The Athletic Hockey Show - NHL predictions for 22/23, Connor McDavid ready to lead the Edmonton Oilers to the promised land and Matt Barzal extension with NY Islanders

Episode Date: October 5, 2022

Rob Pizzo, Jesse Granger and Michael Russo give their predictions for the upcoming season including who wins the Cup, the Hart, the Norris, which coach gets fired first and who gets more points this season, Jonathan Huberdeau or Matthew Tkachuk?Daniel Nugent-Bowman, who covers the beat in Edmonton for the Oilers stops by as the Athletic Hockey Show continues to cover the top storylines of the upcoming season. Can Connor McDavid and Jack Campbell lead the Oilers to a deep playoff run? Will the Oilers figure out the teams cap issues?Plus the guys discuss Matthew Barzal's extension with the NY Islanders and Cam Talbot's injury in Ottawa. Subscribe to The Athletic Hockey Show on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3BKz27u Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Athletic Hockey Show. What's going on, everybody? Welcome to another fantastic edition of the Athletic Hockey Show, the Wednesday Roundtable edition, the last one before the official start of the 2022-23 season. I'm Rob Pizzo from ZBC Sports, joined as always. My Jesse Granger in Vegas. How are you?

Doing well. How are you? I'm doing good. I'm excited for the season to start, as I'm sure is, Mike Russo, who's joining us from Minnesota. How are you, Mike? I'm doing great. And we'll probably throw a shot or jab at Daniel Nugentumboehm in to talk Oilers a little more in the second half of the show. So you got Rob Pizzo, you got Mike Russo, you got Jesse Granger, you got a couple days before the season begins.

What does that mean, guys? Predictions. We have to do our predictions. Everybody does their predictions. And the best part of predictions, when you're right, you bring them up at the end of the season. I call this on October the 5th. And when you're wrong, you just never happened. You'd pretend it we never said a damn thing.

So we got a lot. We've got 15 things to get through. And I want your opinions on all of them. And we're going to cram as many of these in the first segment as we can. You guys are ready to go? Yep. All right, let's do this. Number one, who's going to have more points?

Jonathan Huberdow or Matthew Kachuk, big trade in the off season. Obviously, one of the ones we've talked about quite a bit. we will start this one with Jesse. I'm going to go with Kachuk. With the reason being, I think these guys are both going to have some, a period of kind of adjusting. But I think his game is easier to adjust. It doesn't depend on him having chemistry with the teammates.

He's going to cause havoc in front of the net. He's going to get tips. He's going to get rebounds. He's going to get deflections. Whereas I think Huberdo, he had such great rapport with those guys in Florida. I think it's going to take him some time to build that in Calgary. Mike? Yeah, I hear what you're saying.

I'm going to go with Hubertow. And I'm not just doing the old, you know, like you got to disagree with the person you're going up against the guy. I hate when they manufacture it on TV. But I just, there's something about Hubertow's game that I just loved in Florida last year. I mean, every game I watched, he just worked his absolute butt off. And I just think that, you know, for a guy that finally really broke out and had a ton of points, I think that's going to translate in Calgary playing for somebody like Darrell Sutter, who I think sometimes people too often look at him as just being this defensive-minded coach.

And, you know, the other thing is so far in camp, Kachuk and Barkoff haven't played together. Who knows that's obviously fluid. That could change very easily. But I'm going to go with Huberdo right now. As am I. I'm going with Huberdo mainly because I think he's got more to proof. I mean, he was shocked. He was upset when the trade happened.

I've heard Daryl Sutter with very pro-Huberdo and very anti-Kachuk comments in the offseason. I think he's going to give him all the rope he needs. to score a lot of points. Vegas has the overrunner for Huberto at 94.5, while Kachuk's at 83.5. I think a man with something to prove is kind of like that guy going into a UFA year. The points are going to come.

Topic number two, kind of along the same, you know, topic. Who finishes with more points as a team? The Calgary Flames or the Florida Panthers. Mike, we'll start with you on this one. I think the flames, I think the easier division, you know, although I do think, that the LA Kings, the Anaheim Ducks and the Vancouver Canucks are going to be better this year. But I just think there's more chances to peel off points in that division. And I just,

I really like the flames, especially with that goaltender in Marksroom. Yeah, I hate to just copy what Mike said, but this division sucks. Pacific Division is bad. I think the Pacific Division is clearly the worst of the four divisions. And I think Florida, whenever you have that breakout 122 points season. I think you're bound to have some, some, just falling back to earth. I still think they're going to be a really good team. But I think Calgary, even with all the new pieces, I think they're going to have a pretty easy time in this division. There's not, maybe Edmonton is really the only other team that can contend with them for, for that Pacific title. So it's a much, much easier path for the flame. So I'll go with them. I'm going to make it a clean sweep. Not only is it a

shitty division, they got better, which is mind-blowing when you lose 240 goals scores that your team at least in my opinion, got better. Topic number three, Nazim Kadri, will he have more or less points than he did last year? He had 87 points. Jesse. This might be the easiest prediction we make.

There's absolutely zero chance he's getting as many points as he had last year. None. I bet as much money as you want. I don't know what his point total is. The problem is his point total over under is probably way below that because if it wasn't,

the sports books would get hammered underbets. No chance he matches it. It was a it was an amazing season on a team that was ridiculously talented. There's no chance he matches it. Yeah. And on that team, you're making sure you focal focus point is on checking McKinnon. And I think it opens things up for Cadre. So I agree with you. I mean, right now, according to Daly faceoff, his linemates are Mangiopane and Dylan Dubei. That's not exactly, you know, Colorado-like. So I would agree with you. 87 points last year, Cadre had. I think it'll be tough for him to reach that this year.

Very, very tough. And like I said, a player going into a UFA season who wants to get paid has that extra motivation, he gets paid. I'm not saying that the motivation completely goes away or anything, but that that drive maybe is there to put up the point. So I'm going to make a clean sweep with the no as well. Johnny Gujarro shocked everybody. One of the biggest surprises in the offseason heading to Columbus.

And of course, as soon as somebody goes there, you think, who are they going to play with? And Patrick Linae's name keeps getting brought up. So here's the question, guys. Will Johnny Gujarro get Patrick Liney his first 50 goal season? Russo, you're up. I'm going to go, no. I actually like Line, but I don't like his work ethic on too many nights. And they're just even watching last year.

Actually, one of those games last year that I was thinking about when Huberto, when I was talking about his work ethic, was a game against Columbus where I felt Line was. was absolutely dogging it the entire game. So he's going to have to play a harder game and not just sitting that, you know, left face off circle and swipe puck. So my guess is no. Yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to guess no also. His career high is 44 that happened back in 2017, 18. To me, when I look at that, it's he played 82 games that year. He hasn't played over 70 games since then. It's been a while. And he hasn't played over 70 games. He only played 56 last season. I just don't think he's going to be available enough to score 50 goals. You've got to be out there for probably 70, 75 games to

score 50 goals. And I just, so far, the last five years, it hasn't looked like he can do that. See, Rousseau clearly we didn't agree to disagree because I'm going to make a clean sweep yet again. And here's the reason. I just don't see Goudro and Line 8 being line mates for the entire season. I just don't. Because when you look at Columbus, okay, you've got Gujarro, you've got line A and what, Boone Jenner down the middle. That's a very top-heavy. lineup when you look at the rest of the Columbus blue jackets. I could see them trying to split those guys up to move the offense around. I just don't see 50 goals from line. And I totally agree with Jesse. I don't know if I see 82 games, whether he's playing with

Gujarro or not. We're just motoring along here, guys. All right, will the Ottawa senators who were obviously very busy and a lot of people applauding what they did in the offseason, will they be in the playoffs come seasons? And Jesse, you're up. I'm going to say yes, because it's more fun than saying no because they never make the playoffs. Well, at least they haven't in a long time. That division, you've got Florida, Toronto, and Tampa that are clearly the best three. Last year, it was such a big split between the four with Boston and the rest. I mean, it was the Grand Canyon between the four that were in the playoffs and the four that weren't.

I think Boston's taken a big step back. I think losing Bruce Cassidy hurts. They have major injury problems. And I think there is, whether it's that top wildcard spot or maybe the second wildcard spot, maybe the other division doesn't take all the spots like they did last year. I think Ottawa gets in. Yeah, this is a tough one, guys. I mean, like I really do like the Ottawa senators.

I was talking to LeBron about this about three weeks ago, how I think they probably had the second best offseason out there with Calgary. But a 27 point improvement would be what they would need based on last year's point threshold of Washington getting in at 100. That just seems awfully, awfully high. But I agree with you. Like, I think Boston takes a step back. if depending on what happens with Marshaun and McAvoy and how long they're out.

It just, there are teams to me that aren't nearly as impressive this year, but 27 points. I know I'm sort of waffling and not giving an answer. I just think it's going to be awfully tough. So I'm going to go no. I'm going to waffle a bit too. Here's what I will say.

Ottawa Senator fans will have a reason to check the standings for most of the season. That's what I'll say. I think they'll keep it interesting and they're definitely moving in the right direction. I'm with Mike in that the numbers just don't add up for that quick of a change. I know they're saying the rebuild is over and you got to pat Pierre Dorian on the back what he did in the off season to keep this team moving in that direction. The Cam Talbot injury certainly doesn't help. But this division is tough and I just, it's going to be tough.

Next year, maybe that's a whole other story. Let's talk goals, guys. Austin Matthews knows how to do it. 60 last year. Does he do 60 again? this year. Jesse. So usually when a guy scores a career high, you think, okay, his shooting percentage was off the charts. It's probably not going to do that again. I went and looked, Austin Matthews actually had a lower shooting percentage this year than he did last year. That's

incredible. To me, that tells me, yes, he can absolutely do it again. His shot totals have gone way up from 222 years ago to 348 last year. That is a massive jump. I think I don't mean to interrupt you. I was betting the over on Austin Matthews shots per game, almost every game early on season. They kept setting it at like two and a half, three and a half shots a game. I'm like, you'll get that in the first period. But continue. I want to throw that in there.

I think I think between the increased volume of shots and I think the power play, the other big difference from the year before to last year when he made that big jumping goals is he only scored three power play goals the year before. That jumped up to 13 last year. I think Spencer Carberry, he's the guy that kind of runs that power play. I think he's a great power play mind. He was a guy that I thought Vegas should have looked at to hire, so I did quite a bit of research on him. I think the Maple Leaf's Power Play is going to keep clicking. Yeah, I think Matthews can score 60 or more.

I agree. I mean, what, he didn't score, I think in, what, six of the first seven games or five of the first six last year? I was thinking that with even Caprice off here in Minnesota. He had 47 and he didn't score in the first eight games. I scored, I covered Pavel Burry when he scored 58 and 59 goals in a clutch and grab era in Florida. and it's still one of the most exciting teams I've ever covered, just watching him play. And you look at Austin Matthews right now and the fact that this league is just getting more and more offensive. Like, I don't think that last year in a league that it just felt like we were in that soft puck era,

it just felt to me like that's not going to change. The way the rules are now, I just think that Austin's going to continue to thrive. And I see that this league as offensive as it was last year, I think it's going to continue to produce major, major. offensive totals and Austin's as good as it gets. I think he hits 60 and I think he flirts with 70. I think we actually talk about a possible 50 and 50. I think he scores in such bunches that if he doesn't get off to that slow start,

we're going to talk about it. He scored in 41 games last year and in those 41 games, he had 60 goals. It's what he's doing and the type of goals he scores too. Like sometimes he scores from angles that you just shouldn't be able to score on. His release is something like you just don't see anywhere else in the, league. He had 20% of the Leafs goals. I mean, we can just do this all day. I think 60s right in there. And I think he flirts with 70 goals. Let's move over to Chicago, guys. You know, there was that era

where Chicago was the model franchise, people asking whether or not it was a dynasty, three cups in six years. And now we're asking the question if Jonathan Taves and Patrick Kane will still be Blackhawks by the end of the season. Russo will start with you on this one. It's a good question. I mean, like, Kane, I'm telling you, I was just in Milwaukee the other day, guys, and Kane looked miserable, and he looked like he was going through the motions. Now, how much of that was just playing a preseason game in Milwaukee, which a lot of veterans don't want to get into. But he just, you know, he just didn't look like himself at all. And, you know, I think that they're going to want to get themselves out of there. And I think they're going to make that very clear to management. And so my gut says that at least one of the two gets, uh, gets traded this year. And I can see being. can. Yeah, I agree. I think it's Kane. I think if this team is looking to rebuild, which they clearly have, I think the last couple years, they've been delaying it. They've been in denial that they need to rebuild and they've been trying to get guys like Seth Jones. But I think based on their moves this off season, I think it's clear that they have finally realized it's time to rebuild.

And I think the one guy you can get a lot for is Kane. I mean, this guy is an elite goal score. There's going to be a contender, whether it's now or at the deadline. And I think at the deadline, he becomes even more valuable because that cap, it is so minor once you get to that far in the season. I mean, you only have to, you only have to account for that percent, that small percentage that he's got left in the season. I think at the deadline, you can get a pretty penny for Kane, and it's going to be too hard for them to turn that down. That's going to really help jumpstart the rebuild. Key word, you said there was elite. He's still elite. And he's a guy who's won Stanley Cups who can help a team do so and knows how to do so and is still, those hands just won't go away for a long.

time and Patrick Kane will not be a Blackhawk by the end of the season. I agree. Jonathan Taves, I can see that move not happening. Alexander Ovechkin, the freak that he is, scored 50 goals again last year. So the question was asked, will OV score 40 or more goals this year? I'm going to go first on this one, guys, because something that's happened 12 times since 2005, I'm not betting against it happening. I used to think the 894 record from some guy who wore number 99ers back was unreachable. not necessarily saying that anymore. He starts a season, 145 goals away.

I think it's crazy that he scored 50 goals in his 17th NHL season. That's bananas. And I'm never betting against him not scoring 40. So I'm going with yes. Jesse, you with me? Yeah, I'm with you. I think you said it best when you said it's happened 12 times. What are we doing even like debate?

It's going to happen again. And if it doesn't, that'll suck. But I'm really hoping that it does because, man, it's fun to watch that guy just stand that circle and beat goalies from the same exact spot over and over and over again. I think he does it. What do you think, Mike? Yeah, let's just make this a quick one. Yes. What other player could literally go to the goalie on the other team and say, this is where I'm going to stand, this is where I'm going to shoot from, and just go out and score 749 goals? Or just the opposing penalty kill. Right. I mean, it's just like, you know, I mean, I just think

it's hilarious. Like every single pre-scout for every single coach in the league says this is where he's going to score his power play goals from. Stand there. Block it. Do something. And yet he just stands there and scores. It's just magnificent to watch. Well, we're going to probably talk about a coach getting fired at some point this season, guys. So let's look into our crystal ball. Who's the first one to get the pink slip? Jesse. Yeah, this, I really had a hard time coming up with this one. Part of me said La Vialette because I think the capitals might overwhelm, but I think the one, like, Haxstall is the one I'm going to go with. And

the reason I waver on this is because I don't think Haxdall's that good of a coach. I think Seattle can do better, but I don't know how patient they're going to be in Seattle. They're clearly taking the long-term approach here. And part of me says, no, they aren't going to fire Hax-Stall, no matter how bad they are because they are taking this

six-year approach to try to build this team. They're building through the draft. I don't know, but I do expect Seattle to be bad again. I think maybe the expectations are a little higher with some of their young stars finally starting to play. So I'll go hackstall. What do you think, Mike? Yeah, I think the most pressure is obviously on Sheldon Keefe.

I mean, there's no doubt about that. I think the most vulnerable is probably Bruce Boudreau. Just being in the last year of his deal, they only were willing to give him the option, not extend them two or three years. And the other thing with Vancouver, once they gave J.T. Miller that long-term extension, that to me says they want to win now. and a team that has Pedersen and Horvad and J.T. Miller up the middle with that goalie and Demko, there is a lot of pressure to win now, so they better get off to a good start. But the guy I'm going to go with is Dallas Aiken. So, you know, new, you know, second year GM, usually when a GM comes in there, you're going to want your own guy. This is already, I think, Dallas's

fourth year there. I do think they've made moves to show that they still, even though it's a building situation, they're going to want to win there. So I'm going to go with Dallas Aikins. It's interesting. Sheldon Keith is the favorite in Vegas, as the the first coach to get fired, which I agree the pressure's on, but this team doesn't have problems winning in the regular season. Right. Some coaches are going to be tough to fire. Yeah. The reason I don't pick him is because someone's going to get fired before the Leafs lose in the first round. Yeah, exactly. So when and if the leaves lose in the first round, I agree. Sheldon Key may get the acts, but this team's going to challenge for the President's trophy, in my opinion.

It's just a matter of when they can get to the playoffs. I'm going to quickly contradict myself a little bit here. I do think the Ottawa senators are going to take a big step forward. But if they don't, I think DJ Smith goes. I think they are at a point where we've heard it now two years in row. The rebuild is over. And if they're going in the wrong direction, I can see them wanting to make a change. All right, guys, this is a little more rapid fire. I want your answer. I want a quick sentence as to why you pick that answer because these are picks that everyone does. Mike, last place team in the NHL this year. We're going to go way out on a limb. I have a feeling this is going to be another clean sweep.

Maybe not. I'm going to go Hawks. Oh, wow. Yeah. Why the Hawks? I just think they suck. Absolutely. I mean, again, they brought a pretty representative lineup the other day and that team

is just bad. You got two goalies and net that, you know, maybe, you know, Marazek hasn't played a ton in the last couple of years. Same things with Steylock. Just not, not loving that team right now. Jesse. I'm going to go with the Flyers because I think Tortorella makes them hate their lives by the end of the season and they all just want to quit hockey. And I think the Arizona State

coyotes are going to get a boost from that awesome facility they're playing in with the intimate environment. So I'm going to go Flyers worst team in the league. I thought we'd all be going with the Arizona coyotes are proud to select Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. I think they're going to be so horrible. I was looking at Dom's model. They have a 0.03% chance or about 3,001 of making the playoffs. Not winning the cup, making the point. playoffs. I'm going with the Arizona Coyotes. Now let's go to the other end of the spectrum. President's trophy. Jesse. Colorado, they're the best team in the league and it's not close. I think in the playoffs,

crazy things can happen, but over a regular season, they're the best team. Ditto. We clean sweep this one. That's interesting. We didn't clean sweep how terrible Arizona's going be. But yeah, we're all on board with the Colorado Avalanche. I wonder if we're going to be on board of this one. Rocket Richard Trophy. Mike. Austin Matthews. Yeah. I mean, I just argued why he's going to score over over 60 and I don't think anybody's going to score more than that. So Matthews, these are easy. And you called them, Rob, you said 70. I said 70s.

Unless someone's going to score more than 70, it's Austin Matthews. Norris Trophy, Mike. Oh, man, that is a good one. I'm going to go, I'm going to go Yose. I just, I still think that he is just, I mean, right on top of the league and just everything. And, you know, obviously I watch him a ton between Minnesota and Nashville. I still think he is, he's not taking a step back.

anytime soon. Yeah, I think it's either Yossi or McCar. I'm going to go McCar. He might win it every year for the next 10 years. But until people get tired of voting for him, and I don't think we're tired of voting for him yet, so he's going to win it. I think Yosey always, Yosey's offensive totals always make people think. But when you watch Kail McCar and how he controls the game, he is the best defenseman on planet Earth. He's just incredible. Heart trophy, the big one, the most valuable player, dot, dot, dot, dot, to his team, which we have to remember. Mike, go with you on this one. I'm going to go with McDavid. I'm, you know, I know that we're going to have Daniel on here in about a second here to talk about the Edmonton Oilers. And I guarantee, you know,

one of the big things here this year is, is just talking to him at the NHL Media Tour a couple weeks ago. McDavid is just, you know, determined to make amends for what he feels was an embarrassing showing by his team against the avalanche last year in the, in the Cups of semifinals. And I just think this guy's going to come in ready now with the goaltender and Jack Campbell, Let's be honest, Jack Campbell is not the reason why the Maple Leafs lost last year. I think that that team is going to be really good. And then when you have McDavid just driving the bus, I'm going to go with McDavid. Yeah, I'm going to McDavid also.

I think he's the best player in the world. And I think that he kind of sees all the talk about Austin Matthews. Is he catching up to McDavid? Is he as good? Look at all these goals. Nathan McKinnon got all the love all summer long about how a lot of people say he's better because his team won. I think McDavid is more motivated than he's ever been.

prove he's the best player in the world. You talked about voter fatigue, kind of getting tired of voted for somebody. I think we're getting there with McDavid. So I'm going with McKinn. Not too many players like them can score, can pass. And man, is he fast? All right, the big one, guys, how we're going to end this segment. There's Stanley Cup champion who wants to go first because this one, I can tell you both are still kind of debating on who you want to take. So I'll pick, Jesse, go All right. Yeah, I'm not, this is not a convicted answer. I'll tell you that. It's so hard to pick. I mean, the avalanche are the best team, but I don't want to pick them to win it back to back. I'm going to take Carolina Hurricanes, a team that we talk about how like you always try to find the next team that's going to copy what the last team did. They've been close, just like Colorado has. They've had really, really elite regular season teams that just haven't shown up in the playoffs. I think Freddie Anderson may not be elite, but he's the best goalie they've had there. I think they made some great moves in the off season. Paul, Stasney, Brent Burns, I think, is going to bring a lot, especially to a team that holds the puck in the offensive zone as much as that team does. I think it's going to bring out his strengths and

hide some of his weaknesses that we're kind of showing in San Jose. I like what the hurricanes did. If they can get Max Patch Ready back miraculously after that Achilles tear, it'd be even better. That team stacked. I'm going to go with hurricanes. Man, that's who I was going to go with, so now I have to change it. No, you don't. I'm so glad I went first. I'm so glad I went first. You know, I do wonder where Carolina could have gone last year if they had a healthy Freddie in there. You know, he obviously had the injury. You know what I'm going to do just for the fun for shits and giggles? I'm going Toronto.

Oh. Just like I, I just, I say Ottawa can't get a 27 point improvement to make the playoffs, but somehow this team that can never win in the first round is going to go and win the cup. But I believe in Dom decision. I can't spell his last name, but I believe in him. And his model says that's the team to beat, right? So we got to go with, we got to trust our analytics expert

and nobody has better models in Dom. So I'm going with Toronto. We're going to see Matt Murray. We're going to see Matt Murray parading that cup. With the cons smite right beside him too, right? Yeah. I can't believe I'm doing this guys.

But when you think about it, having the two best offensive players in the world on your team and one generational player usually should baits you in a Stanley Cup. I'll go with the Eminton Oilers. I think they finally got a full nice supporting cast where it's not McDavid and Drysidal or Bust.

I think it's been an upgrade in net. I think everywhere around this team got better. And I think last year really showed a step in the right direction. And if they could get Jack Campbell to play well enough to get them to move along, they'll outscore any team that stays close. Obviously, Colorado is a huge, huge hurdle. They'll have to overcome. come, but yeah, I'm taking the Edmonton Oilers.

So there, guys. That is our crystal ball predictions, 15 of them. And like we said, the rule is this. If we are right, we will go back to this YouTube channel and play this clip over and over again. If we are wrong, we never said a thing. I did a ton of research for this segment, too. So there you have it, guys. Our crystal ball predictions, 15 of them.

for the upcoming 22-23 season. And remember the rules, guys. If we're right, we're going to brag about it and tell everyone we called it in October. If we're wrong, well, guess what? We're never going to talk about it again. But we are going to talk to Daniel Nudgeon-Bowman about about the Edmonton-Oilers that we talked about a lot in that first segment. So don't go anywhere.

All right. Continuing the athletics, look at the top 10 storylines going into the 2022-23 season. This week's focus is the Edmonton Oilers, guys. And the question that I got emailed seems simple enough. Can Connor McDavid lead the Oilers to the Promise Land? And it seems like a simple question, but there are so many layers as to whether or not that's going to happen. So we got some help. DNB, Daniel Nudra Bowman joining us to talk some Oilers.

How are you, Daniel? I'm well. It's good to be on with you guys. I guess we can attack this question without first kind of going backwards a little bit to the playoffs last year. because if you're an Euler fan, there certainly was a lot to get excited about. I mean, that Battle of Alberta series was one of the most entertaining series I've seen in a long time. We saw McDavid somehow find another gear.

We saw Leon Drysidle excel on one leg. I mean, what can we take at least from that playoff run that'll spill into this season that maybe gives the Euler fans something to be excited about? Well, I think it's like Connor McDavid and Leon Drysiddle are pretty good. I think we've figured that out by now. you know, these are guys that have won scoring titles and, you know, MVPs and, you know, for a long time here, it was just these two players. And to some degree, you saw that in the playoffs,

with those two going just absolutely crazy offensively and especially, you know, as great as McDavid was, the end of that Los Angeles King series was the best, I think, I've ever seen in play. Then you look at Leon Drysiddle, and as you mentioned, Rob playing on one leg and doing what he did. These guys were at two points a game and posting offensive numbers for guys that had that didn't end up making the finals, not seen since Doug Gilmore 93. So I mean, what more can you ask of those two guys?

But they started to have this cast of characters around them that were, you know, you don't get to the Stanley Cup semifinal without, without some guys kind of contributing to the cause. And, you know, even underrated guys like Cody C. see, you know, Mike Smith had his moments. He's obviously gone now, but Zach Hyman, obviously, Evander Kane, who's back, scoring at almost a goal of game. So when you look at that group and they're back, you know, they have a full year under

head coach Jay Woodcroft who took over with about 37 games left. And then you add the, you know, a goaltender in Jack Campbell, who kind of solidifies that position for the first time, giving them a started goaltender, or the first time, rather, since, you know, in four years since Cam Talbot was here. This can be a team that I don't think is quite at that top tier with, you know, Colorado and Tampa Bay, but probably that next year behind and especially in what I think is a pretty weak division, a pretty relatively weak conference. I, you know, I think this is the time for, for Edmonton to make some noise.

So I think they could, you know, you never know exactly in the playoffs. They could play Calgary again and easily lose a series to the point. But the goal is certainly to get to the Stanley Cup final and ultimately to win the Stanley Cup. And I give them a puncher's chance to do that or as good as chance to say, you know, a few other teams in the NHL. Daniel, I couldn't agree more with you when you really assess the conference and division as a whole. Like I look at Colorado being the clear number one. And to me, I don't see why Edmonton can't be the clear number two. And, you know, talking a couple weeks ago with McDavid at the, at the NHL carwash,

it sure felt like he realizes that now this could be their time and that he still feels like there's a long way to go after playing Colorado last year. What type of, you know, right now do you see in him and his determination to really take this team to the, you know, proverbial promise land? Well, it's funny because that was the best run and the best team that Connor McDavid's ever been on, but they lost in the conference final and they got swept in a series that they were never really in. And I mean, they kept a few games close, but it was a sweep for the abs and one that was justly deserved. And you kind of got the impression in the day or two that followed that it was kind of like Nathan McKinnon the year before where he said, you know, we have, I haven't won anything or, you know, and you kind of got that from McDavid and Drysidal and some of those core players where they feel like, you know, they only got halfway there when you look at it because they didn't even win a game in the conference final. So McDavid is, you know, I haven't been around that many athletes,

but certainly the most driven athlete I have ever been around. I mean, this guy wants to find ways to get better. He, you know, he's worked on his shot the last couple of years. He's, you know, been very studious in the last couple years in terms of understanding what it means to be a better defensive player and certainly working on that quite a bit more under Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson when they took over in February, there's going to be a little ways that he gets better

over the course of his career, kind of like Sidney Crosby, where McDavid's faceoff play has gotten much better in the last two or three years. So, you know, it's getting to the point where you're probably going to see the tip of the iceberg for McDavid in terms of sheer numbers and, you know, offensive production points, whatnot.

But I don't think we're quite there yet, but I think all, ultimately as he surpasses that or gets to that point and starts to kind of tail off from an offensive perspective, it'll be a gradual one because he's an amazing player. But I think he'll round out his game and continue to round out his game in other ways to make him, you know, the Hall of Fame player that he already is and one that will ultimately win at least one Stanley Cup and maybe a couple over the course of his career. Daniel, you mentioned goaltending, getting better. And to me, when I look at this team, I feel like the depth of the forwards and goaltending was the biggest concerns.

I'm wondering how much do you think they fixed it? How much do the players in the room? How confident are they that Jack Campbell is the answer? Because I think there's a great argument that Jack Campbell is a clear upgrade over Mike Smith. But there's also an argument of a team that just thought Jack Campbell wasn't maybe good enough to get them to where they wanted to be in Toronto. So like what is the feeling in the room? What's the feeling in Edmontie? in terms of where the goalies are at. Well, you're never going to hear a bad word about Mike Smith because this guy is a fine, a finely conditioned athlete who, you know, lasted in the NHL into his 40s and was a real vocal and, I would say,

on-ice leader for that team. But it's clear to me that Jack Campbell is an upgrade over Mike Smith. I mean, he's far younger, you know, 10, 12 years younger, right in kind of, if not the prime, then maybe just past the ultimate prime of it, of a goaltender and goaltender sometimes, as you know, Jesse can kind of stretch their careers out a little bit longer. You look at, you know, Mark Henry Fleury as one example of a guy you covered.

I mean, and Jack Campbell's kind of a young 30-year-old. He's somebody whose career took a long time to materialize, and it's really been the last couple of years with the Maple Leafs that he was able to establish himself as a number one goaltender. Now, that maybe gives you a little bit of cause or pause where you think, oh, okay, maybe he's not, maybe the quite the, quite the, quite the established bull tender that you'd hope for a team of this caliber.

But I think not only is he primed and ready to take this job, and there's a lot of guys on the Oilers, I kind of misspoke there, that believe in them because he has so many foreign teammates with the Leafs that really love this guy, that respect him. And he's come in and really tried to make his presence felt and also get to know it and build some camaraderie with some of the guys,

you know, Stuart Skinner, his goaltending partner to be one of them. But Zach Hyman, Cody Cici, Tyson Berry, really all know him really well and speak very highly of him. The Oilers just need, in my opinion, good, consistent goaltending. They don't need, you know, a vest-ne caliber trophy type of guy. Obviously, every team would want that and that would be a luxury. But the Oilers, with the offense firepower that they have, we've talked about McDavid.

I think this is the best top nine that they've ever had. in the McDavid era, they're going to outscore a lot of problems. And their power play has been either the best or among the best for the last three years. You know, I think they just need competent, good goaltending. And Jack Campbell should be able to provide them with that. And the offense should take care of everything else. Daniel, teams responding positively when there's a coaching change midseason is nothing new. We see it all the time.

And we saw it with the Oilers last year. but a lot of times you'll see a team stumble out of the gate with that same coach the next year. And I'm wondering what you're expecting to see from a, as you mentioned it earlier, Jay Woodcroft getting now a full camp, a full season, everything in front of him, has the uptick from a coaching change worn off? Or do you think this is some changes we're going to see leading into the season that with 82 games in front of him will be much better? Yeah, I think it's more the latter in the sense.

that he came in and tried to kind of pick the way at the edges, he and Dave Manson at what some of the things that were ailing in this team. And so they focused a lot on, you know, backtracking for forwards, making sure defensemen were kind of standing up on rushing forwards at the blue line. They didn't really want to overhaul a lot of things. And now they've had a whole camp to kind of specialize what they want to do. Not only that, but I mean, you're looking at some roster adjustments

where a guy like Lauren Fogle, who killed a lot of peasant, penalties in Carolina. For whatever reason, well, part of the reason is that team has a lot of penalty killing forwards. And under Dave Tippett, he never got a shot there. Jay Woodcoff didn't want to just,

you know, he put in guys on the penalty kill who he knew from Bakersfield. So it was Ryan McLeod. It was Kyler Yamamoto. Even Evan Bouchard, excuse me, got a little bit more time there. So now Warren Fogle comes in.

And he was kind of, lost at the end of last year. He was even scratched for a couple of playoff games. I couldn't really find a role. Now they've got him on right wing instead of left. They've got him killing penalties in the preseason. I think he's going to have a solidified spot there on the third line and more a role, a solidified role for a guy that

they really, you know, banked on. They, you know, they gave up Ethan Bear and they paid him, you know, gave with a three-year contract when he was brought in last summer. So there's little tweaks like that. And again, we go back to what this team is. You know, Connor McDavid with four more years on this contract, Liam Dry Settle with three. This is a very hungry team that is kind of seeing the late at the end of the tunnel after their run last year.

And I mean, this league is tough. I mean, the last time that where there's, you know, won a playoff series in 2017, they missed a playoffs for two straight years after that. There's so much parity in this league. but again, I think the others are in a relatively weak division and should be able to, you know, in concert with them being hungry, take advantage of their spot here in the NHL. Daniel, obviously, you know, Cap situation has been a big topic that you've written and talked a lot about there in Edmonton. 7.579 is what Cap frontly has them out. They're going to get obviously some relief with Mike Smith and I assume Cleftbaum.

Where do you see? I mean, they're still going to have to do some maneuvering. What's the latest with Pooley-RV? what do you anticipate happening here in the next week? Well, well, they've been pretty, and I say they, I should say, you know,

Ken Holland and, and, you know, his lieutenants and management, have been pretty steadfast in their, um, stance that they're going to have to carry a 21 man roster if they aren't able to make a trade.

Now, the three guys that have been, uh, forefront of the trade rumors and, and report speculation, whatever you, however you want to categorize it, are fully Harvey who you mentioned,

Mike, uh, Warren Fogel, a guy that I mentioned, and Tyson Barry. Now, the market, the guy who's name has really been out there, as you mentioned, is Jesse Piliarvi, who has got two more years of team control. He's got one year, one year contract with arbitration next year.

It's a $3 million contract, you know, a significant raise over, I believe, was $1.175 million that he made last season. I had a great start to the season last year. By the end of December, he was averaging a point of game or just shy of that through, you know, 25 games or so. And then he just really fell off a cliff from an offensive perspective. Now, you know, a lot of people love the analytics here.

Certainly provides a good two-way game, you know, can compliment McDavid. Could play a third line if you want to do that. But there's no question the team wants more of an offensive, you know, offensive production from him. You know,

the bark has just been so soft on him. His name has been out there for quite a while. You know, if they had their druthers, they would prefer to move him. But, you know, they don't want to move him for futures because this team is in its, it's championship window right now. And at the same time, you know, you're trying to clear cap space. And, you know, they're kind of stuck right now because this move, especially with the cap situation for so many teams around the league, there aren't very many teams that could take on $3 million right now.

Or else the others are going to have to probably take something back that they don't want to do. And that's not something that they were particularly interested in. So it's a tough situation. unless the trade is made again, they're going to have to go with a 21-man roster. And that means 12 forwards and seven defensemen. There's going to be some guys on waivers that are going, guys that are going to need to go on waivers in order to clear up some space.

So they have two preseason games left that they declare their roster by Monday afternoon. And it'll be really interesting to see kind of what they do, because there's probably going to be at least three guys with NHL contracts put on waivers. and that's not even counting, you know, Jake Fretan and Jason Demers to run PTOs that are probably at the end of the rope pretty soon. So, yeah, it's a pretty tough situation. You know, it's not an enviable position to be in, really. But at the same time, it does show that, you know, the team is trying to put, and management is trying to put their best team on the ice in this McDavid era.

And if they have to carry a 21-man roster, and, you know, which means 19 skaters and one or to go down and they have to play short-handed for a game. They're willing to do that and suffer the consequences of doing, you know, being short-handed for a game and bringing a guy up that makes a 50 or less, $850,000 or less to replenish their, their lineup. So it's, again, it's probably not the best case scenario for the team. They'd rather, you know, carry a 23-man roster and make a trade. But if they have to go in with the 21-man roster, they seem comfortable doing so.

You mentioned you think this is the best top nine. I think we probably would all agree with that. Is there anybody you're looking at that you think, other than the obvious ones that you think has really stuck out to you in training camp, has maybe taken a step, a forward you think is going to have a bigger season than maybe they had in the past? Yeah, well, I mean, if you're looking purely at training camp, it would certainly be Dylan Holloway, who is their first, was their first pick in 2020. and a guy that really has had some tough luck in the last year or so, two surgeries on his wrist.

It cost him about 10 months of game action. And then even last year when he came back in late January, there were the Oilers were looking at, he was playing well enough for the Oilers were looking to call him up late in the season as a late season call up to give him some seasoning, seeing what he could do. And then he got hurt again, a neat kind of a knee thigh injury there.

And so now, I mean, he did get in that last playoff game against Colorado. He didn't play. He only played a few minutes. But this is a guy that should have, could have been an NHL regular by this point. But he's been very good at camp. I mean, starting for the rookie camp, best player at their tournament there in Pent, Pentec in British Columbia. You know, three of the four games, I think he's played in the preseason,

he's been the best player on the ice, culminating with the last game on Monday, where he had a hat-trick and four points, albeit over an A HL version of the Vancouver Canucks. Most art and hockey fan would need to do some searches on Google to know some of those guys that they dress. But the promising thing was he got to play with Leon Dry Settle and Zach Hyman in that game and did not look out of place at all. I mean, if you have a hat trick, obviously that that kind of speaks for itself. but strong hockey IQ, great skater, excellent shot. You know, this is a guy that he has to be on the team for cap reasons with the team being in LTIR.

They can't afford to have his performance bonuses not go into their bonus pool. So he will make the team, it's just a matter of how long he stays. Management has been steadfast in saying that he will be in the top nine. They don't want him on the fourth line or else we'll go back to the American League. but all signs point to him being on this team where he'll be, you know, two guys that Jay Woodcroft knows very well from their time in Bakersfield together, especially in McLeod.

And McLeod really took off under Woodcroft, you know, got a lot more again. I mentioned the penalty killing, but became a bona fide, you know, top nine player under Woodcroft. And he can center lines.

He can, he can play the wing a little bit too. I think you're going to look at at him playing on the second power play. which doesn't play a lot here because the big boys do so well and get the line share of the minutes. But a guy that I can see, you know, possibly doing as well as doubling his point total from 21 from last season. So, yeah, they have a lot of good young players that are pushing. Ultimately, this team thrives and the success that will have will be because of the big guys. But there are some depth players that are pushing, which has been really very much a sore spot for this organization.

on the past. Yeah, Daniel, just lastly, you know, the one thing that you struck me at the very beginning of the conversation is the parallel you made to Colorado and how Nathan McKinnon, you know, two years ago basically said, what have I won? I mean, I still remember Adrian D.Aid and Dator basically saying, don't you have to say at some point, you know, F it, you know. And I get what Adrian was saying. It almost feels like Edmonton's in that exact scenario, humbled last year in the, in the

semifinals. And now this really could be the year. Yeah, I mean, it very well could be. I think this team, there's not a lot of holds on it. I don't think it's the perfect team. You know, I'm more bullish on their defense than some people, but I would still admit it's not perfect. You look at a guy like Jacob,

Chicker who's out on the market. I think you'd be the perfect ad for this team. I know there's some reticence in the market, at least from the organization to do it. Certainly with this injury history, and they don't want to move a guy like Philip Broberg, who is expected to play, you know, reasonable minutes and get better as the season

and as his career goes along here. So, but yeah, I think they're maybe missing a defenseman. I think up front their biggest hole is fourth center, which if that's your biggest problem, you're doing all right, certainly a spot that can be easily filled throughout the course of the year. And Ken Holland's MO and what he's done every year as general manager of this Oilers team is to add a defenseman by the deadline.

So I think this team will only get better in terms of its makeup throughout the course of the year. You know, Colorado certainly augmented its team at the trade deadline and some significant additions that played key parts in that championship. I don't know if the Oilers would do quite that much, but I can see the first round pick being in play. I can see them making a splash at the deadline. So, yeah, I mean, like we talked about how many teams are better than the Oilers for sure in this conference. Colorado, you might put Calgary on a perspective. A lot of people I talk to seem to think Calgary has improved off the season that they had last season, which is a remarkable work for Brad Tray Living, given he had two 40 goals scores lead the team.

But really, I mean, there's some other teams there. The playoffs are predicated on injuries, matchups, luck, in health as part of the injuries. And if the oilers catch a lot of those breaks, I see no reason why they can't get to the cup final. Would I put my money on it? They're in that group. And this is the time, again, they're in their championship window.

They have three, four years to do this with McDavid and Drysettled here. It's time to start making hay here in Edmonton. And I think they have a real good chance to do some of that. Well, we got Daniel on to answer the question. Can Connor McDavid lead the Oilers to the promised land? And after all of that, I could say yes, but don't put money. on it. Daniel, thanks so much for doing this. Enjoy the season. Cheers, guys. Thanks so much. Daniel Nudra Bowman talking Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid. After the break, we'll hit the topics that we

didn't get to in segment number one. So don't go anywhere. All right, guys, we spent the whole first segment making predictions that will probably not come true by the end of the season. So some of the news from the week we didn't get to the way we usually do. So let's get to it right now. The big one came down yesterday. Matthew Barzell signs that extension. Not a surprise. Eight-year deal. Again, maybe not a surprise. 9.15 million A-AV.

People on the Twitter sphere were a little split on this one. Your initial reactions to that, let's face it, that big number. Jesse, we'll start with you. Yeah, shocked. I mean, he was 88th in the league in points last year. I don't know what that ranks. in terms of highest paid players, but it's got to be top 10. I think there's room for him to grow, obviously. He's a young guy. I mean, what is he 24? Yeah, 24 years old. But I think that's expecting

a lot of growth. I know we, I did kind of talk about when McKinnon signed his deal. These deals are going to go up. And over the next couple years, when the cap goes up, we're going to start seeing bigger deals. So maybe by year four of this deal, he's not anywhere near the top 10. Maybe he's, he's probably in the in the 20 to 40 range somewhere. To me, that's kind of where he belongs as a player. Like, I think he's a very good player. He can be the best player in his team. I don't think he's a top 10 player in the NHL.

But it's, I guess we're going to have to see where it goes. To me, that is, they're projecting a lot in that contract. And you're asking for a big increase in production compared to what he has been. What do you think, Michael? I agree. I mean, he's scored, what, 20 goals once in the league. And I mean, obviously that is, you know, he's more playmaker than that. I think the hope in New York is that they're going to start to play more offensive-minded

systems than maybe the Barry Trots days. But look, he's only 25 years old. It's a projection contract. It's a day and age when everybody in the world seemed to be signing eight-year deals. And, you know, with the news last week with Bill Daly coming out or Elliott Freeman's report coming out, expecting that this cap in the next three years is going to absolutely skyrocket. I think, you know, probably that was music to the ears of Barzell and probably to Lou Lamarillo that felt like this was absolutely worth it, that, you know, at some point, $9 million might be a player that isn't, you know, considered a superstar level. Now, I think Barzell has all the gifts and all the tools in the world. They've got to get some support around him on his lines. And we'll see if it happened.

So, you know, the eight-year deal didn't surprise me. The over-nine maybe did, but maybe things changed in the last week with the news of the captain. going up. I think the cap going up, and I think you alluded to it there, Mike, there had to have been something that in this coaching change that Lane Lambert said, we're going to let you be a little more free out there, whereas a Barry Trott system, you know, maybe how much of Barry Trots' system contributed to him being 88th in the league in points? I'm not saying he's going to jump to top five, but suddenly you've got a coach who's going to take the shackles off for, for lack of a better term, you know, maybe that encourages you to sign that deal. And you know what, Rob, um,

At the car wash, Barzell actually alluded to that. I can't remember the exact quote that both that Sean Gentile and me put in our story, but Barzell basically said that and sort of alluded to the fact that it was, you know, sometimes a little Jacques Lamar shackles on them and things might be opening up for him. So I don't think you're too far off on that assumption. By the way, David Pastor Nack has to be doing backflips with this deal, right? Because if Barcell's getting 9.15, Yeah, that he's doing backflips after this year.

The Bruins are not. Yeah, for sure. Mike, we're going to start with you because you're very familiar with this one. Cam Talbot, out five to seven weeks with an upper body injury. According to a few reports, it was believed it's a fractured rib that happened in practice. And so the Sends are now going to turn to Anton Forsberg to kind of weather the storm. And they picked up Magnus Hellberg off of waivers. I know a lot of people are expecting, I mean, some good things from this Ottawa Senator's team,

but this cannot help, can it, Mike? No, I mean, they had such a great summer. Then you start off by, you know, the big trade that you made to get Cam Talbot and you start off in this situation with obviously him on the shelf. He's gotten, you know, hurt, had a couple bad luck injuries here in Minnesota as well. You know, I feel for him, I think that, you know, there's few goleys that I've ever covered that works as hard as Cam Talbot does in the offseason. And I know he went in there with a great attitude and was looking to really,

provide a backbone to a team that has high aspirations this year. And so, you know, the good news, though, for the Ottawa senators is I think Anton Forsberg is a fine goaltender. In fact, you know, one big, there were a lot of people, we were working on our goalie tandem things a couple weeks ago. And a lot of people that I talked to were actually surprised that they went out and made this move because they thought that Forgeberg was in a position that could maybe take over the number one. And maybe at some point this season would do that. So now he's going to get every opportunity to go in there and provide the backbone, and I think he's capable of it. Yeah, I totally agree with what Mike said there at the end.

I think Forzberg, I think there's a good chance. Forzberg's the best goalie on this team. He's obviously not the veteran presence that Cam Talbot is. And I do think that on a young team like this that hasn't won that's trying to kind of take that step and be a winning team for the first time, I do think there is some value in having a guy like Cam Talbot that's been around so long. But just from pure goalie standpoint, just talent on the ice, I think Forsberg might be the better goal. I mean, he was 14 and a half goals saved above average last year. And that's,

that's a really good number for a guy who split the net and it wasn't the guy. Um, like, you see some of the other goalies that are up there in the rankings above him. And it's like, well, they played 60 games. Of course they have more goals saved above average. So I think, I think on a per 60 basis, Forsberg was very good last year behind a team that wasn't very good. I think if the team in front of him can play a little better, Forsberg can can be good enough back there for sure. It felt like 10 of those 14. If I said, I was going to, I was going to make a joke that it felt like 10 of those 14 goals above, uh,

both save happened in the Minnesota game when we were up there, like a week, week or two into last season, Foresburg was unbelievable against Minnesota. Yeah. So it was just it. I guess whether the storm might not be the right term to use that, because it's really his job if you,

if he does well in these first five to seven weeks, I mean, does Cam Talbot find himself coming back and, you know, having the best seat in the house opening up the, the door for the defenseman. Who knows, right? Um, last one, guys,

I, saw this and I right away jotted it down that we had to talk about on the show. Cody Glass, drafted in 2017, you know, had some injuries, he's been trying to crack a roster. There was a video that came out. He's in David Poil's office and he's told he's made the roster. And at first, it just seems like any other video. I'll be honest with you, I almost stopped it. And then David Poil says to him, oh, do you think like you're playing, you're playing well? He says, yeah, I worked really hard in the offseason and then he gets super emotional and just starts crying at you know making the roster and i know i sound like a broken record i've said this so many times in this show sometimes we're

so enamored with aavv and you know goal saved above average and all these other things that we forget that these are human beings and and he was just so overjoyed at making this team he couldn't hold it in and he's crying in the general manager's office and i thought it was i thought it was great um and i wanted to ask you guys because we've all been around this game a long time we've all talk to players and GMs and coaches. You ever had that emotional moment where you're talking to somebody and they're just overcoming emotions and so much so that it almost kind of hits you too? Mike,

we'll start with you on this one. Yeah, definitely. I mean, this was obviously a happy moment and you could see that how proud he was to make the team. I've had real tough ones, you know, during sad moments. I remember talking to Zach Perisi when his, you know, his dad twice talking to one when we were talking about his dad being diagnosed with cancer, but then the other one in Dallas, a couple days before JP passed away, and JP was put into hospice care. And, you know,

that was a tough conversation and a tough story that I had to write. The one a couple weeks ago with Brock Bester was real emotional. One really one that reminded me of this was Serge Pye. Serge Pai, who's now an agent in the game. I covered him in Florida. We were in Ottawa. It's actually a really funny story. We're in Ottawa with like 1.5, two-second left in the game. He's taking a center. Lenberry is on his right. And his parents, his parents, his dad decides that he's going to go to the, to the bathroom. Like, what could happen, right? Well, his dad missed his son's first NHL goal. And so, like, Lenberry wins a face off back to Pi, Paia. Pai scores in his hometown of Ottawa and his dad's in the John. And, um, but anyway,

we get, we get back to Florida and I do this big feature. Actually, I think we went to Montreal and I did this big feature with the family. And I remember Serge breaking down of him making it to the NHL because he had, you know, he's Guillembarre syndrome. And there were some really tough moments where he thought, you know, if he was ever going to get to this point and here he was in the show in his hometown, scored his first NHL goal. And it really kind of reminded me of that, that emotion of just somebody that's overcome a lot of stuff that we never get to see as reporters. And now he's in this point. And that's the coolest part of these videos and these behind the scenes things that these teams are allowed to do now is that we get to now be in that room when a kid is told you've

made the NHL and I think it's really awesome. Jesse? Yeah, to start, I'll just say it felt really good to see Cody Glass happy like that. I know Cody really well from working with him in Vegas and could not be a nicer kid in the NHL. I'm sure there are ones that are as nice as Cody, but he's, he's just, he felt the pressure. He really felt the pressure of being the highest pick here in Vegas. And it didn't work out. And it was, I have seen him in the, lows. So it was good to see him have a good moment like that. In terms of, it actually just reminds me of something I did a few weeks ago, Shea Theodore here in Vegas. So he, he had a cancer scare himself where he had testicular cancer. Luckily, he caught it quickly. And since then, and his grandmother

passed away from cancer last year. And since then, he has kind of made it his mission to help cancer patients in Vegas. He started his Kay's Power Play Fund, which is named after his grandmother. And I got to go with him to the comprehensive cancer center here in Vegas, and he kind of just toured the facility, took time to hug and shake hands with every single nurse, every single patient in the entire building. And then I was kind of asking him about it. Like, it's sad, but like Michael was saying, there are sad cries and they're happy cries, but like it was a little bit of both because I was talking to Shay and he was, I was kind of asking him, like, how cool is this for you to kind of keep your, your grandmother's legacy going with this foundation and help people? And he started. And he started

getting kind of teary-eyed and like I found myself getting a little emotional just just talking to him about it. So that was what immediately came to mind. I think we see a lot of players doing, you hear a lot of players, oh, donated X,000 dollars to whatever philanthropic things that they're doing. And those are all great. But I think what we don't see in those press releases is like a lot of these guys, these things mean a lot to them. And the fact that just because they play hot, they're really good with a stick and blades on their feet on ice, They're able to do incredible things off the ice. So that was kind of what stuck out to me.

Yeah, for me, it actually dealt with the Olympics in Pyong Chang back in 2018. You know, I'm not going to lie. I've done a lot of interviews where people start crying. And just as a lifelong broadcaster, my first initial thought is, oh, this is gold. You know what I mean? Like, that's just what you first think. But 2018, I was following team care. I actually felt like the whole selection process, followed the team around the world going in

and Voitek Volsky was on that team. And if you remember, he in the KHL slid into the boards and broke his neck. And he was in the hospital for a while and he was tweeting pictures of himself with like a brace on. And they didn't forget hockey. They didn't know if he was ever going to walk again.

He recovers, goes to the Olympics. Canada wins a bronze medal. And by this point, like I said, I got to know him pretty well. And I kind of had this question in my head leading up to it. And for people who don't know at the Olympics, it's not a full interview. You have maybe two questions before they sweep them along.

And I just said, I go, you know, have you put this into perspective? A year and a half ago, you're tweeting pictures of the broken neck. And now that broken neck has an Olympic medal around it. And he just broke right down. He broke. He just could barely speak. And that was the first time I found myself, you know, because again, you kind of get to know people. And he's like to come all the way back to win an Olympic medal.

And then that clip kind of went a little crazy and it went everywhere and my phone was blowing up saying, you know, you know, how did, you know, this clip got me emotional, got everybody emotion. And it's, it's one of those times where you almost exit your own body and you're like, oh, God, I got to get back to being, you know, a reporter and doing my job. But they're crazy moments like that that a lot of times people don't get to see, right? No, no doubt. I think people even forget, you know, sometimes us reporters or crotchety old reporters are. too. And there's so many times in interviews where I'm, whether it's, you know, happy or sad, you know, you're like, you know, you can't help but let your emotions come out. I mean, I had an interview the other day where I was like crying with laughter just at some of the lines that

this player that Ryan Hartman was telling me. And, uh, you know, there's, I mean, that's the one thing. You develop relationships with these guys as, uh, Jesse mentioned covering Cody Glass. And so you see something like this. He can't help, um, you know, but feel for him. And, you know, in this way, it was just a really, really cool moment that I love, you know, Bill Garron does that here in Minnesota too. He lets the cameras in the locker room. There's so many things that we get to see as reporters and fans now that we never got to see before that's always kept, was kept behind closed doors. And I think this now, for the rest of time, I think National Predator fans are going to really respect Cody Glass because they're going to see how much it means to him to get to this point. And look, he's still got a long way to go to being established an NHL player,

but this is the beginning and we got to all see it. Well, speaking of that, what do you crotchety old reporters working on this week, Mike? We'll start with you. It's funny you said that. I'm making a list right now of all my big things. I got the Mark Andre Fleury. Again, I can't announce what our project is, right? I don't want to be the one to keep teasing everybody with this, man.

I can't wait. It's good. The athletic. But October 11th, we have a really cool project. beginning at the athletic, and I'm honored that I got to be the first one to do a feature with this project, and it's a really great feature on a real fun feature on Mark Andre Fleury from being at his house in Montreal. I got a really cool Jake Middleton story that's going to run on October. So that's running October 11th, October 12th. I get doing a really cool Jake

Middleton feature. All fans, not just wild fans, going to love this story. Another one that I was like, I had lunch with him, and it was just crying with laughter of just some of the lions that he was giving me. And then October 13th opening night for the wild, I got a Zuccarello and Caprizo, a story on their bromance that they have here in Minnesota. Then there'll be a lot of national stories to come. But right now, until Joe Smith gets here, I'm still the wild beat writer solely. So I've been covering training camp and not doing a ton on the national side. Yeah, I, uh, I've got a story that just came out today, a fun story on, I think we, like a lot our reporters have done these stories on just where each player sits in the locker room. It's such a

basic thing. But I think fans find it interesting and you get to see who sits where. So there's like a diagram of where they all sit. And then the best part is I walked around to all the players. And I tried to get them when they were setting next to each other like pairs of players and just ask them like, what's the worst part about sitting next to this guy? And they would just rip on each other. Alex Petrangelo and Shea Theodore were hilarious. They're like an old married couple. They sit next to each other on the defenseman wall. And just guys talking about, Jack Eichol talking about what it's like to sit next to Phil Kessel and how he just keeps the entire room dying of laughter the entire time. So fun story about where they all sit, what the best spots are, who the worst person is.

Spoiler, the worst person to sit next to is Marsha. So that's what every single player on the team says. Wow. But yeah, and then I've got some big features like Michael. I've got, it's, the season's coming up. I've got, I'm working on some big features on some guys, some of the star. players, the biggest one, probably on Mark Stone and just how ridiculous he is, obviously coming back from back surgery. But it's been fun because I've been talking to a lot of kind of star players, Eric Carlson. I got him when San Jose wins in town. And I feel like the things Mark Stone does aren't as obvious to fans watching on TV as like what Connor McDavid does and what Austin Matthews does. So I've been getting these players to kind of describe to me like what, why is it so amazing

what he does in their words? And I've been getting some really, really good answer. So a big, big feature on Mark Stone and how he, he's probably the biggest thief in the NHL. I can't wait to read the dressing room piece because it's much more of an exact science than people know. I mean, even things like when you've got, you know, a big rookie coming in who's got a lot of pressure, you'll always find them sitting next to one of the veterans on the team. You know what I mean? And that's not an accident. So I'm really looking forward to reading that.

Eichl's sitting right between Mark Stone and Phil Castle. Yeah. Everything's, everything's for a reason. And Jesse, as you know, stealing is the best form of flattery, and I will be stealing that topic for a off-based degree in Minnesota. It's a great idea. And I could already tell you right now before doing the reporting that the player that all wild fans are going to say, that wild players are going to say they don't want to

sit next to in the locker room is going to be Jordan Greenway. Apparently, when I did that poll a couple years ago on the player that you'd least like to have as a roommate, Greenway won in a landslide. And I think it'll happen. in the locker room too because he's also a player that doesn't wear socks under his skates. And so I think that's going to be part of the part of it. I could guarantee you that's going to be part of it. I'm going to be reading both of those pieces.

So guys, thanks a lot. I want to let everybody know as we always do about where you can find all of this content. Right now, believe it or not, we are on YouTube. You can subscribe to us on YouTube, the athletic hockey show. And of course, give us a follow on your favorite podcast platform, leave a rating and a review. And you can subscribe to the athletic. Audio Plus on Apple Podcasts. You get all the bonus content from our entire network.

You start with a 30-day free trial. Then it's just 99 cents a month after that. And this offer still stands. You get an annual subscription to the Athletic for just a dollar a month for six months when you visit theathletic.com slash hockey show. The Athletic Hockey Show returns Thursday with Yimendes and Down Goes Round. For Russo and Granger, I'm Rob Pizzo. We'll see you next week.