Empty Netters Podcast - 63. Theater Class with Will Smith

Episode Date: November 22, 2023

This week the boys are joined by BC freshman stud Will Smith. He talks about the scariest penalty he ever took, the coolest draft party ever thrown, and bringing his entire Dev Program line with him to college. Will thinks BC is going to raise some banners this year, and they just might be listening to Adele in the locker room to celebrate. Also, Chris and Dan stopped by the CCM Hockey house where they're joined by the 3rd Empty Netter Jonny Lazarus. They debate the OT rule and put Laz through a little PSS of his own.    Chapters: (0:00) - Intro with Jonny Lazarus from the CCM hockey house (2:30) - Is Kris Letang a top 40 defenseman of all time? (9:17) - Bo Horvat’s return to Vancouver (17:35) - The NHL’s concerns with 3v3 overtime (27:46) - Intro with 4th overall pick by the San Jose Sharks, Will Smith (29:50) - Life at Boston College (31:10) - Winning Gold at U-18s (37:10) - Experiencing the NHL Draft with lifelong friends (44:43) - Eager to join the Sharks (48:20) - Deciding to go to BC (53:20) - The ultimate goals for this season (1:00:06) - Pass Shoot Score (1:09:45) - Hottest Teams of the week (1:11:24) - Games to watch (1:12:40) - Pass Shoot Score with Jonny Lazarus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All right, we are live in Boston at the CCM Hockey House. Look at these fire jersey. Name on the front. Name on the front. Name on the front is hell of a lot more important than the one on the back. But they got the ones in the back. Yeah, and actually, the ones on the back are pretty important, actually. Is this your number?

I wore it in college, not growing up. Because when Lucas sent me the picture of you and it was... Does Johnny have a custom jersey? I can't believe it's not 66, you know, bitch. That chirped way too hard. Can't wear that number again? Yeah, that was not. I mean, dude, when people...

in the cheap seats we're yelling at us at the Chicholet's cup. I was like, I can never wear a custom. And I was like, yes, yell at him, dude. This is ridiculous. But yeah, we're coming to you live from the CCM Hockey House. We have a very special episode today because we're having Johnny Lazarus co-host the whole episode with us. We got Will Smith of the BC Eagles draft pick of the San Jose Sharks coming on the pod later.

We're going to get into all the fun stuff per usual. And this setting is wild. Check our stories. Check Laz's story. This house is ridiculous, dude. Oh, my God. Get on the socials. It's like a palace.

It's incredible. It's just like a beautiful house. It's a guy's home. He lives here. Yeah, yeah. His toothbrush is in there. This has got to be up there with the best ODR of all time. For sure.

I mean, you'll see it on all our socials. Check out CCM hockey socials to look at all the magic going on here, but this place is unbelievable. I'm going to lace them up as soon as we finish. Yeah, and I've never felt more home. Also, it's like. Sorry, for me, first time in CCM wheels out there.

They're gas. Hey, something to think about. Something to think about. Yeah. Unbelievable. But let's jump right into this episode. Yep. I mean, this is like, first of all, really exciting to have Johnny.

I mean, he is the third MTN. Yeah, my day two's. Yes. Our day two is right. Damn right. But here we are doing a full episode together. This is really nice. I'm thrilled.

You said that you wanted to hit us with something right off the bat. Well, so you guys texted me or I texted you earlier this week about coming on the pod. And you're like, actually, we can't record with you anymore. And I thought you were dead serious because the Rangers were buzzing. So I said like, can't wait to record. Rangers 9-01 last 10. And you guys were like, oh, we can't actually record with you anymore. I thought you were dead serious.

Oh, yeah. No, I was just pulling your way. When you were like, be ready at 8, I was like, oh, I didn't even know I was going on. Like, listen, I know. Oh, wow. You thought. Dude, that's what I'm saying. Yeah.

Till this moment. Oh, wow. Chris texted me, be ready to go at 8 and I was on the ice. Oh, shit. He goes, oh, okay. Took the wheels off. Wow. I mean, dude, here's the deal.

When the Rangers are buzzing, you're buzzing. And I just, I can't have you riding too high. Yeah, I was just trying to cut you down. He was. He was. It's unbelievable. All right. Let's get right into some hot ice because we're on a time crunch.

Hot Ice. Here's the first thing I want to talk to you guys about. I saw it today. I was scrolling hockey Twitter, and it was like Chris LaTang one point away from 700 career points. And I was like, oh, that's a sick achievement. I wonder what he is all time.

Actually, do you have any guesses where he ranks all time? He's blank number in defenseman points all time. Okay, so he's about to hit 700. How many games? I can tell you. Here's a little good fact. One thousand 19 games played. Okay, so here's a good fact for us.

I was looking at this with the first timers in the 2020, Hall of Fame induction class. Shea Weber, over a thousand games. I think he had something like 584 points. So, Weber is a great Hall of Fame potential player. Yep.

Well, it's taking such an offense. Never had the points. So I'm going to say he is top... He's definitely top 30. I was going to say it's 30 to stretch. 30 was like my benchmark. I think top 30. I guess he's sitting at like 27 all time.

Incredible guesses. Do you want to get more specific? Are you happy with top 30? I'm happy with 27. 27? 26th all time. Oh my God, dude. Okay.

So he's 1,019 games, 1.08 from 700. These are the moments where I need the listeners to know. I did not know that. Like that was actually just. Redmond's, Redmond's in Dan's area. He's like this. It's 26. Don't get it right, though.

Get one off and they'll believe you. It's like when you cheat on a test in high school or something. Get one wrong on purpose? Yeah, yeah. A minuses all day. The test of the person you're sitting right next to you have all the same answers. We study together. We study together.

Yeah. Okay, so first, a funny stat for you guys. Every defenseman ever with over 700 points is also over 1,000 games, okay, except for two guys. One, Eric Carlson, 934 games, 776 points. Wow. Sick. And two. The fact, I'm sorry, as a defenseman, the fact that he's already creeping on 800 and he's going to play at least, what, four more years, five more years?

Yeah, and he's only at 934. Like, to accumulate that many points, you have to play over a thousand games if you're a dean man, except for Carlson. Plus minus, though? Oh, yeah, not good. And the other one with 915 points is Bobby Orr in 657 games. I don't think... Good league.

I don't think, yeah. But I don't think people our age acknowledge how good boy are. I definitely don't appreciate it. I mean, he was insane. So insane. Okay, so the reason I brought this up, Latang, 26th overall points defenseman, and climbing, right? He's going to catch, like, he's like a few points away from a few guys. where do you guys have him as a defenseman all time?

Like we're ranking... Tangor? Yeah. Like he's 26 in points. But he's the 26 best defenseman to ever live? I mean, also think about like the adversity that guy dealt with too, right? Yes. He had two strokes, didn't he?

Yep. Like, that's insane. And like, I can hit you with some guys. Like, I have the top 40 points of defensemen. You know, and like guys behind him, right? Chris Pronger, Zeno Tchaara, Victor Headman. Like right off the back. Dunking Keith.

Drew Doughty. I'm like, Duncan Keith and Z stick out to me, especially there of like, are they above him? Even Dowdy. Yeah, absolutely. Even Dowdy. But Tangor is. Does Tangor have a Norris? He has to have one.

He has to. I don't know. I think he has to have one. I'm not sure about it. Look that up. I think. Can you discuss it? I think, and this is going to sound, when we just say he's the 27th all time, this is

going to sound disrespectful, he's no question about a top 50. Yeah. The question is, is he in that top, like, 35? I think he's not necessarily top 30, but he might be top 30. Does the resume help, too, like three cups? Absolutely. Absolutely. Three cups.

No Norris. I think, no Norris. Okay. I think the adversity is a hundred percent. Two cups. Two, three. Oh, he wasn't on the first team? He definitely was on the 09 team.

Yeah. He was on the 09 and 16, but that's all he has. I think he might have missed that season. Oh, he was hurt for 17. Yeah. That doesn't matter. He still gets that cup. But I think he, like, wasn't on the team.

Yeah, I don't know if he played. Like, it's not like, he was like, oh, I'm injured for the play. I think he was like. Wow. You're telling me his name is not on that cup. That's a crazy fun fact. That is a crazy fun. Yeah, it's actually very un-funned.

It's super unfun-fun. Un-fun fact. That is a crazy fact, though. If his name's not on that cup, that is so dead. That sucks. We got to call somebody. Well, because you think, Latang Malk and Crosby, I don't know why I put Crosby, I don't know why I put Crosby. in that list.

But that sounds about right. You think with Tang Malcolm Crosby, it's like, oh, they all won those cups together. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, he was under that entire year. I guess. That's insane. Okay, so No Norris

battled through so much adversity. I'm giving him three cups. Maybe the NHL isn't, but I'm giving him three cups. Because he's part of building the culture of that team. He was obviously around the team. I'm willing to say he's top. He's certainly top 40 for me.

Top 40 defensemen of all time. five is where I think I'm not positive. But then there's the question like are we definitely putting the guys who have 26 more points than him

are they definitely better than him? Not really. Good question. I mean they're studs. I know that right now that there's people who would die in the hill that Tangers better than Carlson. Here's a good one.

Yeah. So you know. Here's a good one. Brent Burns. Yeah, like that's tough. I mean, better than Tang. I think Tangers better than Brent.

Definitely. You've had a better resume, better hardware. Brent Burns, 844. points, 14th all time. insane. Didn't he play forward for a bit? Oh, good question. Good question.

He did. Yeah, I think he was a forward in Minnesota. How many points was he racking up there? Yeah, he wasn't putting up like 80 points seasons. Fair, fair. And he was to say, here's the twist to that question too. There's so many active defense in right now that yeah, yeah, that are coming hard. Oh yeah. Right. Where do you rank the, like, are those guys ranked yet? Or no. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. I'm like, yes. I think of like, you know, you are better than.

Fans are going to hate us right now. I think they might agree. Yeah. Yeah, how could you not, dude? That's an interesting one for me. It is one of those things. Like, if God forbid anything happened to some of these young guys in their career stopped right now, in 10 years, we would go, hangers better. That's always a great question, Dan.

Because I used to say that all the time where it's like, people are like, Kail McCar is a fucking lock Hall of Famer already. And I'm like this, already, if he literally quit tomorrow, he would not make the Hall of Fame. I don't think. I mean, he's won everything.

I know, but still like, it's like two years. You know, I think they'd be like, you can't be in the Hall of Fame. He's won every trophy already. He literally has. Every single one. Well, not, he has one in the heart.

Okay, fair. But he's won a Calder. He's won Norris. He's won a Codd and a Codd-Smith. And a Codd-Smyth. And a Codagh, which is enormous. And he won the Hobie, right? And a World Junior.

And the World Junior. And a Hobie. He's in the World. He's in the Hes in the Huffey. No, but I really don't think they would. He's a Hall of Fame player. Kilmacar McCarr could drop dead tomorrow and he be elected into the Hall of Fame. Unbelievable.

That's incredible. Okay, so where did we net out, top 40? Top 40? Top 40. We think he's a top 40 D man of all time. Okay, add us if you disagree, but I like that call. Top 40. All right, switching up the big Bo Horvatt return last night.

Yeah. I made a lot of money on that game, by the way. Did you get wrong? I had the Canucksian regulation, dude. So I did a little live bet when they were losing. Took their money line. I was like, there's no way. What's the three-way bet?

That's regulation. That just means regulation. Okay. It's like soccer, right? Like if it ends in a draw, then you lose. Yeah. So the big news is, Joel Horvett playing for the Islanders, made his first return back to Vancouver, literally was crying on the ice during the tribute, by the way.

Islanders, 23rd best team. They suck. In the league, five, six, and four. Canucks second best at 12, 3 and 1. I, great tribute. Yes, he was obviously incredibly emotional. Very mixed reviews from the fans. I don't know if anyone caught.

I actually didn't. I only saw the video in him crying. There was a lot of booze going on for him. And the question is, like, what do you guys think? Do you think Bo wanted out of Vancouver? Well, can you remind me or does anyone know? I can't remember if he was, like, trade me or if that was like a shot. I'm pretty sure he wanted out.

I thought that, too. It felt to me like the story was was the contract talks were going nowhere. Which to me always feels like, I mean, he was the captain of that team. If he wanted to stay, they could have figured it out. And their whole culture last year was so messed up. They had Bruce Brudrow, like everyone in the Bruce, there it is. And then all of a sudden they fire him. Talk about emotional.

That was killing me. I was like, oh, my God. Insane. So, yeah, I think Bo probably wanted a new challenge. So, yeah, where do you net out on that? And he... Was he the captain? He was the captain.

So they're like, good day, you're gone. He goes to the Islanders. The Islanders missed the playoffs anyway. No, they made the playoffs. And he got like an eight-year pretty fat ticket. Got a huge ticket. It was like the trade and sign deal. Like he, you know, he went there immediately...

It was like 64 million? Yeah, I think so. He demands a trade. They get sent to the Islanders. The Islanders with him stink. And the conductor are. now nasty. Yeah.

Okay. I have a couple questions. My first one is, how does he feel right now? Is he like, I have made a gargantuan mistake? Or is he like, we're building something in New York,

the Canucks of Fugasees? I don't know. That's what I'm saying. Like, do you think he's like, this is fine? Or is he already like, my life is over? No, no, no, no.

I, listen, no doubt about it. You leave. You're the captain of that team. You leave. You sneak into the playoffs. That's got to feel good. He's playing well.

Yeah. Then you start. the season and you stick. Like the islanders are, they're such a bummer right now. They know it. Yeah. And then you look across the, the continent, right? And Vancouver is a certified wagon. Captain Quinn has been so immediately embraced. He's doing such a good job. He's the best defenseman on the planet right now. There is no doubt about it that Bohoravat is looking at that situation and is a little bitter. He's a little bit, he's got to be like, fuck me, dude. Like the second I leave, you guys are unbeatable, but

I also think he has to look back on he was the captain of the team and he still wanted to leave that bad. He must have been like, I got to get out of here. So he has to remember those feelings too. And like there's no guarantees that they would be like this if he had stayed. So it's a hindsight of 2020 thing. I have a couple thoughts. So Bo Horvett was signed by the Islanders because he can score goals.

Right now the Islanders are not scoring goals. Which was always their problem. And Vancouver can't stop scoring goals. So, wait, that one's weird Aren't scoring a ton of goals? They're not scoring goals at all. Holy shit, that's crazy. Oh my God.

But Vancouver is like, nonstop filling the net. Hammer the over on Canucks games. Easy. Yeah. Also, shout at Pasha. I had a thousand dollar bet with him at the Chicklets Cup. I know. The Canucks make the playoffs.

He called me an idiot. They all made fun of me. And that looks great right now. Oh, my God. Really? Another shout out to Pasha, doubling down, calling J.T. Miller a terrible player and he only gets secondary assists. J.T. Miller is.

It's so fucking good. Took that one personally. Oh my God. Yeah, he took that personally. He's like, excuse me, he's top five in the league in points right now? Like, what the fuck, Basha? But here's the other thing, though.

Yeah. Signs that eight-year deal has to have some sort of comfort, right? Like, you know, as he has a secure team to play on now for a long time where that's probably a really good feeling. Was he not going to get that ticket in Vancouver, though? Didn't sound like it at the time. Yeah, true. But we don't know, right?

It could have been a, you know, Vancouver might have been offering the exact same contract, and he was just saying no because he was like, I'd like to leave. Yeah. Because to me, that's what we don't know. Those felt like I made a big mistake tears. That wasn't like, wow, what a touching tribute to be bad. That was like a, yo, dude, I've done fucked up, real bad tears.

He wasn't like, I miss you guys. He was like, fuck, I made the biggest mistake in my life. You know how would a guy slumping, they watch their own, like Patty Kane will watch his own highlights of him being nasty to be like, dude, you're good. I feel like the feelings, Horvats feeling right now, he needs to start watching the Canucks sucking highlights from last year and be like, oh yeah, oh yeah, okay, never mind.

That's why I left. You know, what I should have done? He should have pulled a George Costanza and just showed up at that game and put on his Canucks jersey and got on the bench and they're like, what? I'm still here. Yeah. It's fine. It's all good.

I didn't quit. What are you talking about? Do you guys remember Jack Johnson when the avalanche did their like banner ceremony? Johnson was playing on the Blackhawks in that game and went over and like in the Blackhawks jersey. That was so sick. That was so good. But I was also getting like Happy Gilmore like on the answering machine vibes like, like, you know.

Yeah. That's a vibe I was getting. Fuck you. I don't need you. Your fingerpain's suck Your finger panes suck It's also that thing too of It's like a breakup dude

Yeah You wish them well But you don't want them to start dating Something hotter than you No Okay, and if you don't think That the competitive nature Of a professional athlete

He is furious right now Every single player Who has left a team last year And is on a new team this year And that old team is doing better Is pissed about it There's no question And with that situation

Specifically, that one's just so tough Dude, Huberto last year? Oh, God, dude. I mean, do you see him on the bench? This year? Yeah. Like, the man is in a spiraling depression. It's like, honestly.

Feel bad for him. Me too. The Save Hubie campaign is so real. Yeah. Like, just like, it's awful, but we talked about it in our season preview. Calgary, I don't know how this happened so badly. But Huey is a phenomenal player. There's so many people who are like, he wasn't that good.

He was only playing well. He is great. Yeah. legitimately needs to just like blow it up. And I would, honest to God, I'd be like, hey, dude, wave your no move clause, let's just move you and let's reset here. I have one more Canucks question for you guys. Yeah. Yeah. Bo is playing one C for the Islanders,

five, seven, and 12 through 14 games. But the Canucks have PD and JT as their first two centers now. Pedersen, 719 for 26, JT, 10, 16 for 26 through 16 games, both fucking dominating. Is there... J.T. overrated sucks, dude. Is there, are the Canucks only doing so well because Horvats gone and those guys were able to No, no, no, no.

Like, what if he was on that team, though, and like everyone's bumped down one? Are they seen the same success or was it like slightly addition by distraction? He still had like 34 goals last year in however games he played for them. I know, but look at the team. It's like they were bad last year with him pumping in goals and now they're nasty. But now it's a full season with Rick Tocket, different vibe, different setting. Quinn's the, I mean, maybe the captain thing is different. I don't know.

Yeah, and I'm not knocking Horvatt all, by the way. I'm just wondering. Like, PD had over 100 points last year. It's not like PD was struggling last year. JT had what? They couldn't keep the puck out of their net last year. Demko right now is the best, like, goal saved above expecting. I think there's so many different variables with that team.

And I think guys in the Canucks right now would absolutely be like, no. We'd be getting the same production even if he was here. Also, CP, you said it in the season preview about Dallas, the award sweep. Vancouver right now, Quinn Hughes, Norris, Pee, Hart, and Demko, Vezna. Right now. Those guys are probably the three leaders in those categories. Wow.

Swayman is winning the Vesma right now. right now. Is he? Yes. He's undefeated still, right? Yes. In regulation. Oh, okay. Yeah.

One OT loss. And he's got like... Trade on mark. He's got like a nine... Dude, you know what they should do is they should trade him to Edmonton for McDavid and then... No brain. Yes. Dude.

Oh my God. Who says no? Who says no? Oh, okay. So poor beau. Poor bow. It is funny, though. You just read it.

He's like a point per game. Yeah, he's good, dude. He's 12 and 14? Yeah. 12 and 14. 5 and 7. Yeah. They want more goals, though.

Yeah. Okay. really excited to talk about. And none of us even fucking know what's going on, but there was some stuff in the news yesterday, two days ago that Colin Campbell, the NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operation said there's growing concern about the three-on-three overtime.

From who, dude? The staff, well, let me tell you this. That is my first question. From who? Who is concerned? Here's my first question. About the most exciting thing in the NHL in the last 10 years. It's too much fun. No, no, okay, but see, here's the thing, Dan. They said, since three-on-three was instituted,

65.5% of the games that extend beyond regulation have ended in overtime, as opposed to 43.2% before 3-on-3, which they love. So they are happy about that. The growing concern, and this is verbatim, is about the regroup when teams cross the blue line with possession, but then pull it back out into the neutral zone to reset and retain possession. Campbell said the strategy in overtime has evolved into being possession-based, but the GMs talked about the possibility that it is taking away from the excitement and chaos that 3-on-3 brought when it was first implemented in the 2015-16 season, but we're just zooming breakways out and down the ice. And then they say they can argue both sides, blah, blah, blah.

And he says the talking points included potentially eliminating the ability to pull the puck out of the attacking zone once you cross the blue line. Or adding a shot clock. What do they blow it dead? They go on to say like I don't want whistles, so that's not it. But you go first because you seem to dislike this a lot. So here's my thought. We shouldn't be adding more rules to the game.

We already have the offside review. We already have all these challenges. Delay of game. Take away the rules. Make the overtime and the three-on-three has. chaotic as possible. I'm down to even get rid of offside in it. Oh, fuck yeah. We've played four and four roller hockey. That's a fun game with no offside. It's kind of a similar possession game. If you bring that to the NHL, like see what

guys can do, see how creative they get. I actually tweeted it. Adam Wilde had the idea, make it like 10 minute overtime. And if it ends in a tie, they just get one point, there's no extra point. Like I've seen teams in the KHL pull their goalie to make it four and three like a minute left. Yeah. Okay. Sick. I want to see all the innovative ways to make it better. I'm very much on, on your side. The one thing I would say different is first of all, is it a little bit less exciting than the, remember those first games? Yes, dude. The very first season where they didn't know how to play it though.

Yes. And it was awesome. But dude, it's still exciting. Anyone saying it's not exciting anymore is being way too hyperbolic. It is still absolutely exciting. And I'm not going to fault NHL players for learning how to strategize the system. It's like they were like, oh, dude, if we just pull it out and regroup, that's better. Dude, Quinn's goal last night against the Islanders.

Like, great regroup. Quinn sneaks behind the defenseman, Brickway. One of the things they said to is you get to attack with speed when you do that, which is a perk. But go on down. And I'm not mad at that at all. What I would say differently, the 10 minutes is a good idea. I would do unlimited. I don't think there should be ties.

I think if you just go like this, there's no shootout. Such a bag, though. Yeah. Such a bag. I know. But if you go like this, this game's ending in this overtime. It'll make guys probably be like, I'm going to take a chance on this one. Like, we're not playing for a shootout here.

Like, let's go. I think if you just go, we're playing continuous OT until there. is a winner. How long do you think it could possibly go? It can. It can't. It's literally can. That's what I'm saying.

It's like 10 minutes. Like not honestly. 10's even a stretch. I think, agree. If you went this just like put a, you know, there's a, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's a winner. I think twice, two times in the entire season would we see an overtime go past 10 minutes. I agree. It's just so tiring.

There's odd man rushes and eventually break down. Yeah. And here we're. churning. Here we go. Well, actually, I can hear those old gears freaking around.

Say your, uh, Braveheart lacrosse thing first. Oh, three and three, two on two, one-on-one.

Yeah, say that thing first, because that's cool. Oh, yeah. I mean, I said this last year, yeah, yeah. And I think, you know,

so many of the people in the fucking comment section on Instagram got, got chirpy at me, but I legitimately think it should go five minutes of three on three,

if it's still tied, five minutes of two on two, if it still tied five minutes of one v one. Yeah. It would be the most fucking entertaining thing I've ever seen. What if they did like the youth hockey activation drill?

Like you pass it to a guy and like he comes off the bench. Yeah. Amazing. That would be so fun. Like dodgeball. Okay. Here's what I think about. Yeah, I just came out with that one.

Yeah, that was really good. It's a two players way. Here's what I think about this. Gel break. I do think that there are good minds in pro sports that are trying to, not break the game, but like break, like find out the most effective way to do something. Right. And you see it.

It's a very copycat league in that way in every sport. you see it with like power play breakout. Literally now every team does the carry up to the ultra zone and then drop it to the last guy and then he comes in. Every team now has the bumper on the power play, right? So like people figured that out and then they were like, oh, we should all do this. This is the best way to do it.

And I'm fine with that. And somebody cracked overtime. I was about to say broke because I think it did. But someone cracked, oh, dude, don't give the puck up. Just come back out. If we don't have a good chance, just circle it back. And in my opinion, the three-on-three was brought in for chaos.

Not for like, we just want to end games. Like, yeah, the numbers are up. They didn't bring it in just to end the game. They brought it in because it was fucking exciting. And it is actively less exciting now. It's effective still. But I'm like, dude, I don't, I wanted the chaos. Okay, so I don't think it's actively less exciting.

I think it's actively less chaotic. Dude, for people who love the game, I think it's so exciting watching them figure that out. Like, when I see someone like Quinn Hughes, regroup, take the puck out, and then come in with a head of steam. How are you not excited about that? It's less pinbally for sure. But dude, end of the day, if you're telling me that you're going to watch in overtime and even with the regroup, there isn't a play where someone loses the puck or gets pinched in the corner and you're like, oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, because there's so much.

Dude, it's still so exciting. It would be such a panic move to your point. Add another stupid rule. Not being able to go past the red line. Like, that makes me want to vomit. Well, here's my fear in that. Yeah. Imagine a goal review.

in overtime where a guy loses control to the puck and it comes out of the zone it's not necessarily him carrying it out, he lost control of it, then how do you determine whether he meant to do it or like there's just so many different ways where that it becomes a rule too. And like we talked about, this all happened because guys figured out how to game the scene.

We go in like this. If we're on the same, if we're a three on the ice in overtime, if you think I'm not going with this, dude, if you're on offense and you're kind of hemmed in, throw me a pass at the point and I'll miss it. And I'll go back and grab it. They would do that. Yeah, that's a good point.

No, but I think, too, like, my pitch would be, I definitely don't want whistles. My pitch would be, if you take the puck in the ozone, it can't come out, period. I don't care if you missed it or whatever. If you, if it comes out, it's change of possession. Change of possession, but it's not a whistle. It's like roller. Like we play a chickadeck, just dump it in. And if you want to try to change, go, but like, they can go.

It's just, in a professional league that's just, that's nonsense. I don't know, dude. That's chaos and the bat. No, Chris, it is. You know what it is. Teams would get so innovative of how to keep it in, to be like, oh, just toss into the corner, I can win that race. There's so much ice.

Instead of being like, let's bring it all the way back. But if it does come back, and then it's just like this, will they get the puck? Like, that's just, that's too disorganized. And you know it is. I guess it would be hard to, no, I think the ref would have to blow the whistle because you couldn't just go.

We could go on for hours about this. Yes, I know. This is so excited. I was already, we have to move on. I'm actually passionately. Same. Like, I hate the regroup. Like, every time it happens, I'm just like, dude.

Oh, as a player, though, I love it. There's nothing better than coming back, getting speed and coming up the ice full possession. And you get that one drop and they're stationary. And you're like, buzzing. Bye. Busing. Yeah.

But I'm like, oh, man, the flying up and down the ice, like three on three should be literally odd man rush back and forth. Back and forth. And like the regroup just completely takes that away. Which it adds creativity and speed and all that stuff. But it does take away the constant two on ones. He daddy actually had a good one. He was, I think he was joking, but it was actually a pretty good idea.

Give each team a four. four and three power play, kind of like college football over time? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like 25 yards. You get one possession each? Yeah, like a minute or like 30 second power plays and like trade off. Yeah, like last licks or whatever. I thought that was interesting. That is actually very interesting. I mean, to less odd man rushy though, right?

My closing thoughts on this are. I had one more point actually I want to make after. Please. Different topic though. Just my closing thoughts are I stand by what I said at the very beginning of this topic is like, who are the concerns from, dude? Like all of the ideas that we're throwing around, I'm like, cool. but none of them to me are better than what's currently happening. Dude, just relax.

I'm definitely the minority, but I will say when I saw that news headline, I was like, oh, I've been saying that for the last couple years because I was like, I hate despise the regroup. But you don't have a good. I'm still the opposite of you. I don't yet. And neither today, obviously, because they're,

but I love or I love personally that they were like, we need to figure it out. I actually, my favorite idea that has been floated around here is the roller, no off sides. Yeah, that's a fucking sick idea, Johnny. That would be awesome. Awesome. That is a sick idea.

I would just say one thing. I was just going to say, we're done with him. Not everyone have to come out. Like, I think I would hate the regroup less if the puck carrier went out, but there was no offside.

I just got to stay in the fucking zone. Yeah, like no offside. Yeah, it's good. But it's interesting to hear from the players because I remember in Vegas for the player media tour,

someone asked Sidney Crosby, like, what rule would you change or bring back? And he said, it'd be interesting to see how the game today would be with the two-line pass. Yes.

He was like bring that back. Because he wants to know how guys can think. Didn't he say he wasn't like, I'm not saying we should bring it back, but I'd be curious to see what it would. How people like would. Very interesting because I always hated that rule. I was like, what are you trying to get rid of goals, dude? But that's cool.

So I would like to hear a player's perspective on the three on three and what they would want to make better. Me too. Yeah. Great call. Yeah. Good debate. Good debate. Healthy debate. All right.

We're going to kick it now to our interview with Will Smith of the BC Eagles, fourth overall draft in this past draft by the San Jose Sharks. Unbelievable kid. I've got a lot of stock in. BC after interviewing him. Oh, BC's going to win everything. Did you tell him to like stay as long as you can with everything going on and stay here? In fact, I was like leave now dude. Really? Yeah. They're a mess right now. I guess you're going to be the number one

center on that team. I guess, yeah, that's a good point. I told him I was like, Badar choose 20 times a game, dude. Go now and you get to shoot every time. Let's see it. Let's see it. Let's let everyone. All right. So we're going to kick into the Will Smith interview now. Hope you enjoyed as much as we did. All right, we are joined right now by Lexington native, same by the way. Yeah, huge. U18 gold medalist, U18 MVP, tied for most points

in U.S. at U18s. Unbelievable. Second most points in U.S. Dev program season history, second most points in U.S. Deb program two-year career. Fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft with the San Jose Sharks and highest ever draft pick for a BC Eagle,

the Fresh Prince Will Smith. Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Thank you for having. It was quite an intro. I was stressed the whole time. I was like, I got a resume, dude. It's a long resume. I mean, dude, to be this age and have that resume, I'm rattled. I made you and memorize it too.

Like, he had it printed out and I was like fucking memorize that right now. Before you got here, I was like walking the halls, just like saying it over and over again. But dude, thank you so much for making time. We're here in your hood in Boston. We got to start off by talking. We talked about a little bit out there. At the draft, we met your boys. What a crew you have, dude.

the most fired up friends we've ever met just going so ham for you at that draft. What was it like having all your crew there for that day? Yeah, that was that whole, the whole week and, like, month leading up was just mayhem of tickets and everything. I think my mom had, I don't even know how many tickets laid out of, all right, these people need this, these people need this. So then I told my buddy as I was like, day before, I was like, if you buy a ticket right now, you're in, you're coming. Yeah. And they did it. Yeah.

They showed up, I think, five hours before, and they were fired up. So I couldn't, I mean, I was, like, honed in on the draft when I was in the seats, but they were, I could, apparently they were going nuts up in the stands. And I saw them right after, and they couldn't have been more happy. So, like, they're nuts, but they're awesome. Dude, it's the best. I mean, like, you got to have the OG boys there. Oh, yeah.

They're, like your friends from when you were young, young, or what? Yeah, I played, I mean, squirt minor with them all the way up, and I went to school with them. so I've known there forever. Hell yeah. I love that. Well, dude, you're in year one at BC right now. What is college life like so far? Like, are you following the football team?

I know they got the path right now. Yeah, you have you right about the path? There's the opportunity to get into. We need Miami to beat Louisville this Saturday. The path is locked in. What do you know about the path, dude? I mean, I was out. Actually, I mean, I know the QB Tommy football, we call him.

So he's a good guy, but no, we hear about the path. It's all I hear about it. So we were actually a basketball game last night, too. Okay. So we're supporting everyone, and then they come to our games. They love it too. Yeah. Do you feel like you can kind of lean into, like, college life a little bit?

Because, I mean, you were a great example of this new generation where you, I mean, dude, from, like, what, four years old, hockey has been everything. And you've been all over the country already, and you're now in college playing at one of the best programs. But do you feel like you are getting a cool balance of being able to go to football games, basketball games, and, like, enjoy. college as well as playing. Definitely. I think, like, you see the pro level and stuff. I mean, I skate with guys in the summer, and they're like, enjoy it while you have it.

They miss those days. Oh, yeah. Nice. I'm actually getting to go to class and do with other people and kind of, you know, to be a little way from the rank. And then when you get to the ring, it's all business. But, I mean, the tailgates and all that stuff. Yes, there you go. Love that.

Be with the people. That's awesome. Yeah, making it work. Yeah. All right, I want to talk you 18s. You guys, you go to Switzerland, you win your group. your dummy everybody. Dummy everybody, actually all the way to the finals, really.

Play Sweden, who smoked Canada, right? You guys go down 2-0-0, come back, tie it up. Go into the third down 2-0. You get an apple on the game tire with like four minutes left. Your boy, Ryan Leonard scores the OT winner, 3-2, so sick, blah, blah, blah, blah. What I want to ask. We got to sewer you for a quick second. Bro, you took a fucking penalty with a minute left in the goddamn gold medal game.

Dude, a hooking call. What is happening? your mind when you're on the way to the box. Yeah, at that point, have you ever been sweating more in your entire life than when you were sitting in that box? It's a funny story, actually. So, I mean, if you look at my PIMS from last year, I think I had, like, second least on the team. Yeah. Like, I think I legit at 10, 10 poundy minutes. So, of course, it happens then. Yeah. I don't think it was a good call. Not even that moment, especially in that moment. I'm going to say, you guys watched the clip.

I've watched the clip. All right. Thank you. So I didn't think, I didn't agree with it, but obviously it happened. Did you let the ref here? it when you went to the box? A little about it. Are you serious? Like right now? Right now? Did you, were you in the box?

Because we called the timeout right after that. Were you in the box for the timeout or were you talking to the boys during the time? No, I was in the box. I think there was like a minute left. Yeah, literally do. So, and I think someone had a huge block. And then the kid had a one, like a one timer, I think, and Trey our goaling made a ridiculous city.

And I was like, oh my God. So I went in the locker and I was like, holy shit. Like, you guys? Sorry, boys. Yeah. You guys got me here? here and they're like, yeah. And I actually got ice because I was like overheated.

I was like, you're having a panic. I was going to losing my shit. They're like, we're good. Yeah. And also our goalie tray was like ridiculous. He was like, smit, you're getting like, we're all good. Yeah. So then I get out of the box.

There's a whistle, so I was out there. Yeah. And Perrault won the face off and I think I missed by that. Yeah, you did. I missed the cross by that much. But when we got out of the box, it was. You're like, we're winning now. We're fine.

That's one of those momentum things. It feels like when you kill that, you're like, we're winning this game. Yeah. We had like three massive blocks, too. Huge. Yeah. Okay. So you're redeemed for the penalty.

But tell us about just that experience. Like represent your country, winning gold, obviously. But just like, what was it like hanging with the boys over there after you won while you guys get up? What were you doing your free time? You know, tell us about all that shit. Yeah. We had a funny group actually, like, we were really close.

Our trainers actually said we were one of like the closest groups they've ever seen. So, I mean, we like to have a fun. time like out the ring like off day there we'd everyone hop on the scooter we'd be flying around the city and in the middle switch on all these people we're seeing these guys and USA jacks so yeah what's happening right now so um no yeah that was fun and then I mean we just kind of like to like just shoot in the hotel I mean we're doing something different every day playing cards or video games or what a lot of cards poker a lot of cards yeah no money but yeah yeah you know for candy for snickers bars yeah yeah that was an everyday thing yeah oh hell yeah um you have the unique

experience due to, you know, you have a silver medal too. And, you know, you're in Germany before that. What, how much of that was in the back of your mind? Like, you, you get another opportunity to represent your country at such a young age. You go to Switzerland. You've kind of been through the experience before. Were you guys looking at it very much so in just a, you know, new team, new tournament, doesn't matter. Or in the back of your mind, were you like, I know what it feels like to come up a little bit short. We're not letting that happen again. Definitely. I think that was pretty, I was pretty rattled after that. I mean, silver medal never. feels good and then getting the same matchup in the finals a year later.

It's like, come on. Come on, boys. This is it right here. So, no, I was, obviously, we thought about that a lot. And we watched the video of us losing, like, over and over. You weren't thinking about it when you were hooking someone with a minute left. No. But you were thinking about it every other.

Exactly. No, I mean, like, that's got to, you know, I like that that lingers in your mind, right? Because it's like, I understand the attitude of, like, you know, put everything out. get it clear it out we're just going out there and playing but i love it i think it adds that element of like there's no fucking chance we're like we're losing again yeah to the same team were you guys like because like i said truly i think that you beat the check for one maybe in the quarters but every other game you've rolled people so when you got to the final it was tight were there any nerves like oh my god because we've been crushing everyone or you're like we knew this was going to be a battle anyway

uh not i mean we've because we played sweden like two other times um in like five nations and stuff so we knew they were legit, but we weren't, I wouldn't say we were nervous, but we knew they were good team. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So we knew we were going into a battle. What were they saying down 2-0? Like, what's the talk in that second intermission? Honestly, everyone asked that. It wasn't, like, we weren't really. Yeah, you're fine. Yeah. Because we had, we had a post like, three minutes and a third. I was like, oh, here we go. Yeah, we're on. And then we got a tipping goal, and I was like, oh, here. And then, crazy story, five seconds later, we had a dump in off the draw. Leonard hit the guy pat. I had a wide open that in the puck hop.

It still would have went in. It could make a six save. And then you could feel it. Yeah. And then we scored on that power play with four minutes left. So awesome. Yeah, that was a story. It's electric, dude.

If you had to rank it, which did you like more Germany or Switzerland? Oh, Switzerland. Not close. Fuck Germany. I hope so. I mean, obviously hanging with the boys, but was there anything about being in Switzerland that you were like, this is especially sick? I mean, just her setup was just 10 times better. Germany was good.

I don't want to say. Smitty just lost too much money playing poker in Germany, and he did good in Switzerland. And he's like, Switzerland was sick. We're going to have some German fans coming for Smitty now. Yeah, I mean, well, we were in like a cornfield, like kind of in Germany. Yeah. And in Switzerland, we were in the, like, actual city.

Yeah. And we also went to Zurich before. So it was like, sick. We're walking around Zurich. What can get better? So it's pretty sweet. No, that's amazing. A six spot.

So we kick it to the draft. and there were so many awesome things about that draft and so many unbelievable storylines. The first one that I want to talk about, obviously, we'd mention it in the intro, you become the highest pick ever in BC's history. Have you given cuts shit about that? No, I haven't.

You obviously have to do that, dude. Like, your team is you see him every day. And I congratulated him on being the highest BC pick to his face. And then a year later, I'm like, bye, he's old news. Now we're sitting with you. No, I haven't given it to him yet. Next time he gives you shit, throw that in his face. It'll be a perfect company.

Okay, fifth overall. Fuck you. But so we talked about it. So you head to the draft. You obviously have the amazing and unique experience of having Leonard with you and pro with you. Two of your teammates, you lived in Michigan with these guys, you've played with them for a long time. You're now all together at BC, and you all go in the first round. How surreal was that?

Did you feel like when you guys were in Nashville and even the days, leading up to it, were you all together kind of taking a moment to be like, this is insane. Like our whole line's going to go to the first round. We've been playing on a line together for years. We're all about to go to college together and we're all about to get drafted in the same draft in the same first round together. Was that being talked about all the time or was it too much of a whirlwind to kind of take in?

Honestly, it was like the summer was crazy. I mean, I was somewhere else every weekend. So it was like when we got there, honestly, we still had interviews and stuff. like meeting with different teams like guys were meeting the day before and so I saw Gabe like once or twice saw Ryan once or twice too I mean obviously you had your family

and everything there too I remember one night we were in my room and just like kind of just like what are we thinking here like what's going to happen and we were going through all these different scenarios like what if this guy goes here like where am I going to go so it's like now that was a funny night like just kind of did you have a bet on who was going to go first

no we did not Come on, dude. You cleaned up on them for sure. No, we did not. Was that, I mean, obviously, like you said, your boys were there, your family's there. Did you three have a moment, you know, after that first day where you kind of just were able to get together and be like, holy shit, dude. Like, this is amazing. Yeah, I think it was honestly at my draft party.

Like, everyone was there at one point. We should have come, dude. Yeah. Blue it. God, damn it. That was a good night. No, yeah. That's amazing, dude.

I love that. Talking about the draft was. something I'm really curious about. We actually talked to Bobby Ryan about this because he was in the same draft class as Crosby. And being in the same draft class as Badaard with all the insane hype

around that, was there any part of that that was kind of nice for you guys of being like there's so much attention and pressure on this one kid and any other year, you read any article about you and how well you've played you could have gone first in any other draft. And you enter this

situation and there's a kid like this who's got all this hype, was it kind of nice being to, you know, have a second to just kind of be with yourself, collect your thoughts, your emotions leading up to it? Yeah, I think yes, and no, I mean, obviously you want to go, you want to go one. Yeah. That's the competitive nature, but the fact that, I mean, you kind of can let go. And, I mean, after the lottery, you kind of see the slot of the teams. And as we get closer and closer, you're like, all right, what's going to happen here?

Take some of the pressure off. And then you start looking at, like I said, the other teams. So it's like you kind of get to narrow down your list of where you think you're going to land. Love that. And then we had this conversation with Fants a little while ago. Can you tell us some funny stories or questions you got from teams or some of the weirdest things that you were asked about that you were like, what the fuck? Because I know they asked you what. You don't have to say teams.

I know they asked you. I know they asked you. I know what animal are you? I want some dirt. Like I know they asked. You don't have to say which teams. Just tell me about the question. You can tell us after which teams it was.

I knew you guys were going to ask that, but no teams like got in the mirror. Really? I think crazy, but the animal one went, I saw that on TikTok. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So that was Montreal. And obviously, I know Ken Hughes, so he was in the back. And I didn't really know. I was like, what am I going to say here? So I heard about the question before the combine, so I started thinking about it. Yeah. But I said, I think, golden retriever off the ace and eagle on the ice. So, okay. That's the BC loves that. That's the BC and you. Yeah, yeah. It's a great answer. It's a great answer. You bring up Ken Hughes. You have a very, you have a very. interesting, you know, perspective and situation going into this with the teams that were lined up, right? You say, you know, Kent, you obviously grew up, like, he coached you when you were young, right?

Yeah. And then you went to school with Greer's son, right? Yep. Was there part of you going into this that was like, I have a very good chance of getting scooped by San Jose or Montreal here because of those connections? Even before, because I know you had a great interview that I took it to dinner and you were like, I'm feeling good. Even before that, though, were you like, it was probably San Jose? Yeah, it was kind of weird because, like, you. you hear tons of different stuff behind the scenes of, all right, where am I to go?

And then you hear another team want to talk to you. So it's like what's going to happen. But knowing that and knowing Kent, I was like, all right, what's going to happen here? And you see everything on Twitter and the media of getting asked questions and stuff like that. But knowing those that I knew them, I was like, all right, where is it going to land here? Yeah, yeah. At what point did you get a call, did you get a text or anything as the sharks were coming up? Or was it a, you know, a bit of a surprise?

Yeah, when you hear your name, is that literally the first time? You're smiling. I feel like you're wondering. In the NFL draft, you see them get the call? Yeah, yeah, exactly. Like, when the sharks say your name is that the first time when you're walking to shake Marl's hand, that's when you found out too? Yes.

I mean, I thought once the, like Columbus got by and I knew. Yeah, okay. Not from them, but I knew, like, I had a feeling. Yeah. Before that, I didn't know what was going to happen. Yeah. Because it all kind of depended on number two. Yes.

is no way we remember that that was crazy if fance goes to maybe you you end up three to columbus yeah who knows no one will know interesting yeah um and then lastly just like you know cuts told the funny story when he went up his like jaw was wiggling while he's smiling taking the photo with that bitman and all that shit what were you feeling when you walked up there was it surreal like this is amazing obviously but like thank god it's over like i can kind of just like celebrate with my family now did you were you able to take it in what was going through your head honestly like when you hear your name, you're like, all right, now I don't need to be nervous. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm sure, too. My heart was like, I was feeling it. And you can look at like the, there's videos in NHL post. Like my face was like completely straight for those picks. Yeah. Drafted. I'm going to be happier.

And then you're walking up and you're just kind of like, I mean, I don't even know how many people were there. I think it was like 16,000 or something. Hell yeah. The place was packed. Looking around and then you shake Gary Benman's hands. So it's like, is this really happening? Yeah. But then after that, obviously, you want to just kind of see your family because you have

all the media stuff. For sure. When you get to see your family, you're like, what's happening? How long did it take you to find out that your sister got popped in the jaw? I saw it on Twitter right after because my cousin was like, hey, look at it.

Oh, shit. And I was like, oh, that's hilarious. Yeah. He took it like a champ, dude. Oh, my God, blink. Yeah. Incredible. Did you see Leonard's, he hit his girlfriend by accident?

No, I did see that. So it was like, what just... People taking grenades at the draft down there. And you don't want to act like anything happened, too, so you're on live TV. Yeah. Seriously, dude. Good job.

Gabe gets drafted and he's just sitting like this. I can't make this a trifecta. That's so good. Okay, I want to ask you about the sharks. I asked cuts this too about the Flyers because last year, I mean the Flyers are, actually they're kind of surprising this year. They are. Last one of the Flyers are struggling a bit.

Now, I don't want to get you in trouble. But when you're like, okay, that's my team, the Sharks. Is there part of you, and they're struggling. They're 2, 13 and 1. They went 10 games without getting to win. Is part of you like, sick, dude? I'm going to show up and be one seat. and kind of like what you've seen with Badaard a little bit right here

where they're like, go, you're the guy, we're not that great right now, we're going to build around you, or are you like, fuck, I wish they were nasty and in the playoffs and this season can end, and you don't have to declare if you're leaving, but if they're in the playoffs and you were going to leave B.C., you could go right now, or are you like, I literally don't care what the sharks are doing, I just want to win a Natty here, and I'll deal with that later. I think it's a mix of everything. I mean, I obviously fall along to all their games,

and I mean, like guys who are, I mean, our whole freshman, or a bunch of the freshmen are drafted a different. different teams like Fowler, Montreal, game, New York. So, I mean, they're obviously like, hey, you see the Sharks game last day? Like, if they're losing, so. They're busting your ass. You're like, all right, too. I mean, you obviously want them to be a good team, but, like, they're obviously in a

rebuilding phase. So it's like, why would you be mad right now? Yeah. Obviously, have a bunch of picks coming up. So it's kind of, it's actually exciting to have. That's what I was thinking. Like, maybe you're like, sweet, bring someone else in and we'll go tear it up together. Definitely.

So it's exciting, I think. but we're focused on... Yeah, get the B-pot. Get the NADD. I was going to say, you know, anyone who's talked to you always says, one of the first things people say about you, when you look at any of the reports, is how focused you are and driven you are

and, you know, singularly focused on the season ahead, and that's amazing. But like you just said, it is kind of, must be a cool feeling looking at that project and being like, it's cool that there's a door open for, you know, whenever you do make that jump, they are in this rebuilding phase that you're like, I can see myself fitting into that,

being a fun start of this rephrase of a great franchise with amazing history. You know, like that's a pretty cool feeling. Yeah, it is. I mean, you want to get to the NHL. That's like the top level. There's no level above that. So it's like that's where I want to be. And the fact that they chose me,

they want me to be on their team. So it's like, we're the future. We're going to try to build this thing back up. Hell yeah. It's cool too. And I imagine, you know, you'll be able to speak to this next year, hopefully. But it's, I'm sure there's a factor when,

if you get on a team that's has this huge, you know, the top six are all set up and you're like this young kid that among all these vets, trying to find your voice, your confidence out there. I imagine it be a little different than when maybe you show up to a team that's in a rebuild and they're like, dude, do your thing, bro. Like, Connor took 20 shots. I was like, sick, dude. You know, it's like when you show up and they say, go, dude, be free, do it.

I'm sure that will be a nice thing just for the headspace when you get out there. Yeah, I mean, like, Sagan showed up here and they were in the cup that year, I'm pretty sure. So it's like, it's completely different. You know the press box, dude. And, like, everyone's like, what the fuck? And I'm like, who you want them to play over? Yeah, so it's tough. So, I mean, it's all guys are drafted.

Like, Gabe's drafted in New York, so they're obviously ridiculous right now. So it's like all depends kind of where you go and the future. So you just mentioned Sagan. Leads me to believe you were a Bruins fan. You're a Massachusetts guy. You're playing at a Boston college. You're obviously a beast guy. How quick does the switch flip?

Like, you're drafted by the shark, so you're like, I'm all in. Or is there a part of a guy? you that's watching the season right now and you're like just this season just this season you're like maybe the Bruins win a cup this year just this year i mean if the Bruins won a cup this year i wouldn't be mad i'll leave it back here as long as they don't get the sharks dude that's all exactly they're right here so i mean we're gonna come with some games yeah yeah there you go um so bc i was going into this i was going to ask what the process was like what were what you were thinking but then you see your what the fucking 14th member of your family to go to bc this is like

in your blood through and through. But you declared to Northeastern, verbally at 14 or something like that, right? I did. So walk us through what happened when BC kind of came on your radar, or if it was truly like the entire time, you were like, I mean, I'm going to get to BC at some point.

Like, had your dad just yelled at you or something? And you were like, I declared a northeastern. It's pissed off at your grandpa, and you were like, God damn it, I'm going to Northeastern. Yeah, I mean, the funny thing is growing up It was always like, if you're not going to BC, like, where are you going? Yeah. So, but then when I got, like, 13, 14, like, started getting real, like, we're going to commit soon.

Sure. So then, I mean, I'm obviously looking at all the Boston schools. And, I mean, Northeastern looked really good at time. And obviously, Ken's two kids went there, Jack and Riley. And I was at high school with them at the time. I was in seventh grade, and they were an upperclassman and Struble. So there was a bunch of guys at St. Sebastian's who were going there that I knew. But I mean, deep down in my heart, I wanted to flip it up after, I think it was the middle

of my 17th. We were in Finland too. So it was, yeah. The line chart came out. The logo was the next to my phone. Everyone started freaking out. Yeah, yeah. That's so funny. I actually told my grandfather before he passed away, I was like, yeah, I'm going to BC. That's actually amazing. That's such a good moment. Wow. Fantastic. And then, you know, obviously your linemates, Ryan and Gabe are at BC as well. Was this a team decision? Obviously, you guys were talking about it. When did it all come together?

You had you and Rye already and it was Gabe. You had to convince? Yeah, okay. It's kind of a funny story because Ryan's brother was a player at UMass. He was a Hobie Baker. Ryan Ellis one year. So we were like, what's happening with him? When he chose BC, I was going to BC.

We had Fortescue and Vote and Mnishin going there too. So you were first of the three? I'm pretty sure. Me or Ryan, we were right in the same time frame because I was still decommitting and all that. I was still stabbing Northeastern back. It took a while to pull the knife out and clean it. I quickly called and said, go fuck yourself, hung up, then committed to BC.

Yeah, and then our year, like, we were just having a great year. Yeah. Gabe still wasn't committed, so I started pressing on. We're roommates at BC and, like, great friends. So I was pressing a little more. and I was like, all right, let's go. Come on. Yeah. Commit here. And then he took a tour, loved it.

And then he told me and then committed. Hell, yeah. Was there no part? I mean, the dev program for people who don't know, I feel like all of our listeners know is in Michigan. Was there any part of you guys that was like, maybe we leave Boston, maybe we leave New England? Or was it always, obviously with you,

the family connection is so hard to avoid. And that's such an amazing thing. And the fact that you told your grandfather first, what an awesome story. But, you know, when you're out, and you're in Michigan. Is there any party that's like, oh, maybe I'll look at Minnesota or Michigan

or something like that? Like yes, and no, I think it's, like you said, it was a little different for me. I wanted to be near home. I was away in Michigan for two years, so I was like, all right, why not come home? Bean pot's also a huge thing. You want to be looking up as a kid.

You always want to play in that. But, I mean, if you look at Michigan, these other schools, it's pretty sick too. Yeah, oh, my God. We scrimmaged them, too, last year. So we're playing, we played Michigan and sold out crowd. Oh, oh, the dev program, you scrimmage up.

Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. So, I mean, we get to see what it's like. And, I mean, you see guys decommitting from around here going out there. Yeah. Because of that scrimmage alone. You're like, oh, shit. See, their fucking facilities at Michigan, dude, Jesus.

Yeah, God. Okay, so you get the boys there, right? And we had talked, cuts came on, right? And we had talked about why he chose to come back. And he had such an awesome answer. We were talking before we were recording about how mature he felt. Well, actually, I have a quick question first. Can you tell us, like, how's the communication?

major going like what's going on with that yeah yeah you learning a lot bro he's setting up some i'm just kidding i don't give a shit about that anyway go on i don't you have funny class because i'm sitting next to my two linemates in theater class oh really and i'm like working like you guys doing some improv stuff yeah what do you just got our our roles today i'm a set designer Ryan's a set designer and gave the set designer oh you guys no you couldn't get this couldn't get a speaking part put a lot of thought into that the professor yeah that's tough that's tough how how often are you in class Yeah, we go to Coach Wants

is in class, so we get the class all time. Are you rolling in in like sweatpants and sweatshirts all the time? Yeah. Come on, Smitty. A little bit of effort. Put some jeans on or something. Maybe game day were full suit, walking through the quad of campus. All right, yeah.

I like that. I'll take that. Swag. It's a good trade-off. Dressing. All right, sorry, go on. Okay. Oh, yeah, and I was going to say,

Cuts was like, he had such a great answer about, because you guys were fine last year, you know, and he was like, I wanted to accomplish something here, or make a bit at accomplish something. Win hockey east, win a Natty, win a beanpot, something like that. And he mentioned the class coming in. He's like, I want to come back because we have a chance to do something special. And now here you are.

You're all here. And it's like Gabe leading the way and points your one behind him, nine and five, I think, and then cuts and then Ryan. Is it, when you envisioned, we're all going to be here at BC together and we're going to be sick together. Is this like everything you dreamed about when you were fantasizing about what this would look like? Because you guys are just killing it for this school. like the three of you came in and just dominating.

Has that been, has your dreams become a reality? Yeah, I think, I mean, we've only played 10 games and it's already, I think we're three or four in the country right now and we were one last week. So it's like, I mean, to happen this quick, I mean, the season's flying by. I was actually kind of crazy. It's nuts, dude. Playing like Denver at home and so I think I don't know how many nights we've sold out, but it's been crazy.

So I mean. You sent records, right? You told us that earlier. Yeah. Student records. So sick. So, I mean, that was our first game against L.I.U. We had a record.

So to have that happening, it's like, wow. Yeah. But like as the bean pods getting closer and you start to feel it, it's coming in. For sure. When the holidays hit, dude, you. Oh, yeah. Because you come back from juniors and it'll be chaos the rest of the way. Yeah, and like, you know, we don't want to sound corny over here, but it's like, you know,

I know you guys are just focused on playing, but there must be times where you pinch yourself in, like, I can't believe we're all still playing together in college now, playing so well. It's like, this must be unbelievable. do. Like you're playing some of your childhood best ones. It's like a movie script. Yeah. You guys are just killing it. No, it actually is.

I mean, even like I was joking about at school and going to class with them, it's like fun to like go to the dining hall and just shoot the shit with them for an hour. So it's like to be where we are. And I mean, obviously in a few years we're all going to be in separate places and not be together. So like we're trying to have fun. What is their major? What is where I and gave major? We're all communications.

You fucking. And theater class too. Yeah. But my next question was at what? point do you guys start making the phone calls to demand trade so you guys can all be together? Like you got to pull a Sadiens. Yeah, yeah. At some point you're like, look at our success.

One of your teams needs to just make this fucking happen. But yeah, I mean, it must be the fact that you, you know, everyone I feel like goes through that process where they're like, you know, we played high school together, then maybe if you're lucky you played Deb program together and you guys are just still playing college together, going to class together, living together. Like this is insane. It's a fucking fairy tale, dude.

It's actually insane. How many classes do you have together actually? I have five all my classes with Ryan and then four to the five with Gabe because he takes French. He takes French, yeah, I guess. He does. Makes sense, too. He's fluent. Yeah. Yeah, that's a easy.

He's probably the easiest class in the world. Did he tell the professor that he's fluent? No. Of course not. Intro, French 101. We just gassed him. I'm going to send this clip straight to that professor and be like, start pressing him a little bit more. He's getting ones wrong on purpose, you know?

Another B. I'm doing the best I can. Oh, dude. But, you know, so mention it cuts and like some of the goals here. So you guys are seven, two, and one right now. Like you said, one in the country last week, four, I think now. A couple tough ones up in Maine. But you guys are buzzing.

What are the goals that you guys talk about? I mean, it was really cool talking to Cutter about how, when he decided to come back. He was like, I feel like I went to BC and I didn't accomplish anything that I wanted to. It's like the bean pots coming up, like you said. You have a real chance at a Natty here. Obviously, with all of you guys, you have so much in your future already. It's amazing. but it must be awesome right now being like we're kind of a wagon like we got a shot here like

what are you guys talking about what do you want yeah i mean we so we do a thing every day with quotes and stuff before practice and one thing is like we want to raise banners that's our thing like hell yeah being pod hockey east and uh natty we have three chances of raising a banner but like honestly we're trying to stay in the moment more of we have a special group i honestly think that like our upper classmen are awesome they're awesome about us so i think you don't want to get too excited. I mean, we're already 10 games in, so it's like we only have 30 more. So it's a short season.

It really is. Yeah. We're trying to kind of, I try to stay in the moment too. Like the two years of the program flew by. Everyone says it does. And for some days we're like, oh, my God, get me out of here. But no, I miss it. And back to BC, it's just like staying in the moment.

And I mean, the bean bot's legit right around the corner now. So it's crazy. It's so crazy. Yeah, it's insane. Yeah. do you, we were kind of talking before we recorded, too, is it, what's the confidence level like in the room right now in terms of like, you know, you played Denver at home? You played me, you know, played some of these, you played QU, right? Start the year. At first game, like, are you guys like, we've played measuring sick games. We're there. Do you guys feel like, you know, give us anybody right now? Is that the attitude? Yeah, I think, I mean, we're very confident to play. I mean, we've, we played Denver when they were two and we played Quinnipak when they were three or four. So it's like, we've seen the reigning champs of last year. We've seen Denver who's, the rain chance from a few years ago.

So it's like we're not scared every anyone, but obviously you respect everyone. For sure. So it's like anyone can win in college hockey. That's the craziest thing, especially our league. I mean, we went in Maine. Their buildings hopping. It's a very tough league to play in away Barnes

and just against older, tougher teams. So you got to be ready every night. Hell yeah. And speaking of hockey east, looking very competitive, right? I feel like it's stronger than it has been by and large in a long time. agree in a long time because you have like the mains coming back to relevancy you know so you know providence main you guys view mass be you and especially be you right like the crosstown rival and then obviously

we get maclin celebrini committing there and they already had a sick roster you know and then he shows up and he's got you know like eight not eight and ten or something already through a few games my question is is it when you guys you're obviously seeing hit play and you're seeing the stats and seeing the highlights there anything to you to rye to Gabe that's like okay he's probably he's probably gonna go first overall next year that's our measuring stick like I want to be you I want to be better than him is that

is that motivation at all or are you like out of side out of mind I don't give a shit what Macklin's doing we're doing our thing both I think we're not really worried about them and him overall I think we obviously see we just checked their score yeah yeah see what they're doing but

no I take notes about everything so fuck yeah good um I don't forget things. I mean, I didn't forget the silver medal. I don't forget some of our stuff that happened. But we see what they're doing and we're ready to go for for B. I mean, we play them three times within two weeks, I think. So it's going to be, it's going to be a downy brook. Yeah, it sure is. I can't, I can't wait. It's going to be awesome. All right. Let's get into some fun stuff. We're going to hit you with a game that we play with everyone. Do you know about this? A little bit. Okay. So we're doing pass shoot score. It's the ranking system. First one,

it's kind of going to be a reverse ranking because these are, these are things that you hate. So the score on this one is going to be the one you hate the most. So for the listeners, again, pass shoot, shoot, second, score first. And the first topic is beanpot teams. So score is my favorite. Scores the one you hate the most. You want to beat the most. Okay, B.U.

Okay, there you go. So it's pass shoot, score, Harvard, Northeastern, and BU. Well, score BU. Yeah, love that. And you got them first this year, dude. First one and the late game. Out the gate, that is going to be the best opening to bean pot. I said I wanted it to be the final of all fucking years.

The year is going to be there. But teams can slip up, you know, at least this guarantees. They have an absolute tilt in the bean pot. Yeah, so scores be you. And then so shots the second word? Yeah. Oh, northeastern. And then.

Really? I thought you were going to give them a pass. No, dude. Oh, no love. Fuck that. Wow. Like you said, he called and said, go fuck yourself. Dude, you know how in like Premier League soccer, a guy will get transferred to another team.

And if he scores against his old team, he won't celebrate. Yeah. And like, he's like, dude, Smith, he's just humping in goals against him. He's going to pull on Andrew Ferrens, glove off, bird the fans, find the dean of admission somewhere. Okay, so pass Harvard. Just because they're nerds or what? I don't know. I just, northeastern B or just kind of always on our radar.

Yeah. Couldn't be bothered with Harvard. Yeah, exactly. It's a disrespect thing. It's a disrespect thing. Okay. Your next category is food. Okay?

Past you'd score. Fresh Maine lobster. A chipper bowl with white rice, chicken, lettuce, cheese, and guac. Guac's extra, just so you know. Okay. Maybe not for him. Yeah, fair.

Or your mom, Colleen's recovery shakes when you guys were at the dev program. Oh. Is the lobster hot? It's however you like it. Okay. But yes. We're going to talk.

about that after you. Okay. Yeah, I might get some shit for that. No, no. This is tough because of Chipotle, but I got to score Chipotle. No, you don't, dude. Is that your actual answer? That was the ad answer.

I love lobster. So that's your answer. That score, dude. Listen, Chipper's getting love here because they're already in the past shoot score, so we know that they're loved. That's true. I mean, but I love my mom's shakes, too. I know.

That's why it's hard. We do our research. We want this to be hard for you. Oh Well, I gotta get Fine I'll Explain your lobster first

Before you ask Yeah Well the thing is I've never had Main lobster I have lobster from Cape Cod Oh okay Ah And do you

Like you eat lobster rolls Are you eating a You eating a boiled lobster Both Which you prefer I kind of like getting dirty With the tools Hell yeah dude

Same Like a hot lobster A hot lobster It's pretty good With the warm butter Yeah I It's the only way

I completely agree Dude It's the only way Like listen They're all good But if you're doing A lobster roll toasted bun, hot lobster with butter, no doubt about it.

No doubt about it. Yeah. I actually have a funny thing about lobster. It just came to my mind about the program. Let's hear it. Tell me right now. So some days we'd be pretty bored. So my buddy and I, Z. Bouillon, who's on dinner, this year's draft.

There's a red lobster just in the middle of Plymouth, Michigan, that looks like no one has ever eaten at. So we'd go in there and we'd all pick out our own lobsters living. Oh, yeah. They would go back and get it. And then we'd have a game who could stay the longest. in the red lobster. So we would stay in red lobster for four hours.

Just like chilling. Yeah. Are you like hammering more and more lobster? Or do you eat the one? Yeah. Well, we'd get the like, the like combo so we'd have crab. Yeah. Yeah.

But the next day of practice was all my. Oh, that's sad. But Red lobster didn't want you to leave because they haven't had a customer in three months. So they're like, yo, please have another one. Dude, a Boston boy eating women from Michigan, Red lobster. Like makes me want to rip my skin off my body.

I also kind of love it. That's fucking. That was our degree of boredom. Yeah. But, so I got to go my mom shake first because that's my favorite. Okay, so that's a score. That's score. I want one of those, you.

I saw the recipe. It looked pretty good. And I'll go past Maine Lobster and shoot. Shoot the Chipper Bowl. Shoot the chipper ball. So lobster's your favorite food and you ranked it last. Listen, it's a lot of good things. Like, they're all good.

They're all good. It's tough. Fair. Yeah, it's supposed to be hard. All right, next we're going to do pass-shoots-shoe score, NHL players that you love. And are often compared to. Patty Kane Austin Matthews

and Patrice Bergeron These are tough All right I got a score Berge Thank God, well done I was going to have an issue with you And then Childhood Love

Gotta go Patrick Kane For Shoot And then one new guy Austin Matthews Yeah Yeah Could be switched around

He smashed his record though So fuck him That's true That's true. That was great logic, by the way. That was. That was well rationalized and answered. That was really well thought out.

We almost put it in Jack Hughes. Where would he have been? Well, because he's a new guy too, but I probably want him to shoot. Oh, okay. Boy, over caner. Yeah, they blend. They blend in. Yeah, okay, okay.

I like that. That was a good answer. Okay, last one. Music artists, okay? I was going to say you go to a concert, but you can just be listening. Morgan Wallen. Adele Bruce Springsteen

score Morgan Juan damn it that pisses me off oh my dad's gonna get mad of me but shoot shoot do it Adele yes dude that should have been to score I thought it was gonna be

Adele slaps I know there's some people love that answer in my Chipotle video they love that dude Adele cooks like that was a great answer that's actually like not bad pregame music.

Yeah, dude. It's unbelievable. You put rolling in the deep on, I'll run through a brick wall right now. It's unbelievable. But Bruce, I still like Bruce Springs me, but I have to pass.

What's, give me, what's your track for each of them? More than a run. Yeah, fuck yeah. Adel, someone like you.

Dude. Hell yeah. And then Morgan Wallen, oh, I went to his concert in seven summers, more than my hometown. Yeah,

yeah, too many. Too many. Yeah, he's the best. He's gas. Okay, so surprise, last one, we're going to do Pass Shoot's score Celebrity Crush.

Sidney Sweeney, Margot Robbie, Tate McCray. Tate McCray, easy first. Okay. Easy first. Easy score. Yeah, easy score. Easy score. Oh, easy first. Okay. But I love Euphoria, so I got to go shoot for Cindy Sweeney.

Wow. Okay. Wow, surprise. She's got a lot coming out there. Yes, she does. Madam Webb. She's got the Glenn Powell movie. Yep. Shit, all right. I've seen that trailer. Yeah. I'm sure you have. Half the YouTube user, just Smitty. So we're passing Marga. First time Marga Robbie's ever been passed in her day and life, dude.

You want to reassess that, dude? I mean, dude, no. That's a great clip. Smitty goes viral for that. Couldn't be bothered with Margo Robbie. Unbelievable. But Tate's number one. Tate's number one. If you had a message for Tate that we might be able to get to her at some point, what would it be?

Oh, answer my DM. Come to a VC game. Okay. That's an easy one. That was easy. That was easy. Before we move on from that, was just thinking with, you know, the Jack, Addie, Austin,

and then obviously talking about U-18s and all that. How fired up do you get thinking about the state of American hockey right now? It's crazy. I think to look at the program just in general and then as a wide region, I think to see those names on the list and then see them in the NHL just dominating, it's just like. It's unbelievable, dude. The U.S. is just keeps on climbing.

And then college hockey is crazy now, too. Yeah, I want to come here and play. So it wasn't like that before. And now that it's turning up and then, I mean, as a kid, all that you wanted to do is, like, go to a college hockey game and see the student section and I want to play here. So it's like now that games are like rowdy and crazy, like more and more people will come.

Dude, and playing D1 was always a cool thing for sure. But I totally agree when we were younger because we're much older than you. We'd go to college hockey games. It was sick. And you'd be like, I want to play here one day. But then as you guys. got better, the steer was kind of like, no, you don't. You actually want to go to play junior somewhere or whatever.

And now it's completely different. It's like, no, that would be the dream, actually, making one of these programs. It's unreal. Unreal. Fucking love it. All right. Well, dude, you pass that with flying colors. We've taken up a lot of your time before we let you go.

Is there anything you want to plug? Anything you want to shout out? I know you get a game this weekend. Maybe tell people to run to the ring for that. Yeah, I mean, I think there's going to be a good crowd there for Yukon on Friday night. So pack the stands for that. Oh, yeah? Yeah.

Big rest of the year. Fuck yeah, dude. Bye, Chipotle. Go get a Chipotle bowl. Smitty, thank you so much for coming on the show, dude. You've been amazing, and we can't wait to keep following you along. And obviously, you get out to California. You've got to come back on because then you're on our neck of the woods.

Perfect. Thank you for having me. Hell yeah, dude. All right, that was our interview with Will Smith. Massive, thank you. Beautiful kid. I'm sorry you couldn't be there. He would have loved you.

I'm happy to be here right now. He would have loved you. Thanks, guys. All right, we're going to kick it into our final segment. of the pod and then get into a special pass-shoots' score. So excited. John. Let's do hottest teams of the week.

Okay. This is going to be, just for the listeners, we're recording this on a Thursday. And it's just a couple days after we recorded the last one. It'll be a little bit different, but hottest teams of the week, hear me. Okay, so since it's been a couple days, we're not going to redo it. The Stars, Panthers, Penguins, who are three from last week, they still haven't lost, so they remain hot as fuck. The Rangers haven't lost still, so they remain hot as fuck.

I haven't played this week, though. Yeah, correct. You're still at three. but there's a few new three straight win teams to get into the mix, the Washington Capitals, the Philadelphia Flyers, the St. Louis Blues, and the Edmonton Oilers. Three in a row. Haven't lost since the coaching change, three in a row. Are they back? Are they playing tonight also?

Are they playing right now? No, I played last night. They played last night. Big win. Van der Kaine, natural Hattie. Yeah, to come all the way back. That was sick. I was never so concerned.

Me neither. I said they could suck till the All-Star break. I said they could suck to the All-Star break. Not hot in the latter half of last year, like I was saying a million times. I don't think Woodcroft deserved to get fired. What do you think about Woodcroft? We don't have to talk about it, but would you have, do you like that call? I think you just got to change the tone in the room somehow, and that's the easiest thing to do.

But even the guys, I love that they came out and they were like, you know, he didn't lose the room. Yeah, that was nice. I think you just need to change. He's going to get hired again quickly. Quickly. Nightmare situation. All right. So hottest teams, those are the guys.

Topwatch, still the same. eight goals, six assists, 14 points in 14 games. He's perfectly on pace. We're happy about that. Friend of the pod goals, no goals in the last couple days. Games to watch.

Wednesday, when this comes out, Hawks at Blue Jackets, Badard Fantilli. I'm going to watch that game. I'm pretty excited about that. I love that. Maybe Canucks at Avs. That's mine.

Okay, sick game. Devil's Wings, Thursday. Sick game. Love it. And Vegas. That star is sick game. You got a game to watch? This is Wednesday the 22nd?

Yeah. There's 14 games that night. I know. It's basically another frenzy night. We'll do this. 14 Wednesday. No games Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

And then 15. And then 15 games Friday. Wow. Sick. Beautiful. But Johnny, there's a big game Saturday. You want to give the listeners of game to watch on Saturday. Yeah.

Let's see. The 25th. Saturday 25th. I mean, B's right. Okay. It's got to be that one. Hey. You guys coming?

That's going to be a great game. We actually should. That would be fun as hell. I'll be across the pond. Damn. But I'll tune in. Love is sick. All right.

Love is tight. Love is so tight. Let's get into pass shoot score. Wait, you get a bet on that game, by way? Yeah. Friend bet. Friend bet. Let's do that.

I'm waiting on this big jump shirt. Dude, tell me. Tell me about it. But it's in the work, so actually. It is. All right. Pass shoot score. Am I starting?

Yeah, you're starting. Guys, guys. You're excited? I've been thinking about this for, I've known you guys for how long now, like six, seven months? Yeah. Probably since the day I first started a podcast.

I've wanted this to happen. You're like, God damn it. All right. This is exciting from the listening to too, because we've got a double pass-chards. Yeah, yeah, you get two. All right, pass-chute score, Johnny Lazis.

Starting you off with our number one mutual love. Of course. Of course. Of movies. Okay. Pass-hoot score. I'm like blushing. The Hangover 3.

Oh, you dick. Roll models. Okay. and Tropic Thunder. Okay, so Tropic Thunder I've only seen one time. I know. And that's a huge flaw of mine, apparently.

So I gotta pass that one. Okay, that's a pass. Okay. We're gonna watch that movie together. Yeah, can we? And you're gonna be like, Jesus Christ, this is one of the greatest movies

for all the time. I didn't give it a fair shot. It was like a plain movie for me. Exactly. In and out. God damn. It's like the funniest, I think it's the funniest movie of all time.

And you know, you know what's funny about it? Everyone always makes a, was it Kirk Lazarus? Yeah. They always make the reference to me. And I'm like, I don't get it.

Yeah, I know it's that, but I don't really get it. Hold on. Can we sub in the one I was going to sub in for that? Yeah, do it. Okay. Refresh. Refresh. Recalibrate.

Fresh. Pass shoot score, hangover three. Roll models, Zoolander. Oh my God. Zoolander's like my childhood. Yeah, we know. That's like prime car movie, like your mom's van. Yeah.

He comes down. Zoolander's on. Oh, God. But in the van. But as I've gotten, Christ, Cricer, Chrysers, I think.

Yeah, as I've gotten older. Ours was the Ford Windstar. Yeah. That was fucking legit.

On the way Hebrew school. Uh, okay, so as I've gotten older though, uh-huh. Hangover 3 is definitely

my score. I do that. Yeah, it's still my score. I can't believe. And because T. Like, it's all Allen.

You know? Like, even the little lines, like, like when they shoot Doug in the pool and Alan's like, he piss his pants

and he goes, let's get my new pair of pants. I'm 32 slim. Bring options. Like, Bring options. You know, like, that's just like those little things. You know how many apps I have in my phone?

Do you mean man hours it takes to download those apps? Yeah. I don't know. I just love that movie. So that's my score for sure. Okay. So I'm now having an issue with nostalgia with like Zoolander. But role models again, like just layer in itself.

Like, so good. Dude, we quote that movie almost every day. You're the king, Wheeler. You're the king, you're the king. Oh my God. I think I have to, but I love Ben Stiller. I'm just, but I love Paul Rudd too.

I think I think my, I think I have more childhood memories. to Zoolander, so I'm going to shoot Zoolander and pass role models. What is your... What do you think is the second funniest movie of all time? Because I assume Hangover 3 is your one. No, my one is Super Bad.

Oh, okay. Yeah. Actually, I tweeted like two weeks ago, Ted 2 might take over for my... Ted 2. You were the sequel king, bro. I like when they tie it all together. I think it's very creative.

It is. It is. It is. It's tough. I don't disagree. But Hangover 2 is the worst sequel ever. It's super bad. Ted 2.

However, Hangover 3. They give a lot of air time to Leslie Chow in Hangover 2. And he has some great, like the quick bump get mind right, I quote all the time. And it's fucking a step. It's pretty good. It's pretty good. Wait, I actually want a terrible joke. I'm the only one that finds this funny. Have you guys seen the sequel to Holes?

No. I didn't even know that existed. There was a whole secret. Yeah. You know what's called? Yeah. God damn it, dude. No.

More holes. The fact that... I laugh at myself with that all the time. fact that Zoolander 2 isn't called Twolander is the biggest mistake of all time. Oh my god, I even think of that. It's unbelievable. Also, the whole joke got a shout out my roommate Rowan Savidant. He loves you guys, big hockey guy.

Love it. His favorite joke is like, what's it will be called when they dig all the holes? Yeah, that's good. Yeah, that's good. That's very good. That's very good. Okay, here's your next one. But you're going to have to tell me how to you pronounce this place. It's sandwiches from

how do I say it? FICO's. FICO. Yeah, okay. I like where this is edited. Yeah. Sandwich is from Fikos. Uh-huh. Which one?

You think I used for the middle one? Ooh. The middle. That one right there? Yeah. Okay. Sandwiches from Fikos, past shoot's score. The Italian special.

The chicken parm. And the chicken cutlet with mozzarella and pesto. That's a lock. That is my, that's my Sunday day ruiner. You came on the blue crew and we were like, not afraid of a Sunday send. You have a sandwich from Fico's. your Sunday and even your Monday is ruined. Ruined.

That thing is sick with you. Which somehow is a compliment. It's like three pieces of cutlet on each half of bread. Oh, Jesus. It's ginormous. I also, so I get, it's cutlet, mozzarella, pastel balsamic. And I add prosciutto.

Fuck, dude. Oh, you go for it. I saw the prosciutto on that. I saw you tweeted it like a million years ago. I fucking found that in your Twitter. And I was like, I was like, dude, there's something, because I was looking at the menu and looking at the sandwich. And I was like, which one is this?

And I was like this prosciutto on this one. I already forgot the other two places that you named. Or the sandwiches. The other two sandwiches were the Italian special and chicken parm. I'm not Italian guy. Okay. Not Italian guy. I do like cold cuts, but not the Italian.

Okay, fair. So I like a turkey club. Yeah. I know, stuff like that. Turkey wrap. But, yeah, I'd shoot the chicken parm. Do you even dabble with anything else or do you get that chicken pesto every time? Do I get it?

You find your spot and you find the thing that really makes you tick and you're like, why would I dabble? It's also not close to me. I'm in Brooklyn and that's in like the West Village area. So it's only one. when I'm like in that area, like on a Saturday or Sunday. I got to go. So you can't like postmates that. No.

No, it's too far. No, it's too far. Do you, are you like that? Honestly, probably thank God. Yeah. Yeah. Are you like that with all restaurants when you're like, that's my one thing I get it every time? Or are you like, Peru's the menu guy?

I'm definitely like a routine-based kind of guy where I stick to what I know. Yep. I am trying to try more things. Yeah. But every time you go and you know you like something, it's like, how do I not get that? And what a waste when it's worse. I try something and it's worse than my favorite thing there. Yeah.

Oh my God. It's so true. So on the Upper East side, there's this place called Milano Market, which is like another, like, Fico's popularity kind of spot. They're known for their chicken Caesar app. Okay. I went there, and because they're known for the chicken Caesar wrap, I, like, almost panicked.

And I was like, I can't just get that. I need to try something else. I can always come back and get the Caesar wrap. And I was like, I made my own cutlet sandwich. And I was like, I totally fucked this up. I should have the season. I didn't get the Caesar up. And I haven't thinking about that decision ever since.

I don't hate that. Being known for a chicken Caesar app, that's like the most boring fucking thing. Me too, bro. They're so good. I actually make my own. I go to Whole Foods by the pre-made kale Caesar and get a wrap

and I made my own. I would rather have your homemade chicken Caesar wrap. No. Dude, first of all, Caesar salad is like the panic salad. It's like the,

it's your go-to. It's your comfort. It's like the office. You go to go to sleep? You got to see a salad? I guess. I'm not in on this, though. I kind of think chicken

Caesar wrap is ass. But. Bad take. We got to move on. Cut that red. Bad take. No, no, I stand by that.

Chicken Caesar wrap is boring. Boring. Okay. Okay, next pass shoot score. This is activities. You guys are doing so good with this, by the way. I'm so happy. Okay.

These are activities that make you feel real good. That's the category, yeah. Yeah. Activities that make you feel real tingly inside. Where it's going. Giving your Twitter thread a gambling winner. Okay. Making Christmas cookies and snuggling.

Oh, God. I haven't done that yet. Or? That's Saturday. Having one friend beer. Oh. I almost prefer getting shit on Twitter than giving out something good. Oh, really?

Because that's what gets my blog going. But that's not tingling. That's like that you get fired up. That's your getting fired up. Like when you throw out a parlay and it hits. Yeah. That's a good feeling. Yeah.

I've also had so many losers this year that the winners are like. Yeah. Yeah. Save my reputation. Dude, our like first big, I mean, I think it was the frenzy. Like we put, like, here are our picks in the frenzy. We fucking went like 80%. Oh, really?

Oh, yeah. And then there was the next day it was like 14 games. And we hit like four. Yeah. I was like, Jesus. Grace. Sorry, everybody. Yeah.

Yeah. So, oh, my God. Really poking at the heart here. Yeah, it's a tough one. I'm going to pass the Twitter. Okay. Because it's Twitter. Yeah. We don't know those people.

It's Twitter. The snuggling and the cookies, depending on the person that I'm snuggling. What was the other one? One friend beer. Yeah, friend beer's got to beat the score. Pass the year. Okay. Yeah.

Friend beer is forever. Yeah. Smelman cookies can come and go. Yeah. Yeah. So I'll go score friend beer and pass. That's a good call. Incredible.

Okay. We did for the listeners. We have instituted a rule where each of us at any point gets to declare one friend beer. And the others cannot say no. We have to just have the one friend beer at least. I think Red missed the friend beer? You did. You're there?

That was how it started. But you left. But you left. One friend beer at McMillan's. You quit. Oh, he was at McMillan. He left McMillan. He left McMillan.

He missed the picture. He missed the pick, but he had the friend beer. Damn. That's how much good of a friend he is. He had the friend beer. He didn't even need the fame, dude. He doesn't need the fucking notoriety. He just wanted the friend beer.

He's the best of us. That's true. Okay. I like how there's fucking karaoke going on now in the CC of the Hockey House. So Johnny, this next one, for the first time, or the only time ever, I should say, with Keith Yandel, we reversed it because he was such an assist guy that pass was best.

He wanted to go the other way. So for the only time ever that pass shoot scores were different was with the end. It was reversed. Okay. For the first and only time ever in this category, you have to decide between pass, shoot, score, or sorry, I'll go the other way. Score, shoot, pass, change. You're getting four.

Change it up is the worst. And you're giving me four topics. No, no, if you have four things in this category. So change is the worst because you're not having it out there. Get off the ice. Then pass, then shoot, then score. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. The category is called the goat in their field. Oh my God. This is good. Change, pass, shoot, score. Goat in their field. The popcorn at MSG. Little Dickie's in here somewhere, right?

Andy Bernard. Okay. Hank Lunguist and Lil Dickie. I knew it. Big Dave Bird guy. I feel like I have to pass Andy Bernard. Just because there's so many other good ones. But you've declared him as the best character in the office.

But I love Michael Scott too. Oh my God, dude. To give someone the title of best character in the album. We're talking Hank and little d-like those are my white whales. I know. I thought Andy might win this, dude. And it got changed up. Have you guys had popcorn in any NHL arenas?

Wait, wait. You said pass Andy. Do you mean change Andy, though, right? Like, you mean dead last, or did you mean third? Oh, I meant dead last. Yeah, so change. Change up on Andy Bernard. Change.

Wow. Okay. I've had a lot of arena popcorn. I'm telling you, MSG is... It is the best. And is that pass? That can be passed, because I don't care about that as much. Yeah.

Try to watch my weight. I think, for me, score is Little Dicky. I mean, that guy is my idol. I think I would geek out over, meaning Little Dickie over Hank, which is like a crazy thing to say. Crazy thing to say. Yeah. Really? Yeah.

We got a special guest in studio. Petey. And shoot would be Hank for sure. Wow. Didn't want a cup. Big moment for Lil Dickie here today. He needs that album to come out though. Yeah.

He's got to get, he's going to be a bummed down to shoot. I don't know whose album is coming out next. Dr. Dre's or Lil Dickies? They've both been talking about it for like 20 years. It's still, I guess it's summer to him. I don't know where he lives, but. I mean, we're in almost in December, my mom. Yeah.

Unbelievable. But I love him. My idol. Like, the reason I'm here, think is little bicky six stat doing just doing media stuff yeah yeah couldn't live with what if you know went for it I love it um all right well that's past you'd score go in their field score a little bit yeah he did a fucking job dude Andy Bernard fucked oh that one's so good man changed um Andy Bernard dude damn I I'm now because there's pressure on me right now I'm blanking on

the line but got straight bees they call me buzz go to a couple frat parties down some soko so well he starts he goes rally got straight a's called me ace yeah yeah got straight bees oh it's so good that line's amazing he's unbelievable All right, well, that's it for this special episode at the CCM Hockey House of the Mptuneers podcast. Johnny Les, dude. Thanks for coming on. Love you, guys. Yeah, love you, too.

You'll be on again. We know it. And hopefully we'll see some of y'all at some of these college hockey games coming up here. Beautiful stuff. All right, boys.