The Athletic Hockey Show - Rod Brind'Amour joins the show, pressure mounts for Hockey Canada, and are the Calgary Flames better or worse than last season?

Episode Date: October 7, 2022

On a new Thriday episode, Hailey Salvian and Sean Gentille discuss the latest news in the Parliamentary hearings for Hockey Canada. Also, Jason Robertson's four-year extension with the Dallas Stars. Next, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour joins the show to talk about the team heading into the new season, Brent Burns, the 25th anniversary of the Carolina Hurricanes, and much more. To wrap up, a discussion on if the new-look Calgary Flames are better or worse than last season.Save on a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshowSubscribe 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 up, everybody? My name's Haley Salvean. Welcome to another edition of the Friday show on the athletic hockey show. Haley here with Sean Gentilly, my co-host. Welcome, Sean. How are you today? I'm fine.

Yeah, we're going to keep the chit-chat to a minimum today because we have a really busy show, actually. It's the final show before the season starts. So things are going to start getting busier. Sorry, I'm laughing because you have the, this is the audio podcast, obviously, but we record on Zoom and Sean Blurz his background. And the blur has blurred everything except for your head. Oh, yeah, there we go. That was really strange. Wait, well, don't.

Hold on. You're saying too much. This is too much chit-chat. It's too much, no, no, no. It's too much, too many personal anecdotes. Stop it. Oh, my God. Nothing worse than whenever the podcast hosts turn out to not be trained apes

who just sit there and talk about line combinations for 60 minutes. We see you commenters. We're giving you what you want. Except I broke because the blur blurred your whole body. You're just a floating head on a Zoom call. I was trying so hard. And that actually brings us to our new regular first segment, which is 20 minutes where we talk about each other's Zoom backgrounds.

Haley looking very tasteful in a wonderful loft it appears. Yes. You can see my pumpkins. I believe those are Martha Stewart. They're little glass pumpkins. Well, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. Okay, that's enough. Stop, this is too much.

Simply too much. Okay, that's enough. We actually do have a really busy show. We're having Rod Brindamore on the show today. Very excited, obviously the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. It's a big season for the Keynes. This is the 25th anniversary season of the hurricanes moving to North Carolina. They are a, can we call them perennial Stanley Cup contender yet?

Maybe not perennial. They're a cup contender. is a team that they hadn't been for a long time. Rod Brinnamore comes in in 2018 and sits there and says with Donwood, not Don Waddell. It was, yeah, Don Waddell and Tom Dundon beside him and says, as the new head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, we're going to make this team relevant again. That was in 2018, flash forward to 2022. Again, the 20th anniversary, 25th anniversary, excuse me, of the organization moving to North Carolina. They've been to the postseason, four straight season. in back-to-back division titles,

they are a cup favorite. This season, once again, seems like things could be, this could be, you know, the perfect year for it to finally be the year for the Carolina Hurricanes. It's not going to be easy considering, I feel like depending who you talk to,

there's seven different, five different cup favorites, you know, a ton of contenders, but Carolina Hurricanes are going to be a team to watch once again this season and we're going to be really excited to bring Rod Brindamore onto the show in our second segment to chat about Seth Jarvis, Brent Burns. They played against each other for a couple of years and now he's coaching him. It's not a super unique thing, but there's lots of chat about with Rod Burnhamer. We talked about that when we were just kind of going over things to potentially ask Rod.

It didn't. I knew that Brent Burns had been in league for a long time, probably longer than people realized. And I knew that Rod played for a long time, probably longer than people realized. But I was still kind of surprised. See, not just that they overlap, but that they had a few. It was like a decent chunk. Yeah. Yeah.

Brent Burns, Minnesota Wild at the time. Everybody loves, everybody loves talking about Brent Burns. Yeah. I sent a note to somebody who knows quite a bit about the Carolina Hurricanes. I was asking, you know, what's good and interesting? What should we be talking about? Send me some things, but, you know. Some of their prospects, who's going to be the seventh defenseman.

But you know, you should probably just ask about Brent Burns snakes or whatever. I'm like, yeah, thank you. We'll do that. Absolutely. It's really funny. If anyone's ever seen him in person, his backpack is bigger than my torso. That was the one thing that I took away from seeing Brent Burns for the first time, my first year in the league when he was still with the sharks and he's walking down the hall in Ottawa in his backpack.

Like, you could fit me. I could sit in it probably. Cut little holes in the back and my legs would dangle out. Yeah, it's like a baby. It's proportional. Anyways, Rod Brinemore's me coming on. Big season for the Carolina Hurricanes, lots to talk about. We'll get to that in the second segment.

The season also starts this week, like essentially tomorrow. This will be coming out Friday morning. I had it in my head. I guess it depends on where you are in the world because there are the two. Yes, yes, it does depend on which. side of the international date line you reside in, yes. Well, honestly, I think I kept saying the season was starting on the 13th. I'm staring on my calendar right now and it says October 13th NHL season starts.

That is when the Flames season opener is. And I just figured like, yeah, Calgary starts on the Thursday. So that's, you know, the world revolves around the Calgary Flames still in forever. It will. And that's when the NHL season starts. starts. That's not true, everybody. I do apologize. That first game is, so San Jose, Nashville, tomorrow, October 7th, that 2 p.m. Eastern. I think what it was more than anything was that I thought those games in the Czech Republic were exhibitions until like 45 minutes ago. They're not. Oops. They

count. They do count. That's the first global series game in Prague. San Jose, Nashville. Congrats at Tomas Hurtle. He gets a play in front of like 500 of his family and friends. He was so psyched about it when we talked to him like a few weeks ago. Yeah, that's awesome. That guy's psyched about anything. Yeah.

And so it's back-to-back games Friday, October 7th, 2 p.m. Eastern, San Jose, Nashville. And then, well, I guess they're doing it a swap. So it's San Jose at Nashville, quote unquote. And then Saturday, October 8th at 2 p.m. Eastern once again, Nashville at San Jose. And those are the first two games of the NHL season before, I guess the next couple regular season games are on the 11th. So the day after Thanksgiving, Canadian Thanksgiving. And then we're on it. So either way, this is the final show before the season actually starts.

It's a final preview show. Then we will start talking about line combinations and what things are doing. But it's been, yeah, it's been three weeks of previews. We do have one more big question preview topic to go over. We'll go over that near the end of the show talking about the Calgary Flames. That's our second big question. But things are going to get busy. I'm not in game watching shape yet, you know.

I'm looking at what's so funny? It's a thing. It's a thing. Wednesday there is one, two, three, four, five, six games on on the Wednesday night. And then like 12, oh my goodness. I can't count. And then there's like 12 games on the Thursday when the flames start. And maybe that's why I was like, yeah, this is the first day of the season because everyone's playing basically.

But Wednesday and Thursday next week, I'm just going to, I'm going to show up for the podcast next Thursday. And I'm going to be a disaster because I've just been sitting on the couch watching hockey for for hours and hours. and I'm not used to doing that. It's been a while. I'm excited. Not me. You won't be watching. Oh, I'm checking for a little bit.

Watch a shift here and there and then just go about my business. Check in for a shift between the Arizona Coyotes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. What a great home opener for the penguins. My God. Why? Who did this? Honestly, I didn't even. Arizona.

At Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 13th, that's the Penguins home opener. I feel like there's always a stretch, like, early in the season where the penguins don't, like, the last few years, they haven't gotten any favors from the schedulers early in the season. Maybe there's tickets available. I think it's probably a thing where they know that even though the Penguins' crazy sellout streak is over, that ended during the pandemic, obviously. Yeah. They can kind of reliably, you can sell count on them to sell out their home opener, like, regardless of who they're playing. Who doesn't want to see Sidney Crosby nutmegging and lacrosse going against Clayton Keller? I just want to see, I just want to see Logan Cooley.

Bring Logan Cooley back. We're talking about players playing in front of their hometown crowds. Just like give them, you know. A nice run for those fine folks from West Mifflin, PA. By the mall, Century 3 Mall. That's what this first segment should. That's what this first segment should be. Is Pennsylvania kids?

Well, I hate to break it to you. No, no, no. No, no, no. Logan Coolly is not going to be at the game. He's at University of Minnesota. I'm saying they should just give him like a, they should do the nine game, the nine game peekaboo. Just so Logan can, can, uh.

I can come by for that. But no, no, I'm saying the first segment should be specifically discussions of geographical minutia of southwest Pennsylvania. So people all over the world need to hear that Logan Coley grew up in West Mifflin, which used to be by the mall, but isn't anymore. They knocked this mall of dental. Are you done? I'm finished.

It's fine. And that's been the Pennsylvania Geovalian Geovalent Corner. We will have to get Danielle to create some kind of jingle for that. There is a Century 3 mall jingle. It was a there was a car dealership by Century 3 Mall that had a great jingle. Okay. Danielle can just drop that in. That's fine.

Century 3, Chevrolete, Lebanon Church, Rockinsford. Nice from the mall. All right. Moving on, there is some news to talk about, one that is a really big one that's consistently like by the hour just kind of shifting right now. As we're recording this again, we're recording this on Thursday. We'll be posted on Friday. That's why it's the Friday show. As of right now, we are seeing consistent changes with hockey Canada and everything that's been happening there. For those of you who maybe need to be caught up, we don't have a ton of time.

So I do recommend there is a timeline of events on the athletic that has shown everything from the beginning that's happened with Hockey Canada because if we were to go through every single piece, it would take us hours because there's a lot going on here. In terms of news today, several major sponsors with Hockey Canada are pulling their sponsorship either just of the men's team, or permanently from Hockey Canada programming, which is very significant. We're also seeing provincial governing bodies, making statements saying they're either monitoring the actions of Hockey Canada in recent months or demanding people stepping down. We saw, so just, I guess, about an hour ago, Hockey Nova Scotia made a statement. Members of their board of directors are closely monitoring the actions of hockey Canada. and have expressed concerns to the national governing body during this period of time.

They have a emergency meeting today. That is Hockey Nova Scotia. 35 minutes ago, Rick Westhead from TSN, who's doing a great job covering this and leading the charge along with our colleague Katie Strang and Ian Mendez. He was on the ground during the hearings that were happening in Ottawa in the last couple of days. Rick Westhead says they're hearing from several MPs that parliamentary staff have been examining hockey Canada's financial statements and that the flow of money within the organization and its foundation as well as hockey Canada's investment decisions may soon also come under scrutiny. So there's a lot going on here. Yeah. Didn't even didn't even see that that was happening.

It's constant. If you're not refreshing, there's just so much stuff going on. Again, the athletic has a really great. list of everything that happened and obviously the kind of start of everything, this reckoning. We can't really call it a reckoning yet because there hasn't been meaningful change at Hockey Canada yet. It's been a lot of people trying to protect their place, protect executives who do not deserve it, who do not deserve to be in these positions.

So I wouldn't call it a reckoning yet because nothing has happened. That should be happening. but a lot of this for those who maybe don't know is from the allegations of sexual violence that happened in London and everything is kind of stemmed from there. And I cannot say enough the massive impact that sponsorships being pulled and the provincial governing bodies as well as, other like minor hockey federations polling or making these demands and statements is going to have. I had a, and again, one that I missed, this was a couple hours ago, Hockey Manitoba made a statement.

They are supporting the calls by members of parliament for a change in hockey candidate's leadership at the senior staff level and board of directors level, and they're calling for a review of hockey Canada's action plan. And we also saw that one of the major Quebec governing bodies said that they would no longer. They would be cutting ties with hockey Canada in the wake of new allegations against the governing body and some of the things

that have come out of those hearings. So we're seeing provincial bodies losing faith in hockey Canada publicly and sponsorships, the dollars being pulled. I had a conversation with somebody and this wasn't for publication, but obviously I did send

some of this stuff to Katie because I'm trying to do my part to help with the coverage because it's so important. But I did have a conversation with somebody, I guess, about a month ago. And they were saying that it's such a difficult spot right now because, you know, when you're thinking of like, who do these board of directors answer to? Like, how are they still able to do this? Well, it's because they answer to the governing bodies. They answer to the money.

and nothing had been impacted up until this point. So there was no real reason in their minds that they needed to step down. Why would they overhaul when they're still winning gold medals, they're still getting sponsorship dollars, and they still have the support of whatever other bodies are working with them? And now we're seeing that start to fall. And this person I was talking to said, like, it's going to take the minor hockey association,

the provincial governing bodies, the sponsors, kind of all at the same time, coming together and saying, enough is enough, we're pulling our money. Either we're doing it right now and just pulling, as we saw with places like Canadian tire, or saying if you don't create change, we're done. So I think this is going to be heading into the right place because there's no reason that these people should continue to be allowed

to have these positions of power and sport. in this country because they've just grossly mishandled the situation. And isn't that horrible? Isn't it horrible? The hockey is all stemming from the last few days of parliamentary hearings where Andrew Skinner went up there and had enough rope to hang herself and just it was just one gross. Yeah.

What was the one quote she had? It was basically saying like, well, everyone else is bad. so we're not that bad. Like, come on. It's amazing to me. And you can, this is another level of damage that they've done to the sport and the children that play it.

That's happening literally because we had Scotia Bank cutoff funding and Canadian Tire cutoff funding and local government. Like, this is, I guarantee you by the time this is posted, of somebody else will have pulled out there. That's the only way this is going to change. That's the only way that these people who are, who are shameless

pigs are going to are going to are going to be forced out, right? Is if the money stuff changes. Yep. The direct kind of, the direct,

what's the word I'm looking for here? the byproducts of all this. Yeah. Especially with Canadian, look at Canadian tire. Great, like, great example. The amount of money that Canadian tire funnels to hockey Canada to pay for early, like, grassroots, free ice program. That is gone now.

That is, like, and I'm so sorry to cut you off, but that was one of the things I saw. And I'm so glad that some of those funding dollars are going to be funneled to, like, a good space. Mm-hmm. But, like, what these hockey cana execs are doing, in the name of, what was the one quote they were saying? Like, without us, they'll turn the lights out. Yeah, well, with you, you are losing money that goes to grassroots programming to help kids play hockey. Like, the Canadian tire jump star, and this is speaking as a Canadian, it is not cheap to play hockey in this country.

It's not cheap to play hockey in the U.S. as well. It's not cheap to play hockey, period. And there's programming like Canadian Tire Jumpstart or whatever it may be that can help kids, you know, you can sign up with jumpstart and they'll help you get skates or a stick or something. There's little things that can be done at the grassroots level to get more kids playing the sport. And now some of that funding is gone. Are those pro is that programming, excuse me, going to be gone? Like you are hurting the sport and you are hurting people. First and foremost, screw hockey. You are like hurting like people. You know, for example, first and foremost, the woman who came forward with these allegations of sexual violence, it's just, it's mind-boggling.

And it's gone to the point where the prime minister, this country, is coming out and saying that we're going to overhaul this. It's just amazing, is that the only way that you could force these assholes out is by jeopardizing, jeopardizing, you know, is by jeopardizing other other children, right? That's it. Like these, like these kids aren't. Yep. They're not, they're not, they're not, they're not, they're not, they're not, they're not a place to.

Well, I, I guess, I guess we shouldn't say that. But just to tamper, to tamper with, you know, with, with, with, with the funding and just add that, add that next layer of, of complication to it because they had no other choice. These, these are clearly just shameless losers that, that, that, that, that, that we're dealing with at the highest level who weren't, who were just going to continue to continue. doing their jobs unless unless the money, unless the money faucets turned off. So they had no other choice. The other option would have been to continue with Scott Smith and Adrian Skinner and all these,

all these people who we've had to listen to over the last however many months, because they clearly were not going to go anywhere unless the Canadian tire faucet and the Scotia Bank faucet where it was turned off. And we need to say they still haven't gone anywhere. Nothing's happened. Nothing's changed. Oh, sure. Absolutely.

At least now. However, I think it's fair to say that pressure is mounting even more so than we saw on hockey Canada for a change in leadership. And like it really did, as you mentioned, like it hinged on on the parliamentary hearings that were widely panned. And specifically what Andrea Skinner, who was named the new interim board chair, that's the, again, this is the only change they've made so far to their board of directors was bringing. and Andrea Skinner, who went on the parliamentary committee and defended hockey Canada, saying it, quote, has an excellent reputation and argued against scapegoating hockey as a centerpiece for toxic culture. Excellent.

Excellent. And she said they won't be making any managerial changes, defying a request from the federal sport minister. And that's it. Like that is, like I said, like I said, they gave her enough rope to hang herself with that in these hearings and you can you can imagine how this stuff plays out right these these organizations are looking for an excuse to to pull the plug they and they hadn't quite gotten you know a good enough one and then and then andrew skinner goes up goes up there and provides it because she

just made it clear that that nothing was coming down the pike in terms of real change just defiant defiant gross shit from her so credit honestly in a way way to Scotia Bank and Canadian Tire and whoever else, but they're just like, all right, hold on. They've acted very quickly today. Enough's enough. Yeah. Like it probably, it took them, you would have liked to have seen them act more quickly and maybe, you know, use their sway before October 6th afterwards.

We've been talking about this for months. But it was clear. It became clear in the last 48 hours that this is the only way shit was going to get done. Was if those companies pulled the plug. because of the level of just like cynicism and and in in in um hubris i think that we saw on display it's continued resistance for meaningful change right and again in the face of extremely troubling sexual violence allegations like this isn't small stuff we're talking about here this is it's just unbelievable it's it's truly mind-boggling and i do think

It's also worth saying, too. I'm sorry, I don't mean to cut you off. Like, aside from the allegations, what the reason we're talking about this now is because they used. All the other shit that's been uncovered in the process. It's because of the money they used to attempt to pay this woman off. It's coming from, you know. And there's a second fund. There's funds.

There's sexual violence, sexual assault handling funds. So there was a report on Monday. that found a second fund that they created in 1999. So two funds that they're using. And again, that's where the Rick Westhead. I believe that's where the Rick Westhead tweet comes into play of there's going to be some more looks into their handling of their financials. So again, to wrap up just a couple. One slush fund wasn't enough.

Yeah. So Tim Horton's Scotia Bank and Tellis are pausing their sponsorships for men's hockey programs for this season, including the upcoming World Juniors tournament, whereas Canadian Tire has completely ended its partnership with hockey Canada because it says the Federation continues to resist meaningful change. All right, John, before we bring on Rod Brindamore, another piece of news that came out late on Wednesday night after a day of, you know, Jason Robertson might sign.

Wait, no, he's not going to sign. Then it's about what, midnight, just before midnight Eastern time, Jason Robertson signs a new contract with Dallas Stars. Is that seriously when it, that's when I dropped was like midnight? I think so. Four years, 7.75 maybe? That's right. It was 7.75 million over four years.

For one of the league's best offensive generators already, that might be a jump in the gun. It's one season, but we know that Jason Robertson is an exceptionally good. finish her naturally gifted goal scorer. Pretty good defensively too. And he was on one of the best lines in the league last season. We talked so much about the Johnny Godreau, Elias Linholm, Matthew Cichuk line that Jason Robertson, Rupa Hinson and Joe Pavelski,

depending on maybe where you live, maybe didn't get a ton of, I think it got a lot of attention. But that was, again, one of the best lines in the league last season. And Jason Robertson was a big part of it, because that guy can shoot the puck and he can score. and it's very impressive.

Like, you don't get naturally gifted goal scores all the time, right? Like, you get guys who can work on their craft, and they've got a good wrister. But, like, Jason Robertson just seems like a guy who has it. I think, yeah, I think what we saw last year was that Jason Robertson was the engine on that line, on the Hintz, on the Hintz-Povalski line. You can kind of flip a coin between Hints and Robertson maybe. But, yeah, what he does in terms of offense generation and finishing ability,

I mean, it's whatever. Second year in the league, he had 40 goals, 11 game winners, which was crazy. I don't think I realized that he was, which is like befitting, I think, of that line's importance to that team. Because they're the only reliable offense. Last year, they were like the only team, the line that, they were the only line that could score for that team consistently.

And, yeah, so, and then also his role on the line, which is, you know, the bagman. Finish. So, yeah, it. It's a deal that made a lot of sense. I think the numbers where it needs to be. The length also is, you know, it's four years, which is actually kind of weird. That's like a number that you don't see all that often for.

But that takes him to free agency. That's the bridge deal he was looking for. And Dallas didn't have a ton of cap flexibility. In Dallas just, yeah, Dallas just didn't have the cap flexibility that they would have needed to have to pay him eight and a half. for whatever, whatever number that Paperson, his agent was looking for for the eight-year deal, that number wasn't going to be feasible under the salary cap standpoint. And I know this because of a great story by Saad Yusuf. Yeah, we really want to, we really want to give Saad a shout out because his story that came out Thursday,

looking inside the contract with Jason Robertson, great story, really insightful. like the hustle again this deal was announced late last night and yes he got all the necessary parties saw i didn't sleep i don't think he did that story that's that story dropped pretty early in the morning and and i thought what was super interesting about this story and is again you know we saw from kevin weeks like something to keep an eye on maybe something's happening with jason robinson then we saw other nchel insiders say like no there's no timeline here nothing nothing's happening And then they sign, it's like, okay, what the heck happened here? And then we get in this piece from Saad, and it's, you know, exactly what we wanted to know in terms of what the heck happened here.

And it's Pat Brassan telling Saad, you know, this morning we weren't going in the direction of signing a contract. If I'm being honest with you, even on Wednesday afternoon, let's say, let's call it noon. Pat Brassan tells Saad, I thought this was going to take another week or two to get done. and then Saad really walks through everything about how talks escalated and a deal gets completed for four years, $31 million. And it was just, yeah, it was a good look into this specific contract, but also just how this stuff happens. Like it was an interesting look for sure behind the curtain. I think that's the big thing, right? Like, yes, it's a cool look specifically at how they hammered out a deal for Jason Robertson to stand down.

Dallas, but it's also, honestly, and I'm, I mean, I love sod, so I'm happy to, I'm happy to gas them up whenever, whenever we can. But like, in terms of a look at how, if you're interested in how NHL contract negotiations work, and God knows we have to be, whether we want to be or not in this job, it's a really, really good look at kind of how this stuff unfolds and the give and take and the kind of various timelines. So yeah, super duper, interesting, interesting stuff from Sade. It's on, it's on the site. So I know it's on my Twitter timeline. It's, uh, it's great because Sade's great. It's perfect. We should just, we should just have, we just have him on. Can we just like, is Rod, we don't need, we don't need to talk to Rod Branden

Marr. Let's call up Sade. Let's not say that. I'm very excited to have Rod Sond tomorrow on the show. And that's the perfect segue from Sean, because let's bring in Rod Brindamor. All right, everyone, as promised, we're welcome to the show by, uh, by Rod Brindamore head coach the Carolina Hurricanes big season coming up almost the end of training camp. So, Rod, thank you. It's a busy time. So we really appreciate you joining us and taking the time today. No problem. This is, this is good. We had practice this morning. And actually, my wife and son took off for the weekend to go play hockey in a tournament. So I'm bachelor and up. So this is this is good. This is good timing. This is what you do in your free time. Thank you. This is great.

Wait, so what's the weekend's coming up? Like, what's on the, what's on the bachelor, like, checklist? You playing golf? Like, what's happening? You know, it's funny you said that. So I was like, I don't normally have time like this. And so I'm like, and we actually have a day off coming up. I think on Saturday schedule, though.

So NC State plays football. So I'll probably be sneaking in there. Maybe watch that. We got a couple of ex-players that live here that, well, quite a few. a couple guys that play a lot of golf. So I could potentially be doing that, although once the season gets going, I use my clubs go, you know, away.

So I got a lot of hockey to watch. So I got two boys playing hockey. So like I said, my little guy, I can watch that on Live Barn and that my oldest son plays that point of triac. So their season starts up. So I'll be, I'll be busy just, I guess, by myself. Yeah. Who's NC State playing this week?

They got Florida State. Is it a rivalry game? That's how that Florida State. It's big. You know, college sports down here is huge and it's a lot of fun, a lot of fun. Oh, man, the big, the big ACC games are always a blast. I went to, I went to Maryland when that was in ACC school. I live in Pittsburgh, so I get to see Pitt involved with that. But yeah, we can just talk about college football, actually. I'm sure people love that. NC State, they're good this year. They're good. About it. Everyone gets pretty excited around here about NC State. I've been here

22 years. And when I first got here, I didn't realize, I knew the college. thing, but I didn't realize you had to pick a team. You can't be state one year, Carolina the next, and Duke. Like, it doesn't work like that. So I was like, okay, we play in the same arena that NC State plays in. So I'm like, all right, I'll, I'm going to root for them. And, you know, it's been a long haul because, you know, they haven't really won anything. The baseball team's been good.

I got to be good friends with the baseball coach. So, you know, it's been great. I've gotten to know all these people. And the NC State fans are very passionate. And they need to, if anybody needs or deserves a championship, it's NC state people. That's for sure. That's awesome. You know who's not good at college football this year?

The Pitt Panthers. We don't need to talk about that. Sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't need to bring Rod into this. Rod, you've been there for 20, you've been down there for 20 years? I got here in January 2000. A long time.

And I mean, I can't imagine going anywhere else. It's a great area. I raised my four kids. Three are out of the house. I got a little one still here, but it's, and it's, it's become a hockey market. It's become a great place to play. And guys are starting, wow, they don't start. It happened a few years ago, I think, where, you know, people are starting to, like,

we want to go play there. And that's, that's pretty cool. Is there any reason for that? Like is it just the just the fact that you guys have, you know, strung together some some quality seasons and, you know, just kind of building up that rep? Like what's different now versus? Well, I just think where, you know what?

We've had good teams in the past. We just weren't able to back it up. And, you know, now we've been good here for the last few years. And it looks promising, right? It looks like we can sustain it for a little while with the people we have. And, you know, I think at the end of the day, you know, you want to know why? It's because, you know, we got a new owner that came in, nothing against Mr. Camaros, because I love him.

But different philosophy. And his philosophy is we're going to have a fair fight every night, which means we're going to spend the same amount of money as the other guys are on players. And suddenly, okay, you know, it works out now. All of a sudden, we expect to win, no, not just kind of, you know, hoping to win. And that's been the biggest change. You know, it was in 2018 that in May 2018, there was the press conference there. You and Don Radell and Tom Dundon and the big thing that one of the big takeaways was you saying, you know, as the next coach, you're going to make, you know, the Carolina hurricanes relevant again. They're going to be back in the playoffs.

It was a nine year absence at that point made it very clear like just reaching the postseason wasn't enough. Like we're going to do something here. from from 2018 to now entering the 2020-22-23 season where would you say you guys are at in that kind of life cycle or that span well first of all appreciate you remembering that because that's a while a while ago with doing your homework she was she was she was 15 when i don't know so whatever you didn't watch that but that's okay you read it somewhere so that's good um you know what listen like it's kind of just goes to what i just said right we were we're We're at a point now where when we line up,

it's expected to win. And that's just, that means we're relevant. And that's what we want to be. We want to be in the conversation. When you guys are talking about teams that have a chance, you know, everybody has a chance when you line up. But just things can go away can not. I mean, the year we won the cup in 2006,

everyone might have predicted us to be 30th. You, everybody has a chance when you line up. But, you know, I think there's a few teams that you say might have a better edge. and for whatever the reason, you know, I think we're one of those teams that feel like we have a legitimate chance here. So obviously everything has to fall in place and light on it out, but, you know, I like where we're at. Do you guys feel like this offseason from the outside looked different, I think, for you guys? Do you feel like you're entering like a different phase of the life cycle there when you go out

and you trade for Max Patchretti and you trade for Brent Burns? Like you're looking for these, you know, finishing, these finished. products to kind of like take you over take you over the hump right well we have the other stuff so we have a younger group of pretty good players i mean especially still 21 or two three whatever and you know always always always 20 whatever five has been in league seven year uh you know we have a lot of still 20 somethings that are pretty good jarvis 20 21 netche's 23 so we got that's good Slavans, they're not, they're still 27, 28. I don't know.

So now what missing pieces, well, let's fill them in with whatever we can find and just happens to be, I mean, I'm just so excited about the players we brought in because they're older, but they're still at top of their game and they want to win. And there's nothing better than getting veteran players that are hungry. You know, they've done everything they can do in the game. They made their money. They've, you know, had the accolades. And now they're like, wait a minute.

Like there's one thing left and that's the most important thing. So we kind of lowered up on those guys. And obviously, unfortunately, we got an injury right. Like first day Max showed up, which is just, I just feel so bad for him. But, you know, you turn the page and now you're looking, okay, we already know what our trade deadline, our acquisition is. And he's sitting there and he's hungry and he's trying to get back. But that's happening. And so that should be a good boost for us at a real crucial time.

of the year. And obviously another one is Brent Burns, and we do want to spend some time on him. But first, you know, you mentioned Andres Fetchnikov. And he's only 22 years old, which I think you hear that. And it's kind of wild considering it feels like we've been watching him for a while and some of the things that he's done in the NHL. Is there another level for him in this league that we haven't seen yet? Yeah, you always got to be careful. Everyone always says that. But like I do think there's another level of just maturity with understanding the game. I don't know that he can get. I hate to say he can get faster or shoot the puck harder or, you know,

because I mean, I don't know how he's already there for that. But it's understanding, you know, the right times to try a guy one-on-one or get the puck out. There's little stupid things that coach talked about all the time that actually are the difference between winning and losing. So with him understanding his game, probably understanding the league. Like I think, you know, know who he's out there against the things that you can do and not do. All that stuff comes with maturity. So, yeah, so when you say, is there another level?

I think there is. I don't know he can get much better at the skills. Right. But, man, I think just understanding the game, powerful, you understanding where the, you know, really understanding what Penlickill is doing. So what's open for it? Where are the holes instead of just going out there and winging it, you know, which is the young people do, that kind of stuff. So I do think there's another level for.

for a lot of our young guys. Because the next level for Svetnikov is like the insane, you know, 90 point. Like that's where he's at. Like that's what leveling up for Andre Svetschnikov looks like is a true kind of, you know, top 10 scoring season, right? I mean, because that's the kind of talent he has. We see it every night when we watch him. Like he's got that level of, you know, that level of dog in it.

Yeah. Well, I agree. I mean, I'm biased. You get it. But I also, I've seen the. growth in his game from when he first showed up on the scene, which was, man, he was pretty raw. And yet he still, you know, he still looked like an NHL at a young, young age. And, you know, he's only gotten better. So the other part, and I've talked at length, not to you guys necessarily,

but when I get asked about him, you just said something interesting. Like, you threw it in there. He's got the dog in. I'm like, he, he wants to get better. Like, I can't get this guy out of the drink. Like he's he's just like we go for an hour and practice, which is long for, you know, NHL standards and he's staying out there. And then he comes off the ice and he's in our shooting room after workouts and he's just firing and firing. I'm just like, dude, you know, hey, everybody, that's, that's who he is, you know. Wait a second. So, so this is Rod Brindamor telling somebody to just kind of like ease up, come down, go home, get out of the gym. Listen, I love the kid. And he reminds, you know, he's a much better player. And I was,

skill-wise, but he reminds me and me the way you just, like, you know, what else do I got to do? I'm 22 and the day's 2 o'clock in the afternoon, like, what, am I going to go home and watch soap operas or am I going to, you know, why don't I just keep working and keep trying to get better? And, you know, it's not, what else? I mean, I think, as you saw, he doesn't, I don't think he plays golf. And I don't, you know, I think he just wants to be a hockey player. So, I mean, you do, you do got to, but, but I also know, you need to. little rest too, right? That's part of it.

We hear so often with players on the hurricanes and that's maybe more of a, maybe it's in because I'm based in Canada, maybe it's with the shift to national, just so many guys are either underappreciated or undervalued. And certainly not in your dressing room.

I'm sure everybody appreciates what Sebastian Hawo brings to the table. But, you know, can you explain what makes him specifically a valuable and important play? player, excuse me, to the Carolina Hurricanes. Well, you get, you know, when you watch and play, you see the obvious, you know, fast,

you know, I, I see, you know, he's concerned about playing 200 feet away from the puck. There's just a real accountability to his game, which, you know, some superstars may, may not have quite the same. I think he, he gets that. But what, again, what I've always loved about this kid is, I mean, he's been here now. We've been getting better and better, yet we, you know, we haven't reached where we want to reach. And he, yeah, I always say this. He hates losing more he likes and win.

Like, and so I just love that about him. Like, it's just, man, we lose a game. It's just, you know, it eats them. And so that's that hunger, like I talked about with the only guys, well, it's been in him since he showed up on the scene. And so he's, you know, very, very competitive. And again, that's what this game's all about. NHL is about being competitive. And so he's got that in him.

So I don't know if that answered your question, but that's what I think. And that's kind of what I think of was. With Brent Burns, did you go out in the summer and just tell Don to go trade for a player that you actually played against? We're running out of them. Although I got Jordan Stahlia. I played against him for two years. So we still joke about that occasionally.

I knew I was in trouble when I was going up against him in the playoffs the one year. And he's 18 and I'm 30, I guess, eight or nine. And I'm like, oh, geez, you know, I don't want any part of this kid. And, you know, so anyway, sidetrack, I don't remember what your question was, Brett Burns. I didn't go and say, hey, can we get him for that reason? But I can tell you, I mean, this guy's phenomenal. And I just love it.

I love everything about this guy. He comes in and, you know, you got here right away. Like, he got trade. He's like, I got to get there. I want to get going. And I don't know if you guys heard, but his house wasn't ready. So he lives in his trailer in a trailer park, like, you know, just to tell us up because he just wanted to get here, get his family going. We joke about it because his son is my son's age and his son's a really good hockey player.

So the trade benefited both Hurricanes teams, the big one. I have the junior games because his kids really, really good. So we're really, really happy about this trade right now. The real reason Rod Brinemore wanted Brent Burns on the air games. You're stacking up the junior games. In 2011, they need a little boost. So we got back on. But he's just a, you know, man, his spirit is something to have around the room.

He's always smiling. And he's a hard worker. And I love it. Like he fits about any team. would want. But the way we kind of like to do things, he's all in. And, you know, I know he's getting up there, but it's, you know, I've always thought this. If you take care of yourself and you're committed, you know, age is what it is. Like, I don't think it's, I mean, eventually it's going to catch everybody. But I think he's got a lot of good, got a lot of good time still in his game.

I mean, he's one of the, he's a workout guy. Obviously, like the time he puts in and the stuff he does, it's half legendary. Honestly, there's been a lot of stories. about about the about the beast he is he is in the gym right i mean so it seems like he's there's more meat left on the bone for that guy right that's that's that's certainly he fits our uh he he adds to our culture and fits right in beautifully that's so and he's you know played a couple preseason games albeit you know not not a big picture picture of you know the whole thing but he did he certainly has shown uh he's got a lot left did did you stop by the Have you stopped by the RV yet?

Yeah, I've seen it. I've seen it. It's impressive. Let me tell you. I guess with Brent, though, he'll be playing a different role with your team than the one he was maybe used to for a while with the San Jose Sharks. How is he kind of maybe adjusted to a shift and maybe the way he's going to be used or what? He's not going to maybe change his game. This is where Haley, this is where your first time, I complimented you on your, your reason.

research of, you know, my four years ago, my, you know, my, my, my, what did I do so? Am I about to get ripped? I'm about to talk out and say, why would we do anything different? He's been the best defenseman in the league for many, many years, you know, go get it, buddy. That's, that's kind of how we're going to apply. It's, you do you. It's, yeah. There you go.

There you go. And it, I'll be honest, he's, what I love to do about him is we're, we're got a different system than what he's been used to. Um, but he wants to, like, he's, so attentive when I do my meetings and I'm looking around the room like I would expect him to be like this right and he's the guy that's like he wants to he's like I got to get this right and you know so he's he's excited and obviously we are too and I'm joking Haley I don't you know that's okay yeah kind of that's it for me Sean I'm going to Sean pick up the slack yeah I'm

done. Oh, I'm just kidding. You talked about, you talked about patchy already. I know that's, that's, you said it is. I'm sure it's devastating stuff for him to deal with that as soon after the trade as, as he did. Um, is it just as simple as you guys kind of trading them as a, as a trade deadline acquisition, like, or is it in the back of your head, like, you know, kind of planning

ahead and kind of finding a, you can't, there's only way to do it. Right. What else you're going to do? Like, wait, when he had the injury, you know you say man a tough break you know obviously feel hated for him especially i mean list just showed up you know and he's trying to get his kids in school he's trying to get the kids in hockey and he's trying to do that and then to get a house and then oh and now he's got to deal with this and he doesn't even know half the guys because he hasn't met him you know it's right that is tough and so it's

acclimating that okay get all that taken care of and now just the injury is it's not a day-to-day injury you don't get it oh today it's like okay let's go one-man month at a time. And then let's just see. And just big picture. This is a big picture thing. You know, shoot for whatever it is. We stick the date way out there. Just, you know, what I like, he comes to all the meetings. So he's, you know, he knows what we're doing. And then I think, obviously, he'll have tons of time to get ready whenever they give him the green light. And just excited to see, you know, when that addition happens, you know, hopefully we're in a great spot that it matters, you know, when he gets back.

What have you seen that's maybe not different, but what have you seen from Seth Jarvis at camp, but even just last season? I mean, he was such a, not a revelation, but he was a pleasure to watch as a younger player in the league. And have you seen, what have you seen from him last year and into camp now? Yeah, he made our team kind of unexpectedly, you know, a young kid. This is where the rules kind of helped us.

We had to keep him. We couldn't send him back to junior. He was too good. We couldn't send him to the miners, whatever the rule is. You guys might know him better than me. It's like he couldn't go to the HL. You can't send this. What's he going to go do?

So our hands were kind of tied. So we're like, all right, let's keep him for the first, what is it, eight, nine games. You got it. So let's just see. No expectations. And then it was like, wait a minute. How do you send this kid down? He's an NHL occupier.

Like it's, and so he earned his way, which is the best way, right? He earned it. There's no question about it. And then, you know, he just kept getting better. And I just, I just think he's, he's just scratching the surface. So we'll see where it goes this year. Again, he's young. I don't want to put all this, you know, oh, he's the next thing.

Like, let's just till he had a good start. And it's easy when there's no pressure. And, you know, then you start, you start asking questions about it. him. Everyone's talking about him. Suddenly, there's a little more heat on you. So let's just remember he's young and, you know, see where it goes. Especially with the way he ended his season, too. It's easy to gas up the guy when he was one of your few best forwards, honestly, throughout those two playoff rounds. He was great. He's dynamic. He's got that, you know, ability to wow you a little bit.

with and um and you can't you know you got to like that that that's you know there's some things that he has can't really teach so um that he and he's still young junior kid coming out of junior that these top junior kids playing away from the puck is a challenge every time they get because they never had to do it when they played in junior they just had the puck the whole time and so you know they got to learn that part of the game and he's done a real nice job with that what is is that like what is it i know he impressed everybody at that it's up it's a at a prospect tournament and at your guys prospect event, right? That was when he kind of like jumped off, jumped off the ice.

Like, are there specific things that you look for in young players where you're like, all right, that kid is going to be able to help us like now or earn a couple months? Yeah, I mean, that's scouting. I guess. You know, you watch a kid play. You know, some kids jump off the page. Some kids, you know, they may not even be putting up points or doing it. But it's like, okay, wait a minute.

Watch what he's doing every time he gets the play. puck or where he's going with it. It's the right play. It's the right play. Or vice versa. When he doesn't have it, where is he going? What's he doing? He's doing it right. He's doing it right. And then, you know, you watch a kid like that. He's got these wheels where he's just, he's that much faster than everyone else. He's just blowing by people. So right, it's like, okay, there's something here with this kid. And then you get to know him and then you get to

work with them. And I think those guys that take the next step, they want it, like we've talked about with all the great players, they want to be the best, the best player. They're the ones putting in the most work. You know, it doesn't just happen. It happens to a few people in any sport. It's going to happen, you know, they are what they are. But the rest, they go get it. They go after it.

They work for it. I wanted to ask you about Dylan Coglin, Rod. I know he was someone who was in the patch ready trade. He's not just a throw in, though. What do we need to know about this player and what you've seen and what he can do for you and your team? Good question. good good to throw him in there because just being nice now you're catching up again I got it's two for two for three yeah yeah um no he's I don't really know him yet that well

Mike I mean he's been here for a while but he only played a couple preseason games got hurt in the last one like first period so you know he looks great in practice um I think he's got a and we know he's got some offensive abilities I think that's always been there so now it's shutting down the other end when, you know, and he's kind of, we've talked about that. So I'm excited. I, you know, see what he can do kind of under our system for a year. But I don't really know the player that well yet. The last one for me before we let you go, because we, I know you've got some free time,

but we don't want to make you stick around for 45 minutes. You're tired of me now. I got it. Let's go. No. It's good. No, never. We will keep you for another 20 minutes.

I think that'd be rude. You know, it's going to be the 25th anniversary season of the Hurricanes relocation in North Carolina. We already discussed you being there for 20 years now. But when you hear that, it's been 25 years. It could be a special season. You guys are moving in this right direction, everything we've talked about. So what does this season in that kind of anniversary mean to you as somebody who's been in North Carolina for two decades? I've seen it.

I got here the first year they moved to Raleigh, right? So I've been in this town where forever and I've watched it really. from the ground up essentially. And it's come such far. I mean, I just can't even explain it to you. When my first game as a player playing here, I came from Philadelphia, and there was 8,000 people in the rink.

And I'm like, it's amazing how much a home crowd, you don't even realize until you don't have it. You know, I was like, are we going to practice? Like, it was really hard adjustment. And now that it doesn't have, that's not how this is. Now the building, even if there's 13,000 in there, It's louder than any building in the, like, it is, it's the best place to play.

We don't have that anymore. Now our crowds are great. The atmosphere around the building, the people in the area, they didn't know what hockey was when we came down here. I'm going to ramble here, but like when I first got traded here, I stayed at the hotel and I had to ask directions to, it was called, I think, entertainment or something, entertainment sports. So I go to the lobby guy. I said, where, how do I get to the entertainment? This is the four GPS, I think, right? Right.

How do I get to the ESA? He was called. He's like, what's that? So I go, is it just been built? I go, well, it's where the hurricanes play. And he's like, who, who? Right, like, he had no idea what I was talking about. And the rink was three miles up the road.

So now I can just tell you, if you ask that question, it's like slam dunk, right? Everybody knows who we are. We talked about the college atmosphere here. The NC State fans, the Carolina fans, and we're the one team they can all cheer for. So they all, it's like they all get together. and say one time, hey, that's our team. And we're the only pro team in the area. So it's, you know, it's become, it's really come a long way.

Like, I'll rattle on a little longer on telling you the difference. No, of course, I used to train. People laugh at this. So in the summers, I lived here, I never went anywhere else. This was, you know, the summer, my offseason, everything. So I'd go to the rank, I get my workout in. I'd go on the ice and I would pay my $10 and do the, I don't know if you guys have sticking pucks up there.

So it's like you pay your 10 bucks, you can go on the ice. So I would, NHL, I pay my 10 bucks that the guys, because there was nobody on the ice, right? Like there was two people, two or three people. So I would just train. I'd say, can you stay down at that end? I'm going to do my work. No problem. You can't, you can't even get that.

Stinking about now is they have to take a number because they only allow so many people on, right, like on the ice. Because it's packed all the time, packed all the time. Youth hockey just quadrupled inside. Every kid's playing hockey down here. here now. So I'm just, I'm kind of proud of it, as you can tell. I feel it's not me, but it's this group and where we've come is we've come a long way, I guess is the best way to put it. And it's hard to find a different correlation between that, you know, like you have to draw somewhat of a direct line between the Carolina Hurricanes and the youth hockey expansion.

You know, I'm sure there's been more investment in the grassroots, etc. But, you know, what is winning, right? Your team's good. All the kids want to play hockey. You know, they come to the game. You guys know, we kind of live it, but you come to a playoff game here, like, it's the most exciting thing you're going to watch. So you get a kid involved. And now, remember you said 25 years now, these kids, we're kids, maybe we want the cup. Now they're, they're now adults and they're the ones buying season tickets. And it's starting to, that's how you build a, you know, a hockey in an area that doesn't really have it or never did, right? So I think we're, I think we're on our way. I came to a game in Raleigh.

when I was still, you know, I think I was still in high school. Maybe I was in university at that point. But my parents and I would go on road trips all the time to the U.S. And I think I had a basketball tournament at Chapel Hill. And we ended up getting tickets. We were sitting like fifth row at a game in North Carolina. And my dad was amazed. And it wasn't super busy.

We got really good seats. But my dad was so excited. And he thought the tailgating in the parking lot was really cool. And he's the NC State. And my dad always talks about it. Like he would love to go back to another game down there. It's jacked up more now. Like it's so,

yeah. It's everything's, when was that? You were like, that was 10 years ago, right? Yeah. So that's the day when everything was kind of bottoming out. I think, I'm hoping those days are behind us.

And like I said, we got a really nice group here. End of the day, we got great people here. And I just, it's so much fun to do to work. I got it's not even work. I mean,

I kind of, I feel like I'm robbing the bank. You know, every day, I show up and I get I guess I had really good people around and uh win or lose I know we're going to give that than we have so it's just like you can't ask for more I can't I know I said that was my last question but I do have to ask you about Jordan stall um is it been 10 years now is he's been there for almost 10 years now maybe more captain the team I don't know he his last contract he's been

I think this is 10 yeah something I don't know captain the team you've done more 6th and it was 20 It was 2011. It was a 2011 draft, I think, when that happened. Yeah. Well, he set the tone for everything that we do. You're not going to find a better human being. You know, every, you know, listen, every coach is going to say that about his captain. You have to.

But do they believe it, right? Like, I say it so just because I do believe it. I've been around this guy forever, watched him grow. He's a great, you know, dad. You know, he's a great teammate. He comes to work. He's like, okay, guys, this is that. we're going to do it. And he preaches what I preach. So it's easy for a coach.

I go into Georgia, say, we got to play. Yep. And he does it. And now when we talked about Ah, oh, sits beside him for five years. And he's like, okay, this is the way I have to do it, too. Like, there's no way around it. So he's had a huge, huge impact on the turnaround of our group and just how he handles himself every day. That's awesome. Well, I know I said that was the last one. That was the last one this time, I swear. It's all right. And thank you so much.

You got me on a good time. If it was the other way, if I had to rush out for practice or kid stuff, I'd be like, okay, we're done. You would have just been out of here after the Brent Burns question. You know what? I've got to get to the ring. That would have been my cue. Like, boop. Okay.

See you later. Yeah. Enjoy the weekend. I said he wouldn't have to change his game. I'm just going to defend myself here. I just meant maybe he would have a problem was whatever you said first. It just threw out the rest. Yeah.

You know what? I just got to hear the rest. I won it. I'm sorry. I'll own it. It was phrased poorly. You set the tone, the first like the first like five words of a question. That's when people decide whether they're going to turn their brain off. I should just said tell me about Brent Burns. I'm sorry.

Just wind them up. Thank you. Enjoy the weekend. Hope you get to go golfing. We really appreciate it. I hope you make a dancey state for us state. Let's get you over there watching football. I might have. All right, guys.

Take it easy. Thank you again. Thanks for the time. Good luck this season. Thanks. Did I get roasted by Rod Bremdimore? Yeah, he did. You did.

It's fine. It was a great answer. Sometimes you have to ask a stupid question to get a good answer. But no, I don't mean, it wasn't stupid. He answered it. What I meant is like, you know, we're not going to see, you know, he's not going to take over Jacob Slavin's job. He's not going to be whatever. I don't know.

You don't have to defend yourself here. Rod knew what you were asking, and that was just, that was a great, it was a great way to answer the question. Because, because he did kind of, he did kind of draw the distinction between maybe asking someone to do certain different things without overhauling, you know, what, what makes them. Brent Burns is still going to be Brent Burns. It's just going to be. Yeah. On the Carolina hurricanes. I think that's, I think that's fair to say.

Brent Burns ultimately isn't going to, isn't going to change that much for anybody at this point. That was great. He was awesome. Rod was great. Yeah. I, yeah, he's great. I feel like the stuff when he's like, I feel like I'm robbing a bank every day. And, you know, hopefully some of this or all of it gets posted on YouTube.

We can share some of it on Twitter, some of these clips. Because it's one thing to listen to it, but it's another to be on like a video screen and be looking at the passion in which he talks about these things. Like, you can tell when people mean what they're saying. Like, this is a man who just loves coaching. this hockey team and loves what he does and it comes through and it's no wonder you hear about andres fetchnikov being at the rank all day long or or sebastian ahos like you know doing all this work like these guys buy in for him and what he wants because of rod and then you talk to him for 20

minutes or however long that was and you're like oh yeah i get it yeah i get it yeah you know what put him in the hall of fame that's true. I get it. I get it now. He's going to... I'm all in. Put him in. We rocks. Give it to him. I want to hear a speech. Rod Brindamore should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame just for yelling at me. That's one of the most interesting or one of the most important things to consider when you're deciding on someone's legacy and ultimately the biggest honor they can receive as a professional athlete. You have to ask yourself, was this guy nice to me? And if the answer is yes, I think he should be in the hall of fame.

Grease the Skids, baby. Let's go. Rod Brindamore was nice to me on October 6th, 2022. Enshrine the man. I agree. And I also have to apologize to Corey, our new freelancer in Carolina. I did not remember what Rod Brindamore said in May 2018. That was the lead in Corey's story on The Athletic.com.

I had to throw you under the bus there. Thanks, Corey. It's okay. You shouldn't, yeah. It's Corey. Thanks, Corey, and whoever said that Brent Burns is going to be playing a different role in Carolina,

you're dead to me. I'm just kidding. That was on, that was my own. Shout out to Corey Lavalette. He's going to be doing a lot of hurricanes coverage for us this season. He's great. He's covered that team for a long time.

Smart dude. Shout out to him. Very exciting. So the final thing for today, again, busy podcast, it's a long one. Lots of, lots of hockey talking here. And Rod was awesome. I really hope everyone gets to this point in the show, listen to that hold interview, listen to me, redeem myself in the end.

It's fine. We've got one more of the season preview topics to discuss with the flames this time. So it's the top ten storylines we did last week with Peter Baugh on the Colorado Avalanche this week we're talking flames. And the big question is, and it's the question we've been asking and talking about however long, all summer, since the reconstruction of the flames was complete. Are the Calgary flames now, the New Look flames, are they going to be better than they were last year? That's the big question. And that's the question.

It's the most important one. And we're not going to really know, unless they're, unless they're, horrific out of the gate. But we're not really going to know until we get to the playoffs, but I think it's important to talk about. It's the top of mind question. Are these flames better than those flames? Sean, you were part of the season previews,

although I did kick you off the Calgary Flames preview. That's fine. Because I'm a brat. And I was like, I want to do something. Noted, noted brat, Haley Salvin. That's right. I'm an only child. Who could have guessed?

Anybody who's ever talked to you? Whatever. Sean, what do you think? Calgary flames better? They're better. They're better. Why? I think it's Weiger.

I think he's kind of like the, I think he's kind of like the X factor that takes them from being, you know, maybe a net, a net zero ad. If you want to, if you want to treat Euberdough and Cadry and then losing Kach and Kach and, and in Godreau is kind of like money in, money out. I don't know if that's necessarily true but it's close enough ultimately they added another top paracalibur defender and I think that's kind of what tips it over into being you know I'm comfortable

saying that this team isn't a better spot this year versus versus last because what my God you know this a hundred times better than me like what is the single biggest issue for them for them last year ultimately and I know this isn't even about weird

this is more about about cadre just no like no consistently reliable second line behind the big boys. And they've got it now, right? Yeah. And we saw this in the playoffs. We saw this in random stretches in the regular season. The Calgary Flayens had the best most productive line at five on five.

Obviously, it's five and five because it's a line. It's not a power play unit in the league last year. I don't have a right in front of me. I believe they scored 71 goals and were on the ice for about 30 against. They had the most like effective line in the league with. Goddrow and Linholm and Kachuk. But there was way too many nights where the Calgary Flames were a one-line hockey team. And sure, Darrell Sutter's going to tell you not every line, not every player needs to score.

It's not all about goals. It's what else can they do for you? And sure, they had a third line that was suffocating or really good in the D zone. They had guys who could check. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if Linholm didn't score a goal or Johnny didn't score a goal or Matthew didn't score a goal, you're getting maybe one from Mangiopani if he was on a hot streak, maybe Dubay, maybe Milan Lucch each in the beginning of the season. But after that, it was like, uh, there was way too many stretches where they only had one trio of guys who consistently produced on offense.

And they kept kind of trying to piece together three other lines all season long. That's tough to do. All season line, trying to find other lines who could do stuff. You know, and now with Cadry, I think the flames are going to be able to find a consistent top six put, you know, have Cadry with, I think he's been playing with Dubei and Mangi Apani. That's really interesting. Great because I would have loved to see Dubei on the third line with Michael Backlin and Blake Coleman because I think Dubei's got jump. I think he's feisty. I think he could do a little bit of what Monge, they could think he could profile to do what Mangiopani did. when he has his breakout year, because Dylan Dube is still pretty young.

But right now they've got Dube up on that second line with Mangiupani and Cadry. They've got Tafoli on the top line, which hasn't quite worked yet, but there's reason to believe that it will because Tafoli is very good when he's on his game. We talked about natural goal scores, and Jason Robertson, Tyler Tafoli is a naturally gifted goal scorer. And he's really good when he can get someone to give him the puck in a slot in high danger passes.

He was lights out when he was playing with Cole Coughfield for a reason because Cole Cawfield is a wizard and could just get him the puck in high danger areas of the ice and Tofoli could finish it off. So the flames need to Foley to rebound and I think Hubert O is a really good line mate to try to threat him those passes. We've seen some of them in the preseason and then To Foley hasn't been finishing, but neither of his Elias Lintholm. And we know that Elias Lintonholm can score goals. He scored 42 last year. We know Tofoli can score goals. There's reason to believe they're going to be all right. I'm intrigued though because now they're going to have it.

a second line center in Nazim Kadri who can who can push the playup ice he's good off the rush he's good off the cycle he can score he can pass he's a dual threat he's feisty people hate playing against that guy and now they're going to be able to find him winger so they could have two lines who can score on any given night then you'll have your nice suffocating third line who could maybe produce offense here and there you got your secondary scoring and then you've got a fourth line that's go out there bang some bodies and don't screw up i don't know how you can expect to have two offensively minded lines when you only have one offensively minded center. And Michael Backlin, as great as he was in the playoffs, he's not, he's not a two-see.

If Michael Backlin is your third-line center, ideally making a little bit less money. Maybe. You're in great shape. Because he, I was on the Elias Lynn home for Selke train and we had Rod Brindamore on the show. I spoke to Rod Brindamore about Elias for that feature, about. why he profiles as a, as a Selky caliber player. That's what you talked to him about. I was trying to remember what, because I remember when you did that interview.

Yeah. Maybe that he liked the story and that's why he felt comfortably yelling at me. Just kidding. He didn't yell. Anyways, I did talk to Rod, Brendan Moore about Elias for that. And obviously he coached Elias, Lynn Holman was a big part in Elias's kind of shift into a more complete player.

He's one of the best complete centers in the league after last season. However, Michael Backlin is the best defensive forward on the Calgary Flames. His defensive metrics and his defensive ability is the best on the Calgary Flames. But the Selkees kind of shifted into this like two-way guy. Linholm scores 42. He's really good on the defensive side of the puck. He's made Johnny Goddrow and Matthew Kachuk, better defensive players, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He's finals for the Selke.

But Michael Backlund is your perfect suffocating, forechecking, defensive third-line center. I cover women's hockey. it called Blair Turnbull, like the theme. If Blair Turnbull is your perfect third line center, Michael Backlin is Blair Turnbull. For anyone listening, that's my very hockey Canada, women's hockey, not hockey Canada. The Canadian women's hockey team. There we go. Blair Turnbull.

Blair Turnbull is one of my, is one of my favorite players. She's perfect. She's going to watch. She's such a pain in the ass. I'm saying this as as an American hockey fan who's to watch Blair Turnbull, you know. Yeah, people hate playing against her. Terrorize the team for the country that I'm from. He's a pain, yes.

But anyways, as great as Backlin was in the playoffs, and I thought he was the best most consistent forward after, like, midway through the first round. He was kind of bad in the first few games, and then he picked it up, and he was their best, most consistent forward. But you want him to be your three. See, like he's offensively limited, right? Nausem, Caudry is not.

Maybe he won't have a 100-point pace again, but Cadre is still going to be an upgrade as the 2C on the Calgary Flames in terms of the offensive production and in pushing the pace and pushing the play-up ice and being in the offensive zone and be able to finish those opportunities off the rush and off the cycle. So I think that's going to be what makes them better. They lost two of the best players in that trade. Sorry, I cut you off. The Flames lost the two best players this off season,

but I think they're still going to end up being better because of what they've done. If Michael Backlin is your best forward in a playoff series, you're going to lose that playoff series. Yeah. Bad news. Bad news. And that's what happened to them in Edmonton. I think the most interesting, maybe league-wide, honestly, is seeing what Jonathan Euberdo looks

like on a Daryl Sutter team. Because we've seen it over the last three years. He turned Johnny Goodrow, who's nobody's idea of like a two-way five-on-five player at the start of his career. Darrell Sutter turned him into that. Jonathan Yubertoe, we don't need to dredge up like his horrendous defensive numbers or honestly how bad he looks on video sometimes. We're about to figure out what the deal was there. Like was this just a function of what he was asked to do in Florida? was it bad habits, was it just, you know, whatever.

Whatever's gone on with him over the last couple years with his defensive game, which is what's probably stopped him from winning a hard trophy last year. His rep is deservedly bad enough. We're about to figure out whether it's fixable, whether it was, whether it's an issue of system or effort. And not playing with barcoff. Exactly. Exactly. Whatever it was, like we're about to get our answer.

We're about to figure out what kind of player truly Jonathan Euberdo is. And what Elias Linholm can do without Matthew Kuchuk and Johnny Goodrow. That's a major. I think he's great. We saw what Elias Linholm can do with those two guys. And, you know, I will tell people to go and read the story about his path to being a 40-goal score because Elias Linholm has always been profiled as a top line offensive. defensively productive NHL player.

And he's turned himself into this complete player. And we saw the way that his, what he did in the D zone rub off on guys like Chuck and Johnny Goddrow. But I think when you talk about Hubert, I'm really curious is, is the Lyce Linholm going to have to pick up some more slack in the D zone and maybe lose some of that offensive production? Or is it going to be just as simple as doing what he did last year? Because we heard on this podcast, you and Craig, Greg, Greg Gustance.

Greg. Greg Gustance. Greg Gustance. You guys had Matthew on and he talked about how he makes life so much easier because he just, he gets you the puck and he gets you in the ozone and he lets them cook there. Are we going to see Huberto take maybe another step offensively because he's playing with a guy who makes sure that he can stay in the offensive zone? They're really interesting. Defensive players, like Johnny Goddrow looked really good defensively because he was never in the D zone. Right.

You know, and I'm not saying that he wasn't good. He was. I wrote a story. He was, that was the most complete version of Johnny Godreau we've ever seen. But we didn't see Johnny Goddrow in the D zone, barely ever, because if they lost the puck, Elias Linholm got it back. Or Oliver Shillington got it back. And he's really good at pushing the puck back up ice.

And he's not going to be with the team to start the season. He's not expected to start the year due to personal reasons. And we're not going to go into that because we respect people's privacy. But there's so many really interesting. questions with this team, but I think the top of mind ones is like, what's Linholm going to look like? What's Hubbardow going to look like? What are they going to look like on a top line? What about Cadry? I think Weiger makes their defense one of the best in the league. They've got two top pairs. Don't you think? Oh, yeah, sure. Rosby Sanderson, Noah Hanifin and Wiguer and

McKinsey, Wigar, and Chris. Also, will Dan Vladar be good enough to stop Jacob Marks from from completely running out of gas? Playing 75 games. Let's let's. Let's. Let's, let's Let's see. He's looked really good in the preseason, and Vlodar was for long stretches last year until we hit that stretch in December where he was pretty bad. And he led in like 14 goals and three games that he lost. He was the most pleasant surprise for everyone talking about Oliver Shillington last season. And he was awesome. That was the breakout they needed.

He took a top four spot and ran away with it when people maybe thought he was toast. I was writing stories about why the flames need to trade Oliver Shillington to give him a chance somewhere else because you guys aren't giving one. And then he did and he ran away with it and it's amazing. But I thought Dan Vlodar was the best pleasant surprise on that roster last season for very long stretches. And he profiles very similar to Jacob Markstrom. He's the same height. He's also 6'5. Correct me if I'm wrong.

He's very athletic. He's very good in his crease. And he's playing behind Jacob Markstrom. So he's learning from him. He's seeing how Jacob Markstrom prepares and works. That guy just wants to play hockey. And that's the problem sometimes when you have a coach who loves to ride a starter and you've got a starter who just wants to play.

Who just loves the play? That's a rough. You need Dan Ledar to steal some of those starts to prove to Daryl Sutter, hey, I'm good for more than 20. And save both of those guys from their initial kind of impulses. I'm excited for this season. There are some cool storylines, but I think the flames are, they were the most interesting off season and they're going to be one of the more interesting teams this season too.

And I'm not even being biased because I'm not the flames beat writer anymore. That brings that. We can, um, that's like kind of a perfect plug for something we're running on the site in the next couple of days is a set of our like full staff, like league-wide predictions where a bunch of us predicted, you know, individual award winners and, and whatever else. I mean, I picked the flames. I picked the flames to win the Stanley Cup. I picked Jacob Marksham to win to win to Vesna.

I went I went Ilya Sorokin for Vesna. He was really good last year. That's been my favorite moment of the team previews, Richard, welcome, thank God. People sleeping on Ilya Sorokin being one of the best goalies in the league? Or just how bad the Islanders were last year? It's not that. It's people saying to me, after we had. the Islanders at like, you know, 17 or whatever it was.

They're saying, they're saying, like, how could you pick a team to miss the playoffs whenever they had a Vesna finalist last season? Because they missed the playoffs last season with a Vesna finalist last season. About a team that missed the playoffs with the Vesna finals last season. Oh, gee, I don't know. Anyways, I think Ilya Syracian. Prediction season. Preview season is over. Yeah, we're done.

It's done. Yeah. We're running out of time. We were going to talk about some of our picks, but nobody cares. It's fine. It doesn't matter. We've been talking for too long. I'm sick of talking about hockey.

I play in a volleyball league now on Thursday, so I've got to get out of here. Okay. All right. Yeah. I'm going to go play volleyball, but I'm not going to talk about it. Yeah, because, again, we are robots who are programmed to talk about line combos. I don't have any interests. Whatever else.

Thanks. I thought that was a great show. Thanks, everyone for listening. Shout out Rod Brindamore. That was awesome. I'm so glad he was great. That we had him on. And funny story, actually, because I said I'd stop talking, but I'm not going to.

I thought that I was being ghosted. No, I'm telling this story. It's funny. It makes me sound relatable. I thought that the Carolina hurricanes were ghosting us. And I went to send Mike Sondheim, who's there, I believe, has. title is the VP of Communications. I wanted to send him a follow-up because it was like five days.

I was like, hey, just wanted to follow up. Rod can talk. I didn't actually send the email requesting Rod Brindamore. And so I sent that email on Wednesday afternoon after five days of being like, why aren't they answering me? I didn't send it. That's why. And so that's a little peek behind the curtain.

What kind of NHL coach is available within 24 hours? Apparently, I think just the one. One that actually made. Maybe doesn't hate me. I wouldn't be so sure. Not so fast. Whatever. It's all good, fun.

That was great. He was awesome. Super glad we did that. And enjoy the games. There's real games. Oh, yeah, there's hockey coming. By the time you talk to us again, we'll have real things to talk about. Lots of sports, penguins, coyotes, et cetera, et cetera.

Anyways, thanks everyone. Let's get out. Let's talk to you next week. I'm trying. We'll talk to you next week. And just a reminder, if you're not an athletic subscriber, you can join us at theathletic.com slash hockey show to get an annual subscription for $1 a month for the next six months. Thanks, everyone.

Bye.