Halford & Brough in the Morning - Would The Canucks Trade Thatcher Demko?

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

In hour one, Jason Brough and guest host Jamie Dodd look back at the previous day in sports, they discuss if the Canucks would be willing to trade Thatcher Demko (3:00), plus they talk last night's playoff action with Sportsnet NHL analyst Sam Cosentino (26:27). 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.

Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun You're listening to Halfford and Brough gets in over the line across, Tricentum scores! Wilson turns across the score! John Carlson on a great feed across! Authorities say the phony pope can be recognized by his high top sneakers and incredibly foul mouth. Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend. the weekend good morning welcome to how for the broth here on sportsnet 650 Halford taking the extra day no rushing back here he's gonna make sure he's a hundred percent when he gets back on the show so I'm Jamie dot filling in again

for Mike Halford today broth whatff, what's going on man? Good morning. How are you? I'm doing great. Poor Halford. Friday? Halford's still wearing a non-contact jersey. Yeah, very much so. Yeah.

And the coach is like, you know, well, I think maybe you can go today. And Halford's like, nah. I think it's going to be another day, coach. Yeah. What day is it? Friday? Yeah. Okay. I'll go ahead and take another one. Yeah. That's for a little sake. Adog, what's going Friday? Yeah, okay?

Hey dog what's going on good morning? Good morning laddie hello? Hello? You see how I didn't say anything else there Thank you. Just let me you know I felt so natural yes, but now you're going on about so natural ruined it So yeah kind of cutting away at the natural feeling sense of it Yeah, anyways Helvet and breath in the morning brought to you by sands and associates BC's first and trusted choice for debt help with over 3,000 five-star reviews visit sans dash trustee Com this hour of the show is brought to you by North star metal recycling Vancouver's Premier metal recycler pays the highest prices on scrap metal North star metal recycling They recycle you get paid 1170 Powell Street. We are coming to you live from the Kintec Studio.

Kintec Footwear and Orthotics working together with you in step. Alright, we got a lot going on on the show today and I'll just say right now, 650 650 is the Dumbar Lumber text line. So before I even get into the guest list we're giving away not one not two three Prizes a trio of prizes Over the course of the show today first We're giving away a pair of tickets to see the who on September 23rd at Rogers Arena These tickets are not available yet, so this is your chance to beat the box office

Here's how you do it be caller five at eight o'clock. The number is six oh four two eight oh zero six fifty caller five at eight. Don't call it seven fifty nine call at eight for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see the who on September 23rd. That's giveaway. Number one, giveaway number two, a pair of tickets to the Vancouver Canadians and Nat Bailey on Saturday, May 17th. Hazel May will be there. If you want those tickets, be caller five at eight 15. So that's eight 15 for the seas and again, six oh four two eight Oh zero six 50 call it eight o'clock for the who eight

15 for the seas tickets. And of course on a Friday we're giving away a hundred dollar gift card to AJ's pizza for the best what we learned or ask us anything. So start getting those submissions in now again, six 50, six 50 to the Dunbar lumber text line. Uh, we've already got a bunch in. So the competition has started. Get yours in, try to beat Mike, the urologist from Brockville who of course can't use the gift card anyways, cause he's in Brockville. But anyways, send your submissions in now. We'll announce the winner at 8 30.

Those are the giveaways. Here's who we have on the show today. Six 30 Sam Cosentino from sports net. Uh, of course does great work covering the draft and then NHL prospects, but also covering the games during the Stanley cup playoffs as part of the panel. So lots we can get into with Sam at six 30 at seven. We'll chat with AJ from AJ's Pizza find out about what's going on at the shop this weekend 730 Bob the Moj Marjanovic joins us he was doing some interesting reporting about the future of Rick Tauke on social media yesterday so we can chat with

the Moj about that and other things happening in the NHL as well. And then of course at 8 o'clock Rick Dollywall I am not privy to the notes that Rick has sent you but I could probably guess Yeah, we're gonna go we're gonna talk about Can I guess yeah coaching vacancy? Mm-hmm. We're talk it's gonna land Volander yeah, I think you that's it. That's it I know I know Rick operate. Yeah, you got a pretty good sense of where we're going Yeah, we've Rick Dolly wall. So eight o'clock Rick Dolly wall 730 the mode I think I think he's more invested in the Willander situation than frankly Tom Willander Tom Willander or even the Vancouver Canucks at this point Todd diamonds like I don't even talk to the lander about it this much. He's away. He's way more

I am outraged on on your behalf then about it this much he's way he's way more I am outraged on on your behalf then eight o'clock Rick Dollywall 730 the Moj 7 AJ from AJ's Pizza 630 Sam Cosentino from Sportsnet first though let's tell everyone what happened hey did you guys see the game last night What happened? I missed all the action because I was... We know how messy your life can be. What happened? Missed that? You missed that? What happened? What Happened is brought to you by the BC Construction Safety Alliance

Making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit bccsa.ca I'll get the less interesting game out of the way first to the Washington Capitals even their series With the Caroline Hurricanes at one game each thanks to a 3-1 win Connor McKnight McMichael John Carlson scored Tom Wilson added the empty netter for the caps I really don't have a lot to add to this game Let's talk about Vegas feels like around one series. So let's go to Vegas and the Oilers, which was very entertaining Leon dry sidles scored late in the first overtime period off the rush

I have a nice feed from Connor McDavid the Oilers beat the Golden Knights 5-4 to take a two Nothing series lead and not just a two. Nothing series lead They won both games in Vegas to take a two. Nothing series lead, they won both games in Vegas to take a two nothing series lead. So Edmonton sitting extremely pretty to advance to the conference finals after winning a pair of games in Vegas to open the series. So Edmonton's 10 games away from winning the cup. Toronto's 10 games away from winning the cup. It's nerve wracking.

The nightmare scenario is unfolding here. It's nerve wracking. The nightmare scenario is unfolding here. It is nerve wracking times. Um, lots of talking points from last night. Um, but actually here, I'm going to pick a talking point that mentions both series in a weird way. All right. Okay. I think the most disappointing player from last night was Aiden Hill.

Yes. A goalie for the Vegas Golden Knights. And of course, Vegas traded Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals last offseason. Did they make the right call? And who they picked? Laddie, what do you think? Did they make the right call? Aiden Hill or Logan Thompson?

I don't know. I still think Aiden Hill. He was up for Team Canada at the Four Nations. He's still a pretty quality goaltender. He won the one time already. What did you think of him last night? Wasn't great. Wasn't great.

Obviously not the performance they were looking for, but I still think there's time to come back. There's time to bounce back. So I think throwing Aiden. Not a lot. Not a ton of time. They were running low on time. But I still think he's a quality goaltender.

So when you get to this point in the playoffs, you're gonna get picked apart. There's guys that are playing fine, that are just not gonna rise to the level that all the other players are at, because you're around into the playoffs already. So it's tough to nitpick a guy like Aiden Hill, who's won it before.

Okay, well, look, we will talk about this Vegas Oilers series, but I did want to bring up just because that was a bit of an angle yesterday, right? Aiden Hill doesn't have the best game. Logan Thompson gets a win for the Washington Capitals. Now you'll remember the Washington Capitals last year traded away Darcy Kemper to the LA Kings

as part of the Dubois trade. And I think a lot of people are looking at Darcy Kemper to the LA Kings as part of the Dubois trade. And I think a lot of people are looking at Washington, what Washington did last season as a quasi blueprint for the Canucks, right? I know Washington made the playoffs, so it wasn't like they had the season that the Canucks had this season, but they made some risky

moves, wouldn't you say? Oh yeah. This off season and acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois, um, trading away Kemper, uh, putting their faith in a goalie like Logan Thompson. They made it some other nice acquisitions like Manjie Pani from Calgary. Um, Chickren, they bring him in and then they also pay him quite a bit. And some people have made the point that, well, maybe the Washington capitals are a blueprint for the Canucks.

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

But it was more of the cat machinations than interest in the player. I think it's fair to say. Okay. Well, regardless. Regardless of that, Patrick Alveen has said that he likes his goaltending and his likes his defense the way they are. And it's led some of us to wonder, okay, well, man, okay, if you like your defense, then, you know, some of us, including myself, have just

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

Think some of us have suggested would you trade that your demko? Mm-hmm Do you think he would because he said he likes his defense and he likes his goaltending? Would he mess with that? Well? Would they I think is a really interesting question, but there's definitely a scenario where they should because you can talk extension with that your Demko right now. And Demko said, Hey, I want to stay. And they said, Hey, we want to keep you. That's great. They could have very different ideas about what the numbers look like. Yeah. And Jim Rutherford said, I think he's like, we'd have to share the risk on this. Yes. So if they have different ideas about what that risk looks like, you know what you shouldn't do?

Go into the season with Thatcher Dempco as a pending unrestricted free agent. And you have an idea that his number, his number is wildly different than your number, right? Like that's exactly what you shouldn't do. They have to know his number. They really should have these negotiations over it just to see.

And maybe you think, okay, it's close enough We're not worried about it. We think we can get it done. Yeah, there's risk because if he Stays healthy and performs really well that number is gonna skyrocket but hey, then at least we have our goalie performing really well you can kind of Finesse it there if you're close at the start But if there's a significant gap and you kind of say man, I don't know I don't like our chances to bridge this and if he gets hurt again like that's tough You have to explore the market for thatcher Dempco this year if the chances of an extension that make both sides Happy don't appear high like it's just you already saw but what is his value on the trade market?

That's the kid that he might have more value just on the trade market. He might have more value just to the Vancouver Canucks at least, who I don't know if you've heard this before, but sometimes they just live year to year. Sometimes they don't. Wow, year to year, that's an improvement. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Day to day. Well, it's true. Sometimes they don't kind of extrapolate things two or three or four or five years out. They just be like, this guy here, we need him. So we're going to keep him. We live day to day. They'd just be like, this guy here, we need him. Yeah. So we're going to keep him.

And sometimes, sometimes they let their players walk away for nothing at the end of the season, even though they say they're not going to do that. So if I'm. It's a fun game. They like to play with us. It's a fun game. If I'm Patrick Alveen and Jim Rutherford, and I know that, and this is a problem. I'm not saying this is right, but I know that I need to get my team back to the playoffs.

Yep. I'm extremely hesitant to trade Thatcher Demko. Sure. I am because then you got to bring it out, you got to find another goalie. Um, you know, in the, in Washington's case, they did really well. They traded away Kemper and they got Logan Thompson.

Right. But I don't think you're just going to go with any old backup in the situation that the connects are going to have, are going to have, because I think as it stands right now, you're looking at the scenario where if everyone, if Demko is healthy, they could have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL next season.

Do you want to mess with that? But you have to take, you have to be willing to take risks, right? Like, yeah, you have something that could work out, but there's also downside with Demko, as we've seen over last year, right? He could get hurt. He could play, you know, 15 games for you next year, 20 games for you. And then you're really riding Lankton and you have to bring someone up from the A.H.L. I think the other part of it is if you're in that management group.

And I think this is like an asset that Jim Rutherford has. I don't think Jim Rutherford is scared of replacing players. And you can look at it. Hey, we just signed Kevin Lankin in after training camp started, brought him in and put him in a position to succeed. And he had a great year for us. And we signed him to this contract. Why not at least be bold enough and confident enough to bet on yourself to do that again?

Hey, we just signed a goalie for not very much and he came in and played really well for us. Maybe we can do that again and pair him with Kevin Lankin. And I think the fact that you have to know that guy before you do anything with Demko. I think they also the fact that they signed Lincoln into that extension, not that it rules out a Demko extension, but I think it makes it more complicated, right? It caps the number that you're willing to pay Demko at because you're paying Kevin Lankin way more than just a typical backup salary now.

You're paying him to be part of a goalie tandem. So how much are you gonna pay that your Demko on top of that? I think the most likely scenario, just knowing how this team operates is that Demp goes back But you asked the question of how much value would he have now? Let's look at Vegas right if Aiden Hill flames out in this series and doesn't you know doesn't use the time he has to turn Things around and they lose to Edmonton like Vegas is a famously

Twitchy trigger happy team do they say you know what we got one, thatcher Demko one year, no long-term commitment, five million. And we got a goalie who at his best is one of the top two or three in the league. Yeah. I think there would be a lot of value for certain teams around the league. Carolina, a team that always has goaltending questions, right? But there's always going for the Stanley cup, not afraid to make bold moves, even if it's just for the short term.

I think there would absolutely be teams that look at the upside of that your Demko and say, all we need from him is, you know, 35 games in the regular season and healthy in the playoffs. And we're willing to pay an asset to have that upside come playoff time. Okay. There's another guy I want to talk about on the Edmonton Oilers and there's a Vancouver angle here because he's from here. Evander Kane for the Edmonton Oilers.

This guy has been a very nice addition to them in the playoffs this season. He didn't play a single regular season game for them. And I still want to know everything about this story because it's weird to me. The whole thing was weird. The weirdest part of this was around the trade deadline when the Oilers were talking about, okay, well, whether or not we're going to use our cap space that Evander Kane has given us to acquire someone

of the deadline. And there were reports out there that Evander Kane might wanna play a few regular season games before the playoffs. And I'm like, are you guys not on the same page here? It didn't seem like it. Like it seemed, the whole thing seemed weird. Now, I don't even, I actually don't even know

if the Oilers ever did use that cap space that they had. I don't think they did really. Right? Like what did they do with the deadline? No, they got like Wallman. Yeah. They had other cap space to work with. It wasn't like they made this big home run acquisition using, it wasn't a Vegas scenario. Because they had accrued some cap space.

Yeah. Like the Canucks did too, no avail. but, um, you know, the, the, the whole thing from how the surgeries that he had seemed to be slow played. Like he had some surgeries after the summer and, you know, you hear stories like it's August or September and like Evander Kane's in this golf tournament here. Is it, isn't he hurt?

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

avoid the investigation, essentially. He doesn't play that. And then they eventually bring it back. Right? Like, don't, do you think we're getting the entire story on this? I'm sure we're not. Do you think it's as, do you think it's as simple as, do you think we're getting the entire story on this? I'm sure we're not. Do you think it's as simple as, do you think it's as simple as,

we had the surgeries when we felt the right time was, and it was just, I guess, lucky for the Edmonton Oilers that he was ready to go second game of the playoffs, or whatever it was. Yup. Right. And now he's been added to this roster and, you know, say what you will about Vander Kane, the

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

Um, but he is added a lot to do others. And I think when you add guys like Kane to the lineup, and you also have Pod Colson seeming to take his game to a bit of a higher level, and he is very physical. Like that is two very physical players that if they're engaged in the playoffs, they're going to be tough to handle. The interesting thing about the Kane LTI injury story is usually when there's these You know somewhat fishy LTI going into the playoff things

One the team uses the cap space right they do something notable with it and like really notable To You always get the sense that the player and the team are on the same page, right? Like Tampa and Vegas are the two poster childs for it and those are Model flagship franchises for the NHL and you get the sense that they've put in the work to manage the relationship with the player So the players like okay, I get what's going on here. That's fine I'm willing to play ball here. You never got that sense There's no Vanderkate it always seemed there's conflicting reports.

Oh, he could be ready in February, you know, at the beginning of the season there's we'll see what's going to happen. I mean, it's a Vanderkane. So I think there's always the conversation about is he on the same page with his team and the organization, right? And yet despite all of that, it's working out really well for Edmonton. They got like, so it seems like now you look back and like what was all this talk about? Why were what was going on here? What was going on? That's all I want on the same page. Yeah. Yeah, it's a very strange situation

but as you said I mean he can be a really significant force and they like I get McDavid and dry subtle incredible In the first round Corey Perry was their third best forward and that's a tough, that's gonna be a tough way to win a cup. Right with Corey Perry at this stage. With all due respect. No, no, at this stage of his career. Totally.

Ten years ago, amazing. They need other guys to step up and Evander Kane can be part of that for them if they're gonna go back to the Stanley Cup final this year. I'm still watching that game and I'm like, the Weathers can't win with Pickard, can they? Can they win with Pickard? I don't know, I guess guess they've won six in a row with them. I know it's just like yeah We can cuz we have McDavid and dry saddle

McDavid walked Jack I go Jack. I go is my one to watch yesterday He's got to step up and do something against McDavid and then he did not should over time should have just like I don't know Like tackle them at the feet. Well, they just missed a brutal trip from a Arvidsson on McNabb. Yeah. So it's like, he should have been like, well, anything goes prison rules out here. Well, even if he knew he was going to get a penalty, he should have tripped him. There are a couple of times in the overtime frame where McDavid just, and of course there was that five minute major where I still don't know what Nick

Wile was thinking. A wild one. That is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen in overtime in the playoffs. I have no idea what was going through his head. Even the broadcasters were like, well, was he trying to play the puck in a cross checking motion to the other guy's face? I don't think so. That was, that the whole thing was.

No, the puck wasn't there. And I'm a big Nick Wa guy. Like I think he's a terrific hockey player. And I think he's one of, like super underrated. You've never heard of the cross-check pass? Come on. Yeah, that was so weird. Did you see the Euler's pairs?

They're like, what's going on? Everyone stopped on the ice. Even though, even Vegas was like, what? Nikki, buddy, what are you doing? There's a face mask. At any rate, uh, McDavid skating in overtime, because there was space out for him, especially though it was a five minute power play, right?

It w it is, it is absolutely incredible to watch when he picks up speed through the neutral zone and just attacks. If you're a defenseman, it must be terrifying for McDavid to be flying down the ice and you're like yelling at your forwards like, Hey, you want to like, maybe get in his way a little bit because they're way back there. I got to try it. Yeah.

And then, and then here's the thing. Because. They're way back there. We're like, I'm trying. Yeah, just like it. And then here's the thing. To have a guy like Dry Cytl to pass it to, where McDavid can finish by himself if he wants, but he's more often than not looking for Dry Cytl. And you just know that those guys are, they have such good communication and such good chemistry that they almost know like where Dry Saito is going to go, where he's going to pop out into. And he knows exactly where he wants to puck on his stick. And more often than not, he gets it. Right? I mean, it is to watch those two together. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit.

The D-Man's probably like, Nick David's bearing down on me. This is bad. Well, at least it can't get any worse. Looks to his left, dry side. This is worse. And dry titles there. He's like, I'm going to bury this. Yeah.

And not even, not even the camp, forget the chemistry. Like dry side is one of the best goals, goal scorers in the NHL. His shot is outrageous. He's hit 50 goals. Like how many times now in his career, it's your Connor McDavid and your sidekick is like the third best player in the NHL who is absolutely elite in his own right. And that's the second option on that rush, right? Like everyone is focused on Connor McDavid and then the third best player in

the NHL can just like sneak away and get open. It's a nice, it's a nice thing to have on your team. Yeah. There, I mean, there's a very, very small part of me that does want Well, there's a big part of me that wants McDavid to win the cup but just not with the others Yeah, I get that. I absolutely get that you want him to be like the next I want to win Crosby, right? Hey Somewhere else and then win the cup it'd be great. It'd be a great story Yeah, just go somewhere else and then win the cup. It'd be great. It'd be a great story.

Jam Pro from showrooms to stock rooms and everything in between. Jam Pro keeps workplaces tidy, clean and disinfected. For a free quote, visit jampro.ca. We'll take a break. Sam Cosentino from Sportsnet joins us on the other side here. Haliford and Bruff Sportsnet 650. Like he is a big, big boy. I am a big boy. It's Canucks Central with Dan Riccio and Satyar Shah,

your destination for everything Canucks. Exclusive interviews, inside info, and even the post game show. Listen 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays and on demand through your favorite podcast app. podcast app. Welcome back to Halpen and Brough here, Sportsnet 650. Jamie Dodd filling in for Mike Halford on a Fiesta Friday on the show. Halpen and Brough brought to you by Sands and Associates.

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Now joining us from Sportsnet covering the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as the NHL draft. He is Sam Cosentino Sam Thanks for doing this today. How are you? Yeah, my pleasure doing well. Thanks. How's everything out there? We're doing well Although I think a lot of our listeners and Canucks fans are starting to get a little bit nervous Not just what the Leafs are doing but what about what the Oilers are doing as well. That's six wins in a row now Are they starting to have a bit of that team of destiny feel to you, Sam?

Yeah, they are. You know, it's interesting when you look at the Florida Panthers and you go back to two years ago and they lose in the final, and then they come back and win a year later. And this looks to me like it's gonna be a similar path for the Oilers where you go through all of the grinds and get there at the game seven,

you end up losing and you take that experience and you try and push it forward and do things a little differently. Obviously with Stan Bowman in there and the acquisition of some players to add to that, you know, to the depth scoring and try and shore up the D, which are things that have, you know, plagued the Oilers in the past and then trying to get the goaltending situation figured out. So, you look at Pickard in there, he's done an amazing job. It's nice to know now that Skinner has had a good long reset should he have to enter at any point.

The depth scoring has proven to be well, and when the big guys need to be the big guys, they are, and they were last night. And as you said, it's the big two, right? It's Connor McDavid and Leon dry saddle But I think the other part of it is now you're starting to see some of the depth Show up for the Oilers what every forward has a goal You know we were talking about a Vander Kane in the in the opening segment about the impact He's made for them after missing the regular season

Do they have enough depth and I get you know it's kind of a silly question because it's like well We have McDavid and Drysettle but do you see the depth there in Edmonton to carry them to a Stanley Cup this year? Well, you'd like to think so. I mean, you know, Skinner's been a guy who's been all over the place. Frederick just looks like he's starting to get going on.

He had that sort of tainish element. So those two guys, like when I, when I look at this Edmonton team you know we before the playoffs I said this team is gonna look different by the time you get to the poster and I think the the Kane and Frederick insertions into the lineup are a huge huge element to the depth and that forces everybody else down a little bit and it also gives you that that kind of grit and that that policeman type atmosphere, you know, when the big guys start to get bothered.

So I like that element that those two are bringing to the table. Frederick isn't fully up to speed but he looks pretty close and and Kane's doing exactly what Kane's done his whole career. He's shown up in a Rolls Royce, he's playing like a beat-up bull Toyota truck and he's getting in everyone's grill and making it difficult on the opposition and kind of creating a little bit of a sideshow if you will so that the other guys can go about their business in an appropriate way. So I like what they have and I do think the depth is good enough. I do worry about it on the back end. Having said that, the more you win, the more leeway you're given to get at home back in the lineup. But I think he's going to be a key piece. I don't know if they can go and win a cup without at home.

They've, you know, the six straight they've rattled off right now buys you a little insurance to buy him as much time as possible, but he'd be a welcomed addition. That's for sure. What have you seen from Vegas? Why are they down to nothing in this series? Yeah, well, it's interesting. You look at a couple of goals last night, I thought they were just starting to get What have you seen from Vegas? Why are they down to nothing in this series? Yeah, well it's interesting. You look at a couple of goals last night,

I thought they were just okay. The Podkos and goal, like, you know, really good job to kind of go back against the grain. Podkos picks it up with speed, cuts to the middle, and then goes back the other way. I thought that's one that he might've had. But I look at their group in general, and when you had long playoff runs

with that core group, at some point the cumulative effect is going to catch up to you. And I just wonder if that's what we're seeing from the Vegas Golden Knights right now. I mean, the other thing is you look at Cassidy and the way he coaches, he's hard on his guys. And I think after a while of going through that, you know, maybe the messaging isn't quite as crystal clear or as understood as it always was. Well, the combination of those two things, I think, has had an impact on the Vegas Golden Knights, and I think you can see more from their top guys. I'd like to see a little bit more, you know, from Eichel in this series. That would definitely be helpful moving forward but their D

is always good and is always going to give them a chance and I think Hill is good enough to give them a chance so I don't think this series is over whatsoever but I am seeing a little bit of not quite I guess not quite the same juice that we've seen from Vegas teams in the past that that kind of energy that arrogance attitude swagger that we're so used to seeing that club play with, it seems to be dialed back a little bit. And I think that's part of the issue as well. Uh, arrogance, swagger, all of that. We're seeing that from Miko Rantanen in a big way now, now, but the playoffs

have rolled around two straight hat tricks. And I mean, one, just what a reminder about what a talented player he is, right after all of the talk of, ah, was it just playing with McKinnon in Colorado? He's shown everyone that's not the case. But for the Winnipeg Jets perspective, what do they need to do to stop the ranting and momentum

from continuing to build here? I think we lost Sam Cosentino. We'll see if we can get him back on the line. I know Sam's got a tee time. I wonder if it started a little build here. I think we lost Sam Cosentino. We'll see if we can get him back on the line. I know Sam's got a tee time. I wonder if it started a little early here. Yeah, you know what, I'm just gonna hit this shot. Well, we'll see if we can get Sam Cosentino back. We'll get him back on that.

I was gonna call Ranted in Canada's savior, please. That's right, seriously. There are still some- It's all on your shoulders, man. There are, every show people text in, it's like, wait, can you remind me again why you cheer against the Canadian teams? And I'm like, cause I'm petty. Yeah.

It's my bad. I mean, like, I'd like to think I'm a good person, but I'm not. It's a character flaw. But I'm a bad sports fan. All right. We have Sam Cosentino back on the line here. And I was just talking about Miko Ranzen and what he's done, Sam.

And in your eyes, what does Winnipeg need to do to derail what Miko Ranzen and has started to do in the playoffs? They need 10 to be from the from the 90s there and shadow them all over the ice and even that like when he's got bodies on or even in the Series he's he's found a way to get a stick free like the goal increase the other night I mean Sandberg was all over and he's still able to kind of well He's falling down still put a puck in the net.

So when I look at what Ranton has done, like it is really fascinating to me. He got traded to Carolina and Carolina obviously was just trying to get a little bit more big, you know, bigger and more difficult to play against. And so in theory, the idea was. Well, awesome again. All right. That might be time to call it with Sam. Yeah, we'll call it with Sam. Well, you know, we'll just let him play golf

All right. Thanks to Sam. All right, all the best to Sam on the round today Okay Rantanen can you keep doing this? Well, he's not gonna keep scoring a hat trick every game, but He's a beast and it's not just that he's a beast. He's been a beast in the playoffs before as well, and he has the type of game that translates really well He is a unique player in that he is incredibly high-skilled right dominant in the regular season But because of his physicality and he's so strong. He's big It translates to the playoffs exceptionally well as well right like he is

and he's big, it translates to the playoffs exceptionally well as well. Right? Like he is kind of the total package in that regard. That's what everyone wants in their lineup is the elite skill player who can also get it done in the really tough physical situations in the playoffs. So if the Oilers, let's say Dallas beats Winnipeg and I know they're only up one nothing. And I know the Vegas is not out of it yet. And let's say the Oilers beat Vegas. And so it's Dallas, Edmonton.

Yep. The Oilers could get Ekholm back, but at some point Dallas is going to get Heiskinen back, right? I think so. Yeah. I think it's even round two. Does it seem to be trending? I mean, they got Robertson back.

Yeah, Robertson back. I think Pete DeBoer said before the start that he expects them to play in round two. He expects Heiskinen to play in round two. I mean, it's a big addition for Edmonton just because with that calm, I think he's your best all round defenseman if not your best defenseman period.

But Heiskinen getting at it to Dallas. I mean, that's, is that a, relatively speaking, like, is it, is it a bigger addition because Edmonton I think really needs Ekholm, but Heiskenen is a far better player. He's the better player and they need him just as much. Now they do have Thomas Harley, who, as we saw at the Four Nations is an awesome defenseman in his own right, right? And Edmonton has Evan Bouchard and you know, Bouchard to his credit, after a rocky start to the series against LA,

he's made some really legitimate plays. He's started to get it done without Ekholm next to him. So I think clearly the bigger need, when you look at the rest of their blue line is Heisken coming back for Dallas. Like that's going to make the biggest impact. Yeah. I still look at this Oilers blue line without Ekholm

and it is There's offensive skill there But is there a pair right now that you really shut down pair? No, but do you need it? I guess do I guess the question is do you need it? No, apparently not. Yeah McDavid and dry side will just erase an awful lot of roster construction flaws Mmm a lot of like yeah, this guy's not great and we're a little worried about that It's like that doesn't matter because we have those two guys. Yeah, it's nice even McDavid said yesterday and he said this a few times This season he's like, yeah wasn't my best game last night, but he still creates those moments

Yeah, well the four nations he wasn't no he was good cuz like Scott of McDavid 50% is good But it wasn't he wasn't terrific. No, he wasn't, I mean, he was good. Cause like. Scott McDavid. 50% is good. But it wasn't, he wasn't terrific. No, he wasn't dominant. But he finds that moment. And I don't know, maybe, maybe that's going to be the difference this year. Even if he isn't at his 100% best, he's finding those moments. And that's what the great players do.

And it's such a cliche, but for McDavid, you're probably, I mean, we said this heading into the Four Nations, we asked the listeners, name me a super famous McDavid goal. And I don't mean that was like spectacular to watch. I mean, one that came in a moment where your team, the team that McDavid's on, desperately needs a goal from McDavid, when did it happen? Yeah.

And there just, there weren't any. There weren't any that everyone would know, but Gretzky and Lemieux had it together in 87, and then Sid had the golden goal. And it's just that the moments, maybe they're finally coming for McDavid this year. Maybe there's, and you mentioned the team of Destiny, I don't know if I ever believe in that thing.

It's just, it's just a kind of like, it's a saying, but you know, imagine this year for McDavid, if the others win the cup, scores the winning goal in the Four Nations and the others win the cup. It the winning goal in the four nations and the others win the cup. It's a good year. It's possible though. Yeah, absolutely.

It's possible. I think the other thing to consider from a who's going to stop Edmonton or what's going to derail them is you look at last year, they lose to Florida in the cup final and a huge part of that loss was Florida on home ice and they had home ice advantage could throw Barkov and Forsling every shift at McDavid. And that's the best defensive setup you can throw, right? It reminds me of Bergeron and Chara. Yeah, Forsling, one of the best defensive defenders in the NHL, right? It's like that's elite. Is there anyone that's going to be able to throw something similar at them?

And you know, Florida obviously still has those players if they rally and are able to come back But other than that, you know, you look at Dallas Okay, if Heiskenen is back and it's you're throwing out Rupay hints who's a really good two-way center But he's not Barkov and Miro Heiskenen who's elite Can that slow it down at least a little bit on the games on your home ice when you have last change? I think that's what it's going to take is. Carolina, if they get to the final, could they bore the Oilers?

They could try. Well, Jacob Slavin is one of the best defensemen ever. That's a good point. I mean, man, talk about what we saw at the Four Nations. He was absolutely incredible. I actually wonder if this season is going to be absolutely incredible. I actually wonder if this season is going to be kind of the final year of this system

that the Hurricanes play. Yeah. You're watching their games and you know what they're doing, right? They're very good defensively. They shoot from anywhere. So oftentimes they'll pile up shots on the shot clock and you're like, oh, they must be dominating.

But you watch the game and you're like, yeah, they're kind of dominating, you know? But they're really having trouble scoring. And that's why they went after Rantana. There was always that sense in Carolina, we're missing the big dog. Yeah, we're missing the game breaker. We're making the game, we're missing the game breaker.

And well, they still don't have that, but they find ways to win and they find their ways into the second round, usually, sometimes the conference final. And we'll see if they can get by Washington. If they don't get past Washington this year, I really do wonder if Carolina goes, Hey, I know there's a theory out there that you just keep trying. You make the dance and you have a good team and you just keep trying. But there's also a theory out there that if you

keep trying the same thing over and over and it fails, then you're insane. Right? And I don't know about you guys, but I'm having trouble getting into this Carolina Washington series. Oh yeah. It's, it's I'm having trouble getting into this Carolina Washington series. Oh, yeah, it's been a tough watch so far. In Carolina in general.

I mean, the New Jersey series, that was boring, right? No Jack Hughes, there's not a lot going on there. This is far and away the least interesting of the three second round series. The funny thing is they have, if you actually look at the numbers, amount of time they dumped the pocket and things like that They've become a little bit less extreme in their play style like a few years ago. It was at a completely different level

They were doing it like nobody else in the NHL They have tried to dial it back a little bit but it's still so much their identity and it's kind of a chicken-in-the-egg thing where Okay They need game breakers, but does their style allow the game breakers to do what they want to do? Well, not according to Rantanen. Right?

And so is it a, they've been chasing personnel and they go, they went out and got Gensel, they went out and got Rantanen. How much of it is personnel, but how much of it is actually you need to adapt to the personnel? Because Sebastian. But does it also become about attracting talent? Sure. I think that's part of it.

Like Brantanen was pretty clear that there was only a few teams that he was willing to play with and a lot of it had to do with the system that they played. Yeah. Because these guys know their games so well, they know what kind of system they need to play in order for them to be successful. Now I know some people are going to text in about

Pedersen right now, and maybe there's something to that. Maybe there's something to that. Um, we'll see. And you know, I, I assume and hope that it's part of the conversation with the organization. You know, I personally, just watching Pedersen over the last year and a bit, I'm like, this isn't a system thing.

You know, like he's just, there's something going on there that isn't a system thing. But that being said, maybe if there is a better way for him to play one that he's happier to play, maybe that creates some motivation for him. a one that he's happier to play, maybe that creates some motivation for him. Now, should we have to do all this bending over backwards for one player? I'm on the same page if you're asking that question, but I do think that players look at this like, it was, let's put it this way. When Rantin and said I didn't really want to play for Carolina and the style of play is one of the things that you have to consider, I thought, if Carolina doesn't win the cup this year,

they're gonna have to have a long think about whether or not this is the right way to go forward. Yeah, they're gonna have to keep tweaking. And Rocket in Langley texted in, boy, do we have a game breaker for them. And he comes cheap at 11.6 Well, he was nearly there a couple times. He was nearly there They've been in conversations with with the Hurricanes about him a couple of times

So as we say like oh could they possibly trade him like I think Carolina would still be interested Yeah, don't know what they'd be doing back. Yes, absolutely Knowing the way they think yeah, right like they're the smartest guys in the room? Exactly. And they're like, we're going to bet on talent, we need to find ways to bring high upside talent into our organization, so yeah, there's risk. What do they have to offer now? But we've got to take the swing. Well, what would they need to offer?

First of all, they got tons. They didn't even give up a first round pick in either the Gensel or the Rantanen deal. What do you think their prime piece might be though? I have no idea. Because it depends. They're like, the prime piece is us taking betters it's like the prime piece is us taking better Yeah, yeah, the prime piece is us taking the contract from you, so yeah, has it gotten to that point yet? I don't know. I don't think so. I think there'd be something coming back. Yeah

But there was like like he says like I agree with Jamie like There's too much talent there for them not to make that bet like they would make that bet cuz like imagine he regains his form And they're oh you just got a hundred point guy again congrats you know so I mean you would take that bet probably but obviously that contract would greatly lessen the return it dampens the return that's for sure big time because what if it doesn't pan out well enjoy can you imagine rod the bod with alias peterson but was brindlemore known for being in shape but carolina was interested in him and potentially like sending nature's back what in January? So, I mean, it's a bad couple months after that,

but it's not like the calculus has completely changed on Pedersen since then. You know what I mean? It's like they were well aware of his struggles in season this year when they were contemplating trade for nations or pre four nations. I feel like the four Nations really hurt things. It wasn't great. Yeah. It was not great.

Cause the excuses about, well, it's the system or well, it's, you know, there's something going on in that room. Cause remember even Lindholm was saying, he's like, oh, I think this is where we're going to see the best. Oh man. The commentary from before Four Nations started, everyone on Sweden on Sweden was like oh we're so excited for him so happy to have him here he's a great player had that good game right before yeah and then he's what starting in their top six was it Philip Forsberg and

I forget who the other winger was Oh Kempe but really good wingers to play with and you know 17 minutes and then by the final line, it's like, you can get on the ice. He didn't look like he belonged out there to be perfectly honest with you. Nope. Um, we got some audio from 32 Thoughts. Um, this is, uh, just dropped. Um, that's what the kids say about podcasts.

They drop. And, uh, this is Elliott Freeman. Like and subscribe. Like and subscribe. Yeah. Uh, talking about the Canucks coaching search. Sturm is the former NHLer who coaches the LA Kings AHL team in the non-province of Ontario. And Marco Sturm, here's the reason I think that's an interesting name.

Number one, he wants to make the jump. He's very interested in making the jump from the AHL to the NHL. Secondly, he fits the profile of a guy who would be very happy to be the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. Like a guy who may not be on the top of any lists, but a guy who's ambitious, a guy who's understands players, a guy who has respect, like people respect her, he's got a good reputation, and he's somebody who would want this job. Like I think that that's the kind of person I would look at and say he intrigues them because he's not somebody you're going to have to convince to come there. He's somebody who's going to say, I want this job. This is a job that I would be happy to have. So I would not be surprised at all when the Canucks get down to their second interviews

if he's on it and he works his way into a serious conversation. When Irv reported that name, I was like, that's a good one. Whether he gets the job or not, his name makes sense. The other thing I would add, Kyle, is that in Sturm's case. I don't think Vancouver would be the only team looking at him I Don't forget. He's got a history with the Bruins The Bruins have an opening and I'll I'll be honest. I don't have a great feel for what they're doing here yet, but he was

traded to Boston in the Joe Thornton deal. He played with them for five seasons and there are still people in and around the organization that know him well. So it wouldn't surprise me if he's on the Bruins radar too. So this is what the Bruins-Conucks rivalry is now. Fighting over Marco Sturm. Franchise legend with both teams. Six games for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011-2012 season.

I'll never forget. Was one of the more underrated funny moments of the end of season presser when Rutherford was asked about what makes the job in Vancouver appealing and he's kind of like, well, it's one of the jobs. You're an NHL coach. Yeah. That's what makes it appealing.

He's like, uh, the paycheck. Yeah. There's only makes it appealing. He's like, the paycheck. Yeah. There's only so many jobs. Well, maybe. I don't know, paycheck relative to the other runs? Depends who you ask. Who is the Ottawa Senator's executive that got asked?

Oh, was that Dorian? Yeah, Dorian. Dorian was like. Well, we're a team. Yeah, we're a team. What can you say about the Sens right now? He's like, we're a team. We can you say about the Sens right now? He's like, we're a team. We are a hockey club.

Yeah, and I know what he meant is like, we're together. We are a team, but it just came out like, well, we're a team. We're still got the uniforms and everything. We got some guys here and they play hockey. We're gonna go play hockey. I did refer to some of the games towards the end of the Canucks seasons as like league mandated games.

You know what I mean? It's like this is on the schedule. Both teams are contractually required to play these games and they showed up and they did it. And I think everyone deserves credit for that. Good job guys. Good job guys. We all showed up.

You went to work when you had to. How do you feel about Marco Sturm though? I don't know enough about him. It's not a name I've even thought about. We'll talk about it more, but I think totally plausible candidate, successful AHL head coach, NHL assistant experience. It's like, yeah, those are guys

who are often really successful. We'll take a break here. 650 650 is the Dumb Bar Lumber Tax Line. Keep sending your what we learned and ask us anything's in. We're giving away a hundred dollar gift card to AJ's Pizza for the best what we learned or ask us anythings in. We're giving away a hundred dollar gift card to AJ's Pizza for the best what we learned or ask us anything. We'll read some later on in the show. Actually we'll have a quick chat with AJ next,

but we have some open time after that so we can dive into the inbox maybe for some ask us anythings. Keep talking about the Canucks coaching search as well and we'll chat with AJ next here on Halford and Brough Sportsnet 650.