Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best Of Halford And Brough 3/20/25

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

 Jason Brough and guest host Jamie Dodd look back at the previous day in sports, they preview tonight's Canucks road matchup at St. Louis with analyst Randip Janda, plus the boys tell us what they learned. 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. Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa AAAAA Having great matchups in the first round? That's terrific. That's not a problem. That's a great thing. Saxton into 650, 650. Good morning, welcome to Halford and Bruff here on Sportsnet 650.

Jamie Dodd filling in here for Halford for another couple of days. He'll be back next week. Good morning, Bruff. How are you, buddy? I'm doing great, laddy is milking. With some creative editing. That was was actually it's kind of an homage to Halford because half her screwing something up. No, it's just the way you kind of

Battled right through it like didn't acknowledge it. That's right went right through I was like did he say sext and then half her the difference with half or does how far would have lied and said I'm said No, we have an audio review. You would have said I almost said it I I might have said it Ladi did do some creative editing. There was like a pause between Hands. Yeah the fat like the sound of it even more. So It's true, that's true. It's on record now. Everyone's gonna be like I heard the audio Couldn't possibly been there folks. Good morning a dog. Good morning. Good morning, laddie begrudgingly hello Hello, you're just your whoever's in this seat. You're terrorizing. It's my job really a mental health break next it next week

It's my job. You're in the hot seat and that's what I'm gonna do That's right. How from a broth is brought to you by the DeLari family of Honda dealers. Experience the DeLari difference today. Visit your nearest DeLari Honda dealer today. This hour 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. 1170 Powell Street. We are coming to you live from the Kintec studio, Kintec Footwear and Orthotics, working together with you and Steph, what have we got today?

It is a Canucks game day, so we will chat with Jeremy Rutherford. Of course, the Canucks are in St. Louis to take on the Blues. Big, big game in the standings. Jeremy Rutherford covers the Blues for the Athletics. So we'll get the low down from him on a Blues team that's playing really well right now, playing some great hockey. And yeah, they've had a pretty soft schedule to help them with that. But a lot of people now looking at them as the team to beat in the wild card race in the Western Conference. So we'll get the low down on the Blues with Jeremy Rutherford. 730 James Sharman of course Sportsnet Soccer contributor also part of the Footie Prime podcast.

He'll join the show. No Halford but we're still doing some soccer talk because there's a big game today. Canada plays Mexico in a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final in LA. So we'll get the, the scoop on that from Sharman and the question I'm maybe most curious about with Sharman is are Canada the favorites? Should they be the favorites in a big game against Mexico? Cause they've had a lot of success against Mexico recently.

I still can't wrap my heads around my head, my heads, my head around the fact that start, uh, Canada is at the same level as Mexico and the United States, but especially Mexico, I think. Yes. Especially Mexico. Well, yeah, because they're a soccer country.

They're a traditional soccer country and we're not. And there have just been so many trips down to Azteca where it's just like, ah, I hope we don't lose too badly. And then, oh, we lost pretty badly. Right? But. We couldn't even do that.

Yeah. Uh, and by the way, the other semifinal in the CONCACAF nations league is the USA versus Panama. So a potential to don't look ahead past Mexico, but a potential for another politically charged Canada, USA showdown. Well, if the results go the right way. What about Panama, US? Seriously?

Yeah. Right? Yeah. There was a bit of stuff going on there too. Well there was a piece up at Sportsnet that said- It probably isn't a country right now that doesn't have some sort of like- Problem with the US? The most peaceful game would be Russia, US. Yes, exactly. Which that's why they're trying to organize it. Friends. Ah, comrades, welcome. Got Belarus in there, Hungary, you know, get all those

countries. There was a piece of it, sports and actually saying like, yeah, it's kind of awkward. And Pochettino who obviously is not American, but he's the American coach. And so he's having to field questions about like, what do you think about playing Panama? And he's like, I, I've got to be honest. I just want to beat Panama. I don't have big strong feelings about this. Don't ask me about the Panama canal. Do you think they should be able to keep it? What do you think about tariffs? So at 730 we'll talk soccer with James Sharman and at 8 o'clock Randy Jandek color analyst for the Canucks here on Sportsnet 650 will look ahead to the Blues game and the rest of a pretty interesting road trip for the Canucks

This is game one of that road trip against the Blues tonight And then of course at 830 we will do what we learned. So start getting your submissions in now and I will say send, send them in to 650 650 which is the Dunbar Lumber text line. So eight o'clock Randy Pjanda, 7.30 James Sharman, seven o'clock Jeremy Rutherford. But of course first let's tell everyone what happened. Hey, did you guys see the game last night? No. What happened? I missed see the game last night? No.

What happened? I missed all the action because I was... We know how messy your life can be. What happened? You missed that? What happened? 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. Visit bccsa.ca. No practice even for the Canucks yesterday. They had a travel day to get to St. Louis and it was a very light schedule in the NHL. Only two games and neither of them even really provided scoreboard watching. If you're a Canucks fan, none of them relevant. I know there's been some talk that, oh, could the wild fall into that wild card one race, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. And they took care of the Kraken anyways last night.

So just two games on the schedule. The Leafs beat the Avalanche 2-1 and the Wild beat the Kraken 4-0. So I watched the Leafs Avalanche game and I have two takeaways. The first is that, stay out of the way, Kelly Sutherland. Can we play the, okay, so in case you missed it,

it was one all between the Avs and the Leafs and the Avalanche were on the power play and the Leafs got a clear on the PK and it looked like the puck was just going to go down the ice and the abs were going to go back and get it and try again on the power play except for the ref. That was maybe the biggest referee gaffe, non-decision related that I've ever seen in a game. It was a very friendly call too from Cuthbert because he said he was diving to get out of the way. I don't know if it was his intention or his diving.

I think he was just falling and getting in the way as a result of falling, not heroically diving to try to get out of the way. Can we, like, did he just fall there? I mean, he was reacting to the puck though, wasn't he? Or did he just toe pick? I think he just toe picked, honestly. I think he just wiped out at the worst possible moment.

Anyway, Stephen Lorenz, my favorite player, uh, picked it up and, and scored and two one Leafs and the Leafs went on to win the game. So look, I mean, I don't think the abs are going to be like, this cost us the season, but pretty frustrating way to lose. My other takeaway from the game is that despite the score line, man, the Avs are good.

Yes. Like they came into that game really hot, playing well, winning a lot of games. And, you know, Joseph Wohl played really well. He ended up making 38 saves, um, only allowed one goal. And the Leafs kind of, I don't want to say they, like they're, the Leafs played okay. Um, but I'm looking at this abs team now and they've

made some additions down the middle. They bring in Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle. Um, and I, I think they might be my favorite to come out of the west. Yeah. I know, you know, I know Winnipeg's good. I know Dallas is good. I know Vegas is good, but just the way the abs have looked in the last little while, um, you know, hopefully for their sake, they're not peeking too early, but. Man, they play, they play a style of game in

terms of speed and creativity that they have. hopefully for their sake, they're not peaking too early, but man, they play, they play a style of game in terms of speed and creativity that I think every fan base would love it if their team played like that. But most teams just don't have the horses that Colorado has. And to your point about them possibly being your pick to come out of the West. I was thinking about this yesterday as well. I think they're going to be a very trendy, popular pick, not just to come out of the West, but to win the Stanley Cup considering how open everyone thinks the league is this year.

And I don't say trendy to disparage it. I think they might be my pick to win the Stanley Cup, the way they're playing. They're really impressive. And you mentioned the style they use. And one of the things I think is fascinating about what the way they're playing. And they're really impressive. And, uh, you know, you mentioned the style they use and one of the things I think is fascinating about what the Avalanche did. First of all, having the guts to trade Miko Rantanen in season in a year where you're still looking at yourself as a Stanley Cup contender. That's really, really impressive.

But what they did specifically in the trade going and getting Natchez is basically doubled down on their greatest strength, doubled down on their identity of speed. They went and got one of the fastest players in the league. You stick them next to McKinnon and all of a sudden when you put those guys out there and with Kale McCarr on the back end, one of the

fastest defensemen in the league, you're able to play at a pace that maybe no other team in the league can match. You know, maybe the Oilers with McDavid on the ice, but that's about it. You can play faster than any other team in the league. I think there's something I like that philosophy of, okay, what do we do well and not saying, well, you

know, we're, we got a lot of speed, but yeah, we better get some, you know, some responsible, tough players for the bottom of our line. I was like, no, let's go get more fast guys. Yeah. Let's just keep being awesome at the thing that makes us, us. And I think that's really admirable and it's

working great for them right now. Yeah. Uh, so the other, the other game last night, Minnesota took care of Seattle for nothing. I think Minnesota had a few more injuries to add to the pile. Jared Spurgeon, I think Rossi might've got hurt. Um, so the thing about the Avs, by the way,

Gru Bauer started and I think he allowed three goals on his first eight shots or something like that. Um, so I don't know how much longer Seattle Kraken fans are going to be able to enjoy Philip Gru Bauer. Uh, at some point they're going to have to do, uh, they're going to have to do something about that contract.

The thing about the Avs though, you know, as much as they might be my pick, the fact that the first two rounds, they might have to go. Dallas, Winnipeg. Dallas, Winnipeg, and then maybe Vegas or Edmonton. You know, I mean, that is, that would be an unbelievably tough road to the finals. And I think that's why when you hear what's

going on down or what did happen down at the GM's meetings, there's a lot of people that are just like, this playoff format is unfair. Um, and you know, I think they were referencing the fact that they might have Dallas, Colorado in the first round or maybe they were referencing the fact that they could have, I suppose they could have Tampa Bay, Florida or something like

that in the first round and people are like, this is, this is ridiculous. But laddie, do we have Gary Bepman on, on the playoff format? Uh, I know we've got a few Gary Bepman ridiculous, but Laddy, do we have Gary Bettman on the playoff format? I know we've got a few Gary Bettman clips, but this was kind of a classic Gary Bettman on the playoff format. You guys know I'm pretty dug in on this. I like exactly what we have.

And if you look at the races that we're having for the regular season, we, the playoffs have started already. We're in our play-in tournament. And I think it's terrific. Best team to win the cup has got to get through the best teams. And you know what? Having great matchups in the first round, that's terrific.

That's not a problem. That's a great thing. So, agree or disagree that having great matchups in the first round isn't so much a problem. It's a benefit. I think it's a benefit to the league. It's, it isn't just a disingenuous way of framing it though. No one is complaining.

I'm being lawyerly. Nobody's sitting here saying there's too many good matchups in the first round, but league has to do something about this. Like that's not what people are saying. People are saying teams like the Avalanche or the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning aren't getting enough of a reward for performing well in the regular season.

And like ultimately you want the regular season to mean something. And I think what the NHL has done is the way their schedule, their standings are set up, the way the playoff format is set up, is the regular season means a lot right now to teams like the Canucks. You know what I mean? Where it's like, hey you're fighting to get in and there's four or five teams in both conferences who are in. So they've chosen to make the regular season mean something for that chunk of teams. But right now, like if you're Colorado and Dallas,

you're locked into playing each other basically. It would take something completely wacky for you not to play each other. Well, I guess the Wild are only a couple of points back of the Avs, believe it or not. There's, I don't know. Yeah. I know what you're saying.

You know what I mean? Like you're almost locked in and same thing with the three Atlantic teams. Now there's some jockeying there to win the division, but I think ultimately what people want is just for the best teams to, for there to be incentive, for you to really excel in the regular season. And it feels like this playoff format removes

that incentive to a degree. It's the two, three matchups that typically get painted as unfair, right? Yeah. Um, Gary Bettman also had some thoughts about the draft and the decentralized draft. And you just said that it was a disingenuous way of putting it, which Gary Bettman is so good at it.

Yep. That's when the lawyer in him really comes out. He's just like, he's like caveman lawyer. He's like, I'm confused by why nobody would want to see a great matchup in the first round. Don't we want great matchups? Yeah, like. That wasn't what the question was.

Not the point. Torque call for a mistrial. So Gary Bettman also has a, as a way of being passive aggressive, which is just, I mean, at this point, like I've watched Gary Bettman for so long that I almost like appreciate it. Yes. That he's still committed to the bit.

So long story short, the general managers wanted a decentralized draft. Maybe some of the teams wanted a decentralized draft because they thought they might save some money, I think. Yes. So. Classic NHL.

They save a few pennies here. Yes. So they went to a decentralized draft and I think Gary Bettman the whole time was like, this isn't a good idea. I don't agree with this. So they've agreed to do that. Um, but now I think there's some regret from

the general managers, but Gary Bettman is basically saying here, here was his, uh, his quote on the decentralized draft. This is what the clubs, I'm going to read it in kind of like a Gary Berman way too. Okay, all right. This is what the clubs said they wanted. A number of them said, maybe we should change back.

But I said, listen, we're going to go through this experience and if there's a surge of interest to go back, we'll put it back to the clubs again. We ended the old framework with a bang, doing it in the sphere in Las Vegas. And if the sense is we'd rather be together, you know, and he just went on to say, like, this is us executing the will of the clubs.

And basically he's saying, I told you so, this is going to suck. And if you want to go back to the old way, then I guess we will, but maybe next time just listen to Gary on this. Yeah, I said in our group chat, he sounds like, sometimes if I'm taking my daughter to the park and I'm like, hey, put on a jacket. She's like, no, I don't need a jacket. I'm like, you're going to be cold. She's like, no, I'll be fine. And then we get to the park and she's like, oh, I'm cold. I was like, well, I thought you'd be warm. I, you said you'd be warm enough.

Now you need a jacket. Yeah. That's what Gary Bepman sounds like. It's like, Oh, interesting. You guys have some regrets about this. It also cracked me up. It's almost like I've been leading this league for a long time. And I know what I'm talking about or with you.

So like, it's almost like I've been alive on this planet much longer than you. And I know when you need a jacket and when you don't need a jacket. Yeah, exactly. It also cracked me up that the reason, one of the main reasons cited, at least in the piece I read about why NHL teams are having some regrets about the draft switch is that, so they were like, wow,

we got to spend all this money to go to this place. And wouldn't it just be so much cheaper and easier if we just stayed in our building? But then they realized like, well, we got to spend all this money to go to this place. And when it would just be so much cheaper and easier if we just stayed in our building. But then they realized like, wait, wait, we have scouts stationed all around North America and the world. We were paying for them to go to some other location, but we still have to pay for them to

come here and put them up in hotels and do all that. And they're like, feed them and take care of them. Hold on a second. We're not saving that much money here. It's like, you guys didn't think this through at all that you're just now figuring that out, that you're not actually saving that much money. Yeah.

What do you think of the current format of the draft? What do you think, not the format of the draft, what do you think about the viewer experience of the draft? So I think it's hard for me to judge fully because I'm extremely invested in the draft. And I'm not like a big prospect guy where I'm watching tape or anything, but I find the draft exciting. I like seeing who teams pick. I like seeing the trades develop,

all of that. So I'm inherently going to like it because I'm a hardcore hockey person. I work in the sport. If you're a casual fan, I can understand not being very into it. I think probably a lot of people watch it and say, when is my team picking? I'll tune in a couple of picks before that. I'll see who they pick. I'll see him get interviewed and then I'll

turn it off. What do you think? I'm a hardcore sports guy and I get bored halfway through the draft. The top 10 picks, I'm interested to see who goes where. Um, you know, there's always a guy that's overlooked and he'll fall down the draft and you'll be like, oh, I wonder where he's going to end up.

But once he ends up in a spot, I'm kind of like, all right, so I do have some thoughts about this. I, I, I, I think the NHL draft is inherently tough to fix because it's unfairly compared to the NFL draft or maybe even the NBA draft, but let's focus on the NFL draft. Which has two major advantages in terms of fan interest.

First, the fans know the players a lot better because of college football. Second, the players drafted are expected to contribute right away. They may not be starters, but there's no going back to junior or going to college or going back to their club team in Sweden, essentially in the NFL draft, you either make the team or you don't and

you're gone. Yeah. So take the NFL draft this year. Um, right now, a lot of mock drafts have the Seahawks taking an offensive lineman in the first round. I think they picked 18th or something. That's not two or three years from now that

they're looking for that offensive lineman to contribute. That's like right now, and you'd better be good. So Seahawks fans are looking at this draft and other people around the league are looking at this draft and going like, God, I wonder if the Seahawks better get someone important here, right? Or maybe they're going to take a receiver

because they've just traded away DK Metcalf. Something like that. You know, um, so how do you make the, the draft more interesting for the casual fan? Big trades obviously help, but the league can't plan for that or they can't count on it. I do think one key and this is for the NHL and this is for the broadcasters, you got to keep

things moving because once you get out of, let's say the top 10, unless it's your team making the pick, things can really start to draft. It's like, I looked at the draft and I compared the NHL draft to the NFL draft, and I just randomly chose number 19. And it's with the 19th pick, the Vegas Golden Knights select Trevor Connolly from the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Like even a hardcore hockey fan. You're not a big Trevor Connolly guy?

Would be like, I don't know who that is. How many USHL games do you watch a year, bro? Well, that's the thing, right? Like I watch more college football than I watch USHL and it's like, he's already committed to Providence college for next season and like, he's a winger, right? Okay.

Compare that to the 19th overall pick in the NFL draft last year. Jared verse went to the Rams and was a pro bowler in his first year. He might've been the NFL defensive rookie of the year. So I think you got to keep things moving for the viewers at home. I don't know about you, but I don't need to see every prospect interviewed after getting selected. It's not compelling TV and I don't need to

hear from an 18 year old who's been coached to say nothing interesting. Like make sure you don't say anything interesting. All right, no problem. I'm 18 and not a particularly interesting person. Um, I think you just got to ask yourself what really interests viewers at home, not the hardcore hockey prospect fans, but the casual viewers. And I think that's more discussion about the team as opposed to the pitch.

Sure. Because what I also want to stay away from is the human interest stuff, right? Which you see especially in the NFL draft and the NBA draft coverage, right? Where it's like, here's the heartwarming or sad backstory of this player and I like maybe this makes me a bad person but I just find that stuff so boring you don't care it all runs together I'm like I don't care if there's a real stand what do you want to hear that I don't like I don't have a problem with a little bit of analysis of the player but then I agree but also the same it's like is it like Trevor Connelly great skater a bit skinny and I'm sure he's gonna have

to fill out. So the team's gonna have to get him like into the gym and then it's like, okay. I think this is another problem where it's like, what do you fill the time with that's going to actually appeal to more casual hockey fans? I don't know if there's an easy answer. Like you're saying more general analysis of the team. Yeah, it's a tough fix. That's why I say it's a tough fix. I agree with that. Now, did you have, like, did you have a preference over the centralized or decentralized version? Cause I saw, I know one of the arguments made when they voted to go away from it was,

oh, it should help the TV experience cause you'll be able to streamline things. But I actually, I like the visual of all of the tables on the draft floor. All of the powerful people in the sport are there, are next to each other. It's distinct. It's something that the other drafts don't have.

It gives you at least the illusion of like, oh, look, they're right next to each other. They can make a trade at any time. I like that element of it. And I think we're going to miss it going away from it this year. I don't like the 30 people going up on the draft floor. No, that should be outlawed.

That should be outlawed. That should be outlawed. Taking forever to make the pick and thanking the guys, you know, thanking the fans for organizing it. Shout out their watch party. Some restaurant in Dallas or whatever. Like I don't need that. I don't need the congratulations to the

Stanley Cup winners from every team. I think, I think that's the type of stuff that's just unnecessary filler. And I think it takes too much time. I think have everyone there, but you communicate your pick to Gary Bettman and he goes up and says, and just no preamble with the 13th pick of the draft, whoever selects whoever.

I, I hate all of the nonsense where there's every member of the front office up there and they go through this whole litany of stuff before they make the pick. It's just a lot of, for the broadcaster, I think it's a lot of treading water and maybe the broadcast just needs to be prepared for that and have something better to fill the time with. But I don't know, like the first round of the

draft took like four hours last year, didn't it? Yes. I mean, that's way too long. It is way too long. It's like the Oscars. That's way too long. Yeah. Like you had to get a speech limit up there or

something. Yeah. There's gotta be, I know there is like a time thing, but it doesn't seem to be particularly well-observed. No thanking the watch party. Like just stop. No, none of that.

Just get up there and make the pick. And they're like, does they call our friends out at Iggy's tonight? All you're allowed to do. Who cares? Is we select and then the player's name. None of that. Just get up there and make the pick. You'd like to take all our friends out at Iggy's tonight? All you're allowed to do. Who cares? Is we select and then the player's name. That's it, you got four words. You got four words, get up there, say it,

get off the stage and move it along. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Our guy, Randeeb Janda. Randeeb, what's going on, man? Good morning, boys, how's it going? It's going pretty well. We were just saying a really really big sports day coming up here with March Badness, Canada Soccer, and of course the Canucks and the Blues. So I'll just rewind a little bit to that big 6-2 results against the Jets. What was your biggest takeaway and the thing

that you could think, the thing that could make the biggest difference from that game if it continues for the Canucks? Yeah, I think, excuse me, looking back at that game guys, it was the speed at which the Vancouver Canucks played that game, right? You know, you had a committed style of hockey from the start and the fact that you're able to score off a transition, the first goal of the game with Drew O'Connor and then you've got Brock Vesser Coming in a little bit later on and scoring another goal off transition There was a real committed game and then you know what I thought the speed of that

Outset in the first period was really something that they took it to Winnipeg Obviously there were You know Defensive plays that had to be made. I go back to that one-nothing goal that Drew O'Connor scored. Like Teddy Blugher makes a great play, but the fact that they played a connected style of hockey through the middle of the ice,

and then they were able to attack with speed. And I thought Linus Carlsen made a heck of a play on that one-nothing goal. But really more than anything, the pace of the game, that the way that they were able to control the game a little bit later on, but it more than anything, the pace of the game, that the way that they're able to control the game a little bit later on, but it all started in that first period where they played a confident game with pace, which is

something we haven't seen from this team all that often. Can they do it again? I just feel like we've been tricked a few times by this team where they've had a good result, whether it's beating Toronto or beating Edmonton. And then the next game is not had a good result, whether it's beating Toronto or beating Edmonton. And then the next game is not only a let down, but like a massive let down.

Yeah. The Calgary game is the most recent one, right? Where you, of course you back it up with a game against Chicago, but really they were expected to beat Chicago and then what happens against you, you have a dud, you're not able to generate offensively, you know, that's you're not able to generate offensively. That's really the question here. And they've got a team in St. Louis tonight

that's feeling good about themselves, right? One, seven of the last 10 guys, three straight. So this is really what wild card two means. You're essentially playing other inconsistent teams this year. As of right now, that's what the wild card two spot has been. Vancouver has been an inconsistent team. Calgary has been an inconsistent team, Utah and St. Louis.

So you hope at this point that they were able to tap into something by beating, you know, arguably, you know, the best team in the NHL top two for sure. And when you play that style of game, you're able to take something away from it to say, hey, you know, when we're on our game, we can beat anybody in the league, we can be a top team in the league. And you do feel different when you when you walk away beating a Winnipeg Jets team and you know, no discredit to the Calgary Flames. When you walk away from that night with that style of victory, when you know, Connor Hellebuck looks average and a lot of that has to do with what you're able to do too. I think you do come out of this game feeling differently, but Jason, you're a hundred percent right. You know, all we're talking

about is if they don't have a committed 60 minutes tonight against the St. Louis Blues, we're back at having that same conversation of you win one, you lose one. So this team has to show us differently where they can string together some victories, but the last game was an impressive one. Randy, earlier in the show we were talking about guys who could be a potential X factor for the Canucks down the stretch and you know, of course, massive for them to get brought for Brock Besser to get going in the last game. We know they need him. They need Elias Pedersen. They need Quinn Hughes, but they'll probably

need more than that than just their top players as well. Who do you think? Who stands out to you as a potential X factor farther down the roster for this Canucks team going into the playoffs? Yeah, I think you know, there's been some maybe streaky play from Kiefer Sherwood. He started off the season unbelievable this year and then there was a bit of a lull and it was not only him, it was pretty much the entire team offensively fell into basically heading at it, you know, coming out of into the new year was

not able to score goals but we've seen the last few games whether it's his playmaking, whether it's his physical play, which has been consistent all year long, or it's his goal scoring, he is able to be that difference. And you know, I think that assist against Winnipeg, just a heads up play to get that puck to P suitor an excellent pass through the blue paint. And then you go back to the Chicago game where he was pulling off moves and, and making some unbelievable plays. I think he certainly has the capability of providing a little bit of everything. And, you know, we're talking about a guy that it's that he's, you know, at 28 points already this year, he's got 14 goals, he's had a heck of a season, but

this is where, you know, you really have less room on the ice. You need players to be so aggressive on the forecheck. You need them to play with speed. How many guys on this roster fit that profile? And you know that play that smash and grab hockey if you want to call it. And Kiefer Sherwood plays that style. He plays much bigger than he is which is what is needed this time of the year. And I also want to give a shout out. I thought Linus Carlson had a heck of a game guys. I don't know if he stays up, but if he continues to play like that, using his size, you know, making plays in the neutral zone and it was not play on that one nothing goal was great. But I

love the fact that how he was going to the middle of the ice, how he was getting to the front of the net, how even, you know, he didn't score, but there was always, it felt like he was in the front of the net how even if you know he didn't score but there was always it felt like he was in the middle of a scrum because he got in there and was looking for a rebound you know those types of players this time of the year when the game tightens up I really you know make a difference and Linus Carlsen hasn't been that in the past but can he provide that moving forward is he a more assertive I think he's a player that he might stick at the NHL level if he continues to play that way.

So, uh, Randip, you mentioned Kiefer Sherwood and Linus Carlson. Dodd said Dakota Joshua. I said Jonathan Leckermacky on the power play. Um, are we forgetting an obvious one in the potential X factor of Thatcher Demko? Yeah, that's the one he's kind of falling off the radar in here until he gets back at it with the team.

But yeah, that's the biggest X factor guys. Like I think there's so much paranoia or maybe just, maybe paranoia is the wrong word, but kind of a lack of optimism just based on recent injury history that you're essentially saying I'll believe it when I see it. It kind of reminds me of optimism just based on a recent injury history that you're essentially saying, I'll believe it when I see it. It kind of reminds me of the preseason where there's a lot of talk about that after Demko coming back.

But of course, with the most recent setback, there's always a worry of, okay, when is he actually going to come back on the ice and how long will he stay there? But guys, if he is able to come back, yeah, your one-two punch in net all of a sudden is up there with the best in the Western Conference if he can stay healthy. So, you know, I love your answer about Lechromachy because I thought he was very assertive on the power play. He's got that shot. With my reasoning, and I think maybe, Jamie, I don't want to speak for you with Dakota Joshua. I think the Canucks just need that physicality, they need that intensity, they need that commitment to playing a certain style of hockey. So I can certainly understand that but yeah if that's where Demko is ready to go, if he's able to get games, if he's able to work his way you know into

this roster and get a feel for the game again over the next couple of weeks. Absolutely. This guy could be a game changer. Um, what is the status of Connor Garland? What did, what did Rick talk at say about it? Because, you know, the Connucks had a travel day yesterday, so we haven't heard from them. Yeah, with that one, you know, it's kind of up in

the air, but one thing is for sure with Connor Garland, he's been battling something for a while here. This is something that goes back as far as I want to say about a week, if not more. And he's been somebody that's kind of been in, at least there's been thoughts that maybe he could have come out of a game even prior to the last one. So in terms of whether he's in or not, I'm not sure about that. That's gonna be a situation when you, you know, you'll have to pay attention to what Rick Taukett says and of course Batch has a conversation with

them pregame. So that'll be something we'll be listening closely. But with Connor Garland, you know, it's been it's been an interesting year for him because he's been, you know, Vancouver's one of their more consistent players putting up, you know, 40 plus points this year. He's been able to give them the effort as well, guys. But, you know, over the last two weeks, you've definitely noticed him, whether it's a shot block, whether it's he's gotten hit a few times this year. And you don't see Connor Garland get hit that often. It's kind of like that low center of gravity with Quinton Hughes, where, you know, he's very, very deceptive. He gets really low.

You can't get that low to hit him. But he's he's been hit a couple of times in the last few games. And you can just tell. And he's feeling a little bit more. So what's the status for tonight? I'm not sure, obviously, you know, against Chicago, he had a couple of points. Um, they need him.

He's the guy who's picked up four points in the last five games. Um, but we'll have to wait and see if he can go against St. Louis tonight. Well, let's talk about the top line and that's going to be Pedersen, Besser and Holglinder, unless Rick Taukett has lost his mind and he breaks those three up.

Wouldn't it be incredible if Peterson and Besser could kind of drag each other out of the funk that they're in and help the Canucks finish strong? Yeah, with Elias Peterson, and I noticed this at one of the most recent practices and just a contrast of what we saw earlier this year with the Peterson, even when he was practicing, there's not many smiles on his face early at the beginning recent practices and just a contrast of what we saw earlier this year with the Pedersen even when he was practicing there's not many smiles on his face

early at the beginning of this year. Most recently guys like he's laughing it up he's enjoying himself he's having a great time and you know you're switching sticks with Teddy Bluger and they were just trying to get shots off in practice and they're just cracking jokes but that's something we haven't seen from Elias Pedersen up until maybe about two or three weeks. Brock Vestor was kind of in that spot before the Winnipeg game, which Brock Vestor was kind of what Elias Pedersen was a couple of months ago, where he was feeling the pressure. You could see that, you know, he's trying, but the pressure was, you could see it fully on his face.

Maybe the lack of smiles, maybe not enjoying the game. And sure we can talk about, you know, the trade discussion, but with that last game, I thought the first goal, after he scored that one nothing, or excuse me, the two one goal, deflecting that shot, it felt like relief, right? And maybe. Totally. A bit of a smile on his face. Rejuvenation.

Like our, exactly. There's like, you know, the pressure is off my shoulders. relief, right? And maybe a bit of a smile on his face. Rejuvenation. Exactly. There's like, you know, the, the pressure is off my shoulders. Uh, the second goal he scored, the four two goal, like that's when the smile broke out when you're like, all right, this guy's enjoying it now. The pressure is off. He's good getting it going.

And what I liked about his game was that he was working hard guys, like how long have we been talking about Brock Besser doesn't look fast out there and he's never been an absolute burner but the fact that he was working hard on the fore check he on that to the second goal he scored no Holger Lander does hard work he takes on two players but Besser's there to support then he goes to the middle of the ice and and he puts that rebound home like it's hard work like that, where I think him just being

consistent on the forecheck consistently to the middle of the ice. There's only one way you're going to get out of it. And it's that guys is working and that's exactly what that sir did in that game against Winnipeg. He needs to do more of that. But I think, you know, if that duo can get going, Vancouver has got a legit first line again and it's been a while since we've said that. I think it's notable that in our conversation of potential X-Factors none of us have brought up Pugh Suter and I think it's pretty straightforward he's too good and too important to be considered an X-Factor he's just a guy you're relying on to be really good which is pretty impressive

considering how he came to the team and the deal they signed him. Of course, we all know he's a UFA after this year. How much of a priority for the Canucks should it be Randeeb to keep Pugh Souter around when you consider just how valuable he's been to this team last year and especially this season? Yeah. If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago around the trade deadline, my answer would have been different, but we've seen Pugh Suter elevate his game even more since then. You know, the team kept held on to him. And I think there are a lot of people that were questioning that decision. I'm not going to lie.

I thought myself, I was like, I'm not sure if there's really what's the long game here. But Pugh Suter has shown that he is capable of playing at least at spot duty when it comes to playing that matchup rule, chipping in offensively, scoring 20 goals this year. And he's never been a strong face off guy overall. He's been in that 40% range, but there's occasionally moments where he's been able

to win those draws. He's played excellently as a, as a duo on the PK. So he's kind of that, you know, multi-purpose player, which is something that. I think we often overlook just because you're good at it a little, you know, you're Jack of all trades, master of none, but as, you know, as a priority to sign for next year, um, yeah, I think that priority is shot up a little bit here. This is a player that scores. Now, what is that number, right?

Often around the trade deadline, we're talking about him doubling his salary. He's gonna be three, three and a half million dollar player. But after the last game, Rick Tauke mentioned to himself that Cha-ching, right? Once you hit 20 goals, you hit a career high in points and you beat that. I, he's nearly going to do, he's two points shy of that, uh, with, uh, 34 points.

And I think it is a priority. I just think you still have to be careful with that number. Of course you want to be, um, really solidifying the spine of your team. But is he the answer, the long-term answer as your 2C or is he the short-term answer? I think there's a big difference there, right? But here's the thing, Jamie, what makes him actually a really intriguing option

is that you can also pop him out to the wing. And that's where if you need scoring, if you need a guy that can guarantee you 15 goals, absolutely, you do need to bring this player back. But I still look at that price to say, if he's a third line player for you, you got to assign him to a contract that makes sense for you and for him and overpaying. I'm not a huge fan of that. So it's like, you know, you got to look at that number.

What is it? Three, three and a half. And that's kind of where I stand on that one. Have you given any thought on to how the Canucks are going to address the centre position in the off season? Patrick Alveen in an interview with Pierre Lebron said it's definitely something we're going to address in the off season, either via trade or free agency to get an age appropriate centre, which means a guy I assume in his mid-20s.

That is easier said than done, especially with the Canucks not having a ton of things to trade. Yeah, boys, that's really what it comes down to because you have that conversation about UFAs and they're not age appropriate, right? We're talking about 29 to 33, 34-year-olds, so you can basically take that group out of the picture, but trade is the way to go and unfortunately I think you're gonna have to trade something you probably like as a prospect, somebody that you've maybe worked on over the last few years whether it's an individual that

was brought in that's a little bit younger or you drafted yourself and the free agency class at the center position is going to be something that Sam Bennett, of course, is the one that everybody's talking about. And listen, I love Sam Bennett as a playoff player. I think a lot of people grew an appreciation for him during the four nations face off as well when he's not pounding the crap out of your team. He's pounding the crap out of another nation. But that's going to be a very difficult market to play in. He's going to probably stay in Florida based on a lot of the conversations. And then the other thing is the high end offensive production during the season isn't there.

He's a playoff performer, but I just don't see the value of playing in that, you know, that arena, so to speak, if you're looking for a center. Now you go back to the trading for a player. You know, there's going to be players that depending on what happens in another market to speak if you're looking for a center. Now you go back to the trading for a player. There's going to be players that depending on what happens in other markets in the playoffs that will free up, but you're looking at a Lekrameki, you're looking at a Tom Villander, you're looking at other players that you've built up.

Maybe obviously first round picks would have to be in play. So I think that's what we're looking at here around the trade, excuse me, the draft guys where there's only really one avenue for this team to go. I don't see it in free agency. Offer sheets are not really a thing this year because the cap is going up unless you throw a lot of money and outrageous money at somebody and that hurts you. So we could always guess on who those names would be. Dylan Cousins was obviously one of those he's gone to Ottawa he's making an impact but you know you start looking across the league

I think the next couple of weeks here as teams fall out of the playoff race will maybe dictate a lot of who's available in the offseason as well. Randip always appreciate the time man hopefully it's a good game tonight have a good call thanks for doing this. Cheers boys. Thank you. That is Randi Janda, who you will hear on the call with Brendan Batchelor for the Canucks and the Blues tonight here on the station.

Okay. Uh, so I got Dodd in the studio. I got Laddie in the studio. You guys are big Jays fans. So, um, I'm going to have, uh, I'm going to do a quick what we learned. You're stealing my what we learned. Yeah, but, but I like to, I like to kind of, I'm going to do a quick what we learned. You're stealing my what we learned. Yeah, but, but I like to, I like to kind of, uh,

talk to you guys. I'm like, I used to be a Jays fan. I'm, I don't know. Used to be? Yeah. Yeah. You love Bobochet. What are you talking about?

92, 93 ladies. He calls him the PD of baseball. That's why he's my favorite player. Exactly. Um, so I guess Mark Shapiro did some media today. And he said that overall he's optimistic that they'll be able to get Vladdy signed to a contract. He said, here's a via Shai Davidi.

I think we're going to sign him. I think we're going to extend him. The reason I feel that way is because we have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome. Vlad wants to play his whole career as a Toronto Blue J. We want him to end his career in a Blue Jays uniform to be a true legacy player for the

Toronto Blue Jays. That's a pretty good place to start. The challenge has been that area we've talked about before, finding the sweet spot of sharing risks. So basically money and maybe term are the things that they haven't been able to come together on. Two pretty crucial things. Yeah.

Do you guys. Was that all? Money and term? Okay. If the J's lose Vladdy because they're not willing to pay him, man, like that's not going to look good for the company that I work for and love. Do you guys think it'll happen?

I don't know. I mean, why, if it was going to happen, why didn't they do it? So what's the hold up? Do you think, is Vladdy being a hundred percent truthful in that he wants to be a Toronto Blue Jays. I think he's being truthful in that regard, but he wants to also be paid, like one of the best

players in baseball and he's holding out and he's playing all the angles at this point and he's saying all the right things and, but behind the scenes, he's still putting that seat of doubt in management's head, which I think is his game plan all along, right? He wants them to think he's willing to go elsewhere. Oh yeah, I'll talk to the Yankees. But in reality, he still wants to stay with the blue.

My biggest takeaway, cause I was reading the same tweets, uh, as you were about, you know, Shapiro's media availability is just the way he speaks, it annoys me so much. Like the corporate, the corporate nature of it, even when he's trying to deliver this, like emotional message about, we wanna keep this guy here for his whole career, we wanted him to be a legacy player,

it's still, the reason I feel that way is because we have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome. Or Hazel May has this one, uh, says it's about finding sweet spot in defining risk. Like it's all filtered through this just emotionless, bloodless corporate speak that makes it really hard to actually buy in. Like you say it's really important for you to have laddie in a J's uniform for

the rest of his career, for him to be a legacy player But your whole manner of going about it your whole manner of addressing it Does not back that up doesn't you're still just looking at it this as a bean counter as a pure, you know mathematical Financial risk reward decision and I get that it's important It's a business but don't try to sell us that, oh no, no, no, the emotional stakes are really important to us when it's clearly not.

If it was, you'd have the deal done already. Yeah, these guys need to learn how to speak in plain language. Yes. Break out of their shell just once. I was, I was reading an interview, um, that, uh, the Blackhawks owner, Danny Wirtz did with the athletic and I'm reading it and this is like, uh, did

you just get your MBA or something like that? Like what is going on with all these corporate buzz terms, like the fans don't want to hear about, you know, stakeholders and all that sort of thing. Like anytime though I hear the word like stakeholder come up, I'm kind of like, all right, so we're going to get the corporate stuff

here, right? You know what drives, this is not from owners or GMs necessarily, but you know what drives me nuts is when people talk about activations at a public event. Yes. Oh yeah. It drives me insane.

So an activation is like a promotion or something. Yeah, no, we're having this festival and there'll be all these activations, like a photo booth or it's like the things you do at the event. It's like, okay, that, that is for you and your marketing meeting to talk to each other about what are the activations going to be. And even then you don't have to do it. As soon as it becomes, as soon as you're talking to the public, it's like, there

will be all these activations. It's, I don't know why it drives me insane. I can't stand it. I've seen that in a press release. Yes. Like advertising activations. The hero of the activations fans will be able to enjoy at the All-Star Fest.

Have you ever showed up to an event and been like, so what kind of activations do you have here? You guys got any activations around here? Isn't the old phrase just activity? Why does it have to be an activation? You guys got any cool things? Okay, we're guilty of doing that in radio too, because the worst one is when you're trying

to get a guest on and A-Dog, you're guilty of this. You're like, we are efforting. Just say we're trying to get the guy. We're trying to book him. I always thought- Like we're efforting him. I'm sweating, I'm efforting. Effort is not a verb. I always thought. Like we're efforting him. I'm sweating, I'm efforting. Effort is not a verb.

I always just assume when people say efforting that they're doing it ironically. You know what I mean? That they're like inherently making fun of it. That's what I would assume with Adog anyways, but maybe I'm being too generous. I don't know. I'm efforting to give Adog the benefit of the doubt.

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