The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Barkov Injury, Kaprizov, and Capitals ft. Greg Wyshynski & Michael Russo

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

It’s a special MvsW Friday edition of The Sheet with Jeff Marek as Jeff is joined by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski for a loaded episode of hockey talk. The show begins with the Washington Capitals’ preseason win in Hershey and a closer look at Connor McMichael’s strong play, before lightening things up with a debate on Jeff’s outfit choices. Greg then breaks down his new article on bold NHL predictions for 2025, including major storylines fans should watch. The conversation turns to breaking news that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov may miss the entire season, what that means for the defending Stanley Cup champions, and how it reshapes the Panthers' regular-season approach. Later, Michael Russo of The Athletic joins to dive into the Kirill Kaprizov contract situation, expectations for the Minnesota Wild, and the pressure facing their star winger this season. From roster shakeups to blockbuster storylines, this episode covers it all.Mike Robinson GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/4bh7ce-mikes-family?lang=en_CA#NHL #Capitals #ConnorMcMichael #FloridaPanthers #Barkov #MinnesotaWild #Kaprizov #TheSheet #JeffMarek #GregWyshynski #MichaelRusso #HockeyTalkReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So imagine for a second, you're Kyle Dubus right now. What are you asking Bill Zito for, exchange for Sidney Crosby, Greg? I was just checking in on something. We're all thinking it. We're all thinking it because he had great flying chemistry with Brad Marchand and the Canadian National. team and you know obviously it would be a great panthers thing to do but you know honestly look the the said stuff is going to never go away um yeah but i i would i would bet dollars to donuts it'd be malkin to the panthers don't you place your bets um he's on the expiring contract

uh and um and crosbie has one more year on term of course what we're talking about um listen if you watch a show like this you already know the news Alexander barkoff uh surger for his right knee after the injury, the collision with Nico Mikola. God, just that awful, stupid. It's always the moments like that where you look at it and you go, it's a totally innocuous looking moment, but oh man, the minute he goes down and sort of hunches over

and tries to get up, you go, this is not going anywhere good. And if you're watching us on YouTube right now, you see the train is coming out to lend a couple of shoulders is to get them off the ice, you say to yourself, this is going nowhere good fast. Maybe the season for Alexander Barkoff, all indications right now do not look good.

So the question then becomes, coupling that with the Matthew Kachukh injury and the reality that the Florida Panthers are still thinking in their minds, we're going for the three-peat, the dynasty edition of the Stanley Cup champions here. If you're Bill Zito, what are you doing? to your point earlier this week or last week.

I can't remember which one it was. We're talking about how important Anton Lundel is to this team and how much more important Sam Bennett just became to this team. I'll surrender the floor before we get going officially here. But quick thoughts on the bad news of the day. Alexander Barkoff might be done for the year. Yeah, this is not how I wanted to underscore that argument by having a real world life example of how important Anton Lundel is to the Panthers.

But again, like you mentioned, I mean, they do have the center depth to withstand something like this in the regular season. They can't win a cup without Alexander Barkoff. We'll just put it on the table. I know there are some people that last year were making the argument about like his point holes in the playoffs and his role as a shutdown guy being over. No, they won't win shit in the playoffs without Alexander Barkoff. He's incredible. Now, the most interesting thing about this from a from a competitor.

standpoint beyond the who will they acquire you know speculation is the fact that this injury occurs in a season in which the rules governing long-term injury reserve exceptions were expedited and changed instead of being implemented with the rest of the CBA for the 2627 season so for those who don't know how to level the playing field Greg and that's from Sam Bennett's and Benet himself in a not not yet published interview uh but leaked on this show earlier this week got to watch mvsw man you never know what's got pop up so so barkoff had a 10 million dollar cap hit or has a 10 million dollar cap hit so for those who don't know the rules are that the panthers can get full relief for that cap hit but then bark off is ineligible to play

for the rest of the 25 26 season regular season and playoffs the next time you see him would be next season that's if they want the for the full 10 million dollars of cap relief They can get up to $3.8 million of cap relief if they simply put him on long-term range reserve with the option to bring him back in the playoffs. And so that's the, and then obviously you have to deal with the playoff salary cap. Then everybody on your playing roster for a certain game has to be under the cap. So we're going to find out, I guess, pretty quickly, where they think this thing is going to end up. You know, will they able to just keep them on long-term injured reserve him and Kachuk?

Kachuk, we know is coming back. Barkoff, maybe they think he can come back in the playoffs. Obviously, if you want to have designs on winning a Stanley Cup, and there is a 5%, 3%, 2% chance that Sasha Barkoff could come back to your team in the postseason if you last long enough, that you aren't you, that you aren't taking the full exception? You are hoping to God that he can come back and play for you later this season, aren't you? You just try to keep your head above water. And they're good enough to keep the head above water.

this isn't a bubble team where an injury to Alexander Barkoff is going to sink them for the entire season. It's not going to make things easier. You take one of, if not, the best two-way player out of your lineup, and that is going to devastate you. But it's not as if the Florida Panthers aren't insulated here, right? Like, this is still, like, good enough team. Like, I think if you're the Florida Panthers, all you're thinking to yourself is, again, much like those Los Angeles Kings team, the one of those two Stanley Cups not too long ago, just get in and things can happen. And if you're the Florida Panthers, that is exactly what you are thinking, albeit in a division where around you there are improved teams, see Montreal, see Ottawa, perhaps see Detroit. And I still hold out some faith for the Buffalo Sabres, but nonetheless, Tampa is still Tampa.

Toronto's taken a step backwards, but they're still good. I still think the team that's on the major decline here, the Boston Bruins, but we shall see. But there's still enough there, that the Florida Panthers are going to be fine. Yeah. And I think they're in the right conference for it, too. Look, if they get off the blocks terribly because they don't have two of their most important players, that opens the door for Tampa and Toronto to run away with the division. It opens the door for Ottawa to maybe move up.

And you and I disagree on the senators because you are a Linus Olmark skeptic. I am a believer in the senators that they are in a contention window now. And maybe they move up to take the third spot. All that being said, if for some reason the Florida Panthers aren't in the top. three in their division, I still think they're good enough to be a wildcard team versus what else is in the Atlantic and what else is in the metro that would be vying for that spot. Yeah, but the real question is whether he's going to be available for the rest of the season. And if he's not, then we start getting into the really interesting conversations of how

you use that cap space to make your team better. And I think the obvious answer is you trade for Gino Malkin at some point on an expiring contract with a team that is dying to turn him into assets. And oh, by the way, like, you got to convince him to move and convincing them to go to Miami where Bobowski is and play out the rest of this season with a chance to maybe win another cup is probably the most convincing argument you can make to be of getting welcome to not retire a penguin. There's one other thing that you've forgotten. What is state tax in Pennsylvania versus Florida? You want to end with putting more money in your jeans, Gino? Or do you want your hockey DB to say penguins, penguins, penguins, penguins, penguins, penguins, penguins.

The other thing I forgot, which is incredible, is that he actually referenced the Brad Marshan situation in his preseason comments recently about thinking about his future in Pittsburgh. He said he looked at what Brad did last year and found it intriguing. It doesn't mean he's going to end up doing it, but found it interesting. What an interesting thing to do after you've spent your career with one team to go someplace else and try to win a cup. So what a weird full circle moment that would be if he unexpectedly called his shot in the preseason to eventually become a Panther. Yes. Okay. Let's get this thing going here.

So that's the news of the day, Alexander Barkoff. Well, there's one other piece of this news we didn't talk about, which is something that, you know, we were all flabbergasted about what this means for the defending Stanley Cup champion that we didn't talk about the other thing that's happening this season, which is that Finland just lost a medal. Oh, 100 percent. I know. I mean, this is devastating for family. This is what, this is the lens that every injury is going to be looked through. And yeah, it's going to be an opportunity for somebody else. But man, if you're like every Finnish athlete around the NHL is looking at this and just go, oh, total gut punch for our country, 100%.

And they are popping bottles of Svedka right now in Stockholm because the Finns have gone by the wayside and the Swedes of a clear path to a metal now. Yeah. Somewhere in Anaheim, Michael Granlin, though, is saying, hey, don't forget about me. Like, I can hop into that spot. I can grab Barkop spot. Don't forget about your boy granny over here. Okay, Daily Outline, promoted and presented and powered, as always, by Fandual. Make every moment more with North America's number one sports book, Fanduel.

And it is MVSW Friday. And as a couple of people mentioned to me on social media, does that mean we get game show Friday, which was a staple from the old the old program Michael Russo is going to stop by Over Merrick's dead body No I'm turned around on that kind of stuff Now I listen like everything in life

I got there last And I figured it out last So now I've come around to Game Show Friday Which you're probably like Eh day late dollar short That's so five minutes No no no no I would have done one for today It's just that like the Barkoff thing happened

And I had to write about it and stuff So I didn't have time to generate the game And also in theory, we should probably do it properly, which is to have somebody come on and play it. So we'll figure out a game show going forward since we're going to do this twice a week. Yeah, that's a good point. Okay, so Mike Russo is going to stop by from The Athletic. We'll talk about Kirill Caprizov, that situation.

Also, some interesting, I don't want to call them comments, Greg, because he said, I'm not talking about this. Interesting non-comments from the owner of the Minnesota Wilde Craig Leopold as well. We'll talk about the Washington Capitals and Connor McMichael doing the roar, which I don't know, I don't know why. I find so hilarious, but I just do. I mean, the caps were playing Philly and Hershey last night, Home of the Bears, of course,

and he featured prominently for that team for a long time. We will talk about Karezov. Bold Predictions is something that you write about and we'll get there. And in about just under two hours, if you're watching us live right now on YouTube, William Neelander is about to launch his own lifestyle YouTube channel. and I'm not sure if we're going to have enough time right now to really do the conversation justice.

We will have it. But this one's interesting. Like he's not the first. I'm not sure if you remember Netminder, Casimir Casasuo, who still has his YouTube channel as well. I believe he may have been the first. Joey DeCore has won as well.

Casca Suo played briefly, well, one game for the Maple Leafs, one game for the National Predators. Now I believe toiling in the ECHL. But he was the OG on this one. But this is like this is a superstar, an NHL superstar who's starting up his own lifestyle YouTube channel. The first show comes up in a couple of hours here on his on his YouTube channel, which will be fascinating. And it presents an interesting dynamic here between Nealander and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Because now, and I'm thinking about sponsorship specifically, now if you are.

sponsor X and you want access to William Nealander, you don't have to go through the team. You go right through to him because he's got his own channel and he can sell. And essentially, if you squint hard enough, he can make the argument, compete in the marketplace for sponsorships with the team that pays him a very healthy contract to ply his trade for the NHL. And that is, of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I'm just saying it's an interesting dynamic because, Because, first of all, there's going to be a lot of shirtless Willie, I'm guessing. Like, you get to see a whole lot of Willie. There wasn't the trailer already, yeah. There's, yeah, you saw the trailer. So there's going to be a whole lot of shirtless Willie in this one. But like the dynamic of this one because he's a superstar is different with all due to respect, Joey DeCore, is different from other athletes in the NHL that have done this. Not new to like, NBA players have like their videographers following them onto planes and in the dressing rooms.

But again, like this is, this is new to the NHL wish. he must be they must be so pissed at him like they must be so pissed at him siphing and psyching off ad dollars and also not doing this in-house I mean let's be honest like the Leaves have a YouTube channel they have a YouTube channel not only the Maple Leafs have their own YouTube channel

they have had their own major media apparatus for the last decade maybe decade plus where local media would complain about the way the Maple Leafs kind of churn out their own content so it's been fascinated to see the growth of a player-led media to begin with. But in this case, look, it goes beyond just being a lifestyle channel, I think. It goes to a place where if you want to know what Willie Nealander thinks about certain things

involving the Toronto Maple Leafs, you maybe don't have to get it from local media, maybe you don't have to wait a year to get it from the Amazon show. Maybe, in fact, you get it on this channel. Which, by the way, Neelander has always, and if you're watching us on YouTube, you're seeing the promo clip for it. So shirtless Willie's coming up here in a couple of seconds here. Oh, my God. He's got like a 12-pack, too.

It's very impressive. No kidding. Like every summer he finds like a new ab muscle. It's just gross. Oh, and there he is. It is. His Dreyfich. Good job.

But I think the whole thing is fascinating. And it's not as if he hasn't played ball with the Maple Leafs, whether you mentioned the Amazon shows. He has done all of these things. And now he's branching off and doing his own on YouTube. I want to get to more of this, but, you know, if there is, if you could pick a player or a situation or a story to focus on YouTube right now, certainly there's the Hughes's, certainly there's Connor McDavid, and there's also Krell Caprizoff, and that saga, which continues. And now we have non-comment comments by the owner, Craig Leopold, here to break down everything, Minnesota, everything Caprizo, everything Leopold, our good friend from the athletic, the one and only Michael Rousseau. So how are you today, Mike?

I'm doing well. I didn't get the memo to wear black though, so somebody. This is actually blue. It shows up black. Russo, you're back on with me and Merrick. It must feel like 2012. I know. It really does.

I remember the first time I actually went on with you guys because I didn't know you at that time, Greg. And I just knew you was puck daddy with the cigar in your mouth. And I was so nervous. I honestly was nervous because I didn't know. I'm like, I'm like, he's going to do. Like, I didn't know you. So I'm like, he's going to war me into saying something that I'm going to say.

it's going to get me fired. And so, but my buddy Reed, my buddy Reed and Merrick knows this is like the biggest Jeff Merrick fan ever. So I was super comfortable with Jeff. I was a little worried about you. Have him. And now, and now lo and behold, like 13 years later, we're cigar buddies on the road. There you go.

Exactly. And we're intimidating you to being your cigar buddy on the road. It is funny how every major event that you and I cover, we text each other to make sure the other is going to be there just to make sure that we're going to. You know, all right, how many cigars would have to break on the road? 10.30 cigars? And the nice thing about we were mentioning this afterward, we were mentioning this before he came on,

but we all look exactly the same as we did. Oh, yeah, of course. None of us have aged one bit. Yeah, yeah. Okay, so every day there's a new chapter. You write them. Every day there's a new story. You're all on top of them.

As we sit here and have this conversation at 118 Eastern on Friday, September 26th, because this thing, you know, changes, stands through the hourglass. What is the very late? latest on Crowell Caprizov. We saw the non-comment comments by Craig Leopold. Paul Theophanes, the agent and his client saying, you know, flattering offer, but still not enough for the Caramel secret here. What's the latest with Capriza? I know data reference. What's the latest here with the player in the team? Yeah, I mean, unless something has changed

today, and as you mentioned, I mean, things could change with one phone call, right? One flight by somebody. You know, one decision by Caprisov could change everything. But, you know, it's been at a standstill. There have really been, other than when Paul Theophanes made an impromptu surprise appearance at the opening day of training camp, and he met with the assistant GM for a couple hours in front of all of us. You know, there really hasn't been any conversation since Correll turned that deal down during a meeting with Bill Garan and Paul Theophanis a couple Wednesdays ago. So, you know, we'll see where this goes. I think the wilder still hoping that Corrilla is going to be the one that sort of drives us and sort of instructs the Afanis to get it

done. But, you know, like, what we don't really know, other than Coral giving the cliched, I like Minnie, is does he really want to be here? You know, I mean, he was offered the richest contract in NHL history and so far hasn't taken it. So, you know, are they just because Craig Leopold had been so public both last year at this time when he met with the media and a couple weeks ago at the Grand Casino Arena official opening celebration, the newly named arena, you know, and saying that he felt they were close on a groundbreaking contractor. They just trying to get more money from the wild. That's the type of thing that we don't know.

So far, it doesn't seem like being really given any instruction if he wants a shorter term deal. I don't think structure is at all an issue like a lot of people have surmised. The Wild have made it very clear that they're willing to do essentially whatever he wants from a signing bonus standpoint or a structure standpoint, certainly a no-move standpoint. But right now, you know, it's a concern, and they're just hoping that they're not going to negotiate against themselves. So that's the one thing that I seem to, you know, have a sense of is that they don't seem to be inclined to just keep on giving it more and more and more.

So maybe it's as simple as, you know, everybody's trying to wait for one domino to sign with all these incredible players that can potentially be free agents next summer. We'll see. He's the domino, unfortunately. Yeah, I know. And that's the thing. He's the guy of the dominoes.

Yeah, like Wild fans seem to think like, you know, he must be waiting for Capriza for McDavid to set the market. I don't think he wants McDavid to set the market because it's very clear that McDavid, if he resigns there, is going to go and try to do something that is going to make a team friendly. Let me jump in on there really quick. I'm glad you got us to this point here. A, not negotiating against themselves. So I don't think we should expect another offer here from the Minnesota Wild. And B, I'm with you. I don't think he wants Connor to set the market.

I don't think Eichl wants him to set the market. I don't think any of these free agents impending UFAs want Conner to set the market. Because the needle that Connor is trying to thread here is take care of himself, but also take care of the team and leave money here so Stan Bowman can get them over that Florida Panthers hump. Now, you can make the joke that Nico Mikhaila may have taken care of all of that now with the injured Alexander Barkoff. but still, I don't think that Caprizov wants McDavid to set the market at all because he's looking to do what's quote unquote right for him and the team.

I think like maybe like the only way you call the bluff is like, do you really want to be here? Here's 20%. If at that point you say no, then you have your answer. Yeah, that is actually 100% true. You know, if you keep on up in your offer and he keeps on saying no and we know and then you just got to ask him for a list of teams. But to Greg's point, you know, he is the domino.

I think everybody else has had a standstill because they are thinking, wow, is this guy going to sign for $17 million? And suddenly Eichel and Kempe and Connor and all these guys, and Aaron are going to be taking a little wait a minute. I'm not longer at 11, 12, 13, my thought. One of the things I was curious about Rousseau from your initial report between you and Joe Smith about the contract stuff, I think you wrote that there hadn't been any discussion about a. shorter term deal or any maybe appetite for a shorter term deal for the caprisoff side and i mean that as we're all trying to read the tea leaves on what this guy wants to do i mean to me that's the biggest leaf is the idea that uh you know it's if it's if you offer the richest contract in n hl history

it doesn't take it and there's been not salient discussion about a shorter term deal then could it just be that he does not want to be in mednesota any longer yeah i mean that's that's the thing because you know it's funny because you know he's he's when this contract kicks in he's 29 years old he does miss 41 games last year. So I actually think that it would be a good thing for the wild to try to sign them to a three or four year extension as opposed to go eight years. Because we all know that, you know, at 34, 35, 36, we just lived it with Perez and Souter. They're not going to be the same players.

So it also puts you in this window that you better win early in that type of contract. And so I thought that a three or four year deal would make sense. But the wild seemed to not want to go there. And it sure seems like Carill doesn't want to go there. so that that I don't know I mean I just don't know where this is going I think the wild are putting just a leap of faith that this is the agent during the hard you know what Paul does when he works hard for his clients is is trying to basically um you know uh hardball the wild here and that at some point Carrillo is not going to want to risk playing in the season and getting hurt and all that type of stuff but uh you know that is you know and again I'm not claiming to have all the information the one thing that I will say since that leak happened a couple weeks ago. is the wild and crowside have been essentially silent on this. So we've had to do a lot of digging in different methods to try to get any sort of information. So, you know, so I'm not claiming that I know absolutely everything to this exact moment,

but the indications we're getting. And just the fact, I mean, you all know Craig Leopold, he is his affable, and not that he wasn't affable yesterday when he talked to the media, but he is so genuine and enthusiastic and everything about everything, you know, about anything, any topic whatsoever. And so for him to suddenly button up on this one, you just sense that now they are starting to feel the pressure inside the organization and getting absolutely nervous about this.

You know, I can, and I feel the same way about Craig Leopold. Like, it's a delight having an owner that's coming out at the beginning of every year. And it's like, oh, today's going to be awesome. I'm going to get eight different stories. They're all going to be interesting. And I'm writing the Christmas card right now to Craig Leopold. You know, I can remember when I was doing 32 with Elliot, we had Dubasson and we asked him about you know the you know Nealander and Matthews and

Marner and his his money quote was we can and we will and I wonder if you know part of that sort of haunted him a little bit do you think that perhaps Craig Leopold I don't know that he want to come out and say that he regrets it quite the opposite yeah but do you think that he regrets saying like look no one's going to offer him more we can offer more money we can offer him more term one year ago yeah um the We obviously asked him that yesterday, and he says he doesn't regret any things that things have been misunderstood. But one thing I will say is, and I've known Paul Theophanis for 27 years, he is a great negotiator. He's a hard-nosed negotiator.

And I do think when you start to, you know, every contract of wild I've ever done so far with Carill, the previous two, have been problems. And so I don't know where they thought that this one was going to be any different. And when all of a sudden Paul Theophanis is seeing an owner saying, we're going to give him as much money as possible. I'm sure Deep Valley is like, you know, I bet he said to Carill, like, we're not taking anything right now at that first meeting. So we'll see. I mean, you know, look, I don't blame Craig at all for this. He said what he wanted to say. He fulfilled that.

He offered him the richest contract in NHL history. And so far it hasn't been taken. And the fact that it has been taken is to me the biggest concern here because they're just hoping that it's, it's Paul playing hardball and not Carill playing hard hard ball. And the reality is, is that, look, there's 30 great, 32 great markets in this, in this league. And he's going to, you know, he's got the full leverage here with a no move clause. And if he's starting to, you know, at all have any doubts about the future of the wild, if he was not in thrall with their moves this off season, if he just thinks, you know, it'd be cool to live there,

he's got that opportunity this off season when the cat's going up and anybody would be wanting, to have him on their on their roster You know negotiating with Infanos is like negotiating with the drill sergeant from

full metal jacket like it's not a very you're not moving the guy but I want to you know America had the audacity to evoke Elliot's name on this podcast

he has been making he's been making noise about there being some level of tampering involved here in the idea that Paul and Krill might have an idea of something being on the

table that has them so enticed to not accept anything from the wild what do you what do you read into that you know i know that the wilder are are definitely worried about it um you know and and if it's going on they'll try to deal with it all i could tell you is you know it doesn't even need to be tampering it could just be you know assumptions i mean you know all good agents look at other teams and try to figure out are who can offer the most money who would want a clear space to them you know it's very clear that korel caprisop is going to be a wanted man if he ever gets to market and there's There's definitely teams out there that would, that would, you know, put out the brink truck for him. You know, I mean, Carolina is definitely one of those teams, whether, you know, they're floating anything or not.

I mean, they're a team that absolutely, we saw it last year with rent, and they want to get a big game fish. And they'll figure out a way, you know, that Dundon would try to do that. But there's a million other teams as well that would probably, you know, obviously cap space isn't, you know, isn't infinite. But, you know, you make some mood as if you could try to get Carol Caprice off. So I don't want to, you know, start accusing teams of doing that or Paul from doing that or anything like that. But I think that there's just an assumption there out there that they probably have some good intel. And that's the, you know, that is the fear or the longer, you know, that was my fear all summer when it just wasn't getting done July 1 and that a couple of days before your pre-agency when when Bill Garan started essentially warning the media publicly. Like, don't, you know, look, don't freak out if this doesn't happen July 1.

But the longer you wait, you also give them the opportunity to just gather more intel. And then you also give now Carill the opportunity to like look at free agency and like, oh, you know, they didn't do this or they could have gotten this or or then Carill starts to just even look at other opportunities and start to think about maybe wanting to leave here. And so, you know, to me, time is not a good thing here, guys, because, you know, if he's not signed by opening night, if this team, if he gets off to a bad start, if the team gets off to a bad start, You know, Zuccarello is best buddy on the team's not around right now because he's injured. You know, it just, to me, it creates more drama for an organization, as you guys know,

and we all know the history of it but a while, they can't afford that. I mean, this is an organization right now with a fan base that's anxious to see this team go on a run, and he is the end-all be-all to that. So, you know, it's, to me, if it's not done by opening night, this is going to get wild. No pun intended. And that kind of leads us into, I'm glad you got us there, Mike, because it kind of leads into another thing that I think a lot of us have been wondering about. Let me frame it this one way.

I think we're all big fans of late comedian Mitch Hedberg. And he had a great line about wearing turtlenecks. He said, wearing a turtleneck is like getting choked by a really weak guy. But at a certain point, it's a great line. It's a great line. But I wonder like at what point does this turtleneck around Bill Garen start to get a little bit, tight here like it can't be trade deadline like it can't be like okay now and now this is like really uncomfortable like at a certain point decisions need to start getting made and I can't

believe that they'll they'll let this one that will let this one sail till deadline yeah especially because this is one of those moves where you you you need time now like you know I don't I don't want to get you know make news here and all that type of stuff but I if it were me and I was Bill Guerin I don't even think you asked for the list yet I think you start if it looks like it's going nowhere, I think you have to be the one to start initiating. I don't think you didn't think he needs to initiate. I think teams have already started to reach out to them and say,

if this goes nowhere, you know, just remember we'll be interested. I mean, obviously we know one team that suddenly is going to go into LTRR today, that Kurore would probably be, would love to go play for. But if I were,

if I were Bill, I would start having those conversations and try to figure out what the best possible offers are with multiple different teams. And then at that point, you go to Carrell and say, right, where are we? And here's what I got. And then you make your moves. But look, I've covered this team since 2005.

I lived in the Marion Gabbitt situation here. That was Craig Leopold's first year as the full owner of the team. He bought the team the previous winner. It was his first real season. And that August, they offered him a 10-year, $80 million contract, which is what we've reported. So I've sort of made it fact. you know but that's what i remember that's what i remember it being i think i think marian

sometimes doesn't like that i've made that back um but then you know two games in the season i remember this like it's nothing we go to atlanta i go down to florida where we're at a practice at um office depot center at the time and and he's playing sewer ball and gets hurt it was the beginning of cal clutterbuck's career cal clutterbuck came up and basically never left um in game three but so game two he gets hurt that between games two and three he he's He doesn't come back for two months, exactly two months. He plays four games before the Christmas break. And next thing you know, after the Christmas break,

he has hip surgery with Dr. Philippaun in Vail. And he comes back after the trade deadline. So three weeks after the trade deadline, so he became untradable. He lights it up. He had like 10 or 11 goals in his final 11 games. And then all of a sudden, Doug Ricebro gets fired, Jacques steps down, Chuck Fletcher takes over, and now they want the contract back.

and, you know, he had just played, what, 15, 16 games that entire season, and Chuck was not about to give them an $80 million deal. He goes to the Ranger on a 37 and a half million dollar deal and the wild, you know, get nothing for him and they signed Marty Habbled on a five or six year contract. So I guess my point is they don't want to live this again. Regardless of the injury, they just, you know, to lose Carol Caprice off for nothing would be absolutely devastating for this franchise. But the problem is, in the last year of his contract, they gave him a full no move.

So he does have all the control here if he's not going to sign. Wow. Last one for me, Rousseau, and thanks to your time. You know Billy Garon a bit, and you're also a proud American. Where do you think the lean is right now for Team USA with regards to the bottom six? I think there's a real philosophical debate happening amongst American hockey fans as to whether they should run it back with the Brock Nelson's of the world or if they should go full pedal down with offensive players.

Where do you think Team USA is leaning in so far as team construction for Italy? you know I think look they were one goal away from winning and I do think that so they don't think they look at their roster construction as being a big problem I think they love the way that they played there but there's no doubt that I think that like a tage Thompson has absolutely put himself on the radar maybe a Clayton Keller um you know some you know players like that and mattie nye is if he has a good start um but I think tage is sort of a shoe in I do think that they're going to be changes I mean look they get one extra player um obviously up front and I do think a couple guys, maybe Kreider.

If he gets off to a great start, I think Kreider's going to be on the radar. And obviously, we know he was hurt last year. But I think Kreider, Nelson, Trocheck, those are the ones that they're going to be looking about, looking at. You know, Brock probably didn't help his cause by not signing with the wild. Not the one that necessarily after here with the other, but it probably made the decision a little easier to maybe push him out. I mean, I'm just being honest, you know, like it would be a lot harder than not put him on the

team if he's here. So, you know, I mean, look, I'm obviously, I'm kind of tongue-in-cheek there, but I think there's going to be changing. It's like, Tej is going to be on the team. Like, there's no doubt on my mind. And obviously, you know, injuries change anything. I mean, you know, team Finland today has got to be like, are you kidding? Yeah. I mean, like, you know, they just lost their guy. You know, the biggest reason why people thought that Finland could be a surprise team in the, in the, in the Olympics. So it's going to be fascinating to see how Bill Gereyn constructs his team. I'm also going to be interested in the blue line as well, Greg.

Like, you know, Adam Fox is one, you know, obviously I think all the defensemer back, you add Quinn there. So there's going to be one more, you know, potential addition. And does Fox come out after, you know, really looking like maybe the pace was an issue of him, you know, with him in the four nation? We'll see. I mean, it's a short tournament. Anything can happen.

But there are a lot of really good blue liners out there that they can really look at. And, of course, we have to make room for Patrick Kane as well. somewhere in the life. Exactly. Yeah. Let me close. I would love that. I think every writer that's going to the Olympics would love that.

100%. Watch Patrick Kane and the Olympics again. 100%. It'd be a great story. And I talked to him in Vegas and like he didn't treat it like he was just there to take care. Absolutely. Like I sat down with him in Plymouth at the orientation camp and he, you know,

and he doesn't want to be a ceremonial pick. Like he is, I want to have a. good start to the season, and I want to be there for what I am now, not what I used to do. I love his attitude. I mean, but just having him around would be gold for those of us that are going. Fantastic story. Let me close with a non-Caprizov Wild question. Last one for you, let you get on with your day.

What's a bigger story, Dan, another year off or Yesper Wellstatt for the Wild? You know, probably Volstatt, just because they are going to, they have so many back-to-backs this year, they are going to need him to play games. And he's going to have to be much, much better than he's been so far in his pro career. He's had a really good camp. I thought he was really good in Winnipeg. He gave up a couple early goals settled in. And then last night he was outstanding.

He's not, you know, he gave up no goals. Then Halabai came in and gave up the rest in that game that they blew it to nothing lead to Dallas. So so far he looks great. He's coming to camp in great shape. He's putting last year behind him, which was a really tough year. And so I think it's a bigger story just because also, like, it's great that Europe is here. But I'm not positive he's going to make the team out of camp. Like he's steadily progressed so far in camp.

But right now, a lot of Mike depend on Nico Sturm's injury. We haven't seen him on the ice the last three or four days. He's got a back issue that he's dealing with. But so far guys like Kenneth Strozo look like they might, you know, be somebody that you can put on the team and put in that role right away. And just give R.RF a little time in Iowa. The one area that he's got to improve his baseoffs, he got roasted the other night in Dallas.

Wasn't great last night against Dallas again. So we'll see. But Volstatt, to me, is probably the most important because they're going to 100% need him to win this year. Yeah, I lied. And this one's for both you guys. The 25th anniversary jerseys. Let's play the jersey game. When you see that jersey, the answer to me is either West Walls or Darby Hendrickson.

When you see that jersey, when you see that jersey, who do you think of? I agree with you. I think it's West Walls. Like, Walls is one of the most underrated players that I've ever covered in Minnesota. And unfortunately, I only got to cover him three. years he was so intense he was such a great checking center one of the and an incredible story because he came into the league as you know jeff i mean it came into this league is this you know offensive dynamo dynamo from junior i think he's probably there'll be that in europe and he comes back

re-does his game here under jock um and it's really cool opening night they're having the entire original coaching staff back that rise bro back it's going to be uh really sweet but probably like i didn't cover those teams and obviously derby scored the first goal in wild history here but uh but you know West Balls. He was such an incredible player. That's awesome. I had to just make sure that I had to make sure that this guy was on the team

and he was Brad Bombadier. He's not only still on the team. He's not only still on the team. He's their head of director of player development. He's been here forever. Andrew Burnett. I'll throw that one in for some spice too. Why not?

Too old, too slow, too good. Andrew Burnett. All the old devils like Jimmy Dowd and all those things. that's right that's right that's right barbamabadir was a was a was an devil at one point he was definitely a devil at one point yeah so one of my most uncomfortable moments ever as a beat writer he was not getting along with jacques and jacques was all over him and he calls me over to his stall one day one of my early years and he offers me to write a positive story

offers me a Rolex and um i'm like i did and finally and this happened right in front of Aaron Sickman, their PR guy. He even asked me like, took out of color and everything. And I just finally, I just finally said and I'm like, and I don't need, I still don't even know if he was kidding. And I just go, Andre, let me just promise you, like if Jacques right now

is not happy with you, there's no way that some Schwab like me is going to write a positive story. That's going to miraculously change everything. So, that's the, that's the going price for change in numbers. You got like the, you got the jersey, the number swap fee. It was tempting. The Rolex.

Yeah. I'll be honest, though. I like brightlings more. So if you offered me a brightling, I might have done it. Every time you check your wrist, you think of Andre Zuzin. Nobody gets so clean, Rousseau. Nobody gets so clean. Thanks, partner. We'll check back soon. Yep, see you guys. program. You'll get more. Experience more flexibility so you can pursue your degree while balancing work and family. The AU Online MBA is designed to fit individual schedules so you can

successfully complete the program from home, work, or even while traveling. You don't need to leave work for a month, a year, or even every second Friday. Choose a more flexible MBA and get more out of your education. Learn how at Athabascau.cau.cau.ca.ca.com slash flexible MBA. There he is the great Mike Cruz. So what a great. You were you ever offered a watch in exchange for a positive story? Ethical reporter. No, I think usually for me it's like, write something good and I won't assault you is the way it works to look for me rather than here's a watch.

By the way, reason 8,925 why the chat is the best. The chat right now is being filled with Mitch Hedberg quotes. Bless this. All you got to do is just like I have to say the name. Or say like one road. Headberg's been in the zeitgeist here in the States in the last two days because the whole Trump going on the, the escalator and it breaking at the UN. Did you see that? Oh, it's just stairs.

It's just theirs. Yeah. Yeah. It can't be broken. The just theirs joke, the quintessential Mitch Hedberg joke. One of the way, one of the things that I've always, I can't remember who I was talking. It's like a million years ago and a old talk radio show that I did at 640. Someone brought up the point.

How is it possible to take an escalator or an elevator down? by definition you're escalating or elevating how can you take one down yes you're saying it should be an escalator and then a de-escalator or something like that correct correct an elevator and a descendant we've never we've never thought about it and it's along the lines of like you know the goofy

stuff like you know drive on a parkway park on a driveway why if they're all together why are they called apartments but the other one that's always stuck with me is always how do you say i'm going to take the elevator down How does that make any sense? I kind of like it. I'm going to now, if I'm on like the 12th floor of a Weston, I'm just going to be like, where's the dissender? We're like, what?

Yes. What are you talking about? Can't escalate. So what did you, all right, what is your, what does your spidey sense tell you about what Rousseau just told us about Caprisoff? I think that Paul Theophanas has in his mind a drop dead date and they're not there yet. And they're going to try to see where the Minnesota wild get to by that date. That is, that is my, that is my instinct.

But that's, that's. But here's a question that I don't understand. And I understand what you're saying. Get to what? They offered of the richest contract in NHL history. Yeah. Like, it decided you take the richest contract in NHL history or you don't want to be there, isn't it?

No, it's not. Because do you think that is, again, this comes back to like, does Paul Theo Fantis believe this is the best offer from the Minnesota Wild? Like right now, you're going to get into a game of chicken, right? Because you want, if you're the Minnesota Wild, you want, Theophanus and Caprizov to think that this is the ultimate best answer. And at this point, you're just negotiating down, that the best offer has come and gone. How many times have you heard that during lockouts, for example?

Oh, we made our best offer yesterday. And every that goes by, the offer gets worse, right? Unless you believe, like if you're Paul Theophanis, you believe that that is not their ultimate best answer. First of all, there's no pressure for Caprizov to sign right now. There's none. No. He's still under contract.

So now, there's always the threat of injury. injury, etc. And this is, you know, the team can offer aid and they can offer an incredible amount of money for this player. But I think that like most negotiations, I don't think that in Theo Fannis's mind, they've hit a pressure point yet. It's more, it's more stressful for Minnesota than it is for his client. So him and his client have the hammer right now. I am a, I'm a players guy i'm a i'm a secure that bad guy if you're a player go go out and get you yours you play under a salary cap get everything that you can but at some point merrick yeah like don't you have to have the macdavit conversation of we've already offered you the richest contract in an actual history

how many more millions do you want to take away from our ability to build a team around you that could actually contend for a championship or is that not even front of mind for caprisoff i don't know but like Like when you've already gone that high, like, what is the sense of squeezing a little bit more out unless it's just like be selfish about it and not think about the way it's going to impact the rest of the cap for your team? I always, I always go back to Monty Burns with the Simpsons. I have wealth and riches beyond my wildest dreams, but I'd give it all up for just a little bit more. A little bit more, right? Just for this a little bit more. Again, I come back to.

Which is why Tom Brady is going to play flag football in Saudi radio. Exactly. We all understand that. But that's why I keep coming back. And even, listen, like, we saw this with the Players Association and why they did their deal when they did. There was zero pressure point. Zero pressure point through that deal.

But somehow they just said, like, okay, yeah, we're tapped up. Most of we're going to get. We'll just sign here and go on our merry way. If you're Paul Fia Fan, you're like, there's no pressure point right now for us for my client. I think he's not. I think he's gone. I think he's gone. You do, eh?

I just, I don't know, man. Like, it was just something about it. Like, they've made their greatest good faith offer that they've, they've ever made a player in Minnesota. They went above and beyond their, you know, to give him the richest contract in ageal history to try to keep him. I don't know if it's the years or I don't know what it would be to have him reject that contract other than to say, I am looking elsewhere.

That's my spidey sense on this. You know my answer to all of this. He wants to, no, he wants him to put $10 million in the caprice off meme coin and then we'll talk. That's the way business is done now. I'm making attention. I'm watching. I'm watching. I'm learning. Just game coin. And again, so again, above and beyond the contract they gave it means that he's going to be sponsoring a tree planting company somewhere and never having to work. We understand this. Oh, is that? Is that how it works? Former Raptor, maybe perhaps. How much did you love that report that Kauai Leonard wanted a piece of the leaves? Like, like, I mean,

his, I'm sorry, his representation one of a piece of leaves, but like a piece of the Leafs is like, I mean, that is like a diamond mind, isn't it? I mean, that's insane to ask for a piece of the Leafs. You could always ask. You know, like,

I, um, my favorite, I think I've told you the, uh, the Curtis Joseph negotiation contract, uh, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Have you told you this story? No. So Bill Waters, who I worked with a million years ago, I probably have. I probably told you a bunch of times. Kucho's contract was up.

Don Mien would have been the agent Newport Sports. And this is before the Raptors, you know, obviously won their championships and that franchise became, you know, wildly successful and profitable. So Don Meehan is talking to Bill Waters, who was the assistant general manager under Cliff Fletcher at that time.

He was doing the contract. And he said, so this is MLSC. This is the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. And Bell says, yeah, that's right, Don. And he says, well, which organization is more successful? Which organization, which sports team makes more money?

And Bill says, well, Toronto Maple Leafs do. The Toronto Maple Leafs make more money than the Toronto Raptors do. And he said, oh, well, who's more important then to the overall financial well-being of MLSC, my client, Curtis Joseph, or Vince Carter? And Billy said, well, the goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, obviously, it's Curtis Joseph. And Domaine goes, okay, well, take the Vince Carter control. Using a basketball player as a comparable One of the best things I've ever heard in a contracting application But you know what? Hang on what was okay

What was we're going to go all historical here for I'm surprised surprise surprise we're going to a little bit historical here on pieces of franchises What was one of the things that upset Bobby or the most about what happened with Alan Eagelson is that he didn't know as part of the Boston Bruins contract offered to him was a percentage of the Boston Bruins. Wow. We just wasn't told. And that was a deal that Eagelson had worked out with Wirtz to get him to Chicago

and didn't tell him that the Boston Bruins as part of their contract offer was offering a piece of the Boston Bruins. So you can imagine, consider what the Boston Bruins were worth then and worth now, how much that would have incensed anybody. And most notably at that point, the best player in the game. that's incredible that's absolutely incredible piece of the team that's always been an interesting one to me like I and of course you can't you can't do that right now into the CBA but I've always wondered if that if that's where sports was headed now obviously

there are CBAs that block it but I always thought that you know going back to 2004 2005 and that lockout like this is where one day sports is going to head we can only pay you this much but I was one I've always wondered at what point athletes become even while they're playing part owners of teams. Not going to happen in the NHL, certainly not right now with the CBA, but I've always wondered about it down the road. That's what I got. What do you think?

I mean, I think that it's certainly an enticement, and especially with the way that franchise values have climbed. I think there are probably different times in initial history where it didn't seem like a very, like you might owe some money if you owed an NHL team. Do you want to own the, you want to own Cleveland? You want to you? I really want to say it. But I mean, now I think.

it's a very more lucrative side hustle what it was maybe like hey i'm dennis baroque i'm only making sixty thousand dollars but i own the barons you what uh wonderful okay so a few more things here um oh i want to do the nilander thing so a little bit more on on this one because it does at least begin the con first of all good on nielander for doing this um i don't know that there's a a better person that's better suited for the Toronto market than William Nealander. Now, the Toronto market has always been very... How so?

Because he is impervious to criticism. One of the things that I think we've all marveled at is how it just bounces off him and he doesn't give a fuck. He really doesn't. Like honestly, criticism bounces right off William Nealander. Doesn't care. I'm going to go ride the subway. I'm going to go play pickup ball.

I'm just going to live my life as if I'm both superstar with the Toronto Maple Leafs and regular citizen. Like there is a real charm there about Nylander. He is not prickly. He's not sensitive. He doesn't overreact. I think that that is really unique in the Toronto market. Do you agree or disagree? I think he could be a little prickly, but that's okay.

I don't think he's a prick, but I think he could be a little prickly sometimes. No, I think he's, I'm very excited to see how he handles this new venture. Like I said, I think it goes beyond probably the lifestyle thing to become a place where, you know, he can attract viewers to find out how he feels about certain things. Like, who is not watching the Willie Nealander YouTube channel? Everybody won't. On the day that Mitch Martyr comes back to Toronto, you know. 100%.

So the first one, the one that's coming out in just about an hour is all about his summer, his offseason. So his summer in Sweden is the first one. But you're right. Like follow, how about, you know, follow William Nealander and he gets that phone call from Marner before they play Vegas. Yeah, exactly. So I think the opportunities are there. So you once told me something interesting about the way the Leafs handle their media because of how. their own

by two million companies. What was that? So when I was at SportsNet, the way it would work is if I'll give you the exact. If I had Morgan Riley on my show at noon, then he would also not have to appear, but TSN and TSN Radio specifically

would be given the opportunity to also interview them. If you give it to one, you have to give it to both. So there would always be like, I would have Dubus on the JM show and then at 4.30 on overdrive, he'd appear with those guys. And that's the way it work, because if you made one available to one side,

you had to make it available to the other. That's the way, that's the way. Now, it also did give certain players and executives a real sort of escape patch. Like, oh, I only have time to do one. I can't fit in two today. So I'm going to take a pass. But that's the way that's the way they are. Like, you were not getting an exclusive.

You were not getting an exclusive. This whole player empowerment media content creation thing gives me a chance to say something I haven't mentioned on the show before, which is that I was talking to a general manager recently who told me that Gary Bettman addresses the general managers before the season, as he does every season. And one of the points of emphasis, real points of emphasis, points of emphasis that was so emphasized that this GM decided to share it with me was that Gary Bettman, wants there to be more access inside the locker room during very sensitive moments across the league. Don't kick the cameras out is basically the vibe right now. And I thought about that. I've been actually watching some preview episodes of the Amazon docu-series that'll be coming out next month again. There are some times when during the most sensitive moments,

there is literally a not now get out of here by certain players to the Amazon cameras. it uh you still get to hear the audio of it but they don't aren't necessarily filming it but i i you know we are we have obviously had our issues with the commissioner through the years you and i merrick um we've also been praising easy to praise him when he does some good things i got to say that like for a guy whose mission it is to grow the game as large as possible to have him be the champion of the idea that you need to create more access points for media give fans more of a glimpse to the real emotions. I mean, they talked about in that meeting the McDavid scene from the Amazon series

where that became a definitive moment in his career, the actual raw human emotion of having a spirit crushed in the playoffs by the Panthers like that and how we need to see more of that. So I'll give kudos to the commissioner. I'll give kudos to the NHL for fighting the good fight and trying to not only create more access for media and for rights holders, but in general try to bring us into places in the NHL that we don't normally get to see. yes but that's one thing i first of all i agree with you and that's commendable and i'm glad that

he's the one banging the drum for that because when he does things happen just bluntly things happen and that's how things get done um but let's not stop there cameras at GM's meetings cameras at board of governors meetings hang on hang on and the big one which we will never see but you I know you're dying for it I know you watching right now or listening are dying for it

cameras in arbitration rooms well the one camera thing that that is money that would be that would be that would be painful on a number of levels the one access point that's kind of interesting right now merrick is access to the discussions between the on-ice officials in the war room i don't know if you're cognizant of this but apparently in european soccer

we do get to hear the discussions on video reviews they recently had that we in college football they recently had open mics between the referees in the war room on video replays it's great i don't think we will ever get it in the NHL because of the um candor of the conversations with regard to that can always change that can always change I'll tell you what but that's where the trend is going and I do wonder if we're talking about

like opening up the league more if that's where they end up going I love it honestly like every ask any fan like do you want to hear what they're talking about right now is there anybody that's going to go like nah really not interested

but we did this once so at sports net when we had the CHL package of Canadian hockey league the junior package there was one year where they allowed us to broadcast the audio of the conversation between the official on the ice

and the war room for calls. And it was fascinating. It was fantastic. But hang on, it lasted one year and then it got shut down. Because you want to talk about making things really, really, now also, hang on, the officials in that situation will push back.

Look at what happened when they put cameras on the helmets. And the refcams were like really cool, like really cool perspective. Like, wow, that's really neat. That's interesting. But the referees pushed back and said, A, we need to be compensated more because we're here to officiate the game. We're not the product. And this isn't our, this isn't our job. You and I are dancing around the large senior level elephant in the room, which is that you probably couldn't do this gimmick in the NHL until Colin Campbell retires. Okay. So let me ask you this. If, now we've talked about, we've talked before about, you know,

setting up wins for the next commissioner or the next Coley Campbell for whenever they take over. I wonder if the next Coley Campbell is Brendan Shanahan. I mean, that makes total sense. If it does.

And if it's Brendan Shanahan, do we get what you're talking about? Because this is someone, you would certainly get more progressive thinking than we've had the last. 20 years, Merrick. You would. You would.

Would it go, I mean, I cross my fingers and say, yeah, I hope so. Like if Shanahan becomes the next Colin Campbell, would it go, would it go that far? Because that really is, that really is a step that the NHL has been uncomfortable to make. We would probably also get more well-written emails. The other thing I want to say is that, the other thing I want to say is, and this is free advice to my friends at Turner, You guys have a network called HBO Max here in the States. Go ahead and take one of your games every week, throw it on Max, keep the mics open, maybe even have some of your commentators be a little loose with the language as well

and give us one NHL uncensored game every week or maybe one every month. And I guarantee, uh, effing to you that it will be a sensation amongst the fans. Yeah, I just don't know that players want. Those things living forever. Seven second delay. I don't. Listen, from a fans point of view, yeah, sign me up. All day long, absolutely 100%.

I think that would be a pushback from the players. That would be interesting to the players, the PA point of view. Because they're all about, like, you know, more access, show the personality. Okay. Let's hear the salty tongues. Let's hear what goes on. That would be Matthew Kachukh going, sign me up and everybody else going, do not sign that man up.

Do not give that man a pen. Take that pen out of Matthew and Brady Kach's hands right now. Would you not need that in this league? Thank you very much. All right. We're going Broadway here. This one's going real long. Listen, you have a wonderful weekend.

We ran out of time today to do some predictions. So we'll do that next week. Oh, just, but we got before we go, Oh, hey, Zach, throw up the McMichael highlight real quick. Oh, man, I love this. I'm such a sucker for this kind of stuff. So the Washington Capitals are playing a preseason game at the Giant Center of the Home of the Hershey Bears, legendary American Hockey League franchise, as we all know.

And Connor McMichael, who plied his trade with Hershey for a while, scores a goal. He's going to feed Protis, right? The kid. Now, looks them off and scores short side anyhow. Beautiful move by Connor McMichael. It's a two-on-one. think everyone thinks he's given it the protist not so fast he reads the lean he goes above the blocker but then the best part of it he brings back the roar rar that's the bear i don't know why

i don't know why i laugh so much so the roar was a thing that they did in her she mcichael obviously played there for a long time and it was sort of their their team thing was to give the roar and it reminded me that a major league baseball one of my favorite things about majorly baseball right now is that all the teams have their own little I don't know victory thing that they do like if a met reaches base he does a little whoop kind of thing yeah and gives it to the to the dugout and the dugout gives it back to them I'm all fine and let's do that in hockey let's have I mean if if McMichael gives a roar the other guys on the bench go rar and then we're all roaring at each other and it's adorable and I'd like to see it's it's it's completely adorable um I love it's I don't know

first of all, he's a perfect guy because he's loved in Hershey for all the obvious reasons, too. And it's a new sort of twist on what you're doing going down the train. Going down the bench. I love it. Count me in all day long.

Glad that one tickled you under the chin, too. How do you feel if you're Alexi Protis at that moment just got the big look off by Connor McMichael on essentially what started was a two on one? It was a two on O, like, nah, I'm taking the shot. Then I'm doing the war. This is all about me.

Camera on me. Good on Connor McMichael for that one. I absolutely loved it. All right. You are released for the weekend to behave as you see fit. Conduct yourself accordingly, Greg Wyshinsky, as a mature citizen. And we will talk to you on Tuesday. Tuesday.

Yeah, everybody have a great weekend. Interesting, interesting times in the world of hockey as usual. And I thank you for being so kind as to move the date of the second MBSW from Thursday, where usually we'll live to Friday this week. So I was able to hang out with my former college roommate and, uh, yeah, I was going to see how the drinking go yesterday. I forgot that. He was in, so he lives in Seattle and, and we actually were reminiscing, uh, about a story

that I wrote for ESPN that I completely forgot about about the hockey bar that was up there. And then it was a whole thing about trying to save this hockey bar. And apparently, uh, I reached a legendary status for a short period of time amongst Seattle hockey fans. But I think the place might have ended up closing. But, you know, I didn't have to write that part of the story. Okay. Yeah, you wrote the happy fun part that made you look like a hero.

The fun, let's make the hand part of the story. Yeah, never happened afterwards. Yeah, we've moved on. But he also, by the way, he also agrees with us that the Crackett should tear it down. Really, eh? But how are you tearing it down at this point? Like, you're already loaded with kids. You're already like loading everyone on an expense.

You're traded everyone on a. expired contract like like um like schwartz and and uh and everly uh and then you're trading everybody has another year left on their contract adam larcen Vince done you could definitely still need player you still need players there to what end like what's that to what to what end to to what end like you get a you get a room full of kids all of a sudden you get that oilers squad they used to have on the wall earned not given and everybody looked around the six million dollar contracts for guys who hadn't pissed the drop Like, you need to be able to do, so you need to have, like, some players.

You know, and you know what turned, and you know what turned them around? McDavid and Drysiddle. And how do you get those guys? Not by having been stunned on your blue line. Tell you what. If you're going to, if you're going to, if you're going to, if you're going to, if you really want to give yourselves the best chance to Gavin McKenna this thing up, then, then absolutely. You decimate your blue line. Okay.

By the way, who had the most hipster beer? I'm guessing the Seattle guy. Seattle, if you must know, Merrick, we went to an Italian place for brunch. They had a prefix menu, very exciting times here in New York to get a prefixed menu for lunch. And then he was like, what sort of beer can I have? And they suggested something Italian and he drank it. And he's like, this is incredible. I said, I'll have one to.

He ordered another. I ordered another. Neither are one of us paying attention to what sort of beer we were drinking. the beer tab for like four of these was more than the food tab between the two of us I don't know what we were drinking what sort of liquid gold we were drinking

but I mean it was worth the price but always be careful what those Italians are giving you for beer because if it's not like peroni it could be something you got to pay a lot for I was going to say like you're not drinking a couple of peronies here okay this is good good information Thanks, pal. We'll talk on Tuesday.

Take care. There is, the one and only, Greg Wosinski. Always trying to be mindful of your time, so let's hustle and wrap up the program today. The sheet is powered by our friends at Fanduel, folks. That is the home of the same game parlay. Make every moment more on Fanduel. Fanduel, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments that matter to them. And we now go to the man we've ignored now for over 60 minutes to one and only Zach Phillips.

Can I call you the real Zach Phillips? now that you've been scorned by the former first-round draft pick and C-Dog, Zach Phillips? The lesser-known. Are you feeling more legit because you stole his hotel room in St. John? Yeah, that does help. That does help. That does help. That does help.

Yeah, we'll just call you the Hilton, Zach Phillips. The Hilton, Zach Phillips. Okay. Sure, that works. That works. Zach Hilton Phillips. All right, what do we got? So I was looking

This is specific to I was watching the Habs game last night And I started seeing discourse online We're talking back and forth Between Sends fans And Habs fans Leafs fans somehow managed to stay out of it It's Sends fans taking jabs at Habs fans

And going back and forth And then I look over at Fanduel Lobeholds there is a market that helps us Bet You want to put your money where your mouth is You can do so over on Fandual and that would come in the market of a player head-to-head. Who has more points this season?

Lane Hudson or Jake Sanderson? Jeff, before I tell you what's on this? Oh, man. Who would you think would be favored for this right now? I'm putting you on the spot. I love Jake Sanderson. I'll take, even though no adoption, although he's hurt, no adoption is going to take some of the power play

power play minutes away here. I'll still take Lane Hudson. also take lane hudson oh man i love sanderson though i'll take i'll take hudson also take hudson so it's very close on fannuel but it is lane hudson who's favored minus 132 jake sanderson plus 106 right now for who scores more regular season points this season i just thought that was kind of fun like that's interesting that's a good one yeah i was reading on twitter and it's like lane hudson makes a move loses the puck and then instantly there's sends fans blowing up twitter not Leifes fans, Sends fans.

This is a Leaves Habs game blowing up Twitter being like, all this Lane Hudson guy overhyped. What the hell are we talking about? It's preseason. Let's calm down. Okay. So, like, come on. But there is, but there is, there's one thing, though, in that game that I think both

Montreal and Ottawa fans can agree upon. And you know what that is? That Demadoff pass. Concerns about Netminders? No, that Demadoff pass to line A. on the power play. How many times, and both Ottawa Senators fans have seen this, Montreal Canadiens fans have seen this,

New York Ranger fans have seen this, Pittsburgh Penguins fans have seen this. You know what that is? That's Kovalev. Like that was the first, like honestly, that was the first time that I, because even Max LaPierre was telling us yesterday and the comparisons that we were talking about Kovalev, etc.

That move, we've seen a million times from And the way that he draws defenders in, even on the power play, that was the first time where I went like, I've seen that a million times from Kovalev. Holy smokes, that's Kovalev. And like, well, Linae's got like the easiest one-timer of the night, of all the games. And Sends fans saw it, Montreal, Canadian's fans. So you can come together around Ivan Demadoff, although he plays for the Habs, and knowing that you just saw a move that you probably saw a million times in Ottawa and Montreal.

So mine was a little bit different because my perspective on it was a little different because I saw Kovov, obviously, so I'm familiar, but not enough for me to like watch that Demadov play and be putting him in the shoes of Kovalev, like how you're saying like that comparison. Yeah. But mine was the other player that Max brought up yesterday and immediately as a Leaves fan having to watch that, I went, oh, fuck, Kuturoff. I saw the past and I was like, oh no. Yeah, but there's some, there's some, there's some, there's some, there's some, there's some, there's some,

there's some, there's some, there's some, there's some, right, right. Like, I don't, I don't know, maybe I just like, love Kovalev too much, but how could you not? I mean, everybody was, I mean, he didn't bring it consistently. He had to be inspired, you know, the, the, the muse had to be upon him for him to perform, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, but man, when, when, when Kovolev wanted to play, there was no one better. There was flat out.

Nobody, when he was in his prime and he wanted to play, no one was better. and that Demadoff passed, man. Disgusting. That was Kovola. Disgusting. All right. I want to close the show today and one very specific way

on a very, very sad note and it affects my community here in Stoville in a very profound way. And that's the passing of Mikey Robinson, who's someone, man, I used to see Mikey at the gym all the time.

When my family moved up here in 2012 in Stowville, that Stoville Spirit team won the OJHL championship. And Mikey was a big part of it. And he went on to play with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL. Mikey was murdered on Wednesday in a senseless, it seems like, drive-by in Chibuigan Falls, Wisconsin. Our thoughts to his family, certainly his wife and their newborn one-month-old daughter,

absolutely senseless tragedy, the victim of senseless gun violence. I saw that smile about a million times at the gym when we were at the same spot together. His passing has completely shook our small community here in Stoville. He's someone that everybody had a story about. Everyone had an encounter with. Everybody here was incredibly proud to call Mike Robinson one of our own, wonderful player, wonderful person, big smile for everybody. Our hearts here absolutely break for his family and his friends.

There's a 2012 team that won the OJHL Championship here in Stoville. There is a GoFundMe that's been started for his family, for his wife, and their one-month-old daughter. If you can, please donate. help out the Robinsons. It's wonderful, wonderful young man taken way too soon. Bless the Robinson family. I said 16 hours last night, every day this week, every day this month. I can't get out my head, lifestyle ambitions day-to-day, because you can call it all right.

I went to the dark man and tried to give me a little medicine. I'm like, no, man, that's fine. I'm not against those methods, but I knew. It's me and myself And how this is going to be Fixing my mind I do want to break I've turned on the music

I do want to break I turn on the music It's enough about it that you sometimes losing Have been on the days that we're wrong When you choose Athabasca University's online MBA program, you'll get more.

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