The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Leafs Fall Off and Tri-State Trades ft. Stefen Rosner

Episode Date: January 28, 2026

Today’s episode of The Sheet features Jeff Marek breaking down the growing concerns surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs as their season continues to trend in the wrong direction. Marek digs into how Toronto appears to have fallen off a cliff, reacts to Craig Berube publicly calling out everyone involved in the Leafs’ ongoing failures, and explores what realistic next steps look like for a franchise once again searching for accountability and direction. The conversation then shifts to the broader league as Marek examines the continued growth of hockey in San Jose and across California, discussing why the NHL’s presence in non-traditional markets remains a critical part of the league’s long-term vision. The show also features listener questions touching on leadership, organizational philosophy, and front-office decision-making around the NHL. Later, Stefen Rosner joins the program to break down the New York Islanders adding Carson Soucyand Ondrej Palat, and why it’s still so rare to see trade activity between New York’s NHL rivals. A packed episode full of perspective, analysis, and league-wide context you won’t want to miss.SHOUTOUT 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 once again to it. This is The Sheet. Glad to be along with you today for this Wednesday, January 28th. We have a lot to get to today, including the trade yesterday between the Islanders and the New Jersey Devils. More on that coming up with Steph Rosner. So it very much feels like in the Eastern Conference right now that last night's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres, at home for the Maple Leafs, it very much feels like that's it for the season. That is essentially the nail in the coffin.

If the team doesn't make the playoffs and the odds are slim, they can play at a clip that will get them into the conversation around 95 points that will look back at the Buffalo game and say, that was the game the Toronto Maple Leafs had to have, but their season essentially ended on January the 27th, and then the discussions will fall about what happened, who's to blame, who's responsible, where are the fault lines, who's going to hang for this one, et cetera.

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. It's having a conversation with someone this morning. And this is a conversation, I guess, that most fans never really have. And this person I was talking to is essentially a Maple Leafs fan. But we're having the conversation of if it's going to come to an end, if your season's going to be over in the regular season, okay, not the playoffs, but in the regular season. If there's a team that's going to beat you in the regular season that essentially eliminates you from, tension, even though technically and mathematically it doesn't, who would you want that team to be? And speaking, and you've heard me talk about the Buffalo Sabres and my affinity for them going

back to however many decades, but considering everything has happened to the Buffalo Sabres in the last 14 years and considering everything has happened to their captain over the last 12 months, if that was it, like if that was it for the Maple Leafs and it felt like it. still does. I'm glad it was at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. I'm glad it was at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, QEW rivals. I know Maple Leafs fans might not want to hear this. But this is a team that is on the rise.

This is a team that's been the laughing stock for 14 seasons. This has been the punchline team for a lot of times. And this is a team right now that we've been talking about for the past couple of weeks here on the program that we have to say are good. It's not just, oh, they've got to go. going on a 10-game winning streak. We've seen this before. Don't worry, they'll come crashing back down to Earth.

This is a Buffalo Sabres team that is good. So from that point of view, if that's it for the Maple Leafs, I'm glad it's at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. I'm glad that that is something they can put in their hip pocket as they march towards a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. And, moreover, and as someone that cheers for players and doesn't cheer for teams, This one is more important to me than the team. I'm really glad it was Rasmus Dahlin that did it to them.

I'm really glad there was Rasmus Dahlane who records a hat trick, as Tyler Yerumchuk mentioned on DFO Live this afternoon, the third defenseman in his many days to record a hat trick in the NHL, two of course with the Edminton Oilers, three goals and two assists for the captain of the team, and considering everything that he's been through in his personal life, I'm really glad that it was Rasmus Dahlin who fired the final dagger or put the final dagger in, the final nail in the coffin, however you want to describe it, the Toronto Maple Leafs season. Happy for the Swords.

Happy for Rasmus Dahlin. The Toronto Maple Leafs were left with a number of questions. And we're going to get to some of those here coming up in a couple of seconds. The Blueprint is powered by Fandul. Here's those coming up on the show. Download the app today and play your game. on Fanduel. We are standing by

for our Wednesday regular conversation chat and we got a lot of feedback and we got a lot of emails and a couple of voicemails as well for Brian Burke who joins us each and every week here on the program.

We'll talk about the Maple Leafs collapse. What just an awful home stand for this team that it's been. We all heard the comments yesterday from Craig Baruba, who was very short and concise in his dissection of the team's issues. We'll talk with Steph Rosner as well.

talk about the New York Islanders adding yesterday, Andre Palat, in that deal with the New Jersey Devils. So interesting, in a couple of days, all three tri-state teams have made deals with one another. We saw the Rangers making a rare deal with the New York Islanders, and then yesterday the New Jersey Devils making not exactly a rare deal. I think they've made like 25 deals with the New York Islanders. It's more rare with the New York Rangers. I think that was only the fourth or maybe fifth trade between those two teams. But nonetheless, interesting times, if you're a New York Islanders fan,

and we'll get into that with Steph Rosner coming up a little bit later on. Also, when Berkey joins us here, I had a chance. I had a chance this morning, and we're going to be releasing this on February the 9th to sit down with Chris Pronger for about 30, 35 minutes. We're going to be putting up a bunch of interoperations. interviews with Olympic players as a way to get everybody into and excited about the Olympics, as if you needed anything else to help you get excited about the Olympics. So sat down with Pronger this morning to talk about 98 and 2002 and 2006 and 2010 as well.

Chris Prongo, one of the most decorated players to ever play the game at just about every single level, two-time gold medalist, one in 2002 and one in 210. And I did get a question in there about Berkey. So if slash when we get there with Brian Because we have a lot to get to I want to play this clip for Brian Because listen as much as Brian like all of us Has pet topics that he likes to discuss

You know Brian loves to talk about the Siddines And putting that deal together And he loves to talk about his 2007 Anaheim ducks team He also loves to talk about Brad May But he also loves talking about Chris Pronger Who Berkey you know always sort of goes out of his way To discuss when it comes to. to that 2017.

And Pronger actually mentions too, you know, a couple of times when Berkey was the sheriff, holding the role of the head of what was, what is now called the NHL Department of Player's Safety. Pronger was the star of a couple of his videos, let's just say. So before he got him in Anaheim, he had suspended him previously.

He was also the general manager that drafted Chris Pronger to the Hartford Whalers as well. So a lot of stuff to get to there with Brian Burke as we stand by for him. So again, the main story of the day will probably be the Maple Leafs loss of the Buffalo Sabres. Yesterday, Rasmus styling three goals to assist his first hat trick. And once again, I'll say the same thing that I've been saying pretty much from game one for the Toronto Maple Leafs after that, the win against the Montreal Canadiens. A game where the Canadians outplayed the Maple Leafs, but the Maple Leafs escaped with the two points. This is a team that looks old and slow.

This is a blue line that's all in their 30s. This is a combination of goaltenders that at times, and last night was one of them, are hard to hit. And here's the question that you have to ask yourself about Toronto. First of all, it's good that it's happening this time of year. If you're going to have your big swoon, don't do it at an inopportune time after your manager has already made perhaps a ridiculous trade

or has a ridiculous trade in mind before trade deadline. But, you know, this is a team now that faces a choice. Because I don't think anybody thinks that they're going to play at a clip. Outside of players in that room, who I'm sure still think that they can turn things around. Can play at a clip that's going to get them to 95, 96 points, which is going to get you in the conversation to make the playoffs. I don't think anyone thinks they're going to play at that level. They don't have the horses.

They don't have the back end. And they're not quick enough to compete with speedier, faster teams in and around them in the Eastern Conference. So if you're Brad Trillivying now, and trust me, there are politics that are above Brad Trillivings' head that may weigh on any decisions here. It very much does feel like if this were a normal situation, the team would look at itself and say, it's not there this season. we need to take a step back. We need to look at expiring assets here and get something for them. Maybe use what we get for this collection of players to turn into something that can help us next season. And maybe, just maybe, look at another core piece.

But that's for an even bigger conversation about Bradford Living and the Toronto Maple Leafs. But I think it's become clear in this homestand, 04 and 1. that the season isn't there for the Maple Leafs and they don't have the combination of players that are prepared to bite down on the mouthguard and say, all right, fellas, we're going to the playoffs. No one said this will be,

no one's saying this will be easy for Bradrow Living. But then again, if you were thinking about adding at the deadline, what bullets of the Maple Leafs even have at this point? Like this kind of might be a blessing. that the team is sort of, you know, showing Brad Trill Living, the team isn't there this year. So don't bother making a move to lurch this thing forward an inch,

only to get trounced in the first round if you even do make it there. It's a good way to retreat. But there are corporate pressures from above. There have been a lot of bold statements that have been made by people above Brad Trilliving. There is Rogers who is poised to take over a 100% of MLSE, and I don't think the idea of them starting with a rebuild for the Tronimate beliefs when Rogers is entering a brand new multi-billion dollar arrangement with the NHL, I don't think the idea of starting with your Cadillac franchise retreating is anything palatable,

considering that over the course of the first 12-year deal with the NHL, the team where you make the most money from off of, only made it out of the first round twice. That's a tough one. And then you enter a second one, and I don't think the idea of a rebuild of this team will sit very well with the executives above the office of the general manager. But a lot of people came in and they got rid of Dubus,

and they got rid of Shanahan talking a really big game. And for this to end up the way that it's looking right now, there's going to be some really difficult conversations, and there's probably going to be some changes. The big question I think that everybody wonders is, how far ever retreat backwards will it be? And how long will it be? I don't think anybody expects the Chicago-San-Hose-style rebuild with the Maple Leafs,

but it does look like at least a temporary retreat here is in order for this squad. Congratulations to Patrick Kane. Should mention Patrick Kane and Jason Greger did a great job with this last week on rundown. So last night he ties Mike Madano for most points among U.S. born skaters, 1,374. So tied with Mike Madano. But Brett Hull, American, still holds a record with 1,391 points. Now, Pat Kane is going to eventually get that record.

But it is interesting, the caveat, of course, U.S.-born skaters, Patrick Kane tying Mike Madano, because the number one points leader amongst American players is from Belleville, Ontario. from Belleville, Ontario still. Times are tough in Vancouver. That was, I'm trying to get Vancouver Canucks a soft landing here as they lose 5'2 to the San Jose. Sharks, Macklin, Celebrating with four points, including his 27th goal of the season. God, does he ever look good? Things look really bad in Vancouver.

Things look actually terrible in Vancouver. And we talked yesterday on the program, Thatcher Demko, the team announcing he'll undergo hip surgery, Thatcher Dempco is 30 years old. And we all know how important hips are to any player in the NHL, but perhaps most important, to goaltenders. And no matter when they come back, I always give players when they come off hip surgery, specifically goaltenders, one year grace.

Because you're really not yourself. You can be back and healthy, but you're still not yourself for, I would say, probably about a year. So even when Thatcher Demko comes back, you still, when you look at a grace period for a 31 year old gold tender, that's how old he'll be, when he comes back, still give him another year. Things aren't getting any better at all for the Vancouver Canucks.

Lankening gets pulled last night. Things didn't go great for him. As much as we talk about Macklin Celebrini, and we should, how far back is Will Smith from him? Probably not very. I know we've talked a lot about Celebrini and how by the definition of the Hart Trophy MVP, he really should be the guy

just because of how much he is dragging this team single-handedly into the playoffs. But when we watch Will Smith, and again, like I know he's facing off against the Vancouver Canucks last night and they're not exactly the toughest out. Will Smith looked fantastic yesterday. And that goal was a laser beam good on him.

And we still wait to see where Evander Cain is going to end up and the clubhouse leader amongst speculation is Los Angeles Kings and Ken Holland. I know that there have been conversations over the last two years when Cain was with the Edmonton Oilers that both the New York Rangers and at times the New Jersey Devils as well had conversations about Evander Cain. New York is going through their retool.

So I would take them off of that list, but I do still wonder about the New Jersey Devils who still have I. to the postseason. Thank you very much. You did some business yesterday. Not exactly a total cap dump. They pick up Maxim Cipulikoff in the deal as well, sending Andre Palat to the New York Islanders.

But what this does is free up a little bit of cap space here for Tom Fitzgerald to maneuver some more. Like, I think both general managers in the deal yesterday are still in the business of adding. You know, Matthew Darsh is still in the process of adding and they added Andre Palat yesterday. New Jersey Devils get Maxim Siplecoff in the process, some draft picks involved in this one as well.

So not just a cap dump, not just player for picks. We do wonder whether Andre Palat is a candidate for a buyout, but nonetheless, Darsh is not done. You know, you look at Ilya Sorokin, having the season that he's having, and you cannot squander that. Right?

Like one of the worst things you can, do as a team. The Rangers were sort of famous for this too, of recent note. You can't have a goalie having a season like this and squander it because it doesn't happen all the time. The elite goaltenders are the elite goaltenders, but every now and then, elite goaltenders is going to have a clunker. Remember how like Jacob Markstrom would just like flip-flop back and forth?

One year he'd look like, one year he'd look like he was a world beater and it was no problem and he was like on my way to the Vesna trophy and then the next year it just would be a complete collapse and it just wouldn't be there for him. Sometimes goaltenders have bad seasons which I've always maintained it's incumbent when you're having a goaltender who's having an elite season and give me the Vesna ballot right now. Rustle it away from the general managers and select media. You've got to have Seroca in your conversation for top goaltenders. So they are not done. They're not having a season like that. Oh, by the way, Speaking of goal tenders, and I'm just getting a note here from Zach due to technical difficulties.

I'm not so sure that Berkey's going to be able to join us. We'll get them on at a future date here. Speaking of goalies, this is rare. This is a real rare one here. We don't see this very often in season, although, hang on. Although now we've seen two. In the middle of October, I want to say like October. 20th. Speaking of the Islanders, Pierre Greco was fired as goaltending coach of the New York Islanders,

and Sorokin essentially brought in his guy. Sergei Nomovs comes in. Now, today, this morning, it was announced that Eric Raymond has been fired as goalie coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Listen, we know how much of a step back San Montembo is taken. We know how much of a step back, Jakub Dobish has taken as well. and this team is probably better than the record, and you wonder how much poor goaltending has undone

everything that this team has done so far. Eric Raymond, relieved of his duties today, Marco Marciano comes on in an interim capacity to handle the netminers. And it was interesting. I saw this note, and I was wondering, and they did. Tyler's an excellent host. Tyler Your Roundtruck on DFO Live,

bringing this up with Carter Hutton. and asking the obvious question, you know, how much of an effect can this have on a goaltender? And I thought Carter Hutton's answer was pretty interesting, too, as an ex-NHL goaltender. He said, maybe not so much physically, but mentally as well, that it gives you a sort of breath of fresh air, it gives you a little bit of a reset. It's a new voice. And it's a chance for goalies to sort of reset themselves in season. But again, most goaltending issue, most goaltending, coach.

coaches survive a season. And then the decision is made in the off season. You look at the Trey Red Wings. Give it a good example. So last year, everybody focused on Dylan Larkin and Steve Eisenman. Pause for a sip of coffee. Everybody focused on Dylan Larkin and Steve Iserman. And we saw it in the postseason pressers.

And Dylan Larkin complained about not getting any help at trade deadline. And Steve Iserman, his general manager, essentially came out and said, you didn't deserve it. So I wasn't going to help you. I wasn't spending good money after bad. You guys didn't deserve it. Now, internally, it very much sounds like in the off season, everybody that I talked to said in not so certain terms that they pinned a lot on the goaltending last year.

And that's why they dismissed their goalie coach. But goalie coaches tend not to get fired during the season. goalie coaches get fired at the end of the season. They don't get fired in season. That's why this one is really unique. Not that we've seen one, but we've seen two.

And I wonder how many times we see more now. Of course, Red Wings got John Gibson and he's been elite for them. But I wonder, like, in the era now where there are so many teams, and again, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that these are two Eastern Conference teams that are plenty of their goaltending coaches.

where everything is so packed together and you're looking for the tiniest little advantage and if your goaltenders are holding you back, maybe that's true of the Montreal Canadians. Those two, Sam Monsonboe and Jakoboos, haven't been the world beaters that we thought that they would be. Maybe we start to see more of this.

There's only so much you can do by way of trade, right? And you can't always return to, we're going to fire the coach. Maybe, I don't know if this is going to be a trend. We'll see still. I wonder how much bringing in new goalie coaches becomes a thing around the NHL. All right. So, again, so Berkey, unfortunately, and we thank you for your questions today, isn't going to be joining us.

We do have a couple of things we want to go over. Do we have, by the way, do we have Steph Rosner standing by? Yes, we do. Oh, let's get to Steph. So Steph Rosner from the L monitors here. This is going to be much more interesting than me going on and on, prattling on and joining on about goalie coaches. Let's bring on something that knows something about the game.

He is, Steph Rosner from the El Monsters, here to comment on the trade that we saw yesterday. So does Matthew Darsh know that there's other teams other than his neighbors? He's allowed to trade with L.A. He can call Vancouver. He's allowed to call the teams in Florida. He knows one quite well. Thank you very much. And maybe that's why he reached out to the New Jersey Devils to pick up Andre Pallat.

I think that's a pretty obvious line step that we would draw between Pallat and Darsh. That goes back to Tampa. How did you see that trade? because I'll be honest with you. When I first sort of, the whispers getting out yesterday that Pilat was on the move, I kind of thought he might be going to Nashville to play with Stephen Stamcoast. But what did you make of the deal? Yeah, I think that it's a move where Matthew Darch is weaponizing his LTR space.

Not many teams would take on the full cap pit that Pilate did. Obviously, the honors would have loved a second round pick. Didn't think that was doable. But he's not just getting Pilat to take on the cap. He's a guy that obviously knows Pilat, won cups with him in Tampa, and thinks that he could get, you know, rejuvenate himself a little bit with the Islander series. He's going to be asked to play a 200-foot game. He'll be with Horvette, and you're not giving up much.

He recoups the pick he got in the Sucy deal, a better third-round pick if the devil's finished behind the Islanders. So look at it as a hoping, a lightning in the bottle, no pun intended, well, maybe pun intended with Pallat there. But, you know, just shoring up, just shoring up his forward group because, you know, Maxine Sipakov, who's on the move going back, just didn't really fit into their structure and the style of Wawa wanted. And Pallat brings a little more. Also, Darts mentioned the play. I mean, he's got 400 plus hits and 150 playoff games, two cups, provided offense and thought that Palat was one of the devil's best players in their playoffs the last two years. So again, not a great year for Palat, but I think Darge believes in the player and hopes that it works out here. You know, I used to always, when he played with a triplets, right, with Kuturoff and Taylor Johnson, he always kind of looked like a, I'm going to get ahead of myself with a comparison. And I'm not making it, again, I'm not making a direct comparison to this guy because this guy was one of the best players we've ever seen. He was kind of like a mini hosa. Like he did like a lot. lot of the things that Marion Hosa did, not at the level that

Marion Hosa did because he was amongst a super elite and the fact that he never won a Selke trophy is ridiculous, but I digress this for another conversation. But like there is, like, I don't know how much of that guy is still in Andre Palat. I like to believe in magic sometimes and believe that it's just a different environment where it didn't work in New Jersey for whatever reason, bad centers for him. Like, I don't know. What makes Matthew Darsh think that that wasn't Andre Pallat? And the Pallat that he remembers from Tampa is the real Andre Pallat.

Yeah, I think it's about his responsibility. I think it's more, forget what happened in Jersey. I think it's more about what he saw what Pallat do in those playoffs. Like you said, is that player still in there? No, but Darch knows the player inside and out, was willing to take a chance. And again, because he was able to weaponize his cap space, the Islanders got picks back, and I think that's important. Now, Darge also said that he'll move his first round pick

if there's an opportunity to bolster the team. I think it was more of, you know, he got Horvap back, but the lineup just has been chaining so much, and the islanders wanted to be better defensive. I do want to mention that. He said that our defensive play from our forward group, ND hasn't been good enough. So even if Pilat isn't that goal score,

he provides that responsible a 200-foot game can help out on the penalty gills. I think it's more than just, you know, Palat finding that scoring touch that maybe he's had in years past, but more about overall the body of work Pilots put in. And like I said, it's a low risk. People can knock the taking on the cap hit. You subtract Cipulacov.

But it is a deal that could be bought out. It could be flipped next year at the deadline. So the focus is obviously on right now. But I think it's more about what Pallat's proven, and hoping that even if there's a little bit in there, that it'll help leadership-wise, it'll help the 200-foot game and just help the Islanders be a more stable team

as they push for the playoffs. Let me ask you a couple of things about Carson Sussi, too, because all these things are sort of done in concert, even though they're individual deals with different teams. What are the things that I wondered about right away? And you're right there. You can tell me whether I'm on base or off base. I wondered if the Carson Sushi deal told us anything about Ryan Pulok's injury.

Should I be drawn to line between the two? I wouldn't just because Pulok was on the ice this morning. He's missed the last two games, but he's a game time decision. I don't know if he'll play tonight, but he's a game time soon for tonight. I think it was more just, listen, Darches, and I credit him, he was so patient when Romanov went down. He tried pretty much every defensive prospect getting in his pipeline. I would have loved to see George get more than a two-game sample,

but George was hurt. didn't get that opportunity. Whereas less of a question mark, yes, Susie has his flaws, flaws for sure, but Darts knows that it could, you know, what Susie brings.

He's going to eat penalty minutes, penalty kill minutes, take some pressure off Schaefer and Pellick. He's a stable defenseman back there. And I think the Islanders were done kind of with the question marks, who's going to play, how is a prospect going to play?

And just solidify that. So I don't think it has anything to do with Pooleck. Now it helps. Again, Poolok being out, you have that penalty killer in the lineup. But overall, I think was more of,

you know, let's just stabilize the back end. Again, It was great to see the young players and you get a look into the future. Maybe George is still part of that. But more of, you know, what is George going to be tomorrow? We don't know. We know what Susie brings.

We could trust that. And maybe he's going to play 17 or so minutes. That's five or four minutes more than what the filling was bringing. So at the end of the day, it's just someone that could eat minutes and play that defensive-minded hockey. Marshall Warren, Isaiah George. So I was talking about them on the program yesterday and wondering, you know, I look at the Islanders and say, okay, they're looking for a right-hand shot to here. Like if I'm Matthew Darsh, I'm like, yeah, okay, what do we have?

have here. I was wondering about Tyler Myers. You know, that might be an obvious one here. You mentioned if the rate deal is there, they'd let go with the first round pick. Does that extend to George and Warren? Yeah, I mean, it's possible. If they believe George is not part of this future, why not? Again, it's not like a Marshall Warren where he's got four or five or ten or so NHL games. I mean, sample size for George last year was 33 games. Was it all great? No, I think he was a different player after you came back from the concussion off the max dome of reverse elbow to the head. But George is a guy that grew a lot this summer in terms of just mentally and physically growth and he played really well against that flyer game. Look, we saw Sipikov make one

really good pass against the flyers and he's on the move. So I think George is more likely to be moved. I don't know if they, you know, with Warren, I mean, I think he showed what he's going to be. I'm not sure if he's an NHLer. I think the islanders do value George and think that he could be an NHLer, but we're at the point now where, you know, if you're bringing in Susie, I don't know if you retain him over this next year, he can play both sides, Susie and so can George. But the He's also a pending UFA, and he's played really well, so you're thinking about bringing him back. So I agree. I think if George is not part of this team's future, he for sure can be included in a deal.

I don't think Warren has that value that George has, but, yeah, I mean, if you know what you have now. So at this point, if you part ways, you're making the move because you believe either that player can help you, or it's more valuable in the trade market. Do you have a thought on, even though this is Montreal, the Islanders already went through this early around with Piero Greco. The Montreal Canadiens fired their goalie coach today. I went through the same thing now, Elias Roken essentially brought in his guy. But just sort of to pull back a little bit, considering the Islanders have just gone through this. I don't know why I'm so fixated on it, but just because we never really see it so much, goalie coaches fired in season.

Like, goalie coach dismissals are offseason moves. This one has worked out obviously gangbusters for the Islanders. I don't know if this becomes more of a thing. You know, I don't know if you have a struggling goalie, struggling goalies. The manager thinks that the team is better and the goalies are holding them back, etc, etc. Talley Rumtruck on DFO Live was discussing the Oilers situation with their long time former goalie coach as well. I don't know if this becomes a thing, we'll see, but from your landscape, A, how much does that help Sorokin? And B, do you think this becomes more of a thing in the

NHL? The goalie coaches aren't safe until the end of the season anymore? Yeah, I think, I mean, if the Canadians find a way to turn things around with Monteverro and the other guy, I always forget to pronounce his name. But, yeah, you have two situations where it vastly changes your season. Yeah, I think it's more common. Obviously, with the Islanders, like you mentioned, Sergey Nimav is someone who Sorokin had of experience with in the KHL. And it changed the Islander season.

They're not even close to a playoff spot. If Sorokin doesn't bounce back, Riddick has played well as well. But, yeah, it changed everything for Sorokin and the Islanders. And quite frankly, with how the Islanders played last year and Sorokin last year, I wouldn't have been shocked if Greco was let go after last season. I think they gave them some leeway here and said, hey, like, see how it goes, but they knew they had a goalie coach ready. I think that's a little bit of a difference.

Sirkin Newmont wasn't going to be a bridge for Islanders goalie coach for the next three, four years. Like when they brought him in, you knew time was kind of ticking. At some point, if they could make a move, they would. So I'm not to the situation in Montreal. But I think the fact they had a guy ready and waiting who Sorokin knew well, made it a lot easier than maybe a guy that's been a long time, a long-time goalie coach in the other team.

What do you think? For those that are watching and listening right now, that haven't watched a lot of Islanders games this year. What do you think, Steph Rosner, because you're all over it, man. What do you think people need to know about this year's edition of the Islanders? Because, like, look, Darsh isn't done.

Darsh is frisky. You know, there's going to be a trade, you know, pause here for a while, but when we get back at it, if he hasn't made other moves by then, he'll probably be making moves leading up to the trade deadline. What should we know about the Islanders? Yeah, they want the playoffs bad.

I think you went into the season, knowing that it was going to be an evaluation year. but when you saw how good Matthew Schaefer was right out of the gate and then seeing Serokee bounce back, I think it kind of changed the, oh, they'll be good in three, four, or five years to, why can't we compete now? Why can we become Stanley Cup contenders

over the course of Schaefer's ELC? I think that's a huge thing, whether anyone's going to say there or not. I mean, if you could find a way to be a cup contender before having to pay Schaefer 17, 18, 19 million annually, you try to do that. And I think it's important. I think it's important for the honors to make the playoffs

just for guys like Schaefer and Richie and Shabanov and other guys. the guys I missed the playoff last year, even the vets, mentally to keep these guys, you know, knowing that you're going to compete. I think, you know, I talked to Barzal and Horvette today, and it meant a lot to see darch go and fill holes and make the lineup better than it was a couple of days ago. Is this team right now a Stanley Cup contender? No.

They are better. They're more suited and more stable than they were a couple of days ago to stay in a playoff spot. And I think Darch is going to add, you know, to me, I look at a guy like maybe a Robert Thomas if Darts is willing to move probably both his first round picks. If you're going to trade for, you're going to trade your first round tips, I'm just saying, if you're going to trade your first round picks, you're not getting a rental. You're getting someone that's going to fit right now.

And long term, like, for example, Stamco's, not that I think Trots is going to trade him. This guy's probably going to score 40 goals this year. But that's not a guy. I think you trade your first round pick for maybe the Colorado and maybe they get, you know, retain some salary there. But if you're going to go for it and get a player with at least those two first picks, go get the monster player like a Thomas that can help your team going forward. I mean, Kyra obviously is an option there as well.

I know he got hurt last night. But, yeah, if I'm darts and you're willing to move those picks, So you will get a guy that can help you now and maybe become more of a contender before this season ends and long term because, again, when you have a guy like Schaefer, Cornerstone, and a guy like Sorokin, you have a chance of winning cups. That's just the baseline and you have both of those.

You know, there's a winger that plays just down the street who's not getting renewed by his team. He's pretty good. Russian guy played on Chicago and Columbus. He's been plying his trade the last eight years with the New York Rangers. Would there be any interest there? I mean, listen, if Artemey Pernar is feet ground in, like, I want to stay in the area, it's not as if the Allenders couldn't use his services.

I know a lot of people, like, I personally think that L.A. seems to be the clubhouse leader here for Artemian, but we'll see. Could you see that happening? Like, I know this is why I've been like, what, it was the fourth deal or fifth deal that these two teams that made between each other? Like, I was mentioning the other day, like, the one that always blew my mind was the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins. You know, there was McNabb and Servar, but that was free agent compensation.

They never made a deal. You know, the Sabres came into the NHL in 1970. They never made a deal until like two, was it 2000 and not, the Danny Pai deal was like the first one they made. So from like two, from 1970 to 2000, those two teams did not do business. We've seen it before.

Rangers and Islanders generally don't do business. We saw a small deal. Could we see a whopper? Yeah, I mean, it's up to our turn and Pernarin, right? How much does he want to stay in the area? Is he willing to sign an extension with the Islanders? I think if it's going to happen, it'll probably happen in free agency. I think Panarin deserves to test the market if he wants to.

And for the Islanders, I mean, this is a guy that they wanted, you know, seven years ago. And Panarin was between the Islanders and Rangers, signed the Rangers, signed Anders Lee, their captain become captain to a seven-year, seven-annual deal. So could Panarin want to stay for sure? I just think, like you mentioned, the Kings are a great fit. Obviously, we've heard Minnesota. We've heard a ton of teams. if those teams are willing to trade for him without an extension in place,

that's great. I don't think the honors are going to do that, especially in the division. But it really is up to Bernard. And so would I be shocked? No, I just think if that is going to happen, it's probably more of a signing in Freight and See rather than a trade. Where's Horvats? I just a couple of last ones here for you.

You mentioned you talked to Bo Horvatt. He's flat out one of my favorite players in the game. I've always got a soft spot for Bo Horvatt. Where's his head at now? It's certainly a side of relief that he'll be, you knock on wood here. There's still games to play, but healthy for Team Canada. Where's Horvat at?

Yeah, he's excited for the additions. He's always spoken about how they need to be better. I mean, I even talk to him about Darts getting players and Wai, keeping the lineup, maybe more of the same than switching. They said, well, we don't want to make Wai's job harder. It's on us why he's had to change the lineup so many times. So he's always been an accountable player. That's why he was a captain in Vancouver.

But he's excited for the additions. He's excited to be healthy. He was so proud to make Team Canada. He said he would fill water bottles. He didn't care. He wants to wear that leaf on his crest. I think he'll play more, obviously, with point out. Maybe he'll be in that starting group there.

But, yeah, Horvats at a gem to talk to. He's a leader in this team, and he wears an A for a reason. But, you know, he had a tough game against Philly in a second game back from injury. But this is the guy at the Islanders need is their leading goal score. And when he was in the lineup playing well, and the Islanders had that stability with their forward group, they went 6-1-0 on that road trip,

and they were playing better hockey. So the Islanders need to get back to that if they want to stay in a playoff spot. All right, last one for you. It's more of a sort of big-picture Islanders question. So Matthew Darsh, a couple of weeks ago, was on the DFO Rundown Insiders Edition with Rangafar and with Dave Panyoda. And one of the conversations that I found really interesting, a section of was early in the conversation where Matthew Darsh talked about his marketing background and marketing the Islanders and having players more out there. I understand that whenever you talk like this around the Islanders, it sounds you could take a shot at Lou. I'm not taking a shot at Lou.

Everyone has their own management style. I would argue his is from a different era, but there are some guys that liked having, you know, someone that wasn't, you know, from the old school, but was from the school,

they burned down to build the old school. And that was Lou. But how different is it? Like, it's palpable, right? Like, it is palpable that it's really different this year.

It was different on day one walking in for development camp after the draft. It was just, it felt like a breath of fresh air, but also seeing players on podcast, and Barzal was on a, Barstale podcast in the summer. And we haven't seen players. I lose rules for those that don't know is players couldn't go on podcasts.

The focus was on the team, they didn't want that. So they couldn't do that. We have Matthew Schaefer with the Noble, Tom Brady's deal, which would never probably been possible in terms of sponsorship and things like that. And I think it's important, too, when, you know, the team went stale under Lou. I think everyone understood how, you know, secret of it was, how limited it was when they were winning. Or going back to back to Eastern Conference Finals like we've talked about in the show before. Once things got stale and the team wasn't winning, then it was, well, let them,

the players and the fans, you know, build relationships. And I think with Schaefer, the younger fan base trying to get them and the islanders bringing Kelly Cheeseman to be their president who would work with AIG with LA Kings and stuff and understanding the market and building the islanders brand and you need outgoing players. And I have, the great thing about the islanders is the room is they have so many players that, you know, Barzal plays the guitar and has all these different things he loves to do. Matthew Schaefer is obviously a gem. But all these guys do so many different things in the community as well. I mean, even promoting social media, excuse me, events within the community that maybe weren't being promoted at time.

So I think it's completely different and it's huge because, like I said, having got like Schaefer, young players can look up to now, it's important that they hear from that player as much as possible. How different is it that, you know, Islanders fans can get excited about prospects Twitter now? Yeah, it's great. I mean, you can even use prospects to make trades now. You know, they're not, it's completely different. I mean, that's a thing too with trading, you know, all the talk about trading that third

round pick for Susie or Palat deal, whatever it is, is. The Islanders don't need as many picks anymore, really. I mean, of course, picks are valuable, but they bolstered their prospect pool this past summer. They have that first-round pick. Like, it's okay now. In the past, it was the Islanders need every draft pick because they haven't hit on anybody.

Now I think it's different. It changes, like you mentioned Isaiah George. A couple years ago, there's no way you're trading Isaiah, George, because he's your only defensive prospect. Now it's like, yeah, why don't you include him in a deal? So I think things have changed. I mean, Islander fans always find something to complain in the last 48 hours. I put some of them in time now,

just because it gets a little much. Let the games play. Let the work. Let's see what happens before we banish people to this one. But it's passion. And the Islander fans are starving, obviously, for a cup forever. They want to see a new movement under Darch. And I think, again, having Schaefer changes everything for this team and having a proactive GF. I mean, Lou is proactive as well before deadline. So we can't knock him there. But it's interesting how this team has developed over this layout since the summer because it's very different on and off the ice. Yeah, excuse me, on the ice and off the ice. Yeah. Did you buy a new tongue this morning?

yeah i did it's just i'm testing out the islanders lineup man it's uh it's a lot i've been talking a lot these last couple of days so i bet like like that's my first language so that that's the thing too it's like oh the jm made another trade that's like eight new interviews for you is like okay yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah and i'll take as much three time as possible they sort of the darch is like spreading them around like just when you think you can take a breath rossner he's making another deal and that's a whole new round of interviews for you including me and i always appreciate when you stop by you're you're one of the best at what you do. Really appreciate, as always,

and everybody's subscribed to this newsletter. Man, the L. Montres is the best. I love it. And by the way, the instant trade reaction newsletters are chefs' kiss. Keep them up. Great stuff. I write that with you and Martin.

Thank you, sir. Put something extra in your envelope this week, Rosner, put something extra in your envelope. Thanks, Bell. Have a good one. There he is, the great stuff, Rosner. Covers of New York Islanders, you read them everywhere.

And you really should subscribe to the newsletter as well, the L monitors, outstanding as we bring aboard Zach Phillips who's been wrestling with technology I'm guessing trying to get Berkey aboard today but it was not to be and so we'll try to get Berkey on a different time normally it's Wednesdays

we'll see what happens for the remainder of the week maybe we get him on back him up with Penn Yodon or fine and we'll see where he's at. You good? Yep, we're good yeah, a little bit of a battle there for like 24 minutes and then I don't think this one's working today but we tried our best.

I promised people that. I apologize. We couldn't get it to work, but I did do whatever was in my power, and it just not meant to be. All right. So unfortunately, unfortunately, you did how many hours last night

after that Leafs Swords game? Four hours and I think 18 minutes was the final runtime. Is that the longest post game you've done? Yeah. Yeah. And Amel called me this morning, our boss, and he's like, you know, you're going to have a new nickname. Like, he said he's going to call me the marathoner.

Like, yeah, and I know it's a little bit ridiculous. It's January. It's game 53, but I think last name is kind of the dagger for people. It felt that way. We just took calls the whole time. Like, that was the end. You could tell, you could feel it, you could see it in the players, the arena, everything. it was just the end.

And that's how it came across with everybody that was in the chat and everybody who called in. So I just said, you know what? Screw it. It's Tuesday night. It's January. But let's keep this thing open until everyone's got everything they need to off their

chests. And that's what we did. Now, did you hear my little preamble to kick off the program? I know you're trying to get Berkey aboard. But like, for me, if that was the final nail for the Maple Leaf season and that,

you know, there's emergency meetings all day long and the offices at 40 Bay. etc. I'm glad it's the Buffalo Sabres, and I'm really glad it's Rasmus Dahlane. I know fans don't want to hear like, oh yeah, I'm glad that it was this team. And I know fans never want to have the conversation,

which team, if you could pick one, do you want to eliminate you from the season? But if you had to pick one, isn't Buffalo a good one? And if not, who's the team? Who's the team? Like, do you want me to answer this as a, Leafs fan or do you want me to answer this as like for hockey and the story?

It's just an uncomfortable. Because I get what you're saying for the story. That's no problem. But as a Leafs fan, no, no, no, no. Not at all. No, but you would say this thing about Boston, Montreal, and Ottawa and Detroit. Like you would say it about anybody. But like try.

I love, listen, I love it when people do this to me and I like doing it to other people. It's like the idea, you know, Dan Carlin, host of hardcore history podcast, which is still to me the finest podcast going. He likes behavior at the extremes, like how you react in extreme situations. Part of why I love reading military history or watching documentaries about military conflict throughout the centuries is these are decisions that are made in extreme times, right? Uncomfortable conversations, uncomfortable scenarios, really conversations that you don't ever want to have. And one of the conversations you never have as a fan is, which team do you want?

If you could pick to eliminate your team. To me this year, whether it's Toronto or any other team in the Atlantic Division, for me it would be Buffalo, just because, again, it is a great story for that fan base. Can you bring yourself, watch this, as a human, To say, you know what? I'm happy for these guys. 14 years of eating plates of it.

Can you not see that? Sure. As a human, yes. You don't buy it. No, no, no. But like, as a Leafs fan, no, this is not the team. I know that you are separate from this. So you have a different view and you want the Sabres to do well.

And you grew up watching them stuff. So I completely understand that. I have no issue with you saying that from that standpoint. That is not how it feels as a Leafs fan. And, like, to be honest with you, I almost would have preferred it had been Boston. That was the team that does it because, like... Over Buffalo? Yeah, yeah, because it bookmarks the whole tenure.

And yes, yes, exactly. You are used to it. The first time I experienced, like, maximum amounts of pain with this team for myself, was 2013. Like that was pain that I didn't even know was possible for watching something take place that I was not personally involved in. I think at that point in time,

what, I was 15 years old, and I'm like, I didn't know that I could be this depressed or lost from an outcome that I have no involvement in. And then to have it just be the one that ends the era, I would have just kind of been like, This is what they do. They got Fraser Minton in the first last year. They gave us Brandon Carlo, and now they've ended the era.

It is what it is. Oh, darn, the Bruins have done it again. And now I have to deal with, like, here come the Sabres fans on top of everything. Oh, we're good now. And look at Dahlene. And you've never had this stud, but look at us, we do. Oh, fuck you, Buffalo fans. From the least fan perspective.

Samuelson's good. Yes, yes. and I have to just chew on all of that. If it was the Bruins, I'm just like, being there, done that. The Panthers also the same thing, like, eh, we tried to be you, we weren't good enough to be you, is what it is.

Like, damn it, move on, era's over. The Sabres is just like, step on your throat and not just stomp you out quite yet, but like rub your face in the dirt a little bit. Maybe spit on you and now stomp you out. Oh, geez, wow, that's a little snug.

I don't know, I'm happy to this, I'm more so happy that it was Rasmus Daly with the hat trick and the five points than the swords. Swords of the swords, whatever teams, teams, teams. I'm just happy that Rasmusel. If that is the end of this, like, if that was like, okay, that was a game they had to win. They didn't. They lose 7-4. Just awful at home.

The Ruby's post-game. It's atrocious. I'm happy that it was Dahlene that did it. So then, let me move on. Human level, yes. Let me make that clear. I don't want people to think I'm just like some salty asshole. I understand and I agree with you.

Human level, yes. Leaves fan aside, yes. Like, happy for Dahlene. This guy's dealing with hell this season, personal life, and how the season started on the ice for everybody and how it's been for his entire time there in Buffalo. Human level, yes. The fans of Buffalo, yes, good, like, good for them.

Happy for them from that. You're saying as a Leaves fan, happy they're the team that ended the season? No. William Mielander bird to you. Oh, gee. William Nealander By the way,

the cutaway to Nealander in the press bar, he says it with the donuts. And a thank you card. They zoomed in and said, thank you, Willie. He's got a thank you card

in the press box. Oh my God, man. So good, so good. Love that guy. You know, one of the things

we wanted to do with Berkey, I want to do now because I think it's a really important thing to point out. And I really believe this. I was glad to see this from Brody Brazil, who works and has

for a number of years with the San Jose Sharkey. Can we throw this tweet up from late, late, late, late last night or early, early, early this morning, depending on when he put it out? Do we have this one? Okay, so this is Brody Brazil. We should have really have him on the show. He's wonderful talker and really knows the sharks. Want to say something for longtime sharks fans who currently live in the Bay Area.

There's brackets clearly already starting to be a lot more people who are getting back into this team lately or getting into the sport for the first time. or getting back to their hockey fandom. It's awesome. Please let them in the door. Help them learn the game and rules and team history and all the fun stuff that we know. Cow Palace, Jumbo Slide, Pavalski Payback, all of it. Be an ambassador. There's no reason to gate keep.

The sport could see another huge growth spurt in NorCal, corresponding with the next era of shark's success. Let's make that a legacy. Amen. You know what we really saw this, too? Coming out of lockout of 2004, 2005. And really hit at Zenith, I guess, when the Hawks were hot again in 2010, because then you saw a lot of, you know, Hawks fans coming back, you know,

after, you know, where it's senior passed away. And they got their games on television. I really believe this about a million percent, but not just about San Jose Sharks, but about every single market in the NHL. I understand that, you know, I've followed hockey just as a fan as a kid since, like, God, I'm old.

74, 75 or some of my earliest memories would have been like Flyers, Bruins, Stanley Cup watching in my cousin's living room in Livonia, Michigan. Sabers Flyers, Stanley Cup final in 75. And then the HABs run like by then. And the Maple Leafs were kicking. It was French connection for Buffalo. And it was Sittler, McDonald, Thompson, Palmet's here,

Solomon Turnbull, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jim Jones and Jerry Butler killing penalties. Roger Nilsons sends them over the boards. and the great voice of Ted Darling and all that. Like, I get it. Like, I've watched a ton. One thing that I'm always really, really sensitive about, and I think we all should be.

And this is why I love that Brody put this out. We should always be at different points of our fandom here, is people are coming in at all different times. Like, just because your line stretches back farther than someone else's, you know, doesn't mean that somehow you have a view that is, that should serve. to gatekeep other people that are on their way in. You know, the doors should be open for new fans.

Help if you can. Let them enjoy the game that they want, like how they want to do it. Like we have a lot of new hockey fans coming in because of one specific TV show now from a demographic that generally hasn't felt really welcome in hockey for a number of reasons. Okay? And they're coming to the sport now. And there's always new fans coming in as new teams sort of rise or older teams start to rise again and new fans come along. I just love what Brody Well, because I hate the idea of treating ourselves like we somehow sit in this privileged position to look down at people.

Like, I'll tell you what. And right now, unfortunately, but fortunately for the Carolina Hurricanes, Ellen Etchingham, isn't writing anymore because she's scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, Ellen Etchingham, she's always the example that I, that I raise. Ellen Etchingham is, I believe it was born in Chicago, somewhere in Illinois. I apologize. I don't know if I have your birthplace incorrect. She used to write a blog called The Theory of Ice.

And when she got the Carolina Hurricanes job, she took all of her past writing down. but nobody wrote more eloquently or thoughtfully about hockey than Ellen Etchingham. She was the finest. I would never miss a blog. I remember how thrilled I was once to find out that in the league that I was playing in, her boyfriend Julian was in the league. And I remember she came to meet him one day. And we were talking about Ellen the week before.

And I was like fanboy when I met Ellen. I'm like, I don't miss a single blog. This is like in the, I want to say it's like 2012 or something like that. But there are a lot of people that are going to come into the sport now, to Brody's Point, specifically in the Bay Area. And some of them are going to turn into some of the most thoughtful people you're going to meet. They're going to move the game forward. Don't put your thumb on them. Let them come in and let them be.

Or else there wouldn't have been in Allen Etchingham. Or else, you know, there wouldn't be a lot of other people that populate front offices now. So anyway, I just wanted to mention that today because, It does seem very much like there is a changing of the guard in the NHL, that there are a lot of new teams, sorry, Zach, that are going to make the playoffs and pick up new fans and some perhaps older historical teams that haven't won a championship in color. Yeah, that are now starting to take a step back.

Did I mention the Man on the Moon thing? I know, how's the good one? There's going to be a bunch of new fans. Let them be. We can learn as much from them and their perspective, because let's face it. I know I'm guilty of this. And I try hard not to be.

We tend to let the cement harden around our ideas and let the cement harden around our fandom. And this is the only way you can be. That's not true. That's not true. Try to remain open-minded about everybody and let everybody in. Thank you very much. Here endeth my little stump speech. I don't know if you have a thought or two on that one, Zach.

No, I agree 100%. I think I'm starting to kind of experience some of it as well, being in this position, our doing the Leaf stuff. Like, I had a call her two games ago, I think it was, maybe three games ago. He called in from Australia. He's been watching the Leafs for two years. I mean, I did tell him he was a bit of an idiot because he picked the Leafs to be his team. But, I mean, that's besides the point.

He moved to Toronto for work. I was born into it, but you, but you, I was born in. Like, you chose this. Yeah, I was like, dude, you, you've messed up here royally. But anyways. The joke about the guy that comes in his house and sees his wife sleep with his best friend says, Steve, I have to, but you? Yes, exactly that.

That's what we're dealing with. I mean, but obviously that is a least specific example, but this is a guy who's calling into the show. And he's telling me, like, he moved back to Australia, and now he's growing the game, whether he realizes it or not, because he introduced his friends to it who had never seen him. He spent two years here in Canada, picked up the game of hockey, fell in love with it, and now he's bringing it there. And we talk about wanting to grow the game around the world and make hockey bigger and more inclusive and everything. It's just a little small piece of it right there.

Or, hey, this guy wants to call him and he wants to share his thoughts. Welcome these people into our world. Welcome these people into the fandom. It's the best thing that we can do for the game as a whole. So I mentioned Ellen Etchingham, who's brilliant. There's another name that I'm author who used to listen to MV. when Greg was at Yahoo and I was at Rogers. And she's now one of the assistant general managers with the Seattle Cracken.

And her and her then-boyfriend now husband would listen while they were both going to college. I think they went to University of Minnesota. I apologize, Alexander, if I'm not exactly right about that one. Alexander Mandricki, who was the assistant general manager of the Seattle Cracken, started just by listening to our goofy podcast, me and wish. Because I think her boyfriend at the time did. and then she took like a really interesting curiosity in the game from an analytics point of view. Like that was how she measured hockey and how she observed hockey and parlayed that into a career. Just be open and available for people.

And all these people find their way. A lot of people can find their way into front offices and find careers in this goofy little sport. So anyway, Brody Brazil with you about a million per cent. Okay. let's get to a couple of things as we wrap up the program. The sheet is powered by Fandul. You got a good one saved up first today? The sheet is powered by Fanduel.

I hope so. Okay, we'll find out. I know you used up a lot of your words and brain cells yesterday complaining about the Maple Leafs. We'll see how you do today. Play your game with Fandul. It's the NHL season. Fan Duel 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

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or the gambling of someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. Parley-Zac. As everybody knows, it's well-documented here. Last night was a frustrating one. You pointed it out. the post-game show, how long it took.

And I still, I think at that point, I had finally just gotten the anger and the frustration out. But when I woke up this morning, it quickly returns. So I spent the majority of this morning marching around and chucking crap around. And my girlfriend had to remind me yelling and screaming and throwing things isn't as good as going to the bar. Mason Marchment, Brady Cachuck. Matthew Barzell.

March, Chuck, Barr. Mason, March, Mitch, Brady Kachuk, and Matthew Barzell. Five bucks brings you home. $142 and two pennies. That's a good one. I like how these things have little stories now, too,

attached to them. I know you sort of dipped your beak in that fountain a while ago and then backed off of it, but now I do respect the fact that you're going full on in and we get a little story. And a little didactic parable from you as well. And I mean, a little peek inside your relationship with your girlfriend. So that's a nice little touch, too.

She's very concerned about you. I was like, I started it. And then I'm like, I'm taking up people's time. And like, this is not what people are watching the show for. And then I started getting pushback from the chat and people on Twitter. What? Where was the story today? Why didn't you do the story?

And I was like, okay, I'll do this story. You're not going to make these things too ridiculous. but I like to throw in a story at the end. And the punchline is always the hockey names, which is fantastic. I think you've really found a real groove for yourself here in the industry. I think you've found a real niche for yourself. That's the niche that I want to be in. Look, man, we don't choose it.

And the Parlays. You don't choose it. You know, Marshall McLuhan, the legendary media critic, old UFT prof. Medium is the message was always his big thing. One of the things that he talked about in the late 60s that always resonated with me, which is very, very true, is a little saying that he had. And it went like this because you never really know what people are going to be interested in. If you say something on the radio, keep in mind, this is the late 60s.

If you say something on the radio, people will discuss what you said. If you say the same thing on television, they'll discuss the color of your tie. It's true. You can't decide. It's more about the medium itself. And let's face it, this is a video podcast. And sometimes it's just an audio podcast. What do people want?

Especially if you're watching live at this point in the afternoon. Stories. Even if they're completely faulty and completely made up. And Zach has just taken us out the door and around the block for his little goofy punchline that evolves three hockey players' last names. I am impressed, sir. Take a You know what Take the rest of the week off

How about that? Oh, by the way Speaking of taking time away Guess who I buttered up yesterday I hope he's not watching I don't know Who? Amo.

Amo. You know why? Why is that? It's New York Hockey Night presented by Parasso Thursday, February 19th joined Daily Faceoff alongside special

hockey guests at the atrium inside Ideal Glass Studios in New York City for a night of live podcasts, activations, and giveaways. I think he might be biting on this one, Zach. Let's go, come on. To go to this. In partnership with Parasso,

morning cup of hockey and tri-state hockey pod will be on location for a night of candid conversation, big laughs, and unapologetic hockey talk. There's open. 6.30. Tri-state hockey pod gets going with a live show at 7.30. Thursday, February, 19th at the atrium inside ideal glass studios 21 and over please secure your spot

RSVP at nationgear dot CA or do what I did call up Amel and kiss his ass and call it ice cream try to beg your way try to beg your way in yeah oh Amel you've been doing such a great job the content on the network is so amazing how do you work so hard how do you do it everything is so polished there's no corners nice to and rounded, real smooth. I don't know how you take, I don't know how you take a turn at that high speed, man, but you do it. It's remarkable. I've just watched it for years.

No one's ever confused anything I've ever done with art, but every time I work with you, I feel like I'm an artist. I don't have an easel. I don't have brushes. But man, every time you and I get to just like, you know what they say PhD stands for? Piled higher and deeper. Piled higher and deeper. Oh, you got your PhD.

Piled, piled higher and deeper. So just laying up. But I think I may, I think I, I think I may have the hook and the fish. I just got to get it in the boat for us to get down there. But I'm working on it. I'm working on it. February 19th. I only know one other.

Meaning for PhD. Papa has dough. Papa has dough. Yeah, that's another one too. Yeah. Well, you went to Western though. So that's the understanding. What are they, money salad and uncut insolence is what they serve over there.

at the Purple University. I, of course, went to the Distinguished University of Guelph. Thank you very much. Liberal arts major, English major, with a minor in philosophy, Professor Jay Newman and Donna Penny Palmoteer.

Actually, Donna Penny Palmeter is actually now in teaching a Western, I believe. God, was she fantastic? I'd end up there, Donna. Good Lord. Professor Jay Newman. I had the coolest, I had the coolest philosophy 101.

Jay Newman from upstate New York who served in Vietnam, and every now and then he would start sort of drift off and talk. Jay's no longer with us. unfortunately, my first year philosophy, Prof. And every now and then, he would sort of, I don't want to say like get into flashback mode,

but he kind of got the sense that Prof. Newman was going there. It was hands down the most interesting philosophy class. Maybe just the most interesting class in general I ever had. Anyway, how did we get on this one? You went to Guelph and you went to Western and somehow we ended up discussing. Oh, PhD, yeah. Papa Hasdo. Yes, Papa has to.

Or piled higher and deeper. Was a whole line Last time I went to New York City, by the way, I think was like I was 14. You've been? You've been? Once, yeah, I was there for a lacrosse tournament. Oh, of course, yeah, of course, had to have some sports.

Did you play Syracuse? Did you play Syracuse? She played against Syracuse. That's the lacrosse Bar House. I played at the arena or the field. It was outdoors, field lacrosse, beside Hofstra. So we could see Hofstra and we could see

the old Islanders Arena. What was there an arena called? Nassau Coliseum. Nassau Coliseum, thank you. We could see them from the fields. It would be like, well, there's where the cool arena is, and there's where the cool stadium is. And we play on this one over here.

And then we took like a day trip into New York City, you walked around the Big Apple for like three hours and then left. That was my experience in New York. All right then. Nassau Coliseum was the coolest. I loved it. Like I know, it was one of those rings where you walked in and had to go down. Man, it has so much fun going to games there.

Nassau Coliseum was the coolest. I know, like, you need a new rank and didn't have, like, all the amenities. But it was just like it was a vibe, man. Nassau Calisian was a vibe. You know, we all cities do always do, like, you know, get into Manhattan, go to a ranger's game, go drink our faces off and get up and take the train to go see an Islander's game Sunday afternoon. Oh, that were the best. Oh, so much fun. That's awesome.

It was great. So I'm trying to weaselot our way to New York City. And I think we did some real good work yesterday. and by we I mean me begging Amel when you and me to get down to New York City you know we need though what places place to stay oh there's a guy that I think we know who lives there maybe he could open his doors who las you don't want to sleep on his couch he has a couch that's a good point and maybe not we might have to bring couch uh but he will have the roof above our heads.

Lazz? Yeah, I don't know about that, man. Would be great. It would be wonderful. Anyway, that one again, February 19th, that's a Thursday. The Atrium Inside Ideal Glass Studio is 21 and over. Please, RSVP Nationgear.ca. Oh, NYBoo says we can stay with Lazz's parents.

They live close enough. Oh, dude, I'll stay with his parents. We can get Las Stories. Get nonstop last stories. Yes. that's that's the play right there that's what we have to do hit up last turn yes yep I like the sounds of that okay um I think we're all finished for the program today

again apologies for for Berkey for today we'll get them on hopefully at a different point this week with the technology working and Berkey should be good to go for the people that sent in voicemails and emails we will get to them with Brian there was some really thoughtful ones too some really smart ones this week so anyway apologies for that thank you very much to the great Steph Rosner for stopping by to talk us about the Allenders and their most recent deal for Andrea Palat yesterday and the Carson Susi deal as well. And I don't think anyone thinks for one second

that Matthew Darsh is done. If you're watching on YouTube, thank you. If you're watching on YouTube but haven't to subscribe, please consider doing so. Listening wherever you get your favorite podcast, thank you again as well. Everybody in the chat, everybody sending in emails and voice messages on the sheet line. Thank you so much. We'll get back to it tomorrow. Speaking of which, Greg Roshinsky from ESPN on the program tomorrow. Friday, as always, it is a day. Dave Panyoda from the DFO Rundown Insiders Edition podcast. And listen, he's always on Wednesdays alongside Tyler Rumschuk and Carter Hutton. Today was no different.

So go back and listen to the archive of that one. Dave was some interesting stuff there. And he'll bring some more heat on Friday. Got it? Woshenski tomorrow. 1 o'clock Eastern for the sheet. Talk to you down.