Does the NHL have a Vegas / Carolina Problem...? CTC 83

On this week of Clearing the Crease, the boys preview the Stanley Cup, while looking back at the season of the Colorado Avalanche, while finally predicting whether the Vegas Goldenknights or Carolina Hurricanes will win the Stanley Cup!

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

I think the entire Vegas fan base hates me back in the last episode.

SPEAKER_03 0:04

I want to bring that up. Oh, it's going to get worse too now. It's really going to get ugly now.

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Vegas fans are all over you, Z-Ball.

SPEAKER_02 0:12

Hey man, I was just encouraging them to win, but I'll tell you what. What a wake-up call. What a wake-up call. Like I like that is a passionate fan base.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

They are tuning in to clearing the crease now. Just wait. I just jump on you again. They can't wait to hear your prediction later in this show.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Oh yeah, they're going to love me for that spot.

SPEAKER_02 0:51

Hey everybody, welcome back to the Clear and the Crease podcast, powered by Ozun. Well played. Alongside Razor and Tommy, I'm Sabalski. Here we go. Stanley Cup final is set. And just a quick reminder that if you're enjoying the show and the content that we bring you each and every week here on the podcast and all the add-ons and social, hey, make sure you're mashing that like and subscribe button. Leave us a five-star review on Apple or Spotify. And make sure you're following along on social. You're subscribed on YouTube or on Instagram, X, TikTok, wherever else you are tuning in from. The algorithms are popping. We're into the cup final here right now. Come here just survived the Flames alumni tournament. And how was that out in Calgary there, Kami?

SPEAKER_00 1:32

That was a long week, fellas. That was a long week. And one of our kind of uh ozun.com uh co-workers, I guess for lack of a term, was a part of it. Uh we have the Gordy How care, so I flew in last third two Thursdays ago. So I had to play hockey. So that was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday out. And then I I wasn't really. I was like, and then we had our Flames Alumni Golf Tournament for uh uh CP kids and and family, the cerebral palsy, sorry, like building bikes. It's actually really cool, anyways. I I I helped kind of run it. I don't I co-chair it. The the the honest truth is Robin Regier runs that. And if it wasn't for Robin Regier, there'd be no tournament. I mean I've been missing an action for like two years down in Arizona, but um no, it was great. Uh had a good weekend, raised a bunch of money for the Gordy How cares. I think it was like 1.8 million, which wow, yeah, that's pretty crazy. Uh and then I uh, you know, I thought I was gonna have, you know, like Monday, Tuesday, you know, nice and easy. Let's play a couple rounds of golf. Yeah. You know, Matthew Barnaby's like, he wanted to play some golf. So I'm like, he stayed a couple extra days. So I'm like, okay. We I booked a round at this uh Earl Gray where I'm a member. I haven't seen the golf course in three years, so I'm like, oh, this will be nice. Well, me and Barney went out Monday, played golf in one. Tuesday played golf in one. Wednesday, I finally got you know we flew Chuck Cobasu in for the, you know, as Flames alumni. I try and bring somebody in every year. Um, so we had a social that night. So that was like kind of the you know, Chucky's nice, you know, he's he's a little more reserved. You're finally able to shake Barney off your leg. That's what you're able to do. Yeah, thank God Barnaby finally flew out Wednesday at 10 in the morning or noon or something. But um, yeah, it was a very fun week. Um yeah, yeah, it was a great time. I think everybody kind of raised a lot of money. It was great to see a lot of people, caught up on their parents a little bit. Uh, heard all about my mom's trip there, the girls' trip. That was the first time I'd seen her in a while. Uh so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

So your dad actually had a home cooked meal finally. There was, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

He had a clean t-shirt on. I had a clean t-shirt on, and when I was I stayed at my parents' place Monday and Tuesday, I opened up the fridge and it was back to normal. There was some home cooked food in there. If I would have when I was hungry when I come home, there's a little bit to eat if I wanted to. So things are all good at the Commodore household now. They're back to normal.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

Razor, I guess we should remind uh anybody who missed a recent episode, go to our archives, check out the last few weeks, and if you can fully understand the Commodore household dynamic with Mr. and Mrs. Commodore. Yes, fully understand the full fridge and whatnot. Razor, we had a great time this week, too. We caught up at the Clearing the Crease podcast poker tournament. And uh you were moving and shaking for a bit.

SPEAKER_03 4:28

I was. I I hung in there at this time. Um, you know, I was I was at the the the end of the table. I think I got to top 18, and I had a lot of chips too, and a couple bad beats, and then no discipline. So um hopefully whoever won won with my chips. Um, that would be nice. But yeah, it's I mean, it's it's I I'm glad I have a family and have lots of things to do because that online poker thing is easy to do and really fun and could be a problem for me. So uh I really enjoyed getting on there. I also try to put in the back of my head that I don't have time to really do it because it's uh it's a blast at Ozum.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Barney was there for a good time, not a long time, Kami. He came he came in like a rocket, like just came in, pushed all the chips in. Good night, everybody. It's like that, it was like that Seinfeld episode playing King of the Castle there for him and his poker game. And for anybody who missed out on our Clearing the Crease podcast poker tournament powered by Ozun, good news. There are more coming over the course of 2026. So keep an eye out. We'll let you know lots of time in advance. It's free to join, it's free to play, and there are real cash prizes to be won. So stay tuned. There's more coming, and plenty more coming over the course of 2026. A quick reminder that the Clearing the Crease podcast is powered by Ozoun. The road to the Stanley Cup is open, and the clearest route to winning big is to play on Ozun. Ozun's got you covered for all props, game lines, futures from now until the cup final and beyond. Make your power play, score big with Ozun. Well played. So here we go. A Stanley Cup final that just might be a ratings disaster here in Canada, but we're talking about two teams that are absolutely cooking right now. We got Carolina and Vegas. Um, I don't know which one is more surprised, probably Vegas more surprising, but with the Florida teams out of the way, it feels like the window is open finally for a Carolina team that has been to four conference finals over the last seven years. Razor, it finally feels like, dare I say, it is Carolina's time now, the way they are cooking.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

Oh boy, they're a wagon. They um it lined up perfectly for them, too, right? They get um they get Ottawa, which I thought, again, we go all the way back to that. I thought Ottawa was gonna give them a run. Didn't at all. Then they get Philly, so they get the eight seed, they get the five seed, the eight seed, and the four seed or the three-seed for Montreal. Montreal was exhausted. Montreal had nothing left in the tank, and and quite honestly, just didn't have enough horses to keep up with Carolina. The back end just wasn't ready for that stage. Um and Carolina looks good. So you end up getting the two best teams, which San HL, Commie, Seaball, you guys, we we always see the two best teams get in. We always see it one way or the other, the two best teams make it to the finals. Um, probably not the best destinations from the league's point of view, of course, Carolina and Vegas, but they are the two best teams, and it is going to be a hell of a series. I I love Carolina, but I also love what Vegas has as well. Like this lines up, you know, the the styles make the fight. This feels like it's going to be very tight, very close all the way through. You can see it's a scenario where there's like three overtimes in the series. Uh, it's it's gonna be it's gonna be a really good hockey series, and it's gonna be a war of attrition. I think these guys are gonna absolutely beat the shit out of each other.

SPEAKER_02 8:01

Come on, these teams are built to win. Plain and simple.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I I I really hope it is a good series. I'm gonna touch on this a little bit later, but it's like, man, we've kind of really cruised through this playoffs with not a whole lot of, you know, other than the Montreal series. Yeah, like these teams have, and even the even the six games, anyways, you know, Carolina has dominated, Colorado dominated till they got dominated. I mean, that's we I haven't had a chance to touch on that. That was probably I mean, nobody had that coming. I think if you would have taken Vegas to win in four over Colorado, I think it was like plus 2,500 or something. But back to the Canes, like uh, yeah, the Canes have looked good. You know, Montreal, a hell of a run. I mean, at the end of the day, they a hell of a run. I mean, they they they have nothing to hang their head about. They got through, won a couple rounds that nobody probably, you know, the majority of people probably wouldn't have picked them to win. Um, they got everybody excited in Montreal. I mean, it was awesome to watch. I mean, that they were pro those, you know, those were the two fun series, but yeah, I mean, you just run in. I mean, other than you know, other than the canes were on vacation for two weeks, and for the first half of the game one, they probably had their heads still on the golf course. After they shook the golf course off, I mean, they dominated. Uh like Montreal couldn't even really get shots, and and and Carolina took it to them. So I'm I'm I'm happy for Carolina. I'm happy for the organization. Um I'm happy for all of them, but happy, especially happy for the guys I know there. Um, you know, Rod Brindamore. Yeah, Rod the Bod would be number one. Like it was on, you know, popped up there yesterday. You know, he's been a part of either a player or a head coach. He's been part of 98 of the hundred wins for Carolina, which that's that's insane. And you know what? It is insane. And you know what? I when they when they won last night, and you know, I've thought about it a little bit before, you know, and this is the you know selfish part of me. I'm biased towards Rod, but you know, it's like, hey, you they don't want to let you in at the hall as the in the Hall of Fame as a pla or uh as a player. Well, why don't you just make it in as a coach then? Because he is off to a great start. So I'm really happy for Rod, and I know he really, really cares, you know, when I've been around there and around the team. And when you listen to him speak, and there's odd clips and stuff where you hear him talk as I I know he's he's really, really happy for the players in the room, and he really, really wants, you know, what we did in 06 and kind of you know, the the you know, we've kept in touch over the years, and that's what kind of happens a little bit when you win. He really, really wants that for the players in the room that are there currently. So uh I'm happy for him.

SPEAKER_02 10:33

I think it's fascinating when you look, this is their fourth conference final appearance with Brenda Moore kind of taking this core and this group, and they've tried to tinker and move around, and and they finally break on through here, where this generation feels like we are thinking more about the the Florida dominance, right? We got the Panthers with a couple of cups, the Lightning with a couple of cups. So Carolina completely overshadowed in the Southeast with this. But you know, you look at certain generations, even in the National Football League, right? All those years where you had the Colts and the Patriots, where you had to get through the AFC, where you had to go through Brady, where you had to go through Manning. And here's finally the path. And you know, you still had moments where teams like Pittsburgh found a way with Big Ben or the Ravens finding a way along the way to get to the Super Bowl. Uh, this feels like this is this is Carolina's shot. And and look, this takes nothing away from what Vegas does. I think the entire Vegas fan base hates me back for the last episode.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

I want to bring mine up. Oh, it's gonna get worse too now. It's really gonna get ugly now. Vegas fans are all over you, Z-ball.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

Hey man, I was just encouraging them to win, but I'll tell you what. You were saying call. What a wake-up call. Like, I like that is a passionate fan base. I didn't realize just how they give an ish there, commie. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 11:54

They are tuning in to clearing the crease now, just waiting I can jump on you again. They can't wait to hear your prediction later in this show.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Oh, yeah, and they're gonna love me for this one too.

SPEAKER_02 12:04

I mean, wow. I I could you know what? Tip of the cap to the Vegas fans because they showed out. I like, man, like I they my comments have not stopped.

SPEAKER_00 12:16

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:17

Probably my favorite one that I saw was this guy definitely lives with his mom still.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

That's funny.

SPEAKER_02 12:26

But it is it is wild. Um, Freddie Anderson, what he has done though with Carolina, uh, they've won 12 of 13 straight. And as you guys mentioned, uh aside from the only thing that slowed this team down was taking a two-week break. And what Freddie Anderson does at 36 years of age, getting it done. Razor, I mean, as a goalie, do you appreciate a run like this? And I mean, there's a whole leaf connection we'll get to in a second, but it it is impressive what Freddie Anderson's doing and and the run that he's on here in his mid-30s.

SPEAKER_03 12:56

It is, and and all of those things you said now, they ought to close it out, though. They this is this is go time now because Vegas is a different animal than what they've seen. And and I I relate this back to Freddie Anderson. He's been able to manage, and he's been around forever, right? He's got his 98 playoff, 99 playoff games, I believe, now. So he's gonna get over 100 playoff games in his career, which is crazy. Wild. He needs to, he's gonna have to take it to another level because the reality is Montreal, they literally they could have, they might have been able to win that series with me and net. I'm I'm not being like kind of crazy. Don't put yourself down like that. They could have won with a lot of NHL goalies, I guess. Is but yeah, the me that would have given some shitty one up from Cole Coffee from center ice and ruin the series. But um that now this Vegas is gonna pose more of a problem. Mitch Marner, Eichel, they're gonna get to the middle of the ice, they're gonna get more opportunities. And and Freddie can put a stamp like again, you could you're gonna, if he wins a cup, you're gonna look back at his career and his numbers, and you're gonna say, wow, that was, you know, you can you can start challenging um where his career actually stands in in the realm of everybody. So he has an unbelievable opportunity as a 36-year-old, he knows this is probably it uh to really make a name for himself and and win this cup. And um he's had a nice uh he hasn't had to work too hard. So he's well rested and and and needs to take it to another level here against Vegas.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Do we wanted to make our predictions now? Our early cup final predictions. Game one starts on Tuesday. Yep. Carolina, Vegas. Commie, I mean, you got a cup ring in Raleigh, North Carolina. So I did we already touch on Vegas?

SPEAKER_03 14:44

Did you did we gotta touch on Vegas a little more? So you go you dig into Vegas and then we'll go.

SPEAKER_02 14:48

We hit on Vegas at a quick hitter, but yeah, we haven't heard your thoughts on Vegas.

SPEAKER_00 14:51

That's what I figured you guys did when my internet was bad because my two thoughts with Vegas, uh, or like two kind of obviously. I'm sure you guys, I'm sure you guys touched on the Mitch Marner storyline with the the ties to Toronto. Yeah, okay. So I won't hit good good for Mitch Marner, obviously. But yeah, my thoughts on the Vegas thing were like I I can't, I mean, I kind of had I probably would have placed a pretty good bet on Colorado wrapping this thing up when there was four teams left, and they got their doors blown off. So good for Vegas. They gave a lot of ammo to to to just unload on Seaball after they just dust the best team. I mean, Colorado was shocking to me. I mean, I didn't go through the whole season, but I'm guessing they probably didn't lose four games in a row all year, and I'm guessing they probably didn't lose four games in a seven-game stretch once all year. If they did maybe, I mean, maybe once if they were a little cold. But um, anyways, back to the prediction. Do you want to go right into that now? I mean, I mean I'm still waiting by my phone for a phone call for the canes, maybe for a bait.

SPEAKER_03 15:58

What do they got? The the wheel thing, the hurricane siren? Yeah, I know. I don't like that. Let's get a petition. All the comments, everybody. Let's get a petition going to get Caldy out. Come on to crank all of our fans.

SPEAKER_00 16:11

Let's if I get the invite, I'll get out there and I'll crank that thing as hard as I can.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Come on, I gotta tell you, your old teammate, Eric Cole, there are all the neck issues he's had, man. He looked like he was in fine form cranking there.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'll tell you what, and nobody's cranked more sirens than Eric Cole. I'll tell you that. That was not the first one. That guy has cranked that siren relentlessly for the last two years. He lives in the area, and I saw him there in the background when Chad LaRose did it there to kick the kick the curiosity off, um, which was great. But um look, I I hope it's a uh a hell of a series. I think we you know, uh to the hockey gods, I hope we're we're due for one here a little bit. I will uh give me my I mean I can't uh give me my canes and seven. I think Vegas is very, very dangerous. I think Carolina's favorite in the series, but I don't think this one's gonna be easy. I don't think Vegas is gonna get shoved around, and Vegas has a lot of experience. So um the Flames fans back in Calgary, they're all cheering for Vegas because of those draft picks and all that stuff. They get better picks. Uh, but give me the canes and seven. Uh, it's been 20 years. It's time for a new crew. The 06 crew's tired, so go canes.

SPEAKER_03 17:23

Uh I'm gonna uh I've been I have not jumped on the Vegas bandwagon. Of course, I was pro-Oilers in that pillow fighter division all the way through. I was a little bitter about it. I didn't take Vegas against Colorado. Um, I'm gonna jump on the Vegas bandwagon now, and and and it's gonna be as simple as this. It's gonna be one goal going the other way in the second period of game seven for Vegas, and that's what makes them win. Because I think I think Carolina's incredible. I think they're the best team. I think that Vegas just has something going right now, and everything in my head is telling me Carolina and four or five. Like I think that's how good Carolina is, but it just Vegas has shown a lot. Carter Hart, Torrts, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, Stone, these guys have won it. Carolina hasn't. The guys in Carolina haven't, and I think that's that little inch that's gonna put them over in game seven. But I I'm praying this goes the distance, but I also think it will with how close these two teams are.

SPEAKER_02 18:27

From a market standpoint and a rating standpoint, this is probably not an ideal matchup with Vegas and Carolina, but from an on-ice product standpoint, this is a fantastic matchup. Talk about the magic of Vegas right now and just what Carolina is doing, like borderline historical run, having won 12 of their first 13 games. What Freddie Anderson's done, only Jerry Cheevers and Ken Dryden have been able to equal a mark of winning 12 of 13 straight. And there were questions about him whether even being the starter in the postseason. I am finally on board with the Carolina Hurricanes here. So Vegas fans keep hating me. Give me the canes to keep the southeast dominance going here with Florida teams and now Carolina getting in on the cup victory.

SPEAKER_03 19:16

First, you have less of a choice to pick Vegas than Commie did.

SPEAKER_02 19:22

And Cami, we are coming up on the 20th anniversary of this. Look at this. My game seven ticket, Oilers Keynes, June 19th. 20 years already coming up on that. So there you go. Two of us have Carolina. I'm sure it was a fun day, that's for sure. It was a fun day, that's for sure. Uh, so there you go. Um, let the games begin. This should be an absolutely fantastic series on the ice, and we'll see how it all plays out. I want to hit on just quickly here, uh Colorado. I mean, shocking that they go out. Razor, you and I touched on it quickly, but um let me throw this to both of you. Is Jared Bednar in trouble in Colorado as the coach? I mean, what he has done, he's got a Stanley Cup, but you know, they're coming up short continuously to get swept like this. Obviously, their big guns were hurt, but is Jared Bednar in trouble here?

SPEAKER_03 20:14

I wouldn't say he's in trouble this summer unless Nate and Kale have like something else is going on. But the the leash is much shorter now, right? Like you can see a scenario where, and especially with what's going on in Vegas, this torturella thing with nine games left. Like, you can see a scenario where Colorado loses five games at the start of March next year and they pull the trigger and and get somebody in there. Um, so I I don't I I can't imagine unless Bednar wants to leave or the two big boys don't want him, that he's going anywhere, but certainly it's not, he's been there a long time. It's literally cupper bust for him next year before they they probably move on. That just feels like the cycle of the NHL.

SPEAKER_02 20:57

Yeah, it seems that way.

SPEAKER_00 20:59

One thing for me, well, Bednar's probably in a little more way he's probably in way more trouble than he should be. But like we've we've like we've been, yeah, you know, if we just see how these other coaches are being are being treated, just to further your point a little bit, he he probably is in a little trouble. And I think a way shorter leash is a good way to put it. One thing I'm glad you brought up the aves, uh C-ball, because I wanted to work this in here somehow. You know, I don't feel sorry for guys too often, but I'll tell you what, regarding the Aves, Brent Burns. That poor guy. He has been a great guy, has been around forever. Was in Carolina last the last few years. Now that's the first time. That's the one that's gotta be a tough one for him to see. Although I'm sure he's happy, really. I'm not saying that, but you know, he had to be sitting there in Colorado. Colorado wash. Yeah, happy ish. Yeah, he's sitting there in Colorado. They are the best team in the league all year, you know, until game one again. Against Las Vegas, things were looking, you know, he had to be pumped. Like, this is this is my best shot here. And then to get drummed out in four. Like, you know, I I feel bad for Brent Burns. So hopefully he gives it, brings it back another. Usually when guys get up here like this, I'm like, all right, and I'm hanging it up already. I mean, I've been all over Ovechkin to hang him up. Hang up, Terry. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. But I'd like to, you know what? I'd like to see Brent come back and uh and get one under his belt. He's a good dude that's been around for a long time.

SPEAKER_02 22:32

Yeah, yeah, that's a that's a that's a tough one you feel for in that one. Yeah. Uh okay, so from the happy-ish, from a Leafs fan standpoint, how about this right now? Either like two guys that have taken the brunt of Leaf's Nation over the last decade. Freddie Anderson, Mitch Marner, one of those two guys. There is going to be an image in about two, two and a half weeks from now of one of these two guys hoisting the mug of all mugs over their heads. Razor, I mean, you know what it's like to take shrapnel in that market. I mean, this is what I mean, what a what an opportunity to validate your life, your profession, to go through and and look, fair, foul, whatever you want to look at it. But what a moment for either one of these guys when you look at the path that they've gone on uh to experience the highs and lows, and and one of these two guys are are going to be champions.

SPEAKER_03 23:28

They are first off, Freddie's kind of the one that, like, okay, everything leads back to Toronto one way or the other. You know, he's more of that. I don't think he's like really a thought about Toronto for a little while. Of course, the fans will inevitably, but the big ones Mitch. Right? Like all the elephant in the room. This one is going to sting if he brings this cup back to Young Street himself and takes it right around Scotiabank Arena for his parade on his own. Oh, he's gonna take a picture right in front of Daryl Sittler's statue out at the ACC there. That's gonna hurt. That's the so the reality, there's so many Lees fans that are pulling for Carolina for this exact reason. And um it's it's it's really interesting. And and I know most of the league people like, oh, it's all about Toronto, but this one, this one is personal. It is very, very, very personal. And if Mitch pulls it out, it's gonna get more personal.

SPEAKER_00 24:27

Yeah, now that you mention that, I think I have a good plan for Brent Burns. So Brent Burns next year should sign with the Leafs, get booted off the team halfway through the year, and then wherever he goes, he's gonna win. He's got so he's all set. So, Brent, if you're listening, sign with the Leafs this offseason. Who what the salary doesn't matter. Sign with the Leafs, they'll get rid of you, and then you'll win. The Marner one has to touch on that. You know, the Fred from the outside, you know, I'm not a Leafs fan, but Freddie Anderson has been a while. I know he, I know he's, you know, all goes back there. That one's been, but if you're a Leafs fan, you got to be sitting here. You've been all over Mitch Marner. I mean, I've been, you know, that some of those playoffs performances weren't great, and I was critical of him on here too. There's no question. But he packs his shit and heads south. And he meets, I mean, and if they win, there's a pretty good chance he's winning the con Smythe as well. So he might be showing up with two trophies. Oh wild. Just wild.

SPEAKER_03 25:31

Oh boy.

SPEAKER_02 25:32

A couple of other shout-outs to guys in the in these finals right now. Taylor Hall, right? I mean, there's a former first overall pick.

SPEAKER_04 25:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:39

Kind of gets forgotten. You know, there's a and then a former heart trophy winner kind of gets forgotten, right? And and having, you know, he might be flirting with a con Smythe, the way he's playing in terms of the way he, and especially at five on five, what he's been doing at even strength, uh, very impressive for him. Obviously, Stancoven, who's doing a great job. Uh, and so, you know, from a Carolina standpoint, and and another guy from a Vegas standpoint, Commie, that I don't think we really talk about a lot. Razor, you touched on the other day, you know, Torr's coming in, Marner, obviously, you know, the Carter Hart acquisition. They these guys have all made an impact. But how about Rasmus Anderson? I'm sure Flames fans, I mean, that was a much talked-about trade rumor for what? It felt like two or three years since we've been doing this podcast. And, you know, here he is chasing a chip now. Commie, from a lot of Calgary fans, maybe quietly rooting for a guy like Rasmus, who was a good soldier there for a long time.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, Anderson was well liked. Hanniphon was well liked as well in Calgary. Yeah. They've always said good things about Calgary. I I think there's I think if you were to pull the Flames fans, uh, I I think I think there's multiple reasons, but those are two reasons. And then also with the draft, you know, with that trade with the draft picks, like I touched on earlier. If Vegas wins, I want to say the 2028 second rounder from the Anderson trade turns into a first rounder. So I think Flames fans are openly cheering for the Vegas Knights. Um, so yeah, yeah, it's it's it's a good, and he's always been a I think a couple of the beat reporters there have been covering Vegas, and he's always been very positive about Calgary. And um yeah, yeah, good for him too. There's some I think there's I mean, every year there is, but that there's some some there's some really good storylines. It might not be the biggest markets, but there's some great storylines, and they're two great teams.

SPEAKER_02 27:20

We haven't had a chance to uh to touch on it just yet, but I I would be remiss if we didn't. Um we lost an absolute giant in the hockey world this week, uh, way too soon. The passing of Claude Lemieux at the age of 60. Uh, mental health is an absolute beast, and and you just don't know what people are going through at certain times of their life. But three days after walking into a packed bell center holding a torch, um uh and it just a huge thunderous ovation for a guy who won four Stanley Cups, uh, won a moment, and three days later, uh absolutely uh you know stunned by by the news at the age of 60. Claude Lemieux was also the longtime agent for Freddie Anderson as well. Um, but I mean, what an absolute warrior. I I think I'm trying to think, guys, like the comparable to a Claude Lemieux in today's game, the one name that kind of comes to mind, Razor was a guy that you've kind of been around for years in Boston, but Brad Marchand was probably the closest comparable, like guy who played on the edge, but man, he was a winner.

SPEAKER_03 28:22

Very similar in that respect, like the compete level, right? Like the the level that those guys took it to when you talk about competing and wanting to win, it was it was it's it's in a different stratosphere than most NHL guys. Um yeah, I it this one's like because you saw him in game three carrying that torch out, and to have it happen a few days, that that's why I think it's hit home so much. Because I thought, like, I I've met Claude a few times, luckily at different events, but never really no dinners or no no talking with him. But I watched him on game three, and I'm like, man, he looks great. What a bitch! Yeah, he does, and everybody always talked about how strong he was, how big he was. I like I talked to Ray about him a bunch of times, and and I know they were friendly through Canada Cups and things like that, and just how big of an animal he was. Um my cousin married Darren McCarty, and so I was very invested in the mid-90s. I would go and like hang out in Detroit and watch those games. So I was uh I hated Claude, of course, during that time when Darren was in the middle of all of that. Um so just see he he he everybody knew him, right? Everybody knew him, and I and I again just going back to how tragic this is, it would be tragic anyways for the family and the people, but it's more for the hockey community because of seeing him just a few days earlier on that, you know, carrying that torch out. It it's it was really something, and and of course, super sad.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

Yeah, yeah, really sad for sure. Actually, when you know, on the when it was announced, we were actually we had our flames like I touched on earlier, the Flames alumni golf tournament um all day Thursday. We so we were Calgary Mountain time, we were off at nine and we were done at two or whatever. And uh so nobody, nobody had or if people knew very little little people knew until the the program started. We were thanking people, and and our MC just said, hey, you know, you guys probably don't know. And yeah, though, I mean the whole room was well to touch on your point, though I mean the whole room was shocked. You know, on the table I was sitting at, that was the first thing they brought up was like, man, we just saw him like carry the torch out a a couple days ago. So yeah, like you said, see very sad. Uh, you know, I I met him a couple of times, uh, don't know him great. And yeah, last time I saw him, I ran into him randomly out here at Whisperock. He was golfing. Uh I just went over and said hi quickly. He was making a turn. And um, yeah, I I don't uh, you know, never spent much time around him, but obviously he was very competitive and a winner, and people speak do speak very, very highly of him. So yeah, it's sad to touch on what you said, C Ball. You never uh, you know, no matter how somebody looks and and what and what they're up to, you never know what's going on uh, you know, behind closed doors. And yeah, it's a sad deal for sure.

SPEAKER_02 31:06

Yeah, absolutely. So, you know what? Think just just remember to be mindful to check in on those friends and those ones you love because you just you never know what someone's going through. So um, but man, a winner, controversial, polarizing, a guy you hated to play against, but a guy who ultimately won four Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe winner with some stacked teams over the years. Uh you know, I mean, what he was a winner, a guy who just leveled up the bigger the stakes were the bigger uh Claude Lemieux played. So Claude Lemieux gone uh way too soon at the age of 60. Um, uh no real easy way to transition from this, uh, but we do want to get to our fan question of the week. Ask CTC. This is if you have a question you want to hit us up, leave uh leave a question. Use the hashtag ask ctc in the comments section, whether on Instagram, on X, uh, on TikTok, or you can also hit us up if you're watching along here on YouTube right now. This week, we're going back. We're going back here, commie, 20 years ago here. Todd from Sudbury, not the other Todd who was a recent guest from Sudbury.

SPEAKER_03 32:11

I was gonna say big bird's at it again.

SPEAKER_02 32:14

This is a lot of talking about it. Um, so here we go. Fellas, love the show. Saw a clip on my feed of commie at the White House and the president George W. Bush singling him out with his amazing hair. What is the story here? Razor, do you remember seeing that back in the day? Way too funny.

SPEAKER_03 32:35

That's I've looked it up since then because I definitely don't remember that. I wasn't paying attention, but it's it's a hell of a clip, commie, and I know you got some behind the scenes for us for sure.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

Yeah, you know, it first off, I've been fortunate enough to go to the White House twice. I went uh first time when Clinton was in for our national title team in North Dakota, which was an excellent experience. Yeah, yeah. So we went there and I mean we'll talk about the second one. It was a great experience. I just turned pro. It would have been my senior year, but I just turned pro and I had an eye injury, so I was able to pop down. Most of the team, unfortunately, and they still they're still pissed about it to this day in our little group chat. The only time we could go to the White House was like on a Wednesday or a Thursday, and the North Dakota team was playing in a land in Alaska against Anchorage that weekend. So you didn't let them go? No. They're like, we we can't have everybody. So most of the team was in Anchorage, and the captains from the from the current team that were going on, the captains were the only ones they brought to the White House. So it was a waste. I know. Literally, there was just a text about that on the group chat. They're like, good leaders wouldn't have gone without everybody. Place captain. I know, and in a lot of ways, they're right. I mean, I'm out of it. I I wasn't there anymore. So um but anyways, that was a really cool experience because it was a well, it was a smaller group for one. We were actually in the Oval Office, which was really cool. And we had like a 10-minute break. Now, what for whatever you think of Clinton, you know, we had a 10-minute window. We went in there, met him. I mean, he was very personable. Our 10-minute window, you know, he started to, I mean, he's a good talker, obviously. You know, our 10-minute window turned into we were in there for almost an hour. Like the aides were coming in, you could see, and he's like, ah, whatever, you know, talking, blah, blah, blah. But, anyways, to the 2006 one. So I was lucky enough to do it twice. The 2006 one was a little different. And we obviously we had everybody coming. So we weren't in the Oval Office, but we were in like one of the side well, one of their big meeting rooms where I don't know what it was called. But um, as much as I would like to sit here and say, Yeah, George W. Bush is a big fan of mine. He knows who I is. He, you know, he he loves me as a hockey player. I don't want to lie to the listeners. I did kind of know it was coming. I would say about two or three weeks before we went, I got a phone call from a uh White House aide. And the White House House aide was like, Hey, Mike, you know, hey, tell me a little bit about, you know, you got your hair and you what's going on there, and a little bit, okay, okay, perfect. Okay, that sounds good. Well, we'll see you in a few weeks. Really looking forward to seeing you. So I'm like, ah, okay, looking forward to seeing you too. So I figured something, I didn't know what was coming, but I figured something was coming. So when I was sitting in the back there and he's talking to me, he goes, you know, I don't know what's beautiful, more beautiful, the Stanley Cup or Mike Commodore's red hair. And I was standing, you know, and he kind of like says it and then turns around. So I'm standing back there, and my hair is short now, right? He he turns around and like he's kind of searching for me, he's sure. And I was like, right there. So I kind of like laugh and I nodded. So then he saw me and I'm like, yeah, thank you very much. But it was really cool. I mean, not many people get uh, you know, a little shout out or whatever from a from a sitting president or any president, let alone. So it was something that I'll never forget. And and it was a really fun memory for sure.

SPEAKER_02 36:05

Kobby, the one thing about both those presidents with both Clinton, uh, that I've heard incredibly charismatic, and and even W as well, for guys who you know, beat writers who used to cover the Blue Jays would talk about how prior to be getting into the White House, uh, George W. Bush would often be sitting in the press box because he was, you know, part of the ownership group with the Texas Rangers. And you you hear I think to get into the Oval Office there it requires a level of charisma. Whether you whether you're a Democrat, whether you're a Republican, whatever is a level of charisma that you need. And like to your point, like Bill Clinton is an alpha. You know, George W. Bush gets in with charisma and an alpha. And I like Barack Obama's same thing. Donald Trump, like, there is a level of charisma, whether you love him or hate him. Yeah, but they they appeal to their fan bases. And I I think like Clinton's that he's warm and charismatic. W is very warm and charismatic, aren't they both?

SPEAKER_03 37:06

It's it it's uh so I was like I've I've met W twice. Uh because he's in Maine, he's in he's in Kenny Bunkport, and yeah, they have a golf tournament that he supported forever for the main children's hospital. And he comes in, he comes in at the start of the tournament, right? You're all sitting around and you can see the Secret Service. There's one truck, one big SUV, two suburban, three suburban. They come in, they block everyone off. He comes in, he's got his golf cleat, hits the first shot, he comes over and says hi to everybody, take your hat, and he he'll talk. And you talk about again presence, right? That that charismatic presence that you can feel it as soon as he gets out of his suburban. That oh, you're like, oh, that yeah, that that guy's one of the most powerful people on the planet. Like it it you would pick him out if you didn't know it. And and he just smiles and he talks sports, and and then he gets back in his suburban, he goes back to his compound in Kenny Bunk, and and that's it. But uh, it's they're impressive. He's an impressive, really impressive guy.

SPEAKER_00 38:06

I I that was one thing with it, like I said, uh the the second time I I would have liked to have like spent a little time with him. Like it would have been interesting because a big sports fan, and you know, but obviously there was a ton of people there, and he's busy. Like, so uh don't worry, I I get it. But also to touch on what you just said, Razor. I mean, how cool would it be to have the Secret Service around you for the rest of your life? And when you roll around somewhere, it's with heavy security. Like you are the man wherever you go, go to dinner pulling up in suburban, and you better get the hell out of my way, or you are gonna get roughed up. Everybody out, everybody out.

SPEAKER_02 38:51

Is Clinton almost as tall as you?

SPEAKER_00 38:53

Yeah, he I remember I remember him looking like eye to eye. Oh, yeah. No, I remember looking eye to eye for sure. He might even be a little taller, to be honest. From what I he's definitely not shorter, that's that's for sure. He's got to be 6'4, 6'5 for sure.

SPEAKER_02 39:06

I was gonna say, yeah, because you're 6'4, and and so like that was that's the one thing I've always seen in images. Like he is a big tall guy.

SPEAKER_00 39:12

Yeah, he's tall. He doesn't need any help in pictures looking taller, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02 39:16

All right, okay. I mean, there's an intern joke waiting to be had somewhere there, coming. I did not see any. Yeah, we're moving on.

SPEAKER_00 39:26

Keep it moving.

SPEAKER_02 39:27

Well, which feels like a perfect segue for don't puck it up. Here is mine this week, guys. Uh this is my don't puck it up, and it's for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championship. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 39:39

Oh, good one.

SPEAKER_02 39:40

Cindy Crosby, Macklin celebrities. This might be the first time ever that the World Hockey Championship might be more interesting than the Stanley Cup playoffs because of this. You know, Sid and Macklin. Everybody loves this, right? In Canada. It is like this is like the mentor and the trainee. This is Top Gun Maverick on the ice. This is training day. This is the untouchables with Sean Connery and Kevin Costner. Look, this team just don't puck it up. Close it out on a gold, bring it home for Canada. This is a feel-good story. Crosby swooping in. You got Macklin with the C. Everybody loves Macklin Celebrini. Again, like I said, this is Top Gun Maverick on the ice. Team Canada, don't puck this up.

SPEAKER_00 40:26

I like that. That's a good one. They speaking of Team Canada, did we did you guys see our boy Booschbomb? Oh, or Boosh. Oh boy, boosebomb. Hey, prayers up for Boosh. He got leveled. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think he uh obviously hope he's fine, and I'm sure he will be, but um he got boosch bombed. He he got boosebombed, yeah. I maybe he thought for a second he wasn't playing the Americans and he was playing he was he was playing summer hockey against the Swedes. Thought he was playing the worlds, yeah, yeah. The Italians uh I'll go next and Razor, you can clean it up. Um I was gonna use Brent Burns, but I already kind of talked about it, about the team thing. But I'll go um don't puck it up. I don't even know who I would put this out to. I guess to the hockey gods, don't puck it up. This, I mean the NHL playoffs are always good, but this one there hasn't been the drama. There's been the teams getting boat raced left and right. So we got this is the last chance. We got canes, knights. Don't puck it up, hockey gods. Give us, and I'm just talking from a fans perspective. Hey, the canes fans want to whatever. Let's let's finish things this thing off in 17 games. Knights fans too, but uh don't puck it up from the fans' perspective. Uh let's give us a good series. Like let's see, you know, six or seven here, preferably seven. Um, so that'll be mine for this week.

SPEAKER_03 41:57

So I'm officially changing my stance permanently. I'm I'm never gonna waive, I'm not going back to this. So this is a don't puck it up, NHL, Gary Bettman. Don't go back to one versus eight. Keep this how it is, because we are seeing this exact point that commie just made with the boat races and the lack of interest, I think, in the conference finals. We see it every year. The weather gets good outside. We all have golf tournaments. It really is better to have the best series at the start. I was more excited about the first round than I was for the conference finals. I've always been against it. I always thought the best team should go through, but the reality of the business of the league and why they do it the way they're doing it is for the first round. And it became evidently clear to me this season, among any other years, is that it really is about the first round. And of course, for the players, it's about winning the Stanley Cup. But for the NHL, for the league, for the business, it's all about the first round and keeping everybody interested. That's when everybody's watching. When you lose four teams and you lose eight teams, no one's watching quite the same way. So I am all in on the bracket. I can't believe I'm saying it, but don't puck it up, Gary Bettman. Don't go back to one versus eight.

SPEAKER_02 43:15

Wow, good one, Randy. Well said, well said, yeah, and it's true. I am totally that guy. I am totally that guy. You're that guy. Come on, we are you know, it's like your team's out. Okay, I'm I'm going outside. The weather's warm.

SPEAKER_03 43:28

Yeah, big time something else. I never thought, I mean, I can't believe I'm doing it, but that's where we're at.

SPEAKER_02 43:34

Yeah, and commie, further to needing a good series here. You had the NBA that just lifted the curtain on what is going to be the next great rivalry in their league with the Spurs and the Thunder going seven games in a Western conference final banger, an instant classic Wemby and SGA. You know, I think the NHL needs a big series here to just try to, you know, get a little of that momentum back because with the Knicks in the finals and how that series went down in the West. Uh, the NHL could use a banger here in a big way, I think, right now, to close out the season. So, on that note, we're gonna close out this episode of the Clearing the Crease podcast. Remember to like and subscribe on YouTube for more content powered by Ozude. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, X, Instagram, TikTok, because the road to the Stanley Cup, here we go. It's crunch time right now, everybody. And the clearest route to getting big is to play on Ozun. Ozun's got you covered for all props, big game lines, futures from now until the cup final and beyond. Make your power play. Score big with Ozun. Well played. He's Kami, he's Razor. I'm Sabalski. We'll see you next week, right here. On the Clearing the Crease podcast, powered by Ozoun. Gentlemen.

SPEAKER_00 44:48

Well played. Well played. See ya.

unknown 44:54

Clearing the Crease.