Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 5/30/25

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

Mike & Jason look back at the previous day in sports including a big Abbotsford Canucks playoff win & the Edmonton Oilers booking their trip to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row, plus they get a Canucks update from 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. Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Poked away by De Smith as he reaches out and they score! De Smith tried to poke it away. Anytime you pull a goalie, the reasoning is always to try and spark your group. The Edmonton Oilers pour onto the ice. They are the Western Conference Champions for the second year in a row. Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend. Good morning Vancouver! Six o' year in a row. Ladies and gentlemen, The Weeknd. Good morning, Vancouver. 6 o'clock on a Friday.

Happy Friday, everybody. Sweet, sweet Friday. It is Halford in his bra. It is Sportsnet 650. We are coming to you live from the Kintec studios and beautiful Fairview slopes in Vancouver. Jason, good morning. Good morning.

I like your energy this morning. Thank you. It's very impressive. You must be happy. The week's over. I am very happy. Nearly over. Nearly. Did you say It's very impressive. You must be happy the week's over I am very over clearly. Did you say it's the weekend? Oh my god. Hey, Doug. Good morning to you And lady good morning to you as well Hello. Hello How to improve in the morning is brought to you by sands and associates BC's first and trusted choice for net help with over

3,000 five-star reviews visit them online at sands dash trustee calm We are in our one of the program. Hour one is brought to you by North Star Metal Recycling. Vancouver's premier metal recycler pays the highest prices on scrap metal. North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle, you get paid. Visit them at 1170 Powell Street in Vancouver. We are coming to you live from the Kintec Studio. Kintec, footwear and orthotics working together with you in step. Got a lot to get to on a Friday show. Guest list today begins at 6 30 not a Friday regular But he's gonna join us today Greg Wyshinski from ESPN our NHL insider will be on at 6 30 this morning

The Stanley Cup final is set it is the first Stanley Cup final rematch in consecutive years since oh 8 0 9 The Red Wings defeated the Penguins in the first one and the Penguins defeated the Red Wings in the second one 16 years since we've had one of these, Laddie hates rematches. Are you aware? What? Laddie this morning, now. Who hates rematches? Laddie came in this morning and I'm like,

I bet he's got- You're all jazzed up, you're ready. I bet he's got a lot of good hot goalie tapes cooked up. Because of what happened yesterday. I thought you were like, Arturo Gaudi only needed to see it once. Yep, but Laddie comes out of nowhere from the clouds and just drops very casually while I'm drinking my coffee. I hate rematches.

I have a solid reasoning for it. I know, let's hear it. It makes the season moot. We just played an entire year for what? Didn't matter. We could have just done another stand to come final and given it to the Oilers and the Panthers again. You're saying this entire year was a waste of time.

It was a huge waste of time this past year. I like the way you think and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter. I would not. Please unsubscribe me from this newsletter. However, in the case of it- I see his point. If you had told- I, what? Why? It feels like the whole year was just like a dream.

Yeah, what is the point of it all? A waste. Nothing mattered in Vancouver. I was going to say, knowing what we know now from the Connex season. But nothing mattered. It was the year of nothing. And now we're back here again. If you told me now that you could have fast-forwarded

through this entire Connex season and just got to the end of it, I would have been like, yeah, I'll take it. OK. So if they were like, you got to see what's happening this year. So can you imagine this Connex team in fast-forward motion? It actually looks like normal speed. You'd be like home or watching a car crash. Okay, so Wyszynski is gonna join us at 6.30.

Seven o'clock, Michael Dagostino is gonna join the program. He is the assistant manager. It always sounds weird when I say it in footballing terms. It's not a coach, it's a manager. But when you say assistant manager, it's like you're talking to like the second in charge of Burger King or something. You can't call him assistant coach?

You can, but it's a manager in soccer, right? It's not a coach, it's a manager. It's like calling him coach in baseball. Right, exactly. For the purposes of our radio show, I'm gonna say assistant coach of the Whitecaps, Michael D'Agostino. They're gonna fly out today to Mexico ahead

of Sunday's big CONCACAF Champions Cup final against Cruz Azul. So we'll talk to Mike before they embark on their flight. The task that lies ahead, we can also look back on that nil-nil draw. Maybe not so much about the actual nil-nil draw, the goalless draw on Wednesday night, but ask them if they're going to start anticipating that a little bit more now that they're the powerhouse of MLS. Do they have to be prepared for more of these parking the bus tactics? Just kind of funny text look they are finally moving their feet when we fast forward. It's all we had to do

Actually for some reason PD's still standing still Why are you so critical of him? You know we're trying to we're trying to evolve the show a dog no we shouldn't okay Dee evolve speaking of evolving is the show Moj is gonna join us at 730 he'll be joining us live from Edmonton. There's another CFL preseason game There's a couple of them the BC Lions are in action. They will take on the Elks from Commonwealth Stadium at 6 p.m Our time so we'll talk the Moj ahead of that one. That's it for the preseason That's it for training camp the snoop and the preseason opener, the season opener,

sorry, are now just a week away, so we'll talk to Moj about all that at 7.30. Eight o'clock, it's Rick Dollywall. I have no idea what we're talking to Dolly about. This is where I normally turn it over to noted show handler of Rick Dollywall, Jason Brough. What do we got for Dolly today? I think we're going to talk, well, a bunch of topics,

but one that I think is interesting is, uh, Demko and what they do with him. Um, because contract talks would have to start with him pretty soon. Uh, and for any of the pending UFAs that, that the Canucks have, they might as well get going and seeing what the number is for, uh, Pew suitor, if they want to revisit things with Brock Besser as well.

But I think we're going to talk Thatcher Demko with Rick Dollywall. Okay. And finally, it is a Friday and we're going to do a new mission this morning as it pertains to the sports net 650 Jays Care 50-50 in support of course of Challenger baseball, proudly supported by Tiltown.

In support, of course, of Challenger baseball, proudly supported by Tiltown. If we top ten thousand dollars by the end of Canucks Central this evening, Friday evening, the station will do a draw for tickets to see the Abbotsford Canucks game two of their playoff series on Saturday. And you're going to want to go to that game because the Abbotsford Canucks and Christian Willannon had a huge win last night in overtime against the hated Texas Stars. 50-50 tickets start at just $10. Bundles are available for more chances to win. If you want to grab them now go to jayscaregolf.rafflenexus.com or text the word MONEY to 650-6. And we will send the link directly to your phone

so you can buy 50-50 tickets. You must be 19 plus and also NBC to play. Let's do some good for a very, very good cause. Challenge your baseball and let's do it together. Again, jayscaregolf.rafflenexus.com or text the word money to 650-650. That's the show. That's all of what's happening today.

Laddie, let's tell everybody what happened. Hey, did you guys see the game last night? No. What happened? I missed all the action because I'm moving. We know how busy your life can be. What happened? Missed it?

You missed that? What happened? What happened? What happened is brought to you by the BC Construction Safety Alliance, making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit them online at bccsa.ca. The Edmonton Oilers are on their way back to the Stanley Cup final.

They did it by scoring three goals in the first eight minutes of yesterday's game. They went on to eliminate the Dallas Stars with a 6-3 win in game five of the Western Conference final in Dallas on Thursday. That means the Oilers will now face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. We got to wait nearly a full week before the Stanley Cup final gets underway in Edmonton. How about the Edmonton Oilers finishing with the six most points in the West, yet still getting home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup final? The Oilers are on their way to their second

consecutive cup final, Jason. Yeah, a lot of thoughts on this. Um, and we'll probably spend more time on, on Dallas and Edmonton because we've got a few days to talk about the Edmonton Oilers. And then we've got all of next series to talk about the Edmonton Oilers soon. The Dallas stars will be forgotten like all the

other teams. You know, I was thinking about last night, um, after, after Dallas was eliminated, how, um, the season ends like in a storm of criticism for pretty much every team except for one. Like there's a couple playoff teams that go out and you're like, well, that was a good try.

The Winnipeg Jets, I think, will fall into that category. Everyone's like, yeah, that was a good effort there. And of course, hold on. I don't think the Winnipeg Jets fell under that category at all. Okay. I think that was super disappointing. Okay. I thought the Winnipeg Jets fell under that category. And so you're wrong about that. Okay. I'm right.

I think teams like Montreal, people were like, yeah, you know what? You weren't really expected to do much. Good for you. You did well. Uh, maybe even Ottawa, um, that gave Toronto a bit of a push. It's kind of like, well, you know, we'll see next year. Um, but you know, I, I think, I think Winnipeg

wasted a golden opportunity and it was really sad what happened with Mark Shifely, but the team as a whole fell short. Um, Carolina and Dallas both made the conference finals and they both failed to get over the hump yet again. I mean, as a Canucks fan, I, I die to be in the playoffs, failing to get over the hump. It would be incredible.

We, you know, we'd have, we'd be in the playoffs, we'd win a couple of rounds. And, uh, you know, but then, you know, I think Dallas, I think Dallas was more disappointing than Carolina. To be perfectly honest with you, I think, you know, considering that just the way they went down, especially in their final game, I mean, they're down 3-0 before your eyes can blink three times. And they just, I don't know, they just didn't bring it all serious. Jason Robertson started to bring it, but it was too little too late.

And then you look at a bunch of the guys and you're like, what did you even do in this series? So I ran a very scientific poll on X last night, my favorite website, just asking all of my followers, more disappointing conference finalists, real simple, Carolina or Dallas. I wasn't sure where it was gonna go. I think there might've been some recency bias because we just watched the Dallas Stars flame out

in five games. Sure enough, your sentiment is accurate. Nearly 700 votes cast. Sixty four percent of the people say Dallas was the more disappointing conference finalist, which is no small feat, because Carolina was lousy in the conference final. They had one game where they were able to dictate what they wanted to do. And the rest of them, it was very much a one sided series. But to me, the story of that Dallas Edmonton series was this was the third

time that Dallas got to the conference final. It felt like the year because of the rent and acquisition. And this was an Edmonton team that despite getting better as the playoffs went along, I think there was a lot of people that went into that series thinking, this is the year Dallas can do it. And this is the year that they will get over this Edmonton hump. Not only did they fail to do that, they kind of failed to do it in spectacular fashion outside of the third period in game one, where they got the three power play goals to win it.

Was there any other stretch in this series where you thought that Dallas was legitimately taking control? I think the answer is no. No, in full credit to the Oilers for a lot of that. Um, this team has learned to play well defensively. This team has learned to play really well with the lead. A lot of the times in this series, certainly not yesterday, but the best moments for the Dallas Stars were early on in the games.

And, um, you know, the other, were early on in the games and, you know, the other, I think it was game four, Stuart Skinner, it was one of the games, Stuart Skinner kept them in it for the first period. And then the second and third periods were like, it was lock it down stuff from the Edmonton Oilers. And I think we saw something similar, not the

first period, cause the Oilers got off to a great start, but the Stars did have a bit of a push and they made it a one goal game, but it never really felt like the Stars were going to do it because the Oilers either found a goal and caught him McDavid. What an amazing goal that was. I watched that on repeat like 50 times just to

see his acceleration and how he held off Rupe Hans. But the Oilers just do a really good job of checking and keeping the other team to the outside. And we saw them do it against the Canucks and we were like, that's a Canuck problem. Right? But like, I think the Oilers just do it really well.

And I think getting back to your point about Carolina versus Dallas in the disappointment bowl, you know, Rod Brindamore made, I think a pretty good point, a defensive point, but a good point when he was like, look, we lost some guys on this team, right? Sure. That's very, yep. And they tried to add Rantanen and they did for a bit, but then they lost him. So basically they traded out Nietzsche for

Stankovic, which I don't know, I really like Stankovic, but you could probably call that a wash. Yep. If you're being generous and you know, Nietzsche has a, he's more experienced than Stankovic for sure, has done more in the NHL. But then you're looking at Dallas. So Carolina, you're like, yeah, they lost some guys.

They weren't locked and loaded. Right? Yep. Certainly not like they, they were when they got Gensel and had him for the playoffs. Dallas was locked and loaded, man. Yep. They were ready to roll.

Although, one guy that wasn't locked and loaded, at least according to his head coach, was Jake Ottinger. And I feel like now's a pretty good time to dive straight into this. Yeah, sure. Because that was the biggest talking point of yesterday, let's be real, was that very early into game five, with Ottinger having allowed two goals

on his first three shots faced, Peter DeBoer called a timeout. He thought, okay, that makes sense. You gotta call a timeout, he's gonna get the guys' heads right, he's gonna yell timeout. He's going to get the guy's heads right. He's going to yell at them at the bench a little bit. It's all good. After the timeout, there was a very odd sequence in which Jake Ottinger started to skate back to his

net. And then Peter DeBoer barked out and I couldn't tell if he called him Jake or Otter, but he basically told him, you're done for the night, buddy. Get back to the bench. And off came Jake Ottinger and on went Casey to Smith. Now in the aftermath, Peter Borough was asked obviously first question when he gets to the podium following the loss about the entire sequence, what went in to the goalie pull, why he made the decision, what he said to Ottinger, all of it.

Very interesting and very revealing remarks from Peter to borrow after one of the most controversial coaching moments, goalie pull or otherwise that we've seen in recent playoff memory. Here is Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer talking about his controversial decision to pull Jake Ottinger early in game five. Well anytime you pull a goalie you know there's the reasonings always to try and spark your group. So that was the number one reason. You know, we had talked endlessly in this series about trying to play with the lead. And obviously we're in a two nothing hole right away. And, you know, what I didn't take that lightly and I didn't blame it all on Jake, but you

know, the reality is, is if you go back to last year on Jake but you know the reality is if you go back to last year's playoffs you know he's lost six to seven games to Edmonton and we gave up two shots on two goals in a you know an elimination game so no it was partly to spark our team and wake them up and partly knowing that status quo had not been working. And that's a pretty big sample size. I didn't blame it all on Jake, Peter DeBora said, but I blame a lot of it on him.

That was kind of my takeaway from that one. Just most of it. And I was a little bit, little bit in shock that that's where he went in the post game. I understand that Ottinger wasn't good in the series, but if you, it's funny, because I kind of deferred to some of the other outlets

that were carrying the series and covering it and writing about it. So Mark Lazarus from the athletic who's been doing that series had a pretty scathing article about the Boers decision to pull Oughton during that game. And then I noticed that a lot of the media outlets that were writing about it pointed out that Edmonton

was able to beat Oughton. This is right from the Sportsnet article, quote, on two grade A scoring chances, both by Corey Perry and Matthias Janmark. Yeah, I mean, the first one was on a power play when Matt Maverick, Bork, man, keep your stick down. Yep. And the second one was on a terrible line

change by the Dallas Stars. And yeah, both were, the second one, you're like, you would have liked to stop there. Right? Like to stop the, like to have stopped all of them. Right? I get it. Yeah. But I don't think all of them, right? I get it. I get it.

Yeah. But I don't think any of them were like, wow, what's going on? A couple of the Casey De Smith goals against where that like, well, hey, what's going on? I mean. And that's a really tough position you put Casey De Smith in too, right? Super cool. Like what?

Not super cold because the game was like five minutes old, but you know, you put him in the series, he's like, this is a big game, right? His last game was April 26th. It is now May 30th. And then you throw him in that situation. Some people were like, well, I mean, the stars did get a spark. I'm like, I hope they would have been able to generate a spark without a goalie pole

because they were at home, you know, facing elimination. I would hope they'd be motivated to find their legs without having to have the goalie pole. It was pretty obvious when you watched the sequence unfold that he did it out of anger. That it w I agree. And it was weird the way it went because he called a timeout and then he talked to his skaters and was telling them, I don't know, whatever.

And he was wearing a brown suit and that's a bad choice at any rate. Um, and then Autinger just skates back to his goal and then he gets called back. And I was thinking, man, like, what's the communication level where you've called your time out. You've already spoken to your players. Ottinger thinks he's going. So what was Casey De Smith thinking? Please don't put me in. That, that whole thing was just like, it was weird. And, um, the one thing I will say that we're similar in both the Carolina and the Dallas,

uh, Carolina and Dallas, both those teams lost their composure big time in those series. And I, and, and, and part of it is just like, that's what happens when you lose in big games. You, it's really tough to, to keep your composure. But also I think both teams were feeling that like, oh my God, it's happening again. Feeling like we're, we're blowing it

in the conference finals. So Sean texted, by the way, Dunbar number text message in basket, 650, 650, text in your what we learned, ask us anything's $100 gift card to AJ's pizza on East Broadway for the best. Ask us anything. Sean writes in, he says,

Halford, why were you in shock to Boer said what he did about Otter? He told the truth. We all know it. Let's not call a coach being honest with the media strange. Sean, the reason that I said it was strange is because at every opportunity prior to this, when Peter DeBoer was asked,

he said very specifically, Jake Ottinger is not the problem. Jake Ottinger is the least of our problems. They had many other problems in Dallas, namely the complete inability to score goals from games two through five. I mean, that's what got me about it. If you're gonna end, here's the thing.

If he was lying to the media before to protect his goalie, he may as well just keep the lie going in the aftermath. Like he's still gotta work with the guy conceivably assuming he doesn't get fired. Also it was his version of the truth. We just went over the two goals. You could easily pin that second goal with the poor line change on the coach

because who gets the blame most of the time when there's miscommunication at the bench? Let's say- The coach. Let's say that Autinger was bad in the series, which I think at times that he was, and he got outplayed by Skinner. You could say he was average. Right. Absolutely.

And let's say that, OK, you've acknowledged this to go down to the final game, the elimination game and say, I think I got a better chance now. Not in any of the other games, but now with my second best goalie and taking out my best player, that doesn't like logically, that doesn't make any sense to me. My theory in that moment would be,

if I'm gonna go down swinging in this series, I'm gonna go down with my best players playing and Audenger has been my best player. Like Audenger is the only reason they got out of the second round against Winnipeg as far as I'm concerned, right? Was he having a tough time against Edmonton? Sure.

Was Casey De Smith gonna have any less of a tough time? I think that played out in the second and third period. A lot of goalies have a tough time with Edmonton. You know, it's like. Surprisingly. If the difference, and let's be honest, between the two of them in that game was negligible, go down with your, go down fighting.

Go down with your best player in there. I don't know what the ramifications are gonna be for De Boer. Like, I don't know.'re kind of with me on this one I think I don't necessarily think he's about to get fired for this decision well, it is comments it sounds like he might be but it certainly certainly creates a brand-new and very bizarre Drama between him and surprise surprise Peter to borrow in a goalie having drama that wasn't there prior to game five

I do want to mention And surprise, surprise, Peter DeBoeira and Agoli having drama that wasn't there prior to game five. I do want to mention before we go to break and then we'll talk to Greg Wyshinski and we'll continue the NHL conversation, congratulations to the Abbots for Canucks. They're up one nothing in their series against Texas with a 3-2 overtime winner last night, the goal scorer, Christian Wolanen. Smith takes a feed from Kera, over the left point for Wolanen, he'll tee up a shot, stop by Porter, he scores! Christian Wolanen! Let's get out of here! Christian Willanin just called, gave one! Now you'll notice on the call our man Brandon Astle said, saved by Poirier.

It's a goal! Did you see the goal? It was a bit of a stinker. Bit of a stinker. Did he just assume it was going to be saved? Yeah. He was like, oh, he didn't save it. Wow, he should've. I think he actually saved about 43% of the puck.

It got, it squeaked through. And the reaction afterwards was pretty tough to see is that poor A just kind of collapsed and he knew that he should've had one of his defensemen came up and patted him on the head. And he was like, that's one we'd like to have back. But he patted him on the head. And he said, this one's on you, buddy.

Whispered it in his ear, I hate you. Yeah. It was a tough scene for everybody. Pete DeVore plays for the Texas Stars? Well, hey, now you got to think about it now. The Dallas Stars eliminated from the playoffs. How many guys make a beeline to Abbotsford to get into this series in time for Saturday?

How many guys, Greg? Anyway, great job by the Abbotsford Can connects last night to win the opener of their series It was as I mentioned it went late It was like in the last stages of me putting together the show last night they wanted an overtime so we didn't get a ton of content or You know notes from it But good job from the Aventura connects to go up one nothing game two of that series is on Saturday And if we hit a ten thousand dollar fifty 50 50 total for the J's care sports net six 50,

50 50 in support of challenger baseball by the end of today, uh, we will be giving away another pair of tickets to see that game too in Abbotsford on Saturday. You're listening to the best of Halford and brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Rick Dolly wall, Rick Dolly wall, it's time for Dolly, Rick Dolly wall, it's time for Rick Dolly wall, Rick Dolly wall, it's time for Rick Dolly wall, Rick Dolly wall, BC's first and trusted choice for net help with over 3,000 five-star reviews. This is them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are now in hour three of the program. Rick Dollywall is going to join us in just a moment here to kick off hour three.

Hour three is brought to you by Campbell & Pound real estate appraisers. Trust the expertise of Campbell & Pound. Visit them on the internet at Campbell-Pound.com today. We are coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Kintec footwear and orthotics working together with you in step. Guests on Sportsnet 650 call in on the hotline powered by Power West Industries.

Don't get caught in the dark when it matters most. Visit them at PowerWest.ca today. They keep the lights on. Rick is currently waiting on hold on the Power West Industries hotline. Let's go there now. You know him from the Donnie and Dolly show on check TV. Rick Dollywall joins us here on the Haliford and brush show on sports net six 50. What up Ricky D? All good pal. All good pal. What's going on?

What's going on with Demco? Yeah, we should find out soon. Jason, if he's on the Conox trade board, the trade board that really matters, I would fully expect the Canucks and Dempcos to make contact soon to discuss what a new deal would look like. If Dempco wants too much money in term, yeah, you can see the Canucks moving them. Most think the Canucks would like a three year deal with Dempco. That most likely won't fly with the other side. Most will point to his injury riddled season as a huge risk. Demko can point to his Vezina nominee season only 12 months ago. It wasn't five years ago. One thing to keep in mind here, this player really

likes Vancouver. He wants to win here. he wants to resign. This isn't a case of a guy both in town. Before Lincoln and signing, this regime never paid money to the backup. You guys remember Spencer Martin? You remember Colin Delia? Well, because they gave Lincoln and 4.5 million, Demko's at 5 million, so combined next year they're at 9.5. But if you increase Demco salary to six, five or seven, you take the combination of the two goalies to 11 million. When is the last time in this city, they paid 11 million for two goalies.

You can see why the Canucks will try and keep Demco's term and money low as possible. Vancouver would have an internal number for Lankin and Demko combined long term. I am hearing Demko's got no health issues right now, no setbacks to report. He should have a normal summer training, which he didn't have last year. You really can't predict what happens with Archer, C-Lavs until you find out about Demko's future. As good as C-Lavs has been in Avisper and he was great again last night, his future is tied to what happens with Demko. Last year this time we all said C-Lavs automatic backup in Vancouver. Not all of us. Okay and then he stunk the join out in the opener against Calgary.

He connects out a 4-1 lead. Boom. The same thing's happening now. He's got the team up one-nothing against Texas in the American Noc League playoffs. And I'm seeing a lot of, trade Demko, Sealovs is ready. Trade Demko, Sealovs is ready. I'm not there yet. Like he is 24 years old. You know, when you look, Demko made the NHL, he wasn't 24, he was much younger. I will say this, we got to

find out what happens here with Demko. Lankin is the guy that is set because not only has he got a new deal, he's got a no move in his first two years, and then he's got trade protection in his final three. That guy, whoever his agent is, I shouldn't say whoever, I know who his agent is, did a tremendous job. Did a tremendous job because Lankton is safe. The only goalie in Vancouver that I can sit here and tell you that is going to be here for the next two years is Lankton because his agent did a hell of a job. He got a no move in his first two years. So it's, I think we're going to have to wait and we're going to have to wait to

see if this plays out. What do you think Demko's trade value is and does it balance off what he could bring the Canucks next season if he stays healthy? Yeah, there are going to be teams that Jason take a shot at Demko. There's going to be teams. There's just all they're going to do is they're going to check the medicals, they're going to check, look how many players get injured and traded and teams, well, look at the Vancouver Canucks. They traded for Heidel. Did the Canucks

not check his medical records? Did they not do their background? Did the Rangers not move Heedle with four concussions in New York? Yes, they did. If you can move a guy with four concussions to Vancouver, I think you can move Thatcher Demko who 12 months ago was a Vesna nominee. But how much can you move them forward? Like is it significant enough? Because if I'm management, I'm looking at Demko and Lankenen as one of the main reasons I might be able to get this team into the playoffs next season. Yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely. But here's the thing. If Thatcher wants five years at seven million you what did you guys notice this year in the National Hockey League a ton of goalies a Swamen, Odinger they all signed for seven eight million and before this season of injuries for Demko he was if he would have had a normal year he'd been exactly in the same boat asking for seven two8.5, but he had the injuries and I'm sure the Demko camp knows they can't ask for too much coming off an injury riddle season.

But like I said in the opening, his great season with the Canucks wasn't five years ago, it was literally, you know, 12 months ago. And that's when he was named a Vezina nominee. So there's risk. Jim Rutherford said it best. There's risk on both sides, right? He likes Vancouver. Uh, it's the only team he's ever had.

Um, and the Canucks are looking at the risk and I could see why the Canucks would ask for three years, like, I mean, you don't want to lock in five, six. Hey, I'll tell you something else. The Canucks, well, I'll get into Brock Besser later, but they're not handing out a lot of term to guys like, you know, Besser, they offered five and they didn't move off that.

Well, if they offer Thatcher three, they don't move off it, you know, maybe this thing doesn't end well in Vancouver. Um, okay. Well, let's get an update on the Canucks UFAs among those, Brock Besser, Pugh Sutter. Yeah, okay, so Besser, my gut still says he ends up on July 1st, going to July 1st, but I do expect the Canucks to take one final run at resigning him in June. Some think the Canucks will make a better offer to Besser soon. Besser becomes more valuable. The longer the Canucks will make a better offer to Besser soon, Besser becomes more valuable.

The longer the Canucks don't make a top six move in a trade, the reason they're not making a top six move in a trade right now is because it's very expensive. Prices are very, very high. If you've got a top six enter or top six winger and you're going to cop them up, it's going to cost you a lot. I can see interest in Brock picking up from the Vancouver side as we go into the final month before pre-agency, but most likely it's too late. I still get the feeling that Besser felt disrespected this year.

They never called them in the summer. They signed two Pittsburgh Penguins to two new contracts two weeks after they got here. Alveen's comments at the trade deadline did not sit well with the Besser camp. Time will tell, but sometimes a player checks out and it's hard checking back in. But I do believe that they're going to take another run at them. I've gotten that feeling for sure. Checked in on P as suitor last night, told nothing going on, it's quiet. Suitor's in a good spot, he'll do fine July 1st.

Canucks would have to go to an uncomfortable number if they do re-sign him. Can't see suitor's numbers starting anywhere in the threes. Everyone's hearing four, maybe 4.5. Who knows? A lot of teams are looking for a center right now. And Suter might be one of the biggest beneficiaries of that. One team looking for a center, Philadelphia.

We know who the coach is there. Derek Forbert, uh, should have no shortage of interest. If he hits July 1st, you got the size, the great PK guy teams will call. If the Canucks hire this Kevin Dean guy, he coached Forbert in Boston. It wouldn't be enough to keep him. The time will tell there. And Noah Juleson, it is very quiet

on the Noah Juleson front. Okay, let's talk a little bit about the assistant coaches. You reported yesterday that Kevin Dean is on the Canucks radar. What's going on with him? When can we expect a decision? And are you hearing any names when it comes to the guy who's supposed to coach the forward group? Because with all due respect to Kevin Dean, I think that's the most interesting hire because the Canucks need some new ideas. Yes, but the defenseman hire is also very important and I'll tell you why in a bit here. So Kevin Dean is a guy that wouldn't surprise me if he's on the Canucks radar. Last seven years,

assistant in Boston and Chicago, like I said, he coached for Burton Boston. High end defensive coach, a league source told me this guy's a smart defensive coach, great with young players. Why is that important? Canucks have three young players close to cracking the lineup on the blue line. Tom Willander, Ellie's, Pedersen and Victor Mancini. Makes sense to have a coach who can work with the younger players. Does it not? Lots of teams have interest in Dean.

I was told the Canucks really like him because foot is a rookie coach at the NHL level, surrounding him with experienced guys is an absolute must. And hearing Luke Richardson could end up in Philadelphia with Tocket, he was on the Canucks radar as well. Hearing Foot's been busy calling players, he's got a new relationship with these players. He's not the assistant anymore. He's the boss. So he's checking in with guys and getting ready for the season. I want to make one final note on assistant coaches. I did hear that teams of NHL teams have reached out to Kevin BXA to join their staffs. He said no. His kid's going to play in Coquitlam of the BC Hockey League next year. He's not ready to coach yet. He's so damn impressive on television.

You can see why teams would call. He's getting calls from NHL teams. I did not hear Vancouver was one of them. If I was Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada, I'd lock that guy up long term. If I was Sportsnet in Hockey Night in Canada, I'd lock that guy up long term. He's got a bright future, television or coaching, but I hear that teams reached out to Kevin Biaxa and I do see that guy. He was running that academy in Anaheim, but that guy is a rising star. First of all, he's a star on television. But I think teams are looking at that guy and thinking there's, there's, there's a, there's a coach in there somewhere. Is there a center in Vegas for the Vancouver Canucks?

We're now starting to hear where Mitch Marner may be willing to sign teams like Florida, Vegas, Colorado, LA. I told you guys many weeks ago, guys like Marner want to win. No top free agents got Vancouver on their list. I've been telling you this for weeks. So Vegas is interesting because they have one of the deepest teams in the NHL at center. Eichel, Hurdle, William Carlson, Brett Howden,

I think Roy, I think he plays both but he could play center, they're deep up the middle guys. The Canucks could go after one of those guys and Carlson would make the most sense to me. He scored 40 goals just two years ago, he's got two more years cost certainty at 5.9 million, it's a pretty good number, but Vegas is going to have to move salary if they get in on Mitch Marner. They're going to have to move, I think a center man. And if Mitch Marner and Vegas, if we are to

believe there's a match there, there's a lot of rumors out there about Vegas, that could be a team where the Canucks call and say, Hey, you guys are really strong up the middle of the ice. That could make sense. What do you think the price tag would be for that? Well, first of all, you're helping. Let's say Carlson. Let's say William Carlson.

Well, you're helping them out, right? Well, there's other teams that might be willing to help them out and then you're in a bidding war. Yeah. Hey, and guess who just joined the center market, the Carolina Hurricanes? Do you think, Cock, you think that guy was the guy in the playoffs for them? No. You add Carolina, and you know what Carolina's got? They got tons of cab space. You know what they got?

A lot of draft picks. Do you know what they got? A lot of prospects. And so the Canucks are in this market for centers. And this is why I think they might go back to Brock Besser. It's so damn crowded, this center market for a centerman. And the teams that are going to get those guys are the teams with cap space and draft capital and prospects. And Carolina is in a much better spot to get a centerman than Vancouver is. Yep. So I just think it's, it's, it's going to be

expensive anyway, you cut it, Jason, there's too many teams looking for second line centers. And a lot of those teams are in way better position to cough up the pieces required to get a second line centre. Okay, let's end on a positive note here. The Abbotsford Canucks, they're up 1-0 in their series against Texas. What are you hearing?

What are you seeing out of Abbotsford? Well, first of all, I love the photos out of Abbotsford. What a great energy in the building, great atmosphere. Why did it take so long to get to Abbotsburg? And why did we have to watch the Calgary Flames farm team for years? Like, this should have been, I understand why they were in Utica and I understand it. Less travel, more practice time, you know, no airplanes, you're busing, it's a good hockey town, there's snow, it's a good feel, I get all that stuff, I get the reasons. But do you not get the reasons why Abbotsford works on so many? 60 bucks last night got you a beautiful playoff hockey game.

Where can you get a playoff hockey game like that at the pro level for 60 bucks? Just a beautiful and many, what can you say about Moholdsburg? Hey, by the way, since March 1st, Abbotsford is 25, four and two. Pretty good. What do the kids, it's pretty good. That's good, eh? Yeah. But what do the kids say these days?

A wagon or something? I don't use these dumb words. The kids, they call it a wagon or something. I don't use these dumb words. The kids, they call it a wagon. So anyways, Abbotsford's apparently a wagon, 25, four and two since March 1st. And you know what they're doing it with? They're doing it without. Can you imagine if Elyse Patterson, the defenseman was in their lineup? Yeah. Right? Well, Mancini, I saw a clip of Mancini going coast to coast last night and I was like, this guy's too good for the AHL. Okay. So I'm going to get of Mancini going coast to coast last night. And I was like, this guy's too good for the AHL. Okay.

So I'm going to get to Mancini. So he's been a horse in the playoffs. I saw him stick handle it through three guys, go coast to coast. One pro scout told me that Mancini is very close to being an NHL regular. The size, the skating, you saw the skating in the clip last night. He's a right shot D.

His skating gets him out of trouble areas, right? It gets him out of trouble areas. Can Mancini and Pedersen be the third pair in Vancouver next year? That's a legit question. Um, but that's why you have training camp. Like, you know, and again, last year, this time, every single buddy except you, Jason had the Sealabs as a backup.

There's a few people that were wondering if that was the right call. Yeah. Okay. So we got to learn our lesson. You, and okay, Mancini goes coast to coast and everyone's going to guarantee him a spot, um, on the Canucks next year. He's never been an NHL regular before. Where did the Canucks get him?

Out of the American hockey league. He was in Hartford, he wasn't playing for the Rangers. So every kid decides on his own when he becomes a regular. Did anybody in this market think Elish Pedersen was gonna jump up from Abbotsford to stay in Vancouver? No. I mean, these guys decide on their own, not the media and the fans. These kids that are developing at their own rate, guys decide on their own, not the media and the fans.

These kids that are developing at their own rate, they decide on their own when they're going to become NHL regulars. And I think, look, this pro scout was raving about Mancini, like, you know, but is he an NHL regular next year? We don't know. Time will tell. When the Bullets fly next year in the regular season and we'll see if he can be that guy.

But he could he be the six, seven guy that replaces Juleson? I think so. He could be that six, seven guy that, you know, if they don't resign Juleson, but just a great story and they're doing it without their number one center at two rat two. Um, so just, you know, enjoy this playoff run.

It's the only one we got for hockey. I'm just glad we survived using Coke and the Emmy without getting pulled off the air. Listen, I'm going to send an email to the Canucks today. Do not ask that guy, do not acquire that guy. And you want to know something else in his draft here, in his draft here, the Canucks absolutely love that guy.

Loved him. But do not get this guy, because I don't care if he scores 10 goals in a game, I'm not saying his name. Rick, this was great buddy. Thanks for taking the time to do it. As always, enjoy the weekend, dude. Adios.

Rick Dollywell, Canucks reporter, intrepid Canucks reporter here on the Halford and Brough Show on Sportsnet. That was an interesting nugget about Kevin Biaxor there. Yeah, I'm not surprised that people have been calling about him. I think a lot of people are just wondering about his future. I'm sure Rogers is like Please stay. Yeah, he's great. I don't like he's in he's just got he's got good chemistry with Elliot Friedman I think so, you know I wonder if he'd be better suited for behind the bench or in an executive role.

That was where I, my mind went because he's got good ideas about the game. Like coaching is, um, it's very stressful. Like there's not a lot of NHL coaches that go into the job and look better when they exit the job, you know? Yeah. Like it weighs on you.

So handsome too. You don't want that. You don't want to, you don't want to ruin that. You want to go bald and gain 30 pounds? Be an NHL head coach. I mean, it is. The bald per 60 on NHL coaches is extremely high. I got it. The only higher thing I've seen is soccer referees.

There's a lot of bald soccer referees, both stressful jobs. I think that there's a correlation there between the amount of stress and losing your hair. I You're already excited Patrick Alveon is like no I'm just imagining Alvin colding a press room be like we thought about signing this player But we didn't want to do it to Dulli wall, so we decided against it go We make our decisions based around his pronunciate. I sure hope they don't go after a coke in the hand I sure hope they don't go not good And and I there's a small contingent of Hurricane's Twitter, Kane's Twitter, not the actual physical Hurricane.

And they are just, they are like, this was such a terrible idea from the moment that they signed. He'll be gone, I think. The moment that they signed the offer sheet. He could be bought out. But you're gonna have to sign some guys that don't necessarily look like slam dogs and they're gonna have to turn into something.

Is he not a candidate? Is it the least surprising thing that we hear that they might circle back on Brock Besser because they're probably looking at the situation that we've been going over endlessly on the show. Like, how are they going to do this? They're running out of guys. How are you going to target, you know, some people

want Alex Tuck out of Buffalo. Okay. What are you giving Buffalo for Alex Tuck? They're going to be asking for a lot for that guy. Yep. Big, fast winger. But then you're in a situation with goaltending where you're like, okay, well we've got Lankanen and. Artie Seeloff. Seeloff or even Lankaninen. They got Lankinen wrapped up and Levi on the way. And Lankinen and who, right? Well, you could get a goalie back in the trade. That's true. I know, but...

You get the upgrade. I don't know if you want a goalie from Buffalo. Well, back up, it'd be fine. Who is that? Well, but it isn't, because I don't think Lankinen is such a high level goalie that you're sitting there going like, we're confident every time he goes out there, he's going to give us a great performance like we need to just keep our Expectations in check with Lankan in two

He's not Demko. No, he's not Demko at his best a different person. He's a completely different person from different places But he's how old is he? How long has he taken to to establish himself? How old is he how long has he taken to to establish himself? 728 in in the league like Demko like it's 30. Yeah, yeah Lincoln I've been around for a while. He started late and I'm not saying he's get he's getting old. I'm just saying like He's had one season where he's played quite well, and I think we probably gave him More praise than we normally would have because he kind of saved the Canucks season early on. Right, and even though the season was at this point.

Where's overall numbers off the charts? Was he ever in the Vezna conversation? Because Thatcher Demko was. Yep, no, I get exactly what you're saying. And I don't think they should trade Demko. I think if they got a legitimate shot of getting back to the playoffs next year, it's going to be on the strength of a healthy Demco,

Lankton in tandem and a healthy defense as we laid out earlier, where you've got Mancini and DP playing. I do think that like that'll add a couple different things. The useful exuberance that sometimes you need sometimes you do need on a team It changes the vibe of the dynamic of the room and the team and also two guys that are gonna be playing on Entry level deals and that's important from a cap or you trade demko for a see that they bit How they need and it's lankan in and see loves is the 1a 1b

Please stop talking. Okay, we gotta go to break. You're listening to the best of Halford and brough