Empty Netters Podcast - Sean Durzi’s Mission To Bring The Cup To The Utah Hockey Club| 121

Episode Date: July 29, 2024

Utah Hockey Club power play savant Sean Durzi joins the pod to talk about learning from legends in LA and the incredible fan reception in Utah. Hear about how he was almost a goalie, and how he almost had to quit hockey because there was an extra bone in his foot. Plus he ranks the best jerseys, rates the weirdest Utah specialities, and admits he thinks Ronaldo is better than Messi. 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 (4:45) – Extra Bone in Sean’s Ankle (8:34) – Motivation (17:25) – First NHL Game (24:32) – Kings (31:51) – Getting Traded to Arizona (39:02) – Playing in a College Rink (41:32) – The Move to Utah (48:40) – Top 5 Jerseys in the NHL (50:35) – Durzi Fired Up For Utah’s Future (54:50) – Pass, Shoot, Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adobe Acrobat Studio, your new foundation. Use PDF spaces to generate a presentation. Grab your docs, your permits, your moves. AI levels of your pitch, gets it in a groove. Choose a template with your timeless cools those tunes. Drive design, deliver, make it sing. AI builds the deck so you can build that thing. Learn more at Adobe.com slash do that with Acrobat.

On Game D, pain can hit hard and fast, like the headache you get when your favorite team and your fantasy team both lose. When pain comes to play, call an audible with Advil plus acetaminophen and get long-lasting dual-action pain relief for up to eight hours. Tackle your tough pain two ways

with Advil plus acetaminephim. Advil, the official pain relief partner of the NFL. Ask your pharmacist if this product's rate for you. Always read and follow the label. Copatar, back to Jersey. Can't be. Jersey, shut!

Ice is ready, and we are back, babes, with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, and we've got another unbelievable interview for you here. C.P. is gone. The kid's at a wedding, but he was there for the interview, so don't worry. I'm not going to waste your time. I want you all to get right into this one. We've got our boy, Sean Dersey on the podcast today. Ders, an unbelievable player for the Kings, then got moved to the Yotes, and now he is the first player extended in Utah Hockey Club history, and he could not be more fired up. This guy is busting his ass, training every single second of every single day in the summer in Toronto right now.

We just had an amazing interview with him. So I'm going to kick it to him right now. You guys enjoy. DIRS is unreal. Have a blast. We are currently joined by a Mississauga native. Unbelievable. Nice pronunciation.

Yeah, I think I crossed that. Nice pronunciation. And OHL champ with Gulf Storm, a MN Cup All-Star, the 52nd overall pick in 2018 by the Leafs, a first second overall pick in 2018 by the Leafs, former member of the L.A. King's Arizona Coyote and now a current member of the Utah Hockey Club and a huge Christmas fan. Happy Christmas in July. Sean Dersie, welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Cheers. Thanks for that intro. I mean, Mississauga pronunciation was probably the highlight of that, but I'll take all the nice words you said too. Yeah, you picking July 25th was special too. Yeah, this is, this is pretty special.

Special stuff. Dude, is it, we, when we were, you know, getting into the interview, we saw that you were originally a goalie in Learn to Skate and then Sue, your mom was like, hell no. Is that, was it because she was like, I don't want my son getting peppered with Pucks? Or was it because she was like, I don't want him to grow up to be a weirdo? No, you know what? My mom has like a certain type of energy that I get it from her. Yeah.

She's like very, you know, social energetic. And I just don't think her heart rate could have taken me in that. And she just did not want to see it. So I think she she put us up to it early. Yeah, she knew. It was smart. She knew. Smart.

Honestly, probably a good financial move too. Yeah, yeah. That I think about it. No question about it. Did you put up a fight? I was told that she couldn't do it. I did. Yeah, I did.

I loved goalie. I honestly, it was the thought it was the coolest thing ever until she convinced me that it wasn't the coolest thing ever. And now I'm not a goalie. It worked out for everybody, I think, in the end. Yeah. At the end of the day, that's a point, Sue. Yeah, yeah, plus one.

Clearly we got to the, yeah. Might have fought her at the time, but she ended up winning that one. Why D though? I feel like five-year-olds want to play forward, dude. Like, was it just because it was closer to go? That would have been too much of a jump. Yeah, like, how did you get D there? You want me to be honest?

Yeah. So it was probably a jump. You're right, the next step. But I just don't think I was like good enough to be a forward at the time. I think all the forwards, like when you're younger, just so skilled and fast and can shoot. I think the D are just, you know, maybe a little bit slower. I don't know. I just, I wasn't, I was a pretty late bloomer.

I wasn't a great player. So like, maybe that's just where I fit in at the time. And I think that's where I ended up staying. But it worked out. Like I said, like it all fell in a place. Ders, we always make this comparison because that is so funny when you're young. We talked about baseball a little while ago. and when you're little, I feel like they always just threw the shittiest players in like center field.

No, right, dude. D is like right field. Yeah, but you're fine. But when you're young, young, center field's so far away. Yeah, fair. So they're like, just going center field. No way to get in the ball. Yeah.

And then center's like the second most important position in a baseball dime. Yeah. And there's the same when you're young in hockey. If you're like kind of figuring out there like, just play D. And I'm like, D. And then you realize how important it is. Yeah, exactly. It's huge.

Exactly. It's such a funny. That's what happened to me. That's my theory. least, but I liked it. That's fantastic. And then when I found out Deakin's score, oh my God. Dude, I was like, this might be the best position in sports.

Whole world open. You get to carry it up all the way, dude. It's better. I'm like, wait, I'm allowed to score too. Yep. Someone changed the game, but yeah, it worked out. Dude, so in 2017, you go to the draft and don't hear your name called, which we're going to get into in a second.

But before we do, I wanted to ask you a question. part of the reason you weren't drafted that year was because you had a bit of an injury bug during that season and junior and I was reading about this article about it and it was like oh yeah Sean's minor ankle injury turned out to be an extra bone growing there which required surgery dude what the fuck happened yeah that is crazy that was such a shit show man it was like I I remember I was in the summer and I was training and I was like you know what my ankle. It felt like, you know, you just tweak an ankle. I'm like, I probably just tweaked it. Like, it's, it's not feeling good. And then every time I was on the ice, it was bugging me. Everything I did,

it was bugging me. So then I get it thick. I get it checked. Someone's like, your ankle's fine. Like, buddy. Really? Like, so I'm looking, I'm thinking around, like, I'm sitting alone. Like, am I just soft? Like, is this like, what's going? Like, I swear, I thought I was a tough kid. And I'm like, maybe I'm just soft. Like, whatever, tape it up, uh, take an Advil. You'll be fine. doesn't go away at this point it's like affecting me like I can't run yeah so I go see uh my dad's cousin is uh is a doctor and he has a friend who's a foot specialist he sets me up with him i'm still you know in Canada I'm not getting any special treatment like I'm trying to find my own you know doctors anything like that like it's there's no one like looking out for me in

in junior especially the you know that level so um it's the off season so I find this doctor and he takes the thing and he goes you got this rare thing and it's a little extra bone and honestly like usually people hear that news and be like so pissed off but I was just like I knew I wasn't soft yeah yeah you're like fuck yes dude I'm not a little bitch this is huge news he's looking at me like I'm nuts but I was just happy to find out that I wasn't actually a bitch and I you know I could actually I was I was feeling something so um after that kind of sensation went away. I was a little bit pissed off because it happened maybe two weeks before camp, they found out that I had to get surgery. So it kind of screwed me. But,

dude, we get a fire that first doctor. Because you're like, you're fine. I picture it's like that a bone is like jutting out of his foot. He's like, we're fine. That bone is not supposed to be there. I was the first guy to be staring at my ankles. Like, okay, they both look the same. Like there's no swelling. I should be okay. Yeah. Um, yeah, I was just, just shitty timing and obviously like I made the choice to go to the oh hell because I knew I was a late birthday and I was going to have two years so I played my first year. Um, pumped coming in my second year. I was training so hard that summer. Then I find out that happens. It puts a wrench. You know, you miss training camp. It's a nightmare. Yeah. It's 30 steps behind everybody else. So,

dude, dude, do they just, did they just cut the bone out? Yeah. What was that surgery like? And then what was the recovery like, dude? Yeah. I mean, I mean, did you have to like, relearn how to skate or was it wasn't you know what it was it was bad because it was it was in the back so okay oh it just my my my this way like my extension wasn't great in the beginning but i was lucky in a sense that i had uh andy brown who was my trainer and in owen sound and he looked you know looked after me you know better than anyone i could have asked for at the time and it was so close to training camp that I was allowed to go use the team. And he kind of helped me through my rehab.

And in that sense, I was lucky because otherwise I'd have to be going find my own physio around my house here. And so in that sense, it was good. Save some money. It wasn't making any money at the time. So save some money. But he did a great job. And once I was back, I was fine.

But it was nice to just know that like my ankle is going to feel normal again because there was a second there where I was like, holy shit, I might have this hurt ankle for the rest of my life. if nothing's wrong. Yeah. So that was fine, but it was just shitty timing. Yeah,

it's fucking crazy, dude. Yeah. We'll go, you know, that leads into this next thing. So I always love when we find athletes who are like you in this. And you can get this from you from seeing the way you play,

reading up a little bit about you, but you've just always had an unbelievable motor when it comes to motivation and also not letting shit get you down. That type of thing, the ankle situation, happening that late in your career and late in your life, is one of those things that's like, that could have derailed so many people. And then affecting that draft, you know, like,

absolutely. So, you know, not getting drafted that first time around, you have a ton of quotes where you said you were so determined and your agent actually said he's never seen anyone on earth who responded as positively as you did. So you were more about proving people in your life right than proving people wrong. So just tell the listeners about, you know, your mentality of, you know, you had your first opportunity to get drafted. You don't get drafted.

but then you just put your head down, work hard, you worked hard on your diet, on your training, stuck with your family and people who are helping you stay motivated. And what was that process like? And then how good did it feel when you eventually got to the draft the next year and you get scooped up by your hometown team? It was, so it started, honestly, like when I was younger, I was, you know, played double A my whole life. And then it's always people say, like, you think you're working so hard, but you could always do a little more. It doesn't matter what you're doing in life. You could always do a little more.

And I was probably in about, it's probably a year before my OHL draft. And I thought I was doing every, I decided to, you know, try to take the next step. And I was like, this is what I want to do. I can't just play double A. And, you know, I want to make the jump. So I made the jump and I wasn't good. I was a seventh defenseman on a AAA team. There's only six guys playing.

So I was, I had to. do something. I spent as much time as I could. But anyways, fast forward, I got to that draft. And I remember sitting there with, you know, my family, my billets, and then my buddy, Nick Suzuki, who was, you know, sitting with me, he got picked the day before. But I just remember sitting there, and I remember knowing that I probably wasn't going to get picked. And it was the sixth round because I was getting text saying, you know, the Florida Panthers want you to come to their development camp, the islanders, the leaves. And I'm like, there's two more rounds left.

Like, is this not going to happen for me? And I kind of figured it wasn't going to happen. But I remember kind of taking a moment and just like looking around me and soaking and soaking in like the people who were with me there and didn't move for the whole draft. And I wasn't as I wasn't as pissed off about myself not being picked. I was just pissed that, you know, these people were going to be feeling sorry for me. And I didn't want them to. And I told my mom, I said, mom, listen, like, this is going to, I'm honestly, like, it's a little bit emotional because I remember that I literally thinking about the day, like, it was harder than I thought it was going to be because I thought about the worst case scenario.

And I was like, I'll be okay. But it was harder than I thought. And I just remember thinking everybody who's sitting at home watching the draft, everybody who is sitting beside me right now, like, I'm going to do this, not for these guys sitting on the floor and not for the 31 team. that one day when I make it, I'm not going to go and say, you know, fuck you, like, you guys didn't pick me, you didn't believe in me. But I'm going to say these people who are beside me, the people who are at home, they believed in me. And that's who I want to prove right. And you know what? If you're on my team, you're going to be on the winning team. So that, that's kind of my motivation. Every time I wanted to do an extra rep that summer, every time I wanted to dig a little deeper,

it was just thinking of that moment and you know kind of going through that but uh honestly like i'm actually getting like it gets me a little bit emotional because that's like what powered me through like everything i did and then i heard an unbelievable quote um and it was everything you do in life before you do it is this going to get closer is this going to get you closer your dream and if it's no the answer is obvious so it was it was literally doing everything everything I thought I could and then revamping that and doing even more. So it was like, I was a bit of a heart. Like, I mean, I still, I don't know, I still am a little bit, but just like, I was so

motivated coming out of that. And like, I couldn't be more grateful for it. As hard as it was, like, I remember my dad was the best at the time. He was, like, trying to act all, like, tough for me. And, you know, that's just like, he's just a perfect example of what a dad should be is just like never phased. my mom's emotional after the draft. My dad's like, all right, let's go, let's go for dinner.

Yeah, yeah. I like, dad, I love you. I appreciate this. Like, just give me a sec. Like, let me regroup, go back to the hotel and we'll go grab a nice dinner or whatever. We'll find something to do. But, yeah, it was tougher than I thought. But, again, huge part of who I am and what I bring.

and so much of a learning experience for me that like I can't be more grateful for it now. Stuff that stuck with you today, right? I would say like getting up at 4 a.m. training all summer. And everything. Yeah, these are the lessons learned in that moment. What is getting me closer to my dream? I love that, dude. Yeah, it's crazy.

How do you maintain? Because that's the thing that, you know, I love hearing stories like that. First of all, the fact that you even went to dinner with your family that night, I would have been like, guys, I'm going to spiral into a depression for six weeks. I'll see you later this summer. It was tough, man. But, you know, you clearly, you put your head down, you had an amazing season the next year, and then obviously, boom, 50 second pick.

How do you keep that mentality? Because you clearly still have it. For the listeners, before we started recording, Ders is talking about waking up at 4.30 in the morning to head out and train during the, like the only off time you have, you're waking up at 4.30 to still train. So you obviously, you know, you do unbelievably with the Kings. You get moved to Arizona. a bang, you're the number one D man.

You have an amazing season with them. Now you just sign this awesome contract with Utah, such an exciting time, but you are still just as motivated. How do you keep that mentality after all the success that you've had? I think two things. One is, I think once you get a little bit of a taste of success, I feel like raising your standard is so important.

And it's just putting yourself in a different category, like anybody can compare themselves to someone else and say, I'm doing great. You know, there's always somebody doing a little bit worse. And then there's always someone doing a little bit better. So I think it's where you hold your standards is really important. I think that's big for myself too. Like I can be, you know, happy with everything I've done in my career and say, you know, I've, I mean, I'm pretty new to the league, obviously. But still, I can say hell of an accomplishment.

you know, I made the NHL. I've done this. But then there's another standard you could hold yourself to where there's a whole different class of players. And then, you know, even the greats, you could always hold yourself to a higher standard is basically what I'm saying. And I think that's been important for me

is kind of always just constantly raising, you know, the bar for myself. Obviously, you get, you know, it's tough, but you got to keep doing it. And another thing that I think I go through in the summer is it was another quote i heard i'm a big quotes guy you guys will do hey you're you're preaching to the choir i love this it's uh it's a good one for the offseason training because everybody you know feels good days and everybody can go in work out you leave

you have that kick of dopamine after you train but the best thing i i could ever think of in the summer is it doesn't start counting until you don't want to do it yeah those days I feel good. I don't even get excited for it's, you know, I'm like, ah, shit. What a waste. What a waste. What a waste. But those days where you're hurting and you've got to get up and go train and push,

it affects anything in life. When you don't want to do something, but it will help you in some aspect of your life, those are the days that count. So it's cool when you get those days because you feel like you're pushing through something, but it's something I kind of live by too. For sure. that's that i think it's like that arnold schwarzenegger quote he's like i don't start counting reps until it starts hurting yeah that's hilarious yeah that's the best good quotes guys i like that yeah so dude you

drafted by the leaps hometown team like dan said but then you get moved to the kings right and and you're playing for the rain you're in the a and then dude you get called up for your first nchl game against the leaps and pop your first nchl goal with your family in the building so obviously you were super emotional at the draft. And an apple, dude. Yeah, I know, but being selected by them. And then, you know, I think I saw a cool quote too from you that was like, it's like a movie script. You know, you come up against the lease, whole family there. Just talk to us about the emotions going through your head, even pregame, right? Like you're getting that, you're getting that shot and then to pop one against the lease with the family. What was all that like? Yeah, that was, you know what?

So I got called up the day or the game before they were playing Arizona actually. Yeah. figures but uh i thought there was maybe a chance that i played in that game because i knew there were a ton of injuries um i was a little bit lower on the depth chart and i knew that i honestly needed a crazy break for it to happen it was the last year of my deal and i'm like i got to make a push like i got to try to you know do something to peek my foot in the door obviously you never wish injuries on anyone i got you know lucky with the opportunity um these are all guys i looked up to like walks, Roisy and Dewey, like, there are three guys who I'm coming up the pipeline. I'm like, these guys are unbelievable.

Like these three right defensemen, how the hell am I going to get any better or get a look in front of these guys? Anyways, I get that look and it couldn't have gone better. I remember my dad and my brothers, my mom was on vacation, shout out Sue again. She went on, she booked this vacation like a year in advance, and she finally was going away with like all of her friends. just to like some it was in dominican i think just to beach relax um i give her the call saying i'm getting called up you're like you're like mom mom quickie got hurt quickie got hurt they need me in that

she's like god damn it john no decline yeah anyways um so she's freaking out she couldn't come i didn't play the arizona game so i remember i sent my dad and my brothers to uh chargers versus Steelers game. It's my youngest brother's favorite team versus my other brother's favorite team. So it worked out perfect. That's sick. Yeah. They went. I went to go watch that game and I look at the schedule and I see the Leafs are up next. And I'm like, come on. Please God, give me this chance. And I said, just give me this look. Because it couldn't have worked out like if you're writing a story about, you know, myself and my career, like to have that game would be unbelievable. So that was big part of it. And yeah, obviously the game and the way it went. When do you get called?

Is it like, you know, you wake up in the morning and it's like, bang, you're in? So Todd does it. I found out probably, I remember watching the Arizona game and I knew if we lost, you know, if you win a game, why would the coach change anything? Arizona wasn't great. I knew after we lost that game that maybe they were going to be looking to make some changes. I just didn't know who they would change. I didn't know who they would change. I didn't know who they'd put me in front of or whatever. So you walk into the rink in the morning and the lineups on the board usually. Yeah.

I see my name. Third, third pair right D. And I'm like, holy fuck, this is happening. Like, right away,

like your heart starts going. You're like, I got to get back in my routine. So, uh, yeah, right away, you got a day to prepare and you get after it.

But it was, uh, pretty exciting. Are you too nervous? Because I imagine the answer is yes. But are you just like, just like, just play your game,

play your game. because it's an NHL game, or because it's the Leafs, are you like, it would be so sick if I got a goal? Like, does that even cross your mind? God, you know what? Like, it does. It does cross your mind. You're like, at some point, you're like, it would be so sick if I just got a hat trick and beat the shit out of this team. But, no, I just knew, like, my biggest thing is when I came to pro, I told you guys, when I found a D could score, it's all I wanted to do.

So I just worked so hard at it. When I came in a pro, I had to kind of mature in my game in other areas, obviously. And I did so much in the American League that I just had to, I knew I had to show them at the NHL level if I wanted to stay. Because anybody, you know, there's so many skilled players coming up nowadays that anybody can play offense. But to do just the little things, I knew was so important to NHL coaching staffs and the pro coaching staffs that it was more on my mind of just defend well. Yeah. Break pucks out. do what I got to do. If the offense comes, it'll come.

I'm not going to try any crazy shit I was doing in the American League that year. But like, just play a solid game and hopefully we win and I earn another chance. My first shift I got scored on. Yeah. So I was. Dash one, dude. And Kerf, who I play with now will never let me live that down. He still gives it to me.

He's like, you remember your first shift in this league? And he's like, I'm like, yeah. But it could have went. I got to the bench. I'm like, holy fuck, this could be bad. This could be really bad. I mean, we didn't play the best game. The Leafs were pretty sick.

We had so many injuries and so many new players that we didn't really mesh well at the time. But I did end up having a decent game other than that play. And it earned me a chance. And that's all I could ask for. I mean, again, I got lucky. Matt Roy changed. He was running the first unit. And he changed a little early.

And I got out there with the first unit. and Copey just gives me one of his juicy backhand sauces to the point. I see a guy standing in front alone and I just block out. You lay a shot in there right where you think he could tip it. RV tips it in and the rest was kind of history from there. Incredible, dude. Did you have an opportunity? Were you in Toronto that night?

Did you meet up with the fam with the friends? Like was any of the board? No, that was in L.A. Oh, yeah, that was in L.A. That's right. Yeah, it was in L.A. But my mom actually found a flight because I told her. I said, mom, we lost the game.

If there's a game going to play, it's going to be this one. Like Todd would not be happy dropping points to, you know, bottom half team that year we wanted to make the playoffs. I said if there was going to be a game, so she had like three connectors. Yeah. You know, she did everything she could to be there and she ended up making it. So it was fun. I hope you guys went to a sick dinner after that one too.

Yeah. Dad's like, well, boys, let's do dinner. Like you leave the game and you're, I knew winning was so important, especially like we just, we needed points. And if I wanted to stay in the lineup, we had to win. But the next best thing would be lose and have a goal and an assist or something. So we got home. I was a little bit obviously pissed off at the rank because I thought maybe, you know, we switch it up.

And then we get home and it kind of sinks in. And everyone's like, holy fuck, you just scored in the NHL. Like, oh my God. So awesome. It was crazy. Well, dude, you mentioned guys like Dewey and Copey that you've, got to play with and learn a lot from. And I feel like one thing was very interesting with your time with the Kings is because of that log jam on the right side, you ended up playing left side a ton.

And I was a defense, I mean, I'm a plug, but I was a defenseman. I'm a right shot and I played left side a ton as well. And it's always been something that's fascinated me of how different of a game it is. And you're one of the few pros who's like openly talked about. It does feel like a completely different position. But you got to learn from guys like Kopey who basically has two forehand how good he is on his back hand silly and then it also just got you playing more it got you you higher up on the depth chart by switching to that left side so what was that like for you and adjusting and how has it helped your game now kind of being able to you know pull pucks off the boards and and shift back onto the forehand on things like the power play like that yeah i mean so year one goes

great for me i signed a two-year extension um uh it was just cool because even in the playoffs that first year down the stretch. I'm playing, you know, 24 minutes a night. We take the oilers to seven. Unbelievable series. I'm like, I'm a rookie defense and there's not much more you could ask for. Like, it's a hell of a series against the best players in the world. Anyways, I go into that summer. I ended up getting surgery that summer. I, you know, work, I stayed in L.A., rehabbed, finally got back to myself. Come back to camp that year, you look at the debt chart and everyone's healthy again. And, you know, I'm like, okay, hold on a sec.

Like, if I want to play the minutes I was playing last year, it's not going to be on the right. I'm thinking in my head, I knew they tried a few different things in camp. It was never me on the left. Obviously, you never want to throw a second year guy in a tough situation. They weren't happy with the way things were going, called me in for a meeting and said, listen, you know we got a spot on the left. will you play it? Yeah. And I'm not a fucking idiot.

I look and see it to the top four spot in the NHL. And I say, absolutely, I'll play it. Dersh was like, no, dude, fuck off.

Jersey will switch. Jersey become a left shot. Some guys will say no. Some guys will say no. Yeah, yeah. It's completely a different, like it puts you in a completely different spot.

But I can't, again, like, it's another thing that just like, I got so good at using my backhand in so many different ways and opening my hips. And I literally learned a whole new position. Yeah.

It sounds crazy, but it's a whole new position. And it was so hard for me. But when I got to Arizona, one of the things they said is like, I remember at camp, I was paired with the righty for a little bit. It was honestly like just like little scrimmages we were doing. And I was playing on the left. And they pulled me in for a meeting and said, like, wow, like you look like a natural. Like you could play the left side.

And I said, honestly, I've learned. A lot of it. I'm much better on the right, but I can play the left and I can play it well. I mean, I played that whole season on the left over 20 minutes a night in LA. Me and Roysey, I thought it ended up being a pretty good pair that year.

Analytically, we were great. There was a few moments during the year, though, that you learn. Like, you can't do this on the left. It's just, like, it's impossible. Like, you'll put yourself in a bad spot every time, but it's the NHL, so there's no real, you can't really say you've time to learn. It's the NHL.

You've got to be ready to go. For sure. It was a fun year. Like, I can't, I'd much rather do that than, you know, play less on the right. You want to play as much as you can. And obviously, that's the situation I was in. And I thought I played better during the regular season than in the playoffs when they threw me back on the right side and said play, you know, less than he did during the year. And obviously, it was tough, but it was something I'm grateful for.

Taking a break from the pod to talk about Bet MGM. Everyone knows that we have teamed up with BetMGM permanently because they are the best sports betting app in the game. It may not be hockey season right now, but we got baseball going on. The Olympics are getting dialed up, so there's plenty of sharp action for you to get involved in. And when you sign up with promo code Netters, N-E-T-T-E-R-S, they've got one of the greatest deals in the history of sports gambling going on. You can bet up to $1,500 on anything. those Olympics, those baseball games, or you can wait for hockey season and get that sharp action from your boys right here. And if you lose it, you get it all back straight into your account and you get to do it again.

What other sports betting app is taking care of you like betmgm? Let me check real quick. The answer is none of them. So betmgm is the only way to go. We've got all the picks for you all season long and we're going to be riding with you all summer long as well. So get on bedmgmgm today. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler available in the U.S. Call 8778-8-Hope-NY or text Hope NY.

4-6-7-3-6-9-0-0-Masachusetts. 21-plus only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-Nexcept in Arizona. 1-800-1-8-2-3 in Puerto Rico or or visit www.W.W.W.W.combo, first bet offer for new customers only, subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-wethrobial 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. Babes, it's summertime, and right now I want to talk to you about my favorite canned cocktail in the game. And this is the truth. This is not a generic ad read that you hear and, oh, yeah, I got to say good things. Listen, I'm not the biggest beer guy. It's blasphemous, I know, but I'm here to say it. I'm also not the biggest canned seltzer guy, hard seltzer guy.

It's all that malt liquor. Tastes like chalk. It's disgusting. Makes your stomach feel terrible. Gives me acid reflux. I'm not into it whatsoever. But what I am into is Ricky. Ricky is taking over the canned cocktail game.

because they've got real high-quality vodka and tequila in their drinks and real fruit juice. So it tastes like an absolutely delicious, delicious beverage that's made at the bar by your favorite bartender. They've got flavors galore. They've also got a 7% ABV, which is way higher than all of their competitors. They've got about one and a half shots per can, two and a half if you get one of the tallboys. Ricky is making the party everywhere you go. currently at my house I got the garage fridge stocked with Ricky. I was playing beach volleyball last weekend, brought a cooler full of Ricky.

The things were gone before I could even have two of them because all of the fellas were scooping them up as fast as humanly possible. Ricky is taking care of you with all of these amazing flavors. They've got you covered on the alcohol content and the taste is actually genuinely amazing. If I'm going out and I don't want to have a cocktail because I don't want to get too banged up, but I want to have a delicious beverage that doesn't make me feel sick or bloated. Ricky has become my go-toe no questions ask. That watermelon tequila flavor? Oh my God.

Chef's kiss. It's absolutely incredible. It's my go-to. It should be yours as well. But if it's not, they've got a ton of other flavors to choose from. So go to rickyspirits.com. Find out where the closest Ricky can you can get is. And also follow Ricky spirits on IG so you know where they're popping up, what flavor they got rocking,

because Ricky is taking over the game and it's going to be your new favorite drink of the summer in no time. Yeah, absolutely. Amazing, dude. Absolutely. And you mentioned the move to Arizona, right? So, L.A., you're just getting settled and it's like they're trying to put this huge package together for PLD. You get moved to Arizona.

I'm looking at that roster. And there isn't a ton of playoff experience on that squad and subsequent to your squad now. But when you get to Arizona, there's not a ton of playoff experience on that squad. And you're coming from this locker room that has a ton of winning culture. Can you talk to us a little bit about what the move was like, because you've been, like we said earlier, you've been traded from the Leafs to the Kings, but you were like, you know, you're not even in the league yet. This is the first like big, big, it's a business move for you. So can you just talk about that move mentally and then also what you were able to maybe bring from that King's Lockerum culture with you to Arizona to those boys?

Yeah. You know, it's crazy because people talk about experience and mentors and all these things. and it's so much more valuable than anyone could even think in hockey. You need good veterans on every team. Like it is, from what I learned, like, sitting down at dinners, playing in games, just them being themselves. Like, you're just soaking up so much. Like, they had such a good mix with Dewey being this energetic,

competitive, fireball, like, unbelievable player. Like, I take, so much from his game, but then you got Brownie, who I played with Copey, Quicky, like, who were just these, like, mature, you know, ice in the veins. Like, they're always stepping up to every moment. They're not afraid of the big moments in games, and they never show, like, fear or any nerves. Like, they're just so much that I was lucky enough to take where I can take bits and pieces of these leaders and these guys that it kind of helped me so much that,

that guys, I can't even explain, like, how valuable that. that was. And then to take it to a new team is like, I still find myself thinking like, you know, what would what would this guy? What would Copey do in the situation? What would, you know, do we do in the situation? And, um, yeah, I mean, it was, it was huge. Like, it's, those guys are the best leaders, if not in the game right now. Like, I don't, I can't, I'm lucky enough because I saw it firsthand, uh, how much they drive a team and how much like teams can be just be calm off them, but I think it was so valuable to me. And then to take it to a new team, like my D-Partner Moser last year, who's in Tampa now, he would ask me straight up.

Like, he's like, I never got the chance to play with these guys. Like, what do we do? Like, help me. He goes, he's like, what would do he do, dude? Help me. That's a very real thing. He said, he's like, we need, it's so hard to build culture. And I think I was lucky enough because when I, you know, LA was a winning team, you know, 2010 to 2014 or whatever. 2012 to 2014. Then they kind of faded off. When I came, we made the playoffs that year, and they've kind of kept that winning culture since.

But I was lucky enough, you see that fire come out of, you know, guys like Dewey again and Copey. Like when they're a competitive team, like you see that competitiveness coming out that I was just in that culture right away. Like I didn't have to suffer those years in L.A. with them where, you know, last year I'm going to a culture

where, you know, it's tough to win games. It's the hardest thing ever. And I had a coach you used to say, you know, it's so hard to criticize a win that you never should. Like you should just take your wins, move on. What can you be better from? But you should never be really upset about it. It's just too hard to do in this league.

So, yeah, those guys are unbelievable. Like, I can't say enough about just the people they were, like their families, how inclusive they were. Like, they didn't have to. And I think Copey, Phil, like all those guys knew my first year. that I was going to have a big role. I mean, playing PowerPlay 1, kind of taking Dewey's role as a rookie,

that they had to make me feel confident and make me feel involved. So those nights where maybe I wasn't feeling great on the ice, Copey would, you know, say, listen, you know, take a breath, do your thing. And I'd be like, that, just even that right there is all you need from a guy like that instead of motherfucking me telling me to get him the puck or, you know, make this play, make that play. Like, calm me down, give me the confidence. and, you know, I'll do my thing because I've done it before.

So I think there's too much I can learn. I could, you know, tell you guys about them. And it's just knowing that I played with them, I'm able to think now, like, what would these guys do in the situation? And so many good leaders that I was able to play with and bring to Utah now. For sure. I imagine gave you the confidence, too, when you go somewhere else, because you had a cool quote that was like, you know, it's sad.

Obviously, I have relationships here. I like playing in L.A., but Arizona wants me. And that's exciting and awesome. and you're elevating a role. So I imagine the confidence that those guys instilled in you was super helpful as you as you transitioned to the Yotes. Yeah, again, going back to my quote, you know, proving the people who believe me.

You want a team, you think you're going to play your whole career somewhere. And obviously I learned pretty quick that that's not the case for everybody in the league. But I think it was important that, you know, Arizona and the staff who are now in Utah made it, like made me believe that, you know, they made that trade because they wanted me. And it wasn't L.A. trading me away. It was Arizona trading for me.

Yeah. So that was, that was important, I think, working towards proving them right, doing everything, you know, possible to say, listen, this was a good move for your franchise and you guys will not regret it. Yep. Yeah, I mean, it's just like that. And that confidence kind of, it's something that I took with me the whole year and it's tough to keep it through the whole NHL season but to fall back on something like that was big yeah no doubt dude there's a ton of articles out there that are like you know jerseys uh Keith Yan Keith Yandel 2.0 because you know your offensive ability to power play specialist all that stuff

but we were curious if you're Yans 2.0 in the in the locker room pranks because those are pretty big shoes to bills no chance from what I heard that guy's one of the biggest beauties ever played the game. Dude, I mean, like I'd be lucky to be half the ends on the ice and I'd be lucky to be a quarter of him off the ice. So it's, it's, uh, I got big shoes there. Dude, we are,

we're close with the ends. And the other day, there was like this random article that was relevant to all of us. And Chris photoshopped it, had the article say something about Yans. And he texted it to him. And he was like, dude, can you believe this article's in US,

or in like People magazine? and Jan's didn't realize it was a Photoshop and he was like what the fuck? Holy shit and then I had to be like wouldn't that be crazy

if that were real and then he was like oh wait that's not real and then he goes dude well Dershe goes do you guys really want to start

a prank war with me and I got so scared I was like I was like this was Chris not me I don't fucking wrote me I'm on your team I'm talking about

I was like I don't want to be a part of this at all shit oh god dude now that it's over you got to just tell us quick, what was Mollett like? Obviously, it's a great college barn, and I know that you had good times there,

but you can be real now. Like, was that a grind eventually after a full season of just, like, playing in a not NHL arena? Yeah, you know, that was such a tough situation because I remember going there with L.A., and we had the last game before the Christmas break. So that's already a grind in itself. You know, you play so many games. It's the last day before the break.

Those are the games that kind of get you into the playoffs. those ones if you can get up for those ones. But realizing in Arizona that it's also Christmas break for all the students, all the, you know, it's Christmas. You know, it's coming to a game. And a lot of people who live in Arizona are, you know, snowbirds. So they're going home for Christmas. They're away for the holidays. So we played a game.

And I remember coming out for warmth. I'm like, you know what? This is pretty cool. Like it kind of reminds me of junior again. like it's the ice was really good and I was like this is you know this is cool for a year I thought it was going to be for a season and we only played there once so I'm like this is all right then we play the game and it's you know it wasn't full um I blame it because it was christmas but it wasn't full uh and I was like I don't know how you could play 41 games here

and I was in L.A. thinking this and I'm like you know what like I thank God it's for one year like these guys will get back into a National League barn. Then I get traded there. And listen, it was, that was like probably one of the things that I was like, you know, you want to play because the fans in Arizona are sneaky, like amazing. Oh, no doubt. People are amazing. Like you can't say enough good things.

But I was worried about, you know, playing there for 41 games because there's those grind games. Like I said, before Christmas, you know, weekday games. you've done it back to back. And it was better than I thought, if you want me to be honest. That was the number one worry. It was much better than I thought. But, you know, it's exciting getting into a full-sized arena.

Obviously, there's a little bit of work to do in Utah. But to know that there's plans and they're going to get it done and we're going to be back in, you know, a nice stadium again is exciting. And you feel for, you know, the guys who went through it for the two years. years, or two or three, whatever it was, but it was going to be good. Like, it's going to be fun to be there. Absolutely. It's a perfect transition. So when you're in Arizona and those rumors started flying, for us, as, you know, people

in the hockey world, just fans, when those started popping up, it's like Utah, Utah might be a serious contender here to take the coyotes. We were like, no, way, is that happening? And then it got more and more real. Were you guys hearing stuff at the same time as all of us? Or were you in that locker and being like, oh, we're going to. Utah. Like, did you hear anything before the rest of us? No, we had, uh, when you got 10 guys on the bus refreshing their, uh, social media, kind of find out where we're playing next season.

It was no fun. No, that was, that was, honestly, that was, that whole situation was a, uh, a nightmare to, to be a player. And just because, you know, there's so much that we don't know is going on. Um, obviously our, our PA did such a good job of trying to inform us. And still, they don't know everything either. It's the league's business. It's not, nothing to do with the players. But the first day we heard the rumors, we started a 14 game skid. And I want to say, we were in a playoff spot. We were playing good hockey. These rumors come out. We had a team meeting about it. And our team meeting was like, let's not let this affect us. Let's do everything we can, not let this affect us. Let's not talk about it on game days. Let's keep it away from the room.

let's just try to phase it out. And we continued to go on a 14 game skit after that. So it wasn't, we didn't do a great job. But every guy I'll admit that, you know, that for sure had a piece to do with it. We, uh, it was, it was rough because, you know, guys got homes, guys got families. Um, my contract's up. Everybody's like looking around. We don't know where we're moving at this time.

Like Utah could be any, we had no clue what was going on. But, um, yeah, I mean, one thing. we went on that 14-gates kid, you don't lose 14 games and make the playoffs. So we knew it was kind of done from there. The rest of the season was building almost for the next year and maintaining the distractions where you try not to let it affect your game. But that was a shit show considering we were all on our phones trying to find out what the fuck was going on.

Yeah, like the fact that you guys are finding out the same time we are is insane. But you've done such a good job of kind of leaning in. immersing yourself in Utah stuff. A few questions for you. Had you ever been to Utah or Salt Lake before all of this? I haven't. And you still haven't. No, I have.

I have now. I was like, oh, God. Because, dude, we'll tell you, we spend about two or three weeks a year in Utah skiing, and it is, it is so, so fun. So I'm actually beyond psyched for you guys, because I think it's for multiple reasons, I think it's going to be such a rip. You already got a taste of the fans going fucking apes. Exactly.

It's going to be sick. Yeah. Day 1, 20,000 people signing up for season tickets. Like, it is going to be a rip for sure. It was sick. I need you to tell us and you've been great. You've been very political about saying you'd be happy with anything. You've got to have a favorite of the names.

You have to. God. Do you guys have a favorite? Yes, I do. What is your favorite? So for me, it's mammoths and yet. and I think it would be Yeti if it was plural. But since it's singular,

I'm not sure. So I think mammoths. I think mammoth is such a fucking gas mascot. And those, because I'm with you, it's all about, I'm a fan of mammoths. Like,

just like the animal, a mammoth is pretty sick. It's sick. And it's all, for me, it's all about the sweaters. And I just think mammoths, you have so much opportunity to have a sick ass sweater.

I was on Yeti, but then Dan made the, comment that the abs have that like big foot yes footprint on the shoulder oh my god he was like he was like that's kind of yety dude now that is yeah you're right we can't also be and that's a rival too that's division rival yeah it's division rival and it's neighbor rival now yeah that's you're right there yeah you can't have the same i'm on mammoth now i'm back on mamma got to be man yeah what do you have um i i i really do like mammoth i was again first thing like this is before you get like before you get like anybody even knew this was going on and and we were still playing uh we probably found out a little

sooner than everybody else that we were moving but we were joking around about the name and someone spit out actually in the room yeti like before anybody even knew yeah yeah and we're all saying it and i'm like utah yeti i'm like that rolls off the tongue nice it does it does so that's the only reason i loved it but the thing is when you look up yety you see all these mugs and coolers now that pop up like the animal the the monster doesn't even pop up anymore like it's all about these it's true i don't know i honestly like i like hockey club it sounds crazy and not a lot of people do stop there's you're saying that because you're a soccer guy they're going to say that because you're a soccer guy yeah that's the only reason you like it

i am but i i honestly like it's class like Utah hockey club like we're the club yeah you're the one in the league. Like, at least for one year, I'm going to like our name. And then, you know, when we pick it, I'll get back to you guys on what I think about the new one. But mammoth is sick. I always thought Outlaws was sick. Yeah, I like those three are pretty cool to me.

That's good. I'll accept those. Yeah. I'll accept those. Those three, I'll give you three of them that are like. You know what's funny is like the black and baby blue is kind of fired too. And I just, you're right. Like, after a full season of that.

I love it. If any of you got to ask me about that, I'll tell you. straight up. I think our jerseys are sick. They're, they're so good. Those colors are so cool. Yeah. Dude, we, one thing, and this never could have happened, but when we were looking up names, it could have happened. We, we were looking, I was, because I like

when it's regional, you know, like the name has to do with where you are and stuff. We were looking up animals in Utah, like most populated animals. And the most populated bird in Utah is called, it's a small bird, but it's called a snipe. And if you guys were the Salt Lake City snipes, it would be the sickest fucking

is that real? Yes, dude, I swear to God. Swear to God. The Salt Lake City Snipes, dude. We tried so hard. We were, like, blasting it on Twitter and on the IG. We were like, the snipe is the most common. Are you guys going to make me look this up after this?

It's real, dude. The most common bird in the state of Utah is a snipe. And you guys could have been the Salt Lake City Snipes. And that would be the best. That would be the greatest NHL team name. I'm gutting. I'm gutting. That would be cool.

But I honestly, I do like how we're Utah. Like, I think that's cool. That's sick. Caters to the state. Yeah, it's absolutely sick. I have to know, because you are a jersey guy, and like the fact that you like these jerseys is huge, yeah. I'm a firm believer that the Kachino was a top five sweater in the NHL. There's a hell of a jersey.

Gun to your head, like, do you, are there a top five that pop out to you for jerseys in the league? Yeah, I give you a top five. I'll say, honestly, I don't know if I could order them for you right now, but just sneaking in my head, you got to go, the hot. the hawks are in there classic like that was I remember my double a team had a similar jersey

and I just was in love with it growing up oh yeah I you know a lot of the original sixes are cool like the habs are always cool like those colors

I just feel like pop I always love those three colors together um Kings I love the King's jersey but the ones now right the ones now are sick the ones now are so sick

they did a great job with those. I'm not going to throw the kachina in there right now because, you know, it's our RIP for now, at least. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right. I guess that's fair. Hell of a jersey. Hell of a jersey. Hell of a jersey.

So those probably are in my two to five. I got one more actually to put in there. I would say, you know, I can't think of another one right now. I would say, I think right now ours are the sickest in the league. I love that. I love that. I love that. And I'm not saying that to be, I'm not even saying that to be, I'm not even saying that to

political. I just think it's so bold to go black and like a bright color like that. Like that is so sick. Oh, it's nasty, dude. I mean, I think they're going to be so fire. It's like, oh, the way, what am I saying? The wings out. Oh, thank God. Nice. Yeah. I would throw the red wings in there. Like, that's, those are, those are classics. They're so so clean. Probably because I grew up watching them till June every single year in my life, but like just so used to them. But those are, those are for sure in there. Yeah. Well, we love the jerseys. And we love the new move to Utah. I know you've talked a lot about it, but you've got to be pretty fired up right now, man.

It's like you look at this team. The fact that they, I love that we're talking to you and you're the first, you know, big extension in Utah hot club history. So you're here for the long haul, dude. Like you are a key cornerstone player for this team. You've got insane young talent on this team. And then it felt like overnight, boom, Surgichab's on the team, Marino's on the team, Cole's on the team. You look around the league.

You guys have a stack D now. You've got to be pretty pumped going into this season. New club, new barn, totally new franchise, and just a new start. How fired up are you? Yeah. Like, listen, all you could ask for as a player is you want to win. It doesn't matter who you are. And like I said, like I was lucky enough to play with those guys.

And it goes quick. Like there's guys who are, you know, when you're young, you're like, I'm going to win a cup one year. Like, it's whatever. You have so much time. Like I'm going to play, what, 10 years in this league, whatever. And that's what guys are, I'm not saying that's what I'm thinking, but that's what you kind of come into the league. You just want to make it.

You're not even thinking about winning yet. Yeah. And then you finally make it and you're like, okay, whatever. Like my first year, what, seven games against the Oilers? I'm like, okay, now next year we beat them and then, you know, you go a little bit further. And that's not the case. Next year we lost in six.

And then, you know, I get traded to a team that doesn't make the playoffs. So all you could ask for is, to be competitive. I think the management did such a good job of going out and actually doing that and making moves to show that they're all in in Utah

and I think our ownership's made it clear right away that we're here to be competitive and I know it's a process. I've said it so many times like, yeah, we want to go in next year and we want to win the Stanley Cup. Like who doesn't want to do that?

But there's so much that we have to learn and oh like if we do it i'll take it like if we go year one and win the cup in year one that would be sick but um i just know that it's such a process and there's so much you have to learn like to be in those big moments in the playoffs like playing a game seven a game six an overtime like there's so much that you have to be able to grasp in that situation and kind of stay calm that you can only get that with experience and obviously there's so many young good talented players on our team that are still going to be able to go through that and we're still all going to be able to learn from it. But like I think that's going to be fun for us to go through as a

group, but just to know that we're a little more competitive. We're bringing in proven winners. Like I said, that's priceless. Like guys who have gone through it for the culture, like that's, that's huge. It gives you a kickstart. And then obviously the rest of us now just building off of what we're bringing in is huge. And I always say it's funny because in L.A. we are tight to the and we knew that most of our development as a team was going to come from within. And that was key is everybody going, having a good summer, coming back next year in great shape, playing game on of the season like it's playoff hockey and doing your best to maintain that throughout the year so that when playoffs come, you ramp it up to another level.

And, you know, Todd McHan and the staff obviously did a great job of, you know, leaning on us to do that. And we knew the same thing in Utah, I guess, is like a lot of our development was going to come within. Like if we brought in zero players, we were going to be a team next year that has to be better than we were this year, with the same guys we got. We're all going to be a year older. We're all going to be more experienced.

And we've got to bring a lot more to the table. But like I said, these guys just kickstart us. It's so exciting and I'm pumped. And dude, you guys, like you said before, we're trending towards playoffs last year. And there's no promises year to year, obviously.

Yeah. That's just like something to build off. And, dude, I think you'll get a little juice from, is a technicality, but like, everything you guys do this year will be the first. You know, like, fuck Utah's first. O.T. win. You know, like, that's going to be cool, dude. So, like, obviously, it's a boys that have been in the league, but that'll be a really cool factor. Dude, in Utah, I mean, like, you guys are going to be playing on a fucking Tuesday night and that barn is going to be absolutely jacked to the tits.

It's going to be literally juiced. 100%. Every night. 100%. So that's cool. Yeah. I fucking love it. Okay, Ders.

You know how we know what comes next. We play a game with everybody, so you got to play. It's called pass shoot score. And we've picked some categories of things that we think you like. And we're going to give them to. It's a ranking system. Pass is your least favorite because we know we all like apples, but that's not the coolest thing we can do on the ice.

Shooting is your second favorite because puck's on net, baby. And then, of course, scoring ultimate goal. That's your first. Okay. So your first category. And then I don't even know if you've tried these things yet, but this is the most bat shit stuff I've ever heard. So I just I got to get some intel from you.

So your first category is Utah things. Pass shoot score, corn flakes potatoes, fries sauce, and dirty soda. Did you see this? Yes, dude. I didn't. I didn't think. I never even heard of them until I saw your TikTok. I thought they were fucking with me.

I'm like, okay, this is funny. Like I signed my extension. I'm here doing media. Like it's they flew me. I did a bunch of media, uh, press conference, whatever. And I'm like, there's no way that's a real thing. Like, you guys making this up? Yeah.

Okay, so I'll go, I'll play the game. I got, okay, all three of them in one category, or you want me to split them up? No, so you rank the, each of those three, you rank one of them pass, one of them, shoot, one of them score. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You said corn flakes, potatoes, fry sauce and dirty soda. All right, I'll go fry sauce score. Yeah, that looked gas.

That looks gas. Like, that's going high blocker, right? where I want it and I'm selling and the whole you're getting the whole the whole thing. Shoot would probably be dirty soda. Yeah. Because it's coffee. Is coffee right? Or what is it?

Yeah. What the fuck is dirty soda? It's not coffee. Oh. Because it's coffee is not a huge thing in Utah. I would probably shoot that. Like I mean, it would, if it goes in, it goes in. Yeah, yeah.

Pucks to the net, right? What is it? It's soda or is it? I don't know. know. I heard it's soda with, I want to say, like, cream, cream in it. Nice. Almighty. Hell yeah, Utah. Yeah, I don't know. It's like a Coke. I don't know. Yeah, yeah. But that would be for sure my shoot. And then I don't know about you guys. Cornflakes, potatoes does not sound great. No. They actually, you know what? They actually call them funeral potatoes.

I don't know why. I don't know why. It kills you. Yeah. It doesn't have a great name. Like, part of the reason i'm probably just passing that one off but yep that looks crazy i think that's smart yeah i think someone else take it all right your next one is teams that you love durs so pass shoot score blue jays cowboys portugal international team portugal international team absolute i'll go low glove on this one snipe come on you sir like the bird yeah yeah yes sir In that one, Portugal national team, unbelievable. Dude, you were, like, we do deep research. You were fucking-

I was gonna say, wow, like, you guys got all my teams right here. You were, you were dialed in 2016 during the results. Like, looking at your Twitter, you were, like, tweeting every five seconds, fired up for that. Oh, you guys went deep. Oh, yeah, dude. I went deep. I was dialed. That's so fun, though, because it happens in the summer.

I'm with my brothers. like in we're Portuguese like we're all dialed into the games like it's it honestly like we've better life savings on these games but we just got pride on the line with yeah yeah fuck yeah um but it's so fun like sports are so i love sports as general big sports guy no matter what it is but we can tell dude it's like i love it like looking at any of your socials like you were you were just as dialed into all sports as we are and i was like dude durst just fucking devours for you. I'm sure when I'm done playing, I'll get into something.

I don't know what I do, but we'll see. And then what was it past? It hurts because I said shoot, I'd probably pick the Cowboys. Okay. But I'm like dialed into the Cowboys. No, I know. Starting. I'm following.

I got all their reports going on. How is it? How is it that you and your brothers are a Cowboys fan, a Chargers fan, and a Steelers fan? I don't know, man. Like, did you guys just hit, like, random sim on Madden one day? And you were like, that's my favorite team. It's crazy because, like, my old man's a Cowboys fan. And you think, like, oh, we all got to take it after Dad.

Like, he's been a Cowboys fan his whole life. Like, we're from Toronto. You pick your team, I guess. A lot of Bill's fans. I was going to say, yeah. You're all around. You're all around, really. But Cowboys were big for my dad.

And he kind of got me into it. And I'm like, oh, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Cowboys. And then my brothers have the crew. craziest thing ever. My mom is somehow a Steelers fan because she liked the colors or she grew up and it was her brother's rival and she just had to go against her brother. So she picked the Steelers. So the younger brother likes them. And then my middle brother liked the Thunderbolt on the San Diego Chargers jersey and he's like, this is sick. I need a Thunderbolt on my jersey. So crazy, but we like three different teams. It makes for a good little rival.

Yeah, that's an entertaining football season in the Jersey house. Yeah, it is. It is. And it's cool because at least, like, you know, if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs or we go out first round like we always do. Yeah. No hate against my team, but it's true. Then I can, you know, if one of them are playing, I can cheer for them.

And, you know, it's always good to see that. But I wouldn't want them to win. I just want them to go far. I mean, you must be used to that with growing up being a Leafs fan. Like, you know, it's, I get it. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it was touching growing up.

You probably saw my old. tweets about the Leafs, but no, those have been scrubbed. Yeah, yeah. So, dude, I've already deleted those. You're gonna, you're gonna shoot the J's then, dude. Pass the Jays, then, dude. That's tough too.

Oh, yeah, yeah, pass the Jays, yeah. I would pass, you know, it's not a bad thing being, you know, myself. I do love a good pass, so. Yeah, right. I would have to. Out of those three, I would have to pass the Jays. Yeah. Dude, you're, it looks like you're a bit of a chiefs guy on Twitter, too, though.

I got to say, you know, like, I know you love the Cowboys, but yeah. We, funny, we, Mahomes went through like an injury one time and, I don't know how we got connected, but we ended up talking about it a little bit. I think I was going through a tough injury time.

So we were shooting, not shooting the ship, but just a few messages over Instagram, talking about it. And I don't know. I just, I, I just been a fan.

Most people have been a fan of his since, you know, he's been in the league, but he's just been a stud. It's just so fun to watch. Like, he's kind of the young guy going against Brady and you know he was always like just uh not afraid of the moment like he's just cool like I'm a big big like fan of that stuff guys who are just

dive head first into these situations and you know make the most of it it's pretty cool to see so I've been a fan of them um to see how they just keep doing it no matter what what they got going on it's a culture thing like they're just a whole building such a good winning and you see it like teams who are just like they make the playoffs one year in the NHL all of a sudden they make it for the next five like it's just crazy how that rolls over in culture and they built a good one over there if we're chiefs cowboy Super Bowl though oh cowboys come on cowboys yeah okay okay I can't even I can't even watch them win a playoff game never mind of it's Super Bowl let's not get it I told you guys it's a process yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves do we go from goalie to defense like let's just step by step here let's be defense maybe one day center Who knows, who knows? But yeah, let's just, you know, first is a first round playoff win. That's what we need. Yeah.

Before I give you your next category, can you say on the air that Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi? Oh, I live and die by that statement right there. Like, I'll tattoo that to my forehead if I had to. Dude, we were actually just talking about this, Durs. I don't know if you saw that ESPN, like, top 100 athletes of the 21st century thing came out. And Messi is three. And Ronaldo's, like, 13.

Yeah. And I was like, this is such bullshit, dude. Like they are so garbage. It's so garbage. It's awful. It's a trash list. It's not credible. But you know why they do that sometimes?

Because now they got guys like us talking about it. Yeah. So true. We're giving them more. They got us. They got us. It worked. But we can't trust them going forward.

Yeah. Okay. Here's your next category, Ders. I know you're a bit of a tennis guy. Okay. And I'm real. This could be like me and you friendship altering. So pass shoot score.

Nadal. joker federer all right score or should i go the other way i've been i've been let's let's dish the first one off yeah okay kills me to say this because i was rooting for him the other day against the the kid yep uh past jokovic yes we're off to a good start you know off to a good start but it's a sauce pass yeah yeah it's nice silky like and he's walking down main street like it's a good It's a good pass. Kobe backhand sauce. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm going to put this one on the cage. I'm going to be playing lefty and I'm coming down the left side. Don't love my options. I got a guy going far post. I'm shooting a Dowell low pad. Come on, dude. Barbia. Yeah, maybe a scoring chance.

Yeah, yeah. Rebound. Juicy rebound for Keller. These are three stud plays right here. Yeah. Kells has tap in the rebound here. And then I'm obviously scoring Federer. Like the guy's just bar down.

Perfect. Dude. Is that a good credible list? We are friends for life. Yeah. We are friends for life. That was perfectly done. I love it.

Dude, have you seen final 12 days yet? No, what's that on? Bro. Okay. I, you can look this up for me while I'm talking about this. I think it's on, it's either on Amazon or Apple. Oh, no, Amazon. done.

But text, you need text it to me after because I'm going to forget, but text it to me after. I will. Dude, this fucking documentary, it's about the final 12 days of Federer's professional career when they do that,

that international tournament. Dude. Ders, I'm not kidding you. This is crazy. I cried. You'll literally cried in the last episode because like it is just the his relationship with the doll is something I was not aware of.

And like, he's just a perfect man. He's genuinely the most perfect professional. athlete who's ever lived and you just watch this doc and realize how amazing he is how impactful that is so sexy i'm such a fan of a good sports doc oh my god dude you're one of my biggest you're gonna lose my biggest regrets in my entire life or so that year i didn't get picked i ended up going to the islanders training camp yeah and they had the u.s open going on at what is it is it arthur ash yeah dude yep So they had it going to Arthur Ash, and it was Nadal versus Federer.

No, bro. And we had, I know it was like, okay, you're here for hockey. Like, listen, you didn't get picked. Does this get me closer to my dream? Just watching Nadal Federer get me closer to my dream. Just dial it in for a week. Maybe these guys give you a contract. Like maybe they see something where they give you a contract.

Just dial it in. But they played. And I'm begging, like, all these guys who are draft picks. I'm like, let's just go watch. Like, I don't have any money at the time. And I'm like, I'll buy your ticket. Like this is the craziest event. Like we might never be able to see this again.

And I didn't go. I sat in my hotel room and I watched it on my TV. And I to this day will regret not going to see that match. That's a tough one. That's a tough one. Fuck would that be cool. Dude, I can't believe I couldn't.

I couldn't get it. Maybe it's me. Like maybe I'm a bad guy and nobody wanted to go see it with me. But like, no. I begged guys. Dude, I've seen Roger. I've seen Roger live once in my, and we'll only see him once in my life now.

out and it was a tournament in Miami to sonny erics inning on kibisgain and he lost in the semifinals to jokovic but jokovic was like 18 like no one even knew who he was yet no way and i was like who what fucking loser just beat roger i'm so pissed dude that might be more rare seeing a better loss i don't think it's crazy um i'll text that to you and then tell me you've seen beck tell me you've seen beckham the beckham doc on netflix yeah yeah yeah okay good i was like that higher sick Okay, your last one, Ders, your last past shoot score, it's going to be music festivals. Passhoot score, Veld, Boots and Hearts, and Feck, the Festival de Quebec.

Okay. Is Fechega kind of? Like, what kind of music is that Fech? I think it's like... I'm glad you asked. So I wasn't sure if you've been to Fech. Yeah. Because if you have...

It seems like you're a pretty big festival. I know there's like Ocegaga is the one in Quebec that I know about. It's got like, because I would probably put that, that changes it for me. Like that, that changes my list. I need to know what kind of they got at Feck. I know what Oshiga though. And if we want to go, would you have a list there? Well, I got the 2024 line up.

Dude, apparently, that is sick. It's a big, they said it's the biggest one in Canada encompasses all types of music. We got Nickelback, 50 cent, Joe and his brother. Offspring, Zach Brown band. Like it's, they're all over the place. Okay, let's, I would for sure score. that festival honestly Quebec and

Montreal and I don't know just as a whole is such a cool place so cool so cool just reminds me of I'm actually I'm going to see Deno in a couple weeks and I'm pumped because I just love everything about it like it just reminds it honestly feels like a different country

it's pretty cool it's Europe yeah it's the Europe of it's as close as you can get 100% but I would say that that's that'd be my number one that would for sure score that okay it's a good shot it, you know, maybe five whole come down. I rip one quick, you know, it goes in.

Nothing crazy. It's not, it's nothing that we haven't seen yet. It's something, yeah, nothing we haven't seen yet. But I would shoot boots and hearts. Okay. I would shoot boots and hearts. And honestly, Veld was just like such a phase for me. It was, I don't know if I could do that ever again.

Yeah, like that was, I'm sitting like in the crowd and it was, it's hot. and it's it would probably way too much for me now but i mean i do like some edm and like dance music so i wouldn't be against maybe like sitting back in a nice chair and listening but i wouldn't be in the crowd banging my head off the floor and going nuts i wouldn't be at a boots and hearts concert you know there you know and having a good time yep i like it i like it i like it a lot that's i was going to say we got to get you to coachella but coachella might be too much for you it's also like mid-seat you know like we got it we got a schedule would have to line up perfectly I know. So honestly, like, I remember when I played in L.A., I was like, it's either for you guys, because I was talking to the guys, I'm like, it's either Coachella or playoffs.

And I think every guy in here is picking playoffs every single time of the year. And we made the playoffs that year or both times that I was there. So I missed it. But we're picking playoffs over that. It would be sick. And then what's the other one they got out there? Stage coach. Stage coach. You might have been like that more. Stage coach would be better. Yeah. Stage coach is more of a country vibe, a little chiller. Coachella has become very EDM. That wasn't its purpose, but like it is so DJ heavy now. I know everybody dresses up in these crazy costumes. Yeah.

I mean, I would be for it. Like, it would be cool. I do like some of the music. Like, it would be fun. Oh, that's fine. And that's the thing. Like kind of everyone's there. I mean, like fucking Blink 182 was there last year.

It was sick. Yeah, that was gas. Yeah, that's sick. All right. Well, Ders, you smashed that. You smashed that. You smashed this whole episode before we let you go. Is there anything you want to shout out, anything you want to plug?

No, they're honestly not. I mean, I think we did a good job of showing out my new squad to Utah. Shout out, shout out Sue. Shout out Sue. Best jerse in the league. Yeah. Have to. Love my mom.

No, you guys, no, it was great. You guys made it easy on me. I was prepared for, I have some notes over here for some hard balls. And then I wrote down how to pronounce Mississauga in case you fucked that up. But you did it good. So I don't. We're all good on that part. We took care of each other.

Well, dude, this was an absolute blast. You're the best for coming on. We'll have to get you on again soon. Yeah, thanks, boys. That was a blast. Huge shout out to Durs. Such a homie. I mean, we always say this,

but it's just the case with these guys in the league. They're the coolest people in the world. Ders got me so fired up for Utah hockey. That team is looking unreal. They're going to have a monster season. That crowd in Utah is going to be going bonkers for this team. Unbelievable sweaters. I don't know if you guys saw that drop of just Keller in the jersey right now,

that Utah diagonal across it. Oh, my God, they look amazing. Hope you enjoyed that interview with Sean. He's a beauty. You're all beauties. Love you guys. Enjoy your day. That's it for us today at the Empty Netters podcast.

We'll see you in a couple days for a new episode. And until then, Skate Art. Packages by Expedia. You were made to occasionally take the hard route to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We were made to easily bundle your trip. Expedia, made to travel.