Empty Netters Podcast - 54. People Watching with Taylor Heise

Episode Date: September 21, 2023

The first overall pick of the first ever PWHL draft joins the pod to reveal how she chose which blazer on draft night, her pros and cons of basketball and hockey, and how she almost got a lip tattoo. Listen in to find out why she’s sending her grandfather to Milan 2026 and get the inside scoop the best cinnamon rolls. Plus, the boys drop their Metro Division predictions.   Chapters: (00:00:00) - Intro (0:00:34) - Howie's Hockey Tape "Hot Ice" Gets Into The Babcock Situation (00:11:24) - Steve Stamkos' last year in Tampa? (00:16:00) - Taylor Heise Intro (00:18:38) - Being the first-ever #1 pick in the PWHL (00:25:00) - Becoming a role model for the next generation (00:28:48) - How Taylor got into the game of hockey (00:34:54) - Building Confidence at Red Wing High School (00:44:12) - Staying in Minnesota to play for the Gophers (00:59:30) - iSlide locker room characters (01:08:30) - Determination to make the 2026 Olympic Team (01:16:50) - The inaugural season of the PWHL (01:24:02) - Pass, Shoot, Score (01:42:51) - Metropolitan Division Predictions (01:43:07) - The Columbus Bluejackets (01:46:30) - The Philadelphia Flyers (01:49:58) - The Washington Capitals (01:54:10) - The Pittsburgh Penguins (01:58:32) - The New York Islanders (02:01:17) - The New York Rangers (02:05:08) - The New Jersey Devils (02:09:02) - The Carolina Hurricanes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of the Empty Netters podcast. We are thrilled to be here and we've got a monster episode today. So we're not going to waste any time. Here's the deal. We've got Taylor Heise, the number one overall pick in the PWHL inaugural draft. Legend. Literally all-time legend now. Whoops.

Whoops. And there's also a ton of shit going on in the NHL. After all of that, after the interview, we've got our Metro Division breakdown and predictions. So let's dive right in. We got to start with hot ice and it's Howie's hot ice. Howie's hot ice baby. Howie's hot ice is just as hot as Howie's merch as my Howie's shirt, as Howie's tape, as Howie's everything. Love them. Don't be a fool. Get yourself some Howie.

Thank God for Howie's Hockey's for bringing us hot ice. We can't, we can't tickle the balls anymore. Yep. We got to get into Babcock. I don't want to talk about this for too long because the entire hockey world is beating it to death. But we got to say something. But it's an important thing to talk about. Here's the gist. Last week, our buddies at Spitt and Chicklets talked about a situation where Biz heard about something going on

with the way Babcock was handling some of his preseason meetings with some of the teams. Looking at photos, maybe taking some guys' phones, things like this. Much like them, we are a players podcast. We are here for the players. We support the players. No matter which way you look at it,

no matter what you've heard, there was clearly some shady shit going on here with Babcock. He was taking guys' phones, looking through their photos. It was a little different for some of the vets, possibly. He put, you know,

the whole situation put Boone Jenner in a shitty situation, guys like Johnny Goddrow in a shitty situation where they had to address all of this, talk to the media, something they certainly

don't want to do, especially while they're looking at getting geared up for the season, which is 20 days away now. No matter what, this is fucking bullshit. It is insane.

It's a crazy thing for a coach like Babcock to do, who has been fired and fallen out of favor with players and organizations in the past for doing weird, weird shit like this that's like bullying. It's an invasion of personal privacy has nothing to do with the game, nothing to do with preparation. So kudos to biz, kudos to the chicklets boys for talking about this and sticking by their guns because this is fucked up and it's good that it's out of hockey and, you know, we never want to call for someone's job if they don't deserve that to have happened to them. But this is a

situation where I'm like, Babs, take a look in the mirror. What you're doing is fucking weird. You don't deserve to have this job anymore, and I'm glad he doesn't. We made the joke. This just kills me, this hypothetical. Babs has been out of the league for three, four years, whatever it was.

Been out of a long time. Lost, essentially was run out of the league because of shit like this. Like he was giving players a hard time and he felt like a dinosaur in a changing era and whatever. And He must have lost his last job and gone home and thought to myself, to himself, yep, it's passed me by a little bit.

I'm not going to work in this industry again. I'm not going to be an NHL coach again because of the way I behaved in the past. And I've come to terms of that. That's it. That was my last job. Dude, he retired. He literally retired. Living his life.

Blue Jackets call and go, hey, we want you to coach. He gets an interview. He gets the job. And he thinks to himself, wow, I'm back in this. the game, who would have thought? And his first act is to walk into the Blue Jackets facility and go like this, give me your phone. It's just like, hey dude, you're fired, obviously. It's so weird. And, you know, our guy, Chelly went on chicklets and talked about it and they brought up, you know that there's,

right now, if you talk to Babcock, he'd still be like, I didn't do anything wrong. This is someone else's fault. And that's, man, it goes into something that we tweeted. And, you know, I hope that there are people in positions of power who hear this message from not just us but other people, stop bringing these fucking dinosaurs back into the game. You know, Babs is a good coach. There's no doubt about that. He's got a Stanley Cup. He went to other Stanley Cups and fell a little bit short. But at the end of the day, when you keep doing stuff like this that's getting you fired, it's making prominent players in the league who make the league as good as it is, it makes them say, this guy's a asshole. He's not a good person to be around. Why in the world is that

guy getting another job. And it's interesting because I think Yarmos done a good job with this organization. I think the Blue Jackets, fan base, team players are awesome and deserve so much better. So again, great that he's gone. And great that Vincent is the coach now. But why the fuck was this ever even on the table? When Babcock was hired, it was just nonstop memes, right? It was like Johnny Hockey now seeing Babcock hired. Like, what the fuck, dude? And we, you know, we had Fantillion on the podcast and he has the best attitude in the world. He's such a professional already. And he was like, I love it.

I look at it as a great challenge. I can't wait to work with him and learn from him. It says all the right things. And I'm just so glad for him now that he doesn't have to deal with this bullshit. And you know he was likely one of these players that had his fucking phone snagged. I don't know that. But I'm imagining with all the guys that clearly went through this. So it is one of those things that's like, I'm glad you said we don't want to spend too much time on this because I don't either.

And I hope the players don't either. I don't want the players that have to answer any. more questions about this shit, move on, focus on the season and your careers. That's what you guys deserve. You didn't deserve to go through this bullshit. But it is important for us doing what we do to take a second to talk about the fact that that that was just so insane. And while I'm sorry, someone lost their job, I'm glad that this type of shit is out of hockey somewhere. I'm so happy for Ventili. I want to text him on the side, DL, to be like, are you actually happy? Because you're right. He said all the right things before. But I was like, man, is that who you wanted for your first coach?

So I'm actually pumped for him. We'll see what he says. truly we're moving on after this. I just want to say for listeners, think what you want about us, about chicklets, about whatever. Having a platform like this makes, we don't say shit on here unless we are a scoop that I should say.

I fucking say a ton of dumb shit. Yeah. That's my opinion. I'm an idiot. I don't say scoops on here that I haven't triple checked and it's okay to say and think whatever you want

as an individual about chicklets or biz, but he takes that job. very fucking seriously and he would never have said that ever if he didn't know yeah and maybe it could have been handled differently for a million reasons from a million different parties but I'm just saying the people that ripped down his throat being like you're making up lies check check it a little bit because he wouldn't he doesn't do that he doesn't run his mouth just to run his mouth they don't need to do that he would never do that and it's an important job and he takes it seriously and my last thing I would just be we love this man yeah and

And I think we lead with almost everything we do, whether it be on the Instagram, whether it be on the show, with hoping to come from an angle of kindness and comedy. Yeah. We just like talking about this shit. We like having fun. We like having fun with all of you. That said, it doesn't mean that we're running our mouths about shit with things like sources like you just said. And a message to the journalism community, it doesn't fucking matter where something comes from. If something is being talked about and someone has an opinion on something or information about something that's not cool or not okay or not ethical going on, it shouldn't be your first inclination to trash whatever that source is because you don't think that they're legitimate or not.

Maybe do yourself a favor. Take the time and do a little bit of research and see if there is legitimacy to it. And it was a bummer to see how many people were like, fucking don't trust this source. And I'm like, well, how about we look into what went on? Because they were right. And it's good that we got something bad going on in the game of hockey and in the NHL out. Yep. So that's it. Boom. More fun shit. Yes. Two new captains, Dan.

We've got multiple new captains. I don't remember who we talked about. We talked about Quinn. I think we did talk about Quinn. Okay. Yeah. So we got Braden Shannon St. Louis. Yep. We got Adam Lowry in Winnipeg. Two phenomenal choices. And then obviously close to our heart, officially, Marcy gets the sea in Boston. Released an awesome video today. He looks fantastic wearing it. It brings a little bit of a tear to my eye. I got to say I'm happy that Boston didn't wait a season. I think there was a lot of chatter and very fair chatter being like, I don't know, maybe they take a year. Maybe they take a year with Berg leaving, but they didn't take a year after Chara. They went right to Berg.

They didn't take a year after Berg, went right to Brad. And to me, it makes perfect sense. Like those three guys have been leaders for so long. I feel like they've all talked about the situation and themselves as co-captains for this whole time. Krati as well. You know, if Krati were still here, I think Krati would get the same. And I just think it's great. And say what you will about Marci.

If you're not a Bruins fan, I get it. Some guys don't like him. But if you talk to some of the players around the league, the respect for Marchand is through the roof. And I just think it's so awesome to see a guy who was a third round pick, undersized. Not a lot of people believing in him. He came into the league, guns blazing, won a Stanley Cup, and has solidified himself as one of the best players in the NHL. And now he gets to wear the sea and be the 21st captain of the box. Boston Bruins.

Just so cool. I thought. 27? I think it's 21, but I might be able to. Yeah, I thought, well, 21 or 27.

The, in this, we had, we had talked about, there was a decent chance. Berg never wore a sea in Boston, just because of Char was there and Berg's retirement or whatever.

And I don't know that I was always like, oh, it'd be a tragedy of Marsha and never wore a sea in Boston. I would be lying if I told you I had that much foresight. But I do think it's cool. 27. Good call. Yeah. The way it shook out, I think it's cool for him that he has this little window here where he gets to do it because like you said, I think you maybe tweeted it, but it's a great, what an arc, what a character arc, you know, like this third round pick, undersized guy, you know, a little rat out there and then becomes a hundred point guy and where's a fucking C for their original six team. No. Unbelievable. Can't trade them now, eh?

you think so yeah you definitely can i don't think they will but you never know what happens with this season i don't think that changes anything i mean it's a business i don't want it to happen i want marshy to retire a boston bruin no question to ask but then at the same time the fact here we you know we'll get more into this than the atlantic predictions but like the fact that boston's bringing in a lot of these bottom six thumpers and they're just burying some of their young guys maybe they aren't planning on doing anything and that would be shocking six teams left ducks, yotes, flames, hawks, flyers, crack in. No captains. Do you think we see any before the season starts?

I really do, and I actually hope that we see all of them, with the exception of Chicago. I think Chicago should wait. I think writing is on the wall in Chicago. If Bedard is who we think Badard is going to be, I think you give him the scene next season, just like you did with McDavid, just like you did with Krosby, and then it was a couple of years after, but like you did with a Vetchkin. No offense, Seth Jones, but that is what you do in Chicago. And you cannot do it this season. I hope every single one of those teams with the exception of Chicago names a captain before the start of the year. Amazing.

Last, do you have any more? I have one more hot ice. Stamber. Yeah. Let me read his quote. Please. I should have it right here.

It's about his contract talks. It's going to be UFA at the end of this year. To be honest, I've been disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard, Stamco said today. It was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted something to get done before training camp started. There haven't been any conversations. So he's 33, Dan. It's the last year of an eight-year 68-mill 8.5.

AAB contract he signed in 2016. Thoughts. Hold on, I'm joking. Dan is so appalled by this news. I'm disgusting. Yeah. I kind of,

first of all, I love it because to me, it makes it sound like stammer's like this. I'm playing for at least four more years. Yep. And that really pumps me up because, you know, I think he's such a gifted player.

He, what do you have, 80 points this year? He went off. He's so good. He's one of the best captains. in the league. From what we've heard and players that we've talked to,

he's considered one of the greatest captains in NHL history. So he belongs in the game, no doubt about it. You know, I'm sure Tampa's feeling the cap crunch for sure, but it doesn't kick in until next summer or next year. You can figure out all those other moves. I mean, if you're not bringing Sammer back, I don't know what you're doing. And the fact that this guy arguably the best captain in Tampa Bay history,

I think probably is. No offense, Vinnie. but give the he said he wanted it before two seasons ago 106 and 81 yeah last season 84 and 81 yeah like this guy is an absolute weapon so you know to me it's like you know he's your crosbie dude it's like what are we talking about here so yeah for me the fact that he said he wanted this before the season starts and he hasn't gotten it i'd be pissed too and i'm glad he's talking about it because it's this is one of those things it's like give it to him what are we talking about uh i am here's what i'm shocked by that

well I love that he erred it out yeah I think some people maybe aren't I can't I don't know if you just said that or not um he is super productive still you or a fool to let him go in my opinion oh my god feels like a guy that he would take he's got his cups he's got his money he would take he's not going to bend you over the barrel and show you in 50 states you know it's going to be okay um

what blows my mind is that the no talks comment and the fact that he said to them hey I would like an extension done before camp because I don't want to be thinking about it during the season. Your captain, your long tenured captain looked you in the face, who's brought you multiple pieces of nickel alloy. Yeah. Just put in the display case says, I don't want this to distract me next year as I'm putting up point per game seasons over and over and over. Yeah. And they went like this. No call. No call, no show, dude. Like it'd be one thing if they were like, Stammer said, I wanted something to get done. We've been talking all summer. It didn't get done, but it is what it is. Then I'm like, okay, well, at least you tried.

literally no call the guy are you shitting me and I don't think he's gonna leave I bet something gets done and even if he makes it to free agency I bet they fucking resign him and it's gonna be lower AAV that's the thing that I'm like what this isn't a Austin Matthews deal like this is you know you're keeping your over point per game captain

on the team for a lower AAV hit I would imagine why is this an issue he's such a like sweet everyone loves him he's such a nice guy he's a handsome guy just see him up there he looks so sad and I was like Can someone cheer up? Yeah, Stephen Stamco. It's pollution.

All right. That is it for our Howie's hot ice. Now let's get into this Taylor Heisey interview. She's unbelievable. Such a stud and a star already. Can't wait. Everybody, I want you to stop what you're doing right now. And I want you to ask yourself a question.

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fill up that cart and make sure that you are stocked up. Howies is taking care of every hockey player from the NHL down to Minimites. Get to that website, fill it up, and make sure that you're covered for this upcoming season. Howies is the best across the board. Today, we are joined by 2018 Miss Hockey Minnesota Award winner, a three-time U-18 World Championship gold medalists, a U-18 World Championship MVP, a World Championship Silver Medalist, a World Championship gold medalist, a World Championships MVP, a two-time WCHA Ford of the Year,

a WCCHA Player of the Year, the Patty Casmeyer Award winner, and most importantly, the first overall pick of the inaugural PWHL draft two days ago. Welcome to the MT Netters podcast, Taylor Highland. Wow, what a hit list. Thank you for having me. I'm excited. Oh, my God, yeah. My favorite part about that, Taylor, was you fixing your hair while that was happening. It felt like a big...

Very glam. You're like, yep, no big deal, no big deal. This is exciting, Stene. I'll tell you what, Till it's exciting for us because I was looking through our guests over the year and you are our first, first overall. We've had seconds, we've had thirds, we've had fits. You were the first. So this is a big, you're making history all over the place. Yeah.

Truly a groundbreaking moment for both women's hockey and the MTV Nerders podcast, which is a very, very good thing. I'm very happy about it. Wow, really, when you think about it. Yeah. All right, here's something that we need to know. Yeah. Obviously, that's a huge moment. You get drafted.

I mean, this was literally two days ago. You must be kind of fried trying to get back into it. Did you have thousands of text messages on your phone when you got out of that whole thing? Yeah, so I kind of gave my phone to my mom. I'm like, you can just put it in the bag. Like, it's really not worth me even looking at it because it'll give me anxieties right now. So I threw it in my bag. I like, when I was leaving for the airport, I looked and then it overwhelmed me slightly.

Yeah. I just morning responded to my text, DMs, Facebook message, Snapchat's. So I just got done with all those, which I really wanted to get them done because I wanted to make sure people knew that I cared. It's just a lot going on. Yes. That's very nice of you. Birthdays stress me out trying to respond. I can't imagine becoming the first ever first overall draft or the PWHL, how bad that would be.

Yeah. Because you don't want to use the same. response to everyone like you want people also it was it was a lot but I got it done yeah so we're Wednesday so yeah it took you know took you a good 48 hours to get oh and like I'm it's not over you're gonna I'm sure you're still getting messages and it's gonna keep going and going and going so you're doing the work and that's great that's been something I've been laughing at which is hilarious yeah no it's beautiful um let's let's go through the day you got to talk us through this huge moment because obviously this is incredible it's got

to be one of the highlights of your career so far with many, many more to come. What was going through your mind on this day? Talk us through things like the outfit that you got, how you were feeling headed into this whole ordeal because it's a one-in-a-lifetime moment and you obviously must have some nerves, some excitement, combination of all of it. What was going on in your head? Yeah.

I woke up in the morning and we were doing, for the P-dub, we did like, they followed around like four players. so I got miced up in the morning. Got up and was kind of tired. We had all the players met downstairs in the lobby the night before us. We were just chilling there. And then I woke up. Me and my best friend was my roommate, Grace Sunwinkel.

So we got up and we were like, this is nuts. Hoping we did, which is great. So I got up. Both my parents were supposed to meet me downstairs to go to Tim Horton's. My dad went to the pool. So my mom went with me. We got videotapeer. going to Tim Horns. I got my breakfast sandwich and a donut. Great pre-draft snack.

Yep. Yeah. And then went upstairs, got ready. I brought with three blazers, two pairs of pants, two skirts, three things of heels. So I was real in trying to figure out what outfit I was going to wear. I brought three blazers. One was white, pink, and blue. I was between the two, like the blue and the pink, I feel like statement colors, obviously were going to be better for me. Kind of realized that the draft was going more of like a purplish blue. So I ended up wearing the blue blazer some heels in a skirt. A lot of TV camera people came in before, watched me, figure out a blazer I'm going to wear. And then my parents Uber to the CBC building in Toronto. During the day, I feel like I didn't really think too much of it. I feel like I tend to just move on from things really fast.

Like I have a lot of things to do. But tried as hard as I could to relish in every moment that that happened on Monday. Got to the carpet, signed some autographs outside, met my agents outside. and then it was when I turned to walk down the purple carpet. So that was an experience that I'd never had before. So there's this video of it looks like a fan, but it's my mom, like asking me for a selfie. And it's like up on the P.W's website and Instagram. And people, they're like, you like didn't take a picture.

Then you know, it's just this lady. And I'm like, that's my mother. That's my mother. So I think she gets a pass. Calling my name. And I was like, who is that? I'm like, that's Amy, my mom. So then I got interviewed at the end, got into the draft, said hi to everyone that was in there.

And they kind of just sat down and tried to just like take it all in. I took photos and just kind of try to take like mental pictures of things as well. The draft was supposed to start at one. It ended up starting at 1.30. So I'm just sitting there kind of like twirling my thumbs for 30 minutes waiting for it to happen. But it was super exciting. I mean, after seeing Billy Jean King come up on. stage herself and give the speech and then her stay up there for the first pick. I mean,

that's historic in itself and a historic moment for me, of course, after I got picked, I literally blocked out for a second, I think. I like ended up trying to go a different way. And this guy like grabbed me and like had me go around a different way. Yeah. And I remember that. So those are like moments that like obviously I'm never going to forget, but being up there with her, like that photo is something that's going to be probably be a screen ever for me for a while. No doubt about it. So I got to know, obviously, there's so many cool elements of this. You're in, you know, your home state, you grow up playing hockey, you end up going to college to play hockey there. Now you get drafted by the first overall in the first ever

PWHL draft by a team in your home state as well. So many huge pieces going into this. When I was, I was in Vegas last week for NHL player media tour. And I had these. I had the guys hooked up to a lie detector test. And when Connor Bedard sat down, just messing with him, one of the first things I asked was, did any part of you think you weren't going first overall? So now I'm hitting you with the same question. Oh, God.

What was his answer? Did he lie? Yeah, he went like this. Yeah, you never know. And the woman running the polygraph went like this. That's a lie? I was like, yeah, no shit. I would match that energy.

Like, I think for me, I just know that with all my hard work and everything that I've done to get myself to this place. Like, God was going to put me in the right spot. So thank God it was number one and in the home state that I love in front of the people that have supported me throughout. But obviously, that was my dream. I didn't know if it was going to come true, but I did know that I put in the hard work and made sure that I was able to put myself into a spot that that could happen.

Absolutely. That's kind of what I try to do. Yeah. And I mean, it's got to add a couple of awesome elements that it's all Minnesota to. Like, that must be so sick that you're just like, yep, going straight back home, playing for the first ever team here this is unreal yeah i think the past few months of like i've been reeling a little bit i think there's just like you never knew where you're going to be we had just found out the cities like two weeks before um it didn't know like people were like

have you been looking at where you're going to live and i'm like i don't know where i'm going to go yeah so no i have no clue i don't know like my family like i've been going home a lot recently because i didn't you obviously never know what's going to happen we didn't know minnesota was going to be the first pick until like three weeks ago yeah yeah very exciting for me. Because like I said, I knew I put myself in a position where that was a possibility for me. So just like not knowing what's going on. And for me, my life is pretty much like, I know mostly what's going to happen every day and I planned it out to a T. So not knowing was kind of the interesting portion of like that whole ordeal. I love the, well, actually a couple

things. One, I love the three blazers. I feel like we talked to a lot of guys in the draft and they're like, I planned my suit out a month ago. I got the whole. whole thing lined up. I think the three Blazers is a move now. Like, people need to go into the draft with the draft with the draft is going more blue. We hit them with the Robin's egg. That was fire. I think people should start pulling it like the Oscars. Like maybe next time people do costume changes. Like you know, like the comeback. There you go. That's what I'm saying. Like come back from commercial break, got something else on. It's going to keep people on their toes. That'll get you a number one overall. Yeah. I promise. And then you mentioned Billy Jean being up there. I saw

you said she followed you on Instagram after, which is iconically awesome. Yeah. And can you talk about real quick? Just you're up there with such a legend of female sports. And now I know it's probably hard to gather. You're 23, but you are too now. Like you are going to be on a billion girls' bedroom walls on a poster. What does that feel like? What does the responsibility of that feel like? Yeah. I mean, like just looking back, like I know Billy Jean, like, well, I've researched her a lot, but just like looking back today, I saw like a thing. And it said like she obviously, Battle of the Sexes, she beat a guy, and there was 90 million people watching. Like, that's something that I only could grasp for today, but that was a while ago.

So having somebody already proven herself and doesn't have to prove herself ever again, like, that's what I wanted to do. Like, that's something I obviously prove myself every day and have been consistently for however long I've been playing at a high level. But like, goal is obviously to be where she is. Like, she's done everything and people can't question her ability or her leadership ability in any sense. So being up there with her was amazing.

and be able to learn and research her and see all the things that she has done makes me want to be better and makes me want to be more of a forward leader. And obviously being in Minnesota where I have mentored the young girls where I've been able to skate with them where I've been able to coach them

and just with them being able to watch me like being able to stay in this market has been amazing because I've already got reached out by parents and kids too which kids I'm at five years old. So crazy. Some of these kids I'm like, holy moly. So it's been nice.

I'm just really excited to continue that. And to be a role model for those little girls is obviously one of the reasons why I do what I do. Absolutely. And I mean, the fact that you already have that mindset at such a young age and it's such a young stage in your professional career just speaks volumes to the character that you have and the responsibility that you've taken on. But I think it is so awesome that you're in the perfect state, honestly, for this. Like, you know, you're in hockey town. That's amazing. You're going to be playing for a professional woman's team in Minnesota.

that's amazing. So all of these young girls that you've already created a great rapport and relationship with, you're not going anywhere. So that's just going to make it stronger and stronger and stronger. And that's how the web grows. You know what I mean? It's like these young girls, they get older. They play at amazing universities around the country. They get drafted. And it just gets bigger and bigger and bigger. And it's just a blast to be able to be a part of it and keep spreading your story here. It's awesome. For sure. I think for me I have like a different story than most kids because like in the state of hockey, girls, least like you're born into the sport, your first birthday present is a pair of hockey skates. That was just not what mine was. So for me, like, I started to really realize that, like, I could play later on in life when I was like 12 or 13. Yeah. Well, like I started like,

hockey when I was like 14. Yeah, yeah. That's even later than anyone, any of my friends you ask them, they're like, I knew I was going to go to the University of Minnesota or like I knew USA hockey I wanted to play in the Olympics when I was five. Like, I was playing outside with sticks when I was Because that's what you're doing the country. Or you're running around biking with my brother. We used to bike and we used to hold our like trailer tractor in the back and we'd haul each other around. Like just like that. Just wholesome fun.

Dude, we used to do that. We used to do that growing up in Maine, but it was on our dad's lawnmower. Yeah. We had like a little rig on the back and I would drive that around thinking I was driving a car. So that wasn't that wasn't a thing. But then we got banned bike and trailer situation when I was doing it. I stopped too fast and the trailer hitch came and knocked my brother's front two teeth out. Yep.

Yeah. That'll be a lesson. Listen, that's how you learn. Sorry. It's just the way it works. The way of the country. Yeah. Okay. So I want to talk about what you just brought up kind of your early time in hockey, right?

So people that know you already know the story a little bit where you were seven years old, you know, you got the flyer, the Minnesota Wild. We're doing the youth program in Lake City where you're from. So first of all, you have the wild to thank for all of this, by the way. So that's a huge win. And then the question became even harder. The reason I think you weren't given tiny little skates in the hospital room when you were born is because you come from such a basketball family, right? Parents played in college, two brothers playing college. You have a billion cousins.

They all play basketball. So we read that you made a pro and con list of like, you know, kind of when that decision was being made, which winter sport you were choosing. So I guess our two questions are, one, are you a massive Minnesota wild fan? You better be as thanks for all this. And two, do you remember anything on that pros and cons list? of how you landed on hockey. Yeah, absolutely, the Minnesota Wild. They're amazing, and I've worked with them in the past,

and I've gone to almost every playoff game this past year. For Christmas, for birthdays, my parents would take me and my family. My brothers didn't necessarily love to be there. I think now they more so do. They ought to rather be a gay game down the street. But, no, Minnesota Wilde are amazing. They've been doing a lot for women's hockey, youth as well, which is awesome,

to be able to start hockey the way I did, with donated gear and things like that. That's something that you would want because I didn't grow up with an actual rink in my town. So all I knew was skating out in the outdoor rink and you only got to skate when it was a nice temperature out and it wasn't rainy, it wasn't snowy. And if the parents were to shovel it off that day. Yeah. Having that is something that I do truly think helped me to be more gracious upon the opportunities that I have now and what I had in the past. What was your second question again?

Do you remember anything on the pros and cons list? Because I have some follow-ups on that too. Yeah. So my dad was always my basketball coach. He coached all three of me and my two brothers. So it was a lot going on. He would schedule basketball practice in between hockey practice and such. I had a really great group of girls that I played basketball with as a kid.

And I still talked to a few of them today. And that considering I played when I was nine or 10 and I left the city after that, considering they still pay attention to where I'm at is important to me. So the pros and cons list, one, like, I had to move schools and I had to drive there every day. Yeah. And that wasn't up to me. That wasn't necessarily up to the people who could actually drive a car legally. And that was not me.

So obviously I had grandparents who drove me. My dad would drive me to school. He would go work in a town nearby because he has two offices. My grandpa would pick me up from school if that meant bring me to practice or if that meant bring me to the cities. That was a big portion of what I was doing. what I really loved. I knew hockey is what I love to do, and I knew that there was definitely some ways

that I could be the best that I could in that sport, but basketball at the time had more opportunities. Yeah. So that was a con of the hockey side. But I knew at the end of the day, it's what I wanted and what I love to do, and I was better at it. Like basketball was great.

I was like an average height. I was just faster than most girls, and me and my dad put in a lot of work outside in the garage, or outside on a hoop and every single day, both. So pros and cons, obviously love of the game comes down to be number one and that one immediately. But I did know that I had to think about the people that were living with me, the people who had to drive me.

So those were the areas that I kind of had to think more so, not about myself, but about other people. Sure. Yeah. Do you ever, you know, I mean like, first of all, just another thing, I don't mean to gas you up too much here, but the maturity of making that decision at such a young, age and thinking about all those things. And I think it's great that you, you know, show,

show the love to the family members who helped you make the decision and helped you get to where you wanted to be. That's amazing. But truly, props to you. Do you ever think back and go, holy fuck, thank God, I picked hockey. Because it's like, I mean, shit, think about how different things could be. If you were like, ah, you know what? Everyone in the family plays basketball. I'm going to stick to ball. If I didn't get that letter, like I would be probably playing in the middle of Iowa like my brothers, they would be in a better spot

than I would be. Unless I was playing with Caitlin Clark at the University of Iowa. Just pass it to her. Just riding her coattails. There's nothing wrong with that. No, there isn't.

Because she's literally one of the goats of the game. Yeah, no doubt. Pretty regularly. But yeah, I would say you never really know what would have led me. A lot of people in Lake City

like to think that I would have gone some more for basketball. but I go, I don't know. I can't promise you that. Yeah. For hockey, I think that there was, there was a special spark in me and something that I, like, could do that other people couldn't.

And I knew that that was something that I had to continue, especially since I loved it. So giving back to the game at the gate, giving back to the game since the game gave me my start. So that's kind of what I think about. How, how, be honest, how was your jump shot? Because I had, I was afraid that you were really, you really picked hockey because you were like,

I need to save the family's reputation here. I can't, I can't be the one bad basketball play. I got to go play hockey. I don't want to like pump my tires too much. And I think my dad obviously might say something different, but I was a baller back then. Let's go. I was shooting threes.

I mean, I was playing probably. I sat out maybe two minutes a game out of the whole, every game I ever played. Like my team was great, but just had to, I remember the times like we were the Lake City Tigers. I literally have a tiger on my hat right now. But I had to give love to them.

Yeah. But I loved basketball. Basketball was awesome. I just had some slight anxiety that, the games always depended on me and not a lot of other people. And if I didn't show up, we were losing, which is funny because I love, if that's the case, I love it in hockey. But in other sports, it brings anxiety. And if it doesn't bring anxiety, then it's fine. But it did. So I would say my thought was pretty good. As of now, my brothers show me up like it's no one's business. But

I still do. All right. Still hit the gym a few times, once a month at least. Okay. So you can hang in the family game of horse at Thanksgiving. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Cool. That's all. You know, as long as you can do that, you're good. You just mentioned, you know, the fact that you had to, when you chose hockey, you had to go to a different high school. So you went to Red Wing High School. And another shout out to your parents and your grandpa for driving you to and from school all the time. That's unbelievable. Crazy.

Before we even get into Red Wing, how in the world did you not end up at Shattuck? I feel like that must have been screaming your name over and over. And you passed up on the chance to go to the Hogwarts of high school. what are we talking about here? And I'm not going to say anything bad about it because I have so many amazing friends that had great career. But for me, I got calls from them a lot because I played Elite League and I did a lot of stuff in the cities where they got to see me.

It consistently through high school. After I said no, once, it wasn't like they were going to stop with that. Every year, it just kept coming back. And a lot of my friends ended up playing there and they were like, you should come, you should come. And for me now, it's funny because my parents like, I love going home, but I'm also a very independent person who loves being like on their own obviously love Minnesota but I don't have to be in southern Minnesota and at that time I was like like didn't do much other than hockey

like I had great friends and stuff but like I loved my home I loved having family dinners with my with my family I loved seeing my grandparents I liked playing in front of my friends and knowing that like my home was only 25 minutes away from Red Wing and all my family could come watch that was huge for me and I knew that I also wanted a challenge because the Red Wing high school team that I played on, like we weren't great. Like we played single-A hockey. Like we competed against some teams that people would call the sisters of the poor.

Yeah. So when we did that, that and people say, what she's playing in Saudi Minnesota, their team sucks. Like, whatever, she's going to score five goals because of that.

Yeah. But that resiliency that I had to go through from that team, I think has done numbers on me, like personally and in my hockey career. And like, that's something I would never give up. If I could go back, I'd do it 10 out of 10 times.

Yeah. It sounds like family and community is a huge thing to you. And you've said that Red Wing and the people there and your teammates there are like a second home and a second family. So, I mean, it's awesome that you kind of took that challenge. Also, you definitely answered the bell there because that, you know, at Red Wing, your senior year, that's where you won Miss Hockey in Minnesota. You had 79 tucks and 104 points in 29 games. I mean, good Lord. So, you know, what were some of the best things about being there, being at school?

like what made it feel like such a second home and a second family outside of, I'm sure the teammates that you just bonded with like no other. Yeah. I think even Red Wing to this day, like bringing this back, like my favorite bakery is called Hanish Bakery. It's in Red Wing. Amazing. Shout out to them.

Yeah. Like their owner keeps up with me even to this day. I get Facebook DMs from him. Like I would go there and get a sandwich before the game because if I went home, that's wasting an hour of my time. And by the time I came back, it would just make sense. So a lot of places in Redwing like new. and like knew that I was going to get like I'd go get something to eat I do this I do that like they just knew me for like living there because I like did like I would go to school and if I had a game at seven school ended at three I wouldn't go home I would go hang out somewhere for four hours or I would go to the rink something so knowing that like Redwing had my back and like they took me in as I was like one of their kids like my friends if I ever needed a place to stay I always had somewhere and like just knowing that they had my back like that made me want to do even more for them and Redwings the great

place we had a good hockey team like I said like it wasn't like rainbows and daisies every single day like we had some hard days where like I had to really think about what I was doing and why I did it because you had girls in the cities who were playing on teams like you die in a minotunk all these things where it's easy you have the best kids with you I didn't have anyone that played college hockey that graduated with me for like four years like that was just not a thing and that's okay I mean they all went on and they have great jobs now and I get to talk to them they love hearing about my life because they're like we're in the corporate world I don't don't even know what world you're in, but I want to live in your world. Yeah. So it's nice to know that I have

still those friendships that are lasting and a lot of them moved back to Minneapolis, which is funny. So I live like near a good amount of my friends back from high school. So the Red Wing group is still is still kick in and still living. We had like our five year, like anniversary from graduating whenever. Um, I couldn't make it. I was gone. But like just seeing everyone in pictures and stuff like that was something that like melts my heart. Because like that's one of the homes that I have. So it'll always mean. No, it's amazing. Before we move off of Red Wing, I do have one bone to pick with you.

You have before called yourself a pass-first player. And I just feel like 79 goals in 29 games isn't exactly pass-first. Yeah. So if you look at that in college, I was playing with people who could put the puck in the night college. A lot of my friends just really enjoyed the game. They wanted to succeed because I wanted to win and I wanted to succeed. And I was going to push that until the day I died.

Yeah. I was like I'll literally pay you to show up today. Like I'll do whatever to get back to state tournament. Like that like, good enough and you have good people like we can do it. Yeah. But yeah, high school I did pop off a little bit more on the score. Like there's something that weren't as competitive

and any dinah might have sent them home. Yeah, yeah. I mean, listen, I think it's sick. You were putting up Gretzky numbers. Like, I mean, this is this is something to celebrate. And yeah, I mean, it's great that your past first now, but there's nothing wrong with being able to look back at that senior year and be like this, yeah,

I lit the lamp all the time. Your teammates wanted you to too, too. There's that, there's an epic. I'm holding my eye in front of the net. They're like, don't even. Don't even look at me.

Yeah. They're like, I'm literally going to like, I'm going to turn around. I'm going to turn around and skate into the neutral zone. Just shoot the puck in the net. And some of them, I taught them like,

I was like, if you don't want to get past you, I'm going to have you to stand in front of the net and screen the goalie. Like, I'm not going to hit you. I said, if I always, I always said this is like you stand there. I'm going to stand at the blue line. If I hit you where you're at,

then you don't have to stand in front of the net for the game. But if I go 10 for 10, then your butt is standing in front of that goalie. And those are the part of the games where like, I'm like, see, that wasn't all me. I have girls in front of the net screening. I have girls picking. Like, I was doing a lot of teaching in high school,

but that's what I like to do. And I think honestly that taught me like, I really like individual skills. And I like seeing people's minds just like turn and learn new things and stuff like that. Yeah, there's that epic. first of all that's a great deal in front of the net by the way I'm going to take that to be a league by the way

like if I hit you then it's on me but otherwise you are screening the goalie thank you very much and you're going to like it you're going to like it very much I also love there's that epic Kobe Bryant story on his last game ever when he went for 60 where his teammates were like yo don't pass it

shoot every time we want this for you this is your day yeah that was that was your teammates at Red Wing yeah people like when you're playing with really good players who like either get jealous or like want to do what you're doing. That was nothing that I played with. All my friends were genuinely like generally like generally wanted to win. They didn't care how much they played. They just heard that we were putting a win in the call. I'm like, we'd go to school and my friends would be like, dude, we won eight zero yesterday.

And so I'm going to be like, why does he have like six goals? And they're like, I don't care. We won and he lost. So suck it. Boom. Yeah. Hey, that's the attitude. That's the attitude I need. That's fantastic. That I'll never forget. Like now, like when you're playing with the best people it sometimes gets to be a little like you have anxiety because you want to help them like you see them open you have to pass blah blah blah blah like and it's just a lot more I would say anxious like it brings a lot more angst to like the game which is great for higher levels because it makes you like you can tell who's the best players and who aren't because you make a play quicker than other people do yeah and back in red people just wouldn't care so yeah and they had

for me like my teammates knew you win like you have to show up today and I knew that I did so having that pressure as a kid is is tough unless you can handle it and I'm glad I could and it gives you confidence right like sometimes playing being able to do that if you're if you're you're you know uh just a cog in the machine at shattuck you cannot build the confidence that you maybe need at that young age to be like I am elite I am one of the best players gives you those Olympic dreams you know like you just see yourself and to get to the next level yeah exactly you're making your way like for me I got to kind of like make up and kind of do what I wanted and that's kind of where I feel like sometimes now that's that's something I've been working on is like everything's not going to go your way, figure it out, figure out how

you're going to do it. It's like I did do a lot of the things I wanted to in that sense and got to teach a lot. And my coach was great. But we got to work together on a lot where like I could see things and I knew that so and so didn't want to play with so and so. We're like, how is this going to work? They like this better. They think that you said this and they didn't like that. So it was nice to be like a, I would say graduate assistant coach. That's kind of what, yeah, kind of like that. But at the age of 13 or 40. Yeah. Yeah. Maturity. We keep. saying it. And hey, you got to go to the 10 year. I don't care where you are, but those girls need you.

Like, they are telling, they've been telling stories about you for five years and you know show at the five years. So you better show up for the 10. I got like a bunch every day Facebook. Someone would comment on it. And they'd be like, that's kind of a small group. Where is everyone else? And then I felt horrible.

Yeah. Oh, damn it. Okay. So let's go from high school to college. You get to go play for the govers. Dream come true. playing D1 sports again in your home state. What a ride you had five years because COVID threw a wrench in one of them and everything.

But real quick, was it even a question? Like what were some of the other schools that were knocking? Did you consider anything else? Or was it always gophers no matter what? Yeah. Like I kind of mentioned a lot of my friends knew they wanted to do. And since I didn't grow up like, go for, go for, go for, go for like my mom's parents live in Hudson, Wisconsin.

And they are bachelor fans. They were. Not anymore. Yeah, yeah. Important. way they can kind of go. Or I mean, like, that's what they tell you. They're probably still badgers fans deep down.

And I said, if I come to your house, I would love to not see a Wisconsin picture. Which is fair. And then they still don't have one. So it's great. It's awesome. But I didn't grow up with like the Minnesota like born in my blood type. I actually knew more probably about the Timberwolves than I did about like the Minnesota go first.

So for me, I think later when I started getting into the recruitment process, my parents are really great with it. Like you have to. really take in everything and every call that I got I wrote down made sure I wrote down what we talked about how many times this coach called me like and sometimes it's the like promises that like they would make where you're like no way that's true oh interesting that you're coming out with that I I don't believe that and for me I knew that I wanted to go on visits like around where I lived and like I said that's another homebody like version of what I like lived through as a kid I liked out east I really liked

B.C. B.U those those schools out there but I knew that it was either going to be Wisconsin, Duluth, Minnesota. I would say those are the three that I, Ohio State, too. So those four. I kind of just like wanted to really take it all in. So I took visits. I did multiple at certain places. I wanted to make sure I got it right.

And I was actually, I think I shared this. This might be a first and I don't know how good it's going to make me look. But I was at a visit at Wisconsin and I had visited Minnesota before and I had got down with my visit. And I really liked Wisconsin, but I think that is what taught me that Minnesota was where I wanted to go. Yeah. So I ended up getting back. I emailed the coach and like he didn't reach out to me. Like I got a visit. I went on another visit in Wisconsin. I got back. I was the one reaching out to them. I was like I would love to come on an official visit and hear more about where you expect me to

be and like what you expect from me if I were to commit here. All my friends had committed already to the University of Minnesota who I had played with before. I was like the last one in the group other than one of my one of my other friends who committed later than me. But everyone had followed the pack. Like they all did it like bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, like five days in a row. And I was like, I am not following that. So I took more time. I ended up committing, I think, after my second year of worlds, like right after March, because I had played, my coach was the University of Minnesota coach.

Right. Yeah. Now, St. Thomas does a great job there. But I just kind of knew that that was where I wanted to be culture-wise. The team was awesome, like the background, everything like that. I really just knew it was for me. But I think it took time. Like, I didn't know right away that that's what I wanted to do.

It sounds like you're not very reactionary, which I think is an incredibly admirable trait. Like the fact that you have taken a lot of time to think through a lot of these decisions, and I can't begin to express to the listeners, when you are playing on travel teams, summer leagues, junior things like that, and your teammates there make a decision to go to a certain team or a certain school, it is borderline impossible to not follow in line immediately. So the fact that you were able to take a second and think about that, That is such an awesome thing. And I know she was making pros and cons lists. A hundred percent. I know those are happening. Yeah. Yes.

I still make lists. Just not pros and cons, just lists of all the things I need to do. Yes. Off makes me feel better. But yeah, I would definitely say on that topic, like, I've always been the black sheep. I feel like I do things my own way and I'm not really like too careful about like when other people do things it's nice to know. Like, okay, they're doing it. Now I can I can take that, put that in the back of my mind. But I'm going to do what I want to do anyways. And my mom always says that's my best and worst trait sometimes because I'm going to do it no matter what as long, but I'll make lists throughout to make sure that I'm doing it for the right reasons. Yeah.

But it's like that's the biggest. Like following is is nice and everything. But like going things your own way at your own pace like makes your journey more memorable in my opinion because it has been for me. Yeah. Absolutely. Do you remember any, and you don't have to say if they're too personal, but do you remember any of those promises that you were like, I don't buy this bullshit? Was it like first line promises or what were some school saying? It was just, yeah, like, and after I went through each team and, like, who would be on the team still and what the lines were already at that point, there's always fake promises when it comes to that.

Like, I knew I was a great player and I was going to be one of the, one of the best ones in the country at the point, like, for my recruiting class. But there was promises, I'm going to get up at five in the morning whenever you want to, like, I am going to put that time in, like, and I know after hearing certain stories from other people, that just wasn't true. or like the usually you can't say you're going to give money when you don't have it that didn't happen to me so i'm glad because that that sometimes can like make or break a decision yeah yeah yeah i just knew that i wanted to be comfortable and i loved what i did so the money like whatever came along with that was fine um but yeah i would just say like there's just certain things people said and i'm like i don't really believe you on that you know what taylor we yeah yeah yeah we had uh uh jeremy swamen on and he had this very similar

experience. He talked about in junior. He had a couple of coaches who told him this and that and it turned out not being true. And then his college decision really came down to picking Maine in a huge way because the coach was like, you're going to come here and you're going to have to fight for your spot. And he was like, you're the only team that has the honor to tell me that. And that is why I want to come here. And yeah, it's nuts. We talked about on that episode and we'll say it again here. It's you really do kind of have to have that antenna up when it comes to those promises because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is when you show up. and work your ass off and earn a spot.

And if you get promised things and you waltz in thinking everything's going to be handed to you, that's when you get in trouble. So another great, man, Taylor's just making good decisions. Yes. This is just really impressive stuff. I'm blown away. Yeah, so you pick the gophers. Took your time.

Pick the gophers. Can you tell us a little bit about just what it was like to play for a program with so much history and the friends you made and just kind of how you felt like you changed as a person and a player during the time. there because you had so much individual success, so much team success. I know the Natty never quite came to fruition, but like multiple frozen fours, the regular season championship, you know, like what a run you guys had. So talk about that a little bit. My friends will know we were, we were going to get lip tats if we won the natty, but we didn't.

Oh my God, I can't believe this. Wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Did you say lip tats? Yeah. Because we live in a house with 10 girls, my first two years, and I lived in the house was sick, like us, me plus five for the next two or three. So we were very close and we always said like we always were close but we never could do it. We're like if we did it, and this was like our last year. Yeah, yeah. And then we ended on my birthday.

Oh, no way. Oh, that's brutal. I am. Yeah. Back to your question. I'm going to, hold on, hold on. I'm going to go on record and say I'm really sad that you didn't win the Natty, but I'm really glad you don't have a lip tat right now.

I know. So is my mom and my dentist, I'm sure. So that's probably a good sign. But yeah, I would say like going back to like the you thing, I did get offered like I was going to have a big role, but I had to work for it. So I think that's the biggest key. Like you were talking about that. Not the false promises, but it's also giving you that pat on the back that you have worked hard and you're going to be able to do it. And my freshman year, I don't think many people would like go on record and say, but like I didn't play as much as I probably wanted to.

I ran up and down the lineup. Like I was someone who, I would say, Jamie Lee Ratrae does it for Team Canada right now. Like she can play on any line. She's like the Swiss Army team. But like for me on like the EU, I went through, it was the year after the Olympics. So we had Kelly Panic back. She was playing a big role. We had a lot of people who had like played big roles at that point too who were older than me.

So I ran up and down the lineup. I never sat out. But I was going first, second, third, fourth, fourth, third, second. Like I was going in between that. And I think that that year really helped me to see like I need to, I need to get better. I need to figure out how I'm going to stay on first line for the rest of my life, because that's how I'm going to be able to help my team out the most. And playing for a team where, like, roles are more important than minutes.

That was something that was really important to me. You obviously, like playing hockey at a high level, everyone wants to be the best and everyone wants to play. But some people have a false sense of security about where they land. And girls hockey is the same thing as guys. Like, it happens. But once you can shut people up with your play and consistently be like, I can show you up every single day. Like that was my goal.

I never let anyone beat me in practice. Like I'm not taking it easy on you because I want to make sure that you're ready for games, but that I'm also ready to take on the best. So playing the gophers, like we had amazing roles and I talked about it a lot. Joel Johnson really like instilled it in me my freshman year that like you got to be okay with playing on different lines with playing with different people and realizing like that's where we need you.

You might not want to be there, but that's where we need you. And we need you to be okay with that. So role playing is something that I think is a huge part of the game that not every child understands now because a lot of kids, it's participation. Like, you're winning, you're here. Like, you get this. Here you go. We're like, sometimes you've got to get thrown on fourth line to figure out, like, where you stand.

So playing for the gophers has been something prestigious for me because obviously, like, I landed on a great line for my last few years and I got to keep that spot. But that's because I worked my butt off every day because I wanted to be better. And I wanted to be better for that. Because if I got to show up in a game and they believed in me and I let them. down like that's one of the worst feelings in the world and i had great teammates so even if that did happen and when it did they were very supportive of me and they're like okay let's get back to practice and let's get to it for tomorrow i love that attitude so much and it's that steel sharp and steel thing right like you guys going hard all day every day training on the ice that's what made you guys

into the program that it was and that you guys continued the legacy um absolutely yeah you talk about the girls you live with and your line mates and everything being so fun together i did want to say I loved the video of when you won the Patty Kaz and you hear the announcement and everyone goes ballistic. Completely bonkers. I was like, oh my God. It was COVID. We didn't know. And it's actually funny because my dad literally bet me like so much.

He's like, you're not one. Like you're and he's going to hate that I say this. But he's like, I don't think you're winning. I was like, that's fine. You can think that. But I put some work in this year and I've kicked ass like I'm, even if I don't win it, I'm going to be happy. But I just know that I like I said, put myself in a position to be able to do that. Yeah.

And that was. is liked on my phone and I re-like it every single time so it's at the top of my feed so I can re-watch it because like that's the reason why I do it. Like there's someone who didn't give back to their team and didn't love their team the way that I did. That reaction wouldn't depend the same. And I had my friends

like crying like my best friend was bawling her eyes and I'm looking at her and like you're making me cry right now and she was I don't know why I'm crying. And I'm like and that just shows like the respect and the love like that I did deserve it and it was one of the thing, one of the best things.

not only for me, I wanted our team to live through that. Like, that was something that showed, like, I didn't just get there myself. I didn't have whatever 40 assists for no reason. Like, I had people put in the puck in the net for me as well. Yeah. And like, those are more important for me. Like, I've always said that. Scoring goals is great.

But, like, I like being like the, I like to see things click, like in people's minds. I'm like, okay, I'm looking this way. My line mates always said it. They're like, dude, I never know what you're doing. Like, it took me two years, finally understanding it. And I'm like, you just got to have your stick on the ice. I will take the goalies eyes away for three seconds. You'll have two seconds to shoot.

Hit the net. Yeah. Those are times where you just like sit back and like laugh about it. Because even today, like I'm going to have my buddies over from my house this weekend on Friday to celebrate a little bit. And I'm just really excited to see like how they react to it. And just like see what they're doing because they're not, not all of them live the same life as me. So it's fun to still have friends that like kicks my ass in college and we're like, dude, you're not doing your shit right now. Yeah.

Like you figure it out. And I respected that. Like, not everyone can say that to me and I would be like, okay. Some people I'd be like, but I respected them. So they're part of the reason why I like have gotten so good and good with taking feedback as well. Yes. I was able to. Absolutely.

Those awards do really feel like team awards, which is awesome. Oh, my God. Do you remember what you did? Do you guys tear it up that night? Everyone was in a pretty good vote. Oh, yeah. Also is called Treehouse. So I like cheeseburgers are my favorite food.

And I just talked about this at the draft because it was National Cheeseburger Day. day. Yeah. Um, get one because the airport sold nothing, but like, chicken parm subs, which I'd never heard of it. And you were running off just a shit. Wait, what? You've never heard of a chicken parm sub. What's wrong with you? They're amazing. No, I've met, that was the first time I had one. I thought it was a meatball subs. That's why I ordered it. That's one of his favorite subs in all that. I'm like, my heart is exploding with anguish that your first chicken farm sub experience was in a fucking airport. Oh my God. It wasn't, I was actually really like happy with It wasn't bad.

Yeah, but we can do better. Definitely can do better. Absolutely. When you come to L.A., I'm going to get you the best chicken parm sub you've ever had. Victor Jr., shout out Victor Juniors. We're taking you when you come here. It's unbelievable. Amazing.

I'm going to have to look that up because obviously that's not a Minnesota. But yeah, I always forget. What you guys were doing that night after you won the paddock as. Like my friends, I'm going to tell them to watch this because they're going to die. We went to go get bird. at Blue Door, which is one of the best burger places on campus. Went with some of my buddies. Went with my family.

And I told my family, I was like, just drop me off. Just drop me off. I need to go hang out with my buddies. We all wore my Patty Kaz shirts all day. We all hung out in the backyard. It's called Treehouse backyard. It's huge. Like, we could fit eight cars back there.

Yeah. So we had coming in from the street. They heard the music. They heard the music. They were hanging out. Like, oh, my God, it was electric. And then we ended up going to the bar that night. I was 21.

Don't worry. Yeah, yeah. And we had like an amazing time the next morning. Everyone showed up to her house to clean up in the shirt still. Oh, that's a beautiful thing. That's a beautiful thing. That right there is the same team camaraderie that leads to this award. That's incredible.

Also, a little bit of a flex by us. Second Patty Kaz winner on the show. Oh, yeah, that's right. We had Aaron Frankel on before. So we're... Oh, so me and her have a story. I call her my CQ because we both got COVID leading up to the world championships my first year. So not only did, I'd never married a team before that, I made a team on Friday.

They COVID tested us Friday night. I'd called all my family, get the test back Saturday morning. Positive. Oh, yeah. Whoops. So then I drive 15 hours home from Buffalo to Minnesota. Oh, my God. Well, they all flew to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Yeah. So I spent 10 days at home, flew in the day before we played Japan. She ends up getting COVID five days after me. She stays and flies in late, so we bond over that moment. Yeah, of course. There you go. That's beautiful. Okay, we're on the topic of teammates right now, and we always love talking about locker room stuff. So if it's okay with you, with the help of our sponsor, I'm going to slide a question in with our...

Look at this. Look at this. Flip it over so you can see it. This is it beautiful. Is it upside down? No, but just... Oh, no, yeah. Look at this. It's a giant slide. I wore slides. It's terrible for my back, but I wear slides every day all day. Okay. I got good news for it. You want to hear some good. news. What? You're getting a pair of empty netters eyeslides. So yes, there you go. Okay.

No, I live in four pairs. One's literally right here. I'm just wearing them around the house. Oh my God. There are the ones we're sending you are way better than those. So you're about to be. And you will have, you will have zero back problems truly because they are. That's what I'm hoping for. Yeah. Okay. So our eye slide question. When you're in the locker, this is a perfect chance for you to put some of your teammates on blast. Who are the people in the locker room? Who is the, takes a million years to get undressed,

who's the DJ, who's the weird person in the locker room? Because you know, personalities come out in the locker room that they don't show to the public. And that's truly my favorite people in the world. That's when you see like the true like beings people. I'm going to go first and then I'll go to Team USA after.

Oh, hell yeah. Okay, I love it. DJ, Crystal and Hangler. Like this girl, she used to live. she lived with me for so many years, like four in a row. And she was my freshman year roommate. So we met at our freshman year dorm and we were like, knew we were going to be buds.

So she always DJed every year for like, I think the last three years after some girls had graduated. Takes forever to get dressed and undressed my best friend, Abby Boreen. She is just a slow poke, like constantly. I'm like, if you want to come with me practice, I'm driving. You have to be ready in like 30 minutes. This is a major point of contention. Taylor.

I, I, okay, we seem very similar in a lot of ways and I feel like we are definitely, I imagine you're very efficient as I am. Getting things done. Having the person that you have gone to the rink with, whether it be your best friend or just your rink buddy, take forever getting dressed and undressed, I want to fucking kill you. I'm just chilling. It's so annoying. And it's the same deal.

We'll go to games and I'll be like, I'll just, let's just drive separately. And he's like, no, that doesn't make sense at all. And I'm like, well, then get your ass moving after the game. It is insane. All of my friends. Like, we live in a house of six. I drove everyone, always one person in the trunk. Unless it was moped season, then we would moped there.

Yeah. But like everyone, and then after the game, like, usually I'm tired. I'm playing 35, 40 minutes in college game. Like, I need to go ice bath and stuff. After practice, I would literally sprint off the ice because I'd get on early, do my skills before. Yeah. My friend would stay out there or she'd get in the locker room. I would go get knelt.

I would take an ice bath and I would get my. massage or something, and she is still in half of her gear. Yeah. That's insane. That one is crazy, too. I'm like, at least be comfortable. If you're just sitting there fine, but at least untie your boots, what is wrong with you? It's a disease, I admit that.

But it's something a lot of us, there's dozens of us, and we all suffer equally. And I'm very happy chilling in the locker room. Absolutely. I would say the weirdos, Katie Sky is one of my buddies. She's just weird. Like, you never know what you're going to get in there. I mean, never. constantly never going to bring something up.

She at one point, like, hidden one of our laundry bins and was scaring the shit out of everyone when they walked in the locker week for shit. She didn't have school the last year pretty much. Like she had, like, what, two classes? So she would just fuck around with people and whatever. And Abby Murphy, she's crazy. She's psychotic.

I love her to death. But those are my go for teammates. USA, Megan Keller, always on the ox. And she's like fire. She's got things going from every genre. But it just fits the vibe. Love that. So, which is that's so, it would give me so much anxiety.

Like I told you. Could never. Because everyone vibes in my music style. So I'd be like, how do I like get, eclipse everyone's likes into one? Talking about footwear though, Abby Rock on Team USA, she has the best style and shoes. Her shoes are fire, like insane. She has a new pair all the time. She just was in the draft with me and she was there in Toronto.

And she's like, yeah, I just bought a new purse and shoes. Well, wait, wait, yeah, yeah. So what are we talking here? Are we talking like fire sneakers or does she got, is she rocking like heels or is she doing it all? She's got it all. Okay. Like, prod of shoes. She's got Gucci slides.

Like, I mean, like, yeah. Sick. That is sick. Yeah. So those, I would say those are the people. And then in the locker room, Hillary Knight's hilarious. I mean, she, you just also never know what you're going to get with her. She's hilariously funky.

Like, we have a bunch of like jokes in the locker room. so when someone does something like it takes forever. I'm trying to think my little like, line mate from college at one point, Grace Dunwinkel, she's my best friend, she takes forever too. Yeah. And she didn't talk.

Constantly talk. Like talk all the time. Talk, talk, talk. So she loves people. Like, she's a people lover. And I get that. I'm also like, dude, we just played a three hour game.

Like, let's get the hell out of here. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. I'm like, I need food and a beer or something. Like, let me get the fuck out of this locker. And then, but what about,

Do you have any quirks? Do you have any weird superstitions? Yeah, who are you in the locker? I used to always get to the rink super late because obviously we would be driving from the boonies to the cities. So I would get dressed in the car or I'd be like fully dressed in the car, reading my book, and then just have to put my skates on when I get to the rink. And I learned to tie my skates quick because no one wanted to tie them for me and my family. So when I was learned really quick how I wanted them tied and I could do them. But me in the locker, I feel like I, for games, I'll get in.

like 15 minutes to get ready. Like if I'm rushed, I get to be a little upset, but that's on me most the time. Like I'm not, or the team's late or something. But I feel like I'm pretty like before games, I'm not going to do too much. I'm pretty focused. I'm not like over the top because some people like their thing is like they're comedians. And like that's how they get rid of the pressure that they're feeling. For me, I just like to watch. Like I'm a watcher of people. Like I like to see how people respond to pressure and how they're reacting to the game and stuff. And I feel like me and a lot. room though like I I love to have fun so before practice like whatever's going on I like to get it get to be a part of it so I don't know I feel like you get my my real self uh on and off the ice and

outside of hockey too so I feel like I don't I don't do anything special but I just I'm just live in life the same yeah you I love that the headline of this episode is that Taylor Heise is a watcher yeah just a little and I like key things like my brain is constantly just like making up sometimes I'll be sitting in class or doing stuff like I'll just a play will come into my brain or something I can work on in practice, not like immediately have to write it down. Like no book is being it. So that's where my mind I feel like runs in a million different.

That's what all your old professors want to hear for sure, that you were just in class, checking the game notes. I'm actually down what I'm going to do for my skill session after. Yeah. Well, I mean, it was a kinesiology, right? Like you were kind of on topic. Both of them sucked. Yeah.

Honestly. I read in kinesiology, I did feel biomechanics, the class one time. The worst. By literally 0.03% Professor did not round me up. Oh my God. Fuck that. That's horrible.

What was his name? Tell me right now what his name was. Last. It was, you know, it was a hard time. And then I just didn't go to class for the second time of going through it.

Because I did it. I was there. I did it all my assignment. And then I ended up passing the second time around. Handing in the same homework. For the same way. All three of us did not pass that class. But we did at the end of the day.

So as long as we finished it. There you go. Got the degree, baby. Why? Because I was drawing playbooks. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. You were checking the game notes instead of the class notes.

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I slide USA, do it. Okay, you're speaking of the USA teammates. And I know you've told the story before, actually, but I just would love our listeners to hear it. Can you talk about how you are dominating U-18 worlds, right? And then you don't get picked for the 2022 Olympic team. And you've said before how that, like, just completely motivated you and shaped, and helped you improve and all that stuff. So talk about that and why the 2026 team in Milan,

you know, you've had that circle ever since that day. Tell everyone a little bit about that. When I first got to USA, I was see my 15s years. So it was my first year of my 18s. We ended up winning in Canada in overtime. I had a decent role on that team.

I knew that like we had some older players that were better than me at that point. So third, fourth line, but I still like did what I could. We won. Year after that, I came back and like had this jump in high school. Like I just I figured I found out like what makes me me and I kind of went for it my second and third year of world's like I was dominating. I was doing everything.

But like I loved the game and and I knew that that was in high school. You got to play half of high school and then you go to the world championships and play the rest. It was a great breakup for me. Like I got to break up from like the actual high school season and like trust my teammates that they're going to hopefully win games without me back home. But like after having those great years and not really having too much let down, everyone says like the let's. down's the everyone's gone through something like that you don't make a team and I had just never done that like that's just not something that happened I was just like worked really hard to get where I was and and things worked out for me and then obviously went to college for a few years

went to some USA camps I did I did good I really thought I did five next camp came around for the world championships and I kind of came in with a little bit of anxiety and I knew at that point that that was not good so the second I came in there I don't know why I had it I told my parents that week. I was like I just, I feel like I'm doing really well, but I just feel off. Like something's not right. And I think it's because I got nervous and hadn't been obviously to an Olympic trial at that point. So that was what I was doing. And I got there at the end of the week, I knew I put in, I, I still honestly thought like I did my best and I could have done it. Like I knew that there was a chance I could make the team. My team, my coach of the U was the Olympic coach. So sitting in that meeting,

and that had nothing to do with why I thought I was going to be on the team. I got in the meeting and I was like, oh, this could go either way. All I heard was, yeah, it's not going to not going to work out this year. I stood up and I tried to walk out the door. Let's go. That did not work for me. See you on campus, dickhead. Yeah.

He goes, come back. And I was like, okay. And that's one of the most defining moments in my hockey career was that moment. Sat back down and I locked in everything he said. And I pretty much said it. I said everything that I'm going to do leading up from this moment, like, know that this is why. And like you didn't take me this year,

but this is going to, I'm going to reboot the crap out of whatever I'm doing, and I'm going to come back three times strong and then I was. So thank you for this, but I'm going to, I'm going to leave. Yeah. Ended up leaving at night, got cut,

went home. I took two days to kind of just like solve. My parents knew not to really, naturally push me too much in that sense. But like my dad knew that after that, like two days after that, I asked him if he could drive me to the rank. So he could pass me some pucks

because I knew his passing, sucked and I was like that's one that just like ricochet shot death Jesus Christ body bag and dad here he's great Tony's great but his

but I bet Tony's chest pass is crisp as hell his bounce passes like that yeah I can never pass correctly because I get yelled at since I'm a pro rebounder right now for my brothers

like I'm never passing the ball and I'm not spinning it the right way so I get it but I went to the rink with him on purpose because I was like I want you to just give me bad passes I want my confidence to build generically and not like based on something else. I don't want you to make it easy for me. I want things to be hard. And that time of me not making that team

threw me right into the college season and I ended up winning the Patty Casimir Award that year and like had the best year my life. Every single person I lived with I lived with at the time would say it and they said in the news outlets and stuff too that like if I hadn't been cut like I wouldn't be where I am today. I would be somewhere else. Like that was an amazing defining moment for me. and my friend was like as much as she hates losing like it's okay to lose one thing to gain six so for me that moment was great and I'll never forget it which is why like 2026 is circled on my calendar and it's something that I hope to continue my the domination of what I've been doing and then help my team to win a gold medal there I mean that would be just obviously make the team first but go on from there and do it because I know our team can and that's just something I keep in the back of my mind is that one time I didn't get picked that was the most important moment of my life Yeah. Listen, there's so many, you know, every elite athlete has motivating moments and things that they can look back to in their career that propel them forward. But I can't tell you the amount of times we hear about stories like this where it feels like a setback in the moment, but really it's a catalyst for all the great things that you're going to do.

And having that is so energizing. It's like, you know, if everything worked out for you at every single step of the way, sure, you can still excel. but it's nice to kind of have that fire. So the fact that you have that fire, the fact that you're circling something on your calendar that's multiple years in the future that you have a massive hunger in your belly for, I fucking love that.

And as, you know, a member of the United States, hearing someone who's going to be competing for a gold medal with that type of ambition and passion, it just gets the fans fired up. It gets the young people watching you fired up. It's fucking awesome. Love to see it. Love to see it so much.

Something that coach said today, I was working with my skating coach and he like that it brings me back like every day like something doesn't go right and practice like I'm turning it around I'm gonna do something else I'm gonna back check better if I'm not shooting on that day gonna pass some really good pox like he was saying for the best players in every single either sport like thing is it do you want to win like is your thing like you you want to win so bad or is that you don't want to lose yeah and like yeah the person I'm saying I don't want to lose because I would I hate losing I don't want to lose I don't want to lose this thing in practice. I don't want to, so like the people who are just want to win,

they're only going to show up in those competitive moments. Like for me, every moment is competitive because I don't want to lose it. And like I said before, I'm not going to take it easy on you no matter who you are because that's going to better me and it's going to better you. Yeah. Like caring about both sides. Like there's some, there's a difference between someone who's going to go hard and like not care about your well-being than someone who's going to go hard and like, be like, I want you to be better because I want you to score some goals in the next game. And I want you to be a better player because that's how we're going to win. Yeah. I want people to no to listening to refresh.

Taylor just went first overall two days ago. And today we had to push the interview a few minutes because she was with her skating coach and her strength coach grinding already. So anyone who thinks this is bullshit is wrong. Yeah. She is ready to rock. It's also pretty dope that these games are in Italy. That's another moment.

So that's like you want to ask about Taylor. Can you real quick just say your grandfather, huge person in your life, driving you all over town to the high school games there and back and everything you spoiled him rotten by by going to the u and then and getting luckily i guess getting drafted in minnesota he's got to go to milan right like we got to get we got to get him to milan and watch i told them i said you need to stick it out and tell milan and i tell it to all my like that it's like it's a dream for me but i want my whole family there and obviously like anything like whatever it's not going to change anything for me me, but I know that they have been so supportive of me and so, like, just loving and everything that I do. And

even when I didn't make that team, he was like, they just didn't get it right. Like, whatever. Like, he's going to make me feel better, no matter. Right or die. So he's someone that's going to continue on in my life, no matter where he is or what I'm doing. And I always like to call him. I called him right after when I was getting to the airport. And he was like, I just loved watching you. I had my card club over. And we watch you and everything. Hard club. That's fire. So wholesome.

We're like, I'm like, grandpa, I'm ready to kick some ass. Yeah. Let's go. Yeah. Well, I mean, Chris just said it. And Gramps being one of them and then all your other friends, fans and family, the next step is pro. So let's quickly talk about the PWHL here.

This is an unbelievable thing that's going on. Six teams, Minnesota, Boston, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal. all training camp starts in November 24 game season starts in January there's obviously been a million things going on for you in your life have you taken a second to really breathe in like holy shit this is about to start you're fucking playing pro hockey yeah and you're fucking doing it yeah and you're a couple months away from you know obviously you're putting in the work right now but in November you're going to be putting in the work with your teammates on the ice in the gym and then boom start of the new year you're going to be stepping on a sheet of ice to play pro hockey for the

first time for this league and for this team. What's going through your head? Yeah. I think when I woke up in my bed here on Tuesday morning, I was like, I'm going. And I'm like, oh, I'm not going to practice my team yet. Like November. I'm like, where am I? What am I doing more so that? I'm just like super honored and grateful to be a part of it, obviously, to have a team that I trust and I'm really excited to get going with. Like, that's something that you can't even like, I have a great team. I have a great league like we have a great thing going um i'm just super excited to obviously like get going i mean right now it's like as much as it's super exciting i've been trying to take obviously that step back and and truly like realize like what is going on right now like the piece of that's happening because

if i go by this and i don't truly take advantage of it i'm going to regret it in the future um because things are going to start getting harder here like training camps and and making lines and teams and such like that's something that is going to come up quick and i have to be ready for that but right now i want to relish in the moment of the draft and like what's happening. I'm excited to see team names and team colors and what the game schedule is going to look like and where we're playing and all that. So I'm glad there's a lot of excitement ahead, but definitely taking advantage and knowing that my game's going to grow every day because I'm going to be playing against him with the best players in the entire world every single week from January to however long we play. Like that's

exciting because that's going to bring our international game up millions of levels. Great point. I didn't even think about that. Great point. Yeah. I want to give you opportunities. Yeah, you're right. I want to give you a chance to be cocky here for a second because I know that, you know, what I'm about to ask you is heading in what are some of the goals that you have for the season. And I know because, you know, being able to talk to you right now, I know that you're going to say you want to make the team. You want to put yourself in a position to be the best player you can for this team to elevate your teammates play to be a good representation of this team. If you're going to say, if you're going to make the team, you want to put yourself in a position to be the best player you can for this team to be a good representation of this team. need me as your PR person. I can do that for you. I mean, you can never have too much. Yeah. But I also know that you are a competitive person with yourself, with your opponents, with your teammates. So what are some things that you have in mind that you're like this season, the inaugural season, these are some of the things that I want to get done. These are some of the

things that I want to achieve. Yeah. Obviously, I'm like a list person. So I make list of for the upcoming season. I haven't written them down yet because I wanted to take advantage of what's going on. But for me, I want to stay healthy. Like, I want to be playing in every single game. That's my biggest one. I think women's hockey as much as people think it's not as physical. It's like, hella physical. And there's a lot going on all the time that's different for men's hockey that sometimes people don't quite understand. So for me, being healthy, taking care of my body, like mentally being good, like being in the happy place that I've always been in so far, like keeping that, knowing that the pressure can't get to me. Like, I just want to play the game that I

love for the right reasons. Two, I want to continue to get like 10 shots off the game. Like Natalie D. My GM and she's someone at the University of Minnesota who preached that to me. Like she, I never passed her shots on net record, but like I was close. But me and her were always like, she's like, shoot the puck, shoot the puck. And for me, like, points are great. People think points to like define who you are as a player. And they don't. It's more so how you play, how you love your teammates, and then how you show up every single game.

I want to be consistent. I want to be someone that people can look after and look up to when it's a big moment. So those are the ones I've been kind of thinking of recently. I think once I get started and see how games go, they're going to probably filter and kind of go up, go down depending on like what things have been looking like. I love that. Do you have any inside scoops on the team?

Like we're sitting here eager to see what the team name is going to be. Like what have you heard? I feel like nothing. Like color wise, as long as we're not like an orange. I don't know. We could be orange and I would just. Yeah, I was going to say careful.

But like, I don't know. I feel like we'll be different than. the wild colors, so I don't think it'll be that as much as I love those. I'm really excited. One of my friends was like, I want to be the river rats. And I'm like, you do? What? I don't know. River rats. All right. So it wasn't my different team. But like, it's just interesting because obviously we've had pro teams here in Minnesota. You can't be what they were. Can't be their colors, probably. So I'm excited. I'm thinking that's going to come out. Free agency here starts

again tomorrow. So I'll be learning more teammates that I'm going to have. We have, I think one more forward spot and maybe a defense spot. But then obviously we're going to need practice players and things like that. Yeah, yeah. Do you have any idea how fired up I would be if they brought back the North Stars? Oh, whoa. Oh, it would be insane. Though that light green and yellow.

I feel like they probably could. I mean, why not? That would be fucking fire. Okay, but here's the thing. If it were up to you, what are a couple ones that you would pick? What are your top? What are your top colors? And then what are your top mascots?

So that's funny. I, for colors-wise, I love blue. Like, blue is a great color. It depends on what you're going for. Like, USA Royal Blue is my favorite. Yeah. I think I have a pair of skates. They're not with me.

They're getting sharpened. But I had CCM make me a custom pair, and there's just a royal stripe on the back. And then you could, like, I have USA ones too. Blue is cool. Purple is nice. Like, the Vikings are great. So, like, I don't know how much we're going to follow the sports teams in Minnesota. But anything like that, I haven't thought too much about mascots because there's just so

many options. And as long as it's something that kids are able to wear and they like what it looks like, and it's like appeasing to the eye, like that's all I really care about. As long as we're not the river rats. Yeah, no river wreath. For the kids, but no river rats. Okay. And then last follow-up, what are you going to wear? I mean, you wore nine and then you wore 27. Which one are we thinking here? Yeah. So why 27 is special to me, nine has always been a great number. I chose it because Mikiko Koibu, one of my best friends was nine in high school too. She ended up graduating as I was coming in. So nine meant a lot to me and it was a number where I got to kind of make my way through. 27 was given to me. Just they threw it to me. They said, oh yeah, you're not on the team. Here's a

number. And I said, I'm to make that number something. People don't forget. So for 27, like, that's the reason why I have kept that and like gone through it. And I think I'm going to hopefully continue to be 27. I think 27 would be great. Sick. Also adds to nine, right? 27. I kind of like that. Yeah. And nine times three. Like, you know, I, yeah, I'm in a tight day. I see things that way. So I love it. That's beautiful stuff. I like that very much. Okay. So Taylor, to close you out, we're going to play a game. We play with everybody. It's called pass shoot score. It's a ranking system. So we're going to give you categories. And then we'll give you three things in that category of stuff you like. And you have to rank them pass. You'd score. Pass is your least favorite of three good things. But pass is your least favorite because I know you're pass first. Actually, maybe we should do. No, no, no, no. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Pass is your least favorite. This 79 goal score. Yeah, yeah. Miss pass for 70 tucks.

Yeah, no, we're good. Pass is least favorite because we like getting assists, but it's not the top goal. Yep. Shoot is next. Shots on goal. Ten shots a game, baby. Score is your favorite because lighten the lamp. Okay.

Puts asses in the seats. Okay. Your first category for pass shoot score is baking. Oh, that's my favorite topic. Pass shoot score. Cinnamon rolls from scratch. A raspberry lemon bun cake and monkey bread. Do you guys know me well?

Okay. Lemon raspberry bun cake. Okay. Shoot. Wait, what was the third one again? Monkey bread. Monkey bread. Shoot monkey bread because I am a huge breakfast lover.

Yep. Okay. And score my cinnamon rolls because personally I don't think you make them better than I do. And they're great. And people eat them immediately they're gone. So that's what I would say. I'm a sucker for a cinnamon roll, so I would love to sample. Well, I have the question.

Have you ever had Swedish cinnamon rolls? No. Do you know? Do you have to get them in Sweden? No, no, no. You don't have to get them in Sweden. Do you know if you have any Swedes on the team? Um, we, I think we have a Finnish girl.

Oh, well, don't know. I played with Yosefin Bouvang. She's from team Sweden and college. Okay. So shoot her a message because I'm telling you, Swedish cinnamon rolls are the best. Like Swedish cinnamon bones. It's different. Dude, it's the way they're made and they have little like sugar crystals that go on top.

It's just their fire. So you need to add that to your list. Yeah. I'm going to look that up and give her a text for sure. Do it for sure. Can you tell us how I know you love baking? How did you get into baking and like I read that you bake each teammate their favorite thing for their birthday? So I'll be sending you a list for mine, which would be fantastic.

But how did you get into baking? Because it's part of me is like, it strikes me as very much. much of your personality. You know, it's like very exact, scientific, you know what's going to come, list, list, list. Yeah. So how did you get into baking? Who brought that into your life? Yeah. I would say it's funny because everyone's like, how's your diet? Like, do you eat super healthy? And everyone that knows me, like, considering I just said cheeseburgers are my favorite food. Yeah. And I love baking. People probably think I'm crazy. But I think for me it's all in moderation. And baking for me was always in high school. My brother actually, the entrepreneur. Yeah, the entrepreneur.

in him when we were kids. He started baking business and was selling him to the teachers that my mom works with. Like he started this and like went from that. So after he figured it out and he told me, he's like, I'm better than you at this. Immediately. So that's how it happened as a competition. Yeah, to bake. Because my parents were always like healthy eaters. Like we are always having healthy stuff. Like, not too healthy, but I would always be like, I want to, I want to treat around the house. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I would bake something for every away game. So everyone on the bus got one. And I'd hand it out. So Before games, I'd be like up until like 11, 30, 12, my mom would be like, go to bed. And some, one day I forgot him and my grandpa had to like bring them from home because he's like, I'm like, I can't go on the bus with no treat.

Yeah, you're going to throw the whole team vibe off. Oh, that, that just throws the whole vibe off. The superstitions go crazy then. It's a disaster. People are like, we just lost because you didn't bring a treat. So that started. And then in college, I would say for me, my like friends knew at the house. Like, if I was baking in the kitchen, I had my headphones in, like, leave me a lot.

Yeah. Like that's normally I sometimes bake after games like it's really like therapeutic for me and like you said it's exact science I'm not someone that's throwing things in a bowl like that's just not how I go about life. I'm not just free for alling it. I'm going to follow it to a tea. I'm going to get what I need. But it's fun for me and like I get to share my with other people. So now since I live alone, I share it with family with friends. I know all the girls at the EU. I still live close to them. So I'm like, who wants pumpkin bread? I have pumpkin bread crossing today. So I was like, who wants it? it like I can't eat this all myself. So I like to share it. And it's something that I really love is sitting down an island and eating and sharing in a meal with your friends and your family. So that's something that's really special to me. That's amazing.

And you've got living alone as a baker is scary, is dangerous. So make sure you keep sharing it. Yeah, because otherwise that whole loaf goes down in two days. And you're like, oh, shit. That's true. You're like, oh, shoot. Yeah. All right.

Your next past shoot score, we're going to get into some hobbies here. Okay. Okay, here's the list. Juggling? beautiful sunny day ripping around on the moped and then tractor pulls oh god

you know it's just like being therapeutic for me and I have a horrible memory by the way as much as I love I'm trying to think so you said tractor pulls sunny day on a moped and juggling so I would say pass juggling

like juggling is great I do it before games but it's very like superstitious for me. So I don't do it outside of hockey normally. Okay. And like here, juggle this and show me what you got. I'll show you what I got. So does your dad not pay you for new juggling accomplishments anymore?

No, it was only one time because he really just wanted us to sit down and shut up and watch the master. But I love how she got in. Dude, Tony's the man. I love that move. That's so great. I love how she got into baking and juggling because she was like,

I'll be better at my brother at baking. I'll be better than my brother at juggling. Like that is how we've, established every It's beautiful. I would say shoot ripping around

on a Sunday day in my mouthhead like score has to be tractable pulls that was like my I loved that shit when I was a kid like I was

started my competitive nature was tractables and only the real ones know what they actually are people are like are you pulling actual big tractors no you have kid sized

tractors and you're pulling up weights until you get to a full pull and you're like up on the tractor like I have photos of me

my mom gave me horrible haircuts when I was a kid. So those are bad. And I've been bringing that up to her recently because I've been seeing all these kids with great haircuts. I'm like, you gave me a bob. I had hair short in the back,

long in the front. That's what I'll never have short hair. I've long hair now because she had gave me PTSD. You got to send us one of those pictures. Yeah, I agree, actually. Oh,

because I have some great photos that my friends at school die. There's one on my Instagram because I posted it. It was, I was posting for like one of the last days of our season. And I used scroll to the end and it's me with my, with my sunglasses on, pedaling on my tractor. Oh, amazing. It's fucking great. So that's

definitely score. That's like something that brings back my childhood. And like my grandparents showed up to everyone. Like we would go to, we'd go to county fairs. And I think his name was Scott. And he would be there, he was the same person, he'd go to every county fair. And he would do the tractor book because it's his thing. Dr. Pepper, you got a Dr. Pepper for participating.

Got a trophy of fun. Like, it was insane. Oh my God. A doctor Pepper participation. Sign me up. I agree. I'm all in. For a Dr. Pepper. I had a diet Dr. Pepper today. It was so funny. How did you get into it? Who was like, go do tractor poles?

My parents. I mean, my dad is from small telling you to say like he lived right down the room where we, where I grew up. So I think he did him and we like went to a, um, we went to one of them when I was a kid and he was just like, get in there, try it out. Give it a bit. And then I think I won. And he was like, well, now we're going to go to all. All of them.

Yeah. Yeah, you have to. That was your, this is your fault. Yeah. Have to. Yeah. And yeah, my dad was just like,

well, we might as well try it out. I've never seen this before. And I honestly don't remember how I started, but we went to, like, all the county fairs. Like, we were driving hours to go to the east. If you won, like, three of them, then you got to go to state.

And then if you won state, went to nationals. So we took a family trip to the Corn Palace in South Dakota for nationals, and I got second. Oh, my God. incredible. Unbelievable. Jesus Christ.

We were asking, what would have happened if you chose basketball instead of hockey? What would it happen if you had chose tractor pull instead of hockey? Taylor could have, you might be an Olympian already. Taylor could have been performing at every single Minnesota state fair, just pulling tractors. But we'll never know. Unbelievable. It literally like the competitive nature too. Like there's this girl.

Her name was Haley. She beat me every time. And she was, I was five foot two. And she was six foot as a fifth grader. Yep. Or whatever. So I will always remember her because she would always be. And hate her. Fuck you, Hayley. Yeah, and hate her because we can never get it back on Haley. This is unbelievable. That's funny. Okay, next category. I'm calling this category Starstruck, all right? Pass you'd score. Meeting Drake.

Meeting Jake Gensel? Or meeting Peter and Laura Jean from To All the Boys I've loved before? So I have, I've watched that. So I'm going to put that as pass. I think that as much as I like have a celebrity list, they're like not at the top. Not saying they're not great. Yeah. That I would say, wait, who's the first one again? Drake. Great.

Okay. Shoot. Meet Jake Gensel. I actually have seen Jake Gensel and he's, I don't think he's related to me. But I know him like a fan, like from, he used to date my friends. I think I've met him before. But he's great. So that's shoot.

Yep. Score would like, come on. Come on. You know what, Taylor? I'm really glad that you've said this because we have a surprise for you. Drake, come on in here. Yeah, right.

That would have been fucking awesome. That would have been crazy. No, so I... We just kept Drake waiting out here for a fucking hour this whole time. Holy moly. No, I wasn't always a Drake fan. I think I love his vibe when I'm like driving at night. My boyfriend's a huge fan.

His brother's a huge fan. My brother's a huge fan. I like got more so into him in the past two years. So he's great. Okay. He's iconic. He's all over the media. Oh, it's insane. He's a Canadian guy, hockey guy.

Here are my three follow-ups, answer them in whatever order you want. One, as a freshman in some crazy Minnesota article, you said that Peter and Lorjean is your favorite fictional couple ever. So I want to know how that happened. And who, I can't believe that was the choice. to Jake Gensel, how did you like him early? He was like a role model of yours early. Like was it the Minnesota thing? Because he grew up like an hour from you, I think.

And then third follow up, what songs? What are your favorite songs right now? What are you bump into? For someone with a self-declared bad memory, that was too many followers to give her. You're right. Nope. So we're going to go with the number one about the Lord Jean. And so I didn't watch a lot of TV as a kid.

I was sent outside. Yeah. So when I thought I liked, like that was. something I was obsessed with. I was probably going to watch it three times. Yeah. So for me, like, I would say that in like from Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf and, um, what's his name? Um, not Chuck Bass. No. But that show was like my favorite too. I used to watch that

constantly all the time. So those are things that like I loved and I just set myself on it. Sticks with you. Yeah. So that's why. That's the answer to that one. Now I would say I'm really into suits. So, um, everyone we're talking to love suits. I'm telling you dude suits is like an industry plant on that like Netflix was just like here's suits it's this old USA show now everyone on earth is watching suits it's crazy that so I'm all about that yeah and though Harvey are like not together at this point and where I'm watching but like they're devastated where I would I would just say I get stuck on things yeah pretty quick okay Jake on the other hand it's funny because I should probably get to the bottom of this but I have a

friend who's last name is Gensel and he's convinced like he's like well I've met Jake, whatever, all these things. But my friend used to date him. And I remember he brought back the Stanley Cup to his hometown. And I wasn't there for that. But I have seen him before. I'm just not sure what year it was. But his game was something I looked at in high school.

Like he's shifty. He's scoring goals. Not like the biggest, the fastest, the strongest. He was just like there. And you're going to know he's there. Yeah, he's a crafty player. My game was. So that's kind of where I got it.

Yeah. And then Oh my song I'm a very much so like R&B pop Love like Summer Walker or Kalani These are people that people don't necessarily know But they're famous

Yeah Tate McCrick Summer Walker LMA And they're all females obviously I didn't know a single fucking person She just listed Oh my God dude I'm getting too old I be like they're great

I love Drake I'm looking at right now I'm trying to think He just came out with the new song with Siza Yeah okay If her tickets weren't a thousand dollars to go, I would have gone. And I was also gone. Yeah. But Ziza, Drake, Drake's album's coming out on Friday.

Pump for that. So he doesn't need more audiences since I'm giving him free cloud right now. But, you know. So we are going to start, we're actually going to do this thing. We're starting a Spotify playlist that's going to be like the locker room vibe playlist. And each guest is going to give us a song that we add to the playlist. If you could give us one song to add to the Empty Netters playlist, what would it be? Let me think.

This is going to live in infamy, so make sure it's a good one. Up at Night by Kalani and Justin Bieber. Boom. First one. Taylor making history all week, dude. This is a big, big week for Taylor. All right, Taylor, I'm going to hit you with your last pass shoot score. Yes.

We're getting into good days here. So pass shoot score, days. Number one, national dog day. Oh, God. Number two, day on the lake, wake surfing and water skiing with your friends. Okay. And number three, and I know this one's very personal to you, St. Patty's Day. Oh, boy.

God, that's a hard one. So background, I don't have a dog. And everyone in my life knows that I want a dog so bad. Like, implementally bad. But I know that if I want a dog, I need to be able to take full care of it and give it the love of it. So right now is not the time. So I would say pass would be a day in the lake, water skiing and wake surfing, because I love that, but I also like, it's not something that I would have to base. Like, I don't have a cabin.

So it's not like I like it for time. I like it when I get to do it. Shoot, probably St. Patrick's Day, as much as I love it. Wow. Okay. Selfish. Well, yeah, just so I don't know if everyone knows, it's your birthday. Yeah.

So, yeah, that's what she's shooting her own birthday. everybody. There are people in your life who literally call you Patty, isn't that right? Yeah, but that's the thing is, the funny story is my moped was named Patty before I won the Patty Cas. But a year before, because it was green and my mom's like, dude, you're going to be zooming around Patty. And I'm like, great, P-A-T-T-Y, great. And then, so I have an infamous picture of the Patty Cas on Patty. Wow, sick. Oh, that's fantastic. Yeah. So that, I would say that's shoot. I love the day. I haven't been to anything crazy for it because I've been playing. Yeah, fair.

And I lost in the national championship or national tournament on my birthday. That we, yeah. So South Day. Yeah, fuck. We lost state semis on my birthday. And that was not chill. So I feel your pain a little bit. Yep.

And then score National Dog Day because when I get a dog game over. Yeah. Like it's. Yeah. So we'll see. I don't blame you. I can't believe. Dogs are the fucking best.

I completely get. why you don't have one because we actually don't have one for the same reason, but I also can't believe that you don't have one because you love dogs so much. And I grew up with the dog. Yeah. My grandpa, like, but it wasn't like a big dog.

It's more so just like a dog that stayed inside. So I saw his name is Gus. I saw him a lot, but I didn't really live around dogs. So, like my parents think I'm nuts, but like I have sucked animal dogs like on my bed. I have like one that hangs off of my backpack when I travel because that's my lucky turn.

Unbelievable. Yeah. Absolutely. To not have a dog and have this love for. dogs, it's something I can relate to. So it's very, very good. I'm a big fan. All right, Taylor, we have taken up a ton of your time here.

This has been an absolute blast, but before we let you go, is there anything that you want to plug, anything you want to shout out, anyone you want to show some love to? Any more Red Wing break bakeries. Yeah, yeah. My God, Spanish, obviously, that's number one. Obviously, sponsors Chipotle, get your Chipotle, that's the best thing you can have. Plug it. And I'm just like, thanks to my family, my friends.

mean like being here today and doing all these things that are awesome and I can sit here and talk to you guys for hours just like being thankful for all the people and all the time they put into me and like my agents who like literally I feel like I'm so high maintenance because there's so much going on and they got to deal with it and just all the people that have gotten me where I am today. I feel like that's that's where I want to give them a plug because like they're people who don't get all the recognition like the grandpas of the world. People love them and they know them but you're not going to think like that they're the part of the reason why I'm here. And that is the truth.

So for me, just giving thanks to the people that have brought me to where I am. Hell yeah. Love it. And then also for us, we'll say everyone, all the listeners dial into the PWHL. It's coming this January. It's going to be an absolute blast. So can't thank you enough for coming on. This was so much fun.

Hopefully the start of many, many visits from you. Like we said, when you get to L.A., we'll be at the game. And then we'll also be making sure that you get a chicken parms up. And I'm getting cinnamon rolls. That's true. Yeah, it's an exchange. Yeah, chicken par and first. That is a fair trade.

But all right, Taylor, thank you so much. And good luck with everything coming up. Make sure to keep us up to date with all the training, how training camp's going, and then the start of the season. Awesome. Thank you so much for having me. Hell yeah. Massive thank you to Taylor Heise.

That was actually one of the most fun interviews I've done in a long time. She is a stud. Taylor's a weapon. Dude, yeah. And like, he is going to, I wish she had said it, but she's going to pump 50 goals this year. And I wanted her to peacock in front of everybody. Dude, 79 tucks and 29 games.

In her senior year of high school is some absolute psychopathic shit. Moronic, dude. It's unbelievable. Okay. We have no time to waste. Continuing things off. We're getting into the Metro breakdown. I know there's a lot of MET fans here who are excited for this.

So let's jump right into it. You guys know how it works. We go reverse order. I'm going to give you the records. We're going to give our prediction of where they're going to finish. And then we'll talk about it quickly. in eighth place last year in the Met the Columbus Blue Jackets.

They went 25, 48, and 9 for 59 points. They finished 8th last year, Dan. This year, they finish in. Does Brian want to count us down? Oh yeah, Brian, you count us down. This year they finish in. Three, two, one. Sixth.

Okay. Ah, see, let me start. I almost went fucking eighth because I can't quite tell how they're going to react to all this shit. Like, it's either going to make them start slow as fuck because it's just too chaotic and they're going to be two and 20 before they can blink and then they'll totally write the ship but they're still going to finish eighth or they're

going to be so rally around this and I think start super hot which and they might bleed out but finish six I took the latter but I really do feel like it's a total coin flip here's my situation with the blue jackets we're not going to waste any time talking about babcock and the fact that he's a dipshit I think Pascal vincent is now the coach he's after 10 years with winnipeg joining the bluejackins 2021 this is his first shot at a head coach job. I think it's actually going to be like the new coach boost. I think they're going to be really fired up and excited. I think they'll probably start

off the season pretty well. They got 4.7 million caps base. Their top players are Johnny Hockey, Patrick Line, Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Damon Severson, Proveroff on the back end. Werensky is coming back. Boone Jenner is a great player. They are healthier. Something I think is really exciting

about this team. David Juresek, Gavin Brindley, Denton, I'm pronouncing names here, guys. I'm sorry. Denton, Matechuk, Stanislov, Svozil, all top 60 prospects in the NHO. Cool. So they've got a good system coming here. Columbus, Johnny led your team last year with 74 points.

You had a power play of 18%, PK of 75%. Bad, bad. Both things that need to improve. The big thing for me here, I love Columbus, I love Columbus fans. I'm not just saying that. I think this is a great team. I think it's a great hockey town. I think they deserve good hockey.

I think they deserve playoff hockey back in Columbus. I don't think this is going to be the year. I think that you're going to have an opportunity here where line A plays more games than he did last year. People sleep on the fact that Line A, by the way, had 52 points in 55 games. I feel like everyone's like Lina stinks now. Agree. And he does not. So hopefully you're getting a full season from him.

You're getting a full season from Werensky. You're getting a full season from Johnny Hockey. And then you're getting guys like Fantilli, more games for Kent Johnson and a lot of these prospects. You added Severson. That was a monster swipe from the devils. Say what you will about them, but you've got Provorov now on the team. You have improved. Mersleekins is a problem. Yeah, yeah.

Zero shutouts as a team last season. Your penalty kill is terrible. Your power plays lackluster. I think they need, you know, Werensky, Provy is great, but that defensive core, and Severson now is great, but you want that to get a little bit stronger. You've got some cap space to work with here. This season, I think, look at a chance to get some of these young guys, more time, get them really ingratiated into the NHL, and now you're off to the races, but this year ain't it. This year ain't it.

I'm with you there. I like the added firepower. And you've got to hope for good health. But I think, I just think you're getting more from Lian and getting more from Johnny. Fantili, I fucking love, obviously. That's why I'm going sixth. It'll be exciting. Yeah.

It'll be exciting to see. Next one up, the Philadelphia Flyers. They finished seventh in the Met last year. went 31, 38, and 13 for 75 points. Seventh last year, this year, they finish. Three, two, one. Eighth. Yep, no doubt about it.

What a fucking mess the Flyers are, dude. And it's a bummer, because Flyers are one of those teams we talk about. The league is better when the Flyers are good. And there's some unbelievable dudes on this team. Huge shout out, Travis Kineckney. Just like one of the most fun guys ever, I think he's a brilliant player. Trave led your team last year in points, and he didn't like the world on fire. I think top players are him, Sanheim, Fairby, Lottie, Ristelainen.

Power play was 15%. P.K. was 74. Brutal. Yeah. That is brutal. They didn't do much. I added Sean Walker and Cal Peterson with that trade with L.A. I think Cal is going to be good backup or, you know, this and that with Carter Hart.

Cal Peterson was supposed to be the guy in it. I know. you brought in Mark Stahl Garnet Hathaway So you're adding good strength You know, Garney's going to be a good Middle Six bottom six guy for you I think Stahl is just a good veteran leader

He was just in the Stanley Cup That's good stuff to have To me, I don't know dude Like this team, this whole team feels kind of lost You've got some great prospects Cutter Gautier is a front runner for the Hobie Baker this year Playing in BC He's a guy that I'm kind of like

Man I'd love him on the team right now but I can also understand why he's Absolutely I know what he's going back And frankly with the state of the team You're kind of like just play in BC again Mitch Cof's a disaster I loved the draft pick at 8 this year But he's literally getting loaned

To a different team in the KHL right now Like they will not let him come to the NHL His parent team in the KHL Won't play him If you're a Flyers fan And if you're that organization You're looking at that situation You're like are you fucking kidding me

Because that kid could play in the NHL right Yes But I couldn't And I think, and we just buried him at 8, but I couldn't be happier with this wave of former player GMs, like studs on your team. Breer, I love what he's doing. And I think he's not worried about Cutter Gautier,

Mitch Koff, yet because he is in full fucking rebuild, which they should have been in last year, but they are in full fucking rebuild. And it's like, he has got his sights set on 20, 25, 26. And he's chill until then. They are going to be bad this year. year they don't care at all. I will add, similar to what I said about maybe the blues when I buried them, the, you know, the jackets at 50 something points to finish last. I think the flyers are going

to finish eighth, but I think they're going to have 70 points. Like, I don't think they're going to go win 20 games here. Yeah, yeah. The division got more competitive. They're going to finish with 70 something points and being last. It's weird because like I said, I do think they're a bit of a mess, but at the same time, it's like, you're, you've got some good shit going on. Yep. But I will also say this. look at some possible trades here dude yeah like Travis Kinectney is a phenomenal player and he's on a pretty good contract here and he's got a I think he's

got a couple of years left he is a guy that could get moved and if I'm a Flyers fan that bums me out to no end yeah but you're getting a big return for him and uh also stick taps at torts stuck around a little longer than I thought and it seems like actually things are going pretty well

so totally agree yeah uh okay next up we have the Washington capitals. They finished sixth in the Met last year. They went 35, 37, and 10. Well, under 500, that must have been the first time in a long time. 35, 37, and 10 for 80 points.

They were 6th last year. Yeah. This year, they will finish. Three, two, one. Six. Damn. This one I feel bad about. You're dumb. I think you're dumb. I actually had a really hard time with, well, I guess I won't give it away, but for me, the hardest was 5, 6, 7 in this division. trying to decide where I had those,

and I won't give way you, I have five yet, but those three teams, I was like, oh, man. Mine is four, five, six. Okay. That was hard. Actually, excuse me, three, four, five was hard. This, I'm well aware. I could eat Cro-on.

Like, I could see the caps just going off. They're way healthier. Yeah. And just being back, baby, and, like, in a mix for the playoffs. Oh, yeah. So, like, I'm ready, dude. Put it in my face.

I got drunk on the blue jackets, cool it a little bit. I probably should have gotten them seven, cap six, the base of the way I'm feeling, the way I feel about the caps. My biggest fear about the caps is they had a really hard time scoring last year. And I don't know that they are going to score that much more this year, even with good health. Okay, so here's what I'm going to say. Caps have negative caps base, tough. Yep. Top players on this team, we're going to call Ovi, Backy, Cousy, Osi, Calson. Those guys are 38, 35, 31, 36, you don't love that. They are getting older. That said, other top players are Willie, Tom Wilson, who just signed a huge extension, and Stromer. Stromer had a great year. Yes. Willie, low-key, was having a phenomenal year and then got hurt and only played 33 games. Backstrom only played 39 games.

So you talked about their way healthier. You said they couldn't score goals. You have maybe one of the best assist man's in the NHL in NHL history in Backy. He's back. And now Tom Wilson, who I think had 12 goals in 30. three games. Like Tom Wilson is looking to score 40 this year. I'm telling you that right now. Wow, that's a cool call. So these guys are coming back. You think about the energy and leadership those two add to this team. Dude, I have them at six, but it was very hard for me to not put them

at five. That's what I'm saying. I think the caps, they're going to be over 500, no doubt about it. And I think that they are going to be much, much stronger. Also, dude, people sleeping on this, they have Max Patcher Ready. I know. Brutal injury last year that knocked him out, but he'll come back he's going to be added to this team. That adds goals. I just think the caps... When did that happen? He literally joined the hurricanes and got hurt instantly. It was like game one though? Or was it in the middle of the year? I can't remember. It was not playoffs yet. But I think it literally was his first game with them. It was brutal. Point being, Washington fans, you are, you're on the back nine big time. The sun is setting.

But they're not dead. And like, you've got some legit players on this team still, regardless of their age, and you've got two of your biggest key players coming back and add patches to that. It's there. It's there. They feel...

They are my biggest swing team, if that makes sense. I'm like, oh, my God. They could be horrible or they could be, like, pretty competitive. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Some of the other guys I have a pretty small standard deviation for in the caps, I'm like, I don't know. And by the way, fucking clown on me for doubting an OV legend. team anyway.

You know, like, I can't believe. Like they, especially when you're bringing his boy back. He ain't going out like this. And the most handsome dude in the NHL and Tom Wilson. God. Gotta, gotta give a quick shout out.

Tom Wilson is the fucking man. Yeah. So like Washington fans, I'm jealous that you've got him forever. And anyone, anyone who's listening to this show right now, and if you were a fan that's a knot of the capitals and you don't like Tom Wilson for train wrecking people,

you're dumb. Because he's so fucking nice. Yeah, you got a big old dump in your pants. so nice, he's so good at hockey, he's the man, and he's an absolute dime piece. Man, dime. Okay, you got him six, though? Yeah. Okay, so that's out of the playoffs. The Met is so good. That's out of the playoffs.

Next up, Pittsburgh Penguins. They finished fifth last year. They went 40, 31 and 11 for 91 points. Fifth last year. This year, they finish in. Three, two, one. Fourth, you bitch.

I'm such a bitch, dude. I will get to it next. I'm so, so fucking mad at myself. Oh, wait, wait. What did I say the Penguins are? You said five. I had them at four. I'm wrong.

I got ahead of myself here. I got ahead of myself here. I have them at four. Thank God. But I'm pissed at myself for that too, and we'll get into it later. Me too. I almost went three. Yeah.

I wonder if we have the same. I almost went three. Okay. we have said on this on this program that I don't think they are maybe as cup contendery as their fans think yes and some of the media thinks um obviously Eric Carlson is the huge get but dude Lars Eller Riley Smith no lauraari like there are some guy Lars Eller and Riley Smith are such quintessential ads that you're now playing with Sydney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin or one of the other

and their games are going to elevate. And dude, it's, it drives, it almost drives me insane. I'm like, yep, Q possibly career years for both of these two. And remember we said, Tampa has been making a living at the deadline, bringing in third liners. And everyone's like, what was that? And they're like, that's what we needed to win the fucking cutoff,

idiot. And this past year, Ron Hextall said, our top six is set, they're dope. Those guys are good. We just don't have the depth. And then at the deadline, they did nothing and then fucking missed the playoffs. These are those pieces, Dan. There they are. Look at them. Okay, can I get into this, though?

Yep. So they add those two great pieces, and then obviously Eric Carlson. You've added the best point scoring defensemen in the NHO from last year. They lost Jason Zucker, and they lost Brian Dumlin. Yep. So we love Dumer. Couple brutal losses for them, too. My big issue with the Penguins, PK, 21%?

Good. Or, excuse me, PowerPlay. 21%. Good. PK. 79% bad. Yeah. You've lost one of your best defenders and you've added a forward who plays defense. That's not me chirping Eric Carlson. Eric Carlson's defense is not great. He's not going to be killing penalties for you, really.

I worry that that is a situation. You've also got the jari situation where you're not entirely sure he is the guy in net. So it goes back to what we said, Penguins fans, are you better? Yeah. Are you going to make the playoffs? Yeah, I think so. To what goal, though? I don't think you have the pieces to make a cup run. Maybe there's a deadline at.

But they have negative catch space. Whatever, you move some people. You are in the playoffs, Penguins, but some stuff has to happen. And maybe it's internal. Maybe it's guys, you know, pop off and blow up. And as, like you said about Ovi, even more so. As long as one, Sidney Crosby plays for your team and draws breath on this. Literally anything could happen.

You could win a cup at any moment. He could be 50. And you could win a cup. Long lips it. As all of you know by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season. We're going to be using BetMGM lines to make all our picks. We're having special offerers for the listeners. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code Netters 200.

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Call 800-9-802 for Puerto Rico and Toronto. Visit bet MGM. Com for terms of conditions. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C., New York or Ontario. Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BEDMGM, use bonus code, Netters 200, and get your $200 in bonus bets when placing a $10 wager today. Next up, we got the New York Islanders of Long Island. Yes. They finished fourth in the Met last year. They went 42, 31, and 9 for 93 points.

Fourth last year. This year, they finish in. Three, two, one. Five. I almost, almost went seventh here. I almost flipped Jesus Christ They

For me Wait you said five though Yeah I almost flipped them in the caps Because I liked Columbus at six I wanted that pick Because seven felt like a fair That logic That logic is incredible

At seven So I was like I want to do something With Columbus And then I was like I don't know which way to put these two I feel stupid After hearing you talk about How fired up the caps

Are gonna be to get back That I wish I had done it And the reason I didn't is Because the island's They were pretty good last year And it felt like Too far of a free fall for them to be like, snap my fingers, you guys suck now.

I will say, though, they did nothing. Dude, you lose. You did nothing. They are. Good day. They are so fucking boring. And that is my only issue with the Islanders. Islanders fans? The best.

The most fun. You're insane. And I love you. Your team is boring. They play boring hockey and they did nothing. They traded for Boe and that was great. And I think Bo is going to have another great year. But my problem with them is this, negative cap space.

Also, their top players, Sorokin, arguably the best goalie in the league, Bo, Brock Nelson, Matt Barzel, Anders Lee, Pullock and Pellick on defense, two of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. You have great players. Why are you so boring? Start playing better hockey. And I'm telling you, Matt Barzell, you have one more fucking chance. He was on one, though.

He was on one. You are so fucking good. You're so fucking cool and you're so fucking hot. You channel that confidence and start playing amazing again, dude. Like, if Matt Barzel doesn't have 30 goals this year, I'm going to go down and I'm going to – too Long Island. I'm going to pull down his pants. I'm going to give him a spanking.

Because you need to score 30 goals. You need to have 100 points because we all know you're capable of it. And you've got guys like Anders. You've got guys like Bo. You've got guys like Brock that you're playing. There's no excuse. Yep. There's no excuse.

So you're finishing fifth islanders And you should be fucking lucky for that Based on the way you've been playing So honestly if anything This is a challenge to them To like snap out of it dude You've got the best goalie in the league who dragged you My star quarterback is dragging his leg

Because of you! Sorokin is dragging you bums into the playoffs Start fucking pumping in goals And playing some more exciting hockey Completely agree I think they missed the playoffs Yeah me too FYI

Yeah New York Rangers They finished third in the Met last year. They went 47, 22, and 13 with 107 points. Third last year. This year, they finish in. Three, two, one. Third. And you're fucking lucky. Dude, this is why I was talking about Pitt. I'm pissed at myself. Rangers, you're begging to finish fourth. And, and, dude, I'm just like, I'm mad at myself for doing this one. I, wouldn't you say, though, the people they lost, the Keynes, the Vlads, it's not, that's not bothering me that much. Like, I'm not, like, oh, no,

The Rangers are in trouble because they lost bad Vlad and Kane. I think they added some wily vets. You know I love me, some Blake Wheeler. And I think they still have high-end talent on the teams. Zabinajad is sick. Box is sick. Breadman is sick. According to us, they have three top 20 players.

And Chesty, dude, who I talk so much shit about, but is a phenomenal goalie. Top three goalie in league. Golly player. He's a phenomenal goalie. This is more testament to that the top of the mat, I think, is just stronger than them. And a little bit of testament to, they have. been getting good shit, really good shit from the people we're naming.

Yeah. And they, they, if it falls off at all, you're in trouble. Dude, that, okay, so here's the deal. Negative cap space as well. Top players we're going to call Fox, Mika, Chesty, bread, Kianre, Kreider.

You lost Kane and Vlad. You added Quicky, which I actually love. Me too. I love Quicky backing up Shesty. I think that that's amazing. You added Wheeler and you added Benino. I think are, our, our prominent ads. I think Benino, Wheeler, I'm like, nice. I actually love that. Like, those third line guys, I love. They were great

last year. They were. Yeah, yeah. It's a really good team. Good power play, good penalty kill, good teams, good vibes, good battle with New Jersey that you fell short on. Those top guys that we, I just listed, I think a couple of them, maybe, are going to have even better years. Prominent ones for me or Keandre. I think Kandre is going to have a monster year. A guy like Adam Fox, I'm like, the sky's the limit always for him. I think some of those guys might regress this year. And I think you need to be prepared for that, Rangers fans. The huge one for these guys,

you have guys like Heedel, you have guys like Laffey, and you have guys like Kako. And every fucking Rangers cockpumper is going to be like, this is their year, big jump. Big jump this year. Luffy and Kako's year. And I'm not saying it's not going to be. But I am saying the confidence with which Rangers fans are like, dude, this is the year they turn the corner.

Give me what you're drinking, dude, because that is, there's a lot of confidence there that I'm not sure deserves to be there at all. And so many people will pull out their 5 v.5 scoring. They'll pull out their advanced analytics, their expected goals, blah, blah, blah. Dude, look at the fucking eye test. You've got a number one and a number two overall pick, right? Yep. Who haven't done shit. So let's see.

And again, we've got plenty examples of guys who in their fourth year, they went to the stratosphere. Could happen. But I'm telling you right now, you need it to happen. Otherwise, you're going to finish fourth or fifth. Yeah. Because they're the old dogs, and I just buried Washington, but maybe it's them pit, but the old dogs are coming back. They want one more bite at the bone. And you better stay up if you want to hold them off.

And yeah, man, I think with the exception of Truba, your top defensive guys aren't necessarily the most adept. defense and you need to help Cheshti continue to be as elite as he is but yeah man you're asking too much of your top top guys and you need that middle team pack to really rise up and you know like

our Trochec Heidel and the young boys gonna do it they again they fucking better next up we got New Jersey Devils Pine Barron sick name what up Brian last year they finished second in the Met they went 52 22 and 8 for 112 points

they were second last year this year they will finish in three two one first i fucking i'm actually mad about this pick oh really i'm the other way i actually going into this had them too and i just flopped at the last second and i feel bad because i think i mean we don't know the last team carolina i feel like carolina fans are always like you guys don't fucking believe in us and dude i believe in them oh my god they're terrifying i think they might it's i got i said dallas too but i think the cup is dallas canes

and Carolina, I should have just taken them on. I should have just flipped it. I'm looking at my fucking script. I should have just flipped it. The reason I'm mad is because fucking everybody is on the devils. And I don't like that, I don't want to, I'm not just trying to be a contrarian. That actually worries me. Last year they came in so chill.

No expectations were nasty. This year they have a ton of pressure. They added guys, I love. They have young studs still under contract that I think are going to be even better. And I love, I love the devil's team. Don't get me wrong. I think it'll be a fucking bloodbath of who finishes first, even if, if they do finish second.

But I wish I had taken them too because I'm slightly worried about their pressure. But boy, are they a wagon though? They're a wagon, dude. So here's the deal. 1.9 million cap space, amazing. The other amazing thing is that,

like we talked about it, when Austin signed his new deal, the boys are on board. You got Jack making eight. You've got Nico make an eight. Like, everyone is making eight or lower on this team. Or actually, no, I think Dougie's a little higher

than that. Oh, yeah. Can one of you look that up? Look up the... I got you. Yeah, yeah. But here are their top players. Jack Hughes, Nico Hescher, Timomeyer, Yesper Brat, Andre Palat, Tyler Toffoli, Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, John Marino, Seganthalor, they got VTec and Schmead in net. Like this team is deep, dude. And they lost...

Strygatano. They lost, yeah, your boy. They lost Wood and they lost Tatar. That's tough. Yep. They lost Severson. Yep. Tough. But, dude, you added some monsters. And you've got Brat who just signed again long term. Holla just signed for a few more years. Timo signed long term. I am so excited to see a full... They're going to be really good. Oh, dude. Two things.

I mean, here's the thing, dude. Jack Hughes, again, he's our boy. He's a fucking weapon and a machine who lives and breathes hockey. He's going to eclipse that hundred points, no doubt about it this year. I am so excited to see a full year of Timo on this team and so excited to see a full year of Tos. Toth. Dude. Toffwatch.

score 40 goals. Tothwatch is the topic of this season. Tyler Tully is getting 80 points. I'm telling you right now. I like that. And Timo, dude, here's a little fun fact that people don't know. Timo Meyer is amongst the top in the league in hits every season.

Like, he's like, with Ovi. Six stat, yeah. People don't know that about Timo's game. Timo throws the body. And I think there's a lot of people who are like, devils, they're so good, but they're like a little young. They don't have that much grit.

But I'm like, yes, they do. And you're at Timo, who's a potential, what, 80, 90 point guy who's also crunching bodies like that. It's so exciting. And we talked some shit about VTEC last season in the playoffs. And I think VTAC would be the first to admit his game slipped a little bit. And that's why Assocatano was born. But now, dude, you go into a full season this year with that tandem of Schmead and Vtec.

Vtec's a young dude. I know, I know. People don't realize that. Schmeet is super young. I think those two tandeming VTek leading the way because Schmeet is younger. it's like the Swayman situation in Boston. I think that is going, or has potential to emerge as one of the best tammes in the NHL, and if V-Tech uses his lessons from last playoffs and rolls that

into his amazing season last year and goes into a regular season and then the playoffs, their first place in the Met. Yeah, it might win the President's trophy. Last year, first place in the Met was the Carolina Hurricanes, 52, 21 and 9 for 113 points. This year they finish in. Three, two, one. Second. I'm so, I'm sorry, Carolina.

And again, I flipped last minute because I just think I'm a little bit more excited about like the youth. Like another, a full year of Luke Hughes too in New Jersey. Carolina, you guys are fucking disgusting. You're so good. You know what you're going to do. You're going to do the same fucking thing you did. Wire to wire, baby. Wire to wire to wire.

So under the radar. Talk all the shit you want to us to hockey world, hockey Twitter, hockey media that would not give you enough credit. Run with it, dude. Oh, yeah. Enjoy the shadows, dude. Everyone's adopting the darkness. You were fucking born in it. stay there and fucking just ride

Keep hiding Yeah yeah keep hiding Now you've got to figure out a way To win a fucking Eastern Conference Finals game I will say that But if you do that The damn might fucking break And you bring home the cup again

Absolutely that team is fucking nasty The only thing they need to improve Is fire your social media person Yeah I'm sure you're a lovely person You got the worst sense of humor on earth Dude this team is disgusting You're getting

I mean Aho Signs long term Amazing that's exactly what you want He's unbelievable You're getting Svetchi back going to have a full healthy season. You'll have him in playoffs. Tara Vinen, I think, has a much better bounceback year. Kockinymi's amazing. You added bunting.

Natchez had a career year last year. Unbelievable. Martnook's amazing. You added Dmitri Orlov. You have Jacob Slavin. You have Brent Burns. You have Brady Shea. You added Tony DeAnglo. And you have Brett Pesci. That is the most... Dude, well-rounded lineup I've seen in the league. Think about that D-Corps. Those defensemen all on one D-Corps? Are you shitting me? That is absolutely ridiculous. Their P-K was 84% last year. It's going to be 90%. They might not give up a power play goal?

It's ridiculous, dude. Carolina is so good. They lost patches, ghost, Stasney, Gardner, but they added Orlov, Bunting DeAngelo, and extended Aho. Like, if you are a Carolina fan, you are sitting so pretty right now. Honestly, the only thing, and both of them played great, but is their goalie, their old goalies. Okay. Take that back right now, because I think Freddie played great. They've got Ranta still. But, dude, Piotr Kachetkov is very young and very exciting and is signed with the team. I think Kachatkoff is going to get way more time on that team. Yeah, okay. And that's going to be very interesting.

And then, dude, you've just got guys like Seth Jarvis and Jack Drury, young guys, exciting guys. Like, they are so deep, dude. Hop to bottom. So deep. The defense is preposterous. I mean, I might have just talked myself back in the game number one. But like, dude, the top of, and Rangers fans,

I know I just cloned on you, but the top of the Met, it's like, we talked about how good the Pacific is. The top of the Met, dude. Don't even talk about fucking Pittsburgh, Washington, and the islanders. The canes, the devils,

and the Rangers, holy shit. Let me a slugfest all year. Slugfest all year, and it's going to be so fucking fun to watch. Amazing. We'll post our predictions. Yes, we will.

Almost there, boys and girls. Almost there. Yeah. I know we cruise through that, but we had to. Guys, we're 20 days away. By the time this episode drops,

we'll be 19 days away from the NHL season. We've got so much fun stuff coming. We've got more amazing guests coming. We've got the Atlantic predictions coming. This is unbelievable stuff. And that is it for us today at the Empty Nair's podcast. And until we see you next time, do what you always do.

Skate hard.