Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 4/25/25

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

Mike & Jason chat with newly-appointed CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston about his plans for the league going forward, plus they get a Canucks update from beat write Bob "The Moj" Marjanovich and 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. Brian White and Sebastian Bearhalter. I know that we're not supposed to be promoting American products, but Brian White and Sebastian Bearhalter, two Americans scored yesterday for the Vancouver Whitecaps as they beat Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 on Thursday night. And as I mentioned, the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal at a sold out BC place. Both Jason and I were in attendance.

I don't want to overstate the importance and the significance, but that will go down as one of the more iconic soccer and dare I say sporting moments of the last few decades in this city. I think it's the biggest moment for this current iteration of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Without question. Yeah, they've won some playoff games. They've had reasonable size moments, but I think when context is considered, especially the fact that this wasn't supposed to be the first time Messi came to Vancouver.

And the first time he was supposed to come to Vancouver, he didn't. And it left a lot of disappointed fans and the Whitecaps admitted that they probably didn't play it right by jacking up ticket prices to the game and leaving a lot of unhappy and frankly angry fans. They did it the right way this time. The tickets were affordable to get in. Uh, a lot of people went, uh, the white caps won. They deserve to win.

Um, Messi played the whole game as did a bunch of other stars for Inter Miami. And it was just a really fun night. I, I took the boy and he said, that's the biggest crowd I've ever been in. And he was like, and we were both talking about how awesome it is to be in a stadium when a goal is scored and the roar of the crowd and you know, like it was just, it was a spectacle. It was a spectacle and that is one of the things

that BC Place does provide when it's full. And it actually brought me back to my childhood a little bit because when I first started going to BC Place, the stadium was often full for BC Lions games. And it wasn't the biggest crowd in Whitecaps history because back in the day, they played in front of crowds of 60,000, but that was the NASL team.

It was, I wanna read this early what we learned from. Um, it was, I want to read this early. What we learned from, I think it's from Greg and Pitt Meadows. And I think this perfectly encapsulates it. The white caps finally did it. They got the big result in front of a big crowd. What a night. Hope they won over some new fans.

Folks get out and support this team. It's a blast to watch. The story of the Whitecaps in Vancouver, a big part of the story is that they've often had these chances, these moments, these games to go out and really make their mark on the city. And a lot of the times, most of the times, all of the times they've come up short.

Yep. Go back, take your pick. Go back to last year when despite the fact that Messi didn't show up, they still had a crowd of close to 50,000 to watch him play against Inter Miami and they were not good and they were flat and they did not take advantage of whatever opportunity was left.

Go back to the numerous playoff matches, including the infamous one that you always talk about where we openly encourage people to go and check out the whitecaps. This might be the best team ever. And it was a goalless draw in front of close to 30,000 people in the playoffs. And it was almost like intentionally that way.

It was managed that way. And I think the white caps later, maybe not publicly, but certainly privately acknowledged, like we screwed that one up. The tactics were not good. It was, yesterday was the culmination of 14 years of building and a lot of failures and a lot of missteps along the way. And almost made last night a little bit sweeter, probably for a lot of the current stakeholders, including a guy like Axel Schuster, who had to inherit a lot, and I mean a lot of problems,

and a club that was just getting battered from all different angles, on pitch, off pitch, everything. Now, we're not crowning, there's no coronation yet. There's still very early in their season. There's still a lot of football left to be played. But the fact that they were able to do that last night. So as for the match itself, what a performance from the Whitecaps,

a very professional performance, as they like to say it in football, where yeah, they conceded some chances and some possession to an Inter Miami team that wasn't great on the night. And I don't think anyone from Inter Miami would suggest otherwise, but they did Messi and the rest of the crew, including Busquets and Suarez and Jordi Alba. They did show their flashes for sure last night.

They have flashes of where they could play some very quick, very transitional stuff, which was fun to watch. But the Whitecaps keep doing the things that make them successful. And the craziest, craziest part of all of this is you could have made the argument at the beginning of this year their two best players were Ryan Gould and Sam Atacube and neither of them took part in last night's match at all. Gould was signing out autographs on the concourse because his knee injury is still bothersome and Atacube dressed but didn't get in the lineup. The fact that

they were able to beat Inter Miami with Messi, Suarez, Bousquets, and Alba without their two best players is a wild thing and they looked confident doing it. They defended very well. There were a couple of moments. Of course there's going to be some moments, but they defended very well. And when they got out on the counterattack,

they looked dangerous. I mean, it was. They looked fast and young. That's what, that's what they look like. Right. And they are, I mean, it was- They look fast and young. That's what they look like, right? And they are. I mean, yeah. Because Jesper Sorensen was able to go to his bench in the second half and bring on like, Sabi and Nelson and just bring more pace onto the field.

And that's what you want to do against a team that's got a bunch of guys in their mid to late thirties, they prefer to play a more possession, slower pace. Don't you think it looked like at times Miami was struggling with the turf as well? Oh yeah. I was like, I'm going to make a golf joke here, but the turf was running at a 14 stint meter last night. There were a couple of times where it just

looked like it was too fast for them. There was a few penetrating through balls that Messi hit that just skipped and carried. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They didn't, like grass has some pull to it. Like you can use your touch and you can almost make it die on the grass and you can't do that on the turf.

The interesting thing is that the whitecaps have figured out how to play. When they play side to side, they actually use the slickness of the turf to their advantage because it makes those swing passes go quicker. You watch, like they've done it so many times, like Blackman and Veselninovich especially, they can really swing the ball. It's because they played on the turf a lot

and they know the speed that it travels. So it was a great night. It was a lot of fun. 17 uninterrupted minutes of soccer talk to start the show. I don't think we have one complaint yet. Sorry, what's next for the Whitecaps? They will go, and I've got it here somewhere. I think it's next I think is next Wednesday, right? Yeah, so they go back to Miami the final is on June 1st next week is the second leg away goals matter Which is why the two nil victory was huge. We talked after they went up to know we're like do not concede Yes, you're not concede and you could tell you can I mean that's why that's why all those guys stayed on there

There was like we needed an away goal here. Yeah. So. They didn't get it though. So the second goal for the Caps was huge, not conceding was huge. And finally, as I put a punctuation in a bow, Christian Jack mentioned in the clip, it warmed my heart to see that the long and sometimes disturbed memories of Vancouver sports fans was alive and well yesterday and the Lionel Messi got booed whenever he touched the ball and my kid turned around

and he was like, they're booing Messi. And I'm like, yeah, a lot of people paid a lot of money last time. People don't forget. You can be the greatest footballer of all time but if you cost them a thousand dollars, people don't forget. And he was like, really?

I'm like, that's it. Vancouver's are Sport that doesn't happen out there right like regardless of sport. Yeah, it could be the Canucks It could be any like Vancouver sports fans, and I will give us credit got long petty memories when it comes to getting screwed over Yeah, Duncan Keith was watching that was like I got that. Yeah I say I'm the Messi of the NHL. Yeah, right. To the phone lines we go. Very excited to have our next guest on the program.

CFL Commissioner Stuart Johnston here on the Halford and Breff Show on Sportsnet 650. Good morning, Stuart, how are you? Good morning, guys. I'm doing great. How are you doing? We are well. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

And congrats on the new gig. Tell us what the first few days of your commissionership, which is a word, have been like. Well, thank you for introducing me to that word. Maybe it can become a verb as well. It's been just a mix of incredible activities and emotions, to be honest. Obviously a ton of excitement and anticipation leading up to day one yesterday. That began with a quiet moment before a press conference where the team here at the CFO offices handed me a game ball with my signature on it. And that was a surreal moment and incredibly exciting.

And then, and then it's been a ton of meetings, ton of, of, of networking and obviously a big press conference, media, media availability, getting to know you folks and, and looking forward to really getting going at the job at hand. Do you have a cool signature? You know, I don't, I don't really. It's, uh, it's a signature I've had probably

since I was 12 years old. So it is, uh, I had the debate, do I do a real signature, my own signature? No one will be able to read or, or fake one that went, so you can actually read what it says. I went, you know what? I'm going with my real one. Nice.

You got to stay true to yourself. Is this your first, is this your first really public facing job? Well, uh, with absolutely, um, you know, as, as, as president of TSN, and then a senior executive across a number of different platforms at Bell Media, the biggest media company in the country, you know, lots of panels and interviews. So some element of public facing,

but nothing compared to what this role delivers. I got a real taste of that on about three weeks ago when my announcement became official, even well before I started. And by the end of that first day, I realized, no, this is a very different beast. And I'm looking forward to digging into that. Well, tell us about your vision for the CFL. And just for the record, just for the record,

you don't have to comment on this. I very much disagreed with the last guy's vision for the CFL and just for the record, just for the record, you don't have to comment on this. I very much disagreed with the last guy's vision for the CFL and we would have a lot of conversations on the show about what the CFL was doing and what the CFL was focused on. And a lot of the times I was shaking my head and so far I've really liked what I've heard from you. Wow.

Well, thank you. I'm sure you and I will, we'll get into it as well. And, and, and as I mentioned yesterday, I'm on a listening tour. So, so let it begin today. Um, but, but really my focus is, you know, on three key areas.

It's, it's how do we grow the game of Canadian football? Um, how do, how do we deliver an outstanding entertainment product? And please, please know that we are starting at a high level of entertainment product, but I want to make sure that myself and our team here at the league office,

as well as across the country with all our clubs and everyone associated with the CFL really does make decisions thinking about entertainment. And I want to ensure that we've got nine healthy teams. Uh, you know, as, as I look through, you know, a bit of a mid or long-term vision of my term here, that I can come out of that where we've got nine healthy teams. Um, so many other good things will come from that. Uh, and so that,

that probably encapsulates my, my key areas of focus as I sit here on day two. Will your focus on the Canadian football league be on Canada? Um, do you know what that means? I, I'm just. I, I'm inferring, but why don't you explain exactly what you mean? Uh, US expansion, global expansion.

Is it going to be more of a, I hate to use this phrase cause it has political, but is it a Canada first focus for you? It is, it, it is a Canada first focus for me because I am focused on the nine existing clubs in Canada. Expansion, uh, of any kind is not at the top of my priority list. Would I want a 10th team?

Yes, 100%. I would love a 10th team and eventually an 11th and 12th. But that is not a priority for me because I think that comes after you get your nine teams and your entire league in a really great position and we're starting from a good foundation. So I'm not thinking a 10th team in Canada. I'm not thinking a 10th team in the US or anywhere else. And from a global vision, we have our CBA, which has some global elements to it. It's a long term CBA.

I want the best players possible on the field. And we're going to work forward with the CBA as we've got it today. But I guess my short answer off that long off the long winded answer is I'm focused on Canada. How have you gauged the health of the league and the nine current teams coming into the role? Well, you look at a number of key metrics. Fan engagement, ticket sales, season ticket sales, commercial success with partners, TV ratings. A lot of those metrics are actually showing growth and showing some strength, which is wonderful. And so that's one element of how I looked at the health of the teams. And then you've got to look at financial performance.

And, you know, we, profitability is important in any business. We need to measure ourselves against profitability as a league and as each of our member clubs. And so that's an area where I'm going to be looking at to continue to improve. I think I come from a business, any business will tell you the best, most exciting way to increase bottom line profitability is to drive top line

revenue growth. And that's certainly going to be a key focus for me as we head into this year and the next. Where do you see the opportunities for revenue growth? Two key areas. Commercial partnerships with great Canadian companies who want to align themselves with all the outstanding values and deliverables that

come from the CFL. And of course we have our next media deal, which is going to come up in, at the end of 26 beginning in 27. Those would be two key planks from a revenue perspective that I'll be focused on. So I'm sure you've heard from, or at least heard it around like, oh, the guy's coming from TSN. So of course, TSN is going to get the rights.

Are you going to, what would you say to that? Because it's almost like, oh, the guy's coming from TSN, so of course, TSN is going to get the rights. Are you going to, what would you say to that? Because it's almost like, well, of course he's going to, he's going to go to the place where he's coming from. Um, at, are you going to look to other platforms as well? Well, let me start by saying I've got, um, my,

my goal and our goal with the next media rights deal is one of optimization. And I think a lot of folks when they think about it, it's like, Oh, you've just got to get the biggest check. And of course, maximizing the revenue against a media deal is incredibly important for any major sports league. So when I think of optimization, it is three components. That's one, maximize revenue.

The next is maximize reach. And the third is develop, how can we be helped and partner with someone who can help us develop underserved audiences and grow underserved audiences? And all three of those levers will be in our thought processes so we have those discussions. So that's, you know, just to lay it out there, that's what we would be looking for.

What are your underserved audiences? Well, younger, younger to begin with. We've got to figure out how to lower the average age of our fan base. That is certainly making sure we retain our current incredible fans. But we've got to introduce our game to younger fans who may just not see it, may not touch it, may not play it, may not throw a ball together. And I think how we expand our digital

presence with the younger audience is a short-term key focus for us on the platforms that they are using. And then the second long term vision is just get them playing. And I think flag is going to be a critical component to get younger people with footballs in their hand, beginning their love affair with the game that I know will happen if we can get them to play.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been the NFL that has been driving a lot of the flag football in Canada, right? Well, NFL has done a great job with flag. Um, but as, as, as is the CFL, CFL supports amateur football of all kinds, tackle flag men, women, boys, girls in a significant way. And some of it you may not see from a branding perspective.

And that's something that we can look at. You know, I've been asked, you know, about NFL's focus on developing flag and the CFLs and is that competitive? I don't see it as competitive at all. And frankly, my number one priority is to get footballs in the hands of young people. And if it's, however, that if that's, I'd love for that to be branded CFL. I'd love for every

team to be wearing a CFL club related jersey and name. But if that's not the most important, the most important get people to love football. And I think we start there and the branding and the success and that pipeline of fandom and the pipeline of even talent, the pipeline of officiating can come from that. Um, so first fire is just develop flag. Branding can come second. Why do you think it has been that the CFL has lost a bit of the young audience?

Because it's funny, Mike and I were, uh, both at BC place, uh, last night sold out to watch young audience because it's funny, Mike and I were both at BC Place last night, sold out to watch the white caps and Messi was in town, so that was a bit of a draw. But you know, a few things struck me while I was at the game. Number one, the amount of kids there with Messi

jerseys on or just soccer jerseys in general. They're just like kids today compared to when we were kids are so into soccer because they can see it. Like when we were growing up, there wasn't, we weren't exposed to much soccer, it wasn't on TV and obviously there was no internet. And it also brought me back to being a kid at a

sold out BC place. When I first started going in the eighties, it was packed. It was the place to be. It was cool to be a Lions fan. It was almost cooler to be a Lions fan than a Canucks fan. Um, so what, what happened to that in your mind?

Where, where, where did the, where did the CFL lose some of its younger audience? I actually don't think an aging fan basis is a specific issue to the CFL. If you look at almost any major mainstream sport, some of them fluctuate, but many of them are aging. So I think that's an effect that's happening with a disrupted world in terms of media coverage, in terms of, um, uh,

a plethora of content availability and attention grabbing distractions, um, uh, that, that make it difficult to hold onto that attention. Uh, we live in a different world. We live in a different world. And when you and I grew up and, and, and everything that you said was, you know, I certainly appreciated and went through as well myself. So I think that, um, you know, someone like Messi marketed incredibly well, uh, global superstar. Um, you know, that's, that's very specific. I, you know,

we'll see what happens in the next, the next game when Messi is not playing. Uh, it is, but, but I love what they've done. I've loved that that type of fandom has, has, has been brought about in the Vancouver community for the game of soccer. And I think that's a great thing. I think we, I just want more kids actually playing sports. Uh, And so we, you know, have a group, I'll come back to your original question about TSN, because I didn't quite get to maybe the question you asked.

First off, I've got a longstanding business belief over a couple decades working in business with a lot of different partners, that if you have a great long-term incumbent partner they always should have first conversation about sure absolutely and whether that's media deal or commercial partner sponsor whatever it may be so I'm looking forward to those conversations the the but there's you know I'll come back to what my priorities are for the next media deal

and you might say well yeah you know getting younger audiences you know, I'll come back to what my priorities are for the next media deal. And you might say, well, yeah, you know, getting younger audiences, you know, is a linear, is a linear media company, you know, the way to go. Well, every linear media company in the world is transitioning to become a digital company. Right. And, and, and one really interesting trend in the world of media is that partnerships with third party platforms have become more and more commonplace. So, so the company itself, whether it's Bell or really just name any other media

company, they're all developing their own streaming capabilities, their own short form digital capabilities, but they're also partnering with the likes of YouTube and Tik TOK and snap and Metta and what, capabilities, but they're also partnering with the likes of YouTube and TikTok and Snap and Meta and wherever they can get their content into the hands of the ultimate consumer. So I'm interested in those types of developments really in partnership with Bell over the next couple of years. I love the transition that's happening there, but that's kind of in the back of my head is a great opportunity moving forward in the short term and long term to get our content on the platforms where young people are watching. We're speaking to CFL Commissioner Stuart Johnston here on the Halford and Bref show

on Sportsnet 650. The initiatives that you have for the younger audience, it's interesting because one of them is like, we will cater to the youths by, you know, having different digital streams and different ways of packaging our product to them, but also let's try and get them off their screens and have them play football. And that's really interesting because we had Andrew Ferenc

on from the NHLPA last year, and their initiative was street hockey. And the idea behind it was, like you were kind of saying, get kids instead of a football in their hands, like a stick in their hands, and just get them to play. And what it does is it gets their love of the sport, but it also breaks down, it makes it more accessible because, you know, football and hockey have that in common. It can be expensive to play. There's a ton of equipment that's involved.

I know like running high school programs costs a ton of money. And to be able, that's the great thing about Flag is that it makes it a lot more accessible. Is that part of this as well, is that you've got that ability to get a football into kids' hands without having it be super expensive

so that they can play and grow the game without the sort of financial obligation? 100%. I agree with everything that you just said. It is an inexpensive way to get kids playing the game. It's an ease of entry into the game as well. If you're just unsure of yourself as it relates to the game and, and, and how it looks and all those pads look intimidating, uh, and so forth. It's just an easier way to get yourself comfortable in the game. Start learning tactics, start learning the rules of the game.

Uh, and then just enjoying it. Um, you know, my, my 14 year old daughter, Vivian, she joined flight football in grade nine this past fall. She plays a ton of sport and I've never seen her come back from any sport that she plays with a bigger smile than her first time being exposed to flag football. And, and she didn't, she knows some of the rules, not many, most of the teams team did not know the rules of the game. And they couldn't have had more fun.

And that is that's super inspiring to me. And if kids are playing street hockey, I love it as well. Yeah. Get kids out playing sport. That can only be good for all of us. Stuart, this was great. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this this morning. Really great talking to you about all these different initiatives and we wish you the best of luck moving forward on the listening tour, which I believe is gonna last approximately 100 days. So best of luck with that too. I appreciate it.

Thanks, I look forward to seeing you in person. Yeah, same, thank you. That's Stuart Johnson, CFL commissioner here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. What up Moj? Hey, Nasher, what's up? He called guy Nash Nash or no, I disagree with that. Rick Nash. That was my gourd Miller impression. Yeah. How you doing Moj? Good. How about you guys?

Beautiful Friday afternoon looking forward to the weekend. Big night last night for the Whitecaps. I mean, we've got a lot to talk about fellas, playoff hockey, NFL draft. Hey, have you, uh, have you been in touch with Rick Tauke at all? Like what's going on there? This was supposed to be the decision day for Rick Tauke and the Canucks. Jim Rutherford, uh, suggested that, uh,

they'd have a decision one way or the other by the end of the week. Well, it's, uh, the end of the week. Yeah. I haven't heard anything officially from either side and obviously being in touch with some people with the Canucks and having some conversations with Rick. But man, my gut feeling fellas is that I don't think he's going to be back. I really don't. I mean, I just think it would have been done by now. And this is nothing official. This is just my gut feeling. I think it would have been done by now. I mean, we've heard that, you know, the Canucks up their offer that they're getting closer. But

yeah, I just if you're Rick Tocket, right? You're looking at the fact that you're going to have a lot of leverage if you decide to test the market. The Philadelphia Flyers are clearly interested. The Anaheim Ducks are another team that has come into the mix. The New York Rangers, you look at the connection that he has in Seattle with Ron Francis, both of them played together. They played together in Pittsburgh, Botero, the GM, the newly appointed GM is a guy that was in the front office in Pittsburgh when Rick was an associate coach, assistant coach.

I just, like I said, to me there's just too many factors that are saying that he's not going to be coming back. So if he does come back, great. That'll be awesome for the Vancouver Canucks. But I think the other thing, too, you got to look at guys, what does this tell you about Quinn Hughes' future, right? I think when you look at Tocket and his plan for the Vancouver Canucks, I'm pretty sure

that it would include a guy named Quinn Hughes in terms of building this club moving forward. Now, if Tocket is uncertain of Hughes' future in Vancouver, does he really wanna come back? Right, I mean, throw that in, you have to throw that into the equation, right? I mean, your star centerpiece player, the guy that you want to build your franchise around could be gone.

And if that's the case, man, there's another strike against coming back to the Vancouver Canucks. So I don't know. Like I said, I haven't heard anything official. No one's come out and said anything. Just you know, all you keep hearing is that talks continue. But if I'm a betting man, I just, I don't know. I'm going to say that he's going to be leaving. Man, can you imagine if you have to add that to the plate of Canucks management, all the things

they got to do this off season, pretty much rebuilding their top six and now you put hiring a new coach onto that list. Do we have to start going through candidates now? Well, I mean, I've already seen some columns out there. I think somebody from the Daily High have to start going through candidates now? Well, I mean, I've already seen some, some

columns out there. I think somebody from the Daily Hive had one and they had Manny Malhotra listed as probably the leading candidate. But here's the thing with all due respect, when I think of, if Rick Tuckett does leave, what's the one thing that we've heard about this leadership group that it needs to get stronger.

They need to get stronger leaders. I don't think you can bring in an inexperienced coach at the NHL level, an inexperienced head coach at the NHL level and make them the guy if you have a leadership group that, you know, will need some help, that will need a little bit more stability, so we'll need a little bit more experience as well, so just given from what

we've heard in terms of the connection and trying to build that leadership group up, I think they probably would go the veteran coach rather than a first time NHL head coach. We're speaking to Bob the Moge Marjanovic here on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Moge is a presentation of the Clayton Public House. I was stunned into silence there with I was actually thinking who the next head coach would be of the Vancouver Canucks. Does it does that happen to you often when you start thinking you just shut down completely? I

was just like what's going on why is my brain working this way? Is this what they call thinking? I mean who let's go down the road if Taki doesn't come back who's the more is it Malhotra gets the bump or do they start? He's just been there for one year as a head coach. He's coached the NHL before. He's been behind the bench as an assistant coach. It's not like he's completely unfamiliar with being a coach in the NHL.

He's worked behind two different benches. Yeah. I mean, what would you do? Would you go back to the free agent pool and, hey, Peter LaVulette, what are you doing? Like that doesn't seem like a super inspired option either. Maybe a guy like Gerard Gallant, right? Veteran type guy. Yeah.

I just like I said to me, I just don't see a first time NHL head coach getting the gig like Mal Holtra and just for the points that I made earlier. I think they're probably going to want to have somebody who obviously has NHL experience, a guy who has been through the process before of maybe building a team and know what it takes to get from point A to point B. It's interesting because there's so many things that come into play with this Connect team. The biggest thing for me, it starts right with Quinn Hughes. Is this guy going to be a part of your future moving forward?

I think it's something that the connects management is going to have to figure out pretty quick because if they do have long range plans in terms of making this team, um, a successful one, they obviously want to know if Quinn Hughes is going to be a part of it or if he's going to bolt and, you know, join his brothers in New Jersey. Yeah. And the thing is, you know, people can say, well, the connects still have Hughes for two more years.

Well, do they? Because he can sign an extension next off season and if he doesn't do it then maybe you have to start considering a trade just because like the bounty that you could get from that trade could set up the rebuild that you were definitely heading into if Queen Hughes leaves. To Rick Dollywell, we go, what up, Ricky D? You finally get me on time. and set up the rebuild that you are definitely heading into if Quinn Hughes leaves. To Rick Dollywell, we go, what up, Ricky D? You finally get me on time.

Finally, eight o'clock, right on the dot, and you're talking food for three minutes. Sorry, buddy, I'm sorry. Unbelievable. It had to be done. By the way, Tabasco sauce, oh yeah. Anything you put on, it's gotta have a little Tabasco sauce on there. That's definitely a sauce, Rick.

That is definitely a sauce. Absolutely. Okay. Absolutely. I don't know how to segue. I don't know how to- What's going on with talk? There you go. Was Moj right that the talk is not coming back?

Did Moj say it or did he say it was his gut feeling? He said- That's the big difference between reporting and your gut. And his gut often gets confused because there's a lot of food in there. There's a lot of food in Moja's gut, but is that his gut or is that? That's his gut. He's not reporting it.

He's. Okay. Well then that changes everything. Okay. Look, when I checked in on target last night, I was told this, look, nothing at all to report. And I'll tell you why they've been negotiating for a week, right?

So not hearing anything close or imminent, that would mean there is still work to do. You would think we would have an answer by now, right? The longer this goes, you would think the chances of Tuckett staying decrease, but you never know. The fact that Tuckett hasn't said no and walked away is a sign that he's working to find a way to stay as well. There is a pathway I've been told for him to stay.

It's a negotiation, right? But there's no deadline. There's no deadline on Friday or at noon or at five tonight. There is no deadline. So the pressure point really isn't there. Now, one phone call changes everything, but sounds like right now there's work to do. Talk, it won't be cheap.

The connoisseurs are gonna have to go to a number that makes them probably uncomfortable. And that's probably why they haven't struck a deal yet. Um, pocket returning to Vancouver yesterday has got nothing to do with the negotiations. He was always going to return from a five day break after the season and, and if anybody in that organization deserves a break, it's pocket. After what they put them through with the Patterson Miller and everything he's been through.

Yeah. He deserved a five day break. One thing I can see Tauke being worried about is, um, uh, Quinn Hughes. Is he going to bolt in two years? If Tauke it signs for four or five and Hughes leaves that leaves him in a pickle because the Canucks are not getting a Hughes type player in Return in a Quinn Hughes trade. I see people out there speculating that Pettersson Elias is playing a role in talk It's decision. I'm not hearing that not hearing that at all

Talkets got some serious leverage here There are six National Hockey League openings for coaches and I can see teams like the Rangers The Flyers the Ducks going hard after talk it if he becomes a free agent There are six national hockey league openings for coaches and I can see teams like the Rangers, the Flyers, the Ducks going hard after Tocket if he becomes a free agent. Teams are definitely waiting to see what happens with Tocket but like right now guys, it is just like, okay, you've been negotiating for a week. We don't have an answer. Why don't you have an answer?

They're still talking, but they're still not there. If you're not there, that leads me to believe that there's still work to do before a deal is struck. When you say work to do, does that just mean money? Oh yeah, for sure. I just, like I said, it's not going to be cheap. Like I think the expectation from talk it's side is that they want to be one of the higher paid, not

the highest, but up in that neighbourhood now, right? And that's not a neighbourhood that the Canucks may want to go to. So I do believe that, look, the negotiation, are they there on the dollars and cents? Are they there on the term? Well, they've been at it for a week and we don't have an answer. So I would presume that they're still probably battling over that. But again, you know, we can, as Moad said, he doesn't like it, but you know, one phone call at noon and they solve all their issues and they announce a contract extension for Taka this afternoon. It's just like any other negotiation, right?

It goes up and down. You don't agree on certain things. But I just, I'm a little bit surprised. They've been going at it for a week and I'm not hearing close or imminent. So that means work to do and we keep waiting. We keep waiting and waiting for the talk and decision.

It does seem wild that they won't meet his price given all the nice things that they've said about him publicly and given perhaps more importantly, given all the nice things that they've said about him publicly and given perhaps more importantly, all the nice things Quinn Hughes has said about Rick Tauket. Well, not only Quinn Hughes, there's other players in that dressing room that absolutely

love him. And you know, Tyler Myers raves about him and raves about Adam Foote and there's other defensemen. I've talked to other defensemen, agents who just, they rave about the and raves about Adam Foote and there's other defensemen. I've talked to other defensemen agents who just, they, they rave about the coaching they get from Adam Foote. Like that's the other thing here, Jason, nobody understands. If Tocket gets up and walks, um, you're going to lose Adam Foote,

you're going to lose Gonshar. Um, you know, you're going to lose all these guys. And, um, but he's also going from 2.7 million, Jason, to not three and not 3.5. He's probably, and again, it's quite calm. It's knowledge out there that the number is probably going to have to start with a four and they are the Canucks comfortable going there. I don't know. All I know is he's going from 2.7 to a hike and it's probably a hike they don't want to take right now because do you want to invest? The owner's probably saying, okay guys, you want me to spend to the cap? Well, the cap's going up by what, seven or eight million?

So a lot of people are just, there's work to do. And when I talked to people last night, they did say to me that they'd be surprised if Taukit comes back. Is it a gap that can be, can you close the gap? Well, they've been at it for a week, Jason, and they haven't closed the gap. So how are they going to close the gap this weekend or today? Um, so the people that you're talking to, and

that's not Moj, right? They're like the people you're talking to say they'd be surprised if he's back. Yeah, I've talked to people last night who say, you know, but then I also talked to people who, and then, but the thing that I don't understand if you're far apart and like people are saying they're far apart, why hasn't Tocket walked?

Why hasn't Tocket said no? And why hasn't Tocket said no, especially knowing there's six NHL openings? Well, maybe he's not allowed like, okay, so Frank Ceravalli was on our show earlier in the week and he said, just so everyone knows, Tocket is under contract until June 30th to the Vancouver Canucks.

And you know, we all know that, that the Canucks have said, well, we're not going to use the option because we don't want a guy whose mind isn't entirely there. And I think that is the right decision. But I guess that doesn't mean that they wouldn't go, well, you're under contract to June 30th, so you're not allowed to talk to any other

teams, just so you know. Yeah. But here's the problem with that theory. The Canucks have some major, major decisions to make with personalities, team, trades. You know, what are we going to do and how are we going to get a top six center and top six swingers? You usually do that in conjunction and talking with your head coach. Why would you keep him here for two months, get rid of him, and then he walks and you

bring in a new guy. You usually talk to your coach about, hey, what do you think? Should we bring Besser back? Should we do? Are you OK with this guy is your second line center? Why would you guy? Why would you want a guy sitting around in the office for two months, twiddling his thumbs and then get rid of them when you need a guy in there that you can talk to about potential changes

like what's happening on the farm team, Like who's going to make the jump next year from Abbotsburg to Vancouver. You usually bounce a lot of those things off a coach. Why would you bounce? Why wouldn't you get a new coach in here if this guy's walking and get his views on exactly, you know, who stays and who goes. I, I'm not saying that they'd wait till June 30th

to hire a coach. What I'm saying is that.'d wait till June 30th to hire a coach. What I'm saying is that it hasn't been done yet. So I don't want to put a narrative out there that that's what the connects are doing. But Frank's point was that if they wanted to be spiteful, they could in this whole negotiation, they could remind Tocket like, hey, even if these other teams that have openings have interest in you, you can't

talk to them because you are still under contract to us. And I said, well, that's probably a bad way to go about negotiating. That's not a good look. That's not really good faith negotiating, but they haven't done that. No, I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I don't see it. and I'll tell you something else. These six NHL teams that are looking for coaches, I'm pretty sure that Rick is on a lot of those lists. Like I, I, I would be shocked if he's not at the top of the list for the Rangers, Flyers and others. Um, that would be that, that just wouldn't be a good look for the Canucks around the national

hockey league to hold somebody back like that. That would not be a good look. Um, Willander what's going on there because this is another deal that they can't seem to get across the finish line. This, this, this one is just mind boggling. Okay. So Willander's with team Sweden playing exhibition

games ahead of the world hockey championships. He should be in Abbotsburg right now guys with the Canucks on their playoff run. Even if he's just a black ace, practicing with the team and working with Manny Malholtra, it would be more beneficial than being overseas. Most people you talk with around the league are surprised that Canucks are doing this with a first round pick. Funny thing is, they're not super far apart.

The two sides have dug in their heels though. Some say the gap is only $200,000. Cooler heads should prevail and get this kid a part of the Kinect. He wants to turn pro. He was willing to go to Abbotsburg and he never, ever, ever asked for guaranteed ice time. He's not even asking for full max bonuses. This is a big piece of your blue line in the future.

Get the kids signed. But if it gets worse and worse and he doesn't sign, you can bet he will be used as a primary piece to get a top six forward this summer. You would think the longer this goes, more likely he's back in college or maybe playing Europe, playing pro in Europe next year. It's just just, I don't get it. I understand the gap isn't even big guys. Like it's not like there's six, seven, eight, 900,000 apart, they're not, but they've just, both sides has just dug in their heels and it's, it's just, I would love for the kid to be an adversary right now, soaking up, you know,

that playoff experience. And look, I, Mannyanny Mulholstra, maybe he starts in Avisper next year, Jason. Wouldn't it be great to go spend a couple of weeks or a week or whatever, how long Avisper, with Manny Mulholstra, learning his system and all that stuff? But the kid should not be in Europe right now. He should not be with the Swedish national team. He should be with Vancouver and in Abbotsburg, but here we are. Um, uh, here we are, you know, 17, 18 kids

signed in the NCAA in the last month and a half. The only one that didn't sign after a season ended and did try to turn pro is Tom Olander. Um, I know you wanted to talk about Lecker Mackey, what did you want to talk about with him? Well, game one, uh, Abbotsburg the other night, Jim Rutherford, Patrick Alveen in attendance, right?

And by the way, Rutherford didn't go last night game two, only Alveen did. So Jonathan Lecarumachy did not pick a good night to have an off night. Some said he was invisible in the opener and that's with Rutherford and Alvin right there watching. Guys like La Caramacchi, Clamovia, Giratou and Sealaps, they need to shine when guys like Rutherford and Alvin are in the building.

The Canucks will be looking for as many as three top six players. If they are still willing to move Elias Pedersen, everyone's got to be on the table including La Caramacchi and Willander to get these top six players in trades that the Canucks say that they're going to give it a shot. Since being sent down to Abbotsburg after the Ducks game, remember he played the Ducks game on that Saturday afternoon then he was sent down, LaKara Mackie's got no points in seven games in Abbotsburg. This is a player that most feel will replace Brock Besser someday. I don't know why he's gone stone cold. I don't know why he's gone stone cold

after he scored at a pretty good clip in the American league. He needs to leave a good impression with management in these playoffs. So far, not great. You know, he didn't get a point last night, so that's not it too, these are the games where LaKara Mackie's got his show management. Like it's the playoffs. I'm a first round pick. I'm going to be that guy that replaces Brock best or someday if best relieves.

But I don't know why he's gone stone cold. I don't know why he is absolutely gone. Uh, no points in seven games. It's, it's really, uh. It's really mind boggling. I don't know what's going on there. Rick, are you hearing anything about the Canucks pending UFAs, Brock Besser, Pugh Suter, Derek Forebort?

Yep, I am. So I want to get a couple of things out of the way first. Pugh Suter and Brock Besser, they're in the same boat, they're both UFAs, right? So don't see them going to the World Hockey Championships and I'll tell you why. Most players who are UFAs will not go to the Worlds.

Fear of injury. You have to get insurance and all that stuff. The Americans know this, the Swiss knows this. Very few agents will allow their UFA players to play at the Worlds for obvious reasons. The last thing you want is they go to the Worlds's get an injury and all of a sudden teams, oh hold on a sec here what's going on here you're injured. Well maybe that hampers what we offer you on July 1st. So I want to get that out of the way I don't see

Souter and Besser. The other one just on the world hockey front I don't hearing most likely not for a Hogan landlander doesn't sound like Myers is going according to his agent JP Barry. So there's a couple more world hockey guys. Contract talks quiet with suitor no offers been made very quiet. All right, so I want to get that out of the way. The one thing I want to say I'm better. It doesn't look good, but you never know. Both sides feel they're going to feel out the market, which they're allowed to. But how about if the Canucks can't acquire a top six winger through trade and July 1st

is approaching, do you go back to Brock? Do you say, you know what, we can't get that guy? And I was told last night the relationship is still good between the two sides. If the Canucks would have signed Besser long term in that last contract and he asked for long term instead of a three year deal, they wouldn't be in this position with Besser today. Right? They would not be in this position. And same thing with Pettersson. If they would have signed him long term in the last deal, they wouldn Pettersen. If they would have signed him long-term

in the last deal, they wouldn't have had to do what they did with him last February. So just better I've been told, the door is not 100% closed. But obviously it might be tough. The other one on Derek Forbert, first I want to tell you that he had minor surgery to repair an orbital broken bone in his eye.

He's doing well, which is really good. You know he took the punch in the face. I've been telling you guys for weeks and weeks they like Forbert a lot. His penalty killing amongst the best in the national hockey league, good leader as well. They want to keep that guy. Talks have taken place about resigning Forbert. So and I believe there was interest in Forbert from teams at the trade deadline but the Canucks for whatever reason didn't move them. Obviously they like them. So that's a guy that I think the

Canucks would like to bring back is Derek Forbert. Rick, how about those white caps? Is it bringing you back to the days of the 1979 soccer bowl? Oh, my favourite team. First of all, I want to get the days of the 1979 soccer bowl? Oh, my favorite team. First of all, I want to get this out of the way.

My favorite teams are the 79 soccer bowl, 82 Canucks, 85 Lions and punch McClain's New West Bruins. Those are my favorite teams of all time. Um, first of all, did you, can you get any seats higher than where you were sitting? Did you get a nosebleed? I like to sit with, I like to sit with the real fans, buddy. And Hoffer, did you have better seats than Ruff?

Of course. Yeah, unbelievable. Rick, what are you saying about people that sit in the upper deck? I sat no seat, Little Ricky, BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, early 80s, Western Finals, Don Matthews and Cal, no, was it Richie?

No, no, who was the coach of the Blue Bombers? Cal Murphy. Who's the CFL fan now? Well, that a second, I knew it was Cal Murphy. I'm getting old for freaking crying out loud. Anyways, that's where the seats little Ricky sat for the Western Finals, Winnipeg and BC. What a glorious time. Last night, I want to say this. Vancouver, that was a win-win for everyone. They got to see Messi for 90 minutes. You saw the skill, the mind, the creativity. I loved his passion when he went after Kubis in the first half. I love

that because he cares. He didn't like the way he was defended. And I love that splendid talent, obviously. Um, but the caps, I, I want all those people that went to the game last night. I know you went to see Messi, but take notice this white caps team is pretty special. They lead the MLS standings. They scored the most goals in the MLS and that's without Ryan Gault, two more without him last night. Rookie coach, teams for sale, future in Vancouver up in the air.

Despite all that, this team is giving Vancouver a winner and after what the Canucks sadly served up in this market, it's great timing. It's time to get on that white cap span wagon. I know the Canucks think they're the only game in town, they're not. When the white caps and the Lions catch your imagination like they have in the last two or three years, the fans will respond. They did last night and I hope it continues and I'll tell you something else. Vancouver again showing up 54,000, Christine Sinclair had over 50,000. This is a good sports town and it's just not a hockey town. And you know the Lions have had big crowds over 50,

the great cup last year over 50 and the World Cups coming. It's a world-class city for fans. And I think they're showing that right now. They really are. Rick, always fun to have you and we'll see what, uh, what next week brings. If, if Rick Tuckett says thanks, but no thanks to

the Canucks, man, it's, I mean, it's already not great. It's not a good look. It's gonna be even less great. Have a good weekend, buddy. Not a good look if Tockett doesn't come back. Not a good look. All right, guys, have a good weekend. You too, buddy, thanks.

That's Rick Dollywall, Canucks reporter here on the Halford and Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.