Empty Netters Podcast - Could The Avs Possibly Lose Moose For Free?? w/ Tyler Toffoli

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

Tyler Toffoli gives unreal insight on what it's like to be on an NHL road trip, the vibes in the locker room between periods, and the state of the league right now. The Avs need to figure out their Mikko Rantanen situation immediately, JT Miller is back, and the trade train is already rolling. Plus a new round of connective tissue had DP stumped.  ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES HERE! https://try.gooddaymood.com/sweepstakes-1/ NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY! PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use code “NETTERS” and enjoy up to $1500 in bonus bets if you lose your first wager!  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: BAUER. Bauer is the go to destination for all your training needs. Head to http://www.bauer.com/training to explore tools like the Digital Reactor Danger for stickhandling or the Reactor Slide Board to add strength to your stride.  CASHAPP. Download CashApp and take control of your finances! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cash-ap... RIKI. Head to https://rikispirits.com/ to find out where to get RIKI near you. Follow @friday.beers and @rikispirits to stay up to date with upcoming RIKI contests and giveaways   FUNKAWAY. To check out the full family of FunkAway products go to http://www.funkaway.com to learn more funk’in cool stuff. And head over to Amazon right now and grab FunkAway products with just a few clicks.  FIREBALL . Fireball’s iconic cinnamon flavor tastes fire and goes down easy, making it the ultimate crowd pleasure. Go pick up some from your local liquor store and join us in drinking Fireball during our game days this season! #IgniteYourRivalry  EVERYMANJACK. Give Every Man Jack a shot today and go to http://www.everymanjack.com and use code “NETTERS” at checkout for 25% off your first order  CBDMD. Visit http://www.cbdmd.com to explore their extensive range of products and find the perfect solution for your needs. Don’t forget to use code “FRIDAY” at checkout to get 30% OF + Free Shipping.  DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB. Dollar Shave Club products are now available everywhere, so you can order from their website, Amazon, or get them at your favorite retailer near you. Visit their site right now for 20% off $20 or more, and get your products delivered right to your door. Visit http://www.dollarshaveclub.com/netters and use promo code NETTERS for 20% off $20 or more  CHOMPS. If you are looking for the PERFECT on the go snack that has zero grams of sugar and packed with high quality protein, then Chomps is for you. To learn more about Chomps, click here! http://www.chomps.com/emptynetters (00:00) INTRO (13:03) HOT ICE (37:17) ROOKIES (52:33) NEWS WITH TOFF (1:17:45) BEER LEAGUE HOTLINE (1:24:08) POWER RANKINGS (1:28:36) STARTING 6 (1:36:05) CONNECTIVE TISSUE (1:40:42) OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to go with that the Harry Potter movies are Christmas movies. Ice is ready and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers and with me. You can introduce yourself? Well, you want me to introduce you? I want you to do it. Is C.P. The man himself.

The man, the myth. With a fucking diabolical sweater on. Love it. I was going to call it a QZ, but it's a QB. QB. QB. QB. That's how you know that I'm on it, dude.

I'm quick. Listen to this. Snap it. Give me some ASMR. For the people at home. Nice. Dude, you're still horse. Well, I was a horse.

Then became unhorsed. And now you're horsed again. I'm hoarse again. Get the sad dust off the saddle, boys. Oh, you're an absolute mess, dude. It's unbelievable. You know what's funny? So our mom, we got the holidays coming up and going to head back to Maine,

and our mom texted us randomly this, like, Friday. And she was just like, hey, going to see you in a little bit. Don't get sick. Hate it when you guys are sick when you come home for the holidays. Get some good sleep. And then I feel like neither of us got good sleep this weekend. Want to share with your whoops score with people? I'm going to say, hey mom, look at me, mom.

I don't know if that 4% recovery is coming into focus here, but that's how you get sick, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, that's how you sound. That's how you sound hoarse. That's how you sound hoarse. You would think that you're worn out, not sick. I agree. I don't think you're sick.

I'm worn out, not sick. Yeah, I think you're worn. And also telling someone to not get sick. is the most automatic way to get them. It's, I've ever heard in my damn life. I almost replied to our dear mother. Like, what are you doing to us? Why would you say something like this?

Good buddy of ours from home. Sam Mason, Stu Mason, their father, George. George is a good luck guy. Yeah. And no matter what, if I was like, hey, George, I'm taking the SATs tomorrow. He would go, good luck.

And I would go, thank you. But then I'd be over their house. We live four minutes from the Mason's. I'd be over their house and I'd go, okay, I got to go home. I'm about to drive home and George we go, good luck. And I'm like, why? Dude, do I need it? Driving home?

Yeah. So you think he's dishing good luck in areas where it doesn't need to be dished. And now I'm like, Jesus Christ, what's going to happen on the way home? What challenges am I going to face? I think that's what George is saying. It could be anything. Good luck. So you got to just wish good luck.

I think there's an idea that maybe you're always wishing good luck, George just vocalizes it. Oh, there's an unspoken luck wish to all that. Yeah, I think when you, someone, that's no different than someone going, drive safe. Ooh, that's interesting. Good luck. Good luck.

Yeah, I don't like it, though. Yeah, it sounds, it makes me think, oh, shit. Yeah. It's like, there's something going to happen, you know? So, that's tough. But, Mommy, you cursed us, and I'm going to get sick now. Yeah.

Which is, you know what is funny? I got the, does this ever happen to you? I, hey, hand up I got hung over this weekend whoa I've been on a really good stretch of not really getting hung over

I'm not drinking a lot keeping the keeping it clean yeah but it's the holiday season yeah man how about that video I sent you of that guy that Irish guy oh do have you seen that

have you seen this did I send it to you man there is a video of this guy he gets asked he's like are you gonna have any drinks over Christmas and he's like I'd have a pint over Christmas or an Irish whiskey, a scotch. He's like a brandy is nice. A Nogroni is a special treat before dinner. And like he just says a thousand drinks.

And then he's like this. I wouldn't drink too much over Christmas though. But I think that's it. It's the holiday season. Parties are going on. I'm going to have a couple drinks. But I got a proper hangover. And I don't know if this happens to you.

I get phantom sick when I'm hung over. times like I will my body is just shutting down because I'm hung over and I'll get like a runny nose or like an itchy throat and I'm like oh fuck I'm sick yeah that's called sick dad but so that's what I think sick but then I just go to bed and I wake up the next morning I'm fine I think it's phantom sickness I don't think I'm actually sick no that is sickness you're sick you got sick for like 12 hours I don't think that's how sickness works it is it is it's a light sickness Oh man, I don't know. I think you might be right. Yeah, you're maybe I just like the sleep. I just cooked it out of me. You cooked it out. That's my whole pitch, dude. Everybody, my whole pitch is when you go to

bed, no matter what, even if you weren't pottying, if you just went to bed, the second you fall asleep, you are sick. And you have to cook it out. So dude, dude, because I try this. You know what's tough. Dude, be healthy. You're right because you could be fully healthy and you could go to sleep and if you only get one hour asleep. If your alarm goes off an hour and you have to just get thrust and you're going to be sick. You're now sick. So every time you fall asleep, you become instantly sick. Your immune system shuts down because it needs to reset. But if you if you turn on the computer too fast, you're going to be sick. And sometimes I've even woken up, Dan, I've even woken up for a day, sick as a dog, and then just go right back to bed. And then sleep for a few more

hours and then I wake up. And then you're fine. Because the system rebooted. Cooked long enough. You might be on to something here. I am. And I'll tell people, I, I might over the holidays I might catch you and blast this on the Instagram for people to see dude I've never seen anything funny on this earth than when you

wake up too early and you this guy will like come out of a bedroom and he's he looks like Ebenezer Scrooge like he's bent over at a 90 degree angle and you have to like crank yourself into being a normal human being I can usually get straight by noon.

And your hair is just out of control, and then you just go into the bathroom and clear your throat for 60 full seconds. Until you're a normal human. You'll just hear C.B. Go into the bathroom, uncrinkling his back, like an erector set, just is standing in front of the mirror going like this.

Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh. Just getting the body right, dude. It's genuinely the craziest warm up I've ever seen. I don't drink coffee. I don't drink coffee. Yeah. Like, you don't, you have no morning routine other than, like, you were a crumpled up piece of paper that someone has dug out of the trash and is now filing on the edge

at the table trying to make it look right again, dude. That is you, that is your body. Oh, dude. It's unbelievable. And yeah, but just as long as you sleep long enough, everything's okay. Oh, thank God you can. Yeah. You know, this brings up something.

thing that I wanted to talk to you about. I, I, the, again, the holiday season, lots of parties, lots of hangs has kind of opened my eyes to, we are in an era of our lives. We're in our 30s. We've got plenty of friends with kids now. Yep. And we're not going to get into the age old debate of what, you know, can you still have fun with kids? Do kids ruin your life? Yeah. The answer is you can't have fun and they do ruin your life. But some people love that. Yeah. And that's good. love that that's a different type of fun some people like not having fun i like not having fun i like not having that uh but it made me aware of the fact that we've got we've got a good group that is are they're still unmarried yep some in relationship with us we're in relationships but not married yet

and no kids yep and i've i've taken to calling these people and we're in this category which is sick. You've got to be over 30 for this. Because if you're not 30 yet, you're still a kid as far as I'm concerned. So wet behind the ears. Yeah. But I've taken to calling these people free-range adults. Free-range chickens?

Is it based off a free-range chickens? It's based off free-range chickens. Okay. And I think this is a special subcategory of humans. You are 30 or older. You are not married. Don't have kids. You are a free-range...

And actually, I might even say, I'll allow I will allow certain married couples into the free range adult category I think Toff and Kat are free range adults yeah they are so like they can be included free range adults

are people who are adults who have money and freedom and still just go and do whatever you want and a great example is like you could get together for brunch with a bunch of friends. And let's say there's four free range adults at the brunch

and then one of our buddies has a kid. That guy with the kid can't let that brunch get off the rails like the rest of us can. Yeah. Like you might have a brunch and we go, we're that Irish guy. I might have an Irish coffee. I might have a grasshopper. I might have a creme de month to settle the stomach.

Like you can get out of control and there are no repercussions. questions. Right. And only free range adults can do this, I think. And we, I can see it in another, I can see a free range adult in another one. Yeah. You know, like I feed off of them. Absolutely. Yeah. And the, the free range adult is the person that you go, oh, a mammoth just got hit with a bunch of snow. It's Thursday. And I call you and go, hey, tomorrow, you want to rip up to mammoth, do some scan? Yeah. You can't do that if you're not a free range adult. Do you think, you have responsibilities. Yeah. You are caged. You are you are you are unleashed and it's not it's not a bad cage. Yes it is. No. Hopefully most of the times it's a lovely cage. Yep. Made of happy memories

and good times. But it's a cage nonetheless my friend. Yeah. Could you, is it possible to find your free rangeness? Because will you give up free rangeness when you make these? Yes. Is it possible to find it. You can rediscover it. You can rediscover your foot. But there will be repercussions, dude. The cage gets a little bit smaller when you go home. Next time. Yeah. Yeah. But I just think you could be like, oh, mammoth get it with a ton of snow.

All the free rangers are going to get some turns in the pow. Yep. And let's go. And you and yours and another go, but we have, we have child. And I go, you know, put it in a, like a basket, like a nice basket. You know, I thought we were doing something real here.

There's a river. Famously, babies are found in floating in rivers. Floating in river baskets. No, but you go, hey, somebody watch the baby. Well, listen. And then you go. Yeah, but that in and of itself makes you not free range. That's my whole point.

Because you had to ask. You have to go, all right, I need to take it. Like, you can't go, yep, let me just go pack the duffel and I'll be in the car in two minutes. Put the baby in a double. You can't do that, dude. That's not free range. That would be free range. Yeah, that would be a little crazy.

But you know what I'm saying. Like, that's not free range. So you can't rediscover it. I don't, I think you can have moments. It requires someone in your life to take on the cage for you. Yeah. We're just talking about kids like this shackle, dragging you to the bottom of the ocean. But it requires your partner, maybe a grandparent or someone to go like this.

Yeah, yeah. Grandparents, huge. I'm taking the kid for the way. Don't worry about all of your responsibilities. Just go be free range for a second. You can refind it like that. Yeah. But I do think it's, this is a thing.

Free range adults are a thing. And when you find that special moment when you're with a group of other free range adults, oh boy, special things happen. Oh boy, dude. That's great. And listen, it all comes to an end to some point. Actually, maybe not technically. Not for some.

to. But just that's all I'm saying. Just enjoy it while you got it. Yeah. It's beautiful. Beautiful thing. It's absolutely beautiful. All right. Let's get into some hot ice. First and foremost, the trade that we've been expecting for four years. Yeah, dude, literally for years. Cam Fowler traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Anaheim receives defenseman prospect, Jeremy, dude. Try it, dude. Can we talk about this name? It's one of the greatest names I've ever seen. Biaka Batuka. Acuna Matata.

I think it's Biaka Batuka. Beaka Batuka. Yeah, I think that's right. Jeremy Biaka Batuka and a second round pick in the 2027 NHL draft. Dude, there's a couple, there are a bunch of things I want to say about this. Number one. Fowler, I think he's an unbelievable player. He's got four assists and 17 games this season, but averaging over 21 minutes game.

This guy, 33 years old, has been talked about being traded, I think, for the last four seasons. Every single year, people are like, someone's got to grab Cam Fowler. What a player. He has finally been dealt. It is absolutely hysterical that he has 991 games. And now he goes to St. Louis and all these blues players are in charge of getting him a gift for his 1000th game. It is an absolute disaster. Remarkable.

Like, dude, I don't even think, I'd be like, no. Everyone on Anaheim, send the gift. Yeah. And you know, I'm certain they will. Because, like, Fowler's been with Anaheim, his entire career. He was a 12th oral pick in 2010. He's first among duck's defensemen all time in goals, assists, and points, and game-winning goals.

Signed an eight-year, $52 million contract with them. He's a iconic duck. He's a duck, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, dude. He is an iconic duck. And I do think that organization, and a lot of those players were like, dude, we're doing something for you two. It is, I always just love what I spent nine games. dude. Nine? Nine? Nine games and they had to deal him. They couldn't just let him get his

1,000th with the ducks and then move on. Insane. Absolutely unbelievable. Um, here's my question. I was talking about this yesterday. I like the move. I really like the move for St. Louis. I kind of like like what St. Louis is doing here. Like, they're fucking around with Monty and they're trying to get into the playoffs in a really tough central division. Like that's, that is not going to be an easy playoff birth for them. In fact, like you can't. I frankly, I don't think you can't have it. I don't think you can either. I agree. I'm pretty sure you definitely can't have it now that I'm looking at it. Yeah. And you've got Fowler for, is he's, is this the last year? Is he UFA next year or the year after? He is. Because he signed in 2017, signed an eight-year deal. Yeah. Oh, I see. Yeah. Let me see.

So check that, but I guess this was my point. Obviously, four assists, 17 games. He's not off to a great start per his standard. But 33 years old. He's still an absolute weapon of a great lockdown defenseman. I am surprised. Next year he's under contract at 6.5. Okay. So that's great. That is great for the blues. Like you've got Fowler for the rest of this year and next year. I think the big thing for me, C.P. is if I'm Anaheim, I don't know. I would have maybe held on to him until the deadline. To me, Fowler could have possibly been a deadline desperate moved for someone who would have paid more. Agree. And I'm not saying that's a definite.

I'm just, I'm wondering. I'm kind of thinking out loud. I'm wondering if that was on the table. Actually, that's an interesting take. What I was going to say, and I'm pretty sure I read this and everybody who's listening can fact check me, but he, for beak, I'm pretty sure. And, dude, when someone gets traded, you weren't playing good enough, pretty much. You know, like.

Not always. Not always. Sometimes a player like Tyler Sagan gets traded and you're playing great. Something happened. But Verbeek made a comment that was something like we have a lot of guys on the same side on D and that they deserve to be playing and it was requiring a rotation. And Cam Fowler, I respect so much, deserves to be playing too. So he was like that's, and granted, my point at the beginning was if Cam Fowler was lighting it up,

you're not getting traded because you're a stud. Obviously isn't lighting it up. So was on the table. But I think there's a chance they moved him earlier for him to be like, hey, go go play, go have an automatic starting spot here. Versus holding him and letting him like be health bombed. You know what I mean? Like I think maybe you're right.

They could have got more. But as a thank you to what he's done for the franchise, they're like, go out. Yeah. Yeah. I totally. I think. I think you're right. I think you're right.

It's a good team for him. I love the idea of him playing with Monty. But yeah, I mean, this is now, we see Truba goes there and now he goes out. Kind of makes sense. Dude, I always love when GMs and coaches are like, had nothing to do with it. Brought in a defenseman, traded a defenseman, had nothing. Unrelated. Unrelated.

And I'm like, well related, though. Ducks retaining 38.5% of that salary. So, you know, good win. for St. Louis. Now, I want to talk to you about where we're starting to hear the rumor mill buzz in a little bit here. Go. Um, bunch of names, obviously, Truba goes. Now Fowler goes. Now we've got a bunch of names who are kind of being brought up in early trade talks here. Like it's, you know, it's, it's, it's mid-December. Yep. Um, we see Capo caco is health bombed. Yep. In New York after by, by Caco standards, he's,

playing well. Now we're hearing things, Brandon Sod might be on the move. Now we're hearing Trent Frederick in Boston. A lot of teams interested in Trent Frederick. Also, hearing that Frank Vitano is yet again being discussed. So my question, how many more trades do you think we see before Jan 1? Oh. And of those names, who do you think is likely? Dude, it's a funny thing because it used to be all deadline madness, right? Like literally everyone would get moved on deadline. And now, over the past few years, we've seen some of the big deals come through before that. You know, there isn't that total chaos drama of that when we wake up that deadline day in March.

So my instinct is we'll see some trades before the deadline, not literally on the deadline, but it's still too early. to see any more action. But then I go, why? Like, the deadline is pretty late. The deadline is for like, we're a cup team already. We're sick. We just need a depth. We need a second line right wing.

Or we need a puck moving defense or whatever. That's what the deadline is for. For a, like, hey, we need to actually make significant changes in our season for the outcome of our season. We're maybe not even a playoff team. We need to make it. You do need to make the moves now. Yeah.

Yeah. So I kind of hear you. I'm like, let's do it. The problem is Frankie for Toronto could score 35 goals for you. Otherwise, though, I'm not sure anyone is

altering your season on this, you know? So the moves would have to come in to blow up like you named Kako. Honestly, I don't think we see another move before Jan 1. I don't think so. If we do, I think it comes from New York. At Medcan, we know that life's greatest moments are built on a foundation of good health

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Very soon. That's why I said. It would be, you know, crazy stuff. Yeah, it'd be crazy stuff. Frankie's an interesting one where, like, again, he's off to a slow start per his standards as well. Like Frank's a 35, 40 goal score as far as I'm concerned. Certainly 30. I think he has eight so far this year. So that's one where I could see, you know, if the ducks,

like the ducks are kind of in this interesting place where I don't know what they're doing. Same. I don't know what's going on with their head coach. I don't know what Verbeek is doing. I don't know what getting Truba did for them. I said, like, what was the thought process behind picking up Trubah's contract? Right. I genuinely don't understand.

So many people are saying, oh, the cap floor, they got to get to the cap floor. But then they trade Fowler. So I'm like, well, I don't think that that was it then. And I just don't know what they're doing. And you wonder, like, if, you know, people keep bringing up Boston with Vittrono. Yeah. And, like, if, you know, if you were to swath, Frank Vitrono's low cap hit and you send a guy like Trent Frederick the other way

you know that that is a situation where you put Frank for Toronto on your second line playing with guys like Elias Lindholm or playing with Pavlzaka Charlie Cole like I could see Frank Petrono getting right back on track of 30 goals so yeah it's there are definite interesting thoughts with some of these players but I agree I don't think we're gonna see a blockbuster since we were talking about the ducks tough news Trevor Ziegress out six weeks undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Where are you at on Z? Dude, it is a disaster. And it sucks extra because as we well know, he is, and I don't even mean this in a negative way.

He is an emotional guy. And some do, and I don't mean he's not working hard to get back and his rehab, like all that. She's going to do all that. Just some dudes, Dewey, dude, perfect example. Dewey breaks his fucking ankle and goes this is actually a great time for this to happen. You know, he's just all spinzo class, half full kind of

fucking guy, dude. And Z is when things aren't going well, it can affect him. And again, I think the emotion can be good if it's harnessed the right way. But it's just the he, after the season he had last year really needed a good season this year for his mental health and comes out and

wasn't playing that well and is now hurt um and you worry about i don't be a dick but you just you just worry about his future bro because i'm like you were so fucking hyped on the cover of nchel you're fucking michigating your dick off and then i thought he was going to come out of those back-to-back 60 point seasons and have a 90 point yeah like i just i really did And now I'm like, what happens, dude? Are you, does management want to change? Like, do you end up on a different team, you know? And maybe, maybe that would all be good.

I don't know. It's just all of a sudden, there's so many questions about Trevor Zegris, both from a mental standpoint, both from a health standpoint, and for a production standpoint. When coming out of his sophomore year, I would have told you there were zero point zero question marks about that kid. And anybody would be lucky to have them and it's a bright future and blah, blah, blah, all the bullshit. So it just, it's a lot of bad things in a row.

I was not to say bad luck. Some of it was bad luck. Some of it was a little bit self-inflicted. But it's just a lot of bad things in a row. Yeah. And I feel bad. It makes me feel bad, Dan. I completely agree, man.

It's like, I don't know where I stand with Z. I'll never back down on this. And so many people are like, you're going to eat crow. And I'm like, I don't know when I would eat crow in 20 years when he retires. Like, if he's not a hallfamer, I guess. but like I think Z's unbelievable. I think so many people have talked about it. There are Hall of Famers who have talked about Zegris' ability,

and they're like, he's going to be fine, dude. Like, he is unbelievable. I do wonder if at this point the time in Anaheim is up. You know what I mean? Yeah. Are there too many distractions here in Southern California for him? Are there too many things that have happened that have made him think, fuck me, it's never going to work here?

Are there too many young players there that he's now being compared to that he feels he has to compare himself to. And you wonder if, after all the, you know, two years now of like, they got to trade him, they got to figure something out, you do wonder if it's like, you know what, maybe with the ducks with what they're doing right now, like we just said earlier, I don't know what they're doing. I don't know what the plan is. Maybe there's a situation where they go, we're retooling here.

Yep. the deadline and you go, we're going to change things up. He's still an asset. He's a phenomenal asset. He's a first round pick. He's a great player. He's a, you know, there's so much there. But yeah, you definitely do wonder if it does feel like it's time to be like, dude, you are awesome. This has nothing to do with you as a player. It is everything to do with the fit is not right. It's just bad breaks, dude. Yeah. I do wonder it. Talking about another center, J.T. Miller comes back, talks to reporters, says, I'm not talking about it. It says get fucked.

Get fucked. Absolutely love it. It comes back two games, three assists. You brought up, what do you think the locker? I'm like. It's so crazy because I think, I don't think I know he's a great player. He's a great, great hockey player. And by the way, we have some, we've heard a few things.

I don't know what's true. I'm certainly not going to say any of them on the airwaves right now. So just to be clear, if it ever comes out what's going down and it's something that has been really emotionally struggling with it, and I sincerely wish you all the best. Yeah. But just to talk about it on face value, barring like an actual emergency,

health emergency or something, it just, I can't fathom, dude. Did you see that shit in the 49ers game with the linebacker? I randomly saw this. I don't think so. This 49ers linebacker has been playing, and Wags, maybe you even know this.

I don't know if you saw it, but this 49ers linebacker has been playing this year because one of their star linebackers has been hurt all year. Star linebacker returned, you know, last week or whatever. So the guy who has been playing is like, hey, you're back to your backup role. Yeah. And then in the game, one of the other linebackers got hurt.

So they're like, hey, you're in again. And he goes, no, fuck you guys. And then just walk to the locker room. And like George Kittle gave him a post-game interview that was like, he's a scumbag rat. I never want to see him again. And they've kicked him off the team. Like it's been a shit show.

Dude, I am so dialed out of football. I'm embarrassed that I don't know the story because this is a crazy story. And that is way different than, I presume is what happened with J.T. Miller, but just it must be so weird to be on a team like the Canucks who are good. And he's one of your best players

and to have just had all this turmoil, dude, in the locker room. back to last year and the rumors, like before PD sign, all this shit, it's like, how do you come to work? It's awkward when you're on a beer league squad with a dude that you don't like. Dude, for real. Let alone being like, I'm on a fucking NHL team. We're trying to compete for the cup and I'm dealing with something. Like, there's just, that, why are that? And I give him credit for being like, listen, I'm not answering. Don't talk about it anymore. But obviously everyone's talking about it. And it's just, that doesn't feel like a thing that.

you can survive as an NHL team in my humble opinion having being a guy who has never played for an NHL team yeah so take so obviously I know yeah it's it's tough because we've said multiple times we do not know that all of the factual ins and outs of what's going on with that team we don't presume to know we don't presume to speak on anything about this with tons of confidence this is just our opinions it's our thoughts and truly as always with us the under underlying feeling is hope that everyone is okay because we love the players. We love PD. We love JT. I think they're both unbelievable players. I do look at the Canucks. Obviously, Demko has just returned. He's been out all season so far, 29 games.

They were a wagon last year. They were the best team in the league, arguably. So they started this season with out there starting goalie, but Lakin's been amazing. Yep. However, I don't know if you're aware of this. Very funny game breakdown for them. In their last 10, they're 5, 3, and 2. They've just lost their last game. They're 10, 2, and 1 on the road. Like,

dude, this always happens. Very weird. It was fucking one random ass. Very weird. Remember the devils? They were like, we can't lose on the road. But the point is, they're in fourth in the Pacific. I think the kings have surprised some people with how great they are, and the kings are

firmly in second. Now, you do kind of wonder here, to your point, is this sustainable? If you are the Vancouver Canucks, if you're talking, are you looking at this team and going, yep, we're going to be just fine. We're just going to keep pushing through. And again, we don't know what's going on. It does make me think you've got to just do something. Whether it's a group trip or a therapy session or a significant trade. Like I said, a Matthew Kachuk from Calgary style trade that is like a blockbuster big players for big player. But I just think this team is so good and real that it would be

and sorry, I just keep, I need to keep saying allegedly because we don't know. It would be a shame if this team makes it into the playoffs and loses in the first round because there's inner turmoil that cannot be overcome. Do you think, I think blockbuster trade would be my third option. Option two would be, I've got to find a break in their schedule, but option two would be an emergency trip to Bora Bora or something. Okay, that might be tough to swing midseason, but I like it. I like where your heads at.

emergency trip option one i think would be some kind of uh royal rumble match fight it out fight it out and i'm talking i think it's a royal rumbr right when everyone is in the ring king of the ring and it's like you know you're in there till you get thrown till you get literally suplexed out of yeah cage match is that what that no those that's a cage yeah they do that or no that's just two people yeah yeah that what were those called is it royal rumble it's just like the last man standing yeah that was sick keeps coming in So I think you do that and you just, you just get it out, you hash it out. Did you just throw a few haymakers?

Try a few, try a few, you know, figure four holds. And then, dude, but you hate to be a Jake DeBress guy who just got there. And you're like, dude. Why is everyone fighting right now? I got to go toe to toe with all the boys, you know. But I just think that may be a Royal Rumble in Vancouver is the answer. you might be right. Ultimately, I do feel like, I wonder.

It's hard to stay mad at someone. If you've gotten to the place where you're like, we've got to do something. Like this can't. So I want to think about. Yeah, it's something to think about. Dave, by now you know that we have teamed up with BetMGM for the entire season and nothing has made us happier

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Talking to you guys about our boys at Bauer really quickly, and specifically the Twitch Stick. It's the first stick with Twitch-Taper technology. that makes it flex further, recoil faster. It's a piece of modern Marvel engineering. I've never seen anything like it. I've never felt anything like it. It's 345 grams.

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going to go to chomps.com slash empty netters. Check out all they've got going on. Find the flavor that you love and get yourself some chomps today. Happy chomping. Let's talk about some rookies. Yep. You wanted to talk about Mitchcoff. Dude, Mitch Gough, for everyone that didn't see it, they played the wild on Saturday. and they lost big because the wilder fucking wagon. But it was 1-0, and the flyers were on a power play, and connecting gets a backdoor 1-1-T, wide-open net, hammers it home. And Mitchcoff, have you seen this?

Yeah, dude, it's hilarious. Mitchcoff saves it. And, dude, I just, I saw the play happen. Yeah. And then nobody knows. The announcers are like, and I didn't even see it in real time. I was like, I didn't know either. They were like, I think he missed the net.

And I was like, what the fuck? And then you watched the replay, dude. And Mitch Koff literally blocks the puck on the red paint of the goal line. Yeah. There are some who are like, I think it's going wide. No, it's not. It's going in. It's going in the net, straight in.

And my first reaction was like, oh, okay. Dude, he's clearly like, he's tangled up. He's trying to get in front. Like, he is not watching that puck when it gets off, hit off his stick. Dan, I think he is. Dan, I think that he He goes, no one will score unless it's me.

Connecting has more points than him. Yeah. And I just think he is like, and I know this would have been a connecting point too, but I just, he's chasing him in goals. Dan, sometimes we all are human beings with, well, hopefully most of us are human beings with common courtesies and decencies.

Yeah. That allow us to operate society. But every now and that. Hold on. Was that statement when you said hopefully most of us are human beings, do you want to stop there? Or was that the sentence continuing? Like you're saying hopefully that people have decency,

or you're saying hopefully most of us are human beings? Are you bringing up an AI conversation again? No, I'm saying hopefully most of us have decency because it's not hopefully most of us are human beings. I know not all of us are human beings. Okay. There. We want to get into aliens.

You want to get to AI? That's fine. Good. Hopefully. Just wanted to clear that out. Hopefully all of human beings and AI and aliens have courtesy and decency. Yeah. But sometimes, and it's usually when, you know, pressure, pressure, shock the body, shock the body, situations happen.

Yeah. We revert to very primal, basic instincts. Survival being one of the first and foremost that comes to mind, but also more sinister instincts. Got it. and I believe that Mitchcoff is a very jealous person. And he... Don't start this, dude. In that moment...

Don't do this. Wanted that goal for himself. Okay. And tried to take it. And even more so was like, actually, I just don't even want to connect me to score because I'm the goal score here. And I think he stopped it. And then, Dan, literally like a millisecond after he did that,

He regretted it because those things only happen, you know, it lights you up in a moment of weakness. But I do believe that he's a very jealous person and he stole that goal on purpose. Or he blocked that goal on purpose. That's crazy, dude. That was also the same game where he tried. I know. Was it? Actually, no, I don't think so.

No, I think he tried the Michigan against, oh, geez. I think Detroit. I think it was Detroit. Yeah, it was. Man, I don't want to believe that's true. But there is, you know, there is a Calder race going on here, and he might be vying for every point he can get. Where do you think he stands right now in the Calder race?

What a beast, dude, leading points, leading goals. I'm sure he's the bad MGM favorite right now. If someone wants to look, I'm sure he is. And I think, dude, I think he's going to do it. Mac has come on so hard. And if I'm voting right now, I think it's Macklin and it's not close. That's so stupid. I hate when people say that.

It is absolutely close, but I think it's Macklin. Just because he plays a more complete game. I think he plays a more complete game. I think he has less games. I think their point per game, or their point per game pace is probably super close. And I just think Macklin is, I think he's more complete. I think he's been a more dynamic over. overall player.

I agree with that. Yeah. I mean, fucking Lane Hudson is an absolute machine as well. So that's the only thing I was going to ask you because, yeah, like they're both just like the Mitchcoff's two points off point for game, Max one point out point per game. I do think it's a bit of a, like we said last year with Badaard, they want to give it to Mac if they can. Yeah.

I think if Mac is like right in the running, I just think the flyers are better and will continue to kind of be in the mix and score a lot of goals. No doubt. which is why I think he's in the running. Do you think if Lane, how close in points do you think Lane would have to be for them to give it to him? I know. Because they're going to finish dead last.

The sharks and the halves are going to finish dead last. Yeah, Mitchkoff's on pace for what, like 65 points, 70 points? No, he's got 27 points in 29 games. Like he's on pace for, yes. Oh, yeah. What am I talking about? Yeah, so like 70. If Mitchkoff finishes with 70,

Macklin's like 65, 70 and Lane has 58 to 64. I think he wins it. Anything less? Which is crazy because I'm like if Lane Hudson has 50 points as a defenseman, I'm kind of like...

As a rookie defenseman. Like are you shitting me? But what was it last year? Right? I was banging the drum. Faber finished with like 48. Faber finished with 47. Nice job, Dan.

Yeah, but those are rookie numbers in this racket. my friend. Yeah. I think he's got to have over 55. Me too. And he might do it. And I think, but dude, I think he might.

What does Lane have 20 and what? Has he missed time? I think he, I think the first few games he didn't play. No, that's not true. No? So 20 and 29? 20 and 30. 20 and 30, okay.

I actually think he needs more, dude. And I know that's sad because it's not fair. But I think he might be right. I think he needs to like literally have this many points. points is them. That's unfair. I know. I know. I'm just telling you. I think if Mac has it's unfair, but I, if Mitchkoff, give me 65. If he has over 65, he can get it, but I straight up think if he has 60 points and those boys have 70, 68, they'll give it to them. I think Mackle's going to get it. You wanted to talk to me about, uh, Miko Ranton. Oh, dude, yes. Okay, so the,

this came up, um, what's a lot of people talking about it, but I, the chicklets boys were talking about the other day. Moose is a fucking mutant and oh I have a six screenshot of this too so points in the league he's at 46 second tied with Kutrov four behind Nate by the way man

what I don't know what is going on that the the public doesn't talk about Nikita Kutrov enough and this happened last year I know it was like we had the race to 100 assists everyone was talking about Connor and Kutra's just like I did it first he probably should have won MVP over Nate Dogg last year

and then here we are again dude he's just sitting tied for second with 46 points right behind Nate I think in less games and it's just like we haven't really stroked him off yet this year and I want to stroke him off dude I want to give him a quick double rister and he deserves it he deserves it but let's

we're talking about random most points by teammates since 2015 mm-hmm Connor David Leon and dry saddle 1905. Since 2015,

okay? Which is ridiculous because they're in first by a lot. Yeah. McDavid and dry saddle 1905. McKinnon and Moose

1505. Then pasta marshy, Cooch Point, Crosby Malkin. Wow. Pasta Marshey, that's impressive.

But Nate Dog and Moose. Yeah. Nate can't do that by himself. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Okay. He's over a point per game in his career.

He's pumping in goals and points right now. He's a U. I know. the end of the scene. I know. If Witt said on chicklets, and I love his take because he's like, he's been there.

As has been as obvious. If he is going to walk, period, if he's said that to you. Yeah. Or if he's even like, I will not take a fucking penny under 14 because I want dry saddle money and you feel under no circumstances

I'm going to give him that, do you have to trade him at the deadline? Or do you go, we could literally win a cup this year and if we if we break up fucking garrig garrig and ruth and we break up manny and artis like these these two teammates are are pumping in goals at in the tandem better than anybody not named connor and leon and Nate plays them and loves him do you literally go Nate we're shipping him out and obviously you get good shit back but but not that good because he's you have that you know like someone's going to sign him but you get good shit back but you go Nate I don't care about the

cup this season and I don't care about your winger Great question. All right. So I don't, I want to preface my response by saying, Moose isn't going anywhere. He's going to resign. I think very passionately what happened is they had a number. I think it was like 12.6 right by right around Nate.

I think they were probably going to do like the same thing, maybe 12, 5. And then Leon signed. And I think he and his agent went, well, I mean, is what it is. We're getting eight years. That's a lot more money. Yep. Like he stands to make 16 million more. Yeah.

If he goes, well, I'm going to get what Leon gets. How old is he? 28. Okay. I don't think he's going anywhere. I think they're going to figure it out. I think he's going to sign for probably around 14 mil. And when?

I would say soon, sooner rather than later. I do not think he gets to UFA. That said, I do think it's interesting. People so often bring up this whole topic of like, well, you can't pay so-and-so more than this guy. Like, you can't, like, Marner right now. People are like, you can't pay Marner more than Matthews. And I'm like, dude, guys, this is the market.

Like, it's, just because you've got a player who maybe makes more than your star player, doesn't necessarily mean that the franchise values them higher, it's because the cap goes up, the market changes, the timing doesn't line up, that's what it is. And like I've said, a billion times, dude, long gone are the days of Patrice's. Berseran and Cindy Crosby. Like, I just don't think we're going to see situations anymore, really, where we get a franchise player who is going, I am taking a low number and everyone's going to follow suit. That is so fucking rare. And it is currently not happening. Leon signed for 14 mil. Like, it, like I said, Krill is going to sign for 14 plus. It's going, this is how it goes. And I think

Rantanin absolutely deserves more than 12.6, which is what's Nate, which is what, is getting. Okay. So hold on. Yep. I think he's not going anywhere. My answer to you is I would implement full terrorist style negotiation tactics here. I would involve everyone, Chris. And I would do it now. I would get on top of this now. I would call Rantnan and his agent into an office and go, we're not fucking leaving here until we figure out what to do. And whatever that is, we're going to have to figure out. What do you want? What are what, what, what, what, what, what, what, like let's just be open and honest here. What are you going to do?

And if he is like, dude, I've talked about it with my family. I've talked about it with my agent. We're not taking anything less than 13 and a half. We'll do 13 and a half if you give me a full no move the entire eight years. If you give me this, blah, blah, blah, blah, incentives, whatever you want to call it. And if Sackick and co go, we literally can't do that. Then you call Nate and you go, give me some money. No, no.

You go, I need your money. You call Nate and you go, we have no choice. We can't, we can't pay him. We're trading him. So letting you know and going to let you know we're going to do the best we can to get something back. And then what you do is I think the Kachuk thing, you go, Moose, he is a modified nine team, no move clause. I think you go, tell us a couple teams that you would be open to signing with. We're going to try to work out of trade and you can do. We'll trade you. and then you immediately sign your ticket. And I would, I'm with wit completely, dude.

You have to trade him. And frankly, if thank God for them, he doesn't have a full no move, I would fucking just deal him. I would deal him without his consent if he's like, I am not going to work with you.

And again, he's not saying this. He's going right back to Colorado. But 100% dude, it sucks. This is a business. And if you are like, if you're even flirting

with the opportunity of him not resigning, if he's like, dude, we're going to go to U. and see what happens, I would trade him. Because you can't, I don't care if it's 20% dude. You cannot risk losing Miko Ranton for free.

The Mitch Marner thing is a different topic because he has a full no move. And they are right now better than they've been in 10 years. And if you're going as a franchise, we're not bringing them back. If tree leaving is like, nope, we paid Willie this much, we paid Austin this much, we're not paying Mitch. This is the last year of Mitch. This is the last year of Mitch and DeVarres. We're going to let them walk. I would be like, trade him.

But unfortunately, Mitch goes, good fucking luck, dude. I think the only world where that happens is if they have the same conversation and go, Mitch, where do you want to resign? We'll trade you there and you can fucking sign and get us something. I don't think that's going to happen. I think Mitch Marner is walking for free and free agency and we're going to watch Toronto lose their fucking minds unless they win a cup. Miko is a different situation in that, yes, I think if there is even a pub hair of doubt.

you trade him you have to dude i think you're right i was going to try to push back but i think it's too hard to win the cup you know what i mean like it'd be one thing if you were um i don't know like the boston celtics last year and you're like everybody you're the one seed you're the favorite yeah i'm like yeah you probably have a good chance of winning but the abs aren't even going to go in as a one seed and i think they're fucking dangerous maverick but i don't think even if I was like, oh, moose guarantees you can't win and you could have won with him, which I think is probably pretty accurate,

it doesn't matter because it's still so hard to win that keeping him, to lose him for free to keep him to try to win a cup now is a fool's errand. It is. Absolutely. Absolutely. We're going to kick it into some new stuff and a face that you're going to be seeing more and more often on the empty netters podcast.

Tyler Toffoli joining us right now. Dude, how is the road trip? Fucking 14 days? 14 days. I think it was $15. God damn. Like with our flight, or with like getting in after the St. Louis Day, we ended up being 15. Yeah.

It was crazy. Overall, do you like those or no matter what, do they always get a little old and you're like, Jesus Christ, get me home? I mean, I think at the start, you're always really excited because you're like out road trip with the boys. And then by the time it's like day 10, you don't even know how many cities you've been in by then, you know. And then you're like, holy, like, we've got to get home.

Yeah. And then you're like, wait. we have three more games left, you know? Yeah. Dude, this is actually something I've always wondered. Do guys, like, when you go to a 14-day trip, do guys pack a big suitcase of clothes? Are you just fucking throwing on team gear

and just shooting the shit in the hotels? No, you're packing enough for the 14, 15 days. Yeah. But it's always weird with, like, some of the guys, they don't. So you're like, how many times are you, like, re-wearing those underwear, you know? Or, like, the socks or, like, just like, like nasty things like that, you know?

I'm going to call out Marr. Is Mar just wearing like the same thing over and over again? Yeah. I fucking knew it. I fucking knew it. Oh my God. That makes so much sense. Well, he's also superstitious, right?

So like if we win a game or like he gets a point, he wears the same suit. So it's like when you're on a road trip like that, I think we ended up winning the last game of the road trip. and he wore the same suit for all the games, I'm pretty sure. And so we get back and he's like, well, boys, I got to wear the same suit again. We're like, oh, please no. You've got to change it. At least get it dry cleaned in between, dude. Is there, do they even let you do laundry?

Like, is there a laundry service if you're like, hey, I need this shit done? Are they like, no, dude, fucking go to a laundromat? No, I mean, you can do it at the hotel, but, you know, obviously we're fortunate. We stay in four seasons and stuff like that. So if you want to get your underwear watch, it's $100. Literally, by that. bro one of my friends one of our friends biggest traveler i know his number one rule in life is never used the hotel laundry service it's a fucking criminal operation it's unbelievable dude i don't care

how paid you are like i don't give a fuck if you're mac david or or fucking matthews i'm not paying like that is so much money to get a t-shirt and underwear washed like i'm not fucking yeah it's absolutely it's not worth it yeah it's not worth it what's the vibe when when you guys are bouncing because there's a few gaps. I was looking at your schedule because you're damn close to just like bang, game on the road, play again, but there's a few gaps where you have like an extra day off. What happens in terms of the skates you're asked to do or the lifts your afts your afts to do when you're on the road? Is it like your time's your own? We do pre-game skating and that's it or is there other shit going on? So we had, it was a weird schedule. I think we played back to back

with Seattle, home and away. And then from Seattle, we flew to Tampa maybe. And so we had a day off in Tampa. I think Washington first, dude. Or Washington, sorry, Washington. Yeah, so I forgot about that. We had a day off in Wash and then played and then Tampa. But it's like the whole time you don't really, you don't really have like

a set plan on what you're doing. Like you have like dinners with the guys and stuff, but other than that, you're not really like doing a whole lot. I think some guys went and walked around the White House in D.C. But after playing a back-to-back and stuff, like for me, I've done it, right? So it's like, I don't have to

it again. Yeah. But for some guys, it's really cool and it's a really cool experience. So they like wake up and go for a walk and it's like like, I mean, it was cold. It was kind of miserable, but like, I don't know. It was just like a really weird schedule. And then after that it was all every other, every other day, I think we were playing. Except for in Florida, we stayed the night and then we had a day and then flew the next day to Carolina or something like that. So it was like a really weird schedule, but I mean, I think they also kind of understand and know that

we're fortunate. We got to stay a night in Florida after the game and then spend all day. We had a complete day off in Florida. So we got to like cruise around and go to the beach and, you know, good weather. So you're like, you know, kind of hopping around, right? So that was, that was nice.

And I mean, they're looking at the schedule and being like, we'll kind of give them a day here, you know, so. You need the extra day. Oh, it's so close to. So no really like team activities in terms of like, hey, we have this team lift at the four seasons gym. Like none of that shit happens.

So we have lifts after most games. Okay. And I mean, it's not like extremely hard, but it's kind of like two sets of trap bar, two sets of just like little things, but it's kind of like enough to get by and keep you kind of, you know, strong enough.

And then when we get home, we had two workout days the past three days, you know? So it's like, you're kind of making up for it. Yeah. Who's going hard at the lift post game,

dude? Honestly, you're kind of like still running on adrenaline for the most part. So, like, especially if you have a good game, you're like, oh,

I can't wait to lift and just like, you're like throwing stuff around. Or even if you have like a bad game, you're like, oh, like, you know, it's fucking sucks. Like trap bar,

pool. Yeah, you take it out on the bar. Dude, I could actually see that. Like I've had fucking beer league games where we get rinsed and I'm like I'm so pissed off that I if I got thrown in a way or anyway. Yeah, yeah. I would fucking toss shit around.

I get that. That's fucking that makes total sense. And is that like, is the strength coach is there too being like tracking your guys work? Are they just like, hey, go lift and we trust you? I think they, I mean, they're there and they're like looking to make sure guys are like in. But after the Florida game, so we got we got spanked by Tampa. Yeah. And then went to Florida.

I can't remember what the score was, but they had like 50-something shots and Blacky played unbelievable. And Marr actually was like, every single guy worked out after the game. I don't care if you played 20 minutes or you played 10, like we're all working out.

And we had the day off the next day too, so that was like another reason. So I think that was good. And everybody was in there and everybody got what they needed and then we got out of there. Yeah, that makes sense. Dude, who on the team is,

sharing rooms in the hotel still? I think it's Smitty and Mac, but I don't know because we've had some guys up and down a little bit. True, yeah. I don't know if they end up splitting up or how that works, but they're normally together and they're just, they're doing the same stuff. Yeah, I mean, I was going to say they probably love that.

I mean, I'm assuming, I feel like it's like stepbrothers where they're like, talking like, you know, TV off and they're like just like laying like, you know, straight back and just like telling us. super stories to each other and see who falls asleep first. One of those things. Dude, one of them actually sneaks a call to the hotel before the trip and is like,

you guys don't have a bunk bedroom, do you? Could you imagine that? Dude, someone has to check their room service bill, please. Like, I need an itemized room service bill after. I think they do a good job of going out for dinner. Like, I haven't been out for dinner. I mean, it's obviously not a good thing, but I've been on so many teams where it's like we go to a certain city.

I'm like, oh, I want to go see, you know, so-and-so for dinner. And then I have a friend who doesn't play hockey who lives in, say, D.C. or, you know what I mean? So it's like, I'm kind of just, like, doing my own thing for the most part. But I'm pretty sure they have a decent dinner crew. It's like him, Mac, Smitty, I think Delhi goes. And then some of the younger guys that are usually, that have been up and down, they'll go for dinners. And I think in Tampa, they, or Florida, they, like, rented, like, little tugboats and, like, went, like, on boats and stuff. I'm like, how do you guys even think about doing stuff like that?

They found it on their travel. Dude, they've got their full of energy, man. It's fine. I get it. Like, they're in all these new places. I was just going to say, a place that they've never been in, really nice weather, and they have nothing else to do. They're not going for a nap where I'm going for lunch and I'm eating and I'm taking a two,

three hour nap regardless of if we're playing or not. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Got to do. Dude, when they were in L.A. For rookie, rookie camp or whatever, because remember it was hosted at, at Toyota this year. They went out to dinner. Mack and Smitty went out to dinner and texted us

because they were looking for a wreck on the west side. So we go and I was like, oh, we will treat them to this dinner because it's just the two of them and they can't even drink. So like whatever, you know. So we go put my car down. We go to the restaurant, put my car down

and like set all the thing up. I'm like, don't tell them, just let them eat and then, you know, tell them it's all taken care of the end of the day. Empty Netters, boys got you. But I didn't realize that they would email me the itemized dinner. a dinner seat so it was like they got steaks or whatever but then at the end it was like two molten lava cakes and i texted them and i was like how to be boys

oh good for them good for them oh it's fucking awesome a hard rookie camp for them i think they played what one of the four games yeah exactly then they were just getting dragged around the season started yeah exactly staying in like an airport hiate yeah yeah i texted them i'm like i'm like you guys having fun they're like oh this place is awesome i'm like i can't believe like you guys are good. That's so insane. Dude, do you get into, I mean, you just said the nap. Do you have any, when you're on the road that long and you're in these hotels,

do you have any rituals in the hotel room to like set it up to make it comfortable? Or you just like rinse and repeat, go in, sleep, nap, get to the game, get out of there? No, I mean, I'm pretty easy. And I think, like I said, we stay in, you know, Ritz or four seasons and all these great places where half the time I don't even need to close the blinds and I'm asleep. You know what I mean? Like it's just like I lay down the bed's comfy and then I'll wake up and then I'll get a text from from Connan.

It'll be like, hey, you want to go for dinner? When I roll out of bed, put my clothes back on dinner and then take a shower and go to sleep. I'm like, this is, it's just like the life, you know. Well, actually I've heard guys say there actually is some peace to being on the road. Like obviously it's stressful, cats far away, even on the road. cities are blended together, but you can kind of just fall into that routine of like, okay, eat, nap, eat, skate, lift, you know, it just falls into that rhythm. Like, I mean, that's kind of what it turns out to be.

And it's, I mean, obviously you get to have some fun and you go for some dinners and you have some beers and stuff for the guys. But for the most part, especially now, it's like you're not really doing, or I'm not really doing like a whole lot. And it kind of goes back to just being on the road for so long where the first like, you know, six, seven days. You're having a great time and you're with the guys. You're going for dinner.

And then, you know, Kat, sometimes she'll go away and she'll do her own thing. But this last one, I'm pretty sure she was home the whole time. And by the end of it, I was like, I can't wait and just come home and watch a Christmas movie. Yeah, I got you.

You're just like, I just need to like relax and get away. But I mean, I mean, I've been on the West Coast, obviously with the Kings before. And I know how long the road trips. And I want to say my first, road trip with Vancouver when I got there was

Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, like Buffalo, like another long one. So like I pretty much went right into it. You know, so it's kind of like all I knew. And obviously being in Jersey last year was much different in the sense that we were doing like one day trips or like, you know, fly the day before to Detroit play and then fly after the game. And it was like, I almost like the longer trips better because you're, it's less stressful. my opinion. Yeah.

I actually buy that tape. Me too. And dude, is there anything to the team can come together more? You know, when you finally go on these really long trips, you're like, okay, now the boys are really getting to know each other?

I mean, I think so. I think it's different for everyone. Like, I mean, like when I first came in a league, we had one of the guys that played with, you'd get a text whenever we landed and you'd be like, we have a, I have a rezo for 10 or 15 guys, the first, you know,

10 or 15, guys that text me are in. If not, I got a, you know, a place for after where you can go for a couple beers and then you're on your own after that if you want, whereas now it's like, it's more just like going for a dinner and, I mean, guys aren't really going out as much as they used to. So it's definitely different in that aspect. But like I said, you're still going for nice dinners and we're staying on, like I said, nice areas and all that. So, I mean, we went, we had Nobu and we had a team dinner in Florida too. I can't remember what it was called, but like just so much food, just a bunch of laughs.

And it's just, I mean, I do think that that kind of brings everybody together. For sure. Absolutely. You mentioned it earlier. You guys got whacked by Tampa. So obviously, I'm really happy you get to relive this. But when we knew we were going to talk to you about this after this road trip, we've always talked about this man. And like we obviously remember backplay and there's games where this fucking happens.

but in an 82 game NHL season, you guys go down five rip in the first period. What is talked about in the locker room in that situation? Are you like, fuck it, get through this game, or are you guys battle to the end no matter what, even if it's game 26 of 82?

And are people screaming? Is it like fucking boys pick it up or is it motivating? Like, what's the vibe? I think it's literally every single one of those emotions that you guys just mentioned. It was one of those things where, I think we had won three in a,

row. So like you said, we played, we had the back-to-back, and then we went in the D.C. beat them. So we were obviously feeling really good. Huge win, yeah, yeah. And in overtime, Eki scored. And so we were getting in Tampa, and we had like an optional skate, and then

we had the game. And it felt, it just felt like, like you were saying, the first period, it was like, they weren't bad goals. Like, they were, like, sick goals, too. Like, it wasn't like anybody's fault, and V had no chance on some of them, you know what I mean? It was just like, they're flying, it felt like.

It was one of those things where you're yelling at first, and then you're like, okay, let's relax and just like settle in and, you know, let's just get one. And if we get one and then you never know what's going to happen. And it was like every time we had like a good momentum shift, I felt like they like went down and like score. Or like they had like a, we took a penalty or just something like that. And at the end, I think Blackie went back.

and Blackie made like 20 stops for the third period alone or something crazy and we're just we kind of came together and obviously coaches weren't happy and they're like play for your fucking goalies you know you already buried one play for Blackie and all that so we obviously we tried our best

and it sucks but at the end of the day like you said it's 82 games and you just have to reset and that road trip in general is not easy and those teams it's a got one and we were joking kind of before we went into the trip. We're like, holy, like we're starting

basically at home against Seattle with the back to back. And then we're going to D.C. Washington is playing unbelievable. And then Tampa, Florida, Carolina. Yeah. And we're like, it's crazy because like that road trip when I first came in a league was like, all right, we're, you know,

we're going to dip our toes in the sand. And like, you know, it's going to be point night, two of the three nights, you know, like, type of thing. Now it's like you're just trying to try not to get mine. finances, you know. Yeah, yeah. Dipping your toes in, now I'm fucking treading water.

Yeah, no, it's quicksand now, dude. You're like, Jesus Christ. That's what, I mean, it's what it felt like in Tampa. And obviously it sucks. But at the same time, I think we've had some dud games, and we've been able to kind of come back and play better. And that's kind of been our mindset throughout the year. And we have a young enough team where, you know,

guys are still excited to go to the rink. And it's not, obviously, we're, like, upset about it. but like we know that we have to play the next night and play well. Or else, you know, guys aren't going to be in the lineup. They're going to call guys up because they have, you know, a lot of prospects in the system here that are, you know, waiting to get called up. So there's pressure in, in my opinion, in all sorts of angles. But I think just being able to reset and like I said, that trip was crazy.

But we ended up, you know, we ended up winning that last game, which I think we ended up 500 on the trip and that's a good trip. Oh, fuck. For those teams that we play, you know, so. And, and dude, to give you a better memory here, because I think the reset is important in both directions, the week before, before you guys left, you guys tagged the Kings.

And that was the game, it was 2-2 going into the third, and then you pump in five goals in the third period. You know, is there, can you feel the energy in the positive way, compared to, like, the opposite to Tampa? Can you feel the energy in a positive way on the bench when that shit's happening? When you're like, okay, stay on the fucking gas boys.

and everyone's just buzzing and pumping them in. 100%. And you can feel it with the fans too. I don't know if you guys had come up here for a game, you know, 10 years ago when they had, you know, that jumbo and Patty and Coos and Bernsey and, you know, all these guys that were like unbelievable players, right, in their prime and it was wild up here.

And in the past few years, obviously, you know, not having a good team. The fans haven't really shown up. But, I mean, for the most part, we've had, our fans have been awesome this year. And I know it's not easy, you know, coming to, you know, 41 games or whatever it is. But Thursday, Saturday night games, it's pretty much sold out now, which is, I don't, I don't know for sure. But I don't think it's really been like that the past couple years. And, you know, it's been fun.

And obviously, when you have a guy like Matt who can, you know, do the things that he does, you know, brings more people, you know, into the stands. But I think we have a pretty exciting team, and we're stringing some games together, and then we're just getting, like, a little bit inconsistent at the same time. So it's a little frustrating, but like I said, we're all having fun coming to the rink and sticking together as a group of guys, and we end up stringing three games in a row, and it's just a matter of being consistent in that sense, you know? Yeah, I mean, dude, you said it with games like Washington, games like L.A., the Sharks are officially in a place where you could,

could beat anyone. You can't sleep on that game. Like it's a fun-ass team to watch right now because you're like, I don't know what we're going to get. Like this is fucking crazy. It's awesome. Yeah. I absolutely love it.

I mean, like you said, yeah, like you said, it's like we beat what the Kings, 5-2 or 7-2 or whatever. Seven-two and then, and like we, it felt like we kind of dominated the game. And what have they done now? They've won, what, seven or, you know, seven of their last nine or something crazy, you They've gone on a hard road trip too. Like they did that East Coast, that swing, that New York swing. So it's like it's always, you never know.

And with the league is now, I feel like anybody, honestly, anybody can beat anyone in my opinion. I completely agree. It's unreal. All right, we're going to kick it to you now, like we talked about. We're giving you a platform on the pod these days for Toff takes. Yep. So your hot take that's top of mind right now. And for the listeners, we don't know what we're getting into here.

So hit us with something that you want to get off your chest right now. All right. So I went over it. I talked about it a little bit with Kat. So I can't say it's completely my idea. But she agreed with it. I'm going to go with that the Harry Potter movies are Christmas movies. Oh, dear.

And I don't know if you guys have talked about it. But that's just my opinion. I think just the way that the best. movies are all kind of, you know, played out. It's like in the winter. They're taking the train through the snow. And a couple of the scenes, it literally is Christmas time, you know? So it's like, I think it's Christmas growing up.

And I think a lot of the Canadians will say the same thing that we would go see Harry Potter in like December and stuff. And I'd come home from school. My mom would have it on as like a Christmas movie, you know? So that's, that's my take. And I don't know. What do you guys think about it? Dude, okay.

Well, I'm going to say. this. Also for the listeners, every time Toff comes on, the Toff take can be anything you want. It can be about hockey, you can be about otherwise. So I'm glad that we're going outside the game. The moment, you know, yes. The moment you said Harry Potter movies, I thought you were going to say, suck. And I was like, this might be the end of this. Dude. Yeah, Toff take is now canceled. Yeah. And we will never do this again. So I will say, I'll go first. I, I so passionately, with this and I have been falling asleep to the Harry Potter movies every night since December 1st. It's on it's on all the time. All the time. It's like it's one of those where especially now you just throw it on. You don't even have to watch. It's like you're watching friends in like July, you know? Like you just throw friends on or something and it's just like on the background or whatever, you know? Yes. Dude, Tom, there, there, I'll have to send this to you. There is a a time on Christmas Eve, a time at night that you can have.

hit play on Harry Potter 1 so that at exactly midnight, Harry will run down the stairs and say, happy Christmas, Ron. No, stop. I mean, I don't know if cats going to let me swing that one. But maybe I'll put, maybe I'll put that on like the TV upstairs. Yeah, there you go. And when it's time, then I'll just like go upstairs. It'll be like, I'll be right back.

Dude, I've actually looked into this because you said it. Like whenever there are people who are like, why, if you say it's Christmas movie and people say it's not. and I always bring up that there's a Christmas scene in everyone the only one there isn't a distinct Christmas moment is seven part one

no dude there is and that's when I started getting we know no sorry seven point on okay in seven part one Harry Harry and Hermione are in the cemetery and she says happy Christmas Harry and then seven part two there isn't one because it's already

happened but that counts because it's the same story same book same book yeah but I mean that's when it just there is so much going on too. Like you don't even know what's even happening. You know, there's just like stuff happening. Yeah. It's complete chaos by then. Like there's, here's why I love this take off.

And I got to check. I can't remember when they came out because you were like, maybe we, I feel like I watched them in December too. And did they, were they coming out in December or were they summer blockbusters? I'm pretty sure they came out in like November. Yeah,

because I'm pretty sure we would, in my elementary school. And I don't know if it was every elementary school in Toronto, but we would, go and do like a field trip and then have to write like a summary on the movie. So it's definitely during the school year. That's so sick. Oh, yeah.

It was the best homework assignment of all time, dude. Every single Potter movie, no, not every single one. Most of them came out in November. Okay, yeah. So it was December when we were watching it. But what I was going to say is because people, every time I say this take, I get the pushback that they're like, there's one scene where it's Christmas. It's ridiculous.

You think it's a Christmas movie. But I swear to God, dude, how do they make you feel? What does it remind you up? Christmas? When you think, when they come on, I swear it feels like Christmas no matter when I'm watching. Dude, also, don't forget the algorithm knows, bro. Like when you pop on HBO Max right now, like what movies are they pushing? Good point.

Pushing Potter. Every single Potter movie. Absolutely. You don't think HBO knows? They know. I'm going to throw one on a night too. The algorithm knows. Like, we're kind of establishing this right now.

Like, this is your sign listeners. If you feel like Potter's a Christmas movie, it is. We endorse this, watch them. There's no doubt about it, dude. And, dude, the people that don't, what's your problem? Yeah, I'm curious what the backlash is going to be and like what their opinion is. Yeah. I think it's like the purists who are like, you should be watching a Christmas story and holiday.

Miracle on 34th Street. But you can watch that too. That's what I'm saying, dude. How hard is that? I've got plenty of time, dude. I'll watch it all. Yeah, like, it's like Christmas break and everyone has time off. It's like, there's only so much you can do.

There's only so much hanging out you can do. Like throw a Harry Potter movie on during the day, but like throw the Christmas story on that night, you know, when you're stangled up on the couch. Perfect day. Dude, I think he said it perfectly. Like, Potter movie, a Potter movie in the background during December is the biggest no-brainer in the world.

Oh, dear, it just completes the whole image for me. It's fantastic. Yeah. It's fantastic. Well, so the first tough take is like a hard. A Slam dunk. Zero pushback over here. This is good.

All right. Now, Taff, you got to join us for a Beer League hotline, which I'm thrilled about because this is going to be the first time Toph has joined for one of these. Yeah, correct. I've seen these. Some of these are pretty outrageous. Oh, dude. Some of the messages we get, I'm certain are fake because they're so crazy.

When I started Beer League, I told my wife that the guys always stay for drinks and food after the game. And she said that was okay. But of course, they don't always stay. The problem is, if I go home right after the game on those nights, show no the guys don't always stay and expect me to come home right away more often. So on the nights when everyone leaves, I stay at the rink bar by myself and watch a show on my phone.

It's not that I don't want to be home. I just need to keep the status quo. Do I have issues? Oh, bro. No, I don't, I mean, I don't think there are any issues there, but I don't think it's got to be one of those things where you're, like, watching a show at the bar. And I'd call one of your buddies.

Like, can one of your buddies come and stop by for a couple beers and some hot wings, you know? Dude, okay, I'm with, I don't think that there's a problem here. I really appreciated the caveat of he's not like, it's not like I can't go home. Because then we're having a larger conversation. This is, this is like a marriage counseling session. But I'm with Taf, you've got to, you've got to either have a plan ahead situation or you got to put more pressure on the boys. To stay on the team, though.

At least one of them. At least one of them. Yeah. Like if everyone in that locker room is bouncing, you've got to be able to wrangle one of them. Be like, dude, do one beer with me. One beer upstairs. I also think the show is, I guess it's a beer league bar, so it's not like it's a packed bar. Yeah.

But I almost feel like you're less weird if you just sit at the bar and have a beer and talk to the bartender for a little bit. Yeah. So sitting in the corner watching a show. Yeah, you think it would be better to just talk to the bar. Yeah, literally. Just have a beer and like a bike. I mean, there's got to be like a game on or highlights on or something. Yeah.

Watch some TV. Yeah, especially, I don't know where he's calling from, especially if he's East Coast. Like when we finish Beer League, it's like fucking, yeah, every game's over. But if you're finishing beer league on the East Coast, there might be a West Coast game finishing up or something. But how about this boys?

Yeah, Sharkies are on. Yeah, Sharkies are on. All right, hold on. How about this, boys? Because this is interesting. I don't, I think our other options are better for this guy. But if he's going to keep watching the shows, the one thing I will say is he can't fall into the trap of watching a new show.

Because we've all been in that situation where an episode ends and you're like, I got to see what happens next, dude. And then next thing you know, you're there for three hours. So, like, this guy's got to make sure it's reruns. Only reruns, otherwise you're going to get in a hole. Yeah, the Cunin got me, Conan and Delondri, they got me on to, I don't know if you guys had seen at Banschee.

Oh, yeah. On Max. Oh, yeah. I am hooked. You're dialed. Like, I can't, my screen time on my phone, because I just watch on my phone, because I, that last road trip,

because I normally don't even watch shows. And I started watching this. screen time was 10 hours. Oh, of course. It was just phone alarms going off. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Imagine if this is tough in the bar. Imagine if this guy's watching Bansche are we going, are we going easier on him now now that we know it's a sick show that he's watching? I mean, nasty show, but no, still a little odd.

Yeah. You got to switch it out. Here's the other problem. You can, if it's a new show to your point, Dan, this is how you could get caught because if the wife is like, I heard about this new show Bansci, we should check it out. Then you're like, ah, here's the thing. You go like this. Oh, I've actually seen it. And she's like, when? When? When do you have time to watch Banshee? Yeah, no.

You're drinking with the boys. I think he can get in more trouble. But I also think that he can just like let her know and just be like, hey, I think I'm just going to stay for a pint and I'll be home and nobody's staying. I'm just going to have a quick one. And I feel like that should be like a topic of conversation. Like I feel like that should be okay as well, no? At Christmas we tell the truth. Listen, man, I think you're earning big time brownie points.

If you come with honesty like that, you go like this, hey, babe, lost a time. one. All the boys are leaving. I need to blow off some seam. I'm going to have a quick pint at the bar. I'll be home soon. That might get you like a wow. Yeah. Like that's, you can respect that. Yeah. Being up front, dude. I like that. I mean, yeah, I mean, I feel like that's fair. I feel like when I come home from a game sometimes too and, and I mean, Kat knows a little bit and enough about hockey, but if she knows that I'm in a bad mood, she just goes right upstairs and I'm, and I have a glass of wine and or a beer and stuff just on my couch and he lights off. TV, sometimes not even on and she just knows that it's just yeah it's not time for a conversation dude exactly banshee blaring

out of your phone she's like you know what on the topic of banshee i like it we need to get tough a laptop for a christmas because him coming on the show more is going to be beneficial for that i cannot have you watching tv shows on the road on your fucking she's made to be seen big too dude well that's well that's the thing we'll see what the reaction is from all the viewers and um if we get enough views then maybe all all man up and go purchase. There we go. You have a laptop.

As long as we get the people buzz in, a laptop is coming. Exactly. Exactly. That's really great. Oh, man. All right. Well, that's beer the calling. That's great.

And Taf, we'll let you jump. But, I mean, this is, this is. Actually, I have one more question. I forgot. Oh, okay. Who are the card players on the team when you're on the line? Oh, yeah, yeah. Card players, uh, wennie, uh, goody.

I think Maclin snuck in there somehow Really? Recently He doesn't have money to lose dude Yeah he lost he lost some cash I don't know if he's going back next trip Yeah he weasled and he's like

I that was a huge mistake Yeah And then deli's deli's back there too And it's funny I sit right in front of them So I can hear them all just like talking Talking their shit and all that So it's good

But those we only have we only have the one table but we'll see I'll keep you guys updated and see if Mac sticks it out. See it's my back. Yeah. I know there's like a running tally on the year. So I want to stay and keep visiting this. I mean, agree.

We got to keep the record books for sure. I mean, if anything, to protect Macklin. It's too early in your career to get this much in a hold. Unfortunately, I think he'll be quite fine. Yeah,

yeah. Me too. Me too. Well, dude, yeah. I mean, get used to it. I've got a feeling that the top takes are going to be something that people want more of. So that laptop's on the way.

I love that. That's a fact. Perfect. All right, powers rankings. Top five teams in the league. Can't move on until we're done. I am telling you right now, the Kings are in it. Oh, hell.

You and Wish, you and Wish bullied me last week. The Kings are in it. I still think Capys are won. Dude, and it's honestly pretty hard to change. Here's what's dangerous. No, actually, you're right. I don't know that we can. I've got my one-two.

three. Really? Oh yeah. I've got my one, two, three, and I, I think you're a fool if you disagree. I might even have my one, two, three, four. Do you want me to give you one, two, three, four, or just one, two, three? One, two, three. My one, two, three, that is like, I'm like, bro, what are we talking about?

I'm going Cappies one. I'm going Oilers two. I'm going Kings three. I was just, I was just, all the wild fans in my life are just finding. I'm finally appreciative that we've been putting them into one spot and now you're going to fucking double-tap them.

They're my four. They're my definite four. No, you just said... Oh yeah, yeah, you said, that's what you said. They're my definite four. But you can't get whacked. Wacked by the Oilers and be ahead of the Oilers.

And expect to be ahead of them. Oilers 8 and 2 in their last 10. They also got whacked by the Kings. Yeah. Wacked by the Oilers. the Kings. In Vegas. Correll dope. Okay. So honestly, I don't think

the caps are one, but it's unfair to not put them one. Who do you have one? Oilers? Yes. I don't hate that. I just think it is like, this is the college football ranking things around like, the caps have not done anything to be unseated.

Yep, correct. So they're still one. Okay. But the Oilers are two. The Oilers are two and are a runaway fucking freight trade. See, I disagree. They're not. The Oilers are two, and the Oilers fans, as usual, are in our fucking DMs.

Being like, here come the oil, dude. And I'm like, learn a lesson, you fucking morons, dude. Just keep your mouth shut, dude. Every fan base in the NHL,

shut the fuck up until you're lifting the cup over your head. All those Cats fans were like, oh, we own the Bruins. We own the cats looking right now, dude.

Like, calm down. Calm down. Buffalo fans, start getting cocky, running their mouths. You have lost 10, straight games. Deader than you.

Shut your mouth, Dan. Just stop talking ever. And the Oilers offense is a runaway freight train from hell. But the issues still remain. That said, they are 8 and 2 and they are our locked to. Caps, Oilers. Yes. Yeah, Kings.

You're right, Dan. They're fucking buzzing, dude. Guys, QB's waking up. New York trip, don't give a fuck. Juice can't stop scoring ever since came on showing at the far blue. Show me. 40. Come on. Okay, so then the four spot is the wild. It could be Vegas. Vegas is five. It could be Vegas. Because Vegas just got clapped by Edmonton, but just

beat the wild. They did. But out of respect to you and your wild fans. But no, but dude, you've got to earn this. You've got to earn this shit. I know. They are seven, two and one in their last 10. Wild are only seven and three. I really do think. But I just feel like the wild just had a couple of slips. Whereas Vegas, Vegas is amazing. I don't know what to sound. This is a great five. It is. And I think this is the five. Like, I feel bad for the devils. I feel bad for the kings, for the kings, the kings. But yeah, I think this is the best five teams in the league. Caps. Oilers, Kings. And then Wild Vegas, what order? I like Wild Vegas.

Again, it's the eye test. Like, I'm looking at it. I just think Gus is a little bit better than Vegas is goaltending right now. I think the overall game for the Wild is a little bit better than Vegas. They both had a couple bad losses, no doubt. Agree. But you don't care about the head-to-head last night. I almost think we have to tip it for Vegas because it was a little... I'm okay with that.

I think it's a bit of a... I think semantics. In mini, dude. I know. I'll do it for you. I think we got to do it. I mean, you were the one lobbying for the while. I know.

I wanted them too. I'm sorry, but because of the head-to-head last night, I'm going, Vegas is the fourth best team in the league in the wild and the fifth best team. Yeah, done. Boom. Cappies, Oilers, Kings, Vegas, Wild. Love it. Starting six.

We're just talking about the Wild. Left wing's going to be krill. All day. Two goals again last night. They lost, but whatever. He's got four in his last two games. He's tied with Drysaddle for the league lead with 22, on pace for 60 tucks.

I keep saying this. Do you think he could do 60? You know what I think is pretty fucking dope of me? What? And again, neither of them are leading league. in point, so it's funny that I'm strutting around like this. My two picks for MVP in our preseason rankings and all that was Krill and Leon. Dude, I did a whole video on, I will go back and scroll to the grid. I put, because the odds were insane. And I was like, dude, this is sharp

action, get on this. And so many comments, I'm going to find this. I made two future bets on the both of them. So many comments were like, he's not even the best player on his own team. He could never win MVP. And I'm like, well, he's already won one. He's already won one. Yeah. Yeah, morons. And he's going to. So that would be gas. Dan, also you will remember when we were making our future bet goal parlays, I was like, dare we sprinkle acrylic 60?

I know, dude. And you were like, no, dude. And how do you like me now? We got a long way to go, fella. 40 more goals. And he's on pace for like 60. Do you think he could get 60? I actually think he could.

Yes, definitely. Dude, I tweeted it last night He is the most exciting player to watch in the NHL right now Absolutely I'm talking over McDavid I'm talking over Celebrini And I bring up Celebrini because like, come on He's getting in fights with fucking Logan Coolly out here

Like Celebrity is an absolute blast to watch Carrill is the most exciting player to watch in the league right now It's fucking awesome God damn absolutely awesome Center I think for the first time After we gave it to McDavid for the first time We're going Leon for the first time Like you just said 22 goals leads the league

he has 13 points in his last five games all over his wins. The Pacific is fucked, damn. It's insane, dude. I legitimately think, I'm not kidding, dude. I think they are going to finish first in the Pacific. Edmonton? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I mean, yeah, they might.

Because, like, Vegas, dude, isn't a, Vegas is just like, what? We're good. And I'm not going to win 30 games in a row. Like, they don't go streaking like that. vague is just consistent machine and I love them for that and that's why they're so good in the playoffs and I think they're going to be pretty close but but assuming no one gets hurt the kings are streaky you know like the kings are like oh we're sick oh I don't think they are dude it's been

30 like they're I mean I understand what you're saying but like I don't think the kings have been streaky this year I think the kings started off the season people were like nice kings like dealing with injuries like here we go and they've just been great and are in second I'm just saying this king's team is historically streaky. Sure, but they're not right now. I know, but I'm telling you they will be. They will be. They're like, oh, wow, the kings are two and six. And I'm like, I know, the kings are streaky. I think this is a different Kings team than you remember, dude. Like, there's just the, the, the goal thing. Yep. I think that's been amazing. And I also just think the important roles being filled by certain guys, like new guys is a big

difference. So the kings are one point ahead of the oilers and the knights are five with a game in hand. Yeah. They always have a game in hand. So yeah, I mean like they're already right there. I know. It's crazy. It's absolutely crazy. I mean, we're just circling back to people we've talked about all episode, Kutraff, 14 points in his last five. He and point combined for 28 points in their last five games. He had a six point night against the flames. I mean, dude, oh my God. It's the play in that Flames game on the Gensel goal. I highly recommend everybody go watch it. This is Kudrav literally

full back check, strip back pressure, pick it up, wind off of the neutral zone, nasty sauce, Gensel goal. And I'm like, you are so good at everything. People think, I think people think he's just this guy, he's an anticipator, he's floating, getting points,

but he's doing everything, bro. He's doing everything. He is the stir in Tampa. He is absolutely ridiculous. And Tampa, Yeah, man. I think they've been really hurt. Yeah. And people are kind of unaware of that.

And here they go, dude. They're kind of charging now. And a lot of us feel pretty dumb about being like, I don't know, dude, Tampa might slip. Yikes. Wrong. Left D. In honor of getting his first NHL tuck, finally.

Lane Hudson. We said earlier, third in Lurkey scoring with 20 points. Got a tuck in the first period of their game against the Jets Saturday, which gave the Habs a 1-0-0 lead. They would then lose because they stink. But Lane. Does not stink. Does not stink at all.

And that's exciting. Does not stink at all. I was worried about him for a stretch there, though, with the goals. 19 assists is nasty. He's the man, but just like, you just want to see one go home. I agree. It's absolutely crazy. Equally crazy are Wright D also scoring his first goal of the season.

Adam Fox. Crazy. What the fuck? But playing great. Five in his last five. He's got a goal and 24 assists for 25 points. Not a lot of great things going on in Rangertown right now. Do you think he could get traded?

Absolutely not. Absolutely. not. I think there is a world where the Rangers blow it up, like not retool, but like rebuild. And the people you rebuild around are Shisterkin, him, and laugh, laughy. And I mean, I guess Panarin, but like Panarin's 32. I know, two years left there. Yeah, I don't think he will get traded by any means. I'm not saying that. I think that would be utterly insane. He's a great player. Yeah. It's just, you know, if you want big back, if you want something big back, you got to spend money to make money. Yeah. Again, the no moves

or make it complicated. If you want some, the big back, you trade Panarin. Yeah. Like, that's one that hurts bad. But, like, Panarin is capital elite. Yeah. And he's old. God damn. Okay, goalie, we're going Linus Allmark. Because after a tough stretch in November, in December, he's undefeated and has won five straight.

He's given up only five goals in those five games, including a shutout. He had a ridiculous paddle save on Carlson. He looked like the first thing. Vezna winner he was and I'm happy for him. Oh, I'm so happy for him. Also, man, Ottawa fans, cocky again. Cocky. I love it, man. They win three games. Ottawa fans come out of the trees, dude, and just start talking about playoffs. They start talking about the time is now. And I'm like, if you lose three in a row, what are you guys going to be saying? And they're going to go blow it up, dude. Everything is a disaster. I do think, though,

and I say that with love. I think you've got to be able to beak a little bit, though. And I know it can cost you everything. You can pay the ultimate price. Oh, yeah, dude, I'm a bitch. Like I was preaching earlier Shut up because I'm like, dude, just don't talk shit. Yeah. Don't talk shit. But just you, I want people to be like, Hell yeah. Oh yeah. Say hell yeah and go like this.

Stop after that. Yeah. Say hell yeah. We won three in a row. Go like this. Fuck yeah. This is awesome. I'm having fun. And they go like us, we are back. Nope. That's not talking shit. Okay. That's fair. I say we're back all the time. Say we're back. Don't start saying, we're back. We're in playoffs. We're going to knock you out of laughs, we're going to knock you. Just shut up. Don't say you're knocking anybody out.

Have a blast, dude. Just enjoy the ride, baby. Enjoy the ride. Don't start talking about the future. Yep. Enjoy the ride. That's that. Love to see Omar playing well. Yeah, me too. Unbelievable. All right, let's play a game. You got a game for me? Yeah, I do. We're going to swung back around to you, eh? Swung back around to me. We're going to play connective tissue. Wow. And honestly, Dan, I think it's probably the week for two real, too fake. But busy weekend, I'm a little horse. Your horse? I had to come up with two fake names. There's a lot. on my plate, so we're going connected. That's going to be fun next week. Yeah, sure is.

So we're going connected tissue. Okay. For those playing for the first time, I give Dan two brief bios about two hockey players and they share a name. One of their last names is one of their first names. So their names will meet in the middle and Dan will give me a full name of the two people.

Okay, ready? Yeah. A three-time All-Star. I'm currently on my fifth different team. I've won a Lady Bing and a Selke, but neither of those are as cool as my Kahn-Smith, which got me my one Stanley Cup, which we won as underdogs. I'm very respected in the league, and I'm part of a distinct group of players. Then, I was drafted in the third round by Dallas out of Miami, Ohio. I only spent two years there, and it wasn't until my fourth stop, where I finally landed on a new team that has had consistent playoff success for their entire existence, which got the franchise its first cup and my only cup.

Okay. Great. And Dan, talk me through which one you're aiming at first. I think I've got the first one. Okay, and I've got some stuff that can help you. I've got a few more add-ons if we need to get a little bit harder. I think I've definitely got the first one. Okay.

I drafted in a third round by Dallas out of Miami, Ohio. I only spent two years there, but it wasn't until my fourth job where I finally landed on a new team. that's had consistent playoff success for their entire existence. And I'll tell you, Dan, there's clues within clues within clues. Right, like obviously you're hearing

the words coming out of my mouth, but if you really dig in, there are two different tidbits in there. How confident are you on the first one? Very. Really? You want me to say it? No, not yet.

Not yet. Okay. Give me the second one again. Just say it. Okay. It's drafted in the third round by Dallas. of Miami, Ohio.

I'm going to give you a little bit more this time, okay? Uh-huh. I spent two years there, two years on my second team, two years of my third team, uh-huh. Always moving around. Then on my fourth stop, I land on a new team that has had consistent playoff success for their entire existence, where we got the franchise's first cup and my only cup. As a middle six forward, I've been on two different teams since winning my cup,

and maybe I'm cursed because they have not performed well since I got here. I think I got it. Oh, okay. In fact, I'm going to lock in and say, I know I got it. Wow. Bold. If you have the first one, I believe. It's a, it, like, it took me while. I was like, who, and then it came to me.

Okay. My player. Yep. Who has a great distinguished career. Very distinguished career. Two cups. A lot of hardware. A lot of hardware.

My player. is Ryan O'Reilly Smith. Yes. Ryan O'Reilly. I totally forgot that Riley Smith went to Miami, Ohio. Dude, well, that was, I put that in there, but I was like, I know you won't know that. Yeah, I did. I was like that.

I immediately was like, who went to Miami, Ohio? And it didn't come to me. Yep. Didn't come to me until the fourth team. Dude, and they've had consistent playoff success for their entire existence. I was trying to get you to Vegas. Yes. I was like, you got into the Vegas Cup.

Ryan O'Reilly sent to Pitt after that. And not sent, I think, free agent signed, Pitt. They are horrible last year, goes to the Rangers this year. They're horrible. Tough bid since that's up. But hell of a run in Vegas. And hell of a run is a B. I almost put that in there too, but you would have got it too easily.

But hell of a run is a Bruin. I loved him. Yeah, I mean, Ryan O'Reilly, too. Cup, Kahn Smyth, Selekie, Lady Bing. I almost put more in his, but I knew you would get it too easily. So I was like I got a... Ryan O'Reilly? Hall of Famer?

Probably not, but they weigh. guys like Flip Forrestberg talk about him. Factor. Factor. Yeah. Just in the way he respects the game, honestly. Very jumbo in that way. Yeah.

Unreal. God damn. Hey, that's a great one, dude. Ryan O'Reilly Smith. What a player. What an episode. That's going to be it for us. Next time you see us, we're going to be home for the holidays.

Yes. Well, no. Actually, no. Because it might be an interview. Might be a little interview. Next time you see us shooting the shit on our Wednesday episodes. We'll be home for the holidays. It's going to be beautiful stuff.

We have got the Sarah Nurse episode out right now. Check that out. And then obviously we've got more great stuff coming for you. But beautiful stuff. Happy holidays. And until we see you next time, skate hard.