#NHLVideos: Andrew Brunette joins; Deadline fallout



Andrew Brunette joins; Deadline fallout

Wow feels like forever since we’ve hung out  I’ll explain in a bit but you can probably   hear a little bit of the reasoning uh there is  a lot to get to today I’m going to give you the  

Best team coming out of the trade deadline and who  we all owe an apology to and now that the dust is   settled the winners of the day are coming your  way plus a really fun interview with Nashville   head coach Andrew Bernett however it’s in how  we position the conversation that makes it even  

More impactful we’re back it’s the chirp podcast  with Darren Mard boys a mic today so everyone know   don’t say anything stupid that’s a disgrace that’s  a disgrace what a joke head up oh how’ that feel  

Old man what are you going to do you you guys are  sensitive over there hello again it’s been a while   a couple of weeks or three or four uh I should  start by explaining our absence and why today  

Conversation has been delayed producer Bob and I  have had a couple of health issues we won’t speak   for Bob other than to say he is feeling better  and Super Bowl Sunday gifted me the flu which  

Evolved in a strep throat I know I’m more than  15 years old but it happened and it progressed   to a severe case of laryngitis that was a month  ago no TV no radio no podcasting no fun but as  

You can tell we’re on the back end of that not  totally good yet but we’re making some pretty   good progress back on TV and I’ve got clearance  to do the podcast uh through it all that entire  

Month Bob and I sat on a conversation that we  had just recorded before getting sick with the   entertaining coach of the Nashville Predators  each week on the sidelines I would tell Bob   this Andrew brunett interview it stands up that  went on for days and weeks and then a month and  

To my happiness the Predators hot streak has  outlasted our respective ailments we earned   this episode and Nashville deserves the story  of what happened before the heater to be told   see the Predators leading score is 19th in the NHL  the club only boasts two players with 20 goals at  

The time of this recording the team is anchored  by a 33-year-old star blue liner and a goalie   who has been rumored at length to be a candidate  to save another team at the trade deadline under  

The guidance of a firste general manager in Barry  trotz and a new coach in brunette one that scored   the franchise’s first goal a lifetime agoal I  don’t know whether people know that about Andrew   Brett this roster underwent significant change  in the summer alterations that did not exactly  

Lead to topend competitiveness in the front half  of the campaign that changed a month ago when a   dismal performance led to Management’s very public  cancellation of a You2 concert at the spectacular   new s in Las Vegas players said the right thing  coaches and management stood by the move but  

It got a lot of attention and at the time with  Nashville teetering on playoff inclusion there   was a a lot of speculation that this was going to  take them out of the mix it was going to derail   the season but something else happened everyone  raised their performance what I offer today is  

The before I spoke with head coach Andrew brunett  in the days leading up to the controversy and that   led to the subsequent turnaround of the Season  that has vaulted Nashville to the edge of being  

A top five team in the league Nashville knocking  on the door of being one of the best five teams   in the National Hockey League on the season right  now they have gone from borderline being out of   the mix to being a massive legitimate Contender  what you’re going to hear in our conversation is  

A person who is really comfortable in his role he  was was aware at the time the team needed to play   better find a way to improve their approach and  their production but Andrew berett is also very  

Confident Nashville was holding on to the second  wild card spot when we spoke they dropped out and   today they are up only two positions from being  out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs they are Wildcard   one but the narrative the feeling around this  team is totally different they are one of the  

Teams that people are talking about being able  to make a long run having moved well beyond the   speculation that Barry trotz would sell off pieces  that included number one goenda no goals no goals   what I love about this interview is being able to  connect the incredible streak of success that is  

Current happening with the words spoken before  the run this isn’t reactionary this is teeing   up what was going to happen even though we didn’t  know what was going to happen at the time enjoy a   little Peak behind the start of one of the most  impressive Journeys in the NHL this season here  

Is Andrew merett at the time on the verge of  going big well I was days from losing my voice you’re right in the heat of it do you look at  the standings every day or is it just osmosis  

It’s already in there yeah I mean I think a little  bit of Osmosis is in there I think I’m not a big I   never was as a player you know standing watching  um seems like every maybe I think it’s bad luck  

Every time I watch the standings too often that  it just never seems the work so I’m kind of more   of the day-to-day um and if you you win more  and you lose you put yourself in a pretty good  

Position so but it you’re right it probably it is  there for sure you kind of know without knowing if   that makes sense it’s hard too right now because  it’s so frantic in the Western Conference that   if you’re trying to keep up with every game and  every possibility uh possible outcome it’ll take  

Up 20 hours exactly exactly and and as as it  goes on here you know for us you know I’m kind   of looking right now just like a five seven eight  game segment for us because I think that you know  

We we got three big home games coming up then we  go into St Louis who know we’re chasing and then   we got you know four Road games in into you know  Vegas LA and a back toback so I’m kind of looking  

At that little bit of segment at least in in my  head um but it really it’s it all changes after   your next game and and we’ve been sitting here for  10 days not playing so everything all of a sudden  

You you play Saturday and then the message and  the ideas are going to change hopefully for the   good how do you balance the urgency to keeping  the pressure off the guys well I mean I wish I  

Knew I wish I had the answer um I think it again  I think it’s keeping him the day-to-day moment and   and you know I think in our game you know being  upstairs managers look two three years ahead  

Coaches look several weeks ahead and I think as  a player you’re just it’s dayto day in my opinion   so I’m trying to stay with what they feel they  don’t look too far ahead you know I talking to  

Some of our guys today you know even being from  being a player you you see things completely   different they may not I was just saying I think  it probably goes in one year out the other when  

I’m saying this is an important game these are big  games um because I know as a player you know I’m   like yeah yeah whatever coach they’re all big  there’s there’s 82 of them you know and I kind  

Of said you know if you’re dumb enough to sit in  my shoes when you’re done you’ll understand and   you’ll get this you’ll get the message a little  better that these are Big freaking games you know  

And this home ice is really important and um all  those things but I think you know looking back at   M career I’d be like yeah yeah yeah yeah working  on it you know so have you ever caught yourself  

While you’ve been saying something a as a coach  going those guys are going yeah yeah yeah yeah   yeah yeah all the time all the time especially  you say it and then you’re walking back to the   coach’s office and you’re like yeah that was one  of those moments I probably would have made fun  

Of I would have made fun of the coach were you  that guy uh I think we all are a little bit you   know um I like to have fun uh probably pretty  perceptive and um felt as a player had a pretty  

Good vibe it was going on so yeah I’m I’m sure I  would have said for sure yeah yeah yeah but I you   know I understood I mean I watched when I played I  watched hockey all the time I was probably more up  

To date in in the standings and and the you know  what every team has and the point totals and and   the goals and the power plays and sometimes him  as a coach because I think you know I felt as a  

Player he had more time you know I was way better  at Fantasy Football um I was way better at Fantasy   Baseball uh I just I had more time to waste doing  those things and I think as a coach I’m kind of  

Just worried about my 23 guys and and you know  obviously I watch hockey but I’m watching hockey   and I’m thinking more about our team than than  the than the game I’m watching um so it it never  

Shuts off but I had a better idea probably the  whole league when I when I was playing not not   coaching interesting H if you’ve got time to  play Fantasy Baseball you have all the time in  

The world if you’ve got the ability to keep up  to date with that thing football is a different   story you can dabble in it yeah yeah and baseball  I you know to that when I was played baseball was  

Like a little bit of a you know especially the  spring was a little bit of a release um kept my   mind same with fantasy football just it kept my  mind off a hockey um um you know especially kind  

Of crunch time and playoff time for me to sit and  watch a baseball game during the playoffs at a   night before a game or something was peaceful  and relaxing and and enjoyable and and my mind  

Worked the counts and worked you know the shifts  and the you know why are they doing that why are   they doing that um so I think that for me was a  great Outlet you know outl like got me thinking  

It got me away from the game because I think  sometimes the game consumes me too much as a   player um and baseball was a great getaway for me  so I stayed I love it um I I you know follow it  

Still fairly intently but not like I used to like  I was you know kind of a little bit nerdy about   it who would your your who’s your what position  did you focus on with the first pick uh well in  

In baseball yeah yeah usually I think you kind of  well again you’re kind of a nerd and you try to   find the position that maybe you know there’s not  a lot of good hitters so obviously if you had the  

First pick and and it was a year that you know  you you picked the best the best hitter you know   but maybe it might Zone in on a short stop when  Short Stops weren’t hitting or a third base if  

There wasn’t a lot of them and um figuring you can  hit you can get the DHS in the first bases later   um that kind of thing but usually every draft  is a little bit of strategy of what you know  

Where you saw the little bit of the outlier and a  little bit of hole where you could take advantage   of the system is that why you’re a coach because  you had that DNA in you um yeah I I think maybe  

That one would be more you know kind of always  thought of myself more as a you know a builder   um I think even when I retired and kind of went  upstairs I thought I’d follow the path of you  

Know maybe being a manager or you know at some  level I don’t know if it was the NHL but kind of   worked through the ranks there was assist you know  player Personnel did some assists in GM and kind  

Of was you know I thought that’s kind of where I’d  go because I really enjoyed that stuff I enjoyed   the you know I really got into the drafts even  as a kid and you know all those kind of things  

Uh and again in the baseball and the football so I  really thought had a good pulse on on building so   kind of thought that’s what I would do I think the  coaching part I’m not sure I’m not sure where that  

Came from but it uh by accident like how how did  it come um I think it you know I think it came you   know I was upstairs and you know I kind of tell  you know different stories but you know you’re  

In rusi or something and or you’re overseas and  you’re you know a million miles from from the ice   of the team you’re trying to build you’re scouting  you’re trying to put things together and you kind  

Of miss a little bit of the grind the the you  know as a player I think it’s you know I played   as long as I had and you when you’re retiring it’s  really really hard and it you’re not sure what you  

Want to do I knew I wanted to do something in  hockey but you’re not sure and you’re not sure   what what made where do you find that feeling you  know and I think you thought you’d be in the game  

And you’re kind of like I said driving rusi to to  Quebec to fly out of Quebec City to you know uh   to fly out to go somewhere else and you’re like  missed the camaraderie and and and you find you  

Know you find yourself it was kind of like a a  light went on and I said you know I kind of I   I’m maybe that’s what I’ve been searching for  you know I think we search when we’re retired  

We’re searching for that feeling um and not that  I really enjoyed what I was doing I loved um The   Scouting i l the like I said the building I loved  the development um I just felt I was detached and  

Kind of wanted to be part of something I wanted to  I miss the guys I missed the lock room I miss the   The Sounds the smells I missed I guess having  a hand in helping right now not two or three  

Years down like your reward you know when you’re  managing is usually down the line at Le it maybe   right and um it’s it’s right there it it’s um you  feel it’s instant kind of gratification and it’s  

Instant disappointment but it’s it’s kind of what  you know right so I think that’s was you know and   I was 40 I think five or six six at the time um  and I said you know I think I gota got to give it  

One more chance and see if that’s coaching is what  I’d like um because I I know I’m missing something   what is it and and he was able to I guess get  out of retirement mature a little bit or see a  

Little more clearly out of the fog and and so I  got an opportunity with Joel and uh the rest is   history I loved it as soon as I went back on the  ice soon as I was able to work with players and  

And like I said the Instinct gratification and  disappointment was something that obviously I   love so it’s kind of how it uh making a short  story long here but that’s kind of how it you   know materialized well you assumed the role in  uh Florida and then you associate in Jersey and  

Now you’ve got your team in Nashville uh describe  the intensity of the part of the season right now   where you’re fighting for that wild card spot  yeah I mean this is what we play for you know  

Kind of the this is the time of year that we as  as players as this is It’s goal time we’re we’re   in we’re in one and this is why we play so it’s  intense but I think that’s what makes it so much  

More fun the intensity to me is the is you don’t  want to say the drug but is the thing that gets   you go brings you the adrenaline of of why we  do this is it fun or is it overwhelming I think  

It’s fun yeah you know I think it can become  overwhelming absolutely ask me in a week we’re   just coming off break have you overachieved though  this year uh with the organization not not many   franchises will make a change to General Manager  I know that there special circumstances there with  

With David walking away uh you move in h not  too many teams will make major changes at both   positions and still be in the mix of it yeah I I  don’t think we’ve overachieved I think we’ve um  

Kind of achieved I mean I think the team you know  last year was plus 10 I think 10 games over 500   knocked on the door so you can almost say we’re  probably underachieving a little bit uh maybe not  

The same Pace as as they were last year well maybe  at this year they were but they had that great run   so I think we’re you know we’re if you would ask  me the start of the year I’d be extremely happy  

To be where we’re at so I don’t know if that’s  maybe it is a little bit overachieving or just   achieving didn’t really answer your where do  you got to get better then to close it out well  

I think we for me we we’re gonna have to get some  secondary scoring um you know we’ve we’ve relied   heavily on our Top Line um and probably burden  them a little bit and and you know some of our  

Young kids some of that secondary group is just  not that they’re not creating we’re just having   trouble finishing you know a lot of nights and  probably a little inconsistent on special teams   you know I think on on both sides the power plate  kind of got cold so that’s going to have to you  

Know I think that’s partly by really relying  on one group of guys that are producing so   it’s dried out a little bit and the PK’s been kind  of start off poorly and it’s kind of been up and  

Down you know through the stretch so for us that  scoring isn’t doesn’t come that easy you know we   we can’t we have to be really tight in those two  areas how much are you and Barry talking about   potential deadline Acquisitions um I think we’re  we’re constantly communicating you know I think  

The relationship we have I think we’re we see  things very similarly um we’re always talking   um we’re kind of again that that segment weal  talked a little earlier these next eight games   are kind of going to let us know where we’re at  a little bit and let Barry know where we’re at  

And fortunately we’re going to have some tough  decisions to make um so but we’re you know we’re   again we’re on the same page and sometimes  I’m like I don’t really want to hear that you

Know are you able to laugh that off with him like  or you or as a when he’s your boss you like gota   keep your m no I think he I mean Barry has got  a good sense of humor I think we’ve had history  

Together um and I think yeah I can laugh he’ll  laugh it off too you know he’ll say hey sorry but   you know but you know and and I’m understanding  I think that a little bit of Lucky part for me  

Is I I was upstairs you know and I did some  a lot of the things that went on upstairs   and I understand how that works um I think it’s  really I think for me it’s a great asset that I  

Did spend time because I think organizationally  you have a better clearer understanding of of of   why they’re doing some things and and why you know  the youth or the waivers the all those different   little things that as a coach I don’t think if  you were not upstairs you wouldn’t understand  

Um so I understand the business up there and  I understand how it works um so I think that’s   helped me understand or comprehend what they’re  but Barry sing and and and why without you know   I’ve been around a lot of other coaches that  you know gets really upsetting it gets a little  

Triggering um where I where I get because  unfortunately I was had to do some of those   things how’s Barry the same or different as your  coach as he is your general manager I think Barry  

I mean I had Barry when when I was n or 20 and  he was a young coach you know s back 31 years   ago I guess um he was a little bit more volatile  as a coach um as he is a manager I think you know  

Years of doing what he’s done and the success  he’s had I don’t say mellow him CU he does I   can see that little twinkle in his eye and I know  that’s you know probably get out of the way you

Know not a good day to catch up with him okay  we’ll do this later yeah his ey gives a little   bit of a twinkle and I’m like I gotta get out  of here I’m not gonna talk with that one but it  

Doesn’t happen quite as frequently as it as it  used to happen when when we were younger um but   the great thing about him is he he’s been in the  Tren obviously he’s been in the trench as whole C  

So he understands a little bit of the Cadence of  the coach ing um you know after games or certain   times there’s not those blowouts he gets his  point across but it’s without the emotion in  

It I think after games a lot of times there’s High  emotion on both sides um so he understands that so   I think for a coach that’s you know is is really  a br blessing and I’m grateful that that’s he’s  

He’s had that experience because he understands  that part of it um but again like I said I stay   away usually when when there’s a twinkle what’s  your coaching style how would you describe it oh   boy um good question never really thought about  it um I think my coaching style is pretty simple  

You know really simple I just well a couple things  I want to have the puck um and when I don’t have   it I want to get back as soon as possible I want  to have fun and there’s all kinds of goals into  

That you know there’s all kinds of things that go  into that um you know I think you you follow sort   of your core values where you’re authentic  um in that you know certain things like I I  

Believe and I you know I believe in compassion  you know I believe in um communication I think   today’s player especially today’s player um it’s  it’s a and that took that I mean that I’m still  

Not great at but that was such a hard skill to  learn um and when I first coached in Minnesota   you know understanding today’s player you know I  really in the communication part I had a hard time  

Listening you know it was it was hard to listen  and and kind of validate um because I think you   know maybe I was in the old school of the you know  the coach that just laid it down and why do that  

And it’s just it’s just different now now it’s a  little bit more of a a partnership um instead of   a dictatorship I guess you can say so I think  I’ve had to learn that and I think I’ve gotten  

Better at that but that was that was a tough one  you know because I I would say well why you know   either they’re they have their own opinions what  do you mean you have an opinion oh I want you to  

Do this you know so I think we I learned um so I  think that communication and that’s for me that’s   the listening part for me was was the hard one  still is I mean I still catch myself not listening  

I’m like you got to listen um so I think you know  those are you know and I think compet competition   obviously is one of the big values like I love to  compete and I try to instill that with our group  

And in in different areas and always a little bit  of a competition always um you know we’re you know   having fun which is another one the joy of the of  and joy I guess in in my values is not everybody  

Gets confused that that happy happy is just the  byproduct of doing something you love and and   enjoying the process enjoying you know it’s going  to be a grind and it’s easy to say but I think if  

You can you can have that kind of mentality going  in that it is that is what that’s where the fun   is the Fun’s not just like the result the Fun’s  the process and I try to have those a little bit  

Of value so I don’t know if I answer your question  what my style was I try to stay true to myself but   I think I try to Encompass those true those those  I think in my core values or ideas and bring it  

Into a connection you know I think being connected  um on the ice off the ice with your group and and   it follows all those values that kind of I listed  so that’s kind of my my Approach and my style um  

But so are you a players would you put yourself  as a players coach because there’s there’s part   of what you said would say that you’re you’re  more hardliner too yeah I wouldn’t say I’m   a hardliner I think I’m Fair um I think I’m  there’s expectations um but I I want to do it  

Collaboratively like we’re together in this um I’m  going to push you you’re not always going to like   what I have to say I’m not always going to like to  have your say but it’s going to be open it’s going  

To be honest and we’re going to have fun doing  this and I’ll try to make as fun as possible or   as enjoyable as possible and you know I always  say’s no better you know game in the world to to  

Be able to be a part of and play and I just try  to keep that with that being authentic about how   I treat people so I I don’t I would say more of  a players coach but I think there’s it falls in  

Different areas and such a cliche word player  coach I think but I don’t think people realize   the fun factor and how it can influence a team  and and people just assume you’re a professional   athlete you’re having the time of your life but  it it takes a certain group to to really bring out  

Some enjoyment some teams don’t have fun at all  no I know and I’ve been on those teams um and I’ve   and somebody said well it’s only the good teams  that they have fun I said no I I some of the teams  

That weren’t very good are awful teams that I had  a lot of fun and the group had a lot we weren’t   very good but we had fun and we each other and we  were connected and I still see those guys later in  

My life and career and I can’t wait to see them I  mean that’s sort of what I feel like obviously the   winning is great but it’s it’s kind of the journey  and the people you meet and the connections you  

Have in the game to me is what I hold dearest does  juice Yaro say more than no goals that we see in   the commercial all the time not really I think he  get him going I kind of get him going on soccer a  

Little bit so he soccer yeah so we who’s your  team well it varies whoever’s kind of winning um no I think think I I enjoy yeah I mean probably  like about Tottenham um you know I think probably  

Just like for a longer time um you know I I like  pep so you Barcelona into Byron into Man City I   always follow his teams um Liverpool you know  with h the Clopper there I kind of get a kick  

Out of him and read up he’s the best yeah I I love  so I I just I they’re probably no team just more   the game you know I I think I think the game is  really interesting and kind of uh it’s something  

Even tactically that you know I’ve read up a lot  on and uh you know follow you just it’s kind of   funny I was watching I think it was Brighton and  um I know it was n inham or Crystal pal it was a  

Game like maybe two weeks on a Saturday and you  know I’m kind of losing my hearing a little bit   so like the game was on and my wife hates when I  watch sports and that’s all I really watch and she  

Yells at me to turn it down so I turn it down you  know I just start why you know kind of watching   the game and to see the you know and these aren’t  even topend teams to see the the tactics and and  

The triangle and it was almost like a was it Ted  lasso when he’s wide I don’t know if you watch   Ted lass the Bulls the triangles it’s almost like  it was a weird moment and it’s kind of similar to  

When you watch hockey sometimes when you know you  see all these just different movements and space   creating and and just really for that five minutes  I was just talized by screen I was just couldn’t  

Keep my eyes off and I said it was a Ted lassle  moment I guess but it’s just amazing how the   the parallels together right like the the SP all  sports but you know sometimes look at that with  

Basketball too watching basketball and and seeing  how they clear out space and how they do these you   know the motion the movement and I’m like oh I  get a pen out and I write that’s not a bad idea  

For the power play or um but it was amazing I just  had it off a lot of times you get you know even in   so well I find myself in soccer because you know  when I have it on I’m kind of listening more to  

The announcers I’m watching the ball but when the  the volume was off and I was just watching the   kind of dazing out watching the the movements the  whole field right the whole field exactly I think  

I get when when the announcers is on I’m kind of  following the ball you know um and then when it   was off for that you know amount of time I was  following all the movements and which I try to  

Anyways but it just kind of was kind of amazing  to see actually so I think that’s you know but   with juice it’s fun to you know getting back to  juice it’s fun get them and I think that was you  

Know as a player to connect with the Europeans  and different you know groups soccer was a real   Bond and so I tried to because I want to learn  about them I I was able as a player to really  

Follow you know the soccer you know Paul stazz we  used to watch all the time together and um that   kind of got me into it a little bit and you know  total football and I think Total Football kind of  

Responds a little bit to to to hockey you know how  Yan kro made everybody player reposition I think   that’s I think as we going here I think you’re  seeing that with defenseman right defenseman   skate just as good as any forward in the league  right now and my generation we I couldn’t skate  

Backwards you know but you’re seeing all these  and and the dman couldn’t handle the pucker   skate forwards but now they’re just you know you  get the the used brothers and the game’s kind   of evolving that way I feel um which I find is  very interesting and it’s kind of why I you know  

Started reading a lot about it um but yeah anyways  have you adopted some of that thinking into your   approach Beyond just the scribbling maybe power  play moving over yeah yeah I think you there’s a  

Little bit of it yeah yeah yeah a little bit and  and you can say you know do you tell Barry that   you got that from from football or did you just  say I got this idea uh well I’m would probably  

Divulge where I got it from I’m freaking nut do  matter dou gu he’s like what huh yeah yeah I I   mean I think there’s certain things tactically for  sure um you know I think when you see you know KS  

Teams play and the Gang and pressing and and how  they it almost reminds me a little bit of Carolina   you know a little bit how they play that they’re  they’re up in your face and they’re you know you  

Can almost say a little bit of Total Football  there too you know in a way but Minds me you   know Carolina reminds me a lot of the you know the  gang impressing where they’re in your- face like  

The defenseman’s all the way down to the sometimes  into the you know goal line where they’re pressing   and they’re just keeping you in so I think you  see some tactics there you need the Personnel to  

Do it um and that’s where I think like where the  the evolution of our game and how good defenseman   skate and how long they are and how they can  handle Puck they can play different positions  

You know um I remember talking with Rick Wilson  this is going back uh 10 12 years ago I don’t know   if you know Rick Rick was a long time yeah coach  with I coached with him in Minnesota and we would  

Just sit there and he he had that where’s the game  going and this is third you know 13 years ago and   we had spur and broin and Dumba and scandella and  we had all these mobile Ryan Suter mobile D you  

Know and we’d kind of sit around and have a coffee  or a beer and and and talk about like you know I   think it it’s going to you know the defenseman  position might kind of be a hybrid position you  

Know you might see a you know 131 or a 23 or you  know and we’re kind of seeing a little bit of that   um but it was funny we went back that long ago  and obviously Rick lo I mean he he’s a real sharp  

Hockey mine but just that conversation and and to  see it kind of evolve like we were just kind ofing   and wasting time or something and you right on the  money and we were he was right I mean he you we’re  

Not there quite yet I don’t think but we’re you  know we’re getting there which is is really really   interesting how has Nashville change from when you  were there as a player scoring the first goal to  

Now coming back as a coach well it’s I mean you’ve  been here it’s blown up you know it it it uh it’s   never ending growth everywhere I mean you see  cranes all over the place so it times I missed a  

Little bit of the small town feel like when I was  here 25 years ago and there was a little strip and   um there’s no not as much traffic and but I think  for the city it’s great it’s very you know there’s  

Everything here it’s popping um and I think what  for me the how the game’s grown here you know when   we first got here where they were you know they  all had headsets and they’re explaining offside  

And what p and there’s no youth hockey there was  none of that now you see it you know you see these   youth hockey teams are in you know the Carnival  Quebec tournament when my nephews playing even 10  

Years ago they’re in Toronto they’re so it’s grown  and I think every credit to to David credit to the   the Predators and credit to all the players that  were the Jersey I think we really promoted the  

Game um so it’s a lot different you know there’s  they understand the game a lot better there’s   there’s a lot more I guess Hockey talk in the city  it it it’s kind of neat how it’s transformed in 25  

Years and it’s turned into a you know there’s I  don’t know how many rinks now there was no rinks   I think when when I was here that it’s uh you  know pretty good cool to see it evolve as it has  

How many more visitors do you have popping in to  see you guys or say hey I’m coming into town then   maybe some other stops yeah yeah yeah they didn’t  want to come to Minneapolis or Minnesota that  

Often I don’t in the winter I’m not sure why yeah  yeah no it’s yeah everybody wants to come here   yeah it’s so much fun um so do you have a point  total that you have to achieve you don’t have to  

Tell me uh you probably wouldn’t anyway uh but  do you have that number where you we got to get   to that yeah yeah yeah and do you have to be uh  really ahead of pace or is it a good comfortable  

Pace I think it’s got to be a comfortable Pace  a little bit little the pace we on about a month   ago I think we you’d feel pretty good about it  yeah you know so we got to get back back to that  

Pace and I think for our group like we you know  we’ve left so many points on the table you know   so we can’t leave anymore you know there’s games  you know just even overtime losses like we’ve had  

So many one goal kind of games or we’re up 32 late  and don’t get anything out of it or to nothing get   nothing out of it or down stor all the way back  tie it and give up a late goal you know um where  

We just a little bit maturity at different times  especially that first 205 16 games where we left   stuff we left stuff I thought the last month a  little bit um and then we had two really good  

Months in between so got to get back to you got to  find a way to get a point you know and and that’s   going to be crucial for our group I you you run  through those games and I know exactly which games  

You’re talking about it’s like wow and and those  those stick with you they’re painful um th this   is awesome I I always find it hard to actually get  talking about the specifics of the game with you  

Because we get chirping about uh everything else  uh so I really appreciate it Bruno heyy no problem   love being on you do great work thanks buddy we’ll  see you when in Vegas okay sounds good shouldn’t   admit this at least uh on something that is  official uh carrying the shield of of the National  

Hockey League but Andrew Brett is one of the top  five guests we’ve ever had on this podcast he’s   been a two-time guest but I just love how one he’s  fun he’s great but he’s also not afraid to embrace  

Things like these soccer influence and he doesn’t  keep that hidden he talks about it publicly and it   offers so many different Avenues to go around at  least as as an interviewer he is an absolute treat   you’re not pulling things out you’re exploring uh  conversations uh with Andrew brunett big soccer  

Fan so am I uh love my uh Bourn withouth cherries  of the English premiership who actually pulled off   one of the great comebacks in uh EPL history  the other day rallying from three goals down  

To win a game 43 a massive second half it was so  much uh fun to watch at least from a supporter of   the winning team it reminded me of what happened  between Florida and Dallas in the National Hockey  

League now comebacks of multi- gos a little more  common in hockey but still Dallas was up 3 nothing   on the Florida Panthers a potential Stanley Cup  Final preview and it was the Florida Panthers that  

Rallied back and won that game in what I refer  to going into it as the buddy bll because the   two head coaches are great friends going back to  uh junior hockey days in petore and Paul Maurice  

Neither guy has won a Stanley Cup behind the  bench this could be the year for one of them   and it was Paul Maurice who was on The Winning  Side of things in the most recent clash and I  

Think Florida’s for Real uh ironically this team  that was coached by Andrew Bernett a couple of   years ago is having similar success at has under  Bruno but has undergone a massive transformation   to be a more competitive team in the spring this  isn’t even the same team that made the stand the  

Cup Final last year this team is much much more  prepared for a Deep Run they’ve changed it the   Special Teams are good they’re bigger they’re  hard to play against way more structured uh goal   tending is outstanding uh and they have Elite  goal scores the ads were good this year they  

Boosted their roster and the Panthers are the best  team in the National Hockey League right now Vegas   pulled off the highest profile moves at the trade  deadline Tomas hurdle and Noah hannahan both went   to the Stanley Cup champions hurdle in the second  year of an 8-year deal with San Jose was traded  

And he hopes to return from a procedure on his  right knee before the start of these playoffs he   is rejuvenated one of his best lines was I was  the tallest guy in San Jose now I’m looking up  

To everybody in Vegas Noah Hanahan is partnered  with Alex petrangelo for an alpha pairing on the   golden kns right now Vegas is much healthier after  adding a player to the lineup five games in a row   including Jack eichel who is back Jonathan maraso  is closing in on the team goal scoring record  

And the golden kns just look look more like the  Stanley Cup champion that host hoisted the Stanley   Cup last spring than they have in a long time this  year since they boled from the gate and were so  

Effective uh at the start of the Season uh they  look very good can they catch Edmonton for a home   ICE position that will be the goal coming down  the stretch I believe based on the gap between   Nikita cucha this will be slightly controversial  but I do believe the gap between Nikita COV and  

The second highest point producer on the Tampa  Bay Lightning right now COV should win uh the   heart trophy for MVP I I’ve never bought into the  whole most valuable player to his team angle in  

Fact I would just shove it to the side I would  pile on I would kick it out the door it bugs me   uh that somebody would be more valuable to their  team instead of just being the best player in the  

League it bothers me that that’s even part of the  language it gets Tred out every year and I shoot   it down every year but this time around it’s  so obvious in Tampa and for this one year I’m  

Converted to that thinking Nikita COV has 40 more  points than the next highest scorer on the Tampa   Bay Lightning who’s Bren Point who’s a pretty good  hockey player 40 more points and he’s challenged  

Ing for the Art Ross trophy he gets my vote Dylan  Lin should also be in the mix at least when you   take into account what’s happened to Detroit since  the captain’s been out the Redwing stumble and  

Freef fall has opened up to the likes of Buffalo  and the Islanders to qualify for the Stanley Cup   playoffs in the Eastern Conference no uh nothing  against the Red Wings I would love to see them  

Back in but there’s a part of me that’s kind of  cheering for the New York Islanders simply for   the possibility and it’s not a guarantee but there  is a chance of a ranger Islanders first round and  

We should all gather together if you want to do it  individually you can if you can’t make our meeting   but we should all gather together next week at  8:00 uh on on Wednesday and offer an apology to  

The Buffalo Sabers they were left buried under  8 ft of snow no chance one of the disappointing   teams at the start of the we expected Ottawa  Buffalo Detroit to all challenge uh only Detroit   got into that mix well Buffalo’s there they’re  within Striking Distance maybe too little too late  

Will it be more heartbreak coming up a point shy  like they did last year uh but but they’re they’re   in this thing and it proves that you shouldn’t  just shove somebody uh to the top of the uh shelf  

In the back corner of the storage room now I’m  guilty of it I owe them an apology the Buffalo   Sabers are making noise right now in the Eastern  Conference also want to tell you before we go here  

Uh NHL Productions and NHL backstory has released  a brand new podcast and it’s titled Tales from the   deadline which takes listeners behind the scenes  and into the frenzy of one of the most significant   and anticipated days on the NHL calendar it has  grown to Epic Proportions where everybody follows  

The National Hockey League in the lead up to the  NHL trade deadline the weeks the days and the   hours going up to that trade deadline it is grown  from in and around 1980 that gets uh a lot of the   credit for inspiring the International Hockey  League trade deadline and now it’s become the  

Leader of all the major sports of uh of this day  and uh other sports are starting to fall follow   what the National Hockey League has done with its  trade deadline uh so NHL backstory Tales from the   deadline will offer uh listeners an opportunity  hear from those most intimately involved in trade  

Deadline operations like current general managers  Ken Holland with Edmonton staning Camp Champion   with Detroit uh Billy Garren runs the Minnesota  Wild Tampa Bay’s Julian Breeze who swung multiple   deals as part of the back-to-back championships  with the bolts and from a couple of decades ago  

Lunan uh Mike Smith uh was a general manager  with Winnipeg uh that’s where I got to know   Mike and Neil Smith won a Stanley Cup and pulled  off all kinds of deals to propel the New York   Rangers in 1994 to the Stanley Cup Championship  uh the audience is also going to hear firsthand  

Accounts from former players Brett Ashton who  was traded what 12 different teams uh played   for in the National Hockey League and flyers  executive Jay Snyder uh players like Mike singer   who appeared in more than a thousand games and uh  and a dozen different teams uh he’s going to stop  

By uh singer’s wife Carla and son Cole who now  plays for Columbus offer their perspective from   the family side and then you’ve got guys like  Mike camer and Matt J Shane being notified mid   game of their trads uh at the deadline how about  the infamous Eric Lindros tradeit involving the  

Quebec nordes we’ll dive into that a little bit  it’s so it’s NHL backstory and Studios podcast   uh that uh offers you a wonderful look at Tales  from the deadline it’s available wherever you get   your podcast uh I got a sneak preview of it one  of the benefits of working uh with the National  

Hockey League and it’s awesome the different  names that you’re going to hear Ray Bor is in   it uh Barkley goodro Blake Coleman part of that  Tampa Bay Lightning championship in 2020 so uh   massive names and then you’ve got uh some of the  names uh that are complimentary pieces that pushed  

Teams uh over the top uh enjoy it I can’t wait to  get your reaction and Bob and I would like to say   we’re open for your best wishes uh your well  wishes your get better soon get back to 100%  

Soon uh send us a note on Twitter Instagram  wherever you want to get it in contact with   us uh we’d appreciate it because it’s been  a long grind it’s been uh it’s been a battl  

Man and uh Bob and I we’re back and we’re hoping  to be 100% very soon uh thanks to Andrew Bernett   thanks to you for sticking with us and reaching  out and uh checking in on us and we can’t wait  

To get back to a a great uh weekly visit with  you as we move our way towards the Stanley Cup   Playoffs uh thanks for listening we’ll talk to  you next week on the chir podcast with Darren Mard

Daren is back and is joined by Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette (6:02). Brunette talks about the Predators season thus far, being in the playoff hunt, working with Barry Trotz, his coaching philosophy and his approach when communicating with players. After Brunette, Daren goes through the trade deadline moves and breaks down the teams he thinks positioned themselves best for the stretch run and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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