NHL Final Four is Set + PWHL is BOOMING | Too Many Men on the Mic

The Stanley Cup Final Four is officially set and the boys are breaking down EVERYTHING from the NHL Playoffs — overtime drama, coaching mistakes, goalie play, Carolina’s rest advantage, Colorado vs Vegas, and whether the Canadiens are actually for real. 👀
Coach Drew, Coach Jared, and producer Grant dive into:🏒 Montreal vs Buffalo OT thriller🏒 Why Carolina may be the scariest team left🏒 Nathan MacKinnon vs Jack Eichel🏒 Carter Hart’s impact in Vegas🏒 The rise of the PWHL and why hockey fans should pay attention🏒 Coaching breakdowns and playoff systems🏒 A compete drill coaches can use immediately at practice🏒 Plus… a golf bet, NHL 94 organ music, and plenty of chirping
We also discuss:✅ PWHL expansion and sold-out crowds✅ Why the #1 seed choosing their playoff opponent is genius✅ Rust vs Rest in playoff hockey✅ Why playoff hockey remains the greatest sport on Earth
🔥 COACHES:Head to our website for downloadable drill draws and coaching resources.
👍 LIKE🔔 SUBSCRIBE📲 SHARE with your hockey teammates, parents, and coaches
We’ve crossed 12,500+ views and are pushing hard toward our next subscriber milestone — help us grow the hockey community!
#NHLPlayoffs #HockeyPodcast #StanleyCup #PWHL #MontrealCanadiens #ColoradoAvalanche #VegasGoldenKnights #TooManyMenOnTheMic #YouthHockey #HockeyCoaching

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:47

We've been waiting for it, and now we have a final four. Uh I'm not a big basketball fan, but uh final four in hockey is when things get real. Uh, it's getting serious. We're talking about who's going to be representing potentially each conference uh for the chance to play for the Stanley Cup. So last night, I don't know what you were doing. I had the feeling I was sitting on my couch, uh screaming at the TV, uh, cheering Buffalo on uh because they were making a game out of it yet again, dug themselves out of a hole, put themselves in contention to win it, and then uh another overtime. And uh Montreal is moving on.

SPEAKER_03 1:33

What do you think about that? I as I'm watching that, I yeah, Montreal scores two goals and I think the first eight minutes again early goals in that series. First half of the first period. That whole series was all about early goals. Um, but I knew it was gonna go to overtime. I had this like feeling in my gut because um, one, I mean the crowd at Buffalo, the the way Buffalo plays, their style of play lends itself to um, you know, they kind of started slow all series and then boom, like it was on in game six, they were down three-one. Next thing you know, they're up six three. And so, you know, the way their defense um pushes the play, uh, I think both their goals uh were scored by defensemen. Um, defensemen who are locked up for like five years plus. Yeah, thanks, thanks, Detroit. Um and uh what a what a finish. Um I I I kind of felt Montreal was gonna win that series um because I think their goaltending was better, but at the end of the day, um you know it it's tough to spot a team three goals like the game prior.

SPEAKER_05 2:53

They spotted them three goals, uh, then it was three to one. The horses came to loose and it turned into an eight-free game. Uh and then for them last night to spot on two goals, that's just that's really hard to win when you're giving the team uh two and three goal advantage across two games. So I just felt like uh also uh Buffalo did not have a good uh record at home, which is interesting. Crazy two and five the whole home field advantage. If you're a football fan out there, that means everything uh in hockey, throw it out the window in this series.

SPEAKER_03 3:30

It means absolutely Montreal's below 500 at home, too.

SPEAKER_05 3:34

They are so you know Road Warriors Road Warriors.

SPEAKER_03 3:39

Well, you know, it's funny because as I was sitting on the couch last night, I was watching the game at different points with different, you know. I was on with my son and a couple of of his hockey buddies. Uh, shout out to Brendan Ballant living his best life now for the next week after he's graduated before he has to start work for the summer. Um and then I was watching it with my father-in-law, and it was I I made the comment, it's gonna be you know, in order for Buffalo to win, they're gonna have to score three in a row. How's that go? How's watching a game with your father-in-law? I was blessed. He's a big Colorado apple. He lived in Colorado for a while, so even though he's from Detroit, he roots for Colorado, which I can't bring, I can't like I can't wrap my head around.

unknown 4:25

Right.

SPEAKER_03 4:25

And then he's now living in North Carolina, but he's still a big Colorado fan. I mean, he's he's a very uh he's very uh well-versed in all things Colorado. He can tell you what Makar had for breakfast. Um, but he's a big fan of the of the Lanch. And he gets kind of quiet when I talk about, well, I don't know, man. Vegas is playing their best hockey right now.

SPEAKER_05 4:48

Is he is he a student of the game, or do you have to explain things that are going on in the game to him?

SPEAKER_03 4:54

Oh, since the two of you watching. He's a he's a great fan. He asks really good questions. Um he'll ask the question of why a certain you know play is a certain way or why is that a penalty? Um, but he's he's a great student of the game. He he let's get Grant in here.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

Grant, do you ask questions when you're watching on uh NHL hockey games?

SPEAKER_01 5:17

That's a pro right there. I honestly don't think I've ever really watched hockey with somebody that I should ask questions to. Like, I don't think I ever watched a hockey game with somebody who knows more than me about hockey.

SPEAKER_03 5:35

Well, that's a great segue because I think there's an opportunity for us to uh let's break down the game-winning goal from last and we're gonna show where this play originates and we'll see if Grant has questions. Yeah, we'll see if Grant has questions. So let's go ahead and share the screen.

SPEAKER_05 5:51

Let me find uh well, uh, there are uh a lot of good things and uh obviously a lot of things that broke down on this play as uh you're pulling it up. Uh I don't want to give away my comments yet, but uh but an overtime goal. One thing I did notice is right before this goal happened, and Grant, I don't know if you noticed this, the players were getting tired. Uh they kept talking about the amount of time that the players had been on the ice once it got T, about halfway through and T. They were talking about where they gonna uh I think both teams had five defensemen, which I thought was interesting. They only played five, yeah. And so, you know, were they gonna make more players available? But uh cue it up. Here's uh here's the game winner.

SPEAKER_03 6:42

So full disclosure, I thought that this was probably one of the sloppiest games I've seen in terms of you know taking care of the puck in your own zone. And it's so ironic how this game finished because Montreal, by all rights, this is coming off a couple plays where they were just they they couldn't find their their feet in in their own zone. That's why there's an offensive zone face-off here. So let's you know, we're right off the face-off, you know, win back to the guy you want to win it back to, Rasmus Dallin. So let's freeze it there for a second. So Dallen's got that puck. You know, I like where Montreal's forwards are. We always talk about, and this is a great coaching opportunity for you kids at home. You know, these two forwards are are above the circles, challenging these defensemen. So, you know, we're not gonna have our backs turned, we're not, we're not in a bad position. Uh, you know, we move on a little bit here. Dolleen tries to do a and this is a Norris trophy candidate, tries to do a little bit too much and gives up that puck. And now we've got, now we're going. And freeze it right here.

SPEAKER_05 7:48

So uh I can't I can't take my eyes off this. Uh look at number nine on Buffalo and Josh Norris. Josh Norris, who uh man, I I do they do film review after you you lose an OT? Do you come back the next day and do film review? Or maybe they uh do film review the first day of the season. What were you gonna say, Grant? You had something to say there.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

I said no, I don't think they do film no day. They do film review the day after.

SPEAKER_05 8:20

So what I notice immediately about number nine on the screen, Josh Norris, is look at where his stick is. His stick is not on the ass, he's looking, he's watching. Uh, frequently you'll hear coaches say puck watching, but just follow this play and watch him. He he he looks like he's out for uh well, you say it. He's he's water skiing.

SPEAKER_03 8:44

He's a little bit water skiing. He's water skiing in in his defense. I mean, if you look here, you've got Tage Thompson is kind of walled off here. What I really love about this play, I'm gonna look at it from the Montreal side, and he had a phenomenal, phenomenal uh series. I think that's Anderson, uh, number 71. Um, and he recognized Evans. That's Evans. They're all they're all it's Evans, Newhook. This is this is Newhook, by the way, one of the only Stanley Cup winners, and for future trivia, uh, one of only two NHL players to score a game-winning overtime series clinching game seven goal in back-to-back series. So so I love what Evans is doing. He's you know, obviously, you know, Dallin has to be you know head up on um on new hook. Um, he never stops. And look what he does. He pulls, uh, I think this is Heist Heisman. Um, but he pulls him and he takes away UPL's eyes right there. And you know, UPL, if you saw the game, he threw his helmet, you know. I mean, great competitor. Understand his frustration. Probably as an NHL level goalie, one he needs to have. But, you know, I I think Buffalo has to do a better job of not letting two guys beat four. Right there, two guys beat the way I look at this is you have two guys beating three for sure and probably beating four. Two guys are beating four.

SPEAKER_05 10:17

Right, and that's you know, I guess where maybe Norris thought, you know, well, we've got the numbers, so I can just water skate. And I don't need to skate over and challenge uh New Hook. Uh Newhook also shot that clock uh for all the fans out there between the defensemen's legs.

SPEAKER_03 10:35

Yeah, yeah, Brass Mustalin's legs. Yes, like not just any defenseman.

SPEAKER_05 10:42

The skill. It's it's crazy. Grant, did you watch that or were you sleeping? What was going on in your household?

SPEAKER_01 10:48

I was watching, yeah. I had that on the laptop and the NBA game on the TV.

SPEAKER_05 10:54

Oh, the NBA game. And who are you reading for on the NBA side? The Spurs, I think.

SPEAKER_02 11:00

Spurs. Yeah, you think you can't remember what way to commit.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

No, I'm kind of indifferent. I just want good games, and last night was last night was two of the best just pure sporting events in one night that I've seen. The that game goes to overtime, Canadians win, and the Thunder Spurs go to double overtime. Yeah, it's a good night for good night for sports for sure. Late um late. I was tired this morning getting up, but Western Conference, right?

SPEAKER_06 11:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:30

There you go. Well, the the going back to that game winning goal, what where where it all started for me as a coach, watching off the face off, your wingers go directly up to the points. You're not giving Rasmus Dallen and challenge them, and turn the buck over. You're not giving them any time to breathe. And Dallin, again, world's top, easily top five, top, top three defensemen in the world, um makes a play that drives us nuts with our own kids of you're trying to do too much, you're trying to be too cute. And all he had to do, you know, the the best play is get that puck deep. The second best play would be to go D D because there was room there. Um, the third best play, which was not a good play at all, was to try and turn out at the blue line, holding the puck and turning it over. And you know, to his credit, he got back. Um, and you know, Newhook, I mean, just like in the first series, put the puck on the net, which is another thing we talked, you know, coaches out there, you know, don't wait to overtime or the third period to start taking shots. You know, the more shots you take during the game, the less likely you're gonna be able to go overtime.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Well, and uh, you know, kind now, I would I don't want to say an outsider, but from my point of view, it seemed like the only way the Canadians were going to score in this overtime was by a mistake from the Sabres. Like, I didn't think that it didn't seem like the Canadians could set up a possession, you know, work the puck around and they're struggling, yeah, and get a chance in the the other third. I think it it had to be uh a mistake, a turnover that turns into getting out quickly. What happened against Tampa? That's exactly what happened, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:20

And you know, nobody goes back and asks, you know, how you won. They just they count the W. Um you talked earlier about the wait is over. Talk about the wait. If you're Carolina, the longest wait ever between uh series, 12 games. I mean, it was almost April the last time they played.

SPEAKER_05 13:42

You better get ready, Montreal.

SPEAKER_03 13:45

You're not gonna be able to fumble the puck like like they like they were last night. I mean, second period, they looked like a uh a pee-wee team working on a breakout in practice. That's how bad it looked in the second period. And you know, I know look, Dano's goal off the skate, not a kicking motion. I know Buffalo's like, you know, crying that they can't challenge it. I mean, the league looks at it, so it was definitely not a kicking motion. Um, the goal that was called back um should have been called back. I mean, you know, that's that's the the rules that you know you want to change the rules, have your GMs at the GM meeting figured out, and you know, then you know stop crying. But uh, but yeah, Blue Blanc and Rouge is against the Carolina hurricanes. Blue Blanc Rouge. That's what the Canadians go by. That's French for uh blue, white, and red. Blue Blanc Rouge.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

What do you think Le Habetons? I'm just saying I don't think he's the the reaction was his French wasn't very good.

SPEAKER_03 14:52

Oh, my friend from a guy from St. Louis telling me my how do you say Corondelet? How do you say crepe court? We call it creve core grablois, this is America.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Last time I checked.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

Oh, so you're you're you're you're anti you're anti-Montreal.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

You're more north than Canada. That's right. I am more north than Canada, you're right. I wanted them to beat the Sabres. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 15:22

When was the last time they won the Stanley Cup?

SPEAKER_01 15:25

They're the last Canadian team I know. I'm gonna say is it 19? I know it's 1994.

SPEAKER_03 15:34

No, close 1993.

SPEAKER_05 15:37

Really close.

SPEAKER_03 15:38

Who is their captain? I don't know. Vincent Downfoos. Downfoos? Downfus? I don't know who that is. Their best, their leading score was actually, I think the leading score was American. It was John the Clerk.

SPEAKER_02 15:54

Before he joined the Legion of Boom. Before he, yeah, before he joined the box.

SPEAKER_03 15:57

I like the smack goalie. Philly. Oh, yeah. So um our assistant coach, uh, and Lexi Levy's brother, Zach Levy, played with him when he was in St. Louis. Um, yeah, that's a whole nother story. But yeah, Dobish is Dobish is the uh we talk about goaltending for a second here because um, you know, coming off of the vast knowledge that we got from last week's show with our goalies, our goalie show, um, you know, the the the favorite, you know, the front runner, Colorado, is the only team that really uses two goalies. And you know what they say? If you've got two goalies, you don't have one. If you got two goalies, you don't have one. So we'll see. We'll see. We'll see. We'll talk a little bit more about that series.

SPEAKER_05 16:44

Um, well, at the at the conclusion of that uh game-winning OT goal, uh, I always like to watch the uh uh highlights and the coverage and hear everybody pine in and their opinions. But quickly I find myself uh watching a sold-out crowd uh for PWHL game. I mean, this is fantastic stuff. And the Ottawa Charge, what a great name. Stavedo elimination with a 2-1 comeback win over the Montreal. I think that's victory, but it's do you want to do you want to say the French version of it over here?

SPEAKER_03 17:24

The how they pronounce it in how they pronounce it in Montreal? Yeah, uh, let me see if I can if I can say it correctly here. I did take high school French four years ago. My wife will tell you that I can't speak, I can't speak English very well either. What's sold out games?

SPEAKER_05 17:39

I mean, what's impressive to me about this the victois the Morea Victois? Yes. What's impressive to me about the PWHL right now and these games that are going on is they are going on at the exact same time as the NHL playoffs. And so we were talking about a little earlier, and I it makes me wonder there was somebody years and years ago that uh did some kind of study and they went to uh female fans of hockey or female hockey players and said, uh, would you be interested in watching a men's hockey game? No, but if you put girls out there, I'd watch it in a heartbeat. And uh sold-out crowds, 18 plus thousand people come to these games. What a cool thing, and they're doing it. You know, they're not putting their season off schedule from the NHL, they're competing right with them. That's fantastic. What a great story.

SPEAKER_03 18:37

What I find so fascinating about this league, um, and I haven't done enough research to see if any other startup league has done things this way. Um, every team is owned by the same company. It's all there are no franchises. And so when you're looking at there's no risk of uh a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates who are just gonna like play to the play to the play to the floor, you know, instead of playing to the ceiling. I find that fascinating. And I think I think there's a lot of folks who are going to get very, very excited and want to get in on this. This is a minute of play in this period. Yeah, this is like I think an opportunity for local businesses in these NHL markets and these other markets where they're looking to expand to um to like clamor to get to get buy into this. And and they're currently um they're owned by, and bear with me for one second as I'm going through my notes here. Um they're owned by it's like the Warner Company or the Warner family. Um, hang on one second. Bear, bear with me. I had a thing on here, things you may not know about the PWHL.

SPEAKER_05 19:52

Well, while you're looking at that, I will just highlight this for you. And Grant, I think you'll probably get a good kick out of this. A 39-year-old Canadian police officer attempted to enter the draft. Uh, talk about a non-traditional development path.

SPEAKER_03 20:07

Well, she's actually the second leading scorer in the history of Canadian women's hockey, but she's like, it's it's the Walter family, but it's the Walter, um Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra. They're they've built this single entity there, it's owned by the Walter group. Now, I just find it fascinating that if you look at it that way, and the players buy into it, you have a situation where you you where you create as competitive and balance as you possibly can early on, and everybody's singing from the same hymnal, and you don't have people trying to hymn hymnal. Um, but uh yeah, the 39-year-old Canadian police officer. Um, I was I I heard about her the other day. Um, and we can talk a little bit about this afternoon. Great.

SPEAKER_05 20:58

This is a feel-good story. I mean, the league's so successful, you got 39-year-old police officers flying kind of joke with you.

SPEAKER_03 21:05

Right, I can do it. She's I know she's originally from Windsor, Canada. Um, it's uh constable Megan Agasta. She is there for the 2026 PWHL draft, she's a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Canada. Um, she hasn't played hockey. Let her play, hasn't played any type of high-level hockey in eight years. Um, and I'm rooting for her. I think it's so cool. I bet she's a ringer in uh women's league. Well, she's in she's uh she's a constable in the Vancouver police uh uh Vancouver um British Columbia. That's in Canada. That is in Canada. Um she's originally she's originally from Windsor though, and Detroit's getting a team. That's also where the draft's gonna be.

SPEAKER_05 21:45

He's bringing it back to Detroit. Here we go. Everything rolls back. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:50

Well, we gotta pay a few, we gotta pay a few bills here. So before you you know bag on me about being from Detroit, I'm I'm I'm so abused. Like Drew never lets me forget that I'm from Detroit, Grant. Like, I don't get it. Or that he went to level five. Whatever lobby is more important than Detroit. I mean, they teach you that in level five. Which Drew wouldn't know. I would not. He was there on the TV.

SPEAKER_05 22:13

I was.

SPEAKER_03 22:14

We got to pay a couple bills here. We're going to do a quick ad read and then we'll be back to talk more about the PWHL. Just what we feel is just an awesome opportunity for hockey fans, not just women, hockey fans, and girls, but hockey fans, because it's great hockey. And uh we'll be back to talking a little more playoffs and a little bit more coaching stuff. But thanks for listening to me, Madden and Mike. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_05 22:39

Summer's right around the corner. Big Bear Tournaments is already thinking about the next hockey season. Registration is now open on their website for the 2026, 2027 season, and spots are filling up fast. Join them in new locations such as Savannah, Georgia, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Holland, Michigan. Looking to save on your entry fees, take advantage of their multi-team, multi-club, and club level discounts to guarantee savings across the board for every team in your organization. Head over to bigbeartournaments.com today to claim your spots and be ready to hit the ice after the sum. That's bigbeartournaments.com. And those of you that are watching on a computer or on your phone, go ahead and click that QR code up in the top right hand corner and learn all the great things that Big Bear Tournaments is doing for the 2026-2027 season.

SPEAKER_03 23:38

Real quick, folks, before we jump back in, if you're enjoying Too Many Men on the Mic, hit like and subscribe on our YouTube channel. It's a quick click for you, but it helps us grow the show and keeps bringing you great hockey conversations. You can also follow us on Instagram by scanning the QR code on the top right corner of your screen. And be sure to download, follow, and rate the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. And coaches, you can go directly to our website to get all of our downloadable PDF drill draws from the likes of USA hockey legends like Pooch and Dan Jablanik, and most importantly, Drew Aikery. Those small things from you help us keep delivering new guests, downloadable coaching content, and more from the rink. All right, back to the show. And we're back uh talking about uh NHL playoffs, coaching opportunities from watching those games. Um we left off last segment with uh some discussion about the PWHL, which um I think more and more, and again, I'm I'm I'm excited about the fact that there's this outlet of hockey for girls to aspire to, especially since we've started coaching girls here in the last couple of years. Um but some of these storylines are phenomenal. When you look at the way it's structured with single ownership, they're expanding from eight teams to 12. Uh, Hamilton, Ontario is gonna get a team. Uh, Detroit, uh, I believe they're going to Vegas, and all signs point to San Jose, I think getting that 12th team. Come on, St. Louis, right in the middle of the country. Let's go. I'm surprised St. Louis isn't on that. Um, you know, and I look at things like Marquee. I bet you St. Louis gets a player when Josie Dunn graduates from Ohio State. Ah, I bet you because like because here's I mean, they're doing a really, really good job, I think, of kind of like um creating a demand, you know, you know, the whole epic carefully growing it. Um, someone say cultivate. Um, but if you look, they they crossed over a million viewers this year when you combine uh you know the Canadian broadcasts, which I think are on TSN, um, Unite US broadcasts are on Ion and YouTube. Um but coming coming off an Olympic year where you have such high level of compete between Team USA and Team Canada, I would not be shocked to see if this if this league um gets a European franchise, or I guess not franchise, a European team before the NHL does. Because teams like Sweden and Finland are also growing this game you know exponentially. Sorry, uh, what's I on? Um, you know, I watched this, so so hang on, let's talk about this. So I watched this interview with Charles Barkley a few a few years ago, and he was talking about he's a big NHL fan. And he goes, uh, man, I remember when uh is this your Charles Barclay in person? I remember when the NHL was on was on uh he couldn't even name the channel. He's like, and I'm rich, I can't find that channel. Um I don't know what ion is, but there was a time when um the NHL was on like the outdoor network. Oh OLM. OLM. Outdoor living network. NHL was on outdoor living network. So I think that the fact that you you know who's not on ion? Too many men on the mic's not on ion. I would love to be on ion.

SPEAKER_05 27:12

Do you know what ion is? Get in here.

SPEAKER_03 27:17

Ion? Ion, like an ion, like you know. I've heard of it, but I don't know what it is. No. Well, it's they also are on YouTube, which again, I think is like a subscribe to the mic on YouTube if you want to.

SPEAKER_05 27:29

No, you know, I you know, uh, I think Grant said it earlier. He uh he asked questions. Or no, you were saying that your your father asked, yeah, asked questions. So I I I thought I'd take a minute there and just say uh uh what exactly is IO?

SPEAKER_03 27:44

Well, 2.9 million Canadian viewers uh and historic US national broadcasts on IO. Um the games reach 154 countries. Wow. So I would not be surprised. I mean, obviously the NHL has a global reach with the you know, you know, you obviously have North American players from the United States and Canada, but Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia. Um, but I would not be surprised if they're able to find a market in Europe that would support a female team. Now, and and event, you know, what I would love to see is like you have two divisions. You have a North American division and a European division, and they play for uh for a championship. There's so many things that you could do. Um, and and again, I go back to I do think single. They played the championship in Iceland. How about that? That'd be better, that'd be better than Greenland. Yeah, Iceland's actually warmer than Greenland. I alright, I stop. I stop, I stop, I stop.

SPEAKER_05 28:45

Hey, one uh one fun fact that uh Cook Sherid uh shared with me, and I want to get your opinion on the screen. I I didn't know this. This is fascinating to me that the top playoff seed gets to select its first round opponent. How great is that? The team that finishes first, you get to decide who you want to play. So normally, you know, it's one and eight, and two and seven, and three and six, and four and five. In this case, if you are the number one seed, you don't get necessarily home field advantage, maybe you get that too. But you also get to pick your opponent out the playoffs.

SPEAKER_03 29:26

So so right now there's eight teams in the league, four teams make the playoffs, and the Vict the Victois were the number one seed, and they chose to play Minnesota, who was the number two seed first over playing Ottawa. Um, and I think about that the gamesmanship that goes into that. You know, we look at roster, you know, you look at how we and obviously it was a good choice because they lost to Ottawa, like they lost in the last in the in the you know, I don't think the championship has been played yet, but um I I I'm all for this. I think the more I the only thing that and again, nobody's listening to to me make their business decisions, but I would I wonder if if playing the season um not at the same time as the NHL would be a better idea. Um, you know, the UFL does not compete with the NFL. The WNBA doesn't compete with the NBA, WMBA plays in the summer, and and maybe that's the next iteration. Um, but again, they're trying to keep their costs in line, so maybe because the costs of um having an ice rink open, and they're getting about 10,000 fans a game, which is nothing. I mean, that's about what the WNBA got their first season. And WNBA's been around for over 20 years, and they're you know, now the WNBA has a better spotlight on their players with with how the NCAA women's you know sport has just exploded. Um, I mean, you know, whether it's Paige Bucher or Caitlin Clark or um who just won the MVP, she's amazing. Um, like yeah, you see you've seen these players play throughout the last four years when they were in college. Um, I think the PWHL, they don't necessarily want to compete with summer vacations, and it might be a little bit more of an expense to open a ice arena in the summer, and those arenas may say no, it's concert season. That's the other thing that happens because they're playing in um, but we'll see. Maybe there's an opportunity to have them not compete directly with NHL eyeballs.

SPEAKER_05 31:35

Well, they got 18,000 plus fans to a game this year at Madison Square Garden, so they're clearly doing things right. Uh good for them. What a good story uh for the NHL and for all fans out there who enjoy uh hockey, just hockey in general, uh growing the game and doing it in a way that hasn't been done before. Uh, but I thought that was pretty clever. You get to pick your opponent if you're the same. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

I'll never heard of.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

Well, it puts a it puts a greater emphasis on um the regular season. I mean, obviously, it's always great to be the number one seed or top seed in the playoffs, but to be able to be the number one seed and say, yeah, we're gonna play these guys.

SPEAKER_05 32:20

All right, so there's four teams left. Uh, and we could we're gonna have to share our opinions on what we think about this. But uh for me, uh the teams that are well rested this time of year are the teams that are gonna be dangerous. Uh, and that's Colorado, uh, and that's also Carolina. I mean, I think you said it earlier. It's Carolina's been sitting around for 12 days. They uh could have gone gone on vacation, come back, and uh still gone to the ice rink in, gotten a couple workouts in, and they're still sitting around waiting. Um, I saw some tired players for Montreal on the ice last night. I know it was an OT game, but two seven-game series back to back, and now you're gonna run into a well-rested uh sitting around for 12 days team that I think is gonna be ready to like literally jump out of their skates.

SPEAKER_03 33:14

Here's a question for Grant What is the least amount of games you would be able to play in first two rounds of playoffs with seven game series? What's the least amount of games you would play in the first two rounds?

SPEAKER_01 33:28

I'd go eight.

SPEAKER_03 33:30

Give that man a hand. Give that man a hand, give that man a hand. Math is is still undefeated. Math is undefeated. Math is still undefeated. Now, that same scenario. What's the most amount of game to play in that same scenario? Now, I think 14. Well done. So we have a situation, it doesn't happen very often, where you have a team, two teams competing, one who has played the least amount of games, and one who has played the most amount of games. Um, and that one who's played the most amount of games has had uh multiple overtimes. So you could probably have gotten away, Grant. I'd have probably accepted 14 and a half, 14 and three quarters, 15 or 15 and a half. So um, I would accept it all those. Now, I will say this. Um, there is the rust versus rest that is so cliche that everybody talks about. Um, I think that Carolina is going to for the first five minutes, they may look a little um just a little like, hey, we not that they're gonna be tired or their legs are gonna be heavy. It's just like they gotta get back into that. They gotta get back into that urgency and that pace, whereas Montreal has been playing for their lives um the last two games, right? At least, you know, and so I think that there is gonna be a moment where if Montreal can come out, I'll say this. I'm going, I think I think Montreal is gonna score the first goal on Thursday.

SPEAKER_05 35:10

Well, you got your money on Grant. That's what we want to know.

SPEAKER_01 35:12

I think Montreal. I know I there's just something about this team. I I don't have a I wouldn't say to win if that's what favorites with the abs to win it all. But I think that Montreal can defeat uh Carolina and make Stanley Cup final.

SPEAKER_05 35:31

So you think they're on to something. Yeah, I'm hearing a little bandwagon.

SPEAKER_01 35:35

Yeah, I'm bandwagoning the Canadians. They just you can't kill them. They they don't go down easy. And that's well, you're wrong.

SPEAKER_04 35:46

You're wrong. That was just a hard your wrong. Yeah. So you want to put a wager on this?

SPEAKER_03 35:54

Um let's let's let's think about this. Um okay, here's the all right. If Montreal wins, um I'll like go on Instagram or do something that you know makes me look terrible compared to Grant Salzman. If when when Carolina wins, you'll be in a front row seat at our June 18th to May Man on the Mike gig.

SPEAKER_01 36:21

How about this? If Carolina wins, I'll be at the gig. If Montreal wins, you owe me a round of golf. Ooh, attack wingo. There you go.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Done. Done.

SPEAKER_01 36:34

Done.

SPEAKER_03 36:34

I win both ways.

SPEAKER_01 36:37

I love that. The uh according to DraftKings Sportsbook, whoa, you're getting good odds here. Canadians are two to one to advance, where Carolina's heavy favorite. No, no, no, you're reading that wrong.

SPEAKER_03 36:53

You're absolutely reading that wrong. That's that's that can't be right. They're trying to get money on. They're plus two twenty five, which means you have to bet a hundred you bet a hundred bucks you win. Montreal's plus two twenty-five to advance. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 37:13

What about on the western side? I'm fine. Hang on.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

The knights are less of an underdog than the Canadians. The Knights are plus two ten.

SPEAKER_03 37:23

Yeah. Yeah. They're they're not the yeah, too. They're it's about the same. Both both both odds are for the for Carolina, Colorado, Stanley Cup is like um, well, let's talk about Carolina first. I I I know you're chomping to talk about Vegas and oh yeah. Oh, look, I did it again. Here we go. Yeah, yeah, there we go. Um Carolina, the reason why I'm so bullish on this team is they forecheck and have the highest rate of offensive zone pressure in time. And when you watch Montreal in both their series, they there were stretches of every single game they were in where they were just hanging on. And I don't know in the first round why Nikita Kudrov couldn't score a goal, but they couldn't, and that worked out in Montreal's favor. In this round, I have no idea why Alex Tuck had zero points. 33 goal scorer was a force in the first round um against Boston. Um, I think he had a couple game winners or was a factor on game winning goals against Boston, was an 0-4. Um, and it wasn't like he wasn't taking shots. There is no way they're gonna go three series in a row playing the the sloppy defensive zone style they play. Even on that last goal, there was no, but they had no business scoring that goal. Um, they had to rely on a mistake. Um, so I just don't think they're gonna do that against against a team right now that is, I think their their time on ice amongst their forwards is the most balanced of all the four teams left. Um, if you stop Stank Hoven, you got to worry about a rejuvenated Taylor Hall. If you stop Taylor Hall, oh yeah, we've got this guy, Nikolai Ehlers. Oh, if you stop Nikolai Ehlers, Sebastian Aho, no world-class McKinnon or Eichel or Marner on that team, but they play a brand of hockey where it looks like there's freaking six guys out there, not including the goalie, and because they're they're constant movement and constant pressure. I don't see Montreal being able to do it.

SPEAKER_05 39:26

They are fast, they are a very fast team. And um on it again, for a team that's coming off two seven-game series uh that went their way. Uh, you're getting into a horse race.

SPEAKER_03 39:41

It's uh it's gonna be a minute of play in this period. Well, the best available the best ability is availability, and Carolina is gonna have everyone available.

SPEAKER_05 39:49

Did you hear that one, Grant? Best ability is availability.

SPEAKER_03 39:53

I like that one.

SPEAKER_05 39:53

That's one he's full of isms in tonight's broadcast.

SPEAKER_03 39:58

I will say this. I will, yeah, it's a good, yeah. I will say this. I will say that Montreal, I think they have an advantage in that. And and I know Freddie Anderson has had this rejuvenation, um, but I don't think he has faced the pressure that Dobish has. And I think Dobish at now, this is they're they're playing with house money, at least from a goaltender standpoint. He's house money. I I could see him stealing, I could see it going six six games.

SPEAKER_05 40:28

So Freddie Anderson's been in that for the last couple years for Caroline, and it hasn't worked out. So I agree with uh your point and goal. I think I think Montreal, quite honestly, has the advantage in goal, but uh I also think Montreal has not faced a team like Caroline. Let's go to the other side because I don't know. I'm not buying this whole Carter Heart story, I'm just not. And I'm I'm not a huge Vegas Golden Knights fan. Uh not as much as I I used to be. I think they're a little long in the tooth. I think it's uh uh I think they're gonna have their hands full for sure with Colorado, but I'm not buying this whole uh Carter Heart story.

SPEAKER_03 41:10

Well, let's jump and dive into that because I'm I'm gonna pick at some of those points. Oh, let's go. Um, after the break here, we got to go pay a couple bills here. So don't go anywhere. You got too many men on the mic with uh special guest Grant, the producer, is hanging out all night as we talk coaching opportunities by watching the playoffs. We'll be right back. Well, that segment of Can We Embarrass Grant and make him do a and lose a bet was brought to you by our friends at 5B Designs. St. Louis hockey families and business leaders, if you need custom gear that stands out and stands for something, it's time to meet 5B Designs. Founded by Shannon Brahini, a proud St. Louis mom and entrepreneur, 5B Designs is a woman-owned small business that brings purpose to custom apparel. Whether you're suiting up your youth or high school hockey team or leveling up your company's brand and swag, 5B delivers top-notch quality with a personal touch. You need a team store, not a problem. Corporate polos or event giveaways, they've got you covered. 5B makes it easy with fast turnaround, flexible service, and designs your players or employees will love to wear. Check them out at stores.inksoft.com forward slash 5B designs. That's the word 5. And if you're watching on our YouTube feed, go ahead and scan the QR code in the top right hand corner of your screen and see what great gear and great service looks like.

SPEAKER_05 42:31

We're back and we're talking final for NHL playoffs. And uh right before the break, we left off uh talking about the Vegas Wolf Nights and the Colorado. And uh I personally had anime coming out of that bracket, was not expecting Vegas to get there. And uh part of the reason I didn't think Vegas was gonna get there is I I just I'm not personally buying this whole uh Carter Hart story. Uh, but I I'd love, I I I bet you have some stats and some talking points that you want to share. I feel like they're at your fingertips.

SPEAKER_03 43:03

Well, it's kind of serendipitous um with Carter Hart coming to Vegas. You knew Vegas, you knew when he was available, and we don't need to go into the stories behind all of that, and that's well documented. If you don't know, it might be worth a Google. Um, but we knew I knew once he became available, um, even though they have a Stanley Cup winning goaltender on in their system in Aiden Hill, um, they were gonna go after Carter Hart because he is a top-end talent. He's first round draft choice for the uh Philadelphia Flyers. Um, and then lo and behold, Vegas. I mean, say what you will about Vegas, they put on a show out there, whether it's the on the ice or pregame, and they just want to win. So, whether you're a player or coach, if they think there's somebody better, they can get you gone. And they bring in John Tortorella because they didn't like where the room was going, they were going in the wrong direction. Last month of the season. He turns them around and Larry Robinson taking over for Robbie Fittoric back in the day with uh the New Jersey Devils, has them here in the playoffs, winning it. First off, if you can spell Robbie Fittorik Grant. If you can spell Robbie Fittoric Grant, no shot. Yeah, former NHL legend turned coach, turned fired before the end of the season for lit for legend Larry Robinson, but that's a whole other story. But they bring in Torts to they fire their and they fire their Stanley Cup winning coach. And they bring in Torts. And Torts loves Carter Hart. I honestly I'm disagreeing with you. I think he's the best goalie left in the playoffs. Do you really? I think he is. I think he's the most talented, he's the best goalie in the playoffs. And this is a guy who loves Dobrush. Um, I think it's a distinct advantage that they have over Colorado. Now, Colorado is one of those teams where plug your ears all my goalie friends, or you can call yourselves my goalie friends.

SPEAKER_05 45:07

Yeah, what's Simon gonna think about this?

SPEAKER_03 45:09

Yeah, right. Um, here's the deal. Colorado is gonna can win, could is a great team despite their goaltending. When you say you have two goalies, it means you have zero goalies. So I think Carter Hart's a distinct advantage. Um, where I just see Colorado winning the series, the most important position to have depth. Not the most important position, but the most important position to have depth is the center position. And there is no one that has Vegas is close. Um, and they'll be in a better position if Mark Stone, who's missed ugliest man in the hockey. He's missed. Do you know that Mark Stone? Again, I talk about the best abilities availability since he came over to the Knights from Ottawa, and he's their captain, he's missed 150 games. Yeah, I mean, he's almost two full seasons, and I think it's been he was well.

SPEAKER_05 46:09

That's what they do in Vegas. You get on uh LTIR so you can go sign Mitch Martyr and bring in the next uh free agent.

SPEAKER_03 46:15

Mitch Martyr, I mean call whatever you want. Nothing warms my heart more than to listen to to Toronto Maple Leaf fans cry and moan about Mitch Martyr. It's the best.

SPEAKER_04 46:29

It is it is the best. I will say that I I did hear Tor Torts call he calls him Mitchie.

SPEAKER_03 46:36

They call him Mitchie, they called him Michie. Did they? Well, I think the the Toronto media called him Mitchie when he wasn't playing.

SPEAKER_04 46:44

The media, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:45

I think they called him some other things too, but he's the kids playing.

SPEAKER_05 46:50

What do you think of Mitchie Grant?

SPEAKER_01 46:53

I could hang out with a guy named Mitchie if it was his nickname. But I had a question. So why do you think like if you look at all the American sports, the four major American sports? Normally, when you have like a coaching change midseason, it's not to really salvage the season, you know. It's yeah, you know, think of the Lions when they were off or like you fire the coach.

SPEAKER_03 47:16

I prefer not to.

SPEAKER_01 47:18

Well, I'm just saying, like, normally it's cause the team's so far gone. There's no point of letting this guy finish the fire the team, you gotta fire the coach. Yes, exactly. Why in the NHL does it seem like you can solve salvage things quickly, or the the firing the coach does change things? Like because like you look at like the blues right here. The Baruby comes in, they win the Stanley Cup, you know, worst team. Is it just like is it just that hockey, especially in the NHL, one through the best team and the worst team aren't really that far apart, so that the coach can make that much of a difference? Because that's where I kind of see it. Like, if I'm looking at NBA and NFL, the worst team and the best team are miles apart. Where I kind of look at NLB and NHL, the margins I think are tinier. So do you think the coaching, especially in the NHL, makes an even bigger impact on other sports?

SPEAKER_05 48:16

I think that is a uh that's wisdom right there. That's insightful. Uh, I would I would lean into that and agree with you and say, I don't think there's a bottom in the challenge. So I do agree with you. And we all know if we're talking about NFL football, uh, if you're playing the Jets this weekend, boy, you're you're you're loading up because uh uh you know when's the last time the Jets were summer.

SPEAKER_01 48:44

Well yeah, you could have the best coaching staff in the world for the Jets, and if they're playing the Chiefs and Mahomes is on, they can't do anything. Like, you know, like we're in the NHL. I think that the coaches can be difference makers a little more.

SPEAKER_03 48:59

Well, I so I personally think um Monday to Saturday coaching in the NFL is the most impactful of all the sports. Um it's a different, it's in in every other sport, even baseball, with the exception of the pitcher and the catcher. Yeah, you're a first baseman or a shortstop or second baseman, but you're still you're you're still you can play. You can't be a quarterback and be a center, you can't be a wide receiver and a defensive tackle. I mean, there's such a difference in the way teams are made up, and it's a much shorter season. It's just a totally different animal. Um, I I don't really think that I think uh coaches or managers in baseball, I'm not I can't really speak too much about pro basketball, but I think college basketball, I think they're good. Good coaches are good for three wins a year. Decisions they make are you know during the game, in between games, totally different. But I I do agree with the what you said that the talent is um, I mean, every team has guys that can can play. And it's a global league, similar to what basketball. I mean, basketball's become a global league too. Um, and the amount of talent that you can go out and get right now. I mean, there are guys that are not playing in the NHL right now who 15 years ago would be in the NHL. Um, and so there's always talk about expansion, and I think we're gonna probably see another two teams in the NHL um before the decade's out. The torturella thing and the Ruby thing, though, those are still anomalies that doesn't happen very often. Very similar to every other time you see a coaching change mid-season, it's usually not a good thing, and it's usually an interim tag being put on the assist and assistant coach. Vegas is just they have a different mindset. You know, Vegas was going to make the playoffs with Cassidy, they were in the playoffs with Cassidy. They just like, we aren't gonna win the Scandinavic Cup with him. They bought into it that Cassidy didn't give us the three games that we've that we needed from him, and Torts, for whatever reason, they believe he's going to. And so far, it's it's paid off, you know. They they they it's paid off.

SPEAKER_05 51:28

Well, and you got a coach who's publicly come out and very supportive of Marner, yeah, and saying he's a great player. I don't know why he gets so much flack, and then you've got Marner out of the Toronto market where he isn't getting picked apart in the paper every single day. And so maybe the combination of coaches' support and uh a friendlier media market are just allowing him to you know kind of blossom and take off. But I think it's impressive. I didn't have Marner as the leader in stats uh through NHL playoffs to this one.

SPEAKER_03 52:04

So he's getting it done. And he's a he's a two-way player, um, he plays both ends of the ice. But in and going back to the in the Beruby thing, I'll just say this that was a different situation than Vegas. They were that was a situation where we're firing the coach because we can't fire the team. And if you remember, that team actually was picked to finish near first place in their division at the beginning of the year. So they were playing well below what their um and they and the Beruby change wasn't this magic wand. They they were, I think they lost three or four games right out of the gate with Beruby. So um I do agree with Grant that NHL there is a better um, or what I would call a more uh um, there's an opportunity with the NHL to to win. Um because I do think the talent is more dispersed. I just think going back to this series, uh I think Colorado is just a little bit better down the middle. I think Nazim Kadri, but Colorado, we don't know how how healthy Makar is. Right. The Chewskins hurt. Um they've got two other guys that are that are nicked up. Obviously, so I mean, so does Vegas. So I mean they kind of cancel each other out, but I'll take Cadri, McKinnon, um Brock Nelson, and uh I'm trying to think of the other center. He's their fourth line guy over Iichel uh Stone um and uh uh Nico Heesher. Not Nico Heesher, um uh hurdle because they just they're just better. Um but it's gonna be great. I think it's gonna be a much better series than than we than we anticipated.

SPEAKER_05 53:59

Well, what we are gonna have to do is we're gonna have to wait uh because we've been spoiled these last two rounds of having multiple games on any given night to watch. Although we had one night a couple days ago where I was like, really? There's not a hockey game on this last week.

SPEAKER_03 54:14

That was that was that was weird.

SPEAKER_05 54:15

Yeah, that was it was strange. But uh that's because Vegas ended it in six instead of seven. Yes. That's why you don't like them. So we're headed into the stretch, final four. We'll see if uh uh Grant's predictions come true and uh if he's gonna be bloating uh because Montreal uh won it all. We'll see.

SPEAKER_03 54:36

Let's uh let's hit some uh let's do some quick hitters here with some some top 10 storylines and let's go right to the right to your favorite uh favorite series. Uh you've got the Golden Knights versus Colorado. I mean, this is a Jack Eichel versus Nathan McKinnon series. I mean, I know Marner Marr mostly plays the wing on that on that line 1A. I don't think they have a second line, I think it's one and one A. Eichel has, I think he's got one goal and a thousand assists. He's just been a playmaker.

SPEAKER_05 55:08

He does. And for me, with Eichel, it's you've got to shut that guy down. Uh McKinnon just has speed. He's difficult to shut down because he's so fast on his feet. With Eichel, where I see Eichel beating teams time and time again is they just they give him ice, he'll be on the boards. He's so good on the boards and he'll make room and hold on to the puck. And then the next thing you know, the puck's in the net because the other team gave him time. So to me, it's two different ways to play uh two different players, right? You've got to be on top of Eichel, uh, gotta get a body on him, uh, tie him up on McKinnon. You're just hoping that you can uh pace for him.

SPEAKER_03 55:51

Well, Eichel has Eichel has been here before. He has played and and beaten Counter McDavid, who is in my mind the comparable to Nathan McKinnon, even though if you watch their games, they're slightly different. Their level of play and their ability to just dominate a game in a 20-second window. Like they can change the game in a 20-second window. I'll gone head to head with McDavid and and shut him down. Um, I think he's gonna be tasked with that because he plays a 200-foot game. I'm always amazed, you know, you look at Eichel and you never realize the dude's 6'2, 215. Yeah, he's he's he's just a big, and obviously McKinnon is too. So we're gonna have these two like like large body old school um you know style centers going head to head who play slightly different games. Um I think that they cancel each other out. I'm gonna give the nod a little bit to McKinnon to probably come out ahead on the stat sheet, but it wouldn't surprise me if both were were frustrating each other. Um, and you know, when McKinnon gets frustrated, that that's a dangerous thing for teams. So yeah. You know, then we've got uh, you know, if we look at this next uh this next question, shout out to NHL.com for putting these uh great 10 storylines. Yeah, this is the rust versus the we kind of hit this.

SPEAKER_05 57:18

We kind of hit this. I mean, we talked about shedding the rust, and we talked about you know Mitch Marner. Uh we haven't talked about Colorado's depth scoring, which uh I think is interesting. They had 10 different players that score goals uh in the last round. Uh talk about distributing the puck and uh a balanced team when you have 10 guys that can score. That's pretty dangerous.

SPEAKER_03 57:44

I always forget they had Brent Burns. Yeah. I always, I mean, I forgot Ironman. He's the current Ironman. I mean, he was he was he was just a staple in in San Jose forever, and then goes to Carolina, successful there, but like I mean, him and Manson, and then you've got Taze and Makar. I don't know, you might be changing my. I mean, when you just when you just read the rosters out loud, you're like on paper, which is not where the game's played.

SPEAKER_05 58:16

It's gonna be tough to beat Colorado, and people are gonna overlook Manson. But I'll tell you what, um, you don't want to come through the neutral zone with your head down. No, uh, because he's gonna beat you, and uh it's it's gonna be body on body. Plays like his old man, he does play like his old man, and so he he brings that whole physicality element uh to complement all those skill defensemen that she just talked about.

SPEAKER_03 58:39

Yeah, yeah, and you know, they've got guys. I mean, obviously Nechushkin. Uh, we haven't even talked about again, another Carolina connection, you know, Marty Natches. Marty Natch, I mean, this is another guy that again, if you you shine this spotlight on on Codre and you should and McKinnon and Makar, and then you know, if Nechushkin's, you know, not firing all cylinders. Oh, yeah, by the way, we've got Martin His. You can just like as a snipe. Yeah, if Landiscog's not going, then you've got these up. I mean that was the other center I was trying to remember. Yeah, the captain of the team, Gabriel Landescog. Yeah, I got my own hockey podcast, folks. It's it's tough down the middle, and uh uh we talked we touched on Dove's a little bit, uh, but you know Well, we we didn't mention the Ken Dryden or Patrick Waugh like relate, you know, comparables.

SPEAKER_05 59:39

No, and just the fact that we're talking we're we're we're talking rookies, uh, which is unusual, you know, to see uh a rookie playing, especially in a very important position like that, one of the probably the loneliest position in hockey. And uh you got a rook back there who's who's holding down court, so pretty impressive. So Ken Dryden and Patrick Waugh uh two Hall of Famers uh comparables to uh Jacob Dobbs.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:11

Yeah. And I think we talked about Stone's availability. Um, you know, McCarr, I think he's dealing with a hip and a shoulder. Um I mean, having been around players who've had hip injuries and having a shoulder injury myself and both my boys, um, those aren't those are those are you can't hide them. I mean, you you you gotta play through them, and everybody can tell right away that guy's shoulders hurting, that guy's hips hurting.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:37

Well, I know we're gonna do drill draw here in a minute, but uh just one last stat that I'll leave you with. Carolina is 95% on the penalty kill. We've allowed two goals on 40 short-handed uh situations.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:56

That is locked down right there.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:59

Now, to be to be fair, they've only had they've had the least amount of opportunities for penalties as well, playing only eight games. Um, but again, I think you're you're on to something there because and this is why Montreal is going to struggle to win against this team. Another great reason. Grant might want to come back on here this and get some knowledge, some coaching knowledge. Um the top line for Montreal. How many five-on-five goals do they have? Slavkowski, Suzuki. Uh look at this. He did his they yeah, and this is a I mean, Cole Caulfield, 51 goals scored during the regular season, actually had had more five on five goals last year in the first round of the playoffs than it's had this this year because you can't have less than zero.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:48

I love that you know your stat about your team that you're all in on.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:51

That's I'm all in. You gotta get a Habs hat, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:55

Yeah, if they win, I will.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:58

Ooh, bandy, that's a bandwagon, dude. Like, come on. I can't give a Habs hat. All in on them. All right, we're we're not dealing with this anymore. We're not dealing with this anymore. I will say this though. Um, you know, I think he should figure out how to sing the Canadian national anthem in French.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:19

No, I can't do that. Yes, you can.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:26

We got faith in you, Grant.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:27

You can said you can do it. I'm talented, but not that talented.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:34

Well, I think we're gonna jump into a drill draw here. I think Coach has got a great drill or game for us to share with our listeners at home and be able to download on the website. So um let's we'll pause for a second here. We'll be right back with Too Many Men on the Mike Drill Draw. We've got too many, uh Too Many Men on the Mic's drill draw, powered by Drift Hockey. Drift hockey built from the bench, the all-in-one hockey tool. If you're watching us on YouTube, go ahead and scan that QR code in the top right-hand corner to get a free 30-day trial of Drift Hockey. And let's jump right in here as we do a drill draw. Coach, you got something for us here this week.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:16

Absolutely. And I just want to give a shout out to uh the 94 NHL uh organ sound there that was the leading to our uh drill draw today. That's fantastic. I uh I'm thinking about Jeremy Roenick and my line on the Chicago Blackhawks for NHL 94 as we're getting this drill draw already. Roenick, Larmer, Larmor, dirt graham, absolutely dirty dirt gram. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:39

This is this is a this is uh this is a St. Louis guy. I don't know if this are we allowed to do this?

SPEAKER_05 1:03:44

I can do it because it's because it's saying, all right. All right, so we're gonna create a drill, and uh this one's gonna be uh a little bit different because uh it's gonna be a compete drill. So this is something that you as coaches can work on with your team. You can run it out of both ends. We're gonna draw it on one end, but keep in mind that you could separate your team, separate the players if you want to, uh, especially if you have kids maybe that are uh playing across birth years, maybe high school, and some different skill levels if you wanted to break them up. Uh, but let's go ahead and start with the pucks. Uh start with the pucks first. Let's put the pucks right in between the blue line and the center line on either side. It really doesn't, there you go. That's perfect. A nice smattering of pucks out there. And let's put a coach uh right behind those pucks or next to those pucks because the coach is gonna be the one actually distributing the puck in this drill. And then let's get a smattering of players for each team uh down in the corners. So this drill uh is a uh is a competition drill, and so we're gonna have one player in one corner going against another player in the other corner, uh, but one very key specific item uh has to happen before we actually can can pull this drill off, and that is both players. And uh I don't know if Drift has this feature. Maybe we'll have to add it. Can we can we make the first player in each line be lying on their belly? Well, let's uh let's see. Let's see if Drift has the capability to do it. If not, then uh we'll have to reach out to Brian. We'll have to reach out to Brian and have him incorporate it.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:37

I like that, but we can actually put it in the description.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:39

So yeah, so so the idea is you're on your belly, you have no advantage uh because everybody has to get uh everybody who participates in this drill is starting from the same place, flat on the ice, on your stomach. And what's the first move you have to do? I've heard you say this in practice before. You got to get up quick. And you gotta compete. You gotta move. Let's go ahead and add one last element to this drill. Uh uh, let's put a tire out at the two uh circles. Yep, one there and one on the other side. And so the idea here is the coach is gonna blow the whistle. Each player uh is going to move from being flat on their stomach to spring up on their feet, and they're gonna take off as fast as they possibly can towards that tire, and they're gonna go around that tire. Both players are trying to get around the tire first because the coach is as they're coming around the tire, gonna throw one of these pucks right down the middle, and so it's a race to the puck, it is uh a race for body position, and then ultimately who has possession of the puck, and then it's a one-on-one all the way in. Uh, coaches, one of the things uh I really recommend is you talk to your players and you say, Yeah, put a net in here, right? Even oh, yes, we need a net and a goalie, that would be helpful too. Always helps to have those two things. Uh, but remind your players that it's not just about you know getting there quick, competing, it's also if you don't get to the puck first, that you're competing the rest of the way in. And what I mean is uh think of yourself as a back checker. If you aren't first on puck there, then you are skating, you're continuing to move your feet, you're uh popping sticks, you're lifting them, you're doing everything you can to play the puck all the way until it gets to the goalie. And uh what I have found in this drill is that the kids love it. Uh, it's one of those drills where at the end they get up and they go, Coach, can we do just one more? One more, can we do just one more so that they can go again? And uh uh and anytime you can make something uh about competition and uh add a relay and add some back checking. There's so many good things that are in this, but coaches, you can run this on both sides, it's a fun drill, uh, great compete drill. And boy, I I just found the kids really. So, coaching, uh any thoughts from you? You've seen this drill in action.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:23

Love this drill. Um ran a similar having the starting the kids off in a position that they're just not used to. It gets not just their body going and their body warmed up and using and getting their different muscles moving, but it gets their mind. They have to like now think, okay, I get up now. What's my first step gonna be like? Um, you could also, and I think we may have done this, is you could place a player at the opposite dots here to be back checkers to come in and create a two on two. Um, but what I love about this is the it's just pure compete, 1v1 to start off, and who's gonna be first on puck? Um oftentimes the first person on puck, though, is not the person who ends up scoring because that person who now has to come and create a battle and try to gain possession, um, you have that battle in between the dots. It's taking you right into the house. You know, if we if we look at this from you know uh a uh it's taking you right into the house here between these dots. And that's where if you want to go score goals, um, whether you're going to the net or whether you're driving to the net, you know, this is the area. And so you're starting this game um in a position that is different from what the kids are used to, but you're driving them to an area of the ice that that's where we want, you know, that's where we want you to go. We want you to get to that part of the ice and battle, um, not coast. And if you aren't first on puck, you know, you better get that, do everything you can to win that puck back.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:04

And I'm sure you've seen this uh in in action, at least you'll get kids going against kids, and uh maybe uh one kid beat the other kid last time around, and you get uh a kid that's up there and it's like he's like no absolutely this time. I'm gonna get him. I'm gonna get around that cone first, and uh and I'm gonna get to the puck first. So lots of battles within the battles, uh, and just a lot of fun for I think the players.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:32

Well, I'm calling it Akres Assault. I think it's a cool, that's a cool name and double A. Double A, Aker's Assault. Um, this this drill and game will be up on our website after the show today. Uh, head over to Too Many Men on the Mic. That's two, the number two, two manymanonthemic.com. Scroll on down to the coaches corner. You'll find this drill and game, small area game, along with many others brought to you by great coaches around this country um and the world, actually. Um, but make sure you know you're gonna hear this on Thursday night. There's some great games tonight. Game one of Carolina and Montreal. By the time you listen to this, we'll already have had game one in the books between uh Colorado and and Vegas. And uh fun, fun talking hockey with you tonight. Even even you, even you, Grant, love talking hockey with you.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:21

Grant, uh how many I mean how many strokes are you gonna give uh Coach Jared if you uh you guys go play golf?

SPEAKER_01 1:11:28

What the I think he's gonna have to give me some.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:33

I don't know. We'll see. We'll see. It's I I I was on a tear, you know, golfing in February and March, and then you know, this the work and this podcast and coaching and my kid graduating and my kid getting surgery, my other kid getting surgery. I kind of haven't had a chance to get out, and I haven't golfed in six weeks.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:54

So that's a right now then.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:57

I was gonna say that sounds like sandbagging.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:00

Yeah, yeah. Although the last time I was out, last time I was out, I broke 85. Okay, I'd need some strokes if you play that well. Well, that's not normal. You're supposed to say, Well, what would you do on the back nine?

SPEAKER_05 1:12:19

Well, Grant, uh, I'm just gonna uh put a prediction out there. I can't wait to see it at the front row of our show on the 18th. And uh and uh you'll be singing along and uh maybe learn a couple of new tunes at one of our shows while you're at it.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:34

I like it. All right, everybody, thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:37

Yeah, let's uh let's tie bow on this baby, and uh thanks for listening. If you're uh if you've been listening to the podcast and the show, continue uh listening to too many men on the mic. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and uh thanks. We'll see you next week.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:54

Jutsu scores, links are all on the bio. Thanks for watching.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:06

All right, let's see.