Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 5/9/25

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

Jason Brough and guest host Jamie Dodd look back at the previous day in sports, plus they get a Canucks update from commentator Bob "The Moj" Marjanovich & 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 Now to McDavid with the broom, gets in over the line across, Drisetto scores! Wilson turns across the score! John Curleson on a great feeter class! Authorities say the phony pope can be recognized by his high top sneakers and incredibly foul mouth. Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend. incredibly foul mouth ladies and gentlemen, the weekend. Good morning. Welcome to how for the broth here on sports net six 50, howford taking the extra day.

No rushing back here. He's going to make sure he's a hundred percent. When he gets back on the show. So I'm Jamie dot filling in again for Mike Halperd today. Brough, what's going on, man? Good morning. How are you? Great. Poor how Friday? How far still wearing a non contact jersey? I'm very much. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And the coach is like, you know, well, I think maybe you can go today. And how it's like, man,

I think it's gonna be another day. Go. What is it? Friday? OK, I'll go ahead and take another day coach. What is it Friday? Yeah, okay Hey dog, what's going on? Good morning. Good morning laddie. Hello. Hello. You see how I didn't say anything else there Thank you. Just let me you know, I felt so natural. Yes, but now you're going on about so natural ruined it So yeah kind of cutting away at the natural feeling sense of it Yeah, anyways It's yeah kind of cutting away at the natural feeling sense of it Anyways, however in breath in the morning brought to you by sands and associates BC's first and trusted choice for debt help with over 3,000 five-star reviews visit sands-trusty.com This hour of the show 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, Vancouver's premier metal recycler, pays the highest prices on scrap metal. North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle, you get paid 11.70 Powell Street. We are coming to you live from the Kintec Studio. Kintec Footwear and Orthotics working together with you in step. All right, we got a lot going on on the show today and I'll just say right now, 650 650 is the Dumbar Lumber Text Line. So before I even get into the guest list,

we're giving away not one, not two, three prizes, a trio of prizes over the course of the show today. First, we're giving away a pair of tickets to see the who on September 23rd at Rogers Arena. These tickets are not available yet, so this is your chance to beat the box office. Here's how you do it. Be caller 5 at 8 o'clock. The number is 604-280-0650. Caller 5 at 8.

Don't call at 759. Call at 8 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see the Who on September 23rd. That's giveaway number one. Giveaway number two. A pair of tickets to the Vancouver Canadiens Bailey on Saturday May 17th Hazel May will be there if you want those tickets be caller 5 at 815 so that's 815 for the C's and again 604 280 0650 call it 8 o'clock for the who 815 for the C's tickets and of course on a Friday we're giving away a hundred dollar gift card to AJ's pizza for the best what we learned or ask us anything so start getting those submissions in now again 650 650 to the Dunbar lumber text line we've already got a bunch in so the competition has started get yours in try to beat Mike the urologist from Brockville who of course can't use the gift card anyways because he's in Brockville But anyways send your submissions and now we'll announce the winner at 830. Those are the giveaways Here's who we have on the show today 630 Sam Cosentino from sports net of course does great work covering the draft and then angel prospects

But also covering the games during the Stanley Cup playoffs as part of the panel So lots we can get into with Sam at 630 at 7. We'll chat with AJ from AJ's Pizza, find out about what's going on at the shop this weekend. 730 Bob the Mojmarjanovic joins us. He was doing some interesting reporting about the future of Rick Tauke on social media yesterday. So we can chat with the Moj about that and other things happening in the NHL as well. And then of course at 8'clock, Rick Dollywall, I am not privy to the notes that Rick has sent you, but I could probably guess. Yeah, we're going to go. We're going to talk about

can I guess? Yeah. Coaching vacancy. Where talk is going to land the lander. Yeah, I think that's it. That's it. I know. I know. Rick, I'll pray. Yeah, I think that's it. That's it. Yeah. All right. I know, I know how Rick operates. Yeah, you got it. Pretty good sense of where we're going.

Yeah. With Rick Dollywall. So eight o'clock Rick Dollywall, 7.30 the Moat. I think he's more invested in the Willander situation than frankly- Than Tom Willander? Tom Willander or even the Vancouver Canucks at this point. Todd Diamond's like,

I don't even talk to Willander about it this much. He's way, he's way more- more I am outraged on on your behalf then eight o'clock Rick Dollywall 730 the mode 7 AJ from AJ's pizza 630 Sam Cosentino from sports net first though let's tell everyone what happened hey did you guys see the game last night? No. What happened? I missed all the action because I was... We know how messy your life can be. What happened? You missed that?

What happened? What Happened is brought to you by the BC Construction Safety Alliance, making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit bccsa.ca. I'll get the less interesting game out of the way first. The Washington Capitals even their series with the Caroline Hurricanes at one game each thanks to a 3-1 win. Connor McMichael, John Carlson scored, Tom Wilson added the empty netter for the caps. I really don't have a lot to add to this game.

Let's talk about Vegas and the Oilers. This feels like a round one series. So let's go to Vegas and the Oilers, which was very entertaining Leon dry saddle scored late in the first overtime period off the rush of a nice feed from Connor McDavid The Oilers beat the Golden Knights 5-4 to take a two nothing series lead and not just a two nothing series lead They won both games in Vegas to take a two nothing series lead and not just a two nothing series lead. They won both games in Vegas to take a two nothing series lead. So Edmonton sitting extremely pretty to advance to the conference finals after winning a pair of games in Vegas to open the series. So Edmonton's 10 games away from winning the cup.

Toronto's 10 games away from winning the cup. It's nerve wracking. The nightmare scenario winning the cup. It's nerve wracking. The nightmare scenario is unfolding here. It is nerve wracking times. Lots of talking points from last night. But actually, I'm going to pick a talking point that mentions both series in a weird way. All right.

Okay. I think the most disappointing player from last night was Aiden Hill. Yes. The goalie for the Vegas Golden Knights. And of course Vegas traded Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals last off season. Did they make the right call? And who they picked?

Laddie, what do you think? Did they make the right call? Aiden Hill or Logan Thompson? I don't know, I still like Aiden Hill. like he was up for Team Canada at the Four Nations. He's still a pretty quality goaltender. He won the one time. What did you think of him last night? Wasn't great. Wasn't great.

Obviously not the performance they were looking for, but I still think there's time to come back. There's time to bounce back. So I think- Not a lot. Yeah, not a ton of time. They're running low on time. But I still think he's a quality goaltender. So when you get to this point in the playoffs, you're gonna get picked apart.

There's guys that are playing fine that are just not gonna rise to the level that all the other players are at, because you're around into the playoffs already. So it's tough to nitpick a guy like Aiden Hill, who's won it before. Okay, well, look, we will talk about this Vegas Oilers series, but I did want to bring up just

because that was a bit of an angle yesterday, right? Aiden Hill doesn't have the best game. Logan Thompson gets a win for the Washington Capitals. Now you'll remember the Washington Capitals last year traded away Darcy Kemper to the LA Kings as part of the Dubois

trade. And I think a lot of people are looking at Washington, what Washington did last season as a quasi blueprint for the Canucks, right? I know Washington made the playoffs. So it wasn't like they had the season that the Canucks had this season, but they made some risky moves, wouldn't you say? Oh yeah. This off season and acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois, trading away Kemper, putting their faith in a goalie like Logan Thompson. They made some

other nice acquisitions like Manji Apani from Calgary, Chikran, they bring him in, and then they also pay him quite a bit. And some people have made the point that, well, maybe the Washington Capitals are a blueprint for the Canucks. So they used Kemper as an asset, right? Is that fair to say? Like he was an asset, like LA wanted Kemper?

Yeah, I don't know if that's necessarily how I would characterize it because it was more LA just wanted off the Dubois contract, right? So I don't know if it was so much LA being like, oh we really need Kemper as it was Washington saying we'll take Dubois but to offset it a little bit you need to take Kemper. That's more my read on the situation Okay, no, not that LA. I mean, obviously they're very pleased with how Kemper played this year and I'm sure there was interest in it, but it was more of the cat machinations than interest in the player. I think it's fair to say. Okay.

Well, regardless of that. Well, never mind. Let's, regardless of that, Patrick Alveen has said that he likes his goaltending and his likes his defense the way they are. And it's led some of us to wonder, okay, well, man, I get, okay, if you like your defense, then, you know, some of us, including myself have just wondered like, would you trade Hronik?

Right. You know, like, cause that's one of the assets that you could have that if you're trying to fix the forward group, maybe you consider trading Hronik because you like some of the pieces you got on the right side coming up, if they ever signed Tom Willander. Just an idea.

I think some of us have suggested, would you trade Thatcher Demko? Mm-hmm. Do you think he would? Because he said he likes his defense and he likes his goaltending. Would he mess with that? Well, would they, I think is a really interesting question, but there's definitely a scenario where

they should because you can talk extension with that your Demco right now. And Demco said, Hey, I want to stay. And they said, Hey, we want to keep you. That's great. They could have very different ideas about what the numbers look like. Yeah. And Jim Rutherford said, I think he's like, we'd have to share the risk on this. Yes.

So if they have different ideas about what that risk looks like, you know what you shouldn't do? Go into the season with Thatcher Dempco as a pending unrestricted free agent. And you have an idea that his number is wildly different than your number, right? Like that's exactly what you shouldn't do. They have to know his number. They really should have these negotiations over it just to see. And maybe you think, okay, it's close enough. We're not worried about it. We think we can get it done.

Yeah, there's risk because if he stays healthy and performs really well, that number is going to skyrocket. But hey, then at least we have our goalie performing really well. You can kind of finesse it there if you're close at the start. But if there's a significant gap and you kind of say, man, I don't know, I don't like our chances to bridge this and if he gets hurt again, like that's tough. You have to explore the market for Thatcher Dempco this year

if the chances of an extension that make both sides happy don't appear high. Like it's just, you already saw. But what is his value on the trade market? That's the, he might have more value just to the Vancouver Canucks at least, who I don't know if you've heard this before, but sometimes they just live year to year.

Yeah. Sometimes they don't. Wow, year to year, that's an improvement. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's true. Sometimes they don't kind of extrapolate things two or three or four or five years out. They just be like, this guy here, we need him.

Yeah. So we're going to keep him. Um, and sometimes, sometimes they let their players walk away for nothing at the end of the season, even though they say they're not going to do that. So if I'm, it's a fun game, they like to play with us.

It's a fun game. If I'm Patrick Alveen and Jim Rutherford, and I know that, and this is a problem, I'm not saying this is right, but I know that I need to get my team back to the playoffs. Yep. I'm extremely hesitant to trade Thatcher Demko. Sure.

I am because then you got to bring it out, you've got to find another goalie. Um, you know, in the, in Washington's case, they did really well. They traded away Kemper and they got Logan Thompson. Right. But I don't think you're just going to go with any old backup in the situation that the connects are going to have, are going to have, because I think as it stands right now, you're looking at the scenario where if everyone, if Demco's healthy, they could have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL next season.

Do you want to mess with that? But you have to take, you want to mess with that? But you have to take you have to be willing to take risks, right? Like yeah, you have something that could work out But there's also Downside with Demko as we've seen over last year, right? He could get hurt he could play, you know 15 games for you next year 20 games for you And then you're really riding Lankton and you have to bring someone up from the AHL I think the other part of it is if you're in that management group and I think this is like an asset that Jim Rutherford has I don't think Jim Rutherford is scared of replacing players and you can look at it hey we just

signed Kevin Lankanen after training camp started brought him in and put him in a position to succeed and he had a great year for us and we signed him to this contract. Why not at least be bold enough and confident enough to bet on yourself to do that again? Hey, we just signed a goalie for not very much and he came in and played really well for us. Maybe we can do that again and pair him with Kevin Lankton. And I think the fact that you have to know that guy before you do anything with Demko. I think they also the fact that they signed Lankin into that extension, not that it rules out a Demko extension, but I think it makes it more complicated. It caps the number that you're willing to pay Demko at because you're paying Kevin Lankin

in way more than just a typical backup salary now. You're paying him to be part of a goalie tandem. How much are you going to pay Thatcher Demko on top of that I think the most likely scenario just knowing how this team operates is that Demko is back but you asked the question of how much value would he have now let's look at Vegas right if Aiden Hill flames out in this series and doesn't you know doesn't use the time he has to turn things around and they lose to Edmonton like Vegas is a famously twitchy trigger happy team. Do they say, you know what, we got one, thatcher Demko one year, no long-term commitment, 5 million.

And we got a goalie who at his best is one of the top two or three in the league. I think there would be a lot of value for certain teams around the league. Carolina, a team that always has goaltending questions, right? But there's always going for the Stanley Cup, not afraid to make bold moves, even if it's just for the short term. I think there would absolutely be teams that look at the upside of Thatcher Demko and say, all we need from him is, you know, 35 games in the regular season and healthy in the playoffs and we're willing to pay an asset to have that upside come playoff

time. Okay, there's another guy I want to talk about on the Edmonton Oilers and there's a Vancouver angle here because he's from here. Evander Kane for the Edmonton Oilers. This guy has been a very nice addition to them in the playoffs this season. He didn't play a single regular season game for them. And I still want to know everything about this story because it's weird to me, the whole thing was weird. The weirdest part of this was around the trade

deadline when the Oilers were talking about, okay, well, whether or not we're going to use our cap space that Evander Kane has given us to acquire someone at the deadline. And there were reports out there that Evander Kane has given us to acquire someone at the deadline. And there were reports out there that Evander Kane might want to play a few regular season games before the playoffs. And I'm like, are you guys not on the same page here? It seemed like it.

Like it seemed, the whole thing seemed weird. Now I don't even, I actually don't even know if the Oilers ever did use that cap space that they had. I don't think they did really. Right? Like what did they do with the deadline? No, they got like Wallman. Yeah. They had other cap space to work with. It wasn't like they made this big home run acquisition using, it wasn't a Vegas scenario. Because they had accrued some cap space. Yeah. Like the Canucks did too, no avail. But, um, you know, the, the, the whole thing

from how the surgeries that he had seemed to be slow played, like he had some surgeries after the summer and, you know, you hear stories like it's August or September and like, if Andrew Kane's in this golf tournament here. Isn't he hurt? Isn't he, like, what's going on here? And then he has these surgeries

and he misses the entire season, but then he doesn't play game one of the playoffs, right? I think that's what happened. Like, he didn't play right away. And a lot of people wondered, well, is this just, you know, how the NHL was like, like we're watching this LTIR stuff. So some teams kind of went, wow, we won't play our guy for, for game one, just to avoid the investigation, essentially.

He doesn't play that. And then they eventually bring it back. Right. Don't like, don't, do you think we're getting the entire story on this? I'm sure we're not do you think it says do you think it's as Simple as do you think it's as simple as? We had the surgeries when we felt the right time was and

It was just I guess lucky for the Edmonton Oilers that He was ready to go second game of the playoffs or whatever it was. Yep. Right. And now he's been added to this roster and, you know, say what you will about the Vander Kane, the person, because, you know, things have

been said, let's just say, he is a hell of a hockey player when he's engaged and ready to go. Like he is a big, big boy that can score goals. I have never had an issue with the way he plays the game. And I did wonder how effective he would be because he's getting on in years and he's had a few injuries, but he has added a lot to do others.

And I think when you add guys like Kane to the lineup, and you also have pod Colson seeming to take his game to a bit of a higher level and he is very physical. Like that is two very physical players that if they're engaged in the playoffs, they're going to be tough to handle. The, the interesting thing about the Kane LTI injury story is usually when there's these somewhat fishy LTI going into the playoff things, one, the team uses the cap space, right?

They do something notable with it, and like really notable. Two, you always get the sense that the player and the team are on the same page. Right? Like Tampa and Vegas are the two poster childs for it. And those are model flagship franchises for the NHL. And you get the sense that they've put in the work to manage the relationship with the player. So the player is like, OK, I get what's going on here. That's fine.

I'm willing to play ball here. You never got that sense. With the Weathers and the Vanderkeet, it always seemed there's conflicting reports. That's fine. I don't want to come play ball here. You never got that sense. There's no Vanderkate. It always seemed there's conflicting reports. Oh, he could be ready in February. You know, at the beginning of the season there's we'll see what's going to happen. I mean, it's a Vander Kane. So I think there's always the conversation about is he on the same page with his team and the organization. Right. And yeah, it's despite all of that, it's working out really well for Edmonton. They got like, so it seems like now you look back and it was like, what was all this talk about? Why? What was going on here? What was going on? That's all I

want to know on the same page. Yeah, it's a very strange situation, but as you said, I mean, he can be a really significant force and they like I get McDavid and dry subtle incredible In the first round Corey Perry was their third best forward and that's a tough That's gonna be a tough way to win a cup right with Corey Perry at this day with all the respect At this stage of his career totally ten years ago amazing They need other guys to step up and a Vander Kane can be part of that for them if they're gonna go Back to the Stanley Cup final this year. I'm still watching that game and I'm like, do others can't win with Pickard?

Can they? Can they win with, I don't know. I guess they've won six in a row with them. I know it's just like, yeah, we can cause we have McDavid and dry saddle. McDavid walked Jack Eichel. Jack Eichel is my one to watch yesterday. He's got to step up and do something against McDavid. And then he did not. Should have over time should have tripped them seriously. Should have just like, I don't't know like tackle them at the feet Well, they just missed a brutal trip from Arvidsson on McNabb. Yeah, so it's like he should have been like well anything goes Prison rules out here. Well, even if he knew he was gonna get a penalty. Yeah, I should have tripped him

There are a couple times in The overtime frame where McDavid just and and of course there was that five minute major where I still don't know what Nick Wall was thinking. Like a wild one. That is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen in overtime in the playoffs. I have no idea what was going through his head. You know, even the broadcasters were like,

well, is he, was he trying to play the puck in a cross checking motion to the other guy's face? I don't think so that was that the whole thing was no the button wasn't there and I'm a big Nick Wa guy like I think he's awesome. He's a terrific hockey player I think he's one of like super underrated never heard of the cross check pass. Come on. Yeah, that was So weird. Do you see the oilers Paris? They're like, what's going on? Everyone stopped on the ice even like, even Vegas was like, what? Nikki, buddy, what are you doing? There's a face mask.

At any rate, uh, McDavid skating in overtime, because there was space out for him, especially though it was a five minute power play, right? It, it is, it is absolutely incredible to watch when he picks up speed through the neutral zone and just attacks. If you're a defenseman, it must be terrifying for McDavid to be flying down the ice and you're like yelling at your forwards like, Hey, you want to like maybe get in his way a little bit because they're way back there. Like, I'm trying.

Yeah. Just like, and then, and then here's the thing. Do you have a guy like dry side, all to pass it to where McDavid can finish by himself if he wants, but he's more often than not looking for dry side. And you just know that those guys are, they have such good communication and such good chemistry that they almost know like where Dry Cytl is going to go, where

he's going to pop out into. And he knows exactly where he wants to puck on his stick. And more often than not, he gets it. Right. I mean, it is to watch those two together. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit.

The demand's probably like, McDavid's bearing down on me. This is bad. Well, at least it can't get any worse. Looks to his left, Dry Cytles. This is worse. And Dry Cytles there is like, I'm going to bury this. And he knows he is. Not even the camp.

Forget the chemistry. Like, Dry Cytles is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL. His shot is outrageous. He's hit 50 goals, like, how many times now in his career? It's your Connor McDavid and your sidekick is like the third best player in the NHL who is absolutely elite in his own right. And that's the second option on that rush, right? Like everyone is focused on Connor McDavid.

And then the third best player in the NHL can just like sneak away and get open. It's a nice, it's a nice thing to have on your team. Yeah, there I mean, there's a very, very small part of me that does want. Well, there's a big part of me that wants McDavid to win the Cup, but just not with the others. Yeah, I get that. You know, absolutely get that. You want him to be like the next I want him to win.

Crosby, right? Hey, you want to be in Vancouver, Canadian? Just go somewhere else and then win the cup. It'd be great. It'd be a great story. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.

We are joined by Bob the Moj Marjanovic. Hey Moj, I know this wasn't in your prep notes, but I do want to get your thoughts on this. There's a report out there that Bill Belichick's 24 year old girlfriend has been banned from the University of North Carolina. It doesn't sound like Bill's family is very happy with his choice in girlfriend. What do you think is going on right now? And like, do you think is going on right now and do you think if his girlfriend gets banned from the University of North Carolina, is he going to be coaching there this year? Man, how bizarre is it?

She's younger than I believe a couple of his kids if I'm not mistaken. It's just a weird situation and for her to get banned from the, I don't know the details, but clearly I'm thinking of it's probably some way she, you know, interacted with someone, um, to get to that point. But what are you, what are you thinking, Bill? You know, they say it's a fine line between a genius and insanity. I mean, I know what he's thinking. I know what he's thinking. No, come on. No, no, no, no. I'm passing on that. Like, that's young enough to be your grandchild.

Right? No, no, it's, it's, it's creepy. I'm sorry. Like, no. Well, and like Bill, since when does Bill Belichick need someone to like step in and interviews for him? You know, he's how long has he spent handling the media and Hey, he can deflect questions when he wants to. He can shut down questions when he wants to. He's really good at that. It will like, why does he need someone who, as you say, is almost 50 years younger than him to step in and shield him from questions?

It just looks totally bizarre. Guys, I have no answers. Uh, like I said, I'm just, I'm perplexed. It's just, I mean, think about it. 50 years younger than you, right? It's no, it's just. And running his show. And running his show.

Yeah. It's just, it's, it's creepy. It's something's not right. I'm sorry. Something is definitely not right. Um, what did you make of the, the news out of, uh, Canucks ownership that, uh, Paulo is no what did you make of the news out of, uh, Canucks ownership that, uh, Paulo is no longer part of the group.

Well, something that, you know, has been kicking around for a while, I actually wrote about this of probably about three weeks ago in my column for black press where I talked about, um, fundamental, uh, fundamental changes at the organizational level. And this was one of them. I mean, it's been out there for a while I know Patrick Johnson from the

province kind of expanded on it but there's obviously a situation where Paulo Aquilini has been estranged from the hockey club I guess and he is looking to get out of not only the team but I believe all of the Aquilini business properties or, you know, business interests. So if they're going to write them a check, man, that's, that's going to be a rather, rather large check, right?

So you wonder how this is impacting the team behind the scenes. I mean, there have been rumblings that they might be for sale. I mean, Nick Kipriels talked about this a while ago. I know you guys had them on. Um, so it's, it's going to be interesting to see that they might be for sale. I mean, Nick Hippereals talked about this a while ago. I know you guys had them on.

So it's gonna be interesting to see how this impacts the hockey club because clearly everything starts at the top. You know, you look at any successful team, it starts at the top and having stability with ownership and having good ownership. And right now you wonder where that stability is. Yeah. I wonder if they're gonna have to bring in some minority investors.

Yeah, possibly. I wouldn't surprise me if they do. It wouldn't surprise me at all. We now go to the hotline powered by Power West industries where we are joined by cohost of Donnie and Dolly on check TV, Rick Dollywall. Dollywall, what's going on, man? All good. All good. It's a Friday. It's Friday. The weekend is here. It's all good. Correct. What's the latest you're hearing on the Canucks coach and search? Well, I wanted to start with talk it, but if you want to start with it, I didn't get the notes. I'm winging it here. You start with talking.

You go where you want to go, Rick. No, no, it's okay. I'll start with talking because like, I'm not surprised that he's talking to teams on the West coast. You know, when word leaked out that he had talked to Seattle, a lot of people were like, hold it a second. Jim Rutherford said, he's only going to coach back East. Well, those comments by Rutherford did catch some people off guard. Tocket was always going to listen to all teams. It would have been crazy for him to eliminate teams

because of geography or location. Now, there is a ton of interest right now in Tocket. It's a hot market for him. He's setting up an interview with Boston right now, I believe, Seattle and Philadelphia. Lots of interest would not surprise anyone if those two teams had made some pretty good offers to Tocket.

If you're looking for a coach right now, you have contacted Tucket's agent, but man, if he ends up in Seattle, the optics are not going to look good. That's going to sting for the Canucks. The guy that Canucks really wanted back, really, really wanted back is going to leave for a team two years, two hours down the highway. Signing in Seattle would look like Tocket is

rubbing it in Vancouver's nose intentionally. But, but put your, put yourself in his position, what do you do? He's friends with Ron Francis, Jason Boderill, the crack can really, really like him. Um, but I'll tell you one thing, Tocket in Seattle would do wonders for a rivalry that is not a rivalry right now, right?

There's not much going on with Seattle and Vancouver play. He usually takes a playoff series or a line brawl or something like that, but there's nothing there now. And here's another one for you guys, Tocket's going to get termed, right? He's going to get four, five, six years. And can you imagine him four, five, six years in Seattle? So that's going to get four, five, six years and can you imagine him four, five, six years in Seattle? So that's going to be interesting. Not sure that Tocket was a finalist in Anaheim but have been told lots of discussions with the Ducks and

Tocket. There's going to be good offers for Tocket money wise but I've been told this is not about money for talk it because if it was about money talk it would have taken the Vancouver offer because the Vancouver offer was very very good there's a lot of things to consider for talk it when he picks his new team when I think a pocket leaving Vancouver I think of what John Cooper said this week member Tampa Bay season ended and everybody all the connects go get cooper all can actually go get cooper well cooper said

and i'm quoting him if there is an organization better than this one i don't see it it exudes it's class from the order all the way down for me it's hard to be seen anywhere else why didn't pocket feel like cooper? He could have stayed and said the same things Cooper said about Tampa Bay. If you're

really, really happy and you're treated well, nobody leaves an organization. Cooper mentioned how great the owner was. That's how you run a team properly and that's how you keep important people like owner, like Cooper, you do it right from the top and it filters on down um talk it's going to be on tnt this weekend there's a great relationship between talk it and the tv station he may do a couple of dates in the next round as well but the priority is and always has been to be back behind the bench next year not on tv full-time but we'll obviously see how this plays out behind the bench next year not on TV full time but we'll obviously see how this plays out. When you talk to people around the league more than one person

has told me there's a lot of openings but there's not enough quality candidates. Do you keep hiring the same old names? Where are the good young coaches in the American Hockey League? The first two hires we've seen in the past week Sullivan and Quenville, veteran guys just relocating and how bad is it? Nothing against Quenville, but he hasn't coached in three and a half years. So you're telling me that there's seven openings. There's a ton of guys to look at and you're going to a guy that hasn't coached

in three and three and a half years. So that is the one thing I've been told quite a bit, a lot of openings, but just not enough quality candidates out there. Yeah. I, I mean, tell me I'm wrong here, but this just to me, Philly has seemed like the most obvious fit forever, just because I think they're looking to set their culture and talk.

It would be a big part of that, but just as Philly roots. I mean, when I think of Rick Taukett, I think Flyers. Absolutely. Absolutely. And he's got that built in relationship with Keith Jones, right? Um, he's a Philly guy.

Uh, he's probably one of the best power forwards ever to play in, in Philadelphia. They love them. I would not like another town that is like Philly is Boston, right? Uh, blue collar, uh collar team, blue collar city. I think Cam Neely really likes Rick Docket and I think that you know that's another thing. I'm like I'm not ruling any city out for Docket. I've just been told the market is hot for him, but it's also been what a week since he left Vancouver over a week and the deal's not done in Philly it's not done

with anyone and now that he's going and doing these TV gigs he's probably not going to sign on the weekend he's also got an interview in Boston but the biggest key for me about talk it is you know you see all these guys on Canucks Twitter do you know the same group who work together, the talk, it's a crappy coach. If he's a crappy coach, why the hell has he got seven teams after him? Why has he got all this, why is the market hot for him? Like why is it hot?

Like why has he got teams everywhere calling him? And if he's such a bad coach, he would have zero calls, like he would literally have zero calls and no interest. That's not the case. Like he's got really, really good market for him and where he ends up. But you're right though, Jason, everybody's just connecting the Philly, but I've, I just been told

that, um, that the, it's a hot market for him and it's going to be interesting to see where he ends up. Uh, okay. So I'm just going to go back to the,illy, but I've just been told that it's a hot market for him and it's going to be interesting to see where he ends up. Uh, okay. Um, where are all the good young coaches? Because a good young coach is maybe what the Vancouver Canucks need. Yeah, absolutely.

I do believe that Adam Foote is still in the mix for the Canucks. I'm not hearing that he's told the organization I'm going elsewhere, I won't be back. So I think foot's still in there. I said this on the show, our show earlier this week, the more and more people you talk to and ask about Vancouver,

you just keep hearing Manny Moultrie's name. You really do. So the last four coaches the Canucks have signed, two from the American League, Travis Green and Willie Desjardins, two experienced guys in Boudreaux and Toquette. Are they any better today than they were four years ago, whether they hired a rookie or

a guy with experience? Right? Um, for those people that say Malholtra doesn't have NHL coaching experience, she's got seven years in the NHL, um, as an assistant coach. So that clearly matters. So let me take you to the Hurricanes and Rod Brindamore. He got the chance in Carolina with no NHL experience. Now he's one of the best coaches in the league.

Jim Rutherford played a role in Brindamore going from a player to a coach in Carolina. Rutherford has done this before. He is no stranger to giving guys chances if he believes in them. Like, if you do the research on Bryndamore in Carolina, you will see Jim Rutherford's fingerprints on Bryndamore A first getting into coaching

after he retired. There was just a really good relationship there between the two Rutherford was in attendance at the Abbas for playoff game a couple of nights ago. Mulholland is not hurting his chances with every postseason win but if Manning keeps on winning and the Canucks don't name a coach then you'll know that he's the guy because if he goes all the way to the American Hockey League final and let's say he wins the Calder Cup they still haven't named their guy well guess

what if you're gonna keep waiting for Manny you're gonna lose some candidates who are saying hey we need an answer but in the Canucks are saying okay well we're gonna wait on the Ultra. The Canucks are interviewing and I said this on Monday the Canucks are interviewing a lot of American Hockey League coaches. Are you really going to hire another American Hockey League guy in another city when you got Manny here? You know, he would be gone in a second. One more thing about Malholtzra, he does deserve credit for what he's done in Abbotsburg, but do not underestimate the impact the Sedin twins have on developing young guys. Their presence in Abbotsburg is very important and

they've done a tremendous job down there as well. So you know what. Could the Sadeens be on as coaching staff if they hire Mahoultra? That's Adog's dream right now. Yeah, you know, but, um, they haven't even been behind an NHL bench. No, I know.

I mean, yeah, they're doing, if you go with Mahoultra, you got to hire a couple of veteran guys, remember Mike Yod type guy. Yeah. And the guy that's, you know, being through the rigors of the national hockey league as a coach, but, um, I would hire experience if you're going to go with Moultrie, get a couple

of really good vets. And, and I don't know, like right now, I can't sit here and tell you what Adam Foote're going to go with where foot's gonna go. Like he is to me a very important piece here. Like I think if you can keep Adam Foot, you hear the defenseman rave about this guy, his teaching ability, right? I think if Adam Foot left it would be a big void to fill and I really do. I think that this franchise should find a way to keep that guy. Rick, on Malhotra and I mean, I guess the coaching search generally Satyarshah, our colleague here put out on Twitter yesterday, you know, there's no guarantee that Malhotra would accept the job if offered.

We heard from Elliot Friedman on 32 thoughts that was released this morning saying, yeah, they're talking to Marco Sturm. And one of the things they like is he's really interested in the job. And you put those two together, like, is there some concern concern that okay, even if Malhotra is their number one candidate that they're going to be able to land their number one candidate. Is there any concern that they're going to be able to attract and sign the guy they want to be their next head coach? Yeah, well there's factors and the one factor no one's talking about is money.

Like okay, so the Canucks stepped up and they made talk at one whale of an offer. Like I got to give them credit. It really made talk it think. And so is your new coach in Vancouver, is he going to get the talk it contract? I don't think so. Are you going a little bit cheaper on the hire? Right? Are you going a little bit cheaper on the higher right like? Travis green when he got the job in Vancouver his first contract wasn't much

You know Willie Desjardins contract his first probably wasn't much Boudreaux was the guy that got a good bump and then now talking it just like there's so many factors Timing like are you going like this Pascal Vincent guy in Lavelle who I think is on the Canucks radar as well and he's still coaching like there's so many factors to predict there's timing like other coaches are still coaching I mentioned Mitch Love in the market there's a guy that a lot of teams like but guess what he's coaching with the Capitals how can you predict how can you sit here and predict which way the Canucks are going to go when there's candidates who are still coaching?

What are you giving for money? Are you going to give four or five million to the new coach? Are you going to give two million to the coach? So I don't know. I, you could sit here and play the guessing game, I guess, Jamie, but it's so hard. There's so many factors.

Yeah. Tom Willander update. What's going on there? Well, I can tell you this much. We're getting close to the end. Um, it looks like we could get a decision on Will Lander by the end of next week or midweek or whatever. Will Lander's advisor, Todd Diamond is heading to

the world hockey championships in Sweden this weekend. He's going to meet with Tom and his family to discuss options available, which would also obviously include the Canucks. Keep this in mind, the World Hockey Championships is where teams from all the Euroleagues are there. They're meeting with agents to try and sign players for the upcoming season. This week will be pivotal to the future of the WillandardKanucks relationship. Reports earlier this week that the Kanucks are getting close to Willander, that's not true. There is still work to do. Everybody agrees that Willander should turn pro next year. I don't see him going back

to Boston. So he's going to turn pro either in Europe or with the Kanucks. If this kid signs overseas, the Kanucks are going to lose the day-to-day development of the player. Will Lander and Abbotsford next year working with Malholtz around the Sedin Twins or whoever's head coach or is he going to be in Europe working daily with no Canucks representation? I wish you guys could be on the phone when I was on the phone with Swedish national coach Sam Allam when he cut Will Lander. This guy was raving about Willander, elite skater, great in the corners, great in front of the net. He said he trusts him in his own end. That's pretty damn high praise for a 20-year-old defenseman at that level. It was so many NHL guys.

Willander is back home right now and he has started his off-season training. His father is a skills coach. It is an absolute shame this has gone on this far with the 11th overall pick, but at least this time next week, we should know where he's signing and it'll either be in Europe or it'll either be in Vancouver. If he goes to Europe, could that be the end of the relationship between Willander and the Canucks? Well, it's a really valid question. I mean, there's got to be concern from his side saying, like, what are we doing here?

You're picking a fight with an 11th overall pick over A bonuses. Like I don't even think the gap is that far. Like the gap is closed. The Canucks have gone up uh... but i mean i i'd that's a very valid question uh... jason i'd i would imagine whenever you have a stalemate between two sides and it's obviously everywhere in society when two people are arguing over some of the

the possibility of a going south due to the Canucks, if he picks Europe, do the Canucks include him in a deal to get a top six forward? Like there's a lot of things to play here. His future is his relationship with the Canucks fractured. I mean you'd have to ask him, but this isn't really good. I wouldn't feel good if I was him knowing I'm an 11th overall pick and we've been fighting over seven, eight, nine weeks over A bonuses. Like that's not a good look to pick a fight with. That's not a good way to start a relationship. I'll tell you that much. Yeah. And that's my next question, Rick. I mean, even if he does sign, let's say he signs next week and he's there in training camp next year when the season opens, is there any risk right now of

long-term damage to the relationship, even if it does get resolved in a positive way right now? We've seen numerous, RJ Umberger was a draft pick, I don't know if you guys remember that, but he wanted out, Canucks had issues with getting him in the contract and stuff like that. I think that fight was over bonuses too. I'd have to go back and check. I do remember his agent at the time, Mike Liu, saying that you know he wanted out. Look, Jamie it's hard. He could pick the conuxt next week. They could close the gap. Like I mean so it's all you know it's all it just should not be where we're at today.

He should be in it and here's another one for you. When he got caught on Monday gap. Like, I mean, so it's all, you know, it just should not be where we're at today. He should be in it. And here's another one for you. When he got caught on Monday morning, that's when the Canucks should have called him when he got cut in Sweden and said, Hey, let's work this out. Get on a plane, join Abbotsburg. Well, I've been told now that even if they sign next week with the Canucks, he's not going to come to Abbotsburg as of today because now you're taking someone spot navis burden which point you know what's the point i i do not believe that i i think as of now i can say

even if they sign in vancouver next year i don't think did the plan is for him to come to have a spirit it's too late and you know i know jet we missed uh... that came the other day i think he's got a the slight concussion or something like that but the you know injuries are going to happen who missed uh... became the other day i think he's got a the slight concussion or something like that but the you know injuries are gonna have that guy should be an avid spirit he's even if he's a black case working with many

uh... work with the twins and getting in in ingrained into the the connoisseur way did the others were way and just it would be such a feel-good story but they you know they're fighting over a bonuses they guys i want to talk about that your Demko just for a second. I'm hearing Demko is doing really well right now he's healthy and will have a normal summer training he's not rehabbing anything right now unlike last year which this is this is a massive positive because that guy returning to his Vezina form changes a lot of things in Vancouver.

And because you have Lankenen now who can play, look what Lankenen did for you games-wise so you know he's there, you don't have to overplay Demko next year. You have, if Demko returns to form, because he's going to have a great summer of normal training. Last year, he didn't even after his injury in the admin tip-note in Nashville, he didn't even get on the ice till July. So that's not happening. Like right now, he's in a good state. But what's his next contract going

to look like? There's obviously a lot of risk for the Canucks with injuries. The Canucks will not give better term. They won't go to seven or eight years did there'd be a deal i do get the correct credit they held firm on betters term at five will they do the same with them co is factoring in all the injuries uh... if you're the connects do you keep that term in the three-year range or lower i can't see a five or seven or eight year deal for damn close simply because

obviously there's a lot of risk on the vancouver side uh... lower. I can't see a five or seven or eight year deal for Demko simply because obviously there's a lot of risk on the Vancouver side. I just think that and I do, I have like Demko loves Vancouver guys. Like you hear guys who aren't happy and yada, yada, yada, but this guy truly likes being in Vancouver. That's going to be a fascinating negotiation for me. What happens with Demko. Yeah, and you say, well, can they keep it to three years? How much interest would Demko have in that? From the Canucks perspective, you'd love to keep it there,

but I'm not sure that's what Demko's looking for. Yeah, well, I know. Do you think Bezer's happy? No. Jamie, if he was happy, he would've signed by now. But Bezer might walk, that's my point, right? Like, what's gonna happen with Demko? Yeah, Demko can't walk for another year. You know, it's a different situation they got a year to play with here. But I'm just saying, like, I'm just spitballing that, look, this guy's healthy now,

he's gonna have a good summer. You know, the Canucks are gonna have, if he returns to Vez in a form, Canucks are gonna have a great one-two combo net. So the Canucks are going to have, if he returns to Vez in a form, Canucks are going to have a great one-two combo net. Goaltending is going to be the least of their issues next year. And you know, but if you can, what's his new deal going to look like? That's going to be interesting to me. By the way, Rick, before we let you go, you said you're hearing good things about Demko. He's in a great place.

He's healthy. His workouts are going great. Are you hearing any similar things about Elias Patterson? Haven't checked into him. I, I, well, you guys know, I talked to Sam Lam about better Sam talked to Patterson last week and Patterson told him that he's got a couple of, uh, injury things that he's, you know, that are holding them back from playing for the Swedes at the worlds. Like Sam obviously wanted him on that team because it's important I'll tell you why we're in an Olympic year and we're in an Olympic year and Patterson is most likely going to be on that Swedish Olympic team I'll be surprised if he's not like Sam Alam coached Patterson he loves him he

coached him before he came to Vancouver in Sweden and you know if Sam I don't know if Sam is going to be the head coach for the swedish team but he's always got something to do with the national team but he's a big fan of uh... peterson's i mean obviously peterson did not have a good four nations and we all saw that uh... but i i would find it really hard to believe he's not on that swedish olympic team

but it would have been nice i think if you would have went to the Worlds but he himself said no like he told Sam I got a couple of stuff happening on the injury front and he also told him he's in my best interest to be take the rest and come to Canucks training camp and be 100% healthy because guys whether you like it or not the single biggest factor for Vancouver next year is that guy returning to his 100 point form. Because if he does that, the Canucks will be in a lot better space than they were this year. No doubt about it, Rick. Great stuff as always, man. And yeah, next time you're chatting with Sam Helam, let's do a conference call.

Let's get in on it. Sam Helam, black Betty, play us some black Betty for me, come on! We'll try to get on that. Thank'm a lamb black Betty place a black Betty for me. Come on. Well, we'll try to get on that. Thank you. Rick. Appreciate it buddy. All right. All right. There is there's there's the hang up. The signature hang up from Rick Dollywall joining us from Donnie and Dolly on check TV. Shamalam. Yeah, we've been through this before. Every time he brings up Sam Alam. It makes me laugh every time he says it. He's also, most coaches you just,

like maybe the first time you'll be like Rick Tauke, but then in the next time you say it, you'll just say Tauke. Yeah, you know, he's a full name. Sam Alam every time. Sam Alam. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.