Clearing The Crease Podcast

Commie and Razor's honest reaction to the HABS... CTC 79

• Ozoon • Season 3 • Episode 79

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0:00 | 49:51

The boys come together to talk another round of NHL playoffs, the Leafs drafting McKenna, John Chayka... and everything else in the world of the NHL. All that and more on today's hockey video!


SPEAKER_00

I thought that was by far the best series of the first round. You know, the zero zero, one-nothing games, the low scoring games, I thought they were great games. Uh all three of us reluctantly picked Tampa. I remember that vividly, because we three of us did, and none of us wanted to, but we're like, man, Montreal can't really beat Tampa, can we? Playing guilty. Playing guilty.

SPEAKER_02

And if you had told me it was seven one-goal games, I would have a million percent put Tampa. Like I didn't think that I thought Montreal was gonna have to do it differently, and they they showed a lot.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. So awesome. Good for Montreal. I'm happy for him. I'm obviously very happy for my French friend Marty St. Louis. God, it'd be fun to be in Montreal right now. Holy God.

SPEAKER_04

Clearing the Creed.

SPEAKER_01

Well played. He's the Calder Trophy winner. Yes! The Razor and Raycroft in the house. The Stanley Cup winner. Come me, Mike Commodore. I'm James Tabelski. How y'all doing, everybody? I gotta tell you, not without tipping our hand too much, but we are coming off a heck of a weekend as a group. It took three and a half years, but we all got together uh recently in the GTA, had an awesome weekend, boys, and uh, I think our fans of the show, followers who follow along and enjoy the adventures, I'll say this: we got a lot of big surprises in store for you in the weeks ahead. Razor, we live to tell about it, buddy. It only took us three and a half years.

SPEAKER_02

Unbelievable that we pulled it off. It was well played that we all got together. Uh we got in the same room. And uh yeah, we had a blast, right? Two dinners, hanging out, finally. It was great. And and more importantly, I guess for all the viewers and everyone involved with the show is is we got some unbelievable people to hang out with us. And it's a bunch of great stories, a bunch of cool situations. So I'm I'm pumped to see how it all comes out.

SPEAKER_00

Come on, yeah, it was we survived, buddy. We did, we survived, you know, it was a little bit of travel, but we made it. We made it out. It was a good weekend. Uh, you know, we gotta, you know, I I'll be honest, I did have some doubts. I had some doubts about how this weekend was gonna go. But I will say a shout out to our producer, Stu. He pulled it off, like like you touched on. We won't get into it. We'll save it for when the stuff actually comes out. But we pulled out some great guests and studio was unbelievable. That was yeah, they pulled out all the stops. It was it was great. It was a really good weekend, no question about it.

SPEAKER_01

We we we had a wonderful time, so stay tuned for that in the weeks and the months ahead of the derby.

SPEAKER_00

It was a great weekend. The Derby was terrible, but other than that, oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01

People getting thrown from horses even before the race went. That was a sign that you knew this may not be a good one here for your comments.

SPEAKER_00

Last one before we should shout out Woodbine too. They took good care of us. Yeah, we should shout out for uh Dan. Dan at Woodbine. We didn't none of us had ever been there before, or if anybody had, it'd been a long, long time ago. Uh Dan hooked us up with a table and drinks and food. And you know, we were pretty busy, so we didn't spend all that much time over there, but the time that we did spend over there was awesome. So thank you, Dan.

SPEAKER_01

I'll say this. Yeah, we've seen the horse racing industry, I think, going in the wrong direction for decades, I think for a lot of people. And I gotta say that uh it was great to see the action of Woodbine and the great Canadian Resort uh alive and kicking. Uh things were thriving over there the weekend when we were there, so had a lot of fun. So stay tuned for that. A quick reminder, everybody, if you're enjoying the show and the content that we are bringing you with the podcast and all the add-ons through social, and there's more, as we just told you. Make sure you are mashing that like and subscribe button. Leave us a five-star review, whether you're on Apple or Spotify or wherever you're following along on YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok, or wherever else you may be checking us all out. Because the Claring the Crease podcast is powered by Ozun.net. The road to the Stanley Cup wide open right now. And the clearest way to winning big is to play on Ozun.net. Ozun has you covered for all props, game lines, futures from now until the cup final and beyond. Make your power play and score big with Ozun. Well played. Okay, let's first hit our Saturday night special for this week. We'll just keep it as we've been uh rolling just majority rules, just two games this weekend. We got the Aves and the Wild with game four coming up on Saturday, and then we got Carolina at Philly with game four as well. Let's start uh in the West. The Aves. Uh they are cooking. They're 6-0 as we record this right now for Saturday. Wild are at home. Are they going to jump on board here? Do they get into this series? Hands for the wild in game number four.

SPEAKER_00

Colorado's too good. Man, oh man, they're too good. Colorado's good. I'm gonna give the wild game three and take a chance on Colorado and game four. That's what I'm thinking here. That's where I'll go to. Yeah. There you go.

SPEAKER_01

The pros are going.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

The pros are going for the wild for that one. And uh meanwhile, Carolina and Philly flyers at home. I'll tell you what, Carolina has looked very, very good. Where are we going? Uh Philly and Carolina. Hands for Carolina.

SPEAKER_02

Call me, you have to pick Carolina.

SPEAKER_00

Just don't get rinsed again. That's right. I didn't pick them last time, and I'm getting lit up on Instagram because people think I didn't pick them for the series. I had to tell that one guy, hey, calm down. I'm like, we're picking these games Monday, they're Saturday night. I thought Ottawa was gonna win a game. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02

I'll go. And I've I'm I'm done doing the underdog, like, oh, the senators are gonna go on a run, or oh, like the Bruins are gonna like I'm done doing that. I'm picking the chalk the rest of the way. These two Colorado and Carolina are just so good. Like I don't know what I was thinking, why I was thinking it would change.

SPEAKER_01

No, I I think I think we are finally starting to recognize that the canes are maybe just that good as and we knew the Aves were good, but yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Canes are good.

SPEAKER_01

The C C hockey factory.

SPEAKER_02

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so there you go. Colorado, Carolina. There's your Saturday night special. I don't think you're going wrong with that one. Meanwhile, what a week, uh, what a time it has been to be an observer of the Toronto Maple Leafs. You are invested as a fan, whether you are just an observer, whatever it may be. Where to begin? Why don't we go with the most recent news as the Toronto Maple Leafs win the NHL draft lottery with a shock and awe where I think it felt more like, oh, the Leafs are gonna lose this draft pick. They are screwed. Well, Razor, hold my beer.

SPEAKER_02

Well, yeah. So I'm in Boston, who obviously was getting the sixth or seventh pick, and they basically had it in the bag because they knew the Leafs always get screwed. Like something always bad happens. They're gonna screw it up somehow. The Bruins are gonna get the pick. Like every, I think everyone here in Boston just assumed they were gonna get the pick. So one, there's a lot of despair here. However, the despair that we saw at the Great Canadian Resort, which was unbelievable, folks. The casino, the setup. We talked about Woodvine, but also the Great Canadian Resort. Nicoletta was our host. She was unbelievable. The despair that was in that casino over the weekend was out of control between who was getting hired just a couple of days ago, the draft lottery getting worked over, not having a pick for five years, Austin Matthews leaving, the whole thing. And now, and now order the rings, start the parade, just like that. Ball number 12 will be infamous. It like Bill Baroco in Maple Leafs History, as they are now on their way to uh Greener Pastures with Gavin McKenna, or hopefully they don't pick McKenna just to give us more drama. But yeah, what an unbelievable. Like the NHL is kind of cooking right now, huh, fellas? Like they've got the draft, like it feels like they're not the N the lottery was unbelievable last night. We've got two million people watching hockey games on a nightly basis. Like it feels like there's a little momentum behind this, and that ping pong ball thing was priceless last night because social media was having a blast.

SPEAKER_00

I was on the golf course yesterday, uh teeing it up. So I didn't see it live. I wasn't watching, but we got off the I was playing with a a couple of guys, a guy played college hockey with, who got off the course, and uh he's like, Toronto won the lottery. I'm like, no, they didn't. Shut up. He's like, I'm serious. I'm like, oh my god. My next question was where was Vancouver? Oh, they finished third, the worst possible ball they could get. No wins, e-ball. Sorry, sorry, Vancouver. You gotta wait a little longer.

SPEAKER_01

Kobe, that is the most Vancouver Canucks result that you could have expected. And I think that were a lot of fans, I think, out here, a lot of people talking to them, they were just like, Yeah, I hope it's going to be one. I hope there's a win, but the reality tells me that they're gonna get three. Third, yeah. And that's exactly and that's exactly what but I will just say this, guys. The NHL draft lottery, I hate to sound like the guy with the tinfoil hat right now, but good God, tell me the NHL draft lottery is rigged without telling me the NHL draft lottery is rigged.

SPEAKER_00

I disagree, Z Bob. Not rigged.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Hear me, hear me out, man.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

For the last 10 years, four New York markets? The leaves twice? Okay, Montreal, Chicago. Like these are all the big sexy markets for the National Hockey League to thrive. And I get it. I still remember Brian Burke saying to me, two weeks on to the job and then the season when the Leafs got off to a 4-0 start the one year. And I remember remarking to Brian, I said, Yeah, you guys are off to a good start. This looks good. He goes, We we really need to succeed. Like, we don't have time to for a rebuild. Like, there's a lot of pressure for the leaves to be good. And you know, the the bottom fell out of that season. But this is the expectation. Like, the league is better when the Rangers and all the New York teams and the tri-state teams are better and the leaves are better and the halves are better in Chicago. But good grief. Like, look at this. Come on, outside of the Outliers Buffalo and San Jose. Tell me the NHL draft lottery is rigged without telling me it's rigged.

SPEAKER_00

You know what, C Ball, I gotta disagree. Look, San Jose got Celebrini, it ain't rigged. You know what I mean? It ain't they would have made they would have made New York got Celebrini or something.

SPEAKER_02

I would love. I don't want to, I don't want to figure it out. I mean, but uh no, the San Jose Pageton 2 is pretty funny too, by the way.

SPEAKER_00

That's funny too. I I would love to. Now I know McKenna's, it's the you know, this isn't like a celebrini year or uh McDavid year where there's like a unanimous, like there's no question this guy's going first. There's a little, you know, I think it's up in the air a little bit. You know, he's gonna be a little bit more. Yeah, there's been some hesitation with Gavin McKenna. There's a good, yeah, a little hesitation for sure, but it would, I mean, obviously, I'm sure he was paying attention last night. It would have been funny. And look, I realize like it, it is a it's definitely an honor playing for I never played there, but it's an honor playing for the leagues. I think you're treated very well. Like I get it, but it's also, you know, there's a lot that comes with it, as we all know. And as we all experienced the casino this weekend, you know, there's a lot of heat. It would have been interesting to have a little camera on McKenna when that ball came out. Toronto Maple Leafs, you know. He's probably thinking he's like, oh man, I you know, and he's a Western guy, and maybe that doesn't matter. I'm the only saying that matters at all, but it's like, oh, you know, maybe I go to Vancouver, I got a little time to build, and you know what? It's gonna take some time, and there'll be a little patience anywhere in uh in Vancouver, and then uh leaves come out. Welcome to Toronto, get your shit together quick.

SPEAKER_03

Oh boy, you better you better score four in the first game. You better score four in the first game like Austin Matthews did.

SPEAKER_02

Plan the parade. Austin's so happy he's got this kid now to get all the shit. He might stay. Uh the reflector. Well, speaking for the Canucks C-ball, just for all the Canucks fans that listen, like I think it might be better. I think it might be better. And hear me out because they would have had to take in McKenna. McKenna's a winger. Pederson, like where they're at, they might be better off getting one of these big-time defensemen that you really build a team around. Or Stenberg, the centerman in the middle, maybe Stenberg Petterson, the Swedish connection, you get that thing going again. I think it's not the worst thing for Vancouver that because there's more pressure on that. Vancouver now is going to get a very good player at three, and it's not going to be the same as having to pick McKenna, I don't think.

SPEAKER_01

And the other thing to that is that they probably don't have to rush that player into the lineup on a come opening night.

SPEAKER_00

They'll just 100%. No, no, I'm totally agreeing with Razor. That's a really good point. If this was a McDavid year, a Matthews year, a Celebrini year, and you look and Vancouver's sitting there just had the year that they had, then they just get dumped on with the third pick, then it's like, man, that is a curse. But if this is gonna happen to you, like like Razor just touched on, this could not I mean you never know, right? It's it's a draft, but there's no like cut above player. So you could be sitting there at three and be like, and end up with maybe the player of the draft. Like there's no, yeah, you could, you totally could. This year, maybe more than any in recent. I think so.

SPEAKER_01

Let me throw this to both you guys then. Um I mean, commie, I know you're gonna go Keaton Verhoff from Nodak right there, who's a highly doubted prospect. But uh Caleb Moholtra, son of Manny, it's been a lot of talk as the Canucks need a center to your point, Razor. But there's also been a lot of trying to connect the dots. So is Manny Malholtra the next coach of the Vancouver Canucks? He's been in Abbots for the last couple years, won a Calder trophy uh a year ago. Uh they obviously decided to go without him foot, and that didn't work. So now is there a chance to kind of fix that, I guess, amongst Canucks fans. Would you is that a is that a good move or not to try to go after Caleb Malhotra at the draft pick when dad is the head coach?

SPEAKER_02

It feels too way too close for me. Just like T againla did not go to Calgary because that like they didn't, that wasn't good. Jerome was on our show, he talked about it. He's like, I don't think that's a good fit for my kid. Go back and check the episode with Jerome Againla, by the way. Um the same thing. Like, if I'm Manny, I don't want nothing, I don't want him anywhere near Vancouver. If I'm in the organization, if I'm coaching, especially, I can't coach my kid in the NHL. That's a disaster. So um, and I think from all the count from a couple guys I've talked to about the draft already a couple weeks ago, like Kayla might be down a little bit further than three, two.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I'm with that. I I actually saw Manny. I played with Manny in Columbus. Last time I was in Calgary, I popped out of an Uber after a couple of cocktails, and who was standing walking right down the street was Manny Malholtra. I'm like, hey, Manny, what's up? And he was going the other way. I could, I kind of we drove by him. He was going the other way. I'm like, that's Manny. And he turned around, he's like, uh, Collie? What are you doing? I'm like, what are you doing here? And I was like, oh, wait, Abbotsford. I'm like, you guys are staying here, anyways. We chatted for a minute and then he went on his way. But yeah, I think uh his his like, well, how are you doing, man? He's like, Oh man, I'm grinding. So I think Manny's ready to get out of the American Hockey League. I think he's ready to move on up. Um, but yeah, I'm with you guys on the, you know, that that's tough. I think that's tough for everybody around. And um, yeah, and from what I've kind of been reading and hearing about the draft, I got a buddy of mine. I am big on, I'm on Team North Dakota, Team Verhoff. There's no question about it. But I have also heard that there's a couple of D men. Uh, there's a Reed out east that I don't know much about. Yeah, Chase Reed. Okay. Chase Reed. There's one in Prince George, uh, Carols, I think, is his last name. Carols. Carols is the name I hear all the time. Yeah, that's the one I'm hearing. Uh, and I am uh Jimmy Playfair actually coaches there, helps out there. He's been texting me about him, and he's he's been raving about him. And uh a kid in uh PA, too, that I think is uh uh Rudolph, I think is his last name. He's supposed to be the legit too. So I think Verhoff's gonna be up there for sure. I don't know if he's gonna be like top three, like I've been spouting off. I think he's gonna be top, my buddy thought top five, top seven for sure, but anyway, some good options, some good D-man options, it sounds like all around.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, very deep, uh, very deep draft on that one. Uh and commie, I feel like every time I I feel like I text you this every other day. Who didn't you play with?

SPEAKER_00

Oh, there are many. There are why do you think you guys put me in charge of getting the guests when we were taking guests on this podcast? Well played. I'm like well played. Yeah, I played with him, I played with him, I've been on golf trips with him. It's like three-quarters of the league from 2000 to 2012. I played with.

SPEAKER_01

Uh, let me throw this to both you guys. The vitriol that was thrown around with the hire of John Checa as general manager, uh, as even as lovable as Matt's is, he could not insulate John Checker. Razor, let's go with the former leaf great here on this one. You played with you played with Matt's as well. I'd be curious your thoughts on all of this.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I love Mats, of course. Everyone's said that over the last week that's that knows Matt's. He's he's um he's like all the NHL superstars that I was with, so humble, um, took care of all of us. Like, you know, I was in Sweden, I'd go on vacation and he'd meet me downtown, we'd hang out, have dinner. No need to do that. Like, that's just kind of the guy he was. Um, very respected, of course. So he gets instant credibility from former Leafs in regards to him having the ability to watch what's going on after a little while and start setting culture. Um, of course, there's some concern how much hockey he's actually watched, or is he doing hockey, all these things. If he's just president, if he's shaking hands, if he's kind of keeping everybody in line, keeping everybody in check, I think he has a very good temperament to do that. He won't be as um bossy, I guess, for lack of a better word, as like a Shanahan or uh a Brian Burke or outgoing. Like Matt's is just gonna plod along and he'll he'll he'll know what it's supposed to look like and what it isn't. The Chaco one, I mean, this guy does not have a good reputation. Um, there are very few people that I've heard and talked to the last little while that thought he deserved a second chance in this league and are very concerned or very curious how he actually does business throughout the league. Um, that's the big question is okay, you know, he's he's he's obviously successful. He's he he looks the part. Um we heard about him being a salesman and a con artist. Um does he actually own other general managers and and get something done? That's that's the big question. So so Matt's is Matt's is kind of the guy up on the was when he was up on the conference table that I was like, man, he can't be comfortable up with these two guys and dealing with this right now. Like he's a pretty class guy that doesn't surround himself with people like this, and especially ones that get con artists to their face by Steve Simmons. Um it's fascinating, it's absolutely fascinating. And uh I can't wait.

SPEAKER_01

Come on, you were in Arizona. I mean, you have a sense of what the sort of vitriol with Sheka?

SPEAKER_00

No, I don't. I you know, I am down in Arizona, uh, but I have paid attention. There's a lot to break down here. Look, he got hired when he was young. I I knew he kind of got booted out of the league and quit, and I didn't really know what was going on. I've read up the last couple days, and he was doing some stuff at the you know, combine or whatever, and then you know, which this is a little concerning too. And the the story, I think it might have been Simmons again. I'm not sure. I think he said it about how he had six six computer screens. Did you guys see that? Yeah, one of them worked. Sitting here with an office that's all glass. Hey, look, look at me, look at me. This is open. Hey, look how hard I work. I got six screens going, all these stats. One computer works, and it's probably up on like an email account or something. Um, so that's obviously concerning. You know, the donor thing is terrible. Like, that's a bad look. And and you know what, maybe this guy's young and made some mistakes, but I don't like that. To me, that screams like, hey, this guy has some pull with the organization. I want him out because he's a threat. Uh so that's I mean, that that was that an introductory press conf Yeah, I actually I I can't say I'm the biggest Simmons fan. I mean, I think he's a little bit negative and a little bit nasty.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, he did that to me a million times, so I hate the guy.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, but so fair enough. He's not very popular, but I do have to you could tell he was a little bit nervous just by his voice. I do have to give him a little credit. When you come out at an intro. Like, was that an intro press conference or a firing squad? I mean, he came out when and like you just touched on con artist, liar, fraud. I mean, those are big words to be firing out right away. I would say to touch on your point, I mean you'd come across a table if someone said that to you.

SPEAKER_02

Oh my god, you're sitting there and it'd be like, You have to strangle the guy, you have to go after him. If someone says that to you, that's like the word.

SPEAKER_01

That's well, and I I think you know, fairness to Steve, I you know, and I've known Steve in a number of years as well. Steve comes from a throwback generation that you don't see a lot of reporters and media types like that anymore to to kind of be that direct and that blunt with questionings, right? And and I think a lot of people react in a certain way to the Steve. I mean, but that's the question everybody's talking about, right?

SPEAKER_00

I mean, if if he's let's just say uh take him at his word, he called 20, you know, people that we would know, and 19 out of them 20 were using words like that. Like, that means something. And to touch on Razor's point, at the end of the day, I've never been a general manager in my life, and unless I unless I and I never will be, let's for sure. But like, I'm buddies with Ken and with Doug Armstrong, and there's a lot that goes into it, don't get me wrong, but for just from me sitting back and just paying attention a little bit, a lot of what being a general manager is, is your relationships with the other general managers in the league. And at the end of the day, if none of those guys, if those guys all think you're a fraud and a con artist and a liar and they don't want to do business with you, then that's a problem. I don't know how you're gonna get anything done. So that would be if I'm sitting there as a Leafs fan, that would be my biggest concern. Because by and large, these guys stick together, these guys are boys. You know, you don't have to be buddies with all of them, but you know, they're they're definitely they hang in the same circles. And if if you're not welcome, that could be a problem. Yeah, that's the big one.

SPEAKER_01

The big concern for me uh with both those hires, Razor, you kind of touched on it with Matt's, but I would also say that same thing about Cheeka. Both these guys have kind of been a step aside from the game on the front lines for uh for more than a minute. Right? Cheeka left what it's been almost six years now, or five years, half a decade. Six, I think. Right in terms of yeah, and so there's one, and then Matt's obviously, he's got a young family. He's you know, the guy deserves to take a victory lap and enjoy life. But uh again, has been overseas, and that's not to say that there aren't video and games that you can stream and watch, but uh the both of these together, I think there is going to be a steep learning curve for both these individuals. Uh granted, have they matured? I mean, less I I'm less concerned about Matt's, but you know, John Cheka, I I know I was a different person uh from 26-year-old Cebolski bozo and 36-year-old Cabalski. Still a little bit less of a bozo. But so let's see how it plays out. But I think there is going to be a steep learning curve, and I and I do think connections and relationships, you're right on that, commie. We'll see how it all plays out here in the weeks, the months, and and maybe even years ahead.

SPEAKER_00

One my last one, my last quick thing on this, I forgot to put this in, was uh my other concern would be, you know, we got that Keith Pellian, and everybody's saying, like, hey, you know, hey, maybe they should have hired Grok, but uh everybody's saying, like the you know, the business side, he's a business guy, he's not a hockey guy. I have no idea what Cheeka's salary is, but I'm guessing he's not commanding a big price. So was this Keith being like, hey, we're getting a former GM bottom of the barrel price, like I'm saving money here. Is this like a business? If that's the case and that's how they're doing, that would be a little concerning too if I was a Leafs fan. And that's it. I'm done on it. Good.

SPEAKER_01

Razor, anything else you want to add?

SPEAKER_00

Nope.

SPEAKER_02

That was it. No, it's a good point, though. Let's head out west, I didn't put it in the back. Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_01

Uh let's talk about Leon and Connor. Oh man, boy. Uh, as they get bounced in round one to the ducks. Uh Leon got basically came out and said, uh, we got two years. We got two years to get significantly better. Uh, McDavid, uh, for his part, saying the organization took a step back effectively. Connor's turning 30 next season. That's pretty well played or not to come out and to be that honest uh assessing your hockey club that after two straight Stanley Cup appearances, they go out in round one to the ducks. Commie.

SPEAKER_00

You know what? Uh I am gonna I think it's well played, and I think he can play it however he wants with how he's played in that city, and then with the contract that he signed, I think it's he could have done something very, very different and he didn't. Uh in saying that, Razor, I know you were all about the Oilers all year. Um, in saying that, I think it was a little bit in just in general, I'm not talking about personnel. I think it I think it was a lot to ask to ask the Edmonton Oilers to go back to the finals and give it another run again this year. They've played a lot of hockey. So in that end of it, I'll give them a pass on things. But personnel-wise, uh yeah, I think they have taken a bit of a step back and they keep swinging and missing. This the this goaltending situation, they're they're taking shots. I'll get guess I'll give them credit at that, but they're taking shots at guys that in the not too distant past were available for free. So there's, you know, you're just I feel like they're just crossing their fingers and hoping. So yeah, I I mean I think it's well played by Connor. I think he can Leon too. I think those guys can say whatever they want. I don't think they were incredibly negative. I think they were just being honest, is how they see it. Honest. Yeah, very honest. And and I don't think too many people disagree with them. So that front office has some work to do with whatever they think. I mean, look, that D Corf to me needs, I mean, I don't want to. We've talked about the bouch bomb and the, you know, a little casual, and I don't want to harp on Darnell. Darnell's playing better. I I've been giving giving Darnell credit actually the last little while. But they got to shore that up and then the goaltending. But yeah, they aren't wrong. Well played to both of them.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, well played because you and you said it, Connor. They to go back three in a row. It was just it, it was pro it was really unlikely, even if they had Patrick Wan there. Sure. It's just so much. And look at Colorado, look at Minnesota, look at Dallas, look at that. It just was gonna be a lot, no matter what, because of how much hockey they played, and and Connor's playing on a broken foot, the whole thing. And and I think that's why them being honest right now is is well played, because this was a good time to do it. Take advantage, like the last couple of years, right? Like, and and Tommy, you know as as well as anybody, when teams win, when coaches win, when organizations win or get to the finals, get to game six, get to game seven of the finals, they're like, ah, we were so we were just unlucky. You can you can talk yourself into thinking, ah, we were a little unlucky, or if this goes here or that goes there, we get a save there, we win this thing. This is the time to be very brutally honest. If you're Connor and Leon saying, we didn't look at this, we we won two playoff games. This isn't what it was the last, and they might have felt the same way the last couple of years. Like they probably looked across the ice at Florida last year, losing in game six, but saying we weren't even close, actually. Like we had no chance against that group to actually win. Now they can really say it. They couldn't say it last year, they can say it this year, and it should. I mean, everyone knows the organizations on on blast, I guess, at this point, but there's no question, and there they are now, they've got to figure out the goaltending. They made some poor decisions. They get rid of that Kulak guy. He's playing like more minutes than Kale McCart for Colorado right now, and the best team. Like, how'd that happen? Like, how did like that's um so there's some stuff there, and and there's no question that those guys aren't happy. They they've been unhappy since the Olympic break when they were talking about their coaching and their style, and um it's the front office and and the coaches have to be walking on eggshells with with Connor and Leon walking around there.

SPEAKER_01

Ray Razor, I think further to that, your point is those guys kind of alluded to the fact that I think they're overplayed. That I think that's just it's too much, right? And it's just like we cannot we cannot do this alone. Yeah, this is not the NBA where you can where you can win with a big three. Hockey is deeper than that, right? When you look at all the personnel, they've still got what eight million plus committed to goaltenders for next year with Jari and the buyout of Jack Campbell. I mean, just look at the look at the turnstile they've gone through here over the last few years. You know, your boy Darnell commie, uh, you know, again, 9.25.

SPEAKER_00

Way too much.

SPEAKER_01

That's not going, that's not going anywhere. It's just is he a solid goal? Uh he's kind of solidified himself, but it's just not a 925 player. And and then Trent Frederick somewhere went off a cliff last year as well. That maybe there's a bounce back with Trent Frederick, but there's 20 million dollars. Like that, there's effectively a fifth of your salary cap. And when you're a Stanley Cup champion, very rarely do you run into situations with teams that have a fifth of your cap being an albatross. You know, even look at Seth Jones when he got to Florida, right? Like that guy turned back into an upper echelon all-star caliber defenseman. Yeah, and and this is where and this is where we are.

SPEAKER_00

So we got problems in Edmonton, too. There's well there's it's everywhere. It's everywhere.

SPEAKER_01

That's a that's a well played. Uh can we, hey, we haven't even had a chance. Our our Habs fans are gonna kill us for this, but obviously there's been a lot of news happening. How do we feel about Montreal? And uh the Canada's last hope, once again. Well, they be the ones to end the 93 curse, but that is a there is a fearlessness about that team and and dovish, let's give some credit. Razor, uh, it always comes. Hey, you know, find me a goalie, right? Well, we just outdoed and just out dueled Andre Vashilevsky like at a critical moment, like in a low-scoring affair in game six and seven. Like Vasilevsky locked it down, and they still lost as good as Big Vass was.

SPEAKER_02

Well, and Tampa locked it down with nine shots on goal for the Montreal Canadians in game seven as we were sitting there watching that. Um, no, he would Dobish came out of nowhere for everybody in game seven, especially. Um, the Canadians found a way, especially with their special teams. The power play got them through the series. Seven one-goal games, four overtime periods. Like, what a series, one for the ages. And Montreal showed a lot because as we know, like we we taught the Tampa has huge balls. We love, like, I love the guys in Tampa, like to put them out and and put the dagger in those guys is impressive. So, yeah, there's no, it's not even close for maybe a couple years right now. Like Montreal is the the hope again for all of Canada. And without question, over the next six weeks, they're they're the ones because they they showed a lot of Moxie. Marty St. Louise, unbelievable. They've got a goalie. I think they can take out Buffalo.

SPEAKER_00

Come, Tonami, Marty. Wait, Monami Marty, Monami Martin. I thought that was by far the best series of the first round. You know, the 0-0, 1-0 games, the low-scoring games. I thought they were great games. Uh, all three of us reluctantly picked Tampa. I remember that vividly because we three of us did, and none of us wanted to, but we're like, man, Montreal can't really beat Tampa, can it? Playing guilty. Yeah. Playing guilty.

SPEAKER_02

And if you had told me it was seven one goal games, I would have million percent put Tampa. Like, I didn't think that I thought Montreal was gonna have to do it differently, and they they showed a lot.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. So awesome. Good for Montreal. I'm happy for him. I'm obviously very happy for my French friend Marty St. Louis. God, it'd be fun to be in Montreal right now. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03

Just don't have too much fun, fellas.

SPEAKER_00

Just don't have too much fun.

SPEAKER_03

Well, save it for after. Save it for after.

SPEAKER_01

And I and I do think that Buffalo and Montreal as a series has an opportunity to open up a little more. Like that was a tight checking series that was intense between Tampa and Montreal, but this one could this one could have a some an homage to the 80s, if you will, a good old-fashioned Adams Division classic.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and it should go back and forth. The games, like in-game, should go back and forth, and and the games themselves. It feels like two younger teams, like you said, uh that that are going to experience highs and lows. There's going to be real highs and lows. The fan bases are going to have highs and lows. Can you imagine what what the stupid thing's going to look like between Sabres and Canadians fans for the next two weeks? Going at each other. Absolutely ruthless.

SPEAKER_01

Hey, look, we've been waving the Sabres flag uh on this show for the better part of the last six months since they've finally turned things around. But gimme Montreal. We're on the Haves bandwagon here now. Yeah, give me Montreal. Yeah, Webb. Tell me where you're going for this series.

SPEAKER_02

He likes Buffalo too. He likes Buffalo. He's got its own.

SPEAKER_00

Get back to me on that one. I got to think about it a little bit more. Barney's gonna lose his mind if he hears that through again.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, we should give Barney a shout out that he was the human can of Red Bull. Uh up in the GTA.

SPEAKER_00

You don't stop.

SPEAKER_01

He was a fun add-on to the weekend for sure. Uh okay, real quick. Uh oftentimes you go through the emotions of round one as a hockey fan. You're watching everything. There's eight gig series going on here, there, everywhere. Just hockey, hockey, hockey. Got overtimes, just you're sitting on the couch till late at night. Round two, some of those Cinderellas get bounced. There's a bit of an energy level dip. So where's your given-ish meter for these series? Haves savers. That's very high. That's as high as it gets.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that's my highest interest, too.

SPEAKER_01

Agreed. Me too. Uh Philly, Carolina.

SPEAKER_00

I would be more interested if it wasn't and anything can happen. It's two games. Carolina won two games at home. I am interested in it, but you know, they already got a two, which they Philly can come back, but I put it like medium.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I'm I'm looking Carolina's, yeah, good. They're the next round for me. Agreed.

SPEAKER_01

Uh Vegas Anaheim.

SPEAKER_02

I can't get excited for I don't know why. Vegas is, I'm having a hard time. Like, I know like I they're really good, but I'm like not excited to watch as you've seen it before. Yeah, like I don't know. I I'm I'm kind of in the middle. The same as the Carolina. I'd like that series isn't as important to me for sure.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, same as Carolina. The Ducks, it's been fun watching the Ducks because I haven't watched them much. So it's been fun watching those guys a little bit, I think. But I mean kind of terrible jerseys. Yeah, you know, I it they're growing on me a little bit. I get it. Both both teams. The combination is more than the eyes.

SPEAKER_01

I would take a Ducks jersey over uh Vegas jersey.

SPEAKER_02

Fair enough. Fair enough. Yeah, the combination bought.

SPEAKER_01

At least they brought back the old low. At least the old logo is back on the orange. But I feel like it's just missing. You're right. There's a there's a little pop, I think, that's missing on that on that orange. Maybe just too much orange. Uh Colorado, Minnesota.

SPEAKER_00

Uh, same thing.

SPEAKER_01

Number two for me. Yeah, it's high for me behind halves, Buffalo.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it's high for me. I need to see Minnesota win game three. That's another one that's up. We've already seen two games. So Minnesota wins, I mean, Minnesota, they're gonna be going bananas there. So uh that would be a very fun. Minnesota doesn't get enough credit for how good, especially in Canada, on how much hockey's going. I mean, they are gonna be charged. I mean, they're gonna be charging up everywhere, I get it, but that's gonna be a great building. There's no question.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, I'm high on this series. I was I was really high game two, and we didn't see it. Yeah. Uh, I really want a Minnesota win game two because I want this to go seven, and now I'm a little concerned that Colorado is really that good. Yeah, uh, but you can't, I mean, they it's an absolute track meet watching those two teams.

SPEAKER_01

State of hockey, loud bar. Good luck, Minnie. Uh, okay, fan question of the week. This is uh, we turn it over to you. You have a question for us. You can hit us up using the hashtag on all social channels, YouTube, Instagram, X uh Ask CTC is the hashtag you use. And this one coming from Zach and Buffalo. Here we go. From Buffalo getting the love. Guys, what's it like for both Kami and Razor going into their draft? Did they meet with general managers? What did they ask? How did it feel to get picked? No, it's a lot of questions, but they all kind of relate and can have one answer. Love the show, boys. So that's from Zach and Buffalo. Come, you kind of went down a little bit of this road, uh, I feel like a couple of years ago, but what was it like going in for your draft?

SPEAKER_00

Uh yeah, it was exciting. There's no question. It was kind of the first time I like took it seriously that like maybe I could hockey might be a career for me. I never really thought of it before. Uh went to the combine, did that stuff, did interviews as far as what I remember, like who interviewing with, I don't really remember, like as far as who was in the room. Uh, New Jersey at the time had a special. They did their own thing, a Lou Lamarello special. So the players that they kind of like, they'd have in and do their own little combine. Um, long story short, there was the uh test on the treadmill, a heart rate test, basically to see how long you run and quit. A guy went before me. The test looked incredibly hard. All I wanted to do was beat the guy in front of me. I did that. Uh, then I wasn't gonna go to the draft because it was in Boston, I was in North Dakota, my parents are in Edmonton. You know, we weren't poor by any stretch of the imagination, but I was sitting there painting the uh dorm room walls whiter for three bucks an hour. It was American though, back then. Well, kind of like it is now. So I'm like, I don't really have, and I as I was leaving the combine, you know, they asked, Hey, when do you get to the draft? I just said, you know what? I don't think I'm gonna go. Like my parents are a long ways away. I, you know, don't have a ton of money. And and I remember their head scout saying, Hey, like, you need to get to the draft. I was like, oh. So then I called my parents. I'm like, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get drafted. I think New Jersey likes me. So go out to the draft, meet my parents there. Uh, it's in Boston. First round's going on, and I'd never been to Boston before. First round's going on, and the Bruins were actually picking. They end up picking Nick Boynton. And I remember sitting there, and there was a group of fans to my right. There was a fan section on the right, and a bunch of them started like cheering my name. We should have drafted you, Commodore, this and that. And I like turned and looked. I was shocked. And my dad sitting beside me, he's like, Hey, do you know those guys? I go, I've never been here in my life. No, I don't know. I don't have any idea how they like even know who I am. Anyways, got out of the first round. I thought Washington was gonna pick me. I they I thought they liked me. They had a bunch of picks beginning of the second round, they don't pick me. It got a little stressful. My dad was more stressed than I was. I knew New Jersey had their second pick coming up. Um, but if I would have gone past that, now we're talking about some stress because then we fly all the way out to Boston and I get picked, you know. If it's later, you know, just you just do it at home. But uh New Jersey picked me. Incredible to wrap it up. It was an incredible experience. Went down, met Larry Robinson, you know, got the jersey. You know, I wasn't on stage second rounder, but I would say like the probably the biggest thing I remember from Boston was they had they invited New Jersey Devils were at one of the nice hotels downtown. They had this big spread, and my me and my parents were invited over. Hey, all the draft picks and whatever, and you know, Lou was there and Larry Robinson was there, a bunch of people were there, and I just remember the spread of food. Like I'd never seen anything like that before. Like shrimp cocktails, and I was like, this is unbelievable. I love New Jersey. Uh, but all in all, it was a great experience, and I I am glad I uh glad I went.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, for me, very similar. Very, very simple, of course. It's all very similar. I did not go to the combine, I was not invited to the combine. I was a fifth-round pick, so I was I was late. I was down the board. I got invited to a couple of the team combines. I went to San Jose's, um, I went to, I forget, there was another team that I went to in Toronto that kind of set up their own thing. I I did two of those, um, but way off the radar. Got to and but the draft was in Buffalo. So short drive for me. Um, I was rated maybe the 10th goalie, 11th goalie, something like that. So I was in the mix. But when I got to, I was going to Buffalo to have meetings. I had a meeting again with San Jose and I had a meeting with Boston. Um the day before, go in, meet with Boston, and and it was like, it was good. Like it felt good. It like for whatever reason. I don't I didn't know shit at the time looking back. Like, why would 18-year-old me feel good about a meeting, right? Um but got out of there and then went to the draft the next day. Of course, it was a really long day because I they just did everything at the same time. So the first round took like five hours. Vinny Le Cavalier, Manny Maholcher was drafted. He was a buddy of mine at that time. We were playing together in the O. We were hanging out. So I was happy some of the my friends got drafted, Mike Fisher. Like it was fun for a couple rounds. And then by the fourth round, I was getting tired. And every, you know, my family's there, like it was getting long. But Boston had the fifth pick, fifth round pick. And I felt like the whole time that was where I was gonna go. And and for whatever reason, I did to Tommy's point. If I didn't get picked in that fifth round by Boston, I probably would have started crying and walked out of the arena. Like that's how much it was like first overall pick, fifth round, 135th overall. Was like that was like my first overall pick. Um went down, same thing, shook everybody's hands, take the picture, went to the the place in Buffalo that they had the spread and everything. But I remember I got to go in and Mr. Syndan was there. Uh Michael Connor was the GM, but Mr. Sinnan was there. He was drinking scotch, he was sitting at the bar, exactly what you would think Mr. Sinnan was doing all day long at that point. Uh, and getting to meet him and then uh driving home. So it was it was a long, long day. But but again, going and meeting those guys and having the seeing the spread, seeing the scouts, and and meeting Mr. Sinan was was the the absolute best day. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01

That that's fantastic. And Razor, to your credit, not a lot of fifth rounders have gone on to. Because you called a trophy. No question about it. Tip of the cap to both you guys. That's all. Who was the first goalie take in that draft year?

SPEAKER_02

Patty De Roche. I'll tell you, I could tell you all the goalies that were drafted in front of me. Okay, who was the first one? Patty De Roche, Matthew Schwinard was also a first round pick. Both of them, yes, exactly. Both of them went in the first round. Simon LaJoin was ahead of me. Jason LaBarba was ahead of me. Bunch of guys. Barbs. Barbs had a good career. He was he was in the redraft, it was it was Barbs was closer to me. Yeah.

unknown

Nice.

SPEAKER_01

Well played. Well played.

SPEAKER_02

Well played. Ray Cruppy.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, let's get to don't puck it up. Hey, you know what? This week, commie, I think you're going to appreciate my don't puck it up this week.

SPEAKER_00

I think you're going to take mine, I think. So I was going to tell you to go first. I got two, so because I think you're going to take mine. Okay, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, well, let's see. Hockey execs. If you are looking for your next coach, why not consider Todd Bertuzzi? Oh, I wasn't. Just coached the Cambridge Red Hawks of the Greater Ontario Hockey League to the Sutherland Cup Championship in his first year as head coach. I just want to point out, remember when the Montreal Canadiens hired a relative unknown former hockey player in Marty St. Louis? Oh, look where they are now. Maybe Big Bird is next. If you're looking for a coach, don't puck it up.

SPEAKER_00

Awesome.

SPEAKER_01

Congrats to Cambridge, by the way. Congrats to a friend of the show, Todd Bertus.

SPEAKER_00

Awesome. I did not think you were going that way, Seaball. Great thinking. I should have thought of that. That's awesome. I talked to Big Burt yesterday, actually. He said he's sorry he couldn't meet us, but uh just by talking to him, he was thrilled. He takes a I mean, he he's pumped and he says he loves it. He goes, Ah, I was sitting in the dark all year and it was cold. And Florida was a little better for that because I loved it. It was great working with the kids. I can't wait to do it again next year. So he's pumped. Um I don't puck it up. I'm gonna go. Um, I don't know who this would be to, Gary Bettman, maybe. Uh now this isn't an anti-leafs thing, but okay, can we and we don't need to get go to the NBA route with the tank? Uh I don't want to see that either. And and the NHL is, you know, doesn't reward that, obviously. Talk to a Canucks fan. But I think we need, let's not puck this up. Could we just adjust the percentages a little bit? It was 10 to 1 this year. San Jose went from nine to two. San Jose don't puck that pickup either. You get a great defenseman, I think. And then what was it the year before? Was it five to one or whatever? I think, in my opinion, the percentages are a little pucked up right now. I think for the Vancouver Canucks of the world, it needs to be boosted up a little bit higher. That's my doubt. I like that, Kami. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

A really good one, Kami. Really thoughtful.

SPEAKER_01

I I you know, just quickly to that point, I love what the PWHL has done to try to avoid or dissuade tanking. They've created the golden plan that once you are eliminated from the playoffs, whoever finishes with the most points, once you've been eliminated, gets the top overall pick. So you accumulate points, so it makes winning matter. And you look at what happened, what's happening with the NBA right now, and dare I say the NHL, you know, as opposed to the lottery balls, let teams decide their fate, but in provide that incentivization that you know, all those overtime losses, shootout losses, winning those games, points matter in the standings. Just putting it out.

SPEAKER_00

Good idea, actually.

SPEAKER_02

I never thought of anything like that. Don't puck it up, Vancouver Canucks. Oh, I think you're gonna be upset. Everyone's upset, everyone's nervous, everyone's rattled. They got screwed again by Team East and Team Toronto, Team Canada Toronto. Just get the right pick. You're in a good spot. You're gonna get a great player, get your general manager figured out, get your coaching staff figured out, get your ducks lined up so you can take a generational player or at least a franchise changing player with the third overall pick this year. Don't screw this up. You have an opportunity, even at the three pick, not the first pick. The three pick's just as good, but you need to get everything else in place to take the right guy at three. Don't puck it up, Vancouver.

SPEAKER_00

Good one.

SPEAKER_01

Hey, your boy Jimmy is stepping away. He announced uh commie from Jim Rutherford. Maybe he's had enough of the Canadian public.

SPEAKER_00

What are we doing? What are we doing? What's going on? Like, let's go. Jimmy's been doing this forever, and he wanted I think he wanted to do it till he's six feet under, but Vancouver knocked him down. He can't take it anymore.

SPEAKER_01

I'm out! It's like Kramer walking in, the king of the cat. I'm out!

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that's it. Can't take this anymore.

SPEAKER_01

Well, on that note, reminder to like and subscribe on YouTube for more clearing the crease content powered by Ozun.net. And be sure you're following along on Apple, Spotify, X, Instagram, TikTok because the road to the Stanley Cup, it's open, and the clearest route to winning big is to play on Ozu.net. Ozun's got you covered for all props, game lines, futures from now until the cup final and beyond. Make your power play and score big with Ozun. Well played. He's Kami. He's Razor. Shout out to our producer Stu Stone. I'm Stobowski. We'll see you next week right here on the Clearing the Crease podcast, powered by Ozun. Say it with me, boys. Well played.