Empty Netters Podcast - Brandon Montour On The Panthers First Stanley Cup & Joining The Seattle Kraken | 129

Episode Date: August 26, 2024

Brandon Montour takes a break from his absolute whirlwind of a summer to join the boys on the pod. His Stanley Cup stories with the Panthers are insane. Cup parties, locker room speeches, and playoff heroics. Hear about what inspired his big move to join the Kraken and how he plans on taking that team to the top of the mountain for their first championship. And do tattoos really have an impact on NHL injuries?! NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY & 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 (0:00) – Intro (6:48) – College Hockey (11:29) – 2023 Playoffs (21:23) – 2024 Stanley Cup Finals (28:11) – Winning The Cup (35:05) – Picking The Kraken (40:00) – Pass, Shoot, Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I think they said the one day we went back to the rink. I think we had to sign. Our owners had to sign every champagne bottle. I think they said there was over 160 champagne bottles. Like empties you mean. Yeah, just like the empties, but like just spraying everywhere. I think you could, like I had my gear on until about 3.30, 4 a.m. I didn't go home till about 5.30.

Ice is ready, babes. And we are back with another episode of the Empty Nutter's podcast. As always, you're with your. boy, Danny D.P. Powers, I'm here with my bro, C.P. Christopher Powers. As always, we've got a unbelievable interview episode for you today. Recent Stanley Cup champion, new Seattle Cracken, Brandon Montor joins the podcast, and boy, golly, was it fun. Dude, he is everybody, anybody that wants to look up anything about Brandon Montor, the number one thing it says is that he's the, he's the, he's the locker room jokester. He's the

jester. He's the court jess. He's hilarious. He's also the DJ. Dude, he's doing it all. Also a lax guy. QB power play. We didn't even get to talk about lax. I wanted to ask him about lax. We ran out of time. Lax guy. Powerplay, QB. DJ. Best motor in the NHL. Tank. 20 gallon tank.

Guy played 57 minutes one time. And he was still flying. Fucking legend. And he was still flying. Legend. Monty is so cool, so fun. So awesome cracking fans. Holy hell. Do you have a good one? They got something cooking up there. Oh my God, they do. They got something cooking. We don't want to make you wait any longer. We're going to kick it to the interview. Enjoy Brandon Montor. He's the best. We are currently joined by an Oshwegan, Ontario native. I had some help with that pronunciation.

A USHL player of the year, a member of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, the 55th overall pick in the 2014 draft with the Anaheim Ducks, a Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers last season, and now a member of the Seattle Cracken, Brandon Montor, welcome to the empty netters podcast. Hey, guys, thanks for having me. I love your guys stuff still. You know, anytime, you know, I got the invite, you know, I found some time and we're making it happen. Oh, it's beautiful stuff. We tried to nab you right before the playoff run, and you stayed locked in for good reason. So we're thrilled to have you now. This is unreal. I was going to say last time we saw you, we were giving you the sweatiest hug ever on the ice at K-7, so that was pretty sick.

That was obviously a moment that everyone's going to remember. So that was cool that, you know, we've got a chance to talk there. Hell yeah. Beautiful stuff. Beautiful stuff. Dude, before we get into the nitty-gritty about your career, everything that we want to talk about. First, we need to clear something up, dude. And we genuinely don't know the answer.

Yeah, I don't know this. So, like, I want to find out right now. tell me about your brothers my brothers yes what are their names and where were they during the Stanley Cup yeah so my older brother's Cameron

my younger brother's Colin and my younger brother was traveling actually in and out he came to Florida for game one and two okay he flew in for no he skipped game three because we couldn't win game three

yep flew in with my parents for game four. Okay. We got smacked. And then they flew home. And then they flew back to Florida for game five, got smacked. And then he's like, listen, like, I want to be there so bad, but I just can't, I can't be traveling as much. So he ended up going back home.

And then my parents ended up coming back for game. I don't know if they came back or they stayed in Florida for game seven. So. And then my older. brother obviously is dealing with some things back home and he wasn't able to make it. But obviously they were watching from game one all the way through. And we were on the ice and got a chance to FaceTime them both quick. And we had the Cup Day, I guess not last two Wednesdays ago.

And they got a chance to hold it and celebrate. So it was a cool moment for them to experience it. Okay. So I think it's real then. So here's the thing. I'm not sure. So we'll bleep it. Tell him the phone number.

Well, yeah, we'll bleep this phone number. But your brother, Colin. Oh, God. Okay. So if this is something, he's probably reached out or did something. No, no, no. So here's the thing. Is this his phone number?

Do you know his phone number by heart? We'll bleep this. We'll bleep this, but yeah. Let me look here. Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. We won't air the number. I got you.

Is his number? That's his number. Okay, dude, let's go. Confirmed then. So, dude. All right. So game five, right? No, it must have been four. Did I? Wasn't that in Edmonton?

No, no, no. Maybe it was in Florida. You're right. It was game five. It was game five. You're right. So after game five, yeah, he would have been there. After game five, he came up to us and was like, yo, I fucking love your shit. I'm Montor's brother. And then he hung with us all fucking night. Like he was. Okay. So, yeah. So he's, he's one to, you know, stragg along with, he could go out. He could come out to Florida. And I mean, at the times that he came, he came, he came with his girl or this time i guess he came solo with with one of our buddies but he could be out every night and find a group of guys or find a group that he knows and be out with them all

weekend like he's one of those oh dude he was alleged he was with us all night yeah monti he was the best he was so fucking fun but it was hilarious because he he texted me and he was like hey dan might not remember meeting me but it's montour's brother con yeah so calling um he's been always known is con. Okay. So dude, it was so funny. After game seven, we were like, where the fuck is con? Like, he's, they just won. Trust me. He would have been all over. He would have found you guys. Yeah. Bro, but he wasn't down there. And then I looked up your brother's names and I saw Colin, not con. I was like, did some random fucking kid just tell us he was Montor's brother and then hang with us? And then we brought him around all night. I was like, he got us, dude. That was

epic. Yeah, you know what? Everyone thinks it's weird that they call him con. I don't know where that came from, but I think my old man, I think my dad wanted to name con and then they ended up naming him, call in and then it just stuck. So he's known around everyone that knows him as con. Dude, I'm so happy to hear this because like he was the man. And I was like, this was either the greatest grift of all the time or it's actually his brother and we'll find out. So that's beautiful stuff. That brings me great joy. Yeah. What a great hang. Well, dude, as a couple of New England guys, I want to talk to you about your college experience because you had a very quick and very successful college experience at UMass. At the time,

like we said earlier, you were all rookie team for hockey east. At the time, you were the highest draft pick in UMass history until K.L. McCar came around to be a dickhead and won't up to you. But you had an interesting route there, right? Because because of weird eligibility clearinghouse rules at UMass and the NCAA, you didn't get to go there until like November or December or something like that. And we're we're buddies with Frank Vitrano, who obviously is a mutual friend. And we know that motherfucker cheated on his SATs. What the hell did you do? Yeah. What did you go? It was, so I don't know. I mean, obviously it wasn't probably paid attention to when I committed there. Because I guess from graduating and it's you need a

certain amount of core courses in Canada and you need a certain amount of core courses in the U.S. So I graduated back home obviously in Bramford or Assumption College, you know, it's high school, with the amount that I needed to graduate. And I guess to go to the U.S., you needed another, I think, two core courses, I believe. Got it. So I committed to UMass and long story short, I guess. They reached out honestly, probably a month.

month or two before I was going to school and said, hey, listen, we can't get you in here. So I'm like, at the time, I'm like, what do you mean? I'm like packing my stuff up, getting ready to go. And they said, you don't have enough core courses. So we found a way to get me in. I'm like, okay, they're like, they're saying sorry. At the time, I'm like flip off. I'm okay, now what do I do?

Do I go back to Waterloo? Right. I had an opportunity obviously to go to the OHL. Like, do I just decommit? And, you know, essentially it was their fault for not finding this out early. But I just think with the loyalty I had and, you know, the relationship I had with the staff at that time, I'm like, I'm going to like ride this thing out. Let's figure a way to get me in as quick as we could. so we found a way to start college online earlier.

So I pretty much got my freshman year done before I ended up going there. And then, yeah, I went to the USHL, played, I don't even know how many games now, it's forever ago, but, you know, 15, 20 games with them and ended up meeting the guys second semester. And then left in March, you're like later, boys. I think our record was 1 and 11, 2 in 11, if I'm not mistaken. And then so that was kind of, you know, interesting, you know, going into there at that time. But we ended up around 500. And, you know, my plan at first was probably not to leave as early.

Like I wasn't, I mean, I obviously expected myself to play well and do well. but Anaheim at the time, I think, won me out of there right away and did well. The team was obviously so-so, not, you know, not as good as they are now. And they're like, let's get the hell out of there. And season ended. And I was, you know, at the time it was Norfolk, the Admirals finished there. And then went up to Anion for a blockade. So essentially that year I played in the USHL.

I went to UMass. I went to the admirals. and then I ended up not playing, but ended up in Anaheim, so four different teams. Packages by Expedia. You were made to occasionally take the hard route to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We were made to easily bundle your trip. Expedia made to travel. Dude, you insane, dude.

You've got to be the quickest cup of coffee in college hockey history. Like that, you truly popped in for like three months, and then you're like, see you later, guys. Yeah, which suck, because everyone, like I experienced it, but like I showed up to UMass. And it's a beautiful campus. Yeah. It was like when I, uh, my series going off. Um, it was like going to tour it.

I'm like shocked. I'm like, how are you guys not good? Like how are you guys, how do you guys not get all these players, how they do now? Yeah, yeah. But I showed up and it was just starting to snow and I left and it was just stopping, you know. Yeah, yeah. It was just, I never got to experience like a tailgate, which I guess are insane at UMass. I heard you about to say Zoomass right there, by the way.

New Mass, yeah. Summer, like summer parties, you know, summer events. Yeah, it was literally snowing the whole time. But obviously, a really fun time for sure. Love that. Yeah, that's fantastic. B, I want to talk about the 2023 playoffs before we get into all the chaos from this year. And just run me through what it went.

Like your guys team, the belief you instilled in that run from upsetting, you know, the greatest regular season team of all time in the Bruins. Screw you for that goal, by the way. That was such a dagger. But, you know, the run you guys had in 2023, what did that do in terms of belief for the squad this year where you're like, okay, we are good. We can hang. Like, talk about that 2023 run a little bit in terms of how it affected the next year.

Yeah. You know, I think you could even start with, I mean, you could talk about before even, you know, Maddie got traded to us. And the year prior, we, you know, we ended up winning the president's trophy. So, like, we were already a top, top team. And, like, the guys that stayed and the guys that were around knew that, you know, the trades, the new coaching staff, you know, that year that we won the presidents, we were winning games, you know, we were losing games four, five, one, and then catching up and winning seven, six,

like, you know, five, three, like crazy, crazy. And then we laugh it off. and then we just do it again. And then obviously that's not playoff style hockey. And obviously Paul and his staff coming in around Christmas time, we were like eight, nine points out. You know, New Year came. And that's kind of when playoffs started.

And we had that confidence saying, like, you know, we are a good team. Like how are we not, you know, getting more wins? We turned it on them. We figured it out. I think, you know, by after the new year on, I want to say we were probably top five team in the league, you know, points wise. But the worst thing was, like, teams that we were catching and teams that were close were all winning games. You know, we only got in one point.

Last day, right? Last day of the season. It was insane. Yeah, what did we need? We need Pittsburgh to lose. To Chicago, the Hawks. Yeah. And they lost to Chicago.

So, like, none of this could have, you know. It was insane. At the same time, we're like, okay, I don't know who we played. That last game, we ended up, I think we, I think it was Toronto. and I think we squeezed out an overtime point. I think they won and we got a point. I think that's right. I remember I was just saying,

hey, like we needed one point. You know, we got a point. We needed as much as we can. Squeezed in anyways and fired up about that. But then I think we were, the group where we had, we were just, you know, obviously we weren't scared of Boston, considering that they were the best team of all time,

you know, considering the record. But we were confident in ourselves to figure a way to beat them. went down 3-1 and still didn't really phase us. And then I guess you can just say the rest is history after that one. Yeah, damn right. I scored that goal with about 50 seconds left and, you know, Carter finishes it off in overtime. And, you know, we just kept the momentum into Toronto and then just kept going.

Carolina was a tough, tough series. And then I think by the time, I mean, you look at our final roster last year when we lost to Vegas and then this past year, the amount of guys, I mean, you can't make excuses, but injuries, you know, that was a tough, tough playoff, you know, run for us. Guys were all beat up. But a rost from then to now was pretty crazy to see, you know, who was in the lineups in both series. Yeah, no doubt about it, man. And then, you know, you guys went on that insane run.

You obviously were so banged up in the final. And it's so easy. We see it all the time, right? Teams have cup hangovers, even if you win or don't win. You're playing almost another full season. You guys came back and you were buzzing from the start last season. Like it was you were, everyone kind of had you as a top team in the Atlantic. You were a top team in the Atlantic all season long.

Even though you weren't healthy early. I thought you would get off to a slow start because everyone was still recovering. Which I thought too, yeah, from just reading and listening to obviously media and people didn't think that we were going to come off, you know, from, you know, myself, Aaron, and a few other guys hurt to start the year. And we added obviously a bunch of good veteran, you know, depths that, you know, started the year. And I think they were just as hungry as the guys, you know,

the past year to be on a good team and to be able to win. And, you know, having that itch like we did and obviously losing in the finals, but it just makes you work that much harder to get, like, we finished on a Wednesday, I think, in Vegas, and I had surgery the Friday back in Florida. That first Friday? Yeah.

Yeah. I don't even know the score was going to the third, and I went up to the trainer and said, hey, schedule this surgery. I got to get it done, you know. Yeah. So Wednesday we lost. Friday, I had surgery. Fucking hey, good for you.

And then rehab, just because I was prepared to get back, you know, and I didn't know how long the extent of the rehab was going to be, which was a pain in the ass. but for myself, I was hungry to get back, you know, to help. And then seeing the guys start off the first 20 games as they did, it was just like me and Aaron coming in at that point was just like, all right, you know, it's time to get to work. You know, it just makes us that much, you know, stronger,

which we did really well after that. And, you know, just kept rolling off that. Dude, so when you get into playoffs, right, it's like we said, I mean, another one, last week of the season, you jump Boston, get the number one seed. I know that you guys all believed in yourselves. That was so clear just watching the team play. And Chuckie obviously has those great moments where he was like, we're going right back to the cup, no doubt about it.

But that playoff run for you guys was, that was brutal. People don't look at that enough, frankly. It's like you get a first round draw of fucking Tampa insane. And then second round, Sway is playing lights out. And then third round, you get the Rangers who did kind of feel like a team of destiny with the whole 94 to 2024 bullshit and they were playing great. At any point, did you guys feel a little rattled or were you just laser focused the whole time?

I know, I honestly think we were laser focused. You know, I think especially starting off, obviously tough teams like you said, but starting it off against Tampa, like we were just like licking, you know, licking our chops because like we believed obviously last year we lost to do this and to win, we needed to bite the head of the snake. and we believe obviously Tampa was obviously owned us the last handful of years. And, you know, to do that, it just kept rolling after that. The excitement from beating them were like, all right, this is, you know, this is it.

Like, we're feeling good. And then to play Boston again, that was just, it just kept rolling with the rivalries. Yeah. We knew Boston was going to come in and try to pound us. And, you know, that was a heck of a series. And then, you know, anytime you get to play the president's trophy winners, the Rangers are, you know, a heck of a hockey team. And that was a tough one.

But each round was, you know, stellar goalies in both sides, you know, challenges in each series. And, again, we didn't let off the gas no matter. I think with our team was, you know, if we were down 3-1, like the first, you know, their first year against Boston or if we were down 4-1 going into third, no matter what, you know, was at that stake, our team was just pushing and I think you could see that watching and you could see that as a group. It was just like you know 4-1 going to the third

guys we're going to win this game you know and we actually like believe that you know and I think that was a big thing that you know helped us. Dude you guys were like a plus 31 the third period oh boy it was ridiculous. There you go yeah and if we were up 3-1 we're just like all right we're going to get the next one we're pounding

this team you know like there's no chance this team's coming back but dude are you sure that after an OT loss in game two against the Rangers and then an OT loss in game three against the Rangers and you're going into OT in game four you weren't a little nervous but you weren't like Jesus fucking Christ the Rangers I believe that he wasn't I believe that he wasn't oh me personally wasn't nervous like I'm one to uh I think guys will tell you too like I'm still joking around but again like we've had players like and I know it you could say the stat but like the amount of overtime

wins that we've had in the past you know handful of years dude it just shows our group, you know? It's like, give the puck to Carter. Carter's your score. Yeah. Let me sift one on net and, you know, 19's going to be right by the net. Like, find a way. And I think just that belief that, you know, we weren't scared of, we weren't scared

of going into overtime and gripping our stick and, you know, having a turnover and ended up in the back for our net. It's just like, hey, overtime, you know, overtime, what do we go? Four overtimes against Carolina. Yeah, yeah. That was ridiculous. We just kept pressing. And then we won.

And then the next game was overtime. So it was like, playoffs give, you know, each series gives us a different, you know, obviously problems. And, you know, each series gives us something. And, you know, obviously we were excited to just find a way to win. Yeah. I mean, it feels everybody has said,

Maurice has said a million times that you have like a 20-gallon tank and you can go forever. You did the Carolina game. People don't know that you have the longest NCAA game ever when you guys beat Notre Dame. Yeah, but we're boys with Chris Rooney too, and I love that. We talked at Media Day, but I love that exchange. When he was making the comment in Carolina.

Yeah. You go, I play 59 minutes. I'm still flying, and he's like, I do 60 every night, bro. He was probably, I was laughing after him. I'm like, you're probably in the locker room just thinking about what to say. Yeah. You had that plan. 100%.

Oh, yeah. So, Monty, you get to the final, right? And it's the Oilers. And there's a lot of, you know, it's Canada's trying to win a cup and it's McDave. it and everything and all this stuff. And you guys, you know, we picked you guys. I feel like a lot of the hockey world felt like you're the better team. And right away, it's like bang, bang, bang, up three-oh. Feeling good. It's not over. The fourth one's the hardest one to get, but you're up three-o. Like you said earlier, you get smacked a couple games. You lose game six in Edmonton.

And you gave a great interview before game seven, where you said, it's one game. It's one game for all the marbles. May the best team win. You know, we're ready to play. We're at home. We fought for home ice, blah, blah, blah, all that stuff. Now that it's over and you've won, and it's not a media interview. Were you guys like, holy hell, this is a disaster? Or like, what was the actual emotion as you were approaching Game 7? It was, uh, do you think about it after and it's, could have,

could Edmonton have beaten us one of those first three games? Yeah, you know, and you look back, it's like, there's a reason why they were in the finals too. It's like, did we feel bad that we were up three and we had a chance to lose? Like, obviously, but like, then you think about it. You know, they got two best players in the, world there you could say now like after everything is the second best team in the world you know like they're there for a reason it's it wasn't going to be easy i don't know how many stanley cup

finals the team gets swept so um and being that close like you could talk to everyone like being three games up it's a real thing being that close to the trophy and like yeah everything around just one game and flying people in like i was saying or you know us just way, way too fired up before the games or Mo coming in and doing this unbelievable speech where it's like, all right, we got to win. Like, you know, it's so much at stake that, and for them, it's, you know, you look at their side and it's like they got nothing to lose. It's like, you know.

So true. Obviously, kudos to them to pull it out and find a way to game seven. And then I think at that point, it's just like, you know what, guys? you see even we I was walking into the locker room before the game or before warmups in my suit obviously before we changed up and the TV said like could be the worst sports

blow up of all time you know and I think they were supposed to have the TVs off but it was on so just the fact of like thinking how it could have been but you know they're in the same situation that we were those first three games and just being that close to winning, you know,

flying their families. And, like, that was their first time to kind of feel those emotions. And I think for us, we were just kind of like, all right, no matter what happened in the past, it's one game. We've showed ourselves the last, you know, you could stay two, three years. And it was obviously, like, we talked on the ice.

It was a heck of a hockey game. Like, both ways, didn't give much, like chances here and there. Connor with, you know, that backhand play. And I don't know how that. that stayed out but oh yeah god i forgot about that that that monti that blocker pad save by bob is the most untalked about thing in that game like that just just little things like it's like crazy was so fast on both sides didn't give much uh you know and just and you know think about looking up at the clock and you see and i think it was connor and one other d men in front of the net when i

was getting you know fighting in the corner and we had nobody in front of the net and we're like looking we're all looking on the bench we're like 97th in the slot all alone what are we doing yeah that best player in the world i don't know who it was meekle and in the corner he's like that puck was not coming out i could tell you that i had that glued to the wall yeah um but yeah you know you think about it now the rest you know it doesn't matter what the series was at we won and you know we're stanley cup champion exactly man exactly and it's it's it's what fires you up is like yes, sure, you're up 3-0, then it gets tied. There's all that pressure.

There's all the what-ifs. This could be a collapse. But at the end of the day, you got a game seven Stanley Cup final at home. That's the stuff that you dream about when you're playing street hockey. So I feel like there was an element for you guys that was like, who fucking cares that? It's like we're in our barn. We know we're the better team. This is like the stuff of dreams.

Let's go win the Stanley Cup. And that's where it comes to like even the last two weeks of season. We're like, hey, we got to collect as many wins and as many points as we can. because you never know, if we're going to get home ice. You know, like that could have been, you know, in Edmonton. You know, like we would have had to fly back to Edmonton and, you know, play Game 7 there. And you guys saw our arena. Like the arena in Florida is obviously grown so much during the season,

but playoff times the whole new level. Oh, that's amazing. You know, I think, I mean, for me, I had a feeling and I knew that I was probably on my way out. So after we won, I was just kind of circling around looking at, you know, how crazy this atmosphere was. And, you know, it's obviously something that I'll remember forever. No doubt about it. Squad, I want to talk to you really quick about cash app. Cash app is without a doubt the best money transferring app on the market.

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just being with the boys, being with the families, in the locker room at Chuckies, how special was that? Yeah, you know what? It was, I think they said the one day

we went back to the rink. I think we had to sign. Our owners had a sign every champagne bottle. I think they said there was over 160 champagne bottles. Like empties you mean? Yeah,

just like the empties, but like just spraying everywhere. I think you could, like I had my gear on until about 3.30, 4 a.m. I didn't go home. home till about 5.30. And guys were still there. You guys probably saw the pick of Carter sleeping on the lawn.

I think he might have been one of the last ones there. But the funny thing was, is we celebrated that night. We celebrated, like, another night. And then they had to take the trophy to Vegas. So, like, we had all week. Yeah. The parade was on Sunday. Yeah.

Yeah. You know, we remember. We remember. It was crazy. But, and they'll have a whole week. whole time too for me like we celebrated at the rink got home around 530 went to elbow room at 11 I was talking to my agent my agent's like hey you got to be a little sober for about noon because we have a meeting about free agency I'm like so like this whole time

I'm celebrating I'm going home making calls talking to my agent talking to these gms here you know it's like all week and then parade was Sunday and free agency was Monday so it was like dude it It got busy and hectic, but, you know, glad where we're at now. Yeah. Oh, no doubt about it. Was it just special, man, like sitting in that locker, I'm looking around at everybody. Just I kind of, I get it. Those moments, like, you just don't want to leave.

You're like, we just went to war together. Like, I want to stay in this room forever with these people. Our locker room had obviously booze and water and champagne and up to, like, my ankles. Like our room probably like I think the floor had to have you should ask those guys But I think they would I would assume that they would have to take that floor out and completely fit or fix it up read it Yeah it was like yeah it was it was crazy like we had staff management their kids like you know coaching you know our families like just packed in there Yeah it was you know smoke you can't even see the person beside you because yeah smoke all over a place.

You're just walking around in a flooded basement. Yeah, I'm like going in the hallway, ripping our security guys that we had, like into the locker room to like just pour a load of beard on. Like, you know, like everyone in the arena was involved. And yeah, that was a super, super cool, cool moment. You know, I'm curious to see how much that room cost to fix up. Yeah, we'll find out. We'll find out.

And then my last question on the celebration, because we are huge fans of this, maybe the greatest establishment of all time. How was the party at 11? From what we remember, yeah. You know, like that whole week, that whole week was crazy. Oh, I can only be like he's going to Elwhoram, going here, going there. And then obviously me going home, talking to players on this team, talking to players on this team. Like, it was just a, you know, hectic, hectic for myself, my family.

But obviously you want to just cherish the week with the group that you just battle with. and, you know, I'm back at the cottage now, and I get literally four weeks to kind of chill out and then right back to work. Oh, yeah. Monty, he's like, I got to call. I got to call the hurricane smart. He's like, you called them yesterday, dude. Yeah. Seriously, that's what it was.

It was like, it was like, obviously I was fortunate to, you know, I have the opportunity of having, you know, a good amount of teams interested me. But in the same time, like, you kind of just want one team to kind of decide, you know. Yeah, right? Yeah, yeah. Am I going out west? Am I going out east? Like, am I, you know, like there's multiple teams that you had to think about. So each day, like, I had like one team for half a day to think about one team that, you know, like it was just like, you know, sitting back thinking like, what about this place?

Yeah. Yeah. In between shotguns, dude. It's like it's a lot to process. A lot going on. Yeah, pretty much. Like we go to the elbow room for an hour or two and then I'd be like, okay, I had three, three beers. Like, all right, I'm good to, you know, head back and make a few more phone calls.

Yeah. You know, funny, like, landing in Seattle after I'm like, I knew where it was, but like from Florida, I'm like, I type in Seattle on my maps. I'm like, I couldn't have picked a further possible place to go. You know, like, oh, like, we got a hike. And we actually went out there two weeks ago, two weeks ago. And when I ever, whenever I played there, like, it was gray and gloomy. And I'm like, sitting in the hotel. I'm like, I'm not getting out of this hotel.

Like, I'm not going to see anything. But obviously the place is beautiful and summertime's, you know, incredible and walked into a place. And yeah, we end up getting that end of the, or starting next month and the way it goes again. Yep. Absolutely. It's unreal. You're going to love it. Absolutely.

You talked about this a little earlier, Monty, but your day with the cup that you just had, right? So you're of Mohawk descent. That Six Nations community has meant so much to you and your family and everything like that. And you have played such a huge part in inspiring future indigenous NHL stars, right? So I know you did a little mini parade there back home Because like one of the first things you said after you won was like, I'm taking this baby back home. And you did a little parade, you did, you had it on display for a few hours. Can you just tell us what you did?

Like tell us about that day. What would you do with the cup while you had it? Yeah. So we started out my parents. I went up to Hamilton Sick Kids because that's a where a lot of the kids from the reserve or kids from Bramford would all go to, it's called the Ronald McDonald's house in Hamilton. and close by. It was probably half hour.

We met the cup there, spent an hour there. And then on our way home, we just stopped at my local junior hockey team in Caledonia. And then we ended up going to the police station. And then we ended up going back to my parents' house for family photos, just kind of chill out for, you know, like an hour or two. And then they blocked all the roads off in Six Nations. We ended up starting the parade and the parade was just me. And then obviously the police officers and the fire station.

And there was people like they are counted, I think, around 25,000 people. Wow. 25,000 people showed up from like Toronto to like everywhere, I guess, bus loads of people. They blocked the roads. And I gave them a few hours. We pretty well got through everyone, which was surprising, but obviously tiring for me. Yeah. But I think I, you know, you ask people about the stories of, you know, their cup days and how they want to, you know, share it with just their family and have quiet time.

And, you know, that's what you're going to miss. But I think just for me, experiencing it for the first time and bringing it back to Six Nations for the first time, it's cool to see everyone else's reactions, you know, seeing the trophy alive. Like it's a real thing to see what, you know, so I, I owed that to, you know, everyone. And then brought it home after, you know, that. And then we had a, you could say a little private party, but there was about 200 people that we invited to the country club there. And, you know, that was a shit show. Yeah, as it should be, as it should be. That's what cup parties are supposed to be. Yeah, yeah. You mentioned earlier, you had all these teams and all these meetings when it came to free agency, finishing that game seven, knowing that maybe you're going to be on your way out. When you talk to all of those different teams and all of these possible destinations, what was it about Seattle that kind of stuck out to you and made you think, okay, this is my next.

journey. This is my next home and where I want to get over the hump with a new team. Yeah, it was, you know, there was a lot of things. We were prepared. Like my agent and I, Matt, we locked in and trying to figure this out from honestly the start of the year. Like we had meetings throughout the year. Obviously the possibility of staying in Florida until it wasn't. Possibility of what we wanted, you know, as a family, what the teams wanted, what we're looking for in the hockey club. Did we want to be on a team that was a rebuilding team? Did we want to still contend?

You know, there's so much that went into it. Seattle was a team that was, you know, talked about kind of in the background from my agent for a while. I knew that there was interest there. Obviously not experiencing, like playing a lot there. So, you know, I knew it was a loud building, but like other than that, you know, not much on that front. but they just kept, you know, the name, you know, they just kept staying in the, you know, in the

conversation, you know, and then just one day, a couple days before we decided, I was just like, hey, we got to seriously consider, like, what this place is, you know. For me, too, like, yeah, the, you know, term was important, you know, me being 30. That was a big thing, but, you know, the contract's nice and all, but I wanted to be somewhere that I felt wanted. You know, I think I deserved. I put myself in a pretty good opportunity to be on a team that, you know, wanted me in Seattle and talk to management, talk to players.

They're a team that wants to win and find a way to win. So that intrigued me about a team that, you know, I felt really wanted me as a person and a player. And, you know, that's all you can ask for. So, obviously, incredible facilities. I was there a couple weeks. Yeah, so sick. Yeah, it's awesome. So nice. So it's got everything. everything you need.

Yeah. And to win there, you know, as a hockey fan, you see the fan base and you see clips of how loud this building could be. So it's exciting. Like, we're excited, you know, looking back now, it was cool to, to win a Stanley Cup in Florida for the very first time as an organization. And looking at it now and before I decided, I just like, it would be cool to win a Stanley Cup for, you know, that organization for the first time as well.

So, you know, that's, that's going to be a pretty cool goal, you know, for us to do. Yeah, I was about to ask, you know, you have that great unique experience of being with Florida, this team that's building and slowly got over the hump, kind of, you know, advance past your bugaboo's with things like Tampa, things like Boston, and now the opportunity to do that again with Seattle, a team that you know can get there and can do that. That must feel pretty cool. Yeah, and they made moves, you know, they picked up Stevenson. Oh, yeah, oh yeah. And I know they had a down year last year, but the year prior, what they lose in the, they didn't losing. Dude, they beat Colorado.

You saw what their kid was going. They were a game from conference finals. Like they lost to Dallas in six or seven. Like the team's got, you look at their roster like, and I don't know what the media is saying like what they're, you know, projected to wins or losses. But I'm expecting a big season, obviously for myself, just for the excitement of being a part of a new team. But I think the team's pretty damn good.

And, you know, I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of damage we can do. Yeah. So are we, dude. Like I said, we saw what they're capable of And the moves they made And you've said before It's an incredible sports city You know, the fans are ready for you guys to rip it

So that's going to be fantastic, man Okay, Monji, we'll get you out here With this game we play with everybody at the end It's called Pass Shoot Score And I'm sure you've seen it But it's just we're going to give you a couple things in categories And you rank them pass shoot score So passing the puck

Assists are cool, but that's your least favorite Shots on goal is your second favorite Scoring the ultimate goal So that's your favorite Yeah, yeah Okay, your first category in pass-shoots score is your tattoos. Okay, so pass-shoots score, the 12-29-16 tattoo, the anything is possible if you believe tattoo, or the newly added Stanley Cup tattoo.

Scoring, obviously, you got to go with the trophy. Yeah. Love it, love it, love it. It's chest, eh? Where is it? On the chest? No, it's right on my back. Oh, okay, yeah.

I'd turn around and show you guys, but. Yeah. We'll see it in Vegas. Yeah, yeah, see it in Vegas. Yeah, exactly. There you go. We'll keep that for that one. What I say, that was score, pass.

Honestly, anything is possible, you know? Yep. And then shoot, it's like, I mean, there you go. It's pass as like anything is possible, you know, starting at a young age. It's, you know, every kid's dream. And then, you know, shooting is, you know, that's my very first game. Yeah. And mom's birthday, right?

Anaheim in Calgary, my mom's birthday. Yeah. So that was a super cool moment. And then obviously, you know, we're looking in, this is my 10th season. God, crazy. It's a pretty damn good feeling to say, you know, I've been lucky enough to be in two finals now. Obviously, I think three conference finals and a Stanley Cup champion. So, you know, going in my 10th year, I'm looking to add a few more of those, you know.

But, dude, if you start moving to the right side with tattoos, you're going to get hurt on the right side now. I hope the cup is on the right side. to balance out. Hey, so this is the funny thing is all my injuries. And this is, Timmy Wittenhauer is one of our athletic therapists. And if he, I'm sure he's not going to listen to this. He's a little bit older. But he read something. He's always like looking and learning at, you know, things. He's like, tattoos and he told me one day. He's like tattoos are like have something in the ink that like we can something in your body. Come on. We're like laughing about it. Or like all my tattoos are from my left all way down to my calf.

And all my injuries are on my tattoo side. So it's crazy to think that you read something and then all my injuries are like it's true. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's real. It's real. I'm keeping them all my left and that's just the way it goes. I love it. All right. Your next one is

Halloween costumes. Pasture score. Your water boy costume with you and the wife. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. The Adams family one with you and the wife. Or your Batman costume as a child, which was absolute gas. I got to say.

Hey, the worst thing is we got a bunch of euros and a bunch of younger players that first they didn't know who the water boy was. I'm walking in their full football gear. Yeah. And they're like, I get it you're a football player, but like, who are you? Yeah. Adam's family, I'm in straw all night and nobody has no idea. I'm like, guys, this is uncomfortable, but like, you got to know who this is.

I'm nailing this. I'm nailing this costume. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then obviously nobody knows. I'm sure they sell pictures of Batman, but pass shoot to score.

I got to say the water. I like the Water Boy one for score. Adam family. That was nice and easy. It wasn't a fan. Easy, dude. You were covered in straw. Nobody really knowing what it was, though.

Fair, fair. That one was obviously really cool to see everyone that understood it. But that's a pass and shoot's got to be the Batman. I started at a young age. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That one was fucking. incredible. Incredible. All right, Monty, next category is things you like to eat, okay? Pass shoot

score, chocolate chip cookies. Do you like them soft or crunchy, by the way? Not soft at all. Okay, so a nice, crispy chocolate chip cookie. Yes. Yeah. A pregame meal from Francoli's down in Orange County. Oh, I forgot about that. We had a feeling you might have forgot about Francois. I'm glad to bring it back. Like, I could say it now, but like, Um, Anaheim was in the mix. Oh, no shit. Wow. That would have been fucking sick.

Fuck, that would have been sick. And we did, like, obviously, like, just the, like, feeling of, like, unfinished business, you know? Yeah. Didn't think, like, looking back, should they have dealt myself and a number of other guys? Probably not. Right. I'd say so.

But thinking how it could have been, you know, obviously the management and everything's completely changed, but, you know, I do miss that place. Like there was one point when like I started there, you know, my first year and I was the only one eating at Frank Coley's. Yeah, yeah. Like the whole staff, like they were like, had a table set up and I'm like 20, 21 years old. You know? Yeah, I miss that place. Damn.

Okay. So chocolate chip cookie, Frank Coley's pregame meal or a bowl of cereal out of the Stanley Cup. That was the cereal was cool. We did cereal. What kind was that? You know what? We actually, I had Captain Crunch lined up for the private party, forgot it at my parents. I promised actually Zach Delp, so he played the year prior.

You guys obviously know who. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We're close. He's close to home, and I promised we FaceTime each other before my cup day and his kids were there, and I promised them some Captain Crunch in the cup. And you forgot it. Forgot it. I don't know what serial?

Vector. I think it was Vector. What is Vector? That's got to be some Canadian. Yeah, exactly. That might be a Canadian thing. Yeah, but that was cool. That was cool for the kids to kind of.

to eat out of the cup. Chocolate chip cookies. You know what? I'm going to do past Frank Goleys. Just, you know. Because it's been a while. Yeah, yeah. It's been a while.

You know, shoot the cookies and then store, obviously, eating some come on. Yeah. Serial of the trophy. Anything to do with the, like, it's crazy what this trophy can do, you know, for anyone. You bring it into a restaurant, the people that have no idea. We're walking at downtown.

Miami in the middle of the street. People are yelling, what is that? Or honking the horn? Yeah. It's crazy, you know? Yeah. Incredible. All right.

Your last one, Monty, pass shoot score. These are things that you watch to get you fired up. LeBron James highlights. Zetterberg highlights. Oh. Or Don Cherry highlights on a VHS. You could bring it back. Pass.

just LeBron highlights, especially the last, you know, the last week, I've been watching a lot of the USA basketball. Yeah, yeah. That last game was pretty cool to watch. Shoot. I got to go to classic Don Cherry Rock and Stockholm. Come on.

Christmas, going to the Christmas tournaments, the family packs up the van and, you know, throws it on the TV in the van and watches it for a few hours going to the tournament. And then, you know, it's funny. I always, people ask who your favorite player was, obviously Steve Eisman. We were big Red Wings fans.

but Zetterberg, obviously an unbelievable player, but I was always a fan of his game. Yeah, oh yeah. And weird because I'm a defenseman and I have a real kind of connection to that. Although I do, I think, where my tongue's out because of him. Love that. Great, great fact. So we have a little connection with that.

But yeah, I mean, I always just loved him, Datsuk, you know, Lydstrom, that kind of group. And Zetterberg was one guy that I was just a big fan of. And actually, we had a chance. I don't know if it was this year a few years ago. I mean, this kid were in Detroit on the ice before maybe our morning skate. And one of the guys, one of the staff members, said Zetterberg's out there. So I had to sprint out there and just chit-chat with them for a few minutes.

But that was cool. That's awesome. It's fucking unreal. And then one of our first games, I think my fourth or fifth game in the NHL was against the wings. And we got a pick of it actually and me hammering them behind the net. Oh, no way. Fuck you. I remember I told my dad.

My dad obviously is watching. He's like, hey, what did you say to him? And I literally, I think, like, I had to say sorry. I'm like, sorry, man. Like, you know, it's just, it's just like, you're so in all, but like, it's so, such a cool moment to kind of experience playing these guys. And, you know, that was one that I'll always remember. That's hilarious.

Sorry, sorry. I love you, dude. Yeah. All right, Monty, this was a fucking blast. We know you got to run, but we can't thank you enough for popping on before we let you go. Is there anything you want to plug? Anything you want to shout out?

No, I mean, just you could shout out, you know, I haven't got a chance to really talk to, you know, the Florida fans and the fan base of kind of, you know, allowing me to come in and, you know, not you could say kind of show, show. I always was, you know, a good player, but kind of came off, you know, when I became a Panther and really took off from there. And the support that, you know, that our organization has given me. And, you know, obviously, you want to shout out that, you know, love them and miss them and, you know, happy that we got it done. but I'm on to Seattle and you know the plan is to do it all over again you know looking forward to that you know that that whole step there and I'm excited to get down there you know summer's so short but I mentioned to get going with that organization and I'm super

happy to be part of that team fuck yeah hell yeah it's going to be a blast all right man well uh thanks again this is awesome and we'll uh we'll see you soon we'll see you in a few weeks all right yeah guys we'll see in a few weeks thanks for having me huge shout out huge thank you to our Monty. Brandon Montor, what a guy, what a player, cannot wait to see what he does with Vince down in Seattle. Credit to us for being such big Bruins fans and having to having to take that one on the chin. Yeah, he rubbed that in our face a couple of times. And you know what? That's what friends do. And that's what we deserve, dude. Yeah, we deserve. But it's also what friends do. You know, you got to be able to give it. But goddamn, that was so fun. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

Brandon Montor, just, you know, one of the best defensemen in the game right now. so fun. That was fantastic. So proud of him too, by the way. Oh my God. Like he, I said at the top, I said at the top, look up his funny articles. I'll say at the end here, look up his contracts because he hasn't been rake it. Like he's been earn it deal, earn it deal, earn it deal over and over and over. And he earns it every single year. And now he gets his big ticket because he deserves it. And I'm so excited to see what he's going to do with it. Oh, fantastic stuff. Well, that is it for us, this episode of the Empty Netters podcast. We can't wait to see you guys next time. And until we do.

Poo-poo! Skate on.