NHL Team Previews: Mammoth, Blue Jackets, Canucks
[Music] Hello and welcome to the Hockey Gambling Podcast on the SportsGambling Podcast Network. I am your host Ryan Gilbert. Joining me as usual usual is my co-host Joel Meyer and we have a guest here once again from the Discord. It’s Bulljacks BJ. How we doing today, boys? I’m doing fine. Uh it’s been a hot week. Uh trying to stay cool and all that. Been having some crazy [ __ ] dreams. I was going to tell you tell you guys about my dream, but nobody really cares. It It was It was [ __ ] Anyway, football was not so good on the weekend though. That was also [ __ ] Uh CFL miserable 03 I think altogether. Um uh college football. I only had one bet which was a live bet on Kansas State who totally [ __ ] the bet against Iowa State. So, yeah, horrible start there to start the uh season in college football, but um yeah, it’s good to have it back. We’re going to have a ton of fun this season. Hopefully, we do better than we did last season, which was my worst season betting college ever, but at least uh the Ohio State Buckeyes came through in the end. I did have a nice future on them to do it. Uh and we of course have a Buckeyes fan uh in Bulljacks. Yeah. Yes, absolutely. I love my Buckeyes as you can tell. Um, I’m doing pretty good though. I didn’t really do too much betting over the weekend. I’m really just watching watching the US Open tennis. It’s really about it. Just waiting for the NHL season to start in the in the NFL. Yeah, I think they’re things are getting closer now. We had we had Tommy Fleetwood. Did he go wire to wire over the weekend or did he That was like my one win. My one win in the weekend. I actually bet Flaccidwood. I bet on him. I had out of intuition. you know, he was he was the favorite on Sunday, but I thought that uh Sheffller was too far back. Actually bet Fleetwood right when um Sheffller like hit the shot out of bounds. So, I was able to get like plus 160 on Fleetwood right when that happened. I’m like, “Okay, I’m going to have to live with this bet.” You know, it’s going to be a sweat to the end because you never could trust Fleetwood to to make those three or four footers on a Sunday. But thankfully, he did in the end and he ended up winning in a runaway because nobody else really chased him down. Uh Sheffler uh hit it in the water later on as well. So yeah, I’m I’m pleased to be on Fleetwood and he finally got his first PGA win. Uh good for him. I’ve never been a a hater of his, you know, a fader of his for sure, but uh not a not a hater. Uh he’s he’s a good dude and I’ll definitely be cheering for him at the Ryder Cup. Yeah, I mean if anything you you’ve loved him because you’ve been you’ve been able to fade him so well, but but yeah, once again, I mean, live betting golf there on on the final day seems to be the the way to go. Certainly. Did you have any action in golf? Bulljacks. Dude, I usually always bet Fleetwood, but for this weekend, I didn’t for some reason. And he finally wins, which is, you know, it it is what it is. It’s funny that he he has all these runnup finishes and a shitty tournament uh or a shitty season rather, considering how many chances he’s had to win. And then he ends up winning the whole [ __ ] FedEx uh tour championship. Uh that that’s how sports go sometimes. Yeah. Oh, some sometimes he has he just never has a good Sunday, but he just he definitely did this Sunday. He finally pulled it together. Yeah, he he was erected all the way through there. All the way through the weekend for to cash there for for our friend Jolie. That was a good bet there. And yeah, football is back and uh so is our amazing merch sale. It’s uh 25% off everything in the merch store. Uh promo code is football. You can get some good hockey and podcast stuff in there. I’m sharing it here for the YouTube viewers. here. We got some shirts. We got some got some hoodies, some hats, a mug, winter hats, some toques for the uh cold cold winter season coming up. And of course, the headband there. So, make sure you check out the merch store. And SGPN just launched their NFL Survivor contest. $100 entry winner take all at sportspodcast.com. Survivor. Plus, if you’re new to Splash Sports, you can use promo code finals for $10 credit there. Yeah. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hockey Podcast on YouTube. Like the videos, comment, let me know what you guys are betting. And those five star rating and reviews, guys. I I have not been able to sleep just all hours of the night. Joel has just been coming at me, ringing my phone non-stop. When are we going to get a review? I’m going to quit if we don’t get a review before the start of the season. So, don’t make me do the so the solo show every day of the week without Joel. Give us a five star rating and review on Apple Podcast for Mr. Meyer and smash that like. Smash the like. Sasha. Yeah. So, um, yeah, no real hockey news over the past, uh, past week or so. I don’t really think, uh, I know there’s been or orientation camps going on. There was a quote from McDavid today about how, you know, he’s still taking his time with the extension or whatnot. So, we’ll see what happens there. Um, national TV games were announced uh, today and kind of crazy to see the Winnipeg Jets get zero. like the reigning President’s Trophy Winners like zero for them, zero for the Canucks, zero for Calgary. Um, Canadian teams basically besides Toronto don’t exist. Even Even Montreal, zero zero national games in the United States. Yeah, for America makes sense. Yeah, they’ll be on uh, you know, Hockey on Canada and all that. Um, plenty enough. So, that that’s not too You got You got the Blackhawks have have 15 games. They’re they’re a [ __ ] show. the Bruins there’s they’re seven 15 for the Blackhawks 17 for the Bruins which is the most tied with Colorado and then uh Edmonton Rangers and Pittsburgh all have 16. Oh no, Washington has 18. That’s the most I guess for the uh the OV goal chase. We need to have these original 16s to be better because obviously those are the big markets so they get the national exposure but it’s going to be painful watching that many black awesome Bruins games on Wednesday night. I I mean, yeah, for Wednesday nights, you’re off, so that sucks for you. But luckily, most of these games for you were going to be earlier during the day. And San Jose Sharks got got six uh got six games there, so they’ll be the probably the night cap on some of those nights. I love Sharks. They’re fun. They’re a fun team to watch. Uh all right. Yeah, we got we have three pretty fun teams here to talk about today. Uh maybe if you’re not a fan of them, but you got the Utah Mammoth, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Vancouver Conucks. Going to start with the uh Utah Mammoth here who last season as the Utah Hockey Club went 38 33 and 13 uh for 89 points. Their point total was 88 and a half. So just went over that there. Um yeah, Joel, you’re a big fan of the uh Mammoth. What did you think about them last season? I thought that they had an excellent season. I think that they deserve to make the playoffs. Um I thought they were a much better team than Calgary, for instance, who were hanging around in the playoff mix for a while. Um it’s just a matter of uh a poor shooting percentage. They uh certainly were one of the worst teams in terms of putting the puck in the back given how many chances they had, but no, it’s very dynamic offensive team. Um very good positive steps forward though. A lot of the young guys stepped forward. Um Cirachev was uh he fit in pretty well though he got hurt I think uh in the middle of the season or towards the beginning of the season with John Marino if I’m not mistaken because I remember betting the under. Sergev missed five I’m seeing here. But I I remember Marino a lot. Missed a lot. Yeah, I thought it was longer than that. But yeah, their defensive core was uh ruptured a bit by injury in general, but uh they they still pulled forward. Um a lot of the young guys, like I said, uh have taken steps forward and yeah, I’m really uh fancing this team doing big things in the future and last season was a step in the right direction. Of course, Connor Ingram had the uh uh rehabilitation thing. I’m not sure precisely what it was about, but that forced I think it was after his after his forced milk. Yeah. Yeah. That they just threw bad milk out there and he got spoiled towards the end like Yeah. like 25 games in a row he had to play and uh he he performed fairly well in uh in that uh one AAA role. Um so yeah, I really like what this team is doing. I’m a big fan of the coach as well and yeah, I expect them to take another step forward this season as we’ll get into. But uh yeah, offseason was was really good. Getting Purka, one of the better one of the only major offseason moves of any team. Um getting that guy out of Buffalo. Was not a fan of living there or playing there. And yeah, that’ll provide hopefully some more um a better shooting percentage because you know, this guy can put in the back of the net. So, uh, yeah, I like that off as an addition. Yeah, Purka should be a good ad there. Last year, I mean, Clayton Keller 90 points led the way. And then Kie, Schmaltz, Gther all in the 60s. Sergeev 53. Barrett Hayden even had 20 goals, 46 points. So, they got some depth there, added to it with Purka also brought in Brandon Tanv for some uh fourthline veteran presence. Nate Schmidt for some veteran presence as well. VTEC Vanichek to be a backup goalie if he has to be to give a VM a night off here or there if Ingram is not ready. Yeah, didn’t give up didn’t lose it too much too much. Josh Don, Nick Buchad, Michael Castle Ring, and Robert Pertuso were there at key subtractions according to this article here. So, yeah, building off a uh a good season. Fifth best expected goals for percentage, but as Joel said, the uh 10th worst shooting percentage at five on five. So, that’s not going to uh not going to be good there for the playoffs. Bulljacks could really just be like a they can really I think they can make the playoffs for sure. I I really like this purka signing especially from the Mammoth. I think this is kind of what puts them over that maybe that the bump to making playoffs but I still think they probably lose round one but I think the I think they’re they’re really trending in the right direction with with that type of forward. Yeah, absolutely. And looking at their lines for the upcoming season, uh 92 and a half points to make the playoffs is minus 125. 9 to1 to win the division, which seems pretty short for the competition in that central division. And uh 45 to1 to win the cup here. Yeah, you know where I’m going. I bet the uh the over and the points. I did bet a little division at 14 to1. Uh 9 to1. You’re right. It is getting a little short considering they do have the Stars and the Avalanche to contend with. I do think the Avalanche should be uh um shorter. I think they should be a clear favorite to win this division. I think it’ll be a great season for Colorado. Uh but yeah, certainly I do expect this team to make the playoffs if they just uh continue to make incremental steps forward. Not just incremental, I think that this team will take a significant step forward. So, I love the over on the points. Love them to make the playoffs. Uh you can stay away from the cup. they’re not going to win it, but I certainly can uh see them to win the division if things go poorly for the the favorites there. But nine to one is just uh not quite juicy enough. But yeah, like I said, just uh I expect them to take another step forward. And I mean, very excited to see what Purka does in this lineup because if you look up their uh the roster, they’re top six forwards. They are uh absolutely dynamic, bunch of fast players. They play with a lot of skill, a lot of speed. Um, yeah, Ryan’s bring it up for me. Um, yeah, Dylan Gunther, this guy’s gonna continue getting better. Craig Keller, he’s the captain now, right? Um, certainly should be top liner. Logan Culie, expect him to take another step forward. Oh my word. Take a shot every time I say that [ __ ] line. Um, yeah, down the lineup, you know, Lawson Garvis, he’s he’s been a while around for a while, but a solid bottom sixer. Same with Alex Keroot. this guy can uh he won’t put the puck in the net, but he can certainly uh make a good pass here and there and yeah, go go go down to the defense. I I like their defense quite a bit as well now that they have um Nate Schmidt there on the third line. That’s that’s really good uh defensive pairing. Very good experience there with Ian Cole. But yeah, Marino on the top line, Dery, of course, this guy is legit first pairing guy, I’m pretty sure. And all matter of there is a nice depth piece as well. So yeah, big fan of this team. I think that they’re going to be a a force to reckon with in 2025. Yeah, I’m not quite as high on the mammoth, I don’t think, as you are, but like looking at looking at these odds, they’re minus 125 to make playoffs over their point total is only minus 120. So if you want just the, you know, cook 93 points, miss playoffs and miss playoffs is minus 105. Like if it was plus money, I’d consider it because I think there is a this team is kind of close to 5050 in that division. But I feel like looking at looking at the visual on the screen, like the Utah Mammoth logo fits in perfectly with the with the HGP logo color-wise. So I think we have to uh be a big big fans of the Mammoth this season. Yes. See you later, hockey club. All right. Anything else there on Utah before we get to our best bet for the Mammoth? I I think I think the only worry I really have with this team is just maybe goalender. Um the you’re not a magical guy. Yeah, I I like him, but I think he’s kind of like uh a little hot and cold a lot in the season. When he’s hot, he’s hot, but when he’s cold, you can see like four like three, four games in a row where he lets in like four or five goals. Yeah. And they’re definitely going to be Maybe that’s on the defense perhaps, but that’s truly about it. I love all the forwards of this team. I think they’re really great. I I see a lot of like young superstars on this team. Yeah, the one the one Yeah, the goalending is is worrisome. Vala kind of wore down in the second half, which is understandable given the fact that he was playing a ton of games. Um before the All-Star break, he had a 909 save percentage. After the All-Star break, 896. So, um you know, 13 points there. I think bringing in a backup will help. I do worry that, you know, all these players are young. There’s no like established guy yet. I guess Clayton Keller is the most established guy, but you know, there could just be growing pains with these forwards and if they can’t write the ship. Um, they, you know, in a tough division, they might not get there, but I don’t feel strongly enough to fade them this year. My one award bet for this team is uh Andre Turini the coach to win to win Jack Adams. But uh that’s been bet fairly significantly already and just makes a lot of sense. I think he’s got like the same kind of trajectory as Mark Pan San Louie and yeah this market is a little a little sharper than usual this year. Trigy right is a guy. Yeah, he’s he’s the favorite at plus 750. He’s the favorite now. Oh my word. Um yeah, like uh Quenville was the favorite for a bit, but that makes to me. Um so yeah, clearly the market agrees, but yeah, 750 is a little bit too short. I mean, I don’t have that crazy number. It was like 12 to1. Um but still, it it’s uh certainly he’s certainly going to be in the mix if this team make the playoffs because uh there’ll be a lot of excitement over this team. Yeah, let me see what them to get like a 100 points is here. 100 points for the Mammoth plus 220. That could be an away a way to attack it if you want, you know, longer odds than the minus 120 – 125 to make the playoffs. Um I think someone in our group chat, it may have been may have been friend of the show Archer threw out Utah most goals at 100 to one or 100 to1. What was it at? He said 30 to1. Uh 30 to1. 30 to1. He threw something else at at 100 to one because of course he did. Yeah, he’s at that’s at 30 to1. Um I don’t know if they can quite do that. Uh how many goals they have last year? They had scrolling down. Scrolling down 241. They were they were in the bottom half. I I don’t like that bet. No, I I don’t like that bet at all. No, I I think they’ll score more this season, but uh that’s asking a lot. 31 is just not uh enough juice. No. No. So, um, yeah, probably going to be taking the, uh, the points over playoffs here as our looks. Um, 100 points I feel like is reasonable for them. Only nine teams reached 100 points last year, though. Um, you know, the Hurricanes, Panthers, Senators, Wild, all all didn’t make it. So, probably just going to go with the uh the point total as my bet. Plus 220 isn’t isn’t uh good enough, I don’t think, for points. Oh, yeah. All these alternate point markets are just they’re they’re because they’re just they’re index. I bet there’s no there’s no under, right? Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. All right. So, best bets here for the mammoth. I have mine written in there. I have over 92 and a half points at minus 120. I’m just going to do three units on that one. Uh how are you playing them, Joel? Yeah, same bet. Just give me five units. Yeah, because that’s an actual bet of mine. Yeah. Uh Bulljacks, what would what would your bet be if you had to make a uh one bet on the Mammoths? Uh but then just to make playoffs, probably like two and a half. Make playoffs. Yeah, it’s probably probably a good look there. Um pretty much pretty much the same. I don’t like division. I don’t like Cup and I I guess 100 points, but not at not at 220. Yeah, ex Yeah, exactly. So yeah. Um all right, let’s get to our first commercial break here. We’re brought to you by mybookie.ag. My Bookie is your place to bet on football and everything else. your home for NFL college football. Mybookies $100,000 NFL super contest only a $15 entry and they’re offering buy two entries get one free. My Bookie access customer from a ton of locations. So head to mybookie.ag promo code SGPN for 100% betback bonus up to $500 for new customers. That’s mybookie.ag promo code SGPN. And brought to you by Rhythm. NFL is back. Last season rhythm was 76 and 66 against the spread and 22 and 19 on overunders. Player props, they killed it on Josh Allen P Josh Allen passing props uh 15 and8 for a 23% return on investment. They also have MLB WBA in college football. So go to the site today and start building your NFL models for week one. Uh get your 7-day free trial at sportsgpodcast.com. Right, moving here along to the favorite team of our guests. He has his Ohio flags up in the background, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Uh, last season. The Blue Jackets were probably one of the most surprising teams in the league, I I would say, especially after the uh the tragic passing of Johnny Gudro. Finished 40, 33, and N for 89 points. Uh, when their overunder was 65 and a half. So, blew past that. Um, fourth in the Metro. We’re in the mix for a while. uh Bulljacks. Give us the uh the inside look here on last season’s uh Blue Jacket season. Last season was it was just a lot of grit from the team. Honestly, I don’t I don’t know how else to explain it. With very suboptimal goalending, I as much as I love my boy Elvis, but they somehow managed to just score seven, six goals a night at home. Number one scoring team at home for some reason. I couldn’t tell you how it was. It was a great season going there and drinking a bunch of little bets and just scoring and yelling at people and Oh, yeah. Oh, it was it was great. Yeah, they just they uh they just really just they over exceeded every expectation I had. Obviously, I actually bet them to have the lowest record in the season last season. I I had no Yeah, I had a bunch of money on it, but Yeah. Well, who impressed you the most? Like, uh the young guys know the Russians are always coming up there. a player uh impressed. Um I I have two. I would say Marenko, Kro Marenko is probably the my number one. And then the other one would be Shawn Monahan. I think uh he was I think he’s a vital vital part of the just winning honestly. And when he went down with that injury, I think that really just sealed the fate of the team. Yeah. Monahan only played 54 games. Kent Johnson had 57 points in just 68 games. Worinsky obviously Winsky obviously fantastic making a Norris push as a point per game defenseman and like even my boy JVR there I forgot he was on Columbus 16 goals 36 points for the dog 3 he is a dog 35year-old there yeah Elvis 892 Terasoft 881 Jack Greed was really amazing 938 save percentage in 11 starts so we’ll see if he gets a chance uh this coming season yeah I actually uh I actually have a like a this is a strong prediction but I think that that the Columbus Jackets will start off very soft and losing a bunch of games that Jet Gres will will become the primary starter probably midway through the season. I mean, he he should if he if he if he can put up numbers like that that that can be a huge difference maker, especially in in the Metro. Balty. Uh yeah, this uh past season I was definitely a bit heavier on the under. You know, it was kind of um a cad a cadaavverous like a vulture. That’s where I was when Johnny Gro died. I was all over the unders and they made me punish they they punished me for it. They uh you know his spirit lingered and it galvanized the team and that can happen in sports you know like the locker room really came together rallying around that even though there’s not a ton of uh skill in the lineup but uh they yeah exceeded our expectations absolutely and burned me. Um, so yeah, being uh being a dark soul doesn’t always work out uh doesn’t always um end up profitable. Um so yeah, that was a tough season for me betting against the Blue Jags, but thankfully thankfully they came up just short and allowed the Habs to to make the playoffs. I was sweating that right to the bitter end. Uh Bulldogs, how how what’s your thoughts on on Fantelli? I know he’s he’s still 20 turning 21 at some point or recently turned 21. think he’s ready to take like a full step forward to potentially take over as the 1C from Monahan? Uh yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Actually, I think this season he’s I really think he’s poised for a breakout season and he’ll eventually be moved out to that first, you know, blind center taking all those face offs and really just Yeah, he could he could be the guy, per se. Um, I know I was slightly upset that we we didn’t get Bedara during that year, but I really like Fantily and I think uh, you know, I’m not not upset we did we didn’t get him at this point. Well, you could thank the [ __ ] Ducks for taking Carlson that I think Ventilia will be better in the long run. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Big fan of. Yeah. So, off season for the Blue Jackets. Brought in some some veterans there. Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. Um, from the Thanks for that. Was that a trade? Yes. Is that a cap? Was that just a cap? No, we traded um uh who was it? Man, it was the young kid from Michigan who was the the MVP a couple years ago. Is that Brindley or Brenley? Brenley, right? Yeah, cuz Coyle first round pick. He was He was uh our new GM is not a believer in small guys and Brenley is a real small center and we have a lot of those in the prospect pool already. So I can just see like he brought in Coyle and Wood are 6’2 61 Fing 6’3. So I just think he’s moving towards more of a beefy side of of the Jackets. Yeah. So yeah, you mentioned the bigger bigger guys there. Coyle Wood lost Brindley, JVR, Danforth, Sean Carelli, Kevin Leont, Kuk Kunan, Jordan Harris, Jack Johnson. Um so not too many huge losses there for Columbus. Um so yeah, pretty much bringing it back with what they had last year. um hoping their young guys take a step forward and looking ahead to this season. Uh what? Oh, step forward. Yeah, of course. Yeah. Uh uh this season 84 and a half is their point total after being at 89 last year, plus 220 to make the playoffs, 30 to1 to win the Metro, and 90 to1 to win the cup. Uh Bulljacks, what do you think uh for upcoming year? Man, I want to be optimistic and I want to tell you they’re going to make the playoffs, but I’m just not sure at this point. Um, if if I was going to take any sort of bet, it would be just taking playoffs. I wouldn’t bet the point total over under because they’re either they’re either going to be feast or famine. It’s either going to they’re going to get 78 points and you’re going to be disappointed or they’re going to hit 90. Yeah, I I could I could definitely see that there. I’m trying to look up if they have like what the uh to get 90 points is for them just to try to compare that to the uh plus 220. It’s plus 160 on drafting. So yeah, take playoffs and then you know see what happens at the end of the year like a to get to get 60 cents there. It is the Metro, you know, the weakest division in the league. Metro [ __ ] It’s it’s complete [ __ ] It’s just garbage, right? Yeah. So yeah, I don’t have any bets on this team at all. Uh BJ said it feast your famine kind of look. So yeah, I definitely take the big plus numbers. Uh yeah, there’s definitely a lot of potential for this team. You look at all those young guys in that top six. Uh you know, Ken Johnson, Vanilli, we talked about him, all the Russians, Veronov, Marenko, um Charlie Cole will certainly be a quality thirdline center. Um so yeah, this team will certainly be competitive. Uh I just think that the number is is pretty accurate. Um, yeah, if you really fancy this team to to, you know, galvanize again, even though they they exceeded expectations last year for some uh narrativey reasons, um, I wouldn’t be surprised if they exceeded to be honest. Like this this team is uh loaded with with a lot of good young players. So Zach Rinsky, we didn’t mention him like he uh he was a Norris finalist, was he not? He was he was in the mix there for a long time. Yeah. Well, I wasn’t quite scared that he would threaten the car or for Quinn Hughes, but uh he was certainly pushing them at times. So, yeah, he had his best season ever, and I can’t expect that to change next season. So, I’d rather be optimistic on this team than than pessimistic. So, that’s where I’m looking. Um if I had to bet this team, it would be in the uh positive direction, especially given the fact that the uh the Metro is uh so down. Yeah, I agree. Uh Bulljacks, any uh any award looks you’re you’re looking at? Uh Rensky 12 to1 for Norris. Jet Greavves 200 to1 for uh the Vzna. Anything like that? Yeah. Yes, I actually I have two I have two. Um it’s not the Vzna, but I have Jet Greavves the William Jennings trophy, which is goals against for goalie starting 25 games because I think he’ll start not as many as a normal starting goal. He’ll come in at that midway point or like towards the end and I think he could he could shine. So, I I have that for 150 to one. And uh I don’t I I like the Rinsky Norris, but I don’t think it’s 12 to one when I would bet it. No, I think he’ll come in third again for sure, but I don’t know how you’re going to get past Mar or Hughes at this point. Injuries. That’s that’s that’s only that’s the only way. Exactly. Yeah. Just pray on an injury at that point. I would rather rather not bet it. Yeah. I mean, I also also I like um I know I was [ __ ] talking Elvis earlier, but Elvis versus Lincoln to win 21 and a half games overund only minus 110. And if this team is going to do good, that’s that’s a very easy and attainable number for Elvis, even if he’s getting six goals scored against them. Oh, I did not know goalie win overunders were out. I I feasted I feasted on them last year was with some of these guys. I might have to take a deep dive into that. Yeah, Ms. Leakin is at 20 and a half. Uh Buddy Buddy is talking out of both sides of his mouth though because he thinks that Jack Lee is gonna come in, but he also wants Merl Lincoln over 21 and a half wins. Yes. Yes. Well, I bet a lot more money on the Mers Lincoln one than the than the 151. Fair enough. I mean, 151. It’s certainly uh worth the shot. Yeah. And um I mean, Daily Face Off has Jack Greavves listed as the starter. I’m not sure where they’re getting that information from. I imagine it’ll be a uh competition in camp, but I I have to think it’ll be a tandem. Like what are you hearing from people close to the team? Like are you hearing from like blogs or any beat writers or anything? Uh it’s going to be like Elvis will be starting and and Jet will be the backup. They’ll have like a like a slight competition because Dean really likes to push his players, but I don’t see a world where they don’t start Elvis with all the money and cap they have in him where he’s I don’t know how that would work. He might he’s a diva in the locker room especially last year could like asking for a trade so you just you just never know with him. So I think I’d rather start him. See how it goes. Yeah. Maybe they’ll finally trade him then if Czech Greaves is shows he can do it like on a on a starter basis. Yeah. Oh yeah. Um okay. Yeah. You mentioned a uh some a player point total in the the group chat earlier. Do you want to shout that out here? Oh yes, absolutely. So I have Kent Johnson to to get 70 points is plus 550. Um, really love that number. Um, and then I have Marenko to record 30 goals at plus 170. Kind of a low number for how long you’re gonna have to wait till the whole season, but I just don’t see a world where he doesn’t score 30 goals and he’s going to have a better season when he doesn’t. Unless he breaks his jaw again, but he scored 30 goals last season with a broken jaw. I don’t see a world where he doesn’t score 30, maybe even 40. But I couldn’t find a 40. Yeah, 31 last year, 23 the year before, 21 the year before. So, he’s he’s growing there a little bit. Yeah, Ken Johnson, I mentioned it, 57 points in 68 games last year. So, if he stays healthy, takes a step forward, fifth round or fifth overall pick from 2021. He definitely has the uh has the scuffle. BC boy, like I said, really uh rate Ken Johnson. And looking at the Jack Adams odds, uh surprised that Dean Evson is actually so short. He’s only 10 to one on a certain offshore. So, uh I was kind of looking at that, but again, like this market is is sharpening up this year. 10 to one is just uh too short considering like last year was his year. If Blue Ducks make it in the playoffs, make maybe they could push to make a finalist at least. But this year they’ll have to make uh something special happen for him to have a chance and 10 to1 is just too short. 12 to1 on DraftKings if that’s uh any more enticing $2, but it still still seems pretty short for for him. No, I need to be like 30 to1. Honestly, I don’t I don’t Yeah. Uh so I’m trying to find a best bet while we talk through this here. They might just end up being being playoff, but I know my best bet for I didn’t take for the Flyers. I took Taka Jack Adams. Okay. So, I don’t have both shitty teams in the Metro to make the playoffs. So, I’ll probably end up end up with that one there. Um, anything else here on the Blue Jackets before we move on to that? Um, I think the Blue Jackets within five years will be a normal playoff team. I think with the the prospect pool coming up, I think you’ll be very surprised and just seeing how it’ll go. Who did you guys draft this year? I forget. We got Jackson Smith who’s a big like six foot three defensive man. And then we got a Russian goalie on Dr. Yes. That was a big surprise. That was the first rounder too, right? Yes. Yes. Don Wedell went on record saying that they were securing their goalie pick and they didn’t really have another pick until like 90 or something. Yes. And they really like the kid. He was the first goalie. He was the first goalie drafted, right? Yes. Thanks. Thanks for that. We got that. Yeah. I was all for it. The Canadian goalie went over 25 and a half. I can’t remember his name, but uh that certainly helped. So, Ravensburg. Ravensburg. Ravensburg. I don’t know if he’s Canadian or American, but he played in uh he’s probably he’s probably American. Canadians. Yeah. Come on. We got Jordan Bennington. Nobody else. Yeah. Uh right. Let’s get to the best bets here. I got mine in there. I took playoffs at plus 220. I’m just throwing I’ll throw two units on that. What’s the price for over 84 and a half? Ius 120. Find that here. All right. Minus 120. 120. Just uh Yeah, just three units on that one. 84 and a half 220. Three units for Joel on that one. I got two units on playoffs plus 220. Uh Bulljacks, what would your bet be if you were to make one? Uh that would be it would be the goalie bet where Lincoln is over 28 and a half put like four units on it. All right. So you’re you’re you’re Yeah. You you love your goalies there. I I don’t blame you. I I I love goalies, too. So, I I I feel you there completely. I don’t love goalies. No. Well, uh Okay. We are brought to you by uh Underdog. Underdog baseball mania is happening all summer long, giving away $15 million in prizes, including 2 million to first place. No waiverwire. No arguments about trades. Best ball is the best way to play fantasy football. Also a great place to play pick them where you can win up to 500 times your entry. Underdog’s got a brand new offer for new customers. Play just $5 and get $50 in bonus funds when you sign up with promo code HGP. And of course, Circa Las Vegas is hosting the world’s biggest pro football contest, Circumillion, Circus Survivor, and Circa Grando with over $21 million in guaranteed prizes. Sign up in Nevada and play from anywhere with the help of SGPN’s official proxy. Go to footballcontest.com and use promo code SGP to get $50 off your proxy fees. Contest close on Saturday, September 6th. So, get in now. Uh, okay. The, uh, final team of the three we’re looking at here is, uh, Vancouver Conucks, the home of the ver our very own Joel Meyer. So, uh, take it away, Joel. Do we have to talk about the, uh, the Vancouver Conucks? Well, we have to. We’re doing every team. Every team, Joel. Well, it was a a real tough season. Um, probably the most dramatic season, even by Vancouver’s standards. um that I can remember and there’s been a lot of them. So, yeah, it was an absolute [ __ ] show. It it caused our coach not not to resign. It’s rare that you have a coach that does not extend his his uh stay in in a certain city, especially after winning the Jack Adams the previous year, but no, it was that much of a terror. The the drama between JT Miller and Elias Patterson to start the year, it was much to do with nothing. They said, “We’re all good.” And then uh eventually it all came out that no, they actually hate each other which led to the trade and no there was like distraction upon distraction and that’s why this team had such a terrible home record after being very good the the previous season at home. But this season they were losing every [ __ ] home game and often just blowing leads like they were under Bruce Budro. It was not talking hockey at all and they weren’t getting anything going offensively. Um there were no there were I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but they were the one of the worst uh teams in terms of producing shot volume. I mean, it’s a miracle that they scored as many goals as they did thanks to maybe a little bit of a inflated scoring percentage. Um because yeah, they they did not have any offensive zone pressure. They weren’t get the pucks on nets. The power play was hit and miss. Uh yeah, and a lot of it has to do with Li Person just taking another step back like he was the same player that he was in the last third of 2023 24 season and yeah Quinn Hughes was the whole team like he if he wasn’t on the ice the Canucks are getting [ __ ] dominated. Uh, and that’s why he should have been uh a legitimate heart candidate and he he might have been in the mix if he didn’t get injured towards the end of the season. But of course, he’s going to get injured because he’s uh carrying the whole [ __ ] team and um when he’s playing like 25 minutes a night, that’s going to happen. So yeah, it was an absolute miserable season in Vancouver. Uh the GMs tried to do their best to uh to make some deals. You know, Philip Hedel in that JT Miller trade. Uh they tried to get other guys to the deadline. Didn’t quite work out. Um same for most teams to be fair. And yeah, this team is just treading water right now after uh uh an historical season the previous year after um you know talking got the guys going playing proper defense and all that fixing the budro issues and there’s the whole Demco drama as well with the Papatas whatever the [ __ ] you call some random rare injury that only happens to soccer players apparently but he got that and he barely played and wasn’t great when he did play. Uh, one bright spot was uh that was uh Kevin Laninan coming in uh towards the end of free agency before the season. If it wasn’t for him, like this team would be like a lottery team. Like he he absolutely saved the team. Like Arto Sheil despite his heroics for team Latafia for the Canucks in the playoffs for um the Calder Cup Canucks. Uh I think he was the MVP in that in that tournament as well. Uh he only won one game and against the Blackhawks in all of his starts. So, no, goalending was bad. Shooting percentage was bad. The shot volume was horrific and yeah, this team just didn’t have an identity. There was no uh legit quality on offense and it was just Quinn Hughes. Like Quinn Hughes was the whole team. That’s the only bright spot about this season. Um so yeah, that that’s why I didn’t want to talk about it. Keep rambling, but it was absolute misery. absolute miserable season for Vancouver Conucks, especially after considering all the hope that they gave them the fans uh the previous season. But yeah, yeah, Quinn Hughes 76 points, led the team in 68 games. Still third in Norris voting despite missing 14 games that are impressive there. Uh Brock Besser, Connor Garland 50 points each. De Brus Sudter Person 45 points in 64 games. Just like not very inspiring. And yeah, Demco couldn’t stay healthy, but even when he was healthy, he had 23 starts. 10 of them were quality starts, but seven were really bad. Save percentage 889. Like that’s just not going to get it done. Lankin was the saving grace because without them, without him, he Yeah, they would be definitely a lottery team there. So, um they’re Yeah. Uh going into the off season here, big addition of Vander Kane bringing him home there. Uh he’s Pio Joseph uh losing Pia Sutter DJ Jeppy Noah Jolson to the Flyers and Archer Celobs and of course yeah Rick Tacket didn’t didn’t resign with the Conucks. I wonder if he would have if the Flyers job wasn’t open but once that job opened up it just seemed like he was he was coming home. I don’t think he would have resigned. It just the the chemistry is that bad that this this coach just wanted out and I can’t blame him for it. Um he certainly has a special connection with some players and all that like when he certainly has the captain has a good relationship with him but um no not surprised to see him leave after all. Uh the big one though is Brock Besser resigning. That was a big surprise on free agency day. We thought that he’d be long gone but no he actually resigned in Vancouver for a decent number. Clearly he loves the city. Clearly he has a good relationship with some of the players at least. Um so yeah that that was a that was a big pull. Pastor is a big loss. He’s a highly versatile uh centerwinger. Um he had an excellent career year last year really. I guess that’s another bright spot, but um that’s what you can expect from a guy in a contract season. Um so yeah, that’s that’s a big loss. The Conucks have a lot to do in terms of uh negotiating their center depth. There was talks about getting Marco Rossi, but clearly that’s off the table with him resigning in Minnesota. So yeah, it’s it’s going to have to be up to Lias Patterson this season. That’s all it comes down to. this guy can be what we signed him to be and uh things will be okay in that guru. But if he’s not if he’s going to be the same player he was last year, this team’s going to be [ __ ] terrible. Well, I saw some quote from him earlier in August saying like he has a chip on his shoulder or something like he wants to really build off after having a bad season last year, but I mean we’ll see if he’s able to. We’ll see if he’s able to do that after having such such a bad year. Uh, okay. Going into uh this season here, we have the points are at 90 and a half after having 90 points last year. Uh, plus 105 for the playoffs. I believe Miss is minus 125, 14 to1 for the division. Cup is 70 to1. Uh, Quinn Hughes is plus 220 for the Norris. Quinn Hughes is 45 to1 for the heart trophy. Um, how you looking here, Joel? I have zero bets on the Cox one way or the other. I have no idea what to do with them this year and they’re getting bet against. Uh the point total is already creeping downwards and I understand why this team just doesn’t have any uh offensive punch. We’ll see. Oh, we didn’t mention Adam Foot. Of course, he was the assistant coach for the past couple years. Uh he is now the head coach. Um I would not bet him to win Jack Adams. Um because I don’t think this team has a high ceiling. Uh even though you know what let me amend that if Person is the guy he was a couple years ago if Quinn Hughes stays being Quinn Hughes and Demco once again becomes Vzant Demco there is a high ceiling for this team. So there is a there is a case for that I guess but I’m not in for it. It’s too much going right at the same time for for a team and a city that has experienced a lot of misery. So I have no idea what to bet for this team to be honest. there is uh zero insight on my part. I mean Quinn Hughes twin the hard that’s probably come down a lot compared to the past couple years where we’re betting at triple digits. Um so yeah like the scoop is out the news is out that Quinn Hughes is a legit uh top 10 player in the league and yeah so I got nothing on this team whatsoever. It’s a [ __ ] mystery man. You can get uh Patterson 500 to1 to win the heart at some books. 300 to1 here at DraftKings. Yeah, Quinn Hughes is down to 45 to1 for the for the heart. That’s best there at DraftKings. Um yeah, there’s there’s not really too much to to talk about here with the Conucks. You have any thoughts, BJ? I think you either you either bet the Person at the the 500 to1 or you just bet them to miss the playoffs. I think I’d probably bet them to miss the playoffs at this point. Yeah, you probably find a minus 120 probably somewhere. I’m sure it’s 125. No, it should be less if it’s plus 105 to make feel like minus 115 to miss if the the bookies are doing it good. Well, it’s minus 135 on on draftings here. They have 105, right? They they have to get that juice. They have to get their juice there. They got to put food on the table, Joel. Okay. Give me a [ __ ] break. That’s why the offshores are still around. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. I just don’t really see Chidel or Ratty or all these like third, second, third, fourth line centers. Like I just say like they’re all like third and fourth line centers. Maybe I don’t know. I don’t really see a lot of face loss being one. I got to step in. The name pronunciation is pretty good there. I won’t blame it for Ratu. Ratty, it is a [ __ ] Y, but you actually say it rat. It doesn’t make any sense to me. He’s [ __ ] Finnish, you know. They do things differently over there. Yeah. Philip Heedle and uh Ratu with a Y. Heedle. Okay, Heedle, I got you. Um, you mentioned that the the Canucks, you know, could have been a lottery team last year without Kevin Lankin in any any thoughts on them uh 90 to1 to have the low lowest points. No, Quinn Hughes. If Quinn gets hurt, then sure. But Quinn Hughes is not let letting this team sink. No. Uh, anything else here on the Conucks before we go to our best bets? That’s a no. Okay, that’s a no. Uh, best bets. I’m I’m just taking Quinn Hughes Norris at 220 for two units. [ __ ] you, man. Why do we think so? Like, is that what you’re doing, too? No. No. I got to do something different now. No, you don’t. As Catfish wisely said last episode in the chat, the bets that will make the difference are the one are the different bets. So, no, no. I’m not giving out an award bet that I haven’t bet myself and won’t bet myself. Um, so just give me the um what do they make the playoffs? Plus 105. 105. Okay. Just one unit on that. I was looking through it. That’s our like we bet because I I was like I haven’t bet one unit yet besides like on these on these longer things. So yeah, I’m I’m saving the one that’s legit mystery. So one unit is is perfect for it. Yeah. So, uh, there’s our best bets for these three teams at the 45 minute mark of the YouTube video. I will, uh, you know, I’m not going to zoom out as well. If you want our other bets, go listen to other ones. They’re they’re evergreen until the season starts. Nothing’s really going to change there. So, make sure you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, uh, YouTube, go back, you can watch and listen to all of them there. Um, okay. Joel, anything, uh, any CFL tomorrow? Is there any college football tomorrow you got going on? I do have a bet. Uh, I think Cincinnati play tomorrow. I took them plus 6 and a half at plus 105 at home against Nebraska. Nebraska’s been getting all the money. I’m just fading that a little bit. You can find plus sevens out there at minus 110 as well if you want to do that. So, yeah, I’m taking the uh the contrary dog in the Cincinnati Bearcats. Um, that’s all for now. I don’t have anything on CFL so far and probably less as the season goes on because, you know, there’s only so much football you could take, right? Uh, CFL is a summer sport for me and yeah, we’ll we’ll see how that transpires going forward, but that’s where I’m at so far. All right, Bulljacks, you got anything coming up this weekend? Anything you want to plug? Oh. Oh, OSU Texas. Who do you got, man? I have two I have two predictions. Okay. I I actually have a number I’m going to give. I’m about plus 500 for OSU to go undefeated this season. So, I think if they beat Texas, they’re not losing to Penn State. But I think with the script Penn State is in Pennsylvania, right? Pennsylvania. Yes. Yes, it is. Oh, no. It’s a home game. It’s a It’s a home game. It’s a It’s a blackout, but it’s at noon. That’s what it is. All right. All right. So, I don’t know how that one’s going to go, but I I got Penn State to win the conference. So, uh we’ll be against you there. Yes. Yeah. I think the script is we go 10 and two, we lose to Penn State and Texas, and then we power up for the playoffs and go back to back. That’s what I’m thinking. All right. But I think Penn State hurdle. That’s what you’re saying. You get it? Oh man, I don’t know how I feel about that, man. We’ll see. Uh, okay. We should be back on uh Friday night. Next three teams up are the uh the Devils, Canadians, and Blues. So, um, perfect. If any guests want to come on for that, you’re more than welcome. Reach out to us on Twitter at hockey sgpn or in the Discord for the blues. Discord. Um, okay. Yeah, I am Ryan Gilbert. You can follow me on Twitter, Rgilbert SOP, and I’m Joel Meyer and you’ll find me uh recommending betting against history and LSU will finally win a home opener or not a home opener, a week one opener against Clemson. Take the plus four, take the money line, whatever. They’re going to get going. If if Brian Kelly loses this game, I’m [ __ ] out on him. This is his last [ __ ] chance. [ __ ] Irish.
NHL Team Previews: Mammoth, Blue Jackets, Canucks
