The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Cory Lavalette on the Hurricanes' Hot Start

Starting point is 00:00:00 With that, we'll bring aboard Corey Lavalette. No stranger to this and other programs covering the Carolina Hurricanes. Corey, how are you, my friend? And first of all, before we get into what we saw last night in the game against Vegas, I'm an old guy. I was a WHA fan growing up. I remember going to Toronto's games as a kid with my dad. Love the Hartford Whalers.

Starting point is 00:00:24 We all did. Love the New England Whalers before that. And certainly the Quebec Nordiques as well. and we're going to see it once, twice, and we'll see the Hartford Willers a third time as well against the Utah Mammoth. I put this out to start the show today. Should the Utah Mammoth in that heritage game

Starting point is 00:00:41 against the Carolina Hurricanes slash Hartford Whalers wear Winnipeg Jets uniforms. Let's do it. I'm all for it. Tom Dundon's got some stroke in this league. Make it happen. As long as it's the throwbacks, right? I always, I've still not in love with the Jets, not going back.

Starting point is 00:01:03 You know, I know they use them on occasion as a third jersey, but I'd love for them to go back to the old logo. But yeah, I'm all for it. Have a portrait of the queen up in the corner just like the old sale. Oh, it would be, wouldn't be fantastic. Okay, just a quick thought on the Hartford wheelers facing off against the Quebec Nordigues. Whenever this happens, like I understand the reaction in Quebec City. That logo, the fleur-de-lee, all of it is very sacred, certainly to that culture and that province, that hockey team, et cetera.

Starting point is 00:01:33 And we all know about Hartford Whalers fans and how passionate they are. Oh, and by the way, you know it would be great if just for one day, the Carolina Hurricanes had their heritage classic night, the Whalers Classic Night, the Whalers Heritage Night against the Anaheim Ducks. Just because Pat Verbeek was the guy that got Brian. Burke to stop playing the Brass Bananza. And then after every hurricane's goal with Pat Forbeek in the arena, they could play brass bonanza once again. Anyhow, I digress. Just your thoughts on, you know, using these uniforms that are, you know, from a different

Starting point is 00:02:11 era, from a different fan base, and from a different tradition, albeit it still remains with the lineage of this team. I'm sure you've thought about this. Do you have a thought on it? Yeah. Sure. Yeah. I mean, my first NHL game was at the Mall in Hartford.

Starting point is 00:02:25 I grew up, you know, near Springfield Mass, so I wasn't all that far from Hartford. So, you know, you want to sympathize with the people who lost their team. I was in Montreal this weekend, and everybody's still wearing Expos hats. It's insane. They're selling Expos hats in the Bell Center, all that stuff. So you understand it. At the same time, it's fun, right? There's, you know, as far as logos and uniforms go, are there two that are any better than these two, really?

Starting point is 00:02:55 especially the way they're going to contrast. So, I mean, I love it. I think it's great. I, you know, have a little place in my heart for the whalers from back in the day. So I think it's great. But I mean, you understand when a town loses a team and all that. It's tough, right? I mean, but it's the realities of business.

Starting point is 00:03:15 I mean, there's not much you can say. I don't think looking back. I mean, the hurricanes have been in Carolina longer than they were the whalers now. So, you know, still it's hard. to say it's an open wound anymore, I would say. I still have scars. I'm sure, you know, I could put some therapist on the map, earn he or she an international reputation,

Starting point is 00:03:37 you know, tracing all the troubles in my life back to when the Toronto's moved to Birmingham to become the Bulls. I think that set me up for a lifetime of disappointment and psychological wounds, but we'll not talk about that now. Okay, so the winning street comes to an end in Vegas yesterday and some pretty big moments. the Dorofiyev goal was gorgeous what Ivan Barbashev did to

Starting point is 00:04:00 Kandre Miller with a stick tap was something as well what did first of all what did you take away from last night's game before we drill down on the canes so far the season what were your takeaways from last night I mean the first thing that stands out to me is these are two really good teams

Starting point is 00:04:15 that each didn't have two really good players so we you know like I said I was in Montreal I went to Canadians Rangers And while the Canadians are fun to watch, you know, there's a level that teams like Vegas and Carolina are at that, you know, those teams are not at. You can see it already this early in the season that there's a, there's a talent disparity and a, you know, just a team disparity. So the fact that these two teams played at such a high level, kind of a playoff style game, it was pretty tight the whole way, not a whole lot of, you know, back and forth. steps for maybe in the beginning of the game.

Starting point is 00:04:57 The fact that they did that without Noah Hanofin, without Mark Stone, without Jacob Slavin, without Shane Gostas Bear, you know, really, you know, really impressive. Even, you know, you know, Vegas being down to Akira Schmidt and net early in the game, the way he stepped in was really impressive. And that's a guy that got shelled by Carolina in the playoffs a couple years ago. So the fact that he was able to step in, be composed, and win that game. I thought it was a fun game even if it wasn't maybe the most exciting game we've seen this year.

Starting point is 00:05:30 It's interesting to see how, you know, the level those two teams are at and the depth both teams have. It's the first time I've seen anybody, you know, really kind of match with Carolina's fourth line depth-wise. The depth that Carolina has, you know, Vegas has it too. Vegas is scary up front. The stone injury really hurts. And obviously, you know, Petrangelo not available for minimum this season. about the career. I mean, that's a, that's a crush or two. You don't replace that defender for the season and you don't have anyone that can step in and be Mark Stone. But as for Carolina, I'm having

Starting point is 00:06:06 a conversation with someone over the weekend. And we're talking about the history of Carolina, the recent history. We're not talking about like 10 years ago, but like the last couple of years of Carolina Hurricanes defensemen and what Carolina does with their defensemen. I was making the point that, you know what, like Carolina Hurricanes really, really shine their defense in up really well. You know, Brady Shea, you know, cashes in big time after starring on that blue line. Brett Pesci does same with New Jersey Devils. And this person said something to me. It's really, really got me thinking. So he said, it's not so much a matter of Carolina shining up their defensemen. It's more that Eric Tulski and before him, Don Waddell, will only go out there

Starting point is 00:06:51 and get players that fit what Carolina is doing, so naturally they're going to look better. Like if you're a big, tough defender that's used to, you know, cross-checks from hell every night in front of the net, you're not going to look good with Carolina. But if you're a little bit smaller and you can move your feet and you're athletic and you can think quickly, you're going to do great. So which one do you think it is?

Starting point is 00:07:16 They polish them up or they only select the right bunch from the vine that can fit what Carolina's doing. How do you lean on that one? I mean, I think they kind of polish up anybody. I mean, you look at the guys they had the last couple years. You know, Demetri Orloff and Brent Burns don't really fill kind of that bucket you mentioned, right? Keandre Miller is more Jacob Slavin-like in his size and skating and length than, you know, a smaller guy. And they got, you know, you lose Brent Burns and Demetrior.

Starting point is 00:07:51 Orloff and you're thinking, oh, they're going to get small because Orloff might not be a tall guy, but that's a thick, thick guy. But Keandre Miller, really big, really long. Alexander Nikitian already looks like a man out there. A couple mistakes last night. A couple of mistakes against L.A. that almost cost him the game there. But really, really good upside there.

Starting point is 00:08:13 And then you see the way Sean Walker jumped in. And he's been, you know, great from the minute he got there. you know, he doesn't get a ton of ink except for maybe for me because I've really noticed how well he's he's played and fit in and transitioned to playing. But yeah, I mean, it's a shame that Shane Goss despair got hurt because he was having a great start to the season for the second year in a row. And obviously, anytime you're missing Jacob's Slavin is tough. But the fact that they are where they are, you know, last year they played almost the entire

Starting point is 00:08:43 season with the same three deep herrings. They were very fortunate not to have injuries this year. they haven't had those pairings together really at all that they plan to have to start the season. So that's made it a little, you know, a little tougher. How good can Logan Stancoven be with this team? Yeah. How good can centerman Logan Stankhoven be with this team? Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing for Rod, Brenda Moore, right, is do you have the heart and will to go battle?

Starting point is 00:09:15 And there's no doubt that that guy's got the heart and will to battle. we saw it in the playoffs last year gets into a scrum with Tom Wilson maybe not the best business decision in the world but he's scrappy he's shifting, he plays tough he obviously can shoot the puck really well

Starting point is 00:09:32 that line has been really good you know it started off with Andre Svetnikov and then Taylor Hall had his good start to the year and he moved opposite of Jackson Blake and they've really really dominated territorially the goals maybe have you know the points and goals

Starting point is 00:09:48 haven't really been there yet. You know, I think Jackson Blake's got four points. So, you know, that, you know, Taylor Hall's got four points, but nothing outrageous yet. But even last night, I mean, if your concern is, can Logan Stancoven handle playing against bigger centers, I mean, how much hurdles a moose? And, you know, they had a good night last night, despite the end result. I thought they were, you know, they were pretty effective. Even if you don't get on the scoreboard, if you can tilt the.

Starting point is 00:10:18 ice your team's way, you know, you set yourself up for good opportunities. You know, there's a, there's a, there's a name out there that I, that I keep thinking about with this hurricanes team. You know, the one thing that I think we should all get used to if we're not used to it already is Eric Tulski taking swings, right? And this is another go for a year for the Carolina hurricanes. They're going to have a number of go for it years, as we all know. The one and, I mean, so many teams are looking for centers at this point.

Starting point is 00:10:45 The Calgary Flames were in a bad way. They've really started out poorly. I don't think it's going to get any better this week with games against Montreal and Winnipeg and then it's the Rangers that Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators next week. They may find themselves outside of the playoff picture as we move to November, but I digress. Carolina is one of those teams that's, again,

Starting point is 00:11:04 looking for another center. Do you think that as we describe and think about players that can play with Rod Brindamore's system and how he wants to play? Stanley Cup experience, as well. Do you think that Nazim Khadry would fit on the Carolina Hurricanes? Well, I mean, I think he would bring a little something that the hurricanes lack, right? They're not the feistyest team in the league. They got a little bit of it.

Starting point is 00:11:31 You know, when Will Carey is healthy, he's an absolute handful to deal with. And he's been really good to start the year. But, you know, for all the things that Logan Stankhoven does well, he's not the kind of guy who's going to get in there and push guys around in the postseason, right? he's he's not the he's not blessed with the size to do that um so yeah i mean and and it's not like you can't move logan stancovin back to the wing and um you know there's they're really loaded up front right now right i mean mark jankowski should probably be playing i you know it's surprising they can have a guy like that as they're 13th forward you know when you have and jasperi koen ymi playing on your fourth line uh and eric robinson i should mention him too

Starting point is 00:12:16 although he's maybe more of a traditional fourth line player. He's been really good too. I mean, they're so deep up front and, you know, adding another forward. The question is, is what does, you know, what does Calgary want back? You know, if Bradley Nodok couldn't make this team out of camp, who are you pushing out for a Nassau-Cadre? Obviously, you know, obviously you can scratch Eric Robinson. But, you know, there's identity stuff that Rod Brindamore really buys into, whether it's penalty killing or even strength play and they love what somebody like him does so if you're

Starting point is 00:12:51 going to come and fit in you have to you know we saw it with miko ranting it didn't he didn't really fit in right um you know i'm sure they would have still loved to sign him we saw what he did in the playoffs and everything but um you know i think there has to be a fit with identity too but yeah that's a guy who's um you know a proven you know proven stanley cup champion and uh can get a little feisty and can put points on the board okay last one for you um the answer to this for me is kevin denine i'm curious what your answer is your favorite carolina or sorry your favorite hartford whaler ever oh um man i mean that's a tough one a jeff sanderson was a was a fun one to watch for me really uh yeah speedy guy uh he was fun to watch uh for the young people that's jake

Starting point is 00:13:47 sanderson's dad right yeah yeah right let's let's not date ourselves too bad um so yeah he was always a a fun guy i mean kevin denine obviously uh that's great absolute moose ron francis is you know a legend and you know you feel fortunate that his career was able to move past just being a great player on a mediocre team. And then Zarlie Zalapski might be the, you know, top three best name in hockey history. So going away. Him and Bob Beers.

Starting point is 00:14:16 You got to. Bob Beers, Zarlayzlowski. Man, the old names are the best. Epson Knudson. All those. Oh, geez. Columbus Blue Jacket.

Starting point is 00:14:24 Great. Epson Canutson. Oh, man. I haven't heard that name in years. Oh, Corey. You just made my day. I had my day made a few different times here. The announcement this morning,

Starting point is 00:14:32 the Nord's versus the Whalers. And now we got an Epson Canootson drop on the program. Life's good. Corey, continued success. You're the man. We want to know about the Keynes we call you. Thanks for doing this every time. Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:14:44 Hey, yeah, good job shouting out those equipment guys. Because, I mean, these days, they're taking logos off helmets and switching numbers style. I mean, they're doing all sorts of stuff. They've got a back-to-back coming up where I think they have to change the color, the style of the numbers on the back of the helmet on an overnight flight across the country. So I could just picture them on the plane with them all laid out, just scraping off stickers. So good on you to mention, you know, George Alves and Patrick Buds and Nick Roy and all those guys that are all good guys who are working their tails off to make sure the teams look good. You always look after the people that look after you. Whenever I go on to a set, Corey, I do the same thing.

Starting point is 00:15:28 I go and I think and shake the hands of all the camera operators. And then after, you go to the control room. Or if you're on the road, you go to the truck right away as soon as you're done because those people can make you look great or they can completely bury you. So always take care of your equipment managers, hockey players. Yes, sir. Take care of the people behind the microphone, except for Zach, my producer. That guy doesn't know his ass from page six.

Starting point is 00:15:53 Anyway, all right, thanks, Corey. We'll talk soon, pal. Enjoying those uniforms tomorrow, or Thursday, rather. It'll be fun. It'll be a good time. Corey Lavalette joins us here when we talk about the Carolina Hurricanes. I sweat 16 hours last night Every day this week

Starting point is 00:16:15 Every day this month I can't get out my head lifestyle ambitious day to day Because you can call it all right I went to the dark man He tried to give me a little medicine I'm like now I'm and that's fine I'm not against those methods but new.

Starting point is 00:16:37 It's me, myself, and how this is going to be fixing my mind. I do want to break up. I turned on the music. I do want to break up. I turn on the music. Wixing up, hell, bad. And you sometimes losing. Have been on the day that's the way we're wrong.

Starting point is 00:17:03 In the dead dark night

The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Cory Lavalette on the Hurricanes' Hot Start

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.