Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 1/16/26

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

Mike & Jason look back at the previous day in sports, plus they discuss yesterday's ninth loss in a row for the Canucks with Donnie & Dhali's Rick Dhaliwal. 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.

You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Don, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. You're listening to Halford and Brough. Willie? Yeah. What's that? Well, it looks like a giant. Johnson.

Leaves for Zach Werenski right-circle. He scores. And you're right there. Tase Thompson's got. What a team. Setters for I go. Ladies and gentlemen. Morning Maker is 6-1.

on a Friday. Happy Friday, everybody, sweet, sweet Friday. It is Halford and his Brough for SportsNet 650. We are coming to you live from the Kintech Studios in beautiful Fairview Slopes in Vancouver. Jason, good morning. Good morning. Hey, Doe? Good morning to you. Good morning. Laddie, good morning to you as well. Hello, hello. Halford and Brup in the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Scoring, Debt Freedom Hatrick, one, no more interest, too much lower payments, and three, financial peace of mind. Visit them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are in our one of the program. Hour 1 is brought to you by North Star Metal Recycling.

Vancouver's premier metal recycler pays the highest prices on scrap metal. North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle you get paid. Visit the Middle 1170 Powell Street in Vancouver. We're coming live from the Kintech Studio, make 2026 your year to move better and step stronger with Kintech custom orthotics. It is time now for the morning guest list, the Duick Morning Drive, brought to you by the Duick Auto Group. It begins at 6.30.

Nick Shook from NFL.com is going to to join the program. We are now just one day away from the start of the NFL divisional round on Saturday. It's Buffalo at Denver, followed by San Francisco at Seattle on Sunday. It's Houston at New England, followed by the Rams at Chicago. Nick's going to preview it all for us at 630. We can also talk about that. John Harbaugh of the Giants news from yesterday. 7 o'clock AJ from AJ's Pizza on East Broadway is going to join the program. A reminder, it is ask us anything Friday. $100 gift card to AJ's for the best ask us anything. Hashtag it AUA. Ask us anything. Put a pizza emoji into the Dunbar number text line at 650, 650. The best ask us anything will win the

$100 gift card. 730 Dan Rosen's going to join the program. Senior writer from NHL.com. 10 games in the NHL last night, including the Canucks 4-1 loss to the blue jackets in Columbus. We'll go around the NHL with Dan. We can set up tomorrow's massive 13 game slate. It's Hockey Day in Canada. Dan's going to join us at 7.30 to talk all things NHL. 8 o'clock Rick Dollywall is going to join the program. And for this, as always, I turn things over to our show's resident dollywall babysitter, Jason Ruff. I think we're going to talk a little bit about Kiefer Sherwood and when that trade is going to happen. So we got a big show ahead on a Friday. Lots to get into. Without further ado, Laddie, let's tell everybody what happened.

Hey, did you guys see the game last night? No. No. What happened? I missed all the action because I was... We know how busy your life can be. What happened? Missed it?

You missed that? What happened is brought to you by the BC Construction Safety Alliance. Making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. This is them online at BCCSA.com. Port Moody's Ken Johnson goal and an assist. Columbus, 4-1 win over Vancouver at Nationwide Arena on 3rd. Thursday. The lone goal for the Vancouver Canucks scored by none other than Brock Besser. His first goal in 22 games. That's right, his first goal since November 28th.

So nine straight losses for the Canucks. On the road trip, they lost all six in regulation. That's tough one. And now they're in jeopardy of losing their 10th straight Saturday at home to Edmonton when an eight-game homestandstand opens up. A couple stats that I picked up on social media yesterday. First from J-Pat. They got outscored 27 to 9 on the six-game road trip. They have not won in regulation since December 19th. That was the game at the New York Islanders.

Another one, courtesy Adam Kierzum. Blatt. The Canucks go 0, 6 and O' on the road trip and are now winless in their last nine, he points out, as per the NHL records, Vancouver's longest winless streak in a single season is set at 13, which occurred

all the way back in 1973, 74. There are a few ties sprinkled in there back in the day. Right, exactly. I wonder if Don Waddell, the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets pulled the trigger on the coaching change at the time that he did

because he knew that Calgary and Vancouver were coming to town and he was like if I want to set up my new coach, Rick Bonas and give him a good start I'm going to give him Calgary and Vancouver to try and gain some momentum because that's what the Blue Jackets have done. They beat Calgary.

They beat Vancouver and they look like much happier. group. I think there may be something to your theory because Rick Bonas after the game yesterday, he wasn't even all that happy with Columbus's play. I think he noted that they didn't like their first period. He thought they got better as the game went along. But even without the Columbus Blue Jackets being at their best, they were still able to handle the Canucks with ease, a 4-1 victory at home. And I mean, it was funny listening to the post game. And I sat and Vic, God bless the work

that they're doing on like every other night basis because it's getting very difficult, very difficult to break these games down in a vacuum in their individual parts. Because when you take a step back and do the sort of wide lens view, there's no point in breaking down shift by shift or, I mean, they were talking at length about the importance of the Brock Besser goal. And I was like, I don't know if there's any importance to that goal. He probably feels better for him now that he's scored for the first time in 22 games. but it changes zero trajectory, I think, both for him and for the team.

I can't see him having a sustained level of success offensively because the Canucks can't score goals with regularity. Nine goals over a six-game road trip is pretty horrific. Getting outscored 27 to 9 is pretty horrific. And I will remind you, this is still a team that's got a lot of the parts that were brought into this season for them to be a competitive outfit. A lot of veteran piece is still there. not getting anything done with regularity.

You did mention Besser did finally bump the slump. It was a nice passing play with the man advantage. Power play looked good on that one. They didn't score right away, but they had some really nice puck movement. Zev Boullium, who I thought had his legs right from the start last night, and that's the sort of thing we should be monitoring some of these games. Like, how do the young guys look? Zeb Boulliam spent a game in the press box,

and I think he's looked pretty good. since coming out of the press box. He got it to Elias Pedersen, who made a quick, decisive, cross-ice pass to Besser, who got a quick shot away that beat Elvis Merslickens. It was nice to see

Pedersen looking so happy for Besser, even if Bessor himself looked maybe almost embarrassed that had taken so long to score again. And there might have also been the fact that he's not going to have a big celly with the Canucks still down two goals because that made it three,

3-1 and he's probably not going to have a big celly. He's like, how's the road trip going? All right. It's not going well. Okay, I'll just, muted celebration. You mentioned the offensive struggles and that goal occurred on the power play. The five-on-five offense is really, it's a real struggle. It's non-existent. For the Canucks right now. If you look at the underlying numbers, you go to natural stat trick. The Canucks actually aren't the worst in terms of five-on-five offense, but they're one of the worst. The devils, the Cracken, the Rangers, and the Kings are all slightly worse at five-on-five offense. But I think it's getting worse for the Canucks. They scored five-on-five goals in their first game of the season

against the Calgary Flames, and I think that carried them for a bit. Maybe it's still carrying them. It might be. And, you know, like, we used to spend so much time on line combinations and everything. And now it's kind of like, yeah, like, I don't know, some guys were out there. Petey and Besser and Ogrin had a couple moments as a trio, I guess. We haven't actually talked much about Ogrin on this show, but I do really like his speed. Yeah, the bop line. Is it what were they calling on that?

I just made it up right now. Nice. It was going to be the bop line. Yeah. They just got a little bop to him. Bop it. Yeah. They did have some.

Bob. They did a low bob. Ogrin's only 21 and he's shown he can score at the HAL level, just not yet in the NHL. A couple other points. Houglander was scratched for Baines. If anyone cares about that. And anytime they want to trade a Vander Cain, I'm good with it. Do you think they'll be able to do it? Do you think he's movable? Assuming they retain on salary? Do you think he's movable? A couple other questions. Okay. Do you think he'll be in the league next season? Okay.

Or do you think Danny Millions is going to try and get him some of that sweet KHL cash? Sweet, sweet Russia money. He's got to say he's got seven goals and he doesn't look like he's going to score many. I did not put this in the notes because I found this this morning. So this will come as a, maybe a surprise to you, but you know how you were talking about the L.A. King's potentially being a suitor for Elias Pedersen? Well, hold the phone, my friend, because according to John Hoven of Mayer's Manor, a fairly well dialed in L.A. King's source, he's been covering the team for decades now. I'm just going to read the following from one of his most recent posts up at Mayor's Manor.

While it's still a rumor, something we don't normally spend too much time on, but this was just too intriguing not to stop and give it a pause for a few minutes. Two separate sources have told me over the past week that they believe Ken Holland is kicking the tires on a potential Evander Kane trade. Nice. Good old Kenny Holland. Now, think about this. Think about this.

What has Ken Holland done since coming aboard in Los Angeles? He's brought some of the band back together, some of his favorites from his time in Edmonton, including Cody Cici, and probably more closely as it relates to the Evander Cain situation, Corey Perry. L.A. Kings fans thought that Corey Perry would never, ever be a member of the Los Angeles Kings, given he was embroiled in that rivalry for so long as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.

But Ken Holland said, never mind that. This is the kind of guy that we need. Ken Holland, you'll also remember, this is a guy that went out as the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and acquired Evander Kane when many people thought you shouldn't do that. And for a while, it worked out okay in Edmonton. It was a fairly good producer in the playoffs, and they liked having them there. I wonder if this will end up being the move.

Remember, when we talked about an Evandercade trade earlier, my entire theory and premise about him getting acquired was you only need one. Yeah. There's 32 general managers out there, but you only need one to say, hey, I'm willing to take that risk. I wonder if Ken Holland will end up being that guy. Well, you got to think that he, wants out now. I know he wanted to come home or he was looking forward to

to coming to play in Vancouver, but he's got to now think about his future and the fact that if he stays on this Canucks team, he's not going to put up many points and he's not going to have a very good case in unrestricted free agency. Okay, it was a busy night in the NHL. Where do you want to go next? Let's start with our good friends in Buffalo. The Buffalo Sabres, everybody won their 15th game and their last 17 last 17 last night. A 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadians at home at the Key Bank Center.

Listen, I want to play this clip. Tage Thompson completing the hat trick last night for the Buffalo Sabres at home. Listen to the pop. Listen to the energy from the Key Bank Center. They are all about it in Buffalo. Sabers fans fired up. Buffalo wins their 15th in their last 17th. Here's what it sounded like.

Tage Thompson with the winner. Benson will get it out. Chip and Chase that to the first against the Canadian. So the Buffalo Sabers are now, firmly in a playoff spot. And then a half's player took on a hat.

Two points in a playoff spot? First wild card spot. Not even the second wild card spot. And they're just a few points back of the Montreal Canadians with games in hand. Is this the year the Sabres win the cup? This is it. Hey, Doug.

Poor Kevin Adams. Poor Kevin Adams indeed. I've never seen the general... He's like, I built this team. Yeah, the conductor of this brilliant, brilliant team. I've never in my years of covering the NHL seen a general manager firing have this much

effect on the ice. Yeah, I've never seen a new GM bump. Never. Not like this. They're unbelievable since, and Yarmalkelein basically just came in. He's like, no more messing around. And they're like, yes, sir, Mr. Kekalainen. Well, not that you say it. Yeah, they've gone out and been so impressive. I was impressed when they're not guaranteed to make the playoffs though, because there's some really good teams on the outside looking in right now, including Toronto and Washington. Yep. Philly has really fallen off.

Yeah. They got goaltending issues. Dam's Ladar got hurt. Yeah. But I think there's a lot of people that looked at that team and they're like, they're going to fall off. They're going to fall off. And frankly, again, I don't think Flyers management is going to be super upset at that

because they know that they need more young players. They don't really have big time. They don't have big time difference makers. You know what's. I know Zegras is playing well. Yeah, he's good. But like, they don't have, they don't have those stars yet. The guy that's supposed to be, Matt Bay Mitchcoff, is he's a bigger

story in Philadelphia than whether they win or lose right now. Totally. Everything on social media is about Mitchcoff. You know talk, it's like, I got another Pedersen. I can't believe this again. I thought I was getting away from this. This is killing me. And I don't know how this ends. I'm very curious to see it because he's at a massive

regression in his sophomore year. I mean, we're not, we're talking. talking about production that's fallen through the floor. After being close to a 30 goal score a year ago, I don't really know what to make of it. Because I understand what Talkett's saying, is that if he's going to be an effective player for a long time in the NHI,

he's going to need to learn to do the things that he's not doing right now. And I think everyone agrees with that universally across the board, right? At the same time, there's a way that you teach, and there's a way that you're deployed. And it was the Marty St. Louis quote you brought up the other day. Sometimes with certain players, you don't want to overcoach them. You don't want to step on their creativity. Now, this is Talks issue, and it's going to be his issue because of his reputation going into this job as well.

It goes back to Arizona with a guy like Clayton Keller. Sure. Are you overcoaching these guys? Are you letting them get away from their instincts? Now, the counterpoint in Vancouver that he always had was, well, look at Quinn Hughes. I mean, am I not overcoaching? him or something? What's going on here? What's the difference? Because Quinn Hughes has taken his game to another level to the point that he won the Norris Trophy. And I think in Philly,

he can say, well, look at Trevor Zegris. Yeah, exactly. He came over here. He put the work in and look what he's doing right now. So anyway, it's an interesting situation in Philly. Okay, we've got a couple more games I want to jump to, though, here. Let's go to Vegas. So the late game in Vegas last night, also the game of the night in the National Hockey League. For those that missed it because it was late. Mitch Marner had two assists in his first game against his old team, but that was not

the story last night. It was Thomas Hurtle scoring with seven seconds left in regulation to tie it, and then we'll play the audio now. Jack Eichel with the O.T. winner to, of course, win it as Vegas rallies to beat Toronto 6'5 in overtime. Here's what it sounded like.

Sorry, did you want the winner or the time? Yes, the Jack Eichael winning goal in overtime. As I just said. It's back the other way. He's got a step. Here's Theodore, kicks it off. Touch that off the side of the net. Coming right.

Yeah. The game winning goal was very odd because on a two-on-one, Stone, and I forget the other skater on the ice came in. And then the puck went behind the net, and Stone just kind of flipped it out to the net front. I'm like, what's he doing? And then out of nowhere, Jack Eichel skated onto the scene and had what was like an uncontested breakway and put it away. And then when they showed the reverse angle, there was Austin Matthews about 90 feet in the distance, clearly gassed and unable to make the back check.

Eichl scores in overtime. There were some booze, weirdly enough, in Vegas, for Mitch Marner by all the traveling Leaves fans. Yeah, lots of Leifes fans there. And there was also a Willie's Better chant, of course, referencing William Neelander. Oh yeah, what happened to him? He got hurt, and he left the game, did not return.

Craig Brubay said it was an aggravation of a previous injury. He did not hurt himself taking his shirt off. You got hurt sallying. Yes, that's correct. For the second time, I think. Wait, really? Yeah. Okay.

These kids and their cellies. Context. Try to do a backflip or something? Contacts, Greg. Well, am I wrong? He re-agravated a previous injury. Oh, my sally injury. In the midst of his sally.

Which he also injured initially during a cellie. I mean, let's... Because he takes his shirt off when he's tipped on a shirt. Well, all these injuries are... it's significant for the least regardless. But the Olympics is coming up. And, you know, I was doing a little research because I wanted, the Islanders are coming to town on Monday.

And I was wondering if Horvats going to be able to play. And it doesn't sound like he will. He was injured, I want to say like a week and a half ago now, and they said he's going to be week to week. But I think they're being extra cautious with him. him and there was talk that he could maybe join the islanders on this road trip, but it doesn't sound like it's going to happen. He actually hasn't played since January 1st.

So we're talking like he's coming up on the third week of the show. But yeah, I get it. I know that they're going to be really careful with him for their own sake too. They're not thinking like, oh, well, he's got to play in the Olympics. But I think Horvats probably thinking that too. It's one of the most intriguing storylines going into the next. two and a half, three weeks prior to the games is to see how these teams are going to deal with the most minor of injuries.

I think that stories will start coming out about players if they're not feeling great, having a little bit of extra precaution. Like I talk about the Quinn Hughes situation and how I think, I think part of the mutual agreement that he came to with the Vancouver Canoxo not going to the four nations was partly due to the fact that, well, you're going to get the Olympics. You are going to get that opportunity. Well, that opportunity is here now.

If you don't go to the Olympics, I know that there'll be another international date that the NHL put on in between the next games, between Milan and the next one. But this is a big opportunity for a lot of these guys that they might not get again. Yeah, it's a first time back at the Olympics a long time. This might be the only chance Bo Horvett ever gets to represent Canada

in the Olympics, right? Absolutely. So he's not going to jeopardize this in any way, shape, or form. By the way, the oilers got shut out. by the Islanders in Edmonton, Sorokin. I think he made 35 saves or something like that. So that's not great for the Canucks. With the Oilers being upset about getting shut out by the Islanders

and then the Canucks are looking to avoid their 10th straight loss and they've got the Oilers Saturday at Rogers Arena. So I understand that this is a rebuild and this is what it looks like. and the losses are going to pile up. I have a morbid curiosity and fascination to see how long this losing street can go now. I mean, could you have to set the record now that you've tied it. I mean, at least got to get one more. Just hypothetically.

And I don't think it's that. They've made the banner and everything. I don't think it's that wild, a hypothetical because of how bad they are. I know. Is it possible that this thing extends across the entire eight game homestead? No. No. Who are they going to beat on the homestanders?

The islanders are a defensive dynamo. The Islanders had... They'll win a game. You know what? We should do this exercise. We should do this exercise at some point over the course of today's show and try and figure out what game they're going to win.

Because I'm going to put it out there right now. I think they're going to win a couple games at home. I don't like their chances against Edmonton. No, me neither. On Saturday. I think that one's going to be a tough one. I had a hard time because I looked at this yesterday trying to figure out

who's the most likely opponent to fall to the Vancouver Canucks at home because I will remind everybody. Well, none of them at this point are likely because the Canucks are the worst team in the NHL. I didn't say likely, I said most likely of the eight. Now here's the thing. As you pointed out. They could beat Anaheim. They could beat

San Jose. Come on. Those teams are juggernauts. They can beat anybody. They could beat Pittsburgh. The problem is they haven't beat them. Oh, sorry, I'm looking at the wrong. No, no, no. That's the right one. Yeah, yeah. They could beat New Jersey. There's a lot of beatable teams on this on this homestand. I think they're going to win two or three. You know what else we said that. that there's a lot of beatable teams on this trip

was the six game road trip that they just had. Yeah, but they're great at home, aren't they? They are. They've won a lot of games four, as a matter of fact, at home this year. So I think there's a lot of opportunity there for the Canucks. I'd be, I don't know, man. Like, this is a really bad hockey team right now.

They don't even play with the sort of naive energy of a typical rebuilding team that's young and running around. Like, they're trying really hard. I thought Booion played well. Yeah. I thought he played well last night, but their structure is gone. And someone texted in and he said, W-2E-F is Marcus Pedersen doing out there. He had a nightmare last night.

Yeah, and he got on the wrong side of Marchenko. And then took a penalty for what led to the second goal, if I'm not mistaken. Marchenko's a good player. He's a big boy. He's a big dude. He's a big dude. Marcus Pedersen found out the hard way yesterday. To answer Halford's question, you know why they're not playing with the energy of a fresh new rebuilding team?

because they have all their same players still. They have all the veterans. They aren't a rebuilding team yet. They have to trade all those guys. Once they do that, then they'll be like a San Jose or Chicago and with the fresh plucky players. Well, speaking of trades, they've got to get Bluger back in the lineup soon and then trade

him. Yep. Because I think the rest of the NHL will want to know that he's healthy and ready to go. And there was even talk from Adam Foote that Philip Heald could be back in the lineup soon. Potentially next week. Did you listen to the audio?

Yeah, I did. It was very weird the way that he said it, because he almost threw it out there as an example of why the Canucks can't wait for guys to return. And then in doing that, kind of announced that Bluger could be back as soon as Monday and Heidel could be back next week. I was like, that's an interesting way of delivering that news. But he wanted to make it sound like we can't wait for the cavalry to come because we've got a game on Saturday that we need to try and win.

But he said, Bluger may be Monday and Heedle may be next week. Heidel did practice. He doffed the non-contact. Oh, he did? Yeah. So it's a step further towards returning. Oh, God, I hope he can stay healthy. Not for the team's sake.

I know. They're rebuilding. I know exactly what you're saying. For his sake, man. That was, I still felt, I felt so bad for him. Of all the guys to get caught with your head down, what, seven games into the season? Six. Six games into the season?

Tom Wilson. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall.

It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. 804-4.

Friday, happy Friday, everybody. Halford Brough, Sports Night 650. Halpern Mv the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Score a debt freedom hat trick. One, no more interest, too much lower payments than three. Financial peace of mind. Visit them online at sands dash trustee.com. We are now in our three of the program. Rick Dollywell is going to join us in just a moment here.

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It's Rick Dollywall here on the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. What up, Ricky D? Gentlemen, how's it going? It's going pretty well. Same old, same old. We're doing a show after another Canucks loss. We're getting used to it. Was there any takeaway from

last night's game for you? The takeaway is this. They've lost nine straight. You know, they went over for six on the road trip. You know, they're in 32nd place. They're 14 points out of the playoffs. Hey, the takeaway is all these people that want to rebuild, well, you know, these last two or three weeks get used to it

because this is what it's going to look like. And I know there's media and fans clamoring for a rebuild. And, you know, the old phrase, be careful what you wish for. This is exactly what, you know, the next few years could possibly look like. I'm okay with it. I'm okay with it. I was watching Steve Buhiam last night. He had a hop in his step, but they need to get more young players into the lineup for us to get excited about.

Big time. And we'll get into some young kids in a bit here. But listen, this is all helping them to get to the first overall pick. And the games are tough to watch, but the exciting stuff with this team is happening off the ice. I will say this about Besser last night. It was nice to see that's his first goal in 22 games. You know it's bothering them, right? goal scores love scoring goals.

And when you go that long, it's really tough. Okay, so you mentioned young players. Well, Neil's Hoaglander, healthy scratch last night. Look, this kid needs a change of scenery. This is the fourth coach in this market that is healthy scratched him. No points 12 games this year. They really should find that kid a new home. You know, his name's out there.

You know, I heard his name out there this week. I think there's a market for him? Look, young kid, he only scored 24 goals. Yeah. Jason, not six years ago, two years ago, right? And, you know, teams have always liked him. I mean, he's got the energy, he's got the hop and his skates, he gets going. You know, he's a good energy guy.

But when a guy that young scores 24 goals, maybe some teams thinking, you know what, he'll regain those 24 goals with us as opposed to. But he's not gaining any traction under Adam Foote. Like, I mean, it's been a horrendous year for him. We got hurt in Abbisford in that preseason game. But, I mean, I don't have any evidence that his camp has asked for a trade, but I mean, at some point, you know, the kid's probably going to say, like, you know, get me out of here.

Like, this is the fourth coach. You know, Green, Boudreau, you know, talk at foot, all four of these guys. At some point, it parked him in his a healthy scratch. I mean, is there a message there? Is there something there? Well, he's not playing that well right now. Like, he's not. I mean, nobody is, but.

Yeah, but okay. Jason, he scored 24 goals here. I know. Two years ago, and they've got him parked on the fourth line in the last week. Like, I mean, so you want him to, how do you want him to get going with nine minutes every night on the fourth line? When the guy scored 24 goals, two years ago, I don't know. They got to fix that, you know, either, you know, fix it. Like, because I just think that at some point it's probably going to be best if that guy just moves on,

maybe gets a fresh start somewhere else. Maybe he takes off somewhere else, who knows? Okay. Kiefer Sherwood. Are we going to see something soon? Well, Sherwood is the one that everyone's got their eyes on right now. I was told last night, don't be surprised if something happens sooner than later, but we've been hearing that for a while.

I do believe the player and his representative and the team are working together to get this done. Time will tell. The Canucks want to move them. I would expect they try and make a deal. And maybe that means not necessarily getting a first-round pick. Now, sounds like the Canucks have come to the realization, they're not getting a first for Sherwood. I can see a deal like Seattle got for Marchman, you know, a second and a fourth.

I was told to keep an eye on San Jose when it comes to Sherwood. I mean, I think they're in there. I think they're fighting. Look at you got, they got picks, they got prospects, they got the cap space to assign Sherwood right now. If that's something they want to do, they're in a playoff spot. It's a good way to reward that group for what they've done this year. Go out and get a Sherwood type guy. there is a centerman in their system, Philip Bistead,

who the Canucks really liked in his draft year in 2022, but he hasn't played in the NHL yet. He's a big guy, 6'3. One thing the Canucks don't have at Center ice, even with their body is just size. This guy's big, but that's a guy the Conucks really liked in his draft year in 2022. But we'll see where this goes. You can ask for anything you want.

Doesn't mean you're going to get it. Canucks need to be realistic on the return. So the Canucks, how can you ask for a first rounder when you valued Sherwood a $4 million? Your offer for Sherwood is a four, and you want to turn around to get a first for this guy? Sherwood, yeah, they would love a first, but the thing the Connox don't realize, playoff-bound teams are waiting to use their first rounders on Cadry, Panarin, Connor Murphy, Zaka, look at the guys in St. Louis, Thomas, Kyru, Shen, they could all get first rounders.

Rassman Anderson's going to get a first rounder. Hey, there's a lot of guys ahead of Sherwood in terms of teams willing to move a first for. They should still do very good in a return for Sherwood if they don't get their first. But the reality is that they're trying. I think that them and the representatives are working on this. And I think, and Sherwood's injury, by the way, is an upper body injury. So I don't know if he's going to be back before the Olympic break or after, but I don't think the injury is playing a factor

in teams calling and trying to get something done. If I were Evander Kane and if I were his agent, Danny Millions, I would not be happy with the way this season has played out because I would like to go into free agency with something to sell as opposed to a guy who has, what, seven goals on the season? Well, fourth line.

He's now on 12 minutes last night. You tweeted. And, you know, look, I agree with you. I don't think Danny Millions is doing cartwheels about what Kane's going through. But, you know, let's go back. You know, look at his centerman in Edmonton and look at the guys he had success with, guys that got him to puck.

Look at his centerman last night. It was Atu Ratto. Nothing against Atu Ratto, but this guy played with Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisdell for years in Edmonton, right? He's on the fourth line. Twelve minutes last night. How is he supposed to get anything done? You know, and they want to move them.

while moving him is going to be tough. Go back to the summer he was signed. If Rick Tocket would have stayed that summer on Tuckett's to-do list was getting leadership. Tuckett really misses the door off and Ian Cole. So he basically on his list was, okay, this July 1st, let's go out and get leaders. So Tocket leaves, and so what do the Canucks do? The go get of Andrew Cain. Like when you talk to people around the league, nobody can make rhyme or reason of how this player was targeted.

has not been a fit since day one, Jason, in Vancouver, since day one. And it's just have fun moving him now. You've got his cap hits high, production is low, there's been injuries. He didn't play in the regular season last year. There's been injuries galore. It's going to be a tough move. Like, I don't know what the Canucks expected, and I don't know, like, how are you going to move this guy? You don't think they would have moved him by now if they had something? I mean, it's going to take a former GM or a former coach that had him who says, you know what, we had them in the past. Let's, I think we can work with him and get ready.

And one thing in Kane's defense, if you look at his playoff numbers in Edmonton, they're really good. Like, he has scored some massive goals for the Oilers in the past few years. But it's, again, it's playing with good centers, is playing with more quality forwards than he has in Vancouver. So it's a tough move. There's no question, Jason. If they think they're going to move them and it's going to be easy, I don't think it is.

I know you want to talk about the rebuild, and it's been a very busy week in terms of quotes from Jim Rutherford. Can I get just a little bit talking about Patterson and his, what's going on there? Yes. I just want to get this in, Jason. Yes, the Canucks are listening on Pedersen, but I have no evidence that he would waive his no move. He's got a pretty powerful agent in J.P. Barry, who doesn't always like the Patterson trade rumors out of Vancouver, especially after they just signed them to that massive long-term deal. Go look at the way J.P. is handling the Dougie Hamilton situation in New Jersey. Somebody made an offer. It looks like San Jose, Elliott reported, to try and get, you know, Hamilton out in the summer to San Jose.

And they said no, right? They said, no, we're not going there. trading Pedersen may not be as easy as some think. Now, teams are going to want Vancouver to retain. Does Vancouver have the stomach to retain for six years on Pedersen? Do they have the stomach? Like, are they telling teams to, we're willing to retain or not on Pedersen? And so I had a pretty high-profile agent tell me this. No player is going to waive his no move clause unless the other team is a perfect fit for him.

So where is the perfect fit for Pedersen elsewhere in the NHL when he thought enough of Vancouver to sign here for eight years? Right now all the Pedersen talk is just talk to go to the next level. They're going to have to require talking to his agent and the player. And if he says if he waves, he waves, but they're not at that stage yet, but there is just so many things that have to happen before a Pedersen move. takes place. I would be shocked if they were willing to retain

just for two reasons. Number one, they just signed this contract and it was something that Jim Rutherford endorsed and said, you know, you should do this. And the other one is the acknowledgement that they need to fix their center position. If they trade Pedersen, for all

his faults, it becomes that much harder to fix the center position. Thank you. Thank you. you and you are the weakest team in the national hockey league center and now you want to trade your first line center and you're not going to get a most likely a first line center back they didn't get a top six center back for Miller or Horvatt so you know and so here you are the weakest team in the NHL now you're listening to Pedersen so you have nothing on the farm in in terms of centers ready to take over the top six um the coots is coming in two or three

years, but after that, you make a great point. So what does the centerized position look like without Pederset? Right? And so the other one for you is what team's willing to take that entire $11.6 million cap hit? What team out there is willing to take that hit? I don't know. And I wonder if this upcoming Olympics is going to give people another scouting performance of Elias Pedersen outside of Vancouver because, you know, it's not wrong to point out that Pedersen isn't exactly playing

with all-star wingers right now. I love the story that Linus Carlson has written this year, but he's not, he's still not a quality top-line, top-line winger, and neither is Jake DeBresk or whoever, you know, PD was out with there

with Bessler and Ogren for a point yesterday, and they looked okay, but it was just a very short stint and it was they were down three goals in Columbus or down two goals in Columbus. No one's going to make a big deal out of that. I'm really curious to see how he looks at the Olympics. Have you spoken to Sam Halam at all? I was texting with Sam Alam a couple of weeks ago.

He's actually excited about seeing Patterson at the Olympics. He wasn't great at the Four Nations, right? He didn't do anything at the Four Nations. But if Sam is saying if he comes out of his injuries, that they're really hoping for good things for him at the Olympics. The other one I want to say to you about the center, it took the Canucks nine months to get Marco Rossi, and it took them to trade Quinn Hughes to get a second-line center. How many months would it take them to replace Pedersen with the first-line center? You'd have to draft them and wait.

You'd have to draft them and wait. Here's the other problem for you, Jason. There's no franchise altering centerman at the number one or number two or number three position this year and this year's draft. Right? Right. The kid they like in Boston is probably going to go 5, 6, 7, 8. He just went from the U.S.HL. I'll get the name.

I did. Tyman Lawrence. Yeah. They love Lawrence. But he just went from the U.S.HL to NCAA. They're going to monitor him and watch him all year to see if he's a difference maker there. But there's no, like, if they get the first pick, there's no six-foot-four stud center there for them. You know, it took you nine months to get Marco Rossi.

and you had to use Quinn Hughes to get him. He's only a second-line center. Rick Tocke said after they signed their center. The centers are gold. They don't grow on trees. They're hard to get. And these guys are absolutely screwed at the center-rights position. Yeah, well, so are the flyers right now.

They've got to find some centers, too. Injuries. I know you wanted to talk about injuries. Well, that's your Demko is obviously the big one. I was told when he got hurt in Toronto, I was told that they were going to look, they were going to take their time and look at everything. I do believe they're still evaluating him.

It's been pretty quiet. There's so much a stake here, right? Look, they've got to take their time with this. And, you know, find out top to bottom, what's going on with his injuries. He played 23 games last year. Now he's his third injuries played 20 this year. I was told it's not the groin or the knee, but I mean, I did have pushback on that because some people do think it's the groin.

But the reality is this, look, I was told they're going to take their time and look at everything, and why not? You're in 32nd place. There's no rush to it. You're not near a playoff spot where the guy's got to come back and help you get in the playoffs. I mean, take your time now. If you've got to shut them down, shut them down, there's no sense in rushing them back. There's just zero sense in that.

You're in 30-second place. So I think they're going to take their time there. And Derek Forbert was skating this week. So some people said he was out for this season, but maybe not. I mean, the fact that he's skating this week is a good sign. Jonathan LaCarramacki played last Saturday after missing six games. Then he missed Sunday and Wednesday with sickness. I did hear he rejoined Abbisford on their road trip, I think, yesterday or the night before.

He'll play this weekend, it looks like. So LeCarramacki's got to get going here because this is an opportunity for him. With the team in 30, you talk about playing the young kids, well, that's a guy that, you know, if he's not going to crack the Canucks roster when they're in 30 second, when's you going to crack it? You know? So I think he get him healthy, get him playing the way you guys want him to play, and then get them to the national hockey league level and get them play them a ton. You know what? If you can't play the kids when you're in 32nd, when are you going to play

the kids? Hey, Rick, can we circle back on Evander Kane for a second here? I'm going to flip the script on you. I've got something. I read this this morning from John Hoven from Mayor's Manor in Los Angeles. He wrote this morning that two of his separate sources over the past week have told him that they believe L.A. King's general manager, Ken Holland, is kicking the tires on a potential of Andrew Cain trade. Have you heard anything on that front? I heard that about a few days ago, and that's Ken Holland. That's Holland.

What did I say to you guys earlier? It's going to take a coach or a GM that has. had Kane before, who believes in them and thinks they can help. The Kings are, what are they, one point behind San Jose for eighth place? You know what? And goal scoring is an issue there. Ken Holland had them in Evanton. That one makes a lot of sense. I did hear that a few days ago, and I'm going to tell you something else.

Like, I don't know if it's going anywhere. Like, I mean, again, so Kane, do you take that full cap hit on? You know, do you take the full cap hit on? Do you? Connucks are obviously going to want to at least recoup the four. round pick that they gave up for the guy, right? But it's going to take a coach or a GM that had him before to say, Mike, that, hey, you know, let's give him another try.

But it's going to be tough. The production's not there. You know, seven goals, he's on the fourth line 12 minutes last night. I mean, do those numbers, are those glaring numbers where you say, where you say, let's go get Amanda Cain? He doesn't look all that engaged. I thought a couple weeks ago he was skating pretty well. and more recently, not so much.

Yeah. I mean, the reason it's got a lot of credences, like Ken Holland's brought back so many guys from Edmonton there, right? Perry's there, Fogles there, Cic's there. A lot of the guys that spent time in Edmonton are there, so it makes sense that Kaye might be the guy. Anything else you got? I just wanted, I do want to talk a little bit about the draft.

Connox, you know, you guys should start, you know, doing deep dives into the draft. The Canucks are certainly going to have a very good shot to finish first overall pick. Problem is everyone in Vancouver is going to want a Connor McDavid, generational player that pick. If the Canucks get it, that's not going to happen. There's no McDavid in this draft. There's not even a McLeod in this draft.

There's not even a Schaefer that's coming here on Monday that turn the Islanders around. There's good players, but no one expected to make the NHL next year and do what Matthew Schaefer is doing with the Islanders. The top 10 picks are heavy wingers and defensemen. Canucks, of course, would love if there was a six-foot-four heavy set difference-making center available at one, two, or three, there isn't. Centers is the club's weakest position organizationally. Okay.

Take away Braden Coots. The last center taken in the first or second round of the NHL draft by the Canucks was back in 2017, Elyish Pedersen. That was nine years ago. That's why there's no centers in Abbotspurg, or in the system. They haven't drafted a center other than Coots and Pedersen in the first round in nine years. I talked to some scouts at the World Juniors, the center they really like, because that guy you mentioned, Tyne and Lawrence, but do you take them first overall?

That's a stretch. They like Ivers, Stenberg, obviously, Keaton-Virhoff, Canucks like Vigio Bjork. His brothers are ready in the season, right? He's awesome. He's a little guy, but man, he brings a lot of energy. They like him a lot. His brother's already been drafted.

Oliver Savante from Finland's another heavyset center. they don't have a lot of heavyset centers in Vancouver in the system. Bjork is small, but Savante's a big kid, but he's a heavy game. They also like Mani Mahaltra's kid, Caleb, having a great year in the OHL. Played in Chilawak last year. He's going to go to Boston next year, NCAA. This Mahaltra kid, like, he's climbing the rankings. Like, the more and more people you talk to, the problem for the Canucks is if you get the

first overall pick, taking a center might be a stretch. It might be a stretch because the winger's, are obviously at the top there, but it might be a stretch to take a center, but it's just their luck. It's just their luck. They're probably going to pick first, and there's no franchise altering player

or franchise altering center in there. Rick, you're the best, buddy. Thanks for doing this. Adios. Have a good one. Rick Dollywell. That's a big one. Old school phone slam there here

on the Halpertam Rough Show on Sportsnet 650. You know, I'm still hopeful that McKenna or Stenberg can be franchise altering and a franchise player. Looking at Vigo Bork, here. Yeah, he's, he's fun. He was fun to watch. There was one game for Sweden where he had like 10 breakaways, didn't score, but it's a problem. He needs to work on his finish, but he looked pretty, he looked pretty good out there. Um, I like, look at the points that McKenna put up in this CHL. And Laddie, I know you're shaking your head or like nodding your head in agreement with this

stuff. What is he doing? nodding or shaking? I think, you know, maybe he's having a tough time right now. But you also look at him and you're like, that's why I want to know what he's made of. What's his character like? Does he want to work? Is he willing to work? Is he an obsessive type? And, you know, he's having a down year. But he still piled up points at the juniors.

And he's still overpoint per game as an 18-year-old at NCAA. And I liked that he took that opportunity to go down to the NCAA. Yeah, he might have put a few dollars in his pocket. but he went down there and he played against older, stronger guys, right? So he challenged himself. There's still a long way to go in his season. Yeah, like, lots can change. Well, you were talking about Tyn and Lawrence, the Dahliawell hit, right?

He's played three games in college now with Boston. Yeah. Zero points. Oh, man. McKenna, 19 points in 18 games as an 18-year-old. Four goals, though. That's what everyone's worried about. He's a playmaker.

He's not just a shooter. Yeah. But four goals and 18 games. But he needs, there's some. things that he needs to work on, but it was clear when Badaard came into the league that there were things that he needed to work on

and guess what? He worked on them. And when you're still a teenager, you can still improve dramatically. He's just got to get back on track. I think all these people, like I wasn't impressed with him all that

much of the world juniors. Okay? But that's fine. That's fine. I mean, it doesn't mean he's done. It doesn't mean that he can't be a franchise player. Look at what he's done. The point totals are ridiculous. Yeah. So let's not write this guy off quite yet. And Stenberg, too. Like, if you're in the conversation for first overall in any draft, you can be a big time difference maker for an NHL franchise. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.