The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Deadline Eve ft. Mike Augello & Greg Wyshynski

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Trade Deadline Eve is here and it’s time for another edition of MVSW as Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski break down everything happening around the NHL ahead of the busiest day on the hockey calendar. The guys react to a busy night of trades across the league, including Mackenzie Weegar heading to the Utah Mammoth for three second-round picks, the Edmonton Oilers acquiring Jason Dickinson, Nick Blankenburg moving from the Nashville Predators to the Colorado Avalanche, and Nick Dowd landing with the Vegas Golden Knights. Jeff and Greg also dig into the latest rumblings around some of the biggest names still circulating in the rumor mill, including Colton Parayko, Jordan Binnington, and Robert Thomas, while taking a closer look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs might do with several players in the spotlight as the deadline approaches. Later in the show, Mike Augello joins to discuss the Buffalo Sabres after their very public pursuit of Parayko, what it says about the direction of the organization, and what moves could still be coming before the clock hits zero on deadline day. Don’t miss this full breakdown of the latest trades, rumors, and front office maneuvering from across the NHL as Trade Deadline Day approaches#NHL #NHLTradeDeadline #TradeDeadline #Hockey #JeffMarek #GregWyshynski #TheSheet #BuffaloSabres #TorontoMapleLeafs #VegasGoldenKnights #EdmontonOilers #ColoradoAvalanche #UtahMammoth #StLouisBlues #ColtonParayko #JordanBinnington #RobertThomas #MikeAugelloLeave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/caReach 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.

Okay, welcome to it. It is the eve of NHL trade deadline, 2026. And so far, it is the day of, and hello, Greg Wysh. It is the day of Knicks. And knows. So we got Nick Dowd getting moved. We got Nicholas Waugh getting moved. And we have a big no from Colton Pereko. This is going to be a large part of the program today. So let's get right into it. The blueprint is powered by Fanduel. Download the app today and play your game on Fanduel. Coming up on the show today, it is Thursday. that means Greg Wachinsky from ESPN and ESPN.com. We'll get into the very latest. It is the eve of deadline. Mike Gisela will join us. We'll talk a lot about the Buffalo Sabres. Why? Because Yarmouquet Kalan is expected to be busy and frisky.

And already he's heard no from a defenseman in St. Louis. We'll get into the Colton Perrako saga and maybe what to expect now from the Buffalo Sabres. Should mention, as you mentioned off air, Greg, I've been lured out of my basement to downtown Toronto where I used to apply my trade on a regular basis here at the the Better Collective Studios in downtown Toronto glad to be here and yes everything behind me is real yeah I guess you've got you've got the bricks behind you that remind me of some of our finest improv comedy clubs around the United States I can share my my best punch lines no you shower and I'll show her there you go Mike Stan signal spotlight to drink minimum

I think that's good. Yeah, thanks, pal. Okay, so the big news is a story that's not happening, and that is Colton Pareco of the St. Louis Blues has said no to a trade to the Buffalo Sabres. He would like to stay in St. Louis. Thank you very much. As Pat Maroon mentioned on Morning Cup of Hockey,

his girlfriend is from the family that owns IMO's pizza, the largest pizza chain in Missouri. So he is... So far, staying in St. Not just that, Merrick. The largest pizza chain in Missouri that also puts ProVal Pizza, a ProVal Cheese, rather, on their pizza. This is a very unique cheese, the St. Louis area. I remember our dear late-great Foley's in Midtown Manhattan, where you and I have signed baseballs in the wall.

That's no longer there. I love that place. You used to import Pro Bowl cheese to make their St. Louis-style pizzas on their appetizer menu. So again, there are a couple of ways to look at him saying no. The first is what a gigantic cock up by everybody involved to try to get a guy who spent an entire career in St. Louis is a beloved figure in St. Louis is involved in charities in St. Louis to figure this shit out on a road trip. To figure this shit out when he's on the West Coast, Merrick. What are we doing? What are we doing?

I do want to get into the issue of this sort of phenomenon right now of playing. players having their names out there associated with the trades. And listen, this is my side of the microphone, your side of the microphone as well. So I'm not going to criticize anybody for accurate reporting. But whether it's, you know, Tyler Myers or now Colton Pereco, the Uigher deal, he had him to sign off as well yesterday. I don't know if this is a deliberate strategy to sort of psychologically pressure players into waving. But nonetheless, I do want to get into that. But I always do wonder about players getting traded while the team's on a road trip. Patrick Bergland, a number of years ago, there was one trade

deadline with the blues. Again, the blues were on the road. And I remember talking to someone in St. Louis who said, like, you will not believe how much luggage Berglund has brought with him on the road trip figuring he's not going back to St. Louis. I think Berglund brought like three or four, like stuffed extra large suitcases on the road trip figuring he wasn't going back. I don't think he actually got traded that year, but did get traded the following season, nonetheless. My thought on this one is, and again, maybe I'm naive, but I assume that all contracts are entered into in good faith by both sides. I don't think anyone in St. Louis or anyone in Buffalo should have any misgivings about

Colton Perrako refusing to waive a no trade to go to the Buffalo Sabres. You know, he's going to be booed when he goes there. We'll see what happens with St. Louis fans do with Colton Pereko when he returns. But I have exactly zero issue with a player saying, I'm not going to do it. I want to stay here. This is important to me and my family. I get it 100%. This has become the diehard as a Christmas movie of the trade deadline.

I feel like we're, we all feel like we're putting on some sort of level of valor by declaring that no trade and no movement clauses are completely. valid and players should use that tool in their tool chest every chance they get because it was contractually negotiated. I think we could all agree that when a player kills a trade, it's okay because it cost him money to get that into his contract. So yes, I understand what you're saying. I think this does damage to Buffalo. Like there are definitely more St. Louis centric reasons why Colton Perrako decided not to sign off on a trade to Buffalo. Like they blindsided him with this. He is a lifer in St. Louis. As I mentioned before, he's got deep roots in that community. No different than any other player that's won a championship and been part of the leadership

group and everything else. I mean, my God, do you think back to all of the things that went on during that cup run? Like a lot of the more heartfelt moments were because of Colton Pereko. So I think in reality, there is more St. Louis to this decision than Buffalo to this decision. However, you are coming. off a situation where the previous general manager lamented the fact that people didn't want to come to Buffalo. Now, his reasoning was they didn't have no palm trees. I tend to believe that sometimes being a playoff team

can override the lack of palm trees around your arena. And the Buffalo Sabres are a playoff team. They're ensconced in second place in that division, and they're chasing down the lightning for first. If ever there was a time when you'd expect someone to be like, I'm in, I want to join the parade, you know, bring me to, bring me to Buffalo. It'd be now.

And someone said no. A prominent player said no. A guy that you put, it was out in the world that you had made a deal to acquire said no. Now, again, I think it's for St. I don't think it's Buffalo. Not on this one. But come on, man. It's a kick in the dick for that franchise.

It is. All the karma and all the vibes are so positive right now. And then you get a guy that you're making a deal for being like, No, I'm good. Ooh, that's not good. That's not where you want the vibes to be heading into a playoff race. I don't think that this is, honestly, I don't think that Pareco was the litmus test for it. For is, are, you know, are the Buffalo Sabres now a designation team or a desirable team for free agents or players deciding to waive or not waive their no trades?

Because this one has, to your point, not just roots outside of hockey in St. Louis, but this one, has a personal story attached to it as well. The question that I will have is, and we expect the Buffalo Sabres are going to make the playoffs, like, listen, I, there's a couple of things that want to get into, and we'll do this with Mike O'Gello coming up at the bottom of the hour when he joins us. I think that there are other things that the Buffalo Sabres are hoping to achieve here, but I don't think that Pareco is the litmus test on the Buffalo Sabres are a place where players want to go or not.

Buffalo is going to have its challenges. Just like, listen, the Winnipeg Jets have their challenges. The Montreal Canadians have their challenges as well. There are some markets that have certain challenges that other markets don't have. I don't think Perrako, though, is the canary in the coal mine on this one. I really don't. We'll see in the off season, like wherever Buffalo gets through this year, we're going to see in the off season how many players are, you know, Buffalo acts as a man. magnet for. I don't know the parakeo is the best example, though. I really don't.

What if what if he waves for someone else before Friday? Then you have problems, but I don't see him waiting for anybody. I'll just, no, but that's the thing. Like if all of a sudden, like he's waving to go to the Tampa Bay Lightning, then I think you say, okay, well, A, maybe Kevin Adams has a point, but B, then I think he's look at it and say, yeah, maybe there is an issue here. I just can't see him waving. Given his own personal situation and his roots in the St. Louis community. I don't know that I see Colton Farako doing that. I love Yarmo and I think he's the right guy for that gig and I think bold swings are what are synonymous with him as a general manager. But I mean, this was his first trade deadline as

the guy in Buffalo. And as of right now, the gigantic Cecil fielder to use a baseball reference from 20 years ago swing that he just took to not only acquire Colton Pereko, but Robert Thomas was Fielder-like in the sense that it didn't connect. And that's tough out. We got some time. Cessel Fielder put one out of Tiger Stadium, sir, I seem to recall. But he would always need the league in strikeouts, too. You remember that.

That was also a fact about Cessle Fielder. So this is a tough one if you're a Buffalo fan because you go into this. I forgot sakes, Merrick, they were chanting Robert Thomas at the game this week. Like you had a certain perception of how things were going to go at this deadline. They certainly had the asses. to try to pull it off. It became too rich with their blood. That's completely understandable. But you went big game hunting and you left with nothing to bring home. Here's what I wonder. If your theory is correct here and this is like this is a,

maybe not in a major key, but in a minor key, an indictment on the Buffalo Sabres and that organization and the idea of going there, does the fallback plan just turn in to give Alex talk whatever he wants? Eventually, I don't think there's any pressure. to pay him now and I don't think they're going to trade him and I think they're just going to keep them and then see how things play out um look I as I said there's the perception of this thing which is that they went after two guys and didn't land either of them and one of them flat out said no and then the reality of the thing which is that the price on robert thomas was astronomically high and colton perigo didn't want to leave st. Louis but it's still kind of just there's a reading of this

that's not very good for the sabers at a time when things have been very good for the savers And we could talk to Mike about that later. I'm sure I'll disagree with me, but that's kind of where I am on it. Let's get into that in the bottom of the hour. More Sabre Talk coming up at the bottom of the hour here on the program. Thank you so much for joining us. And everybody in the chat, a nod to you as well. It is a frisky time right now.

So Nick Dowd goes from the Washington Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights, just having a look here at my 2026 daily faceoff trade deadline tracker. It is like the last three trades, man, I've all had next. It's, you know, Blankenberg. It's Dow. and it's Nicholas Waugh as well. The Maple Leafs pick up a first round draft pick. That is conditional and a conditional fifth as well in 2026.

That is this draft. First of all, with the Capitals, is that then beginning to throw in the towel? That Utah loss was a tough one, coupled with the Boston Bruins win against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets win against the Nashville Predators. Things sort of conspired against the Caps. The Out of Town scoreboard wasn't favorable.

Is this the beginning of the Caps tearing down a little? bit here. The math ain't mathen for them right now. And the clock is obviously ticking in a very uncomfortable way down to what could be the last few games of Alex Ovechkin's career with the Washington Capitals. I'm kind of of the mind that's going to be the case. Although, again, it would not shock me if that announcement came after the season. And we all just kind of go into the last games under the assumption that it's the final time. We'll see Alex. But the thing about this Dowd trade, though, is that it's like just a good piece of business. I mean, the guy was there for eight years, and they signed him as a UFA, and they turn him

around and get two picks for a guy. I think that's probably more Chris Patrick, their GM, reading the market and seeing some of the insane prices being paid for bottom six forwards and thinking you could get something pretty good at a Dowd more so than them going. into full tear down. But that being said, I mean, like, you know, there's been some speculation about John Carlson moving. Obviously, he's a UFA probably won't be back after the season.

And we'll see how the rest of the week plays out. But I thought this was more maybe smart business selling what where the market takes to you kind of thing for the caps versus anything else. Does it not feel like Nick Dowd is the new Nicholas Waugh in Vegas here? And we'll get to Nick Waugh here in a couple of seconds. But like it's a very Cassidy-like player, right? Like I said, really responsible player, hardworking guy, some physicality. Like this one looks to Vegas.

Like, okay, so we lost Nick Wall last year in the Mitch Marne to trade. We all know why that happened. And now the replacement is Nick Dowd. Yeah. Feels like that to me. Do you? Sure. I mean, and, you know, I think Vegas has been very good with their skill guys this year,

but needed to build out its grunts a little bit better. And I think that Dowd certainly helps to satisfy that need. Yeah. Memory serves. Wasn't Dowd one of those guys that was always. sort of a trade deadline, darling, because of how much money he made commiserate to how he plays. And what's funny about that is I was thinking about that a lot today because of all the chitter-chatter around the leaves and Scott Lawton.

Like to me, Scott Lawton's value was always how much money he made against the cap. Wasn't that he was ever really a good player? I don't know. You could get him for a song, man. I listen, I love him as a player. I love him as a penalty killer. I don't know. I got a lot of time for Scott Lawton.

But yeah, what made him desirable too was the was a decimal point. Yeah, there's a lot of guys that I think fall into that. But I think Nick Dowd was always a guy who's, you know, I mean, like the affordability aspect kind of matched with how much you're going to get out of him. What are those, one of those true sort of like bargain, bargain beauties at the trade deadline. Yes, Jeff Merrick. Bargain beauties. I love it. Nicholas Waugh goes to the avalanche from the Maple Leafs.

The first and a fifth there. So the great sell-off for the Toronto Maple Leafs begins. Oliver Ekman-Larsen held out as well last night. and McMan, Bobby McMahon, gets held out as well. We all know what this is going. Sure, but where's all my tree living haters? Nick Laugh gets acquired from the leaves so the Vegas Golden Knights

can get an extra year at a martyrs contract basically, right? Wasn't that the deal? Yes. And then they flip them for a first? Come on. That's a nice one. There you go, baby. That is the tree, baby.

the trees grow and the trees in full bloom at the trade deadline pulling off that bit of wizardry. You wonder too now if he can do the same kind of wizardry with Oliver Ekman-Larsen, who's been their best defenseman, and Bobby McMahon, who, A, is very fast. And I do like that he shoots to score, doesn't just like loaf pucks on the net. one of the criticisms has always been, you know, passing in the offensive zone. I know we're nitpicking here. But if Brad Trillivin can pull off two more first round draft picks here for a couple of players, not exactly secret that this team needs to restock the shelves. I think he will have done a really good job setting up the leaves for Doug Armstrong.

I have no idea what whispers you're talking about that are very much out there and have been for quite some time now. Um, interesting. Jason Dickinson gets moved to the Edmonds. Stan Bowman goes out to grab a Chicago black hawk comma again. Colton Doc is well, Mangiopane and his contract leaves. And a first rounder is attached as a sweetener for Kyle Davidson. Your thoughts on this one? I got a lot of thoughts.

I want to first give a shout out to Jordan Schmaltz, insider extraordinaire on Twitter, who was doing a really funny bit in, which Stan Bowman was trying to trade for all of the old Blackhawks from their cup teams. He's like Ryan Bickle is waiting for his offer. Like, let's talk about the stand moment of it all. All right. So Drew Livingston on Twitter put out the traded and then added lists.

So the added was Spencer Stasney, Tristan Jari, Samuel Poulan, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Colton Dock. traded. A 2027 first round pick. Now, the important thing to remember about that, Merrick, of course, is that San Jose has Edmonton's 2026 first round pick and it is now unprotected. Unprotected. And Jake Walman trade because by trading the 2027 pick, the 26 pick becomes unprotected. And the reason he had to trade a 27 pick is because Stan Bowman signed a disastrous contract

with Andrew Mangiopani and had to make it disappear. 27 third round pick, 28 second round pick, 29 second round pick. Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and then of course, Manjiopani is well out the door. This is a... Connor McDavid gave you three years, and it wasn't for this. It wasn't for what's happening right now. Like, I like Dickinson. He's all right.

As many have pointed out, just simply playing against the toughest competition of the Blackclocks, doesn't mean you're actually doing a good job against them. But I like the way he plays. But the amount of... There's a finite amount of capital that this team has, Merrick, in order to try to build a winner around Connor this season and then the next two. And I don't think it's been managed very well so far by Stan Bowman. I look at this deal and to the point about Dickinson,

he plays like super hard minutes for the Chicago Blackhawks. I think that one of the things that we've been looking at all season long is if Edmonton is going to run this thing back and it is wide open in the Pacific, Like the path of the conference final is there for everybody, not just the Edminton Oilers. But if they're going to do it, one of the things you need to do is construct a third line. Jason Dickinson, Vasili Pod Colson, and then take your pick. And maybe the Oilers aren't even done yet. I've wondered about Evan Rodriguez.

And could that be a fit? Oh, yeah. With the Edmonds on that third line, then you look at that third line and say, hmm, now we've really. really got something here. I think that, I think that, you know, the work that Bowman did yesterday specifically sets that up. We'll see what happens for the remainder today and tomorrow, but they're on their way

to constructing a playoff deep third line in Edmondson. Have there been some mistakes? Or a third. Or absolutely. There's some mistakes. But here's the thing. I tend to believe Jason Dickinson's probably a 4-C on a good team, but maybe the Oilers aren't a good team.

team. That's just kind of how I say it. You know what? I like Josh Samanski there on the fourth line. Sure. I'm just saying they're playing Dickinson up one level more than I'd want to play him. I'd be comfortable playing him. I would look at, it's funny, I had a conversation with someone today about Samanski. You brought up a really good point. One that I've never heard describe a player.

And now I'm going to totally steal it with a lot of guys. He said, you know how players cheat for offense? Samansky cheats for defense. I mean, if you look at him, like, the minute the puck turns over, like he is in, he is in position. As an F free, this guy is, he is outstanding. You've avoided, you've avoided the thing I've pointed out. Do you think that Stan's had a good deadline? I am still waiting for one more big move out of Edmondson.

Okay. I am, I am still waiting. Like, I always, I always have a hard time. either praising or criticizing managers until you see like the full body even like during the season. I always have a hard time saying like this guy's blowing it because, you know, the test comes at deadline. Like at three at three o'clock, 301 tomorrow Eastern. That's like, okay, so your final, your final test has been written.

Like I always like to see like the full body of work until I say, yeah, it's been a good year for this man. or a bad year for this manager. I will say one thing. I know that he's being, and understandably so, ripped for the Mangapani contract. I get it. I understand it.

He also did make it go away, but there was a premium attached to it. I get that. It costs them a first round pick to make it go away. You know what? And now if something happens and they don't make the playoffs, then all of a sudden your pick that you gave up

to San Jose is looking pretty good. you don't think that in the Pacific division the odds the odds of the Oilers making it into the playoffs are pretty good wish like that division is awful I think they're pretty good

but you what you said before it did make me realize that there is there is a percentage chance that the Oilers could finish as the 1C as wild card one or if they don't like if something insane happens and they don't make it

then I don't know that we see anything than a bunch of firings at the end of the season. So I don't think necessarily you worry about that. Like, oh, we've just handed this to the San Jose Sharks, this unprotected first round pick now. Well, they're also not going to drop far enough down where the unprotected nature of the first round pick really matters. But, you know, it's just a weird bit of business.

And obviously it's only the business. he had to do because he signed a bad contract with the guy that he all of a sudden to get out, had to get off his cap in order to acquire a third line center. All right. Elsewhere. They ever thought of the McKinsey-Weager deal? I do. I do. Shoot.

So I think the, I like the gamble for the, for the, the, um, the mammoth. Because one, you're praying that it's, it's a change of scenery and partner that he needs. I mean, one assumes he's going to play with Siergev. They don't need those second rounders they sent to Calgary. Like, who cares? And they got Calgary, by virtue of sending them so many draft picks, to take Olimata off their cap. So the absorption of weaker salary doesn't hurt them as much.

Plus, he only has $2 million in guaranteed money beyond this season. So if things go sideways, you could buy them out. And then also his no trade flips to 10 teams after next season, which means you could also find a way to make him disappear if this thing doesn't work out. So, like, there's a lot of sort of like escape pods that the mammoth have set up in case this Uighur thing blows up in their face. Because there's certainly people out there that think that this season, and by the way, he's the worst plus minus player in the league.

I know we don't use plus minus as a be all and end all, but it's a good canary in a coal mine that think that he's washed. So if he is, there's ways to get around it. But more importantly for me, Merrick, like, you know the prospects. Like, the Utah prospect pool is the Mariana Trench. Like, they've got so many guys at every level, whether it's the HL, whether it's the Canadian Junior League, like, they are so stacked. And none of them were in this trade. None of them were in this.

They can still use them. They can still use them. And like listen, the Robert Thomas story is not done yet. Right? No. Robert Thomas story is still not done. I know the prices are incredibly high for Robert Thomas. But the Buffalo Sabres had those pieces.

They weren't going to pay them. They weren't going to pay that price. Seattle has those pieces. Utah has those pieces. The Montreal Canadians have those pieces. Are any of these teams going to give, Doug Armstrong, what he wants? Because it is super high-end prospect,

first-round pick, and roster player. And maybe two prospects as well. That is really high for Robert Thomas. Though, like the biggies. Like, if you're looking at the Buffalo Sabres, you're looking at like Heleneas and Murtka. Okay.

Is what you're looking at. Isaac Rosayan, these types of players. When you're looking at Utah, it's T.J. Ginla. It's Caleb Dane Y.A. It's Dimitjie Simashev, who's now been called up. Like, these are the nature of Jake O'Brien in Seattle. These types of Berkeley Caton, these types of prospects is what the St. Louis Blues are looking for. And rightfully so.

Like you're getting a first line center who's one of the premier playmakers in the NHL. It should be high. Again, like we just got done with one of the, with a guy that many people feel is the best defenseman of the NHL getting traded. And the package included the Minnesota Wiles, what, second line center and their best defensive prospect. And one of the, you know, better ones in the league. So when they went into this process with Robert Thomas, they were looking at the Quinn Hughes trade as maybe a proxy. And so we kind of all knew where the price was going to be. Yeah.

Yeah. I wanted to ask you, though, like, what roster player on Montreal do you think that they would want? What, like, what kind of guy on Montreal do you think they would want? Let me have a look at Montreal here, because I didn't hear. Because we know the prospect. Michael Hage. It's Michael H. Yeah, and Hage, I don't think, I don't think they want to give that up.

But I, I'm curious as to whether or not they have the kind of, like, high level young guy. Like, you know, like, you look at Boston, for example, who I think is going to be in the Robert Thomas thing. Like, you think of like a Mason-Leroy type. you know, that type of player that they could, that's got an HL experience or, you know, that they would want to throw into a deal. So I would wonder about, like for Buffalo, I wondered about Josh Norris. Like if that was, just because like you're trading a center, you want, you want to, you want to get a center.

Now, you look down the middle of Montreal Canadians and you're looking at Nick Suzuki, well, that's not going to happen. Oliver Capitinan, Philip the No, just came back. Jake Evans, maybe a Alex Newhook. Do they try to get Zach Boldock back after having moved him last year? Like, I don't necessarily know that Montreal has as much heft in this one as some of the other teams. But I don't think that the Montreal Canaanians are looking at this and saying, like, yeah, we're not interested in Robert Thomas. I just think Utah makes so much sense.

Like, like the connection with Bill Armstrong, having drafted a. in St. Louis, the fact that... But here's the thing. You know what you have in your center group right now, and I think Robert Thomas added to that group makes an elite in that conference. I know teams don't necessarily think like that anymore, and you just try to get the best possible deal, and maybe I'm just being too old school about this.

But if you're moving someone like Robert Thomas, like significant player, do you not try to do everything you can to move them to the other conference? Like, just don't live here and haunt us and remind everybody. I mean, is that too old school? I think the blues are a good number of years away from feeling haunted, if that makes sense. I don't disagree on that one. Do we have Mike standing by yet?

Or no, we're going to get Mike here coming up in a couple of moments. A couple of other things. What did you think of the Uighur deal, by the way? What did you think of the Uighur deal? man, I used to be a massive fan of McKenzie Weeger. I know he's had a couple of challenging seasons for the Calgary Flames. I think the biggest story still. Oh, and by the way, I continued to be impressed with Olimata,

because I remember there were times in Pittsburgh watching Olimata and saying like, he's having a hard time moving out there. Like, what's the future of Oli Mada? And he still is in the NHL and is desirable by a number of different teams. Unlike many, I'm just impressed that, you know, the Calgary Flames, you know, trade in McKenzie Weger and Utah didn't have to give up

any of the big boys. Any of the big prospects. I think that surrounded by better players, and this is going to sound like a knock in the Calgary Flames, and it is, I think surrounded by better players

and players that can finish because you mentioned, you know, the plus minus stat and plus minus is, you know, a lot about, you know, the finishing ability of all the players around you to say nothing of your goaltending

as a defender. I think McKenzie Uighur gets a bump in his career and it works out good for him. And not exactly a secret that Utah's wanted that player in that position for a long time.

Like I think you and I talked about this last year, you know, before, you know, Aaron Echblad resigned with the Florida Panthers. Didn't we all have Aaron Echblad playing for Utah?

Yeah. This year. Like, okay, you know what? Utah's got the cap space. They're going to pay them. Like they want, now, they're not getting.

that player in Utah now, but they're getting a really good defenseman, like a really good, solid, smart defenseman who's had a couple of challenging seasons with a team that's on the decline. Speaking of the Panthers, what do you think about Bob as we get close to Friday? I keep wondering about San Jose.

I really do. You're on that. I keep wondering about the mentorship and the want and the need. Ask her off in the cap space, and I'm not exactly sure what his ask was for an extension from the Florida Panthers, but obviously it's a place where the Florida Panthers didn't want to go. So I don't know, man.

That one just to me makes, makes too much sense. I could understand if a team like Montreal was interested, even though I think Edmonton's done with their goalie moves, I mean, everyone keeps talking about, you know, would Bob fit in Edmonton as well? I still think that if he's going anywhere here, it's going to it's going to be the san rosa sharks by the way speaking of florida they're playing columbus tonight yeah i don't what you're going to say is this for all the marbles for columbus

like they lose tonight everything's on the table tomorrow you're boon jeners your good bransons your marchments like charlie coils it is essentially what i'm saying is is this the season tonight for the columbus blue jackets lose and it's sell they keep all those guys i think they want to keep a lot of them anyway like i think they want to keep a lot of them anyway like i think they want to keep Charlie Coyle around, whether or not they, their playoff team this year or not. I thought you're going to say the real intrigue of tonight, which is that Teresoff starting for the Panthers on the eve of the trade deadline. Yep.

Now, he's obviously a former blue jacket, so there's a bit of that going on as far as like, you know, him playing his old mates. But it is kind of interesting that on the eve of the trade deadline with everybody whispering Bob's name into the wind, it's his backup that gets to start. Preservation. Preservation of an asset, Merrick? I don't know. Bubble wrapping Bob. Bubble wrap and Bob for this one tonight. Is that what you're saying? Teresov's also an unrestricted free agent. Man, I remember going into his draft how highly thought of he was. Anyway, okay, so let's get back to the Buffalo Sabres here. He is the Buffalo Sabres co-editor for the hockey news. He is Micahello, and he joins us now to talk about Colton Pereco and Prospects and Robert Thomas and all other things, Buffalo, with a great library of hockey.

in military books behind him. He's in a room indoors with a bunch of books behind him. Not a palm tree in sight, Merrick. This is the problem. This is why people keep saying no. But he's paying high taxes. But he's paying high taxes.

You always steal my jokes. I was saying I just came back from working for the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce to plant palm trees all along. There you go. You know, I heard those, you could get a lot of money out of those things like Kauai Leonard did.

So please do, easy look into it. We were talking before he came on about, and I don't think that this one is a sort of indictment on, oh, he's not going to wave to go to Buffalo. It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a buffalo issue. The bigger pull is he's got, we're talking about Colton Pareco here, obviously, he's got the deep roots in, in St. Louis to say nothing of his partner, who's part of a significant pizza family in Missouri. Yeah, I mean, he took six and a half million over eight years for a reason, and he got the no trade clause for a reason.

So him using that clause in his contract is completely understandable. But, you know, you would think that Yarmal Kekaline and knowing the history of the Sabres and knowing the problems of bringing players to Buffalo would sort of smell that out and find out whether Pareko was willing to come to Buffalo. Otherwise, now I think it's a black eye. I mean, it's not on Pareco to be pressured to come to Buffalo, but I think it's on the general manager to find out whether he would come to Buffalo. And if he wouldn't, then you don't go down the road of actually, you know, making the trade pending his approval. I don't care if it got out there or didn't get out there. You needed to do some due diligence and find out whether Pareko was willing to come to Buffalo or not. So, but like overall, the fact that you have a general manager that is willing to take the kind of swing.

that he took to try to get Robert Thomas, try to get Perico. I agree with you. I think this is a bad look for the Sabres, whether or not it's the reality of the situation or not. But like, is there a certain amount of, oh, this is refreshing when you see Yarmo take that kind of swing considering where the team is in the standings? Yeah, I mean, it's a complete change from what's been going on most of the last 14 years. Usually they're sellers, although, you know, under Kevin Adams, they never took on salary.

They never retained salary and deals. Those were things that they could do. It's refreshing that Yarmou, you know, we know his history in Columbus. He likes to take big swings. He's bold. You know, he's clearly doing what he did with Vobrovsky and Panarin in Columbus with Alex Tuck. Alex Tuck is not signing here.

I would be dumbfounded if he does. They're not going to, you know, all the reports are they're not going to offer him anywhere close to what Kempay got in L'A. got in Los Angeles and that's the amount that the Bartlets apparently are still looking for. But right now they don't want to mess with the team chemistry and they're going to keep him as an own rental like he kept Bobrovsky and Panarin. I think it was 2019 that that happened. So that's good. And he's trying to add to this team who has been the hottest team in the NHL since the middle of December. But I find it curious that he is going down the road of adding in

two areas where he's loaded already. He's got plenty of centers. He's got plenty of defensemen. You've got Samuelson having a career year. Power, Byram, and Dahlene. They're all lefties. So I understand the want to get a right shot defenseman. But he's loaded with centers.

So why are you going after Robert Thomas? The thing that the one criticism that I've heard around the NHL or the vibe around the NHL about the Buffalo Sabres is too small. And I think like that's that's an area that Kekyllian is looking at and saying like, you know what? We need. We need size here. Like you look at whether it's a Buffalo Sabres or even go look at, you know, the Rochester Americas. And I think this is one of the reasons why they drafted Radam Murdka in the first place last year is he's big.

Right. Like I think the mandate now for the Buffalo Sabers is there's enough smallish skilled players that we have here. I think if your Yarmalikikilana is probably thinking, we need to get bigger. Like that that's the issue with the savers. And the other one, if I can throw one more in, if they're going to have any kind of playoff run, I don't know that they're deep enough to absorb more than maybe one, maybe two injuries. Like after that, then their lack of depth really shows up. It's sized and snarl.

I mean, when Peyton Krebs is one of your tough guys. And that's really, you know, Peyton Cribb, You know, Jason Zucker doesn't get pushed around. You know, Tage Thompson had to drop gloves. I mean, they don't really have a lot of tough players. So, yeah, I could see them wanting to, you know, get a little bigger, get a little snarlier. But does Robert Thomas answer that question? No, he's a skill player.

He's one of the best playmakers in the league. You know, Peraco is a big right-handed defenseman. He's not overly physical. So, I mean, again, I don't know where those two potential additions, really addressed that issue. But yeah, you're right. I mean, Benson's small, Heleneas is small, Ossland is small.

Mertka's a right shot, but he's probably not going to make the NHL for at least three years. So I understand trading him and a pick to get help now because you want to build on this momentum. I just didn't know, you know, 32-year-old right-shot defenseman who's going to probably play on your bottom pairing, I think you could have targeted somebody that was a better fit to the Sabres and Colton Peraco.

Having said that, if they did, let me just jump in on. I think you play second pairing, don't you? I think you play second pairing too. But here's the thing that I wonder about. If the Pareco deal had gone through, do they make a move with one of those defensemen that you just mentioned who's already in the lineup? Does that mean that one of those D goes?

Eventually. I think that I think they want to re-sign Byram because they like the way Byram plays, but Byron's got another year of his contract, and we know who his agent is. And we know how tough it is. When that guy wants to go to market, he's going to market, ask Mitch Marner. So I think they would have to clear probably Owen power to extend Vyrum. I just don't know about, you know, like I said, Paraco is 32 going on 33.

I understand the want to add a right shot. I mean, all the rumors in terms of who they were looking at. I mean, there were four Buffalo scouts in Toronto when Philadelphia was there, including Mark Bershman, and all the talk was Rasmus for St. Elena. And I don't know about that one simply because he breathes and he gets hurt. So do you really want to add another injury-prone defenseman to Connor Timmons who broke his leg and to Michael Kesslerang, who up until this year, was a healthy defenseman who has been injured four times. this season with Buffalo. So, you know, I question direction of where Yarmo

want to think around Buffalo people are excited that he's actually willing to make a bold move and do something with the team that has been hot. Mike, let's let's get to the heart of the matter. The thing that the people in the chat probably want to know more than anything, are the Sabres actually good? Like, I checked in on them before the Olympic break. And while the records good and the goaltending's great and they're getting offensive performances and the right people and they're obviously moving up the standings to the point where now they're threatening the Tampa Bay Lightning for the lead in the division some of those underlying numbers are a little scary in fact you can make the argument that they were actually better

analytically before the winning streak um which is kind of nuts to say are they good I mean they've surprised me because I thought at the beginning of the season this was going to be year 15 and up until the second week of December, I was proven correct. And now I look like I have egg on my face because since even before they fired Kevin Adams, they had a three-game winning streak when they fired him. Then they had seven more after that and they haven't stopped. I mean, but it's tough to really quantify what it is. It's not like their goaltending is standing on its head.

I mean, Alex Lyon has been steady and solid. Luchin has had his, you know, times where he's been. pretty decent. Colton Ellis, they've needed three goalies because Lion has been hurt and Mukinen's been hurt. A lot of injury issues. Lindy Ruff said at availability a couple days ago when somebody asked them about

why has the team all of a sudden turned around and he said, well, you know, we had Norris injured, we had Kulich injured, we, you know, Dahlene was going through a personal situation. You know, Norris gets hurt in the season opener against the Rangers and doesn't come back until just before the

winning streak. So you could say that him coming back into the number one center at that point was a big thing. But I can't point to one specific thing. You know, Tage Thompson has been consistent. Alex Tuck has been consistent. They've gotten good performances sprinkled throughout their lineup. But it's not one thing. I think it's just the building of momentum. And as we saw in 2019 with the Blues, who were the worst team in the league in late December. And then, went on that magical run. The Buffalo Sabres were the worst team in the Eastern Conference on December the 9th and now have had the best record in the NHL since.

That's just crazy. You mentioned the goaltending there. You mentioned Kulich there as well. First of all, is there an update on Kulich that we know about yet? Any idea? What's happening? He's still going through protocol when it comes to the blood clot issue, Lindy Ruff, the last media availability.

He said they were waiting on tests. It sounds like they're not closing the door on him returning this season, but it all depend the clotting issue and whether that's cleared up or not. Okay. The other thing that I wonder about with the goaltending situation is, A, what's the plan there? And is Devon Levi essentially the forgotten guy completely? This is just Merrick's Trojan horse to figure out who can get Devin Levi and resurrect this brilliant young man's career.

Yes. I have skin of the game. because I know he's a big Star Wars fan, which endears him to me. I think Merrick loves him too. So we're all just trying to send Steel Team 6 in to save Devon Levi. Seven, save Devon Levi. Well, listen, they were rolling out the red carpet for him. And he's going right from college to the NHL and the social media campaign around Devin Levi was something we have never seen before for a goaltender coming out of college and going right to the NHL.

And the Sabres were smarter than everybody else. And you dummies don't know, this guy is ready for the National Hockey League. Dumbies. Like, trust me, dude. I heard it. As I'm sure Mike did as well. What's a goal here? Well, I don't know if they have a plan because, I mean,

they're on the comic when it comes to Levi and Colt Nellis. They couldn't send Colt Nellis down to the American Hockey League. They claimed them on waivers because, you know, St. Louis would have. Yeah. But Levi, his waiver exemption is up after this year. So that means you have four goaltenders and none of them can go down. to the minors. So I mean, I have been of the opinion that if they're going to trade Levi, they should trade them before the deadline because if you go to the summer, everybody knows

you have to move them. You can't carry four bullies. So you should use him as, you know, as an asset to be moved. You know, same thing with Esauk Roseanne, who's having a magical year in the American Hockey League with Rochester. I think he's a decent prospect. I don't know how good he'll be at the NHL level, but he's not waiver exempt. after this season. So, you know, do you risk losing him? Do you keep him on the roster? Do you see a place for him on the roster?

You know, these are the decisions that have to be by Yarmo and by rough. And I don't know. I mean, in the short term, because I was asking some reporters, who do you think is game one starter in the playoffs? And they all said Alex Lyon. But we know from a few years ago with Florida, we played the first four games for the Panthers against the Bruins, and then they went to Barovsky.

I would think, unless lion stands on his head, that you're probably going to see Lukanin at some point during a playoff series. So, you know, right now it's a sharing of the net. And that has seemed to work for them. But I don't know if that can work in terms of making a long playoff run. Let me ask you point blank here. So I'm just looking at the Rochester Americans schedule. Okay. So tomorrow, well, tomorrow and Saturday, they're in LaValle.

You mentioned Isacques Rosean? We wonder about Hellenius as well. Is Rochester just going to be decimated, i.e. does Yarmo need to make a move now? Thomas story was very, very out and in the open, as has been the Colton Pereco deal now. Is considering how public both these failed trades were, does he need to make a, and I don't want to say face-saving move,

but does he need to make a trade to give this team a shot in the arm? I think he needs to make a trade, but I think all these young players are, you know, now they've awakened to their futures, they're going to be assets to be moved. They're not going to move them, but I think it's a situation where, you know, Merdka is an 18-year-old defenseman. He's a prospect. He's playing with Seattle in the Western Hockey League. He's having a good year.

but he's not expected at the NHL level to be a big offensive guy. He's one of those shut down right shot defenders with good wingspan and skate. You know, maybe the perception is that the future is now. I think that's sort of a mistake. I mean, I don't think they're going on a run to win the Stanley Cup this year. They're going to make the playoffs. They could go a couple rounds. I don't think that they have the depth in the organization and the strength in the right places to make that kind of run.

But that's my belief. Yarmal may think that that's wrong and that the Eastern Conference is wide open. And if the matches go right in the playoffs, they play Detroit or Montreal in the first round and Tampa gets eliminated, I mean, then anything can happen. So, I mean, they're operating on that, you know, that thought process. So I think he's got to do something. I just don't know whether, you know, maybe he has a plan C or a plan to make another big move.

but, you know, Hellenius, Merck, Roseanne, Ossland, all of them have to be on, you know, on a warning that they could get moved. Look at Alex Chuck over here, talking about, talking about the cup, baby. Yes, you're running through the Eastern Conference. Yeah. We can taste silver.

Hey, listen, let me ask you this question. This is my last one for you. Who sort of fascinates you right now in the next, 24 hours insofar as teams or players like who do you outside of the buffalo per view like who who kind of are you just kind of just obsessed with right now at the trade deadline i'm very curious to see what toronto is going to do and i thought the move that they made with nick waugh for a first round pick and a fifth round pick was pretty good because it's five goals each year um they need to make more moves because that team is a train rack um i mean the other the

The other team, it's more, will these teams find a way to make additions like Tampa Bay? I mean, they're right up against the cap, but, you know, you hear, well, could they get Blake Coleman back? I mean, what are they going to do? Get Corey Connaker back? It's like, you know, how many, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Lightning players are they going to get, lightning players that they can get back? I'm surprised they didn't try to get Andre Palat. But, you know, there's been some chatter out there about Blake Coleman. And I'm waiting for Dallas to make their big move.

I mean, I'm sorry, do you guys not think that with Sagan going on season ending LTIR and they have the only move that they've made is Tyler Myers that you're not waiting for an awesome cadre deal, Dallas? Or Blake Coleman. Or Blake Coleman. Yeah. But they're going to add a center to replace Sagan. And, you know, it's just what they will give up to get those players. I mean, you know, these teams now are trading picks in 2028 and 2029. I mean, we're going way down, you know, it's like, gee, I mean, it's great.

I mean, you know, but I have to track all this stuff for future reference. We just saw a 2029 pick go today. Who's going to be the first one that trades a 2030 pick is very much out there? You know, I was saying to someone this morning, these are like, you know, these are like OHL picks that are getting sent around now that we see at the OHL draft. Like, I remember there was one OHL GM who came home one day. after trade deadline. And his wife said,

you know you just traded a nine-year-old. Like, that's how far out the draft picks went. Dude, if I'm Stan Bowman, I'd be trading 2050 picks. Like, I would just, whatever, whatever draft I can project for this to is what I'm trading at this point

to try to get whatever the hell I need to surround McDavid with. Can I, can I just quickly say that Stan Bowman could be the most overrated general a general manager in the NHL, the moves that he is made with Edmonton. I'm sorry, like, you know, you give a first round pick

to dump Andrew Mangia Panney. I mean, you know, Jason is a decent bottom six guy, but I mean, you really, I mean, some of the moves that they've made, I mean, Connor Murphy doesn't move the bar for me. And I, you know, I don't, I don't particularly like

this deal, you know, so he's, you know, what's next? They're going to trade Isaac Howard, Matthew Savoy and then they're going to have no prospects and no draft picks. Enjoy. I could see him trading Howard. I don't know they trade Savoy, though. I think that one. When we did our trades we wanted to see on ESPN, I had Ike go into the Panthers for Bob.

One, because I love Bob on the Oilers. And two, because is there a more Florida Panthers coded player that's not there yet than Ike Howard? I don't think so. Yeah. Well, it would be interesting because he was drafted by Tampa. Thank you. He's the new for Hagee.

On that, we'll wrap. Great Corey Conacher. Oh, by the way, you dropped Corey Conacher's name a couple of seconds ago. In the spirit of just because, you know why I love Corey Conacher? Adora Corey Connaker. Corey Connaker named his dog after the goalie he scored his first NHL goal against Boltby. I always wondered how Braden Holpey felt about that. Yeah, it's a great story.

Your name is dog after the first goal, NHL goal he scored his goal against. There's a Holtby of the dog out there for Cory Conacher. Why I know that, I have no idea. Mike Gisello, you the best. Thanks, as always, pal. We'll talk soon. Thanks.

Hey, you know what I was wondering about? What's that? And maybe the answer is no, because they got paid. But hindsight being 2020, How do you think Broberg and Holloway feel about signing their offer sheets now? Oh, that's a good question. Conditions have changed in St. Louis. Pretty dramatically.

Yes, pretty quickly. Broberg probably not great Holloway. Fine. I think is probably where I land on it. See, I wonder about Holloway saying, like, look, someone's got to get paid now here. And I'm next up. I don't know. I just wondered about that this morning.

I think, because I think if I'm Broberg, I'm kind of like, looking over my shoulder now that I know they put Pareko out in the world because I think I think Holloway is probably part of the movement forward I think you really need broberg on that team I think I think broberg is too you think so too I really do yeah even like I look at like there's a couple of things with with St. Louis and this is where I sort of wondered about the Montreal Canadians and the Robert Thomas deal because they do have you know the the the the the Reinhacker uh right hand shot uh defenseman playing in LaValle right now.

Like St. Louis needs young right-hand shot D. And Montreal's got young right-hand shot D. And that's why I wondered about Montreal more than just like, okay, Michael Hage and someone off the roster. I was looking at St. Louis and saying, you know what, Montreal can help you out with your right-shot D? So considering I've now talked about the St. Louis Blues more than at any point since Brett Hull was on stage drunk going we went blues.

I do want to, I do want to ask one more. question though, which is... Do you think Kyru gets traded before the deadline? It just seems like they can't move them. I still do. I think that still, like everything else with the blue, like the prices are incredibly high right now still. Like, you see the prices that people are paying?

It's not so right now. I will point... You're very kind to our friends in the media, so I will point this one out. Darren said a few days ago that it was a seller's market. I'm sorry, that it was a buyer's market because of all the options out there. And it was one of the craziest things I've ever read. At no point during this trade deadline was it a buyer's market. The sellers had all the cards.

They were set in the prices. The prices are stupid. They're pulling all the tricks out of their bag and try to force these guys to waive their trade protection because they're trying to get more people into the marketplace because the prices are crazy. It has been a seller's market for months and remains so. Yeah. And we'll see, again, like maybe I'm attaching too much to one game tonight, but it's kind of the eve of the trade deadline.

And we're wondering about the Columbus Blue Jackets here. And I'm sure that they love to resign the marchments and the Jenners, et cetera, and the coils. But there could be more than enter the marketplace tomorrow. Let me, let's go back to something you said at the beginning of the show. Because this fascinated me too. You and I have covered one or two trade deadlines, sometimes on the same team as proud members of the SportsNet Trade deadline. You with the GMs in the strategy room.

The Hall of Dinosaurs, the Hall of Fossils, I think I called it and got people mad at me. Hang on. By the way, I finally found out a few years ago why I got that job. Why is that? Because Bob McCallin said no. Originally they wanted Bob McCallet and I was the backup plan. And did you? And then I was like the fifth option.

It was me and Gord Stelich reading tweets while I was wearing pants that looked like I made diarrhea in them. So it's a great story. Me and Scotty Morrison on the eyed desk. But you and I have covered many a trade deadline. And we both came to the same conclusion about this one, which is it is an incredibly odd to have this many trades leaked without guys having agreed to them. And you name them before. I'll go through him again. Tyler Myers to Detroit.

Yep. Dickinson had to wave. Obviously, Pereco decided not to. Weiger had to waive. I'm probably not forgetting somebody else. And everybody knew about it. Everybody knew the status of the trade as it progressed. It's wild to me.

Now, in some of these cases, in particular in Perako's case, I don't doubt that it was to try to put pressure on him to wave. But in other cases, it's just kind of inexplicable that this information gets out before these guys agree to even be in the trade. Um, too, to do, too, to, to do, to do, to do, to do. Dave Panyoda, by the way, mentioning that last hour, the ducks have been exploring the defense market, Pareco would be quite a fit there. In the hour we've done this show, by the way, since you're passionate lament about the Buffalo Sabres,

it has become quite clear that Colton Perego may consider other options that are not Buffalo. Okay. And what did I say? At that point, that's the shot at Buffalo. Yeah. I like that Mike didn't stand on ceremony, though. Mike just jumped right in. He's like, yeah, this sucks.

Mike went right in. Sorry, does it matter? I just want to jump in. Does it matter if he goes West Coast and says, I only stay on the West Coast? Does that alleviate the pressure from Buffalo? Maybe. Because if he says, yeah, I'll go to Detroit.

It doesn't alleviate any of the pressures, Zach, because it means that what Kevin Adams said is completely correct. But until global warming hits Western New York, the sapers are effed. Oh, man, I just want savers to be good, like consistently, like, please, and I want it to be a destination. Let's see what happens before three o'clock. But you know what you would solve this, Eric, I'll tell you exactly what's solve this. Put a biodome around the city of Buffalo.

They're never going to be able to get rid of all the ice and snow in western New York. But if you put a biodome over West, over Buffalo and create some tropical foliage, maybe Polly Shores, there, you just need to somehow convince people that when they come to Buffalo, it won't be Buffalo. BioDome, there's your answer. Hang on, what? You just sent me? Okay, hold on a second.

I want you to read it. Okay. Oh, this is fantastic. I saw this before. Jeff Skinner? Yeah. Unfollowed San Jose Sharks. Yeah.

That's second. That's the NHL follow tracker on Twitter for those who don't know follows. The best. Follow or unfollow on Instagram. And Jeff Skinner unfollowing the San Jose Sharks is now my second favorite of that tracker in the last few weeks. Macon-Salem. No, my favorite remains Dylan Larkin being so fueled by American patriotism that he followed the USA account and Toby Keith, who died a few years ago. He follows on Instagram now because he's so infused with patriotism after winning gold.

Speaking of the Detroit Red Wings, when you want to talk about striking out, I mean, Eisenman is 0 for three now on defensemen. He is. He is. I mean, Justin Falk's going to go somewhere. And I'm curious if that ends up being in Detroit. But I don't know. A lot of people take the swings.

I want to go back to the previous point that you just raised, though. And we talked about like how many players. And again, like on this side of the microphone, like I approve of it. because it's great. It's Christopher the Mill. It's conversation. It's, it's wonderful for what we do. I think it's wonderful for the marketing of the sport because it draws interest and it keeps a certain conversation going and it keeps people attached to the sport more. But we're in uncharted territory here. If this is, if it's going to, if teams strategically look at making sure information is out there as a way to get players, to waive their no trades.

Now, I say this having been our longtime resident of Toronto and remember the Muscoqa 5 because that was all public too. Everybody knew about Mats. Everybody knew about Darcy. Everybody knew about Brian. Like go right down the, Cabberle, like go right down the list. And they all got together to say no in what was perhaps the most popular.

example or the biggest example of a team all at the same time refusing to waive the no trade because they wanted to make a playoff push and the team ultimately didn't make the playoffs. And I've seen Cliff Fletcher upset before, but never that upset as he was that trade deadline day. The thing that's, so I think we all struggle with this at the trade deadline. And by the way, don't underestimate the loose lips of player agents as being one of the main reasons. why all this trade deadline, Michigas, is happening with the no movement clauses. All of us struggle with the human element of this stuff. Free agency is different.

You're choosing where your next destination is. The trade deadline is you are being forced to leave your home. Now, they all sign up for it. I think we all agree that, you know, we're not shedding a ton of tears for a bunch of millionaires who have to relocate, you know, because that's just the nature of the job that they chose. But that's what the money is for. There still is a human element to it.

And I think back to Vincent Troche. this week when the Rangers reporters talked to him about the trade deadline and hearing him having to have discussions with his children who are very cognizant of everything that's going on about daddy might have to leave for a while. And then you're eventually going to have to leave your friends

probably too. And so there's a certain amount of the human cost, the human toll, the humanity of it all that I think anybody who has the least bit of empathy has to deal with. And there's nothing empathetic about putting out information about these trades before they've agreed to them because I think in some cases they're probably learning about it online, which is insane. But, you know, let's just all remember that at some point that the trade deadline is different than free agency in the sense that it is a monumental life change for a lot of these individuals. But again, I was going to add the caveat that sneaks up on exactly nobody.

That sneaks up on no player. That sneaks up on no family. You know, the great line from the Godfather, this is the business we chose. I always remind myself. But don't you think there's a part of Perego that's probably like, I've been here for so long. I'm like the third most game is played in franchise history. Like maybe I'll see it through. Maybe my number will hang from the rafters is a beloved offenseman for this franchise.

Like there's probably a thought in his head about that, right? Absolutely there is. 100% there is. but at the same time a couple of things it sneaks up on nobody everybody knows that this is part of the game and again i come back to this is what the money is for right like this is what this is what the money is for and at at at at at the same time i look at all of this right now from from the the the players point of view because generally that's where i default on on all of these things As do I.

And yeah. And I say to myself, this is not a surprise. No one can pretend to be surprised by any of this. This is part of what you sign up for. Like all these players in the NHL grew up hockey fans and having conversations about players being traded. Like this is a reality that everybody deals with. And this is why this and injuries. This and injuries is why I don't begrudge any player a single dime for what they make.

We can quill. All this guy makes too much. The things that they go through, like every time they get on the ice, they're risking their own health when they do that. And then around this time a year, or really any time a year, they could have their entire lives exploded and find themselves in a different town. the next day. That's why I don't begrudge them a second for any money they make at all. Yeah. And it's also just the emotions of, I mean, you're, you're, there's some guys that have

been in these places for a really long time. We just talked about Nick Dow. Nick Dowd's been there for eight years. Perico's been there for his entire career in St. Louis. He had, you know, won a cup there. And then it's not just like your name's in the marketplace. And it's not just that your name is in a trade. It's that the team that you rely on for everything and that you believe has your best interests in mind at all times.

All of a sudden says, you're not wanted here anymore. Oh, you imagine, Merrick. Right. Understand as a player that what was true yesterday may not be true today and may not be true today and may not be. true tomorrow. Again, like it's a completely cynical way to look at it, but you look after yourself and that's it. Right? And don't, you know, rely on the, what's the line? What's the line? Rely on the, don't rely on the kindness of strangers. Don't rely on the kindness of people around you. Because it could all change the next day. After we get done with this, I have to go find out of Freud,

what Freud wrote about the nurturer severing ties with the offspring and what that does to your psychology. Freud used to always talk about two things. Freud would always talk about dreams. And the one thing that we never talk about when it comes to Sigmund Freud and how he would read people, he used to always talk about how you could get into people's personalities by what they dream about.

And his other big thing was jokes. You can be a lot of the people's personalities and who they are by what they find funny and what they share by way of jokes. That was a big one for Freud that we don't talk about a lot. And Zach, who I tell a joke to every single day is looking at that like, okay, now I got you sussed, Merrick. Now I got you finally for that. See, what I dream about and what I joke about and the combination of those two things we've talked about. That's your career. This is exactly why I'm never taking acid with you because those two things.

this added up, make me very scared about what will come out. I thought you're going to say it. Like, that hits you where you love jokes and love telling like old Kenny Danico stories. By the way, like what a complete NARC thing to say, taking acid with you, dropping acid, man. Everyone knows. I'm holding up three fingers and inglorious bastards right now to say taking acid. Jesus. Norby.

The mask comes off. He's a NARC at the biker rally. Final thought before tomorrow? My final thought is I'm genuinely curious who are Thomas Hurtle is going to be. I think there's probably somebody, and maybe Pereko was the closest example of it, but like there's somebody none of us are talking about that'll get moved before three o'clock tomorrow, and it is going to be chaos. And I hope McKenzie has it.

I hope McKenzie just revisits the world for a second and has it and then goes off and makes so much more margaritas and stuff. A tweet out of nowhere. Yeah, but like there's probably somebody we're not thinking about from a team that has decided they're not in it. That's interesting the way that the, the example is now Tomash Hurtle where, do you remember what the example was before? Tomash Hurtle?

It was Mantha for Verana. Oh, yeah. That's right. That no one saw. We all went, whoa, boom. Where did that one come from? Now it's Tomash Hurtle. Yeah, there's someone we're not thinking about and it's going to be such a.

Like what if it's a bold-faced name on the Florida Panthers that moves? Like, wouldn't that be exciting? It would be I can't see it. I can see Bob. Okay, so here's the thing. So whatever I've had conversations with Bob, again, this is purely just talk, radio. We're doing a podcast. It's Thursday.

It's, you know, 10 a half of two. You're talking about the eights. Do a double time check, by the way. Five after two, 205 down to Toronto. I always found that weird. Why would you do double time check? 10 before the hour, 3.50. Could you see a world where the Florida Panthers move Sergey Bobrovsky and welcome in Jordan Biddington?

Oh, wow. Wow. Has had the big stage. It's been successful on the big stage. When surrounded by elite level players, he performs at his best. Again, that is all just trade deadline, talk radio fodder. But we all know. You have a bunch of people on that team that can vouch for them now.

100% you do. You absolutely do. And we've seen them in big game scenarios. If you're looking for the Bob replacement, is there one in St. Louis? The general manager is open for business. We'll see what the Department of Goaltending Excellence has to say about Jordan Bennington. We simply don't know. That's true.

Okay. You have a great rest of your day. And we will convene again next week. Bristol tomorrow for your boy, up in Connecticut at ESPNHQ. Excellent. And we'll do a bunch of videos and such and winners and losers and all the things. What will you be wearing is the big question. What will you be wearing?

You know, it's funny. I always make pretend that maybe they'll need me on the big boy trade deadline show. So I always do show up in a nice shirt and tie and a quarter of it. But they never need me. They have Emily. Why the hell that they would need? I scare away the viewers. But I'll probably look spiffy.

I'll look all right. Yeah, I'll try. Tie? Of course. Soup on it. Listen, I know that we've, and I blame the tech industry for this, that we're in a world where people wear open-collared shirts all the time, no matter what the situation is.

Yeah. And I just, my face is not built for it. I look like a drunk. I have a big cherubic round face and a tie. keeps things into symmetry and proportion better than the open collar does. I will never get away from wearing ties, even though I think subsequent generations have decided that they don't need them anymore. Well, we've gone the Euro look.

Like tomorrow for trade deadline, we were told to wear open collar and no ties. But I'm going back and forth when I'm going to wear a tie or not tomorrow. I don't know. If I was on the daily face-off. Our old buddy Patrick manager, NHL ties. Yeah. If I was on the daily face-off show tomorrow, I'd show up in a tux. Like, I'm not wearing an open collar shirt.

Just it won't do it. I look sloppy. Would you have like the top hat and cane, the white gloves look like that planters peanut guy? And a monocle. Would you do that? A monocle? You'd put the monocle on? Yes, I would.

I would. I would. I believe they should spend more at the deadline. I just want to see you do that and say, the aristocrats. That would make my day. So a family goes into a hell of an agent's office. All right, Gilbert. Oh, me, Miss Gilbert.

You'll be good. We'll chat soon. Take care of him. The talent agent looks at him, nonplussed. And the father's slipping and sliding on the floor. Beat it. All right, Greg Richensky from ESPN and ESPN.com. We got to get going here because we have rehearsals coming up for a big deadline show tomorrow.

A reminder, our daily face off trade deadline special gets underway tomorrow at 11 o'clock Eastern with a cast of thousands, many of which are here. here right now at our downtown, Better Collective Studio, gets underway 11 o'clock Eastern, 9 Mountain, 8 a.m. Pacific. Watch it live. All the trades happen. The other thing that I want to point out, too, about our trade deadline coverage, all the other groups that do trade deadline shows up here in Canada, there's the red group, and there's the blue group, and they never talk about what the other side is doing. And so all their information remains exclusive domain to them. What our program does as an independent is brings them all together.

So as I lobby for you and encourage you to check out our trade deadline special tomorrow, I will remind you all the information. And Dave Panyoda, who's become such an elite insider himself, along with Dave, all that information gets pooled here. So maybe instead of watching your Red Show. Or your blue show, you watch our show and you get the best of what we're offering and pulling all the information from the other ones all here together tomorrow, starting at 11 o'clock Eastern.

All right, Zach, you're going to finish us up here on the program, as always. The sheet is powered by Fanduel. Play your game with Fanduel. It's the NHL season, 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 a live same game parley. You can build your bets up until the final buzzer.

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is that of Zach Phillips, who just lives around the corner and down the street, I believe, from our better collective studios here. So you've made the trek to the studio. Congratulations, Zach. Yeah, I mean, I did have to come. How convenient is that? You want to talk about media members and producers complaining about things and nobody caring? The one time we do a show, downtown Toronto, I've moved back to Aurora with my parents.

Oh, that's right. You had to come all the way down, the 404. All the way down. Oh, where's my fainting couch? Oh, I'm going to need straight. rest leave. I won't be here for two weeks. I've had to take the highway down to Toronto. But yes, where I'm moving actually next week is on this street, five minute walk that way. So it'll be pretty nice in the future. Yes. You have a corner office here yet at the better

collective studios and office basis. I think the setup I'm at right now might be similar to the one I get in the new place, which for those who can't see me other than Jeff, I'm sitting at a table that's big enough for my laptop and a chair, which is pretty much all I need. That's all you need. And that's all you get. That's fine by me. Make it work. You'll get two things, nothing and like it.

Now, what are we doing with games tonight? Well, you know, I like to have some fun with people online, Jeff. You know, I like to poke fun at people, troll people a little bit, just for the fun of it. You like wish that way. Yeah. And yesterday it seemed to have driven this guy the wrong way. And eventually he came back at me and he told me to touch Zagrass. So I told him, man up, buddy.

So grass. Let's have a tilly. That's going to be Zegris. All day long, watch. That's going to be Zegris. I can't wait to see this. Zegris, Mantha, Tilly, fan tilly. Not bad.

That's pretty good. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Zegras. Yes. Man up, Manta. Have a Tilly.

Adam Fantilly. The kids still call them Tillies? I don't know. I do, but I think I do that more as like a, mocking thing. Like, it's just a joking thing. You remember the skit from the, from Jared Kiso and

they would just do like three-minute skits? Yeah. Keseo's the best. I love Jerry Keseo. He was great in the Deon Cherry biopic, by the way. Yes. The one, my favorite one is not Tilly, though.

It's Donnie Brooke. Let's have a Tarp's off boys. Have a Donnybrook. That's old school. Donny, Donnybrook is like from the school they build to burn down the old school. $5 wins you $168. $0.25.

sense, Trevor Zegro, Anthony Mantha, Adam Fantilli, all finding the back of the net tonight. All right, don't forget, as well. Our trade deadline special gets underway tomorrow, 11 o'clock Eastern. Look forward to seeing you in the chat. Look forward to being part of the broadcast, which is going to feature a cast of thousands from daily faceoff and some surprises as well. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say who's on the main panel with me and Carter Hutton. We are. Voitek Volsky's stopping by, man.

Man, that's going to be so cool. God, is he a good player? So, Volsky was so good. So that and plenty more on the program. Tomorrow starting 11 o'clock Eastern right here on daily face-off YouTube channel. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening.

Thanks for subscribing. Thanks for liking. Thanks for leaving comments. All of it. You are the best. What's that? Try State hockey will be live tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Staple, Las, and Rupp.

So they'll be doing a 9 a.m. show on this channel. I just wanted to throw that in. That came in there from producer Vic, let me know. I had no idea, but that is... Excellent news. TriState gets underway tomorrow at 9 a.m.

right here at Daily Face Off YouTube. All right, that's it. Anything more? Okay, here we go. The shows are coming fast and furious here. That from our DFO executive insider, Amaldelich, Erfanga Farr and Dave Panjota tonight, daily face off, our rundown insider edition gets underway here tonight,

a trade deadline preview show, 7 o'clock Eastern, right here at our daily face off YouTube channel. Thank you, Mr. Anonymous, executive insider over there. Salmo, by the way, he loves me. All right, that's it for me. Enjoy the rest of your day.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow right here for our trade deadline special. Have a great rest of your day.