Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - The Boys CLASH Over The Future Of The Calgary Flames | BB Clips

Episode Date: September 23, 2026

Video Link: https://youtu.be/mlPT9DO0hJABoomer, Pinder and Rhett go deep on the Calgary Flames in a wide-ranging conversation about where this team — and some of its most important young players — are actually headed. The guys get into Zayne Parekh looking more comfortable and ready for a bigger opportunity, before debating how much offence Calgary can generate from a forward group that still lacks high-end skill. From there, the conversation turns to Martin Pospisil, Samuel Honzek’s opportunity alongside Mikael Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau’s eventual return and what that could mean for players like Connor Zary. They debate whether Zary can rediscover the player Calgary saw earlier in his career, what Honzek’s offensive ceiling actually is and how the Flames should develop these young players during a rebuild. And by the end of the 30-plus-minute Flames discussion… things get a little heated as the guys clash over expectations for Honzek and what Calgary should realistically expect from its young talent. #nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #calgaryflames CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️ BARN BURNER MERCH https://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/Flamesnation BARN 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/id1648562889 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIi Producer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Canoxas had four in the first, two in the second, three in the third. They scored on one of them. They went 0 for three in the power play. So, hey, look, it's pretty easy. And the actual team against an HL team. Yes, the best way to summarize it. But what it was for is, okay, so what are these coaches doing? Who are they playing with who?

What's this Nemech character? What's he going to do? It's correct. Was he looking at what are we going to see here? And I think we got a glimpse inside what will take place. this year as far as special teams and yep and that sort of thing um perak was great he's saying

parac was all over the place dynamic get used to it yeah it looks more comfortable even looks more comfortable and grown up in an off ice stuff yeah i agree and i actually wonder i was thinking about this because i knew how much we'd want to dig into this game that's right i actually wondered last year if there's a level of nerves and you compensate by as a kid as being too cool for school.

Like that. Yeah. I'm not saying it was that bad, but he looks different and more comfortable. It looks like he's been there before. Yeah. It's like we talked about like, 12, 13 pounds. It doesn't hurt either. Last week it's. It doesn't. Well, no. Yeah, it's not everybody.

Not everybody. Um, come on. There's just less uncertainty. You're here. You're going to play. You've made the team. You're going to play a lot. You're going to play a lot. There's no talk of world juniors or are you going to junior, all that bullshit is just done. Just come in, be in good shape and, and let's play.

And it probably also helps that there's not massive expectations for the team. It's like, boy, if... Well, I think that might be the key point is that Husk is not breathing down your neck going. You can't give up chances against. Why? Yeah, I mean, he'll be teaching,

but these are not high stakes games that it's like, oh my gosh, shelter the kids, protect them. No, we understand. They're not going to be a playoff team, most likely. And I've got a good. We've talked about it. You play the piss on these guys.

Like, Nemic Perak, want to see it all the time. You have good story to what? I was trying to be funny again with the Conroy thing where he promised. Oh, right. Yeah, he did. I'm not even sure if that's, yeah. Rett Warner. Conroy promises playoffs.

Exactly. You can go take a, yeah, you can go take a listen to the Conroy interview. It was great. It might be the highlight of the week. Matt Faye Gridden, while the goal scores, Farabee, Coronado, and Hansik, all within a span of three minutes and 58 seconds in the second period. I didn't pay that much attention.

How was hot? Good. Yeah. I thought they're biased. Griddy is biased. Gridden, Hansik, and Perak and Nemitz, you couldn't help but notice a lot because they had the finger-prinks on all the scoring chances. Like, if you read the scoring summary, who are the names?

It's mostly those guys. Yeah. Like, Hansik scored. I mean, I could have scored it. Yeah, I'm not. The goal is not. Correct two assists, grinned two helpers, Farabia be a goal and an assist. Coronado, a great shot.

Even had to kind of double clutch it and then still, you know, wired it to the, to the top. So, yeah, it's, if there's going to be offense for the team, this is who's going to provide it. They were so inemic last year scoring. And I don't think the four groups any sex here, maybe you get a little more from the likes of Coronado or Hansick, who only played, what, 11 games or something. Like, there will be some tiny games. But I want to ask, Rhett, like, if you have 40 plus minutes of Nemitz and Perak out there, how much more office could you get from the same forward group?

The concern will be, who are you playing against? Because yes, we want to see those kids give her and go for it and blah, blah, blah, and they should drive offense when they're on the ice, except if McDavid's got the puck and they're hemmed in their own head. Right. Yeah. There's going to be a catch-22 at some point.

I agree. so but because they're going to play those guys a lot. Yeah. I'm okay with it. Yeah. I like Cotter's area start. It felt like he was really in the first period for sure. He had the puck a lot.

He was trying to make plays, was involved in it, and then I thought he kind of faded. So in shape. He didn't have to do testing. Maybe as the game went on. And certainly, I don't know that it's going to be Perek versus Nemitz or, but there's going to be some comparables between the two.

It's just who's, how are they alike? How are they? similar. It's power play one. That's the conversation. But it's more than that. It's the unknown of both players. Sure they do.

Last night, Perak is on PP1, but Nemitz played more minutes. 2127 for Nemitz, Peret, Perk 19. I did like on the one, I think it was,

maybe it was at the end of one of the power plays. Because it just kind of, the game doesn't mean a whole lot, so you just kind of, you got your ISO camera, just watching Nemitz out there. Okay, what's the, Oh, you're going right down low.

Backdoor play. There's your D-Man. Instead of back door waiting for that, for the, for the, for the tap. That's what he's going to be. He's a rover, man. He is going to be electrifying and frustrating and baffling all at the same time some nights. I'm kind of here for it. In this season, if you want to have difference makers, that's those are the guys that,

and that's how they have to play. Yeah. You've got to be able to make the reads and when to go, but that's. We've billiaked about there being, such a lack and void of skill. Yeah. Let's go. Inject some skill.

Yeah. It hasn't arrived in the forward ranks necessarily yet, but when you've got Nemitz and Perak on the back end, that's... I'm hopeful for your Hansik. I think it'll be fine. I don't want fine. Now you've ruined my hope. Well, what's the hope?

I'm hopeful that he turns into something better than what you sold us on yesterday. What's the over-under for goals for Sam Hanson? I want this guy to be a 30-goal guy. Okay, down the road, sure. But like this year, that would be asking a lot, right? Well, how old is it? Yes, it's asking a lot, but this is the problem. Farkas.

We ask a lot because we know you can do it. It's okay to ask a lot. You just up your game. Same with Onzik. Right? Like, it's okay to ask a lot from guys. I get it. I just looked at.

Oh, pressure. No, it's not pressure at all. It's that this team had a 22 goal game. guy lead them. I know. It's appalling. So if I say I wanted to score 30 and he scores 20, am I going to be like, this guy's

POS? I don't know. What is the reasonable expectation for a good season is the question? I'm going to probably call him a POS anyway just because you like them. I don't know, 20. Yeah, I agree with that. That'd be a great year. Stay healthy. Now, 20.

22. K. Eclipse 20. He's going to have the tough minutes because that's what the backland line does, but they still, that line has had multiple 30 goals scores in the past two. Coleman had 30 there two years ago. Yeah. Bax is fast.

Ferby at 20 last year. But the games play, yeah, 11, 18, sorry, last year. 20? Ooh. Fellas. 20? What would a good season look like? Who's the question?

No, I said, what's the over under? Oh, yeah. Like a good season 50'd be good. Like if you went to bed 365, maybe 11 and a half or something. Yeah, like that's what I'm at realistically. What do we? But that's kind of why it's like, we're not casual. Brent wants 30 and I get you on 30 and maybe you can get there.

But Jesus, let's get the guy more than 20 games in the season. I started the conversation saying I want him to be better than what Ryan was selling yesterday. And yesterday was one over or under of 11. And I'm saying, F that. Yeah. Don't be a stud. Totally. Make us buy your jersey.

Come on. Like you don't want Matt Cornell to stall out of 24 goals. You want him to flirt with 41. I do not want Matt Coronado. turn into Andrew Majabani. That's my. You don't, like, we, obviously the ceilings of all these players,

you want to see them flirt with it. What's that? I love you, Andrew. He said, took a run out of him and the double bash. Oh, manch, Penny. I thought you were saying a rail walks. I'm like, what the hell of that walks?

I'm like, what the hell? I interrupted you. I guess it's just that we, we know they have a ton of young players, and they are not all going to hit. But some of them are, and some of them are going to go way, beyond what you ever thought. Matt Vigridden's probably

already there. He was picked late in the first round where you're about a one in three chance of getting a two-hundred game NHL or he already looks like a top six guy. That's a win. Poor man's taking stress. But yeah, like, would you love to see a 30 goal of Hansick down the road? Absolutely. Is there any chance with this

group this year could happen? Very low. And that doesn't mean it's bad. Stay healthy. Use your size. Depends. Matt Vey Gridden. Big body, strong, smooth. just he again, I think we talked about this last year when he came in, just kind of

looks like a pro. He just looks very comfortable and big and strong and makes plays. Here we are but again we got none of those. What does Matt Vigridden turn into? Is he, because it seems like he's more of a playmaker, we've seen him with his shot

which is he's got a great shot. He's an offensive creator. He's 75 point guy. That'd be unbelievable. Yeah. the problem when we run into this game of like projecting what the hell these guys could do it's like when's you get to play with a real top well that comes back to hansom right it's hansick may have 30 goal abilities sure it's gonna be tough to like if you go park him on dry sidle's wing he could score 30 in the next couple sure so could but like this is the point like they they

literally have morgan frost who i think is a hard three C in this league as their number one center Michael Backlain probably still a 3C at this point. Ryan Strom had a tough time playing regular minutes in Anheim. He's probably a three or four. That's a stop sign. I'm throwing up the stops. They don't have you. You know what?

It's okay. It's not set any high standards this year. Hansik 11, Gridden will get you 18. Nobody else produce. Wolf. Civ out. Because we want a high pick. We want a high pick this year.

Next year's the year. Take a step. We're going to start making some demands on these people. But then they're going to get into that new rank with all the massage beds and the fancy tubs and everything, and then they'll get soft. They're going to get soft. I think the Lowell League's soft because they all have those fancy massage beds and steam rooms. It's up the flames because it's so antiquated. I remember, I forget who it.

I think it was Dan Bilesman. He, when Pittsburgh got its new rank, again, this is many years ago. And he had just kind of taken over as the coach. and he's like, guys are in here getting rubbed down and there's steam rooms and saunas and sitting around. So we got to take some of this shit out of here. These guys, this is a spa day every day at the rink.

Get in, get your work done. Get out of here. Get laying around. Clearly Dan's approach hasn't worked very well. Well, yeah, it did for a while. It did for a while. I don't know if it was his doing. Old man shakes fist at cloud. I actually thought maybe that'd be my new podcast. It's not societal idiots.

Another one? Oh, yeah, I have one already. Seidel idiots, Jack? What is that one? Man yells a clock. Man yells a clouds. Yelling at clouds, I thought. They're too soft.

I would pick a topic of the week and then I'd break it down for you. What kind of topic would you break down? It would be hard-hitting stuff. Okay. Me and Jack would conspire over a beer. Politics probably is.

Yeah. What would we do? Well, it would be ruminating? It's that Christmas Carol. It's very conspire. Whatever does they're doing in that thing. You guys could do. We're not going to canoodle.

No, don't do that. You know, you maybe kibbutz. You might do some kibitzing. Maybe one guy heard the show. It's like, all right, guys, get off my freaking back already. Who's that? Marty Pospisal. He was being a bit of a jerk and a D bag.

Yeah. And pushing, you know, after the whistle, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, pushing around. We've said it was gone. All right, son. There needs to be an appetite to do it. Yeah. We don't have any issues.

I was going to give Conroy crap the other day because Huska cut possible those legs out from underneath him a couple of years ago when he took a penalty. Yeah. And he benched him and called him out. And I'm like, well, what do you want this guy to be? It's exactly what he's supposed to be in there causing shit. Yeah. And you're going to bench him and call him out.

Oh, he caused a penalty. Well, that's what you get. You know what the coach at Washington doesn't do? Tell Tom Wilson to settle the F down. true ever go he can score 30 yes he's quite good he's not a fringe NHHL or like posth but there is something it's your first game of the season you're playing against a bunch of nobodies you don't know anybody and just after a whistle you need to punch a guy for no reason I think it's great do it again yeah it cuts both ways it's either like all this grading doesn't

matter because they were playing against a tier below them and then the other part is you didn't have to get any dirt on your nails but you did right so it's like there's no bad blood or animosity coming into this game. I shouldn't be. Don't imagine Pospisal knew any of these guys. May I'd be reading the phone book for half that lineup. Yeah. Kevin Lankett was pretty good.

He was pretty good, right? It was pretty good. Don't care. But yeah, like it's just, how do you, how do you grade a team that it's an NHL team against? Well, I'm going to say then, how about this? I would never say, don't watch, but we'll watch the, the, the, uh, Vancouver Flames games this year, but we just won't judge them.

because it feels like both teams are very similar approaches to what they're trying to recall. Well, yeah, they'll be in the same neighborhood for the next little while. Yeah. But I mean, that roster is not a shot against them. But I honestly, I don't know how many. There's no Patterson or. Well, that's what we're going to send or wherever the hell. Where do they go?

Seattle? Yes. Tomorrow? That'll be the flames edition of that. Yeah. There's people in Seattle are going, what? Drag to hunt. All right.

Cairns? The colonel? Yeah, that's what we saw the other night. I like the kid, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, that's, that's exciting. I agree. Like last year, I took some runs at him. Now I'm good by. Good.

Yeah. I'm all in you over. Yeah. And honestly, just watching him, like, there's a little bit of contact. He seems like a guy that isn't surprised by that. Now we're last year, it seemed to catch him by surprise all the time. And maybe that's confidence. Maybe that's an understanding time in space more.

Maybe it's 14 pounds or whatever he added. but just you watch him go end-to-end dancing guys with his hips open. You're like, there's too much talent here for this not to work. Was he not ready last year? No. He should have been in the A. He should have been in the A. Like everyone hates when I rant about that rule,

but it's the only situation in the whole hockey universe where you're literally doing something detrimental to a player's development. Going back to the O was not going to help him. He torched that league two years in a row. He wasn't quite ready for the NHL. Yeah. But he does not look, But he doesn't look like a guy who is suffering from a year of loss.

No, and the last 10 to 20 games of the season, he didn't either. It was, it was annoying and there was lots of bumps along the road along the way, but at the end of the year, you saw what you wanted to see. Not the whole year, certainly, but after the deadline, Rasmussen, Weeger were gone. He's on a power plane. You're like, that's the guy they drafted. Yeah. Guess what?

I'm going to let you know. Yeah. He probably not going to look great. year. No. Like there might be some. Oh, of course. Yeah. Like this isn't a, this isn't a finished He's playing against. It looked, yeah, it looked like beer league for him last year. Yes. And that's how he's going to play. Like he's, you know, kind of sidestepping and wheeling around. That's just because you, your hip, don't open up. My hips. My hips do not open up like that. Tithet hips. No, no chance. What do they call those when you're doing that drill in the circles? The Crosby or the

Mohawk. The Mohawk. That's what it is. No, the kids call it the Crosby. That's what it is. You said to be the Mohawk. when we were going. You could do it on the dance floor. That's right. Sure, good. Yeah. Jack,

can you do that one? Can you do the Crosby? He'll toe dose they have tried, but yeah. You did that at Tanbridge. For sure. Can he shoot the duck? Can he want to shoot the duck?

Remember that? Shoot the duck. Tough. I tried a couple years ago for the kids and I was fighting for my life, tried not to fall. You've got to be careful. You've got to be careful. You do.

You can go from I'm going to be cool to injured and in the hospital. Tailbone, head, conky, good night. I feel like if Ryan earmuffs, there's going to be a lot of that with this guy. Oh, yeah. Because the aging process and how it happens. Like he's still going out and drinking all the time and wearing his hat backwards and like, drink. Oh, I lay, shoot the duck boys. The body's going to catch up.

It's going to be, man, I, well, started last year a little bit. I fell on my tailbone and my hips are sore. my back to the yoga poses in here stretch yeah i used doing some vinyas in the corners like could you go do that somewhere else the hell's going on here you sucks don't even see your downward dog hoop up in the air for all the mind if we got a nice yoga instructor it's great i were the waltzure before the show whatever some one on ones uh joel farabee congrats on i don't know if he did he take over blake coleman stall He's the new Coleman. Does he, does he, I don't know what Coleman was driving last year.

Calma Cooler. Because he's the new Coleman? He's the new Coleman. Come on that. On that line with Backland, they're going to be doing that. It's going to be the same deal. Heavy left. He's the same guy.

We've seen this for 10 years. We know how this line's going to be utilized. And for Hansick to be on it, that's great. That's a younger guy that's going to learn the defensive side of the line. Don't screw it up, Hansick. And I will, and I will say this. We don't know when he really. coming back. We're all assuming

he will at some point. I'm trying to get Jovo on to tell us what it was like. Jovo said Pound Sand. Did he really? He's building some buildings and he's stuck to the job. Is that right? I ain't got no time for that. Oh, anybody got time of that. But like, if you're a left winger here

and Huberto does come back, he's going to need minutes. Rett says don't ever play him again, but I think they will. So it's like, okay, Zeri, you've got a little runway here to impress. Hansick, you've got a window to establish what you are. Obviously, Gridden's going to be a staple in the top six because they don't have anyone with his skill set.

And then it's, yeah, like, what? You're going to replace Sipilkov and have he been on the fourth line? I don't think so. Like, this is a window here for Hansik and Zeri to establish what you are. And if you don't, don't be surprised for even popcorn when it's done. Establish. So that we can get your, Johnny in? Not because it's a burning thing, but because that's what's going to happen.

because Johnny as frustrating he's been is still going to get you more than 11 goals or whatever the hell Conner's area give you last year. I'm not getting it. You can't bait me. I'm not biting on this. You're trying to get me wound up. You know exactly you sound like an idiot.

Huberto did get a lot of points in this league at one point, right? Well, I mean, look, he's not a great player anymore, but what's Conner's area at this exact moment? a guy that no one in the league wanted to give up a second rounder for. Holy Christ, you've never liked Zeri. I remember when he was trying to. He's fun.

I wanted him to have a great year. I'm just saying this is your window bud right now. Zeri. Call McLeodlaw. Slander libel. Yeah. And who knows? Maybe he really never does.

If I wanted to make a real bold prediction, neither one of them are going to import pieces to the flame's future success. I don't know how bold that is. Zeri or Hansi? I would have to have a lot more. Hansick stock than I would say. No, not Hansick, you idiot. Hubertow or Zary. Yeah, okay, that's fair.

Yeah, I mean, even less bold. Oh, it's very unbolded, yeah. It's mild. There's some mild take segments coming up, Jack. We never watched our bold takes to me. I got clouds. It isn't very nice of us to sit here. You know what? And Hubert all gets

a massive surgery done and all anybody can say is, I sure hope he never comes back. Like, it's not a very nice thing. I want him to have a nice life. He's going to have enough money to have a nice life. I want his hip to work forever. I don't care if he.

Yeah. Who gets to leave the game? On their own terms? And we're like, we will give him kudos when he leaves. I don't feel bad because this is what happens to everyone. I was a very important piece of a team at one point. And then I was a POS. like and it happens quick and no one gives a shit and guess what someone else will come along and play yeah and he's getting paid enormous amounts of money and that's awesome for him why do we have to

yeah you go from being in to in the road yes it's pretty quick some very quick it's it's a very natural progression for most people what is what is again mind blowing about this one is he he was it was never good here. He signed the contract before he played a game, took to the ice, and it's never been... It's just never, it's never been good. It's an impossibility for him ever to get close

to justifying that contract. Impossible. It will never be something that was okay. It will always be one of the worst decisions this organization's ever made. I always, at the start of every year, whoever, right writers sports media will come out with here's a look at the top 10 worst contracts yeah yeah he's like you don't even need to open it up no i know who's one who's two i listen to bedros koolian show on the way in today and he said if you have to spend if you have to spend money

to look cool yeah you're not cool and that's what the flames did yes here's a whole bunch of money to make it sound like we're a place that you want to be see look guys no sign here nobody could see through that like oh he like guys love it here. Yeah. For massive pay days. So I think what we would agree on is that like there just isn't a universe where the flames are relevant and he's a core piece.

It's not going to happen. No. I know. The only, the only conversation or the only curiosity you have is how does it end? Yeah. How is this health? Do you play the rest of your like 20 games?

How many guys? That stupid stat up a million times. There ain't many guys with that injury and that. Surgery. That's the word. Yeah. The resurfacing is that play another decade. And right now it's-

Eddie Cain's the guy. Everyone else didn't go well for. Right now it's an unfortunate sort of a thing because he's not able to produce and he's had certain. But it's not as though he's blocking anyone yet. Because we can talk about where you feel about Zeri or whatever, but it's close. Well, if he comes back and Zeri goes to the press box,

I think that is blocking him. And I think that's what would happen. But you've kind of made your mind. You don't even say. No, no, no, no. I'm just saying like, is Gritton, going to come out for Herodon? Absolutely not. Is Hansa going to come out? Maybe, but we'll see.

He's younger and he's impressed me more in the last year when he has been healthy than Zerai. As in Zari post injuries, until you show us you can be that player again, I just don't know that you're going to be, and I hope he does, right? But you said the other day, those injuries, he hasn't looked at the same guy. And it's like, Jonathan Heirerer is not coming to play on a fourth line and bang and crash the possible and clap because he's just not. So if you're putting him in, who's coming out? don't bother. You kind of made up your mind

was there, and that's... I have not made up my mind was there. Like, I want to see him have a great year. I don't know what kind of years have. I literally just said he's got a huge opportunity before he was back. Go kick some ass.

Jack, what would your take on Ryan's opinion on Conner's area be? That he hates him. That's a very intelligent guy. But you're down, hate him at all. The guy's accomplished very little the last year.

He's coming off two injuries. So I hope they can get better. I really want to see it happen. I'm not trying to paint you into a corner, but it's okay to feel how you feel. Like it's fine. I don't want to go in the lineup ever again. I'm not saying that you're wrong about it.

Because, yeah, he's been injured. And as only, you can't look at what he's done last year and be like, this guy's Corpice. He's not. Yeah. And when you saw him come up two years after his draft, he was playing with Carr,

you're like, look at this. It's got a little piss and vinegar. He's a creative offensive player. Some dynamic stuff happening. Like, wow, there's just something. he where's that guy it's all too much because Zeri talked to be quite honest not your fault trying to do something there else is there

I'm talking about Hansick's the one I would like I'd love to see that guy back I do I don't hate the guy I think it would be awesome if you turn to hate anyone he's too friend oh you're too nice if he was healthy and it it still comes back to this team being so challenged with ability yeah and yeah if you're a first rounder you've got to make other players better but who has Zeri played with where he can benefit from some heavy it's just I mean yeah

It's Stroman and the ghost of Igor Scheringova, which he's playing with now. It's not really terribly inspiring. And so the question would be, well, how is everyone else around him doing it? It's like, well, it clearly feels like he's been passed quickly by Griton. In a year, Zoom, tail lights, right? That's fair.

A hurt year. And Hansik will see. I'm expecting you see Nelson. He's hardly played. I don't want Hansick to be shoehorned. That's good one, right? We never used that. Shoehorned.

into wedged into a I'm a shutdown winger roll he might be that I think that's what his skills are right it's puck protection size banging on the walls like he's this is not what you promoted years ago

I don't I never clamped to know a ton about this prospect when it was drafted we looked at each other natural like I don't have a ton but I never thought this was a superstar guys you just don't get that at that part of the draft very often like go look at the picks from 10 to 20 there It's like there's no superstars there. Like, why are we expecting a super star?

I can go through probably every year and find one. Of course you can't. Yeah. Maybe one out of the time. So there are. Like he wasn't in the seventh round. He was, no,

he was 13, I want to say. And so you're not, I just said, we talked about yesterday. The flames were not saying, okay, well,

here's a guy that can play a third line shutdown role. It's like, this is a power forward. This is a guy that we see could be a force. I'm sure somebody said Kopitar when they, he wasn't playing. center. So that might be they was playing it center. Not much. But there

was some, I mean, there's a thought he could move to center. That was a discussion around the draft. Is he a center or not? We don't know. We want to try it. But then he goes back to Vancouver, gets hurt again. Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of raw tools there. I don't know what he's going to be. For Christ's sakes and let's not have any. Like, I'm with red on this, if only

to say, being a, on the line with Backland and you're going to map and you're going to translate into a check. That's plan B. Plan A is we don't know shit about you. You've barely played. What if you've got some offensive tools? We desperately need them. How many guys turn into offensive players if they don't get given offensive opportunities?

Well, I think he will. I just think this is, this is hopefully his first full year in the league. I don't think you're pigeonhole and a guy at all. I think it's someone that's, Shoehorn. Pigeon hole, shoehorn. Anything else, Jack? any other turns of phrase? No, I think it's a good place to learn. And then you hope if he shows some offense, oh, you can't this power play one net front or something like that. Let's go.

Yeah. It's two things. It's what we honestly think he'll be terrible GM. And then there's what the flames should be trying to do with him. Yeah. Like, I'm looking at that draft class 10 to 20. Zach Benson? Pretty good player.

And what we didn't, there was not. Not a lot to talk about before playoffs last year. He really was awesome. I think he's going to be a great player. But you'd rather. And that's, made it as an 18th. There's 10 guys there.

No one else has scored more than 20. What's the point you're making? Yeah. The point is that our expectations for a guy that you drafted 16 are out of whack. There's no superstars. I can't actually stay and do this show anymore because if you have an opinion, he'll find a way to tell you that it's wrong and that if we have an hope that somebody does well, then you're an idiot because that's out of whack.

I think of the ceiling. You'd be fucking. terrible on a hockey management team. Well, I would make no you would take no ownership of your choices. Well, he's good, but he's not good. So if he's okay, then he'll be fine.

But if he thought it's okay. What are you saying? I'm just saying, I thought when they draft to it was probably like a You're the one that was like is really good. He's really really bad. I've been really down on him to eat. And now you tell us that, well, don't expect

anything for one. Yeah, I didn't say. It does have a super son. Literally. what I said. It feels because you like him, you're trying to lessen the expectations. I didn't like him. Like he's clearly do, Brian. Like, no, I had him on this. I'm not being able

to just okay. Yes. So a year ago, I did not have him in my top 10 prospects. I had him way down the list. The lowest anyone had him in the Flames nation are like 15 people that did it. And I I thought we saw flashes of a guy that can become a

core piece. No one reads those shitty fucking things anyway. So you have to walk us too. I don't remember you. Why don't you tell us what he is and what your expectations are for him? I'm saying that I've like, I want him to

why set the bar as a third line fucking check down center? I'll go, or a winger. I can go find that tomorrow. Not only it's the bar. I think that's just where he's right now, right? That's the line he's on. Like, we all want to be more than that. No one's saying he's capped as a third line winger.

But if it's like, if we're going to say He just said we're out of whack if we expect more than that. If we expect a superstar. Not more than that. Like if he's a second line left winger that puts 25 to 30, I think that's a great player. That's a piece that, you know, if his leadership skills and physicality, that can be a cool player. You will just throw any stats behind your argument to make

I just want to be clear about where I'm out on. That to me, you're so unclear. If he scores 25 to 30, that to me is superstar. Pardon me? For what he is right now. Okay. To me, he can't stay healthy. He's played how many games?

If he's a 30 goal guy, 30 goal guys are in the league. Pardon me? How many 30 goal guys in the league? Probably 50. Like Tom Wilson gets 30. Is he a superstar? I would say so.

Yeah, I'd agree. So if you get 20-30, that is superstar. Then that's a great pick for where they got him in the first round. No, you're out of way. No, I agree with that. I don't think a superstar is a 30-goal. Well, yeah, like that's all I'm saying. So you give Kooch shit for commenting that...

I didn't give Kooch shit. It's like whatever I say, you hear it a different way in your head. you think I'm trying to slam guys. I love Goucherob. I've been like, I fucking love that player. He's wicked smart. I just,

when he says the league's dumb, it's like everyone's dumb compared to that guy. He's the chess master in this league. That's all I'm saying. I'm not trying to take runs at guys. Try to get behind a guy that he likes and then he starts backpedling that. I know. We're trying to get on team Hansick now and he doesn't want to do it.

Well, I think our expectations for him the same. If you had a second line winger that scored 25 to 30 that's physical, I think all of us are kind of like, yeah, that'd be a really nice outcome. And I think that's not too out of whack of that expectation. We're yelling at all this other stuff. That's actually, we probably all feel the same way about him. Does anyone have higher or lower expectations?

I don't think he gets there. I don't think we ever see 25. He's going to have to stay healthy. Yeah. He hasn't been healthy. He can't make a stipulation based. No, no, but not healthy. And I'm not even big, I'm not hedging or I'm just saying from the year they drafted him in which he was hurt.

he's been hurt every single year. That's a lot of developmental time lost. It's maybe he's a center by now if you actually didn't lose all those games in junior and then with the ring or whatever. That that sucks. If he's going to be anything, he's got to be healthy for a bit. Well, he better not be Valamaki. Yeah, and I love Valamaki. And then a guy blows out his knee and doesn't move the same.

And it's like you're playing for the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup. Where was he drafted? 16th, 17th. Weird. Yeah, another first. And not a bad pick, just a horrid injury. Yeah, they were happy with the pick. Love them.

Like character, leadership. Like, I had dinner with the Chicago Bulls play by play guy a month ago when I was in Chicago, old pal. And he had the most incredible use of Alamaki stories. His kids are back in Finland. He's airlifted in. He's hurt. He's still buying the team meals.

Like, just leader, leader, leader, leader. And that was sort of stuff you were hearing when he arrived on the seen in 19 in the playoffs where Kiel McCark had been like here. I don't do the homework thing you do. But I think people just really, it was a quality quality human that they had never moved this. Why are we talking about

this? Next. Yusel Malamaki. Poor guy.