Puck Soup - The NHL is Back!!

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

Sean and Ryan wrap up Four Nations, then get into all the league news that's happened just in the last few days. Sponsored by Factor (factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST)

Owning a home is full of surprises. Some wonderful, some? Not so much. And when something breaks, it can feel like the whole day unravels. That's why homeserve exists. For as little as $4.99 a month, you'll always have someone to call. A trusted professional ready to help. Bringing peace of mind to 4.5 million homeowners nationwide.

For plans starting at just $4.99 a month, go to homeserve.com. That's homeserv.com. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $499 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. I'm Ryan Lambert from Elite Prospects. I am Sean McAnew from The Athletic. And you can tell the NHL is back because Sean told me right before we started recording,

maybe we should talk about this Columbus outdoor game. And we were both like, now wait a minute, who are they playing? I know what's happening. I've seen the renderings going around of what it's going to look like. Yeah, why are there renderings three days before the game? I couldn't tell it. I get when you're like you're going to build an arena in like five years. You got to do the rendering where somebody's like parasailing in the fountain.

But this feels like maybe there should just be photos. I don't know. I have seen photos. Portsline has been tweeting out photos of like this is what it looks like as they're building the rink. And it's like, mm, rink in a football stadium. I feel like I've seen that before. But okay, sure. It turns out they're playing the Red Wings.

Yes. Michigan and Ohio State and all. that kind of thing. Doing that whole deal. What are the... Is Ohio State the one they call the horseshoe? I don't know anything about college football. Uh, I...

That sounds right, but I know not much more about... Other than Michigan and Ohio State hate each other. They certainly do. I know that because of college hockey, though. So... Yeah. Um, but it's funny that there's all those Michigan guys on Columbus who are putatively representing Ohio State.

Yeah. I bet they feel great about it. Yeah, they probably... enjoy being asked about it. Did you know that? Yeah, okay, sure. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Anyway, I feel like before we get into all the NHL stuff, and boy, there's a

fucking lot of it this week, I'll tell you. Let's quickly run through, you know, since the last time we recorded, Canada is the best one of the four nations in the whole world. Yeah. Just to those four nations, we'll never know if Slovakia might have been able to Canada down, but they didn't get... Chinese Taipei. I saw those guys are kicking ass in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, so...

Yeah. I looked it up. There's 195 countries. And we were like, it's just four for the next couple of weeks here. Yeah. Doesn't feel fair. Sorry, Vatican City.

I feel like they've got their own stuff going on right now. They certainly do. They've got a big Oscar push coming up here. Yeah, that's it. So I guess Four Nations Canada wins three two overtime game. It's just like the kind of standard score in a U.S. Canada gold medal game at this point. If I were you guys, here's a little tip. I would cover the best player in the world in overtime of best on bests.

I would stop letting that guy be open. Well, you know, I get it from their point of view because he didn't do very much the rest of that tournament. Yeah. You know? They did. Boy, that was like the goal right below where I was sitting for the game. And I was like, oh, this seems like a problem. And then a second later, it was a real problem.

Yeah. I was like, is that, you know, squinting. I think that's not, that says 97 on the back of his shirt. That feels like it's a mistake. stake and indeed it was. It was like the NHL 94 goal where like you're like, oh yeah, he's got the puck in the corner, his guy's open, this is going to be a one-timer. Ball game's over.

Ball game over. Yep, there it is. It wasn't quite the one-timer, but. No. Yeah. I was heartened that no one was like, this is a bullshit ice and call or whatever, because there was an ice and call like to set up that face off. but nobody said that so that was great i i you know usually these kind of situations or the the

kind of potential too many men earlier now that was a lot of guys on the ice it was a lot of guys on the ice it's also overtime i mean what are we doing yeah so no you're you're gonna you're gonna have to decapitate someone to uh to get a call at that point in the game that's right um but one of the things i wanted to talk about we i think think we touched on this briefly, maybe last week. Everybody was just like, damn, that was the best hockey I've ever been involved with. It's a coach as a player, whatever. And yet, final score three to two.

They're not talking about this was a six, five game and therefore it was good, right? I know you're famously like two one games are boring guys, so I'm just curious what you. I mean, the game itself was never going to be. boring because of if it was close the stakes yeah i mean the stakes and the tension was going to be it was going to elevate it i thought this was a good game i i thought you know three two is substantially better than two one generally speaking i thought both teams were you know they they were trying to get in fact in the second period if if i remember right like there was a point where it was like oh damn these guys are these teams are both going for it

And, you know, it wasn't quite end to end because of the quality of the defense, but it was, nobody was sitting back. And I didn't feel like there was, there was a lot of that in this game. The fact that it was tied for, you know, the entire third period helps in that regard. It wasn't one team being up by a goal, just chipping the puck out. Yep. So, it was a good game. Yeah, it was a really. This one, you know, to me, a substantially better game than.

in the last 50 minutes of the round robin as far as being a showcase for the sport. Yeah, but like the way I was thinking about it was, you know, like goals happened usually because there are like mistakes

made, you know? And the reason this was only a three two game and like not a ton of chances, you know, I don't remember what shots ended up being but certainly in that first game. shots were like 22 apiece or something like that.

And, you know, it's just like, yeah, the reason these are low scoring, relatively low event games is just like, these guys don't make mistakes. They're all too good to make mistakes. And so, you know, there is a certain, like, there's a reason we're talking about Jacob Slavin a lot coming out of this tournament. And it's because, like, yeah, he was awesome. And by the way, you know, I wrote about this over the week. weekend.

What do you think, third in the Norris voting this year? You know what? If it wasn't for the fact that Zach Werenckesky probably did even more for his, yeah. Or maybe even one, quite frankly. Like what I wrote about was like people, it's not the people are going to be like, you know, I really saw him kick ass against Canada and so I'm putting him third in my nor. But now people are going to be like, watch. a lot of Jacob Slavin and be like, oh, this guy really does kick ass.

You know what I mean? Like, he just kind of reminded everybody he was there, you know? Yes. And also, I think, I don't know that you can up your case for a major award that much in a four-game tournament, but you can hurt your case. Yes, absolutely. You know, if in an alternate world where, like, let's say Adam Fox was a Norris frontrunner heading into that tournament, I think you come out of it going, okay.

Well, yeah, the big take now is out of fuck sucks, right? Like, hey, what happened to him? Does he suck now? It's like, yeah, I don't know. And that seems to be mostly becoming from Rangers fans. Yeah, that's true. Look, they have their own problems. I guess we'll talk about it later.

But, yeah, there was just like a fair amount of like, oh, I guess this guy sucks now. It's like, I don't know. He's still one of like the 10 best defensemen in the world probably to me, you know? I'm not sitting here telling you he had a good turn. He didn't. But let's take it easy, a little bit. But yeah, the other thing that it made me wonder about is like, if the lightning win that division, is John Cooper finally getting that Jack Adams?

That's a great point. I had not thought of that at all. But yeah, maybe he should. Again, especially all the Canadian media who's usually like, I don't know, who cares, Tampa, you know, they got a good roster. They have a less good roster now. there are a lot of questions coming to the year, you know, and they're still kicking ass. I wonder if he'd have one already if it was the writers who voted on it.

Yeah. Because this is the broadcasters. Right. That do Jack Adams. And I don't know if I've ever met a writer who didn't love John Cooper. Yeah, of course. And 80% of them have, like, hanging out with John Cooper stories. Sure, yeah.

Yeah, he's, you know, if you wanted to say to me, he's the best coach of this, like, whatever, post-2013 lockout era NHL? I'm not going to argue with you. Who would you say is better? And in terms of this tournament, this isn't like the old Mike Babcock thing where it's like, yeah, good job putting an absolute all-star team out there. Yeah, Tim Gleason was on the U.S. team, but okay, sure, you know.

Like this was, you know, he had to make some adjustments. He had to move some stuff around. and probably his most controversial decision was sticking with Jordan Bendington for the entire damn tournament, even when a lot of fans were begging for somebody else. Yeah, all the haters and losers out there, you know, who were really mad at Jordan Bendington, thought he was a loser just because he sucked so far this season and was giving up one bad goal per game in the entire tournament, including the gold medal game. Let's not forget that second U.S. goal was kind of crappy, man.

Played quite possibly the greatest period of his life. Incredible in overtime. Holy shit, man. Oh, hockey. Hockey's fun, right? It's a funny old game, as they say. Anyhow. Do you like Nathan McKinnon as the MVP pick?

Yeah, I thought that was fun. I thought they... Fine is right. I don't know that I had, like, strong opinions one way or the other one. I think they, going in, I would have thought maybe Crosby just for the, you know, partly because he would have earned it, partly because of, you know, how irresistible that would have been. But I think the fact that Crosby didn't do a ton in the, in the final, and McKinnon had the goal. So, yeah, I was, I was fine with that. Would it have been Halebuck if the U.S. won?

A hundred percent, yeah. I mean, I think if Brady Kuchuk scores that winner in overtime. Yeah, for sure. Good Lord. I hope that kid has been able to sleep since then, because can you imagine like never playing an important hockey game for your whole life? And then suddenly the puck's on your stick with an empty net, admittedly from a terrible angle.

But you get robbed like that by Jordan. Crazy. Like I would have been like, all right, guys, I'm going to skate off into the ocean now and Yeah. I'll never see me again. Like, just like my brother. Well, I mean, boy, you know, apparently there's a, you know, I think it was Ren LaVois maybe said over the weekend. Like he might be done for the year, Brady or Matthew, I mean?

That's not good. That's a shame. It is a shame. That sucks. Yeah. I mean, it's, it does. suck, but also it was a short, super intense physical tournament, and you and your brother were the main reasons it was as intense and physical as it was.

Yeah. Neither one of you made it out. That's, that'll happen. I mean, there were kind of a lot of, like, at least seemingly regular season ending injuries, Charlie McAvoy, Sheaodore. The Maccoy one still feels like we're going to get something more. on that because I still

and this isn't this isn't the big piece of this by any event but the fact that he sent Connor McDavid into orbit while already having a messed up shoulder. Yeah. Like has got to elevate that to one of the great hits of all time.

Like that is absolutely nuts. You hope he's okay. Yeah, just the guy you never see get hit. Got fucking rocked, man. Did we? ever find out exactly what was wrong with Sheaed Eador? I don't think so.

I think everybody just assumes it's his wrist or something similar to that. Yeah, I mean, it certainly seemed to be, but yeah. Yeah, tough tournament for injuries, but also I mean, that's hockey, man. Yeah, you don't want to see injuries,

but you also don't want to see the sort of hockey that would never produce injuries because that would have been awful. Yeah, I mean, we talked about it yesterday on the bonus episode, but like, I think, it feels like kind of the era of the all-star game as we know it is, is coming to an end. Yeah. I know they have, like the NBA, we were talking about the NBA's sucked, apparently. I didn't watch it.

But apparently the NBA sucked and like everybody seems to agree now the NHLs is a real problem. So. Now, I don't know what the solution is. Did I, did I hallucinate this or are they planning to do the All-Star game next year? Yeah, they are. Despite the Olympics. Yes. Apparently it's, I know it's on, it's at UBS, the Islanders Arena.

And apparently it's like right before everyone gets on a plane for Italy. Great. You want to talk about nobody trying. Like these guys aren't even going to put skates on. That is going to be a level of, yeah. So everybody is either on their. way to play the biggest tournament in some cases of their entire lives or on their way for a two-week vacation.

Yep. But first, you guys want to throw a little back checking into this fun three-on-three tournament? It's just, I mean, it's tall guys getting short guys. What do you guys think? No. Oh, my Lord, that's going to be terrible. Unbelievable. I don't know what the solution is.

I don't think there is one, frankly. If they're going to let the Islanders host it, they need to do it, the arena with the obstructed view seats. And those would be the most expensive tickets to go and sit. Yeah, well, that way you don't have to watch this shit. Where can I see less of this right here? Oh, man. It's unbelievable. I get the decision insofar as you've got to have an All-Star game or whatever.

But you don't. You don't, in fact. I mean, we're going to find out that that's true. but that's what I'm saying is Anyway speaking of the Olympics And we mentioned Adam Fox I guess but like anybody kind of stand out to you It's like oh yeah

That guy that guy punched his ticket And maybe that guy played his way out of a spot The two guys that that I wrote about That legitimately worried me coming out of the tournament One was Adam Fox Just because he seems so To say so overmatched is overstating it But like he

he did seem a little bit overmatched almost every time you saw him. Yeah. Which really does kind of lead the question of like, can this guy? I just don't know who you bring otherwise. You know? Yeah. Yeah, that's, well, I mean,

we start the conversation assuming everyone's healthy. So that at least gives you Quinn Hughes back. Right. But I'm saying, I'm saying Adam Fox was not like this. sixth the man they took. He was, he was, you know, a top three guy. He might have, he might have been a third pick. The way they used him for the end, right? Like, I mean, oldie and, and, uh, Slavin kind of locked in. Hughes will be there. I mean, Jake Sanderson may have played his way,

like he didn't play. Faber. Faber, you mean, and not, not boldie. Thank you. Yep. Um, so, yeah, it's, uh, I mean, I, you're right. I think he's still. makes it. But that, and then the other guy that worries me, who is going to make his national team, but just Elias Pedersen. Yeah. Invisible. Yep.

That scares the hell out of me if I'm a Canucks fan. Yeah. And the Knuck's front office. Especially because, like, were you going to trade him? Who's taking that contract? I, well, I mean, we went from two months ago, like, oh man, if Elias Petters You got to jump at it if you're the sabers or the blue jackets or whoever. To now it's like, is this guy broken?

Is he fundamentally broken? Yeah, who knows? And then like, you know, you had the first night's action where Rick Tockett is like, yeah, he's not skating. He's not moving his feet, which that feels like an important part of being a hockey player. And then Pedersen's just like, I hate the media. It was like, great. This doesn't seem ideal. No.

But you mentioned Matt Boldie. There's no way he's, I thought he was really good in this tournament. I don't know how many points he had, but like, there, well, look,

the Olympics, they're expanding the rosters. I think you get one extra forward and defensemen each. So that makes a lot of the, whoa, they left him at home. But we were talking about this at the, at the gold medal game or whatever,

the championship game. How many, like, star level players do you think both the U.S. and Canada left home? There's like four or five on both sides. Like Jason Robertson didn't make the U.S. team. I mean, you know, there's a guy, boy, that's my, that's my 14th forward, no problem. Sure. He's probably even higher than that. Tage Thompson. Yeah, Tage, of course. Certainly another year of Cole Cofield could.

Yep, absolutely. You wonder about Maclin Celebrini for Canada. Yep. Conor Bard. As a possibility of Connor Bedard. Well, again, there's a guy we all decided sucks. So, you know. What did you think of Mike Sullivan leaving Kyle Connor out of the lineup?

Or are they final? Yeah. Chris Kreider is, you know, there's a veteran guy. I mean, look, he scored that goal. Like, I get it from that point of view. Kreider scored a goal like five seconds into the game we lost. You know? The meaningless game.

Of course, yeah. Neither team was really trying for. Yep. But, yeah, you know, if it's me, I'm not leaving Kyle Connor, who I think at the time was like second or third in the NHL and goals. I'm keeping that guy in the lineup personally. He's the leading score among Team USA4. Oh, no. I'm saying the entire NHL, no one had more, or only Leon Dreisdell had more goals.

I'm pretty, or maybe Mark Shifley. I can't remember which was, which jet was what, too. And he's not good enough to play in a game that ultimately you lose by one extra goal anywhere. Well, that's, I mean. I'm surprised it's not a bigger deal. Like I'm, I agree with you. And I got to say the way. Can you imagine Canada had done that?

If Canada had been like, you know, we're, I mean, I don't know who the Canadian equivalent of. Kyle Connor is, but Mark Sheifley, you know? Yeah, maybe. Okay. Good point. But, yeah, well, you know, it's interesting because I was, you know, at the Mike Sullivan Press conference, the way he was talking, I was kind of like, oh, I don't think he thinks he's coaching the Olympic team next year.

And here's the thing. I don't know who I would be choosing if it's not Mike Sullivan. Who else are the American coach who a Torterella? Yeah, John Tortorella, John Torterella, John. Yeah. Look, I think the U.S. played really well for the most part. They lost to Canada in overtime, you know. And the only game they lost, they, well, the only round robin game they lost, I guess. They didn't have to give a shit at all. Yep. They beat Canada on home ice, all this kind of stuff. Kyle Conner decision aside, I don't have a lot of, I don't have a lot of like beef with what Mike Sullivan was getting up to,

you know? Yeah, the Kyle Connor call was, I'm not defending it. It's just one of those hockey guy things. Like, ah, would you rather lose three two or win two one, all that shit?

Like, I don't agree with it, but I get the, I get the mindset. And also this might be, you know, another thing of like, uh,

oh yeah, And also Kyle Connor's like knee was fucked up or something, you know, whatever. Like he was, or he had the flu. Everybody in this tournament also had the flu. So I think we can safely say fake Four Nations, you know? Mm-hmm. So. But yeah, that flu was apparently really bad for, uh, for a lot of those guys.

So who knows? Um, anyway, anything else on Four Nations or we good? Just, uh, good luck to everybody next year. at the Olympics, which apparently is the actually important tournament. I thought it was this one. It led to believe it was this one, but it turned out. It'll be more countries there, that's for sure. After we found out the result, it turns out, no.

It's next year's the big one. I could have told you this was fake going into it, man. They didn't ask me. Nobody asked. Somebody did ask. It's in the mailbag. Everybody tune in for that. Yeah, that's true.

Look, it was. It wasn't just one person. We got like 30 how fake was the... Okay. How fake was that? Well, I didn't crunch the numbers, unfortunately, but I can ballpark it for you. Okay. We don't have enough data points on best on best.

I don't know if you heard about this, but they don't really have as many best-on-best tournaments in hockey as you would think. It's weird to think about, but like they really kind of only started in like the early 90s with the Canada Cup or whatever. whatever. Isn't that strange? Well, no, they go back to the 70s. Well, yeah, but like the Summit Series and... Summit Series, and then Canada Cup started 76. Okay, that, yeah, you're right about that. And then it kind of went away for a while.

Am I right about this? No, but it was, there was like a five-year gap, and then they did three years, and then it kind of bounced to four and five. So there were stretches where it was, it was an irregular tournament. But yeah, it was every three to five years. years since what a sport man we can we can put the best players together yeah we'll get around to it eventually we'll see yeah it might we might do it we might not sometimes we're just going to pretend a whole country or a whole continent as a country sometimes we're going to just take some of the

best players on two rosters and put them on their own roster we'll figure it out anyway uh you know tune in what is it 2028 now they're going to do this again it again, World Cup, 2028. Yeah. Excited for those qualifiers. Not yet announced how many nations will be involved. Yep. Team former Eastern Block versus Team Northern Hemisphere, you know, whatever.

They'll slice and dice it. My idea is to make it a seven nation tournament, but then you'd have to come up with a theme song. And I'm just not sure if there's any... Can I say this? I have seen so many people posting about the white stripes lately. I don't know what's going on They're very zeitgeisty all of a sudden Hmm

Are they back together? No, I don't think so I mean Jack White just did like a solo tour He had a new record come out last year It's good, good record Um But yeah, I don't know what Megs up to these days If they want to get back together

Hey, I'm all for it. That's a great band for me But anyway I'm with you Uh yeah, hey We'll take a break, we'll come back and we'll talk about all the NHL stuff that happened since the last time we were recorded. This week's episode of Puck Soup is brought to you by Factor.

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And so I was at a hockey game on Saturday night. And I'm just watching the The Washington Capitals score like spin around like a fucking slot machine Just every time you look up Oh they score it again they score it again This is crazy They scored eight goals on Saturday night

Alex Ovecgan had none And I've said this before Anytime I see the Capitol score a goal And it's not by Alex Ovecgen I'm like fuck you get a life What a bum Pass it to the other guy I don't care about

Martin Fairvarie scoring. So what is Alex Ovechkin do the next day? He's like, oh, well, that was a big mistake by me. I'm going to go out and get a hat trick instead. How's that sound? Yeah. 13 away from the record now. It's going to happen.

It's going to happen this year in all likelihood. Sure does feel that way. He was motivated by all this four nations. He was like, I've got to be good at hockey again, too. It was pretty mean of them to have. have that tournament and then immediately have Ovec can play Crosby and McDavid. Yeah.

Right? Like that was a little bit of a... But yeah, it's... It sure feels like it's gonna happen this year. He's up to 29 goals. Is he 40 yet? He's 39 still. Okay.

That's great. Nonetheless, you know? he can't have too many multi-goal games this year. Yeah, that was only his fifth one, his second hat trick. He had a hat trick back in November as well, it says here. I have no recollection of that, so I'll take their word for it. But yeah, he kind of went into the break on a little bit of a heater. Although, you know what?

I just, yeah, remember that watch. Washington, Utah game was the last game, like right before the international break. Okay. And he had three assists. I'm sitting there going, hey, stop passing that. Shoot it. None of that. What are you think you're doing, man?

You turning into fucking atomotes all of a sudden. Stop it. But it's crazy. We got a million, like, at this point, like, half the mailbag is just like various Alex Ovechkin hypotheticals. Okay. You know? Like, including, are they going to sit?

him in road games, so he does it at home, which I don't think that would ever happen in a million years, but they probably shouldn't do that. Yeah, I could see, it would have to be pretty clear that he was going to get it. Like, if he's one goal away with eight games left. Yeah, I got to look up the cap schedule. I'm looking at Dom's projections because he's got like an Ovechkin page now. And he still only has it at 35% that he does it this year. That is surprising.

Yeah, 13's a lot for, what do they have, 20-something games left? Yeah. 24, 25. Is it only? Is it that? Many? Oh, wow. Okay.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They got to be in the high. Yeah. They have, what, tonight is their 58th game of the season. Wow. Here's the thing, though, with the road games, they have, if, if he wants to start scoring a bunch at home,

uh, I think like, it looks like six of their next seven are in one. Washington. And then they got a bunch on the road to end the year. So they might not, they might not have a choice about, uh, about like playing him on the road in turn. Not that it'll matter for the standings, but like, they only have three or four home games from like in their last 12. Yeah.

So. Great job. Well, I was, I was going to say great job by the schedule maker, but you know what? We didn't. Nobody expected to use. going to miss a month. We probably figured. That's exactly right. Yeah, that's probably why they were like, you know, if he, if he stays healthy, they have a, they have a stretch where they played probably like, yeah, it looks like they played six home games between or six road games between the start of February and like late March.

Yep. So they really, they were really trying to, no, no, this is going to happen at home and then he got hurt. But this is so, this is really, you know, it's been pointed out, but the NHL really couldn't have asked for better marketing around like all the goodwill from four nations right into, right into the chase. Yep. It's going to happen. It's really crazy. I still say he finishes one goal short and then the NHL starts the capitals with an eight game road trip. next year.

Yeah, it's, you know, I know, I know. West Coast, 1130 starts. It's, it's too bad, you know, the CBA's not up next season. They could have had a nice lockout mixed in there, you know. That's a great point. Push it to like mid-February next year. But, yeah, no, I mean. They do have the California road trip coming up in a few weeks.

They do? He would have to go absolutely bananas to put that into play. Because that is, I think when I did my rankings, that was like the worst case scenario was for him to do it at 10 a.m. against the Mighty Ducks on a Tuesday night. Right. Yeah, no, there, I don't think anybody cares where it happens. I'm sure fans would love to have it happen at home. Oh, of course. Yeah.

I think somebody on the Discord made the joke like whoever, like right now he's apparently on pace to do it against, in Boston on April 1st is like what the, you know, if he keeps up his current goal scoring pace. And someone was like finally a valuable Boston Bruins home ticket in this season. Like the season ticket holders are finally being rewarded. And you know what? If he's got a chance to do it, you know, it would be so funny. You should go on, like, Twitter and type, like, Ovech can just set the record and then be like, now April fools. Oh, God, that would be, that would be, I'm going to do that. It's going to be so far.

In fact, I might pay to promote those tweets just to. Yeah, you have to. Get them in. It would be the best ad tweet I've seen in, like, months. Everything else is just like a weird CGI, like, uh, I don't even know what they're supposed to be some of the time, you know? Here's a robot, and you're like, huh?

Anyway. Yeah, this is, we're getting to, we're getting to Gary and Wayne following Ovechkin around time. Probably like two weeks from now. Those guys are hitting the road. So crazy. I want to see that buddy comedy. I never thought it would happen.

I really, I really, you know, when he slowed down a couple years, more than a couple at this point. But when he slowed down like three, four, five years ago and only had like a 30 goal season or whatever for the first time, I was like, yeah, I don't know. Even before then, like when the Caps had their little identity crisis and they were like, we're going to make you play defense. Well, I'll tell you what it was. It was the 16-17 season. He's 31 years old. He only had 33 goals, quote-unquote, only.

and I was just kind of like, yeah, that might be it. Yep. You know? Like scoring 30 is great, but that doesn't get you to 950 or whatever the number is, you know? But the next year, 49, 51, 48, 24 and 45, 50. Like, fuck you. We're not doing this, man. Yeah.

Again, he'd be there already if it wasn't for lockouts and COVID. He would have blown past it. 32 you know the 48 game season 68 game season 45 game season he would have fucking crushed it by now he'd he'd probably be over a thousand right he'd be pushing a thousand

he'd be pushing a thousand yeah but yeah 29 and 41 at age 39 it's unbelievable anyway all the four of them into an empty net but that's fine That's right. So actually, Wayne Gretzky is still the goal scoring king. That's true.

Because what you have to do, you have to combine regular season and playoffs. And the WHA. For reasons I can't get into, you have to count the WHA, but not any European leagues at all. Like, it's only that. And also only the playoff games for Wayne and not for, you know. Yep. And it turns out actually, Wayne Grisky, that guy scored a lot. Like, that's the thing.

He's still got the assist record, man. He still has more assists than anyone else in the league history has points. And also he scored the most goals ever. And people are like, I don't know, that's not good enough for me. When we were talking yesterday on the mailbag about when he went to St. Louis, Gretzky, and I was like, yeah, I mean, he's the greatest playmaker ever. And he's playing with like the third greatest goal score. my head, I'm like, and while also being the first greatest goal scorer.

That's right. Can't pass to yourself. Well, you can't, but can't get an assist on your own goal. You imagine if you could get an assist on your own goal. Then you want to talk about an unbreakable record. Oh, my God, yeah. 4,000 points for Wayne Gretzky. Yeah.

You know? All right. If Wayne Gretzky wasn't dead to my entire country right now, I would definitely pump his tires. There's a lot of that going around, huh? Yeah. Let's transition to like what I titled here. What are they going to do corner? We mentioned Charlie McAvoy.

Maybe done for the year seems like like what would be the point at this point. Because Hamas Lindholm definitely done for the year, broken kneecap. They thought he was going to come back. He skated a little bit before the break. but now that McAvoy's out it just kind of seems like they're waving the white flag No problems for us We'll see you next year

But are they or is that That's what That's what we're hearing behind the scenes let's say I just wonder if that means Give up and trade away Or if it means this isn't the year to be traded In first round pick I mean they're one point out

I don't think they have I don't think they have the juice, man. They've got all those extra games played. I don't think they do either. Well, they've only got one game in hand. Or everyone else has one game in hand on them. Oh, they, okay. The gap is now down to one.

Like, I agree with you, but just typically in the NHL, GMs don't see it that way. You know, like there's the... I'm trying to remember who tweeted it out yesterday. But, yeah, to me, I think it's just kind of, I think they're saying that's it. So do you move Brad Marchand? Well, I believe he has movement protection and he said yesterday he is not interested in moving along.

So, well, you know what? I look at he only has an 18 no trade list. So they could probably. So Canada and Buffalo are out. That's right He should go to a Canadian team He should Come on

Where was it? How did I can't find the tweet now But basically somebody was like You know reading between the lines talking to people It seems like they're gonna kind of shift to seller mode here I don't think that includes Brad Marshand Personally

You know Sweeney was talking yesterday about like negotiations ongoing or whatever. Now, he could pull the Keith Kachuk to Atlanta thing. Yeah. You know, go play 30 games. That one thing that happened 20 years ago and we've all been penciling it. I don't know.

Yeah, Marchand's thing is like, I'm a Bruin for life or I want to be a brewing for life. And obviously, Keith Kachuk had bounced around a fair amount. So that makes it different, obviously. You think when he says stuff like that is agents like elbowing him the ribs? Come on, man. Look, he's getting the money regardless. I just, I don't know, like, even if you're the Bruins, like, you got to be reading the writing on the wall that like a decade of being all in every year basically and also being bad at drafting, like kind of notably bad at drafting has just made it so like this just might be what the next few years are. you know and if that's the case like i get brad marshand borderline retire his number guy for them

but at the same time you gotta be realistic about what you what you do and don't have you know and if he wants like three years or something pushes him to his like age 40 season you know enjoy your time in utah or whatever you know i i i can't probably I can't get on board with it. Yeah, well. You know, it's funny you mention that because I read a really interesting article in the Tennessee, and I think it was basically where Barry Trots is like, give me a call, folks. I'm listening.

So, like, he's being very open about, like, you want to make a trade. Let's make a trade. In a way that the Bruins kind of aren't, even though, obviously, you know, they're closer to the playoffs. Mm-hmm. I don't know what they're going to do. They, they, I guess now they have all kinds of LTIR money, but like, who cares? They don't. It doesn't seem like they do.

I don't know. I don't know what they do. I don't know on that one. It seems like basically any trade they make, if they do make, like bring in a quote-unquote reinforcement, it's going to be, you know, like one of those like 25, 26-year-old guys who can be around for a while and has already signed relatively long term and that kind of thing. Which to me, of course, Pedersen coming in hot.

Zadorov and Lindholm for Pedersen, who says no. You know what? What could go wrong? Vancouver loved those guys. Yeah, they did. But yeah. Still a year left on that Charlie Coil deal.

Uh-oh. That's number. one center Charlie coiled you. I think I've identified the problem here. Yeah. Another team that's kind of like that, obviously they won their second game in which they looked absolutely horrendous

coming out of the break, but they get nuked by the sabers and then don't deserve to beat the penguins at all and do it. The New York Rangers, it feels like kind of same thing. Like, you want to make a deal. give us a call. We're looking to do it. But this feels more like, I mean, I can't imagine them after all of this going into cell mode.

They kind of have to, though. Like, I don't know what the solution is. I mean, they looked terrible. But again, two points back, no games in hand at this point for either side. So two back of Ottawa, Columbus, who are tied for the last. spot for back of Detroit. I mean, this in an all or nothing year, what? Well, they already did their like kind of two big trades.

They got true or, yeah, they got Trub out of there and then they brought in J.T. Miller. Would probably love to move Mika Zabanajad if they could. And I don't think they can. Well, yeah. What? Can I just, can I just read you some, some funny things here? Panera no move Zabanajad no move

J.T. Miller no move. Chris Crider 15 team no trade list Trocheck no move Riley Smith 8 team no trade list Igor Shasturkin 10 team no trade list Jonathan Quick 20 team no trade list And then that doesn't even get into

Will Borgon who they just re-signed has a no trade for next season and Adam Fox has a no move starting next season as well. They love keeping guys around. And also that doesn't... Moving Adam Fox? I wouldn't.

I mean, like, I... Well, look, he's 27. You know, that's... If you're going to, if you feel like maybe now's the time to move, you're selling the lowest possible point in his career probably, right? Like, there's never been a... point where everybody was more down on Adam Fox than is right now. But I don't know.

And that doesn't even count the LaFrenier extension that kicks in next year, which doesn't have trade protection, but almost seven and a half million, maybe you're not feeling quite so good about it as you were two months ago. I don't know what they do. I feel like the coach is getting fired, just like as a baseline. I don't know that it's necessarily his fault, but... Yeah, and you never know with the ownership there. That's what I mean.

They might love Chris Durie and be like, you're locked in, you're a guy, or... Or not. Really not. Yeah. I don't know what they do. It's just... I think they stay, I mean, I think they stay the course and even try to add if they can. Like, you've got your podcast.

committed at this point. Well, again, like, you're talking about, like, um, like reading the tea leaves and all that kind of stuff. And Larry Brooks, who's more plugged in for that organization than Larry Brooks, he's kind of going, this has to be it. And he's been saying that for, like, beginning of the year, he was saying, like, if they don't really perform well, this is their last chance and all this kind of stuff. they already traded Trubah, who was a big, like, this is our last chance guy.

So it feels like something has to give here, but I don't know what it could be because of all those literally unmovable contracts. Like you said, if you're trading Adam Fox, maybe you're signaling to all those guys with the no moves, you're going to also want to be a rat hopping off the sinking ship, man. This is not going well for us. Yeah, that's it. I mean, guys can have no trade protection, but, boy, playing in New York on a crappy team is not fun. No. In any sport.

So. I don't know. I straight up don't know what they do. With the Bruins, I'm like, okay, you can kind of see the outline of what they do. I don't know what the, what the Rangers do. They're locked in on so many guys for so long. And they can't move them.

Yep. Vincent Trochexstein until 2029. And he has some form of no trade protection for a huge chunk of that. I know we've kind of touched on it a bunch already, but nobody from the Rangers look good in Four Nations. It's true. You know, Trocheck barely even playing Crider. J.T. Miller punched himself. J.T. Miller, that was the highlight.

It kind of was. Igor Shastirkin somehow still gave up four goals. think in the tournament. Oh, man. You want to talk about Larry Brooks tweeting out something that hurt my stomach. Oh, my God. I think, did I send this to you? No.

Okay. He, since the, since January 26th, Igor Shasturkin has an 842 safe percentage. Ooh. And it was worse until he stopped 37 of 40s. the other night. It was 817 before that Penguins game. That is stunning.

And, you know, I think that is right around when he signed the, maybe that's a little later than he signed the extension. But like, 842, and this guy is, you know, earlier this year had a claim to one of the two or three best goalies in the world. I was trying to think of a joke about, like, is it nice? But there is, there is no era where 842. 842 gets you sent to the AHL in 1987. Sure does.

One last, what are they going to do here, I guess, kind of. Is Miko Rantan available once again? That seems to be the big question. Reported over the weekend. Lots of whispers, by which I mean insiders getting. fed stuff and putting it out there and you're not quite sure by who or what. So the rumor was Carolina offered nine figures. Yes, which would mean a minimum.

12.5. If it's an eight year deal, which presumably it would be. Would get you right to that. And I believe Elliot said it wasn't 12.5. It was over that number. It was more like 13, 13 and a half, something like that. So it wasn't like the absolute bare minimum, this gets you to $100 million. It was, you know, 101 or whatever it works out to, you know.

And he was just kind of like, I don't know. I straight up don't know because I'm still shaken up by the trade out of Colorado. Which is understandable, but at some point, like, dude, it's. It's go time. Yeah, it's been a month. And I'm starting to, like, when I hear that, I, I'm starting to worry a little bit that this is just a million percent to stretch this out, which would be understandable. I mean, geez, you get, you get within months of being one of the biggest UFAs of the era. I can absolutely see why you'd be like, you know what, I want to take a crack at that, see where it takes me.

But. Look, like this is, in all likelihood, this is. is going to be his last contract, right? And he's 28 years old. It's not like, you know, he can sign an eight-year deal and get to the end of it and, you know, count on another four or five, six years, right? Maybe he signs a one or two-year deal at the end of it, that kind of thing. But this is his one chance to really make nine figures, you know?

And so like the first person who comes along and offers you nine figures, especially after you got traded, If Colorado would offer them nine figures, no problem for me. Sign it. Get it done. I'm a, you know, avalanche for life. Great. That's fine. But now that there's a second team that he's on and he's like, I don't know, man.

Like, why wouldn't you test the market if you're Miko Randman? Just see. You know, like you can still go back to Carolina if they have an offer that's nice for you. And obviously, that's the APR being the potential answer to that. is that it is possible that by just seeing what's out there, you wind up costing yourself money. Sure. Yeah, of course. But the opposite to that is like if you make it clear to Carolina, look, I'm going to market regardless.

Maybe you bully them into trading you. And then you can sign for eight years in Utah or whatever, you know, whatever other market. you're looking at, you know? Especially because Carolina, in theory, could eat 50% of this deal or, you know, 25 or, you know, the other remaining 50% of this deal. And suddenly Miko Ranton costs like $2.5 million against the cap or something like that. And, you know, every team in the league that wants to make a make a cup run is trying to trying to make that happen. Yep.

But Carolina is one of those teams. Totally. Just trying to make a cup run. Yeah. But I just wonder, personally, if I'm Carolina, I keep them regardless. Yeah.

But. The other piece of that, because I think he might be right, the other piece of that is, again, to go back to the eight years, Carolina is the only team that can offer a mate. Yes.

They, if they were to train, his rights in the offseason, that team could not offer rate. He has to be on the team at the deadline. But you can sign a trade, which we've only ever seen once, which was the Matthew Kachuk deal. Seems like that worked out pretty good for the one team. Yeah, sure did. But that does give the hurricanes more leverage if they decide, you know what?

We're going to roll. We're going to try to win a Stanley Cup. we're going to give him two more months to get acclimated, see how much he loves it here, et cetera, et cetera. Then if he really, a week before, if he really doesn't want to sign, then you say to him, look, you can go talk to other teams, but nobody is getting eight years without giving us this, this, this, and this.

And then you let that play itself out. And if he turns out he doesn't want eight years or he doesn't, you know, he can get, something that makes them happy at seven, then you're kind of out of luck. But that eighth year at the level of money we're going to be talking is going to be significant, both in terms of keeping the cap hit down and putting money in his pocket. So there would be some leverage for the hurricanes to say, look, okay, you want to go to Vegas at eight years? We understand we're not doing it cheap.

We're not doing this for a third round pick. Like we need to get something out of this. Well, you know, we keep saying the eight years and to bring it back to what I was saying earlier about like, if it's an eight year deal, this is probably his one chance to make a shitload of money. What if he's like, give me five years? Give me the Austin Matthews special of like, yeah, mega money for five years. I get one more contract at like 33, 32. And then, you know, like that that fully removes the like bargaining power that Carolina has. like, oh, we're the only team that can give you eight years.

I don't fucking want eight years, man. You know? Again, personally, if I'm, if I'm an NHL player, I'm, I'm, there is a number at which I'm just like, you know what, eight years. Like, if I'm making, if I'm making 12 and a half for eight years or I'm making 14 for five, we'll give me 14 for five and I'll see what, see if I can make up the rest on my next contract. you know. Yep, absolutely. So. At which point, Carolina loses that amount of leverage.

That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Like, and so that opens up the, they trade him thing. Would you, if you're Carolina, keep him regardless, or would you trade him? I would be, I would answer the phone. Yeah. I would put the word out that, hey, you know, this is, this is a decision we're going to have to make. We're willing to keep him, but we'll listen.

I would even say we prefer to keep it. Maybe. But we'll listen, you know. But yeah, I'm fascinated to see where it all goes from here because this is, clock's ticking, you know? I guess we have one more thing for what do they do corner here, and that's Seth Jones, apparently would prefer a trade. Hasn't asked for one, but it's kind of like, hey, if you guys got a round a trade,

me. You know, I'm not going to complain. It sounds like he asked for one but didn't demand one. Yeah, okay. Maybe that's a better way to put it. I guess a good distinction. I just don't see how they can move him with that contract. I don't know if people know this.

So much of it that it doesn't make sense for a rebuilding team to. I don't know that they can eat one at this point either. They might have three. Oh, no, they have two salary retains right now on McKay. and Ranton. So they could do it. But like you say, why would they?

Because I don't know if people know this. This is the thing that I have to occasionally remind myself. He's only in year three of this eight year deal. Can you fucking believe that? That contract feels like it got signed in like 1997. And it's still going strong, you know? For the Black Oaks, it probably does. Yeah.

Yeah. I know he's still a big name, and he's a good player. He's one of these guys where, like, his level of play gets tied to the contract so much because it's a hard cap that. And he has the full no move. I think that's the other big issue. Which you would assume if he's asking for a move that he's going to be very flexible with that.

Oh, of course. That doesn't mean that, all right, you're going to Buffalo. No, no, I'm not. He wants to go to a contest. specifically, he said, apparently. You know, I don't know. So, I don't know. How many contenders have 9 million in cap space sitting around for a second pair

defenseman? Like, you really, you have to bank on. Yeah. Like, you really have to bank on he's going to rediscover his game. But based on what? I mean, it's been a long time now. We mentioned this earlier about like, uh, or, you know, in recent episodes,

but like, nine and a half million two years from now is not going to be, it's not going to feel like nine and a half million. You know what I mean? Like, it's going to, it's going to feel relatively inconsequential when the cap is $97 million or whatever. And you can say that,

but in the meantime, like you say, you still got to have nine and a half million in caps space. Well, you know, obviously there's some wiggle room. But, like, I'll give it, the team that jumps to mind for that is doubt, Dallas, right? Like they have, it seems like they have cap.

The Bruins, I guess you could say now have cap room if they're two, if they're two defensemen aren't coming back this year. And maybe they trade Marsh End and all this kind of stuff. But like, what's Seth Jones fix for the Dallas Stars or the Boston Bruins? Or any legitimate contender? Even if the, even if Chicago eats half the money or something like that, is that like who you're going out and getting? and you're like, okay, it's all fixed. We sewed it all up. I don't think so.

Yeah. So, I mean, I know as soon as, because he's a name, like as soon as this got out, you know, people were, oh, here's, here are the fits. Here's where he could go. Here's where it might. I just don't see it. I would love to be proven wrong, but I just don't see how this becomes anything. Yeah.

I agree. But with so many, notable trades having already happened. We do kind of need it. We're a week and a half away from the trade deadline. We got to pretend on some of these guys. Oh, Alex Ovechkin might move. How about that? I think so.

We got to cook something up here as the hockey media, the crooked hockey media. That would be a fantastic trade. Ovecgan for Seth Jones, straight up, who says no? I don't see an issue from either side. Look, the capitals, they already show. they were willing to trade for anchor contracts and defensemen, you know, or bring a defenseman to replace chikrin. Yeah.

I'm saying, man. I mean, Chicago would have to throw on a pick. Oh, yeah, like a six or a seven, something like that. Yeah. But yeah, I think the hockey media is kind of looking around going, oh no, look at this trade board. Oh, my God, we're in a lot of trouble here. It's not this coming Friday. It's two Fridays from now, is the...

Ten days, I think we're looking at something like that. I like that it's on a Friday, I'll tell you that. It makes the weekend feel a little more fun. And it does, yeah. Better than, like, one of those Wednesday ones, you know? Anyway. Ryan Hartman's suspension. Remember that, folks?

That happened, like, a year ago. You got 10 games. Gary Betman said yesterday. It's actually only eight. I love how they headlined it, eh? Like, Bettman upholds suspension, reduces it by two games. Yeah, I guess the idea is Ryan Hartman,

I guess the idea is Ryan Hartman was like, I shouldn't have been suspended at all. In fact, you should be suspended. And Gary Bettman was like, hold on there, cowboy. I disagree. Okay. Now, should you have been suspended for 10 games? No, only 8, and here's why.

And then you look, and it's like, basically the argument was too big of a jump from his last one. But, you know, I can't parse all the legal stuff in there, you know. How often do you see somebody get, you know, they do something and you go, that should be three games and they get two games and you go, eh, all right. What's the difference? Well, now we know the difference could be multiplicative down the line. line because apparently there's some sort of secret formula for multiplying your suspensions as it goes. So maybe we need to pay more attention to those original decisions.

And the game here or there might matter. When you tuned in to Puck Soup this week, did you think you'd hear the word multiplicative? I would like to thank Blattro for that, is the only reason that word is in my vocabulary. I use it multiple times a day. My man's going Keaton mode. Yeah, look, I'm in favor of, you know, throw the book at all these fucking guys. Like, if you throw a dangerous hit, especially with Ryan Hart, but that, again, that hit blew my mind or not even a hit. That, like, elbow drop blew my fucking mind.

I was like, how is this guy allowed to be in the NHL anymore? But, I mean, like, I'll give you a great example. Trevor Zegras got three games for a shot to the head the other day, you know? Yep. And we were talking about it. I'm like, that looks like a fine to me because he like brushes the guy's jersey visibly on the, on the, as he passes through. And I've seen all these videos. The head's not the primary point of contact or whatever the, you know, like to me, that that's, that's the read from watching a thousand suspension videos.

They're always looking to give a guy a fine and get them out of their way. room. But they're like, we're throwing the fucking book at Trevor Zegra. Which is fine by me, but it just felt like it was out of step with what I've seen. You know, someone is free to explain why this one was different, but I feel like I've seen worse hits get way less. And I'm not saying it was a good hit. It was a bad hit. But I was fully like the maximum allowable fine is what's going to be happening here. So I'd love it if the NHL or the Department of Player Safety just kind of switch to to switch back to we're throwing the book at everybody and let Gary sort it out boat. That'd be great for me. Mm-hmm.

I don't think it's going to happen. I think just Gary should be in charge. Forget Paul Korea. Just everything. Right to Gary. At least then, you know, you know who to complain about. That's right. The shadowy cabal that runs it now.

Now. Exactly. A mix of some of the dirtiest players ever, guys who, you know, George Farrowst didn't have the longest NHL career, Paul Korea, and then like, I don't know, a bunch of other guys who played in the 80s or something. And you're like, okay, what? That's it. Dale Hunter and Pierre Turgeon, and they have to agree.

They go into a room and they don't come out until they agree. And just every time Pierre Turerjong comes out with comically more bandages and black eyes and piano teeth, piano key teeth hanging out of his mouth. Yeah. You have any thoughts on this big extension for Kevin Lankin in five years, four and a half million A.A.A.V. Good for him. Yep. It does make me wonder about Thatcher Demko.

That was my first thought as well. Well, yeah. We're just doing $10 million a year of goaltending? I don't know. I kind of don't think so. And again, the willingness, the willingness to, I think he's got one more year. Yeah, the willingness to commit big to goalies based on smallish sample sizes continues to surprise me. I get that there's the counter argument of, okay, we don't sign him.

He goes and probably gets something like this contract. somewhere else. Maybe, yeah. And then Thatcher Demko's got you over a barrel and everyone's going to, hey, guys, you head Kevin and Lankan and you let him walk away for nothing.

You dummies? I mean, it kind of should be mentioned. Demko is back on the IR. You know? I wonder, I just wonder how much at this point the Canucks are counting on him

to be able to even like play NHL hockey beyond this season. He's played 7. 17 games this year. It feels like a story then. If that's... You know what I'm like? Yeah.

I think Thatcher Demko, you know, height of his powers is so sick, man. Like, but I just, you know, wasn't there a bunch of stuff about like his injury is such that he has to change the way he plays? Mm-hmm. And then he only plays 17 games. He's in and out of the lineup for a huge chunk of the year. Okay. How about this? So doesn't play till December.

Plays basically straight through. he might have missed a few games here and there. And then back on the IR, who knows what his status is. 17 games since December 10th. It would suck. It would really suck if this is kind of the end for the beginning of the end, maybe, for Demko. But it's not like he was good when he was healthy this year. And who knows how healthy, healthy is.

Right. Yep. So. I don't know. I think this is, I think this contract is kind of like the, the Logan Thompson contract whenever that got signed and we talked about it. Like,

the money doesn't bother me so much because like what's four and a half million dollars in a 97 million cap or whatever the number is, you know, but I don't know that like you said, the small sample size has me super hyped about what Kevin Lankinen looks like long term. Fair. Yeah.

You know? Because here's the, thing. 907 this year gets him that contract. He was 908 in Nashville, and 916 before that 891, 909, like going backwards in time. Like, this is a 90 something-ish goalie, it looks like. And that's, and maybe it's the new NHL where like goaltending isn't as good as it used to be, you know, but it's the term that would have me concern, not the money.

Yep. Because how old is Lankan? He can't be that young. He was a relatively old rookie. He's got to be in his late 20s? He's 29, yeah. Wow, okay. And he'll be 30 in April.

Okay. If you say so. Hey, speaking of goalies, we had a trade last night. Did you see this, Sean? I did. Villi Huso, from Detroit to Anaheim, for future. considerations.

That's it. Saves Detroit like three and a half million against the cap. Salary dump. And again, you know, like with Lankinen

made you wonder about Demco, I think everyone saw this and went, oh, is, is John Gibson either more hurt or potentially a trade target?

And the initial reports were no to both. I don't know how much I buy that, but Well, yeah, especially because he left the game the other night with an upper body injury, the Bruins game. I think it was an upper body injury. But, yeah, apparently his injury isn't like particularly long term or anything.

He might miss a game or two and that's it. So why go and get a $3.5 million goal? I don't know. The story that I had seen was, well, their HL team is making a run and they really want. want to, they think that would be great for the development of the kids and that. Okay, great. Yeah. I don't buy it, but okay, great.

For that? I don't know, man. I do not know. I get it for why Detroit would do it. Oh, of course. Yeah. I don't get why Anaheim unless they're going to move Gibson finally. And this is part of that.

Yeah. Well, again, like, I think the reaction I saw the most was like, wait, Anaheim didn't give up anything. to take three and a half million and like what's effectively useless money off Detroit. Like get a fifth round pick or something, but nope.

Which makes me honestly kind of wonder is John Gibson to Detroit may be a thing. Because I don't know how much they trust Cam Talbot, although he's having a good year, obviously. But that's just what it kind of like leapt into my head right away is like maybe maybe this is like the the deal before the deal between these two

teams. Future considerations is it would be very funny if would be very funny if that's what Anaheim thought and then they're like all right we'll call you back tomorrow for the other half and then Detroit just didn't pick up the phone. Yeah, the number you have dialed is out of service.

Exactly. Wait a second. Steve Eisenman throwing his burner phone into Lake Michigan. That's right. Isn't that on the other side of Michigan from where Detroit is? I don't know, dude. I'd be happy I didn't say the Atlantic Ocean, okay?

Okay, no problem. Yeah, I think that might be it. Again, the trade deadline is a week and a half away. So, you know, we're going to have a lot to talk about in the next several days, it seems like. But I do wonder, again, like, how much business is already kind of done. Yeah. And this is where, you know, we all tag James Duthy on our takes about that. Get the llamas ready, James.

It would be a long day. It really is. Who just put up a new trade board? Was it? Everybody. Well, no, I just looked at it because I thought TSN, but they haven't updated theirs in like a month, almost. Might have been the athletic. I can't pull it now.

But, yeah. just looking at the most recent ones, I was just like, oh, boy. Oh, no. That's, uh, that feels like it's a problem for. Ah, yeah, it was, it was the latest, uh, athletic trade board here.

Who do you think's number one on the athletics trade board? This, boy, this top five will really give you the idea of where we're fucking sitting at. Oh, no. How bad is it? It's bad. Uh, three forwards and two defensemen in the top five. Is Brock Nelson.

Number one with a bullet, Brock Nelson. The elder statesman himself. I quit. I'm tapping. I'm not. Yeah. Okay. Ricard Raquel, Seth Jones, Rasmus Ristolian,

Ristolian, and Ryan Donato. You know, we don't have to do. Yeah, but the trade deadline is canceled. It would be fine. Ranting and checks in at number 10. Um, other guys in the top 10, cousins, Byram, Lawton, Tanev, uh, Brandon, not Chris. And, uh, yeah, that's, that's the whole 10. All right.

Brad Marshand all the way down at 22. Any Eli, Eli, Pederson? Let me control F for Elias Pedersen. I don't see them on here. Oof. Oof, indeed. Might be more of a waiver claim at this point. Trevor Zegra's down at 36 once he gets out of the clink.

That just feels like that's a trade that's been happening for four years, huh? I can't wait until he retires, having played his entire 20-year career. That's right. With the ducks and being on the trade block the entire time. He has not been good this year. No. Oh, my God. Listen to this.

Last year, he only played 31 games, 6-9-15. This year he's played 34, 7-9-16. This dude was on the cover of a video game. Yeah. Two years ago. I guess those coyotes announcers were right in hindsight. You know, Instagram hockey. We heard all about it earlier this year.

It's out. It's out for Anaheim. Now, again, do I want to correlate them hiring a coach who, like, in its first interview, was like, we're going to play hockey the right way. and Trevor Zegris' game dropping off a fucking cliff. Do I want to draw a one-to-one comparison with that? And the ducks maybe not getting better? Yeah, who's to say.

You can't argue with the wins and lots. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That didn't improve. Okay. Way she goes sometimes. All right. Why don't we wrap up with what has become an annual tradition?

The trade deadline may be next Friday, but the Oscars, Hollywood's biggest night, the Oscars, are on Sunday. And so we will return once again to which Oscar movies did Sean see. And the premise is this. I'm going to say the title of a movie nominated for Best Picture. And I'll say all right off the hop. This is the first year and forever. I've seen all of them before the ceremony. I saw I'm still, yeah, well, I know.

And so the premise is Sean will say he has seen all these movies. I don't know how many he's seen. I know we've talked about a couple of them, but he's going to pretend like he's seen all of them and explain the plot to me. And I'm going to say, well, you know, I'm going to leave it up to you. I'm just going to give a brief review. I'm just going to tell you, you know, whether I liked it or not. Okay.

And, you know, what I liked about it. Yeah. All right. Well, we'll go in alphabetical order here. Enora. It was fun. I did see it. I only saw.

I know you. I saw it very recently. It had been on my list. It was one of the few of the best pictures that had like already been on my list to see, as opposed to some of them that I watched just for the purposes of this five-minute bit. This one was good. It was, it was, I didn't, I don't know why I didn't realize it was going to be as funny as it was. I feel like.

I was expecting more of the thriller type, and it certainly has that element. But I didn't realize it was going to be as kind of weirdly funny as often as it was. Yeah, I agree. His previous two movies, Sean Baker is the writer, director, editor, creative force behind this film. And basically all his films in his previous two movies, The Florida Project and Red Rocket are both also very fun. I really like both. I prefer Red Rocket to the Florida Project, but I prefer Enora.

Anora was my number three movie of the year this year. I loved it. I thought it was so good. I've been kind of holding off on watching it again, but I feel like I'll be doing that in the next little while here, especially because it seems like Anora might have the inside track for Best Picture. I wouldn't hate that. No, I think that would be a perfectly good choice.

But next up, my actual number one favorite movie of the year lived up to the hype for me in a way that I, you know, I built it up really strongly in my head and then I walked out of the theater going, the movies are back. It's the brutalist. Brady Corbe is the brutalist. More like the brutally long.

It certainly is a long set. Which was fine. Gorgeous to look at it. Oh, yeah, man. I, you're going to yell at me. Okay. So I didn't see it in theater. Huh.

I saw it at home. I waited for that premium VOD, huh? There are ways, there are ways to, uh, to do that. And, uh, I don't know if I'd say I wish I saw it in a theater, because again, three and a half hours is, is really stretching my attention span. But I absolutely get why some people have said, like, you have to go see the, you have to see this on the biggest screen possible because I am sure I

left some I definitely left some movie points on the table let's just say yeah I saw it I saw it in 70 millimeters I thought it was fucking awesome I get why it seems like Timothy Chalamee for

a different movie we'll talk about in a minute has the inside track for best actor over Adrian Brody I you know there's the whole AI debate around this movie, which I'm not, uh, I think it's overstated, but also like I totally get why anybody would be mad about it. Um, and I, I just thought the performances in this movie with

one kind of notable exception was, uh, were like knockouts and I loved it. This was a movie just like laser focused on what I was hoping for out of it, out of it and, you know, the, the grandiosity and, and the spectacle and all that kind of stuff. I just thought it's great. The score is awesome. Probably definitely my favorite score of the year. Yeah, I can't say enough good things about this film. What about Conclave?

We mentioned it earlier, kind of in passing. Yep. So, I mean, this one is not only did I see it, this is the only movie on the list I've seen more than once. Wow. The reason for that is I had seen it back, not back when it came out. because again, I saw it at home, so it must have been a little while after.

But I remember going to you and asking for the recommendation and you gave it the thumbs up. Hardy thumbs up, yeah. And then watched it again, or at least most of it again, the other day, because my wife wanted to see it because of world events. I guess she didn't listen to a podcast or something about what that process was.

And she was like, hey, do you ever see Conclave? And I was like, I did, but I'd watch it again if you wanted to cue it. it up. That's basically exactly what happened to me. Okay. My girlfriend was like, hey, I'm starting Conclave, and I was like, I already saw it. I don't know if I want to circle back.

And then like, when what's his name is vaping in the courtyard, I was just like, you know what, I will watch this. I will, I will sit down and watch the whole damn thing again. And I had a blast both times. So big salute to Conclave, I really like it a lot. Really like just kind of straightforward political thriller, almost. in a slightly different, you know, different format. But yeah.

Yeah, I really, like I said, I really liked it. One of the few movies where, like, I heard the premise, and I was like, well, I got to read that book before I see the movie. Oh, really? Okay. Yep. And I read the book over the summer. Because it's the same ending in the book, am I right?

Yeah, pretty much. There's a couple of tweaks, but yeah, pretty much. All right. Maybe not even a couple. Maybe there's like, it's a little more explicit what is being said in the, you know, in the book. Then anyway, I mentioned it earlier, a complete unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothy Shalome and Monica Barbaro and L. Fanning and Edward Norton. Yeah. And Scoot McNary.

Hey, we love seeing Scoot pop up, don't we, folks? That was fine. I'm not a big music biopic guy. I'm with you. Yeah, Shalemae's good. I'm also not a big

Bob Dylan guy, is the other piece of this. I am. I like Bob Dylan well enough. I respect his work, but it's just, it's never been my thing. So,

yeah, still waiting for the Axel Rose biopic, but until then, this one was, perfectly fine. I, yeah, go ahead. Give them best actor, I guess.

Sure. My level of enthusiasm is probably matching my, my thumb is up, but I'm not giving it the enthusiastic thumbs up. I'm with you. This is... Drop the enthusiastic. That's when you know it was a...

Yeah. It was a, it was a banger. Yeah, this is kind of in the bottom half of my top ten. Um, as far as the the awards or the nominees. I just always have this kind of, there's a part of me that doesn't like any movie that just really feels like it's trying to win awards. Yeah, and especially it comes out on Christmas Day. It's like, I know what this is targeted at.

Yeah, of course. I will say, though, I don't know if you know this, but like this was supposed to happen before the pandemic. And so Timothy Chalemake didn't know how to play guitar at that point. and also Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez, didn't know how to sing. And so they both over the course of four years were just like, I'm just going to get insanely good at this. And then it's all on the screen. And so like, did you see Chalemay's SAG Awards acceptance speech?

No, I didn't know. He goes up there and he's like, I'm inspired not only by, you know, Viola Davis and, and, Daniel Day Lewis, but also by like Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps, I want to win awards. This is like, it's not what it's all about, but like it's part of it for me. And I was like, that's actually such a cool, like no actor ever says, give me those awards. I think that rocks. And again, it's a very sports, like he's a sports guy, you know. It's a very sportsy way to go about it.

No other actors get out there like that. So big salute. Hey, speaking of Tim Shalamey, Dune, Pard. part two. Yep. Watched it again. Ryan, cover your ears. Broke it into three,

a little one hour. Oh, no. Did it TV style. It was good. I enjoyed the first one as well. Yep. And I had never engaged with the material. Like, as a kid, I didn't read the books.

Yeah, I read the books when I was like 35 or something. Like in the semi-recent past, yeah. I came into it with nothing, which I do feel like the movies, both of them still work. But I do feel like I miss out on some of the magic of it because I'm not like, oh, my God, that's how they did. I'm just like, oh, okay. So Dave Batista looks weird. All right. Yeah.

I mean, look, I think that this is a movie that they took some. real risks with some of the changes they made. For example, Zendaya's character in the books is just like, yeah, whatever you want, Big Dog. And in the movie, she's like, you're a fucking asshole, fuck you. You know, like, I love you, but you're being a prick right now, kind of a thing.

And that's a cool change that I've enjoyed in, I've seen this movie three or four times now. Saw it twice in IMAX. But yeah, I really enjoyed, like, again, just laser focused. Like, hey,

you like Dune, right? And I was like, yeah, it's awesome. And they were like, okay, this is going to be the best possible adaptation of that. Of something that people for decades said you couldn't adapt. Yep. And they're right. Me having no background in it, I'm like, well, this seemed fine. What was the problem?

But that's my ignorance speaking. But again, I think it's because they broke it up into two is the only way it works. Like, unless they were releasing a five and a half hour movie, I don't, I don't, I don't know that they were ever going to make it coherent. And again, like, they left out some stuff that is when it comes up in the Dune Messiah movie that they're apparently working on now, you're going to be like, hold on. What? What's a guild navigator look like? And it's like, yeah, you don't want to get into what a guild navigator, this whole deal is.

I think they, I think they needed to have two Oscar, like Best Picture, not. nominated insanely successful Dune movies before they were like, wait till you see a Guild Navigator. Like, we're going to get the Normies on board. All right. Do I have to, do I have to Google? I mean, you can. You can see some, some concept art and things like that from, from Lynch.

Well, they are in Lynch's Dune from 1984, but, uh, yeah, there are some weird. concepts that got excise from this movie, that they cannot excise from Dune Messiah. Okay. Next up is Amelia Perez. So I will be very honest with you? Yep. I saw half of this movie. I think that's the appropriate amount to see.

In fact, zero would be a perfectly acceptable amount. So here's the thing. As I've mentioned before on this show, I spend way too much time on TikTok. So I had seen the memes Of the song Yes, the song is correct You know everybody who's seen the movie Knows which song I mean

I had seen the memes It's about 35 minutes 10 Yeah, that's right I thought That that that was like a parody I thought like oh okay I guess You know I knew that there was a backlash

To the movie I was like Oh I guess everybody hates the movie so much That they have gone and used like AI or somebody is recorded a fake version of one of the songs to just highlight how ridiculous it is. Like take the badness of the movie and crank it up to 11

and we'll all laugh at that. And I did not realize that that was the actual song until it came on in the movie at which point I turned it off. I think that's the appropriate reaction. I thought this movie was like in it like as you're watching it,

you're like, oh, they're kind of all embarrassed to be here. Like the songs are like really half-assed in a way that like I hated it. I couldn't believe this got nominated for Best Picture. It's very weird to have a movie that like is legitimately bad. To have a movie get nominated where it just doesn't make sense. Because I've seen movies I didn't like. Yeah, sure.

Because they were boring or they were. But I get why they're not. Like there's a part of me that's like this performance or. Or, you know, it's just, it's shot in a way. It's just, it's the type of movie that you would, and this was not that. Yeah. It's tough. Speaking of parodies of Amelia Perez, did you see about the Mexican parody of it?

Why do I feel like you told me something about this? I don't know that I did. So, Amelia Perez is about the Mexican, uh, drug cartels and that kind of thing, kind of. And I don't even think it was shot in Mexico City. I think they shot somewhere else for Mexico City and did the classic thing of like, Mexico, we put a yellow filter, it all looks dusty and that kind of thing. And the filmmaker is a French guy.

The star, Carlos Oviagascone, is Spanish, I believe. Soie Saldaña is like Dominican American. I think there is just like most of the cast is not Mexican, basically. And so they're like, isn't, and isn't Mexico such a scary hellhole is basically kind of like the thrust of the movie? And so a Mexican filmmaker whose name I am forgetting now did a parody version called Joanne Sacrebleu? Yeah, you did tell me this. Okay. It was, and it was just all like...

They're all wearing black and white, like, striped shirts and berets, and they're all carrying around baguettes and that kind of thing. Funny. Just the way the Oscars works, right? Like, it's not like the Hart Trophy, where we all vote, and then they're like, here's the finalist, but we already know who the winner is. Like, there's an actual second round of voting based on the nominations. Am I correct? So, like... Correct.

Yeah. So the fact that everybody, like, the nominations came out and everybody was like, well, but this movie sucks. Like, means that it's probably not going to win a bunch of stuff. Is that? Please tell me that's. Yeah. It looks like maybe Zoe Sal Danya might win. She won the SAG Award, which is often a pretty good predictor because actors make up the largest piece of the voting block for the Oscars.

So that's often a good predictor, which is why everybody thinks Chalemay's got it locked up now. So Saldanya's maybe going to win for best supporting. And maybe it'll win like best song or something like that, but otherwise this for a lot of reasons, this movie is kind of dead in the water. Candidacy wise, which is good because it's bad. Next up here,

have I'm still here, the Brazilian picture, which was the last one I saw. It only kind of got released in theaters wide, like in the last couple of weeks here. I made a point to go see it at the, I think one of the two days that showed it, my preferred theater. So I'm still here. Your thoughts? Good. Does a great job of being what it intended to be. what it intended to be was not really my type of movie necessarily.

I don't like, like modern history dramas are not really high on my list most of the time. But this was a perfectly professional and well done stab at that genre. I really liked it. I was kind of, the way it was being talked about early, I was just kind of like, yeah, I get it. This doesn't necessarily sound like it's for me, blah, blah, blah. And then I watched and I was like, oh, yeah, this is fucking incredible. Fernando Torres is so good in the lead role here.

I thought the kids were all really good. I really, really liked this one a lot. This was, again, just kind of right up my alley. I was a big fan. It just kept waiting for Joaquin Phoenix to show up, and it just never happened. Yeah. Confused. Yep.

And, you know, with the Bob Dylan movie, I'm not there. Which is a, I already all of. got I'm still here, the Joaquin Phoenix movie directed by Casey Affleck, and I'm not there, the Bob Dylan movie. Oh, God, who directed that? Anyway, a bunch of people played Bob Dylan and that. And I already got those mixed up. So adding a new Bob Dylan movie and another movie called I'm Still Here into the mix.

It actually clarified which ones were which, if that makes sense. So I give a salute to both a complete unknown and I'm still here for helping me sort that out. Boys is up next. This was good. I like that. Yeah, really good. I like that one better of the, again, the sort of modern history type, type deals. I thought this was, this was the better of those two, certainly for me.

Did you like the everything is shot from POV? How'd that work for you? I think, I mean, that must have been so difficult to pull off, especially Ramele Ross, a first time feature films, or, well, not, feature film narrative film director. He's a documentarian initially. Yeah, I mean, it's a, I almost said a cool gimmick, which would be, that makes it sound. It's kind of a game.

I get what you're saying, though, yeah. Yeah. But, yeah, no, it's, it's effective. And yet, like, I also sort of early in the movie, I was like, am I going to just be aware of this the whole time? Yeah, you are. But not in a way that, like, distraught. Not to the point where I'm like, okay, I get it. Like, it's, it's, yeah, no, I.

I thought that that was an interesting approach. Yep, I agree. The substance. Watch this one after you explained it to me. A wife and I made a Saturday night out of watching this. What a date movie, you know? Wow. Yeah, that was something.

Yep. Glad I watched it. Yeah, I don't know. I'm going to be returning to it, but it is a good time in the theater. Did you watch it in like a full theater? Like was there? No, I, I, is this like a crowd reaction type of movie?

I wonder. I'm sure it is. I see my movies at like 2 p.m. on a Wednesday. So I, to me, I don't, I don't get in the mix on all that stuff, you know?

It's very rare that like, and even like if I do go to the, I'm never at like a 7 p.m. Like Friday showing. anymore. I just remember you saying to me that like the ending is wild. The ending is fucking crazy. Well, I went in going wild ending, here we go. And then the ending happened. And I was like, I was not prepared for that at all.

No. Big shout out of Laisa Sue. We love her. Yeah. One of our most celebrated actors. And finally, Wicked Part 1. Yeah. Obviously saw this. I have teenagers. I'm not a big musical guy. Nor I. It was fine.

I enjoyed it well enough. As a parent, there are times where you end up watching a movie that you don't want to watch and you're like, this sucks. I hate it. And there's times where you go, you know what, I can handle this. I can handle it. That's as good as I'll go on it. The two main performances are undeniably great. And I think it looks like dog shit.

And I don't like most of the songs. And the supporting performances are bad. But other than that, you know, I don't feel like I wasted my time, we'll say. All right. There you go. But that's as far as I can get you on that one. I didn't like it very much. And that's it.

Those are the 10. There you go. You can go in the Discord or anywhere else and let me know which ones you think I actually saw. How about this? We will reveal at the end of the mailbag. over on the Patreon, which we're about to head to, Patreon.com slash puck soup for all kinds of bonus episodes. We will reveal at the end of the mailbag which ones Sean has seen. Right on.

It's a good way of doing business. Hey, you got any other plugs? I've switched out of Four Nations mode into trade deadline mode, so I'll have a big piece coming tomorrow and something else on Friday. I'm not sure what, but tomorrow is my annual. attempt to convince every team that they should make an aggressive move one way or another. All 32 teams should do something big. I agree. Will any of them?

No. No. For reasons we already covered. But check that out. And I'll be back with Sean and Frankie tomorrow on the Athletic Hockey Show podcast. Great. And then for me, elite prospects, also all my Four Nation stuff is done. I did a good amount of writing about that.

I had a good time going and hanging with my buddy cam and all that kind of stuff at the game. But it's all NHL and college stuff for the next little while here. The college hockey playoffs are starting this weekend in some conferences. So, you know, you can expect more college coverage for me in the weeks ahead. So that's it. And like I said, patreon.com slash puck soup. and check all that out. And thank you for listening to this podcast.

And we'll see you over on the mailbag in a minute. And Sean is going to reveal that the only movie he's seen is the Brutelists. That's right. And I watched it six times. Who could blame you? It's a A plus time at the theater. All right. Thanks, everybody.

Have a good one. Bye bye.