Shaun Newman Podcast - Ep. #170 - Wade Redden 2.0

Episode Date: May 5, 2021

Wade hops on for his 2nd go around discussing his career. We talk about the Ottawa years, the run to the cup, signing with the Rangers & some of his toughest years.   Let me know what you think Text me 587-217-8500

Hi, this is Brandon Holby. Hey, this is Tanner, the Bulldozer Bozer. Hi, this is Brian Burke from Toronto, Ontario. This is Daryl Sutterin. Hello, everyone. I'm Carlyagro from SportsNet Central. This is Jay On Right. This is Quick Dick, quick, tick coming to you from Tough Moose, Saskatchew. Hey, everybody, my name is Theo Fleary.

This is Kelly Rudy. This is Corey Krause. This is Wade Redden. This is Jordan Tutu. My name is Jim Patterson. Hey, it's Ron McLean, Hockeynet in Canada, and Rogers' hometown hockey, and welcome to the Sean Newman podcast. Welcome to the podcast, folks.

Happy Wednesday, hump day. Hope everybody's having a great day. We've got a cool one coming up. It's been a while since Wade was back on the podcast, so it was cool to catch up with him and hear all things are going and, you know, go through part of his career. But before we get to that, let's get to today's episode sponsors, Jim Spenrath and the team over at Three Trees,

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Now, let's get on to that T-Barr-1 tale of the tape. Originally from Hillman, Saskatchewan, he was drafted second overall in the 1995 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. He played 1,023 games in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and the St. Louis Blues. And while playing for Team Canada, he captured a gold medal at the 2004 World Cup of hockey. I'm talking about Wade Redden.

So buckle up. Here we go. This is Wade Redden. Welcome to the Sean Newman podcast. Welcome to the Sean Newman podcast. Today I'm joined by Mr. Wade Redden. So thanks for hopping back on. Yeah.

It's a pleasure, Sean. It's good to see your face again. Well, it's, you know, I went back through. I listened to him earlier today. episode 41 which seems like a lifetime ago and then last August when we came rolling through I think it was like 108 that road trip rated in the middle of the start of COVID I don't know I don't know you know I don't know what BC's like right now I know I wouldn't be getting across it that's what it sounds like anyways well yeah that was a was that in yeah whatever it was last year you're coming through and I think we've probably had it better here than most places I feel like and maybe the people in Vancouver will tell you different, but it seems like the Okinaw, you know, things have been going on. The hockey with the girls, like all minor hockey was still going.

There wasn't games and stuff, but we're able to skate all year. And, you know, so kids' events and sports have kind of been going for the most part. Restaurants now have closed down, but patios are open. Weather's been, you know, back to springtime. So I feel like we've had it better here than a lot of places. So, yeah, no complaining on the COVID front. Hopefully we're down the stretch drive here and get to the summer and we can kind of get back and do things again.

But back to normal. Yeah, all in all, you know, we're making the best and probably have it better than a lot of places. Yeah, well, the news coming out of BC, I mean, sitting over here on Alberta, but I mean pretty much Saskatchewan, you know, like all you hear about Alberta is we're the biggest hot spot in Canada right now. and BC's locking down the border,

not letting anybody travel without their, you know, different health zones. And it's just, you know, Ontario's locked down. There's marches in Montreal and Vancouver. There was a rodeo go on in,

and in, Bowden, Alberta yesterday, like, or this weekend. Like, it's, uh, it's getting a little bit interesting,

shall we say. Yeah, well, for sure. People are tired of it, for one. So they had a full-on rodeo, so that would have been breaking the rules. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Well, do you know what? I mean, I don't know. I kind of, you don't want to be insensitive and what's going on, but there's got to become a point. And I guess people are getting vaccinated. I got a shot lined up for Wednesday.

And I know, well, my brother back home, he's got one. So that kind of genre, our era of guys are getting it. So at some point, I guess we're going to have to. get on with life too. Like there's going to be other things that are going to probably, you know, as far as the pandemic itself, I don't think it's ever going to go away.

There's always going to be a virus out there somewhere. And hopefully we can get through it and get on with life because we're going to have to face it eventually. So I don't know if the now is better or get a few more vaccinations in their arms and then just get on with it. And I think a lot of us out, West are looking forward to when we when we just get to get on with life and carry on. Let's talk. Let's talk about something, you know, like it's been one thing after another.

It's been Trump. It's been riots. You know, last time when I was down with when I sat with you and Corey, you know, it was COVID and it was kind of like new and everybody was kind of like, I don't know what's kind of going on, but that's when all the pro sports teams were, we're not playing games because of Black Lives Matter. And it's just been one thing after another. And I think people are just like, can we just talk about the NHL playoffs and that's it? I know. Oh, man, you can get down a rabbit hole pretty quick. I mean, it's hard to even watch the news anymore, to be honest.

And as you mentioned, Trump's name, it's like, I haven't heard that in a long time either. I mean, it seems like that's kind of in my world anyways, I guess if you want to look for that stuff, you can always find stuff like that. But since he's been out of office, you know, that's one topic that's. It's been way less circulated. So that's a good thing. You kind of get tired of hearing all the same things all the time for sure. But yeah, I find it a little more peaceful, a little more, not that you want to have a,

have your head in the sand, but if you can kind of keep yourself to your own little world and take care of the things around you, why do we, I mean, it just kind of bogs you down when you're dealing with everyone else's issues all over the world. when you put the news on, it's kind of depressing to put that on all the time. Well, the problem I think now, Wade, is the devices, right? Like, they just, it doesn't matter what platform you're on, right? It's just always there. I've taken to turning off all notifications.

Lots of times I'll just put it up in the cupboard now and just, ah, I don't need to get pulled in at night. I just want to hang out and have a laugh, you know, or hang out with the wife and kids. and so I've been trying really hard to steer away from a lot of it because stress is a guy out. Oh, I know. Yeah, you can, yeah, that dictates a lot of your mood and how you see things. And yeah, if you can eliminate some of the negativity, yeah, yeah, I think a person's way better off. Now, I went back to episode 41 and I listened to it. And I was chuckling because I was two weeks into having our third kid.

And so I was curious, you know, and we're almost two years past since we sat down and did that. How are your kids doing? You got the three girls. I'm assuming they are keeping you on your toes. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Everyone's doing great. I mean, like I said, they're sporting the older two now. So I got, well, a 10 and an 8 year old and then just turned 5 year old. So the other two will be 9 and 11 this year. But yeah, the older ones were into hockey. So I've been on the ice quite a bit with them and helping out and that all went quite well considering everything that that we're dealing with. So they're liking that. They're doing some, you've got them in some golf program, a little golf program.

We've had a little bubble of friends that we've kind of chummed around with through all this, like school buddies of theirs and friends of ours. So, you know, they were in a few different programs together. So at least, you know, we've been seeing some people and having some connectivity, I guess. you could say with different instead of just sitting home alone. So that's worked out really well, having a little bubble like that. The kids are, yeah, they're happy. They drive you nuts a lot of times, but loving the death all the time too.

So, oh, life's good. Yeah, a lot of fun, the great age. They're, yeah, little people now, like with school and they're starting to learn, you know, learn what life is, you know, trying to teach them all those little things, like with school, how to kind of, they have little homework assignments and they're doing little things and trying to get them, build some independence in them. So a lot of fun times, that's for sure with them. One of the other things I got to ask about is when we talked about you going to the Super Bowl,

did you end up going to that Super Bowl? Yeah. Because that would have been like right before. That was a last trip, yeah. Yeah. That was Kansas City and San Francisco. Yes. Yeah.

And was it all the hype? That was a great trip. It was in Miami, so going down there and enjoying three, four days was an awesome trip. Kind of the last big trip, I guess we did. I think we might have gone out because that would have been at first week of February. And then actually we had one more trip after that because Chris Phillips were out for his jersey retirement. But that was in Ottawa kind of a few weeks later. But the Super Bowl, yeah, that was a check that out of the bucket list.

It was an awesome, really good game. We ended up, you know, not real, I guess being a Seattle Seahawk fan, I wasn't going to cheer for the 49ers. So the chiefs, we kind of all got geared up with the chief stuff on. And actually, funny story, we were with some friends from Colonna, we went. And then they had some friends that were from Winnipeg, met us there. The one guy, he had an extra ticket. So we ended up selling this ticket to an longtime Kansas City fan who was from Kansas City.

they ended up. And it's kind of out of downtown. So we ended up getting on the bus. And this guy came with us. And this guy was like in tears. His first time was lifetime that the Kansas City team had ever won the Super Bowl. So it was kind of cool to experience it with him who has just lived and died of the cheese for, you know, his whole life basically.

And that's crazy how the, you know, football is so huge down there. And just to be around that game and the hype around it, actually speaking to Trump again, we ended up getting we're in one of the box suites and that's kind of like a communal box so there's whatever 50 people and you kind of there's a bar in that but then there's a private box right beside us and donald junior was in there and the trump boys were in attendance to the game and you look around i mean all the people that they go to the game they show all the celebrities that are there so it's kind of cool to see but in the hallway there's like a full secret service presence because the president's sons were right there. So it was kind of, yeah, it was really cool experience. And the game was

great game too. It's, uh, it was interesting, you know, good finish to it. I don't know if anyone remembers it. It's a while ago now, but a good finish, Kansas City came back and with a big win and it was cool. So the conversation we were having on around that was whether you would take that over the Stanley Cup finals. So would you take the Super Bowl now that you've been there over a Stanley Cup finals? As a spectator, as a spectator. As a spectator. I mean, it's a one game deal, right? So it's kind of all the hype and all the buildup. So yeah, it's kind of a, I guess you compare it to a game seven probably.

I'd probably be more into going to a hockey game at the end of the day. But, yeah, it would have to be a one game winner take all, game seven. It's hard to beat that. Now, you brought up Chris Phillips and his retiring of his jersey. And I, you know, it was funny. we talked for quite some time the first episode. And then the second one with Corey, we just kind of talked about general stuff.

But I told everybody, because they were all over me, because I never brought up any of your days in Ottawa. We never even talked about it. And so I'm like, well, you just mentioned Chris Phillips. It's a nice tie-in because you spent a good majority

of your career playing for the senators, your best days going to the Stanley Cup finals. Everything was playing in Ottawa. Heck, everywhere I go on Hillmond, everything's Ottawa, right? So when you get traded to Ottawa, I know you'd mentioned like, yeah, that was, we were excited and, and whatever. But when you actually got there, what was your young guy? And Ottawa was by no means an amazing team at that point in time. But there was a groupia that stayed there and played

and became a core of that team. Looking back, like, I don't know, what, what comes to mind about the Ottawa senators. Well, yeah, those were, those were my best years by, by far. I mean, and I remember getting traded there. I was actually, got drafted by the Islanders and went to the training camp. And then, uh,

I remember, you know, I was 18. I wasn't ready to play in the NHL at that point. I knew that. They wanted to sign me and play me. And I was so ready to get out of Long Island. Like, I don't know, just that Mike Milbury was a coach. you know, he was, he was a pretty, you know, in-your-face guy. So I was, and I just knew I wanted to get back to junior.

I had such a great time back in Brandon. And so I knew there was a good year waiting for me there. But then when I got traded, I was up at Prince George at the All-Star game for the WHL. And I get traded to kind of hear it through the radio. Someone comes to me and says, oh, you got traded, which is great. And then I ended up after the game, All-Star game, 18 years old. So all the older guys are going to the bar and drinking, right, and having a few beers. We kind of have a freedom to do that.

And the young guys couldn't get in. So we went to this other place and we got a beer and it's a rough town in Prince George. So sure enough, there's like six or seven of us kind of went on our own and went to this other little hole in the wall. And I think the locals didn't like the looks of us. So we kind of scattered out of there and had our beer in our pocket walking down Main Street. and we pull our beer out and start drinking, and then the cops pull up, and they kind of give us crap about that.

But this is the day I got traded, and then they ended up getting, like, they were upset, we had it, and he kind of threw me in the back of the car, and he's like, ended up dropping me to my coach, who was the coach of the All-Star game. And anyways, that was my trade day.

That's how it all went down when I first became a senator. Here I got picked up by the cops because I had an open beer bottle outside because we were trying to save our lives and we didn't want the local PG lumberjacks taking liberties on us. Anyways, but long story, yeah, kind of got off track there.

But get back to Ottawa and then the fact that I went there at that time, they just had a new GM was Pierre Goethe, Jacques Martin came in his coach. And that was kind of a turning point of that organization because I think they moved into the new rink right around that time too. so it was a whole transition. I come into the, you know, in September, come into the team and there's like,

there ends up being like 12 new players on the team. They add like, well, Sean McKeckering, Sean Van Allen, Jason York, you know, just to name a few. Lance Pitlick was my first D partner. So a lot of guys that really came in and were kind of middle of their careers and just getting another chance. And then they already had Alfredson was there. and Bonk and Yashin and Degg, who kind of, they all kind of filtered through.

But then they drafted Phillips, Marion Haas, and Martin Havlett. So there was kind of the turning point was, you know, right around that time when they brought in a new GM. And yeah, that first year we made the playoffs. We made the playoffs every year. I was there. And, yeah, really built something special there. Still look back in those days.

and yeah, a lot of great memories. You know, and I'm a diehard oil fan. I don't cheer for any other team or very rarely. But the Ottawa senators for your time there held a special place in all the Helmand's heart because, I mean, we all watched and cheered. And it was cool to know somebody like, well, just that well and playing as well as you were on a team that was, you know, in Canada. I don't know if that helped it along or what, but being in a Canadian market.

sure seemed like we could catch a lot of your games, I guess, right? Like you're always on TV, so it was easy to, like, tune in. I went down a YouTube rabbit hole last night, like, rewatching some of the series when you were playing against Toronto, and then, of course, the Stanley Cup run. And, man, just hearing the fans again was, like, really enjoyable, which is an odd thing to say, here we are a year into the pandemic, you know, the hockey's being played, and slowly fans are kind of going in. but like to watch you guys in the Stanley Cup finals against well actually all the way in there

it didn't matter which series and you hear uh Harry Neil and Bob Cole going at it and the roar of the the crowd it made my hair stand on my arms because I remember sitting there and watching all of that oh god well yeah it's uh whether it's a Stanley Cup final just any time in the playoffs. I was talking about this recently, too, about the moments before a game when you, you know, just the anticipation and the excitement level, you play all year, you get to the playoffs. And then it's such a huge rush of adrenaline and emotion. And just before the games, you're getting ready. You can never sleep on a game day, especially at the start of playoffs. You're so jacked up. That's why all the first rounds always so much fun to watch because everyone's so jazzed up.

But the thing I remember, and the fans really, it's what, you know, that's really what brings the emotion, a lot of them, but just the excitement and the noise, skating around the rink before the game even started, the lights are off, you come out, the music's blaring, there's a light show going on, the fans would go nuts. Like, we had a, you know, kind of a first experience, especially in Ottawa, that was the first kind of taste of playoff hockey they ever had. everyone was so excited about it and makes my hair stand in my arms too because skating around the ice getting ready for those games, there's no better feeling. In Ottawa specifically, you were there for essentially, is it 11 or 12 seasons? Yeah, well, it's kind of. It was 96 to 2008.

Yeah, I guess minus one because of the lockout. Because a lockout, right. So whatever, 12 years. And like the way your guys' team went was like you were the underdog squeaking the playoffs, but fun to watch, lose some heartbreakers, then run into like, I don't know, I'm jumping over some things here, but then run into the Toronto Maple Leafs when they were that core of veteran teams can't get by them. And all of a sudden you have this like Cinderella run almost to the Stanley Cup finals.

and it just felt like you guys have really earned it. And there was that core group of guys that have been through a lot of it. Like you guys were a good team that year. Oh, yeah. Well, I think when you kind of look at the progression, we make the playoffs that first year, losing seven in overtime game seven. The next year we win a playoff round against New Jersey. We're the underdog.

And then we started doing better in the regular season. We were kind of the top seed going in. and we had a few stumbles. We lost the Buffalo beat us. I think they swept us. We were like the second seed there, the seventh. And same thing with Toronto. I forget who had home ice and those ones,

but they beat us three times. But I think it was, yeah, we got a little taste. We got to 2002, I think. We won around 2003 probably was our year, to be honest, when we won the President's Trophy. We had Charra, Phillips on the back end. They had me and Carl Rukunuch were partners. He was a really good player.

Volchenkov was a rookie with Curtis Decision. And we had Hosa Bonk and Arvetson. We had Alfie was there, obviously. But yeah, I don't know. That was the year. We lost in seven games to Jersey that year. The old met a lake boy, Jeff Freezing, got the winner with like a minute and a half left in game seven. And so that was a heartbreaking year.

That was, we kind of had, you know, we had some, took some steps. And then we had some, yeah, really tough losses. But still, those teams, I mean, I still, they're still, what a great group of guys. I've had the chance. Actually, Paddy Lalim was a goalie. And he was lights out for us. Like, he was one of the best goalies in the, in the, in the, in the, NHL for those seasons. he had a tough finish when he ended up leaving because he had a bad last game.

But he was one of the top goalies. We had such a good group of guys and a tight bond of good people. And I even think about it always the thing I remember most too. And probably one of the keys actually going back to one of the turning points when we were stumbling and they got some success in the playoffs was when Mike Fisher and Chris Neal came on board, two kind of tough, rough, tough guys that brought an element. that we probably lacked in the playoffs up until that point. So such a good group of guys, like I said. And yeah, I think we all grew together.

We all have such a tight bond together. Whenever we get together, it's, you know, there is that tight knit feeling. You need character guys and Chris Neal. I mean, you talk to Ottawa fans. I don't know, even around here, right? Like, everybody loved watching. He bled everything was on his shoulder every night.

Like he was he was fun to watch. Oh, yeah. He's fun for us to watch too because he is such an emotional guy. Like he's one of the toughest guys. I've never seen him hardly get stitches in his face and he fought how many times. But oh, he'd always, but there's a guy and I love bringing it up an example of him. Like even when I worked with Nashville and you talk about trying to tell these young guys what it takes to get to the next level. he came into, you know, a tough guy.

He got drafted in the fifth round or something. So a good junior player. But he was always the first guy at the rink, probably the last guy to leave, every drill. First guy in line, like, worked the hardest, was never, never took a day off. Like he was just worked himself. And he did that and played over a thousand games.

And he played that same style, never back down from anybody. Like, he was just a tough. tough character and I always yeah I always loved him he was he was a great guy and stood up for everybody like I know if even me like not that you know I fought a few my own battles but he was always right at your side if you ever there's something going on he was not backing down from anything so he was a great teammate that way can you teach that be first at the rink lastly or is that just a person's like because there's just certain guys that are if you told them that they're like oh yeah that makes complete sense they'll go do it but there's certain guys

you tell them that and they're like oh yeah sure and oh yeah whatever do it no it's definitely something inside of him an inner drive that um you know whatever whatever propelled him to you know to be the way he is i mean he's that that's a personality thing i think in a lot of he's just such a competitive guy and proud guy too, right? So he's always, I think that's just bred into him. That's just the way he is. I mean, yeah, you can tell someone that's all you want, but they got to live it, they got to be that.

I guess you can over time. It's all about habits, but I think that came pretty natural to him. How about Big Z? You know, like, I think we talked a little bit about him, But, I mean, there's a guy that's just like, I assume he's just going to one day just fall apart, right? But at the same time, he's a giant. Yeah. Yeah.

And he just keeps going. Well, he came into our team. So, yeah, another, I mean, he came right at the same time probably as Fisher Neal. So obviously another toughness element and intensity and kind of no nonsense guy. it. But he worked his bag off. Like he was such a hardworking guy too that, and it's paying dividends now for him, like let alone the fact his, his, uh, built, his makeup as a, you know, just naturally kind of gifted that way.

Obviously he's six, nine and 44 years old like, 44 years old. But just like he was, I think he even, he's logged every workout. he's had since like the mid-1990s. He knows he's so dialed into what he puts in his body, what he does for training. And he's been that way all along. And it's impressive that he's able to sustain all that. Like he's just, that's the way he's built, right? He's a workhorse. And and when you look in his eyes, like I think that's that fire in his eyes. Obviously, being the biggest and strongest guy helps you kind of get through all that. But he's worked his way to be where he is.

And he did. And he was, yeah, he was a big piece of those teams for sure. So he was a big loss when he was gone. But, yeah, I think we all learned a lot from him. Because he even came to our team as a, no one really knew what he was. He was a big guy and stuff. But then all of a sudden, some of the stuff he was doing, he became a player, right? Like he was dangling guys, going around guys, the blue line.

Like his shot was always so hard. but he just worked himself, got his legs to where he can move really well and was strong and quick and big and strong and a big reach on him. So, yeah, he made himself into a Hall of Fame guy. You've been watching much of the NHL this year? Yeah, I've been watching a little bit. What do you think of Darnel Nurse? I think he, yeah, he's a very explosive player.

I think he's so big and strong can skate he's. Yeah, I think he's a top top D-Men. I mean, part of me feels like he, you know, there's some elements lacking. He may, you know, he can get away with a lot of stuff because he is such a good athlete. But, no, he's big, tough and stands up to guys. I've been really good. I've been eating my lunch on them because we had a, I can't remember if it was a roundtable or I had a podcast a while back, Wade, and he scored like five goals and whatever.

And everybody was talking about him for Norris Trophy. And I was kind of like, have you seen his five goals? Like that is the biggest puck luck I've ever seen, whatever. I remember that stretch. And then, and now, but he's up to 15. I mean, he's found the net. I'm not sitting here saying he's point where game D man, but 15 goals by a defenseman in the show, you're doing something, right?

Oh, yeah. Well, he's got the abilities for sure. I think sometimes his decision making is gets him in trouble, but he's definitely got the tools. I mean, he can move. He can shoot. He can big and strong. He gets around the ice really well. Who is? When you were playing, there was always times in my career where there would be a defenseman on the opposing team and you'd be like, man, that guy can really go or whatever, big. tough doesn't matter uh i was once again i was watching the highlights of you guys playing anaheim and reminded me how good uh scott natermeyer was like he was just that his ability to get into the offensive zone in the rush and beat everybody back before even in a quick transition i'm i still remember watching that as a young guy and being like that's like really impressive because most defensemen if you're that aggressive you get caught at least once or twice a game and that's all everybody stares at.

And there's Scott Neidemeyer doing it and doing it so well. You're like, wow. But I don't know. Was Scott Neidemeyer that guy or was there different demon, you know, through your career that just were like, man, I don't know, that guy's pretty talented. Well, when you look at the list kind of, yeah, obviously, Niedermeyer. And I always in Jersey too playing in that system,

I think there was times where they'd win a game and he'd some of his old teammates that I, chat, you know, we'd always chat or whatever. But he'd come in and he wouldn't, his shirt wouldn't be ready, he'd have a few little wet spots under his arm, like hardly sweat and probably played 25 minutes, but just so effortless. And like you said, he could pick his spot, Suzy. I remember one time in a game, we were up to one against Jersey and late in the game. And they dumped the puck in.

And I went back to retrieve it. I knew they were changing. So I was like, oh, well, okay, took a look. nobody coming. Get the puck turn up and Scott Niedemar is right in my face. I'm like, what the hell is he doing? And then got the puck. I turned it over and they,

their change had come and they scored a tie it up. And like, just a smart player to know he probably looked at me and like, saw me check. And then when I turned my head again, then he was on the race and right in my face. But just little plays like that, but I don't know,

just such an effortless player to make all the smart plays and make it look easy, but so effective. And I had the chance to play with them too on a, I guess the World Cup team was the one time. I ended up getting hurt. I think I was playing with them too. And within a second game, I went down. But kind of watched that tournament.

And then he was the captain of the Olympics in 2010. And like not a big guy, not a super strong guy, but I don't know, just could get around and knew where to be. And always, yeah, always a big. fan of him. You know, like just read the game so well. And that's that's something that, you know, we talk about showing up the rink being first and last. That might be something you can't teach. The way he read the game, I don't think many people can see it that way. You know, when you say, you look and turn your head, there's very few people that would read that as an opportunity.

All right, I can, like, it's a defenseman catching a defenseman. Yeah. Oh, I know. It was still, then they end up getting a lucky goal right after that too. So then we lose the game three. too and it's all because of that that play and i always remember that like i don't know he came out of nowhere somehow it was right in my face um but yeah even i'm sure he did that more than once all i can think of his dad dad always watches the nchl right and even in when i was playing in finland when one team goes for a change everybody goes for a change and the defenseman just kind of sits there and you know whatever and dad always watch it goes like what do you what are they doing like you could just like pick apart a team especially late in the game because everybody kind of gets

relaxed and we've been doing it all game long and he's like one of these times they just got to pick that apart and go in and score and that's all i can think of when needemeyer does that that's dad's probably going well yeah serves them right yeah yeah exactly when they least expected right so well he won at every level and yeah the guy like him he's yeah he just knew i guess Broder in the net too doesn't hurt Stevens but yeah he was a huge part he was actually when I got drafted in 95 so I was one of the top prospects

and that's when Don Cherry he'd always bring those guys so I went to game two it was Jersey against Detroit so I went to Detroit for game two that series and that's the goal that he scored he was a rookie that year I believe if not second year but anyways he scored

that goal where he rushed down and shot it. He went off the end boards. Then he won the races and kind of tapped it in the empty net because he just kind of got his own rebound off the backboards. But yeah, he's, he's, he was good. He would have been 19, 20 years old then. And he's been a, he was a star every champion that year and three or four more cups under his belt.

Did you hate playing against like New Jersey played that. Oh man. that defensive give up six shots in a game like did you just. We played that same way. That's how we always played. That's how kind of everyone, because of them, because of 95, the way they played, then everyone adopted that style, kind of play the trap. Did you enjoy that?

Or did you, did you, well, you enjoy winning. I get that. And when it works, obviously you're like, well, it's working. Well, let's stick to it. But I mean, at the same time, It's like holding all your horses constantly on the reins. Just, nope, we're not going. Guess match.

We always called it, right? Like, you never go out of position. You're always like just strategically. So yeah, actually, so that's the way we played a lot of the time. Jacques Martin was our coach and that's, that was our system. And I think when after the lockout, Brian Murray came in and he kind of let us run more. He kind of opened it up. We had, well, Spezah.

Lee Alpherson were aligned. We had, well, Fisher was a guy, Chris, you know, we had some talented guys. And yeah, we ended up scoring lots of goals. And I think, obviously, it's more fun to play that way. When I watch

the game now, too, and the philosophy's changed so much from those days that I see guys, like, when we were playing back with Jacques, if you turned a puck over in the neutral zone, like at the blue line, if it didn't get back behind the D, if then it came back like everyone was waiting for a turnover so to turn it over like teams were ready to pounce all the time that was kind of how the lot of teams generated the offense was just like

wait for a mistake and then you pounce so anyone that turned a puck over they just get ripped so bad or some guys wouldn't get back on the ice and now i see guys playing they're encouraged to make plays like now i think whatever the numbers dictate like they have all the possession values and stuff like that and zone entries. So I think now they're encouraged to try to make a play. So if you turn it over, that's fine. If you're 50% of getting it in, 50% out, it works out better still to be trying to make those plays

where the philosophy before was never turn it over. Don't make any risky plays. And so it'd be a lot more fun to play now for sure, just because a little more freedom to make mistakes. Make mistakes, yeah. So it's, yeah, and you see the talent level of guys. Obviously, I don't think guys can do back then what they're doing now and guys that just the games evolved into what it is, I guess.

Well, I was listening to Gretzky talk on a different podcast. And he was talking about how the players today are more talented than his generation. And he goes, and they should be. Like, and the people 20 years from now will probably be more talented than this generation. But it is like, as an Euler fan to watch what makes. McDavid and Drysettle are doing right now. And I know the Oilers aren't the top of the north or anything, but they're won two in points in the league.

McDavid now has 87 points in 49 games. And I don't know, Wade, like, have you ever seen anything like that? Like, I loved, well, I still love Crosby, right? And how he tore up the league. And there's been guys who tore up the league. But like the other night against Calgary, there's three Calgary flames around him. and he just puts it bar down so quick the goal he doesn't even move i'm like hey i can't imagine being a defenseman against that you're like what am i got to do here no it is it's amazing yeah

i agree i was going to bring up crosbie too and he didn't have that same he's not that dominance like when you watch macdavit go and how he can just control it and how fast he is and what he can do like and yeah it seems like he's just whatever how old he is is he 24th yet or 24, I don't know, but he seems like he's still on the upslide. I mean, he's still getting better than what I can see. So it's scary. That's pretty awesome to watch. He's 24 years old.

24, yeah. I know. So you got to think, yeah, the Oilers, yeah, you got to think something real good is going to happen. Well, but when when we were talking, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's, always fun when I have somebody on multiple times because I get to go back and like, here we talked about the first time. And so, you know, I'm already brought up kids and where we were at and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, Tippett and Holland had just been hired.

And so we talk about that, right? And you think in two years, what does Tippett and Holland done? Well, you can argue that they've done some smart things. They got lucky on either they're lucky or genius on Mike Smith because there's a guy who's 39. Me and the brother's gotten a huge argument about it because Dustin just thought it was the worst signing ever and there was a lot of people who thought that. Well, nobody's thinking that right now. Like there's a 39 year old who's absolutely, well, one of the best goalies in the league right now.

Three year almost, yeah. Actually, Mike Smith's a neighbor. He's a Kelowna guy. Well, his family's still out here. So I got to know him. And so that's an even extra incentive for me watching. I'm always been an oil fan too. But it's awesome to see him having the year he's having.

And funny story about him, being Lloyd Minster, being a big fastball area, or was back in the day, but I was bragging to him about my Midwest Spurs days as saying, oh, yeah, I played a lot of fastball. And we went nationals. Then he goes, he went too. He was a catcher. He grew up in Kingston, and he was a big fastball player too. And I think at that point, at 1617, he kind of had to make the decision because he's either going to go. play for the national team fastball or obviously he chose to go to play junior and made a much

smarter choice it made a much smarter choice but it's funny to hear tippet even talk about it because he said it a few times in the interviews how mike smith's been the best athlete he's ever coached and uh so yeah it's uh it's great he's doing what he's doing he's uh he's a he's a big unit too big guy great shape and kind of kept himself prime condition and it's paying off for him. Well, he just, I don't know, he's making him believe we got all of us because like you, you watch them play and like, it's cool. The Tippett says that and you wonder, what does that even mean, right? Like, is that just temperament?

Is that his ability to rise to the occasion? What is it? Whatever the heck it is, just keep winning hockey games. Let's get through a round or two here. and let's get a little deep in and see if we can't make a run here. I know. Well, it's funny, yeah, because even watching their team, because he got hurt kind of right at the start and was out.

And then they didn't do that well. But yeah, then you watch just his energy. You know, he's a veteran guy, obviously. And that team was lacking something. And I think he really provided a little bit of life in there. And you watch him in the net and just his excitement, his mannerisms, the way he competes. I don't know.

I feel like that really added a lot to their team because they're, it seemed like they're kind of in a shell early in the season. They're, you know, just going through the motions a bit where a guy like him who's been around so long and at the end of his run, like you need a little, like you want to win,

you got to lay it all out there. And I feel like that's really what he's doing. And I feel like I think guys have really, you know, jumped on board with that. So it's, it's fun. watch the Oilers, man. I'm excited too. I hope they have a good long run. Now I got a sad to say, but I got to cheer for the Leafs a bit too now because big Nick Felino's over there and he's family, he's cousins with my wife. So sad to say, but I want to see them do something too.

I tell you what? What do you thought? It would be fun to watch. What do you think of the North Division? That's been cool, man. It's been good to watch these teams. You don't really hear much about anything else, right? I mean, especially up here, but yeah, I don't know. I guess it's always hard to say where they're going to match up. But this is a question for you. I don't even know after they get out of their own division, they'd play against the West or who.

I don't know how they end up doing that come third round. Yeah, I was trying to Google everything on it because I was curious about that too. I assume they're going to play the other West Division. but somebody's yelling at the radio right now because they've probably listened to Bob Stoffer for the last eight months straight know exactly who they're going to play Wade but all I know is one Canadian team's going to be in the Western Conference final right and yeah yeah I think the Oilers have as get a shot as anyone and I mean if you were on a team and you had the top two scores in the league when you go yeah I think we got a shot

Like we got a shot. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. You get those guys going. I mean, yeah, that's what you need is one big goal here or there. You know what I mean? Like a game break or those guys are the best at it right now.

So I was going to say, I was going to say too, you know, you're going back to Mike Smith, maybe changing the atmosphere in the dressing room, you as a player who would have had, you know, the young guys are fun. but to have an old wily vet in there there's something to be said about that like you saw what they did with crosbie bringing all those guys to surround them you's heck in Toronto with all their young guys right now they got joe thornton and a guy you played with in spetsa i mean geez you wouldn't like it seems like a weird thing to call spetsa like this huge long vet but i mean geez he's been in the n h a long time now and now they got felino and they got all these guys who got some years and those guys are fun to have in

the locker room i can remember being a young guy and coming into locker rooms with the old wild event. And as a young guy, you just, you kind of look up to those. Totally. I think that's a huge, a huge element. And I think that maybe gets overlooked too much,

trying to fill spots with young guys, maybe a little faster, a little, whatever, more skill. But yeah, there comes a time, like even Wayne Simmons,

I think. Oh, Wayne Simmons is another one, yeah. Oh, like when it comes down to it, yeah, you want to go to, war with some of those guys that have been around and had that experience.

Yeah, it's, it's chemistry too and a lot of it. Like those guys bring, they kind of, the young guy and the old guy, they can help each other out, right, a little more energy for the old guy, a little more patience or, you know, a little more poise, I guess you could say maybe a little more confidence when you get in those tough situations for a guy that's been around and done it before. so. I love that. I think, you know, looking at the Oilers and even with James Neal, I think he's going to be an element for him. Like, he's, you know, when push comes to shove and you're battling and it's a grind in the trenches, there's a guy that's a big strong guy that I think can score a few

big goals for him. So I think those guys always come up big. Chris Kunitz was a guy that always kind of rose to the occasion those days in Pittsburgh, Matt Cullen, like I'm just trying to think of guys that even my time in Ottawa, like Curtis's decision, he was just a tough stay-at-home guy, but just that presence and the calmness that these guys bring, I think it radiates through the team. And I think winning teams have that element for sure. Do you miss playing when this time of year comes around? I know this time of year is a little different than most years, but with playoffs right around the corner, do you miss playing? No, 100%, especially while I'm thinking back to Ottawa too, right?

A long winter, you battle all year. You get to playoffs, the sun's shining. You got a t-shirt and going to the rink, the window's down, music's going, and spring in the air. Like, it's the best time of year. And you're going to the games, and it's game every other day, right? So it's game rest, game rest. And you get in that routine, it's just like a,

You just lay it on the line, re-energize. Lay it on the line, re-energize. And when you get on a run and there was those few years where we had a few good runs that you're playing for a month and a half, two months. And it's a lot of fun. On the way back from work today, I was listening and you and Corey got talking about different music.

And you talked about Don Williams. And I'm like, I don't know who Don Williams is. Why don't know what? what they're talking about. I'm like, well, this is an interesting, I don't know how that pumped you up, but that's, Oh, I know. Calm me down, man. It's the calm before the storm.

Well, Brayden Holpey talks about listening to lots of stuff to calm him down because he doesn't want to be too excitable before a game, right? Or a lot of us, well, I don't know. I love getting amp before a game. I want to be foaming at the mouth, so to speak. Yeah, but not at 4.30 when games at 7. I don't know. That's one thing I found when I think of going back to playoffs

and just the anxiety of waiting for the game to come, like anything you can kind of calm your nerves and just relax a bit. Like that was probably the hardest thing. I'd always do a crossword puzzle. You know, after lunch I'd have a crossword. I read a book. Like just those little things to kind of get your mind settled

because you sit there thinking about the game. from noon till seven you're going to be exhausted already but uh that's that's the big challenge too is yeah that energy level to once the puck drops you got to you got to be ready oh man just talking about it is getting me excited for the playoffs you know i haven't been i got to be honest like all season long that kind of been like just i i want to go i want to go back to a game i want to hear the fans again in the game like it's kind of been like but now talk about i'm like oh but the playoffs are coming and the first round no matter if there's fans in the building or not is always awesome. Oh, it will be.

It always is. And it is, there is something missing. A lot missing with no fans there, I believe. But yeah, they did it last year. And yeah, the guys, once you get in the rhythm of it, yeah, they're going to, they're going to be balls out, balls to the wall. You want to know a funny prediction you made on our last, on our four, on episode 41? What is it?

Dallas would be in the finals and Tampa Bay would be in the finals. You did slide in there and maybe Vegas, and I kind of chuckled, but I'm like, heck, that's pretty good. That's pretty good. Now, by the time me, you and Corey sat down, you'd already changed it, and you had Philly and Philly in Vegas. Oh, God, I was thinking there. Well, it's funny when, it's a little scary when you got things on record.

And I think of Kelly McCriman Kind of a side story, but I better tell the truth when I'm talking to you a year and a half ago and now Because you can go back and make a liar out of me pretty quick And I'd forget even what I said, but that's what When Kelly McCriman's advice from his dad, when he started becoming a GM, These kids, you better, when they ask you a question, You better tell them the same thing because they'll ask you again next year

And you better have the same answer. So, but yeah, The reason I said Dallas, while I was down in my last go with Nashville, they were playing Dallas in the playoffs, and they just pummeled the Predators that series. It wasn't even close. So I feel like there's still kind of a team to be wrecking with. I don't know if they're going to sneak in.

Say again, it's been gone all year, who's a great player. But, yeah, they got a good team. So we'll see now who's going to make it this year. They're kind of back and forth with Nashville to kind of squeeze in. that fourth hole. Let's just hope a Canadian team can do, can roll with it. It'd be fun to have a Canadian team go to the finals again. I agree.

Yeah. I agree. It's weird to be Canadian, but you got all these teams that you normally wouldn't pull for and there, you know, there's certain teams you will never pull for. Like, Calgary being in the finals, if it wasn't for Jerome McGinla, like, I wouldn't even turn the TV on because I'm just like, oh, this is painful. Yeah. And it's funny to have those thoughts as a hockey fan.

But normally, if it's pretty much any other team in Canada, like it's a lot of fun for it to be a Canadian team. There's a buzz across Canada when it's a Canadian team in the finals. Yeah. Yeah, and there was a stretch there when, excuse me, when, well, I guess Calgary made it in the finals in 2004, then. Eminton and then us and then Vancouver made it. Yeah.

So yeah, that was, yeah, it makes it more interesting. As a fan, I say the same thing being a candidate. Like, yeah, there's a little more association with the, it's funny how, yeah, how you just be a little more connected with it for sure. What did you think, you know, you spent the 12 years in Ottawa. How hard was it weighed to leave to sign a deal and go to the Rangers? Like, was that a really, I assume it was a really tough choice? but like, you know, or was it just like, nope, it was, it was the end of an era and I was happy to move on.

Yeah, well, it kind of, I don't know, my time in Ottawa wasn't a great end to it. I don't know. They were making different decisions as far as which way they wanted to go. So I wasn't really in their plans and I was kind of feeling that. Well, bring me back to it. You say it didn't end that while. I'm trying to remember now. What happened at the end that kind of ushered you out?

Well, I guess it came down to Char and I. Well, it didn't really, but it kind of was perceived that way, that Charer ended up leaving to Boston. He signed a big deal with Boston in 06, I guess. And then I stayed on and they traded Housa, brought Heatley in. It was kind of me, Hosa and Charer were kind of up at the same time. and I think muckler kind of made a proposition because the cap was pretty low and he wanted to keep all three of us and didn't nothing really came of it. I ended up signing another two-year deal out of it.

Those guys both left. Hosa got traded. He'd be able to come in. And I think from that point on, muckler got canned. Brian Murray stepped in. And I think his view was, I wasn't kind of in the plans. I feel like from that time on. And there's, you could feel it.

I don't know, I could, Mama had just passed away too. I wasn't myself and I think they were ready to move on for me. And I could feel that. I don't know, everything kind of went downhill. That last year, we came out of the gates. We made it to the final that first year. The char was gone.

And then the next year we were like the top team in the first two months. We like lost one or two games. And then we just hit the skids. they rode Alfredson and Heatley and Spezz that we just rode them like you know

too hard and I think they burned out once they kind of fizzled out there were some injuries they we started losing we ended up stumbling into the playoffs and got swept by Pittsburgh that year but there was some moments where there's some trade talked

and and you know I was kind of yeah I could feel the end coming so then when free agency come that was kind of World Win 2 and yeah it was tough leaving Ottawa man I was yeah I had such a great run there and had a lot of great friends and

kind of knew the time was over and yeah and I'm going to New York and that kind of you know that whole experience was what it was but yeah it was tough leaving I was never really the same player after after leaving Ottawa so

it is what it is I kind of learned a lot and it was It's got to be. I was getting old too, so that's another factor. It's got to be, I don't know if difficult or hard or what the word is, but put your blood, sweat and tears into a team and then have the trade talk and all the, I'm sure the media and everything else.

Now that you're reminding me of the Charter talk, I do remember that. But to be the guy caught in the middle of all that, and all you want to do is play some hockey and stay in your town, like that's tough. Yeah. Yeah, and looking back, I could have handled it probably better. I don't know. I'm kind of a quiet guy and I probably kept everything in too much and that probably bogged me down too.

I had a lot going on emotionally and, you know, with life and with hockey and everything going on. So I think looking back at, you know, you deal with things the best you can at the time and you learn from it. So yeah, it was a tough, tough finish to my time in Ottawa and I wish it would have gone better and everything. thing, but, you know, that's, that's the way it went. And I'm obviously very grateful for the, all the great times I did have there, because it was, there was a lot of good ones. Yeah, well, it was cool to see a suit up in the, in the, in the, in the blue. I mean, for an original sixth club and, and all the history the Rangers have, but, um, I don't know, you know, um, Tortarella was the guy there, uh, as you know. Yeah. Um, and you see, you know, in Columbus,

I assume he's, you know, like from his time with the Rangers, like he's had the instance where he's down in the tunnel in Calgary and every reporter yelling at, and he's just, he's a character. I can't imagine him playing for him. I assume that was, uh,

interesting, shall we say. And, uh, there's a, there's definitely a shelf life on him. But here he is still in the NHL coach from which I think surprises a lot of people. Yeah.

And not me actually. I actually, I enjoyed a lot of what he brought. And he went to bat for me quite a bit. It was a tumultuous time for me. Like New York, I think I was a little naive going in there. Here I signed this big contract. And I don't know. There's a certain expectation, a style of play.

Like in New York, it's like, I don't think they like the, how do I say this? kind of the flashier players, I guess you could say. So here I'm playing. I'm going to go play my game and play the way I always have. But being on a big contract, one, I wasn't as good as I should have been probably. And I take a lot of the, you know, the shoulder, a lot of that. But then, you know, and then it just started spiraled down in the way the media reacted there and the way the fans were reacting. Like, it was, it was really tough on me to go in there. And what were the fans doing? Oh, they booed me. I'd go on the ice and they always have one or two guys every year.

That's just the way that that market is. They have the one reporter writes about negative stuff about certain players and then the fans read it and then they booed. So that kind of didn't help my chances of kind of working through it, getting booed in your own rink. That was awful. Like I didn't not like that one obviously. So then not really being a place to kind of work my way out of it.

It was, yeah, they kind of saw that. And that's obviously ended up going down to the miners and kind of figuring things out from there. But it was, yeah, it was kind of a tough, tough going in the, in the Rangers for sure. And our team was good. Like we had a really, you know, you know, good group of guys. Well, that first, that first year. That first year you go to the Rangers, you got guys like Scotty Gomez, Chris Jury, Marcus Nasland, Brandon Dabitsky, Callahan, Roosevelt, like.

Mark Stahl, Dan Gerardy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right? Just starting out those guys, yeah. And I mean, the next year you're there, you got like Gabbrick and Vinnie Prosple and Delzado. And I mean, once again, Sean Avery, maybe that one doesn't rank up on the top of your list. well there's see he's a guy that they loved him in new york too oh i guarantee it like just he's just a showman too and like just the stuff you'd do and say like he people love that obviously that's not my style whatsoever so um but no he and lunkwist was the

no the well longquist yeah he was the goalie and um so yeah they had a and then they and then they geez they had a few good runs after that um with that same kind of core guy that were getting their their feet wet when I was there. So it was, yeah, it didn't go well there, end of the day. Was it, was it a, like, was it a blessing then to get sent down the H.L? As weird as that is to say. It was, actually. Yeah, my, just the way my, couldn't get out of the rut, you know, and it was,

it was such a big hole. And I think even going back to my style, play, like, I remember when I signed there, I was on the phone and my dad's and doing an interview with the media and stuff at the time. And they're saying, oh, we got the replacement to Brian Leach here. That was their comment. And I was like, well, it's not really, that's what you're expecting. And then so I kind of got in my own head. And it, you know, just if I could go back and do a few things different, I think I'd have a

much better experience and things would have been better. I didn't, you know, do things, you know, the way, you know, maybe it should have, didn't work out. You learned from it. You still, yeah, Wade, you could sit there and go and pick apart those couple of years. But, I mean, you had a hell of a fucking career, part of the French. Like, you had a career, man. No, and I feel good about it. Yeah, I'm not sitting here losing any sleepover.

It still bugs me a bit. I'm not going to lie. like there's some of that, but you learn from it, right? So I went down to Hartford and actually had a great experience there. And the organization, I think they always, like I always always,

you know, as a good guy, I worked hard as, you know, wasn't anything to do with that. It was just, you know, kind of got going down the wrong. Just couldn't get out of the funk kind of thing. And so then they moved on and, you know, I go to the minors and had a few good years there.

Like they played me lots. I was able to kind of get back, enjoy the game again, and just play. And then that whole time in the miners, too, I was sitting at 994 games. So here are six games from 1,000 and never known if you're ever going to get that chance. So what was it like then to be bought out and St. Louis come along and get that opportunity? Yeah. well that was uh yeah it was awesome opportunity to you know to be free of that and to get another chance and then i think really what capped off my career was going to boston getting traded there

and um reconnected with chara chris kelly who was a great teammate of mine in ottawa was in boston and it seemed like and look at that team now they're still those same guys it's just that culture and walking into that room was was pretty special to kind of be a part of that and then have a chance to play with those guys and milan luciz now with the the flames is a big part and yeah so all these guys welcomed me in there right away and um even though i played i think i played six six regular season games and five playoff games i still felt like i was a big part of that team and felt like i got along you know was a just a part of that group so it was it was uh got hurt in the playoffs they ended up going to that's when tory kroog emerged himself as a

player and he stepped in when i got hurt and then um he's been playing ever since obviously still going strong but uh it was fun to be around and yeah i thought that was going to get my my ring at that point we were against chicago in the final and and uh didn't get her done but got another another another taste there. Well, I just, I just walk through your career and having the two years and, you know, in the A going like, yeah, it's a nice, you know, break to find yourself, get out of the rut, whatever. But then to be sitting at 994 going, why are we going to get there? Like, you know, like, by the time I get out of this contract, I'm going to be hooped. And then, you know, the lockout happens.

and, you know, things come to pass. They buy you out. Also in your St. Louis Blue. Then you're with the Boston Bruins and going to, like, just how quickly things can change. You know, Don Cherry when he was on, that is a weird sentence to say still. But when he was on, I know when it's in his documentary too, but he talked about being broke, you know, basically has nothing down on his knees praying. and three years later he's coaching Bobby Orr going to, you know, like, and just how quickly things can change.

Yeah. And like, you didn't win the cup, but you came dang close again. And I mean, you got your thousands game. Like, I think, you know, for our community out here, like, that was pretty cool to watch. Like, that was, that was really cool to watch. Like, to see, you know, the, I don't know, what is it, the silver stick? Yeah. Yeah.

Well, and that's, yeah, things can change so quickly, right? And I guess I could go back to lessons learned from that same area. I always, I don't know, you just keep going, man, like, put your nose down and nothing's going to be given. I don't know, there's a certain element that I'm proud of, obviously, from my upbringing and where I'm from. and I think that served me very well in my career too. So that's, you know, you learn and you live. And yeah, it's all, I've been very fortunate at the end of the day. And ups and downs, you take them as they come.

And that's just what it's all about. So, yeah, I've been lucky at the end of the day, man. Wouldn't change it. You know, that's where I am now. I'm happy today and take it. Did you see Ryan Miller against the LA Kings the other night? I've seen them. So was that his last game or just the last game against the Kings probably?

Probably last game against Kings, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that's pretty cool. Yeah. I don't know in your career if you got to experience anything like that, Wade. But I thought that was, that's what's cool about hockey. And that's probably cool about a lot of different sports.

But for me and you, I get that. I really get that when they're, you know, the big guys of the L.A. Kings make sure their entire team go over and congratulate them on one hell of a career. And I'd actually, I'd actually read a guy talking about if Crosby doesn't score the big goal in 2010, you know, he would have been a hero of the United States because they came that close to beating Canada, right? And instead Crosby scores and it's the golden goal and everything goes on. But like, Ryan Miller, you know, when you think back on it, he's, He's had one heck of a career and for teams to kind of give them the respect. That's pretty cool to watch as a fan. Yeah, no, he's earned it for sure. Yeah, I'd have to look at his numbers. But yeah, he's been around a long time. And those years in Buffalo where they were, well, they made it to the East Final there a couple times.

And we're right there knocking on the door. And he was kind of just starting his career then. So he was, yeah, probably one of the best goals he's ever to come from USA. like when you look at his numbers probably say the same thing but it's a long time to be playing that's 16 17 years or whatever it is 15 at least but yeah pretty cool and uh guys respect obviously yeah he did all that and you got to kind of tip your cap so it was kind of cool to see the the kings acknowledge him that way well i won't hold you too much longer well let's do the crude master your final five here to five quick questions and then I'll get on with your day and heath a shout

out here yeah well you got to give a shout out to heath and Tracy for support and everything we do on the podcast they even with this bike to toughenel wade uh crude master donated 25 grand to it so uh awesome holy smokes yeah they're they're uh huge community supporters and i can't speak highly enough about heath and tracy so no no awesome now i didn't that you know i say that i to every guy who comes on, it's the, or girl, the first question I always asked, but I didn't ask it to you, which I found surprising. If you could sit down with one person like I'm doing and pick their brain, who would you take? God. Who would I take?

I always was a fan of Muhammad Ali. I don't know. His kind of viewpoint on life seemed pretty interesting and what he experienced. kind of would be quite entertaining to sit down with him. Yeah, we were just talking about this last night about Muhammad Ali actually in particular,

about imagine, you know, with all the turmoil in society right now. And I'm not making, well, I actually, it doesn't matter, it's a worldwide thing. When was the last time society was like this tumultuous? And Vietnam War came up. And then we started talking about, you know, Muhammad Ali.

I'm not going over there, right? They're not my enemy and all that. And you can just imagine he would have been, oh, just amazing to sit and talk to. Well, it was Rahm McLean who got to interview him in Calgary. And I was like, oh, my God, what was that like? He's like, honestly, I honestly can't remember. I'm like, how do you forget Muhammad Ali? Well, yeah, I've seen obviously lots of different things.

Like there's so much about them on TV and whatever movies go out there. but it just seemed like his viewpoints, like they just hold up to this time. Like he just seemed like a, you know, obviously outspoken guy, but for his view on life, I don't know, I just kind of a lot of it resonated with me,

how, you know, just the way you treat people, the way, yeah, he just seemed like a real interesting guy. I would agree. I think he would have been a fantastic interview. Oh, yeah. Character.

If tomorrow an NHL team said, hey, we need a sixth defenseman to come suited up for the NHL playoffs. Who do you think you'd want to go suit up with? Well, who would I want to go suit up with? Well, I don't know. I guess all this Euler talk and going back to my early childhood days, why not go with them, play with McDavid? but he'd probably save me and give him the puck.

I imagine I can make a few passes. I could still do that much. And if I could get the puck to him, I'd be in make myself look pretty good. And you wouldn't have to worry about trying to slow him down and stop him, Wade. No, just beat him a few feet in front of him and he'll chase her down. And then, yeah, my buddy Mike Smith back in the net, he'd take care of me back there. So I'd kind of have all my angles covered, I think.

Wade Redden and then Emmington Oiler. I think a lot of us around here for a long time, we're hoping for that. Yeah. That would have been cool. I mentioned your cup favorites last time we talked was Dallas and Tampa. Who you got coming out of the west and east this year? Who do you think?

I'm going to say Vegas this year. I don't know. How is that even working? I guess we'll see. I think the top teams are going to be Vegas and Tampa. You think Vegas and Tampa? Yeah. Yeah.

Colorado, if it's not Vegas. it's Colorado, but I like Vegas. I don't know. I've been saying that, so I've got to stick with them. Well, Vegas, I mean, ever since the expansion draft, man, they did that right, right? I mean, and they just seem to, like, they're a fun team to watch. When I go back to, I don't cheer from any other teams other than the Oilers, it's hard to root against Vegas because they're fun to watch.

I know. And they don't have, obviously no one as a McDavid, but even like with Mark Stone, probably their best player and he's not a I hate to downplay him because I think he's one of the best player in the league but he's I don't know he's just a solid all-around player with a lot of obviously skill but they're so deep I feel like they just right through their lineup all their D like they added petrangelo this year I think

is uh you know still in his prime and goal tending solid there so I'm kind of picking them You mentioned earlier that on game days, you would do crosswords, read a book, anything to kind of just bring yourself down and not get so hyped up. You still reading? And if so, what's a book of choice lately? Yeah, I've actually, I like reading books, kind of historic, well, fictional, historic ones. So kind of some stuff that right now the one I'm on it, so Wilbur Smith is the author. Okay.

And so it's kind of war time or it's kind of 1600s, 16,700, some sailors down the English Navy and the Dutch Army are kind of at war. Anyways, I like those historical ones where obviously it's a fictional novel, but it's a lot of it's based off some of the historic things that happened. Another really good author that I've read a bunch of this stuff is Cona Golden. and he's written a bunch of stuff on Genghis Khan and Julius Caesar kind of trilogies of then a bunch of old English, you know, whatever, 14,500 kind of era stuff. So that kind of stuff I like reading. I have Wilbur Smith River God sitting in my console of my truck right now. That's the one I'm reading.

Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Jay gave it. And is it good? Oh yeah. Yeah, I've been enjoying it. I like reading a bit at nighttime and, you know,

again, just kind of, ease kind of relax a bit. And so I like doing that before bed. Final one. When things do decide to open up and you can go to, you said, Super Bowl,

to a Jersey retirement to whatever. Where are you going to take the family? Where do you want to go? Oh, there's You know what? I want to get to Europe. I'd like to go there. We went there three years ago now, I guess, almost.

And speaking of some of the history in the world, I've always, I've never made it to like northern France, D-Day, kind of Normandy, those areas. I think once our kids are a little older, I'll probably do something like that. But there's so much, you know, you know, Europe's so much fun to go check out all the history and stuff. Last time we were there, we were in London for a bit and went to Paris.

So I'd like to check out, well, I mean, there's Italy, France. Well, there's just so much history there. There's so much there. Like, I don't know. So call it south of France. I've heard so many good things about that place too. Well, if we could get there one day, that'd be awesome. Dad is really going to like this because that's where he tells us all of us kids where he's

retiring is a villa in the south of France. So he might just meet you there, Wade. We'll call him Stefan. Well, thanks for cutting on a little bit of time for me. It's been, it's always awesome to catch up with you, Wade. Oh, likewise, Sean, great to catch up with you again. That was fun. Time flies by, BSing with you. That's right. It just seems to fly on by, doesn't it? Yeah, I know. It was good. Awesome. Yeah, thanks again. All right, man. You bet. Hey, folks. Thanks for joining us. today. If you just stumbled on the show, please click subscribe. Then, scroll to the bottom, and rate

and leave a review. I promise, it helps. Remember, every Monday and Wednesday, we will have a new guest sitting down to share their story. The Sean Newman podcast is available for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you get your podcast fix. Until next time. Hey, Keeners.

Thanks for tuning in. I hope you enjoyed Mr. Wade. It's always cool. Catch him back up with the guy from my hometown. I got to remind you, though, it is Mother's Day on Sunday. So make sure you find something to do, whether it's your wife or your mom, the ladies of our world, I'm sure we can all agree, do a lot for us, and we wouldn't be here without

them. So make sure you show them some love on Sunday. And I got a bonus episode coming up here, I believe, on Friday, but I'll keep you posted on that. I'm going to have a little bit of a Mother's Day special and try and, you know, show some love to a couple of the mothers here in town. So be on the lookout for that, but we'll catch up to you here in a couple days, all right? Now, if you're the champ, feed up off the desk, buddy, time to go to work. All right? Talk to you guys soon.