Empty Netters Podcast - The Kings Try To Save Their Season Before It’s Too Late w/ Mark Streit

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

Liquid I.V. is the perfect travel companion for on-the-go hydration. Jim Hiller has been relieved of his duties as the Kings try anything to get back into the playoff picture. Mathew Schaefer is doing Bobby Orr stuff on the ice and he’s only 12 years old. Mark Streit gives the boys an incredible interview from Milan, talking about his Olympic experience and winning a cup with Crosby. The boys skied the Alps and DP has a lot to say. Jim Carrey has been cloned. And the beer league hotline better be real. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro5:35 - Hiller Fired14:20 - Schaefer is Goated22:38 - Trade Talk39:53 - Mark Streit Interview01:34:19 - Italy Skiing2:01:03 - Beer League Hotline and Blind RankingPRESENTED 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.Find LUCY near you at lucy.co/stores, or save 20% on your first online order at lucy.co/NETTERS with promo code NETTERS.Liquid I.V. is the perfect travel companion for on-the-go hydration. Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to LIQUIDIV.com and get 20% off your first purchase with code NETTERS at checkout. 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, over here on the sticks. His edits of our Italian food reviews could get us on the food channel. Agree.

That was the goal. Evan, how are we, baby? We're doing fan flippantastic. Come home. And then over here to my left, a guy I would normally make fun of, but not today. Because, believe or not, he is getting married. Chris Powers. Jay Bone.

Jay Bone is getting married. What an idiot. What an idiot. You're not proposing, are you? Dude, oh, that would have been funny your gift. The over-under of the Frank the Tank gifts I was sent yesterday. Really? It was very high.

That's pretty sweet. Everybody. Who sent it first? Good question. I got to go through. Dude, I have not to fucking brag, but I have a lot of text, unanswered text that I got to get to today. I believe that. I got a lot of.

I posted, Sandra put up a lovely post, and I shared the post, and I got a lot of DMs of people mad at you for finding out through a social media post. What was supposed to do? Go text and everybody? That's what I'm saying. I'm actually on your team. I'm going to go text everyone. You don't text anyone ever. Ever. I don't text you anyway. Nope. Also, I had a thought that do guys I don't like rings, like the literal thing of them, to the point that I was like,

I might even get a tattoo of a wedding ring. Because I'm like, I just don't, I don't like it on my finger. Careful with that. Apparently the ring tats fade pretty easily. Something about it being like on your hand. Yeah, we get a touch up. Maybe it's with a celebratory touch up every country.

Any of the tat people let us know, I think, I think hand tat, I don't know. Tons of people have hand tats. I think it's because you're exposed to the sun a lot. And also, you're probably like, washing your hands a lot and doing stuff with your hands of that that can't help right that doesn't why do you not like rings i don't know i did i find them uncomfortable yeah yeah i just like i just find them uncomfortable yeah i'm afraid to get your finger ripped off yeah that sounds cool yeah

so i was like i don't i certainly don't want a ring ever but i was like oh man it's i i i wish guys got something in this moment in your life like the girl has a ring on now and she's like showing all her friends and stuff and like i why don't i get like a sick watch Like how come I don't they're not like boom That my wife gave me a sick watch Yeah but that was a wedding day gift though Okay But you that's tradition you

I think they do get you some kind of get I want an engagement watch I want to be like boom and then and then It should be a thing though like every guy at a bar Like I want it to be like a girl A bunch of girls out at the bar And they see you out there and they're like Oh my God he's so hot

And then they look down and they go fuck watch He's got an engagement cock ring Yeah or the reverse you know Oh my like looking at the balls So I No ring. When I propose to Alice, I get a ring as well. Really?

It's like a Swedish thing. Like throughout our engagement, I will also be wearing a ring. See, that's what I'm screaming. I don't want a ring. But you don't want it. I want to something. Maybe what if you did, you put the ring on your necklace? That'd be cool.

Oh, like Frodo. Be like Frodo. Then all of a sudden, it starts sucking his life force out. He looks like an absolute grenu. You got to carry him up the mouth. And people are like, man, I don't think Chris is that. happy about getting married. But we're like, well, it's actually...

On the wedding day. No, that's the thing. You take the ring off on the wedding day. You're like, oh, God, the best day of my life. You look so much younger again. Yeah, there you go. I like that a lot. I like that a lot.

Yeah. Okay. I think that's a good idea. We need... I mean, listen, it's... It's, uh, I say a lot. Men need... I get flowers every single week.

Every Monday, I go to the grocery store and I buy flowers and I put them in my apartment. No shit. I do. Wow. I think they smell nice. I think they look nice. And I'm heavy on give men flowers more. Flowers are lovely.

There is nothing, I mean, there is something feminine about flowers, but there's nothing exclusive about flowers being a female thing. Totally. We can have them too. They're great. So let's also, let's get you, let's get you an engagement jewelry. Let's get me a ring for my necklace. You could do a ring, you're a big bracelet guy.

I love it. What if you did an engagement bracelet? Okay. And it's just a, it's a nice, silver bracelet and it says, in gay. Back off. Yeah. That's what I want.

That's what I want. All right, I'm in. There we go. Engagement bracelet, done. Got a big episode coming for you. We've got hot ice, NHL stuff's back. We've got a lot of things to talk about. We have the trade deadline on Friday.

We've got Mark Strite on the podcast. Stanley Cup champion, Swiss legend. And now watchmaker. Watchmaking legend. Unbelievable. Kind of Olympic legend, too. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he's genuinely a Swiss legend.

Yeah, it's fantastic. Can't wait for you to hear that. We're going to get into some fun, not-ice stuff, beer league hot lines. Let's get it cracking in hot ice. Jim Hiller's been fired. Go Kings Go. Is that a good PR move? Whenever there's like a terrible announcement, you just throw in your team's tagline, try to distract it.

Jim Hiller fired. Go Kings go. Go. Kings go. And everyone's like, oh, yeah, all right. Yeah, DJ Smith taken over as the interim head coach. This is now the back-to-back Kings coach firings where the interim takes over. We'll see if that works. Or if this should have been a situation where maybe we had Pete DeBoer waiting in the wings.

I don't know. I don't know if we'll have enough time. So this is why this is interesting to me, because we, I think there's been, we had an enlightening conversation that I can't reveal the sources. But we had an enlightening conversation about how overreactionary sports teams can be. Yes. Sports franchises can be with, oh, we didn't win the cup this year. Let's fire the coach. And it's like, is he a good coach? Because if he is, just keep them. Like, they don't need to be firing people left and right just because of an immediate coin flip. So I'm now framing my brain around stuff like that where I go, maybe keep guys. But also, we've

seen way, way earlier firings that I actually was like, that was kind of crazy. And then it completely turned a season around. Read the Edmonton Oilers two years ago. Yeah. Or whatever. To the point that the timing of this firing is what I find weird. It's not, and we never want anyone to lose our jobs in the show. We never say that. I didn't want Jim Hoha to be fired. But if we're firing him, I cannot believe we took this long to fire him. I agree. We are a positive. positivity and goofy and silly boy podcast, but I will be slightly spicy here and say, I think that this had to happen. Yep. Never want someone to lose their job, but I think that this had to happen.

I think with everything going on with the Kings, with it being Copies last year, how much talent is on their team that's not performing as they should. I'm kind of like, we need a new system in here. Could not agree with you more that I am utterly shocked that this happened in fucking March. Dude, when I got the alert, I was like, this is a mistake. I was in the building, the practice facility in, I think it was November or December. And it was after a stretch where I was like,

he will surely be fired. Yeah. I mean, I can't remember the last time that a team was talking about firing their coach for such a long time. Yeah, yeah. And then did it. I mean, it's shocking that it happened this late.

but at the, I know a lot of Kings fans are going too little too late. I don't think that that's true. I think we were, I was looking at the standings today and, excuse me, the Oilers are third in the Pacific with 66 points and the Kings have two games in hand on them. So if the Kings win two games in a row, they are tied for third in the Pacific. Like it's, it is definitely not too little too late. Don't you think it would have made more sense to fire him before the Olympic break? Then you have two, three weeks to get the coaching staff up to date? I mean, why do it at the end of the brain?

I cannot fathom this decision, the timing of decision. The decision, I support. But I'm like, you also had like, you had that week where guys were on the ice practicing. The last week of the Olympics, guys were back practicing. Absolutely. You could have had a new coach there to do that. But instead, you come back and lose an absolute shit-stomp or shitstorm performance against Vegas. And then you get pistol-whipped by Edmonton.

Like, it was two. Is that what are those? Yeah, so they lose to Vegas at home. In like such a bad game. Yeah. Pist to whip by Edmonton beat Calgary. Yeah. And I go, what, dude? I mean, it's classic.

It's the same thing with Jim Montgomery in Boston. It was like they lost a couple games that won a good one. It's like the decisions made before the Calgary game. Yeah, right. But yeah, I mean, had to happen. I, again, I understand it's almost even harder probably to hire a new coach this late in the game. Yeah. It's like that's probably why I think it's so crazy that you waited this long because now you're in March and you're asking a guy like Pete DeBore like, yo, do you want to be the coach of the Kings now?

And he's like, it's March. What are you talking about? I just planned a Greece trip. Like, what are you nuts? So it's like I feel like all any eligible coach is probably like they, they were almost like, I know, this is so late in the game. I'm going to wait until the end of the season or something. But I'll have plenty more options. Yeah.

I think the biggest thing for the Kings here that make this crazy to me is you, we obviously see Todd McClellan doing well now, but I think the issue with the Kings is the system. I think it's way too defensive of a system. I think it's way too neutral and cautious of a system. When you have guys, we've talked about this with the Kings, and I know we have injuries, but I'm going to include the injured players, when you pre-Panarant trade have guys like Kevin Fiala, like Anjicopatar, like Adrian Kempi, like Trevor Moore, Andre Kuzmenko, Quentin Beifield, Alex LaFerier, you've got guys on defense like Drew Dowdy and Brandt Clark who can all

contribute offensively very, very well. Trevor Moore is like a 30 goal score. Did it. And you've just got every single one of these dudes playing Fogel too, Fog Daddy as well. You've got every one of these dudes playing such a cautious defensive style of like neutral zone trap hockey, that is what needs to change because this team needs to score goals. We've talked about it. Their defense is pretty good this year. They don't give up a lot of goals. Kemper's great. They need to score. So you hire the coach and then go, the associate coach is now the head coach. And I'm always like, how much is possibly going to change? This is a guy who is in this coaching department? Yep. Is he going to go, I've actually hated every single thing that was going on. I'm going to flip this shit on its head. He could. He could. He could

like, I've been sitting here, I've been sitting here screaming, pulling my hair. Chomping at the bit, dude. Waiting for, I'm like a horny caged dog. Let me out. Let me start humping. Maybe. That'd be great. Yeah.

But I just don't know if that's going to happen. I just think, too, that it's the, the devils, the devils of the early 2000s were playing that trap, shit, you know, and different league that, obviously. But they were winning. You know what I mean? And I know it's hard. It's hard to win a cup, but it's like, it's one. I'm sure Patrick Elias could have scored way more.

goals if he was in a system. But it didn't matter because they were winning cups. Yes. And also a different league. It was a different game. But this Kings team has been pumped in the first round for the last decade straight. So I'm like, you're not winning. Change, do something different. Do me a favor and say that again for the people who are listening in their car and not totally paying attention. Say that playoff stat. The Kings have been pumped in the first round for the last decade straight. So the Los Angeles Kings are such a successful. franchise and I think are often brought up in conversations about some of the most well-run organizations in the NHL. They have not advanced past the first round since 2014 when they won

the Stanley Cup. People forget that. Zoinks. Like, hey, Scoop. It's been 12 years. Can you say that again for the kids in the back? Who are like, love Scoot me? Say that again for the kids sitting in the back of that car that weren't paying attention. Dude, isn't it funny when we see young kids in the public? And they're like, dude, it's, I actually think it's the least funny thing in the world. Their dad's like, oh, my boy's a huge fan. Can you get a pick? And I'm like, he's eight, sir. And this is an inappropriate show. You should probably not be listening to me. Because I guess I'm, I love Beer League Hotline. They're like, oh, no. So yeah, I'm hopeful that the Kings get a new coach bump and make the playoffs. Well, we love a new coach bump. It'll be a fucking tragedy if they miss the playoffs.

Agree. In Copies last year. That would be a nightmare. Do you think there's a chance that cope you un-retire retires? Honestly, absolutely not. But I think there's a chance. I don't think it's likely. I'm just saying it's a non-zero chance. So we're going to get back into the Kings in a little bit as we talk about trade deadline. So we can move on.

But it is just so crazy how Holland makes that swing for Panarin. And then Fiala breaks his leg in a million places and is done for the year. And now Kuzmanko also had a meniscus surgery. I'm like, oh. So again, we'll get into it. But, like, they have to make a pretty significant trade again. Yeah. So, I have thoughts.

Okay, we'll get there. We'll get there. Speaking of offense that is needed. Yes. You don't need any on the island. Yep. Because Matthew Schaefer, who is only 15 years old. Yes.

Has scored 20 goals in his first season as a defense. He doesn't even have his driver's license. He doesn't even... You don't need one in New York. Yeah. He can... On the island, though? On the island, though?

Yeah. I think the island's even more crazy. The island has no laws at all. Yeah, you need your boating. license. That's it. Yeah. That's all you got over there, dude. Shaffer can't even go see an R-rated movie. Yep. And he's got 20 goals. Uh, listen to these rips here. Go ahead. Shave 20 goals this season, the most by an 18-year-old defenseman. Come on. He had two against the habs and then two, uh, so he scored two against the Housley's NHL record for 18-year-old defenseman. And then

he scored another two against the Panthers on Sunday, which became the first time a defenseman, uh, because the first rookie to reach 20 goals in a season. The first time a defenseman became the first rookie, which is insane. He also tied house his record for the most multi-goal games by a teenage defenseman in a season in HL history. They each have four. He could break that. He became the youngest defenseman and six youngest skater in history to score 20 goals in a season. And his two goals against Canadians on Thursday came 55 seconds apart, making him the first 18-year-old defenseman in history to score twice in under one minute.

The last 18-year-old player to accomplish that feat was Happy Gilmore. Was Sidney Crosby, two goals in 44 seconds on December 23rd, 2007 and 2005. He's doing Crosby shit from the blue line. from the blue line. He might score fucking 30 goals. We were stroking ourselves off to Kale scoring 30 goals last year and Shaft Daddy is 18. He might do it.

Booch tweeted something today, I think this morning, and he was like, my Norris vote, like he has to be a Norris voting now. Let alone Calder. He has to be a Norris voting. It's crazy. I think that's correct. This kid is he is as

game changing as we've seen in a long. I mean, I don't want to say a long time because I believe Macklin last. There are some people who are being like, Macklin's jump didn't really start until this year. You're dumb if you think that. Macklin, yes, like they didn't make the playoffs. But for a team that finished last place again, everything changed last year in San Jose.

People were legitimately like, I am not going to games. Yeah, yeah. Diehard Sharks fans were like, I'm not going to games. We're so bad. Macklin and Will showed up and everything changed about the vibes of that team. And if you don't think that that also leaked into tons of people being like I would go there. Like Tyler Tofoli comes to that team because he is like they drafted Macklin. Like that is a big deal. So that is a, I mean, Matt Macklin's in that conversation,

but this is comparable to Sid and Ovi. Sid and Ovi showing up in Pitt and Washington and being like this. And everything is now different. Yeah. The islanders are their fucking party, dude. Oh my God. That place is a party. We're partying on the island. It's a great place to party. I had some other stats for you here. Matthew Schaefer for defensive ranks. in the league. In the league. Yeah. Not rookies. Defensive ranks in the league. Puck possession. Per game. 16 minutes. Or excuse me. In the season, 161 minutes, 31 seconds. Third in the NHL. Zone exits. 431 second in the NHL. Zone entries, 23 second in the NHL. Open ice deeks. 143 in the NHL. Goals, 20, tied for second in the NHL. For all defensemen in the league. Outrageous, dude. It brings us into, I wanted to bring up Beckett, your boy. because this came up on hockey talk yesterday. Someone was like, is Beckett the leader for Calder?

He is leading rookies in points with 49. I think Shafe's three behind him, or five behind him. Maybe Shafe has like 44, 47 or something like that. But the answer is no. He is absolutely my number two. Yeah, Shafe is 44. I think credit to Demadov.

Demadov's great. but I always get a little bit uppity about he played a little bit last year. So that's always going to factor in my personal voting. I see, yep. Beckett's been unbelievable. I mean, I'm talking you want to get fired up about Leo Carlson, as you should, get equally fired up about Beckett. I mean, like, Beckett and Leo, what a pick. Oh, my God.

What a pick, dude. After that, are you fucking kidding me? PVB, like that is such a brass balls pin. Insane, dude. Crazy. So I find it my duty to bring up Beckett and give him a tap on the head for how good he is. But all that to say, I just still think it's, I don't know how you can pick anyone but Schaefer. I think that's, I don't think, I know that's correct because of what Schaefer, everything we just read.

Like the stats are insane, he's doing Bobby or shit. He's doing Sidney Crosby shit. It's a joke. And the Islanders are firmly in the playoffs right now. Yeah. The ducks after their huge dip are. one point back from Vegas right now with a game in hand for First and the Pacific.

I think if the ducks where they spent most of the year. Can we just hold on? How fucking awesome is that? It's amazing, dude. Quack, quack, quack. Can we talk about that for a second? It's your show. Go for it. The Anaheim ducks are one

point back with a game in hand from first in the Pacific. With the Mitch Mariner, Mitch Marron and Jack Eichael Vegas Golden Knights. With 60 games. Yep. And they were missing Leo for so long. I think if they finish first, it also helps Beckett's case. People forget that we saved their season. Correct. Yeah, take flight, baby. If they finish first, it helps Beckett's case. But I think Beckett would need to make a, right now he has a five point lead over Schaefer. I think it would

need to significantly, he would have to get high. Double digits. It has to be double digits. Oh yeah, I was going to say like 15 points more. If he does that, then I go, as good as Schaefer's been, Beckett on the first place ducks with 75 points on the year. If he gets, you you know, if he goes crazy, I'll be like, okay, you're in the conversation. And what fucking kills me, dude, and this always happens, we should get Dr. Locks in here. This always fucking happens. I went to the Ducks, we went to the Ducks home opener. And I went like this. Damn, Beckett is so good. Nasty. Yeah. So I went on BetmGM.com. And he was 16 to 1 to win rookie of the year because he was so low behind Ryan Leonard behind everybody and I was like this

Beckett is going to win rookie of the year. I am placing a hundred dollar bet on this. I'm going to win $1,600 because I know ball. And now he's going to lose to Schaefer, but he's going to finish second. And like I feel as though it was the right bet. Like I did everything right and I'm now going to get nothing. You lose a good day. You're going to get shaved. Yeah, I'm going to get shaved. And it fucking enrages me because now I'm like, damn you, Schaefer. And then said I should just be like, I love you and you should just be reveling in how amazing it is. It's like, God damn it. I, at the beginning of the season, Chris and I put a, we put a bet on, um, uh, Dorofiev on Vegas

to win the rocket because he was just scoring at will. You're like three actors and Ike's and Marner. And I felt so good about it. Me too. And score Ophiav's like not even in top 10. Bro, he might never score a Fiav again. What do you mean? He just scored the other night.

No, he never scores. He never scored again. He'll never score. Score Feeve is 20, uh, he's 20. He was 21st in the league with 20 equals. Pughke. What a bad bet by us. Puke.

People want to know if we take accountability. Beckett. That was a terrible bet. And I'm sorry if anyone falls on this. Back in an incredible bet. He could do it. He could still do it. Incredible bet.

Speaking of betting. Come on. Let's take a quick ad break. Talk about that, MGM. There is no better place during March Madness than Las Vegas. We're going to be there. We're going to be in Vegas for March Madness. We always go to Vegas for March Madness.

And this year, college basketball can, College basketball fans can win a VIP trip to the Court of Legends event, which sounds incredible featuring the Covinder Twins. All you have to do to do this is simply place sports bets, which you're already doing anyway, so that sounds easy. And your position on the leaderboard of Court of Legends will determine if you win one of the 25 grand prize packages. You just sign into your bet in GM account and opt into the promotion and then start placing

those bets, baby, at least $10. They have to be at least $10 to count. That way you climb the leaderboard and then you can make this March, one to remember, join the contract. join the Court of Legends leaderboard and make it legendary. We're back and we're talking trade deadline. We're going to talk about this all week. Is it Friday?

Yeah. It's on Friday. Trade deadline is Friday. So we're obviously, we're going to get all into it in the Thursday episode as well. Hopefully some more stuff will be going down. We're hearing some rumblings already. There were some quick hitters that I wanted to discuss. We got to always remember that LTIR is different this.

Yes. So there's a lot of teams like Dallas, for example. Tyler Sagan has been shut down. for the year. But that, like that LTIR, well, that's different because he's not coming back. Well, I was going to say, you can use it. So he can't be used. You just can't then go to playoffs and be like, bring guys back. Yeah. Yep. Yep. So there are some big names that could be dealt. And I want to talk about a bunch, but I want to talk about, I don't know when this first came up with us. And tell, check me if I'm self-boosting us. Okay. I think this was an original.

idea. Doubt it. It might not. I'm not saying me. I'm saying us. Yep. Still doubt it. Yeah. You're probably right. I first, I'm going to get us off the jump here. The Florida Panthers are in a tough spot.

Yes, they are. They're in seventh in the Eastern Conference wild card ranking. Seventh in the wild card. I think they might be dead. I think they are dead. Okay. I'm not that's insane I if I learned anything last year it's to never doubt them so I would want to be dead if I were them though so that's kind of where I'm at I'm almost like I think it might behoove you guys to shut her down get healthy yep and get Barkov back and then come in next year and win a cup and here's my hot take you ready I'm ready I legitimate I think that this is a brilliant idea if I were the Florida Panthers and it feels like we're we're toast tier. I think that the Florida Panthers should 100% trade Sergei Bavrovsky to a contender,

let him go chase a cup with a team, and then re-sign him this summer when he becomes a free agent. I don't think there's any world where Bavrovsky plays in the NHL after this year for anyone other than the Panthers. I agree with that. And if you're going to miss playoffs and you know this dude is resigning, go fucking trade him and get a ridiculous haulback. You can get a first round pick for him easily. I think you could. And that they probably, do they have picks coming up? No. Dissed a lot of picks. They probably dished picks. They were, they've been dish and picks. Yep. So they would like that. Yeah. If you could get a first round for Bob back, let him go play, try to win another cup. And then, and then you know he's coming back because you do. Yep. Yeah. That's good business. Yeah.

But Bob's got creaky knees, bro. And I think, I think you go, I don't want, you're, you're, You're telling me you think that Bob can't go on a cup run this year. No, he can, but wouldn't, if you're the Panthers for your cup run next year, wouldn't you rather he had the summer off? Yeah, that'd be four years. I get what you're saying. I get what you're saying. I'm like, Bob, go.

In fact, I wouldn't trade Bob. I'd fucking cut Bob. I go, you're fired, dude. And then I'll just re-signed him at the end of the summer. Like, literally stop playing hockey. Go away. The fans' heads will explode. Yeah.

I think they would. Any of that happens. I think they would love it. I think the fans who don't see that they're eliminated would get mad. Of course. But like, you're telling me. It's good business. It's good business.

Yeah, but that. That is fair. Like, I actually get that take. But, like, I look at Carolina who has 8.8 mill in caps. And I am a bussy believer. Yes, me too. And Carolina also is carrying three goalies, I think, at the moment. So it would have to require some a bit of movement.

But with how open the east is, if you're telling me, that there wasn't an opportunity for Carolina to be like yeah well I mean I'd take Bob like what about Pitt dude go to Pitt well if they're they gonna make the playoffs Pitt Pitt Pitt is chilling dude

and like what about my they don't really have the cap space but like what about Montreal does Montreal do you believe in Fowler do they believe in Dobeche like what are we doing here what if the oilers got what if they need it yeah that honestly

after he's ripped their soul out two years in a row and he goes he goes yo I'll just win you a cup What about that? And then they just go right back to Florida, and then Florida beats the Oilers next year in the cup. What about that? Connor's like, okay, all good.

What about Utah? Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I think it is, I think it would be the sickest move of all time. It would be insane. I would fucking love it. I mean, again, I'm a bussy believer. Yep.

But if you're telling me, if all of a sudden the Carolina Hurricanes added Sergey Bobowski in their net for this cup run that people wouldn't be like, holy shit. They are the, they're going to win now. They are the number one contender now. I don't know. It would be pretty cool. That would be extremely cool.

Okay, some people I want to talk about, Rasmus Ristelian. Well, first of all, actually, I jumped ahead. Sorry. Stamco's said that there is, quote, zero chance he's waving his clause. Yeah. What do you think about that? I'm surprised. Didn't he just recently say, I probably won't, but I would go to these three times.

No, someone made, I don't think there was any. any Stamcoast, like, quote. But someone was like, if he were to move, it would only be for so-and-so, so-and-so-and-so. They're not, and I feel so-validated on this one. They are firmly not dead. Correct. This year I was like, they're going to be back.

They'll make playoffs this year. And I felt like an idiot fool for 30 games. I was like, oh my God, they're terrible. But they are firmly not dead. So if, like, if the Nashville experience experiment had gone better from the start for him, I was in full support of that move. I never wanted him to leave Tampa, but if they were going to be dicks, then I was like, I love Steven Samcoast, go to Nashville, which is a place I love.

That's a great team. You will win a cup there. It's just gone so badly. So if you could almost just in a vacuum go, you're in playoffs, I go, yeah, why would you if you're in a fucking awesome city, you're on a great deal, a place that loves you and you're going to try to win a cup. It's just, it's hard to erase the last year and a half. What if Stamcoast just doesn't like country music?

Yeah, and he's like, I think, I think it sounds like he loves it. Yeah, maybe that's the fact that he's. The fact that he's being like this, there's zero chance. I'm like, I think he actually starts, he's loving it. He goes, so he wants to stay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll send you to the, uh, afts. You can win a cup and he goes, no country music there, dude.

So I'm out. I will not leave. Hard pass. Hard pass. I will not leave. Speaking of Colorado, I just quickly have to say the Denver airport is like the worst place I've ever been in my entire life. It's crazy.

It has a bunch of, um, it's too big. Well, you know, this is like a conspiracy thing. There's all that stuff in there. Yeah, there's a demon horse. We're talking about conspiracy theories later on the pod. Okay. This is exciting. This is a really exciting pot.

Yeah. A lot of stuff. There's been a lot of foreshadowing in today's pot. Yes. Okay, so Stamco is out. Rasmus Pristolin. He has come up like every single year. Just had a great Olympics.

He was a plus... What? You think so? Oh, yeah. Okay, so he's a plus nine with Finland. He's on year four of a five-year contract, making 5.1 million years, he's 31 years old. I think he's got like six or seven points, but that's not the guy he is.

He is like a, I'm a good defenseman. There's a lot of defensemen that are coming up for me. I'm going to add to the wrist-aline and watch. Okay. This is D.P.'s big board. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I'm adding Justin Falk.

Mm-hmm. I'm adding McKenzie Weeger, friend of the program. I'm adding Tyler Myers. Yep. And I'm adding Duggy Hamilton. All names on D.P.'s big board. As in guys who could go. Guys who could go and how about this?

Should go. Should go. Got it. all those guys I'm looking at teams like Detroit you could use some defense there's so many teams that I'm looking at teams like San Jose

God could use some defense Seattle Cracken could use some defense even the Duckees you could add a body I love the Duckees decor but like you can maybe add like a defenseman yeah sure you know

sure sure but I think literally every one of those guys should move. I think you get. I think we get Tyler Myers, Justin Falk, and Ristolin. I could see Weigs being the man and being like, no, I'm sticking it out here, but I'm like, Weegs. And Dougie? I need you in the playoffs. Dougie is just such a, it's tough that he's been injured.

But the devils are eliminated. I mean, I said this summer, Dougie should be traded. I've been saying Dougie Hamilton should be traded. Remember, Dougie Hamilton was supposed to be a shark. He said no. Yeah. And I'm like, whoops. Whoops.

I mean, they're not that good still, but yeah. That wasn't a career render. Adding to the blues, who are dead, by the way. Blues are dead. Blues eliminated. Robert Thomas and Jordan Cairo. Did you hear the talk of Robert Thomas to Toronto and what the ask would be? No.

Matthew Nyes, Easton, and a first round pick for Rob Thomas. For Robert Thomas. And I love Rob Thomas, and I will not have Rob Thomas Slander on this show. There will be zero Robert Thomas slander. I think he's underrated. Robert Thomas is a phenomenal. center. Yep. But that is an inappropriate return. You know who I could see Robert Thomas going to Matchbox 20. I was going to say. Yeah. Is that the Santana song too? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. He could be

going to an alt rock band. Yeah. And making great music. Come in Stamcoast can join a. Oh my God, dude. Get him to Nashville. Get him to Nashville. Get him to Nashville. He'll make Steve start having more fun. I could see Robert Thomas being a L.A. King's trade target. Yep. That is a massive center. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Interesting. Interesting. Interesting. Um, then cadre moves? I don't know. Codry's in the same camp as Douggy Hamilton's for me. Yeah. It's just like a name that comes up all the time.

And I'm like, but you should probably move. You should move. He's like, no, I'm good. And I'm like, okay. Um, I think the Rangers are not done blowing it up. Oh, yeah. Oh, that's their fire sale. Oh, 100%.

And it is, I think it is your fiduciary responsibility to fucking trade Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zabanajad and if you don't you have failed Chris Drury yeah because you want to just go we're building around Chesty and laugh not laugh and I laugh I is a part of that team but I don't think that you're building around laugh I think you're building around Chesty Adam Fox and Gabe Perra yep okay and Will Cooley and JT Miller nope you want him gone nope I just don't think you're building around. He's your captain. A guy in his 30s.

He's your captain. Yeah. I have a message for Trochec. Go. Come home. Come home to pit. Yeah. That'd be really nice.

Yeah, that'd be really nice. Dude, I really actually like that. It's not going to happen. But I don't, yeah, I don't, you know who I really do like, though, is Minnesota. Oh, yeah. I think Trocheck just like. That'd be really good. Yeah.

Trochechek joining that Minnesota team is such a good thing. It goes on a fucking cup run. I can think a few things that would be more fun. We can go there in June. Don't break your laptop over. Go there in June, be on the lake. Snap your laptop and have. God, that you're so sick.

If Minnesota wins the cup, I'll smash my laptop on the pod. Okay, and then my last thing on trade deadline. Again, we're going to get horny for the trade deadline over the course of this week, but my last thing is Austin Matthews. You are such an asshole. You're a fucking pig. I didn't say anything. I just brought him up.

Here's the thing, dude. He is a fucking champion. He's an Olympic champion, gold medalist, and Toronto can get fucked. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're not, we're not, we're not lumping everyone in Toronto media and Toronto fans into certain people. Did you see that headline? Yeah, it was absolutely ridiculous. I know.

What is it? It was a headline that said, in the Toronto Star or whatever. It was like Austin Matthews values the president and, you know, Something over playoffs. And something and like a parade over playoffs. Yeah, yeah. And I was like, dude, first of all, you guys blow. Second of all, shut the fuck up.

He just won the Olympic gold medal. He's going to go with the team for their celebration. They're going to get, yeah. Outrageous. He, I am though, you said this. I am on, what is it, 2028? Yeah. I am on 2028, Austin Matthews returns to the state's watch.

here because it just feels like this isn't going well. And sometimes it does take a year, right? Like the Marner thing is such a shakeup. Sure. Oh, this will be easy and it just wasn't that easy. It can take a year. You know, you can retool in the off season. But like, I think they were going, we'll be fine. Yeah. And you stink. Yeah. And you're about to miss playoffs. So you're confident, I know. I know. Listen, I didn't say anything. I just brought him up. who knows? But they're not going to actually move him this year, right? No.

There is, in my opinion, there is absolutely zero chance that he has dealt this year. But I think it is worth discussing. That is next year he goes, I'm not resigning. Yeah. And it's also just worth discussing a, can you benefit each other? Maybe, you know, and I don't know, Austin Matthews, maybe he's thrilled. in there and he's like, no, we're going to fucking figure this out. I bet he is. But maybe

there's a world where tree living sits down with him and is like, dude, like maybe we need to shake things up here. And he's like, I'm open to it. Yeah. And maybe you make a huge trade with Utah or something and you get, you know, multiple first round picks and a great player back or something. I don't know.

I don't know. Just said, they move back to Arizona and then everyone's happy. Yes. I play for the coyote. Wait. Coyotes are there anymore Oh no Oh shit What

Well like we said We're gonna stay horny on the trade deadline all week We'll do some predictions for the next step We'll be keeping you updated stuff We'll get predictions next step for sure Take an ad break and then jump on back in When it comes to Nicotine you need the best

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Now we are going to kick it to our good friend Mark Strite, absolute legend. Cannot wait for you to hear from him. Take it away. We are joined today. Okay, so Mark, do you say an Inglisburg, Switzerland native, or a burn? Burn. Okay.

We are joined today by a burn native. The 262nd overall pick of the 2004 draft by the Montreal Canadiens who played for the Habs, the Islanders, the Flyers, and the Penguins, one of the few swing men in NHL history. Legendary title.

...into the I-IHF Hall of Fame in 2020. This is my favorite set. Cover of the Swiss version of the NHL game in 2008 and 2011. Absolutely amazing. And NHL All-Star in 2009, a Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017, a four-time

Olympian in 0-2, 06, 2010, and 2014. serving as the Swiss captain for three of those trips and co-founder of Norcane, the sickest Swiss watch brand in the game. Mark Stryton, welcome to the engineers podcast. Good morning and thanks for flowers. Pretty good hit list right there. Yeah, not bad. Chris did want to know one thing. It's probably the most important thing of all the accolades you have. Are you friendly with Roger Federer? I met him a few times. There you go. Yeah. There you go, buddy.

So you are now one step closer to a lot of a defender. Yeah, a tiny. It's incredible. No, I had the opportunity to meet him in New York and see him play in New York. And then I went to Wimbledon one year, actually with Nino and Roman. Oh, wow. Oh, what a trip. And another Swiss body that plays in the Swiss League.

So we were in Wimbledon. We met him after the game. And yeah, it was amazing, very impressive guy. and yeah such a humble person like it's incredible. Yeah. I remember when he was starting out. He feels like a perfect human.

It's unbelievable. When he was starting out, I swear to God this is true. I'll have someone factored it because Chatsky knows. But when he was starting out, there was on his website, there was an address, not his parent's house,

but there was some address that his parents had access to that was like, if you mail something here, I'll sign it and mail it back. And I was like, what? It's just his mom and dad's house.

Yeah, that eventually got real dangerous. But Mark, when I was, you know, we were looking up doing research and everything. And I think it was when you signed the Islander's deal. It was like you were the second highest paid Swiss athlete in the world behind Roger. And I was like, oh, does he know Roger? I was like, wow, I got to ask.

I got to ask. Another good title. Yeah, it's amazing. Well, I mean, as Chris listed at the top, incredible NHL career, but super unorthodox beginning for you. You were drafted in the ninth round, which isn't even possible now. And I think a ton of people don't know who are familiar with you. You were like 26 years old when you got drafted.

And I think in your day, the sort of small, mobile defensemen wasn't as popular as it is now. Do you feel like when you look back on your career, do you regret not trying to get into the NHL faster or earlier in your career? Or do you think it actually ultimately really helped your career? Well, I think there were different reasons. First of all, as you mentioned it, you know, like when I was 18, 19, I played the World Juniors twice for Switzerland. I have pretty good tournaments.

And every year, every summer, I was really excited for the draft. I mean, I was following the draft every year and really disappointed that I didn't make it. But, you know, back then when you weren't six or six foot one, you had no chance. And I think with the changing of the rules, you know, the teams looked at smaller-skilled defensemen. And at the time, you had Sid Likie, Ravalski, and those were European players that went to the NHL when they were 25, 26. So later on, so I fell into that category, and I think the year I got drafted,

I didn't even check out the draft. At one time, yeah. Yeah, you ruled it out. You're like, you know what, fuck this. I'm not even going to watch. And bang. It's actually a pretty funny story. It was a Sunday morning.

The draft was on Saturday, and I was in Zurich, and I had a good night with my buddies. So at 10 o'clock in the morning, the phone rang, and I woke up, but, you know, a little bit of, sure, home over.

Yeah. And then there was this journalist, Swiss journalist, say, hey, congrats. And I'm like, congrats on what? Yeah. Did I see you last night?

I must have missed something last night. No, and then he said, well, he got drafted. I'm like, oh, wow, really, that's amazing by you. And then, you know, he said Montreal Canadiens and I was, I mean, the happiest person in the world and so excited. It took a little bit longer, but it was just, You know, the NHL changed the rules. It was like more of a skilled game, less bigger guys and more skilled and had the ability to skate.

Yeah. That was one of my fortress. So it took a little bit longer, but once I made it, I mean, it meant so much to me. Like, it was incredible. Of course. And it's also, it's amazing. It was, you had an amazing world championships tournament. That was like, that was the year before that definitely put you on more people's maps.

And it's, it's awesome how those tournaments can ultimately really. lead to people getting drafted and getting their shot in the NHL. Absolutely. And, you know, there's the lockout year, too. You had a lot of NHL players in Switzerland, in the Swiss League, and then the World Championships in Austria, I had a good tournament. And I think it was Gautier. Yeah.

I think he was the assistant GM. He was high on me, and he was the reason I got drafted by Montreal. So I met him at camp after in the fall, and I talked to him. And yeah, I mean, it was a huge adjustment. I mean, when I came over and I, you know, I saw the practices. I skated with the team. And it was just the adjustment was humongous from the Swiss League, just the speed, the intensity and the physicality.

Yeah. Yeah. Even with the shift in smaller defense, you know, you're still like, oh, wow, this is a step up. Well, you know, I felt like I'm staying at the German Autobahn, you know, watching the practice and being on the ice. And back then you still had the bigger guys. You still had the fighting in camp and there's always some fights. So it was a huge adjustment.

But you know what? Credit to the Canadians, they gave me the time to adapt. And that's what I needed. It took a little while to get used to the speed of the game, the physicality, the travel, and to feel comfortable and have the confidence to actually play your game. Was that weird for you? You know, because you were kind of a veteran already. You know, like you're in your mid-20s.

Was there a part of you when you got there that was like, oh, shit, maybe I shouldn't have come here. This is insane. Or were you like, nope, I finally made it. I'm going to make it work. Yeah. No, I, you know, that was always my dream. Yeah. And that's the thing I wanted in my life and my career.

And but you were right. You know, I was a Swiss captain. I played a few world championships, few Olympics, international career. And you felt pretty good about yourself because, you know, you're confident. You're a good player. But you play in Switzerland, a Swiss league kind of in a boxing. Yeah. And then you go to the big world and the big guys.

And it was just a huge, for me, adapting to the game and to everything. I mean, you play in the Bell Center, the $21,000 of people, the media, the TV, everything, the pressure in the city. It was, I think back then in Montreal, it was one of the most difficult markets to establish yourself in the league. Wow. Great call. I believe that. Yeah, yeah. did you and the boys run it back Sunday to celebrate the job?

You were coming off a big night, but I just feel like you must have done something. No, we didn't go back to back. Mark Paul's like, care of the dog, fellas, I got drafted. Let's go again. They're like, we didn't, dude. I'm dying. That's awesome. Oh, it's amazing.

Okay, so in your career, I think mostly with Montreal, but you played roughly 60 games as a forward. Obviously, majority of defensemen. And when I'm reading about that, I'm like, yeah, I do that in beer league. Depending on who shows up, I can go up, go back. The NHL at the bell center, that's a different story. So first I just want to know what even went into the preparation for something like that when they were like, hey, you're going to play up tonight. Well, the good thing is I didn't have a whole lot of time.

It was basically after warmups that Key Carbono came to me, said, hey, can you play up front? I'm like, for sure. Yeah, love it. Always do. So I never played forward. You know, before. And I just realized, you know, obviously as a player, you need to find a role on the team. Yeah.

And I realized, you know, if you want to play in the NHL, that's what you're going to do. And I played as a winger, but also three games as a center. No way. Yeah. And so one of my first face-offs was against Mike Fisher. Oh, God. And I never had a face-off before. So I was 0-and-6.

My first face-offs in the United States. So checking the game notes after that one, they were like, maybe not center. So, yeah, it was, you know, a thought process. But I think as a defenseman, you kind of realize a little bit thing, everything from behind, what you need to do as a forward. And, you know, honestly, I just, as a forward, I just, you know, I part myself in front of the net. Yeah. I don't know how many goals I scored just getting pucks off my ass off my hands.

Yeah. I just went to the net. I mean, obviously, you have to pay the price. but that's where you score the goals. That's why today I can understand when forward snuck, don't go to the net. Because those are easy, free goals. Yeah.

And everybody's some playing on the outside. It's so much on the perimeter now, right? It's like sometimes we watch power plays and no one's in net front and I'm like, and the power play is struggling and I'm like, God, drives me nuts. But someone in front, it's crazy. That is funny.

Whenever I was a defenseman as well. And whenever in the cycle of play, I got caught in a rush and I was in front, it's exactly what I. I would just, I'd be like, I'm going to get in front, maybe get a tip on the puck here. Like, it's, it works. It's great. Yeah, you want Brad go to the bakery. You want goals going to the net.

It makes perfect sense. You obviously preferred being a defenseman, but were there any parts of forward that you were like, that's kind of fun. I mean, for my skill level, skating and everything, it was a blessing. And obviously, mentally it was tough because some games I played on the back end, I played up front. I killed as a forward, the PEP on the point. So mentally, you know, you have to get into it. But I took it as a challenge and it just gave me a possibility to establish myself in the

NHL. But at heart, yeah, I was always a defense. That's why when I had the opportunity, you know, to go into free agency or stay with the Canadians. For me, one of the main goals was to sign as a defenseman. Yeah. Oh, interesting. That was talked about. You would say that to teams.

Like, hey, I'm playing D now. 100%. You know, obviously, you know, when I started in Montreal, all I wanted to stay there, but with the salary cap, but circumstances, it just didn't work out. But I knew that the Islanders, you know, they gave an opportunity to play as a full-time defenseman, take a lot of responsibility, play a lot of minutes.

So that's why I chose to go to the island. And for me, I mean, it was great. I played a lot of minutes. After two or three years, I was the captain. I was able to go to the All-Star game. And I mean, it was great, but, you know, as a team, we weren't really successful. that was kind of the downside.

They were rebuilding many young guys, great players, but you could just feel that it's going to be really tough to make the playoffs. And as a player, you know, when you're in your prime, that's frustrating, you know? Well, so on that journey, it's a perfect transition. This guy could do our job. He's a pro.

You get to the Islanders, and that's a really unbelievable, productive stretch for you in those four years with the Islanders from 2011 to 2013. You're named the captain of that team, which is amazing, first Swiss captain in the NHL of all time. And you're also just a very beloved Islanders players to those fans, which is to have that, you know, honor and that presence in the hearts of those fans in, like you said, a lot of rebuilding years where you're not really competing. A lot of things have to go right and a lot of things have to kind of feel good for the fan base for that to be the case.

And you had a young John Tavares on that team, a young Kyle Lachosal on that team. How cool was it, you know, and as a player who wants to compete and wants to try to win Stanley Cups when you're not really in. the playoffs. What were the things that made that such a good time for you, being on that team, being with those young players and with that fan base? I mean, the team was fun. Yeah. The guys were great. The organization was great. And the fans, you know, a lot of diehard fans on the island. Oh, yeah. I mean, the times were tough. You know, we were a losing team. Like, sometimes in around January, you basically knew you're not going to go into the playoffs. But fans still showed up. And it was kind of bit of sort of.

Sweet. At one time, at one point I was happy with my role and it was great to work with the young players. On the other hand, you're in your prime and you want to go for a cup. And yes, the years sometimes were long. Yeah. A little bit frustrating because you just, you know, you want to go to the playoffs. With the later start too in your career, I was just kind of processing that where you're like, I don't have this huge runway. Like, oh, we'll get one. Yeah, that's interesting. And you're not, you know, if you're a captain of a team, you know, you're like, you don't want to ask for a trade. Yeah, right. It's kind of one of those loyal things that they gave you an opportunity. They gave you a nice contract, the responsibility to evolve as a player, as a person. And you don't want to be the guy that kind of leaves the ship. So I think the last year was kind of a great story.

We made the playoffs. I mean, the Coliseum was just almost exploding. We had a great series. We lost four to. but this to have it at the end of my islander's time was it was a gift it was a great experience and a happy ending to a great time in York after all yeah oh I mean that that was a I was curious

how long did it take for that the island in like that area to feel like home for you because like coming from Switzerland being in Montreal like you're going around a lot of different places in the league but every time we've heard you speak about the island in that place you like there's a lot of love that you have for that area how long did that take easy I think you know for me I think the process was good going to Montreal very European city you know like easy easy to adapt lifestyle wise and then New York is you know the big

city but you know on the island I lived in Garden City a nice little town beautiful and as I mentioned there are so many great guys on the team yeah Trent Hunter John Simm Brandon Whitie Billy Chee Dougie Wade the Cylinger all the young kids Nino came along yeah so the team spirit was always unbelievable it's just you know we we uh we just didn't have enough debt to go into the playoffs that was the only downside but living wise and and the team the team was great the guys were unbelievable so it was always fun to go to the ring yeah even we had a hard time so that's why the i felt comfortable right away and the organization the people working you know the office a team manager media guys coaches like

like snowy, Kerry Guider, like everybody were just so happy and the alumni too. Yeah, the guys from the one four in a row. I mean, the guys,

you know, they came to the game. They were so great with the guys. Even the times were tough. But it was just, it was like a real family in a tough NFL business. Yeah, yeah,

yeah. And that's, that alumni network's been good still for you too. Oh, definitely. You know, those captain's trips and everything and just coming back. Like,

that's pretty awesome. Yeah. I think they do a hell of a job. inviting the guys, you know, almost every year. You know, I can't go every year with three kids at home and the busy schedule I have, but I love going back and seeing all the guys. I mean, they do a fantastic job, like a weekend. You get to see the guys, you go to a game, and that's incredible.

So it's a lot of, they honor the, you know, the players from the past, which is great. Yeah, no doubt. That's great. No doubt. That's insane. And then obviously watching a, we were talking two days ago, whatever, but watching, you know, a young Matthew Schaefer go over that organization, possibly a future captain of that team maybe someday.

How nuts has it been watching the transformation of that franchise over the last few months, just having him be an 18-year-old phenom? Yeah, incredible. I mean, they're so much fun to watch. And, you know, I had the opportunity to meet the owners a few years ago, John Ladeke and... What's the other guy's name?

We'll come back. The two main owners basically, and they were, you know, they're actually when they started, I met out of him, they talked about hockey and wanted to get a field because they weren't from hockey. You know, so they approached me and had a nice, actually, a dinner with them in London with Ralph Krueger together. So yeah, it was amazing. So I always, I kept a tight connection with the island. You know, throughout even when I retired, I love going back. So it's a great organization and seeing them now with the new building, the UBS Arena,

which is an amazing arena, having a great team that can compete. I'm really happy for the fans because the fans are unbelievable. They're so dedicated to the team and so supportive, even doing the rough times. Yeah. And it's cool. Cheese was on us that area, right, that they're building. Yeah, it's like everything that they're doing. It's like, I feel like the islanders are kind of rebuilding back.

up right now around Schaefer with so many new people in the organization and you know like they just released a new cool hype video it's like you can feel the islanders vibes are getting way way up there which is exciting for sure and it sounds like i mean it's like everyone who played for the islanders is it's like with with martin too it's everyone loves staying in the islanders family that's so telling when guys want to stay around the area and keep doing stuff with the team it's the islanders are back yeah it's crazy i think it's was a great sign if, you know, guys that played their love going bad or even love going back or live there afterwards. I mean, the area, the lifestyle and everything is fantastic. You know,

you have New York City, but you have Long Island, you have the Hamptons. It's great schools, great for kids to grow up. So, yeah, it's an amazing place. Yeah, for sure. Okay, I want to flash forward to March 1st, 2017. You wake up in your bed. You're a Philadelphia flyer. hungover in Zurich You get a phone call You've been traded to Tampa Bay And then bang You know two hours later

You're traded to Pittsburgh What did you know When you got the Tampa call Were they like And you're going to move again Or do you think I'm going to Tampa for real Or talk me just through the whiplash Of that day

And if you even knew You were going to move for sure Before the deadline, all that stuff Well It started in the morning You know I I knew it's March 1st trading deadline just around the corner. And, you know, I actually I thought maybe I might stay.

Oh, okay. But then once I got to drink, you know, I got the call from Hexie. Yeah. You know, come up. I'm like, ooh, this is not good. So I think there was another team that was interested on the West Coast. Oh, okay. But it wasn't on my list.

Nice. So I was like. And it was not a team that's probably going, you know, far in the playoffs or into the playoffs. So I'm like, you know, I don't want to go there. Yeah. If I want to get trade, I want to go to a team that, you know. Is in the mix. Can compete.

Can compete. So question. Is that an awesome feeling when there's like a team that wants to trade for you but is on your no trade list? And you get to be like, yeah, I don't want to go there. Sorry. And it was a team that would trade and sign. Yeah. So even.

Oh, shit. Yeah. Can you say? was or no. No, no. We don't need to sue any. They were just bad that year. It's not their fault.

Still, still. We don't need to. It's a West Coast team. And then I said, no, because the other reason was we just had a daughter, three months old, you know, across the country. That's hard. That's hard. It's hard.

If you have something, maybe you say, okay, I don't want to go there. So anyway, he said, okay, go skate. And then I keep you posted. So I went for skating. We had a short skate half. hour, but it's just a feeling. It's so out. Oh, yeah. You're out there. You're looking if, if the trainer is coming to the day. It's coming to waves you over. But it didn't happen. And then after practice, I went back to

to Hexie and he said, you know, right now there's nothing going on, just go home. And then I actually had my parents in town. Oh, and a couple, friends of mine. So we were having lunch at the time. Did you tell them all? Were you like, I knew. Okay. Oh, yeah. And then it was. like 245 and then I saw Hexel. I'm like, okay. I'm done. So I pick up the phone.

He's like, hey, thanks a lot for your services and I wish you all the best. You're going to Tampa. So I'm like Tampa, a great organization, great team. But weren't in the playoff mix. Yeah. This is going to be a tough one. You know, obviously, you know, we go there for a few months or a month and then the season is over.

you're basically probably going to be retiring. And then shortly after I got the call from Hexie, Pat calls me. He says, hey, hang on. We might get you to, you know, to Pittsburgh. Oh, wow. So I'm less. So I was for, I don't know, 10 minutes.

Yeah. A lightning. You were lightning. You remember the Jam of Bay lighting. Just before the deadline, a few minutes before I got traded to Pittsburgh. And obviously that was a blessing, you know, to keep, you know, to be on a team that compete for the Stanley Cup. Also, kind of an easy move.

Yeah, easy move. I mean, with the young daughter, your wife must have been like, oh, let's go. Yeah, so easy. No, that was, for me, it was just, yeah, I was really happy. And, I mean, nervous, excited because it's a rivalry,

and I had the, Pittsburgh, I didn't have them on the list. So I had to add them on the list. Oh, wow, okay. Because out of respect, as a flyer, I didn't put Pittsburgh on because, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, massive, massive. You don't want to. You know, you don't want to do that.

But then when you get trade, you get trade, you're like, okay, I want to take every opportunity you get. So I added them to the mix, to the list of teams that I could get traded to. And, yeah, it worked out great. Yeah, sure did. Didn't you play Tampa first game? Like when you got to be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They did something.

They did a tribute video. They did you. They did something on the board. They were like, thanks to Farn. Thanks. One of the great Tampa Bay Lightning are straights. Welcome home. It's so funny.

I didn't like a tree booth video. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's so good. Okay, so you go through the world, all right, this is all happening and whatever. And now, you know, because that was, they'd already won, right? They're the defending champs,

St.ie Crosby's here, Malkins here, Latang's here. Were you, you mentioned nerves a little bit, but what was that like? Because they are, this is everything you want. This is a defending champ team in the mixer. Here you go. They need D help. Let's go.

We're like, all right. I mean, it was, overwhelming, you know, the organization. I knew Sydney a little bit from Pat, but the guys like Flower, Tanger, all the guys, Castle, like,

they were all super nice. It's a great organization, so professional, the practice facility, just a setup. You just could tell this, you know, it starts to sit and then it just tingles down the organization. Yeah. It was, for me, it was really impressive

and awesome. And I can maybe tell you it's probably one of it's my best story in hockey it's you will this is why we do it so this was the first practice with the team okay so you know you have all you know in every locker room with like the nice carpets yeah yeah so i'm getting dressed and i have two pairs of skates and i used to change the steels and the trainer usually did it for me yeah so you'll probably see what's coming yeah so So first skate, I dress up. It's me and Phil Kessel, last two guys. Yeah.

Phil goes on the ice. I go right after. I hit the ice. I just wipe out. Yeah. First day. Yeah. First day.

Yeah. Sid and Gino are looking at him really like, who is this guy? I literally, I slit in the middle of the ice. I couldn't get up. Yeah. I had no steel. Yeah. Had no steel.

So I was on my all fours. Yeah. Trying to get back to the back. Guys are looking at each other like, what the hell? Yeah, what is happening with this guy? So I was the most embarrassing feeling. We're like straight up just no steel in your tubes at all? Yeah, that's unbelievable.

No steel. You didn't notice it when you were walking out? You know, first practice, you're nervous. Yeah, true, true. He did you skate on, usually the train. He didn't know in Pittsburgh. Yeah. Changing steals.

So I just, carpets, you don't feel it. You don't hear it. So I wanted to skate. I just A white ball Hitting it running. And then it was just that's how it started

It's very remarkable. Remarkable. It finished incredibly. You go to the playoffs And I did want to ask because that Ottawa series was wild. And you got three games

in that series. What was it like going through an insane playoff round like that not playing as much as you obviously wanted but also being a part of this epic journey.

Kind of, you know, talking for the emotions of that. Also, joining a team that's, like, kind of in this dynastic run. Yeah, sure. It's like, there, Crosby's, like, building a catalog of cups here. And, like, now you're a part of that. I mean, incredible experience. And you just, you could tell why they're so successful. Yeah.

I mean, it started with, sit, his leadership, professionalism, but he does every day, you know, from the morning before practice, during practice, after practice. It's just incredible how he works. And it just, it tracks everybody. It's contagious. It's contagious, sure. And it was not, for me, not a surprise that those guys were unbelievable.

And I think for me, it was a great experience, but also a tough experience because I got there. There are a lot of injuries. I played for 20 games. And then all of a sudden the playoffs starts and I was a scratch. Yeah. And to be honest, you know, I, it was kind of tough because the coach, he didn't talk to me for seven weeks.

Damn, yeah. And, you know, I'm 39 years old. If he pulls me over, says, hey, Mark, you're not going. This is the reason. It's one thing. But not saying a word, I thought I was like classless. Yeah. You don't, you know, it's a tough job as a coach.

Yeah. But have the courage to tell the guys. Have the conversation. And I just, I went to the ring. I had to make a decision. I didn't know, you want to play. You want to be part of it. Of course.

But then at one point, she said, You know, I work as hard as possible. I'm professionalism at the rink. I support the guys. I'm in a good mood, good spirits. Because if you go to the rink and you're miserable, you're just not helping anybody. So I just try to stay mentally in it because I, you know, maybe I're going to get a shot. I'm going to be playing.

You never know. You have to be ready. And if you're just sour and bitter, you're not going to be able to step on the ice and perform. So I made the decision, you know, you're positive. You work hard. you do all he can do to support the guys and be part of it. And then obviously not playing for seven weeks. And then all of a sudden you play the senators who were like a fast,

like even a pretty physical team. So at the first games, like it was tough. Yeah. Because you don't practice. Right. You know. Yeah. You just play.

Yeah. And then you get thrown into that. And that's why I was really happy that I stayed focused. I was, you know, I pro about it and ready to, if I got my chance, I got it. I played three games and obviously not playing in the final again was, you know, it's because it's hard. It's just hard, but it was, I had a part of it, a small part, a difficult part mentally, but I think I did everything possible to support the team, the organization and the guys. And, you know, at the end of the day, I had the experience and I think winning a Stanley Cup, it doesn't matter which role you have. You're part of it.

Your name is on the cup. And I'm very thankful to the organization, you know, Pittsburgh Penguins. Like, it's just Rutherford was an unbelievable guy, unbelievable GM, a gentleman, a class act, and a very smart GM. Yeah. And obviously seeing Mario Lemieux at the cup party and seeing him rock around. It's just, it's, you think you're dreaming. Yeah. It's just, it's awesome.

Yeah. What was that, what was that night like and what was your day like with the cup? you get up to you? Well, we had, when we wanted, you had a few parties. Obviously, one was at Sitz's home. That was probably not bad. Probably not bad. And I have a nice, I have a nice picture with me and obviously with all the guys and Sid, but I have one with Mario. Oh, no way. Yeah, that's awesome. Having the car in the pool. So. So. Before it sank to the bottom of the pool. So, yeah. So, yeah. And And then when I had the opportunity, I think it was second of August I had it in Bern. Yeah.

You know, I had a whole day. Yeah, yeah. I took it to the government, took it to the mayor, prime minister. And we had like a reception. We had like some juniors coming. Like, you know, like seeing the cup and getting autographs. And then from the afternoon on we just took over a restaurant right at the river in burn.

Yeah. And I invited like a hundred guests. And yeah, I mean, that day is. just it's so cool. For you, for the family, for the friends. And obviously the great thing is now with Norcane and our partnership with the NHL, I get to see the cup a lot. Yeah.

So it's a lot lately. It's a privilege. Yeah. I mean, every time when you see the cup, you're like, man, this is just the best trophy in the world. You did say that in Tampa, you were like, it never gets all to seeing this thing. It's amazing. It's just an amazing feeling.

And every time you see it and you see the teams, the names. And you just feel the history. Yeah, yeah. And just the blood and sweat and tears. So true. That's behind it. Yeah. That's why, you know, I think hockey is the best sport in the world.

I agree. The Jell is the best league in the world. The guys are amazing. The product is great. The league, the players association. I mean, it's just, I'm really happy to be kind of back into it because once you leave the NHL, you miss it. Yes.

I mean, that's one of the toughest part when you retire, the travel, the guys, the lock on Everyone says that. And the buildings, I can imagine. The playoffs, like being in that atmosphere and having that kick, you know, that rush, when you play those games, even though the Olympics, it's just that's the moment you're like, oh, damn, I still love to play. I can lace them up right now. Well, you mentioned Norcane, and I want to get into Norcane, and the fact that we're here at Virga, 1947, which is the exclusive watchshore that has the Adventure Crono, NHL, limited edition, Norcane. or Cain watch. We're going to get all into that. And also thank you. Incredible. For letting us be. It's unbelievable. But, you know, we're here in Milan, like you mentioned,

for the Olympics and just quickly, so many unbelievable Olympic memories for you. You went to four, which is a Swiss hockey record, unbelievable, nine points in your time. You were in Salt Lake City, Vancouver, Sochi, Torino. I mean, all of these unbelievable memories. And now we're here at the Olympics. Does it bring back all those crazy memories? And can you even put into words how cool it is to be able to represent your country on that biggest stage because you know you had two unbelievable quarterfinal appearances in your time like such great runs beaten canada too nothing come on i gave holy shit i mean a lot of great mom memories and i'm i'm really excited i'm really happy the nchel is back the guys i'm really happy for the players because you know those memories

olympic games it's i mean world championship is great too but you're in a hockey bubble yeah and the Olympics. It's just, you know, all the sports going on, different athletes, the Olympic village, opening ceremonies. There's just so many things to enjoy. And after you take with you you in your career or after your career and for the families and friends to be part of it. I mean, it's awesome. Milano is a great city. And, you know, for me, playing for looking back, I just, it's tough to put into words. Because when you play, just go. Yeah. It's, it's, everything is so fast. You know, you play, the season is long, it's hard, then you go to

the Olympics, you play quick, and it's just, I mean, especially Torino, which we had like the 20 years anniversary of beating Canada and then Czech Republic where I got to score the game winner. Top shelf on Wau Kuhu.

I still watch it sometimes. Suck it, Wau Kuh. Yeah, great memories and then, especially Torino, you know, we lost against the sweets, six two, tough game. They won gold. They had a hell of a team. Great, great experience.

And then, obviously, Vancouver playing Canada, losing in, in shootout. Yeah. It's scoring against the Taylor. That's a moment I'll never forget but the atmosphere in Vancouver. Like, the people, like, all hockey and the Olympic Village downtown.

I mean, those games, for me, were just, it was incredible. Everyone talks about the Vancouver Olympics as being one of the most electric atmospheres ever, especially with the hockey games too. Like, that makes sense. It's just, you know, even, and the great thing was as an athlete or hockey player, Olympic Village, you took the train or, you know, into downtown.

Yeah. And if Canada played, it was like, the streets were empty. Every bar, every restaurant was like packed. Yeah. And it's just, you know, the love for hockey that, you know, they have in Canada and it's just a passion. It's remarkable. And everybody's so nice.

and when you were, you know, wearing your gear to Swiss you, like, everybody was like, hey, how are you doing? Enjoy good luck. And it was just that, those two weeks were just absolutely magic. Yeah. I love it. God, I love it. That is amazing.

All right. Let's get into Norcane. Okay. So, like you said, when you finally retire, you get to figure out some other way to spend your time. And actually, pun intended, because you decided to get into the watch game. So talks to us just a little bit about the origin of you and Ben trying to take on this challenge, which is no easy task.

to launch a new watch brand in a really competitive market. So how'd that get started? I mean, I met Ben at another watch brand, which was an ambassador. I don't want to name the brand, but I met him, you know, I think it was maybe in 2011, 12, or even before that.

And I was, you know, he was in charge of myself, you know, at events and I got to know him. And then, you know, the company got sold. And he was looking for a new adventure, new challenge. So he quit the brand, he left, and I retired at the same time. So he basically came up to me and said, hey, you know, I like to, you know, found a new watch brand. And I was always passionate about watches. I love the Swiss, you know, the history.

Yeah, of course. Part of our DNA and, you know. So I said, yeah, I mean, let's do it. Roman was part of it too, you know. Yeah. We decided that in the summertime at the barbecue, having, you know, creating a new watch brand. So I said, yeah, perfect timing.

You know, I'm retiring. You're looking for a new challenge. Let's go. And, you know, one of the first experience in this industry was that the Basel Watch World. Yes. So we went together with Ben. We didn't have any product, but we have designs. So we talked to different retailers and, you know, like about our ideas and creating a new brand.

And everybody is like, good luck. Yeah. So on the way back. Ben is like a little bit quiet and not discouraged but like he's like we didn't get a whole lot of love yeah and you know I kind of said

you know Ben like if I made it into the NHL from Switzerland like we can we can do this yeah we can do this it's just you know the passion the commitment the hard work the dedication all those values yeah you just bring them along and I wouldn't have done it if I wouldn't have been

convinced in Ben. Ben is an unbelievable guy. He's very passionate. And he just has this thing that he pulls everybody with him. Yeah. Like he's just a leader and always in a great mood,

hardworking. I had a clear vision what he wants to do. And seeing him, you know, the last few years, how he grew as a CEO, as an owner, a founder.

It's incredible. And I think the story is remarkable because the industry, it's tough. It's challenging and the road we're living in. The markets, the wars, COVID, inflation, the currency. Like, we hit so many challenges on the way. It's like in a sports career. Injuries, lost, defeat, you get traded.

Like, it's just like this. It's a roller coaster. But, you know, he kept his calm. He's a really smart guy. And he always, he had that, you know, he brings everybody along. He pulls everybody with, and he's demanding. too. Yeah.

No, he's demanding. He could be a good coach. Yeah. Because he's very empathic. And, you know, he, a lot of passion.

Definitely. But at the same time, when it's time to have a good talk, he, you know, he speaks the right words and the hard words sometimes. And he makes decisions sometimes that are hard,

but he has a big heart. Yeah. A huge heart. And if you work hard, you're passionate about the product. If you're an or caner, you know, you have a hard.

all his love and that's why for me it's been an exciting project to learn you know after hockey to dive into a new business new industry and obviously now partnering up with the NFL for me it's like I'm back in the show yeah getting to see the cup but it's like that passion you're talking about you can see it in the execution and you know we've been so lucky to be able to work with you guys and see the way everything's rolled out and and it's been this run and becoming an official partner and now being at an establishment like this ferga 1914 in Milan with this unbelievable setup, with that exclusive NHL watch that you've made, seeing it all unfold has been remarkable.

And it's clearly, it's so well executed. There's so much thought and care and passion behind it. And that must feel incredible, this new thing that you've poured yourself into, to see it unfolding like this and be received so well. Must be such a fulfilling feeling. Yes, it's unbelievable. It's been a great journey. And I think the beauty about it's like it's a team effort.

Yeah. I think the culture we have in an or cane, it's just remarkable. There's a lot of young people, very innovative, very creative, and always, as soon as we accomplish something, we want to go to the next level. And it's like playing hockey, you know, and that's the difference between the great players and maybe the average players. At one point, guys get comfortable, you know, they're like, okay, you're right, you know, I sign a nice deal.

It can happen. It doesn't happen a lot, but it's the nature of you and people. being you know like and i think the comfort zone getting out of the comfort zone is is a big theme in hockey but also in business you always you know and that's the thing you know when you had a good year at in january the clocks are at zero yeah for everyone so true it's just it's like having a hell of a season or winning the cup and then you know go through the summer and then as soon as you you know go to camp it's just you have to you have to do it again yeah and again and again and again and again and again, and it's hard work, a lot of dedication.

And I think that there's a lot of similarities between, you know, pro hockey or sports and the business side of it, which is really, it's cool for me. And that's where I can, you know, I can chip in as well. Definitely. Did you lay the groundwork to get sit involved in the pool at the cut party? I mean, we always kept in touch. I mean, he's just a fantastic person. and he asked this thing for Switzerland.

You know, he likes to come to Switzerland to travel, so met him a few times there. We kept in touch also through Pat, and we kind of approached him with the brand. And I think for him, too, he likes the story behind it. Yeah. You know, he's invested. He's an ambassador.

He's a testimonial. But for me, it's just an incredible athlete. Yes. Oh, my gosh. It's just the way he carries himself. I mean, the story, like the success has had, all the trophies, the Stanley. cups to heart rock like it's just incredible but he you know he's he's a he's a very humble guy

uh great family great parents and uh it's just amazing for us to having him on board and you know right right now you can see like how focused he still is oh yeah about his career about being successful about winning a fourth possible cup yeah i know it's crazy um all right well we got to open the shop up here soon but should we close mark out with a few yeah like quick pass shoe Scores. All right. So every guest we have, we do a game called pass shoot score where we give you a few things that we know you're passionate about.

And you've got to rank them pass. You know, pass is going to be your least favorite of the three. Shoot is a little bit better, obviously. And then scoring is the ultimate goal. So it's basically, yeah, basically just a ranking system. So your first one, I know you're big golfer. Your first one's going to be golf courses. Okay.

So it's pass shoot score. I'm going to do my best to pronounce some of these. St. Andrews. That was an easy one. Crancer Sierra and the Grand Resort Badragaz. Los Angeles.

Is your number one? That's going to be score? Yeah. Okay. So I had the opportunity to play San Andrews last summer. Unbelievable? Well, it's just...

I don't know. It's just... You're at Team 1 there and you look around and you just go like... Yeah. You're like, don't slice this, please. It's just if you're a... If you love golf, if you're passionate about, I think it's pocketless for sure.

Yeah. Like, it's just the history and the feeling, it's magical. It's like the Stanley Cup. Yeah, yeah. You can't let it. But you can have a good time. St. Andrews officially the Stanley Cup of golf courses. All right, so what's your shoot and what's your pass of the other two?

What was the other? The other two were, oh, God, I'm messing this up. It was the Omega European Masters at the Crancer Sierra. Oh, this might actually Now there's a wrinkle. All of a sudden. I mean, I had the opportunity to play there at the Pro M.

Yeah. The last few years and I mean, the course, I mean. It looked insane. You know, like talking about history and the golf sport is San Dandos, but talking about most beautiful golf course with the views, the scenery. Yeah. It might have been that one. It's grand to Sierra, like for sure.

Damn. Okay. It's just. So we've got a tight race here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right.

I like it. Okay. I like it. All right. Here's your next category. I'm calling this. I was going to call this category hobbies, but I'm now going to call it just like a perfect sunny day. Okay.

Perfect weather. Perfect sunny day. Pass shoot score are what you'd rather be doing. Perfect bluebird day on the Alps skiing. Perfect bluebird day out of the golf course. Golfing. Or perfect bluebird day out of the golf course. Or perfect bluebird day.

Or. or perfect bluebird day crystal clear out on the lake fishing. I used to fish a lot back in a day. I don't have time anymore, but I still love it. So I will go golf ski and fish. Golf one. Golf is one. Yep.

I like it. I thought ski was going to sneak up there for you. But as much as I love skiing, I feel like the perfect day on the golf course is so hard to beat. It's so hard to be. Yeah. And this is a little bit because my wife probably is going to hate me. You know, golf, I'm usually, you can't do it. Well, not yet.

We will do it in the future with the family. The kids are too young. So right now golf is usually with my wife, the boys, you know, mostly with the boys. But my wife started two, which is great. Yeah, that's awesome. And then skiing, we do it as a family. So it's kind of, it's tough to. It's like your different worlds.

This is nice. different roads. There's maybe tough to say a one, a two and a three. But skiing with the kids, if it's a blue day, I mean. Yeah. I mean, and the kids, they ski, they know how to do it. Like, it's, I mean, it's incredible. And it's summer, winter, you know, it doesn't kind of get into each other.

So it's, that's a tough one. We got to get the golf hooks in them early. Yeah. Then it's a family day golfing too. Yeah. They're in it. They're in it. Okay.

Your last one, and then we'll wrap you up. This one might be tough. This is going to be the category. is the old boys club trips. So the three trips you got are Budapest, Naples, and Ticino. I would say Naples, Budapest, and Ticino. Wow. Because Naples, I went there as a kid with my family,

have a lot of memories. And my parents both passed away in 2019. So going back to Naples is kind of emotionally like... Definitely. There's an investment there. They don't say it belongs to Italy, especially the people in the north. Yeah. But Naples with, you know, the soccer team, Maradona.

Oh, yeah. The Spanish quarter. Yeah. The Fesuv, the Pompeii, the history. I mean, I was amazed. Yeah, yeah. It's just, yeah, that's Naples, Budapest and Degino. But the good thing is,

It's always the same boys. I was going to tell people about the old boys. Who is the squad? So it's actually, it's all guys from my time in Zurich. Okay. And, you know, like from a team perspective, the five years in Zurich were unbelievable. Yeah, it's awesome.

We were a great age. We used to go, you know, back in the day, there's no cell phones or nothing. So we had a pretty good time. So once I left and guys were about to retire, we decided, okay, we have to find a way seeing each other. Because if you don't plan anything, it's impossible.

So we decided to club. It's a few guys that played on the team, a few friends that were close to us. And then it's good. We have the team doctor of Zurich. So it's important to have a doctor. Yeah, your guys are safe. Bringing a doctor on the group trip is so smart.

It's incredible. Yeah, he comes along. And so we have this club. Everybody organized, we pull out of the hat, like numbers, and then one guy gets organized a trip. Nobody knows where we're going. You just go to the airport, you bring your back. That is so awesome.

Does he give you a climate at least? Does he like pack warm, pack cold? It's just about the temperature. Yeah, yeah, shoes, maybe, you know, cold. Nice clothes of you need. That is so awesome. Was Istanbul? Yeah, yeah.

Bring a lot of that. Was Istanbul an old boys club trip too? Yes. Nice. Okay. Istanbul was like the trips like we did so far. But Istanbul, Budapest, like Dublin. Oh, wow.

I went to Manchester, Mars. Saw the soccer game. Yeah. I thought I saw that. So and Naples. And this year, I don't know, some guys planning it. So we have no clue where we go. What time?

You're always the third or fourth weekend in June. Yeah. Okay. So and split. We did one time too. Nice. I think we all need an old boys club You should

Genius Who's planning it this year? It's Edgar Salis He used to be a defenseman in Zurich Big stay-home defenseman Physical Great guy Really good at the bar

What was the last one you planned? I did Manchester Do you have any guesses for Edgar? I have no clue Yeah And you know what? The good thing is like We obviously do fun cities.

Yeah. But Edgar, the last time he organized it, we went to, which is tough, we went to Krocco, to Auschwitz. Sure. And as a kind of a cultural. Yeah, yeah. And that was a tough one. Yeah.

I mean, it's great to learn about the history. But when you walk in there through the gates and you realize what people are capable of doing, guys were just done for two hours. I believe it. I just do walk out there. It's emotionally taxing. You know, there's obviously, it's a fun trip, and we go for dinners and drinks and stuff, the whole nine yards.

But we also, you know, we do like some cultural stuff. Yeah. You know, I think it's great, and it keeps us really close together. We're such a tight group. Definitely. Now, this is, I can recommend it to everybody to have, like, I have my disc club, then have a few other clubs of all things. The picking the name you're drawing the numbers is incredible.

I feel like Edgar's going to swing the other way now. This year is Vegas or something. He's going to be like, he's going to be like, I got. He's going to be like, I got a level out. And Europe is great since like, you know, it's the best. I think it is my. Three hour flight, three hour flight. Oh, it's perfect.

Yeah, yeah. That's cool. So, no, this club means a lot to me. And it started in hockey. Just a great group of guys, friends. And because the Swithing, too, used to be after every season, We used to the team trip. Yeah.

So for a week, we went to Majorca, Spain, or Grand Canaria, Mekonos. So it came out of that. Yeah. And that's like, if you go to any guys. Yeah, I mean, this is insane. It's incredible. It's incredible. It's incredible.

All right, well, this has been incredible, Mark. Thank you so much for coming on. I want to give another huge shout out to Verga at 1947. If you're in Milan, come stop by this unbelievable establishment. It is the only place you can get the NHL Limited Edition, Norcan Watch. Before we let you go, is there anything else you want to plug or shout out or give a call out to? No, thanks for having me. It was a lot of fun.

I really appreciate it. We can do that more often. I think there's more topics. Oh, yeah. I am certain. I mean, it's great experience in Milan. I think I'm just happy hockey is here. It's back with the NFL guys.

And I mean, the core finals yesterday is just like for hockey. I mean, it's tough for the losing team. like the Swiss team, you know, definitely. Which played a really good game, but came up short in O.T. But definitely great for all the sports, and it says how awesome the athletes, the players are. Yeah. And the fans. And the fans.

It's amazing. All right. Well, let's jump back into it. Let's go. Here we go. Huge thank you to Mark Strite. Nothing ever in any interview we've ever had has affected me more or impacted me more than the old boys club. Oh, my God.

I have been spending the last two weeks since that interview thinking about an, I've been putting together an email, and I'm thinking about who needs to be on it and send it to and go, hey, you are my old boys club. We should plan a trip every year. So friends of mine, if you don't get an email soon, you're not my friend. I feel really, legitimately, I feel really dumb that I just said this on the pod because, like, there are going to be people. No, we got to keep it in.

I got to keep it honest. But there are going to be people who are going to get that email. It's okay. Yeah, that's okay. And that's okay. We're friends. You're just not one of my old boys. Yeah.

And yeah, what a dude. Also, um, impeccably dressed always. Yeah. Every time I see Mark, I'm like, I'm sorry. I don't know that Mark wears t-shirts. Yeah. He's always looking so good. And I do feel as though the majority of the time we see him, we're at events together.

But then again, not really. We went to an NHL game and he still looked like a, I know. I know. Amazon. He's your new James Bond. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, dude. Mark's hot, too. He's a fucking hot dude. He's a fucking hot dude. Fuck. Well, I hope you enjoyed that. He's the best. All right.

Let's get into some notice. Yeah, because you promised this last. I promised this. We got to talk skiing. Yep. So, CP and I are big skiers. We go skiing every year to various different places. And for the first time, we got the experience to ski the Italian Alps.

Yep. We took a couple of days off after the Golden Metal Game, as you know, went skiing. And I had such a unique experience, and it was not at all the experience I thought it would be. So why? Why? I'd love to tell you why. Please. I've been skiing in Europe before, and I found it lovely.

Where did you go? I went to, I went skiing in Oro in Spain. Sweden. Okay. It was great. I had not yet skied the Alps. So here we go. It's lovely. We have been told and had seen skiing in Europe is more about groomers and, you know, skiing down the awesome trails rather than... Can you explain that to somebody who doesn't know skiing and thinks that what you just said was about... The other kind of groomers? Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, groomers are when you just take like the main trail and you're just cruising down. Got it. And I think it's called...

peace there. Peaceed and off-peast. And we're big ski the trees, guys, in the States, in like the Rockies and stuff like that, and the Sierra Nevada's. So I was excited to just be ripping rumors. We get to this place in the Dolomites, and it's like one of the biggest resorts in the world. I think it might be the biggest. And our friend had told us to, or told Chris, credit to you.

Chris did a lot of planning for this. Now, we knew this was going to be at the end of the Olympic run of being on the road for like three weeks. And I was big on being like, should we do this? Because it wasn't easy to get there from Milan. We had to take multiple trains. And then the trip back, our trip back was a 5.30 a.m. 40-minute Uber to a train station where we then took two trains and three planes to get home. It was a 28-hour travel day. Gas.

Fucking. Which one of you, Steve Martin, which one's John Candy? that's what I want. I'm John Candy. Yes. I can see it. Yep. And dude,

it was incredible because I kept, dude, I kept literally going, I'd just be on something plane or train or Uber, and I would just fall asleep. And then I'd kind of wake up and then there'd be a flight attendant like, do you want some food? And I'd be like, yeah.

And then I would eat it. Oh, dude, I have to tell. And then I'd like fall back asleep. And then she'd be like, you'd be like, you want some food? I have to tell the story of the Denver flight. I totally forgot about what I did on the Denver flight.

When we, I'll get to it. But. Um, so Chris does all the planning for this, which I commend him for. But we get there. And like, even when we, we logged off social media, we just were like, all right, let's enjoy it. I was so fucking tired.

And I was like, I can't believe we're going skiing. Like, this is such a bad decision. Yeah, it's exhausting. It's exhausting. Yeah. But we get there and we get to this hotel. Everyone's amazing at the hotel. We get to get to the mountain.

Our buddy told Chris that we need to do. this run. It's called like the Celerana run. And it is basically, there's signs everywhere. You get on any lift, any gondola when you get off, it's like Celerana this way. And it's basically a massive loop that if you do the full thing, it will bring you right back to where you started. And it touches every mountain and every village on the resort. But it takes the entire resort. It takes like four and a half hours. So it was like, if you want to see the whole thing, do the Celerana run. And to not sewer our boy, he is, he wasn't like, you have to do this. but he is part of this huge ski club.

He's a huge skier. And they had done this trip two years ago. And the guy, the local there was like, I live here. I know everything. And he sent me like a 30-page doc that was like, here's the things that people think are cool, the tourists think are cool. That's terrible. Skip that.

Skip this. Like, you know, it was the most detailed package you could ever get of how to ski the Dolomites. Correct. So we get there and we rent skis because we didn't want to fly with our skis. rent our skis, we get on the mountain, and we start going. Let me be clear. This place fucking rocks. It's just so, it's such an amazing, we're in Italy, but it's so close to Austria and Switzerland.

There's Swiss and Austrian people everywhere. There's Russian people there, Italian people there. And I have never in my life seen as many, high quality. And I don't mean Michelin. but I just mean high quality bars and restaurants all over the mountain. I'm talking whatever lift you take, there's a bar restaurant with a different name and a different vibe. Unbelievable music. We stopped at one place.

I forget the name of it, but we got off one lift, and there was this outdoor opera bar, and there was like three strippers dancing on the bar in like fur coats and bumping to music and all these people like married couples, like dancing on the tables. And I was like, this is unbelievable. It was a Tuesday. It's two. And they do it Tuesdays and Thursdays at that place. and it was very special.

It was very special to witness. It was fantastic. Freezing the poor. Yeah. Well, funny you say that. The conditions were not great. Oh. We're going up lifts and you can see grass and dirt and mud on many of them.

Okay. So the conditions not great. Great for stripping, not good. Yeah. Great for stripping, not great for skiing. Also, it became clear after about an hour into said Sellerana run that if you do this and this place, you got to be operating. Like, this,

I would recommend if you go to the Dolomites, you go with a group of five or more. Like, this was clearly, if you want to have your best life skiing here, it's meant to like do a couple runs and then stop at the next bar. Have an apparel sprits, have a, some wiener schnitzel, and enjoy

yourself. We were just gassed and not talking because we had just been together for fucking three weeks doing this Olympic shit. We're also getting on these gondolas and everyone's like, everyone speaks 50 different languages, so no one's speaking. Dude, it was some of the worst time I've ever had in my life skiing. Like it was, we, first of all, doing this full run, you spend 60 to 70% of the time on lifts

and gondolas, and then the skiing was subpar because of the conditions. And there were just like man-made moguls everywhere because everyone's chilling. No one's like ripping on this mountain. They're operating. Yeah. So you've got all these families with kids. kids and every section of the mountain you get to where there's like a good little steep drop, you would get to the edge and there's a hundred people as slowly as humanly possible

navigating the man-made moguls to get through these patches. So like we couldn't even really ski that hard. And I was just like every time we would ski have to stop, have to navigate these people, you then get on another lift that's fucking 15 minutes and you get to the top of that gondola ride and you ski 20 seconds to the next lift to go up another lift. And I was just like, what are we doing? It was insane. He's 100% right about the opera being, and dude, the document was like, plan on a nine hour day. Like, take a three hour lunch. Like, do, it highly recommended stopping 50 times. It wasn't like, put your head down and finish this page. It was like, it was highlighting all these. It was like, if you don't stop at this restaurant, you're an idiot.

And we were just like, we got to just get through the day and ski because like we had to come back and we had to travel stuff. Was this right before you were coming back? So we did. two days and the second day, we did that Sellerano run the first day. Okay. At least you had the next day to chill. Well, we go out the second day and I was like, what are we doing today? And Chris was like, I want to see this glacier. There's a glacier.

It's like World War I massive war fought here. Austrian troops dug into the trenches. It's like one of the coolest most famous ones. Apparently every year as more of the glacier melts in the summer, new bodies from World War I surface and stuff like that. I'm like, dude, we have to do this. Like, I'm not flying, I'm not training all the way up here and then not getting to see that. So I go, great, where is this great glacier?

And at this place, there's, uh, there's one cellarana run that is labeled with orange signs. And there's one cellarana run labeled with green signs. And Chris goes, it's on the green cellarana run. And I go, it's on both because they, they did the same thing. They intersect. But he was like, we got to follow the green cellarana. And I was like, how long? And he was like, I don't think that long.

day two we do the full green cellar on a run it was another five and a half hour straight day and all i said was can we please at like one fucking stop somewhere and have a beer and have food and we did not do that sir and in fact we got stuck in one tram ride that was like an hour and 45 minutes line and i was like i felt like a child oh at the end of the day we were like skiing we would get to a lift and i'd be like if this isn't the fucking last lift, I'm going to lose my mind. And we would get off it and then look for the screen cellarana sign. And it was like, get immediately on this lift. And I kept looking at him and I was like, I'm going to kill you.

I'm going to be one of those dead World War I. I'm going to stuff you into the glacier and you will be found decades later with Austrian troops. Dude, when you're traveling overseas and you miss your shot for food, it's devastating. Because you don't know when it's going to happen again. Yes. It was just, it was such an awesome mountain. and everyone there was incredible. Every restaurant bar was incredible by the looks of them.

We just didn't. It was a perfect storm of being so tired after the Olympics, only being two of us and not in the mood to operate and rip it. So it was just a night. I thought the, I had way more fun than he did, to be very clear. I thought the first day was great. It was. The second day was a bag because the glacier took so long.

And wasn't that cool? Did you see any World War I? No. No. I was looking at it. though. Yeah, I don't even know we rent the wrong place. I just thought it was going to be more like a glacier. Here's the hut where they fought and here's a literal glacier and it was just kind of like a run and I was like, oh, is this it? And they were like, yes. But you are really high up. The views amazing. The views everywhere were amazing. We were amazing. I was so high up. I was actually for the first time of my life on the tram. I was not loving the heights. I was like, holy fuck. We were way up. We're way up. Fucking windy, dude. I was like, yo. But my experience, because I wish we, I'm glad we did it. I wish we had stopped to booze more. So the problem of it is. I'd like to echo that. Could not agree more.

Yeah. I'm so glad we did it. High recommend would go back as crazy as that sounds. Maybe not after two weeks of Olympics. Yes. Because I think we were so, my boy you did this was with these people who knew their shit and how to get around. Because there was a few moments where we're like, are we going the right way?

Because, dude, if you don't finish the loop, you, now the lift shut off and you are on the wrong side of the biggest mountain range in the world. So you're like, my third. 30 minute drive back to my hotel is now four hour drive because I'm on the wrong side. The only way out is through. So we were freaking about making sure we finished. And I think if I had done this before, I would have known, we're good, we have plenty of time. We just didn't know.

You know when you're like going on a hike and like going the one way, you're always like, and it feels so long because you don't know what it is. And then when you come back, they're like, oh, this is 20 minutes. It's not that bad. But in your head, it feels like it's forever. Yes. So I was tweaking about that, which I heard our chances of stopping. we were just in the unknown. We were lost.

Yeah. But my takeaway, dude, was that we ski a fair amount, but in the states, dude, or in North America, I guess, people are rarely on runs that they shouldn't be on. You know, there's very rarely other people on blues or blacks that are very new to ski because they're like, I'm not going over there. I can read the signs. In Europe, or I'm in my one experience in Europe, it's like, I think they think the signs are just for show. The colors are for, they're like, oh. Did you see people eating shit the whole time? Everywhere we went, I'm on these, like, insane black runs and people are like,

it's like, it's like, it's like, it's crazy. I'm like, why are you on this trail? There were people who were just more or less sliding on their butt down the entire run, and I was like, why are you here? Yeah. And they were, they were trying to go to the strip club. I also, there's no, as fast as possible. There's no etiquette. Dude, the European skiers are fucking terrorists, trying to get on the lifts, get on the gondolas. They're just like cut, everyone's cutting everybody. and care, and I'm like, is there a line? It was kind of lawless. I agree with that. Dude,

what is happening? That blew my mind. And, dude, we had, um, these, you've seen them, these really official team USA backpacks that they gave us, which was awesome. But dude, I don't know if it was that or what, but we, it's like we had the fucking plague. Everyone's pounding into gondolas and then finally a gondola would get to first line and Dan and I would get in it and everyone would just stand there and let it go with just us in it. And I was like, do you, I was like, what the fuck is going on? It was very weird. I was like, It was insane, dude. I was like, do you, are you intimidated?

But you hate the U.S., possible. Are you intimidated because you see our shit? And you're like, oh, I think they're like. Were you guys taller than most? Oh, yeah. Most, yeah. Yeah. It was so funny.

We'd get on like six-person chairlifts alone. Just to do. I do think that there was an element of like, given that we had the same backpack on, it almost, you know how sometimes you're out of mountain and it looks like two lifeties are doing something? And you're like, I don't know if they're working. I kind of want to let them. do their thing.

There was a world where people were like, are they training? Yeah. No one would touch us with a 10-foot pole. I mean, it's kind of nice. Yeah, I was like, okay, sounds good. You guys smelled bad for racing so hard to get to these spots.

They're like, I've seen these guys. So true. So long. Three hours. It was insane. Yeah, I mean, listen, I just think, I think Opry is the move in Europe, especially in the Alps.

And it was a... I thought orange was way better than green too. Completely agree. Because you can go either way, you know? That tram was one of the worst experiences of my entire life. Yeah. That we didn't need. That was the side quest.

That sucked. The line was just so... Super crowded on a Wednesday. Yeah. I thought I was a... It had to have been a bunch of post-Olympic people, too. It was crazy. Yeah.

Yeah. Could have been. There could have been. I almost nuked, like, eight-year-old girl. Okay. Before we get into... It was insane, dude. Yeah, oh, that was...

Oh, my God. You almost got somebody? Bro. Evan. It was... It was... Was that on the glacier? I'm having a stroke.

It was on the glacier run, and it was kind of the first time where we had a lot of space to really go. Talking about no etiquette, this woman and her daughter, I assume, were going down, and they were just cutting all the way across the trail. Like, which was like, fine. Left to right. But Chris is just bombing. Bombing. And this girl and this woman are just coming. And like, she stopped for a second.

and Chris was like, okay, I have a lane, so he just kind of tucked and went. And then she was like, no, I'll keep going. And it was truly like a, dude, and I saw it. Oh, my God. Because I was scanning because I was skiing fast, but I saw it happening. And I was like, okay, like Dan said, I was like, we're good. Because they'd been over here. And once you committed, and she then kept going, I was like, there's no way to stop it.

So I was like, oh. That's what happened. She kept going. And I was still pretty high up, but I was just going so fast. And I was like, I don't, I can't stop. Yeah. So I just dug in so hard. And I was like, just like I'm bouncing.

Dude, at any moment if she turned back, it would have been completely fine. But she just kept coming. And I was like, oh, my God. Yeah. And then it was like, foo. I think your skis clipped. It was so close. I was behind him.

And when it happened, I audibly went, oh. I was like, that was almost, dude. We almost added a body to the glacier. It was so scary. I also kept going so far and fast because I wanted to be just a plane. Get away. I was like, I don't want anyone to be like, fuck you. Get away from the scene of the crime.

Go, go, go. Holy hell. You know, they're like, these bricks. When you cut somebody off in traffic, I'm like, I just got to go as fast as possible now, so I don't catch up to me. So, okay, so I did the, my last thing before we get into a fun little topic,

um, I mentioned the flight from Denver. So we flew from, uh, Venice to Munich, Munich to Denver, Denver to L.A. The, uh, Munich to Denver flight. I, I only slept for,

an hour and a half at the end of that 10 and a half hour flight because it was like our normal day. Fuck you. As far as you're remembering what happened? As far as Italy time, it was like, it was a, I think when I fell asleep, it was like 11 p.m. So like, you know, I didn't like take any sleeping pills or anything. I was just awake on that flight. And then I slept for like an hour and a half to end it. We then get in Denver.

We like sit in the lounge for a second and then we go get on our flight. Dude, that is like a two hour. flight, Denver to LA, maybe a little bit more, three. I fucking passed out on that flight harder than I have maybe in my entire life. I had my eye mask on. I had like my hat pulled down and I got upgraded to first class on this flight. And it's like not that big of a plane, but I'm in like the second row. But also importantly, he got upgraded post having sat down. So already on this flight, someone has approached him, been like, hey, you can come up here. So Dan's like, oh, okay, and then like gets his shit and move up.

So I fall asleep on this plane and I don't even like realize. I mean, I obviously I put my eye mask on, but I was like, I don't know if I'll fall asleep. And the next thing you know, I was in a coma. I wake up to a flight attendant ferociously hitting my shoulder. Like she's hitting me because I'm clearly so asleep. And I finally come to and I like like take my hat up and I lift my eye on. cup and she's going like this at me. She's like beckoning me. And I'm like, what the fuck is going on? And I'm so out of it. And I'm looking at her just waving at me that I fucking unbuckle my seatbelt.

And I get and I legitimately was like, she's bringing me up to the cockpit. I was like, is she bringing me to the cockpit? Like, is this like, uh, they're like, hey, sir, like, you've been upgraded to first class. We want to give you the full flight experience. So I was just so out of it that I like stood up and I walked. I walked. up to like where the cockpit is. And she was like, sir, sit down. We're landing. And I was just like, oh, she was literally going bring your seat up. And I was like, oh, fuck. All right, sorry.

Dude, I turned around and sat down and the guy who was sitting next to me was looking at me, like, are you about to hijack the plane? Yeah. Dude, what the fuck are you doing? You take your pocket for box cutters. I have, I can't remember the last time I was that delirious from being tired. And I was like, what is that? You had to have been so deep into that sleep.

Dude. Dude, you're what, two, three hours in? Yeah. Yeah. And I, dude, I was ready to, like, make a speech to the plane. I always, I have no idea what this woman wants, but I'm ready to go. Whatever you need, babe.

Like, here we go. Oh, it was fucking hilarious. I was laughing the whole time we were landing. It's all, I'm moron. Okay. Before we get into a beer league hotline and a blind breaking to close out this episode, needed, especially with you, have. We've got to talk about the appearance from supposedly Jim Carrey,

this weekend. So do you have you seen any of this? Yeah, I've seen the rumors going around. So all I saw, because I'm usually not tuned into this shit, but all I saw was that they were like, oh man, Jim Carrey got so much Botox. They replaced Jim Carrey. And this happens, dude, it's Hollywood, right? Like the Ryan Gosling showed up for the fucking Fall guy thing and had a bunch of fillers in, you know, and you're like, oh damn it, dude. And it goes away or whatever, but I was just like, fuck. So I heard Jim Carrey does the shit and I'm like, whatever. I didn't even look. I just heard the rumors. Then I I started to see a bunch of shit on my feeds of someone being like, Jim Carrey is left-handed.

And then if you watch this event from this weekend, was it SAG Awards? Is that where he was? No, he was at some award show in France. Yeah, yeah, right. He was speaking French famously, I'm assuming because he's Canadian, he knows at least a little bit. So he's in Paris walking out, signing a ton of autographs right-handed. And they're like, this isn't him. I didn't catch that.

Dude, and I'm like, what the fuck? And then, and again, this is all the things I've seen. Yeah. And then they start doing the like, yeah, dude, literally like the government has replaced him for speaking out against, you know, Epstein and Aluminati and fucking Pitos and all that shit. Yeah. And then today. Which by another reason why he's the fucking best. Yeah. And then today, this makeup guy, have you seen this? No. This makeup artist today has come forward being like, yes, it was me. Like I, I went, he does this. He's done this many times. He does incredible prosthetics and impersonates real people. And he's like, yeah, it was me. Like it's on his Instagram page now. He's like, look. Is this like a, you know, when he did Man on the Moon and he would go out as Tony Cuffman thing? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He would go as Andy Kaufman's alter ego. Right.

So maybe he's doing that in real life now. So he showed a picture of the mask he made. He's like, it was me. But now people are going, the government did replace Jim Carrey, but we now all caught them. So then they paid this guy to go, yes, I was impersonating him when actually Jim Carrey is dead and has been, don't say that. So now people are going, oh my God, it was him.

But then all the comments on that one are going, until the real Jim Carrey shows proof of life, I don't believe it was this guy. Have we considered that he's simply wearing the mask? Could you imagine? Okay, so here's what I'm, here's what I am, I have not been privy to this, dude. But I started seeing in the comments, people were going,

they got him. Yeah. And I was like, oh, they're saying that he's like been killed and this is an impersonator. But then I started seeing all this clone shit. Yeah, they cloned him. And is, have you ever heard of this? The concept of cloned.

Well, apparently it's like a big Hollywood conspiracy. Oh, the people are being cloned. And so I Googled it and I was like Hollywood cloning people, question mark. And apparently people think this happened to Selena. Yep. They, I think, remember Soldier Boy? Yeah. They're a bunch of people who think that Soldier Boy has been cloned.

Kanye has been said to have possibly been cloned. Oh, he got cloned and it made him nuts. Yeah. Well, it's like I didn't get the brain right. The conspiracy is that some of these people start speaking out against stuff and then they come and take you and they clone you so no one knows any different and then all of a sudden you stop speaking out about stuff but I've seen a bunch of clone stuff like his eyes look different dude what I just think it's plastic surgery come on I think

but as a guy so I saw someone say this as a guy who's made his entire living off of his facial expression yeah yeah right like he's so good at that and then also spoken out so much against yeah being superficial but I always I always hate that take because I'm like we don't fucking know Jim Carrey. Everyone's like this, Jim wouldn't do that. And I'm like, you don't know Jim. He might. He might.

I think people, there's just, the sad truth is there's just so much pressure to appear to be young. Yes. Dude. You wake up one day and you got a turkey neck and you're like, if I have the money, I would do it. Maybe I'll change my tune on plastic surgery. That's what happens. Yeah. But I think that this whole thing has been so interesting.

And if we got clones walking around, that would be crazy. I mean. And I'm always so curious on these conspiracy theories because let's be real. I feel like we've seen some conspiracy theories over the last 15 years feel like they're very real today. Yeah. And that fucking sucks. Yeah. So I would suck to find out that this is real if people are getting real.

But to me, but to me that the part of this conspiracy theory that I think does make it a little hard to swallow is sort of the science fiction aspect of it. Yes. But, you know. Who knows? Who does know? All I know is I miss Jim. And I love Jim. I think Jim's the greatest comedian of our time.

And it would suck if he got snatched. I'm saying, dude. Like that would suck. And I need to. But sometimes he does those interviews, like that Kimmel interview he did or episode he did. And then he had another one at some award show when he was like,

this is the most meaningless thing. I asked myself, what is the most meaningless thing I could come to? And it's this. Wow. But it's all about like he's like, Hollywood is terrible. And he spoke out on, like, vaccines and stuff and the medical industry.

Like, the guy's, he's a fucking, he's got morals. Yeah. And they might have snatched him for it. Dude, I'm telling you, so this guy, this is the dude who does, like, this is the guy, but he- He's actively saying that that was him. He does these masks. And, yeah, and he goes like, this. The masks we wear.

He goes, here's me as Jim. And he's like, here's the mask I made. Oh, my God. Oh, he's like, he's genuinely actually like, it was me. Yeah. And he's like, it was me. I was there. And then people are like, unless Jim carries himself says something, I don't

fucking believe this. But how would you even know to believe that? Also with AI? And like, why would he have a Jim Carrey mask and wig that he's wearing in pairs? The right-handed, left-handed thing is actually the craziest thing so far that I've heard from it. Could that just be, though, somebody flipping their image when he added, horizontally flipped? Good point. Could have just been a video flip. You could have been video. I don't know. Also, yeah, maybe he does, but maybe the plastic surgery affected the nerves in his hand and he had to use his other hand. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Be that. Cologne. People, I have identical twin friends. Do you think. Do you think clones are real?

I think They cloned a sheep in like the late night Yeah What are we talking about? The Scottish people Have been really fucking quiet about that Yeah

I feel like they were on it For a while And then all of a sudden They stopped talking about And that's usually a sign Of like, did you figure it out And you're not telling us? Yeah, somebody took the tech

And now they're using it In the government conspiracy I fear every day Ev that So much of that technology And aliens and cloning And we're just way more advanced than the general.

Oh, aliens are real. They had that interview with Obama, and he's like, aliens are real. Oh, yeah. And he was like, didn't he say he was like, they're not in Area 51? No, they're not, yeah. That's so awesome.

Why don't we talk, is how, of all the shit that we get obsessed with online and start talking about, how is President Obama going, no follow up going, aliens are real, by the way. Why didn't we get fucking, why aren't we all talking about that? That's awesome. We got to start talking about fun shit more. That's a fun topic. That is.

Hey, Instagram and TikTok algos. Let's talk about Obama going aliens are real. That's a fun topic. Fucking Jesus. Oh, my God, dude. I need that. Release everything. All right, Ev, let's wrap this episode up.

Get us into a beer league hotline. We have a teammate with a French onion dip obsession, okay? Hold on. You need to repeat that? Nope. I just want to say I'm about this is about

as in as I can get this early in a beer league hotline like I don't I'm not even sure if anything can get me off of this guy's side

keep going he he hit his obsession from his wife still still on his team the other night he fell asleep at 2 a.m. with a tub of

French onion dip resting on his stomach his wife caught him and now he's no longer allowed to eat chips and dip which has really hurt his morale

but he was our leading score before his life blew up. Okay. Do we keep him on the team despite this problem? And if so, how do we help him get through this? Oh, wow. Dude. His life has blown up. His life has destroyed.

To be clear. He is out now. You'll never get to eat that again. His wife has imploded. Dude, you will never get to eat that again. This is one that I'm like, this cannot be real. but I need to believe that it is. Let's assume they're all real.

Falling asleep with, I also love the use of tub, because I want to know how big that tub of French onion dip is. Like, do they sell tubs up? Like, did you go to Costco and get like a family style one and that's what you're eating? It doesn't how big the guy is, I guess. Yeah, is this dude not fat shaming here, but is this dude huge?

Like, is that why it's a problem? Or is this, I mean, this guy's playing beer league. He's active. Leading score. He's active. He's the leading score. is it just to the point where his wife is like, dude, you eat so much French onion dip, it's a problem.

Yeah, well, I think she's just finding out how much of a problem it is. She didn't even know. And she goes, oh, honey, do you fall asleep with the tub? And he goes, but then I think it was like everywhere, you know, like he was like, he's like winning the, winning the pooing. Yeah, he's just spooning it with his hand. That's a problem.

He was our leading score before his life blew up. Do we keep him on the team despite this problem? Yes, of course. We need to support our friends. We need to support our friends. I think this is the most cut and dry, easy answer, beer league hotline of all time. You just bring chips and French onion dip to the game.

Yeah. So when you have post locker room beers, he also gets, that is where he enjoys his French onion dip. But don't you think that if he goes home breath reeking like a French onion? And his wife goes, have you been eating dip? And he has to now,

now you're making him a liar again, and you blow up his marriage. You, she's been banned from eating dip. You got to give him some mouthwash afterwards. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. There are ways to combat the breath.

Yeah. And also, what say in the room, stay in the room. We don't need to call him a liar for enjoying some postgame French on your dip. And also, it's like having postgame beers. You just burned a lot of calories, playing the game.

You deserve a treat. Yeah. Okay. Does he have high cholesterol? Why is she so upset? Well, if he's obsessed, I mean, I get it. He has an obsession. I think that this might go,

this might be a bigger issue than we could ever possibly imagine. Yeah, this goes deeper. I think that this woman is not a tyrant. I think she sees a legitimate issue here. And we are now enabling this issue. But we got to get the stats back up, brother. This is the Beer League hotline.

This isn't the fucking cholesterol hotline. It's true. But the thing is, if you make a rule where it's like, okay, no French onion dip unless you're at Beer League, then I think that's a nice compromise. That's compromise. Because then it solves her issue and the team's issue. Likely it's once a week. That's, yeah, you know, that's cutting back. That's marriage.

Can't go cold turkey. You know, we gotta go cold French onion dip. Yeah, yeah. Once a week in the locker room with the fellas. Okay, keep him on the team. Encourage him to get a compromise with the misses about, I will only eat French onion dip at beer league. Yeah.

And you can even start it out with, and only if we win. Oh, geez. Because that was going to incentivize him to score more. Yeah, okay. The one alarming thing here is no one has mentioned chips at all. Is he just eating it with his spoon? I was saying, I think he's, I think he's Winnie the Poohing it. Yeah, if this is, like, you know there are those people who love ranch so much that they're

just borderline drinking it. Psychos. I worry that this guy might be that style. Like, he might be eating this with a spoon. Our buddy, our buddy Shane calls, uh, pizza a ranch shovel.

Oh, God. It's disgusting. I have a friend like that too, and I love him. But every time he puts ranch on stuff, I'm like, this is not meant to have ranch.

I'm so sorry. Man, I got into that rhythm in college. I would, I would put, you would get pizza on and be like, and ranch, obviously. And then I got out of college and I was like,

why in the world? was I ever doing that? Yeah. And I would go as far as to say, and I'm not ranch shaming. We don't shame on this podcast. I don't know that there's anything that I love ranch on anymore.

You grew out of it. If I'm getting tenders, I'd rather honey mustard. I'd rather barbecue. Yeah, barbecue, baby. People who dip their fries in ranch, I'm like, what are we doing? I don't think I like ranch on anything.

What's the garlic mayo? Oh, fucking aoli? Yes, garlic aoli. Come on. That beats ranch every time. Of course. Of course. But I am a purist.

We're getting off topic here. I am a purist when it comes to fries. I know a lot of these boozy restaurants in L.A., they like to give you some sort of garlic aoli or chippole aiole. I'm like, just give me kinds ketchup with my fries. I'm a psycho. I can eat fries with nothing. If it's the right fry, I'm with you.

Yeah. Yeah, I like it. All right. We're digressing. Let's close out this app with a nice blind ranking. Okay. What do we got? We are doing Team USA.

players. Team U.S.A hockey players at the Olympics this year. And I think it's their Olympic performance. Like how you felt about them at the Olympics. Okay. Team U.S.A. men's Olympic performance, blind ranking. And I'm not adjusting anything about this. You have your five.

Yes. Okay, ready. Yes. Jack Hughes. Dude, hard not to go one because of the... Jack would even... I thought he was the best in the group's stages. Like in the group stage, I was like, he's incredible. He's having an incredible tournament.

And then a little quiet maybe in the, or no, he had two sick goals in that Slovakia game, right? Yeah, he had the sick bank off the back of the goalie. Yeah. So I'm like, and then the golden goal, obviously. There's someone who had an better performance in one game, obviously, not saying names yet, but overall tournament. I think it's crazy for you to limit that to one game. He was just especially incredible in that one game. I could go as low as three here. What? Whoa. I could.

I think Jack would agree, too. No, he wouldn't. I think you would. I'm happy to go two. I will not go three. Okay, two. You got his fucking teeth smashed out. He sure did.

He sure did. Two. Jake Gensel. I could go five. It's not higher than four. It's not higher than four, so I'm with you. It could have been better. But he had a few good moments.

He also... It's an incredible player. Got fucking murdered. Yeah. Interference. Lay hit. Which is fucking insane. That's one of my funniest memories of the hot-held tournament was Jake

Edsel just getting fucking blindsided without the puck for 10 seconds. I was like, Jesus, dude. Yeah. I don't want to go five. He's so good at the sports. How about a four? How about a four there? Yeah.

I can be happy with it. four. Let's go four. Okay. Four. Vincent Trochec. I think I have to go five now. I think that you need to save. Yeah. But I'm not sure that Trocheque was necessarily much better than Gensel. I think Vinnie was a fucking

Swiss army. I did everything they asked him. We got a ton of ice time. Yeah. I want to I want to ride for Vinny Trochevich hard because he was such a role player. And played his role perfectly. I think he should be very proud of himself. He should be. He is. But I'm fine to go five here because you have put us in a bad spot.

But you're not that mad. If Gensel was five and Vinny was four, you wouldn't, like, whatever. We're splitting hairs. Yeah, we're splitting hairs. So five. Yeah, I feel bad about that, but I want to put them all one. There are no losers on this list. Yes, correct?

Because they want. We literally all gold medal. Okay. Brock Nelson. Okay. Daddy Brock. Three. I think we have to go three just out of fear, but I

want to give so many flowers to Brock, I thought he was fucking money. He is literally, he has a heritage of gold. It's incredible, dude. And he, after four nations and this tournament, I just cannot say enough nice things about Brock. And if he better be on the team in four

years, and then he better get going on kids and nephews and nieces, because we need Brock Nelson's lineage in the men and women's team for the rest of time. Three. Who's our one? Oh, so we may have one left. Okay, yeah, who's one?

Same. Austin Matthews. And, dude, actually, Austin had a way better... Austin was fantastic. Like, everybody... Austin was fantastic. I remember when we did this blind ranking after Four Nations with O'Shee, and he put Austin pretty low.

We all did, because we were like, he just, you know, he didn't have the best tournament. He's still great. He didn't have the best tournament. Austin Matthews had a great fucking tournament. And do I think he should be ahead of Jack Hughes? No. No, but he was fantastic.

I don't feel bad about this at all. Don't feel bad about that? He captain, though. America of fucking won a gold medal, dude. And you asked the boys, they say he's our leader and he's a winner. That's my one any day. Boom. Fine with that.

There you go. Good stuff. Wow. All right, that wraps it up for this episode. Hope you enjoyed Mark Strite, unbelievable guy. We're going to be dial into all of the trade deadline stuff coming up this week. We've got some great interviews coming up with some of our Olympic medalists. It's going to be amazing.

Guys, do us a favor. Go toss some five-star reviews on Spotify and Apple. Subscribe. Do all the things. We love you. Can't wait to see you for the rest of the week. It's going to be some fun, fun stuff. And until we see you next episode, C.P, tell them what to do.

Skate hard.