Empty Netters Podcast - Central Division Predictions For The 2026/27 NHL Season

Episode Date: September 24, 2026

Is it going to be the same three teams at the top in the Central? The Avs have the be the favorite in the league again but who knows if they can get the same goalie play. And the Utah Mammoth are the darling of the offseason who everyone things makes a huge run. And is Quinn Hughes seriously going to play this year without an extension?? Fraud Watch and Top Hits is more dialed than ever. And the Blind Ranking bounces back with fall activities!  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. 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. Rep your team all season long with GLD. For a limited time only, new customers are getting an insane deal. Use code NETTERS to get 40% off at https://gld.com 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.

So we are back. We are horned up, and we are going deep. Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas and into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready and we're back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast brought to you by BetMGM. Please subscribe to the YouTube, Spotify, Apple, 5-star reviews, wherever you get your podcast. Let's get into it. I am your host, Dan Powers.

We got Dr. Watkins on the sticks. He's dealing with car trouble, but he's still ripping. I'm ripping. Ripping ass. And then over here we got CP, the biggest D-Gen in the game. As always, we are doing our division previews. We've been cruising through, ripped the Atlantic, rip the Metro, and now we make our way west to the Central.

I think this one is a four-car race. Well, Dan, I was going to say we keep going like this. Well, I've been doing the glasses thing a lot. I just do love that bit. Well, yeah. All seven of the eight teams in the Atlantic could make it. And then I get to the... That's us.

Then I get to the Metro and I go, well, every team does. could make it. And then I get to the Central and I go like this. Actually, four teams could make it. This is the first one with a cliff. I really think there's a... I do think there's a clip. But I got a lot of good things to say. A lot of good things. A lot of good things to say. I think you walk and you go playoff. Playoff, playoff, playoff, playoff, playoff, playoff. And then you go

I don't think the clips as big as you think. And you free fall off a fucking cliff. Coyote. Coyote. Yeah. I don't think it's as big as you think. But either way, I'm excited to get into it. Same. Are you ready?

I think I'm ready. We just go. We just go. I think we just rip right into this. Well, in that case, ASMR. I talked over it, though. What flavor is that? Dude, this is summer edition spritz.

Oh, fuck, that's great. And Negis. Shout out Negis. I posted this on a story because I was like, wow, this flavor is amazing. I hadn't even tried it yet. And our boy from home texted us and was like, I have been looking far and wide for that flavor, and I can't find it anywhere. And I was like, well, I got a fucking office fridge.

Yeah, we're getting secret menu flavors here. It's great. I'll pop one in the mail, buddy. So here we go. Summer edition Spritz, sparkling lemoncello twist. There you go. But that kind of rhymed.

I like it. Yeah, and it's incredible. All right, B.R. Shurper, C.P., take us through the Central Division as we do our preview of these eight teams where they're going to finish this year. As you know, we go from 8 to 1 from their standings last year, which means we begin with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year, the Hawks went 29, 39, and 14 for 72 points,

finished 8th, and missed the play. laughs. Do you know? Yeah, you're first. This year, they will finish. Three, two, one, six. Ooh, nice, Dan. I almost went five. A little six burger. Almost went five. I'm drunk on Chicago. I actually really respect that. If Bedard wasn't hurt. Yep. To start the year, I actually might have gone six to. That's, that's 100% my only thing. And I've said this multiple times on the program. Yep. Connor Bardard is having a career year. And I'm with you on that, dude. because, and by the way, by the way, the Bruins' record-breaking year was McAvoy out till fucking Christmas, you know, like there was a, and I think maybe Marcia, there was a few

injuries there to start the year. So it's, there's plenty of case studies that prove this wrong. Oh, yeah. So it could be fine. If they get off to a hot start without him, look out, cookout. Absolutely. There's a big, big, big, big, big chance that the Chicago Blackhawks see a high, high, high, high, high season. I want four words, four of the repeated words in every sentence. And and and, and if I did that the whole episode, people would turn it up. Today, junior.

Dude, I also think that a hot start could be the Kain effect. Like Patrick Kaine returning could give them everything he's got for 10 games. That's what I'm saying. The Kain return could give them hot cocks for just long enough for Bader to get back. And then as soon as he's going to go. like this. I'm tired, boss. And Badard's going to go like this. It's okay. I'm back. He's going to go, I come to now

the turn of the tide. Oh, that was really good. I was going to do a Terminator. I was right about to do Terminator. And when you didn't go into Arnold's voice, I was like, how are you missing this? And then that was even better. Caner's going to get a little tired after 10 or so games. And this is what I'm saying. Bedard last year, career highs

across the bidsie, as in bored. 30 tucks, 45 goals, both career highs, 75. points career high over point per game for the first time in his career this kid is coming back he's got the sea on his shirt he's ready to fucking snap necks and cash checks and he's got 15 milly coming in the bank this season eventually no now is it now it is now brother it is now he makes 15 mil this year god he's going to be buying so many dinners he's so many uh lu melnotties yeah he's gonna

have to invite coal over and they're going to have pizza together they actually this kid's 21 years old not enough toilets in Chicago not enough as much as I love lose he's 21 years old he's making 15 sheets this year he hears the bullshit he sees macklin finishing top four in heart voting and he's like that's my boy I know I can do that too he gets the surgery people freaking out but he's going to be fine he's going to come back better than ever they're going to drew him do they're going to put a new robotic shoulder on his arm and he's going to come back and fucking stuff everyone in a locker. I can't wait.

And, and you're right, that Patrick Cain effect is going to be, it's going to shoot a little piss and VIN in everybody. And I like what we saw from Bowen Byron and that preseason game. Okay. Worth every penny. There's a lot of young guys in this team. We still got some vets, obviously, caner. You got Burt, you got ToiVo, but, and like, you know, there's obviously other guys like Greenway and Donato and stuff like that.

But there's a ton of young dudes here that they're being like, I hope this guy pops off. I'm a big Anton Frundel guy. I'm a big Frank Nazar guy. There's honestly a part of me that's like one of those dudes needs to play wing. I know, I know. And it's one of these teams that's like, okay, how good are these young students? is going to be, but imagine if they're nasty, dude. Imagine. Like, they're so young. Like, even look at Oliver Moore. Last year, 51 games, five goals, 14 assists, 19 points. Then you've got

Cancer Off, sorry, Cancer Off on the wing. He's never played. Yeah. What do we see for? So what, it's a mystery box. It's like, it's like when you, right before you open a of cards. Inside could be a million dollar pull. I just think there's a chance that Kane comes in, he fires up the fan base, all these guys go, we just got to last a little bit until

Badard comes back, and they might fucking blow everyone's pits off. It would be cool. Dude, you shook me to my core with a piece of trivia yesterday, two days ago. It was absolutely stunning. I don't, it's a bad fact. Well, that's why I chipped me to my core.

Currently, I'm putting a Swedish penis enlarger on this team and pumping them up. And you're about to shrivel us up. I'm helping them prevent Priy prism and going to the hospital. But Evan, the three, only three, right? Yeah, three, I think. Only three teams in the league have a franchise. Of the current 32 teams. Yeah.

Only three teams are over 500 in franchise history. Do you know who they are? Isn't that wild? How is that even possible? I guess, man, they call about parity, right? Yeah. It's remarkable. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Yeah, it's remarkable. Yeah, okay, what are the teams? Yeah, okay. Do you want to guess or do you want me to just tell you? I'll guess. Think logically here too. I'm thinking long term, right? Well, yeah.

Also, but I guess short term. Like Vegas. Vegas is number one. Okay. That's winning percentage of all time because they've only been good. And they're, yeah, they're new and they're good. But you know what? A lot of people were shitting on that stat.

To me, I'm like, that's a good fact for you. They've always been good. Yep. But the other two, you were correct on your first train of thought. Yeah, like part of me wants to say Montreal. Yep. Montreal. And.

Number three is, I said this to Chris. I went, you will never in a million years yet. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Three was four is closer to your current train of thought. Yeah. Four is Boston. Yeah.

Okay, that makes sense. Three is also important. So three is like a newer one. Yep. is it it can't be Utah no no really good guess though

they're like five I think they're I was like it's gotta be the man yeah yeah they're they're up there 494 yeah they're up there I don't know uncle it's the wild

Minnesota wild and they're exactly 500 which I was laughing because I was like that is if there's anything that describes Minnesota wild it's that they're just 500

and that doesn't count any any of the when they were the North Stars no no no because they were technically never the Minnesota North Stars that's true

because that move they moved to Dallas okay Wow, that's cool. So in Dead Last, is the Chicago Blackhawks. Shocking. No way. Yeah, shocking, shocking, shocking.

Like, they are, of the 32 teams in their entire history, they have the worst winning percentage of all teams in the league. I was blown away. And I hear that in football. And they're like, it's the Bucks. I'm like, yeah. And then in hockey, it's the Blackhawks. And I'm like, that's not possible.

You're like, what? So they must have just been getting ragdled in the original six era. Yeah. Like just losing every game. And it's like, fucking Christ almighty. I feel bad for my grandpa. That's when he was listening back then. That was his team.

God damn. So all that's to say, enough. Enough? I've had enough of that. The league is incredibly fun when the Blackhawks, one of the goat jerseys is good. And this team, Dan, is tired. They went through their little stretch,

and they had to see, unfortunately, some teams like the Sharkees and the ducks turn it around quicker than them. And they have had enough. And I almost wish I had gone higher than seventh because I am also very excited about they are no longer in the this is okay era

they're now like they might even trade for assets like they might even make a push okay well I think that they'll do that but I disagree it's absolutely still okay but it's not okay to be bottom dollars which they will not be I said this earlier in the summer they are way way closer than people think

Connor's gonna come back he's going to have a career year book it I think we're going to see big jumps from guys like Frondel guys like Nazar I think we're going to see an unbelievable season from Bowen Byram. That's another fun thing. The defense is pretty nasty.

Defense in front of a great goaltender in night. You got Vlasic, you got Byram, you got Kaiser, you got Lev Shanov, you got Ian Cole. I love that bringing in for the third pairing with Renzell, who I love. That's a really, really great,

exciting D in front of an unbelievable 10D. I think this team's going to be scrappy. They're going to win a lot of great games, and when Boudard comes back, it's going to fire up those cocks and they're going to just be buzzing. Yeah. I think, yes, they're going to miss playoffs,

but I think it is going to be a really exciting miss playoffs. Maybe not quite as exciting as the sharks last year, but that's exactly what they're going for. They're going to go, we're going to have some times this year where people go, is that team going to fuck around and make playoffs? They're going to miss, but they're going to go, oh, baby, we are on the up and up and up and up. And yeah, I think for sure, dude,

look at all these young players that we're talking about and all these assets. Now that becomes a team. that maybe some guys on expiring contracts, maybe guys on teams that are falling apart. Maybe we'll get to the Jets. Yep, yep, yep. Those are going to be players are going to go, I'll go there.

Absolutely, I'll go there. Dude, it's fucking Chicago. Yep. So I've, who doesn't love Chicago? A little, uh, don't, sorry. What were you going to say? No. Don't do something stupid, but what were you going to say?

I was going to say a little Brigley Field. Okay. A little bit of all chival. Whoa, okay. That's a good cut, right? Yep, that is a debt. Does everyone know that or does that? What is that?

O'S Chival's an unbelievable burger joint. Oh, really? Yeah, and you know what? I fucking actually, whoa. What? Did you just have deja vu? No, I just, I had a, sorry guys, I'm telling you right now, I'm doing two fraud watches today.

Oh, okay, sick. Oh, fuck. Because I just thought of a, I just thought of a fraud watch. Have you been to Wiener's Circle? Whoa. This is what Marty was talking about. Alec loves this place. Yeah, they insult you there.

Yeah, and you get you order the double chocolate shake. Have you done that? Get a little show. No, I didn't have the money for that one. Yeah, yeah. I didn't have the dollar bills. Dude, this is a, I'm sorry, I'm telling it. This is a fucking division preview.

I'll do whatever the fuck I want. I'm telling a tangent story. I might have told us on the pod, but I doubt it. We, this place, Oshabal, a very famous burger place. Yeah. We were in Chicago, and we tried to go there, and we walk in, and they were like, hey, can we get a table for four of us? And they're like, yeah, 20 hours.

But the funny thing is, they were like this, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. Your reservation will be ready in four hours. Actually, they might not have even have said the time. No, they were like four hours. And we were like, oh. And we went to... We had a free day. Well, we go like this. I, in the beginning of the day, was like, we were with some girls, and I go, can we go to the Cubs game? I've never been to Wrigley. And the girls were like, no. I was like, okay, no problem. So we go to O'Sheval, put our name on the list because they're like, this burger place is amazing. And I kind of hate pretentious spots like that. And not that they're pretentious, like, flows as a long line. And I love...

Yeah, but it was most... You were just like that. feels crazy. But then, yeah, we went and saw a friend. We bopped around the city. We went to Full Ferris Bueller. Well, dude, we go to Soho House to wait for like 45 minutes to see if they call us and then they're not calling us. So then I go, it's only like the third inning of the, can we go to the Cubs game? And they were like, you know what, Chris, let's go to Wrigley. So we drive to Riggily, get there by like the fifth inning. People, at Riggily, you can leave and go back in, one of the few stadiums on Earth. And we, I'm trying to scalp tickets. It's the fifth inning. And I'm trying to scalp tickets. And these guys are like $100. And I'm like, bro, the game.

is over. What are you talking about? Come on. So then, Dan, I think, or somebody, one of my group walked up to a family of four leaving. We were like, are you guys not coming back? And they were like, no. And we were like, can we have your tickets? And they were like, incredible. Sure. So we take them. Incredible. Go back in. The guy was like, if you're coming back in, you're supposed to scan him. And we were like, we didn't know that. And he was like, go in. So we kind of like figured it out. We go in for free. See four innings. It was amazing. And I'm like, God, Rigley. So cool. And we're driving back from Rigley. And we get a call that's like, oh, Shavala,

her table's ready and we were like oh the timing is great oh you pulled it off and I was like it was full Ferris people I've seen it yeah you got home you guys got home right before your mom likes was like oh you're still sick dude the best burger in fucking Chicago is Billy Go Tavern and that place is underground that's another place that Chicago people are gonna love this episode dude Billy Go Tavern is oh and wait what's what's that horrible liquor everybody drinks? Mallort!

Malort! Jepson's Malort! God God. Dude we're hey we're we're we're we're we're haven't been to Chicago since Winter Classic. And I'm telling you right now, Chicago, if you'll have us, I want to come back, I want to do

all these food stops, I want to drink Mallor. I'll drink. We will do a killer food video. Yeah. Are you there for that? I will do, I will do a Mallort shot with every single person who comes up to me and says, let's do a Mallort shot. You are so full of shit. I swear to God. If we, clip this, I swear to God,

if we go, we're going to Chicago, I'm going to sign up for, I'll do a Mallort shot with everyone who asks, at least after we go to, like, a game. I'll get the IV bag ready. Yeah, I can't be like a walking dead man in the game. Dan's making me drink fucking sticks of beer in Carolina, and he's going to do a thousand fucking malort shots. I'll do mallort shots, and we're going to fucking gas up this team, dude.

I'm all in on the Chicago Blackhawks. I'm buying, I'm buying so much stock. I'm telling you, I look at Bedard, I look at Frondell, I look at Frankie, I look at, you know I love Bowen Byron. And I've been high on Levschenov. And credit you have been high on Spencer Knight forever. I know. I think that they've got all the right pieces in place.

Can I tell you the one thing you're forgetting? It's a good thing. This is even better. Baddard goes one. Mitchkoff goes like six or something. I think he went eight. I can't remember, yeah. No, it was six.

It was like he was projected eight and then didn't he go six? But it was like a thing where it's like, oh my God, he could have gone one. So there's like a little bit of rivalry there, you know. And then Mitchcoff, I don't think it's had a better year than Bedard ever. I don't think, but, you know, has been toe to toe with him a few times. Seventh. Wow. Set all the numbers but seven.

Then Salabrini gets in the league, who's Boudard is Boudard's buddy. Yep. And then now he's, you know, Mr. Goat and his captain of Team Canada at Worlds and the best player in Milan and Badaar's on the team. On the cover of NHL. You're like, oh, my God. But it's competitive out there, you know. And then, Dan, what happens this year? What are you talking about McFerda?

His cousin. Oh, yeah, yeah. His cousin goes first overall. And if you don't think there's a little family competition there where everybody's like, wow, McFerda's on the lease, McFirda's going to win Calder, or McFirda's going to make playoffs his first year. Badard goes, no. Don't forget about me.

Exactly, dude. I think this is the reintroduction, dude. Me too. When Bard comes back, if they don't play, allow me to reintroduce myself. When he steps on the ice, it'll be a huge mistake. That brings us, too. Oh, actually, I meant to say it's at the very top. the there's always chaos it's sports like every year it's like oh my god the jets missed playoffs they were the

president's trophy oh my god this the ducks are nasty right like you if you are doing division previews and you take chalk you're fucked every time and as which and luckily we've kind of been fed free not chalk because of who missed in other divisions uh for me least but cats caps devils like it was easy to shake it up yeah this division was very when i went through the first first time I basically had chalk from last year and I was like, there's just no way that happens again. Yeah. So I'm trying to mix a few things up because that's what happens every fucking time. Yep.

And I'll leave it there as we continue. That brings us to the Winnipeg Jets. You don't want to talk about the Blackhawks a little bit more? Yeah, more Chicago. I'm being serious, dude. They're going to be fun. Oh yeah. You know what?

I actually do, Dan. I'm glad you said that. Thank you. This was the one thing I also wanted to say. The Hawks with that speech I just gave, the Hawks. for me are easily, easily the top candidate to be the chalk disruptor from last year. When I look at the bottom teams, if the Hawks are like, yo, we actually finished fourth. Ooh, there's another one that I'm like, I think that they could do that too.

But for me, for me, it's the Hawks. I think I obviously have the missing, but of the four hovering out, the Hawks could be the one that is ahead of schedule that you go, wow, I never saw that coming. Yeah. Because there's always one. Every year there's one team that you're like, holy shit, how did that happen? And for me, even though I have you seventh, Hawks, I got my eyes on. I hope I pulled them out of the fucking hat. What's, you know what's funny about this? We do think that there's a cliff, but I, I think

no one is bad in this division. Agree. I just think there's four teams better than the other one. And weirdly enough, I do think there's going to be a top four battle and then the bottom four battle. And I think the bottom four battle is going to be very rugged. Yeah. I really do. Yep. She. She.

Okay, Hawks, I love you. Yeah. It's going to be a super fun year. We're coming. We're coming. Yeah, come on. We're coming. I'll also say this.

I think when Badaard got off to a hot start last year, that was very exciting. He got hurt. And then I think a lot of people were like, fuck me. And it was kind of another like, damn. This year, I think, is going to be an absolute blast from start to finish. So Hawks fans, buy those tickets, get in the door. You're going to have a fucking great time all year. Amazing.

Definitely. The Winnipeg Jets, last year the Jets went 35, 35, and 12 for 82 points, finished 7th, and missed the playoffs. Yeah. Ready? Yeah. I'm first. This year, they will finish three, two, one, eighth. Seventh.

And dude, this pick makes no sense by me. No. When I look at there, I'm basing this entire pick on exactly why I put the Wings eighth, where I'm like, dude, you have, the Wings have incredible players. on their team. And so to the Jets, including one Kyle Connor, who I'm obsessed with and was literally scared to talk to in Milan. And when I did see him, I was like, hey, Kyle, I'm a huge friend. Yeah, that was really weird. And then he was like, thanks, dude, you fucking spas brain. Yeah. And I'm sorry. And I'm, I really appreciate your time. And I hope we can, I hope I can redeem myself. Yeah. But I love people on the Jets. I am basing this pick 1,000 trillion percent on what I

did with Detroit where it's just like you have such turmoil dude pro sports are a fickle beast if you're not pulling the sled in the same direction you can be in trouble and there was that article dude about I forget who it came from but somebody was like coming on the jet said they their heart is broken about the helly situation you know they're just so sad I forget who said it but I saw that quote yeah yeah yeah and that I don't need that going into a season no and they missed playoffs I know hellie was out a bunch, but you missed playoffs with like the best goalie in the league playing a fair amount of the time. And now, he certainly. He wasn't hurt that long. That's like kind of one of the big things. He wasn't as good as he had been, but still. And now you're just going to not have him. He's

either kicked off the team or hopefully you get something back for him. But it's just such a nightmare. Yeah. And that sucks. They got the beatboxer, dude. They got Stu Skinner. Like, they have options, but it just, it sucks. It's a shitty situation. And I feel bad for him, like legitimately. Yeah, I mean, here's the deal. Stu Skinner is your starter now. Yep. Unless they pull a deal with a, if Hellebuck gets traded to a Buffalo

and they get UPL back, if he gets traded to a Carolina and they get Bussy back, then that gets mixed up. But if this is a trade for picks and prospects, Stu Skinner is your starter. And we've seen Stu Skinner be a starter and go to the fucking Stanley Cup twice. So like, you know,

it's, that is not a bad thing. We are, we are, Stu Skinner guys. Also feels like a guy. Also feels like a guy who, and not just because it's so geographically close-ish, but a guy who can kind of, there's been so much talk about like, I just want to play in Winnipeg, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, Stu Skinner has been in Edmonton. He's fine. Like, he is not going to be bitching and moaning about Winnipeg. Yeah. So he'll get real comfortable there. He'll get the fucking stash going. It's okay. Dude, there's too much talent on this team to finish eighth. It's a ludicrous pick by me. But I just, I worry about the locker room. I, yeah. I mean, listen.

The people in Winnipeg are absolutely incredible. The fan base is incredible. The team has a lot of talent. I think 81, 55, and 44 are three of the best players in the league. Shifley had 103 points last year. Connor is one of the best goal scorers in the league. Morrissey, when he's healthy, is one of the best. I mean, he's unbelievably offensively.

I think he's a great two-way player. They are a little too top-heavy for my liking, I think. That is why I think if I had to guess why they struggled last year, they are a little top-heavy. They do kind of have a drop-off from 81 and 55 for the forwards on the points. And you know what, Valardi had an amazing year last year. And that's a player we're familiar with with L.A. Obviously, he's a great dude.

He's a great player. He's had some injury stuff in the past. So hopefully he stays healthy again. But after that, there's a significant drop-off in point production. And that's kind of my big question with that team is like, what are you getting from those guys? And if and when hell he goes, what does that do to just the entire vibe?

Because here's the thing, man, these guys aren't emotionally weak, you know? like players get traded all the time. But whoever you were referencing with the heartbreak element, that's fucking fine that. That is so fair because remember when Shifley and Halibuck were about to be UFAs? And everyone was like, they are fucking gonzo. That was one of the biggest talking points in the world. People were like, there's no way these two star players are going to sign in Winnipeg.

They both signed. That was the coolest moment for Winnipeg ever of being like fucking rights. These guys are staying. Then Connor signed. and you're like, oh my God, Winnipeg, running it back, let's go. And then you miss playoffs, hell of buck goes, get me out of here. That is no question. When you have a goaltender who wins the fucking MVP of the league and you lose that guy,

that's not a, all right, guys, rub some journal on it, we're good. That will inevitably make you be like, fuck, this blows. That's a lot. And like the fact that he's put in now two trade requests, it's this is no knock this is the league we talk about how many times do we talk about this the fact that we have guys with full no moves who can request trades it fucking stinks and that is the world we're living in so this isn't a knock on the jets but it hasn't been handled that well frankly the fact that he hasn't been moved they don't like the trade offers they now suspended him

from can't like it's just it's pretty messy yeah i could see all of that resulting in some like we're we got to figure some shit out here so headline is conner jets teammates heartbroken by Hellabuck situation. Then from Kyle Connor, yeah, it's tough. He said hours after Hellebuck was suspended. As a player, all you can do is kind of deal with what's in front of you. Obviously, the news is heartbreaking. Being a teammate of his for so long, it's tough. It feels like we had such a special group here. And for whatever reason, I can't speak to the reason until we hear from the man. I'm not going to speculate on what it is, but I know that a lot of guys in this room are heartbroken. And it's actually kind of crazy when we...

Such a fair coat. It's a great quote. When we did the Helly speculation, we were going, this is, there's a USA teammate here. There's a USA teammate here. There's a USA teammate here. And It's kind of, you forget that you're like, there's a USA teammate in your locker room who you've played with the whole time, in Kyle Connor. Then, though, I will add, he says, listen, we've had adversities throughout the way there's been injuries. For whatever reason, I look at it as a great challenge for everybody to step up their game. We all know what last year was and how much we need to improve. So we never shy away from a challenge. There's a lot of compete in that room.

And this situation is no different. That's a dog. And I'll say, Dan, the one wrinkle, we keep going, oh, my God, I want to change my metro picks if the devils get hellie and my Atlantic pick, if the same. neighbors get helie. I will, I would love to revisit this pick if, if the Jets trade Heli immediately for like a UPL or a bussy, because then I go, maybe they go, you know what, dude, love you, Heli, but that's done. We got a new guy here, tandem with Skinner, and let's fucking shove it on everybody. I agree. You know, if they get something done quick and they can rally around their group, I would, that would be interesting to me. I agree. That's why I have

them seven because and again I think as we've said I don't want to sound like a bitch with every time we caveat with this but like no one is bad here this team's good yep I I could absolutely see that when they get this sorted because Connor Hellbuck will not play for the Winnipeg Jets this year I cannot imagine a world no there's he will not when they get someone if they get someone I could absolutely see that I love that quote from from Connor I and I I could see this team going fuck that you know Not fuck hellie, but like, you know, fuck the noise. Let's go.

We got great talent here. So the Jets are also, I think you're going to have a fun year too. This is a cool crossroads. Yeah. How do you respond to this? Totally. I think that that community can respond in a very positive way. So let's fucking see it.

Lower ticket prices, you pricks. You pricks. Fill the barn with fucking gritty, real Jets fans. I am now scared about who you might have eighth. So anyway, we are going to the next team, which is the Nashville Smashville Predators. Last year, the Preds went 38, 34, and 10 for 86 points, finished 6th, and missed the playoffs. Are you ready? You're first.

Yeah. This year. Wait. Yeah. I think I'm ready. This year, they will finish. Three, two, one, eight. Fifth. Once more unto the breach.

Dear friends, once more. I am telling you right now, I'm going to pull the predators out of that. I fucking hope you do, dude. I'm going to pull up our ride or die hat here. I'm going to pull the predators out of that hat and nothing would make me happier. I don't, I want to immediately apologize for what I've done. Yep. Because, apologize to Carlson right now.

Yeah. Carlson, I absolutely love you and I apologize for what I've just done because I don't believe it. Yeah. When I look- motivation. It's motivation. When I look at these standings, I am very much in a, no one is an eighth place team here. No one. Unfortunately, someone has to be. I don't believe what I've just done. I absolutely love this city. I absolutely love this team. And it's one of the greatest barns in the league. It's one of the greatest vibes in the league. I love everything about the Nashville Predators,

and I want them to be, I want them to lift the Stanley Cup, not just go to the Stanley Cup playoffs. I am on your team. I promise. I actually really, really love a lot of the depth moves that they made this year. I think people are sleeping on a lot of those moves. I like Maverick Bork. I love Jack Doree. I love Ross Colton.

Dude, Ross. Keep going, sorry. Kerfoot, Hoglander. There's a lot of cool moves that have been made here that I really, really like. I do not understand the Evangelist Trade. I hate it. I love it for Jersey. I just hate it. I don't understand it.

Um, I honestly, I hate losing a guy like Hala, uh, but I get true. But again, with bringing in guys like Drury Bork, Roscoe, that I'm like, okay, great, great. Um, and how do you not love the group, dude? How do you not love the leadership group? Yossi, the most beautiful man who has ever lived on this planet and one of the greatest defensemen in the history of the national hockey league. You have legends like factor and stammer. And you have a Nashville hero in Flip Forsberg. Yep. Friend of the program, one of the best players in the league. I just don't know what's happened the last two years. Like what has happened? Well, I don't think any of us know why it didn't work at first. When they made that crazy U-2 concert push, make playoffs.

Who was it? Vancouver. They almost clipped in the first round. Like the president's trophy Vancouver. And then they made all. all those big moves. And whoever, anyone that can pull some receipts going, the Preds are going to be awful this year.

None of these moves will work. Then tip of the old cap, sir, because that's a great call. I think it was system fits. It was a lot of shit that went wrong. So be it. But you've seen, didn't Stammer score 40 again last year? 42. 42 and 66 points.

How, I'm going to be honest, man. how fucking stupid does Tampa feel? And obviously Tampa is nasty still. They will always be nasty. But I'm just like, that was your captain. And you were like, yeah, you're not worth it. And he's just still burying 40 tucks. And I'm like, don't you think you could use that guy?

I think maybe we've said this before, but especially now that I've seen, I didn't even know this was possible, but now that I've seen these Ovi and Zuccarello deals. Yeah. I'm like, what? You couldn't just give Stammer one mill cap. cap hit and then pay him $8 million like they did OVy. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. But the point is, it's not like they brought in Stammer and Marcia Soe and those guys aren't good.

And they were like, oh, we were wrong. Those guys are good. They're pretty much giving you the exact production you hoped they would give you when you brought them in. So if you were this good, you brought in really good guys. They are playing good. You are worse. And I'm like, make that make sense to me.

So I think they just haven't found, or they've been, they've taken way too long to find the combination of their talent that maximizes their team. Yeah. We've heard a lot of shit from inside the locker that we're not allowed to say here, but it's all good things. And I think one that we are allowed to say is you have a general manager in Chris McFarland that is going all in now and the next couple of years to make this team a playoff team and a competitive team.

And if he loses his job because of it, so be it because we're going down swinging. You know what I mean? Like this is going to be spent by, buy, buy, let's fucking go. Now, obviously, if someone gets hurt, God forbid, or all hell breaks loose, I'm not saying they're just going to buy. He's going to do his job correctly. They are extremely committed to this. I think, I do it every year, dude. And like I said, once more into the breach.

I'm ready to die for this team again. The talent is there to be in the mix. I did. I put them fifth. I'm not even saying they're automatically in because this division is stacked at the top. But I just think this team should be fighting for a spot all year. of what it's been for the last few years, where at the very end of the season, they kind of go, ooh, we're kind of good again. And it's like too little too late. Get off to a hot start for me

one time, one time, be in the three seed at the fucking Halloween. I need him to stay healthy. Yep. I look at a guy like Yos, last year, 68 games the year before 53. That's your heartbeat. You can't, you can't have him missing time. It's just brutal. And he's going to be 36 this year. Is he 36 now? He's maybe, yeah. You know, he's, uh, he's, he's, obviously so good. He's going to get you 10 plus goals every single year from the blue line. He's fucking incredible. And I just need to

I need to take a moment to grandstand about Ryan O'Reilly. Okay. I like this. Ryan O'Reilly Mr. No Shield. Ryan O'Reilly one of, I think, three players left in the league. Is it even three still? Yeah.

I think it's him, Ben, and Bogo. I think it's Bogosian. Never would have got that. Yeah. Ryan O'Reilly is 35 years old, I believe, now. And I feel as though people who have not, people who are not fans of either the St. Louis Blues or the Nashville Predators. I'll even throw in some Colorado Avalanche fans in there. You were unfamiliar with Ryan O'Reilly's game. You were unfamiliar with what alleged this dude is. Everyone, I think, thinks of him, or, uninitiated fans think of him and they go, oh yeah, Ryan O'Reilly, he's a pretty good vet. This fucking guy last year in the dark of night was three points and three goals off of his career highs. Is that amazing, dude? 25 tucks and 74 points last year and a plus eight.

That's what I mean. He is, he deserves so much praise and so much credit, especially during the tough times. last season, the way he did that interview where he was like, we suck right now, and it fucking blows. And I'm like this, well, you, someone give this guy a pat on the back, because he's been amazing all year long.

Yeah. 81 games and 74 points for Ryan O'Reilly. Unfucking believable. What? No one talks about that. Enough. He's such a good player, and that's grit. That's a dog. Yep. So when you've got a guy like that, you've got a guy like Forsberg,

you've got a guy like Stammer and Yosi. And, Saros is nasty. We do need him to play better, though. But I need him to be back to it. Because everyone is like, Soros is top. There was a time a few years ago where people were talking about Soros going, he's going to win Vezan, he's the best goalie in the league.

Thank you, Dan. Like, this is vital. And I do think we need Soros to get back to that. Like, I go back to the 22, I mean, Christ, dude, listen to this. Actually, dude, this guy's a freak. Listen to these numbers. This is starting in 2016, 17. He didn't play that many games when I'm still going to give me to you.

He played almost 60 games last year. well it's down from 67 for a few years ago so that's way too many games yep so when he was 21 he only played 21 games 26 31 but listen to these numbers i'm going to give you save percentage goals against yeah for the new people on the show when i give you six numbers i'm not giving you a six number save percentage 923 23 5 925 245 915 262 914 270 9272 8 918 28 28 264 64 911-269-9-969-086-8. And then the last two years, 895-298, 298, last year, 894-316.

Yeah. And I'm like, 3-16, are you out of your fucking mind? Stone Cold, Steve Austin? Even the year before the 2.98, it's an incredible joke. Yeah, that was a great joke. Sorry. That was one of the funniest things we're. Stone-Coled Steve Austin 316.

Good job. Sorry. I want some fucking laughs. That was pretty good. But I agree. His back-to-back All-Star years, and even the year before that he only played 36 games, but a 0.927, say a percentage, 0.918, 0.919, 0.906. That's Soros.

Yes. So we do need that if they're going to make a push. Yes. And I will just add, though, when the top lines are going, when you're getting what you just said out of Ryan on Riley, you're getting 42 tucks from Stammer, it's the losing the shifts with the bottom lines that are causing you to be bad. Yep. And now you go, Jack Drury, Ross Colton, Maverick Bork. It's going to be amazing, and I just want to shout out Rosco. That dude thrived in Tampa, and he played great in Colorado.

Don't get me wrong. But Roscoe loves a city where he can be out. And I know Colorado is the sunniest fucking state in the country, but he loved Tampa walking the riverfront. You know, he's going to be out in Nashville, bopping around, trying the barbecue, listening to some country music. Maybe by a pair of boots. Feeling the city. He might get a cowboy hat.

I bet he already has a cowboy hat. I hope he does. I'm telling you, Ross, thrott. with a city, a communal city vibe. Yeah. He has now returned to that. He will now score 20 goals. Believe that.

So I'm really excited. I love that. I love that. But yes, this, I don't love the, I don't love the way things haven't worked. This is a make or break year for Bruno. I think if you miss playoffs, I just don't know how he remains the coach. Yep. So it's go time.

Little fight. Little fight, Preds. And I'm going to be with you every step of the way, I promise. But it does, this team, doesn't it feel like a, if they are out of playoffs as we approach the deadline, it feels like this is going to be a team that's going to be fresh berry picking. It's a lot of players. And I root for that. A lot of players that are going to be like, these players need to be on the block now. Yep.

So, yeah. That brings us to the St. Louis Blues last year. The Blues went 37, 33, and 12 for 86 points. They finished fifth and missed the playoffs. I'm first. You ready? Yeah. This year, they will finish.

Three, two, one, six, fifth. Yeah, I figured you had them fifth. Yeah. This one pains me. Jim Montgomery's our fucking boy. And I really believe they are competitive. Yeah. And I really believe he is the answer there, as in Jim.

Like, they're fine. they keep building something. I love me of Brandon Carlo. You know I love me a Brandon Carlo. So do you. I love me a Mason McTavish. Hate how the ducks handled every bit of that. Connor McMichael,

we were stroking off two seasons ago. I think last year too, but two seasons ago, I just feel like he was my bright, shining star. This is more of a testament to how competitive this division is and my blind predator's loyalty. Like the blues could and should, should finish fifth.

They are like better. I don't know. They're not quite better, but they're not worse. Yeah. I, yeah. I think they're better. They're better. But I'm like, here's my, here's my take on the blues.

I really enjoy their additions. Yep. And this is a big time what we're going to, health and also what Monty can get from certain guys like this. Holloway, people forget about that injury. Yep. Holloway had 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points last year, plus 13 in only 59. Yeah, that's so gas.

Also, that is a thievery from Edmonton, one of the great offer sheet eras of all time. But you get 82 from Holloway, you have to assume that is 30 goals and probably 80 points. Oh, yeah. That's huge. Massive. Mason McTavish. what a wild situation that was with the ducks and now he's all of a sudden here and I think they're nasty I think they're very excited about they are avish here I love a guy like mctavish with Monty

yeah yeah yeah good call I really really love that you've got captain rob Thomas now perennial 80 point guy who's just always fucking incredible and McMichael on the wing there is really exciting I'm fired up about neighbors jakey stakes this year I think think that's going to be a great player to watch. The Ross Johnston ad on the bottom six is a very, very cool move by them. Jimmy Snuggs popping off hopefully again and even more so. That's another guy that Monty loves and will be great with Monty. Philip Broberg is an amazing defenseman. Obviously, you see Perrako making Team Canada and stuff like there's a reason he's so good. Fowler was so great when he came over. A lot of ducks coming over. I know, I know.

But I just think there is a chance this year that this is a stay healthy team. It's like this is a Jim Montgomery team. Let's see what you guys can do. I think the blues are just, that five spot to me just feels so accurate for if everything is, I don't want to say if everything goes right because you can say that about any team. But if everyone stays healthy, I really like what the blues are doing. And we always stroke off teams for great cap management. Yep, this team has great cap management.

You have a 27, 28-year-old Rob Thomas at 8.1 until 2031. You have 31-year-old Buchenevich at 8. Holloway, 25 at 7.7. McTavish at 7. Literally every one of these guys is until 2031. And then you have McMichael at 6.75 now until 2032. Broberg is only 25 at 8 million until 2032. No one on this team is crazy.

paid. So you've got to look at that. And in the last few years, or let's call it last year, I think all of a sudden St. Louis is getting the tire pump it deserves as a destination city. I really do. I'm with you, dude. People love it. More and more and more people, again, shout out Jake Neighbors. If you haven't watched the interview with Jake Neighbors from earlier this summer, go watch it. The way he talks about St. Louis, the way all of these guys talk about St. Louis, the way Prongs talked about St. Louis. E.J. talks about St. Louis. The guys go back to St. Louis. When they retire, they go, I am going to settle down and live my life in St. Louis. This team has done a great job with Cap. It's a, like,

great young players signed to a long-term low number. That is a, that it's an exciting project, I think. So the blues are very much, I don't sleep on team for me. You always do the maybes and butts thing. So I'm about to do that, but the blues top six is gross if, if maybe, but they all really perform. When I look at them, I'm like, ooh, that's frisky. But I also could just not be that good. But they have a really fun imagination top six. I'm like, whoa. Definitely. So I'm excited about the blues. They'll be competitive for sure. I mean, every team under Manti's competitive. So they're going to be really competitive and in the mix. Yeah, it's, but it's, uh, what do you think about this take. I think this is a bit of a not up or shut up year for them. I kind of agree.

Yeah? Yeah. I think it is. It'd be a bummer if they finish six. I have them six and that would be they'd be like, God damn. I think it is. I think, I think Monty knows that. I think it's important, frankly, for this team to have that attitude because absolutely I think Monty knows that. Like, people talk about Monty so highly because he is such a good dude. He's great for players. And they have a lot of good players. And I think when you are a Rob Thomas, a Dylan Holloway, a McAvish and a McMichael, and a Buchanavich, I'm leaving Snuggs out there because he's so young still.

But these are guys that's like, you're not new players anymore. You guys are key players in this team, those guys in the top six. you have to show that in this division you are a tough fucking place to play. You're a tough team to play against. You've got to travel well. I think Binner wants a little bit of a, everyone stopped forgetting about me. So I could see this team fucking around. Yeah, definitely.

That would be awesome. I like it. Okay, let's take an ad break and we'll be right back. We're in the heart of football season. It is as exciting as it gets. and Thursday night football just got a whole lot better with the legendary Thursdays at BetMGM. Every week, get a pro football no sweat token

and if your qualifying wager doesn't hit, you'll get bonus bets back. Come on, who else is taking care of you like that? BetMGM's doing it every single day. Come on. Bet defense has your back with BetMGM. You're going to be able to get that back. It's going to be amazing.

If your player gets injured in the first quarter, you'll receive your cash back. Also, you get to take advantage, of BetMGM's odd flash for best pricing on the game. Legendary Thursdays only at BetMGM. If you haven't signed up yet, go to BetMGM and use promo code Netters, N-E-T-T-E-R-S, to claim your new player offer. Bet-M-G-M-G-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-k-E-E-Leggit.

Now, Dan, because I can do math, things get a little frisky for both of us. And this is where I really ran into the chalk fear. Like, I was looking at where they finished last year, and I was like, Oh, it's pretty good. Yeah. But I really wanted to fight that because it doesn't often happen, and I have some takes as to why. So let's dive right in. Up next is the Utah Mammoth.

Yes. Check me out here. These next four teams, for both of us, are the top four. Yep. I think these next four teams are from one to four are going to be separated by 10 points or less. It's completely agree. Completely agree. I genuinely mean this.

Every one of these four teams could finish first. I think I agree. I don't. Well, I think I agree. I absolutely, dude, I am so, so horny for the use out there. Here we go. Last year, The Mammoth went 43, 33, and 6 for 92 points, finished fourth and made the playoffs. Fucking rights. I can't remember who's first, so maybe you. This year, I think it is me. Do you know your number? Yeah. They will finish. Three, two, one, four. Third. I love that. I want to do it.

Maybe I am third. Tusks the fuck up. God. Damn. Honestly, maybe I am third. Maybe you are. Think about it. I'll stay four, but again.

It's fucked if we're going to have to kick out. I don't want any mammoth fan right now being like, come on four. Because I just said, you could easily finish first. And I will also say this. Four teams are making playoffs. The mammoth are 100% lock playoff team. Yep. And they're winning a round.

Yep. I guarantee you right now they are winning a round of playoffs. I guarantee that. So my only fear about the mammoth is, and you can get into the roster changes in a second. My only fear about the mammoth literally is everything we just, the way we just reacted. Because they are the darlings this year. Everybody and their fucking mother is like, the mammoth are about to go on a meteoric rise.

The mammoth are about to be so competitive. And so are we. We just said it. But I kind of hate when that happens. I've seen it work. The ducks, I think, were kind of a darling this past season. And then look at that. Yeah.

Beat the Oilers in the playoffs. Incredible. The sabers, a couple years ago, were the darling. And free fell into hell. Yeah. So it goes both ways. And the mammoth, the group, needs to, to focus, tighten, focus, steady, steady, and just do their job. And I know they'll be good

and I'm rooting for them, but I don't drink the Kool-Aid is my, is my- Really advice. For them, I'm like, chilled, don't listen to it. Don't, don't, what are you talking about? Chug it. No, that's how you, that's how you lose. As soon as you go, listen to the world, look how good we are. You haven't done shit. You haven't done shit yet. I think, I think the Kool-Aid of Smith is so good. Dude, I, frankly, this team is so good

and so deep. They are, in my opinion, there's, you should drink the Kool-Aid because you got to believe. You need the confidence. No, it's not even, I think they have the confidence. It's a, I'm telling you right now, tip that jar back

because you're not, you're not getting served in Utah. Like, you can be served in this locker room. Like you can be served in this locker room. Tip that jar back and drink it all. This, this, I fucking love the moves that they made. I think they got better. And I think that they are, they are as fun of a, as fun of a show as it gets. Yes.

I mean, there's a couple of guys that they lost that break my heart. I hate that they had to lose Durs. Same. I love Ders so, so, so, so much. But the moves that they made with, I mean, Trocheck, what a fucking. That's a steal. What an ad that is. Especially when it was like he's only going east.

You know, that was an incredible pickup out of nowhere. Anders Lee is, again, I think perfect vets those two. Yep. Anders Lee and Trocheck playing the middle six on that team, in my opinion, is exactly the type of thing that they needed. And I am so fucking horny for the Sebastian Kosa pickup. Yeah, dude, that's interesting. That's actually one of the most interesting.

moves made. I have been the biggest Sebastian COSA guy for years. I think he is a future absolute stud goalie in the NHL. And Veggie last year played 64 games. Ridiculous. He had a 0.894 say percentage. I think that's a percentage goes way up if they can go COSA, you're getting 30 games this year, at least. And you just take a little bit of the mileage off of Veggie, and I think his numbers go up. And I mean, that's what a guy to get. Like Veggie's on a great contract. You got COSA, who's, I think, 23 years old. Like that...

It's actually a stunning move. It's a stunning move. That I'm like, it's the same way... Or I guess it's kind of the reverse of the bus seat and Vlodar stuff where we were always going, as Boston fans, we were always going, ah, God, those guys had so much hype, but they must not be that good because they've never really shown it. And then it was like, oh, fuck, they both end up on different teams and are nasty. This one, it's like...

And Wings fans should speak up, but this one, I'm like, isn't he sick? It's actually like, it's more like Ascroft. I'm like, didn't you have this guy that we've been talking about this whole time who's like your future heir apparent in the, between the pipes? And then you just ship them off somewhere else. When you have, certainly the wings have like some goalie issues. So yeah, that one's going to be fascinating to me because if he is, if he is dope, Dan, I'm like, what in the fuck were you thinking? Yeah, brother. Yeah.

I, I'm just, I'm excited. I'm excited to watch. Watch me some Mammothames. Me too. Dude, it was one of the most fun environments we've ever been in. I cannot wait to go back. I think Weigs is going to pop off this year. Dude, the D is great.

They have, you know, the top six, they have studs in the top six, obviously. But it's not like, there are better top sixes. I'll say it that way, right? Like there are top sixes filled with like mega, mega all stars, right? Sure. But they have studs. And they are competitive and they are a fucking full, complete. team. That's what I like about it. I mean,

the jump that Schmalti took last year, what a fucking beauty. Incredible. Kells is unbelievable. I think Olympics was huge for Kels. I think that made a lot of people go, er, er, er, oh my God, he's nasty. Kooli's disgusting. Gunther is disgusting, one of the great goal scorer on this team and in this division. And then it's just like, you get those guys, you add Lee, you add troch, you have Krauser, who's just an amazing middle six player. Yamamoto's been good for them. McBain, Hayton, Carcone are so good in that bottom six. And then Daniel Butt is an interesting Russian that I'm like, okay, what are you got? And I also fucking love the fact that T. Jiginla is potentially going to be injected into this lineup this year.

That would be so fucking fun. But I love this fucking team. Let me throw something that year. Why have we been not saying the chances? And Utah fans are going to be very mad at me for saying, And I apologize. Because I know they love veggie. But why are people not talking about Helly to this team? Um, and Utah fans. What's their cap space? Sound off in the, in the comments.

Would you be happy about that? I would as a Utah, as an honorary, uh, they've got, what do they call it? The Mormon people? Not like Mormon. Uh, Latter Day Saints. Oh, is that it? Yeah. As an honorable Latter Day Saints guy, I would love Hally on this team.

They've got, they've got four. 5 million cap space. And what is veggie? Veggie's at 4.75 until 2030. And I'm not trying to wish veggie off to the 8th place. That's what I'm saying. I apologize for saying this. The only reason I bring it up is veggie's 30.

Yeah. Veggie's not, it's not like veggies's 25, 24 and they're like, dude, this is. And I love veggie and I know they love veggie. Yep. But I think we can all agree that Connor Hellebuck is a step up. Dude, especially if you were going, is that something that they think about? Especially if you were going, Hellie was what 33?

You know, Heli give me three years until COSA's 26. And I'm like, here you go. Because you're probably doing that master plan, master plan. If COSA is what I think he is and what most people think he is, are you a all of a sudden, you go, well, COSA is going to be the guy in three years anyway. What if we, God, that'd be actually numbies, Dan. That would be numbies. I just think that we should not, we should stop counting out that. And that Utah feels like kind of a vibe for Hellie.

Yeah. You know? Yeah. I'd be like, hey, dude, go build a log cabin somewhere and see who makes more honey. Yeah. You know? I just, I don't know what to say, dude. I love this team.

Like, they, they've just, I think they've picked well. No one's sleep on Caleb Day or Nay. He's fourth overall pick for them in, what was that, 2025? They, as we mentioned, they got Tej. Fuck, man. Like, this team. See, though, you, this is bullshit because you just got to stroke off the Tuskies, but then you have them fourth so you're not actually bumping anyone out.

And I have them third, dude. I fucking stood on business. And now I have to kick out one of these top three teams. So I'm with you, dude, but they better fucking deliver for me. Otherwise, I'm going to get sued. I'm going to deliver for you. I'm very, very, very, very horny for this team, dude. I think the Utah mammoth, I can't wait to go back.

Put me fucking straight back in the Great American Hotel. Yeah. I'm going to ski my little pee-p off and then I'm going to go and get tusks up. and I'm going to drink dirty sodas, and I'm going to have a fucking... And all the bombs. Hopefully I'm going to run into a fucking... No, what was his name?

What's his name? Anthony, the basketball player. Oh, Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis. Hell yes. That was sick. We're going to run into Anthony Davis again. Incredible. That's what we do. I...

Dude, how are you not fired up about the mammoth? And I think most people are... Most of the math. I'm not saying here being like, people are sleeping on the manton. No one's sleeping on the mammoth. But I'm telling you, the mammoth. I just picked them forth, sure, but it's mostly out of a respect pick of the next three teams coming.

They are going to be challenging for first in the central. I fucking guarantee it. I guarantee it, dude. This is a, we talked about it last year. That team, their new facilities, that barn, that city is a top destination in the NHL. These guys fucking know it. They're going to be drinking the Joseph Smith Kool-Aid and they're going to be fucking buzzing. that brings us to the Minnesota Wild

last year the Wild went 46 24 and 12 finished third for 104 points humiliated CP even though it doesn't count because he didn't know they were going to trade for Quinn Hughes and made the playoffs you are an idiot fool dude and you still have not repented for your sentence on that

well dude they were in sixth or seventh for so long and all the comments were like you're a genius then they actually got pretty good then they got Quinn which does negate the bet completely like I you know you make a prediction before they trade for one of the best players to live. Yep. Anyway, they're about to be pissed in me again.

You ready? Yeah, I know what you're going to do. This year they will finish. Three, two, one, fourth, third. And I'm going to be honest, love the pick by you. Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The wild are awesome.

I love the team. I love so many players on this team. Bill Garin deserves that GM of the year award. but they got worse. Okay. Expand on that, please. I just, dude, I don't think when I was talking about Ryan O'Reilly and being like, put some specky on his name, I feel the same way about Matt Zuccarello. I hate that loss.

There's a few losses I hate. I absolutely hate that loss. I really don't like the motion. Joe loss. Dan, I despise that loss. I really don't like the Jake Middleton loss. I really don't like that. I, and, you know, Shabanov, cool pickup, Coleman. Dude, you know, you know I believe Shabs is a 50-goal guy. Yeah, you do. And he did not deliver for me on the island, but he only, it was his first taste, is a 25-year-old rookie first taste of the NHL. It's different than the KHL, but he is a wizard with the puck. I do, I want to say, I think, in Mosque, what was it, mini-eat-eachers?

Mini Oscoe. Mini Oscoe St. Petersburg. In Minie Oscoe St. Petersburg, under Krill's wing, I think Shabs could actually reach his potential that I have seen. I have seen in the crystal ball. So give me fucking 30 goals from Shabs this year. So I have to have his back. I have to support my boy, but continue.

This team is nasty still. I mean, when you have, we saw a cool jump from Yorov last year that I'm really excited about. I love that player. Boldie is fucking incredible. I love Joel Erickson Eck. Kareil Kaprizaub is Karil Kaprizzav is Karol Kaprizz. of. And you, at the end of the day, you have Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Jonas Brodine, Jared

Spurgeon, and then Olimata and Bogot on the last pairing, most likely, is what I would expect from the D. But that top two pairing is one of the best top two pairings in the national hockey league. You might have the best D pairing in the league. I got to believe you have the best goalie tandem in the league. I don't know that there's, Colorado would make an argument. No, no, no. No, they would definitely make an argument. I'm just saying, I think, yeah, I think Gus Bus and the wall is that's ridiculous

His team is stacked They're stacked They're stacked, but I worry about center They are a I mean Dylan Larkin That would be Numbies

They are they are a center Away from being way more competitive And you just have fucking buzz saws of Dallas and Colorado and Utah. But I want to say this wild team, you said you thought four teams could finish first.

I actually don't. I don't think Utah could finish first. You're dumb. I know. I don't know I'm dumb. Disavow. You're not dumb. Thanks.

You're really smart. But I don't like that take. Utah can't. Minnesota absolutely could finish first. I have something to say about Colorado, obviously later. But Minnesota absolutely could finish first. And dude, I almost put them first.

Obviously, I swung them all the way to fourth. but I almost put them first because this, I passionately believe Quinn is leaving. So this is a okay. I honestly, I might even think Bill knows he's leaving. So he's like, let's just go get it, dude. Like, you've said this a million times. The Quinn move isn't even bad if you make a real cup.

If you're in the cup this year, you got everything you wanted. Absolutely. So I actually think they are going to be fucking all gas, no breaks this season. And for that reason, I wanted to take them first. I have a spicier take later, which is why I swung them all the way back. And like I said, I was trying to avoid the chalk. I very easily could have gone Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah, because that's where you're headed right now.

And it feels like that could happen. But there's a chance. There's like a small chance it goes bad. And my larger argument is what you said earlier, which is I really think these teams are going to be crunched in a little scrunchy, put it up in a ponytail, wrap it around three times, bang, one through four. Yeah. So they'll be right there.

I'm not saying last year I took a shot at Minnesota across the bow. Yeah. I'm not doing that this year. Minnesota is going to be a fucking wagoon and will be a really exciting playoff matchup, whoever they get. So remember when we talk, we spent years on this program talking about the Prezian suitor buyouts that were killing this team. Yep.

They still have three years of those buyouts. Yep. But they're at 833K each. Yeah. So it's really, it's nothing. Money's gone. It's nothing. It is almost alarming that they,

only have 1.1 in cap space. And let me throw something at you. But the team's pretty stacked. They're pretty stacked for sure. But a team, I'm the biggest Joel Erickson Eck guy, probably in hockey. Yeah, I know what you're saying. Other than maybe his family. But you are a little surprised that they don't have a star center.

Star Center. A star center? Because I do think, I think Krill and Boldie are what, top, certainly top 10 wingers in the NHL. Oh, bro. But like, maybe. much higher. So like there you go. There are your two absolute stars on offense.

Boldie's free. Boldie is a great contract. Free. But what scares me a little bit is you have 1.1 in cap space. It does say to krill. Chris. And dude, let me throw some names at you who are up after this year. You have Hartman up at four.

That's like Ryan Hartman will get an. We'll probably get a pay raise. He's only 32, 33. You then have Bobby Brink, who's 25. We like. You have Blake Coleman. You have Nico Sturm. You're fine there.

You have Shabanov. So if he takes a jump. Yeah, right. He scores 30. Yeah. And then you've got Fliggy, Nick Flino. Like that's, you know, I could see Fliggy retiring after this year. But then you have Quinn Hughes, who's going to make 20 million.

dollars if he wants. Yep. And Jared Spurgeon. Like Jared Spurgeon is, I imagine Spurge will play two more years maybe, but also Walshsted. Yeah, dude, dude, like, the Quinn and Walshstead alone are like, you guys are in trouble, not trouble, but like this year is massively important to this team. I saw, and there was a line in one of the articles I was reading that said,

Bill Guerin should polish that GM of the Year award because it could be the only trophy he gets for this run of moves. And deserve it. Deserve it. But this, Dan, is one Heath Ledger push from being like, you're horrible now, and you've lost everybody and you never did anything except one one record. Because losing just Quinn, and this is such a testament to, God, I fucking. I don't want to get too horny on this, this show. But I fucking love that kid so much.

Quinn? Yeah. Yeah, he's a special, special boy. I am such a fan of Quinn Hughes in every sense of the human being. Yeah, it's unbelievable. He's perfect. And it speaks to how remarkable of a player and a human he is that just losing him drastically changes this team. Drastically.

Yeah. So I am here to say, if you do not trade Philip Gustafson right now, I don't know what you're doing. Yeah. And I say that because would it be amazing to have that tandem all year long? Of course. But I just, I don't think, because if you trade the wall, who in my opinion is the better goalie, you only free up 2.2 mill in cap space. You're not really doing anything for you.

But moving Gus's 6.8, full no move for two more years, and he's only 28, 29 years old, that you are getting something. An actual value back. Phenomenal for Gus. I do not see a world how you can't, they have to make a move, right? Do you think this wild team, as currently constructed, can go to the Stanley Cup? Yes. I do too.

but I think you need to make a significant push. Now maybe I'm being stupid and maybe it's like, here's the question, right? That tandem is why they will be able to be so good this year. But as we talk about, and I don't want to hear the Carolina argument because of what Bussie came in and did, you can only play one goalie in the playoffs.

Even with what Carolina did, we have not still not seen a team win the St. Cup where they're genuinely tandeming up until the cup. So I'm like, you got to pick one of them anyway. And this year is everything. Do you not make a move to go, we've got to fucking get better? But don't you just do it at the deadline? Maybe that's what you're saying. But by the deadline, you'll have a good sense of like, okay, we're going wall. So then you move them at the deadline. I just think you've got to do something because I do think they need one good push of, oh, this now we are, this team for sure could win.

Oh yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. But unlike some other teams, I kind of look at this roster, and I don't see any absolutely Shab's, Europe. I'm fucking contradicting myself here, but when I look at this team's construction on offense, I am pointing particularly at Shabs, Yorov, and Bobby Brink as guys that I'm like, they could take a nice jump that would be really helpful to this team. But there's, I don't. don't think there's any of those three guys are guys that I'm going to be like, I'm going to blink and they're going to have 75 points. Do you agree? Yes. I think some other teams do have guys like that. So I wonder if there's a move to make that like all of a sudden boom, you have a 70 plus point star player

on this group. I'm sorry? And you're like, hell yes. Yeah, yeah, that you're like this, oh, fuck, you are now the best team in the Central. Yep. That's all I'm saying. All I'll add to to the wild is before you rip my head off. Maybe finishing. forth and getting bounced into the central playoff or excuse me into the pacific playoff bracket instead of doing your annual let's fuck each other's faces with dallas colorado and minnesota yeah might be helpful so in fact you're welcome that i picked you forth because you can go feast on the oilers or something i do want to take a moment and i hate that i'm about to do this and i'm going to talk about a michigan state guy okay charlie strammell is

a player for this program. Michigan State ledge. Again, fuck you Michigan State, but I will give credit where credit is due. He last year with Michigan State 44 points in 37 games, 19 goals,

25 assists. I'd love to see that guy play on this team. I would love to see him get in this lineup. Me too. And for me, you are filled with so much veteran power that I'm like, give me stramble on this team. He's 21. Like he's, you know,

that's, that's a guy that could just slot right in. And I, to me, I, I want to see him in the top six. Really, I do. That'd be sick. So that could be a very, very exciting. Maybe that is the guy. Maybe stramble comes in. Maybe stramble comes in and you put him with some of these great veterans and you're kind of like this, oh, fuck, we did not see that coming. And Strammel is your rookie that people are like this, holy shit. Always takes one good surprise, you know. Always takes one good like, wow, I did not see that name coming. And then now we're, like, every time some team has a great roster construction,

it's because someone really came in and blew your dick off right away. Yeah. That brings us to the Dallas Stars. Last year, the Stars went 50, 20, and 12 for 112 points, finished second, and made the playoffs. Aye, aye, aye. Ready? Yeah, I think so. are you ready?

You're first. You feel like you're not ready. Oh, I was fucking born ready for this. You're not ready. I've been literally waiting all summer for this exact moment. You're not ready. Um, I am ready.

Your first. And this year they will finish. Oh my God. Three. Wait, wait, wait, wait. You're ready? I've been waiting literally since June 20th for this exact moment. Let me.

And I will. say this again. Guys, I prepare. I prepare, all right? But then all of a sudden you start having some conversations and things get in your head and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Um, I am ready. This year they will finish. Three, two, one.

Second, first. Fuck! I wanted to do it. And that's obvious, dude. And I swear. I swear to fucking God. I think you might be right. I swear to fucking God.

Next year, I am picking Dallas to finish last in the Central if they do not help me out one fucking time. And I'm not saying they had a bad year last year. In fact, they had a fucking incredible year. This is my whole argument. And I don't want to use too much of my avalanche bullets in this section. but the stars are the stars and I know the wild are right on their heels like what was it 112 to or actually no it wasn't it was crazy yeah it's a big gap the stars were pushing the abs for a stretch there where they were pushing the abs for the one seed when the abs were off to

literally the greatest start of all time and it was insane and the stars don't want, they want to limit the central juggernaut. The one seed gets to limit the central juggernaut as much as possible, right? The two, three seeds murder each other and then go on. So the one seed is very valuable. Obviously, the aves know that too. But the stars, dude, didn't really, I forget who we were joking about the Keynes. The Canes did nothing in the offseason. Like, nothing happened. The stars are pretty close. Like, not much happened. You got the Robo deal done or, you know, you kept him for a year. Yeah, yeah. No, that's, you know, yep. And I'm, and I, I'm like, okay, and not that Jason Robertson is going to have a bad year and then not get any money,

but he certainly wants to have an incredible year so he can maximize his money. So I'm very excited about that. Can Sagan give you anything, right? There's some positivity here coming. And most importantly, dude, I'm just going in one more time. Like, I don't know how many years. I am the definition of insanity with Jake Ottinger where I go, this is his vest in the year. But this is his Ves in the year.

It's all happening. It's all coming together. They want the one seed. They, in fact, need the one seed. And I'll save some Colorado bullets for. a second, but this is the time to go. A lot of people are doing the reverse mammoth, where everyone's going, the mammoth are going, the mammoth are going to be so sick this year, and a lot of people are going, ooh, trendy, Dallas could be the odd team out. I think Utah jumps in there,

and Dallas is fourth. They're obviously making playoffs, but as a wild card. And I think it's the exact opposite. I think this Dallas stars year goes fucking nuclear because there was a lot of shit, damn. There was a lot of shit last year that was actually not good that they had. They had a really bad injuries. They had really bad injuries. They had really bad injuries. And Otter, dude, wasn't that good last year. I remember you were, you kept saying like, dude, how's your boy?

Like this stuff, you know, he's, he did not have a good season. So they got injury bug and they got poor play from a goalie who I certainly think is one of the best in the league. If that gets fixed at all, and they did all of that, everything I just said, they were, they were nipping at the heels of the president's trophy afts. Yeah. So if any of that gets fixed, you're, you are the best team. So give me the one seed.

I love it. I mean, there's always a... Wyatt Johnson, Miko Ranton, and Jason Robertson, and Rupertons are, you know, four guys in your top six that's absurd. What a godsend Matthew Shane has been for this team? And then Tyler Sagan and Jamie Ben. Jamie Ben's a funny one for me. Yep.

36 points in 60 games last year. People forget that. Yeah. So he's still, you know, producing. I kind of think they need like a change of guard with this team. I know, but like I would pass. We actually talked about this yesterday with Mark. Shout out Mark.

It's very weird to me when players pass the captaincy to another player when that guy's still on the team. But I am very much a like, do that. I would give that C to a different. person on this team. Who would you give it to? My, I feel like it's Hey, Mero, but I know there's a lot of Dallas fans are like, oh, he's quieter. And like, I don't know that locker room, so I'm not sure. I think Wyatt Johnson is going to have the most nuclear year of all. And dude, and he had a big one already. Yeah, fucking scored. What do you, he scored 45? He's 45 goals. I think so. I think he did. But I think why. You need more five on five, but still. Yeah, 45, 41, 86. Close to perfect

That is moronic. I think 22 years old. I think Wyatt Johnson going to have 100 points this year. Oh, that's insane. I think he's one of the best players in the national hockey. He is. He sure is. This team is everything that can be the number one of, that can be the number one team in the national hockey league. So, yeah.

As I said with these four, I think these teams are going to be separated by pubic hairs, truly. I don't know what, however, I don't know what to say. as far as the we talk about not up or shut up have we not said that for this team the last three straight years

and I will add would you have them oh you had them too dude Dallas could finish one through five frankly as long as they make the playoffs

no way no listen to me I'm not saying I think this team is capable of finishing fifth I'm saying regardless of where they finish this regular season

literally nothing matters except for playoffs for this team oh for one seed doesn't matter the fifth seed sneaking in in doesn't matter you have been firmly in a championship window for a long time. And I'm not going to say you've embarrassed yourself because you've been to several Western Conference Finals, which is, you know, you're right there.

But man, this team is in a, no one cares. And the fans don't care. And neither do the players. The players, the organization, the fans, all that matters is playoffs. So they can celebrate my one prediction. And if that happens, they win the president's trophy, amazing, all good. It doesn't mean dick unless this team minimum makes a cup. So they, They're in the fort. It's good fortune to have those expectations, but it's kind of shitty. You know, it's like, reminds me of the Brady era's where I'm like, wake me up in the AFC championship game, dude.

Like, I literally don't give a fuck until then. And that's what they're in. Yeah, I think both Colorado and Dallas should have a Florida Panthers mindset of exactly that. Yep. You don't need to, we'll get to this with the abs. Yeah. You don't need to fucking win the president's trophy. You don't need to prove anything.

You just need to stay healthy. make playoffs and lock the fuck in. And that, we just talked about Wyatt. I think Wyatt's going to have 100 points this year. I do think, I don't mean to steal any win from your sales. I think that this is about to be a big statement year for Jake Ottinger. That's what I'm saying, dude. And again, I will, this is it.

Dallas. This is it. I've picked Auditor to win the Ves and I have for the last five years. I picked you to be won for the last five years. This year, I'm done. Either do it and play great or I'm picking you to McPlaught, playoffs next year and to trade otter i think i think jake ottinger had by his standards a poor year last year definitely and they still were a wagon that's what that's my whole point dude but i loved the stuff

that he was saying during olympics he was like this is amazing i'm so happy to be a part of this i've won a gold medal but he was like i want to be the guy though like i want to be the starter that mentality is so awesome and sway has that mentality too i i think Otter definitely looks at that 2022, 23 season and is like, that is me, that's what I want to get back to. I think he can do that. Yep. That will be a huge factor. But there's no pressure for Dallas, weirdly enough.

They're in an odd situation with their cap space with Robo. I mean, Robo signing for 12. And if Robo just does what, I mean, what a genius he looks like. Signing for that 12 mil and then seeing all these fucking contracts that are happening. Oh, my God. He could absolutely cash in and go wherever the fuck he wants next year because he's not RFA now. And I think Dallas definitely looks at that and if and when he pops off again. Because realistically, other than very, very low numbers, nothing is coming off their books other than Robo and Sagan.

And that's a lot of money. Yeah. And the Sagan thing helps. Yes. Like you could pay Robo 20. Yeah. You know, like you could. And you could.

and you can still kind of fill some spaces here, but this is a big year for them, and the regular season does not matter. At all. So I love the one pick to me. I look at them as a second to one, but I do, I think Dallas needs a bit of jam this year. And I think they have.

Me too. Me too. I want to see the jam come out, because I think they need to look at what happened to Colorado getting clipped in four against Vegas and being like, why can't we do that? Yeah. And the answer is you can. So. And get the one seed, dude. Like, I know it doesn't matter, but get the one seed. Make it, make your life a little easier. Get the, get the kings in the first round. Yeah, maybe make a little bit of a statement. Yep. Exactly. Which, okay, so that brings us,

if you've been tracking, that brings us to the Aves. Last year, the Aves went 55, 16, and 11 for 121 points, finished first and won the President's trophy. This year they will finish on first. three, two, one, second first. The only reason I went second, actually not the only reason, because the abs didn't lose nobody. There is some losses on that team that matter, which you can get into in a second. But the only reason I went second is because the abs almost feel like the Panthers from a couple years ago. Yeah, where they're like, dude, I don't even want this. Now, the Central is interesting because you go, well, it is inviting a pretty shitty first round

matchup and I'd rather just have an easier first round matchup, but I just don't think they need to go so hard in the regular season. No one's ever trying to lose, but, you know, when you get on one of those historic runs, you do get drunk on it when you're like, let's, let's break records here, boys. But after that insane start, the avs slowed down last year. They were not that good. And someone fucking ripped me for that stat, but it's true. Like, they just weren't miles better than everybody after Christmas or that. That's not saying that they're not good. It's just that they slowed down. And personally, I expect, I think you'd be insane to think I'm wrong about this. We can debate the varying levels.

I expect some regression from the goalie play. Their numbers were stupid last year. Yeah. And even, you know, when Helly went 201, then he comes back to Earth. Um, Mark goes one-90 or whatever. He comes back to Earth. I'm not saying they're not good goalies. I'm just saying sometimes you're locked the fuck in.

And then, you know, it regresses to the mean a little bit. So if the aves aren't as intense And if you get a little bit regression goalie play I could see I almost picked them third Dan The team is too stacked But I almost just went like yeah Who gives a fuck? They probably want home ice

But if the avs finished third this year In a really tight central I wouldn't be that that shocked Yeah I like that take I absolutely agree With what you said about how they're Florida This year in that it's like I think they saw

It's almost funny I think sometimes teams need to get something out of their system. Yeah. They looked at their group last year and, like, we're fucking nasty. Yeah. And they just go and beat the shit out of everybody. That's so awesome.

There is something to be said. Listen, yes, Home Ice is great, but there is something to be said about, like, you just, when you're this good and when you have a great experience, a lot of guys on the team have a Stanley Cup, you don't need to be the first seed. You don't need to make that statement. You just need to make a statement in playoffs. They did lose a lot of guys, as you said. Val Nishushkin, Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Nick Blankenberg, Joel Kivirontah, Zachar, Bartakov,

Yvonne, Yvonne. I never know if it's Ivan. I know, I know. I must be. Yeah. They've lost a lot guys. And last year, Val, in 72 games, 17 goals, 32 assists, low year for him. And he actually played a lot. Yeah. With everything going on. Ross Colton, 73 games, nine goals, 15 assists. Jack Drury, 82 games, 10 goals, 17 assists. Joel Kivirata, 51 games, three goals, six assists. So those are four forwards who we can say the average, 17, 9, 10, and 3. That's an average of like 10 goals. Yeah.

So you're not getting clipped. Now, I think what you know Val has been and can be, that is a player that I think Avs fans are like, I am not thrilled that we lost Val. But you do wonder the question of, well, he's been, he's struggled with staying in the lineup over the last few years. And now you have a situation where you get to go into this season and your top six wingers are going to be Marty Natchez, who has been amazing. Amazing.

I know people want to talk about playoff performances with Natchez. He was great, dude. Well, I think he could be better. Given how good he is. Yeah. I think he could be better. He had 100 points last year. I know, it was amazing.

Like, I mean, you go with NACIS. He did a mourner, though, like, point per game last year in playoffs. Yes, he was good. But I do think. You need more goals. There was a lot of, I don't want to say bitter because you have no reason to be bitter, but there were a lot of Keynes fans chat and shit about him. And I was like, leave him alone, dude.

That's your guy. But yeah, dude, he had 100 points last year in 78 games. Yeah. I think in the playoffs, I'd like him to be a little more. 38 talks. I also need a goal. Yeah, and I need him to be a little better in playoffs, especially when you were the president's trophy winning team. Like, come on, dude. Like, you guys played a lot of games in playoffs. You made it to the Western Conference Final. I'd like you to be over a point per game if you're a 100-point guy. So I think he can be. I think he will be. But you go into this top six-wingers being Natchez, Lekin in who they love, and I think he's an amazing player, Captain Landy and Cadry. That is a good group. That is a very, very good group. So I don't. don't think you look at the new Shushkin thing being like, oh, that's bad for us. I think it's

like, no, Lekhinen is that guy now. Like, you want Lekhinen probably playing first line. And their bottom six is still deep. I love Jaden Schwartz there. I love Nick Gua there. I love Logan O'Connor. I love Parker Kelly. Obviously, their D is incredible. You bring in Burns back and very good tandem and golden. Oh, yeah. 100%. So, 100%. This team is, I would, I would venture to say just as good as last year. Me too. Because you have Cadre all year. Yeah, yeah, fair.

So I still don't think they like took a huge step down. I think they lost some valuable pieces. But you're right, you have cadre all year. I think the goalie play regresses, like I said. But I also think that before the Kale contract, I'm not even going to get into this fight again about the cap going up and all that shit. But before the Kale contract kicks in, it would be whove you to fucking go now. Okay.

Great. great comment because that that is the conversation we are now about to have yep we last year went on these airwaves and said and i'll put it on me i brought it up i think the avs window is i still will hesitate to say closing but it is not wide open anymore and a big part of that is I do, do I think Wedgwood and Blackwood are both going to be nuclear this year? Probably not. And let's be, let's have an honest conversation, folks. This was one of the best teams that we have seen since the Boston team in 23. Yep. You went into the playoffs and beat the fucking wheels off the Kings. Yep. And then handily got through round two and then got pumped by Vegas. You got pants. And let me be, let me be clear. They got, pumped by Vegas. Avs fans, you can get mad and say those games were way closer, but you got pumped. And I say that with those games, like when Ikes ties that game late and like sucks the wind

out of you, that is a bad loss for this team. Yeah. Because as good as Vegas is, you are the president's trophy winning team. You were so good all year. That's not a game you lose. That's not a game you let get tied up in the end. Yeah. So that was a come to Jesus moment for Wedgwood of like you've made it this far.

People were picking the abs in five, the abs in six, and you got swept. That was shocking. So this group is unbelievable. I think they will finish first, but you said it perfectly, given that the window is not wide open. And we had E.J. on the summer and I brought this up to E.J. And he was like, that's correct. Yep. I'm not putting words in E.J.'s mouth.

He wasn't like, the window's closing, but E.J. was like, oh, yeah, dude, they need to win again. Yep. With this group. Like, we talk about Boston all the time and how with that group of Patrice Bergeron, Zadano Chara, David Creachie, Luch at the time, Brad Marchand, obviously, Dennis Seidenberg, you can even bring up again. And them only winning one cup was a huge bummer. Yep. if you have this group and you only win one cup, I think that you would look back and go,

that is a huge bummer, dude. Nathan McKinnon and Kail McCar, no offense, Joe Sackick, are going to go down as the two greatest Colorado Avalanche players of all time. Yep. You have to win more than one cup. Especially when they got it so early. Nate wasn't that young,

but Kale was like fucking 21 or two. What was it? It was like second year in the fucking league, second or third? I thought it was, yeah, it must have been his second. But I thought he won, like, Calder and Khan Smyth, like, all the same fucking year. I mean, it's absurd, dude. Like, Kale has been in the league. It was his, what, they won in 21?

Yeah, that sounds right. Or 22. Yeah, it was his third year in the league. Yeah, yeah. So insane. I'm totally with you. They need to win. They don't care about this.

That's why I kind of have the middling in the central. But I wouldn't be shocked. Here's one for sure, where if they just roll. off another fucking insane season finished with 120 points and win the Central. Again, I won't be surprised at all. They're nasty. For sure. It is just a, I mean, I don't want to be the bear of bad news, but like, Nate dogs, 32. Nate dogs 32, boys and girls. Daddy Brock is 34. Landy, Reborn Landy is 33. Codry is 35. Landy feels good, though. Landis, Landy's actually 30. Yeah, that's true. Devon Taves is 32. Kulak is 32. Manson's 30.

34 and Bernsey is 60. 61. Like, I just, I do think. They do need to win, though, for Burns. Like, I actually need the ass to win the cup. Unfortunately. You know what? I kind of want them to win for Brock, too. Oh, yeah. I really want Brock Nelson to lift a cup.

That would be amazing. This team's amazing. They're awesome. They're so fun. I fucking adore their fans. I adore that city. So I have you finish in first. You don't need to finish first.

Exactly. finishing second. Which is all you need, baby. I think this is a, gotta win it this year. Yep, got to win it. All right, now we're going to pick from the hat. We're saving the planet, not using AI.

If you're just tuning in, if you're a central fan and you haven't listened to the other division previews, go listen to the division previews. Oh, listen, it's exciting. But what we're doing this year is every division CP and I are picking a random team out of the hat in this division that we are going to ride or die with

all season long, no matter what. In the Atlantic, C.P. got the Buffalo Sabers. I got the Florida Panthers. In the Met, CP got the Pittsburgh Penguins. I got the New York Rangers. Now, here we go. Dan, have I ever, ever been more right about anything than the hat? I mean, I could not believe. Half the YouTube comments are about the hat. The Netters fans hate AI. I have never. I got news for you. A lot of people don't like it. I have never been more right about anything than the hat. I think. I think.

think people need to learn that a lot of people are using AI. Well, I think they know that. Okay, do they? I think so. Like, AIs used a lot. I don't use it. I know. I'm what you call a Luddite. By the way, I have really bad news for you because there's, amongst the producers and editors,

there's like a new system that uses AI that is like mandatory to use. You're like, you gotta tell that. It's about to get shoved down your throat. Yeah, I know. I might have to be out, guys. Okay. Put it here. Maintain eye contact.

We're picking our ride or die teams. Here we go. There's a team I really fucking want. It's getting a little intimate over there. I got mine. Me too. Fuck, I hope it's who I want. God, I almost switched this one last second.

No matter what, I'm going to say this is the team I want. You have to show it. Yes, I know. Okay. How do we do this? I'll go first because you went first. for the rags. Okay. I'm going to look first and then I'm going to show you.

That's so typical. Chris's team? The Minnesota Wild. Who I've dogged the last two years. But you know what? Fucking love Minnesota hockey so much and this is actually going to be really fun for me. Let's fucking go wild. Okay.

My team. The Dallas Stars, dude. Wow. Does this take me to the hangar finally? Finally, dude. Stars fans? We got some good teams too here, Dan. Yeah, this is a battle.

Yep. Stars fans, I'm getting a fucking hat. I'm coming down to Texas. That's awesome. Let's fucking go, dude. All right, Dallas Stars. That's my fucking team. All right, that is the division preview breakdown of the Central.

Let's take an ad break and then we'll jump into Fraud Watch and Top Hits and a blind ranking to close this baby out. We are full swing into football season. It comes hard and fast every year and we are here. Your group chats are heating up. fantasy league. I'm in shambles already, but I'm actually doing okay in one league. I'm doing pretty bad in the other league, but it's okay the waiver why I will be my salvation. Everybody's talking about your team. Sundays are all booked, but the real ones know that

rep in your team on Sundays and all week does not have to stop at a jersey because that is where GLD comes in for you. They make clean quality jewelry that instantly upgrades your fit. You can be watching the game at home. You can be heading out with the boys to a bar. Whatever you want, you can put together a look without doing too much, which is what I'm always looking for. And one of the coolest parts of the GLD lineup is their NFL collection this year. How about that? How about them apples? They got pendants featuring your favorite NFL teams built to rep your squad with a little bit more style. You can be rocking chiefs, Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers, any other team, GLD has you covered. It's actually amazing. And it, trust me, it is not

the cheap stuff. It's a real gold. Every stone is hands set. Is that a joke? And the quality is on a completely different level. You see it immediately. You feel it immediately. I have, I have, this is my GLD chain right here. I wear this. maybe every day. It's incredible. It feels good. It looks good. I get so many compliments. The pieces come in different styles and sizes. There's micro, large, giant, everything. You can keep it subtle. You can go for something that really pops. Trust me. And it's not just hype. GLD has over 2 million customers and more than 50,000 five-star reviews. How about that? It's been worn by names like Justin Bieber, Malik Nibbers, who doesn't have a quarterback now, which is a nightmare.

Michael Parsons, Asap, Rocky, plenty, plenty more. And the best part, every single piece. Every single piece you get is guaranteed for life. So if you're getting ready for football season, don't just watch your team, wear your team with GLD. So rep your team all season long with GLD for a limited time only. New customers are getting an insane deal. Use code netters. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S. And you get 40% off, 40% off at gLD.com. That's 40% off with codenetters at gldd.com. After your purchase, they'll ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them our show sent you. We're back. We're jumping into fraud watch and top hits this week. As I mentioned at the top, I had a revelation. I have a second fraud watch this week. Oh, yes, that's right. Who wants to go first? We're going to start with Fraud Watch. I think maybe we end on you so you can double tap it. Okay, cool. Ev, why don't you start? Fraud watch. Cars, man. Oh yeah, this is good, actually. Fucking cars. Fucking cars. People say that boats are fucking money pits. Try a fucking car, pal.

Cars are... Okay. First of all, so everybody you're going to understand, the reason why I was in here Monday is because the gas was leaking out of my car. Now, to be fair, I drive a 1978 Chevy Nova. A lot of things happen to this thing. It's a very cool car. It's a very hot car.

Has no AC. Occasionally at least gas. Quite literally hot. So, well, it was leaking gas because I had a flat tire, and then I had a guy at a tire shop. I paid him $10 cash. He fixed my tire, but he jacked the car up and fuck the tank up. or the line from the tank. Damn, dude.

So this was someone's error. I think so. I mean, I have no way to prove that. Right, fair. But I'm just like looking at like how other cities, especially in other countries have mass transportation. And I'm like, what, like, I was in traffic today and I'm like, literally we're all in this giant fucking queue.

And I would say 95% of everybody doesn't want to go where they're going. But we're all in a big fucking hurry to get there. And I'm like, this is. is just, and like, think about all the deaths on the road, the drunk drivers, the fucking money you spend, all the road repair, and not to mention that's stinky fucking pollution, I don't know. My ran is like, what? Dude, bro says he hates AI. Got news for you, dude.

Waymo's the future. Yeah, yeah. Does that count? You hate Waymos, too? Yeah. Well, here's my problem with AI. This is what I want to tell me. You hate Waymo?

Yeah. Waymo might be the best thing that's ever. Dan, let me ask, Dan, let me ask you. you a question. You don't like homeless people sleeping on the street in front of your apartment, right? No, dude, I thought you were going to just stop at, you don't like homeless people. I was like, no, no, no, no, and I'm not saying, I'm not saying you don't like them because you don't know them as people, but you would say, I don't like the idea of homelessness, correct? I would prefer them to have a home. I would, yeah. Okay. How do you? I prefer them to not be sleeping outside my front door and to be in a home.

Okay, great. Now, I would also posit this to you. You take a job like, I don't know, driving, a car, which is a kind of unskilled labor that maybe somebody who starts in poverty can have. It could need that job. Right. So if you automate, if you set up a system where we say, hey, everybody, you need to make X amount of fucking green paper to live your life. Yeah. That's how the system is.

But now we're going to take every opportunity you have to make the green paper. We're going to automate it. Yep. And we're not going to solve that in-between problem. So what the fuck? What are you supposed to fucking do? We are eliminating jobs. Yeah, it's like if you're gonna, like, as I was telling list, like, I wanted to say this is Zach, but it's like, like, you know how I give medicine to my dog?

You shove it up his ass. Yeah, I knew it. I knew it. No, I give him, I give him cheese. I give it to him in a piece of cheese, but here's a trick. You got to give him cheese over and over again without the medicine. That's what's happening to us currently. Everybody's getting this medicine.

It's like, ooh, it's easy. You don't have to think. You don't have to fucking conjure up an original thought. If you want to come up with a poem or a song, you don't have to sit there and think about any of that shit. You can just have a machine do it for you. That's fun. But then when you go to work in two years and somebody says, hey, guess what? I can get an intern to do your job and I can pay them like nothing or college credit.

And now you don't have a job. And then that person ends up taking a dump in front of Dan's apartment. Yep. Yeah. That's why I don't like AI. Staring me in the face. You're now the geek. Yeah.

Yeah. Fuck. So all that to say is We should have more Public transportation Cars in the road I've seen the train Coming into LAX

I don't think it's in service yet But it's they're running it And I'm like I mean LA is just especially hard Because you can't My thing is like Why don't we have a fucking Mass Transit train

Under the freeway Or over the freeway I think we should take Too long to build But I'm so with you We love trains I'm a big train guy As you all know

Anyway Great one Yeah My And I'm quite sure This is gonna be A me problem because I'm sure there's newer models,

but I've taken down, I've taken down big laundry on this airway before one of my fraud watches was big, was big detergent. Yep. Fucking stop a robin me, dude, you only need this much detergent. Now my, I got a new,

I got another bone to pick with big laundry and it's dryers in general. Dan, you a few years ago were like, you bought a drying rack and you've been like, I'm just going to start air drying clothes like my nicer clothes that I care about. And I was like, that's what a, what a waste of time and space.

I don't need that. And then, I started using yours at the house. And then when I moved to my new place, I got one right away because I was like, this is actually nice. It's great a move. And I realized,

it occurred to me that dryers are, are, like, damaging my clothes. Oh, they ruin your clothes. And then they, and that's kind of like the invisible damage, right? Like, I don't even realize it's happening. But then also, they, if you forget, and this is on me, this is user error,

but if you forget and you put in a piece of clothing that you're like, oh, I shouldn't have put that in the dryer. It comes out in fucking Stuart Little size. And I'm like, well, this is literally ruined. Like, you've literally ruined a fucking sweater of mine that is literally destroyed. I couldn't even give it to loops. I tried to give it to loop. It wouldn't fit loop.

So then that's ruined. And again, maybe this is the newer model solved. But I cannot fucking tell you how many times I opened the dryer and my clothes are still wet. And I'm like, run it again. You overload the dryer. No, Dan, I don't because you've given me this chirp a million times. I assure you I do not. And then are you making sure to clear out the filter?

Yes, I always do. I, I, OCD about that fucking fucking. Okay. And it's just, they're not dry. And it does the fucking dumb thing where it's like three, two, one minutes. Yeah, the eco, the eco dry. And I'm like, dry the clothes. Dry the clothes, but also you're ruining the clothes.

Mine's probably, the one at the. No, that thing's new, dude. Your dryer that you have is new. It's not like an antique, but it's not like brand new, you know? Anyway, dude, I realize the dryer is either ruining my clothes by drying them or not drying them. Yeah, dude. I'm like, that is a fucking horrible combo. It does do a lot of wear and tear on your clothes.

Yeah. Like, over time. Dry is the move, dude. Dyer. Like, if you're, if you're, you can't be drying nice clothes. I actually now think a dryer should be literally for emergency only when you're like, oh, fuck, I actually need this drive right now because I have to wear it in a second. Yeah.

You should pretty much never use it, except when you are in a sticky situation. You got to be hang dry. And if you have the time, you got to hang dry. I'm not by a fucking clothesline. Yeah, dude. It's huge. Driers fraud watch. You bit.

I like it. Fuck them. Yeah. My first fraud watch shows will be quick. Okay. Is Elizabeth Holmes. I think, dude, who is that? I think she's a fraud.

Who is that? Who is that? Who is that? Elizabeth Holmes. Elizabeth Holmes is the founder of Teranos, which was one of the great, dude, you need to educate yourself. Oh, shit. It is one of the great scams in the history of the world. She, like, she created this whole persona, like, she would dress like Steve Jobs.

She wore a black turtleneck and, like, black pants, and she created this, like, medical company that was like doing something to your blood and became a multi-millionaire. And then people realized nothing about her company was real. Amanda Safefried is in a stars in a TV show. Oh, yeah, yeah. What was that called? It was like something dope. The inventor out for blood in Silicon Valley.

Is that a different thing? I'm looking up a lot of different shows here. Let me find this Amanda Safeord show. But of course, Elizabeth Holmes is back in. the news because Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim have made the dropout

the dropout thank you have made a documentary called you can see everything and the documentary is going to be literally the greatest thing I've ever watched in my entire life I'm telling you that right now so the

Teranos founder and fraudster Elizabeth Holmes in her final days of freedom and first few weeks of imprisonment is followed by Oh, so she's busted. Nathan and Lance in this doc. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, she's been in jail. She's been in jail. Yeah. Oh, okay, yeah. So it is like 34 days of her last 34 days of freedom. She agreed to be like, you can come follow me

and shoot this entire document. Does she claim she's innocent but was, bro, what found guilty? So she's, but she's like, this is bullshit or is she like, oh, I did it? Dude, there, you need to watch the, there was a teaser trailer that was released

that has turned into a million memes of her being like, why would I deceive you? Why I wouldn't do anything like that? Yeah, it's a pretty like hot meme at the moment. Yes, but today a full, a full trailer has been released. And it is fucking incredible. It looks like the greatest comedy horror

that will ever be made. And dude, there's a couple of times where Nathan is interviewing her husband. Like, they have a child that's in this documentary. And Nathan is interviewing her husband, and he's like, is there no part of you that feels like you're being deceived and scammed as well? And he's like, no, I trust her completely. And he's like, aren't you rich, though?

And he's like, well, my family is. And he's like... So, again, like, what I want this to be is the jinx. But is there anything to reveal? Or is she like, no, I'm guilty and I did it? Well, she is certainly guilty. She was found guilty. But what is her claim?

There's a moment in this trailer where she's like, like, I don't think I did anything wrong. Okay. And it is remarkable. But the best part about this, dude, is this trailer or this documentary is almost three hours long. It's 174 minutes. And it is rated R and there is said to be graphic nudity in it. And I'm like, what in the fucking world happens in this documentary? You know it's going to be Nathan Fielder. I was going to say, I bet he's hanging dong. Yeah, yeah. It's not going to about what you think. So I can't fucking wait for this, Doc, but I'm putting Elizabeth Holmes on fraud watch because I do, I think she is a fraud. I think she did. Yeah, yeah, I think she did it. Okay, what's your second one? My real fraud or my other fraud watch is lines. Literally the space between two points. Cues. Things like standing in line up in.

Yeah. I have felt this way forever. Yeah, I'm surprised if you haven't said this before. and I am going to take this opportunity to speak to everyone listening and everyone on earth. There is, there are things in life that you need to wait in line for, the DMV. Unfortunately, you know, you need to renew your license. You need to get a light, whatever. There are things that in life you get put in a line and you go, I literally have to be in this. There is nothing on earth that is worth you waiting in line for. if you have a choice. I genuinely mean that. Nothing. Well, there is no food and I'm talking places I love.

I want to give a shout out to a place called, what is it, Mia, fuck, I just sent it to Sandra. Mia Mia Mia, I think it's called. It's a short chicken shorma place here in L.A. I went there and I waited in line for an hour and a half like an idiot because I hate lines, but I love shwarma. And I've been trying to go to this place forever and I had nothing to do this day and I got there. There's a line. It pissed me off. It didn't seem that. long, it was that long. Yeah. And I then ate the shawarma and I went, this is the best chicken sharmma I have had in Los Angeles.

It was awesome. But I stand by. It was not worth my time. There is a fucking frozen yogurt place outside of our place in New York. Yeah. That it's, I think it's called Mimi's. Guys, I cannot begin to describe to you the line outside of this fucking Froyo place. And I walk by it on a Sunday night.

this line is around the block and I oh I can see out our window the people in the line and I timed I looked at one person and I went that is a person that I will recognize yeah and I timed it and an hour and a half went by and this person had not gotten inside the store yet on there is nothing that that frou can do for you that is worth that on a Sunday night yep anytime and dude I wanted to walk to that line and go up to every person and go what are you doing not insult them or anything just go what are you doing what what what what do you possibly think this froyo is going to do for your life to spend an hour and a half plus of your life to get fro you it dude lines are insane and if we as a society

did I just say that it with a thousand yes but it but you fulfilled my my wish from you from earlier yes I got the full yeah if we as a society all of a sudden went like this. Every time I go up to somewhere, this is like food, whatever, and went, there's a line. I'm not going. We would remove lines. Well, yeah, but then you would not get, there's another frio place, I promise. I think there's a line threshold. Yeah. Because, like, I'll wait in like a line with like three people, but I, but I ain't waiting in a line with like around the block. Yeah. For anything. I think we talk about flows all the time. Flows, Hot Dogs York Main. It's the greatest hot dog on planet Earth. I will wait in that line all day

because I know how good flows is, but the best part about flows is even when the line is horrendous, it's never that bad. It's churning. Yeah. It's always moving. Oh, yeah. Yeah. There are lines these days that it's, I feel this way about bars. Yeah. Whenever someone invites me, first of all, I don't go to bars anymore, but if you, if you invite me to go to a bar, I will go like this. Is there a line? Yeah. Because even if there is a five minute line at a bar. I'm like this, you're fucking dreaming if you think I'm waiting in that. There's a billion bars. Yeah, we can go anywhere.

I will look across the street and there's another bar. And I'd go, do they have alcohol? Yeah. Then I'll go to that one. I don't, it's insane. What you're right about is nothing is worth it to wait in line. But, and I don't think you meant this, but sometimes the first thing it pops in my mind is like getting into Coachella.

I'm not saying Coachella's worth the line, but there is a line. That's the way it works. I will be forced to wait in a line that I will eventually get through and get in. That one, I know people could fight me on this, but when I said there are things that you need to wait in line like a DMV. That one and a line for a ride at Disney World. Yes, yes. You have already bought, you have invested money into going to that event. That line, I consider something that you need to.

I got a sidecar this for you, though, because I'm just going to warn everybody. It's the season. Halloween Horn Night is a fucking fraud. because of the lines. Oh, interesting. And unless you want to drop the major dough to do the fucking skip the line thing, when you go to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, it's like, cool, I'm going to wait for an hour and a half to do a haunted fucking

house experience that lasts like two and a half minutes. It's brutal. Absolutely not worth it. Do not go. And that's kind of my, I know that there are awesome rides at Disney World and Disneyland and shit, but I'm like, dude, there are a billion rides here. Run around the park and go on as many rides as you can that don't have lines. Yeah.

And I do respect at universal and stuff When there's like attractions in line That's I appreciate when they do that But dude I'm telling you man Like things like food and bars Waiting in line is the biggest waste of your time There's nothing more valuable on this earth than your time Yeah stop giving it to lines

Yeah Megan and I have a rule we don't do lines If we're going to a restaurant there's like Oh there's the line's like not gonna go Yeah it's smart it's a great rule Okay quickly my top hit this week yesterday at 5.05 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. You know what began? Fall. Fall. Fall. My top hit, it's not what you think.

Oh, fuck. Summer. Is candles. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Big candle guy. Huge candle guy. I love candles because I got a strong nose and I love nice scent, so I always love my place or wherever I am smelling nice, so I love lighten a candle. here in L.A. We get more of fall than people think. You can go to certain areas of fall and really actually feel fall. There's that shout out McLaughlin Street in Marvista. True. Dude, unbelievable foliage.

Unbelievable. Yeah. Pasadena does fall very well too. But we don't get a nice crisp New England fall. Yeah. And I miss it. Uh-huh. And I went out and I bought a nice fall-scented candle, lit it in my place yesterday. and as I was cooking dinner,

Alice and I were cooking dinner, I felt very autumnal, and it was lovely. And I like how not only can candles really pump up a nice scent wherever you are, but they can also make you feel things. Candles can transport you, they can transport you.

I think it's called Homestick is a candle company that you can design a candle from where you used to live and it's meant to smell like where you're from. Yes. But I'm, Lee Yankee Candle, you are my goat forever always. But if there are any candle companies out there, show your boy some love. Oh, Flamingo Estate. Is that a candle company?

Well, they do different fragrance stuff. They have like house cleaners, but they're very fancy and expensive. But if you want like a good gift for somebody, Flamingo Estate. If there's anyone who works for companies that make candles or a candle company, or if there are any candle companies listening, I'm forever in your debt. I would love candles. I love them so much. Send them our way.

I rip through candles, so I need you. I love candles. I wish there was a way to make them burn more efficient. I know you just got to let it burn so it gets across the whole thing so you don't tunnel it. But I almost wish it was just designed a little better to make more even candle burning. I think I can crack. Multiple wicks. You watch a couple of YouTube videos.

There are people who are like, if you have a jarred candle, there are people who will tell you exactly how to do what to do with your. I mean, the number one rule is the first time. you light a jarred candle, you have to let it go for the wax memory. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. You fuck with potpourri? I actually do, big time. I do like potpourri because it looks nice as well. But sometimes

there's a potpourri that smells that I don't love the smell. Sometimes it's like, oh, I'm in a grandma's bathroom. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It smells too old. That's association. They apparently related to Universal Studios, apparently they made a candle that smells like the E.T. ride. Have you heard about this? I was like,

I don't remember that being so specific. That smells like the E.T. ride? Yes. Fuck yeah. I'm really curious. I was on the E.T. ride once when I was a kid. Wait, where's the E.T. ride? Is that universal?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's like a... Not here. No, no. I think they closed. I know it's at the one in Florida. They might have had one here, but they shut it down. I love it. Yeah. Anyway, there's a candle.

That's a guy. I got to get it. It takes me right back. All right. What's your top hit, Ev? Or no, is it me? It's me. It's me. It's me. Okay. mine is secret handshakes. And I think it's common trope in like movies. Shout out Spider-Man.

And yeah, like all the best friends have a secret handshakes. Yeah, right. And there's always secret handshakes. But then I was watching a football game the other day. Baseball is a huge one, right? Like a guy hits a home run and he comes back. And baseball especially is cool because usually he has 10 different ones. And then I saw a guy scored a touchdown and he like walked up to ride receiver and did his thing.

And then the quarterback walked up and they did their thing. And I was like, that is actually. really fun to have a thing with each of your friends. You know, you see that in sports, mostly in movies. It's usually you and the one guy. But I actually think it's money when you walk up and I'm like, oh, damn, what's up? And we're like, and then I'm like, oh, and you're like, God, I have my little thing with all my boys. And I just think that's really cool. I only ever see it in sports and shows and I need it in life. Yeah. Did we stop doing it collectively? What happened? And because, dude, we clearly were doing it as people, which is how it got into pop culture. You know, they're like,

Oh yeah, you do your handshake with your boy. But then I'm like, now it's so in pop culture that it's not in real life anymore, and it should be because you should have a secret rip with all your friends. Very cool. Very cool. Like bring back handshakes amongst the bullets. Couple steps with each boy, and then you're like, now you're firing. Do you think maybe it started like in the World War II era when you had like secrets

and you had to be like, oh, a spy and I need to know the secret. I like that. There's not as much espionage in our lives. We should bring back espionage too. Yeah, maybe then we'd have a reason for the secret handbook. I'm into it, dude. I'm into it. Like that.

Ed? My top hit was, this is related to my rant about how cars are a pain in the ass financially and environmentally. But trains. I'm on trains. I was thinking about like every train ride I've had has been awesome. Yeah. Like I, and granted, I've never been in a horrific train accident.

But statistically, those are pretty low. Yeah. Yeah. But the fucking last time I was on a train was the Pacific Surfliner down to the Anaheim game. It's just so fucking chill, man. being able to, I do a lot of stuff after work, so sometimes I feel as though I need a car. Yeah.

My golf clubs are in the car or something, but I will say when I am in New York, with my old TV job when I would go there, being able to just train back and forth to work and either get work done or just read or whatever and just not think is so sick. It's great. When we leave Sweden and fly home from Copenhagen,

it's like a 15-minute drive to the train station, we hop on a train, it takes us right to the air. Yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, I mean, like we trained all over. Italy. I'm sure you guys did too. It is so depressing to me that there is not a easy train to LAX. I know. Well, we're almost there. I know. I know. Can you imagine how awesome that would be to take like a five minute walk? It's going to be amazing. But didn't we talk about there?

There's a train right outside my place. And if I could just grab, literally walk my bags five minutes to train pop on it and I'm at LAX in 20 minutes, that would be incredible. But isn't the issue though that like the train at LAX like dumps you like half a mile away and they get you on a bus I'm like God damn it dude I just like nothing against buses but like every yeah every time somebody was

and wants to involve a bus in my life I'm like get the fuck out of here lines are to you guys as buses are to me yeah I I'm sorry I'm people are going to say are you too good for the bus yes I am I am objectively too good like no I'm out on the bus too no no the train is like a

bus that fucking runs on time and isn't encumbered by traffic. Yeah. Like that's all it is. Like a bus is like all the worst things of every part. Always sunny nailed the bus. Like the buses, the creatures are on the bus and it's a scary place. Not on it. Not on the bus.

But up on trains. We're up on trains, guys. I love it. All right. And close us out with a blind ranking. What do we got this week? All right. So as you were so accurate to...

He's doing something about fall. Mention earlier. Yes. today is the first day of fall, right? Which means this air is tomorrow, so tomorrow will be the second day of fall. And now our sunlight is going to dwindle and dwindle. See you later.

And we're going to need more candles. We're going to need more pumpkins by shit. Are we still doing, is this the year that daylight savings is over, or do we still have it one more year? I don't know what happened with that. I don't know either. I think we voted it out permanently. We did, but even when you vote something out,

it's like, okay, in five years we'll put it into effect. It never happens quickly. So we're going to blind rag some fall activities. Okay. This is some fun shit. that if you have a girlfriend or a wife, they probably want to make you do, which is great, and I love. Hold on.

It says, yes, daylight savings time will end as scheduled in 2026. Yeah, so I think, like, I think we're done. Ain't no more. Well, let us shift the clocks again. Lock your clocks in permanently. Does that mean we're going to be waking up in darkness until 8 p.m.? Sick. I want, yes.

All right, okay. All right, so blind rank fall activities, yeah. Blind ranking fall activities. Here we go. Number one, Apple, Pittsburgh. See, I actually like apple picking. It gets a really bad rap. Do you know why I like apple picking?

I don't know why it gets a bad rap. It's awesome. We went raspberry picking in Sweden just recently, and it was fucking phenomenal. You get to eat raspberries while you do it. You get to eat apples while you do it, and then you get to make an unbelievable amount of things from them. So here's what I think, why it gets a bad rap. One, you get so many out, you never use these apples ever. Like maybe you make a pie, but you're like, oh, I got 30 apples.

I'm like, what am I going to do with this? Two, I actually don't love apples. I like apples, but I'm not so excited to pick one and start eating it. So right now you're going, Chris, sounds like you hate apple picking, but I will tell you what, every single time I've got apple picking at the home base, at the little lodge HQ, there is quite literally always apple cider and donuts. Yeah. And I fucking love apple cider donuts.

So it's an automatic freebie for those, so I love apple picking. So when it comes to berry picking, I actually think I could pick an unlimited amount of raspberries and I will eat them all. And you can make jam, you can make pie, whatever, whatever. But I agree. Apple picking, we need to retune our brains into, don't pick that many. Because what are you going to do? You're going to make an apple pie.

We don't have the ability probably at home to make apple cider. Yeah. Do you have Apple crusher? I mean, I suppose if you have one of those awesome juicer things, but maybe pick less. I like apple picking, but I am going to go for here. Ooh. I, dude, fall activities, bro. I could go five.

I guess I really only am doing it for the donuts and cider. Yeah. But maybe three. Dude, you just go to the store and buy some donuts and cider. No, it's better at the lodge. I agree, it's better. But better at the lodge. I agree it is.

But it's not exclusive. Okay, I'll begrudgingly go four. I could go five if you want. Let's go four because I love, I love cider. Okay. Okay. Next one up is pumpkin patch. Five.

A pumpkin patch. Wow. For sure, five. Am I five? fucking five years old? Are you out of your mind? What am I doing at a pumpkin patch? They have beer. Are you crazy? A pumpkin batch? I'm an adult man. What am I doing in a pumpkin patch? I don't have kids. I'm not fucking sitting in a pumpkin patch picking pumpkins. You think picking apples is fun. What am I doing with a pumpkin? That is insane. This is the easiest five of my life.

A pumpkin patch? If you don't have kids and you go to a pumpkin batch, you should be arrested on the spot. That is to catch a predator 101. See an adult man walking around a pumpkin batch by himself? Are you crazy? Dude, put that guy in Guantanamo Bay. That is nuts. Five, pumpkin

patch. What are we doing there? Oh, my God. Are you kidding me? This wasn't meant to be something you do on your own. They have beer. That is fucking nuts. Yeah, so does a bar. I don't need to go to a pumpkin batch. There's lines at the bar. Yeah, but that's not a fall activity, Dan. Oh, dude. You guys are

Crazy. A pumpkin batch. Five. You make that five? Jesus. All right. God. You might be disappointed in that choice. Okay.

Next one is celebrating October Fest. Oh. That's really good. With the fellas. And we all dress up. We put the leader hosens on. Do the dance. And then we're drinking pot.

We're doing the Steinhold. Yeah. How hard can you? Oh, get that shoulder up. Has that not one? I think it could be. but what if there's like I don't want to say anything

I can't skewed to this two let's go to October because Evan said celebrating October Fest not going to October Fest if it was going to be one genuine October Fest

that would be one Celebrating is a movie Well every fucking town has an October Fest thing But it's not as good Yeah but I'm yeah I mean you But they are still sick

Yep Let's go two Two and it's awesome Yep Okay okay Here we go A hayride well Dan there's haunted ones

there's haunted hay rides and those are fun as fuck haunted hayrides are cool I cried on one of those ones as a kid some guy came over with a chain's got no chain on it obviously yeah and I was like Jesus fucking Christ get him out of here get him out of here

listen I can't rage against a pumpkin patch and then not say that there are downfalls to a hayride because you are stuck on a hayride but you can do a haunted hayride and that makes it a little more fun mushroom gummy going on to Hayride. I would ideally have apple picking above this, but

we'll go three here. And we're going to roll the dice. And we're going to roll. No, this is going to be a lock one. There's two that could come that I'd be pretty happy. This is going to be a lock one. So Hayride is going to be three. What's our number one? Exploring a corn maze. Fuck! That might be worse than the past! That's not a

fall activity. Yeah, it is. Yeah, it is. Name any other fall activity. Watching football. That's not an activity. That's sitting, you could, that's sitting on your ass. Football is a fall. Playing football on the lawn, I would say.

That would have been sick, throwing the football out. I wanted. Thanksgiving, you could have said thanks. I would have accepted. It's not an activity. That's a holiday. I wanted trick-or-treating, like either handing out candy or doing it as a child. And, um, carving pumpkins.

I had pretty hard. Oh, yeah, you're right. Carving. Carving. I fucked this up. I was on there. No, no. No, dude.

That's the point of the list. These are all, sometimes we got to do a blind ranking and some, they're bad. That was better than our last one. Most of these activities are bad. And October Fest should should have been one. And fucking hellficking should have been two. Yeah, I thought, I thought getting together with the fellas and watching football, that is a fall activity. I thought that was going to be on here. Shout out cider and donuts. Shout outside and donuts. And pumpkin badge can go kick rocks. That's going to do it for our episode today. We've got some fun stuff coming for you guys. Make sure to tune in all the sci-fi section episodes are absolutely humming. People are loving them. We're

having a blast. Make sure to tune into those. And we've got an amazing interview top of next week. You're not going to want to miss. And we will round out our division previews as we get ready for the season. By the time that episode comes out, it'll be the talk to you. The season will be starting. So we love you guys. Have an awesome safe weekend. Enjoy all these episodes, all the content. We will see you next week. Until then. Skate Hard.