The Steve Dangle Podcast - The Thing They Said Would Happen Happened | May 11, 2018

Episode Date: May 12, 2018

On this episode, Kyle Dubas was promoted to GM of the Leafs (00:00), the Winnipeg Jets are in the conference finals and is Pekka Rinne done in Nashville? (32:00), Steve is really good at Chel (59:00), the Carolina Hurricanes are strange and the Leafs goaltending situation (1:07:00), and the press conference and Dwane Casey takes (1:21:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Panago Pizza presents S.C.P. The Steve Dangle Podcast with your hosts, Steve Dangle and Adam Wilde. Wow! Wow! It's a good thing that Steve threw out his back yesterday because we would have missed the news du jour. What's that? The news du jour is that Steve threw out his back. But also Kyle Dubas is the new general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kylie Dubas. It's so weird that the thing they said would happen three years ago, in three years, has happened. It's crazy. Three years later. Crazy how last episode when we mentioned that, and actually, you know, for the last month, I think, leading into this, we've said, you know, they already told us this. Yeah, this isn't weird. You know this, right? Yeah, this is completely expected.

If it was Mark Hunter, we'd be like, wow. Wow. Crazy. Wonder what could happen. And, you know, Shanahan today, you know, talked about Hunter being qualified, and I'm like, yeah. You talked about Hunter wanting the job, and I'm like, yeah. But the thing they said would happen has happened. Yeah.

And if the Leafs keep Hunter, great. And if they don't, well, that's a shame. Well, it was Ian Tulloch at Regressian on Twitter had a really, really good— I'm just going to pull it up here. He had a really interesting kind of take on Mark Hunter. and the the whole was it was it him yeah i'm i'm looking for it basically he's he's had a he's had a great run he's had a great year uh if the athletic isn't hasn't hired him full time yet i'm shocked um but basically um oh geez okay maybe it wasn't him i saw a tweet come up for

forgive me for whoever this comes it might be fuleman actually another guy who i'm blown away by. He basically said, he's like, I'm not sold on the idea that if Mark Hunter goes, it's the end of the world. No. Because they call him the super scout, but we've got on the team

three people in the first round that he drafted and then you've got Travis Dermott. And outside of that nobody's played in an NHL game. And they're saying, listen, it's not more will come, but at this point, it's not necessarily like

the Nylander draft year feels weird the Nylander draft year was just unbelievable right it was a great draft year you have your 7th round pick playing in the NHL

that's amazing yeah that's Locke more than anything what's that that's Locke more than anything it is a little bit more yeah Locke like asthma

thank you asthma but but you know quite frankly we haven't quite seen whether or not Mark Hunter is the super scout that he's talking about

he did stick his neck out for Marner we get that but I have a hard time believing that Mark Hunter doesn't want to see this through and I'm not saying

I'm a fan of what he's done but I don't think that I really don't believe he's just going to walk away right now if he leaves the Leafs just one thing Janssen wasn't the

Nylander draft that was the year before that was 2013 oh was it Engvall in 2014 Engvall was 2014 and he might make it

he's already made it in my heart Steve has put him on the Leafs already yeah if Hunter leaves the Leafs for anything other than

an NHL GM job it's confusing to me basically or like it's an AGM job somewhere where there's obviously he's going to be the successor to someone whereas with Dubas like I mean it's probably not going to be the successor Dubas just got there how bad could he screw it up in a year maybe shouldn't have asked that question but uh no I I think I think the the story shouldn't be who didn't get the job it should be who did and it's kyle dubas and it's a guy who's 31 or 32 he's 32 so i was totally wrong in the video good good good good um but uh early 30s and he might bring a fresh approach to the game and that's great and i think what the leaf sort of cleared up today during the press conference shanahan in particular actually kyle too was the role

Lamorello played wasn't to teach Kyle Dubas hockey it was to teach him how to like be the boss and what I kind of said today was like you ever been in a room with you know you're in your teens or 20s or whatever and you're trying to get your point across to people in their 40s 50s and 60s it's hard it is it's hard to get authority like at that age especially over people who are older you. There's guys in the Leafs that are older than him. Patrick Marleau is like, what, five, six years older than him? Ron Hainsey? Those are big guys in your team, man. And you're going to have to have all these weird discussions. So I don't think, I'm sure he learned

a lot about hockey from Lou, but Lou didn't need to teach him hockey. He maybe had to teach him how to be in charge. And maybe how to deal with some agents and that sort of thing, too. Yeah, dealing with agents and whatever. You learn a little bit in the OHL, but I don't know. It's still not the full blow and it's only three years worth, right? He was on Tim and Sid this afternoon and this was one of the comments that I really enjoyed. Jesse. What did he say on your show?

My show. Don't do that. What did he say on Jesse's show? The comment on defense. You know, where he said you know, Sid came out and asked him. He's like, okay, I'm just straight up going to ask. You know, what are you going to do? It's clearly an issue. What are you going to do?

Yeah, well, what are you going to do on defense? Yeah. and that's not bad it's not good I haven't like practiced it at all you gotta work on it

Steve by the way was throwing around an Australian accent that sounds pretty accurate before the show but he's not ready

to bring it live yet no yeah now that you've said it I'm like no I'm German he's working on it this is what Steve does at home

he walks around talks to the dog in Australian accent so that way he can get it perfected but that's what I expect from Steve if he was doing something different I'd be like

why aren't you at home get back to work Steve exactly I'll be goofing around with SL in the house and then we'll go to her parents for dinner and she's like do that thing and I'm like no I can't do it especially when it's out of context

and there's people there's people watching but what are you doing in front of me no you're like my wife you're not people you're just like the other part of me so the defense

so the defense was this And basically, I'm paraphrasing here, but he basically said a lot of the answers are coming from within. And when he said that, I thought of you because that's what you've been preaching this whole time. Well, and what I don't understand is how many people were like, oh, no. Cheap solutions. Darn it. Oh, that's awful. Meanwhile, like so many people were like, just replace Polak with Justin Hall.

And I mean, that's an I mean, I don't know if that's what he's going to do. That's an awful lot what that sounds like. Justin Hall I think is going to be in NHL next year maybe I don't think that would be the worst thing I'm excited to see I just want to see Dubas

try some things and he was talking about market inefficiencies and what not and what I talked about in my video today is a team that's done a really good job of exploiting the inefficiency in like the college system and the

lack of college players is the Pittsburgh Penguins. They drafted Jake Ensel in the third round. He's been great. Brian Rust in the third round. He's been great. Connor Sherry was a signing.

And by the way, their starting goalie who won two cups before his sophomore season even began, Matt Murray, developed with the Sioux Greyhounds.

Kyle Dubas' Sioux Greyhounds. Interesting. That's very exciting. So, I'm excited to see if they're able to find... If you've paid close attention to what the Marlies have done since Dubas has taken charge, he's taken a lot of pride in getting guys from college,

giving them tryouts, from junior giving them tryouts, but also getting guys from the ECHL, signing them to an AHL deal, calling them up, being like, hey, check it out, they're actually pretty good, and a few of them have actually earned NHL deals. One of them was Justin Hall, and a couple years ago, and I said it over and over again on this podcast. I got to interview Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe, and I said, who's the most underrated defenseman?

Who's the most underrated forward? And both of them had the exact same answer for both. They said Justin Hall, who was on an AHL deal at the time, and they said Zach Hyman, who I wouldn't have even put in my top 10 for prospects because I just knew nothing about him. Now Zach Hyman's playing on the first line, and I'm surprised he wasn't named GM today because of all the roles they give him.

And Justin Hall, we're talking about him potentially being on the team next year. Is that from your video? It was from my video. No, it's a video line. Video line. That was too good. Way to just completely blow up my spot.

I'm sorry. No, but Trevor Moore, I think, could be another guy. He was signed out of college. I think it was an AHL-only deal. And he's a salmon, right? Winger. Winger.

But now you've got more and more. It's picking up in the blogosphere. Kind of hard-ev and a few people are kind of riding that train. They want Trevor Moore to be Leafs' maybe fourth-line left winger next year. We'll see. Well, that would be great.

I would love for them to find an internal candidate for fourth-line center as well. Yeah, that one's going to be difficult. Maybe you've got to make a trade there. Maybe that's where you make your trade. You might. You might. And, I mean, you've got parts for a trade. You've got lots of wingers.

You've got the world of wingers. And that was what I wrote about in my John Tavares article the other day and why, you know, pros and cons for the Leafs getting him. Which, by the way, the day the Jets and Preds play Game 7, number one article on the website. Just saying. Just saying. Over 100,000 people thought that was interesting on that day.

But in that article, I said... You can't read an article about the game that's going to happen. You should go watch the game. It's not the same thing. There was anything else then? There was nothing else? Nothing else. Nothing else?

Nothing else beat it. I was number one is what I'm trying to say. I'm a winner. On a day when there was slow news. Yeah, exactly. Pick your spots. I'm going to throw my back out again if I yell this out. No, but I was talking about the Leafs would be able to spend,

I think it'd be like $26 million or something like that if they sign Matthews' extension, sign Tavares, sign Kadri, or while they have Kadri locked up. Sorry? What about Willie? Well, Willie, yeah, you'll be able to spend a lot of money on a couple guys Willie and Marner

Kapanen you look at Jansen you look at Brown is on an affordable deal Hyman's on an affordable deal but then you should be able to fill out

the rest of your wing spots with like entry level deals and cheap deals and that'll allow you to spend money on those centers right

so the Leafs have this depth at center and we keep talking about how they should use it and they haven't really done it yet they've

traded some like spare parts sosh for a fourth whoo but now's now's maybe the opportunity i think i don't think you get the keys and do nothing with it like i know he's been here a while he's not a new guy but i think justin bourne uh said it best like you don't spend three years four and four years whatever yeah you're right it's four you don't spend four years and never once think here's how i would do it if i was in charge yeah i know you think about it every day every day pretty much and there was there was a a quote from a conference who tweeted it out i think it was regressian

uh flint or had a couple good quotes too but it was basically dubas a couple years ago talking about like how he was basically talking about bias and the idea of a safe player being awful and he was talking about like big defensemen who just put it off the glass and out and how that's not actually good because they're only playing defense all the time. And I was like, well, I guess Polak's not getting re-signed. Yeah, yeah.

So I don't know. I'm just, I'm interested to see what this means for hockey. And if you're on the outside and you don't objectively hate the Leafs, I don't understand why you wouldn't be cheering for this guy's success because it could mean your team goes in a similar direction and it could mean

a lot more fun you know a little more creativity would be nice a little more creativity we also don't know what he's going to do no

we can't assume that it's going to be what we think it's going to be he might go in a different route that we didn't expect and it's not this fun creative new thing that's happening

he just keeps it the same he doesn't even re-sign people he doesn't even fill them they roll three lines yeah yeah and sorry we never re-signed anybody

so now nine pairings but a bunch of the pairings only have one guy and they just play in a diamond all the time they bring back

the rover they purposely play short handed all the time yeah they drop a goalie they trade Freddy and they play with

no goalie and six forwards the entire time two goalies ah that's a good strategy when they're behind right

they play with two goalies yeah they come back and they pull the goalie when they're ahead hit them where they least expect it

one thing Dubas said today that did trouble me is on Tim and Sid. They asked him if he's the only one, if he's going to be

the only GM to ever know what Fortnite is. And his response was, I don't know what Fortnite is. I've only heard of it because all the guys

on the team are always playing it. So then he's heard of it, so he knows. But he doesn't know any of the ins and outs. He's never played it. So I'm a little,

how do we feel about a GM who doesn't know what Fortnite is? You know, players have, a little bit of free time I don't feel like

executives do I'm cool with him not having the time to play Fortnite I also feel like there were a couple things in the press conference I noticed

that were you know him you know referring to the the little guy you know and oh I don't know what Fortnite is and I think it was a

couple tips of the cap to like the older crowd who wasn't as open to him and I think that was just because what okay

how would it look if the guy who they're already talking about like he drinks out of a sippy cup is like I love Fortnite and then he gets up

and he starts doing the dance how would that look how would that no he was he went up there and he he was very responsible he had his job

interview fingers the interlock fingers that you do he talks with his hands a lot he does he actually he had the Leafs pin on his jacket too

which I was like wow how very political of him because it's like every I don't even think you see it with Canadian politicians but with American ones you see an American flag on everything they wear as if

just in case you forgot I represent America and he represents the Leafs that's right that's him showing it and a blue suit and everything you bet that he saved for just such an occasion and

no he I'm glad he doesn't have enough time to play Fortnite I'm glad he's that focused on the Leafs I would like to know what he does to relax. Does he play something else? Does he play chill? Does he also get mad at drop-ins?

He's got a young kid, too. That's a lot of work. Dude, that guy runs the Leafs and has a toddler. That's not good. The amount of talk about his age is kind of surprising. Age seems to be one of the last things that you could sort of be discriminatory about, and it's okay.

Like, it's, it's, like, do you know what I mean? Like, it's, it really, if you're looking at qualifications, he's got them all. The only thing he doesn't have is tenure because of his age. But, I mean, the fact is he's been working in the OHL, like, you know, major, junior, and then obviously professional hockey since he was 11 years old. And, yes, he started out as a stick boy, but he's a scout at 17. He's a GM at 25. He's an assistant GM in the NHL at 28.

and now at 32 he's the Leafs head general manager. It's unbelievable. Some of the conversations that went on today are just mostly on the media side about just the age thing is kind of unbelievable. You just sit there and go where

okay, so he is young and yes he is unproven. Beyond that, why does that make it bad? I don't I guess, you know what I think he's had over the last four years? A lack of shoulder rubbing. He's had a little bit of a lack of shoulder rubbing.

Like, I'm trying to remember all the interviews he's really given that I've ever really seen. Like, his media availability was like the event of the season a few years ago during the Marlies playoff run. I tried to talk to him when the... Did I talk about this last episode? When I tried to... Oh, no, it was on my Instagram Live.

So the Marlies signed Tyler Wong, who, I don't know, played on, like, the Medicine Hat Tigers or something, and it was, like, to an amateur tryout deal. And, you know, I asked their media guy, I'm like, is Kyle here, can I talk to him about it? And he's like, okay, I'll go and ask him. He goes into another room and he asks him privately, I don't even get to see it.

Kyle comes out, and he, like, barely makes eye contact. Like, I've talked to this guy on and off for, like, half a decade at least. and he basically just said what the media release said. And I'm like, you got anything else? Like, tell me about this player. Like, I'm trying to cover the Marlies here, find out some interesting things about Tyler Wong. And he's like, that's it.

Then you got Damien Cox getting, like, all upset that he can't talk to him during the intermission of a playoff game. And you got, like, how many people has he really, he hasn't built a relationship, right? and the Leafs have been so ironclad for a long time. It was refreshing to hear him talk today. I forgot, like, what a good quote he can be. Maybe he can let his hair down a little bit.

But he's just been largely an unknown. And basically all these writers and all these people who cover the team extensively, all they've had is their own assumptions for, like, four years. Their own assumptions and rumors, basically. And I don't know. all you really have to talk about from that point on. You can't go back to the analytics thing

because that's been kind of poo-pooed and whatever. So you just go, hey, isn't it weird that the richest team in hockey is a 32-year-old GM? It is kind of strange. Yep, sure. Except it's not because they said it was going to happen. But it's unusual. I wonder if you'd use the same arguments that they used him being young,

if you used them against an older person, how that would be received. They did. They did. Did they? With Lou Lammarello. Well, to an extent. I remember being like, okay. Because he was, what, 72?

Yeah, it was a three-year contract for a 72-year-old. There was definitely some of that. That's unusual. Eye test? More like get your eyes checked, am I right? Oh, you see? Oh, you see? Oh, this guy.

Even, what was it, last week when he was promoted, I guess, or moved to a different position, There was still the thing about, oh, he's old now. He's got to go and do this other thing and ride his boat and that sort of thing. He was old before. Yeah, he was old before, but he wants to still work, apparently, which is the report from Arthur Staple in The Athletic about him going. And he's an Islanders guy.

Yeah, about him wanting to go to the Islanders. Well, John Shannon actually just tweeted out a couple minutes ago, can confirm New York Islanders and Lou Lamorello are now talking about a position within that organization. so he's confirming the story from Arthur Staple yesterday afternoon how do you play

that if you're the Leafs because you gotta want John Tavares in the worst way and if you let Lou Lamorello go to the Islanders

it's probably a better chance they keep him no well I if I'm the Leafs I don't let them do it

I don't let them do it till after July 1st can't they hold him I don't know I don't know what his contract

says yeah exactly they must be able to hold him he could also have now in his contract where it's like hey if I don't

want to do this I can go do another job Because he's Lou. They'll be like, oh, gotta think. And if he doesn't, who cares? Like, he'll do it anyway. Yeah.

I'll shiv you in the neck. Sparta. And just go to the island. I would want Lou Lammarello around just for the re-signing of Nylander and what they're going to do in free agency. But does he want to be around? Right. Good question.

So that was another thing. That was another big deal. Although, I mean, really, sometimes it doesn't matter. Sometimes you're held to a contract against your will, right? Sometimes. Sometimes. But one thing I saw people talking about was, well, Shanahan is going to be there for the Matthews extension

and the Marner extension and the Nylander extension. And part of me was like, ah, just let the guy do his job. Don't meddle too much. And then I was like, well, maybe the president of the Leafs should be involved in a decision that could add up to like a quarter of a million dollars. What's Matthews going to get? At least 80.

Mm-hmm, yeah. What's Nylander going to get? Whatever, what did Pasternak get? Around 50. Yeah. Something like that. And then what's Marner going to get? Probably around the same.

So, yeah, close to $200 million. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. So, yeah, maybe the president of the team should be involved a little bit. He's going to be for sure. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Now, you know, when we're talking about, okay, I want to trade this third line right winger

for a, you know, whatever, bottom pairing defenseman. Yeah, okay, leave the GM alone. Steve, just come out and say it. When he decides to not re-sign Leo Komarov. There you go. Shanahan doesn't have to be involved because everybody's like, okay. And if there was ever a summer to give a new guy the keys,

it's this one. It is a pivotal summer. They're going to go in a different direction. They have to. They're losing a bunch of guys. They have a bunch of guys they should lose because they're not doing anything with them. They got some young guys who they can bring in, some young guys they already have who they should give bigger positions

to. It's going to be a very interesting summer a lot of big free agents too big guys available based on the roster as it stands and let's say we go into next summer and they don't make a huge sorry we go through the they don't make a huge splash in free agency they go in they'll have some cap room but uh you know they bring in you know i don't know a second bearing right-handed d and then they you know the rest of it's going to come up within the system and they've signed maybe maybe somebody maybe not but i think the way we have to look at next year's team you know and this changes if they get John Tavares, but I think

every team's fortunes change if they get John Tavares. You know, if we get one of the top ten centers in the league. In the world. If the Coyotes get John Tavares. Yeah, there's a fortune change. But I think we've got to look at the Leafs a little bit differently next year, because I think what the narrative is going to be, okay,

well, they've been growing for three years, and now it's time to take that next step, and the fact is, it's a build. And so I don't know that, I don't know, yes, you can expect Matthews, Neal, or Marner to be better. I think they need to be better

than they were last year. I think Marner can't have three months of terrible and then four months of amazing. Can't. Matthews has got to be, if he's healthy, and I think he will be,

he's got to be... I think that's it. Matthews has got to be healthy. He's got to be healthy. If he's healthy, he'll be Mav. Because he had slumps in his rookie year. He didn't really have a slump when he was playing.

No, you're right. It was just when he was injured. And Nylander's got to be... He's got to be a little more dominant. He's got to be a little bit more of a scary guy to play against. and he has the skills to be it, he's got to figure out how to be scary all the time,

how to just grab people's attention. Now, the thing that changes, though, is the veteran presence that is probably not going to be there in the same way, right? The Leafs will go back to being one of the youngest teams in the NHL. I think it's just going to be different. You know, JVR, Bozak, Komarov,

like, I didn't really think of those guys as, like, veterans as much as I thought of them as guys who have been around a long time. Especially in leadership ways. Yeah, like, Komarov was a locker room leader. Bozy's got an A. Bozak had an A and seemed well-liked. But you didn't hear too much about his leadership. And JVR just kind of...

I didn't hear anything. Scored goals. Scored goals. Scored a ton of goals. Yeah. Can't take that away from him. They're going to have to find a way to replace that. But I mean...

Which I think they can do by committee, by the way. If they roll four lines like they can. It's going to be tough. They're going to be... It's going to be tough. It's going to be very tough for Kyle Dubas in his first year as GM. First year as GM. losing a bunch of guys, it's going to be a younger team,

you've got to put your stamp on it, and there is now a distinct hunger for at least the second round. The Leafs can't get knocked, well, they can't miss the playoffs, that's for damn sure, and they can't get knocked out in the first round again without people being terrifically disappointed. I think some people, most people understood this one, but it stung. Losing in the first round again next year, no matter the circumstance, I think is going to be unacceptable for a lot of people.

Right, and I think, remember that I think in a lot of people's cases they were mad about how the third period of Game 7 went. Literally one period of hockey. But that's what decided it. It came down to one period. And again, it's a learning experience. But I do think we have to look at the Leafs much differently

next year than we did this year. And I also think they're going to play a different style. I don't see this slow dump and chase stuff anymore. I think they're going to go back to the heavy four checks that they were doing the first year that we saw you know, Matthews, Nylander, Marner on the ice, because they were a lot scarier then

and I think they've got the speed, they're going to be even faster with Andreas Janssen and Kasperi Kapanen and I think Rundstrom's going to come into this lineup, I think they're going to be a quicker team You know who we didn't talk about as an internal candidate is Connor Carrick because he's not on the Marlies, but... We keep not, yeah, because

for some reason they just don't want to put him in a role or Mike Babcock doesn't and I, so here's my question And maybe this is a question for, we've got to have Justin Bourne on one of these days. Yeah. But he mentioned in his piece with The Athletic that good luck changing Mike Babcock's mind on anything unless you've got hours of video to back it up, which I kind of like.

You know, he needs proof. Well, and then they showed a video. Whose Twitter was this from? Was it Flinter? It was Flinter. It was from, like, one of the Sloan Analytics conferences from a couple years ago. And Babcock was talking about Dubas kind of, like, right when he came on board with the Leafs. And he talked about Dubas being 20 years younger than him, but 20 years smarter.

He's two decades smarter because, you know, the sport keeps evolving. Technology keeps evolving. Everything keeps evolving. So Dubas is on the cutting edge, right? So I think Babcock will be open to some things. He doesn't really have much of a choice. Dubas is his boss, right? I mean, he's definitely got a choice.

He's Mike Babcock. I think that's a ridiculous statement. But what are you going to do, Mike? What he has said, though. Hey, Mike Babcock. Listen to someone besides yourself. But he has said, though, that he thinks for the— he realizes that he doesn't know everything.

Like, forget Dubas and the equation. He understands that he doesn't know everything. Yeah, that's everyone. Yeah. I kind of equated that in the video today to, like, Matthews, Line A, McDavid. like they have the speed the skill the smarts the you know whatever and that is a big reason why they succeed in this game but another reason is like they this isn't new hockey to them this isn't a new style of hockey to them this is just what they grew up playing the post 2004 rules post

2013 rules whatever um similar could be said about dubas you know what i mean he's not he's not going into this with a 25, 30-year-old mindset. Or, sorry, a mindset that he came into the business with two or three decades ago. Dubas also isn't the head coach, though. He's just going to provide Babcock

with the tools, and then Babcock's free to go do whatever he wants. But they do come together on how they're going to play it, right? Sure. They do talk about, like, they've got to decide what kind of team they're going to be. And that's why I think it's going to change. But the strategy and everything, that's like Babcock. Dubas can't I mean, telling Babcock how to formulate a strategy for a game.

Also, I think he's definitely part of that. I think that, I don't think people... He's part of that, yeah. For sure. I think... I don't know about... You're telling a head coach... I don't think he's telling him what to do.

...to play, how to play his players. They're going back and forth every day. That's what the role of a general manager is, to here are the players, and then you go play them because you're the head coach. I think that's the role in any sport. You don't interfere with the mindset of the head coach because his job is to coach.

And I don't think Mike Babcock, I assume Kyle Dubas is telling him the strategy and how they want to act with the players and the guys they've got to get. But if Dubas is in there telling Babcock, hey, we want to play a faster game, sure. But once he says that, it's go execute Mike Babcock. But doesn't Babcock have to justify it to him? Yeah, and I think Babcock's going to find a way to justify whatever he wants to justify. Well, though what you said, if anyone is going to have hours and hours of video to back it up, It's going to be the guy who doesn't play Fortnite.

It's going to be the guy who doesn't have time to play Fortnite. It's going to be Kyle Dubas. Totally. He's super prepared. I mean, apparently all he does is spend time in front of a screen and a press sheet and, like, yeah. What do you think he does with all his time? His job.

I mean, I'm sure if he wants to convince anyone of anything. He knows he has to work harder to get his opinion taken seriously. I expect him to be prepared for this. I don't think he's going to go in like, oh, oh, oh. Oh, no, I think he's probably ready to go. He's probably ready. Like, I would know what I would do tomorrow. Imagine how jacked you would be if you were named the Leafs GM tomorrow.

Like, yeah, this guy's pumped. He's ready to go. Are we going to talk about the Jets? No. No, yeah, we are going to talk about the Jets. Actually, we're going to get right to that. I have one more question, though. With Lou potentially leaving, which, man, I'm still not sold on.

I still don't see that I wish he'd stayed or would stay I hope he stays I hope it somehow doesn't work I hope Gar Snow screws this up

like he screwed up the Islanders for the last 12 years wow there I said it do they have as many series wins as the Minnesota Wild

that's a good question no I made the conference final that one by the way can you turn down the heat in here just put it to the

minus thing thank you it's very hot I thought that was just my sweater with Lou leaving do you basically write off

John Tavares coming? No, but I mean, I would count Lou going to the Islanders as pulling out all the stops to, holy shit, we gotta keep our franchise center. Yeah. Okay. That's definitely how I look at it. So the Jets are through the conference

finals. By the way, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals are playing as we speak, so there's not much we can say. Well, who's winning right now because that's who's gonna lose. That's a good question. I think it took the Lightning nine minutes. I saw on Twitter it took them 9 minutes

to get their first shot which is surprising what? weird Washington's up 1-0 I mean that's not surprising given the stat Adam just said wow

yeah interesting everybody talking about this series before we got into it was you know it was

Lightning in 5 they'll handle the Caps no problem I think the Caps are deceptively good I really do who are these ridiculous people

who think that it was Don LeCision I saw said Caps no sorry Lightning in 5 and Winnipeg in 5 man that's a bold one

Winnipeg in five I mean I do think I think Winnipeg I mean here's me downplaying Vegas again I think Winnipeg

is further ahead of Vegas than Tampa is of Washington I would have said that of 30 NHL teams except for the actually no 29

not the Coyotes and maybe not the Sabres either Game 7 was scary though Canucks I would have put them on par with the Canucks this year

on par yeah going in for sure for sure I'd have been like James Neal and who I think we even said

like Vegas might finish like fifth last because I don't know some teams just get a slew of injuries and there's bad luck and puck bounces and you know

I'm sure the adrenaline will go right to their legs and they'll win maybe 30 games holy crap we won the Pacific unbelievable so Vegas is in the

Western Conference Finals do you believe in them yet? I mean I believe in them I have yeah they're a good team now I'm convinced

I still don't get it There's lots of people who are like On paper, this is still a terrible team I still don't get it But no, for sure They're there and it's not an accident And there's lots of numbers that suggest it's not an accident And I watch them and I go

Holy shit, they're so good It's not an accident, man But, Winnipeg is Stupid And deep Dude, the back half of Game 7 yesterday against Nashville was sad. The Preds didn't have a chance.

They didn't have a chance. Well, it was really that first period, those two goals, Paccarino let in, that was the game. Well, that's an interesting situation. When they came out on the third period, they had a,

was it a two-man advantage? It might have just been there's regular shorthanded, but Winnipeg was shorthanded to start the third, and you're like, okay, if Nashville gets one here, it's a completely different game.

But then Nashville just couldn't do anything. Nope. And it was very impressive. Passed it way too much. I thought I was watching the Leafs there for a second because one thing the Leafs do a really bad job of when they're struggling is they spend a lot of time in the offensive zone. They take a bunch of shots.

None of them hit the net. And the Preds, there was a time, I think it was back half of the second period, where I watched them. They had the puck the majority of the time, and I look up at the shot clock, hadn't changed in five minutes. Because they hadn't hit the net. Yeah, the Leafs are terrible about hitting the net, honestly.

Terrible. They had a couple chances that whiffed a little bit. They were passing it way too much, especially on the power play. Going into the third period with the lead this year so far,

the Jets have blown two games. Overall. Overall. The entire season. The entire season. The Leafs should take note. I think there were 20 games. Are we going to talk about Pecorino?

Yeah, well, that's what I wanted to get to next. He lets in those two early. He's having dinner with Dwayne Casey right now. That's his last game ever for Nashville. You think so? Like, I don't believe he comes back.

Okay, so he's got $7 million. How do you come back from getting yanked after two goals in game seven? He's going to go to Las Vegas in June and win the Vesna. No! And then July 5th, he's going to be somewhere else. Yo, same day. Same day, the Golden Knights add Rene Carlson to Varus. Oh, my God.

Well, no, no, Rene's got another year left on his deal. Sorry? He's got a year left. Yeah, but Saros is a starting goaltender now. For sure. 100%. And so he hit $7 million for Pecorine for one more year. And he's going to win the Vezina.

So he's got some value on the trade market. Are you not ringing Edmonton's doorbell right now? Oh, my God, yeah. That's a good point. Man. Also, by the way, for everyone who's like, why did they submit the vote so early? That's why.

It's a regular season award. can you imagine putting Rene's name even on the ballot after that because of one game could you get Peter Chiarelli

to give you the 10th overall pick that he's shopping for for retain all the salary you can on Rene

to make it just and then you you give them 35 year old Pecorine Adam Bartholomew Wild I would call

I would call Chiarelli right now and be like what do you think you won't give him Talbot for one more year at 4.1 you give him

another year You do? Yeah, you don't. But if you're Shirely and you lose another year, you're out. You're gone. Yeah. But is Pecorine going to save you when you already got Cam Talbot? Talbot has played a lot of hockey over the last two years.

And he's wicked value. He just had an off year. What if you get him at three and a half? Sorry? What if you get Pecorine at three and a half? Then you're running with Talbot and Rene. You're running with Talbot and Rene. And you got Montoya signed to a million dollars.

Who you can do that? Did they re-sign him? And Koskinen. Remember they just signed Koskinen too? Oh Montoya was signed On a two year deal So he signed through

Next year What did he cost Kinnan 2.5 2.5 Yeah They're not even convinced He's the best goalie

In the KHL 2-1-4 They already got 7.6 million dollars Wrapped up in goaltending It's not gonna work Damn Well then Calgary

Just Talbot and Rene Oh there you go Just Talbot and Rene You could justify If Rene was half retained But They have three goalies Signed next year

See, they need You need to target a team That needs a good Regular season goalie You need to Like, give me a guy Who can just get me To the playoffs

There's GMs out there Who just like Get me to the damn playoffs So I can actually Continue doing this Alright, who's crazy enough Your Dwayne Casey comparison Was perfect

Oh my god He's gonna win an award On his way out the door They're in the exact same situation It sucks so bad About Dwayne Casey I'm so upset Can we talk about that?

Yeah, but like Not right now We're talking about Okay, yeah, sure, sure, sure. That's a basketball thing we should definitely be talking about. But, Rene, what did you want to say? Well, I was going to say, who around the league needs to desperately make the playoffs?

Carolina, Calgary, Florida. Although Florida's goaltending situation is weird. Luongo's still a good goalie if he can stay healthy. Reimer's still pretty good. But, you know, who are those teams around the league that could really actually use a goalie for a year? who could give up some you know

give up a pick I'm trying to think like the Coyotes are still spending barely anything if you can get Rene at half his salary

which means you pay a higher price for him do you hate him as a guy who plays 30 games for you 3.5 million I don't hate that that's basically Reimer

that's basically Reimer yeah I don't hate 3.5 to be your 1A like if we're going through but who's down for that yeah I don't know well let's see

let's have a look at the standings from this past season Calgary I think you nailed I also think Carolina too what about the

New York Islanders I mean they're a team without a goaltender Detroit maybe maybe but I feel like the Islanders

are closer to the playoffs and they've got two first rounders this year Barzal if they re-sign Tavares Buffalo

that's another one because they want to move on from Robin Leonard and they've got Rasmus Dahlen coming in so

or Darlene Those kinds of teams Do you Buffalo's not bad Because they have a goalie signed for next year Robin Leonard's an RFA He's only 26 The first overall pick

How does David Poyle pull it off If you bring in Darlene You bring in Darlene And a good goalie And Rene A 918 goalie maybe If you're Buffalo you may have to flip a contract back Some days he's 947.

Yeah, some days he's... Other days he's 782. Literally, it could be either way. Yeah. Adam, you were saying? Well, no, I was going to ask. I mean, in Buffalo's case, they've got so much money wrapped up in bad players.

They do. They do. And then they've got, you know, players that are worth it. Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, guys like that. But even Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly together are $17.5 million a year. Ristolainen.

Ristolainen? 5.4. But why do they... Here's what I don't get. Sabres already have bad defense. Why, when you have Rasmus Dahlien coming in, do you want to get rid of Rasmus Ristolainen? This is very interesting

because Ryan O'Reilly's name has been on the trade block for a long time. Dude, O'Reilly for Rene? In some way, shape, or form? We could call it the O'Rene trade. The trade is one for one. Imagine if Nashville gets more offensive player power. Yo, their top three centers are Ryan O'Reilly,

Ryan Johansson, and Kyle Turris. And then they got Nick Bonino on the fourth line. Oh, I forgot about that! Oh my god, that's so dumb. But they'd have... I don't know who's resigned, though. Jack Johnson, or Jack Johnson, Ryan Johnson, they're paying him eight,

and then they have Turris, who's making six and a half. Six, yeah. And then they've got... Six next year. And then they'd have Ryan O'Reilly at seven and a half, and then Bonino at four. Boy, yeah, that's a lot of money. A lot of money.

All right, send Benito over, too. Send one of them over in the deal. Let's get cooking, Adam. It's silly season. Let's go. Because they got Tolvan in, right? Tolvan in. And then Ristolainen's involved in the deal, too, and that frees up.

They don't need Ryan Ellis anymore, and he goes to the Leafs. Let's cook. Let's cook. Let's go. Now we're just making up shit. Yeah. No. No.

No. As opposed to what? As opposed to what? No, we're just making up shit harder than we were a couple minutes ago. Playing BFGM mode out loud. Yeah, that's fine. That's what this podcast is called. Be an armchair GM.

Armchair GM. With Tom Paraska. With smart hockey men. With smart insider men. And also trusted hockey men. Seven million bucks. Someone tweeted me a picture of Dubas today, and they're like, he looks great for 45.

I love that bit. People have really globbed onto that. They have. Globbed. Globbed. Was there a better trade at the deadline than Stastny for a first? Holy shit, no. Nope.

Nope. Now, what I can't figure out, and I didn't look this up, I wanted to see if anybody remembered this on the show, is St. Louis' pick lottery protected? Oh, is it for next year? I'm sorry. It is. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Okay. Kevin Shovel Dayoff said that on Tim and Sid this afternoon. So, they got Stastny. Look at you big-timing us. Hey, it's not my show. Yes, it is. This is Jesse Blake with Tim and Sid. They got Stasny for a lottery protected first.

How did they do that? 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points in 31 games. Now, is that including playoffs? Or is that... He didn't play 31 playoff games. No, no, he didn't. That's got to include playoffs. That's playoffs, yeah.

God. Like, the Jets were an offensive juggernaut before. Like, they're undeniable. Like, people were making fun of me because I think it was after game five. I'm like, who's beating the Jets? And then the Preds beat the Jets. But how do you stop that?

How the hell do you stop that? Like, Shifley, Ehlers was looking dangerous. Wheeler's always looking dangerous. Stastny is always sniffing. And then Laine drew a penalty, and I was like, oh, they have Laine. They have 40 goals for Laine. They made me forget they had Laine. Kyle Connor

looks amazing and I was talking about him like dude they're three lines deep of murderers and then they're like fourth line

is good too and oh also they have like an extremely strong right side they got Bufflin Myers

Truba they can just throw at you it's freaking ridiculous and Hellebuck is playing out of his mind

this is what like man Vegas has been fun but like this Miracles I'm putting my foot down it's coming to an end

the Jets are going to end them you know what wow yeah the Jets are going to end them there's no way I'm not convinced there's no way

Jesse are you convinced yeah I have Winnipeg and Tampa in the finals 100% I'm sticking with it damn good picks buddy Winnipeg's too good good picks

now Tampa might be able to beat them and holy unbelievable crap is that an amazing final if that actually happens

imagine it's no offense to the Caps Vegas? I mean, it might be. Dude, an expansion team is in the Final Four right now, and the Caps in a down year are as far as they've been in two decades. Yeah, I believe it. It's the best outcome for a hockey fan.

It's literally the worst outcome for television ratings in America. What is Vegas, Tampa? Winnipeg and Tampa. Yeah, it's not great. Winnipeg and Tampa? Vegas, Washington would be way better. Winnipeg is like zero on the scale in America. Yeah, because they don't count Winnipeg viewers, right?

No one's watching. And then you get the Tampa market. No casual viewers tuning in for Winnipeg. And Tampa's just not exciting enough. The CBC rating's got to be good, though. Oh, huge. The Canadian rating's got to be good. Unbelievable.

Oh, you've seen them? Yeah. You don't want any Canadian teams in if you're the NHL, basically. Yeah. Because your ratings are guaranteed in Canada. Remember when it was Edmonton, Carolina? I do. And Calgary, Tampa.

Yep, yep. Tampa's the top 10 market. overall in populations like Tampa St. Pete's and their ratings are pretty high. They're up there with Pittsburgh, aren't they? But again, Pittsburgh's a small market too. They're not a huge city. But they draw.

Of course they draw. It's an intense following. But what I'm saying is if you had that same intensity in say, I don't know I don't want to take down any particular city, but a much bigger city. If the Rangers could have a foothold

on New York sports the way the Penguins have a foothold on Pittsburgh sports and the Rangers are huge but the Yankees have that kind of foothold in New York.

Right. We're not talking, you know what I mean? What about the Steelers? Steelers are huge but the Steelers, you gotta remember, the NFL is like four months.

Right. Okay. You go from like September to January, that's it. The NFL's a different animal. Yeah. They play one day a week

and that one day it's everything and they'll get everything. Religion, religion, religion. Exactly. And then you forget about it. Yeah. Religion, religion, religion

next Sunday. There's sports on the left and like WWE on the right and somewhere in the middle is the NFL. No, somewhere on top. It's not a political spectrum, it's a pyramid.

Roger Goodell is looking separate ways with his eyeballs and everything. He's the Illuminati, man. I'm looking at the Paul Stastny of all the trades and it's the opposite Matt Duchesne trade. What is it? It's a good trade that worked out.

And the GM who acquired the best player didn't give up too much and everything. You know what I mean? Like Ottawa gave up. They gave up that first round pick and now it's so costly. They also gave up the best player. Yeah. I'm sorry. Kyle Torres all day over Matt Duchesne.

All day. Absolutely. Just look at, I mean, look at the... I'm still not sold. You're not Still not sold Oh man, really? You know what it was

Because Turris came in so hot And Duchesne came in so shitty cold But he was so good in the playoffs for them last year He was And he was a team guy Like they love him They loved him Boy, it's rough

It's rough I still think Duchesne at his best Is better than Turris It's not a huge gap though It wasn't worth trading I don't think I Because they're going to have to trade Duchesne now

Still don't fully understand it They're going to have to trade Duchesne He's got a year left. Yeah, the Jets made an extraordinary deal, and maybe we should take back some of the things we said about Chevy a few years ago. Oh, man, we wouldn't make a trade? Well, I mean, in the context of the time, you know what's interesting is that Evander Kane trade gets better with age.

You know, at the time it was kind of like, well, it's Tyler Myers and Evander Kane, and who really knows? It's funny, because we were ripping on Chevy for not doing, oh, he doesn't make any trades, and then he makes the Evander Kane trade, and we're like, no, not that one. He made like a huge splash. And we were like, no! Tyler Myers, who was considered overpaid at the time,

might still be considered overpaid, but has been a bit effective defenseman. So some context there. His cap hit is not bad. But for back-to-back years, Buffalo had the highest paid defenseman in the league in terms of actual dollars, and it wasn't the same guy.

They had those ridiculous front-loaded contracts still. The first year, I think, I might have it in reverse order, it was Christian Ehrhoff. Right! And his cap hit was like $4 million, but he was making $10. Right. He was making $10 actual million.

And then Myers, I think his cap hit was like $5 something. And he was making $12 million in money. $12, which is... $12 million in monies? But that's just money they're paying. It's not actual salary. $12 million in monies? But a lot of people...

That's part of what contributed to the perception of Myers as not really being worth it. Because he was getting this crazy... He was getting the most money in the league! highest paid defenseman in the league and he was like a second pairing guy and I think

wasn't he rookie of the year he had a wicked rookie season and sometimes you have a really hard time living up to that and now he's on the Jets who have just a ridiculous committee and

holy you know and he's been an effective he's been an effective defenseman and it's not to that's not to diminish Evander Kane

I think if that trade had ever been made first off I don't think Evander Kane would be in Winnipeg but second and Myers would have suffered along with the rest of the Buffalo Sabres

with just the way they've mismanaged the team. Yeah, neither of those guys were saving the Sabres. And I mean, Kane, it was like two guys were scoring for them, and it was Kane and Eichel. Yeah. And I think they took turns getting injured. It's 2-0 Caps. Wow.

Predictions are stupid, but are you guys picking the Jets to come out of the West? Yeah. Yeah, 100%. And also, by the way, reminder, since it's 2-0 Caps, Tampa lost their first game against Boston and came back and won the next four. No, my final is Winnipeg-Tampa. Sorry, Cap. At this point.

At this point. And I'm saying that with Tampa losing game one. Okay. Vegas-Washington. Wow. I bet big on Washington I'm going to do it again. And I don't know what it is about Vegas. I just, you know what, it's really tough with those two series.

I want Tampa to win, and I want Washington to win. I want Vegas to win And I want the Jets to win Like I want them all to win So it's not You know what I mean Like there's not a team in there Like I hate

I hate them I want I want Vegas to win Because the storylines would be great I want the Jets to win They're a genuine underdog Yeah In every way shape and form

Absolutely There'll be a movie made about this And I feel like the movie Will be better if it ends in the finals That's my point They were sort of an underdog Or they could sort of be perceived As an underdog against the Sharks

But like we talk about Like they won the Sharks division Yeah Look at the Jets They're so good. Who was looking at them and going, ah, behold David. At Vegas' Goliath with Lucas Pisa.

Like, I just... The Jets are sick. They're so sick. They are. They're my cup favorite. Wouldn't it be cool to see, I mean, and no offense to Tampa, who I genuinely love.

I love that team and I love that city. Are they your second favorite team? They might be my second favorite team. Are they? Aren't they your second favorite team? You should have mentioned that. I should have mentioned that. I don't know.

Fans are great. Have I told you about how great the fans are at Emily? Google Podcasts Reddit page knows that. Tampa is Adam's second favorite team. We should throw that up there. Who do you think is Adam's favorite team? Second favorite team. Let's run a ball.

Second favorite team. But imagine the idea of the Washington Capitals in the finals, the first time since they lost to Detroit. Yeah. And Ovi going for the cup. It'd be cool to see him get one. Ovi going for the cup. Yeah.

You know what? You know what would be great? It'd be great to see Ovi get a cup just to shut everybody the fuck up. It would just be great. The one thing the Jets lack is there's a distinct lack of really old guy. There is. That's true. There's no trusted hockey man on that team.

Who's the really old guy remaining in these playoffs? Like, Ovi's hair says it's him, but, like, in terms of actual age, it's not. Who's the old guy? There's no Ray Bork, really, is there? I don't think so. Yeah, there's no old guy to root for. Other than winning for Ovi. There's not even, like, a Michael Hanzoose.

No. You know what I mean? Like, I'm trying to— Everyone in Vegas is pretty young, but who on the cast? Win it for Thomas Tatar. Right now, you're winning it for Ovi. Yeah, I think you're winning it for Ovi. That's the guy.

If you're going to glob onto a player. Okay, so here's my prediction to answer the question. The first ballot Hall of Famer hasn't come close to even sniffing the cup. Tampa, Winnipeg, but for storylines, I want the opposite. I want Vegas, Washington Because what a story That is the better The better story

That's the better story The better hockey Is Winnipeg, Tampa 100% So that's my answer Oh my god Just picturing that 37 year old

Brooks Orbeck No Are we rooting for Good old Good old Brooksy That's what I'm saying Brooksy No I don't think so I don't think so

That's rude No nothing is Because I don't even think Washington Capitals fans Like him I think they're mad At his cap hit Alright

Who I got it You got it The guy who's never won anything. He's 38. He's on the lightning. Chris Kunitz. Oh, frig off.

Does he win his fifth cup? Fifth cup, I think. He needs another one. He needs another one? He's one more tough than Maurice Richard. That's so dumb. Okay, so he got one with the Ducks and three with the Penguins, yeah. And a gold medal.

And a gold medal. An Olympic gold medal. Unbelievable. he has one of the most impressive resumes in the history of hockey that's who should have been the Leafs general manager

that's a resume Chris Kunitz yeah undrafted Chris Kunitz that's a great story that is amazing underdog

where does he go let's win another one for Kuni dude he's gonna go down as one of the most decorated undrafted players ever yeah him and

Dino Cicerelli honestly and Martin Saint-Louis yeah oh Saint-Louis was undrafted oh my god former teammate no

but they both played for the Lightning now he's got a request to trade to New York that's what Chris Kunitz has to do I don't think so the rest of his career

I don't think so if that were the case then he'd also have to go to Calgary too for each for each team you're right I didn't get put on waivers

each team for each team who hoists the cup first and who do they pass it to first because I was just thinking whoever gets to announce it

it'd be so perfect Alex Ovechkin finally gets his Stanley Cup and he passes it to Nicholas Backstrom for a change get it

because Backstrom's been setting him up his whole career I got you it's kind of good it's hokey but it's heartfelt someone would definitely

use that on broadcast if Ovechkin gets the cup he should pass it to himself man like honestly why not Tom Wilson should get a second

I think it goes to Holton what's that Tom Wilson oh no he gets a second that's the biggest troll move ever I think he should

give it to Tom Wilson second man imagine Tom Wilson's name on the Stanley Cup it's not hard Do we burn the Stanley Cup At that point Dude

Claude Lemieux's name Is on the Stanley Cup Brad Marchand Oh On the Stanley Cup There's There are rattier players On the Stanley Cup

Okay fine We'll keep it We won't burn it So then in Tampa It's Stammer gets it first And then he has to pass It to Kucharov

Callahan Callie really Ryan Callahan Why is this Callie's last year No he's just He's there I think he's the closest thing

They have to an old guy Isn't he Kucharov makes sense in terms of star power. Maybe. You might be right. Yeah, Stamkos to Kucherov. I mean,

that was the theme of the season. It's like the two heads of the, you know, two big guys on the team, the two monsters. I mean, isn't Hedman like,

if they go and win, isn't he kind of already a dark horse for the consmith? A little bit, yeah. But, they're kind of the two cornerstones of the franchise. The Lightning got Stamkos

first overall when they sucked and then the next year they got the second overall pick because they sucked and that was Hedman. And they were kind of the two cornerstones keeping the team alive. It's so funny.

I feel like Hedman is like 10 years younger than Stamkos. Why do I feel like that? It's just one. One year. It might even be less in terms of months. Yeah. Wow. I know.

Wow. It's crazy. So, yeah, Hedman's a really good pick. With Vegas, it's got to be... Ooh, I got it. Who gets the cup in Vegas? Who gets the cup first? Derek Englund

who's like the sort of captain of the team in a way he's like the public captain sort of he's from Vegas right he's from Vegas

and he gives it 100% and he gives it to Flurry yep yep that's good come on 3-0 Washington by the way

wow I got it can't wait to see how Tampa wins it's hard to hold on to a 3-0 lead Washington I've seen it crumble twice Englund gets the cup

yep he takes off his skates he walks off the ice and he finds David Clarkson and he gives him the Stanley Cup and he passes it

to Mikhail Grubovsky oh actually speaking of which I got this crazy stat they give it to J.F. Berube Clayton Stoner Clayton Stoner well Berube is not

even on the team anymore no but he was claimed by them from Corey Masiak who is or Masiak

who is a staff writer for the athletic is it Masiak? I don't know. Okay. He's a staff writer for The Athletic in New York City. Vegas is 23rd in cap space spent, but they spent $20 million of that on guys

who played a combined eight games for them. Amazing. Clarkson, 5.25, zero games. Grabowski, five, zero games. Stoner, zero games, 3.25 million. And these guys count against the cap. Yes. That's unbelievable.

Garrison, 3.575, played eight games. Broussard, not Derek. Uh, Broussard made $2 million, zero, and Yemelin, uh, zero. Oh, they retained on Broussard, I forgot about that. Oh my god. Yeah. Dude, okay, in terms of actual dollars spent, do they hit the floor? Yeah, of course.

How much? I don't know, I don't have cat friends. Like, sorry, dollars spent on players who are Golden Knights. Well, we'd have to count it. Take whatever the Golden Knights spent and subtract $20.2 million. So they're... Oh, it says, oh, so Vegas spent $48.5 million on the actual team. Dude, that's barely...

On the team that's on the ice. $48 million. That's crazy. So, to give you an idea of how crazy that is, the salary cap coming out of the lockout in 2005-2006, I think was, it was either $45 or $48. No, I think it was, no, the ceiling I think was $45, the floor was $42. Yes. That's nuts.

They're going to be a dynasty. They're going to win the next 10 Stanley Cups, everyone. Imagine they don't trade for currently scratched Thomas Tatar. Oh, my God. Like, what does that number look like? They could be in an even better position. They didn't have to fuck it up. They made a bad trade with Detroit.

I'm not sure he makes team next year. Yeah, but like, oh, they spent, you know, Tatar's cap hit is too much, and they spent too many picks. And George McPhee is just standing in front of a pile of burning money in draft picks like the friggin' Joker in Dark Knight. Just so what?

It's all part of the plan and they're in the friggin' Final Four. George McPhee is the Joker. Eric Carlson's gonna look great on that team next year. And John Tavares and Pecorine.

And also, they're gonna get classic Adam Graves and Scott Mellenby. They're gonna get cards like friggin' any jelly team. It's gonna be like hot.

They're gonna get Mike Bossy. Wayne Gretzky card. Yeah, Wayne Gretzky. Gary Roberts pre-shoulder surgery Joe Neuendijk from the Flames

Rocket Richard yep and Charlie Conacher from the 40s leagues yes okay alright alright

from the kid line and King Clancy what position do you need him to play why hasn't why hasn't EASHL gone that far back because Psycho's on EASHL

just like the sabotage games in Ruin My Night. I don't think that was answering Adam's question at all. I think he just wanted to get that out there. Why can't you get a Rocket Richard card

or a Gordie Howe card? Yeah, or a Howie Morenz card. Yeah. A George Vezina card. I'm right. It's rights because I know that in what am I thinking?

MLB, I think, or it might be Madden. Unless you're in the Players Association at the time, they don't have your direct rights to put you in the video game

because the Players Association who sells all the rights for everybody for the video games. It's pre-players association. Yeah, they would have to be like, hey, can we use you directly? They have to go to Maurice or Sons.

That's interesting because I remember having a game back in the day and this is probably before any of this mattered, but I remember having a baseball game back in the day and I actually had Cy Young on my team. Like you could have the legends be a part of it and Cy Young with sidearm pitching. The show has all the classic baseball players.

It's got to be like Dennis Eckersley. You could be like Babe Ruth and that sort of thing. Babe Ruth, really? It's got to be doable though because you can get like classic hockey cards They had to get some sort of permission. I'm just assuming esports hasn't gone out and done it yet. I don't know.

They should. We should talk to Rammer. There's a bunch of things they should do. There's a bunch of... Oh, my God. I was talking to Adam. Dude. Oh, sorry.

Is that what you were about to say? Go ahead. Steve complains about the video game cycle. Jesse, I was having a rough day yesterday. Yep. As you guys both know. And Jesse came by, dropped me a coffee, gave me a hug, which was awesome. Steve called.

and he said well as an adult 30 year old man here's what happened to me and Steve I'll let you take it away well yeah

he's explaining how he's having a hard day and and I'm like okay well I don't know I only know how to

the person I know how to beat up the best is me so I'm like I'm gonna do that and this will make Adam laugh someone sabotaged my EASHL game

and it ruined my night for a solid two hours like I finished playing this game at about 7 SL was like let's go to the mall I'm like

fine we'll go to a stupid mall She needed t-shirts Tried on some shoes Which mall? Oshawa Town Center Oh okay And tried on some shoes She's like oh I like these

I'm like stupid The laces are too long And I didn't even like it And she's like what can I do To improve your mood And I'm like ice cream Like I'm a 30 year old man Oh wait no

This was two days ago So this was before I hurt my back even So I couldn't even use that As like an excuse For why I was grumpy And I was grumpy Because a teammate of mine

Just intentionally Put himself offside In the third period When we were down by one goal And it was driving me nuts And I let that ruin my night From about 7pm to 9pm Why did the guy do that?

Because he's a fuckhead Did you talk to him Over the mic? No Why would I do that? You gotta ask him You can talk to him Well if he has the mic

I know why he was doing it So most of our team Left the game Or I think they lagged out Or something Because it's not like We were getting killed We were down by one

And it was literally I was yellow I was right D And he was red The center and I change my playing style when I have multiple CPUs especially if the other defenseman leaves

because then I can rush a little bit and it's great because you can be several steps ahead of the play because you create the play so all of the puck behind the net I'll pass to my defense partner and shoot up the ice then I'll call for the pass

because I'm already I got momentum going up the ice he didn't like that I was I don't know hogging the puck trying to score goals for our team. Jesse, I am over an assist per game. Don't even give me that look.

We found him. I did pass to him, though. You know what? I did pass to him, and you know what he did with the thing? Nothing. Skated in the three guys. Bum. He was upset at me, this probably nine-year-old, let's be honest.

Who ruined my night? And I don't know. That was kind of the point I was trying to get across to Adam. I let a nine-year-old ruin my night. I would just like to say that Adam and I Don't act like I'm not the best CHEL player in this room!

Adam and I Don't act like it! Oh How many times did you beat me last time? Okay Five on five You're probably the best I would just like to say

One player Like be a pro E-S-H-L You're both done I would just like to say Across the board with you Same time Two on one

I have also played NHL with Steve Have you? Where we've position locked before Well explain Explain how that situation went for you, Jesse Oh, that was threes!

That was threes No we've played Five on five A couple times Oh you're not talking About the most recent No We all went to the

Stanley Cup finals Also I was drunk I remember that trip To the Stanley Cup final And Steve was our Right defenseman as well That's right Yeah our weak side

Really And so often I would find our Right defenseman Behind our net In the offensive zone Playing the puck That he brought

Into the zone That he thought He could get out Of the zone and just do whatever he wants with it. Are these the things you think about when you look at your cup ring that we got together? Jesse, I want to talk about...

When you look at the cup ring that we got, I do remember that cup ring, and I do remember who scored the Game 6 overtime winning goal. I think it was Game 7. No, I think I scored in Game... No, because it wasn't Game 6. It was, like, Game 3, right? When I scored the Game 2.

No, no, there was... You scored a goal in an elimination game for us. And when you scored, you dropped your controller and ran I ran after you and Adam ran after me it was great

it was the best video game second round we went to seven games and we won because we were playing best of three so I assume we lost

the first game and then we went to the second game and then that's the overtime and then we won the third one which was for the cup right yeah

it was crazy anyways all I know is I've played with you Steve and sometimes who gave you the pass you tend to hog the puck

Who gave you that? I bet it was me You know you don't remember I bet it was me None of us Because it was on the rush I bet it was me Don't make that up

Just right up the middle Just the pizza Just amazing Because that's what I do Sauce Chef You know what I say to that? There's a first time for everything

Wow Wow That take was so hot It cured my back Unbelievable Steve's hubris in this Is also great Because

Wow Because Jesse What I love about this Is Steve Position locks on right-handed D with the Leafs. We always play as the Leafs

and he's the right-handed D. Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardner. No, I'm going to be right-handed. And I'm going to rush with it with whoever they have on the line.

Hainsey, Polak, and Karrick. It is a rough go. And it's especially bad with the Leafs because I do it so that I can have

the right-handed guy and then we're the Leafs and I get freaking Karrick. I mean, not Karrick, Hainsey. Yeah. Who's left.

Yeah, it is a rough go. It's a rough go with the Leafs. No, I love when Ron Hainsey is just deep in the offensive zone yeah for sure

you love your cup ring you love your cup ring it just makes total sense I understand I am this team I understand why that guy was cheating uh

Ron Ron Brendamore is the new coach in Carolina and first it's not even it doesn't even matter

what Ron Brendamore said it matters what in general it matters what Tom Dundon has said recently cause he's going to be the disruptor

stop talking and he said I've come to the conclusion that strategy is pretty overrated I don't believe strategy makes the difference I don't believe the strategy differences are as important as getting the right culture and the right attitude

I think he gives us the best chance of getting the most out of our guys and that's Tom Dundon about Rod Brindamore he has gone around the pendulum swung the other way he's not such a forward thinker that he's disliked, he's so far back

that even the old guard is like no No, that's far gone, buddy. We just need a culture. I don't remember who said it, but it's going to be great when Tom Dundon is credited for Scott Darling being a league average goaltender and Carolina being okay. Well, I mean, what they don't need is a culture change.

What they need is a goaltender. Yeah, literally a goalie. And I don't know why they want to trade Jeff Skinner. I'm not really sure why his name keeps coming up. Going into the season, all of us sat here and we're like, Carolina might be good. They might be sixth seed. They might make the playoffs.

And they didn't even miss by a ton. They had like a bad stretch run. Or no. No, didn't they go on a crazy stretch run? They did. Yeah, they went on a crazy stretch run. Well, like you guys are saying, if they just got solid goal-testing, it was probably fine.

Consistently throughout the season. No, who were their goalies again? They went from publicly calling out Eddie Lack to the next season. They went out and got Scott Darling, who was bad. and then they're like we're going with Cam Talbot can I just quickly interject

I'm sorry Ward Cam Ward Washington has 15 shots on goal Tampa has 6 what? Washington is up 4-0 is Vasilevsky still in? as far as I know

is Tampa icing 4 lines? yeah this is Washington without Nick Backstrom by the way well I mean I heard Tampa was playing with Down a Man

for fun That's what it is. They're trying our strategy out for next year. Two goalies. Play from behind, and maybe you'll win. That's right. Skate backwards all the way to the ice. Again, I feel like I've done this rant a few times.

So Scott Darling didn't work out in his first year anyway. He'll be fine. But the other guy was Cam Talbot, who had a 9.06 this year. Talbot or Ward? I keep saying Talbot. I'm sorry. Cam Ward. Cam Ward.

He was a 906 year before in 61 games. How on God's green earth did Cam Ward play 61 games? 905. Shout out Mississauga. Raptors, 905. 909 the year before. 910 the year before that. Vezna.

The year before that, he was a 937. Oh, that was in two AHL games. 30 games 8-9-8 he was a 9-0-8 and 17 games before that

he was a he was a 9-0-6 at the world championship in 2012 that's really relevant to this

conversation no no no wait wait wait no to the hurricanes being bad okay and the world

championship Steve I know and dude he was a 9-15 in 68 games in

2011-12 that was the last time he was within like shooting like punching range of frigging

league average. How is this guy still in the league? Let alone making multiple millions of dollars. I don't get it. You shouldn't even be in the league.

Get rid of him. Get a different goalie. Which one? Anyone. And pair him with Scott Darling and see if he makes the playoffs. Have we found

Pekka Rene's landing spot? I hope so. Second overall pick. Does Cam Ward still have term? if Cam Ward still has her

and he should not he's up oh okay so yeah he's a UFA does Cam Ward find a job

in the NHL next season yeah backing up UC Soros there you go if I'm Carolina and I'm looking at a non-Pekka Rene

option one of the teams I'm calling is the Leafs you got two RFAs in Sparks and Pickard you can't keep them both can I make a prediction

there I think it's still Anderson McElhinney do you really yep They trade Sparks Re-sign Pickard

Pickard and Kaskiswo But Pickard Can he be sent down? This is the issue So I think Both of Sparks and Pickard Require waivers

I don't Know if Kaskiswo does It's a tough I don't think Man I think that backup Rolls up for grabs

At camp And I think they need a guy Who can play more than Curtis McElhinney can Any one of those goalies goes on waivers i think they get claimed i'm scared that one day garrett sparks is a top 15 goalie in the league and anderson is on his way out and we needed a goalie and we could have held on to him this is that a word i should have this is the thing i'm trying to get across to people

with macalini because i wrote that article talking about you know the leafs got some decisions to make and they're like macalini was amazing what's what's the decision you need to make well first of all you'd be selling high second of all he's going to be here for like how much hockey does he have left in him he's 35 I know granted he's playing the best hockey of his entire freaking sure but he's 35 even if you take a hit at the backup position and one of Sparks or Pickard aren't as good as McElhinney was last season which how the hell do you replicate that what was he a 934 yeah you're not gonna replicate it so they're gonna take a hit at the backup position but it's for the health of the future of the team yeah I can't see them listen and with no disrespect to

Curtis McElhinney, because we were the ones railing about how people were being too hard on him. But I think a guy like that, the reason they have him signed was a 700k? 850. That's a variable contract. That's one that they might be able to get away with during the roster jam

right after training camp ends in terms of sending him down. And Sparks is a weird deal, too, because it's a one-way next year. So if the Leafs were, let's say the Leafs did send him down, put him on waivers, doesn't get claimed, they're paying him $800,000 to be their AHL starter.

So what I need, what I would need to know before making that decision is... Which, by the way, sorry to interrupt, but they paid Pickard a million, so... So what I would need to know is, you know, because Pickard has been a pretty serviceable backup in the NHL before. What I would need to know is,

is Garrett Sparks' game going to translate to the NHL when shots are faster, plays faster, everything's faster, everything tightens up? And Garrett Sparks, the knock on him is positioning. and so many of what the great saves in the NHL are are just positional saves. Yeah, I feel like this is so unfair and it's going to sound dumb,

but in the AHL... That's okay. That can be the whole show. This is so unfair and it sounds dumb. Or just drop the unfair part. This is dumb. This is dumb. The saves you make in the...

If you're going to be a good NHL goalie, the saves you make in the AHL should look easy. where Sparks has like several impossible saves a game. Now, are you really going to hold that against them? Like a bunch of them are like stretching the hell out on like two-on-ones and I mean, it's a two-on-one. How do you, it's difficult to cookie cutter a two-on-one. You never know how it's going to come at you,

but I just, I've never felt like the Leafs are in love with this player. The organization that is. They sure wanted Antoine Bebo to succeed. They put him in every position to succeed, and he did not. He was like the AHL Pecorino. Yeah, he'd be hot and then cold. Ice cold.

Volcanic and arctic. I feel like with Calvin Pickard, you know he's a little bit more of a known quantity. You kind of know what you're getting. He may have been brought up too soon, too, in Colorado, but that's nothing new in Colorado. It was nothing new in Toronto a few years ago, too. He wasn't brought up too soon.

it was he was playing 55 games on a last place team too soon sort of a similar fate to Sparks in a way where you were basically sentenced to playing on the Leafs

when they were terrible you're playing NHL reach instead of Halo reach you're on the avalanche and Varlamov's out and it's your job to be the starting goalie

I wonder I just wonder if if I wonder how they're going to look at that and I you know I'd be if I'm Dubas and Babcock and stuff and and they obviously would,

but I'd be talking to the goaltending coaches and going, whose game is going to translate better? Because what I would want is for you to not be making spectacular saves at the AHL level. I want you to make them at the NHL level. And I worry about body position. They're all big boys, but who's got the best body position? Because in the NHL, that's what really, really seems to matter.

And this is where it comes back to Dubas, because I was about to suggest, well, maybe it comes down to exhibition games in the fall, or in the late summer, I guess. where guys are competing for jobs and they're going to be basically playing for the role of backup. But everything we know about Kyle Dubas is he's not going to make a decision based on three games apiece. He's going to be looking at the body of work. So I can't see the Leafs going into the summer with this question mark,

like deep into the summer with this question mark. Jesse, can you look up the—I know you're looking at Sparks' numbers right now. He's not as young as I thought. he'll be 25 when the season starts I thought he'd be and that's all none of the Leafs

spare goalies are yeah Kaskiswo I think is also 25 and Pickard's 26 okay which is right around when you would want

a goalie to at least be in the NHL Vasilevsky's 23 Matt Murray's 22 those are exceptions like those are exceptional goaltenders

I think those are the rules and what it takes to win a Stanley Cup yeah let's let's just add Joseph Wool let's make him the starter next year

or also So, Guy from the WHO. Can you look up all the UFA goalies for this upcoming summer? There are a lot. And you know what I noticed? Not a lot of good ones. There's a bunch of goalies that need a new contract who are RFA too. I was looking at McElhaney.

And do you want just UFA? Let's do just UFA and then we can look at RFA after. Kari Lettinen Yaroslav Halak Cam Ward Jonathan Bernier Never heard of him Eddie Lack

Bernier's the best one so far Chad Johnson Andrew Hammond Andre Pavlik Anton Gudobin Michael Hutchison Carter Hutton Jeff Satkoff

I've never heard of Danny Taylor Carter Hutton's gonna get paid Danny Taylor I think was like the third or fourth goalie for the Sens Yeah Ante Niemi And after that Chris Gibson dude

Anthony Emi is like the third best name you've said so far yikes he's got Wedgwood Wedgwood's whatever

that's okay you sign him and Mr. Glass is your third guy and there's Lindback Dustin Tokarski remember when he was

in Montreal and that was supposed to be a thing oh what a save by Tokarski who are you doing Pierre Maguire at the World Juniors

dude look it up did he go on the ice and smack Tokarski's butt he wanted to okay He wanted too bad. He wasn't like, Tokarski was like big, but not Brad Marchand big. No, no.

Okay. Just checking. Not enough big boy. Not enough butt tap in there? Okay. Carter Hutton's going to get a lot of money. He's going to get a lot of money. Who is?

Carter Hutton. Oh, yeah. Yeah, for sure. What did you say, $4 million? It was, what was it? I think it was out of all the UFA and RFA goalies there are, McElhinney had a higher save percentage this year. Or no, sorry.

out of all the ufa or rfa goalies only four of them had a save percentage of 920 or higher one was connor hellebuck who's an rfa lol uh one was carter hutton who's gonna get a ton of money i forget the third philip grubauer philip grubauer is gonna get paid by someone i wonder if he gets traded. And the fourth was Andrew Hammond who only played one game and doesn't count. McElhinney had a crazy season last year. So

I wonder if you you look at exploring inefficiencies. I mean, selling high. Selling high. I mean, I guess it's not really an inefficiency. It's just a smart thing to do. I wonder if Dubas does it. Your stat is also wrong. There's UC Soros

also at a 925 and he's going to be an RFA. And he played 25 games. Must have missed it. Shoot. Just before somebody tweets you, we got it correct. I'm surprised no one tweeted me when I wrote the thing. Or maybe that's not how I worded it. I don't know.

I also wrote this like last week and I don't remember what I said. But trust me, it was great. It's good to be where the Leafs are because at least, you know, you've got three guys who could be your backup where a lot of teams don't have one and there is not a lot on the market. Yeah, they have good decisions to make. Yeah. Yeah.

Shall we do the press conference? yes we shall once I bring up the question oh they changed reddit you are viewing the new reddit

you can always I'm gonna visit old reddit thank you why change it I'm gonna explore new reddit later

might be interesting does nobody care about new reddit nope no what I do care is your Tim and Sid post of

Pekka I don't feel so good that's my new favorite meme even though I haven't seen infinity ward I spoiled it

for myself obviously because I get the meme but it's awesome have you seen infinity ward

no have you Adam no maybe we have a date night yeah I think we should go because I was

last night I was trying to catch up on the Marvel movies I hadn't seen aren't there 18 there are

and I like I haven't seen the new spider-man and I was just I was sitting there watching and I watched the end of like the Captain

America versus Iron Man thing and I was like I'm sitting there going this is honestly not good. Can I just say that that movie sucked? Wow. Wait which one? The Captain America versus Iron Man thing. Wasn't Thor Ragnarok not very good?

I heard Thor Ragnarok was really funny. Funny? Funny. Like apparently it's a very like they did an 80's theme with it. I loved Guardians of the First Guardians of the Galaxy. I've heard that was good. The second one was awful. Was it? it's so bad it's so bad

that's disappointing and it's like and I love Iron Man I loved the original Iron Man I thought it was cool and whatever but this this whole Tony Stark

with responsibilities that sucks are you a fan of the superhero movies like the Marvel Universe I was a fan of Iron Man I've seen some good ones but the second Iron Man

wasn't great either like it's just you know there are some that are good I don't get the whole and I haven't seen Black Panther yet either and I've heard

that was really good very good I think that it's hard to do 18 movies in 10 years and have them all be bangers. You know what I mean? And quite frankly,

I think they have their fair share of bangers, so you kind of let them off with some of the ones that are not as great, but Thor 2 with the weird people on the skateboard

flying things and they had these with Natalie Portman, like, Natalie Portman is above these movies. Wow. Can we just say that?

Natalie Portman. Her bank account says she is not. Yeah, well, I don't think she's involved in the universe anymore. I think they didn't even re-sign her.

Well, I think she moved on. Yeah, she was probably I can do anything so I'll do something else but yeah it's weird and then like Captain American one of the movies has a girlfriend who is now on like a hospital show

on like the channels here she's like on a hospital drama and she's like a part of that and they make out for a bit and then she's never in another movie again dude they straight up change the Hulk what do you mean the actor yeah oh no that's not like canon

I guess I mean the Spider-Man has been three times right but that's not a part of this particular story arc Don Cheadle was someone else

yes he was he was the guy from Empire who was the guy the lead guy from Empire because that guy's very hard to deal with on set

I know he has an Oscar and everything and I forget his name shoot is there a video I can watch that would be like alright here's everything

you need to know heading into Infinity War and go 100% and I watch it and it's 10 minutes long and then I go enjoy the movie with my friends

that's what I want to do I did that heading into the most recent Star Wars I've seen them but like I forget and especially like the episodes 4, 5, and 6 can I just

but I watched a little refresher and I was like most TV shows need that like Westworld is it needs that so badly and they should provide it

they should like there should be an HBO YouTube channel where they're like you should do it themselves here's your Westworld primer because season 1 was last year

and you mix up the storylines in the final episode so nobody knows what the hell's going on. But here's season two. Wait, they did that? Yeah, so there's different... I'm spoiling Westworld for anybody who hasn't seen it, but everything's taking place on a different timeline. So I think there's three different timelines

that are currently going on in Westworld. Oh, God, that's confusing. It's awesome. Is it good? It's great. But you need to do your research on it, which is terrible, but it's so awesome once you get it.

Okay. All right, all right. If you don't have to do research on it, you can watch it. It's still good. I also thought the most recent Star Wars wasn't very good. I'll just come out and say it. I didn't like it.

The Last Jedi, I was like, this is a tremendous letdown. A series of okay movies. That was okay. I thought Rogue One was good. I liked The Force Awakens. I was all about it. But, man, Last Jedi was like, wow. That sucked the air out of the balloon there.

Sucked the air out of the balloon? The helium out of the balloon. Is that a phrase? I don't know. I'm going to glom onto that phrase. Hey. You said something last episode and everybody got mad at you

I think you just got mad at him I don't think it was him No I'm sure he did There was a phrase that Adam used and it wasn't actually a phrase I don't know I forget Apparently Adam used a word

in a video How do we quantify a phrase? Is saying something isn't a phrase is that just saying like you're not a trusted hockey man? No No the phrase actually

has to make sense Well trusted hockey men don't always make sense No but you That's the point That's all I'm saying You can't be like But when someone says that's the pod calling the kettle black,

I don't own a black kettle or pod. I don't know what that is. It's a little bit outdated. No, but you can't make the, I'm going to row that car. That's not a thing, you know? I mean, yeah. You can't just say something. I mean, yeah.

You know what? Your take is hotter than a flamingo. Like, that's not. That's a hot flamingo. That's not a thing. A hot flamingo isn't a thing. And that's where the term hot pink comes from. Hey, instead of the press conference

I was going to ask the first question Forget it Let me ask one question This is from laxty23 It got 17 upvotes It's not really a question It's a question, but there's no response The question is

How many licks does it take Brad Marchand to get to the center of attention? Well The answer is two Maybe that's ruining the joke and then somebody responded and they wrote and how many licks

does it take for Adam to not welcome him to the show not welcome him to the what Brad Marchand yeah because I've already

not done you're not telling me that you wouldn't have Brad Marchand sure I would of course you would but I just but like a couple weeks ago

you were so salty about him that you were like no he'll never be on the show my first question wouldn't even be a question I'd be like okay you know how you just said I gotta cut that shit out

yeah I don't believe you I think that's a fair point I think it's a fair question I don't believe you were you or were you not spoken to the first time

I wasn't spoken to so you're calling Elliot Freeman a liar like what yeah come on man I don't think you'd be that blunt with him

so are you saying none of the Bruins spoke to you Zdeno Char and all his leadership when he pulled you over when he was talking to you on the bench

against the Lightning he had none of that to say against the Leafs Adam I don't think Steve's upset nor has he ever been upset I've never been upset You are coming across as bothered, and you're playing into his game.

I'm unbothered. I wanted to quickly touch on Dwayne Casey, who the Raptors head coach, who wins almost 60 games and turned the franchise around with Masai Ujiri and Tim Laiweke and all those guys. You know how no one in the States liked the Raptors? They look like shit today. They look like the dumbest team in basketball today,

and they just had the best season in franchise history. yeah which it completely taints it like this season forever in the

record books like please please for the love of god what was the record 59 games please win 60 games

because it's tainted forever this season sucks sorry I cut you off well I I think you're right and it sucks

that a coach who quite frankly had his star players sort of quit on him or just play like shit yeah I mean like

I'm sorry I know DeMar and Kyle are better than that. I know they are. And yet every time, every time in the playoffs, this is what happens. Well, and not just that, like, we've talked about this regarding hockey so many times. How often a great team, or at least a good team, ruins the freaking franchise because of the result of one playoff series. Now I know. Now this is three playoff series now.

They've lost ten straight games against the Cavaliers in the playoffs. How many were they the favorite? This year. Yeah, this year. And even then, it was like kind of 50-50 among most fans. And game one could have gone either way. Granted, it didn't. Game three could have gone either way.

Granted, it didn't. So really, okay, you got your ass kicked in two games. So you're going to let two games ruin the franchise. If this goes to six, I think Casey's still got his job. That's the dumbest thing ever. What, if they lost better? What kind of a joke team is this? Oh, the friggin' Raps.

Well, they had a good run. They were fun for a while. What's the other option? I just bought a Raptor sweater, too. Damn it. I think the other option is you hang on to him and you figure out what the hell to do with Ibaka. You make a few trades.

I think. Ibaka's making a lot of money. Jesse, you're not going to get in-depth basketball analysis from me. But I think they've got to change personnel a little bit. Yes. They're going to do that anyway. Yeah. I mean, what is the Wiggins for DeRozan thing that was floated?

That'll never happen. It's the Spider-Man meme Hey, there's that guy It's you You're looking at yourself Except worse, because Wiggins isn't the player that DeRozan is Will he be?

No, I don't know, I don't think so He doesn't, he would be Andrew Wiggins would be amazing in 2005 He's like Vince Carter light But the game of basketball now is you gotta be able to have a jump shot even though Ben Simmons proves that

doesn't have a jump shot at all and he's still successful but he doesn't succeed in this game because he doesn't play defense and he doesn't play outside of the key so he's too

he's just a high flying 2005 guy and it's not that anymore also is this another case of it's not confusing that the Raptors lost because okay

in my very novice view they don't have the they don't have star power that matches LeBron their starting guys don't match a lot of team starting guys what makes them kill it

and what gave them the best season in team history was their bench but their bench isn't it led by Fred Van Vliet yes

and he was out a few games and injured because he popped his shoulder out yeah so their

the leader of the thing that makes them the Raptors was hurt and out but then he played

he played all the Cleveland series yeah but he wasn't good because he was hurt no that's not the reason The team wasn't good. No, the team wasn't good, but I feel like that's... Doesn't that make them crumble?

No, but the team's not set up for playoff success. Yeah. And there's something in there about coaching, and there's something in there with the personnel, and there's overall the best player won, and he beat them. And I want to bring up this stat. DeMar DeRozan's worst plus-minus games happened in Game 2 versus Cleveland,

Game 3 versus Cleveland, and Game 4 versus Cleveland. Damn. His plus minus was minus 29, minus 23, minus 22 in his three last games of the year. He's the guy that has the most value on the roster. Do you trade him? DeMar? I don't think you can.

I think you just committed to him by firing the coach. Yeah. It seems crazy to me. Of all the guys, I think DeMar's the guy who's worth committing to. He stayed here. He wanted to be here. I don't think that sends the right message if the guy who finally stayed, the superstar who finally stayed, gets traded.

Well, someone else has got to go then. There's also nothing you can get back for him that's going to be better than DeMar. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, to me, you tough it out. You just tough it out. Like, what else can you do? I also feel like it started,

like the Raptors in Toronto, the city, started to become kind of a cool destination for free agents, and, like, that died. Like, that died overnight. The Broncos killed it in four games. They have no money also. And what coach wants to come here now?

Yeah, I think it's a bad decision to fire Casey, but I understand why he did that I just think it's I think you stick it out with him yeah I do too I can understand

almost any decision when it gets made I just disagree with it strongly when you said like the optics of it it's just it's not good

he might win coach of the year and they're gonna look like total dicks yeah same thing happened to Sam Mitchell too didn't he get it

and then the next year they fired him at least it was the next year yeah the next year and the team wasn't good enough and Dwayne Case is a better coach than Sam Mitchell

for sure He's Yeah it's not a good move I don't like it Well it sucks Cause I love doing Casey Hey anyways We'll wrap it up for now

Thanks so much for listening We'll be back I think What Tuesday next week Who knows We'll figure it out Maybe I'll sit Yeah Steve hope you're back

Me too Follow the guys on Twitter At Steve underscore Dangle At Adam W-Y-L-D-E And at Jesse Blake the steve dangle podcast brought to you by panago pizza order at panago.com and stuff your face with deliciousness