Special: Stanley Cup Special — with Dan Powers

In this special episode, we’re joined by one of the best hockey podcasters in the game, the host of the popular Empty Netters Podcast, Dan Powers.

Dan joins us to break down the Stanley Cup Final, discuss potential offseason trades, and talk all things hockey.

Thank you for joining us, Dan. We always appreciate your time and insight!

—

I dette specielle afsnit får vi selskab af en af spillets bedste hockey-podcastere, værten bag den populære Empty Netters Podcast, Dan Powers.

Dan er med til at gennemgå Stanley Cup-finalen, diskutere mulige handler i offseason og snakke om alt, hvad der har med hockey at gøre.

Tak fordi du kiggede forbi, Dan. Vi sætter altid stor pris på din tid og dine indsigter!

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Welcome to this special edition of Pop Bing or On the Bench, if you prefer. Today we have a very, very special guest. He is the host of my favorite podcast, and in my humble opinion, one of the best to ever do it. From the MTNetis podcast, Dan Palace. Welcome to the show, bro.

SPEAKER_01 0:53

Oh man, it is so good to be on this show. It's been a long time.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

I know, right? It was supposed to be me going on your show, but yeah, oh yeah, we're making that happen.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Don't worry. But I I feel like the post-Stanley Cup show, that's when it's really going to be special.

SPEAKER_02 1:12

I know, I know, right? And then today we're going to talk about the Stanley Cup, of course. We're going to talk about game one. We're going to talk about what we expect going forward and a little bit about the NHL in general and maybe even some off-season predictions. I have some traits for you. I would like you to grade. I know you love that. And I love that as well. Yeah. And I think I have some great traits actually. Sometimes when I text you. Sometimes you you also like text me. Shut the fuck up, dude. All right. Let's go. Let's talk about uh game one, first of all. As two days ago, uh you were there?

SPEAKER_01 1:56

Yes, sir. So we're here. We're I'm in Raleigh right now. It's amazing. It's such a good time. I think that's a like one of my favorite things about coming to all these different cities during the Stanley Cup. So many of these places, especially a smaller market like Raleigh with the hurricanes. You know, people from the northern cities who are fans of original six teams or big hockey market teams trying to shit on cities like this. It's awesome here, man. And I mean, outside the game, we're doing a live show outside the game. There's fans everywhere, there's tailgates, it's out of control. It's so sad. So there's great vibes, great energy here. And dude, I did not expect nine goals. Like that was the first thing that we just could not believe. It was like, I'm thinking Freddy's playing great, Hart's playing great, this might be a goalie shootout type of a situation. And then our boy scores five seconds into the game, scores a second, I'm like a couple minutes later, and I was like, what is happening? So I was like, fuck's sake, dude. Right? We were on we were on Hattie Watch less than five minutes into the game. It was ridiculous.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

But also because right before right before the game, I just I checked the arts. It was like 15 times return uh for scoring the first goal. It's like, oh, should I, should I, should I? But I don't want to Jason, you know, so I know. Fuck's sake. And also, I didn't I didn't mean yeah, you did the same thing, but you said like scoreless in the first 10 minutes, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:26

It was funny.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

I went on I went on this local radio show, it was like 99.9 the fan, it's the Hurricanes radio show right before the game. And they were taking bets, they were like, okay, first goal, and when's it gonna happen? And I go, first period, Nick Eelers. And then I I I was like, I want to bet that, but I had the same intent. I was like, I don't want to jinx him, like let's let him do his thing. So then I bet the no goal in the first 10 minutes, and then he scored. I was like, God, I did the opposite thing.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Yeah, but that's perfect. I'm gonna do the same tonight.

unknown 3:54

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 3:57

I'm so afraid to jinx this shit. So I don't want to like go too deep into it, what what I hope or what I think is gonna happen, because oh hell no. I'm I'm I'm so nervous for him right now.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

I know, I know, I feel it. But yeah, man, it was like listen, game one, as far as a fan, a neutral fan, that was as good as it gets. Like you get yeah multiple lead changes, everyone's kind of buzzing around there, but it did feel we always talk about it on the show. We say it was drunk hockey because it was just everyone, everyone's out there. It's game one of the stay on the cup final. There were a couple of sleepy moments on the ice, like you know, for Theo right there on that first goal. There was a couple of gripping the sticks too hard moments, and it's great. Like, it's great for us as fans, you know, it's amazing. But I uh we we you know, we also talk about you almost like being the road team, especially in a cup final. You get to come out, and if you steal one, like Vegas just did, you feel incredible. If you lose you get to say, Well, well, we're going home. We got two games at home, let's just try to even it up. So there's definitely the the thought process right now. You could think that Carolina's feeling a little tense. I'm not sure. I'm I'm super excited for tonight for game two. I think Carolina's gonna be way better. I think Rod's gonna have them whipped into shape. We talked about the you know, you give up a goal in 30 seconds in the second period, then you give up a goal in a minute 20 in the third period. You know Rod's gonna have something to say about that. So I expect them to be much stronger. I think this game's gonna be a lot tighter. But uh it it it's a weird thing where it was almost like after Montreal, you and I were talking, and we were like, geez, like how bad is the rust? But then you looked at that game and the way it finished up, and you kind of saw them find their game in the second and third period, and I was like, where we were both talking, we were like, I think they're gonna be fine. So this isn't gonna be a cakewalk, obviously. It's not gonna be the final series, but I I picked Keynes in seven and I still I still feel good about that. I think I think they even it up tonight because I think they do kind of get back into it.

SPEAKER_02 6:01

Totally agree. And I actually think it's gonna be low scoring tonight. I think they're gonna yeah, I I think Carolina gonna make some adjustments to to to not get let them get too too many shots in the second and the third. They did a great job of that in the first period, but in the second period they were just overmatched, like physical, and that that can't happen.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Um totally agree.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

Well, I actually think like if Carolina's first line clicks tonight, like Vegas is in trouble for the rest of the series. Like, they need that line to click right now.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Yep, totally agree, man. We we we talked about the other day. Aho gets so much flack, and like listen, I get it. He's got 80 points this year, he's a he's an all-star. And he's got seven points in 14 games right now, and as your number one center, that's not enough. Svetsk has got to get going. Jarvey always finds a way to get going, but they were pretty quiet in game one, and I do think Eichel has I mean, you know how much I love Eichel. I I think he's a top five player in the league, and I think he's revealing himself as a 200-foot center that's in the same echelon as Sasha Barkov. Truly, I do. And I think that there's an argument to be made that Aho's big struggle is that he's oftentimes going up against Eichel. Like you he's he's might he's getting locked down by Jack Eichel. That's not something to turn your nose up against, but that's that's the difference between winning a cup and losing a cup, right? Like you gotta find a way. And if it's a matter of him leaning into the you know, I love how Aho gets out there and throws the body, he gets physical, he'll get in the corners, and if he's gotta do more of that and get the puck fed out to Svetch and Jarve, then that's what you gotta do, you know. So, but you are right, he's gotta get going, that line has to get going, and that might be the difference.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

And I think that's happening tonight. I think uh Seth Jarve's gotta get some I got I think he gotta give two tonight.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

I low, two, I love that. But I I'm I I I think Jarve is uh you can kind of see him towards the end of that game. He had a couple of opportunities and he Exactly he he he pushed one off to Svetch. He put one back up to the point at one point when he probably should have taken a shot. Yeah, he should have he should have shot that one. Yes, for sure. And and I I I like that call. I kind of like uh a Jarvey point tonight because it's like he's he's hungry for it, and I think he looks at last game being like, all right, maybe a little bit of nerves gonna come in a little different tonight. But yeah, they're definitely gonna try to make and make some noise.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

How many friends does he have in town right now?

SPEAKER_01 8:35

Dude, there we were uh again, we were came yesterday. They came on the show, our pregame show before game one. I think it is eight, it's six, six of the guys. And dude, they're just like they're staying in an Airbnb, which is good, so they're not jamming up his house. But uh, you know, they were at dinner last night, and uh, you know, I think it's great. It's it's like Jarve is that kind of guy, he's always gonna take care of his buddies, and he he feels comfortable with the boys around. So it's it's amazing. Like it's truly he's got his comfort zone with him at all times during the games. It's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 9:12

I love that. I don't know you don't understand how I how I'm in Denmark right now. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

I'm like, when you said you were in Denmark, I was like, what the fuck? We gotta get you down in North Carolina. You hear me here.

SPEAKER_02 9:24

Agree. I'm not sure he's agree. He he agrees agrees on that.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

So yeah, I know, right? He's like, I scored two goals. What do you mean? I'm fine.

SPEAKER_02 9:31

Actually, that video I sent you of uh Lucas Graham. Um yeah, they said to him, just score a bunch of goals because they don't even understand hockey and then score a lot of goals, and then he did. So I talked to them uh the day after the game, they're like, Yeah, we called it.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

Oh, that's perfect, man. What's the vibe going on for you guys there? Like, are you are do you are you staying up for these games? Are there watch parties going on when the cup is on? Because it's crazy hours for you.

SPEAKER_02 10:00

Yeah, it's like two in the morning, so uh game one ended like 5 30. So but yeah, of course I'm I'm staying up. I have to I have to watch it, but I I'm not I'm more into like watching it on my own, actually.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

I I'm more like dude, I feel that. When it's a game that I care about, I it's like I have a hard time going to the bars and why it's it's too tense. Like I need to be in private. I I feel that.

SPEAKER_02 10:27

Yeah, I had a buddy over uh for the for game one, uh me and Nick's mutual friend. And I was like, I I thought he was annoying. Like, shut up like we're watching hockey right now. But yeah, so I'm I'm I'm ready for uh tonight uh and and going to be a late night too. It could be overtime, maybe. Um but oh yeah, it could be.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

We felt that in game one, honestly. It was like when Ghost scored, tied at 4-4. We were like, yeah, this is going to OT for sure. And then how insane was that last play? Like it was it was so bang bang when we were watching the game. But yeah, that ozone draw that goes back across to Nikishan, labels one, and Marner blocked that shot with like you know five seconds left. But I we were looking at that replay. I I was like, that I think that was going in. It was like it was either hitting the post or going in. That was such a good shot and such a good block by Marner. So it was crazy.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Especially after everybody was talking about oh, there's gonna be the worst Stanley Club ever, no uh no bad ratings and yada yada yada.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Man, I honestly love it when that stuff happens. It's like obviously I want people to be less bitter when their teams get eliminated and then start saying stuff like that. But it's just it's it's hockey, right? It's when a game like that happens, when there have been a lot of people talking about how this might be a boring series and who's gonna watch, blah, blah, blah. It's almost like motherfucking the naysayers. It's like actually, these are two amazing teams, and this is electric. So you know what? I think you are so right. I think we got that amazing game with nine goals, and I'm I'm predicting tonight is going to be the reverse. Like, I think this is gonna be like a 3-1-2-1 type game that's going to be equally exciting, but just a totally different style, which is another reason why this is a great final.

SPEAKER_02 12:27

Exactly. And also because Vegas doesn't even need to win tonight, so they're gonna take it more easy, I think, and and want to lock down tonight. So sorry, it's gonna be all they need this one.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Uh oh Yeah, I I was about to say, I I that's a good point, but the pressure's on. And it's it's like I, you know, I hate it. I hate when this happens for a team, but at the same time, it's electric for us. Because you're right, man. Like, they I think Vegas has been uh what I keep saying on the show is they're incredibly comfortable being uncomfortable. They have spent more time tracing being down in games all season long. I think the only other team was Vancouver, who was down more. Like, think about how insane that is. This team's in the Stanley Cup. The only team who was down in games more than them all season long was the dead last place team. Like it's nuts that Vegas is in the cup right now. But they just have winners. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

Yeah, and they have winners.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 13:27

Like they have guys. Jack Eichel is a fucking winner. Like, yep.

unknown 13:32

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

You can't deny it. Like he's everything McDavid is not right now.

unknown 13:36

I know.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

That's that's a cheap shot. That's a cheap shot. That's a cheap shot. I love McDavid, he's my goat.

SPEAKER_03 13:42

True though.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Yeah, but I I I think Keynes will win uh with two goals tonight, under under five goals in total, and uh, we have a series going to Vegas. Uh I don't know if my my my dear friend who's under Keynes have his whole family uh in Vegas uh for game three, I think, or game four. I'm not sure. But they're gonna be there all of them. So yeah, and they're with him in Carolina right now. So he always plays great when his family's there. So um I'm I'm I'm holding the fort down back home right now.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

You really don't you're doing God's work back there. It's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

Thanks, facts. Okay, let's talk a little bit about the the playoffs in in general. I want to get your thoughts on like the east and in the and the west. Uh let's start in uh the west. Um it's uh we talked about all year, you and me, Colorado, Colorado, Colorado. It can't it can't go any other way, maybe Edmonton if if they get a lucky bounce once in a while. But I was like, when the playoffs started, like Colorado's gonna go to the final, and then we're gonna deal with that later. What are your thoughts on them like getting ticked down by Vegas in four games?

SPEAKER_01 14:54

Man, I it's like I I always laugh. We all of us who do this job, we we do our preseason predictions, we then do our Stanley Cup predictions when the playoffs start. And we always crack up at ourselves when we're so fucking wrong. Like it's yeah, it's just like you know, people sometimes look to us and they're like, you know, you guys watch all the time, you're you're the professionals, and then shit like that happens. I'm like, I don't know anything, man. Like, look at this. It's crazy. But this year, the playoffs started, and our predictions were actually like kind of spot on. Like, I picked Anaheim to beat Edmonton, which was a crazy pick, and there you go, they win. Uh Colorado did feel like the fail-safe. They uh they I know I know the president's curse is a thing, but God man, they were just so good. And then they seemed healthy going into playoffs, and I was like, I just don't think anyone can beat that. And it was game five against Minnesota when they when they clinched and and went to the Western Conference final when I was like that was just such a brutal way for Minnesota to lose. So they were up, they were playing well, and Colorado just stormed back and knocked them out. And I think I tweeted I was like, this team is too good. Like, punch your ticket to the final here. This is crazy. And dude, Vegas, here's my big thing. I I really love Colorado. I love Nate, I love Kale, I love Landy so much. I think Bednar's an amazing coach. I think they're a great organization. Their fans over the last few years have been a little cocky. And you know that I'm not afraid to give it to fans. Like shout out to Rangers fans.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Yeah, I'm a Ranger fan, you know that.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

Yes, and I've given it to you about that before. Yeah. So their fan I think Colorado fans are great. They have every now and then when you talk about the team, they get a little cocky. And we had said something last year after they lost in the first round again, and we were kind of tiering teams, and I was like, I don't think we can put Colorado in like this top tier that Florida is in right now. And their fans were pissed. They're like, What are you talking about? And I was like, listen, man, like I understand you had the crazy Landy injury over the last couple of years. Uh-huh. You've got you've got Val Nishushkin who's been in and out of the lineup for various reasons. That's tough. But if you want to be this like S-tier team, you've gotta win. You've got to find ways to win. That's what makes you a great team. So this series, uh, I did not like how the fans were being like, oh, well, Kale was in there. This doesn't count. I was like, first of all, Kale missed two games, Mark Stone missed two games. Like, you know, exactly. I'm not saying Mark Stone is as good as Kale, I don't think he is, but Markstone is incredibly important to this team, and he's out of the lineup, and Vegas figured out a way to win. Kale was out of the lineup, you didn't figure out a way to win. And then they're like, Yeah, and then Nate got hurt. Nate's still playing. Like, you don't think everyone's banged up? So for me, dude, it was like, I don't think the excuses are there. So it was just shocking. And Vegas gets torts in, they start playing. You could see the guys were all just shot with new life. They're b bought into his style and his system, they're playing well together. And dude, I like even with it, even when they went down 2-0, I was like, this is actually gonna happen. And it did, and it's like what I'm curious, I'm curious what you think. We keep talking about the changing of the guard in the Atlantic. Like the days of the Atlantic of like Tampa, Boston, Toronto being at the top. It feels like it's switching. It's like Montreal, Buffalo, like these teams, even you know, I know Detroit missed, but like Detroit's still on the up. Ottawa's a good team. I'm starting to feel like in the West now, it's like you just saw what Anaheim did to Edmonton, and they get a couple of wins against Vegas, too. Utah had a good little run in that first round as well, and you're starting to wonder like, are is Edmonton, you know, are they gonna have to do some shit here? And like, what does Colorado do now? Like, I know they're keeping Bednar, but it's like that was a tough loss, dude. And like Dallas, again, man, another first round exit.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

Like, it's interesting. I have I have a great trade for you, Dallas trade. This is gonna be the best one on the show. Uh actually, um I agree with you because I feel like Montreal is gonna be a powerhouse in the East uh in a few years. Like they have such good players and they have an amazing coach. I think he's amazing. And if they get another sender as another C, it's gonna be it's gonna be trouble. Um, and also I feel like Colorado is gonna be in trouble in the next few years because when Kale's extension kicks in like next season, but the year after that, that's gonna be around 15-16 million.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Has to be.

SPEAKER_02 19:51

Yeah. That's a lot of money against the cap, right?

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Dude, for sure. And and I think like that's sharp by you, honestly, because it's like I I uh we released a clip, or uh, you know, Alec Martinez has been on the show a bunch more, he's gonna be on more and more. And uh I posed a question to him and Chris. I was like, i is Colorado's window closing and we're not really noticing it. And like they both kind of they were like, no, what are you talking about? But dude, you're right. Like that extension is gonna have to happen at the end of next season. It's gonna be huge. They already don't have the best cap situation. And if you look down that roster, they're getting older, man. Like it's it's they are old, like they're yeah, it's even crazy with like some other like you look at uh Edmonton, like Dry Sidal's 32, you know, like Connor's about to be 30. Like they these teams are not as much of spring chickens as we used to think. And Colorado is a great example of a team that I'm like, man, this is like this is interesting, you know. Like it's it's we gotta start making some tough decisions here, and I I think you're right with Colorado.

SPEAKER_02 21:02

Yeah, me too. But I actually think uh Connor is going to Montreal. I I think I think it's happening. I not this year, but the year after that. I think he's gonna take one more year in Edmonton and then he's in Montreal next summer. Dude, I just have a feeling about it. It would be I'm gonna puke.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

I love that. I love that. And you know what? It's like I mean, are we getting into trade talk right now?

SPEAKER_02 21:28

Uh yeah, we could actually, because I only have one more point. It's like um I think Florida's gonna be back uh next year. I think they're gonna be a powerhouse still. And then we have uh Carolina in the east. I think uh we you and me agree on uh they need one more piece to be like dominant, and that's uh SC as well. I think they need Rob Summers. That's that's my guy for them. He fits perfectly, and that would be the best trade of the year. I don't think it's happening.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Oh, I'm back. You froze for a second, but I'm back.

SPEAKER_02 22:17

You're back? Yeah, yeah. Okay. You heard what I said?

SPEAKER_01 22:21

Yeah, or you well, the last thing I heard, you were saying, um, do you think Carolina's gonna be top and they need like one more piece?

SPEAKER_02 22:27

And I said Rob Thomas, Rob Thomas is my dream for them.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Oh, wow. I love that call. I love that call. Man, um I I couldn't agree more. I the the Florida thing, I'm glad you brought up the Florida thing. I even said it earlier. I do think a lot of these fans, Montreal fans, Buffalo fans, that you feel this. You know what? I'm gonna throw Boston in there too, because Boston's retool has gone way faster than they thought. They're like, this is great, like you know, it's a new new age. Florida's gonna be right back, too. Like, I know older guys like Marshy and Bob. Obviously, they gotta re-sign Bob, but Bob's Bob's gonna sign, I think, for a great deal. And they're just gonna be right back in the mixer. And how good did Barkov look at Worlds?

SPEAKER_02 23:09

Like and dude, they have fucking cap space again. For fuck's sake. I know they're so back, and that pick is gonna get traded for an amazing piece who's gonna play third line for them, and then it's gonna win the cons meist next year, right? Next year, right?

SPEAKER_00 23:24

And then Yes. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 23:28

That's happening.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

It's crazy. Like, uh, I uh in and great call, they're absolutely gonna trade. Like a couple Florida fans the other day, it was like we were doing a hockey talk, and they were they were like, should we trade that pick? And I was like, absolutely, like you know, the whenever this run is over for Florida, it's going to take a monstrous rebuild. And that's great, that's fine. Like, that's why you do what you do and get good right now and win right now. That pick ain't helping this group. You know, you gotta trade it. And they're gonna trade it and they're gonna make a great move. It's unbelievable. But dude, I love how Carolina has room, and I think that this cup appearance, even if they it doesn't matter, they don't have to win. This cup appearance is exactly what the cup appearance when Florida lost to Vegas did for it. It shows guys in the league, oh, they figured it out, they know how to get to a cup, they're a very good team organization. Guys are bought in, they're taking team-friendly deals, it makes people want to go there. This cup appearance for Carolina is doing that, and that's huge. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:33

I agree. I actually had I has I had a hot take uh before we go to the trades. Uh and you're gonna maybe laugh at me right now. I have a feeling that Florida's gonna take a flyer on Patrick Line to be a fucking power plate guy for them. That would be the most I don't think that's hot at all.

SPEAKER_01 24:49

I think it's a great call. We we we uh put together a list the other day of like who who could make that move. A couple of people said Edmonton, and I was like, I I I I think Line A realizes that he needs a little bit of a a step back as far as contract, but he's not taking that much of a step back, and that's what would be required in Edmonton. Florida, like you said, they've got some cap again all of a sudden. I think that is a perfect spot for him. I think I think that's one of the top three for sure.

SPEAKER_02 25:20

Mail it. Okay, you're ready for some trade talk?

SPEAKER_01 25:23

Oh my god, I could not be more ready. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 25:26

Let's go. Okay, this the first one, actually, we talked about this one before. I saw it in the comments on one of your posts, and it's getting my it's beginning to get getting my favorite like idea of a trade this summer, and it's gonna be William Eklund for Simon Nevitch. I think that's the best trade out there for like so many reasons. Like uh Devils need uh forward uh and the sharks need a right demon, and that's just perfect.

SPEAKER_01 25:58

Yeah, I mean I I uh whatever it is, I think that that would be great. And what's interesting, man, is I keep thinking the sharks should be trading this second pick. I I actually think I love Gavin McKenna. I can't begin to describe how much of an unbelievable human I think that kid is, and such a good player. And it is crazy that actually, you know what this is, dude? This feels like the Bedard draft year where obviously Bedard was going one, but Leo Carlson going two. Like a lot of some people were surprised at that fan. Tilly would go two. Leo, as you can see, is unbelievable. And like there's every Ducks fan in the world is going if you could redo that draft and we had the number one pick, we would still take Leo. We wouldn't take Bedard. And I think they would, actually. A hundred percent. And I think Chicago fans who are loyal to Bedard would be like, that's wrong, Bedard's better. The point is it's a conversation. I think we have a situation like that this year because Iver Stenberg is insane. If if you're watching what he's doing in Sweden, like this kid's crazy. But what's funny about the Sharks, they're so heavy on forwards. And like exactly you look at that second pick and you're like, all right, let's say it's Stenberg. He's so good that you're almost like you have to take him, but they need defense. And dude, you just nailed it. Like, if they are sharp, which I think they have been, and Greer's good at this, go get Nemich. And then you've got your D with a trade like that, you don't need to move the second overall pick for him. Like, you don't.

SPEAKER_02 27:34

So and I even think that Shocks could get something on top. They could get some extra. And that and and and Nemich is i uh has so much potential that yes, yeah. So I just think the shocks should do that.

SPEAKER_01 27:47

Like I I I think so too, because like if you go and get like my point is if you make them trade like that, say say you do Eklund another pick, like maybe next year's pick or something like that, and you get Nemich, you can then take Stenberg and not feel like we're too overloaded. Or if you think you're in you know playoffs now mode, which they frankly should, you could go make that trade and get Nemich, and then you can also trade the second for a different D-man, and then all of a sudden, like bang, you've got two top four D-men. I love it. I love that move. I think they should do it.

SPEAKER_02 28:19

I think if they trade the second pick, it's gonna be for Jason Robertson. If they do it, if they're trading it. And I don't think they will. I I think they want to take Stenberg and pair him with uh Mech.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Yeah, I I mean I think it would be electric, but I think I think Nemich is a great call, and they're a team, certainly a team that should be looking for.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

Shout out to the dude who uh posted it in your comments. It's it's not my idea, it's his. And I love that.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

It was a really good one.

SPEAKER_02 28:47

Yeah, I know. Okay, I have I have one more for you. Already, and you're gonna love this one. We talked about this one before, and it's uh Brady Kajuk to Boston. It's it's happening. Uh I'm not I'm never gonna give up on this. Is he's the most Boston player ever. So uh we need that to happen. And he needs to get the fuck out of Canada now.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Man, I think I love that, first of all. I think it's one of two teams with him. Boston's definitely one, and Jersey is the other. I think I like he spends his summers in Jersey, and for me, man.

SPEAKER_02 29:21

So let's make it a treat, a free team trade then. Eklund to the senators then.

SPEAKER_01 29:25

There you go. There you go. I look at Jersey and how good uh Nico Heesher has become, but also, man, Jack Hughes. If you look at post-Olympics, he was the best player in the show. Yeah, yeah. It was unbelievable. Now, I do think this is a big year for Jack Hughes. Uh he had that two years ago, three years ago, he had his 99-point season. Everyone was like, oh, okay, there it is. Like the coming out party for Jack Hughes happened. Now he's off to the races. He slowed down a little bit, then he has his Olympic performance, and he was so good after that. I think next year is going to be a you've got to stay healthy, I think he can, and I think he's really gonna excel. But if you've got Nico and you've got Jack as your one and two centers, you need to add like Jesper Bratt is unbelievable, don't get me wrong. It's fantastic. Timo Meyer's a good player. I think they've wanted him to be a little bit better. But if you add a Brady to the wing of Jack and just put that size, because that's what they need. I think the Devils just need to get grittier. I think they need to get a little tougher. And Brady, man, that Ottawa team is special. Like Stutzla is great, Batherson's great, Pinto's great. I do think that there's an element though, still, where people look at that team and go, Brady's the best player on this team. And frankly, I think Stutzla is a more skillful player. Oh, I think he's better.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

He's a better player, I think.

SPEAKER_01 30:52

Yeah. So I do think people say that you have Ottawa's obviously a smaller Canadian market than some of these crazy ones like Toronto and Montreal. But there is still that pressure and that emphasis, and that's why he does get a lot of you know bullshit that he's clearly a little tired of. If you put Brady on New Jersey, that spotlight is still forever going to be on Jack. And I think that would be just a perfect situation for him. So that would be huge. I do love the Boston call, and I think Boston has pieces to do it. I I think Hagens will be maybe a little too rich for Brady, uh unless it's only Hagens and not another first-round pick. But they've got guys like Dean Laterno, they've got guys like Will Zellers, some great prospects that you could move and potentially get Brady. My one thing with Boston is another guy who's a little older that we hate to admit, is Pasta. And I don't know if you saw, after they got bounced, he said in his in the locker room interview, he was like, dude, I'm getting older, I'm about to be 30. Like, I I've only had one chance at the cup. I I want another one. And it was kind of his message to Sweeney, being like, Hey, fucking go get me somebody. Like, I want to compete.

SPEAKER_02 32:06

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 32:07

And I think they need a center, man. And that is the only reason I could see it not being Boston for Brady.

SPEAKER_02 32:14

Because like they kind of that sender, that, that, that, that sender is also Rob Thomas, funny enough. That's also the guy Boston needs.

SPEAKER_01 32:22

I know, dude. It's crazy. See how Rob, because you know what's funny? You bring up Carolina. I and I we've been we've actually you and I have been talking about this for over a year, Rob Thomas at Carolina. We talked about it from last summer. Yeah. I think uh Habs fans want him too. Like, there's multiple teams. Everybody wants him. There's multiple teams that are like, we need Rob Thomas. Like he's just such a good second-line center for a competing team. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

And also, but I think Montreal is gonna be like, oh, we don't want to take that chance because if Connor becomes away available, we're gonna want to have the space and the assets to go get him. So yeah. I think Montreal is gonna be quiet this summer, actually. I I think uh Rob Thomas is gonna get traded this summer for uh you're gonna that package is gonna be insane. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:11

What they they were asking for at the deadline was crazy. Alright, I have some trade stuff for you. I have one more, actually. Okay, alright, give me your one more.

SPEAKER_02 33:19

And I love this one. You're gonna and you're gonna be agree with me, and it's probably gonna happen, and I'm gonna fucking kill myself. Everybody know who knows me, you know it. I'm a Ranger fan. I've been my whole life, and I've been depressed about it my whole life. Of course, I'm a fan of the team when it plays. That's a given, but I'm a Rangers fan. I think uh Jason Robertson is gonna be a New York Ranger next summer, the next year. And he's gonna get traded to the Rangers for the fifth overall pick. Uh is it the 22nd overall pick next year's first and a couple of pieces. It's happening, and I'm gonna kill myself because it's the most rangers thing ever to do. Like, oh, we're still gonna compete, and you know what, we're gonna pay him 14 million, and yeah. For fuck's sake.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Shit. I you know what's funny about this. What's funny about this is you are spot on. It would be the most Rangers move of all time. Like, where you you think you're still competing and he's the one piece that you're missing, and you just mortgage your future for it. Yeah. That was happening. Brutal. Oh my god. I what a great dude. That was never on my radar. That is such a great call. Oh. I wonder if or no. He doesn't. I was gonna say, I wonder if he would be fine, he doesn't have a say. Like he can just get a say.

SPEAKER_02 34:42

Of course he wanna be in New York. He's an he's an American. He wanna like and he wanna be where they're gonna pay him 14 million.

SPEAKER_01 34:49

Oh my god, dude.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

That is and I actually think if if if Dallas is is is smart about this, they're gonna do that trade and they're gonna take Laugh back and make him into a star. And then we're gonna kill myself again.

SPEAKER_01 35:05

I could see that too, actually. Laugh for me, I could see, you know, it's it's it's bullshit to say because like he's gotten to play with Zabana Jad, he's gotten to play with Panarin, and like he hasn't taken the jump. But I could see you get him out of New York and put him on a team with a couple of his players who could all of a sudden have 75 points and everyone's like, put him on a line with Wyatt Johnston and Miko Ranson, and then look what gonna happen. Yeah, I mean, totally.

SPEAKER_02 35:30

Oh, it's happening, dude.

SPEAKER_01 35:32

If that happens, you are coming on the show immediately to talk about it because then it will be insane.

SPEAKER_02 35:39

Okay. Last one, and then it's your turn. Last one, and this is the quick one, because nobody talks about this, so we're gonna get it. Uh Minnesota Wild uh have two goalies, and uh uh I think it's July 1st that uh Gus is no move kicks in. Yeah, I think he's gonna get traded for Brandon Bussi to Carolina Hurricanes. Because Bussi's contract is brilliant work by the Carolina Hurricanes.

SPEAKER_01 36:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:07

But but the wild needs the cap relief, get him out of town, get a cheap second uh second string goalie into uh Wallstead, and then Gusta Bush is gonna be a hurricane.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

Dude, that is a very, very interesting call.

SPEAKER_02 36:21

I mean, that would be a great I mean because his contract is great, great too, don't get me wrong. Exactly. And he is he is a star. He is a great goalie.

SPEAKER_01 36:31

He really is. That would be a that would be a subtly genius move by Carolina to kind of take advantage of of Minnesota's situation and get something more for it, right? That would be sharp, dude. I love that call. I mean, that would break my heart because I love Bussey and I want him to stay in Carolina.

SPEAKER_02 36:50

And you've been on that from day one. And I actually told you, remember to post that clip. Yeah. And you have of you saying that he's gonna be a good goalie in this league, and I agree.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

Yeah, we did. That's a good call, man. I'm like, shit. All right. Um, okay, here are my big ones for you. Let's go. I I think you already started it with Brady. I think last year we went into summer, and there was a lot of like there was a lot of trade chatter about certain players, and we didn't really get any of it. But I think this summer it is happening, and there's a big reason why that might even get more significant. So the players on my radar are Brady Kachuk, Rob Thomas, Austin Matthews.

SPEAKER_00 37:33

Yep. Oh, remember that trade?

SPEAKER_01 37:36

Austin Matthews and Connor McDavid and Leon Dreysettle. I'm not saying they're they're all going, certainly not those last two, but I do want to bring all of them up for a specific reason.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

Dude, in my opinion, Brady is getting traded, and also in my opinion, Austin is getting traded. I think it would be insane to not trade Austin Matthews this summer after what has gone on with Toronto, and uh let's not even get into them getting the first or overall pick. But news news flash Toronto, that ain't changing your problems. It's not. So I think they should trade him. I don't think it's gonna work. Figure it out. My thing is Vegas. You want to think for Austin, not for Austin. Okay, okay. The the reason I think all of these things could happen is Vegas. This team, dude, uh, has changed the NHL. Then if they win, it's going to make it even more intense. But even them making it to the cup this year, it's it's shown definitively for all of these other franchises and all of these other GMs that the whole good boys club of the NHL is over. Like, dude, we used to live in this era where every player in the league goes, Oh, I I need to be loyal to the team that drafted me. It's why we never see any great UFAs anymore. Like, Nick is the first unbelievable free uh UFA that we've seen in like 10 years because everyone just extends. But now the way Vegas flips and trades and turns over players, and then even with that, the way guys like Mitch Marner, Rasmus Anderson, Tomash Hurdle go, yeah, no, I do I want to go there. It's just showing the league that now we have teams and GMs willing to do whatever it takes to win and to be great. And it's like it's rattling people, it's rattling all these other teams. And I think it's going to start making players go, wait a minute, like I can do that too. And it'll make a guy like Brady Kachuk or Austin Matthews go, Yeah, I can I can ask for a trade, and it's not gonna be this crazy thing that's gonna make fans turn on me and make me have a bad reputation because all of these great players have already done it and it's working. It's getting them Stanley Cups in Florida, in Vegas. Like it is truly going to change the game. So I think we're gonna see more of it. And I also think we're going to see more offer sheets this. I think we're gonna see at least two offer sheets this summer.

SPEAKER_02 40:10

Dor Dorofiev and who else?

SPEAKER_01 40:12

Dorothyev's a big one. Olin Zellweger in in Anaheim defenseman is a big one. And it's not gonna happen with Robertson because that number's gonna be too high. But like these are guys that are like it's kind of a cap crunch team with great RFA players. We saw how well it worked for St. Louis with Holloway and Broberg. It's going to happen more. So it's like it's super exciting.

SPEAKER_02 40:35

Um but also because like we talked about this before you and me, like fuck those picks, like trade the picks, who cares? Like, if you can get Austin Matthews, trade the picks. And I actually I texted you, was it around trade deadline? I I I texted you, uh, I think Austin Matthews is in New York Island this summer. And I think I think uh him for Basel and like three or four first-round picks is happening. Let's go get him to New York and then him and Schaefer. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 41:04

I I so it's funny, dude. There's a lot of people who actually like while we've been here in Raleigh talking to a bunch of the NHL folks, ESPN folks, there are tons of people who still are like, no, Austin's not gonna move. He's you know, blah blah blah. To me, dude, uh, it's like if I'm Austin and I just had the year that I had winning that gold medal on that team, being the captain, but you're getting to play behind a Jack Michael, you're getting to play with some of the guys you get to play with. I look at opportunities like there are in Anaheim, like there are in uh Anaheim, in Utah, and I'm like, think about Anaheim, okay? Think about the picks that they have, the space that they have. You could move a Mason McTavish who you just signed to a long-term great contract.

SPEAKER_02 41:53

Great deal.

SPEAKER_01 41:55

You could take one of these RFA defensemen like an Olin Zellweger, you could take a first-round pick, another first round pick, because you don't need your picks, you don't need your picks anymore. Look at how good this team has become so fast. Exactly. And you can make that deal, and you get to look at Austin and go, hey, here's the good news, pal. You're second line center. Leo Carlson is our first line center. He's our future guy. And you've got Granny signed to that team, you've got Kreider signed to that team, you've got Cutter who's going to sign with Leo to that team, you've got Frank Fetrano still in there, you got Seneca who's on his rookie deal still. That is a situation where Great goalie on a good deal. Great goalie on a good deal, man. It's like you have your horse on defense and Jackson McCoy.

SPEAKER_02 42:41

Yeah, I click home.

SPEAKER_01 42:42

Dude, it's I look at it and I'm like, you put Austin in Southern California with zero pressure, in a great organization with a good GM and a good barn, a good practice facility. There's just like no better place for him. And if you're Toronto and you get like a Mason McTavish, a an Olin Zellwegger and two first round picks back for that, and you frankly, dude, you get Austin's 13 mil off the books. You can't look at that and go, okay, like we we we messed up with Mitch. He's gone, he's doing great. It's time to restart.

SPEAKER_02 43:16

Restart around Willie and and not also because they want to get McDavid as well. Yep. Like McDavid is not going there if Austin Mathews is there. It's not happening. So no. So so get so get get McKenna, get get the picks, get McTavich, then go get Connor, and then maybe even trade uh Nilanda as well.

SPEAKER_01 43:37

Yeah. Start over. I think it's I think it's totally gonna happen. Uh or something like that should happen. Now, I'll be happy to eat Crow if he doesn't get dealt this summer, but what I think again with this Vegas situation, and I'm now gonna f get to my last point on Edmonton. I think it is it is a time where you have to ask yourself hard questions as a GM, right? Like I love the way Vegas operates. I love the way Florida operates. And if you're Bowman in in Edmonton, right, you get in there, you've got Connor who signs that two-year deal, which was crazy. And that was basically Connor being like, All right, man, like do something for me here.

SPEAKER_03 44:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:22

And the best you do is get Tristan Jari. Who's now like under contract. Like that's your goal. Like you're you're playing Tristan Jari. And you have a brutal cap situation. Brutal. You've got Connor and Leon with the statements they're making at the end of that year. Again, Leon is about to be 31. Connor's about to be 30. You have just contracts like Nurse that I think are going to be really hard to move. I don't see a world where you can move it. You've got contracts like Bouchard. Like, I know Bouchard just had 92 points, but like I'm of the mind, I think Bouchard's a very good player. I don't think he is that expensive of a player. And it's just another deal where, like, dude, Leon signs that big deal, then Bouchard signs that big deal. I know Connor does does them a favor with that two-year deal, but like no one in Edmonton is taking team-friendly deals like in Florida. So it's like I don't really know where they think they're going to get some relief or get better. Man, honestly, with the way their cap situation is and the way things have gone, I think you almost have to make a very difficult decision this summer with a Leon or a Connor. Because if you go into next season and you do nothing and you make a bunch of these little micro moves again, like bringing in guys like Adam Henrik and like hoping that's going to be the band-aid, and then you lose again, it doesn't matter if it's the first round or the cup final. If you lose again, now you are up against Connors in an expiring deal. Leon's now two and what do you do? So like my mentality is if I'm Bowman, I would rather I would rather go down with the ship making a big move and trying to do something rather than go, oh yeah, we we just we kind of rolled the dice with what we have and we lost again. Because you're getting fired if that happens. I would rather get fired after making a huge move and trying to get better. And what I look at is some of the guys you mentioned, dude. I look at uh Jason Robertson as an RFA, and if you're Dallas, you can trade let's say you go Robo, Rupe Hence, a couple first round picks to get a Leon or to get a Connor, you bring him down to no state tax, Texas, and you put him with Rantnon and Wyatt Johnston, like that move gets you over the hop. That beats Colorado. And dude, here's the other crazy one. Vegas. Oh no. I I mean it. You mentioned him earlier. Dorafiev is going to be such a hot ticket, and that's an RFA. I don't think it's crazy to think that they could win a cup this year and then just say, hey Hurdle, thanks for your services. Boom, you're moved in a deal. And the only thing with them is the lack of picks. But they do have Aiden Hill. And that's a thing, right? Like, I think Edmonton is only going to make a move for you brought up Montreal, and Montreal has the best situation with Dobesh and Fowler. But the thing with Edmonton is I don't think they're going to make a move for a goalie unless they move Leon. And they're like, hey, we're going with Connor, we're going to try to win with Connor, and we need to get a goalie for Connor. You're not going to get a good goalie like a Fowler, and you're certainly not going to get an Aiden Hill in division trade unless it's like you're giving up something big. And I don't frankly think like a Nuge or a Hyman is big enough for Vegas to go, yeah, here's Aiden Hill, Edmonton. Now win a cup. To me, with that is like if you moved like Hill, Hurdle, Dorafiev for for like Leon, and you're like, and and Edmonton is going, yeah, we're going to try to get a goalie and win with Connor. That's something that could happen. But those are the two, and I'll shut up. Those are the two I I'm desperate to happen this summer. I don't think it's I think they are going to just hold out hope one more year, which I think is a huge mistake. Because honestly, I I think hockey GMs need to be more Bill Belichick, and frankly, and you just like you have to run these things like a business. And players look out for themselves with no move clauses as they should. You know, I'm a player's guy, but I think some of those GMs should be more of a listen, when you've got situations where guys aren't protected, you have RFAs, make some hard moves here and go win a cup. Like look at Florida and Vegas. It's working. You've got to start trying to make it work too.

SPEAKER_02 48:51

Imagine if. Oh no, it's happening, dude. Imagine if. Oh no. Imagine if Dallas does that trade with the Rangers, get all those picks and then move Robe Hens and all those picks in one more piece to Edmondson Fakana.

SPEAKER_01 49:06

Holy shit, could you imagine?

SPEAKER_02 49:09

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 49:10

Could you imagine?

SPEAKER_02 49:11

Laffinier is going to be like a hundred point guy in that scenario.

SPEAKER_01 49:17

Dude, if they move if they move Robo to New York for all those picks and like a laugh, and then they move Pix, Rupee, whatever, and go get like a Leon or something, that would be insane.

SPEAKER_02 49:30

Oh, that would be horrible. Especially being for like a Ranger guy. I don't even know how that happened in my life.

SPEAKER_01 49:38

Yeah. It's dude, it's been tough. It's been a tough couple years for you.

SPEAKER_02 49:42

Yeah, but I I I've been blessed to have uh Nikolai play so great in Winnipeg last year and in Carolina this year. So I can I can always like root for two teams.

SPEAKER_01 49:53

Yeah, that's the move. I mean, like you you gotta it's it's kind of what I've done with being in L so long. Like I just love the Kings now, but it's like you know, you you gotta you gotta put your eggs in different baskets these days.

SPEAKER_02 50:05

Yeah, because the Raiders have fucked. It's over. Uh dude. I want to let you go now. I'm gonna say thank you for joining the show. It's gonna be it's been an incredible honor to have you on. And uh I can't wait to see if we're getting these trades and somebody's gonna hire us to be their GM next year.

SPEAKER_01 50:22

Yes, dude. Uh we're we're we're available. If anyone needs um, dude, it's it's awesome to come on finally. I love what you're doing here. Keep it up, keep spreading it all around. It's great. Thank you, brother. Gotta have you on soon, too. So we'll see if we get a cup celebration coming here.

SPEAKER_02 50:38

Let's fucking go. And then go, Kate. I can't wait to talk to you later on, bro.

SPEAKER_01 50:42

Hell yeah, man. We've got to get some action.

SPEAKER_02 50:45

Let's go. All right, man. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. Later, man. Peace. Peace. Thank you.