Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best Of Halford And Brough 4/4/25

Episode Date: April 4, 2025

Mike & Jason hear from Elliotte Friedman via the 32 Thoughts Podcast regarding Rick Tocchet's future as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, plus they talk the latest 'Nucks news with analyst 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. 632 on a Friday. It's a Fiesta Friday here on the Haliford & Bruff show on Sportsnet 650. Everyone's excited. Bruff's playing golf. I don't have to work tomorrow. Two big Canucks games this weekend. What about the one o'clock start on Saturday? Don't like that.

That's good for kids. I think they did this last year, maybe even against Anaheim. I believe it was the Dakota Joshua hat trick game. Was it? Yeah. Oh, okay. I'm almost positive. Yeah, there'll be a ton of-

I think RDC loves to get the win in that game as well. God, my memory's good. Be a ton of- Maybe I'm good at this. Well, you gotta make sure that you're right about it. Ton of screaming children there on Saturday. So don't go hungover. Lesson.

A little sage advice from the vet over here. How do you think the Canucks feel about being in the position they're in right now and having five of their last seven games at home? I bet they feel great about it. They got boot off the ice against Seattle. They have, and I know I brought this stat up a couple times now, but there are only three teams

in the National Hockey League that have 15 or fewer wins on home ice this season. Winnipeg and Washington, right? They're great on the road. No. Vancouver, Chicago, and San Jose. Now the problem with that is that the last two teams I mentioned are the two worst teams in hockey.

You do not want to be in any conversation, you do not want to keep any company with those two. And they're the Vancouver Canucks. Speaking of the San Jose Sharks, quick addendum. Okay, look, I got it wrong in the intro segment. I said that the Calder odds at various sports books for NHL's rookie of the Year were close. They're not anymore.

They're not anymore. Yeah. I was reading one from March, so this is how much the line has shifted in two weeks. On March 21st, Macklin Celebrini was the favorite at minus 145. Lane Hudson was the second favorite at plus 110. Boy has that changed. Hudson's what, minus 800 now? Minus, well favorite at plus 110. Boy, has that changed. Hudson's what, minus 800 now? Minus, well, some books, I'm looking at one book,

minus 1,400. Oh my God, that's crazy. Dustin Wolf, bit of a long shot laddie at plus 10,000. Could happen. Who'd want to run? Celebrating plus 900, Mitch Gov plus 1,800. The other one that people in Vancouver might be interested in and disappointed in, the Norris trophy, Quinn Hughes plus 10,000 and the higher the number is not the better.

Kale McCarr who scored his 30th goal of the season last night, he going to win the Norris. He's minus 2000. Wait, Kale McCarr has 30 goals? Yeah. He scored his 30th last night. What? I have not been following that. That's insane. The ninth defenseman in the history. It's like Paul Coffee numbers. Who was the last guy to do it? Was it Greener?

I think it was Mike Green. Yeah. That is why. Not Travis Green. Mike Green. Travis Green. I don't think Travis Green scored 30, period. Well, as a forward. I think Quinn Hughes might be a finalist along with obviously McCarr and Zach Rurenski.

Yeah. Rurenski has been unbelievable obviously McCarr and Zach Rurensky. Yeah. Rurensky has been unbelievable for that team and a great story as well. But Kale McCarr is going to win it. Yeah. Quinn's missed too much time. And when he came back- McCarr scored 30 goals. I know, but yeah.

You got to tip your cap. Nah. I'm petty. I don't like doing things that way. He will win it and he deserves to win it, but a large chunk of the reason why in my estimation is that Hughes missed too many games, and then when he was playing, he wasn't anywhere near, he's not near 100% right now.

You can just tell. Did, you know how I've said my cup favorite right now is Colorado? You did not say that, but okay. I've said that. I've said, I'm pretty sure I have. Whatever, let's not argue about that. Let's just move forward.

Do you have one? Huh, that's a good question. I'm pretty sure I have. Let's not argue about that. Let's just move forward. Do you have one? Huh, that's a good question. I don't think I do. Yeah. What's funny is my cup favorite could easily go out in the first round, easily against Dallas. Yep. But I just really like, I don't think they're quite the same as the team that won the cup a few years ago, but I like the ads that they made. If you had to ask me right now, take a chunk of money and throw it down on someone,

and I know the inherent risk with doing this because they've been to back to back Stanley Cup finals, but I would go with Florida. I think they are going, what's that line that drans always use, a boost of nitrous? Which I still don't understand. What a freaking boost. But I think their freaking boost is gonna be getting.

It's like nitrous. Isn't video, that happens in video games, right? Like nitro boost. Well it's like nitrous you know isn't video that happens in video games right like nature well it's a pitfall you get the nitrous you just get right over that alligator yeah maybe two yeah anyway nitrous is a energy drink isn't it it's nitrogen isn't it I don't know nitrous oxide trans is an awesome Okay, I was throwing it out there isn't all sorts of weird. I'm fortunate who knows It's what they use in cars actually in like in the car doesn't have a nitro boost fast in the fast in the furious Yeah, anyway That didn't work Why hasn't the fast and furious won an Academy Award?

I don't know you think with all the efforts they've made. They're pushing movies to do length every time they come out with a new one. There's like 14 of them, I mean. Yeah, that's a thing. You would, like the scatter plot idea, like you just make enough movies, eventually one'll hit. Tokyo Drift was brilliant. It was pretty good.

Okay, yeah. Anyway. Tokyo Drifted right into my heart. Florida's- Starred Anthony Hopkins? Florida's- It was fantastic. I used to do a, when I was in high school,

I used to do a Volvo station wagon drift around the neighborhood, especially when the leaves in the autumn, during the fall, when the leaves were out there. I had that 240DL, perfectly timed to drift around the neighborhood. And your dad would get mad because you'd be blowing through all the tires, like another set of tires. No, no, no. He loves to drift though.

No tires though because the leaves would provide the slip. Yeah. Anyway, it wasn't- So Jordan and Van writes in, Mike, you criticize every team. Well, I'm about to explain the boost of nitrous that the Florida Panthers are going to get. I think when they get Kachuk and Ekblad back and well rested and healthy, if I had to bet right now, like, you know, take out a substantial sum of money

and be forced to throw it down on one team. I know how difficult it is to go back to back and nevermind going to three consecutive Stanley Cup finals, but they, I mean, they're built for this. They are, they're just, they are absolutely built for this. And I think getting Kachuk and Ekblad in, dare I say fortuitous situations, even though it's an injury in the suspension, it certainly seemed to work out for the Florida

Panthers. Getting Marshon, that extended runway of games where they're leaning upon him quite heavily and he's playing a lot, they to me are positioned. Is he playing well? No, I mean he's not doing anything exceptional. His legs are at the end of the... They are. They're, you know, like we're talking about tires. Like the wear is very thin on Marsha. Like I noticed that at the Four Nations. Four Nations, it was, I mean,

he was a bit player at the Four Nations. It won't be on the Olympic team, but we obviously wish him all the best luck. I salute you, Brad Marsha. Okay, let's do some Vancouver Canucks here, okay? It won't be on the Olympic team, but we obviously wish them all the best luck. I salute you, Brad Marchand. Okay, let's do some Vancouver Canucks here, okay? We've got some overnight audio from Elliot Friedman, 32 Thoughts podcast, the subject of Rick Tauke and the Vancouver Canucks and whatever's going on with the coaching position and the option that the club apparently holds and is going to wield that power over Rick Taukett.

Elliot did a deep dive into it. There's over seven minutes of audio that we tried to parse through. It's a big component of this week's 32 Thoughts. We've narrowed it down to a 30 second snippet here that we've got. We will play the audio, we will parse through it and come back on the other side.

Here's Elliot on the latest on Rick Taukett's future as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. You know, Jim Rutherford, he's no shrinking violet. Here's Elliot on the latest on Rick Tuckett's future as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. You know, Jim Rutherford, he's no shrinking violet. Rick Tuckett is definitely no shrinking violet. And I think everybody's got their backs up a bit here. I still think this is solvable. To me, this was just the Canucks putting a stake in the ground and reminding everybody, hey, we have some control here

and people are going to respect what the contractual rights are in our favor. So I still think it can be sorted out. Yeah, it just cuts off pretty quick there. He goes into a bunch of other stuff. So if you want to download the podcast, it's like a seven minute segment where Freage talks about the situation. And there's a bit of a funny part where he says he was talking to someone and they were like, Elliot, you've been like killing the Canucks all season. And he's kind of, and he was like, well, yeah, but like a lot of stuff has happened. He was just reporting what he heard. How could you not? You had like a rift between two of the star players that you know, ended up in one of them being traded. Like, of course, I'm going to be talking about a lot. You know, there are big stories. Thatcher Demko's injury was another big one.

At any rate, we all know it's been a crazy season in Vancouver. And one of the things that, you know, I understand what the Canucks are doing here when they're putting out their statement or leaking to the media, like we have this option and we fully intend to use it and it's what Elliot's explaining, right? Like, I think they were annoyed by what happened when torts got fired and all the people speculating about, you know, talk it to Philly. They were annoyed. I don't know if, you know, they had words with Philly or anything like that. I don't know if Philly did anything wrong or if it was just the media speculation that they were upset with, but they wanted to put it out there that talk it contractually

belongs to us. And if he's going to be doing anything next season, it's going to be coaching the Vancouver Canucks or not coaching. Like that's basically, he can go to TV or something, but he will not be coaching for another team. And Elliott also in that post addresses the whole thing about, well, maybe they can get some draft pick compensation for Tauchet. And it was like, that doesn't exist anymore. that that's not a thing and also that's not what the canucks want but they they want rick tockett to sign an extension for them now Having said that I understand it, but I just wonder if this is yet another Bit of noise

that is going to You know define the season. Well, they're trying to. They're trying to. Excuse me. Big whiff of nitrous. They're trying to silence the noise, and that's gonna be one of the narratives that you're gonna hear,

I think especially in the post-mortem and in this off-season, is that one of the organizational mandates is going to be, can we keep things quiet? And can we lessen some of the noise? I, I've been thinking about this by the way, and I appreciate the fact that there's some sort of goal at the higher reaches of the organization to keep everything quiet.

I think that is a futile chase and I'll explain why. What they've done in this last week, sort of slipped through back channels that Rick Tocket is contractually obligated to coach here and coach here alone, nowhere else. He can do other jobs, but he can't coach anywhere. I'm pounding my fist on the desk for a reason, right? Like they wanted to make it clear, right?

And they did it in an effort, partly, to silence the noise around their potentially free agent coach, specifically like layoff Philly, right? So it was their idea to silence the noise. But what did they do by trying to silence the noise? They, in in essence created noise Yeah It's because people care about the team and they want to talk about the team and they want to know What the future of the team is and they're interested by the inner workings the dynamics

There's thousands of losers on Twitter that have based their lives and their personal identities online around the team Like sorry sad club commission, right? So what you're saying is embrace the noise. I don't think that's it. No, I think it's just have the acknowledge. Well you can't silence it, it makes it worse. So you might as well embrace it. How about you just accept? But they don't need to lean into it

and you don't need to shy away from it. You just need to understand that the market is going to be how the market is. I think leaning into it would be a lot more fun though. Okay, here's a question for you then. Sure. Did they do it in a certain fashion that was like in a strong arming fashion that creates more noise?

Cause the way that it was leaked or the way, at least the way it was portrayed by both Drantz and Elliott Friedman is like, hey, we've got this option and if we have to, we'll use it. So everyone, so hold on. So everyone extrapolates what that might look like. We're going to force Rick Tocket back behind the bench if he doesn't want to be there? That's what I'm talking about. It reminds me of the Pedersen situation when he doesn't want to be there. Like that's what I'm talking about. It reminds me of the Pedersen situation when

he wasn't signed to the contract, right? In kind of the strong arm tactics that they used, first of all, telling the media, like, I know he wants to wait until the off season, but we don't. We want him to get signed right now. And that's eventually what happened, but not without some strong arm tactics, which is essentially threatening to trade him to Carolina.

Any signs and they get what they want and it all worked out perfectly with Elias Pedersen, obviously. You know, I think there's a way to do it where you don't have to like brandish a weapon. Does that make sense? No. Like, no. So I would push back vehemently against this. But the Pedersen thing, they brandish like, oh, they're like, we're going to trade you

then. Or with the talk of things like, oh, we're going to force you back because we've got this option. I would say to this, no matter what approach the club takes, there's always going to be a critic. If they came out and were a little softer in their messaging, they'd be accused of not being definitive and not taking enough action and not having the bold declarations to say and to defend the rights of the organization. Right? If they don't do strong arming, they would be accused of being weak. And if they soft shoot it, they would be in the exact same position. Only the critiques would be

on the other side of it. It's just how, part of it to do it so publicly though. I mean, I don't even think this is that public. They just mentioned to a couple of reporters. It's not like he called the Globe and Mail and had an interview with Iran. They intentionally planted this story. They intentionally put it out there. Right. Like I think with this whole, looking back on the Pedersen thing, I think they honestly have to wonder like, okay, well, why did he want to wait until the off season?

Did he maybe not want to sign with the Canucks? And if he doesn't want to sign with the Canucks, then don't sign them because you need your players to be all in. And I would say the same thing with Rick Tauke. Right? Like if Tauke is, if, this is a huge if, okay? And I don't want to put words into Rick Taukett's mouth.

So this is just an if. Usually what you say when you put words in someone's mouth. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, I won't. I won't. But if Taukett is not fully in on this team and the direction of the team, don't have him as coach. Yeah.

As much as I like Rick Tauket, I don't want an unmotivated, unbelieving Rick Tauket. I don't want a Rick Tauket that is going to return to the Canucks because they made him an offer that, you know, his agent is like, well, it is a lot of money and you know, well agent is like, well, it is a lot of money and you know, well, the Philly jobs already gone because, you know, it's like, I don't want that.

I want people that believe in the direction of the team and are going to work their, you know, what's off to make it happen. And, you know, I, I will still wonder about Pedersen's headspace after he signed that contract, because that's when it really went downhill. But you know- I want to know, okay, why didn't you work hard in the off season?

Was it just the injury or like, are you 100% motivated? I want to know that stuff. And I don't want Rick Tauke coming back going like, yeah, like, you know, they had the option and they kind of, kind of use it. So I couldn't talk to anyone else. So then I went into negotiations with the Canucks and it made me a pretty good offer. You know, it's a lot of money and I just took it.

Right. But nobody, I mean, they're not going to, no one's coming back if they're not fully invested. I mean, Elliott said it in the clip. This was about telling everybody else hands off. He's ours. It wasn't about telling Tauke clip. This was about telling everybody else, hands off, he's ours. It wasn't about telling talk at anything. It was about telling everybody else, hands off, he's ours. And if he doesn't want to coach here,

he's just not coaching anywhere else. No one's forcing a guy back against his will to coach with a gun pointed to the square of his back. You're like, now change the lines. Like that's not happening. But by saying, by saying you're not allowed to coach anywhere else, you are limiting his options, right? What if he desperately wants to coach in the NHL, doesn't really want to go back to TV,

but he doesn't believe in the direction of the Canucks. Then he won't coach the Canucks. No one's coming back unless they're committed to the bit. No one's going to make it like I'm 50% in like hey man We've taken jobs. We've taken jobs where we weren't All in we also didn't have a lot of options Well, that's what I'm dude. That's exactly what I'm telling you But maybe he doesn't He's okay, so if you're Rick talk at your 60 years old two different things

No, no, no, I'm not if you're if you're you're talking I think you should the only like it should be a pure signing. That's that's what I'm talking about. Like it should be Rick You can do whatever you want. How about if you were to say that you you open up negotiations be like listen, man You can do whatever you want. How about if you were to say that? You open up negotiations and be like, listen man, you can do whatever you want. You want to go interview with the Flyers? Fine. But we want you here and here's the direction and we'd like you to buy in and here's a good contract for you. Okay. Right? Let's say the money's equal in Vancouver and Philly. Okay?

Okay. If he chooses Philly, then I think that says something. Yes, it does. It says that he doesn't believe in the Canucks. Yes, it would. So why would you force him? You're almost like- They wouldn't, though.

They wouldn't bring him back if he wants to call in. But you're almost like- Yes, they would. No. Yes, they would. I disagree almost like. They wouldn't though, they wouldn't bring him back if he wasn't all in. But you're almost like, yes they would. No. Yes they would. I disagree with that. They wouldn't, they would be so silly. Because it would be a PR disaster. It would be a one year write off.

No, no, no, no, no, they won't bring him back on a one year deal. It would also be. They won't bring him, but if you limit someone's options and say, like that's what they did with Pedersen, right? Yeah, but why would they want a guy coaching the team if he's not invested? Yeah, I'm not seeing.

That is ridiculous. That's what they did with Pedersen. They were like, we're strong arming you into this. Well, yeah, but that's because Pedersen's like, in theory, a generational, generation, in theory, a very good player. See, but this is where the comparison falls short. Cock is not like the Pedersen of coaches.

Hold on. That's not entirely accurate, because Pedersen was given a choice. It was signed, or the very strong possibility exists that we're going to trade you. So there was an option, it's here or somewhere else. Yeah, but you're doing the same- Not here or nothing. But you're limiting options, right?

You're basically, what if neither of those options appeal to him? Then he's going to be like, fine, I'll take the Vancouver option, right? Like, and you're suggesting you do that with talk in between, well, you want to coach the Canucks or you go back to TV, right? Yeah, but there are a lot of other coaches out there. There aren't a lot of Pettersons out there. That's a different thing. You could find other good coaches. There's a coaching carousel.

There's a lot of good coaches in the league, but a player like Petterson is special when he's on his game. By the way, we did that. I know you guys are making some good points. No, you are. I just can't fathom the idea of the Canucks bringing back, talking on a long-term deal

if he's not fully invested. That would be wild to me. Guys have signed contracts because their options have been limited and the money is there. It has happened a multitude of times in sports and in life. Why would the Canucks want that is what I'm asking Why would they do that to themselves because they don't want to well they want talk it and they don't lose percent of Rick talk Okay, a dog

Bench quickly, how does it look PR wise is rocket tech? Well, yeah, that's what rocket talk it says rocket PR wise, if Rocket Tech, well yeah, that's what Rocket, Tucket says, Rocket, Tucket. I'm gonna call him Rocket. Hold on, hold on, no one's hiring a 50% motivated coach as a PR gesture. Like it's not happening. We're like, well we will save face. And then Rick Tucket's wearing sunglasses

and sipping a Fentanyl out of behind the bench. I wouldn't put it past them. Go make some changes, boys. I mean it would be hilarious if it happened, but it would also be incredibly worrying. All I'm trying to say is I just want people that definitely want to be here. 100% all in. Yes. And you guys like you're I understand your points and you're making good points and I actually agree with your points like for the most part but all I'm saying is like, I want him to be motivated to be there, because it is a very tough taxing job

and we're seeing it right now. And if you're not all in, we, Torts wasn't all in. Torts was the opposite of all in. Torts wasn't all in, but they gave him a big contract. Right? And then he was like, all right, fine, I'll do it. But he wasn't all in because his heart was still in New York. Just avoid that situation.

It's not a matter of winning or losing this argument. It's just a matter of like, that's what I wanna make sure of, that's all. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. It's the Moge here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. What up, Moge?

What up, fellas? I understand Mr. Talkket has been the main topic of conversation this morning. We spent a fair bit of time talking about Rick Tauket's contractual future. What would you like to add to the conversation Moj? Well, you know, you don't want a coach here who doesn't want to be here, right?

I mean, that's clear. I mean, clearly Canucks, if they're going to exercise their option on target, want him to return to guide this team, whether or not they sign them to an extension, who knows, but I'll throw this one out there for you. I mean, this is a connect team that needs all the help that it can get, right? Do you see a scenario? This has happened before in the National Hockey League, it's happened in other sports. Do you see a scenario where maybe they let target

go to Philadelphia and they get compensation in return. So I'm glad you brought this point up because in the clip that we played from Elliot Freeman on 32 Thoughts, one of the parts we didn't play was that Elliot confirmed that the compensation for coaches is done and dusted. You can't do it anymore.

It's been ruled out. Because we've had that question asked how many times in the Dunbar Lumber text message in basket, like 10, 15 times over the last couple of days. There seemed to be a lack of clarity around it, but apparently that's off the table. I think the last coach that ever got compensation might've been when Tortorella went to Columbus and the Canucks got a pick and return for him. Of course he was fired at that point. So a little bit of a different scenario. But yeah, apparently the compensation for coaches is no longer according to Freage.

Okay, well take that one off the table then. You know, the one that you could really go back in history, first round pick for Michelle Bergeron with the Rangers in Colorado. That was like, I don't know, in the late 80s or something like that. It was a fairly common practice in the NFL for a while. I remember that.

Like I think Belichick and Parsa, I think Belichick got traded for a first round pick. So it's not uncommon. Yeah, that's right. The phone lines we go. Some call him Ricky D, some call him Rick Dollywall. He joins us now in the Halford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650.

What up, Rick? Gentlemen, how's it going? Friday, let's go. Let's go. What do you got on the other Rick of note in this city, Rick Tauket? That's the most famous Rick in the city right now. Second. Hey look, the Canucks may not like all the Tauket leaving town talk, but having a coach in a

Canadian market with no contract extension down the stretch is just begging more of, let's talk about this every day. It's not gonna go away until we have a solution to this. If the Canucks can't work out a long-term deal with Tauchett, they're gonna pick up the option on his deal for next year. Now, coaches in the final years of their deals want one thing, and what's that? Security. The last thing they wanna do is have a one-year

deal as a lame duck coach especially veteran coaches. You might find a young coach starting out who might say, yeah you know what I'm okay I'll come back next year on a one-year deal but I don't think you'll find veteran coaches that will be okay with that. If Tocket doesn't like the plan to coach for one more year he can always go back to TV. He doesn't have to accept the option year. As I said earlier on our show this week, I believe the Canucks got tired of all the talk about talk it's contracting the market and they got the word out this week that if he's going to coach

anywhere next year it's going to be Vancouver. I said this a couple of days ago, the Canucks were not happy at all. And I mean, at all about the talk at the Philly rumors, that one really irked them. And so you know what? Um, I don't know if they picked up the phone and call Philly.

I don't know that for a fact, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did. That's how much I heard that it bothered them. So... Well, it wasn't Philly, like it wasn't the flyers starting the thing. What bothers them so much about it? I mean, are they worried? Jason, your coach is in Vancouver. He's trying to coach the team in the middle of a playoff race and you got these rumors of talking to Philadelphia. People were just connecting the dots. It wasn't the Flyers throwing pockets name out just because of his rich history in Philadelphia. He's one of the most popular Flyers of all time.

They're the ones that don't have them signed. They're the ones that created the potential for that speculation. And I just said off the top of this interview until they sign him, the speculation is not going to go, look, we're not in Carolina or Columbus, you know, we're in Vancouver, a red hot Canadian market and your coach ain't signed. So until he signed, this is not going to go away.

Now, is this going to be about money in term or the future of the team? I think all these things are at play. Pockets had 2.7 million. I'm sure that Canucks would like him in the low threes. This is me spitballing. But is he over four? Is that the number that's going to be uncomfortable for them to get to him is over four pockets had a grueling year, the injuries, two star players feuding one star player traded lots of drama soap opera field.

The media has got to him at times this year. He's got to decide too. Does he want to do that all over again? Like no coach likes that drama and coaching in Canada is a little bit different in than coaching in some places. Like I just mentioned Carolina and Columbus, where you don't have to deal with the media and deal with a whole bunch of other stuff. He's got a number one center who badly underachieved this year and

has locked up for seven more years. Patterson to me, I don't know about you guys, doesn't look like a Tocket type player. Can Tocket win? Does he think he can win with Patterson? That's a big question too. Tocket lost a lot of hard skill in the top six when Miller left. It was never replaced. Every coach dreams of hard skill in the top six, right? Whether you like Miller or not, he brought you hard skill. He was tough to play against in the top six. They don't have a ton of that right now.

The owner's gotta decide if he's gonna give talk at the big race. Here's what the owner's got for next year. The salary cap is going up by 8 million. So do you guys want the owner? Like not every, everyone's raving about the salary cap, right? It's going up.

It's going up. Not every owner is going to spend to the cap. So I'm guessing the people of Vancouver are going to want this owner to spend to the cap. So that's an extra 8 million. He's got to pay 5 million in dead cap space money next year to OEL and to Mikaev two bad deals, one by the previous regime and one by this regime. He just gave raises to Rutherford and Elvin last year, I think.

So that $8 million plus $5 million, that's $13 million he's got to come up with next year just because of the cap going up and paying two guys to play here that aren't playing here. If the Canucks can't reach his number, talk its number now, how are they going to reach it in 12 months and go through this whole exercise again next year, especially if, let's say, he comes back and has a good season.

Can they pitch him a plan where it shows him that this is going to be a top program every year, but this is a franchise that doesn't even have a practice facility. Like they don't have one. This guy came from Pittsburgh. They have a practice facility in Pittsburgh.

Have you heard that's a factor? Sure. It's a factor. Every coach dreams of a practice facility, every that Vancouver and Calgary are the only two teams in the national hockey league that don't have a practice facility. Every, Vancouver and Calgary are the only two teams in the National Hockey League that don't have a practice facility.

Like it is somewhat, and the flames are gonna get theirs when they get their new rink built in whatever, and that's gonna leave Vancouver as the only team in the National Hockey League without a practice, Jason, I would say to you, yeah, it does matter. I mean, those are little things in people's eyes, but in the overall scheme of things, a practice

facility can help you gain somebody on July 1st or whatever. It's just a few, it's, it's look when 98% of the rest of the league has a practice facility and you don't, well, hello, something's wrong. Um, so anyways, I keep being told, um, talk at staying in Vancouver can be sorted out under the right circumstances. And like I told you guys last week, he hasn't made that decision to leave.

There's a lot of things that got to happen. Um, you know, obviously the money, the term, the future, uh, you know, they got to kind of show him that this kind of year that they've had, they can't have this year again. It's just been at times a gong show and it's, they just kind of have it again. Is there a way for Tauket and Pedersen to coexist? You brought it up, not me. Is there a plan that they can come together on where it's not going to be as sensitive as the issue seemed this season? Yeah. You know, it'll help if Patterson goes home this off-season,

has a great off-season, comes back in tip-top shape in September and has that 100-point season again. Like, just go back to being a difference maker, that would really help. Just be that guy who, I hate to keep bringing Pittsburgh up, but Tuckett got to win two Stanley Cups watching the great superstar, Sidney Crosby, first to practice, last to leave the ice, first in Pittsburgh for off season workouts. You know, that's the type of guy that he needs to see when he talks about superstar players.

He's not getting that out of Pedersen. He's not going to get that out of Pedersen. He's got that out of Hughes, but like maybe there has to be an understanding of expectations from both sides because, you know, Pedersen is not Crosby and that is not his personality and maybe, you know, maybe even wearing the A is a burden on him. I don't know, but like, you know, like you cannot force someone who is

introverted to be, you know, this great extroverted leader, right? Like it's, it's, it's, it's just what do they call it? Like, you know, like trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Like why, why force it? You know, like there's, what I'm saying is like, are they going to be able to have this conversation where you can give reasonable Expectations as opposed to just like we need him to be this is like well What if he's not yeah, but the other thing is he doesn't have to be Crosby It's not they're not asking him to be Crosby. They're asking him to have the same habits as Crosby That's a big different thing. Yes. Okay. Have the habits, get better every day. Don't take practice lightly, move your feet,

do this, do that. It's not about being Sidney Crosby. It's about having the habits of a Sidney Crosby who continues to try and get better every day of the week, just because you're in the NHL and you're making 11.6 million, you can't take your foot off the pedal. You got to get better every day

That's what they're asking him to do. That's when Alveen Rip Pettersson in the in the article with Ian McIntyre in the first one He just said the habits got to be better. You got to try and get better every day You don't have to be Sidney Crosby But you got to have the habits of a superstar player And those guys are superstar players because they try and get better every single day of the week. So Rick, I'm going to cut you off there. What happened to the Pedersen that we heard early on in his career

that was obsessed with the game and was constantly working on his game? Because that's either, either we were sold a false story or something has changed. Yeah. Well, I mean the Miller thing, it changed. It was a dynamic that didn't help. He showed up to camp. He didn't have the summer. Well, look at his year. He says he couldn't train because of his knee. He gets to camp. This Miller-Peterson feud goes public. Maybe that affected him this year. I don't know, Jason, but obviously, clearly the Miller-Peterson feud is something there. I mean, to say that it did not affect elish is not correct because they had to move

uh... j t miller because of the few got public and and one of them had to go and it was almost him he was almost treated so i i don't know if uh... the feud with uh... gt got to the point where it affected his play this year but it'd be just wasn't the same player it did say he's at forty five points i don't know if he comes back again this year or he comes back with three or four games left but clearly this whole season

can be looked at as the feud. Miller-Peterson and it just screwed up so many dynamics. It screwed up the dressing room. It screwed up the fact they had to trade JT because of it and now you're looking for a second line centre, your first line centres are not producing their centre-rise position is a mess right now, a mess. It's a mess. Well, the wing position isn't looking much better. I know you wanted to talk about some of the predictions you heard for Brock Besser's next contract. Well, the Canucks better hope that Brock Besser's agent doesn't see daily face-offs projection for Besser on July 1st.

They've got Besser at seven years and 9.1 million per season. That is very, very high for me. Like I have never heard seven times nine. I don't know how they come up with these projections, but Besser is tied for the Canucks leading goals with 24 but he's played seven fewer games than Debrusk. Finishing first on the Canucks in goals will be good for Besser. Any UFA scoring winger leading his team in goals will bode well for him and his agent this summer. Most people

feel Besser will do fine money-wise over 8 million shouldn't be an issue and the Canucks have already offered five times eight so that's not an issue but term is going to be a problem. I talked with another team who can understand why the Canucks are scared to go 7, 8 years with Besser. Canucks would love to get Besser at 5 maybe they have to go to 6 or 7. I don't know how to get it done but I just I'm looking at some of these projections for Besser like I have not heard seven times 9.1 on July 1st for him. That one caught me off guard a bit. Like he's going to do fine guys. Like whether it's in Vancouver, July 1st, Besser did his part this year. He is leading the team in goals.

And if he can hang onto that title for the rest of the year, he'll do fine. Like if he want to come in this year and scored 15 goals and that was it, he'd be in big trouble. But he came in just before the last game in the Winnipeg game. I think he had scored six and six. So he's going to do fine because goal scoring wingers. There's always a team that's always going to overpay on July 1st. You guys know it. I know it. Always a team that overpays, always a team that's always going to overpay on July 1st. You guys know it, I know it. Always a team that overpays. Always a team where you go, really?

You guys gave that to that player? Brock might be that player. We don't know. On the Pia Suter front, I want to get this in, it's quiet in terms of contract talks with Pia SU right now when you look at the top centers on July 1st I don't see any of them coming to Vancouver like I told you guys a few weeks ago Bennett might go back to Florida you know do you see Brock Nelson coming here do you see Tavares coming here I don't I don't know if you guys do if the Canucks do sign

suitor they're probably going to have to go to a number that makes them uncomfortable. You throw in Philip Hedl's concussion issues, a number one center underachieving, and there is so much uncertainty right now at the center-right's position. So if Suter leaves, okay, what what happens how do you replace him you know and then if Hiddle I don't know like Hiddle is obviously done for this season you're hoping and praying that he has a good summer comes to camp all ready to go but he missed 72 games last year because of a concussion and now he's you know unfortunately he's in a concussion issue again so we don't know what's

going to happen with him. But I just, their center ice position is gonna have to be, and when they talk to Tauke, and I'm sure one of the questions from Rick Tauke to the Canucks is, hey guys, who are my center men next year? Like that's going to be a legit question from him. And that's a timing thing too,

because if you're Tauke, you can be told, yeah, we're going to address the center position. Well, how are you going to do that? Well, this is our plan. Well, I'm not going to sign until you figure it out. You know, could that, could that be an issue? Like just how, like I, I was thinking the other day, the Canucks regular season ends. Where do they start? Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Like trying to, first of all, unravel what happened this season, identify the issues, give a proper diagnosis to what happened this season, and then where do they start? Does it start with talk it? But if it

starts with talk it, then you can say, well, we're going to try and do this, but then what if you can't? It has to start with talk it because you can't build for next year without knowing who your coach is. Yeah. Because he's going to want certain types, at the trade deadline, you don't think coaches play a big

part in the trade deadline? Of course they do. Yeah. Of course they do. So if coaches play a big part in the trade deadline, don't you think they play a big part in the trade deadline. Yeah, of course. Of course they do. Yeah. Yeah, of course they do. So if coaches play a big part in the trade deadline, don't you think that they play a big part in planning for next year? Of course they do.

Uh, their blue line is fine guys. I, I, I don't have an issue with their blue line. They've really addressed it. Um, in, in turn, you know, you got Mancini is the seventh guy right now. You got Elias Pedersen, the defenseman playing on the wrong side on the right side but he's a lefty but you said you resign forbert

uh... will add are still up in the air uh... but defensively in goaltending wise it's up front it's up front is the center ice position and it's more consistent wingers in the top six like right now they got to a quarter in the top six don't tell me his salary indicate he's a top this this is my care and lafferty all over again

you know what the what i feel corner in the top six it's it's it's lafferty again and you know agarland is not been a consistent they need more consistent top six wingers not guys they signed a play on the fourth line but they move up into the top six you know and this is what we're doing it again with a corner he wasn't signed as a top six winger he was signed as a fourth line energy guy who could play maybe on the third line but I see him with bluegern Garland in the last game they need more top six wingers that stay there on a consistent basis and

that's why Besser is going to be an amazing, they're going to have to go to re-sign Besser and to re-sign Souter, they're going to have to go to uncomfortable, they're just going to have to go to uncomfortable areas to get them both done. Oh boy, they are in a pickle, aren't they Rick? They are and you know, but the good news is and we don't want to be Debbie Downers and know the media So negative and all you know, you guys all you do is well We're having a it hasn't been a great year to cover

There's been a ton of negative crap, which has been brought on a lot by management and you know what? But there is a positive the farm team is as one ten straight and they've wanted with three other top four goal scorers in Vancouver with the Canucks. You know, Manny Mulholter has obviously done a good job down there there and you know, you're kind of hoping that an Atu-Ratu figures it out over the summer and becomes a regular. Like it's really great that Atu-Ratu comes up and plays good for a couple of weeks but you don't want him for a couple of weeks. You want him to become that regular where he is not taken out of the lineup and sent back to Abbott. He's the obvious suitor replacement in my opinion but you know suitor has hit a pretty high

bar for Pugh suitor in that position. I know you wanted to mention Tom Willander, it does complicate things that BU is still alive and off to the Frozen Four. Let's say BU wins the Frozen Four. Do you know how many Canucks games there would be left and is it necessary for there to be Canucks? We all know Abbotsford's going to the playoffs. Is there necessary for there to be Canucks games for Willander to get what he wants in a contract? That's a great question. Right now I can tell you contract talks have been up and down with Willander. I told you guys a couple of weeks ago, bonuses could be an issue and bonuses are an issue and most likely a bonuses that are causing the issue right now. The Canucks do want them to go to the American League. I don't

think that's an issue for Willander. But I want to take you guys back to Willander's draft here. Okay, he went 11th overall, but the Blues took Labrador or Dvorsky 10th overall. They gave Dvorsky A bonuses that averaged over the three years, close to 800 grand. Now I want to take you to 13th overall Zach Benson, $650,000 average in the A bonuses over three years from Buffalo. So Willander is smack dab in the middle of those two players. He's in the middle of 800,000 and 650. So you can probably see what he's asking for. Probably over 700,000 average on the bonuses in the A bonuses is my guess. Agents push hard for A bonuses because if the bonuses are earned the qualifying offer

isn't the starting point for the second contract. The starting point is according to the agents based on what is earned. Now the team finds the A bonus is difficult because they have to leave room in their cap as if the bonus is going to be earned regardless of whether it's earned or not. So in order to be cap compliant, the Canucks have to leave the performance bonus cushion. So you can kind of see why both sides have kind of got dug in their feet in the sand a little here. But I do believe cooler heads will prevail.

They should get it done. But everything is on the table for Olander right now, including going back to school. I told you guys last week, I did not hear that, him going back to school. But I can tell you, everything is signing with the Canucks playing in the NHL or playing in the American League or going back to school.

I think everything's on the table right now with Tom Olander. It was my understanding there will be no math. That was very confusing what you just said, and I'm sure it was all accurate. I aimed to please. But I kind of zoned out a little bit. I aimed to please.

I listened. I don't believe the threat that he'll go back to school. I think that's agent talk. Well, I, well, that's your comment, not mine. By the way, what do you mean, Rick? What do you mean? And in this case, it's not an agent. It's an advisor. That's right. Okay. His advisor.

You can't call him an agent because he's not an agent because he doesn't have an NHL contract. My advice is to tell Rick that he'll go back to school. Believe it. Yeah. Hey most of the guys in the media. Hey calling him an agent would be illegal. Very damaging to the young man. Hey so if you guys didn't understand my A bonuses and B bonuses and all that stuff, do you think Moj understood that? Not a chance. No he zoned out too. It was like time for breakfast. Okay, hey, before we let you go, a couple of quick things to clean up there. Abbotsford Canucks 11 wins in a row, Rick, not 10. Oh my, and Mike, can I say this guys?

Sure. Can I say this? I'm gonna stop you. Look, all these people now, get rid of Target, give them a whole throughout the head coaching job can i tell you guys something molter is never coached at the pro level before in his life like he'd this is his first poll gate and one of the biggest reasons he's out here just so you guys know is his son plays for the chill like chiefs i'm not taking anything away from

what uh... many more ultra has done in abyssinia like i'd the people i've talked you are absolutely blown away on how he treats the prospects with respect he's got a plan he's well organized all that stuff but i a b you've got to understand get rid of talking bring more train is such a vancouver thing like this guy and this is his first problem uh... head coaching gig to go home from your first pro job at the American

League straight to the NHL, like I don't know about that. Like I understand, like we as humans are a guy scores five goals in five games, oh he's the greatest thing in the world, oh and we jump on it and then he scores no goals in ten and he's crap, right? Yeah. yeah. Yeah. We live in such a, a society where someone's hot. We just brag about the guy forever and then he goes in a cold slump and then he's crap, right? Um, I, I say, I just. He's been driving sports radio for years, Rick.

Yeah. It's kind of our business model. Yeah. I just find it funny. Like, I mean, I think if you're Manny Mahoultra, you're loving the Conoxer, loving obviously what he's doing down there his job molter's job forget about the eleven

uh... a game-winning streak his job is when uh... when a player from abysspur that goes to the nl level he's ready uh... and there's not much coaching from rick at the nl level you know it's it's i'd get those kids in the american league ready

uh... for the nl and you know one other thing i want everyone to realize before we just you know the city in twenty play a big role down in abysspurt as well when those guys are working with young kids coming out a junior coming out of the nc double-a double-a those kids are working with young kids coming out of junior or coming out of the NCAA, those kids are lucky to have two guys like the Sedin Twins and their hockey sense and their knowledge and their experience and their teaching. Those guys have been there in Abbotsburg for a while now. They did just show up this year.

A lot of the good stuff happening in Abbotsburg, Sedin Twins don't get enough credit. I talk to agents a lot who say, hey, my guy really appreciates getting, you know, taught by the Sadeen twins. Like it's just, it's a big thing for these young kids to get that knowledge from the Sadeen twins. So they certainly, and I don't want to take anything away from Manny, I think he's done a great job, but I think we got to be just a little bit careful here

because if talk, it doesn't come back Are you going to give a rookie coach to Quinn Hughes and then let Quinn Hughes decide that you know I'm gonna be here for two more years under a rookie coach. I I don't know, you know time will tell Rick you did 28 and a half minutes today bud. You earned every penny of 28 Yeah, hold it Holford. I only did 28 and a half minutes because you came in on time today. Mm-hmm. Yes. I love it buddy. Thanks for doing this. We appreciate it. All right boys, anytime. See you buddy. That's Rick Dollywell here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 6. The Blues took Labrador Dvorsky tenth overall. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.