Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Frank Seravalli (FULL INTERVIEW)

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

Frank Seravalli Talks 4 Nations Face-Off Success, CAN/USA Final & More | The Insider HotlineThe Insider Hotline | Presented by Crystal Waters Plumbing Company https://www.crystalwatersplumbingcompany.com/Join Boomer, Pinder & Rhett as they welcome Frank Seravalli for an in-depth discussion on the latest NHL news, rumors, and game highlights. From trade talks to player performances, get all the insights and analysis you need to stay in the loop! Don’t miss this exciting episode packed with expert commentary and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of hockey. Tune in now!Let us know what you think in the comments below!!BARN BURNER BLONDE https://originbrewing.myshopify.comFLAMESNATION MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8INSTANT REACTIONShttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-dO2AraHTeftSpPt00evo8M&si=lY5D3nk8zVtrQgql🚨 Subscribe to @Flames_Nation on Youtube 🚨➡️ / @flames_nation 🔥 Barn Burner with Boomer, Pinder, & Rhett Warrener➡️ • Flames Nation Barn Burner 🔥 After Burner ➡️ • Flames Nation After Burner @dailyfaceoff2563 LIVE with Frank Seravalli:➡️ / @dailyfaceoff2563 💻 Website: https://flamesnation.ca🐦 Follow on Twitter: @FlamesNation @960boomer @PinderReport @Warrener44📺 Subscribe on Youtube: @Flames_Nation#nhl #nhlhockey #nhlshorts #calgaryflames #nhlpredictions #nhlplayoffs #toronto #mapleleafs #leafs #bluejays #canucks #vancouvercanucks #tiktok #boom #senators #sens #podcast #leafs #toronto #NHLPodcast #CalgaryFlames #FlamesTalk #HockeyDiscussion #NHLTradeRumors #CalgaryHockey #HockeyNews #NHLAnalysis #BoomerAndRhett #HockeyCommunity #FlamesNation #NHLFans Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Cerebelly. Daily face off our hockey insider joins us. Hello, Frank. You boy, how we do it? I'm good. You know, I'm offended that you guys say that I wouldn't be able to handle it. I mean, just to be fair, like I do have a lot extra. I feel like I'm well equipped to get through a long winter.

We wouldn't want to subject you to it, but you have to grow up in it. It's not a... Yeah, you came to Jasper a couple of years ago, and I don't know that you were enthusiastically outside trumpeting the minus 28 weather. Yeah, if you're not from it. I think that's some suspect, hazy memory from your, uh, your high kicking that you were doing at four o'clock in the morning that night. Well, to say that his memory may be hazy.

He probably for sure. Probably bang on. Uh, so here we are. We are humbled one game, one game left. Egg on all of our face up here in Canada. We're, we feel shame. And, uh, we just hope to make a close on Thursday. What's the vibe as we get ready for this one?

Well, I think the vibe is, it's been shifting based on what these rosters are looking like. At one point this morning, I think, you know, everyone collectively that's, you know, rooting for Team USA sees that one of their top defensemen in Charlie McAvoy, who is a physical force on Saturday against Canada, hospitalized with an infection that stemmed from a minor injury, all of a sudden ruled out of the tournament. Then I report in short order that the U.S. has been told by the NHL that they won't be allowed to have an injury replacement. And then after that, Mike Sullivan at his media availability announces that almost like you can picture it, Quinn Hughes is flying in with a cape to Boston to save the day,

one of the best defensemen in the world, Hart Trophy candidate. The day when Team Canada has a chance to really change the game with Kail McCar being the huge difference, maker from Saturday to Thursday could be leveled out if there's a way that Quinn Hughes can get himself into the lineup on Thursday that, man, it's like the, it's, it's been peaks and valleys just today. And we're still two days away, 48 plus hours away from this ultimate game seven. So walk us through all this because the Canadians went through something similar with Harley and he played on Saturday. Then they didn't play him yesterday, but it sounded like he could have played even though they had six healthy guys.

Why are emergency guys once they're in, all of a sudden, no, no, now you can play whenever you want. And why is the leap going back and forth? Because at first we heard Harley couldn't even go to Montreal. He had to go to Boston. Like, we're just making it up as we go here. Anyone pissed off at this? Look, I think there was, you know,

some facets of the tournament, the other teams in the tournament that were not happy with the way that the Thomas Harley situation played out. And now I guess what goes around comes around. The U.S. is obviously in a spot. with their roster and they're being afforded the same flexibility that Canada was with Kail Makar's illness. So my understanding of the situation is, and this is part of what's been reported here, I've been on the air for two plus hours now, so still trying to do some additional

reporting, that Quinn Hughes is on his way here and is ineligible to play and practice with Team USA unless they drop below the threshold. So they've got 12 forwards, they've got six defensemen. Unless they're under that number, then Quinn Hughes can't play. However, here's the one caveat that I'll throw in that I don't have an answer to that I just asked the question. What if one of the three forwards who is injured for the United States, what happens if one of Matthews or the two Kachuk brothers cannot play on Thursday?

Can the U.S. position agnosticly add Quinn Hughes so that you could go 11 and 7? Again, don't know the answer to that, but would be a fascinating development or curveball to this in that that might be a way for Quinn Hughes to play. I feel like the Kachuk boys would need to have severed body parts. Yeah. Before they will be out on Thursday. There didn't seem to be a high level concern on either for Thursday availability. Well, here's the only thing that I'll add to that. So I think Brady is a, was pure precautionary.

He could have finished out that game had it meant something and had there been something on the line. I think with Matthew, it's a little different though. And I did have a pretty significant level of concern because I watched him walk to the bus on Saturday night at Bell Center. And he was not in good shape. And here's the other part of that. You just mentioned that for these guys to sit out. that they would need to have severed limbs. And I would agree.

But 12 minutes remain in the third period of a game very much in doubt on Saturday night. No one knows how those last 12 minutes are going to play out. And he took himself out of the game in that environment. Yeah. So it had to tell you that it was pretty significant. I believe it's a soft tissue injury, whether it's a groin or hamstring. I don't know and can't tell the difference. But in this case, you know, I do have some level of concern as,

to whether or not in five days time, something like that can heal up enough to be effective in an impact player. So I think he'll play. I think he'll try and make a run at it. Another wildcard is Austin Matthews. There didn't seem to be a lot of question about whether or not he could play on Thursday,

but is this connected to the injury that's nagged him all season long with the Toronto Maple Leafs that would certainly add another layer to that conversation? I was just with Kachuk still. I would guess that there would be concerned from Florida, and Bill Zito, is there, what's the etiquette where for Bill Zito to make a call and say, listen, this is all fine and good. This is my guy.

We have big plans this year with our little NHL team. I know you've got your tournament, but I just, does that hold any sway? Is that a call that you make if you're at NHL GM? I'm curious. Well, here's the good part. Bill Zito is the assistant GM of this team and he's at the tournament. So that's, that's a nice part of it that he has direct. knowledge. And I did run into Bill Zito at the game last night and I said,

any concern for Matthew? And he said, none at all. So he seems to be comfortable. I'll tell you what is weird, though, is the Boston Bruins issuing the statement this morning about Charlie McAvoy being done for the tournament. Their GM is Don Sweeney, who's the GM of Team Canada, who's issuing an injury report about a team USA player. That part makes my brain explode, but nonetheless, obviously a ton of information sharing and we know with millions of dollars on the line for these guys where the true priority lies. So we talked about it.

Like if the hockey's good, they can tweak this thing and it'll be great. If the hockey sucks, this is a huge waste of everyone's time. In season, for a lot of Canadian fans, never really feels right because of the injuries, because we have seen them really successful in September preseason. In the U.S., it just isn't the case.

Football is so huge. You've got college and NFL at that point. Right now, there's nothing. like you look around the landscape they've got a lot of real estate here this tournament how does the hl its owners and gms weigh the benefits of this time of year versus the risks of you know losing an mbp a captain multiple all-stars at this tournament for a stretch run i don't think the owners are the appropriate people to ask here yeah of course they hold a ton of sway and i'm sure they feel certain ways about this but it's the players who also don't want september because then to think

about it from another perspective for this tournament's only, you know, 90-ish players. But when it comes to if you expanded it or if you were to take a World Cup and try and do it in September, you're ramping up your training now at a way earlier date. And then you're heading right. So you complete an intense tournament and then you head right into the regular season. I don't think they like the idea of it. And that kind of killed it. It was a non-starter.

They didn't like the way that September played out previously. and you're right. This is the ultimate sweet spot on the sports calendar. I mean, think about Saturday night. There was, you had all-star skills for the NBA. There was nothing to compete with. The Super Bowl is done. College football is done. And pitchers and catchers have just reported to spring training. You've got the entire weekend to yourself. So that's why traditionally they've done the all-star game that weekend, but we know that that doesn't produce any meaningful buzz, I think the true recipe for success moving forward with this tournament,

it's not going to be obviously four nations again, but it's going to be getting some time off from it. You can't go to the well too often. And I've seen people say, oh, the NHL can never go back to the All-Star game again. How could you do that? This was not really designed to be necessarily an All-Star replacement. This was designed to be a appetizer.

for the 2026 Olympics. This is long overdue and the fact that we saw the fireworks on Saturday night at Bell Center. It was for a lot of reasons, the politically charged environment, the pride and rivalry of these two countries. But let's not forget the third part of it, which is for a lot of these players, this is 10 years in the making, 11 years in the making. They haven't had a chance to wear their country's jersey and best on best competition.

and they've been craving this, they want this. And that part, I think, was lost on a lot of people who came in with the commentary of, oh, this tournament's not going to mean anything. You're not going to see the intensity out of these players. I never for one second, and you guys have had me talk about it, how many times have I said, take Saturday night, February 15th, this is going back a calendar year and hook it into my veins. And I don't say that to pat myself on the back. I say that because the evidence was overwhelming of what we were.

going to expect from these players when they have this kind of opportunity to make a team that's so hard to make and to be put on a stage like that. Yeah, I said it earlier. I give credit, obviously, starting, picking Montreal was, what a stroke of genius. It was just everything that they needed to, for the most part, for this to be a success has really happened. An exciting game with Canada. The crowd's been into it.

Montreal's been alive. I'm guessing Boston's going to be the same. Now you've got these two teams. And the big key is that the players, they're not treating. treating this like an all-star game, that malaise that just kind of sinks that whole event. They decided this mattered and played that way right from the start of game number one. And yeah, some of them saw their dads do it, their favorite players do it. Now they get to do it.

I give credit to the players for making it matter. And I was just thinking, we've all got, we've got kids. And I'm guessing all of our kids have done something once in a while, maybe at a sporting event where they do something silly. and the rest of the parent group kind of looks over at you. I was just thinking of old Keith Kachuk, his boy starts a scrap off the opening draw. Then the other kid does it two seconds later. It's like, I think he called them lunatics.

Well, yeah, they're lunatics. I don't know what to tell you. So, I mean, you're bursting with pride. You're kind of sheepish about it, but kind of hilarious that it would be the Kachuk boys to be right front and center in it. Well, here's the other part of this, though, again that I don't think enough people have sort of drawn the next connection to,

but everyone remembers here, at least, him taking on Claude Lemieux in the same building in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Do you not think that as this group text was evolving and in the back of the Kachuk brothers' minds, they know that their dad did it? Do you think there was any, like, encouraging from Keith? Do you think he said, like, hey, go after him from puck drop, be the aggressors? and go punch Canada in the face. I'm not saying he spurred it on,

but his actions, his previous actions, their family history, I think nonetheless spurred it on. Yeah, these aren't apples that fell out of the tree and got into a taxi and went to the next state. They are right below the tree. Like, this is how Keith played. Go watch the 96 highlights.

Like, no one should be surprised how they're playing if you saw the old man play. And because of that, my phone was blowing up on Saturday. Friends that don't watch hockey, don't like hockey, don't care about hockey. We're tuned in from Jump Street and we're going nuts. They were going wild.

And so now you have this atmosphere here heading into Thursday. That's way more than a hockey game. You've got fireworks, politically charged environment. Environment shifted now country to country. One team playing on home soil. Another anthem that might get booed. Will President Trump be in the building? There's a million.

layers to this now that people you're going to have the best maybe arguably the best hockey audience that's ever been produced in the US. Yeah. And you know, they're going to have an opportunity now to showcase the game. And I would think that there's probably pressure on some of the Canadian players now. Will they do the same thing? Will they, you know, issue an invitation to drop the gloves off of the off puck drop? because they know the stage that they've got now

and how many people are going to be watching. This is kind of longer view, but the next version of this will be a World Cup. I imagine we'll have eight teams because that's a nice number for a tournament. Russia will likely be out of the penalty box by then. There are seven great hockey nations. How do you determine the eighth,

whether it's Switzerland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Austria, Italy. Great food. But how do you see them doing that? Is there a smaller tournament in the fall to qualify? I mean, I'm way down the road here, but I've been yearning for this for, you know, since the 11 years ago that we saw Sochi, which was the last actual best on best. Yeah.

So, by the way, I can't ret tell you, like, at least five people stop being on the street in Montreal. Hey, Paizan, how come there's no team Italy? And I'm like, oh, all right, like, here we go. But I am looking forward to that in, in Milan. Let's get team Italy out there. I could be the, I could be the GM. That said, it's,

to determine, I'd like to see a qualifying tournament being played in September, kind of like the Olympics before this. Let's get Anjikopatar and team Slovenia. Let's get Leon Dreisaitel and team Germany. Let's get Switzerland with Roman Yossi and these guys. Let's put all these teams together. And I'd leave two qualifying spots open. Okay.

And like, may the best team emerge and win to then ultimately get. get pumped by some of these superpowers in the tournament, whatever it might be. I think more competition, again, more conversation. Hey, look at this qualification tournament going on. It can only better suit the game. What are you, I guess what are you hearing your thoughts, the people that you're kind of amongst there. Jordan Bennington is going to start on Thursday, but his numbers, his performance has not been great. It's, it's almost been what Canadian fans feared on paper.

golies do not look very good but you know what just don't don't be awful and we'll be well it's almost been all it's been kind of awful i guess is what's the that's a bridge too far don't don't you think awful is a bridge too far a little bit okay i would say there's been bad goals and some great saves but generally speaking you'd want more saves overall but here here's how i would term it average very average um best and best tournament he's average yes yeah but that's all he was to begin with. I agree. That's why that's the fear. Well, but what were you expecting? Like, and, and anyone hoping? I think we were only expecting that the easy ones, we would hope that he would be able to step up in this tournament and not let the easy ones in. And there's been a couple iffy.

See, I look at it from a different perspective. And one is that, um, because he has been average and that's, if you went into this tournament, you said, just give me average. I think he's met that threshold. Two, turning to Hill, how different is the expectation? Like, I think we're talking like single digit percentages either direction of being a game changer, another goalie that falls into the average category. And three, I think Binnington has done his job in the sense that in every single game Canada has played, they've had a chance to win.

they had a 1-0 lead on Saturday night. They were down 2 to 1 heading in, you know, in the late stages of the third period before an empty netter. Think back to the first game. Yeah, was there a blown lead? Should they have salted away a regulation win? Yes. Yeah.

That's why I asked for Hill. But how much better is Hill? I don't know. I like them more, but not significantly more. They're still not top singles. That's my point. But now can you, after, if you were going to bring in Hill, it needed to happen in either the second game or at the very least the third. I can't imagine under any circumstance turning to a different guy now and the panic that that sends to the rest of the team, the message that that sends, hey, you know, this whole thing needs to get blown up.

Right. And again, like, they don't have a lot of good goalies to choose from when they made the decision. Logan Thomas had a whale of a year, but they didn't make this roster when he was far and away of as a candidate. he is now. Maybe you tweak that and you allow the selection of the team a little later, because I think these rosters would look different, a bunch of these guys. Or do you say, is bidding to tweak? Did he tweak something?

And he'll, fly hill and we. Well, but they got Montem, I don't know why the hell did Kenby Matumbo's third string in Kansas net? Like, what the hell is he done? Somebody tried to argue. Hard backup around the league.

Montembo should have been in Montreal. Like, what are we doing here? Like, so yeah, let me ask you another question. Okay, let's just say,

like, for whatever reason, they made a different decision. and pick Thompson off the start. Yeah. How much better would you really feel today? I think you're not talking about a blown lead against Sweden nor a soft game-time goal against the Americans.

Dude, that's highly speculative. Well, I mean, the body works, how many games, Frank? 60 in the NHL, he's been exceptional. Okay. He's right there amongst, like, with Hellebuck and goals saved above expected. I understand. This is the turn of the 20 years and had an elite netminder. This is the first time they have it.

But we're also kind of two shit burger goals away from feeling just fine about Bennington. Oh, totally. Yeah. Maybe you let in one, one iffy goal in three games. And look, if he's great on Thursday, nobody cares. It's just this is the only Achilles heel of the roster. I don't. But here's the other part of it.

Okay. And look, trust me, I'm not absolving Jordan Bennington at all. I would have started, and I said it was very clearly last week, I would have started Aiden Hill from Jump Street in this tournament. That said,

if Canada scores more, where are the superstars? You scored one goal with a vaunted Canadian attack that at one point in time you can throw the nuclear option at them and go Crosby, McKinnon, McDavid, and the entire team produced one goal. If they score more than one goal, we're having a different conversation likely about Jordan Bennington today. The mistakes are magnified.

Yes, the margin is that thin. Yes, maybe just the difference in a close margin between Hellebuck and Bittington is the difference in this tournament. But you can't sit here for one second and pin it all on him. I'm going to the stars and saying, hey, this is on you. And hey, by the way, did you guys know that our bottom six is allowed to score a goal in this tournament? I mean, these are other parts of it that if you want to focus in and magnify and crucify Jordan Bintinthin, but by all means, go ahead.

But let's talk about some of the real issues. No, this is a real issue. I'm not blaming at all on it, but it's, it was the area you worried about. And nothing that's happened would stop me from worrying, getting into the final. How many people have talked about Sidney Crosby's two crucial turnovers on Saturday? Yeah, and he's playing through something that we forgot about after the Thursday. Oh, yeah, that's what I was going to say. All of a sudden, so Thursday, he's unbelievable.

And look at this guy. And then all of a sudden, the narrative the next couple days is, but how much can we reasonably expect that of Sidney Crosby? It's one or the other. It can't be both. I think, you're right. And I'm not trying, but I'm interested to get your take on. First of all, I think Quinn Hughes should be allowed to play because it's supposed to be best on best. And I don't give a shit about rules or this or that or the man.

And he was originally named to the time. I think he should be able to play. But Charlie McAvoy is out. And Charlie McAvoy made a huge statement and shut. Put him on his ass, everyone and every time their defense was awesome. If he's out, two things, sounds serious if you're going to the hospital for an infection. That's nothing to just brush past. So hopefully he's going to be just fine.

But secondly, I know what Hughes is going to bring, but can he, what McAvoy does and what Hughes does are two different things. Is that a benefit or an hindrance? Because if, you know, if McCar and McKin, not McCar, but McKinnon and McDavid have the puck on their stick all the time, is Hughes as good against that as McAvoy was? you know what I mean? I don't even know what the question is,

but it's a different strategy, Hughes versus McAvore. It's just a different stylistic fit, right? And I think it is a really fair question to ask because in order for Quinn Hughes to be successful, he really does need to have the puck on his stick a lot and does do a lot of controlling of the game. That said, I think if you have the ability any way possible to get him in the lineup, you're opting for him over,

and again, not nitpicking, but you're opting for him over Jake Sanderson, if you can, or maybe if you do go seven defensemen and 11 forwards, that anytime you can get a difference maker on the ice, I think you take it. But point well made that there's a reason why Jacob Slavin got so much attention on Saturday night. It's because the style of game that he plays is exactly what the U.S. needed.

And what you got from Zach Worensky was exactly what the U.S. needed. So there's an element to playing against team, Canada and John Goyens broke it down beautifully on our show last night. He was showing us the quadrants that the U.S. played in, why they were able to have success in slowing down Canada and why they made so many opportunities for Canada, one and done, because they were able to kill cycles. They were able to kill plays and get the puck out. A lot of it was simple, right?

It was like an alley-up. We got the puck at our goal line. We're just going to flip it out into the neutral zone and run under it and live to see another day. and that was the U.S. being comfortable in that situation against Canada who has the firepower and opportunities, knowing that Connor Hellebuck's there to make the key save off the rush or whatever it might be that keeps your team in the game. So, and again, to get right back to the beginning, just to clarify, at this juncture, the only path for Quinn Hughes to play is if there's one more injury beyond McAvoy. Currently, yes. but my question again is, is that position agnostic?

If you have one of your forwards that cannot play, then can the U.S. draw Hughes in and go 11-7? That's the question that I keep checking my phone to get an answer on and don't have yet, but I think it is certainly of interest to the U.S. And again, I was told two hours ago they couldn't make any changes

and couldn't bring anyone in. and then this is rapidly evolving and fluid. Are we overlooking the Matthews thing? Is this an issue or are we just kind of? Are you mean the injury or his play? Yeah, it's both. I mean, hard to overlook the injury and I think if you're a Leaf fan, this is probably a worst case scenario.

Your fear heading into this tournament was what happens if he gets hurt? What happens if he reagravates this injury that's kept him out a significant chunk of our season? season. Why can't he take the path that Quinn Hughes took, which is I'm injured. What's most important to me is my team success and as tough as it is to bow out, I need the rest, and I'm going to stay home. Now to potentially exit this tournament in worse shape than when you entered for a guy that means so much to what the Leafs do, I think it would have to be concerning. That said,

I think what would be more concerning if I'm Brad Tree Living thinking about building my team Think about the way this tournament has played out. Matthews has hit a couple posts, hit a crossbar, has gotten some good looks, but for the most part, hasn't dominated. William Neelander didn't do much at all for Sweden. And then you've got Mitch Marner, who had a moment with that overtime, but hasn't produced anything at even strength outside of three on three. So, you know, if I'm looking for Canada, or sorry, if I'm looking for the Leafs,

and I want to dispel this notion or narrative that in these big moments, you know, my guys don't show up. I don't think we've gotten any closer to dispelling that narrative. But the big caveat to that is we've got one enormous game on Thursday where there's still, you know, chapters left to be written in that story. It's totally true. Like this is so wild that there's going to be heroes and goats and like all that Friday morning is going to be our show. We, we know it could be Matthews. It could be martyr.

Like one of them's going to lose and the narrative lives on. Did you have anything else there? Wow. I was actually thinking about it with Matthews. I'm like, what are the Leafs getting judged on? Playoff success. Yeah, big games. So if I'm Matthews Friday morning, I are. I am. Clear up. Could they not use that cap space? If he's out to the playoffs, yeah. Right? Like just say, you go get healthy. come back when we need it that's a whole I'm looking at it is Theodore Matthew Cichuk Charlie McAvoy Austin Matt like these are all very important players to the club

teams that all of a sudden their statuses are up in the air like theater is not going to be short term whatever Vegas uses their money so you know coincidentally enough the back end of this is up Vegas might have an LTIR candidate again are you what is the vibe on the street down there like is it as wild

as like everyone here's talking about it which is kind of expect, maybe not as expected because I'll raise my hand. I was one that said, I don't give a shit. I'm not watching this. It will be boring. The way they've played is being exceptional. Again, everyone's phone blew up on Saturday night. Are you watching this?

But what's the vibe in the States in Boston? It's unbelievable. I honestly, like, I went out after the game last night, and that was a prelim game that meant nothing. A Monday night, bars are passing. act. Everyone's wearing gear with American flags on it. And the cool part for me was a lot of 20 to 25 year olds, a lot of, you know, in that age range where you're looking if you're the NHL, what's our next generation of fan? What is the age group that we want to target here? And

everyone's up on the news. Everyone understands what all of this means. And they're into it. And this is a hockey, a passionate hockey market. But again, what's cool is the people that don't watch, don't like it, are now in. And it's their first best, right? But yeah, but what I would say is that's actually also a challenge for the NHL. It's one thing to get them in the boat. Keep them. It's a lot harder to keep them in there.

And that's what I think is going to be the big question is you've hooked them, but now what? Yeah, like Calgary plays San Jose on Sunday. Columbus, Buffalo. That's going to be tough, right? Now, is this a major punch in the face for the NBA, too? Like, I mean, I got a feeling that this is huge, you've alluded to it. This has got to be massive for the league.

You got all the eyes on it, and the NBA is thrown out an All-Star game, which is a joke. All of them are. Is it a double down for the NHL in this? And how did Gary, I didn't know this about Gary? He's buds with Trump. Like, he added, well, he got Trump to talk about

to tariffs and stuff to create. create this political turmoil, right? Like, as a genius. I can just tell you this. Last week, the NHL was very squeamish about being caught in the middle of this political vortex. And it's the best thing that's happened to them. It's a total happy accident. And by the way, like, I've been getting calls all morning.

There's like debate and talk behind the scenes. Is President Trump going to be in the building on Thursday? Why? Why not? I'm just saying, like, this is going to another level and all of a sudden he shows up and he starts tweeting about hockey. And, and, like, it's, there's a lot going on here that that could take this to yet another level that we've still got 48 hours plus to figure this all out. There's a lot brewing here. That's what they should bet.

You know, the mayors of the Stanley Cup finals teams, we bet a bet a case of beer, but I got to wear the opposing jersey to, to city council meeting. I mean, I think the only problem with that is that you'd have to then have President Trump view the governor as an equal. And obvious in the tweeting that that's not the case. I'm not sure. Well, appreciate you, Frank. We'll let you get to work.

I did see your frustration. You got pendered there. That's what this is every day. You get into a conversation with pender and he'll take you one way, but then it's back the other way. You can't have it both ways. It's a lot of both ways. It's just like off the opening puck drop.

Sometimes you just got to slap them around. That's right. That's right. Good to talk to you. Be well. See you guys. Hey guys. Thanks for watching. Be sure to check out more of our content right here on the Flames Nation YouTube page. We had a bunch great long form interviews. You can check out some videos we've done as well outside of the studio.

And of course, if you want more writing or merchandise stuff, flamesnation.com. Or nationgear.ca.com. Appreciate you watching.