The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Summer of Chaos Continues in the NHL ft. Mike Rupp & Kevin Allen

Episode Date: September 17, 2026

Jeff Marek is joined by Mike Rupp to break down the latest news from around the NHL, including Cutter Gauthier signing a six-year, $81 million extension, Connor Hellebuyck’s situation with the Winnipeg Jets, Jordan Staal signing a one-year extension with the Carolina Hurricanes, Luke Evangelista landing a five-year deal worth $7.25 million per season with the New Jersey Devils, Justin Sourdif signing an eight-year, $50.8 million extension, and more. Then, Kevin Allen joins Jeff to dive into the Detroit Red Wings, including why the team remains without a full-time GM, Shawn Horcoff taking over as interim GM, what went wrong for Detroit this summer, the latest on Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation, Alex DeBrincat’s future, and what comes next for the Red Wings.#NHL #Hockey #TheSheet #JeffMarek #DetroitRedWings #WinnipegJets #CutterGauthier #ConnorHellebuyck #NHLNews #HockeyNewsSHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Coca Cola: https://www.coca-cola.com/ca/en/offerings/coca-cola/hockeyReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, more signings, more controversy, more chaos, more things coming up. Welcome once again to the sheet from our downtown Toronto Studios, tastefully decorated, I should mention. Be getting a lot of comments, by the way, we got an old synergy, a yellow synergy. There's the shot. Look at that beautiful yellow synergy in the corner if you're watching us on YouTube. Thanks so much for joining us here today. Wednesday, September the 16th.

Welcome to the sheet. Mike Rupp's going to be stopping by here in a couple of moments. We'll go over the news of the day. The signings from last night. And the non-signings getting into today, Columbus, Adam Fantilli, I'm looking your direction. But I'm also going to talk to Kevin Allen at the bottom of the hour. And we're going to talk and park a lot of time, obviously, talking about the Detroit Red Wings, their GM situation, their Larkin situation, their Edvinson situation, their Alex de Brinkett situation. I've got friends, look at me here.

I've got about a million questions for Kevin Adams, okay, uh, Kevin Allen, I get a million questions for Kevin Allen. I have a million questions for Kevin Adams too. A million questions for Kevin Allen coming up at the bottom. And they're all like this.

What the fuck? Those are essentially all my questions about the Detroit Red Wings coming up with Kevin Allen at the bottom of the hour. Anyhow, Ruppers going to be stopping by too. I want to make a point about one place. one player because the story of this player and how he came to his contract, I think is really a great one. And it's Justin Sordiff. So Justin Sordiff signs a contract extension with the Washington Capitals yesterday.

It is eight years, AAV, of $6.35 million. Here's why I think this is great. I think like a lot of us, when he signed that when he was traded to the Washington Capitals, a second round pick went the other way. Ryder Cali, who's a really good player, North Bay, et cetera, ended up getting selected with that pick. But he gets traded for a second round pick. And a lot of us went, whoa, that is a lot to pay for an American hockey league player.

But the thing about Surtif was, now he was property of the Florida Panthers, was playing in Charlotte, played in Charlotte for three years. and he was the guy that did everything that was expected of Charlotte. But because it was the Florida Panthers, two-time Stanley Cup champions, et cetera, this guy wasn't going to get in the lineup. This guy was not going to get his NHL shot, even though he jumped over every single hurdle

that was placed in front of him, did everything that Charlotte expected of him, and everything that the Florida Panthers, expected of him, but there was just no spot for him. So they trade him to the Washington Capitals and shout out big time. Listen, Bill Zito is the general manager ultimately is his decision, but Brett Peterson was massive in this one and saying, we've got to do what's right for this guy. We've got to give him a shot somewhere.

This is an NHL player. And they move him to the Washington Capitals. They get a second round draft pick. And think about this. Two years ago, Justin Sordoff is playing in Charlotte, not knowing about his future, not knowing what's going to happen to him in hockey, knows that he's blocked because he's part of this Stanley Cup franchise

with the Florida Panthers. Two years ago, he's sitting there making an American hockey league salary, not knowing about his future. And as of yesterday, Justin Sordiff has $50 million. And is playing in the NHL. Justin's sort of story may not get a lot of attention because there's big names getting signed. We all know that.

I just want to make sure we parked a little bit of time today mentioning how this guy never quit, did everything that was asked for him, and now he's $50 million richer. I love that story. I suspect Mike Rupp does as well from the NHL network and of course co-host of the Tri-State Hockey Podcasts heard and scene right here on Daily Faceoff and the Nation Network.

There he is. Rapper, how are you today? What's up, Jeff? I'm good, buddy. I love, love Justin sort of. Same. Man. It was, I had a, we did a couple games last year where we have the game at NHL Network.

It's kind of, anyways, we had a Caps game. And I remember watching him. And like, every time he was on the ice, something positive would happen for the Washington Capitals. And, you know, I just hearing what you're saying there. And I think it's a great lesson for young players. It's great lesson, a lesson for pro players right now. You've got to make your sense. self-versatile. You've got to make it like whatever your bread and butter is, whatever you

think it is. That might not be the way for you to get it, get what you want, get where you want to go. You've got to find other things. I mean, he's like the biggest thing for me is where do you want to play them? You could, you can play them. Honestly, you can play in lines one through four. You play center. You could play wing. I mean, those are the things I think that young players or just players that have spent a long time. You got to have different weapons in the bag, man. You got to. love the story, love that he got paid. I think that that's a real good one there in Washington. Brett Peterson, like I want to mention too,

like he was one of the, one of the executives that was saying, look, we got to do what's for, I mean, Roper, how many times, and my final point here, we'll move on, how many times have you seen teams say like, you know what, too big of an asset, I know he's being blocked right now, but we're not going to let him go to another organization. We're not, we're going to sit on the asset here. And good on Florida.

They did what was right for him. Yeah. They did what was right for the player. That's a great point. Good on him. Okay. It's been a crazy summer, as we all know, and it carries on here into the middle of September. Connor Hellebuck situation, that's always up for grabs, and that's been fertile territory all summer long.

Kutter Goce signs, so Anaheim now has another bullet in the chamber for them in a very interesting off-season. As we've Adam Fantilli, still without contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, what to you, like right now, September 16th are you looking at and saying, to me, this is the most interesting story, both as an analyst and as someone who played the game and won the Stanley Cup. I mean, there's a lot that you just mentioned right there. I mean, where do you start? I mean, one of the things that jumps out,

probably not the front runner, but just how really that offer sheet almost ruined the Anhyme Ducks. I don't know the better way it put it here. not wrong. Like when you sit there and you look at the build of that team and what that team did last year, and it, you know, I'm not really sure. I think they're going to have a, I think it's going to be a grind for them to make it into the playoffs this year.

I agree. But from what you thought about them when the elimination from the playoffs happened to where you think about them now, what's transpired with the roster build. It's a bad off season for that in a lot of different ways. I was doing this with someone a couple of weeks ago. we respect, again, so much of it, now that we know the Goce number, it sort of, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it focuses a little tighter. But we're trying to figure out, you know, how much extra money Anaheim had to pay this summer. Now, the cascading effect is everybody, every manager around the NHL said, I don't want to be Pat for

beak. And we're locking up guys ASAP and the numbers are what, what the numbers are. But would you look at both the offer Sheet de Carlson, what Gochay's got now, and also Pavel Minchikov. I don't think they thought they're going to have to pay him in the sevens either. When you look at like the extra money that all of this costs, the Anaheim ducks, I figure it's around $40 million. Yeah. I mean, it's, you know the big thing with this too, Jeff. And it's the best situated team.

And you can go on the extensions and some of the guys they got done yesterday. We all know this. And we've talked about it. Montreal is in the best situation, I believe, moving forward for years. to come. Great situation they're in right now. Yep. I don't want to not credit Kent Hughes and Jeff Gordon, but a lot of that's with

timing too, you know, getting those deals done when they got done, even prior to these ones, talking about their star players, getting those under contract. You can't always anticipate and project the future that this was going to happen this summer or this year with the cap. So some of it's about timing, too. Like this was just a bad, bad timing to have your two franchises. players contracts coming up for animal. And so I sit there and I look at the money out there.

I mean, the Domenikov one is very interesting because he was offer sheet eligible as well. So I mean, that's why he signed. There was a threat. Someone was going to do it and Pat didn't want to get stung twice. I mean, it just made the situation. I think when you're talking about the Cutter-Gotier situation, I'm still kind of to digest in what that is because I think the player definitely left money out there. If he wanted to squeeze and kind of get what the market value is, it's more than what he

signed for, I believe. I think that the, not just the offer sheet changed how much money's going out the door. I think that offer sheet changed. Maybe Cutter Grote was never going to sign an eight-year deal, but that's solidified that he wasn't going to. You know what I mean? And like that that was, you had an opportunity. I think the idea was like, all right, let's get both these guys signed times eight and get it done before that that drops off as of yesterday.

And, you know, it ruined a lot. It ruined a lot of things. Even in the back end, like you look at the back end. As much as, you know, John Carlson was an important piece. They acquire. He's gone. Jacob Trub was gone. Right.

Goody's gone. I mean, and all of a sudden they look at the decor, I'm like, no, man, you can't. Like, this is, they, they lost very. Now, the Chris Kreider thing, too, like, you lost a lot of veterans in that group. I'm very, if people joke around about, you know, Danny Breer breaking the Anaheim ducks. I don't know. He may have. In a lot of ways, it wasn't just the Anaheim ducks because other general managers would have lived in fear of the boogeyman that is, you know, future offer sheets. And now all of a sudden there's a shark in the water and we can't become too complacent.

We've been waiting for this, you know. it's legal in the CBA, use it. Owners will say, like, once the Carlson thing happened, how many owners turn to their managers and said, why aren't we using this? Why aren't we using this to try? If you're Jason Botterrell, this is the name that I keep coming back to.

If you're Seattle, I know you have to get the player to sign it too and he has to want to go, but how are you not playing the offer sheet game as well? Now, I don't know. He may have been, Seattle may have been one of the four that submitted offer sheets for Leo Carlson.

But I think you're right. Like this is, as far as like contracts that profoundly change the game, in this generation, the Leo Carlson contract is it. And I had Matt Keeter on yesterday. We're walking through it and talking about the cascading effect. And we're still seeing the cascade from it. And even on the back end too, like you see Zev Boyum go for what he went for, right?

And so what is that going to mean for Edvenson? What is that going to mean for Nekheishin? You see Ryan Leonard go for what Ryan Leonard went for as well. And these are, these are, and Noah Osland as well, like players that have played less than a hundred games. Like, let me ask you this, put your players cap on. And these guys coming out of their entry-level deals

are making more money than veterans that have been in the NHL for 10, 12 years, who are still making a healthy paycheck. Once upon a time, that would upset the apple cart in the room. I don't know that that's true anymore, though. I don't know. Is it, is that, is it? Because once upon the time, players be like, this guy's been here for five minutes here.

He's barely pissed a drop. And look what he's making. That does affect, they used to affect a room. I don't know that it does anymore. It's just a reflection of the new reality coming out of, these are now the non-COVID prices, as we'll say. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's a great point. I don't think it would really affect things overly.

I mean, there's always been contentious negotiations with teammates and the team you play on in the past. and I've experienced that, and it was never anything that really crept into the room. Maybe in some situations where it's like I think back to the Nashville days. And I'm pretty sure at that time it was like Weber, Souter and Renee were all kind of up at the same time. I think they all wanted to be back in Nashville. And I think that that, I don't remember the Pekino, I want to say that. Was it the Weber thing went down first, I believe. The offer sheet.

And that pretty much ruled out Ryan Suter being back in Nashville. And I think that that's where you get some disappointed because you may want to be there. It goes beyond even the dollars. This is where I'm happy so I want to win or whatever the circumstance is. I would think that maybe sometimes that creeps in. But overall, like I don't really think that that stuff gets inside the room. At the end of the day, we're watching players' salaries go through the roof.

I mean, we're seeing it trickle down. We're seeing third liners. we're seeing third liners and guys who and not to poo-poo it they might be third-liners they're signing for six million dollars a year like seven million dollars a year i mean it's pretty impressive what we're seeing right now and uh for the players i think you kind of support that movement you know it's it's interesting um we talk about leo carlson you know the name that i keep hearing when i ask teams about signing players well after minton signed his deal with Boston, we had to do this with Noah Osland or whomever.

Like, that seemed like that was another flag for teams. Oh, if Mittens going for this, what's that going to mean for our guys here? You know what I mean? Like, there's so many different. Boyam is another one, like, along the way that moves everything up. And again, these are the under 100, under 100 games guys. Ryan Leonard. Isn't that, though, and I'm sure.

sure that if we went and nitpicked all the deals being had, I'd be like, well, man, that guy hasn't even played 100 games or that. You could date this back to Caprizov's two contracts ago when he had, he was under, wasn't he like 50 games played or something like that? And he signed a pretty darn good deal there. It all comes down to, and this is what the name of the game has always been, but even more so now. I think the days of GMs, you cannot wait to see what your player becomes and then expect to lock him up. You're not going to be able to do that. You're going to lose that player or you're going to have to pay through the roof at that time because of situations like this. The old project and protect has never been more prevalent than

it is now. You've got to know this player and put your neck on the line and be like, this is what we firmly believe it, not because of this is where he's drafted and this is what we have to do. We believe he's going to be that player and get ahead of it. As easy as that, sounds it's it's very difficult to do and it's not an exact science but the good gms do it man and you cannot sit there and try to just i want to see a little bit more i want to wait a little bit longer like you're going to miss it you're going to miss the boat on it and i think that's what we're seeing right now so i think they're going to have some gms and we always kind of see this and whatever the narrative is when the cap grows there's more money in the system more money available

I think back to even like the players association when we were dealing with some of the, you know, the lockouts and the time off. It was always like, hey, it's not our fault as players that the GMs can't control themselves. Like that's the narrative that players would say and player agents would say. But you're going to see some GMs will look like a genius in these last whatever four or five months. Some will lose their jobs because of the decisions that have been made right. right now. That's the name of the game. So you better be pretty confident in the guys you have around you, the support system you have, and trying to figure out and project who's going to be what, because that's the name of the game right now. I'll tell you what, I woke up this morning

and was thinking about the cut of goche contract and all the big ones that we've seen. And the one name specifically that burns in my head when I saw the gocha contract was Jason Robertson. it's Jason Robertson who wanted 15 and we all howled too much too much too much too much got our go chase got 13 and a half and Jason Robertson took 12 on the one-year deal avoiding arbitration I look it's funny too hey rep for like two months later two months later I am anyhow I'm not sure how you feel about it about reevaluating the the Jason Robertson won your $12 million deal? Yeah, I mean, it's, I don't know, we're kind of chatting about Jason Robertson the other day.

You, I, I'm hard to find another name. Maybe you can in the NHL that you get such mixed reviews on. Like, there is a contingency of people out there that say Jason Robertson is one of the more underrated players in the league. There's probably the same amount of people to say he may be one of the most, overrated players in the league. Like, how can that be a narrative on the same guy? The one thing he does do, it produces points, man. Like, tons of points.

And you look at what he's done. I mean, those numbers don't lie. And you can think of whatever you want. I mean, there's, every player is themselves, and they need to be themselves. And there's things that maybe you want more out of him, but there's things that he could do that not many people could do in this world. And he's done it numerous times. So we're talking about some players getting massive deals playing 85 games.

Jason Robertson's gotten north of 100 points a couple times. He gets 40 goals all the time. All the time. You know? I know. It's crazy. It's crazy to think. But in that position right now, it'll be really fascinating to watch, you know,

Tyler Sagan's numbers come off the books. Yes. It's going to be something they can get done there in Dallas. But he's sitting in a really good spot right now. The way these contracts keep coming out is only looking better and better for Jason Robertson. Absolutely. You're right. He is the one name that divides the room.

not just within like fan community NHL, within the team itself. Like you'll talk to some that are on one side of the fence and others that are on the other side of the fence. One that are like, oh, empty calorie goals and the others like all goals were expensive. Yeah. Right?

Like where are you going to replace those goals and who can do it like Jason Robertson can? Most American points in the last five years. Jason Robertson? Yeah. He's number one. We looked at the numbers the other day and, you know, I mean, you've had a couple,

injury plague down years maybe for like an Austin Matthews. But you're talking about the most. Five years is a pretty good span. And Jason Robertson, what he does, he produces points. He does. He does. Let me ask you about Connor Hallibuck here. Dylan Arkin is reporting to camp.

Connor Hallibuck is not expected to go to camp for the Winnipeg Jets. Year 3, 8, a 7-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets. I believe that the issue is not on the ice. It is off the ice, and I think a lot of it is the treatment post-Olympics. Hellebuck went out of his way to talk about his family, specifically, and this is the right decision for his family. I don't think that this is specifically a Winnipeg has taken a downward turn, and I don't want to be part of it. Again, this is the way that it feels to me for Connor Hallibuck. How do you see this entire situation?

Like I could, if that's what the situation is, because listen, we've been talking about this year on this show going back to April when I first started to hear the whispers about Hellebuck and wanting to move on, et cetera. How do you see the Hellebuck situation? Yeah, I mean, I can't speak on his behalf. But one thing I will say is that I do think, whatever side of it you want to be on,

I do think the responses in some of the Canadian markets to the players, American players, coming back to their respective clubs, was definitely noted, I think, by guys. Whether you think it's right, whether it's wrong, whether whatever it is. I think that plays into a lot of these things and a lot of these decisions. So, you know, I think that if you're going to have no, Connor Hellebuck, to open this kind of Pandora's box to come out publicly and say that I like you can't report. I don't think you can report to camp like I just think it's such a it's a it's a really bad spot for Kevin shovel day off in the organization because we've heard

kind of the rumors that the offers just were not good. I'm not sure they're going to get much better if he's not there you know what I mean like it's it's it's they's kind of got the team in a in a really tough spot here. Yeah I don't know what to make of it. It's unfortunate because this is a I hate to even think about the trickle down. Like, think about when you, Winnipeg finally started having people re-sign there. You have him sign his eight-year deal or whatever that was, how many years it was, seven years, seven-year deal.

Yep. You had Shifley sign his. You have Kyle Connor. Yep. Those other deals are based off of each other being there as well. So, would we be shocked if all of a sudden now, it's like you get some. of those other guys being like, hey, big reason by me signing here long term was because

we had one of the best goalies in the world. We don't have that now. It's the future of what it, the unknown of where the franchise is going to be. Like, I hope it doesn't get to that, but I could see a world where it does. That's why, like, I don't know. I mean, I'm sure you've talked about it and we've, we've kind of kicked it around a lot. Like, I'm pro player. I'll always be pro player. These no move clauses, full no move clauses are a problem. And I think we're going to look back at some point and as great as this 26 U.S. men's Olympic team was for the game of hockey, stateside, one of the coolest moments. It's every watch in hockey. It's coming from an American guy here. The aftermath of that and the way that some of those no movement clauses

have been kind of weaponized in some regards, it's going to change hockey. Like, it's changing it right now. And I'm not sure it's, again, I'm for the players and the circumstances, and whatever, but there has to be something in place that if you have a full no-move clause, there has to be something that's triggered if you go to the team and demand a trade. You can't sit there and be like,

I can only go to two teams, one-to-whatever that is. The flip side to it is, and I've lobbied for this for a while too, and that is if you do have a no-move and your team approaches you about waiving your no-move clause to go somewhere else,

essentially the business proposition there is give me something in exchange for nothing. Like do me the favor. Like if there was a mechanism whereby the player could be compensated, pick a number or upper half a million dollars, whatever it is. So there's an actual transaction

that we're talking about here. The no move thing is an instrument but that would have to be collectively bargained. I just don't know what you would have to give the players association to get rid of or limit those from team to team. Like you just can't arbitrarily wake up

and wave a magic wand and say, okay, now no move clauses are void in all contracts. Like that's got to, I just don't know what you could offer the players association to get them to move off of those. I will say one thing,

I'm glad you brought up the group chat. The Hockey Hall of Fame is, I've always looked at, is essentially a living document about the history of hockey and the things that changed hockey or the things that were remarkable about hockey, things that we should pause and reflect on,

things that we can learn from. I think the USA gold medal team's group chat belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I think take that group chat and put it as part of the display because I think you're right. Like afterwards, all of that profoundly changed hockey. And a lot of it was used through the vehicles of the no move clauses as we saw. But I really do think that I say it partially tongue and cheek, but that group chat has changed

hockey. That players, good chat has changed hockey. Yeah, it certainly has. And, you know, that's part of this whole player empowerment movement. I think players, you know, there'll be a day, I think, where you look back, not just to how great that

feat was for the Americans, but also just for the game of hockey where, whether it's the PA side of it, the players will be like, well, those guys, those guys kind of change things for the better for us. You know what I mean? Is having a little bit more say and more power. The only thing for me sitting here and trying to just consume and be a fan of the game,

I just don't like seeing franchises getting ruined here. You know what I mean? Like teams that are trying to build and do all those spots, just trying to go and do the right thing. So, yeah, a tough spot, but that chat will live on forever. Legendary. It actually happened in that good chat. Let me close with this. I'm not sure how many conversations you've had about this, but it happened again.

I was driving to work and having a conversation with someone from a team, and the same topic came up. And that is rookie tournaments right now. And I've had a couple of people from a couple of teams say to me, they think they should get rid of the rookie tournaments at training camp because there are so many, on every single team, there are so many elite level, like really good college players that can't go to these tournaments,

that teams aren't getting an accurate. snapshot of what they have because they're not competing. Obviously, they're at college. Have you heard much of this? Because I'll tell you, I've had like three or four conversations about the same thing. You know what? The tournament's not what it used to be. And there's so many college players that we all have now.

And the college experience is so great. And the college players are fantastic that we don't see a point in having a rookie tournament with these guys not participating. And they're thinking about getting rid of the whole thing or proposing, getting where to the rookie tournaments. Have you heard anything like that? I have not. I mean, it's kind of true if you don't really have a full grasp on who your quote-unquote peers are and how they compete against one other. The one thing I do like that we're kind of seeing with the short and training camps, not as many preseason games.

I think you're going to be NHL rosters. You're getting right to it right away and have the rookie tournaments have been going on for quite some time, but just have like the rookies. you're going to have to stand out in that group, but to your point, the group is bigger than what we're seeing. We're not seeing everybody involved there. But I don't know. I guess my counter to that would be like,

well, what do you do then? Like at some point, you still got to measure. It's still, you still got to be able to see these players outside of the leagues that they played in prior. And you get them all centralized in one spot.

So, you know, it's, I don't know what the alternative is, but it does make sense. It makes the job kind of difficult for some of these. decision makers, I think, out there.

Yeah, I just thought it out there just because I've never heard that conversation before until, like, the last three days where teams are like, I don't know what the value of this is anymore with so many college kids not here. Interesting. Interesting times. You're the best, my friend. Enjoy the season. Like, if it's anywhere close to the off season, which was wildly entertaining, we are in

for a great ride in 26, 27. Thanks, Rupp. Always a pleasure, Pat. Enjoy, buddy. There is, Mike Rupp. who is a delight, as you all know, with the NHL Network. And, of course, the must listen to Tri-State Hockey podcast about the devils, the Islanders, and the New York Rangers.

This fan moment, by the way, a presentation of Coca-Cola being a hockey fan is a commitment. That's true. The superstitions, the chance, the pacing up and down. The standing through overtime because sitting somehow feels wrong. Remember 2007 Stanley Cup final? That game 7, Carolina, all the fans standing for the full three periods. That's what we're talking about. Whether you're making the climb to the nosebleeds,

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Let's get right to Kevin because when we talk about, juicy topics and we talk about the topic that that keeps on giving the Detroit Red Wings have been doing that all summer long. Kevin Allen joins me from Hockey Buzz and Detroit Hockey. Now, Kevin, it's always a pleasure to see you and to chat with you. I've never seen any, I'll just be blunt. This GM search and now the interim tag, I have never seen anything like this from an organization. You've been covering hockey longer than I have. Have you seen anything like this in the GM's office with the team in the offseason? No, I have not. You know, starting with, you know, when they did it, you know, after the draft, after a free agent signing

period, you rarely see, I mean, it's happened, but rarely do you see a GM change after that point. And just the length of time, there was no effort to be expeditious on this. It's been long drawn up. And it just didn't unfold the way we normally see it. Always something escapes about who had been given permission to talk to the team, you know, who had been interviewed. Those things normally come out and nothing ever came out, which, you know, gave us the idea that they hadn't been aggressive, that they hadn't interviewed enough people. And now we've gotten to this point. And now they've had to name an interim guy that they could have named, in fact, did name, sort of. They put Sean Horkoff, you know, in charge of the day-to-day operations, but now they've given

them the title of general manager on an interim basis, but have basically indicated that they could change and add a new general manager or a new director of hockey operations during the season. And, you know, he's coming in, you know, training camp starts tomorrow. We're just a couple of weeks from starting the season. He's got to sign Edmondson. He's got to address the Dillon Larkin situation. He has to start contract negotiations with the Brinket. You know, he's got to try to get this team up and energized to try to avoid 11th consecutive year out of the playoffs. So there's a lot happening there. I mean, it's not a horrible choice. Horkoff is a, um, As a guy that I think is qualified, I think one advantage he'll have is that he's been in charge of the farm team.

All of their prospects, which are now starting to come en masse to the roster, he has good insight on them. So he'll help in that regard. But here's one unique aspect of this that I don't think any of us saw coming. Because of the way this has been handled, the fan base has turned down. originally everybody was mad at Larkin and Eiserman now the fan basis completely thinks this was ownership's fault how so what's the effect then I have okay I see that and I feel it you're closer to it obviously than I am

how does that if at all affect Dylan Larkin returning to this team right now is there a sense of okay now we understand Larkin's position more or is there still he's betrayed us? I think there's a greater understanding of this position. You know, before I think they sort of blamed I was a man and Larkin both for letting the relationship deteriorate to the point that it did. And I do think that they sense that Larkin was frustrated by the lack of postseason. But also I think they saw Larkin as part of the problem.

that, you know, his leadership, you know, could have been stronger in terms of getting this, you know, when, you know, March has been their problem month. And in March, they haven't been able to rise up. And I think they blamed Larkin for that. But I think, you know, where it's going to change everything is if Larkin decides that he can live with this new management group, that he likes Horkoff, he thinks they're going into playing, I think it'll be a little easier on him. It's still going to be hard. I mean, I can no mistake about it. Like, he's going to get booed because there was, you know, a feeling of betrayal as you, as you called it. Then I think that's fair.

But I think it is going to be easier. And we all know that sports, you know, they love a redemption story. You know, there's many instances where this has happened. So I think, you know, the way it's played out now, I think it sort of opens the door for Horcock to set. in Larkin's living room and say, hey, look. And really, this is absolutely critical for the Red Wings. Like, they have one scoring center. You know, if Larkin is traded and they don't get a centerback,

which they're not likely to, their leading returning goal score is JT. Comfer, among the centers, J.T. Confer with 11 goals. So, you know, they don't have anybody else to play center, on the top line. So, you know, it's, if they can't somehow talk Larkin in the stand,

you know, it's going to be a rough season. Let me spend another note here on Larkin, too, because you mentioned the redemption story, and that's been all over sports forever. You know, cynically, I think we can all remember, like, Don King wasn't exactly a sterling example of what sports should be.

But Don King, I always felt, said one thing that was particularly salient about sports, and that is where there's money, there's understanding. And that's kind of how he controlled everything that he did. And we've seen that story play itself out time after time. But the thing about redemption arcs too is, and this for the fans, like there has to be some type of sacrifice for the redemption to happen. Like the volcano needs a virgin here.

Like there needs to be some sort of demonstration towards, the marketplace from Larkin, if it's going to be anything other than, like, it's going to be, Kevin, it's going to be awful in that building where every time he's on the ice, it's boo, like no owner wants that in their building. No owner wants that mood and that vibe. Like, I don't know how you do it. I really don't. Yeah.

Yeah, I don't know. But I mean, if Dylan Larkin comes in and obviously he's not the captain anymore, and, you know, the history in Detroit, when Fedorov betrayed the organization, then went elsewhere. They booed him every time he touched the buck. Yep. And I could see that happening for a while. But, you know, if he's so important to their offense that, you know, once he scores a couple power play goals and everything, I think, you know, it will dissipate.

I think it reveals. And he is a native son, as everyone knows. Yeah. He's a Michigan guy. He lives here. University of Michigan, like all that adds up. So that's why I think the betrayal felt so real to them is because, you know, he shouldn't have wanted to do that. And it came right after, you know, he had sort of given a speech at the end of the season saying, you know, he wanted to be here

when this gets turned around. And then shortly thereafter, it came out that, you know, he had asked to be betrayed. So, you know, it's a very, it's going to be a very trying time. for this organization as they try to sort of navigate what happens. And, you know, there's no simple answer here. Like if he does still want to be traded, then they're going to say to him, you've got to give us more teams. And maybe they could do something a little better with some other teams. But you look at the three teams, we've got two of them that really are not interested

in making a move for him and Vegas in Florida and another that really would like them. but really don't have anything that could help Detroit now. And I just don't think they could make this trade for a first round pick, a second round pick, you know, and a couple of good prospects. Like this, that just doesn't work for a team that's still trying to get in the playoffs. So let me swing back to the general manager situation because this one is so unique. And I'm going to throw out a theory. Let me know if this lands with you or not.

This finds any concert with you, Kevin. And maybe it's Jeff Greenberg. But it felt, looked as if Detroit had all their eggs in one basket. And again, maybe that's Jeff Greenberg. And when that didn't work out, they didn't have a plan B. Their plan was just, this is going to be the person we get. And we're going to get him, comma, damn it, period. And then when they didn't get that person, they had no plan B to fall back on.

Hence, leading up to Sean Horcroft being named interim general manager. That's what it, again, that's what it feels like, but I'm a million miles away. What do you think? Yeah. Well, I mean, it feels similarly to me as well, although this is the way that I saw it happening. I thought, you know, they got into it and they had the Greenberg sitting there. They knew him. They knew him well.

That sort of fit the idea of analytics. He was in charge of that with the Detroit Tigers. He had the hockey background. And then he sort of emerged instantly as the favorite in their mind. And I think they, you know, you know, sort of leaked out that they were considering either a one person or a two-person group. And so I think they sort of felt that, okay, Greenberg will be in charge of everything. then we'll get some other guy. And then they sort of just dragged their feet a little bit.

And then he pulled out. And then he just said, no, I just don't want to do that. And then they were left. And, you know, they were so far into the process. They probably didn't really think they were going to bring in somebody else. And, you know, now they've just sort of, they've sold it as we're just being thorough. And we're working our way through. And it's going to take us more time than we thought.

The problem with that is I can understand being thorough in the summer where teams will make their assistant general managers available, whether it's Jeff Kilty or whether it's Scott White in Dallas. But that generosity, and we all know the affinity that Jim Neal has for the Illich family, but that generosity only extends to a certain line and a certain point. And then they need their guy back, right? So you can talk about being thorough and all that. You've shut yourself out now from all these other candidates. like Florida ain't let their guy go. Dallas ain't letting their guy go. San Jose ain't let their guy go.

So now you're with the idea of people that are unemployed currently, or you wait until next summer and take another swing at it under the guise or the fog of we're taking our time. Yeah. No, yeah. I mean, you're absolutely right. And, you know, the other elements here that's, you know, plays a role in. And of course, you know, these are companies. They can do what they want

in terms of that. But I thought it was curious to me, just because I've seen so many of these statements through the years, that the, you know, the Red Wings statement in Larkins made really pay no homage to the fans in this. Like, I think another issue that's gotten them in trouble is is they didn't even really make any effort to sort of let the fans in a little bit. I mean, you know, even when you're dealing with crime, the sheriff stands up, and he doesn't tell you anything. But he makes you feel like we're trying to give you as much information we can. They made no effort to do that.

So they've kept one in the dark. You know, nobody spoke for two months. They didn't talk about the firing of Larkin, the Larkin situation. You know, none of this. We've never really had anybody come out into the public even for five minutes and say the things that, you know, like that was said, that, hey, look, we're just trying to be thorough or whatever their message was. So I think that's heard of them as well, too. I mean, it's a small thing.

But, you know, in Detroit where they're just looking for hope, you got to spend some time to try to get. able to go. No hope. I'm throw more logs on the fire here. I look at, you know, listen, the clock struck midnight and all of a sudden the idea of flattening out a cap hit for Simon Edvinson went away, no more eight-year deals. Would it surprise anybody if we're looking at like a, you know, five-year deal now, 10.9 or where you could have done at one point, like probably the beginning of the summer, like an 8.8. Probably you could have. I think that was true. I think originally the talk was of a shorter deal. Now, I don't know whether it was Edmondson or Steve Eisenman that wanted that. But I think there was talk of that early on. And I think this would

have gotten done. You know, the problem is, and this was always a criticism of Eisenman, is that, you know, he always pushed it, you know, even with his top players, you know, trying to get the best deal for the team. And, you know, that is his job. But I don't know. But I don't know. But I'm I think in the long run, you know, that's hurtful as well because I think players, the word gets around, everyone understands that, you know, they're trying to squeeze every dollar out of everyone. But, you know, worked out with the team. I mean, now Larkin's contract, you know, part of his attractiveness is that he's $8.7 million. But I do think Edmondson will get done. That was the indication that I had that it'll get done pretty quickly. So, and, you know,

to his credit and to certainly to the refix advantage, Edmondson has been out front about his desire to stay here in Detroit. And, you know, he was a little disappointed that it's sort of evolved like this. But, you know, he was going to come to training camp regardless of a contract. But I think, you know, I think they're going to try to get this done by tomorrow. You know, Steve William is in the nines. And he hasn't played a hundred games yet. I'm going to assume that the Edvenson number,

I don't know how significantly, but it's going to be north of that. Yeah, I mean, I thought 9, 5 to 10, you know, it became clear early that you were going to have to beam more than more in Sider, which is a little hard on the Red Wings because Sider is such a valuable thing. But, you know, players understand that. You know, they may not like it and they may grouse about it, but they understand how this works.

You know, as timing is everything. So, you know, you just, you give him more money and, you know, cider will just make a mental note. And that's the thing about Edmondson, too. You know, people are concerned about Evanston. But, you know, this is a guy that I think will be one of the easiest guys to sign. You can only make one mistake. And that is if you disrespect him with a bad offer.

Like, everybody knows he's got to be north of $12 million. or 12 million. I mean, you know, Kyle Conner's at 12 million. He has, I think, 340 goal seasons. Abranca has 340 goal season as well. And there's another $12 million player out there as well. I mean, I think that's the money. So if they come in and they, you know, low ball him and try to play 11, but he loves playing in Michigan, his family's there, his wife's families there. He talks about it all the time of being that. So I think you just got to go in and you got to pay him. And I also think you want to set a tone that the Red Wings are different now. They're not going to fight for every dollar. They're going to try to be fair to every player and so

forth. So I think they can get this done as well. I think he is predisposed to sign here. He's even said that publicly as well. But I don't think you want to do. this perspective. Last one. You mentioned more at Sider. Next captain. For sure. Yeah, I don't see any other candidate that could challenge that. I mean, you know, we say this, we throw it around, and it's almost becoming cliche about being a natural leader, but he really is. Like when you hear him talk after a game, he is dissecting what happened. He always is willing to talk about where they went wrong, how they can get better, what they need to do better.

Players like them. He never takes a night off as well. So I just don't think you even have to give it a second. And I can still remember the gasps in Vancouver when Steve Eisenman announced his name. And it turns out to be one of the best picks that Eisenman ever made, ever made, absolutely. Kevin, this has been great.

I agree. This has been great, sir. You're always good catching up with you. You'd be well. It's not a dull moment in Detroit right now. And I don't see it calming down anytime soon. Great to have you on the beat as always. Thanks, Kevin.

We'll talk soon. Thanks. Bye-bye. There is great Kevin Allen. Who, by the way, Zach, you may be too young to remember this. But Kevin, when he was the lead writer, new lead hockey writer in USA today, like nobody missed a piece. Kevin Allen was the voice of hockey in. US newspapers for forever, forever.

Like, yeah, that was, you know, the era where, you know, Kevin was the king and everybody read him in, in USA Today. He was the guy. I was very much Toronto newspaper based growing up and then basically by the time I got really into hockey fandom, I remember vividly, I got Twitter at the time. it was called dating myself with that Jeff. I don't even say. That's the name.

I still call it Twitter because that's the name it was assigned at birth. Yeah. There you go. I got a grade nine. I got a Twitter account. And the first thing that I did was follow every single insider that I saw on TSN and Sportsnet at the time in Canada. So I just remember.

And did you follow Kevin? No. Was he on it? He wasn't an early adopter, was he? I don't think so. It was more later that I got to come across Kevin. But yeah, I remember that was like my access to hockey, the hockey world. So from very early on, it was a short attention span, Jeff.

Because I think even then it was like 80 characters or something like that before they expanded it out. So yeah, that was my hockey reading at that time. One day someone will get into the Hockey Hall of Fame or they'll have like a branch. Like they have, you know, the Foster Hewitt and the Elmer Ferguson. Well, they have one for Twitter for social media. Will there be someone who would distinguish themselves in hockey media by their social media? media presence. By the way, Sean Horcoff will address the media in just over an hour. Yeah.

We should mention as well. So that will be, that will be newsworthy, I'm sure, whether he says something or nothing. It'll still be newsworthy. That's just, like, that's just the status that Detroit has right now. Like, just anything that happens or anything that doesn't happen, like I'm sure everyone read the Chris Illich interview from yesterday and pulled out whatever they wanted to pull out from it. And, you know, the days go by when Edvinson's, you know, not signed. The Brinket doesn't have an extension. Dylan Larkin is still a member of the team.

And the general manager has interim tag still in front of them. This has been crazy. Yep. This has been nuts in Detroit. Tage Fan 72 in the chat asks, Is Detroit what Buffalo was the last few years? at least Buffalo had managers. Like they had like Buffalo,

at least they had like some, like they had like a, like at least they had someone who was, whether it was, you know, Tim Murray, Jason Botterwell, like they had people to run the team.

Okay, like they had like everybody with, all positions were accounted for. Buffalo just had this situation, but like nobody wanted to play there. For the, the longest time. And a lot of it was just because of the futility of the organization.

They just, they just, they just couldn't win, you know, and I can, I think a lot of us can still remember the first Terry Pagula, you know, press conference where essentially he like handed Darcy Ruggiera a checkbook and

said, go sign players, go get players. And it was a whopper of a contract for, who are the two? Christian Erhoff, the defenseman and Vili Lano. Both got really,

really rich because Terry essentially, She said, go sign guys. Right. Go sign players. But no, there wasn't a hunt for managers like this. They didn't leave offices empty. They just had a situation where nobody wanted to go there. Yeah.

Nobody wanted to play there. Right. Terry said go sign guys and they at least had a guy to go sign them. I understand that when you buy a shiny new toy like the Buffalo Sabres, you want to go and do something. Yeah. Man, those were not good signs. Yeah, a little too horny to go there.

Those were not good. Spend some money there. The other great line from that press conference was Terry Pagula with the commissioner Gary Bettman sitting right beside him, Terry Pagula saying, I'm not here to make money. I'm here to win Stanley Cups. If I want to make money, I'll drill another oil well. Just thinking like, if I'm Gary Betman, I'm like, let's not say that publicly. Yeah, no kidding.

Let's maybe just talk about it. I want to win the cup. Matt Boss 1 here with a Red Wings logo as his professional. profile picture. He says that it's shockingly bleak here even more than I thought it would be, and I was one of the, quote, Dumer's. It's bad. Yeah.

It's bad. But the thing about the team is, like, I don't think it's Landon DuPont bad. Like, I don't think that it's a team that we're going to look at and say, like, you know what, throw the season away and try to get yourself Landon DuPont, who, ironically enough, is playing at the University of Michigan. I don't think that they're that bad. That's the problem. If you look in that direction, that's the problem here.

Let's just get ahead of ourselves here for a second. Okay. Wouldn't that be something? Land and DuPont. Yeah, I know. Cider. DuPont. DuPont.

I know. Holy shit. Look, it's the great line. And it applies to sports and it applies to life. As said by the late great comedian, Sam Kinnison. Ready for this one? You've heard it before. Okay.

If you're going to miss heaven. don't miss it by two inches. Yeah. If you're going to miss, really, really miss. Yeah. But that would be something. Who knows? Like, teams, like, listen, teams fall apart all the time.

We've seen it. So maybe I shouldn't be so dismissive of Detroit's ability to finish last. I'd give themselves. I mean, Vancouver's going to give them a run for their money. But maybe I shouldn't be so dismissive other chances of finishing last. Can you imagine that? Whomever the general manager is walking up there and announcing Landon Dupon from the University of Michigan.

Yeah, it's kind of funny you say that, by the way, because we were playing a clip from Wendell Clark's media availability at the Leafs Golf Tournament. I believe that happened on Monday. And he said something about the league parody to the effect of, there's no bad teams. I don't know about that, Wendell. There's bad teams.

There's some horrible teams. Some bad teams by design. That's what, and that's okay. You're selling wins or you're selling hope. And there's a team in BC selling hope. Again, I always say this on Scarcerus and Price. Like for a team like the Vancouver Canucks, the only question you have is are the kids getting better?

Yeah, that's it. The wins are great. And hopefully, you know, you win some at home, so fans go home happy, do all you're losing on the road. Like, just do all the losing on the road. Oh, and 42 now it'll be. Go 0 and 42 on the road. Just go and lose all the games on the road,

win some at home. And hope the kids, improve. That's not a bad strategy. I think you're okay with that. That could be the dignified tank. That was how we justified it to ourselves in Toronto when they got Austin Matthews. The dignified tank.

They tried hard, Jeff. No. Listen, I remember there was a Christine Simpson and Zimmer, we're all cheering for you. There was a Christine Simpson interview with Mike Babcock once. Do you remember? And it was a line that didn't get, and Babcock just slid it in there. and it was throwing right in the face of what the NHL has always preached, specifically the commissioner,

when they were talking about the year they got Austin Matthews and Babcock threw in, we did what we had to do as a team to get Austin Matthews. Yeah. Well, he at least warned us because I don't know if you remember, and apologies to whoever he sat down with and said it to. But prior to that happening, Jeff, he said the infamous line, there will be pain.

So he did at least warn us. He told us. And then he confirmed it did happen and they succeeded. Yeah. They did. They got what they wanted. Hey, anything we're leaving on the table here for today, whether it was with Rapper or whether it was a Kevin.

I want to make sure we got in that Justin's sort of stories because I'm so happy for him. Great work by Dave Cowan's the agent there, O2K. Jack Eye Signs, as we talked about with Mark. So we had a little preview of that, Alex Newhook. Man, what, Havs loved their Boston College guys, eh? Montreal. Montreal loves their Boston College guys.

Chris Crider right this way. Alex, Kent Hughes would have done law school at B.C., I think, as well. Interesting pipeline. Four-year 5.55 Jack Guy with the 1.5. Evangelista. Did you want to touch on that? I know that. The interesting part about that contract is,

is that there's no trade protection early. I think it's first three years, no trade protection. Five years, seven to five is the AAV there. Yeah. Well, do you want to talk about Twitter Hall of Fame? I think it was our guy Gucci, the Heat Daddy on Twitter. Yeah, yeah, Gouche.

He tweeted something to the effect of, you know, like if I could sign a deal worth $50 million on the hope of upside, you know my life would be a lot different I was like yeah that's a good one there's no disrespect to these guys I understand you should do that in your next contract with Hummel you're a nation never just there's upside

we're doing this based on based on upside and offer sheets from you know rival streaming companies do you understand the changing landscape this is a players mark this is a producer's market it's a producer's market right now everyone needs a producer hosts or dime a dozen analysts or dime a dozen and you go pick one of those up at the bus stop, but producers.

Let me tell you. And there's serious upside here, Amel. Get in early while you can because this ticket could be way more expensive if you wait another week. That's right. The best price was yesterday. Yeah. On a more lighter note, we have a quote from Paul Maurice, who's back at it. Paul Maurice says this quote tweet coming from A Baumgartner 91, Alex Baumgartner.

Paul Maurice said he doesn't want to give everybody what they want. and referencing the Kachucks and Sam Bennett. And he says, quote, they'll be in jail before the puck drops. What have we been saying? Like the Florida Panthers spent the off season putting together a prison team. Yeah. It's if they can, they might be the best team in the NHL if they can stay on the ice and have everybody playing. Yeah.

There's no guarantees of that. health aside right like if they can all be in the lineup every night yeah they'll be really tough to deal with this could be a wildly entertaining team again i just don't know like there's so much way and tear on a lot of these guys like this brad marchand's not starting the season yeah yeah right um some people again some people uh wonder if matthew could chuck can play like a full 84 games i think you look at a lot of those players on that team because don't forget like this team has played so hard for so many years. And I don't know that it's just one offseason

that sends you to lords to bathe in holy water and heal up. Like, these guys have played hard for a number of years. I don't know. I hope that they're all healthy. Because it's great, it's always great when the NHL has a villain team, team that like, whether you're Ottawa,

Toronto, Boston, keep going even in Tampa obviously Like everybody in the Atlantic But like everybody in the Easter comments Everybody in the NHL If you've played against Florida, you hate them Yeah Like you really really hate playing against these guys

It's beautiful That's why I hope they're all healthy And they play good Another thing for you here And I think these Maybe we can find a way to mix some of these in Just some fun things Because I think we hit on all the heavy news here

So do it, what do you got? The San Jose sharks have unveiled their arena for this season, or their ice circus, I should say. They're playing a different rank. What did I miss? They have gone with an all-teal center and a white shark logo. The concept of it looks pretty cool, but I just wanted to shout that out because I think we're seeing teams change.

We have the Golden Knights do the roulette ring in the middle. We have the Carolina Hurricanes who did the inside of the Stanley Cup and the color red, San Jose sharks now with the all-teal. I think it looks really cool, and I think it's way more fun. Are we getting close? closer to getting more color on the ice than, Zach. Is that what you're telling me? That was kind of what I was trying to lead to your death.

I'll tell you one thing. Yeah, I know. I know I go on about that too much. Okay, so here's what I think about this. I don't know if we've spent enough time as hockey fans, people, media, whatever, acknowledging how great a logo that San Jose Sharks logo is. Just because we've just familiarized ourselves with it for so long. Yeah. That is.

such an elite logo and has been from the hop. And even to this day, don't you just look at it and go like, God, that logo is awesome. Like there are just some things that, we've talked about this idea before, things that just make you proud to be a hockey fan.

Like, I'm really happy that I like a sport that has that logo in it as part of like a reason why I really love hockey. That's San Jose, regardless of how you feel about the team. Hey, Anaheim fans, you may hate them. Los Angeles Kings fans,

you may hate them and all that. But the one thing I think everybody can, agree upon that shark's logo has always been elite and always will be elite yeah the there was a stat i saw the other day um i want to try to find it but when the sharks first came into the nchl their branding and however you want to group that in together and by branding i mean hats t-shirts jackets hoodies jerseys all of that like i'm lumping that all into everything the starter jackets. And the reason that I got brought up

was because one of the old princes, like of England or whatever, was photographed wearing a shark's starter jacket. And the stat that went along with the image that I saw, which I was just trying to find. I can't find that picture right now. But they were the highest, like, grossing branding that was sold of professional major sports teams

in that year that they debuted in the NHL. I believe it. 100%. Yeah. I always got out of my way to point out before the sharks, there were the seals. Anyway, look that up, youngsters. But yeah, no, sharks have always been elite.

Sharks have always been great. And that's why it's great when the sharks are good because there's another reason to watch the San Jose sharks. It feels such a cool color, too. Yeah. Right? It's, yeah, I love it. It's great.

Love what they're doing at Center Ice. Play more with colors on the ice. Thank you very much because there's just like, again, I keep banging on it. White is the worst color to watch on a screen. As I talk to a guy, in a white sweater and white hat. I know, and a white wall behind me.

Who's also white? Let's not lose sight of that, too. Yeah. The more you can play with colors on the ice, because, like, you got white ice, white boards, one team wears white uniforms. Enough all ready. Yeah, more colors.

Make it easier on the eyes. Make it easier on the eyes. Anything else? That's all I got. I think we pretty much hit on all the news and then some extra soft stuff at the end there. I appreciate that. Nice soft landing at the end of the program today.

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of Aurora. There he is. Zach Phillips modeling the latest. The entire off-season social club collection for a limited time at nationgear.ca. Do you do runway or just magazine modeling? How does it work for you as your part-time gig there, Zach? I think it's best that I stay far, far, far away from those types of events.

Do you have a thought on the new Aurora tiger's logo now that we're going through the logo designs. You know, you and I have talked about this. We are not fashion guys. I can confidently say that is some of the most atrocious jersey branding design that I have seen. And it is a shame what they have done to my Aurora Tigers and their uniforms that we used to have there.

You know, we had these, nobody really is going to have any. idea what the hell I'm talking about. You're talking about three, you're talking about me and maybe two other people. Okay, so the, the tigers was the minor hockey and the junior A team in Aurora that I grew up with. They used to have these like old designed tiger that had the claw coming out and everything. And then when I played, I played there for two years in minor. I came back from, from AAA to go to Aurora of two years. They switched it to like this little soft cartoon tiger. I was like, oh, what are we doing? It just makes you look a little like softer.

You know, okay, my last rant here for the day or grousing about anything in hockey. This guy sounds so stupid. Hershey Bears. So their mascot for the longest time still is. Mascot by the name of Coco, the bear. Okay? Hershey Bears, Coco.

Coco was like a rotund bear. Like, we've all seen bears. they don't go to CrossFit class. Okay, like they're big. Yeah. They're bears. And then suddenly a number of years ago, all of a sudden, the bear leaned out. The bear was like jacked.

And I'm like, I don't want that bear. I want fat bear. I want like the OG Fat Hershey Bears Coco. That's what I want. I don't want CrossFit Coco. I want like I just ate 30. 35 sammons. Yeah,

look at that. It's beautiful. That's the Hershey Bear that I want. If you're watching us on YouTube, that's the one that I want. And then look at that. All torn up. You know,

he just like went through a divorce and had to get a gym membership so like a woman would turn her head. Like, give it up, Coco. Go back to being fat bear. Yeah, get the fat bear. You want fat bear back.

Yeah. I want fat cocoa. Thank you very much. That's my PSA. Bring back fat cocoa. That's fair. All right. I feel better about myself now.

All right. You have a great rest of your day. We're back tomorrow. Greg Wyshinsky will be aboard with us tomorrow for the full compliment. And as he's making the rounds here on the Nation Network, because he's launching a new show here at Daily Face Off, Sean Avery. We'll stop by the program tomorrow with Greg here. I'm guessing the name Marty Bredor is going to come up,

and you will not want to miss that. On behalf of Zach Phillips and all of us here at Daily Faceoff and the Nation Network, thanks for tuning in, thanks for watching, thanks for listening, tipping your Zamboni driver on the way out. And as we like to say, thanks for the buns and the use of the hall. The sheet is off the air, returning tomorrow 1 o'clock Eastern right here.