Empty Netters Podcast - 73. All Star Weekend In Toronto w/ Bobby Ryan & Nick Kyrepos

Episode Date: February 7, 2024

The Boys hit Toronto for a truly EPIC 2024 NHL All Star weekend. Bobby Ryan joins the show to dish on all the tea that comes with being on an NHL team, and Nick Kypreos breaks down why this Leafs team can’t win a Cup. DP and CP dish out tons of hilarious stories from the bender in Toronto, as well as break down the massive trades that dropped! PRESENTED TO YOU BY LABATT BLUE LIGHT NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf52MHW1O7guPMzsMvv2kA FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.netters/?hl=en FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@empty.netters   Chapters (0:00) - Intro (2:19) - Battling through flight adversity (8:05) - Post All Star weekend debrief (14:07) - Thank you to the NHL and CCM (16:30) - LA Kings fire Todd McLellan (21:12) - Elias Lindholm trade (30:53) - Sean Monahan trade (35:41) - Bobby Ryan Interview (38:02) - 2015 All-Star game (44:31) - All-Star game stories (56:11) - The league is changing (59:31) - Coaching adjustments (1:01:05) - What’s going on with the Rangers? (1:04:46) - Are the Bruins for real? (1:10:25) - Season from hell for Ottawa (1:16:02) - Ask an NHLer (1:35:25) - Nick Kypreos Interview (1:36:50) - Nylander extension (1:42:32) - Contract dynamic in the room (1:49:34) - Looking back at the Tavares signing (1:56:18) - Matthews alarming assist pace (1:58:32) - What should the Leafs do at the deadline? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the Empty Netters podcast is brought to you by the cool, crisp, refreshing taste of Labat Blue Light. Without a doubt, the best beer to enjoy while you're watching hockey around the rink, hanging at the house on your couch doesn't matter because every single pint, bottle, and can of Labat Blue Light is brewed with Canadian kindness. So every time you're sitting back and enjoying, you're going to feel nice and tingly inside. You're going to just feel happy because that's what Labat Blue Light does for you. It is the best friend of hockey in the beer game and is the best friend of the empty netters boys. Because there is no beer that matches that unbelievable taste, that light, crisp, bubbly sip that you enjoy every single time. You sit back with a Labat blue light.

So whether you're watching at home, whether you're at the game, doesn't matter. Hockey season requires Labat Blue Light because it is a National League beer. Get on board and enjoy. Ice is ready and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, freshly back from Toronto and All-Star weekend. Chris is sick. Sick as a dog. Blake is dripped out.

We are, I'm still buzzing a little bit. Just an unreal week. So much going on. So many cool things to talk about. What a blast. One uncool thing to talk about. Uh-oh. Air Canada

Man, I hate to be part of the pile on And I will say this I almost respect it, dude Air Canada and Toronto Pearson Just are so... Hey, Pearson did me just fine I agree, Pearson was fantastic

Pearson's security guard was wicked nice to me Air Canada, everyone, when you talk about flying to Canada And you're like, yeah, blah blah I'm going to Canada, people go like this Oh, did you fly Air Canada? Everyone says it's shitty. Canadians included. And, yeah, we just got a hilarious Monday night.

We were all getting packed up, getting ready. The three of us get a text. Hey, your flight's been canceled. At 11 p.m. Oh, my flight is at 7 a.m. Yeah, and it's international, so I got to be there at 5. Unexpected plain. Tell them your theory.

This is not a theory. I know. I know it to be true. Tell them what happened. So we're scheduled to be on a 7.40 a.m. flight. We all log in, check in, go to pick our seats. and we are picking seats, the plane is empty. Every single seat is available.

And what's really funny is when you're clicking seats, like I click an eye, not a comfort plus, not first class. I'm a man of the people. I'm sitting in the economy, but I'm going to pick an aisle, and I click it, and it's like 90 bucks. And I was like, what? It's just a random seat. Yeah.

So I'm like, oh, maybe, I don't know, maybe I'll just go further back on the plane. Still 90 bucks. Yeah. Then I click a middle. 75 bucks. Yeah. And literally the only way that they're not charging you to pick your seat is if you just go,

I'm not going to pick my seat, put me wherever you want. And I will not accept that. Air spirit, dude. Yeah. I will not accept a middle seat. So I pay my 180 bucks to pick my seats, which aren't even special seats. Then the flight gets canceled. Within minutes, they text us and say that they're going to rebook us and put us on a new plane.

They do. They put us on the noon flight, which is then packed. to the gills, every single seat filled. My theory, which I know to be true, is Air Canada sees that the 740 a.m. flight is just not full enough, which is why they're gouging us and making us pay 180 bucks to pick a seat. And they go, there's enough seats available on the noon flight to accommodate everyone on this 740 flight.

We're just going to cancel it. Unexpected maintenance. Yep. And just smush you onto this one. So we don't have it. Where I received a middle in row 38. Dude. And I get that 180 back?

Where's that 180 bucks go? Because I sure didn't. Fucking bullshit. Also, flight home. Totally, actually not even fine in the air. Partly wasn't their fault. Bad turbulence. You know, it is what it is.

But we did, you know, it's always longer going back west. We did a lot of looping. We looped Denver. We looped L.A. I felt like it wasn't that plane for 20 hours. But that plane itself. The one we took to Canada was like three aisle, three aisle, 3 is big play. This plane

was standard 3 aisle 3, but then the oldest plane. That plane was built by the Wright brothers. Dude. It was unbelievable. It was an absolute piece of shit. I was sitting in a straw chair. My back is killing me still from that. The worst

part about that, Frankie Vitrano and his wife and new baby were on the plane with us sitting in first class. We weren't sitting there. First class. Yeah. I felt so bad for him. I'd be pissed at the ducks. I'd be like this. You booked me on this rickshaw to get back like this is unbelievable the screen was so old that it was like it sounded like the old dial it was like because i was like loading the movies

on the thing you'd hit it operating windows would go by then the screen would change and like hit four seconds go out did you have the misplacement thing going on yes i was trying to like hit pop you didn't watch anything right i just fly my phone i'm trying to hit shit on the screen blake like i'm hitting play pause this and that and it you hit the screen and and it would be a full inch and a half to the side where it would register. So I'd be like trying to hit play and I'd have to go all the way here to like rewind and hit

and then it like it would light up on play. And I was like, what the fuck is going on? Those things have always been janky. Like I remember when Air Canada first implemented TVs in every headset or in headrest and everyone was like, oh, this can be crazy. They've sucked ever since they've never changed. They've implemented.

And they've never improved them. Brutal. But they did get us there. worse experience on a flight that didn't involve air canada directly behind me we're just oh yeah so this is the flight home we're all like you know long weekend banged up it's been a good time yeah it's you know it's not a lot of sleep and i i'm like yeah i'm going to sleep this whole flight like i'm going to get caught up a little bit here and i got woken up six different times yep to a screaming not just a crying kid, a fucking howling kid, and that was way too big and way too old,

to be screaming and that out of control. Like, and just, like, literally kicking the fucking seat. And I remember getting woken up to, like, my head going forward and just being like, this, no, I'm not sleeping. So I just started watching a TV show and movies. And, but even that, like, even the guy next to me was like just shaking his head. Yeah, so mad. Clearly, clearly pissed.

It was brutal, dude. People looking back. I second that hard. This child was far too old to be howling. Well, excuse me. The child was far too old to be howling the way that it was with the parents doing nothing. Like the dad just stood up and was holding her and was just, you know, trying to bop her around. And I was like, dude, if my three-year-old was banshing this plane to death.

Sleeper lock, dude. Oh, dude. Boom. Go to sleep. You go to sleep. Shut your fucking mouth. Are you kidding me? If it's a baby and a infant that has no.

control. This girl, a little French girl too. It's just boo-hooing, wang-weighing in French. And she was doing the thing where she'd stop because she forgot why she was throwing a fit and would kind of like look around and then realize that her dad wasn't paying attention to her anymore and then would look back and start screaming again. I thought eventually she was going to tire herself out, but there was a span of two hours where it couldn't stop. Easy. Just get it with the oxygen mask. It was insane. Open the fucking emergency door and fire her into the Pacific Ocean, dude. Awful. Oh no, the door.

fellow. Oh, God, is brutal. But listen. Let's hit some highlights. Unbelievable trip. Unbelievable trip. I said to you two last week's episode that I want to go on this trip and I want to come back going, I absolutely love Toronto and the people of Toronto. And that is. Check, check. I'm not just saying this to

do a classic tire pump. That is the truth, 12 out of 10. Yep. So much fun in that incredible city with incredible people. And how sick was it being in a mecca of hockey? Diddy. Going there when we sat down to dinner on Tuesday night, we landed, Shadow King Taps, and just seeing hockey on every TV and hockey fans coming up to us every five seconds, I was like, this is the best, dude. We all know that hockey is the best sport in the world,

and the U.S. just not being privy to that or embracing that is so frustrating. So being somewhere like that where everyone just fucking rides or dies for hockey was so awesome. Amazing. It was surreal to be. I mean, just for me personally to be back there, but just, yeah, that city, I love it today. It's fucking awesome, dude. Huge shout out to BetMGM. Unbelievable experience. That's got to be, you know, one of the big highlights for us doing this phenomenal roundtable

legends event with BetMGM, BetMGM Canada at Steam Whistle Brewing, hanging out with our guy, Chelly, and then Ray Bork and Wendell Clark doing this unreal panel. Those guys just showed up and done. dominated were so funny so so into it and told the best stories ever couldn't have had a better time with them and it was just such a good event i mean all the prep that goes into it you get stressed with some of this stuff you get excited there's tons of anticipation and then for us to get there knock it out of the park because of those guys and because of the people that we worked with that was just so cool can't wait for all of you guys to see the clips that we're going to release

of that and more than anything to the people, to the, you know, hundreds of people who showed up, you're the best. I mean, coming to that event, sitting down, listening to the stories from those guys, supporting us, supporting them. It just meant the absolute world to us, and it was so cool. Incredible experience, truly. You said it very well. Thank you so much with the people that message and the people that came. I can't say enough good things about those guys. We'll get clips on our page, we'll direct you to, I think it's going to be on BetMGM's YouTube, so you can watch the whole thing. Could not be worth your hour more in my opinion. Oh my gosh. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I think stick taps go to you guys. Wow. You guys did a really good job

like you always do, you know, really make not, they're not just a guest. They become a friend before you even hit record, before you even sit down. And then also when you guys were, you know, in the recording and in the live panel, the execution was just top to bottom. Bar none. It went, thank you so much. Seriously. It went great. It was awesome.

So massive one there. Massive one there. Next shout out I want to give is the Gretzky basement. Boom. Dan's got the shirt on. Yeah, I'm rocking the shirt. I got a Gretzky backyard hat. What a cool setup.

Shout out Ty and Tristan Gretzky. You guys just knocked that out of the park. All the people that they worked with to help set that up, all of the apparel. But basically, if you guys haven't seen it pop onto our Instagram, watch the video where we're giving the tour. they recreated Wayne O's dad's basement with tons of memorabilia from Wayne's playing days

the first stick he used when he scored his first NHL goal all of his jerseys team Canada jackets it was just a cool mini walk-through Hall of Fame of Wayne and the coolest part for me

was the family vibes there were so many cool family photos with Walter Gretzky the kids and it was just such an awesome experience for them to set that up for all the people, all the fans to come through, see all of that stuff, get to meet them. And then, especially to the boys for setting up the podcast room that they let us use. They got tons of people in there. The Chicklets boys were in there,

missing Curf, you guys were in there. We did so many amazing shows. And later in this episode, we're going to kick it to our interviews with Bobby Ryan and Nick Kiprios. Such a good time with those guys. But that whole ordeal, just being there. getting to hang with them, see what they did, see it all come together. Because it was so cool, as they said, all Wayne did was give them permission. They were like, hey, we have this awesome idea. Can we do it?

And Wayne was like, fuck yeah. Yeah, go ahead. Grab the stuff from the old house, grab the stuff from the basement, everything that we have, throw it together. And God Almighty, did they knock it out of the park. It looked beautiful. It really did.

Everybody that we talked to in Toronto that got to go was one of the first things they brought up about how sick it was. And I think we said this on the Daily Phase Off show with Las, but I was like, it is crazy to me how old Wayne's early shit is. Like, it makes no sense. Isn't that nuts, dude? But they're like, some of them I get when they're like, you know, here's his baby skates, right? And I'm like, of course, yeah, those are older shit.

But they're like, this stick. The Titanson. The H.L. Goal with. And I'm like, it's a 50-pound wood stick. And I'm like, Jesus. Oh, fuck, you use that, dude. So, yeah, that was wild.

The Gordie Howe jersey story with the stitch up the statured the W. So cool. W jersey. Yeah, so they crushed it. That old Oilers jacket, I think, was my piece. Or maybe the All-Star jersey from 94. Yeah. To that thing was legendary.

Yep. I mean, just and just the overall look and feel of it all, like when you walk in, it was so intimate and so they really felt like they recreated the golden vibe. Totally. Totally. And then last big shout out for me. NHL. Yeah, well, let's make it a two for one.

CCM. Yep. Our boys at CCM were dapping us up all over the place. We had a Hall of Fame experience, which was fucking so cool, interactive games there, and a CCM skate at Riverdale Park, not Rosedale, Lucas. Shout out our boys, Lucas, and Noah at CCM for just crushing all of that, getting us with some great gear and just setting us up with ODR skate,

the Hall of Fame tour, just taking care of us and being such a cool, cool group of people. Can't wait to do more stuff with them. That's just such an awesome relationship, awesome people. And then NHL, have to shout out my boy, Neil, at NHL social. They set up that creator skate. And it was the first time doing it. And they said that.

They're like, let's see how this goes. You know, who knows? What a smashing success that was. So fun, so many cool creators, getting to do it with our boy Johnny Laz, seeing our boy Zach Bell, Swaggy P, Sterling, meeting guys like Blake Johnston, Nash. Team Cap. Yep. Team Cap, Nasher, and then, you know, Barber and all of those guys,

seeing Nelly there. It was just such a cool collection of people in this hockey world that all loves each other, supports each other, playing in that game. So, so fun, and won't lie, just a little tire pump moment. That was kind of cool. That was the most of the real. Like, getting a NHL All-Star jersey with our names on it and then playing in a game with like tons of people watching.

like this is nuts dude like we're playing at the all-star game you know so incredible so cool and just so much love to the n hl and that whole team for setting it up letting us be a part of it uh unbelievable time yep i i just i i can't can't believe how far all of this has come and how inclusive everyone has been to to to bring us into some of these events and just you know we went there and we talked about on the flight there and as we're getting prep we had so much to do which is unbelievable. Such a great feeling. But nerves come with that as well,

wanting to do a good job, wanting to make sure we deliver. And the amount of fun that we were able to have, the laughs that we had, great memories, that was just a trip for the ages, man. Unbelievable.

Unreal stuff. Just so, so happy about it. Like we said, we've got a great episode today with Bobby and Nick. We want to get you guys right into that. But the NHL doesn't sleep. We're on the All-Star break,

but we got a couple quick hitters that we've got to get to in hot ice, so we're going to pop into that. Let's start right off the bat with what has been brewing for a while. Todd McClellan, L.A. Kings, fired. The only thing I thought that was interesting is we had all said, if they lose on the Wednesday before the break to the Predators, he will get fired. And they won. The Kings beat the Predators. And he was still fired, which makes me wonder how long ago,

they knew he was getting fired at the All-Star break. I have no data on that. I don't know if you do, Blake, but I highly doubt they, the day he got fired, they were like, yeah, let's do it. Like, they had that decision today. Like, I would be willing to bet up to, like, a week ago into this end of this skid. They were like, we're going to gas him at the break. It's cleaner that way.

Yeah, I think, no, I do not have any direct intel to the team or anything like that. If anything, this is all speculation for myself personally or, you know, whatever. I've heard from different media outlets or writers. They definitely kind of had the idea that they were going to fire him probably before that Nashville game. Because, like, you know, they win that Nashville game. But if you really look at that game, and I didn't watch it or anything, watch the condensed game, check out the box score and everything. But it clearly looked like they didn't play very well.

Yeah. Like their fourth line scored three of the four goals. The fourth goal was an empty netter. Yeah. David Riddick made like 40 saves of 42 shots. Like, they had no business winning that game. but I think the decision was made, I got to think, either right before the Colorado game

or right after, because that Colorado game was coming off the heels of the Copa Tar night when they lost to Buffalo, and then they go into Colorado, which, yeah, big game, big opponent, but you know, you got to show up, and they didn't not show up at all. That was post Dewey's comments, too.

Yeah, right after. He had said that, and then they get absolutely buried. Dewey's comments was right after the Buffalo game, and they go into Colorado lose. Get cranked. Boom, dude. And I think it's, look at the way they made the move. Like I said the other week, like, well, they need to have someone that they're

ready to bring in. And they promote Jim Hiller, who's a great coach, but, you know, first time being a head coach, promote him to interim head coach. And it kind of just seems like, like we said, like Dan said, like they needed a change. It was like, you know, someone's got to wear it. And this is the easiest move without making a trade or, you know. So I think, yeah, it was probably decided well before and they were just doing the courtesy of, look, we're let you go at the all-star break. It's tough too because, you know, there are so many people who are like, this is bullshit. It's not Todd's fault. It's not this.

It's not that. And there's an element of truth of all of that, absolutely. But like we talked about, it was the same thing with Jay. It's the easiest act to swing. And unfortunately, man, if you're the sharks and you're losing games like this, whatever, dude. Whatever. If you have this much talent on your team, if you make that huge trade for PL and PL is not performing, absolutely.

There's an element of that that's on PL, on the locker. on the leaders there. But dude, you are the coach. You're the coach for a reason. You have this much talent. You were doing so, so well. Now you're not. I don't think it's all Todd's fault at all. I think Todd's a great coach. But it is the easiest ax to swing. And I do just have to say sometimes it's like, and it is an axe that you need to swing. So you hate seeing someone lose their job, absolutely. But a change had to be made. And I think Blake knows, not you. I think Rob Blake knows that he's not safe either. He's already made some comments where he's like,

I know a lot of this is on me. I wouldn't be shocked if they don't, in these next games, if they're not at least five and five, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets axed to because this is just, I think this is shocking for the King's organization. I think they can't believe where they are right now. Especially where they are in November. And I will say, you know, without naming names,

I do know that a lot of guys in that locker room are, you know, they're bummed, love Todd, good guy, good coach. They knew something had to change. But I do know right now that they are antsy for a permanent hire. Like, they want to know who their long-term guy is. And that feeling has got to be interesting, you know, for players, especially a lot of the veteran players who maybe have three, four years left. Some of the new guys who have just signed long deals like PL, like Fiala, you definitely must be sitting there being like, dude, we are a great team, we have great players, I want a great coach.

I want to know who is going to be our coach for the next five years. So hopefully they can figure that out for sure. Love it. Okay, which trade do you want to do first? I want to do the Lindy trade. Okay. second year in a row that the Vancouver Canucks

are making All-Star weekend moves We'll talk about this In maybe even with Bobby Did we talk about this with Bobby? We've been talking about this a lot recently The It's crazy to me To think that

Coos gets sent away After 39 as a rookie with what else went in that trade, Blake? So it was a first, fourth, Hunter Brustavich, who was a solid prospect, third round pick last year, is lighting up the right-handed D-Man, lighting up the O HL right now. Lighting up the OHL.

So, yeah, first, fourth, Hunter Bustavich, Coos, and then another prospect. They got a haul. A haul for a potential rental. Yeah. Now, do I think the, because I had said on this very program, I had said a couple weeks ago, Coos isn't playing this year as well as he was last year.

I was kind of pitching it like, just imagine when he wakes up how fucking scary this team's going to be. Maybe they were like, I don't think he's going to wake up. Maybe they felt like rookie year was a fluke. So certainly on the performance level this year, and you guys know I fucking love Lindholm. I would love to see him on the Bruins. Do I think the Canucks got even better? Absolutely. That's a big, that's a lot to give up.

But cups are hard to get. and in my opinion in every sport you trade everything ever for championships in the immediacy I don't care if it's like oh you're gonna be bad for a couple years now as long as you win and I know it's no promise that they're gonna win

but I'm like as a GM I'm like go get it dude you don't know when you'll have these chances so I think that was great the big question that we have said many times is something must be going on to trade that much and not know so either it could be we know Lindholm signing don't worry like

we've had a conversation or it's we know PED he's leaving. So we need, you know, there's something going on, but I just refuse to believe this just in a vacuum was like, we're giving up all that for Lindholm and just to see. Yeah, it's interesting, right? I think Andre Kuzmenko is a great player. And I think that he is having a little bit of a sophomore slump.

He's obviously an older player, but he was in the KHL, came over, shit on the league to the tune of 39 goals, 74 points or something like that. I had an amazing season. Has had some struggles this year, absolutely. I truly do think it's a lot of teams guys have tape on him now. I think he's just trying to find himself. I think he'll be a great player still. But this is obviously an improvement.

Lindy is having a better season right now. I found it interesting that your big piece that you moved in your top six, top nine, was a winger. And you bring in it up, in my opinion, a pretty certified center in Lindholm. Lynn Holmes is 29 years old. As he turned 30 yet, I think he's still 29. Either way, he's 29, 30. I think he's going to be phenomenal with this team. Me too.

I think the best year of Linholm's career that we saw was when he was playing with Goddrow and Kachuk and some of these bigger boys back in Calgary. He's 29. 29, yep. And now you're putting him on this team that is, quite frankly, stacked. Yeah. You look at their first line that's most... often right now, J.T. Miller with Pius Suter and Brock Besser. Now you've got Pedy, Lindholm,

in that second line. I think they could both go center wing, flop back and forth. I don't know if this is fully accurate. No, but PD's played some wing this year. I think Lynn Home can absolutely play wing, but they're stacked now. I think this is a monster trade. I think it makes them better. And yeah, they're going all in. And I love that. I think Talk is having an unreal coaching season. It's probably going to win the Jack Adams. These guys have been good, wire to wire. I love their defense. I love their offense even more now. To go to what you

just said, the thing that we're all asking is they gave up a fucking shit ton, an absolute haul to get this guy. They got Lindholm and they gave up a lot. They gave up, like you just said, a great player who's having a down year who is young.

They gave up a unbelievable prospect, another player, a first round pick and a conditional fourth round pick. So you're given up that much for a guy who is UFA this summer. That usually, to me, feels like we've had conversations. He's going to extend here. If he doesn't, I'll be shocked. I will be truly shocked.

That will be a wild trade for a rental in hopes you would think of, we need to win the cup right now. Yeah, I think this move could, like, backfire. It has the potential to backfire big time. Well, it does if this happens. Well, if, like, Jimmy's, Jimmy Rutherford and Canucks management, there's still a lot of work to be done. Yes. A lot of work.

To me... Their cap situation does not get much easier in the time. No, it does not. To me, this trade, very possibly could be addressing the Pedersen rumors. It could be a, here's a great center. He's a point per game guy. He's 29 years old. That's at least five years of solid hockey left.

Is that the same? thing as Elias Pedersen. Obviously not. But you have a guy who, if it sounds like he's going to resign, is a great player who's interested in staying with your franchise for a little while. We are coming to the point where we see guys don't really get to UFA anymore. It's rare that you, especially a guy who's like 25, 26. What did we figure out? Pee, he's 26 years old. You don't see that guy hit UFA really, ever anymore. So if you have a chance to get a 29-year-old Linholm who wants to stay for six more years or something like that. Yeah, go get it. But holy shit, man, it'll be crazy stuff for this organization to see if you make this big trade for Lindholm,

maybe extend him. And then we're looking at the possibility of Cup or not a big, big trade of Pedersen, which would bring in a King's Ransom, in my opinion. If you were to trade Pedersen, we talked about it recently. Pedersen is going to sign a Willie Nealander competition. contract. Yeah, right now he's getting 7.3 as a 25-year-old 6-foot-2 centerman. Who had over 100 points last year. He has outperformed Nealander in the last couple of years. He's having a comparable year to Nealander now. Hard a shot I've ever seen in my life. He's younger than Nealander. He has a cannon. Yeah. Like, this guy's getting $11.5 million. Absolutely.

So if you trade him, especially while he's RFA. Yeah. You're getting, you're getting a Mitch Marner type player back. You're getting. a probably two first round picks back. I almost think they do that. My question is, like, you're saying this could backfire. This could backfire in this. They get Lindholm, they don't win the cup, Lindholm doesn't resign, and Pedersen is like, trade me.

They lose in the first round, Lindholm signs as a free agent somewhere else. That's the ultimate backfire. I don't think that's going to happen. What if they lose in the first round, they sign Elias Pedersen before the deadline here, they get him extended, but then they go and they lose in that first round, and then you... And Linholm leaves.

No, no, no, you got Linholm now, but then PD's like, I'm out of here. Oh, you meant you signed Lindel. Yeah, I meant you... Sorry, you signed Linholm. I don't think that's a backfire, dude. No. Losing Pedersen is brutal, but given that he's RFA. Yeah.

If Pedersen goes, I'm gone, dude, as a fan of the... I'm saying, like, if you're a fan of the Canucks, that's devastating because you're losing Elias Pedersen. But you're not getting nothing for him. In fact, you are getting something insane for him, is what I would assume. Another name that people are not talking about that is a RFA this summer, Philip Horonic. Vinnie He was his defense partner.

Yes. Like, that guy is going to get paid. He's 26 years old. He's putting up 36 points in 49 games this year. He's going to hit a career high. His previous career high is 38 points. Like, he's having a breakout year. He's going to get paid.

He is. I think he's, he was so hot, dude, early. Like he was playing point per game pace, I think like 25 games in the season. Obviously playing with Quinn does a lot for that. And I was like, holy fuck, dude, this guy is going to get cheddar right now. But now I think there's a world where Hronick, almost like Taves in Colorado, is seeing a situation where he's like, I'm playing the best hockey in my life. A big part of that is because I'm playing with Quinn.

I imagine Taves is like, and I think Caves is maybe a little bit better than Hronic. But I think he's like, dude, I'm dominant. right now, but it certainly doesn't hurt that I play with kale all the time. Yeah. So, like, Hughes is on, like, one of the best contracts. Yeah, dude. That's crazy.

Philip Hironix 4.4 cap hit right now. Got to say that goes to seven. I think that's... Yeah, I think it's going to go to six. Six, seven. And six, dude, if you lock him up, how old is he? 28? It's 26, right.

Oh, he's 26, yeah. Like, you give him a 8 by 6. Yeah, that's money. And you have those two for a very long time. What a bargain. You're thrilled. You're absolutely thrilled. But yeah, that's just something that we'll keep an eye on

because I think it makes them better, no doubt, and I love that they've gone all in. But what's interesting about this one is, it's going to be really fun to watch the Canucks right now and be like, holy fuck, great trade, they're going for it. And then there's also the added element of, I can't wait to see what happens. Yeah.

Because let me tell you what, dude, if he resigns, if he extends, I think the PD stuff gets even hotter. I know. So we'll see. Now let's go to the other huge trade, Sean Monaghan added by the Jets feels very much like a big time response trade you saw one of if not the best team in the West

make a huge trade the Jets went like this We're in an arms race dude we hear you We're in an arms race we'll match it They get Sean Monaghan That's a great great addition Going to be probably their second line center He's having a phenomenal year

Insane situation too What was he making 1.9 mil Yeah one yeah 1.9 and so Montreal got him, like took him from Calgary. Yeah. It's a cap dump. So they got a first-round pick in that trade, and now they're trading him for a fourth-round pick.

And a third, right? And a conditional third, yeah. So what a move by Kent Hughes. Yes, dude. That's crazy. Wait, what are the full details of that trade? So first-round pick and a third-round pick, which is conditional if Winnipeg wins the Stanley Cup.

And that it turns into a first. Sorry, no, no, no. They get the third-round pick if they win the Stanley Cup. But so they're getting a first. Are you talking about the previous Monaghan trade? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, sorry. Let me pull that one.

Yeah, because that's, I was like two first-run picks. What the fuck are you talking about? Yep. But either way, this trade, go on. Just to get a first-round pick for Monaghan is unbelievable work, dude. Okay, I agree. Like this guy, again, making 1.9 mil,

you were kind of like, oh, let's see how he does. He's playing great, and then you flip this for a first and a conditional third. Like, that's such a good return. for them. Like, it's, and I made it for both. Like, we always talk about it. The Jets are fucking buzzing.

You don't, I don't need your 28th overall first round pick. Go get Monaghan. Add up your chances to win a Stanley Cup here. So I agree. Right now he's on pace for 58 points this year. And similar to, um, who did you just say? Oh, Lindholm. Uh, Monaghan's got that year in Calgary where he went for 82.

in the 2018-29 season he had 78 games, 82 points, unbelievable season 34 tucks. Other than that year, he is very much like a low 60s point. Yeah, I think he's a 60 point guy. Yeah, and like, dude, I love the Jets. I love this move.

I just said, trade whatever you got to do to make yourself better. But I can't believe they got a first for this. I'll, dude, that's the market. It's crazy. 58 points, dude. I'll tell you what, man. I fucking love 60-70 point guys.

Me too, but I don't give that first. They're so underrated, and, like, that's what wins you Stanley Cups. I know. Is those types of guys. You know who doesn't win you Stanley Cups? The 140-point guy. Like, it's not a guarantee. If you, I would rather take a team of 65-point guys fully.

Yeah. And I just love the depth, dude. I think he's a great player all around. Great pickup. Huge pickup. And you paid, I guess I'm saying you paid too high a price, but I'm also arguing that I'm like, pay it, dude, whatever. Yeah.

I think that Calgary trade set the market. Yeah, right. Like, that would have a, the trade happened. But you know what? That's, that, you're absolutely right. But at the same time, that was always the market. Like we talked, every fucking Sunday, when we do Hockey Talk Sundays, people go, Elias Lindholm to the Bruins, Elias Lindholm to the Bruins. Everyone thinks that the Bruins need a center. And they're not wrong. And I said every time they cannot afford him. Reports came out after that trade. Were the Bruins involved? Yes, they were. They were interested

in him. They love Lindholm. They asked. And obviously, Calgary went, we need a first round pick. and Boston went, we can't give that, which is what I've been saying this whole fucking time. Yep. So we knew that a first-round pick was going to be included in that. Now, what we didn't know was Hunter being involved, who's having a dominant year in junior. Kuzmanko, who's having a bad year, but is a good player. Like, there was a lot involved there. But yeah, this does set the market.

Very interesting now to look at, you'll hear me mention this when we're talking to John Scott. we're hearing rumors of Markstrom and Hannafin being sent to the devils. Yep. This has been going on for weeks now. I've been eating fucking hot sauce for this take. But I think that that is a very real possibility, and that's what they're trying to work on and figure out. What's the return going to be that? Is Nemek going to be involved in that?

Is a first going to be involved in that? I think so. Hanofen's going to the Leafs. What do you say? Yeah, buddy. So yeah, I just think first round picks, like this is what it takes. Yep, agree. So it's unbelievable.

All right, let's kick it to these interviews. Let's kick it to these unbelievable interviews. Seeing us hanging out in Gretzky's basement with Bobby Ryan, Nick Kiprios, you know, Bobby, good friend, beauty. We're launching a new little segment with him. Yeah, you guys are going to really like it. And then Kipper, just what a fucking ledge of the game. Oh, my God.

So, so awesome, so well-spoken. Love just takes. Can't wait for you guys to hear it. Enjoy. Go hang out with us in Toronto. All right, we're coming to you guys live from Toronto at Gretzky's basement. Our good buddy, Bobby Ryan, is joining us. had a little technical difficulties here,

so we're going to just rip it again. Hell yeah. Bobby, tell us what you've been up to, dude. Oh, I feel like I had a couple good one-liners that are gone. Not much. Like I said, retirement life is nice. You kind of pick and choose what you do. Doing my podcast a couple days a week with Brent Wallace and Jason York

and just dabbling in different things, right? And being able to pick and choose, I got engaged. So, you know, kind of doing the blending families of four kids at five, six, seven, and eight. grind and the weather's been terrible. Like minus three, minus four in Nashville. So it's insane. Yeah, so not able to do a whole lot, but it's January, right? January is 50 days long.

Nobody tells you that. It's ridiculous. We were at an ODR out here, Riverdale or whatever, playing a pickup shinny last night. And when we were outside the area, they were Christmas lights up everywhere. And our Uber driver was like, I hate out of the Christmas lights are still up. And I was like, dude, January is pretty fucking depressing. I don't mind. I don't mind.

I don't mind. I'm a cheer in my life. I had the same thought. I was like, it feels like it's been three months as it was Christmas. It was like 25 days ago. That's not that bad

to have a Christmas light up still. Absolutely not. My tree comes down on the 26th. Like it's a hard come down. Really? Yeah. But I like the light, especially like Toronto.

Man, they've had 30 days of sun this year. I'm like, I can light the whole world up here. We saw that on the way here. We were like, Jesus Christ. That's depressing as shit.

I land it and open the window and just immediately close the window. Yeah, Never mind. Like, it's minus three in Nashville, but the sunshine and it's gorgeous. Yeah, yeah. Like, leave them up. Like, those power lines right there should have twinkle lights coming down.

Dude, for real. We just had an unbelievable weekend in L.A. It was like 78 degrees every day, not a cloud in the sky. Tough. And then we came here, and I was like Dave said, Dave told us that 30 days of sunlight thing. And yesterday we did a little walk around. We went to like CN Tower. Yeah, I saw that.

You guys were on fire. And then the gray sky. I was like, man, it's a gray day. And Dave was like, that is every day right now. Like Toronto is not a fun place right now. But we've got some fun shit going on. Obviously, All-Stars going on. We were just saying last year we were in Fort Lauderdale.

Now we're here. So many events, so much cool shit. So can you tell us a little bit about your All-Star from 2015? Like, what's the coolest part about the players being here? Because it's a big vacation week. It's a bender. Like, yeah. And I just know, like, we've learned over the last couple of years,

it's pretty funny. some of these guys, especially guys who've been named a million times, are like, I don't want to fucking go. I want to go to Mexico with my family or the boys. So what makes it fun when you're here? Well, we just said that too. We're like, the guys played last night. I was watching the Ottawa game in particular.

And I'm like, these guys are going to fly home to Ottawa. They're going to be on a 5am or right down to Florida or Cabo or wherever it's going to be. But the alternative is you get to come to Toronto where there's 30 days of sunlight. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, why would you? I love Toronto, but why would you, right? Oh my God. I get it where the guys are coming from.

I think it's fun when you get in the locker room and you got a lot of different personalities. And like I had played against guys a ton. Yeah. But didn't really get to know that you don't get to know. Yeah, exactly. And you say hi or whatever. So it was cool to like just sit on the bench and like Copey is a good buddy. When we played on a line together there, we played together in Sweden during the walkout.

So like hanging with him, playing with him. Just catching up with guys that, you know, you're all in the same position in life. And Cope and I'd be in the same age. We were starting families and stuff back then. Yeah. Just shooting shit. And then you have a lot of beer. Like a lot of beer.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A couple late nights in Columbus when I was there. Dude, we were joking around about last year. We don't need to sewer anybody. But there were a few of the boys who we were doing events with, doing different shit with getting buckled. Oh, yeah.

And one of them in particular was buckled with us and was like, dude, I'm going to be hung over for skills tomorrow. And we were like, that's today. Like that's tonight. And he was like, oh, fuck. So then three hours later, we're watching him buzzing around the ice. And we're like, this guy's hammered right now. It was unbelievable. I remember my first night in Nashville, or Nashville, excuse me, Columbus.

I was out with a couple buddies, and I won't name them either. But we were, we were, they had one of them had played in Columbus. So he's like, yeah, we're going to go to this place. And we stayed and I was like, God, it feels late. What time's last calling? He's like, wait, what? He's like, yeah. I was like, no wonder.

This place has been cleared out for a minute, eh? Oh, for sure. He's dead, bro. He's like, it's been closed for three hours. I look at the clock when I get in it. It's like, yeah, that's going to be a long one. It's like, yeah, it's going to be a long one. And I got to do shooting accuracy, so I'm just like kind of closing one eye trying to hit the middle target.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I picked the middle one. Dude, is there any element of, you know, there's a lot of guys like in division who are playing on the same team as you during this shit? Is there any element of guys that you have been a little chippy with or not maybe not the best blood with that you're all of a sudden playing and doing these fun events with? It's kind of weird how a guy separate that. Okay. Like for me, I had a tough time with that. And I can't remember at the Allster game, anybody in particular.

but like when you would see guys out or when you would see them in the summer and you cross past like I had a really weird time separating the two most guys don't most guys are fine with all of it and and you just obviously everybody has a beer and everything goes away and you're like yeah I'll see you on the ice and we're going to hate each other in October but no there's definitely none of that at the all-star game because I think it's guys that are all-stars yeah sure right the better players that outside of Brady I don't think any of them fight too often yeah so true Brady's got a pretty Mug. If anybody's going to fight at the Allster game, it would be him.

Yeah. No, no, it kind of goes away pretty fast. Yeah. But you're saying it was easier for you at All-Stars, even compared to summer. Like you see someone summer and you're kind of like, dude, I don't fuck with you, but at All-Stars, you're like whatever. Exactly. Yeah, you just put it all away for this.

I feel like it's one of those things too. It's like, you know, you play against somebody. And it's not even necessarily bad blood, but if you're just like, you know, I fucking hate this team. We've lost a couple of bad ones. And then you do sometimes get those moments where you meet them and you're like, oh, you're just a good guy. And it's like, it goes away pretty quick.

It's brutal when they're a good guy too. It's all, I'm supposed to hate you, man. It sucks. It sucks. What do you mean? You collect wine too or whatever? Like, yeah.

Oh, you're a good golfer? Yeah. Dude, I mean, it happens with us even with just being fans. Like, you know, you meet someone of a team that I'm like, I've, you know, lost to you guys. You know, the team I love lost to you in the cup. Fuck you. And then you meet them and they're so nice. And you're like, oh, you're just a good dude.

Yeah. I got to recalibrate here. Oh, you're a good family guy. man you treat people well fuck you who being from me who did were you guys boston yeah yeah yeah i mean we're from so southern main yeah that it's like 45 minutes away from the city and you're that close hey okay yeah yeah like i mean we when we were born we initially live just outside of boston so it's like that's been ingrained forever yeah but i'll tell you what man we say it all the time i mean definitely still a bruin's fan but now doing this and you just you make friends

all over the league it's just so hard to watch games now and not be like hey I really want you to beat this team because a good friend is on that team. So now you're just kind of like. I'm the same way. People have asked me since I, like, who do you? And I grew up a Flyers guy, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. From Philly.

So and Bobby Clark and my dad are still good friends and grew up around him. So totally. I always veered towards them. But now it's to the point where like, is it Ottawa? Is it Detroit? Is it Anaheim because I played in those three places? I'm like, none. I kind of just cheer for guys now.

Like I'll turn on a game and I'm like, oh, Copey's playing. Or, you know, I watch more Sends games because I cover them, but I find myself, I'm like, Chabby's playing. So I'm rooting for Chabby more than the team. Yeah. Yeah. If you're going to lose 4'3, I hope Chabby has one and two. For sure.

And then if you're in Ottawa, you stay on the plus side of things for a night. Yeah. It's totally real. The, um, with some of the stuff they're doing this all stars with like the new skills thing, right? Like everyone competes and everything. Guy gets a million bucks. Is that stuff effective getting players to want to come? No.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. Trump it up anyway you want. Like whatever. There's no answer there. No, especially for the younger guys that have maybe been the one or their first,

sure. Everything's attractive. It's cool. Like, I went to my first and I was like, this is awesome. This is like a once in a lifetime thing. But it's such old hat for some of the guys that are 10, 12. They're like, I just want five days to myself. Yeah.

Dude, Bobby, I was talking to someone the other day. I was like, when Sid makes this game, I'm like, there's no planet he wants to be here. Like, obviously he's the best and he's going to do everything and put on a good face. But he must be like, I am so disenfranchis. interested in this shit you have to be i it's unbelievable yeah and we talked about it before the show some guys just love the game so much yeah that like they need to be around it and it's like guys that are gonna have to get carried out of the league yeah how Cory Perry and yeah like i'm like just let the kids play man yeah yeah he just keeps coming back but yeah some guy but to me like

this experience is something that they have to be like i've been there i have every jersey i'm done i just want to move on yeah and you know 37 years old i guess i'm 36 so I think Sid is as well. I think he is. Yeah, he is. I wouldn't want to be doing it. Yeah. Yeah.

And it's like it's not a knock either. I mean, we always joke, you figure out the grind, dude. And it's like if you get five days off somewhere, like that's a fucking dream. Yeah. And yeah. It's a two day green light, one day rest, two days recover. Yeah. Like, like, like Jarvie.

Like, Jarvie, like, you obviously, we've become buddies with Seth Jarvis and Carolina. And this is, you know, his breakout season. And when the fan vote came through, he had that funny interview. where they were like, do you think you're in? He's like, nope, I'm going to Mexico. I get it. Non-refundable. Yeah, exactly right.

It's such a real feeling, dude. It's so funny. Yeah, no, I agree. Is there anything like, because I almost think you guys should all get a break? Like, I wish they just went like, it's, hey, everyone gets a week off and reset. Yeah. Yeah. But then, like, the NFL does the pro bowl, right?

And like, the pro bowl is a clown show. Nobody goes, right? So, like, I think this is probably the best case scenario. You just do it here and, you know, you tough it out if you make it. Pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. It's the best case scenario.

Yeah. And then I like the way that they structured it now where the bye week is either before or after the most. Yeah, totally. These guys will still get a couple. Yeah. But is it worth it to go to Florida for two days when you got a jet right back to Carolina or wherever it might be after this? It makes it tough. Yeah.

No, it's brutal. I would imagine a lot of guys come here and then go right back to where they're playing and just kind of sit there. But it's like if you live in a bleak city, you're like, I need some sunlight. I need some vitamin D here. Yeah. I feel like an alligator. So like if I'm in Calgary, I'm like this. I'm going to Florida for two days.

I'm sorry. You're poning up the jet. Like, yeah, I'm taking a jet and I'm not waiting on traffic. Where do you stand on the game itself? Because obviously there's tons of fans who are like, it's not competitive. It's not fun to watch. But it's like,

I don't think these guys want to go out and fucking bang bodies for 60 minutes when they have a little bit of an off week. Do you think there should be some incentive of the game? You know, it's like what is baseball used to do? Like home field advanced and the World Series and shit like that. I wouldn't mind that element. It's just, I guess the downside of this is, it like they've thrown money at the players that come here.

Right. Yeah. And I'm like, you're, like, you're giving it to the guys that are all making eight. They don't give. Dude,

I just said this. I was like, the guys that don't make as you get some money. We were doing like a funny prop bet thing on like, who's going to win skills. And the, the guy who's making the least amount of money in the skills competition is Nealander who just signed a fucking $11.5 million dollar ticket.

So he's doing just fine. He's doing A-OK. Yeah. So it's, you're right. It's like, when they throw the money. It's like, yeah, great, incentive. What I like about, so, and I had this conversation last night with a friend,

I would like to just see it go back to East versus West and make that game mean something. Yeah. When you throw in the three, and fans like three on three because it's open and I get that. But if you made it a four on four East versus West with a little incentive, whether it's home, homeless advantage, whether it's whatever it might be, you come up with that, even if it's still financially motivated for players in the conference. I just think there's ways to do it that would trump it out because like three on three gets so stale for guys that have played it.

You're just like, we're going to circle back again. We're going to hinge again. We're going to do four more drop passes before we have one on oh. Yeah, right. You want to enter the zone. Last year when we're watching, it's in the second period when guys are just kind of cruising around. You just look around the stands. People are just having conversations like eating and drinking.

I'm like, this is, we're not even watching a game here. This is like a shinny game, right? Yeah. It's exactly what it is. Well, three on three and I think they got a. scrap it as a whole. Really? Yeah.

I don't. Okay. I would either rather see three on three extended to five minutes. Okay. Excuse me, extended to 10 minutes. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

where you have to roll through the lineup and I think that you should have every player on the ice. How fucking great would it be to see some of these guys on the ice in three on three? Yeah. Like, love that. Not to pick on them, but Ryan Reeves three on three. Yeah.

Good luck. Yeah. There's funny. I would love to see that or just go right to this shootout and make it a five guy. Yeah. Oh, oh, no, no three and three at all.

Just like bang right to it. Several episodes we talked about this. They should do something. We were talking about taking away off sides. Like that would be super interesting if it was just a full pawn sheet. And it was like, go play 3V3. Yeah. I just got one guy in each zone kind of.

Right? Yeah. Because it is the whole regroup element. I mean, it's one of those funny things where it's like, you know, a couple of years ago, someone figured out if you regroup, it completely opens up possession in 3V3. And that's great. It's great. Someone figured that out.

But it's like as these players figure out to kind of crack the code, the league needs. needs to keep cracking the code too exactly like once that happened it should be like this all right we're taking right taking away off side yeah we're doing like no clock someone has to fucking win or something like that so was it one of you guys that said a shot clock yes yeah yeah because i was like just let's get let's get moving here yeah like i hate the possession yeah it's so like i was watching the Detroit um Ottawa game last night terracenco started the top of the circle and ended up behind his own net dude and and then they went down and scored so yeah again they they cracked the code yeah but as soon as he turned around

I'm like, fuck. That's not what I was here for. When I, when they pitched me three on three, it wasn't for that. That's like, you should be allowed two turnbacks and then you got to go. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

It's like, to me, it's when you see it starting to get that buzzing back and forth. That's when I get it. And then like, someone gets it and then they regroup and go. You're like, fuck, no, it was just getting good again. God damn it. So yeah, no, we need to go back. It's only. Last all-star question I have for you because I was curious.

Do you get to weigh in on who you want to play with? Or just the coach, like, here are the fucking lines. I think you probably do if you've been through it a few times. I didn't. You're playing with Stamcoast and Copi. I was like, they're okay. Yeah, yeah. And fucking what a great tragedy.

How, like, did you want to get one so bad? Because you're like, I'm here. I got to fucking get a talk. Truthfully, no. Okay, yeah. And like, Copie was like, hey, congratulations. And I was like, it was after I scored, but the game was ending. And he's like, like, what?

He goes, you won the Selkey tonight. And I was like, I had one in one. Not that bad. Like, pretty standard. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't score you. You shut me down all night. I was like, what do you say to that?

I was like, to be, I was like, you're right. I looked you off quite a few times. I want it now that I think about it. I was like, maybe I did want one too badly. Yeah, right. I think I did. Cope's dry delivery too.

That's how you can hear that joke. He just, the way he said it, I was like, I hate you. Yeah, God damn it, dude. Oh, that's beautiful. Okay, so let's talk about the league a little bit right now. Yeah, yeah.

I think the first one, unless you have a burning one, the first one I want to ask you about. This kind of is my burning one. Oh, well, What do you think I'm going to say? Are you starting with the Rangers? No, but you can. No, go.

The first one I want to ask you is, what are the oilers doing? Are they the best team of all time or this? Are they too hot right now? Are they too hot too early? Like, what is going on in Edmonton? They're peaking too early, man. I'm like, I hope they all have a nice week off and then go through it a little bit again and then peak again.

I do want to see them tie the right. Are they one off or two? One away, dude. One way to tie. They need two to win it. Okay. And they've got a tough one. Vegas.

I think going to Vegas. And that's to tie it. And then the ducks. Okay, so that should be a walk of a game. If they get Vegas, they're going to break it, I think. Like, if they win that Vegas game, there's no way they're going to lose to the ducks to not break the record. I just hate that it came at the All-Star break because it's like, nobody knows about that first game back. You have no idea.

At least Evanston's got some guys skating here with. Is Dreissel here too? I don't know. I think so. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So they got the normal two here. They're skating and they're not, you know, on a beach somewhere.

So those guys will be a little more ready to go than anybody else. And that is most of their offense. Yeah, yeah. But I don't know, I don't know if Stuart Skinner can hang on to the way he's playing all the way through. That's a big question mark. It's a shame that Jack Campbell's, you know, you hate to see it. Like, everybody gets through it, goes through it when you, you know, when you're just not competitive enough, I guess, to be in the lineup. But if that kid, if Stuart Skinner is the answer and he continues to play this way, like, they're, they have to be the same.

Like a favorite to this point. Right. I, I picked them early on. Yeah. like I'm loving this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still have my paperwork on the desk. Like,

and there's not a lot of paperwork on my desk for you, but I got my picks. That's actually, that's all that's on the desk, it's actually pretty much. Yeah, yeah. It is funny, though. I mean, when you look at the West,

I'm like, I feel like I look at them and Vancouver. And I'm like, if you, if you both keep pace, that's going to be a barn burner of a series of they eventually see each other. I would kill to watch that series.

Oh my God, dude. Yeah, like if it shakes out that that's the Western Conference final, that would be fucking electric. Because like those two teams, Again, if they stay playing like this, that's one of the bigger coin flips you could ever imagine. Because Demko's playing well too. So if him and Skinner are both buzzing like that, the offenses are going like they are,

that's just going to be like a Jesus Christ, they have no idea. I'm really interested to see with the Linholm trade how that. Dude. Because like sometimes you insert another offensive player into what you have going on. Yeah. It just doesn't work. And there's no rhyme or reason for it. It just, it's like we had a really, really elite offense.

We had it one more and there's too many chefs in the kitchen kind of thing. Yeah. Yep. I don't know if that's, I don't think that'll be the case. He seems to be a guy that can just shoot the pill and get to, you know, get to areas. So it's a big trade, though. Dude, okay. So, yeah, I'm curious what you think about that because I thought Lindholm was going to be a classic traded at the deadline, but a rental.

I thought it was going to be a Patty Kane, Teresanko deal. And then he was going to find his new home. That said, the hall feels too much for him to not have there to have not been a conversation that's like, I'm going to resign here. And it's crazy because, like, Lindholm's best year was with Johnny Hockey and Kachuk. Yeah. And now you're on Vancouver with, you know, you've got PD, you've got Besser, you've got Quinn, you got JT. Yeah.

Like that is a team that he can thrive on. So I'm kind of now like, oh, fuck, I think he's going to sign there. So curious what you think about that. It just depends on the economics of it all, right? Yeah, yeah. None of them are locked out. Like, is PD? Yeah, that's why I was worried.

The big one for me is, holy shit. Is this a, if he signs, is it a PD might not be coming back? Yeah. I'm so curious and scared for Vancouver of that whole situation. It's going to be interesting how it plays out. Yeah. But you don't trade the players that you trade it with the pick that you trade it with it. For a rental.

For a guy that you know is a rental. So there has to be something of, you know, general managers do their homework. And they're like, this guy stay here. And obviously lived in Calgary. He's pretty comfortable living in Vancouver. They're not the same, but they're close, right? They're BC places. So there is that.

I just, I don't know, it's kind of like that first domino has to fall where one guy takes a little bit off the top of a contract. And the next guy has to do it to say, hey, we all want to be here and win. But that's not usually the case. Guys want to get paid because we all know the windows pretty small, right? To get to our running. So it'll be interesting. I think he's going to make them better, which is scary. Right.

For sure. And if Demko continues to play the defense, I think they need another defenseman for me. Yeah. But outside of that, they're that Zedora of scoop. was huge for them. Yeah. And yeah, I agree. Like if they get a, you know, third pairing,

just like locked down defensemen, they're scary. I think they're so scary. Regardless of a lack of experience, whatever you want to call it, I think they're a real team. I think that, I think experience goes a long way in the playoffs,

but it seems like the game's changed so much that it doesn't almost matter anymore. Yeah? You can go, the playoffs give you a lot of highs and lows, right? Like, just emotionally and like, and the way you're approaching the game, changes from the regular season.

And guys that have been through it are certainly more equipped for it for sure like the young guys just and like I watched them start to come in they don't give a shit They're like they're just like it's it's almost like for sure they're just happy Yeah, I'm like all the time guys yeah Yeah, I mean you see with Kail a couple of years ago Kail got to the playoffs and was like fuck yeah this is sick Yeah, I'm pretty good I don't know like I think it was different because the leagues changed off the ice too like you used to be very seen and not heard like when I started right yeah yeah and The game's changed to now, like, the young kids come in.

Like, they have come into the locker and by the time they're 20 because the salary caper, you need a bunch of young guys. So it's just different. Yeah. So I don't think the experience plays as much as it used to. Yeah. That's the one thing I was going to ask, right, about the Canuck. Because I felt like that's what happened to the Devils a little bit last year. Like they came into that Ranger Series, beat them.

Great series. And I was like, oh, this team isn't ready to make a deep run yet, just because they haven't experienced it. But that's just complete naivete fan POV. But maybe you're saying that's not. quite as real anymore. Well, I think it plays a part because I think Tampa got really good after they lost to Columbus too. Yeah, yeah. Okay, we had no adversity all year. And that's the other thing, Jersey played well enough, but didn't really go through any adversity in that season up until that point. Tampa's first adversity that year, I think they won the President's trophy,

let the league on fire. Dude, they broke, they had the points record. Right. They did. Yeah, yeah. And then all of a sudden, they lose a game in Columbus. And you're like, uh, what's going on? And like, everybody kind of hit panic. And they learned and then they went on the win too. So there is a, I think there's a learning curve in playoff. Sure. So experience does matter in that sense. I just guess I meant more from the emotional side. I think guys, guys don't care. It's not they don't care. It doesn't ring true. Um, guys don't feel the weight of it is like, like you did when we were young. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It definitely does, dude. Good. Yeah. And I mean, I mean, fuck man, we talked about it last year with Boston losing to Florida. I think the

same thing happened that happened to that Tampa team. It's when you go through and you look at the president's trophy winners, how rarely they go on and win. And, I mean, I mean, I mean, I think it definitely plays into that if you have no adversity all season long and you're just buzzing. Then you get into a playoff series where someone's playing you every other day. They get to really study the game notes.

Get into your kitchen. That's when you're like, oh, fuck. Like, we're panicking now. Yeah. When teams really get a chance to break you down and then look at your system because in the regular season, you know, you play Tuesday in Newark

but you play Thursday at home against, let's just say Boston's coming in. Yeah. Your video session of Boston's this big. Yeah. You're like, here's what they do. But when you play them in a series, you get them every day, and you get them for a week leading up to it for the most part.

You're like, this is this, this, this and this. You make adjustments. And then a lot of times in the regular season, the coach is like, this is the adjustment we're making tonight. And you're like, what? I was like, I know you were talking, but I was not a putting green in Bermuda. So you just don't, you don't retain it the same way as when you really get to lock in on a team.

So there's a lot more gamesmanship and playoffs in those regards for sure. Yeah. No doubt about it. How much midgame, like, let's say you guys come in, because I imagine it's a battle for a coach to be like, here's the thing we do that is working. I don't want to change that, but, you know, maybe Boston does X, so we got to make an adjustment there. Are we wearing the same pants? Yeah. What do you got?

You guys are close. Are these bird dogs? Yeah. I'm so, so I just looked down and I thought I was looking at my own leg. You're like, oh, my God. Guys, I've been thinking it the whole time. Are yours bird dogs too? Yeah.

Hell yeah. Yeah. You guys are both bird dogs. Great. Cheers. You guys are both bird dogs. I mean, I feel like an asshole now. Yeah.

And you had them too. I know, I did. I had them on last night. I was on the ODR. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Used them up last night. But yes, I was going to say how much in a playoff series, if the coach comes in with an adjustment

and it's not going mid game, are you ever like, hey, Ripcord, never mind? Or is it like, hey, we've got to see this game through and we'll change it game two? A little bit of both. I've had a coach that came in and made an adjustment that didn't work, clearly didn't work. Yeah. At that point in time, I was on a scoring line in Anaheim, and I'm like, this isn't, this isn't, the change isn't working.

Yeah, yeah. I'm like, well, we're planning as Nick Ledstrom, so not much is going to worry. What do you want me to do? Yeah, I'm like, I can forecheck him this way all you want. He's going to lift my stick, put it between my legs, and still not get hit somehow. But we stuck it through, and then I played for Gie Boucher, who had made a small adjustment one time. And I said something to Gie about it. Very quickly, I was like, I don't like it.

And he goes, like, some coaches are very, very good about like rip cord. Okay, we're good. Yeah. Let's just go back to what we were doing and just repeat the process. That's what playoffs is, right? Yeah, yeah. Behind. load a high, shot, repeat, repeat.

And then the game opens up for skill at times. But so to answer your question, both, like, both is the right answer. I've seen it through where it hasn't worked. I've changed where it didn't work. It's just not rhyme or reason, right? It's just who does the little details longer. Yeah, God, so true. That's my favorite part about the playoffs that I think a lot of fans don't quite process.

Because they're like, just play that team. You're playing them. Beat them best to seven. And I'm like, dude, there is so much more mental stuff happening when it's same team over and over again. It's crazy. Yeah, it certainly is. Speaking of teams who we think are real or not real, I want to kick to the east. What do you think is going on with the Rangers right now? Like, do you think that start was Fugazi and this is kind of who they are? Do you think they're going through a skid and they're going to pull up here? I think they're going through

a skid, but I don't know. I don't see them as a threat as a team. They just don't, they don't deal it for me. They never have. They beat the hell out of, excuse me, Ottawa the other night. Yeah. But I'm like, Ottawa's a little porous right now. They're making a lot of changes in their system. So I haven't watched them as exclusively as I have in the past. I love Mika,

so I'm always watching him, played with him for a long time. So I'll turn a lot of his games on. But as a team, they're just, they're missing. I don't, and I don't know what it is.

They're missing something. They can score at will some nights and then they can't get on the board. And it's like they don't have enough jam in front of the net sometimes for me. Yep. I do love the way they transition, which is so important in playoffs. Like, they get going north pretty quick. Yeah.

big part of it and they're fast and skilled but when that ice tightens up man in playoffs like i don't know if their personnel is quite what i would want to see if i'm behind the bench coach and i'm like i don't know who's going to go absolutely pay the price in front of the net it feels like three years ago shesty kind of had that season that was like oh he's the best goalie in the league yeah and he's just been worse since and he's still amazed still good but you know he's having kind of a tough year this year and it's flirting with that area of being like maybe this is his game and he just played unconscious in that first year where no one really, you know, we talked about game notes.

It's like guys didn't really know where to shoot on him. Now they do. And when you look at that roster and it's, Panarin's really carrying most of the weight, right? You know, we've got some guys who are kind of buzzing, but he's that guy who's notoriously the last few years not been doing it in the playoffs. So if you're a Rangers fan and, you know, even in management of that team heading into playoffs, I feel like you're kind of like, fuck. Like I don't know what, like you said, I don't.

think we have the jam to go far here and if like shesty's not playing great like are you really going to ride jonathan quick right entire playoff run here like it's but can't you see though can't you see them being like panarin's got 30 right like panarin's score like he's never scored laugh he's finally scoring yeah shesty will get hot but kind of like i'm sick of that shit dude like everyone's like this laugh he's popped off and he's like on pace to have a 45 point season i'm like sure but like that's your first overall pick like is are you relying on that guy in the playoffs i don't know about that so they had the kid line that that was pretty good.

Isn't Sheetil out for the year? Cheetos done. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so, yeah, I agree. Like,

you got some positives for sure. Like, Panarin's always going to get his cookies. Yeah. He's that good. He's just going to find a way. But is he the guy? Yeah.

Um, in a four to four overtime game and playoffs. Yeah, unless it's a power play and he's got a space already created. Yeah. I don't know. Like, I don't,

he's one of the shiftyest players I've ever played. Oh my God. Like, like, it's crazy. He's so quietly a top five player of the last four years. And like easily and I just don't think people think about it. It's unbelievable.

It just kind of gets forgotten. Like when you see him, he's small and like he's just like, eh, he's out there. And then at the end of the night, you're like, he had one in one. When did he hang that? Yeah. So I just don't like, I don't, I think they're probably going to take a beating for this. But I just, they're, they're kind of fraudulent to me. Yeah.

I think you're right, dude. I think you're right. I honestly, like, maybe you'll take a beating, but it's like, we all have. I mean, I've been dragged by the Rangers fans before, but it's like. They're ruthless. Oh, dude. like, they're going to be like, well, you're from Philly. You're supposed to say that. I'm like, I don't care.

Yeah. I'm like, shit. I'm just calling it how I see it. I have no ties to any team. Right? I'm just telling you like it is. Yeah, right? It's one of those things. I mean, it's like, Biz is always on this, like the New York Fugazis. Like, it's, I feel like there's a lot of us who say it and see it. And it's that, it's kind of that old thing. It's like, if you get called a horse three times, you should probably go looking for a saddle. Because it's like, they might be fake. Like, you know, I don't know. Yeah. Don't tell the blue shirts that. Exactly.

They called the blue shirts? Yeah. Yeah. Blue shirts. Yeah. They come get you. And then on the other side, do you think the Bruins are the real deal? I called the Bruins early.

I didn't call them as the Stanley Cup champions. Yeah. But you thought they'd be this good? Yeah. Dude, I was way off on this. Really? I just actually remember watching yours because it was a clip or whatever. Yeah.

He sued them, dude. Yeah. And I was like, they still have those two goalies. They're going to be good. And that's, I think the identity of that team is that tant. Just leaving the depth down the middle. I was like, how do you survive that? Every now and again, you get.

guys will post something outrageous where I just have to weigh in with a text. I'm like, guys are idiot. What would you say about the clicks, dude? But I remember that one in particular because Wally and Yorkie, my co-hosts were like, yeah, they're not making playoffs. I'm like, are you fucking nuts. Look at their back end. Look at their goalies and look at their middle. Like they're a little light there, but the top guys do not find ways to stay off to score sheet. Like, they can't. They just, yeah, yeah. good and I love the tandem and I love their D like they just yeah that's the difference

yeah he changed oh dude Monty's unbelievable great dude truly unbelievable great dude um so yes I I don't that this division is like a pickle for me right dude yeah I hate covering it sometimes because oh dude you don't know and then like when you look at third and fourth in the Atlantic and it's Tampa and Toronto you're like what the fuck yeah and then Detroit's right behind them I'm like Troits right there. It's like, this is insane. And like, I, I think Detroit's going to fall off a little bit here. Yeah. Okay. Okay. But right now you have five teams from that division in the playoffs. Yeah. As of today. Right. So it's a fucking good division. Oh my God. It's insane. I just don't, you can't sleep on Tampa.

Like if Vasseles. Completely agree. Hey, I'm going to be that goal away from two years ago all of a sudden in a playoffs. Good luck. Obviously, Toronto got by him last year. But if it's another situation, like, if Tampa is a wildcard team, you're like, are you fucking. Yeah. Like, you want that in the first round of your ball. No way. Boston. We win the president's trophy and we get Poochorov in the first round. Yeah. And Bassie's unconscious and I'm like, it happened. No one really saw it coming, but it's like last year, Boston went to the president's trophy.

And then you get Florida and you're like, Florida has been pretty bad. But it's like, well, Florida asked Chuck. They have Sasha. They have, you know, for Hagee and Reiner. They also have goalie bob and net and Montor and Ekblatt. And you're like, wait, this team is an eight seed? What the fuck is going on? So yeah.

It's like the Atlantic is. just an absolute nightmare yeah you're right you're right it is a pick um it's a hard building to go like florida's always in the mix for me because of how hard it is to go play there oh my god um you stay in the you stay in bum fuck like you're out yeah you're up well you're in fort lauderdale they play in bum fuck correct yeah sunrise like like like a police escort just to get to the game so you can get through the traffic there's just something about it and then you get to the building and it's probably different in playoffs but you're like oh we got to take the crowd out of it because there's 4 000 people here yeah yeah it's one of the

Best buildings in the league, too. It's gorgeous. Oh, it's amazing. And you're looking at it and you're like, I wish they could get fans here to put some energy into this building because you've got to draw from something, right? Yep. It's just, yeah, it's always been a hard building for me. So they're always a threat, dude. They're a huge threat.

I was worried about they seemed pretty injured to start the year. I thought they'd start really slow. And just that, I don't know how real this is, but just like that long season cup loser hangover thing. I was like, I don't know. But they did not miss a beat. Everybody talks about the cup winner hangover. I'm like, can imagine being the cup loser hangover?

Like that's got to be way worse. Yeah, awful. You're drinking the celebrator. You're drinking the hurt. Yeah. You're angry drinking. That's a tough team to play next to you. Yeah.

They were a little banged up, but like I think I had them, I can't remember. I had them somewhere in the middle, probably making the playoffs or just out because they're one of those teams that like they're not, they're really built for the postseason. Agree. Agree. Agree completely. So when they get in, they're going to get in, they're going to be hard out. Yep.

They're going to be very hard out. Yeah. You already mentioned you think Detroit's going to fall off. Yeah. So do you think they're going to miss playoffs? I think they're going to be just outside. Yeah? All right.

So who do you think in the East is going to steal those two? Uh, uh, solid-card spots. Right now we're looking at like Boston, Florida locks. Yep. Toronto, Tampa locks. I would say to,

okay. New York, Carolina are kind of locks in the Met right now. Yeah. Who's, where's Pittsburgh is out? Um, was feeling,

are they? Or there, but now. Dude. Well, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Like, You know, we're not going to go there. But like, I don't think Philly's going to stay up. No. Because, like, you've lost your starting goaltender. Exactly. So the Rangers will be in the top three there too, right? Yeah, yeah.

They're still, are they second in the Met now? The Rangers? Yeah. I think they're first still. What does that say? They are. Yeah, we got Rangers, Carolina. Thank you, Blakey.

So it's right now Rangers, Carolina, flyers. And then. But someone has to get that third spot in the Met. So I see their pit or the island. The Devils. Or the Devils, yeah. So I'm. I don't think Pitt's making it.

You don't think so? No, I don't. I don't either. I don't. The Islanders are kind of sleepy, and there's another team that, like, you get, kind of get in the playoffs, and you're like, they're built for playoffs. I say it all the time with, like, again, kind of like Chesty, Sorokin's having maybe not his best year, but I'm like, you do not want to see that goal in.

It's just like fucking Bobrovsky last year. Exactly. You do not want to see Ilya Sorokin in the playoffs. So, you know what that's going to be my four is, I think the Rangers and the Islanders. The Devils, they've had too much up and down this year. Dude, what a ridiculous thing. And they're so hurt, dude. They're Jekyll and Hyde and they're so hurt.

Yeah. So that's what I'm going to say is the Islanders and the Devils are going to be those other two teams. Okay. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. The Islanders just edge out Detroit at the end of it is, I guess. Yeah.

And then I had to ask, dude, what happened in Ottawa? Like, season from hell. Like, I can't, because I picked them pretty high. Like, I thought they would be like a wildcard team, but I was like they are going to win. Because I think we were kind of like, he was. was on the wings taking that step and being a fringe playoff team and i was on ottawa taking that step me and the fringe playoff team clearly it's the wings oh yeah i mean i picked ottawa to finish seventh i was like i think they're they're they're they're

close but they're not there and everyone called me a moron and now like i've received so many texts like even biz was like dude i thought you were an idiot but wow and i was like yeah what do you think happen i don't know i picked them the finish second or third i'm me too dude i was like yeah um Excuse me. I thought Florida was going to have a longer hangover. I did know that they were going to be a team. Like eventually they were going to be a team. I just, I thought after the, like DJ Smith, who was a coach there, for years, he was teaching.

Yeah. And I thought he would make the step into coaching this year, right? From teaching young kids, but I think that they've just had too long of a leash. Yeah. Because you're teaching and you're allowed to make mistakes. And all of a sudden, with the expectations comes to lack of mistakes you're allowed to make. Right. God. Yeah.

And now he had to change the way he was a little bit. from, hey, I'm, you know, I'm handing me with kid gloves and we're teaching and now I'm coaching. And it just didn't go well. Yeah. I think having Josh Norris come back after a year of hockey, the expectations were too high. Like, he's, you missed a year of hockey. Yeah, that's a great point. That's a great point.

You know, as I go from 35 goals and I think he's on pace for just under 20 now, like, it's a hard ask. Shane Pinto missing 41 games for that. Fulship. Nightmare. Killed you. Since he's been back, he's been. It's been great. He's been great.

He's been unbelievable. And then their D's just not, they don't play D. Yeah. It's weird because they got they, they have, they have good players back there, you know. I said this last, I said this last year when they picked up Chikrin. I was like, that's a great pickup, but that doesn't really help your defense. Chikran's not going to be your lockdown defensive guy. And I feel like they've been feeling that all season long.

They have. I think he's on his way out. I do too. Dude. And talk about a disaster. That is. I mean, like you, that pickup felt like, yep, here's another piece to, this core that's going to make us contenders for the next eight years.

Yeah. And he's gone. The optics around that were great. He's, you know, my family's here. It was perfect. So,

and they kind of got him at an okay hall. Definitely. And I know that they kind of had to be forced to make the trade. Not Arizona, Ottawa. Yeah. They were like, they thought they were out of it.

And somebody had called and said, no, no, no, you're very much in this, make an offer. It just happened in the next day. But you have, you have too many of the same player back there.

You have three great puck-moving defensemen in Chickren, and Shikrin Sanderson, and Shabon. thought one of them's got to go. Yeah. And you need to move that person. And it's not going to be Sanderson. No, yeah.

No way. I don't know who it comes down to. Chickren's attractive because of the contract. Chabby's unattractive because of his contract. So it's just. Yeah. I don't think you can move Chabby either. Like I think he's...

I love Chabby. Yeah. I think he's too important to that group. So it's like, it does feel tough. It's like last one in, first one out. Right. But how much of a setback is it? I mean,

the season's over. But like, how much of a setback is it if you, if you are that club. Are you able to go, hey, this was just a bad year. The pieces are here. We will be good next year. Or is this like a, dude, something is wrong.

I need to start again. I think the core needs a shake-up. Like I desperately think one of the bigger names has to go. And the problem is like, so Claude Drew doesn't want to move, I'm sure. Yeah. And if somebody comes and says, you want a chance to win a cup. But he's from there. He's got home there.

I don't think he wants to move. You're really only going to be able to trade a Tarasenko, which I don't think is going to happen. either. I think he loves it there and he's going to make a discount to stay. And he's a perfect second, third line guy. But he's not part of your long-term solution. Where they're at now, they've been told for six years, we're building, this is our core. But now this year with the weight of the expectations, the other excuse built in is, well, we had an ownership change, a coaching change, or GM change. There was no stabilization. And that's what the players had said in a meeting with

sales. We need some stability here. So they're getting that. But the part of the problem is they're playing for an interim coach. And you want to install a coach over the summer. Yep. When he comes in, if it doesn't work right away, then it's then it's pure panic again this year next year. So for me, and it's a tough ask for Steve Sayos as his first time being a GM, like how do you revamp a team

that's been built for six years but hasn't won anything or shown that they can? Yeah, right. Yeah. So I think like you're going to start to look at the names like Batherson tossed around, which I would never trade because of his contract. Yeah. You get a guy like that for five. Oh my God.

He should be almost untouchable. Yeah. But you're not trading Brady or Tim. So you look at Norris, you look at Batherson, you look at, you're not trading Pinto, but there's some pieces that need to be moved. Yeah. You get too many guys making $8 million. I do.

Because you just hand them out now. You can't do that. Yeah. I understand. Like, Sanderson can't be moved, frankly. No, yeah. So it's like, yeah. For me, the only untouchables are Timmy Stutzel and Sanderson.

But if somebody came to me with an offer for Timmy Stutzel, I would entertain it. Really? It would have to be a barred burner. Yeah, yeah. That would have to be. blockbuster trade. Like truly. Yeah.

No. But I would consider him untouchable with Brady and with Sanderson. Yeah. Yeah. You got a goalie making five that what's in five a night. So it's like they got a lot to fix. Somebody considered. That's actually not the math we need there.

Yeah. Craig Anderson's like I should come out of retirement and go back. I was talking to the other day. I was like, just let the kids play, man. That's the overarching message here. Just let the kids play. All right. We want to get in something that was your idea.

So, but for the listeners, Bobby hit us up, wanted to do this thing, kind of like an ask-in-Nh-L-R-R-vive, and it's a fucking great idea. So we're doing it. We wanted to launch it here on the pod. So we got a ton of submissions with some great, great questions, and we picked a few of our favorites that we want you to dive into. Okay. This one immediately caught my eye, and I love. So the question is, how real is player coach descent? Can a coach lose a locker room where the boys?

have players only meeting or a group, uh, players only meeting or a group text where they say he has to go. So like, yeah. And I caught my eye because obviously there's a couple of teams right now you could point at that are like, oh, maybe they've lost the locker room a little bit. Yep. Is that a real thing where like on the group text or just like boys in the locker, I'm hanging out going to dinners are like, I can't fucking stand this guy.

We need to get him out of here. Yes. But I will say in 15 years, I've never been part. Like it would never come out in a group actually comes out in a, Uber's apparently. Yeah. I didn't want to bring it up. But I've never, I've never seen anything like that on a group text.

The group text is very just much logistics for trips and things like that. Okay. Yeah. And never, never filters through there. I've been at dinners where the guys are like, and a lot of times a closed door meeting has nothing to do with a coach. It's players just holding each other accountable. Oh, okay. It's a different voice from the coach.

So that's a time when you can call somebody out and there's mutual respect and it's a safe place. Yeah, yeah. But I've also seen almost. fights in those meetings. So it's right. Yeah. I've seen coaches lose a room. I've been part of that. I've been to dinners where players have also talked about what's next at the year end meetings. What do we want to talk about? Like, where's our focal point when we meet with the GM about the coach? Yeah. I've always stayed just on the outside of that kind of stuff because, mostly because I hate meeting so much. I was like, I don't want to be part of this meeting that's going to go on

for 45 minutes after practice. I'm on flip flops. I'm out of the door. Let me get out of here. So, but yeah, so coach has the ability to lose a room. I've only seen it happen once. It is talked about

aggressively at dinners and at year in meetings and in Uber's. And is it hard on the, is it hard on the captain? Like how, it to be like, yo,

you are the one that has to go to the GM and be like, hey, we got an issue here. Like, how does that shake out? Yeah, and it's tough

because captains just keep getting younger and younger, right? Yeah, so, dude, I think about like next year like fucking Baderd in Chicago.

They're probably going to throw the sea on his chest. Yeah. I'm like, imagine. He's going to go talk to Richardson about it. Yeah. Yeah. It puts, it's funny, it's funny, guys will go to the captain, and a lot of times, captains will decide whether it's worth kicking up.

Oh, okay. And a lot of times, you're just lending an ear to the player because you're not, nobody's out to get a coach, right? Actually, I've only seen that one time, too. Can you say? No, but the player lost. Yeah. If it's one-on-one, players losing.

If it's five-on-one coaches, right? Yeah, like, it's the way it goes. But a captain is always, you always have to have an ear. You always have to decide whether it's worth running out the flag bowl. And then a lot of times you're kicking into the assistants anyway because that's what, they're filters. Yeah, yeah, no doubt. They're just filters.

And they're the guys that do a lot of the prepping and planning for games. Yeah. So, yeah, captains don't run it up very often. Yeah. Yeah. But if it was something like a coaching change. Yeah, right. They said that to you, right?

I've had that said to me too. Yeah. You can't take offense to it because you're like, maybe they're right. Yeah, fair. Fair. So first question, but if it was a coaching change thing, you wouldn't run that through assistants either, right? Because it's like probably packaged.

Yeah, that would have to go somewhere else. Yeah, because if you run it to the wrong assistant, they're like, well, I'm going to be head coach interim. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because that's where every assistant generally wants to go to, right? Yeah. I think that there's, I've played for the oldest team in the league when I came in with Anaheim and Scott Niedermeyer, Chris Pronger.

Like, I always had guys to go to. Now with teams being so young, you've really, that's why Claude came in and is what he is in. Ottawa. He's a go between. And you have, it takes time to get comfortable to be able, and like I played for GMs that are way too involved and way under involved. Like Bob Mary was never in the room. He was great. He was like the room's yours. Yep. You come to me if you need me. Yeah. Where Pierre was in there having breakfast and chatting guys up. And like there's nothing wrong with that. It just for me, I had seen it and started the other way and I didn't

love that. But I do, I do think players are getting more comfortable and especially captains. They have to be comfortable going across the hall to discuss things. And he's like, hey, it's not one player I'm coming about, it's five. Yeah. And then that's the GM's job to discern where that goes. I mean, I can't imagine how important guys like Coulorne and Fowler are in Anaheim right now. It's like that's such a young team.

I mean, even Vancouver. Like you look at the leaders on that team. Like that team is young. Yeah. Like that's crazy. Like JT. It's like one of the oldest guy on that team. Yeah.

It's crazy. And then those those players only stuff is that is the mutual respect always there? Or just have you ever seen something linger where it's like, hey, I'm calling you out now. But like we're cool, right? and it's like it's not cool. Some guys can, some guys have the ability to not take anything personally. Yeah.

And you have to have tough skin in a locker room. You guys have to have tough skin. Yeah. Your guys are going to chirp you about something every day. And most guys do. There's only a few guys that I've played with over my time where I'm like, came out of a closed-door meeting and like held a grudge against somebody. And like, I found myself guilty of it one time when things weren't going on Anaheim and

somebody said something to me and I was like, fuck you. Yeah. And I don't go home and I'm like kicking the cat. And I'm like, like, that's son of a bitch. Yeah. And then I'm like, what do we do? We're on the same thing.

He actually wants me to be better for him to help it. So you have to take those things and kind of marinate with them sometimes. But I've only like, I've never seen a friendship loss, but I've seen guys kind of veer towards different groups. Take it too personally. Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, it's the other thing.

You've got 22 guys in a room. There's so many different personalities and so many different things kind of coming into one group that you're going to have spatch. You're going to have different things. I've seen fist fights over card games And 10 minutes later you're getting a beer It's like Hey sorry I made funny

Your tattoo Sibling relationship Dude it's so real See the moment bro my dad Yeah sorry It's so we always joke about It's funny how you can be more competitive in practice With your teammates than you are with the other team sometimes

Yeah I've had problems with that too Yeah Oh yeah Yeah because then you go in the room and like It's a three on three game and you're fucking heat it But then you got to be around them all the time Yeah I lose my mind I remember at Andover like Crichter and I used to

We would be like hacking each other's legs off at practice sometimes. And then I'd be like, what's up? Let's go to dining home. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I get the next one for you. How often do guys break curfew on the road? How often did they get caught? What would be the punishment?

And how would you pull it off? So I've never heard this before. There is no curfew. Oh, okay. I've never had a curfew. So when you guys on the road, the coach is like, do your thing. Yeah. Don't be an asshole.

And did you guys have an unspoken like 48-hour rule type thing of like don't drink the night before a game? or was it just like fucking do you man do you yeah just be ready to go um again i came into a team that really governed itself with anaheim they had just won yeah an older team um there was a couple green lights a year that was it that's what i learned yeah um so they didn't have to imply curfew every now and again coach will be like guys just be in by whatever and it's not enforced i've heard of teams where coaches knock on doors and look really i've never seen like i've never once experienced no no squad you played forever never nobody i mean there's dude there's

story i think it was like the cup year for boston where they put a fucking guy outside sagan's room yeah like we don't trust you stay in your fucking hotel hotel room that's insane i've never i've never experienced that i know that again certain players with reputations for like running run in the night before game yeah they'll get a little more um i guess attention yeah but um i i do know of a couple like we had a group of guys that went out i wasn't part of it i was a rookie they went out on the road night before a game got called out, got fined by the team. It wasn't heavy. Called out by the boy?

Oh, by the coach. Okay. Coach was like, I smell it on the ice in pregame skate. And I was like, I can smell it too. And I don't have a nose for that kind of stuff. I mean, you could be right in front of me and I wouldn't know. Like, I'm just oblivious. It's not a good thing.

He called it and like a couple of those guys had gotten traded relatively quickly. Yeah. And just broke that little group up or whatever. But that was the only instance I've really had to like, You know, coach would be like, guys, we're going out a little too much. That's the end of the conversation. Yeah. Just lock it in.

But yeah, yeah. No curfew. Usually it's a fine. I've never seen guys be, uh, oh, I was scratched for it. You can be scratched for it. I've seen that. Yeah. Yeah.

Nothing. Nothing crazy. Most guys the night before game are just, they're good. Yeah, they're doing, you're right. Yeah. It's like, people have such intense routines. Right. Right.

Totally. And the league's changed. When I started, it was a little more. For sure. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. But that's cool to know that you would say most teams don't.

I would venture to guess most of them. This is perfect transition. Yeah, good next one. This next one says, and you know, names if you can say, don't need to. Who had the craziest night out and then played a game the next day that you've ever seen? Me. Like 100%. 100%.

It was... Go. Give us the story immediately. It was New Year's Eve. We were in Washington, D.C. Who can blame you. Yeah. I was like, whatever.

It was the last game before break, and I went fucking hard. Yeah. And I went with one other guy. And he ended up leaving and going back, and I was on my way back too. I was just kind of like, that place looks cool. I'll pop in for one on the way back. Yeah. I'm like, walks a little further than I thought.

So I ended up at five different places. Yeah. So. There's so many cool looking spots, dude. I have to check them all out. And now, like, now I'm retired and don't care. So I can tell the story. but DC I get back to the I think was the four seasons or written whatever it is and it was a

coach's wives trip okay and at the hotel bar the coaches uh wives were having a cocktail and they saw me as you come in yeah and I was taking pictures with them like no care of the world um went into the room the next day and I was like I didn't remember it right yeah like I I remember pieces of it it wasn't that bad it was like I was home by 1230 yeah right um and And we don't get up till 10 on the road. buses are at 10.30, give or take. So I slept nine and a half hours. Is that a great shower?

Jibs? I was good. And then one of the coaches called me in the morning. He's like, so last night, and I was like, what about it? Yeah. And they did not. I was in bed by 12. Yeah.

And we were injured. So we had guys injured. So I played that night in D.C. and I was fucking hung. Yeah. And I actually played okay. But I got off the plane the next day. I woke up on my age.

I was like, I got a phone call, whatever. Yeah. He's like, well, just, and we're on. spring break, what is it, March, January break, by week at this point. So he's like, yeah, they're going to talk to you about it when you get back.

And I was like, okay. So I got back and I got scratched. First game. Yeah. And we did it. Playing in Canada, the way we did it was like, he's like,

we're going to protect you and not say anything. And now it's years later. I don't care. But I just didn't go out. I went out for warm ups and then didn't play. And like, Rob Cuxon came in to tell me he's like making sure. I'm like,

just waiting for anybody to say they got hurt warmups. So this is why I didn't get scratched. So Cricky comes in and he's like, Bobby, what are you doing? I was like, did anybody get hit by a puck? Like, did anybody? I was like, buckets off, warm up is mandatory tonight because I didn't want to deal with it. He's like, I have to scratch you. I'm sorry.

So that was it. Do you remember what the report said while you were scratched? We never, there was no report. Just didn't say. Yeah. And then I just had to deal with the media and I was like, yeah, I forget what we said. I can't even remember it. But like one of the media guys text me is like, I think somebody went out on New Year's Eve.

and it came back to cost him and I was like I hadn't heard that like don't know what you're talking about all the media guys like because I was always candid honest with them this is the one time they were like what the fuck yeah yeah and they just let it go they were good about it so that's yeah but what did the coach say that the next day like after that night when he was like hey like look at this picture yeah did you see the pictures no no I didn't see anything we gotta dig those photos up it was amazing though um he never said a word to me the next day he's like you're playing crow was like i it's an optional i suggest you skate this morning i was like yeah

sounds good like they're just like crow's an old salt right like mark crawford yeah he was like just laughing he was like just sweat it out this morning go get a nap you'll be back um so i played fine i was fine by the 10 the game actually rolled around yeah yeah i was a little like i had a shitty nap and i was sweaty going in the back oh yeah yeah oh yeah sweating the salt out a bit but um i played just well enough you never said a word to me until i came back and he pulled me in because i was the first guy back from all-star break and he's like let's come talk about this. Yeah.

What are you talking about? Happen a week and a half ago. We're done, right? But he definitely knew that first game, too, or only a situation. He knew. Oh, yeah. He did. Okay.

Always cold topic between periods. So I was like, yeah. Get this guy a beer, dude. You know, you're going to keep it rolling. I was going. What a life change. Oh, that is incredible. That is incredible.

Okay. All right. Here's the next one. Oh, yeah. Oh, this is a good one. do players talk to each other about taking team friendly deals to help the squad or is that too awkward i've never i've never seen that firsthand generally players are rooting for each other to get just get the bag yeah just get the bag yeah um i think that and i guess it wouldn't say unless it's dutchy

and he's telling you yeah yeah yeah but he was rooting for him though yeah he was cheering him on he just wasn't helping him out yeah but it was one of those situations where um guys were and like as I played like I remember after my second year I was up for contract and I scored 30 twice and I had the fight to get five like almost a day before the season now it's like one guy scores 28 and

30 maybe one year and no he's an $8 million player like yeah it's changed to where the cap's gone up and players are getting paid younger because you want them paid in their prime I understand that I just like I was part of a conversation one time with a player that was coming up for a contract

um they were like we want to win here like yeah our groups here and he's and the player had said i don't not that he didn't think we could he said i don't think they'll keep this together whether i stay or not and i'm not staying and taking us without that guarantee yeah and management and coaches can't guarantee something like that because you don't know how another player is going to be a year from now when they want to get paid so dude you don't know if injuries happen it's just like it's insane so guys are just content to let guys work it out and get paid yeah and like you never want to see a buddy go but you're you never want to see a buddy go but you

at the same time, you're like, he's going to go to free agencies, he's going to earn a nice contract. Let me ask you this. Would you feel pressure? Right, because I think Sid had that quote a couple years ago that was like, you know, I take less, but taking less only works if everyone takes,

you know, that's the way to keep this together. If there's a guy like Sid, a guy like Bergeron, whatever, taking not top, top dollar, then yours comes up. Are you like, Christ,

like, I know Sid didn't say anything to me. He didn't say you have to take less, but are you like, fucking hell, I got to take less. Yeah, and it's, if you're like Sid and you're taking less, is still nine,

get it. Yeah, right. But you're making 15 off the ice where it's hard for a guy that's going to make four to say I'll take three because that's life-changing money for him where it's not there. And again, like it's harder for guys that are middle-range guys to follow suit. Yeah. The top-end guys can take a million less and you're fine. You're still laughing. Yeah. But it's very hard to do that. Like I remember Yamamoto going through that in Edmonton. I was skating with them all summer in Corder Lane and they're like, well, he was getting phone calls from like high-end players there saying, why don't you just sign for this? And he's like, because I won't make any money.

Yeah. Like, why would I take $7.80 or a million bucks? I think he wanted, I think he ended up at like one something. Yeah, yeah. And the term wasn't the way you wanted to wear. I just can't remember all the details,

but I remember those guys, like he was, he's like, so-and-so called me. And I'm like, called you for what? Yeah. You're arguing over half a million dollars

in life-changing money with a very small window of time to make it. So I've always kind of stayed out of it, and I think most guys do. Yeah. And just root for the player, and you hope that if that's the player that you want in your room, that they stay.

Yeah. Rooting for each other is such a huge element of it. You can't get mad at guys from a move on. No, of course. You really can't. Pittsburgh has been such an area of conversation lately. And it's, you know, with what's going on. And the big one being Gensel coming up here, it's like, yes, Sid has taken less.

Gino's maybe technically taken a little bit less. And you look at a guy like Gensel and you know that Pitt fans are like, come on, man, just resign, stay here, take less. But if you're Gensel and you're looking at a 36-year-old Sid, a 36-year-old Gene, a 35-year-old tangor, you're like, what the fuck is he taking less for? This is his last chance to sign a big ticket. Let's say he takes less than signs and two years into it. Those guys are gone. Yeah.

And they've all made $100 million. Yeah. That's a disaster. So it's like, no, you can't possibly ask a guy like that to take less. Did I see he just turned down 8-5 for them, though? I don't think he has officially turned down anything. But the whispers are that that was one that was offered earlier this year and he said no. I don't know how you don't say no to that, though.

100% dude I said last episode he stands to make 10 easy like you look at the pasta contract the Nealander contract he's been a point per game guy for three years and what world does he not say I absolutely deserve him to have to do a job with the cap going up to it's ridiculous

so 8.5 that's like an easy turn down for me if you're Gensel's yeah I agree for sure it's a crazy one yeah do we have more was that in no those are the four those are my four favorites yeah we're going to do a lot of these okay I love it my four favorites yeah yeah yeah The closing was going to be, we want to do this with you a lot. This needs to be a recurring segment where you come on. I'm in.

Because it is a, the amount, we always love these things. Like when we started doing the beer league thing. Yeah. The beer like, the thing's incredible. It's so funny. And I was like, I wonder if people are going to send that in. And dude, the inbox is flooded.

Is it really? Well, and this one, I popped that up this morning. And there's like 400 of questions that people want to answer. This makes, it makes me laugh because like there's beer league in Nashville. And,

And we have our Tuesday pro skate with like, you know, Ryan Smith is the head of it. And Andy Sutton and guys, we've got a lot of guys that kind of grab it to. Yeah, yeah. So we got a good skate with fish and Bacchus and whatever. But Ryan Smith plays in an actual beer league. Does you really? And he loves it. And on Sunday night, every Saturday, never, are you going to play?

I haven't played in a game yet. Yeah. And I signed up. And I was like, yeah, man. Yeah. Well, you either have the kids and I can't get to the game at night or whatever. But I think this Sunday, and I should probably send them a clip of this. And I'm going to do my best to make.

my first game this Sunday night. There you go. Because he's like, like, what do you even sign up for? And I was like, I don't want to go, like, I don't want to go get run into by, he's like, these young kids are flying out here. And I'm like, that's not appealing. That's not funny. I'm like, you're not pitching this well.

I'm going to do what I did for 15 years and find a spot to take a one time. Yep. That's it. That's all I got to bring to the table. Yeah, but they'll give it to you. That's what I'm saying. You get up there. They'll pass you the puck.

You don't have to move. I was like, I probably can't even put the shell on it anymore. I'm just a breezer guy. No shoulder pads. That's allowed out there too. That's my very part of it. No shoulders all day. Absolutely.

All right. Well, dude, we'll let you get out of here. But thanks for popping on. And like we said, yeah, I can't wait to keep doing this one more often. That's awesome. I love it. Thank you guys for having me. Hell yeah.

Okay. We are sitting here with a Toronto native, eight-year NHLer. Yeah. And by the Flyers out of junior hockey. Played for the Whalers, the Capitals, the Leafs, the hometown Leafs, and of course, the New York Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup champion. Last time of the rags brought that one home, by the way.

Nice little chirp for the blue shirt. And now, massive NHL media and TV star. Nick Kiprios, thanks for joining us in Wayne Gretzky's basement on the Empty Netters podcast. Good to be here. Massive, I'm not sure. I think so, man. But I'll take it. I'll take it.

And you guys are killing it, man. Appreciate that so much. No, I'm so glad. I scroll. And there you guys are. You just get rammed down your throat. Our mocks. Our mocks keep showing up.

Great stuff. No, it's awesome that you're here. We're psyched to talk to you. We've got, being in Toronto here at All Star, we have so many things that we want to get into. Sure. Because what, I think the thing that put us, put you on our radar is you have such a strong and honest opinion on so many things. And I think that that is too rare in this world.

And so often there are things that we totally agree with. Yeah. So did you want to get a good? into we've got like a here's the first one I want to talk about we're talking about a lot of leaf stuff yeah a lot of leaf stuff because I think there's a lot of leaf stuff going on and we've been talking a lot of leaf stuff on the yes we have and now we've been an authority here so I think this would be great yeah so the first thing I want to talk about um is the nilander contract sure and we're reading an article that you wrote that I thought A was fascinating and B a lot of hockey fans

either forget or Denver knew whatever and it's that 2018 shanny quote when he was like you know this core, this group of guys is going to take less to keep this together. And not to read your own article back to you, but not only did they not do that, but they kind of took every penny possible. You know, it's almost like the exact option. They've gone the complete flip of that sentiment, which I find interesting. And I don't think anyone remembers or talks about enough that shanty quote. Because it's like, everyone's kind of just been like, yep, nope, this was always the plan.

And I'm like, no, it was not. Right. And you brought up some great examples in the article of, you know, McKinnon's previous contract he signed. Jack Hughes right now, some guys that are taking a little bit less. And it's working for those teams. And I would say the Bruins core,

that's largely gone now, but like that Bruins core felt like they were doing that. Bergevin was at six. I don't think he ever got to seven or eight. No, no. One of the best players in our generation. Brad is under seven. I think Creachie was just over seven.

And then obviously Pasta signed his extension at 6,6 or something like that. So yeah, like they were definitely hovering in that. Everyone was under 7-5. That's what made it work. And that penguin's core, one of my favorite quotes was Sid, and we just brought stuff with Bobby, but Sid was saying, like, yeah, I take,

well, he does his eight, seven thing. But, like, Sid's like, I take less, but me taking less only works if everybody takes less. And they were kind of doing that too. So I feel like you have seen that commitment from team recently. So, like, what gives? Yeah. It's an interesting question, just in terms of why there wasn't,

you know, any more foundation built off of the, those comments from Brendan Shanahan and I guess to each his own. But once you got into the Matthews contract, which essentially, I think, set the whole table up. Sure. And he didn't do it. Then certainly Mitch Marner, who was at the time, it was Marner's team and it was Matthew's team until Tavares showed up. And it's almost as if that had a.

an opposite effect. Once they got Tavares at over 11, it just reset the whole table. And I think Matthews and Marner knew that Tavaris was a heck of a player and a good signing, but he wasn't going to be the face of this franchise as early as another two or three years that was still destined for Matthews and Marner. And they weren't going to be undercut by Tavaris unless it was stipulated. and you know Brendan almost threw it out there just to see if there would be any nibbles right sure and there were no nibbles and then he completely backed off of it and we've never really seen a sign of this is it take it or leave it we'll move on if you're not on board yeah that never went that never went in that direction and then here we are today four of the top ten salaries and the national hockey league belong to one team more specifically forward position And therefore, you still, what I believe is still an imbalance on the roster. Yes, it's dangerous. Yes, they can score.

Yes, they're amongst the best players in their positions and paid adequately for it. But is it a good balance that works on the hockey club to win and win four rounds when you need it most remains to be seen? When the Nealander contract was kind of being floated out there, and there were tons of fans, specifically Maple Leafs fans, where like he's going to take a team-friendly deal. I was in the camp, I think, along with you, that was like, no, he is not. There's no planet where he does this. Austin just signed for $13 million. Why is he going to do this?

So when you look at this team and you've got Tavares, who everyone keeps saying, you've got to move him, you've got to move him, but how could you possibly move him? Who's going to take that? And who is he going to waive for? And then Marner coming up, it's like, are, is this team staring down the barrel of if you re-sign Marner, Marner's going to ask for 12-5, something like that. It's like, I just think that this snowball is going to keep rolling and getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Yeah, I can't definitively say that that will be the case because Marner, let's remember,

he doesn't need to sign until after next season. Tavares will be off the books. Brody will be off the books. If you signed Mitch again at a raise. So he's at 10-9 now. Can he go to 11.5 or 12? Do you want him to if you're the leaf? Yeah.

Do you feel like 11's a good number for him now remains to be seen. But there is some flexibility in another two years. And the cap's going to go up. Yep. And if you want to now be in a position where you're paying Matthews, Marner, and Nylander this money, and then you take the Tavares deal off the books and put it on the back end, there might be some more flexibility. It's just a question of whether or not they think the dynamics of those three guys. Very fair.

Forget about now salary for a second. We've got three highly skilled guys, and none of them play with a lick of, you know, sandpaper or, you know, like, they're not in your face guys. They're pure skilled players. And whether or not alone that's enough of a dynamic, do you need one guy full of piss and vinegar out of the three if you're going to pay $10 plus million dollars?

Those are questions down the road. Yeah. Yeah, okay. So two questions. First one, is there anything in the locker? Maybe it's unspoken a little bit of guys being like, well, if so-and-so is getting X, and I think I'm fucking better than him, I'm getting X plus. Is that a thing that goes through guys' heads? Matthews was like, no chance tovar is getting more. 100%. And this is not a maple leaf thing. This isn't the three guys. This is just the dynamic of a salary cap. Like in my era, when we heard a guy signed, I'll never forget Luke Robita signed.

with us with the New York Rangers, something like 20 million over six years. We were like having a party in the dressing room. And it's like, were you taking us out for dinner? Were you taking us out for lunch? You're buying. He's like, I'm buying boys for that French accent. And it was a celebration. I don't think that happens anymore. It's like, okay, if you took that, what's left for me? And that's your first thought. And that's just, that's just reality. That's human nature, human behavior, in terms of knowing that there's only so much of a pie to slice up. Why is mine a little thinnery than yours? What's left for me?

It's not good. And it's not healthy. Yes. But they created it and they're going to have to deal with it, you know, since the moment they brought in the hard salary cap. And some players are better at it than others. Some have a poker face can hide it. Some others can say, you know, no, I mean, I want what's coming to me.

And I think that's what happened with Willie Neeland. Yeah, like with all due respect. It's not my problem. You're, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you mismanaging the cap or you up against it shouldn't come at my expense. Right. This is what the market, we believe, can bear. If I can, if I leave, here's my number. Match it or don't.

That's what happened to the leaves with Nylander. It's like, the numbers, we told you the number a long time ago. Yeah. You said, no, no, no, no. And now you say yes. Yeah. We're good with that. And partially, you've got to feel good for a guy.

We had, we had dregs on the other day. And he was saying what you were saying where it's like, you know, Nealinders camp was, before the season was asking 10 and a half. It kind of had a hard line around there. Oh, it was always 11. Yeah, you're 11. And then he plays incredible. There you go.

There's even a negotiation. Yeah. It's like, here's the number match it. Match it. Tell us when you want to match it. Right. And then he goes out and does what he's doing right now and you're like, you know, it's a good deal.

Yeah. Now they're going, yeah, we better take it. Give it to him right now. They're like this, please take 11. Yeah. Jesus. And then my second question is this. as, you know, we're Bruins fans at heart, but I love Austin Matthews.

Seeing an American kid come up and score a million goals, it was amazing, right? And simultaneously as this, as what we're doing with, MDenters was happening, and you're starting to get a little bit bigger, you start to worry that before, at the beginning, we're just idiots on a couch talking, and then all of a sudden, players are seeing what you're saying, and you're like, all right, I've got to be a little bit more careful here. But I remember thinking, at least, we talked about this at the house. When Matthews signs that huge ticket, is it fair to want to, to, want to, to criticize him to be like, dude, you know you're handcuffing the team a little bit here.

Or are you like, you know what? I should just be happy for every player to just get theirs and it is what it is. He's one of the best players in the world when it comes to putting the puck in the net. And, you know, when he's on his game, he's carrying a hockey club, he's going to be a top paid player in a game. It's just, that's the way it should work. That's the way it should work. All the faces of the league, going back 20, 30 years.

The guys that produced, the guys that. get the job done on the ice get rewarded the most so i don't think that they'll ever be the case of uh of true jealousy when it comes to the superstars connor mac david at at uh on his on his current deal right now what is he making 12 and a half i think so yeah you look around in the w uh nba nfl you're watching what's going on you're like hey dude you're getting ripped off right yeah like a piece of shit pitcher in the nlb oh my gosh it's ridiculous it's like it's like it's like what are we talking about indoor lacrosse? Yeah.

Like that's the way the NHL can kind of look sometimes. For real, for real. Compared to the big boys. And you want to be looked upon as one of the big four. And you're really not. Yeah. So, I mean, I want them to make as much money as they can. But once you get into the,

and this is the other thing too is like, you know, the salary cap's been around long enough that even if you tell me as an ownership group, listen, you take less, we'll put more around you. Like, I've watched it enough where if I'm a player and you tell me that, it's like, no, no, no, you'll take my less and you'll screw it up. Yeah. And you'll go sign somebody and then you'll go have to bury them in the minors.

Like, you know, tell, tell Connor McDavid on his next deal that you got to take less so we can build a better team around you. And it's like, didn't you sign Jack Campbell to $5 million? and you've got four of it buried in the minors. I'm not leaving a million dollars so you can just go screw it up all over again. I don't trust you. So I'm just going to take the money anyways. It's such a good point because my knee jerk, just to finish that thought, is when Matthew signs that ticket, I go like this.

He doesn't care about winning a cup. He just cares about his bag. But you're right. It's not true because he goes, I'm one of the best players alive. I should be paid as such. And what are you going to do with that money? What are you going to do with the money? I'll give you one other more.

Okay. I'll give you the money. but I'll decide who we sign. It's my money. It's not your money. I'm leaving a million dollars in table. I get to pick. I'll be there on the trade deadline then.

There's other things that we always forget to is guys taking big tickets like this helps the salary cap. This is what helps the league grow and get bigger so the salary cap can go up. And then also, sure, it helps sometimes. It's not a guarantee. You take less. It doesn't mean you're going to win the cup every fucking year. So it's like we just said with Bobby Ryan, was just here a second ago.

It's like you do that and then someone gets hurt. Yeah, right. Some crazy shit happens that's going on right now. And all of a sudden, you're starting goalie's gone. And it's like you just can't ask these guys to leave all this money on the table. And then who knows what happens.

And again, there's public perception out there and then there's the reality of the player. And I don't care what error we're in. I don't care if it's a salary cap, no salary cap. You can be out there and get hurt tomorrow. And you're done. Yeah.

You're done. Yeah. Landis cog. Dude. Okay. Come on. Yeah. You know how lucky he is he signed that deal?

Yeah. Wow. Because he, listen, I appreciate that he's trying. I hear the odds are against him. Absolutely. And he'll ever play again.

Wow. He's got a really tough injury, a unique injury. And God bless him if he can come back. But if he doesn't, then good on you for getting every penny you could off of that long-term deal. And you brought a cup there too. And it's, yeah, he's not 24 years old. Yeah, right.

It's like that's. And that's the way the play. players have got to think and the agents. The agents are there to protect the player. As they should be. And you'd hope so, right? So, yeah, it's crazy. Talking about Tavares, too, I think he is one that we really wanted to get into because

you've, I feel like you've said and you've written a lot about, I think, what a lot of Leafs fans have felt since he joined. It did feel like at the moment that that was the, maybe the leader or the, you know, star player that they needed to get over the hump. And it's been interesting because I think CP's got a lot. list of his stats over the last few years, but he's been a point per game guy or just under for the last four seasons. Yeah. But it does feel like the attitude and the atmosphere around this city is they're kind of done with it. And it's not working out. So I'm super curious,

like what you think the reason is for that and then also what there is to do in that space. Well, listen, I don't want to come across like a John Tavares bashing or, you know, he's not the right guy or anything like that. I think he's done everything that was basically asked of him. Or if he hasn't, it's because you didn't assess him properly. So you just mentioned a point of game guy. Well, point in game guys are never supposed to be one of the top pay players in the game. Yeah.

So, you know, there was a perception coming out of the Islanders that he was this superstar player. And I think when it's all said and done, we can look at him and say, he was a very good player, but one of the best in his eras or a superstar, not necessarily. Maybe in the Islanders, over the last 10 years of his career,

the team wasn't that strong. He got to look a little brighter, you know, a little better than the most. Of course, he wore a sea. At times, he'd do some terrific things out there, but I think the perception of him coming in is one of the top players in the game, and at the time they made him the second highest,

paid player in the game was a bit of a good call for a chance signing on the Toronto Maple Leafs I agree that he would ever live up to being the second highest paid player in the league or now coming in and being a savior for the Toronto Maple Leafs I think the hometown boy thing added into that too it was just there's so much that led to that yeah and he's a good player but is he a guy that can carry a team now a franchise especially one that hasn't had a Stanley Cup since 1967. No, no. We'll look back in history and say he was a good player, a hardworking player,

but not the type of player that carried that type of status or contract at the time. Yeah. Okay. Is that fair? Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. And you actually, I was going to go a little bit harder. You actually kind of convinced me already. But this is what I wanted to ask about Tavares. And we're going to get in a second into the familiar middling, middle of the pack situation with the Leafs in general. But one thing you had talked about is the production of Tavares and Brody dropping off a little bit, right?

And the one thing I think that's interesting about Tavares, and I don't even have to read this to you because he just said it basically, but it's like his last five years in Toronto, 88 and 82, 60 and 63, 50 and 56, 76 and 79, 80 and 80. So he's like just under a point per game, right?

Now, he just went on that ridiculous nine games with no points, which you would highlight in an article. But right before that, I'm not excusing that. That is unacceptable. But right before that, he was at 35 and 37. Like, he kind of was doing the same thing. So let's pretend, and I don't know, but he just got that talk right before the break, right? Let's pretend that that nine point streak was just a crazy blip and his point per game the rest of the way, which he was for 35 games before. Aren't you actually getting the production you expected from Tavares though? And again, I'm not actually from the nine

games, but I'm like, you're kind of getting what you wanted from him. I think the feeling was when he came from the islanders that he was a point of game guy there. Yeah. And with the likes of Matthews, Marner, Nylander around you, build a team around you that perhaps the 80 could become 90 or 100 or 100 plus. And that just hasn't been the case. So again, if you're lucky enough to get Tavares back to the pace of a point of game guy, is it still enough?

Yeah. And I don't like, in all the long, honesty, I am not the type of guy, an analytic guy to suggest that I am numbers driven. 80 points, 90 points, 95. Matthews, 50 goals, 60 goals, 70 goals. Yeah, he's going to do it. I don't really care. Yeah. Yeah. I only care on the effect it has on the team. Yeah. And how moving forward, yes. It's a factor. Yes. And you give me 70 points. You give me 70 points. You give me 70 goals this year, and they can't get out of the first round. I don't give a crap about a 70 goals.

I'm not that impressed. Completely fair. Let everybody else be impressed. It's far beyond that for the Toronto Maple Leafs. If this is as high as your bar gets that you have an individual player who has elite status as an individual award winner or a record breaker, good. Let's be far beyond that. This is about winning and losing a Stanley Cup.

I agree, Kimber. I think my thing is, I think a huge. huge part of that contract and the desire for him coming into this organization was they thought and hoped he was going to be a Bergeron, a Stamcoast, a Crosby, who was that leader that was going to take Matthews and Martin and Nealander and Morgan Riley and go, guys, I'm your captain. This is how we're going to do this, and this is how we're going to get out of the first round and win a Stanley Cup. And it's easy to say this now, but he just has not been that. And I think that is where the contract is the biggest upset. because not not the points to me it's the there i think there was this general attitude that he

could be the guy that was going to be that veteran leader that was going to lead them and it just hasn't happened yet so i think that's why so just to touch base and kind of put a a blanket over both matthews and and tavaris if tavaris was able to get to back to an 80 point pace sure um whether or not to me is more the optics of in my one Watching a guy now get back and be a little bit more dominant when he's on the ice. Am I seeing a guy that can control a tempo of the game when he's on the ice? Where's his pace of play? Where is he on a forecheck?

Where is he in his own zone? How much time is he spending in his own zone compared to the offensive zone? That to me is the tail. Yeah. And the same thing with Austin. And Austin, we know he can shoot a puck in the net. but where is he, you know, in terms of making players around him better or feel better? Yeah.

And that's what the great players do. They don't just put up points. They get their team to feel a little better about themselves. I've never seen Connor McDavid better at making his team feel better than we do right now. And what's he on pace for? 38 goals, 40 goals. Well, he scored 62 last year, right? And it's like, I'll take him right now on a, on a day.

a 40 goal pace than what we saw the last few years. And he's starting to get it. Yeah. And I, you know, I do the real Kipper and Bourne show and the boys are, you know, they're excited about Austin's 70 goals. And I'm like, what about his 30 assist pace? Yeah. Like, do I want the second best player in the world or the highest paid player in the world

right now finishing the year with 30 assists? He's my number one center. Senator's supposed to be the guy, the pivotal guy, who controls the pace of play and can dish the puck. And that's, to me, it's like, I don't want to see 70-30 split for Austin Matthews. I didn't really think about that. I'm sorry. We had a conversation with Chelly was the other day about possible MVP's and you both, or you brought up if he score 70. And my whole thing, I was like, I don't give a shit if he score 70 and he has 30 apples.

I don't think that that is an MVP. I think that that's a Richard winner. And good, get it. You want to crown him the best goal score, the best shooter? He is. But you want to talk about MVP and best player in the league? No, Austin's got to balance his game out. Because I was saying, I was given Ovechkin the same chirps early in his career.

Yep. When I was like, yeah, whatever, he's a goal scoring machine. And he's maybe the best ever do it. Who knows? But he was never the MVP to me. And I'm like, I'm talking on both sides of my mouth. No, but back in up Austin. The year he leveled it out, worked on his defensive game and his distribution, they won the cup.

Yeah. So. Okay. So here's the meat of it, because I'm really interested here you take on this. The, as Bruins fans, we've been, you know, watching the Leafs kind of do their thing here and there in the first round of playoffs. I was fascinated to read your most recent piece that was like, what should the Leafs do at the deadline? Because to me, I'm like, dude, you just committed to Willie. Austin's before 70. And I know we're short on assets and Dubus is gone. but in what world are you not taking a shot at this?

But to hear you even entertain the conversation of like, listen, maybe it's time to sell off some stuff here. So talk to us a little bit about the thought process on that. Well, there is no right or wrong answer. Correct. And I could sit here and you can win me over in about 10 seconds that they got to do this now. Yeah, yeah.

Okay. But as we know, and we've just recently seen, trades are very difficult. We just saw Calgary and Vancouver get together with one. and a good trade, but one that puts Calgary in the seller's market and the retool market, rebuild, whatever you want to call it, and Vancouver in a situation that they have assets to do that. The Leafs do not have the assets right now to pull off a Lindholm type of trade

unless they seriously go big or go home. And I just, we just got to see where that falls into place here. There's a lot of different dynamics here, guys, that also falls into place. And that is, to your point, Dubus leaves town. So a lot of first rounders on rental players like Folino and Ryan O'Reilly. McCabe was an asset that had an additional year. So those assets were easier to kind of swallow, but they can't go and rent a player again like that. So where are you on your pressure points here? So that's a new guy in Brad Tree Living and an older guy in Brendan Shanahan

who's been around here for 10 years and is looking for a chance to get out of the second round for the first time since he's been named president. So I think there's some pressure points there and could easily sway into, I don't care what assets you have. you got to bring Toronto fans some hope here as early as this year. Because don't the fans riot if you guys are like, eh, you know, we're not making any move. We're trading people off.

I'm like, oh, my God. That's the thing, though. It's like, yes, they'll riot, but they're still showing up. They like to rumor that they could riot. But since 1967, they've been a little soft. Yeah, yeah. Very true. They're going to bitch and moan, but they still show up and buy season tickets.

Oh, for sure. That's the crazy thing about it. if you were to say let's say let's live in the world where something huge happened who would you think would be on the move well i do believe that the nielander contract has now put a lot of questions into mitch martner's future yeah but it doesn't have to be answered as early as this trade deadline it could be revisited in the summer um but it i would think that a lack of success again this year would really put Martin's name out there.

Yeah, I agree. And it's like we said, yes, it's not until after next season, but when you think about that new deal for him coming up, that, I think that asked those questions even harder. You know, it's like, well, you know. It's not going to be an easy signing. He wants

a raise. Yeah, for sure. Everybody wants a raise. Exactly. So, and his numbers have been better probably than Austin Matthews, with the acceptance. of, you know, the goals. Not to mention he's a Selky caliber player, too. He does it in both ends of the ice, and it's like, yeah.

The last five years, he's been a top five point producer. He's been up there with all the big boys. So he's, there's going to be some teams that say, listen, if you don't want him, then we'll happily take him off your hands. So here's one we had for you. Last season, we obviously, you know, saw them get into the playoffs. They draw Tampa, which is a disaster. And we had said a bunch of times, if they don't get out of the first round,

heads have to roll here. They obviously do, and then a quick exit in the second. We were shocked to see that Dubus was the one who got the axe. I thought Keith was toast. And I want your opinion on that. And then also, we were kind of looking around the league a couple weeks ago at some coaches that were on the hot seat, and I named Keith as one of them,

because I think it's crazy that this team has this level of talent we've been talking about, some of the most highly paid players in the league. and they're currently just kind of floundering at fourth in the Atlantic and no one's talking about it. And I just want to know where you stand on that. Is it a get out of the second round to keep his job? Are we in that situation? Like any less than that, there's a coaching change or is it not that intent? Well, I'm a big believer sometimes and not if you lose, but how you lose.

Fair, fair. So is it that we're just not good enough to just squeeze everything out of the guys? you know, that has to be seen, first of all. So I do believe that even though Sheldon Keefe has a new contract extension that doesn't kick until next season, that I don't think they really care one way or another if they believe that he's not the guy to move forward. They'll make changes.

So there's that pressure on Sheldon, once again, for sure. Now we'll have to just see, again, And where the dynamics are above. And if we are talking about a potential coaching change, who gets to make that coaching change? Is it still Brendan Shanahan? Totally. It's still Brad Tree Living. We do know that there's going to be a new CEO of MLSC.

In the past, it's been Maasai on the Raptor side and Brendan Shanahan on the Leaf side that reports to the board of directors. that's not the case anymore now they got they got a new boss yeah and his name's keith pelly so where's keith in this equation yeah he's a new guy does he come in and say hey i'm just new i have to i need a year year and a half to get my feet wet totally or does he come in there and say well they're screaming it's been 10 years he's not out of the first round yeah i'm that's all i got to do something make a change yep i'm i'm coming in i'm not going in i'm not coming in quiet.

Yep. So all of those things have to kind of sort himself out. Yeah. So before you get to Sheldon, I think you got to ask, okay, who's, is it Brendan still moving forward? Yeah. So now Brendan's now going into year 11, not out of the second round. And does he get a chance to fix this thing up a bit?

Does he get a chance to trade Mitch Marner potentially? Or are you swinging in another direction? So lots of things. many moving pieces in this equation so and that even goes back to the trade deadline yeah no absolutely like great point if if if Brendan is comfortable enough to think that I can hold off for a year and come back harder next year and I'm telling my board that and I'm telling Keith Pelly that or do they go uh like no yeah yeah no no no no you've had enough chances actually I think my last one is do you think Bertuzzi survives the deadline

I will say this, that when we watch the trade deadline and we watch TSN and Sportsnet and Elliot Friedman and all of them, they got their trade deadline list. Everybody keeps focusing on that, but that's not the way general managers think. They got this, they got their own list. Sure. It's like with RFAs and entry level players and there's a lot of moving parts. to a trade deadline. And I think there's an opportunity still for the Leafs not to focus on Chris Tann of or any of the names that you're hearing,

but go and find another McCabe deal that if you give up assets, like a first rounder or somebody else, that you're getting of equal value or better with long-term. So I look at Bertuzi right now. out and if they're not interested in resigning him, yes, I think he could be something that could be in play part of a bigger package. Interesting. Not just get rid of him.

Not like a one for one. No, I like that. This is him out and being replaced of some significance at all. And to me, I don't see the Leafs just grabbing somebody, you know, for a fourth round pick or moving Bertuzi out to bring back a third rounder. I see Bertuzi out and someone coming in immediately and replacing. Yeah. Trying to make a shot.

That's what I would think too. I think, I mean, it's like, to me, it's that he's gone through patches here and there, but it feels like it hasn't been the best fit for him. And that might just be one of those deals. It's like him out, one in. It's going to be a better situation for both. You know, the other thing, too, is like if you take a look at the last three, four, five years, maybe with the exception of bunting, tell me a left winger that's thrived for the Leafs.

My God, I had the same thing. You wrote about this too. I had the same thought. So, you know, again, I'm not, I look. Goes back to Darcy Tucker, I think. Well, listen, and again, not to go back on Tavaris and Matthews, but those guys are shooters. They're goal scores. And they're not playmakers and they're not, you know, and it just seems like left

wingers come here to die. Yeah, yeah. You know. Seriously. Yeah. And it's, it's hard. Is Maddie Nyes get the most points? Maddie Nyes.

Like predominantly been playing with Marner, Matthews, you know, Tavares at times. I mean, he's scheduled. He's on pace for like 35 points. Yeah. 40 points. And listen, I'm a big believer. Those type of kids coming out of college, you got to protect them. You know, you can't just pull them out of college and say, hey, can you give me 65 points?

Yeah, right. You're playing with two of the best players. in the world. What's wrong with you? You can't put up 65? Should be easy, right? With a blindfold. Yeah.

Just doesn't work that way. No, not at all. So it just seems that, again, if maybe perhaps there was a centerman that was more conducive to being a natural passer, then perhaps his numbers would look better. There are times when I've watched him, and I don't mind him at all. He's a little spunky out there. Yeah, he gets a stick in there. He can make some nice, decent passes.

but doesn't make him feel any better knowing that his numbers don't support a guy making over $5 million. Right. Especially in the market he's in, right? It's like the pressure is not going to alleviate itself anytime soon. Yeah, correct. All right, well, it's going to be a very interesting end of the season for the Leafs. This has been awesome, Kipes. But the last thing, we're going to go around the circle, starting with you.

How far do the Leafs make it this year? Oh, wow. First round. I'm going second round, but second round exit. Do we know for sure if they're playing the Florida Panthers? That's kind of what I'm banking on. Are they playing Florida in the first or second round? They're playing Florida in the first, which is what I'm banking on,

I don't think it's getting past the first. Yeah, God. Vasilevsky be as bad as he was in that first round too. God, I don't think so, right? Because he's looking a lot better now. They're staring down the barrel of such a bad first round match. Any three of those teams. It's awful.

I think they see the second round if they're, play the Boston Bruins. I actually don't hate that. I don't hate that either. Actually, you know what? I just think they match up against Boston. Yep. They do.

I just think the goal 10, which has been Boston's identity all year, that's going to be hard to beat in the first round. Yeah. In the first round. Yeah. But, who do you think?

First round takes it? No, I'll go second around. Okay. Okay, fair enough. Either way, you're not getting past the second. Take Boston, though.

Yeah. Don't be in such a hurry to finish third in the Atlantic. Agree. You kidding me? Yep. That's a good point. It's a very good point. Kipper, this has been such a blast.

Thank you so much for coming on. Hopefully we can do more. For sure. You let me know. And before we let you go, is there anything you want to plug? Anything you want to shout out? No, it's all good. I know my beverage company is called Little Buddha.

We're in the States. There you go. We're in Florida. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Yeah, it's an all-organic RTD, which is ready to drink in a can. Yeah. No sugar. No preservatives.

What's the alcohol in it? 4%. And is it like a beer? Is it a vodka? It's a vodka. Premium vodka. Okay. Organic.

And it's everywhere in Florida. We're going to be down there soon. We're in total wines in Florida. I'm excited. We're going to check it out. Unbelievable. And then everyone tune into your articles, your shows, all that. And truly, we'd love to have you back on.

Oh, no. Yeah. Done deal, guys. Thank you so much. Awesome. Appreciate it. Awesome. Great stuff.

Thanks, brother. We have got a sick that MGM promotion running for you guys. It's from now. all the way up until the big game Super Bowl Sunday. I know that's not the big game in our world, but that's the big game to the rest of the world. So from now up until Super Bowl Sunday, if you bet $5, you get $158 instantly.

And you can bet that on all the hockey money lines you want. All you have to do is type in the promo code Netters 158. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S-158 and get this thing going. BetmGM.com for terms and conditions, 21 plus to wager. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C., New York, Ontario. Gambling problem, call 1,800 gambler for Colorado, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

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Me too. I hope you guys like the newsy parts of the interviews. I thought they just had such awesome insight. It's really cool to get to talk to people like that. And I'm pumped to keep ripping that inside the locker room segment with Bobby. I think you guys are going to have fun with that one. It's going to be great. We are hitting the road a bunch here coming up.

We're going to be heading to Detroit later this week. Going to be there on the weekend. A lot of cool stuff coming up there. So keep your eyes peeled. We're going to be getting back into saucy predictions next week. All-Star break. Give us a nice little break. I have my palate needed it.

We're not doing well, so I need to start tightening up those predictions. But join us on all this travel coming up. Hope you guys enjoyed everything that came from All-Star Weekend. It's been so fun for us. And just another huge shout out to all of you guys. You're the absolute best. Everyone we met in Toronto, we love you. Thanks so much for coming up.

Go to our YouTube, guys, like, subscribe, pump those numbers up. Let's keep building the fam. Until we see you next time. Skate hard. Thank you.