Halford & Brough in the Morning - What Are The Canucks Getting In Brendan Gallagher?

Episode Date: June 30, 2026

In hour three, Mike & Jason ask Sportsnet Habs reporter Eric Engels (1:57) about what the Canucks are getting in Brendan Gallagher at this stage in his career, plus the boys tell us what they learned (27:00). 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.

802 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday, everybody. Halford Brough, Sports Night 650. Halford and Brough of the morning is bratsy by Sands and Associates. Their clients often say, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me. If dead is weighing you down, visit them today at sands dash trustee.com. We're still doing this? We're still laughing at my shattered voice?

Yes. I'm not so much laughing as snickering. It's been very painful show. Not for the usual reasons. It wasn't the content. or lack of knowledge that let us down today. It was my voice. I apologize.

Why don't you just speak a little softer? It's just like you're trying to scream through it. I'm trying to do my usual, like, energetic. Yeah, but it's not working. It just... It is working. Push from the diaphragm. Push from the diaphragm.

Excuse me? Don't be stuck in the throat. Push from the diaphragm. That's singing advice. We're talking about voice text. Correct? Yeah. Okay.

Voice text. Also helps with pronunciation. I'm going to try again here. We are in our three of the program. Our three is brought to by the BC Construction Safety Alliance, making safety simpler by giving construction companies of best tools, resources, and safety training. See, that last part is how you were doing it before.

Visit them online at BCCSA.ca. We're coming to live from the Kintech Studio. Notice that? Step strong with orthotics and footwear from Kintech. I'm not like yelling it out. I just love yelling. That's how I got in this situation. Okay.

Let's go now to the ABLE Auctions hotline our next guest from SportsNet in Montreal. Eric Engels here on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. Good morning. Eric, how are you? You guys always crack me up, honestly. It's amazing we've lasted this long as a show. Our little domestic disputes every time before Eric comes on the show. You got a beautiful marriage.

Tell us what the Canucks are getting in, Brendan Gallagher. Oh, I think you guys know. That's the beauty of Brendan Gallagher. You always know what you're getting with him. He's a heart and soul guy, was that in Montreal for his entire time here, no matter where he's slotted into the lineup. And, you know, even at the end when he wasn't slotting into the lineup, just a guy that carried a certain gravitas in the room, very important. You know, I think it's obvious to get the leadership. I think what's less obvious to some Canucks fans potentially and some fans of the Canadians, too, is he still has a lot to give.

I understand he does he's not going to wheel around the ice at 100 miles an hour. But would you look at players of a similar profile who've been able to extend their career just by setting the right examples as professionals and going to the hard areas and doing all the stuff that Brendan Gallagher has made a career of, I think of Nick Folino as an example. You know he's going to do that stuff. The other thing that I think he brings to Vancouver that they desperately need is positive energy. Yeah. And I say this as like, you know, an annual observer coming into the market and dealing with Canucks. But the last three visits that I've come to Vancouver, the weather's been pretty good,

and the pall over the Canucks has been so dark and ominous that it's, it's, the vibe needs to change. I think it has changed with the Sedeans. I think it's changed with Ryan Johnson. Mani Mahotra is a sunny type of guy. Brennan Gallagher brings a certain something to the room that I think they desperately need. So when, when you say that about Vancouver, do you mean the market or was it the players that when you would go and interview the players or you'd just be around them, that there was, you know, a bad vibe in Vancouver because we've noticed that, but we didn't know that other markets noticed it. I think it's a situation.

You know, like situation, obviously over the last couple of years has been pretty dark. You know, you look at obviously the controversy between Miller and Patterson and everybody kind of being, residual damage or collateral damage, I should say. I think the general media vibe in terms of you know, more often than not,

we'd be in there, the locker room wouldn't be open, they'd be bringing guys out one at a time, put them up against the backdrop, and it feels like a firing squad because the team is losing. You know, these aren't good vibes to have around a team, and winning solves everything.

You know, you know that, I know that. But at the root of winning is changing the vibe. And I tell you, you know, like before Marty St. Louis came into Montreal and they had their downward turn, like, it was really dark around here too. It was really tough. And the number one thing Marty did right away was like bring the fun back to the rink. You didn't start drilling down defensive details and we're going to play this way. Scoring is fun. Go ahead and play.

Go have a good time. And we'll deal with the details as they, you know, we'll build them as we go along. you know, I think the Canucks are at the beginning of that process, albeit, you know, probably a little bit advanced in terms of some of the young talent that is in the organization. Like I said, there is a vibe turn with the new guys in charge from the Sedeans down through Johnson through Mount Holtra. You need it permeating through the room with guys like Gallagher.

So, yeah, I could feel it coming in. I'm not there all the time. I think the guys who are there all the time would probably confirm what I'm saying. and I look forward to coming Vancouver and having the dual effect of the weather being nice and the vibe around the team being very different for the last one night. Well, we can't guarantee the weather.

I know. But hopefully the vibe, yeah, hopefully the vibe is considerably better even if the losing continues for a few years. Tell us about Brendan Gallagher's game over the last few seasons because I have to admit when the habs were close, really running out of gas against

Carolina. I thought there was a chance we might see Brendan Gallagher but as it turns out, I guess his last game was game seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning which they won two to one.

Yeah, and he played like seven minutes before that which was his first game and he scored on his first shift. Like like I said, you know what you're getting. This guy will go to the net, he'll go to the corners, he will play bleeding, hurt, and do anything he can to win. He drags people into the fight. I think you're right. It was expected, or I would have expected, he'd get in when the Canadians had

their backs against the wall against Carolina. He didn't. I didn't agree with that decision, and I agree with most of the decisions, Marty St. Louis makes. I think a lot of people didn't agree with that decision. I know Brendan definitely didn't agree with that decision. It was heartbreaking for him. Yeah. But, you know, that's just the way it goes sometimes. We have a deep, young, talented team, and you have to make difficult decisions. I know that scratching Renning Gallagher was the hardest decision Marty St. Louis had to make in four years being coached to the Canadians. Like, unquestionably, and I know it heard him.

Marty has his own history, right, like where his own general manager didn't pick him to go to the Olympics and ended up, you know, saying, okay, it's time for me to move on to New York. This stuff happens. and that's just the way it is. I will say over a couple of years that Marty was here, he really helped Brandon Gallagher adjust his game to the reality of aging a little bit and also the way you need to play in the type of system they were in.

I know Mani Ma'Otraultra wants to play a fast game, an up-tempo game. Brennan can play that. He's more of a straight-line player than he is an East-West player, that's for sure. But he does have kind of unheralded playmaking ability. he will make passes and plays that you're like oh okay i didn't know that was part of his game but he'll he makes his bread and butter is in front of the net and he will be there there's no question about it and i think he's you know there's one thing that is the biggest

upside of this whole deal he's got something to prove and a brandon galliger that's this motivated and has something to prove like i spoke to him last week and he had just finished 90 minutes of doing stairs and he's been on the ice regularly. This guy's savage, I'm telling you. He's going to come in and he's never been out there to prove people wrong. That's never been what's motivated him, but he wants to prove people right. And right now the Canucks are giving him a chance to prove them right. And I know it doesn't cost them very much, but I think he's going to take that to heart.

So the way I understand it, when Gallagher was drafted, his skating needed to improve and he worked hard on that and his skating very much did improve. Has he lost a step at his age? I'm just trying to understand why he, I know the Montreal is a lot deeper than the Canucks, but I'm just trying to understand why he came out of the lineup. So I know what to expect when I watch him this season.

It's just a combination of both. Like his role reduced with the depths of the Canadians increasing. It doesn't mean he could, like, You guys know this as well as anybody that fit in a certain style is pretty relevant in terms of being able to squeeze all the juice out of a player. I'm a big believer that if Andre Svetchenikov played in Montreal, he'd be a 40 goal score. If Brendan Gallagher played in Carolina, he'd be a 20 goal score. He's only a year removed from scoring 20 goals. So, like, Carolina plays in straight lines.

There's no complication to their system. It's go hard on a forecheck, get puck's in, first guy, F1, and go net front. I mean, that's how Gallagher has made its entire career. So, like, it's just a question of that. It's just a question of fit. And inevitably, the fit became less and less as the Canadians got more and more players that fit their style. Makes sense. what do the habs have on tap for free agency

what are they looking for to improve on what was a very successful season you guys know anything about the kid they drafted in the first round yeah Gleb Gleb Gleb Gleb Gleb Gav Gav Gav Gav Gav Gav Gav I don't know I know they traded up to get him I hope this isn't a test because nope no I know I know they trade up to get him

and what a use the phrase he used was like they had him classed higher Then they, where he had landed, they made the jump up. And they were, I guess they were trying to jump up a couple times in the draft, too. But anyway, take it away. I'm happy you guys are like me. And unlike a lot of the people who pretend to know everything about these kids that are drafted on some YouTube samples. And like, but I will say that if you go watch YouTube highlights, there's one thing that really stands out about this kid.

It's that he doesn't slow down on a forecheck. He just runs people over. That's what he does. And I think. you know, speaking with Nick Bob Rob Marty O'Plan, who run the Canadian's draft, and I said, like, how rare is that profile a player?

Because we saw a lot of size go in the first round. A ton of size. Everybody seemed to be, let's get size. But how many players still fit the profile of, this guy is going to run and he's not going to stop? And they were like, this guy's a unicorn in that regard. We're searching for this every year and can't find it.

And I think if you look around the league now, I can't name you more than 10 guys who fit that profile. Like Josh Anderson's one of those guys. Tom Wilson's one of those guys. Then the list thins out, like, great quick. It's very hard to identify those guys. Maybe Barbachev. So all to say, there's a few of those guys in a barren market that are coming up

in unrestricted free agency, right? Like, I think of a guy like Brandon Duhain was on the lower end of that. as a fourth liner or a guy like Mason Marchman who's at the higher end that's probably going to get paid a lot even at 31 years old and get term. I think the Canadians have interest in those types of players from free agency. I think they're trying to fill their biggest needs, which are for a player to play with Demadov and a player to play with Hudson via trade. And I think there's still some massive names out there in the trade market.

So I think that's what's on tap for them. If they can get it done, they'll be very happy. If they can't, they like the team that they have. and they don't feel as though they're not just trying to plug holes, right? Like they're trying to win a Stanley Cup and that's going to be by identifying the guys who fit the best

and the guys that are really worth giving up what they have to give because what they have to give are really, really elite prospects and they have a glut of NHL defensemen to deal from and even some forwards up front that they can move around the picture and bring some other talent in.

So that's kind of what they're looking at. What is the plan for the second line center? It's like I said, you know, if one was available, they'd go out and get them right away, but they can afford to wait until April when, you know, Michael Hage's season ends. If for whatever reason he doesn't change his mind between now and the beginning of the season, that he'll start in Montreal instead of going back to Michigan, otherwise, you know, it's a hard thing to find right now in this current market. I wouldn't suggest that it's impossible and that they won't do it.

but I would say it's more a priority for them to find one more player to play with Demidob, whether he plays center or wing. And that's why you're hearing names like Kareil Marchenko. That guy, to me, is an ideal fit. I think the Canadians, I know the Canadians have taken a hard run on him. Right now the ball's in Balmendell's court. He's got to decide what he's going to do with Marchenko and his other players. So, yeah, of course.

You know, they want a second line center. 20 teams in the NHL on a second line center. They'll take a top six winger and roll the dice on a couple of the prospects that they've got coming up that are a year away from arriving or potentially even sooner.

So it's not like if they don't get that done, it's a total failure for them. I'm going to ask you this question mostly because people are texting in and telling me to ask it. Would the HABs be interested in Elias Pedersen? Well, obviously I think

nobody would be interested in Olias Pettison unless there's salary retention. You know, here's a player that's gone from a hundred-point player to a 50-point player two years in a row. So it's not like one outlier season. And obviously the contract is what it is. So it's prohibitive. Do I think there's other teams that meet him more than the Canadians? Probably or at least would be more willing to roll the dice. You know, Los Angeles comes to mind.

That said, are they waiting a year to see what happens with some other high- higher profile centers that could potentially be available, very, very possible. When it comes to the Canadians, like when I said they're trying to win a Stanley Cup, I think it's really hard to look at Elias Pedersen and be like, this guy's going to help us do that. Is he going to help you make the playoffs? Is he going to potentially redeem himself and turn into more of an 80-point player than a 50-point player, especially playing with a talent like Ivan Demetov, especially if they get another winger like Correl Marchenko. I wouldn't bet against that.

But Elias Pedersen has a lot to prove to himself and to the hockey world that he's a guy that can really help you with. And those are the decisions that Jeff Gordon and Ken Hughes are faced with right now. Can we go get a premium talent or are we really, you know, like, is it enough to just bet on that or do we have to like really go for someone who we believe can help us win? And that's, you know, like it's a very tough question to answer when you're evaluating a guy like Pedersen. I'm not saying that it's impossible he can help you

in. I would love nothing more. I love this player when he came into the league. I thought he had one of the best shots I've ever seen. I thought his potential was to be one of the five to ten best players in the world. And knowing that, I would never bet against the possibility that he redeems himself,

but he has a lot to prove for me to bet that he will. You know what I mean? Yeah. Well, I think if he's on top of his game, I think he's more than just a regular season player. but he hasn't been on top of his game or even close to it for a few years. Anyway, Eric, sorry, go ahead. And you guys would have a better feel for that than I would seeing him every day.

But even if you feel that way, you don't have much of an argument to stand on unless he goes out and does that, right? Like, that's all I'm saying. It's like I wouldn't bet against that, but I wouldn't bet for it either. I might bet against it, to be perfectly honest with you, because I've watched him for the last couple of years. Eric, but I think you'd be great for the habs. I think you should spread it around. Eric, thanks for joining us. It's always fun to catch up, buddy.

Take care, guys. Thanks. Eric Engels from SportsNet here on the Halford-enbrough show on Sportsnet 650. It's going to be curious. By the way, we're doing a four-hour show tomorrow. Should be a good for the little voice box. Four-hour show tomorrow for, you know, the usual July 1, Canada Day, free agency. I, you know, obviously not working over the course of the last four.

days, but following everything that was going on, the flurry of action that's happened in the National Hockey League. And then I know the Kinnock sort of got in at the tail end, like the guys who show up late to the party when all the booze is running out, but still manage to get in a couple drinks. I hope that there will be another wave or surge of trades. Me too. Coming tomorrow, because if you look at the free agent market itself, it's grim. There's not a lot there. I don't think you can expect a lot of moves of significance in terms of just straight signings. But it feels like there's some teams that still. have some work to be done.

Montreal being one of them. The Marchenko thing's been hanging out there forever. And there's thoughts that they're just kind of slowly inching towards getting that trade done. There's so many teams with cap space. But there's also... People don't think that Colorado's going to do something. After they traded Michoudkin, I was like, he's got something up his sleeve.

He must. Well, they've got to get the McCardial done, right? That was the thing. So they might... They might just be keeping a lot of powder dry for that, right? Because they're going to need a lot of money to keep him around. But I'm sure they're not. ballparking. It's like, maybe we can get them for $4 million.

Right? They don't know what they need to spend on them. Yeah, I don't know what they see is their biggest area of need. Yeah. You know? Yeah, like, they were a pretty good team this year. I think they ran into injuries. Well, I think their blue line needs another piece. I think that was one thing that they kind of fell into is that

like once McCar went down, and you're never going to replace McCar, but when they missed them in those playoff games, suddenly it was like the Devon Tave show and then it was, I know the recent Kulak and everything else. But anyway, To my earlier point, there are some teams that have filled a lot of gaps,

and the center position has been very, very fluid. By the way, I absolutely missed that Mason McTavish went to the blues, like in terms of other guys and centers and guys that had kind of fallen out of favor. Were you listening to the show yesterday? No. That was my big mistake. What? I was like, I think Mason McTavish, did he get traded?

I don't think he got traded yet. And everyone was like, he got traded to the blues. Yeah. And then I was like, I was watching soccer. Yeah, I did not know that you did this bit. Josh didn't correct me. Oh. Because he's too nice.

Scared. Yeah. And also terrified. Excuse me, sir. But I believe it was a trade. You know, okay, well, the reason I bring that- Don't you, Josh, don't you ever embarrass me. The reason I brought that up.

I kill you. Is it, if I'm not mistaken, many moons ago was actually in a couple of weeks, A-Dog decided to make one of our videos being us just having this conversation in a hypothetical world, would you trade Petters? for Mason McTavish, right? Because it was very much assumed and clear, quite frankly, in Anaheim's playoff run, the McTavish was on his way out of town.

Like, Quenville had no interest in playing him, keeping him around. Everyone was like, oh, he's still young, and, you know, they got an opportunity to turn him around. I'm like, no, they've parted ways. They've moved on. The reason we had the Pedersen-McTavis conversation incorrectly framed by A-Dog, I might add.

Well, Adog was the one that brought up the question. Would you trade Pedersen for McTalves? And then he's like, I'm going to make that the video. The sole purpose for me of it was, do you have two guys that are definitely on the move this summer? McTavish, yes. Pedersen, to be determined. But, I mean, the Ducks made the call with McTavish. We're good here.

We've seen enough. We're going to move on. Oh, he's easier to move. For sure, easier to move. Don't get me wrong. I know that it's not a straight apples to apples comparison here. But when you talk about two guys that kind of played their way out of markets and you know that, you know, based on various reporting, the Canucks

have been motivated sellers. It just kind of underscores two things. One, both guys need a move. Two, Pedersen's a hell of a lot harder to move than McTavish's for obvious reasons. Okay, get your what we learns into the Dunbar of the Merr text inbox. We'll read them on the other side

of the Half and a Brough show on SportsNet 650. Before we do that though, Jason, we want to need to once again discuss our good friends at the VGH Plus hometown Heroes Lottery. They need your support to help change lives and save lives. BC's Bravest answer the call. Your ticket answers theirs. Support BC's best value hospital home lottery and get your tickets now for your chance to become a multi-millionaire for just $85. Win with BC's Bravest and help save lives. Millions and prizes are just waiting to be won. A ticket started four for only $85. That's only $21.25 for ticket. Don't wait. Buy your tickets now at heroes lottery.com. You're listening to the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet, 650.

Thomas, Drans, we'll dive deep into all that's happening with the Vancouver Canucks. Listen 12 to 2 p.m. on SportsNet 650 or wherever you get your podcast. Now for my favorite part of the show, what I say? Talk to the audience. Oh, God. This is always dead. It's what we learn time. It's what we learn time.

It's what we learn time. On the show. 831 on a Tuesday, happy Tuesday, everybody. Halford Brough, Sportsnet 650. Halford Brubb of the morning is brought to by Sands and Associates. Their clients often say there is no judgment. You feel careful and understood. Visit them at sands-trustee.com.

We are in hour three of the program. Hour three is brats by the BC Construction Safety Alliance. Making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit them online at BCCSA.ca.ca. I heard Josh Bungle it yesterday, Mike. Still got it. Still got it.

Despite sounding like I gargled with acid this morning, I still got it. Did he not hit the... He tried, but he stumbled over a rose section and it just, yeah. You know the feeling. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Josh Elliott-Wil. He filled in admirably after I took off it quite arguably the worst time to take off. That was actually an insane power move. So you want to know what's crazy about it

Is when I initially booked off the time to go coach in this tournament I did not realize I didn't even look at the dates I didn't think at all I just told Cam like I need these two The Friday and the Monday off because we're going away for a tournament So I mean like I understand you might not have known No

That Canada was going to be playing in a round of 32 I knew it was a possibility But the draft has been Draft's been locked in for a while It's been locked in for a good long while Yeah, and it's always like, I don't know, you've been working in this business for a while. It's usually right at the end of June. Pretty big day.

And then free agency is on July 1st. Pretty big day right at the end of June. It's like, I'm off tomorrow too. And I know you watched like four Canucks games this season, but, you know, it was a pretty big story that the draft was going to be important for this team as it enters. I don't know if you, does he know they're in a rebuild? Do you know the Canucks are in a rebuild? The hockey team? The scenes are not playing anymore.

They've moved on La Wollong. goes long since ready he's the first ballot hall of famer the new york financier that's a deep cut uh okay uh i'm gonna you got you got to a one right here jason and gregg so jason you go first okay i i learned that uh after an incredible slate of world cup games yesterday they were all terrific yep um hopefully we get uh that again and here are the games today um ivory Coast and Norway, that's a 10 a.m. start, our time. That could be a very close game as well.

And we'll see if Erling Holland can break through against Ivory Coast. The biggest mismatch of the day is France and Sweden. France is a big favorite in this. And they're probably feeling pretty good that Germany's out because that would have been their next opponent. If they beat Sweden, you never know. Maybe Sweden can. can make it interesting.

And then the game that I am really looking forward to is tonight, Mexico and Ecuador. I know we've spent, obviously, lots of time talking about Canada. And we spent a good deal of time talking about the American team. We really haven't spent much time talking about the Mexican team. But this is a pretty tough opponent to get in the round of 32, especially considering that, you know, Mexico did very well in the group stage. They were undefeated. And now they've got these games, next two games at Azteca.

They have to win this one to get probably England in a round of 16 game at Azteca, which will be incredible. So a little Vancouver flair here today because Ecuador being manned in the midfield by former white cap Pedro Vite, who has had an unbelievably solid World Cup for the Ecuadorians right now. it's really interesting to watch him on this biggest stage because when he left the white caps, I was a little surprised that he went to Mexico. I thought the next stop for him was going to be in Europe.

And on that note, we had someone texting earlier and they were like, hey, Mike, I was watching Paraguay play yesterday. How about that performance from Andres Kubas? I always wonder when I watch him play why he's not. He played the whole match, didn't he? He ran 14 kilometers yesterday.

in 120 minutes. Yeah. He, I mean, so everyone this watch White Caps knows Kubas is this tireless worker in the midfield and just a dogged runner. So anyway, the texter said, every time I watch him play, I'm amazed that he hasn't landed somewhere in Europe.

And my reply to the texter was, maybe he will be now because these are usually the kind of performances when you have this profile and spotlight and yesterday against Germany. What a performance from Cuba. He was just running miles and everywhere. And when you do it on this level against the kind of opponent in a German national side, he just doesn't get to play them on that regular basis. It's almost one of those gauges.

It's like, well, he's good, but how good is he really? Like, he's a good MLS midfielder, but how good is he going to be on a larger stage? That was a real, real proving ground for Kubas yesterday. And Paraguay is, I don't want to say that the same as Ecuador, but... Ecuador is better than Paraguay. Right. But when you think about the South American teams, you obviously think about Brazil and Argentina. right at the top.

And then maybe you'd say Columbia after that. These teams, Ecuador and Paraguay, they're all very, very good. They're very solid sides. And they have to play these top teams all the time. So they know what it's like to go up against a Brazil or an Argentina or a Colombia. And Mexico, I'm just going to be really curious to see how they do tonight

because they got their hands full with a tough opponent and there's a lot of pressure on that. Give them a moo cow, Greg. And Laddie, it's your turn to tell us what you learned. Yeah, what we learned. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has invited media to the City Hall atrium today in Surrey to announce the city center arena and cultural event center. Whoa.

So stay tuned. 10 a.m. is the time of the press conference. I guess we'll get all the details on what this new arena will bring to the city of Surrey. So I have heard through the grapevine. The Surrey Grapevine? Yeah, the Surrey Grapevine. It's wear gloves. Oh, man.

I set him up. You knock a nail. I've heard through the grapevine that the group that's building this arena, they want a tenant, a full-time hockey tenant, and maybe it's another AHL team? Maybe it's the Golden Eyes. Yeah. A second AHL team?

Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if that makes sense. but you know I've always wondered about the Vancouver Giants to be perfectly honest with you like but I you know listen I don't poach anything away from the Langley events center yeah Langley to Surrey the Giants seem pretty happy in Langley but it's a small rank what's the what's the biggest crowd they could get there 3,000 something no it's more than that is it okay don't the golden eyes like the Coliseum like the Coliseum like hold on I'm sure they do but you know 5,276 capacity. Oh, okay. Okay. My mistake.

Maybe it was the Chilliwack Arena that was... It is smaller. Right. Okay. Yeah. Do the Golden Eyes like the Coliseum? I'm sure they do. Yep.

But the Coliseum is old. It's a bit dated. And the Agridome, as their practice facility, is old. You're talking about the possibility to move into a brand new 10,000 seat arena. Now, I realize that the Golden Eyes have been getting some really good. crowds at the Pacific Coliseum, but I do wonder where the average attendance or a good attendance for the pH, PWHL will eventually settle out. Right.

Remember, this was the first year for the Golden Eyes. There was a bit of a let's go check out a game. Now, maybe it's possible that those crowds even grow and every game is sold out down the line, in which case they probably want to stay at the Coliseum. But more likely is that a 10,000-seat arena is actually, pretty good for most games. And then occasionally maybe you can play at a game at Rogers Arena. Mookow.

Fire up the dot matrix. Humanoid submissions for what we learn brought to you as always by AJ's Pizza on East Broadway from corporate events to special events. There's no order too large order online at AJ's.com. I hate leading off what we learns with this. But sometimes people text things into the show and it gets my goat. And it's really annoying. I know which one.

You know which one it is. You know which one it is, right? unsigned texter, of course you're not going to put your name to this. You are henceforth known as that guy, because this is the biggest that guy comment in the world. You ready for this? Mike, you realize an average fitness human can jog 10 kilometers in about an hour. 14 kilometers in 120 minutes isn't as impressive as you think.

In what universe do you go to your phone, type out those words and be like, send. That'll show all. Do you think Kubis was just doing the sun run out there? Just a little casual jog. Had his sock and he's on, right? Had his water backpack for hydration. He was ready to go. Just a nice leisurely jog.

Remember when I did the sun run? I had to block a lot of German shots along the way there. Yeah, yeah. It was easy. It was easy. The amount of tackles you went flying into, the amount of yellows you picked up. Yeah, yeah. It's just a casual jog out there most of the time, right?

There's no sprinting. You wouldn't have had to sprint at all, right? You just kind of go for a little saunter, if you will, time to time. Truly unbelievable. It's all soccer is. This is a little jogging. Also, I don't recall, like, making that point with the kind of emphasis where I'm, like, seen.

This is the greatest sporting accomplishment. 14 kilometers has any human being ever done that before? Actually. Anyway. Please continue to text in on signed text. I'm sure you're going to now. Norm from Richmond. what we learned. What I learned is Pedersen's

contract is looking more and more palatable. Dora Faeff at 11 million, tuck at 10.6 million. The Dora Faeff deal was, okay. What are you doing Rangers? I mean, he's a nice player. He is a nice player. He's a goal scorer, but...

Every time the Rangers make a move, my first question is, what are you doing? Yeah. Like, not in a... I can't believe you did it, but like, what's the end game here? Dolan's on... Dolan's like, I'm not. I'm a god among men. The Knicks just won.

Rangers are next. You, Drury, go do something. He's like, I get Dorofeuf. Sold. I mean, again, Dorofiav was a nice player. I think he's actually got room to grow because he's still relatively young. And I mean, I was very impressed with this postseason. I think most people were.

Of course. He did kind of fade in the Stanley Cup final, but we'll ignore that. But it's just a big swing for a team where you just didn't anticipate them being a win. now, that's a win now move. And they're not good. No. They need to really reevaluate what they're doing there. But apparently they're still in go-for-it mode.

You know what I'm really curious to see over the next few days is what Toronto does. Yeah. I have no idea. I have no idea. I mean, they added Gavin McKenna, which was probably pretty newsworthy. But I'm curious to see what they do because they have got a ton of cap space. And we all know that the direction from ownership there is like, keep this team competitive. Well, they got that Troy Stetcher deal

done now. So that's going to really, I think that's going to make a big difference there. They did. A big difference maker. Dollywell was, of course, all over that. And I hope the Kineckx sign Ian Cole real quick, because I don't know how much Ian Cole conversation I can have. I hope

I hope he joins the Kinex. Did you guys do that on the show yesterday, Ian Cole? Or is that did that happen off there? I might have mentioned. Okay, yeah. So for those that are unaware of what we're talking about here, Rick Dollywell had, I think it was a really brief report. Just that Ian Cole would be a guy that the Canucks are interested,

which means someone spoke to to Ian Cole or Ian Cole's agent has spoken to Rick, one of the two. I should never let him go to begin with. They were fine letting him go. 37 now though. They were, wait, wait, wait, wait. It was one of the mistakes they made, though. Was one of the mistakes. Yeah, culture carrier. For sure. He's one of the guys

in the room. He had a real tough postseason. He did have that tough postseason. He was really bad against Edmont. Oh, yeah. I remember. It was a nightmare. Yeah. I will actually push back on that. I think for the trajectory where they thought they were going, and it was obviously wrong,

but they thought they were going to build upon that postseason run. Like, he was, he was just, it wasn't unplayable or anything, but he was a problem against Edmonton. But from the leadership perspective, they could have kept him around. He almost had like a super bad luck playoff. I remember it was like everything he did was just going against him.

Yeah, that's true. Mike, the retired Vancouverite in Toronto, So what I learned, Morocco is one very scary side, very fast, very skilled offensively. Canada will have to play their brains out to have any chance against them. Yeah, it's going to be a massive challenge. And, you know, I found myself last night. I'm like, come on, Netherlands. Yeah.

I know, be careful what you wish for. But do you want my, my, my, Morocco definitely was deserving of that win last night. My most thorough, but also basic analysis is if Canada wanted to, if their goal was to keep the opposition off the sheet and limit goals, that it was probably better. I think Morocco has less attacking ability than the Netherlands. Okay. At their, when they're like fully embracing going forward. Sure. However, I think overall, Morocco was the superior of the two sides.

I think they have actually more... Which is why the game plan is coming into question in the Netherlands. Yeah. And the manager is under so much heat. It was crazy to me that the Netherlands had such a conservative approach given the talent that they had at their disposal. Right. And now, that being said, Morocco is just an absolutely stacked team.

So the one guy that's sort of taken the footballing world by storm is Bwadi. You'll recognize him because he's really tall and lanky. He's got the floppy hair and he's 18. years old. Okay. And I mean, he's been very good for club, but he's burst onto the scene at this World Cup. And now it's like, Man City has a bit in for him. PSG has a bit inform. And everyone is, this is sort of the next great breakout star, 18 years old. And like, he can run for days. He's super physical. He's very talented. I heard he can run 15 kilometers in two hours. Yeah. And he texts you about it afterwards as well. Celia, the insurance agent, uh, what we learned,

the president of Paraguay declared today a national holiday to celebrate Paraguay's FIFA win against Germany, which is funny because on the broadcast, they told a story about when they qualified for the World Cup, also a national holiday. Why don't we do this in Canada? Like, we won, you know what, I'm going to declare it right now. You don't have to go to work today. That win over South Africa? Yep.

National holiday. Book it. Fort Worth. Got me fired, by the way. He said it was a national holiday. But how old bro said so? Do you think in Paraguay was kind of like, listen, no one's going to work tomorrow? so why don't we just make this

a national holiday? That was one of the wildest penalty kicks I've ever seen. Well, but the one last night almost superseded it. The Netherlands Morocco was insane. It was going to blow it. Oh, and Noir made the save. I was like, you don't see that very often, actually. You really don't see someone coming from two kicks, like trailing by two in a shootout to come back and forth. We have a trade to announce? Yes, I know. And you're very excited

because it's a goalie. So why don't you do it, Greg? I was not excited, but it's a moderate, big trade. Jacob Markstrom back to Florida. He's on the Panthers. Devils have traded him for what looks like Evan Rodriguez. Is that their starting goalie now? Didn't they pick up Akira Schmead too?

They did. So they have at least a combo of goalies there and I think Schmead is a lot better than people give them credit for. Is that going to be the answer? I don't know. That's their starting goalies though. Jacob and Akira, Marky and Akira. Like that's... It's interesting. All goalies are risky. but did you hear the rumors about Bobrowski possibly to Toronto?

Yeah, I didn't get that. But I don't get any of the cold water on that recently. But yeah, but Marks, didn't they just sign them to that extension? Yeah, but they were looking to get out of it like the minute. Immediately. What are they thinking? Sunny Medi came and he's like, I don't like this. Okay.

I think he starts his extension this year. Yeah. So as we just signed it. As we break down this trade in real time, the acquisition of goalies on back-to-back days by the Florida Panthers, Bob's done in Florida. that's fair to say? Yeah, I think that's pretty clear. But I've got to bring back, we got two goalies, let's make it a third.

Like, he's done there. So, I mean, that's on the Eva free agency. They get that done as well. So I guess Bobrofs, he's going to market tomorrow. All right. Basketball, Phil, what we learned, I can't wait to see Tom Dundan deal with Jah Morant after spending the last decade dealing with farm kids from Saskatchewan.

Yeah, John Merank got traded to the Portland Trailblazers. Tom Dunnett owns Carolina Hurricanes. He also owns the Portland Trailblazers. So this is a very Dundan move, by the way. way. Yeah, it's just like a discount discount product. Buying the diminished asset. There was a time, God, it wasn't that long ago.

Bruff and I made the dangerous decision to get a Memphis Grizzlies beat writer on our show. Remember that? To talk about the rise of John Morant. It's a potential face of the NBA. I think we jinxed it. Well, I don't know if it was us. Jaa had something to do with it, but in his family. Yeah, and his

celebrations. But I remember thinking, like, I don't know if we can get, we can do Memphis Grizzlies. content on the air. It seems really dicey. But the story was so big at that time. Remember? Ja was on a, we were talking about him being maybe the potential next face of the NBA. His star had risen that quickly and that Grizzlies team was so young and so exciting. And now all of it's gone. Can you imagine some of the conversations they had with Jaa Morant in Memphis? I like to imagine that, Ja, we've just given you a really big contract. You're making millions of dollars,

is really important to the team and to the community. We have to ask you once again, you have to stop live streaming things while you have a gun. Yeah, we did think we're just, you know, it's just... What about a bow and arrow? No, no, no, no weapons. This is happening time and time again. And listen, there are certain standards that we need to live up to.

And you just got to stop... We're not asking you to stop live streaming. we're asking you to stop live streaming while you have a gun and you're driving around. That's what I mean, it's just part of the culture. Call me a stickler for rules. Yeah. John, is that a lit stick of dynamite? Oh, man.

It is, but it is wild. This is what it's come to in a very, very short period of time. Rob and Surrey, what we learned, what I've learned is that no BC lines experience compared to when the Lions played the end of the 2010 season and the beginning of the 2011 season. season at the temporary 27,000 seat Empire Field on the P&A fairgrounds in front of the North Shore Mountains on a hot summer day. I went to a bunch of games, white caps and lions there. It's great.

And it was so much fun. And the beer lineups were ridiculous. They had portable toilets and that was kind of a disaster. But it wasn't that easy to get there and go back if you weren't driving because transit wasn't terrific. but man, it was fun to be outside. And truly outside. BC Place to me is not an outdoor stadium.

It's really not. What's your view? You can see a bit of the sky. Yeah. You know? You explain it to someone as an indoor slash outdoor stadium. They're like, what's going on in Vancouver? What are you guys doing?

Yeah. It's very strange. I mean, it's got a sunroof, essentially. And we have a beautiful city. There's a reason why the, the World Cup broadcast is here in Vancouver, the beautiful view of our mountains and the ocean, we don't get that, and we had it.

And it was really cool. Recruiter Tim, what we learned, I am so happy that as an Englishman, other countries finally know what pain feels like after losing in penalties in a World Cup. How awesome were those matches yesterday? They were awesome, but there's a lot of countries now

that have felt the pain of losing it. in penalties. Did you know that Germany hadn't lost in penalties at the World Cup since 1976? Right. And Germany goes to the World Cup all the time, just so we're clear. Like, they're there all the time. They don't miss.

But the Dutch have. The Dutch have a much longer and painful history losing in penalties. The Germans, more often than not when they go to penalties, they win. It's like, don't worry, guys. We're pretty efficient. Yeah, very efficient. And so yesterday was a bit of a shocker because for the first time, since 76, they bow out. And early in the tournament I'm at as well.

I'm a analyst. Manager, though, Julian Nagelman afterwards said he's not going to step down in the face of criticism because he's still got a contract with the German national side. So we'll see what happens there. Who is that the coach? Yeah. He's a young guy, isn't he? It's 38.

Right. Yeah. He came from Byron and he was like supposed to be the next great young coach that was going to be the next great super coach. But you know what they've got? Was Alfonso Davies replacement on that Germany team? Isn't there? Don't they have like a left back and young guy that Byron's got? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Davies after this World Cup. The Germans aren't all smiles of sunshine. That was Juergen Klopp coming for the job. Okay, we got to get out of here. It's been a lot of fun. Thank you for bearing with my voice today. I'll promise to be better tomorrow. Signing off.

I have been Mike Halford. He's been Jason Brough. He's been A-Dog. He's been Laddie. This has been the Halford & Brough show on Sportsnet, 650.