The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Sean Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes

Episode Date: April 30, 2026

Jeff Marek is joined by Sean Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes, as he reflects on their first-round victory, weighs in on his controversial hit involving Ridly Greig, and shares insight into the mindset inside a playoff locker room. Don’t miss this loaded playoff edition of The Sheet—subscribe and stay locked in for daily NHL coverage.SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼 Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-pro-6-in-1-countertop-glass-air-fryer-rose-quartz/AS101CRS.html?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid+Social&utm_campaign=H1NinjaCrispi&utm_content=NinjaEN&dwvar_AS101CRS_color=cdb9b8Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First of all, Sean, thanks so much for stopping by today. I know it's a busy time after a relaxing Monday, a rare off day. First of all, you got Playoff Face. How's your nose? Start there. Yeah, nose is good. Again, just kind of comes with the job. So especially playoffs, you're going to get a little more nix and bruises, but it's all good.

It's like I mentioned, you have playoff face. And usually, you know, by the end of a series, you get sort of, of like the big reveal. I've got this. I've got that. And you're right, this was a rough one. I don't know that anybody had on their bingo card that Carolina,

Ottawa was going to be that kind of series. First of all, a sweep. Second of all, that rough. Did any of this, like anything in the series surprise you? Um,

I mean, personally, I don't think I was surprised. I think I could see how a lot of people outside looking in would feel that way. But, um, I mean, obviously right from,

from the start of the series, drop of the puck with both our captains, squaring up, kind of set the tone. And I think from there on, everyone just kind of bought in that we knew Ottawa was going to try and be really physical. And I think we did a great job of stepping up and matching that, if not exceeding it on our end. Well, that was great. I think that's been a knock on our team, obviously, before I even got here, that don't step up to the physical play.

But I think we did a great job of that this series. and yeah, it was definitely a tough series. A lot of physicality, a lot of stuff after the whistles, but it's playoff hockey, so it's kind of what you expect. I expect the answer to be yes to this, but are series like that fun to play in? Yeah, they're definitely fun. I mean, you know, you grow up wanting to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs

and the intensity and the physicality, and I mean, we're all there doing anything we can to win. So if it's taking a couple of extra licks or make it a big hit, whatever it may be. It's fun for sure. To get, again, the fans in it when you're in these buildings, you make a big hit or whatever it may be. And the place gets rock, and it's definitely exciting.

Okay, tell us about your big hit then, because I looked at that one and I said, Walker just said, F it, I'm going for it. Did it feel that way? My hit on someone on Ottawa. Yeah. Yeah, you know, I saw the puck coming.

So I think you see that hit probably 10 times a game. And maybe the situation might have been a little different. It had not been after what had transpired already. But yeah, you know, everyone's playing hard. Maybe it was a little bit on the side, some would say. But, you know, I think I would make that hit again. What happened on the bench when Clevin caught. Nekishian.

Yeah, I mean, tempers are obviously going to rise in a situation like that. You don't want to see anyone get hit like that, whether it's clean or not. Obviously, first and foremost, everyone's just concerned about your player and how he's feeling. But yeah, after that, you know,

they're trying to step up their physical play and set the tone and maybe take some energy away from us. And luckily, we had a lot of guys that stepped up and matched that. And again, you don't want to see anyone hurt. But at the same time, once a hit like that has happened, you've got to step up. And give it back, if you can, cleanly, and just keep battling. So, again, I think our team did a great job of kind of staying even keel.

Yeah, some guys were barking and letting them know that that's not going to fly. And everyone better keep their head up. But at the end of the day, I think we did a great job just staying and being focused on our game. The one thing, and you already mentioned this, like the one thing about this year's edition of the Carolina Hurricanes is like there's push back physically, whether it's you. And listen, there were plenty of, I mean, you were on the icy, you couldn't see it. But like on television, every time it got rough, there was a cutaway to Nick DeLoree who's like at some point, like his eyes are rolling back in his head like a shark and wires are crossing. And everyone's like, okay, so now care. Not just like stall and could chuck, like that sets a tone for the entire.

series, but just having someone like the Laurier on the bench, like I think about the Panthers series last year and like the Panthers do this to everybody. And all the teams sort of learned their lesson after going through the Florida Panthers. Do you think the team that we see now is a reflection of what happened with the hurricanes against Florida last year? Yeah, a little bit. Again, during that Florida series, I don't think anyone was backing down or anything, but they're definitely one of the best teams that taking it to the line without cross. and baiting guys in and maybe on the line of being dirty, but not getting not getting penalized.

And it's great. That's playoff hockey. You got to try and get under people's skin. So I think our team has realized that that's something that has to be part of our game. Everyone's trying to do it. And again, having someone like Nick Deloree on our team is awesome. It's great to be the way that he can kind of control a situation. Obviously, the level he's at.

with his certain skill set is special. You know, not a lot of people want to deal with that. So to have him there is definitely a nice deterrent for sure. What was Handshake Alley like in this one? I'm always curious about, and especially like that game four, as we've been talking about, was just so rough. I know players say that they drop it for the handshakes and that's it. But I also know that players take numbers and things.

through carryover. But what was the handshakes like after game four? Yeah, I think for the most part, it was pretty standard. Personally, with what happened in the game, I was a little cold to most people. Anyone in particular? But yeah, you know, I think I'd say 95% of our team, you know, it's the greatest respect in hockey or any sport.

you after going to war for four games you shake hands so it is what it is but yeah happy to move on you've played for rad brindamore for a couple of seasons now um i've always looked at the carolina hurricanes and said and i i intend this as a compliment not everyone can play there like you have to have certain abilities to be able to play the way that rod brindamore wants you to play Like, A, you have to be athletic, like wildly athletic. And B, you really have to be able to think. And that's not everybody. Like, that's a lot of players that look around the NHL and say, like, good player, but he couldn't play for Carolina.

When you look around your room and you see the players that excel with your team, like, what are all the things that they have in common? Essentially, what I'm saying is, John, like, what do you have in common with other players that allows you guys to be the Carolina Hurricanes? Yeah, I think, you know, I think. you spoke there, the athletic part about our team. You know, it really helps that Rod's probably one of the fittest guys in the room. So, you know, our level is there and you don't want to get out worked by Rod in the gym. So that's something that I think stands out right away. You know, everyone comes in insane shape here.

And it's fun to be a part of a team that just works so hard. And then going forward, I think when you look at our team, I think a big thing is like the work ethic. even if your brain's not working that night or whatever the situation may be, our team just works so hard. We might not have our best nightmaking plays or executing on the power play or whatever, but we're going to work. And that's really hard to play against. So I could see where some guys struggle with it.

I mean, it's a go, go, go. And there's no breasts on the ice anywhere for anyone. But I think as you guys have seen, when everyone's buying in and do it the way we want to, it can be pretty successful. I want to ask you about Jacob Slavin. One of my favorite things to do when I watch Carolina Hurricanes games is trying to watch players put the puck under his stick,

which just doesn't happen. It's always hilarious. What do you see? I mean, you're a defenseman. What do you see when you watch Jacob Slavin? I think one of my favorite things about Carolina Hurricanes hockey games is watching Jacob Slavin. And he's unbelievable.

And I know he's starting to get the credit now with the Four Nations and the Olympics, and people are realizing how easy it is it is for him to just shut down top guys night and night out. But the way he thinks the game, his size, has reached, his abilities is just, I really do think it's unmatched. I think he's the best defensive defenseman in the league. I don't know. Like, you watch it every night, and I still don't fully understand. And like he's got everyone fooled. He bates them.

He makes them do things that they normally wouldn't do. Again, it probably is because it's him. Like, they're like, okay, well, I've got to do something different. And it just, it plays right into exactly what he wants. He's such an anchor there for us on the back. And I'm sure he saw some of the numbers, the amount that he penalty killed, his time on ice every night. It's really unbelievable.

And I think anybody trying to get better as a defenseman should just watch the way he plays the game. He does it honest, works hard, um, super skilled. Such a great leader for us. Um, and again, like watching him every night. My favorite thing to do for sure. He's special. Um, and, and you're right. Like, he's like,

a Coucheroff is like this magician like that like, like gets everyone to bite on everything. It's incredible to watch. And I watch Lavin and, and he's sort of similar that he sort of tricks people into doing things that they don't want to do. And he's like, like, Sean, he's so calm. Like that's the thing. Like, like, like, Dude, this is the, this is the NHL. You're not supposed to be this calm.

This is the best league in the world. How are you so calm? It's just the Sunday stroll for him. Just chilling. And just whack him, pucks, like nothing. Best stick in the league by far. Yeah, it's amazing. You mentioned penalty kill there.

And I want to circle back to game four. And I can't tell you some. I'm sitting there and I'm watching the game and I'm like, that's a penalty that Carolina can kill off. Like, you know, there's some penalties like, yeah, we got this. We're going to kill this one, right? As opposed to some other penalties are like, oh, man, this is going to, oh, why did you take that?

Like I looked at so many of those penalties in game four and said, Carolina's going to kill this off. Do you know, you kind of know what I'm getting at here. Like there are just somewhere emotionally you're like, no, man, we're killing this thing. 100%. And again, I think the way the series went in general,

the way we were killing from the start, definitely gave us that level of confidence to begin with. But that level was, that game was obviously intense. We had a lot of stuff go on and transpire and some penalties that, Maybe you don't want to take, but we understood. So it is what it is. And our guys went out there and we had the utmost confidence.

I mean, I don't know how many five-on-threes they had. It feels like we've had more five-on-threes in that series than we had all year. But again, we just, you know, when we have guys playing the way they are and buying into the way we want to kill, it honestly, it seemed easy for most of the guys out there. And again, I think they maybe scored two goals on. 20 attempts or whatever it was throughout the whole series. And that's huge for a team. I think you can go out there and you don't want to be so worried about taking a penalty.

And then you're hesitant on plays and stuff. You got to just go play and whatever happens happens and have the confident in your team that, you know, if that does go down, that you'll be able to kill it for sure. What makes Stankhoven Hall and Blake work? Like that was the best line in that. series, one of the best lines so far in the playoffs. What makes that thing click? And by the way, Taylor Hall's having a great second act in his career, man. He really is. Unbelievable. Yeah. I think all three players are just, you know, they work their ass off and they have such a high

level of skill. I think you watch how many pucks they get back. Even, you know, they're not the biggest guys with, with Blaker and Stank, and they probably get the most pucks back on our team. So they're hound in the puck night in, night out. They have such a high level of skill. You know, the stuff Laker does with the puck is just, is mind-blowing, really. And then I think Halsey is really the glue in that group. Like he's older, he's mature. He's been around.

He knows certain things aren't going to work, aren't going to work. And again, he's really found his rhythm with those guys and the confidence they have on making plays. And being a driving force for our team really right now has been an awesome. watch and you know stank the goals he's scoring are huge for us especially in that series where every game was one goal games almost for those guys to get us going pretty much every night has been awesome and really looking forward to see what they're going to do the rest of the way i just love how hall just understands every i mean he's been in the league he drafted in 2010 like he's been around for a long time and had a lot of success including a hard trophy um i just love like how

he he understands like the moment and when he scored that goal and did like the ear cup to the crowd i'm just like oh yeah like just understand the moment perfectly i was like do you think that's got to be like one of your favorite goals with the emotion like yeah what the game meant um and he said yeah he was like honestly like that might be one of my favorites the way that he was getting booed every time he touched the puck right yeah oh yeah oh yeah and score score the first goal of the game in a series clinching game was was awesome um i I couldn't imagine if that was at home. The roof would have popped off.

It would have been insane. It was awesome. Yeah, it was great. Place would have gone great. How much are you watching Pittsburgh and Philadelphia right now? Are you glued to it or are you just like, yeah, you know, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter who we get. We know these teams.

Yeah, I mean, for me personally, I try to, you know, I definitely check in on everything. I'm not sitting there watching every series. If their game's on, I'll flick it on. But at the end of the day, even this next series, whether it's Pitt or Philly or whoever it is, the rest of the way down the way, it really doesn't matter to us. Again, the way we play the game is we want to dictate it with our style, do what we're going to do and see how teams react. So, yeah, we know them, but not enough. We played them a bunch during the regular season. So I know what to expect.

Obviously, playoffs a little different and things get ramped up. But again, no matter. what they're going to do. We're going to dictate our will onto the game, and hopefully it goes in our favor. Okay, a couple of memory lane questions here for you. Then we'll let you get out with your day. So tell me who said this.

You should ask Sean, which is better, winning around in the Stanley Cup playoffs or winning a playoff game on a Friday night at the Georgina Ice Palace with the Georgina Ice Junior C team? First of all, who said that? Oh, wow. So, I mean, you might have given it away.

I'm wondering if that was Aaron. That's Aaron Ambrose. Very good. All right. You got it. It's okay. Like, yeah, so she obviously knows my history, but, yeah, I played junior C for my hometown team.

And I was only 17, 18 at the time playing for my hometown team. And playing junior C is definitely an interesting time. It's the jungle. What a example? They called the jungle. They called the jungle for a reason, John. It was the jungle, but you know what? Like, that was so huge for my development and, like, got me to work.

Like, that was the start of me, like, really starting to grow and mature as a player. So it was the jungle, but it was an amazing time. I wouldn't change it for the world. Well, like, your journey, like, we'll end on this one. Like, your journey is a fascinating one. For those that don't know your story, I mean, you go into your last year of Bowling Green, you don't have an advisor slash agent,

Cam Stewart's a buddy, a family friend, I believe, or a friend of someone in your family. He hooks you up with Rob Blake. He went to Bowling Green, Los Angeles, and into Ontario.

In a couple of years, you're in the NHL and you're never back in the American League. Like, it really has been, like when you look at all the stories around the NHL, your path is one of the most unique ones.

Do you ever look back and say, wow, this has been a weird, this has been a weird career? Yeah, I mean, I think because I did, it and that was the only way I knew that to me it was just like that's how I was going to get there. But obviously being here now, seeing how 99% of the guys get to the NHL, yeah, it was definitely the longer road and maybe got into the league later than I would have liked.

But at the same time, if I would have came into the league when I was 18, I would have been out of the league by the time I was 19. So it was great. It was great for me developing the relationships, even just the person, the man I am now. All those steps on my journey to get to the NHL were really pivotal and make me the player in person I am for sure. What a thoughtful answer. You're a thoughtful guy and an excellent hockey player. Thanks so much for this. And I always see the Carolina Hurricanes have some of the best personalities in the game, whether it's Martinuk, whether it's Jarvis, whether it's Hall.

And you, Sean Walker, thanks so much for stopping by. Thanks for stopping by today. I really appreciate it. Thanks, man. it.