then I got put on the spot a couple of times and I was like, what am I going to say? Cause you know, I get told, I'm like, you're going to talk and I go, I'm going to talk to like about McDavid. Cause I'm like, I know of course, you know, hockey player and I've heard so many things, but I don't know him like personally, right? So then I get up on the podium and I,

you guys have probably seen it, but you know, I'm talking, talking and then I look over and I'm, cause I run out of things to say and I go, I'm so proud of you. And I go, oh my gosh. I'm like, what am I doing here? So then I say that and obviously he, like, he's a great guy.

He knows where I'm coming from, I hope. So I'm like, I'm proud of you. And I go, oh no, what came out of my mouth? And I'm like, proud of you. So then, yeah, obviously he was a great guy. I got to talk to him in person off to the side, not with any cameras or anything, just about, cause he broke his collarbone,

his rookier and his NHL. So, I mean, just hearing things, I mean, if you ever need anything, but he said, just make sure you're fully ready because you don't want to rush it back and injure it again even more. So, you know, things like him, Stan Coast, a lot of guys in the Flinos. So yeah, a lot of guys you hear from and it's pretty cool coming from them. So we know that the Stanley Cup, it goes through Florida, right? So like I'm just wondering as a defenseman, when you watch the Panthers in the Stanley Cup final and

you see the way they for check and you see they how aggressively they are on defenseman and they're like, for example, if you do go first overall, you're going to be in the Eastern Conference. So like you, what were you, when you watch them, were you imagining Carter Verhage bearing down on you or Sam Bennett bearing down on you? Yeah. Well, we obviously got to meet some of those guys too. We got to meet Sam Bennett, but he's they're great guys. Obviously on the ice, you turn that switch off, but watching that game, you want to play so badly in it. And

it's like, you know, I want to play here and it gets you so like fired up, like I'm watching the game. I'm getting so into it because I want to be out there. But it's it's pretty cool hockey. And obviously, Florida is a great team. I mean, I think they deserve to win. They were definitely the better team, but they work so hard. And they're coached so well. So, you know, watching that. definitely the better team, but they work so hard and they're coached so well. So, you know, watching that, but you want to be out there and play against them because, you know, they're such a great team, but you always see you want to win that Stanley Cup. So it's, it's pretty cool. But yeah, I mean,

as much as they for check hard, I'd love to play against that. Okay. Yeah. Well, who knows, there could be drama at the draft. Maybe you fall to 32, Matthew, and you end up. Never know. Never know. No, no. That's very uplifting, Kyle. I think that one we do know.

That's great stuff. Well, think about the opportunity. Thank God the interview's almost over, Kyle. Now that you've blew that one. Well, I just thought, I thought that like watching, obviously we watched the win and the celebration that's come like you see how much of a team those Panthers are right. And we saw the footage of you in the dressing room doing the starting lineup like you mentioned you know wanting to have the surgery done in Ottawa so you could stay with your world junior teammates through the end of it there. through the end of it there. For the feature that's dropping this week on you

that our Sportsnet features team did, there's great visuals after, you know, your Otter's team were eliminated from the playoffs on the ice, just sharing a moment with all of your teammates there. I just wonder kind of where you developed that side of you two, like the ability to be there for the other guys in that room in such incredible

ways in the great moments and also the tough ones too. Yeah, you become family with all those guys, you go through ups and downs, but you really have each other's back throughout, you know, everything you go to battle with them throughout the whole year, you know, playoffs, you're blocking shots, you're making hits, you're, you know, you're pan guys on the back, you're getting them going. You do a lot with them throughout the year, whether it's team bonding, you guys go out to get, you know, a bite to eat after practice, you have a bonfire at someone's house, you get to know them personally.

And you know, I got to meet another guy, I won't say his name, but his mom's going through terminal brain cancer on my team. And you know, it's like, I've been through that and he was, he felt that he was able to relay on me because I've been through things like that. And I remember seeing his mom the one day at breakfast and I broke out into like tears. Cause I just, I know what it's like for a mom

to go through that and you never want to see, you know, your mom go through that. Cause they're, you know, they're some of the strongest people and you know, if it's someone to go through that, of course they're going to go through that because they're the toughest and you know, my mom was way tougher than me, my brother and dad combined and you know, if we went through that, I think we would be crying. So she didn't even let a tear out. But yeah, I mean, like I said, it sucks and you get to see the things that the people have gone through in life and you know, your sucks and you get to see the things that the people about

through in life and you know, your teammates and you always have their back throughout everything. So do you allow yourself to think this week? Like in your head, do you think I'm an islander or in your head? Do you think I don't know where I'm going? Yeah, obviously, it'd be an honor to be an Islander, but you you really can't control what happens now it's uh, I mean, it's all up to the team and you know, whoever wants you right so Really? You just gotta wait till that Friday at 4 p.m. To see see what happens

But yeah, obviously, I mean you want to go number one you want to be an Islander But at the end of the day, it's you know up to them and their decision So you just gotta kind of wait and you know to go number one, you want to be an Islander, but at the end of the day, it's up to them and their decision. So you just got to kind of wait and see what team wants you. Okay. So with everything going on in your life lately, Matthew, it was neat to hear you were still able to attend your prom at St. John Henry Newman. So my question is, with all that's happening, do you still feel like you're able to be a kid at times?

A hundred percent. So I chose after I came back from IRI, I chose to go to my high school with all my friends and teachers and I'm super close with all the teachers at my school. So it's good to be back in that environment. Well, when you're playing in the area, I'm doing a lot of online school. I'm not at the same high school I started off with. So to be able to go back and all these grade nine people,

well, then grade nines are new to school, right? So they're coming up to me, they're like, oh, can I get a picture? And I'm like, yeah, you guys get a picture. But I'm the same as you guys. I go to the same high school. I'm like, yeah, like you guys get a picture, but I'm, you know, the same as you guys. I go to the same high school. I'm going to English class like you guys probably are. You know, I do the same stuff you guys are.

So you know, I'm not anyone special compared to you guys. And yeah, so just being in that environment is really special. And to be back with your friends and teachers that you've grown up with, it's pretty cool. And they have your back throughout the whole thing. And they're all like, oh, I'm gonna be watching the draft coming up and they're super excited for me. So yeah, it's pretty cool to be a kid and it gets your mind off a lot of things.

And they're like, oh, we have to have a ball hockey game before you go and all that. Oh, great. That's great. Always stay humble. That's right, it. That's great. Always stay humble. That's right. It's always a great lesson. Always stay humble.

Always stay humble. I was going to say, Matthew, it's been such a treat to speak with you. So all the best this week. And whenever your name is called on Friday, enjoy all of it. And thank you so much for hopping on with us. Thank you guys.

Appreciate it. Thank you, Elliot. Thank you, Kyle. I remember you chirping me and Elliot. So Elliot, you might have to go on the same team. He was chirping Thank you, Elliot. Thank you, Kyle. Um I'll remember you chirping me and and Elliot. So, Elliot, you might have to go on the same team. He was chirping you for your age and he's chirping me if you're going 30 seconds. So, next time we maybe gotta team up on him next time. I got I got news for you. At the end of the day, you're you and he's

Kyle. So, you just remember that. That's very good. Exactly. And Kyle, congrats again. So, oh, thanks exactly and Kyle Congrats again. So, oh, thanks. That's very nice. Yeah, fingers crossed. Hopefully soon. I appreciate that. Matthew.

Thank you so much. Okay. Thank you. Once again to Matthew for giving us some time here on 32 thoughts. We should also say there is a really wonderful feature that Jeremy McElhaney and his team did on Schaeffer and his family the whole story and him getting to this point that That dropped 8.30 a.m. Eastern this morning on the Sportsnet YouTube channel. It is a lengthy one, but it is an incredible story that will go by quickly. So really encourage

you if you have a few minutes to learn a little bit more about his path to getting to the NHL draft coming up this Friday from Los Angeles. That is it for this edition of 32 Thoughts of the Podcast. Have a great start to your week. Elliot is off to Los Angeles in a few days for the draft. We will talk to him again on Friday from LA. you