The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Western Conference Vibe Check ft. Shayna Goldman

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

Today’s episode of The Sheet sees Jeff Marek joined by Shayna Goldman for a full vibe check across the NHL, with a particular focus on how the Western Conference is shaping up right now. The conversation digs into what’s happening with the Anaheim Ducks and the Utah Mammoth, plus a closer look at the Colorado Avalanche hitting a noticeable lull over their last 10 games and what it means moving forward. From there, the lens shifts east to the Detroit Red Wings, who now sit atop the Eastern Conference alongside the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The episode wraps by spotlighting Moritz Seider’s outstanding overtime play to shut down Easton Cowan and secure two massive points for Detroit.Leave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/caReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!#TheSheet #JeffMarek #ShaynaGoldman #NHL #Hockey #WesternConference #EasternConference #AnaheimDucks #UtahMammoth #ColoradoAvalanche #DetroitRedWings #CarolinaHurricanes #TampaBayLightning #MoritzSeider #DailyFaceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So on the program today, we're going to be doing, welcome to it, by the way. Thursday, January 22nd, welcome to the sheet. I'm going to be doing a vibe check with Shannon Goldman, focusing a lot on the Western Conference, focusing on Utah and Anaheim. So I threw that one out on Twitter, X, whatever you want to call it. The name it was assigned at birth was Twitter, so we're going with that. They were doing vibe check to which our buddy will, Will meaning. What about pickle check also? As a quick aside before Shana joins us here

And we get to the rundown My two favorite Dill things In the world Outside of Bob Dill And the pickling of Bob Dill With Rocket Richard, which I believe we spoke about here on the program Not too long ago with Craig Wosinski

I don't know, Zach, if you want to weigh in on this one Before I get the show rolling here For me, my favorite Dill things are Hot Dill Mustard and Dill Cachus Dill Pickle Cachus. Dill pickle cashing. You got a favorite dill thing?

Not saying the dill mustard is bad. I've never had it, but it sounds really interesting. Coslux hot dill mustard is the best, the best. The cashews, I can get on board with that because I love the dill seasoning that goes on popcorn. Oh yeah, that's mint too. And that was, that's so, so good. You get the butter, the salt in there,

and then a little bit of dill seasoning on top of it, just chef's kiss. during the movie, so I could see the cashews being mint on that. But the first lady of Dill will be joining us here in a couple of moments. So let's get right to it. The Blueprints is powered by Fandual. Download the app today and play your game on Fanduel. And that person is, of course, the great Shana Goldman.

You've seen and heard her numerous times here and on my various other shows. And she always delivers. She will be here to deliver the goods. both on hockey and everything Dill and maybe tennis as well. I know she's staying up to stupid o'clock to watch the Ozzy Open. She's probably going to have like the Louis Vuittons

under her eye. She hasn't slept, but all of it is worth it. Shane is going to stop by here in a couple of moments. We'll talk about the Western Conference. A little vibe check time. We'll talk about the Jets. And we'll talk about her banging the drum for Mo Cider and why not.

Moritz cider for the Detroit Red Rings and another banger of a game last night for someone who should get, although he won't receive, I'll get a lot of Norris Trophy but he's not going to get the trophy. So we'll talk to her about that. And if we have some time too,

wouldn't mind getting your thoughts on a few things. Most notably, the Josh Stone contract with the Buffalo Sabres. And the thing that I wonder about with this one, as someone texted me yesterday about it, the seven times seven for Josh Stone with the Buffalo Sabres, is that an indication? Should we read anything into? And this is probably a question.

I'll get into a day payona tomorrow as he joins me on our Friday. edition. Does that mean the end of Alex Tuck? Should we join those two things together? The other thing that if we parked some time here with Vancouver, which I imagine we will with Shana, that we should

probably talk about too, is in Ben Kuzma's latest, Tyler Myers, talks about being willing to waive his no move clause, which turns into a no trade clause. 12 team, no trade clause according to Hartlevena,

Puckpedia, would be willing to wave come trade deadline time for the Vancouver Canucks. To wish we would wonder about teams like Detroit, we know they're looking for another top four defensemen. We suspect that they are looking for another top four defensemen. They'd probably want a left shot as opposed to a right shot, but nonetheless, wonder about the Dallas stars, wonder about the Toronto Maple Leafs and a potential replacement there for Chris Tanniv.

And also a team that will talk to to Shana about here in a couple of moments, the Utah Mammoth, who are now one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They've won their last four, and they are eight one-in-one in WC-1 in the Western Conference. With that, we'll bring aboard. As we labeled you a couple of seconds ago, Shana, before you joined us,

the first lady of dill, Shana Goldberg. I was mentioning off the top with Zach, my favorite, of all the things dill in the world, my two favorite are this, dill mustard and dill cashews. What about you? Okay.

What say you? I've never had dill cashews. So good. But would love to try. Dill mustard, love that. I think those are two flavors that go perfectly together. Yep. I'm going to go very simple here.

I'm going to go with dill pickle chips because I love a good dill fry, but I feel like when you can get a nice baked chip or like a kettle cooked chip, they can be perfection. It doesn't even need to be spicy all the time. You can just go really simple. And then like when you have a more flavored chip, you can go simple on the dip. And it's a great combo. All right. That's, so vibe check on everything Dill

transitioning to vibe check. Did you talk about glitter pickles yet? Did you go there? Okay, so, okay, peek behind the curtain. So Shane and I were texting. First of all, I'm surprised you got back to me. So as quickly as you did this morning. Like, I think I texted you like around 7 o'clock,

which for me isn't early, but for you is like, what are you doing, Merrick? And I know you're watching the Ozzie Open. So you're going to be up to like four or five in the morning every day watching tennis. What were you doing? A, what were you doing? hitting me back so quick.

Have you even gone to sleep? And two, no, I haven't talked about glitter pickles yet. Like, who's putting glitter in jars of pickles? Hands up. No, not me. Who's doing that? Like, seriously. Like, I just want to step off the earth when I see that. I'm not, I'm not an edible glitter person.

Like, I get it. It could be cute. Like, I think I even said, like, you know, for cake decorations, I get it, but, like, in cocktails and in pickles, I don't, I don't need that. But I think last night I probably went to sleep around four. I didn't stay up as late. The match I wanted to watch, I think, started at like four or five. And I was like, you know what?

I'll watch this in the morning. I caught up with Osaka's match then. And I was up by like 8.30. So it wasn't bad at all. So you're like rocking four and a half hours sleep tops. Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. And then caffeinated and ready to go.

Oh, my God. I'm a caffeinated. Like, I've become a too coffee person in the morning. Maybe go for like a midday matcha to, you know, keep me going. All right. Okay. Well, let's just jump out in. then. I want to get your thoughts on the Josh Stone contract here in a couple of seconds,

but his former team, the Utah mammoth, now hot, hot, hot in the Western Conference. 8-1-1 in their last 10. They've won four games in a row. And it's interesting because, you know, their power play is really nothing to write home about. Like this isn't, you know, the conversation around Detroit is like, you know what, five-on-five, they're kind of mad, but the power play's dynamic. If they could do anything in the playoffs, you got to do something about their five-on-five play. Power play's 31st. Like Utah is not doing this with a good power play. 15.4%. This is all getting done five on five. Goals against really good. Six in the NHL. 139 goals allowed goals for 115th. That is mid. That is 16th in the league. When you look at the Utah mammoth and when you have a peek

behind the curtain of the Utah mammoth, what does Shana Goldman see? I'm not, I don't think having a bad power play is a backbreaker if you can elevate everything else. I think about like the 2011 Bruins, a team that went into the playoffs, one of the worst power plays. And everything else was so perfect that they made it work. But you also know in the playoffs, and I think about the Panthers right before their cup runs, they had a postseason where their power play was just disastrous. And it just kills all your momentum. So there's time to work on that as they get healthier and just figure it out. But if you're going to have to pick one or the other, you want your five on five offense going. And I think what stands out the most to me, and we saw it a lot in last night's game,

which was a total banger, is that when the years started, we all watched Utah and said, look at this young team. Look how fast they are. They were one of the few teams that felt like that could actually keep pace with the Colorado Avalanche within a game just rushing up and down the ice. That is a great skill to have, right? Like the best teams can win games in all different ways. What I liked about last night's game was how they were forcing turnovers. And I think three of their four goals were created off turnovers. So it shows like a little bit more because you look at that roster. I don't think you, that's the skill set you think of what their top six as much. You think about the running gun and the high skill and the flash to win to win games and

score goals in all different ways. That is a great recipe for success. So I really like that for them. I think they're trending in the right direction. And then let's see what they do at the deadline. Because this is, you know, it's a different vibe here. We've seen them spend in the off season more than they have at the deadline over the last couple years since they've been in Utah. So do they adjust their strategy this year finally? And it feels like the team has enough regular season momentum heading into the deadline to convince management to make a splash. So here's what I wonder about. There is a right shot defenseman who in Bed Kuzma's latest article intimates, you know, he could be potentially maybe we'll see what happens, willing to move is no trade or no move,

rather, which turns into a 12-team no trade next year. And that is Tyler Myers of the Vancouver Canucks. Like I think we're going to start to hear and see more Vancouver Canucks players saying, yeah, you know what, I'd be willing to fill in the blank here if it was the right scenario, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I do wonder about a right-shot defenseman, and mainly because I don't. don't think that the minute the Air Neckblad re-signed with the Florida Panthers, I don't think their desire for that player or that type of player ever went away. It probably just hit pause.

Okay. So you look at like, you know, Sean Jersey and John Marino on the second side, on the, on the, on the right side of the Utah mammoth defense, I say to myself, I wonder if it could be a Tyler Myers fit there. But then I also wonder about Dallas and I wonder about Detroit. and I wonder about Toronto as a TAN of replacement. But if you're a Utah right now, what are you looking at pacifically? See what I did there? Yeah, yeah, really, really beautiful job there. Thank you.

Okay, right shot, D, can get on board with that. I don't think he should be Tyler Myers. I get it, he's tall. He plays big minutes. I don't think he should have always played the minutes he was given. And maybe with adjusted usage, we would see different results. But to me, that's the kind of guy that teams would overspend on for the wrong attributes.

So I'm going to say, no, you can get more creative there. I would like to see them, you know, go for maybe that younger option. You look at a team like the Rangers, they're retooling, say Braden Schneider becomes available. To me, that's a more interesting one of a player who can grow with them and be a part of a long-term window because it feels like they're just rounding that corner and, you know, starting this really great window of contention. They have a really good foundation. I like that path better.

But I still think maybe the bigger priority should be centered up. It's the one thing I know once they get coolly and, you know, he's good to go and everything's great and wonderful there. Everyone's going to slot back into more appropriate roles. But I still think, I still think they could add a little bit there. It's like that 3C role. Like I don't, I'm not 100% sold on Barrett Heaton. It's like once I'm like, oh, okay, it feels like he's finally getting it together. Then I'm like a little bit underwhelmed.

And I think he's been fine. But I wonder if they look for just a little bit more certainty down the middle. I just don't see below. I'm strong sitting on his hands here. Come to a deadline time. When you're this close, you know that Ryan Smith. Well, Ryan Smith, the owner of the team, I'm sure he's given him the credit card. And here's your free pass for the weekend.

Take this and do with it whatever you see fits. We'll see which way the Utah mammoth end up here. But some really good hockey. So far played by them. Thoughts on Anaheim. We thought they were dead after that, you know, 2-11 and 2 streak. Like, okay, so that's it. So it was fun.

They kicked out the season 11, 3, and 1. Here we go. It's a hot new team, hot new young players. And then they kind of crashed and hit the wall. But lately, now all of a sudden they beat Colorado yesterday, two to one in the shootout. They've won five games in a row. Are we ready to say the ducks are back? You know, I've been talking a lot about pendulums these days. And I look at the Anaheim ducks and they are a pendulum. And a pendulum needs to overcorrect before it finds its correct balance point. it swung really far one way and it swung really far the other way for Anaheim are they now getting into the balanced point where they've belonged all along?

No, I need to see a little bit more. My issue with them is when the year started, their defense was really bad and then they started improving it. When you look at the streak, the terrible month of play, whatever you want to call it, right? They're downturned.

You go by the numbers and like their expectacles against by public models didn't look that bad and I was curious about this. So I started watching some of the goals against to go, is it just the goaltending? Because on the surface, it looked like they're not finishing their chances and the goaltending is just playing really poorly.

Do I think the goaltending was good? No. But you watch the defensive breakdowns and the pre-shot movement heading into the chances that they were facing. And it just felt like some of them were so impossible to stop. The way passes were just getting whipped around the defensive zone for the ducks. And, you know, the puck management issues. It's something that it felt like they weren't given any chance, right?

Like Dostal comes back from injury and the defense was so unpredictable and it looked like a young struggling team and it looked like the team that we've seen for years. So you look at their last couple games now against the Kings against the Rangers, they don't allow many scoring chances against. But you're talking about two teams that don't generate a ton. The abs come into town. And the big difference last night is Dostal was that guy. He was making every single. He was incredible, right? And that's what we know he can be.

But do I think that's a sustainable way to play? Not really because as great as he is in net. And he absolutely positively is, right? Can you play at that level behind that defense across a full season? I'm not so sure, right? And he hasn't done it yet. We saw his game trail off last year because it's going to weigh on you. And the other part of it is when the mistakes that are happening are the ones happening

and it's that unpredictable and that chaotic, you're challenging him even more. So I think it's good that they're trending back up. but now you need to see some serious defensive improvements. I don't know that we're going to get that out of this blue line. No, I don't know either. I really don't like that. That's still like and for actually, first of all, with the ducks, we surprised that Jackson, Jackson, Lecombe got the call for USA?

That's a, okay. I think team USA has far too many left-handed players. I think that's a problem up front. And I think it's a problem on the, you know, it could become a problem on the back end. Yeah. And you look at some of the coaches and they prefer to go lefty, ready for good reason. And when you're thinking, okay, you're matching up against the best players in

the world, a super team and team Canada. And that has to be the measuring stick. You want a little bit more certainty in terms of that left, you're ready pairing. So someone like Sleven can shift to the right. He's done it for the canes. But then you think about the penalty kill. And then it's like, okay, so who's playing the left side of the penalty kill? And it's like, there's a whole can of worms that you don't want to deal with if your team USA. But on the other hand, with Fox not being 100% and healthy and with his stock going so far down after four nations undeservingly could they have just said they wanted the healthier player and the healthy option that they know will be good to go and ready like maybe yeah but do i think like to be completely honest if if adam fox said j t miller's

attitude i think it would make up for the fact that he's short and slow even though his cerebral play works for him and i think it's a different conversation but i feel like it's too many strikes against him when it shouldn't be and that's why it's like you know what look home's the easier path just go Do you have a thought on maybe as we are on this topic now, even though the Montreal Canadians continue to tweet about it in spectacular fashion, Lane Hudson, again, not wanted on the voyage. You know how this is going to end up, right? Someone else is going to get hurt, and Lane Hudson's finally going to get there and he's going to be a star

and he's going to lead the United States to a gold medal. Listen, that's a great theory. Because hockey. No, it's not happening. It's just not happening. That USA roster is way too many flaws. Get Shane Pinto on that roster as a 4C and a shutdown forward and maybe we'll have a conversation about it.

Give me a little more goal scoring. I don't know, Jason Robertson, if not a Cole Field, if not as a Brinket. Listen, I'd love to see Lane Hudson on there. He's the one to me, and I need to preface it. I think he's fantastic. I think he's going to be a great defenseman. He was the one I understood a little bit more in that they felt he's not going to play the role they needed on the left side.

like a Jake Sanderson over Lane Hudson made sense to me and that of Jake Sanderson you can put literally anywhere in any situation to that. And maybe one of the toughest things in looking at Team USA was, is your handedness okay? To not overhype it and not make it too overly important. It's just as that many lefties and who can kill penalties? We're the two big questions. And, you know, who can kill penalties against probably an unbelievable Canadian power

play? I can't imagine being anything. But so Lane Hudson doesn't do that a ton and now you're saying, well, Zach Wrenskiy then has to kill penalties, which he does, but he's not a first over the boards kind of guy. So you have to like really wonder about is his skill set redundant for team USA? I'm not sure. It really depends on how you're building a team out.

But I feel like I would understand Lacombe over Hudson just because of that. But I still am looking at the right side going. I'd want I'd want one puck moving option on the right side to be honest because, you know, that would be good to have on the power play when you're going to probably roll with four out of five lefties. A lot of the time like Jack Eichol is a right-handed. forward, but in the top nine is pretty bare otherwise. So here begins the jumping everywhere part. So best laid plans, best laid plans, best laid plans.

You mentioned Jason Robertson. Always a good time to have a conversation about Jason Robertson. You just switched agents. Now he's with Andy Scott, was with Pat Brise on before. Normally when players switch agents is because they want something new to happen. What do you think happens here with the Dallas Stars and Jason Robertson? because it's clear. And I mean, listen, I think one of the things that in some ways has helped the Dallas Stars

in their contract negotiation is the quote-unquote snub by USA hockey. If you're Jim Nill, you turn to the agent formerly Papri Sano, Andy Scott, and you say, look, it's not just us that don't value this player at this certain level. We would love to have him, i.e. the Thomas Harley contract. I just don't know that we want him at the McElranton level. Do you have a thought on everything Jason Robertson right now? If I am Jason Robertson's representatives, I would go just because one person or one body of a team has poor decision making

doesn't mean the rest of the world needs to because Jason Robertson is that good. And he makes the Dallas Stars that much better. And when you look at this season specifically and go, what do the Dallas Stars need more of? Five on five scoring has been one of the most pressing issues it was in the beginning of the year, it started creeping back up again. The power play has been fantastic, but you need even strength scoring, especially when you look at what got them eliminated in the last two years, it's the goal scoring.

And then I was on those teams. He was on those teams. Yeah. And look who's giving them life this year at five on five. Jason Robertson. And you look at that series against the Oilers last year. And even Jason Robertson comes back from injury, doesn't look 100%. And he's giving them like their only spark off the rush.

I know he didn't score a ton, but I look at him and think he's such an important part of this team. And then you think about the depth scoring issues. I think that's been a bigger problem this year. Tyler Stagin goes down. I don't think Matt Duchenne's playing at the highest level. I think the Jamie Benissons has ended. So now you're going, it's Ranton in.

It's Johnston. That's a great, great, great starting point to have. But Hinson Robertson are so important to have. You have this incredible one-two punch. The star's best strength is that they've one of the deepest forward groups in the league. So if you want to poke holes in that and go, okay, make your five-on-five scoring worse. Go off. You do that.

And then, you know, bulk up on the right side of your body. blue line with someone like Tyler Myers. That's where you want to put your cap. Put your cap there. But I would be saying this is a guy that is so important to this team and he can get the money elsewhere and he can be a number one forward elsewhere. But the best way to a Stanley Cup is having him as your one-two punch behind Miko Ranssen. There's a big part of me that wonders. And I've been talking about Robertson going back to last season. There is part of me that wonders if they say, because I think Jim Nell is going to take a shot here now that Robertson has a new age and take one more shot here to see if they can find some kind of common ground on a contract.

I don't know if it doesn't work out that that necessarily means that's it. Jim, Jim Nell is going to market and is going to move him like attention, Anaheim, attention to, pick your team. But I do wonder if they say, okay, you lead us to a Stanley Cup, Kahn Smythe Trophy, the money's yours. Does it feel like that could be what Dallas does here? It's like, okay, you know what? He's still team control.

He's a restricted free agent on July 1st. We know about arbitration, blah, blah, blah, and then could walk away after the year, Go Mitch Marner style. Does it feel too like perhaps they just say, you know what? You want that money? Prove it. You want rant in his money? We'd like a Stanley Cup.

I don't even think it goes that far. I think it's be the guy in the playoffs. Be the guy that we walk away talking about. Two years ago, we're talking about why Johnson coming out of that postseason run and how fantastic he was in his second playoffs last year we're all talking about miko ranting and the revenge series right make it that we cannot stop talking about jason robinson because one of the complaints about him has been how he's played in a playoff environment and i think he's had some ups and downs i think he's gotten better but say be that difference maker be the player that pushes them over the edge and pushes

them ahead of a team like minnesota and a team like colorado and there's your money and do i think he should get Miko Ranson money. Yes, because I think also the cap's going up. And I think 12 million, he could have pushed for more. But on the other hand, could I understand if they go, okay, it's 10 and that's a great, you know, I think that there could be some range. It's not 12 million or bust here, but I think the key is going to be, be that guy in the playoffs, be the driver of their success, right? Be that five on five, fours. You can be in the regular season and let it be that Hinson Robertson are cooking so much that you have no choice but to go our best chance of winning is with this player.

Okay, we put it off long enough. You've been banging the most cider drum for a long time now. All season. Cider this. Cider Norris. Cider heart. Cider looked great last night. In a game for the Detroit Red Wings that the Toronto Maple Leafs really needed two points.

And not that it was single-handedly, but man, cider was everywhere last night and was the factor on the Dylan Larkin overtime winner. What should all of us know at this point about Moritz Cider? the Norris trophy and the heart trophy. You know, when you said you've been banging this drum for a while, we're finally getting there. I'm like, oh my God, we're talking about heated rivalry. We're convincing you. I know.

I know. It's so true. It's so true. Listen, the what chaos guys here have been just like killing it with. Oh, my God. They're doing an amazing. They've been fantastic. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I have not seen an episode yet.

And I keep, the commissioner just binged it. Like, I haven't seen an episode yet. And everyone keeps telling me how great it is. I got to watch it. In literally a week's been, I read two of the books, watched all six episodes, and then started a third book because I had to wait until my library loans came in. But no, the What Chaos Guys deserve all the hype. They're doing an incredible job with it.

So anyway, Mo Cider, back to topic. There you go. Okay. Here's my issue. I don't like that defensemen are viewed as players who can only be up for the Norris. Like, this is your one trophy and that's it. This is all you get, right? Quiz for everybody.

Last defenseman to win the Hart trophy was. It's embarrassing. Um, wait. It wasn't, I just looked this up and it was in the 2000s that a defenseman even finished top two. It was a Chris Pronger. 2000, Chris Pronger. Nailed it.

2000. Chris Pronger. That's embarrassing. And no one's finished in the top two in Hart voting as a defenseman since then if I remember correctly. Don't know that one, but I wouldn't doubt you. But you're right. Like the, again, like, this is this is a problem with the people that vote for this award. It's like, oh, no, defensemen have their award.

This award is for the forwards. And maybe every now and then a goalie can squeak through like Connor Hallibuck. But I don't see any reason why a defender can't win this award. And I'm full support for you on that one. Have been for a long time. Yep, because, listen, forwards have a ton of awards. And I'm not saying this has to go to a defenseman. But I think we just need to like broaden the conversation.

I understand it's very difficult to measure a forward against. the goal against a defenseman. I mean, we had a hard enough time going is McDavid's 70 assists equivalent to Austin Matthew scoring 50 goals. Like that was a conversation, right? Like that we had in that, that took a lot of airspace for good reason because it's, it's something worth discussing. But here it is now we're saying a different position and not just a different position,

but sighter not playing say as flashy as Camel Carr, it's not always as easy to see what a game breaker he is, right? Because when you're looking at defense, you're trying to measure what doesn't happen. happen. And you don't always see that. So when he has offensive players or like last night, you see a little bit of everything, the way he just like absorb the contact from McCabe and shrugs him off, you know, everything about the player. You're like, okay, wait, this is like a quick encapsulation of everything. But it's worth watching even more because he, he does a little bit of everything. He takes away shooting lanes. He blocks passing lanes. He retrieves pucks. He gets the play out of his own zone. And he's been a lot more active offensively, too. He does it all. And, you know,

two years ago, last year, I would say Larkin was the MVP for sure. in Detroit, now it does feel like cider. Do I think he should win the Hart Trophy this year? I would have Macklin Celebrity ahead of him right now. Same. Because that's probably my number one. Like I wrote about I think a week ago, guys that should be in the race and getting some hype. If the Blue Jackets make it, we should be talking about Wrenski.

The Islanders, it's got to be Ilya Seroquine. And now you have Cider and Celebrini making it a conversation. So it's not McKinnon and McDavid alone. But I think that he should be in the conversation and not just as the best all around defensemen. There's a difference between being the best all around defenseman and being the most valuable player in the league. And I think of the years of Roman Yosey getting those high votes when it felt like he was an MVP guy, more than a heart trophy guy.

And the same goes for, I'm sorry, more than just a Norris guy. Same goes for Eric Carlson the year he won. By the way, Yosey plays his thousandth game here coming up. He's, I feel right now considering what's happened in Nashville the past couple years, I just feel awful for Roman Yosey because, you know, the player. And if you know the person and if you know, like sort of everybody in his orbit, you know, there are players that you just want to see succeed and you want to win the Stanley Cup. And by extension, there are some people that you really don't want to see their name on the Stanley Cup.

But that's for another conversation. Roman Yosi has always been one player that I've been like, I really want him to win a Stanley Cup. Yeah. You know, it's probably not going to happen in Nashville. I want this guy to win the Stanley Cup at some point. I mean, maybe he's got to pull the, uh, maybe he's got to pull the, uh, maybe he's got to pull the, the, the Brent Burns, who's the new rape work, gone to Colorado to try to chase this cup. But somewhere down the road, I really want Roman Yose to win a Stanley Cup.

Where are you at on Yossi these days? Big fan of his game. You know, you look at how Nashville was so close to it. And it feels like it was so long ago at this point. I know, I know, but that core, their core three, one at each position, Saras, Forbesberg and Yose. Like, you want to see good things happen for them because they're such good players. And I think you can look around the league at like those little. trios, right? Not everyone's core players are at each position. Look at the Bruins. It's Swainment.

It's McAvoy. It's Poshnock going to the sea with the Rangers. It's just dark and it's Fox. It's Panarin. You go, you should be able to build a very good team around those three players. It's not just saying, okay, you have Dahlene and power on the back. And here's two defensemen massive contracts that are your cornerstones or McDavid Dryside. I'm not saying, you know, you can't do it with two-fourths. Obviously you can. But here it is, you have cornerstones at each position. And all three of these franchises have struggled to do it. So hopefully the predators can figure it out. If not, yeah, why not? At the end of his career, start bouncing around and try to win a cup because this is someone that is such an amazing player on both ends of the ice. Don't think he always gets enough credit for it because we talk a lot about the offense or in Norse conversation. It's been, does he kill enough penalties? And it's by design that he doesn't. But it's been him and a bunch of guys on that blue line for a while now. And he's just been fantastic.

He really has. You know, another team that has one core piece at every single position up front on the back end and in net are the Winnipeg Jets. I know they've played better recently, but a team that has Cal Conner and Mark Schifley and Josh Morrissey and Connor Hallibuck should not ever and I know they're not right now, but should

not ever be in the basement of the Western Conference. Yet at times, that's where we found the Winnipeg Jets. What has happened here, Shana? I just don't think management has done a good enough job supporting this team and buying at the right

times like I give a lot of credit to the abs over the years. I think last year obviously there was a ton of roster turnover but before that you know the five years before that when they spent you knew it was like they think they have a legitimate chance they're not just spending to spend like they are finding that last piece that's what they're looking for last year they had to look for a million pieces so it's different the jets it felt like last year should have gone for one or two pieces to really solidify this group and give themselves a better chance at going on a deep run right and the two C position was a big one I know to messnikov worked there should Sure, but in a perfect world, he's your utility forward that can just float around the lineup.

And he's not just your 2C when you need a stronger offensive approach. And it's because management has taken too passive of an approach over the years that they're in this position now where it feels like they just need so much more. And you know, you go into the off season and it's not like they didn't do anything, but they didn't do anything enough, splashy enough, right? You lose Eilers. Yes, you're expecting Perfetti to step up and be the guy. But that 2C position, I still think they could have. done a little bit more instead of just relying on tapes. I know he's been like finding his game now, but Senate up wins championships, right? And Shifley, as good as he is, he doesn't stack up to some of

the best one Cs in the central division, let alone the rest of the league. So I just feel like it's because they've taken the wrong approach that now they're here. And because management has that track record of being quieter, I don't expect them to start shaking it up enough now when it feels like they really need it. So one of the things, you know, with, listen, I know everyone in the, I shouldn't say everyone, half the teams are looking for a second line center. And not that I necessarily think this player is a legit second line center at this point in his career. I don't. But I was talking to Tyler and Liam at Oilers Nation every day, yesterday afternoon, about Jonathan Taves. Now, when you look at the salary, you say, two million bucks, easy, come deadline, that's peanuts.

But then the bonus structure, bluntly, it's just, a killer, right? Like, it's $5 million of bonuses. Um, do you think teams come calling for, for Jonathan Taves? And I know he's played better lately, but the calling card is still, you know, 65% faceoffs. That's a lot of money to pay for faceoffs. But nonetheless, you think anyone calls, like if, if Winnipeg is out of it come trade deadline, there's not going to be playoffs. Kevin Sheffledale's got to go look for first round picks. Uh, do you think anyone comes knocking for Taves or do the bonuses just, are the bonuses essentially its own no trade clause?

It's going to depend. I don't know if a true contender can go after that. It's a team that's right up against the cap because you don't want it that you're starting from a deficit next year because of the bonuses. But I think there are some like fringe playoff teams or the younger teams that it could make a little bit of sense for of like here's someone, and this is going to be the big difference. They're not coming in to be your two C. It's here's a three C.

Here's someone to just strengthen the play down the middle and be utility player. So if you change the expectations and put them in a better position to succeed, I think there could be more value there. And I think what's going to help the Jets if they were to do that is the center market is not very deep. Right. Like if Nashville thinks that they're still in it and decides they're not selling, which who knows what they're going to do? Because realistically, you have to go, are you good enough to actually make an impact in the playoffs? I'm not so sure as much as they've turned it around right now.

You know, say Ryan O'Reilly's not available. Who does that leave all these teams with, right? because sure, there could be the Thomas's of the world on the trade market, but only a certain number of teams are going to be able to go after that. Some guys just want a Pajot. Who knows what the Islanders are going to do? As much as they're retooling, do they not move out a player like Pajou and just let them cook there and try to ride the wave of this season?

Because they did such a good job with their asset management over the summer and last deadline that they don't need to sell. What happens with Vinie Trocheck? So, you know, there's going to be a lot of teams looking for senators. there always are, why not kick the tires there if you're a team that does need help at center? And honestly, with the idea of those bonuses in mind, that should reduce the cost of acquisition, which tends to be way, way, way too high for, I mean, even bottom six centers. You look at what Scott Lawton went for last year.

Yep. He had term, too, which is always a contributing factor. When it comes to centers, too, I can't help thinking about a team like the Columbus Bluejackets, whether it's Boone Jenner, whether it's Charlie Coyle, I have a hard time believing the teams won't be knocking at that door. And I really do wonder about Edmonds in there. As they continue to resist taking Ryan Nugent Hopkins away from Connor McDavid, so Stan Bowman's probably going to have to be a little bit more creative in building a third line.

I wonder if he goes knocking on the door of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Speaking of players could be on the move and probably will be, as we all try to find a landing place for our 10, Pannarin. I've wondered about Panarin in Washington and then signing a two or three year deal at big money to become the Ovechkin replacement. I think we've wondered about the Dallas Stars who outside of the last game against the Boston Bruins have not been able to score whatsoever. Speaking of not being able to score, we wonder about the New York Islanders. I'm just not sure the New York Rangers want to do that with their neighbors and them are Tammy Panerran,

but we'll see. Do you have a thought on where you think Artemmy Panarin ends up? Or maybe more, maybe more succinctly, Shana? Who needs them the most? Like, who needs Panarin now? I don't think it makes sense for the Islanders because I think if they're going to spend, it should be like if they're going to move a first or a second round pick,

unless Panarin says it's Islanders or bus, right? Because players with no movement clauses that can happen and then it reduces the cost of acquisition. But like, to me, they should be going for players who are 27 years old, right? Like if a Jordan Kairu could be available, that one would make a little bit more sense to me. Obviously, it's a different level of impact, but it's just who fits with their timeline better. But otherwise, teams like the capitals, they're thinking about right now, and that's all they should be thinking about.

Teams like the Colorado Avalanche, whose power play I don't think has been as strong as it could or would or should be. So those teams make a lot of sense to me. The one that I keep thinking about, and there's no way to do it. There's just simply no money there is if the Tampa Bay Lightning could have figured out one way to clear some cap because I think of their power play and how much they're trying to find that right-handed shot from the left circle. And while Bjorksian has been at times, it hasn't been perfect. And I'm like that would make a ton of sense. But no, I like the idea of Colorado, the idea of Washington or the two that are very front of mind for me. But I do wonder if this is

going to be different from, say, a Brad Martian situation where it's like, here's two teams or Claude Jureau that the Rangers have a little bit more range here. But a lot of teams should be looking at him because he's still legitimately good player. You look at what he's doing on a terrible team in New York and it's very impressive. But like this is someone who's still very elite in transition. He's a great puck mover. He's been shooting the puck more the last couple years and is very effective with it. And he's just someone who's super strong on the puck. Like it's so hard to get the puck away from him. And I feel like he's not someone you think of as like a big strong hulking forward for good reason, right? Like it just isn't there. But when he has

possession, like get the puck away from him. It's not so easy. Okay. Let me throw another team out at you then. Detroit Red Wings. Fancy Cappspace, reunite with Pat Cain, need the top six forward. Ideally, I think Steve Isbett would like another center. But would that be a fit. I don't hate it. I do think the idea of the whole like, okay, Panarin and Cain have to be reunited is, like, I'm over that narrative. And as someone who was writing more, I think, about the Rangers at the time, that Kane went to the Rangers and like they were forcing them together and forcing them on the power play after already getting terrorist.

Sanko and it was like two players who just want to be in control the puck on the power play and it just didn't work. Could be different in Detroit, maybe. But I wonder then like, does that disrupt what they have that's that works so well already on power play one at all? I would be a little bit curious about that, but I could see it. I could totally see it. I thought a key for Sherwood was more of the kind of build for forwards they should be going for that really, really good utility forward. But then again, if you can just, listen, just build skill, just add skill to your life. lineup and see what can stick. Why not? Because he's someone who would thread the needle a five

on five. You mentioned Jordan Kairu a second ago. So you know which team I wonder about with Kairu? Hit me. The Washington Capitals and here's why. So they were, I believe they were the last team. I mean, Carolina ultimately got Nicolai Eilers, but Washington was right there. Carolina offered the extra year and got the player. And I think a lot of that was the capitals wanted to become quicker. I don't think that that has stopped at all. I still think Washington wants to be a faster team. And even though they didn't get Eilers, can they get someone who has the speed of a Jordan

Kairu to add to that roster if you're looking for that dimension? Would that be a fit for you? Kyru to the caps. Yeah, they could definitely use the speed. I mean, you look at them last postseason. I think that's what held them back the most in round two is just a lack of put speed and I think they need younger blood to keep mixing in there right like protis is really fast and you have McMichael and you have those legs but I think that

was the one thing that stood out with Washington was like some of their older players look their age in that playoff run and you know it just is the way it goes sometimes that you don't want to see them get completely exposed so if you can add someone who adds like a lot of pop to a lineup I think that could make sense I think that there are a handful of teams out there that should be interested in him like you know I think he's he's one of those players because there's like the cost certainty of it with his contract and he's not even 30 years old yet. There you go a retooling team that has turned that corner, right?

Like could make a little bit of sense here in Islanders. Even a team like the Bruins, I could see it because it feels like they just need a lot more high-end skill in their top six. But Washington, I like that idea of. Okay. I was going to ask you about the Josh Stone contract. So I'm going to ask you now seven times seven. And I don't know. I don't necessarily think that this.

This is true, but does it, the first text I got about this one was, does this mean this is the end for Alex talk with the Buffalo Sabres? Josh Donne, seven times seven with the swords. And by the way, you know, just watching them the other night against Nashville and they won another game, are we at the point now where are we just look at Buffalo and go like, yeah, they're a good team. Yeah, they're a good team. They're a good team.

They could be a better team. They could generate more shots. I think their defense has gotten a lot better since they're a good team. started, you know, turning things around. Now I want to see the offense match it a little bit more consistently. I need a little more substance below it. But I think Josh Stone is an excellent, excellent fit there. I think the Paturka for Donan and Kessler ring trade has been so good for both sides.

I honestly. It's great for both. I think Petrca's been a great fit in Utah too. So no complaints. But Don is such a fun player because he's so tenacious. Like he does not take a shift off. He's forechecking. He's back checking.

He's doing a little bit of everything. And he also has a lot of skill there. He's been one of the Sabres most consistent forwards all year. I think he's someone that should get more playing time. I have no issue with the contract because I think he could have earned more, honestly. It's in the right age range. I really like this one a lot. And you look at some of the comps for him this season and, you know, their names like Troy, Terry, Rupert Hins and even Nylander on there.

Could you go the Tanner Pearson route? Yes, that's concerning. But it just feels like he's someone that is bringing it with enough substance and enough skill to sustain it over a long time. Love it for them. Do I think he is, should be a contender's number one, number one winger, though? No. Like that's going to be the difference makers here. Like, I think because his contract is under his market value, which might seem wild to think

because it's not like, you know, it's a huge raise for him and he doesn't have a super long track record. Technically, though, it is under his market value that if you overspend on tuck a little bit, which you're going to have to do with this point, can you kind of make it work? Yeah. And I think it also works, too, of like, don't being on the younger side. versus Ataku is going to be, most of that contract is going to be in his 30s,

that I think that there's a way to make it all click, especially because they have a lot of young talent. They're going to have entry-level talent to go around those big contracts. Speaking of which, we've seen them now for two games. Consta Heleneas looks good, eh? Oh, my God, I love it.

The vibes of that kid line. Looks good, man. Heleneas looks, oh, I love it for them. Heleneas looks really good. He really does. Do you want to get way ahead of yourself and project names like Neelander on Consta Heleneas? Yeah, okay.

So that one could be hung over my head forever and ever and ever. No, blame Dom and blame his model. But it's very fun watching that third line. It's always good to have an extra line that can control play a little bit. And I like it for Zach Benson. I feel like it's such a good landing spot for him right now. He looks great with the two of them. Yeah, it really does.

Okay, final thing. And you wrote about this and it's fascinating. You know, every time I talk with Colby Cohen from Morning Cup of hockey, We talk about, you know, things like referring to players by their draft position. And Colby always points out, and rightfully so, at a certain point in your career, you're no longer where you're drafted. You know, like you're no longer and you're right about two first overall picks in Alexei Lafranier and Owen Power. It's at a certain point, it's just Owen Power. It's not first round draft pick, first overall draft pick Owen Power.

It's just Owen Power. Are we there now with both? Are we there now with both players? You know, I thought about this a lot years ago with Ryan Strom. Like, when is he going to shed that draft title next to his name? He's 26, 27 years old. And you're like, okay. Yeah, why not?

I think because when you associate that too, it changes the expectations for their games. And listen, I get it. If you're drafted there, it's for good reason. You are expected to be the cream of the crop, the elite of the elite. And you're expected to be an impact player a lot sooner, right? You're supposed to hit the ground running. And neither of these players didn't.

enough at the NHL level so far. It doesn't mean that they can't still be effective players. And I think that there's a path for both of them to be very good. But you have to change that expectation because when these players come to the league and they have that tag of, you know, first overall, second overall, third overall, that's who they're measured up against. And it doesn't matter what they bring to a lineup. It doesn't matter that Ephronier was never going to have the skill of Nathan McKinnon

or that his game was completely different from Jack Hughes. It was, this is the expectation. And it wasn't like a fair player comp in some ways as time has gone on, especially. especially when you look at the situations both these players have been in since getting drafted into the league. It's not like they were maximized perfectly either, right? Power was never getting power play one with Dahlene there. And most teams rightfully run four forwards one D. That was always going to be a strike against him.

He was never going to be the guy there. They had one. And for Lafranier, you know, there was Panarin and Kreider ahead of him. He was on the third line. And you compare that to someone like Slavkovsky, right? Who at the very beginning, there were questions about his instant impact. but the Canadians figured out what worked of you don't have to be the guy on your line, but you're going to be surrounded by top end talent.

You're going to learn from them and play with them and keep up and compliment them and then become a third part of that line with Cole Caulfield, Nick Suzuki, and you're going to start getting reps on PowerPlay 1. That now he can be the guy on it. You know, he doesn't have to be the passenger on that top line anymore. He can be a very important part of that second line. It's a huge difference of how the players are handled. And so you start getting further and further away from their draft years

and you just have to look at them in a different light. So for Lafranier, it's looking at who are potential player comps? Are you going to be a Dylan Strohm? Are you going to be a Christian Devorak? And this is your top level and it's going to go down from here and you have to rebuild your game to find a way to fit in this league. Are you going to be an Alex Clorin, which is comparable value to where he is right now? Like, it's going to be really interesting to see how we start changing and recalibrating our expectations for these guys, the less we talk about their draft. You know, it's interesting too.

When it comes to players that need to go in and reinvent themselves, seldom if ever. does it happen on the team that drafted them? Because there is still always that psychological expectation that there's that bar in everyone's head. Like this is where that player needs to hit. And it hasn't happened. So we'll move on. And that's where, and this is where you look at Kyle Dubus specifically.

Like what we've learned with the penguins, and by the way, they face off against O'Ders tonight at the return of Stuart Skinner. Good piece by Josh O'Rewe this morning in the athletic, interviewing Stuart Skinner about it. but you look at what Dubus has tried to do here with this Penguins rebuild. It's players like that that we're talking about, right? It's like, I don't want to call them like complete reclamation projects

because that's usually later on in the career. But like, I don't know, maybe you phrase it, an early reclamation project. It hasn't worked in one market. Maybe it can work here. I think your example of Dylan Strom is a great one. Because with the coyotes, you know, he's drafted third overall, right? Mitch Marner goes forth. Zach Werensky's in that draft, too.

Ivan Proveroff, et cetera. And the expectation with the Coyotes organization was that slot. Then Chicago, then the Washington Capitals. And now he's found a legitimate home. But you always have to sort of go somewhere else to become who you are. And it's tough to do that when no matter what you do, you're Lexi Lafranier, you're in the Rangers lineup, you're on the ice. What's everybody saying to themselves?

for us. Draft bust. That's what they're saying. They're saying draft bus. But you know what? I think the conversation is changing a lot because as much as the pressure is on him, I think the pressure is really shifting to the front office and rightfully so because Chris Drury has not set up a great developmental system.

And it goes back to when he was AGM of Hartford. So the Rangers don't have a system where they say, okay, this player's not working at the NHL level. We can send him to Hartford and know they'll be okay. You don't have that. And he was director of player personnel before that. So it'll be interesting to see if they can be. be the exception to it because I honestly do think while they can move some young players

in this retool and I still look at Braden Schneider as one of those, it's if you move on from someone like Lafarinier too soon, are you shooting yourself on the foot, especially when you look at what they do and don't have in the pipeline coming up. He's one. I wonder if they can try to recalibrate the expectations for and get him back to the level that we saw two years ago, which was it true first overall pick level two years ago? No, but he was really effective. And there were elements of his game that. that I think you can look through the last two years and still see, but it's just helping him

become the best version of himself. So it's tough because I think it's on the player and they're always going to face those expectations, but I think it's on the team to figure out, okay, this is the perceived ceiling that you had as a draft pick and as a prospect, but now your game has changed at the NHL level. Can the team recognize that and figure it out as well?

I lied. Last one. How psycho is it going to be Friday, Vegas Golden Knights, with that guy who wears 93 in the lineup for Vegas in Toronto. Scale of 1 to 10. I mean, I'm going to say 9 out of 10. I think that's going to be a banger. And I'm extra excited because their last matchup a couple weeks ago was so good. It was so exciting.

It was everything you wanted to see and more in a game. So I hope it's like high offense, just back and forth. Or, you know, like I want to see everything from that game. I'm excited. It's an opportunity, I think, to kind of close the door on that era from Marner and just keep going with Vegas. And I think it's a good chance for the Leafs to keep trying to push through. I know they have a lot of injuries now. And it's really unfortunate with Ekman Larson because he's been playing so well to be sidelined now on top of it.

But, you know, everyone goes, okay, how can Matthews play without Marner? And it feels like he's finally figuring out his game over this last stretch. So I'm hoping that it's like dueling, scoring back and forth. like I want another 5-4 game. So I'm having a conversation about something as we bounce. With someone this morning from an NHL team who brought up the point that we were talking with the Vancouver Canucks and he said, which player do you think that Vancouver pays has the most points this year?

I'd have to think about that one. You just said the name. I just said the name. Oh. So someone not on the team anymore? Oliver Ekman, Lars. The Jotts write themselves for that organization. It's too good.

You know, as much as you're like, you don't want to see a team down in the drums, I'm like, but it's so entertaining. Most teams like their bed and their tire fire, you're like, please stop. Like, do I want to watch the Canucks on a nightly basis? Absolutely not. But the soap opera off the night, off the ice, I'm here for.

Hey, man, good, good. A listen, they went down two Cobb against the caps yesterday. They could have folded four straight goals. He ended up winning four to three. That was a big one for, that was a big one for Adam Foots squad yesterday. so good on the Vancouver Canucks. You're the best, the Queen of Dill, the Queen of Hot Takes, Spicy Takes,

Dill takes around here. You be well. We'll talk soon. Enjoy the Ozzy Open. Who wins this? Men's side, it's going to be Alcores versus Sinter again. I'm going to go with Sinner right now. Alcara's just changed coaches.

And on the women's side, it's a little bit tighter. I want to have like a different pick than Ecoswiathe, but that's where my head's going right now. I'm like, she's going to do it. You know what? I'm going to go Cocoa Golf. like the vibes. I feel like she's getting another hardcore title. There we go.

Here's my... Here's my... One of the things that I've always loved about you is you could do what you do for hockey for tennis, but you just want to keep this for yourself. Like I have no doubt that if you want to go like the tennis route with like your media career, you could do it full stop. No problem. And every time I've asked you that, you've always said, no, tennis is for me. Tennis is for me. Never. Never. I need one thing for me because it's like every element of hockey even it's like, oh, international hockey. This will be fun. Women's talking. I'm like, I'm going to chip in like the whole time you're watching it. You're thinking about storylines and taking notes and you can't just relax and play. Like I want to stress out

and scream at the TV and like just have a good time. And it's like baseball is that to an extent. I love football. But for me like tennis, it's it's everything and more. And I like that it's different times from hockey a lot of the time. That makes my life a little easier. Yeah, it's four clock in the morning, Shana, where you should be like saw and logs. But there you are. Propping your eyelids up like with toothpicks, clockwork orange style watching tennis. Okay, you get out of here. Thank you so much for spending a lot of time with me today. Much appreciated. We will talk soon, my friend. Thanks for having me. The great Shannon Goldman from the Too Many Men podcast and the Athletic, always full of value. There was a lot of words in there, Zach. There was a lot of

thoughts in there. There was a lot of spice takes in there as well. She's just like at the end of the day, just like smarter than everybody. I spent a decent chunk of that trying to figure out how to get Robert Thomas out of St. Louis. To get where? The wheels turning about. To go where? Where. Where?

Where? Oh, geez. Okay. St. John C. Dogs, the hat you're wearing. Yeah, exactly. Hey, man, I like that Josh Stone contract yesterday. That works out for both parties. Good contract for Josh Stone.

Good contract for Buffalo. That trade ends up working out pretty well for both sides as well. Kevin Adams, kind of get what they need out of it. Kevin Adams, that's Kevin Adams trade. I know we've spent a lot of time roasting them. Everybody has that. Kevin Adams gave the Buffalo Sabers a gift with that deal. So last night after that contract was signed,

somebody in Sabres' Twitter tweeted out a video. I don't know if you've ever seen the movie. I think it was Inception. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. where he goes through the levels of dreaming or whatever it was. And you know when they wake up on the plane after they get through like the final one, he's like looking around. So they tweeted that video.

Okay. And this is this person from Saver's Twitter tweet that video and said, me waking up this morning and realizing Kevin Adams actually built all of this. It's like, it's so funny because Yarmo didn't, like, I don't want to say he didn't do anything that. diminishes what Yarmo has kind of come in here and started to establish. And there's obviously a change in terms of the vibe and the energy about the team. Everything that Yarmou is going to do is not being seen and felt right now.

This is still the fumes of Kevin Adams tenure as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres. Yes. Yes. I just had a laugh at that one. I'm like, oh, yeah, I mean, you're not wrong. Look at the players on this roster that was Kevin Adams. of putting this together pretty much. I'm like, all right.

You know what? That's what I've, that's what I've always admired about Berkey. Um, is he won the Stanley Cup in 2007. You know who he always credits? Brian Murray. Right. Always.

Always goes out of his way. But like that's the nature of being a manager. You sit on the shoulders of those that came before. But it's true. And like I said to Shane, like for the, because they'll go through streaks. And you'll say to yourself, okay, nice streak here by the Buffalo Sabres, but I've been, you know, I've been footballed here before Charlie Brown, right?

Or like, I'm waiting for the rug to get pulled here. I'm waiting for the ball to break outside the strike zone as I'm swinging. But I'm just watching that game against Nashville and just say to myself, like, I feel like I can confidently say the Sabres are good. Are you there yet? Uh, no, well, there's a word you used in there that I can't use that I, I would say, I watch the sabres right now, the sabers are good, confidently say no, because, and it's the same thing as Leif's playoffs that I deal with here when I talk about the team, and it's just like, you are what you are until you prove me otherwise. The Buffalo Sabres still have a lot of runway left to pull the rug under our feet, as you mentioned. I do really like that team. I like how they're playing. I like, you know, just to simplify it to the most basic form,

the vibes around the sabres right now. Yep. But at any given moment, they could peek their ugly head back out and go, oh-oh, and then they are the Buffalo Sabres of the past 14 years. That is still possible. So I can't confidently say it is what I'm trying to get at here. I will say they are good and they are a lot of fun to watch. I cannot confidently say they are good.

All right. All right. very well. I just watch so much Sabres, and now I'm just like, it feels like, okay, like the way that you watch, like the Maple Leafs, like I try to never miss a Buffalo Sabres game. It just feels like I'm actually settled saying I'm confident that this team is good right now.

Quick email, and then we've got a couple of things to do, and then we'll hustle for this Thursday. The sheet at the nationnetwork.com is a way to get into the show. The sheet line is speakpipe.com slash the sheet. We've got a special email that we want to get to today specifically. What do you got? Yeah. So this is the full email.

I'll obviously condense this down for you here. But this comes from Cindy. It's a story about hockey lifers and bringing people together. As you may be aware, the annual Jasper Pond Hockey Tournament is happening next weekend. Her husband, Wade, has organized a team to participate. Average age of the team is 51, and half the team is from Newfoundland. And the other half is from Prince George, B.C. The buys, as we lovingly like to say on the East Coast,

are flying to Edmonton, where we will check out the Oilers Penguins game on the Thursday night. Then we're heading out to one of Canada's gems, Jasper, Alberta, to partake in the pawn hockey tournament. Weekend full of hockey and friends, and although the gameplay may not be pretty, surely will bring good times and fond memories for years to come. Then love your podcast, Cindy Knowsworth,

noseworthy, sorry, from Prince George, BC. hometown. Yeah. Waybush, Newfoundland and Labrador. Okay, so a couple of things here. I played in this last year with our group here from Daily Faceoff. Love that it is beautiful.

It's about four hours north of Edmondson and worth it. It's a long drive when you get to Edmonton. Make no mistake about it, but it's a gorgeous drive. And they just went through the fires a couple of years ago. And Jasper continues to rebuild. All of us here at Daily Faceoff and the Nation Network are really proud to be part of the rebuilding process.

as we have brought aboard a lot of sponsors and done a lot of other noteworthy things that help Jasper rebuild. It is one of the most beautiful places in our country. And last year was the first time I was in Jasper and I just remember skating and being part of the pond hockey tournament and looking around at the mountains.

Was it cold? Yeah, it was bitterly cold, but you don't realize it at the time. It's a gorgeous part of the country. I would encourage you if you get a chance just like Cindy is doing with the buys, go for it. Like, look at that. Look at that jersey.

One side to the utter. Jasper Pod Hockey, 2026. And that's the spirit of the whole thing too. We came up a little bit short last year. Made it to the final, but we lost. And that's fine. We have a number of people from the Nation Network going up again this year. Unfortunately, I can't make it doing something at the Ivy School of Sports Business tomorrow.

so, but Johnny Lazarus is going and Tyler's going to be there and a lot of the regulars. So a buddy of mine, because I'm curious as well, and it's a mining town. Wabish or Webush. I don't know how to pronounce the name specifically. A buddy of mine who lives in Newfoundland. I was like, what can you tell me about it? And he said, mining town. And then he told me a little story.

You want to hear the story? Yeah. So a section of our land that is very near to Quebec, that's where Wabish or Wabish is. One of my buddies, Wabish, okay, that's where Wabish is. One of my buddies has a wife who is a teacher, and she worked in that area, and I used to, quote, send him across to Quebec to pick up flats of Carlsberg Light because our liquor corporation doesn't carry it. And it's a mining town. That's what my buddy in Newfoundland wanted me to know. Carlsberg liked to pick up the flats for the boys.

Back in Wapish, there. You know how I told that story about, this is a side note on this, but the beers reminded me, you know how I told the story about that buddy that I had that shot the puck in the bench? I think I told it last week. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's a good one. So that same buddy went to school out in Quebec,

and whenever he would come home for breaks, he would send us a text and say, what does everyone want? and he would go to the Costco and pick up 60 packs, not two fours, not 48, 60 packs of beers. And it was like buck a beer, basically, that would come back in these 60s and bring them back for us. In the 60s. Yeah, and that was pretty good. He'd come back with like a trunk full of beers and everyone would come, grab their beers, pay them money,

and then you'd take them back to your schools when you leave. That's fantastic. Oh, I love Quebec. It's just my favorite province. Okay, we've got a couple things to do to. You've been to Quebec before, haven't you? Right. Hockey tournaments, I'm guessing.

You've never been to any of your tournaments, you've never been? No, we're supposed to play in the Quebec tournament. Yeah, and then I don't remember why something happened and we ended up not going to the tournament. Yeah, you lost. You didn't qualify. No, we didn't. I don't think it was a qualifying issue. I think we just decided not to go or pulled out or something.

What? Yeah. Decided not to go play at the old Colisei? What year would that have been? Because Colise still would have been there. I think Colise's last use is 2016? So what year are you in that age group, Jeff? Do you know off the top of your head?

It's 12. 13, isn't it? Okay, so that would have been 2011. 11. Yes, he would have played at the Colisei. You turned down a shot to play at the Colise. Don't say you. I did not. I was told whether or not I was going to said tournament. And I was told I was not going to set tournament.

You could still smell cigarettes from like fans that were in the building watching the Quebec Nordiques in 1977. That's how awesome it is. You could have played at the Colise. Now they play at the Santre of Videotron. which is across from at the Videotron Center. Anyhow, it would have been a great experience. I can't believe you have been to Quebec, man.

Dude, you're going to love it. You know what I always do when I'm in Quebec? I'm going to specifically in Montreal. I fly in and I get out and I always say, okay, I'm going to see how deep I can get into the province, just speaking French, right? Because I watch hockey games in French. I took the extended program in high school

to a couple of courses at university in French, so I can probably probably a bit, but not beaucoup. I can speak a little bit. but not a lot. So I always say the same thing. I've never made it to the hotel. My Uber or a cab driver is always like, after a few minutes,

it's just like, okay, and then just starts talking English to me, and I always say the same thing. I'm like, I'm trying here. I'm trying, like, give me a break. I'm trying to speak French. This is what we keep hearing. You want other provinces to respect you

in your language and your customs. I'm trying. They're just like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just get on with the transaction here. We'll drop you off. Okay. The sheet is powered by Fandle. I'll still love it though.

Play your game with Fanduel. It's the NHL season, and Fanduel is your home for all the action on the ice. From Blue Line to Bet Slip, we've got you covered all season with unique promos, live offerings, and more features to let you play your game. Miss Puck Drop, no sweat with a live same game parlay. You can build your bets up until the final buzzer. Download Fandual Sportsbook today and play your game. Please play responsibly, 19 plus, and physically located in Ontario.

If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, Please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. I better hear some French names in this one, Zach. No, not French names, but good tie over here because this is a heritage-based parlay tonight, actually, which is kind of interesting based of what we just talked about. I actually love this, so I hope other people do this as well. DM me, tweet me, tweet at the sheet, hockey, however you want to send them in. But last night I got a DM from Wyatt Larkin on Instagram, and he said,

this is for tomorrow's parlay. You call this the Paizano Parlay. So I'll show you the three people I picked. Yep, I'll show you the three people I picked in a second, but it was based on a mock-up of Italian heritage play. players playing in the NHL. So obviously a lot of these guys are playing for countries that they were born in or whatever as like Anthony Sorrelli, who's on this list. But based on players who are playing in the NHL and could have technically played for

Italy at the Olympics. And he passed this along. So I picked three people from the list to put together the Paizano Parlay. Wow. Thanks to Wyatt Larkin. He came up with the name and the concept. I just picked the players. So for tonight, we've got Gabe Valardi, Adam Fantilli, and Andre.

Andrew Mangiapani to win $262 in the Paizano Parlay for tonight. That's a lot of vowels. It's a lot of vowels in that parlay here. Gabe Valardi, Adam Fantilli, Andrew Mangiapani. That is a lot of vowels. I love it. Well, by the time I got to Mangiapani's name, I don't know if you heard me go like, oh, on the Andrew.

I'm battling it vowels right now. I just love it. Gabe Valardi, Adam Fantilli, Andrew Mangiopani, $5,000, $262.75. I like that. I like people emailing in requests or DMing you or coming up with her own because, you know, not all of yours are bangers. Just to be blunt. Sorry. Not all of them are bangers.

I think more are misses than hits. So that's a fair assessment, Jeff. All right. Check that one out on Fanduil, folks. Okay, really quick. This quick quote from Stuart Skinner, I want to get your thoughts on this one. I just want to see your face.

So Josh O'I in the Athletic has an interview with Stuart Skinner. Okay, so tonight, let me grab this here, tonight in the NHL, we have eight games. One of those games sees the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Edmonton to face off against the Oilers, which means the returned of Stuart Skinner. So as part of the interview, the great Joshi asks,

Does Skinner believe he was ultimately treated unfairly by his hometown's fans? You know, he says, the always affable 27-year-old paused for just a moment before answering the question. Then he turns serious. Quote, to give you my honest answer, he said, it doesn't really matter if I was treated fairly or not. I don't even care if I was treated fairly or not. end quote i want to put on your decoder ring here it doesn't really matter if i was treated fairly or not i don't even care if i was treated fairly or not now zach as i've told you before i'm just a simple country lawyer i don't know about all your big city words and terms and all these things but

where I come from that means no do you see it the same way yes because if the answer was I was treated fairly he could have said I was treated fairly he took a pretty roundabout way I don't know I don't preoccupied myself

hey Mitch I don't even think about that oh I don't think of I don't even care if I was created failure. Oh, wait. He was treated like gods here, I thought. Okay. Anyhow, I just wanted to throw that in there for a little bit of spice.

Really good piece in the athletic. And speak to the athletic. I want to thank Shannon Goldman for stopping by. She, by the way, made a rare appearance on the athletic podcast the other day. Always good to hear Shana on there. All right. Thanks so much for joining me here today. Tomorrow, this program travels to London.

We will be talking about trade rumor. and team sales, partial team sales, specifically the Vegas Golden Knights and Tom Foley. It is not a majority controlling interest. It's like 10%. But you look at where the market is for NHL teams and perhaps not a surprise there. We'll do that with Dave Panjota, DFO Insiders edition podcast alongside Earth Fangafar Wednesdays at 3 o'clock, also from the fourth period. And you see and hear him in a lot of different properties here on Daily Faceoff.

and he makes his usual stop on this program here Friday. So that'll be tomorrow as the show comes to you from London, Ontario, home of the junior hockey nights. Thanks for listening. Thanks for watching. Thanks for subscribing. We are back tomorrow, 1 o'clock Eastern for the sheet. Thanks, Zach.

And who was it that wrote in with the Paisano Parley? Wyatt Larkin. Wyatt Larkin. Fantastic. And it was Cindy who sent in the email as well for the buys. Enjoy Jasper. It's a beautiful part of our country. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Enjoy the hockey tonight. We'll talk tomorrow.