The Athletic Hockey Show - Drew Doughty's desire to win. NHL Trade deadline less than 2 weeks out, Flyers goalie struggles with goalie carousel heating up

Episode Date: March 31, 2021

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty joins The Athletic Hockey Show: Two Man Advantage to discuss his bounce back season, his drive to win and playing in a COVID-19 world.Plus, Scott and Pierre look ahead to the April 12th NHL trade deadline. The Seattle Kraken are set to play a role in this years deadline, goaltending could play a factor, especially in Colorado, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The guys talk about the great season in Florida for the Panthers, despite losing Aaron Ekblad to season ending injury and who might join Joel Quenneville as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.Finally, the guys take your questions on the next Sabres head coach, the Avalanche's team toughness and what the status is on Alex Ovechkin's contract negotiations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey everybody, Scott Burnside back for another edition. Oh, two-man advantage, the athletic hockey show, Pierre LeBron. I'm so excited. I'm barely, I know you stand up now for these, but I'm sitting down, but I'm sort of levitating and going up and down. It's so much fun today. We're going to talk to Drew Dowdy of the L.A. Kings. I cannot wait to catch up with the two-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist.

So that's going to be a ton of fun. We're going to take some questions as we always do. I like the questions section now. And we don't even have to take a personal hygiene question from our friends anymore. There's lots of other stuff to deal with. And, of course, the league is full of news. It's like we're less than two weeks away from the trade deadline. How are you feeling?

How's your, this is a stressful time for you because you're never off the clock, my friend. Yeah, but it is so different this year, though. I mean, I hope that fans have a lowered expectation is all I'm going to say. I mean, teams are trying. We are going to have trades. But if the volume isn't half of what we had a year ago, then I'll be shocked. Yeah. No, I think that's very true.

But you know what it is in some ways? And I think fans really do understand it. I mean, maybe I'm naive. But I think fans understand it. It doesn't stop you from, and we'll get into all of this. But if you're a fan of the Flyers, okay, what? what is Chuck Fletcher going to do? If you're a fan of the Bruins, if you're a fan of the Leafs.

But I do think people do understand that the circumstances are so different this year. But it still makes, it still doesn't blunt the, not anxiety, but the excitement of thinking about what could happen. Right. So I think we're there. Like you must be, like when you're talking to people, like I think GM's executive, scouts, they're still doing things. It's not like they're going, well, we got no money and caps flat, so let's not do anything. Like, people are still beating the, beating the drum, right, beating the bushes. Yeah, just as much as ever. It's just more difficult to find a match

is what's happening. And, you know, I wrote this piece today on Wednesday that got published about on top of everything else, the impact that the Seattle Cracken are having on the trade deadline. And I know it's confusing for some people that, because obviously they can't actually make trades yet but they are allowed if ron francis the gm feels like it they are allowed to start committing verbally you know word of honor yep uh to what the compensation would need to be to stay off certain players in the expansion draft and the reason that's coming up now of course is that there are teams looking to make certain trades that want to know it doesn't screw them for the expansion draft essentially right like if you're acquired

hiring a top four defenseman, for example, but you only want to protect three in a 731 protection list, you're phoning Ron Francis to feel them out on it. Right. And that's exactly what's been happening in a number of different cases, according to people around the league that I talked to this week. So Ron Francis's phone has been buzzing a bit here. Well, the deadline, which is interesting. Yeah. Well, and to me, that's one of the great things about this trade deadline. when you look at the Seattle expansion draft on the horizon, if you're a GM, you know, like, I mean, historically, if you're a GM and you can acquire, we saw this with Julian Breeze while a year ago, if you can acquire a player or two with term, like a Blake Coleman, like what? That's, that's just smart hockey, right? Like, if you can do that, because now you get them for two playoff runs and if they don't fit right away, all those kinds of things. But to your point, if you acquire a player with term, now you have to look at. You at your protected list and the expansion draft and go, well, what happens when I bring that player?

I thought your example of Mattias Ackholm was outstanding because part of the reason you want Mattias Ackholm and part of the reason that he might be one of the only players that you would give up a first round pick to acquire at the deadline and assorted other assets is that he has another year left on his deal. But if you acquire him and then end up losing another, you know, sort of NHL roster defensemen. Well, your fourth defenseman, I guess. Exactly. Yes.

Then what is, what is that not counterintuitive? So, um, so let me ask you this, knowing that this is, these conversations are being had, do you think we're going to see some Seattle action? And we may not know until, of course, when they pay their $650 million and they're officially officially in the league, but it may take some time. But do you think we're going to see a number of these kinds of deals made in advance of the April 12th trade deadline. Yeah, so my sense is that Ron Francis at least once or twice here over the next week or two, and we'll never know, obviously, it's not, you know,

Ron Francis is as tight-lipped as they come, so it's not going to leak. But my guess is maybe he does commit to a team or two by saying, you know, if you're willing to give me a first-round pick and X, I'll stay off that player, which allows that team to go out and do something tangible for the trade deadline. That's possible. And, you know, he may also just decide that his best leverage is still closer to the expansion draft because of the flat cap environment. That maybe he just keeps all his chips to himself and doesn't commit to anything over the next two weeks. That could be as well. You know, the example I use, and it's not the only one. I mean, I'm sure Vegas had more than one of these, but this is the one that I always come back to because it's probably the sexiest. But we know,

and Jim Rutherford has confirmed this a couple of times to me that Jim Rutherford and George Vee had a understanding on deadline day 2017 four months before the expansion draft that Mark Andre Fleury was going to Vegas with the second round pick. And it was important at the time, I think, for everyone involved to know that. I think it allowed the penguins to do certain things at the deadline that they may not have otherwise done as they went on to win another cup. You know, Vegas was obviously happy to get the second round pick and get a feature Allof Angoli. So it all sort of worked out. But of course, none of that came out on deadline day. Word started to leak out in the weeks leading up to the June expansion draft.

So that's what I mean is that you could have one or two of those over the next couple weeks, but we probably won't know about it. Right. Which is interesting in Seattle. One of the things that I find fascinating about where we are in this craziest of seasons and approaching the trade deadline. And you wrote about it that you wrote about the goalie carousel and what may happen in the offseason, lots of fluidity in terms of where goalies go and what teams are thinking

and planning out, not just as we head to the trade deadline, but obviously before the draft in late July. what Seattle does, you know, vis-a-vis, you know, stocking up on goaltenders, which is one strategy for an expansion team. But every day now, it seems another team is like, uh-oh, what are we going to do about our goaltending in the here and now? And you live in a city where Freddie Anderson has not been on the ice in a long time. And the wording is very vague on when he might return to action. The Pittsburgh Penguins, you know, a team that is, you know, like we had Ron Hextall on last week, I guess, right? The new GM or the penguins are talking about things they might do.

Christian Jari leaves the game the other day with an injury. You've got the Florida Panthers who lose Aaron Eckblad for the rest of the season. Such a critical piece for him, does that force them or put them in a position where they might move a goaltender like Restreger, who's been unbelievable, but is a pending U.S.A. To me, the whole goaltending market is wacky now. Do you feel that, or is it just me? Yeah, I mean, that's sort of why I wanted to write about it Monday because I think that we are going to see a couple of goalie moves. I think, you know, the majority of course will be in the offseason.

But, you know, you know, Jamie McClellan from TSN, my colleague, you know, and former NHL goalie coach, former NHL goalie, he's adamant, and I'm with him, that Colorado needs to act. For sure, yeah. That they've got a team that can win the cup, but they're one groin injury away to Philip Grubauer, hopefully never, but they're one growing injury away to Philip Brubauer from what exactly.

With Pavel Frankus, you know, seemingly, if not gone for the year, certainly gone for quite, you know, a lot of uncertainty involving a situation. So I'm with them on that. That's the action team for me on this whole goalie thing, is what is Colorado going to do? Because I think they need, you know, listen, they just lived it in the bubble last summer after Grubauer and Frank Goose were gone.

Yeah. And derail their playoff chances. So I implore Josaki to go out and get insurance and goal. I really, and, you know, as I suggested that I'm not the only one, I've talked to a couple people around the league. I mean, he might be able to do more than just insurance for the rest of the year. I mean, what if he stepped up big and tried to get one of the Columbus? goalies. You know, the jackets have been listening since last fall on their goalies,

Corpusallow and Merzleikins. What that would do for the abs is that, you know, Grubauer is UFA after the year. So you're not only giving your insult insurance for a cup run here, but maybe even some leverage come the offseason because those Columbus goalies are signed through next year. And now, Aaron Portsline covers of blue jackets for us. mentioned this to me because I did not realize this. But Elvis Merz-Likins is expansive draft exempt. Right. Yep. So, you know, I know that Columbus has been listing, you know, for half a year on those goalies, but maybe at this point, do you wait until after the expansion draft if you're Columbus to figure that out? I don't

know. That's an interesting one. Yeah. Well, and to me, one of the, I couldn't agree more on Colorado. I mean, it just, it's a no-brainer, right? And you look, to me, you look back a couple years ago where Vegas did not do this, a similar kind of thing with the, which was to shore up or provide Mark Andre Fleury with some, you know, with some help. And I think he was over-extended, all due respect to Malcolm Suban, who was backing him up. But there was no plan B in Vegas. And they ended up getting knocked out in the first round, an epic playoff series. against San Jose. But yeah, Colorado is right there, but they cannot go into the playoffs with their

goal-tending depth the way it is. But to me, the interesting part is all of this is tempered by the fact that a lot of the obvious choices or obvious options, it's colored now by because of the injury situation around the NHL vis-a-vis goal-tending. You and I both talked about Jonathan Bernier, really terrific year for him. in Detroit playing, you know, behind an emerging young team. So lots of shots, but he's been very good. But he's injured.

Yeah. So my sense is that he will be back before the trade deadline is what I heard this week. Right. But that would be. Bodes well, obviously. Right. But that would be critical, especially if you're talking about a soft tissue core body injury. And he's a guy that has had some durability issues.

So, and you've got two goaltenders in Arizona who, you know, Darcy Kumper at one point was in play. Right, the Bill Armstrong, you know, asked around about our... Kind of. I think he, yeah, kind of. I think he was doing the old, which is smart. I wonder if anyone will lose their minds. Right, yeah, because he had another year left. Right.

And anti-Ranta on an expiring contract, but now he's out and doesn't seem like he's coming back anytime soon. And now it's Aiden Hill sort of carrying the ball there. And that team is still very much in the, you know, in the playoff, hunt in the West Division. So it's a very fluid situation, I guess, is my point in terms of the goaltending and what options there might be out there. Yeah, well, let's pick it up after the break. But we mentioned Bernie. You know, he's a guy that I think is on the Philadelphia Flyers radar if the Flyers decide to seek out goalie help, which I don't think is a sure thing. Because I think it's a delicate in nature to be approaching that.

But I think my understanding is it's certainly a conversation that flyers are having. internally. So let's let's pick up on that after the break. Well, look at you. It was such a pro, right? You're watching the clock. You know we got to go to break. You're teasing our next topic, which is Philadelphia Flyers. You mentioned this in your piece, Rumblings piece that comes out today. Philadelphia just, there's so much strange stuff going on around that team. I mean, honestly, down 3-0 in the third period, came back to win an overtime against Buffalo. But you could tell from the comments after Captain Claude Drew and some of the other play.

Like, they're not very happy about what's going on there. And they're a team that I think a lot of us imagined would be fighting for, you know, one of the top spots in the East Division. And now they're scrambling to try and stay in the playoff hunt. And Chuck Fletcher has some real decisions. And I thought, let me ask you what you thought of the decision to by Elen Vignon and presumably with management's blessing to give Carter Hart a bit of a break. that work on his practice stuff, work with Kim Dillabaw,

the goaltending coach there, try and just reset himself because it's been really hard for him. But the Flyers are in tight and they have given up a ton of goals. So you mentioned the potential for goaltending help, but to me there's a lot at play with the Flyers who earlier I think look to be a,

you know, could they add a top four defenseman to, you know, maybe push them back into contender status. But I don't even know if they're a buyer now. You know, I do think they need help on defense, but let's not sugarcoat the real issue here. You know, people keep asking what's wrong with this year's Flyers team. It's not just one thing, but it's certainly led by one thing.

They haven't got saved. I mean, you know, and Carter Hart's a wonderful young man. We've had him on the podcast. But he, as we tape this on Wednesday morning, he is ranked 67th out of 69 goalies in the NHL this season and safe percentage at A69. Is that bad? Well, no, I mean, just, and again, like, I know that the defensive play in front of them hasn't been good either, but they got to get him fixed.

And they will. And I've seen this, you've seen this with young bullies, you know, the back and forth of your career. I think it's smart to give him a bit of time here to do a reset. And the question is, how much of a breakthrough given? Is it just like a week? or is it more? Do you go out and get a goalie as I speculated on insider trading last night?

I mean, I think all these things are interesting questions, you know, for the Flyers to talk about. And, you know, the reason I mentioned Bernier is that I think he's a name that has been tossed around if they do something. But it's not hard to understand why. And Dean Lombardi is still an advisor for the Flyers. Of course, you would know Jonathan Bernie from his LA days. And you mentioned the goalie coach. I believe he has a history with Bernie, if I'm not wrong. That we'll check that.

But, you know, so who knows? I mean, at the end of the day, maybe the Flyers decide, well, two things. One, maybe not do, don't go out and get a goalie because maybe it just aggravates, you know, hearts confidence or whatever, right? I mean, that's the sort of two-sided coin. Or B, we're just not good enough that this team deserves us to go out and do that. So that's, and B might be stronger than A in terms of why you don't go out and get a goalie. But it's certainly interesting at the end of the day that at the very least it's a discussion, I believe, the players are adding internally.

And frankly, as they should be. Yeah. At this point. Yeah. Number two in, well, number two in terms of goals allowed per game. And not in a good way. So the number of goals, they are allowing per game 30th out of 31 teams. And that's, you know, you're right, it just can't happen.

And I got to tell you, and you mentioned Carter Hart being on the podcast, and I spent some time with him. You know that I always have a little bit of Stockholm syndrome. Right. You wrote that big piece. Yeah. So I spent some time with Carter Hart and his family outside of Edmonton before the start of the 1920 season. And just, you know, he's so thoughtful and works so hard. And, you know, he, and you're right.

Like, I mean, people forget, you know, there's a period in Kerry Price's career, right? I mean, at one point he was, you know, Yarl Halak took over as a starter and should they keep him? And how about Jack Campbell's story? Yes. Which really took a lot. I mean, we hope that it's not like that for Card Art because Jack Campbell's journey is pretty exaggerated. But, you know, from first round pick to where the heck is he now to the long sort of rebuilding of his game through LA, right? I mean, and now he's terrific in Toronto.

It's just, it's a great story, but it's an example, again, of goaltending and the mystery of the boy, frankly. Yeah. All right. I mentioned it briefly, but I wanted to circle back. I feel so badly for Aaron Eckblad. And I feel, I feel bad for Joel Quenville and the Florida Panthers, Bill Zito in his first year as GM there.

Because, like, let's be pretty honest, right? Darren Neckblad's, you know, career has not been a straight line from first overall pick and rookie of the year. You know, there were, there have been some bumps along the way after that tremendous first season. And I talked to a bunch of people, and I'm sure you've done the same, who felt that he should have been in the Norris Trophy conversation this year and that he has, was playing his best all around hockey of his career and had really, you know, sort of. For sure.

Yeah, embraced Joel Quenville's, what he brought to the table, the second year. for Joel Quenvo with the Panthers and really had, I think, risen to a challenge to be a leader on that team. And, you know, for him to suffer the fracture to the leg and to be out for the rest of the season, just, you just feel for him. But it also, you know, makes life way more challenging now for Bill Zito approaching the trade deadline because that's a really good Florida team. It's a really good team. And I would argue it's the best team ever in that franchise is history. history, which I know, okay, the bar set pretty low, right? I won a playoff round since 96, but there's lots there to like, and I wonder what you

made. Well, they did, they did have a team go to the Cup final, Scott. Yeah, 96. 96, my friend. That was a long time ago. You're saying this team is the best team in franchise history. I mean, come on. I think those guys in 96 might inveig to it.

You think? But, yeah, I know, it's, I forgot what your question was because you were not for five minutes. You take issue with my comment. I'll put this team up against that team. Now, they haven't won anything. They haven't even been, they haven't got to the playoffs yet. But they're very much in the hunt for first place.

I love their story and, you know, their playoff bound for sure. I don't have them there with Tampa and Carolina. So I think there is a reality check coming at some point with that. But listen, I hope I'm wrong. What a story that would be. But the egg blad injury, I mean, there are two players that really, I think, Florida couldn't lose, maybe three that can't lose.

And that's Barkoff, Eckblad, and Eubrido in that order. And, you know, they have been playing without Barkoff for a while, although it looks like he's on the men, which is nice to hear. But it was terrible to see that injury and then to hear the fallout because Ekblad was playing unbelievable. And, of course, I have always got my Olympic hat on, as you know, I mean, I think that drew a lot of attention from, you know, the team Canada brass for Bige. No question in my mind where Eric Blatt was playing. And that doesn't go away.

Like, he'll be back next year. Yeah. But you wish he could have finished this off. And, you know, it reminds me a bit of Dougie Hamilton's injury last year, right? It's having a breakout year and has, you know, similar injury and just hate seeing it. But for Florida now, A tough thing is, yes, my senses that teams have been burning up Bill Zito's phone line now for 48 hours. But Florida's got to be careful.

They're not there with the elite cup contenders. And I think Bill Zito knows that. Okay? Yeah. So, and he was hired for a reason. He was hired because this is a franchise that, you know, often has lived. in the moment, which I think is the pressure of that franchise in terms of creating a bigger fan base and so many years out of the playoffs.

I think Bill Zito is really dedicated to what the big picture is going to mean in his plan. So you can forget trading a first round pick or a top prospect for a defense. Agreed. Yeah. That's not happening. For sure. But is there a way to do a softer deal to at least get a body in that could help? Right?

I mean, I think that's a possibility. I'm with you. I'm just looking at Florida, 694. I understand what their record shows. I'm looking under the hood. I know you are. Listen, it is a great story. And it's a great story because Bill Zito has done a really nice job in a very short period of time there.

And I really do think they are on their way to really change. changing the culture there and making that team, a team that people could warm to. You know, it's a hard place. It's a hard place. So if you have to give the Jack Adams right now, which is I'm so happy you and I don't vote on the Jack Adams. Yeah. The play-by-play guy, the broadcasters who vote on it. But Joel Quenville is right there, obviously. Yes.

It's always about the team that surprised the most. Correct. But I think Barry Trots, again, he should just be routinely a top three candidate every year. They should just sort of, that should be announced before. before the season starts. So you got Quenville, you got trots. I mean, Rob Bryndamore, does it get overlooked because the hurricanes

were expected to be good? Yeah, that's a fair question. Now, John Cooper, I bet you doesn't even get a vote because there's Stanley Cup champions, so that bores people. But, I mean, it's hard to repeat and look at Tampa. Yeah. Like, I think John Cooper deserves some love.

What about Dean Eveson in Minnesota? Uh-huh. Dean? Yes, big time. So there's, I was going to get to him. Okay. What about Peter Laugelet? Yes.

Big name hire, big money hire, was hired to fix the caps as we taped this sitting in first place in the best division in the league. Yep. He probably won't get a sniff is my guess, right? Because it'll be like, well, well, the caps are supposed to be good. What about Mike Sullivan? Mike Sullivan, yes, in Pittsburgh. I had the penguin's missing the playoffs this year. So I'm showing you what I know. I think he's done a great job. you know, Pete the board won't get any sniff, right? Because Vegas is doing what Vegas is supposed to do, right? It's just how it works, usually, with the voting is what I'm saying. Yeah.

You know, the Jared Vedinar in Colorado, again, it'll be like, well, everyone picked you to win the cup, so we're not going to give you a vote. Sheldon Keith? How about Sheldon Keith in the first place, Maple Leaf? Yeah. Yeah. Paul Maurice, I think, deserves consideration because the Jets, you know, Everyone has revisited history right now.

The Jets were not a popular pick. They were not, yes. I wrote about that, yes. So I like Palmer. Your ballot's going to be about 20 deep now, I see. Well, I don't have a ballot, thank goodness. This is the problem. This is the problem.

What about, I don't know. Who else? I guess that's about it. That's about it. All right, everybody, as promised, you can actually hear me. I clap my hands here. As promised, Drew Dowdy, Los Angeles Kings, defenseman joining us. And Drew, I happen to know because I've done my intel, but you're coming to us from

lovely Las Vegas, Nevada. I've been thinking about this all season because I never leave my house, but what's it like to be in Vegas? You, I mean, you're there all the time, but how different is it to be in Vegas as part of this crazy season? Yeah, I mean, the entire season is different. It sucks kind of you go to all these nice cities like Vegas and you know you want to go out and tour around maybe go out to a nice dinner or even i mean you're not supposed to go to the scene i don't think but sure guys too um but yeah no it sucks you you look at your window you see all these you know nice casinos nice shopping all that kind of stuff and you know you want to go explore it all not that i haven't before but it's just something to do rather than sitting in your hotel room

and for you know where we just finished practice it's already 1 o'clock so we're going to sit in our hotel until we go to bed basically now. So it sucks, but we're just happy we're playing and, you know, keeping the NHL going. Yeah, Drew, I was going to say, like, and the hotel life I've been seeing from different stories and player comments. I mean, you make the best out of it, right? I mean, there's ping pong tables in those big conference rooms. You guys watch games together, video games, and what's that been like?

Yeah, you know what? Our team is completely different than a lot of the rest of the league. We're, like, extremely strict with COVID. like we're not allowed to hang out in the suite together. We're not allowed to play cards on the plane anywhere. We're not allowed to hang out together. So we're not doing any of that stuff. What we've kind of, I mean, I'm one of the older guys in the team now.

I decided to go out and buy a little TV and bring my Xbox on the road. And I'm playing Xbox a whole time with the young guys because we're not allowed to hang out together. So our team's made it very strict and done a great job at, you know, keeping things in check. We've only had, I think, two guys get it this entire time, which I think is pretty good. So yeah, hopefully we can work up to that

because we're really missing, hanging out with each other. Like, there's nothing better than having a few beers and playing cards with the guys. That's one of the best things about playing the NHL. I was talking to some team services, people including Rob Couch, who's a former Atlanta guy and have known Rob a long time. But, like, so much is different where teams,

like, some teams have assigned seating in their meal rooms. And sign seating on the bus and the plane where you're right, there's none of that sort of normal interaction. And I wonder what, you know, maybe what the hardest part or the biggest adjustment, especially as a veteran player where you have to set an example. Like, what's been the hardest part for you? I don't know that I've really had a hardest part. I mean, as a veteran, like you said, you know, you just want to lead by example,

follow all the COVID protocols that we have to the best of your ability, show the young guys, you know, how important it is. And as we spoke about, I know we don't hang out outside of the rink as much. But when you have that time at the rink, obviously we're allowed to be around all each other and talk and stuff like that. So when we're at the rink, we really make the most of it and just kind of, you know, hang out with everyone and we stick around the rink a little longer than we have in the past just because that's our only free time, it seems like.

But, no, as a leader, you just got to continue to, you know, make out of the everyone feel involved. I feel bad for these taxed guys, man. Like, they're, like, going on the ice after us. They're barely with the team. They kind of seem like their own, you know, six, seven-man team, whatever it is. So I feel terrible for them. So when they're coming into the rink, the first thing I'm doing it is trying to talk to those guys

and get their spirits up because they're not playing games and stuff like that. So it's been tough for them, I would say very much. So are you begging Todd McClellan for 90-minute practices so you don't have to go back to the hotel? Oh, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, we're not begging for extra ice time. We're just hanging around the rink and, you know, watching TV or whatever, just hanging in the room. Todd's been really good with ice times this year. You know, he has sharp, quick practice, high tempo, and that's what players appreciate.

You know, no one wants to be out there for an hour, an hour and a half. That just sucks and you get uninterested. So these quick 30-5-minute practices are where it's at. Well, you're the last guy. should be asking for more time on the ice on off days. I'm looking at the updated stats here and leading the entire NHL and ice time for a game at 2634. Not surprising. I mean,

you're always among the league leaders, but that's still a whopping amount in today's game. And you and Thomas Shabbat are up there and Brent Burns. I mean, you know, the great Nick Littstrom once said to me, I asked him about ice time. He just said he learned to manage his ice time.

even in game, like when he's on the ice sometimes. Like, don't, you know, don't make an extra move for no reason. I mean, conserve your energy. Can you do that in today's game? I mean, how do you manage that workload? Yeah, you know, for the most part, I had a huge advantage this season. We had the COVID, and I was able to get in the best shape of my life. So honestly, playing 26 is not hard for me right now, not to be arrogant or anything,

but I just worked really hard and it's easy. And, yeah, you know, at times you don't get, like, tired. So say you play like 10 minutes in the first, you're not going to be tired for the second period. You know, you're able to recover and stuff like that. It's kind of shift by shift that you get tired. If you get stuck out there for a long one, that next first shift is going to be kind of tough.

So I've just learned, you know, I'm not going to go jump in the play after I've made a breakout pass if I'm already been out there for 20, 30 seconds. So that's the number one thing you learned. If you go down, try to create some offense next thing, you know, they get the puck, and then your shift is turned into a minute and a half because they come back down and you're stuck in your own zone.

So, I mean, that, It's pretty simple, pretty easy for people to do. But that's really the only thing I do to try to help manage it is pick my spots on offense. I'm curious, Drew, because you've been playing some with Michael Anderson, and I looked it up today. He is a full decade younger than you are. Now, I'm not saying you're old, but he's really young. He's very young. But I wonder what that has been like for you and maybe what kind of things does Michael Anderson ask you?

And what is that like to have that, you know, that kind of relationship and to be the kind of guy that he must just be trying to soak up every little thing he can from you? And I wonder what that's been like for you to go through that and have that kind of relationship. Yeah, it's been great. I love playing with Mikey. He's a great player, very smart player, good defensively, makes some really nice plays. And he talks on the ice, which is something you don't see in young guys, and that just helps everyone around them. Yeah, I love playing with him. He learns quick.

He listens to everything myself or the coach's got to say, and he takes it in and fixes those things. So he's always willing to learn, always asking me questions. You know, what do you think we should have done here or there? And, you know, I give my input. And sometimes, you know, he's ahead of me, and I'm asking him, you know, what should we do? He's that smart that I trust him that much. And, you know, I was a young guy one time, too,

and I had older guys like Sean O'Donnell and Rob Skadere. you kind of take the under their wing as a partner and, you know, show me the ropes and teach me little things here and there. And I'm just trying to do the same exact thing to Mikey. You know, I've done it with a few guys with, you know, Muzin, McNabb, Forbert, and now I've got Mikey and it's something I, you know, love doing and love building a relationship. But, you know, with this one, I'm hoping it can last a little longer. Those other ones were kind of two-year partnerships.

I would like to try to, you know, have one for five or six years if we could. Well, time does fly, man, because. I remember a 20 or 21-year-old Jude Doudy at the Vancouver Olympics. Oh, my goodness. That was 11 years ago. Where does the time go? Oh, that was that was a... That was fun, man.

You were, obviously outstanding in that tournament as a kid that had surprised many by making it. And then four years later in Sochi as one of the main cogs. And that's it. I haven't been in the Olympics since then, Drew. And, you know, we did our Team Canada pick. last month, I had you on mine. I can't remember if Scott he did or not. It might be a good time to put your feet to the fire now, Scott.

Did you know what you drew up? If you didn't have me on it here, I wasn't doing this interview. I'll tell you that, mine. I had you on mine. And, you know, as always, the Canadian right side of the defense is always the hardest thing. Like, it's weird how our country produces more elite righties and lefties still, which doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason to it. But how much would it mean to you're obviously.

on Team Canada's radar, Doug Armstrong, and that management group have met a bunch of times already. How much would it mean to you to get back on that team for the Olympics next year? I would mean the world. You know, something that, you know, I always not expected, but expect myself to, you know, work as hard as I could to put myself in the conversation.

And obviously I've done that. And now it's just about continuing and working hard to make the team. I think I've done a, had a great season so far. so I've had to done a good job at that, kind of hush the critics and stuff like that. But, you know, I, obviously, when I see you guys predicting things, it bothers me not even having me in your, you know, top ten sometimes,

which I find absolutely ridiculous. But at the same time, you guys have your opinion. You know, sometimes they're right, sometimes they're wrong. But at the end, Doug Armstrong's picking the team, and I know how much he believes in me and how much he's believed in me in the past. And, you know, I believe that things will go well for me here. Okay, just for the record, they don't let me do the Canadian teams, right? I only do the American team.

So I'm just saying, but I did do a shadow Canadian roster. I'm just looking at it right here. Yes, Drew Dowdy is on it. So, okay, I made that out. But I'm curious, Drew, I mean, to me, it seems, and maybe people from the outside, you know, you win two Stanley Cups, you've got two gold medals. But it strikes me that, like, this stuff really still matters to you. And it still pisses you off if people don't, you know, maybe recognize you the way that you feel that you should. And I wonder, has that always been that way or?

Because I think people think, well, why should he care now? But clearly you do care. I think that that's kind of cool. Yeah. I'm a person who cares and everything I kind of do in life, especially hockey. I take a lot of pride in being a good player. I take a lot of pride in leading my team to success. I don't know.

I don't know how people can honestly play the game. People always come out to me like, you won two cups. Why do you care? Why do you want to be talked about in the top? I'm like, what the hell am I playing the game for? I might as well just retire. I want to win. I want to be a Norris candidate every single year.

I want to be a great leader for a team. I want our team to be in the playoffs. I want us to win Stanley Cups. Like that's just, that's all I'm playing for. I'm not playing for anything else. besides those things. I love the game. The game has been great to me.

But yeah, like if I don't play with the competitive edge, I'm not going to be a good hockey player. That's my number one asset as players, my competitiveness. I care a lot. I want to win. I hate losing and anything.

Yeah, so when people tell me, like, why do you care what other people say and all this kind of stuff? I don't know. It kind of bothers me because, to be honest,

I do think I'm undervalued. I know I make tons of money and people have talked about me in the past, but no one sees what I'm doing, And this year and what I've done in the past year, I had down numbers and stuff like that. But I'm still playing great hockey and still an elite player in this league. And when people don't put me up with that thing, it pisses me out.

But, you know, I'm learning to deal with it. I'm not the best of dealing with it. There's no doubt about it. I'm not good at dealing with it. That's all right. You don't have to keep it inside. See, that's good that you can come and chat with us because you don't have to keep it inside. Just let it out.

I was worried after your last tour of the Canadian NHL Rinks last year that you were going to stop. having a filter. So we want you to be yourself too. We don't want you to be reserved. Oh, I know. And I am myself for the most part. But, you know, sometimes the things I say I wish I could have back.

So I'm learning to choose my words more wisely. That's for sure. Yeah. And just one last thing on the Olympics. Yeah. Beijing is going to be on NHL-sized ice, interestingly. And, you know, Sochi, I know it's a long time ago, but you were there. It was on international ice.

it's incredible how different the game is, eh? Like, you know, yeah, Sochi wasn't super exciting compared to Vancouver, but I also think, I actually think your team was more dominant in Sochi, but it's so different. It's more of a low event game,

especially the D, I find you're pinching less, right? I mean, how can you compare the two games? Yeah, Olympic, as a defenseman, Olympic ice is, you know, beneficial when you have the puck, and then it's shit when you don't have the puck

because, like, trying to stop guys on the cycle. Like those corners are so deep. On the power play, they got so much more room. You can't be aggressive. It's extremely hard to defend on Olympic-sized ice, like very, very hard. But like I said, when you do have the puck,

you got so much room. Like, you could go, the elite skaters and elite defensemen. They can go into end, almost every shift in Olympic ice. So there's both benefits and things that aren't great for, but I'm always going to rather play on the NHL-sized ice sheet. I was thinking about you, Drew, a couple weeks ago when an old coach of yours, Darryl Sutter emerged back into the NHL going back into Calgary.

Yeah. Like, I don't know if it's the kind of thing. Like, Daryl doesn't strike me as kind of a, you know, DM email kind of guy, but maybe he is. Do you still, like, do you still keep in touch? Is it the kind of relationship that when he gets that job, you reach out to him? Or what was your thought? I'm extremely happy for Darrell. You know, when Darrell is our coach, I appreciate him a lot.

I thought he's a great coach for us. I thought he pushed me great, but kind of near the end, you know, things get old, like they do like every other coach. And then, you know, you kind of sit back. I've had a couple rough years. And then out of nowhere, this COVID, I decided to rewatch all my shifts from, like, the 2014 Stanley Cup run. And now I was just watching myself play and just thinking about things.

And then out of nowhere, I decided to text Daryl and just tell him, you know, how much I appreciated him and everything he did for me as a coach and everything he did. He was a great man off the guys, too, very personable. And I just told him, you know, I love you. I just can't thank you enough for everything you've done. And, you know, I wish we could go back to those cup days. And, you know, I don't talk to him a lot, but I sent him that text in that moment and he sent me one back. Just so, yeah, I mean, I'm not emailing or texting with him all the time. I'll never forget Darrell and I'll always love Darryl and I'll always learn what he did for us.

I'm curious, Drew, what did you, did you learn anything about yourself or were you reminded of things? Like when you went back and watched those games and watched your own shifts at the highest level, were there things that surprised you or that you learned about yourself? Honestly, I've realized that in the past a few years, you know, when I was young, I was obviously, I was good defensively, but I was a lot more offensive-minded. I would play a lot more risky. And as I've got older, maybe the last four years, you know, people are always on me.

He always trying to do too much. He's trying to do too much. He's playing like a cowboy. You know, he's just trying to rush the puck every time. And so all of a sudden, I just started sitting back, you know, I would jump in the play once in a while, but I wasn't going end to end anymore. I wasn't, you know, making dangles like I am now.

And I just decided, you know what, I'm not going to listen to all these people trying to tell me. I'm trying to do too much. I'm going out there trying my hardest to win hockey games, and if they don't like how I'm playing it, then they don't like it, and that's the bottom line. And, you know, this year, after I watched that, I was just like, I'm just going to go back to, you know,

being risky again, just trying things, trying to dangle, trying to get up in the rush so much as I can go and end. And it's been working for me. I'm still haven't lost anything on my defensive end. I've got even better in the defensive end, but I've gone back to kind of being a cowboy, and they didn't like that, but it's working. Yeah, your offensive numbers show.

it because you're up there among the league leaders among defensemen where you hadn't been in the last couple of years. So that there's certainly been a surge there. And what about the Kings as a team? I feel like we're seeing the sign. You know, the last time I actually saw it in person, I think Drew, was when you were swinging by Toronto a year or two ago, maybe it was two years ago. And I had written a column about sort of you and Enzi Kopitar.

It was starting to hit home that it was going to be a couple of years, right, for this to sort to go through and for the team to turn over. And that was hard to sort of accept, but you did accept it. And I'm wondering now if you're starting to come out at the other end of it, a bit seeing what's happening with the gangs this year. I'm starting to, but, I mean, yeah, it sucked. I was in my prime. I'm still in my prime, and we're just rebuilding.

But, I mean, you've got to accept it, and you've got to deal with it the best that you can. You know, we've got to try to get this team back as quick as possible. We are seeing improvements, but I think the one thing is we need to see bigger, improvements faster. Like, we're a lot better this year, and we're in every single game we play for the most part. But, you know, I want to see us kind of, especially in these last 20 games or whatever we got, take some big steps.

Yeah, we've taken little steps, so we really need to take some big steps and try to sneak into the playoffs here. Because once you get into the playoffs, you get that conference that you made the playoffs and that next season, you know, you're feeling good about yourself. So we need to make a big step here, not just these little steps. And, you know, I know we've done good with the draft, got some good young. guys that are playing the HL right now. And we have some good young guys on our club right now that are effective.

So things are looking up. But like I said, you know, we don't have time to waste. COVID tires 33, quickies, whatever, 35. We're all getting old. We don't have time to waste. All right. Yes, isn't that the truth? All right, we're going to let you go.

But I got to find out what's the, and I don't know much about video games, but what's the game of choice for the L.A. Kings? And how do you match up against the young guys? Um, so I'm more of a FIFA player, which is soccer. Um, I'm really good at that. I can beat, I can beat them all in soccer, but they're, uh, they're called duty guys. And, uh, I was called duty when I was younger, but I took maybe three years off or

some. So I'm not even close to them right now. Honestly, it's like kind of crazy how good they are. Um, yeah, it's crazy. They grew up with video games and stuff like that. So they got a little bit of an advantage. But, uh, man, these guys live for video games. They even watch guys play video games.

And I find that absolutely scary. I was going to say my son is nine, Drew, my son is nine, and I catch him all the time on YouTube watching other people play video games. I'm like, why don't you just play your PS4, dude? You have a PS4, go play it. It's mind-boggling, no doubt about it. And now, do they talk smack to you about stuff like that, or do they, is there still enough? Oh, my God. That's no one.

Well, I don't know how much you guys, I know you guys know about me off the ice. I'm chirping guys. left front everywhere, like nonstop. Like, if you're passing by me, something's going to come out about what you're wearing or something. I don't know what it is. But so whenever they got a chance to get on me, they're not afraid to hammer me.

And, uh, I mean, it's all in good fun. I love it. Um, I like keeping things, keeping people on their toes. And I like them having me on my toes. So it's a lot of fun.

Listen, I, I've worked with Pierre Lebrun for many, many years. So I, I've been used to the odd shirt myself. I was going to say, that's my job in our world.

Yeah, exactly. That's it. That's good stuff. Well, listen, Drew, it's been great catching up with you and thank you for spending time. I don't feel too bad now because I'm not keeping you from a big dinner in Vegas or a tour out to the Hoover Dam. But thanks for coming out and hanging out with us. And here's to catching up in a rink in person sooner than later.

But thank you so much. Thank you guys so much. I appreciate it. Great to hear of you. Thanks, man. All right. Bye, guys. that was outstanding my friend and it was you know what for me the listening to drew talk about

a watching all his shifts from 2014 and reaching out to darrell sutter i don't know it's just it's clear the fire burns very hot within a guy who's who's accomplished so much in his career to my mind you know hall of fame career and he's still got lots left to play Yeah, and you asked him a great question about why it matters to him when people don't pick him for Team Canada, don't pick him to be in the running for the Norris. And he's right, if you stop caring about that stuff, then why are you playing? And you have to play with that chip on your shoulder. And listen, I mean, you know, Drew did have some off years the last couple of years, and he's bounced back. He's having an outstanding year.

And he's kind of a polarizing figure for whatever reason in our industry. but I was talking to a GM, a rival general manager, obviously not the King's GM, but a GM from another team. Actually, over the last couple of days, Scott, and out of nowhere, we were talking about different trends and this and that. He goes, if you watch Drew Dowdy play, he is back to being Drew Dowdy's what this GM said to me. So it was interesting to sort of hear that unsolicited. Yeah, no, it's going to be interesting. To me, it's always hard if a defenseman is on a team that doesn't make the playoff. It's hard, you know, when you think about the Norris Trophy and stuff like that.

But I'm like you. I've talked to a couple of executives who watch that West Division. And they are like, he is at a Norris caliber. And it's, you know, and that team is, it's still in transition. It's going to be hard. Frankly, Doug Armstrong's blues are making it a lot closer than I think people thought. But good for Drew Doughty for, you know, for bringing the heat. the when, you know, maybe, you know, you've accomplished a lot.

So good for him. And, you know, listen, the season ended today. I don't have to tell you that I think it's Victor Edmonds to lose as far as the Norris Trophy goes in terms of his all-around game. But, you know, Drew Doughty's put himself in the conversation at least. And that's, I think, what he was clearly motivated to do coming into this season. And he is certainly on Team Canada's Raider, I guarantee that. Yeah.

Which is not easy because there's some. so many right-handed defensemen that choose from on Dekan that that you never guaranteed anything. But he's in that conversation. Yeah, good stuff. All right, my friend, we're getting towards the end. I like where we have the questions here at the end. And the questions are excellent. And let's start with, oh, there's one in French here.

Yeah, I don't think I can. I can't know. Do you need help? It doesn't start with Locatois Sir LaTab. So, okay, here's a good one from Patrick Kincaid. That's an interesting one. At Orange Rocky fan.

The avalanche are on the precipice of greatness, yet have been foiled last couple of years and some games this year, when faced with physical play. What changes, if any, do you think, are needed, presumably to get them over the top? And I don't think of the abs as a soft team at all. And I like Pierre-Edward Belmar there.

And I think there's, you know, Nassan Cadry's got a player with certainly some sand. Do you see that as an issue for the abs that they can be pushed around? I really don't. I mean, I'm guessing without getting into the mind of the questioning that he's talking about a second-round matchup of Vegas, because Vegas is a pretty heavy team. But I do not see evidence of the a house being intimidated or pushed around. I really don't. I think you mentioned some of the players. And I think, no, I don't even think that's in the area that Colorado needs to address in my mind.

Yeah. I guess for me, the only, you know, what happens on the back end because they are so skilled, but they are on the smaller side. And, you know, you really miss Eric Johnson back there, you know, one of my favorites. guys and certainly a guy when he when he's playing he's he is offsets the you know

the physicality back there he's he's imposing and it was interesting with Ian Cole going to Minnesota and Greg Pattern coming in but you know I'm with you I like that team a lot and be interesting

all right how about we didn't really talk about Buffalo this week we Eric Stahl gets traded to Montreal the clock ticking on Taylor Hall and who else from that team. This comes from Rob Gregoretti, and he wonders who would be the best choice for the Sabres to choose as their next coach. Who helps to turn his words, who helps to turn this mess around?

And that's a fair comment for sure. Who do you like? What do you think? Yeah, so my hire will be Dorogelaine. I just, one of the things that has been difficult. seemingly to totally get in Buffalo. And I mean, listen, I was a Ralph Kruger fan so maybe I'm the wrong guy to ask.

And that didn't work. But, Gerard Gallant, we know everywhere he's been, the player buy-in and the way the players react to him, some players in tears when you got fired at Vegas. I think that kind of emotional connection is needed.

Savers coach. Now, there's other good choices. And, you know, they may end up going to Collins route and bringing a younger voice in. I think that's a risk because you've gone the unproven route a few times here. So I think they should hire other coach. But Bruce Boudreau, I think, would also command respect. Agreed. Yep. You know, let's see what happens with John Tortorella, who has a connection to the Buffalo market, right? And his deal is up at the end of the year.

That's the only reason I mention. I'm not saying that I don't agree. Yep. His deals up at the end of the year. He's been in Columbus a while, and it would be an attractive free agent. And certainly would get players' attention. No question. That's a server's dressing room. So if you're going to ask me to give you three names, those would be three names out.

Yeah. No, I'm with you. And I think there will be, you know, so much pressure around Kevin Adams and, you know, how does he, you know, he's looking for an assistant GM now. and we've talked about maybe bringing in someone as a president of hockey ops, a veteran guy. We've talked about Jim Rutherford. You know, for me, what about a guy like Ray Shiro? I mean, to come in and help.

Well, same thing. I mean, Shiro or Rutherford. I mean, just that veteran president as a president of hockey operations, right? Yeah. That would make sense to me. I've seen no evidence that it's something that the rule is that would be any interest in. Yeah. All right.

How about one more? And this, I'm really, I'm interested in this, too, from Bonsai, 2019. When do we see an OV extension announced? Of course, Alex Ovechkin in the final year of his current deal. Once again, I just, you know, he's, I never get tired of watching, never really get tired of talking about him. Here he is, you know, pretty slow start to the season for him. Now he surged back into the discussion for the Rocket Richard Charter trophy for most goals in the NHL. He's been on fire.

They had a tough outing against the Rangers the night before we're taping this. but he's been on fire. And I think it's interesting to discuss because there have been players where we could never imagine them in another jersey. Henrik Lundquist, who should have been in a caps jersey, where it not for his heart condition, and Zadain O'Chara in a caps jersey

after leaving the Bruins in the offseason. Never say never, but oh my gosh, can you imagine Ovi in a leaf jersey or a half jersey or going to New York and playing for the range? Yeah, that's not a... That's not happen. It'll get done. And I guess what's interesting to me is, is it just can be one of those things that they want to get out there before the playoffs start.

If it is done, I mean, I know there's been talks and negotiations, but no one's saying a word. Or the conspiracy theorist, which there have been a few out there. I mean, why wouldn't you wait until after the expansion drive? Yeah, for sure. So one less player to protect. But again, that's a bit. I mean, the league has its radar up for all those situations around the league. You know, Colorado has land as God.

And it's sort of like, I think all those things have to pass the smell test. So it'll get done. That is not a concern. Yeah. Agreed. Agreed. All right. What else we got on here?

Oh, our good pal, Glenn Healy, the executive director of the NHL Alumni Association. He's joining Craig Custin's on the full six. this week. You know, Glenn is one of my, he's just so smart. Awesome guy. He has done. Yeah. And you know what? He's done just an outstanding job with the alumni. I'm sure Craig is going to talk on this, but really incredible work in terms of his outreach and looking after former players who, you know, who have had hard, hard times. And especially during the pandemic, the Alumni Association deserves all kinds of credit for the work they've done. And, and, And really, it starts with Glenn Healey.

So you should give that a lesson, a listen. Doug McLean, Mike Rousseau's guest this week on Straight From the Source on Thursday. There you go. Some old Panthers talk there. Yeah, a little bit. A little circle here, a little Columbus connection there too. And you should check out our comment section for each podcast episode at the athletic app. And rate and subscribe to theathletic.com.

Hockey Show on Apple, if you aren't already a subscriber and you are listening in the United States, go to theathletic.com slash hockey show. And if you are listening in Canada, go to theathletic.com slash hockey show Canada and receive a subscription for just $1 per month. I can barely say that. It's so cheap. $1 per month. Canada or the U.S. Go and do it. Do it right now.

Pierre, outstanding work by you. Next week we will be on the edge of the trade deadline. I'm curious to see what news will have unfolded between now and then, but I will look forward to our conversation as I always do. Right on, right on.