Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Rebuild Is Underway, Now Stick With It

Episode Date: March 6, 2026

In hour two, Mike & Jason do some Ask Us Anythings and answer listener questions about the Canucks rebuild (3:00), plus they discuss the latest news around the team on NHL Trade Deadline Day, as Sportsnet's Dan Murphy (26:41) joins the show.  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.

7.03 on a Friday. Happy Friday, everybody. It's a Fiesta Friday here on the Halpert & Brough show on SportsNet 650. Alfred & Brough of the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Do you have CRA debt? If you do, Sands and Associates can cut your debt by up to 80% with no upfront fees. Visiting today at Sands-Trustee.com. We are now in our two of the program. AJ from AJ Pete's on East Broadway. He's going to join us in just a moment here. Our two of this program is brought to by Jason Dominic at Jason. Mortgage, the most caliente of all the mortgage brokers. If you love giving the banks more of your money, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit them online at Jason.com.

We're coming live from the Kintech studio, New Year, New Opportunity for Comfort with Orthotics from Kintech. To the phone lines, we go, the co-owner and co-propriator of AJ's pizza. AJ joins us now on the Halfwood & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. What up, AJ? What is going on? Hey, I have a question. Shoot. throughout the year get those texts like from people and when you're not talking hockey you're

talking like football or soccer or anything else I got an Instagram okay what's that the world baseball classic talk man you know what we we are remiss now today it's understandable didn't know otani went yard at the Tokyo dome didn't I know I saw that's pretty cool at like two o'clock in the morning art it doesn't even look like I saw the replay it doesn't even look like he swings that hard it's just like we're even using you your legs on that sway? He's just kind of waved that in it. And it's gone.

And it's gone at, it's gone at a Japanese B.C. place. It's out of here. Hey, but I do have an AUA. Okay. And I have an Alford. You already asked Elliot about this.

Like, this front office can't stay if those are the only two deals, right? It's a good, it's a very good question. And it's not even about these two deals, but moving forward. Seems like there's more than just the trade deadline day to judge them on. Well, that's true. Right. It's not just about today.

Hey, J. Don't. I know you listen to the program, so I think you're probably aware a lot of people's patience is worn thin with this management group. I don't, you know, and Elliot did frame it in an interesting way, and there doesn't appear to be any visible signs that Rutherford is ready to go out. As a matter of fact, he might be digging his heels in and be one of those guys that when someone tells him he can't do it, he gets more defiant and, you know, maybe sticks around. But I think Jason and I are very much with you on this one. I just, I don't see this group standing the test of time because too much trust has been eroded and it's been too many misses and too many missteps to where I just don't think they have

the trust of the market. But we'll see what happens today. Speaking of today and this weekend, set it up, you have so many locations that you need to update us now. Well, yeah, still take out to go to Austin. You'll see the numbers right on their website in terms of hours that they're open. And then listen, come to AJ's this weekend because I'm assuming my Rangers are going to do nothing. can just drown our sorrows.

They win over the Leafs. I think the Rangers finally, if there was like a steak to drive through Craig Bruby, they did it. I know. I could. Burby's like, you know what? I don't care anymore. You guys are terrible. Goodbye.

Exactly. Hey, happy hour all day, Sunday, and hopefully, hopefully something goes well for everybody today. Fingers crossed, buddy, thanks. Thanks for doing us. We appreciate that. Take care. Enjoy your weekend. J.2. Thanks. That's AJ from AJ's Pee Tonsonis. Broadway here on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet. 50. Okay, so Adog posted a clip from our L.A.Friedman interview on social media. And Tim replied with a very good reply on social media, which is rare for X. Okay. What's up? He says,

my concern currently is every rebuilding team will make mistakes and miss on picks. So you have to get such an insane surplus to account for those. I don't trust this group is humble enough to think they will make mistakes with the rebuild decision. Tim, that is right at the top of my list as well. And they have said multiple times, Jim Rutherford has said, we got to nail the picks this year. I just want to take you through what San Jose has done in the last few years. 2003, two first round picks. 2004, two first round picks, including Maclin Celebrini, 2025, two first round picks.

Chicago, that's even crazier. Go back to 2002, three first round picks. 2020, 2,023, two first round picks, including Connor Bedard, 2004, another three first rounder,

three first round picks, and then last year, 2025, three first round picks. So for Chicago, in the last four years, they have made three plus three, plus two,

plus three, 11 first round picks. Yep. And we're still like, I don't know if they're going to make it. And I'll look at all the first round picks the Buffalo made. My point isn't that, you know, rebills don't work. My point is that you need a bunch of first round picks. And the problem for the Canucks right now is

how are they going to get first round picks? It's a fair question. Like they don't even have, like maybe they could trade their first round pick for a first round pick. But, you know, I thought maybe, I thought maybe they might be able to get a first for Garland. But look at, look at who could they trade right now for a first round pick? Philip Ronick. Yeah, he's the only guy.

And he's the guy that's untouchable for them. And he shouldn't be. No, he shouldn't be. Obviously he shouldn't be. Yeah, he shouldn't be. It's too bad. Obviously he shouldn't be. It's too bad.

It's just so obvious. It's too bad. But like, this is the concern, right? They say they're going into the rebuild, but do they truly understand how committed you have to be to the rebuild and how difficult it is? Now, I guess if you're going to look at the positives is, right now they don't have any choice.

They don't. They don't have any choice. They have crossed off all the choices, right? Like, we'll do it with trades. We'll do it with free agency. They can't do it. They have nothing left to trade. And free agency isn't free agency anymore.

So it's basically they've been told like, this is the only way you can do it. But maybe in a couple of years, they're like, this isn't working. Okay. Let's try something else. Okay. If we're trying to, so there's a,

this is like the ninth different text or social media posts that we've read today that focuses on one word. Trust. And it asks of us and the fan base, do you trust this management, slash ownership slash, you know, executive group.

And it's a difficult thing because trust can be eroded a lot quicker than it is built up. It takes a long time to build up trust, but you can ruin it in one bad move or one misstep, really. Could you give an example from the current world of politics?

Right? No, I can't think of any. Is trust a big thing? Does trust get whittled away rather quickly? in a small sample size right now, I am slightly, ever so slightly, happy and willing to give a little bit of credence to the group for not going out and acquiring someone else's failed prospect

in either of the trades that they've made right now. Little, little, you don't even need a golf clap, really. But those are promising signs. That's all you can say that they are. It's promising that they didn't try, lure, I don't know, like we threw around Kent Johnson. And it's great that they didn't try and get.

Who's a guy from Dallas? Maverick Bork. The day's not over, my friend. It's not. But we have to stop looking at it like this. In a certain way. In what way? Continually casting doubt on

moves that haven't been done yet. That's what they've earned. That's what they, you reap what you sow. And that's what they've, wait a minute. So we're reaping is what. you get, right? And sewing is what you do. They've sown this lack of trust with over a decade of ignoring the future.

I want something now moves. So let's see what happens with the subsequent moves. Right now, again, it's only two trades. But I thought, for example, moving on Garland when they did with the speed in which they did it and the package they were willing to take back in return. I was like, perfect. you're moving, you're not retaining salary. You're moving a guy who's 30 years old and has six years left of term.

And I know he was a nice play driver and I know he was a good guy in the room, but he did not fit anything, anything that this team was in store for over the next six years. I saw there's a couple of people to push back in the In basket and saying, you know,

this is a guy that you weren't, you can't, you want him to stick around. You really don't. And now let's have the Heronic conversation because I threw it out there on Twitter yesterday. And I'm even more emboldened in my stance right now. In light of that John Carlson trade, I think that it's a major miss for this group if they don't explore it. Now, I know Heron controls the situation.

Yeah, so you're limited. So too does Alan Walsh. But if you want to talk about maximizing return on assets right now. And really thinking about five years out. five years down the road when you're going to be going through four plus years of garbage hockey, non-playoff hockey, you're going to have

burned through a lot of really good Filiperonic years on a team that isn't even really close to the playoffs. So you better hope his leadership is unbelievable. Now here's a follow-up question to that. Could you find a fraction of the leadership for a fraction of the price? Could you find

that sort of leadership and just a lesser player. And if you can't, are you willing to just accept less? All of these ideas, because right now... You know what? You know what I don't think gets discussed enough? What? Just bringing young players that are good leaders.

Like, there are young players that are just naturally... Not even good leaders. They just go to work. Yeah. You know, what? Not everyone has to have their... You know, it's like, don't forget to work out. Yeah.

Like a lot of these kids, they're more mature than you think. Some of them aren't. But a lot of them are. And they're dedicated. And from, you know, very young, they're, you know, they're in these hockey academies. And they're in these really good programs where the coaches are telling them how to take care of themselves and how to hold themselves accountable. And they actually, this is weird, but they enjoy work. Because it's part of the process, part of the journey.

They like working on their games. They like getting better at things. So find those guys. And then, you know, yeah, do you need some veterans to show you like how it is in the NHL? Absolutely you do. But I would rather just, you know, there's some natural leaders out there. Okay.

Get those guys. Let's explore this. Let's explore this because there has been a sentiment. And this goes all the way back to the prehist. the pre-McDavid Oilers where there was an inherent fear that you can't just bring in all of these young guys and let them play together and grow together

because there's no one to show them the ropes. You remember everyone talking about the Taylor Hall. And it was like Hall, Eberley, Pooley-R-Vy, Yakopov, and they all played on the same team and they were all out there having a good time. And the common refrain was that's the example of why

you can't just let a bunch of young kids run it together because no one's teaching them what standards and everything else is and that's why we had to trade for Andrew Ferrence and all that stuff but some some young guys go done yet okay so I think that that is an antiquated example from a time that now is over a decade ago almost two decades ago if you want to look at one of the biggest rises in terms of trends in hockey is and again these are very high-end guys, but 18 and 19- and 20-year-old players being way more ready to deal with the rigors of an NHL season than ever before than ever before. What Schaefer's done this year, what Celebrini's done, and think about the test that

Celebrini's been put under and passed each one with flying colors before his 20th birthday. Yes, these guys are extremely high-end talents, but I think you've hit on something here that the maturation of players because of what they're able to do at the development stage now, they might be more ready to be professionals than you think. They might be ready to do the things

and be the pros and not be the wide-eyed kids and ready to step into it. Yes, you need older guys around to show them the ropes, but it might not be like the previous iterations that we've seen. And sometimes there are situations where you get a team with great character and great leadership

and you bring in a kid and the kid is still too immature, that happened with, that's happened with Canucks teams. I mean, there were some players on the, you know, Sedean-led teams. They just weren't mature or they're, they just had different priorities. Well, look at Tyler Sagan and Boston. He had to grow up. Yeah. And he went to the Bruins and, you know, he had a lot of times.

talent and he knew it. And maybe he just had to mature a little bit. And then when he went to Dallas, he matured a little bit. But I just, you know, this whole notion that, you know, these players are going to, like, run wild. If they don't have the proper leadership from the guys, I think it's really, there's something to it. I know there's something to it. And you do need guys to show the way, but focus on drafting character. Yeah. I think some of the guys that I'm not going to names, but some of the guys that we've seen over the last few years that have been drafted, and I'm talking about going all the way back, you know, 10 or 15 years now, like, did you even talk to these guys before you drafted them?

Did you really talk to them? Do any of you actually understand people? Understanding people is such a massive, massive part of being a manager. We all live in a world of cap efficiency and analytics, and those are all very very, very valuable tools. The most valuable skill you can have as a leader is understanding people because everyone is so different. Not everyone is built the same way. Not everyone is motivated the same way. And I'm shocked by how many people fall for people that are really confident and say that's high character. Not necessarily, my friend. Not necessarily. Let's dive into the Dunbar Lumber

text message in basket here. 650. 650. Do some Ask us anything's and some other questions here. Pete from the island texts in. Ask us anything. Don't you think that Philip Oronic will still have value at next year's trade deadline or at some point down the line? Yep, I do. Here's my thinking on this. You're at a deadline where Anaheim just came out of its boots or skates as it was. to pay for a rental in John Carlson. The right-handed defenseman market, there's not a lot out there. And this year,

and the reason I think that it might be prudent to pounce, is that Buffalo, and you probably should have jumped on this the moment that Pareco said no to Buffalo. Pareko was a guy that was in that mix as well. And once Pereko sort of took himself off the market, I do wonder if there's a market opportunity to really throw something into the mix

and be like, you want a guy, we've got a guy. Vancouver's already established itself as a motivated seller. For all the people that are complaining they took, quote unquote, less than market value on the Myers deal and the Garland deal, remember, other teams are going to look at that and say, well, there's a team that's motivated to make moves. This is all purely hypothetical because I really don't think that Heronik wants to go anywhere. They're not treating them, man.

However. Honestly, I don't want to say it's a, it's not a waste of time to talk about it. but it's a waste of time to even consider that it might happen. It will not happen. Jim Rutherford has said, this guy is untouchable. But that's unfortunate. But that was before what they saw the return for Carlson was,

which surprised everybody. So with that return, that's not convinced. You know? I'm just saying, like, it's a surprising return for the guys. To your point. Maybe we should explore this. You know what the most...

It's a surprising return for John Carlson. He's a good player, man. Yeah, but he's older now. You know what the surprise. He's a rental. Hold on. Yeah, still. Hold on.

He is a good player, though. I know. The most surprising point of this. John Carlson trade was that John Carlson got traded. Let's make that abundantly clear. That was the big surprise. Apply that logic to Honick. Like if you can somehow do it, and they're not going to,

but if you can somehow do it, and they're not going to. But if you could somehow do it, you would be able to throw a real curve into the market, and you could get massive value. They're not going to do it. Massive value. I feel like you're going down this road. And you're trying to talk yourself into it,

me be happening. I should. And I should try and talk the organization into doing it. Why don't you set up a meeting there? I'm trying. With a PowerPoint presentation or something. I don't even think you know what. I could do this without a computer. Oh, you want us put together PowerPoint presentation. We will. We will. I can do this. Slide shows? Yeah. I could do this. Okay.

Van der Kaine. It sounds like it's like a coin toss, whether the connects are actually going to be able to move this guy. And I was trying to find out yesterday if you went on the trip to Chicago. Was it going to, by the way, have a game tonight in Chicago, I think? Is it right? 5.30 puck drop.

Imagine if they can't move them. First of all, how bad that would make management look. Great signing. For making him the trade, offseason acquisition. But I actually more think about for Evander Cain

would be such a bad situation for him. Would he consider contract termination or is his contract too big for him to do that with no guarantee of getting something else. He would also need a team to be interested. You take the money. Because you terminate the contract and then you go to a team

that would put you on a prorated very... Yeah, you take the money. Like, he is... And run. He's... He turns 35 this summer. And right now, he's headed towards PTO land. Like, that's where he's at right now.

He's like, we'll bring in Evander on a PTO. Or you're getting your league minimum territory. Yeah. For as uninspired, and honestly, I'll say this, and I know you pushed back last time, but I found the whole thing to be sort of like a shrug of the shoulders. Like it was, it was incident free. What was the worst thing that he did off the ice? I mean, there's still time.

Well, there's nothing bad off off the ice. But there traditionally has been. But like, it was such a bad move. Right, but that's what I'm saying. And anyone with a brain could have seen it. But he hasn't even been by far. I mean, he hasn't been a good player without any, like, there's no way that I'm saying that. But I'm saying like, to me.

That deal wreaked of desperation when they did it and had a low chance of working out when they did it. And that came to fruition pretty quickly. So I don't know why I'm in the headspace that I'm in with it. But to me, it's like, is it a huge condemnation of the group? If you believe that any of it was going to work out, yeah. But who honestly believed that that was going to turn into a home run or a triple-er-old? So many people. So many people. That's on them.

When we, when we, oh, God. When I ripped the deal, I don't think I've ever ripped anything more because I was anything. Well, I have. I don't think I have. That was my biggest Mount Braff temper tantrum in my career for so many reasons. And people were like, he's going to score. This guy adds toughness. This is what the group needs.

He's going to score 30 goals. It's a goal scorer. But that was, I mean, I mean, yeah, they're idiots. But like, but like there were people. He's in a contract year. He's going to be motivated. He's 34. You know what?

I'd be motivated in the NHL. Yeah. And I can't do it. It's good to be motivated in the NHL. I can't do it. Sometimes when you get to a point where you just can't. Okay, it's time now for the One to Watch

brought to you by Limitless AV. Jason mentioned one to watch tonight is the Canucks game that we forgot entirely about. They shouldn't play games on Trade Deadline Day, by the way. They should just have that be an off night in the NHL. But alas, they are going to play. The Canucks are in Chicago to take on the Black Ockx It's a 5.30 puck drop.

You're one to watch is whoever's going to play for the Vancouver Canucks tonight. Because right now, it looks like it might be a top line, the all Swedish line of Hoganer, Pedersen and Carlson. Now, of course, that Connor Garland's out of there. And then it'll be Ogrin, Rossi, and Besser, O'Connor, Kamp, and DeBrusk, Sassin, Blugher, and Ratu. This is from Daily Faceoff, and this is sort of pieced together on what they did at practice. And then Evander Kane was, I think he was held out sick from the last one. So we don't know, right, we don't know what's going to,

we don't know what's going to happen with Kane, we don't know what's going to happen with Blugher. We don't know what's going to happen with O'Connor. And I guess to a lesser degree, you can throw in Pedersen and you can throw in his bester as well. So tonight's Forward Group for the Vancouver Canucks collectively, you're one to watch, brought to you by Limitless AV, specializing in seamless video conferencing solutions and hybrid workspaces.

Book your personalized tour of their experience center today at limitlessavee. Speaking of that game in Chicago tonight, we're going to Chicago on the other side of the break. Dan Murphy, SportsNets' very own, is going to join us as we look ahead to what the Canucks might do ahead of today's noon Pacific time. NHL trade deadline. You're listening to The Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. Hey, it's Jamie Dodd and Thomas Grants.

Get your daily dose of Canucks talk with us weekdays from 12 to 2 on Sportsnet 650. Or catch up on demand through your favorite podcast app. 733 on a Friday, not just any Friday. It's a sweet, sweet Friday. It's a fiesta. Friday and NHL trade deadline Friday. Happy Friday, everybody.

You are listening to the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. Halford and Brough of the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Do you have credit card debt? If you do, Sands and Associates could cut your debt by up to 80% with no upfront fees. Visit them today at sands dash trustee.com. We're now in our two of the program. A reminder is a four-hour show today. Murph is going to join us from Chicago here in just a minute.

hour two of this program is brought to by jason hominock at jason dot mortgage if you love paying too much for your mortgage then don't let jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you visit them online at jason dot mortgage gregg i believe it's time to go now to the trade desk we have a trade to announce we certainly do this one coming down just minutes ago the minnesota wild continue to stay busy they have acquired bobby brink one of my favorite names winger from the philadelphia flyer in exchange for defenseman David Yerecichick. This is something of a return home for Bobby Brink, a Minnesota native. He's from Minnetonka. Is he? That's a real place. To purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minotanka. Talented winger, 13 goals, 26 points, and 55 games at the Flyers this year.

13 goals under Tocke. That's not easy to do. He now goes to Minnesota. David Jirich. You'll remember, I believe he was the sixth overall pick in 2022. Correct. Started out with Columbus, didn't work out there. Minnesota paid a pretty penny to get Girocheck in the door.

Didn't work out there either. 31 games, he played with them. He spends more time with their HL affiliate in Iowa, if I'm not mistaken. Now on his way. It's a pretty hard blue line to crack. Now, yeah. And they brought in Petrie, right? They did for a seventh rounder.

So Minnesota and Billy Garon continues to be busy. It is for those that are just getting caught up. Bobby Brink from Philadelphia to Minnesota in exchange for David Jiochek. The trade desk is brought to you by Beyond Basic Eyewear. Metro Vancouver's go-to for great prices and top brands. No hassle. Just amazing eyewear.

Visit them at 1052 Austin Avenue and Coquitlam or online at Beyond Basic Eyewear.com. Let's go now to the ABLE Auctions hotline, our next guest. Joining us live from Chicago, Kinex reporter Dan Murphy. joins us now on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650.

up, Murph? What's going on, fellas? Lake Minnetonka. Isn't that where Fred Smoot and the boys had the boat cruise? Wow. Good poll. Yes. Oh, yeah.

The infamous boat crews? That's not correct? Yes. Yeah, yeah. Bobby Brink was just a kid then. That's right. What are those guys doing? Don't look at the boat. Yeah, that's a good poll, Murph.

Really well done. Okay. It's amazing what I can't remember and what I can remember. These are the things. That was pretty good. even though I am right now. You are in Chicago, correct? Yes, I am.

Settling in for a good 14-hour shift at the United Center, which should be fun. Yeah, that's a long day. And, I mean, the day really started yesterday for the Vancouver Connects with the Conner Garland trade. What did you make of them shipping out Garland for a second and third round pick to Columbus? Yeah, I mean, that was my big question, where they're going to be able to move one or two of these players that have term and considerable term, considering his contract doesn't

kick in until next season. You know, I think it's the right move to make at this point if they are tearing it down. It clears up cap space moving forward. It clears up this season if you want to bring in a bad contract to get some more draft picks. But it's, you know, it's a very useful player that goes out the door. Now, I know he hasn't scored in, what, 23 games or something, but the environment that most of these players are in right now, obviously it's been difficult.

So, you know, I think it was a move that had to be made. I like the trade, but man on man, does this really, you know, signify that this is going to be a rebuild? And if you think times have been tough in the last 23 games, just to wait until we move forward. But I think as most people, at least the direction has been picked, and it feels like this management group is committed to doing a rebuild when you see a move like this.

Did it seem like Garland's game lost a little bit after the Quinn Hughes trade? I think so. I mean, that was his best buddy on the team. You know, again, just the environment, I think this whole team, it's been difficult. They've got, you know, what, two wins since December 30th or something? Like, that's not easy. I mean, you know, you want the effort, you want to compete. But, you know, when the games really don't mean anything as far as a stand is concerned,

when you're a veteran player and you've seen some playoff action and you want to be in the fight, that's difficult. And when you signed an extension last off season because you believe this team is going to be competing for a playoff spot to this season and beyond and then to find yourself at the very bottom of the standings, I think mentally that's probably not very easy for players to take, especially veteran players. So, you know, I think his play had dipped a bit and, you know, you can clearly see reasons why. Is it fair to say that the Canucks have been forced into this rebuild, and hence, I wonder if they are going to be committed to doing it the right way, which could take a long time, like five to seven years?

Yeah, I mean, it's just so hard to say. I mean, this is a situation that, you know, as far as I, since I've been covering the team, I don't think, it's ever been said that there was going to be a rebuild, right? Really, right? Quarter of a century here is the first time you've heard it. And, you know, when you look at the team and the young players and, you know, when you think of who they've shipped out here now over the last couple of years, and yeah, I mean, it looks, I mean, the rebuild has started.

Let's put it that way. When you trade Quinn Hughes and when you trade Connor Garland and we're assuming they're going to be trading at least one of the UFAs today in Teddy Bluger and when you move out, Kiefer Sherwood and these are the moves you make when you have to

commit to a rebuild. So I don't know how you accelerate the timeline. Maybe you, in the next couple of years, you get really lucky in the draft and the players you pick turn out to be guys like Baddard or Celebrini or, you know, players like this. And then you can, you know,

maybe readjust your timeline. But as for now, I mean, I think it's, no matter what they say, it looks like it's going to be a long, arduous process. But I think you have to stick with it because the goal is to get a bunch of good young players that come up at the same time and build into a winning team and culture. And they're going to have to accumulate a lot of high-end talent through the draft because the price to getting that kind of talent through agent signings is exorbitant. and it's probably not worth your time doing it right away,

especially when you're at this point with a franchise. Sorry, I kind of wanted to circle back to the first answer that Murph gave about how it's like it's fully out there in the open that we're going through a rebuild. And if you think it's bad now, just wait about how difficult it might get. Because we were talking about that earlier in the show. And, you know, Breff brought up the point that we're not 100% certain that the media and the market and the fans and everyone else understand how long this takes and how grim it can get.

Now, Murph, you've been doing this gig for a while. The Canucks have never gone through this organizationally, but you've been around other NHL teams by nature of your job that you have seen it. So you're in a unique position to almost like inform the people what this is going to be like. Presenting it on a near-nightly basis. It's going to be a rather interesting task

because winning's not going to be the priority for a while now. So what does that look like? And what does that mean in terms of support? supporting the team. Well, I mean, I think if you look, well, first off, the one good thing, sorry, there's a bunch of people dragging some carts around me here at the United Center. The one thing that I think is a good thing is that it's, you're not like, when they traded Quinn Hughes, I mean, they weren't pretending anymore, right?

Like, this is, we're not competing for a playoff spot. We're not trying to make the playoffs. Like, this is the direction we're going. So I think that's, once you do that, then I think fans realize, okay, well, we're going to go younger. We're not going to be as good. We're not going to win many games. And I think that a game like the last game against Carolina, you know, those are the kind of games you have to be happy with, I think, as a fan moving forward, where young guys contribute. There's, you know, a little fight to come back in a game. You're playing one of the best teams in the league. You score a few goals,

and the fans have a reason to cheer. Now, you're not winning the game at the end, which is the goal, obviously, but I think there's plenty of reasons to cheer. And I think that if you get in a position where some young guys score some goals, the fans have a reason to cheer, and yet you don't win the game, those are kind of

the wins that you have to take, I think, in the next couple of years. And who has the stomach for it? You know, that's the thing. Usually people call them for the rebuild on the people that are buying the tickets, right? And that's why I think most franchises

is never want to say rebuild, right? Because you want to get your season ticket people buying the tickets and getting their bums back in the seats. You know, the vocal majority is usually online. I know quite a few season ticket holders, Murph. And they are on board with this rebuild. And they would have been sooner to cancel their tickets if things kept going the same way. And they're probably more ready to renew with this current.

direction. That's totally anecdotal. I know what you're saying right now, but I even think that it got to the point where like some of the, like, if you want to call it, the corporate support was like, I'm tired of bringing my clients to these games because we're not doing deals. Everyone's just very depressed after these games. Well, yeah, and like I said, it's, it's good because they've picked a direction, right? It seems like the direction's been picked. It seems like they're not, you know, like I said, pretending to try to win anymore. And I think that, Most people want a plan, right? And now I guess the thing is they've picked the plan.

Do you have the stomach to follow through with it? Yes. Maybe that's the big question. By the way, guys, we are so old. Bobby Brink was four years old during that Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal. That was back in 2005. Yeah, I'm on the Wikipedia page. There's a lot of them involved in that.

Oh, Dave Berluson was there. Remarkable detail. Remarkable. Yeah, it's got its own Wikipedia page. I didn't think we'd be looking back on the Minnesota Vikings' boat party scandal, but you never know where the trade deadline is going to go. Murph, who are you watching today? Did everyone make the trip?

Is like Evander Kane on the trip? Yes. Yeah, I saw him yesterday coming on the plane. I think what you have to look at today is Bluger. Right, that's the most valuable trade ship now, pending UFA, centerman. so I would think that he's the one guy to watch. Cain, you know, if they retain, maybe it's a player. They have one retention spot left, correct?

I think there's one more until the chaos off the book. Yep, yep. So I think you have the capability of doing that if someone, but that's maybe just late in the deadline. You know, Camp was on waivers earlier this year, so I don't know if there's any reason to suggest that someone's going to make a move for him unless it's for futures or a seventh or something like that.

So we'll have to wait and see. And then, you know, do they move Pedersen? Do they move, you know, Debrusk, like another player with term and money? I mean, the one thing is everybody's like, get rid of everyone. Well, they still got to spend the floor next year. And all of a sudden, if you're moving all these dollars, I guess you're going to have to go the route of overpaying for some UFAs, overpaying for a little bit of leadership.

to fill in around the young players. But it'll be very interesting. I think that if they can get the trade for Bluger, I think that it's been, you know, I think I'd like to see two more moves. And I would venture to say that it's a good start for this season, at least, for moving towards the rebuild. Have you gotten a sense of who actually is playing tonight?

Well, I know that Connor Murphy isn't. Okay. I know that Jason Dickinson isn't. for the Blackhawks, I can tell you that. What about the Canucks? I'm not sure yet. You know, they're going to see I'll be here for the morning skate when they take the ice at 1130 local time here.

So we'll have to wait and see who's going to play. But, you know, with the deadline coming and going at about 2 o'clock here, we should have a pretty good indication of it was going to be in the lineup tonight when we see their line rushes, et cetera. Chicago is a pretty example of a pretty good example of how difficult and long and arduous this journey could be for the Canucks

and Chicago over the last four years we counted it up what was it 11 first round picks for the Chicago Blackhawks and I realize some of those guys you know haven't graduated to the NHL yet but Chicago's still not a great team and they've got you know they've got got one of the huge prize.

They won the draft lottery. They got first overall. They got Connor Bred. I wonder what lessons the Canucks could draw from a team like the Chicago Blackhawks because it hasn't, even after they drafted Connor Baudard, it hasn't been all rosy because Connor Baudard himself has gone through some ups and downs. Yeah, well, there's no guarantees, right? I mean, that's the problem.

You can do all the right things now. but if you win the draft lottery in a year where the top pick is not a franchise player that can stink, if you miss out on a couple of draft picks by picking the wrong guys, it will set you back even further. So, I mean, every points to Buffalo is the one failed rebuild. But I think you can also look to, you know, San Jose on the upswing, Anaheim, for sure, on the upswing. These are teams that have had some real difficult times,

but accumulated a bunch of first-round picks, pick the right players, and now they find themselves, you know, trending towards the playoffs or at least fighting for a playoff spot and playing a lot of good young players and, you know, exciting hockey. So I think you just have to commit to it.

You have to hope you make the right picks, and you have to trust that you're going to do the right things to get where you want to be. Because the team like Chicago, yeah, you can say, I mean, I think they're what, the fifth last in the league right now. I think they're the fifth best draft lottery odds.

So they're still going through it. And then if you try to accelerate it because you're not happy, sometimes you can set yourself back even further. So there's no guarantees, but I think that all you can do is try to do the right things and hope you make the right picks. And in five years from now,

maybe we're talking about the Kinect cycle. We're talking about the sharks at this point. Do you think Tyler Myers was happy to go to down? Alice, or would he prefer to stay in Vancouver? I think that he would have been happy to stay, but I think anytime a guy, his age, is presented a chance to go to a team that has a legitimate chance to win a stand the cup and he hasn't won one. I'm sure that right now he's super excited. So while remaining in Vancouver might have been his first choice,

once he became aware that the Canucks would like to move him for some picks, he made his preferred destination known and they made it work to get him there. So while I'm sure that he would have preferred to stay in Vancouver, I can guarantee you that he's super excited about the next couple of seasons and trying to win us down the cup. Murph, this was great, bud. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

We appreciate it. Enjoy the, what is it, four hours until the trade deadline. I don't think we've talked to Murph since the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, by the way. That's true. We haven't. Yeah. We can do four minutes on the circle. I know.

Anyway, I'll just say, what an unexpected season and so fun. And yet I was still like, you know, at my age now, I don't get as excited, obviously, as I would have 20 years ago. Yeah. It's exhausting to like yell and scream. Yeah, dangerous to the heart. I was excited. I kind of watched it by myself. I was in, it was during a limbic break, obviously I was in, I was in Hawaii.

I watched it by myself. Nice. So I was excited. But, you know, I found myself like, I'm more, I don't know if this is probably saying, I more wanted the Patriots to lose and I wanted the Seahawks to win. Does that make sense? Yeah, that's fair. You are an angry old man.

I didn't feel that way, but I appreciate it. Watching the game by yourself in Hawaii, that is awesome. I certainly didn't feel that way. And by that way, I mean petty, but I do appreciate what you were saying there. That's good. Okay, Murf, we got to let you go, but thanks for doing this today, man. We appreciate it. Love your, Murph.

See you, buddy. Dan Murphy. Canucks reporter, Seahawks fan, Patriotator here on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. It's time now for the smart decision brought to you by Crow. I did really like one of these deals yesterday. From the Winnipeg perspective, that deal that they did with the Buffalo Sabres, where they sent a pair of defenseman, Logan Stanley and Luke Shen. In exchange, they got a pretty nice haul for a couple guys that, quite frankly,

I don't think you're going to move the needle that much in Buffalo. And in particular, they got a prospect by the name of Isaac Rosen, a Swedish forward who has actually put up pretty good numbers in the American League. He's still really young. He's only 22 years old. And a decent production in a very limited window with the Sabres. They also got another defenseman, Jacob Bryson, a fourth round pick and a second round pick. I think what they did and what was smart was the moment the Pareko said no,

to Buffalo. It was almost as if Shevolde off picked up the phone and saw a wounded individuals sitting there, their pride and their ego and hurt. And they wanted to make a deal. Yeah, they called them up. They're like, hey, Buffalo. It's the Buffalo of Canada calling.

And they're like, we'll take your call. What do you have for us? And they said, Logan Stanley and Luke Shen. By the way, on this note, Luke Shen's 10th NHL team, the Buffalo Sabres. He's two off the record set by Mike Cillinger. that guy's NHL career was pretty much over, according to many, five or six NHL teams ago. Yep, 2019 when he signed in Tampa Bay.

He was almost out of the league. Yeah. And he just absolutely revitalized his career. Yeah, it's pretty good. Good guy, too. So I think it's a great decision for the Winnipeg Jets. A smart decision in what's been a lost season for them, although they are only seven points out of a playoff spot. I don't think they're getting there.

The smart decision brought to you by Crow, your trusted accounting, and tax advisors for over 55 years. Crow, smart decisions lasting value. Learn more at chromokai.com. So here's the thing. It's 8 o'clock, or coming up on 8 o'clock, but it's only the midway point of the show, Jason.

We still have two more hours to go on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. Someone texted in and asked like, do you guys get extra pay for the hour? No. You think we got like a punch clock outside? You're doing for the exposure, right? We do it for the love of the game.

That's it. Yeah, this is the playoffs. This is it. This is like if the game goes to overtime. This is the closest that we're getting to the playoffs for the next five years right now. Do you think some NHLers complain about that? Like, I can't believe I'm not getting paid right now for this overtime. This is ridiculous.

I have kind of. And maybe they try a little less hard because of that. Quiet quitting. I'm not naming any specific names, of course. I have wondered what happens when the checks stop coming in, when you're used to them. Right? Like, I'm sure most. guys, you know, especially in the playoffs.

You're like, it's the playoffs. Who cares? Like, this is what we play for. But I'm sure there's, you know, 1% that are probably like, this is ridiculous. I'm going to say it's higher than one. 10%. It might be kind of fun to play three on three overtime. You know, it's a, it's a game, right? Yeah. It's actually quite enjoyable.

There's a lot of room out there. To be out there and be a great athlete and it's good exercise. Anyway, we're wildly off topic here. Of course we are. The whole point of this was to say that we've got a good show, was to say that we've got two more hours left because we're going until 10 a.m. this morning. We will take you right through to Canucks Talk with Dransson Dodd. We've got a couple of guests on the horizon.

8 o'clock loaded with Canucks Insiders. Rick Dollywall is going to join us at 8 o'clock. Ian McIntyre's going to join us at 830 and we will keep you up to speed on everything that's going on as we get closer and closer to the actual 12 p.m. NHL trade deadline. There's a lot more to get into Dolly Wall is coming up next. I'm at 830. A reminder, we will do your Ask Us Anything's and maybe some what we learns in the 9 o'clock hour. We have no guests as of right now scheduled for 9. So keep getting them in. Dunbar Lumber text message in basket is 650. 650. If you want to win a $100 gift card to AJ's Pizza on East Broadway, hashtag at AUA and put a pizza emoji into your text, you are listening to the Halford & Brough show on Sportsnet 650.