Empty Netters Podcast - Devante Smith-Pelly On Winning The Stanely Cup, Battling Through Racism, & His Crazy KHL Story | 127

Episode Date: August 19, 2024

Devante Smith-Pelly has a World Junior bronze medal, a Stanley Cup Championship, and a crazy trip to China. Hear all about the Caps antics after they won, why you do NOT block shots at World Juniors, and what it was like playing with legends like Teemu Selane and Ryan Getzlaf his rookie year. Now he's crushing it in the radio world and on the golf course. Plus, there's a little Harry Potter talk mixed in as well... NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY!  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf52MHW1O7guPMzsMvv2kA FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.netters/?hl=en FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@empty.netters (0:00) – Intro (5:25) – Rookie Year (15:52) – Getting to Washington (29:10) – The Cup Run (44:21) – Facing Racism in Hockey (49:14) – Devo’s Time in the KHL (54:54) – Retiring and Going into Radio (59:46) – Pass, Shoot, Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Learn more at Adobe.com slash do that with Acrobat. Who partied harder? Osh or Ovi? It's tight. Right? That's what I'm saying. Between OSHA's Beer Monster and Ovi diving through fountains, like it's that. They had a neck and neck battle going on.

Ice is back and we... What? What? What? The fuck? Fuck. Holy shit, dude. We're on Epp like one...

What just happened? 120 something. And that was a fucking disaster. But what about this? Ice is back and we are ready. That works. You know what it works for? Opening day. Okay. Okay. See, now maybe we're on to something.

But until then, ICE is ready, and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast. I am your host, Dan Powers, aka DP, with me as always. C.P. As always. As always. The Master himself. We've got an unbelievable interview for you today. Devante Smith Pelly Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals joins the podcast. and also about to be a champion of golf.

Yeah, about to be a P-A-G-T champion. He's going to be lifting cup. All he does is lift cups, dude. Lifts Cups in Washington. Lifts Cups is in S-F. Lifts Cups at the welcome party. Probably. Probably.

Probably. I'd be upset if he didn't. But Devo is the man. You're going to have a blast with all these Cups stories, his crazy journey all around the league, including the KHL. So fucking funny.

Insane. But Devo's the man. We're having a blast of them right now. Make sure you guys have a blast for them in this interview. We'll kick it to it right now. We are joined by a great beauty right now. He is a Scarborough Ontario native. He is a U-17 gold medalist, a world junior's bronze medalist, the 42nd overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft by the Anaheim Ducks, and a Stanley Cup champion with the 2018 Washington Capitals. Devante Smith-Pelly, welcome to the empty netters podcast.

Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. I see a lot of your guys clips, so it's good to finally be on. Yeah, there you go. We had to get you in here. That's huge. We just have a guerrilla strategy. We just bombard everybody with clips.

So they're like, who are these fucking idiots? I'm jumping on the pod. I see it a lot. It's working. That's amazing, dude. It just becomes Pavlovian at this point. You just hear our stupid voices and people are like, okay, I got to get in here. Let's see what's going on.

We were just talking. You're up in Toronto. it's a beautiful another beautiful day how's summer been going my summer's been great um you know it's i've been playing a lot of golf that's all i've been doing pretty much a couple trips not really vacation like but uh you know i've been to Vegas i've been to montreal i've been to new york just small little trips but um a lot of golf a lot of chilling now a lot of the olympics yeah it's been nice and relaxing it's uh a lot different from my plane playing days where, you know, working out and skating and schedule, it's nice just to be

chilling, relaxing. Feeling guilty when you're not in the gym or shooting pucks, you know, now I'm in Vegas, dude. Like, this is way better. Exactly. It's much better. And not to mention when hockey season comes around, it gets so busy. Right now is the perfect time to just golf and chill.

Yeah. That is what we should be doing right now. Yeah, yeah. Like I said, like it's great not having, you know, much of a schedule, especially around this time. It's getting closer to camp. the workouts are getting harder, skating, a lot of bag skating and stuff like that. It's good to be outside and, you know, talking to my friends who are still skating.

You know, I'll meet them at the golf course. They're sore and I'm feeling great out there. Yeah, swings, the swing is loose. Devo swings loose, dude, all the other boys, got back problems. It's a nightmare, dude. Exactly, exactly. Well, I love me, we were saying too, but I love me in Montreal summer weekend, dude. Like, because Vegas is too hot actually right now. So Montreal, that's a great spot. Yeah, have you guys gone to Grand Prix or anything like that?

Dude, no, we are dying to go. Is that what you went for? No, well, I went like eight years in a row, so I kind of took this one off. But I suggest you guys get out there for a Grand Prix weekend. It will be, it'll show you some things. Yeah, I think we have to do that. I imagine there would be some nice sights for us there. Dude, we're actually thinking about next month heading up there for the President's Cup.

So that might be a nice little Montreal weekend as well. Yeah, that'll be a nice little trip. Maybe I'll come up there. I was going to say, let's dial that in, dude. Let's dial that in. That was a very subtle way of me planting that idea. That might be a good little boys weekend, you know? Yeah, it's not too far.

I can hop on the train. It's about four hours, and I'm there. Easy, dude. That was the drive from Maine. It was so sneaky easy, too. It's like five-hour drive, bang. Just getting across the border, but even that was chill as hell too. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, they just wave everyone. Come on, come on, come on. Like, what are you doing? I'm like, I'm here to get hammered with my buddies. And they were like, yep, come on it. Yeah, go ahead. We had a couple border crossings on the way back where the guys at the border would be like, have a good time, boys.

Yeah, like, yes, holy shit. Bumpers ripped off my car. They can smell it on us. Red eyes. Yes, yes. Exactly. Oh, shit. Devo, one thing we wanted to ask, because I love when I look at someone's rookie year and just

see, like, their first taste of the NHL, right? Like who they jump in with? And sometimes it's guys, you know, you look at Celebrini on the sharks, and it's like, you know, I love a lot of those dudes, but they're lacking legends, let's say, right? You know, and then I look at you and you come in as a 19-year-old with a 41-year-old Timu, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Saku Kovu, you know, MVP's, Hall of Famers, Getsloft. Like, what was that shock factor like as you enter the league to the Ducks with those boys? It was scary. It was scary. I mean, even looking back, I think Getslaff and Perry were like 26 or 25.

And I just felt like there were so much older than me. And like obviously, Tino Sullani. Like it was nice, though, that all those guys were great guys. You know, sometimes, you know, you can see older guys, treat the younger guys a little tough. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. But, you know, Timu was great to me. Gets up Perry.

All those guys are great to me. Bobby Ryan, you know, I was alone on the first American Thanksgiving. He had me over at his house for Thanksgiving and stuff like that. Did he cook? Those guys, I don't think he died. You guys, we ordered Burger King, but it was nice. It was nice. I didn't see him in the kitchen much.

But, yeah, those guys were great to me. And I'm thankful because. I'm just talking to some guys around the league, some of my friends who played young. Like, it's not always like that. It's not always where the older guys are, you know, they may be nice, but they, you know, included me into everything and make sure I was all right. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's absolutely incredible.

I mean, I know you played on a line with Timu for, you know, a short little stint there in that first year. Was that? Obviously, everyone has those moments in your first year where you're like, holy shit, I'm in the NHL. You're getting your first goal and all shit. like that, but did you have a quick moment of when you're looking across the line at a guy who's like 20 years older than you? And you're like, oh, my God, I'm playing with team.

It's still nasty. You're like, Jesus Christ, he's 41. Yeah. There were a lot of times where, you know, we were coming to the bench and kind of like, hey, Debo, did you see me? And I'm like, I promise, if I saw you, like, I would try and give it to you. Like, that's all I'm trying to do. So it was a little bit nerve-wracking. I play with Getsup and Perry a little bit that year too and they have all these they're pretty much running two-man game out there they have all these plays and all these and i'm just watched looking and trying to figure it out it was it was a little bit nerve-wracking but as i got older um you know going into i was about 21 and 22 i felt more comfortable there um but at 19 it was it was a lot it was a lot to handle

it was um it was extremely extremely nerve-racking because those guys are also intense too like if you know, if you're not getting it done, I would know. They don't get time for it. Yeah, yeah. And I imagine off the ice too, right? Because, of course, on the ice you're learning from them, you're a sponge. But off the ice, just showing your life on the road in the NHL, I imagine that was its own journey with those guys.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, their life at their point, that point was a little bit different. Yeah. But it was actually funny. That was before the lockout. So Gatsop and Perry, I think they were still like roommates at that point. They're like 27 years old. So that was actually.

That was actually interesting, but yeah, getting to hang out with those guys on the road and, you know, have a couple beers with Tiemu and just talk. Like, I mean, when we're at the rink, it's, you know, it's business. But just talk and tell stories and tell him, you know, what I saw when he was on TV and just get to chat on a different level was, was really, really nice. What was it like going from Ontario to Southern California? Like, did you, you know, were you like, holy shit, this place is amazing? Did it take a while to adjust to like the lifestyle, the food, you know, just the vibes there? Yeah, it was a, it was a shock. But, I mean, it was a good shock.

I lived right on the beach. Like, my literal backdoor was on Newport Beach. One thing as I got older and, you know, got traded to some colder climates is I wish I took advantage of it more. Yeah, true. I just started golfing last summer. Like, I wish when I was 19, I would just play. be golfing every other day. And, you know, I wish I learned how to surf or something like that.

Yeah. I went for some walks, you know, a little bit. That's all right. We'll take it. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, I'm 19. I'm just like, just going with the flow.

I wish, you know, looking back at 32 now, yeah, I wish I was golfing and, you know, surfing or something like that. But I did enjoy my time there. Yeah. And, hey, there's still time, baby. We'll get you on that board. Yeah, we'll get you on that. board and man that rookie season was pretty wild for you because you came in did really well with

the ducks but then you get loaned out to the world junior team which is that's such a funny interesting thing that i'd love to hear from you about because it's like on the one hand anytime you get to represent your country is unreal but you're obviously also in the flow of you know first year in the nchl you want to make a good impression you want to stay up in that league and then you get there and immediately break your foot against finland which is like you know the one time you're not wearing shop lockers, unbelievable. So what was that whole thing going through your mind of, you know,

sticking with the boys, staying positive, making sure you guys meddle, and then also keeping that mentality of like, I don't want to lose the momentum and the rhythm I've got right now of being an NHL player. Like, how do you balance those things? Well, for me, like when it was starting to get into November, December-ish, I wanted to play World Juniors.

Yeah. Yeah, hell yeah. Fuck it. Yeah. The year before, my junior head coach was actually the coach, and I was a leading score, and I didn't get picked. So, like, I was pissed off. Not at him.

Like, I love him, but I was pissed off and kind of used that into jumping into the NHL and, like, screw these guys on making the NHL, now they're going to have to beg me. But when it got closer to time, I was like, yeah, I want to go so. Yeah, yeah. So, like, when they told me, I was, we never, it was so weird. Like, we never talked about it. I think before the last game we played in, like, St. Louis or something, I saw one of my buddies, Brett Connolly, got sent back.

And I was like, oh, like, I don't know, did he ask? Like, what happened? We never talked about we played. I think I scored that night, too. And instantly after the game, they're like, all right, you're going to stay and go to the little juniors. And I was just like, okay, like, I don't have any clue. I had nothing like it. They didn't tell me beforehand.

But I was excited. I was excited and that was always a dream as a kid is playing on the world junior team. I finally got my shot and was playing a big Ross playing on a half wall on the power. It was amazing. I was feeling, I was feeling great. I was feeling so good. And then like you said, I took off my shot blockers because I'm a skill guy now here. And what happens first game is obviously I blocked a shot and break my foot.

but the whole experience, like getting to stay there and watch the games in Edmondson and Calgary, the atmosphere was pretty crazy. Obviously, it didn't work out in the end, but just getting a chance to be involved and see those games was pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, no doubt. Dude, how pissed were you when you broke your fight? Like, did you know immediately that was my next question? Yeah, yeah, because I, you know, that's how I played as blocking shots and stuff and taking them off the foot. one it was different immediately and yeah um i tried to play another shift and like i couldn't even

move so um i knew i was pissed my my my dad was pissed i took off my shop block because everyone was just pissed it was just so it was it was so dumb um but yeah it is what it is i'm still not over it but it yeah i wouldn't be either i'm so mad is it is it is it better no it's worse i was going to say is it better they didn't win gold because you couldn't be out there but no you would it would have oh no I mean I still would have yeah I mean I'm still on the roster you know yeah exactly I got that metal maybe yeah yeah it sucks to say I don't even know where the bronze medal is like I know I know you know people say looking back you'll be you know look back and be like oh I was a bronze medalist that's pretty cool but no it was it was gold or anything yeah it's uh especially at home

turf dude the boys got to do it on home turf that that's bronze metal's hanging on the wall in the new apartment still somewhere yeah some guys living on the beach and he's like I don't know what this is but it's been here forever yeah exactly so man it was it was it was it was tough um like I said it was my doing though it was just um 19 year old thing to do is I've been wearing shop fogg for years and I feel like I'm I'm gonna go on the limb here and say you're being way too hard yeah dude like you're acting like you went out there without shoulder pads on like you took something that's not totally I mean You made a good play, dude.

You bought the shot. It's just something I had worn forever. Yeah. It wasn't really, it wasn't hindering anything. It didn't matter. It was just like an extra protection. And I just took it off because I was, you know, I'm on the half wall and the power fight.

Why would I block a shot, right? I just go back. I'm the man now, dude. Yeah. Yeah. I imagine. It was dumb. I imagine your dad watching that game and like, he knows you don't have the shot lockers on.

You step in front of a shot and he's like, God, fucking damn it, divo. Yeah. That's the first thing he said is, why did you take out the shop lockers? And I mean, I didn't say to him like, well, I'm on the half-loss. Just like, I don't know. Like, I just did it. Like, it was just so dumb.

But it is what it is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm still on the team.

I still, you know, I still played some of that first game. I still have my jersey. I was wearing an A. Like, that's crazy. So sick. Yeah. Yeah. God.

Great point, dude. An A on a Canada jersey. Are you shitting me? That's amazing. Yeah. Like, it was still, I'm still a lifelong friends on that team. It was cool, but I'm not at the same time. Yeah, right, right.

Well, now I want to talk about you're coming to Washington because it's an interesting ride, dude. You got a bit of a grind there where it's like, we talked about it, you know, taste of the NHL and being a business. It's like, you're having a good season in Anaheim, traded to Montreal. Having a good season in Montreal, traded to Jersey. Bought out in Jersey. And now it's...

After, by the way, buzzing in Jersey. Yeah. Dude, like you couldn't miss in Jersey, you know? And now it's gut check time, right? And there were two really cool things I saw that you said. One was that guys like Willie and Osh were like, listen, dude, you have as good a chance as anybody to make this team. So come here. And two, trots sitting you down and kind of being one of the first coaches to be like, well, I guess extremely candid and honest with you about here's what I think about your game.

Here's where I think you can help us, stuff like that. So can you tell us what about those two factors and any others that put in your mind? mind the I'm bringing my belongings to Washington because I'm making this team no matter what attitude that you came there with. Yeah, like you said, it was a grind to get there. But that summer, you know, I kind of got bought out late like right before free agency. So you're kind of behind the eight ball, you know, talking to teams. I work out with Brett Connolly and Tom Wilson. So, you know, I said, hey, like Washington call. Like, what do you guys see? Those both right wingers. And we're also good friends.

And so, you know, we have a friendship where if I was going to take one of their jobs or something, they'd be like, well, like, you know, don't come here. Yeah. But they were, they were like, no, like, you can easily, you know, slot in on the right side. We can all play on the right side. You know, OSHA's the other guy, obviously. There's a spot there. There's going to be a lot of turnover because the year before they were, like, ridiculously stacked and the money just wasn't going to work. So yeah, like there's a spot right there.

It's wide open. You should come. And once they said that, you know, I called my agent and kind of said, all right, it's Washington. So and that summer was just, you know, I signed a two way, but that summer was, I'm going to Washington. I don't even, I'm not even worried about, you know, how far her she is from Washington. I'm going to Washington.

That's where I'm playing. And I had a great camp. and obviously, you know, the year went the way it went. Yeah. Well, hold on. I want to hear about that because, you know, as a fan, watching that season, it felt like that was that season where OV kind of recalibrated and he was like, all right, I'm not going to focus so much on getting 50 goals.

He was definitely playing more of two-way hockey. He's seen Sid win enough cups. He's like, fuck that, dude. You added into the lineup, added so much grit and balance and depth to the lineup. and it felt like for us as fans watching, and not even fans of caps, just like, you know, fans of the game,

that year felt different early. Like watching that Capitol's team, we were like, oh, fuck, this team might have it. Did you guys feel that? Because I know it's such a long season, but early days, you know, October, November, December,

were you guys, we got a fucking shot here? Or were there some crazy ups and downs where you weren't totally sure? Yeah, there was definitely some up and downs. I think, you know, when I went in at the start, the training camp was a little bit weird because I think the year before kind of lingered. I think guys are still pissed and kind of down and maybe looking towards, all right,

let's get through all this garbage in the early and let's get to the playoffs. And it doesn't really work like that. You still got to play the games and stuff like that. So at the start, you know, I think we started okay. But then I think we lost like seven or eight in a row. and one night in Colorado we got like smoked like destroyed and trotsy came in it was a pretty chill guy yeah and he like he ripped everyone like he ripped into every single guy and and I think the next game it was kind of like all right we need to win or you know trots he's gone or someone's

getting well I'm getting traded and it wouldn't be the big guys like someone's getting moved or whatever's happening and I think we still lost it the next game and then we're kind of like, well, I guess that's it for Trotsie or something's going to happen. And from that day after we lost that next game, we, we just went on like this heat or everyone bought in. Everyone, you know, went into their slot. The lineup was kind of like in flux before. I think, you know, Tom started on like the third line. Like I was playing with Ovi sometime. It was like, yeah, the lineup at the end wasn't how, it was so weird. But, you know, Everyone got put in their spot.

Tom went up to the first line. You know, I went back to the fourth line. Me and Stevie and Beagle, and we figured it out. The top guys figured it out. And we just rolled all the way through. Yeah. Even still, you look at the playoff format, I were like, oh, God, we got to play the penguins again. Yeah, yeah.

And I don't know. I obviously didn't carry that, like, scar tissue into that series. I didn't really I wasn't there for the other ones, right? So that wasn't really on my mind. I think maybe on other guys' mind, the first game we were up like two or three nothing, we lost and it's kind of like, oh God,

like here we go again. Yeah, yeah. We kept pushing him. We won without Backy. Backy had a broken hand. Oh, my God. I forgot about that. Yeah, dude.

Yeah, so game six, we go in there without Tom, Bakke, and Berkowski. So that's guys on each line. And it's like, well, you know, here we go again. But we pulled it out in that game six. And after that it was obviously not smooth sailing.

There's some tough games ahead. But the confidence after that was insane. Oh, I can only imagine. Because, you know, like we always joke guys our age, you know, like all three of us are kind of the same age. Guys all of our age kind of had to either pick Crosby or Ovi in those early days, you know? And, you know, after Crosby had had so much success,

I was such an OV guy and I was like, come on, get one, get one. And that series, going into that game six, I was like, just fucking please God, finish this and get the monkey off the back. And it was, you know, like I was saying earlier, watching, it felt like that momentum there was just through the roof. And it was like, how do you not go and do it now? So you guys really did.

The celebration on the ice was like, it was a lot, like, I think they have a little behind. the scenes thing on maybe the capitals YouTube but like the celebration of the room like you would have thought we won like we were going crazy and then obviously you know trotsie comes in it's like well like we're only halfway

guys but like we obviously knew and then we went into Tampa and like those first two games in Tampa like we we smoked them yeah like we were we were playing ridiculous without backy I think Tom came back for the first game, but obviously they came back in the series,

went to seven, whatever, but like, we were riding high and it was going to be tough for any team to beat us four to seven after that. Devo, was Ovi ever, because, you know, we all believe he's going to, he is going to break the record, and it's awesome, you know, and I can't wait to what happens, we're all pulling for him.

Was he ever, like, you were talking about Timu, or when you're a kid, like, you see me there? Was Ovi ever, like, you see me in the slot there, guy? Or like, well, yeah, what was, What was it like being on his line, bro? Yeah. You know, at 19, it was like I said I was nervous and like still at 20.

I don't know how it was at 26. Like, you know, I think I had, obviously, I was more confident and but still sometimes you get it. And the first thing you do is like, all right, where is LV? Where is he? Where is he? And if you don't find him, I promise he'll tell you. He'll tell you. He tells Kuzi in Russian.

He'll tell whoever. And it's not in a bad way. He's not like belittling you, but it's like, hey, like I'm there. Yep. I'm always open. He's intense. He's like he's once the game starts like before the game, it's all fun and jokes. And but out there, like he wants to make a difference.

And like I said, like whenever you get it, you know he only has a couple spots. But sometimes it just doesn't work like that. Right. So it's just like, like I'm trying, like I'm trying. Yeah, yeah, you're right. Like, trust me, dude. I'm doing my best. Is it me?

I'm not backstrom, but, you know, they're obviously trying to cover you as well. So, like, it's not that easy. I know backy makes it seem super easy, but it's just not. I'm sorry. How, um, I always kind of revel at this. I love it that Ovi's, you know, he's approaching 40 here. And you watch him out there and he'll score a goal and he still looks like he's 18 years old, the way he celebrates, the way he loves the game.

How contagious is that, that your leader? best player, this generational guy, is just still carrying that intense of a passion and love for the game every single day. Yeah, it definitely props you up. I think especially in the playoffs, too, he would score some goals at home and he would be freaking out. And the crowd obviously loves it and, you know, you use that momentum to kind of push forward. But whenever you see a guy like that, he just, he still loves and he still enjoys. And it's not like, he's aware of the record, but But he loves scoring, you know, to go up to one. Like, he loves scoring to get the winning goal.

He's not, he knows the record. He's aware of it, obviously. But he's not, you know, cherry picking. He's not, all right, if we lose 7-1 and I score, it's fine. Like, after that game, if he scored him at all 7-1, he's pissed off. So I think that's what makes him such a great captain. What makes him such a good guy is that we're all aware of this. this record.

We're all aware that we're all trying to, you know, slide it over to him, get it to him. But he wants to score the winning goal. He doesn't want to score and the team loses. Yeah. Devo, I've heard you say, I've heard you say that you're not a very superstitious guy normally, but we all know that that cap team was crazy.

Everybody's got the, there's 20 handshakes and the fucking, if you throw the tape to this guy, you got to do that again every day, right? So all that shit. But one thing I saw that you said was the boy. boys were playing a lot of Mario Kart. Is that true? Yeah. Dude, who was, are we talking like N64?

I need to know everything. Like who was playing, who was winning? Yeah, like, tell me about the Mario Kart situation. Yeah, so, well, the superstitions were, it was out of control. Like, I, I'm not superstitions at all. You know, I go to the first game. You know, everyone is just, like, doing something, like, on time at the same person, same. It was and then I and then I just slowly get into that too.

So I started doing stuff and like I'm not even superstitious like it was it was insane and there's some things that guys are doing that like I don't even know if they would want me say. Well what's the craziest one? What's the craziest one that you can say? Yeah, you got to give us one crazy. I actually like I actually can't even say some of them. They're not like too bad but I don't even think they want people knowing.

Yeah, like they don't want the public knowing that they're full on psychopaths. Yes, yes. So there's just so much going on, but I, I, it was amazing. And then as soon as I leave the team, like, I just don't do it anymore. Yeah, it shuts off. Yeah, it shuts off. What was even the original question? Mario Kart, Mario Kart.

Tell me about Mario Kart. Sorry. So in the playoffs, you know, we would get like a big suite or whatever, a big ballroom, trying to figure out some things to do. So, like, guys, you know, my generation are, PlayStation. So we'd have like the PS4 or five or whatever was out at that time. And then the older guys, Carly, Eagle, Oshy, they had the M64, like on another TV to the side. So that's what they played when they were young. I mean, so did I, but they're a little older than me. Yeah.

So they were more into that and they would just rip that all day. We wouldn't really practice during the, during the playoffs. So no matter where we were, you know, we play a game, the next day would be off. Yep. So, you know, at 11 o'clock noon, everyone would just go down there and just chill and play video games. And a lot of Mario Kart was going on. I don't even know who the best player was,

but I was more of a FIFA guy during the playoffs. Yeah, okay, nice. If you did get on the sticks in Mario Kart, which character were you choosing? I think I was always just Mario. Classic. I respect that. Classic, safe.

Yeah, I'm a Luigi guy. I'm a Yoshi guy, which also I used to think was cool, but I now think a lot of people are Yoshi guys, so maybe it wasn't as unique as I thought, but I do like Yoshi. This might be the first time I've ever admitted this. That's why I was a Luigi guy, because I was like, no one picks Luigi. Yeah, that's pretty cool. I was just trying to show Luigi some love.

You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. Well, man, we're talking about this playoff run. Holy shit. We've got to get deep into the weeds here. I mean, you-

go have absolutely buzzing, dude. Absolutely buzzing, dude. Seven goals, two game winners. You had that unbelievable tying goal with like five minutes left, 10 minutes left, whatever it was and then obviously you had the go-ahead goal in game five dude out you like we're talking out of body we're talking white men can't jump you were in a fucking zone man like that was a zone and and like there was truly lore about you going on with caps fans during those playoffs dude dude did you see you know the um the Vince McMahon meme that was going around like where he's

crying and he's like waving off the camera yeah yeah it was special that I've seen those with you like it's like, dad, tell me about Devo in the 2018 playoffs, and it's Vince McMahon, cut and crying, cutting the camera. Like, that's how special it was. So, like, what was going on with you, man? Like, did you truly feel like every time you stepped on the ice, you were like, I am buzzing right now, or were you just, like, locked in, just like play another game? Yeah, I don't know. Like, you know, if I could channel that through 82 games, I'd be on an eight-year deal right now. Yeah. I don't know what it was. I mean, like, I'm obviously extremely competitive. And I don't know, playoffs has kind of always been, you know, a junior.

I think I led the league in playoff goals. I think I led Anaheim and playoff goals when I was 21 or whatever. I think it's just, I don't know what it is. I think I enjoy, you know, the spotlight and everyone watching and it's on CBC at home. It's on NBC or whatever at the time. And I just want to win. I don't know what I don't know exactly what is. Like I said, if I could follow it up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're talking eight by eight, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Easily. But, but I just, I hate losing. I'm just extremely competitive and, you know, I just tried to help out any way I could. And then that's instance of just happened to be goals.

You know, I wanted to block shots. You know, I blocked a couple shots off my head, have a couple of the face. Like I just wanted to do anything to help the team. And it just so happened that, you know, I was getting some chances and bearing down. Hell yeah, man. Were the boys treating you any differently or, you know, like, yeah, what were the superstition? They're like, don't touch Devo, dude.

He's too hot. He's like, no one can even look at Devo right now. No, we're still doing the superstition. But it's fun. I don't think anyone, I don't think I've ever told anyone, but, well, some people know. But before the playoffs started in practice, I was using like TJ Oshu sticks. And I was just like, I was just sniping.

Like I was like, it was crazy. So but in the first game of the playoffs, like I didn't want to use it. Just it's a playoffs. Let me just. And then I ended up scoring. And then I didn't score the next game. And then I instantly just switched to Ochi sticks.

So I used his sticks the rest of the playoffs with his name on. And I think I got my custom ones maybe in like the finals or something. But. so maybe it was a stick no way dude but i changed it was completely different curve completely different stick everything and wow that's what i that's what i

different curve dude you just went different curve in the playoffs yeah yeah we might need to change the record books here and give o'sh at least an assist on all this yeah yeah give a give a couple of yeah so it was crazy because um yeah like i never changed anything i had the same I changed my curve a couple times in my life, but before then I used it the whole year, literally used it the first game scored. I mean, obviously, if people watched like super closely, you'd see I was using a warrior the first game and then I was using a Bauer like the game after that, which was OSHA sticks. Yeah, dude.

I'm curious if like any of the super superstitious guys on that team were appalled by the thing. Yeah, they didn't like that. Oh, yeah, they were probably disgusting. Yeah. Disgusting. What the fuck is this guy doing? And then it's just working. Yeah.

Yeah. You could actually see, I think, in Columbus in game six when I scored, like, when I was coming to the bench, everyone is looking at their stick. And I'm looking at my stick because everyone knew, like, I changed. Yeah. And going into it. So I guess they're okay with them. That's hilarious. Dude.

And I've heard you say, you know, because people, I'll say this all the time, like, I blacked out. But I've heard you say, like, truly, I barely remember the aftermath of that game tie or game five. Did that ever sink in? And I know you must have the picture fucking everywhere. It's the sickest picture I've ever seen. But when did that sink in? Because obviously the team goal was much bigger. Like you guys won the cup that night.

But just was there a moment? 10 days later were you at home? Like, holy fuck, that was a massive goal. Yeah, you're right. 10 days later after we were done. Yeah, yeah. 10 days later after we were done, like you kind of, I went back and watched kind of all the games

and watched like that third period in full. And I mean, I've watched that goal. 10,000 times by now. That's low, dude. That's low. Yeah. But after that, yeah, like probably 10 days. I actually watched back and watching slow-mo every angle.

And it was like, wow, like, that was pretty nice. That was crazy, though. Oh, yeah. At the time, like, it truly was a blackout. Like, I truly blacked out. You could even see it on my face after, you know, I did like a little tumble and looked up. like I was like holy shit

yeah god dude what a moment it's so same and this nifty little stick this gate to stick like dude they had it all man it's amazing another another uh little tidbit like again OSHA

um he would always have like all of us you know younger guys right wingers we would always do like these they're just silly drills like shooting off weird angles and kicking it off your feet and getting a bad pass and using your feet and I don't think we ever scored a goal like that and then in the finals I always scored one

I scored another one with my foot so we scored three goals like pretty much doing these drills that he had done all year it was it all just came together makes all the difference so awesome dude that I mean dude that cup celebration has resulted in some of the best photos I've ever seen how was that party I mean that must have been

the biggest rip of your life yeah yeah well The one at Vegas was insane, obviously. It was like an earlier game, so we had, like, a lot of time. I think the game might have been at three or five that day, local time. So we had a lot of time to party that night. No food. I think I had, like, one slice of pizza.

So we did that. We flew back on the plane. Like, guys are kind of trying to sleep, but, like, why would you sleep? Yeah, come on. crazy and then we have to leave our cars at the airport because no one can drive yeah we get a bus back like they're like all right 10 minutes you have 10 minutes to change like i'm dying still at this point but you have 10 minutes to change we go right to georgetown i think that's when like the fountain and all that stuff it was it was non-stop like like you said 10 days i think the

mary guys the guys with kids tapped up probably at like six or seven and we had a little crew we had a little crew that went up. Yeah. The double-digit crew, dude. The double-digit crew is legit. Yeah. Yeah, we had a little crew that went a couple days longer, but my birthday was actually, I guess it would have been a week later.

And even that night, I was like, I can't, like, I can't do anything. I can't. Wow. I can't drink anywhere. Like, I can't. And we still went out of. We still did it. But, like, yeah, after that, I didn't want to see a bub light or, uh, you know,

anything for a long time. It was crazy. Who partied harder? Osh or Ovi? It's tight. Right? That's what I'm saying. Between O'Sha's Beer Monster and Ovi

diving through fountains, like it's, they had a neck and neck battle going on. It was tight, it was tight, but I think what maybe made Ovi go long, he got the cup like really, like really quickly after. So I think he just held on to it, held on to it, then he got the cup and then obviously the cup party day is like crazy so yeah he might have kept it going a little bit longer but it was a tight race for sure but i can't even

fathom with how ovi is pregame i can't even fathom post cup ovi oh my god that just must be a different animal it was it was a lot it was a lot i mean the thing about that team as a whole is that we we we partied all all through the year like yeah not obviously at like that but um any excuse to have a team dinner and a couple drinks, like, you know, someone signed, someone got a new girlfriend, somebody bought a house, somebody got a dog, something, anything. It was like, all right, well, team dinner and we would all go out. And like, you know, the coaching staff knew.

So, you know, the next day the practice would be, you know, a little bit harder, but we were doing it together. So I think that's one thing that, you know, I think good, I would hope good teams are still doing that. But any good team I've been on is, you know, everyone's hanging out together, have a couple of drinks the next day. We all sweat it out together and then we get down to business, you know. That's awesome. We've talked to some guys on Tampa when they were on their run and they say a similar thing where it's like that veteran group. They know, you know, you know what it takes. So work it out on the ice and then have a good time after. And that's a big deal.

Any good team that I've been on is it's like, all going out tomorrow practice. Like, let's just get through it together. You know, you know, pick each other up, make sure everyone's feeling good, make sure no one misses the bus or is sweeping in and we're all on this together. Buddy system, yeah. Yeah, that team was like that and we had a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun. So, you know, the world got to see how we operated.

Yeah, that's epic. That's epic. Everyone, I want to take a quick break to talk to you about my favorite canned cocktail in the game right now, and that is Ricky. Ricky spirits is change in the game. Let's be honest. Beers, they're always going to be there, but they're out of season, man. Beers fill you up way too much.

You get bloated, that same taste over and over again. It gets a little boring. Can cocktails are where it's at. And we've seen all these different ones, but I'm here to tell you that Ricky is truly the best in the game right now. I'm completely off beer, so I'm all about my canned cocktails. And I'm not talking about selzers. Seltzers are the worst. They taste like chalk.

They make you feel disgusting. canned cocktails are where it's at, and Ricky has the best in the business. They're doing unbelievable flavors in both vodka and tequila. If you want to have a nice cranberry one, it tastes like a Cosmo. You want to feel more summary. We've got these unbelievable grapefruit and watermelon flavors. Watermelon tequila is the best canned cocktail I've ever had in my entire life from Ricky. It's unbelievable.

And I'll tell you why. Each can is just 130 calories. There's no added sugars. These things are made from all natural fruit juice, and they're 7% ABV. That's one and a half shots per drink. So you're not gas in a million of them to get a buzz. You're feeling amazing after just one, and then every single one after that tastes just as good as the first. Ricky has been changing the game for me personally.

Every time I bring it, golfing has been huge recently. Love a nice transfusion on the golf course, but sometimes these courses are over, or the courses are overpriced, all that stuff. With Ricky, I pack up that bag and then everyone is hounding me for another one when we're on the course. I'm bringing them to parties during the summer, stocking up the cooler. We got this unbelievable golf tournament we're doing with a bunch of the boys up in San Francisco, and we're going to have Ricky stocked in every single cart and at every single hole because it is, without a doubt, the best drink to have when it comes to canned cocktails. So go to rickyspirates.com, figure out your closest retailer, figure out where you can get it shipped, because

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Bonus bets are non-withdrawable in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Devo, on a more serious note, and I hope this is okay to talk about, but there's been countless times start your career where you've dealt with racism in the league, right? And I think the one that stands out for most fans is that night in Chicago, which was dad's night for you guys, Christ, and your mom's watching on TV and everything in the penalty box. And as infuriating and disappointing as those instances must be, for you. Could you tell us just what it is in you that has helped focus on the positives,

keep you grounded, keep you within yourself to push through that nonsense? I think, I think I also tell kids when I'm talking to them is, you know, I'm not going to let the ignorance of one or two people kind of stop my dreams and what I want to get done. you know hockey's filled with amazing a lot of amazing amazing people i'm not going to let you know these random fans that don't know me or know anyone else you know kind of make me not love the game you know after that it happened in chicago i come into the room and people from all face of life you know russians canadians they're all asking if i'm okay and saying you know that's wrong and you know where is this guy let's get you know stuff like yeah yeah yeah it's like you know what i mean so it's like

I'm not going to let the, you know, some dummy, you know, make me hate the game and make me not think this game is filled with a lot of good people. So that's what I tell young kids. I mean, things are going to happen. That's, it's sad that, you know, things are going to happen, but don't let that that one person get in the way of whatever you're trying to accomplish and you're going to meet, you know, 99.9% people in hockey are not going to think that way and are going to love you for you. Yeah.

Yeah, dude. And I commend you so much for continuing to always be a role model and setting an incredible example for the people coming after you. I think that's really special. To add to that on the other side, you know, how empowering and uplifting has it been to be so involved in awesome moments like, you know, the Black History Month things going on in the league, the amazing nights you had in Washington, growing up being a huge fan of Jerome McGinla to your kind of final years when you're playing in Ontario and you're on a line with

a keel and Q, first black line in Ontario Rain history, like seeing how awesome the black community in the NHL is becoming and sort of inspiring young black players to keep chasing their dreams, like that must be a really awesome moment. Yeah, it's definitely one of the things I'm proud of that I've done in hockey. That's not, you know, a playing accomplishment. You know, I look at when I was younger, I met, you know, Chris Stewart, Anthony Stewart, Wayne Simmons, Joel Ward when I was 14, 15. And they kind of showed me the way and helped me out a lot, get to where I needed to go.

So that's just me paying it forward. Those guys did it for me. I enjoyed going to hockey camps and talking to kids and just telling my story and saying, you know, you can do it. Those guys are the guys who showed me that guys from Scarborough and Terra, they live five minutes from me. Yeah. Show me that it's possible.

So if I could be that inspiration to another kid, it's even if it's just one kid who ends up making it, that's fine with me. So I'm going to play with Akiel and Q. That was, it's so funny because I always just was one of the younger guys on a team and even in Washington at 26, like, there was a lot of guys older than me. And then I go play with them and I'm 29 or whatever. And these guys are 19 and 20.

And I'm just like, oh, my God, I'm the old grumpy guy now, which is crazy. Yeah. Yeah, getting a chance to see those guys start their professional career. And, you know, I tried to help them as much as, you know, I've seen it all. I've seen everything in this game. I've heard just about everything. So to be able to just to spread my knowledge, and those guys have called me and text me when they had anything going on,

just trying to pick my brain and any problem they came with, I had definitely seen it before. So I feel like I kind of knew how to operate. But I love being able to just help the younger players. and, you know, obviously Q's doing great. And Akil had a good end of the year, too. So I'm happy for those guys. Yeah, there's studs, man.

It's awesome. That's so cool. Kicking away from the NHL and talking about kind of your last year and the KHL, what a wild ride for you, first of all. Yeah. You're playing for Red Star in Beijing. You've said a bunch of times that Beijing, other than the language barrier, just like awesome city, you know, growing up in Toronto, you used to a big city.

You had a lot of English-speaking guys on the team, so it wasn't that bad. but then this little thing called COVID comes around. Yeah. What was that experience? Like, I think you said it was like 18 months before you could go back to your place and like get your shit. Because you left from Russia, right? Yeah. What the hell was going on?

I couldn't even go back. Yeah, so we were leaving on the road. It was hard to get like information there. You know what I mean? I just hear. Yeah. True. Yeah.

I didn't even think about that. Yeah. You know, without saying too much, you can't really get information there. So, you know, we're leaving for two weeks. We're going on a road trip anyway, pack for three weeks, just in case. And like, as soon as we, like, landed in Russia, you know, you, like, you go on Instagram and Twitter and, oh, they, like, literally, like, blocked off the neighborhood that we were living and no one can leave. It's like, all right, here we go. So we play that.

We're on the road anyway. We play. We play. and then that extra week it's like we have to live in like i think we went to siberia for a bit which sounds like a joke yeah but like it's a nice place it is a nice place it's just minus 80 yeah it's a nice place though so we go there for a bit we play like our supposed home games there we moved to like moscow for a bit which was like an awful idea because it's extremely fun yeah yeah like it's just a bad idea not a lot of isolate

going on in Moscow. Yeah, exactly. So, and then we just kept moving around, moving around. It's like, yeah, I don't think we're going to go back. So just fly home and then, you know, we'll send your stuff. Okay, sure. So we go, I remember, you know, walking through JFK without a mask. No one has a mask on.

And then I go home and like there's obviously outbreaks everywhere. Yeah. I'm sick and like I felt like death at that point. Like I was dying that day. Yeah, yeah. It was just bad. So trying to talk to the guy who is trying to get our stuff. And like, you know, there's time difference.

There's like, I can't even use like WhatsApp. I have to use that app. Like, what's the app called? WeChat or whatever. It's just like, it's just not helping. I have so much stuff there. He says it's on the way like for like a year. And then like literally.

Someone's carrying it, dude. He's walking it. It would be there in a year. Seriously. And then like 18 months later, literally, it just shows up on my front door. Half of stuff just not in there. But like whatever.

It was a hassle. Like it, I wish, you know, it was a fun experience. Like the KHA as a whole, I just happened to go out the wrong year. Hold on. Did you actually never get back to that apartment? No, I never went back. I never went back to Trana.

Some dudes got half Devo's clothes and his bronze medal from the world juries. fucking. Yeah. So like I had a lot of stuff there. Yeah. And now half of it's gone. Yeah, half of it's just gone. Like it's just, and you can't even keep track. It was so long ago that I'm like, who knows? I don't even remember like what was there. Yeah. So could you find the place? The team services there has got a couple nice jackets. Yeah, yeah. Do you remember where it? Can we find the place now? Like if we go to Beijing, could you be like this is my apartment? I mean, it was like a, Rick Carlton. Okay, yeah, yeah. I don't know how many of it. We'll put eyes on it.

We'll put eyes on it. Yeah, it was super nice. Like, it was really nice. Oh, yeah. Like I said, just the language barrier, which like, you know, whatever. But it was a fun couple months. The traveling and the stuff that happened after COVID were insane. Craziness, man.

We made it back. It's all good. Do you have a moment that sticks out that was your first like, oh, I'm in the KHL moment, whether it be like guys hitting the Russian gas or like crazy coaching situations like what was your first holy shit this is different we had an all North American team so like it was pretty like normal that way yeah I think the like getting off the plane and like the bus not being there for like an hour or like two hours and we're like standing outside and like minus whatever I think that happened a couple times so like one of my first trips like we got out of the airport and

like, or where's the bus? Like, oh, it's not supposed to be here for two hours. Like, well, why? Yeah, yeah. Who scheduled that? Yeah, who scheduled that? And we're just standing outside. And like, sometimes you'd have some people would take the Uber.

I think it's called a Yandex there. And like some people just Uber to where they're going. But like, I'm new. I don't know where I'm going. So there were some of those moments. And there's some hotels where we pull up and I'm like, oh, go. Yeah. This isn't, uh, you're like, I'll sleep on the bus.

Yeah, yeah. So, but overall, I mean, overall was, it was cool. I mean, it was whatever. It was what it was. I got paid to play hockey. Hell yeah, we'll take it. We'll take it. I got to go to Dubai and South Korea.

So sick, dude. Like, that's awesome. Yep. Yeah. And it is what it is. Then, and when you finally did hang them up with a beautiful message to, you know, everybody that mattered to you, you're a radio guy now, dude. You got a microphone.

And I wanted to ask, man, because you had your debut this November, right, against Capsharks game. You're doing John Walton. You're doing color with John on the Caps broadcast on the radio. And I heard you got some really cool quotes, like, it's time to love hockey from a different angle and that you were interested in this right away. So a lot of guys find the game again in various ways. So I'm just curious what about this called to you so much and how you're liking it.

So originally One of the guys from TSN, he like met my mom at like some gala or something And like, so he was just like Asking her like does he want to do TV? Does he want to do this? And I was always like, no, no. Yeah, yeah.

And then towards the end I'm like working out in the summer I'm just like not really, I don't really have the itch anymore to play. I'm just kind of going through it. I called them. So I did some stuff for TSN originally. and it was cool I didn't mind it

it wasn't live or anything at that point so it's like whatever and then I did the first like big thing I did was world championships on TV and I enjoyed like that process like it was tough because we're doing you know I wasn't doing Canada USA

I was doing like Kazakhstan Austria you know so it was a little tough that way but like the process and everything was fun and then I got a chance to go to DC for that Black History game and they were coming up with a new network

monumental for their local networking and they were having this new studio all this stuff so they asked me, are you interested in doing pre-game post game there? And I was like, sure, I'll try it, I don't know, like I guess. And I ended up really enjoying it. So, you know, the radio stuff was, I was just kind of filling in, and that was cool. I think I liked more of the, you know, pre-game, post-game intermission type stuff.

So I did about, I don't know, 15, 20 games last year in D.C. And more to come next year. Fuck, yeah, man. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah, that's so cool. And, all right, before we kick you to our last game, the listeners know that you, or that we've got this awesome Half Moon Bay Golf tournament coming up.

and I'm not sure if they know that you're playing in it. So you mentioned when you're in Anaheim, you wish you were golfing more. You've been golfing. Now you're entering the pro-athlete golf tour with us up in San Francisco. How are you feeling? I'm so nervous. I thought he was going to be like, dude, I'm dialed in. I've been playing for a month, right?

I'm so nervous. Like, I'm just nervous about, like, you know, if I hit it out of bounds of, like, just being on the T, like, shooting 11 or whatever. Like, I just, like, that's the only, I'm okay. Like, I'm not, I'm not going to win. Yeah. But it's handicapped, dude. It is a hard track, I got to say. Yeah.

But yeah. So I'm just, I'm just nervous about, like, because some days I can go out there and I'll be so good. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And then, you know, that's golf. Some days I'm just not. So. Yep.

What's, where's the weakness in the game? Is it off the T? Is it the flat stick? I'm going to say the jitters on that first T for everyone is going to be like, fuck me. It's like, I don't know, I love golf so much. Me too, dude. I don't understand it. It's just, you know, when I first started playing, I was, you know, I couldn't hit an iron, obviously, but I would drive everything down the middle.

And now, like, my irons are pretty good, but now I can't drive anything. Yeah. So, like, I don't know. I don't know. What happened? I don't know what happened. Like, I have no idea, and I've been trying to figure it out. So I'm just nervous about, like, being in the bushes all day.

So that's, that's really much. Because that's, there's a quick way to not have fun playing golf is when I'm in the bushes the entire day. You know, Delhi, I've known Delhi forever. And he was, you know, pushing me. I saw him in New York City. And he was pushing me to do this. And I know if he's like flying cross country and like down to do something, it's going to be fun. So I said I'll do it.

Exactly. We're going to be there. We're going to keep the drinks flowing. We're going to keep the chatter high. It's going to be a good time. And listen, dude, like the way golf goes. One good shot, bro. You stuff one to two feet on NHL network at half Moon Bay, and then we're laughing, dude.

You know what I mean? Yeah, I guess so. And then I missed the pot. Like, that's what happened. No, we won't. We won't air that. We won't air that. We won't air that.

Yeah, so I got some, how long do I have here? I got some tightening up to do. But right now, right now, right now. That's okay. Nerves are good. Nerves means you care. They are. Nerves means you care.

Okay, Debo, this is the last thing we do with everybody. It's a game we play. It's called pass, shoot, score. And we pick some categories, and we pick three things in those categories that we know or found out

or have been told that you like, and you have to rank them pass, shoot, score. Your least favorite is pass because assists are cool, but they ain't that cool. Shoot is your second favorite because we love putting pucks on net,

and course score is going to be your favorite because goals are the ultimate goal. Okay, are you ready? Here is your first one. This category is Newport Beach Bar, Okay? Pass shoot score. Sharkies, mutt lynches, or Cassidy's. At Desjardin Insurance, we know that when you own a cleaning company, things need to be tidy and organized at every step. That's why our agents go the extra mile to understand your business and provide tailored solutions for all its unique needs.

You put your heart into your company, so we put our heart into making sure it's protected. Get insurance that's really big on care. Find an agent today at Dejardin.com slash business coverage. I think Cassidy's is past. Shoot would be who I think Mutt Lynch's is shoot and scores. I went to Sharky's 70 straight Sundays. We had a good time. We got this one.

We got this one from Tomer. And he was like, we had a few. We had a few rips at those bars. A few sharkies nights, eh? Yeah. Oh, yeah. So I think that's the right order. What was the Sunday situation there, dude?

So we used to play Sundays at like four, and Monday, we were just always off. Yep. So I think all the younger guys, we lived, like, I lived right on that start of that boardwalk there. So we would just walk over there Sundays. and yeah, they kind of let us, it was a free for all. Yeah, yeah. They let us, you know, run free. Yeah, yeah, put it on my tab.

Put it on my dad. Yeah, you had regular status at Sharkey's for sure. Yeah, yeah. That's great. Newport's such a rip. I love it down there. It's beautiful. All right, Devo here.

Your next one is loves of your life, okay? Pass you'd score, the Blue Jays, the Raptors, and Emma Watson I'm passing the Blue Jays for sure because they always let you down or what yeah they're just trashed they're just not I'm gonna have to shoot with the rappers and score

that's my dog come on dude God I mean come on like Emma Watson was the crush for all of us growing Oh it's insane dude That first movie came out and I was finished. I was like, oh, there she is. Hermione, my love.

Unbelievable. Is it, well, I have two questions, actually. The Raptor's title, that's an all-time memory, I imagine, though, right? You were fired up. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That four-bouncer from Kauai against Philly is like what really sticks out for me. Yeah, that whole run was, it was crazy.

And they actually won on my birthday. No way, dude. We had like a mixed celebration. It was a whole run. Like every time they won, I was like, I was celebrating. I was going out. It was, it was insane. Like my trainer at the time after the Raptors won, he like texted you the next day.

Like congratulations. Like I was on the team. Like it was insane. Like I, that run was something, I mean, something, I think I might have cried that day when you were one. Oh, dude. There was something. you know, I'm never going to see again. Who thought we would ever see that in our lifetime?

I think it's awesome how Kauai has a key to the city essentially in Toronto. Like he came in, sell sword one year, got the ship and was like, all right, later guys. And they were like, yeah, we love you. He did his job. Exactly. Incredible. And then my second question is, are you a Potter guy too or Justin Emma guy? No, I used to be a Potter guy.

Yeah. I haven't, like, you know, the last two movies maybe I didn't see. I don't know, but I used to. You watched them all except the last two? I don't even know how many there are, but like when I was younger, I would watch all of them. Yeah, yeah. I mean, Devo, you got a long flight to SF. You might as well just dial back into those.

I mean, come on. Yeah, I'm going to be watching golf videos. Yeah, yeah. Swing tutorials. Swing tutorials. Swing tutorials. Okay, here's your next one, Devo. This category is goats in their field.

Okay, it's guys that you like pass. score, Floyd Money Mayweather, LeBron James or Tom Brady? LeBron James score for sure. I knew he was going to say that. Come on.

Come on. Are you watching the Olympics, dude? He's the best player on the court. He's 41. It's ridiculous. It's crazy. It's insane. I think God, shoot Tom Brady. I like Tom Brady. I like Floyd, too, but he's not those other guys.

Yeah, yeah, not quite. That was the easiest one so far. Okay. Are you a McGregor guy too? I think I saw you were a McGregor guy. Yeah, I mean, like, I think he's funny. Yeah, yeah, same. When I went to Vegas, it was actually originally for his fight that got canceled.

Oh, this most recent one. Yeah. Dude, we were there too. We went to the fight. We were supposed to be, I was like, it's going to be sick. And then it was a cool fight anyway, but I was bummed. Yeah, it was a bummed. Yeah, it saved me a lot of money because, like, I already decided, like, I'm going to

close, you know, tickets are going to be crazy expensive, but they came down after that, save me some money. Yeah, that was huge. That was huge. All right, your last one, this is one that I'm mostly curious of. Yeah, this is funny. I know that during your playing days, you weren't a big water guy. So this is, I don't know, Cory Snyder started that, like, rumor.

Haven't you noticed I've pitched it? Yeah, today, today is going. You've changed your ways. You've changed your ways. But, all right, if you're not drinking water, Pass shoot, score, Gatorade,

beer, or pop? I mean, in the summer, it's got to be score of beer, no? Gotta be.

On the golf course? Like, what are we doing? Yeah, get a couple transfusions going to. If I'm not getting a beer, I'm probably getting a

gatorade on the golf course if it's on water. Yep. So that's shoot. Yep. There you go. And then, what was the last one?

Coke. Yeah. Yeah, that's the pop. I like it. Yeah. Corey Snyder started that rumor. I don't know where that came.

He's like. Dude, I'm the most hydrated guy in the team. Shut the fuck up, Shandah. I don't know where that came from. I think I had like a Coke in intermission. I was like, I don't know. I don't know. All of a sudden he's just running his mouth.

He's like this, dude, Devo doesn't drink water. I love Snods, but he came up with that one out of that. That's so funny. I want to keep it going. Yeah, yeah, right. Start being like, we're on the golf course. If someone hands you water, I'm like, Deva doesn't drink water, dude. Yeah, I'm just going to smash it on the ground.

It pours it out, dude. Oh, fucking A. It's beautiful. All right, well, Devo, this has been unbelievable, man. You're the best for coming on. We're going to be seeing you in about a month here. Last, dude, a couple weeks. Yeah, seriously. A couple weeks.

Before we let you go, is there anything you want to plug? Anything you want to shout out, stuff you're doing, stuff you're working on? No, all right. You know, I'm not going to plug anything. I just want to say, thanks for having me. You know, we're going to have a good time in a couple weeks. And, wait, I never even asked. Are you guys good?

I go, like, are you guys good? Dude, we're pretty good. but we can't play, dude. We didn't play in the match. Didn't get an NHL game. We don't get to play. Okay, okay. We'll get out there for a practice round before.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Maybe on the Wednesday we can go, I'll try and get my fight earlier and we can go for. Hey, there we go. There we go. I love that. I love it.

I love it. All right, well, you're the best brother. We'll have you on again soon and we'll see you in a few weeks. Thanks, guys. That was our interview with Devante Smith Pelly. Huge thanks to Devo. What a beauty. What a guy.

Can't wait to go have a blast with them at this golf tournament. Just like good vibe. Dude, he loves to laugh, and I love that. Like, when he starts doing, like, you can see him just remembering something and then just start, like, dying, laughing. It kills me every time. So, yeah, what a joy it was spending an hour with him right now, and I cannot wait to spend a week with him very soon.

Just endless stories, good vibes, great perspectives, such a good dude. Hope you enjoyed the interview as much as we did. And that is it for us for this episode. We will see you next week. or next episode. I never remember what you're coming out here. But until then,

skate back or skate, skate hard. Skate ready. Skate ready. Ready back. Back ready. Any of them. Skate hard.