The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Kyle Connor Extends, NHLPA Fallout, and Leafs Opener ft. Brian Burke & Nick Alberga

Episode Date: October 8, 2025

The NHL season is underway and The Sheet has you covered. Jeff Marek is joined by Brian Burke to break down Connor McDavid’s surprising $12.5M AAV deal, the ripple effect on Kyle Connor’s massive eight-year, $96M extension, and the broader implications for NHL contracts in a rapidly rising salary-cap era. Burke also weighs in on the chaos between the Lightning and Panthers, the balance between toughness and skill in today’s NHL, and how teams are recalibrating around physicality.Later, Nick Alberga joins the show to preview the Toronto Maple Leafs’ home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, including Easton Cowan’s healthy scratch, the addition of Sammy Blais, and what life looks like without Mitch Marner. Jeff and producer Zack also touch on the Rangers’ and Kings’ new third jerseys, expectations for the Canadiens, and Patrick Laine’s uncertain role moving forward.From blockbuster contracts to opening-night rivalries, The Sheet dives deep into the biggest storylines shaping the NHL right now.Shout out to our sponsors!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Simply Spiked: https://www.simplyspiked.ca/en-CA👍🏼Shark Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-4-in-1-portable-glass-air-fryer-cooking-system/FN101CGY.html?utm_source=Better+Collective&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=H2+Air+Fryer&utm_content=EN👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/ca👍🏼Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/salp/nhl/ref=dvm_ass_acm_xx_mf_s_imp_9e9590d5Na2ce11f09d4bf71dc0ec8a1Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, so the signings continue. We've got some games to talk about a New Jersey in Los Angeles. And New Jersey's new kits in New York yesterday as well. As they're saying in Pittsburgh right now, you can't win them all if you don't win the first one. A little bit of a surprise there. We'll get to all of that. Plus more games on the board around the NHL. This evening, welcome to the sheet for this Wednesday.

the October, the 8th, glad to have you aboard today. Let's get right to the blueprint because I want to bring on our first guest as he joins us each and every Wednesday here. And the blueprint is powered by Fanduel. Make every moment more with North America's number one sports book, that is, Fanduel. Coming up on the program today, Brian Burke is standing by. We have a lot to get to with Brian. It's been a busy week, a busy week of business. Things that Brian Burke knows all too well.

Nicolberg will stop by from Leif's Morning Take. The Maple Leafs Open Up Against some Montreal, Canadian's Saswa. I'm on Dillon Francais. The Kyle Connor contract will get into that too much, too little, or right in the sweet spot. We'll talk about more contract fallout specifically from the Connor McDavid deal. We mentioned third jerseys and the Maple Leafs opener tonight. Plenty to get to.

We'll kick it all off with our man, Brian Burke, who joins us each and every Wednesday here on the sheet. Brian, how are you today? I'm good, Jeff. How are you? I am doing very well. Thank you for joining us, by the way, from a restaurant closet. I know you have a big appointment coming. up at the bottom of the hour, but this just shows your dedication to broadcasting and a love

of hockey. Or maybe should I flatter myself, but you have so much of a love for me. You'll even do the show from a closet. You can thank Gavin from 11 for letting me use the closet or office, whatever is. It's quietly so far, so it works for me. True or false, when you started working with the NHL, what we now know as the Department of Player of Safety, that used to be what your office looked like. It was tiny. There was some VCRs and a couple of tapes kicking around. Is that true? Well, when I first started, we were

on Park Avenue and then Gary moved us to the bigger office. So when I went over there, the bigger office, 1139 Comab, that's where we had the Glenn Adama, was the broadcast guy. We had Ford VCR.

I had a nice office, but the nook where the broadcast stuff was, was tiny. at four VCRs. Donald would come, we'd pick the game we wanted to record, and we'd set it for 710 or 7.20. The game would start at 7.10. You never had a suspension in the first 10 minutes.

So you'd start the tape at 720, and pray it didn't run out. So then if that Tampa Florida game that we saw on Saturday would have happened back in 1993, Scott Sabrin wouldn't have had a four-game suspension because there wouldn't have been video evidence of it. Well, we probably would have taped that game, but, you know, they would have had evidence to that because everything, you had two hours and ten minutes

or two hours and 15 minutes of record time, runtime. Yeah. So when you set the thing for 215, hit go at 7.20, you'd catch most of the stuff. A couple of times, Peter Forsberg's suspension for Billy Yere, slash. Yep. That one, we were almost missed because of overtime.

The late in the game, the goalie was out. In general, we got most of the stuff. And we had to, every once I would have to bury a tape so Gary wouldn't see it. The story's never end. I want to get to the McDavid deal. I want to get to today's two big signings, Matias at Combe and Kyle Connor, Connor with the Winnipeg Jets, of course, and your thoughts on some of the action, other hot button issues.

But since we started talking about it, your thoughts on what we saw on Saturday. And even though I know you don't like to play this game always, but if you were the sheriff around the NHL, if you were George Peros, how would you be looking at that game that we saw on Saturday? If John Cooper crossed the line, I love Cooper, he crossed the line. He got fined, the team got fined for it. Significant fines, too, 100 grand. That's not a small fine.

That's when you're owner-in-own notices. And so they got two suspensions and two bounces. That's enough for me. Move on. What did you think of the game itself? I mean, it got underway early. Well, there was a... Casually, there was a game.

In between the fights, they sort of skated around and Florida scored a bunch of goals. Every time the puck was on Tampa's stick, it seemed like it was a rectangle. But that one, like... It feels right now, Brian, like fighting is going to be. coming back to the NHL and toughness is coming back to the NHL. The way that I've tried to

describe it is it's a pendulum theory in that for the longest time post-lockout 2005, the premium was on skill and skating and that's all that's all well and good. We all love it. But that was this sort of pendulum overcorrection from the four-hour brawl games. And now, because pendulum's always overcorrect to get to their balance point, you know, I wonder if now we're coming back to the balance point of we don't want four-hour games, but also we don't just want pretty passing. We want something in between. And I kind of get the feeling that we might be there now. I think you've just summed up exactly what I've been trying to say less articulately for the last two years. Nobody likes pillow fights. And that's what the games become. We love the skill,

but it's a pillow fight. And I love the fact that Florida and Boston and a couple other teams have brought some toughness back into the game. There's nothing wrong with keeping the game high skill, entertainment value, high speed, but add in some toughness and some retaliation and some fighting. So I love what Florida, I think, has made it fashionable, and now it's a copycat league, more and more teams are following suit. So I love it. I think it's great.

The interesting thing about Florida and Tampa, I was mentioning this on the show yesterday. I'll spring the same analogy on you as well. The thing that I think impresses a lot of people about both these teams is that, that when one of their players gets hit legally or otherwise, everybody attacks. Like right away, no questions asked. It doesn't matter if you're a fourth line guy. It doesn't matter if you're like Nick Paul or you're Anthony Sorrelli. If you're first there, you attack.

Like, everybody does this. And the way they do it, you know, we saw this with the Panthers. We saw this with the Tampa Bay Lightning. All the guys on the ice will fight like they're the third monkey on the arc when it starts to rain. They go hard and fast at whoever has done the fouling. Yeah, I don't like clean hit fights all the time. You know that, Jeff.

I think when I played, and I don't want to go back to three-hour games, let alone four-hour games. I'm not a dinosaur, but I like some fighting. I like my team in Anaheim, we had a good balance. We fought and we should. We didn't fight when we didn't have to. It was a good blend, and we stuck up for each other. I don't like clean-hit fights.

It's a clean hit. When I played in the American League, I got decked, someone would say, keep your head up, rookie. How is that? No one won't fight anyone. Now, you used to have clean hit fights for two guys, the star player and the goalie. And they've always protected those two guys. Wayne Grecksey never had to stand up for himself.

Someone else always did it. But it's kind of more widespread. We'll hit a balance on that too. You know, I know you loved Brad May. You tried to bring Brad May wherever you went. That's not a secret. I remember asking one night when I was working with Brad, we were up for a drink afterwards.

And I brought up this idea of the automatic fight after a big hit, even if it's clean. And he said something to me that I can't stop thinking about. He said, actually, it's tactical. And I said, what do you mean? He said, after there's a big hit, the team that does the hitting gets a big emotional charge. and he said, if my guy gets hit and I go in and I fight right away,

what I do is I kill that momentum. He said, what I'm trying to do out there is make sure that that other team would just hit my guy doesn't get any momentum, doesn't get any charge after running over my guy. I was like, Mayday, I've never heard it describe that way. What do you think of that comment, Berkey? I think there's some validity to it, but the problem is it penalizes good hits. We want good hitting and rewarded. Like we say we want more fighting, but we want big hits, too.

Big hits have gone the way of the dinosaurs. We want big hits. So I have a fight every time you're a very big hit. If you're not a good fighter, you say, well, I'm not going to hit. I remember when Dion first came to Toronto, he laid someone out against Ottawa. Forget the player's name, French name. And he had a big fight after it, and he didn't fight. He said to me after it, do you want me to fight there, Dion?

Because Dion's not afraid. He'll fight eight. anyone. He said, do you want me to fight there, Burk? I said, no, clean hit, no penalty. Don't fight. Don't take that fight. But I see there's a balance. The hit that started the whole fight the other night, that was a big time hit. That was one that you always want players to fight there. That wasn't just a clean hit. He obliterated that guy, so I had no problem with that one. Okay, from fist to cuffs to putting pen to paper. We'll start with Connor because that's a big contract of the week.

I can't remember a player ever doing this. Like, we're all scratching our brains. I know that, you know, Gordy Howe, how when he started in the late 60s, realizing how underpaid he was with the Detroit Red Wings, he got sour and rightfully so, and that led to him going to the WHA for more money. But I can't think of any player in Connor McDavid's stature of the game. Best player in the game. coming in so under market as Connor McDavid just did.

What were your takeaways when you saw that? Like, we've had a couple of hours, a couple of days that think about it. What do you think of what McDavid did for Edmonton? It's the same thing Sid did in Pittsburgh. I can't believe Sid's not getting any credit for doing this two years ago. It's the same thing, $8.7 million. It's actually pretty close to the same percentage of the cap.

If you go 12.5 versus 110 or whatever it is versus $8.7. and 89, wherever the cap was, it's a pretty similar percentage. To me, this is not a first. Sid did the same thing. I mean, the reason he's not getting as much credit is because Pittsburgh wasn't as close. Edmonton is close, and the benefit should be immediate with the Wally contract. So all of a sudden, now, Jake Walsstrom signs for a fair deal. He was up most of that unspent cap dollars.

it's very real, but I think to what said it was very similar. You know, it's interesting that you bring up the defense manager because many you're looking at, you know, Jake Walman is saying, you know, Jake Walman one day is going to take

Matias Ekholm's place on that blue line. And then today the announcement comes that Matias Ekholm has signed a three-year contract extension. $4 million is the AAV on this one. Now, the length of it,

you could quibble about. You probably want it to be a two. If you're the Edmonton Oilers, but we're really splitting hairs here. $4 million for a second-paring defenseman. I know by the end of the contract, he'll be 38 years old. But that's a good number for a second pairing. You know, good, rugged defensemen for the Edmonton Oilers. Like, if that's the way this thing plays out, that's a really good number.

I think it's a good number and good term because the player has been hurt and we'll get hurt again. I think it makes sense. I don't think it's a big hometown discount. I think it's a sensible number and sensible term for the play. where he is age-wise and where he fits in. But it looks good. People are looking at it saying, well, hometown discount, I don't see it that way.

The other one today, Kyle Connor signs the eight-year deal. There's a lot to this one. Eight-year deal, $12 million is the AAV on this one for Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets. For the longest time, ever since, you know, the Atlanta Thrashers moved from Georgia to Manitoba, we kept hearing they're going to have a hard time retaining talent. Kevin Sheffoldeoff is going to have the hardest job in the

NHL, they're not going to be able to get players to stay. Shifley stays, Hella Buck stays, go right up and down that lineup. Guys do stay and guys do make a commitment to the Winnipeg Jets. Your thoughts on this one, is it, you know, it'd be like three little bears on this one. Is it too much, too little, or just in the right spot for you? I thought he'd get a little bit more, but I think it's fair. It's certainly a lot of money. I think the key is for Winnipeg is that people have to understand, it's a wonderful place to live. And if you're an outdoorsman, it might be the best place to live. And married guys love Winnipeg.

Single guys, it's not the exciting nightlife you'd see. Paul Maurice said, you're not going to get your cappuccino or whatever he said. And it gets cold. Yeah, it gets cold. Some people like cold weather. I like cold weather. People ask me, do you have a place in Florida? I'm like, why would I get a place in Florida?

I like cold weather. So the difference is Chevy's done a great job there. Mark Chittman's a great owner. People want to play there. It's a great city. People think they have a chance to win there. There's no surprise to me that Kyle O'Connor has stayed and stated what I think is fair money. I think you could have got a little more, but I think it's fair.

And that's a good statement that Winnipeg is a place to go and a place to stay. You know, bracket Connor McDavid through all of this. But you look at the Caprizoff deal, $17 million. Kyle Conner deal, $12 million. I know you say he probably, you know, could have got, could have gotten more here. But if he goes to market the Detroit Red Wings pony up 14, who's to say? But in the old model with the old salary cap, these salaries seem exorbitant. But are we in an era right now where next year the cap is, as announced, it's 104,

but we all expect the salary cap to be closer to 107 next year. Do we just need to recalibrate our thinking? about what $17 million means and what $12 million means in the new reality, in the new marketplace? Like right now it seems more like teams are just trying to make sure they hang on to their players as opposed to how much

they're paying them. They'll sort out the payment stuff afterwards. They just want to retain talent. I agree. I think it's really important right now that you get your player signed. Caprizzav, the comments the owner made are the same ones he made when he signed Souter and... Perisei. He said,

we had to have the player we had to say same comments i think people now it's all about keeping your talent not losing it on july first um i think these are big signings but people have to get used to the higher figures because right now people have said oh kyle conner he's not worth 12 million yes you're goddamn right he's worth 12 million right now that's what they're worth these star guys and a uh 107 million dollar salary cap universe he's worth 12 million dollars and that's when the contract is going to be low if this keeps going up the way it is yeah it's going to be a low sign it'll be player friendly in about two years now but there are some local revenue concerns i have that might my my quality growth of the cap

but not in the next 12 months you know what it sort of leads to is we'll get ahead of ourselves here and we're all standing by now for the the jack ickel contract which we all expect to be with the Vegas, we expect the Vegas Gold Knights to announce at some point here at Jack Eichael contract extension. I don't think he gets to market next year on July 1st. He's, he's happy there. They want them there. It's a hand-a-glove relationship. What I wonder about, okay, so, Berkey, salary cap is going up next year, 104, 107, quibble about what it's going to be. Who's going to be available? You know, Eichel's going to sign here. You're looking at Martin Atris and Adrian Kempe and Artemmy Panarin and Rasm.

Asmus Anderson and Alex Tuck, and who knows who's going to sign between them? Are we going to go into a situation next year where everybody's got money and they don't have anyone to spend it on? Yes. Everyone's going to re-sign their players. But the thing that's going to scare everyone is 17 million. So is NACS going to get what he would have got a year ago? No. We would have got two months ago?

No. He didn't get more than that. But they're going to keep guys and they're going to keep them and they're overpaid it. do it overpaid based on today's money what we think of today's money and the market's going to move again jack hughes is going to be underpaid luke hughes will be underpaid on their contracts jack already is you watch um we talk a lot on the show in other way other places about compensation and comparables and salary cap and what's this player worth and how they're going to do this contract this is something that you would know better than really anybody on our network.

When a new general manager comes in or a new coach comes in, how do you do the contracts? Like none of the salaries are public, unlike the NHL Players Association and the NHL, how do you do contracts for general managers? Like what are the ranges? How do you do a deal? Is it just get the most that you can get? Like how does it work for coaches? How does it work for managers?

There's a market for coaches. The amounts that are paid are shared. I'm not sure directly. They used to be shared in quartiles. So the league would publish a thing that said the top six coaches make X average. The next six or eight make X, Y average. So you had some sense. You could call guys up and say, hey, what did you give torts, his last deal?

So you have a marketplace. GM's a little trickier. You have to distribute that information. You have to call guys and find out what they make. And you have to trust that they're going to give you accurate information. But that's a little trick here. So would you know then how much, like, while you're managing, like you're managing the Toronto Maple Leaf C, Anaheim, Docs,

like, do you know how much, do you have an idea of where you're at on the pecking order of what GMs are getting paid? Yes. I used to keep real detailed information. about that. Guys would sign, I call them and say, tell me where you make. So I could tell what I could make. I could help other guys if I needed to also.

Yes. One follow-up on coaches. I remember coming out of the 204 lockout and someone saying, it was a coach who said to me, you know, this salary cap is going to be really bad for coaches. And I said, what do you mean? And he said, well, you know, it used to be that before you fired a coach, you used to hear, oh, I owe him a trade.

before I fire this coach or make a move on this coach, I got to try to shake up the team a little bit. I owe this guy a trade. And then obviously, you know, the salary cap got full and coaches, and we see this every summer end up walking the plank because either, you know, trades are too hard to make. Everyone's got their salary cap commits done. If you're going to change anything, you move off the coach.

Do you think we're getting into a place now with so much room and so much of an ability to make moves, even though their teams loaded up with no trade clauses, that it might be a safer environment now for coaches with teams moving into having so much salary cap space. It may be. What do you describe as accurate? Back before the salary cap, it was accurate.

You could make a deal. You could say, look, I'm not firing the coach. I've got to make a trade and see if that helps or make two and see if those help. And then it got to the salary cap. The salary cap's been around since 1998, right? Isn't that when it came in? The hardest salary cap is 2005, after 204-205 lockout, sorry, 2004.

So after the 204-05 lockout, the first day I worked in a salary cap, we've been doing it for 20 years. So it's not that big a deal, folks. Some we're all used to. Now, I think the impatience of ownership has been legendary and stupid. Coaches don't get enough time to see if they can win. They don't get to figure it out. That's what's encouraging about the last two. extensions in Alberta, where the two coaches are said, you get a chance to finish what you

began. And that to me is critical. I don't know if it's salary cap linked or not, it may be, but it's about time owners for more patient with GMs and coaches. Fall is here, and everybody's getting back from vacation, headed back to school, and you know what that means? Yep, it's time to slide into some bombas. what's bombas you ask only the most amazingly comfortable socks slippers teas and underwear made from the most premium materials and the best part one purchased equals one donated across canada bombas makes the best socks for fall to start you off on the right foot and the left foot too these aren't just your regular old fall colors they're actually playful and fun they've even got new sweat wicking socks that keep you energized for those fall workouts or, you know, just running after the kids as they head to school. And can we talk about the comfort?

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To some of the action, last night was interesting. You can't read anything to the first game, and you can't read anything really into preseason. But, you know, Pittsburgh goes into New York and wins. Dan Mews wins as his first game as a head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. We saw the Colorado Avalanche just take apart the Los Angeles Kings. And Kail McCar pulled a move on Jeff Malott, high ice yesterday, which was spectacular.

And then before that, we saw the Florida Panthers, just barely get by the Chicago Blackhawks. Frank Nazar was outstanding with a goal and assist in that one. After night one, anything catch your eye yesterday other than maybe just that Kail McCar move that everyone's talking about? I thought, you know, Malcolm was the best player in all three games. I thought Malcolm was outstanding, and he's a great kid. He's a great guy.

I love him. But he's had a couple of years where his performance has just been okay for me. I thought he was really on his game last night. watched all three games and watching the Blue Jays when I could but that was that was tough one that was tough one I love the Blue Jays

I'm pulling for him but they're watching the three games the best player that I saw I thought in the Zahar was good but I thought Gino was the best player on the next where is he 46 he's he's not young

well the thing about the thing about that that Penguins line, and we saw Justin Brasso score early, that line is massive, right? So they're playing Malkin with Brasso and Anthony Manta. Like, these guys are all like six foot

three. Like that is a giant line. Philadelphia Eagles offensive line. Yeah. That's a big line. But Brasel's a good player too. And I think Pertuzi is really underrated for me. I like that line. But last night, that's the one thing that

stood out. Kiel McCarer is a great player, but nothing he does surprises me anymore. But Gino, Gino, after a couple of years, where I thought, okay, he's really settling down, I thought he had jump, he had a lot of poise, he had a lot of joy in his game. I liked him. What was he, I mean, you were there, you and, you and Ron were there to do that, that last deal from Malkin. How was he to deal with?

He doesn't do anything. He just says in the time, he pretends he speaks really good. English, but he pretends he can't. They say, you know, Gina, we have to talk to an agent, talk to agent. I don't understand. I don't understand. He understands everything.

That's his agent to do it. He's not that concerned about it. So he was, he said he was worried about getting traded at the end. He was never worried. That's not what he does. Was there ever a consideration we had always assumed that those three were, died in the wool for life, bell to bell, stem to stern

Pittsburgh Penguins. Was there ever any consideration while you guys were there? Yes. We talked about trading both Tanger and Gino if they wouldn't take pay cuts, but they both did. And so to me, I said to Ron,

we want to keep the band together. We want to see what we can do with this group, but they have to take pay cuts, and they both did. So there's no serious consideration because they're both realistic and reasonable to deal with. Would those have been easy deals to make? No.

No, they weren't. I mean, hang on, let me phrase that properly. Would it be easy based on the marketplace that was out there? We all know that, you know, listen, who doesn't want, you know, who doesn't want Malkin on their team? But like, how big a marketplace at that point was there for them? Or did he even get that far? We had a top GM. One of the guys we both, Ron Hexel and I both respect, like in the top three, maybe top two, tell us that he was going to offer five times nine for the defenseman for Tanger.

So to me, 45 was a starting point. A second GM told us he would have offered five times eight or four times nine. So 36 to 40. That's about what Tanger came in. That was around 36, I believe. So he came in on the low end of the expectations of what we were told teams we're going to pay for. And he's a great kid, he's a great, been a great player, great penguin. So that made sense to us, even though the last couple of years probably won't age well.

Before we let you get to your lunch meeting here, a quick thought on one of the games tonight and just a focus on these two teams. I love it when Montreal opens up against Toronto. I'm of that vintage where that is still the rivalry. Your thoughts on how both these teams fare this season? I'll be there. I'll be at the game. I was at the skates today, but Toronto went early, and Montreal didn't skate,

so I sat in the rink by myself for two hours. I had a real good time. Got cold. I'll be there. You said you like cold. You said you like cold, Brian. It's a great rivalry. It's still, just to see those two uniforms on the ice against each other,

it's worth going to see the original six teams, play each other. So I'm excited. I think Montreal is going to be a lot better than people think. They're finished last year. There's no fluke to me, and they've gotten better. I'm excited about the game. I think they're two premier teams.

Looking forward to this one. Brian, okay, we'll let you escape from the closet. Thanks to all the fine folks at 11 for allowing you to borrow their closet here for this hit. Thanks, Seth. Brian Burke, who joins us every Wednesday here on the program. Glad to

Brian, no matter, you know, Zach, no matter where he is, he's done it from, from restaurants, as we see today, he's done it from closets, he's done it from its bedroom. It's like it's hockey everywhere around these parts, Zach, hockey everywhere around these parts. I want to welcome in, by the way, a new sponsor to the program here, and that is Prime Video. This segment, a presentation, or Prime Video, and Monday Night Hockey, your exclusive home to the NHL streaming games nationally in Canada every Monday. Prime Monday night hockey opens next week, October 13th of the double header. It'll be Detroit in Toronto, followed by St. Louis and your buddy Robert Thomas, in Vancouver. Also on Prime Video, Face Off, Inside the NHL Season 2.

Subscribe with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video to watch Monday Night Hockey and the new season of Face Off. Download the app or go to Prime Video.com. And you know what I got yesterday in the mail? Zacharoo. What did you get? Andy Petrello's new book. Just call me Andy, sports stories from A Trailblazer. So looking forward to seeing how often my name is in this one.

Is that what you do? You get these books and you're like, how many times did you mention me? No, listen, I've known Andy for a long time. Listen, I used to watch Andy do OJHL games. Like she's been, and when you talk about, when you talk about, when you talk about people that have earned it that haven't taken the elevator

but have gone up the stairs, that's Andy Petrello. And I still remember when she said, her first real burst on the scene was when she was working with Leafs TV anchoring all of their programming and you could just see it right away like, okay, yeah, this one's going to be a star.

It's just an absolute star. And she's branched out to so many different things. Can I tell you a quick Andy's Petrillo story before I bring Nick Elberg on? So her wedding was in, in Claremont, okay, home of the,

home of the Binder Twine Festival, home of the McMichael Gallery, and I know you love when I mentioned the Binder Twine Festival. What?

McMichael's Kleinberg. Oh, sorry, it's in Clyneberg. What did I say? Claremont. Oh, sorry. Claremont. Opposite sides.

It's beside me here in Stoveville. Sorry, Kleinberg. Home of the Binder Twine Festival. So they had it at a place called the doctor's house, which is famous for hosting weddings. And so I was talking to Andy and we're talking about blah,

blah, blah, television this and television that she's like when I start when we start the wedding here in the chapel I want you to start your watch I'm like what this was this was like this how you can tell like Andy's a TV person so things get underway I click on my my watch to get the timer going and no joke by the time her and her husband are walking back down the aisle it's 22 minutes and she sort of walks by on and she was what time I go 22 she goes half hour show told you it's a half this one's a half hour show never forgot that one from Andy you can tell like okay this is TV is going to be a 60 or 30 now

it's going to be a 30 uh we stop sets and promos it's going to be 22 minutes okay let's go that that was a fun wedding too I do respect that I respect that one a lot so very much looking forward to our reading Andy Petrello's notebook and looking forward to this conversation as well. I was kind of enjoying the sort of countdown and the prelude to Connor McDavid joining the Toronto Maple Leafs from Nick Alberg, a host of Leaves Morning

Take, and that all came crashing down the other day as a discount of all discounts was signed by Connor McDavid. But nonetheless, how are you feeling? Before we get into the Maple Leafs, great hat by the way, before we get it in the Maple Leafs, and their game tonight against the Montraaw Canaan's and the rest of the season, et cetera, how did you handle the news?

Merrick, I thought this was brilliant by Judd Maldaver Connor McDavid. He just devises exit plan out of Edmonton. That's effectively what he did here, okay? So my countdown has gone from 269 days to now

997 days when Zach Wrenz he's going to be a free agent, when Austin Matthews is going to be a free agent, when McDavid's going to be a free agent. Honestly, like I'm not shocked. I actually credit McDavid quite a bit. I mean, that's pretty surreal stuff. Like imagine

in that room, when you find out that cap hit the best player in the world, and then you look at Kirill Caprizov, guys are going to be in an island for a couple of years now. I understand you did the same thing in your talks with the Nation Network as well. To make one for Rosie, you came in at the deep, deep discount to make room for Jay. Is that true? Want to confirm or deny that one here? No, I will confirm that. I'm a team player, and I want complementary pieces around me.

It's, you know, similar to Beer League. I'm only good if I have a good center like Zach Phillips on my team, and that's when I tuck. I can confirm. Listen, when you talk about being a team player, here's what you have to understand. And always remember this saying. You hear team player with sports teams, specifically hockey, obviously. There's no I in team, Nick, but there's two eyes and invoice.

Always remember that. There's two eyes. There's me, too. And there's a me. All right, what do you think of this year's edition of the Maple Leafs? and not to bias the jury. But I look at this year's team, and I say they're not going to be as flashy

and put up the points like the team has done while Marner was part of the power play. But they are, much like the Buffalo Sabres in some extent, after the Peturka deal, a more balanced team. Does it feel that way to you? I'm wearing our playoff teas right now,

and I'm getting a lot of heat in our chat. People are like, let's move on, let's move on. I got a new slogan, Merrick, just for you to unveil here on the sheet. Addition by subtraction. I think you know where I'm going with that. I love this team, okay? I think there's a lot more depth.

I think it's unfortunate. Scotty Lawton's banged up to start this year. I just like the fact of having that fourth line with the potential of Lorenz Lawton and Easton-Cowen on it. I think it's going to be a work in progress. Anytime you bring in that many new pieces and you take out one big monster piece who's now in Vegas, it's going to take some time to mesh.

That's a big question for me heading into the opener. Austin Matthews, Nyes. Matisse-Michelli, what's that going to look like and the small bits we saw in the preseason pretty decent, but obviously it's a transition period for Nise and Matthews, like, I mean, Machialli's a good player, but he's not Mitch Marner. But all in all, like considering what they had to deal with

them being the Maple Leafs this past summer, I think they were efficient with their cap space and we'll see how it looks. It's an interesting team, and all eyes are always on the team where the sun shines the brightest, I suppose. What are the expectations for this squad? For the longest time, we've looked at teams like Toronto,

and you say to yourself, the regular season in a lot of ways is meaningless because all the answers are in the postseason. But now in a universe without Mitch Marner, are there regular season questions again about the Maple Leafs? Because for the longest time, under the Core 4 era, regular season was just, let's get through the 82 games and then be done with it because all the answers are in the postseason.

Do we still say that? Or are there questions that you have about the regular season with this team? Personally, I don't think there are. I think a lot of people out there wondering if the Maple Leafs are going to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Newsflash, they're going to make the playoffs. I understand the questioning. You take 100 and 100 plus points, whatever it was out of this lineup and try to insert it elsewhere. It's going to be difficult.

But I think they got the same crease, albeit, I mean, some uncertainty right now with Joseph Wall. So I understand that. I like the blue line. I think find me a team the last time a team brought back all six of their D. Like that's pretty crazy stuff. I know Craig Ruby was asked about that the other day. But I think it was really, really solidified with the Brandon Carlo edition. And up front, I think they have more depth.

I think for 10 years now, we've been talking about the Maple East being a top six heavy team, everything there. I think there's more depth, especially now once Scott Lawton comes back to the line up, maybe Easton Cowan finds his footing. I think they're going to be a harder team to play. against. I know it's cliche to say that, but I think up front is the last place they wanted to solidify in terms of gaining depth. Like, they've done that. I mean, credit to Brad Tree Living, the blue line, the crease, and now up front. I, you know, I always like to bring this up when the blues and Craig Ruby won the Stanley Cup, Alex Dean was on their fourth line. And you can tell right

away, that's exactly what Ruby's trying to do here in Toronto is spread the wealth and have depth and believe in all four of his lines, right? Who's the sleeper here? Like, who's the one player on this roster that you say everyone's sleeping on this guy who's that guy so funny enough like last year was max patcheretti who i mean zack could tell you i was vouching for this guy day one of camp and i thought he was just really really important i'm going to go along those lines since you brought this question to my attention dakota joshua intrigues the hell out of me um i think he can play that max patcheretti role this season um nobody's really talking about him he could be a physical physical guy. He could have dropped the gloves now and again. I think he can score. He's obviously

going to start in the third line here in that type of look. You know, who knows if he gets promoted up the lineup, but bits and pieces throughout the season. But he's just a guy who intrigues me because last summer, if you recall, everybody was talking about Dakota Joshua, Vancouver can't let this guy go. Everybody's interested. And then just, it was a difficult season, starting with the cancer scare and all that. And then coming back, you're up against that you're chasing the season. And so that's why I think Dakota Joshua is going to have a bounce back year. I think it's a really good fit in that lineup.

And again, I just like that there's familiarity as well with Craig Ruby. He knows what to expect out of the player since he had him with the St. Louis Blues. I think you and I have talked about this other player, this next player before. And I just don't, I know everyone's saying all the right things. But given how Morgan Riley needs to play to be successful, can he play that way? with Craig Barrube and a Craig Barubi system where, and you know this, Nick, you watch, you follow everything. Like, Barubi wants a defenseman around the net.

Like, that's it. Like, your job is to be around the net. Morgan Riley's game is galloping. Is there room for a galloping defenseman, Craig Barubi's blue line, or is this going to be another awkward season for Morgan Riley? I think you could pick your spots. My recency bias tells me that Morgan Riley is still a good defenseman.

Like in the playoffs, he was much better. If we recall going into the playoffs, he looked much better. Game seven against Florida was a tough one, though, for him. That was tough one for him. It was. Like, I think there's going to be those moments, and it's unfortunate it was game seven, that type of moment, but the entire team stunk after the first period. So I get that.

But I think you got to pick your spots when you're your guy like Morgan Riley. And I did envision a bit of a transition period. But it's been a couple years since he really hasn't been himself. Like we're talking about our least morning take today, his career high. 72 points now, six, seven years ago. What level can he get to? We had 41 points last year. I think if you pulled most least fans, 50 to 55 points is a good sweet spot for Morgan

Riley, but it's the all-round game. And I think, like most offensive D, if you want to call him that in this league, you have to pick your spots and find your moments. And I do find like Riley is a year went on last year, especially in the second half into the playoffs, started to play better. I'm not sure at this age if he has it in him to be that guy who, he was five, six, seven years ago. But I think the biggest key from a Craig Burubi standpoint,

just don't be on the ice too frequently when they score, right? Like I think defensively, there's always going to be a question there with Riley, but definitely can improve here. Have you seen William Neelander's YouTube channel? I have. I gave it a look. I will say, like, if there's one player who can cope with this and not have it become a distraction, it's Willie Nealander.

Like, I, man, I was watching the Amazon series, and that's great. he just teed up the new sponsorship with Amazon. Like, I love Nielander. If you, like, we've talked about this before, Merrick, with all these polarizing players in Toronto, the growth we've seen in Willie Nielander since he was drafted, since he was a young player wearing, I think, what, number 39 to now,

he is, he's the it guy. I mean, he's everything to this team. In a lot of ways, and as we all know, Toronto has a history with Swedish hockey players going back to Boria Somming and Inga Hamastrum, he seems perfectly suited for this market because I don't think he's affected by criticism whatsoever.

Like when you talk about like, oh, tune out the noise, guys will tell you tune out the noise, tune out the noise. For the majority, you don't believe it when the players say, oh yeah, I can tune it out, not a chance. But for Nealander, you look at it and you say, this guy's bulletproof,

this guy's criticism proof. He's throwing himself out there, like wandering around in nothing but as, you know, dry-fit shorts around rinks in Sweden. On this YouTube series, I get used to seeing big shirtless Willie because that's what this seemed like this whole series is going to revolve around.

But he's like impervious to criticism. Guys, always in a wife-beater. Always in a wife-beater. And I think anytime a player tells you, and I'm sure a billion players in their careers have told you they don't pay attention to the media. There's a guy in Vegas. Like, that's a prime example of somebody who can handle the heat

and somebody who can't handle the heat. And sometimes you've got to move on in life. Like I just think you've, look at Nealander specifically, he's a guy who has grown so much not only as a player, but in terms of how he conducts himself on a daily basis. Like even Craig Barubi, just speaking at nauseam about the relationship, said he's a complex guy and he's interesting and like he brings so much to the table and he's got so much talent. But that's the best aspect you could have if you're a professional athlete in Toronto

is like turning the page quickly and just looking at the next shift. And yeah, I've just been so impressed and I'm looking forward to this YouTube channel in general. It should be a lot of fun. How do you look at the Atlantic this year? Like a quick couple of snapshots here and then we'll let you get on with you today. How do you see the Atlantic? I mean, I've been saying, you know,

are we coming back from Niagara Falls on the Florida Panthers? What does Tampa have left here? I do, I never count out Tampa. You know, it's the fool that bets against the Tampa Bay Lightning. How do you give us a sort of Nick Alberg a snapshot of the Atlantic right now? It's funny. I was laughing. We did an entire hour show today barely mentioned the Montreal Canadiens, which I feel

bad for because they're a pretty up-and-coming team. I wonder how they go from like the hunter or the hunter to the hunted, I should say. I think it's a different sort of aspect to look at. And I wonder if there's a bit of a negative regression when it comes to Montreal. I think it's pretty much status quo. Like I know I took some heat on social media yesterday because I called the Ottawa senators to win the Atlantic Division, but I think Linus Allmark is the key there.

If he plays more like the guy in Boston and not like the guy who's eating popcorn for the majority of last season, I think they're in good hands. I think Sanderson takes another step. So I think Ottawa is an up-and-coming team. I know Zach Phillips is going to hate that, but I believe in the Sends.

I love Travis Green. I think he's a good coach. Detroit got no clue what the hell they're doing there. I still don't. It's the same convoy every year. Buffalo, they're missing again. I think we're going to have a team. By the way, is today a bad day for Detroit?

with Kyle Connor signing that extension. Hell yeah. Again, I've been trying to think, like, when are they going to bring, like, a Michigan guy home, right? Is it going to be Hellebuck? Is it going to be Rowensky? Is it going to be Connor? And it's just, it's not how, it's James and Reimsake, okay? He's not even for Michigan.

They couldn't get Patchretti to come home. Patcherty's like, nah, I'm retiring. But, yeah, I think in general, you look at the division. I think Florida's going to be an animal still, even with these injuries. They just, they're so committed. to what they've built there. Tampas, Tampa, they're a really good team. The best coach in hockey, Pound for Pound and John Cooper.

The Leafs are a good team. I think Montreal's a really good team. I think Ottawa is a good team, and it's status quo for the others. Like I expected Buffalo to show up at some point in the offseason do something. They didn't. Detroit, same type of conversation. So yet we here we are on the eve of another start of a season here. I'll tell you what I'm glad you mentioned Buffalo.

Just one quick pause here. Again, like I don't want to, I don't want to keep. on pounding on the Buffalo Sabres. But if you're watching or listening to us live here in 16 minutes, we're going to find something out about the Buffalo Sabres. If Alexander Georgiev clears waivers at the top of the hour, we're going to find out here in 16 minutes. If the quest, hang on, but hang on, hang on, hang on.

I don't want to bias the jury here. If he clears waivers, to me, the question, is about the Buffalo Sabres right now as they are being run. Why was that a contract and not a PTO? Now we're 15 minutes away from finding out this answer because if nobody else around the league wanted them, why was that a contract and not a PTO?

Hey, great question. UPL's got to stay healthy. I think that's important for them. And Tate Thompson, a big year for him. I think, you know, right now, if you're Buffalo, you've got to be thinking, like, how much losing can this guy take? And I don't want to forget Boston. I did not mention the Boston Bruins. I think they're going to bounce back. I think they're going to be more difficult than people think.

They got McAvoy. They got Linholm back in the mix after injury riddled seasons. Jeremy Swayman, there's a reason why this guy was paid that money. He was awesome a couple years ago against the Maple Leafs. And he's a really good goalie. So I forecast the bounce back there, Pasternack as well. So, like, it's shaping up to be a really tough year. game's going to be difficult in this division again.

It will. We'll a quick final, a couple of thoughts here on the Montreal Canadiens. The Dobson move is the biggie. That one before the draft, they paid handsomely for it, but now all of a sudden, and now Hudson and Dobson will be separated so you can have, you know, essentially most of the game with either Dobson or Hudson on the ice for the Montreal Canadians. That's a luxury.

I think the Bulldoch trade was one of low-key, the best deals that we saw all summer along 20 pops as a rookie like holy smokes this kid is good and French Canadian kid play with the Quebec ramparts they're going to love them in Montreal etc etc etc how do you see the haves because I always talk myself into them being

I've just loved all the moves that they've made and I have to temper myself by saying this is still a team that is in the process of rebuilding it's exactly it I don't know if this is a bold take but I think Montreal misses the playoffs like I again I don't know how

I don't know how. It's one of those things where you go and we see it every year. You go from the team that's hunting to the hunted. And I think that just plays a different dynamic where it's like every night you're not going to sleep. Like teams are not going to sleep on you anymore. Like I think Montreal, that was a big story last year. Like here come the Habs. I know they're getting better.

But like, you know, they're sneaking up on their opponents. Like I think they're a good team. I think it's quite clear. I don't know if they're waiting for 87 to make a decision. but like up the middle 2C. I think there's a massive hole rate there on the blue line. I think you're so right. Lane Hudson will see what happens here with the contract over the next couple

months. The Dobson pick up very, very underrated. I think in general, like, and you hate to anoint everybody or anybody, I should say, a winner because not much happened. And I think every time that happens, the case in point last year, Nashville was the quote unquote winner and they stunk up the joint last year. Getting Noah Dobson was a top three move of the offseat. season. I will go down and say that was one of the worst off seasons in

NHL history, bar none. I love my trades and activity. There was nothing. But the Dobson pickup was huge for Montreal. So I think from that aspect, they take a step. But I just have this eerie feeling that it's going to be much more difficult than they think there. We shall see. And it'll start tonight. Trauma believes hosting the Montreal Canadians. All right. Thanks, bud. Continued success. And great job taking the haircut for Rosie. You as well. Take care. It's the best. Nick Albrega right there.

And he was one that broke the patcher ready to Michigan news. By the way, much to the chagrin of some people who refused to believe that it was happening, as I understand it. But nonetheless, bravo to Nick Alberga. Where are you at, Philly, on the Montreal Canadiens, the opponents for your vaunted team tonight? That's the team that I do. I disagree with Al Berga. I think that they took a step. I think that they're ready to kind of continue to build off of what they had.

you inject them and off in for a full season you inject no adobson in for a full season it changes the outlook um question mark on them for me is what the hell will patrick line a be what is he going to be because we saw a guy that can shoot significantly guy that can shoot he can be like okay you know how a lot of veterans let me just let me just jump right in here you know how a lot of veterans by the end of their career, and I'm thinking of a couple specifically. Jerome McGinla and Paul Correa, they just turn into the one-timer on the half-wall guy. Power play runs through my sick. One-timeers on the half-wall, one-timers on the half-wall.

It feels like Lainey's got there earlier, got there early in his career. Which you probably shouldn't be at 27 years old. No. no especially as a guy trying to fight your way back into for lack a better word relevancy like you that's where you came in you let the world on fire people in montreal loved you and by the end they were kind of like what are we doing why is he like why are his legs straight jeff we're on the back check pushing for a playoff spot and he hasn't sweat yet today what are we doing and I think that that's kind of a concern because when the goal scoring slows down

and then the people of Montreal who are passionate and intelligent and really notice everything they look around and they see him with two hands on his stick and it at waist height and he's not scoring it turns quick and like the final thing I'll say on this one is I don't know how it'll start and how it'll pan out I sent you the lineup the other day. Patrick Lano was on the fourth line right wing. I don't know if it stays that way or where it goes. We'll see it tonight.

That does not bode well for him and for his motivation, let's say. That's concerning. Or for his chance of production. But the rest of the team, Montreal, I am. Listen, I'm sharing for Joe Valeno. Like, I want Joe Valeno. If it's not going to happen in Montreal, a part of me just says, like, is it going to happen at all? I'm really hoping big things for it.

for Joe Valena. Okay, time now for our Ninja Crispy question of the day. But first, this message from our friends at Ninja Crispy. Meet the first of its kind. The Ninja Crispy portable cooking system. The power of a full-sized air fryer in the palm of your hand. So you can cook big or small batches. Just prep it, crisp it, serve it, and store it all in one. You know who was in the Ninja Crispy last night? You know who was in the Ninja Crispy? Jeff Malott.

Were you getting after it? Jeff Malat was it? No, not me. He's sitting there on my couch watching hockey games. After what Kail McCar did to him. Anyway, meet the first of its kind, the Ninja Crispy portable cooking system. Now you have the power of a full-sized air fryer in the palm of your hand. Prep it, snap it, crisp it, serve it all in one container.

This glass air friar is PFSA-free, thus no harmful chemicals while cooking. It includes a small, six-cup, and larger four-quart tempware container, whether you're whipping up quick-style single-serve meals in seven minutes, sharing crispy snacks on the go, or serving a crowd, the Ninja Krispy makes it easy. Clean-up is simple. All accessories are dishwasher safe and designed to nest for easy storage. Check out the link in the episode description or go to shark ninja.ca. What do we have for the QOD Today, Zacharoo? Sometimes you just have to take accountability and put your hand up. Accountability is not something that people in Toronto necessarily have been that familiar with over the last little while, but I'm going to start the train here.

You did not get on the question of the day early, so today's question is a little half-assed. I'm just going to be honest, but we did get some good responses. So I will give credit to the chat and to those who responded. Thank you, today's question of the day. How much do you think Connor McDavid's contract impacted Kyle? o'connor's new deal if at all so quickly here there's a poll up in the chat um 58% of the chat says not at all 25% say maybe but just a little bit 17% said yes it impacted it he could have gotten way more i do have a couple of written responses here but just quick thoughts there

jeff on the poll and maybe your own input on whether or not you think this impacted it no Not at all. I think this was always going to be a $12 million deal for Cala Conner, and it got there. You know what the Conner-McDavid contract did impact? Like, where do you think the biggest impact of the McDade—I mean, outside of the obvious, the Oilers now have, you know, extended their window to win, and Stan Bowman has, you know, a lot more money to throw around as he goes shopping. I wonder about Alex Tucker, by the way. You know what this contract really impacted? what I can't just throw that in for Spice now

I'm just thinking about the people Yeah the people from Buffalo We haven't even played a game Look man Tuck hasn't signed there His wife's from out west I know Two and two

You can maybe go win there I'm sure the Oilers would be interested I'm not the only one to mention Stoffers mentioned this before This is not breaking it No but getting back to it You know who this has impacted the most Well I would say like

Ekholm No them getting deals done. Nope. Caprisov, who's sitting there at 17 on an island? Nope, nope, nope. You know this has impacted the most so far? Who's that?

Media. And because now every player is getting asked their thoughts of Connor McDavid coming in at 12. Hey, Austin Matthews, what do you think of Connor McDavid coming in at 12.5? And it's the right thing to do. I'm not criticizing local reporters for doing it. It's the right question to ask because you never know. when you're going to get a really unique and interesting answer from a player who may have strong feelings about it. I'm not criticizing it, but dude, you see a contract like that?

That's like reporters catnip. Oh, man, my job is easy today. I don't care if you're a Rangers reporter or you're a Flyers reporter or a Blackhawks reporter or a Stars reporter or a Kings or a Sharks or a Vancouver Canucks reporter. Your first job is, hey, superstar X, what do you think of what kind of? McDavid just did and it's an instant story it's one of those stories where every single reaction to it becomes a piece of news it's guaranteed it's that biggest story so the biggest in the the biggest effect so far for the Conan McDavid contract media and again not saying that it's wrong it's a right thing to do but the biggest winners us selfishly it's true oh look

there's my navel we won this one we just what do you think leaves morning take let off with today everybody but they should they should like every single show like honestly this is like okay put your feet up here we go we're talking about that here's another angle on the McDavid contract absolutely

anything from the chat you'd like to share no there's just a couple that we're thrown out here Yotes fan on Twitter Yotes 1.0 fan said McDavid's contract significantly impacted Connor's contract Mitch and Miko are both better and make less.

I disagree with that. I think that that's just as you and Berkey talked about changing the times. We're in... That's all. Yeah, it's just contracts change and we're moving. Recalibrate. Like you could, hang on, let me see what, hang on. A quick little glance at something here.

Do you know who his numbers, Kyle Conner, that is? Do you know his numbers resemble? So Kyle Connor has played six. 613 games in the NHL. Okay? The one comparable I want to bring up to you, he's played 614 games. Okay, one game difference.

Kyle Conner has scored 284 goals. This player has scored 253 goals. Kyle Conner's compensation is $12 million. The player that I'm thinking of makes $7.8 million. for another year after this. Do you know how I'm thinking of? No, I'm trying to rack through my head right now. The numbers versus the contract.

Who is this? Alex De Brinkett. Ah. Hmm. More similar than they are different. And Alex De Brinket is 27 years old. Kyle Conner is 28. Yeah.

interesting interesting yeah changing the times this is a new reality we're going into where we need to stop saying oh this guy's overpaid that's a bad deal that's too much money

not based on where the cap is it's not even Matthias Ekholm like he's a first pairing guy with the Edmonton Oilers you know maybe by the time this contract ends he's going to be a second pairing guy but if he's not when you look at his contract track four million bucks

it's probably what third pairing guys are going to be by the end you know like if you look at I said this earlier with the Matias at home deal it's probably one year too much but A I don't think it's going to look that bad

considering where the cap is and who knows maybe it gets allergic to his equipment I don't know Marion Hosa Jan Volpat style I don't know yeah I don't know

The other thing is like If it was really If we're going to really like talk about Conner's contract impact Refraise that McDavid's contract impacting Connors I was about to say Connors impacting Connors Which would just let us nowhere He's probably making like seven and a half

Eight million dollars Like you look at Hellebuck and you look at Chifley What their deals are at And you're comparable that you just brought up And to Brinket like if it really impacted it, he's getting eight, I don't know, like, I'm just ballparking, right? But you know what I mean?

Like, hypothetically, he's not getting 12. McDavid just signed for 12 and a half. Is he a half a million dollar less than Connor McDavid? No. So, no, I don't think it had impacted. Personally. I'd love to hear all the stories about teams saying this to agents now. Well, McDavid just signed us for 12.5.

Are you really telling me that you? Oh, I know. I know. And I was listening to Mike Johnson talk about it the other day. He was kind of bringing up the same thing. It's just going to be like, well, Conner did it? Why? Do you not want to win?

How badly do you want to win? Why does your client not want this team to win the Stanley Cup? I'm confused. I thought your client was more interested in winning here. Clearly like Connor McDavid. You can see it going away. That was the one thing that killed me, not to make it a, leaves thing but that was the one that like killed me is just the quote when they asked matthews

and he's like something along the lines paraphrasing of like winning is all that matters to him and i was like no the dagger what is it doesn't matter to you uh all right uh we got more games on the go around the nchel this evening uh the sheet is powered by fanduel and we thank our friends there and our partners home of the same game parley make every moment more on fan duel Dwell, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments that matter to them. And for the second day in a row, we can actually talk about games, Philly. We got games. We got Toronto, Montreal, Scotia Bank.

We got Boston, Washington, a TD Garden. We've got Calgary, Edmonton. We've got the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights. Your first look at the regular season, Mitch Marner in action for the Vegas Golden Knights, Montembo versus Stolars, Swainman versus Thompson, Wolf versus Skinner. I'm assuming I haven't seen Anton Forzburg. faces off against Aden Hill

in that Vegas LA Kings game LA by the way the jerseys looked good that was about it that was a team that looked really scrambly

last night like Colorado looked awesome and again watch Kail Makar on that Leckoning goal Nate just was really good he had a pair but Colorado looked

outstanding last night and in turn LA looked like they were fumbling around And to start the season off back-to-back, Colorado and Vegas, that's a tough slog for the Los Angeles Kings. Love the jersey reveal. It was cool the way they did.

It just come out with the new look. Awesome. Great. But that's a tough back-to-back to open the season. At home against Colorado, on the road against Vegas. Bam-Bam, could be 0-2 right away. Yeah. I agree with you in terms of how they played 100%.

I'm worried about them long term this year. Having Kopitar final year, that whole thing, and then just seeing the changes that were made defensively. I'm worried, worried about goal-tending. Can Darcy Kemper do repeat what he did last year? Not too sure. He's good. Quick note on Darcy Kemper is excellent.

Well, I think he's really good as well, but I think last year he had a Vesna-Calibur essentially. He was great. Effectively a Vesna-Calibur season. I don't know that he repeats as a Vesna-Calibre year again. That's kind of my question. Not so much is he good or bad. I do agree with you.

He's a good goaltender. Just does he go that level? Not sure. Quick thought on the uniforms. Hated the helmets. I'm sorry, L.A. Love the jerseys. Love the unveil.

Okay. Let me. Hated the helmets. Okay. I was having this conversation with someone in L.A. last night. I like them. I like different things. Try them out.

I like them. Okay. I like them. But this person is. said to me, how different and maybe better would it be if they had the matte black helmets? 100%. That's what you want? You don't want the spaceman helmets?

With those uniforms? No, not with those uniforms. I don't mind them because they do the chrome helmet with the white jerseys, I think they did last year. They were the third jersey that they had. Fine with those. Those ones last night, I tweeted out. I was like, these look like they should be the villains in some like cheesy Disney hockey movie.

Like, that's what those uniforms were. Like, especially when they're skating around in the dark, all I could think about was like, this was some Mighty Ducks thing, the smoke coming out. It was just the combination I didn't like. Love the jerseys, love the whole process of it. Helmets, not so much.

Just a quick thing. I don't know why you would say that. I don't know why you say that, Philly. The helmets speak well of you. Let's, uh, no, a smart ass response for that one. The helmets like you.

Here you are blasting the helmets. They're not around to defend themselves right now. No, I'm not. Go ahead. Just, I thought we're going to get something out of you. Quickly here on the, no, no, the schedule for tonight, the four games. The only thing I don't like, I got a beef here with the schedule maker. The Battle of Alberta to kick off the season, I feel like it should have, like, waited a couple of games to give the two teams something.

where they're like coming in both just a little pissed off about something. What do you got? What are you pissed off about? If you're an oiler in that room, you're in the best spirits you could be. At Colmes, re-signed, McDavid's discount, Mnobloxended, Wollman extended, like these guys are coming in.

Here's, yeah. Happy and hugging. Calgary, nothing really to be upset about here yet. Make them come in, owling, and pissed off about something when they go head to head for the first time. Don't disagree. I think for, like I was talking yesterday, opening night in Florida, it would have been real juicy if it was, no, I don't know, Tampa Bay Lightning.

How big, like that rank in Edmonton. I remember 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs being there. This is when I was working at CBC. I was there. It was me and my producer, Tracy Lightfoot, and Colleen Jones were there for games in the Anaheim series and the San Jose series and it was the loudest

I've ever heard a building for hockey I've heard louder buildings Montreal Bell Center for George St. Pierre versus Diaz that was insane that might have been the loudest

building I've ever been at in my life but for hockey man that was loud what do you think the ovation for McDavid is going to be tonight for those Oilers fans

what do you think that ovation is going to be like tonight they are going to go banana sandwich when he's introduced yeah yeah they should yeah they should they should have fireworks going off outside there should be a flyover over the stadium like oh geez this should be this should be full blown like like this is what

you're you're if you get late in the season and you do something where you go nuts it's like oh wow this is embarrassing like what are we doing it's opening night you can do the whole should bang like game ops in Edmonton has probably had the busiest couple of days of their lives preparing for the party they should be having in that arena tonight it should be above and beyond

will we have I know we got a hustle here um will we have 12.5 chance if it were a Winnipeg that would be one of the creative ones I'll say yeah 12.5 12.5 12.5 every time he scores yeah

We stink at chance in North America, though. Outside of, like, Winnipeg. Yes, we do. And nicknames. We stink a chance and nicknames. I know. Well, I think hockey players really ruin that with it. My nickname is Philly.

They just cut letters off and added a lot. But here's the thing. That was the simplicity of this. I was like, oh, nicknames used to be so much better. Like George Vazzo, the Schu-B cucumber. Nobody said, like, hey, Shakurby-Cucumber, how are you today? He's called George. He's like a media nickname.

Oh, he's like the Shokutum Bikura. The Stratford. Hey, Stratford, Streak. How are you? Like, no. Imagine. Didn't work like, hey, chakotomi cucumber. I assure you that.

That was just, no, it's just they called them in the media. All right. Good stuff, Philly looking forward to tonight. Four games across the board in the NHL. Yes, hockey is back. It is a wonderful thing. Only do happy to be talking about hockey games. Again, thanks to Brian Burke for stopping.

by as you does each and every Wednesday. Thanks to Nicola Berger from Leif's Morning Take. And thanks to you for watching. Thanks to you for being in the chat or listening on your favorite podcast platform. Please subscribe. Please like. Please leave the comments. It helps us all.

And we really appreciate it. So thank you for your time, your attention. You are free to do as you choose now. Insider Show coming up, though, too. Very much looking forward to that one here at our daily faceoff YouTube channel. Yet another reason to subscribe. Tip your Zamboni driver on the way out. We're back tomorrow at 1 o'clock Eastern.

I spent 16 hours last night every day this week, every day this month. I can't get out my head, lifestyle, ambitious day-to-day, because I can call it all right. I went to the dark man. He tried to give me a little medicine. I'm like, nah, and that's fine. I'm not against those methods but new. It's me, myself, and how this is going to be fixing my mind.

If you want to back in it, I turned on the music. I do want to beg it. I turn on the music. Wixing up, help, I don't get you sometimes losing. I've been on the day that we're wrong. In the dead dark night