The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Hockey Show: We Miss Puck

Episode Date: July 25, 2025

The dog days of the NHL offseason are in full swing, and Roy, David, and Ethan are feeling the effects. The gang discusses the apology from the golfer who got into fisticuffs with former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky and shares their wins and fails of the week, which include a horse named Bobrovsky, terrible takes following the Matthew Tkachuk trade, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl getting shut out in a beer league game. Then, Adnan Virk joins the show to discuss the verdict in the Hockey Canada Five trial and other offseason news. David and Adnan celebrate the upcoming release of Adnan's new book, Cinephile, with a Top 5 list of fictional coaches that would make great hockey coaches. Plus, Ethan has a movie take that enrages Adnan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the hockey show with Ethan in the shipping container that's David Dwork and my name is Roy Bellamy. Rosie is on assignment and that assignment has nothing to do with our show. So their birthday. I don't know. I heard it was her birthday this weekend. Somebody should have told me. Yeah, if it is, Rose didn't tell us, which is the most shocking thing ever that Rose

would not share. Hey, it's my birthday coming up. Because no one wants Rose to be like, my birthday is this weekend, you better tell me happy birthday. Yeah, that's a surprise. Is it actually Rose's birthday this weekend? I don't know. She's not here and she's already derailed the show. Yeah.

All right. So on the show today, if you're watching OnraftKings Network, you can find us on YouTube the love of Tartan friends YouTube page the playlist tab and you can find our folder on today's show is at Nan Verk apparently he's written a book We're gonna talk to him about it and we're gonna talk to him about the NHL offseason There's a lot of a lot of news that has happened over the past couple of days that we will get to A lot of news that has happened over the past couple of days that we will get to with him. And a top five. We do have a top five.

He should be very happy about this top five, and it should come right off the dome. Like as soon as you say it, just like boom. Yeah, I had to put some thought into it. Yeah. So a couple of weeks ago, if you remember, there was a running on a golf course. Some random dude had a get into it with a man on a golf course. Some random dude had a get into it with a man on a golf

course. I guess he was drunk and whatever. That dude did not happen to know that the guy that he ended up getting into a fistcuff with was former NHL enforcer, nasty Nick Tarnaski. And that guy paid very much dearly after getting into a tussle with him he ended up in a lick. Since then he has issued an apology and it sounded like this. That's me guys. The guy that got dropped like a bucket of balls in a pond. Now my finest moment I know looks real bad. Played 36 holes of golf, we drank way too much and my mouth ran faster in my brain. All jokes aside guys I'd like to apologize to all the folks on the course, anyone caught up in it and anyone who

had to deal with me that day day I lost my cool and I've learned from it just one of those days where you should have kept the card on the path you know you know you hydrated keep your stick on the ice maybe stick 18 36 holes of ice is 18 very much a Michael Jordan thing to do except Michael Jordan is not getting that wasted I I know I feel like when I get to like 12 or 13 I'm already thinking thinking about, man, have we done yet? I love golf and I love to play golf. I don't play enough golf.

I can't imagine playing 36 holes of golf in a day. I did that as like a teenager, but like, no, like, that's not to say like I love playing golf, but like by the time I'm like, I get around the turn, I'm getting towards like 13, 14, I'm like, man, I'm tired. It's hot. I'm, you know, if I'm not tipsy, I'm something. And I'm just like, I'm getting towards like 13, 14, I'm like, man, I'm tired, it's hot. I'm, you know, if I'm not tipsy, I'm something and I'm just like, I'm ready to get lunch. I'm waiting for the food.

Yeah, no, that's what I'm saying. We need to get to the picnic table with the double vodka, Red Bull or soda. That's your drink of choice. Roy, let me ask you something. Is there any, you mentioned being in fisticuffs with a hockey player, but not just a hockey player, an enforcer. Yeah. Is there any person or stop group of people that you would rather be in fisticuffs

with less than a hockey enforcer? Probably actual like a boxer. Yeah, I was gonna say like an MMA fighter's entourage, especially a mixed martial artist, because they don't just use the hands. Was that your foot? I got kicked. We're using feet now. All of a sudden you see a spinning heel coming flying at your face.

No, no. I definitely do not want to do that. That just seems like a, just like, be cool man. Like, what are we doing? It's just golf. What are we doing here? I usually get more mad at myself than anybody else on the golf course. Yeah, all those shanks, all the hooks, all the slices. Yeah, I'm already angry.

It's frustrating. And with all the drinks, I'm still not going to get into a fight. I'll defend myself. See, the one time it's appropriate to suddenly go charging at someone is if somebody hits into you from behind. If I'm about to take a shot and a ball lands around me, even if there is a four, like if it's unless it's coming from another fairway, then like I feel you, buddy. That's me. Like, you know, Ron Fairway, my bad. But if it's just somebody in the same hole, like, no, that's you're dropping the golf golf club. Yeah, you're waiting on the green.

You're not even going to finish your putt. Well, somebody's getting in their cart and charging at the other one. Like that's you know, compare your golf game to hockey players. Uh. Man. I would say Happy Gilmore before he actually got on the golf course. That's good.

Are you guys excited for Happy Gilmore too? You gonna be watching it? I'll take a watcher. I'm excited, but I'm also scared because I don't want it to be bad. Because the first one is like, you know The first it's happy doing what's one of the best? Yeah funny movies of our childhood, you know some of our child is a situation here

We are missing one major character with Chubb Peterson with the death of Carl Waters That's a that's a major major thing. They were definitely gonna write him in somehow They got to honor him in some way. There's going to be a nice little dedication dedicated to Carl Waters. Probably placard at the end. Maybe like they've like named the happiest golf course. If he's not like his own golf course or something. Yeah. Like the Chubbs. No, the Chubbs Peterson Memorial. It slipped my mind. I have a feeling it's going to be terrible, but very fun

because the cameos like Bad bunnies is caddy Travis Kelsey's in the movie like it's just gonna be cat cameos galore would have been hard to mess it up right yeah yeah like it just make it as ridiculous as possible I'll be watching it more to how many years later 30 years later yeah yes that was 97 I don't know when it came out it came out like 97 yeah but like it's about we're recording this, it's 11 15 so in about 12 hours I will be properly legally medicated. 96. 96 so I was 13, the Panthers were in the Stanley Cup final and Happy Gilmore was taken over the the Dansbury Open. Yeah. That's the funniest part of

that movie when he knocks those people off the balcony of the house. So long as Rob Snider is not in that movie. No, he is. He plays the same character too. Oh, god damn it. I saw like a couple months ago, there was like people were filming on the street and they showed him, I don't know what the context is, but he was like running from a large crowd as that character. You know, what does he say about grandma?

I don't remember. Oh, you know what? Ben Stiller. I wonder, is he in that? Yeah, wait, who are we just talking about? Oh, Rob Snider. Oh, no, my bad. I was talking about don't remember. Oh, you know what been stiller. I wonder is he in it? Yeah, wait, who are we just talking about? Oh Rob Schneider. Oh, no my bad. I was talking about Ben Stiller. Wow. I just totally that's a terrible Yeah, that's a really nice nice. That's really that's a really bad That's like a $20 fine. Yeah, that's not good to me. I mean like we're all little Jewish looking guys

So like I get it what whoa what, no me and Ethan and Ben Stiller Yeah, yeah, don't try not to associate but Rob Schneider with your religion He looks like did you see he's a little off the off the right side Speaking of Jews and Adam Sandler movies. Did you see You Are So Not Invited by Bat Mitzvah? No, I did not. Very fun. Oh, yeah. Is his family in that?

It's his family, his daughter's Bat Mitzvah. Yeah, it's really funny. His wife Jackie was in that. That's the kind of thing that I would- The whole family, the two daughters, his wife. If I need a date night with my wife. Yeah, you should run that. Yeah, that's funny.

With your kids too. Family friendly. Before we run out of time, David, you had some thoughts about the complaints about the state taxes Oh, yeah income taxes and what you got a new take would change my no my hockey show But this is about hockey. This is the I know I'm saying The show no No, it's my take is still the same

I'm just I'm expanding on it my new take or my new thought blame the owners Oh, it's your owners fault. Okay. Blame the people who decided to found their teams in these high tax places. Or taking over the teams. Case of Vinny. Yeah, yeah. Vinny Barola. They're putting their fans in such an uncomfortable, unreasonable situation that they have to root for a team that's lesser than because they can't afford to bring in the same players

that the Florida's and the Dallas's and the Nashville's and the Vegas's that they can bring in. Blame the politicians in the area for not changing the laws to lower the taxes to make it more conducive to the hockey team. Or just be better. Just sign better players. Yeah, like Bill Zero does it really well. You got to overpay these players just based off the taxes. Just pay the, just just do a better job. Win more games. Win the Stanley, the Panthers, it's not that hard.

Just win the Stanley Cup. It's not that hard. They're doing it every year now all of a sudden. It's not that hard. Just win the Stanley Cup. Yeah. The Panthers have made it look easy. Wins and fails in a, yes, yes they have.

Wins and fails of the week presented by the Jägermeister. Serve it cold or don't serve it at all. Jägermeister, damn that is cold. For more, visit jägermeister. Serve it cold or don't serve it at all. Jägermeister, damn, that is cold. For more, visit jägermeister.com. Drink responsibly, David. Please, I want you to drink responsibly. I will, thank you. I appreciate you looking out for me.

Be safe. Yes. Go ahead. Would you like me to start with my win or my fail? Wins. I try to go in order here, chronologically. Going under my sheet. My win of the week goes to Matthew Kachuck. This week has belonged to Matthew Kachuck.

In the span of 48 hours, the guy got hitched to his longtime love. And then he had his day with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of St. Louis, where he brought it to the Children's Hospital again. He brought it to visit the police officers and the firefighters. He had it in a jail cell. It was just another great day, days, for Matthew Kachuck in his hometown. This is his week, this is his world, and we're all living in it. So props to you, Matty.

He's got a decision to make. He had a surgery of rehab, and the Panthers have a decision to make about long-term injured reserve, placing him on that list and a Potential trade that they're gonna have to do just to be cap compliant once he comes back in This can't be like the NBA where you can just pay a luxury tax and deal with it No, unlike it's like dollar-for-dollar on those contracts when you make deals to it is NBA

It is gonna be really interesting to see because all of a sudden all the rumors were, hey, Evan Rodriguez is going to get traded. And now it's like, don't be so sure that Evan Rodriguez is going to get traded and he's not here. But then if they put Chuckie on LTIR, at some point they're going to have to get under the cap. So what are they going to do with Evan Rodriguez at that point? You know what, Ethan, this is another great time and a great opportunity for us to see the man that is Bill Zito flex his GM muscles.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to it. It's like watching the strongest man competition. No, I am too. I found it very interesting to see what the Panthers are going to do, whether it's going to be this off season or come this regular season. I'm sure they're waiting for the doctor's opinions. Whatever it is, figure it out. But be by Olympics time. Hey, I have faith, man Like, Bill Zito is now kind of almost supplanted. Pat Riley in the in blank we trust in my mind, South Florida sports realm. Like Bill Zito, like he's playing with house money.

He's got carte blanche. My winner of the week is Bobrovsky. Now you might be thinking. Bobrovsky! Well, Sergey Bobrovsky has won the Stanley Cup already. He's lifted it over his head a month ago, you know? But I'm not talking about the man. In fact, I'm not talking about a man.

I'm talking about the thoroughbred that ran in the third race at Saratoga on yesterday. Go ahead and play that clip. Quarter of a mile to go, Bobrovsky still with that big lead, chased on the inside by a Magin John who's starting to make some headway outside of him waiting on a sunny day. But it's all Bobrovsky. Nothing's getting by him. Once again, the equine Bobrovsky far too strong. Kept to his task. Another for a rat Ortiz Jr.

Bobrovsky wins by eight widening lengths. Wait on a sunny day. Imagine John and Mr. Eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, Alright, my win of the week goes to this beer league somewhere in Canada, not exactly sure. This goalie stopped Connor McDavid on three one-on-one opportunities. McDavid and Dry Cytl went and played in a beer league together. They're wearing their Oilers practice uniforms. They got shut out, did not score, lost the game. Those guys in that beer league have to feel incredible about themselves after that.

Respect to beer leagues. Respect to beer leaguers. Also, Rose has a win of the week, guys. Her win of the week from the great beyond, wherever she may be, is for Inter Miami. The great beyond. For signing Rodrigo DePaul, Rodrigo DePaul, former Atletico Madrid

and current Argentinian national team midfielder. It's a big signing. This is Rose's win of the week because She's attracted to it. He's hot. That's it. Yep. All right, Dave, fail.

Yeah, that was a fail. Oh wait, my fail of the week. Yeah, your fail of the week. Earlier this week, keeping with my theme of Matthew Kachuck, earlier this week we celebrated the three year anniversary of the trade that brought Matthew Kachuck to the Florida Pan we celebrated the three year anniversary of the trade that brought Matthew Kachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberto, Mackenzie Weigler, Kai Schwent and a conditional first round pick. The reaction on social media following

the trade was less than ideal. Obviously those takes have aged like warm milk in the sun, but I just wanted to kind of flash through them. So what the bleep are you going to do? You're never going to win a cup with Matthew Kachuck. What the bleep checks calendar. This is in April 1st, Bill Zito quickly turning into an imposter. Yeah, right. What the hell is wrong with you guys? This is so bad.

Who was drunk and accepted this? I hate everything. Is there some Gretzky like prospect available next year when this team is taking from? Yeah, it's like guys, three straight for Matthew Kachuck. Who thought they were taking three straight Stanley Cup final appearances, two straight Stanley Cups. And what is to Chuck's had more points per game than anybody on the team in that span. We can finally close the book on that trade because the flames finally get their first round pick. The Panthers won two Stanley Cups before the flames even ever made the pick that was in that

trade. That's pretty incredible. It's nice though that like Huberto and Weider are both playing well now in Calgary and like everybody can kind of be a little bit happy with that trade. I have a secret. I bought a Huberto jersey like a month before the trade went down and I had to get rid of it. It was really bad.

How'd you get rid of it? You got rid of it like Kevin Spacey's hoodie. I don't know where it is. I'm not sure. My fellow the week is from Mappy Mitchcoff. As you remember, he was a Philadelphia flyer at the same time that John Tottorello was the head coach and they were like oil and water.

Specifically, Mitchcoff's style of play and Tottorello's philosophy. Now, Mitchcoff talked in a video while he was on the ice about his style of play, which is definitely not dump and chase. It's the complete opposite of dump and chase. He was explaining that the, uh, the four check in style of dumping and chasing and trying to win puck battles is too exhausting, too exhausting. He's more of a, uh, you know,

carried it into the zone and find the right pass type of guy and send up a four check that way. Now I want to remind everybody that for the past three seasons, the Eastern Conference champions and the team that won back to back Stanley Cup finals kind of won in the style of play that Mitch Goff does not like. Yeah. And it's not that the Panthers only dump and chase the puck, but they are more than happy to play this incredibly hard, tiring, trolling style of hockey that Mitch Kauff seems to not really want to

get his hands dirty with. Yeah. It's fine. Yeah and not to mention that Mitch Kauff had a hand in Totarello getting fired in Philadelphia. Now Totarello's more to fault on that one but Mitch Kauff did not help. So yeah, Matt B. Mitch Kauff definitely my fail of the week, oh and the New York Islander still loses as well. Ethan. My fellow of the week goes to the National Hockey League for this scheduling mishap, this scheduling disaster I would say that they have brought upon the Florida Panthers. Now don't get me wrong, I'm going to be there. I will be in the building no matter what to

watch the second banner go to the rafters. But the fact that it's gonna happen around 4.30 p.m. on a Tuesday in October is absolutely asinine. The Florida Panthers home opener is gonna take place on October 7th at 5 p.m. You've got the reigning two-time defending champions playing against one of the up and coming starters in the league, Conor Bredard, and the game's gonna be taking place at 5 p.m.

You know what's in the prime time slot? The Penguins and the Rangers. The Penguins and the Rangers. The two teams that didn't make the playoffs. One team that's tanking and one team that was extremely disappointing last year. A disaster and just backwards from the NHL there. The new author of Cinefile is coming up that is Ed Danverk. He is coming up next on the hockey show so stay tuned. We're going to talk about the NHL all season and plug his new book. Folks nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays, and firing off a few bets on the game. All with DraftKings Sportsbook. Never bet baseball before? Hey it's easy. Pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid-game, or just ride

with your squad and hope for the best. No spreadsheets, just vibes and dingers. Here is something special for first-timers. New DraftKings customers bet $5 and get 150 in-bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app, use code DAN. That's code DAN for new customers to get $150 in-bonus bets instantly when you bet just five bucks. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Only on DraftKings. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.co. slash audio. Joining us now is Ann Anbrook. He's an author. He written a book, the new book, Cinephile, interviews, essays, and tales from the red carpet.

But his hockey job, which he's currently not doing because he's busy doing baseball, he's a host. He's the studio host for Prime Monday Night Hockey, which returns on Canadian Thanksgiving, October 13th, October 13th with the Red Rings and the Maple Leafs and the Blues and the Canucks. Now at that, I see no Panthers games on their schedule. I don't understand what's going on here. That is the two time, two time raining, defending Stanley Cup champions and you guys aren't even showing them on your platform. It doesn't make any sense to me, but you got penguins twice in the season.

I think the thought is this Roy, we need to find a way that Sunrise can still be the capital of hockey worlds. So we will alienate and annoy Panthers fandom so that therefore this will motivate them just to stick it up our you-know-what to win another Stanley Cup. Let's do it just to put those guys wrong from Amazon Prime. How dare we not be on Monday Night Hockey? Quite honestly, I thought we're going to get a trip to South Florida. I couldn't wait. I was hoping January, February, bring down some trunks, go to Fort Lauderdale, make a week of it. It would have been amazing. but no, it's not going to happen. And even worse news, I've got more trips to Winnipeg than I do to Montreal. Montreal one of the coldest cities in all of hockey, all of North

America. Two trips to Montreal, three to the peg, two to deadminton, zero to Cal. The only good news, six to Toronto, of course hometown. And I get to Philadelphia, get to see my flyers and go see Gritty in March, which will be nice. But no, Panthers, no Vegas. Little disappointing. The funny thing is that Pantis fans can't even see these games because it's Canada only. Well, I think I figured it out, Adnan. I don't think they're going to let you go to a tropical

climate location until you stop calling them trunks. I'm going to pack my swimsuit bathing suit. I don't know. Who says trunks? If it means to swimming suit, that's pretty bad. Like David might be right. Trunks might be outdated, but swimming suit is awful. What do we call it then?

Just bathing suit. Yeah. Bathing suit. What are you like? I'm going to bring my 85 years old. What do you call it? Come on. You would say I'm going to take my kids.

You guys have my bathing suit. Yeah, that's what I say. I went to the mall yesterday and I got three bathing suits. Like that's it. Jesus. Parachorts swim shorts, swim shorts. Three America situation I guess. Two Americas in one Canada. Roy what would you say? I said Roy you want to go swimming? Well just I have to go get my shorts. Exactly. I think I would say swimsuit. I gotta get my swimsuit. We are in the weeds, boys. We miss hockey. We were just talking about hockey.

Okay, now I gotta put my serious face on. So, some major news came out yesterday before we get into your book and some of the NHL All-Season. Five members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Hockey team, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart was a flyer goaltender, Alex Formington, Denon Dube and Kyle Foote were all found not guilty for sexual assault yesterday. Apparently the judge did not find the evidence credible and eventually was ruled not guilty. The NHL said that they are going to review the judge's findings, but for right now all five members of that team are ineligible to play in the National Hockey League. Now

this league has known for, you know, terrible decisions and a lot of the people who run these teams have made some terrible decisions, for instance the New York Ollanders like Tony DeAngelo is back in this league what we're doing but at an end if these players were eligible if any of these players become eligible What team would be stupid enough to actually sign them to play in a national hockey league? Yeah, it's amazing right because when this story came out and it's like one of those hey innocent till proven guilty I'm like, yeah. But even if they're not going to be proven guilty in a court of law, it just sounds bad.

Like you, again, if the judge says he didn't take advantage of the woman, it was not sexual assault, okay. But at the very least, it appears to be some sorted behavior. And it's been obviously headlines. And your career has been put on pause for years now because of what allegedly took place. At the very least, it was been obviously headlines. And your career has been put on pause for years now because of what allegedly took place.

At the very least, it was poor decision making. And obviously, if it had been worse, it would have been a criminal activity. So to your point, A, just because they're not feeling guilty in a court of law doesn't mean that Gary Batten can't enforce some sort of punishment, right? We've seen that before the NFL. Hey, this guy didn't get proven guilty.

But we feel like he engaged in behavior of ill repute. Therefore, this suspension is waning but specifically these guys the one that's the most tantalizing I suppose Roy would be Carter Hart because at one point he was a good goalie for the Flyers and by the way trying to explain to my son he's like what happened to Carter Hart like he's just away buddy like what do you mean why are you coming back now he's a restricted free agent they're not going to be something I thought he was pretty good man they're just not going to take him but it's okay uh eventually you do get a scarlet letter on you. But I will say this, Roy.

Goaltending, there's a real positive goaltending. We all saw what happened this off season and how few goalies were available. Flyers something Dan Vlidar just tried to push Sam Erson. The Oilers still have not upgraded in net. Carter Hart is what? An Edmonton guy. So I hear you that you go, I'm surprised

this one takes a shot. I think teams would be leery, skittish, et cetera. But if I were to see these guys never play another game would be leery, skittish, et cetera. But if I were to see these guys never play another game in the NHL, I wouldn't bet against that. Well, you got to keep in mind that Stan Bowman is currently running the Edmonton Orlers. And he doesn't exactly have a very good past when

it comes to decision making, what happened with the Chicago Blackhawks and everything. So it wouldn't surprise me if Edmonton made that move. Now the NHL did release a statement yesterday in regards to the verdict. They said the allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behavior at issue

was unacceptable. We will be reviewing and considering the judge's findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league. If you want more information on the trial and what happened, I highly recommend reading and going to the athletic and reading this article from Dan Robson and Katie Strang about the trial, about what happened. The details are harrowing.

Some of the testimony is very concerning and I would recommend going there if you want more information about it. That statement is grade A, 100%, reeking of lawyer. That is definitely lawyer speak on that one. You know that they were going to be asked about this as soon as the judge made a ruling. You know the NHL was gonna start getting those questions.

So they had that ready to go. I'll be surprised, to Adnan's point, if these guys aren't back in the NHL and I think it's going to be sooner rather than later. I think by this season if they're not in the NHL they'll be working their way up maybe going to the AHL or something. Anybody who's at that level that they could go up back and play in the NHL particularly Carter Hart somebody who'll be high demand as a goaltender considering the market I think it'll be

sooner rather than later. Well right now I'm just like the expectation has to be them playing overseas. They're going to end up going to Europe. Maybe some but no I think for a guy like Carter Hart. Carter Hart playing in the NHL. Yeah he'll be in the AHL probably to not the rust off and all that stuff but no he'll be in NHL goaltender. I would be by this time like by this time next year he'll probably have stats under his belt. Yeah so that's the situation right now that was the big news that happened this week so we are going to transition very very very badly to some fun stuff we have a top five here and Dave

awkward but necessary segue from Roy Bellamy I love love it. Yes. Dave, you got a topic here for Adnan for our top five. I have the fan favorite ready for you. Go ahead, Dave. Adnan being a guy who's got some familiarity with movies and fictional work, I thought we could compile a list of the top five fictional coaches that would make the best hockey coaches. Now obviously, fictional hockey coaches like Gordon Bombay,

not eligible for this list. Yeah. But anybody else is. And I figured that gave Adnan, we gave what four days or so, five days to put this the other. You had plenty of time, right Adnan? 100%. You give me a heads up right away. I've got a good little list. I came with your guys list as well. All right. Oh, I didn't do one actually. No, you know why? Because it's most likely going to be the same as your guys. I did. So I didn't do one. All right.

I'm on the trigger with the panther though. I'll be doing this. Well then you host it. You tell us when to go. All right. You guys have any outside looking in entries? I did, but instead of calling them OLIs, I called them my AHL coaching staff. That's good stuff.

Proper. So the guys who I would have as my AHL coaching staff are Hayden Fox from the TV show Coach. He'd be good with the little guys. Lou Brown from Major League. I think he'd be really good with the younger guys. And then also as a scout, Irving Blitzer from Cool Runnings. Irving Blitzer's a great one. He's going to find the talent. In honor of the fact Ethan is watching Rocky, I put Mickey in there as a trainer.

I was just gonna say, Mickey. Mickey's gonna get fired up. Coach Carter's in there as well. I'll just be honest. I'm re-resting Coach's movie called Win-Win, which I love. I've also got Denzel with me. That's my oil on. Not bad. Alright fellas, let's uh, let, unless Ethan, you have a list?

Who was I just, oh, there was a name, oh, Coach from Cheers? Yeah, that's a good one. All right. Nick is Paul Asanto, he's great. All right, number five, we'll start with you, Dave. Number five is Ted Lasso. Gives off major Paul Maurice vibes. Got a lot of positive influence, but can still get a little edgy. So I think Ted Lasso would be a good hockey coach.

And in. That's really good. Number five is Lou Brown. The aforementioned. Dave gave him some love. Listen, laid back, laconic, good temperament with Cleveland, great mustache. Tell me that guy's not firing up the troops game 87.

Ethan. I don't have a list. Oh, you just had one guy? I just, no, you just threw it to me. I'm sorry, I apologize. Number four, Dave. Number four on my list is Eric Taylor, the coach from Friday Night Lights.

All right. Just a motivational guy. He has his finger on the pulse of the team from top to bottom. So yeah, I like Coach Taylor. All right, that and number four. I'm gonna go to number four, Norman Dale at a Hoosiers. That's right, the late, great Gene Hackman.

Great book-based teacher, cares about his guys, can't do better than Hackman. Alright, number three David. Number three is a Bud Kilmer the coach from Varsity Blues. This is a no-nonsense coach. John Voight? Yes, John Voight. Does whatever it takes to win countless championships, maybe got a little questionable late in his career but I still see a lot of success with Bud Kilmer. All right, and then number four. Why are we like three, brother? Number three.

Oh, shit. One job. One job. I like boys just not boy being in the list, but number three. I'll give it to Jimmy Dugan, Tom Hanks, a good one. Has a slight drinking problem, but emotional and gets after it. I'll take Hanks. David, number two.

Number two on my list is Joe Riggins the coach from Bull Durham You throw the ball you catch the ball you hit the ball, you know, it's very similar Yeah, so it seems like it just a good coach good guy. I've been around forever and then number two Sometimes you guys think when others are sagging. I'm going karate kid. Mr. Miyagi. Ah karate kid Mr. Miyagi. Ah. Him in the locker room. That's a good one. Alright, number one fellas, Dave. Number one on my list was I think number four on Adnan's. I got Norman Dale from Hoosiers is number one. I just think he knows everything about everything when it comes to the game. He's not afraid to go against the norm. He's not afraid to fight against the the townspeople or whatever for what's best

for the players of the team. I think this is a great coach all around. And then number one, number one, it's the one that David and Roy gave to me inch by inch. Yeah, it's going to make the difference between winning and losing between living and dying. The six inches in front of your face. Coach Chino, any given Sunday. And then me and David have had this joke for a little bit. It's Al Pacino as any coach at this point. Actually,

no, it would just be him as a hockey coach just screaming out random hockey names. She's got a green ass! No, just screaming out hockey names for instance I also watched heat for the first time a few weeks ago. That's a good one. What do we got? Yeah Yeah, all right. So before before we get to your list, that's the first thing we're gonna do after I have to plug the book because Because at nan is a new author his book is cinephile interviews essays entails from the red carpet. There is a Quote from a guy that we all know around here that I have to read here and it's at Nan Burke is ill sick Troubled diagnosed with acute scors. His addiction to film is neither healthy nor sane.

He really thinks the world needs more of his thoughts on movies. I hate that he's right. That quote is from Daniel Tomas Leventard, incredibly successful podcast host. That is one of the acknowledgements from the book, Sinafowl. Ethan you have a movie list and I heard that you gave like five or six five star

reviews. Yeah. So I'm on a heater to end all heaters right now from watching movies guys. So last weekend I was staying at my brother's house so just kind of nothing to do so I decided to watch movies. So I went on the first night I did a Toy Story double feature, one and two. Hadn't seen them since I was a baby. Barely remembered them. So good.

Watched the first Tron to get ready for the new Tron movie that's coming out. I watched both Rockies this weekend. I watched both Dunes this weekend. But then I watched The Birdcage, and this was a great recommendation from some friends at work, an amazing movie, and Adnan,

before I get to a hot take that I have about a movie that you love, which the boys are gonna make me throw out here, I wanna ask you a question. How did Nathan Lane not win an Oscar for his performance in The Birdcage? He's hysterical, you know, the Oscars, historically, Ethan, are very tough on comedies. It's very, very difficult to get nominated

for even a comedic role, much less to win one. Rare exceptions, Kevin Klein won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for A Fish Called Wanda. But for a lead actor, it's very tough, unless you're in a Woody Allen movie. Richard Dreyfus, Goodbye Girl, Away from the 70s. So it's really tough to do. Secondly, the movie came out in March.

So Birdcage wasn't really positioned as Oscar bait. That was obviously more September to December. But it's hysterical in the movie, I couldn't agree with you more. I read a great book about Robin Williams, a biopic by Dave Itzkoff, New York Times writer. He wrote it in 2018, I just read it a couple of months ago, and it was excellent.

When they mentioned the Birdcage, what's fascinating about it is Mike Nichols is the legendary director of course, won the Oscar for The Graduate. They were gonna have Robin play that role, because of course it's the flamboyant, gay role, loud, energetic, exuberant, and they kind of said, let's twist it on its ear a little bit, let's haveamboyant gay role, loud, energetic, exuberant

and they kind of said let's twist it on its ear a little bit, let's have Robin play the straight role so to speak, he's got the mustache, he's the one who looks like he's more straight and who should we get to be a flamboyant gay guy? Let's go Nathan Lane. So interestingly with the casting worked out, Lane was a bit of a wild card and ends up stealing the movie but I do think speaking to late great Gene Hackman who David had as number one as Norman Dale fictional coaches, he's hysterical playing the very uptight conservative movies I thought the flock heart was really good in that it's just a great test by the way those worried really good

There was one Oscar nomination that was best art direction on a set decoration and that was a loss But that was a tough year because that was like I'm looking at Fargo Jerry Maguire Shine is a great movie that was the 1997 Academy Awards movies of 96 was the year the Indies are some great movies I just actually Fargo I thought of my all-time favorites, but I'm glad you saw these my only critique of the movie It's at the end moved a little fast? They should have done a little more with Gene Hackman dressing up in the drag at the end was that was so hysterical I had all right now. Here's my hot take so you know how in Family Guy

There's that scene where pop Peter they're all about to drown and he says I did not care for the godfather I did not care for taxi driver. Oh Wow, you wait until 20 it's hit to a feather. I know, we've had so much fun. I told you, I told you. I could talk to you for another hour. From a taxi-hack picture, I'm looking at my movie poster of Taxi Driver.

There will be blood, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Serpiquel, I'm like, I'm literally looking at like- Godfather right over your shoulder. Oh, exactly. I got, Bob, can you believe this, Potts? Go ahead, give me your horrible tech-curator. I just, it just, it was, I don't know. It was boring.

It was uninteresting. It's a defining film about loneliness and urban alienation. What? Undeniable that the themes of loneliness were there. It was just, it was boring. I don't know, I didn't like it that much. It was another thing, it was during COVID.

I was on a roll, and I mean poignant during COVID, for me especially. Like I was dealing with some loneliness at that time, but my God, like I just, I really wanted to like it. A friend recommended it and we had similar movie tastes. I thought I would like it. Dude, so you're watching like Tiger King and then you put on Taxi Driver.

No, I didn't watch Tiger King. My COVID thing was, my COVID binge was, I watched all the Marvel movies during COVID. Okay. That was my COVID thing. And then I watched a bunch of other ones. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a COVID movie for me and one of my favorites.

Love that movie. But yeah, Taxi Driver. Not for me really. I don't think I'm going to recommend any Marvel movie ahead of Taxi Driver. That is- Oh no, I mean, I wouldn't say like, they're in different categories, obviously.

Thank God though, Roy, we have the book Cinephile because ExpressPage is written about Taxi Driver. I'm gonna- I will gladly read them at now. Like I will gladly read your book and read what you have to say about taxi driver. And I'll even reevaluate and watch it again. No, actually my next question. My next question was about to be about Martin Scorsese.

If you had any stories about Scorsese and might as well talk about taxi drivers. So why don't you give us that story at now. I'm just going to start reading my taxi drives from page 178 to 181 three pages dedicated now to Ethan the poster This they read from my book here guys It's one of my all-time favorites a downcast Robert De Niro Wearing his military jacket and jeans and behind him is a New York City street scene The tagline says it all on every street in every city in this country, there's a nobody

who dreams of being a somebody. Taxi Driver is a definitive film about loneliness and urban alienation. The movie was born from the fevered imagination of depressed screenwriter Paul Schrader, who wrote the entire script in 10 days. It sprung out of him like an animal unleashed and the script immediately connected with De Niro, coming off an Oscar win for best supporting actor for The Godfather Part II. Brian DePaul offered the film by Schrader, but recommended his good friend Marty,

who also felt a kinship with the script and the results to his lasting power today. Quentin Tarantino said in his insightful book, Cinema Speculation, that Taxi Driver is a top three movie for him and has inspired countless others. Is that Tarantino book good? I've been thinking about getting it. Did you read it?

Excellent. Yeah. It's great because it's really about the movies. Again, movies are always personal to all of us and it depends on the era with which we grew up in. So for Tarantino, he loves these late 60s, early 70s movies and it's really excellent seeing how those movies had an impact upon his life, upon his career. It's really good. You'll enjoy it. Yeah. Adnan, I guess two-part question because I was going to ask you something. You just made me think of something else. So real quick, who's your favorite director? Mine is Tarantino. Yeah, I love Tarantino, but Scorsese is my favorite.

But Quentin's got to be in top five, Dave. He's awesome. What I love about Quentin is that like, it'd be like you and me if we made a hockey movie. It's like all the hockey we've ever seen is now going to get splattered into this movie. Like Tarantino takes all the images from his own life and his own favorite movies and splatters them on the screen. It's amazing. It's cool. So reading your book, which thank you for sending me an advanced copy because I drove the family to and from Orlando last weekend and I

had the wife driving just so I could get some reading done. So that was the best. But when I was reading the chapter when you met Robert De Niro for the first time, I'm thinking like the whole time, I'm just thinking to myself, we can act like this. Like, we're allowed to act like fans. We're allowed to act like like this is the coolest thing ever. Because I've been I've been in hockey locker rooms for a little while now, and I grew up a hockey fan. Like, it's the coolest thing it still is.

Like Roy and I were on the ice with the Stanley Cup the last few years. It is like I feel most like a kid at Christmas morning any other time. So reading your book, I'm just thinking, man, this is so cool. We could do this. We can actually write like fans and it's like I was consuming it. Like I don't read ever. And I was reading your book. Like I was just loving it. And it made me feel like a fan, like a kid. And I love that. So I don't know if I have a question. I guess it's just like, can we do this?

Like, can we write like a hockey book someday someday where we just tell all our favorite hockey stories? Because it's fun. Like, I really enjoy it. To your point, David, somebody said to me, like, oh, what an arduous process. I'm like, are you joking? I'm like, I can talk about it. Right?

To write a movie book is probably the easiest thing I've done in a long time. Pimping it out like a two-bit horror, that's a different matter. Yeah. Actually writing a book, I'm like, I had a blast, dude. I'll write a second book right now. We'll do a sequel.

If the book sells, I'm in. Yeah. All right, like, I had a blast, dude. I'll write a second book right now. We'll do a sequel. If the book sells, I'm in. All right, this is the hockey show at an end. So I'm going to finish with a hockey question. Why is the NHL offseason so boring? Why are GMs such chicken shits? Why won't they do anything? Make a trade, send in an offer sheet. I was promised a very exciting offseason.

And so far, I got the Panthers signing all three guys Noah Dobson and JJ Paturka Yeah, okay Carolina's the Panthers little brother, you know Yeah, it's interesting. There's two thoughts on Ethan. The one school of thought is hey the hockey season is long You're going from September until end of June So it's nice to have a two-month reset where we can all see our families. Like David said, get a little family time in, hit the beach, do some reading, whatever. And July 1st is awesome, as we know, Canada Day, the unrestricted free agency. But I hear you, this gets to be around the time, like I think a month off is good. If you told me July,

nothing's happening, right, but August will kick it up a little bit, I hear you. But listen, there'll be action to plenty once things get going. Mitch Martyrs in Vegas, don't worry, it's going to be fun. And finally, our way, way entirely too early predictions from you, Ant-Man, who's going to win both conferences and who's going to win the Stanley Cup. Oh, wow. Let's go Vegas then, because I feel like I want to go to Vegas. I want you guys to go to Vegas as well.

Again. Stanley Cup rematch season. Let's go back to Vegas. How in the world can I ever root against the Panthers? Panthers again in the Eastern Conference. I swear, I'm not even pandering to you guys. Who right now, if you told me DraftKings or whatever, who is the second best team right now?

I don't think you can argue it. The Leafs take a step back without Marner. The Rangers are better. They're not even a playoff team necessarily. Montreal again was a bubble team. Washington had a great season. Tough to back that again when he went to President's Trophy. Ovechkin one more year probably could be his final season. To me there's no real clear cut. Maybe the Lightning,

but again the Panthers are better than the Lightning. So I'm gonna go Florida. As of now the Florida Panthers are a plus 600 favorite according to DraftKings. The Vegas Golden Knights are plus 850. The Avalanche are plus 900 and the Lightning are plus 1300. So Carolina's nowhere near that top. That's surprising. Oh, sorry, I was looking in the wrong order. Carolina's plus 800, Vegas is plus 850, Jesus Christ, Ethan.

Edmonton is plus 900. Nice. Unbelievable. Before we let Adnan go, I'm reading the list of, so I compiled a list of as many fictional coaches as I could come up with before I, The manager! Yes, before I narrowed them down.

But there's a few on here that I feel like we have to at least mention. Like for example, Red Bull U from the Waterboy. He's a great coach. He won a lot of games and I think he'd be great on the ice. Phil Brickma from Rookie of the Year. Yes. My son's watching Rookie of the Year right now. Great.

Patches Ohulahan from Dodgeball, motivational as anybody. Yeah. Victorian Awesome. Morris Buttermaker. Ah, Buttermaker, yes. A leader of young men, if I've ever seen one, and maybe of a lesser. Chester Lee from Ladybugs. Yeah, Rodney Danger.

Movie that'll never ever ever get made again. Ah! Absolutely not. And then finally, another Gene Hackman, amazing coach, adding in. The replacement. Jimmy McGinty. Jimmy McGinty. I'm just not being ladybugs in the conversation.

I loved that when I was a kid, dude. That was a great movie when I was growing up. I agree. 92, like that's in our wheelhouse. Just like Dave said, he doesn't read. If someone reads to the phone, I'm so touched. If someone after hearing this conversation goes out and streams or watches Ladybugs, it's a great movie if you just kind of forget that it's 2025.

He is the author of Cinephile Interviews, Essays and Tales from the Red Carpet, brand new book by him. He's the host of Prime Monday Night Hockey up in Canada. That man is Ant Nan Virg. Ant Nan, thank you for joining us. You guys are the best. Roy, David, thank you so much for reading it. Ethan, if you want a PDF, I'll send you a copy. Yeah, send it my way. I would love to read it. And next time you're in town, I'll get your signature on it.

No, listen, we got to get a book signing at some point. He's absolutely right about that. So sadly, like Roy mentioned, there's no Florida visits. You know what? Winter meetings in Orlando this year. Orlando, Miami, what? 3 and 1 half hours? It's very doable.

There's also the Winter Classic. I've got this mental image of Adnan Winter meetings in Orlando this year Orlando Miami what? It's very doable. It's a classic I've got this mental image of Adnan just sitting in an empty in a room with just an armchair and a table Maybe a fire just me background clutching a book to my chair books and books just a book like this like Adnan Ferg is ready to sign my book and I get your sharpie ready because he's ready He's ready for that signature December 10th that book that book signing's happening, Ethan. We'll do it in Miami. Nice. Thanks again to Ant and Virk. Cinephile and Abuse, Essays and Tales from the Red Carpet will be released August 26th, so go out and pre-order that right now, please. That would definitely help our boy. So that'd be great.

It's a good book. Yeah, it's a good book. I don't like to read, and I did like to read that. So for what it's it's worth like if you like movies, which most of us do read the car. I wasn't driving my wife was no But you were in the passenger seat. Yes. I can't do that get nauseous bumpy. Yeah I get no no usually I'm like right I'm typing when I'm driving this time. I wanted to know what Go he did not work so he can read that book couldn't put my phone down It's really interesting. For everybody in the back, because I don't know who's in the back currently.

I think it's Gino and maybe Danny. I think Danny's back there. Danny's back there working on another show. Gino is definitely. But Gino is definitely back there. So Danny and Gino, thank you for doing the things that you did today. Maybe Louis, I saw Louis earlier.

I don't think Louis is back there. Oh, I forget Louis then. Rosie, we miss you. Ethan, thank you very much. When are we back Roy? Next week. We'll back next week. Maybe we'll actually talk hockey next week. We talked hockey today Wait, what are you doing? I like that we didn't talk hockey. It's the offseason. What are we gonna talk about Noah Dobson? We already talked about it. Yeah, we did talk. We mentioned Noah Dobson I think and Nikolai Ullis We actually covered a lot of hockey Ethan's just never satisfied and as usual I basted New York Islanders for sign Antonio D'Angelo.

For David Dwork of The Hiking News, my name is Ray Bellamy. We will see you next week. Bye.