The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Canes Tie the Series, Babcock Investigation, and Trade Requests ft. Justin Williams & Greg Wyshynski

Episode Date: June 10, 2026

The Stanley Cup Final is all tied up, and Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski break down everything from a pivotal Game 4 on another edition of MVSW. The Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a massive way, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights to even the series at 2-2 and send the Final back to Raleigh for a crucial Game 5. Jeff and Greg dive into what changed for Carolina, the impact of Jordan Staal's leadership and two-way dominance, Frederik Andersen's performance, Brandon Bussi's emergence as a storyline throughout the playoffs, and what the tied series means heading into the final stretch. They also discuss one of the biggest stories in hockey: the NHL's investigation into Mike Babcock after the NHLPA requested a review amid reports linking him to the Edmonton Oilers' coaching search. Plus, the fallout continues from Dylan Larkin's trade request out of Detroit as Jeff and Greg examine whether this could signal a growing trend of star players seeking moves around the league. Later, Hurricanes legend Justin Williams joins the show to discuss Carolina's response in Game 4, the importance of Jordan Staal to the organization's success, the atmosphere surrounding the Stanley Cup Final, Brandon Bussi's role, and what the Hurricanes need to do to capture the Stanley Cup. All that and more on today's episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek.#TheSheet #JeffMarek #GregWyshynski #MVSW #StanleyCupFinal #CarolinaHurricanes #VegasGoldenKnights #NHLPlayoffs #JordanStaal #BrandonBussi #JustinWilliams #MikeBabcock #EdmontonOilers #DylanLarkin #NHLSHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼 Canadian Blood Services: https://www.blood.ca/👍🏼 Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-pro-6-in-1-countertop-glass-air-fryer-rose-quartz/AS101CRS.html?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid+Social&utm_campaign=H1NinjaCrispi&utm_content=NinjaEN&dwvar_AS101CRS_color=cdb9b8Reach 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/@FNBarnBurner🚨 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-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have the Carolina Hurricanes figured out the Vegas Golden Knights. One of many topics, Greg and I will be talking about, well, if you watch the game in the offensive zone yesterday with the Carolina Hurricanes zipping it around, Greg Wyshinsky, don't give me that look. You'll say, yeah, they're figuring this thing out, heading back to Raleigh, which is where you are heading momentarily, Greg Wichenski. This is the sheet.

For Wednesday, June the 10th, glad to have you aboard today. We have a very special guest coming up at the bottom of the hour. Why did you give me weirdo guy face? When I said, have the Carolina Hurricanes figured out the Vegas Golden Knights. it's still essentially a one goal game i mean i know rod brindamore said the other day like we could be up three o in the series because the games have been that tight but i don't know i i clearly listen clearly vegas didn't play well last night clearly carolina was playing like a team that a

felt the backs felt the wall against their backs maybe it wasn't quite there yet but it was close and then b probably just needed a couple days to get through equilibrium i am of the belief that the travel really impacted them in game three. They looked like Montreal game one in game three, blowing assignments. And all it takes is one guy to screw up for the entire house of cards that the hurricanes build to fall down. I thought everyone was kind of on their game last night for them.

They played well. Vegas didn't play all that great. But I mean, Vegas is still a formidable opponent. And still did some things that were quite good last night. One might say that the Carolina Hurricanes were 0.2. away from it being a very different hockey game last night, Jeff Berwick. Oh, we're allowing goals out for the buzzer now? Okay.

Oh, very good. And goal posts are going to counter shots on net now, too? Okay, sure. I'll bite on that one too. You and I have talked about the video review thing so many times in the show. Like, how refreshing is it that the last two games, every consequential review was like stark. It was obvious. This guy was obviously in the zone before the puck got there.

Yes. Barbachev obviously rocked Freddie Anderson in the head. Last night, obviously the puck goes in after the buzzer. But last night was the real funny one because, like, I get the idea that you're booing a goal of interference call. I get the idea that maybe you can boo an outside call. Last night, the Vegas fans were literally booing the rotation of the earth. They were viewing time proceeding in a logical way. Like, what are you doing?

F you time. We've had enough years of canary. That goal's got to stand. McNabb, you got ripped off as we just watched this one here in the dying seconds of the first period. Could have been? I was watching the end sequence of that period and I'm like, if they get one here, they get a clean one. Well, it's a slot line pass and Bussie's moving. And so, you know, like there's a more than good chance here that this thing is going to find the back of the net.

It's uncontested. He's got a wide open shot. But yeah. Chearing. Chearing or booing against time. Yes. Yeah. That was a new one on me.

I guess let's get the what's on the sheet nonsense out of the way first. I do want to talk about bussy. So do your business first. Okay. Here we go. The genitorial work of the program. The blueprint is powered by Fanduel. Download the app today and play your game on Fanduel.

Plenty of discussion about game for coming up here in a couple of moments. more with Greg Wischinski from ESPN and ESPN.com. Special advisor to the general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes is three-time Stanley Cup winner and a consmise trophy winner as well. Mr. Game 7, Justin Williams. Stops by the program. We'll talk more about Game 4. We'll talk about Jordan Stahl.

We'll talk about a Mike Babcock investigation, which is underway from the NHL. And if we get around to it and fingers crossed that we do, trade requests around the National Hockey League with Dylan Larkin being the kickoff point. there for that conversation with our boy wish and you wanted to make a point about bussy floor is yours he wasn't great like he battled he was okay he was good in the he was good in the third period he was nine for nine on saves in the third period and that's when you need him to be good yeah like he he was a i was going to say the f word he was an adventure on that william carlson goal and in a way that may be a little bit worried about him actually being able to win this

game last night. But the good news is that he was good enough where you could start him in game five and feel okay about it if the team in front of him plays well enough. And then you get the perfect scenario. The reason I wanted him to start game four is for this various scenario, which is you may have captured a little lightning in the bottle with the way that he played. Maybe he gets even better in game five for you back home. And then if you need him to come out of the bullpen, you have a very rested, Freddie Anderson getting a chance to save the series if you need him. Here's the thing about both goal tenders. Every time the puck is in the offensive zone, I'm just assuming we're going to see a goal.

Because this has not been the best of all possible series here for Carter Hart, who now has surrendered four plus goals in all four games. Like all the, if Vegas wins, Kahn Smyth, the Carter Hart conversation, which was out there but muted for the obvious reasons. I mean, that's all gone. it's not like he's leading the Vegas Golden Knights of victory. And I'll tell you, like, and the reason why I said figured out the Vegas Golden Knights, or figured out the Vegas Golden Knights Carolina has at the top of the show.

In the offensive zone yesterday, Carolina was zipping that thing around at will. Like whatever they wanted to do, they did. And the retrievals were outstanding. And the line that we were talking about, Logan Stan Coverton and Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall, all of a sudden, that line is starting to connect. and find a lot of open ice and find a lot of clean shots.

And I share the same feeling that you do about Bussie, not his best performance, but I say the same thing about Carter Hart. And that adds a whole other layer of intrigue to all of this. I just assume that most shots are going in now. And I did yesterday. Yeah, it's like I'm not having faith in either. It's a relief to the consmithe voters to not have to worry about the underlying

narratives of Carter Hart's cons smith candidacy. Now we only have to worry about Brett Howden, who obviously has some ties with the hockey. 14 goals. I mean, I think Marner wins the Conchance and a walk if they end up winning the cup, obviously. But, I mean, to your point, yeah. I mean, it's been an unbelievably offensive series. I think I saw the stat last night. Fourth most goals scored in the first four games of a Stanley Cup final ever.

The Carter Hart thing is really intriguing, though, because, like, Rod Brenda Moore is having to answer questions about his goal ending every other question for the last four days. Yeah. I don't think John Totorell has gotten asked about Carter Hart. And maybe that's just the assumption that he's never going to replace him because he's Carter Hart's guy going back to their days in Philly. Or because, like, what is Aden Hill really going to give them when Carter Hart has been their guy for the last three months?

Like, I don't know why those questions aren't being asked of the Golden Knights because Carter Hart's been dog shit this series. Like, let's be honest. For all of the times in which Freddie Anderson has been shaky and you're like, ah, his numbers the last two rounds have been very good. Like some of the chances he's given up goals on are like grade A high danger. And you couldn't really fault him for that. I think Hart obviously had some struggles last night.

But, you know, stall scores on a rebound. You know, the Stankovins shots probably one that's high danger, but that, you know, Carter Hart should probably have. The stall goal, the game winner, obviously it's completely funky in several different ways that we can talk about. But it's still one that he maybe should get a glove on. I don't know. I think he's been as much a reason why the Vegas Golden Knights aren't up 3-1 in this series right now.

And I'm really surprised there isn't more scrutiny about their goaltending. And maybe it's just the idea that it doesn't matter. He's not getting replaced. There's a lot on that stall goal. First of all, great effort by Jordan Stahl and two goals in the game. And he scored in every single game so far on the Stanley Cup final, et cetera, et cetera, 17 years in between cops and all of that stuff. So the one area where Vegas early. in this series destroyed the Carolina hurricane, specifically in game one, was pucks along the boards.

And that is where it all broke down for Vegas around Carter Hart on that Jordan Stahl goal. Right? Like in game one, Vegas comes out with that puck around the boards. Like you go back to game one. Every single play along the wall, Vegas gets it. Vegas gets it. They win the battle. It's their puck.

They're fishing it out. They're bullying through like all of it. They win everything on the boards. not that one. It gets to Jordan Stahl. It's a remarkable play by him. It's one of those goals we're going to watch for years. And I love celebrations.

I love celebrations when you're lying on your stomach. And if you're watching us on YouTube here, actually we'll get to this in a second. So the puck is going to the boards. There's three guys, four guys on Seth Jarvis. And they don't come up with the puck along the boards. I love celebrations on the belly. I'm sorry.

I love belly celebrate. Always have. We don't see it very. often. Good on Jordan Stahl, not for getting up and selling, but for staying down to do the celebration. It's a tiny thing, but I'm a very trivial person. The thing I love about this goal, everything, it's such a, it's such a perfect microcosm of the Stanley Cup final. So many things broke down, but so many things broke right for Carolina. Seth Jarvis has a chance in front on Carter Hart that Brenda Moore last night is like he blew it. You can't believe he didn't score

on that chance in front of Carter Hart. But what does he do? doesn't quit on the play. Out works four golden nights in the corner to somehow get the puck to Eelers. By the way, didn't get an assist on that goal, which is kind of nuts. Eelers has a rolling puck. And he said to us last night in the locker room,

he wasn't even sure he was going to be able to get the pass off because the puck was rolling at that point. So he gets some wood on it. It goes to stall. Stall's now handcuffed because the pass is terrible. And so he then dives to his right. knocks the puck in with a stick, Carter Hart doesn't get a glove on it.

It is the perfect example of the just razor thin margins between success and failure in this series that everything looked terrible but broke right for Carolina on the game winning goal. And like Eiler said last night, he just laughed. Like his reaction to that goal was he was laughing. Because like, what do you do in that situation but laugh

when everything kind of goes the right way on a play that's completely broken? So this one's going to minimum six on Sunday, perhaps seven. We cross our fingers because who doesn't love a game seven. So I look at, again, because part of the conversation getting here is this Stanley Cup final

has been fantastic. Where do we place it amongst, you know, great Stanley Cup finals that we've seen before. Again, we can't ultimately judge because the series isn't done. 94 was incredible.

That was, I know as a devil's fan. My therapist told me that 94 never happened. 95? Was 95 better? No, 95 may have been the greatest Stanley Cup of all time. Brief, but memorable. Half a cup. So 94 was a great Stanley Cup final.

2011, even though the last game wasn't exactly great, getting there was drama-filled, obviously, and really gripping intrigue between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks. That was a great one. I'll always go back to Philly and Edmonton in 1987, which just had so much, including a JJ Daniel goal in game six that sent it to game seven where the spectrum had never. I don't know that we've heard an NHL arena that loud as we did in Philadelphia in game six for Daniel's goal.

But here we are four games in. And I'm saying to myself already this is a contender to be in the conversation with all of those great Stanley Cup finals, again, just that I've seen in my lifetime. I'm ready to start putting this Vegas Carolina series in there. What say you? I mean, we haven't talked this week about any of this. Game three was easily the best Stanley Cup final game I've ever covered.

Like it was a heavyweight fight. Yep. It had all the drama that you'd want with McNabb coming back and Freddie getting pulled. And like it had the, all the boxes were checked as far as the classic playoff game. Controversy. Yeah. And where the concussion spotters? Yeah, the four goals scored, the four goal rally.

This place, the fortress being out of its mind all night. I mean, it was easily the best Stanley Cup final game I ever covered. Nothing will touch 2011 as far as drama. That is, that was a soap opera. That was an entire season of a Bravo series. A city beyond comprehension. A city. burned, Luongo with the

I'm not going to pump his tires, Sadeen getting punched in the face by Marshan. There is nothing in my life that will ever come close to the drama and the nastiness and the contention of Vancouver and Boston. But as far as like gameplay, this is the best.

As far as there being enough meat on the bone storyline wise, this is great. I mean, whether it's the, you know, terribleness of the Carter Heart story the, you know, the Torrella taking over eight games left in the regular season. Brindamore and the team finally breaking through. Like all of, there's so many different storylines here that I think are really interesting.

But from a gameplay perspective, like, I mean, Jacob Slavin said this morning at his press conference, like, he's getting texts from people being like, this is the greatest hockey I've ever seen. And this guy played in the Olympics. This guy played in the Four Nations. It's, it's been fantastic. It's been beyond my comprehension how good this series could have been. and I already thought it was going to be a pretty good series. Three more games.

Let's get three more games in here. Not two. Let's get three more games in this. I don't know. I'd like to see my dog at some point. I understand that. Greg, at this point, he's cheering for seeing his dog. And as a dog guy myself, I can respect that.

The cheering and the press box thing is always a very interesting conversation to have, because I think people have misconceptions about what we cheer for. You cheer for sweeps so you can get home early. I know. Whoever wins the first game. Let's go. The first thing we cheer for is the story. Like, what is going to be the most interesting thing to chew on and dig our teeth into and write about?

And then the second thing is brevity. Like, just give us the shortest series possible with the most drama. So, I mean, listen, I will be quite honest with you. I missed laundry day. ESPN does a laundry day. for all the people that are on the road for the series. I am in the midst of sniff testing right now. Are you in the sniff test zone?

I think I have enough to get me through at least game five. Okay. Game six might have to be a little different story. Are you going college style and flipping everything inside out? Get another day out of it? Are you doing that bit yet? I definitely did it once. But I'm a carry-on guy.

I was talking to our friend Michael Russo, a mutual friend that's been on the show many times. Rousseau's luggage got lost because he carries, you know, like a... Cigars! He carries a humidor. That's what Mike Rousseau carries a humidor. But he also carries like a steamer trunk that you'd see on the Titanic. And me, I'm like shoving my entire life in a carry-on bag because I don't want to have that happen

and have my luggage get lost somewhere. So sniff tests and prayers right now for your boy. Cheer for your boy. Okay, we're going to change pace here. But before we get there, this segment is a presentation of Canadian Blood Services who invite you to experience what giving feels like. In a world that can feel isolating and divided, blood and plasma donation offers something rare and fulfilling, real connection, real purpose, real impact.

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Look at blood.ca through the Give Blood app or call 1-3-8 to donate. Okay, Greg Wischinsky, a couple of other big stories here. I want to park time to get to Dylan Larkin, but quickly the NHL will proceed with an investigation into Mike Babcock as a prelude. if he gets cleared to the Edmonton Oilers hiring him as a head coach. And yes, if they're doing an investigation and talking to players, a Vegas Golden Knight player could block the Oilers from hiring another coach. So I read about this last night.

The NHLPA is obviously compelling the NHL to do this investigation because the NHL didn't do an investigation back in 2020. I saw some reporting back a few years ago saying that they investigated him. They didn't. All they did was take the NHLPA's findings when Marty Walsh and Ron Hainsey met with the Blue Jackets players and then delivered to them to the Blue Jackets, which then led to Babcock's resignation. And what we've come to find out about that resignation, Merrick, is that it happens with the knowledge that an NHL investigation would be coming. There wasn't one because he resigned. and now we're back in the same spot.

If the Oilers want to press ahead and hire Mike Babcock as their head coach, there will have to be an investigation. So you start to wonder, will they go through with it? Is it worth it? How long is the investigation? You know, who will they have to talk to? These things aren't necessarily done on a team's timeline. And is it worth it?

The fact that this is a Darrell Kate's initiative to hire Babcock would probably tell you that the investigation will go forward and they're going to see this thing through. Side note, I do wonder what sort of influence our friend Bob Stauffer had on this one, considering how tight he is with Babcock. Just a side note there. In any particular sense? In the sense that I think he probably has the ear of some very important people in the Oilers

organization. You see, I would wonder about, because, listen, everything else aside, Mike Babcock turns Zach Hyman into a bona fide top end NHL player that's where I wonder about a lot of this either Zach Hyman agreeing to or helping to

initiate I don't know you don't buy it well I mean I assume that you have some intrinsic knowledge if you're sharing no I don't know this is all speculation knowing that all these players will have to sign off on it but I have a hard time to leave in bed if you pan in the room and go hey who do you think we should bring in here who's the

opposite of what we just had. If you're Zach Hyman, you're probably saying Mike Babcock. I think someone put a bug in Kate's his ear, and they're looking for a coach who's a hard ass with a Stanley Cup ring. The one that they wanted, they can't hire because Vegas won't let them. The other one, I guess they didn't want, and he ends up signing in L.A. When Lavillette, the list is very short as far as who those guys are. And then you go down the Babcock Road.

Now, the really interesting thing here, Merrick, is who, who, Who does the NHLPA work for? Players. It works for the players. I don't think the NHLPA is like being like, we've got to make sure that Mike Babcock doesn't coach again in this league. I don't think that's really top of the mind for Marty Walsh in 2026. So you start to wonder why they were activated in this situation.

And I've reported, and we know for a fact that Oilers players have reached out to the NHLPA about Babcock. Now, my reporting was that they wanted to make sure that there were no open investigations into the guy. They wanted to kind of see what the PA felt about him. But you do wonder if there's been communication between the entirety of the Oilers room and the NHLPA, all it takes is one guy to be like, we would be more comfortable if the NHL looked into this.

Something had to happen. This is my speculation. Something had to happen to get the NHL. HLPA involved in this way, in this matter. And I don't think it's simply because there was unfinished business from the Blue Jacket situation. I think it's probably somebody on the Oilers being like, we got to get a clean bill here from the NHL that we didn't get last time. That's speculation. Okay.

Part of what I wondered about, too, is this is, you know, the most, with all due respect to Sidney Crosby, the most powerful player in the league's team. this is Connor McDavid's team, Leon Dreisaitle's team. I wonder how much of a mitigating factor that is through all of this. From the Players Association point of view. I've heard, you know, from people at No, Connor that he's signed off on this. I agree. No, no, I've heard same. Yeah, and I assume that if he did, then Leon did.

But I think, I don't know if you got a chance to hear Mike Commodore's interview with Jason I think a record yesterday on his radio show. I thought Commodore made a really good point, which is that it truly doesn't matter. Well, no, no, no, no. It truly doesn't matter if McDavid signs off on it or if Leon signs off on it because those guys aren't going to be victimized by Mike Babcock. Oh, it's going to be down the lineup, yeah, yeah. The fifth to seventh defenseman, the equipment staff, you know, people around the arena.

Like Commodore's point was that those are the people that Mike Babcock bullies. And those are the people that are going to have to deal with. with this asshole being back in the league. It's not Connor and Leon. It's probably not Zach Hyman. And I thought that was a really important point. And by the way, to what I just said, why is this asshole going to be back in the league?

He had to resign before coaching a game for the Columbus Blue Jackets because of the tactics he used to invade the privacy of players. And that might be the tip of the iceberg as far as what he was doing. He bullied Johann Franzen. He did that bullshit with Marner in Toronto, where he shares the list of who hustles the most in the team with veteran players. I understand the craven desire for success in Edmonton because they are looking at a potential two-year window

before Connor McDavid is buying a house in the United States. But to bring Mike Babcock back into the league is insane. It's stupid. This guy should never be a head coach in the NHL again. And by the way, wouldn't be any way if people could wake up and understand that he's only a head coach for three reasons. J.S. Jagger in 2003, Nick Lindstrom for several years in Detroit,

and having the best team that Canada has ever put together in the Olympics twice. This guy's a fraud. He's won one playoff series since Nick Lindstrom retired. And we're going out of her way to have the NHL vet this guy before siding him in Edmonton to go out in the first round. What are we doing? None of this is wrong. None of this is wrong.

My point through all of this over the last 24 hours has been when the idea of an investigation came up, if it has to be like this, why are you making this choice? If there has to be something like this, that's a pretty good clue that this is the wrong choice to begin with. But dude, that's where you're wrong.

And the other thing, the other thing, further to further to your point, we could do the audit on the bio. And that's fine. We're all doing it. I think the point that you just made an even bigger one. We don't know if he could still do this.

He hasn't coached since what, 2019, 2019, I think? When Keith took over, yeah. So, but to your point, though, you know why they're doing this. Who's their GM? Stan. It's a guy who we all thought was going to be persona non-grada in this league. Who's coaching the ducks? Same deal.

Who's the goalie for Vegas? Same deal. anytime these teams get a chance to have what they perceive to be a competitive advantage, they don't give a damn about morality. They don't give a damn about reputation. They're going to go down those roads. And in Edwinton's case, it's desperation because, again, the guy they wanted is being held hostage by a division rival. And they've got to do something because they completely screwed up the timeline and turfed the guy that got them to the Stanley Cup final twice.

And now are flailing around doing all this stuff. By the way, there's also a 10% chance that the NHLPA is investigating this because Jay Woodcroft called them with a voice changer and to pretend it could be one of the evidence. I've thought about that. It's possible. Okay. Let's quickly hear before Justin Williams calls in here. Thoughts on Dylan Larkin and the three teams, the Florida Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Minnesota Wild. Where is the entry point on the conversation for you on this?

one because there are many here. To me, the overarching question for all of it is how, and this points right to Steve Eisenman, how did you let this relationship get this bad that it is now at this point? We saw a couple of times publicly these two,

you know, go back and forth with each other. How is it allowed to get to this point where one is demanding a trade? But where's the entry point on the conversation for you? All right. So like, I'll try to get as much as in before Justin comes on. Then we can maybe pick it up after we talked to one.

But like, first of all, I, not Shaden, Helene St. James is reporting because she's clearly knows more about

the Red Wings and has more sources within the organization than I do. I had heard some other teams than those three as far as. I had heard one, I had heard one different one.

But I, I had heard one different one. Um, and that was Utah. But again, Utah, I'm not, I'm not as, I'm not as close to it.

So, I did hear that there were three teams. I did hear there were three teams. And I heard the other Florida team. I heard Tampa. Tampa. Now that's not to say that either of us are right. It could also mean that those teams are maybe in pursuit of Dylan Larkin versus being on his list.

But the five teams that were dealing with both Florida teams, Utah, Minnesota, Minnesota obviously being the one we assume he wants to go to the most. You know, we'll see how it shakes out. but I'm Vegas obviously too with the Eichol connection in calling around a little bit on this I wonder ultimately how

heartbroken Steve Eisenman is to be in this situation because their relationship is extremely fractured from what I gather and I don't think that there's a lot of mutual respect there and I don't think that I listen how many general managers do you know what hold on how many general managers do you know we'll take it and not hold a grievance against a player who calls them out in a postseason press conference for not having done enough at the trade deadline.

I know what you're saying. It's like, oh, that's fine. That's a valid criticism. I think he thinks his captain is stupid for doing it. And I'm not sure if there's a lot of respect coming from management down to Larkin because quite frankly, he's the captain of a team that has missed the playoffs year after year. And maybe there needs to be a little bit of ownership of that on Larkin's point. part. That, to me, says failure as a general manager. Because when you rise to that position

in an organization, you have to understand you don't have to like someone to do business with them. And if you let your personal feelings come into it, if what you're saying is true and I have no reason to think otherwise, then you're not doing your job as a general manager. You do not have to like the players you do business with. But you have to be able to. do business with people you don't like. That is just the reality of the business. That's just the reality of the NHL. Justin Williams is standing by.

Mr. Game 7, three-time Stanley Cup champion. Consumpt trophy winner as well, Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes and twice with the Los Angeles Kings. Justin Williams, who's now the special advisor to the general manager of the Columbus or the Carolina Hurricanes rather joins us now. First of all, Justin, we've been trying to contextualize. And you are part of some great Stanley Cup finals as well. I know we're only four games in.

of the program here. Where do you put this one amongst, like, this Stanley Cup final, amongst the sort of collage of great Stanley Cup finals that you've either A, been part of, or B, seen? Because this has been a banger for four games. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's certainly the most interesting one that I've ever watched. And it's really doing its toll on my mental stability, to be quite honest.

I mean, it's stressful. I got a lot more ups and downs than I'm than being a fan than I ever did playing. So it was, it's been, it's been amazing. Listen, it's been absolutely amazing. It's, it's been two teams that obviously are, um, I have a lot of similarities, teams that are giving everything they got. You know, they see, they see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's, there's a maximum of three games left.

So everyone knows they can just pour everything they can into it, but it's been a banger so far. I agree. So anytime I, time I talk to anybody from any team that's involved in the Stanley Cup final, they always say the same thing. Everybody is telling me to enjoy it, but all I want to do is throw up. Non-stop as I'm watching this. Does that resonate with you, Justin Williams, as you watch. No, I mean, listen, I'm watching and I'm, you know, as an ex-player, you just, you want to be out on the ice, right? Yeah.

You kind of live it. You feel it through the athletes, right? They're actually on the ice. So, you know, I don't really want to. throw up, but I am really enjoying it and I'm, you know, enjoying watching the guys go through this ride together. And that's the most, that's one of the most fun things about doing this, about going long in playoffs, is the bonds that you create with these guys going through battle, day in and day out, showing up and relying on each other is, is one of the best things about hockey and about sports. And these two teams are doing it unbelievably. You know, Justin, I tried to get Merrick not to do the Mr. Game 7 thing.

I remember talking to you at the end of your playing career and you're just like, enough with it. No. I've had bad Game 7s too. If that were me, I would put that on business cards. I might get a tattoo on my forehead. I'm not sure. Like, I'm walking around. I'm Mr. Game 7.

Anyway, go ahead, Greg. Justin, Justin, tell us about Jordan's doll. I mean, I was so happy to see this guy get the spotlight for all of the things he does last night. I mean, I think we've all come to understand him as being one of the best defensive centers we've had in the league in like the last 20 years. But it just seems like now we're getting to see what the boys in the locker room see, which is him doing all the things that you need to do as a captain to win. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to, I hope you don't mind. I'm going to tut his horn pretty good right now. I mean, he's been here in Carolina

I threw some down times. And he has always just, you know, resonated and, you know, respected the Carolina Hurricanes organization, you know, from top to bottom. And right now what he's doing is he's willing people into the fight with him. And obviously, guys on our team don't need any help, but you need a leader who's going to lead the way. and he's going to give boys let's go um you know we're doing everything we can we're not taking one shift off and um you know he's scoring goals right now which is great um obviously great for our team but um

the things that he does away from the puck he's paying over 18 minutes a night he's playing against the top players on the other team every single time he gets out there you think he's going out there every time when there's an offensive zone face off no is a defensive zone face off he says all right I got this. And that's really hard to do sometimes. But he's probably our most valuable player. And he's showing why. And he's a guy when Rod Brindamore puts him out on the ice.

He's at ease. And the boys are following along right now because he's leaving away. Sticking with Jordan Stahl, do you remember what feels like a million years ago in game one against Ottawa when he fought Brady Kachuk? Did that surprise you at all? Yes, because he doesn't have many. fights, but did he surprise me that, that, you know, when someone calls him out, he doesn't answer

the bell, no. You know, Brady said, hey, let's do this. You could see him in the opening face off there, and Jordan said, all right, let's do this. You know, he's not going to back down. This is, this is game one of the playoffs, and, you know, someone's coming into your arena saying, I want a piece of you right now. And he said, all right, let's go. And I really think that was a super springboard to the way that we're playing right now as a team. Everyone has each other's back, you know, the good thing about this playoffs or this finals, too, you don't see a lot of the crap after whistles, right? You see a lot of whistle to whistle playing, a lot of hard nose playing, a lot of good hits, a lot of physicality, but you don't see the extra cheap shot stuff that,

you know, you might come to see in some other series that I've watched here. So I think that's, that really tells the players that they want to, they don't want to put them, their teams in a bad situation. And teams are playing whistle to whistle, and teams are back. You're other. Justin, I've been fascinated by the dynamic behind the scenes with the hurricanes where you have Eric Tolski, a guy who came to that job in a very sort of non-traditional way as GM. And then you have Rod Brindamore who, if challenged, could probably bench presses asamboni, I think.

And you have two guys that couldn't be more different and yet the relationship seems to have really worked behind the scenes. What's been your observation of Tulski and Brindamore? Well, I think one of the best things about our organization. is, you know, nobody takes themselves too seriously. And what I mean by that is there's not one person that says, you're absolutely wrong, you don't know what you're talking about, even though it might be a different idea.

And everyone's confident in the way we feel a team that should be built, confident in what we need as a team on the ice. But at the same time, you're able to, you know, you're not too proud to listen to what other people's opinions are. And that's really what our organization is about. And obviously, you know, Tulski and Tom Dunden and Rod, those are the top three-head hot shows boys that, you know, that make really the end decisions.

But, you know, together, they're able to work together and figure out what the best team going on the ice forward. And, you know, they're not too prevalent. to say you're wrong and the other people aren't too proud to say okay tell me why and i think that's that's a really good part um of how our dynamic is and tulski's done an unbelievable job of of of you know fitting into um the hockey um dynamic um from from what his background he's done an unbelievable job when you look at this uh team and i don't know whether this is a matter of like recruiting players that fit the way that rod brindamore wants to coach it is probably part of it

but what is it that allows, you know, Logan Stancoven to come from Dallas and improve in Carolina? What allows Taylor Hall to come from Chicago and improve? We haven't seen Taylor Hall play like this since the New Jersey and the Con, and when he won the Hart Trophy, to come to Carolina and improve. Candre Miller to come from the New York Rangers and improve. Walker comes in.

He improves. What's the secret sauce? Like players that go to the Carolina Hurricanes. hurricanes get better. That is a fact. Is it that they recruit a very specific type of player or is there something else? Well, I think a lot of the, a lot of the stuff you're probably talking about is, is culture related and leadership related.

Players that come to our dressing room, our leadership makes them fall in line. And what all players want to do is they just want to, they want to carve out a role. They want to feel like this is their responsibility. You know, they want to feel like part of something. And that's what a team is all about. You just want to, you don't want to feel like another recycled part that you're going to be in and out, right? You want to come here and feel like you're part of something. So guys like, you know, Logan Stankhoven, right?

He comes here in a trade. And, you know, we obviously thought the world of him before he came here. and, you know, we gave him an opportunity to have a big role, and he seized it. You know, Taylor Hall comes in, and, you know, did we think this line would be what it is right now? We never knew that, but we knew Taylor Hall is a great hockey player, and right now he's doing things that Taylor Hall, I didn't really see before. He is, he is mean out there. He's finishing checks. Yeah.

You know, he is in your face, and he's playing hard. And, you know, another guy who has just found a role here and wants to keep it. it and we all just want to be part of something. And, you know, I can go on and on down the list, as you said, Keondry Miller, the guys that come in, but it really stems from the leadership at the top. You know, Brendan Moore throwing the message down. And then the leaders, you know, Slavin, Aho, Saul, I know, Martin Nook, the guys are the letters.

And the guys, even without the letters, just it's a trickle-down effect that we've developed here. And we want to have it continue to develop over the years because we think we're set up for not only success this year. but many, many years to come. You won the consmithe in 2014. What do they give you when you win the consmithe? They give you a little replica, consmite trophy. And I actually tell you a funny story is I actually thought

I got like a big, like a sizable bonus for it. And I don't know what it was, but I was like, oh, wow, I get that money. That's unbelievable. So I bought like all the guys. like a nice, a nice gift. And then, whatever, three months later, I was like, man, I haven't gotten that check yet. It turns out you don't get anything.

There's no money. But I did get the guys a nice little gift. That's really funny. There's a great start, 1971, Chicago, Montreal. Last game, if Chicago won, Dennis Hall was going to get the cons, my, and if Montreal won it was going to be Ken Dryden and is the two-goal lead for Chicago going into the third period and Montreal has a comeback. Ken Dryden ends up winning it and steal.

They used to give out a car. And so the first game of the season, Chicago's playing in Montreal the next season. And Yvonne Cornwallace gets up to Dennis Holland and says, hey, Ken Dryden says your car's handling perfectly in the Montreal roads. He thanks you for the automobile. So once upon a time, like you did get a car.

I remember the All-Star game where they would give you a car. I don't know where that stopped. Oh, yeah. But somewhere along the line. the NHL stopped giving out cars. Well, in 2014, you didn't get anything in 2014, but you got a trophy,

and I am very, very proud of that one. But you got something to that Rod Brindamore always talks about too, and that is, you know, stacking memories. We're stacking memories, we're stacking memories, we're stacking memories. When you look back, like, we'll get off this year's Carolina Hurricanes here briefly,

when you look back at your career, like you stacked a lot of memories, and Stanley Cups and the Greg mentioned consmaid trophies. When you look back at the career, is it those moments of ultimate success that jump out for you or is it something else? I think obviously the moments of success, they come back to you, you know, right away. You know, they jog your memory. You see a picture. It just brings you back there right away, right?

But, you know, when people retire and obviously in my situation, too, you know, people celebrate the accomplishments, which is awesome. Okay. But people forget about, you know, all the days where, you know, things. weren't going so well. You might have been a healthy scratch one time. You had a list of injuries that you went through. The down times and the failures when you pick yourself up, dust yourself back up and get back and get back on it. That's the thing that I think, you know, I'm most truly proud of is, you know, playing well almost until I was 40 years old, have the longevity and, you know, not quitting when it got tough.

Those are the types of things that I think I'm really proud of, you know, aside from the accomplishments that I was able to create as a player and as part of the team. It's awesome. Yeah, and speaking to longevity, two of your guys from those Kings teams called the quits this year, Anjikot-Patar and Jonathan Quick, and I was wondering your thoughts on both of their legacies as they leave the NHL in the same season. Yeah, I mean, I can't say

I mean, I can't say enough good things about that. I mean, those were, those were, you know, I was there for seven and a half years and we had some great teams there and, you know, we won two championships which I'm clearly proud of. I think we may have left one or two out there, more opportunities

out there. But you know, Copee and Quicky were just gamers. They were absolute gamers, but they were great guys and and there's guys that that you want on your team and you know who are going to show up when they go and gets tough and you look around the dressing room you'd be like all right i don't have to worry about that guy or that guy or that guy and we had a bunch of them in the dressing room there but those two especially were like all right they're going to bring it they're not just going to bring

average they're going to bring great and they're going to demand it from everybody else too so seeing them shove off into the into the sunset it'll be hard for them i know that you're going miss it but but they shouldn't have any regrets with how their season went, how their career went, because they got a lot of, as you say, you know, good, good memories to look back on as well. The only guy left there, Drew Dowdy. Yes. Yeah.

Drew Dowdy. Okay, so let me, listen, you know, Drew, you played with the shoot. Do you think that he maybe just goes on like evergreen deals one, one, one, one, or do you think at the end of this one, because he just seems like someone that just loves to play hockey at the end of it, guy's a hockey player. And as long as someone's going to pay him to play hockey, he's going to play hockey. What do you see with Doughty in the next couple of years as the contract winds down? Well, he's a guy that wants to win, too.

Yeah. You know, they haven't, I mean, everybody wants to win. That's a kind of a stupid thing to say. But everybody wants to win. But, I mean, this, you know, he's tasted his success at an early age. And then the last, you know, 10, 12 years, you know, I wasn't won a playoff series. So I know that's weighing on him a little bit. He does seem like a guy who's going to want to play forever.

He just has such a joy when he's on the ice of playing. He's got an infectious personality and a guy you just want to be around all the time. So I see him playing a lot, but I see him really wanting to get himself back into the fun time of here, which is right now. And he's played some, obviously, some Olympics, some World Cup. Or is he a world cop. So, I mean, that's, that's fun stuff for him. But the other day, we want that big silver jug.

That dude, that dude has 43 years old on the third pairing on the Florida Panthers written all over him, man. Like, that is, that is the Drew Dowdy exit plan right there, that guy. They always have that guy on those cup teams in Florida. I think he could be that guy for them at some point. No, not Florida. not Florida Florida is fine. Florida's good enough. Florida is good enough. Sorry, that's right. We don't need them in the east. We'll keep him in the west. Florida's good enough. Let me actually last one for me, Justin, I'm glad we sort of kind of sideways, got to the Florida Panthers here.

I kind of look at what happened with Carolina against the Florida Panthers to sort of be instructive. And there was like a lot of little data points in there for your Carolina hurricanes. Because like they just went in there and tried to like run you guys out of the building and like physically and just, I remember. Kachuk all over Ahio. And then Carolina this year, it was like, and maybe it just started with Jordan Stalls, who mentioned off the beginning of this conversation fighting Brady Kachuk. But it was like, all of a sudden, Carolina, after that Florida series last year was like, no more.

That's not going to happen to us. And we are going to be the ones initiating. And the Ottawa series, Walker, Hall, and it went all the way through the playoffs right up now against the Vegas Golden Knights. Was that series against the Panthers as in? instructional as it seems to be right now. What I'm getting at is this team got tougher after the Florida series last year. I think you certainly learn from your experiences, good or bad.

You assess what went wrong, what you could have done better. And I think it's a relatively fair point to say we might have been bullied a little bit by Florida teams. I said they try to do. They got great players. They like to play a certain way. But I do feel this year, you know, regardless of them being in the playoffs or not, we have a big backbone this year.

And we have a bunch of guys sticking up for each other. And if stuff goes wrong and if stuff goes awry and someone needs to step up, we got plenty of guys to do that. We picked up Nick Deloree at the trade deadline. I know he hasn't played that much, but it's just super nice to have a big brother. And someone behind you saying, all right, if stuff gets out of whack, I'm here for you.

And we have a big team. If you look at our list, we've got a big team. And we've got a lot of pushback this year, and it's been super, super fun to see. Greg, last one to you. that's all I got man I was just thinking big team I mean

covering Jordan stall like you watch this guy and you're like how does anyone ever take him off the puck like he's just like a he's just like he's the strongest there man he's the strongest guy I've ever played with and that's that's saying a lot he is

he is a moose he is so strong and if we do end up pulling this out I think it would be an absolute shame if he doesn't get any Con Smyth consideration because it usually goes to the top score. Yes, I get it. I understand that every year.

But I mean, this guy, I mean, he's our most valuable player. And he's scoring goals now. And he's scoring big goals when it matters most. And he is taking guys, you know, with him along the way. And, you know, they're flying back now. They're on a plane right now on their way back here. And you've got a maximum of three games left. So both teams, I know we're going to give everything they got,

but it would be an absolute shame if we went in he doesn't at least get some goals for that. I think he threw his hat in the ring in a pretty big way in game four. But it was just funny hearing Tortorella talk about him last night. Just like, we've got to do a better job getting him out from in front of the crease. I'm like, how? Well, like, with a bulldozer? Like, what are you going to do? A crane?

You got a crane, you're going to pick him up, put him back on the bench? What are you going to do? Yeah, yeah. Once he establish his position, you're not. You're probably not moving them out of the... You're not. Listen, we'll let you get on with your day. Thanks for parking some time with us today.

Much appreciated. And best of luck to your hurricanes. Three more games left. It's a two out of three. I always catch myself saying, don't say enjoy it because everybody's nervous and it's hard to enjoy it. We're in the middle of it.

But as much as you can, having done it before, Justin Williams, enjoy the last two, maybe three games. My pleasure. Thanks, guys. You know, he brings up an interesting point. and that is it's neither good nor bad

styles of hockey we're just so used to seeing the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final that it does seem sort of shocking at how little violence there is in the Stanley Cup final this year right like we're used to the Panthers with like you get a chance to get it in a lick

like you take it and extra and you put salt vinegar and ketchup on it and you go for it but this series has been devoid of that. Now, the skill has been there, the intensity's been there, all of it has still been there. But the minute the whistle goes, like,

that's it. It's like both teams, like, their tough guy is their power play. It's been, it's been a lack of extracurricular nastiness. But it's been a heavy series from a check-in perspective. But it's not dirty.

I mean, both the, yeah, it's not dirty. Just both these teams like to check you into oblivion as far as like your D and stuff like that. That's kind of like what they both want to do. And again, you know, one of the things that we haven't talked about is the war of attrition. Like, Jack Eichol's been not very good this series. There is talk he's injured. Noah Hannifan, not very good this series.

Also didn't skate the other day. Talk of him being injured. Was it game one with the shoulder when he left? The shoulder, yeah, yeah. There's a few guys on both sides. You're just kind of like looking at him and being like, are they okay? The McNabb guy had something happened to him as well. I had a little bit.

By the way, speaking of, so Shea Theodore is great. And Shea Theodore is a guy who drives offense. I looked at the numbers on natural statric last night.

Do you realize when Slavin was on the ice with Shea Theodore, Carolina had a 17 to 1 shot attempt advantage. Like, how does that even happen? How does that happen with Shea Theodore on the ice?

Like, that was insane. I had to like double-check my numbers to make sure I wasn't looking at the wrong thing. They had a 17-to-1 shot attempt advantage when Slavin was. on the ice with Theodore last night. I was mind blown when I saw that stat. But one of the things that I find really interesting about this series, like one of the sort of like games within a game. Theodore is so good at the stretch pass. He's so good at it.

And a lot of those guys on Vegas are so good at it. And one of the reasons why that second period has tilted so far in their favor, nine to one, they're outscoring Carolina in the second period, is their ability to get those stretch passes and, and give those, and create those. And, and at odd man rushes, you know, on the Carolina goaltending. Taylor Hall said something very interesting the other day to me. He said, we're aware of it, and we almost have to kind of treat it like we're in the NFL. Like, we almost need to kind of, like, put in a nickel package in, like, the second period to try to defend against those long passes. And if you watch last night's game, there was only one that got through, and that was the one to Stone.

and somehow it got through three hurricanes that were back trying to defend against it. So it just ended up being a really good play. But I think Carolina has kind of decided we need to get a little bit more help back there on those passes because that's how Vegas loves to score the majority of their goals. So going back to my original point, the Carolina hurricanes have figured out the Vegas goal of the nights. Is that what you're saying? They're playing better.

They're figuring they're playing better hockey. Before we forget the, Larkin conversation. Yeah. The thing I find, first of all, I, I, there's a very good chance that he's the next Marner where he just like goes from a team that's sort of middling and then goes to a team that's really good and then just becomes like the reason they win a cup. He becomes a second line elite level player and he doesn't get like, doesn't have like the

toughs like the top guys do, but he just explodes. Absolutely. The two things I'm curious about are like what do they want for him? You know, like how much immediate help do they want for him? How much futures do they want for him? Because in the case of Utah, let's say Utah is part of this mix. And we know that they've been chasing a center. Like they could go either way.

Like they could give them, I don't know, Dersie and Nick Schmaltz, let's say, and a future for Larkin. Or they could go straight up, give them part of the treasure trove of prospects that they've got. I'm interested to see ultimately where Eisenman wants to go on a Larkin trade. Yeah. I wonder if this is the moment where Detroit does take a small step back. And if it is a team like Utah, it's like your Simasheves and your Danoyas and your T. Ginglinla's that you go fishing for. And maybe there's a Hayton that comes along with it for right now. But this is an opportunity for them to take a small step back for a huge lurch forward.

And they sort of recalibrate whose timeline they're going to do this on, which probably means inevitably maybe this is going to lead to like an Alex de Brinket deal too. Who knows? Yeah. But I just wonder if they alter the timeline. for the Red Wings because of this new reality. Well, and then the other thing, too, if you're Utah, let's say that they're in the mix here. Like, you've got to be sure that Larkin's the guy you want to spend that on.

I mean, there's a chance you might be spending on Austin Matthews in the near future. Like, you got to make sure that you are keeping your powder dry for the right guy. I wonder, I still do wonder about Dallas with Dylan Larkin. Like, it became really obvious how slow Dallas was when Rupa Hens was out of the lineup. up. Dylan Larkin and Rupahins 1-2 says a center punch. That's real nice. And you're insulated if Rupa Hins is out.

Like, Dallas is still going to go for it. Doesn't part of this just see? So there's one thing I'm intrigued by here, which is that this is one of the guys that's on a bad team that got a taste of what it's like to be on a championship team. Italy. Yeah. And I'm sure there's part of this that's driven Larkin to be like, I am so tired of not being in the playoffs. Like it is, it's not why I'm here.

I agree. And so I'm looking to now just like move on and I want to maybe play with my friend Jack Eichel or maybe play with my friend Quinn Hughes and and their teams make the playoffs all the time. I think there's a separation in the whole player empowerment movement between Larkin and some of the. other guys that have come up recently. Like I saw the Athletic wrote a story about like Quinn Hughes and Mitch

Marner and they threw Panarin in there and you know going back to Kachuk and the flames. All of those situations had free agency as a as a pressure point. Yeah. And the idea that those guys didn't want to resign long term and that's why they, you know, did the things that they did. Larkin's a different animal. And so I wonder like is this unique to Detroit and Larkin or is this now an interesting

phase where guys that have term are going to be like, and I'll just throw a name out there, and I hate to say it because I know that he's a beloved player and he just won the Norris trophy, but like, at what point does Zach Werenski be like, I just won a gold medal. I'm tired of being on the bubble my entire life in Columbus. Let's go to San Jose. Like at what point does that start happening for other guys if they're looking at Larkin being like, you can do that? So there is a pressure point. There is a pressure point here. And that is Detroit just saw Buffalo leap over them, just saw Montreal leap over them, and Ottawa leap over them, and the Florida Panthers are coming back into the mix right now.

So there is a pressure point because Iserman has to get better. And if this guy wants out, let's not lose sight that this is the captain. So it's not as if Iserman can say, you know what, you've only given us a couple of different teams here. I don't like the packages we're getting. You're going to come back and play. He's got to move this along. He's got to move him.

He's got it. There is a, there is a, normally, we're just used to free agent pressure points. This is not a free agent pressure point. This is Detroit needs to do something here because there is, despite common wisdom about, you know, whenever I check in on Detroit, it's always all, Chris is not Mike. Chris is not Mike. Chris Illich feels about C-Risim in a very specific way, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. There's only so long you can go without playoffs on this Eiser plan until fans are finally like, enough of this. You know, until paying customers.

start saying enough of this. Like there's only so long you can surf on, oh, well, it's Steve, so he'll always be fine because Mrs. Zillich and Chris Illich love him. There is a pressure point here. There is a pressure point. Do you think Iser, do you think Eisenman shared with Larkin that he'll have a chance to play with Quinn and Jack Hughes in 2030?

If you think he kept that under wraps. You're sending me to New Jersey? What? Probably not. Do you still think that's the ultimate play? Yeah, I do. You do it. I mean, like, geography, affinity for maybe the original six of it all, both those guys

hitting at the same time. You know, Detroit probably being in the position to spend as much money as possible on both of them. Yeah. Look, man, as a Devils fan, I'd love if Quinn was just like, I ain't signing in Minnesota. So I mean, to play with my brothers. They did it great. But the more I think about it, like, the more I think the, again, we talked, we had

person on the show. I asked him about it. I know. I know. You saw his answer. His answer was, oh, they talk about a lot of things. Oh, you know, boys are boys. That is a veteran agent who's keeping all options on the table always and not shutting anything down. I don't know nothing for sure. Like, I still think about Jack's speech when he came back from the Olympics and standing on the ice and doing something that as a doubles fan, I never heard any of my guys ever do, which is like,

just poor love over devil fandom and the franchise in a way that just like you never hear a star player ever do so like part of me is like maybe he'll just stay i don't know maybe and there's part of me that's just like or maybe him and his brother will be like the most feted free agent duo since salani and korea and they'll just go where they want to go i don't know dylan larkin for queen hughes who says no Minnesota and that's the way C. Reiseman gets his Quinn Hughes. Final thought on anything as you leave T-Mobile Arena?

Yeah, one thing, which is that I got to experience being here at the Fortress with somebody who had never been here before. My editor, Tim Kavanaugh. Oh, no way. Nice. I love so much. He came to game four. He's going to be at Game 5 in Raleigh. And he had never seen a game here yet. And for those in the audience that I've never seen a game here yet, and you've heard the hype of how.

It's different. Listen, man, I'm seeing my editor sit there with his eyes agape as he watches a woman representing the evils of Mother Nature and the hurricanes being hoisted to the ceiling on wires. Yes. She's fighting a knight and two drummers who are also on wires before the game. Right. It's, I've been coming to these games since they got here. I came to the first game in Vegas with our old friend Dave Lozo, in fact. No way.

Oh, Dave Lozo. Yeah. I loved him. We came here for their first night. Obviously, that game was much different because they were dealing with the aftermath of the shooting on the strip. Is that against Dallas? Was it a Dallas? It was against Arizona.

Oh, the first game was against Dallas in Dallas. The first game, yeah, the first game ever was against Dallas. First game at home was against Arizona. And like, I've been coming here forever and it really hasn't lost its luster. It's the only place in the league you're going to see a guy in a sparkly Mitch Martin jersey next to. next to a guy dressed as Elvis Presley banging on the glass. It really is a remarkable place to watch a game.

And I saw Batman was on the point, our pregame show on ESPN, kind of talking about like the people that doubted that Vegas would work and where are they now. And the league deserves credit. I didn't think it would work. I didn't think it would work. Bill Foley deserves credit.

And I think the one thing that maybe a lot of people were wrong on is they didn't need the tourists. Like there was enough people here that they made into hockey. You know, where you come to a game and it is all night's shit, man, like up and down, left and right. You know, there are some games where people travel. But most of the time, it is just like the locals have filled this place every night. And it's incredible to see.

So there was a place in Quebec. I think it still exists in Quebec City when the Nordiques were rocking, a place called um, uh, I guess he, Dagglebar. Okay. So it was a notorious. Like Dagaba? Like the place where Yoda lived and the Empire Blacks back?

D-A-G-O-B-A-R, Daigobar, a legendary place. And NHLers would go there. Okay, the night before they would play the Nordiques. And this was like debauchery Central in Quebec City. Okay? And they always considered it. They considered, it's called Shea Dago Bar. And they considered it their sixth player.

Or seventh, if you include the goal. Because guys would go there and they'd be weak need to play the next. day. I always thought from day one that Vegas would appeal to the schedule maker and book Sunday afternoon games for guys that fly in Saturday, go out and enjoy Vegas on a Saturday night and then have to play the next day, not at night, but in the afternoon. Let the city be your sixth player. To Vegas, it was real?

Sunday afternoon. The Vegas flu is real. It's the reason why teams stay at the Waldorf and at the Vidara because they don't have a casino in the in the place. I saw I did see one of the Carolina hurricanes walking around the Cosmo the other day, but it was like in the afternoon. Like glanced at him. He glanced at me. We didn't really talk. But like you just wonder like part part of the challenge of the series is the timing of it all.

Like we talked about at the start of the show Carolina getting in a very quick turnaround to game three. I think it did take them a couple of days. to get their equilibrium, but also just fighting the temptation. You're in Vegas. The food here is incredible. The fun here is incredible. But the other problem of it is that, you know, Vegas has you at some point.

And 11 o'clock at night turns into 1 a.m. turns into 3 a.m. Because there's no clocks and there's no clocks. And there's oxygen pumped in. Yeah. Why do I feel so awake? It happens to the best of us. It happens to the best of us.

And then you're on East Coast Times. Now you're waking up at 6 a.m. and your body feels like it needs to wake up but then you look at the clock and you're like the blackout curtains did nothing. I should be asleep right now. It's a really special place to play and a really special place to cover games

and all that jive and you know the knights are an inherently evil franchise. We all know that, but their fans can't be blamed for that. They're great hockey fans. They're great hockey fans and a lot of good people in that organization. I'm just glad that Gary Lawless is now the mayor of Vegas, I believe last time I checked.

I'm not sure, but every time that I talk to Gary Lawless, he knows everything about everything and where to go specifically in Vays. I love Gary Lawless. And his voice is in the cabs. I took a cab one day. His voice in the cab? Yeah, like one day. Oh, my God, I love that. The TV, they have the TV that plays the back of a cab and all of a sudden I hear just hear you get Gary Lawless's voice.

I'm just like, what the hell is happening here? Oh, my God, I love that. Oh, you've come a long way from Peterborough, young man. you've come a long way from Peterborough. Okay, you'd be good to Raleigh safe, and hopefully you don't see your dog for a while, as horrible as that sounds, but I do want to see seven games here on this one.

And you're back tomorrow. We will, we're back tomorrow, right? Right in the thick of it tomorrow, probably after morning skates and such. And we will preview an extremely quick turnaround game five in this series. Mm-hmm. More goals to come, probably. Probably. All right, we'll see. All right, you'll be good.

To Raleigh, safe. Take care. There is Greg Wischinsky from ESPN at ESPN.com. So thanks to Greg for stopping by. We've got a lot to get to here on the program, including this, the segment of presentation of the Ninja Crispy Pro Countertop Glass Air Friar. Get faster, crisper results at home or on the go with legendary Ninja Air Frying Power. Prep, cook, serve, and store in non-toxic clean crisp glassware. Get more out of your air fryer with the Ninja Krispy collection. Shark Ninja is elevating the airfire experience.

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Max Crisp, Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Re-Crisp, and Dehydrate. For more information on the Ninja Crispy Pro, visit the link in our description or go to shark ninja.ca. Question for you, Zach, and this was the QOD. Okay? do do do as I find this sucker do you believe as I do that the NHL should have the Stanley Cup visible in the arena at every Stanley Cup final game.

Now, I know I'm ripping this off from WWE with the big WrestleMania banner and after matches wrestlers will point at the banner drawing the heat to WrestleMania, the big blow off of all the storylines of the year. But I like the idea of player scoring goals and pointing at the Stanley Cup. But even more so, I like, like, come on, like, dude, Jordan Stahl scores that goal. He's lying on his stomach and he points up to the cup.

The camera goes to the cup and back to Jordan Stahl. It's a great visual. It's great for cutaways. It's awesome. Transitions to commercial, all these things. I like the idea. Okay, man, I say a lot of stupid shit. And here goes another one.

I like the idea of seeing the Stanley Cup watching the game. game. It's like the cup is there sat somewhere in the stands. And I don't know if you have, you know, Phil Pritchard sitting there for all the games, but some representative from the Hall of Fame sitting with the Stanley Cup as the Stanley Cup presides over all at least four, maybe seven, games of the Stanley Cup final. It gets a little sort of premium placement in the arena somewhere where you see the cup watching the game. What do you think? I'm with you.

I like it. I would, I have this vision in my head of it being like the scoboda or whatever those cars are when they play in any of the national tournaments over in Switzerland, Sweden, and the Nordic countries, the Scandinavian countries. You know, when they put them in the corner on display,

that's what I'm picturing this as. You got like the plexiglass around. The islanders used to have. that as well, I believe, too, right in the corner. Yes, they did. Yes, they did. I'm all for that. I love it.

At bare minimum, though, Jeff, I think, and here I go, creating a stink over something that really doesn't matter. But I think they got to bring back the on-ice Stanley Cup playoffs or Stanley Cup finals, Prince. I don't know how else to put it. Prince painting that they used to have on the ice. Yeah, I like that too. Yeah.

The NBA brought it back this year. It's been about 12 years since. they've had it on center court where they have the Larry O'Brien trophy underneath the team, the home team's logo. And it looks amazing. Like it feels, it does feel different when you turn on the TV and you watch the NBA final and you see the Larry O'Brien at center court. I, it's missing in the Stanley Cup playoff. It's really inconsequential because the hockey has been unbelievable.

Like I'm thoroughly enjoying myself every night, but throw in a Stanley Cup final graphic on the ice with the Stanley Cup there where it's visible every time I'm at least watching in the course of play. I think that's step one. And then the grand finale is, as you said, you know, Jordan Stahl laying on the ice, pounding the ice. It's four, three, Carolina cut away to the Stanley Cup in the corner, glistening with the Vegas lights. I'm in. I'm sold. I thought you would push back on this. I thought you don't know.

Because a lot of, through the side of the QID and a lot of people sort of push back on this. I understand it. Like, it's hockey. And if you move an inch to the left or an inch of the right, everybody goes crazy. It's what you're playing for. That's what you're playing for. Keep this thing hidden in a box. And we see Phil Pritchard with the white gloves and they're, oh, here it comes.

Is it going to get out of the case? Oh, no, they've scored. It goes back and back to the hotel. No, like, bring it out there. It's what you're playing for. Make it visible nonstop. I will push back on like the players are going to point. Not because I think that shouldn't happen.

Someone will. Someone will. No. Who is going to do that? It's not Jordan Stahl. Like these guys, there's a generation of hockey player that will never, ever, ever do it. There's probably some that are just too scared to do it, but we'll think about it. it would have to be like

Trevor Zegris Trevor Zegris is the one who points at the Stanley Cup Jack Hughes I'm trying to think about anybody else Jack Hughes Yeah I But he's the guy that I could see

Being scared to do it It would have to be in the rush of the moment And then he would do it Zegaris I think there's no doubt in his mind I don't know I'm trying to think about who else fits into that McDavid is never doing it He's going coast to coast, scores the game time goal.

Nathan McKinn is never doing it. He's never doing it. Right. General Soreness in the chat says Marshawn would for sure. I could see Marshan doing it. Oh, I could see. Oh, that's a great one. Yeah, I could see Brad Marchand doing it.

Yeah. Yeah, I could see that. Game five, they're up, you know, three, one in the series. It's tied four, four, late in the third. Marshawn breakaway, sprung out of the box, scores, skates by the corner, points at the cup. I can see that, yeah. You know how guys, like when you're winning a game,

when you're winning a game and someone tries to get tough, you point to the scoreboard, how about that instead of that, you point to the Stanley Cup and your Brad Marcia and you're like with the rings? I don't know, point to the Stanley Cup. That's the one that you get worried about that. It comes back to bite you, though. You know, you score the going, go-ahead goal, and then all of a sudden the other guy's hoisting the Stanley Cup

because you've blown the lead. But you know what? I like the theatrics of it. And I am with you as far as put it on display. It's what you're playing for. Yes. Hey, hang it from the, hang it from the jumbotron,

center ice. We got a, we got, it looms above their head. We got a lot of, like, San Jose sharks, responses.

Or, like, yeah, like, make it like the Phantom of the Stanley Cup. Well, San Jose sharks, like down, rappelling down. Make it, like, the,

the, the, the phantom of the Stanley Cup, like, way up in the corner. shrouded by black curtains. I don't know. Whatever you want to. Play with it.

I'd rather be closer. Where's Stanley and hide it in different places in the rink every game? You get to try to find with the Stanley Cup. Nah, give it one specific place where you put the Stanley Cup. But look, like, it's the most beautiful trophy in all of sports.

Sorry every other sport. NHL's got it right. The most beautiful trophy. And they keep it locked up in a box to come out briefly. Yeah. No, I'm with you on this one. I like this idea. You know what's fun?

You know what's funny? Go back and look at old Stanley Cup victories. These should just come out and put it on a table. And then guys are like push it around on the table. Wait, what? Really? Yeah, man. And if you really want...

I remember an image of the table, but I don't remember these guys pushing it around. Yeah. And if you really want to see something fun, turn the audio up. Watch 1967, a very intoxicated president. President of the NHL, Clarence Campbell, try to stammer out a few words as he hands the Stanley Cup over the Toronto Maple Leafs. I've been drinking vodka and orange juice all day long.

Oh, I've got to hand out the cup. What's this microphone all about? And God, was he ever buckled? That's when you've brought up a few times here on the program. That's because you're a Maple Leafs fan. Yeah. Even the NHL president was hammered when he handed it out. I give this thing to George.

Okay, here you go, George. What a league. What a league. It's always been that way, man. It's NHL, bud. All right, it's the NHL season. We remind you again, and Fandul is your home for all the action on the ice.

From Blue Line to Batslip. We've got you covered all season. With unique promos, live offerings, and more features to let you play your game. Miss Puck drop, no sweat with the live same game parlay. You can build your bets up until the final buzzer. Download FanDuel Sportsbook today and play your game. Please play responsibly, 19 plus,

and physically low. in Ontario. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. What are you doing on an off day today, Mr. Cloner Rockets at? Well, this is not a conversation I thought we would be having in, I guess, really three consecutive seasons here now. Okay.

but it kind of seems like it's a valid one at this point Fanduel has put up a market for it so if you go over to Fandwell right now they have a Mitch Marner tab available and one of the options underneath the Mitch Marner tab Jeff Mitch Marner to win the Con Smythe and the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup could happen we just saw with Connor McDavid I know.

Normally it's goal tenders, but it has happened with players before. Oh yeah. I mean, I don't even know this is not good for a podcast, but I don't even like have words for what was going through my head

when I saw it is just because I was trying to think through the options and it kind of realizing Freddie gets taken out of the equation. He's off the table for Con Smyth. He's out. Unfortunately the way it is. Keandre Miller,

that was a guy that we talked about He's not having the best final. Taylor Hall's not really kept up what he had. Let me pause on that. Taylor Hall needs a Jordan Stahl moment. Like what Jordan Stahl did last night, Hall needs it in this series to get him. Because going into this series,

the Stanley Cup final, if Carolina won, I don't know about you, but I was on the Taylor Hall trained for Consumptite trophy of Carolina wins. He needs like a Jordan Stahl game. Yep. No, I agree. I think him or Stank over. if they, you know, like hypothetical, think about the situations that get you there.

Let's say game five, they win, they lose game six, and they go to game seven. If Taylor Hall or Logan Stankovin has, you know, two goals in game five and scores the winner in game seven, I think it's one of them. If they win game five and game six and they have huge games, I think it's them. But again, we're sitting here talking about they need to have that game that they have not yet had to get it. The only guy, the only guy I put up there and you guys talked about it with Justin Williams or he brought it up, I guess, essentially, is Jordan Stahl.

And I wonder about recency bias. I wonder about narrative. And I wonder about just kind of the idea of, you know, the final piece of the puzzle for Jordan Stahl, Captain of the Carolina Hurricanes wins the Stanley Cup. He's the catalyst in a couple of these games where they've been trailing or to get them over the hump like last night, scores the go-ahead goal. And now you get the Kahn Smyth because you've been unbelievable and here's the story. So can I add another one for our friends at Fanduel?

Yeah. Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. Mitch Marner wins the Konsmite trophy but doesn't come out to accept it. Alar Connor McCabe. I will say that I will say that I think based on Actually I'll just

No Continue He'll go and get it Yeah I think he goes and gets it And I think he looks at The old Maple Leaf Gardens on it And he gives it a stare and a rub on top

Like a genie bottle And gives it a kiss and says thank you Toronto. I think one of the questions when McDavid wouldn't accept it if it was on the road, if it were in Edmonton, would he have gone out to get it?

I still think no. I still think no too, but there are your fans there. I think one of the questions should have been, did they let Connor take it with his own two hands, or did they just let him look at it

in fear of him throwing it across the room through the wall? Maybe. You may have a good point there. Okay, as we wrap things up here, the finals are on, as we all know, the Nation Network all over it. Every game, every storyline, man, there's been a few. Every big moment from pregame breakdowns, the post-game reactions to exclusive interviews, expert analysis, and the conversations driving the hockey world, the Nation Network, and daily face-off, delivering wall-to-wall coverage throughout the finals.

This is hockey's biggest stage, and we're bringing you closer to the action every day. Like, follow, and subscribe the Daily Faceoff YouTube. That's right here. And socials as well to stay connected to the final from the first puck drop to the last. As we give you the last word on this one. Anything from the show today, either with me and Wish or Justin Williams, that jumps out at you from today's show. No.

Well, yes, there's a lot. This is a great show today. But there is something I've been dying to say to you before we end up to the show today. What? You know how. this series is destined to end right you know what am I missing

how either a coach's challenge or a NHL initiated goal review this series will end 100% on some type of review there will be a referee who awards the Stanley Wes McCauley is handing out the Stanley Cup

living out a childhood dream perhaps yes there will be an official yes every night after review the Carl's on the Ice have won the Stanley Cup you know he's not just going to make the call

he's going to do the award Jordan Stahl come get your cup just like jump over Gary's getting Gary's way it's going to happen this series

I said to you yesterday I said it to yesterday at the end of the show you said what are you looking forward to and I said everything I said who's going to take a lead who's going to blow it happened.

Who's going to score and it's going to get called off. It happens. Who's going to get run? It was Carter Hart. He got run by Jackson Blake. Like everything is happening. That's how this series ends. Somebody's crashing the net.

A defenseman bumps him. Is it goalie interference? Is it not? We'll never know. That's how it's going to end. There is a referee. It's going to hand out the Stanley Cup. You're not wrong.

And then you know what they're going to say? Huh. We have a good goal and you're going to jump through the TV. We have a Stanley Cup goal. I'll put up with that. Yeah, okay. If you're Wes,

yeah, that's the one. I'll put up with we have a Stanley Cup goal. And that will be a highlight played for all time. And I think the only official that would freestyle that is West McColley. Yeah. If they say we have a good goal and that ends it and is the Stanley Cup winning goal, you are going to be in your deathbed yelling at the clouds

about that moment remembering that forever your boys are going to be like Dad it's okay just let this one go I'm going to have a headache so strong that my kids will have migraines my grandkids will have migraines

if I hear that we have a good goal no daggers that's how this is ending Or, or, team pours out and celebrates, hold on, review. Scraping confetti off the ice. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Coaches have already had a couple of quick. Put the red carpet away. Yeah. Phil, put it back in the case. Assistant coaches have already had a couple of quick tins on the bench. All right.

Here we go. Everyone's hugging and crying. Oh, wait a minute. Get back. Get back. Get back. Yeah, good happen. Yeah.

We'll see. Why not? Like, if it's going to happen any year, it's going to be this one because it's been awesome and bizarre. That's what I'm saying. It's been great. All right. Listen, thanks for listening. Thanks for watching.

If you've subscribed. Thank you. If you haven't, please consider doing so. We appreciate the attention in this economy of attention that we live in right now online. We're back tomorrow. Greg returns from ESPN and ESPN.com. So, more was Sinski, this time, from Raleigh. In the meantime, enjoy a night off Stanley Cup action.

We are resumed tomorrow. Eastern for the sheet. We'll talk to you then. Thanks to Justin Williams, we'll stop them by the show today. Talk to you tomorrow.