The Athletic Hockey Show - Nino Niederreiter's red hot start, NHL Season begins and Don Granato signs extension with Buffalo Sabres

Episode Date: October 12, 2022

Rob Pizzo, Michael Russo and guest co-host Joe Smith look back on the first night of NHL action in North America, with the Rangers beating Tampa Bay and Vegas winning over Los Angeles, ahead of six more games tonight.Nino Niederreiter of the Nashville Predators, fresh off a sweep of the San Jose Sharks in the Global Series in Prague, joins the roundtable to talk about the experience of opening up overseas and his Preds chances this year.Plus the guys discuss the Sabres extension for Don Granato, Ian Cole's legal issues, Dominik Hasek's biting comments towards the NHL and Jason Robertson's extension with the Dallas Stars. 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 fine edition. I guess I'm a little presumptuous when I say that sometimes. Maybe it's going to be a shitty episode. Who knows? Of the athletic hockey show, the Roundtable Edition. I am Rob Pizzle from CBC Sports.

Jesse Granger has the week off traveling or doing something. So we're going to give him a little time off. He's on assignment. Yeah. He's on, no, let's not make him sound like he's a hard worker. Come on. When someone's not here, you've got to break their balls a little bit. So Mike Russo is here, as per usual, in Minnesota.

How are you, Mike? I'm doing well. You know, the Golden Knights have this dramatic last second win last night, and Jesse has to take the show off. I get it. Yeah, I get it. It needs to rest up a little bit and, you know, sleep in just a bit. And it's funny because there's three of us on this show,

and two of you are in the same house, but different rooms as Joe Smith. Is that your house as well? and joining us, filling in for Jesse. How are you, Joe? Doing well. Doing well. I finished the,

what, 1,500 miles, 6,000 mile drive on Monday night. So I'm settled in nicely in the Minnesota Athletic Bureau here. Minnesota Athletic Bureau, aka Russo's house. Our editor-in-chief, Rob,

is his dog, Sammy. Yes. He's absolutely, he's like the chillest dog ever. Well, there you go. And then, yeah, separate rooms. So we're not getting any kind of feedback.

It's beautiful. I love the way I want to play comes together like this. We got a lot of stuff to go through, guys. And I want to let everybody know special guests coming up in segment number two of the show, Nino Nita Ryder, or as Rousseau tweeted, and you actually made me laugh out loud with this tweet, the man who is, quote, destroying Austin Matthews in the race for the Rock Carrier Shard. Three goals in his first two games in a Nashville jersey.

He's going to be joining us a little later on in the show. So be sure to tune into that. And just to show you how good of a guy, Rob, that Nino is, he just, literally sent me a text saying how excited he is to talk to us today. Awesome. Awesome. Really, he's one of the great people that I've covered here in Minnesota and I'm excited to catch up with him. One of the people who aren't so great, the guy who responded to your tweet, I don't remember

his name and I don't even want to. He kind of, guys, the season hasn't started yet. There's always somebody that doesn't get started. Oh, come on, man. It's like those people that don't get the on-paced for jokes after someone scores two goals in the opening game of the season. You do wonder how these people like function in normal life. Yes. Like the sense of humorless.

Like how on earth do you think that I'm being serious there, but people do. They need like a sarcasm font on Twitter or like some sort of like, you know, it's hard to convey tone on Twitter apparently. And, you know. Exactly. Or maybe just an idiot detector that doesn't allow you to log on Twitter. Let's move on. We're going to start with the two games from last night, guys. I guess it's opening night number two of three, I guess.

Some people looked at the games in Prague's opening night. Then you've got last night, but then you got six games tonight either way. And we're going to start with the Rangers and the Lightning. And before we even talk any hockey, I got to play this piece of audio for you guys because this kind of set Twitter afire as we talk about Twitter. Right before face-off, referee Chris Rooney, miced up, says this. For our great players and our great fans, welcome to all. opening night of the 2022-23 NHL season.

What's better than this? Good luck to all players. Let's have a great season. On a scale of 1 to 10, guys, cringe-worthy level detector here. What do you think that wasn't a scale from 1 to 10? Joe, we'll start with you. I have to go,

it has to be above 5 somewhere, like 6 or so maybe. I don't know. You're being kind. I'm just saying that it was like I didn't I was watching the game last night and I was I surprised that actually had the mic'd up thing and that was it so I don't know Mike what do you think I think the best part of the whole thing was when Chris Rooney knowing that it was probably cringe worthy went up to Victor Headman and made it very clear on his mic that this was an ESPN idea and that he had to do it and headman actually asked him he goes what are you getting paid for it he goes probably an ESPN hat I thought that actually was really funny I know Chris I like him I felt you know you know he It was a little awkward. I thought Graham Skelliter did a, you know, probably recognized right away that it was probably didn't go as well, at least in the public sector. So he made it a lot shorter and sweeter in the LA game. Yeah, it almost felt hostage like, like they are treating me well.

The line that gets me is, what's better than this? It's like, who wrote this? There's no way that. Chris Rudy, if they had asked him to, I'm sure he could have come up with a line or two where he's just like, All right, boys, let's have a good game. You know, the way a referee actually does talk to the players, have that part miced up. That's fine.

But what's better than this? Like, Hallmark card type, cringeworthy stuff. Also, they're starting time to hunt when the Panthers are on or something like that. Or what are they going to do? Like, start doing the team that have, it's, uh, I think the more natural, the better in these miced up situations.

And I think everybody would got jazzed up. Yes. If it was just like opening night, you're at the guard, and you hear the noise, you hear him say, all right, guys. You know, no dirty stuff here. Let's go and make it off blah, blah, or make a joke towards spray and point about it. something or make something like they would do naturally, right?

You know, so. Absolutely. Ever since 24-7 came about to me, that's, I want more of that. I want something that you kind of laugh at that you don't necessarily hear or just entertain with. And that certainly wasn't it. But the Rangers come away with a 3-1 win me because of Bidijad on pace for how many goals.

I'm not going to make the joke because someone on Twitter will say, Rob, it's only one game in. A couple goals, including one short-handed and one on the power play. Shasturkin, 25 saves. Your thoughts on the first game, I guess, in North America of the National Hockey League season. Russo. Well, first of all, I think we should actually start with Joe, because Joe was sitting on my couch last night looking so sad that he was not in Madison Square Garden covering that game. He is the longtime lightning beatreader. He hasn't missed a home opener or a season opener in 10 years.

And he just looked like a wounded puppy. Well, thankfully, I had my own puppy. be in my lap there watching it, so I didn't have to worry about that. But no, it was a little weird watching on TV for the first time 10, 11 years, and obviously covered the team last however long in playoff runs. But I was curious to see what they looked like. You know, a lot of change in the off season. They lost McDonough. They lost a lot. Obviously, no Ian Cole situation going on to. So they have a lot of new guys in the lineup. And obviously, New York was like the better team from the start. And, you know, they just, I'm curious to see how the lightning get off to this,

you know, the season because they need to kind of tread water and stay afloat. while like Shreli is out to mid-December and Goshen's out to late November at least. So a lot of new guys that John Cooper has to mix in their lineup and see, I mean, no one's going to count these guys out, right? You know, but I'm saying it's important at the beginning of the season to pile up points so you don't have to worry about chasing it in the second half. Yeah, the lightning, they didn't look very good, Robin. And, you know, I thought that obviously Vasilevsky kept them in a game that really could have

gotten out of hand early, a lot of chances. Shasturkin was good late. I loved Zabina Jod's game. You know, that team still, like, there's just not a lot of weaknesses there. Obviously, Joe and I saw a lot of them during the Eastern Conference final, you know, three, four months ago. And, you know, when you have Schisturkin and Nett, and then that back end, which I think is as good as it gets in the NHL, and then the forwards that they have up front, they're top heavy, they're deep, you know, there's not a lot of weaknesses there.

I think the Rangers are going to be a team that's right there at the top when we come April, May. real quick before we move on from the lightning joe you know i've seen a lot of people wondering if they could make another deep run and if so get back to the finals which would be four years in a row which is just bananas in in this era of the nchel isn't it i mean you go back to when dynasties actually existed to me the most unbreakable team record in sports history is the islanders winning 19 straight playoff series yeah i mean this this team is just still built in a way that they could make another run couldn't they they just get to make the playoffs and see what happens from there, right?

I think the record against the top teams in the league are not really good in the regular season, but they beat them in the playoffs. And I talked to Nikita Kutjof last week, and he looked around the room. He goes, I don't think people in league realize how pissed off we are, that we were, you know, we lost that series and that how hungry we are, you know, fast. You put the Baselowski and Surgachev and

Samko's, like, they're hungry. They want to get back. Like, will they get back? Will they get back? It'll take some luck and some fortune bounces and some guys, you know, having some really good years that are like the haigles and the Coltons and so like that. But, you know, If you long as you have that core together that knows how to win, that, you know, not questioning what they have a chance, know how to know how to help leave. So other teams haven't got there yet.

They know what it's like. They know how to turn it on. They know how to win close game. So, I mean, I think they do have a chance just to get there first. Game number two last night was actually pretty good, a thriller of a game. Three ties in this game. And Bruce Cassidy winning his coaching debut with the Vegas Golden Knights, four three over the Kings. Thanks to Mark Stone, scoring with 26 seconds left.

and as our co-host who isn't here today put in his headline of his story, Mark Stone is back. Anyone who battles with injuries for a long period of time when they do have a fresh season in front of them and something like that happens, it almost feels like a Disney movie at times. And you're like, oh, that was good to see, wasn't it, Russo? Yeah. And I marvel over how good he is because he's not the greatest skater in the world, but he's got the greatest stick. And he just reads the play so well and obviously he could produce.

And, you know, he, that team, I thought Kessel looked good last night. Kessel was flying. Ikel looked great. Jesse Granger last week told us that Ikel's going to have a hundred point season and be a star this year. You know, obviously, goaltending is a bit of an issue right now. They still have a great back end. A good team. The Kings to me, very top heavy, real good top line, obviously with Kopitar and Kempai and Fiala. But from there on out, you know, you just wonder, you know, how good they're going to be from a standpoint of getting these new young guys. really to mesh in there because I think that team, they made the playoffs last year. They took Edmonton to a seventh game and they are on the rise and is just going to see how they come together here in the early going.

And how Fiala also fits in there. I mean, Fiala has some, he's got immense amount of talent. He changes the complexion of that team from a skill and a speed standpoint, a team that a lot of times still has trouble to score, but he still has warts in his game that again manifested itself last night. And as I wrote on Twitter, a leopard doesn't change its spots. This is what he does. the power play, they have a chance to take a 2-1 lead.

He turns the puck over the blue line, is frustrated after a frustrating night for him. And what does he do? He elbows either, was it Martinez in the face or Theodore in the face, takes a penalty, they come out of the box and they score. So what could have been a 2-1 King's lead becomes a 2-1 Vegas lead. Now, obviously, a lot of things happen after that, but this is the type of thing that drove Dean Everson nuts, and it's the type of thing he's going to have to get out of his game because I know Todd McClellan really well, and Todd is not going to stand for stuff like that.

Joe? Yeah, I mean, I think overall, the Kings, like they mentioned last night in the broadcast, how many injuries they had last year, and they were able to use some of their young guys in their lineup and really kind of grow, and maybe that'll help them this year as they kind of make this push and maybe get back into the playoffs and do it. But I'm curious in seeing, you know, how Piala does this year. I'm curious to see how the wild do, you know, without Fiala, you know, boldly specifically and stuff like that.

But Vegas, you know, they're a team that every year, you know, ever since their first year are supposed to be contenders and they've had a lot of stuff going on with the goalies. and the injuries, like that. But on paper, you look at the team with Marcheseau and Eichol and Stone Healthy. Like, they should be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. And so it just matter of them executing and getting it done. Russo, you touched on something I wanted to ask you guys about the Kessel factor. And something else, Jesse mentioned last week about how he feels like he's got something to prove.

He feels like the hockey world forgot about him in Arizona. I've always said he's a bit of an anomaly because this is far from body shaming. but when you see Phil Kessel, you don't look at a guy, especially the years where he played in my neck of the woods in Toronto, that should move as fast as he does. But that only lasts so long. And I think this offseason, we've heard all about his training and came to camp, you know, much lighter.

He wants to prove that he's still the guy. And last night, he seemed to kind of pop on my screen. And I almost felt like, there's the Phil Kessel I remember that was explosive. in that first step when he got the puck. I don't know about you guys, but I'm thinking if that's the Phil Kessel we're going to see all year, now with a better supporting cast, we could see a pretty crazy year from him. We'll start with you. Oh, okay, we'll start with you.

Yeah, I know, I would say that as long as they get goaltending, that's still a really good team. Yeah. You know, obviously they had a trade back, packs, Petrelli, and that's a tough one. But if, if Thompson could stand, you know, in that net and give that, them competent goaltending. They could outscore a lot of their problems. We saw last night, Marsha So is still a fabulous player. You have Eichol, you have Mark Stone. But now you add the Phil Kessel factor. I thought he was a threat on the power play all single all night. I don't feel bad for him that he was a lost soldier in, in Arizona. He refused to waive his no trade clause to come to Minnesota

so he could go to play for Rick Tocke in Arizona. Well, you get what you ask for sometimes. And, you know, He went to a terrible team and was in sort of a loss market where people forgot about him. And he was humbled this summer. He had a sign a one year, one and a half million dollar deal, I believe it was. And now he's come in very motivated. He wants to show everybody that he's still the same Phil Kessel that could score a ton of goals. And I thought he looked great last night. I think people might forget how good he was on those penguins seemed to won the Cups too.

Like they had all these megastars with, you know, Crosby and Malkin and all that, like that, the HPK line. And like he was just a terrific factor for them. So, I mean, I know that was a few years ago we're talking about, but, you know, clearly he still has some miles on his tires and miles to go. And he did pop up the screen for me, too, just the way he was skating and creating too. So that power play looked better with him on there, too. It's funny. Between him and Matt Murray, you got two guys from those two Penguins teams that really have something to prove this year, kind of clinging to those Stanley Cup rings.

Six games tonight, you got the Leafs and the Habs, you got Columbus and Carolina, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Colorado, Vancouver, Edmonton. and Seattle, Anaheim, which means we've got a lot of storylines that are going to kick off, you know, Johnny Goodro's Columbus debut. You got Austin Matthews. See if we get, he continues what he did in those 73 games last year with 60 goals. You got the abs raising their Stanley Cup banner. Connor McDavid, the Oilers. What are you guys looking forward to most for night number two in the NHL?

Joe? I want to see Johnny Hockey. I want to see if he gets scared by, you know, the cannon this year. I want to see how that freaks them out. I thought it was interesting in Pierre LeBrunn's piece of their day, wrote about the biggest disappointment probably this year. if he Johnny Goodrow, and even if the 95 points would be a disappointment, considering he scored with 115 last year and all the expectations and the biggest deal of the summertime.

I'm curious how this plays out, and maybe he scores less points, but the team's better because of him, have more juice because of him because it makes other teams, guys in their team better. So I'm curious to see how that looks their first game in and then see how this develops over the course of the season, because they brought him in, not just because he can score 100 plus points, but how he could change the dynamic of that team and that franchise and how they could get them a little over the hump. So that's kind of what thing I'm going to watch as the season goes on. Yeah, and I'm looking forward to Austin. You know, that's one of the things that I cannot wait to watch tonight is to see him, you know, encore last, last season's Unreal run.

You know, he's right now getting lapped by Niederrider and Mitzabanajad in the Rocket Richard race. So he's got a lot of catching up to do here in game one and we'll see if you can do it. The season hasn't started, Russo. What are you talking about? I've seen a couple regular season games. I've seen about four of them right now. And right now, Austin is way back. I don't see him anywhere in the top of the Rocket Richard Richard.

Watch him score four tonight. He'll score four tonight. He'll probably score four tonight. Five regular season opening games for Austin Matthews, nine goals, three assists. Of course he had the four-goal game in his debut. I saw another crazy stat with him, too. He had 60 goals last year, as we know. 18 of those goals were labeled as catch and release,

which means less than a second but not a one-timer. 16 goals were one-timer. So 34 of his 60 goals got off his stick in less than a second. this guy is incredible. I love watching him score goals. Like it looks so easy to him and 99% of the goals he scores are not easy. So I said it last week, we're going to have 50 and 50 talk with him. I'm not saying he's going to necessarily do it.

We're going to have 50 and 50 talk. I'm always amazed at these superstars. Like, you know, and the God-given talent. I know it's work ethic and all that, but like, like, you know, just staring at like when we were at the media tour and just watching Austin Matthews and Connor McDavid. And I'm interviewing Carol Caprice up in the lineup or in the locker room the other day. And he just looks like, you know, any normal guy. And you put these guys on the ice and they are superhuman.

And what makes Austin Matthews this guy and another player this guy, it really is unreal. And what he does on the ice, unfortunately, we don't get to see him enough here in Minnesota. But every time he's here, you just marvel over his ability. And I do think, as you mentioned, Rob, his opening night stats are pretty unreal. I think he's going to put on a show tonight. I grew up appreciation for him, too, you know, covering the lightning and seeing him all the time in that division. And obviously, the playoff series,

the seven-game series against Tampa last year. I mean, you know how, you know, electric he is and how fantastic a scoreer is. But he's a better two-way player than people get him credit for it, too. I know Marner might be the best two-way defensive player on that team as far as forward-wise to play him on defense this year, maybe. But Austin Matthews, you watch him, he's a dog at the defense of end. He goes back to the defensive end. He creates a lot of his own chances from what he does in his own end.

So I think that's what I really appreciate about him. And with other bigger stars in this game, too, is not just a one-trick pony. And we saw a playoff version of Austin Matthews against the lightning that we hadn't seen before. And I mean, to Mitch Marner's credit, same thing. You know, this team, I know they got eliminated again in the first round. But I feel like they took a huge step in pushing that lightning team the way they did to the break. I mean, they were that one tip from Matthews away, about two inches away from moving on in that series. Yeah. And I know they say the closest isn't counting less, you know,

hand grenades or horseshoes, I guess, but like, you know, they definitely looked like they had a more of a mentally tough team last year. And they should have won, arguably, you know, game six. They're up, you know, going to the third period. They had chances in overtime. I hit a post, you know, like they had them on the ropes more than any other team has in this kind of golden era of lightning hockey. So, and they have the talent to outsource some of the problems too. So I'm really excited to see what they do this year. I'm, I don't care who finishes first, second, or third in that division. They're all going to be a blood bat going in the playoffs who ever plays each other.

And I was struck at the NHO media tour that Austin and Connor really had the same message, right? And Connor obviously went around, you know, further, two rounds further than Austin. But, you know, if you remember, Connor made it very, very clear that they have a lot of growth to do after playing Colorado. And they've got a big step to take. And Austin sounded the same way. Now, obviously, they, again, couldn't get passed for round one. But I think it's the same thing that Austin is just going to come into this year incredibly, motivated to lead this very, very talented Toronto team to places that it hasn't gone in years.

And we'll see if you could do it. All right. So we got games tonight. We had games last night. But as we do on this show every single Wednesday, we go through some of the big storylines throughout the year. So let's go through those before we get to Mr. Niderider. Calgary Flames made a couple of big signs. Shocking.

I mean, Bradford Living has just been a monster in this offseason. It's just, I've never, I don't know if I've ever seen an off-season. season like this where you lose two elite players, your two best players, and arguably your team is better. One of those players that came back in the deal, McKenzie Weger, I remember we talked about when this deal happened, the only way to really analyze it is if Huberdo and Weiger signed extensions. Well, Weiger signed an extension, eight years, 50 million bucks. So I guess we can make that analysis. And the other signing, the reigning Jack Adams Award winner, Daryl Sutter, who I believe, if you made his press conferences pay-per-view, people would absolutely buy his

press conferences. Your thoughts on these two sign on the dotted line moves by Brad Trilliving. Rousseau, we'll start with you. Yeah, I think Joe could talk probably better at McKenzie Weger. He's seen him a ton more than me, but I love the signing of Daryl Sutter. And I just think it's hilarious. I remember turning my head when they brought him back. I mean, I could only imagine how that, you know, call him out his flip phone in the middle of his farm and Viking and try to get him on the phone or something. It's just, you know, he comes in and here's this old story. coach in a league full of youngsters that usually don't, you know, aren't receptive to these type of guys. And he comes in there. And he's really made this team, you know, a really quality team. Now,

obviously they got the incredible goaltender in Markstrom and they've got a lot of depth on front. But tree living has done a tremendous job there. And not only building the team to what it was, but then as you, as you alluded to, Rob, you know, dealing with a ton of adversity the summer, but then going out and restocking it. And now you, you take the most, you know, one of the funniest comogens, but he's a play crumogen. Like, I mean, that's the funny thing. He plays the role perfectly that Daryl Sutter. And I think it's absolutely awesome. Oh, it's just unbelievable. And, and you're right. I mean, I love going on to Calgary Flames.com and watching his postgame pressers because there's always just, you know, he's always good for a sarcastic chuckle. There's

no doubt about it. I have a favorite Darryl Sutter story for you a couple years ago. I was working on the story on the lightning and trying to go back to back and how hard it is and why even the great teams, even the Kings didn't do it and why Blackhawks didn't do it. And so I called a bunch of coaches. I called, you know, reached out to, you know, Quenville and then reached out to, you know, Daryl Sutter. And it was, this was New Year's Eve around 6 p.m. or so, and I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. Hello, Darrell Sutter here. And so as Daryl Sutter did you call me a New Year's Eve out on his ranch and they talked for 20 minutes about the Kings and why they could have or should have won back to back and certain things to play into it in the factors. It was

really great conversation we had, but just funny, like a random call on New Year's Eve and at Cyril Sutter, you know, from just showing on his ranch after a long day there. Probably doesn't own a calendar, so, you know, you probably didn't know what date it was. It's just, and you know what, though, it's exactly what you said, Russell. As much as it's funny and sometimes comes off as, you know, I don't want to use the word stupid, but he uses certain terms that you're like, oh, is this guy real? And then he turns out being a hockey genius that can turn things around. he's playing the part.

Yeah, and again, I mean, we're in a different error of this league, right, than when he first started coaching and definitely a different era of the league than the King's Stanley Cup champions. And yet he continues to, you know, figure out ways to actually change his own style as a coach and systems and stuff to adjust to this new league. And, you know, I've gotten, you know, the Sutter's are some of my favorite, favorite people. You know, I grew up a huge Islander fan. I covered Dwayne down in Florida for a long time, both as an assistant coach as a head coach. And these guys are, they are smart, smart hockey man. You don't become, you know, you don't have a slew of Sutter brothers playing in the

NHL if you don't, not have talent, but also have intellect. And then, of course, you have the seventh Sutter brother that actually won the lottery there in the BC one, which I think is absolutely hilarious. I still remember being at the draft in Toronto. And Dwayne Sutter coming up to me is like, you're not going to believe it. He goes, my other brother won the lottery. And he was like, how much did he win? It was, you know, if I remember, it was like a couple million bucks.

So, yeah, this is back in like 2000. I didn't know that story. When was the draft in Toronto? Because it was definitely when we were in Toronto. So it would have been 2002, three. It was either the Rick Nash draft or the, or the Mark, maybe, I think it was the, the Rick Nash draft in Toronto. Wow. That's pretty incredible.

Hard turn here, guys. There's no way to really do this in a good way, but a couple more minutes left in this segment. Both of these stories deal with, unfortunately, sexual assault. Hockey Canada, finally succumbing to all the pressure. And that tends to happen when the money gets taken away from all of your sponsors. Scott Smith, out as CEO, the entire board of directors resigned. I think I, like a lot of people, saw the alert come on my phone and thought, yeah, this should have happened months ago.

But now it's just a matter of what we're going to see in the future. Are you guys on the same page as me? It's a good thing that this happened, but man, this should have happened a long time ago. It should have happened a long time ago. But the key now is not just what they made these changes, but what they do from here, right? You know, the big move is getting it done after sponsors pulled out. But now it's like, okay, who you're going to bring it in charge? How is the culture going to change?

There will be any reporting changes to what they do that will make things easier for people to come forward and enforcement and stuff like that. Because right now it felt like they was kind of a PR backlash where they were forced to do it when they didn't really want to. And then now for me, instead of lip service, there should be a really important phase of what they do next with their leadership and changing that. I still just can't believe the whole Andrew Skinner thing the other day and just her like just total tone depth and just everything that she said. And it brought, I mean, maybe that was actually for the best. As much as she humiliated herself and Hockey Canada there during those hearings, it eventually, what it did. is it led to lost sponsorship and then eventually what you saw yesterday happen, which is a total resignation of pretty much everybody. And it was just, you know, I don't understand as how,

you know, and then to go after the media, you were just asking for trouble right from the very beginning. Everything needs to change there. And obviously what happened yesterday is for the better. Tone deaf is the perfect way to put it. They've been tone deaf. I mean, it's just so stupid. Yeah. It's crazy. The one thing I will say real quick before we move on, So all the sponsors take their money away, which obviously, you know, you start going in someone's bank account. It forces people's hands. But I will say this. People think of hockey Canada and they think, oh, the world juniors, world championships.

Hockey Canada trickles down all the way to children. So yes, take your money away because of what happened and the people refuse to take responsibility for what happened. But those people are now gone. So I hope that that doesn't continue to punish the entire organization because as someone who grew up playing hockey in this country, The last thing you want is registration fees doubling because of what happened here. I'm just wanting to throw that in there. The other story, Ian Cole, suspended by the Tampa Bay Lightning for sexual assault allegations coming from an anonymous Twitter account.

A woman claims that she was abused by Cole when she was a minor in high school. And so he has been suspended by the lightning. I'm wondering how much of a distraction this is going to be. Joe, we'll start with you. Well, obviously a lot to unpack here. but I think the lightning were smart in this instance to have this suspension just until the investigation is over. You know, he's owed his due process, of course, like everybody else is,

and obviously the allegations are pretty damning of true, but the lightning purposes and them and their team, they're so big on culture and doing things right, and they have a huge season ahead of them. It's more for to have him on the backside here, so the team doesn't have to worry and focus and talk about him the whole time and can focus on their season. But it's really important for them to take their time with this

and the league, I think they're meeting with Cole today, if I'm not correct, do an interview with him and his representation to get to the bottom of this and get to the bottom of the source of this allegation, too, to make sure everything is okay on that end. So I think as far as distraction, I think the lightning are going to be okay with this, but I think it was smart to come out right away

and have a suspension with pay, obviously, you know, get that out of the limelight and make folks in their season, and then when he gets a due process, then he can come back or make a decision at that point. Yeah, I was, And this is totally a separate story. So obviously the lightning could not have envisioned something like this coming out. But I was very surprised the lightning signed him as quick as they did.

I mean, if you remember, he was one of the biggest, one of the first signings on July 13th, and between the draft and July 13th, free agency, there was like just a short little window there. And it came out publicly of, you know, allegations in Carolina that he had an affair with, with a medium there. And that, you know, certainly seems, those allegations seem to. be pretty accurate there. And then the lightning still signed him. So one, I was surprised that they sort of put themselves in a position to have eventually a distraction on that subject. And then obviously nobody could have envisioned this story coming out. I covered Ian briefly here in

Minnesota. You know, it was a weird time covering Ian too, because it was right in a total Zoom era. So even though I covered him for four or five months, I basically saw him in person twice, once at the end of the season and once at a team hotel on the road. And so, you know, I obviously was blown away by these allegations, both in Carolina and now this recent one in Tampa Bay. You know, I did features on him. I talked to his parents for a story that, you know, man, I keep on thinking about his mom and what she must be thinking with all the stuff that's come out here.

And I certainly hope that none of this is true. And we'll see what happens when this obviously goes to the league office. today and what comes out of this because, you know, regardless if he's cleared by the league office, what are the lightning going to do? I mean, this is going to be an unbelievable distraction the rest of the year if he is playing hockey. I also can't imagine playing hockey through this. And it's just going to be interesting to see how this story develops here. Yep, we're going to have to wait and see. After the break, we'll speak to Nino Nider Rider, the newest member of the Nashville Predators who seems to be enjoying his new digs. So don't

go anywhere. Well, guys, we've talked about this at length. It was a crazy offseason. Faces changing places all over the place. And one of those faces is our next guest. Two games into his first season with the Nashville Predators, he's got three goals on three shots. And one of those was a game winner as the Preds swept the sharks in the global series in Prague.

Nino Niderrider, joining us on the athletic hockey show. Thanks so much for doing this. Of course. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. So I'm taking it you like the New Jersey and some of the world travel you've been able to do because, yes, you were in Prague, but it's not very often, you know, that maybe the highlight of a trip is an exhibition preseason game that you got to play, you know, in your home country. And I saw the videos of you after the game hugging your grandparents and your dad and everybody being there. I mean, how special was that game?

Not only for yourself, but, you know, your teammate in Romanozzi as well. Yeah, I mean, it's almost tough to his drive-pour special. that moment really was. I mean, my grandparents never saw me play life. So that was like the first step, which was already special. Playing in front of the Swiss fans, which I haven't done since 2009, was really cool as well. And obviously for Roman, I mean, he's from the city. He grew up there. And like, it's his hometown. And he literally has Mr. Byrne there. And it was so special for us just to be there and have the whole experience.

And for me, coming into a new team was kind of a good step to getting to know all the guys. I mean, there's a long flight, obviously going overseas and getting to know the teammates that kind of felt pretty easy to do that with a new team, I guess. And, you know, how did it all work out this summer with free agency and, you know, and landing specifically in Nashville being reunited with your buddy here from Minnesota, McIle-Granlon? You know, to get that two-year deal, was it a tough thing waiting or what happened there to get you to Nashville? I mean, it kind of was hard because, I mean, there was a few players. like obviously Palat and Berkovsky, which were in my opinion definitely ahead of me. And I want to see where they're going and what their plan is. And I mean, I had some options.

There was one. I want to make sure I put myself in the best situation possible as well. And I felt like right from the beginning that the prets would have been definitely a great spot. But at the end of the day, they always needs two teams. There are like two people. And then I mean, I wanted to really go there and they really want me. So I'm happy we made it work. And what's it like playing with Granny again?

It's fun. I mean, obviously I know since Minnesota time, kind of grew up into the league a little bit together and having him and seeing him every single day again, it's definitely a lot of fun. I mean, we were such close friends in many, then we lost track a little bit. We both go to a different team and now we're back together. So it's a beauty of hockey. I mean, one day you're back together and you feel like you've been around each other for the whole time already. You know, Joe Smith here. Obviously, you played some really good Carolina teams for a number of years. And I'm always curious about Rod Brindamore. It seemed like he can still play. If you haven't given him in a uniform, he could suit up today and play.

And I was curious, you have a favorite Rod Rendemore's story of him as a coach, whether it's on ice or off the ice or in the gym with you guys. What are your favorite story with him? My favorite story was definitely, I mean, I would say last year, he, I kind of came a little earlier than usual into the dressing room, and then all of a sudden I see him just laying there on the floor. I was like, okay, what was he doing again? I mean, always he used to work, so he did our training camp,

about an assault bike test, which we are supposed to do. He did it himself and he was literally just absolutely dead on the floor. Came in or like, Good Morning Coach, no response. And I literally just got into town. So I was like, oh, it must be neither in a bad mood or something. So he went back in his little dressing room. Then he came out for like 20 or 30 minutes. And then he came back, had some color in his face again.

Like, good morning. How are things? He had a good flight. So I asked him, everything okay. I was like, yeah, I just did the assault bike test. I feel like if the players have to do it, I want to do it. But I think it's the last time he ever did that believe. A moment you can actually do this year or not.

There's a reason they call him Rod the Bod, right? I mean, he's just, he's insane. You know, I alluded to it off the top, three goals in your first two games on three shots. And they were the most Nino-neider-rider-guels ever, like just prototypical of the what you go to the net, you get the puck there. But when you join a new team, how much a bit of a relief is it? Because obviously it comes with expectations. you know, anytime you, National fans are watching you very closely.

How much of it was a relief to get, you know, the first goal out of the way and to get off to a great start? Because the pressure is going to come, even from, you know, Russo over here who put on Twitter that you're destroying Austin Matthews in the Rocky Richard race. But had to feel good to get that monkey off your back really early. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, obviously, coming to a new team is you want to leave a good impression. That's number one. But it's, I think in general, every single season, you want to make sure you get that first goal. out of your way right away and I'm very happy and fortunate that it went in and I think that was definitely

on my my chest a little bit you want to make sure you leave a good impression when you come to a new team like I said there's a lot of people watching and curious who then you guys we signed and I just told myself I just got to find and find the open area you got to go to net I mean he's playing with Johans which I got to know in juniors very well we played together with our teammates there I mean I know I just have to get open and he will he will eventually find you and that's exactly what happened I mean, he's a terrific player, great playmaker to be around, and definitely very happy that went in. You know, when I covered you here in Minnesota, I mean, you were like a sports writer's dream in terms of writing features about and things like that because you're such a colorful figure. And I remember you were part of that Brightling club.

I think it was the transatlantic club, is it called? And I mean, you were doing stuff in the offseason where you were like flying on the outside of planes and all sorts of fun, like crazy, crazy stuff that very few people. people would have the guts to do. Do you still do that type of stuff? Like, what are some of the fun, fun things that you do in Switzerland in the offseason? Well, to be honest, like, there was the whole wing walks, which I did back then. I came back from Trails Camp and Chuck Fletcher took me his title of it. He was like, you know, I appreciate it if you stay on the ground next summer.

And I've seen what you did there. So just make sure you're safe. We need you here. And so I haven't done anything crazy in the past a few years because he basically told me not so I kind of stuck in my head. He's like, you know, maybe he's right. It's just stay in the ground until my career is over, I guess. What has it, like, what has it been playing with Roman U.S.

I know how much you looked up to him when you were here and you obviously know him well? Yeah, I mean, we played usually a national team all together and we kind of, like, in the junior level, we played and played together a little bit. And I mean, he's such a terrific player, but he's even a better person off the eyes. I mean, he just takes care of everyone. and he wants to make sure he's the right leader and he helps everyone who somebody needs it. And I mean, he's a really good friend of mine. So playing with him and everyone who wants to want to speak in Swiss Germany,

the dressing room is kind of fun as well. You know, I used to cover the lightning and they went to Sweden for the global series for years ago. And they said that's one of the biggest parts of their cup run was their bonding experiences on the road. And that week in Sweden, they only played two games and they had a whole week to go out and hang out. What was the coolest moment off the ice for you guys as a team where you guys kind of got to be close and do something together? Oh, that's a good question. I felt like this time was still like hard to describe what all happened. I mean, we had a great time in Prague where we had a great team dinner right when we got there,

had a day off the next day. So we had a fantastic night, I would say. And I mean, little things like that, I mean, it goes a long way. And for me and McDonagh, coming into a new team, getting to know the guys and telling stories. And they obviously asked a lot about Switzerland what they could do. And I mean, I think that one helps. helped me personally a lot to glue to the guys. But I mean, it's tough to tell.

Like, I mean, there's so many good things going on in Europe. And some of the guys have never been to Europe. So it was special for them to showing places and kind of like how old the whole history and everything is. So it was cool to be around. You know, going back to something Mike talked about earlier, just the free agent process. Obviously, the contract is number one when you're figuring out where do you want to go. But paint us a little bit of a picture of what that process is like.

like money aside because I think a lot of fans just think that's what it ends up being, you know, who's going to give me the most money, who's going to give me the most years that I want? But what other factors really came into play for you to say, hey, I want to go to Nashville? Is it familiarity with players, you know, where the team's going? What are some of the factors other than the cash that really influenced you to head to Nashville? I think obviously cash is always something you think about and especially also with years. I mean, you're getting older. it's something you think about, but at the other day, you've got to put yourself in the best

position possible. And I saw there's a couple openings and the second line playing with Johansson and I felt, you know what, that's a spot where I would love to earn. But I mean, it doesn't mean, once you come here, you just got to hand it to you. I mean, you want to still earn that spot. And I think that was a big reason what I looked around. Okay, where could I play with two and put myself in a good position to hopefully earn another contract after this one. It's, I mean, there's so many factors you've got to think about. And then there's order to, then you think about the city, think about, okay, what's the time zone different to Switzerland? Because if my parents or everybody wants to come, like, is there straight flights or whatnot?

I mean, there's so many things you kind of take into consideration once you a little bit get older, I guess. But the number one definitely was where can I potentially or what game I play fits the best for myself. I think that was definitely the biggest part. What is it like? I mean, have you hit it off right away with Ryan again? I remember every time we'd go to Columbus, you know, I'd always talk to Ryan Johansson about you because you guys, if I remember correctly, we're actually junior linemates. So that's not often, you know, that 12 years later that you would wind up on the same NHL line again.

Yeah, I mean, it was almost it was so weird all of a sudden we haven't seen each other like in 12 years. And now you see each other again every single day. And we clicked right away because I know exactly what kind of player he is. And he knows exactly what I like to do. And even in practice, I know I just got to get open and he finds you. And he knows that I'm a shooter. And if I have a good chance to shoot the puck, I will. And I think that makes it so much easier knowing from back then already with its preferences.

And you don't really have to, I guess, be the nice guys and pass it back or whatever. And he knows exactly what I want. He knows exactly what he wants. And I think that made it the whole. I'm fishing even easier as well. You mentioned in free agency, like the fit is important. Obviously, the money is important, but also, like, chance to win is important. And you've been on winning teams in the past.

Like, what's the bit of the vibe just to be around this group, just even for camp and and being overseas just terms of them in a playoff team for a number of years, been a contender's a number of years. They've made some big changes, obviously, this offseason. Just what's been the vibe or feel of this group and what they believe in terms of what they can do this season. I think right the beginning, and we were always talked about here, getting the next step. I mean, like you said, they were in the playoff.

number of years now, but they kind of missed the next step, always in 2017. They went in the final, I believe. There was 17, I believe. And I mean, so they had some experience, but then they kind of made some changes. And now I feel like obviously he was adding to two cup champion with Macdon. I mean, he knows exactly what it takes and he's, he's such a good person to be around. He's such a good leader already. You can tell what he does on the ice.

And then hopefully by adding myself too that I, if we can add the next step into this organization. Along those lines, you know, and I'm sure no player will ever admit this. If you Google your name, which I did this morning to make sure I wasn't missing anything in preparation for this interview, I found like four different headlines that had the words, Nino, Needer Rider and missing piece. And that's what teams are always looking for, that missing pace. That being said, what has been made very clear to you that's expected of you this season? What does this team want from you to help contribute to get them to that next step? I feel like my tenacious in front of the net, my forechecking ability, I think it's definitely something, which I always felt play against them, was missing a little bit.

I mean, they have some high-end skilled guys with Johanson, Granny, Dushain, Forsberg. I mean, they're so highly skilled. I mean, they're so fun to watch. But I feel like that straight line hockey game going to the net and outwork in which I feel like a shanoe is a little bit like that. And obviously still fairly young, but he's getting better and better. I mean, he's fun to watch as well. And I think that's something which was missing kind of like that, I guess, a dirty player in front of the net, which just stains there and being a little brick.

And I think that's something which was missing in this club, I believe. Nino Niderwriters is the king of the goldmouth scrum. There is nobody that gets into more goalmouth scrubs with him. And you always got the same look on your face, too. And you always seem like, I don't understand the why, to be honest. I told him, like, I'm such a nice guy. I don't do anything wrong, but I just stand there. And I guess they pissed him off.

Play it at all. You'll earn. I said your goals are so, you know, need a rider. They were just like, you score. I'm like, that's exactly why they got Nino Nita Ryder. Go to the net for check card, create a turnover and score a goal. I mean, that's the definition of it, right? Absolutely.

Try my best that way. But Nino can snipe the puck too, as all wild fans could tell you. Nino scored, uh, there's probably two quintessential goals in wild history. One is Andrew Burnett in Denver ended Patrick Waas career, game seven in 2003. And then the other one in 2000. 2014 to win the series, advanced a while to the second round for only the third time in history. You know, first of all, tell me that every time you're in a slump that you don't go on in YouTube and watch that to motivate yourself. I mean, it's definitely something which you think back about it.

I mean, there was such a huge moment for myself and obviously for Minnesota as well to move on. And I mean, always when you're slump, you started looking around, okay, how do I, how do I score goals or what do I do to get back on track? I mean, there is definitely times where you look at that and it's like, hey, that's a shot from further out, like, give the puck also a chance to go in. And yeah, so definitely, I mean, you definitely look at it at once in a while and see it, but it's also like the memory which takes you back. And whenever you come to Minnesota and play there, I mean, that's definitely a memory, which is, which will never forget for myself.

I think the best part of that story, you know, is the fact that you were trusting Kyle Brozziak that the puck was actually in, that you actually weren't positive if it hit the net or the back bar or anything and you're jumping up for joy praying to goodness that this is going to be like the most embarrassing moment of your career yeah absolutely like like you said i mean i remember like when you rewatch the video there is like danny heathly right after like trying to poke the pocket just to make sure he went in and i just said bratsy i got to jump and it's uh like you know what just got to go with it and hope it went in and jane was thank god well we're going to see if a lot more of that this year if these first two games are are any indication you know

123 goals you're on pace for. So don't lose that pace. We were joking about earlier. People just don't get the joke. Thanks so much for coming on. We really appreciate it. It's been a lot of fun. And if you are on pace for 123,

we'll get you on a little later on in the season for sure. That's good. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Nino is a streaky goal score, so I think he could do it. Wow. I'm happy with a couple more. Thanks, Nino.

We'll talk to you soon. Thank you. Appreciate it, guys. Thank you. No Neederider, the newest member of the Nashville Predators. After the break, rapid fire. So don't go anywhere. All right, guys, my favorite time of the show and yours, rapid fire.

Joe, I know you're due to the show. It basically means we give our first impressions and, you know, quick opinions on certain stories. And the first two deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Don Granado, staying behind the bench, signed an extension with the Sabres. And Kyle Okposo was named the new captain of the Buffalo Sabres. So Buffalo making a couple of pieces of news this. week, Michael, we will start with you. Your thoughts on this one? Yeah, I know. I saw Matt Ferberin's

tweet about Ocoso, and it's like Twitter just went a fire that it wasn't Alex Tuck. I mean, obviously, O'Coso is an incredible leader. He also is probably at the tail end of his career there in Buffalo, so it's sort of that perfect transition to eventually maybe make Alex Tuck the captain. So I like the move, and I'm a big Don Granado fan. If you're going to have a rebuild situation with the Buffalo team that I think is going to be on the rise here in the next couple of years, you might as well have the coach along for the ride and not being just a filler for the eventual guy that Kevin Adams is going to bring in. So Adams just gets an extension. I think it's only natural to continue to grow.

And obviously they must have a great, great relationship. So I think it's a good move for Buffalo. Joe? Yeah, I love the Don Grado extension. I think they've had a million coaches the last five years, it seems like, with no real direction or synergy there. And last year, at least really seemed like they had that culture going. They had guys believing that young players, you know, playing well with confidence. They really seemed like he was getting a lot of work done there.

So I think they have a lot to build off. So I think I like him. And Okoso, yeah, I think Alex Tucker was initially thought of as that guy, but just reading some coverage from athletic writers there. And Tim Gran, what a great story on Okos and how players to a man came to the coaching staff and said, hey, this is a guy we want to lead in our team. And he would pick the captain. I always believe that the players kind of wouldn't want some way should pick their own captain

or the guys that they follow. And so I think, you know, he was probably the right pick for that situation. Rapid Fire topic number two, Jason Robertson, getting that four-year deal done with the Dallas stars $31 million most the first two weeks of preseason practice. Anytime you've got an RFA situation here and you're just waiting for a guy to sign and you're always kind of holding your breath if you're a fan of that team. But this is done for years, $31 million. Joe, we'll start with you.

I mean, obviously, both sides showed a lot of patience in this situation to try to get the right deal done. You know, Jim Nell, give him credit for that. But yeah, I love him as a player. I think there's obviously guys that they had to sign in Dallas. You know, pretty fun to watch. And, you know, I think RFA is can use that leverage as much as they possibly can, you know, as far as when they have Arbites at other times, but he can't. But so, yeah, I think it's a win for Dallas to get that guy under contract. Yeah, just turned 23 years old.

Four years will go like that. It'll be if he continues on this trajectory. When that cap goes up, he's going to get a monster, monster home run contract. So, you know, 41 goals last year. I'm sure that they tried to make it, you know, a Karel Kaprizov type. contract. Peril after his rookie year with the job that Robertson finished second on, he got a five-year deal at $9 million, but older at the time as well, probably more established overseas. Now Jason Robertson's going to come in a pretty quality contract, I think for Dallas, especially if he

continues on this trajectory as one of their best players, if not their best player. And again, he's going to get that home run contract here in four years. It continues that way. And finally, as we know, the Preds and Sharks opened up the season in Prague in the Czech public. Now, a couple weeks ago, Dominic Hachick wrote a letter to the NHL brass saying that Russian players should not be allowed to come to these games. There were a few of them combined from both teams. That didn't happen. So Dominic Hachick sends out the following tweet. During the weekend, two NHL games were played in Prague. The leadership of the NHL did not respect the position of our MFA that Russian players should not play until the current

leaders of the NHL resign and apologize to our country. The NHL is no longer welcome in the Czech Republic. Russo, what do you think of the Dominator's tweet? I mean, look, I'm conflicted because I am trying to be sensitive to the fact that they are right there in the heart of, I mean, you know, essentially Chechia is right near Ukraine. I was just in Hungary during this war and you actually felt it there, like, you know, the fact that this was going on right next door. So I'm sensitive to that, but I'm also not going to blame a bunch of players just because of where they were born. You know, we have all, in any of our country's done stuff that is deemed despicable around the

world, and we're not made to pay for that. And I just think just because what your birth certificate says doesn't mean that you can't just show up in a, you know, free country and play the sport you love. So I just think it's a lot of hot air. Obviously, the NHL is going to go back to Chechia. Obviously, Czech players are going to continue to play in the NHL, and Russian players are going to continue to play there. And so, you know, I just think that Dom needs to probably lay off Twitter for it.

agree or disagree, Joe? No, I agree. I mean, the whole certificate thing really stands out to me in terms of guys like, let's say Kutrov would pass out to go overseas. Like, they shouldn't be blamed for something out of their control. And people asked us all the time last year about talking to Russian players about the situation over. It was such a sensitive thing. I think Mike can agree

because I think players were worried about, you know, saying something that were wrong that could affect their families that were over there. And I think, to me, I don't think me asking Nikita Kutrov what is feelings about, you know, the war over there is going to change what Putin's going to do or not do. And I think obviously they all have their feelings our own, but I didn't think it was that important for them to have their voices heard because they were afraid that what might happen to their family that are still living over there thinking about publicly up against it. I think you hit the nail right on the head, Joe.

Everyone's tough on Twitter to say, well, they should say this, they should say that. If my entire family is still in Russia, I'm very careful as to what I'm saying. So, you know, I think people need to put themselves a little bit and be a little sensitive to the situation there as a lot. well. I think that when we're, I think that we need to like also just to be, understand that like the way that we live our life is not the way that they live their life there. And we put everything in like Americanized Canadian ways that we could just be free and say whatever we want and nothing and there's no repercussions there. It is a different world over there. And nobody knows what, what, what essentially Putin is capable of. And I feel for these players that are over here that are,

I mean, I would say the vast majority of them are deep down in their heart of hearts is against this war. But if you have family living over there and you're here, I mean, just imagine the stress that Keryl Khrisov is dealing with right now where the wild essentially did a modern day defection to get him out of there. Okay. I mean, essentially, he was snuck into Turkey and stayed there for a couple weeks to get his work visa to come back here. And now Karel's got to know that his girlfriend and his parents are still back there and his brother and things like that. You know, that is a stressful situation right now. I think that we all need to be respectful of the fact that these guys can't say everything that they want to say and be put in a position to have to, you know, voice stuff politically that none of us ever had to do when, again, our countries were doing stuff that maybe others deemed weren't proper and appropriate. Here, here, Russo, couldn't agree with you more.

Another show in the books, guys. What are we working on this week? Mike, we'll start with you. I did a story today. I talked yesterday to Pavel Novak, who is one of the white. Prospects who was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lofoma back in June. He went through four rounds of chemotherapy, and on October 5th was told, given the incredible news that he is cancer-free.

So I did a real touching interview with him yesterday, and that story ran in the athletic today. Tomorrow I did a really cool story on the bromance that Carol Caprisoff and Matt Zuccarello have. There's a lot of really funny anecdotes and lines in this story. So I highly recommend people not just in Minnesota to read it, but I think around the NHL as well. And then we have just some really, really neat stories coming up as well. I did the Mark Andre Fleury NHL 99 story coming up. I'll be, you know, Bican. I'm doing a Billy Smith one, a Mike Bossy one, and also on Mike Medina one in the next little while. I know Joe's been hard

to work at some of his NHL 99 stories as well. Yeah, absolutely. You know, you know, I'm still doing the Tampa one. So there's four players on this team on top 99, which is pretty incredible for four active players in the same team for 99 Kuturoff, Samko's, Vaselowski, and had been not to give this stuff away, I guess. But love stories on those guys going forward. I'll have my wild coverage kickoff this week, maybe with Kevin Piallo's story this weekend, his return to face the wild and some fun off the ice stuff.

I'll view of the guys in the wild lineup that'll be cool to see the next couple of weeks. So as me and Rousseau get this go, our tag team coverage here, it'll be fun to see what comes up it and see what this wild team can do. Yeah, today, Rob is Joe's first day at practice. I feel like I'm bringing my son to school for the first time. We need a pack a lunch and everything. Yeah, it would be great. Yeah.

Hey, by the way, huge news. We're saving the best news to the end of the show. Delta Airlines and Starbucks announced today a partnership where every time you get Starbucks, you get Delta miles. And so I'm going to be just absolutely swimming in miles. And for the road trips, this is going to make up for all the road trips that Joe takes on this year that I can't get Delta miles. So I am absolutely sky high in an incredible mood right now. This is the best news.

that I have gotten in probably about five years. It's an ear-to-ear grin about air miles for coffee. Yep. I'm impressed because this news came out during this podcast that I was able to keep it together up until that. caffeine, hi. All right, guys, we'll be sure to tune into that. And right now, I want to let everybody know.

Remember, you can subscribe to the Athletic Hockey Show on YouTube as well. So when you're on there, give us a click and follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a rating and review. You can subscribe to the Athletic Audio Plus. On Apple Podcasts, to get all your bonus content from the entire network, you start with a 30-day free trial, then it's just 99 cents a month after that. And this offer stands.

Right now, 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 Ian Mendez and down goes brown. For Russo and Smith, I'm Paiso. We'll talk you next week.