Halford & Brough in the Morning - It Was A BC Lions Brouhaha

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

In hour three, Mike & Jason chat with 3 Down Nations BC Lions analyst JC Abbott (2:27) about a very exciting comeback win for the Leos over the weekend, as well as an end-of-game brawl of sorts, plus the boys tell us what they learned (27:00). This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

803 on a Monday. Happy Monday everybody. Halford Broughv Sportsnet 650. Halford and Bruv of the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates, BC's first and trusted choice for debt help with over 3000 five star reviews. Visit them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are now in hour three of the program. JC Abbott, BC Lions reporter for Three Down Nation is going gonna join us in just a minute here to kick off hour three.

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JC Abbott here on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Morning JC, how are you? I'm doing well guys, thanks for having me on. Thanks for taking the time to do this, we appreciate it. So what was the bigger story from the weekend? Was it the win or was it the fight involving the BC Lions and the Montreal Alouettes?

Well, I unfortunately think that it's the fight that's gonna to dominate the headlines a little bit longer then the way in uh... there have to be some sort of supplemental discipline that handed down by the league at some point i would not be shocked to see a suspension for kamoko charade and i think i get me burgland the two players who appeared to kick this

thing off. The Alouettes alleged that Turei tried to enter their locker room after the game. He says he was just having a conversation with a friend and opponent in offensive lineman Jamar McLaughster before he was essentially accosted by Alouette's players and then punched by Ida Amy Berglund. The tapes shows that he's sort of at the mouth of the locker room and then they begin pushing and shoving and it all goes downhill from there, but it was a terrible, terrible look from the CFL and from both teams. And the league frankly bears some responsibility here too because it continues to be the case

mostly in the East Division where the two teams are on the same sideline and when you've got them going in similar areas after a heated contest where it's ending on a walk-off field goal, this is what's going to happen right they've got to find ways in a variety of stadiums including BC Place to try and get the teams on opposite sidelines so we have less of these incidents because it seems to be once every couple of years something happens a scuffle because these teams are just too close together. Is it different at various stadiums? Yeah, some are across the field from each other,

some are side by side. I mean, personal Molson is such an old venue, right? It's really, really tight down there on that sideline. Sometimes it can be good, you know, a little friendly join, never heard anybody, but unfortunately, you have an incident like this and it colors the entire league. And I know from people I know that are covering youth sports football closely, the McGill football team, which uses that same venue, has found a way to get the opposing sideline across the field. So they don't have the same issues. Surely the CFL can do something similar.

What is limiting teams from doing this? Because BC Place, I mean, it's not quite as old as a stadium as the one in Montreal. What are the limitations here? I can't believe I'm asking about limitations to keeping teams on opposite sides of the fields on the sidelines. You know, I'm not a logistical expert, so I'm mostly speculating here. Sometimes it is just

the design of the stadium. I also think there's probably broadcast elements there, right? Typically in the CFL, they're trying to shoot from a specific angle. And it's good and strategic with the amount of cameras that TSN has to, to make sure that the teams are on the same side. Um, so perhaps that's an element I can't really tell you. Um, but surely it's something that referees, if you talk to them, uh, it's a headache for them to officiate when, when these teams are that close together because this can kick off at any moment. One more on the fighting part of things before we move on to the actual game, but you mentioned that it's a pretty terrible look and I mean there's no way to classify it as anything other than a terrible look

because also, I mean, it was caught on the national broadcast, that was the thing. It's not like this was something that was caught on a fan camera or by someone working the sidelines. It made the broadcast and it was a big thing and it's not like this was something that was caught on a fan camera or, you know, by someone working the sidelines. Like it made the broadcast and it was a big thing. And it's interesting because I don't want to say this is the first big test of the Stuart Johnson regime, but it is to a certain degree because there's going to have to be something here. And I wonder if it's going to be overly punitive just to say

this cannot happen because it's a professional league. This is professional football. And we can't have I mean, I mean it kind of looks like almost like a high school football brawl that you see where there's you know plain clothes people getting involved in everything else. You can't have it in a professional environment. You absolutely can and it will be a big test for Stewart Johnston who to this point has mostly been in a you know observatory wait and see sort of mindset throughout his first 100 days listening to fans across the league. Now he's got

to actually make a decision, right? And he'll build on precedent like Randy Ambrose for all his many faults was extremely harsh on player discipline in a way that we haven't necessarily seen in the past. Now that was generally more for off the field stuff rather than on field incidents, but it did in cases like Garrett Murillo involved on the field stuff as well or additional, you know, legal plays or non football acts as they described them. I think if you're Johnston you want to build on that message you want to say, you know, the league is cracked down on All sorts of things like this. They've made it an automatic ejection if you get to misconduct

You know any blow whether it's closed fist or open fist It's an automatic ejection now if you're throwing punches after the game, in my mind, it has to be at least a one game suspension, if not more. By the way, a few people have texted in suggesting that at BC Places, because there's field level premium seating, you'd have to look over the players to see. And I did a quick Google search and people on Reddit were suggesting the same thing.

So that's another potential reason for why stadiums are configured a certain way. And other people seem to think that it might be due to the advertising boards. But anyway, we'll have, we'll have to wait and see on that. Let's get to the actual game. It was a big win for the BC Lions who were

staring at a one and four start to the season and managed to get it to two and three against a pretty good Alouettes team. But in reading your review, JC, it didn't seem a particularly positive review. And I know that the Lions as a team weren't especially thrilled with the way they played the entire game. Yeah. especially thrilled with the way they played the entire game. Yeah, it was sort of a paradox in a way, right? Because this is a game that really based on some of the offensive numbers and based on the fact that Montreal was really struggling without Davis Alexander at quarterback, like McLeod Bethel Thompson did not play well in this football game, the Lions should have dominated. But instead,

mostly it was Montreal with the momentum. And it seemed like BC just kept getting in their own way, kept trying to find ways to lose, you know, over a hundred yards and penalties, 146 yards, I think is the exact number, you know, five of those in the defensive backfield in terms of, you know, bad PI calls or illegal contacts that gave that offense in Montreal new life. You just can't have that. They were trying to find ways to lose it looked like. And then finally at the end, they pulled it off and you wonder if they really deserved

it, right? Kudos to the team for executing pulled it off. And you wonder if they really deserved it, right? Kudos to the team for executing that final drive. I thought that was really, really well done by them. And it makes a huge difference to have Nathan Rourke back at quarterback. Obviously, he fixes a lot of problems by himself, but you've got to be more disciplined than that going forward. Right. This has become sort of a creeping issue over the last couple of weeks in terms of these bad penalties. You know, they were beat by it on special teams a bunch. Now they're having it on defense.

And we talked about the fight already gentlemen, but this is the third straight week that they're going to have some sort of supplemental discipline or a non football act, right? Two weeks ago, Corey Woodruff knocks over a referee, gets ejected and fined for that. And then last week there was a minor scuffle between the lines, offensive line and the Saskatchewan defensive line that got four players fined for their actions and some punches thrown there. So clearly disciplined, that message is not being sent right now by Buck Pierce. And he's got to address his team this week and get it sorted out because it will cost them games eventually.

How did Nathan Rourke look to you? Like if, was he 80%, 90%, close to 100%? I would say 80-85% from my viewpoint. It was pretty clear that he wasn't 100% just in the fact that his accuracy was a little off. And I think it's important to note when you talk about the injury that he suffered and what he's recovering from, right? What made Nathan Roark great was turning himself into a rotational thrower, working with local kinesiologist Rob Williams and redefining his throwing motion. So it's all in his core and his hips. And then you suffer a core injury to your oblique and it throws all of that off. So it did not surprise me that he wasn't quite as locked in as usual, right? Balls that he typically leads a receiver with or puts in exactly the right place were a

little bit behind that resulted in some knockdowns and missed opportunities and interception at the end of the first drive in the end zone. I think he'd like all of those throws back. But at the same time, you saw the magic he's able to do. You saw how good his feet are. You saw his poise in the pocket. And when he was able to execute the concepts that he was most comfortable with and didn't

necessarily require him to be pinpointed he was highly efficient so that game is closer to Rourke's floor than his feeling in my mind but it was still pretty damn good and I think he is going to be a real weapon as long as he remains healthy for the rest of the year. So how should Lions fans feel about the start when you look at the rest of the division or the rest of the league and see how those teams have started?

The Rough Riders are 4-0 and then you've got the Blue Bombers 3-1 and the Stamps are 3-1 as well. The only team the Lions are above is the Edmonton Elks, who I believe is their next opponent. Yeah, I would feel mildly concerned. That's where I am with the stag of the BC Lions. And I think it's really been proving all the same things we thought exiting the off season with this team.

Nathan Rourke is who we thought he is, right? He is a fantastic player. He's going to raise all ships, but they have major holes on this roster, right? They are lacking talent in several areas. The offensive line is not great. The receiving core has some incredible talents but lacks a little bit of depth. The special teams is a work in progress. The defense really needs to be in a position where they're defending a lead rather than trying to claw back yardage because they can get gashed in the run game. And Nathan Rourke can elevate the offensive problems and erase those defensive problems by getting them out in front.

But I don't know that they have all the horses around him that this is going to be a gray-cup contending team. And as you mentioned, with the progress that the West of the West Division has made, and don't count out the Edmonton Elks yet. I know BC kicked their butt in the opener and they just got their first win yesterday, but they still have a very talented team that's going to take some time to gel with all the pieces they added in free agency. I don't think you can take any game for granted if you're BC right now and it's going to be a slog just to make the playoffs.

As mentioned it is the Lions in Edmonton on Sunday, that's July 13th, it's 4 o'clock kickoff our time at Commonwealth Stadium. Hey JC, thanks a lot for taking the time to do this today, we appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of the week and then the game on the weekend, we'll do this again next week hopefully. Sounds good guys, it was a pleasure. Yep thanks buddy appreciate it that's JC Abbott from 3Down Nation here on the Haliford and Brush show on Sportsnet 650. Let's pivot back to the Vancouver Canucks and in the final 32 thoughts of the season which dropped over the weekend I believe it was three

hours in length in a marathon podcast to finish off the year. Elliott Freeman and Kyle Bukowsky did talk about the Vancouver Canucks and good old basketball Ben, what a great producer. He came in this morning early. Not only did he parse through all of the Vancouver Canucks content, he broke it down into digestible clips for our listening pleasure.

Okay. And one of the clips that I want to hear, and I'm going to make it my, what we learned, and that's a reminder to get your, what we learned into the Dunbar lumber text line at 650, 650. I think I already knew this, but you know, Elliot Friedman is better than me. Yes. So Elliot Friedman is confirming the fact that there are opportunities for the young players on the Vancouver Canucks for next season.

It's really interesting though with Vancouver. I think the other thing too is, is right now, if you did their depth chart, you wouldn't have Baines in it, particularly because of the numbers. Like I think Ratu looks like he's going to have a shot to make this team next year. Baines, I think, will too. But you'd look at the numbers and he wouldn't be in there. Someone said to me, don't count out

more moves and him getting a better shot at making that roster. So I don't think like there's been reports about Bluger and Joshua. I don't think the Canucks are done tinkering with this yet. Someone said to me The Canucks think that Betty Baines is ready to challenge for a spot too And if they have to clear spots and he gets a chance to play they won't be afraid of that Right now you pencil Hedlund is your number two center long term. That's not what they want to do But we already know that's a hard place to find But I think it's really interesting that after a very tumultuous year They're betting on the same group minus Miller

It's an interesting bet that says to me that they think they're closer to the team they were two years ago than last year. And it's an interesting bet. It's a really interesting bet. I heard it's an interesting bet, actually. Is it interesting? He kept saying interesting bet. What could this mean? That long pause, I was like, don't talk yet. I'm not done. He's got this mean? Yeah. That long pause. I was like, don't talk yet. He's got a few more interesting bets. Was he being judgmental with his interesting bet remark or is this a,

like, it's an interesting bet. I think at the risk of using the wrong words, he used tone and inflection. It's an interesting bet. I, it's an interest. I keep wondering if Dakota Joshua is going to be on the team next season. When you hear Dolly Wall reporting that the connects have quote unquote soured on Dakota Joshua, I don't know for what reason, maybe,

you know, one of the reasons I've heard is maybe it doesn't bring the intensity that they want. Well, part of it's just to jump in, part of Dolly's explanation was that when they signed Joshua to the deal that pays them 3.25 million annually, they weren't super keen on it. But it just was one of those timing things where he had, he blew up to a certain degree

because he had a great offensive output year by his standards on what he was making. And then there was that summer where a guy that was scratching the surface of what you thought was gonna be power forward potential could have gone elsewhere. And the connects were like, are we gonna run the risk of what you thought was going to be power forward potential, could have gone elsewhere. And the contacts were like, are we going to run the risk of him doing this somewhere else when he, I

mean, for that one year, you got to remember, he was a very important member of that forward group. Um, and we all know what Dakota went through last summer, so that's, that complicates the issue and that gives him, I don't know, some people, I mean, I find it difficult criticizing a guy that, that went through that and, and how that would, I mean, we hear sometimes like guys, I missed a

training camp and it screwed up his, his whole season, you know, I think you're going to give Dakota Joshua even more grace in that situation. Right. Again, not to interrupt you, but just as I think that's why it's important to point out like prior to the cancer diagnosis and the very difficult year that Dakota Joshua had, prior to that, when

he signed the deal, there was some consternation about what are we signing him to? So I wonder if that, the residuals are hanging over from that. Here's another question. Do you think it's possible that the team felt that Connor Garland was kind of carrying that line. He was the play driver on that line and Connor

Garland now might be a top six guy. Like every, every kind of, you know, top six that I've seen people come up with has Connor Garland. Maybe Evander Kane's his other winger, maybe it's Jake DeBrusk and who does that leave Dakota Joshua to play with? Like where is he, if you were to make forward lines for the Canucks right now, he's not in

the top six, maybe on the third line, but maybe on the fourth line too and that's where I wonder if they're thinking, okay, we're going to shed some salary, which we probably like to do anyway, just to give us some wiggle room to be able to play in the trade market during the season. And if a guy like Baines could take that spot. Now, one of the names that Fridge didn't

mention was Linus Carlsen, but I think Bain's a left winger. Yep. Okay. So he would take Joshua's spot. You know, Atu Ratu is almost, unless the Canucks make a trade to bring in another center, like he's going to have that third or fourth line center spot. And I actually find it difficult to believe

that the Canucks would trade Bluger unless they add another center in a trade. I really think Dakota Joshua is the guy to watch. But if the Canucks are having trouble clearing salary and people don't want Dakota Joshua or they demand a sweetener be paid, maybe it's Nils Hoaglinder that goes on the trade block. Okay, so lots to unpack there. And I know we're almost up against it for time, but the first part of the question, and I think that's an interesting conversation,

is looking at it retroactively, was the third line, everyone knows what we're talking about here, right? Capital T-H-E, the third line of Garland, Bluger and Joshua. Was it really the Garland line? Again, this is hindsight being 2020 and looking at it retroactively is it was the greatness and it was a short year and maybe I'm overstating with greatness, but at times it was a great driving line, but was that really Garland and two guys as opposed to the third line? Now I'll push back on that notion a bit because that year and again,

another year that was kind of played by injury cause Joshua only played in 63 games, he did score 17 goals at even strength. And I thought that part of the, part of the reason he was so vital to that line success is because he could do net front stuff and he has, he's got, he's got nice hands in front of the net. Yep. Yep. So that's something that Garland and Blugard, they don't have in their arsenal.

So it was important for the success of that line, the finishing that Joshua had in front. That being said, I do think there's something too, well, what was the real driver behind that line? And last year you saw that it was Garland because he became the de facto spark plug for everybody else, right? When anyone was struggling, like throwing with guards,

see what he can do. He'll, you know, at the very least he'll make it exciting. You'll spin a bunch and we'll, we'll, you know, he'll get things done. I don't know if that should be enough to, I think at the end of the day that if they have soured on Joshua in any way, shape or form, of the day that if they have soured on Joshua in any way, shape or form, they might want to temper that sour by bringing them back another year and saying, like, we're a bit of a fresh start for you. The two guys that you mentioned, Joshua and Oglander, I would say, hey, two years ago,

you guys combined for nearly 45, 50 goals of offense for us. Last year, you barely gave us double digits. We need more out of both. But I think they want to clear cap space. I think they want to, I don't know if they want to go into the season right up against the cap. No, I get that. All right.

Give us a moocow on that. Maybe we need some other, what we learned from us on the other side or do some what we learned from us on the other side. And then we'll dip into the Dunbar Lumber text line, 650-650 for some of the listener, what we learn. Before we go to break, I need to tell you about Jan Pro. From the boardroom to the break room and everywhere in between,

Jan Pro keeps workplaces tidy, clean, and disinfected. For a free quote, visit them online at janpro.ca. You're listening to the Halford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650. Hey, it's Vic Nazar. Have your say and join me on the People's Show with big takes and even bigger bets, weekdays three to four on Sportsnet 650 or wherever you get your podcasts. Now for my favorite part of the show. What did I say?

Talk to the audience. Oh, God. Now for my favorite part of the show! What'd I say? Talk to the audience! Oh, God! This is always dead. It's what we learn time. It's what we learn time.

It's what we learn time. On the show. It's what we learn time On the show reduces your debt by up to 80% with no more interest. Visit them online at sans-trustee.com. We are in hour three of the program. It is what we learn time. Hour three is brought to you by Campbell & Pound real estate appraisers. Trust the expertise of Campbell & Pound. Visit them on the internet at Campbell-pound.com today.

Okay, so before we get into this, I have an ask of our listeners. First off, I know you're listening. Even though texts have been very sporadic, few and far, far and few between, I know you're listening. It's your chance to be on the radio and I know you learned something over the weekend, even though it's a slow time in sports and a lot of people are tuned out of sports net six 30. I called it sports net six 30 this morning. That's not right.

No one noticed cause no one was listening, but I know you're listening now. Text in dumb or whatever. Text line is six 50, six 50. We need more of what we learned. Tell us what you learned over the last 24 hours in sports. Also, it is the final day, your last chance to buy tickets for the Sportsnet 650 Jays Care 50-50 for Challenger Baseball. This endeavor is supported by Tile Town, a good Canadian company. The ticket sales end tonight, tonight at 6 30 p.m. The draw will be done at 6 45. We're going to announce the winner tomorrow on the Halferton breath show.

If sales get to 25 K, we're going to throw in a pair of tickets to a lucky winner to see a Canucks game this fall. Buy your tickets now. Jays care golf.rafflenexus.com that URL again, Jays care golf.rafflenexus.com. It is your last chance to buy your tickets for the Sportsnet 650 Jays Care 50 50 for Challenger baseball. Okay. Go do it.

I have a, what we learned. I'm actually, it's very apropos of the title because I'm learning stuff. I'm learning about how this pew suitor situation came to its conclusion. The conclusion of course, was that he signed a two year, $8. million dollar deal with the St. Louis blues.

Did he fire his agent yet? I don't know. Okay. Maybe he's waiting. Maybe he's happy. I'm not too sure. When the deal went down, we had a lot of questions. Why St.

Louis? Why for that term? Why for that money? Why not the Vancouver Canucks? Starting to learn a little bit more about how the Pew-Sutter situation unfolded from the aforementioned 32 Thoughts podcast we played last segment. Here's Elliot Friedman on the Sutter side of things from Vancouver's perspective and maybe why he wasn't re-signed with the Canucks.

Where Sutter ended up, it says to me that the Canucks just weren't sure about the commitment to the player. It's a tough one because Suter is a real great pro and he had a great year, but overall, what it said to me was the Canucks just weren't sure of the commitment to the player with term. And ultimately they decided to make their bets elsewhere. It's interesting that that was the response in a summer where the overall collective narrative was, let's get the band back together. How can you not be sure on suitor? Was an interesting bet. Sorry. Was it an interesting bet?

Interesting bet. Interesting bet. How can you not be sure on Suter? He had a good year last year. He did have a good year. Versatile and he's not expensive. He is. They hope, they hope he doesn't have as much

opportunity as he was given last season because why was he given the opportunity? Pedersen got hurt, JT Miller got traded and Hedl got hurt. They hope that that's not the case next season. They hope obviously Pedersen bounce back in a huge way and Hedl can stay healthy and, you know, I don't know, Ratu can take his game to the like.

My hope is that I'm not, I'm not concerned about the goal scoring as much because I don't think if the Canucks stay healthy, Ratu was going to have that much opportunity anyway. What I'm mostly concerned about is what he brought on the PK and I'm hoping that a player like Aatu Ratu can replace a lot of that. And that's, by the way, that's another reason why

I think I'd be surprised if the Canucks traded away Teddy Blugger, given they don't have enough center depth at all right now. He's not particularly expensive and he's a good penalty killer. Okay. So back to Suter for a sec though. Okay.

It is kind of a- Suter's also slow. He's also slow. They want to get faster. Okay. But philosophically speaking, it is kind of a rotten end game that when you preach about the next man up mentality and taking advantage of your opportunities, that when you do so, it still sort of doesn't work out in your favor because the response from the club is

kind of like, yeah, but you're never gonna replicate that because we don't really see you getting that opportunity again. The player can only do as much as he can with the opportunity presented to him. So when Suter gets an opportunity to cameo as a 1C, granted the games were of little to no consequence and it's probably not.

The Canucks felt like they were though. The Canucks still felt like they were in the race. Right, but even, I mean, there was after, especially after they got eliminated, like he was still doing it. I get, you understand what I'm saying though, right? Like is he gonna be the 2C in St. Louis? I think that he's battling it out with like Nick Bugstad.

What about Braden Schenn still there, right? Yeah, yeah. Someone said, I wonder if the Bugstad and Suter acquisitions mean that they're gonna trade Schenn. I'm like, I wouldn't. Probably wanna hold onto that. I don't know. Again, I almost feel bad that anything Suter did last year

should be besmirched because in terms of being a good loyal foot soldier, he did everything. He came in on a pretty cheap deal. He gave the club max effort. He carried them through some very choppy waters when they were injured. It's interesting in the latest piece from Drance at the Athletic talking about the suitor departure. There is a line in here, which I think is probably pretty telling.

He says, the club believes that we never really got an opportunity to see how all the puzzle pieces acquired from the Rangers and Penguins deals in the two step JT Miller trade fit together. And I do wonder if they're like, Hey, we love what suitor did, but in a real, in the real world is that we believe he heals our two C he's going to be healthy. He is healthy. He could have come back last year. We need to see how that's going to play itself out over an entire year, as opposed to the cameo he made last year hurt in the first game and I guess that apply yeah right and damn it given their luck and then if that's the case you kind of see what the trickle-down effect is right but I guess the picture is becoming a

little more clear why suitor wasn't back for the Vancouver Canucks in a summer where almost everyone got to come back so moocow all that. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa What we learned humanoid editions brought to you is always by AJ's pizza on East Broadway AJ's original signature pies are must try like the Detroit inch thick crust crispy cheese topped with parmesan and basil order online at AJ's that pizza. Prete from Ladner, what we learned, another Canadian got signed to a big European club. Jonathan David is going to Juventus, great look for our program, despite the disappointing gold cup. Preet, you were not up early, were you?

Download our one of the podcasts. John Mullen Arrow on, talk about Jonathan David going to Juventus and how that is a big deal for Canadian soccer for not only a player to go to one of those teams, but to go there and be counted on to provide scoring. Right. That's, that's, that's, that's, that's a pressure

situation. So when Inter took Tejam Buchanan on from the Belgian League and he became the first Canadian men's player to play in Syria, that was more of a flyer. Like they never had big expectations for him.

Yeah. He was like, we're going to we're going to try this. We're intrigued by the pace and he did well in Belgium, but he was never slated to be a guy that was going to be a frontline, you know, faces on the banners

that fly outside the club. Jonathan David is a prized acquisition for Uwe this window, like is a big deal. David from Surrey, what we learned, I learned that this run by the Blue Jays could be something that the Canucks could do next season. After a disappointing season in 2024, the Blue Jays have banded together as a team

and gone on an amazing run. Maybe the disappointment of last season for the Canucks could launch them into success in 25, 26. If you haven't listened to it, download our two of the podcasts we had Dan Schulman on, Play by Play Voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. And I liked the part of the conversation where we started talking about like what the identity and the makeup of the Toronto Blue Jays. And I liked the part of the conversation where we started talking about like what the identity

and the makeup of the team is. Yeah. They have a. Yeah. Here's the counterpoint for Mike. Oh, it's not. What we learned. I learned that we've spent about seven off

seasons now convincing ourselves that the same cast of characters is going to somehow be different this year. I guess we have two more years before we get to Toronto's nine years, of course, talking about the Leafs there. Yeah. And not the Blue Jays.

If the Canucks have success next season and they find that identity and they overcome any of the roster deficiencies that they have and they make the playoffs, you know, it's going to be a real feel good story. Yes. Because the guys that they brought back wanted to be Canucks and they talked about their friendships and you saw the excitement from the other players when Brock Besser

did re-sign with the Canucks. If on the other hand, it doesn't go well and maybe Pedersen comes back and he doesn't go well. And maybe Pedersen comes back and he doesn't look all that much different than he did the last season. And that's going to affect a guy like Brock Besser's game because Brock, like most wingers, needs a good center to get him the puck and creative scoring chances and that sort of thing. I mean, if you think about the amount of playmakers

the Canucks have down the middle, it's one. Yeah. That's Pedersen. Like, Heedle's not a playmaker. And then you're looking at Ratu and Teddy Bluger. Teddy Bluger made the odd nice play when he was part of the third line, but I don't think anyone would be like, oh, there's playmaking Teddy Bluger out there. Right? And if, you know, Demko gets hurt or Heedle gets hurt. And anyway, if it, if it doesn't go well, like, you know, we're all going to be sitting there going like, well, exactly what Mike said. It was a group that, you know,

the core was together for a while and they consistently didn't get it done. Why'd you bring them all back? Was rolling it back a mistake? The other are we the baddies? Well, the other part about running it back with the group is that you've also given them a new head coach again, right? We we talked about how this this core run through three head coaches.

Green, Boudreaux. But at least our core is getting younger. I mean, that's part of it. That's nice. They are aging backwards. We don't have to worry about the aging curve going up Yeah, I mean I get worried about the car. I'm not worried about the car I mean, I'd be worried about the Winnipeg Jets being old, but I'm not worried about the Vancouver Canucks being old I'm a little concerned about a lot of things

Who's old on the Jets on the Jets? Yeah, Jonathan Taves. Oh, Tate Who's old on the Jets? On the Jets? Yeah. Jonathan Taves. Oh, Taves. Tanner Pearsons. Taves is like 70. Did you miss that part?

That's all the guys that they signed in for agency or super old. I was thinking core though. No, no. The Jets went out and they, we were joking about it earlier. They signed Taves, Nyquist, and Tanner Pearson. Yeah, Chauvin and Rage, they're 30 years old.

There's not many players that are older than those guys. I realize that, but sometimes you bring in veterans on those sorts of deals. That's how you fill out your roster. I'm not concerned about the core of the Jets. They've got some good young players that are already on the team and some others in the system as well. Amro, the actor. Hi Amro.

I learned that the Canucks finally looking to give some room to the guys in Abbotsford to make this team is refreshing. Even if it looks like they don't have a choice. I really hope we see one or two of the guys from Abbotsford stick with the team next season. You know what I'm having on? We've seen, we've seen flashes here and there, but we need a guy to be like, come out in training camp and be like,

oh yeah, for sure this guy's sticking with the team. I always thought it would be Linus Carlson. That's the caveat though. I want them to stick with the team for the right reasons, not cause the Canucks need them to be on the team. Well, see that's where I'm having a hard time right now, because it feels like when they're like, well, we're gonna give some young guys an opportunity.

I'm like, yeah, but that's cause you're forced to. Right. You know, it's like, we wanna be able to be like, no, we want this guy to be on the team right now no I want you to go for ice cream with me I don't want you to go because I want to go for ice cream I want you exactly want ice cream good news is Linus Carlson is getting an opportunity bad news is Linus Carlson is getting it up like the other good last year I remember what number one is down and the funny thing is I think they Getting it off like the other good last year

And the funny thing is I think they sent him down for Baines I was like it was too much last year was isn't doing anything out there last year was a little bit too much of a rotating door for my my liking like I appreciated that It was the dangling care and it's like oh if you play well in average for you'll get your shot in the NHL But then they'd come up and then to be like alright next guy's turn it was the dangling character. It's like, Ooh, if you play well in average, you'll get your shot in the NHL. But then they'd come up and then it'd be like, all right, next guy's turn. It was, the thing was, is that, you know, there, there were four players that I guess I think about, maybe they're more, but Leckaromachy.

Yeah. Ratu. Yeah. Carlson and Baines. Sassen. Sassen too. Okay. So I liked those players for, for different reasons.

Like I liked that Sassen has speed. Yeah. Okay. So I liked those players for, for different reasons. Like I liked that Sasson has speed. Yeah. Okay. I liked that Lekker Mackey looked comfortable on the power play. And I looked, well, he just looked like he wanted the puck and he looked like he wanted to go out there and make plays.

Um, you know, Ratu, like, you know, face-offs, you want, he wants a face-offs and, you know, Carlson, I thought he played a pretty smart but also heavy game. Yep. He looked the least out of place. He looked the most NHL ready of them all. Carlson. And to be perfectly- Carlson.

Yeah, just like he's ready to go. Yeah. And to be perfectly honest with you, proved me wrong, but I thought Baines was the guy that impressed me the least. Then I was like, well, what's he doing out there? What would you say you do around here? What would you say you do? What would you say you do? Yeah, he struggled a little bit. But then.

Roger looked good towards the end. But I always say, you know, don't, don't bet against a guy like Baines because every level he gets to, he's found a way to stick. Eventually now he's at the highest level, which is obviously the hardest level to stick at, but I admired what he did in Abbotsford, playing a big role on that line with Sassen and Carlson.

So maybe he's taken the experience from the NHL and he's taken the experience from the Calder Cup win and he'll be able to, you just, he's needing to make an impact. Like it's, I mean, we joke about it, but it's kind of like, what would you say you do here? And that's the carrot that's being dangled in front of some of these guys. And I think about the loss of Pugh Suter.

And if you're Ahtu Ratu and you want to make the team or you're Sassenon or whoever's like, I can come up on these, yeah, I'll do that. I'll get really good at that. It won't be a lot of fun. I'll have to block a lot of shots. I'm gonna have to work and I'm gonna have to, you know, watch tape and figure out what the best guys do.

But there's a spot for me, I'm gonna take it. We got a, what we learned from Sean, it's an NBA one, hashtag WWA what we learned. There was a seven team trade finalized in the NBA this weekend. Yes, seven team trade we learned. There was a seven team trade finalized in the NBA this weekend. Yes. Seven team trade this morning. There was another three team trade. Why can't the NHL be fun? Like the NBA this time of year. So the seven team trade is for brevity sake,

the Kevin Durant trade rockets get Durant sons get a bunch of guys, including the Canadian Dylan Brooks in a, a monster package, monster package. The best part about this trade is that some of the picks that are getting handed around. And by the way, the seven teams involved are the Timberwolves, the Lakers, the Hawks, the Warriors, the nets, the sons and the Rockets. I think that's all seven. I think I got them in there. Some of the picks won't be made until 2032,

which means that some of the players who will be drafted with the picks from the Kevin Durant trade are not yet in high school. That is amazing. I love that you can draft that far in advance. The seventh graders right now are like, one day I will be a part of the Kevin Durant. Seventh grade grader like, yay!

Yeah, I did it. Yeah, and then the one this morning was Basketball band you have the full details norm Powell to the heat norm Powell the heat John Collins is going to The Clippers right Kevin love to the Utah Kevin love was always destined to end up with the Utah Jazz So you might love a second round pick yeah You knew that was happening at one point that he was gonna make his way with the Utah Jazz. With the name like Love? It was second round picket. Yeah, you knew that was happening at one point, that he was gonna make his way to the Utah Jazz,

and now it's happened. Congratulations to Kevin Love. Nick from Surrey, not what we learned, but I wanted to read it anyway. Nick texted in, I'm just listening to Hour One now. You guys still talk about how hard it is going to be for the Canucks to climb ahead of teams like the LA Kings. We sure do.

But if everything else is the same as last year, besides a Petey bounce back, they are easily a playoff team and probably better than a wildcard team. I know a Petey bounce back is a massive thing, but everyone mentions that it's a risky bet that the Canucks have to make. And if he does bounce back to normal Petey from two and a half years ago, then the Canucks are

easily a playoff team. You're using easily in a way that I'm not sure you know what the word means. Yeah. I don't know about easily. I, you know, they, if, if Pedersen does bounce back, that is a huge piece, but I also think health is massive as well.

You needed 90s. What if Demko gets hurt early on, which is possible and then they have to play Lanken in too much and then they've maybe already traded Seelofs and I mean they could bring in I suppose another third goalie. But part of the reason for their success two years ago is the lack of injuries. The lack of injuries.

Until it really mattered. I would just push back on the- Then they came. The notion of- Easily, yeah. Easily, like it took 96 points to get in last year and Calgary didn't even get it really mattered. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would just push back on the notion. Then they came. Easily, yeah. Easily, like it took 96 points to get in last year and Caliber didn't even get in with 96.

Yeah. Right, they were the one team looking out. The Blues had 44 wins and 96 points and they were the last wild card. But if PD bounces back and if Demco has like a Vezna-Caliber season, they'll make it. I have a question. I think they're fighting for a wild card.

I mean, probably. Yeah, what's your point? There's better odds than not that they'll make it if those two things happen. I think that's PD and health Those are the two big ones. They lost a million games and overtime in a shootout. Yeah, how do you address that problem? Well, is it just a fluke or is it like we need to actually? design something that's different, but don't you don't don't you think don't you think that Pederson not playing at the level was a big reason why they lost a lot of those games?

Possibly. Maybe. If you have a, if you have a confident Pederson. Maybe he gets you in a couple points. You're feeling a lot better about your chances in overtime. You start with Pederson and Hughes and whoever else wants to be out there.

You know, like I, I like, I like your chances in a game. and Hughes and whoever else wants to be out there. You know, like I like your chances in a game. Follow up question, and I think maybe even more pressingly is if you win more games at home, where are you? Like every time I look at their home record last year, I'm like they won two more games at home than the Chicago Blackhawks won at home last year. The Blackhawks won 15 at home, the Canucks won 17.

Crazy. Yeah, you don't make the playoffs when you're that bad at home. Plain and simple. It doesn't matter who's showing up or who's not or who's hurt or who's healthy. Like you need to win more games at home and they were way short. Okay. We got to get out of here for today. It's been a lot of fun. Thank you all for listening and thank you all for contributing and reminder, go buy tickets for the 50 50 J's care, challenger baseball, support it. It ends at six 30 tonight. Buy some tickets, get that total up to 25 K.

Maybe you'll be the winner. We're going to announce it on the show tomorrow for today though. We got to say goodbye. Signing off. I have been Mike Alfred. He's been Jason breath. He's been a dog and he's been basketball. Ben, this has been the health of the breath show on sports net six 50.