The NHL Salary Cap & KISS!

The NHL salary cap is going up—but so are the salaries of the league's biggest stars. How are teams supposed to fit everyone under the same cap?

On Episode 28 of The Mask & The Mic, Guy Hebert and Kent French take a closer look at the growing list of NHL Restricted Free Agents still waiting for new contracts, including Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier.

With the NHL salary cap increasing this season and again next year, the guys discuss how the changing financial landscape is impacting roster construction across the league. Macklin Celebrini's new $18.8 million annual contract has reset the ceiling for the NHL's elite players, and Guy and Kent explore what that means for General Managers trying to keep multiple young stars together. For the Ducks, the challenge is particularly important as they work to fit Gauthier's next contract alongside Leo Carlsson's massive new deal.

The conversation then moves to baseball as Kent gives Guy a behind-the-scenes look at his recent stretch of double duty with the Angels, working both reporting and hosting responsibilities during a home series against the Texas Rangers. Kent describes what it's like watching a Major League Baseball game from the camera well and shares some of the unique perspectives that come with working so close to the action.

Then comes KISS Night at the Big A! The Angels are welcoming KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for a special celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of KISS performing at Anaheim Stadium. The guys discuss the KISS-themed entertainment, fireworks, giveaways—and, naturally, whether Kent might get the opportunity to interview the rock legends and whether he should show up dressed for the occasion.

And finally, Guy does what Guy does best: talks golf.

This time, he's heading to Sherwood Country Club to play alongside auction winners from the Ducks Alumni Golf Tournament. Guy shares what it's like playing with fans who bid for the opportunity to tee it up with a former NHL goaltender and what makes these alumni golf events so much fun.

From NHL contracts and salary-cap strategy to baseball, KISS, and golf, Episode 28 is another wide-ranging conversation from The Mask & The Mic.

🎧 Watch the full episode here on YouTube.

🎙️ Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

🔔 Subscribe to The Mask & The Mic for weekly conversations featuring NHL insight, baseball stories, behind-the-scenes broadcasting, golf, and plenty of surprises along the way.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello everybody! This is Guilla Bear, former NHL goaltender. And this is the mask and the mic. I'm sure you're all aware, and this is my partner in crime, Kent French. And Kent, tell me what you say. Trying to mix it up. Trying to mix it up a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

You're bringing the energy, man. Not that you always do, but uh throw me off a little bit. Yes, you are the mask, I am the mic. This is the mask and the mic, and uh we have another incredibly entertaining podcast for you here. Uh we talk hockey, we talk baseball, ebo, we talk kiss.

SPEAKER_01 0:38

Yes, I could just imagine where that could possibly go. But yes, we're talking it's the band. Uh there's a history of baseball hockey. Uh we will talk all about that, and of course, you know, and friendship may have to put some makeup on it. Uh, stay tuned for that one. Oh, that would be another whole podcast in itself.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Yes, anyways, uh, all of that and more coming up on a podcast we like to call the Mask in the Mike. We hope you enjoy the show and Evo as always. And good for us. Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of The Mask and the Mic and French alongside my broadcast partner and podcast partner, DA Bear, back for another podcast talking about many, many things. And uh, we were just chatting a little bit uh off camera, which we always do, and you always tell me to stop because the gold, the gold is there. So let's dive into the gold. Uh wait, wait, how many, how many days since we're filming this podcast till the opening of hockey season?

SPEAKER_01 1:34

We I think I think it's like close.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

I think we're we're almost there. I mean, we're on a we're on the home stretch right now. I mean, it's it's getting it's getting close, and uh you were just reminding me that there are still some some names out there uh that we might see signed. So uh tell me more, Gabe Bear, about the conversation we were just having.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Well, you know, first and foremost, uh hockey's been in the news all summer long, and you know, it's sometimes not a lot's going on in the hockey world, and it gets very quiet. You know, there's like a dark period where you know, finally after the draft, after free agency, clubs kind of shut it down, GMs go on vacation, and this has not been the norm this season. Uh uh names still continue to be talked about. Players still uh not signed. I mean, you're talking about some of the top restricted free agents, and I I I like to pull up little stuff here on my computer because uh I just think it's well as you're pulling this up, let me just tell you, I think this is this is great because we hear about the NFL all the time, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Somehow, someway, they always find the top of the news cycle, whether it's the draft or it's free agency or it's the um you know summer workouts or whatever it is, somehow, somehow, the NFL is always relevant when you talk about sports throughout the course of the year, but it's so cool based on all the stuff happening with the National Hockey League with the cap going up, the Leo conversation that we've been having. It is great to see the NHL uh certainly one of the topics even during the off-season. So that being said, Gibo, what do you got?

SPEAKER_01 3:13

Well, I I got a lot of stuff, and of course, you know, I I mean I think the offer sheet from Philly for Leo, I mean, just kind of upset the whole Apple cart, right? I mean, I think it threw everybody into a tizzy. You know, GMs are trying to figure out you know what happens with my player now that that this has come out, that this 18 million per season number came out. So uh, you know, here we have in Orange County, the Anaheim Ducks are still in the process of trying to sign their second restricted free agent, Cutter Gautier. Um, you know, from all accounts, uh as of right now, I mean the Ducks still have only about $9 million of cap space. And with that, they're never gonna get Cutter Gautier signed. Now there's a whole bunch of avenues, right? You could sign Cutter to 10, 12, 15, whatever right now. You just have to be uh compliant with the cap by the start of opening night. So there is time. You can sign him, you can make sure he's in training camp. It will tie their hands a little bit with trade value and equity uh because teams will know that they have to move a certain amount of money. And you know, once again, there's been uh a number of players in the media, in social media, bantered about who might be able to be moved to create that space. Uh, we've talked about it, and uh, I hate mentioning guys' names because you know I was a player once and I'm sure my name was up uh in the media all the time for hey, could we move him for X, Y, and Z? Uh anyways, but uh Cutter's not the only guy. Uh and M. Fantilli, you think about that draft class, right? Bedard, Carlson, Fantilly, one, two, three, and Columbus. Frenchie, I don't know if you've been reading the news, but all of a sudden there's a lot of stuff about Columbus not being viable any longer in Columbus. Uh, that maybe they would be a team for relocation. Uh, I mean, this seemingly has come out of thin air to me. I, by the way, I have not heard this. Oh, yeah, jump right in if you have not no.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

I just want you to know I've not heard this, and I've had I've had the the privilege, I will say, to to have gone to Columbus to watch a game there, and the fan base is insane. I mean, it's it's the cool they have a cool area surrounding the arena. They have the cannons that go off, by the way, one of the most annoying things I've ever been around because that is certainly by by the pregame location at times. It it's they're so darn loud, dude. It's ridiculous. But the fans are great. It's like it's a great fan base. They love their blue jackets. So, no, this is something that certainly I have not heard of. So please expand on this or at least tell us what you've heard.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Well, you know, it's funny, you know, sometimes things get traction with no merit at all. And and I don't know where the rumor, we'll call it rumor, initiated. But um, you know, Columbus been very quiet all season long, offseason, and you know, the Zach Morensky thing popped up, right? All of a sudden he was looking to leave, and then he wasn't looking to leave. And, you know, you can't lose a marquee player like that for a market like Columbus because it is a smaller, we'll call it a smaller market, right? Um but passionate fans. I mean, the the fans right there support the team, they have since uh day one, and you would hate to see a team leave that part of the country because it's so geographically desired, right? To be able to go to Chicago and New York and any of the teams in the New York area and Detroit. Uh so there's there's great location right there for the team. But yeah, I mean it's popped up. I mean, uh Ottawa has popped up. I I know they have new ownership, they're looking to build uh a new stadium downtown in Ottawa. Uh Winnipeg always seemingly pops up on that radar of relocation, you know. And you know, to be quite frank about it, you know, I mean, the some of the issues, and and somebody asked me recently was why are all the American guys trying to leave the Canadian cities? And it's not just American players, it's actually all players. And it's because of the taxes. If you look at like the top tax brackets in the NHL, it's Canadian cities. And, you know, uh, listen, out here in Anaheim, we pay our fair share of taxes, and it is not not great. But we're also playing in a place where you get sunshine almost every day and you're paying less taxes than you probably are. I mean, I'm trying to remember what the top three were, but you know, you know, you're talking about like Edmonton or Vancouver and all those cities that like, okay, um, Toronto, maybe Montreal, that if you could get out of there and come to the States and actually make more money because your taxes are less, um, I'm sure that's uh a big part of the exodus of of why players want to move south of the border back into the states. Um, but I'm getting way off track. Uh this is maybe a discussion for another. I will say this based on that though in circle, right? It's it's all part of one big story.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Yeah, absolutely. No, I was just gonna say that that's been part of the conversation with Anaheim, right? You you said it, yeah, it's a desirable place to play, but the taxes certainly are are high out here for a reason. But Florida, Dallas, Vegas, you see some of the big names going there where they don't have you know Nashville, Utah.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Nashville, Utah.

SPEAKER_00 8:17

So those are certainly a conversation that's a viable conversation. Uh, but uh that so that being said, Texas got to be pretty darn high north of the border for them wanting to come come out down here, sure, in into the States. Um, but yeah, no, that's that's like you said, that's a whole nother conversation. Um, you know, advantages of playing certain places where players want to play, especially making the big money. How much are they truly going to save? How much more do you have to pay them to come to a place like Anaheim to make it viable? So no, that's a it's a great point. It's a it's a great conversation to have for sure.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Well, and then there's no shocking revelation that, you know, as the NHL discusses expansion, uh, the top two locations are Houston and Austin, right? So you have uh which would be great, right, for that geographical location for creating an in-state rival. Um, you know, Houston right now is the front runner. I think Austin is the backup. But if you're talking about would a team need to relocate or want to relocate, you know, can you imagine if Houston came in and as an expansion team and then there was a relocation of a team in Austin, and then all of a sudden you've got you know three major cities in Texas, all with NHL franchises. Um it would be I I mean to me it would be incredible and it would continue that incredible growth of of the NHL kind of we'll call it in the South, you know, the Midwest South. So um interesting stuff. Everything's on the horizon. The NHL is doing extremely well. So I I wouldn't um I wouldn't doubt it if the expansion is sooner rather than later, because it will take a couple years for infrastructure, new buildings to be built. I I I've been told that what exists in Houston isn't really viable for uh an NHL, you know, I guess an NHL ready building now before they could build something. So uh a lot of things to check off for Gary Bettman, but still, you know, the needle is certainly moving in that direction. Um but listen, I want to get back to some of these uh restricted free agents just because it's so interesting. You know, you think about you know who's gonna sign first? Is Cutter gonna sign first before Fantilly? You know, is Fantilly weary about some outside noise that there could be relocation? Does that affect him? Um, you know, a lot goes into this. So I think it's like uh Connor Bedard, Leo Carlson, and then of course Macklin Celebrini, who who wanted to, you know, sign a deal first? And I know Leo's camp was kind of waiting for you know uh Bedard to sign. I'm sure they're all waiting for somebody to blink. Philly did uh everybody a favor by writing that offer sheet. But so where does you know what you where does like number two and and three in the league go? Like, you know, with Carlson 18, now Macklin Celabrini at 18.8 AAV. You know, so does Fantilly slide in between 15 and 18? Uh Will Smith is gonna have to resign. The Sharks are already you know talking about that number. Uh but I think that you know, Fantilly and Carl, um Carlson's numbers, right? Carlson to 18. I think Fantilly's gonna have to slide in between 12 and 15 uh in that market. And then Cutter, you know, who knows? Um, but there's other guys. Um, you know, there's a name Alexander Nikishan has been talked about all summer long, right? The Stanley Cup champions, Carolina Hurricanes. Uh Nikishan's name has been involved in a lot of trade rumors, and maybe moving him for the outlier Dylan Larkin, who has been out there trying to get traded, right? He's got that request in now that Steve Eiserman has stepped down from the general manager role. Yeah, muddied the waters over there a little bit. Yeah, I mean that, you know, like who's gonna win on that tug of war? And they're now looking for a new GM in uh in Detroit. So, but you know, uh you got Simon Edmondson uh from Detroit, and then you got uh Zach Bolduk from Montreal. So you got some really top quality players looking to get their contract signed before training camp. I know I've gone through it, yeah. Even if you know you're gonna sign a deal, um, it just becomes very stressful as you're approaching, you know, now 50 days to opening night, let alone how many days it is to training camp. I think camp opens September 13th for most clubs. So it's not that far away. I mean, you're talking a month before camp opens. We know how quick camp goes. You're playing exhibition games right away, and then you know, opening night for the NHL is September 29th. Uh, so I I'm sure teams want to get their players signed. They don't want them to be um stressed. And I and I know that you know Anaheim has had a pension for dragging it out in past seasons with other players. I know they don't really want to do that with Cutter Gauche, but because of the numbers, um uh it's a difficult situation. But again, keeps NHL in the spotlight. It keeps their fans sitting there waiting on pins and needles to see when their you know most productive players are going to be able to sign. And, you know, uh as a fan, you're trying to make sure you're getting your player for at least five years. So I think that everybody in, you know, Detroit, Anaheim, um, Montreal, um, Carolina, Columbus are all hoping that they can get these key players signed before uh training camp so that you know there's not bad blood, ill will, you know, um hurt feelings going into training camp when these when these players are all very pivotal players for these organizations.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

Yeah, when it comes to when it comes to cutter, though, as as you've been saying, it's a little different scenario for Pat Verbeek because he's got to move players in order to make it work. Because Cutter is based on what Leo signed for, Cutter certainly you know deserves a big contract based on his numbers and his potential, you know, overall and his age. So all those things factor in. Cutter is certainly in line to get, as you mentioned, somewhere between 12 and 15 million dollars a year, probably more on the higher end, but they're gonna have to move players, right? So I understand why Cutter is not signed yet. Um, yes, there's time, but time is ticking. As you mentioned, I think they want to they want to get this thing done before training camp because it'll just be a distraction. It'll be at the league question and every scrum until Cutter is signed and Cutter is in camp with this team. Now, you talk about Adam Fentilli. Now, that is that name is certainly interesting because um Philly, I believe, yeah after Leo, it was kind of rumored they might pivot to Fentili. If they didn't get Leo with the offer sheet, they might send an offer sheet over to Columbus for Fentili. And we have yet to see that. Um, with Cutter, he is not uh qualified to have an offer sheet because he hasn't played enough games in the National Hockey League. Um so he does he can't get an offer sheet. So the Ducks can certainly figure that one out. Uh, but again, time is ticking. So Fentilli is an interesting one. Um you do make an interesting point too now, too. You have that. I'm not starting now. I'm starting to think about this whole uh, you know, Columbus, you know, how healthy is that franchise in Columbus. Um so the National Hockey League has to be looking at what happened with Utah, the Utah Mammoth moving from Arizona, which was struggling, and they are thriving in Utah. I mean, that fan base has embraced some ownership has done a fantastic job. They've yes completely made um upgrades to the arena out there to make it you know hockey friendly along with the jazz as well. They share the arena. I talked to a buddy of mine out there and he said it is amazing. I mean, the fan base is just having a great time. They're making tremendous um, you know, uh acquisitions when it comes to drafting very well, free agency, players want to go there, it seems like. So, yes, that's thriving, and certainly that is setting an example for potentially, now that you say that, for another relocation, to find that. Back to the finances for a second here as we approach you know training camp and the start of the new NHL season. So that the cap is gonna go up this year, it's gonna go up next year. But now you have this new structure that has been put in place, thanks to uh our friends in Philadelphia, where your top guy is is gonna be around the $18 million range now that we've seen Leo and the Celebrini, as you mentioned. So, how do you structure your stars to make them fit underneath the cap? And this also delays signings, I think, because now GMs are like, how do we make this work? How do we not upset guys that are entitled to a contract here next year? Beckett Seneca Will Smith. How do you they're gonna they're gonna get paid? So, how do you fit all of this in knowing now your top guys in the $18, $19 million range? Is your is your number two guy got to be 15? Your number three guy got to be around 12 to 10? How is that gonna work? And then fit everybody else in. So I I think it's certainly, you know, these the GMs and their staff, they're looking at numbers and like, how do we make this work? So this has created a whole nother conversation for the National Hockey League. As you mentioned, it upset the Apple cart, and they're still picking up apples, Gibo, and they're trying to put them back in that cart because this is going to be a conversation for the next year, I would have to say, with the cap going up and a lot of these players um next year that are going to be deserving of contract extensions.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

All right, let me let ask you this. Uh, well, first we're we're not math majors, and I think that uh God knows every team has that guy, right? The guy who's like the salary cap guru, and Jeff Solomon has been that for the ducks, and you know, just being able to crunch the numbers, know what the space is, um, know what they can afford down the line, you know, you predict what the salary cap may either stay level, or fortunately for the NHL and the players, it's going up, so they kind of can work that into the equation. Um, you know, the thing I think is probably out there, and I remember going through this when I was a player, and and the reason that we didn't want to have a hard salary cap as a player and we would sit there, and that's why we were locked out or went on strike during those years was because it was something called stars over Kansas Frenchie. And anybody who might be listening to this who played me, Gebo, on this, yeah, my generation uh may re remember this, but so we assume that if we ever took a hard salary cap and we were told by our players association that uh the stars are always gonna get paid, right? Your big time guys are always gonna get paid. Part of why you don't want a hard salary cap back in our era was is that the trickle-down effect, right? So if there's no salary cap and Leo Carlson signs for 18 million, everybody you would assume is gonna get bumped up from second line, the third line, the fourth line, I mean, uh all the way down to your seventh defenseman and your backup goalie, right? It's gonna trickle down where now numbers are gonna be able to be saying, oh, okay, well, I'm gonna, you know, my stats say this, I'm gonna be able to move up against this comparable player, and then my salary is gonna actually rise. Now, the stars over Kansas was the fact that if there was a hard salary cap, Leo Carlson's still gonna get his 18 million, Cutter Goche is gonna get his 12 to 15 million, and then all of a sudden you're talking about how do they all fit in? How do you fit the rest of your team into that budget? Because it's a hard cap. So we always assume that it would compress the lower-tiered players, right? Your second, third, fourth line guys, uh, if they got a bump, it was gonna be minimal. And that's why we fought so hard never to have a hard salary cap because the top-tier players, uh, and and credit to all of them, always said, like, listen, I know I'm insigned for the money that I'm trying to get. However, I want to be able to help bring everybody's contract up. And, you know, we had many conversations uh during those years where, like, hey, do we, you know, do we fight this? You know, what's the positive and negatives to the hard cap? And that was it was the stars over Kansas, the stars are gonna get paid. Uh, if there's a hard cap, uh, everybody else is is not gonna benefit as much as we would think because there's just gonna not gonna be any room. There's not gonna be room in the budget. And I think the NHL's done a great job so far with that hard cap, with players still being able to make enough money. But as you can see, the ducks in particular, I mean, they are gonna have to sacrifice some players that they don't really want to give up right now to make room. So is it the same as the stars over Kansas theory? Not exactly, but there is a sliver of truth that some guys won't sign as much as they're hoping for, and players are gonna have to be moved that maybe Fat Verbeek and the team and organization don't want to move because they feel like they're integral players moving forward, especially in the playoffs. Uh, but like just say you have to move a Kreider or a Clorn or a Vitrano to open that kind of space, you know, those are players that I mean, how good was Alex Clorne during the playoffs, right? I mean, that's that's where he makes his money, is in that kind of situation. So you're like, God, you would hate to give up on a player like that, but if you have to create space for one of your stars, all of a sudden he becomes expendable. So that that's the theory in a nutshell. Um, it never really came to the stars over Kansas uh with we thought, so it was actually better than uh probably the misinformation we got or the lack of understanding as players, um, or the fear of the players of the hard cap um never really materialized into that same um worst case. Scenario. So it's the players certainly have benefited over the years, but yeah, it's the thing is the the players at the top are always going to make their money. It just how does it trickle down and filter down to the other players? And and we're we're all one big team, so you're always trying to make sure that the players uh you know down the lineup are really trying to be uh benefit as much from your contract as you can.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Well, and I I think during the Leal conversation that we had, we're like, and he said it in his press conference, he's like 99% of the guys would have signed this deal. And he's he's right, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Um and then we were 99 or 99.9?

SPEAKER_00 22:36

99. Probably 99.9.999, 0.999. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

If that if that 1% or 0.1% uh player out there, please tag us and come on the show because I want to know. Um, you know, and again, it does depend on the circumstance of the player. We obviously alluded to McDavid, and yeah, he took a haircut and not for long. Not for long. Not for long. Not for long.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

Um, but yeah, so yes, and so just to finish that thought. So, yes, most, if not all, players would take in that deal. And then we're like, oh, how will he be received in the dressing room? You know, the initial thoughts were high-fived, right? Hey, you this is awesome. You're you know you're you just raise the bar, everybody's gonna get paid. But then if you let the dust settle and the excitement and the chatter settle a little bit, and you basically is exactly what you're talking about. It's like, well, wait a second. If I'm sitting in the ducks dressing room going, well, if he's got 18 and we can only spend X amount and Cutter's gonna get paid, where do I fit in? Right? And so a lot of those ducks a lot of the guys you know on the Ducks roster, some of the older guys know that they're gonna they're they might be moved. Yeah. They might be moved to have to make this work. So that is an interesting aspect of what's happening now with this money situation. And you know, I'm sure Cutter can try to make an ar or has or will is making an argument why he shouldn't be paid, you know, close to what Leo is making, if not more. So um, but you can only the way this is structured now, it's gonna be difficult to have two guys at 18. Right? To to to your point, how do you fit everybody else in? And this is an interesting conversation because over on the baseball side, they don't have a salary cab, and that's what the owners are gonna fight for here in the offseason. But you have teams, uh mid-market teams like the Milwaukee Brewers, like the Tampa Bay Rays, who are some of the top teams right now in baseball. But the way they play the game right now, Gibo, they have the they don't have the TV deals that the top markets have. Uh they can't pay the luxury tax that the top markets can. Um They have to be very smart about when a player comes comes available to for a big contract, they gotta be they have to trade him most likely to get top prospects and rebuild as they go. And they can't afford, they can maybe afford one guy, but then they're gonna have to these guys come to a you know point in their career where it's time for them to sign a deal and they go they go to free agency and they can't afford them, they trade them. And they've been very good about Tampa Bay just can consistently replenishes their system with guys when you know they have to trade guys. Same with Milwaukee, but that can't, that's not sustainable because prospects are prospects. You can't always count on those guys to come in and you know slot in and continue to uh to keep the to keep the success going. So um, yeah, you're you're the as we mentioned with the ducks on their defense, they're gonna have to lean into that minor league system, they're gonna have to lean into those prospects and hope that those guys can really come in and become very good NHL players this season because they're not gonna have the money now to go out and get another defenseman to kind of fill a void that they might have because they had three guys go uh during free agency. So again, the GMs, not that they weren't worthy of their salaries, but they're certainly gonna be earning their money, uh, especially over the next month before training camp opens.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

Yeah, without a doubt. And that's what you say about you know prospects, and you never know how prospects are gonna turn out, right? Some pan out, become best players in whatever sport, and and some don't ever materialize, right? And so if you're trying to do that in baseball right now, eventually players that you select aren't gonna pan out, right? So you're mentioning those smaller market teams, you know, have you know, Tampa Bay has been very successful with it and Milwaukee, whatever, but yeah, at some point you come up dry or snake eyes or whatever you want to say, and and they don't, and so that puts you behind the eight ball and and not being able to compete with the the top teams who can spend the money. Uh baseball will be interesting with you know the potential work stoppage, potential salary cap. Now, is baseball I'm they're looking for a hard salary cap where there wouldn't be any, like you know, the Yankees couldn't continue to spend over that hard cap and just play pay a luxury tax, or are they are they still gonna allow that? I that's what in my reading of what's going on with baseball. I mean, I feel like they want a hard cap where no team can go over just like hockey, or is that not accurate?

SPEAKER_00 27:16

Yeah, hard cap. Hard cap is my understanding, but also what the uh the players union is is looking for is a floor. So they're like, well, why don't we just get a floor so you have to spend up to a certain amount of money to be competitive, um, which is certainly an argument I can understand. Like, let's not just go out there and you know, not spend it all. You have to spend X amount of money, and that's that's certainly the case. There is a cap and a floor in the National Hockey League. And I think one thing that fans want is the word called parody, right? Every year your team has got a chance. And you see that in the NFL. I mean, you really do. Um, you know, every year it seems like there's a team that has a chance to make a run. Um, some of the more well-run franchises, um, and that's because of the people they put in place are able to make deals that um are more impactful, maybe, than others, obviously better coaches, better GMs. I mean, that's always going to be the case, but the word parity uh at the start of every NHL season, NFL season, MLB season, you want your team to have a chance. Right? I think what's happening in in baseball is a lot of teams you they open the year and they're just behind the eight ball. You know, unless they go on a magical run, that's gonna be the case. I mean, certainly I as I mentioned the Milwaukee's and the Tampa Bays have certainly raised the bar a little bit when it comes to their spending, their talent, their drafting, everything they've done is working, but for how long can they sustain that to have the Dodgers be able to go out and do what they do, the Yankees do what they do. Um so yeah, but but just because you spend doesn't mean you're gonna win. Look at the New York Mets, one of the top um payrolls in all the baseball, and they're at the bottom of of the league, right? So it doesn't always equate to that, and that's something that the players union is looking at. They're like, look, look, you spend money, doesn't mean you're gonna win, and that's certainly the case. So this conversation with salary cap, floor, all these different things, parody is is fascinating, I think. Um, and I think it's you have to have these conversations because as the salary goes up and these players should be paid. I mean, in the NHL, we've been around it for a long time. You've been part of it for a long time. Um, but some of these players are finally getting you know some of the money they deserve, and that's good to see. But then how do you fit it all in? That's what makes it so unique. That's what makes the GMs GMs. You know, how do they fit it all in? And these prospects have to step up the drafting, the Martin Maddens of the world. I mean, pressure's going on these guys to find these players and bring them in. You know, let's go to Detroit, Red Wings. What'd they make the playoffs for like 25 straight years? As a result, I suffered. I suffered during that. You suffered through that decade plus. They were drafting, they didn't have top picks, but they were finding these needles in a haystack for years. I mean, their scouting department was on it. International scouting, you know, uh everything to be said, top to bottom, they were finding a way to make it work. And I think that's where you're gonna find um you know some of these teams, especially in the National Hockey League, are gonna do, is lean on their minor league system. And and the Ducks, if they have to do that, I would say they're in good shape, Gebo, because they've done a tremendous job stockpiling that system. And hopefully these guys can can step up this season and and certainly.

SPEAKER_01 30:43

Um I I I can't help but think about the Ducks' first two first round picks. Uh you had Marcus Nordmark and you got uh uh Nikita Klepov, both taken in the first round for Mason McTavish uh from St. Louis. And both players, 18 years old, have signed their entry-level NHL contract. So uh Klepov was going to go to Michigan State. Uh he can no longer do that if he doesn't make the big club. And I think for uh Nordmark, I mean he's playing in Sweden, and it's one of those age-old issues, is you know, when you're 18 years old and you don't make the NHL club, uh your your options are limited, right? Now they cannot go to a college because they've become pro and signed an NHL contract. So the Ducks must have a lot of faith in either of these players, uh, or maybe even just one. I know Klepov is um, you know, some people say he could be NHL ready. You start to think about a Beckett Seneca, and maybe this guy is a guy who comes to camp and and really has an opportunity to you know earn a roster spot.

SPEAKER_00 31:47

Wasn't he the reason, though, that they pulled the McTavish deal was for him being available?

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Yeah, uh that's exactly right. They said if he wasn't available, they wouldn't have gotten that deal done. Um so obviously they they think very highly of him, very highly of him to sign him to entry-level contract and not let him go to Michigan State and at least play a season like Roger McQueen did at Providence College. Uh there's gonna be some great battles in training camp uh with these young players. So uh I I think it's interesting because you start to look down the road a little bit of like if you have to move a six million dollar player, and you the Ducks are still rebuilding. I mean, they had great success last year, second round in the playoffs. Uh, but I think for any fan, it's unrealistic to think that they are a Stanley Cup contender this coming season. I mean, could they get there? Sure. Could they win it all? Sure, right? I mean, they've got uh a great amount of talent, but you don't want to kind of put that proverbial cart before the horse and all of a sudden have these really unrealistic expectations. So the team is probably looking like, hey, if we replace a six million dollar player with a 800,000 entry-level player who's gonna gain valuable experience, who could have an impact like Beckett Seneca did, uh, we need to take a look at that. So I I think those two players uh coming into camp are gonna be uh really interesting to watch. You know, Nordmark, I would assume if he doesn't make the big team, uh, that he would go back to Sweden and play. Uh Klepov can only go back to junior um or play in the NHL. So uh those two guys I'm definitely gonna circle as I'm watching training camp. Uh of course, uh Roger McQueen is gonna be making a bid to make the big squad as well. Um, but I do, as you were alluding to, is how do you fit all the pieces in? And and maybe this is a financial strategy to give someone deserving uh a chance, not just defensemen that we've seen come up from San Diego, but uh some young forwards who we never even thought about at the end of the season that would be a part of this story.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

Well, and these guys you just mentioned might have an opportunity to fill a spot that has been vacated to create some salary relief to sign a cutter gotier. As you mentioned, we don't know who's still gonna be in camp uh when it opens in a month. So uh I think what we're saying, Gibo, is Ducks fans get out to training camp. It's gonna be it's gonna be lights out competitive, it's gonna be fun. You get to see some of these up-and-coming players that are gonna be leaned on and given an opportunity to shine um and to play at on the biggest stage. And they are gonna be fighting for spots. There are spots available. Pat Verbeek said in his press conference after Leo was signed, saying, you know what, we already knew going into this offseason that we have some open spots. And when they, you know, when Gudis and Carlson and Truba, when they all signed different places, he was okay letting that happen based on what he has seen in the system. But now, based on what's happening with Leo and Cutter, there could be some spots open up front as well. So go to training camp, Ducks fans. This is gonna be a lot of fun to watch. I I truly can't wait for the month, the for next month. All right, well, be before we, you know, get fully into hockey and we just waxed for 33 minutes on hockey in August. To your point, that's it's awesome. I mean, how cool is that, right? Like we cut when you went to this podcast, all transparency, like, yeah, let's just start talking.

SPEAKER_01 35:17

I mean, that's what we do best, but I want to talk a little more baseball. You were alluding to you know the salary cap and this, that, the other thing. Um, but I do know that you've been you know hosting the pregame show over at the big A. And then I know that you are doing some sideline reporting as well, and that you're down by the dugout. And so I want to hear more about like, you know, you know, it's it's like getting that seat right next to the bench during the game, and you you hear the chatter from the guys in the dugout like you would on the bench. And um, you know, what's the vibe down at the big A with the players? And you know, now that the trade deadline is gone and passed, and that they're looking for you know, playing out the rest of the season, and you know, there's younger players, there's guys that have come in on the trades, you know, how are guys starting to slide in and fit into uh the organization? And is there excitement about where the team is um from you know uh just what two weeks ago?

SPEAKER_00 36:12

Yeah, yeah, I just on this current homestand happening right now with the Rangers in town. I have uh had the privilege of stepping in for Erica Weston, who uh hosts and decides, she does everything for for A B for A B T V, taking a few well well-deserved days uh away from the team. So I've been able to step in and do some sideline as well as hosting and and get a chance to sit where she does during the games, which is in the camera well, right next to the Angels dugout. So you sit there after the pregame show, I walk over and sit there the entire time. It's it's actually a tremendous seat. Um, but one funny thing I have to say is I sit next to the authenticator guy. You're like, who is the authenticator guy? Well, last night it was Brian, and he sits there, and every single ball that uh is um not you how it was. Kind of like thrown out of the game, right? Yeah, it's the dirt. Every single ball that's you know wild pitch or whatever it is, it hits the dirt. They I mean they I mean they go through baseballs like un it's unbelievable what they do. Um every single ball well, listen to this. Every single ball comes over that's out of that is now taken out of play, comes over to Authenticator Guy, the bat boy flips it over to him, he puts a sticker on it and registers it. So what's happening here is that the baseballs, from my understanding, will be sold in the team store as game use balls. Well, as this is happening, you can only imagine that Authenticator Guy now is the second most popular guy in the stadium outside of Mike Trout because all of the kids now are coming over going, Hey, mister, can I get a baseball? And they are the kids, they're like so polite, so cute. And this and this guy's like, No, sorry, you know, I I can't, you know, come back later. And I swear there were 15, 20 kids that came through last night, and just as cute as can be, as polite as can be. And I'm going, How do you do this? Like you are so darn popular. He's like, I know, I said learned how to say no, but then they come back and he's like, Okay, I do have one available. So he's got a couple, so he gives some of these kids baseballs, which is hilarious. And I, you know, it's it's like they come timing's everything, kids. Just so you know, if you go to authenticator guy, go late innings, and be very, very polite because you might get yourself a baseball. But the cool part is this job as well is Mike Trout hits a home run in the first inning last night, and here comes the bat is written down, but it handed back to the dugout. His helmet comes over, is written down, it's documented, his helmet goes back. Um, there was a broken back uh bat by Moises Bayaceros, one of the new Angels. That comes in, registered, he's holding on to the bat. So every piece of equipment he is registering throughout the course of the game, I found it fascinating uh that everything is being documented. Um but to your point about the team and about the vibe, so I'm getting my reporting chops back a little bit. It's been a little while since I've done this. So I went into the Angels Clubhouse for the first time in a long time and went up to Nolan Shanawell and asked him, you know, that the dust has settled. It's been over a week since the deadline. There's a lot of new faces, you know, in the clubhouse. What's the vibe? Like, what is the vibe surrounding this team? And he's like, I will tell you this that everybody that's come to this team, the new players, they're incredibly grateful. They're grateful to get an opportunity because maybe they weren't getting a chance where they were in their former team. And so they are grateful they're bringing this new attitude to the team. It was tough to see some of the guys go. I mean, seven players were traded, nine prospects coming the other way to the Angels. That's unheard of, something they haven't done in a long, long time.

SPEAKER_01 39:49

And I I read this, and you can not to get off topic. Wasn't Mike Trout having a golf event for the team at Trout National during the day, right?

SPEAKER_00 40:01

Yes. So it's been reported Ken Rosenthal, one of the uh top reporters for MLB and the Athletic, wrote an article about how Joe Adell, uh I think Reed Dettmers was out there who didn't get traded. Um uh Suter was out there, the reliever who got traded. A lot of the guys were playing at his golf course uh on trade deadline day. And I think Joe Adele had to get in a cart and leave right away because he got traded to Cleveland. So, yes, you're exactly right. Trout had all these guys out there uh playing at his course. I think part of it too, without I mean, I'm reading into this, but getting everyone together, it's a fan it is a family, as you know, right? When you when you play on a team, you play there for a long time, you become a family. So I think they were getting together on this day that can be difficult and trying to have some fun, knowing that some of these players were gonna be moved. And that just says speaks volumes about who Mike Trout is. I mean, he did that on purpose. Um, so yes, you're exactly right. So I guess you know, in the future, if you get invited to Mike Trout's golf course, start looking around, just be ready. There might be an extra golf cart hanging around to take you to the airport. Um, so anyways, Shanawa was was saying that there's a different vibe. Um I I I alluded to the name Moises by Esteros um catcher that was brought over on a deal with Chicago Cubs. So you're you're seeing a lot of new faces, a lot of new opportunity. Um and there is there is a new excitement around the team. They are struggling, they have the worst record in baseball. Um they haven't had a hundred loss season ever. They're the only team in baseball that has never lost a hundred games in a season, and they aren't pace to do that this year. Certainly frustrated frustrations around the team, but I think now they understand there is a path. There is a path to trying to improve, and there is some excitement surrounding that. Is there still frustration? Yes, you can see it. I mean, last night it was a 1-1 game going to the 10th inning. The Angels had a tough time scoring runs. Reed Detmers in 21 consecutive starts at the big A, he is winless now. 21. 21 times he's gone out there. And I mean, he is his run support's under three a game. And it's just he pitched well, six innings of one-run baseball. Most likely you're gonna have a chance to win a game, right? And it just didn't happen again. So there are those things that are frustrating, but uh, you get to see guys that are getting opportunity to play. Wade Meckler, I gotta I gotta talk about Wade for a second, Gibo. Um, they call him the rooster, red-headed, red-headed guy, mustache, and and um that song Here Comes the Rooster, right? Yeah, that's his walk-up song. Wade is from Esperanza High School, went to Oregon, I believe, was cut from his college team. He came back, he said, No, I'm gonna I'm gonna make the team. He made the team. He's just one of those success stories. Um he gets signed by the Angels, he comes in and he's starting to get an opportunity to play, and he was interviewed, and he grew up as an Angels fan. He grew up coming here and he grew up rooting for Mike Trout. And now he's playing next to him. Last night he robbs a three-run home run. I saw that inning. I saw that was unbelievable. This guy's no bigger than you or I, height wise. And he went up over and took it away from Corey Seeger. Um, so hopefully today I'm gonna talk to him. There's a request out for me to chat with him today. But it just those type of stories are coming to fruition. It makes this exciting. Ben Joyce, a reliever who who uh was from the Tennessee Volunteers, drafted by the Angels several years ago, but he's had he's fought arm injuries. First um, relief appearance to big A this season, coming back from shoulder surgery last year. He's thrown 103 miles an hour. I mean, it's insane. So there's it, there's some excitement surrounding these players that are young and they're gonna be part of this team. You get to see some of these guys getting an opportunity to play now since some of these. Guys now have left after the trade deadline. So yes, it's kind of a mixed emotion, I would have to say, Gibo. There's still frustration because you want to see the team win, but there's certainly uh a different excitement um surrounding this team, knowing that there is a path now to success, uh, and we'll see where that takes us.

SPEAKER_01 44:19

Well, as an athlete, all you want is an opportunity, a chance to play, a chance to play more than like just, hey, we're gonna give you, you know, some uh we'll give you one start as a goalie. And then if you play well, maybe you get another one, or the same thing with a pitcher or shortstop, whatever. Uh, if you get a little bit of a consistent opportunity, and I think that's where the Angels are headed. I mean, that's you know, from just being a fan and a fan's perspective, sitting back and watching and watching the changes that have taken place. Um sometimes that the excitement of players getting that chance uh creates the internal competition in the locker room or in the clubhouse. And when one guy starts to have success, it becomes infectious, where it pushes every other player who's getting that opportunity is like, okay, I gotta be better. I've got to be better for the team, I gotta be better for myself. And when it raises everybody's level of competition and performance up, then all of a sudden, as a whole, the team starts to produce. And when the team starts to be more successful, the confidence starts to rise, right? And then when you get the support of the crowd, uh, because you start to win, we all know you know it's called momentum, right? And then the momentum starts to roll, and when you come to the ballpark or the rink, uh everybody's a whole lot happier. I mean, it is hard. And I know, you know, like any job out there, if you're not happy or you're not being successful in it, it's a grind. So it doesn't matter if you're Major League Baseball player, I don't know, doctor, uh uh I mean, whatever you might be, right? Um just going into uh a place that you're not happy, even if you're being compensated well, is difficult. So, you know, that locker room I think needed a big shakeup. Uh it it got the big shakeup. I mean, you still have a marquee player, obviously, in Mike Trout, but I'm excited about the young players or the guys that haven't been able to establish a starting role on their former teams. Yeah, I mean, it it's a great opportunity for everybody, and I do. I mean, I witnessed it from uh playing myself, uh, and that's me getting an opportunity to play, my teammates around me, and then having that success, and and it just starts to spread like wildfire. And it would be great to be able to say, hey, we're going over to Angels Stadium, and it's a packed house, and this team has a chance to win uh on a consistent basis.

SPEAKER_00 46:45

Yep, absolutely. Um and pivoting a little bit, but you talk about packed houses, right? The Angels, yes, they haven't been that great on the field this year, but uh their promotions department is off the charts. They recently had a Spongebob jersey giveaway. They had 43,000 people on attendance. They had Spongebob characters in the field for pregame, running around during the game. They had SpongeBob theme music. It's been insane. But Gibo, here's where I'm going with this. There is a chance on August the 15th, which is a Saturday night. Big night at the big gate. There is an opportunity that possibly yours truly could be interviewing Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. Possibly. Oh, possibly. I hope so. I don't hope there's uh a possible in it. I hope it's a probable. Yes, the request has been put in, whether it's it's me on the pregame show, Erica Weston, or it's uh with Wayne and Gooby in the broadcast booth during the game. But they are gonna be, it is KISS Night. Speaking of great promo promotions, KISS Night at the Big A. I did not know this, but uh so Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are gonna throw out the first pitch to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their performance at Anaheim Stadium on the Spirit of 76 tour. Um, KISS Theme Stadium Entertainment, you're gonna have a KISS Theme Fireworks show, and there's a band called Odd Robot performing KISS covers. How cool would it be if KISS jumped up with Odd Robot? I mean, that talk about a dream come true to have a cover band, and all of a sudden members of that cover band uh are or the band you're covering come up on stage with you. So, anywho, uh, expect I don't think I'm gonna be in full makeup.

SPEAKER_01 48:23

I I don't think that's that would be genius. I would that would be genius. Can you imagine how they say no to you for an interview if you got KISS makeup on?

SPEAKER_00 48:33

Well, well then my fear is if I'm in full makeup and then they don't come to me and they come up, they go up to the booth or with Eric, and I'm just solo on set in full makeup, just melting.

SPEAKER_01 48:42

Um listen, we've done some crazy stuff on the set before. I I think yeah, I would love to see that.

SPEAKER_00 48:48

Either way, it would be entertaining for sure. And so I think of KISS, and all of a sudden I'm like, wait a second. And I people, hopefully fans listening to this have just got to understand. We're blending hockey and baseball and entertainment, we're making it all work here, right? Yeah. Back in synergistic. When was it? 2014, January 25th. Hockey fans remember it was the very first and only outdoor game at Dodger Stadium between the Kings and Ducks, and guess who performed at Dodger Stadium? Yes, it was KISS. Pre-game and first intermission. We were there, you were on the stands. I was covering the team as a sideline reporter that day, but I could remember Gibo. I got we got there early, and Kiss is rehearsing, and the fire coming off of the stage. I don't know how far away I was from the stage, but it was so hot. I mean, it was like I was sweating and I wasn't nowhere near the stage. I mean, that's how much pyrotechnics that they had for this concert. So I mean, and that shouldn't surprise you. This is KISS, right?

SPEAKER_01 49:46

I mean, it's it's a show about a show and then some singing, right? I mean, the outfits. So anyway. I mean, listen, I'm no stranger to the KISS music because I mean, it was in our locker room for the the entirety of my career. Uh, I remember Bobby Dallas being one of the spin doctors uh along with Stu Grimson back in the days. Uh yeah, and then KISS would be, you know, in the locker room for pump up music. And so it was it was no shock that uh KISS was there for the outdoor game. And listen, I I was sitting in the stands uh with my wife and another couple. Uh I wasn't working. I was enjoying a frosty, cold beverage on a cool, chilly Southern California night at Dodger Stadium. And uh it was incredible. I still can't believe there hasn't been a second outdoor game in all this time, right? Yeah, uh it was so well received. Everything from the entertainment, of course, KISS. The NHL did a tremendous job. Now the ice I know was not the best, but you know, the technology continues to improve. So I'm sure that they could have it out here once again. Um, you know, in the the rivalry, the Kings, Ducks, uh, have it at the big A this time because it's only fair if it was up in LA. It's down here in Orange County. Um, just think how incredible it'd be with the OC Vibe being built next door. So uh once that's done, maybe they will have another outdoor game uh between Kings and Ducks. And I mean, hey, let's bring KISS back.

SPEAKER_00 51:17

Why not? Right? Why not? But we mentioned this in one of our first podcasts. Uh, I will say this and and end it with this. Yes, there should be another outdoor game, but Kivo has got to be on the sand. They have said they can make ice anywhere, put it on the sand, surfers in the background, waves crashing, our guys on the ice, fans, you know, bathing suits, towels, hockey. Let's go. Let's just make it work. Let's just that's I would love to see that. I think that would be a great idea. Because I mean, obviously, the one in Tahoe, it's a little the the weather's different. Yes, I understand. But uh, let's see it on the beach. Let's make it let's let's make that work. Let's just make it happen. Uh let's cost something. Your hat. Oh, yeah, my hat. Before we go, before we go. Uh for those of you watching on the uh the Mask of the Mike YouTube channel, GA Bear has a hat on, and even with my glasses, I cannot read what is on the hat. So please tell me what is on your hat.

SPEAKER_01 52:08

Well, it it happens to be a Sherwood Country Club, and uh every season we have our alumni ducks golf tournament, and I usually throw out some kind of golf from somewhere. And a good friend of mine said, Hey, if you want to donate a round of golf for two, they can play with myself as the host and you, Gibo, as you know, the alumni player. Uh, I'm happy to do that. So uh I did that the last two seasons uh at our Ducks alumni golf event, and so uh end of this month, I'm gonna be taking up two lucky winners to go play golf at Sherwood. It's a beautiful place. Um one of those places that it's difficult to get on if you don't know the right people. So I think it's gonna be a spectacular time. And yes, I'll take some pictures and I'll have stories from that round of golf, and and hopefully uh they have a good time and and want to bid on it once again for our fourth annual Ducks Alumni golf tournament. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:07

All right. Um, and shout out to Green Cheek Beer. I'm wearing the Green Cheek Beer. Yes, you are. It's a lavender lemonade shirt if you're wondering why it's lavender color, pinkish, lavenderish, whatever. Uh all right, Giva. Well, uh for two guys that jumped on a microphone and didn't have really uh an itinerary to say, we certainly we certainly talked for 52 plus minutes here about a lot of things. I mean, I I we went hockey, baseball, kiss, and golf. Like we did it all. Did it all today. We we got it all. Um for those of you to stop talking, otherwise we'll get it. Keep going. We're gonna get we're gonna do a second podcast. I know. So for those of you that want to uh watch what we're doing and what we're wearing, and I'm sure you do, you can uh join us on the Mask the Mic YouTube channel to listen to us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Evo. Uh it's been fun just waxing about everything that we wax about. Cannot uh wait to update you about Kiss Night. Next time we chat. So uh, or maybe down the road, we might have a special guest between now and then. Um, but until next time, as we always say, and good for us.