Empty Netters Podcast - The Atlantic Is The Best Division in the NHL | 122

Episode Date: July 31, 2024

Nate Thompson stops by to guess over/under on the win totals for each division going into next season. Is the Central still the king, or will the Atlantic steal the crown? And what is going on in the Pacific?? Plus, the Necas deal is a massive win for Carolina. Hear what the boys think happens with Jarvis in response.  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 (1:34) – Necas New Deal (10:40) – Your Day With The Cup (17:57) – Atlantic (32:31) – Met (42:33) – Central (52:01) – Pacific (105:21) – Best Division This Upcoming Year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bouncing puck. You'll be settled by Slaven. You'll find Aho. Back to Slaven. He shot right on. Rebounds out in front. Cheats up when they score. Ice is ready, and we are back with another episode of the Empty Naders podcast.

We got our boy Nate Thompson joining us again, almost a year to the day. Yeah, a little bit past a year. It's a little like 10 days past. I just checked. That is wild. Sick. That is wild. Just shorter hair this time and teeth.

And teeth. Less hair more teeth. Real teeth. Dude, I'm going to be honest. Less hair, real teeth. It depends on who you're talking to you. like this is either a glow up or some people are upset. Because I know some people dig the no teeth look.

Some people like it. I will say my son was not a fan when I got. Really? Yes, he was not a fan. Wait, about the hair or the teeth? The teeth. He did not want me to get it fixed. He was one person that did not want me to get it fixed.

Just because you look badass? Yeah, I mean, he hadn't seen me in any other way. Yeah. Since he was like, now he's like, who the fuck are you? Exactly. He's like, what is going on? Dude, do you ever see those videos of like a bad? like shaved their beard

huge beard and like shaves and he's like walks into the baby's like who is that it was the same it was the same thing

he's like no dad come on like really I love the idea that Tomer's kid is like who's this pussy dude

not my fucking dad seriously so good so good we're gonna jump into a bunch of shit that you've got prepared for us CP

but before we do that as we are sitting down breaking news Martin Natcha signs a two by 6.5 contract with the cane which means I think that like Jarvie's back natures is back yeah they're setting it up to be able to sign both of them I mean we were talking about how much cap space they have read I mean

I don't know if that website exactly to sign them for puckpedia puckpedia is kind of our best bet these days right we were talking about like you get two-year deal for him two-year deal for Jarvis and protects them as players yep because then they sets themselves up yeah and then maybe they win a cup in the next two years is there anything right and they can still maybe make big deals, big trades still, you know, to try and winning. I'm telling you, I think they had like 13.1 mil in cap space. Okay. And I think... Yeah, we need to find that out for sure. Nature's signs 2 by 6.5. I think Jarvie's going to sign probably today, maybe tomorrow, two by 6.5, and it will be just 0.1 under. And I think they're doing this like in two years, like hopefully

with these guys as our cornerstone wingers. With Svetnikov, we can win a cup. And then in two years, Jarvie will be RFA, Nate just will be UFA. And because he'll be 27, so I don't think he'll be... Because the reason Nate just surprised me, I know he had a bad year, not bad year, but a down year this past season, is he was on his rookie deal, signed a two-year bridge deal already. That was what this was running out. So to do that, like, you think if I'm him, I'm like, no, dude, I already did you a favor. Give me the eight-year ticket now. But to me, if they both do that, it's really testament that they are about.

bought in because they're like okay like right they believe that they can win there yep so they're thinking okay I'm going to sign this deal we're going to win a cup in this and then and then it sets me up for a long-term deal where they both get paid yes right start point 44 that's how much they have left probably now yeah well I don't know if it updated just from the last thing so well scroll down see if nature's assigned in two years right now because if if so then yeah that's what's left yeah you're right he signed yeah so they get they go jarvie two by six if you want two by six point four if you want it well again I wouldn't be surprised if it's six point five and they figure something out before the the day like that's an easy yeah you

like cut someone but I'm yeah fuck unless unless they make another deal and make up more capsways it's possible too definitely possible but it seems like that seems logical I mean to do that yep right great deal for the canes yeah because I'll be honest it kind of a fair deal for both sides I think yeah agree totally fair both sides and I think if you're Jarvis even if it's two years, like, I don't think I'm accepting less than Naches. And bro. So, like, it's got to be 6.5. Like, I'd be shocked if Jarvie's like 2x6. And

what did we say cubes just signed for? 5 by 6.25. Yeah, right. 6.25. And what organization does that model after a little bit? Your team, right? Boston Bruins. And then you look at it and you go, how the fuck? Like, two years from now, you're like,

Jarvis got 45 goals. I can't believe they have him, it's 6.5. But then you look at the Bruins and you look at Marshawn, you're like, wow, that guy was making that for that long you're like it's crazy man like holy shit that's a 100 point guy but then you look at how much they've won and you're like okay it makes sense

little bit out you know but it's it's been cool seeing I mean a lot of these like 20 to 23 year old guys who are hitting our like earlier today Brock Faber signed 8 by 8.5 yeah and that's funny because that deal came out and today and people were like amazing deal by the wild amazing deal for Faber

Yeah. And it was just around this time last year when Sanderson and Ottawa signed by 8 by 8.05, and everyone was like, that's the fucking worst deal. Yeah, right. People lost their minds. But it's like now, I mean, we did an episode a couple weeks ago about like a lot of these RFA guys. And I kept saying, I think much like the Blackhawks did Cain and Taves, the exact same deal. Yeah.

If Detroit doesn't give Cider and Raymond right now matching 8. by 8.5s, I'll be shocked. Yeah. And again, we looked at it. There's a chance that they could do a couple bridge deals for them. But if you're Stevie Y, if you're that Red Wings team, and if you're either of those two, I would be like, give me eight years, dude. Like I'm, just, let's do it now. Yep. I would, I would get locked up if I'm. That's going to be interesting. Especially Steve Y, because he is a tough negotiator. Yeah, but I know.

First hand. So actually, random tangent, but I was telling these boys, I was driving home or I was driving to Chicago yesterday from deep northern Michigan. I stop in a pound. How fucking shitty was that, be honest. Dude, the drive up was a nightmare. A nightmare. The drive up was worse?

I would imagine the Sunday morning after a wedding driving five hours back to Chicago to get on a plane. And then having to do it again. Yeah. And then a plane, right. But dude, the drive there, Dan, we hit so much Chicago people going to the lake. It took eight hours and 45 minutes in the car. Yeah, you don't know where you? How much did you want to kill Sandra?

Oh, dude, it was bad. And, dude, we were just like bumper to bumper. Stop traffic. Dude. Nightmare, dude. That's murder-suicide stuff. That kind of gives me the hebie g- Yeah, I'm thinking about it.

I didn't sleep like last night. And no traffic on Sunday. No, we cruised. Cruise back. That's shocking to me. I'm surprised there weren't people going back to work. Jesus. So a normal drive was about five hours.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, awful. Milled welcome drinks. You know, did you tell him the, best part yeah yeah that is that's trash I left LA the night before yeah yeah like the party before the party sometimes is better yeah yeah definitely did you um tell him what's going on in two weeks yeah that we got to go back okay I got the same town but we're the but we're flying there and I I've heard telling the boys this would be

good data point I'll figure out which was the better move like did you fly to Chicago and drive or fly right there and now I'm like oh no fly right there I will pay I will pay extra I will not have that happen oh my god seriously All of Chicago is going to the UP. So funny. So, dude, I'm on the way back Sunday. Yeah. I'm passing through a town called Cadillac, Michigan.

Right on the lake. Never heard of it. Look, sick town. Trying to get lunch. Stop at a place called Clam Lake Beer Co. Or something. Okay. I was like sick.

Pop in there. Build your own bloody Mary bar. Gas. Get some good food. And I'm about to leave. And one of the waiters or one of the guys that works there walks up. to me to our table. I thought he was going to get the plates and he goes, excuse me. And I go, hey, what's up? And he goes, are you empty netters? And I was like, Cadillac,

Michigan, dude. Nice. That's good. Shout out Derek. Huge wings guy. Derek has twin girls. Just had twin girls. He's a wings fan. Huge wings. I like, I like, Derek, I like, it was funny because I could tell he had to get back to work, but I just wanted to talk wings. Yeah. He's like, bro, I have a job. I got to get out of here. But I was talking about the wings and how people, dude, Tomer, our DMs were crushed on July 2nd with wings fans being like, we didn't do anything. What the fuck? And I was losing it. Me included, dude. I was shocked that they didn't

do anything. And I think, and Derek, Derek has a level head. He knows. He's still excited about the boys. But I do think getting those deals done would be a boost for the Wings fans right now. That'll make them feel, that'll make them feel a lot better. Yeah. They have those two guys locked up because there's a cornerstones of that 100% for sure. Yeah.

So yeah, but Wings Nation was rocking hard in Michigan. I was pumped up. But that was epic. Awesome. That is a Cadillac, Michigan, dude. Cadillac, Michigan. My girlfriend was in the bathroom, and when she came out, she sees me talk. She's like, what happened? Yeah, what's going on?

He loves netters. That's amazing. That's amazing, though. It was so cool. Well, yeah, I think you're spot on. I think this Carolina move is there looking at, like, we can win a cup here. And frankly, if you sign these guys, and we're also assuming that Jarvie signs, like, a two year as well. Yeah.

If you sign these guys and you win a cup in the. the next two years and then NAC just gets to UFA and signs a huge ticket somewhere else, well worth it, right? It's, you're like, all right, well, yeah, perfect deal. You were able to hold on to him for four extra years with these bridge deals, you win a cup. Even if you don't win, you gave yourself a chance at it.

Exactly. You're like, okay, well, fuck, we tried. Well, the same time you have to think, too, is stall a couple more years. Right. There's that window and, you know, some, it's going to be a huge turnover, I think, eventually. Slavin's like 31 now, I think, right?

There's going to be a turnover in a couple years for that team where they're going to have to do some, retooling or whatever they're gonna have maybe maybe maybe deeper than that who knows how does burns have left in the tank too oh good that's another that's a good one great because he's he's how old is he dude 38 so maybe that's why jarvis and yeah that's how they convinced them okay we're gonna sign two-year deal and it protects them too yeah no doubt I like it and also it's just you know favor today nature's today who knows by the time we're done recording maybe jarvie today yeah all these remaining RFAs are starting to fall like yeah you know you know

know, cider's coming up, Swamen's coming up, Raymond's coming up. It's interesting. Yep. It's very interesting. One more fun bit of news. Sam Reiner got his day with the cup this past weekend. We were talking with Max, we told the story. Max became a good buddy.

Max and Griff came a good buddies over the cup run. And it was cool. He took it home. He took it to the rink. He grew up skating in. A lot of boys do that. And he took it to this golf course that he's a member out up in Vancouver. Because he was like, we took a bunch of pictures that'll be in.

I think I saw a picture on Instagram. Yeah, you did. Yeah. Because he was like, this picture will be, they're going to put it up in the country club. So he's like, so I'll go off here my whole life. So like every time I go back as an old man, I'll see the pick of me and bring in the coffee. And I was like, that's sick.

My favorite part of the story was Sammy got, so it was him, his two brothers and his dad, I think, played a foursome. And Sammy got mini Stanley Cups for all the boys to use as ballmarkers. And he used the cup. Like, so he went to hit out to the green. Pick up the ball, put the cup there as this ball marker. Every time I put my ball back, I use the money into the cup. Oh, my God. So good.

That's a flash. Yeah, so good. So I loved that. But I wanted to ask, what would you guys do if you got it if we ever win the cup in some capacity and you get your day with it? Oh, like where you're taking it? Is there something you're eating out of it? Oh, I've thought about this many a times before. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

before, have daydreams and daydreams, nightmares, whatever you're going to call it. Yeah. And for sure I would take it back to Alaska. Yeah, 1000%. Have to. I would do take it to Children's Hospital or something like that along the lines. I mean, I feel like you have to give back to the community that I like raised.

I was raised in. I would also, I think, take it to my friend's fishing lodge, the Alaska Sportsman's Lodge. I think I would take it up there. And I'm hoping that too, like maybe to keep her the couple. is like, all right, I'm taking to Alaska, I would get 48 hours. That's what I'm open. Yeah, yeah, fair, dude. 48 hours is a little bit better than 24.

That feels like a fair deal. Especially going to Alaska. Yeah, half the days travel. Yeah, so maybe take it up to that fishing lodge, fly in one of those, like, beaver, like, bush planes. Yeah. Just have the things sitting there and go to, like, some random place, catch a nice big, big, fat rainbow trout with the Stanley Cup right there,

bears in the background. I'll have that. Like, you fucking kidding me? Like, that's... Yeah, that's huge. No one else is. Good, no, God, no. I think my, you're right, you have to go home.

Yeah. You have to go home. You have to go home. You have to. But what I think I would do is, I would start in Maine, early morning in Maine. Yeah. I would definitely pull a Matthew Kuchuk and jump in the beach, jump in the ocean with it. Or you start, you're starting morning.

So what time you talk? What time you're talking? I'm going like 6 a.m. Yeah, yeah. I'm doing like 6 a.m. dip in the ocean with the cup. Then, probably take. it to, you know, up to the Bitterford rank or something like that. I would do a lot of eating out of it. Yeah, what would you eat? Flo's hot dogs. I would go and like, you know, I'm a big clam chowder

guy. Maybe do some clam chowder out of there for sure that. But then my kicker is I would then hop on a 6 p.m. flight here to L.A. land at 9 p.m. and have a night in L.A. with the cup. Coast to coast to coast. Dude, that is a coast to coast to coast. That's my cheat coat. That is a move. I'm going to use the time difference. I'm going to, you know, I think 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Maine, fantastic. Yeah. Hop me on that flight.

You could use the time change? I like that. Yeah, smart, right? And then I'll go towards your time. And at 9 p.m. We'll go straight to, you know, honestly, I think, like, taking the cup to Hanana would be sick. Would be sick. Right in Venice here with all the, all the boys and the day twos, and that'd be great.

And you're going to have a 48 hours, too, then. Yeah, I have to. You have to have 48 hours. I think I can do that. it in 24. No sleep. Yeah, it's possible. You know, like, come on. Like, I'll just rip the, I mean, I'd be willing to give it up at fucking 2 a.m.

Yep. Like, I had my day. The, I think, um, I, maybe would do some sweet Josie's candy in it, a little grab bag of candy. Not for me. And then I also, I'll pick a mix. I would, I would lose. Yeah. Oh, that'd be sick.

This would result in me losing the cup permanently. But I do think it would be sick to go, like, out on the lake tubing with it. like a big tube and it's like me and the car. Has anyone gone skydiving with the cup? That'd be a flex. That would be a flex. That would be, how would you do that? I don't know.

You'd have to strap it to you, right? If you're certified. But is that not safe to do? Well, I think it is because the cup weighs like 35 pounds. These guys have me strapped to them. Yeah, right. So you're saying that one of the guys that usually goes with somebody, he's going to have it strapped to him.

Yeah. And then you're going to go with the guy that, Another pro. Yeah, that could work. Yeah. I wonder. You just take the summer to learn how to sky. Yeah.

Get certified yourself and then just strap it to me and then I go. That'd be falsey. That'd be ballsy. Imagine you pull that shoot and it just drops. You go like, oh, fuck. What if you, yeah, what if the cup just falls and it's going to explode? Dude. Oh my God, it would disintegrate.

Not to get morbid either, but most epic death of all time. The fears doesn't. Oh, the tears doesn't open up. Like actually chill way to go. But the cup. And then here's my only other thought We might have put some ideas into some guys Yeah, seriously

Someone's listening to this being like Don't let Ovi ever get in a game There's one guy I know that would be into that for sure Alex Ayafala Yes You were thinking exactly what I was thinking Yep AI

AI is listening to this right now And he's going Googling where to get certified And skydiving Because he would fucking do this for sure A little off topic But I'm talking to Sully on the way over here Yes

And it's so funny you bring up AI because he sends me like a video of him. He went to Jack Campbell's wedding. He sends me a video and it's like them pan at the pool and it's just like one guy just doing like movements on a huge wave surfing solo and it just like pans and you just hear like, oh, there's AI. They're all chilling and AI is just ripping on the wave.

Ripping shredding. So good. Incredible. Max was telling us that and I've texted him. He hasn't answered yet. He said even though Sam has won it. and they brought it home, he wasn't going to drink out of it. Because he was like, well, you know, who knows?

And I was like, dude, if your brother wins the cup and brings it home, I think you have to drink out of it. What's your take on that? Given that Max is not in the league? Like Brady not drinking out of it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, right, right. 100%. Also, no disrespect, Max.

Like, Max is an unbelievable hockey player, but, like, you know. I'm accepting to both sides of it. I know. Fuck. I can see both sides. Yep. Because he played in the league, and he could get involved again. Like, I get it, but...

I could see. I could see both sides of not wanting to, and I can see if he... It's okay if he wants to. It's his brother. I think we have a neighborhood rule. I think we get a long straw. Yeah.

And then there's distance. Yeah. You're not actually touching it. You're not touching it. Yeah. You are drinking out of it to celebrate your brother's victory, but you're not touching it. I'm into this.

We're going to implement the neighborhood rule. Long straw rule. And we're cool. That works. With family member winning. Yeah. That works. Okay.

I'm cool with that. That definitely works. Okay. I love it. All right. You're going to take us down a road here. I'm going to take you guys down a road. I wanted to call this, I sent you,

I put you on this email. Yeah. I did. This is called the state of the division. We're in politics or fire. I don't know anything about politics, but I think state of the union is a thing that people say. This is it.

So state of the division, because I had this thought where I was like, I wonder if, and this was like to show you that deep thoughts in my brain, I was like, wait, does every division have to have the same amount of wins? Because it's like,

it's a zero sum game. I was like, no, no, no, you play interdivision. Like, divisions can have more wins than the other. So I was like, I'm curious to see how many wins each division had. Dude, I hate, you know, you'll do this. I hate looking at stuff like this because it's something like in the last 10 years, the Bruins have won, have had the best record in the NHL, and they just can't win a cup.

It's a nightmare. Dude, fuck. Yeah, it just shows that they're a consistent organization. Yeah, right, regular season. Which is nice. Right? I'll leave it at that. It's really nice.

consistently good I can't say I was drafted by the Boston Bruins yeah I love the Bruins so we love them we love them okay so I'm gonna go do you want to go like dig into each to yeah this what I want to do I'm gonna give you their win total we're gonna division by division I'm gonna give you their win total and then we'll all say if we think they're gonna have over under yeah okay right so we're and this was their win total last year yeah last year yeah I'm gonna give you the teams in the total Panthers 52 Bruins 47 Leifes 46 Bolts 45, Wings 41, Sabres 39, Sends 37, Habs 30 for a total of 337 wins in the Atlantic last year.

Fantastic. Let's go bottom to top. This year. Oh, what do you mean? Oh, wait. We're not going team by team. We're going division? No, yeah.

Do you think the Atlantic has more than 300 wins? Oh, I thought we're going team by team. Okay. And then you can, I want you to talk about teams, but the Atlantic. Over under 337 wins, Red. Over. Wow. Over.

Over. Definitely. Every team got better. Believe it or not, I think Boston got slightly worse. I think Tampa. Tampa got slightly worse.

I'm in trouble, dude. But I think Montreal is going to be so much better. I think Ottawa is still going to miss playoffs, but I think they're going to be better. I think Detroit's going to be slightly better. And I just think the amount of... I think Buffalo is going to stay right to stay right in that sweet spot, dude. They're going to just be right where they are.

They know their role, dude. It's Groundhog Day. I think those three teams in particular, certainly Montreal and Ottawa and Ottawa, and I think Detroit's going to get a little bit of a bump up. The amount more of wins they are going to get is going to cover the maybe few less that Boston and Tampa have. What about Panthers winning more than 52? No, I think they'll probably win like 49.

I think less. Yeah. I think less too. I think a lot of those top teams are going to win less games because those bottom team are going to win more games. So it might kind of... Yeah. But I still think it's more.

I think it's going to be more because those bottom teams are going to have a big, big upgrade. And what about Toronto? They had 46. Less. Me too. Agree. You know what I think it's funny? Less.

But not maybe not much less. Maybe like 43, 44, but I think less still. This is going to suck for you to hear, Red. I think Toronto is the buffalo of the top of the Atlanta. Like, they're just like, they know their role as well. They're just going to do what they do. everyone's going to be like Toronto second or third right and and they're gonna then just losing the first or second round and that's that because last year is like the only year though

that they've gotten like under 50 wins in the past few yeah under 50 that's actually so that's a good stat right yeah I didn't realize that because you know what's crazy though is I saw some stat recently that it was like they hadn't had a hundred points or something they like they were breaking their own record yeah yeah like three years in a row and then this year was like their first like quote unquote down year yeah when they actually looked pretty good they look good yeah i was like they looked like the most they look like the most complete playoff team they've had in a while yeah that's so funny but then it was funny they drew boston and everyone was like well that's that that's that that that was such a crazy series too because like with the injuries they had

and then like they're winning with the guys out you know like matches missing games they're just like a mindset thing crazy and them it's just different you know but what's fucked is i'm like I look at Panthers, Bruins, Leifes, Tampa. And I'm like, I'm going less on all four of those. And you guys kind of said less too. But it's just the bottom half that comes up. I think the bottom half comes. I think Montreal is going to shock teams this year.

I think they're going to be good. I think they're going to be shocked. I think Ottawa too. I think Ottawa is going to be good. Really? Talk to me about that because I was so deep on Ottawa this year. And they got clowned. And I was like, fuck about that. I mean, I actually, I felt the same way about it.

I thought they were going to be way better than they were. And they just did it. It was awesome being 100% right. about Ottawa all year long. Yeah, I was like, dude, I was like, Ottawa's so nasty. The wings are,

the wings are terrible. And Dan was like, the wings will compete for the playoffs, and Ottawa's awful. And I was like, he called it. Yeah.

I just, I just think, well, now do you have, they get, they get Allmark? Yeah, that's, that's it. I mean, that's,

that's the X factor. Yeah. Good point. Like, look at their D. Yep. Look at their forwards. Like, you look on paper and it's like,

fuck, they're pretty good. I know. New coach. Yeah. Travis Green now, right? And we joked about this, but jealous Brady is like, now Brady's like, dude, well, I got to win one now.

You know, it's like, I think you get next level Brady could talk. I think, and I'm not just saying this because he just came on the pod. I think a well-rested, well-trained, healthy, and frankly pissed off Shane Pinto is huge as well. For sure. Like you're getting Pinto the whole year. You're hopefully getting Norris the whole year. Like they have a lot of potential superstars in their team.

Yes. and like Stutzla is going to get better dude they could be very good they could be a bubble playoff team this year I think they're just going to miss but I wouldn't be shot the problem is we're starting to see the beginning of the end maybe here with Tampa

but like I mean I was actually funny I tweeted yesterday I was like the NHL world is so dead right now like nothing's going on summer Olympics are happening and I was like let's get some shit posting going on who is missing the playoffs this year that's going to shock people.

And there was a lot of New York Rangers answers, but I think that was mostly just people who hate the Rangers, like trying to fire shit up. The ones that perked my ears up was Vegas was a big answer, which I don't agree with. And then Tampa and Boston got a lot of answers, a lot of answers. I think people are assuming that Lindholm's not going to work out with Boston, which I think is a stupid assumption.

Yeah, that's great. I think he's going to be good. I don't think he's going to be maybe. a 90-point guy, but I think it's going to be great. But it's so tough for these teams like Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, who are trying to get into the playoffs from the Atlantic and fucking Florida, Boston, Tampa, and Toronto are just like, we're not going anywhere. And they're still young. People don't realize, like Boston's one of the youngest teams in the league. People don't realize. Yeah, yeah. So it's like, it is, I mean, fucking A, being in the Atlantic stinks right now.

It's the best division. It's unbelievable. It's the best division. For sure, I think. Without question. When you're looking at the three guaranteed spots, I was going to ask when we got through all of them, but you're looking at three guaranteed spots,

I've got to get in that top three. The Atlantic is a nightmare. That's the deepest division hockey right now. No question. I think. He said all the teams are just trending up like this. All of them, almost all of them. Yeah, truly.

And think about it. Think about the Atlantic. You've got, this is what's fucking hysterical. In the Atlantic, you've got two of the no-state tax titans. You have. five original six teams and original six cities you've got the mecca of hockey in Toronto

which is also that you've got the greatest barn in the league in Bell Center like of course it's the best division and the travel the travel is not as bad great fucking point to me travel is not as bad easy travel like the Atlantic is the best division and and this is what it's like they're they're just not going anywhere yeah it's funny because last year I felt this way coming into this season where I was like the Atlantic's a blood that because I was still super high on Tampa and everything. And I'm like, there's no way that five

teams, playoff teams in the East, don't come out from the Atlantic because they're going to get two wild cards because I just felt like Ottawa and the Buffalo and was all going to be there. And then obviously it didn't shake out that way when I went four and four. And I'm wondering if, because I was right about to say it's going to be five this year, but I'm wondering if they just beat the wheels off each other all year. That's what makes it hard to get all five. You know, or it's like, oh, maybe some team in the, for sure, right? posting in because you've got to play the tough Atlantic teams every fucking game. Yeah, it's possible.

I mean, I just think to Atlantic, I think they're probably going to beat up on the other divisions. Yeah, just crushed that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, like I think that, man, they're just, it's deep. It's hard. It's so hard. And you look at all the goaltending in the division, too.

Dude, crazy. A lot of good goalies. It's absurd. Like, you've got Sway, Igor, Vassie right off the bat in that division alone. Allmark is still in that division now. Bob, you mean sway? Bob. Bob,

or Vasy, Bob too. Yeah, Sway, Bob. Oh, sorry, I said Igor. Yeah, I met Bob. Yeah. Sway, Bob, Vassie, Omar.

Omar, because now you count both. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, like, is they going to go wall? Yeah. Wall's the guy in Toronto. But like, I mean, the fact that half the division is those four guys are what, top five goalie, it's pretty good. Certainly top eight goalies in the league.

Dude, and what's fucked is you, you actually feel like there are, I was up for the habs in here too, but I would say the wings and the sabers, you feel like are one sick goalie away from being a major problem. You know, if you could just pluck. The wings, I definitely think. I think the wings are super close. Yeah, holy shit.

Yeah, and like, lines are good. I picked the way, like, I think the wings make the playoffs next year. Me too. I mean, me too. I do. I hope that. I think they win. I think they get in.

Dude, there was, they were in, or it was theirs to lose this year. And then they went on an eight game skid out of, The trash patch, dude. Trash patch killed us. So, like, if that doesn't happen, they're in this year, and we're all talking about, like, yeah, of course the wings stay in the playoffs. You know, it's just a tough bit. But yeah, more wins.

I think we see that bottom half really improve. It'll be really interesting because I was going to go under, but we have the same logic. Like, I think the top half comes down a little bit, the bottom half comes up. Yeah. We'll see what that adds to more. Yeah.

So you're under. I'm under. Yeah. We'll do a division preview later in the summer, but what I'm really excited for for that episode when we all break that down is like we've talked about those four top teams and there's just a lot of interesting factors for the teams

like Florida been to the cup two years in a row they got to be a little tired right I like the patches they did but I think that defense is a little bit worse the core is still there but that defense is a little bit worse people also forget Bob's like about to turn 34 you know He's had two monster years

where he's played a lot of hockey. So question marks there. Boston. I think on paper probably got a little bit better. Two huge awesome signings, but we'll see how the depth works with that because people are forgetting there's a gaping hole in that second line

that they're hoping either Lysol or Murculav fills. We'll see about that. Toronto is wall the guy. Like, what's the deal? At Tampa. Yeah. What does Tampa look like? Tampa is, you guys know how I feel.

Yeah. I've told you before, but we're right there with you. What is the dynamic going to be without stammer? God damn. It's going to be so fucking weird to watch that and be like... I agree. I don't know. I'm also curious, like, do they throw the sea on headman sweater next season?

Do they give it a year of breathing room? Because, like, I can see... I think you have to give it to him right away, don't you? That's what I would think. But I also wouldn't be shocked if there was an element of him that was like, I don't want it yet. But it's got to be. Like, Marci got it got it. Yeah, it has to be.

I don't know who else it would be. It has to be. Oh, it's him. For sure. Inberg after Charra, right? Yeah, exactly. It's just like, you've got it built in there. But yeah, it's going to be interesting.

Hey, team, taking a quick break to tell you about our epic partnership with BetMGM. I know you think you know it, but I know you're not using it yet. And that is so insane to me. What you do is you download the BetMGM app. You're going to use promo code Netters. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S. And then you get to place a bet on anything you want, not just hockey, anything you want, from $5 up to $1,500.

And if you lose that bet, they put all that money back into your account. It is the most no-brainer of no-brainers. So get on bet MGM, promo code netters right now. Gambling problem, call 1-800-Gambler. Call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text HOPENY for New York. Call 100-327-50-50-for-N-A-Refs0-8-1-8-1-8-1-8-1-8-1-8-1-8-1-8-1-1-V-VARable. Or visit Wett-BBFWRROW-E-BOR-BOR-BORB. Or-BusBFBOR-BOR-BOR-BORBORBORB.

Virginia. First bet offer for new customers only, subject to eligibility requirements, bonus bets are not admirable in partnership with Kansas, crossing casino and hotel, cibetm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in New York and Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. All right, babes, talking to you about cash app really quick. We're taking a break from the podcast so we can talk to you about the best money transferring app in the game. I know there are some other ones out there that you use a lot, probably pretty convenient, but let's talk about this for a second. Worst search element ever on that app that we all know that I'm talking about. You're trying to find someone else. You type in their name. They're in your contact

list. They just don't show up. App is trash. What you need is cash app. Because not only does cash app simplify the way that you transfer money to and fro, whether it be you go out, have a bar night, you need to settle up. Maybe you go havesies on some tickets with somebody. You need to settle up. Maybe you paid for someone and they need to get you back. Cash app is the easiest app in the game at doing things like that. But cash app savings is where they're taking care of you. Cash App saves you money and adds to your wealth when you have money in your cash app account. So it's not just sitting in there wasting away. You're paying a bunch of fees on it.

There's none of that. No hidden fees. No nonsense. Cash app is making you money while making it easy to transfer your money. Cash app is the best in the game. You need to switch over to it right now because they're taking care of you while you take care of your finances. Get on Cash App today.

Okay. The Met. So Atlantic was 337. Yeah. The Met. Rags 55. Cains 52. Islanders 39.

What a drop. Crazy. Caps 40. Penguins 38. Flyers 38. Devils 38. Jackets 27 for a total of 327. Less than the Atlantic.

327 in the Met. Red. Over under. Under. Oh, dar. 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 Flex those tools Drive design, deliver, make it sing AI builds the deck so you can build that thing Acrobat Learn more at adobe.com slash do that with Acrobat We're going under too I don't know if this is allowed post

still calling 327 I'm calling my I don't know I don't know that was allowed but I don't know I'll stick with under because what was it 327

327 it could be 326 yeah we get the field my my knee jerk was under because I think the canes and the Rangers are going to be way under not way under

but I think they're definitely less coming down but dude the thing that just shocked me is like penguins I don't believe in that shit at all

what's going on there The Penguins is the most unpredictable team Ever. In the league. I have no idea what is going to happen with them. I hate to say this because a lot of their fans were annoying me last year with all the playoff talk. I think the cap sneaky got better.

Me too. They did a ton of shit this off season. I don't think they're good still. They did a ton of shit. I just think the devils and Islanders must be better next year, right? Like, is Sorokin? The devils for sure. Is Sorokin going to struggle again, dude?

Like, Sorokin's so good. I just don't think he's going to play that badly again. Did you see that? And then the devil's healthy and now with Markey have to be better. So I do think that top, like those top two are going to go down, but I think those two in particular, and the caps. But then what about the Flyers?

What about the Flyers? What about the Flyers? They got Mitchcove. Maybe this was over. Maybe this was over for a no time. The Flyers would, I mean, the Flyers might make play. They should have made the playoffs last year.

Yep. Like they, they missed the playoffs. Yep. It was on them. Yeah, it's true. Dude, what's fucking hilarious is... Wait, is that gonna have more wins? Yeah, that's what I'm saying, dude.

If the devils are good. Like, if they go back to two years ago, devils, which is very possible, right? Do you still feel good about that roster? This could have been just a down here. You add marquee, yeah. If the devils are competitive, and I think we all maybe think the rags

and the canes are going to win slightly less. I think the Islanders are going to go down. I actually do, too. Wow. I haven't been on them in a long time, and I always get killed. I mean, I don't hate that at all. I mean, they also.

did fucking nothing. Like, you know, her usual. Izerman's not, Cole Eisenman's not playing this year. I don't think he's going to, I know he's not playing this year. He's not going to be this rookie that comes in. Or it might be post with them too with their wins. They might be exactly what the Islanders do. Exactly.

You kind of get passed by the devils and the flyers. Exactly. But if the devils are good again, and I think we all think the canes and rags will be competitive. I think the devils are winning them at. But that's what I'm saying. All of a sudden, that's, I think they're winning the Met

and I think Keith is going to win Jack Adams. Wow. That's a hot take. Hot take. That's a hot take. Dude,

I think Keith is such a good coach and the Toronto bullshit. Like, look at his record everywhere he's ever been. That's true. He won in juniors. He won in the H.L. Then he gets to Toronto

and all the fucking nonsense and dealing with the fucking showtime boys of Nealander, Matthews, and Marner. It's like, I think he's a perfect coach for this devil's team.

I think it's a... I think the Rangers win the Met again. Oh, you do? Okay. I think they win it again. I think they're the best team. Yeah. If the Devils do win, he'll will win coach of the year because they had such a bad year this year.

For sure, he will. Yeah. But that becomes a sneaky, if the Devils are good, that's a sneaky top three. Did you say? I went under. I went under. So we're all under with a push, but now I kind of feel dumb because I'm like, wait, the Flyers and Devils are going to be sick.

We still think the rags and Cains are good. They won't fall down that much. I think the Cains are going to fall more. than people think. Really? I do. Again, by more than people think, I think a lot of Keynes fans are like,

we're going to have 52, what, they have 51, 52. I think 51. Yeah, I mean, if they're between 45 to 50 wins, they're still looking at it. And I think they're going to have like 46 wins. Yeah. And I think the Rangers are still going to have

over 50 wins. Yeah, that's a safe bet. Yeah, my God. So, but the penguins, they're just dead. I don't think the penguins are dead. I think the penguins are going to do exactly what they've done. Would they?

Did they get anybody? Who'd they add? They added Riley Smith. Yeah. No. No, sorry. Riley's on... Riley just went somewhere crazy.

Riley is on the Rangers. Oh, he went to the Reds. I think, right? That's a great signing. They added... That's right. Who the fuck did they add? Crider and Ziba.

Riley, the Penguins did get somebody. And I remember thinking that's a good signing, but it's just so not needle moving. Anthony... Bovillier? Yeah, but I feel like that's not it. But that wasn't it. No, that's not it.

They already had him. Oh yeah, because that was... Yeah, Bunting was against trade. I'm not seeing anything. I can't remember. So yeah, there might be in trouble. Which is, dude, which is so crazy. No, no, no, that this would be the end of Sid's career.

You know what? You know what I was waiting to say this at a later point, but this is not a hot take. Crosby's going to extend on August 7th, 8-7, and he's going to resign there for like three, four years, and then he's also going to sign up for wasting away with that organization. That's mind-blowing to me. It's because, like, here's the thing.

Caps, I think, are better. They literally are better. They made the playoffs last year, and Pittsburgh didn't. I like the moves the caps have made. Like, they're going for it still. Pittsburgh's not. Like, it's bizarre. So when you talk about, like, guys, like, I think OV's going to be in playoffs again.

And if we have a third year in a row of, of Sidney Crosby not being in the playoffs, and there are still Penguins fans out there being like, he has to stay here forever. I'm like, dude, that piece of shit organization was in the basement. They were literally about to fold. Yeah, they were to move, dude. They were about to move until Crosby showed up,

saved them from obscurity, got them three cups. Like, he doesn't owe that city shit. It's crazy to me. I can't believe he's going to resound there. I cannot believe it. I'm a huge Crosby fan. Me too, bro. Huge.

Even, even, like, playing handsome for as long as I did, I was like, he was like my favorite player in the league. Like I love watching the way. Like I remember games. I remember a game in Montreal when I was playing Montreal and he was so good that game. Like I was just like, man, I think I'm dash two, but like this is fun. Yeah, yeah. He's so good right now.

But he was doing everything. He was like winning face off, snapping it back, like making good defensive plays, like everything. I was like, this is so fun to watch. He had like four points. It's fucking insane. It doesn't end up sleep. I was like this guy is, he's just, he's the best. And to do what he did this past season like that four points.

Oh, he was unbelievable. 40 goals. I'm like, dude. He made them competitive. Yeah. Watching him drag that team's lifeless body to a playoff run was, man. I just think, I've talked about this too much on the podcast. I just think it's a, if I were dubus and I talked to that organization and Sid,

you could revamp that organization with a trade of him. Yeah. Like you're getting a lot. You're going to have to make a big deal. though yes I think they're gonna have to make a massive deal that doesn't include Latang or Malkin no I think you move those guys would have to stay I think you move Crosby's that fucking Colorado because that hurts the deal right that's what I mean yeah yeah yeah yeah I think those guys want to stay together I mean they've all

re-signed there they're not going anywhere so to I mean yeah to me it's interesting like if I were obviously they if they want to stay like Tanger and Malkin I could see being like we're just gonna chill here yeah but like if they're missing the playoffs again can you you could get four first round picks for the four of those guys at the deadline. And completely restart your fucking order to. That's true. You could go that way too.

You know? If you get to the deadline and you're out of playoffs, I'd be like, Gino, do you want to go try to win a cup somewhere? They have some hard decisions to make. Yes. Oh, my God. Very hard decisions to make. So.

And it's crazy because it feels like even if things go well, the ceiling is like they sneak in a wildcard spot and losing the first round, right? Yeah. Exactly. You know, like even if you're like, oh, they had a great year. I'm like, congrats. You guys made the playoffs. Got pumped by the fucking rags in the first round.

Like you have jari and net And like you're telling me you sneak into the playoffs And you're expecting all like 34 years and older Those four guys carry you through four rounds of the playoffs It's like I don't think so One guy can do that The other thing is just But look at the other teams

I mean who else are they going to beat? I know dude You got to beat everybody It's fucking who are they going to beat? Yeah it's I don't know I don't see it either It's especially because at least this year I can't remember two years ago where they they were in it to the end, right?

Oh, they were? Because wasn't it, wasn't it the cats, like, no, they were in it. It wasn't it the cats, like, snuck in over them? Yes. And that's why they misled the cats and we got fucking ripped. Wasn't it that they lost to the Blackhawks or something? Yes, that's right. Yes, that's right.

Like the worst team. I think they were, no, they were in the driver's seat. They were. And they lost to the fucking hog. They controlled their own destiny. Yeah. Yeah. So these last two years, they've basically got kicked out of the playoffs in like the last game of the season.

Last week, certainly. Imagine this year. And like you said, Tom, right, they could go any direction. It's hard to predict with them. But imagine this year if they're in, like, last. You know, or I'm like, you're a horror. Wasn't the year that they made it, too, they, Sid got hurt in the first round.

The Rangers. They were up 3-1. Right, dude. And Sid was about to beat them. Sid gets hurt, and that's it. Yep. The Rangers came back and beat him, right? Jesus, that's the, yeah.

This fucking team. So that's crazy, dude. That'll be a really interesting one. Yeah. Next division. Okay. So Atlantic 337. Met 327.

The Central. Stars 52, Jets 52, Aves 50, Preds 47, Blues 43, Wild 39, Yotes 36, Hawks 23 for an NHL best 342 wins in the Central. Surprising. Wow. Tie.

3402. But I think a lot of wins. The two bottom teams in that division are pretty bottom. Really bottom. Yeah, but. Okay. So here's the bottom two in the Atlantic, 3730, Sends Habs. Bottom two in the Met, 3827, devil's jackets.

And then bottom two in the central, Yoteshawks, 36, 23. So it's not that far off. Okay. Yeah, true. The 23. The 23. I think definitely less. Okay, you're going less.

Yeah, go. Less. I'll stir the pot. Let's go over. Come on. Come on. Come on, dude. I know why he's thinking more, maybe, too.

It feels insane to go over the league high. But I think that I'm going to go over too. Fuck it. Dude, who do you scared of dropping in the Central? Like when you hear those numbers, Jets 52 maybe? I think Jets are going to be lower. I was going to say, Wait a peg right away. Yeah.

Jets are going to be lower, definitely. I also think, I believe in them big time. I think Dallas is absolutely going to be lower. Than 52? Yeah. Again, not a lot. But I think they're definitely Yeah, to your point

Like they went 409 games It's a good season It's still lower But even if those top two teams go Or top three go under 50 The bottom half I feel good about you Yotes could make up for that

And Preds dude Preds are gonna be sick But again, Preds were a playoff team Like they won 47 games They won 47 fucking games How many more are they gonna win? Maybe four or five And I do think

Definitely Utah is gonna be high I was just going to say Utah. Yeah. That's who, is that why you went over? Utah? I feel like that's an X factor. Definitely.

Dude, because they had, what was it? Utah overnight got one of the best defenses in the league. Oh, yeah.

And they had a 14 game losing streak last year. Horrendous. Like that's not. That ain't happen. I can't pronounce his name, but they got him from Florida to, um,

the Finnish guy. Oh, fucking yeah. Is it, did they get hockey? No, not hawk and paw. That's,

he's on Buffalo. You know who I'm talking about? maybe that's maybe I'm way off no no they're D right now search of the V I can't pronounce it's not not

not Valemalka no not Valemalk he's a that's a goalie yeah that's right all these fucking finish I know no they got Sergachev Dersy Cole and Marino

like that's their big yeah Marino I forgot about that that's their big Malamaki Malamaki Valley Mackey yes he came from Florida right yes yes

or is that no he come from From Calgary. Or he came from Calgary? Okay, maybe I've but maybe I've but you got Valemaki. Val Mackey. That's who I was thinking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, like, that's another one.

Like, their D literally overnight. Yeah, Flames. Is elite. Yeah, no, they're stacked back. Yeah, dude. So, I mean, come on. Because you have a one, two, right there. Like, you have, I mean, Dersie's...

And I thought, dude, Dersie, Derzze. And, like, talk about a perfect human being to play with the guy like Dersie and Fugachab. Oh, it's perfect. Like, that's such a good pair. It's a great pair. And then Marino Cole is. fantastic.

And they're forwards. And I thought Kooley was nasty. I think Kooli's going to get way better. I mean. Who'd they draft? Oh, teach. Teach. They got a Gindler too.

Would he come right away? I don't think so. I don't think so either. But Keller is nasty. So that could go up. Keller's nasty. But that's nasty. I think that team is trending up.

Kraus is good. And that owner wants to win now. Yes, dude. Oh, yeah. Oh, dude. Especially with the fan base, new rank. Like, come on. Let's go. Yeah.

Yep. And then, dude, when Marner gets traded there next week. Yeah. That's going to be huge, dude. Another hot take. I think hawks up or they still suck? Definitely up. They'll be better.

Yeah, I think they're last in the division. Yeah, I think they're still pretty bad. But they'll still be better. Warren Bresuo, though, starting job probably. We'll earn it first time. Good point. Again, they're going to finish last, but they will be better. Here's my big question for you boys.

Aves, 50. Under. I think so, too. And I'm not as scared of the ass as I am of Tampa. Under. But I'm a little worried about the app. I think you've got to be staring down the barrel of the reality that. Is that crazy?

No, because there's a very real chance that Nishu Kins does not play a single game for the Colorado. And your captain. And your captain doesn't come back. Well, he missed all the last year too. But like, yeah, there's also the element. If he doesn't come back this year, then it is a he's never playing. You're done. And that's a huge mental thing for that team, no doubt.

So. And it's just like, I feel like, would they, would they, lose. They lost in what's they've made a lot of big deals where they've given up draft picks. I know. There's a ton of pipeline, I don't think. No, I don't think that there's a ton of guys in the ads organization that they're

like, well, this guy's eventually going to step up. They kind of got what they've got. I mean, they're top guys I'll put up against anybody. If I'm like, put five guys on the ice, I'm like, yeah, go ahead. And even Georgieb was pretty good. I was dogging him a bit, but that's not like an issue in goal, I would say. It's an all-star team.

Yeah. They're top five. I'm like, holy hell. It's crazy. But after that, I'm like, but that's the thing.

It's like there's a huge drop off after that. Huge. Yeah. There's the depth after the five because that's what happens. Those five guys usually are on the ice the whole time. Yeah. And Nate Doc had fucking 140 points.

And you know what scary is Moose is about to sign, like literally any day. He's about to resign for probably 11.6 mil. Yeah. So it's only going to get harder for them. Yeah. After next summer. You know,

for sure. Nate's, He's got, he just signed, right? Yeah, he's, he's locked up for six more. Massive, yeah, dude. Yeah, huge, huge. But it's, the, I've, the, with the, uh, landy situation and the Nishchuskian situation. Yeah.

The last two years, they have been robbed of their window. Oh, dude, agree. Like, it sucks. It makes me really sad for them. Because, like, if you add both those guys in the, you put them in the equation. Come on. They beat Dallas. They beat Dallas.

They beat Dallas. I think they could win the cup last year. Definitely. Definitely. Both, both, both those guys. I mean, Nakushkin is a beast. Oh, my God. He's a horse.

Horse. Yeah. So, yeah, I think lower? For them. No, what do you think? The division lower? Lower. But I think that division's going to be more fun than it has been.

Yeah. Yeah, because I think a pred's going to be, I guess I don't think beyond. What was the win total for the Preds? 47, which is actually pretty hot. They won a ton. They went on a rip at the end of the year. At the end, I did forget about that. They might be around the same, I think.

Yeah. Because after Star, Jets, Aves, Preds. Even though we like Utah, we like the Hawks to be a little bit better. I like the Wild to bounce back a bit, too, maybe. They had a down year. And then the blues, I actually think, goes down.

They won 33, but I'm not too behind that. But it's really those four teams... Don't forget they lost Krug. Like, Krug might miss the whole season. Oh, yeah, that's right. That's right. But those four playoff teams from the Central, Stars, Jets, Aves, Preds are probably the four in the rip again.

I think that's a lock for that division, right? Yeah. But that'll be interesting because I think the Jets, they'll be, I think there'll be just slight slights. Like the Jets come down a little bit, ask you down a little bit, right,

and then we're really back, me and Red are really banking on Utah, Utah being a difference maker. So am I. I mean, I think they're an X factor for sure. I think there's a chance they make the playoffs. I swear to God.

Yeah. Again, a chance, but we'll see. Dude, it's so crazy how it feels like such a long season and you know it is a long season, but it gets quick, fast. Like, I remember the start of this past year, because the wild two years,

ago we're in the playoffs. This year I was like they'll probably get in again and they started slow and you're like well it's early and like it's just not you know like if you get off to that if you stumble out the gate you can get in trouble quickly. That's so funny you said that because I remember when we were in Anaheim I remember a it might have been Randy or Bruce I don't know who said it but wherever you are at like the quarter mark where things is like Thanksgiving right around there like wherever you are in the playoffs like playoff picture it's like some percentage where it's like majority of those teams are making the playoffs at the end of the season. So like that start time, the first 25 games, 30 games is huge.

Yeah, yeah, got, because it goes in reverse too. Like if Utah starts hot, then I'm like, you're in good shape. You're in good shape. You're in good shape. You can kind of hang around until the end. Yeah. Fuck, that's crazy. Yeah.

Yep. Did the Jets lose anybody big? Or that's still the same squad. Well, I mean, they lost Toff after the deadline trade. Monaghan, right? Yep, Monaghan's gone. Columbus. I forgot about that.

Yeah. But they could go, they could be competitive again. I think they surprised people this year, but I think they could be right in it again. And I think they also like AI is going to have a way better year. He was already great, but he's going to have a better year. I think they're hoping Valardi's healthy. Gabe was hurt a lot. Kyle Connor was hurt for a very true.

And then you have, I mean, you have Helibuck. You have the Vesda. You have Helibuck. I think Morrisy had a, compared to the year before, had a slightly down year too. He missed some time. He was a weapon. So good. Sheik.

Yeah, they could be in it. They could be in. Oh, yeah. Okay. Pacific. So 337 Atlantic, 327 Met, 342 Central. Pacific. Canucks 50, Oilers 49, Kings 44, Vegas 45, Flames 38, Crackin 34, Ducks 27, Sharks 19.

For a league worst, 306 wins. Red. Under. No. Come on. What are you got? I'll go under. Yes.

I'm going to go under too. Insane. That's crazy. I'm going to catch a lot of heat for that probably. That's okay. You got a lot of teams represented over there. I'm going to go over, but I feel both of you because I don't think it's my mind. Dude, I was going to say under it.

I thought I was going to be the one. What was it, 306? 306. Yeah. That's low. It's really low. 305. The Sharks 19 is a killer for the undercrow.

It's going to be at that again, though. Yeah, but Calgary. I think Calgary's coming down. Dude, so I actually think a ton of teams are coming down, but let's start with San Jose. What can they accomplish this year? They won 19 games. I'll tell you exactly what they can accomplish. Taking care of Will Smith and Macklin-Selabrini and finishing last in the Pacific.

Let them do whatever they want this year. Yeah. Like what they did with Bidadard. Yeah, 100%. Let them develop. Let them play in all the situations and they need to play. and win 20 games and be like whatever. I think they're going to win like 24.

Yeah, I think it's going to be very low. I think they're going to finish last place. Yeah, they're not going to be competitive. Is there? Yeah, and I guess they can't fix that. It's not like they can just, they're not losing up. I mean, they did the right things.

Like, it's, you know, Will and Macklin are, you know, are two rookies going to play 82 games? Probably not. You know, they'll probably get a knock here or there. But I think they're both going to be great. I think they'll both have over 45, 50 points. Toph is going to score 35, 40 goals, no doubt about it. He's definitely going to score over 30.

I think Wendberg's going to have a good season. But their defense and their goal tending is, it is what it is. Yep. And after those guys, really, it's like... Who's playing net there? Martin? No. No, no, God, no.

They did so many switches at the... I know. Yeah. Dude, it was a different goalie. It was a different person every game. They were basically, it was like, from the barracuda to the sharks, it was just... Yeah, dude, just... It was...

Come true. Yeah. Which is fine at the end of the year. And then, um... And then, uh... And then, uh... Awkward.

And Vanichick. Blackwood. That's right. Yeah. Vanichick. That's right. Vanichick. That's right.

They did a full out swap with like the devils. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. So yeah. I just think it, I think it's like they're in the, you know, they're trying to build something around these guys and it's going to take a while.

Is it? What happens in a locker in a locker room when, like we were just talking to Mario, right? And it's like, you're he's been there five six years you have the lowest winning percentage in the nchl over those five six years and then you come out this year again and you win 20 games like does it eventually just get in your head where you're like this blows yeah yeah it sucks for sure i remember i was on a team with the islanders for a couple years the first my first couple years in the league yeah kind of had that feeling but i was young yep so i think when you're young and

i was a young player i think you're thinking okay well i'm in the nchel but you're just trying to develop you're just trying to get better. I think that's the only thing you can think of is like how do we just get better? Yeah. It's not about wins and losses at that point because you're, I mean, it's always about wins and losses.

But at the same time, when you're that bad, it's just about getting better. Yep. And actually probably the only way you look at it. Of young talent probably helps the sharks in that case because you're like, let's focus on that. Like let's focus on this sick core and get everybody better and then we're trying to get better.

Like, you know, we said you add vets like Tauph and Wenberg to that group. You already have Kachure and Gras. granny. And it's like, you know, those two rookies are good. That's a good collection of guys. It's a good, top sense. You're instantly getting a guy like Toff where he comes in and, you know, like that's going to be, that's going to be, he's going to. Totally changes the power play. But it changes in the off-site, off-ice too. You have a guy that has done when he's done. He's won a cup, like all that stuff.

It's just going to just be great for those young guys. Yeah. It's the first time with those young guys with Toff and Wenberg, it's the first time in a couple of years where I, I mean, like, remember last year with Hurdle, I remember. I went on a huge rant where I was like, trade him, obviously. And some Sharks fans were like, he just extended you moron. And I was like, I promise you he's getting traded. And then boom, he got traded. This time around deadline comes, I am actually not being like trade cature or granny.

I'm kind of like, yeah, like you just saw what Chicago did. You brought in these specific veterans to play with Badaard. These are specific veterans that is good to be playing with Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini and Mario. Like, you know, like that's, I like that. I actually think the sharks are better than the hawks. I don't disagree with that. I think they're pretty comparable. Yeah, I agree with that.

Yeah, but I'm like, I like what they have around. And they got two, I mean, Baderd's nasty, obviously, but they got two kids coming in. I haven't seen anything in the league yet, but two kids coming in that we all feel pretty good about them being good. Yeah. And I really like what they have surrounding. The Hawks were really like, there's no one on the team.

It's just Bidar. Could you imagine if the Hawks got that number one pick and they got Celebrini, too? That would have been fucking insane. That would have been crazy. I thought I'm going to happen. Me too. I love that. Oh, that would have been unbelievable for the league.

Okay, so sharks get a little better, everyone thinks. I'm super high on the ducks. I think the ducks get way better. I do. I think they're going to do the same thing. Really? What do you think, Doug? What was their win total?

27. A little bit better, but not much, I don't think. Yeah. A little bit better. I think we're going to get 35 wins. You think it's like a drastic change? No, no, no. Not drastic, but a little bit.

I think they're going to sniff 10 more wins. I think it's to be 35. If it was 37, yeah, because if you're winning low 30s, or excuse me, if you're winning high 30s, you're in a playoff hunt. Talk about it. You're taking the cap off Leo. I mean, what did he play last year? Like 50 games?

Yeah. They didn't play him all. There's no way he's going to be okay with not playing all season. They were so hurt last year, dude. They were so hurt last year. Zegris didn't play the whole season. I am the biggest Zegers believer in the world. I think he's going to be back.

I think Vatrono's going to be buzzing again. Their defense, dude. Minchikov's going to be better. Zellweger's going to be getting in here. I think Gibber is going to have a healthier, more consistent season with that defense getting a little bit better. Again, I think it's around 35. But, like, I believe in the Ducks Project, I think good things are happening. Yep.

They got those new sweaters. Come on. Yeah. That's four wins at least. Finally. Finally. Right? That's four wins at least.

Oh, finally. You're right. You're right. Awful the ones before. Why are you overthinking it? My God. It was right in front of you what you were supposed to do. there. Finally. It was the Disney thing.

Thank you. They just didn't want to, they were like, I think there was so, such an element with that ownership that was like, we're not a Disney team. And we, everyone was like, we want you to be, like, stop fighting this. We all want it. Just bring the logo back. Everybody wants it. Yep. So that's good. Okay, so who's coming down for my

underboys? Who's coming down? Calgary. Flames. Definitely. Agree. They won 38. That's actually more competitive than I thought. The Canucks. They're not going to have 50 wins again. Agree. 50 comes down. You love to. It's a lot of wins.

It's a lot of wins. I don't hate that. I think they all hover around the same. Those top. Yeah, like I think maybe, I mean, the oilers probably come down a little bit. From 49. Yeah. That's a lot of wins too.

You know what? The oilers, I think, are either going to be. Or they. I think they go up chance. Like, if, again, if RV and Jeff Skinner stay healthy and play with these guys, I think that they have monster seasons. and the Oilers made great moves. But if they don't,

they're not going to lose the first 20 games a year. But they also won. They won, like 16 in a row, though. Yeah. I don't think that's happening. I don't think that's happening. I think they're going to be just like consistent. So, yeah, I could see them either getting better or getting a little bit worse.

So I'm calling the Oilers kind of just like a right down there, right down the middle. Here's the one where we all get yelled at. Kings invade. This is uncomfortable, dude. Like, I think the Kings maybe lose more games. currently. Me too. Yeah. Yeah, this is going to be tough for me too.

I'm going to have to say the same thing. I think the Kings have less wins and I think Vegas has more. You think Vegas goes up? I think Vegas goes up. I think so too, dude. Really? Well, here's the deal. For some reason, I don't know why.

I don't think Vegas, I mean, they certainly can. They'll certainly try. I don't think they're going to be pulling LTIR shit as much this year. Yeah, yeah. Also, you presumably and hopefully have a full season, healthy Mark Stone, a full season healthy, Tomash Hurdle, a full season healthy Jack. Like, if you have those three guys healthy all year, don't forget Theodore was hurt. Yeah, yeah.

All year long. He actually missed a lot of time on the back end. I think Logan Thompson being traded doesn't make the team better, but at least it makes Aden Hill know that I am the starter, no question about it. He's the guy. He's the guy. And I think that's good for him to know. I think Hanifan's there all year long. Like, again, barring health, I think Vegas wins more games.

And like you said, I mean, it's not going to change. I don't think it's going to change that much. Yeah, no, agree. But I do think, yeah, I agree. I think that bag is too, like. But that's 40 goals from Marsha. So, yeah, it's a tough loss. Oh, my God, damn.

No doubt about it. But again, I think you hope that hurdle does that. Yeah, he didn't play for them. Yeah, they have other guys there that can definitely. They can pick that slack up. You've essentially swapped out, you know, I know it's a different position, but like, it's, you know, you've essentially swapped out a younger hurdle with Marshal.

Yeah. Right. Because did Hurdle even play a regular season game or did he only play? No. Actually, yeah, I think maybe he played a couple, but like he did not play. He was injured when he was traded. Then that was first round. Yeah.

Popped right, too. Yeah. So like they barely got a run together. Yeah, God, Vegas will be interesting because it's like. He's a horse to hurdle. He'll do it. It's a brick. That's what I mean.

Like, I think Vegas does better with having him all season. Like, whew. God damn. That's a, that's a huge boost for them. That's big. So then we're kind of talking then But Canucks, we still think, are up near the top Just not maybe 50.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean, like the Canucks, you know, they lost Zadorov, they lost Lundholm. But like they didn't make their money with Lindholm, really. Zadorov, they got early days and kept winning. So that's a big loss. But I don't think that they move that much, you know? I think that seems fucking good.

I mean, Jake DeFrosk? Yeah, that's right. And think about Jake DeBrus playing with J.T. Miller or Elias Pedersen. Like, that's... And then playing, and then maybe playing under Rick Tockeet is the best thing for him. Yeah. Maybe he needs some guy like that. Like back in his hometown, too.

Yeah, back in his hometown. Yeah, exactly. I mean, there's so much potential with him. We see it all the time with him. I mean, you know, you're brute. It was probably like... So streaky. Tease you guys all the time, probably, right?

When you would get going and you'd be like, that's the first round draft. And there it is. It's just a different... Such a good point. about talk to. It's such a different system. Like, he's not going to be asked to be super defensively, and he is responsible defensively, but he's not really going to be asked that as much, I don't think. Playing in the hometown, very high power offense team, there's no, I don't think that there's any reason DeBrasse can't have a Hyman-Rinehart season out of nowhere, like 40

goals. And people are like, what the fuck? For sure. For sure. You know, like, that's, yeah, and having a guy like, like, talk, like I played for talk. He was an assistant coach in Tampa, and he's, he's a little like, he's scary. Yeah. He's intimidated. He has like a presence So I mean if you're I mean you see those guys Like they want to fucking play for that guy They want to play for him So I think maybe maybe that changes a little bit

Dude and they they really impressed me Through the playoffs too I kept saying they're going to be that team That you know got finally had a good regular season But just isn't ready for playoff hockey And the Oilers barely got by Yeah And if death was not hurt

I don't think they do get fired It changes a whole series for sure Also You know disrespected to Smith, but like she loves revealed himself to be a very reliable goaltender throughout those playoffs, and now you can rely on him to tandem with

way more. Keep him healthier, pressure. That buys you a few more wins maybe in the regular season if you just get the goalie. It's interesting. And then Cracken? That's an interesting one. They got to get better, right? I mean, they added Montor, like that's a huge player to add back there with Dunn. They added

Chandler Stevenson. Oh yeah, so Vegas lost him too. That's the only one. Yep, that's... I think they're better. Cracking. They got to be better. I think they have more wins this next year. Yep. Okay.

So cracking comes up. And then also like decor'd became. Yeah, he was this year. So like now we're going to go next year. Decord is your guy. They hired coach yet? Well, Bilesma. Bilesma came up, right?

Oh, sick. Corkella. That's awesome. I didn't realize that. Yeah. That's cool. That's nice. That's great.

Yep. That's a good track record. Okay. So the top to bottom last year, it went central, 342, Atlantic 337, Met 327, Pacific, 306. Central Atlantic, Met,

Pacific. Give me your orders next year. You're looking at me, eh? Yep. Atlantic, Central, Met Pacific. Okay. Mine was the same. Exactly same, too. Me too. All right, boys.

Same says. Hey, hate to not have the controversy, that was awesome. That's same zies. I think that's right, though. And Atlantic definitely the most competitive looking at it. Yeah, I think the biggest revelation or headline from this is what you said. Like, the Atlantic is just a bloodbath.

It's so deep. It's insane. It's so deep. It's just so crazy. You said it perfectly at the beginning. You go down the eight teams, every division. We can be like, oh, the Central has these four great teams, but these four are trending down. Like there's trended up, trended down in pretty much every division.

Yeah. The Atlantic is quite literally, I guess you could be like the bolts are trending down. But they're still so good. That would be the only team I could think of, but like what is trending down for them? For Tampa, exactly. So it's like every other team in the Atlantic, you're like, yeah, they're going to be better. It is interesting. Like I think one thing that I find, a lot of this has to do with goalie.

But we're talking about that. Tampa is kind of like that one team that's trending down. Or the window's closing. We'll say. Yeah. I think L.A. has to be realistic and look that they obviously have great, you know, I look at guys like QB. I look at guys like Spenny.

They have great players that are very young that are coming up. But like, Cope and Dewey are getting long in the tooth. It is what it is. They don't have an answer to goalie yet. Like that window is possibly closing. Tampa is possibly closing. I think the Rangers are definitely closing. I think there's an argument to be made that Carolina is closing.

Yeah, they're interesting. But the central is interesting in that I'm like, I don't think any windows are really closing there. I think of Dallas. Yeah. But like. Dallas is like, you think, because you think about their veteran guys, but at the same time, look at their young core group of guys. Dude, it's insane. They're not going anywhere.

Otter is fucking RFA. Look at Wyatt Johnston. Like, Wyatt. fucking stank. Robo, Hintz, Stank. Yeah. Thomas Harley. They're the youngest.

And Miro, they are like the youngest fucking team I've ever seen. They're nasty. They're a scary team. Like people look at them lose this year and they're like, ah yeah, Dallas couldn't do it again. I'm like, Dallas is like, yes, Sagan and Ben, definitely older. And they're goalie. Look at their goalie too.

That's what I'm saying. Otter's RFA. Like, it's insane. But what's crazy about that team is like you look at Sagan and Ben and you're like, they haven't been the ones doing it for two years now. Like they're still performing well, but like that's not their key guys. They don't have to be. Exactly.

Which is perfect. lose path, that's tough, but like you lose pad, but then I'm like, this will stank is right there. He just came up. They just have this fucking influx every single year. And when they lose last year and people like, oh, they didn't get it down, I'm like, their average age is like 24, dude, they're fine.

They're going to be right back here next year. It's insane. Agree, I do think and we said this year that I was like, man, this Dallas roster this season was a roster you should win the cup. I picked them to win the cup. Me too. Because it was like, I thought it was a failure that they didn't make it.

I thought it was their year, yeah. You have the vets still giving it to you, because they got, until the playoffs really, but like Pav, Ben, Sagan were like, had great seasons. You've got the cheap goalie who's in the top of the league. Like every piece, I was like, that team needs to win the cup. So like, they have plenty of window still, but you are like, I like the choice of them winning the cup,

and it's obviously in high, I mean, I did pick Florida to win the cup, but Florida was just that, just a little bit better. That's who I picked for the finals. I thought it was Dallas, Florida. So it's what we had as well. And I just think even if Dallas made it, I still think they couldn't get by Florida. Because like what was crazy is Florida's like their vets, like OEL, Okposo, like those guys were just like legitimately doing role positions. Whereas like you're asking a lot or a little bit more from Pav Sagan and Ben still.

Right. And Suter too. Yeah, fair, very, very. But yeah, Dallas is really strong. Central is fascinating to me because I do think the Jets stay good, Dallas stays good, Colorado's scary. stays good for sure. The Preds are going to be fucking Nashville's going to be very good.

As long as Colorado has a fucking All-Star line. They're fine. Just leave them out there. Yeah. Just leave him out there. I mean, you know Kail and Nate could do it. I'm sure Nate doesn't want to get off of, right?

Yeah, true. They actually have a leash on him that people don't see. Like, they need to keep him on the bench. Fucking ridiculous. Guys are savage out there. Well, that was a good luck at the divisions. Yep, call. C.P.

It'll be interesting. The Atlantic's going to be crazy. I'm really high on that. Yeah, me too. That'll be awesome. This is going to be, I'm looking forward to see what these predictions are going to be now. Yeah, me too.

Dude, so, and I obviously, you've done this in your life, but when we do the playoff prediction with you, it is so crazy because I'll start doing my team breakdowns. And I'm like, okay, they're definitely in. They're definitely in.

And I look down, I've got 15 teams from the East end. And I'm like, oh, right, this doesn't add up. This doesn't work. Yeah. Let's talk about the Atlantic right now. You and I both think Detroit's getting in.

That obviously five can technically. getting in, but probably that means one of those top fours out. I mean, I think there's a chance that Tampa could miss a plan. Me too. That's what I mean. What if, I mean, let's. Karma would be a bit. I don't know.

I mean, just never, you never, I mean, I just think that there's a chance. You never know with the completely different dynamic. What if there's injuries? Yeah. You know, I mean, and then you look at the other teams, they're all going like this. Yep. I mean. It's possible.

It's possible. It's possible. You weren't supposed to. Very possible. The Toronto gets the new coach bump. You know, everybody's feeling better. Like what shocks and surprises we have this year for teams that did make the playoffs? I'm trying to think here.

Let's see. I would say... I think Utah stands out to me. I think Detroit stands out to me. This past season, though. Yeah, this past season, the Devils. Devils was a shock. Everyone was like, they were making the...

Yeah, exactly. And then they missed, they were horrible. Devil's was a shock. Believe it or not... That could happen in the Atlantic. I think Calgary surprised some people. By not making it. By not making it.

Yeah. Think about it. At the beginning of the year, they had Zedorov and Lindholm on that. team. Like they had cadre, they have Uy, they have Uy, like they're, and they had Markey. Yeah. That was a surprise that they were that bad. Yeah, Devils was the big fall. That was a huge surprise. And then, you know, like the wild had been in, they fell

out pretty bad, flames, interesting. But yeah, there's going to be a devil's, to your point. I think there's going to be a shock like that in the Atlantic. Yeah. Yeah. Because those other teams are going to be so much better. And you know what's fucking scary? You should be a little nervous. He's really nervous. I agree. Because let's be honest, it ain't Florida.

No. So it's one of those three. Can you imagine if Toronto missed the playoffs? That would be fucking awesome. Yeah, Bruins's Leaf. That would be chaos. It would be chaos. It would be chaos.

It's not that this is fair, but, well, the devil's were a little banged up, but I was going to say not that this is fair, but they are, a lot of teams are one injury away. Like, yo, bro, the afts, let's say kale. Don't even speak that into this. 30 games. Let's say Nate missed. 30 games. That team, we love their first line. We just knock on. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I didn't like any of that. This is for you guys.

I don't like any of the talk. No injuries. But you know what I mean? And then all of a sudden the abs missed the playoffs. And everyone goes, what? Yeah. The abs missed? And I'm like, well, they were pretty top-heavy and they lost a horse for a good stretch of the season. And that'll cost you. You know, so it's that razor thin, especially in the Atlanta. It's that ray of it. Unbelievable. Okay. All right. Well, that's it for us today at the MTV Nader's podcast, Tomer. Thank you for being here. You're going to be seeing a lot more of Tommer, which is exciting. And until next episode, Skate Hard.