The Athletic Hockey Show - Pekka Rinne on his future with the Nashville Predators, NY Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightning is a war on ice, and Vegas Golden Knights vs Montreal Canadiens is a goaltending duel between Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Episode Date: June 16, 2021

Pekka Rinne, the 2021 King Clancy memorial trophy winner joins Scott and Pierre on the Two Man Advantage edition of the Athletic Hockey Show. Pekka looks back on his career in Nashville, what the future holds for him with the Predators and his relationship with Jusse Saros.Scott and Pierre take a look at the NHL Final Four series between the Islanders and the Lightning, a series, tied at one win a piece which projects to go long. The guys discuss how Montreal's roster, built for the playoffs can hold their own vs Vegas, is a goaltending duel for the ages between Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury.Plus the guys address the recent coaching hirings in New York and Columbus, with Gerard Gallant and Brad Larsen running the bench for the Rangers and the Blue Jackets.In Ask the Dorks, Scott and Pierre answer your questions on Dougie Hamilton, Seattle expansion, Seth Jones and a lot more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey, everybody. Scott Burnside back for another edition of Two Man Advantage, the Hockey Podcast, part of the Athletic Hockey Show network of podcasts, coming to a market near you soon to rule the world. Pierre Lebrun. Listen, pal, I hope you got your game face on because we're going to chat with one of our mutually favorite people in the game. We're going to talk to Pec Arena, King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner. and so I hope you're ready. Are you ready to roll? I am. Yeah, I am. Let's do it.

All right. Well, we're going to talk to Pecorini in a few minutes, but before, let's see, what are we going to talk about? Do you want to pick a topic or shall I just throw one at you? I always sometimes wonder that if you feel like I'm the control freak in our relationship, where I control the, you know, the questions and, you know, like if you ever want to just, you know, you got something on your chest, you want to get it off the top, then I'm I'm just telling you I'm open to a lot of things. I'm trying to be a more open, you know, sort of zen person as we come to the end,

hopefully the end of the pandemic. For you to be a control freak would have to be me acknowledging that I will do what you say, which will never happen. So I don't know that I'm giving you that control. I'm just giving you shots at it. And if the questions are good, I'll answer them. If they're not, you know what I'm going to do. So go for you.

Okay. When I think of it, I will tell you not to go down the rabbit hole early in this podcast, but when I think of control, I think of you in a jukebox. And I think of you physically warding off people. And it's happened more than once, frankly, that I've been witness to where you try and ward people off so you can control the jukebox. So I frankly feel honored when I throw out a question and you actually answer it. So I feel pretty good about it. This is a true fact that years ago, you know, when we'd be a bunch of hockey writers in an establishment that sold cold beverages and there'd be a jukebox, I would stand in front of the jukebox to make sure no one cut in front of my songs.

And I'll never forget how traumatized I was. The first time I realized there was an app that was created years ago that could actually cut in front of the jukebox selections by, you know, paying a price or, however it works. I just couldn't believe it. There was this person at the bar gleefully pressing the app and cutting in front of all my songs without having to come close to the jukebox. I was just, I mean, I was crushed. I was just buckled.

I remember being there in that moment of realization, my friend. And then you went out about the app. I think, I think, and then you downloaded the app as soon as you saw it. I use it often. So, all right. On two important topics. I have to tell you, I have been enthralled with the opening two games of that Tampa Islander series. Oh, my gosh.

That is hard, hard hockey. And to me, it's just been absolutely outstanding. And I don't know, I'm not really, I'm not surprised by it, I suppose. Because I think you and I talked about it. I think both Tampa and the Islanders, even though both of them met in the Eastern Conference Final in the Edmonton bubble last summer. both those teams are better than they were a year ago. And I think we've seen that through the first two games. Agree? Disagree?

Yeah, and I think the best thing that happened for that series are the Islanders winning game one and full value for winning game one because it gave some juice to the series. I think it was John Cooper himself who mentioned, you know, amazingly, and we kind of lose track of this. But, you know, the Lightning are 6 and O ever since they were shocked by Columbus two years ago in playoff series. Like they'd never look back.

They ran the table obviously. in winning the cup last year and obviously won their first two series now, but in doing so, too, have really been, they've been front runners through this run here over the last two years. And so this was the first time they were actually behind in a series this year. Anyway, I forget about how all four series played out last year. And so it's not a team that's faced a lot of adversity ever since they had that shock to the system from Columbus.

So I think what happened by losing Sunday afternoon is I think it really provided a reset moment for the lightning. As if they would need one, they've been so darn good. But they were allows in game one. A lot of that is a credit to the Islanders. Let's not make this about what Tampa didn't do. Let's make sure we remember what the Islanders, you know, forced that result by an amazing performance. But I think it provided Tampa a reset moment where it's like, whoa, let's remember how we got here and how this. works and how we won a cup last year.

I think we saw that in game two in the lightning. They were all world. And the Islanders were good too. So they had to scratch and clawed to tie that series 1-1. And I think we're in for a long one. I think this could be a great series. Yeah. Tampa is 11 and 0 in the past two post seasons coming off a defeat.

So to your point, it's a like it's, man, they don't, their slides are mini slides. And you know what's interesting to me is that, you know, we're having a lot of debate these days about playoff hockey and the difference between playoff hockey and regular season hockey. And we're having it because we're having to decompress on Colorado being out, you know, on Toronto getting shocked again in the first round, on the Oilers being swept in the first round. And teams built on skill and what it's going to,

to take to figure out the playoff puzzle and the teams that are still playing hockey. And there's no question we know what the Islanders in Habs are about. I mean, the Islanders have been added longer and their program is proven. But, you know, Vegas, you know, the thing about Vegas and Tampa for me is that not only do they have a lot of the high-end element skill that you see in a Colorado and in a Toronto and in an Edmonton, if not more of it. But they also have that hard grind element that's, you know, some people don't like talking about this because they feel like that's the conversation from years past. But the playoffs again this year have proven this is still a reality, at least until we decide that the officiating is going to change in a playoff.

But the reality is it's a different game. And, you know, what I, you know, we'll get to Vegas later, but what I respect so much about Tampa, the way in which Tampa won. the Cup last year and the way they're playing it in these playoffs is that yes if you want to go end-to-end and trade chances be careful with that because you know kuturoff and company will eat you alive but if it's a beat you in the alley series they can meet you there too and and and that's you know i'll never forget brian mccullin about you know interviewing him the a few months after they won the stanley cup in Washington and and the Q&A that i did with him and i think we've talked about this He gave me a quote that will resonate forever for me.

He truly believes that you have a team for the regular season and a team for the playoffs. And they're not the same. Some players overlap, but there are different ingredients that work in each case. You know, and that to me is definitely what teams that go far in the playoffs are going to have to figure out. Are you troubled by it though? And like, listen, it is, it's a given. It's a truism, right? Like, we're not debating, oh, do you think this is?

It is. And you have to get your head around it. And I'm sure, you know, we had Dave Tippett on not too long ago after the Oilers were swept by Winnipeg. And, you know, you talk about learning lessons. But part of it is, yes, learning how to play. But it's also learning how you have to build your team. And I've seen other people refer to it. other sports aren't that way, right?

I mean, like, the NFL playoffs, teams have success because they're able to execute, but all of a sudden, let's use whatever the example is, I like to use the Dallas Cowboys because, you know, they're, they're an average team with an average fan base, but, excuse me. I'm just kidding. But like, so all of a sudden, like, Dallas goes to the playoffs, they don't suddenly change how they approach the game from this regular season, right?

Well, although I would argue neither one of us are football experts, we don't cover that sport for a living, although we love watching football and we're football fans. But I would argue, and I don't want to belabor it, but I would argue, though, that he will often tell you that if you can't run the ball, which may not necessarily be a regular season focus, but you can't run the ball in cold weather and the playoffs are in trouble in terms of controlling the line and so on. But, no, no, you're right. I mean, there probably isn't another sport where the difference in the spectacle is so different, you know. And it's not just, let's not just harp on the officiating, which is absolutely a factor, absolutely a factor. It's also the player's willingness to sacrifice their body and block shots and finish their hits in a way in which, quite frankly, even though the one will ever admit it, they're not going to do November.

remember. Because the year is too long and there would be too many injuries, too much wear and terror, you know, if a team played like that over 100 games when you combine the playoffs and the regular season. And that's a big part too. And it goes back to, I know it's a comment that has annoyed a lot of people, but I can't believe that people don't, some people don't see it. That's why I said all year, even when they stunk, Scotty, and you agree. with me that the HABs were actually a roster I thought that were built for the playoffs. And the point was, there are things that

that that roster is doing right now that if they did that over 82 games, there'd be no players left. Like, it's just, it's a tough physical commitment to play that way. You know, the HAB's big four on defense, and hopefully they get Jeff Petrie back.

They can't, Che Weber can't play like that over 82 games at his age. Yeah. Ben Chirot, Joel Edmondson. But get into the playoffs and now you can suddenly start grinding teams down in a way that's yeah physically exhausting and takes a huge commitment but you're willing to do it when the Stanley Cups on the line and that's and that's a part of the and that's a part of hockey that will always be true I mean I mean that's that's a difference between a game in October and November and

and again come April May or in this case June and July but and so you know, that's, you know, I think Colorado will, Colorado is so close to figure it out. They're an awesome team, you know. But those are lessons. They disappear in the middle of that Vegas series for whatever reason. And Vegas took over. And they took over and imposed themselves physically on Colorado. There's no other way to put it, I think. Yeah. Well, and there is a moment, I remember Dan Biles when he was coaching in Pittsburgh, he, he, having conversation with him about the playoffs. And it always stuck with me because, and it was during an, it was the Eastern Conference Final in 2009. And Carolina had been, you know, they'd been the darling team. They'd been, you know, sort of like a little bit like Montreal, right? I can't remember who they beat Jersey and Boston, I think, to get to the conference final. And, and Dan wasn't talking about Carolina necessarily.

But the Penguins swept Carolina. And he just said, you know, at some point in the playoffs, a team. team just buckles, right? They just can't, they have, they have no answers. They're out of juice, all those things. And I think to your point, when teams like Tampa last year, and they learned that lesson the hard way, and like Washington and Boston, and, you know, you have to be able, you have to have a roster and a lineup with the will to do the things that you wouldn't normally do over 82 games in the regular season. And you do it every single night until the end of rounds. And I, I think I, I, I, I, I, I, that always stuck with me. And sometimes it's, sometimes it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, you don't, you don't, you don't, you don't, to, to, you know, I, so, to, you know, we've also had superstars that, as it, as it's, to, to sacrifice their bodies that way when it's, like, Cindy Crosby has, came out of the box as a guy that can grind it out. Yeah. So that's one of the great reasons why. And same with, and to me, the same with, and I don't know, and to me, the same with Alex,

Ovechkin, who, despite the early playoff struggles, to me, it was never about him not willing to put his body through. I mean, the guy's a beast. And so when you have those guys already that way, that's a huge step ahead. But for other superstars, sometimes

it's learning to get to that, where you're going to get hit harder and the reps are going to allow more and you're going to have to understand that's part of the drill. Yeah. True. All right. Let's Vegas, Montreal.

in a few, well, it'll be a few hours tonight. A game two in Vegas, gosh, even watching on TV makes me, makes me hunger to be in Vegas. Wow, that goes without saying. What a super crowd. What a super crowd. But I was thinking about it the other day, are we not? Is it a given if the NHL goes to the Olympics that we're watching the top two Canadian goaltenders square in Auguste, Marc Andre Fleurian and Carrie Price?

I mean. Yeah, right now, that they'd be the one. one too for sure, I think. You know, and what do you do at number three? I mean, you see how Jordan Biddington bounces back. You see how, you know, maybe Darcy Kemper just won a gold medal for Canada, the world. Does Carter Hart bounce back from a really tough year?

There's other options there. But right now, the one, too, has to be price and flurry and take your pick between those two great veterans, yeah, in my mind. Yeah. And the weird part, if we had talked about this, let's say a year. year ago. You know, I mean, you know, Carrie Price said, you know, there have been some ups and downs. To me, it's just interesting that we are taught, you know, and there's Mark Andre Fleury, a finalist for the Vezina and full value for that. You know, I think it would be so much fun to watch

those two, you know, share the crease in Beijing in 2022 as Canada looked for a, you know, to win three straight gold medals at best on best Olympic tournaments. I think, I think the dynamics would be pretty cool. And if what we saw in game one, man, it would be yeah, there'd be some decisions to make as to who your number one guy was because both those guys made. Oh, they're

outstanding. Yeah. They were both outstanding. And Flurry with some crazy saves in the first period when the Habs came out like gangbusters and in a real intimidating atmosphere. The Habs really took it to Vegas early and then Vegas found their game and took over.

But that was a good game. I thought it was a pretty lazy narrative for people to think that that was, oh, yeah, Vegas is going to sweep now. Maybe they will, but I got to tell you, the half gave them a game. That was good. I'm looking forward to watching more of that series. Yep. All right, a couple things before we get to Pec Arena, as promised, a couple coaching decisions made

since we last spoke, my friend. And really, you know, we had Gerard Gallant on two-man advantage. I can't remember when, but not a huge surprise. I don't think that he is the new New York Rangers head coach. Or, well, let me not presume, but any surprise for you that, how things unfolded with Gerard Galant being named a short period of time after guiding Canada to an unlikely gold medal at the World Championships? Yeah, so I felt from the get-go he was a front runner there, and part because I know that

his first interview of Chris jury was out of this world apparently really impressed jury and then it was a matter of jury obviously still needing to talk to a number of candidates and Galat being at the worlds but Kalan and Jerry I think kept in touch through all that you know I do think one element of it was maybe the Rangers as they should making sure to see what was going to happen with Robb Rendemore and Carolina and all signs pointing by the way to finally I think the Brindamore deal getting probably done by the end of the week in Carolina I don't want to say 100%, but I was hearing from some sources this morning that things were kind of headed that way. And a lot of that, as you know, Scotty, was just, shouldn't say just because it's not been easy,

but was a lot of Brindamore's staff, you know, from trainers to all kinds of people in the organization, needing new deals and just showing you Brindamore's amazing loyalty and leadership. He wanted to make sure a lot of those things were in the works before things went next level with his own deal. But I think he'll be back as head coach in Carolina. And I think that was part of the, you know, if you're the Rangers, you want to make sure because he's such a hot commodity. And once I think the Rangers got intel that Brendan Moore was probably staying in Carolina, not that they probably wouldn't hire Galena anyway, but like I said, you want to be able to talk to all the top candidates. So they obviously cemented to deal with Galat.

And, you know, and from all, from what we know from our reporting, Galantz signing four years, just under three and a half million a year, pretty good deal in this economy. I mean, I know that people point to some of the five times five deals that are out there, but those were pre-pendemic deals for the likes of value in Ewe and Tal McClellan. I think four times just shy of three and a half is pretty good. Yeah, no. And I like the, I like to fit there. I just think, we've talked a lot about Gerard Galant and his attractiveness.

And, of course, what he accomplished in Vegas in that first year. So much young talent. But, I mean, you can't overlook the impact I think Gerard Galant is going to have with a guy like Artemmy Panarin or Mika Zabanajad. And Chris Kreider, the veteran core of that, certainly the offensive group. I think that team is real close, and I think Gerard Galant's a good fit there. And I'll be, listen, the expectations are right there. They should be a playoff team in a very difficult division. And I think Gerard Galant helps get them over the hump very quickly.

I think so, too. It's perfect timing. It's a team on a rise. It's a coach that players go through a wall for. I think there's a lot of terrific elements here, great hire by Chris Jury. And, you know, I think Gerard Gallant is, he's a veteran now, a veteran coach. And he is an honest guy that will look at both, you know, the successes he had in Vegas and Florida, but also look at his deficiencies and try to improve on that.

And that's what makes coach is great. And I think he's all over that. And I think that would have been part of his conversation with Trist Jerry, right? You know, here's what I think I did well in those places. Here's areas I think I need to work on. Not everyone is comfortable doing that. You know, sometimes I think people want to present themselves as the, as having all the answers. And I think sometimes if you sound human and understand that, you know, you're going to work in certain things, I think that I think that makes you an even more impressive candidate.

And I got a feeling that was part of the, you know, the conversations between jury and Angolan. Yeah. The other head coaching job filled this week was Brad Larson moving up from his position as an assistant in Columbus to take over the head coaching role vacated by John Tortorella. And, you know, listen, anytime you get a former thrasher continuing to do stuff in the NHL, I'm all for that. But I will tell you, Brad Larson, I think is going to be a great fit for a team that is, you know, they're going to look. probably a lot different by the time training camp rolls around if we assume that Seth Jones is headed elsewhere before the start of the season, maybe Patrick Line as well. But Brad Larson, I did see people say, oh, that's, you know, you do it on the cheap or that's the easy, that's the easy answer. But I think this is the right answer for where this team is headed.

And he knows that team inside and out. and he is hard as nails. And I just think that team's going to have to play hard hockey to be successful, I think, for the next year or so. And I think he's a good fit for where that team is at right now. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if I feel as strongly as you about that. I don't know enough about Brad Larson to have a complete judgment.

And in fact, if you would have told me two months ago that someone named Brad would be promoted internally to replace John Dorado. of my money would have been on Bradshaw. Who's in Vancouver now? But yeah, hopefully, you know, I've heard good things about Brad Larson, but again, don't know enough about him to give a real certified statement on that one. All right. Before we take a break, then coaching landscape, you know, obviously Arizona is still looking

for their next head coach and Seattle Cracken still waiting, waiting. Who will be the first Crackenhead coach? And a guy who's named and the guy who's been on our podcast, Rick Talkett, I know has figured in a number of these openings around the NHL. Yeah, he's definitely interviewed in Seattle. Yeah. So Ron Francis is on record as saying that he wants the first head coach to be hired by the end of June. So we're getting there. Talkett, as far as I can tell, is the only brand name that we know as any of you.

That doesn't mean others haven't. Ron Francis works in a very secretive way. you know, I had been told that a name that was on Seattle's radar, at least to talk to, not necessarily as a frontrunner, but just a guy that I think they would have liked to have talked to, is Lane Lambert from the Allenders. But the Allenders keep playing playoff hockey, so I don't know how that's going to figure out into the timing of it all. So that would be interesting. I'd be good with a Rick Tocke at hire there.

I mean, I think that, you know, I don't know that you want to make your first head coach in Seattle, someone who hasn't been a head coach before in the NHL. I think that bringing in a brand name would make sense. But who knows? Ron Francis may think differently. So we'll see where that goes. And, you know, on Arizona, there are, on the other hand, they are absolutely looking at a lot of guys who might be a first time

NHL head coach as they look to rebuild that organization. And, you know, some of the names that I told have interviewed there include Pascal Mesaun. from the Jets organization, Todd Nelson, Mike Van Rinn, and a number of others. I mean, I think Bill Armstrong, the gym there is really casting a wide net in terms of talking to a lot of different people. And the other coaching job open still in Buffalo, I, you know, I've known Don Granado a long time. My sense is that maybe that's where Kevin Adams sort of circles back, given the work that Don Granato did as he, the interim head coach and, you know,

but Kevin Adams got a lot on his plate. And it's not just, I mean, listen, there's no question Don Granato is a legit candidate. But I will also say that, as you know, Kevin Adams has also spoken to a number, a number of candidates, including Bruce Boudreau, you know, believe me, Lehman, all kinds of guys.

But, yeah, I mean, hopefully it is Don Granada. It would be a neat story. Yeah. Although I like to see Bruce Bucro back behind Angel back. Yeah. No, I think I don't like to speak for you. I mean, sometimes I do. But I'm hoping for the sake of that fan base that there's some, there's some good, you know, some good things that happen there.

It's been a rough ride. So I hope whatever the decision is that they start to get things back on track because that fan base deserves some good news. And actually, we'll circle back later in the podcast with some questions that may have some Buffalo. So ramifications. So we'll save that for them. And as promised, we're going to hear from Pecaterine, former Rezaer trophy winner and the current King Clancy trophy winner. All right, everybody.

As promised, special guest joined today. I told Pierre he had to be on it. He had to have his game face on to get ready for our guests today because I know that Peca Rene has his game face on. And it's a treat to have you join us, Pecca. And I understand you got a little help this morning. You got Popula the Doe. with you. And I understand we're going to get to important topics, but none may be more important

than your morning events, which I understand involves a date on the golf course with teammate Roman Yosi. What's the deal with that? Who carries the edge into this match, which I understand is going to happen later this morning? Hey, guys. Thanks for having me. What a introduction. Yeah, big morning. I'm looking forward to a little golf game with with Bromond. We actually, I think we're going to have a couple other guys. I'm not sure who's coming.

I think Fabro and Nick Cousins too, but I feel like I got the, I got the edge right now. Last time we played with Bromon, I beat him by one shot. So I got a title to defend. It sounds like you got a little, you could even run like a little rider cup there.

You got guys from all over. the world to set up a little rider cup competition with the Predators. Yeah, yeah. We've been doing that quite a bit actually now after the season. And obviously, you know, a lot of courses here and beautiful, beautiful places. So, you know, everybody loves to play golf and it's been fun. Yeah. And all the boys all over the world, a lot of Europeans, a lot of, you know, few American players and Canadians. And so it's been a lot of fun.

Well, Peca, I can guarantee you one thing about our interview here today, that it will not be interrupted by me being pulled over by police in the middle of our interview. Nice. So I'll share this story with our listeners. I'll never forget that. No, no, go ahead, go ahead. So years ago, I was in my car on Bluetooth interviewing Pecca, but my tape recorder kept sliding all over my dash.

and so I was reached out to grab my tape recorder and decided to hold it in my hand while I'm driving to TSN and having a great interview with PECA. We're about three questions in and suddenly the lights are flashing behind me and I get pulled over. And poor Peca has to hear this entire conversation with the police officer as they stopped me because they thought I was texting and driving. They thought my tape recorder was my phone. And I don't know how long into that conversation we got Peca before I politely. said we have to stop the end. But I know that when I saw you a year later, you were still laughing so hard at that. Yeah, I think it's just a funny story. I remember that. I think at the time I was back in Finland and you called me overseas. And yeah, I was, I was, I mean, I felt bad for you,

but I was dying, laughing. It was funny. And by the way, even though I got a ticket that, day, I got it clear it up later and when, you know, we realized I wasn't texting and driving. So I did not have to pay a ticket for that. Nice. Nice. Be honest, Pierre. You told them that you were talking to Peccarina and then they immediately dropped to charge. I should have. I did say I was in the middle of an interview, but he didn't seem to care. Peck, listen, honestly, it's so great to catch up with you. I feel like we, you know, like Pierre was mentioning, it's, it's, you feel a little bit disjointed through all of this without seeing people that you often run into and often spending some time in Nashville, you and I would cross paths. But first of all, congratulations on being named a day or so ago as the 2021 King Clancy

Memorial Trophy winner, which is that people should. should, to me, people should understand how important this award is. And it goes to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. And I wonder just what it's like to be, A, to be nominated. You know, the, the, the, the Mactumba and Curtis Gabriel, both terrific players and really important people in their respective communities. What's it like to be nominated and maybe explain how this reflects how you feel about your home in Nashville and what it means to you. That's been your home since you came into the NHL and what that entire award means to you? Well, it means a lot. It's obviously, I feel like as fully last couple of days, it really hits home. I think older I get in hockey, my role. has gotten smaller a little bit in my team and, you know, playing wise and things like that.

And I, I, it kind of, you know, now people reaching out to me, different organizations, different charities, people along the way that I've met here in Nashville and families and kids reaching out. I think all of a sudden you realize that it's, it's. It's so much more than hockey. So, yeah, it means so much to me. It's a huge honor. But, yeah, there's obviously a lot of disturbing players around the league

who's doing a lot of work off the ice and who are leaders on the ice. So, I mean, just looking at the – I was looking at the list of the players who won the award. And it's a special award. It's for sure something that I'm very proud of. And obviously, you don't do these things to win something, but it is pretty cool. And like I said, the last couple days, it's really kind of hit home to me when people start preaching out and congratulating and kind of, you know, just talking to people.

But it's been a great run here. Sorry, Pierre, just before, I just want to, I misspoke myself. It wasn't Matt Bumba, sorry, it's P.K. Suban and Curtis Gabriel were the other finalists. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Yeah, so you're a former teammate, P.K. Suvann. So my fault, I misspoke myself. Go ahead, Pierre. Well, I was going to say, first of all, you should be proud of winning the Clancy Peck out.

And also, I'm here to deliver some news to you because I wasn't sure if you were aware of this. did you know that your contract expires in a couple weeks? I didn't know if you knew that. Oh, thanks, thank, dear. I've been so oblivious. I've been here all my life, so I just thought that it just automatic continues, renews itself. But I guess, I guess not. Yeah, yeah, so I'm up.

Yeah, so you can guess my actual question instead of being a smart ass, which I can be sometimes. I think a lot of us are wondering about your future because you can certainly still stop the puck in this league and such an important tandem made to your countryman UCSero. I mean, what's your thoughts on what's next for you? Well, it's a great question. Obviously, it's been nice to take some time off after the season. I've done a lot of thinking, a lot of just taking it easy. I have a young family now, a little six-month-old baby boy and my fiancé, so we've been just enjoying life here in Nashville.

I've talked to a lot of players who've been in my situation kind of towards the end of their careers and talk to my age and things like that. And I still, I'm actually, yeah, I want to. be very open and honest. So I'm meeting up with David here in Nashville actually this week. And so still, I think everything is kind of up in the air about my future. I think there's obviously different options and big decisions to make. But when it comes to thinking about me playing. I think obviously

Nashville is you know I take a lot of pride that I've I spent all my career in in Nashville and in the same organization and you know what they've done to me and I feel like it's

it's been a special thing and obviously that's that's something that's it's hard to it's hard to kind of unnoticed that or like look else for yeah i i don't know what this season was like for you and it was so different on so many different levels um but people people may forget that there was a stretch of time when uc saros was injured and you played a bunch of games and listen this you

you are instrumental in the predators getting up off the mat and getting into the playoffs and playing you know what i thought was a compelling six game first round series against carolina but I wonder if that sort of stretch of play and how well you played and how important it was to the team. Did it, you know, does that impact whether you would like to come back and play again? Or is that, is the scope much bigger than maybe that stretch of play that was so important to your team? Yeah, I mean, for sure. past year season and a half

like I mentioned UC has kind of taken over and it's it's you know he's he's more than ready for that it's been it's been fun to witness that obviously I'm a very competitive guy I want to play all the games

I'd be lying if I said anything differently but but yeah I think I mean it was I hold myself I still, it doesn't matter. I'm turning, I'm turning 39 this year. And when I prepare for the season and when I play games,

I still, I want to be one of the best, best. And, you know, there were moments this year where I wasn't, you know, I wasn't happy about my game. And then down the stretch, yeah, that's. For sure, it helps mentally that I, you know, kind of I was playing well and, you know, kind of, for my own sake, I think, you know, I was able to, I think, mostly prove to myself that I can play and play in a high level. And it's a good feeling. And I think even though I've had a long career, I think you need sometimes when you're all kind of less. a little bit. I think it helps when you get the chance, you actually can, you know, help the team out and play well. So, yeah, I think it was good.

You know, Becca, you mentioned Euciseros and, you know, in all the years, I've covered the NHL, the Predators aren't the first team to come up with an idea where you have a superstar goalie like yourself over time sort of help mentor a younger goalie and then there's a transition. I've seen that plan many times. I've also seen that plan blow up because guys have competitive juices and it's hard to, you know, sometimes to make it happen. Why has it been so good for you guys in terms of I know how good you've been to him and it's clearly the proof is in the pudding? I mean, I don't think that you see can be the goal he is today without having a positive relationship with you.

Why has that been so important to you to make sure that that works out smoothly? Well, I don't know. To me, that's a no-praner. I've always been so fortunate to have unbelievable guys as my partners over the years. There's Chris Mays and Anders Lindbach, Carter Hutton. I'm missing out for you guys. but those are probably the guys who spend most of the time with me. And then obviously, UC, and I think, you know, obviously it helps the opposed from Finland.

We right away have that pond. First time I met UC was 2014 World Championships, and we just drafted him. And right away, you see the guy and you see the talent. and then you start noticing the person. He's like the nicest guy. He's humble. He's so polite.

He's a great guy, funny guy. And then, I mean, I feel like we hit it off right away. As soon as he got to Nashville, there was a pond. There was early years I was helping him out. He was living at my house always for the training camps and things like that. And so we got really close. And ever since, it's been just the relationship that I think he benefited me. I really had to work on my game.

He was that talented. He already, I want to say, four years ago, three years ago. And I feel like he could have played more games at the time. Even the season, I won the Vezina Trophy. I think that was his second year maybe. And I think it was helpful for me. He was really pushing me. And then, you know, a couple years after that, he was ready.

And so I've been pulling for him, too. I'm proud of him. And, you know, he's a guy who has to prove himself all over again. You know, everybody is looking at his size. and things like that. And in every single level, he's been successful. So I'm happy for him. I'm proud of him.

And so it's been actually easy for me in a personal standpoint, a relationship standpoint with UZ. Obviously, at times, even though I consider myself a humble guy and things like that, But at the rink, I'm competitive. And so for sure, I feel like, it's probably last season. It was, you know, at times I could sense that it was like, you know, I've always been, I've always been the guy.

So at times it was hard. It was almost like my ego was coming out. You know what I mean? Like, it's not easy. That's natural. You learn to deal with it. Yeah, exactly. So you learn to deal with these things.

But at the end of the day, it's been helpful. for me and this year coming in the season I kind of knew that obviously I was preparing for the season also be ready to play but I was also mentally preparing to support UC and just take a little bit of different role more of I guess a leader role in the locker room and things like that around the team you mentioned pecca you're you're a new dad and, you know, coming to, you know, sort of a crossroads, maybe a crossroads in figuring out what to do. If it's not playing, have you thought about what's next? And whether that's, you know, in a few months when training camp starts in September or if it's a year from now.

But have you thought about what you'd like your life to be or to look like when you're not playing anymore? Well, sure. I thought every single option all the time. I still do. I mean, it's, yeah, you mentioned about being a dad. It's been the best. I love it. It's, it's been amazing.

Life's changing for sure and puts things into different perspective, absolutely. But, but yeah, that is still very, open. I don't know. I really, I can't say if this is it. I don't know. For example, about next year, next season, what's going to happen? I think we are planning on, we are still in Nashville. We're going to go back to Finland. None of the grandparents, nobody have seen our kids. So everybody is it's into for us to come back. And so we're going to go back in July. fly and see everybody and we are planning on coming back here, no matter what, you know, after spending a couple months in Finland.

So that's our short-term plan, but, you know, that can obviously change. Well, Becca, regardless of whatever decisions you make here, whether we see you back in net or whether you decide to call it quits, either way. will be happy for you and your decision. You've been one of the classiest guys to be around and to cover over the years. And, you know, secretly, I think I do hope there's another year in you.

But, you know, I just wanted to say quitos. And thanks for your time here today. And I hope you hit him straight on the golf course. But seriously, just some great thoughts. And I really appreciate your time. Yeah. And Peckett, before I let you go, and you mentioned going back to Finland,

and it's something that I don't know that I've, You know, you and I've talked about this, but it's been a long time ago. But I have to tell you, one of my favorite Pacharine stories is the origin story. And Ray Shiro, I know people bug him all the time about it. But when he came to see you and, and now am I pronouncing right, Ulu? Is that right? Do I have, Ulu? Olo.

Olo. Yeah, Olo. Which is, I know, because I went back and looked, you were telling me it's not all that far from the North Pole. And Ray Shiro was with the Predators organization. and he had to come and see you, but the story was he had to come and see you early because you were playing behind the goaltender, Nicholas Baxter,

and often just warmed up. And Ray tells me the story about how cold it was. He had to buy a hat. And then he couldn't even remember whether you stopped 10 shots or no shots during the warm up. But that was it. And of course, you ended up being drafted by the Preds,

258th overall. Just unbelievable story. I wonder, do you reflect back on that, you know, sort of those moments when, I don't know if you thought anyone was watching you or if you had a chance or what that was like. But, you know, now you're 683 regular season games into a career. I wonder if you think back to those days and think about how it's all unfolded. I do. I do. I for sure. I remember that. You know, obviously I was already a couple years, that was a couple of years after my draft date. So I was already 20 years old.

And I remember we had a really good team in Olu. I was playing behind Baxter. And then my coach was telling me that, hey, there's, you know, Nashville is interested in you. And then, sure enough, one day they were like, okay, tonight there's going to be somebody watching you. And I actually thought that I'm playing. So I'm like, that's like nervous and I'm like pumped up. I've never, I've always, you know, I was always dreaming about playing in the NHL, but I, you know, I never thought about getting, you know, I never really thought about somebody coming and specifically look at me and stuff.

So, and then, then disappointment, I'm not playing. So I'm like, oh, man. And I go in the, on the ice, in the warm-ups, I'm just working my butt off, like, you know, any shot I can. get, I'm trying to stop them and I'm taking like extra shots when like Baxter, when Baxter Baxter skated off the net, I'm like, I jump in and just like, try, doesn't, you know, anything. I'm like just going all out and it's a, yeah, it's a funny story. So sure enough, Ray was watching that game. We've talked with Ray multiple times about it and it's funny how things, things go and I think

I think that's a that's a story that it's going to it's going to linger around for a while and it's a good it's a good one I'll always remember that. Good stuff. Well, I'm with Pierre Pecca secretly, well not secretly

because I'm going to, I'll say it like Pierre, but I hope there's I hope there's this is not the end of Pecorini NHL goaltender in Nashville but we'll see how it turns out and regardless, you know, thank you again for your time and wish you only the best, not only in your golf game, but whatever is ahead of you. But thank you for coming and hanging out with today with us today. It's been a real treat. Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. It's always been a pleasure. You guys are awesome.

I got to tell you, I never get tired of hearing the story about you getting pulled over talking to Peckerman. So that was beautiful to. He clearly loves it too. I mean, I could hear him laughing at the other end of the phone line while to please. officer's chewing me out. That was pretty good. Good stuff. Well, I don't, you know, it'll be interesting to see what happens. You know, as Becca points out, he's 38, he's going to be 39 in November, so really early next season. But, you know, I know, we saw Mike Smith. You know, he's still, I guess my point is, you know, Hendrik Lundquist, you know, was being counted on to be a big part of the Capp's plan before his heart issues. So I think there's, is a place for, you know, a veteran goal. And we didn't, I thought Peck has sort of alluded to it,

that he's really, you know, his home and his heart are in Nashville. But, you know, our good pal, Larry Brooks from the New York Post, I thought floated an interesting idea not too long ago saying, hey, if Peck Arena is not going back to Nashville, the Rangers should be taking a hard look at him to come in and, and mentor Shisterkin. And, you know, so anyway, he's just, it's always been a treat. I guess the question I have, though, is, and you know, we won't spend too much time on this. But if those are the kind of scenarios that are out there for him is to go out and mentor someone else, I mean, why would that be so much terribly more enticing than what he has now? I don't know.

Like, to me, the tiebreaker is to finish his career in Asheville. So for him to leave, I would assume it would be for a larger role than he can have now. Right. Yeah. But, well, or, I mean, yeah. At least a 1A, 1B, which, you know, is not really the case anymore. I mean, Saros has really taken over, right? Yeah, well, as you and I talked about, you know, could very well have been on the final Vesina list.

He wasn't, but certainly had the credentials to be on that one. Now, mind you, the sports science is telling us more and more that everyone should be 1A1B, right? that no goal he should play more than what's the number you think, 55 games in an 82 game season. Yeah, I would think. There is a carve-out, carve-out role now for the number two guy more than ever to have a substantial role. So I guess in that vein, I suppose Pec-Rene, he's going to play games no matter what he decides, if he decides to play. Yeah.

Good point. All right. Anyway, regardless, whatever happens to Peck Arena, we wish to be absolutely better. All right, we're going to take a break. And then when we come back, we will ask the dorks some questions and wrap this episode of Two Man Advantage up. All right, my friend, lots of questions here for Ask the Dorks. That's a good one from a regular contributor, Melanby's Dead Rat, Dale, J.H. 66. Most fans in offseason mode, except for fans of the Final Four, obviously.

With so many teams at or over the flat cap, I would think UFA offers will be lower. And how do you think GMs may approach RFA decisions, and especially those going to arbitration, as in do you think those contract offerings will be lower as well as a result of the flat cap? In general, is it going to be hard to be a free agent either restricted or unrestricted in the coming weeks? and days, my friend. Yeah, I mean, it's a tough question to answer because I think there are going to be circumstances that affect every free agent differently. And I'm not trying to give a cop out, but it really is true.

Like, I think if you're among the elite, you'll still get your payday. But we did see last fall with the first free agent window with the flat cap that the were players affected. I mean, Mike Hoffman had to wait months. Tire to Foley, a proven 30-goal score, had to wait three days into free agency before taking a deal that was for sure blue. the original goal for him before he signed to Montreal and ended up being one of the great signings of the offseason.

So we've seen the impact for sure of the Black Cat. You know, one thing I will say is that with Seattle coming in and grabbing 30 players, those are 30 players off other teams' payrolls. So it does at least loosen up some situations a bit, but I stress the park a bit because really it's not, you know, it's really one player for team in general. And, you know, but that'll help, especially if it's, you know, if they take the odd four or five million dollar player. Agreed.

And, I mean, and players, you know, players will get paid. I mean, we, you know, Alex Petrangelo got paid because. Right. So that's what I meant. Is that, is that, that's why it can, it's hard to give a, a swooping answer because some guys will get paid. but there's a lot of other guys that will cut in the crosshairs of it, of just too many teams saying we can't give you that type of deal anymore. So it really depends who you are.

Right. This is sort of a related question. This is from Josh the Zamboni guy. Which teams do you see trading some players because they have Seattle expansion problems or presumably working a deal with Ron Francis to, you know, as we've seen, you know, as we saw what happened with Vegas and 17. maybe not maneuvering to protect players necessarily, but maneuvering because they have salary cap issues because of the flat cap.

And Josh asked because I could see the Canucks trying to improve by helping out some teams in this way. Right. Thanks. Love the show. Thank you very much, Josh. Yeah. And there's a number of teams that are hoping to take advantage of the Seattle situation. I think the Anhymed ducks, for example, come to mind. So teams that have

better that have fewer protection issues than others are actually going to try and do that like get in as a third team involved in all these discussions between Seattle

and teams that are up against it but you know as far as teams that probably have to make a move in Minnesota with the 4D right what do they do and Matt Gumba yeah and and of course

tied into all of this are questions about when do you sign your UFAs wink wink if you're if you're a team you know if you're Colorado with Lanoskog and Washington with Ovegkin and we'll see what happens with Carolina

and Dougie Hamilton. We know that Dougie Hamilton's camp led by J.P. Barry of CA Sports has been given permission to talk to other teams already. But that doesn't rule out Dougie Hamilton resigning in Carolina. I think that was just Carolina being progressive in a way because

if J.B. Berry goes out there, and realizes there isn't an eight-year deal on a table for any team. I'm not saying there won't be. They very well could be, which would force a sign and trade. But what if there isn't? Then naturally, then you have another conversation with Carolina at some point. But even if they do have a conversation with Carolina,

the hurricanes aren't going to want to sign Doug Allen before the expansion draft. Right. Yeah, exactly. For protection issues. Yeah. Right. All right. You know what to hear?

I want to ask finally, because our good friend, Al, he always says, in the question every week. Mostly it's about my hair, which is fair enough, because, you know, my hair has been the topic of discussion for many years. But in this case, he asked this question a couple weeks ago,

and I didn't ask it during the dork. But his question is, in general, we look at the playoffs and we look at Montreal beating Toronto. We looked at, of course, the oiler is getting swept. there have been a number of series that seem to have taken a lot of us in the business by surprise. You know, I mean, predictions are, I know you don't like to do them. But very few people, if any, predicted some of those series.

And his question is, is this a function of the divisional realignment? Or is it that you, you know, why do you think we've been taken so completely by surprise by some of what we've seen in the playoffs in terms of teams that we, you know, we didn't expect to have any chance to win a series, and yet they did. I don't think we have been taken by surprise. Like, I think this is a playoffs every year, don't you think? I don't know. I, like, let's go back over the last 10 years, you know, the eight-seeded kings,

beating the number one-seeded Canucks in 2012. Like, I just think we're, I think we have short-term memory sometimes with the playoffs. But I, you know, Columbus sweeping 62 win Tampa. Like, I think this is what we have every year. I mean, I mean, that's what makes it so marvelous. That's what I think puts hockey in such a different place is that, you know, people used to roll their eyes when GMs were being quoted saying, all you have to do is just get in. But it's actually true. Yeah.

It's actually true that you just have to worry about getting in. See, and I agree entirely. And I think part of it is if you, and part of maybe just with social media, People don't want to be, like you and I had talked about this. We talked about it again today. We liked Montreal. We liked how they were built. They played like crap, you know, floundered around the last, you know, third of the season or whatever it was.

And so it's just simpler to pick the Leafs to win that series because they should win that series. And I think, you know, there's a whole of the social media, you know, to get flayed. It's just easier not to put yourself out there to say, you know, I'll take Montreal in seven or whatever it is. and it's just the safe pick, you know, is the easy pick to make, even though we understand that there are likely going to be upsets. And in this case, there were a couple of huge ones in the North Division. Yeah, and, you know, it's not that it's easy to predict where they're going to come from, but I think it's just, you know, I've heard this a lot from coaches and managers,

again, during these playoffs, both from organizations winning and from organizations losing. but the line between winning and losing has again never been fitter. It is just, and the overreaction to some of the teams losing, like they need this, they need that. No, it's just close, man. Like a bounce here, it bounce there. You know, people don't want to hear that because where's the analysis and that? And where's the, but it's just so damn close. And that's why I think that's why GMs get paid, what they get paid, I guess, because you really have to be careful.

not to overreact. Yeah. And to trust the process, trust your core. Tweek it, yes, of course. But, you know, the idea of trading core players because you didn't get out of the first or second round, to me, is a total overreaction. When you realize how closest league is.

You are a very wise man, my friend. All right. Let's wrap it up here. What else we got going on in our podcast world, Newell Brown? excellent guy, the former assistant coach of the Vancouver Canucks, joins Jeff Patterson and Thomas Drance on an all-new van cast on Tuesday at the Athletic. Former NHLer Matt Cook joins Mike Ruson straight from the source this week at the Athletic and Chris Johnson, our good pal. I saw Chris on a Zoom caller this week. He looks so thin and healthy.

He's been a marathon runner. I know. He just, yeah, he needs to spend more time. I don't know about you. He needs to spend more time with me. You need to fatten them up. Anyway, he's Chris Johnson, a sports net and hockey night in Canada, joins Jonas Siegel and James Myrtle on an off-season episode of The Leaf Report at the Athletic. And, of course, the Athletic Hockey Show is now at five days a week, Monday with Ian Mendez and Haley, Tuesday, Craig Custin, Shunt and Tilly, all-American version there. You and I are holding things up in the middle. We're like the tent pole in the middle of the week on Wednesday.

Thursdays, Ian Mendez and down goes brown, Sean. Mack and Doe and Friday, the new prospect series with Max Boltman and Corey Pranman. It takes us like 20 minutes to, you know, to mention all the podcasts. So that's kind of good. And you should check out our comments section

for each podcast episode at the Athletic app and rate and subscribe to the athletic hockey show on Apple. If you aren't already a subscriber, go to theathletic.com slash hockey show and receive a subscription for $3.99 a month. months. My friend, good work by you today. And I can't wait to see what will happen next week when we do this all again. Well, I can't promise I'll be there, but I will do my best. All right, all right.