The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Oilers and Stars Eliminated ft. David Pagnotta & Greg Wyshynski

Episode Date: May 1, 2026

Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski are back with another MvsW edition of The Sheet, diving into a stunning first-round exit for the Edmonton Oilers after falling in six games to the Anaheim Ducks. The guys break down the fallout from Connor McDavid calling the Ducks “an average team,” and what it says about Edmonton’s mindset, before unpacking head coach Kris Knoblauch admitting the Oilers had roster holes they tried to work around. From there, it’s on to the Dallas Stars getting bounced in Game 6 by the Minnesota Wild, with Dallas outplayed for most of the series and their bench boss owning it postgame. Then, NHL insider David Pagnotta joins to assess what comes next in Edmonton, how deep the changes could go, and the latest surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs front office search — including where names like Mats Sundin, Tie Domi, John Chayka, and Gary Roberts could fit — plus a check-in on the latest developments with the Nashville Predators. Subscribe for more daily NHL coverage, playoff reaction, and insider analysis.#TheSheet #MvsW #NHL #EdmontonOilers #AnaheimDucks #MinnesotaWild #DallasStars #MapleLeafs #Hockey #StanleyCupPlayoffs #JeffMarek #GregWyshynskiReach 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.

We are live once again at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everton, home of the Everettysilip, alongside Greg Wichinsky. I am Jeff Merrick. What color cadaver gloves would you like for the autopsies today? I tend to go with a purple old-school undertaker-style cadaver glove when I'm doing autopsies on NHL team. Do you have a preferred color, maybe a gray or a black? How do you like to do your autopsies, Greg? What kind of coward wears gloves for an autopsy?

I like to get in there. I just feel the squish between my fingers. Here's the pancreas. That's what I like to do. Okay, well, the autopsies are going to begin with this quote. Who said it? We were an average team all year. When you're an average team with high expectations,

you're going to be disappointed, Greg Wischinski. Game show Friday, who said it? That would be Connor McDavid. I know that because I stayed up very late to write the story. That's why I look so terrible on the show today. My producer, Amel, our exact nice. Yeah, I know. And get the, get your talent ready for the program.

Man, you look awful. Anyway, go get it, boys. So anyways, I mean, I thought there was two assessments last night of the Oilers that led to the same place. McDavid calling them an average team. And then Chris Knoblock, when asked by. our friend Sean Gentile last night about McDavid calling them an average team

saying that they were a team that had some holes. That is an indictment of the roster. That is an indictment of the people building the roster. Let me give me some names. It's to the general manager's office is where that one went directly. Let me give you some names. Remember a couple years ago when the Edmonton Oilers

played in a game seven in the Stanley Cup finally, they lost to Florida. They played in a game seven. Here are some of the names involved in that game. Philip Robert, Dylan Holloway, Greg Kulak, Ryan McLeod, Warren Fogel, Corey Perry, Connor Brown. That's called a supporting cast, ladies and gentlemen.

That is what this Oilers team does not have. Get out of here, Ryan McLeod. We don't need you. We've got a Trent Frederick now. You left out one whopper there. When you talk about, holes. I was doing this on Zakarison Price today. Can you name a bigger superstar who's had worst goaltending in his career? Now, Dale Howard Chuck never had good goaltending in Winnipeg.

Marcel Dion outside of Rogie Vachon early, never had good goaltending in Los Angeles. But McDavid saddled with what he's been saddled with all these years is criminal. and it continues and continues and continues but goaltending wasn't the issue of this series am I wrong? Yeah the goaltending was horrible this series The goaltending was terrible because the defense in front of the goaltending was horrible

and that was bad too Yeah I know listen trust me like The leaders in tipped goals goes like this Tim Kerr Dino Ciceroeroero Darnel Nurse. But nurses are on his own net. That's part of the story. I get it.

The defense wasn't great either. But at the same time, and even like the idea that you have two guys that are significantly banged up in Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisdiel. And you're on the road. So you put them together and playing. defensive conscience on that line is Kasperi Kappanin? What?

There's a lot, hang on, there's a lot of blame to go around, a lot of blame to go around here. But I don't think the goal, I mean, but the goaltending is a massive story and still will be. But ultimately, the blame is being placed on the construction of the team by the team's captain and by the team's coach, who will probably not be the coach for much longer. but does he last the weekend? Dude, I, listen, I am the first one to blame the shortcomings of the Edmonton Oilers goaltending,

and by no means am I saying that the goaltending was sufficient. I'm saying the bar is set so low that the performances that you got at a Connor, Connor Ingram and Tristan Jari in the series were actually adequate by Oilers standards. I don't think the goaltending is the reason they lost the series. I think the overall team defense and the depth issues on this team. McDavid's completely right. Look at this roster. This isn't a championship roster in any way.

It's not to say that the other rosters he took to the Cup final were, you know, the Colorado Avalanche circa 2026. But this is a really not very impressive team. And it's a team that Stan Bowman's now had two years to build. And both the team captain and the head coach say it's a team riddled with holes, a very average team. And now I suppose the real heavy lifting starts for Stan Bowman. And you forgot about one thing. there's a doomsday clock that ticks every single day that goes by for Connor McDavid. We can get into this.

We're going to get into the Dallas Stars. We're going to get into a whole lot of stuff today. The blueprint powered by Fanduel. Download the app today and play your game on Fanduel. Excuse me. Coming up on the program. More from your favorite. Greg Wischinski from ESPN and ESPN.com.

We will get into Dallas Edmondson. Yes. Both eliminated. More on that. in a moment. What's next for the Oilers, you ask? What's next for the stars you ask? Should we probably, Greg, throw in what's next for the penguinos as well, you ask? We'll get into all of this and a discussion about GM searches with a good friend DFO and Sider-Da-Peniodas. So a snappy little show today to conclude the week before we get into some more action on the ice. In the meantime,

I want to swing back to Edmonton, but first your thoughts on the Dallas Stars. Now, I ain't trying to say nothing. I ain't trying to say nothing. I ain't trying to say nothing here, but I got a text from someone last night who said this. Dallas has to decide whether they want to be the Florida Panthers with Jonathan Huberto, or they want to be the Florida Panthers with Matthew Kajuck. Oh, boy, here we go. I knew you would go there. I knew you would do it.

So in this case, Jason Robertson is Jonathan Huberto? Is that what we're doing? And Brady is Matthew in this way. And Brady is Matthew. Okay. Yes. Sure. I mean, that'd get them in theory, right?

That maybe a little sweetener gets him. You know who had a bad series for Dallas? Jim Hill. Who had a bad series? Okay, explain. Tyler Myers. Mm-hmm. Scratch.

Mm-hmm. Pete DeBore cackling somewhere as he watches the Dallas stars go out in the first round. That granted. Mm-hmm. Some of that is not having. than Rupert Hince, and some of that is being stuck in a playoff format that while providing us with much entertainment is completely inadequate in properly rewarding successful regular seasons. I love it, and that's the end of discussion.

One thing really quickly, too, for the last three games of this series, Dallas looked really, really slow. It is incredible how much one player can make an impact, and without Rupé Hins in there, this team gets exponentially slower, which is a thing that I think you need to consider when you're having Jason Robertson conversations. Anyhow, go ahead. Now, I think Mika Ranton is probably hurt. We'll probably find out exactly to the extent of that injury after the series, because I don't think he played like himself, and he obviously kind of lost his mind at times in the elimination game.

Lost some money today, too. We are very, very, very quick to bestow upon Jim Nill's head, the crown as best general manager, at least in the Western Conference. And after three trips to the conference final with no success to play for the Cup, now they're out in the first round. And they're out in the first round against the team that, quite frankly, did more in-season, bigger, bolder moves to bolster this roster and get over the hump that they knew was headed their way, which is a showdown against the Dallas Stars,

to then take on the Colorado Avalanche. Now, again, you could say that the Rupa Hince injury is, is the turning point for the series. We all know the difference between Dallas with him and the lineup. Dallas without him in the lineup. But I'm telling you, man, like, I don't think Jim Nill had a very good season as far as making this team good enough to get past a Minnesota team that was vastly improved by Bill Garan.

Minnesota defended really well, Jasper Walsh. That was incredible. Yeah. To me, that's, yeah. I know Matt Boldie is Matt Boldie. the coming out season, both the NHL regular season, the Olympics,

and now the postseason. This is like the coming out year for Matt Boldie. For those that didn't know before, everybody knows Matt Boldie now. But to me, the goaler was the best. He would, like, to me, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's the story. Walsh stat was just that freaking good.

I mean, he was out. He was kind of looked like a young, a young Henry Clunkwist at times. But there was a name that we have to mention here in the elimination game. as far as being the difference maker, and that's Quinn Hughes. Yes. Yes. Hadn't necessarily been that guy throughout the entire series,

but when you had a chance to knock out your opponent, had his best game of the series, at least on the score sheet, and off you go. How do you think Dallas reacts to this? I mean, beyond Jason Robertson and Brady Kachuk. Well, okay, so the first thing is, is the Jason Robertson conversation. He's a free agent, albeit restricted,

and he has arbitration rights. I can't see it getting that far. And unless there's like a major bend on either side, I don't know that I can see Jason Robertson coming back with the Dallas dars. They are just like philosophically too far apart. And then the other thing is one of the ways that Dallas has been burned in the past is going term on players in their 30s whose accent is not on skating.

And the Jason Robertson situation, his accent. is not on skating. It's scoring goals. It's being around the net. It's a great shot. That's his thing. But it ain't skating. And you know when you're a bad skater,

when you fall off, you fall off quickly. And Dallas has been burned by that before in the past. So I think the first thing is that conversation. Second of all, you need more help on the back end. You need more help on the back end if you're the Dallas stars. Where that comes from, it ain't going to be in free agency. This is now the trading universe. Everett Sovertip's getting on the ice here behind me, by the way.

Your chance to see Landon DuPont, by the way, Greg Wichenski. Exciting times. Tyler Myers, another year on his deal. Lubushkin, one more year on his deal. And then you obviously have Heiskin and Lindel and Harley locked up for quite a long time. Let me throw out one more for you, buddy. Let's sunset the Jamie Ben era of the Dallas Stars. What say you?

Yes. Yes. Things that things have to change. Yeah. I don't disagree. We all know what he's meant to the organization. We know he's made to the team. All of that. But yes, it is time to,

it's probably time to turn the page here. I think it's definitely time to turn the page. This is, you know where a lot of this is going to come from to? Ownership. Because Tom Galardi has given Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars everything they've asked for. Like as far as being an owner, like everything that Dallas has asked for from the owner, they have received. Now, Jim's been very responsible with it, but at the end of the day, too, here's the Dallas

stars. Now all of a sudden exiting the playoffs in the first round. This is not a return on investment that this owner sees appropriate, considering he's given Dallas everything that they've asked for. I think a lot of this gets led by the owner who will not be. And you know how competitive Calardi is, super competitive. This will not rest easy on his shoulder. at all.

Can I ask you a question that I'm sure some people in the audience are probably asking right now. Like, what's that? You've long been on the trade Jason Robertson train. Either that you want to see it happen

or you think that it will happen. No, no. I'm not on, they should. I think if he wants a number and term that is irresponsible for Dallas, then yeah, then you move them. But I think if, like,

The way I've looked at it is like if he wants to Thomas Harley deal, it's there. If he wants to Miko Ranton a deal, it's not there. Like to me, it's as simple as that. Give five goals and three assists in the playoffs. When did he score those goals? I'm glad you mentioned that. When did he score those goals, Merritt? Hold on a second.

I had a lot of conversations. A lot of conversations. My point is about this topic. So hang on. So this is what someone sent me last night. There's a statistic case for keeping this guy around. I mean, I understand what you're saying is you've got to flip your Huberto into a kachuk. But I mean, like, in the pantheon of problems with the Dallas Stars,

I refuse to believe that Jason Robertson is top of the pops when compared to the blue line and other parts of the team. Okay. So we as having a conversation with someone from another team about no pressure goals. in this series. And this is what this person sent to me. Five goals in this series. Goal five. Down in the game,

three to one, lost four, two, no pressure goal. Goal four. Power play goal, five minutes in, no pressure goal. Goal three,

up one nothing, 10 minutes in, scored to make it two nothing, no pressure goal. Goal number two, third period, goal to ice the game. Big goal.

Goal one, down four nothing, scores to make it four to one, no pressure goal. Is this, is this Bill Guerrin, you're texting? The guy who also had to come up

with the reason to keep Jason off of Team USA. No, no, no. I got to tell you, man, we go from talking about how hard it is to score in the playoffs to now talking about the temperature scale of a goal scored the playoffs. Who has such a raging heart on about Jason Robertson that they're texting you about the quality of these goals scored the playoffs? This is insane to me. You don't think when a player scores matters at all?

I absolutely do, but I also think that scoring a goal in the playoffs is important. And hard to do. Sure. I just watched a Penguin's Flyers series in an elimination game where I'm surprised I'm not still at the freaking rink. It was so hard to score a goal in that game. And here we are talking about like,

well, this goal came two minutes into the first period. So it's a non-pressure goal. What the hell are doing here? No, listen, no, Jason Robertson scores of Camerick. Jason Robertson scores that overtime winner like Cam York and all of a sudden it's a different conversation. Absolutely. Look, I'm just saying like,

Jason, and it's not just Bill Garron. Jason Robertson has his detractors out there. This is not news to you. We saw this play itself out when Bill Garin selected a gold medal team. And I'm not on the, Jason Robertson's like a degenerate player and you've got to get rid of it.

No, you're just an anti-Jason propagandist. Like, this is insane to me. I'm the anti-age. It's not like there are a bunch of cheapies. You just, wait, you just started this conversation praising the defensive acumen of the Minnesota Wild, talking about Jasper Walsett as well

the best young goalies in the league. And now we're disparaging a guy for having scored five times against that team. What is happening? All right. Okay, so what's your number for Jason Robertson then? Do you give him 12 times eight? So what is rantan?

Do you give him the rantanin' contract? You're Jim Nell. Yeah. This is what he's asking for. You give him that contract? With that skating going into his 30s? Yeah. I do because of the production that he gives your team

And also you have Wyatt Johnston locked up until 2030 at 8.4. Now, Wyatt shots. Now that's. Yeah. So give. That's a, that's a, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, seven years.

But if you believe you have a window to win, and based on how much they're already invested in this team, they do have a window to win. Give Robertson, like, 12 million a season over four, like, annually over four years. Time it out to the one max term. He wants max term. He wants a chance. He wants max term. Max term. He wants, again, he wants

Max term. Okay. Well, if it comes to that, then maybe you consider trading him, but like, the idea... Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. So now you're making my point that there's, that there's, there's a number you're comfortable at and a number you're not comfortable at. Right, but like, but your point is that he's some kind of like

counterfeit bullshit goal scorer who's not even worth the investment. I'm fine, I'm saying like if you can, if it's the money that he wants, give him the money. If he wants to get seven instead of four, maybe you meet at five, I don't know, but the idea that we're now looking at the quality of his goals scored in the playoffs!

Like, that's where we're at what Jason Robertson, is we're criticizing when he scores goals in the postseason? What is that thing? We celebrated the playoffs every year. High pressure clutch performances that win you games and win you series. Yeah, but you can't get clutch performances if you're down 3-0 all the time.

because nobody in your goddamn team is scoring goals. And Jason Robertson does. So what do you do then if you're Jim Nell? I just told you. I give him what he's looking for financially, probably around 12. No, no, no, other than, other than the Robertson question is the first one. But other than the Robertson question, which is going to bleed into another Rick Nash trade deadline argument between the two of us here, prattle on for half an hour on the value of Rick Nash at deadline, outside of the Robertson question,

which is going to be the initial one. What do you do if you're Jim now, knowing that the owner is not pleased here? You cut, cut bait with Jamie Ben and like you said, you've got to really identify a way to bolster the blue line. And Nill knows this too. Like the Myers deal was meant to bolster the blue line

in a very, you know, ultimately inconsequential way. It's a bad move. It's one of the few real missteps that I think he's had. But, you know, he went after TANV. He's tried to address the blue line in a number of ways that didn't ultimately manifest through the trade market,

but that's where it's got to be. You look around the Western. conference right now that, you know, Vegas says Theodore and Hannantham. You know, Colorado's got taves and recar. Like all the, I mean, shit, we just saw the ducks emerge now with Lecombe and, you know,

any number of other guys you could put in that second spot. Yeah, Trudeau. So like, they absolutely have to get somebody back there with Easton and with Harley to be a difference maker. And that's got to be the priority this summer. Beyond training, Jason Robertson for Brady Cachov. Let me

let me, let me swing. Let me, Let me swing to the ducks here. First of all, congratulations to them. I don't know that there was enough champagne in Norge County to keep the assistant coach, Jay Woodcroft, of the Anaheim Ducks, sufficiently lubricated last night. But you saw the great ESPN screen capture, too, of him. Just strutten down the hall a couple of days ago.

First of all, in this one, there were two players really jumped out for me, and you saw their impact right away and every time they were on the ice. Every time Leo Carlson and his line were on the ice, Edmonton had no answer, every time that Jackson Lacombe was on the angst. We talk about the coming out party for Matt Boldie. Ditto for Jackson Lacombe. This year, into the Olympics and in the playoffs. Carlson was on the ice, dominant.

Lecombe on the ice, dominant as well. To me, that is the story of this series for the playoffs. the Anaheim Ducks agree, disagree? For the Anaheim Ducks, yes. I think Lecombe had a remarkable coming out party. I think the ducks, you know, put the pedal down against the team that can't defend and that overcame their own defensive deficiencies. It's funny.

You know, we've talked now for at least the last four seasons about the Edmonton Oilers scoring their way out of their problems, and they faced a team that was better at it than they were. You know, any deficiencies, any doors creaked open by a defense, beyond Lecombe and Trouba that I still believe is very insufficient insofar as playoff quality, we're overshadowed by how this team can shoot the puck, move the puck, skate with the puck. They overwhelmed the Oilers offensively, which is not something you often think about

when you're talking about the Oilers. But did they, like, did you look at that team and say, okay, they're figuring it out, or did you look at that team and you're like, they're going to get whacked by whoever they play next. I hope that in one sense, I really hope it's Utah because it's just going to be like six, five games. Like, I think, like, in, yeah, any team that has, like, a lot of depth, they're going to have, they're going to have their way with the ducks.

Because they're not, like, they're not there yet. They are an emerging team, absolutely. But there were so many times this year where you saw and watch the games, and you're like, eh, there's still a ways off. Glad that they got there. It's great to have new faces, new players, all. of it in the postseason. It's fun.

If it turns into Utah versus Anaheim here in the next round, they're going to be eight, seven games, man. I'm telling you. But if any team with depth is going to have their way with Anaheim, I think. I'm going to say this here because I've got nowhere else to say it, and no one else is saying,

that's all to say it. I said it before this season. I'll forever say it, which is that Joel Quinville should not be coaching in this league. And there is a part of me last night that was a little bit stomach churny, watching how much chuckle-heading and glad-handing was going around with Quinville,

having won that series. Listen, man, there's certain things that I can't get past when it comes to Quinville or Stan Bowman. And I feel like they've kind of been not only put on the back burner, but basically put out in the middle of the street as these playoffs go on because no one wants to talk about the Kyle Beach situation

and what happened with the Blackhawks. But I'm watching that last night. I've got to be honest. A human being, I don't think this guy should have gotten another chance in the in the in the n hl and i think it is really startling how all of that stuff is just kind of like in you know it's it's it's disappeared it's it's it's it's vapors now uh compared to what we were talking about just two years ago um we talked about this year on the program the beginning of the year you knew that would happen though no i did you know that

was going to happen and and and it and it had to be in a market where there wasn't going to be constant scrutiny. Do you honestly, like for example, I was thinking about this this morning, Merrick. Do you honestly think that if Quenville was coaching in a Canadian market or in, you know, Boston or someplace like that, that no one during the year would have asked him about the work he said he was going to be doing and whether or not it's been done? Because I don't know if that question's been asked in Anaheim. I'm going to guess it probably hasn't. I haven't seen it. They don't really have a robust media there. I haven't seen it. But I, but I did think that that's where Joel Quenville was going to end up in a big in a big market.

I really did. Yeah. That Quenval was going to end up in the room. The rumors were very strong that it was going to be the Rangers for a long time before it ended up being Mike Sullivan. I don't know. This show is about the exchange of ideas, but you and I speaking extemporaneously. I could only tell you how I felt last night, which is that I felt really, really good for the Ducks players. I felt really good for the Rangers expats that were chased away from that team by Chris Drury and exile to Anaheim and then Crider scores a goal, not even in front of the net, but on a black.

last from the wing. Truba does his thing. I felt really good for the Ducks young players, Cutter-Goti and all the stuff that he went through with the flyers and, you know, Lecombe and all these guys like the ducks deserve this. Troy Terry deserves us. My God, a guy like Troy Terry deserves us. Finally gets into the playoffs.

Yeah, in Anaheim. I felt so good for them, even if I am kind of like side-eyeing their coach and being like, I don't know, man. Okay. Anything more on what we saw last night? Anything you think we're leaving on the table before we move along? I don't think that you and I have spent enough time talking about the injuries. We've never seen McDavid play that poorly.

And that in consequence. I would not be surprised if we find out that it's that it's not just an ankle, but it's something hand, arm, shoulder, something else is broken. Yeah, something else is broken. He was terrible on face off last. night too and didn't take a lot of him. Bob Stauffer, I was listening to his post-game radio coverage and he kind of said under his breath that like, people are going to be shocked when they hear what McDavid's going through.

And I'm like, okay, well, this is, if Bob's saying it, then we know he knows what's up. So we'll find out what's up. But yeah, like McDavid being as hurt as he is, dry-sidle not being healthy and having come back from the injury, you know, there's probably a ton of other guys in that roster we don't know about right now. Again, like, I understand the propensity for fans to be like, yeah, that's an excuse. But I thought Connor said something really smart last night, which is that everybody plays hurt in the playoffs, but you usually don't play this hurt in the first round. Because the first round is when the chaos happens is what he said last night.

And I thought that was a really astute idea because, again, like all these guys were hurt by the time they're playing the Florida of Panthers the last two seasons. But they're not this hurt in the first round. And that, I mean, as credit to the ducks, but we didn't get to really see what the Oilers were made of because of those injuries, I don't think. Here's the other thing to that, because that does lead to an even bigger conversation. And I've been led to believe the same thing. Like, this is going to be like one of those medieval scrolls. Wouldn't you? Hear you?

Sonny. John McDavid, have a broken collarbone. Like, it's going to be like the, I agree with Stoffer from what I've been led to believe here about the Oilers' injuries. I'm telling you, no one wants to talk about it. Everyone's, oh, no, hockey players are wired different and they'll do it. If you're the Edmonton Oilers, if you're the Edmonton Oilers right now, and you look at how banged up your team was, and next year it jumps from 82 to 84 games.

At what point are we talking about players not playing? At what time do we start talking about load management for guys? To make sure that you are healthy going in. It's less about 84 games than it is the compressed schedule they had to play. Compressed schedule, yeah. Yeah, I mean, that's the whole thing. and then when you're, hey, look, man, like, they could say whatever they want. The Florida Panthers did make the cut.

The Edmonton Oilers were out in one and looked like an infirmary doing so. Yep. So there's no question that the last two seasons, three in the case of the Panthers, really took their toll on these guys, and that's okay. And look, you know, take the summer, reload, hope everybody's healthy, and go at it again because you still got something going on if you're the Panthers, and hopefully you've got something going on, if you can get past being a completely average roster. but at some point it catches up with you.

It's a war of attrition for a reason, and these guys have battled now for like three straight seasons. So it was inevitable that bodies were going to start falling apart. Yeah, but that's the story every year in the playoffs too, right? Like, again, I'm not going to take a shot at anyone who's won the Stanley Cup. It's such a hard trophy to win, obviously, and you get there and you look like you're a bunch of Civil War soldiers coming back home. Able of bandages all over your body. And that's just the media.

And that's just the media. More Tylenol over here, please. More Advils. No, but that's the story every year of the playoffs. That's why, to me, like, you've known me long enough. My Stanley Cup is the first round of the playoffs, because I don't care who wins. Like, I really don't.

I just want to watch a great hockey games. So at the end of the first round, that, to me, is like, okay, so the Stanley Cup's been awarded. I just got to watch the best hockey I'm going to see all season. this year outside of the Olympics. So, like, that's my Stanley Cup. I know I'm in the minority on that one. But that's the story every year.

82 games and then 16 wins to win the Stanley Cup. It's hard, but then the reality becomes, who's healthiest ends up being, like, one of the major common denominators. And so then you can say to yourself, well, we always talk about luck too, and it is a factor, but who's lucky enough to stay healthy? That's true.

I was talking to someone on the way to the rink. Like, Vegas, again, I'm not going to take anything away from Vegas winning the Stanley Cup, but they won the Stanley Cup and the Florida Panthers was significantly injured. Significantly. And again, happens. You stayed healthy. That's great. Full marks.

I just, I don't know. By the time you get to the final, there's no way around it. The story is who's healthiest. That's it. I know Dave's ready, but, like, briefly on Connor, like, that's why I feel like, that's why I feel like, you know, despite their, There was, like, I got emails in my inbox this morning from, like, betting, betting sites being like McDavid's next team, you know, and where to the odds that he's going to play for Blackhawks next year or something.

Oh, it's already. This feels like a mulligan. Like, this, there's, I would be unbelievably shocked if this is the year where Connor pieces out. Because I feel like if you're, I can't see that either. If you're signing, if you're signing the two-year contract under the, under the impression of, you're trying to give the Edmonton Oilers runway to win a cup with you there. There's absolutely no way you're going to cut bait in a season where your body was so broken that you couldn't even push them to the places you pushed them previously.

So, yeah, I'd be shocked if this is like the end for McDavid. I think he's at least coming back next season to give it another kick at the can. Correct. I don't think you have the uncomfortable conversations until the end of next season. And hopefully for the Edminton Oilers, it involves a Stanley Cup. But we'll see. Dave Panyota, DFO Insider joins us here on the sheet for a Friday afternoon. Dave, how are you?

I'm good. I'm good. Which I got those emails too. Like the 31 odds of where MacDavit's going to go. The one that killed me, Dave. The one that killed me was like the subject line was like McDavid with Baird or Celebrini. I'm like, why not both? Like let's just train them all to the same team. What are the odds on that? NBA style. All the big boys. Yeah, exactly. Let's go. What do you think? And Dave, thanks for joining us again, as always. I want to get to some GM stuff and talk about Vancouver a little bit.

bit more about Toronto as well, maybe some Nashville. But what do you think happens now with Edmondson? I mean, Cona McDavid, he didn't say Stan Bowman by name. But when you said we're an average team, you don't have to say the general manager's name. So, I mean, I've said this on the show. I've said it on a bunch throughout the network that this was not going to be Edmonton's year.

And I didn't expect the first round exit. But I think I was under the impression that this was not going to be there. year. This was going to be not necessarily a Mulligan year like you guys were saying, but like just a regroup type of, type of season. And I believe that Connor McDavid and Leon Drysiddle had

discussions with management last off season about the direction of the team that factored into Connor's decision to go two years and where they were realistically. And that I believe both Connor and Leon chimed in with the types of players that they

were, or types of assets that they would want on their team that would help them move this, move the needle and push this team forward. And I think the message was we hear you, but you've got to bear with us because we have no wiggle room to make this happen this season. And you've got to give us this coming off season, which is now, the opportunity to go bold. And I think the Edmonton Oilers are going to go very bold this summer, because I agree with you. I don't, Connor's not going anywhere right now. But this summer is as important as ever with respect to the longevity of McDavid's future in Edmonton. And if they make the big bold moves that I think they're going to try to make,

because it's basically going to be going all in for Connor, then I think that puts them in a position to really be a competitor next season, getting back, first of all, getting away from the average team that they displayed this year and getting to a point where they're going to go back to a Stanley Cup final in 27. I'm not expecting every type of move that they're planning on making working out or actually happening, but I expect some very significant bold moves

happening with the Oilers this off season. I'm a little bit suspicious of that because the bold move they tried to make in season with Tristan Jari, but that's a stand-moment problem. But to your point though, Dave, like if they do go bold, if they do push all their chips in to try to maximize this two-year window that they have with Connor, where do you where do you think what what what part of the team do you think that they they look at

everything um this is like they can yeah you're they didn't work with jari and you know looking at it buying out his contract versus sending him to the a you actually save more money against the cap by sending them down than buying him out so that's an avenue they can pursue depending on what options they're going to have in net going into next season. And that's going to be an area that they're going to address. They're going to address the blue line by all indications. They spoke to teams ahead of the trade deadline about Darnell Nurse. And I think those conversations in some capacity will occur this summer. He's got a full no move, so he'll have say. But I believe that's going to be a talking point for the Oilers this summer. And some of the pieces, at least

one of the pieces that I'm aware of that they identified with the players and top tier players and management would be a speedy winger that can keep up with Connor McDavid to play alongside him. So I would anticipate, and then obviously they'll have to address the 3C and there's a few

other things that Dickinson stay. They have $16.5 million of cap space right now, give or take going into next season. They're going to use as much of that as they can, and they're going to try to make other bold moves to make money work here. but I fully anticipate them augmenting the blue line to a certain degree. They're going to address or have to address goaltending. And then the forward core 3C and at least one quick top six winger.

I would be shocked if they don't at least address that this summer. Before we go any further on Edmondson, the coach. Yeah. I think there's going to be some tough conversations there. I really, really do. some significant ones. Like we were just talking off the top. Like playing you're on the road,

you've got two banged up guys and 29 and 97, you play them together. I mean, I think one of those, I think one of those conversations, Jeff, is going to be with ownership. And are you comfortable paying Chris Knoblock

for the next three years to not coach for you? You have to. Hang on, just pause on that for one second. Like, if you're not willing, to make that tough decision when the doomsday clock is on

from Connor McDavid then just fold the tent if you're not willing to do that that's what like you're right like that's ownership and how comfortable are you doing that and if the answer is we're not then you say well what are we doing here then

yeah yeah and I think I think what Derek Kate's I think he's going to do whatever he can to try to he's been trying to do whatever he can to get a championship back there and if that means you know paying knob block three years to sit on the sidelines, so be it.

I mean, it's not my money, but. Cost to doing business. For me, but exactly. That's exactly what is. It all depends on the alternative. Like if Bruce Cassidy wants to coach the Oilers, like that's the one. Kind of compelling, right?

Like that'd be a compelling idea in a short-term solution to try to maximize with Connor there. And that's exactly what I was going to say, like just what options are available. Is Bruce going to be an option? Is he interested? you know, is he not?

I was on a cup of hockey this morning, and maybe you guys could help me out on this. When they were interviewing Connor at the end of the game, Bruce Cassidy was the only one on panel that didn't ask a question. Now, I don't know if they were running out of time, or I don't know if he's not allowed to address another NHL player because he's still technically under contract. I'm not sure if that's the case,

but he wasn't able to ask a question there. I don't know if it's categorized as that, if they want to get that into the weeds with it, but I just found that. curious. Connor, what's your favorite copy spot in Edmonton? Is there a where's a good place to hang?

Like after the game? What's what's the price of real estate like in Edmonton? What's Jasper Street really like these days? Yeah. Are there any condos in your bill? So listen, there's a ton of assistant general managers that are right now in the mix for some of the open jobs that we have.

Yeah. Who amongst among this flock of names that are out there. Do you believe has the best chance to maybe land one of these gigs? I think there's, I think Scott White is one that's at the top of a lot of lists for becoming next GM. We know about his, presumably he's a finalist or has been a finalist in Toronto. I believe there's some interest out in Vancouver, although I don't know if that's going to actually play out. I think they're going in a different direction there for a few reasons. But I think Evan Gold is another one who's part of the mix in Vancouver as well.

Jamie Langenbrenner is one who quietly this summer, his name started to come out more, or excuse me, this spring, started to come out a little bit more. He's in the mix with Nashville. I believe he spoke to Jersey. He's in the mix in, he spoke to Toronto as well. He spoke to Vancouver in the mix there. But so is Evan Gold, who's also an AGM in Boston. Those are two guys that have generated a ton of interest. is Brett Peterson, who also interviewed in Nashville.

He's also been in the mix in Vancouver. I don't know what his status is at the moment. But he's another one that, you know, you talk around the league, excuse me. And, you know, Brett Peterson, Scott White, Lang and Bruner, I've heard more than gold, but gold is making a lot more of a, you know, a presence. But those are the three that I look at as these guys are going to be GMs at some point. And they've had their conversations with the teams looking, and we'll see kind of, it looks like Toronto's going in the,

still in the Chica Sundin route. You know, we'll see if that means White's going to stick around in Dallas because he was also in the mix in Nashville at one point. And Vancouver's looking at other options there with respect to some of the other candidates that I mentioned and a few others that are still in their mix because they're starting to narrow down their search and are getting to face-to-face interviews out there in BC.

Does it feel like, I asked Sunny Meadow this on the program yesterday and he didn't really want to go there. It's kind of hard to pinpoint. But does it feel like right now that we're at a sort of tipping point for this next wave of general managers? That the way that I phrased it is

it's less about did you play and more and more about can you think. Look no further than Julian Breezebaw with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And it seems like that's, baseball did this 30 years ago. Okay, like hockey's lagging, hockey's lagging, as always. But does it feel like maybe Sunny was a tipping point to all of this?

Or is it already there? I think it's there, but I'll also add that it's the experience factor. Like, you know, Sunny was with an NHL team for a while and then, or with a few, and, you know, went through the motions. Jamie Lang and Bruner has been going through the motions for a number of years. Breezebois before, you know, taken over in Tampa. He was in Montreal beforehand, and then under in Tampa before getting the main role. Danny Breyer went through a variety of different parts of hockey ops before becoming GM.

Matthew Darsh, et cetera, et cetera. So as much as it's incorporating that element, I think it's also, how long have you been in the game, how much have you learned, and how much have you had your fingerprints in some other areas of hockey ops, rather than just one specific department. And I think that's what we're starting to see more of, where these guys that, it's not just, you know, they have their specialization in one area, but they've minored, so to speak,

in a variety of different other elements of hockey. That's a lot of what I've been hearing lately, where it's that combo. And then also, who are you going to insulate yourself with? I think that's also an important factor in some of these discussions, at least with, well, Toronto, certainly, but also Vancouver. It sounds like there's going to be some more changes beyond just whoever the new GM is

in both of those environments in terms of reshaping a little bit of front office and scouting. And who do you look at as, you know, some valuable pieces that you may want to bring with you to round out the hockey ops department? Can you go into that a little bit more, Dave, like what you're hearing about Vancouver? Yeah, so they went through 20 or. or so similar to Toronto, different initial candidates that Jim Rutherford wanted to talk to and spoke with. And then they started narrowing things down. Now, I think Francesco Aquilini will be part of this next round of interviews if that hasn't already started. And by that,

I mean, him engaged in those meetings or interviews, I should say. But things have started to narrow down. And I know Ryan Whitney, or excuse me, Ray Whitney, not Ryan. He's too busy. Ray Whitney, just out there chugging beers of press conferences. He's not loving last night. He's not loving last night. He's not loving last night. He's not loving last night. That's rough.

The mask suits him right now. Ray Whitney was part of the mix. I know he had a phone call with Jim Rutherford. I don't believe he's making the next round. I'm not sure where some of the other guys are at, but I don't believe he's making the next round. I think Evan Gold is. I think Lane Bruner has.

I believe Peterson, Peterson, excuse me, is in that mix. And there are a few others that I'm totally blanking on at the moment. But I think you're going from, you know, the 20 to rounding that down to like eight and then six to eight and then going from there. Do you think that there's, I've wondered this about Vancouver. Not that this is not that this, you know, 20 or 25 person interview process is like window dressing or just like just for PR to make it look like you had a good hunt. but to me I've always just looked at Ryan Johnson. I was like, yeah. Well, he's, that's the guy.

It's right. Yeah, like that's what I'm saying. Yeah, to the point where they wouldn't let him talk to Nashville, right? That was that situation. So, I don't know. What am I missing here, Dave? Well, I think, Shane Don't also, by the way, still in the mix. Yes.

Oh, yeah. From what I'm gathering is that, you know, Johnson seems to be the, you know, Jim Rutherford candidate that he wants. But Jim Rutherford's not going to be there very long, by all indications. So from the ownership side, let's make sure we cover our bases here and are speaking to candidates that we feel comfortable with moving forward because eventually Jim will be out on his own accord, but he's going to eventually transition out. So who's coming in?

are we all on the same page here and if it's not your number one target is there a fit for him still in this organization are we bring and this is where I was referring to earlier where I think Vancouver is looking at potentially multiple pieces that change here for their front office so a GM maybe it's an EVP maybe it's this it's that but I think

I think that's where that I think that's part of it and the other part of is just you know whether it's Francesco or whomever is part of that top tier group being comfortable with these guys moving forward and also meshing with the team president himself, Michael Doyle, who is going to be handling or have a lot more day-to-day interaction with whoever's head of Okiops than ownership. Does it not sort of seem out of sync? Like there's going to be, Jim's not guaranteeing.

Vancouver? No, but you know what I'm getting at here? Like, okay, so there's going to be a new general manager hired. And then the guy that makes that hire is going to piece at himself and that position is going to get replaced. and the new guy that comes in is not going to have his guy. Yeah, and that's why, like, this one's a little cop, because I think, because the other thing here,

I don't know where the AGM, where the contractual status of those, the other AGMs fit right now. I don't know if they've got another year left, if that's expiring this year. I know most of the scouting staff expires at the end of this calendar, this hockey year. So that's the other thing, you know,

that's also going to be taken into account with respect to who's coming in. and how are they going to round out scouting? How are they going to round out the rest of management? Again, are you making additional decisions? So I think that this isn't as cut and dry as, you know, New Jersey, whom, boom, that's our guy. He's in and, you know, we'll figure out the rest.

And I think Nashville's kind of there, too, to a degree. Because I think, I don't, as far as I know, no decision has been made, but I do believe Fitsy's a front runner for that, for that gig. but the Vancouver and Toronto ones are totally different. And Toronto is also in another scenario, by the way, where they've got some expiring contracts coming and others in the front office that have a year left. And how is that going to look with presumably Chica and Sundin coming in?

I mean, it doesn't sound like don't stick it around, even if it doesn't get the gig in Vancouver. So first of all, obviously the problem for the conduct. right now is there's been no photographs of any of the candidates in a Canucks Starters jacket from the early 2000s. That made the process a lot cleaner like it wasn't. You're in, son. So Dave, you and I have knowing each other for a very long time.

And if I told you when we first met that one day, one of the most significant voices in selecting the leadership of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the general manager who will lead them to the Stanley Cunuch, If I told you one of the most significant voices in the process was Ty Domi, you would say what? I'd say, put it down and go get a glass of water. Mix in a water. What is happening in Toronto? How is Ty, I've been reading all this stuff, the athletic has done some good stuff,

and you've got to do some good stuff too on this. You've done some good stuff too on this, Dave. Like, the idea that Ty Domi, first of all, I'm not really enamored with where the direction they're going anyway. but the idea that Ty Domi is somehow like the the worm tongue from Lord of the Rings in Pellie's ear telling them who to select to lead the team is insane to me so I think yes first of all yes it's it's very odd um I it means if it means if I can interject it means that John Ferguson's not getting the gig to answer your question that's what that means sorry Dave I there's another candidate out um Yeah, like, I triple-cadruple checked on this when I first heard about it.

And I'm like, are you guys, you sure? Really? This is what, okay. I understand it because of the relationship with Mats, the relationship with Chica. And the group that came in, Nes, Neil's group, whatever his company is. Lasbergs? Yes. When that came, he was brought in, they were brought in for the GM role.

Sundeen was a result of Pelly. And then when everything started to really, take form in that regard, that's when, you know, well, here are some of our candidates. What do you think of these guys? Well, I don't really know this one. Enter Ty Domi. And I think that's kind of what happened. Now, I also wouldn't be shocked if Ty enters the Leafs organization or re-enters the Leafs

organization in some type of, you know, role. It would be not on the hockey op side. It would be on the other side and probably under mats. But there needed to be an understanding, like, you, you, want to know who you're working with and you want to have a relationship with those individuals. If you have somebody that can vouch for that person, it makes it a lot easier to start trusting that person. And I think that's where the whole Tidomi, Chica, Sundin, Tree of Trust kind of came into effect here. And it looks like it's moving forward. Again, as far as I know, nothing's been

signed and done at this hour, but it looks like it's going in this direction. Now, there are also some people saying, well, would you be surprised if the Leafs made their announcement on the sixth, the day after the lottery, in case they lose that fifth overall pick. And everybody look over here, because we've got our new GM and president. Or they announced it beforehand, Dave, and they blame Chica for not getting the lottery win.

Strike one, John. I just, I don't want to hear every, I don't want to hear another Maple Leafs fan like give shit to the Oilers for the, the old boys club. You know, back in the day, we were all like goofing on him because it was Kevin Lowe

and McTavish. Like if you've got Matt Sundin over Ty Domi in your leadership structure, I mean, come on. What are we doing? Yeah. That's,

look, it's interesting. And everything with, there are additional connections to Chica as well. Like Steve Sullivan, who was with the Leafs, he's now an assistant coach with the Marley's.

I'm curious if Chica comes in, how that affects his position within the organization. Does he get elevated and comes back as an assistant or something like that with whoever the head coach is? Because they've got to make that determination as well. And then there are a few others. Again, who are these guys going to want to bring in? And which of the current group of 16 AGMs are going to stay?

And how is that front office going to shape out? Along with whoever's on expiring deals, how's that going to look like? Pelley said in his press conference after they let Trey go that, mid-May is like the best-case scenario timeline at that time to hire a GM. They're getting there. And maybe it's because it wasn't just bringing in a GM. It was reshaping the entire nature of that front office group. Last one for me.

If Tampa loses tonight, what are the conversations we're having on Monday morning? Because that's four first-round exits in a row for Tampa. Yeah. And, well, it's going to be interesting. I wonder how much of this goes towards, it doesn't look like Braden points fully healthy. We know that headman's, you know, dealing with a few things body-wise and off the ice. How much of that will be the justified excuse to how this season kind of played out for them.

You know, you still have a hell of a roster there. You still have a hell of a coach. You've got a great GM. Yep. Do you just consider this? Eh, we didn't get the luck of the draw this year, but we can still roll next season. Now, with that said,

I'm very curious. That's what they said last year, where they had to play Florida. Like, that was last year's excuse, though. That's the only problem with that. Were they banged up like last year? Like this year as they were last year? No, no, no, not like this.

No, no, no. Sorry. To that, to that play, yeah, you're 100% right. Hegel was suspended that one game. Then he wasn't in the clincher because he got hit in the head by Eklad, but not nearly as bad as this are from the roster of the role. Yeah, and that's what I mean.

Like, I still like the makeup of this group, and maybe it's just a matter of a little bit of tinkering because they will have a little bit of wiggle room. But, I mean, chalk this up to playoff format, I guess. I mean, I don't complain about it at all, but you get a 106 versus 106 in round one. One of the good teams is going to go, and then you're going to try to find excuses

as to why you want to change this. I'm good with the way it is personally because you want to win, you got to beat the best regardless. But I wonder if they just view this as, we just got the short end this season, but we tinker here, tinker there with the core still moving forward

that we can get a Stanley Cup again. What Merrick's talking around is whether or not John Cooper is still the coach of this team next season, which I'd say, until you definitively know that Connor McDavid isn't coming to Tampa, you cannot get rid of John Cooper. John Cooper is catnip for Connor McDavid to come to play with the lightning. That is for sure.

At least a couple years away from that one. But Cooke's got his extension, right? And I think... Yeah. One year maybe two. One or maybe two for Cooper. I don't think it's not long. No, it's not a four or five-year deal like a lot of these guys are getting.

I think Reesbaugh has one too. And I tried asking about this. And they don't announce this stuff. They don't make the Tampa organization doesn't make that stuff public. But I think there's, I mean, he's got next season. I think there's a little runway there too as well. Okay.

Real quick before you go, there was obviously some news made today in Penguin Land about if he had any Malkin saying that he would love to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins. but that he is not pulling an Ovechkin, he is not doing the Pittsburgh or bust. He is open-minded to potentially playing with another team. How do you think this all plays out in Pittsburgh, Dave?

I saw your tweet, by the way. Him and Ovi? Would that be awesome? Personally, I think he probably ends up either on a team with a prominent Russian or with the Panthers, which is obviously where a lot of people think that Malkin will end up because he's got

real estate around that area and stuff like that. But I covered Philly and Pittsburgh that series. I was there for the breakdown after game six. Sid signed through next year, Latang for the next two. As much as I know

in my heart of hearts that Kyle Dubus would like to move on from this core a little bit. It's hard for me to envision Malkin not being a penguin again next year. year. I would be surprised, honestly. I'd be surprised if that's not the case. One year deal, five million in that ballpark was kind of what I'd been hearing. If it does happen, I'd be very surprised if he's made it clear. He wants to play. They talked about it a couple times in the second half of the season, right after Olympics and then a little bit later on, shelved it for the

end of the season. If you're doing that, there's probably an understanding that will work something out. I don't anticipate a last minute change of heart from, you know, Dubus's side. We've seen, we've seen, you know, wilder things in this league, but I would be surprised if he's not a penguin. If I am surprised, and he does leave, and it's, you know, maybe not Florida, maybe not caps with one run with Ovi. Which, you know where that picture? Remember where that picture was taken that year of All-Star? Where was that? Montreal. That was Montreal. Okay.

Curious. I like it. If that would be one last one, we got a couple Russians there, him grooming Demadov a little bit or helping him out. All that to say, I still expect him to stay in Pittsburgh. I appreciate your Montreal shout out.

I think that's at, that'd be a very intriguing place for him. Hang on. Then we don't get to play the NWO music as Malkin and Ovechkin are taking on the penguins together. That would be something. Have we not forgotten about one of our, one of our favorite sayings

from the early days, of hockey Twitter. Malkin to the Kings. To the Kings. Malcom to the Kings. Can we just go back there one more time? I will sit down and I will buy Bruce Garriac a steak dinner.

I will say this on the show right now. If that happens, we all apologize to Bruce. Malkin ends up with the Kings. I will buy Bruce Garriac a steak dinner and I will apologize for 15 years of all will for that prediction. 100%. They need a two C. At least.

Dude, I'm telling you, the last time the Slovenian guy just pieced out. That's what I'm just talking about here. Like, I don't know. Bruce playing the law game here on all of them. That would be the fast. I didn't say when. Yeah, just said. That would be the tweet.

Bruce, please. Please, if it happens, please let that be the tweet. You're the best day. Have a great weekend, pal. Enjoy the hockey tonight and do the weekend. you two guys see it take care yes that's got to happen

make make it talking into existence talk it to it's really funny talk it into existence that's from a different generation so I I think I think this I think that the trio

sticks together so do I kind of did the did the old you know hopefully that's how it goes kind of thing but I think that

yeah if he's if he's there Malcon's going to be that was the other it works the other way like we always talked about if Malkin's not there, maybe Sitt's not there.

If Sitz there, Malkin's going to be there, I think. One last thing before we, I know we're up against it, man. Jack Adams, Dan Mews, Lindy Ruff,

John Cooper. That was the trio that the NHL Awards Watch voters in the final edition in April had as well. No Quenville, which was a bit of a surprise. But I think,

I think Dan Mews maybe bumped out a few guys towards the end when everybody kind of came to the same realization very late in the season of, holy shit, the penguins are back in the playoffs.

So Bednar, Quenville, a few others probably got kicked aside because of that. This one feels, again, this one just feels like

this might be the cleanup year and finally they got to give this thing to John Cooper because it's getting really embarrassing. Does it not feel that? Bednar is another one too. It's never won the Jack Adams and had tons of success so far.

And this one just felt like at certain points of the year, okay, this is the way it's going to trend for the Jack Adams, and this is going to be the cleanup season. My only caveat to that, though, Merrick, is that, like, that's a pretty long playoff route that Lindy Ruff just ended. And so if there was ever going to be anything that stands in the way of the gold watch,

inevitable Jack Adams that John Cooper is going to win, this is his, you know, Pacino incentive a woman Oscar year. I understand that. But, like, Lindy Ruff ended the longest playoff route in NHL history. And that might be enough to kind of put them over. I don't know. We'll see. That's a good one. That's a good one, no doubt, for sure.

All right, enjoy the action. This afternoon was nice yelling about Jason Robertson with you once again. It warms my heart. You know, it all is. I was fired up. Me and the wife caught the Devil Wears Prada 2 this morning at a very early showing. How is it? Well, it was a delightful legacy sequel, Merrick, that it chronicled the demise of the media industry.

So if you are a journalist and you do want to watch this movie, Let it be known that the first 10 minutes will probably give you hives. But the rest of the time was really good. And I highly recommend Justin Thoreau's performance as a quasi-Jephazos to me was the best thing in the film. But I consider the first film a modern masterpiece. If you don't feel that way, maybe you'll get less out of this. But I found it to be a well-spent two hours of my morning, Merrick. I need something from you.

I need you to send me a text with a movie recommendation. for my flight home tomorrow morning. Because this is like, this is your space. This is where you live. Like, you know the treasures. Like, on the way here, I watch usual suspects for like the millionth time. Like, ah, it's on a while. I'm watching it again.

Why not? But I'll text you because I'm going to need to know genre. I'm going to need to know duration of flight. There's a lot of information I have to get from you. So I'll text. Four and a half hours, bud, four and a half hours. Oh, then Zodiac. Oh, yeah?

You ever seen it? Fincher? No. Oh my God. Yeah. If you've got a long-ass flight and you want to hunker down in your usual suspects guy, Zodiac is the play, my friend. That is, you'll love that, right? Plus it's got a bunch of 1970s nostalgia porn in it that you'll really dig too.

Oh, count me in, of course, yeah. Okay, that's it. Done, done, done, good. If they don't have it, don't need a couple backups. So please they'll do send that text. All right, you. Peace out. Have a great weekend.

Thanks, everybody. Greg Wachinsky from ESPN and ESPN. Calm. The other trifecta coming up here. In a couple of moments from our friend Zacharoo. In the meantime, we'll be right back after these brief messages. Feeling at home when you're on the road, for me, that's the way to travel. You know, Zach and I have been doing a lot of travel lately, mainly to Western Canada, for hockey games and interviews.

Penticton and Colonna were gorgeous. If you've never been to the Okanagan, do yourself a favor, no matter what time of year. Highlights from the Okinaugan for you, Zach. It was my first time out there and I can't wait to get back. It was amazing, trying to go in the summer and see some of the national parks and those kinds of things. You know, if you're heading out there, I've had great experiences staying in local and unique places on Airbnb. You know, you can really find something that fits what you need. And Zach, because we do our shows and podcasts on the road a lot, we need a lot of space for our equipment.

We can't be cramped and we need to feel comfortable. Plus, it's always nice to find a place with cool amenities like, I don't know, a pool table, outdoor space, or, I don't know you love this, a hot tub. It's also always nice to feel like you're going home as opposed to just going back to your room. Yeah, I think we all know that feeling. You know, I remember thinking this while we were at that cottage we booked on Airbnb last summer. While we're out on work trips like that, our place back home is just sitting there. So hosting our place on Airbnb could be a way. way to make use of that space on our own schedule and maybe have a little extra coming in while

we're gone. In Zach's case, maybe that means a few more additions to his junior hockey hat collection. What do you have now, Zach? I'm stocked up now. Kitchener, Brantford, Colonna, St. John. I'm hoping this isn't the end of it and I've got a lot more coming. We all need passions, folks. We all need passions.

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.ca.com slash host. And also, Zach, you'll probably be getting another one here from Everett. Do I want green, black? What are you looking for? I'm going to go shopping for you here in a couple of seconds. Whatever you guys think will help complete the collection. I've got the three white ones up behind me.

Green. You need some green. You need some green. I mean, look at Everett. It's green, man. It's awesome. Anything before we get to your trifecta here and your parley? Anything from the conversation with Dave or the conversation about Jason Robertson or the conversation about Connor McDavid and the Swiss cheese roster construction, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. What jumped out for you?

I keep finding interesting how, and it's not a knock on him, but how Connor has been very public on a few different occasions to make sure his feelings regarding what either coach or management are heard and felt. And it's come at some tough times for him personally, whether that was in Stanley Cup losses, finals losses, or if that's following the first round here, different moments. But Jeff, he's been pretty vocal. And that's not something you see from every player and in my opinion it's not something you see often from the guy that you probably consider to be the face of the league i just found it interesting that it was like another moment where connor comes out and to your point like he didn't say stan's name but he might as well have

with his comments after regarding the roster construction and i agree with you guys to an extent by the way just about uh well he he looks at this one and kind of takes it as a mulligan i I do completely understand that point. And the injuries play a factor. The fatigue plays a factor. The only thing is I wonder if it just kind of accelerates things in his own brain, where he's like, this was not the direction we were supposed to be heading in terms of how the team was built. And maybe he kind of used it as taking a step back.

I don't think he leaves this summer. Let me be clear on that. But I wonder if that's just one of those. another thing to just get another log in the fire where it's like, you know what? The moves that were made makes me feel a little bit less trusting of the management that we have here.

But here's the thing at the same time. And I'm not saying that Connor feels this way, but we've seen things like this before from players. So many players have said, I'll do anything to win the Stanley Cup. But what they're really saying is, I'll do anything on my terms to win the Stanley Cup.

Like if I'm Stan Bowman and I hear that message and trust me Stan Bowman heard that message from Connor McDavid the whole organization did. I think you kind of put on your Kelly McCriman hat and say, all right, emotion out of everything.

Feelings don't exist. There are just cold, hard decisions. I don't care if you don't like it. I'm doing this move. I don't care that you're how you feel about, whichever player or coach doesn't matter your input your input doesn't matter he's my friend don't care yeah just cold hard ruthless that's that word that I mean is a compliment

the biggest cold a nice yeah yeah yeah trust me guys are confident you need to make those those those types of move if you're staying Bowman right now it's like all right yeah I saw I saw what you said her what you said okay now it's time like emotion out of all of it's Everything. Yeah, and we don't want to get to a scenario here where you follow in the footsteps of LeBron, where he ends up being labeled Le G.M. Because he brings in his friends and he fires his coaches and he brings in new people and he takes that power. We don't need Mick G.M., Jeff, we don't need Mick G.m.

We want to see Mick Stanley Cup winner, not Mick G.M. Oh, man. I haven't talked to your M-Chuck today. Have you? I haven't talked to any of our colleagues in Evanston. but I saw some stuff. How are they all taking it? No, I'm very intrigued to turn into Oilers Nation every day coming up after this on the

YouTube channel. Oh, yeah. That's much must watch TV following this. I did see a clip of Tyler talking about no excuses, but it's been a bit of a busy morning for myself. One thing I'll shout out as well, by the way, I know it's off the topic of the Oilers, but one thing I've been working on in the team behind the scenes, six-part series of the C HL, releasing here on the Daily Face Off. channel.

The first feature piece featuring the Kitchener Rangers will be debuting right here on the Daily Faceoff, I believe at 3 o'clock. We'll double check that, but either like 3 or 4 o'clock here today. So make sure to be subscribed here to the channel so you don't miss that. But yeah, been kind of occupied. So I didn't catch all of what was said about the Oilers from our teammates here this morning. Love the teaser you guys put out.

That's a really nice one. That's a nice cheese in the trap on that one. That was a good tease. That was good. Well done, young man. Take the rest of the week off. A little something next to your envelope there, Zach. The sheet is powered by Fanduel.

Play your game with Fanduel. It's the NHL season, and Fanduel is your home for all the action on the ice. From Blue Line to Betslip, we've got your covered all season with unique promos, live offerings, and more features to let you play your game. Miss Puck drop, no sweat. With the live same game parlay, you can build your bets up until the final buzzer. Download Fanduals sports book today and play your game. Please play responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you,

please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. Zach, hit us with a parley. So I, for as you know, and I don't know how many other people know, I have the half-sleeve tattoo. I haven't full, finished the arm yet. And that's the next thing that I want to do here is get the rest of the arm finished at some point. But I've been debating going back and forth. It's a good feeling.

What I want to do. Yeah, it's exciting. I want to finish that off. They get some pieces done, whatever. But, you know, people keep asking me what I want to do. And I have one buddy who is suggesting, you know, getting little pieces and stuff like that to kind of scratch the edge before I finish off the full sleeve. And one of the tattoos that he was bringing up is, you know, the older traditional style stuff. And he was showing me some examples.

And, you know, the one thing I never understood, Jeff, was the fad of getting the barbed wire brand on yourself. Crazy that people thought that was coolly. Oh, he's stuck in a lot of coolie and then Ivan Barb a chef. Brandon Hagel, Brandon, good job, and coolly. I never understood the fat of getting the barbed wire branded yourself. Branded on yourself, rather. Crazy. People thought that was Cooley.

Ivan Barbashev, Brandon Hagle, who's been the best player in the playoffs, and Logan Cooley, $5 wins you $132. And $6.0. You know which one I could never get? And so many dudes did it. In every beer league dressing room, there's always one guy that has this one. The Tasmanian devil with the hockey stick.

Just the worst. Just the worst. You do not have that, do you? No. I have... You're not going to get that, are you? No, listen. I have two Maple Leafs.

They're side by side. One has a hockey stick and one has a lacrosse. Others has a Tasmanian. Has what? What is the hockey has a hockey stick? Oh, lacrosse. That's fine. No, my main issue is like the Tasmanian devil with the stick.

Because everybody got that one. And every single beer league dressing room there was that tattoo. No, mine is Maple Leafs, one with a hockey stick, one with a lacrosse stick. Hmm. But those are your jams. Like, that's fine. Yes. Yeah.

You're a hockey lacrosse guy. That's fine. My bigger issue is just the, yeah. How about the people that all got hockey Canada tattoos? When the logo popped. Those were real common for a while. Yes. Oh yeah.

That was a really common. Barb wire ink was pretty, I'm just unscientifically just doing this from from beer league dressing rooms. So the Tasmania devil with the hockey stick, the hockey Canada logo. I don't know. Americans out there, do you guys get like USA hockey logos on yourself? Now maybe. I don't know. Is that a thing?

Because the hockey Canada logo very much was a tattoo thing here in Canada for the longest time. I get. Totally unscientific. I feel like it might be more comment now. What do referees get for tattoos? That's something for Dave Jackson. That's something for anybody. Because, like, young guys are in shape.

Black straight, nothing. Orange stripe. You know, whistle tattooed on your wrists. Do you do that? Do officials get that? It's a helmet and a whistle. That's good. Or just like part of a puck going over?

a red line. I don't know. Like, how do you do? A skate going over the blue line? No, I'm a reaped too much of a reach here. Just a arm. Just get like the hand signals. Or like, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Just get like the hand signals for all the penalties. Yeah.

Yep. Not good explanation for the podcast audience, but Jeff and I just did the hand signals. Our free hands like, Yeah, exactly. The Dedy Lemieux. Or just the point. No, you know what the great one is?

And I wish they did it in the NHL. I would do it in International. The X over the head for the penalty shot. That's the one. I know everyone loves the drama of pointing to the dot. I get it. I don't know, man. I grew up with the X.

I like the X. That's what I do. The X over the head. Whenever that happens, I do the X over the head. I love it. Or just like pictures of guys pointing at the puck that just went over the glass, which will always be funny to me. Thanks, thanks, guys.

Oh, did it go over the glass? Oh, thanks. I didn't see that. I'm not watching the puck. The object we need to play this game is now out of play. Where did it go? Oh, thankfully, we have these three players that pointed out that that puck is now in the season. Ticket holders laps.

Wow, thanks, guys. Couldn't do it. Couldn't make that call without you. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Stupid hockey things. Big, dumb, beautiful game, you. You big, dumb, beautiful game.

All right, thanks as always to Greg Wichinsky for stopping by. Thank you to Day Panyoda of the fourth period and our DFO Insider as well. For stopping by the program. Thanks to everybody here at Everett. Everyone's been fantastic. Did another round of interviews. Yesterday, players, coaches, managers, COOs as well. doing more shooting around Everett today.

It is gorgeous. This team, folks, is a wagon. The Everett Silver Tips. Maybe the best team in the entire CHL will see. And the Cubos series are nodded at twos. Barry just beat the Bulldogs. So they're climbing back into their series. Kitchen are looking to close out against the Windsor Spitfires still.

And we're waiting for the winner of the Medicine that Tigers facing off against the Prince Albert Raiders. The winner of that series will face off against the Everett Silver Tips, who have only lost one game in the playoffs this season so far. Oh, Zach, here's one for you. Okay. Talk to Landon DuPont yesterday. And asked him something.

You know what I asked them? Okay. Who is the toughest player to compete against in the Western Hockey League? What do you think he said? Toughest player. Sean Burrick. He said Teage Aguinala. Yeah, yeah. Makes sense.

Makes sense. Close to the NHL. He's right there. He's ready, physically strong. Anyway, I throw that out there for no reason. Other to mention, then we sat down with Land and DuPont, and so those interviews are coming out when we release the Everett side of our six-part C.HL series. Kitchen Rangers drops a little bit later on. Thanks to you for watching. Thanks to you for listening.

Thanks to you for subscribing, whether it's on your favorite podcast platform or on our daily faceoff YouTube. We appreciate it. If you haven't considered subscribing, please do so. You'll thank us later. for that one. In the meantime, heading back home tomorrow. Going to enjoy the rest of the day here in lovely Everett, Washington, on behalf of the entire crew here, including Zach, back home, and Amel Delecheer. Thanks so much for watching. Thanks so much for listening.

Thanks for being part of this whole thing, whatever it is we do here on a daily basis. Sheet returns Monday, 1 o'clock Eastern, 10 Pacific, right here. Talk to that.