Empty Netters Podcast - Connor Bedard & Macklin Celebrini Are THRIVING w/ Michigan State's Porter Martone

Starting point is 00:00:00 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.

Starting point is 00:00:24 Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas is right into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready, and we are back with another episode of the M. Netter's podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers, fresh and tan like a golden cookie back from Mexico, sitting here with producer Sean, the Irish wonder. And to my left, he has two degrees to his name, but he couldn't even get a job at Chipotle. Chris Power. As always, that's true story.

Starting point is 00:00:52 True story. You were overqualified. Well, that's our, that's our opinion. But no one said that. No one said, sir, you're overqualified. They said, sir, you kick rock. Sir, kindly leave. Don't even get something.

Starting point is 00:01:06 Yeah. I don't even want your business. Don't look at it. Get out of here. Sean, there's a once a funny story when we first moved to L.A. And Chris was trying to get, we were like all trying to get jobs. We were trying to work in the movie biz right when we first got here, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and it was hard. And then we were talking to our parents who know nothing about the industry and came from a different era.

Starting point is 00:01:28 And they were like, print out your resume, drive to these movie studios, walk right up. to the front door and say, I'm not leaving here without a job. And Chris was like, you know what? Hell yeah. And he did that. I think it was Paramount was the first one you went to Paramount Studios, arrived, got to the gate. And the man at the gate was like, who are you? Who are you here to see? Chris goes, I'm here to see the head of the studio. Mr. Paramount, please. I'll talk to Mr. Paramount. I've got my resume here and I'd like a job. And he was then promptly escorted off the lot by security. It was awesome. So different time.

Starting point is 00:02:05 Different time. Different time. Back in the day, you could walk right up to Mr. Paramount's front door and say, and I'll be your next in command, sir. And he would have made me, he would have been my mentor. Hey, I would have been his protege. CP, 30 years ago, you'd be head of the studio, right? Correct.

Starting point is 00:02:20 Unfortunately, we live in a different era. But the era we are in is a perfect way to start this episode. We've got a lot to talk about. We've got an amazing guest, stud freshman Porter Martone of the Michigan. State Spartans, the number one in the country, Michigan State Spartans, I should say. Dominant. Six overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers joins the podcast. That interview will be later on.

Starting point is 00:02:44 We talked about a new era. First talking point at hot ice here. We might be in a new era of the NHL. Young stars are dominating the league right now. Right now. And it actually, it snuck up on me in two ways. it snuck up on me how good everyone is already. And two, I knew they were good, but still didn't realize how many points they had. Like I went, oh, you're having a great year to a lot of guys.

Starting point is 00:03:17 And then I went to the stats sheet, to the game notes. And I went, oh, you're having it tremendous. You were having a league leading year. Tremendous year is what you would say. Really amazing stuff going on in the NHL. Facts of the matter are. We're. We are over 20% of the way through the league, through the season. And I've said before, we've got to get to 20 games. Yeah, you always say 20 games. But I don't know, man, I'm ready to start talking. 20% through the season, I'm ready to start talking.

Starting point is 00:03:50 It's no longer early in the season to the point where people go, it's early in the season. That's 10 games in. We're seeing trends. Now, it's trend time. We're in the season. It's trend time. No doubt about it. Nathan McKinnon has taken back the league lead after a shit pumping of the Edmonton Oilers,

Starting point is 00:04:10 which we'll touch on in many ways later. And last night had five points in a five-four win. Two goals, three assists, leads the league in goals and points. And this segment was going to be even cooler if he hadn't done that because these guys were going to be the top three guys in the league. But then Nate Dogg went like this. S my D. True. Look how good I am.

Starting point is 00:04:32 Which is so good because I have a question for you later, but continue. Yeah, Nate took the lead back with 29 points, but right after that, we've got Leo Carlson, 25, Connor Bardard with 25, and my son, Macklin Celebrini with 24. This is now a four, five day stretch where Connor, Mac, and Leo have been in the top five in points. Probably more than that, search. And also, everyone, keep in mind, we are. We're recording on Monday. There's a, there's a,

Starting point is 00:05:04 we got a, a mini frenzy day today, a lot of games today. So things will change, but these guys are on fire. And, no, wait.

Starting point is 00:05:14 It's only four games today. There's just kidding. There's only four games. But things will, things are good, things could change. It's good, things could change.

Starting point is 00:05:20 Um, so it is officially a trend. And it's, it's unbelievable with what, with what we're looking at here, we've got these things. these three kids who are all under 22 years old. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:05:36 Who are just lighting it up. It's unbelievable. So I have a bunch of thought exercises from this that I want to talk to you about. One, let's talk international implications. Okay. You're jumping way ahead for me here, but that's okay. I like it. Okay.

Starting point is 00:05:55 No, let's do it. International implications yesterday during hockey talk. All anyone wanted to talk about was, let's keep it with Canada for now. Do Connor and Macklin make Team Canada and go to Milan? Now, I want to say that obviously we love both these players, and I will not hide my bias. We have a close personal friendship with Macklin. He is my blood. He's literally my child.

Starting point is 00:06:25 So obviously, I am going to pump his tires as much as human. And can I read you this was NHL.com, October 29. 9th. Absolutely. So this just came out, you know, two weeks ago of their projected rosters, and I'll just do the forwards for argument's sake. Sam Bennett, Anthony Sorrelli, Sydney Crosby, Brandon Hagell, Nathan McKinnon, Bradmarsh, and Mitch Marner, Connor McDavid, Braden point, Sam Reiner, Mark Schifley, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson. And the notable omission was Seth Jarvis, which is insane, which is insane with the addition of Suzuki, right? And Wilson? Or no. And Wilson.

Starting point is 00:07:03 Anne Wilson. So just think about, as you're having this conversation and you are listening in your car at home or whatever, think about the names that are already omitted without even those two being named. Correct. So unbelievable players just listed. And, yeah, like Seth Jarvis, not on. We're about to say, we're about to have a conversation about Mac and Bedsy. And I'm like, Seth Jarvis just got cut. So here's my take on these guys.

Starting point is 00:07:32 Now, obviously, Connor Bredd and Macklin Sellebrini are are tied for second, Connor Bred, and fourth in the NHL in points right now. They are both playing out of their minds phenomenal hot. They are both on teams that are probably not making the playoffs. Yep. And Blackhawks fans will get into that.

Starting point is 00:07:55 We'll get into that. There is no doubt that these guys are obscenely talented. I also want to say Olympic ice is a thing and people keep saying how much they're going to be flying around on Olympic ice. You want guys,

Starting point is 00:08:10 water bugs like that who are buzzing around. And I think a lot of people have always talked about particularly last year how good Macklin's 200-foot game is. I want everyone to hear loud and clear. Connor Bardard, I think,

Starting point is 00:08:23 has been fantastic. 200-foot. He's improved his defensive game. We saw that amazing takeaway goal he had against Calgary. Yeah, God. nasty beautiful beautiful stuff now where I will I don't want to say advocate for them not making the team but where I will show understanding if they don't make the team I'm not an old guy

Starting point is 00:08:44 never have been yeah and when it comes to Olympic rosters I'm usually always on the side of like dude don't give me a break with this take this 36 37 year old player who's got Olympic games under his belt and this and that, get the young guys. I'm so heavily on that. What I think people need to consider is I look at Bedard and Macklin playing center.

Starting point is 00:09:14 That's their preferred position. I've said a bunch of times. I think Bedard should be a win. And frankly, if they're going to make the roster, that's probably where they belong. When you look at the centers on Canada's roster, be simple with

Starting point is 00:09:30 McDavid, McKinnon, and... Sid. It's like, where do these guys fit if they're going to play center? And then you bring up a guy like Suzuki, who I think when we're talking about a full game, I do probably think Suzuki is above them still. I know that these guys have more points, but Suzuki's right behind him. Yeah, he's any right there. And he's just like, he's looking very, very, very, very... He's got second in the league and assists. So, so I think my, My big thing with these guys is if you want to win a tournament like this, you look at four nations, you do have to think about the talent on other teams like USA and Sweden and the guys that you're matching up against, you need to roll four lines. And that is why you do want a guy like Sam Bennett, a guy like Tom Wilson, a guy like Anthony Sorrelli, who are just really, really talented and experienced players in terms of playing every role and playing every role and playing a guy.

Starting point is 00:10:30 against other teams best lines. I know Mack and Connor are doing that, but are you shutting down those best lines? Not really. That's why it's a conversation. That's why you need a guy like the people we just mentioned. And I do think I saw a few people online being like Brad Marchand is going to be on the outside looking in. I understand that from an age perspective,

Starting point is 00:10:53 but I also don't understand that when you consider the Florida Panthers picked up Brad Marshand. And if not Sam Bennett, it probably was Brad Marshand winning Khan Smyth on that team last year. Correct. And he's now leading the team. Obviously, the Panthers are struggling and they have guys like Kachuk and Barkoff out of the lineup, but he's leading the team and points.

Starting point is 00:11:12 And I'm like, you want Brad Marchand off this team? Yeah. And that's another guy. You have guys like Sid and guys like Nate who are certainly like, no, Brad needs to be on this team. So it's a really fun conversation. These two are absolutely going to be considered. and if not make the team, it's just, it's way harder than it looks.

Starting point is 00:11:32 And I think there are just fans, Blackhawks fans, Sharks fans, who, especially some of these, these Gen Z fans who are like, they literally stab you in the jugular with a shiv, if you say anything bad about these guys. And they want to see them on the team. And I know people go, oh, it's good for the game. Listen, four nations, it was good for the game. The Olympics is going to be good for the game, for sure. But, dude, the Olympics is the Olympics.

Starting point is 00:11:55 Yeah. And I promise you, these guys care more about winning gold than they cared about winning fucking foreign nations. So I don't care how good it is from an optics and rating standpoint of having someone on the team over another, winning gold is all that matters. Correct. So if they don't make it, that's why. At Medcan, we know that life's greatest moments are built on a foundation of good health,

Starting point is 00:12:18 from the big milestones to the quiet wins. That's why our annual health assessment offers a physician-led, full-body, checkup that provides a clear picture of your health today and may uncover early signs of conditions like heart disease and cancer the healthier you means more moments to cherish take control of your well-being and book an assessment today med can live well for life visit medcan dot com slash moments to get started uh yeah dude and this uh they they are going to make so many Olympic teams. It's so fine. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:12:53 But if they earn it right now, then they should be on it. I'm not saying, like, to counter yours slightly, I'm not being like, well, don't, they shouldn't make it because they're young and whatever. I'm like, the best team should go, period. All I want to say to people is I talked a lot of shit about Bedsie, especially last year at Four Nations, when people were saying, dude, we posted our projected rosters. and there was chaos in the comments about how could Connor Boudard not make this team. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:13:23 And those people I told them were literally embarrassing themselves. You have embarrassed yourself. Correct. That you would say this out loud. 100% 180 degrees take this year. You want to have the Conner Badaugh conversation? Let's fucking have it. I don't think he's going to make it if you want my pick.

Starting point is 00:13:43 But I'm telling you, he's absolutely worthy of the conversation. and if he does make it, it is not going to hinder Team Canada in any way. Yeah, and it's funny because I'm like, I'd put him on a wing. Yeah, you know, same, so for sure. It's nuts. Let's, let's, before we abandon this,

Starting point is 00:14:00 we're talking about international player. Yeah. I wanted to point out, Leo Carlson, you know, he's same amount of points as Boudard. He is Team Sweden's one C. Ping. Ping. Isn't that nuts?

Starting point is 00:14:15 Dude, that's what they, that's what they said he was going to be. That's what's crazy. They were like, that's the guy. When we did our rosters for four nations, we had him. We were like, yep, he obviously made the team, but we were like, he's going to be on the team. He's probably going to be like that, you know, that 17th forward. Did I do that math right?

Starting point is 00:14:34 No. Nope. That 13th forward, Jesus Christ, what's wrong with me? That 13th forward. But, like, you look at centers down the middle of this group, and it's like Elias Pedersen, Eric Seneck, Elias Lindholm. Mika Zabanajad. And I'm like, oh, it's Leo.

Starting point is 00:14:49 Leo Carlson is your one C. And I'm like, you put Leo Carlson on this team with, on, you know, that first line with like, fucking Adrian Kempi and Willie Nealander. Jesus Christ. God, that is disgusting. Yeah, that's going to be sick watching him thrive there. So, listen, as we said, Nate Dogg leading the league in points. He's had two back-to-back insane games. But it is so cool seeing these young guys who.

Starting point is 00:15:16 who are so high on the list. Leo, Connor, Maclin, right in a row at two, three, and four in the league in points. It's truly unbelievable. Cutter Gautier in 15th. Dude. Matthew Nyes in 16th. Wyatt Johnson in 17th. It's the new era is not taken over yet.

Starting point is 00:15:35 Of course. But it is here. So this is the thought exercise I wanted to have with you about that. Okay. I have a Connor Bred rant. Oh, yeah. Do that. And let me know if you want that now.

Starting point is 00:15:44 I want it now. I want it now. Okay, my Connor Bredd rant is this guy has taken heat. He has, you know, had naysayers. He's had people saying that they don't like his game. He's too small. He's this. He's that.

Starting point is 00:16:02 And we have been, I don't think either of us have ever been naysayers, but we have been happy to be like, listen, there are arguments to say he's not doing this. He's not doing that. Connor Baderd through 164 NHL games. This is going to be sick. Okay. 52 goals. 94 assists.

Starting point is 00:16:29 146 points. Eight game winning goals. Sick. Okay, ready? Here's another player through 164 games. 48 goals for less goals. 98 assists, four more assists. 146 points, exactly the same points, eight game winning goals.

Starting point is 00:16:50 Do you want to guess who that player is? No. I have no. I mean, it's going to be sick, obviously. That player is Patrick Kane. Wow. Wow, that's extra cool, too. The greatest American hockey player to ever live, in my opinion, and one of the great great black hawks of all time. And the golden boy of the last 20 years.

Starting point is 00:17:15 through 164 games the exact same amount of points the exact same amount of game winning goals four off on goals and assists I've always said Benzies assists are so sick too that's what makes him fucking good I just want to take a moment to every Blackhawks fan

Starting point is 00:17:32 of which there are a lot I think Twitter is funny these days where it's like you get if you get on something like I started tweeting a lot about the Blackhawks the last several days and now the whole feed is just Blackhawks young Blackhawks fans are lunatics for Connor Bedard.

Starting point is 00:17:49 Like it's people are saying like generational. And I'm just like every, I'm here to say right now, let it rip, baby. You deserve every moment of this, of enjoying this, of screaming from the rooftops, how good Connor Bedard is. Because as we talked about weeks ago, his attitude, his vibe, the smile on his face. Yep. he's having fun and it's making me have fun. And he is literally, through 164 games, the exact same pace as Patrick Kane. So, dude, you have earned every single moment of being fucking gassed up about this kid.

Starting point is 00:18:29 It's awesome. Especially because we have the conversation of, man, is he ever going to be a 50-goal guy? Maybe not. That was always his hype. And now I feel like it's not there. And by the way, even if he isn't. We said yes to 50. It was 60 that we were like, can he get 60?

Starting point is 00:18:43 Even if it isn't that, though, even if it isn't 50. He's like, I'm a 40, like, no one's mad about Nikita Kutrov's fucking 100 billion point seasons when he has 30 goals on a ton of assists. Whatever you want to do, be productive. And at the very, at the end of the day, Connor Bardarte has been very productive to start his career. This is what I wanted to thought, exercise you on. Yeah, hit me. I joked the other day, like, life comes out you fast, the NHL, Lane Hudson was like, I'm the greatest young defenseman in the league. And then Matthew Schaefer, the next year is like, I'm also very good.

Starting point is 00:19:11 Yeah. And I was laughing about not to open up this fucking can of worms again. Somebody, after we posted the Cooch Ovi thing, somebody commented, is Cooch going to finish as a top 10 all-time player because Ovi is unarguably top-10 all-time? And I didn't respond,

Starting point is 00:19:31 but I remember thinking, okay, well, universally everyone is like, Wayne, Mario, Gordy, Bobby. I can't even. I'm not, I'm not telling you right now.

Starting point is 00:19:43 I won't have this conversation with you. I'm saying Ken even in the hyperbolic sense because we got into this last year with Capps fans. Yeah, right. And I do want to say there's a little bit of fatigue when we talk about Ovi because Ovi has not been, there was that stretch for five, six years where Ovi was the greatest player in the league

Starting point is 00:20:04 and I don't even think it was even with Cid. Yeah. But it was just because of like how much of a mutant he was. But he hasn't been that in so long. Right. And Sid is over here just being like this like 80 points, you know, 90 point season, 90 point season, 90 point season. Yeah. So this is why I bring it up though. When I was doing this in my head, which I was never even going to make public, but you have those four, right? Then you have like Yager Messier. No one would fight you there. Then you have like, Sid Connor. I'm already at eight. And then I started to get into these conversations in my brain of, well, kale will be, Nate will be, blah, blah, blah. So I'm like, okay, so if I had responded to this guy, which I didn't, but now I am. I was going to be like Ovi is nowhere near unarguably top 10 all the time. I don't even want to have that fight.

Starting point is 00:20:49 The fact that there are people who think he's on Mount Rushmore. I'm like, what? But here was my thought. I go, oh, man, you know what we might do, though? Because this was as Nate and Kail were coming into my head. Can I blow your mind right now? Yeah. Kail McCar is right now better than Ovi.

Starting point is 00:21:03 Well, dude, this is, bro, this is what I was thinking. Kail McCar is literally the most fake life human being involved. Did you see his points, by the way? Dude, he has six goals and 22 points in 16 games. Mero is next of 14. Kail is on the Mount Rushmore of defensemen, dude. Remember when we did that the other end? We were like Bobby Ray Nick.

Starting point is 00:21:24 Bobby Ray Nick. And we were like, I'm going coffee. I'm going coffee. And I'm like, no, it's kale. It's literally already kale. It's already kale. 100%. 100%.

Starting point is 00:21:32 So what's crazy is I was like, you know what we might do as fans, though? Being the best player in the league. Yeah. Any league. sport you follow. Being the best professional player in that league, even for one season, sure, is an unthinkable 0.001% chance that you exist. Yeah. Right? Like the fact that Connor, and I'll even give you like top three in conversation. So being a Connor, being a Nate is incredible. But I do think when a player becomes the best player in the league for a window,

Starting point is 00:22:06 we instantly make him all time. And he deserves flowers. because very few people are ever the best player in the league. You know, look at my jersey, dude. Like, who's on this jersey? Mario, McGinley, Burray, Ronex. Only this guy. Only Mario was ever the best player in the league, you know? So it made me realize that, man, we do kind of, or I certainly,

Starting point is 00:22:29 but I think this is a general take, kind of crown people that were, that are the best for a window, and start immediately making them like, well, Nate's one of the best players all time. And I'm like, that's not necessarily true. I think it might be with Nate. I think so. He's certainly trending that way, but it's like, I think you have to zoom out a bit sometimes. Be like, okay, okay, he's the best right now.

Starting point is 00:22:54 But eras changed. You know, it's like, well, the league wasn't that good. They're like not to get too in the weeds. Nate, definitely, because like we talk about we are living in the era of McDavid, dry sidel, McCar, Nate. I think the league's in a better place. And then also like Sid. Yep. And the fact that we, there have been, there, Nate has won MVP.

Starting point is 00:23:16 That I'm like, yes, he is. Like, to be the best player while those other guys are existing in their prime two, you are absolutely. You're in there. An all-time guy. And I think I might zoom back. And again, this is like, I feel like I'm always OV slandering. Like, I love OV.

Starting point is 00:23:30 I know. So much. But if I zoom backwards, you know, 10 years, 10 or so years. Because, oh, I want to say this too, it's actually really interesting because if you look at Sid's dominance. at the age, Sid is now, or right when Connor started to come up, that was, however old Sid was, that's kind of how old Connor is now. Like, it's actually really nicely cyclical of, oh yeah. I'm like, hey, hey, this is when it happens. This is when people start to come at you.

Starting point is 00:23:57 Yeah. But the, uh, if you zoom back in those really big Sid years, there's some guys, I guess like Datsuk was nasty. Nasty. But my point is, there's, there was more competition. for best player in the league right now, I think. Oh, like that. When you zoom back. Like the like, it was sit and Ovi. Right. So when you go back and you're like, well, Ovi was right there.

Starting point is 00:24:22 I'm like, yeah, but like I actually knock that a little bit because it wasn't as hard. Interesting. As it is now. Yeah. Thought experiment. Just the thought experiment. This was like deep in the weeds of prep. And I was like so distracted for 30 minutes having this internal debate with myself.

Starting point is 00:24:41 So I had to bring it to the airways. I like it. Let me know what you think. I like it. At the end of the day, we're talking about young stars. We're talking about young stars as a new ever taking over. Camel car is the best player. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:24:53 That's what we've learned. Yeah, that's what we've learned. We're talking about best player in the league. We have to shift it to Connor McDavid and specifically the Oilers. We had that great rant a few weeks ago where I said, with this team, you never have to worry. And I do want to say this, Chris. I stand by If you are the Oilers,

Starting point is 00:25:14 you do not have to worry about making playoffs. Like this team is going to make playoffs. I have no doubt in my mind. They are currently out of the playoffs and by a semi-significantly or significant margin, like they are seventh in the wild card in the West, right? Yeah, yeah. This is their dance.

Starting point is 00:25:35 They're doing their tango. But exactly, you're right, dude. Like we are, we are, they are 16 games through the season. This is what they do. So I stand by Oilers fans. Don't, don't panic. Don't worry. Now, I want to talk about a couple of things, however. I do look at this team and do me a favor while I'm talking here. Get up the Oilers team stats. Stu Skinner, always the point of conversation with the Edmonton Oilers is four, four, and three on the season with a 281 goals against and an 889 save percentage. Not great. but also. Not horrific. Not horrific.

Starting point is 00:26:13 Some people are playing way worse than Steve. Dude, there's a lot of guys like Sway, who I think's been amazing with Boston, is I think he's like right at 900, say, percentage. There's just like, you know, a lot of these great otter. A lot of these great guys have like a couple of really brutal games where they gave in a bunch of goals that have messed up their save percentage, maybe made their goals against, go way up. So it's like, Stu, I look at Stu and I'm like, Stu's not the problem. And that is what everyone's asking in terms of... Yeah, he's having better years than Sway and Oder. Yeah, right?

Starting point is 00:26:49 And Sway, Oter, I think, is getting a little heat too because Dallas has been... Yeah. But Sway and the B's, everyone is like, amazing. Great job. Six straight wins? Yeah. They're like, this team's amazing. And like, Sway's had a couple of unreal one-goal performance.

Starting point is 00:27:03 So, shut up performances. So, yeah. So this is where I want to get into with this Oilish team. Everyone's like, we got to do something. The Oilers. Dude, you know, you know, for the community fans out there. Yeah. You know, when, what's that fucking actor's name?

Starting point is 00:27:22 He's so funny. But he's the hacky-sac guy that Annie dates. Oh, oh, yeah. He has tiny nips. Eric Olson, Eric Christian Olson. Yeah, he has tiny nips. Yeah. And there he goes, no worries, bro.

Starting point is 00:27:34 Some worries. Some worries. That's how I feel about the oil. Some worries. That's how I feel about the worries right now. So to go to the worries comment, there's nothing to worry. about as far as is this team making the playoffs. You are obviously making the playoffs. Now, this is always going to be the case. So no panic necessarily right out from right off

Starting point is 00:27:51 the rip of what I'm going to say. I asked you to look up the stats. This team through 16 games, Connor is leading the team in points at 22. Leon is second with 18. Then you have Nuge with 16 and 16 and Bouchard with 10 and 16. How many times have we done this? Where we go, everyone goes, dude, this oilish team, we said this oilish team is worse. There were a lot of oilish fans yelling at us going, and I'm not being like fucking, but just, you know, passionate fans who are like, we're not worse, dude, we're sick.

Starting point is 00:28:21 We have amazing additions. Guys like Isaac Howard, guys like Capitin's going to have a better year. Maddie Savoy's finally buzzing on his team. Trent Frederick's going to be going. Oh, I love. Of course. Maddie Savoy has two points.

Starting point is 00:28:39 Caponin has two assists. Ike Howard has three points. Freddie has one goal. Thomasick has three points. Freddie has one goal. I believe that the worries, some worries. Some worries. Is this team is going to make playoffs.

Starting point is 00:28:56 But I'm like, I just feel as though we're going to have the same. Right now the way they're playing and the way they look and what it feels like we're getting from the vibes is I don't even think they're going to be as successful as the last two years. But a high bar, obviously. Obviously, high bar. But it did feel kind of like it's a no-brainer. Vibes are low here. And it's like you've got, who gives a shit what happens at practice? I'm not blowing this out of proportion like a lot of people are.

Starting point is 00:29:25 Like that video surfaces of Connor kind of yapping at Bouchard. Connor makes some great leadership comments afterwards. He's like, dude, we got to practice how we play. Like if we want to not get slacked 9-1, we can't be practicing like babies. We got to be buzzing out there. And I love that from Connor. But yeah, the way they're playing right now, I'm like, you're going to make playoffs,

Starting point is 00:29:45 but you're not winning much. So a few things here. You're the plus minus God, but it is hard for me to look at an Evan Bouchard. Yeah. Two goals, eight assists, 10 points, and 16 games, always going to produce. You just paid him a shitload of money.

Starting point is 00:30:04 Dash 11. Dash 11, dude. and I'll even go as far as Connor McDavid, 22 points, and where I'm headed somewhere, but 22 points, which is like fourth in the league, dash 6.

Starting point is 00:30:19 Dude, nuge, dash 112. For the people at home, you don't get a plus on the power play, which is why Connor McDavid has so many points and you're like, how could he be dashed? You are Connor McDavid. I don't give a fuck what even strength struggles your team

Starting point is 00:30:35 says they're having or who's on the ice with you. that is insane. Like Connor McDavid's line should be winning every time he goes out on the ice. It's hockey, it's pro hockey. He plays against good guys. It happens. But like that is not,

Starting point is 00:30:46 that can't happen. This team is 500. And who would you say are the top two defensemen on this team? Bouchard and Christ. Echo. Yeah. Bouchard is a dash 11.

Starting point is 00:31:00 Echholm is a dash 9. I'm like, you guys are giving up too many goals. Way too many. So here's, the thing that I want to say about the Oilers is this. I think you're still right. They're making playoffs.

Starting point is 00:31:15 I wouldn't worry legitimately. You go through these bumps in the season and Conner's being a great leader and I have only incredible things about Connor after everything that happened this summer. I have so much respect for him. He's ironclad, dude. Yes.

Starting point is 00:31:28 So you're fine. Teflon Khan. Teflon Khan. You're fine. But I think there's a little bit, I think what's seeping in, completely outsider. take here. I have no scoop on this and all. But I swear the whole, we don't need to worry,

Starting point is 00:31:43 regular season doesn't matter. All that matters is getting due step for playoffs. I swear that actually hurts their attitude right now because they're like, who fucking cares, dude? We're going to the playoffs. We've got all the dogs. We're going to be in the fucking final again. And I'm like, okay, because Florida has been proving that too. We're like, we're hurt. It doesn't matter. But I'm like, it's not a, it's a energy thing, though. Like, you need to, you need to care. Or attitude, more than energy. Because I think some teams get stuck in an energy where they're like, we go so hard during regular season. There's nothing left to give playoffs.

Starting point is 00:32:14 You can conserve, but you do need to fight. You do need to teach your team how to be like, we win games. We want to win games. I feel like that keeps in, which is why I loved Connor being like, yo, 9-1. I forget what I saw this ad. It's like their worst loss since 2009 or something, home loss, baby. And I'm like, you can't be getting pumped 9-1 by the abs. No, no, no.

Starting point is 00:32:36 Lauddy da, we're fine. I'm like, buddy, fucking care. Have some passion. The Calgary Flames, obviously, you know, locationally a comparable team to them. They are the worst team in the league by a country mile. They have given up less skults than worse this year. Dude. They're in a weird, weird spot.

Starting point is 00:32:55 Everyone wants to talk about a trade, what could possibly happen. And that's a perfect transition into our next topic. Yep. Early, early, early to be talking trades, but what teams could possibly do. But I think if you are an Oilers fan, if you are Oilers managing and you have the whole situation with Connor this summer signing the little, you know, stop gap that he did, and you are paying Connor what you're paying him, you're paying Leon what you're paying him, you're paying Nurse and Bouchard what you're paying them. You cannot be in this situation. So they are obviously talking about a trade. Dude, that's actually such a good point, Dan. I think this is almost like even more frustrating if you're him specifically, if you're Connor, where you go, I took a discount and on a prove it two-year contract. If they were playing hard every night but still losing, that would be less bad than them being apathetic. Yeah. He shows up and they go, whatever.

Starting point is 00:33:50 And he goes, whatever, dude, I will leave. Are you insane? Dude, they, like, they have no cap space at all. and this is a nightmare. If you are, I mean, with the Connor situation, this is a nightmare. If you're going, yeah, dude, this was the prove it year. Like, what are we doing here? No one's trying.

Starting point is 00:34:12 You were currently in nightmare status. We're going to talk about the whole league here, potential trades, teams that might be looking for a trade. But to finish up on the Oilers as we transition into trades, everyone talks about goalie. Mm-hmm. and I stand by, Skinner is not the problem on this team, but if you do want to talk about that, here is my message to the NHL and to other teams, as we've seen stuff like this happen in the past,

Starting point is 00:34:45 any team that maybe has surplus at goalie, because you are not in the business of giving up your goaltender. Right. But any team that has surplus, if you do not act like a fucking business and you don't go, oh, the Oilers have been talking about needing a goalie for three straight years. And if they go, hey, here's an example, Nashville Predators, back-to-back years where they are way worse than they should be.

Starting point is 00:35:14 And they have UC Soros, who we believe is an elite goaltender. If Edmonton comes calling for UC Soros and you, Nashville, do not go. And people please calm down. I'm just saying from a business standpoint, if you don't go, okay, give me Leon Drysidal. Yeah. You're an idiot. Now, you begin negotiating. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:35:36 But my point is, you know how desperate the buyer is. You have leverage. Yep. And I swear to God, if we see another NHL team go, oh, yeah, you know, major contender in our conference in some of these situations, take my fucking goalie that's going to make you way back. better and you don't get a haul for it. You are a bad... Vital position. Bad executive.

Starting point is 00:36:02 That makes me lose my mark. Do you think, though, and obviously they never give up Leon, but do you think teams should bite the bullet more for that goalie? It's such a hard trophy to win, so it's not like, oh, snap my fingers. But I'm just kind of like, I look back on the canes and I'm like, you wouldn't have had a single cup over the last few years if you had had a dog and net. I mean, we talk about it all the time with draft picks. I lose my shit when fans get mad about trading first round draft picks for a great player. You used the draft pick on that great player. It is worth it. You've got a guy,

Starting point is 00:36:40 yeah. Let's talk about the Florida Panthers. Yeah. They gave eventually turned into a first round pick for Brad Marshand. That helped you win a cup. Immediate cup. Worth it. You traded Spencer Knight, who is now a top goalie in the NHL for Seth Jones, who was remarkably good for you. You won a cup. It is worth it. So, yeah, you do pay up for it. No doubt about it.

Starting point is 00:37:06 I think the ones that are sketchy are these prospect goalies that, I mean, Asgrove is a great example, but I think he's great. But goalies that are just legit. I'm like, that goal is great. Like Markstrom. Yep. I'm like, yep. Get them.

Starting point is 00:37:21 Pay for it. Absolutely pay for. What did they give up? I forget, but look it up. But yes, pay for it. Crazy thing. The Preds goalie situation is with, like, we were like, oh, my God, like a couple years ago, I was like, they're going to trade Soros for so much than just

Starting point is 00:37:38 usher in Ascaroff. They're going to be the best team of the league. And they're like, we miss playoffs every year. We lost Ascaroff for nothing. And now we're going to trade Soros to the Oilers for nothing. Yeah. Jesus Christ. So it turns into, to finish up on the Oilers talking this, it turns into, you know,

Starting point is 00:37:52 Like you look around at teams, like look at how good Dobesh is for the habs. And they've got Fowler waiting in the wings. Do you think about trading Montembo? Yeah. Montembo has had a bit of a struggle. Team Canada, four nation. Three, four, six goals against eight, six four. Like that probably wouldn't be the highest ticket.

Starting point is 00:38:10 Yeah. And then here's a huge one. Yep. Do you think the islanders would consider trading Sorovin? Now, I don't believe the Oilers could ever. figure out a way to afford Sorokin's cap hit unless they traded like, I mean, unless

Starting point is 00:38:31 they figured out a way to move nurse, which I don't think they can. So unless they traded a nuge, unless they traded a Leon. But what do you think Elias Sorokin's price tag is? Okay, so he's under contract for a long time. Long time. Yep. God, he's not that old, eh? That's crazy.

Starting point is 00:38:48 But he's four, four, and two. He's got a three goals against and an eight, nine, three, say, percentage. the problem is a lot like for a lot of people he was a lot of people were like he's the best goalie in the league I know I know and I think that narrative has not been the case for a long time

Starting point is 00:39:09 agree but he is an absolute game changer yes he was sixth in Vesna voting last year just so people know eighth the year before that the problem is all of a sudden I think the islanders something I need people to know about Ilya Sorokin real quick sorry yeah Elias Seroquen, since his rookie year, he was sixth in Vesna voting, second in Vesna voting and ninth in heart. Eighth in Vesna voting, sixth in Vesna voting. Yeah. So he's a good goal.

Starting point is 00:39:41 He's great, dude. The problem is the islanders are look exciting enough right now. I know. And he's under contract for too long to not have him part of the plan. Like you're looking at this going, well, you know, over the next one, two, like six years he's under contract, we are going to get good. And I want him. I want to have a good goal. Because it's only 30. Yeah, it's so hard to get a good goalie. So I'm not going to give him up right when we're trying to like come back into this thing. So we don't even need to talk about it. I just said, would they consider it. I think the answer is no. I think so. But if they were worse right now, if Shafe was worse or Shafe wasn't even on the team yet, I'd be like, trade him, dude. Trade him. Because it's not in the plans. You would get so much back, which would help the rebuild. but they look competitive enough. But that would be sick, dude. Like, what big goal he could move legitimately?

Starting point is 00:40:32 I think Soros. Yeah, that's probably the biggest one. Soros is the biggest one that I would ever hear about. Yeah, because everyone else, you're like, why would I give that guy up? So let's move into some quick hitter trade, teams, targets. What do you got? Well, the one on NHL writers was Mason Lurai comes up all the time.

Starting point is 00:40:48 Yeah, it's absolutely moronic. I won't hear it. I literally won't even spend time on it. Okay. But it is like, it's just stupid. I agree, agree. You know what the exact same comp is? Brant Clark in L.A.

Starting point is 00:40:59 Yeah. It's, to me, it's so stupid because what it is is teams go, oh my God, look at that young, really good defenseman. He should be traded. Yeah. People should go trade for him. No shit. Someone wants him. And there are people who talk about Lorae's defensive abilities.

Starting point is 00:41:17 Dude, it's his like second year in the league, give him some time to adapt. He is an offensive weapon. and he's a huge body, he will figure it out. Let me do this with you, actually, for trades. Because there are teams that are not going to make playoffs for sure. And we talked about this being like, should you just start tanking for McKenna? And I'm like, yes, 100%. Like if you're, ignore the, they have too much talent.

Starting point is 00:41:38 But the sharks should start tanking for McKenna. They shouldn't be sellers. And what I mean by sellers is your top assets. Of course you're going to sell some guys if you're out of playoffs. But I want to go down rapid fire with teams and go sell top guys. because do you think that we need like dude i i don't believe in tanking i think it i think losing is a disease yeah me too i think i think tanking begets bad vibes you should not do that and when i look at the sharks with askeravin net and mac will and misa i'm like you don't need mckenna

Starting point is 00:42:16 agree so i'm like i think that's a terrible idea for the sharks i just just getting a oh yeah Okay, that's not the conversation. Do the, should these teams be selling their top guys? Not the sharks. Agreed. So it's like, yeah, like Calgary. How is Raspas Anderson still on your team? Yeah.

Starting point is 00:42:35 How is Nazim Kovry still on your team? Yep. Calgary, yes. Edmonton, no. Vancouver. Yes. Yes. Sharks, no.

Starting point is 00:42:42 Because Vancouver is current, like they are, what is it, Oceanic Flight, 8-1-5. You are in limbo, dude. Yeah. Like they, holy hell. Yeah. They need to figure something out for sure. Sharks, no. Kings.

Starting point is 00:42:58 No, no. But the Kings. Careful. Yeah. Cracking. No. Agree. Knights, no. Ducks. No. No. Blues. Dude. Not yet for me because I believe in Monty so much.

Starting point is 00:43:13 Me too, but I do believe the blues. We always say coach is the easiest chopping block guy. I think the blues have a call. culture problem. I really do. That's why I think he needs to make it his. Yeah. I think that they should have a fire sale of players. Boom. Preads. Bye. Dude, dude, I can't believe it. I was wrong about them. Yeah. Stammer. Get him out. Save them. Save them. Save them. Save them. Oh, Raleigh's presser the other day was like the most depressing thing I've ever seen. He was like, I suck at hockey. Yeah. And so do all of us. I was like, Jesus. Jesus. Wild. No. No, but you're bad. Yeah. Well, they're climbing. Mammoth.

Starting point is 00:43:51 No, God no. No. Jets. No. Hawks. No. Stars, no, abs, no. Jackets.

Starting point is 00:43:59 No. No. Caps? No. Even though like those teams are not good. Rangers. Yeah. Yeah, I almost, we're probably going to do it next episode.

Starting point is 00:44:09 I almost made the Rangers a topic of discussion today because their, their fans are like, dude, this team is full of bullshit. And the amount of their fans, Chris, were like, best row team in the NHL, dude, you're telling me we can't make a cup run. And I'm like, what is going on with the lack of brain cells? 06 and 1 at home. Anyway, move on. Islanders. No. No.

Starting point is 00:44:39 Flyers. No. No. Penguins. No. No. Devils. No.

Starting point is 00:44:44 Cains. No. think? I think so. Like, what the fuck? Do we do? I guess it's all they do do do. Yeah, and also like the sabers of, you know, yeah, they're in, they're in dead last. So there's no one. Oh, unfortunately, dude, they have too many young guys. Like, and I don't even want to say them. I can think of like two guys and I'm like, yeah, maybe trade that guy, but like. So keep in mind, there's going to be a ton of sellers at the deadline. We just said no for most of them. I won't even say the Atlantic because there knows, but you did mention one guy that you were, you were wondering if it

Starting point is 00:45:15 could ever be traded. Yeah. And I want to be very clear before I say this. And this will be I'm, there's no chance I'm saying this out loud so you can do it. Yeah. I want to be very clear. No one kill me. No one get mad at her. This was brought to my attention during Hockey Talk Sunday by a Maple Leafs fan. Yep.

Starting point is 00:45:37 To which I posted it and I said, this is an insanely spicy take. And we got so, Chris, so many DMs from lease fans who were like, I actually completely agree with this. So this is a Leafs fan. I'm not speaking for the Leafs fan base. I'm talking about a small sample size of a lot of Leafs fans. They suggested that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to trade Austin Matthews and start again and rebuild her on different group. Now, I have said several times.

Starting point is 00:46:11 I think William Nealander is the maybe not most talented, but I think he is the all-encompassing best complete. full player on this team. And the idea of these Leafs fans was to trade Austin Matthews and get a fucking haul and rebuild around William Nealander and Matthew Nice. Who, by the way, this team through 16 games, Willie Nealander has 23 points in 13 games, by the way. Sick of. Tavares, 21 and 16 and Nyes, 20 in 16.

Starting point is 00:46:48 Dude, we can't get into this right now, but the John Tavares, underappreciation will never rest. And I will never rest until it is remedied. And like him taking a team-friendly deal, stick around. Austin Matthews getting traded would be one of the most electric moments in the history of the NHL. I believe, I think he's just, you know, I'm such a fucking dick rider of Matthews. But the, he, I, in what sucks, dude, is I actually think he would flourish. I think he would be so fucking good. I agree.

Starting point is 00:47:20 And but it would just, it'd be a tough, I mean, I guess Connor's dealing with it, but it would just be a tough one to swallow where in a way, in a way, you're admitting defeat. Like if Connor leaves Edmonton, he's kind of going, okay, this fucking sucks. Get me out here. I can't win here. I want to go somewhere else. And that would be happening to Austin too.

Starting point is 00:47:37 I don't think either of them want to do that. But my God, would it be fucking electric? Another guy is tough to get good value back for, though. It's weird. I mean, the Maple Leafs. Leifes are fourth in the wild card right now at 8-7-1 through 16 games. Like, again, we're very close to 20. And you are so, and this is not a team, in my opinion, CP, that has the leash that Edmonton does.

Starting point is 00:48:00 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you guys struggle early on. It's like, this Leafs team, especially after losing Marner, has zero leash to be doing this. Agree, agree. And say all you want about the, we were one one away from beating Florida. I don't think you were that close. And then what happened in that game seven? In that put all your chips on the table. You got fucking embarrassed.

Starting point is 00:48:23 So, listen, this was not my idea. Yes, important. This is not my idea. It would be fucking insane. But it would be insane. And I don't know, dude, I think that there's maybe a world where it would benefit everyone. You would flourish. But also, maybe they would.

Starting point is 00:48:42 Yeah, yeah. Think about what you would get. And, like, think about that. The cap space that you'd get for him. Like, you know, it's not my idea. And I'm not saying that they should do it. But I'm saying it is an idea that fans are going where we're ready to start building around someone. Is that an idea?

Starting point is 00:48:59 Some fans. Not the fan base. Some fans. All I'm saying, perfect time to take a break. Cool our jets. And come on back. Hockey season is back, which means, you know, we are buzzing with the Bet MGM crew and all the incredible promotions they have cooking. My favorite one is the Hat Trick Jackpot. If you download the

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Starting point is 00:50:01 time to get back in class. Nice sweatshirt, Dan. Unbelievable. Look at this. New merch. Go to VGHC.com. Nice collab. Netters and violent gentlemen. Look at that. on the sleeve too. God. Absolutely beautiful. Animal House meets college hockey. We're doing it. We're doing Netters College Puck drop in the episode here. We've got some shuffling going on at the company. We're just buzzing to the end of the year. So we're going to be putting the college puck drop into the episode here. Getting all of your college coverage, do not worry. We had a wild, wild weekend of college puck. So we're getting into it right now. Beautiful stuff. But again, you want this amazing collab college hockey hoodie. VG.

Starting point is 00:50:45 You'll see it right there on the main page, sick collab, netters, and vinyl gems. So, Dan, the downside of having to do this on Monday is the new ratings, new rankings aren't out yet. But the plus side is then we can make up our own. We can do them. We could. We can pick. So obviously, Michigan State would stay number one after a dollar. No question about it.

Starting point is 00:51:09 I got to give it to him. Listen, I said, we said at the top of the episode, Porter Martone, on this episode, I was a, I was a state fan this weekend, and it cost me dearly. Yeah, yeah. It cost me dearly. You know what? Actually, let's go, let's do weekend highlights. Then we can try to hash out our ratings.

Starting point is 00:51:23 Okay, I like it. First one team I wanted to call out in a good way is a team that I personally have given a bunch of shit to across all our puck drop, college puck drop episodes. And that is the Denver pioneers, simply because how many times did I say, one step forward, one step back, one step forward, one step back. They would beat someone loose to someone bad. Beat someone great, loose to someone bad. And it was just an inconsistency. I don't think you see often with that program. Now, long time Denver fans call me out.

Starting point is 00:51:53 Maybe in the regular season, especially early in the regular season, they do this all the time. Usually I'm tuning into Denver once we're into conference championships and Frozen Four and tournament action, where they're unflappable and dominant and murdering my BC Eagles all the time. But so far, they have not looked like this ultra-medical. a big a threatening Denver program. They traveled to number four, Western Michigan this weekend and beat them 3-1 and 6-3.

Starting point is 00:52:21 Two road wins at a top-top team in the country, hostile environment. That was, that's a signature weekend in, I guess we're a calendar to turn to November now, but that's the Denver pioneers where I'm like, look out. That's the team they want to be to. Huge

Starting point is 00:52:37 weekend for them. Dude, they were fantastic. It's, it's cool when see a program like that with so much pedigree and you can see the talent. Yeah. When they maybe get to a slow start or skid a little bit and then they're just like, no, we are who we are. Because there's a lot of teams that don't do that.

Starting point is 00:52:57 Yeah. Oh, my God. So Denver just coming out being a fucking beast against a very good team. I was like, oh, yeah, this is fucking huge. They are so back. Yep. And it's a team too when you come up against them later down the line if you're another one of these programs and you're like, Denver might be slipping.

Starting point is 00:53:11 And then they do this against Western Michigan. You're like, oh, fuck, maybe they're not. at all. My favorite team in the country right now, aside from Michigan, is Duluth, dude. When the hell are people going to give Duluth the respect they deserve? Runaway freight train. It's insane, brother. Like this team is so fucking good.

Starting point is 00:53:32 They do another sweep over St. Cloud. But Duluth, man, is just like all these Minnesota schools. They've got Natty's under their belt, of course. but it's like, I feel like they didn't get enough talk at the beginning of the season. And they've come out here every single weekend and Minnesota Duluth is just fucking rolling. Yep. Plant Bros. Dissing.

Starting point is 00:53:53 It's awesome. Funny one for me, Quinnipeak lost to Yale 4-2 at New Haven. But that weird, you know, we talk to our Bauer guys all the time about how much of a rivalry that game is. So you know Quinnipo, I think came in at five is like, nice. We'll just go in and dust off the nerds at Yale. And then you get popped. And I'm like, that is just, the parody this year is amazing. But you just, you got to have that game.

Starting point is 00:54:18 But sometimes the rivalry picks it up. Another one I wanted to talk about to a team that was one in the country in week two. And then all they've done is lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose. Just lose, lose over and over again. Since then is the BU Terriers. And they are still a force we reckon with, but you got to start stacking some wins. Got a sweep at home versus Merrimack, which they actually really need. needed. And I know it's not like a signature win against an incredible ranked team, but just like win

Starting point is 00:54:45 those games, dude. No, it's huge. Maine got a nice split at UMass. Maine is obviously a team that, you know, home state. We want to see them do well. But UMass, good team. Yeah. It was like, 9, 13 or something like that. It was a tough matchup. That's a split that it just just makes a lot sense. Like you said, like 9 and 13, I'm like, yep, this team splits makes sense. Um, Yukon lost to Providence and a tie, not what you want. But like, is Providence good? Yes, but remember we kept saying that Yukon kept splitting? Like you look at their schedule and it's like split, split, split, split.

Starting point is 00:55:21 And I was like, that's not going to cut it. And you had said correctly, they have had a very tough schedule to start their season. Yeah. So these splits aren't terrible, which they're not. But if you want to be one of these preseason top 10, they were 11 in this one, I think, if you're going to be that good, you've got to be like, yeah, we beat these teams, you know, at home, right? So take care of business and they really haven't yet fully.

Starting point is 00:55:46 I haven't seen a full weekend out of the Yukon Huskies yet this season. Yeah, agree completely. Let's get into Michigan. Yep. Really beat up on Wisconsin 7-4 and I'm sitting here going. And the boys beacon, dude. Jesus Christ. Oh, my God.

Starting point is 00:56:05 That was crazy. Getting test. in the penalty box. I, to me, like that's sudden for when I was like, and here we go again. Like we're just going to beat the shit out of Wisconsin who is a great team. And then my God, that

Starting point is 00:56:18 Wisconsin team clapped the fuck back. And I was getting chirped. Yeah. I was getting chirped on my personals from Michigan State fans. And I deserve it. I deserve it. But a 6-1 win for Wisconsin beating up on a very,

Starting point is 00:56:33 very good and very high-ranked Michigan team. that that is the first slap in the mouth of the season for Michigan. And I've talked about over the last few years with how many talented NHL stars came through this Michigan team and they can't get it done. These are the games where I'm like, you can be beat like this. So now how do you respond? And how do you make sure it doesn't happen again? And this weekend, which we'll get into, is going to be a huge coming off of a loss like that and then going into what they're coming into this weekend is going to tell us a lot about who this Michigan team is. Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

Starting point is 00:57:05 Some quick hitters, North Dakota sweep at Omaha, just ones you want to take care, but they do look very good. And then BC sweep at Vermont, I really like to see that. Fantastic. Yep, that was, because they've had a few slip-ups early. The big one. Yep. It was the game of the weekend, no doubt about it. Michigan State versus Penn State.

Starting point is 00:57:26 We had Porter on. You're about to hear that interview in a second where he's getting hyped about it, but you will hear him go. It's a huge weekend on campus. We got the basketball team going. football game like we need we got to we got to get these and two one and o t game one after a mckenna goal to tie it yeah huge and then five nothing on saturday can you imagine what saturday night was like i can't i did legitimately can't i'm surprised porter's alive if we don't know that you might not be i talk to him he is alive thank god but i mean good good lord um goal and assist in game two um mckenna had

Starting point is 00:58:04 one had the Penn State goal. Had the only Penn State goal all weekend. And that's great. But that first line, the perfect line, got fucking absolutely shut down. And this game to me, I hate to admit it, although I was rooting for them this weekend. A weekend like this is when you go, this is undoubtedly the number one team in the country. Now, we gave Penn State some grief earlier in the season, but they've been seen. Then they had such a great run, you know, only one loss.

Starting point is 00:58:38 And we were like, okay, no, no, they're legit. Now, again, the five, nothing loss is tough. But, you know, 2-1 and OT in that first tilt, like this Penn State team is a very good team. But to take care of business twice, get a shutout, only give up one goal. Yep. I mean, like, how good is Augustine feeling, right? Yeah, yeah. Like, good God Almighty.

Starting point is 00:58:58 Yep. So this Michigan State team, they are the steel of college hockey right now. Holy shit. Yeah. Oh, dude. It was a dominant weekend and the ones, isn't it funny with sports though? Sometimes I'm like,

Starting point is 00:59:13 this is what you needed for your confidence, for the fucking hype train. But then I kind of spin it like, if I'm Penn State, I go, whatever, dude, we're going to see him later. And I'm glad we lost these two. More motivation, you know,

Starting point is 00:59:27 which is, you can play it either way. But that's always my attitude where I'd rather lose it now, dude. No doubt. We lost at Michigan State. Next time I'm going to see him is either the fucking

Starting point is 00:59:35 neutral site conference final or the Frozen 4 somewhere you know he gives a fuck so both will be okay

Starting point is 00:59:43 both are very good but man wanted to get them done got them done if you're Sparty and you look great let's quickly get into our let's do top 10

Starting point is 00:59:52 you want to do 10 or 5 I was going to do 5 I'll do 10 with you let's do 10 Michigan State 1 end of discussion end of discussion no doubt about it

Starting point is 00:59:59 I think Michigan 2 still no are you fucking out of your mom you can't get popped 6-1 at home. Okay, what do you want, dickhead? Duluth. Okay.

Starting point is 01:00:10 I'm the Duluth guy. I want Duluth too. Absolutely not. Dude, you always say people need to be... The ratings should be more volatile. Everyone's like, well, and I'm like, no, dude. They change week to week for a reason. You get punished.

Starting point is 01:00:21 No. Duluth, too. Michigan is still two. And also, I will hear nothing about it. Okay. Because I'm looking at how good they are as a team. You're looking at one game. Well, because that's how it's supposed to go.

Starting point is 01:00:32 They're supposed to swing like that. I disagree. Disagree. Michigan is two. Duluth 3. You think Duluth over Penn State, Denver. My big thing was I was going to put Duluth over Nodak. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:00:45 Where they belong. Do you want people to take our rating seriously or do you want them to be? I'm being dead serious. Duluth 3. All right. Fuck yeah. So state, Michigan, Duluth, Penn State.

Starting point is 01:00:58 I would go Nodak there if you want. Also, I don't think I have Nodak over Denver. dude. What? Nodak's been incredible, dude. I think you're being too hard on Penn State. They were on the road, they took them to O.T. We got to go Nodak over Denver.

Starting point is 01:01:19 Denver's been, that was a great weekend for Denver, and they actually deserve some love. That's fine with me. I think Penn State is four. Okay. Penn State four, Nodak five, Denver six. Okay. And then here's my thing. I really want to give love to Northeastern here.

Starting point is 01:01:35 This high, though? I think so. Like Western Michigan was four, but now they're like fucking five and five. Oh, dude, I'm low on. Western Michigan's going to be lucky to be in this top time. They might be out. Wisconsin deserves some love. Yep, no doubt about it.

Starting point is 01:01:52 BU deserves some love. Sure. Maine. Maine. But, yeah, that was a split. Northeastern, dude? I think this high. I really do.

Starting point is 01:02:03 I think Booch was giving him love the other day, too. Like Northeastern, all they do every weekend is go. Everyone goes, how about Northeastern? You want Northeastern seven? I want Northeastern seven. Northeastern seven, done. All right. Wiscoe eight?

Starting point is 01:02:15 Yeah, and maybe they should actually be seven. Because that's such a good win against Michigan. Okay. Wiscoe seven, northeastern eight. Maine nine. I'd go Maine. I'd go Maine there. And then Western Michigan sneak in or B.

Starting point is 01:02:30 No, B.U. Okay. Western Michigan got swept in there five and five and BU got a sweep. Western Michigan out. Yeah. BU. I love that, dude. Great, great ranking.

Starting point is 01:02:39 Love it. As we close up in, or let's talk about games to watch. And then I want to, as I always do, registrar's office, I want to give some love to a team. But games to look forward to Michigan at Penn State, Friday and Saturday. What a run for Penn State. What's crazy about this man is Penn State, you know, two losses against State and Michigan shellacked by Wisconsin. Both teams are in must-win territory.

Starting point is 01:03:07 And I think both teams need to go, we can't even split, dude, we need to win both of these games. This is, this is, and if you're Penn State, you're coming back home. Like, you went to Michigan State. You're coming back home. You're like, we got to win this game. We didn't fucking score at all. This is going to be a, like I mentioned, who are you Michigan? And Michigan give up 10 goals across two games against it.

Starting point is 01:03:25 I know they won one of them, but I'm like, Jesus Christ. So this is very much a who are you Michigan. And you could make the same argument for Penn State. It's tough because both are just great teams. But like Michigan, I've been banging my chest. Michigan fans banging their chest saying that they should be the number one team of the country. Penn State or Michigan State goes in and sweeps Penn State and you lose to Wisconsin. You got to hold serve here now.

Starting point is 01:03:47 So now it's like, who are you? So it's going to be big. And I will say as we talk about that, those being our games of the weekend, get these fucking games on TV. Yeah. Big Ten Network, you're fucking crooks. Yeah. Because it's like, dude, it's crazy. Do we want this to grow?

Starting point is 01:04:02 Like we want this shit to grow? put these games on fucking TV. Registrar's office team, I want to give some love to. They're doing a little fundraiser over the next few weeks selling their sick-ass jerseys online. Just letting you know. LSU Tigers, do. LSU Tigers, we had someone who hit us up.

Starting point is 01:04:19 They're doing law school down there. Or law school or grad school? Getting his Ph.D. Actually. Oh, my God. But he's been in the ACHA playing for LSU. They've got a team store. Go Tagas.

Starting point is 01:04:33 Go, Tuggis. Unbelievable, unbelievable jerseys. They've got breast cancer awareness jerseys. Look at some of these things, dude. Oh, those are nasty. They're unbelievable, but LSU, one of the best sports schools in the game with basketball and football, fun-ass campus, down south again. LSU hockey would be another one of these destinations. That's like, are you kidding me?

Starting point is 01:04:56 Dude, you always say when the jerseys would look sick, which they already do. Yep. It's a nice, cool place to be in that heat and that sticky humidity, dude. That's amazing. The fan base across all their good programs delivers in the biggest way. And there's just got to be some kind of cool, you know how it's like the spelling of go tigers. Yeah, Go Tiger. There's got to be some kind of cool hockey thing we can come up with.

Starting point is 01:05:19 I'm not sure what it is just yet. But there's a, I'm sure there's an O sound. Almost puck drop. I'll get there. I'll get there. But there's something to do there. Feed me. Feed me Southern hockey.

Starting point is 01:05:33 this would be amazing. No doubt. And just already, my favorite thing about this is like they're playing in their ACHA. Yeah, it's amazing. They're playing Ole Miss.

Starting point is 01:05:41 They're playing Mississippi State. They're playing Alabama. Like, it's already sick. Yep, like the fact that these are teams that are playing each other and this is what we could see.

Starting point is 01:05:50 So LSU hockey, let's make that a D1 NCAA hockey school. It would be fucking electric. God. Um, okay, we are now going to go to a quick ad break and then we'll be back

Starting point is 01:06:02 with our Porter-Marto. own interview. It's going to be fantastic. This episode of the empty notice podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. And BetterHelp is something that we are so excited to talk about. It's November right now. We just went through daylight savings time. It's getting colder all across the country. BetterHelp is a way to make sure that we're going to call out that people need a little boost. They need some help here. This is a perfect time to check in on your friends, check in on your teammates that we like to say. Hit up some family members, some friends you haven't talked to a while because you don't want to be in the situation where you say, why didn't I do that sooner?

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Starting point is 01:11:00 18 gold medalist, a Hylinka Gretzky Cup gold medalist, a six overall pick in the 2025 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and current Michigan State Spartan, Porter Martone. Welcome to the MT Netters podcast, my man. Yeah, I'm excited to be on here and thanks for having me on. Dude, we're pumped to have you. That was almost a perfect intro. The only bad part was the Michigan state part, but you know, I can love it. Come on. But what's your, what's your team there? I'm a Michigan boy, but at the end of the day, dude, I got to say you guys are fucking buzzing, and I'm thrilled to have you here. So for the next hour, I'm a spark. So cool. We can do that. Spards. Got a big rivalry there, though. I know. Oh, my God. It's intense.

Starting point is 01:11:46 Yeah. Porter, I got to tell you, or go ahead. I was going to say, I was excited, like, coming here. I was like, I was excited for the Michigan, Michigan State football game, but we were up in northern Michigan, and now it's happened. So we didn't get a, be here for the football game, but it's pretty special. That's actually kind of a dagger that you guys start so early that you really got into football season. It's brutal. I also need them to work on the schedule so that shit doesn't happen because like I need, you know, if I'm on that football team, like I want the boys there at that game.

Starting point is 01:12:15 You know what I mean? Oh, yeah. I mean, we've been to a couple, but I mean, that one was just, I heard it was insane. Like, just people we know around campus. It's just like, camp is just rocking. Oh, I can. It's an absolute rip for sure. Dude, I am really excited to have a bit of shared interest here because, you know, we do like to do our research with our guests and saw that you're a ketchup chips guy, which fires me right up because I'm a big ketchup chip guy.

Starting point is 01:12:45 Chris is a big, all-dress guy, so we're, you know, we're not too far off. But then we went a little deeper in the research. Heard, you're also a freak like me and you put ketchup on everything. Yeah. So, I mean, I think my roommates, like we're making dinner. kind of bugging a little bit like pasta and stuff and rice. But, you know, I've actually been evolving. I've got the ketchup into barbecue sauce now.

Starting point is 01:13:07 So I mean, it's evolving a bit, but, you know, I still like, I like barbecue sauce and ketchup on most of my foods. That's fantastic. So wait, wait, wait, wait. Are you saying you've evolved from a ketchup guy to a barbecue sauce guy or you cross sauce and you do both? No, I've evolved. Like, I think I've moved on to barbecue sauce now.

Starting point is 01:13:27 Yeah. So this is actually perfect, yeah, because you're the ketchup. ketchup guy and I'm the barbecue sauce guy. So this is actually he's having the evolution of us. He's growing up, dude. Are you dabbling in the hot sauces yet or are you just sticking with barbecue for right now? Not yet. I'm just, I just got the barbecue sauce right now. But it's like, I think I've got a couple guys on it though. Like they get some ground beef and pasta and put the barbecue sauce on top. Oh, dude. That's fantastic. It's pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. That's a nice, healthy lean meal. That's

Starting point is 01:13:57 fucking beautiful. Dude, I love that you're cooking. I can't believe. you're out here making his magic in your little kitchen there. That's pretty impressed. I'm impressed. I know. My mom would be very happy. But my roommate for sure, when I first got here, he's, he kind of took it all. But, you know, he's been teaching me. So, you know, I'm growing. I'm growing for sure. Yeah, we got to get you. We're solely got to get you more adventurous because I know you don't fuck with spicy food. And Dan, he had said, like, I saw an interview. They were like, what's the most crazy thing you've ever eaten? And he was like, seafood. And I was like, what?

Starting point is 01:14:30 In general, can tuna. So we'll get you there. We'll get you more adventurous soon. Well, order, getting into the hockey days, you know, going through your career and looking at your whole path to where you are now and where you will be going. You actually kind of had a unique path in juniors, which was wild. You were taking fifth overall by the sting, but it looks like that team was kind of loading up with veterans to make a run at the ship. And you get traded to the steelheads immediately. but you get to that younger team get an amazing opportunity you fucking are flying out there 98 points in 57 games

Starting point is 01:15:05 what do you think that process of of you know being drafted high by this team but then getting traded immediately did to your brain and kind of help you craft the hockey player you are and already sort of dealing with adversity dealing with change and not letting it affect your game yeah i mean that was pretty that was pretty quick crazy sequence like you know you're a 16 year old kid you know you get drafted to, you know, a small junior town. And, you know, you think you're going to be there for, you know, maybe at least two or three years. And then I actually remember this the day. I think we played on a Friday night and whatever, right, we won 7-1 or something.

Starting point is 01:15:40 Like, the mood's just so high. Yeah, I thought I played a pretty good game. And then you wake up the next sport and you get told you're getting traded. And at the time, it's like a shock. Like, you just like, you know, all this to happen. You know, it was just, it was truly just crazy. You got to go pack up your whole life. And then I moved it down to, it was,

Starting point is 01:15:58 down to Brampton at the time and I want to play the next day and it's just like you're a 16 year old kid it's pretty hard on you but you know I think it was probably the best thing that you know happened to me in my hockey career at that point and you know I went to you know still out's organization they gave me a big opportunity and you know just kind of let me run with it so I mean I've had it was at an awesome time in both cities but you know it was pretty crazy as a six year old kid and I remember I'm like calling my mom and my dad and I'm like I don't have a car I don't have my license. I think you get picked up here and get, you know, taken down to the steel ads. But yeah, definitely some adversity. But, you know, it was pretty cool to be a part of two great organizations.

Starting point is 01:16:37 Man, I'm glad you kind of harped on the element of being 16 years old because it's just, it's such a young age for something like that to happen. And that's kind of an influential thing. Do you think being, you know, a Canadian kid, juniors is such a big thing. You know all these teams, so many of your friends, a lot of the, a lot of the cases, six. have played in these leagues, and will play in these leagues. Do you think the idea of being traded is more, or is a little easier for a player like you to understand because you're around these junior leagues so much?

Starting point is 01:17:08 Or do you think it still is something that at such a young age kind of hits you like a truck when you're like, like you said, I don't know how the fuck I'm going to get there. Yeah. Yeah, God. Yeah. I mean, like, I think it's like,

Starting point is 01:17:20 I mean, this is a junior cycle. It's, I feel like it's kind of norm. You usually have like a high first round, six year old. you know, get traded for an older guy team contending. But, you know, in your own mind, like, I'm thinking, like, yeah, I can help this team as much

Starting point is 01:17:32 as possible. Like, you know, I could be here to help them on a run. But at the same time, you know, you have two 19-year-olds who, you know, draft the NHL are coming the other way. So, I mean, I've seen it because I remember, like, just growing up Peterborough, going to Pete's games and you'd see, like, they'd go for a UFIA in town coming in and, you know, when they'd sell, you know, younger talent will come in. But I know, it doesn't really change the fact that I remember.

Starting point is 01:17:55 I got traded with, probably one of my best friends now. We got traded to stealouts together, but we were like phone each other. We're like, we have a no trade clause. We're not going to sign it. We're just going to stay here. We're like, you know what that? No, that's probably not. And we have our advisors.

Starting point is 01:18:10 And, you know, our parents tell us like, yeah, it's probably not the best idea. Yeah, yeah. Maybe don't pull that one out just yet. Yeah. Yeah, but yeah, we end up going to steal us together. And, you know, I think it worked out for both organizations. You know, we had a good couple. years in with the steelheads and you know the sting there and siren it went out a little

Starting point is 01:18:29 around that year I think they fell short in the western conference final but you know being traded is definitely crazy sequence and you know who knows it might happen later in your hot career and you know luckily I've already went through it so hopefully it won't be you know that crazy again yes agree but and you know listen we don't love staring at the stat sheet of course but at the same time when you're having that monster year and you get those 98 points in 57 games was part are you being like, I got to hit 100 here. Yeah, I remember. I remember it was like, it was coming down

Starting point is 01:19:00 the end and I think like, we already had our playoffs, we're already, you know, we're set. I think we're the five seed. Like every, the whole conference was said, you know, going into the last game. And, you know, I remember, I was like, I thought maybe I was going to get scratched. It was kind of mean in this game. But, you know, coach called me into, you know,

Starting point is 01:19:16 we end up winning the game, but also, you know, it was close. And I was, you know, you're a hockey player, you're a young kid, it's kind of in the back of your mind. But, It was still a good year. You know, it wouldn't happen without that, you know, people I was playing with and teammates I had. But, you know, it was a special year to be a part of the Steelers organization there. No doubt, man.

Starting point is 01:19:34 It's amazing. It must have been cool early to get those reps, though. You know, when you go to the Steelheads, you're getting time right away, which I'm sure helped you build that confidence over a couple years to have that season you had eventually when you're captain. Yeah, I remember I got traded in and it was like 16 years old and, you know, they're putting me on the power play and they're giving me all this opportunity. And at the time, like, you know, maybe it isn't like you're succeeding because you're going up against older guys and, you know, you're still young. You're not in your peak strength or anything.

Starting point is 01:20:03 But, you know, I think you James Richman there, he really, like, kind of trusted in the young group he had. And I remember we were going in the playoffs that year and we're all 16. Then we're playing against North Bay who was like, they're a wagging that year. They were pretty nasty. Yeah. You know, I remember game one, they just pumbled us, like just took the energy in life right of us. but we were like, oh, no, this could be a quick series, but we fought.

Starting point is 01:20:27 We fought, we ended up going six games. But I remember, it's like, we're all six and 17, and then, you know, two years down the road, now you're those older guys. So it's pretty crazy. You have fast time flies. That's awesome, dude. I want to take you to some Team Canada stuff

Starting point is 01:20:42 because it is the dream for any Canadian boy at any level to put on that sweater, dude. What an honor, right? I know you got some hanging in your room and everything. It's incredible. And I have a good news question and a bad news question. And I'm going to start with the bad news guy so we can finish with the good news. So I want to ask about world juniors because the 2024 team has a quarterfinal exit, right?

Starting point is 01:21:04 And then there's all this hype and hub, like, okay, we got to do better. I got to do better. And there was all that press too about like, you know, these guys, no one on that roster is guaranteed a spot back. Like we're taking this seriously. You make the team 2025 and it's on home soil. It's all this shit. And it's a tough tournament, right? You lose to U.S. in the group stage,

Starting point is 01:21:21 lose to Latvia in the group stage, and then get bounced to the quarterfinals. What was that experience like for you? I kind of really wanted to know what the energy was like with the group after and what positives you were able to take from the tournament still. Yeah, I mean, your world juniors, you're a young Canadian kid. Like, you're doing for that. Like, I remember watching boxing day with my family every year.

Starting point is 01:21:42 And then, you know, it comes and you end up making a team. So, I mean, like, that's pretty surreal. You're playing the World Junior's Day. I remember skating out boxing day. It's like, holy smokes. Sold out, Sends, rank, and, you know, it just rocking. But, I mean, yeah, it was a tough betting for us, you know, losing the quarterfinals. Definitely not what we drew up.

Starting point is 01:22:02 But it's, I mean, it's tough for me even to put into words because it's like it happened so quick. I remember, like, one second, you know, we tie up the game. And then next, next thing you know, the tournament's over and you're packed your bags on a flight home. So it's like, I mean, going in there. there. It's not what you expected, especially with, you know, your Canada, you're supposed to be one of the top dogs. And then, you know, I'm back-to-back quarterfinal year exits. It's definitely not what, you know, we drew up as Canadians. But, you know, it sucked. I mean, remember in the room after that quarterfinal game, it's just like, you're in disbelief, you're disappointed in yourself.

Starting point is 01:22:39 And it's like, it wasn't very pleasant from us, you know. Was it just silent? Is it like, was it like a group that doesn't talk or was someone trying to pick everyone up. Yeah, no, it was silent, I think, for probably two or three hours. Like, we were, we were honestly, like, what just happened. And, you know, there's definitely some tears shed. And, you know, the boys were definitely like, it was sad because you're with these guys for a month, right? You get so close to these guys. You fight with each of you guys for a month. And then it just ends like that. And you go back to your hotel. And I remember after you got being the quarterfinals, I went back to my hotel and, you know, I didn't pack up any of my stuff.

Starting point is 01:23:12 Like, I thought we're going to be there to gold medal game. And I'd back up later. So I get in my room and all my stuff's all over the room. And I'm like, my flight's in five hours. I got to pack up all my clothes. But I probably forgot about five or six things there. But it's like, no doubt. It's just, honestly, it's crazy. And then I remember like you fly back like, you know, like four in the morning, catch a bus to the airport, pack boy stuff. And then I went and played in Brampton the next day. Dude, that's insane. Oh my God. It's insane. It's such a whirlwind. Yeah, but it's like, I mean, you win a gold medal. It's definitely all worth it. But, you know, That's something like I remember

Starting point is 01:23:47 like then this year in the summer camp It's kind of like you go in there It's like It's like now it's like we It's just unacceptable We don't have a good term And don't win a gold medal Like can they can't lose back to back core final

Starting point is 01:24:00 So I think like a big message for us this year Going in is like you know Embrace the challenge Like just go on there play our game You know don't look at the media Like media is going to try to pull you down Everywhere we go like It's also like a lot of guys for me

Starting point is 01:24:13 Like last year is my first time and exposed to the media. So it's like, you got all these high-end medias over you. Like, it's, it is, it's different.

Starting point is 01:24:21 You got used to it. You look at the pros and, you know, that's how they know how to handle it. So, you know, it's definitely a learned experience in a lot of things,

Starting point is 01:24:29 but, you know, overall, it's a tough-ended. That's a cool, positive to take from it. It's like, you kind of get that experience,

Starting point is 01:24:35 right? Where you're like, okay, this is what it's like dealing with the media through adversity, and now you're ready for it. I love that.

Starting point is 01:24:39 Yeah. And Chris, Before you get to the good news, I do want to ask, Porter, just not harping on the bad news. I love something that you just said about, you know, you kind of get in there

Starting point is 01:24:49 and you have a month with these guys. We always love looking at, now we're back in the Olympics and the NHL. We had four nations this year. And there is that cool thing where you have guys who are playing on different teams thrown together on a team, but I feel like at the NHL level,

Starting point is 01:25:03 these guys see each other a lot at Media Day. They talk to each other. A lot of them have played together. Can you talk a little bit about, that experience at that young age in these world juniors and world championship tournaments, when you're thrown together with these group of guys, all who are fighting for the same goal, right? I feel like you're all such a similar age.

Starting point is 01:25:21 You've either just recently been drafted or are hoping to get drafted. You're hoping to play your absolute best so you can excel to the ultimate goal. Is it difficult rallying together with a bunch of guys that in many ways you're kind of competing with? Or does the gravitas and the feeling of playing for team Canada? to eliminate all of that and you guys just are all working towards the same goal. Yeah, I mean, it is tricky when you have, you know, 20 plus first rounders coming in, you know, everyone's playing, you know, first power plays on their home team.

Starting point is 01:25:52 You're playing 25 minutes tonight and, you know, kind of, I think a big thing, you know, definitely, I'm going to try to bring in this year to World Juniors and you know what they kind of told us is, you know, really just embrace your role. Like, you're going there, you're, you're playing for that Canadian leaf. Like, not, like, you throw your last aim, like, throw the egos away. Like, we're all fighting for one thing. common goal. It's that Maple Leaf. So, yeah, I think you got kind of see that in the NHL.

Starting point is 01:26:17 Like, they embrace their roles. And, you know, that's when the best students stay on the cups and, you know, win the championship. So, you know, coming in, if, you know, get another shot to play at the World Junior's this year, like, that's a big thing. Like, everyone embraced a role. Like, we're doing this for each other. And, you know, it is tricky when you ever think they should be on the first power play. They should be first line. They should be getting all these minutes. But in reality, you can't have 25 people on the ice at once. So it is tricky for, you know, teenagers to accept that.

Starting point is 01:26:44 And, you know, I think the teams that win the world junior championships, who win those big tournaments, it's like, that's what happens. I remember the U18 Worlds and we won the gold medal, that's kind of what our team bought in. We had guys playing the fourth time. They went first round in the NHL draft that year. And it's like, they embraced it. And, you know, we end up winning a gold medal.

Starting point is 01:27:01 And that's no better feeling to win a gold medal for your nation. Well, dude, the, and I was going to say you saw it at four nations, right? Like you've got mega, mega stars playing fourth line on these teams because it's like, that's what it takes to win. And that's a perfect transition from you because the good news was I was going to be you suit up at U-18s, team captain, have a haddy in the group stage, break Connor Bidar's record for most goals, most points by a Canadian in world U-18s. And then you beat U.S. 6-4 to win the gold. So, you know, that one obviously came first in the timeline, but just compare and contrast. Was that the best experience ever? Fucking it.

Starting point is 01:27:37 How are you? What a fucking shit. gift. That was unbelievable. Like, I mean, I was members like, you get, we got knocked out a play. I got knocked out of playoffs and then, you know, you're going over there. And it's like, it's great because you got to go play more hockey. But I got to go over there and I got a player from my country. And you know, well, like, I don't even like think we realized like that team over there,

Starting point is 01:27:58 like how good we actually were. And I think like, I think kind of just took us by. We just, you know, kept going side in every game. And I think it was a cool first taste like to win a goal. metal on that big stage. And I remember that gold medal game. It was just, it was crazy. We were losing 3-1, getting dominated. Like, U.S. was taking it to us. Like, we were going to shot like 20 to 5. And then in the third period, they take a five-minute major and we just capitalize. We score, we score three and then we weren't looking back since. But, you know, it was cool

Starting point is 01:28:29 to, you know, win that gold medal. I just remember celebrating all the guys, you know, getting to lift that trophy, put the gold medal around your neck. And it's like, this is awesome. Yeah, it's true, dude. Like, that's what it's about, you know? Like, that's what you're, you got the Vaseline on your face on the pond growing up. It's thinking about those moments, you know, dude? Yeah. That's incredible.

Starting point is 01:28:49 What did you guys hang after? Yeah, well, that's another crazy thing. Like, I remember we win the gold medal. It's like, we get out there as quick as possible. So, like, we won the gold medal back to the hotel. Whatever. I was kind of already packed it there because I knew it was the last game. Yeah, finally.

Starting point is 01:29:04 Yeah, so you get back to the hotel, get your stop two hours later on a charter. we're on a bus to the airport. And I remember, like, we had, I think it was like, we had like a, we had a flight from, it was in Finland. We flew from Finland to Germany, I think, and we had like a six hour layover. We just wherever. So I think there's like a video of all of us just sleeping on the chairs there because we're so tired.

Starting point is 01:29:26 We've been out for so long. But it's like, after you win, it's, you're out of there right away. Like they, they mean business. You're hopping on a bus. Yeah, yeah. See you later. Make sure we don't get any trouble. and no, don't do anything stupid.

Starting point is 01:29:39 So, you know, we're out of there quick and, you know, but it's still cool. You just went a gold medal. And remember all of us, we got off the plane back in Canada. We're carrying the trophy. You had the medals around our neck. So that's always a cool, cool feeling. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:29:53 Here's your medal. Get the fuck out. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Well, man, it's, it's so fun talking about all of this stuff. And, you know, when you look back, it's amazing. Thinking about the career statistic you've had in juniors and then the great

Starting point is 01:30:07 success with the national team. But we've come to talk to players like you, you know, whether them be 10-year vets and we're looking back a decade or if it's guys who just got in the league. But we've started to call this couple of years the gauntlet because it really does, when you, when you play it back like you've just done, it's insane being, you know, 16 years old, getting drafted at junior, sometimes getting traded in junior, then all of a sudden, bang, you're abroad playing for the national team and then bang, you're getting drafted. And there must be an element for you that's like, you almost black out during that whole stretch. Because like when you just said, you, you guys, you lose in the quarters next thing you know, the next day you're in Brampton playing a game.

Starting point is 01:30:46 And you're like, what the hell is going on here? So with all of that going on, all the success, the frustrations, the wins, all of a sudden, you're at the NHL draft. And coming into this draft, there's so much talent. We're looking at guys like, you know, Mesa, Scha, you, Hagan's so often your name coming up as the potential number. one pick, definitely a top 10 pick. What did you do to sort of just block out all of the noise, keep playing your game and just try to focus on. I'm going to the draft. I'm going to do the combine. I'm going to do the interviews. And whoever picks me, picks me, and that's all I can focus on. Yeah. I mean, like that, like you said, like those couple years and that whole last year,

Starting point is 01:31:28 like, I think it flew by so fast. They're just like, yeah. And for me, like, even sometimes I don't think I did, but it just kind of enjoy the moment. Like, honestly, like, you're going to go do these cool things. I remember the draft. It's like, you're so stressed up. But in the end, it's like, you're going to get picked. You're going to get picked by a team that likes you. And it's like, just be happy and enjoy it with their family.

Starting point is 01:31:48 But yeah, it was a special year. I mean, you just, for me, like, I got to, you know, play on the CHL versus US event, go to the world juniors. You know, I have a good year with my team in Brampton. I got to go play at the men's world championships. And after that, you went back to the Combine, the Combine straight to the draft and development camp. So it's like a world when there's like so much going on, but it's like, you just got to enjoy it.

Starting point is 01:32:11 Like this thing's going to happen once. And, you know, when the time did come, you got your name called it. It was pretty special. No question about it, man. Are you a refresh central scouting guy every week? Or are you just like, let it be and whatever? Because I've met both. So which one are you?

Starting point is 01:32:27 Yeah. No, I was pretty like, I was pretty. I didn't really look into that much. But I mean, it's easy to get caught away with all the rankings. Oh, my God, dude. I think the last month, there's a different ranking every two hours. Yeah, exactly. Here on this one.

Starting point is 01:32:41 Here on this one. You're just, but it's like, sometimes the rankings have had no clue what's going to happen in the draft, too. It's like, no, that's so far fetched from what actually happened. But it's like,

Starting point is 01:32:51 I mean, for me, like, I did look at them. I'm not going to lie. Of course. Of course. You're 17,

Starting point is 01:32:56 18 year old kid. Like, you just, it just a human nature to look at it. But, but yeah, it was, it was pretty crazy.

Starting point is 01:33:05 I think that, you know, a week leading up to the draft, and especially with our draft, I think, like, there's people saying there's going to be so many trades, like people are going to trade off, people are going to trade down. I was like, you're sitting in that chair and you're like, okay, like I could be going here, but then also a team could trade up and, you know, snatch you away.

Starting point is 01:33:20 So it was pretty special. I think it helped for me because my dad, you know, went through it already. He was, I think he was a fourth round pick, but, like, he was good with me, you know, kind of talked with me all the way through and, you know, kind of just kept. be, you know, level-headed.

Starting point is 01:33:37 So clutched out. That's amazing my God. Yeah. Like you just said, trying to embrace the moment and just to enjoy every bit of it, were there any of the interviews, any crazy questions you got that, you know, kind of gave you a chuckle or? Yeah. The other side made you be like, what the hell?

Starting point is 01:33:52 Yeah. Yeah, the habs asked to the animal shit, right? Yeah. Yeah. Well, like the Montreal one is pretty crazy. There's the animal. And then also, like, I remember Montreal that gave you a scenario. Like, you're in a deserted island.

Starting point is 01:34:03 there's like there's one water bottle you're with another person and they get the water bottle and then you walk up and there's like a there's a baseball bat up there like what are you going to do like you're going to die if you don't get the water and I'm sitting there I'm like I don't really know like I don't want to beat this guy up with a baseball bat and get the water but you know I also want to survive so it's like you just come up with something to say but you know I think it's fun though you remember what you said that's so crazy yeah I think I said like I'll get the baseball bat You get the water back and, you know, I'm going to survive. But it's like, it's like, I don't want to, I was like after.

Starting point is 01:34:38 I was like, I don't want to kill anyone though. Like, yeah, that sucks. But it's like, dude. Dude, there's cops in the room like waiting to admit to murder. They're like, get arrested this kid. But it's like, walk up, swing in the bat, patented against my hand. Just show them on the threat, you know. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:34:54 But it's like funny because like after like you were all, there's like, I don't know, there's a lot of kids there. And then you're all eating lunch and you're like, oh, yeah, what did this team say to you? Like, well, what's the question about? about this and you kind of is all talking about it. But you know, you look back, I remember my first meeting, I was pretty nervous. I forget who it was with. I was like sweating.

Starting point is 01:35:10 I was like, yeah, this is nervous. But then after that, it's like, you just, honestly, just be yourself. It's fun. Now you look back on it. I was like, those means, this means are pretty fun. Yeah. What animal did you get? I gave a, I gave a wolf.

Starting point is 01:35:25 And I was like, I just, I was like the first thing to get him on. Dan, no, it was even sicker than that. He's being modest. He said wolf on the ice, German Shepherd, off the ice. Yeah. Yeah. I did. I didn't say that.

Starting point is 01:35:39 Do you have any, Porter? I don't think you are aware of how attractive that is going to be to the ladies. You're saying that you're domesticated at home. That's fucking huge. That's a fantastic answer. Oh, my God. I love it. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:35:53 Holy moly. Well, so going into the draft, you obviously, you know, you come down to six. you get taken by the flyers iconic franchise some of the best sweaters in the league fantastic city I guess if you want to say that how pumped were you

Starting point is 01:36:13 was it just like you know was it a I feel like I can tell from you know the research we've done and just talking to you it sounds like you're going to be pumped no matter where you go but to get picked by a team like that with so much history and then when you look at him now with you you've got such a cool collection of guys

Starting point is 01:36:29 on that team right now with vets like tk and sannie and then you've also got ze doing his thing jamy doing his thing mitchkoff doing his thing it must be really really exciting for you to be looking at that team as something that you're heading into soon yeah i remember when i was like sitting there in my chair and they came up and i was like i think i looked over my dad and said i'm like this would be awesome like it was honestly like i this was like my team growing up too like the flyers like i love the flowers i had like i saw that old pick of you yeah i have like jersey jersey in my bed room like everything and I was like this would be awesome and then like my billets in Brampton they built it Owen Tippett before so like I it was kind of like there's always kind

Starting point is 01:37:08 of around and it was always a possibility but then it's like when they're come and then as Charles Barkley comes up and says your name it was like that was that was pretty cool um it was special and then I remember this I don't even remember much I just remember walking up on the stage and it's like holy smokes this is it's crazy and then you do the interviews everything after It's a wildest day of your life for sure. Dude, and did you have, I know you just said it would be awesome, but did you have a sense that they might take you? Because I know you'd had some meetings with a bunch of teams.

Starting point is 01:37:40 Like, did you think it was going to be failure? Were you truly like, I have no idea? For my case, I had no clue. Because I was like, I didn't know. It was like one of the teams. I was like, I knew they liked me. Like I had a meeting with them, I think like a week before the draft on a Zoom call. And whatever, I knew they liked me for sure.

Starting point is 01:37:58 But then I was also like, who knows? knows what could happen but like I think like when they got up there and then I guess I had this gut feeling when they're out there I was like yeah I'm going here and then like and then when they picked me it was like that was like it's honestly like you look back on it now and you don't remember when they actually pick you but it's like this is like you look back to see the videos like this is so so surreal and I remember like

Starting point is 01:38:19 because I know like Kinek in Sandheim and Forster a little bit and they added me to a group channel they're just chirping me and it was pretty funny because like I already know them they already give it to me I just got a draft for like five minutes ago, but they're good guys. Best moment of my life, dude. If that's not the most Philly thing I've ever heard, I don't know what else. Yeah, I know the culture there is just like, I think it's next to nod. And, you know, they all get along really well.

Starting point is 01:38:44 And, you know, they got a young group that's, you know, coming up. And it's pretty special. I still watch a game like every night. And, you know, I see what, you know, Zegers is doing right now. It's pretty cool. And, you know, I think this can continue to grow throughout the year. Definitely. God, it's so exciting, man.

Starting point is 01:39:00 Yeah. And it's, you know, was there anything about falling, if you will, that made you feel like, I mean, hey, this is pretty cool here. There's a chance to be considered a steal of the draft. There's also the higher likelihood of, you know, you fall a couple picks. You do maybe find yourself in a situation where you're going to the flyers, a team that's really already in the middle of their rebuild. They're sniffing the playoffs. Those must be some nice, you know, look at the bright side moments about this whole ordeal. Yeah, I mean, it's weird to say, like, you fall because you don't really know, like, every team's lists and everything.

Starting point is 01:39:37 But when it was the Flyers there at 6 and, you know, when you do fall down there and it's like, yeah, like, they're close. You know, who knows, maybe they make the playoffs this year. They're in the middle of rebuild. They got some pieces here are a bit older now. So it's cool to kind of be, like, close to, you know, contending in the playoffs, you know, be in the playoffs. because, you know, that's what you dream of winning the Stanley Cup. So, you know, I think they're getting close and they got a good group to do it. God, that's incredible.

Starting point is 01:40:04 Well, dude, after you get drafted, there's so, God, the times are changing, man. But after you get drafted, there's so many options that exist for you in that one moment, right? And not that your control of all of them, you know, the flyers make decisions and everything, but you put in a ton of work to be NHL ready right after the draft. And you get the big frame already in all that. that stuff. And you can try to make the flyers. You can go to stay in juniors. You can go to college now. All this stuff's happening to you. And obviously, the one that you landed on was going the NCAA route, which was only available thanks to the rule change, obviously. What went into that

Starting point is 01:40:42 conversation across everything between you and the flyers, between you and your agent, and probably most importantly between you and your family? I'm just so curious how, you know, how did we get here? Yeah, I think like that was that was probably a crazy like I think it was like a crazy week too Because it was like you get drafted You know for me it was always my goal this year that you know playing the NHL I want to go there I want to you know I'm not going to be given anything but I want to go fight for a spot at training camp But you know you can't do that if you're going to come to college so I remember I sat down with my after development camp Sat down with my agent my family you know the flyers were great they're very

Starting point is 01:41:19 support of my, they talked about what they thought was best for me. But at the end of the day, I think what really concluded to, you know, my decision to come to college is, you know, what's going to make me the best player in, you know, five years when I'm in my prime and, you know, trying to help this flyers when it's Stanley Cup. And I think was that I thought that was coming to college and, you know, practicing four to five times a week. You know, you're in the gym four or five times a week. And, you know, I've been here for three months and I've noticed such a huge difference. And it's, it's been amazing.

Starting point is 01:41:48 you know, my time of Michigan State. Like, yeah, I've said this to a couple guys right here. I've fallen in love of East Lansing. Like, this place is awesome. And then it's like, that's just, you know, off the ice. But then on the ice, you know, I could, practices or battle. Guys are going out of then you're two hours in the wait room, you know, just getting after it. And it's like, you've noticed progression that's that I see.

Starting point is 01:42:08 It's, I think it was a great choice for me. You know, at the end of the day, too, it was tough leaving Brampton. Like that order is just so much for me. You know, I can't thank them enough. But, you know, when I talked to Abnoyangelo here in Michigan State, it was just like, it was a no-brainer. Like, they were my kind of team, you know, my kind of culture. And, you know, I think I fit pretty good with this group here. Dan, he almost went back to Brampton to get the 100-point season.

Starting point is 01:42:32 I got to go back. Dude, I was so close. But, uh, court, how can you, can you, can you, um, kind of put your finger on how valuable and helpful the college game has been with playing guys who are so much older and so much bigger? Like that must be a noticeable difference. Obviously, you're no stranger to being on the ice with older guys. But there is that difference. Like, you play some of these teams in college and, like, they've got 25-year-old seniors.

Starting point is 01:42:58 And you're like, that does, that shows. It makes a difference. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I remember my first weekend. It was like, I think a big thing, too, is like, yeah, these guys are older. Like, there's a lot last time in space. You know, these guys are closing. You're finishing checks.

Starting point is 01:43:11 But, like, every game's a game seven. Like, I remember we played, we lost a UNH game. we lost you in age game one and I was like we're yeah I did ever top five ranked team like we're coming like I was what I wasn't mixed then they weren't ranked or anything but it's like they came in they block I think 30 shots game one and I was like I've never seen a team sell their body like they're throwing their they're going face first blocking pox and that's like it's like it's like it's like what I kind of learn like every game like you got to bring your best because if you don't you're gonna get beat and it's like I think we we came back night too and and we just we brought our best

Starting point is 01:43:44 I think we outshot them like 40 to 10 and, you know, it's still a close game because, you know, they block 30 shots again and they're, you know, if you know, if you know, if you can't continue to go on. There's lots of skill in college. You know,

Starting point is 01:43:57 I think that B.U series you're playing on some, I think there's 30, 30 something draft picks. It's like, that's insane. That's like crazy, dude. Yeah. That was a fucking wild weekend too.

Starting point is 01:44:06 Like, yeah. It's just so much talent on the ice. Yeah. And then it's like, you're right. Like for me, I've noticed it.

Starting point is 01:44:13 You know, I think it's, I'm getting used to it weekend by weekend, but it's like, you know, fast-paced. It's hard checking, you know, closing. Like, you don't have a lot of times to face. So I think it's great to get you ready for the pro game. Yeah. When the rule change happened, was this on your radar immediately where, I mean, I know you said that, you know, you wanted to go to the NHL.

Starting point is 01:44:33 You obviously want to go to the NHL. But the second, this possibility of playing somewhere else this year was in the sphere for you. And this rule change happened, where you immediately like, shit, college is an option, or did it take maybe your agents, advisors, people being like, hey, this is something you should think about. Yeah, I think when I first saw the rule change, I obviously, like, I think I looked at it. Like, nothing seriously. Like, I just, like, looked at my phone, different schools.

Starting point is 01:44:59 I'd pull up, like, YouTube videos, like, looking around the rooms and stuff. But, you know, nothing really. I think for me it was kind of just focused on my time in Brampton, try to win a championship there and, you know, give my all 100%, you know, effort and, and loyalty to the steel ed's organization and then you know once a season did end and you know you get into the draft and it's kind of you kind of start weighing your options you tour some schools you look around and then you know after you have to make the decision so yeah i mean throughout the year when it first came out i wouldn't say i was very interested i wouldn't think i was going to come

Starting point is 01:45:29 make the jump to ncd saba i um you know i feel like i was pretty you know 100% in with brampson but you know when the season did add and you know you do look around your options and you're like yeah this could be a real possibility for sure hell yeah and Before you get into this current season, Dan, Ports, were there, obviously there's like the Penn State rumors and shit, but were there other schools that you got close to that people don't know about, that you were interested in that people don't know about? Or was it like you saw East Lansing and you were like, I'm going, we're done? Yeah, so I think there was. I did talk to a couple schools, you know, after the season ended and went on a couple tours. But as soon as I came to Michigan State and I came and talked to, you know, Nightingale here and then their staff and I saw their facility. and I saw the campus and then I talked to their strength coach, Will Will Borlock?

Starting point is 01:46:17 And then as soon as after that, I was like, if I'm going to college, I'm going to Michigan State. I knew right away. That's sick. It's like, it's like something like have,

Starting point is 01:46:25 you know, the stuff they have, you know, we get treated like, we get treated so well. We need, anything you need you get, but it's like,

Starting point is 01:46:32 I think it's like something that really brought my attention is like, yeah, we get all the stuff. We get all the, the high and stuff. And I remember the strength coach, when I was in my visit, he was like,

Starting point is 01:46:41 yeah, like we have these, we have need these machines. teams like not like only three NHL teams have them. It's like it's not what you have. It's what you do with it and the work you put in. It's like that's something to call my mind and now that you go to

Starting point is 01:46:52 like nothing's given to you here like you got to earn it. So it's like you come in here the first day of practice and first day of school it's like everyone's level like everyone's even and then after you work for your ice time you work for the stuff so I think that was something special and just kind of a call shape built here. I knew that Michigan State

Starting point is 01:47:09 was a you know the fit for me. That's so awesome dude. Where else did you tour? I tour in Michigan, Michigan and Michigan State. Oh, I don't fucking tell me that. I don't need to hear this, guys. Okay, just enough. No, well, man, it's, it's, I think it's been remarkable how palpable the excitement of college hockey has been this year.

Starting point is 01:47:31 There's no question. More people are paying attention to it than ever before, and you are a huge part of that. There's absolutely no doubt. And with the arms race of, you know, Penn State trying to get you, then Ike leaving. Michigan State, you coming to Michigan State. You guys start the season, like you said, lost to UNH, but then you sweep B.U. You're the current number one team in the country. You're leading the team in scoring with nine points and six games.

Starting point is 01:47:55 You're on a three-game goal streak. Right behind you is Michigan, like we just talked about, nine and one. They're playing unreal. Then right behind them, Penn State, nine and one, have Gavin McKenna on the team, guys like Hage and Horcough on Michigan. This is early in the season, still I get it. But there are just fucking titans in NCAA right now. How electric is this feeling for you guys?

Starting point is 01:48:21 Are you having just truly a bigger blast than you could have ever imagined? Yeah, I mean, I think in college this year, it's like, I think I remember I saw some of stats, like you've seen the most upsets we've seen. But it's like, I don't know if they're actually upsets because every team's so close, right? Like every team's so good. Every team's so close in gap. Like I think like the numbers like for our. case, like we're not, we don't focus on where we're the number one team in the country.

Starting point is 01:48:46 And I think it's just like, we're coming to every game with the same mentality because if you don't come with that mentality, you can get beat so easily. So it's like, we're coming in, like, we come to the rink every day. We try to get better. We get better. And then every game, you know, we want to take a step. So it's like, we can, we try to block up that noise of, yeah, we're the number one team right now.

Starting point is 01:49:04 And, yeah, we're playing another top team because it's like, I think for us, it doesn't even matter who we play. You got to bring your best or you're not, you're not going to get the results you want. for sure and listen man it's clear that you've got the exact type of mentality that that any team any coach would want and you're taking this seriously which is so awesome how let's remove the hockey how has the college vibe been for you i mean it's it's one of these things i feel like a canadian kid growing up when you're as high of a prospect as you are you don't necessarily think that this is something that's going to be in the cards you think you're going to go junior and then hopefully get drafted and then you're in the pros now all of a sudden you have this opportunity you're on one of the coolest campuses in the entire country playing for a top team in the country. Remove the hockey and just be, you know, be a kid for a second. Has college been awesome? Yeah, it's been, it's been a blast for sure.

Starting point is 01:49:55 I mean, obviously for us, like, you know, we're pretty, we're pretty downed in the hockey aspect, but, you know, we have a good team. We have our fun. You know, we have a hockey house and it's like, we get together, we watch, you know, movies every single night, you know, weekends we hang out there, watch, well, we watch Sunday football all day long. And then, you know, it's, it's a good time. It's a good campus. You know, it's always pretty rowdy downtown East Lansing. And it's fun for sure. It's amazing. What, uh, give me, give me a class. Give me a class that you're like, this one, you know,

Starting point is 01:50:27 this, this class not that bad. Yeah. So I'm in, I actually, today I had personal finance. I'm actually, I'm enjoying that. Okay. That's a fantastic college class. That's really good. So I'm in a, I'm in a personal personal finance class. I'm in a math class, that's, that's tough. I got a tutor in that one. No, I go to the, yeah, yeah. I go get, I have a tutor every, every Tuesday night for math fast, and you know, that gets me through it.

Starting point is 01:50:53 And then I have, you have, we get a weight training and general conditioning just through the hockey. And then I took, like, an athletics and higher education, just kind of learned about that stuff. Like, it's a problem is pretty simple one. And then I'm in a criminal justice class, too. But, um, it's, it's, honestly, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's not. as hard as I thought it was going to be coming to the actual school part.

Starting point is 01:51:16 It's like, I think you go to class and you got to do your homework, you got to stand on top of it. But it's definitely not as taxing as I thought it was going to be. But it gets tricky sometimes. Chris, this fucking kid's stock with the flyers is going through the roof right now. He's talking about taking personal finance class and criminal justice class. There's a model citizen. He's doing his homework.

Starting point is 01:51:38 Unbelievable. This interview does not be going better. Yeah. And dude, it's so sick that you're just like with the boys at the house. I mean, it's just so much fun. I know we were joking. I think we weren't recording yet. But it's like you,

Starting point is 01:51:50 it's tough because you miss the big football game sometimes because you got your own game. But it's still such a vibe on campus. I'm sure you can feel the buzz when there's a big game. And, you know, just being a part of that must be so sick. Yeah. Like, I mean, I think we hang out with every single night. And that's like, you know, on weekends. And we got together this week and Halloween, all dressed up in costumes.

Starting point is 01:52:10 Everyone, you know, we took a cool photos. the house, everyone's, you know, we had a bunch different costumes. So it's fun. You know,

Starting point is 01:52:17 we, we enjoy our time here, but I think we got a good balance. Like, we're, we're focused on hockey. Like, we,

Starting point is 01:52:22 we go, we would do it through, throughout the week, we go hard and, you know, we push ourselves. And it's good. Like,

Starting point is 01:52:27 we have a, we have a good leadership group here who keeps everyone kind of dialed and focus on the main goals. Two important questions. What was your costume? Okay. I was, so,

Starting point is 01:52:41 so, so, So it was three guys. So it was Gavin O'Connell, Reikery, and me. And I was Simon from Elvin and the Chipmunks. And the other two were Alvin and Theodore. So we had like whatever, the color hoodies. We taped on like the letters.

Starting point is 01:52:54 And we had like long, long jean baggy shorts. And I had like glasses too. Like big ones around my eyes. Yeah. But it was nice. We had a good caution. We got some good photos. And then I think there were some good ones.

Starting point is 01:53:09 Like we had some guys put on some fake tattoos. and stuff. So it was, the boys, boys dressed out for Halloween, which is, which is fun. That's fantastic.

Starting point is 01:53:20 And then the second question, what's the last movie you watched with the boys at the house? Yeah. Last movie. It was actually last night. Okay, so last night,

Starting point is 01:53:31 we, we started one, we didn't end up watching it. It was, we watched, just ended up watching the NHL games, but we watched Happy Gilmore 2 the other night,

Starting point is 01:53:41 just, this shoot and this, It was having fun watching it. But we were started... Had you seen it yet? Or was that your first time? Yeah, no, I already seen it. I've just seen it probably five times now.

Starting point is 01:53:50 But we just, sometimes we turn on a movie and it's 10 minutes and we're like, let's just put on the hockey games. Yeah. Yeah, all the guys are crammed in on the couch. But yeah. And dude, and dude, how's the vibe like, you know, the big weekend, this weekend, buddy. Yeah. All-time battle, Penn State at home.

Starting point is 01:54:10 Is it like just another game? boys or is it like, yo, let's get this one. How is everyone feeling? Yeah, I think for us, like, yeah, it's just another game for us, but, you know, it's in the back of your mind, you're pretty amped up, you know, first big 10 game, you know, you're going to as Penn State, who's, who's a good hockey team over there. So, yeah, obviously, it's the week we say it's just another hot game, and, you know, that's what we're going to attack it. You know, we play every game the same. You know, I think we're a hard team to play against, you know, and just how we're going to go into it. Yeah, fantastic. It's going to be going to be must-see TV. I know. I know. I know.

Starting point is 01:54:42 I know campus is going to be rocking, though, because we play Friday at 7. We play Saturday at 4, and then there's a big basketball game at 7 o'clock. So Saturday is going to be, it's going to be a crazy day. That's a big day. Bro, you got to, hey, listen, I don't mean to put this pressure on you, but you have to win. You have to win. Yeah. Like the night after and football on Sunday is going to be way more fun if we get a couple

Starting point is 01:55:03 dubs this weekend. Yeah. So then we got to make it happen. Yeah. Big weekend for sure. Pray for the people tailgating and darting that day. That is just absolute. fucking rip the whole time.

Starting point is 01:55:14 Oh yeah. Yeah. I know like the student section like when we play like they'll be lined up at like seven in the morning. God, it's so awesome. Yeah. Like for the four o'clock game and they'll just be ready to get in there and get the first seat. So it's pretty cool like as I was, I walk from like my, my dorm to the games. I'm walking there in my suit and then you see the light up the student section. It's pretty cool how much they, you know, they, they care about the hockey team.

Starting point is 01:55:39 Yeah. That's a lot. That's electric. Yeah. All right. Well, Porter, some of this chat has been a perfect transition. Before we let you go, we're going to play a game with you that we do with all of our guests.

Starting point is 01:55:47 It's called pass shoot score. It's basically just a ranking system. We're going to give you a few things that we know you like are important to you, and then you have to rank them. It's going to be pass shoot score, pass. It's all right, like snapping the puck around. Shootings a little bit better, scoring the ultimate goal. So that's the basic ranking system. Okay.

Starting point is 01:56:05 The first one is going to be Adam Sandler movies. We know you're a Sandler guy. Yeah. So pass shoot. Probably shoot. Hold on, hold on. Hold on. Okay. Pass suit score. Yeah, you get three things in each category. Yeah. Pass shoot score. Happy Gilmore. Okay. I'll read you to do that. Okay. So happy Madison shoot. Wait, wait. Wait. Happy Gilmore shoot. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Billy Madison. Okay. I'll read you do that. Okay. So Billy Madison shoot. Happy Gilmore score. And then Big Daddy.

Starting point is 01:56:44 I mean all three Big Daddy. Yeah, I've seen a lot of times. All three great movies, but it's like Happy Gilmore One is iconic. I'm iconic. Honestly, I think you did that perfectly. Like when I'm thinking about it right now, I'm like,

Starting point is 01:57:02 I think I might have had the exact same thing. Big Daddy is so good, but those other two are just, those are such heavy hitters. Yeah, yeah, no. I mean, you could really put them in your way you really think. Yeah, yeah, you can't lose with Sandler. Yeah, Sandler moves. You can't lose.

Starting point is 01:57:19 It's so true. Where? Give me a one to ten on Happy Gilmore 2. Did you love it or were you let down? I honestly, I didn't love it. I didn't love it. Thank you, Porter. Thank you.

Starting point is 01:57:29 I didn't love it. I wish I could say I loved it. I mean, it was all right, but it just, I just not compare. Yeah, it's not compared to Happy Gilmore 1. It's not. It does it. It does it.

Starting point is 01:57:40 But I'm glad it was nostalgic. I'm glad they did it. feel good, but it was not on the same level. Okay, your second category, Porter, is country stars. Okay. So pass shoot score, Morgan Wallin, Zach Brian, Thomas Wrett. Okay. I'd go past Thomas Rett, shoot Morgan Wallen, score Zach Brian.

Starting point is 01:58:07 Ooh, nice. That was an upset. That was an upset. I'm surprised. I love Zach Ryan, but you know who I've been, And like those are three yards. You know what I've been listening? We've listened to a lot in the room is Sam Barber.

Starting point is 01:58:19 He's growing up by left. Okay. Chris, Sam, Chris is not the biggest country guy. I'm going to have to familiarize myself with this guy. Sam Barber rocks. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:58:28 If he was in there, he might have been my score. Wow. Hey, give me a song, give me a song to start myself off on him. Like I'm going to listen to the first time. I'm going to change one.

Starting point is 01:58:39 Straight and narrow. Straight and narrow. Straight and narrow. Okay. As soon as soon as we're done. That's a banger. But I heard you went to a sick Thomas Wreck concert, is that true? Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 01:58:49 That concert was, I've been to all three, actually. I've been to Morgan Wall and Thomas Wright and Zach Ryan. And it was like, the Thomas Rat one was unbelievable. We went away with like eight guys on my team and it was, it was sweet. And we had a box and it was a time. It was Zach Ryan on it was good as well too. So I mean, you can't go wrong with either. I mean, but I think, hey, we got to get, we got to get Morgan Wallen to bring you out

Starting point is 01:59:13 on stage like McDavid. You know, that, you're going to ask. I mean, that's... I would love that. I mean, that'd be awesome. It's the next Detroit show, dude. We'll get them up there. Here we go.

Starting point is 01:59:23 Fantastic. Yeah. All right. Your next one, Porter, is Goats. Some of the greats of all time. Pass shoot score. Sydney Crosby. Michael Jordan.

Starting point is 01:59:34 Kobe Bryant. You guys put me on the spot here. This is tough. This one's brutal. Those are three legends. Yeah. Okay. I'm going to go.

Starting point is 01:59:46 pass Colby Bryant shoot Michael Jordan and I got a score Sidney Crosby it's no brainer for me like he's my role model growing up

Starting point is 02:00:01 and then you know hockey and just the way he yacks around the rank and who he is it's pretty special you got to be careful with that talk if you're going to be a flyer soon dude this is just I know

Starting point is 02:00:13 I know there's a big rival there but I mean, he's still doing it, 38 years old and he's still producing. Can't believe it. He is the best of us, was we always saying. It's unbelievable.

Starting point is 02:00:26 Dude, I'm surprised you're such a basketball guy. Yeah. I like to dabble with all sports. I watch everything. I like to know. Yeah. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:00:38 He's got a good taste. Yeah, exactly. That was a tough one. Like, I like both. Like, but it's like my little. We make a,

Starting point is 02:00:46 hard. Are you a baseball guy? Are you bummed about the Blue Jays? Yeah. So I was invested there. Like that was like I was a Blue Jays fan my entire life. And I was like, I was watching every single game when they're on their run there. And so it's like, it was shitty how it ended.

Starting point is 02:01:04 But you know what? Dude, that was a dagger. I literally, I can't even believe that happened. Thought they had it. But it's just like you look at it. They did so well. Like they, they prove some of the people wrong. And it's like you're going up against the Dodgers too.

Starting point is 02:01:15 They're paying whatever, $100 million over the cap. It's not going to beat these guys, and they have all these kids coming in and all the high-end balance. Your company excuses. Yeah, ports is a good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, they got all the money in the world. No, that was true, dude.

Starting point is 02:01:31 They'll be, they're in good shape. Blue Jay's in good shape. Yeah. I hope to make another run. Well, until the Dodgers scoop up all of their free agents. Yeah, yeah. And then the Noggi's, Glad Guerrero and everyone. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:01:43 Then we're not trying to boot jays are done. Here's your last one, Porter. You're going to pass, shoot, score inspirational quotes, okay? Okay. Quote number one, I won't read the whole one, but you'll know it. Quote number one, watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions. You know that way, right? Yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 02:02:01 Quote number two, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Quote number three, the ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves. Okay, yeah. These ones... These are personal, bro. Yeah, I think I got all three of these written up on my childhood. You do. I do.

Starting point is 02:02:21 Yeah. I think the score would be watch your thoughts and that whole quote before they come to your actions and become your destiny. Just because, you know, I think what you do and how you're seeing around the rink and around the community is, you know, that's the person you are. I think I think pass like the ones who pass or pass I'd go

Starting point is 02:02:45 you miss 100% of the shots you don't take but you know you got to take your shots at everything. Not just hockey but everything you got to throw up the ball or throw up the free throw or take the shot and then the ones who motivate themselves when championships definitely shoot you know

Starting point is 02:03:02 I think that's that's a big thing like you just you can't you can't always be getting told with the deal you got kind of kind of have the inner drive to, you know, kind of push yourself. Dude, if you had passed your handwritten note to yourself in your bedroom, I would have changed you, dude. That was so good. I was dying.

Starting point is 02:03:20 Was that for a project or something? I can't remember what it said. Like, why? Yeah, I was like when I was a kid in school, I had to do something and I wrote that down and then my mom must have put up in my room and it's been out there ever since. It's incredible, dude. I was loving that so much. So good.

Starting point is 02:03:35 Listen, dude, those are important. those, every single one of those important. Actually, I'm going to read the full one because the full one that you scored on is so sick. It says, watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become character. Watch your character for it becomes your destiny. Sick fucking quote, dude. Yeah. Yeah. I remember my dad put that up on my wall and I'd be, I'd look at it every night I'd fall asleep. So it's like, you know, it's kind of your character, your destiny. It's kind of everything you do adds up to that. So. I'd be, I'd look at it every night. I'd fall asleep. So it's like, you know, it's kind of your character, it's kind of everything you do adds up to that. So. So. I don't do anything. That's going to ruin that. Get you fired up. Do you have, you got to get some stuff on the walls as your new place, dude. You need some.

Starting point is 02:04:14 Yeah, I got a, I got a Canadian flag up in my bedroom and I got a Michigan State flag. But I got no quotes, no quotes right now. Yeah. Okay, that's coming. Quotes are coming. I love it.

Starting point is 02:04:25 Yeah. Yes. Dude, that quote, the quote that you scored is just like such an all-timer. So, so, yeah.

Starting point is 02:04:35 Well, Porter, this has been a fucking blast, my man. I can't thank you enough for popping on before we let you go. Is there anything you want to shout out? Anything you want to plug? No, this is awesome. You know, I had a fantastic time, lots of fun. And, you know, I love seeing the podcast and the content you guys have. It definitely gives me a little laugh to my days when I see the things on Instagram.

Starting point is 02:04:57 Good, man. When he's glad to his personal finance class, dude, he's like, he's just bored. Yeah, scrolling through. That's what I do. from the first training classes scroll through. Yeah, yeah, you know, give me a little laugh. Fast and sometimes. That's amazing.

Starting point is 02:05:11 Well, dude, good luck this weekend. Yes, dude. Come on, baby. Coming up. Can't wait to watch it. And again, buddy, thank you so much for coming on. We're, uh, we're going to be, I can't believe I'm saying this because you're, do it, Dan, do it guy.

Starting point is 02:05:24 Let's go Spartans. I need to hear it. Absolutely going to be pulling for you. Let's go Spartans at least this week. Yes. At least this again. Yeah. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:05:32 Go green. Yeah. Yeah. God, Porter. I love a. Legend, stud. Future megastar, current college star, current number one team in the country,

Starting point is 02:05:43 best player on the team. Oh, man, dude, I'm so jealous to him. He's just such an impressive. So pumped that he came on the show, got a little bump, had a great point night, sweeps Penn State. You'll love to see it.

Starting point is 02:05:57 Amazing. We're going to take a quick ad break and then be back to close out the episode with some Beer League Hotline and some games. We've got holiday season coming around the bend here, and it is time to take care of the fellas in your life, whether it be your boyfriend, your dad, your brother, whomever. True classics is the best way to make sure that the guys in your life are fitted with some of the best teas going right now. It's a weird thing. You don't think about teas being something that are so hard to buy, but the fact of the matter is they are.

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Starting point is 02:08:10 Producer Sean, what do we got this week? Our goalie brings a Bluetooth speaker to the net with him and puts it where the water bottle goes. He rocks a playlist for the entire game. He says it puts them in the zone. It's pretty loud, but not offensively loud. He's still done his head last week and we beat the team in first place.

Starting point is 02:08:28 He probably made 40 saves. After the game, the other team complained to the commissioner that it shouldn't be allowed because it was distracting and we should have to forfeit. This is literally the plot of hardball. I was just what to say. I love it what you call me big pop. This is literally a big papa.

Starting point is 02:08:46 This is literally the plot of hardball. It's genuinely the plot of hardball. And I have a number of things to say. Before we even get into the wild move this is by the goalie, if you are that first place team that lost and then complained about this, you're the biggest fucking knobheads on earth. Knobhead! You just... Knobhead! You've got to be kidding me.

Starting point is 02:09:11 These beer league players trying to use bizarre loopholes because you've lost a beer league game. It wasn't even a championship. It was just a regular season game. And you're in first place and you lost because the goalie's doing something weird and you're going to complain to the commissioner, do you have nothing going on in your life? Do you genuinely have nothing in your existence

Starting point is 02:09:30 that makes you happy and gives you fulfillment so you have to go and complain about this? It's funny. Yeah. It's a funny, weird thing. You lost a hockey game. Stop bitching to commissioners, you fucking idiots.

Starting point is 02:09:43 Dude, especially because, to your point, it, this is, what's the fucking crash? This is supposed to be fun, God damn it. Go to hockey. at night on Wednesday and have fun, dude. And unless someone fucking knocks your teeth out with a high stick, then nothing bad happened to you. Dude.

Starting point is 02:10:01 Because you were playing hockey in your fucking mid-30s on a Wednesday. Done. Enjoy. It's, there's a, the scene in hardball, Miles is pitching with a Walkman on. Yeah. And he's nasty at pitching. And then the loser coach of the other best team in the championship game

Starting point is 02:10:19 complains about it and says it's unsafe. So then the rest of the team sings Big Papa to him. and then he K's everybody. Yeah. You are the loser in Hartball. Like they made a scene about this, pointing out how pathetic it is to complain about that, and then you clowns are complaining about it.

Starting point is 02:10:34 The team should sing to him from the bench. The other team complaining and saying you need to forfeit, you are the biggest collection of buttholes I've ever seen. Truly. The goalie, this is crazy. I don't hate it. I love it. But if my goalie did this, I would be like,

Starting point is 02:10:49 okay, but I'd be like, this is crazy. What if it breaks? What if it breaks? You got to say it's given the other team incentive to try to shelf you and explode your JBL speaker, which would be gas. Some nets have that thing at the back, though. You know, there's like that little sleeve. Yeah, you put in the sheath and you're pretty safe, to be honest with you. I wonder what he's listening to.

Starting point is 02:11:08 That's what I'm saying. I kind of want to follow up here where I'm like, what is it? It would be kind of sick. I like that he said it's not offensively loud. Yeah. Meaning like if you're a defenseman on that goalies team, you pick up a puck, you wheel behind the net. You're getting a little bit of jams. And I can still hear him.

Starting point is 02:11:22 Like he's like, man on or you. being like reverse reverse. I'm like, I can, you're not drowning out our communication. Yeah. You're just giving me some vibes. Guys, I don't hate it. I actually think this might be all time. I think it might be really cool. It's kind of like when we golf and we, you know, you got the speaker on the cart and you're letting it rip. If I, if I'm lining up over a shot and you pull up in the cart near me and the speaker's going, sometimes you give a courtesy turn down. And I'm like, leave it up. Go ahead. Like, we're vibing out here. I will say the first time I ever went to an NBA game, maybe not. My dad probably took us when we were really little. My first memory of an NBA game was they, my biggest takeaway was they play the music during the game.

Starting point is 02:12:01 Like in hockey, they play music, and then they drop the puck and you turn it off and you play hockey. And then there's a whistle and they put music on for the crowd. The NBA just plays music the whole game. And I remember being like, what? Dude, this is nuts. This isn't distracting the players, but they're like, no, it's fun. Like, you're just listening to sick songs. And this is what he's giving you.

Starting point is 02:12:18 Now you get to be in the, you too are in the NBA now. It's amazing. It's this is a total. Would you take requests? No, I don't think you can mess with it. It's just him. Does it change your opinion if it's like bad music? Like if he's just playing Mambo number five over and over and over again.

Starting point is 02:12:35 Okay, hold on. Try that again and think of a bad song because that song rock. I don't think it changes my opinion on the move, but it would maybe change my stance or my enjoyment levels of it. Yeah. Yeah. You know what, though? let's rule out truly insane things.

Starting point is 02:12:55 Like if he's listening to... Farm signs. Yeah, yeah. Like genuinely like weird soundtrack stuff or the fucking, the Muppets. Yeah. Or like the album and the Chipmunks Christmas album. If it's not anything that insane,

Starting point is 02:13:12 I don't really think that there are any music genres that I hate enough to be like, this is horrendous. And he also, it would make him more, more mythical to me, I think, if it was like, you know, he's like listening to classical music or something. If this dude was just back there hammering deep classical music, I'd be like, that guy's a fucking savage.

Starting point is 02:13:31 What if he was listening, I'm going to give one to you here. What if he was listened to like outlawed song, outlawed music on outlawed pipes or whatever that's called, like Irish. Oh, I don't even, I listen to good Irish music. I think that song's sick. But if he was listening to like, fire me up war. Yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 02:13:49 That would be intimidating. On the same level, the classical music would be intimidating in like an American psycho kind of way. Dude, 100%. If he was listening to classical music, you'd be like,

Starting point is 02:14:00 oh, this guy scares me, dude. Diled. Yeah. Irish J. I support this. Guys, I think I love this across the board. Hate the other team, love the goalie. Yeah, simple.

Starting point is 02:14:12 Okay, let's now finish things up with a Bauer hockey blind ranking. C.P., what is the topic today? The topic is players with 10 plus goals already in the league, of which there's a good chunk. And the reason I was thinking about scoring 10 plus goals is because I have a pulse now and I am going to score 1 billion goals now that I have a Bauer pulse, as are all the Bauer pulse guys in the NHL. So as a thank you to Bauer and the pulse, I wanted to reward the top goal scores in the league. Okay. Now, can we quickly pause and say, are we doing this on these players overall as players? as goal scores, as goal scores this season.

Starting point is 02:14:49 I always like clarifying. Yeah, this is a good question. I would say, I like as goal scores, not overall player. I think we got to do this season. Like, who do we want scoring goals for me this season? Yeah. Yeah. And I want to kind of be like they've been hot, so they deserve love.

Starting point is 02:15:05 Like, this isn't a just say who has more goals ranking, obviously. Vibes right now. Go, goal scoring vibes and abilities right now. Okay. Sean, first name. Sidney Crosby. I want to go really high here, Dan. He's having one of his most productive goal seasons, literally ever.

Starting point is 02:15:21 He is, he is. I just think that there are some guys who are just, like, really snapping the puck in, though. Yep. So I want to go three. Three. I think he's earned higher than that. For this season, this season, normally I would agree with you. Cindy Crosby in general, this season?

Starting point is 02:15:38 I think he's so bad at this game. This season, this season, he deserves higher than that. He's got some magic. He scores every game. He's got some magic. Something happened. But again, we're doing goal scorers. Cindy Crosby is one in life.

Starting point is 02:15:51 Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah. But we're going to put in three. God, I think it's going to work out great. Seth Jarvis. Road to 50. Road to 50 is maybe on the best tracks it's ever been on, I would say. No question about it. Are you telling me you don't want Jarvie over Sid?

Starting point is 02:16:11 No, not this season. Sid has like the third most goals in the league. He's tied for third in the league. died for third in the league. But Jarvis has one less gold than it. Yeah, I know, I know. But Sid's just... Don't I know I know.

Starting point is 02:16:24 Sid's something special is happening with Sid. Road to 50... I mean, God, Dan, I wish Sid was two and Jarvis was three. I do wish that. But I do think I need to go four because Road to 50 is amazing and I can't wait for it to happen. God, the celebrating we're going to do when that happens. It's so sick. But, out of respect for the year, Sid is having...

Starting point is 02:16:44 I think we go Jarvis four. Okay. Jack Hughes. Tough one now Because I could go five Just out of fear I pick with fear a lot I could go five out of fear Or two out of safety

Starting point is 02:16:58 But I think we play with fear I don't know what is wrong with you Like Jack Jack's Fear is our friend Jack Jack Jack has 10 goals in 15 games And he's scoring like sick goals Yep This is what I'm trying to say to you

Starting point is 02:17:12 Oh I thought you were going to push back Because of how many people you By going Sid You were implying there was like, we needed to save room for the people that are pumping in goals. But no one is pumping in goals more than these. Like, there's literally three humans who have more goals than Sid. Yeah. And like five humans who have more goals than these other two.

Starting point is 02:17:32 Yep. The gap isn't that big. So you want two? I could. Me too. Me too. Like Jack, and again, he's scoring sick goals. Yeah, some nice ones.

Starting point is 02:17:42 And it leaves one. I'm okay with two because I definitely want a spot. Yeah, let's go Jack Jack. The devils are buzzing. Let's go Jack, Jack 2. Yeah. Okay, all right. Nathan McKinnon.

Starting point is 02:17:53 One. Okay, so we simply must go one. He's the greatest mutant. Yeah, he's a fucking, Mutant League football. We need to make like a Nate Mutant League. Yeah, yeah. Mutant League football show.

Starting point is 02:18:03 There is literally anyone that is named here. I think we have a fantastic list except one and a half people. So this is five. This is our locked five. No, so there's something that. There's a few things that can go bad here. I think there's only one and a half. Okay.

Starting point is 02:18:21 Otherwise, I feel fantastic. Give us five shot. Wyatt Johnson. I feel great, Dan. I feel fantastic. And hey, again, these are all guys who are buzzing right now. But Wyatt at five, I feel pretty solid. Yep.

Starting point is 02:18:36 That's a great list. Who was your half? If my half was Cutter. Okay. Because Cutter is scoring. Cutter? Yeah. Cutter is violent when he scores goals.

Starting point is 02:18:46 I know. Like, he scores goals in such a. violent way. I'm like, oh, he just loves. And then it's got to be gold, dude. Yeah, yeah, of course. I knew that. If Sean is in gold coffee, I knew that on. Hey, that's a really, really good list. Sean, great job. Boys, great job. Fantastic episodes. Huge thank you and shout out to Porter Martone. Absolutely. Beautiful stuff. Guys, subscribe to the YouTube. Follow us on all the socials. Head on over and grab some merch. CPs wearing it. Also, bghc.com. If you want this sick ass animal house college hockey, collab

Starting point is 02:19:19 crew neck. It's fantastic. Guys, we love you. Beautiful stuff today. We'll see you later in this week. Until then. Skate hard.

Empty Netters Podcast - Connor Bedard & Macklin Celebrini Are THRIVING w/ Michigan State's Porter Martone

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