Empty Netters Podcast - Canada and USA Olympic Roster Reactions

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

There are some MAJOR snubs on the Olympic rosters of both teams and the guys don’t hold back. Who are the biggest surprises and the biggest mistakes? USA couldn’t get the job done at home at World Juniors and it’s a disaster. College hockey is back. The EPIC finish to Pucked had everyone in tears. And a beer league hotline and blind ranking finish up the episode. NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY! Watch full episodes, shorts, and clips right here on YouTube. Listen to the podcast on Spotify or anywhere you get your pods. Subscribe & follow Empty Netters everywhere: YouTube: / @emptynetters Instagram: @EmptyNetters TikTok: @EmptyNetters X: @EmptyNetters PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use code “NETTERS” and enjoy up to $1500 in bonus bets if you lose your first wager! Thanks to our Sponsors! BetMGM: Use bonus code NETTERS when signing up to receive up to $1500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Bauer: Get your hands on Bauer’s newest innovation — the PULSE stick — and feel the difference. Get your hands on one at https://Bauer.com Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all year? No, no, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas is right into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready, and we are back with another episode of the MT Netters. podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers, on the sticks. Our boy, Sean, what the hell? Sean Buffini is not here. He is still stuck in Ireland, but on my left, he's in the air right now. He sure is. And the man you just heard, my co-host, my brother, a man who's in his 30s and still wears boxers with holes in them. Because they're my lucky boxers, as always. I have a lot of lucky boxes. Is that actually why? I have,

Only lucky box. Let me ask you a question. Are you being serious? So are you being serious? Can I answer in full? No, yes or no? Yes. With shades of gray.

You know, that's where shades are gray. You can't be your age and think that lucky boxers are a thing. So the reason I wanted to answer is because I used to do that for real. And then now I don't. And dude, now if I get holes in boxes, I throw them right out. See you later. I don't need this. but there is one remaining pair of boxers in my dresser that has holes.

And not, you'd seen old boxers. I used to wear holy fucking boxes. Yeah. And he does not mean holy in the biblical sense. Now I just mean like there's like a hole around the band. You know, it's not even a bat. If you saw it, you'd be like, throw those out, but that's not. You've come a long way.

And it's only one pair and you are going to laugh, dude. But it is a pair of boxers, you know, I'm superstitious with sports that I was wearing for the first playoff game that when Brady went to the bucks, I just happened to wear them randomly on that Sunday. And then I had done laundry that week, and I was getting ready for the Brady's next game. I was, well, I'll wear those boxes again. And then I wore them four in a row,

and then he won the bowl in Tampa. And since then, they've gotten a hole. They didn't have a hole then. Since then they've gotten a hole, but I was too sentimental to thrill them out. Yeah, okay. So here's the thing. And then we're going to move on.

You don't play football. You are not on that team. Yes. I do. And then I'll take you one further. Tom doesn't play anymore. He doesn't know who I am. Actually, he might.

Yeah, he probably does. That would be gas. That would be sick. He's not playing anymore. You can throw those boxers. No, I'm rooting for him. And is an announcing career. You're telling me every time Tom's on the national broadcast, you are those boxers.

Come on, Tom. God, you are a sick, sick guy. All right. We got a lot of get through today. day, dude. Tons to get through. We've got lots of hot ice. We've got a beer league hotline.

We're breaking stuff down. So let's jump right into it. Before we get into our Olympic roster reactions, yep, we've got to talk about the NHL, folks. We're back. We are back. It's after Christmas, after New Year's. We've got a lot of stuff going on.

Let's just do a quick rundown of the league right now. Broken it by division. Just to give everyone a recap of what's going on. We'll start in the Atlantic. Tampa's back. Dude, Tampa's been so streaky all year, but they're on another streeter right now. They won seven in a row.

But the biggest thing for me is they have the second best gold diff in the league, which confirms to me how good they are. Correct. So I bet, here we go, jinking Tampa again. I bet they go on another skid soon. And everyone's going to go, they're not good. You're wrong. They are good.

They're going to be a real problem in playoffs, depending who they get in the first round. Because hilariously, like right now it would be, it's one point away from being Florida in the first round as the wild car. You know, it's like. Oh, dude. Could you actually imagine if, like, Chucky comes back, all these guys get healthy, and then all of a sudden they just get the wild card and play Tampa in the first?

I will say Detroit, Montreal, and Tampa have separated themselves a little bit. In a really congested division, they have kind of taken a bit of a step. A bit of a step. But don't forget, so that's another thing. Habs six two and two in their last 10. They've ridded the ship a bit. I think that they were slipping a little bit. They've got to move one of the goal.

You've got a great opportunity here. Look at the cap that that team has. We're hearing a lot of rumors and a lot of rumblings about guys that they could add. And they've got to do it. I think the time is now, but they are in second. Detroit, for over Christmas, they won on a great little run. They were in first in the Atlantic for a bit. Things feel awesome.

They're third. Yep. And they have two games on Tampa, one game on Montreal. So, like they're not that comfy. Agree, but you've got to win those games like you always say. The team's behind them. I will say quickly about Detroit. Someone asked on hockey talk, what does this team need?

I said they need a 2C and they need a very good defenseman. And emphasis on the defenseman. They need to add a defenseman. And I'm going to say this, man, they are a dash 7 in Goldiff. And they're third in the Atlantic. That has to improve. Defense will help that. And also the last several years when they've been on the bubble of playoffs.

And we've been like, make a move, Stevie. He doesn't make moves. the time is now. Absolutely with the shape of the Atlantic, I'm looking right at you Steve Iserman and right at you Detroit fans, this is the time to strike. If the Detroit Red Wings do not make

a significant deadline trade this year, we should be rioting in the streets of the street. Yeah, you find it. Which is terrible because the city of Detroit is back. Yeah. Like that downtown area, it's fantastic. We can't slip again. We can't slip again.

So need Detroit to make a move because I do think you're right. I don't know when everyone's coming back in Florida, but it does feel like these three teams specifically, they should finish in whatever order, one, two, and three in the Atlantic. Huge shout out, Buffalo, great push here. I still think Florida, I'm not worried about Florida at all.

They're going to be great. Are you, could you dead the Leafs? I'm still too close. It is too close to effectively dead them. Yep. But I am here to say that, like, they're dead in my mind. Okay. You're dead, dude.

Because it's honestly, it's one of these things. We talked about a couple episodes ago, I was like, things need to change. Significant moves need to be made. It will be better for the Toronto Maple Leafs to miss playoffs so they are forced to do something. I actually believe that. And Buffalo, dude, keep going.

Keep going. It changed the vibes. Keep going, Buffalo. That wild card spot is in your sights. God. Now to the Met, Carolina is in first. Yep. But Slaven out is becoming a real big issue.

He's just getting knock after knock after knock. If he is the type of player, though, that if he, as long as he's healthy, like, I would actually just sit him out till playoffs now, because I'm like, you don't need reps. And like, you're surviving. And you're the best team in the Met. Like, I would be like, dude, you're fine. It doesn't matter at all. If he's hurt forever, then yes, but I'm like, it doesn't matter. They are another team we talk about, they have, shockingly, they have cap space. Because you look at all the unbelievable moves they've made since the rant and debacle. And you, you see these guys, they add great contracts here and there.

Take away the LTIR if you're going to have Slavin out, Jarvie out for a little bit more. They've got eight mil in caps raised, a little bit more than eight. God, and they've been so hurt. They've been so hurt all year. Bussie has been a revelation, but Piotr out. Yep. Freddie has been struggling. Freddie is, I've said, it has not been announced, but I am.

Freddy's retiring after this year. Freddie, Freddie, not fresh. I think Carolina. We talked about maybe moving one of the goalies in Montreal, maybe Montembo. Ooh, that's interesting. Traded to Carolina. Get Bussie some help. Yep.

Would it be the most horrifying thing of all time if after everything he's done for this team if they traded Freddie or like benched Freddie? Win Cup. And then they won the cup. That would be absolutely horrible. But Carolina, still in first, but they've got to do something. The New York Islanders. Incredible.

They continue to be the best show in Hawk. Yep. I feel like that Palmeri injury, everyone was like, oh, fuck. I was like, that'll do it. Yep. Because he's just so valuable to that team. here they are in second. Sheaf is a god.

Yep. The vibes continue to be so high. And they're interesting. I think they're like five, four and one in their last ten. Like they lose some here and there, but like they're scrapping. This is a playoff team. That, we say Lord vibes a lot, everybody does. And I think Barzie or somebody made a comment that was like,

Sheaf has completely changed the vibes here. Clutter. Clutter said it. No, but a player said it recently. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It is a fact. This happens. And I'm telling you this team literally.

is having too much fun to not be good. They are a candidate for me to regress next year just because this happens. Like you saw the Blue Jackets last year, you know, I hope they don't, but I'm saying they could. Yep. But I no longer fear a regression this season

because it's too locked in now. They are having a fucking blast. And that's, and enjoy. Hey, everyone on Long Island, enjoy the ride because you're getting this till fucking May. I agree. I think this team is a playoff team. They are making playoffs.

I don't see this. down at all. And how about the Philadelphia Flyers? Because let's be clear. Talk about Carolina in first. Islanders buzz in here. Philly has two less games played. And if they get two wins, they are tied with Carolina in first and the men. You're one talk to. You got Zegris finding his game again. This team is pretty, pretty exciting. And your one talk, as you said, is always very good. I look at this situation. You look at the Mets. Both wildcard teams right now in the east are MET teams.

Pitt and Washington. Washington massive skid. Yeah. Massive skid. Three, five and two in their last 10. Pitt, don't look now. Dude, there's five straight wins. And they are the first wildcars team.

So two things about those teams. I think Washington is a better team than Pittsburgh. I think on paper they are better. And I think in reality. they are slightly better. They're in a really bad skid right now. Let's see if they can pull up. I think Philadelphia can keep this up. If you look at point percentage, Philadelphia is better than literally everyone in the Mets except Carolina. And they could be a playoff team here. So if you're looking at a wild card for one of the Mets teams or maybe someone to jump into

that third spot, I would say I think it's Washington. Yeah, right? I'm going to tell you, my nightmare is Pittsburgh just missing playoffs this year. I've been saying this the whole time. What they are doing right now is unacceptable. I either need you guys to keep winning like this and get in the top three. But if you are a bubble team and like we just see Sid stay on the team and miss playoffs again, Malkin stays on the team, they miss playoffs again, I will lose my mind. Same. I will absolutely lose my mind.

I'm still not worried about Jersey. That might come back to butt me, but I'm still not worried about Jersey. Yeah. Central easiest discussion in the world, abs of the best team on Earth, and I genuinely, for my money, I think Dallas and Minnesota are the second and third best teams in the league. The NHL runs to the Central. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. And unfortunately for the Central,

it's going to be such a nightmare getting out of the Central that I worry about them in the Western Conference Finals and Finals from what it's going to take to get through that juggernaut. A couple quick things in the Central for me. The Blues are a minus 39 gold diff. I'm pretty sure it's the worst in the league. Puk. Yet somehow aren't the worst team in the league.

And I give them credit for that. That's all I have to say. There's been a lot of rumblings about. like, what are they doing with Monty? And I'm like, listen, they are not keeping the puck out of their net in a way that is responsible at the NHL level. And they're not the worst team in the league. So just fucking hang your head on that.

Also, they're not making playoffs, but I don't think. But stick taps to the Preds, who I said would be okay. And I got rins for this. And everybody was like, they suck. And they started okay. Then got horrible again. Stick tap to the Preds for playing up to their potential a little bit. Yep.

Winnipeg Jets. Dead? Okay. Real quick. on the Preds. Stamco has had a great last like 15 games. Stamco's incredible. Yeah, yeah, great last 15 games. The Winnipeg Jets are dead. They're the worst team in the league. They, I think they're dead. It's, it's fascinating. At this point, I'm not entirely sure what you can even expect for, you got 41 games left. Oh, dude. What is Connor Hellebuck going to do

coming off an injury in 41 games? Like, are you missing playoffs? I think, again, they're the, they're going to get the first overall pick. Yeah. They're getting Gavin McKenna. Insane. What a nightmare. That one is shocking. I always say this. There's always one massive surprise. That one is shocking.

I said, I know people want to act like this isn't that big of a deal. But when Eler's left, I was like, this is a big deal. He had a slow start in Carolina. It has started to buzz since. But it's not just the losing of the player, which I do think was a big loss. It is the message it sends. and then I think things changed when Kyle Connor signed his extension. I was sure Kyle Connor was gone.

My question for you is, does Kyle Connor regret that extension? I think when you look at Winnipeg, by the way, Winnipeg is a very coveted job. Like there are people talking right now, like if that head coaching job becomes available, there are guys like Pete DeBore, you know, guys out there who are looking for another job and they're like Winnipeg. And it's coveted because you have Mark Sheifley, you have Connor Hellebuck, you have Josh Morrissey, and you have Kyle Conner signed to significant extensions. amongst others. However, like, you don't like losing in Winnipeg.

If you're up in Winnipeg on that team, you are not happy losing. So, like, this is really tough. It's crazy because you go, I was one of the people going, I'm the last couple years going, I'm not sure they're that good. And then every year they go, we're the fucking president's trophy. And I'm like, sorry, sorry. I know, but it's another one of those things. like and you know listen we we we we love our peggers yep we really do but whether it be

hella buck or not it's like that blue series was like what the fuck are we doing here folks and then they just like didn't even stand a chance in the next so scary times scary times and it's like then it's an even more than it's a cooler job yeah or it's even scarier because you're like what's you know a stakes it get to stop it but yeah jets yikes we got to figure this shit out All right, and then on to the Pacific. Vegas somehow isn't first, but they have been poop. They have been a poopy, poopy team. So weird.

Two, five, and three in their last ten. Like, they're just like yucky to watch. I think they've lost like six in a row. Yeah, I mean, they, like they are... Five, it must be, but yeah, they've lost that shitload of games in a row. They are a yucky team right now. It's not great. And then, ho-hum, what I've been saying all year.

Edmonton, second place. And they were, the Hawks got, or the Knights got their OT loss point. late last night and before that, Oilers were in first. I was like, oh, here we go. And then third, the duckies. Also struggling. Two, six, and two in their last ten.

Are you worried about the duckies? A little bit only because some of the shit that was working, like Crider had 13 goals in 26 games to start the season and hasn't scored since December 1st now. Yeah. It's like little things like that where I'm like, oh, I just need those guys to get going again. So I'm a little worried, but I think they're making playoffs still.

Yep, me too. Can I share with you a hilarious stat? Yeah. There is not a single team in the Pacific division with a positive goal differential. It's a tragedy. And Dan, the Atlantic was like that most of the year and almost still is except for Tampa, who is plus 32. So it's like, oh.

You're like, whoa, what the fuck? But no, the Pacific is a tragedy. And again, I look at the Pacific right now and I go, literally none of these teams could even dream of a Stanley Cup. But one of these teams is going to get an exhausted central team in the Western Conference finals and could just beat them. I know, I don't know though. Those three, there is not a single team, and I include Vegas and Edmonton,

and I know Edmonton fans will say famous last words, idiot. Yeah. But there is not a single team in the Pacific that I think even holds a candle to any of those three central teams. Okay. I don't give a shit about experience. Like, they're just better, better, better teams. And it's like not close. In the cover of darkness, Seattle is in the first wild card spot.

Yeah, I know. It's insane. Seattle has just been shat on all. year but again they a good little 10 game stretch but like they're leaky for sure uh always want to show love to our sharkies who are just they I think they're tied in points with the two wild card teams right now so they're they're flirting with it oh they're they're in the mix um and they're there's six and four in their last 10 but the LA Kings need a quick discussion they got a big shootout win on Saturday

against the wild my big question here here though is what are we doing and we don't like talking about people's jobs we don't ever like saying someone should lose their job I am just simply asking a question how does Jim Hiller still have a job it's it feels like every single time they lose for the last 20 games yes it feels like every time they lose the entire media world goes that could be it and we're done here I mean I forget what game it was but there was a weekend stretch was before one of their road trips where the entire, I mean, the team had to make a statement. Ken Holland made a statement.

That was like, there is nothing going on here. So there is smoke. The question is, is there fire? And the other question is, at what point does it become too late? Right. Like what, it's, there are way too many great and talented players on this roster, in my opinion, being used incorrectly. The power play continues to be a tragedy.

I do not understand, again, not saying anything should happen. I'm just saying I am shocked. Surprised, nothing has. Especially, especially with Kobe's last year. The fact that they're like, this is the last ride. I'm like, something has to be done here. And you can say the penguins haven't done shit with Crosby, and I hear you. But I'm just saying scary times.

All right, that is it for Hot Ice. Now we are jumping into our reactions of the Olympic rosters. What was that? I'm fired up. Oh, okay, okay, fired up. All right. We're going to start with Team Kemp. Canada. We'll get into Team USA.

Quickly, I'll just brush over Sweden and Finland's rosters. I know, and we've got other teams here, of course. But I think some of the other teams' rosters, everything made a lot of sense. I don't have a ton of gripes with any of the other rosters. However, Canada and USA need discussion. Starting with Team Canada, forwards, named to the team. Macklin Salabrini, Anthony Sorrelli, Sidney Crosby, Brandon Hagle, Bo Horvatt, Nathan McKinnon, Brad Marshan, Mitch Marner, Connor,

Connor, Kahnem McDavid, Braden Point, Sam Reiner, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson. Getting into the defense, Drew Dowdy, Thomas Harley, Kale McCarr, Josh Morrissey, Colton Pereko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, Devon Taves, and goalies, Jordan Biddington, Darcy Kemper, Logan Thompson. Yep.

Initial thoughts. My initial thoughts are, because this came out first, Canada one came out first, and I remember thinking, wow, dude, they, have screwed up. Some, I expected some we called. Yep. And some were truly shocking.

Let me give you my expected, especially because I know you disagree with this. I'm kind of shocked. Neither of the woods, but McKenzie Blackwood didn't make it over, well, we both agree I thought it should have been over Binnington. There should have been Blackwood, Kemper, and L.T. Since they were automatically taking Binner,

I would have taken Blackwood over Kemper just based on literally how good he is right now. And I just, I want to jump. You're just wrong. Yep. Like, look at the team that is in front of the woods and look at the fact that the Kings are a playoff team with how they're playing for various reasons. And Kemper is literally dragging them in these games. But the team in front of the woods at Olympics will be that good too.

I understand, but my point is, if straight up, if Darcy Kemper was the goalie of the Colorado Avalanche still. Yeah. Yeah, right. I legitimately don't know if they would have, if they have lost. Zero losses. I think they would literally be undefeated. And Kemper has had big game experience.

Yes. So Stanley Cup winner. Okay. Jarvie. Insane. Insane. Hurt, right? Like, I know that's, I know that's part of it where it's like, oh, he's pretty

banged up. But again, they could have been like, you're doing, we'll sub you out if you're too hurt to go. and I just, in a way that they, I don't want to blow this point yet, but Canada did some stuff that Team USA didn't do from the Four Nations roster, which I found really surprising, and not having Jarvie there with the way they were vibing with those guys in Four Nations, is kind of crazy to me because he played all over the lineup.

He did everything and they all loved him. The big thing for me is exactly what you do. just said, Seth Jarvis in 34 games has 19 goals, 10 assists for 29 points. Bo Horvatt in 36 games has 21 goals, 12 assists for 33 points. Everyone when they talk about Bo Horvatt making this team, they go, dude, he's got 21 goals. And I'm like, well, Seth Jarvis has 19 goals, less games, and was on the Four Nations roster and played great. So for me, Jarvis being as good as he is, being having a career year right now when he was on that team,

it felt like he was already on the team and then has only improved. So to get bumped, stings. He had all the greatest quotes about it. Like he said all the right things. And I'm like, I mean, that's just who he is. He's just the best. But that one hurts for sure. And I do think he was done a little dirty, if I'm being honest.

One that I'm just sad about is Schaefer, super young. But like, and again, you have plenty of elite puck-moving power play QBs on this team. It's honestly what happened to Lane Hudson, too, where it's like you're kind of redundant. But I just think you almost reward him for the vibes alone, dude, for the vibes alone. I know, seriously. Someone said recently, they were like, you had the opportunity with Matthew Schaefer to do what you did with Drew Dowdy in 2010 and like take this young stud. I think that's a little bit of a boost. Like this is literally Schaefer's rookie year.

That was not Drew's rookie year. Schaefer is just turned 18. You know, like I think Dewey was, or I know Dewey was 20 in 2010, maybe 20. I can't remember. Well, he's the exact same age as me. I should know this. Like, how old was I? Do the bad.

Come on, Dan. Yeah, he's like, 2021. Like, it wasn't, you know, it wasn't that similar. I'm totally with you. It feels like a guy that I'm like, ah, shit. But we talked about, like, the left side of their D is so strong. So he's, that's the problem. He's one that I'm like, that would have been a blast to see him.

But like, I get it. We always talk about the, the, I think the most important. thing to discuss with these rosters. If one guy was in and one guy was out, we'd be having the same conversation in reverse. Yes, fair. So let's talk about Anthony Sorrelli and Sam Bennett. Both guys who are on that Four Nations roster, both guys who are dogs. We talked about the importance of dogs. Both are absolute dogs. Both were great on that team. Both are incredibly instrumental for their teams both are phenomenal phenomenal human beings that everyone wants in the locker room if sam bennett i think it's bullshit that sam bennett's not on this team yeah we that that that was a

big one for me where we talked we both kind of talked ourselves into it in that we did recording literally i was like oh yeah you just and he's been so much better too like the last 20 games that that's the thing like bro it's like he's played so much fucking hockey battling so many injuries and he had a slow start, right? And people were like, I mean, Benny, he had a slow start. Dude, yeah. He has 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points and 41 games. Yep. Like, which by the way, how many points do you have last year? Fifty-five? Yeah, like, he's on pace for more, better season. To do exactly what he does? Like, he's a fucking beast. If Bennett made it and Sorrelli didn't, we'd be having the same conversation. That's my point. We'd be going, how do you not have Anthony Sorrelli

on this fucking team? So it's just, the Canadian roster is just a really, really tough one. We always talk about how they, you could field a second Canadian team at the Olympics and they'd probably fucking medal. It's insane. I know. Their B team is nuts. The guys on the team, every single person who's on this team deserves to be on this team. I truly believe that. I'm so glad Tom Wilson made it. I'm so glad Nick Suzuki made it. Mark Stone, dude, is a guy. Like, we, you know, we brought up, we were like, is Mark Stone like too much of a band-aid? And then you look at his points and you're like what the fuck and we we talked to a couple Canadian gold medalists who are in the NHL right now

just recently and everyone is like oh Mark Stone is on this team dude yeah so I think that's important he was one of my automatics like if you're Canadian and you're a fan of this team the guys on this team are like Mark fucking Stone is on this team so you look at the roster and there's really no one that I'm like this guy's got to be bumped the D is really the only area for me where, you know, I think I'm a little surprised with the Jacob Chichikrin

omission. Talk to some people in the league, and there are people who think, oh, yeah, Chikrin's a little one-dimensional, like he's just kind of an offensive talent. And I think that's harsh, frankly. I think his last two seasons speak for themselves. And when you look at this team, you look at this lineup, and I look at Kail McCar, I look at, um, I look at, Josh Morrissey and how great they are, how offensive they are, how well they can work a power play. And I still look at Drew and how he can work a power play. And we talked about Eric Carlson at Four Nations when he's playing with a guy like Victor Headman, when he doesn't have to be the guy, he was so good.

Fucking poetry at Four Nations. And I look at Drew and I'm like, if you put Drew with one of these fucking beasts on the blue, put him with a Harley, put him with a Pareko, put him with, you know, something like that, you're like, oh, fucking Drew can really get in his bag here. So those are when I'm like, yeah, I get it. And like, Sannie is just such a good fucking defenseman. So, yeah, I think the discussion with Team Canada is more, God, they just have so many good players.

It's very well said that you're like, we would have been mad about the other person. That's a really good call. And you're right, but I just think, this might make no sense, but I just think some are okay to be mad about. Here's the best example I can give you. This is a ridiculous sports crossover,

but I was talking about this watching a game with someone yesterday. A D-Linman jumped offside on a fourth down on fourth and one. Automatic first down. And I go, you can't do that. And they go, yeah, but you've got to be ready. Like you don't want them to just hike it and you're a half second delayed and they run it for a first down. And I go, yes, I do because I fucked up in both scenarios,

but I can live with this one. You know, and I think there's players that they fucked up on because they have two wagon teams that some I could have lived with more than others. For example, I think if you put Mark Shifley on this team, I'm glad you brought him. He's the last guy that I wanted to bring up because... This is my biggest one for Canada. There's a guy, when we get to USA, there's a guy who, in my opinion, is incredibly comparable to Mark Shifley's situation.

So if you go, hey, Chris, Mark Scheifle's on the team and Sorrelli is off. I go, fuck, I can't believe Anthony Sorrelli didn't make that team. He's worthy of that team. He was on four nations. He can do everything. He deserves to be on that team. But I can live with that, I think, more than I can live with Mark Schifley,

not making it this year right now in this moment in time. Yeah, it's so difficult. For example. Mark Schifley is top 10 in points in the NHL, 20 goals, 28 assists. Yep. He's on the worst team in the NHL, which is crazy to say about the Winnipeg Jets. Yeah. I always bring this up.

You just brought up Anthony Sorrelli. I do think something that people need to understand. I tried to say this when we did our roster predictions. Yeah. People want to bring up Connor Bardard all the time. There are guys, you need to remember, experience does matter. Absolutely. Big game situations do matter.

Stanley Cup playoffs, Stanley Cup finals. These things matter. Previous Olympics matter. Now, Mark Chifley does not have that, obviously. but when you're building a team like this, I absolutely do believe in the roster building and the situational set up. I do less.

And I respect that. But when I look at players and you see it around the league, when guys are on teams in a bad situation where they're not getting top line minutes, therefore they can't thrive or they can't do their job. There are guys like a Morgan Geeky, for example, who has been on various teams and he's been a role player,

middle six, bottom six, and then he gets on Boston in a good situation and he's like, I have a great scoring touch. And now he has what, fucking 26 goals? Yeah, I'm like, whoops. So when I looked at Connor Bardard, for example, I was like, the reason I didn't pick him and the reason I don't think he'll be on this team

and I think the reason he is not on this team is because there is no spot for him. Connor Bredard playing fourth line wing on this team helps no one. Yeah. And when I look at a Mark Shifley, who I picked to be on this team, I think the issue there is Anthony Sorrelli on this team, or a Sam Bennett, frankly, playing the role that he'll be playing is better than Mark Shifley playing that role. Because Mark Shifley is not getting first line minutes on this team.

He's not getting second line minutes on this team. So those are the ones where I'm like. like, fuck, okay, if you're a guy like him, you better be the biggest fucking locker room dude of all time. Now, I'm not saying he's not, but I'm saying maybe if he were a bigger locker room that these boys and the coaches were like, he needs to be in this room, he'd be on the team. So I go on this rant is to say you brought up a Anthony Sorrelli when talking about Shirelli, and I'm like, I don't think those guys are swapped. I think. Nick Suzuki makes this team over him.

I think a Bo Horvatt made this team over him. Like those are the guys that are like they got in over Shively, not Ant. Well, I also think, yeah, and I didn't mean it's exactly one for one, and I don't mean this one is exactly one for one either. But I think you can look at a Hegel and a Bennett type thing. And I know you had been like, Hegel was a lock on this team. I don't think he was. I think he was in a conversation.

I'll never know the conversation's happening in the Canadian War Room. But I think he was in the mix of a lot of these guys were named. and it is this matters this is life but it is funny to me that it's like cooper and armstrong take parenko and the tampa guys and like sam bennett gets left home and listen i i think that's so fair to bring up jesus christ but i don't know i'm gonna take this opportunity he's he's my fucking dude so like you can say call this biased i am so fucking sick of people sleeping on brandon oh it's insane the like the lack of respect his game it's fucking crazy dude and like when people bring up Brandon Hagle and they're like this, oh yeah, like he's a, he's kind of like a last, last type of guy

picked. I'm like, are you fucking nuts, dude? He had 90 points last year. He had 90 points last year, and he currently is a point per game guy. He has one goal less than 20 goals. Right. He's 19, I could have just said 19 goals, but it sounds cooler to say 20. Yeah. He has 19 goals in 36 fucking games. He is a top line player on the top team in the Atlantic Division. Brandon Hagle is fucking nasty. And like you had said before, it does everything. Yes. So I'm like, whatever. He does everything he fucking got. He started the fights with Matthew Kuchuk in that game. Like, are you crazy?

He is obviously on this team, and he's going to be huge in the Olympics. Are you ready to move on to Team USA? Yes, as long as you don't want to say anything about Devin Bouchard. No, it was the right decision. Yep. It's not even close. It was close. Of course, it's close.

He's a very good hockey team. Okay, Team USA, a lot to discuss here. Yep. Read the lineup. I'll read the lineup. Yeah. Matt Bulls. Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichael, Jake Gensel, Jack Hughes, Clayton-Larkin,

Austin Matthews, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson, Brady Kachuk, Matthew Kachuk, Vincent Trocheck. Defenseman, Brock Faber, Noah Hannafin, Quinn Hughes, Seth Jones, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Sanderson, Jacob Slavin, Zach Werenst, goaltenders, Connor Hellebuck, Jake Ottinger, Jeremy Swayman. I have two things quickly to say. One, I just want to go back to Canada. I love how we didn't even mention Macklin because it's so obviously that Maclin's... Oh, dude, yeah, yeah. Just to be clear, because I know a lot of sharks fans are listening, and they know that we love Mack. There's nothing to say because he is obviously...

It wasn't even surprising to me. I was like, yeah. I was a fucking absolute weapon. Okay. Who... Actually, my other thing that was going to be said is, we're not even going to talk about goalie in this section because that is... These are the only goalies.

They're the three goalies, and that is obvious. Who are you most happy for on this roster? Oh, okay. So I guess I was surprised, you mean? No, it can be not... It doesn't have to be a surprise. It can be like a, I thought they were going to make it,

and I'm just happy that they made it. Okay. Tage Thompson. I thought he, and he was, so people that don't know, at Four Nations, there were guys in attendance

for potential injury. Yeah. So you're like first alternate, you're Maverick, Ready, Five. Yeah. And Tage Thompson was that guy at Four Nations. He was there.

So that's why I think everybody was like, he's really close. I know he was really bummed to not get that experience. I think he deserved it then. I think he deserves it now, so I'm very pleased that he will be there. That's what I'm pumped about. I love that pick.

I think mine is, can I say two? Sure. Clayton Keller. Yep. And Seth Jones. Oh, yeah. I just think all the bullshit that Seth Jones has gotten throughout his career, people forgetting that he's a great player, and then being able to go to Florida, win a Stanley Cup,

show everyone how good he is, and now make this team is very special. I'm so happy for him. Especially put it this way, because he's a great player. because I would say Seth Jones and Noah Hanofin surprised me. Because I think I had, in my mind, it was like Faber. I know Quinn and Charlie for sure. And then Faber, Slavin, and Werensky were my five locks. So I was really with three spots to play with.

And we all had Jake Sanderson in. So it was really two spots. Seth Jones and Noah Hanofin surprised me. But when you look at my D snubs, just mine, it's Lane Hudson, who is like fourth in the league in points or something. but it's a similar deal to Schaefer, I would say, where skills a bit redundant. But people are Canadian fans for sure,

but I get being mad about that. I don't agree totally, but I get being like, are you insane? But I just think other people play, does he do his role? Correct. You just, yeah. I mean, to me, it's like you just,

you don't have room. I sound like such an old head, dude, but like, I need big defenseman. Yep. He's fucking five foot eight. Yep. He's got short, arms and a terrible gap and we saw it in playoffs like when you're up against very good competition

he didn't have a great playoffs now he was a rookie yeah but like but my point is yeah he is a rookie and yeah i have quin hughes on this team who is also not that big who is just as good if not better at running a power play and i have zack wrenski on this team who is big and great at defense and also great at running a power play there's just not room for more of that yeah and i would say the similar deal to Schaefer. Like they didn't take Schaefer, you know, maybe your time is coming. Do not worry at all. Jackson Lecombe is someone I had on, but I'm not, this is one where I'm like, that would have been sick, but I'm not shocked with the decisions. Like I have no issue with Seth Jones and Noah Hanofin, obviously. Adam Fox is the big surprise on the blue line. And it's, it's,

I feel, can I say it is a big surprise, but also I get it. And I'm not shocked. It wasn't a big surprise for me coming into the season. I said he won't, he shouldn't make it. And then he played so well this year that I was like, oh, they'll take him. And Garron, did you see Billy's point where he was like, we didn't make the decision based on one play because he was on the ice for the McDavid O.T. goal? But I was like, but you did make the decision based on one tournament, I think. He didn't say that. I'm just saying that's how. But that's fair.

Agree. I'm just saying he's like, it wasn't one play. And I was like, just say, though, he didn't play well in Four Nations. Like, that's why he didn't make the fucking team. I can't, I am utterly disgusted and shocked that you said that is the big surprise. On D. I was just doing a defenseman. Jesus Christ. Because there's insanity happening in forwards. Dude, we said with Team Canada,

every single person on Team Canada belongs on that team. I think that there are a few people on this team that I am utterly shocked by, and I am not in the business of calling guys out and going, you should not be on this team because I care about people. Sorry, everyone. If you want a hot take, you're not going to get it from me.

it is fucking lunacy that Jason Robertson is not on this team. I don't even know. It is Chris, it is utter lunacy that the guy who is ninth in the NHL in points, first amongst American players in points, and is seventh in the NHL in goals, first amongst American players, or a second amongst American players behind Matt Boldie in goals, and is not on this team.

is truly wild to me. Truly wild and I don't, I will never get it. It literally makes no sense. I'll never get it and guys in the league know better than I do, coaches, executives in the league no better than I do. However, man, I am so sick of this one-dimensional knock on him. Like people going out, he kind of does one thing and I'm like, okay. So pump in points?

Sick. Oh, he does one thing. He scores goals and gets points. Great. Sounds like someone you could fucking use. And I'm sorry, dude. We saw last year when Dallas went fucking night night against Edmonton

who was the only guy who kept scoring. The only guy who got them out of it. Well, hurt. It was Jason Robertson. And I'm like, you're telling me that a six foot three guy who is leading Americans in points is not valuable on this fucking team. And the amount of people were like, oh yeah, you need him to play D.

you need him to do this, that. And I'm like, dude, first of all, he's not bad 200 feet. I think he's actually a good 200 foot player, but more so than that, I'm like, someone else do that. Yeah. Like, this is a top two line guy. We need, yes, exactly, dude. That's the biggest thing.

I'm like, he's the guy. He's the goals core. And like, before we get into more of this, I am going to say, I mentioned earlier, we had conversations with guys in the, just the other day, with guys in the league right now, who are Canadian, talking about this roster? And they went, fucking great news for us. USA's roster is great news for us. That is something that was said by Canadian players.

And I'm like, dude, yes, agree. Like, it's just, I, there are more guys that we can get into. But I'm like, Jason Robertson not being on this team is fucking crazy to me. So, and I do want to stress here, I'm happy, you just name someone you were happy for, Clayton Keller. I'm also super happy with Clayton Keller. I'm happy for everyone that made this team. It's an amazing honor. So I'm truly not being like, I wish you were off the team.

but in all the previews from every outlet, Daily Faceoff, NHL, ESPN, looking at everything, Vinny Trochequechek was on a lot of them. J.T. Miller was on none of them. He had dropped off pretty much everyone's, because they would update every month. Preseason J.T. Miller was projected to be on. And then every month it was like, oh, he's a bubble,

and now he's off. And even Trochequechuk was kind of bouncing around. Trochick and J.T. Miller and Brock Nelson all making this team. And I said in our predictions, I give Brock Nelson a lot of flowers because I was mad about him making it last time and I said he deserves to be in the conversation this time.

I didn't pick him, but I was like he should be right there. And he obviously did make it. He's been great the last, you know, 20 games or whatever. Those guys all getting in and a guy like Clayton Keller, who, to your point, dude, what does he even list to that? 5-10. 5-10, yeah. And having the worst year of his career,

or not the worst year of his career, but the worst year since 2019, You know, and I just, I don't know how you look. Ropo gave an interview where he goes, I felt like I'd done enough to make this team. I don't know how you look him in the face. I don't know how you make that phone call. What's the fucking Netflix golf show, full swing? Full swing.

When they recorded Zach Johnson calling Keegan Bradley saying you didn't make the Rider Cup team, even though you completely deserve to be on there. I was like, man, this sucks so much. I wish so badly there was recorded call on a documentary to Jason Robinson. When they were like, hey, we're not taking you because we're taking Clayton Keller. who has 13 goals and 23 assists for 36 points in 42 games. I don't know how you look him in the fucking face and say that. And I'm not disrespecting Clayton Keller.

He's one of my favorite players in the league. And I'm so pumped for him to have this opportunity. But I'm like, this guy does what you want. This guy was going to play wing on this team. And Robo is doing that better. Yeah. So some of those decisions are baffling to me in a time when you felt like how much, how much shit was there when Kyle Connor wasn't playing in the gold medal game.

And you're like, we need goals. We need to put these guys on the ice. And I'm like, you're now leaving goal scores home. It says five of the top 10 American-born scorers in the NHL didn't make this team. Five of the top 10 were not picked. And I'm like, what, dude? What are we doing? Yeah.

That feels crazy. Like, who are those five? Literally goals scored. Points. Oh, points. scores. Yeah. Points in the league.

Five of the top ten. And who is that? That's going to be Robo. It's going to be, let's see. I would guess, Caulfield. Is he up there? Probably.

Oh, yeah. I wanted to say that too. People were so shook about Coffield and Age, but Coffield last year at Four Nation. I remember everybody being like, how could you leave that type of scoring at home? Yeah.

I want that rage for Robo. right now. It is, he has more goals. Baffling to me that anyone, and again, I love Cole Cofield. Anyone could be mad

about Cole Cofield right now when Jason Robertson's not there. I'm like, what in the fuck is happening? I wanted to read this to you, Dan, because, and everybody, I highly recommend Greg Wischinski

did an article on ESPN.com. The headline is grading the 2026 Olympic roster. So go Google that and go find it if it's not on the homepage anymore. He does break down to everybody. And then this is what he says,

I don't think you've read this yet, right? I want you to experience this in real time. This is what he says about finishing the USA roster. This roster was constructed to beat Canada, but not be Canada. And it's high time Team USA starts acting like it's just as talented as its rivals. It's the frustrating part about being an American hockey fan. The Miracle on Ice has red, white, and blue-pilled the brains of hockey executives for decades that heart, grit, and work rate are the fundamental difference between USA hockey

and the Canadians and the Russians to use two elite talent examples. For years, it was the blue. color aesthetic of the Americans trying to grit their way to another miracle. Some of this was due to a talent disparity with other hockey nations, but that's since been corrected, thanks to USA hockey's growth and the roots put down by NHL expansion. There was also a team construction mindset that Team USA needs rosters with veterans who humbly accept roles rather than young stars who might, emphasis on might, not be able to do so. And that's how you go nearly five decades without Olympic men's hockey gold.

Yeah. Pick the fucking good team, dude. Yeah. Pick the all-star team. Listen, I said earlier when we were talking about Canada, I do believe in building a roster. But I think I said, and if I didn't, I'm sorry, and I'm saying it now, to an extent. Yep. Because when I look at what you just mentioned, that stat, the five of the top 10, Jason Robertson, eight in the NHL in points, not on the team.

Scroll down just a little bit. You get to, sorry, sorry, Lane Hudson, 30th in the NHL as a defenseman, not on the team. Alex De Brinkett, 31st in the NHL. Not on the team. Cole Coughfield, 35th in the NHL. Not on the team. Trevor Zegris, 36 in the NHL. Not on the team.

Troy Terry, 37th in the NHL. Not on the team. 39th. Cudder Gotee in the NHL. 39th in the NHL, not on the team. And on and on it. Matthew 9th, 45th in the NHL, not on the team. On and on it goes.

And I do believe, when we're talking about roster construction for the Olympics, and we're talking about top 50 players in the NHL, and there are that many USA guys that don't make this team. It's a little tough. And, you know, we talk about it, right? What is it? 24 guys make this team? Or 25?

22 skaters, three goals, I think, yeah. You can't take everybody, obviously. I get it. But, you know. But take the good guys. It's, I wanted to say this, Dan, too. It's just tough, Chris. Like, you, you know, there are interesting elements like Jack Hughes and the Cucch

Brothers, significant injuries this year. That's going to keep them off of that top 50 list. And those are guys specifically the Cucch boys that I'm like, no questions asked. Obviously, they are on this team. There are other guys. Again, when you look at it from the perspective of what we said is like, did you do enough to make this team? All those guys we just listed. I think that they, not naming any names,

look at a few guys on this roster and go, how the fuck are they on there over me? Yes. And I think it's fair. I would love, would love to talk to them in private and be like, how do you feel right now and tell me the fucking truth and name names? Because they would have an opinion.

It's also one of those tough things, Chris, where it's like, this is not something you can hold a grudge against. Oh, yeah, of course. You grow up praying and hoping every day, that you can have the honor to put on this USA sweater again, because a lot of these guys played World Junior, if not all of them. And when this happens, you want to be like, fuck you, but you can't. So it's just such a brutal situation.

This is the last thing I want to say about it, and I was trying to find this clip. I'll do another dive. It's either our Four Nations predictions or our Four Nations something while it was happening. I made a comment to you that I think you agree with, but it occurred to me in real time that, the four nations experience had a level of importance that I didn't anticipate in exactly this, which is if you make that roster and then you go and you compete together and you start building

that bond up that has been missing for 12 years, or I guess it was 11 years then, you know, if you start building that national team bond that have been missing for a decade, all of a sudden you are part of that group. and it is hard to unseat you in a weird way that I think people weren't expecting. Because they were like, oh, this is just this trial four nation tournament round robin. Olympics will be, you know, this whole thing and then we're back. And I think it really shone through with America more than Canada, a Canada a little bit, but it really came through with this American team

because Bill Guerin made a point that he said, we picked for chemistry. And I go, I go, okay, then that chemistry, quite literally, you only mean Four Nations. So, Vinnie Trocheck, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, like, these guys are making the team because they were on the team. Yes. And that is really fair or unfair. Because, like, because, you know, why didn't you make the team last year then? Cat or Tage or what, you know what I mean? Tage made it this time. Yeah, no. Coal. Whatever. Robo. Robo had a bad. Robo had a worse year last year. He ended up being completely fine, but he wasn't playing that well last year. Didn't make it. It's almost like you didn't make this Olympic team because of last year.

And I, like, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was like, oh, that's what's happening right now. This is going to be hard to break into this group now that they've bonded. And now it just gets worse. Now, now, Robo, you've missed an Olympics. So then in two years when they do a World Cup of hockey, they're probably like, let's just keep, let's keep the boys. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Let's keep Clayton Keller. He was here for the Olympics. You know, and I'm like, now you're all of a sudden you're fucked and you're in quicksand, which sucks. Yeah. So, yeah, kind of crazy. No, it's fucking brutal. I, you know, I don't think there's anything more to say,

unless you have any more thoughts. but go USA I will say yeah go USA listen we're Americans we're rooting for a USA I I do not feel nearly as confident as I think that we could feel and I think that that's a huge mistake great closing point because I was coming into this for fucking gold dude I was coming for butts yeah and now I'm worried um I do quickly I just want to breeze over again there's other great rosters but um team Sweden yep forwards yes per Brat Carlson, Joel Erick, Philip Forsberg, Pontus Holmberg, Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Landisog, Elias Lindholm, Elias Pedersen, Rickel. By the way, Rickelekel is so good. I know, it's actually crazy.

We'll just like forget him. Lucas Raymond, Alecena Zabanajad, on D. Rasmus Andersen, Phyllis Andersen, Phyllis Dahlin, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Gustavorez, Viktor Hedman, Erich Carlson, and Inette, Philip Gustafson, Jacob Markstrom, and Ypresley Wollstead. Great team. Great team of the Wall of St. Paul. Yeah, special. Absolutely fires me up.

You kind of reacted to it. Pontus Holmberg, awesome. And Wollstead, awesome. I do think there are a few snubs here. Okay. I think Mikhail Backland is a little older. He only has 15 points in 40 games, but he felt like he was going to be like a vet guy

that they definitely brought. The Matias Eckholm, not getting in, and Broberg, getting in for a lot of Edmonton fans, I feel like was a dagger. But I'm here to say spin zone, this is good. You want Echholm to not be playing the tournament. Yeah, agree. I could have seen Emil Heineman getting on the team with how fucking electric he has been for the Islanders.

I also think Mojo, dude, is just so fucking good for the wild right now. He's got 32 points and 39 games. I'm like, wow, shock he didn't make it. And then I am actually a little bit blown away that Hampusland home is not on this team. Yeah, especially with the year. I just, he's just back, dude. He eats minutes. He was injured for Four Nations last year, so he didn't make it.

And I'm like, I really think he belongs on this team. But all that to say, fucking good team. Great team. Really, really good team. And then not as many Finns, but Joel Armia, Sebastian Ajo, Mikhail Gr, Randlin, Eric Hala, Rupa Hens, Capulcoco, Oliver Cappanin, Joel Kiviranta, Arturie Lekinen, Anton Lundel, Aitutlustorin, Miko-Rentinen, and then on D, Hayskinin, Yokiharyu, S. Lindel, Olimata, Nicholas Martin Paolo, I always feel, no, I think I got it, right.

Nico Mikola and Rasmus Ristalainen, as well as Miko Leiton. team is also very good. Surprise Matisse-Michelli didn't make it. Yeah. And the Finns always actually impress me in gameplay. Like I always go into these tournaments saying that they're a half-step below, but they are dangerous. Yeah, no doubt.

That's it. That's our Olympic roster breakdown chat. Let's take an ad break. Let's take an ad break. I'm just still reeling about Robo. It's insane, dude. It's absolutely ridiculous. Guys, the Winter Classic has happened, which

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Enjoy the new player offers and enjoy the odds boost token. Use BenMGM. Use that promo code because it is legendary. We are back. We just broke down some Olympic rosters and we actually got asked a question at the meet and greet at the bar, the bright side. Shout out the bright side. Oh my God. Unbelievable bar. That was sick, dude. I didn't realize it was like hockey dapped up. Yeah, we talked to the owners, incredible people. They say they camellian a little bit.

Yeah. So it's like that day was hockey day. Yeah. So they go all in. They do it for Premier League. They do it for college football. Yeah, yeah. American football.

But like, they know what they're doing. Like they're hockey people. Shuttle us to the rink. And dude, oh my God. Like downtown Miami or South Miami was sick. So anyway, incredible barber, some fans asked us, because the Olympic rosters was the hot topic. Everybody was debating and had their takes and whatever.

And of course, always the Russian roster comes up. Like, look how good could they be. And they are- We might need to do that next episode. We might need to, like, build the... You know what was funny, though? Sorry. What?

They don't have centers in the league. Dude, okay, so they're not that good. They have elite top talent. It's crazy. But when you look at the whole roster, I want everyone to pump the brakes a little bit. Like, if Gennie Malkin is probably first-line center on the team. Like it's him or Demit.

So they're not that good, but where they are that good is goalie. And everyone was like, what three would you take? And you're talking Bob, Vassi, Sorokin, Shesti. I think we agree. But if you were building the Russian team right now, and I said, you get three goalies. And here are their numbers so far this year. Bob 284-885, Vassi, 236, 911, Sorokin 255, 910, Shesti, 2-5-910,

Shesty 247-9-1-2. Three goalies. Yeah, we're agreeing that Shosturk and Bob and Vassi are the obvious goalies on the team. Do you think it's obvious? Yes. Sorokin does not make this team. Because his numbers are way better than Bob. It doesn't matter.

He just take Bob because he's won two cups and he's a dog. Yes. Yep. Sorokin is unbelievable. He does not make this team. Could you take him over Shesti? No. Shosti's starting.

Chesty's the best goal. Vassie's starting. For sure. How can you possibly say Vasi... I don't give a fuck, dude. You're doing that just because he has two cups. You know who also has two cups are more recently Bob. Like, if you're going to do that, Bob is starting...

It could be Bob. I might start Bob. I think Shisterkin is, like, if you want to play the numbers game, like the only reason that the New York Rangers aren't in dead last place in the NHL is because of him. That's correct. They actually kind of like are, aren't they? He is fucking incredible.

So Sorokin gets left home, but he's... He's an incredible talent. I think you're probably right, but I also think people sleep on Sorokin a little bit. I'm not sure he's... Yeah, he's amazing. I'm not sure he's not... Like, who do you think of the best goalies in the league?

Right now, who are the best goalies in the league? The best goalies in the league are Igor Shasturkin. Well, those four Russians. Yeah. I'm not saying in order, but I'm saying those four Russians. Logan Thompson. L.T. Connor Hellbuck, Jeremy Sway.

Americans. Spencer Knight is up there for me. Wall of St. Paul. Yeah, fucking Wallstead for sure. And maybe Knight. Are not forgetting anybody big? Definitely. We're forgetting tons of people big.

But I'm saying top ten, like, are those the top ten goalies? Maybe. Brandon Bussy number one. One. Bussy won. But I'm saying Seroke, like those Russians could be like in the top six. Oh, dude. I'm like, oh shit, dude.

I mean, like we got to mention both the woods. Like the, actually fair, fair. Both the woods are incredible. I also think Gru Bauer is disgusting. I also think... Eula Kemper. I love Darcy Kemper, absolutely. But Sorokin's way up there, dude.

And I think I sleep on him a little bit. Yeah, for sure. But you've got to go, Bob. You've got to go, Bob. You've got to go, Bob. Okay, World Juniors, Dan. Yeah, let's just do a quick touch base on the disaster. That is World Juniors.

Yep. USA eliminated by the Finns in the quarterfinal. No medals. And then for the third. straight year, Canada, eliminated by Chequia. Oh, it's been the Czechs every year. I didn't even realize that. Wow, that's funny.

Fucking dicked down. So, yeah. Sweden Chequia final. Which is going to be a great game. Sweden has looked like the best team in this tournament. I agree completely. But with the Czechs hot on their heels because they gave Canada a hell of a game in the round robin that they lost.

And this one was a hell of a game, too. A slugfest back and forth. crazy last three minutes. Our boy, Port-a-Martone, ties the game with, like, two and a half minutes left, and then, and then the Czechs get two more to win it. And the Sweden-Finland game was amazing, as those games always are. Finland late tie, Sweden wins in a shootout. I kind of wish the World Juniors was continuous OT.

Oh, I hear that. Just like, because do it three on three, even. Like, just go, you know? Because, like, the shootout is, I guess you get epic moments, you know, Troy Terry moment, moment doing this OSHA thing. but I just, I kind of like the O.T. winner. But we got the games tonight. Yep.

Yeah, it's going to about Canada, Finland is going to tip off imminently. Yeah. Canada, weirdly, obviously they've lost, they can't win gold again, but I weirdly think they need to get this medal. Like, if they go no metal again, I'm like, bro. Honestly, I don't think it matters. Like, if you're just too fast. Like, they're going to be like, we got the bronze.

Like, no. I'd almost rather just get no medals and just, like, realize that you are a disaster. But, dude, it's going to be a great game. Sweden, Czechia is going to be a great game. I'm obviously pulling for Sweden. Yep. But it's going to be awesome.

No, they were the two best teams. I'm pumped for them. USA, it's harsh to be like disaster because you lost to Finland who's very good. But just you had to win that game. You had to win that game. You were up and then you went down and then USA tied it late.

But still, you've just got to find a way to bring that home on home ice. That was a stacked roster. Chaos. Biz gave a great rant on his thing about the state of Canadian hockey, which I highly recommend people go watch on IG because it has become,

the youth system has become about the money. In our country too, but it's actually sad because you want to keep building that. But anyway, sick tournament. I'm pumped to watch the game tonight. Yeah, it's going to be awesome. Let's do a quick rundown. Netters College puck drop.

Yep. Still, we're in a bit of a break over the holidays, but we got some games over the weekend. Yeah, they picked up slightly. There was a fair amount of games, but not a ton, not a full slate, so next week we'll tackle it when they are all the way back. Some games of note that happened over Christmas

on December 29th, Western Michigan, went to Wisconsin and beat them 4-1. And, dude, we were all on the Wisconsin train. Oh, yeah. But you've also been big on Western Michigan being like, people sleep in. Yeah, yeah. So that's a fucking huge win.

And then this past weekend, Maine went to Denver, beat them 5'2 Friday, tied 3-3 Saturday. Unbelievable split for Maine. Like, that is a great result. Yep. Fantastic. Games to look forward to this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Western Michigan currently ranked 7 at Denver,

currently ranked 6. Yep. Those will be fantastic. I'm excited. Those are my boys. Those are two great teams. Yeah, I have both of them being in the mix late. All right.

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and getting your game to the next level. So make sure you go to Bauer.com, check it all out and get yourself fitted up. Welcome back to the show, and I'm actually sad, Sean's out here because we have the much anticipated conclusion. Oh, damn, we're finishing. We finished.

We have finished pucked. Many forget that this is how this all started for us. Damn. We have finished pucked, and, I was so invested. I know you, I got you there too.

And it's, it's wonderful. It's wonderful. And I actually can't believe, dude, that there are seven of these now that I know where we end. Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay, so as you'll recall, Alex had publicly said, he's just friends with Violet because of an endorsement from his agent who was like, you're the most eligible bachelor. Yeah. And Violet freaks out.

there, like Alex is in the middle of the playoffs, and then he gives a magazine interview where he's like, I love, I love Violet, and it's all that I think about and all that I care about. And that's like where, right where we leave off. Like he comes to her house and her neighbor's like, go away, dude, she doesn't want to talk to you, but that's where we want. So, Dan, there were only two chapters left in the book. And then, well, I'll just go in order. Basically, she, people, the article comes out. And everybody's like, you've got to, you've got to read this. like, oh my God. And then she, like, and he sends her a clip of it.

So, like, she sees and hears and reads that he's like, I love her publicly. Then they go to, it's a game six of the finals. And they go, she goes to the game. They win the cup. And Alex scores the OT winner to win the cup. And then she, like, goes down to the locker room because, like, remember her friends, like, dating the other Hawks teammate all this shit? It's like, they go down to the locker room. And he's like, oh, you're here.

He saw her when he's on the ice, he's like, you're here. and it's like all she thinks about. And they go, like, they go party together, and they're hooking up. And, like, things are all as well in the world. You know, she's like, I love you, but, like, now you hurt my feelings. Don't ever do that again.

Yeah, we're good. I could never hurt your feelings again. We won the cup. Yeah. Chicago won the cup. Dude, Chicago wins the cup. He is the captain, scores the O.T. winner. And, like, everything is amazing.

And she's like, you know, there's a- buck. Did he assist him? Yeah, no, but her friend Charlene's boyfriend, did assist on it. I love how everyone's just dating everyone. Dude, it's a ridiculous play description. Dan, it's like Alex comes down the ice.

He passes back to Buck and then sneaks all the way around the net to the other post. And then Buck passes it back. They didn't even see him. Backdoor tap in. Come on. So then it's like, okay, now they're dating, you know, and it's like all good. And they are hanging out. I think they go, they actually go to a cottage.

He's like, I want to take you to the cottage. I swear to God. They go to the cottage. Oh, no. Then, dude, so I finish. And it's like, you know, we love each other. Yeah. And then it says epilogue. And I'm like, wow, epilogue. So I read the epilogue. And in that, he's like, they're going on a trip, I think. And he's like, yeah, let's go on this trip. And then he's like, I'm packing my bag. I pack this. I got to get to the airport. Right before we leave for the airport, I just check to make sure the Tiffany box is in my bag, dude. We got a ring. Okay, Dan, we got a ring. So, epilogue, we're getting married. And I'm like, wow, perfect conclusion, proposal accepted, amazing.

Exclusive bonus content. You're fucking kidding me. We're doing a Marvel ending here. Extended epilogue. A puck extended epilock. I was like, oh my God. Dude, Iron Man will return in the puck extended epilogue. So that dude, he goes, he did.

Dude, I was actually kind of let out a little bit because he teaches her to skate. He rents out a rink and he's like, I want to teach you to skate. That's the extended epilogue. That is it? That's all that happens? Well, I mean, obviously they get into some shit, which I'll tell you about. But it's extended epilogue. And then he's like, okay, this is great.

And then this is the end, dude. He carries her down the hall to the locker. And it says, every day with Violet is an adventure. She is my cue on a triple word score. You remember that. She's my cue on a triple word score. My favorite person and my future wife. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my days.

loving her. And I'm like, it's incredible. There are six more books. I'm like, what, what happens, dude? Is it not them? I'm skewed. I'm starting to realize that these romance hockey smart books might just be vignettes of lovely life together. Yeah. And then it's like, new, new couple. Yeah. Because I'm like, there's no way there's more about them. Okay, so here are the highlights from this. So, okay, this one, this is her still pissed, right? Like she hasn't, they haven't recouped. And she's like, I haven't seen him for weeks. And I was kind of rattled because she wrote, she's been trying to see you for weeks. And I'm like, so the cup would be over. Like, we've had all our heated rivalry time jumps that I'm

like, no one has any clue. We're not talking about timelines. No one has any clue. So, uh, some, this dude is here, a guy who used to deliver all of Alex's gifts to her. So he like sees out all the time. His name's Fred. He sees her at a bar. So he comes up and he's like kind of hitting on her. And he goes, Fred. Yeah, I'm like, bro. Dude. He goes, so I read you and the hockey player aren't a couple or anything. He kicks the leg of my chair. The hockey player? He wasn't like working for Alex. He was just like a random. No, he's like works for FedEx. He's the FedEx guy. I'm serious. He kicks the leg of my chair while he stares at the top of the table. It's all anyone asks me about these days. I'm sick of it and I'm

sick of missing Alex. Nope. Looks like we're just friends even though I've had his dick in my mouth. Oh. To the FedEx guy. Good God woman. Dude, do you remember that movie The Holiday? Yeah. Do you remember the opening scene when he like, Like the dude doesn't get presents for the girl. Like the dude that she gets it. And he's like, I didn't get you presents. I don't, I didn't think we, we knew each other well enough yet. And she goes, you know me well enough to come in my mouth.

Yeah. Dude. Jesus great. Well, you know what, man? You're heartbroken. Some guys hitting on you when you don't want that to be happening. Yeah, fucking just say what's on your mind. Okay.

This is a Helena bag work with her metaphors. Hell, you. Remember these? Dude, so she gets, she gets back to her apartment. Alex has been there because there's like a gift waiting and Miss Bullock is her neighbor who always, who's like her older neighbor who always sees like Alex was here. It says, Miss Bullock must have been waiting for me to get home because she pokes her head out the door, cigarette dangling from her lips like a semi-flaccid burning penis. Why, why ever?

Why ever? Can you imagine walking up to someone who's smoking a cigarette and going like, just going, it looks like you got a semi-flacid burning dick in your mouth. That is crazy work, Helena. First of all, I like the inclusion. There's two things I love in there. Semi-flaccid, great. And then burning. But why?

Didn't need it. Didn't need it. I feel like a cigarette is holding its shape, dude. Like a cigarette is it semi-flaccid at all? It's not kind of floppy. It's a rock-hard small, it's a rock-hard microbeast. Yeah, it's probably hard. There's no droop to that cigarette.

Cigarette dangling from her lips like a semi-flacid burning people. is and you're right that's truly bad work helena hunting knows that you are reading that and it's like good god oh i lost it dude and why is it burning have you ever seen a burning dick before oh that is insane dude um okay oh yeah so she reads the article and says finds out that he loves her she goes to bed takes a nap it says i have the weirdest i have the weirdest dreams ever Alex's monster cock is a superhero he saves me from a giant boob ball that's rolling through a streets and crushing people. Super,

super penis has googly eyes and he talks out of the cum hole. Balls are his feet and he wears a red cape with M.C. A place on it. And he has a little mustache and a French accent. Talks out of the cum hole is so beautiful. I, I, the calling that you're through the cum hole is just incredible work. But also,

I love Helena so much for how often she goes so R-rated and then so PG. Like the monster cock into like boob ball is just it's just so fucking funny.

Okay that fucking killed me. All right. So then we're fucking we're in it dude and they're going to the game. Oh yeah. So dude they win the cup,

Dan. And it says they go down to the locker room. She's down there and he's like and they kiss dude. But then you know because they have a mini apology but she's like we need a conversation.

Like I need to talk to him still. Yeah. So then it says, says an hour into the party. This is the cup. They're in the locker. An hour into the party, Alex switches to water and stops accepting drinks. I follow suit, aware we should be sober for our inevitable talk. He just won the fucking cop. No, I have zero issue with this. I have zero issue with this. Love, dude. That is a, I have zero issue with this. That is a tragedy. Dude, I could not fucking believe that. Zero issue. Um, okay, this is more,

this isn't as good, but this is bag work. He's apologizing for million things. I'm sorry for this, for this, for this. And she says, uh, it's a decent list. I want so badly to forgive him and move on, but he ripped my heart out and high-sticked it into the dumpster. I'm like, incredible. Incredible. High-sticked it. I sticked it right into the dumpster. That's what you do with the high stick. Yeah. Why? Why not just shot it? Dude, he took a slap shot. He high-sticked it into the dumpster. Um, okay. Oh, yeah, This is just insane. They're home.

They're hooking. He leaves. He leaves the team and just takes her home, which is like so brutal. And she's like, you won the cup tonight. And he's like, yeah, yeah, we did. And she goes, you scored the winning goal. I rub my hands over his shoulders and down his back. He goes, does that make you hot?

His eyes light up in the most devilish way. Everything about you makes me hot. Watching you play makes me so wet. I brought extra panties so I could change between innings. And then he says they're called periods. Okay. Thank God. If I called periods in hockey,

innings are for baseball. Alex sits back on his knees and pops the button on my pants. I know that. I said it to see if he's paying attention. And I'm like, what? Weird time to shit test him, but all right.

Okay. The fuck is going on. Okay. He won the cup an hour ago. You've taken him out of the party. And now you're like innings quizzing him. Yeah. Crying on him.

Okay. So then now it's like, they've won the cup. All is well. They're dating. You'll just love this. Since he lost his eligible bachelor thing, he was like,

I'm not going to get any endorsements. but his public declaration. Oh, oh. Imagine being the captain. Hold on, time out. Imagine being the captain of the Stanley Cup winning team and being worried about not being a bachelor for endorsement reasons. I think we're going to be okay.

So I forgot to tell you this to it. And keep in mind, this came out in like 2008, right? Alex is on the ice and the microphone gets put in his face. How does it feel the score of the winning goal? It feels good to come through for my team on such an important night. We work together to make it happen. I'm proud of my teammates for bringing the cup home. And then he scans the crowd and then grabs the mic and says, I need to say one more thing.

Violet Hall, I'm an idiot for not saying this sooner. I'm in love with you. On the ice at the cup into the mic. Incredible. So because of that, he gets way more endorsements. And Violet says, my personal favorite is his endorsement for Trojan condoms, magnums. And I'm like, dude. There's a guy in the league.

It's just like the magnum, dude. Could you imagine the face of magnum, Trojan condoms? Dude, his monster cock is literally a superhero. So then here, at her place, the neighbor's playing music and it's pissing them off and the neighbor has a crush on Violet. So Alex is like, I want to fuck you against the wall so he can hear. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Alex wants to fuck Violet against the wall of her apartment because her neighbor who joins the wall has a crush on her and is playing loud music. And Alex is annoyed.

Okay. So this is first bag work, then funny. she goes she you know he pulls out his monster cock and it says listen to this listen to this line

I'm naked in a flash my clothes literally incinerate off my body thanks to Alex's smoldering gaze not really like oh I'm sorry thank you the not really there is

I mean the inclusion of literally was a choice are we implying that actually they catch fire So then, dude, he's going. He's pounding, okay?

And then it says, when he finally comes, he leaves a dent in the drywall with the side of his fist. Oh, I thought she was about to imply that the rope he shot dented the drywall. When he finally comes, he leaves a dent in the drywall with the side of his fist. I can't stand on my own after. He sets me down. At first, he's worried he hurt me. And then he realizes he's fucked me until I can't walk again. Good.

I'm like, yes, dude. Okay, so Dan, then we get to the epilogue, right? I don't think people understand how graphic these books are. Yeah, book done, everyone's in love. You know, they're like, you're my favorite thing in the world. They go to the car, to the airport. And the last epilogs are Alex chapters. And he goes, she's like, she's talking about, you know, hooking up.

And you go, see what you've done? I motion to my crotch. I'm sure we can work it out. Violet lowers the books taunting me. This is Alex. Boobes are the best thing ever created. Here, here. Then he goes,

man, every time Helena says boobs, it makes me grow up. Boobobs are such a funny word. Boobies. I love boobies. He gets, she agrees to give him roadhead on the way to the airport. Okay. And I just thought this was great. He says, once we're on the road,

Violet fiddles with the radio, ducks under her seatbelt, and follows through with her problem-solving strategy. I recline the seat to give her more room, to do her thing. She's considerate enough to put her hair in a ponytail so I can see what she's doing while she's doing it. Keep your eyes in the road! Jesus Christ!

Good God, Alex. Okay, hell yeah, this is him too. She's like, is there indoor plumbing at the cottage? And then it says, she grumbles something about it not being funny as she searches in her bag, producing a lip balm, she slathers it on liberally, making them glisten. It reminds me of what they look like when she pops off my dick.

I'm like, dude, you're driving. Good Lord. So, Dan, then at the cottage, Alex takes a nap, and she dresses his dick up in a cape with googly eyes while he's asleep. And then he wakes up and he's like, what the fuck? And he's got like a French mustache on it and all the shape. Yeah, and then she starts to stroke him. Get it? And then.

Like a weebee? Oh, really good, Dan. She starts to stroke him and he gets, starts getting hard. And she's tied the cape too tight. Oh, so it's now strangling monster. Dude, they have a fight. He's like, you almost, like, cut circulation off to my dick. And she's like, I thought I tied elusion.

Yeah. And she has to get scissors. And he's like, get those scissors away from me. I'll do it. And, like, she's like, I'm sorry. I thought Velcro would have chafed. And, like, they have, like, a big fight about, almost strangling monster cock. Yeah.

Yeah. And I'm like, okay. So then this is just Alex being, like, I love how Alex is so fucking blunt. He goes, he's getting ready for the proposal. And he goes, I got a prep. And he goes, no problem. Dinner is covered. there's a salad in the fridge.

All I have to do is put the steak and potatoes on the barbecue. Afterward, we can have dessert on the dock. I'll ask her to be my wife while we watch the sun go down. The mosquitoes better keep the fuck away. I'm like, go, dude, calm down. There's just no need for that in this moment of the book. Why? Okay, so dude, then they start hooking up on the bed.

It's like they're going to nap pre-dinner. And she pulls out her boobs, and she's like, do you want to fuck? do you want to fuck these? And it says, Violet leans over the nightstand where we keep the lube for such occasions, which are admittedly frequent.

The curtains are drawn making it difficult to see. She rummages around in the drawer for a few seconds. Damn it, this isn't lube. She sits up turning the package in her hands. What is this? It's at that very moment

I realize what it is. The engagement rate. Oh! Stop it. This is actually sick. This is actually like a good story. Stop it. This isn't part of the place.

I don't intend to ask her to be my wife prior to a tit fuck. Oh, Jesus. So then he does, dude. Like, there's no, she finds it. Gotta pop the question. That's it, dude. She finds it.

Nightmare. And then I think I have one in the exam. Okay. Yeah. Let's do it here. They're on the ice. He's teaching her to skate. And it says, she's like, I can't do this.

And he says that, they'll have a locker room quickie then we can go home have more sex and for every minute she's out on the ice learning he'll spend double that time with his face between those pretty thighs lovely it's a lovely she says you're playing dirty alex and he says how many times do you think I can make you come with my mouth what's our record what is it six or wait was it lucky seven we could beat it today all you have to do is get on the ice with me i nuzzle into her neck and bite the edge of her jaw and when you're boneless and you think I can't ring another orgasm out of that sweet little pussy of yours how fuck you until you're screaming my name you're teaching her to skis

fucking settle down you're fucking seven heavens man when you're boneless calm down the last one of fucked ever i just i just loved this thing we'd have to fucking wrap this up was he's talking about he's he now has to owe her that And he goes, thanks for, thanks for learning. And she said the promise of face to pussy resuscitation was a strong motivator. I was like, wow. That's what I'll be calling it from now on. Thank you very much.

And that is pucked. That is pucked. Wow. Now a journey. Either puck two or something else. We'll see. Yeah. We'll see for sure.

Listen, that was a journey. I don't even know where to go from here. We've got to wrap this up. with a Beer League Hotline. Yeah, for sure. Blind ranking, and then we'll get out of here if we can possibly calm down. So Sean is not here, so we have brought back in the OG. Wow.

Anti-Netters producer, our dear sweet friend, Emily. Yay, I missed you guys. Same. Are you ready to do a Beer League Hotline? I'm so ready to do a Beer League Hotline, and I'm so honored that you asked me to do a Beer League Hotline while you guys are hot and celebs. I'm just, I'm just, you know, I've been here since day one, so don't forget that.

When I try to clout grab off, you guys, don't forget that I have been here since day one. And we might need Emily for the intro to hockey video. That's true. Oh, yes. She might be a key player in that series. Emily would, I can't think of anyone better. Agree. Okay.

I'll come up with all the questions and non-ansors for you. Hit us with this beer league hotline. Hockey has been so much fun. I played in high school. found a men's league team when I became a corporate 9 to 5 guy. Made some amazing friends, but I'm older now. Not that good anymore. And I have a couple kids, so I'm really low on time.

I'm not interested in dropping down leagues and finding a new team. It's just time to stop. But I really don't want anyone to make a big deal about it, and my team would. How do I retire gracefully without anyone noticing? This is the worst idea you've ever had in your entire life. Because now everyone knows that what you mean? No. I'm putting it on this.

That, but more so, you cannot retire. Stay as long as you can. Do not retire, man. Dude, I'll tell you what. There are a couple people on our team, and I don't want to call them out on this, but there are a couple people on our team that I feel like are doing this right now. Don't you dare retire. I also get you don't want to drop down, league.

You have to find a whole new group. That's where I connected the most. I can't imagine that you're hurting the team. So just stick it out. But I'll tell you this, when you retire and you realize that you want to get back into it, it's so much harder. Yeah, you can. No, you can't. You're out.

It's so much harder. So don't even open that door, shut that door and stay on this team with your friends. But you think there's a time when you get bad enough that you should stop, right? Yeah, but even then you've got senior leagues. Well, that's a new team. I kind of get being like, I don't want to find out of new team. I don't care. The fastest route to friends is beer league hockey. Yeah.

I know. Listen, I will, you will be, I will be carded off the rink. Yes. I will die on the ice. I will be playing in an 80s plus league. If I, by some grace of God, I make it that old. But you can't retire. I'll be getting Putin's league.

It'll just cruise around. It'll be amazing. You can't, you cannot retire. If you really feel like you need to drop down a league, do that. because I don't care. He says he doesn't want to do that. You have to give him another option. And he's worried.

He's worried that he doesn't have the free time. He's worried about maybe meeting new friends. The second you leave this and you realize it's gone, you will never be more miserable in your entire life. Yeah. Think about your family. Think about your family. You're worried about not spending enough time with them.

How about when you are a miserable wreck every day at home? And now you're mean to your kids because you realize that the thing making you happiest in this life is gone. Think about your family. You can't do this to them. The wife's probably like, get out of the house. Yeah. I want you gone. Fuck you. You're quitting. Dude, join another league. You can't do this. Are you required to play when you're in a league like a certain amount of times? No. Yeah, no. Sometimes there's playoff. M. Like they're like, you have to have played five games to qualify for playoffs. Yeah. But like, are you, do people look down on you when you're, when you don't show up that much? Yes. If you are on the

team well it depends if you have a team that has a lot of players and you're not struggling for bodies if you don't come every now and then that's fine but if you're not showing up and now the team's that's always a huge bummer it's like the friday of your softball team exactly like that exactly which i will be fucking retiring from yep how are you going to do it how are you going to quietly quit well i don't get i just don't care what people think so i'm just going to get out of there and be like i fucking quit bitches yeah the reason i did it was for exercise and i didn't realize you don't exercise when you play softball but you just you do when you play hockey and therefore this man needs to be and stay in shape, what is he going to do for exercise now?

You're exercising regardless. Yes. Yes. M. Go off. You might as well do it in a healthy environment where you already know how to play the sport. Yep.

It doesn't matter if you're not as good. Your presence is what matters. Also, not to mention, Beer League hockey's out like 10 p.m. Your kids are in bed. You start going to the gym now. You're going in the middle of the day. That's actually losing time with your kids. You got to say health.

You gotta keep working out. You cannot retire. I don't want to give advice on how to retire. Yeah, because if I must. Because that is what Beer League Hotline is about. And we got to ask the question, you just play out the season. And then when the email comes in for the new season, you just send a quick picture of someone walking into the sunset and say, last year was it, boys. I don't need to return.

I love it. See you when I see you. Yeah. Or you could like fake an injury. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. I'm hurt. No. I think you, I think you got to.

Because I feel like that's essentially Irish exiting. Yeah. And we're not Irish exiting in 2026. Yeah, we Canadian goodbye. Yeah, you say sorry. Just say sorry. Sorry. Yeah.

Okay, now it's time for a Bauer hockey blind ranking. Bauer brings us our favorite things in hockey every day of the week from helmets to skates, the gloves, and especially the Bauer Pulse, which is literally my favorite stick of all time. I am going to be sad when they someday make a new stick that I'll be like, well, I still want the pulse because it's the goat. And today, we are blind ranking. MVP candidates at the halfway mark. Ooh, I like it. And Dan, I don't think it should be like how good they are.

No, it's who we think should be MVP. Like worthy of MVP. Yep. Okay, Emily, take it away. First name. First name. We're going to have to go with our boy, Jack Eichel. Ooh.

Very good. Very good. I might go, God, he would have been, he's an interesting one if they had been playing better. I know. because I thought they were just, and they're in first place, so it's not they're playing bad, but they are, like, if they were a wagon right now, him and Marner, I was ready to be like, this could be Jack's MVP season.

Yeah, and he is the MVP of that team. For sure. 42 points, like 33 games. Yep. But he has 30 some odd points less than the guys at the top, so we can't go that high. I'm like in, I'm like in four here. How about, you just missed some time? Yeah, how about four?

I'm okay with four. I'm okay with four. Yeah. Okay. am who we got. All right. Next, we're going to go dry-sidal. I could maybe go five. What? I could maybe go five here. They're, they're worse than the knights, and he's not the best player on the nights. Like, they're behind the knights in the standings, and he's not the best player on his team. And Ikel is ahead of him in the standings,

and the best player at his team. Leon's got so many more points. Yep. How many points do you have? 57. But he's got, he's got nine more games. Yep. So I'm kind of like, what are we talking about here? You're asking me to disrespect a man that I absolutely love. Me too, but it's only to put him a guy behind who is a legend and our friend. I know. I think it's five. Okay, five.

Only if they've been playing. Five, five, five, five. Okay, who we got? Okay, next we're going to have to go, Ilya Rosenrov. One, one, one, one, one. Locke one. He literally has already won an MVP. Yeah, didn't he, like, win way more points than normal?

Yeah, and there was, like, there was one line where you're like, what? Yeah. Okay, sorry. All right. Next, we are going to go. Next, we are going to go Kutrov. God, he's been robbed. He's been robbed two years in a row, but I think only maybe three.

Three. Right? Because, like, they've been so good. Three, three, three. But he's, like, a little low on points. Yeah. I'm okay with that. Yeah, I'm okay with that.

Three. All right. Next up we have McKinnon. I think you go one. You go one and be safe. You go one and be completely fine. Yeah, 100%. Right? No, no. There's absolutely zero safety required. One. Yeah, yeah. I don't even know why I did that. I was so confused. You were, you were squirming around. I think it was being like he's obviously one. But then I was like, wait, we have three, four, five lock. Like he's obviously one. So all that's left is two. I feel incredible. I think I feel amazing. I'm currently. It's incredible. All he left is two. Emily hit us. I'm trying to pick like the worst person ever. But I don't have any knowledge. I can't. Um, Okay, we're going to have to go with the only other name on this list that I can

confidently pronounce. We're going Connor McDavid. It's a perfect list. It's a perfect list. It's a perfect list. It's a perfect list. It's a perfect list. Emily, great job.

Great pronunciation. Yep. Great list. Great names. Yeah. I think people might be a little butt hurt about four and five, but you got to remember. It's the team situation. I'll also wait less games for Jack.

Wayless games. Best player in his team. Better record. I think it's lovely. This episode was lovely. Emily, you are lovely. Thank you for joining us and thank you for helping us. The real ones would know who I would.

Oh, the real ones are fired up right now. I actually want to see that in the comments. The OG fans. I've been there since Emily early. Yes. And I get all my knowledge from only the best, which is you guys. So I only have you to think for my pronunciation. Come, I love it.

That's going to do it for us here at the MTV Nader's podcast. We love you guys. Jump on. Subscribe to the YouTube. Buy some merch. Do all the things. Most importantly, have some fun and even more important than that. Skate hard.

Thank you.