Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Blake Price (FULL INTERVIEW)

Episode Date: October 9, 2025

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/tnacJqQMHC4The Insider Hotline | Presented by Crystal Waters Plumbing Company https://www.crystalwatersplumbingcompany.com/Rhett and Pinder are joined by Blake Price from Vancouver to dive into all things Canucks — the early-season drama, team expectations, and what to expect from Thatcher Demko between the pipes. The guys also chat about the Hughes brothers, load management, and where Vancouver stacks up heading into the new season.#vancouvercanucks #canucks #nhlteam #nhlshorts #nhl #nhlpredictions #nhlpredictions CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️FLAMESNATION MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome in from the left coast from Vancouver. Is it raining? We'll find out the co-host, one of two, Sycarison Price. He's Blake Price, the price half. Great to check in, buddy. How are we doing? You're looking very Vancouver. You're hiking, have you done the gross grind yet today?

Listen, listen, listen. Our studio is very cool. Let's not paint this anything differently than it is. I just do I bundle up. In July, I wear this fleece in the studio. So it has nothing to do with the weather. and it might be raining, but we just had three days of sun. So again, let's not getting it picky.

Yes, okay. Well, welcome. How have you been? How is the Vancouver off season? It's never boring out there. I mean, there's always, we call them Aqua Valva. The owner's a very entertaining fellow, Hansi, awful year last year, Datea Miller gone.

You got a rookie making the team. Where is Elias Pedersen at? This team is like Melrose Place. There's always drama. Yes. It is a bit of a soap opera out here. It has nothing to do with the media. Don't let anybody tell you differently on Twitter.

We are wholesome, focused and ethical folk here. That's right. Hey, to their own admission, it's from them. I mean, the general manager and the president have doubled, tripled, quadrupled down from the moment they talked about trading away J.T. Miller and revamping sort of the core of this team. they have said from the end of the season on, like, you would not believe what we had to deal with last year. Like they did. And we were kind of like in the crowd going, yeah, no, you told us.

And again, every time you would not believe how crazy it was last year. You're like, I know, you keep telling us. So they, they were the ones that admit the noise came from them. Like they, it was them that caused it. And it's up to them to fix it now. And that is the biggest takeaway for the preseason and training camp is everybody's loving the vibe. Who knows if they're good at hockey, but the vibes are good, you know, and that's the important thing. Well, Red was always saying, like, for these types of thing to happen, like, boy, if you had some established NFL, NHL vets around that had been through the rigors of, you know, a decade in the league, but there's the Siddines, there's Adam Foote, you've got all these guys in hockey ops.

Like, you were just stunned that this thing could get as far as it got. It is surprising from far away. Obviously, shit could go sideways. but to that extent that they're talking about. And we don't have any insight out here what it was. What it was, what the issues are. But it feels like you've had enough guys that have seen enough hockey to burn around the game long enough that they're not going to get surprised by

too much. But it certainly sounds like it was a unique situation. Yeah, I mean, you think about Jim Brotherford and Patrick Oveying, the guys at the tippy top, very sedate, you know, even keeled guys. They're not boisterous, you know, it generally comes from the top. And the guy in the room, Rick Tocke it back then, again, really good communicator. Fashioned himself as sort of a player's coach. He couldn't keep the lid on tight.

So, yeah, some changes needed to happen. They made those changes. And now they brought in another guy. And the honeymoon period is a short one so far in terms of it just hasn't been that long. It's not over. But I'm saying Adam Foote has wowed people with his communication. And he was relatively mum throughout the course of last season.

and we didn't hear from him. A lot of teams, you know, allow their assistants to speak a lot more. And I don't know that it was talk at saying, you're not speaking, but we just didn't hear from him much. And now that he's got the microphone, A, he's actually letting his assistants talk quite a bit.

So there's a bit of a change there. But even when he's speaking, which is a fair amount as well, it's eloquent. I think he comes across similar to talk it and that I think he wants to be a player's coach as well and be available to his guys. But it's, again, the vibes are good from,

from stem to stern right now. So that's allowed fans, I think, to dream a little bit bigger than maybe they could or should about what the season could bring. What are reasonable expectations? We talk about it here. I don't know that there's a wider sort of margin of what Calgary could be. I mean, the sports books have them at 83 and a half points as an over under. They had 96 and lost on a tie break from the final playoff seed last year.

Like, are they going to get the saves? Are they going to steal games? After game one, we can say yes. but like what is sort of the band of outcomes for this Vancouver team that a lot went wrong and the clear air alone should have, you know, an upward push on the point total. For sure. Similar to the flames that I think it is a huge wide spectrum. I think they'd like to think in the books would tell you the same thing.

They're shifted up just a little bit, but I think anything from 90 to 101 points is theoretically possible. And the people that might be scoffing and that are watching your show, but 101 points, I mean, they got a guy that, has been nominated for the Vezna. They've got a guy that can compete for the heart and I mean, certainly Selke and

in Elias Pedersen, if he bounces back and you've got a Norris trophy. You've got three major trophies that could be won by guys on this roster. So the potential, at least on paper, and again, I'm not offering any guarantees here, but you have to admit that there is that potential there.

Now, there's big gifts around a lot of these guys around the star players, not about Quinn Hughes, he is a god. But everybody else has got major question marks. And so until those are answered, it's really difficult to pin down. You know, people just want to add points to 90 from last year, but 10 different skaters in the lineup from last year's opening night to this year's opening night. So it's not really scientific to just say, well, they were 90 and they were a shit show last year.

So they're going to be 96 points at least. He can't really do that. Ret knows that as well. You can have the exact same lineup and you're going to get different points from year to year. So we'll see. I'm supposed to be making my prediction on our show today, and I'm still wavering here as to what I'm going to say. The Hughes brothers seem to get along,

and they're not afraid to mention that. This is a two-year-out issue. Do you see any similarities to Conner's window in Edmonton and Quinn's in Vancouver? Because he spoke highly of Adam Foot, and poof, there's your new head coach. And look, like, there's already two in Jersey. I'm sure Patrick Calvine and, you know,

the brass have tried to bring the other brothers in, but like if those three want to play together, that probably doesn't end well for Vancouver. Are we pretending this isn't happening? You've got two years to put it on the shelf and forget it doesn't exist. Like how does the fan base dealing with this? There is, I would say about a third of the fan base is doing that.

Just enjoy it. Just enjoy it. You got one more year before we need to think about it and all that. I think there's, you know, that's a sizable portion of the fan base, but I don't think it's the majority. I think the majority are at least mildly concerned about it. And then there's a certain section that is wildly scared about it. And rightly so.

And much like Euler fans, I'm sure we're with McDavid. I think there is the potential for a McDavid contract, actually, in the sense that if the Connox show promise this year and not just promise that they are dragged to the playoffs by the potential trophy winners, don't I just talked about it. Yeah. But if they show that, you know, Jonathan Lekromack, he scores 22 and looks like you might be a star on the rise. If there's, if there's other notable performances where Quinn goes, hmm, they are building something here.

It might take three years to see itself through here. So if I sign a two-year extension in a year's time, maybe I let that play out. And then we're talking about almost a decade with the team at that point, actually a decade with the team. And then maybe I make my decision whether or not to play with my boys. And at that point, still very young, he would be, you know, he'd be 30, 31 years old. Sure. Still more than capable to, to unite with his brothers and be a force still. So, you know, I think that's essentially McDavid's thinking is, okay, I'm going to let this core play out.

And then I want to be able to make a decision after that. And yeah, could Queen Hughes do that? I don't know if he'll do it as at as steep a discount as Connor did. But I think that is the potential there. I think that people are hoping that that's what happens. I think that's what management's hoping is we're going to show you enough promise here. that you want to see this thing through. I don't see a path to an eight-year contract extension from Quinn Hughes right now.

I would be blown away if that happens. Has that changed for the league, you think, with Connors? I mean, then you go and see Connor in Winnipeg, and he signs eight. So it's everyone's individual. And I think that's probably just what it is, is everybody's individual choices. They're so in the driver seat, the high-end guys. They don't have to, you don't tell them.

what you're giving them. Here's the check. You write the number and the term. The guaranteed money is a bit of a lure, obviously, in this sport, right? And you just put, if you add years, just that number gets so grotesque. We haven't seen too many superstar injuries. I'll knock on wood on behalf of all of them. You know, completely decimated by injury, like the true superstar, superstars. There's been stories of guys maybe second tier and below that have had their careers tragically cut short because of X, Y, and Z. But, for the most part they get to place. I don't know that many of them worry,

hey, if I get injured on a three-year deal, I'll regret not have signed the eight-year deal. They're getting so well-paid on the three-year. Like you think about the, you know, the extra $25 million that Connor signs for. I mean, we're not mourning for his family at this point. They're going to be okay. So I think the money has gotten so big now for the top superstars

that they might feel a little emboldened to be okay with shorter term deals. You know, if they've got 100 mil in the bank, again, I think they're going to feel pretty safe about that. Awesome Matthews is the guy that started it. I mean, he was the only guy we've seen go right out of entry level into like basically getting paid as a free agent and walk me right to UFA

and then signs a four year. And then like at another three and or four. Like he's going to make like a hundred million more than Connor, which sounds crazy. But if you just keep dipping back into the market and the cap keeps rising, I mean, financially, that's great.

But I think Connor's saying, screw the finances, I want to see this through with this core. The force going against that is, you know, maybe this isn't the perfect example because I don't think he reaches super stardom, but a guy like Mason McTavish, who I think is going to be a really nice player. Yeah. Does he do himself a disservice signing a long-term deal coming out of his ELC? Like the, the guy's signing long-term eight-year deals.

Now, it won't be eight going forward. It'll be seven. But a seven-year deal, even after three, three full years of an ELC, you're a decade with the team. and you know in that 10th year you're probably very underpaid at that point so like that's the one mitigating factor is is if you sign that big long-term deal at the end of your ELC there is a chance for the team to make out like a band at that I want to ask you about a new goalie tandem demco it was the weirdest thing last year we all learned about a muscle or a ligament or a body part like I'm sure many doctors I haven't even heard of it was incredibly weird is their confidence he can be irregular and healthy and I'm sure the she'll have shout out of on opening night, he's gone over well in Vancouver, too. I, you know what, I personally, you know, if I'm a conduct fan, I'm totally fine with the She Loves thing because, you know, Lankan and Demko in this moment are far superior goalies.

They are. As to what She Loves will become, who knows, but you just, you're not going to be able to hold on to everybody all the time. That's just the brass tacks of the National Hockey League. So they're okay with that. As for Demko, the Popliteus is the piece of the knee that you're thinking of. Yeah, the Pops. Popliteus. Everybody knows it in Vancouver.

It's, I think it's going to be put on a banknote sometimes. Sort of a weed strain? What's going on? Popliteus. Yeah, Indica, Sativa, and Popliteus. Those are the three wheatgrass. But, yeah, I think everybody's pretty confident that he's looking spry. He's doing all the old things. He was a little bit conservative in his movements when he came back last year. The lowly nerds were pointing out a few nuances of his play.

And that seems to have disappeared. He's sort of melted away as the strength, I guess, has returned and or confidence. So, yeah, I think people are pretty confident. Like, I don't think there's any sense that he's reaching 50 starts this year, though. Okay. I think he'll be in the 40s or 30s, and Kevin Likin's going to get a boat of starts as well. I think game one, barring the unforeseen, is a game one of the playoffs, is that Trudevco should they get there.

But I think they want to manage. And that's the other thing. Wrette was talking about, you know, trends. and contracts. We were just debating yesterday. Like, who's going to be the first team that really truly manages time, you know, and starts for not only goalies, but for position players as well. Load management.

Load management. Yeah. I know you, you, right, think about it, 84 games next year. I know. You know, like, you tell me that you want your 36 year. Like, there's 36-year-old defensemen everywhere. Goalies, 36-year-old. Are you telling me those guys want to play 84 regular season games plus,

but not a chance. So it's going to be interesting to watch. Somebody's got to take the leap. And I don't think it's for the superstars. Let me be clear. I think Queen Hughes plays as many games as he can. But a guy like a Tyler Myers, like a 4D who's in his mid-30s, like, do you need to play him every single night?

I like the backs. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of an injury. Flames are on the back-to-back. They're in Vancouver tonight, which is the reason we got you on. We appreciate you coming on. They'll be back at it.

The home opener on Saturday afternoon. It's three games in less than four days. We're kicking around Wolf and all three. I mean, the exact opposite of load management based on last night. We'll see what happens there. As for the Canucks, uniquely, the flames were eyeballing centers at the draft. The Canucks picked ahead of them. Braden Coots has been quite a story.

The flames end up getting Cole Reshney, who's at North Dakota. But WHL centers that people are very high on. What's the story on Coots and does he play tonight? People have been comparing those two a lot. you know, talking to Jeff Merrick and Frank Corrado, and they have made those Rushney Coots comparison. So I think both teams could have done really well there. Coots is here by necessity right now because not only are the slim at center

at the best of times, Teddy Blugger is unavailable for the next three to four games. So Coots is in. I don't know that he plays the customary eight to nine minutes that 18-year-olds generally play. I think he's playing fairly significant minutes, 12 to 14 minutes tonight, probably and he might even see some special team situations if they're that desperate. So it's going to be very interesting. I think they get a bit of a break that they get the flames coming out of Edmonton, the long drive to the airport.

I mean, I don't know how much sleep they got or the quality of sleep that the flames got last night. So it's a bit of a boost for the Canucks in that regard. And we'll see. We'll see. Again, how much do the fumes and the good vibes roll into an opener? We're going to find that out. But everybody's feeling pretty good.

All the role players that you wanted to see something from, I've sort of shown something. So we'll see. Buck drops on the season and they'll go from there. But hey, at least the flames got their two points last night, right? It was a theft. Yeah, there was the bandana over the eyes and the gun. Skinner, give me the two points.

Yeah. Done. There it is. One for one, stealing points. Thank you, Stu. I appreciate you coming on. What are you got on Securis and Price? I know we got some Canucks pals out here in L.

Toise the show. What are you got coming up? We're counting down to the game. We're giving our predictions on this one. And we're going to have a boatload of fun. We're getting set to head over to the plaza and check out what the vibes of the fans are like as well. So it's going to be a great time and a pretty decent show. I won't oversell it.

It'll be a decent show. I don't know about a great show. It's game one. We're all in preseason mode, right? Look, I thought you'd be a better shameless promoter, self-promoter. but right we'll put it on to you next time thanks by expectations here and then over deliver over deliver love it see you guys james