The Check In - 04.16.26 - Sharks at Jets

The Jets close out their season with a home game against the Sharks. Sara and Jamie will look back at a challenging season for the organization, get your thoughts on next season and welcome TSN analyst Craig Button to the show.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 1:06

Hello, everybody. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome inside our home. I feel we missed you.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

I don't know. Is that more Mr. Rogers? Mr. Dress Up.

SPEAKER_05 1:17

Oh, Mr. Dress Up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

I don't know. I don't remember the opening of a lot of foot. Welcome, friends.

SPEAKER_05 1:22

It's been a long time.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

We're so happy to have you here for game 82. It is uh Where have you been? It is hard to believe that in some ways that this is the final game of the regular season, the final game of the Winnipeg Jets season, which means it's the final game day check-in for the two of us. I'm Sarilesky, he's Jamie Thomas. Um emotional. Yeah. Well, you know, this has been we were trying to describe some of us the in the media room earlier. I was asking, how do you even describe this season?

SPEAKER_05 1:54

And like this, okay. So even yeah, when I think of the year when they missed in 22, yeah, that was not fun.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

No, but it was very different than this year.

SPEAKER_05 2:05

Like you had a bad feeling about that one. But even when they had lost when they on the 11-game winless streak, I'm okay, they're good enough to get back into things. And then when everybody else kind of was fumbling.

SPEAKER_02 2:18

Obviously, disappointment with the way uh after the playoffs last year, winning the president's trophy. Uh, you never want to see them out on the outside of the playoff picture, but that is where the Jets find themselves. Uh, we are looking forward to having Craig Button join us in just a little bit. He's obviously been a key part of TSN's coverage throughout this season on the broadcast.

SPEAKER_05 2:37

Final draft rankings came out today, too.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

So okay, so perfect as well to be able to talk to Craig about that, the uh scouting director for TSN. And then Drew Romenda is gonna join us from the Sharks broadcast, which we always love having. It's always um entertaining. And look, we want to hear from all of you as I go on and try to take a look at this chat right now. We want to hear from from all of you about how you're feeling right now going into this game here tonight. It is fan appreciation night at Canada Life Center. Um, hoping that the Jets are able to give fans a good showing in this game against the sharks. But how are all of you feeling right now? Talk to us. This is our therapy session.

SPEAKER_05 3:15

Free therapy.

SPEAKER_02 3:16

That's right. We might build you like that. I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 3:18

I don't know if you want Jamie and I to be leading it, but my kids tell me all the time you lack empathy, so you just okay, so maybe not. Yeah, so Sarah will be the person listening to you mostly and probably responding with kind thoughts afterwards. But I like uh a STEM and stemist. The season was out of step, which is for it, yeah. So I I was taught always you look at other places, it's always worse somewhere else. So this was not Vancouver.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Yeah, it was not Toronto, it was not Toronto, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:52

So there's always like something worse, and there's a few, you know, six or seven teams that have way worse, maybe more than that, because there's a lot of teams that have expectations. But there's seven new playoff teams this year. So there's seven teams that were in last year and now have this feeling that the Winnipeg Jets do. I feel that the way they played down the stretch, especially out of the Olympic break, yeah, kind of saved things. So I don't think people are going into the offseason, and I don't want to speak for you, but I'm not going the off-season going, oh like there's some good things to work off of. And it's not like the team that wins the president's trophy is gonna completely fall off the map. And forget the New York Rangers for a second because they did that last year and then have had disaster. But that that organization is like another place that we're not gonna get into today. So I just feel there's enough there, there's enough the core group is still here that we we can't forget about that. So there's just enough there to work off of going into next year.

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Yeah, so look, it's gonna be a very interesting offseason. Obviously, now with no playoffs happening, the next big date that I think people will be watching for is May 5th, and that's with the giraffe lottery rankings. Where will the Winnipeg Jets end? And there is something at stake in tonight's game against San Jose for them. A win in regulation.

SPEAKER_05 5:03

Yeah, it gets complicated, a little bit complicated.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Can you do it? A win in regulation. Go ahead. And they finish eighth with a 12% chance of then being moved up to the top two, which is where May 5th years in, 84 per chance, 84% chance of picking eighth or ninth, a regulation loss, and they finish um ninth. Does that make sense?

SPEAKER_05 5:26

Seven or eighth, I think is okay.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

Seventh with yeah, uh with a 13% chance of picking first or second and 84% uh chance at eight or ninth.

SPEAKER_05 5:34

So if you're gamblers, you have to do that.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

I am not other than the Tim Hortons.

SPEAKER_05 5:39

Sarah gave you some information there. Now go gamble.

SPEAKER_02 5:42

There. That um so look, there is there's obviously still it could be a very exciting off season for the Winnipeg Jets. And so May 5th is a date that certainly should be circled on all of our calendars. Uh, players are going to be available tomorrow for they will have their physicals exit interviews. So you will see a lot um both on the Winnipeg Jets websites and then throughout um whether it be your papers or other outlets, you'll be able to hear final thoughts from Winnipeg Jets players and then Scott O'Neill and Kevin Chevaldeoff will be available next week. Um throwing a little bit of a wrench into the plans is the fact that the UFC is here this weekend, so that limits their building availability of the game.

SPEAKER_05 6:20

Because they're taking they're taking it over.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

So anyway, so that's something to certainly keep an eye on. Winnipeg uh Jets website will have you covered with all of the information. Uh, one of the things I want to know though, so as we said, this can be a therapy session, let it all out, talk to us. Uh, who has been the MVP for the Winnipeg Jets in your mind this season?

SPEAKER_05 6:42

Uh every year you traditionally would say Connor Hellebuck.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 6:47

I could probably go to the bank with that. But this year it's like Mark Shifley.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 6:51

No question. And I'm not saying anything like that's just my opinion because of just from the beginning part of the year is when everything was going terrible. Yep. Sorry, from November on their first stretch. Um the top line was driving everything. So it's uh he's continued on, he's set franchise records. We can go on and on about how great he's been this year. But the consistent consistent factor thrown in the middle of that was that really hard media availability after the loss in Toronto.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 7:18

After he had found out he had not been selected to the Olympic team.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 7:22

That's one of the harder ones I've had to watch this year because just how badly fell for him. But that did not at least his play on the ice did not affect his play on the ice. He was incredible this year. He is by far the Jets MVP this year. No question. What about you?

SPEAKER_02 7:35

Uh well, I think that there's no doubt. You have to go with 55. And looking in the chat right now, that seems to be what everybody is feeling as well. And you look at the numbers, and I I will script the numbers because I won't remember them uh precisely right now, but the drop-off in secondary scoring between this season and last season was remarkable. And so because of the significance remarkable. Yeah, you know, that's all part of my plan exactly. Uh so that the top line continued to drive it. And, you know, while we saw great things from um Kyle Connor, um, you know, we saw career years. Gabe Villardi career, there's no doubt that Mark Scheifley is the most valuable player from start to finish when it comes to this Winnipeg Jets season.

SPEAKER_05 8:19

Josh Morrissey does there's some honorable mentions in there, and for sure Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor. 100% Gabe Villardi, because Gabe Villardi helped spread out the scoring when he was put on the second line, and that has has to be a play in there, too. And I think the even a little bit further down, I'm not saying so much MVP, the fact that we've got some good looks at younger players this year. Yeah, um, that's been instrumental too, or very important for the long-term vision of this organization that some younger players have got some looks.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

Yeah, well, let's take a look at what the projected lines are tonight, because as much as we are talking about the offseason, yes, there is still a game to be played. Um, of course, tonight. And so you look at it, familiar lines when you think about what we saw um last game as well. If you go on to the Winnipeg Jets website, you'll be able to see sound from inside the room today with the availability. Adam Lowry spoke, so too did Billy Hingle. Right. And you know, he's in the lineup again tonight on that third pairing. It has been such a challenging season for him, and he spoke about it. And to be honest, it absolutely I mean, I go full mum mode here.

SPEAKER_05 9:22

Yes, you do.

SPEAKER_02 9:24

It just really chugged at the heart listening to him, you guys. It's and he spoke openly about how this is the most difficult season for him that he was dealing with or that he was uh working with a mental performance coach to try to help him with it, and you just you feel for him. So whatever happens going forward, um, you know, you wish Billy the best. He is so great to deal with.

SPEAKER_05 9:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

And so you really want to see him have the opportunity that injuries have derailed him um so much in his young career. And then we also see on these projected lines, you see the young players again. And you mentioned, I mean, this has been an opportunity to be able to see um young guys come up. And that is something that if if there is a narrative that Winnipeg Jets fans have certainly been going with for the last few years, it's been that they want to see some of the prospects. I think that it's very fair to say, although everybody wants to see what the future could hold, that not all of them were in a position, their games weren't in a position to be able to bring them up earlier on. You have seen the evolution. Look, Brad Lambert, as much as people say the way that he's playing now, that is not the way that he was playing in October. And so he has matured and his and his game has evolved as well, which is exactly what you want to see. But bringing him up and keeping him up here early was not the best for his development. And so a positive sign to be able to see some of these young guys um elevate their game.

SPEAKER_05 10:49

Yeah, and I think another, you know, Nikita Chipprikov was given a top six shot earlier in the year. And I think it's good to remind people that he had suffered a very serious knee injury, and he's kind of he's almost in that year part, year, he's in the year past a year of recovery now. So that's when you can fully see what traditionally that a player is at his best after a year after this type of surgery. So uh Nikita Chipperkov has looked what we thought he is. He was extremely aggressive in another night in Vegas, drew the ire of the Golden Knights a couple times in that game. When he plays like that, that's that's peak Nikita Chipperkov. And yes, he can throw an offense as well, but love that fourth line with Jaeger, um, Chipperkov and Kepke.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

There you go. Um, I had the opportunity, Braden Yeager was the fourth Winnipeg jet this season to bring um to make his NHL debut. It happened in Vegas, and I had the opportunity to catch up with him this morning. Braden, we haven't had the opportunity to talk to you since making your NHL debut in Vegas. You gotta give us an idea. What is that experience like for you?

SPEAKER_00 11:49

Yeah, it was it was insane. Um just like getting off the plane. I mean, even the whole plane experience. Obviously, I've done it before in preseason, but um But it's different during the regular season. Yeah, it was it was crazy. Um just having like little time to pack showing up on the plane and um we get food on the plane and everything, so not used to that. But um, yeah, I mean getting up to Las Vegas, crazy city, um, getting a walk around and then see some some of the stores and um the crazy things that are there, and uh um yeah, I mean um it was just some you know getting the soul and spend time with the getting prison, um yeah, it was just unbelievable for me.

SPEAKER_02 12:28

I can only imagine some of the nerves going in, but it's all happening. In Vegas is quite a special there as well. What were the emotions as you were walking out there?

SPEAKER_00 12:37

Well yeah, I think I said it in an interview earlier just the first things don't follow. Um, and then maybe hit the next year. So um, yeah, I mean that's that's first emotions and then just um kind of taking it on and um trying to at least. I mean it's um um you know your dream come true to to make you know do your soul happen and get to play your first game. So um yeah, it was it was unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 12:59

And playing on back-to-back nights as well. So did it feel different in that second game than it did in the first?

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Yeah, for sure. I mean a little bit more comfortable. Yeah. Um I think you can uh as as the game goes on and you feel more comfortable and you can uh realize um it's just not a hockey game and um you start to kind of relax a bit, but um you know, it still hasn't actually got one as your first couple games, so it's um yeah, I mean it's like it's pretty normal to be uh you know a little overexcited and in the course. Yeah, I mean, uh yeah, it's it's been great.

SPEAKER_02 13:31

So tonight will be your third game. What is it that you hope that you've shown the coaching staff and and management here with this opportunity?

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Yeah, I think the first thing is that I'm having fun. Um but uh yeah, I mean I I I feel pretty comfortable. Um I think um, you know, my skating ability and my hockey queue I think um will fit in, and um you know hopefully I think just getting more and more comfortable. I think holding onto the puck and and showing my skill set um is something that you know we can try to do in the last game, but um I mean uh it's a short amount of time. Uh just gotta have fun, enjoy it, and um have a good summer, uh good playoff run with the moose, and um come in the next camp and be ready.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Appreciate the time.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 14:17

You know what Sarah does put people at ease when you need to ask them questions.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

Wow. I don't know about that. I was distracted the whole time going, why didn't I pull my shirt? It was all crumpled up. Oh nobody notices.

SPEAKER_05 14:30

Well, sometimes the people that shoot the videos should point it out.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Yeah, Sarah, you Sarah. Sarah, you look like a mess out there. Sarah, you know who never looks like a mess? You know who never looks like a mess?

SPEAKER_05 14:42

No, ever.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Craig Button. He's got one of the best fashion senses in the NHL.

SPEAKER_05 14:48

Wait, he looks like he's scrambling here. Oh I'm on. I just got back from a long run.

SPEAKER_02 14:57

Oh, you're muted, Craig.

SPEAKER_05 14:59

Hold on. Hold on, maybe. No, go ahead, Craig. I have to unmute yourself.

SPEAKER_02 15:03

Let's see if we can uh he's coming, he's coming.

SPEAKER_03 15:06

Wait, wait for it. There we go. Oh no, I'm good. Sorry. I don't carry a mirror with myself because I don't want to look at myself in a mirror.

SPEAKER_02 15:17

I obviously don't carry one with me either, Craig. That's why my shirt's all yeah. Well, mine was think I would have figured it out by then.

SPEAKER_03 15:26

You made me self-conscious when you're doing that. I'm going, okay, what do I got?

SPEAKER_05 15:37

Um Craig, welcome. It's a it's a it's a big day in uh we'll we'll get to the jets in a second. It's a big day because the final rankings for the draft eligible players was released today, both North American and uh European. And of top, of course, on top of the of the list is McKenna and Stenberg on the other side of things. Did McKenna do enough towards the end of the year to because he had kind of not he kind of knocked himself down a little bit? The world juniors did he build up enough momentum to earn that opportunity to be the number one North American skater.

SPEAKER_03 16:17

I I would hardly suggest that Gavin McKenna didn't play well at the world junior. He had one game where he wasn't very good against Czechia.

SPEAKER_05 16:25

Is that what I was gonna get to, Craig? Is like he that was I should have said that was unfair how he was judged at the world juniors for for that reason.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Well, well, again, if you want to go and watch a player and you're gonna leave the game, he played good, therefore he's good, or he didn't play good, then he didn't play bad. Guess what? Every player has had a bad game, and good great players have had nights and weeks sometimes when they haven't been at their very best. And you what you got to watch players over a period of time, you got to watch them and see how they progress, and especially with young people. I mean, are you gonna go look at a 15-year-old kid in high school and sit down and go, Well, geez, they didn't do very good on this science test, like you know, so you know, but now all of a sudden at 16 they do well on a science test, then at 18 they bomb a science test, and now therefore they're they're not good at science. Yeah, there's so much going on in these in young people's lives, and what what they're what they're going through, the new experiences and everything. And as it relates to Gavin to me, I I've watched Gavin since he was 14 years old, and you know the the things that I've watched him be able to do and excel at have been tremendous. Not every time he's been at his best, but over time. I think that when I watched him go to Penn State at the NCAA, he was ready for a challenge. He knew that it was going to be a challenge playing against older players and stronger players. He knew that the grind of college hockey was going to be different than junior hockey. He wasn't looking for the comfortable path. Second to that is the the level of skill that he was playing at Penn State, thinking ability, skill level wasn't anywhere near as high as what he left. And I think after he came back from the world junior, I think one of the greatest things that Gavin McKenna showed was he recognized who he was playing with, he got the best out of them, he got the best out of himself, and and by extension, the team elevated. He didn't he didn't go about his business saying, Well, that guy's not very good. Early in the year, I I chuckled because I said when he gave up the puck, it went to a black hole. It wasn't coming back to him, and it wasn't it wasn't that players weren't trying, they weren't as good, but he recognized that, and then he he took it upon himself. But I saw that progression in the second half of the year, and he was he was tremendous, and I think he's a tremendous player. I I all this time I don't think there's a better player available in the draft at this time. Now we know that five years down the road there might be a better player. I joke about this all the time. Everybody says take best player available. If we go back to the 2007 draft and you're gonna take the best player available, so Patrick Kane went one, and we know James Van Reensdike went two. The best player available, too, was Jamie Ben. When you look back at in hindsight, and he was a fifth-round draft pick. So there's a lot that's gonna happen with young people as they grow, but at this point in time, I haven't seen a better player than Gavin McKinnon. I think he's made tremendous progress in his own game, and by extension, helping others and the team become better uh in the second half of Penn State.

SPEAKER_02 19:30

Craig, we were talking earlier about how May 5th is a date now circled on the calendar for Jets fans with the lot with the lottery taking place. We know they're gonna pick somewhere in the top 10. And yes, you know, you hope if you're a Jets fan that everything falls in your favor and you pick in the top two. But if they are in that seven through nine range, what sort of players are available? How do you describe uh what they can be expecting in this draft?

SPEAKER_03 19:57

Well, so I know we talk about McKenna and Stenberg, so they're they're two really gifted offensive wingers. Then there's five what I would consider really good defensemen. You know, that's Carl, that's Chase Reed, Keaton Vierhoff, Albert Schmitz, Daxon Rudolph, really good defensemen. And and I I think they all can be top pair defensemen, and some uh could could certainly be number one defensemen. Then after that, I think there's a there's a number of centers, Caleb Moholcha, Oliver Savanto, Vigo Bjork, uh, you know, really, really gifted centers that that might be better suited as second line centers than first line centers, but clear cut in my view, second line centers. What have we talked about in Winnipeg for a long time? For a long time, for about a decade. And and I think that Braden Yager like could be that player, but you you know, when you have the opportunity to draft players, and and and I think I think that the Winnipeg Jets are gonna have a real opportunity to draft a really good player that can fit in to whether it be a second-line center or whether it be scoring winger if they if they move up in the draft, or or if they want to take a path of defense, you know, with Salomonson developing with Sasha Boumedienne last year, first round draft pick with Alphonse Frey, I think all three of those guys are gonna be NHL players, and they're gonna be good NHL players and really fit in nicely. So, you you know, if you're trying to balance out where you're at in the draft and say, okay, we could use a little bit more of this and on this shelf with the prospect cover, I'd be leaning forward. But if you think that somebody can be a number one defenseman, you got to have that good discussion and that good debate about it. But I think there's a great opportunity here for the Winnipeg Jets in the season. And let me give you an example. And Sarah, you we've talked about this, Jamie. Uh, you know, we we watched the Jets. The Washington Capitals two years ago, they they they kind of fell off. And it was like, oh my God, is this the end? A lot of good young players in their system, they were developing them. The Winnipeg Jets have done a really good job of drafting, in my view, and developing. Nobody's perfect. And certainly, you know, people want to look back and go, Well, they should have done this. Okay, great. Like, we all know what should have happened. Like, I know the winning lotto numbers from two, but it's not going to make a difference right now.

SPEAKER_06 22:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:20

So I think, and then we saw what happened with the Washington Capitals. They they took a big step last year. Yeah. And now that this year, maybe a step, but but this is a good future. And they were able to draft Ryan Leonard, seventh overall. Ryan Ryan Leonard's a difference maker. And the reason I bring that up is I think that in a season where things didn't go the Winnipeg Jets' way, they're going to have an opportunity to get a really good player that can be a difference maker. And when you have Hellibuck and Morrissey and Scheifley and Connor and Lowry, Ayothalo, and uh Villardi, like yes, and I talk about the young guy. Like, I I think this year was a was a one-off. I really do. And I think for the for the the the the bonus in this, uh, the is that now you get a top 10 pick, and you now you can get another, you can get a difference maker, much like the Washington. That's why I use the Washington Capitals example.

SPEAKER_05 23:11

Last one for you, Craig, before we let you go. Uh, the benefits, unfortunately, when you have a lot of injuries, there are benefits to it. Get a better look at your younger players within your organization. I imagine you've watched a little bit of Braden Yeager, you've watched a little bit of Nikita Chipperkov. What did you think of their quick two-game stint here uh over the last couple of games for the Jets?

SPEAKER_03 23:29

I've watched Braden since he was 15. Uh yeah, you know, when they drafted Rutter McGrordy, I mean, I love Rutger, I love the way he plays. He's a different type of player than Braden. But when Kevin made the trade, when when Rutger was asking to be moved out of Winnipeg, I thought I thought he made a terrific addition in Braden Jagger. I think I think Braden, uh, Sarah, in your interview with him, he talked about his legs and he talked about his hockey IQ. His understanding of the game is exceptional. And you're watching somebody that I think really understands what his game is and how he can be effective. And I don't have any doubt in my mind that he's going to be a really good player in the National Hockey League and a competitor, smart player. And certainly uh you saw some real good signs of that in his first two games in the NHL. And I think with Chibrikov, he he's had some injuries, and that set him back a little bit. And certainly he's got a feistiness about him. I was laughing the other night in Vegas, like you know, Braden McNabb, who who who is a real physical, rugged player. Oh, you can't hit me, and then Barbara Shevers go, Oh, geez, we can't have anybody hit Braden McNabb. I was kind of chuckling. I don't like Chivikov is just competing like you guys do. Like, I but I get it, they're trying to send uh hey, young guy, you better be careful. You've been but Chivikroft's not gonna back off. You know, you got Roseanne who's come in, and and and he's gonna be a good offensive player. The speed, the quickness, the skill. I mean, we know that the scoring fell off of the Winnipeg Jets. So I I think there's promise in this organization, and and and again, the disappointment is palatable, and and then when you have high expectations and you set the bar high, you you should have disappointment. But this is not this is not a dark future. Uh, you know, I I'm gonna be critical here. This ain't the Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPEAKER_05 25:17

Hey, uh, I know Sarah made you nervous. Your shirt looks fantastic, your hair looks really good. She does that to me all the time. I question myself how I look that day because she's just with the eyebrow raise whenever she looks at me. Have fun her judging you tonight on the show.

SPEAKER_02 25:34

Craig, we always appreciate the time and the insight. And I know that you know, when looking at the chat right now, all of the viewers right now really appreciate it too. So thank you very much, friend, for imparting some of your wisdom upon us.

SPEAKER_03 25:46

Uh always my pleasure. Anytime you ask, the answer is yes.

SPEAKER_02 25:49

Uh thanks, Craig. Talk to you soon. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_05 25:53

Join us a little bit later. Uh as promised, Drew Remenda. Bring him in a little pre-chat to talk about our pre-game meal. And then hey, buddy. Oh, there you are. Hi. Hey, Drew Romenda. Nice to see you, my friend.

SPEAKER_04 26:08

You're you're just gonna live on that from here on. Forever.

SPEAKER_02 26:11

Oh, you know what? I'm gonna be a dead horse. He's going to do a video when one day you retire, and that's what he's going to do.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

Oh, if I'm part of your retirement, one day when I retire, yeah, yeah. I'm gonna work a half day at my funeral, and then that's gonna be it for me.

SPEAKER_05 26:27

Hey, it it was so close, and they took it all the way towards the end. But can you speak to the massive growth the San Jose Sharks had this season?

SPEAKER_04 26:38

Um yeah, 20 wins last year, 38 this year. 52. Sorry. Uh yeah, we've got uh was it 52? No, it's not all right. I mean, how many more points we have? 32 more points. Um, they have been a team that um has done a lot, a lot of it driven by Maclin Cellerbrini. Yeah, but on the ice this year, especially after the Olympic break, there has been times when we've had all players who are 21 years of age or younger, and they've all acquitted themselves very well. That's the one aspect. The other aspect is the growth of the team culture, and culture is important, and one of the guys that has been a big, big reason that the culture took off the way it did is Ryan Reeves. Ryan Reeves gets brought in, and Ryan Reeves has been nothing short of fantastic. His play on the ice is his play on the ice. We know how heavy and hard he plays. Unfortunately, he's got the injury that took him out for the rest of the season a few games ago. But what he brings to the team in the room is amazing. Tyler Tefole, Barkley Goodrow, Mario Ferraro, Dmitry Orloff. These guys, honestly, gang, these guys love each other. It's funny, I asked Ryan Reeves early in the season in one of those bench interviews because Sarah, you've done those, you know how really in informative they are. Um we gotta get the puck deep. We gotta go, no, we gotta go hard. They're a good team over there. Um, but Ryan Reeves, I asked him, I said, You've changed the culture, you've helped change the culture. Why is culture important? And he said, and I'm never gonna forget this because you can't win unless you love each other. And those guys love each other, they've played so well. So they've the veterans have helped the young guys, the that group that I just talked about, see how important culture is to your performance on the ice. The other aspect of the sharks, until last night, the the sharks had had the lead 29 times going into a third period or in the third period, and the year before that, they blew those leads like nothing. And until last night, they were 27-0 and two. Wow, coming out with a win. And of course, Randy, my partner, the great honstronomist, as I like to call him, um, mentioned that going into the third period, and the sharks lost.

SPEAKER_05 29:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:13

Come on, Randy. Come on. But it's it's been honestly, I've been around a lot of teams, obviously, in 35 years in this league, and especially with the San Jose Sharks. And we've had very good teams, and we've had teams that are a bunch of great guys and they get along and they have good culture. But this team has been so much fun to be around, and this this team has been so much fun to cover, so much energy and excitement, and like I said, love for each other and love for being a San Jose Shark. It's been one of the most exhilarating years that I've had as a broadcaster. And at my age, it's uh it's just been a privilege to be around these guys.

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Anyone use the word culture? Because obviously that has been a hot word uh around the NHL in the last couple of days. Um, but one of the things too is that when you talk about how this team, you know, you can see the fun that they're having, the love that they have for each other, that culture. I've heard nothing but great things about the environment around the Shark Tank, just in general again, Sierra, because for people that haven't had the opportunity to be there back in what I will say is kind of the heyday of years ago, so such a fun, fun building. I'm not gonna lie, an awful press box um in terms of sight lines.

SPEAKER_04 30:30

Don't like those steel bird beam.

SPEAKER_02 30:33

Okay, all right.

SPEAKER_04 30:34

I can teach his own.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

That's right. But it was an afternoon. Great candy selection, though. Yeah, but but the atmosphere was always fantastic when you would do playoff games or or anything there, and that is what I've heard from everybody kind of around the league that has been back in there. And I think um how great that is not only for the market, but obviously for the league and continuing to help grow the game.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

It's been fantastic. The fans are back. And the funny thing is though, the demo the demographic has changed. It would be the fact that I'm I'm you know close to being a pensioner, that the demographics changed. You have so many people coming up to you going, you know, I I grew up watching you, and you just want to go, thanks, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 31:17

You know, it's so depressing when people do that.

SPEAKER_04 31:19

It is when people do that, but yeah, you know, to start the game, because of like let's face it, the cutie pies that we have on the team. Yeah, two cutie pies are the two cutie pies, and Will and Macklin are great. They're they're stars, they're absolute stars, but they are they hate it when I say that by the way. They but when the game starts, before the game starts, we saw it last night in Chicago. The the doors open, and you see people running down to that fake that warm-up area right by the glass. Everybody's got signs. We've seen it every building we've been in, Columbus, um, Philadelphia, you name it. People are around, and the demographic is the demographic you would think we would see with Macklin and Will, right? And it's it's great. 71 jerseys, two jerseys, Eklund jerseys, all the all those guys have got the jerseys all over. Fans are down there at warm-up, and it's the excitement level is palpable in the Bay Area because you think about the Bay Area. You've got the Giants, you've got the Niners, you've got the Warriors, and you've got Cal, Stanford, and all the other colleges in the area, San Jose State. And you have to have you have to make sure that you are putting a product on the ice that are going to bring people to the building, and people are coming back to the building. We've had a very good year attendance-wise, not like the old days where we sold out all the time, but the tank is back without a doubt. The enthusiasm is there, and people are pretty excited.

SPEAKER_05 32:47

True. I love asking this question in this way because I always remember Mary Lamiew. You know, he's up and coming, big star in the national hockey league. But when he played with Wayne Gretzky, what that meant for him and his career, you know where I'm going with this. Yeah, what did playing with Connor McDavid do for Macklin Celebriti?

SPEAKER_04 33:04

Um, I like Connor McDavid's line when they came in to play us, and when they asked him about playing against against Macklin now, and he went, I'd rather have him on my left side. That's tampering, that's tampering. Knock it off.

SPEAKER_05 33:17

But yeah, I see you, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:20

I think with Macklin, Macklin brought it up to uh some of the guys the game where it was the semi-final game, and I think Macklin had like eight, nine shots or something like that, scoring chance after scoring chance. And he said that he hardly took a stride that game. He says, you know, he's playing with McKinnon and and McDavid, and he said he he hardly had to take a stride because all of a sudden he'd be in the the spot and they'd find him with the puck. The the thing about Macklin though is he is a very astute young man at 19 years old. How he reads the game, how he sees the game is incredible. And you watch him, he's like Mk David coming through the neutral zone, heads up all the way, never looks at his feet, never looks at the puck. Um, he's a guy that that I would say is a student of the game, but in a way that um he's when he when he's doing it, that's when he continues to learn. When you cut you'll see him on the bench, he comes back to the bench, grabs the tablet, and looks at him. I asked him, I said, What are you looking at? And he went, How to be better? And so when he watches McDavid, he was, I think, just impressed with how efficient McDavid was at finding people with the when he had the puck. That's the thing I think that maybe we look at with Connor and don't quite understand just how well he sees the ice, or maybe we do. And I just don't think Connor gets enough appreciation for being the greatest player on the planet. Yeah, and and the things he does, yes, we see his speed, yes, we see his scoring ability, but Macken was astounded with just how smart of a player he was with it with the puck seeing everything that he sees.

SPEAKER_05 35:00

Buddy, yeah, it was well worth the wait having you uh come on the show.

SPEAKER_04 35:04

Yeah, sorry about last time.

SPEAKER_05 35:05

So I'm not even talking about that. It was thank you. Really nice to see you. Wow, and I missed it.

SPEAKER_01 35:11

Wow, it's just yeah, you know, if game 82, Drew, he's sentimental. He's like gonna miss everything.

SPEAKER_05 35:18

I thought I was doing something in April. I'm not, so I don't know. I'm gonna have to watch the lottery on May 5th.

SPEAKER_04 35:24

So you are so you're complaining that you don't have anything to do for the next few months, and you can you can get some sun and true, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:32

When your wife knows you have nothing to do, what happens?

SPEAKER_04 35:35

Well, we spend quality time together doing various things around the house.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

He might have a lot more time on his hands than he thinks at the rate he's going.

SPEAKER_06 35:46

Yeah, she never watches anyway.

SPEAKER_04 35:48

So wait a minute. I want to get we'll talk about it another time.

SPEAKER_05 35:56

Thanks, buddy. Enjoy the game tonight. We'll see you here a little bit later. Great seeing you see you, Drew.

SPEAKER_02 36:01

Uh thank you so much to Craig and Drew. We're running a little bit over right now. We do quickly, though, we have to do our Tim Hortons challenge for the last time in April.

SPEAKER_05 36:09

Just want to say we just got to get used to it.

SPEAKER_02 36:11

And now I am on a two-day heater.

SPEAKER_05 36:15

Oh my lord.

SPEAKER_02 36:16

Which I know that we need seven days.

SPEAKER_05 36:19

Yeah, I know. You're five days away from free coffee.

SPEAKER_02 36:21

But two days, I'm pretty, I am pretty pumped about.

SPEAKER_05 36:25

So I feel like I'm best friends with my Tim Hortons app now.

SPEAKER_02 36:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:29

When you have your chance, play to win.

SPEAKER_05 36:32

Yeah. Open up the app. You get your picks in front of you. So I'm going Gabe Villardi.

SPEAKER_02 36:36

That was who I trust too.

SPEAKER_05 36:37

Okay. Okay. Jimmy Snuggerude.

SPEAKER_02 36:39

I went Nicholas Roy.

SPEAKER_05 36:41

And Cole Kepke.

SPEAKER_02 36:42

And I went PSuter. PSuder. What do you think?

SPEAKER_05 36:47

I like my picks better, obviously.

SPEAKER_02 36:49

I'm on a two-day heater though.

SPEAKER_05 36:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:52

I'm very this every day. I wake up now and I put in I get two.

SPEAKER_05 36:55

How many times can you say two-day heater? I've heard two days. 30 times before the show.

SPEAKER_02 37:00

It is the little things that one grabs on to this. But before I go to sleep at night, last night I went through and I had to go through and check.

SPEAKER_05 37:08

One seven-day and a few six-day runs.

SPEAKER_02 37:10

Hey, Joseph.

SPEAKER_05 37:12

Joseph, uh, when we get out the show, I'm gonna give me my phone number or your phone number, and we're gonna phone you every day. Because I can't lose to her.

SPEAKER_02 37:19

Um, look, this is the final one. We are hoping to do one more check-in next week, um, after the Scott O'Neill and Kevin Chevel day off availability, uh, to be determined, but we will let you guys know we are hoping to make that happen. We have uh Paul Edmonds, maybe Mitchell Clinton in. So we could have potentially one more. But look, you guys have been with us last season, this season as well, all 82 shows. And as you know what, I know that the Jets appreciate your support, uh, whether it be it here in the building, at home, but we do as well with check-in. We love being able to um see your comments, uh, interact with you as well.

SPEAKER_05 37:58

This is by far the best part of the job.

SPEAKER_02 38:00

For it. I agree.

SPEAKER_05 38:01

We always even do the 11 game, whatever that was.

SPEAKER_02 38:06

It was a winless streak.

SPEAKER_05 38:08

It was not fun coming to me until we did to the show. Like your guys' optimism, when your guys' optimism didn't wane that much.

SPEAKER_02 38:14

But you know what? We had so much fun talking about soup with you guys and how that became a thing. I know. I wasn't, you know, but it's on par for game 82. You know, that's the way to close it out. Um, look, we again we thank you all. We plan to do check-in again next year.

SPEAKER_05 38:31

Yeah, of course, yeah. And I like Aerosteel. So if we do a check-in update show a few times over the summer.

SPEAKER_02 38:38

Yeah, that would be great. Um, we look forward to it.

SPEAKER_05 38:41

But I'm trying to go with the draft too, so just cross fingers.

SPEAKER_02 38:45

My fingers are crossed for you, my friend.

SPEAKER_05 38:47

Thanks. And then we'll do a show. I'll call you in on the show from the hotel in Buffalo.

SPEAKER_02 38:51

So, what you doing?

SPEAKER_05 38:52

So, Sarah. What'd you think of the second round?

SPEAKER_02 38:55

Like, um, again, look, we're hoping that the Winnipeg Jets are able to close it out with a win here tonight. Um, the very least, a good effort. We're going through it. There's a lot of disappointment in that room over the fact that the regular season or that their season is ending after tonight. But you talked about it, the core um optimism. We heard Craig Button say it as well that look, this isn't something where you look at and go, this has to be torn down. Um, and the effort that we saw from this team through to the end when it became obvious then going into that game against Vegas that they were eliminated from playoff contention. I think there's a lot to be said for that because it takes a lot to be able to make up the ground that they did and to continue to put that effort forward. So already looking forward to next year and hopefully what will be a very long season. We know it'll be longer because it's 84 games.

SPEAKER_05 39:44

We'll be refreshed. Oh, yeah, no, I think apparently the season starts like right end of September, the regular season.

SPEAKER_02 39:49

Oh.

SPEAKER_05 39:50

So I saw someone talking about you have to wait till October. No, you do not.

SPEAKER_02 39:53

That's look again. Um, you know, Winnipeg Sports Talk will continue to have all your coverage. The playoffs start this weekend. As much as we wanted the Jets to be in it, uh, there will be some great matchups, uh, a lot of excitement going along there as well. First round, nothing beats it in the NHL, and nothing beats all of you fans with check-in.

SPEAKER_05 40:11

Yeah, thanks so much, everybody. Appreciate you watching. Enjoy the Sharks and the Jets tonight. And we'll see you in September. Or next week. Or next week, I forgot. See, I already forgot about the show next week.

SPEAKER_02 40:21

I might be doing it solo.

SPEAKER_05 40:22

You could. You've bailed on me five times.

SPEAKER_02 40:26

That's an excellent point. I do owe you a solo show. You guys are the best. Thanks so much, everyone. Have a great day. Thanks for checking in.