Halford & Brough in the Morning - Will The Canucks Be Sellers At The Deadline?

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

In hour two, Mike & Jason get an update on the impressive season for the Columbus Blue Jackets from The Athletic CBJ's Aaron Portzline (4:40) ahead of this weekend's outdoor game, plus they talk some Canucks with analyst Bob "The Moj" Marjanovich (25:58), and what the 'Nucks might do at the deadline. 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.

Is this the Fiesta version of the Danger Bay TV theme song. The start of it. Can you actually go to the start of it? You want him to rewind the song? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right to the beginning? Yeah, I do. Hi everybody, you are listening to the Halford and Bref Show on Sportsnet 650.

More administrative. Yeah, there's a little bit of danger. 100%. Adog's listening now. One more time, Halford. One more time here. This is the start of it. Yes. That's Danger Bay. Yeah. This is Latin Danger Bay.

Muy Dangeroso. He perked up right when the song started too. He did. There's nothing that the prop loves more than a Danger Bay reference. Well, you know my history with that song. Yeah. I'm familiar with it. Okay, the show is about an aquarium in Cabo. Let's focus here, shall we? The socket has escaped. Yeah, we were going to focus. You are listening to the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Halford and Brough of the morning is brought to you by Vancouver Honda, Vancouver's premier

destination for Honda customers. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can help with anything you're looking for, sales, financing, service or parts. We are in hour two of the program. Hour two is brought to you by Jason Homonuck at jason.mortgage. 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 him on the internet at jason.mortgage.

We are coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Kintec footwear and orthotics working together with you in step. To the phone lines we go, our next guest is the owner and proprietor of AJ's Pizza Ony's Broadway, which is growing, we'll get to that in a second. AJ joins us now in the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650.

What up dude, how you doing? What, I am good, as I said, I feel like now I truly am becoming a Friday therapist. You haven't asked us anything for Bruff. Is this like a therapy related thing? Where are we going with this? What do we do? Yes, I hate myself.

We are getting, no, I'm totally going out on a, Bruff, I know you're a huge movie guy, right? Uh-oh, yeah. So- I want to know, you're huge is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. I know more than Halford, which is a low bar. Okay. So then this can be for everybody.

Okay. I'm a huge Gene Hackman guy. What's your favorite movie of his? We talked about this yesterday and it was unforgiven, um, and he won best supporting actor for little Bill there. Um, I mean, he's just so good. I mean, Hoosiers was mine just cause it, it

brings sports into it. Uh, I, I picked Hoosiers good. I mean, Hoosiers was mine just because it brings sports into it. Uh, I picked Hoosiers and then I got admonished for what was the one that I picked? Well, you didn't know any other movies. He was like, I think he was in enemy of the state. I'm like- Or behind enemy lines.

Which one is it? I can't remember. Yeah. That's like, that's like, it's like name two Canucks, Quinn Hughes and Nils Amon. So like they are two Canucks. Uh, Superman, hello. Yeah.

You know what? In retrospect, I should have said Royal Tenenbaums where he was Royal Tenenbaums. Yeah, no, you know what? That's a great movie. What a range. I thought of that one too and it's funny, I forgot he was in Superman and Teresa reminded me and I was like, right, that was one of his greatest roles.

Mr. Luthor. You're doing a lot of good impressions this morning, that's pretty good. Okay, AJ, tell us about the shop and the restaurant. What's going on next door? So, Renault has started. It started on Monday. Very good.

I'm actually sitting in the empty space right now. So, I mean, Jimmy Aces has the overrun of being done of seven weeks. Okay, that's good. I think he's trying to throw a Hail Mary, but we'll see. We'll see. I appreciate his enthusiasm about how quickly he's gonna get done.

Has Jimmy Aces heard anything more about Brock Besser to Florida? Is he maintaining that? I did poke him. He's still maintaining that's happening. Okay, all right. He is 100% maintaining that's happening. Okay, so for everyone this weekend

that wants to eat pizza, drink beer and check out a renovation, what do you guys got going on this weekend? Well, we got, I mean, if anybody's looked at the weather, spring is in the air, right? I mean, walking around the street. I can't believe how warm it was yesterday. I know, and it's gonna be beautiful. Walk around Main Street, hit up some breweries

and pop into AJ's and soak up some beer with pizza. I mean, what could be better? Sounds good, buddy. Happy RL Day Sunday. Excellent. Okay, thanks for doing this as always. We appreciate it and better? Sounds good, buddy. Happy RL Day Sunday. Excellent. OK, thanks for doing this. As always, we appreciate it. And go buy AJ's this weekend.

Happy RL Day on Sunday. Thanks, bud. Take care. Everybody have a great weekend. You too. Thanks. That's AJ from AJ's Pizza on East Broadway here on the Haliford and Brush Show on Sportsnet 650.

Do we have a Portsline on the line? We're going to go directly to Columbus. Joined now by Aaron Portsline from the Athletic here on the Haliford and Brush Show on Sportsnet 650. Morning, Aaron. how are you? Good morning gentlemen, how are you? We're well, thanks for taking the time to do this. So very exciting times in Columbus right now.

There was the game last night, a big win, a big emotional win for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Detroit Red Wings, the same team that they're going to face on the weekend at Ohio Stadium. We talked about this in the intro of the show. Believed to be over 90,000 people that are going to be in attendance for this game on the weekend. So let's start there. Set the scene for our listeners. How much anticipation and excitement is there locally for this big game on Saturday at Ohio Stadium? Quite a bit, yes. This has been something that people in Columbus have been asking for

for years. Gary Bettman, whenever he would make an appearance in Columbus, he would say, I'll answer the question before it's even asked. Yes, there will be an outdoor game here sometime. No, there is not one in the works. Um, I think there were people that were beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen and you know, the, the, it's a, it seems so obvious because Ohio stadium, whether you're a college football fan or not, it is a big old venerable stadium, one of the classic settings in our country, maybe in, in North America, uh, over a hundred years old, seats over a hundred thousand people. It felt like one of the last places the NHL

had not conquered in its outdoor series games. So anticipation is, dare I say, through the roof, even though there won't be one for the first time in a Blue Jackets game on Saturday. And the rink looks great, I've been over there a bunch. It's still coming into shape. Players will skate on it tonight and get their first look at it But yeah tomorrow is a big day one of those big days for the franchise That you know, they've had very very few of them through here. So it's been anticipated quite a bit

I don't want anyone in Columbus to take this question the wrong way But was there any concern from the league that if they put a game at Ohio Stadium they wouldn't be able to sell it out? Well, I think those are the numbers that the league obviously knows before they even do it. I never got the sense that that was a concern. Um, like Columbus, first of all, there's more people in Columbus than people realize people think of Cleveland and Cincinnati is being bigger. Ohio cities, Columbus is bigger than both of them combined by 250,000. So it's got a, it's got a huge population base. And these games,

as you guys know, these reach beyond the, just, just the hockey base is enough of them in Columbus, but it reaches beyond there. There will be people, 10, 20,000 people at that game. Saturday who probably aren't big blue jackets fans who probably have only been to a few games that are there because it is an event. It's the, it's peculiar. It's, it's the, it's a moment that, uh, I was there when dot dot dot, uh, you can, you know, and let's not kid ourselves.

Social media posts will be fantastic. Uh, on Saturday, it's an event. People want to be there. Uh, I think the one thing they were worried about is that the blue jackets, especially with the tragedy they absorbed before the season, we're going to be there. I think the one thing they were worried about is that the Blue Jackets, especially with the tragedy they absorbed before the season, were going to be a completely non-competitive team this year and that pleasantly has been a surprise. This game actually has huge implications. The Redmins have the first wild cards, Blue Jackets have the second, they're tied in points. So with Ottawa, Boston and the Rangers looming, uh, these are big

points for, uh, for the playoff race. So this game has meaning beyond just the, uh, the, the, the novelty of it being outdoors. Have you been able to feel the support from the rest of the league for the blue jackets? You know, I'm not a guy that usually cheers for other teams. Um, but I would love to see the blue jackets, not only make the playoffs, but make a run in the playoffs because, um, not only is it an inspiring

story that started with such tragedy, but I honestly enjoy watching blue jackets games. They're a fun team to watch. Yeah. Right. Uh, that first sentiment is one that I have heard a lot this year, um, from other players even, uh, but certainly from fans.

Um, you know, you hear all the time, uh, I can't say I'm a Blue Jackets fan, but geez, it'd be good to see them, uh, do something or they're my second favorite team or this is my sentimental pick. Uh, I hear that a lot. The players have heard it as well. Um, I do think there's a recognition that this is the team that has endured something still is, uh, still dealing with the loss of Johnny Goudreau and his brother.

Uh, that the Goudreau's will be honored, um, in the outdoor game on, uh, on Saturday, uh, his, his wife, Meredith will be in the crowd with her kids. She's been coming to games. Players have been going over to the house for their kids to play with their kids after practices. I mean, the whole arena thing. Happy birthday to little Johnny Jr. on earlier this week. Incredible moment. So yeah, there is certainly an air of sentimentality around this club. So how are they doing it? How have they overachieved this year? If you could, you know, just like, where does it start? Yeah, so I think it has to start with the fact that they've had, they've invested a lot into first round draft picks.

They've rebuilt essentially. And the problem with rebuilding is it doesn't go on a schedule. It has starts, it has fits, it has all kinds of ups and downs. What's really happened this year is you've seen Kent Johnson put it together. Adam Fantillyilli second season has really bloomed. Karilla Marchenko has gone to a different level. He scored 20 plus goals his first two years in the league. He's a different player now. Mironkov has grown. Cole Sillinger has become a difference maker in the number three center spot. Um, so all of those Matejchuk looks like a, a,

a revelation as a young players rookie season. And obviously Wawrinski has taken a ginormous step forward. Looks like a Norris trophy candidate, maybe the winner probably deserves some heart trophy votes, uh, as the player most valuable to his team. Uh, I think it's all of that. I think there's also been some veterans here. Monahan, Don Monahan has been just some really inspirational to watch him go about, uh, the way that he, the way that he is as a human being and a player.

Um, just so freaking impressive. Boone Jenner, of course, James Ramp and Reims. In fact, there are some veterans here. It's been a really good mix. It's bloomed basically. I don't think you ever expect all of those young players to blossom at once but that's kind of what it's looked like here this season. We're speaking to Aaron Porzlein from the Athletic in Columbus here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Aaron, we knew about Zach Gorenzki prior to the season and we'll watch him play, the Four Nations faceoff and everything.

So we're pretty, he's a pretty well established NHLer, although he has taken a giant leap this season. I got to ask you about Marchenko because I got to admit, I didn't know a ton about the guy. Then I was listening to Brian Hedger on, do an interview a couple of days ago talking about not just the production that he's had, but like he's had a busted jaw, and I thought he was supposed to be out for a long time. And then I look at his game log and he's playing with a busted jaw

and scoring tons of goals. So can you let us know a little bit more about Marchenko because he's having an awesome season in Columbus. Yeah, he has, he has. It's wild. I mean, when they lost him, you thought he was gonna be out until April. If it's not long, wild. I mean, when they lost him, you thought he was going to be out until April. If, uh, if not longer, broken jaws are brutal and surgery.

It did not need to be wired shut. It's a two plates. Uh, and, and he spent, he canceled his, uh, trip during four nations to stay in Columbus and get acclimated to playing with this big, bulky face mask on his, uh, helmet, as we've said, he's just getting ready to play in a football stadium. He looks like a football player, like a free safety. He is, he is a gifted offensive player. We've known that their demand to him this year, starting with Don Waddell when he signed him to a contract last summer, was he's got to

be harder on Pucks and he's got to be better in his defensive zone. And he has really taken a leap forward there. And I think he has seen the reward of it. Um, he's working harder than he ever has to get pucks back. He's benefiting from that. He is also, I have to say this, it should probably start with this. He is an effervescent, fun, joyful person to be around. Uh, he has, he is self and he is engaging. He is self-effacing.

He has all of those things. And really during some difficult times for this team, he's one of those guys that is a constant ray of optimism, of hope, of joy. Uh, this can be kind of a quiet room. Boo Jenner is a quiet, serious leader. And since he's come to the league, Kirill Marchenko has just been this sort of lifting spirit in the room.

And a lot of those guys in the room really, really like him and appreciate him. But there's no question, he is a different player now than he's been his first two years. Dean Evison gets hired late July, then about three four weeks after he gets hired this unthinkable tragedy happens with Johnny Goudreau. So before he coaches a single game with the team he's a late summer hire this unprecedented thing happens and he's come out and done this kind of coaching job.

What can you say about what Dean Evison has done this year? Yeah, I mean it's been it has been something to watch. It's been in the midst of tragedy and just incomprehensible sadness. There has been a beautiful thing here in Columbus. They have not moved past Johnny Gatrow. They have not tried to. They have kept him with them. Uh, as I said,

they have surrounded Meredith and the family. They have surrounded Johnny's parents, sisters, all of it. Um, they've kept his Jersey in the, in the dressing room. And it is not a taboo topic. And certainly they don't want to be asked about the tragedy every day, but Johnny's name is mentioned as though he is a member of the team. Um, when they started training camp, uh, Evison acknowledged that there was some questions. Do we take the droves clips out of the highlights and low lights?

We're going to show the team and they decided, no, we're going to go forth with this. Uh, he's a, he's a player that they speak about, talk about, uh, reference. And, um, you know, Evison has also said this a few times, I'm paraphrasing, but he's told the players, do you want to cry? Cry. Do you want to break something? Break something.

We'll fix it. Uh, if you get cry, cry. You want to break something, break something. We'll fix it. Uh, if you get angry, let it out. Uh, and they have had some real heart to hearts in that room. There's been, um, a real, a real atmosphere created where players are free to express themselves in, in, in any way that grief takes you. And if we've all been through it, we know what that can mean. It's been a marvelous thing to witness,

just the resilience and the character and the way that this group has bonded together. And I think there is a sense with this group, I wrote this the other day, that the whole of this team is greater than the sum of its parts, that they're playing, I don't know if it's divine intervention I don't know what it is. It's easier to

To see that it is to describe but there is something extra there with the scene this year Which I guess brings us to the trade deadline. Do they want to mess with this in any way? I Think they want to add to it. I think they want to mess with this in any way? I think they want to add to it. I think they want to add to it and add to it in a way that doesn't mess with it in any way. I think they're going to add a veteran forward. I think they want to anyway. Not first round pick out the door kind of trade, but middle, fourth round pick, third

round pick, third round pick. I think a name to keep in mind is Gus Nikeses who has been in Columbus before. A player like that, not a top line guy, not a long term guy. I don't think a player with term is out of question, but I don't think they want to, you know, commit too much of the future to that. I don't know frankly that they feel like they need too much, although it'll be interesting to see how long Cole Cillinger is out. He left in the first period last night, did not return. So that would be a hit, but I think the other thing is they want to be careful not to get in the way of Adam Fantilly's

first playoff experience. They want him to feel that, to see it. Marchenko's first, right? There's a lot of young guys, Ken Johnson, we talked about all these guys earlier. They need to see it, feel it, experience it, see how far they can take it, but I don't think they want to bring in players that are going to slide them down and keep them from really tasting what it's like in the postseason. It's been the best story in the NHL this year by my estimation anyway and another chapter, a very cool chapter is going to get written on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Hey Aaron, thanks a lot for taking the time to do this today. We really appreciate it. Great insight into everything that's going on with a pretty special team. Enjoy Saturday. It should be a lot of fun Yeah, it'll be great. Thanks guys. Thanks for having me. Yeah, thanks for coming on Aaron We appreciate that there in ports line from the athletic in Columbus here on the haliford and brough show on sportsnet 650 I will say this there was a roughly zero point zero percent chance that I gave The Columbus Blue Jackets of being this good and this competitive and fun watch. Yeah, and it's fun to watch this deep into the season.

I had heard that Marchenko anecdote before. It's kind of why I put it on the table for Aaron there, about the broken jaw. Yeah. So yeah, everyone had plans for what they wanted to do over the Four Nations faceoff, and him being Russian obviously wasn't playing in it. And then he had a vacation planned

and then had to cancel the whole thing. Well, not had to, wanted to cancel the whole thing so he could stay in Columbus to train as much as he could with the gigantic bubble on his head. So he could get used to playing with it. That's dedication. Little things like that, little anecdotes and little stories like that where guys give a crap. That matters. That stuff really matters.

Can I play a clip from last night, you guys? It was a you sure can. It's not a lot of good moments from this, the Canucks game. But let me play my favorite moment from last night you guys it was a you sure can't great It's not a lot of good moments from this the Canucks game But let me play my favorite moment from last night's game Three straight goals for the Ducks in the second period. They take their first lead of the night with 1.19 left in the middle frame. Ryan Stromes, ninth of the year, makes it 3-2. You know what?

Now that you pointed out, that horn is a little annoying. It was amazing. I love when the horn went over Bats. Like Bats kept talking, you just hear, uh. Almost, almost off putting how natural it sounded in the clip. Could you just play the third part where the horns going over bats? I was.

Goals for the ducks in the second period. They take their first lead of the night with 119 left in the middle frame. It is a dumb horn. Yeah. It feels, I know when you actually improved it. You know when you see those videos that you know are AI, but you're still like, it could be real?

That's the exact same vibe I get listening to Bruv's Goal Horn. It's just too close. I know it's not the Goal Horn. Oh. All right. All right. Okay, let's do some Ask Us Anythings here.

It is Ask Us Anything Friday by the way, quick reset. Text in Dunbar Lumber Text Line is 650-650. AJ's Pizza $100 gift card is up for grabs. Throw a pizza emoji into your text along with the hashtag. Best Ask Us Anything or What We Learn, but we're going to do some Ask Us Anythings now. All right. Oz and Squamish. We kind of had a conversation like this earlier in the show. Ask Us Anything, another good Whitecaps win to start the season. They're moving on to Monterey, Mexico, which has an awesome stadium with a beautiful mountain view. I didn't know that. What's your dream stadium to visit? Could be football, hockey, Korean baseball laddie, or any other sport. I mean,

for me, I'd always like to see Wembley. Yep. Just, but although new Wembley doesn't have quite the appeal of going to old Wembley. No. Old Wembley would be like, I mean, this place is a dump, but the history in this place, there'd be probably some other European soccer stadiums in Barcelona or Milan that I like to, or sorry, Madrid.

The New Bernabeu, which Randip went to. soccer stadiums in Barcelona or Milan that I like. Yeah, the new camp. Or sorry, Madrid. The new Bordebeo. Yeah. Which Randip went to. Yeah. I mean, that would be incredible. And also some college football stadiums, I think. You know, maybe some SEC stadiums, Tennessee, Alabama, something like that.

What about Notre Dame? What about the lore? It doesn't appeal to me. It's too cold. Yeah, okay. It looks cold. You know? Yeah.

It feels like the pregame stuff would be I Don't know not as fun. I have been told I've been told by someone that went to go watch a Mexican national team match It has Tekka. Yeah, you can't replicate what it is And it's not necessarily like a bucket list in a positive way because it's like it's at elevation and it's super intense And the crowd you can feel the energy both good and bad because it's at elevation and it's super intense, and the crowd, you can feel the energy, both good and bad, like it's almost on a knife's edge. But they said you will, in terms of just straight experiences.

It's a rush. Right, maybe it'll leave you with some residual scarring, but it is something that you have to go. The scarring is from a knife. Right, and I mean, look, it's one of those events where good, bad, or otherwise, it's one of those events where good, bad, or otherwise is something that's a once in a lifetime thing. Some people texting in Fenway.

Yeah. Fenway is cool. I went there in 2011 when the Canucks were up. Two, nothing. Now what was going on then? In the series and I was feeling pretty good about things. Uh, so Fenway is a bit of a jinx.

People texting in the Rose Bowl. Really? The Rose Bowl kind of looks kind of boring. I've been to the Rose Bowl before. What's Rose Bowl? Kind of looks kind of boring. I've been to the Rose Bowl before. What's it like? Lingerie Bowl, 2005. Right.

Never forget. Right. Never forget. Who was the special guest then? Joey Badufuco. The highlight of your sports watching career? Wasn't the highlight. It would be cool to go to the Rose Bowl

with like 100,000 people in a big game. There was like 60. I was working the lingerie bowl. That was the low point of my journalistic. He was, he was a lingerie model. Yeah. This is the worst lingerie bowl ever. No wonder nobody showed up. Just this one guy. Okay. We got to go to break when we come back. Bob, the Mojbar. John of it, she's going to join us.

Dolly walls at eight and what we learn in Ask Us Anything is at 8.30. Halfway point of the show, still got 90 minutes to go. Don't go anywhere. You're listening to the Haliford and Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. Hey, it's Jamie Dodd. And Thomas Strance.

Get your daily dose of Canucks talk with us weekdays from 12 to two on Sportsnet 650. Or catch up on demand through your favorite podcast app. It's the Moch. I did not eat four burgers. Yes, it's the Moch. I don't want to go to Winnipeg. Nobody wants to go to Winnipeg.

Yes, I love food. It's the Moch. I went online and kind of did a little surfing. Jamalanya. Yes, it's the Moch. Halperd's fine, but you know, brussels is grumpy all the time. Moch, Moch, Moch, Moch, Moch. Jamalanya! Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj Moj on a Friday. Happy Friday everybody, Halford Brough, Sportsnet 650. Halford and Brough for the morning is brought to you by Vancouver Honda, Vancouver's premier destination for Honda customers. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can help with anything you're looking

for, sales, financing, service or parts. We are in our two of the program. Moj is going to join us in just a moment here in case the music didn't give that away. Our two of the program is brought to you by Jason Hominock at Jason.mortgage. 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 him on the internet at Jason.mortgage. To the phone lines we go, he has a presentation of the Clayton Public House. He is Bob the Moge Marjanovic here on the Haliford and Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. What up, Moge? Good morning, gentlemen.

So I'm going to let the listeners behind the looking glass here a little bit. Every show on a Friday, Moj sends in a list of talking points, but Moj, I'm gonna zag where you would zig. I'm gonna start not with the talking points you gave us, but with the article that you wrote for Black Press earlier this week about Elias Pedersen. Was that cathartic to write about how Petey needs to step up and stop it with this act

moving forward? Well, you know, like I said in the article, when I read the quote that Ian McIntyre had on Monday, I just shook my head because, like I said in the article, this is nothing compared to what other players have gone through in the past. It's not like he's got this grueling media schedule. And you know frankly I couldn't really care about you know, Pederson and his attitude. I mean to me it doesn't make a world of difference in what I do. I just think you know you have to be a professional. Take a look at the players in the past that have worn the C for the connection, not

that Pederson's a captain but he is an alternate captain. And how they've dealt with the media, they've done it in a professional, dignified, respectful manner. And, you know, they've been treated with respect. And it's not like Pedersen's been treated, you know, with no respect, right? Okay, yeah, you don't like it, well, do it. I mean, it's like I said, it's part of your job. As much as some people want to be Pedersen apologists, the best, the best paragraph of that entire story was the quote from Patrick Alveen at the end where he talks about being mature and facing the music. So, you know, like I said, to me, it's, it's just something that you have to do. It's part of your gig. So instead of fighting it, just like Rick Crockett says, instead of fighting the pressure,

embrace it. Do you think it is harder though, today with social media and I'm sure there's a temptation once in a while for these players to go search their names on social media. And for me, I would rather face Neil McCray or Tony Gallagher than, you know, be Elias Pedersen right now and search my name on Twitter. Well, why do it though? Why put yourself through that right? I mean, what's the point? What are you getting out of it?

What it's just reinforcing the fact that perhaps you're not playing well. It's 90% of Twitter slash actions negative anyway, so why put yourself through it just ignore it it, right? Easier said than done, I think. It is, you know, it probably is. But I mean, hell, I mean, even in our industry, you guys have read the inbox on some occasions, like some of the stuff that people say to us, right, as show hosts, right? Yeah, and it's hard, and it's hard, and I can't imagine what it would be like magnified by a million. Yeah, I mean, you know, you guys have read an inbox

where people have said some pretty nasty things about you or your cohost or the lack of intelligence, your character, your integrity. All right. All right. I give them oxygen, right? So don't even bother with it. We're speaking of Bob the Moj.

Body odor. I'm like, Hey Moj, all right, I get it. I get it. Point taken. I love it when the inbox rips Halford. It's usually me actually secretly texting into the show. Okay.

Let's. Sorry, go ahead. No, sorry guys, go ahead. Okay. Let's talk about the fear factor. You put this in your talking points. Now I'm assuming this isn't the classic game show hosted by Joe Rogan in the early 2000s,

but rather, the Canucks don't have one, explain. Yeah, no one on that team's gonna eat a cockroach, is that what we're trying to say? Several cockroaches. Yeah, here's the thing, when you play the Canucks right now, who's the, other than Quinn Hughes, who puts fear into the opposing team?

Who does the opposing team look at and say, we've got a game plan against this guy? Quinn Hughes, that's it. You don't have to worry about Elias Pettersson, you don't have to worry about JT Miller anymore, all right? That's her, I don't think you have to worry about him right now. That's the thing when I look at this team and the lack of production is just, you know, you do your best to take away Quinn Hughes and if you can, I think you're in pretty good shape. Now that's easier said than done. But with this connect roster right now,

where's the fear factor? Who's the player that, you know, other teams are looking at and saying, we have to game plan against this guy. We have to take this guy out of the game or try to contain him or whatever. There's no one. I mean, Pedersen, forget about it, right?

I mean, that's the right now. And you right? I mean, Besser right now, and you know, trading Miller, you talk about the ripple effect. You know, you trade Miller, and I think it's impacted Besser, right? So once he got four goals in his last 23 games, and you know, you could see this lack of production coming because at the start of the year, Kyle Sherwood and Pia Suter were playing over their heads.

So I looked it up, Sherwood had 12 goals in 36 games. He's got one in his last 19. Suter, 11 goals in 35 games, four in his last 23. I mean, they were kind of masking some of the issues with the lack of top-end production. And you thought to yourself, okay, well, you know what? Pederson will get going, Miller will get going. While Miller's gotten going, unfortunately, it's in New York and

Pederson's still stuck in the mud. Um, so what do they do with Brock Besser? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Um, you've got three options, of course you can trade them, you can sign them, you can keep them through the deadline, but so if you keep them through the deadline and you squeak into the playoffs, what happens? If you're lucky, you might win one round, maybe it's not a team that's poised to go on a deep run.

So it's not like you necessarily look at Brock Buster and say he's going to be a key piece of a big playoff run. If you trade them, I think you have to be careful of what you trade them for. I don't think you give them away. There's been fans in this city that have been upset with the Canucks in past years when they didn't trade an impending UFA, believing that they should get something for the asset. But, you know, if you trade Besser for say a pick and you've got a team that's battling for a playoff spot, you might as well be running up a white flag.

So if you're gonna trade Besser, maybe you trade him for a guy who's a young player who's already in the league, maybe you do that. I don't think you sign him, especially with the term that he wants. I don't think, you know, I love Brock Buster I think he and Brock Buster to me is one of the character guys on the caddocks. I Think he's an outstanding young man, but you sign him to eight years, right?

I mean you wonder about years four or five six seven right in that contract So I don't think he's gonna get the term that he wants in Vancouver and you have to realize that this is his home run. He's got to go out there and he's gonna, this is the one contract where he could make a lot of money. I don't think he's gonna give up three years of term to stay in Vancouver. I mean it'd be ill-advised to do to do so. And you know for people that are saying well you know maybe he stays in Vancouver for 42 or 45 and doesn't go somewhere else for like 50, you're going to give up five, six, seven, eight million dollars?

I don't know about that. And especially if you get out in the real world, ask yourself, how long will it take you as just like a guy out there in the real world to try to make that type of money up. So it's a real, real interesting situation with Buster and one that will obviously will come to a conclusion here shortly. Well, I think the counter argument would be in the

real world, you wouldn't need to make up that amount of money because you've already got $42 million. But everyone sees it differently, right? Like some people think, well, I got 40 million, what do I need 10 million more for? And others, it's less about the money than it is about just earning what you think you deserve and

being respected by the group that pays you. So I don't know what makes Besser Tick in terms of these contract negotiations, but by the sounds of it, he's kind of said, listen, I want to be here. I've been pretty loyal to this organization. I think I've worked pretty hard, so let's see some love here. You can't really push back on that, can you? No, you can't. I understand what you're saying, but I don't know if the organization wants to do that because you have to look at what's best for the organization long term. And you know, the other thing too, you know, we talk about 40 million or 50 million, let's

not kid ourselves. A lot of that money evaporates pretty quickly. I mean, through taxes, escrow player agents, you name it, lifestyle, right? That money goes pretty quick. You have to be as an NHL player, you have to be pretty shrewd in terms of how you handle your money moving forward, right? So it's one thing when you're in the National Hockey League, you live a certain lifestyle, right? You can afford to live in a great house or, you know, you can afford to take these five-star vacations this and that but once those paychecks stop rolling in

it's a different world right so yeah I still think I know you're saying that is there really a big difference between 43 and 50 well it's still seven million dollars so to me you know you look around and you talk to guys that have been in the league and they all say the same thing. Once you stop playing, it's a different animal. I'll never forget the line Brad May told me. He goes, my wife's still buying shoes thinking that I'm getting an NHL face check. Like I said, to me, it's something that you have to look at as an athlete.

Moge, when you look at this team and where it's at, taking everything into consideration, how do they avoid the rebuild? How do they avoid going down into the depths? Like what is, what is the key? Is the key just finding a way to keep Quinn Hughes as the key finding a way to turn Elias Pedersen around? Or, I mean, one answer could be like, I see it as unlikely that they're able to avoid

the rebuild. Man, to me, it all hinges on Pedersen, right? And I think the organization knows a hell of a lot. Obviously, they know a hell of a lot more than we do in terms of where he is physically. If there is any sort of physical situation that's ailing him, you know, he talked about that knee. Um, I don't think he's playing quote, he might be playing hurt, but he's not playing injured. And there's a difference. Um, you know, he's playing back to back games. I just don't know what's happened to his game. There was a play last night, guys, I don't know if you remember it came down the left side and he had the puck and I thought to myself

okay drive to the net and He got knocked off the puck, right? And to me that was like, you know, you hear Rick talk I talk about keeping his feet moving all the time And to me that was just an example of it, right? I mean it just kind of hit me right basically hit me right in the face and I was like, what's happening in this guy's game? Where's his confidence gone? Where's this burst gone? I mean, what are we talking about? We're talking about a flash in the pan, maybe. I mean, you know, people talk about, Oh, look at all the points you had, you know, in this first whatever three years in the league. Well, fine and

dandy, but that doesn't guarantee a player's success moving forward. And I don't like it's just a complete mystery. It really is. I don't know where his head space is that I don't know where he is physically, you know, only the organization would know that for 100%. But man, they've got a real big decision to make on him because so much of their future is tied into that contract. Well, and it him because so much of their future is tied into that contract. Well, and it dominates so much of the oxygen around every conversation with the team and everything. When you talk about depth forwards or needing to upgrade the third pair of blue line, it's kind of like, yeah, this is all a pointless conversation because the biggest most obvious problem is staring them directly in the face and it's the guy making the most money that's giving

them so little return on the contract. Like we were talking earlier, by the way, if you want to hear the conversation, download our one of the podcasts, but we were saying like all of this, everything moving forward is about what do they do with the Pedersen problem and it shadows every single thing moving forward. Okay, Moj, before we let you go, I do want to ask

you anything regarding food. The usual ask is I think- I thought we were gonna talk about stadium. The stadium conversation- Oh, you wanna go there? Let's go there. Okay. What stadium do you-

I've been to Notre Dame. You have been to Notre Dame. You went on the old 1040 sports trip there, right? Yeah, I've been there twice actually. Actually got to watch that, I've seen Notre Dame one time as well. It's phenomenal. It's just a great experience.

Rose Bowl, I've been there as well. I was lucky enough to watch Alabama and Texas in the BCS Championship game. Chessy and Notre Dame one time as well. It's phenomenal, it's just a great experience. Rose Bowl, I've been there as well. I was lucky enough to watch Alabama and Texas in the BCS Championship game. Another really cool thing about the Rose Bowl is, I don't know if you guys have been there or not, but you walk through these tiny little tunnels to get into the stands, and then when you get there,

the angle of the stands is nothing like you see today. It's, I don't know, I don't know in terms of degrees, but it's not like it's a 45 degree type. Right. Probably more like 20 or 15. Yeah. They're super slow. So those two venues. Yeah, the last rows in San Francisco.

Yeah. Those two venues are pretty cool venues. But man, you talk about places that, you know, baseball parks have been to Fenway, have been to Wrigley, been to Yankee Stadium. For me, I think just the experience, maybe an experience at an SEC game, right? I think it was Mike mentioned that, or maybe it was Jason. Just talking about watching a game in the SEC somewhere like at Alabama or Auburn or whatever. So yeah, that's up there. And then like, here's the other thing too, is just thinking about this as well. Like, man, it would have been pretty cool. Like if you go to a time machine, um, to go back to Montreal in the mid seventies. And I know I'm kind of diverting here, maybe like a little bit of a sidebar

story, but to go to Montreal in the seventies and watch the Expos play at either Jerry Parker Olympic stadium, you know, at Olympic Stadium, that's really good years. And then you have like the Canadians in their hay day, the Alouettes and the CFL. Remember talking to Wally Guano at the time and played during that time for Montreal, he said it was unbelievable like vibe in the city because everyone was winning, right? Everybody was doing well, but yeah. So yeah, there's, there's certain things that kind of look at that.

That would be pretty cool to check out. I went to Olympic stadium, I guess, in the late nineties, not the greatest experience. I think there was about 5,000 people there that night. Expo game? Expo's game. Yeah.

I just wanted to see one. I mean, it is crazy, the experience at that stadium, because we took the train there, and you go into this quasi-futuristic stadium, but futuristic if you were in 1976, if you were at the Expo, or 67, or whatever it was, it's kind of like, what the world imagined the future would be in 1967, and it's still like that.

It was interesting. I'm glad I went but in some ways I actually can't believe that they haven't torn down the Big O. Like why, who is, who is there? Like what are they doing? But why? They're spending like 500 million on reno for what though? Like the roof. I know, but like for who, who lives there? The rats practice there, I believe, or at least they, that's a hell of a practice facility. Moj. Oh man. Hey Moj. Moj. Go ahead.

Two words taught them. I've been there too. Like, I know you guys are big soccer soccer aficionados. this was, oh yeah, go ahead. The other thing I was gonna mention too was Tottenham. I've been there too. I know you guys are big soccer aficionados. That was really good. You've been to the new one. Yeah, first time ever watching a championship match and that was really, really, it was different. It's so different for various reasons in terms of the fan experience.

There's no commercialism in the game. It's just like the game starts, there you go. There's no Tim Horton's doing the, pick the fricking donut under the coffee cup or whatever. It's so easy to, I always get it right. Uh, let's, let's do the, let's do the time machine thing one more, one more time.

Okay. Stadiums that aren't around anymore. Which one do you have the biggest regret that you never went to? Because for me, it was the Montreal Forum I never saw I never saw a hockey game at the forum Yeah, I When we're at the Lions who went to Montreal, I've been to the Montreal Forum twice now like the building still stands

But I mean, it's it's it's sad because you walk in and there's really no remnants of the forum itself I mean they have a couple of little things, but nothing crazy. The forum would have been a good one. The one that I've had friends that they went to this stadium and they said it was unbelievable was Chicago stadium. Right.

Yeah. That's another one for sure. And that was in a really, really rough part of Chicago, at least it was then. And I asked my buddy, I said, so, and remember this was a long time ago. I said, so what was it like going to Chicago stadium? He goes, you know, those things like in Hill street blues,

when you see like a whole bunch of guys around a burnt out, like a garbage can on fire with like a car on fire kind of thing. That was it. That was like Chicago stadium. Like it's legendary. Even now there's some people that worry about, you know, the United center, like getting out of their lake.

Well, it's the same area. It's, it's right next door to it. Same area, but it's been cleaned up a lot. Yeah, for sure. We, I was lucky enough to, to obviously cover three, uh, connect playoff series against the Blackhawks. Um, what eight, nine and nine, 10 and 11. And it wasn't that bad, but you know, there were, there were times that I

heard that, you know, the cabs would even want to go in there, right? Because it was such a, 10 and 11. And it wasn't that bad, but you know, there were times that I heard that, you know, the Cavs wouldn't even want to go in there, right? Because it was such a bad neighborhood. So yeah, Chicago Stadium in its heyday probably would have been one. The old Yankee Stadium, I've been to the new one. I went to the old one. I went to both.

Boston Garden would have been a fun place to watch a game maybe, right? I went to old Yankee, and then new Yankee. And so I went to old Yankee and then new Yankee. And so I went to new Yankee Stadium, like eight months after it opened. Which one did you like more, new Yankee or old Yankee? Old.

Which Yankee did you like? Old Yankee Stadium, because you could feel and smell the history throughout it. But it was crazy when we went to the new one, cause we went there when it was pristine. Yeah. The concrete had no stains on it yet. Like it was still, it was immaculate and having been to the old one, I was like, this isn't really...

I miss the spit stains. Yeah, it wasn't like New York, right? It wasn't like grimy. And it was still the Bronx, but it was different. It was like old Yankee Stadium lived up to the old moniker. It was creaky and it was dirty and everything was gray, but you felt like you were at... And the monument park area was cool too. Yeah. Like it was creaky and it was dirty and everything was gray, but you felt like you were at- And the monument park area was cool too. Yeah. All right. Did you guys ever go to Maple Leaf Gardens?

No. No. No. I went there, I think it was the second to last, because remember they switched over to their new arena midway through the next season. So I was there for the last game of the last full season that played at Maple Leaf Gardens. And you know, you talk about grimy and stuff. Like I remember taking the escalator up and I'm looking at like these lamps and they had these photos kind of like a door.

Like there's like, like two inches of dust on everything. You know what I mean? And old cigarette smoke. Exactly. And like the visitors locker room at Maple Leaf Gardens was hilarious. It was like, like you go to the leased room, there'd be like, you know, they'd have like, you know, everything was kind of dolled up, photos, brand new paint job. I'm not lying.

The visitor's locker room at Old Maple Leaf Gardens was basically something that you'd see like a Queen's Park arena. Queen's Park arena probably, I'd probably have a better locker room. But it was like concrete benches. There was no photos, no amenities, nothing. There was graffiti on the walls. Players would take Sharpies and write on the walls, like, hey, Chris Cellios was here or whatever. It was just, I couldn't believe it was an NHL rink and an NHL locker room.

It was amazing. Well, yeah, you know, but it had character, right? And that was the cool part about it, especially like those seats, if you remember behind the net on the one side, there was kind of like an overhang. Yeah, it was so weird the way it looked. Yeah. The whole thing was weird.

Right over the net. Well, this has been three conversations or three conversations with three aging white males. So that was fun. Thanks Moj, you're the best buddy. Enjoy the weekend. We'll do this again next Friday. See you dude.

Bye. Bob, the Moj Marjanovic here on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Three aging guys that are also all talking over one another at the same time, which makes it even better radio. Great radio. Great radio.

I forget what we were talking about. Yankee Stadium. Pederson, he's soft like this new generation. Also, there is one tenant for Olympic Stadium. Select games for Club de Foot, Montreal. Oh, select games. That's the one tenant at Olympic Stadium right now. Club to foot.

Okay, we gotta get outta here because Dolly Wall yells at us if we're late going into the eight o'clock hour. Also, Rick Dolly Wall is coming up next on the Haliford and Bref Show on Sportsnet 650.