The Steve Dangle Podcast - McDominated | October 26, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:00 So a dot-CA is the only domain name you can use that actually represents Canada. Ooh, I didn't know that. Well, I should have. Yeah, I didn't. Jesse, why do we go with a dot-Ca? I think it's important that we emphasize that we are a Canadian-owned media company. And usually your first interaction with a company is online and visiting their website. And I like the fact that people visit us.

Starting point is 00:00:26 And it says, sdpn.com.ca, and we represent Canada. 86% of Canadians say they prefer a dotCA over a dot com when they're supporting Canadian businesses. And Canadians are four times more likely to click a dot CA when they're searching online. That's pretty cool. On top of that, a dot CA can help you grow your share of Canadians and also get you a friend of more Canadians, especially if you've got a localized business like we do. And your business, your hustle, put a dot CA on it. We've got a really good little code for you because if you go to porkbun.com,

Starting point is 00:00:57 pork bun is where you're going to get your dot CIA. name. Porkbun.com sounds delicious. How about this for a little discount, SDPN 26? That's porkbun.com SDPN26. Get your dotCA domain name right now

Starting point is 00:01:12 at porkbun.com slash SDPN26. Guys, I want to get back out on the lake. Well, you do live right on Lake Ontario. Okay, fair point. But I'm thinking I'd like to plan a trip to Colona in British Columbia. Oh, yeah, solid choice.

Starting point is 00:01:27 We found a great place on Airbnb near Lakeshore Road. Going to check out the restaurants, the coffee shops, definitely got to visit the wineries. It sounds like the whole trip's built around snacks and drink. As it should be. But it got me thinking, while we're out there, our place back home is just sitting empty. So you're going to list your space on Airbnb while you're gone? Why not?

Starting point is 00:01:51 They can come to my neighborhood and live like a local. My favorite Mexican places close by, we've got some amazing, parks and waterfront to explore. There's even drop-in wreck hockey just down the street. Plus, a little extra cash in your pocket for the next trip. Exactly. It just makes sense. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.ca slash host.

Starting point is 00:02:16 With your host, Steve Dangle, Adam Wilde, and Jesse Blake. Prizes tonight. If you tune into our stream, it's Calgary. it's Toronto and it's at 8.30 because of course it is. Why wouldn't it be at 8 or 9? It should be at 8.30. What's a time we can come up with where no one's happy? Yeah. Well, I know that I know it's weird for Flames and Oilers fans that we come out there and it's like, well, no, you will move to Toronto schedule, but it was because of the TV rights thing. And yeah, like even Saturday, it's a five o'clock local start. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:02:55 Because it's the 7 o'clock Saturday night hockey and it's like, no, you will acquiesce to us. Yeah. The Toronto's. Yes. The Toronto, Toronto's, actually, is what we're called. I noticed they scheduled this game after the vote, which I think was strategic. Huberdo and Harvey the mascot will be given away tonight on the stream. I thought Harvey was up.

Starting point is 00:03:18 Stay down there for a second. And by the way, you cannot pull Harvey's tongue out like you can at the arena, like the head coach did. Yes, yes, you. Craig McTavitt. A lot of our streams have like awesome prizes Saturday. We have prizes on Steve's stream. We had three different Winnipeg Jets Heritage Classic prizes. I believe it was a jersey, a hat and a scarf.

Starting point is 00:03:38 Yes, you got it. Correct. Yeah. And then Adam's stream, we gave away three Rangers. And they were the winter classic jersey. They're beautiful because they had the patch from their winter classic game. They had the big apple patch, which I loved on the side. And they are a, I'm going to keep hammering this home, a cream colored instead of a white colored jersey,

Starting point is 00:03:55 which looks so much better on camera. It pops on the ice, makes the colors pop. And they had, I don't know if you guys saw this, but on the base of the jersey, it actually has the date of the game. And like the location. You like that. Fight strap. Like these are the premium ones.

Starting point is 00:04:08 We're giving away the good ones. And Jesse, why do you have that disgusting, gross, ew, tomato, tomato jersey? I'm going to get my coffee away from it, first of all. Yeah. We don't have to get a near this thing. Or closer. We don't want an actual cream on it. We're talking about outdoor jersey games.

Starting point is 00:04:20 And I got to say, the greatest one of all time was worn on Sunday. It's very nice. You know, the Habs, Heritage Classic. Does it have the date on the inside? It does. Here, check out, show people the bottom part. Oh, yeah. This is the coolest part.

Starting point is 00:04:34 It's a new thing I guess Fanatics is doing where they add the Heritage Classic date to the. And they do it en froncée. This one is just as 2026 French Heritage Classic. For the L&H. Yes. You know, our favorite. 2,026. I love the, I love the HAB's logo on the side there.

Starting point is 00:04:52 I think it's really nice. And the way they did the stitching on the sea to match kind of how the stadium was done. Also, the stadium last night was awesome. The outdoor cottagey vibe was really cool and they've done like the stitching around the sea to match that. And then they kept the Habs jersey because when you are a classic team like the Yankees or the Habs, there's no reason to change your jersey. Make the jersey and then make it a little special.

Starting point is 00:05:19 I got to say this is a masterclass and not overthinking it. I know it's not like the pure white or whatever. They're going with, there are some. tropes that are used to just make things hold. And it's usually, let's make this some form of brown. The gloves, the pants, the helmet, which always looks ugly. Or the off white. But the off white works here and just just the slight, like, okay, we're going to add a little

Starting point is 00:05:47 juge to the logo. That's what Adam's talking about. That's good. The cream. Cream man. It's the same kind of cream from the Rangers one. And way back in the day, they didn't have, a lot of times, it would be like cream color jerseys because they would, they, you know,

Starting point is 00:05:59 Cotton is like a living breathing fiber so it could like patina and it looks. And that's why older jerseys have that sort of, that sort of look to them because they didn't stay white. Yeah. And so I think that's what we're going to get back to. We're going to get back to the cream color. They're doing it. Shout out fanatics for sending this over. Always very nice to send us all the special jerseys.

Starting point is 00:06:19 Now, Easter Seals. Before we get into the Connor Hellerberg Press conference here, Stephen, any updates on that? What must be talked about? You know what? we're going to find out in real time if we have hit $55,000. Oh.

Starting point is 00:06:35 Because we are quickly approaching. Remember just a few days ago we were talking about 50, now we're at 55. We have done it. We are at $55,123. We are trying to raise 56. That's awesome.

Starting point is 00:06:51 And then 57 and 58. And then we see how high we get in support of Easter Seals, Ontario. Love that. Love that. Now, Connor Hallibuck was introduced on Friday, and I don't want to take too much from the press conference because it was, it's already three days old here. But I do want to say that we should mention a couple of things from it. First off, I think everybody was rightly impressed by Sunny Mata as, you know, he seems to be an impressive guy. There are also rumors out there that this is just the beginning for the devils, that there are other trades coming in the next few months. And they're going to be one of the teams to watch. So that's going to be fascinating. But the thing that I think, you know, I want to touch on today. and it has to do with this answer, and then it has to do with what Fridge was saying on 32 thoughts, I think is super, super interesting. So let's just play this.

Starting point is 00:07:36 This is, you know, the last question of the press conference. You can hear it in the video, and then you can hear Conner's answer. Hey, Connor. So fifth round pick in 2012, 11 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. Is there anything you'd like to say to the Jets fans now that you're a devil? I mean, there's a lot. There's a lot that I need to say.

Starting point is 00:07:57 but they have the heritage game coming up. So as respect for them and for the celebration of hockey, I'm going to postpone that to a later date. And I hope they know I care about them. So Freed said today, take the W, you won, don't say anything else. And what Connor is hinting at there is that there is more to say. And there were rumors this weekend about not just from, 32 thoughts, but just circulating that if Connor had said something either before or even after,

Starting point is 00:08:33 the Jets are going to respond publicly. Whatever is, whatever it is that he wants to say. And so here's like the team or the players is I think it's going to be the player. I think it's probably a little bit of both. It was everybody involved. The way Friedman laid it out on the podcast, he made it sound like it was a threat from Hellebuck because Hellebuck was coming back to Winnipeg to do a physical so that he could get paid is what was going to happen if he wasn't going to get traded. He's going to show up in Winnipeg, do a physical, and then he can get his paycheck. And he said that if Hellebuck returned to Winnipeg to do this physical, he was going to

Starting point is 00:09:10 try to speak to the media. And at that point, he was going to make it a little ugly so that he could get a trade out of Winnipeg. And he said that he's happy that all this didn't happen because if Helibuck was going to talk, then the Jets were going to talk, and then the players were going to talk. And everybody was going to start. talking and this whole thing could have got ugly if it went past Friday. So there was a hard deadline with this suspension expiring and getting him out of there so he

Starting point is 00:09:37 doesn't start talking and make the whole thing messy for not just him, but for everybody on the Winnipeg Jets side too. The added context there is so interesting because I'm listening to that and I'm like, you know what, we've given him a lot of stick. That's a classy response. You could look at it as, oh, he's punting. Oh, he's getting out of it. but like also, I don't know, these are marquee events and they're really important locally, right?

Starting point is 00:10:04 Like in the grand scheme of things, I don't know how many people outside of the Habser Jets fan base cared about that hockey game. But especially in Winnipeg because the game is there, I mean, you saw that clip of Dawson Mercer walking through the stands and it shows the giant stadium. That's cool. And that speaks to how momentous the moment is. So I'm glad, you know, AAL let them enjoy it, whatever, whatever. That sounds classy, but then knowing the added context of, oh, no, everyone involved hates each other. Yeah. It kind of dampens it a bit.

Starting point is 00:10:44 And publicly, Kevin Shovel Deoff is saying the right things. He said that the alumni game happened on Saturday. And maybe if there's another one in the future, we can get Connor. to play in one of those. He wants to mend this fence, at least publicly, is the way he's framing it. But the way Freedman put it out there is like Connor Hellebuck clearly has his side of the story and might have wanted to get that out there if he was still a jet past Friday. Yeah. So, so, I think, I actually, I think Friege was not so quietly and he can disagree with me.

Starting point is 00:11:24 He has my phone number. He can call me and say, you're right out of line with this. I think Fridge was publicly warning both sides to take a, take a beat. I think he was saying to Connor Hallibuck specifically, don't do this. And it's rare that you see someone in the media step in the middle and be like,

Starting point is 00:11:40 I will tell you both to stop. But I, I, I mean, he mentioned, and Jesse, you mentioned there too, about the legacy thing, about, you know, being able to mend fences eventually. I don't think that it's not that they couldn't mend fences eventually, but I do think that Jets fans eventually are going to need a little clarity on what happened here. The Jets have been extraordinarily cagey about this.

Starting point is 00:12:08 Connor's been cagey about this. Whether or not when he actually does come to the fore and hints at whatever his reasons are, I think Jets fans before there's closure on this and they welcome him back into the fold, the way Sheveled They have mentioned. And that's the class. thing to do. It's a nicety. Do I believe it? No. No. I think that's, uh, that sums it up. But I think you're going to be classy thing, you know? Yeah, yeah. And you want your organization to be classy and that's why we do tribute videos for fucking fourth liners that played 20 games. But I'm,

Starting point is 00:12:40 what I'm trying to say is that like, I think Jets fans deserve some closure here. And, you know, I don't know what the response is going to be when Hella Buc goes back to Winnipeg in a couple of weeks. Apparently he might play this week. And I'm, I'm assuming he's going to start that game. I don't think it's going to be what Brady was, but I do think there's going to be some anger in the air like, hey, because here's the thing, Hella back actually won things with the Jets. He won trophies, four of them, you know, three Vesnas, one heart. He went all the way to the third round. I know that, you know, since then, his, maybe his playoff success hasn't been there, and a lot of that is on him. His playoff numbers are ass. But the fact is that this guy had a

Starting point is 00:13:18 huge hit on the organization in terms of like success. He was a fifth round pick, as they mentioned in that. I mean, there's so many things about this Hullibuck story to love. And I think Jets fans deserve a little bit more than what they've gotten in terms of why this happened. Because remember, 12 months before this happened, actually even 10 months before this happened, they were at Connor Hullabuck's cottage presenting him with the trophies in person. What happened in that 10-month period? Isn't that other than what we all know, which is the American Olympic team said, fuck it to all of our markets.

Starting point is 00:13:53 Not just Canadian markets either. American ones too. And they said Detroit's too close. Through that one too. But you see the way that Kyle Conner talks about Hellebuck now, a man who is on that team with him, I pick him to score.

Starting point is 00:14:07 Kyle Connor doesn't feel the same way as Hella Buck. He's very happy to be a Winnipeg jet and clearly doesn't agree with whatever reasons Hellebuck has come up with. I think it's fair to add Jake Sanderson to that conversation. with regard to Brady Kachuk.

Starting point is 00:14:23 The difference is I kind of get the impression Kyle Connor does not like that person, right? Like I don't know how much, I don't know what's going on between Sanderson and Kichuk, but every clip I've seen of Kyle Connor, I don't get the impression they're friends. No, and it didn't seem like it was an option once that suspension was over

Starting point is 00:14:46 to reintroduce Connor Hellebuck to anything going on with the Jets. because a star on your team, a very important piece of your organization like Kyle O'Connor didn't look like he wanted any piece of that. And he's a very direct and blunt person. We've had him on the show. He's really nice guys. But I got the sense from him

Starting point is 00:15:03 and not in a bad way, but just like he's going to tell you exactly what he thinks. Very direct. It wouldn't surprise me if like behind the scenes he's like, this isn't an option. Like you can't ever bring this man back. Well, and that's the thing. They were talking about like bringing him back

Starting point is 00:15:20 for, you know, sometime this week. And, like, and I think, you know, the Jets were on a, what are they on a five game losing skid now. Yeah. And so it's sort of a bummer because they started the year pretty well. Off to a fun start. Everyone's like, whoa. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:15:33 And I think it was cool that, you know, they gave Dawson Mercer the, you know, the start there and everything. Like, it's neat that they did that. But I do, I do think that this team is in for some struggles. They probably will be fine. There's a lot of talent here. But I just feel like him being back in that, if you want to turn a, five-game losing streak into an absolute mess.

Starting point is 00:15:54 You know, these conversations that Lowry and Connor and these other guys are talking about they need to have, you know, that would have been pretty fiery. And I don't think that's what the Jets need right now. By the way, we keep talking about the three Veznes thing. It is a big deal. Who says it's not? No, I know. I love to make that person.

Starting point is 00:16:13 I need to emphasize, he's one of only 13 people in the history of the NHL. to ever win three or more Vezna trophies. Wow. And a lot of these names are, like, that's going to sound like a lot of people. A lot of these names are old. To do it in modern times is magnificent. Jacques Plont leads the way with 10, or sorry, not 10, with 7. Bill Dernan and Dominic Hachshack, each have six, Ken Dryden has five.

Starting point is 00:16:42 Broder, Michelle LaRock, Terry Sawchuck, and Tiny Thompson have four each. And then it's Tony Esposito, George Haynesworth. who played half his career before the invention of the forward pass. Glenn Hall, Connor Hullabuck, and Patrick Waugh all have three. It's a big deal. So how many of those names are like, oh, I've seen them play this century? It's short. It's short.

Starting point is 00:17:06 It's real short. And that's why, I mean, I think I feel like there needs to be some sort of conversation. I understand Fridge, you know, using his platform to step in and go, guys, like, let's not make this messy. because a freege probably is like, well then I'm going to have to cover it and both sides are going to be mad at me because he's got sources in both camps.

Starting point is 00:17:25 But I would say that the Jets fans need something. They need something here. And I don't know if it's going to come from Connor or the organization, but somebody's got to say something here because they've just lost a goaltender who was perfectly happy 12 months before and we still don't have an adequate answer

Starting point is 00:17:42 as to what happened. Is it valid that it wasn't the right time? I think it's valid that it wasn't the right time, but now is the right time. I'm not saying you need to know the full biography story, but you've got to give me something. In most trades over. I'd be like, this is what a press conference is for. Talk to us.

Starting point is 00:17:58 Yeah. In this one unique situation with the heritage game. Yeah. I'm like, okay, I get it. Game's over though. Game is over. I think you can let it breathe for a little and hopefully Helibuck has some sort of sit down with some rights holder and he has some sort of expose on what he felt through this whole journey.

Starting point is 00:18:17 Also, I think that's how it'll play. play out. Like that game is what, November 10th? Yes. His return to Winnipeg. Like, if he kicks it off now, then it has the chance to percolate for like three weeks and just be at this. It could be worse than Brady, honestly. Man, Sends fans, I don't know if they realized it at the time, but they set the bar for the entire league for the rest of the season. Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 00:18:44 Oh, yeah. They've raised it. Like, it's something else now. Like I don't think anybody can just top what the Sends did. Like last night, Quinn Hughes returns to Vancouver. I'm like, this isn't fun. It was so not. And, you know, and I, somebody tell him to eat crayons.

Starting point is 00:19:01 Also, I mean, the difference is the team's quite bad. Also, no, I also want to say this. I don't think Quinn left under such brutal circumstances. No, no, it's not the same. He wasn't saying I've always been committed here and then was completely not committed behind the scene. And time. And lying.

Starting point is 00:19:16 and all of the other things and didn't have a podcast where his dad was jumping on with Jack and Luke going, man, Vancouver fucking sucks, eh? It wasn't the same at all. Like, your expectations can't ever be that, you know? But I was just like, ah, from what is it? 72 hours passed when the Ottawa thing happened to Quinn Hughes returning. I'm like, this isn't as fun. But yeah.

Starting point is 00:19:37 Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I think with meta on this, I want to talk a little bit about him and a little bit of what they're bringing. interesting. He said Chevy was easy to deal with. I try to be like that with everybody. I've only been here like six months and I don't know how many trades I've made, but it's a lot. In order to do that, you need to be transparent and confident and that's where I credit my staff as well. So I guess this deal came together fairly quickly. Now, a lot of chatter about what, and I know on Friday, Steve, your friends who are Jets fans were saying like, well, this feels a little bit,

Starting point is 00:20:13 you know, dollars for dimes and could they have had a better deal with? with Florida. And the rumor was it was Rodriguez, Luster Reinan, and whatever that's... The ninth and the 25th picks. Yeah. And that, I think, objectively, now is a better deal. But back then, Winnipeg was stuck on having a goalie and now they're not. That deal makes you better now and later than the one that they got.

Starting point is 00:20:32 Yeah. And I feel... Here's what I feel. I feel like this is where Kevin Chevaldeoff loses me. Because I respect the deal that he made on Friday. Okay. But he was so hyper-focused, we must get a goalie back. Okay.

Starting point is 00:20:47 Was he? Yeah, that was, that's, Freed was even saying it. He's like, we have to get a goalie back in not, not now, but, but in the spring,

Starting point is 00:20:55 we have to get a goalie back. He shouldn't. What if you just took the best deal you possibly could and figured out the goaltending situation, which you did anyway with Stuart Skinner. You sign him as a free agent. There are goleys.

Starting point is 00:21:06 There's goleys, man. You can always find a goalie. Carolina won the cup with Kachecoff not playing, Bussie, who just signed an extension on the bench, and Freddie Anderson, we can rebuild him.

Starting point is 00:21:17 We have the technology playing 15 straight games in the playoffs and then getting injured right before the Stanley Cup final or right during the Stanley Cup final right before they're about to win it. Carolina is one of the smartest teams in the league. They won the cup. They've done it with goaltenders who play 25 games a year, three or four of them every year for what, half a decade? You can do that.

Starting point is 00:21:38 And that's where I feel like if that deals true, if it was Rodriguez, Luster Ryan, and a first and a 25th, I thought the, sorry, the first, the ninth and the 25th. I thought that that meant that they would have had to give up the Vigo Bjork pick, which I understand that maybe they didn't want to. I think that was more the other people. No, they could have got two guys.

Starting point is 00:21:58 They could have picked back to back if I'm not mistaken. They have eight and nine. I know they're saying they're happy. You could have maybe packaged eight and nine and moved up. Gotten someone else. But I just look at that and I go, I know that they're telling everybody that they're happy with it today. And they're telling all the media they're happy with it today.

Starting point is 00:22:15 and the media are going to tell you that they're happy with it today. If that is in fact the deal that they were offered, they did miss the best deal. End of story. There's no way around it. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to flip some of those assets. They got six pieces. It's just a couple of them aren't really worth much.

Starting point is 00:22:33 Like, I don't know what you get for Bukstad. I don't know. I mean, it's a seventh round pick is the bottom of the barrel very literally. A second's fun. A 12th overall pick is pretty fun. They clearly like the player. Dawes is fine-ish. Future Vesna Trophy winner.

Starting point is 00:22:53 Maybe. Jesse's guy. And then who am I missed? Oh, Mercer is fine. Yeah, in the lineup. He's going to be a guy. Yeah. It'll matter how Alex's command.

Starting point is 00:23:02 The trade is him beginning, middle end. If he stinks, the trade is catastrophic. Some of the prospect guys, again, it's so early in these guys' developments. Because, like, remember, Fraser Minton was topping out at a mid- mid-level center. It looks like that's what he'll be, even though he's a pretty good one. But like a guy like Eastern Cowan,

Starting point is 00:23:21 people are like, we don't even know who this is. And he gets drafted in the first. Yeah. And then it was like, well, he might be at top, top end,

Starting point is 00:23:29 maybe Travis Kineckney Light or whatever. And he's, no, that would be great. But he's been spectacular. Do you remember the Chinikov stuff from when he was drafted? No.

Starting point is 00:23:39 So Columbus picks him like 21st or 20th or something like that. And I remember it, coming out, like all these different scouting services are like, we had him ranked in the hundreds. Like, what are they doing? And he turned into a pretty good NHL player, just not really for them. Yeah. As every Columbus playback. As that happens to work out, you never know with these guys. You would have assumed. So with command that what they're saying is he'll be a complimentary player, they're saying. But we don't know. I mean, I would trust that the Jets would have a very good idea of the kind of player he is not just from scouting for this trade, but he was picked only a few picks after Bjork.

Starting point is 00:24:25 Sure. And Bjork seems to be a good pick, but I think one of the things that we've been very critical of with Winnipeg of the last few years is their drafting record. Yeah. And so can you trust their scouts? They do have some guys. York looks like a guy. But that's your top 10. You should be a guy.

Starting point is 00:24:41 They have some guys in the system where I'm like, he might. Oh, this guy, he might. But they've struggled. Yeah. Jess, what do you guy there? I was just looking at standings where the Jets are sitting right now. And I think like the expectations on the Jets can't be that there. One of the top teams in the West.

Starting point is 00:24:57 And I know the West is a little sluggish this season so far as it was last year. Undermatement. And they're 4-4 and 3 right now, 500. And that's about right. Yeah. Like I don't think I look at the lineup and say that they are the. 24, 25 jets. They're not horrible.

Starting point is 00:25:15 But they're not as bad as they were last year. I think there's a mushy middle where they can be maybe competing for the bottom of the wild card. But that's kind of their ceiling. So if you're Kevin Shevoldeoff and flipping those assets, I don't know if you really want to do that to try and go for something here that I don't think is realistic with the roster the way it is. They need more changes here to be more competitive.

Starting point is 00:25:34 I'm looking at the standings and I'm like, they need the ducks and kings to get their back together and climb above them so they can tank properly. And then I'm looking at the teams above them and I'm like, they can make it. They can make it. It's so like lackluster in the bottom of the West that you look at Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg, Anahe, Calgary, L.A., Chicago, Vancouver. You're like, all those teams are kind of meh right now. How about Colorado?

Starting point is 00:26:03 Yeah, Colorado, they've been playing wonky games. Like last night they lose 6'2 to Nashville. Nashville playing all right sometimes. Who do those guys pick first? Like I'm not too worried about Colorado in the end. But yeah, I think like we'll see how the season plays out, obviously.

Starting point is 00:26:17 But I don't think Winnipeg should be just going for full bore right now. Kevold Day off to kind of sit back and wait and see, which he is really good at doing. You want Chevy to do nothing? Like, oh, baby, he's going to do it. Can he do nothing? All right, kids. Who wants to play a game of hide?

Starting point is 00:26:35 Ha ha ha ha. There's no seek. I'm asking Chevy to do what he does best, I guess. All right. Now, let's do the BetMGM big story because I do have a question about it. BetMGM is an official sports betting partner in the National Hockey League. We're ready for puck drops. And we talked to you about goal in the first betting markets and live bets and same game parlayers and player props.

Starting point is 00:26:59 Steve's actually really good at player props. I get a little mad at it. Now, here's my question. Winnipeg Jets making the playoffs. soft, soft, soft is the Western Conference at the bottom. Right now, there are two points out. The San Jose Sharks hold the second wild card, and obviously we're not even a month into this thing.

Starting point is 00:27:18 So, you know, looking at standings this early, there's a lot of teams roughly in the same spot. But I think because of that, could the Winnipeg Jets, though they are losers of five straight, can they possibly get that, you know what, F you mentality, that certain teams get squeak in this year, Would you bet on it?

Starting point is 00:27:39 If they absolutely whoop the devils in a few weeks, I will bet on it. Otherwise, uh, no. So you need, you need them to just go nuts on Connor Hallibuck. I need them to show us who they are. Okay, okay, because you haven't seen it yet. Uh, well, unfortunately, I think I see a probably accurate representation of what they are over the last five games. Okay. They started hot and it's gone south.

Starting point is 00:28:04 Uh, Jesse, your thoughts. My money's on no. It's three to one odds to make the playoffs for a yes. So like $2.00 Steve, that you back $6. That's not good enough odds for me to take a flyer on the Jets. Like you look at the flames, they're 12 to 1. I'd rather the Jets be a little closer to something like that if I'm going to bet on them to make the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:28:25 And the flames have been good. Yeah, yeah. A little hot-a three-game winning streak. I'm not confident in that roster. I'm not confident in that team. I'm going to take no. All right. So here's what we got in terms of competition.

Starting point is 00:28:37 Now, hilariously, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in the first wildcard spot because they've been a little bit shaky. And the other team is the San Jose Sharks, who we think should be the season they'd step up and make it. Scott Wedgwood, knock it off. I'm not dropping you. Get better. I'm not dropping you. Stop it. But on the outside looking in, the predators, the blues, then the jets, then the ducks.

Starting point is 00:29:04 And obviously the flames and kings and whatever, but they're all bad. every game the Ducks give you one period where you're like they're winning the division and then two periods where you're like they might pick first. You kind of look at the Winnipeg Jets and go there's a real chance here. It feels better than one and three, doesn't it? It does. I know that's what the odds are giving you on that, but it feels better than that. And I'm with Jesse.

Starting point is 00:29:24 I wish it was a little juicier, but I don't hate it actually. Okay. I don't hate it. Don't hate it. All right. Well, listen, we'll see what happens. Obviously it didn't happen for them last night, but you can download the BetMGM app. Don't miss a second of the opening minutes. BetMGM is an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League.

Starting point is 00:29:41 You're home for hockey bets all season long. Betmgm.com for terms and conditions. 19 plus to wager Ontario, only please play responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or that of somebody close to you, please contact Connects Ontario. And 1866531, 2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. So just very quickly on the Heritage Classic itself,

Starting point is 00:30:05 look like a fun game. I love the visuals and stuff and like the wood they put on the ground. I know that everybody's first complaint is always going to be, when will they promote these things? And I agree. I think they promoted the hell out of it locally. Yeah. Yeah. But it should be a national night.

Starting point is 00:30:19 I mean, it's in Montreal, Canadians, Winnipeg Jets. It's outside. It's beautiful. Should we make peace with the fact that what we got in 2003, we are never getting back? What are we getting back? The first ever outdoor game, I believe it was 2003, Habs Oilers. Yeah. We will never get that feeling back.

Starting point is 00:30:36 It will never return. It was an event. And we were all like, let us sit our asses down and see how this goes. Look at Jose Tador. And it's adorable too. And you know, the thing about it, Steve, is when you do something really good the first time, the key is to never try. I will guarantee you this. That was worth watching if you're a hockey fan.

Starting point is 00:30:57 It was worth watching if you're a hockey fan. And so what I would say to the broadcaster is if you don't try, you're right. It will never be as good again. And I just think that they're like, well, we've tried it and it didn't work. And I think that that's crazy. I think that's crazy. And I think there's, you know, Montreal's a big city. That's four and a half million people or something like that in and around the area.

Starting point is 00:31:19 Winnipeg not so big, but obviously extremely intense. They must have sold it out. Oh, of course they sold it out. But my point is that if you got an audience of, let's just say, in the two local markets of up to five million people, I know some of that's French. it's a national game in Canadian standards that's a sixth or seventh of the country that's a big deal and I think that's where I get a little annoyed

Starting point is 00:31:43 it's like you know give people the heads up just let them know and I know it's you know football's on or whatever but like come on what are we doing here I think you've got to come you've got to at least try to get Canadians interested not Canadians fans Canadians why a Sunday I don't know I think

Starting point is 00:32:00 I think Saturday would make a lot more sense too like an early afternoon Saturday game before, you know, before the seven o'clock game. Leading into hockey night? I think it'd be amazing. Or make it the hockey night game. Yeah. Have the least play earlier or something.

Starting point is 00:32:13 Yeah. Whatever. Because I know, I know. Yeah. I'm with you. It's just the thought. It's just the thought. No, no, no. Like, it should be a big deal.

Starting point is 00:32:21 But like what I'm saying is you'll never get the novelty back of this is the first one. Right. Right. And they also did a lot of them and a lot of them kind of stunk. Yeah. And the jerseys. the stadium series jerseys they had for a while. Terrible.

Starting point is 00:32:37 Yeah, terrible. But great now. I like the jerseys they wore yesterday. Man, the Jets merch was sick. That was real nice. The jackets that you could buy there and stuff like that. I was like, damn. Like that, they nailed that.

Starting point is 00:32:49 The Jets have such a great retro feel to their old logo too. Like it's just now that they can use it. Now that they're allowed to use it. Yeah. Anyway, so I don't know when the next outdoor game is, but it looks cool. The next one is New Year's Day. Oh, there you go. Thanks, Jesse.

Starting point is 00:33:05 Next marque event is the global series in Germany. I'm probably the wrong person to have the opinion on these things because I was locked in on this. I know what was happening and I thought it was good to have it on the Sunday and everything. So I'd like to hear from the fans. Like, did they watch it and tune in? Did they enjoy it? If you're a non-Habs Jets fan. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:33:24 Because I did. Because I thought that was really good what they did this year. I thought the visuals were great. And from the TV watching perspective, that's all you care about, right? is like, does it look cool that they're outside? I thought it was cool that they're outside. And locally, these events are always a hit. So I think that's checked off.

Starting point is 00:33:40 But I don't know about like, hey, did they promote it enough nationally? I knew it was also on TNT, which is a pretty big deal. Yeah. You know, they had the full TNT panel covering the game and all that. So I feel like that's good too. I think, I think my thing is this. This is completely on Sportsnet, not promoting it enough. You don't think they did?

Starting point is 00:33:59 No, of course not. No, they don't. They're too focused on dealing with the fallout from their Monday night games. And I think the, I think SportsNet believes, and they have a limited amount of resources artificially because they actually have the resources, they just refuse to use them. You know, SportsNet could really, really make this amazing. And I, and, you know, the visuals from the desk where, you know, Elliot and Colby and Kevin, all those guys are, it's great. I just don't I don't understand why

Starting point is 00:34:30 whatever it is you do with the Blue Jays can't be applied to this Every time I watch a Blue Jays game I'm like this is first rate excellent unbelievable quality television and I look at the hockey stuff and I'm like guys You could you have to make this heritage thing

Starting point is 00:34:45 A thing Adam you're part of this I called this from the day Ed took over What are we doing? He's a I know he's a baseball fan I get it is or his team yeah now Let's talk about the Leafs in Edmonton We get to get some flowers to

Starting point is 00:34:56 Fowler. To Fowler? Jacob Fowler. Fowler's to Fowler? For being good? Yeah. Yeah. What did I tell you guys?

Starting point is 00:35:05 Montreal's got fucking nothing to worry about. Run? Nothing to worry about. Run, don't walk to get him in fantasy. You're probably too late. On Friday. When would you ever be able to, what league are you in where you could pick up Jacob Fowler?

Starting point is 00:35:17 I got him. Did you? Then what league is that? They're not smart guys, apparently. No, not Arley? That can't be a competitive hockey league. No, but like, heading into the season, you got to be like, well, it's dobish all the way, right? And then you're

Starting point is 00:35:31 looking at spot starts. And it's rare, it's a rare opportunity to, uh, a starter for a good team just presents themselves mid-season, right? Usually what I do is I tell myself, Joey Decord, who plays a lot of games is going to be a good pickup because the Cracken might be all right. And then they're not. And then you drop them. And then you look for a, candidate and right now it's Jacob Fowler. Right. When do they trade Dobish? I don't think they need to. Montembo.

Starting point is 00:36:04 Why would Montembo? Why would you have to trade him? What is the saying history doesn't repeat itself but it does rhyme? They had the... Is this Halak Spring? Yes. Yes. Fowler is Price. Dobish

Starting point is 00:36:18 is Halak. It's repeating itself right in front of our eyes. I'm just getting ahead of it. I'm sure Doebusch. right the ship. I'm sure he will. But this kid is the truth. This kid looks really, really good. Jesse made us almost cry on the show when you were talking about him and

Starting point is 00:36:38 showed the Montreal Scouts. Pre-his debut for the habs, yeah. He is, he's the future. He's the future and, you know, maybe you just have two good goalies. That is a good thing to have. That's a good solution. He's on a five-game winning streak. His only loss of the season came in his first start of the season since then he's undefeated. And then, yeah, going into this weekend, starts Chicago, they win that game and then he wins on Sunday.

Starting point is 00:37:05 It's undeniable who the starting goaltender is at this point. Dobish on the other hand. Which is wild. Only win of the season came opening night against the Leafs. Then no regulation wins for him. Had to be us. One, two and two on the season. Isn't it insane after the playoff that he had that Dobish has essentially lost his job by

Starting point is 00:37:23 Halloween? Yes. It's like, I don't think anybody. could have seen it happen this quickly. You know, because those games weren't flukes. Best teams in the league, he shut them down. He's the only. Oh, my God.

Starting point is 00:37:36 The Habs are in the Eastern Conference final. And you start this season, and I don't know where it's gone. Well, uh, goaltending, man. It's so much between the years. He had the confidence last spring. But I think sometimes, too, like, uh, Steve always used to like to talk about, you know, goalies being put in their happy places. You know, he knows that, that Fowler, if he,

Starting point is 00:37:56 screws up Fowler is taking that job. And then of course, that puts pressure on you internally. And I don't know. I think there's pressure to be Jacob Dolbis. Right? You think there is or there isn't? No, no. I think there is. The standard for him like jumped. He put on a jet pack and that's where the standards went. Yeah. And I think there's a pressure to be that and slow as fast and fast as slow sort of thing. And I think he's probably doing things he wouldn't usually do because he's trying to be what people expect him to be. But you'd think that the run he had in the playoffs would have given him that confidence to like sustain him to be,

Starting point is 00:38:41 you are the number one guy in Montreal, which is one of the most pressure jobs you can have an hockey. It's kind of what you're getting that. And it didn't translate. Like it didn't run through the summer and start the season that way. It's time is funny that way, man. Yeah. Like, oh, yeah, I'm just going to be able to perfectly transition from what I did in May to September, October hockey.

Starting point is 00:39:02 And it just doesn't work that way. Yeah, he's 25. Fowler's 21. Just you see a guy of that age have this type of confidence and unflappable. I mean, what we should be focusing on is what an incredible situation for that hockey team. But listen, if Fowler is the inevitable number one guy, the scenario. that I'm talking about is not just realistic, it's likely.

Starting point is 00:39:28 Thing that sucks the most about this situation for everybody involved, he is American. From Melbourne, Florida. We couldn't develop another one, Canada. He's going to be pretty good for, I don't know, like Dallas.

Starting point is 00:39:42 Like when Ottinger falters? Yeah, maybe Nashville. Maybe. Maybe. You should start that right now. Rest that right. Yeah, you know what? Dallas.

Starting point is 00:39:50 I have heard he wants out. I have heard that. Where he wants out of, I don't know. The Panthers. He's from Florida. The Fowler to Panthers. Here we go. Well, I think, you know, who's going to have to make a change in Fowler's window is the Lightning.

Starting point is 00:40:06 Casalevsky is getting up there in the years. And Captain Dylan Larkin takes the Stanley Cup and hands it to Jacob Fowler. Yeah, I like that. Or the Lightning or the Panthers? For the Panthers. The Panthers. The Panthers. Yes.

Starting point is 00:40:20 Yes. Unfortunately, earlier these playoffs, Aaron Eckblad has. given Brandon Hagle his 20th concussion Accident. 19 of them from him. Accidentally. Oh yeah, I bet. Stereoid arms.

Starting point is 00:40:32 Anyway, yes. Oh yeah, you did that also. We should never really let go of that. Garnet Hathaway spit on the guy and Aaron Eklad took drugs. The Leafs in Edmonton, actually. I want to talk about this game just a few things about it.

Starting point is 00:40:46 I know it's been a couple of days and you always have to kind of talk about the Saturday game but you can't focus on it because we got a game tonight and I'm streaming it. I remember I'm giving away But I want to talk about just a couple of things instantly. First off, Felice roll into Edmonton on a Saturday night, which they've been traditionally really good at.

Starting point is 00:41:02 I don't know why, but it's been in Edmonton. In Edmonton, they've been pretty good against the Oilers. What was the record at like 12 and 2? I had it. I think it's 10, 2 and 1 in the Matthews era. That's wild. Or at least since 26th. That must be the best of any of the teams.

Starting point is 00:41:17 But in that building. Yeah. Just in that building. Oh, at Rogers Place, they are, yeah, 10, 2 and 1. dominate that, like, since they moved. Yeah. Which does not make sense. No.

Starting point is 00:41:29 Like, the Leafs have been good for the majority of the time that Edmonton's been in that building. But Edmonton, you could argue, has been better. Perhaps not in the regular season, but. But I don't know if that's an argument. I think the thing is that, like, even if they were a bad team, the Leafs tend to play to play to their competition level. It's rare that they have, or at least in the previous era. And I'm saying previous era because I think there is a defined change that I want to talk about actually in this segment.

Starting point is 00:41:59 The previous era was noticeably annoying because you had so much talent and yet so many days where they're like, are you guys awake? Are you alive? Do you want to start this game in the first half an hour of it? Like when would you like to get going here? And I think that against Edmonton, for whatever reason, I think they always have respected the Oilers, which is why they, bring it early and often. But beyond that, you know, I said to you guys openly on Friday, I'm like, how is this going to go?

Starting point is 00:42:31 Because the Leafs are, they're box office. Goaltending is pretty good. Defense is awful. Scoring's wicked, which means that at no point is any lead safe, you can't miss a minute. And they're entertaining minutes. I got filled with dread when they went up three nothing. I was like, no. No, like we usually make the joke.

Starting point is 00:42:50 The Oilers have. have you right where they want you, but they actually do, though. Yeah. That's their pocket. That's where they thrive, right? So they roll into that building. They've won three straight. And everyone's like, ah, well, this was nice.

Starting point is 00:43:07 Now they head into take on Connor McDavid, who's on pace to break Wayne Gretzky's record still. And to speak as a leaf fan, you're going, yeah, maybe they can push this overtime. Oh, 100%. I just grab a point out of it. It'd be great. Dude, the leaves are up five. too and I'm like maybe the Leafs can hang on for over time. That's what it felt like.

Starting point is 00:43:28 That's what it felt like. And so what's amazing is that not only did they do that and obviously William Nealander, he was a, no one's given him the credit that's due for the empty netter, but he really had to, he had to push for that. He had like three guys on him. Oh yeah.

Starting point is 00:43:42 I want to talk about the vibes on this team. Because, you know, Hiller mentioned the Matthews Roslavik connection and their relationship post-game. and he just kind of said, you know, it's good that certain guys know each other. You know, as a head coach does. Sure. But here's what Nick Paul had to say,

Starting point is 00:43:59 and here's what Austin Matthews had to say, and then I'm going to leave it for comment guys. Nick Paul said, everybody is able to be themselves. We don't have any stupid hierarchy where you can't go to dinner with someone. I just think everyone in here, it's like you put names in the hat,

Starting point is 00:44:12 you put tables together, and you just pick guys out. That's what good teams have, just a bunch of good people because then you want to play for everyone. Matthew said, the environment that we're in, It's just so fun.

Starting point is 00:44:23 It's competitive, a lot of joking around, a lot of chirping each other. It's been a lot of fun. And I think that emotion, that energy carries over into games, it doesn't matter who scores. Everybody's excited. Everybody is happy. Everyone is about the team. And the team's been first all this time. And that's what I feel like is driving us now.

Starting point is 00:44:40 And that's why I say, guys, at the beginning of this segment, that I think that we've crossed over into a new chapter. Because it's not that the team didn't like each other before. People take those things and instantly go, well, they must have hated each chapter. other. I think that there are times, I remember Sid Sixero even coming on here and going, it's clear they don't play for each other. And you could not deny that fact. I mean, it was objective, completely objective. They didn't play for each other. I think it's weird. It's not even last year. I think in previous years, too. I think it's weird when one of your star player signs a contract

Starting point is 00:45:13 and then the next day you go to the media complaining about your contract. Do you think that's weird, Jesse? I don't know if, is that dysfunctional and wrong and stupid? I don't know if a locker room that has that can make that work on the ice and will translate to an environment that we're seeing right now. I agree with you. I think that's a little awkward. And whether you say it or not to each other, I think that can live in the ether. I agree. I think you have interesting thoughts, guys. I think that's really, that's a neat point. What do you think about those thoughts? You know, they're valid. You are valid and you are enough. Um, so thank you for your thoughts.

Starting point is 00:45:54 I think vibes are at a point they haven't been in years. One of the things that's really standing out, Josh Cloak did an article, is the play of Jack Roslavik. Now, I know, Oilers fans and Columbus fans and other people are going to be like, well, that's early season, Roslavik. We've seen this movie before. Carolina didn't even play him. No.

Starting point is 00:46:11 In the playoffs. But I think with Jack, what we're seeing is a guy, first off, Jonas Siegel mentioned his article this morning that Jack's one of the fastest guys in the league. He's very fast. And the idea, basically, Jack, carry the puck up the ice. Yep. And on the second line, hey, Carrel, carry the puck up the ice. And if it's not Carrel, it's Willie who can do it too.

Starting point is 00:46:32 Yes. And, you know, we got to remember this team doesn't have Tavares. That's a pretty big loss. And, and, you know, doesn't have a good defense generally and is missing Tanev. Nick Paul, if I'm not mistaken, was not just not playing top six for Tampa, but was not playing center. So the fact that he's second line center right now and they're on a four-game win streak is, notable. Miracle, actually. It's great. I think

Starting point is 00:46:55 there is a, it's nice, listen, we all watched the Blue Jays of a season and a half ago go to the World Series on vibes and I'm not saying the Leafs for a Stanley Cup threat, believe me. But what I'm trying to say is I do think it matters when you guys like each other and I do think, and there

Starting point is 00:47:11 were rumors and I will say it when a certain person left that the organization was ready to be like, okay, I think we're done here. Craig Barovie. But then Bradshaw Living sat on his hands and did nothing. And what John Chica's come in here and done is reset everything

Starting point is 00:47:27 from the top of the organization to like people behind the scenes and then all the guys who are actually on the ice, the turnover on this roster is unbelievable. And the fact that they've been able to mesh this quickly is a really good sign. Yes. Yes. And it wasn't immediate

Starting point is 00:47:43 obviously because like how could it be? Crazy turnover. Then you just throw a pipe bomb into the room. And like at the beginning of the season. Yeah, there's been some ups and downs, but like, I've never, I can't remember the last time I saw these guys have this much fun. By the way, the pipe bomb is tied for 20th in NHL scoring.

Starting point is 00:48:05 Mark Chaco? Yep. Nice. And that's, he's third on the team. He continues. So they've played 13 games, and he has a point in every single one of them, except for the two Islanders games, which is so odd. But he's made, I mean.

Starting point is 00:48:19 They really have a point in 11 of 13 games, yeah? Yes. Wow. Every single game against every single NHL team except for the odds. Hey, can you tell us what games didn't he score in? My point is like, he needs to get a hatrick against him next time.

Starting point is 00:48:35 When you look at the setup he makes to Troy Stetcher. And that is just timing because Stetcher gets him the puck. He carries it in like we mentioned. And he stops up, doesn't look, spins, you know, does that 180 spin and throws it right back to where Troy Stetcher is, who is alone. Now, listen, can Edmonton be faulted for not picking up Troy Stetcher? I guess, but it's Troy Stetcher.

Starting point is 00:48:57 How about Stetcher having the confidence to jump up in the play? I know. They're not doing that last year. Nope. Who? And two game goal streak for Stetcher? Crazy. He's not taking that shot.

Starting point is 00:49:08 He's not getting the puck. Yeah. He's not jumping. He's not across that blue line. What are you talking about? A guy like Marchenko, like, it is pretty clear that he's like not a little bit of an upgrade here. This guy has speed.

Starting point is 00:49:23 This guy can score. This guy makes great plays. He's got it all. It's different than Matthew Nyes. They have, I think, polar opposite games in the way they play. Yeah. And I think that Marchenko's game fits so much better with the way they want to play. And with the way the league is going with these really successful fast teams and who they can hang with.

Starting point is 00:49:45 Mark Chenko just lends better to this roster. And Nyes is so different. I don't know if one is necessarily, well, if one is clearly. better with how they're working with right now. But Nyes is just a different player. So listen. On this panel, I was the hardest on Nize towards the end of last season. I get it.

Starting point is 00:50:00 And I have my biases. And you guys know how I feel about Morgan Riley sometimes. A lot is expected of him because there's a lot of hope for him. Marchenko's better. He's far and away better. And far and way better in other aspects. And in so many more aspects of the game. His release is better.

Starting point is 00:50:16 His skating is better. His vision is better. And also he can pick a corner too. now can he do the crazy shit? Can he do the crazy shit in front of the net that Matthew Nyes can do with that big body? Like when you get him in front of the net with the puck, Matthew Nise is unbelievable.

Starting point is 00:50:30 Unbelievable. This is a trade that I still think will be decided over the course of years. I've made my decision. If you want to be, if you want to be, like, difficult about it, you could say that Nize's game maybe lends itself to the playoffs a little better and he was undeniably good in the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:50:46 Phenomenal. I don't just screw with that at all. Yeah. It's definitely more play. off game because that's one of the criticisms of Murchenko's game from the Columbus last year where he's coming down of the stretch they kind of lost him out there because he

Starting point is 00:50:58 wasn't playing that hard kind of hockey and lost them all but yeah no totally so I'm interested to see but friggin listen the only hockey you can play right now is October hockey yes on account

Starting point is 00:51:14 of it's October and we haven't discovered that kind of technology yet so they're rocking it like they're they're doing what they need to pick up points in this asshole division. The Steve Dangle podcast night at the Osherald Generals Friday, November 13th, 7 p.m. Steve and Jesse, if you can't see this, you can hear them raising the roof in the studio right now. The exciting place on earth. That's right.

Starting point is 00:51:39 Oshawa, Ontario. Swah, Louis. Against, uh, Swah, Vegas. Shwa Vegas. Schwab, no. Peterborough Pete's, Ostawa Generals. And by the way, the gens are bringing back their black and gold jerseys. And people are like, oh, you mean the fratinax looking jersey?

Starting point is 00:51:55 I'm like, you don't know your history. Oh, they're Boschua. They're Boschew. Exactly. 100%. And come see the first overall pick, Kane Clucche, which is an Osher general. And also Vancouver conduct's second rounder, Brooks Ruggowski. Now that's a name, Rukowski.

Starting point is 00:52:12 Get over the bench, Rikowski. You're back on the case. Now, we have the tickets. The link is available right now. the podcast live show will happen between 9 and 930 at Bond Street events. I guess the show starts at 945, but that's when the doors open. This venue rules. It's, yeah.

Starting point is 00:52:30 I just love to. I'm excited for the food. Underrated part of doing our live events, everywhere we go, we get really good food at all these venues. And Bond Street is another one where just delicious pizza. We, which is the pizza.

Starting point is 00:52:42 Yeah. We also make that a part of the thing. It's like if the food sucks, we will not come to your tent. Yeah. Yes, okay. That's why we haven't bitten. I'm kidding.

Starting point is 00:52:53 I'm totally kidding. I know Sudbury keeps asking. We will come to your venue at wait. Give us a pizza. Steve Dangle podcast night Friday, November 13th. Link is in the description. Be there! What can we do to apply to get back into the Western conference?

Starting point is 00:53:08 This sucks. Oh, that'd be nice. This is horrible. I think this is great. They won four straight. They smacked the Oilers, 7-2. And we look at the out-of-town score. Borden, everyone won!

Starting point is 00:53:19 Yeah, but you know what? It means that they've got to play the best competition going into the I would much rather be in the Pacific Division if I was the Toronto. Really? I like the fact that they're going to be sharp, man. I would like the fact that I would love it. Adam, being sharp has never helped them. They're tied for second.

Starting point is 00:53:36 I would much rather leave sleepwalk to a playoff spot because they don't have to do shit. I've seen them sleepwalk to a playoff spot and you know what happened? They fucking lost. Adam, I want them to miss the playoffs by a point. I think what you're talking about works in the movies. I'm like, we do not exist in the movies. We have everyday lives and stresses and traffic and children arrays.

Starting point is 00:53:57 And my heart can't take this. You know what? You guys are not seeing the long-term benefits of iron. Hey, hey, to quote our general manager. Look who's in frigging first. It sharpens iron, Steve. Don't tell me about the benefits of this division. What the Bruins are in first?

Starting point is 00:54:14 Well, the Bruins are, I don't get what's. Oh, I don't get it. Oh, you don't get it? Oh, he doesn't get it. Guys, know where he doesn't get it. 22 goal differential. That's crazy. It's not a matter of if you get it.

Starting point is 00:54:25 It's just a fact on the board. I don't get it with that team. I don't get it. They're doing it. They don't care if you get it or not. They're nine, two, and one. Yeah, you know, we'll see. We'll see.

Starting point is 00:54:34 I'm not a believer in the Bruins. I'm not. You know what? Take that off the screen. I deserve to be in a good mood. They've won four games. For anybody listening. I deserve to be in a good mood.

Starting point is 00:54:41 For anybody listening, the current Atlantic Division's standings are Bruins 19, Sends 16, Leafs 16, Lightning 15, Canadians 14, Panthers 14, Red Wings 11, Sabers 11. Yeah, but, but you know what's funny? Look who's below 500. Oh, it's freaking no one!

Starting point is 00:55:00 Not a single one of the eight teams? Do you know what the mathematical answer that bullshit is? Look at the Pacific. Frig off! Look at this shit. Nah, man. Give me, give me the hard stuff first. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:55:13 Stuff first. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, yes, absolutely. This glass is pretty hard, Adam. This mug is pretty hard. I would rather them have to sharpen themselves this season against good competition. The Canucks have a 192 point percentage.

Starting point is 00:55:29 Imagine they had the Leafs every couple weeks out of free game against the Canucks. Yo, but you know what's crazy about that is they have a free game against the Canucks this week and they better not fucking blow it. They better not blow it. You know what? I want more of them. The Flames tonight. Not a free game. They're on a three game winning streak.

Starting point is 00:55:45 That is not a free game. No, it's not. They don't have the high-end scoring, but man, they got goal tending. They got a pretty good tandem. Like, a lot of teams would trade their tandem for Devin Gully and Dustin Wolf in a heartbeat. When you win, nobody cares how hard it was to get there. You just win.

Starting point is 00:56:01 Yeah. And, hey, you know what? We won, and it was hard. Oh, that makes it so much better. Just because the gentleman to the left of me can't see the future the way I can. Just because these guys would rather be soft. bushy than hard as fuck with 18 million

Starting point is 00:56:19 abs before the playoffs you gotta do it so you don't you know when you when you're in your fitness competition which is the playoffs and you don't shit yourself I miss when rich that's a VIP I miss when rich people just hung out at the beach that used to be that was cool yeah because they wore the badge of leisure

Starting point is 00:56:37 and now they wear the badge of I fucking look very strange because all the work I've had done and also I train with Navy SEALs and I know how to fire all the freaking rockets and I do this and I do that

Starting point is 00:56:51 and I have 25 hour days It's all so steady No, go to the beach Have we lost the plot? Yeah, we have we've gone to We've we've we've Yeah, Rossevics a good fit Rossevics are really good fit

Starting point is 00:57:03 Cowan's great Bob starts tonight Bob starts tonight What did you guys think about Bob not starting against I thought it was interesting I thought it would have been flipped But I didn't mind it

Starting point is 00:57:13 You think they gave Stollers the start because it was his former team too? No. No, I think they played a hunch and it worked. Man, did it ever? Dollars was great. Yeah. Well, so I'm still getting used to Bob as,

Starting point is 00:57:26 like I've never had to watch him through the eyes of he's the goalie for the team that I cheer for, right? But Stollers is objectively a very, very good puck handling goalie. And I got to wonder if that was part of the strategy because he handled it like an unusual amount even for him. And, you know, we saw, I hate bringing it up, but in that 2025 Panthers series, it's not that Wool was bad.

Starting point is 00:57:51 It's that Wool was a goalie where Stollers is, you have like 2.5 defensemen back there. Yeah. There's such a step up from what Stollers delivers to what Wohl did. Like, you know, we put a lot of emphasis heading into this past off season about, oh, the Leaf's got to move the puck better. Stoller's moves the puck great.

Starting point is 00:58:10 That's such a good point. Like he makes everyone's job easy. and I just wonder if Edmonton style lends itself to, let's have a goalie out there who is able to do that a little better. I don't think right now there's a tremendous gap between Stollers and Bob. They've both had good games and they've both had bad games. That was a great game from Anthony Stollers.

Starting point is 00:58:41 we haven't mentioned Tristan Jari's name yet. He's been getting it a lot and the numbers were awful and that goal at the end of the game is not going to make anyone feel any better about it. That was really bad. I don't think the Oilers lost that game because of Tristan Jari, but Stollers was a decent chunk of why the Leafs won that game against the Oilers. Adam, you've been very adamant that the Edminton Oilers are just going to figure it out because they've kind of solved everything now

Starting point is 00:59:13 that they have Devin Levi. Well, but now with Devin Levi on I are and he's presumably only going to be out a couple weeks and then come back healthy. Are you a little more fearful of their Stanley Cup aspirations? No, no, as long as Devin Levi is healthy. I think the thing that... So you believe in him as a goalie.

Starting point is 00:59:27 Oh, yeah. Okay. I also believe in him because he's my goalie in fantasy. Um, him and Sorokin. But I, I think, um, with, with the Oilers, I think that the key for them at the trade deadline is probably going to be backup goal. Like, I don't think you can intelligently, unless Freddy's actually, I was going to say,

Starting point is 00:59:47 we haven't seen Freddie yet. So. Yeah, and I think that's concerning, don't you? Yes, I do. I think that's really fucking concerning that he basically puts on his skate in training camp and that, or did he even make the ice in training camp? I don't. No.

Starting point is 01:00:01 And we're all worried about Carter Hallibuck missing training camp. Freddy's like 37. I think we got a, I mean, maybe he's 36. I don't know. But I think we got a Get ready to learn Bakersfield, buddy. Right? And you know, Freddie, every time I doubt Freddie,

Starting point is 01:00:16 most of the time he proves me right, but last year in the playoffs, he proved me wrong. That was insane. He was great. We have not paused enough on how insane that was. It was great. Yeah, because he,

Starting point is 01:00:25 his injury was end of August, and they announced he'd miss train again. Okay. He doesn't touch the ice. He was there to receive his cup ring from Carolina last week when Carolina was in Edmonton. And deservedly so. Good for him.

Starting point is 01:00:38 But I don't. I don't think that's something you're like, oh, we got Freddie in our back pocket because who knows what he's going to be. And that's where you think like, okay, they've actually, you know, one of the things that I've been really critical of with Stan Bowman is his inability to figure out goaltending. Well, I think he made two good moves this this offseason. Levi and Freddie Anderson, you could do a lot better than or a lot worse than the goalie that basically carried the Stanley Cup champions. I think, though, with Freddie, there's always going to be injury issues. You're lucky to get 20 games at him. Look at his stat.

Starting point is 01:01:07 Look at his seasons. season by season. He plays 20, maybe 30 games most of the time. Well, he used to be a workhorse. Yes, and that's why he's having some of the issues now. And that's why the Leafs had so many issues with him because he played too much. And I think they got to get another goalie. And I don't think that, I mean, do you trust Freddie?

Starting point is 01:01:26 You know, 35, 22, 16, 34, 52 and 21, 22. That was five years ago. And then before that it was 24. And then, you know, he was coming off his big seasons. So all of this is valid. But, like, to me, the Leafs had better defense, like for all the criticism that we've given them, the Leafs who have already played nine different defensemen and called up 10 had a better decor than the Oilers last night. Who are without Acombe? Yeah.

Starting point is 01:01:57 It's a big loss for me, fantasy. Yeah. Not for them, though, but for me. Leaves without Tanna, Leifes using a bunch of different options. OEL at his big age playing the. his weak side. And looking better. Yes.

Starting point is 01:02:13 He's looked better in the last week. A bunch of guys have really gone. I should stop being horrible. And he's one of them. McCabe is one of them. Yep. The penalty kill stays ridiculous. All the right things clicked in that game.

Starting point is 01:02:29 So funny that the Oilers get spanked by five goals. And McDavid and Drysidal both still have two primary points each. Because they're just demons. They're monoton. When drysidal scored, it was so business, he was just like, all right, we're back in this now. And they should have been. The whole building. The whole building knew it.

Starting point is 01:02:48 Yeah. Yeah. I think for Edmonton, like that this is an unstoppable force. It really is. I know Saturday night, Leaves roll in. Steve, what happens Saturday? Leaves stop them. Yeah, I know.

Starting point is 01:03:00 But come on. What do you mean? Come on. Come on. Like, this is still a great. I mean, the Leafs are not. We're not going to sit here with a straight. face and go, well, the Leafs and Oilers are comparable.

Starting point is 01:03:10 They're not. The Leafs can hang. They can hang. Have the Leafs gotten their ass kick this season? No. About 4-1 against the Islanders. That one. But that's not, is that ass-kick?

Starting point is 01:03:21 I don't know if that's a... I think that was an ugly game by the Leafs. They got out-coached. The Islanders played their game to a tee. I think they got their ass kicked on the ice. A 4-1 loss being your worst loss of the season, I will take. I think their worst loss. Both of them are coaching losses, was the Buffalo loss.

Starting point is 01:03:38 That was ugly too. They should have won that game. Hiller, though, has, has adjusted. He's not just adjusted, but he's put together four lines and three pairs that he enjoys. And he stopped dicking with them. Yeah. Over this four-game point streak, point streak, win streak, he's been like, oh, I've found something. They're humming.

Starting point is 01:04:03 Let's leave it. And even if the third lines expected goals are not great, the other three. Lions are amazing. And I just feel like, I don't know, the third line is imperfect. And every team will have that. I think that's the sacrifice you make. And like, Latteri gets his first goal. And he was an assist shy of a Gordy Howe Hattrick.

Starting point is 01:04:21 Yeah, he was great. He was great. Colton Sissons is still vital to your team. And McKenna still picked up a point and I thought looked okay. And your favorite player in the world scored and he didn't even realize it on on stream. Oh, Zach McEwen. So many guys have gotten their first goal.

Starting point is 01:04:38 So Hayden and I had a bit where I, so who's the Leaf's first goal score are going to be? And this is coming off of that incredible fourth line game that they had against the Rangers. And I go, you know what, Zach McEwen, within 10 seconds, I think. He comes so friggin' close to scoring. And then, all right, who gets the second one, Steve? And I'm like, okay, I'm going to make this a bit. I'm like, you know what, give me Zach McEwen. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:05:06 and then he scores. It happens, and you don't even notice. And I didn't even, I thought it was Bluger. You made a great call. Yeah, it was a great call. Great call. Yeah, for the wrong guy. Oh, whatever.

Starting point is 01:05:20 You're not there. For the wrong, but then when we saw the replay, both of us, I had Hayden in my ear. We're both like, oh. He hits his own rebound out of the air after smashing Wallman stick directly. Directly at Jari. That guy is chaos. on skates. Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 01:05:37 And I really love watching them play, which is not something I thought I'd be saying. I know everybody who's played AAA or Junior B or whatever's listening to this and every NHLer can do it. But it is still cool to see him, Zach McHughan at morning skate because before everybody hits the ice and when everybody's kind of out there, warm up their legs, he loves to do the thing where you flip the puck way up into the sky and almost hits the scoreboard and he catches it. and he's always doing these little puck tricks with his stick walking around the ice and everything.

Starting point is 01:06:10 And he has great hands in those moments. And I like watching that, even though I know everybody out there's like, my kid, 12-year-old can do it. I still think it's impressive even when an NHL is. It's impressive that your kid can do it and it's impressive than NFL kids. Yeah, Zach McEwen, I think, has cool. To emphasize, to emphasize, what is Zach McEwen's career high in points? Oh, like 20? Do you even have a 20-point season?

Starting point is 01:06:34 Adam, do you have a guess? Points or goals? Points. Oh God. Why don't you be lucky? Up 15. 10. Wow.

Starting point is 01:06:44 And I had to confirm because I'm like, oh my God, he's never hit double digits. Wait, in 22, 23, he played with both the Flyers and the Kings. With the Flyers, he had four goals, five assists for nine points in 46 games. And with the Kings, he had no goals, one assist in 10 games. And how many is he at right now? He has a goal. and two assists for three points in seven games.

Starting point is 01:07:09 And a great goal too. That batting that fantastic goal. Batting that shit out of midair is crazy. At top speed, I think we got to talk on the fourth line a little bit here too because, you know,

Starting point is 01:07:18 looking at the, yeah, I don't know if you saw the Colton Dock back and forth. Did you see that? Yes. Him and to him and you know, a lot's made of that. Like, Oilers fans will be like,

Starting point is 01:07:30 what is that? That's just normal hockey. You have to understand how this lands for a leaf fan. We didn't have to have. have, first off, everybody that was on our fourth line was there against their will. And the coach often would put them there because it was basically like you're not playing tonight. The Leafs have been a three-line team for a decade. And sometimes a two-line team.

Starting point is 01:07:49 Yeah. And, you know, whenever Baroube or Shelton Keefe would call somebody up, but I can't even remember Babs. Babs probably the same thing. It would be like, yeah, the GM called you up, but I don't want to play you. So you're going to get six minutes as a fourth line right winger. What Jim Hiller has done is going, no, no, no, no. this is an identity piece, and these three dudes together are just a pain in the ass. They skate well, they don't shut up.

Starting point is 01:08:16 They're lipping everybody off. That's so important. They piss people. Like, do Hame just kind of slashed Doc on the way to the bench for no reason? And then Doc slashed him back, and then they got into a scuffle, and then the cameras point to it on the Sportsnet broadcast. And it's like, you know, that kind of shit. We never saw that. I want unwell people.

Starting point is 01:08:34 unwell people on my hockey line I want problems right yeah is that is is is brandon duham a problem he is for 31 teams for the leifes he's a solution yeah right yeah but i we need problems

Starting point is 01:08:49 he's a problem i love this guy i'm gonna have to get his jersey i i i fucking love this guy so much dude they keep this up i'm telling you for christmas people are gonna be getting du haem and friggin bluger insistence church Toronto loves a line like this, and I think the previous administrations forgot that. Like, we do love a heart and soul identity line. It's why a guy like Ty Domi is a god here. It's why a guy like Darcy Tucker is a god here.

Starting point is 01:09:16 There are people that just define, and neither, like, Ty, I guess, was a fourth line guy sometimes. Sometimes he was third. He could score, and he could skate. Ty could skate. Yes, yes, he could. So could Darcy and Darcy could score. He was good for 20 goals, usually. but these guys are the personality and the character

Starting point is 01:09:33 that I think the Leafs have been missing for a long time and I think going back to where we started the conversation earlier in the segment, there are a lot of the personality in the room as well that Matthews is talking about. I'm pretty sure, DuHame we already knew. So when Jim Hiller was really getting it for everyone and it was deserved,

Starting point is 01:09:52 I talked about how this summer at least one person referred to him as a pushover. Yes. To me. Yeah. Now, is he a pushover or does he let the room be? You know what I mean?

Starting point is 01:10:10 Yeah. Like, it didn't matter who wore the sea during the Babcock era, which actually for a lot of the Babcock era was no one. He was the captain. Yep. Right? Matthew's best years were under Sheldon Keefe, and Sheldon Keefe was not the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs he was the coach.

Starting point is 01:10:31 Craig Baruba comes in. That's a captain. That's the leader of the room. And this isn't a knock against Jim Hiller, but I do think he lets the room be. He lets the guys be guys. I feel, too, to back your point on that, and Jesse sees this up close and maybe he can back or tell us if it's true or not. I do feel Austin has taken a step forward in his, in not just practice, but in his public

Starting point is 01:10:56 leadership. This is his third year. They needed a hard reset, and they got it. Like, I think he's the way he's like every, I was watching the game. I went to a wedding on Saturday night. So I missed the game live. I went home, watched it. And it's great because then you can watch it with all the commercials and stuff like that.

Starting point is 01:11:15 And I said to my wife afterwards, she watched it with me. And I was like, I might have to watch this again tomorrow. Because that, it was such a fun game. And the thing that really stuck out to me was the Matthews line. Every time they were out there. I'm like, watch, they're creating, they're creating. I know there's the chemistry between Rossevik and Matthews and I, and I know, their buddies and whatever.

Starting point is 01:11:35 Rossific and Cowan find each, or sorry, Matthews and Cowan find each other. They know where each other is. And the reason you made that mistake is they all find each other. Adam. They all, the passes this team is making. Which were a mess the first five games of the year. They were, but they're dizzying now. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:11:55 Yeah. Stuff they're connecting on. And that's going to help. ease the burden of the defense and help prevent John Cheyko from having to pay too much for a Zach White Cloud or something along that lines. You know, listen, I know that name is out there. It's not out there. I don't think.

Starting point is 01:12:12 I think it's just like, here's a prototypical boring ass defenseman that Chico might want. I think if Chico wants a guy, we're not going to know until it happens. Marchenko, we didn't really know until it was right before. Really underratedly that Sharks game helped settle the. water. Okay. Yeah. Well, it's the beginning of the wind street.

Starting point is 01:12:31 Yeah. And it was there, they won a game like a normal hockey team. Yeah. Well, they needed to win. Like, okay, we're not just going to sit back on our heels. We're not just going to get completely dummied, uh, crawl into a shell that is made of paper mache and get caved in. And now we're in overtime in a game that where we should have won two points.

Starting point is 01:12:51 Then they have an emotional game against Columbus, thump them. Mm-hmm. They have a great. gritty back and forth win where they bent but didn't break against the Rangers and a statement win against the Oilers, right? Like the, you got to remember where we were a week ago with the narrative of this team and the structure and the coach. They sat back and they just let the other team come at them from basically the beginning of the third period onward any time they had a lead. And they've stopped doing that. And I think that's going to be really important.

Starting point is 01:13:27 for their success going forward. Jesse, when you're down there, any, other than, you know, games are fun to watch, what are the noticeable differences that you see practice when you're watching morning skate,

Starting point is 01:13:41 when you're talking to the players, is there any? I think we spent enough time on, the vibes are good. But I want to know that, hey, I think it's important that you tell us that that's what you're picked. I know that you think we've spent enough time,

Starting point is 01:13:51 but I actually think people are more interested in what you have to say than what you think. So as the host, I'm directing you and ask you, you one more time. Do you think that these guys, is this real or is this perceived? I think the fans are dying to know. Well, I can't tell you what happens in the locker room. I'm not there. You know, so like, I don't know, the perception. When they come out and talk to you or they's grouchy. The perception of what has happened this season, I think is correct, you know, on the,

Starting point is 01:14:15 on everybody is in a good mood right now, which is great. I know they're on a road trip right now, but I do want to say two things. Everyone stop complaining about the goal horn. Everyone stop complaining about the goal horn because the best goal horn is one that you hear all the time Oh because we took their goalhorn? No because you keep frigging scoring goals. Right.

Starting point is 01:14:40 Score as many goals as possible. You can make it fart noises. Someone playing their armpit fart noises like I don't care and Maria I like it loud tune. Okay. Frigan tune. Jesse we've got sorry Steve made excuse me

Starting point is 01:14:55 Steve you made the point in your LF on Saturday that obviously this road trip's important because you got a winnable game against Calgary. Seattle's been good this year. Vancouver is not. So you want to try to win these games, right? You want to get these games. But what's so important about the beginning of November, guys, because Jesse, you're going to be working a lot.

Starting point is 01:15:14 You're going to be there a lot. It's at least six straight home games. It is. It's exactly. It's exactly six. Over the span of like 20 days. Here are the teams. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:15:24 You ready? Uh-huh. Utah. Yuck. Montreal. Gross. New Jersey with Halibuck. Colorado with being Colorado.

Starting point is 01:15:36 No, apparently the Leafs kill them. The Minnesota Wilde. And then the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers after you spanked their supple bottom. And you have, by the way, Montreal and New Jersey back to back at home on the weekend of the seven. Oh, I didn't even. Oh, a rare Sunday game. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:15:56 Oh, that's going to screw up. beer league? No. Yeah. So that is an ugly home stand. But am I wrong in thinking, guys, that this could be the make or break of where,

Starting point is 01:16:08 like I know it's a test, but is this a maker break of their season right here? I identified it before the season began. It's a very, very, the first two months are ridiculously important to this hockey team. Ridiculously. And did you notice that the homestand ends with two days off?

Starting point is 01:16:25 You play one game in Chicago. And then you're home again for the better part of a week. And then it's three straight road games, but like there's enough time off between these road games that like I assume they're just going to go back home. Like what are you going to do? You're going to stay in Boston for three days? You play the Islanders and then you have three days off. Yeah. Heading into a stretch of three games and four nights, but still.

Starting point is 01:16:50 You almost wonder if Brobrovsky even makes that trip. Gotcha. That's stillers at Akiyama off to New York. I think you, you might have nailed it. actually. Because now that they're doing that. You might have nailed it. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:17:00 I don't know. That's going to be a real tough stretch. You've got to get these wins this week. You know what you want? You want quality clothes. You want clothes that are going to survive a wash. You want clothes that are going to be worth the investment. That's why we highly recommend Mac Weldon basics.

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Starting point is 01:18:17 That's Mac. M-A-C-W-E-L-D-O-N.com slash S-D-P. Now, Quinn Hughes's return game to Vancouver was yesterday. and although there were chance as Jesse mentioned earlier it was not as intense Jesse Blake and the chance where he's not signing where's your cup we want the cup

Starting point is 01:18:37 FUA hole Quinn Hughes sucks quitter tank for DuPont and Macar is better that's the hockey sport podcast that said that that's what they heard there were people who were there that said I didn't hear some of these it was a quieter rink the circumstances are so different

Starting point is 01:18:53 what the Vancouver Canucks are are not the Ottawa senators. Vancouver Canucks have no aspirations of winning this season, and they haven't been doing it. So going into that game being like, oh, we're going to stick it to Quinn Hughes, just doesn't work on the ice because Minnesota is going to torch them, and they did.

Starting point is 01:19:09 So from that, you've got to go, like, the fans are going to be relatively tame in the situation. Plus, the overall sentiment about Hughes in Vancouver isn't just 100% we hate him. There were some people there with their Quinn Hughes as he's cheering when the trivia video was on the screen. And with Brady and Ottawa, it's 100% the other way. It is 100% we don't like this man. And in Vancouver, there's mixed feelings.

Starting point is 01:19:37 Also worth mentioning with Brady Kachuk, because this is ultimately going to be compared to Brady Kichuk, is the Sends aren't bad? No, the Sends are, you could argue, just as good or better than Florida right now. Yeah. So, like, it was, it's, you know, there's been a lot of sentiment and I know like Brad Marshan, for example, has been in the comments,

Starting point is 01:19:58 I think defending Halibuck about like, well, you know, team sucks or whatever. The Sends don't. I know their season ended the way that it ended. In large part because of Brady, by the way. So that's odd. The Canucks cannot make the same claim. They're bad. I thought it was a little lame by the sports that broadcasts because they were doing the tribute video at the TV.

Starting point is 01:20:24 stoppage and they did this thing where they're like, oh, hey, we get the upgrade seats. You know, they bring somebody down from like the upper bowl and they go to the lower bowl. They show all that on the broadcast because it was before the tribute video. So they go to that and then they pan to the Jumbotron where they're going to play the

Starting point is 01:20:40 trivia video. People start booing. And then whoever's working the fader starts going like this. No. I heard it with my own two years. And so the boo, the boo, The booze, boom. And they let the video play.

Starting point is 01:21:00 Like, they have the sound running through the broadcast. And then once the tribute video is done, they raise back up the crowd noise. And they had Quinn, he did his little lap there, and they showed his face. And then you could hear a truly mixed reception from the crowd. I don't know. What did you say, Hayden? You were watching the game as well. What was it?

Starting point is 01:21:21 70, 40. Yeah, 60. 40. More cheers and booze I experienced. Yeah. True mixed crowd, but I would have liked to hear some of the crowd during the actual video, which is... Sports not

Starting point is 01:21:36 such a fucking stupid hall monitor. It was extremely noticeable, by the way. What Jesse's saying was like, it was so obvious that whoever was controlling the audio had their finger on the dial. That makes me sick. They're just so lame. It's just so lame, those directives. It's

Starting point is 01:21:52 anti what you do. You're job is not to lie. Mm-hmm. Your job is not to lie. That's lying. It is lying. You are, you are broadcasting the game.

Starting point is 01:22:02 No extra money, actually, though. Was that? SportsNet Plus isn't any extra money. It's pretty easy to access. Just ask their employees that tweet out how easy it is the game of the least. Boy, oh, hey,

Starting point is 01:22:12 listen. Ed's not going to date you, that's bullshit. That's bullshit. That is bullshit. But, like, your job is to tell the story of the game.

Starting point is 01:22:21 Mm-hmm. If you're muting the crowd, the paying customer, if you're muting somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people, you are lying. Right, it was a broadcast choice to, during the video, to let the video play for the people at home, which I don't agree with because I wanted to see

Starting point is 01:22:41 what was happening in the arena during the video. Yes, I didn't get entirely. Lying is more nuanced than holding up this pair of glasses and telling people it's a pineapple. That is, that's lying. Muting the booing audience is lying. You're liars. You're lying about the atmosphere in the building

Starting point is 01:23:02 to the paying customer at home. You're liars. That's not what you're supposed to do. That's not your job. That's not why you took this gig. Everyone working in sports media is here because, holy shit, wanted to do this my whole life and I can't believe I'm here and I'm here to tell stories.

Starting point is 01:23:28 I'm here to have fun at the toy store. Because that's what it is. And what you're telling everyone is actually there are no toys. Or the toys are not as colorful as you know. The toys are not as colorful or like it. What a bunch of bullshit. Ugh, that's so dystopian and disgusting. And thank God.

Starting point is 01:23:51 the reason we talk about Sends fans with such reverence for what they did with the Brady Kachuk game is because of Sends fans number one, number two, Amazon. They let it happen. First of all, what kind of dorks do you got to be

Starting point is 01:24:10 to let Amazon, Rogers has the pick of the litter. What kind of dorks do you got to be to let them get that hockey game? Holy shit, you're bad at what you do. Jesus Lord. If you're spending all that money, Amazon's got to get something. You're not getting that one.

Starting point is 01:24:24 You're not getting that one. Over my dead body. Okay, you want, you want, you know, X amount of games, blah, blah, blah. There should be some games on your do not trade list. Brady's return to Ottawa. Number one. Are you on drugs? Hey, that's not even a national game in the state, Steve.

Starting point is 01:24:44 Holy Moses, parting the Red Sea. Are you fucking kidding me? that you let Amazon get that hockey game. And thank God you did. Thank God you have such a disregard and you're so blasé about what you do that you would let Amazon get that game. And thank God that they did.

Starting point is 01:25:04 Here's what they did. Here's what they did. And I need you to understand how fucking easy this is. They left the microphone on. Oh, but some people swore and that you could hear it. Gives a shit. as the father of kids who doesn't,

Starting point is 01:25:23 I don't want them to hear those words. I'll tell you this. I wouldn't let them watch them. My daughter's in grade two. She knows them. It also, yeah, she knows them.

Starting point is 01:25:30 It's funny to hear Quinn Hughes talk to the media about all of the situation because it's a complete opposite of a chuck brother talking about anything. Okay. Just like,

Starting point is 01:25:39 hey, so we're going to get, we're going to talk to this piece of toast. And he's going to give an answer that a piece of toast would. Oh, that was Quinn Hughes, by bad.

Starting point is 01:25:48 It wasn't a piece of toast. I was talking. Every time a microphone is put in his face, I'm like, this is mean. Yeah. Leave him alone. Yeah. So that was fun too. And shout out Carol Caprizov.

Starting point is 01:26:01 Hayden, leading the league in goal scoring right now, 13 goals on the year. He's having the similar season he had in that 23 season. Remember that season where he was like runaway MVP favorite up until Christmas and then he was out for like a month and a half? Well, I was saying that to Drew last. night because Capri Sov is on an absolute pace. I said as long as Jamie Ben doesn't try to fold him in half again, it should be okay to keep the pace up. How many games do you get for that?

Starting point is 01:26:31 Zero games. Zero games. That's crazy. No fine. No final. The goal leaders there. That's crazy. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:26:36 Look at my boy up there. Yeah, that's 13 goals for Caprizoff, 12 for Drysidal. 10 for, I want to get this name in there. Arturi Lekon. Hell yeah. Brother. And then Austin Matthews and Alexis Lafranier, who I was prepared to go ham for if he had a huge game against the Leifes. And he had, what do you have, an assist?

Starting point is 01:27:00 A pretty good assist. Didn't he tie the game? Oh, he had the goal, right? I forget. Anyways, but Leifes ended up winning and it wasn't like a big Lafronier game. So I'll hold back for like his hat trick night. Oh, who's got a Cherry Leckon and an SDP in fantasy? Oh, that's right, Adam Wild.

Starting point is 01:27:13 That's crazy. Crazy. Put Colson and N-Cown too. oh my God, these guys, so good. Listen, the one thing I had about the Quinn Hughes return to Vancouver, if you're the devils and you're going into Winnipeg in a couple of weeks, do you do the shitty thing and not give the Jets fans what they want? Because here's the thing.

Starting point is 01:27:38 The Quinn Hues thing happens last year. I think if he returns last year, I think it's a little bit more intense than him returning this year. And much like we, you know, the Astros got away with something. Remember when they were cheating and they won a World Series? Yes. And then everybody was going to boo them and then COVID hit and then nobody could boo them. And we all kind of forgot. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:27:54 Do you, if you're studying meta or you're like, nah, I'm not going to give you shit. You're not going to shit all over my goaltender all night. I know what happened in Ottawa. I know what will happen in Winnipeg. Yes, there will be callouts. But if he's not playing or is Carter Hella Buck like, no, give me that game. That's my effing game. Which is the way an elite goaltender should operate.

Starting point is 01:28:13 And I hope he does ask for that game. I mean, everyone should hope that he asked for that game. I have a very important question. Where does the visiting backup goalie sit in Winnipeg? Oh, that's a good question. There might be a little popcorn thrown. Well, San Jose style. There's a few markets where, like, they're just there.

Starting point is 01:28:35 They're practically in the stance. San Jose. Yeah, yeah, right there. Can I be honest with you? I think we've evolved past the point where that's acceptable. Yeah. No, I agree. I would, and I know SAP Center is going through a huge bunch of renovation, so they'll probably rectify that.

Starting point is 01:28:53 But there are a couple of other arenas too. Isn't it? Isn't Montreal? Montreal's like that. I would be like, why? That's illegal now. You can't do that. So go figure it out.

Starting point is 01:29:03 Spend the money, renovate it. Do what you have to do. Like, you can't do that. Shouldn't the NHLPA be like, hey, that's insane, huh? Yeah. The NHLPA would have to do. That would mean working harder. and pushing back against the league.

Starting point is 01:29:17 They're working harder, but they're not pushing back against the league very much. And they would have to do something. Yeah. Yeah, no, that's nuts. Think about the NHLPA doing something. That's nuts that you're just allowed to... Who's that guy?

Starting point is 01:29:33 Oh, he's on the team? What do you mean he's on the team? So he's just not playing tonight? He could play at any moment? Oh, okay. And he's just sitting there? I might fuck with it. And the stands next to Dave?

Starting point is 01:29:47 I want you to imagine the like the sharks in their heyday in the mid-2010s and like, you know, that Golden Night series or whatever. Imagine what the backup goalies used to here. Oh my God.

Starting point is 01:29:57 Like I just feel like, man, you got to protect those human beings. I think it's at MSG where the opposing goalie two like sits in the like the exit where you got to like. Yeah. No. There just isn't enough room there on the bench at MSG.

Starting point is 01:30:11 Yeah. It's so old. Fellas. Ha ha ha ha. Can we get an extra like five feet? That's all you need. That would require James Dolan doing like spending money on renovation. We're not asking for the sun and the moon.

Starting point is 01:30:25 He's on the team. No, he's not. Be on the ice then. Did you figure it out? No, I couldn't really find pictures of Canada life and the goalies. Here, let me do some more. They should be on the bench at least. Weird.

Starting point is 01:30:39 So yeah, Hallibuck. Hellibug, you think he gets the start. He'll be safer playing if he's. than in the stands, he should play. Okay. He should play. The NHL should be applying pressure for him to play. Because it could be an unexpected, unbelievable game.

Starting point is 01:30:57 How about the devils? Why did you get this guy? To play big games for you. To play big games for you. You got him because he's a killer. You got him because he's a league MVP. You got him because he's best goalie in the league three times. Yes.

Starting point is 01:31:08 He's an Olympic gold medalist. He's the reason they won that hockey game. But you're not going to let him play because Winnipeg's scary? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, get them in there. You know, oh, well, it's too soon. No, it isn't. It might be a good excuse for the Canada scary crowd.

Starting point is 01:31:28 We don't need to capitulate to people who are wrong. I think that's okay. And you know what? Maybe we should just embrace the fact that maybe we are a little scarier. I'm happy with that. I would love to think that we are. But like, what are we doing? If they're going to keep giving us the title, we'll take it.

Starting point is 01:31:44 Thanks. I guess. You're too soft to play here. I get it. I found a photo. All right. I believe this is Candleife Center. They're playing.

Starting point is 01:31:52 Somebody's playing. There's the backup goalie. Goley on the bench. He's on. They got room. There you go. That's a junior game, but it doesn't matter. It's the same thing.

Starting point is 01:32:00 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's definitely not the Jets plan, but it's the arena and there's room for the backup goalie. That the mooses is? We got our, we got our answer. Yeah, it's hockey. Yeah. Moose heads. Moose heads?

Starting point is 01:32:12 No. No, no, the moose. Yeah, you're right. The mees. The Manitoba Mies. The Mooseheads. The Moose Heads. Halifax is going to be at your door tonight. I don't know how I made that.

Starting point is 01:32:22 I don't know either. Don't you do the junior hockey videos here? Like, what's happening here? Anyway. Okay, so the rest of the week looks like a, it's going to be very interesting for the Leafs. It's going to be very interesting in hockey terms for a lot of different teams. I want to finish the conversation today, finish the show today,

Starting point is 01:32:42 by asking you guys this. Okay. What division is most likely to stay basically the same right now? Okay, so right now, we're a month before American Thanksgiving, so this is way too early to ask. What division is most likely to stay relatively the same in terms of team order? Okay. So I'm going to give you, and the way I'm going to do this is I'm going to frame it as the top three. But we can in certain divisions include a top four because specifically the Colorado, Utah,

Starting point is 01:33:14 Dallas, Minnesota division is a murderer's row at the top. Okay. So right now, the Bruins Sends and Leifes lead the Atlantic Division. Tampa's going to have something to say about that. The Cains, Rangers, and Devils are the leaders of the Metro. And by the way, for the Metro, not a single team currently is in the Wild Card. No Metro team in the Wild Cup. I think it's going to stay that way.

Starting point is 01:33:42 Rangers. I think the Rangers are good. I mean the wild card thing. Oh, the wild card thing. I think it's a guarantee we get five Atlantic teams. Rangers still haven't lost at home either. Carolina is going to stay there, no problem. Devils and Rangers will see.

Starting point is 01:33:58 Okay. Okay. Wild mammoth stars and worth known in the Colorado Avalanche are on the outside looking in. So I guess that makes it more fun. We don't include the avalanche in that. Will the Central stay the same? Or we got the Pacific.

Starting point is 01:34:13 Oilers, Golden Knights, Seattle Cracken, just like we all drew it up. Oh. And by the way, there is one Metro and one, sorry, not one Metro, one Central and one Pacific Division team in the Wildcard. So Colorado San Jose. I mean, Edmonton, Vegas, yeah, you can just carve that in stone and let them fight over first. But that's not three of three.

Starting point is 01:34:38 No, it's not. I don't think any of them do. Not a single one. Nope. I think the most likely to stay the same is the central. Because I think Utah is here for real. I don't really, I don't, I don't, I, that involves you kicking out Colorado, but I honestly don't hate it. Colorado's done this before.

Starting point is 01:34:57 Well, like, what if they just don't take this regular season as seriously? And also, I can't believe how many times I got to stomp on this point, but it's hard to win the president's trophy back to back. It's, it's hard to do what they. did twice in a row. Yes. A lot goes into being the best team in the NHL for months at a time. Yes. Right?

Starting point is 01:35:20 Totally. And if they don't do it, it doesn't make them any more or less of a Stanley Cup contender. They'll be in there and no one will want to draw them. Jesse? What are your thoughts? I'm sticking with my preseason prediction where I had the two of those three teams at the top of the Metro division. So I had Carolina and then I had Washington and New Jersey.

Starting point is 01:35:42 in the metro. And currently it's Carolina, in New York, New Jersey. And maybe Rangers are even better than I thought they'd be at them in fifth. And I think one of the devils or the capitals get screwed out of that spot. I think it's a battle between the devils and the caps. And the capitals did

Starting point is 01:35:58 so much this offseason to bolster that forward group and the fords, like they got names across it. But haven't been playing too well right now, but they're playing okay. They're okay. It's just like, it's going to be tough. I think that there's going to be a battle there because I think one of the, I think two Atlantic teams take the wildcard.

Starting point is 01:36:14 So one of those teams just get screwed. If the Rangers are so this actually this good. I don't know. It's a real good fight here. Not a lot of check marks for Stephen. Well, you nailed the bottom of the Central. So the Central, you got five through eight, which is pretty good. Hey, can you bring that down for a minute?

Starting point is 01:36:32 Just if you look at the predictions right now. Oh, wait, no, no. Bring up the thing. I just didn't want the box and box. Yeah, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg, and Chicago in order, Steve. Not bad. All done. Let's go.

Starting point is 01:36:44 We can do our check-in of our race for the season. Right now, I'm leading with 18 points. So we get two points for an exact finish in East Division, and then one point for a correct over-under once it hits. And I'm leaning with 18 points right now. Steve is second with 16. Adam is tied with him for 16 points. We all got Carolina locked up in the Metro.

Starting point is 01:37:05 I have Leafs and Lightning, third and fourth in the Atlanta. You guys are over in the Atlantic. I know. I think my Atlantic would be pretty bad. Steve or Jesse, having the Leafs that high was fucking bold. This is pre-Marchenko. Yeah. That was crazy.

Starting point is 01:37:19 I'm betting on vibes. The Pacific, Adam's doing really well in the Pacific. This is great. My division, baby. You're killing it. And the ducks aren't even doing what I thought they would. Wow. You got Edmonton, Vegas, San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver, all incorrect spots.

Starting point is 01:37:33 Crack and 8th was a terrible thing. Steve is Ofer in the Pacific as well. I'm close on Edmonton, Vegas. You really didn't have faith in it. I didn't think they were that bad. No, it was a bad pick. What, the Cracken? Yeah.

Starting point is 01:37:46 Yeah. Now, they lost McCann, but it's still, it's a bad pick. Yeah, you have them dead last. You had Vancouver 6th. Because I thought they would be able to ride something. And like, the first couple games, I was like, that's looking all right. And boy, are they bad. How do you guys feel about your Philly picks?

Starting point is 01:38:06 Because Steve had them in third. Adam, you have them in fourth. I mean, they lost. Eight games in a row. Yeah, pretty bad. But I'll say this, Jess. They did win three in a row, and that might be the best it gets all season. I don't know.

Starting point is 01:38:21 I have no idea. I don't know. The thing that Philly that I like is their goaltending is really good, and they have young wingers who can score. If they had a coach that would deploy them more, they might score more goals. And I think that the prediction might come true. I do like the Flyers lineup. I know it's not as good as it would have been with Leo Carlson in there,

Starting point is 01:38:41 but I do like it. Martone and Mitchkoff are not a joke here. This is a good team. It should be. Rangers 7th and 8th from me and Adam. Holy. Yeah, you guys are really low on the Rangers. I have them in 5th, which isn't that much higher.

Starting point is 01:38:55 No, that's higher. That's a lot higher. Adam 8th. I thought they were dog shit. And I thought their vibes were bad. Little did I know, the other blue and white team. Columbus. I think Steve and I nailed that with Columbus.

Starting point is 01:39:06 Like, what are you? Like, there shouldn't be any expectations on this team. Yeah. Performing anything above 8. I didn't think it was going to be this bad, although they did, they beat Vegas, right? Like, that's a big win. Yeah. It's still last nine points on the year.

Starting point is 01:39:20 It's depressing. Trending towards the under. Pittsburgh six. Oh, Pittsburgh. We got to have that Crosby conversation. We got to have that whole theme conversation. Hey, did you guys see the report this weekend, by the way? Taylor Hassee had a report that the penguins are actually operating under an internal cap?

Starting point is 01:39:40 No. I'm not surprised. Aren't they in the midst of a sale again? I can't keep up. I don't know. I think that they are not. They're still just closed. Yeah,

Starting point is 01:39:49 just closed. Oh, yeah. But basically, and I, if I'm pronouncing her name incorrectly, I apologize, but I thought Taylor Hassee from D.K.

Starting point is 01:39:57 Pittsburgh Sports basically said there is a, Kyle Dubas first mentioned a budget, uh, beyond the salary cap late last season. Uh, and there's a cap space and there's a budget space. and those are two different things, Stuba said.

Starting point is 01:40:12 And that's where we have to choose where to spend, and we're likely to spend it here on players. So I don't, so essentially, that's sort of where they might be at. Now, the Hoffmans were asked at their introductory press conference, who are the new owners, if they would have some sort of cap internally,

Starting point is 01:40:29 they said no. But I would imagine that that internal cap is going to exist until the Pittsburgh penguins can prove that they're good again, which is kind of what the ducks did with the sim. really and I'm wondering like you know they didn't sign shea they didn't sign witherspoon is you know that's part of the defense issue that they're having are we finally and malcon and dubus don't even talk to each other like are we finally at the end here's here's how bad it's

Starting point is 01:40:57 been for the pittsburgh penguins nick robertson is off to an incredible start and I'm not getting any tweets about that's funny that's really you thought you'd be getting dunked on I'm getting lots of Fraser Minton tweets. I'm getting lots of those. Because Boston's cooking. Because they're cooking. But no, not so many Nick Robertson tweets. First few games of the season, yeah.

Starting point is 01:41:17 Now, no. He's already got, I think, five, six goals. He's good. Robo, yeah. I miss Robo. I don't. I know. I know.

Starting point is 01:41:28 I didn't want to be here, man. I know. He broke up with you. All right. All right. He's a nice guy. guy, but I'm like, do I miss him on this team? Absolutely.

Starting point is 01:41:40 He's tied for the Pittsburgh Penguins goal lead with Malkin, HF6. How many assists, Steve or Jesse? He's got zero. Hell yeah. Plus eight. Hell yeah. Think good things happen when Nick Robertson hits the ice. He's plus eight.

Starting point is 01:41:55 I'm sorry. Two game winning goals. One shorty. Robotide. No power play goals. A shorty two game winners. Holy shit. Let's go.

Starting point is 01:42:07 Robo, that's crazy. Chinokov's got to pick it up. I guess he maybe has been injured, but yuck. Almost all of them got to pick it up. Yeah. Almost all of them. That's rough. I wonder what the penguins are going to be full season, right?

Starting point is 01:42:20 It's just a month, right? It's not looking good, though. It's not looking good at all. Anyway, do you think, how early will it be before we can have the Sydney Crosby, Eugenel Malkin conversation, and Pittsburgh media doesn't absolutely flip are lit on us again. Crosby is not going anywhere. No. Malkin is.

Starting point is 01:42:40 I think Malkin's going somewhere. Russia? No, I think he might get traded this year. Like, wouldn't you? What? This has got to be it for him, right? Yeah, I know he's leading the team in scoring. Minnesota Wilde?

Starting point is 01:42:51 Are you pointing at Hayd? Malkin soda. Oh, I like that. I like that a lot. Gino soda. I think, eh? Eh? Um, if we're talking about Crosby,

Starting point is 01:43:03 I think it's worth noting that Oveskin is limping towards the end. We are a dozen games in And it is like we got to play him Even less than his career lows That he's out there right now Yeah he's got a goal or two It's his you tell that this guy is in He's 40

Starting point is 01:43:23 Not up to speed anymore And just out there for the power But do we do we Do we dare doubt him? Because I have him in fantasy And I drafted him Yeah And it's bad

Starting point is 01:43:34 He has made a habit of this Throughout his career But he starts slow. But he's one of the oldest players in professional hockey. Like he's one of the oldest players in the NHL. Yager's got like 16 years on him. Still playing. No.

Starting point is 01:43:48 No, he's finally not playing. Did he find, is he finally is not playing his division three team? He might actually be eligible for the Hall of Fame in a couple years. Crosby or McDavid. Go. Oh my God,

Starting point is 01:43:59 Crosby. What? What? For what? Oh, oh, sorry. You said McDavid.

Starting point is 01:44:04 I thought you said Ovechkin. And right now. So I was like, how is this a conversation? Crosby or McDavid. Hey, you know what? How about this? McDavid, LeMew.

Starting point is 01:44:13 That's not a con. You got to pass Crosby. You got to pass Crosby? To even have the Lemieux conversation. Oh, I just want to have it to- Robert Turner Malgan. Because Adam,

Starting point is 01:44:22 last episode when you were talking about the Mario conference. I know. I'm begging. I'm begging. People brought it off. The Mario conversation. McKay of Wrenwald.

Starting point is 01:44:28 Please start it. Start it on Reddit. Get in their kitchen. I want to hear it. Carfooter Holmberg. I want to know. Samson-Over-Murray I want to know

Starting point is 01:44:39 Rust or Rick Tocket You know Great Penguin Career Career You'll have to wait till next show Rock Bay Steve P

Starting point is 01:44:57 The Steve The Steve Dangle podcast Follow the guys on Twitter At Steve underscore Dangle At Adam W-Y-L-D-E And at Jesse Blake Connection complete

The Steve Dangle Podcast - McDominated | October 26, 2026

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