The Athletic Hockey Show - Florida Panthers tailspin, Peter Laviolette's future with the Washington Capitals and Brianna Decker jumps into coaching post retirement

Episode Date: March 28, 2023

Brianna Decker, Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion joins Craig Custance and Sean Gentille on The Athletic Hockey Show USA to discuss her reasons as to why she retired, breaking her leg in her final game, jumping into the coaching ranks at Shattuck St. Mary's her involvement with the PHF and continuing the work to help grow the women's game.Craig and Sean take a look at the recent tailspin of the Florida Panthers, which sees them fall in the payoff race in the East, the fallout from the Staal brothers not wearing Panther pride jerseys and Brooks Koepka heckling Aaron Ekblad. The guys discuss Peter Laviolette's future with the struggling Washington Capitals and where that team is headed and answer your questions and respond to your comments in the famed segment three.Subscribe to The Athletic Hockey Show on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowGet a 1-year subscription to The Athletic for just $1 a month when you visit http://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is The Athletic Hockey Show. Hey, everybody. It's Craig Custin's, the Tuesday co-host of the Athletic Hockey Show, joined occasionally by Sean Gentilly. Sean, what a show we have today? How are you? Hey, I have a question for you. Have you gotten any weddings lately?

Are they playing that ad still? Oh, it seems like the odds are good. Hmm. Hey, breaking news, everyone, if you've heard that ad, read, I'd like to apologize. I didn't know that would be shared in other podcasts. But, you know, I'm a big believer in whatever the odds for. The second thing I would like to say is I have been invited to a wedding since that recorded.

I don't think it's a coincidence. It's a colleague of ours at the athletic. I don't want to name names because I don't know if he wants this stuff out there, but it's a wedding I'm looking forward to very much. And we can stop running that at. It's a wedding I'm looking forward to as well. I will be in attendance in addition to. to you.

Okay. That's right. We have a great show today. Breanna Decker joins us. The recently retired Brianna Decker, and she was great. We've already recorded. She was so good. Segment two, just from start to finish.

She was awesome. And I'm glad we did it. Producer Jeff hooked it up. We had to delay it a week. She's just got a lot going on. She's now coaching at Shattuck. And she's about to embark on a 15-hour bus ride to Dallas. Like she is living the coach's life now.

She's now advising PHF hired by Reagan-Carrie there. We get into that. Just an awesome conversation all around. She was, that was fun. Best player in the women's game on and off, I think, for a few years there.

Yeah. It's a, I don't know, it's a blast this year, move on to the next phase and really seem like she's enjoying herself, you know, because that was such a brutal.

I mean, we all saw what happened. At the Olympics, heartbreaking. Also just stumbed. churning stuff. It was just one of those injuries where your heart drops when you watch it, right? But she's feeling good and she's psyched about what comes next. I mean, it was a blast to talk to her. It would have been, like, if that happened to me, I'd still be bitter about it.

I sensed no bitterness. I mean, whatever she, if she had any, she seemed to work through it. She seemed like pretty excited about what's happening. So that was... I think it's easy. It's easy to cut back on the bitterness when you enjoy what you're doing as much as she does. And that's the work she's doing with Shattuck and it's the work that she's doing with the PHF. I mean, she sounds fulfilled. And it was a fun, it was a fun conversation. So before we get to that, I want to talk a little bit about the Eastern Conference, both the playoff race that's shaping up. And, you know, I think because Tarek wrote about the capitals a little bit today about some off seasons that are going to be interesting, because there was a

point I think we were like, hey, the whole playoffs, we basically know the matchups. You know what I mean? And now I think it's interesting because of what I think mainly what's happening with Florida. Like we talked a little last week about it, but it's been a bit of a tailspin. Yeah, we've seen them kind of cycle in and out over the last couple weeks, right? They were the one, they were the riser. It felt like going back, say, maybe after the holidays, like in January, that if someone in the East wanted to make a run, it was going to be possible, right? Like if there were a team outside of the picture, as in not Pittsburgh and not the Islanders,

if it were the Panthers who started slow, if it were maybe the whatever, that somebody, if they got their shit together in time, was going to be able to make a run. And the Panthers were always going to be the easiest choice there because they were fantastic last year. Their underlines all season have been great. Sergei Bobrovsky has like, you know, was on a pretty, decent streak there as well. All the things that it kind of contributed to them starting slowly were sort of fixed.

And of course, they made the charge, right? They were in the second wild card spot last week. Well, here we are. It is the morning of Tuesday, March 28th. They've gotten zero points in their last four games. In those, obviously lost all four of those. In those games, they're expected goals percentages down below 45. their playoff chances, according to Dom's model, have dropped all the way down to, I believe,

21% this morning. They were 60 in the 60s last week. Part of that's because Pittsburgh has, you know, scrap some points together, and same goes for the Islanders. But a lot of this has to do with the Panthers going well and truly in the tank. I wonder if anything's happened over the last week, then we could attribute that to. And I'm going to do it, whether it's reckless or not. They're 0 and 3 and have played like hell since the Pride Night catastrophe with the stalls refusing to wear the jerseys.

So we can blame that. I certainly am. Do you think there's anything like just besides karma? Do you think it's like this becomes a distraction? Karma is enough for me. I think that's I think that's the funniest part of all this stuff is if you look at guys like the stalls or jam, whatever. And anybody who makes a choice like this, it always more often than not, the teams, themselves who are pulling, who have pulled plugs on full, on full team, you know, engagement here

early, early in the days. These are all guys who are just allergic, who have spent the last 10, 20, 30 years their lives. Like, I don't want to be a distraction. I don't want to be a distraction. And they go out and create. I mean, that's been, that has been the biggest one. Just built in, do not be a distraction at all.

Yeah. Rule number one. Except for... Except for when, you know, when... When you're wearing, you know, a pride jersey and enters the picture. So it's funny. I think it's funny. Also, to pile on, Brooks Kepka...

What is a... Is he not a Panthers fan? All right. So if you haven't watched, let me just bring the listener, dear listener up to speed here. If you haven't seen the video clip, Brooks Kepka appears to be calling Aaron Ekblad a traffic cone. And we know this because he has an actual traffic cone in his end. God, questions.

Aaron, I have a lot of questions about this. And I think we're only 99% sure it's Brooks Kepka, golfer. But it seems that it's been confirmed elsewhere. We can never be 100% sure of any, by Brooks, by Brooks. Kepka's Instagram page, which had a photo of him in the box

wearing the same outfit to the Panthers game two days ago that he appeared to be wearing when he was a traffic home? There was no visible traffic home, but it was him and all his boys wearing not wearing track suits.

I don't know if you picked up on that part of the video. Did you notice that? They were all wearing like Adidas, Adidas track suits without undershirts underneath. So they're doing some kind of goofball, you know, the theme.

Boys Night Out thing. What did Eric... With our athletic hoodies. With our matching... This is our 2022 Christmas gift, holiday gift. Go ahead. Thank you.

Thanks, Adam and Alex in New York Times. Craig. What did Aaron Eckblatt do to Brooks Kappa? I have a theory of my big question. I think they're friends. I'm going to say they're friends. You're saying no.

I bet you there. And like if, let's say theoretically we were friends. Let's make that leap. And number two, you were a defenseman in the NHL. And I was a professional golfer. So let's play this out. I would not go to cheer you on. I would go to the game to give you a hard time.

And I'd probably bring a traffic cone. It's the only explanation for this that why else? Where do you get a traffic cone? there is absolutely another explanation for this. Take a look at Brooks. Like, what do you think Brooks, first off, whatever,

what do you think he was doing all day? He's out with his boys in a box at an NHL game. I would imagine some beverages or, you know, refreshments had been served. Okay.

And Brooks Kepka is a dick. he is he picks he picks he picks fights he picks he him i mean whatever the enemy of my enemy is my friend as far as bryson de shambos concerned but like this guy has had no problem dragging people publicly on camera in the past and it's not guys who he likes i'll say that much this dude has a record of going after people who who bother him publicly he's not like bust and chops with a dude that he likes If the shoe is on the other foot And I were an NHL defenseman And I looked up into a luxury box

And so you tell me I effing suck Point pointing at the traffic cone In a game that I was losing In a season where I was struggling Profoundly as Aaron Eckblatt has It hasn't been a great season Buddy I don't think I don't think that was fun

And I don't think that was friendly banner I would be having a ball in this scenario Brooks Kepka is from West Palm Beach like he's a local He's from Florida This dude is My question was like Okay is he from

Is he from California Or is he from like someone Is it possible that he's just like Was a fan of whatever other team was coming through And he wanted to go and take shots at the At the enemy No This dude is from South Florida

And he goes to a lot of Panthers games I think he's just fed up with Aaron Eckblad and, you know, is expressing it in a very specifically Brooks Kepka kind of way. Here's the only problem with this if you're Brooks Kepka. I don't know how. So let's say you're right and I'm wrong, which is possible, sure. Like he's just a diehard Panthers fan. I mean, and I apologize, we're spending way too much on this. Let's say he is a diehard Panthers fan who's just frustrated. And he's taking it. I had a few beers and he's taking it out. He brought the traffic cone through security somehow or maybe it was sitting in the, it would be, it'd be pretty

sloppy if they kept traffic cones just sitting in the concourse. Brooks Capco for whatever it's worth, I don't think he's golfing that well right now. Like, I don't think he's won anything. No. So aren't you sending yourself up for Eckblad to come like full happy Gilmore taunting at the next tournament? Yeah. I would.

If I'm Aaron Eklad, I'm getting my buddies. We're throwing on some track suits. and we're going to the Masters or whatever. He's not, no, he's not going to be in the Masters. He's a Liv Tour guy. That's the other funny part of this. We're going to the, whatever the Liv Tour plays. Yeah, going to Saudi Arabia and watching a golf tournament there so we can rag on Brooks Kefka.

I mean, I'd love to. Aaron Eckblatt has friends out there, man. Someone needs to write this situation. I think Ekblad though You look at why the Panthers are where they are In a lot of ways, you know, it is. It's part and parcel with the way their season has gone, right? Like things aren't working out for him.

They haven't been able to have success really for any sustained period of time. It's obviously not all his fault, but the results haven't been there. It's been up and down really throughout the course of the season. And just when you think that they were, you know, really making a run and going to seize on the fact that the penguins and the islanders aren't that good you know, they go back, they go back in a kind of a tailspin. And, you know, like I said, we wake up here. It's Tuesday morning and they're playoff odds according to Dom or down in the low 20s after they're almost cut in third compared to where they were last week.

It's wild. My islanders keep on trucking. All right, we didn't leave any time to talk about the capitals, which I wanted to. So 30 seconds are left. I think Peter Lavellette's an interesting one. It doesn't seem like he's back, eh? you know what I mean I think that was part of what

Tarix wrote Tarx written about it um Pierre wrote about it yesterday and kind of an assessment on what's going to happen with with the coaches whose deals are up this year and next. Um

no it doesn't it doesn't feel like he's going to be back it feels like they're moving into some next phase of their of their organization. I think that's I think it was a quasi predictable because Lavalette started the season without without a contract And anytime that happens with any coach, you know, you got to wonder if the writing's on the wall. Rating's on the wall there.

Right. And I know Brian McClellan is a guy you've spent a lot of time around. Like, I don't know. Is there any, do you have anything to say? Is there any insight there into his process as far as this is concerned? Well, he's, I mean, he's very thoughtful, I would say. And isn't going to do anything rash. And we'll play this out.

but he's also not afraid, as we saw at the trade deadline, to be very decisive and make tough decisions. So I don't know if you're letting him play through the last year of his, or coach through the last year of his contract, and then this season hasn't been great. What were you looking for to give an extension, right, if you're Brian McClellan? Probably not whatever's happened. So, you know, it's not Peter Lovia. That's fault that the team has gone into the tank when they were, you know, Brian McClellan had to do what he had to do with the trade deadline,

which I thought was the right move for the record. It's nobody's fault. Yeah, it's not Brian McClellan's fault either. That was a necessary move. If you have guys who, you know, don't,

you know financially or otherwise, don't figure into your plans for the future, right? You move those guys and you reload. And I thought he's just, I mean, I know, Rasmus Sandin, you know,

he's racking up points, been a little bit of a mixed bag since he's been in the lineup there, but you take him in the lineup long term 10 times out of 10. If that's a move, you can make for a win-down team. Yeah, it's a tough, tough, tough look maybe for the organization overall, but I don't know, they'll be better off for it. But they have, they have a well and truly

gone in the tank. All that being said, you know, we can gas up McClellan and whatever, we should. That team is done. And they have been for, you know, for a couple weeks, really. And, you know, it's a trope or whatever, but Peter Lavalette's a guy, you know, I guess shelf life. I hate that term with coach, but I think that's probably a real thing with Peter Laviolet. Like, he's very demanding. Yeah, he's a hard ass. It just seems like a natural opportunity to turn the page with whatever comes next in Washington, but we'll see.

We'll see. Finding that balance between, you know, trying to maximize the next couple years with Ovechkin and also addressing issues as they pop up, right? Like, it's a tough line for McClond to walk, and I think, yeah, it seems like that's the next part of it for sure. Brianna Decker joins us in the next segment talking retirement, talking about reframing goals. She's a very goal-oriented person, as I imagine most Olympic gold medalists are.

It was great. It was a great listen and we'll be right back. We are now thrilled to be joined by, oh, how do we even describe Brianna? Olympic gold medalists, of course, first and foremost, most importantly. recently retired though which is we want to get into that a little bit and now a coach which you just I love Brianna Decker joins the podcast Brianna thanks for doing this I know I know you've been busy Yeah thanks for having me you guys yeah well first of all congratulations on I mean everything I know it's I don't know if you we sometimes get people on here we had Ryan Miller he was going through a victory tour and he was actually able to like savor the the the tour it seems like you're just like diving into work what does what has it been like as the news kind of circulated about

your retirement and your next steps. Yeah. The good thing is about diving into work right away or work, I would say, coaching. I think it distracted me from playing a little bit. So I think the transition was a lot easier for me. But I mean, it's, it was kind of surreal to actually say like, hey, I'm retiring from actually playing. It was a little bit emotional when I actually had to say it. I kind of had my mind wrapped around it a little bit for a couple months, but I really wanted to make sure I was making the right decision for myself. And, you know, kind of also a little bit for my family, too. I think that was the hard part was my family's like, oh, don't hang them up. Like, you can still play another four years. But, you know, for me,

I think I was just as the timing was right. And coaching right away at Shattuck has been a great fit. And I'm enjoying it. And I'm finding a passion within coaching that I had found when I was playing. How do you convince your family that that's the right call for you? Are you like, no, I'm not sure we're convinced, to be honest. I'm in the four more years camp. I was going to bring out a sign and a chant. I think with my family, it's like, well, first off, I mean, think about it. Like, they've been able to go to some amazing places around the world.

And my brother's like, one of my brothers was like, come on, like, train for Italy, you know? And I'm like, just go on vacation to Italy. Yeah, you know, he doesn't follow me around. Yeah, I'm like, why do I need to continue to train? I mean, you know, like my younger brother played, he ended up playing D3 hockey. So he kind of, from a commitment of working hard, of working out every single day aspect, like, obviously it's a little different from an Olympic standpoint, but you're still training for something. So he understands, like, I get it. Like, you are, you know, you put a lot of work in.

So when they, when they look back and they look at how much work I put in, they understand. But I think they're just like, oh, you still have a more in yet. And I'm like, you know, maybe, but I'm in the right spot right now. I'm in the right mindset of where I want to be. How is your leg? Like, how are you feeling physically? Yeah, I'm good. I honestly, I would say, so, I mean, I had surgery last February.

I didn't feel great until, like, maybe November. It took, like, a while for me to, like, not feel it at all. And then, of course, cold Minnesota winters, I was like, man, why's my leg so achy in school? I have an idea. A plate and screws and stuff in there. So it makes sense. But it's feeling.

I feel am pretty good. I mean, I would say, like, even coaching when I'm on the ice, I'll get a puck off the skate and it, like, kind of ricochets up. So it kind of does, it bothers me a little bit. So that was probably about 30% of one of the reasons why I was like, I think this is just like a good time. So, um, you said you, you put coaching in air quote or working in air quotes when it came to coaching. So is it, is it still very much fun for you? Or like, what is the, what's that been like for you? Yeah. Yeah, like, I don't, I don't even view it as work because, um, I, I enjoy it so much. Like, these kids are elite. They have an opportunity to, a lot of them are going D1. We have a couple girls going D3 next year. And it's just, it's amazing to see their commitment and their passion for it. And I was like, I kind of see myself in those same shoes. I mean, I think it's different, you know, me having the opportunity to come back to a place where I went to school for four years. And so it's just, I have that drive to, like, get them to the next level.

And I just, I have a lot of fun with them to make me laugh. Of course, I'm serious and stern at times, but I want to get the most out of them every single day with the masts behind it. So this is your first season with Shattuck, right? You hadn't, I mean, you wouldn't have had much time to work with them in any kind of, any kind of official capacity. When did that, when did that kind of hit your radar? Like, when were you like, this is a, I mean, we know you went there, but when did that

turn into a real thing where you're like, I want to go back and I want this to be a big part of, you know, what comes next? Yeah. So, well, about like four years, it was after the 2018 Olympics, Coach Staffordy Staffordy here at Shattie, he's been running the girls program for over 17 years now. He told me, he's like, hey, I want you to come back and work. I'm like, ah, no, Gordy. Like, I got to focus on training. I'm training right now, and it's too hard for me to double dip. And so he's like, all right, so I'm not kidding. I get back from breaking my leg at the Olympics on February, like 21st, 22nd.

I get a phone call in the hotel bed before surgery the next day. And it was gorty. He's like, so what do you think? I'm like, can you give me a second to breathe here? But like he's also like, he's like a dad to me though. Like we have a really great relationship. So, you know, it wasn't like it wasn't exactly how it sounds. But I was like, he goes, well, the reason I'm calling on it because I know you're going to be on bed rest for about two weeks.

And I figured you could think about it for two weeks. I was like, yeah, you're right. So I, you know, when he called me, I was like, this is going to be the right. the right setup for me. Honestly, the lifestyle is amazing as far as like, you know, we get breaks with school. We get summers kind of off a little bit more. So from a life, work balance, it's like, it's incredible. And I think, you know, just like I said, I'm around genuine people who really care about

getting these kids to the next level. We talk before you, before we started recording. I mean, you got to like these people. You're about to be on a bus with them for 15 hours driving in front of, driving from school. Dallas for nationals, right? Yeah, exactly. I mean, I'm glad I have headphones too for us, but, no, like the kids are great. Yeah.

And, you know, I think, like I said, like they have the right mindset as far as getting to that next level. But then also, you know what, their kids. They make mistakes. But it's fun to be able to use my experiences that I've had, whether it was a prep school, college, national team to kind of help them navigate through some of this stuff and help develop them. So I remember having a conversation once with Florence Schelling, the Swiss goalie back in the day.

And she had like a terrible ski accident. And she said it was that time recovering in bed that I just thought of that when you were talking about bed rest. That really kind of transformed her mentally into what she was going to do next. And it ended up being this moment in time that she I think felt was beneficial in terms of hitting. You're so goal driven and you're so. as an elite athlete. So, you know, working towards the next thing in training, you don't take those breaks. So I was just curious when you said you had that stretch where you're in bed.

Like did that, what was going through your mind and how much did that kind of shape your future? Yeah, I mean, I'm sure Florence can say, I mean, her ski accident was crazy. I remember that. But she, yeah, like, I mean, I would break my leg three times over before I had to go through what she wanted through. But, you know, I think for me, I was at my, like, lowest moment as an athlete coming back from the Olympics, not being able to play, getting hurt there. You know, being, yeah, being on bed rest, I couldn't put any weight on my leg. So I think for me, I was, yeah, a lot of reflection time. And, you know, kind of, yeah, deciding what I wanted to do.

But I know I was really open to coming back and playing. And I was like, at the end of the day, I was like, my goal, again, like, I'm super. for goal oriented and that's how exactly how a lot of elite athletes are. So it's like my goal at that point was like, all right, I want to be running by June 1st. And I was able to accomplish that. And then after that, I was kind of like, okay, now what? Like, now what?

Like, now what should I? Should I really dive into coaching? And I'd already told Shattuck I was coming back to coach, but I hadn't decided. I was like, hey, I'm not deciding if I'm done playing yet. I want to kind of give it a full, full year. And so I definitely, but your mind is,

crazy powerful thing. And so when I was sitting there for two weeks, my mind was going through everything as far as like, am I ready to be done? Am I not? You know, and I just leaned on my family for a lot of things and friends, obviously, as well. Was there any, I mean, was there a moment that tipped you over and deciding that it was time to, like, really transition into the next phase of things? Like, was it just coming back and not feeling like, how did, how do you make that decision? Because I know that's tough. I know, like, especially athletes as elite as you the question becomes like, am I okay coming back if I'm a lesser, lesser version on ice of the player I was before? Like, how do you, how do you decide to be done, basically?

Yeah, that was, that was one thing. I was like, I didn't feel ready to come back as far as, like, injury-wise for a while. There's one thing that, you know, I realized throughout the summer and then starting up here in the fall is, like, my stress levels went like way down. and I didn't realize how much stress I put on myself to be one of the best players every single camp to want to be the best player every camp to make the biggest impact on my team as much as possible. It's like I didn't realize that stuff

until I didn't do it and didn't prepare for the camp that was going on in August after the Olympics. So when I came to school to work, I was like in coach, I was like, man, I haven't like mentally, I just feel so, like, relieved. And I was like, that, I'm like, okay, that moment of like, that might be it of like, okay, this is time to move on to the next thing. It's interesting.

I think of how much the sport has changed in, you know, the years since you were a 14-year-old or whatever going to Shattuck's to the kids you're coaching now. What do you see that is the same and what do you see that's different with the group? Oh, I'll start with different. I think, first off, these kids are like, from a skill level, strictly skilled. These kids are way more skilled, I think, than when we were free here. Now, from the simplistic aspect of hockey of chipping the puck or going at it and getting worked on competing,

I would say they don't have that as much. So I'm coming back here and I'm trying to teach them like, guys, a simple chip is what's going to make the best play here. You going and battling in the corner is what's going to cough the puck up. And then that's how we're going to have more offense. the top of you. It's like super I just love this. Grit coach.

This transition is happened. Holy cow. Grit coach. Let's go. Okay. But my mind, my mind did work like this as a player, but it just made me a little faster, right?

Yeah. But yeah, so I think that's like the biggest difference is like how skilled they are. Like they're more skilled than we were. But like something you like compete in like hard working mentality. I like to call it like the blue collar like work mentality. They, they don't have that as much.

It's not as still. You got to find girls to like make them do that stuff. That's great. That's great. What kind of? Okay. Go ahead. No, no.

So it's funny. I just, I love like that, you know, that point in your life and you're making so many decisions and you're now you're guiding all these players through that and, you know, where they're going to go to college and all that.

And I remember reading one time you wrote a letter to yourself. And I love that concept as a kid. And then you open it up whenever and it's, you're getting guidance. Can you tell that story or share what was in that? letter. Yeah, yeah. So it was a unique thing that one of our fourth grade teachers did with the elementary school I went to from the endorsement. They had us write a letter to ourselves in fourth grade, you know, whatever you want to be when you grow up, where do you want to go? And then you get

it as a senior. And like, I mean, when you're a fourth grader, you're like, okay, I'm ever going to get this letter back. And I got it back. Like, I went to my parents house, right? So I open it up when I'm a senior. And it said, like at the end of it says, I want to be, I want to go to the play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers. And I, I, and I, they want to be a dentist. And I'm like, okay, the dentist thing didn't work out.

You won't have one for two though. Yeah. 50%. I was like, this is awesome. So I mean, like, it was a,

it's a really cool aspect of like how they did things with that. But I'm like, again, like goal setting for the biggest future. I mean, you know how many young kids too want to be like, oh,

I want to play for whatever, Chicago Blackhawks. But it's like, it's super cool when that ends up happening. It came true for year. When I was in fourth grade, I think I wanted to be the shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

and also an astronaut. And I was, I was, I was, oh. Yeah, not great. Not great. I host a podcast with Craig. See, tell me. Well, I'm sorry about that. Well, you really, you really underdivil there.

My fourth grade, it was actually a letter to myself said I want to have a podcast with Sean in the year 2020. I don't know what, I don't know what a podcast. Way to hit it. Um, can I ask about goal setting because not, like, it seems as a player, goal setting is, is, is almost easier. It's, it's, I mean, not easier in terms of accomplishing. it but easier in terms of setting it. Now that you're kind of embarking, and we'll get to maybe some of the PHF stuff next, but you're embarking on a completely different part of your life.

What do those goals look like? How specific are they when you sit down and do them? Well, it's funny because so when I first announced my retirement kind of my family, my brother's like, all right, congrats, great career. Now it's time to do all those things you did as a player as a coach. And I'm like, okay. So he's setting the goals. I like that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. I want to travel again. But I think those are like my, you know, I would love to be successful as a coach as much as I was as a player as far as, like, winning and being like all that. Those are like big term, big, long-term goals. I think as a coach on an everyday basis, I would say I want to be able to change these kids in some aspect.

I want them to learn something every single day, you know. And I'm with coaching with Gordy Stafford here, He's got he's like a mind his mind is incredible and like I said he impacted me and he was probably the most impactful coach I had and I want to be able to do that to these kids. And so that is a goal of mine. And then, you know, I think I want to continue to just like show these kids that team really matters the most. And I look at my career. I mean, I've been, I was on teams that we had probably the most talent. but we didn't win at the end of the day, and it's like vice versa.

So we have teams that, you know, people just understand their roles and get things done. And so it's like those are the goal settings. I think it's definitely different because it's a little bit more under your control, right? Like, you know, you're going to have different kids every year. You know, and some kids are going through stuff on a weekly basis. Some kids don't go through as much adversity, but it's like a matter of impacting them and guiding them. Those are like just the goals for the week. And now it's like this next week.

nationals coming up and our goal is obviously to win the send at the end of the year tournament. Do you ever find yourself like having the impulse to remind like if these if the kids are being kids and maybe not listen to you? Is there ever the impulse to like send them to your Wikipedia page or something or be like, I was like seriously like listen to me listen to me. Like I've I've done X, X, Y, Z because they're because they're kids and they're. And they need that sort of stuff. Yeah, we've had like definitely time moments. When I had the opportunity to coach at U18 World again this year for the U.S.

team, I came back and I was like, guys, these are the lessons that I think you need to grasp when, you know, when you're going through your journey, like making sure that, you know, that you're like taking care of business, being selfless, working hard. But like it's like all these, when I went there, I just looked. learned a lot and I come back and these kids do, they're like, okay. And I go and the one thing I said was like, just listen to your coaches. Like, we know what we're talking about. Like, and they're like, well, we know. And it's like, no, but like sometimes you guys just don't listen. And then like, and like, and like the guy, the guys coaches here at Shattuck are incredible. The amount of

my experience that they have, like Tom Ward has been around the team forever. He's coached and then and shall come back. And it's like, those guys like, I'm listening to them. Because I'm like, I'm soaking up everything I can. And it's like having an open mind. It's like what's so important. So I wanted to ask you about Reagan, Carrie and her kind of pitch to get you involved with the PHF. You know, I don't pretend to understand the complications between the, you know, I guess two sides or however we want to say. Yeah, no, yeah, I don't have to. I know there's way more than we know or whatever.

But like what was, I mean, you've known Reagan a long time. So I'm sure, you know, she didn't have to convince you that she knows what she's talking about. But what was that conversation like? Yeah, I mean, like, she said she had so much success within our U.S. program. She changed it around from when I kind of entered the pool in 2010 to 2018. I mean, she, the one thing I really respect about her is that as much as she is, like, cultural-driven, she's very business-driven too. And, like, so she's kind of got that good balance between the two.

And the cultural piece matters most to her. But she is a driven person where she doesn't want anything like fail. So, I mean, I was involved with, I was, I played, I played for a person. every pro league. So I'm the right person to talk to the yes, but, um, you know, playing in the NWHL and then going back and then playing for the PWHPA and being involved with that as a player. And in the spring, you know, Reagan kind of called me up and I was like, you know, I'm kind of at a standstill with the PWHPA because I hadn't been like, I feel like I wasn't doing anything. I wasn't a voice and, you know, part of that, I'll be honest, like part of that's

probably on me and not getting involved and all that stuff, but I was kind of, sadly, kind of worn out with how everything had been. So when Reagan asked me to come back, I was like, you know, I was like, yeah, absolutely. I'll do what I can. And she understood that, you know, like my full-time job is being here, but I'm like, I'll try to help out any certain way. And so, again, she didn't take much convincing,

but I just look at that this league is only going to continue to rise above and continue to get better and get more money behind these players to play. And it sounds like you're a bit of a sounding board for the players, right? You can be that connection. Like, what are some of the conversations are concerned? they have? Or what are those, you know, what does that mean as a sounding board? Yeah, it's mostly concerns. It's like, that's the one thing when I was playing in any, any of the pro leagues I played in NWHL, PWHPA or CWHL when that was around, like,

all of them lacked a little bit of structure. Like, rather it was like, because I mean, some of these people and coaches, like, it's, it wasn't a full-time job for them because we, you know, they're not getting paid that. So it's like, the coach was up to late practice. It's like, for us, we're like, well, what the hell? And then for, you know, the coaches, they're like, well, I'm sorry, I had to drop my kid off at daycare or pick them up or like, whatever. I just got out of work. It's like reality. And so, but as players, it's like, hey, we sign up for this and like, this is what we're, we expect kind of the best, you know. And so now I'm kind of that sounding board for if there is concerns about practice structure,

if there's concerns about training and, you know, workout space. And whether it's players or coaches that need to talk to me about things that can be different, I do the best that I can for those teams and those players. You know, I think though I've had, you know, I've had some good conversations with them. And it's like at the end of the day, it's like all these conversations, like, are around, how can we make this league bigger and better so that when these college kids come up the next couple of years, it's more professional than ever. How much thought is put into what the pH will look like two years down the line

or three years down the line when, you know, the assumption is that there will be another league, you know, the PWHPA league, whatever form that takes. I mean, I still, yeah, I still, to this day, like, we need to have one league. I mean, imagine there's two NHLs or whatever. It's like, it would just be tough. And I look at how strong rooted that, like, WMDA is. And I think, you know, it's like, we need to have something like that, you know, so rather we combine or figure something out, I think that would be the best thing.

But as far as, like I said, Reagan is, like, I said, Reagan is, like, sure her vision on things is future too. That's what she did so well with our U.S. team. And so I think it's just like her figuring out that stuff and just guiding us, you know, representatives and director of ops people who are with her. You know, we're just going to do whatever it takes to get that to like a more professional and, you know, great atmosphere for these players. All right.

Last thing for me, you're going on a, what do we say, 15 hour bus ride. Are you a movie watcher, podcasts, or books? Like, what is your, like, either to improve or get better or just entertain yourself on something like that? What's your strategy? Yeah, I think the one good thing is that we're busting overnight. So, I think sleep. Hopefully sleep.

Hopefully sleep. But, you know what? I have realized as I've gotten older and super, like, it's more uncomfortable. But I definitely, yeah, it gets worse. I know, it does. But I'm going to, I'll probably put a show on of some sort. But I got to find a good one in the next, probably, you know, seven, eight hours. Sean's your, Sean's your man.

I always go to Sean for Rex. I'm watching whatever that Apple TV, with Harrison Ford and their therapists. Have you watched? Yeah, with Harrison Ford and Jason Segal. It's really good. It's really good. I don't know. Oh, the shrinking, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's really, like it's got a lot of heart. Anyways, that's my wreck. I don't know. I was about to, I was about to wreck yellow jackets because that's, because that's a, because it's a good, it's a showtime show that just started their second season. But it's about, oh,

perfect. Yeah, but it's about, it's about a soccer team that, that gets into a plane crash on their way to, on their way to national. So I, I,

I'm not, I'm not trying to be, I was not trying to be a smart ass there. Well, I almost said it. And just, just because it's a great, really entertaining show that just started its second season.

And I'm like, that can't be, that can't be, or Ted Lassow. Or you could watch season three of Ted Lasson. You could. You go. Great British.

Just watch Great British Bakeoff. Just like knock out a couple seasons of that. That'll be fun and light and chill. Mindless. Yeah. Well, gosh, Brianna,

thank you for joining us. And thanks. Yes. Congratulations again on all the accomplishments. We know you're not done. We know you're going to set goals and probably be running that program and winning championships or whatever it is. So it's exciting to see what's next.

And we appreciate the time. Yeah, thank you both. Yeah, thank you. That was a great conversation with Breanna Decker, at least until Sean made his, you know, recommendation and what she should watch. Aside from that, I thought that was really, really a great chat. It was one of those things where I thought of it and was about to say it out loud, and it was such a stupid, I had to, I had to share it. Like, it was, it was such a bad call that I had to share it with the class. No, I admire that, but.

No, no. I don't know. She couldn't get out, gotten off that Zoom faster, I think after that. That's not, don't say that. That's not true.

Wish them well in their tournament. Safe travels. Coming up next is our third segment. The only, the best, the only good segment on the show. Can't say that anymore, though. The second segment,

I think, is emerged. But we'll be right back. It's great. It's when we take your question, you the listener, and read them for the first time, and respond.

then we'll be right back this is the only good segment on the show it's when we take comments and questions and remarks from the very loud squirrel that is outside my window right now that completely just distracted me this dude was about to

felt like he was about to come through the window uh but yeah go to the comment section ask us things tell us things do our jobs for us it's remarkable how many Are you surprised me to see people actually find this for the first time after? I'm always surprised.

Like every time. So the way we do this is we record the earlier segments and then we just, we both open the app at the same time to see if there's any comments. And I'm always prepared to like for the plan to when there's no comments. Yeah, where people just are like, we're not doing this. It has yet to happen. It has yet to have. So this is, again, this is the weekly thank you to everybody who goes.

And to get a question into the segment, you have to download the athletic app, which I'm sure you're all. You all have at the point. Hey, did you know that we're running a special? It's a dollar for a month for a year. Did you know that that was happening? For like two more days. Better hurry up if you want that deal. Download the app.

Then you go to, you got to click on the listen tab. And then you've got to find the athletic hockey show. Then you have to know who our previous week's guest was. Right. Or our latest guest was. In this case, it was Katie Strang. If you didn't listen to that episode, she was great talking about the Harvard hazing story.

And then you have to, I think, click details. Comment, I don't know. There's like three more steps. Craig, you download the app. You tap on the listen. You find the athletic hockey show. You scroll down, as you said, and then click on details. And then after you click on details, you,

click on comments. And then there's a little box at the bottom where you can write. Mike H says, wow, this was exactly as hard to find. This process. Anyway, I'm only here to post my quote,

unquote joke about hashtag Tuesday boys with three Zs. Only he spelled out Zs. That's very funny. And was corrected. Thanks for joining us, Mike H. And that is an incorrect thing. hashtag. I also don't, for the record, I don't endorse the Tuesday Boys with 3 Z's hashtag.

I don't use it. Guess what? I think I don't like Z's as like a, if you want to, like, I hate like businesses that like it's like kids are KIDDZ. Like why do we do that to spell things correctly? Yeah, like don't do. It really bothers me. Spell things the way everybody. We found the thing that really bothers you. This is it. Also, yeah, this is it. Also, cars for kids does not use a Z. Of course they don't, because they're probably a great organization that's doing great things. 1877 cars for kids. K-A-R-S cars for kids. Oh, it's K-A-R-S?

Seven-7 cars for kids. Just spell it C-A-R-S. Donate your car today. K is even worse. Lots of problems with that letter, yeah. Got to limit the number of Ks you use in your business name. Sometimes businesses don't, and I'm like, just spell things the right way if you're opening a business

if you think it's clever or funny or memorable to spell it with a K or a Z it's not it just God it really bothers me I'm the way with puns I'm that way with puns I know people love joking about puns on Twitter or whatever and it's like oh ha ha you know isn't this funny because it's such a bad punerisms when you flip the initials where it's like you can't do it

A spoonerism? A spoonerism. What? I'm informing you of something today, I guess. Like Ryan Spooner? Ryan Spoonerism. Natalie Spoonerism, yes. It's when you take the first initials of two words and split them. So it doesn't work with your name because your name's a letterative.

But like Jeff Domette becomes deaf Jomet. Oh, that made me cringe. Yeah, I don't like that either. People think they're funny. Who does that? It's a Twitter thing. It's a Twitter thing. Is it funny when you call me Greg Gustance?

Is that funny to you? I think that's really funny. I think it's always been funny. And I think it's always going to be funny. I don't find it funny. Hey, slurms, I don't want to weigh in on this because I have a lot of thoughts that I'm saving. For what? For what?

He talks about the lightning's approach at the trade. Oh, I thought you're, okay, hold on a second, hold on a second. Slurms, slurms had two comments. I thought I thought you were saying you had Jersey thoughts that you're saying. I don't know. I do not care about jerseys. I know you don't. Well, guess what brother? A lot of your audience does. I hate to break it to you. That's fine. I think it's great. I, I am happy everyone else does. I, no, I was responding. He said, are we, you know, what the lightning do every year, you look at the trade they made for you know, it looks like an overpay. I am not willing to say it. is because what people forget is you're not just acquiring the player, you're acquiring the

cap space. That's what they're doing. So there's a price to be paid. These are not overpays. They're actually really smart what the lightning do, year after year after year. And I'm surprised more teams that are squeezed against the cap don't do it because the lightning end up fielding a team. If you add up the actual players worth year after year in the playoffs, worth way more than the

cap. They're super smart in Tampa. So I guess I lied. I do have thoughts on it. I don't think they lose the trade deadline ever. I think they win it every year, including this year. They won it by a landslide. Yeah, I can't imagine what your next project this is going to come up with for regarding.

Okay. It's going to be really good. Totally. I'm sure. Congratulations, by the way. Thank you. I love the process. I love the idea.

understand the concept of acquiring cap space along with a player people just have a problem with Tanner Geno as a player. That's it. The question is whether he is, does having Tanner Geno on your hockey team make you better? And that's the debate. And that's what people are going to be debating

for the rest of this season and for the next couple is like, would you be better off going and getting someone else? Like, does Tanner Genome make your team better? and I think that I think based on the way he's played this season you know he's been he's been good for the lightning and I don't I don't want to rag on that and I'm trying to walk the line here honestly because like

I conceptually I love it like this is like the fact that they just keep doing it and like slurm said you know um like Nick Paul last year perfect perfect addition there Barclay Goodrow is a here turns into a hero and signs a gazillion for a gazillion dollars with the Rangers there's thus negating some of the value that he brought to the lightnings line up because it was cheap and whatever else. But I think Slarm's core question is like, do you really want to say they lost the trade so quickly?

And like, no, me? Nope, certainly not. I think they won the trade. I'm more inclined to think. I'm not mad at Nashville. Like, I mean, David Poil has to do that trade. I mean, poiled breaks his fingers trying to call that one in, right? Like, like, you do whatever it, you do whatever it takes.

You throw desks out of the way and, like, phone that one in before, before the offer vanishes, because it's unbelievable and it's a perfect trade for, it's a perfect trade for Nashville for sure. But that doesn't inherently mean that, you know, Tampa lost it either. So all these people, like, I, Slurms has picked the wrong. Boys, hashtag Tuesday, boys threesies when it comes to this

because I think we're both on board. Like we're both lightning-pilled, both of us still, like for better or worse. So, happy anniversary of John Cooper, 10 years, Richard Smith.

How about that, man? 10 years. So let me tell a quick story. Oh, yeah, go for it. So yeah, go for it. So, yeah, go for it. All producer Jeff said was, hey, let's keep that last segment tight.

The only reason he said that is because you have a call that you need to get on. 45 minutes. Cares. John Cooper gets called up from the HL and is staying at that Marriott right by the rink. I get sent to Tampa to, I was at ESPN the magazine at the time for a week. This was like magazine heyday to talk to Stephen Stamco. It was just like, I had a 300-word story to write or whatever.

Actually, the real story was we were doing a first-person story. Steven Stamcoast was writing a letter to a. his younger self, which ties in a little bit with Priana Decker was actually a really good thing in the Mac. Anyways, so John Cooper, who I'd only spoken to on the phone, were both in the same hotel. And I'm like, and he's just like, hey, let's go grab a beer. And we just, like, it was like hanging out with somebody you knew. And I know everyone says this about John Cooper.

But it was like, it was incredible. I'm like, this guy is amazing. I hope he never changes. And he's won a bunch of cups. And he's been highly successful. and it's easy to see why because I would have loved to play for him. Like he just seems like somebody that understands the leadership motivation side and has kept that team together. And of course, he's loaded, you know, the team's loaded.

But I think he's been the perfect coach for that team. And, you know, it was just really cool to kind of be in that moment of time with them as you saw this career about to skyrocket. And I could have predicted it. I'm sure I did. Whatever podcast I was recording that week. Not with Sean Jatilly. No, certainly not.

I think he's one of those guys. I think, you know, I think of this in terms of actors a lot of the time, where you see guys who have to grind it out for a few years. It takes a while for them to get famous. Maybe they don't get their big break until they're in their 30s or whatever. Pedro Pascal comes in mind, right?

Like he, you know, he's like everybody's favorite, favorite dude right now because of his success in the Mandalorian and because of the last of us and all like, whatever. But that guy got well into his career before he broke. He had a bunch of small, thankless, you know, pointless kind of roles where he was just dude number five in a movie, right?

But now he's at his break and he's just this grateful, personable, charismatic, you know, delightful dude who everybody seems to like. And I think that, and I always, that's sort of the print. and I've heard actors talk about this, like, whether it's a podcast or whatever, but it's like, you got, if you struggle a little bit, you're better off for it. And if you don't find success when you're 19 or 22 or 24, and if you have to like, you know, kind of, you know, shovel shit for a few years, then you're better off for it down the line. It turns you into a better, more well-rounded, more interesting person

because you haven't just been like in the actor rabbit hole for your entire adult life, right? And that's this kind of principle that I always think of with guys like Cooper who are, you know, of course he's a smart, it was a smart dude and a successful dude, but he was not, you know, a particularly, you know, he had to grind it out in the hockey world until he's pretty, pretty far, pretty far into his career, right?

And that's always what I think of when we talk about it. If you're a lawyer trying to become an NHL coach, you have to earn everything you get. Like there was nothing handed to John Cooper. 100%. So that takes a while. And he wasn't coming from the world of, you know, the pipeline that we see with so many coaches where it's like they play juniors and then they're pros. And then after pros, they get into maybe do a little bit of announcing or maybe they go

into like player development. And then before you know it, they're head coaches and whatever. John Cooper is an adult with real. life experiences that were not tethered to hockey in any way at all. And I think that comes through with the way he speaks. And I think it comes through with the way he deals with people because that guy had to do other shit for years until he got his big break as a coach. And that's something that I always think of when you see him, like when you talk to him or when you see him talk to others. I'm like, this guy had to figure it out as a human being before he figured it out as a hockey coach. And

I think there's something to be said for that. This concludes lightning hour, the third segment. The Pedro Pascal, John Cooper comparison that you didn't know you needed today. Congratulations, everybody. We did it. They're doing good things down there. Michael Kay is wondering how many shows can I actually make in a row? Because I got a bit of a bit of a Ripkin Street going right now.

It's like, what do I have three or four? No, because we miss the HLTMs. We skipped a week. I don't know if that one counts. I feel like, I feel like if I feel like if you count shows that you and I did together, yeah, we're probably

we're on a good little streak and guess what? Guess what, Michael Kay. I'm out next week. Sorry. Max is in. Max is in. Let's just, no, we'll see.

I'll see how that goes. This has the gut. Can I ask this one? I think this is slurms, but there was a couple references to this. You were a little hard on fanatics, Sean. I thought you were, Did they get to you too?

They get to me? No, they didn't. I don't. I don't know if you did. But the slurms and the question is, is there anything they can do to make this right? Stop selling jerseys for $150 that shrink in, you know, crack and fall apart in the wash.

Is it? Make better shit. It's the solution. And we'll see it. We'll see if it happens. Guess what? Got a lot of time to see if it works out or not. See what Fanatics looks like in five or six years.

I just want to say, welcome back to Caleb B. Yeah. In a minute since he's listed and he's enjoying it. Eric's voice is the stuff of legends, he says. That's true. Old Velvet Pipes Custons. The comments this week also turned into a referendum on the way I pronounce certain words, which I think was kind of inevitable

because I've had some issues over the last couple weeks, let's say. What was the hell? You butchered a couple weeks. I can't remember. And it was like, it was something that I... It was seismic. Yeah.

I blend that I'd be in a regionalism, which is not true. But it's just me not knowing how to say something. But in my defense, nine times out of ten, if I mispronounced something, it is because I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania.

which is just hermetically sealed from the rest of the world for however long and developed its own weird, incorrect kind of linguistic ticks. So I'll blame that. The one specifically that Nick P. said, and I, this was, but again, also just a mistake that I made, it's Michael Granland, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins and who has played for the Nashville Predators in Minnesota Wild for years. I had broken myself of the habit of calling him Michael or McAil. The correct way to say it is Mikhail.

And for whatever reason, like I just backslid last week and called him Michael, Michael Grandin's. And I hate it. I hate, we can sit here and joke about, you know, mispronouncing seismic or whatever. I hate mispronouncing people's names. Well, Lancaster is correct, by the way. That's different. That's different. Like, there's regional things, even, you know, like, yeah.

Chris J, by the way, for the record. but before we even go further into that, Chris Jay says, Sean is pronouncing Lancaster the proper Lancaster County way. So props to that because far too many do not. So I was correct about that. But Michael Granlin and size men.

Absolutely not. But I hate me. I hate screwing up people's names because people screw up Miami and it drives me crazy. It's like a very disrespectful thing to like knowingly mispronounce someone's name or not care enough to figure it out. So I do feel bad.

I hate doing it. I mean, don't be so hard. yourself. Jeez. I threw up after the record last week, if you want to know the truth. Sick of it. I'm going to end, unless you have anything else to add.

No. It's worth noting, Shana has a podcast, too many men. We can plug that because we're trying to trade us for her. Constantly. Adam B., I think we'll give Adam B. I think we'll give Adam B the last words. Gary conducted a survey, and it told him that many fans don't mind fanatics and maybe even love them. So you know I'm on Team Gary. Can't wait for those fanatics jerseys to skate past the electronic board ads, baby. It's just a dream, dream scenario for some of the NHL's focus group participants, yes.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Athletic Hockey Show on YouTube where Sean and I are perfectly normal and not stiff at all as we try to keep our heads within the three skinny screens. Guys being normal. That's the name of our... YouTube show. I thought the Katie Stranglers was okay. This is actually a normal way to sit. Katie did great. It's, it's, the YouTube is growing on me.

So, so subscribe to that. Give it a follow or whatever you smash the button. Also, hey, a dollar per month for 12 months of the athletic. This is, go to the athletic.com slash hockey show, H-O-C-K-E-Y I should have to spell hockey I don't know I spelled that It's all in all caps

On the reading thing I'm like I'm turning in a run- Sounds like the first time You spelled it out loud Honestly Hockey I felt

I almost got it wrong This offer stands until the end of the month Which is not that far away Nope We got We're back next week With I'm we aren't

Sean and Guest co-host Is it Maximilian? I don't think that's right We put these big names. It's Maxwell. Max, Balton.

Max Balton. Maxwell. Maximilian. Maximilian. Maximus. That's it. Maximus. Enjoy the show.

He's the best. One of these days we'll just hand them the thing. Have a great. Thanks to producer Jeff for lining up Brianna Decker. And thanks to, more importantly, thanks to Breanna Decker for appearing. Great conversation. Happy New York, everybody. Have a great week.

Bye.