Empty Netters Podcast - The Flyers Shock The Met And Clinch The 3 Seed

Episode Date: April 14, 2026

The playoff teams in the east are officially set after Philly punched their ticket Monday night and the Flyers fans rejoice. The wildcard and Pacific division in the west, however, is crazier than ever. It’s going to be a wild last week of the season. Kopi and Quickie have their emotional farewells. Denver is the greatest college hockey program of all time. The boys lick their wounds after Coachella. Tal Pinchevsky joins the show to talk about the new Hartford Whalers doc on NHL Network. And we’ve got a gritty gal in the beer league hotline!  PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use code “NETTERS” and enjoy up to $1500 in bonus bets if you lose your first wager! Thanks to our Sponsors! BetMGM: Use bonus code NETTERS when signing up to receive up to $1500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Head to Bauer.com and check out the VAPOR FLYLITE Roller Skates. They're available now. Go grab a pair and bring your ice speed to the rink. Upgrade your stick. Head to drsquatch.com or find Dr. Squatch in stores. Let your stick do the talking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all year? No, no, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas and ran into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready, and we are back with another episode of the empty netters podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers, healing us on the sticks. It's Dr. Watkins. You're healed.

Thank you. Thank you. It's not easy, dude. Over here, I'm too tired to insult him, but he's still wearing his Coachella beads because he came straight from there. Chris Bowers. As always, I also just, just right now, recalled that I put this computer. in my car on the way to Coachella. And I needed to do something with it on Friday,

which is why I brought it in all. Okay. But I also made a Masters pimento cheese dip for everybody because the Masters was on. And I had it in a bowl with tinfoil over it. And I took a turn. My computer was loose in the backseat, which is insane.

I accept that. Yeah. I took a turn. My computer slid off the backseat, and the bowl of Pimento Cheese was on the floor of the backseat. And the corner of it, like the corner of the closed computer, knifed right through the tin foil. And did the whole ride sitting in Pimento Cheese Dip. And then I forgot that that happened. And I just opened my computer right now and see the Pimento Cheese Dip all over it.

Fuck. I'm sure it smells amazing. It's fine. It's fine. It's not good. everything is fine. They're water, all these apple, Apple electronics, all waterproof. Oh, yeah.

So maybe it's pimento cheeseproof. Dude, I heard that was their new update. Yeah. It was like they, now 10 meters depth in water and pimento cheese. Yeah, at least an inch. Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Tim Cook. Oh, my God, yes.

So we'll see, we'll see how that goes, but I'm doing fine. You sound like you were screaming at a stage for three days straight. I get dirt. I get dirt everywhere. I have so much dirt in my nose. It's unbelievable. Listen, we got a great episode. We're recording late, so we've got some games on right now.

The Wildcard Race continues to be absolutely insane. Tons of updates there. We've got a fun Whalers, Hartford Whalers documentary to talk about. We've got a Beer League hotline. Let's get into it. Come on. Wild card update. Lots happened.

Lots happened this weekend, and there's not that much left to happen. Yep. But I'm going to take us through. Yeah, you do it. Going to take us through it got everything. We're going to go through the East first. And first and foremost, on Saturday, the New Jersey Devils beat the Detroit Red Wings 5 to 3.

Was that the official elimination? Unacceptable loss by the Red Wings. And then the Blue Jackets beat the Canadians 5'2. And the Sends beat the Islanders three to nothing. This locked in the two wild card spots as the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators. So, in the East, eliminated from playoffs are now the Rangers, Leifes, Panthers,

Devils, Islanders, and Red Wings. The Islanders and the Red Wings have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. I want to get to them specifically in a second, but I do just want to say that the Bruins and the Sends... Really nice. Like that, this was a team.

The Bruins were kind of in the spot all year, about coming into the season, I was like, I don't know, they were a bubble team. And they pulled it off and went wire to wire, basically, of being in the mix. Great job. And then the Sends, from the death, just what a fight.

We'll fight. Sends coming back was so remarkable. It's also, as we've said, a number of times now here, Islanders in their last 10, 3 and 7, Red Wings in their last 10, 3, 6, and 1, blue jackets in their last 10, 2, 7, and 1. it's like everyone pissed and poo-poohed their pants. And here we are now.

I've never, no one has ever been more fucking dialed than I was in our season previews when I was like, Boston will be a wildcard bubble team all season. Yeah, and they were. And they were literally right here all fucking year long. That's actually really funny. Like everyone, Detroit was like a way up, way down. Oh, yeah. Boston was like, we're going to stay.

Right here. And I will say this for Boston too. They are a team that no one wants to fuck with. Yep. And as we said, they put their nuts on the table towards the end here. Last 15, 20 games or so, they won a ton of big, important games, and that is why they're in the playoffs. And I'll say this. I was about to ask you, if you're Boston, who would you prefer?

And I imagine you're going to say anyone but Carolina? No, I will not say that. Okay, what would you say? Anyone but Tampa. Anymore but Tampa. Tampa is the only team. I do think Carolina is the best they've ever been. But Boston's kind of had their number a bit a few times in the past. So wouldn't be rather with that Carolina, too, than the other ones.

Yeah. And so just more credit to the Sends, I guess, but I had naively been like, Boston is locked at Wild Card 1. And now that is a dog fight with one game left too. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So to finish up things here, right now it's Boston for, First wild card, Sends, second wild card,

that could still flip up. Boston is 98 points. Sends have 97, each with one game left. Top with the Atlantic is also still up for grabs. Sabres are at the top with 106 points in two games left. Habs also have 106 with only one game left. Bolts have 104 points with two games left. First round matchups are all in the balance here.

Bolts and Buffalo are playing as we speak. I think that game is tied. Let me look at that. Tampa's up. Tampa is up, okay. Tampa is up. Tampa is tied 1-1 right now

and Buffalo is yet to start. Oh, wait, no, sorry. Tampa is up 3-1. Three, God, mine says two. 3-1 and it's 0-0 Buffalo, Chicago. Yep. So Tampa winning, which is big for them. So, and they also need a regulation win to get the tiebreaker back.

Yes. Before we move on to the situation in the Met, it is time to talk about certain Atlantic teams. Yep. We avoided this all year. All year. I refuse to speak. Are we done with the Eiser plan? Here's a take for you, and I mean this. Yeah. There is no Eiser plan. Like, that's my biggest takeaway from the wings the last few years. They have their team, and then Stevie goes, I believe in these boys. My team's on the floor, which I can respect to a degree. But then they've just done the same thing.

And again, there is no movement. There's no change. There's no plan. So I don't even want to say the Izer plan failed because I don't know what the Izer plan is other than we are the Red Wings. Yeah. Listen, I am officially rattled for the Detroit Red Wings. I love Steve Eisenman so much. I love that he is back with Detroit.

but a lot of the naysayers and the boo-birds about him not being a good GM have a lot of ground to stand on right now. Where has he worked? Tampa. Is that it? Yeah. Tampa is the big one. And now he's here and they have not made the playoffs since he has joined this team.

The Eiser plan is years and years and years in. And dude, I don't know. I'm Danny positivity here. And I'm not going to speak negatively about anyone on this team. but you bring in McClellan and you have got like there are guys on this team doing what they're supposed to do right Alex DeBringit 40 goals 43 assists 83 points stick taps to what a season unbelievable cat is that he is doing exactly what he needs to do Lucas Raymond 25 goals 51 assists 76 points perfect like I would I would like Lucas to live in

the 70 to 90 point range every season he's right in there yeah Dylan Larkin, 67 points in 73 games, 34 tucks. Awesome. Awesome. Like, Dylan Larkin is in the 70 to 85 point, 90 point range, and with the games he missed, he would have been in that. So, boom, there you go. Mo Sider, 10 goals, 50 assists, 60 points. That is Norris shit right there, exactly what he needs to do.

After those four, and I think most would agree, those are your four best players on your team. they are all doing what they need to do there is a significant drop off and I include Patrick Kane with 16 goals 40 assists and 56 points 56 and 65 is pretty much what I want It's not bad but the 16 goals is not what you want from Patrick Kane

And if you say you do you're a fucking idiot liar How many did you want? 25 goals 25 yeah That's 10 more That is an important 10 goals Oh for sure I'm just looking at games though Like in a full season

He would have had 20 Sure But I need I need 20 25 for him. Sorry. Like you are Patrick Kane. I need 25 goals if you're going to be on this team. And if you're going to be this valuable.

So it's like there's just guys that, I mean, you look at their lines. You look at their roster construction. And it just feels like there's a lot that just is still needed there. They have, what do they have? 11 mil in cap space? Yeah. 11 mil in cap space. They're a major NHL franchise, original six team.

They should not have a hard time getting free agencies. They should not have a hard time having people sign here long term. And I am with you. I don't know what the plan is anymore. And this is, they went out and got Falk and that's great. And I'm glad Falk is on this team. But if I'm looking at the Detroit Red Wings and I'm looking at some of their young players who are, you know, no one really had this big job.

jump out year yet, right? That's a big thing. I look at Emmett Finney. I look at ASP, who had a decent little year. I look at Casper. I look at Brantz Ed Neegard who had one point in 12 games. No one has made a significant jump.

That is a problem. You need that to happen. I do wonder, though, missing playoffs again, here we go. 10 years now is as Izerman on the hot seat I kind of it's weird when you get to team royalty right it's like we always said with Frank

we're up for Chelsea where I was like you can't fire Frank Lambert rod is the great example yes yes um so I want to go kind of but maybe he has a longer leash because he's Steve Aserman and it's the Red Wings and to be fair to counter myself

there were a couple trades made this year John Gibson was brought in this There are things that happened that I was thrilled about. I announced Detroit would make playoffs no matter what just because of the John Gibson thing. And I was just looking up these numbers. Gibson 903-267 and for reference, Sorokin 906-268. And everyone's like, you know, Sorokin's been incredibly. He could win the best.

So I'm like, Gibson, he's not leading the league in anything. But for the most part, I'm like, yeah, you pretty much, after a slow start, you got, those are numbers that you would want from John Gibson. And it's certainly an improvement. Yes, totally They are better in the goaltending situation Because of John Gibson's career Like his career is 909-287 This year he gives you 903-267

So I'm like this is what you traded for Like you got you got the guy But your larger point And this is what I'm screaming This is what I'm screaming This roster is not A definite playoff roster It could be if you break it right

But it's not a team that you go They are making playoffs for sure And as the GM, that is your job. The coach coaches them up. You build them up. You need to build a team that we look at on paper and go, that is a playoff team. This could be a playoff team. And they had every opportunity to beat one this year.

They fucked it up. Yeah. But you don't want to be in the we could be a playoff team roster. I don't think Eiserman will be fired. But I, for the first time, in a long time, I am fully on board. with if I'm a Red Wings fan and I'm, if you're a Red Wings fan and you're upset with Steve Eisenman, I get it. I get it. I'm not going to get it. I'm not

going to hop on Twitter and tell you to calm down anymore. I'm going to be like, fuck. Yeah, this is tough. It also just sucks because they're such an awesome franchise. And here's my big thing, dude. I'm obviously a massive Larks guy. You see how fucking good he is. Every time he plays for USA, you see how good he is with good talent. Lucas Raymond is a great

player. De Brinket's a great player. But you just, we got to get better talent around this guy and around Mo and around Raymond. And on, you know, it's like the Patrick Kane thing was a good, good pickup when it happened, but is it good anymore? I don't, you know, I,

I'm not saying you're saying get rid of Patrick Kane, but I am saying, I don't know that Patrick Kane can be your guy that you're calling like your third best winger. Yeah. Now. He only signed a one year, eh? Uh, yes. Interesting. I wonder what he'll do.

He's 37 years old. I'm certain he can play one more year, maybe two more years. But you can't bring in Patrick Kane and give him like three million dollars again and be like this. And, you know, you are a top six winger for us that we're deep reliant on it because I'm like, no, you're not. Fuck. And it's like J.T. Comper, David Perron, those guys didn't do what you needed them to do. How many points was it, though, 56? Sorry? How many points was it, 56?

Yes. 56 for 3 million. It's good. It's good. And the 40 assists is amazing. Yeah. But I need you to score goals. You're Patrick Kane. Even if you're 37.

I need you to get more goals than 16 goals. But either way, we can move on from Detroit, but this is a fucking massive dick kick. It's a massive dick kick. I don't know what else to say. So in the Met, only the Cains and pens have clinched. The Islanders have been a little. with their Sunday lost to Montreal. Sucks. We will get into that in a second.

The Blue Jackets lost to Boston, three to two on Sunday, but they are still alive. The caps, dude. Dude. Beat pit back-to-back games, and they are alive. Flyers currently sit in third in the Met with 94 points and two games left. They're playing right now. Washington has 93 points

with one game left. Columbus has 92 points with one game left. If the Flyers win now, tonight, both Washington and Columbus are eliminated. If they lose an OT, Columbus is eliminated. Okay. So the Flyers winning will essentially set the Met.

Well, wait, if they lose in overtime, the next game doesn't technically they, doesn't capitals have the tiebreaker on them? Okay. Yeah, that's why I only said Columbus is eliminated. If they lose an O.T., Columbus is officially because of those regulation wins. Yeah, fuck yeah.

Yeah. So the flyers could lock themselves in and eliminate both Washington and Columbus if they win game tonight. So by the time you guys are listening to this episode, you might know something. You might know something. Because the caps can only get to 95. Yes. It is two to two right now. The end of the second. They were down to enough. Flyers and Keynes. Yeah. They have clawed back. Mitch Koff and Zegris. Sick. Fucking Zegers is about to sign a fat deal. Yeah. Okay. The DeBoer bump did not work. Yes.

We talked about it. We talked about it weeks ago. And we said, who is the most bummed if they miss? The Islanders got to be pretty bummed right now. Oh, this is devastating. They felt like the most locked. Like when we were there, when we had Schaefer on the pod, it felt like they were such a lock for playoffs. Dude, I feel bad because I thought they were going to finish top three. I remember being like, he's like, come out to New York.

And I was like, I'll see you for the playoffs. Like, he's going to be sick. And he was like, I mean, he wasn't bragging at all. But I was being like, you're in, dude. It's going to be amazing. You jinks him, dude. I'm like, sorry, dude. That was fucking, that was on me.

Yeah, fucking brutal. Jesus Christ. The, okay, let's talk about the island for a second. The, I view it though, and I know you agree, but I view it as they have every right to be really sad because of how the season went. But just like the sharks, who were never quite as high as the islanders, but the sharks were in playoffs, like many times. And we're in the driver's seat a week ago. Yeah.

And they just kind of slipped. You just have to get over this pretty quickly because of what's coming down the road. Like, yes, this sucks. 100% be sad for a week. Like, fuck, that would have been awesome. Yeah. But I'm like, chill, dude. Like, we, you good.

You could be a Wings fan. You could be a Blue Jackets fan. You know, I'm like, just, just be fine. You were going to be a 10-year playoff team moving forward. Yeah, no doubt. I kept using the word bummed for a reason because there's no, you haven't lost any massive opportunity here. They had tough injuries too, dude. That's Rice-Shafe's life.

Romanov dead, Palmeri dead, Engval dead. Like, they had a lot of guys injured all year. They, in my opinion, they overachieved. But after you go out and get Shen, it felt like. Yeah, no, you wanted it, bro. And like then while fired, DeBore brought in. The end of this season was definitely like, what happened? Yep.

So that is tough. But we are very close to having the East locked up. So let's move on to the West. Top three in the Central are clinched and locked. The mammoth have clinched a wildcard spot. They could flip-flop, however. Vegas and Edmonton have clinched, but the Pacific is very much up for grabs in literally every way. The Kings are in a four-game heater.

It's incredible. With a massive 1-0-0-0-1-0-1-8 on Saturday, the Kings could literally, how about this, Ev, win the Pacific. Yeah. Oh, wow. How funny is that? Dude, all the talk about the Pacific and the pillow fight and how insane it is. And a mere two weeks ago, we were sitting here being like,

the Kings are out of the pot. Kings, like, some of that, they lost that game to Calgary, and it was like, what the fuck are you guys doing? You're going to miss play. They could literally win the Pacific Division now. It's hilarious. And let me tell you, if that happened and they forced Vegas and the ducks get bumped down, and they forced Vegas and Edmonton to play each other in the first round,

it would be one of the great kings. And in Copeys last year, it would be fucking storybook shit. If the kings can go, can continue this heater, and they can. I assure you, which we'll get into. But the kings could literally win the Pacific. So I just want to say on that topic. Yes. Because I said this a while ago.

and everybody was like, well, that's not actually realistic, Chris. It is so realistic. It is very possible that the Kings get wildcard won and catch Utah and Edmonton wins the Pacific and they play in the first round. Oh, yeah. That is so on the table. Oh, yeah. So we get Oilers and Kings again?

Yeah. Fucking, eh. For one's like, no way. I'm like, do what will this be the fifth year in a row? Yeah. And Cope's like, I'm going to fucking kill them and then myself. Yes. That's going to happen.

On Thursday, Utah beat Nashville. The Ducks snapped their losing streak, beating San Jose. Seattle beat Vegas in OT. Then Saturday, Vegas beat Colorado. San Jose lost to Van and the Preds beat the Wild. Big win. Sunday, the Ducks lost to Vancouver. The Ducks are, oh my God.

So now, Vegas leads the Pacific with 91 points and two games left. They play Winnipeg tonight. Edmonton is in second with 90 points and two games left. They play Colorado tonight. The Ducks are in third still with 90 points in two games left They play Minnesota on Tuesday And the Preds on Thursday.

Huge game. Yeah, Jesus. The Kings are in that second wildcard spot with 87 points and they have three games left. So the Kings very much control... And do you know what they are? Yes, I sure do. We're going to get to that.

Okay. They control their destiny. So the sharks and jets, they are still alive somehow. They have 82 points with three games left, each of them. Dude, Jets and Caps finished with the two best records.

in their conferences last year. Yeah. Both are going to miss playoffs. I'm pretty sure. Yes. But both were deader than dead. And they were just searching. Surging.

And I was like, ah, no way. But now, like, and they're going to just miss. Surging. Dude, you idiots. So the sharks and Preds are playing as we speak. As we are speaking right now. So by the time you are listening to that, we will see what happens is zero zero. Sharks and Preds are playing right now.

The Jets and Vegas play tonight. Jets play the mammoth tomorrow. So they've got a back-to-back. Sharks play Chicago on Wednesday. The Preds have 86 points and two games left sitting just outside of the playoffs. They have the sharks and ducks left. Two games that they can win, especially with how the ducks are. It's fucking crazy that we just said the Kings could win the Pacific, which they easily could.

Yes. But the Preds could easily catch the Kings could also easily be out. Yes. I'm like, oh, they're in. We get it. I'm like actually. Preds are on a West Coast swing, though. Yeah.

You know, and they play the sharks and the ducks. Two teams can beat any team. any given night. The Kings with 87 points and three games left. They play in Calgary tonight, in Van tomorrow, and in Calgary on Thursday. Again, they recently lost a bad game to Calgary,

so hopefully they learned a lesson there. But big stuff, and here's the thing. If the Kings win two of three, no matter what they're guaranteed in, and tonight, if they win and the Preds lose, they are in. So a lot can be

decided tonight. Okay. Hawks up one-nothing on Buffalo. Okay. Interesting stuff. So the playoffs are going to go down to the wire. Yep. We are, there's a chance that like tonight we find out who's in,

but we still don't know some of the matchups. And that's actually a great teaser, Dan, because usually for people who have listened to us for a long time, we do the week before playoffs, we do, our two episodes are the East Playoff preview and then the West Playoff preview. We couldn't do that. We can't do it because we don't know yet.

So we're actually going to, did not really most likely not release our second episode this week on Thursday. We're going to wait to Friday, drop it Friday so we can have the full seating and give you a full playoff breakdown. And I'm praying to God that doesn't happen because I'm going to have to fucking record from a fucking airport. Yeah, cannot wait. So no, can't have that happen.

But that is our wild card update. It is pure fucking mayhem. And you love to see it. We're talking to the Kings. So we do want to take a moment to address Copee had his final regular season home game. big moment again awesome 1-0-0 win against edmonton that was fantastic to see but we've talked about it before as he announced his retirement we're going to have copi on the show at the end of the season whenever playoffs or regular season ends and it'll be amazing you'll get to see copi and we'll do a great

episode with him but just another time to remind everyone he's the all-time leader in points assist game winning goals and games played for the kings he played 20 years with this team all in that barn two Stanley Cups, Selke, the guy's unbelievable, he's the greatest king of all time. Yep, it's, uh, it's hard. This happens as you get older.

You just watch the people you grew up loving, just get older to retire. Oh man, and you're like, fuck, dude, like it's so brutal. You're old. Yeah, but it is, it is, um,

hard to process that, like all these things are happening. And he's like, yeah, it's my last regular season is brutal. It's super emotional. It can't be happening. Yeah. Super emotional.

You could see all the boys. on Edmonton too. Just being like, fuck me. You're watching a legend leave. It's crazy. And then another legend we had yesterday, I believe, Jonathan Quick has announced his retirement. We all kind of had a feeling.

But I believe he's playing tonight, right? Against the Panthers, his final game in the NHL, 19 pro seasons. He has the most wins and shutouts of any U.S. goalie. Three Stanley Cups, a con smite. He's one of the greatest goleys of all time. Yeah. One of the greatest goals of all time.

My wanted to bring this up as a massive shoutout. When Alec Martinez was on, we were talking about the Quicks. What an amazing dude he is. What an amazing family he is. Him and Jackie are the best. I am very curious here if there will be any sort of fence mending with the Kings. If I will not be surprised at all. In fact, I almost guarantee there will be an attempt by the Kings.

I think there will be some kind of thing. thing of like, hey, dude, we fucked you and like, what do you want to do here? What I don't know is if he accepts said all of them. I mean, that's a jersey number retiring. Oh, yeah. And to me, it's a, if I were them, I would desperately want to give him a one day contract and be like, can we make you retire a king and fucking say sorry for the way we handle things? At the very least, they should have fucking extend that offer because it was shitty the way it ended. And Jonathan Quick deserves better. And it would be amazing for King's fans.

And who knows, but I would love it. But who knows if they deserve it? Yeah. Either way, Jonathan Quick, the fucking best. And what a career. Oh, my God. And it's actually wildly poetic that him and Cope go out together. I agree.

There have been some sick photos that popped up with that. All right. Last bit of hot ice. I'm wearing the sweaty, the sweatshirt for a reason. college hockey. I had my fucking heart ripped out on Thursday. Yep. O.T.

fucking Denver, as usual, takes down Michigan. And just the most horrendous run for Michigan since 1998 continues to be so fucking depressing and embarrassing. And I don't know what to say. One thing I got really bummed about watching it was people were asking me, who I was rooting for when I was watching on Thursday. and I was like, oh, I picked North Dakota over Michigan, so I'm like, I hope those things happen for my bracket. But I was like, you know what, if Wisconsin and Michigan win, then it would be kind of cool because it's either the boys and girls won at Wisconsin or basketball and hockey won Michigan, which has never happened, which I didn't know.

Yeah. So I was like, if it's Wisconsin, Michigan, we actually have a fucking Numbies thing that will take place. Wisconsin, my God, like, I cannot believe how great they were down the stretch because, as I've said, a million times, they were up and down during the season for me. They would have some bad weekends, have some incredible weekends, and they looked amazing. And you just didn't know what team was going to show up in the tournament. Holy fuck, their A team showed up. Their best game every fucking time. So so much credit to them, stomping, frankly, a North Dakota team.

Multiple North Dakota power plays in the third period, down two goals. Fucking barely got any shots. outrageous. Then you get the Michigan game. I had to leave. I was dying laughing because I'm watching it and I had to leave probably 10 minutes into the first OT to go play beer league. And when I been Denver tied it, I was like, I just remember sitting here next to you going, there is literally no way that game doesn't go to overtime just so you know. And they were like, tie. I was like, yeah, I told you. So when that got tied, I was like, are you fucking kidding? I was like, this is insane. And when I got out of the, I got off the game and I was like, well, who won? And they were like,

Denver double O T. And I was like, dude, they are now going to win because I lost my hockey basketball thing. I'm now rooting for the boys, girls, dual Natty, but it's Denver. And man, they obviously are that good. It's not, it's not like they are these random Cinderella teams. So they deserve it, certainly. But it is fucking crazy how they just in the tournament step up every time. Dude, it's wild. Um, it would have been hockey of me to ask for two national championship titles in a matter of one week. But you wish you could swap them. I would love to swap them.

But Denver wins their third title in five years. They went down one nothing in the first period. Stayed calm, cool and collected. Boom, two goals in the third national title. Third and five years. 11 titles overall for the pios. Johnny Hicks was fucking ridiculous in that. In that Michigan game, I think he had 49 saves.

then here in this one he had 29 saves or something like that and he's gone 16-0-1 as a starter since he got that job I think he had like a 9-5-7 save percentage he's been unbelievable Carl had some funny comments where he was like he wasn't calling them like a small program

but he was talking about how big some of these other programs are and he even said he was like I'm not saying that we're like this little program but like you know we have disadvantages compared to some of these other schools. And there's part of me in the hockey front where I'm like, shut the fuck up, David, Carl. You have 11 titles, three and five years. But he is objectively right.

If you look at the size of Denver and then a Michigan or a Michigan state or an Ohio state, just like the entire schools and the programs and the other, like name another Denver team. Oh, yeah. You know, so it's in hockey. Probably NIL money too. Like, you know, I'm sure they're spending for hockey, but those other schools have more money. Absolutely. But Denver continues to be a fucking.

fucking powerhouse. And I laugh and go back to him, we popped on chicklets earlier this season. And gee was like, who do you like? And I was like, obviously I love Michigan, but you, and I mentioned Duluth and the plant pros, but I was like, you can never count out Denver. And here we are. And he was like, he was like, can't count out Denver. And it's like, they win again. So fucking fuck me. But congrats Denver. You are undeniable. Dude, there's, I will be really interested to see because David Carl is 36. Yeah, I think, which is fucking lunacy. Is that right? Check that. I'm pretty sure he's 36. But I would really interested to see if he is, because he obviously gets the doors kicked down. But we see guys all the time,

Jerry York, Jackie Parker, guys that just go, no, this is sick. I love. I love doing this. It'll be really interesting to see what he chooses, because he's either a guy that goes no, I love this, and I'm going to be remembered as the greatest hockey coach of all time, and I have a lifetime contract to Denver, and I'm going to win 15 national championships. Or is he like, I'm going to the NHL because literally every team wants me. Yance talked about this, and he said that line, that correct line. In the NHL, you get, as a coach, you get hired to get fired. Yeah.

Why the fuck would you want that? How much more money are you possibly going to get to live in, you know, Denver is such a sick city. You have such a good setup at this. school you can coach there to the end of your days you are a millionaire yeah your family and kids will go there forever for free for as long as you want you live in and around this unbelievable camp like why would you ever leave if is it just because people are like we'll go to the next level dude i'm kind of like would be why he does yeah and i'm like why who gives a fuck like so you can get shipped off to winnipeg at a moment's notice like genuinely man i'm like certainly getting your name on the cup is

Like that's an appeal. I'd be like, oh, this would be sick. My name's on the fucking Stanley Cup. Winning a cup definitely would be cool. But if I were Carl, dude, again, he's 36. I would coach at Denver for 20 years. Yeah. Like literally.

More years. Yes. I would coach 20 more years. And at like 56, I'd be like this, I'll pop to the NHL after you have 25 national titles. Yeah. Make them want you. Yeah.

And think about it. Think about how much money he'll make if he just stays there. Let's even be more realistic. Coach for 14 more years. And at 50, be like this. I'll go give it a shot in the NHL for a few years. See how it goes. I would never leave if I were him.

Yeah. I think, I actually think if he doesn't go soon, he won't. If the next year or two, he goes, yeah, fuck it. I want the next challenge, then so be it. But I think if he coaches 10 more years at Denver, he's like, I'm this guy now. I disagree with that so passionately because of his age. Yeah. If he doesn't go soon, if he doesn't go in four years, he's still only,

40. Like they'll be dudes, I mean, there are multiple dudes dozens and dozens of dudes in the NHL right now who are older than him. Yeah. So like, no, I think he could do 10 more years in Denver and then be like, yeah, I'm going to go to the NHL now. At 46.

Yeah, no, I didn't mean like he'd be too old. It would pass him by. I just was more feeling like if I had been at Denver for that long. I know, I know what you're saying. And again, I passionately disagree because I think he's still so young. And at that point he will have achieved so much at Denver that it's like I feel good about this. There's

nothing more that I could possibly do at Denver. So now I will go. Good day. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that's what he does. But it's fucking crazy. Congrats Denver. God damn it, Michigan. All right. Let's take a quick ad break. And then we will pop back in with an awesome interview talking about the Hartford Whalers documentary that you can check out on NHL Network. Yeah, because we are recording the 13th. So it's out today. Yes. So when you're listening to this, if you have NHL network, you can see it. Bang. Hockey is in full swing. Playoffs are right right here. They're right there. I can touch the playoffs. And just because it's playoffs, you can still use that MGM's favorite promotion, the hat trick jackpot. All you have to do is bet

on an anytime goal score. And if they score three or more, if they get that hatty for you, You get your share of $10,000 in bonus bets. That's ridiculous, okay? So bet on an anytime goal score. Figure out sniff, sniff out the haddy. You can find it. You can find the haddy. You sniff it out.

You bet on that guy, 10 Gs and bonus bets. Log into your account. It's so easy. You log into your bet-m-gum account, and you place your bet on a goal score. Okay? If the player scores, kaching, you win that bet already. Great job. And then if they get three or more, boom, you're in the 10-G bonus bet land.

It's amazing. When you get that out, you get that out. Use promo code netters. That's N-E-T-E-R-S when you sign up. And then you get a welcome offer because you're a new member. And then you can use the promotions. And then you can start winning bets left and right. Playoff hockey is the greatest thing of all time.

Don't miss it on the action. Bet MGM. Make it legendary. Well, today, ladies and gentlemen, we are joined by our friend Tal Panshevsky. And this is exciting, Dan, because you... Well, actually, both of us. We're in New England boys. You know, so we can go way back in Whalers' lore.

But Dan has a whole personality based around the whaling. Protecting the whalers. It's a very worthy cause. This is a very exciting time for me because we're going to get into all of this and then I'm going to be able to tell Hurricanes fans that if they want to take themselves seriously, they have to watch this dog. Yeah. If you're going to fucking steal valor from the Hartford Whalers, then you owe it to them to watch this dock. Good take. Every single Carolina fan has to do it.

Good take. So our first question, honestly, is just tell us about the origin story of how this came, this dock came together in the first place. I mean, I don't want to date myself too much, but I mentioned I'm old enough to have actually seen the Whalers play. Which is special. Back in the Montreal Forum back in the day. And then a colleague of mine, Pat Pickens, who's a co-director and producer on the film, he wrote a book about the Whalers. So that's really where it started. And I read the book.

I loved it. I always been fascinated by, I mean, it's everywhere. Everyone loves the Whalers, right? So we started talking. At that point, I'd been transitioning into other platforms, as they call them, you know, films. and features, shorts, podcasts, whatever. So we got into it, basically, and wanted to figure out how can we make the definitive Hartford Whalers dock.

And was this like over beers one night where you wake up in the morning, you're like, were we serious? Or was this like legitimately you went into it being, being the thought, we got to make a Whalers project? No, I mean, we were on opposite sides of the country. Yeah. Because he was on the East Coast. I was in Los Angeles at that time.

So there wasn't a lot of beer discussion. But we were both totally gung-ho. We really wanted to do it. We were kind of surprised it hadn't been. been done yet, you know. And so I, the first person I reached out to was Howard Baldwin, who also lives out here. And we started talking and he was on board immediately. So, and has been a huge advocate for the project since the beginning. And yeah, we just kind of dove head first into it. Pat's alma mater is Sacred Heart University. They made a generous

contribution of some funds and some, some cheap student labor. Yeah. Huge. And. And, We need that. And we were off and we were off. And, you know, by the time it was all done about a year, year and a half later, we'd done about three dozen interviews with different people from the Whalers universe, executives, players, coaches, bands, everyone. And the response has been great. Premiered last year on some regional sports networks in the Northeast.

If you had cable in New England last year, you could watch. Yeah. And now we're going national. It premieres on NHL Network on April 13th. So awesome. We're sight. Coming right up. So a year and a half.

I was going to ask how long, which is actually kind of fat. I know it sounds long to listeners, but that's kind of quick. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It felt quick. Yeah. It felt quick.

You know, we went to Whalers Night in Raleigh one year. That was our first trip. And just we wanted to shoot some stuff and witness the phenomenon and see how legit like the Whalers representation was in Raleigh for the Hurricanes game. And it was massive. It was great. So from there, we. We were in Vegas for the draft. We did a bunch of interviews there.

We were, we crisscrossed Florida. Everyone was in Florida. Yeah, so true. We, you know, we did, I think, like six interviews in four days in Florida. We did a bunch of stuff in Connecticut in New York. And we talked people from the marketing office, people from the ticket office. You know, we found fans who went down to Raleigh for Whalers Night from Connecticut. We found people tailgating at Whalers' Night.

We found these girls having like a birthday point. party at Whalers Night and the birthday girl claimed that she thinks her dad had gone to a Whalers game in Hartford for her birthday party. She didn't know all the details. There was a lot of, there was a lot of fun stuff. It was a great time. It was fun to make. Hectic, but we had a good time with it. We hope that the audience will enjoy it too. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. How, um, because the guests you got were amazing. I was watching. I was like, oh my God, everybody's talking. How was that process? Was it, were people just so psyched when you reached out? it was amazing i mean i had done this before like as a journalist i had done stories about oh remember

the whalers and or like oh half the leagues had coaches or former whalers or you know whatever it is and every time i would talk to someone whether it was dave tippet joel kwenville dean evison they're like oh yes i can talk about this for days so that is my favorite part about it as guys like verbiq starts talking and then they're talking about quenville and i'm like what the fuck every every coach or gm yeah it's like franx mike leut who's one of the most prominent agents in the league Ray Ferraro who's been on ESPN for I don't even know how long. It's unbelievable. Yeah, it's crazy.

Who was it? Someone in the docks like, fucking Ray, always run in his mouth. Of course he got that job. Deneen. Ray Ferraro is full of baloney, right? So he's a perfect broadcaster. That was awesome. Yeah, very, very cool.

Okay, so I want to hear, you know, all your favorite parts of doing it, but we got to hit some of our favorite highlights. Dude, the first one that just killed me was the story of finding the theme song. That was epic, dude. I'm talking about that. You have to, it's literally George Doucharm, who was like one of the executives at the team just have the record in his house.

How insane is that? Yeah, it's crazy. And then his grandparents, or excuse me, his grandkids heard it. They like the song. And you decide, okay, here's our theme song. By the way, what team even has a theme song? I know.

And to nail it, to hit that out of the park where everybody, it's iconic, everybody knows it, everybody loves it. It's so funny. It's so funny. I mean, after making this film, I'm hearing freaking brass bananas. in my nightmares when I go to sleep.

It also took forever to track down the license. Actually, that was like a behind the scenes. We must have talked to, I think, about five different record labels, about who actually owns the song. And eventually we did find it. But it took a little while to figure out who do we have to pay to actually use the song. And we eventually figured out.

But yeah, it's one of the many iconic aspects of this franchise that we all still love. Yeah. Oh, my God. That's amazing, dude. It's so funny. And then the Gordy house stuff. Of course.

It's actually crazy to me to think about, you know, we know that, that he goes there and all that stuff, but just hearing the logistics behind it. Oh, crazy. Hearing the stuff about with his kids. Yeah, I was going to say, making it a family affair. Yeah, like he'll retire. So many behind the scenes things that went down to get him to Hartford is fascinating. It took a while, too.

I mean, Howard Baldwin was pursuing them for a while. Yeah. And until eventually the owner of the Houston arrows was like, they're yours. I don't want to deal with them anymore. I suspect the team, I mean, half the league was kind of. struggling to stay afloat at that point. But yeah, I mean, Howard Baldwin visited them on their farm and closed the deal. And it was a huge moment for the franchise.

And, you know, Mark Howe wanted to go play. He said this a few times, but he wanted to go play in the NHL. And they said, well, if you don't go play with your dad in Hartford, or excuse me, in the World Hockey Association, he's going to retire. And Mark Howe just said, well, I'm not going to be responsible for Gordy. Howe retired. I don't think he knew he'd still be playing 10 years later, however many years it was. But, yeah, it was awesome.

And again, another very cool aspect of it. I mean, at one point, they had Bobby Hull and Gordy Howe playing on the Whalers. God, that's insane. And the Gordy stories about there was somebody that he, oh, for Torgic. Like Fetorke, cut mark or something. And then Gordy's like, I'm going to beat the shit out of you. So good to just think about that dynamic. Mr. Hockey defending his kids on the ice.

Yeah, I mean, it's incredible. There are so many parts that, you know, all the players, like we keep mentioning, they were now coaches or GMs and then the Gordy story, all that stuff's cool. But there's so many ins and outs that were done so well that were so fun about like literally the construction of the team. And I mean that literally with like the collapse of the arena and that how that actually ended up being a blessing.

That was actually money. Yeah. It's unbelievable. And then I kept dying at the designing of the logo story because it feels like such a flippant part of the doc. But I'm like people, NHL fans today who didn't even watch the Whalers play are like, that's the best logo in NHL history. The logo is everywhere.

It's everywhere. It is without a doubt. number one vintage logo that people, NHL fans or hockey fans who are like, I want like a vintage shirt or hat. They always get Whalers. There are people in this office who have Whalers hats and I'm like, sick and they're like, I don't even know what this is. And I'm like, oh, there you go.

We want just a quick story about that. We were doing a bunch of work in Connecticut at Sacred Heart over the course of a weekend. And I had to go into New York City after that to do some stuff. So I've been doing whalers stuff all weekend in Connecticut. I go down to the city. I have to go to the bank. And I'm waiting in line for the teller. And I look behind me.

And I swear to God, the guy standing behind me at the bank is wearing a whaler's hat. It's everywhere. I mean, I close my eyes and I still see the logo because it's in my brain so much. But yeah, it's everywhere. And we were lucky because one of our first interviews was Peter Good, the designer of the logo. And he passed away not long after that. So I'm pretty sure we had, I think we may have had his last on-camera interview about the logo. And he was not a sports fan, didn't know anything about hockey.

He just kind of dove into it and came home. with an absolute genius logo. Yeah, it's funny. I was dying at the, when they were trying to use like a harpoon and they were like, let's not. It was actually kill whales. Kill whales. But it was funny seeing the other versions, like with the full whale body.

And then he had the comment where it's like, you know, the shape isn't easy to manipulate except for the tail. He was like, the tail you can be creative with. It's just perfectly done. And the empty space with the age. I didn't even notice that until a couple of years ago. The Bruins rivalry element was really awesome. and particularly awesome for me

because when we were young, our dad kept a cork board and any time he would go to a game, he would, you know, back in the day when you'd get physical tickets, he would staple the tickets to multiple corpour. It was, you know, Red Sox games, Bruins games, all this. And the tickets back then, I can picture them so vividly in my head were so cool looking.

They were kind of this, like, tan color. And whenever there was a significance of a game, he would write on it. And my first Bruins game ever was a Whalers game. Wow. It's unbelievable. Nice. It's actually epic mine is in Nordiques game.

It's like, Chris's first game. Oh, that's perfect. No one's Nordiques, dancers game, Bruins's Whalers. And I was like, wow, who knew that that was going to be so. We killed those teams. Yeah. Unfortunately. Our presence, unfortunately.

That was the beginning of the end for both those teams. Yeah. Not only I think about it, that's probably why I'm so passionate about the Whalers and protect them. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Save our whales.

Save our whalers. It's unbelievable. But no, that's, that was a really cool part of it, too, because I think we were too young, you know, to actually remember that. And I think, I mean, the Bruins-Habs rivalry is amazing. But when I think about a team in Hartford, of course there'd be a huge Bruins rivalry. He used to play in the, you know, right in Boston. For sure.

So it was cool to see how hot that fire burned for those guys firsthand, whereas I wasn't quite aware of that. Well, I didn't even know that the whaler started out in Boston. I didn't even know that until we actually started in the World Hockey Association. I didn't know that until we started making the film. Yeah. So there was always that little brother thing. even after they went to Hartford. And, you know, the Bruins are the Bruins.

And, you know, the Whalers were the Whalers. Interpret that any way you want. And there was definitely, it seemed like, and when they first got to the NHL and they were playing the Bruins, they weren't good. The Bruins were dumbing them most of the time. And then eventually, once they got that big team in the 80s with Francis and Deneen and Quinville and all those guys,

that's when the table started to turn. And that was a huge moment for that franchise. And they're like, all right, we're going to, you know, we can stand up. up to these guys. Yeah, we can take these guys if we have to meet them in the playoffs, we can, we can beat them. And it was huge for just the collective energy and confidence around Hartford and in Connecticut. Yeah, definitely. Well, as they got competitive and good, the, and this is another one where I'm like, I can't believe, there were several things in Doc, and I don't want,

I want everyone to go see it. There's several things that I was like, how did I not know this? Like you said, the playing in Boston and the white-tasting logo, but the parade story is, is fucking gold. I literally have no idea how I've never heard that, dude. That is so funny. People would lose their shit if that happened now? Like if a team did that now, but it worked somehow. It was amazing.

About half the guys who were in the parade are like, I don't know if this is a good idea. We won one playoff round and they threw a parade for us. There's like a carmic thing going on that I'm not sure as good. But yeah, it was incredible. I mean, it shows you how badly they wanted to celebrate something with that team. And yeah, we got some great footage of the parade too. Yeah, yeah, you did.

It's, yeah, Mike Liu had it, had the best line. He just paused, went, no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was so funny. And what did he say? They go, they're like, what would you do? What are you going to do if you win the whole thing? I forget what he says, but he's like, you know,

the Hartford's going to burn to the ground or whatever. But I was like, yes, saying it in the happiest way possible. Oh, yeah. They were stoked about it. Yeah. But, dude, it's funny and it's easy to poke fun at because you're like, what is this, what's happening here and half the people didn't want to be there. But looking at the footage, I was like, this is sick.

I'm glad that the city just love. it and we're so pumped that we're in the mix you know it's legit it's a legit franchise i love that it's just i to me it's really cool i mean there's so many things that we need to get into like the you know ron han francis elements all that but i i'm curious just from your perspective it's like i think a lot of new fans see these teams that have come and gone and it's easy to be like oh yeah you know i get it there was a team here and they relocated it's fine whatever but you forget that these teams, whether struggling or not, had huge fan bases. And they had people who loved them and cared.

So as you made it, what were some of the coolest things that popped out about that? Like, did you talk to anyone who was like, I'm so glad you're making this. I was the biggest Whalers fan ever, blah, blah, blah, anything like that? There's a lot of, I mean, the legacy is actually pretty interesting. I mean, for one thing, we mentioned all the guys who played for the team who don't pretty much run the league. Yeah. And then, you know, the growth of hockey, youth hockey in Connecticut since like college hockey, there's what, four Division One programs just in Connecticut. It's not a big state. You know, Quinnipiac won the whole thing a few years ago. And I think, you know, what's interesting. What I found really interesting is that it's like it's an era of pro sports we're never going to have again. Like right now, if you want a team, you find a billionaire like Ryan Smith who snaps up the, you know, the kind of.

coyotes and brings them to Utah. And that's just how you get it done. You need someone with money to burn who can just foot the bill for everything, the building, everything. And back then, you know, Howard Baldwin started the team and he did all right, but he wasn't, he wasn't a billionaire. You know, this was a total community collective that, you know, at the time, Hartford was the national capital of insurance. So all the biggest insurance companies were in Connecticut and in Hartford and they all bought a piece of the whalers. You know, they, the Hartford, current the newspaper owned a piece i mean that's crazy imagine if like a newspaper owned a piece of a excuse me a pro sports team like there were about a dozen different businesses in the city

that owned the team it wasn't one guy with a ton of money it was a real community thing like they the comparison i hear a lot is the packers obviously but it's a different feel though yeah and but that i don't know if we'll ever see that again and that the big question was like well are the whaler's going to come back i like really if if you can find someone with a five billion dollars who really wants to do it, then yes, they'll come back. Yeah. But until you do, I don't think it's going to happen. It's certainly not coming back the way it was.

No, no. They need a new building anyway. They're still playing in the same building. Yeah, right. Insane. And Dan mentioned Ron Francis. That was actually cool. You know, I'm well aware how good Ron Francis was, but it was cool to see how huge he

was there. How much the boys were like, dude, he changed, changed everything. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He was after Gordy Howe, I guess, like, he was their franchise guy. He did everything. And sick and just...

I mean, they call him Ron Franchise. Friends franchise. Chris Berman said he could run for governor today and probably win, you know. And the craziest part, this isn't actually in the film. This is David McNabb, one of their scouts told us that they, what year would have been? Maybe an 84, 85, something like that. The Whalers had Joe Sackick absolutely pegged in the first round of the NHL draft. And they're like, we are going to put Joe Sackick and Ron Francis together.

And this is going to be our franchise down the middle for the next. 20 years and Quebec traded ahead one spot ahead of them and drafted Joe Sackick. And he's convinced if in the alternate universe where they get Sackick and they team them up with Francis, the whalers still exist because they would have been such a sick franchise. It's not a crazy thought. And that's a nuts what NHL would have. I've never heard before. Can you imagine?

Because that changes so much too with the Nordic. They probably leave still, but then the abs don't have the run. You know, like that's what. Changes everything. God, that would have been really exciting. I was also shocked. Here's another one I didn't know. And maybe I did, but I just feel like I'm too young and forget.

But in my mind, it was always Carolina. Like we were going to Raleigh. But that was really cool to hear people in the know be like, I thought we were going to Columbus. I thought we were going to Nashville. Yeah, that, what a crazy moment in time that was. Yeah, people forget when they announced they were leaving. They didn't know where they were going.

So they were just like free agents. And you could, yeah, like you said, everyone had a different idea of where they were going to go. Some Cincinnati, Columbus, who knows. But, you know, there were fewer teams in the league, obviously. so there were more markets available. And it took a little time before Carmanos kind of got the, basically got the deal he wanted in Raleigh and got the building and got everything you needed and moved there.

But there was that brief period where they didn't know where they're going. And even when they got to Raleigh, the building wasn't ready yet. So they were crisscrossing all over North Carolina the first couple of seasons. It was an absolute disaster. And no one went to the game. It's funny to watch it now because the Hurricanes are such a stable model franchise. But first couple of years, they were an absolute disaster. was going to the games. No one knew anything about hockey. They bring like Richard Petty from

NASCAR out to try and drum up a little support. Yeah. No one knew anything about the game. I mean, that was in an era where a lot of these southern teams were new, right? It's like the Panthers were what, a year before that or like a couple of years before that? And it's like, I mean, add to the element of you're moving an entire team to, you're moving a team to Carolina. Yeah. Yeah. Like, hey, here's pro hockey. And they're like, okay. Thank you. Yeah. But it is remarkable to look at what they are now. Yeah, and it's cool. I have a funny relationship with the move because I was at Duke for a bit. And so I, you know, I have love for the Cains and I was going so many of those games. So it's like, I actually love that franchise, but I have so much lore and love for

the Whalers growing up in New England that I get split between Dan's like, don't you dare touch the whalers. But I'm like, you're both cool. I love it. But I actually thought it was sick hearing Columbus national places that have teams now, too. I was like, oh, wow. Yeah. This was all in the works for so long. That's my favorite part about it is that it shows that this was a well-thought-out plan. Yeah. You know, like it's not like they're random cities that don't have teams now.

It's like, well, the whalers moved to Carolina and then eventually we got the Preds and we got Columbus. And it's like, oh, shit, okay, this was all in the works. Yeah. Very cool. I think all of that was in place with Gary Bettman around that time. Like the league was definitely researching certain locations saying, what are our options here? Can we get a team here? I mean, you look at the map back then, and there were massive.

swathes of the, you know, of the United States where there's just no teams at all. Now they're everywhere, really, especially when you look in that part of the country, in the southeast. But yeah, it was an interesting time. What do you guys think about Whalers night? Is it, are we cool with it? Dan, the floor is yours, sir. I think it is, I think it's the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Wow. I hate it. Shots fired. No, no, no, no. Well, shots fired at Carolina. Right. Because I'm like, you do not get to steal a team and then wear their jerseys and sell their jerseys and shirts and hats and scarves and make all this money off the back of the whalers when you ripped their team from their

hands what did in your experience i'm actually really interested in this it's also kind of a bit yeah i don't really care about well where we went through this not us personally but um the st louis rams and granted they were in l.A. first but the st.mloos came here and uh my girlfriends from St. Louis, I know a lot of St. Louis people, they, I found, were very split on, I now hate the Rams because they're gone, or yeah, that's my team. In your experience, the Hartford people, are they all Keynes fans, or are they upset? They're not Keynes fans, that's for sure. But they, I think they appreciate that the team is embracing it, I guess. I mean, Howard Baldwin says it in the film, he goes, listen, it's nice, but let's be real. It's motivated by greed. They're trying

to make money off the Jersey. That's my entire thing. Which is fine, which, I mean, he says, which is fine. That's okay, but let's be honest about it. I think they should play an exhibition game in Hartford. That would be sick. We're in the jerseys. Avalanche should play an exhibition game in Quebec City. We're in the jerseys. It would be a lot of fun.

That would be very cool. They should actually do a home and home. It is. They should play each other. They should play each other in Quebec and then Hartford. That would be great. Old Adams division. Yeah, yeah.

It's motivated by green, but it is, it's nice that it keeps the whalers alive. That is a good thing. I'll say this. As someone I grew up in Montreal, we lost the Expos. It was tough, but that team was in such a better place after they left. I mean, the building of Montreal is still there and it's still a wreck. Yeah.

You know, and it was horrible. And it was not a great situation for the team or the players. Have the Nats ever worn Expo's jerseys? Yes. Really? I'm okay with it. I don't mind it. Like, that's another cool logo.

I like the logo. Straight logo. Nick logo. Yeah, yeah. Tom Brady drafted by the app. That's right. Expo is legend. and Tom Brady.

Yeah, I think they have war the Expos. I don't think Exposed fans are that bitter about it. Yeah. I mean, we had screenings of the Whalers film where we'd get to the part where they moved the team and there would be people yelling at the screen. Like, people had to be escorted out of the theater. Yeah, yeah, there was one guy. Still pissed about it.

Still, I'm still very upset. Hell yeah. Very upset. Like yelling at the screen. And then the usher is having, excuse me, sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave. But they took our team. I know, I know. I love the passion.

I'll say that. I love the passion. That passion in the portion with the last game was so awesome. That actually took my breath away. After they were still, even the interviews present day, get that choked up was awesome to see. I love that. Yeah, it got a little dusty. We put a little teary music to that one. You know, we want to pull the heartstrings a little bit.

Yeah, I mean, I was talking with a guy I work with in London. You know, he's a huge soccer guy. And he said, like the whole idea of a team leaving like that, but it's so alien. You'd never even heard of it. And it doesn't really happen, fortunately, it doesn't happen that much anymore. So just seeing the, you know, the footage and the...

I love that we said that happened two years ago. Yeah. Well, yeah, that was different. It was, it was different. We don't have to go in the detail. That was the difference that they were playing in a college arena. But anyways, which I would have loved to see a game. But anyways, but yeah, just seeing the footage of the crowd

and, like, children in the stands and older people in the stands. And the players, they did a lap. Like, they did a whole lap with their gear off. Just kind of... Yeah. It's very surreal. Yeah. And yeah, the crowd, honestly, because the players I totally get, right?

You have connected to the city, to these fans. You're leaving pretty uncertainty in your life. I totally get the emotion. The fans openly crying in the crowd, that's what really got me. I was like, damn. Because to your point, that doesn't happen that much. And I can't fathom a team, like the Bruins being like, we're leaving. And I'd be like, oh, I guess we don't live there anymore.

But even if it's so hard. Still, though. Still, could you imagine? Could you imagine, like, your team just, they're leaving. I remember that, you know, we were watching the playoffs, you know, however many years ago, and it was Bergeron's last game. And it was like, the B's were losing. And it was kind of like, oh, whatever.

But I grabbed him and I was like, hey, watch this. These time took off because this is Berg's last game. And I take that to the team. This is the team's last game. I think I'd be like, what the fuck is happening? Yeah, that would be tough. That would be so tough. So it was watching it, I was like, damn, that is very real emotion.

I know so many people back home who the only thing they think about is the Boston Bruins. And if that weren't happened, they would die. Yeah, literally. I don't even know what they would do. So it's so real. And it's cool. Again, I don't mean to say it's cool to see, but it's important, I think, to see the emotions because that's what makes the doc so good. And stories like this so good.

Yeah, it was a cool thing talking with everyone. Everyone we spoke, there's such a range of emotions, right? So we had literally people tearing up talking about the last game, but we had guys telling stories from the room cracking up, you know, and just having a great time remembering all the good times that they had. And so that was some major feedback for us, I feel like. When people started seeing and viewing screenings, they were like, man, I was like up and down the whole time.

You know, they show that game seven against Montreal in 86, and I was, I was fucking pumped. Ready to go through the wall, dude, yeah, exactly. Like, I, for a second, I forgot how the game actually ended, you know? That was, you want to talk about dead silence in the theater, the part where the Claude Lemurgoal comes on in overtime when we were speaking. The theater just went silent. Yeah.

I didn't know if that was good or bad, but it turned out, it was, again, part of the emotion. Yeah, absolutely. Well, that's actually a great transition because I was curious what were some of your favorite parts in this whole process. Maybe it's like a behind-the-scenes story or whatever, but what, what do you take away from this whole experience? I mean, part of it was just getting it done and getting it on NHL network. I mean, you guys know, like, if you just get it done, I don't care what it is.

Like that, you should be congratulated. It's a huge accomplishment. 100%. And we had like, you know, micro budget would be, I think, a generous term. Yeah. So just the whole process of learning how to think on our feet. And, you know, we were literally working with college kids in our crew and not done a lot of work before. And, you know, me and Pat, we definitely had to.

kind of be on our toes and figure out how to solve problems. And, you know, we went to Vegas for the draft and we had a couple of interviews book, but then a couple of people backed out. And we, that whole time we were there. It was awesome. We got to go see the drafted sphere and everything. But we still had to book some interviews and get some work done. And fortunately, it worked out great.

But there was like the first day there. Like, oh, wait, this person backed out. This person might be in a little bit of trouble here. But it worked out fine. We got Mike Lute there. We got Larry Plow there. We got a few guys in Vegas and had a good time. It worked out well.

The experience as far as the educational aspect was a huge eye-opener for me. You know, my background is a journalist and a sports writer cover in the league, and I've never done anything like this before. So it was cool. I feel like I can do it again now if I have. There you go. I love that. Working on that.

And then what, if you were to speak to hockey fans who don't have a connection to Connecticut or the Whalers or don't remember these days, and give them a reason why they should watch it. Because for me, if you're, you know, older generation, if you grew up a whalish fan, you're going to devour this documentary. If you even had parents who loved this team, you're going to devour this documentary. But some of these newer fans who just love the game,

what are the big reasons why they will love this? I mean, we all love a pretty good underdog story, right? I feel like the Hartford Whalers are the ultimate underdog. It's literally a city between New York and Boston. I mean, it's a train stuff, true. Exactly. Yeah. You want to stop for Hartford on the way to Boston and get some lunch?

Listen, there's plenty of going on there, but it's easy for a place like Hartford, Connecticut, to be overlooked. Not just in sports and in life. And the fact that they had this team, the community really, really loved these guys, especially when they got competitive. And they had that team with Francis and Deneen and Mike Lute. I mean, they were all in. And they were going up against the Bostons and the Montreal and like these historic original six franchises. and for a little while they held their own, you know, and I think that's really cool to see. I think it's harder to find a pretty solid underdog story.

Maybe in college sports, you know, but in pro sports, it's hard to find that these days. So it kind of goes back to an older era where that was maybe a little more achievable. Yeah. It's a very good point. And we got to say, dude, you crushed it. Thank you. Thank you. Man, I'm a sucker for a doc.

but I will say sometimes you watch them, they drag a little bit and you're like, okay, I get it. This was just, when you find yourself learning new things in a space that you love, every scene, every new moment, and then like we keep touching on, it's so cool when stuff pops up there, you're like, oh shit, I know that guy, or I remember that thing, and that happens throughout the whole thing. Yeah.

And it's so fun. And again, doesn't matter if you were born. in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s. Like, you will know these names if you're a hockey fan. And that is so fond about it. So it's just we're pumped for you because it's so great. It's such a fun watch. I can't wait for people to see it.

And I'm glad you learned how to do it again because you better do it again. Yeah, yeah. There's some more stuff coming. Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot going on. It was a great experience. It was, it's crazy. I'm curious to see what people who are watching the game now who are in around for the

Whalers are going to think going, oh, Joel Quinville. Ron Francis? All these guys played together on the same team. Like, you literally look at the team four. Like head coach, head coach, head coach, GM, agent, broadcaster. They're all still in the game. It's pretty cool. Like, it's an impressive legacy for a team that has been gone longer than they were there.

It was a lot of fun. I appreciate you guys saying such nice stuff. Oh, dude, it was our pleasure. Thank you for letting us see it. Truly. It's so great. And as you said, you covered the league a long time. So before we let you go, I got to get your thoughts on these wild card races.

Oh my God. Who do you think's getting in? How insane. I was at King's Preds the other night. That was a big game. Which one of you were at? You were at one of the one. I was at the, no, that was at the mammoth game. They got clapped. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah, I mean, the ones in the West would never make the playoffs in the East. We should probably mention that. It's a pillow fight as McChiezes would call it. I mean, I think Ottawa is firmly in that spot. You think so? Yeah. Yeah. I think despite all the ridiculousness going on in that locker room, I mean, they're just too good. They're just too good. And I think if they play, let's say they play Carolina, I don't know. I don't know if Carolina wants to, I don't know. I think Ottawa is really good. I do, I do too.

Yeah. And that's a unstoppable force, immovable object for me because I do think Ottawa is very good. I think this Carolina team is better than they've ever been. I actually think they don't do it this year. A hundred percent. I don't know what to do. If there is a year where they are to do it, I genuinely think it's right now. So as good as Ottawa is, I do think Caroline is not sweating that matchup.

But they're certainly not happy it's Ottawa as opposed to Columbus or Detroit because they'd be way more comfortable there. Like Ottawa is a good team. And when you look at their lineup, the talent is insane. If anyone could catch Ottawa from the Islanders, the wings, and the blue jackets, who do you think gives them the best bid? Wings are done. I'm sorry. It's like we're sorry. No? They might be.

They might be. It's March. It's March in Detroit. Not good. Do you think the capture in the fight still? They've got one extra game played, but they've got the same amount of points. I think if the season is a week longer, maybe. I like Columbus.

There's something about them. I just, dude, they got the fight. I want to see, I'd love to see Columbus. I want to see Zach Wrenski in place. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I just, it's such a great. I love what they've done with bonus.

And I like the team. I think it's a very like, you know, they play like a very honest brand of hockey. Jack Greaves has been fantastic. Shock, I like, truly, that was their Achilles Heel, right? Going to the season, it was like, what are you going to do at goalie? He's been great. They found their goalie. I mean, they could probably still use a piece, but they'll figure that.

I think out West, I mean, I got to see more Macklin Celebrini. I'm not ready for the sharks to go out just yet. I don't know if they'll make it, but. I want to see their season keep going. I think they're in the drive. I think they're really tough. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Let me see. They're not in the driver's sitting anymore. They have the same amount of game. It's not looking great. Yeah. but they're okay. Like, let's see here. They have the same amount of games played

as the Kings and two plus points, so they are not in the driver's seat. Yeah. Okay, so yeah, they're, so kings control their destiny right now. Yes. Kings have a really easy schedule. I think they have Vancouver twice in Calgary once.

Yeah, we said, yeah, that's, it's, it's theirs to win. I mean, they'll, they'll lose in five to Colorado, but it'll still be fun. At least they get playoffs with Copies last year. Exactly.

You got to make the playoffs, Copies last season. Figure out what the hell they're going to do. Listen, I'll be honest, though. Colorado is obviously a wagon, but I take the King's goalie in that goalie matchup for being honest. Okay. Yeah. You've had questions about the woods in playoffs.

And it's literally just a question because they've been such a good tandem in front of the best team in the league when you get into playoffs and you're playing all playoff teams and you have to start one of them, what are we going to see? I believe we're going to see something great because I think they're both great.

But it is a question. It's all I'm saying. Kemper going against the old team would be interesting. It would be sick, right? That would be pretty cool. saying, boys. Let's get the Kings in. Let's get the Kings in.

So the Sends are in, the Kings are in. I love it. Before we let you go, again, tell everyone where they can find this, how they can watch this doc. And what else you're up to? And everything else going on. Everything, yeah. Okay, okay.

Right here. Yes. The Whalers on NHL Network, premiering April 13th, fantastic old school hockey story. You'll learn a lot. You'll laugh. You'll cry. And they'll be airing it, you know, repeatedly over the next year or so. So there'll be other.

opportunities to watch it. I also produced the NHL unscripted pod with the NHL with Jason Demers and Adnan Verk. We now have Nate Thompson on. Hell yes. Yeah, yeah. Fantastic. So we've got a nice three-man weave going with those guys. Yeah, I had

an I-Heart project that came out last year called Live Wire, which is not sports, but it's about this one of the original shock jocks named Allen Berg. So we're developing something with that as well. That's awesome. It's like a 10-part audio documentary, basically, about this shock jock from the 80s.

And, yeah, plenty of other things. But we'll get into that another time, I guess. But yeah, the Whalers is the main one right now. That's why I'm here. So happy you guys enjoyed it. Oh, dude, I'm so happy you shared. It was 100% of great. I was actually fired up when you messaged.

You were like, I did a Whalers doc. And I was like, oh, fuck, yes. You know what's actually funny? There is a beer league team in our league called The Whalers, and we actually just played them and lost in a barn burner last night. And that's where my head went first. And I'm like, man, I am tortured by that team. I was like, what?

They have a dog. And then I was like, wait, wait, this is an awesome doc. Okay. So shout out you fuckers who beat us. But thank you again for sharing it with us. And yeah, everyone, go check out the pod. There's so many friends of the program. I know, I know.

I know. I mean, this is fantastic. But thanks for popping in, dude. Thank you. Appreciate it. Of course, man. Wow. Stick taps to towel, because that was

Incredible. Huge shout-out TP. That was an awesome, awesome chat. And it's a sick doc. Check it out for sure. And he's got such a wealth of knowledge about it. And it's all in there, too. But just seeing him get so fired up about it was amazing because it just made me more fired up again, having just watched it. Yeah. I can't wait to check it out again. I agree. It was awesome. Can I interject one question? Please. Do we, do none of us believe that Ovechkin is actually retiring? You don't believe he is? Well, we didn't even talk about it. I feel like if he was actually doing it, we would have talked about it. It's weird to me that he... I won't acknowledge it. Really? I don't think OV is the type of guy who would want the full season tour, but I also think he cares too much about fans that he would, like, randomly,

at the last game of the season, be like this, yeah, I am retiring. So I don't think he's doing. I think he's kind of. Like last year when he was chasing the goal record was kind of felt like the retirement tour almost because it's like, well, here's your thing. But it was just weird because this weekend they did the whole, like, it felt very much like, oh, it's Sid's last game with Ovi. And they didn't, Sid didn't play in the Saturday game.

And then he played the Sunday game. And then they tried to do like a handshake line. And Ovi was like, no. So I'm like, he's sending mixed signals to me. So I have been firmly in the camp that he is, just because I was like, it just feels weird. Like, I feel like he is going to retire because his contract's up. We had always talked about he's not going to leave money on the table. But once this deal was up, I was like, I could see him going.

So I've kind of been on the dark horse like he is. is retiring. But interesting point by you, because I definitely don't think he wants the retirement tour. Yeah. But it would be, if I was a Caps fan, I would be bummed if in the middle of summer, in July, he goes like this. Dude. I am retiring, by the way. And I'm like, bro. Even if they, there's no fanfare, it's weird. Even if they lose here and they don't make playoffs. And he, like, in that last game, he's like, hey, like, that's it. If I were fans, I'd be like, what? Like, they didn't get a chance to see him one last time. I don't think he would do that. So I don't think. think he's retired. Yeah. Okay, quick ad break, and then we'll get back into some not ice.

Talk about Coachella. Talking about the best name in hockey, and that is Bauer, our favorite brand partner, the best people in the game, bringing you the best rollerblades you could ever imagine yet. That's right. I'm talking about the Bauer Vapor flylights. These flylights are some of the sickest skates you have ever seen. Well, guess what? Now they're in the rollerblades. And let me tell you what, Bauer has gotten me back into rollerblading, and it is the greatest thing of all times. Not just because it's super fun. And in the summer, especially here in Southern California, just ripping around on the blades all the time is amazing.

Yes. It is remarkable what blading does for your training. A lot of you folks, you get into the summer months, the ice is gone, you don't have all those unbelievable ponds to skate on and ODRs to skate on. You're searching for ice time. You don't always need it. Pop on some Bauer, vapor flylights,

and keep those edges sharp. Keep the speed coming, work on the hands, work on the feet. It's unbelievable. I'm going to tell you all about these things, okay? Bauer just dropped these flylights. The vapor flylight roller skates, and they are unbelievable. They're built for players who play fast.

This is not just like the casual Sunday league skate. No, no, no, no. You are going to be ripping around there. They got the all-new Crypto-fly chassis. It's lightweight, flexible, built on cryptonium geometry for max roll speed. Pair that with the fusion curve composite boot, which is ultra-reactive for quick transitions, and you've got a skate that lets you accelerate

and change direction without any lag. This is unbelievable. They got Swiss bearings. It's remarkable. Truly, folks, these roller blades are unbelievable. It feels like you're skating out there on the ice. You can get in a roller league. You can just tool around in your driveway or out on the sidewalks wherever to keep those feet light and fast.

That's what Bowers all about. Me, myself, I cannot tell you how much fun I have on these things. Again, I'll go out there with my twig. I'll tool around, work on my game, or I'll just rip around. Get a nice little exercise in and keep my edges and keep my turning and all that stuff sharp as possible. So you're going to go to Bauer.com. You're going to check out the vapor flylight roller skates. They're available now.

Grab a pair and bring your ice speed to the rink. It's unbelievable. Let me ask you an honest question, okay? When you think about your deodorant, why do you even get the deodorant you get? Is it just because that's what your mom bought? When you were in high school, you'd come home and they'd be a grocery shopping and got you deodorant? Were you stealing it from your dad's shave kit like I was? How do you get your deodorant?

I want you to put some real thought into it because it is time to fix that game. Because your deodorant's been failing you and it can't happen anymore. Listen, I've been there. When Dan and I are doing interviews, we're pitted up all the time. It's ridiculous. So what you need to do is to get rid of that forever because it would be amazing if you never had to worry about that again. Now, very importantly, Dr. Squatch has a new head professor and it is Megan Fox. Holy hot for teacher. She's running the F-O-X, the foundation for odor excellence. That is awesome. That is just incredible. Class is in session. I do not want to miss. You don't want to miss this. The lesson, real men pay attention to their deodorant. Their product is their invisible glide deodorant. It's natural, aluminum-free, 72-hour odor protection, no more pit stains, ruining your first impressions, ruining interviews. It goes on invisible so you're not leaving white marks on everything you own. It's the perfect collection of things to create.

this experience. It's available in stores and online at dr squatch.com. So upgrade your stick, let your stick do the talking, and head to dr.squatch.com. That's d r-s-Q-U-A-T-C-H.com, or find Dr. Squatch in stores. Let your stick do the talking. Time for some knot ice. The boys just got back from Coachella. Literally. My big, literally. My big question for you is, was that our last one? Uh, one of our friends is, is likely retiring due to baby. And we'll see. We'll see.

Babies will get you. Yeah. They'll get you. So I went into this one. I was kind of doing Ovi this year. I went in being like, this is probably it. But like Ovi, I'm afraid that in the offseason I'm going to go, I actually want to go back. So I'm not willing to commit.

I need to have a, I'll have a discussion with my team. Do you look at the artist lineup and let that determine it? Or are you just always going to always want to go? Yes. I think I am admittedly, I am not the most dialed music person. I love music. I listen to a lot of music. But I am not that guy that knows everything about everyone on the set list.

So it doesn't affect my decision whatsoever. If there is a headliner or someone big that I'm fired up about, that adds excitement. But every year that I go, I see some performance of someone I've never heard of and it blows my dick clean off my body. Nice. And that's what I look forward to the most. New discoveries. Yeah, discovering new shit. Cool.

So, and you know what, frankly, I actually think sometimes the headliners create more of a disappointment. Yeah. It's more, certainly more opportunity for disappointment. Don't you think also like, like you get so crammed in and it's like almost unenjoyable

when there's like a billion fucking people? And then you might see somebody that's not getting noticed and you're like, oh, I have a great view. Yeah. Yeah. I think, okay, quickly on that, and I get that artists are weird in their nature, you know,

but what I find frustrating is these headliners. Obviously, if you're headlining Coachella, presumably you have a large collection of a large catalog of music that people like. And it would be so easy to just literally go up on stage and sing all, like go to Spotify, see what your most stream songs are, go up on stage and just sing those songs. Literally just do that. And everyone on earth would go, it was amazing, it was perfect.

And the internet would love you. But every time the headliner specifically go, no, I have to do something. Like, I have to make this weird. And then the internet's like, that sucked because you just didn't sing the good songs. And I'm like, why do you even let yourself get ripped like this? Just sing the good songs. Well, yeah, I don't, I'm going to come to the defense of some of these artists, these poor struggling artists. Yeah.

Because years ago when Blink 182 was there. Blink 182 is making new music. But they also know that they're not like, people aren't losing their fucking mind for the new album that Blink is dropping. So they played all their hits. And they sprinkled in some new songs. But when fucking Bebbs, for example, drops a new album and all these butt plugs are out there mad at him for not playing his music from 2010, I'm like, you're an idiot, dude.

Right. Like, he needs to play his new album because he needs people to listen to his new album. Yeah. I get it. So, and I also get the other side, and we'll get it fully into Beaver. Yeah, okay. But I think it is such a dumb person take that these, like, very current, relevant artists when they're not playing their old songs that you love and you're aghast by that.

I'm like, you're a dumb, dumb. Yeah. They need to play their new music. That's the whole point. of live performances. Yeah. It's like as if Ryan Gosling comes out with Project Hail Mary and then goes on Conan and Graham Norton

and you would be mad that he wasn't talking about drive and remember the Titans. It's the same exact thing. Yeah, yeah. Like live performances for current artists are almost always built around when they have a new album drop and they're going to play said new music.

Yeah, that's so the complaint I think is, is I understand the desire for it. Yeah. But the complaint, I think, is very misplaced. It's crazy. Were you talking about Beaver specifically? Or were you just saying a general road? I find this happens a lot with headliners,

but I do think it happened with Beaver this year. Like it was another example of like, oh, dude. Because it was, I forget, I saw I was reading an article. It was like 50, 5-0 minutes before he played Baby. And like, dude, we were pretty far back. So maybe the people up front were like geeking for him. They probably were. They probably girls crying just to see him or whatever.

We were pretty far back. but the people around us were lying on the ground. Like people were like sitting, lying down or leaving. And then he played baby and fucking everybody launched into the air and was screaming. That's so funny. Dude. Yeah. You guys give the people something.

I'm going to, people forget, uh, we're talking about my teammate here. Yeah, true. People forget the outlet pass. I snapped tape to tape for him on a nice ozone rush. So I'm going to have my guys back. And I'd mean this passionately. I thought he was great. And I think the internet backlash is a bummer.

Well, they're mad about, he pulled up a YouTube page or something? I wasn't aware. I didn't watch it. Let me break this down. Okay? What happened? Justin Bieber has a new album. Right.

Justin Bieber needs to sell said new album. He is performing at Coachella. He hasn't performed in years to this capacity. I don't think he's ever headline. He's been there many times. Yes, certainly. Obviously, he was going to play his new album. Yep.

Obviously, Beliebers. and his fans of which there were many, many, demanded that he played his bops. Right. Myself included, I was like, I really hope he plays his bops. Bebs went up there. He started his performance wearing a big red hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and sunglasses on. And people were going, oh, he put out a sleepy, lazy performance where he then doomscrolled the internet. It's hilarious how it.

Well, maybe that was an artistic statement. Yeah. So, in my opinion, what happened was Justin Bieber who has been who is the biggest star of our generation it's not even debatable as far as I'm concerned

he has been famous his entire life he has been uber super famous for decades now and has been through so fucking much yeah God and a lot of shit that we don't even know about I watched him go up on that stage with hundreds of millions of people

demanding he do this, that or the other, when he has every right to go, eat my butthole, I will do whatever I want. And not only did he give us exactly what we wanted, but he did it in his way, and I thought it was great. Watching him up there, like scrolling YouTube, which is where he was discovered,

which is where he became famous, where we all found him, watching him scroll YouTube and play those classic songs and play like 45 seconds to a minute of each of them so everyone got to enjoy. it. He got to move on to the next one. He then even played a couple of those funny viral videos where he ran into that glass door. He played the paparazzi clip where he's like, it's not clocking to you and like laughed at it. I was like, dude, I was like, dude, he thought that Beaver was going to get up there with his fucking headset on and do choreographed dances like he did in the past. That was never happening. But the fact that he did give all those old songs, but he did it in a way that made him happy. I think it's something that we should have all gone. That was fun. I thought it was fun. I thought it was fun. I think. think shitting on it is a bummer. Dude, so I'm with you.

The part that the internet is shitting on the most is that YouTube portion of the show. And I was like, that was amazing. I thought it was a really cool way to do it. Did people around you seem to be into it or did you feel the air change? No, it was cool. So you know what was interesting of? He goes, he was up there perform and there was no, there was nothing. There was no set design.

Yeah. There was no light show. It was very much him just with a microphone singing. Cool. He went up there. and then every now and then he had a laptop setup and there was like a camera angle on his face with a split screen of what he was like YouTubeing

and he was like I'm checking out here like on Twitter what you guys want me to play and everyone he did that immediately and everyone freaked out because they were like oh this is his sign of he's gonna play the hits but then to Chris's point we got 40 minutes in and he hadn't played any of the hits and people were like oh actually what he's doing

is making it seem like everyone is requesting swag songs. So it was almost a little bit of a misdirect. Chris is right. People were lying down. People were having conversations. People were leaving. A lot of people in our group left.

The second, those first few notes of baby came on, dude, it was great. It looked like a scene from World War Z. The way people jumped up off the ground and like sprinted closer to the state. That was a cool moment too. I was like, oh, holy shit. Well, you know, I can respect that because like you,

and like I have the, musical taste of an AARP member. So my only proxy for this is like, you look at artists like Bob Dylan or Neil Young who like, they never play their hits. Every time you see one of those guys, they're like, I'm really stoked to play this weird shit that I wrote at my 70s. Yeah.

And they're like, fuck you if you don't like it. But that just means they're excited to play it. Like they've got a boner for their new music. And that's cool. Hopefully it's good. Okay. My, or go on. I just have a question.

So usually someone with these, or everybody, plays a set and then weekend two, they play the same set. You know, like, that's what we do. And it was so charming the way he was just YouTubeing stuff. I was like, oh, this is so spontaneous and cool that I'm actually so curious if it next weekend is he going to do the same schick and be like, oh, I'm just on like, what do you guys I guess?

I know, it'll be, in fact, I think it'll be psychotic. If he literally does the same things, I'm like, oh, you're a robot. No, I, I see, you know what? I brought this up actually today. I don't think it's psychotic because Haley posted a couple videos. Like they went through her rehearsal, dude. Yeah. That wasn't random.

It was rehearsed. Every song was in order on their set list. Yeah. He will do maybe not the same thing. Like Kid Leroy went up there for state. Maybe they do something different. Maybe a different artist comes up. But I think all the YouTube stuff will be exactly the same.

Will he play D's nuts and double rainbow? Yeah. Will he be like, I'm in double rainbow? I hope so. Dude, somebody said online, they go, Bieber. should this next weekend should do that, like pull up his YouTube, but YouTube his weekend one performance and just play. And the walk off stage.

I was like that is, that actually would be inspired. It's like one of those fathom events. You go to regal to watch. You are mad scientist. It would be amazing. Here you go. I only have a couple other thoughts on Coachella, mostly for Ed here. Yeah.

I mean, I'm, I was in my backyard doing shrooms. When I mentioned sometimes the headliners are a bummer, so I'm a big anima guy. Anima got canceled because of the wind. It was utterly devastating. So John Summit was performing at the Doe Lab and a speaker fell down and squished a girl. A girl got squished. No way. Did she die?

No, she's alive. Which means she's probably going to be able to go to Coachella for free. I agree. Yeah. Dude, Evan, listen to me loud and clear. I would give anything to get anything to get anything. hit by a fallen speaker at Coachella. I would, I would have loved to have gotten Slashline. Yeah, you could buy like 20 bottles of water at Coachella. Yeah, yeah, correct. You know what's

funny? How much were the water? Very cheap. The waters were like one dollar. I think water should be free at that shit. Well, me too, but they would never do that. Of course not. But they're like, don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty, those waters that you get, they're in the like steel. I'm pretty sure they're only like one dollar and I think all of the water money goes to foundation. Sick. Which is pretty safe. And there's free, there is free filling stations. Okay, good. Yes. So yeah,

girl got squished. Oh, boy. But Anima getting canceled was an absolute dagger for me. I can never not find this funny. Listen, man. It's a long festival. You're there for a long time.

You're there for hours and hours and hours. A lot of substances being taken at these shows. Oh, yeah. So I'm told. Wouldn't know anything about it. Oh, yeah. A lot of substances being taken. People are eating, drinking,

I will never, ever understand the state of porta-potties at festivals like this. We just had the piss conversation. It's not going to get better. I don't want to get back into a pee-pee-poo-poo conversation. But dude, going in, like on the last show, if you got to pee and you go into the port-a-potties at the end of the festival, you walk into some of these porta-potties, and I'm like, what happened in here? I don't care how many drugs you are on.

Why people are just pooping on the walls. I'm like, what is going on? What trip are you at? I have a question. I generally don't know the answer to this. Are port-potties, when they drop off fucking 600 porta-potties at Coachella? Yeah. Are they, on Thursday morning, are they pristine?

Yes. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Spotless. They're empty. They're empty. They're empty. And then they pump them full of the blue, sanitized, whatever.

They didn't come with destruction. Pooping it? Yeah. No, they don't pre-poop deliver porta-potties. I imagine they could. No. No, no, no, no. They're just move it over.

They're spanking clean. What are they? How do Porta Potties work? They get, when I look down. It's like a chemical toilet. Yeah, it's a cow. It looks like it goes down 500 feet, but I'm like this is. You're staring into the abyss and the abyss stares back at you.

Yeah, sure does. Dangerously. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, they get pumped and dumped, brother. So they just dump it right out and clean it up and then they go, boom. Or is a Porter Party retired after one event? Dude, that would be awesome, but I bet somebody's cleaning that thing, too. That's got to be horrible.

You're getting clean for sure. What a tough job. What's that guy show, dirty jobs? Yeah. Quarter potty cleaner, that's a tough job. That job should be like $200,000 a year. Yeah, minimum. 100%.

Minimum. Fuck, it's not, though. I suppose my last take is this, too. Coachella and music festivals rock. Oh my God, dude. They're incredible. If it's not for you, that's totally cool. But shitting on Coachella and people who go to Coachella?

Uncool. Uncool. Yeah. It's really. fun. You get to, you see so much music. And if you go with a good crew like we do, it is fucking awesome. The balls. Awesome. Yep. It's, uh, that's why I don't want to retire. I know, man. I'm getting old though. I know. It's a lot. There was a lot of walk in this year. It's getting so crowded. It's impossible to get in and out of that. Well, this was the first sell out of year's

because of Bieber. Once you're in. Yeah, then anything goes. It's special. It is when you get into that festival, walking around. And anything goes. Do you, do you prefer it when the sun is up? We gotta stop talking about Coachella, but do you prefer it when the sun is up or down? Because it's tough.

But the thing, me too. But the sunset set is the best set. Like as the sun is setting and it's fucking perfect. I actually disagree. I'm like, oh my God. I think, I think when it is dark and you get either a headliner or just sub-trops.

When it is dark, when it is dark and a DJ does like what Mao P and Boris Breha did, or what Subtronics did, it's dark, and the light show is melting your face. It is the best. Yeah, actually, I love lasers. I will say I am a big laser advocate. Call me major laser.

Yeah, call me major laser. Can you imagine the lasers at the major laser show? No, I actually, I can't believe that. That's crazy. All right, let's get into a beer league hotline and a blind ranking and close this epi out. Ev, what do we got for the beer league hotline? Playing in a C league, one team has a father-daughter combo. Both could play B-Lexie.

She's gritty and I love seeing women play like that, but she does a lot of dirty stuff. Elbows, cup checks, stick to the back of the leg. She gets away with it because she's a smaller woman. She also dives every time there's any contact. Last week she punched three guys on our team with no call and we didn't retaliate. Given playoffs are coming up. I anticipate she will ramp things up, not down. How best to handle this? Teach her consequences like any other player? Oh my God. Jesus. Or she gets a pass because she's a female. Fuck. This guy likes a gritty, dirty woman. And I like that. I like the cut of his gym. I like that about him.

He likes that about her. I like that about him. Oh, man. Define, what do you think he means by consequences? Because that is really the crux of this question. Yeah, yeah. First of all, I'd like to say a father-daughter, a combo on a beer league team was real cool. That's cool.

I went up and down on this gal a few times. I love that she's gritty. Me too. I don't love that she's cup check. Cup check is a little Slash to the back of the legs, dirty, messy. What was the other thing? Elbowing or something? Elbows? Yeah, she's elbows. I don't love an elbow in beer league either. I don't love an elbow. To be fair, maybe she's a little shorter, and elbows probably hit me on the chest or something. Yeah.

Cup check and that's... When you're with the... And it sucks too because it's all. all the boy. Like, you know, you can't even you're coming around ball tapping the fellas, I don't think that's cool. That's an unfair advantage for her too. That's what I'm saying. You know, it's like, yeah. You can't, you can't be

cup check in. But I doubt, I've never seen a play, but I doubt she's cup checking all the time. Like, I bet she's cup checks on which I don't love, but I bet it's more the back of the leg stuff. I'm kind of with you where I'm just in. She's gritty. He did say plural cup checks. Yeah. And I really don't like the dives. I hate the

Because then you're going, you're taking advantage of being the girl and going, oh, I'm going to get a call here. If like someone bumps up against me and I go flying, I'm going to get the call every time. Yeah. And I don't like that. If you want to be treated the same and the gritty nature makes it feel as though this gal is like, yeah, treat me the same. Yeah. You can't be dive in if you're also mixing it up. Right.

Because, dude, if you're mixing it up and aren't diving, I kind of have no problem with you because I know we can mix it up back. Yeah. So now we go, now she's punching people. And now we got playoffs. Her dad's on the team too. That's kind of crazy. Because like what kind of consequence is a new teacher when her fucking dad's right there.

I'm going to be honest. I think you two hand this broad to high heaven. Well, dude, this is, you just heard the gaudy house story on the whalers dock when someone hit his kids and he beat the wheels off. I'm worried about that because dad's got old guy strength. Yeah, yeah. And I two hand the girl to high heaven. and then my head gets ripped clean off.

Yeah, it's a risk you got to be willing to take. She's a player too. She could be B level. Couldn't we just teach your consequences by just having a conversation? I don't think so. No? I think you got to do, because if she's diving, it means she's a rat. She's a rat.

And I mean that in a good way. Yeah, you're a rat. You're Matthew Kachuk. You know, you know how to get under team's skin and you also know how to get results for your team. Oh, yeah. She's a rat. I respect it. but yeah if we're in the playoffs and she she's causing problems you got to snap a twig over her shin pads

I don't know what else to tell you dude don't don't do that here's another thing maybe well no you can't talk to the rest but maybe maybe like why are they in the sea level we kind of brushed over that like go go up what are they doing down here ratting around the sea level well go to B they say both could play B level uh you play you play in the highest level and then also the second highest level. Yeah, but it sounds like she doesn't also play. Yeah. If she played both, I'm winning.

Maybe they do. We don't know. Yeah, I guess this guy doesn't know. I think my big issue with my answer for you here is I don't know what beer league justice looks like. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to figure out. Because I don't, I am so anti-physicality in beer league. Yeah. If you facewash someone in beer league, if you're too.

hand in someone in beer league, I am so not about it. Yeah. It's insane. But what I do think you could get into here is some verbal abuse. Okay. I'm okay with a chirp. Yeah. I'm okay with a chirp.

Hit it where it hurts. So if you maybe want to start talking some shit, keep it classy. How much do you weigh? Oh, no. Keep it classy. But you could start chirping, I think. Yeah. Don't, I, as I know I made the two hand jokes, I do not think.

that we should be physically taking out our frustration on this. Because I do think fairly or unfairly you would get jumped not only by her dad but also by the whole team. If she flashed you the back leg and I turn around and bang, crossjack, I'm like everyone is going to kill. Well, why don't why don't you do like a hostage situation or like a villain does in a movie, go after the dad and then be like it's your fault. Oh, and he's an older guy too. Yeah. No one likes to see our dad. That's the answer. Incredible idea. Go after the dad. Everything you do to me is being returned to your father. The second she dives, go out the next shift, and fucking whack your stick down on the top of her dad's foot.

And when he is like, oh, my foot's broken, I can't do the lawn work tomorrow. You look at her and go like this. You like what you did. That's on you. quit fucking diving. Or I'm going to break your old man's hip. Yep. Yeah. She cup checks me. Turn around dad. Bang. Balls are hanging solo. Go after her father. That's it. Some supervillain. That is the answer. That is the answer. You thought chirping was the answer. Unfortunately, the answer is take out her dad. Yeah. Take out her dad. Yeah. I bet you'll stop diving after that.

That's it. That is incredible. Ev brilliantly done. All right. Bauer given us the best vapor flylight rollerblades in the game. Now they're going to give us the best blind rank you've ever heard. Evan, what do you got for us today? This might be a horrible copyright issue, but I want to blind rank the best NHL on TV theme songs.

Ooh, awesome. Have you done this one before? I don't think so. Whoa. Are we allowed to play this? Yeah, 10 seconds or less. 10 seconds or less. 10 seconds. So I'm only going to play 10 seconds.

Yep. Okay. Okay, here we go. Blind ranking, NHL broadcast themes. I don't love that one. I think it's... I mean, they're all good.

I know, that's the thing, and they all fire you up. Which one is that? It's hard to not yet. That's NHL on TNT, a newer one. Give us the announcements after. Okay, so NHL on TNT. Yeah. It gets the juices going, so I don't want to sewer it.

I think I'm going to go four. That wasn't that special. It's good. There's definitely stuff I have higher. It's good. Four, wow. All right, I'll get nuts. I'll get nuts.

You want to get nuts? Four, yeah. Michael Keaton-style? Let's get nuts. All right, here we go. This is NHL on Fox theme. Holy Fox. Well, it's funny because that was the broad NHL on Fox theme when it was like nationally on Fox.

But it's also now the theme when it's like local networks. Yeah, yeah. So it still exists after all these years. That's a hard five, brother. Really? Yeah. I get that it's not good, but also is kind of fun. Yeah, but like the T1 is kind of so generic.

I think most of these are pretty great, so that's five. Fuck. But you don't know what's coming. I know. I don't know what's coming. Not to be ominous. Okay. Five.

I'll live with that. Five. This is my personal Coachella, by the way. You guys, you guys went to good show. This is the bops that I was listened to all weekend. All right. Number three, NHL and Versus. Remember that?

Do you remember when this was? All right. See, now that is terrible. And that should be dead last. But instead, I kind of like that. That is fucking ridiculous. That was great. Like that versus, I think, used to be the broadcasts probably until the 24.

14 maybe? Yeah, yeah. It's not. It was like post lockout. Like we don't have it. No one. They had no network. They had no network. They had no network. I was like, what the fuck is versus? So thank God for them. And they're like, turn on a little guitar riff. Three. Yes, because we have no choice. I thought that was good. We Fox. That was better than Fox. Fox is incredible. Okay. You're an okay. Okay, three. Ready? Yep. Next one. ESPN. That used to be my ringtone. That is number one. That is number one. That is number one. That is number one, and it's a fucking blanslide, haymaker. Dude, there's something about Bieber and that theme. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Did they do? I think when the, when the NHL went back on ESPN, they did like a special about that theme. Was he in that special maybe? Yeah, that might have been it. Yeah. We've made a fun video about that. Oh, yeah. In October 2021, lifelong hockey fan, Justin Bieber narrated an ESPN video tribute

celebrating the return of the NHL on ESPN theme song. Boom. There you goaded. It's connected to Bieber two. Yeah. Number one. What's our number two? NHL on NBC.

This, I feel like I can see a tracking shot over a cold winter city. Pretty sick. I just always hear Doc Emmerch's voice over that shit. You can't. I feel fantastic about this list. That is my number two for sure. Yes. That beginning part is not great.

At the end there, it gets awesome. We nailed one, two. That's exactly where I wanted those. Yeah. And I think everything should go above verses. But I'll live with that. I'll live with that. Yeah.

Good list. God. Fun blind ranking. Those two are awesome. Those first two are so sad. The ESPN theme I always have such a fond memory of because honestly, the first time I saw it was not an ESPN. It was the movie Sudden Death, which was the Penguins, fucking, the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that's, like, die-hard inside the Penguins arena. And I remember hearing, like, they had the theme in the movie while they were broadcasting it.

And that was like the first hockey movie I ever watched. It was fucking great. Dude, when it was my ringtone, it was like when your ringtoads were like beeps. Like eventually you could get, oh yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But so it was just like this beep version of the ESPN theme, but it would get me so fired up every time.

I love it. Yeah. That was money. All right, great blind ranking. Quick update before we close the episode on some of the scores here. Oh, wow. Tampa Bay has beaten Detroit in overtime. So two points for Tampa Bay.

That's massive. Holy shit. We have got Buffalo and Chicago tied one one. The sharks are up one-nothing on the predators after two periods, and the LA Kings are up one-nothing on the Seattle Cracken. So those results, if they stand, would be huge. Flyers are in a shootout with the hurricanes. That means they've got the point.

Yep. So they're already at 95. So if they win the shootout, it's over. And if they lose the shootout, the caps cling to life. If the Flyers win in this shootout, how far into the shootout? Washington and Columbus will be eliminated. Should we just stay right here? I think we might have to just stay and watch this play out.

Yeah, so, dude, connect me missed. So, folks, you just thought the episode was ending. It's not. Oh. Flyers missed. Bonas. Cines missed. Flyers missed. Cains missed. Flyers missed.

And it was Zegris, which is insane. He never misses. He never misses. So the Keynes are about to shoot for their third shot right now. All right. This is amazing. So we got this game. I mean, we want the Flyers in, right?

I mean, this is like... Dude, I'll be honest with you. Either way, if it's caps or flyers as a penguins fan, I'm having a great time. It doesn't matter to me, but I have more respect for the capitals and the flyers, but whatever.

Super fun first round series for the penguins, no matter what. As a Penns fan, I'm stoked. I want the flyers because it's like, holy shit. Huge save. Keandre Miller just went, big save by the flyers.

Really? Yep. Holy shit. Are you watching it? Oh, yeah. Like the video? Oh, yeah. I'm coming around.

All right. Here we go. We got Forrester. Forrester. Up on the puck. Coming down. Coming in slow. Goal.

Goal time. This could be playoffs. And that is massive. Flyers are fired up on the bench, folks. Flyers are fired up on the bench. And now it comes down to your boy Bussie. Or not Bussie, sorry. God, that's a sick shot.

Ping. So the Flyers. Just scored. All right. You kind of said that like Christopher Wakan. The Flyers. Boom! The Philadelphia Flyers.

Darth Flaar. Huge, huge save. They know it. Look at them. Wow. That's awesome. So. So the Flyers.

Pangemish Flyers. And the Penguins. And we're sure about that. I think so, because now they're at 96. Oh yeah. I think they just went to 96. So here we go. But I thought that the,

I thought the Caps had. a tiebreaker over them if they lose the next game. No, but the caps have already played 81. Yeah, you're right. They would need to lose in overtime. The Philadelphia Flyers have officially clinched the playoffs. The boys are celebrating on

the ice and the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals have been eliminated. Holy smokes. That's what happens when you add Porter Martone. I could text my neighbor. It's incredible. Wow. All right. Special stuff. All right, folks. What a great way to end the episode. Flyers win.

in a shootout, they have clinched that spot in the playoffs. Unbelievable. Great episode. We will hit you later this week with our big full playoff preview. It's going to be fantastic. Guys, make sure you go. Give us five stars, Apple Spotify. Share the pod.

Go get more people to subscribe to the YouTube. Follow us on all the socials. We are getting to the most fun time of the year. We're going to be going on trips to different cities, watching playoffs, doing a ton of fun content for you. Stay dialed in. We will see you very. very, very soon and until then, skate hard.