Empty Netters Podcast - The Panthers Go Swimming With The Stanley Cup w/ Keith Yandle | 111

Episode Date: June 26, 2024

The Cats avoid an epic collapse and defeat McDavid, his Conn Smythe trophy, an the Oilers in a game 7 for the ages to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The atmosphere pregame was electric and the parties post game were iconic. The boys wrap up the wild ride that was this Stanley Cup Playoff. PRESENTED TO YOU BY LABATT BLUE LIGHT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf52MHW1O7guPMzsMvv2kA FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.netters/?hl=en FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@empty.netters (0:00) – Intro (0:34) – Pre-Game (9:51) – Game 7 Breakdown (27:32) – Keith Yandle (1:03:44) – Season Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ice is ready. Oh my goodness. Ice is ready. And we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast brought to you by Labat Blue Light. Holy moly, the cats are cup champs for the first time in franchise history. My voice is gone. Your voice is gone. What a season.

What a series. What a series. What a series. What a series. What a game. What a time. What a city. What a team.

What a group of guys. I'm buzzing, man. I've got nothing. Nothing but just love and good things to say about everything that went on. About everyone on the ice for both teams. What an insane situation and just event that was. I mean, I don't even have words, dude. I don't even have words to describe how cool.

this whole series was, this whole season was. But my God, what else to say, dude? I think the hype of this game got so big. And there was so much at stake, right? Like I said to you guys, we were all sitting there getting ready for the game, hanging out down at El. I'm a resident at Elbow Room, dude. We just live at Elbow Room now.

But we were at Elbowram before the game, before we had it down to do a little tailgate and then get into the arena. And I said to you guys, if I were a Panthers fan, I would feel so conflicted. Not because obviously you're rooting for the Panthers with everything you have, but because you do acknowledge the whole destiny thing. You are like, dude, this is, this is insane. Like everyone is talking about this, you know, a Canadian team hasn't won since 93. Oilers have come, had this unbelievable comeback down 3-0. Connor McDavid is back in the building that he was drafted in. It is him.

It is the chosen one. Like there was so much- R&H 13 years to the day drafted first overall. He stayed. He stayed for this reason alone, Dan. Like there was just everything against them. Everything was against them. Because we talked about it, right?

If this was Dallas, like imagine if this was Dallas and Florida went up 3-0 in the series and then lost three games. it's all tied up. There would not be the same conversation. It wouldn't have been the same, you know, mystic vibes. So with all of that going in, so many of us were like, holy shit. I mean, I pick the Panthers in six, but then I was like, dude, it just feels like this is so crazy. I'm taking the oilers. I just thought the momentum. But what an unbelievable situation that, like we keep saying as fans and as unbiased fans, like going into that game, seeing how the Panthers were playing? I was like, this is fucking sick, dude, do it. Win it on

your home ice. Like it was just what a fucking game and what a cool ass team. Dude, you're so right about the buildup. Dude, you know how, Dan, in, in Austin Powers, I want to say it's the spy who shagged me. I want to say that. He goes, he comes out of a cryo freeze or something. And he goes, I'm having a hard time controlling the volume of my voice. Or like he's, you know, I am having a hard.

time controlling the temperature of my body. The last couple days ago. Holy hell. Dude, we're at the elbow room pregame. And I'm like, you know, you're on a bender. It's a lot of travel. And I just think, you know, I take that first sip of suns surf surf, or whatever the fuck.

Surf sides. Surf sides. And dude, like, just start dumping water out of my body. Like, covered, soaked. might as well be swimming in the Atlantic. That's how I feel. And it's because the nerves, it's because the drinking, the stress, like all these things are just piling up.

And we're just neutral fans. Imagine if you were a player or someone deeply invested in this team. Like, I don't know how you, I don't know how you survived the several hours till puck drop last night. Dude, it's like, we posted a meme. I was like both fan bases must be absolutely shitting bricks right now for this game. So I'll say this, dude. We're going to get into it.

You know, we got our boy Yandel joining the pod in a moment, and we're going to discuss everything about all the craziness. But let's talk about the game. The game alone. Yep. We get to Elbow Room. And I'll tell you what, dude, it was rattling. Like, Oilers fans everywhere.

We posted a video to the story. We were like, holy shit, dude. Oilers fans are taking over this place. And I was very impressed. Very impressed with the Oilers fans who rolled out. They had a presence there in Florida. Like it felt like a hostile takeover. And I was like, oh shit, dude.

Like, this is crazy. But we then get on the bus. We head to the arena. Yeah, dude, the bus was sick. I forgot. Bus was sick. That was awesome. Bus was sick.

Booze everywhere, dude. Like people were drinking like 3 p.m. on a Monday. Did we, did we, did the bus in 10 boys need us to take a bus? Is that what happened? I'm actually just realizing this, dude. Maybe us getting on a bus. I'm actually just realizing that us getting on the bus made Verhegey,

who was the bus in 10 king. Yes. Who hadn't scored in a million games. I think he was on 95 straight games without a goal. And we get on a bus. And then he scores. This isn't a bit. I'm just realizing this right now.

Who's going to say you're wrong, dude? Not me. Not me. Holy moly. Listen, we get on the bus. We get to the arena. Tailgate. Unbelievable.

Get inside. Cold zone. Coors light cold zone. Go and see our gals. That's when the vibes came through. That's when I was looking around, seeing all these Panthers fans. sure they're nervous but they weren't letting it get to them they were fucking partying they were rocking they were doing shots they had their jerseys on and I was like okay dude okay yeah like the vibes are here and you know what I also love we posted that clip saying that game five the barn was too quiet people there were a couple people were like what do you mean like we scored the third goal and I'm like yeah when you scored it went nuts but last 10 minutes of the third it was too quiet so many panthers fans came up to us and they were like Dude, you guys were right.

It was too quiet. We're not going to let that happen today. And that place was fucking buzzing, dude. Busing. I give Matthew Kuchukchukes so much credit. He made, he had, balzy comment, dude. Balzy comment for him to be like, this is going to be the loudest arena that I will ever play in.

Coming out of Rogers in game six. Right? You knew that Oilers fans were going to be like, oh yeah, dude, like, give me a fucking break, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then my God, did they, did they show up, dude? Like, they, they showed up and that place was raucous. And I was like, fuck yeah, Kachuk.

Like, what a comment, what a quote. And then the way the fans came through and, and did just that, they turned that place out. I was like, this is fucking sick. They really, they really did. I will say, though, hey, it was great. But I will say they did play Sudoku again. And I just feel like, we got to find a new game, dude. That's all.

And the place was popping, dude. It was great. We just got to find a new game. What actually is it? It's like a word search or some shit. I don't know. Yeah. I think it's that.

Like they find like goal or something. We were dying though. Like when it popped up, like it looks like this word search. We were like, come on. No. What are we doing? You can't do it again. But, say, dude.

But dude, it was just, you know, let's talk about all the hype. all of the gas that was going into this game, going into this game seven, talking about this is the biggest game seven in Stanley Cup history. I think it is. People were talking about the Crosby against Detroit. Obviously, 94 Rangers, blah, blah, blah.

We set them all. I think this was it, dude. Like, this was unbelievable. And the vibes were immaculate. People were fucking going crazy in that place. And you could feel how intense and important this game was. The game starts, dude, the cats were back. Games won through three cats.

That looked like the Panthers. That looked like the panthers. We're so back. They were buzzing all over the ice. And I immediately was like, I saw him. I was like, oh, there's my, there's my guy. It's like, dude, it's like when your boy who's now engaged and you haven't seen him in fucking months. And when you do, he's like making a chakutery board.

And he's like got a, like, a, like, what do you got to get chakoterie boards, but. Nothing. What do you got against Charkoot Boards? I'm a big board guy. Take it easy. He's making, he's making, he's, he's cutting up cantaloupe and he's wearing like a sweater vest. You know, like those are the only times we ever see him. He's wearing reading glasses.

Yeah, yeah. He doesn't need. They're just clear, they're clear lenses. And then he's out, one night he's out. And then, you know, one drink leads to the next drink by accident. and then, you know, next thing he's back, he's behind the bar, ringing the bell. Yeah, I look away, he's behind the bar ringing the bell. And I go, there's my guy.

There he is. That was the Panthers in the first period. They were behind the bar ringing the bell. It was Gandalf the white, dude. They dropped the cloak and an aura of light beamed from behind them. And I was like, they are, this is it. They're back. They were all over the oils.

And the Oilers were playing great, too. I'm not saying the Oilers got caught. on their back heel or anything like that. It was just the cats from games one through three were fucking back and buzzing. And that's what I mean. The environment in that arena, they were just feeding off of it. They were loving it. And it was like, man, it was special.

I was like, this is going to be the fucking coolest game ever. And it was. We were on the under early. We were like, no, we were on the over early. We all got excited. we were like, this is going to be crazy. 5-4-O-T. Like, I posted on the story, like, joking around.

I was like, give me 5-4-Double. I mean, not joking around because that would have been sick, but 5-4-O-T was like the dream, right? But then we were talking about it and we were like, dude, it's going to be under. This is going to be tight. Guys are going to be like no one wants to make that mistake, right? It's game seven. No one wants to make that mistake. And it was just like this quick, tight game, unbelievable crisp passing.

Guys were fucking. taking short shifts ripping all over the ice. And then let's talk about our boy Verhegey, dude. Guy has been, you know, it always happens, right? When a stud and a star player goes through a rough patch, people are always like, where's so-and-so, where's this guy? Verhegey scored the first goal of the series hadn't scored since. And people were like, Verhegi this, for Heggy that,

cats get a peeper for Heggy not on the power play. They put Teresanko out there. They put Teresanko out there and let me tell you what, dude, the power play looked great. It looked better than it does. did in a long time. And they didn't score. And then PP2 comes out. And Verhege's out there.

Power play runs out. But then it's in that, what do we call it, CP? The vulnerable minute. The vulnerable minute. The vulnerable minute. Verhege gets there in front. Shot comes in. Absolute sex tip.

Boom. Cats on the board. Dude. And it was such. a good, such a good tip, dude. Like, it was absolutely incredible. So incredible. And, dude, we talked about going into this.

First goal was so important. I was like, the first goal of this game, all six games, all six games. The team that scored first won the game. No, no, except for game two. Except for game two. Oilers went up one nothing in game two. That's right. That's right.

And in fact, in fact, Dude, that was the only lead change of the entire series. Yes. That's right. That's how big that was. Because, like, the Panthers were giving them such a hard time for their aggressive pinching, giving up two-on-ones. You know why they're aggressively pinching? Because they're losing, because they're chasing games.

Right? Like, you just, it just changed. I think Nobby said it or maybe Maurice, but somebody was like, it just changes your defensive structure when you're losing. So it's like that first goal was going to be so fucking big, especially in a seven, dude, in a seven. Are you kidding me? Dude, first of all, dash one for me. I got a little excited. I got a little too juiced up there.

A little too much blood flowing. But five of the six, five of the six first goal scorer wins. And we thought this first goal. So this is what I thought. I was like, if Edmonton scores first, I think it's over. Because I think that that momentum would have just been dominant. It would have just been too much to handle. So Florida scores first on a sick for Hage goal.

like Verhagi's going now. The fucking roof of that arena absolutely popped off like a rocket ship. And I was like, oh, baby, huge. And then what, dude? Three minutes later? Like, truly. Breakaway.

Yanmark. All the things that we're saying, like, you can't be getting beat by Connor Brown and Vogel and Yanmark. And you can't be giving up breakaways. And they go, how about both, dude? Actually, not one. Try both on for size. Dude, see how that feels?

Another breakaway, dude. Another breakaway. About two minutes later, boom. Another breakaway. And tied up. And it was like, oh, my God, dude. I'll say this, Dan. The groan in the building, and I don't know if you could hear it on TV,

but the groan in the building when that happened was I could taste it. I could feel it reverberating my skeleton, my exoskeleton. my exoskeleton dude because oh yeah everything you just said it was the whole crowd was like okay we got that goal so much nerves

so much pressure relieved and then not only did the I was tired but they but here we go again that's what it felt like it felt like a here we go again grown of like you have got to be fucking kidding me that we're still doing this in game seven like the

the building the building side the entire building side collectively oh my god dude yeah it was like truly truly unbelievable. And I will say, though, there wasn't a give-up in the building. Like, it was a groan of like, are you fucking kidding me?

And I was impressed because there was a lot of oilish fans there, but it wasn't like they drowned out with cheers. But it gets tied up and the Panthers fans were right back in it, dude, back up on their feet, screaming, going nuts. And we go through rest of that period, one-one into the second. and then after almost, you know, a full period, we get through 15 minutes, just back and forth hockey, no mistakes really. And who else but the other big boy, the other huge goal score for this team.

Who had been missing? Who had been missing, admittedly. Sam Reiner, fucking beauty, dude, gets a puck. And that was one of the coolest moments for me of the game. when Rhino got that puck gets it you know top of the circle

and he's just coming down in coming down in everyone's tight in a box defensively for the Oilers and no one really steps to him and not really that there was that clear of an opportunity it's not like anyone missed an assignment

or anything but it was just like everyone was blocked in rhinos honing in and us watching we were all like I could feel everyone's shoulders tense like I stood up everyone was like up leaning on each other and I was like oh my god oh my God

fucking rips it in. I think Stewie might want that one back, but still... He played a good game, too. He played a good game. That one is like, you know, a little under the arm. But dude, I gotta say,

so at this stage in the game, we were all, everybody we were kind of with, we were all together for the third. That was kind of our... Because we're wandering a lot. We've said this to you guys before. We're wandering a lot during these games, right? Yeah.

So we had all said, like, culminating on this epic game seven, epic season, let's all be together for the third period. But in the second, period, we were split up. So you and me and G were somewhere and I think maybe Merles was somewhere and everybody was somewhere and everybody was somewhere. And I was trying to find Merles or he was trying to find us. So I walked out of the area we were and I was

standing in the hallway waiting for him and I couldn't see or hear the game. And I was like, fuck, these are like pivotal moments. So I found a little like a hallway or whatever. And I walked down and there's an usher there and he's like, hey, what's up? And him and I are just like, I wish I got his name. Him and I were just, like, silently watching the game. And that's when Sammy got to puck, and he comes streaking down the right wing. And he just snaps at home. And it was like, dude, literally, it felt like nobody was there except for me and this usher.

And we were like, oh, just like jump. I'm like, high five and him 50 dives. And he's like, you got to stay here. You got to stay here. This episode of the empty netters podcast is brought to you by the cool, crisp, refreshing taste of Labat Blue Light. We are here in Florida, recording the last part of the season. Panthers just won the cup. We're walking around this unbelievably hot and humid, beautiful, beautiful Fort Lauderdale.

And I'll tell you what, there's nothing that's going to cool me down and keep the sweat off my body like a nice Labat blue light. It is without question the greatest light beer that you can have because every single bottle can and glass is brewed with Canadian kindness. Which is the best kind of kindness in the world? If you're looking to have a nice beer while you're watching hockey, while you're hanging out with the friends, doing the backyard stuff, we've got Fourth of July coming up. Listen, I'll tell you what.

Labat Blue Light is the best beer to have every single time. It's hockey's favorite beer. It's our favorite beer. It should be yours as well. Taking a quick break in the pod to talk to you guys about Bauer Hockey. Let's be honest. You know the name because it is the best brand in hockey and has been for about 100 years.

Bower hockey is taking care of you on every single level of the ice, whether it's your equipment, your stick, your skates, whether it's your gear and apparel. Bauer is the industry leading standard in the game of hockey. They know exactly what you need. And when it comes to training, Bauer is taking care of you like no one else. They've got the digital reactor dangler. They've got the digital slideboard. They're going to help your myths and those hands get as nice as Patrick Cain's. They're going to make your stride look like a gazelle, ripping the digital slide.

through the Serengetty. Give me a break. Whether you were a beer leaguer, whether you are a pro. Bauer is helping you take your game to the next level and you're going to use promo code empty EMPTY at checkout when you go to Bowerhockey.com slash training. Get all that gear to make sure you're stepping it up. Bauer has you covered every time. Okay. Well, Dan, we have time traveled into a different location. our software crashed in the I think the software was too exhausted from the series two Dan like the Chris I legitimately think you're right like literally like I was so mad so if you guys are listening to the podcast right now you don't know what we're talking about

but if you're watching CP and I are in completely different spots right now and I actually Chris I think that our software was just overrode from the insanity of the the series and was like, I can't work anymore. So how sweaty I was and it was like, dude, you're, you're, we need to, we need to detox. We're done here. So we're going to fill in the blanks for the parts that got cut out for everybody, which means we're jumping right back into the third period because I just shared my goal, my, my, Sammy Reiner at GWG with a, with a sweet level usher story.

Yes. So, dude, then we go into the third and I said to you, I think we've been said on a grid or a story, the oilers were like, oh, and something crazy when even tied going into the third. Panthers, best third plus 30 something in the third period. Yeah, Kat's absolute wagon third period. It was like this should be over based on all that metrics. And then I thought the always played the best third period. They played all playoffs.

And it played great. Yeah, the panthers pushed up to the outside like they do. But it was like the Panthers felt like they were on their heels. It was like that constant icing, you know, which is like ice it, ice it, ice it, ice it. like 10 icings in a row. That's when you know you're like, you kind of got them pinned back. Absolutely.

And didn't it feel like, you know, I think we got a couple of DMs of people who said, and I don't mean this in a negative way. I'm not shitting on anybody. But we got a couple of DMs of people who are like, oh, you know, bummer of a third period. And I couldn't disagree more. There were no goals.

And I think that's what maybe people mean. But I just thought that that third period was so, awesome as far as two great teams battling it out. I actually really love scoreless periods when there's that much on the line, whether it's tied or someone's up by one because you're just so, that butthole is so tight again. Every play is like, oh my God, everyone's freaking out. And that's what it was like.

And the last 10, 12 minutes we'll talk about was just so electric, dude. Like we talked to Montor on the ice after the game and he was telling us like we're, you know, we were giving him hugs being like, congrats, buddy. This is amazing. He was like, dude, that last 10 minutes, I was literally, my eyes were like this. Yeah. Just staring up at the Jumbotron the whole period. Like, holy fuck in this period end.

And then my fucking boy, dude, goose hugging him too. He was like, he was like, dude. And what a fucking game he played. Yeah, he was incredible. That he pointed out one play. He was like, dude, do you see that shot that went between my legs? I thought I lost us the Stanley Cup. Yeah, and they were winning.

Like, he was just like, if that goes in, we're fucked. And we all, we did too, remember? Dude, that went through his legs, and I was like, oh, my fucking God. Dude, there was a stretch where I was talking to you where the Panthers iced it, and there was like 705 on the clock. And then they wanted to draw and iced it again, and there was like 701. And then they wanted to draw iced it again. It was like 6.58.

And then they won the draw iced it again. It was back to 707. And I was like, are you what the fuck is going on? You were like, there's been seven minutes on the clock for. for 15 minutes. What the fuck is going on? Yeah. So that that was chaos. And it was a good scramble, dude. It was amazing, dude.

You know, talking about Goose again. Like, just a player that good. I love when they pinpoint plays that he couldn't have done anything about. And he's like, so mad about that one thing when he had an otherwise perfect game. And I'm like, God, dude, you guys are fucking elite. But it was awesome. The last few minutes there, there were some crazy chances. is Bob flailing all over the ice.

The boys just throwing pucks on net. You, Chris, pointed out, however, in the last minute, Oilers get the puck in, net gets pulled. You're pulling for the empty net. Give it to me. It doesn't happen. Puck gets in the corner and the boys are eating it. And there was a sketchy moment where the clock's running down.

There's 15 seconds, 14, 13, 12. And a couple of the Panthers forwards were just puck watching. Hit got rock watching, dude. I think Rhino was. on the ice and he booked it into the corner to like, I'm sure he saw maybe the puck squeaking out and he was like, no, just fucking kin it, pin it in there. And who was standing nude

in front of the net? Connor McDavid. And I was like, dude, if that puck, like, we got to get a freeze frame of that moment. I'm going to do a post about it in the morning, dude. I have a green screen ready. It's like unthinkable, defending. Yeah, if that puck were to have squeaked out and

it just found Connor McDavid in front at all of Sunrise, Florida would have had a heart attack. Oh, dude. But the fucking Florida Panthers, man, they finished the job. I will get into it. We're going to kick it soon here to our chat with Keith Yandel. And we say a lot of it in there. But what a cool, you know, this job is so awesome.

And I really love it when there's a final like that where I'm like, this is just two cool teams, two cool teams with awesome players. And I just want to watch good hockey. But then seeing the Panthers win, I was really overcome with emotion of how. how many guys on that team. I was like, oh, fuck yeah.

Like, you're getting your cup, you know, and the boys, the boys did it, dude. And, you know,

like we said, we were earlier today, we were at elbow room, seeing the boys ripping it up. They had a one hell of a day on the beach today. And awesome content and video coming out of those guys. But fuck me. It was it just a beautiful cap to a beautiful season.

Yeah, absolutely right. But without further. do. Let's kick it to our chat with Keith Yandel, a cat himself as we keep breaking this down. As you all know by now, we have been partnered with BetMGM for this incredible hockey season. And I need you to get on board. It's so simple. Okay, you download the BetMGM app and you use promo code Netters, N-E-T-T-E-R-S. You know what that's going to get you? I'm going to tell you right now. You can make a bet from $5 to $1,500 and no matter what happens, you chill in. And here's why.

If you win, sick. You're great at gambling. If you lose, it was just a bad beat. And here's the good news. Bet MGM will literally take every penny that you bet up to $1,500 and just put it back in your account. And then you can bet again, and then you can win, and it will be awesome. So download the BetMGM app right now. Don't forget that promo code, N-E-T-T-ERS.

Gamble problem. Call 1-700-8-Hop-N-Y or text Hope N-N-Y or text Hope N-N-Y from New York. Call 1-800-327-50-50 from Massachusetts. 21-plus only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800 next step for Arizona. 1-800-800-102-3 to Puerto Rico or visit www.W.W.W. 8800-gambler.com. or West Virginia.

First bed offer for new customers only subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-with-warable in partnership with Kansas, cross-accon, casino, hotel. CepenMGM.com for terms. U.S. promotional office. U.S. Promising the podcast for a minute to talk to you guys about our new sponsor, Rocket RX. If you ever experience erectile dysfunction, you can get trusted FDA-approved treatments at a lower price than branded alternatives. It's delivered straight to your door in discrete plain packaging.

No person appointments, no pharmacy visits needed. And for our listeners, you can get 20% off your first order if you use promo code netters. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S at checkout. Yans, you called it, came on the show, called it the Catlantic. Panthers come and they win the Atlantic in the last, what, week of the season? And then now here we are celebrating a Stanley Cup. you got the jersey on. I mean, like, you're no Stradamus, dude.

This was unbelievable. I know. Yeah, and Stradamus. Yeah, no, it's just one of those things. I had a feeling they, you know, last year they probably, you know, they could have won. Obviously, you run into a buzzsaw like Vegas. I think injuries kind of caught up with them last year. Bob wasn't playing his best all season.

You know, he comes into this playoffs and he was amazing for, all but three games, right? Don't get me started on that. I think he should have got Vesna, but, not Vesna, Kahn Smythe, but obviously what McDavid did is amazing. But yeah, it was just one of those things I felt like, and I didn't even realize the stat.

There's only been, I think, three teams that have lost in the finals and then the next year go on and won it. So I didn't even realize that's that. I probably wouldn't have been on my soapbox as much as I was. but yeah definitely excited for those guys you know what they've done for the hockey down there and getting people involved i mean i got a million texts last night of you know friends that were at the game and then today going to going uh you know cup hunting trying to find where they're at the guys partying and i just said go to elbow room at some point it's going to be there and

i got a video at like 11 o'clock this morning of them pouring beers off of the balcony into fans faces so it was uh they're they're gonna have an absolute blast of dude we literally just came from elbow room like it's it's 1 30 p.m and we just came from there with all of them going fucking nuts so it was crazy yeah i think you left your voice yeah oh i i i surely did um what did you think going into this game like be be honest were you like this is gonna well for the cats or were you completely up in the air? Because we were kind of like, I have no idea how this is going to go. Yes. So the whole time, never, you know, the whole time, when they were up three nothing, I thought they were going to sweep the series. Then when they went up three nothing,

I was looking real good. And then, you know, obviously lose a few. And then my big, my big point to, you know, all my friends who, you know, in Florida, who don't know too much about. about hockey, you know, asking when are they going to close it out? What's going on? My big point was it's so hard to beat a team four games in a row. And going into last night, I'm like, okay, now the role's reversed a little bit. Edmonton's won three in a row. It's so hard to win that fourth game in a row. You know, you can only hold Bob back so much. Obviously, they had their way with them in a couple of those games. but what he did all series what the defense, especially Aaron Eklad last night, what he did to

McDavid just shutting him down, giving him no space, couldn't be more happy for him. Obviously, it's a team effort when you're defending McJesus, but, you know, especially him and Foresling, they did an amazing job. But every time you get on the ice in your Connor McDavid and you have to see the big horse 16 out there, you don't want to be on the ice. As good as you are, as McDavid, you do not want to be playing against Sasha Barkaw every night, especially when you have home change. You know, anytime 97 went over the board, 16 went over the board.

So I thought they were set up for it to be in a good spot to win last night. You know, I would imagine that, you know, the last three games, you know, you're flying your family's out to Edmonton. you're planning all this stuff. You think you got it wrapped up. There was probably a lot of outside noise for those guys. And then I think with a game seven winner go home, it was just, okay, let's get back to the way that we're playing,

the way that we played all year. I thought Evan Rodriguez said it great last night and just playing that dirty, you know, playing that dirty, you know, cats-like mentality game where they weren't giving the teams much. Offensively, you know, obviously you give up a breakaway goal is a little tough but uh you know then after that they just shut it shut it down find some timely scoring and uh even my my wife who you know i mean she's obviously

knows the game a little bit but she was like for hagi and um and reinhart need to score tonight jesus christ it was insane i know it was i was i was we were literally driving driving home from grabbing dinner and she's like those guys need to score they haven't done too much and she called it. Dude, I was going to say the Jan Stradamus goes clearly beyond just you.

Like, it's with Kristen too, because you guys are just fucking sniping this game. This is ridiculous. It's a family affair, yeah. But hers isn't on record, so it could never even happen. Dude,

I just think, like, this, we were talking earlier, this, um, the lore of the Oilers and the fact that it was McDavid and like all of the you know Canada hasn't won since 93 all of that crazy shit going against them it almost felt like this is too much for this Florida team to like surmount you know it just felt truly insurmountable and the fact that they dug deep and won it like I was I was blown away but it felt like the first shift it was like the team that we remembered from games one three three and And I was like, oh shit, we got a game. Like they're going to do it here because they have actually done the, okay, fuck it.

You know, games one through six don't matter now. It's one game, one game, win or die, and let's do it. And it was like crazy to see. Yeah, and I can only imagine the pressure on those guys in Edmonton. I thought Florida, you know, the pressure is kind of off your shoulders as much as, you know, you're thinking of, okay, it could be the, you know, worst. collapse in NHL history. You know, that's kind of probably in your mind a little bit. But I think as a player that the more pressure was on Edmonton because, you know,

I heard stories that were flights from Toronto to Vancouver with Let's Go Oilers' chance. Like you have the weight of a country on your shoulders. And I think you saw it a little bit last night with Skinner. Like he was not himself last night, you know, whether the pressure got to him. Even the goals that they scored. I mean, obviously an amazing tip. by Swaggy, but, you know, Reinhardt's goal wasn't one that Skinner's been given up. Yeah, he did, he did worry, like, what was he six or four and O against elimination

games, whatever his thought was. It was, you know, you had a little bit of doubt with how good he's played, but I thought the pressure got to him a little bit last night, which, you know, it's part of the game. And, you know, when you're on the road, the crowd looked amazing. You know, you bring out a lanis more set i mean how can you lose in front of alanus mo you know uh you know that that was a response to shania like shania was coming out in edmonton and fucking buzzing up those people and they're like we've got to do something here and they pulled out the big guns dude that was a huge move that was a huge move it was great i was actually wondering if the nchel i mean i don't know who chooses the anthem singers but i wonder if the nchel had anything to do with that with having a

Canadian and you know she's Canadian but you know she's probably lived most of her life in in the US so yeah but I thought it was great I mean Alanis Morse said it was you know that's my childhood memories listening listening oh yeah for sure do you think that there's so you just mentioned the the boys being an elbow and you know we just were there we just saw saw the party going on I am not sure like day after winning the cup I'm not sure that there's a better place in the NHL to party with the cup. Like watching that video of Chuckie grabbing the cup and jumping into the Atlantic.

Like all the boys are just rocking their fucking pit viper glasses, shorts and just dumping beers on themselves. I'm like, how could you want to be anywhere else than on the beach right here? Yeah. I mean, because you think about it, Vegas is probably awesome, but, you know, it's a tourist thing.

There's so much stuff going on there. Like, how invested the fans were in Florida, the last two years, it's been amazing. And, you know, they deserve it. The 31 years of, you know, never winning a cup. I haven't seen the video of Matthew jumping in the water yet, but that's incredible. But I was hoping they were going to have the parade on the boats up and down the intercoast. Like Tampa did, dude.

Like Tampa did. Yeah. I was saying the same thing. The only, I'm sure they'll do something, I would imagine. But the only thing is more people, you know, if you're on A1A, you get more people out watching. I mean, you're right on the beach. But yeah, no, I agree with you.

I don't think there's a better place that you can pick to win it. Minus, it's probably a little bit too hot right now. If it was in March or something, it would be amazing. But yeah, there's going to be going to be a lot of casualties out there. People, you know, in the sun too much, drinking a little too heavy, not having enough water. But, yeah, it's, for the first time ever, I'm mad in the summertime that I'm not in Florida. dude I hear you man like it is a part but you're right it is too hot like we're just walking back to do this podcast I was fucking a leaking it felt like I jumped in a pool

leaking dude oh my god unbelievable so yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah you go you go uh yeahans I want to ask about to cons my thing because you brought that up earlier so I I feel like it if Bob had given up one or two less goals in the losses like if those losses have been like two one jobs they give it to him but i understand that Connor you know you got 42 but but zero points in game six and seven for the kid like those are the big ones you know so it sounds like you're on the bob train but i was kind of shocked by that yeah i mean obviously you got a tip your cap to him i think what he he tied wayne's record or something with a assist i think he finished third all time like wano did 40 oh yeah he broke the assist record wayno did 47 once and then maybe a 44 even

and Connor got 42 so it's fucking epic yeah so i mean anytime you're in the same company as wayne uh you probably deserve a trophy but i i just think it should go you know and i'm sure connor would say the same thing i mean i shouldn't speak for him but the winning team should you know the guys should get it and um obviously it's not going to take away from anything that they that that that bob did or barky did um you know even a guy like evan rodriguez whose name could have been in the hat for a consmite you know But yeah, I mean, anytime Connor gets an award, it's rightfully so. You know, what he's doing in this game right now is truly amazing.

And, you know, he's much must watch TV every time he's on. So you can't hate the fact that he won it. But yeah, I would just, no matter if my team won or loss, I would like to see a guy from the winning team. Yeah. What about him not coming out to get it though? Dude, did you see that? I'm jumping in. here. I can't fucking stand anyone who's giving him shit for that, dude.

Like, I'm so with Yans. Like, I, tons of people are giving him shit for that. They're like, oh, what a, they're like, what a bad look. Connor didn't come out. And I'm like, what are you, it would have been a worse look if his team's in the locker him after that, that battle. And he's like, yeah, let me just go get, go get my personal award. I think it's fucking nuts that anyone's giving him shit.

Like, I would have done the same thing. Why in the world would he skate out there and be like, yeah, thanks so much, Gary. This is really awesome. I feel great about this. achievement like fuck that yeah even you even see it when the guys who do win it and their team wins the cup they don't even like they just grab it and they're like oh cool thanks like let's let's get the big boy here like you know so for a guy to lose it's i would have bet every dollar in my bank account that he wasn't going to go out and accept that had i known he was

completely agree yeah you couldn't i mean the fans were booing a little bit too it would have been it would have been absolutely nuts if he went out there. But yeah, I would, I can't believe people are giving him a hard time about that. I mean, obviously at the end of his career, he's going to look back and, you know, and it's an amazing accomplishment, you know, something only a handful of people in this world have ever done. But he, uh, yeah, I think there was no shot in hell he was going out to go. Yeah, no way. There were a ton of Oilers fans there, though, that wanted to see him come out.

Like, there was a ton of Oilers fans in that barn. Maybe they do it differently, though. Like, because I was kind, I wasn't giving him shit, but I was kind of rattle. that he didn't come. And I was like, maybe they shouldn't. It just looked so awkward, I guess. Like, I wish Gary had been like, hey, Connor McDavid won. We're presenting it to him in his own locker.

You know, it just looked so weird that he was like, Connor McDavid. And then nobody, like, nothing happened. And I was like, uh, what the fuck? So they got to figure that out. I'm sure they'll have it out in Vegas for the awards and, you know, have his pictures with it and stuff. But, you know, at the end of the day, he wasn't out there to win that award.

He was out there to try to win a job. Exactly, dude. It's, it's, it's, it's, and I'm with you. ends. Like it's, there was a lot of people in our DMs. Like someone asked recently, like, is Connor a lock for the consumite no matter what? And I was like, I don't think so. I think if Bob has like a shutout or something, there's a chance that he gets it. And I mean, for him to the play the way he did all playoffs, games one through three and then to just nut up in that game seven like that. I'm like, just give it to Bob. I mean, like, you know right now, if you were talking to Connor right now, if you were like, would you be bummed? If you, he'd be like, I don't give a fuck about that trophy. So it's just. You know, you know, right? You know, right now if you were talking to Connor right now, if you were like, would you be bummed? He'd be like, I don't give a fuck about that trophy. So it just. So it just. So it I don't really know what we gave it to him. All right, Jans. We go back on the fact that, like, just speaking a good goaltending, the goalies that the Bruins beat this play,

I mean, that the Panthers beat this playoff. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Vasi, Swamen. Shasturkin. Yeah. And then in Skinner, like, it's, they had one of the hardest.

What's that? I was just going to say to add to that, the goalies were also on heat. Like Skinner, I wouldn't be like as an all-time goal. But that was like the best Skinner played ever. And even Sway, who I fucking love and is elite, sway was on an all-time heater. You know, like they really caught like the hottest goalie hands possible.

Yeah, if the Bruins didn't have Swamen, they would have beat them in three. I feel the same way about New York, dude. I feel the same way about New York. Like, I mean, Igor was keeping that New York team alive in every single way. But Chris, well said, like, Skinner maybe on paper isn't the same quality as those other three guys, but fucking A has he been playing well. So, yeah, every goalie was absolutely firing. So I am curious, Jens, do you think we had Vegas last year?

We just saw, you know, the run that Tampa went on winning two cups and then Vegas winning last year and now Florida winning. Like these aren't flukes, right? Like this is big. Like southern hockey and these southern markets are not fucking around. Like guys want to go and play here. The fan bases are real and they're starting to bring hardware home. Like do you see a shift going on? 100%.

And I think it's getting to the fact that, you know, I think with social media, with, you know, you're going out on the road, you're spending, you know, more time in cities. I just think a big part of it has, you know, no state taxes. Like I just think the biggest part of all this is just. just guys are more aware of what's out there as opposed to, you know, you get drafted by a team, you kind of stay there, whatever. But nowadays, it's like, get me to Florida, get me to Tampa, get me to Vegas. Like, it's, I was talking to, you know, one of the brass in Florida, I'm like, your guys is the only tough part is now is everyone's going to want to sign here and you don't have

room for everyone. Like there is, like, come July 1, whoever's the big guy in every single year, the next however many years they're going to want to be in florida amazing place to live new practice facility right down town that was kind of the knock for a while it's like oh yeah you live down you know you live in if you had a family like when i first got there most of the guys with families lived out in parkland it's like why would you live in florida not live on the water um now everybody's downtown and now you have the practice rink there you have the guys you know in the community you know out and about you see them around all the time yeah i can't think of a of a better place to play the weather obviously is amazing um in there's more and more place like dallas is another one of those places

like you guys are going to want to play there guys don't want to be cooped up in their houses for eight nine months a year in the in the freezing cold so um i think more and more it's going to be you know either whether they bring more teams to the salt you know it's proven that it's worked And it's one of those things where, you know, if I was a, you know, 30 or 28 year old hitting the free agent market, my first call would be to Florida, Tampa, Carolina, Dallas, Vegas, like all these teams that are good weather. Like you said, good fans. And now they're proven winter. I think Nashville's in that category, too. Now Stamcoast is a panther.

So, you know, yeah, that helps. It's fucking true. All right. on that note, what do you think is going to go on here now with some of these big boys on both these teams? Like, do you think Rhino figures it out, takes maybe a team friendly deal and stays? And then what you just said, because I've been talking about this, I don't want to stir the pot and be a rumor boy here. But like, do you think Edmonton runs it back? Like, do you think dry sidal stays?

Do you think Connor is like, I'm staying for sure? Like, what do you think's going on here? So Leon has what one more year? He could resign this summer. I think a lot, you know, you'll see a lot this summer. If he stays and signs an extension, then I would imagine Connor is going to do the same. You know, they're probably a package deal that stay there. But like we're saying, like, you know, these guys see other places where you can play.

Obviously, they love it there. You know, anytime playing in Canada is amazing with the fan bases and, you know, how into hockey people are there. but it's it's not one of those things anymore where because the guy's been there for 10 years it's a it's an automatic home run that he's going to stay home so um yeah i i you know obviously that's out of my pay grade to to you know pick where he's going to go or where he you know whether he likes it there or not i don't know him but uh it it will be interesting to see if he resigns this summer or not and obviously Connor's going to have a lot to to say with that and yeah I would imagine if he does resign, then it's Connor telling him that he's going to resign the next summer and then they'll be there for a long time. But yeah, you never know, once the season's over and you start thinking of things like this, it's a, you know, it makes for fun, fun topics. No, Connor's like, you resign so I can fucking leave and then everyone can yell at you. And I'll be in Tampa. I'll be in Florida winning cops, dude.

And it's fine. Thanks, thanks for coming out, pal. How upset with Leon be a dad. Oh my God, dude. I think he would, I think he would defect. He would pull a cobalchuk And he would just get the fuck out of here Yeah

Holy shit Yeah I got a question for you dude Here was my biggest takeaway Watching watching Watching celebration last night I don't think the boys take a long enough lap With the cup

They hand it to him And then they fucking Walk to the end of the driveway Pick up the newspaper That the teenager tossed there And then they come back in I'm like Go around the fucking neighborhood

Dude Yeah I'd be strutting that ass around the entire rank literally dude they go 20 feet and they come right back and I'm like this is oh you're gonna win another one dude this is the moment I know mekela like go go go go go go wander wander around dude so yeah I gotta I don't know how I got to talk to but we need to be taking longer laps with the cup I think the biggest thing is and you realize you see it when guys are holding it up every guy's banged up I'm sure every guy's shoulders are killing them they can barely hold that thing up um so I think anything

longer than like a 10-15-second lap guys are probably going to get tired out just because their bodies are so worn down right now obviously if it was in the beginning of the season you could do a 10-mile lap but now they're they're just so exhausted their bodies are absolutely mangled and you know how hockey guys are like they just want to give it to the next guy so true he can enjoy that's what it looks like right it's like you know it's such a team game to ultimate team sport where no one wants to light to be on them. They're like, okay, I got my time. And the excitement that you see, like last night, I think it was who handed it to Ekblad? Maybe, maybe Rhino, one of those guys, but the excitement of just seeing each other and giving it to them. And it was beautiful. And

it's, I think that's, you know, one of the best traditions in hockey is just getting that one last assist of handing the cup to your buddy and having him go for a stroll. And you look in the line. when they show the camera of when the guy's going around and you see his teammates in the background and their ear to ear smiles, the guys who are waiting are more happy for the guy that's going around with it because he's just kind of like, okay, what do I do? What do I do? And then everyone else is like going nuts. So it's, I think it just puts a stamp on how unselfish hockey players are and what a great team. Dude, I think there was also an element of this team specifically. There were so many guys on this Panthers team that when you were watching that cup celebration,

you were like, oh, fuck yeah. Like, I'm so happy he finally got one. I mean, Eckblad, obviously, but then like Bob fucking, uh, OEL, Maurice. Like, there were so many guys that I was like, dude, Paul. Paul's, I was actually, like, I was surprised how emotional I got with Paul's. I don't know if you got, I don't know if they had the cameras on him on TV, but like, he, he was like, you could see him like, oh, my God, lifted him. Yeah, like it was so, so happy.

That was really, that was a really cool moment. I saw a cool angle and it was Maurice holding it up and Longberg was looking at him. He was just like, you know, just like looking at him like, oh my God, we finally did. You can just see the look in Longberg's face of like, you know, I'm sure they've all talked about it. Maurice has been a head coach since whatever, 30 years or whatever it was like. Damn near, damn near 30. The shit that that guy's been through in the ups and downs and. You know, you could just see it in the guys that, you know, went to war for him, that they were so excited for him.

But, yeah, I agree with you. Like, all Reckman Larson, a guy I played with in Phoenix, my first, you know, maybe four or five years, like, to see him out there, he played him amazing. Oh, my God, dude. All serious. All serious. And last thing, I texted my buddies. I'm like, I feel like OELs played 30 minutes already. Like, he was out there every other ship.

he came in as a six-seven guy and um you know just amazing play from him you know up and down their lineup just guys that you're happy for and um you know a lot of the guys that i got to play with and know how hard the way and bob's one of those guys too you saw in in his face last night after he won when he got that cup it was like oh my god i've done it he's won two veznas he's you know could win his third this year and you know the last thing he's had to do to prove his Hall of Fame status is to win that cup. And you could see, like, he, we brought him in there. And I think he was the highest paid goalie at the time, you know, had a, yeah, that's correct. Had a couple bad years. Um, you know, obviously it's not all on him. There,

there's a whole team, you know, aspect to that. But just to see the relief in his face and, and I know how hard he works, he's arguably the hardest goalie of, uh, hardest working goalie I've ever played with. And just to see the relief in his face, you know, I'm sure he had so many emotions going through him. But, yeah, just special moments. And that's the, you stay up late. I was tired this morning.

But you're staying up and you're just, like, so happy for these guys living out there dream. And Evan Rodriguez is another guy, quote machine. He said, dude, he was like, you know, it's all the kids out there, you know, keep dreams. in, you know, it can happen to you type thing. I'm not exactly sure what he said, but, you know, just, just know that it's, you know, it's even better than when you dream it. And, you know, that's just an amazing thing to preach to kids.

And, you know, I know my kids were watching the game and you see that of people living out their dreams. It's amazing. Dude, there's that Leah B Shriver, Stanley Cup commercial where, like, it's just showing everyone winning the cup so happy. And the quote is, like, it turns men into boys. And it's the most true thing in the world, dude. Like you've said it a bunch of times like seeing the smiles on their their faces and I'm like oh god what a fucking feeling.

Dan, Dan, wouldn't you say because we're on the ice after right? The guys are. Oh, yeah. Like when I, we go up and like dab up the boys we know and they're literally like in a daze like they're like, uh, dude. Like they have no idea where they are. Like I'm pretty sure they will not even remember seeing. Oh for sure. On the ice.

Like they have no memory of last night. It's insane. And I was thinking it too. Like, you know, these guys like when you're a young kid playing hockey, hockey. Everyone does, you know, game seven, you know, game seven baby. It's like your dream as a kid, you know, the kids who don't play sports have dreams of becoming doctors or women have dreams of getting married and all this stuff. Like your dream as a kid playing hockey is to hoist that Stanley Cup. And, you know, 26 or 27 guys got to do that last night. And no matter who the team is every year,

it's just amazing to see, you know, how, how excited those guys are. It's unreal. And, and, and, Not that they probably wanted it in five, but just kind of sweeter considering they won, like going through all that. You could feel that in the energy too. And we were talking to them. They were like, holy fuck, dude. That was almost a disaster. Well, even like, because, you know, after game three, they go up three nothing. Like, I remember talking to my buddies.

It's like, like, obviously it's nice that they're going to go and win this in four. But I just want more hockey. And, you know, they strung it along for for us fans of the game to make it as, as enjoyable as possible to the last minute, the last day. I can't believe that these guys have to turn around and go to the draft the next day. Dude, it's a disaster.

What is the Panthers plane going to smell like going out to the draft? It's going to be truly one of those things. The fucking gate is going to open and beer cans are going to spill out and just like a vapor of booze is going to leak out the door. Oh, it's so good. Oh, it's unbelievable. We were just saying that.

Yens, did you think, and maybe it was nothing because we just played great because it was game seven and he dialed in but what did you think about that rest day for bob we were talking with whit before the game and whip you know he was on the way was obviously and whit was like the thing that made me most nervous is that rest day for bob where they were like just go home don't even come to the rink chill out and just fucking dial in for game seven yeah i think that was big i just texted rob talus the uh the the goalie coach and i said unbelievable coaching job by you telling bob to stay away because i know playing with bob he's one of those guys you have to literally be like okay you cannot come to the rink like you're not

invited like you can't go on the ice because he wants these pictures up at the door do not admit this man dude yeah it's it's a small thing whether it meant anything whether it you know gave him that extra two percent to to be a better goalie last night um you know whether it didn't mean anything i i think it was a great move and i would imagine that Rob Talas and Roberto Luongo were probably behind that and, you know, just giving him his rest day and going relaxing at home, just kind of doing what he needs to do. And then, because you know in the morning, he's going to, he's going to be so dialed. He's going to do his routine, get ready, and he showed why he's the best. What do you think, what do you think a rest day?

What do you think Bob was doing at home? Because he doesn't strike me as a, you know, as a Harry Potter marathon on Netflix guy. No. you think he was doing? I bet he has like the sauna, the infrared beds, the cold tubs. I bet he had everything. He's a big, he does these crazy workouts on the medicine ball. I'm sure he was doing those standing up on the medicine ball. Make and say it definitely, it was more of a day on than probably most people, but he he saved himself by having to lace up the paths. I think, that's what he needed though. I think he was probably in full equipment walking around his house, just like going through the motions.

His wife thrown apples out on. He's like saved. Fucking, yeah. And dude, he was everywhere last night because there was a couple

scrambles and he was fucking flopping, flying around. He lost his stick twice, you know? Like, I saw him a few times and I was like, there's no fucking chance. He's giving up another goal.

Like, he was all over the place. When they got up one, I thought it was, I thought it was going to finish one nothing. And, you know, obviously they found a way to score one. but then it

he was showing him in warmups like he was tracking the puck like into his glove just looking at it like you could just tell he was dialed in seeing it dude he's seeing it he's seeing it i kept saying that yes it's when dude every time a goalie a point shot gets through like eight legs and the goal is just like snap and it catches it i'm like oh fuck that's when i know i'm like oh dude they they've seen they know exactly where the puck is at all times i could tell he was sick dude yans kind of um a weird uh last four minutes from the Oilers, eh? I thought, I thought they had a, it was like a late pull on Skinner. They had, with like three minutes left, they had the big boys out and the Panthers were gassed. And they, I was like,

pull them now, dude. And they waited. And then like, line two came out. And then they pulled them. I just, I thought that, like, I know it's crazy, stressful and it's all flying by. But I thought that last four minutes was kind of weird. Yeah. And what did they say? Connor played the last like three and a half of four minutes. Um, in, you know, probably the best skater to ever play the game. Like, probably doesn't get as tired as most guys. Like you could see he was just, you know, they gave it their all. They were out there, you know,

trying to put the team on their back. And, you know, amazing effort from all those guys, you know, from top to bottom, not just Connor and Leon. Like their entire team was awesome, all playoffs. But yeah, I'm sure, I bet if you ask the coaches that they would do something different, maybe they would. It's just the heat of the moment out there

You're just putting your big boys out there And hope to get one Yeah, I think you gotta do it too, right? But you're right, man, it's You could see in that game in particular Like what a performance from some of the big boys on Florida You could see that going up against Barkov Going up against Ekblad

Going up against Foresling was just like Really breaking Connor and Leon down Like he was there was a couple times in the second period where he was, you know, Connor got the puck in the offensive zone and he was doing his just self-cycle thing. And I was like, oh, shit, like here it comes. But then in the third period, he wasn't moving the same. And that's a testament to how good that Florida team did of just shutting it down.

That was fucking nuts. Yeah, they did such a good job. Even in the first period, second period, the Oilers had a bunch of offensive zone time, but everything was on the outside. And I thought the Panthers did such a good job. clogging up the middle and not letting them, you know, get any opportunities and close. And you also got to tip your cap and, you know, I know everyone, you know, watching home saying, hey, it's a game seven, everyone's going to block a shot.

But those guys block shots like it was a game seven and, you know, loose to Ryan and Lundell and Forsling, Montor, like blocking shots when, you know, it's diving face first. Like the one Bob was kind of flopping around. Like Lusty was, you know, seven inches away from taking one in the face. And I'm sure I'm sure he would, you know, do that over and over again. Like to it's, it's truly amazing to, you know, to see what these guys put out there, you know, to win a game. Like, it's definitely a lot of fun to watch. And you recognize, you know, how bad these guys really want it and how close they were last year.

and you know, you know, it's not a guarantee every year that you'll be back. And I thought that they did a great job of, you know, closing it out and playing the way that they did all year. Fuck, yeah. It's unbelievable. Refocusing. Totally agree. Like you said at the top ten, they just looked refocus. They looked normal again, instead of the stress and all that bullshit of the pressure.

It was just like, okay, go win a fucking hockey game. Totally. That's what happened. All right. Well, Jans, we can let you go. I know that you got a pack and shit before we see it. Wait, repeat. We're going to repeat?

That's what I was going to say. Before we let you go. We'll see you in two days in Vegas. But what do you think? Do you think these boys try to run it back next year? I don't see why they wouldn't. I mean, they're set up to do it, right? Like, I think, you know, we kind of touched on a little bit,

Reinhardt. I think, you know, you take a couple million dollars less. You're essentially, you go play somewhere with a higher tax bracket. Like, you're making the same amount of money. So I think, you know, on paper, you know, whether he signs for eight, you know, if he signed that and I don't know where, somewhere else like that, that's a $11 million contract. So I think, I think that these guys know, you know, how special that group is. You hear, you hear everybody talking how they're, you know, such a close-knit group. And, you know, it's a family-like mentality.

And that stems from the viola, even when I was there, it's like, yeah, everything was family first. Vinnie and Teresa Doug Seifu that's all they pushed was family first and I tell the story all the time, you know, Vinny brought us all to the Kentucky Derby with our wives to watch his horse and

you know, just wanted us to be a part of that and obviously we didn't win the cup that year and we had nothing to celebrate but he was just the guy that wanted his guys to feel like his family. You know, every year takes us to his restaurant that he grew up going to Beaumont

in Brooklyn. So just little things like that where the owners, you know, you can tell they really care about the guys and that they have their backs on and off the ice. And, you know, I think that the guys see that. And I'm sure they'll want to run it back and bring another cup back down to South Florida and keep it going in Florida. Always love it when Yance comes on fucking the best guy ever. He's really our just kind of our third.

He knew, dude, in a lot of ways. ways at this point. I love it when Yans joins, and he knew. Yance Stradamus, baby. Called it the Catlantic, called the Cup. I think we both picked, had them as cup favorites. Actually, you're right. I had them winning the cup since day one of the season.

And that's, it's always the year of the chalk. It was always the year of the chalk. And hell. But yeah, man, as we kind of close things down here, shut the doors on the season, at least. what an unbelievable ride dude i mean fucking hell that was just such an insane end to this season to have these two teams long furthest travel in stanley cup history florida and edmonton going back and forth from edmonton and florida all these awesome fans watching edmonton claw back from down three oh

to give us the most exciting series of all time could you have imagined a better stanley cup final finish this is this was just storybook stuff. So, so lucky that we get to see that, dude. It was insane. Everybody I talked to before the game, both sides of fans, win or loose, they were like, I'll never forget this my whole life. You know, what experience? Massive shouts to the Oilers fans, we said earlier that they took over the barn. Massive shouts to the Oilers fans that traveled, dropped everything, dude, dropped significant amount of money, and then we're leaving at like 6 a.m. today, and they were like, we're going, dude. I'm going to be there. I'm not going to miss it. And they were so incredibly nice to us to hang with the ones that spoke to you know who you are but really across

both fan bases and everywhere we go man but but this series especially huge thank you to everyone that comes up and says what's up i feel so i feel so lucky so happy to do this job i have a fucking blast doing it and 90% of it is the people we get to talk to and the people we get to hang with on location so don't stop saying hi and uh and i'm glad we all were in that one together man holy shit well said dude well said i i mean yeah i i i i i mean yeah i i i i i don't stop saying i i I also just want to shout out the fans everywhere, but, you know, just talking about this cup, particularly Edmonton, Florida fans. You guys are so fun, so welcoming. And, you know, I know we all snap it around, giving each other shit and having fun.

But at the end of the day, it's just like, what a cool community of people. And I do want to say, I am really glad. I thought both these teams were so fun. and I'm so impressed and just blown away with their work effort. I am going to say, I'm glad Florida won. I do think that they were the better team. I thought they were the better team and they deserved it and to win it at home in front of their fans

and just like seeing all those guys, the smiles on their faces like we talked about. It was just so fucking awesome to see. So really I couldn't think of a more perfect ending to this season and just all the love in the world, all the love in the world to the boys on both of those teams, to all the fans like we talked about, to the NHL for always taking care of us and being so cool

and giving us the best league in the world to watch and enjoy. And fucking amen. The train keeps rolling for us. On to the draft, dude. We're headed to the draft tomorrow. We'll have tons of content for that. We've got a huge episode coming out on Thursday this week, breaking down all the draft with our boy, Cam Robinson.

And I can't wait to do all that stuff with you guys. And then as always, we'll have a great fun off season with some great interviews and fun stuff like that. But for now, we do get a bit of a rest, bit of a rest from all the hockey. And damn, was it a good one? I wouldn't change a thing, but wouldn't change a thing. Was it a good one? Well, folks, that is it for us on the 20, 23, 24 season. What a fucking beauty it was.

We'll keep crushing the content as always. We're going to find new stuff to talk about with the, draft, free agency, tons of fun interviews. So we will see you next time in the empty notice podcast. And until we do, take a day off, but then skate hard. Olivia loves a challenge. It's why she lifts heavy weights and likes complicated recipes. But for booking her trip to Paris, Olivia chose the easy way with Expedia.

She bundled her flight with a hotel to save more. Of course, she still climbed all 674 steps to the top of their for the arrival town. You were made to take the easy route. We were made to easily package your trip. Expedia, made to travel.