Could Quinn Hughes Become Available? | DLLS Stars Podcast
Coming up on the DLS Stars podcast. Yes, my short vacation is over. I’m back and we put Sam in the penalty box. So, it should be a great show, right Sammy? No. Let’s keep the other 31 going. Sean’s here. LS is here. Tanner is here producing for one day only. It’s a rare treat when he is at the controls for us as we get ready for the Vancouver Conucks. Thomas Dance and Patrick Johnston will be our guest today. We got a lot of drama coming out of the Pacific Northwest. So, let’s talk about it right now here on DLLS. [Music] [Music] This is the DLLS Stars. podcast on a mon not a Monday. It feels like Monday to me. It’s my Monday, but then tomorrow is my Friday, just like it’s your Friday. It’s every Wednesday around here. Thursday, September 4th, and we are here live in the podcast studio alongside Craig Lewig and Sean Shapiro and our producer Tanner Rottman. I’m Owen Newkerk. Thomas is in. He’s in. I was just about to text him and tell him to disconnect. There he is. Our first guest today of the other 31 from Vancouver himself at the Athletic. It’s Thomas Drance or as Sean and I would prefer to introduce him, the one of the few ever guests on the Car way back in the day. Let’s go. Nice to have a chance to chat with you guys again. I know the Dallas market is obsessed with uh previewing the Dallas Stars season, right? There’s no bigger sporting event that uh that is occupying. There’s nothing else going on right now. Nothing. Nothing at all. Yeah. No. No one’s uh no one’s bemoning uh the the exile of a certain elite pass rusher, I’m sure. Um anyway, I’m excited for tonight. Gonna be gonna be an interesting Cowboys season, I think. And uh and I’m even more excited to watch this Dallas Stars team put it all back together uh in the fall. You know, a lot lots of interesting questions and and man, that team’s going to be so so good. So, hey, are the Cowboys playing tonight? Not the Packers. They’re playing the Eagles. Well, then why do we care? We don’t, but it’s the Cowboys. So, oh, but you know, it’s funny. Thomas gave me a great segue because just like DFW has been just consumed by the Micah Parson saga. The Vancouver Conucks like this had quite the saga of their own this year involving JT Miller and Elias Person. So, Thomas, break it all down for us because we were talking about this throughout our show during the season. It was mustsee TV for us. We were talking about it, not so much the whole thing because we’ve lived that and I’m not asking you to relitigate it, but the fallout of it, what did it do to the Canucks organization losing Miller? Obviously, they got Philip Heedle, they got Manino in that, but how did that all, you know, LS talks about constantly distractions? That had to be the biggest distraction out there. Yeah, it wasn’t a very fun group last season. They didn’t have fun. They weren’t fun to cover. It was and and I mean you can tell when you show up at the rink whether you know you’ve you’ve played the game or just been around locker rooms or or worked for teams you know you you can tell when the vibe is off and the vibe was off around that group from puck drop like from training camp on onward. um you know the sort of watch word that I was using throughout the season was there was like a sneering joylessness that surrounded that group and and I don’t know that it’s in fact I would say it’s not on any one player right like I I would not point the finger at at the departed 100point center uh who’s now playing uh for the New York Rangers. I would not point the finger at you know Elias Patterson who who remains in Vancouver. Like I I just think for whatever reason there was a group of superstar players that you know and and not just last season but throughout a protracted period of time despite having a lot of talent on this roster have struggled to partner with one another in a way that was consistent, right? And I mean Luds will tell you like he’s played with a million guys that he didn’t like, right? Like everyone’s played with a million guys they didn’t like. Everyone’s worked with a million people they haven’t liked. The question is not whether or not you’re friends. it’s whether or not you can find a way to partner with one another, right? And and and find a way to have success. And for whatever reason, those guys couldn’t do it. It spilled over. It impacted the entire team. And you know, you look at this Conucks lineup now. You know, they got Marcus Patterson back in in that deal. Uh which helps. The Conucks needed an additional defender of his caliber in this lineup. But, you know, it blew a hole in their center depth that they haven’t filled. like they did not fill over the course of the summer. I think they would have loved to sign uh Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchaine, right, if he hadn’t signed that extension with with Dallas, for example. But they were unable to find an answer uh down the middle of their forward group. And now you’re going into the season with Elias Patterson, who hasn’t dominated an NHL game in 20 months, right? Has looked like a shadow of himself. Philip Pedel, who’s got a lengthy history of concussions. Atu Ratu as sort of the projected third line center. He’s got like 50 games under his belt uh at the NHL level. Finished the season strong last year, but uh will his foot speed actually play to allow him to be a full-time top nine center? Like I don’t know. Uh that’s still a big question mark for me. And and Teddy Bluger, who we know, you know, is best used on the fourth line and sort of exclusively on the fourth line. And he’s like the safest bet to do his job at an average level next season. But that, you know, is is a replacement level gig for for the most part and and you know, he’s at that level. So I I mean I think the biggest fallout of the J Miller trade is that it’s blown a massive hole in this Canucks lineup that they still haven’t found a way to fill. Uh and we’re what four four weeks and three days out from the drop of the puck. 16 days from the first uh preseason game for the Stars. Let me cut through this BS here. Right. Hey, Thomas. I got three pages of notes here. Right. He does. Large font. Well, there go there goes the ratu the blugger question. There goes Pey question. Like Jesus, what why do I even come here? Well, it’s a good thing you have three pages cuz you can probably find one in there. So, listen. And and they’re right. I actually have shirts made up of distractions, Thomas. I can’t stand them. Goes all the way back to my plane days. Obviously, uh the whole flurry thing in Vegas. I just think it chews at teams from the inside out. So, there is a guy that it probably played and could have been a distraction at times in his career. But let’s talk I want to know how you feel Rick Tocket had to handle that whole situation. Did that have anything to do with it? I doubt it. Him leaving or can you can you kind of I don’t know if you have a chance to ask Tac those kind of things and like talk which one did you want to shoot first? Yeah, I mean I think there was a lot on Talk’s plate and and I mean you know Talk, you know that he’s a guy who cares a lot. He’s really good at building relationships and he doesn’t really suffer fools or nonsense and he dealt with a lot of it ceaselessly throughout last season. I think it wore on him. I don’t think there’s any question that it wore on him. And I don’t think there’s any question that the lack of fun um you know had an impact especially like think about it from his perspective too where you’re working through all of this. You’ve got you know a a star goalender whose return timeline is up in the air and you know I think that was complicated to manage from a man management perspective even beyond the injury stuff with with that Demco. Then you had the two star centers, right? That there was a point in the in during last season where they separated them on the power play. Conucks were a top 10 power play and they separated JT Miller and Elias Person and had them playing on separate units for like weeks on end, right? Like the only time the team even seemed joyful was after Miller took that 10 game personal leave which you know was unable to ever really get into. Um, and of course it followed Miller getting benched in the second and third period against the Nashville Predators. A loss at home to the Nashville Predators. Miller is benched next or two days later he takes the 10-ame absence which caught the team off guard. I mean, you think about it. It’s like I’ve got this goalie who has been cleared to return, but he says he’s not ready. So, I’m dealing with that. I’m dealing with these two star players who can’t even seem to share the ice on the power play. You know, I can’t even show my cards as the Vancouver media are are sort of asking me these jackal questions about what’s going on. Like, I’m protecting the privacy of my players. I can’t even level with anybody. And then and then he goes to the four nations, right? And then he gets to work with like Cooper and and Pete and you know, uh, Cassidy and it’s the highest level hockey problem solving imaginable. And you know, he’s giving notes to Mitch Mner and Mitch Mner here’s here’s the thing once and he does it perfectly for the rest of the tournament, right? Conor McDavid, oh yeah, this is open on the back door. You think McDavid forgets that and then he has to come back and and work with a team that, you know, is like half bought in, don’t you think? Like I I there I think there’s a lot that went into Rick Tockett’s decision. I think the uncertainty that the Canucks are dealing with um you know both at like the management suite level but also uh with Quinn Hughes’s future uh you know and and sort of what happened last year. I think that all played a role. I think he wanted to be on the East Coast. I think there were family reasons that went into this as well. But uh to this day, I still think that that sharp distinction, right, that like reminder that he got in the middle of the year about how much fun this can be and how little of it he was having in Vancouver. I have to imagine that that loomed large in his thinking when he ultimately turned down, you know, an offer that I know he had a lot of respect for. Like the Conucks were willing to make him one of the highest paid coaches in the league. So it didn’t come down to money. they met him, you know, not just halfway, they met him all the way in terms of what he wanted, unlike the Cowboys with Michael Parsons, uh, and he still decided to leave. So, I I do think that speaks volumes. And I I really do think that Foreign Nations experience, that sort of whiplash experience from the best it can be to be coaching highle players in hockey and just about as nightmarish as it can be. I I think that probably played a big role in sort of shaping his perception in the leadup to those talks. All right, Trance, I gotta My question kind of morphed after your answer here. So, the I see you talk about all of this drama. You talk about what this team is dealing with. You have a guy who’s a head coach, two years of head coaching experience for junior age kids, three years being in this locker room. So, not saying he’s part of the problem, but he part of the solution in helping handle everything. So, it’s not like he brought an outside voice. Is there a world where if uh Vancouver hadn’t made a decision by June 6th, are we talking about Pete Dbor coaching the Vancouver Conucks right now? Oh, wow. Interesting. Um, good question, Sean. Yeah, it is a good question. I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Um, you know, I think the Canucks were willing to bend for Rick Tocket because I think they viewed him as the right guy, but you know, there there’s a tell that the finalists for the Canucks coaching job were two guys who’ve never been NHL head coaches, right? Um, Willie DeJardan was a firsttime head coach when he got the job in Vancouver, at least at the NHL level. Uh, same with Travis Green, right? Uh Bruce Budro obviously was experienced, but um it’s not exactly like his star was was high, right? It’s not like he was beating down offers from from other teams when he accepted the job. And by the way, I think the same goes for Rick Tocket, right? And and that’s even with the fact that Tit and and Albine and Rutherford are very close, dating back to their shared time winning back-to-back cups in Pittsburgh. So, you know, I like this organization going out and signing Pete Dbor. I don’t think that it’s been 25 years since the Canucks brought in like a star level head coach. Yeah. Right. I mean I mean really I just it’s not how this organization has typically done business at least under this ownership group. Right. This ownership jump in on there, Thomas. Why do you think they Why do you think they brought Adam Foot in from within the organization as an assistant as opposed to another within the organization and Manny Malhotra who’s obviously has a very rising star. Yeah. And of course they made that decision before Malhotra went on to win, you know, the the Western semi-finals and then the Calder Cup final. So that was an interesting dynamic especially in a in a market that obsesses over this team and discusses it ad nauseium the way Kucks fans do because as Abbottzford continued to succeed right the the backseat driving of Vancouver’s coaching hire only only amplified you know I I think there’s a a lot of information that we can glean both from the fact that the Canucks were as motivated as they were to keep Rick Tocket and the fact that they ultimately decided to bring a guy already present in the locker room in to be the head coach of this team and that’s that the management organizationally they didn’t view what happened and transpired in the locker room as being on the coaching staff right and and I think the truth is is you I mean you can hear Budro talk about it on TSN and I know for sure that there were issues that Travis Green was managing during his tenure here like I think there was a sense that this was an ancient fissure between two individuals that had, you know, lasted through multiple coaching regimes and that ultimately if anything had done a good job bottling it up as well as he did, right? Getting the team to within six points of the playoffs despite a myriad of injuries and all the off ice drama and the and the just lack of joy that surrounded this group. And you know, I think two this organization had a sense and I think there’s sort of three main things that went into the foothucks perspective. one, I think they fundamentally wanted someone who was familiar with what had occurred in part because they thought that he’d be best equipped to manage, I guess, year year one post Miller. Two, you know, I think they wanted a coach that the veterans in this room and especially Quinn Hughes who’s, you know, extension eligible after this season and that’s obviously going to be a big push. uh that’s a preoccupation both locally and organizationally is is retaining Quinn Hughes as the face of this franchise. You know, someone who he and the other veteran players on this team would be comfortable with and they certainly have a high regard for Foot himself. And then lastly, you know, Rutherford was in Carolina when Rod Bindore was the assistant coach there, right? He he’d hired Kirk Mueller and Rod Bindore was an assistant coach on on that staff uh for a few years and sort of the summer he left they hired Bill Peters and and Rod worked what four more years as an assistant coach before he got a shot as a head coach and and I think in Rutherford’s view he’d maybe waited too long with Brydeore to promote him right like he was the right guy and on some level Rutherford believed that, but also wasn’t certain that he was ready. And I think sometimes we see this, especially with, you know, wy veteran hockey executives, right? Where especially when your back’s against the wall and things have gone poorly for you, you sort of lean on experience, right? Lean on people you trust. And I think he saw this as an opportunity to avoid making a mistake that he felt he’d made 12 years ago in or 10 years ago in in Carolina where I’ve got the right high character leader. Whether he’s ready or not, he’s the right guy and I don’t want him to languish in an assistance job. I don’t want to lose him to Philadelphia. I I just want to do and hire the guy I believe in. And I think foot was the guy he believed in. And so I think those were the three factors that ultimately shaped him getting the nod ahead of Malhotra. All right, we have to get to a quick ad break, but lots more with Thomas Dreads about the Canucks in just a moment here on DLLS. Well, let’s talk about uh Monarch Money. And if you have questions where your money goes, like sometimes I do because I have two children that tend to uh you spend a lot of money on kids. And so if you you tend to struggle to find out where if money goes and everything like that. So finances can be messy and confusing. Monarch Money acts like your personal CFO giving you full visibility and control so you can stop earning and start growing. It’s more than your averaging but average budgeting app. Monarch Money is a complete financial command center for your accounts, investments, and goals. They don’t just manage your money. You start building wealth with 50% off your first year for our elicitors. So if you are when you’re using Monarch money like we have many folks at DLS you can learn things you’re going out to eat too much or maybe you’re spending too much on delivery or or whatever that’s those are the type of things that they they help you with. So or spending way too much on vacation. Okay. Yes. Yes. That’s another good one. Owen for get control of your overall finances with Monarch Money. Use code DLLS at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code DLLS. Thank you, Sean. Let’s talk about game time for a minute. I just used game time in a fantastic way to go see the Red Sox at Fenway Park. I got to see Paul Ski pitch. I got to see the major league debut of uh Payton Tulli who was fantastic. Couple of big 65 66 hurlers with gigantic mustaches. It was a lot of fun. We got a good deal out of it, too. But it’s also college football season, so forget what I just said and use game time to get your favorite college football tickets. And you can do so knowing that they’re guaranteed. Sometimes you can get great deals as low as $25. And of course, you can even get zone deals where you choose a section and save more money because you let Game Time choose your seats. Or you could just say, “Hey, I’m going to use the seat views and know exactly what I’m doing.” Take the guesswork out of buying college football tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app. Create an account. Use the code DLLS for $20 off your first purchase. It worked for me. Terms apply. Again, create an account, redeem the code DLS for $20 off. Tap, ticket, go. Download the Game Time app today. All right, let’s bring Thomas back in as we continue our conversation about the Vancouver Conucks. And we have way more topics than time, but Luds, keep us going. Well, I I guess Thomas, for me, when when you you say that, Adam’s been there for a while. Tac was obviously the the guy in charge. I think they’re both kind of cut from the same cloth when you look at the way that they both approach the game. So, is there really a different voice there? You know what I mean? Are is Adam going to kind of be preaching and following up on the same kind of things? Cuz sometimes you’re just changing those kind of guys so the players can hear something a little bit different, but they’ve already been listening to him for the most part, right, for two, three years now. Yeah. So, what what does what does Adam bring then that maybe is different than Tuck? Yeah. And you know, I look, this is a big swing, right? Adam Foot, as Sean alluded to, lacks head coaching experience. And we all know this is not a rookie league, right? You you don’t I mean, going from being good cop assistant coach to being the the guy setting the tone every day as the head coach is it’s a big step. And it’s a big step especially when you’re working with the same group of players without question. You know, I I am curious or I was curious to sort of see like would foot rely on some of the structural things and and systems for example that talk utilized in Vancouver. And the indication that I’ve got cuz Foot’s been in town for meetings this week with senior Conucks management and his coaching staff um to sort of talk through and work through the vision for how they want this team to look and feel uh next season. You know, I think there’s going to be significant changes. Like for what it’s worth, despite being a firstear head coach and and despite the fact that, you know, while the Conucks didn’t have success last season, structurally they were still formidable, right? I mean, they were they were down a ton of bodies by the end of the year. Quinn Hughes had the oblique injury, had an additional uh groin injury. I mean, he was a shadow of himself. Patterson was out of the lineup. Heedel was out of the lineup. They had Pew Sudter playing topline center and Atu Ratu playing second line center. I mean, it got ugly. It got grim. And night in night out the Conucks were like not getting outshot that badly or if they lost they’d lose by one goal, right? I mean there were there were things you could hang your hat on uh schematically in terms of how this team was playing. And I was curious to see whether or not talk or talk system as it were would be maintained by foot like if he’d do sort of the coverband version of Rick talk hockey. And the indication that I’ve got is no. I think he’s prepared to swing the bat here. I think he’s looking at this team and he sees a more mobile, more potentially dynamic blue line group with some promising young bodies. And I think we’re going to see more down ice pressure. Like I think we’re going to see a a one two in the neutral zone. don’t think we’re going to see, you know, talks pressure two, three with the with the neutral zone wedge and, you know, the the team just trying to herd bodies uh into the wall along the defensive blue where you’ve got, you know, Tyler Myers and all the all the big Canucks defenders that this team used to rely on uh sort of meeting forwards at that at that point. And you’re going to see the aggression ramp up in the defensive zone. like I’m not going to be stunned if this team abandons sort of that um you know hybrid uh man zone system that uses kind of that halfway point between Dbor and Bruce Cassidy and goes you know as aggressive as like full swarm like I think foot’s prepared systematically and in terms of how this team is going to look and feel to swing the bat and depart from sort of some of the systematic choices that made and you know the the leadership side of it the communication style side of it. I mean I I mean I think there’s going to be some simil similarities, some overlap there. I think with the with both guys, I think you’re looking at coaches that are somewhat old school obviously in terms of how they played and what they value, but are kind of new school in terms of how they communicate with players, how actively uh they communicate with players. Um you know, and and that’s sort of the secret sauce, right? want to get that old school values, new school methods uh kind of sweet spot. That’s kind of what what you what the best version I think of Adam Phelp looks like in Vancouver. But already I think you’re seeing him put some thought into how he’s going to depart from sort of talk shadow in terms of how the team is going to play. Now, now how the team feels day-to-day to be in the locker room, I won’t have a 100% sort of view of that. that’s going to be outside of everything that I can glimpse. I I’ll I’ll sort of get hints of it as along the way as we go through this season. But I but I already think talk um sorry I already think Adam Foot’s been thoughtful about making sure that he’s doing different stuff and really swinging at this one uh swinging at this pitch as opposed to just uh sticking with the same old same old uh if I had told you 18 months ago that what if I told you Yeah. If I told you 18 months ago that thatcher Dumpka wouldn’t be invited to the Olympic orientation camp, I would have not believed I would have been saying it myself and lo and behold two weeks ago it’s f a name like a Joey Dord’s name is popping up now instead of on there. Obviously his injury issues and and struggles have been a much talked about public thing amongst the many things for you. What’s kind of the reality and how do you kind of look for him? Obviously, there’s a lot to prove for him from both a health and a play perspective coming back into this season. Yeah, he definitely has a lot to prove. His stock is at a low eB. You know, I I Joey Dord went and played at the Worlds for Team USA. So, you wonder how much uh Team USA brass wanted to make sure to reward a guy who’d sacrificed his summer, right, to go help the national team program. Um, you also wonder, you know, sometimes, and and we see this all the time in hockey, but sometimes you just want, especially if you’re talking about like a fourth goalender, you want just a guy who’s going to fill in or fit into his role, right? As opposed to someone pushing and driving in August to make the case that they should be starting ahead of, you know, whomever, right? And and so I sort of wonder if those two factors loomed large in in the thinking of Team USA brass with that. Um, you know, I don’t think Demco should take it as a as an insult by any means. I think it’s probably good for him to just be focused on rehabbing and having a fully healthy summer and and training because of everything that’s on the line for him as opposed to going to an orientation camp two weeks out from the start of training camp. I I think that’s probably a good thing. And let’s be real, if Thatcher Demco gets to January or December or whenever these teams are being named and he’s chugging along at a 9:30 save percentage and he’s fully healthy and dialed in and looking like one of the most dominant puck stoppers in the sport, uh, Team USA is going to bring it, right? Like this is the door’s not closed on this for him by any means. Demco situation, uh, it’s a fascinating one. He dealt with an unprecedented knee tear last season. Then he he got back sustained a back injury, got back groin injury, then missed the last few games with illness. I mean, it was a nightmare campaign for him healthwise uh on the tail end of a season in which he got hurt down the stretch, worked to get back for the playoffs, and then left game one with an injury and we never saw him again. I mean, it it’s been a rough 18month run for Thatcher Demco healthwise. And to, you know, add to it, I’d say when he was in the net, although we saw flashes of the dominant, athletic, positionally excellent goalender that he can be, he wasn’t at his best last season either. Now, the Conucks have already signed him, right? Which does to some extent limit at least the financial stakes of this season for Demco, right? He signed a three-year deal with an $8 million cap hit uh the very first day that he was eligible, which speaks to the level of confidence that the Canucks have that he can be a goalender of the caliber capable of of carrying this team to the postseason uh right now and and going forward. Um but yeah, I mean I think in terms of you know rebuilding the trust uh that that you know connects fans watch him play these days and and are just sort of nervous the whole time that at some point he’s going to get up slowly after a save, right? So a healthy season would would help put that to rest. Uh, in terms of his stock around the league, as evidenced by him not being invited to Team USA camp, I mean, we’re only two years removed from this guy being considered one of the best goalenders in hockey. A a lights out season would would restore uh that level of stock in in terms of how he’s viewed. Uh, and then obviously the Canucks have swung big both on him and Kevin Lankin, who they also signed five years, 4.5. So beyond this season, they’re going to have 12.5 million wrapped up in net. Um, you know, the thing about the Demco contract that I I still sort of look a skew at because I think he’s enormously talented and can obviously exceed the value of that capid in terms of his hockey contributions. But, you know, I look I look around and all the other goalenders making in and around 8 8 and a half 825 million or more are guys that play 60 games a year, right? the Hellabuk and Vasalevki and you know the best of the best Shust Sturkin Siroken on and on and you know even the guys who haven’t done that historically like Swayman and Olark but are paid in that range they’re paid in that range to be 60 game a year guys. Uh they just didn’t do it when they were a lights out tandem together with the Boston Bruins. But the Conucks are and the the Lankanin deal really speaks to this making a different type of bet on Demco. uh they intend to play him 50 games, right? They they don’t want him to be a workhorse starter and you know, I think it would be irresponsible for them to use him in that way. So to to some extent anyway, they’ve placed a different bet than other teams have placed on their star goalenders, right? Those goalenders, they’re they’re being counted on to be workh horses. The Canucks are paying Deco like a work workhorse without counting on him to be utilized in that manner. And I struggle to square that just as you know an egghehead analyst just in that it feels to me like a bet against themselves even though obviously the the the real bet is that Demco is the sort of guy that can steal him a playoff series if they get there. All right Thomas we’re almost out of time. The analysis has been fantastic as we would expect from you but I do have to ask you one thing before we get to Patrick and that is about the Dallas Stars. So this whole series on the summer, we’ve asked every guest what your perspective is on the Stars going into the 2526 season. Yeah, I I mean, look, I think they’re a contender. I think they are one of the best teams in hockey. I’m going to be very very excited to watch what Miko Ratnan can do uh with a full 82 game ramp up uh in Dallas. You know, I’m still extraordinarily high on Wyatt Johnston. I know it wasn’t his best season, but I think this is a star level player. I love Thomas Harley. I I actually don’t think Thomas Harley is just a like perfect compliment to Miro Hkin and I think he’s a star defender in in his own right. Um so I mean I I look at this Dallas team and I think they’re as complete as anybody you’ll see around the league. I think expectations should be that they’re, you know, that they’re going to be pushing and and perhaps pushing realistically to get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup. And, you know, if I have any doubts about that, it’s that I’m I’m a guy who’s very high on Pete Dbor. I think Pete Dbor is an exceptional hockey coach. Uh Glenn Golitin obviously has uh tenure in Vancouver as an assistant. Um, you know, he he’s done it before in Dallas and and I think he’s a good coach, but I think he’s got big shoes to fill. And then of course the Jason Robertson will they or won’t they that also lingers above the stars. And you know for me anyway Jason Robertson all his playoff performances have been a bit mixed. I I have no question there’s no question in my mind that he’s one of this uh league’s elite goal scorers. I love the area game. You know I do think you need to play a certain way for him to have maximum success. But um I don’t think that’s different from how Ratin needs to play. Right. like the the the the difference I guess is that Renon can just sort of call game himself, skating the puck through the neutral zone and then picking a corner the way no one else on the planet can. But, you know, both guys I think are are at their best playing sort of a slower east west puck possession style as opposed to doing some of the north south stuff, the stress hockey that’s so invogue and that the Florida Panthers rely on, for example. So, you know, I I think there’s no question in my mind anyway that Robertson can fit, that he can be a big game player and a big game point producer, even though uh that’s been lacking in years past. Uh so, I look at this Stars team and think, man, sky’s is the limit. This is clearly, in my mind, the best team in the Central Division. Uh and clearly one of the four or five teams that we should go into this season expecting uh to to be hoisting the Stanley Cup or at least competing for it at the point end of this season. Thomas, unfortunately, we’re out of time, but your energy is infectious. Your analysis is great. We love having you. Thank you so much for carving out a few minutes for us today. I need a cigarette. And uh we’ll talk to you again soon. Thank you so much, Thomas. Thomas Dance from The Athletic. If you’re not reading his stuff, you have to. It’s it’s fantastic. Up next, let’s talk to Patrick Johnston. More Canucks talk here on the Stars Other 31 on DLSS. First, we’re going to talk about the football team and our team that covers the football team that is playing tonight. If you may not have heard that there is a happens to be a big football game and maybe you should look into booking this trip before seeing what the Eagles do to the Cowboys tonight since you’re so you’re still excited about going to watch the Cowboys go play the the Raiders to do my best Sam Nestler. You didn’t you didn’t that wasn’t passionate, Sean. You didn’t go for it. I no I don’t I do not have the passion for you got to channel your inner Chris Burman. That’s the Raiders. There’s just a lack of passion or caring about what happens to the Cowboys season. Just Oh, he is dead inside, Luds. He is His soul has been crushed. He’s not talking about the Packers, though. That’s right. He’s talking about the Cowboys. Exact. That’s my point. Oh, I uh Yeah, the uh Yeah. So, but it’s going to be a really fun trip there for for the the DLS and Cowboys fans that do go. Our Cowboys team is going to be there. It’s great. Um, obviously everyone will always talk about the on front of camera talent, but I can’t help but point out John Anderson’s going. So, why wouldn’t you go on that trip to be in the same place as John Anderson, have a great time. And most importantly, if you go and have a good time, and this is a smashing success, it may help this Dallas Star show at some point. So, I am uh Hey, Sean. Harry just said in the chat, “They healthy scratched Sam for Sean’s lack of emotion on the ad read.” Yes, that is the I’m just trying to help you get through the rest of the ad read. Yeah. Yeah. But so, yeah, go on the trip, have a great time. Vegas is fun no matter what. And uh if And who knows, maybe there’s something for us in the future. And don’t forget, get your shirts. Oh, the t-shirt. The t-shirts. The t-shirts. Yes. the uh with become a dieh hard member. We have incredible t-shirts. We’ve got some that are about to pop up on the screen. Um we got some from the some Cowboys ones that you can definitely wear once you get them to watch on that trip. And uh yeah, I’m also a big fan of a lot of the Dallas Stars ones. I don’t know if those can pop up too because I think there Yep. There we go. The Jakeer one. Tanner’s click on the button. Don’t test him. He’ll beat you. Finish Mafia one. We got some fun stars ones because you should rock the shirt of a team that might actually win more than six games this season, man. And Ardell, before we get to Patrick, Ardell said in the chat, “Sean’s eyes look like low tide death when he said Cowboys.” That’s amazing. It’s true. I feel for you, buddy, because suddenly my Patriots look a little less terrible. So, just saying. Anyway, let’s get to Patrick. Patrick Johnson is the columnist for the province and the Vancouver Sun and very much shaved their heads in Vancouver. I’ll tell you one thing. Yes, we all lost our hair. Patrick is absolutely loving maybe even relishing Shawn’s demure attitude, his his downright morose feeling of shame for what he he currently calls being a Cowboys fan. Hi, Patrick. Well, I just I I guess I want to ask you guys my uh my 14 team PPR league. Dak went for four bucks last night. So, I don’t know what the reaction is out there for you guys, but the fact that he got drafted as all, is that a good sign or I don’t know what that is. He’s still a starter. That still has some value. So, speaking of which, let’s try to segue this into the Canucks. Oh, he’s overpaid. Yeah, probably. Is that where you’re going too much? Okay. I don’t know where you’re going, but I’m guessing where you’re going. Okay. I don’t even know if I know where I’m going. Oh, well, that’s good then. We were We were just talking to Thomas. Guys, there’s nothing left to say after Tom Tom told you everything. He did. He’s unmatchable. I sit next to him every game at the press box. Unmatchable. I mean, the energy on Thomas is unbelievable, is it not? I love it. Craig was right. You need to smoke after talking to him every time. Oh, he’s so good. So, let’s talk about playoff history because once in the last five years, two in the last 10 seasons for the Canucks. How is that eating away at the fan base right now? Oh, like you wouldn’t believe. Like you absolutely wouldn’t believe. I mean, I sit honestly I have to I’m old enough. I sit and look at Craig and I think about 94 and there is just that energy for Canucks fans that they want to recapture 94 2011. If you’re old enough, you go back to 82, like people remember how good it can be. And 2024 was super fun, even if they only made two rounds in the playoffs. And you know, it’s funny. Five years ago, obviously the bubble and there was that whole story. The Conucks were an interesting team in a weird situation. There’s been these tantalizing moments and then last year was just this absolute unbelievable disaster. And everyone doesn’t want that again. They want two years ago at, you know, at the very least they want that back. Well, sometimes playoff success getting to the playoffs to start with have to do with what do you put it on? Your best players usually. So, I mean, I think your best players need to be the best players, right? So, let’s talk about EP40 a little bit. Like, here, Patrick, here’s what I want to know. Is he as blank off the ice as he is on the ice? Or is that just a competitive thing in him? Or is his demeanor different away from the rink than what it appears to be game time? There’s a like there is no doubt there is a passion and an energy that burns deep inside of him, but he is a different cat and and so when things aren’t going well that really shows that that the way he sort of responds to others um may not cast him in a good light and I know that’s been frustrating uh for teammates in the past. Uh certainly I don’t think there’s any denial. you talk like I you know talked to Rick talking about him all the time last year and he said this kid cares he wants to win. I think the biggest challenge for him last season was he had never gone through a funk in terms of results like he had in you know beginning after basically the All-Star game in 2024. He’d never gone through a funk like that before and he did not know how to deal with it. And and I think that was a big mental challenge for him was learn was trying to get through that. And I think that that that is to me the big question is has he figured that out and and is he recognized that people are trying to come to him to help to to to guide him to where he needs to go? Um because no, you’re right, Craig. Like his the way he presents himself a lot of the time and what you see on the ice is very neutral, right? and and I can understand how, you know, opponents or teammates or whatever are going to be put off by that. Like, what does this guy care? He does care. He hated how badly last year went. I we we know that much. Um, but I think for him, it’s an internal thing, right? It’s he’s like, that’s my thing. That’s my problem. Why am I going to spill all that to everybody else? And that’s just how he handles it. But in the end, how he plays is the reaction. And if he comes out flying and he I mean, I watched him skate around yesterday. Obviously, it’s the first skate of the year with his, you know, some of his teammates. If he flies around like he did two, three, four seasons ago, then we won’t even be talking about this. It’s all about, in the end, for him, it’s all about what he does um and less about what he reacts. And if he’s not doing anything, of course, we’re going to talk about how he’s react, are there conversations about him getting more pucks to the net? I mean, he’s got like 150 fewer shots over the last two seasons, right? and he’s under I think he’s under a couple shots per game. It seems like he’s when he’s not scoring he’s afraid to not score and it’s like I don’t want to because the puck’s not going to go in the net which I kind of think that’s the wrong way you go about it. I think you’re absolutely on to something there. Like he you’re right. First of all, the shot volume, shot rate, you know, however you want to count it, collapsed last year. And this was a guy that I mean he won the slapshot at the skills competition, right? like this is a guy that can hammer the puck and for much of the first half of the season, I mean, it’s great we’ve got the puck tracking technology, right? We can see how slow his shot was. He was not hitting anything hard and he wasn’t skating hard either. And it it the way the Conucks struggled through so much the first half. Obviously, we know the off ice dynamic that was in play, but fundamentally this was a team that was designed to have Person attacking the middle and Miller attacking the middle and neither of them did it. And then in the end, they were all stuck. And I think Craig, I mean, you you had to think about how to stop star players all the time. And I think what’s happened here partly is that not only did was there perhaps a a sort of a physical aspect to this, but it was also a scouting aspect that teams figured out how to defend him and he had no answers and he couldn’t create any separation. he couldn’t find any space for space for himself. Um, and so he wasn’t shooting enough. And as the season, you know, as we got to the conclusion, he obviously got hurt at the end, but there was a little window in there where you’re like, okay, I think he’s taking it to the shooting areas again. But again, that’s another big question that comes back to what you asked me before, you know, about the sort of emotional reaction. Fundamentally, it comes down to what he is doing on the ice. And if he is getting to the hard areas and he’s getting shots off, he is going to score because his shot is that good. But if he’s not getting there, he ain’t scoring. Patrick, kind of related to that, one of the things I was always thinking about like with what his own individual play, no one can say anything bad of Quinn, he’s just a couple years, but when you’re the guy who wears the letter as the captain and he was I think he was what 23 when he when he was given that title and everything like that for him, have you seen a the growth necessary and b kind of how does where does it kind of fall on Quinn to kind of help? We talk a lot about a We got this locker room’s gonna new coach. Where does this fall on Quinn to kind of be the I guess the standard bearer or whatever you want to call it to help get everything to into one place there. Well, yeah. I mean, this is really the first time he’s ever been that kind of guy, too. Like, in his entire playing career from when he was a kid all the way up, like he’d never been the guy who had to handle all the extra stuff that comes with the seat. Um, and you know, I mean, it was a difficult year when you’re not winning and then on top of all the other stuff that was going on between teammates, trying to, I guess, play peacemaker is the best way to put it. Um, the the dynamic was there was so far beyond what he just was trying to do on the ice because what he does on the ice is the most important part of his leadership talents, right? Like he he’s the guy that gets it done. He’s the guy that makes it happen. I I talk all the time about how in hockey we love identifying players based on where they start their shift as opposed to what they actually do. I mean, you think about the way we describe players even in basketball or in soccer. Like Quinton Hughes is a defenseman, but he’s not. He’s something different. He’s a point guard driving lane and he will carry the puck around and around and he’s trying to find the gaps and he’s trying to create space for his teammates. And that in its own was his I think best the best case for why he’s the captain. Um and and the emotional aspect I mean he is a guy he is very much the modern player or if not not too high not too low you know trying not to comment too much on what happened trying to avoid his emotional reactions but he’s a guy that cares and we know that um you know the the the the question now is okay in theory the room is stabilized. It’s not going to have the problems it didn’t last year. I mean, certainly if P person doesn’t play well, there’s going to be internal frustration with him, but that’s not going to be a onev one kind of thing the way it was last year. Um, I I do think Quinn Hughes has that. He has the room, right? Like these guys believe in him. They respect him. They see the work ethic. They see the delivery. Um, he’s not a raw I mean I think most leaders actually this these days aren’t raw types. He’s not a raw type, but he’s a guy that focus. He shows up. He’s he he was sort of challenged a little bit by management three years ago, their first essentially their first half season in charge. At the end of the season, Patrick LV and the GM basically said, “We need to see people understand that the standard they’ve set is not first of all good enough because they haven’t made the playoffs. But even when they do make the playoffs, you have to keep progressing.” And that was a big talking point going into last season was, yeah, okay, they won the division. They pushed the Oilers in the second round. you know, they were that close to being the next thing and that now teams are going to be pursuing you and you guys have to be mentally ready for that and that was a failure of the team. And so I think in a certain level Quinn, you know, from what I know of Quinn, he will take that on and say, “Well, we need to fix that and we need to think differently. We need to think more more sort of not ambitiously, but more intently in what we want to do. What’s our intention here? How are we going to do it?” Um, and he will do that by leading by example. I mean, he’s he obviously knows there’s going to be a lot of chatter. I mean, he talked about it with uh Sportsnet the other day about how he knows that there’s going to be lots of noise because because of his contract situation, because that you know what Jim Rutherford acknowledged at the end of last season that maybe he wants to play with his brothers and knowing what that might mean. Um, he knows that’s going to come for him and I think he’s ready to deal with it. I think he is just that player. He is just a supernatural talent. You guys have seen lots of those in Dallas. He is that type of player. Like he just does so much more than, you know, than the next guy and he’s going to keep doing that. All right, lots more with Patrick in just a moment because I want to follow up on that right here on DLLS. But first, let’s talk about a couple of different things before I get you to the Die Hard stuff. Sean was ready for that QR code, but we’re not quite there yet because I have to talk to you about Big Brother, Big Sister. We are doing a big month here. Big brother, big sister. Yeah, look at Led’s shirt. He’s pointing it out. If you’re not looking, you did notice that he’s prepared for this. There is a huge initiative for all city, not just DLLS, but DNVR, the ones in Phoenix and Chicago, and of course in Philadelphia to try to raise money for a fantastic cause. And if you notice on the YouTube page right now that you’re watching it on, because we’re live. If you’re watching this later, of course, you can’t do it live, but instead of the super chat button, there is a donate now. If you do hit that donate now, let us know that you’ve done it in the chat and we’ll still do a super chat. Maybe we’ll even do have Tanner play a drop or two of your requests. But those donations will be sent directly to Big Brothers Big Sister. So, it’ll be a a massive cause for them. We’re doing it all month. There’ll be some other shows where we aren’t doing the other 31 where maybe we can get a little bit more involved with it, but that doesn’t mean that those donations aren’t super important. And plus, we’ve got some preseason games coming up sooner than we realize where we do pre and postgame shows. And how many vacation days? Super chats and yeah, let’s just really starting to use that PTO. But let’s talk about being a diehard for a second because you absolutely want to get full access to everything that we have here at DLS. And right now it whether you like it or not, the Cowboy season starts tonight and you can sign up to be a diehard. If you’ve never done it before for just $36 for your first year and as Tanner showed in our last break, you will get a free football club t-shirt if you sign up. There are three different options to choose from. All Cowboys related, as you can see, the big horseback riding cowboy, the Demboys, or the 88 Club. I remember yesterday’s show as I was watching this morning, Sam goes, “I can’t see what’s on the I don’t know if he didn’t have his glasses on or what.” He literally couldn’t see that there was a cowboy riding a horse. He didn’t have his chair all the way elevated. I love it. All dls.com. Become a diehard today and get everything that we have to offer plus one of those football club shirts. All right, let’s bring Patrick back on. Let’s bring Shawn back on. Let’s talk about Quinn Hughes for a minute more. You mentioned it, Patrick. And you you set me up perfectly that this was not from Quinn Hughes. This was from Jim Rutherford. And Luds and I were talking about this pre-show today. I was wondering if Jimmy was was sitting at Dicks on Dicks over there then when he made that comment. And we’re sitting there going like, is it realistic? Because we’ve heard all the rumors, but you’re in market. Is this a realistic concern that fans in Vancouver have that they could lose their captain after his contract’s done in two years or somehow before that if Vancouver suddenly realizes that they think they could lose him for nothing? It’s a great one. First of all, Luds, I’m sorry to report Dicks on Dicks closed a few years ago. I know, but I didn’t want to bring up Orange number five. I didn’t think that would be appropriate. Google that. That’s closed, too. Anyway, that thing still’s going strong. It’s still there. Um, is it still there? Jimmy Rutherford. It’s It’s an entertaining place. Let’s put it that way. Is it still open? Yeah. Still going. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, well, I’ve just changed. I’m going to Ben and I’m saying instead of taking a trip to Vegas, I think we need to take a trip to Vancouver. Why not both? I can be your tour guide. I’ve only been to Vancouver. Only one is going to come back from there. It’s gorgeous. And then we we bust to Abbottzford for an Abbottzford. Oh, no. Never played a game in the Miners. We’re not going there. Game. It was a Heat game. Yeah. Look at Look at even Patrick. Yeah. All right. Anyway, let’s talk about Quinn. Yeah. Well, Jimmy Rutherford, I mean, listen, he’s been very honest and clear with us when he’s been asked about stuff. As I said, he brought it up. Um, yeah. I I mean, listen, I think it’s I think it’s going to be a topic. It’s going to be it’s inevitable um when the team is struggling, right? Like and and I saw I think it was Ardell in the comments media scrutiny must be exhausted. I mean listen I think we are aware we this is the big show in town. This is the only big league team in town. We have a CFL team which has some love. We have an ML MLS team which has some love but fundamentally in the end hockey is what rules the day here. So pretty good MLS team too I might add right now. Yeah. like fantastic and a huge signing in anyway, but like like in the end, the Kucks still dominate the conversation and they’re the casual fan that’s still interested even even as they’ve been struggling over the past decade. Like this is what people still focus on. This is what people want to see. And um so yeah, inevitably when things are bad, every little thing gets dialed in on. and whether it’s from us or it’s just fans in general and um the fact that you know you look at the the struggles that this team mostly has had while Hughes has been here what are his sort of personal desires personal interests um obviously you know winning a Stanley Cup is a huge factor but sometimes you get extra things and Rutherford wasn’t wrong to acknowledge that his two brothers play for a different team and now they’re all at the pinnacle of the sport and Quinn is potentially, you know, two years from now facing a position where he could choose himself to leave. And that is inevitably going to be a huge talking point. And I, you know, I I I you would not be silly to think that part of the reason why Rick Tocket sat back and said, “Hm, what am I going to do here was considering what was his team going to look like even a year from now.” Um, like that’s just that’s that was a cold hard truth. and you know he went to a team obviously that’s got lots of other question marks but I don’t think there’s a question mark about Matt V Mishkov leaving in two years you know like like that’s the difference and um it’s a long way to go but in many ways I think you know it’s similar to what we heard Person a few years ago u there was when he was on coming off one of his great seasons you know he he’d been playing well and he basically said coming out of sort of the Jim Bennett era I want to play for a winning team that’s what matters. And and it was a a little bit of a not not a shot out of the bow, but him saying, “Listen, I care. I’m not going to just show up no matter what happens.” Quinn Hughes is the same way. And um if this team obviously starts go things start going south, like they there is going to be a huge amount of noise about it because it’s not just going to be us. Like this is the other thing. And by the way, I mean this was the thing about last season with the rift. So much of the conversation actually was driven from like outside like national level media, other podcasts, not you guys to be clear, but there were other podcasts out there that were driving a lot of this bus and you know I would talk to some of the players sort of behind how you guys are we doing like how’s this going? No, no, no. It’s a lot of noise from elsewhere. I understand what you guys are having to deal with and you know we were doing our best to be fair and accurate in what we understood but a lot of it was just you know the gas how it goes and that’s always been the case. It just shapes in a different way now, right? But like the national conversation is going to descend on Quinn Hughes no matter what. Will he or won’t he? Because that’s just the nature of the beast. Like look what we’re doing right now. You guys want to know about the Vancouver Conucks and you’re a Dallas podcast. So it’s it is inevitable that it’s going to come up. Um whether they’re winning or not. It’s going to be is this enough to keep him? And I guess we’re just going to have to see how that all shakes out over the next 18 months, however long it’s going to be. When’s the next trade deadline? When’s the trade deadline after that? You know, those are the two pressure points at this point, I think. Well, Patrick, there there is another Normally there’s three of us up here, but whenever Shawn decides to bless us with an appearance, that that third one gets booted to the curb. And this is in honor of Sam Nestler. Oh, you going to ask about college? I’m going to ask a college question for Sam. Okay. And you know what? You know what reminded me of this is I I heard Patrick say I think he said elite team. Did you? Okay. Well, I want to speak of the elite program, the University of North Dakota. Oh, here we go. Okay. Elite. So, what happened with Brock Besser? Like, how did things change? Was it was Was he playing possum? Was it Was it posturing when I’m going to move on then all of a sudden, bang, he signs a big deal? I no I it was I think full honestly like talking to uh you know I talking to his agent like Ben Heninson was he thought it was over right like like the way things had progressed the way I think management was presenting itself uh and certainly the way they talked to us you know that they thought they could find a different kind of player Brock Besser is a very good goalcorer um consistent, you know, like he shows up. He is not a leading top goal scorer in this league. I don’t think anybody expects that. He’s a better two-way player than people give him credit for. Um he is a handy, useful, he’s a positive teammate. He’s a he’s a good guy to have in your room. He wants to be here, which you know, I mean, it used to be a big thing, but that’s not a big thing, but that’s kind of a big thing given how things have been. he is a good guy to have around. But for whatever reason, management found themselves looking elsewhere. And I think fundamentally what happened was they got up to the window and they saw all these guys ressigning with teams. They had talked a lot about wanting to bring in at least one maybe two top six forwards and that market kind of evaporated before it even opened. And in the end, they did what I think a lot of us thought would happen, which was that in the end, they did make one final call saying, “Okay, we know what you’re after. We know what will probably keep you here. Can we do that?” And that’s where they are. And he’s going to be here. And I think fans are happy. I think he’s happy. His teammates are certainly happy because the truth is, look at what they did in free agency. They didn’t really they signed Pio Joseph. Like that’s it. They didn’t do anything. This has been a team that has been quite active no matter who the managers have been going back 15 years, going back 20 years of Brian Burke. Like, this is a team that consistently signed players in free agency. This year has not really gone that way. And partly because there wasn’t a lot out there and they just had to sit back and think, we cannot go into the season without a guy that we at least know is a reliable reliable goal scorer. So, he’s come back. I think the team’s happy. They’re going to be it is to their benefit. But you’re right, it was a bizarre sequence because certainly at the deadline, you know, we asked Patrick Alvine about this and there were certainly things on the table. There had been conversations going on about moving to other teams. Carolina at one point, you know, that there were other teams interested. Um, but at the end of the day, they held on to the player and they thought he was they they at that point weren’t pretty weren’t that confident. They were they still talked to Big Game that oh yeah, he’s still an option. Yeah. But at that point, they didn’t want to sign him. I don’t think for what they ended up signing him for, but they didn’t really have any other options. And they’re, you know, he’s a good player. He’s he’s a guy that that will help them win. Um he’s not a superstar. And I think fundamentally that was the other truth is that they wanted to find a superstar, but there just weren’t any more out there. All right, Patrick, I got one kind of off the cuff one, but I’ve been wanting to when we do this Vancouver show, I kind of wrote someone to ask somebody from with Vancouver expertise. um every year because it’s always fun when uh trade deadlines happen. People always talk about teams trading with teams and everything like that. Yeah, we all know the uh the public uh squabble, whatever word we want to use between the owners of these two organizations. We know the history. In fact, the I believe courts in Canada had to get involved at some point. Yes. is if there was do do you believe that there is a fundamental divide that would ever stop these teams from making a hockey move because of the men at the top. Do do you think that is something that would happen? Because it’s something that I always think about whenever we uh I know Stars fans who have looked this this past rep always asked me about it. So, I’m curious from the Vancouver perspective of this of would the two uh the billionaire gentlemen get involved in not making a deal to help each other. [Music] I would not say it’s impossible. I mean, is let me think about is Derrick Roy the last trade? I believe so. I think I think I think that you brought it up. I’m like, you know, I haven’t I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about this. Certainly we we know well that uh that uh that that Gard the Galardi Well certainly the Galardi son or Tom and Franchesco are not terribly close. Uh yes as I understand it the fathers the old men are still in in touch with each other and in fact they were at least till recently partly on a ski development project. But anyway um I can confirm there remains some personal animosity. So that could that I mean it could that interfere into hockey ops? I don’t think so to be perfectly honest. I mean, let’s see what one of the first questions that we asked I asked Jim Rutherford was dealing with an owner and uh he said, “Listen, I have long experience in managing up um and dealing you know your part of your job is being respons but you know if there was a trade on the table that involved I mean certainly there were talks at some point about PS going into the deadline didn’t happen but I do not believe that got blocked because of uh because of ownership animosity or anything like that. I I think fundamentally it’s just there hasn’t been a lot of fits. I think that’s that’s the that’s the story is that the I mean partly because the stars have been so good and so what they’re constantly for is sort of parts I think the Canucks I mean the other thing to remember is the Conucks keep trying to go for it right like this owner this owner is like constantly he’s pushing let’s make the playoffs. So the Canucks have been reluctant sellers even in seasons where they haven’t played well and um especially under Jim Benning that was the case. So yeah, like like they have not necessarily always been in a position to send the kind of sort of uh reinforcement player I guess that the stars would have been looking for. Um and certainly I mean I mean in terms of results they would have been but in terms of mentality they’d rarely been. So uh no I don’t think that’s the case. But now you actually have me wondering and I’m going to start poking around. My personal my p my personal fact checker Robert Tiffen just texted me mid show here. He said, “I for” And he’s he’s shaming me for forgetting about the Jason Dickinson expansion draft trade. Oh, yes, of course. We all forgot about the big Jason Dickinson expansion draft trade. So, technically, there has been something since Derek Roy, but that’s Jason Dickson. What an experience that man had here, I guess. All right, we’re not done yet. We’re almost done. We have to go to a quick overtime. So, thank you to our viewers on our television platforms. Make sure to like and subscribe. Check out alldls.com. Okay, Patrick, one final question because we are out of time, but here we are and it’s the stars going into the 2526 season. I asked everyone of our summer series about this and you will be no exception in that manner. What do you think truthfully, not that you would Barry said? That’s right. I I I believe you would cut through said smoke and give us an honest answer of course, but what do you think of the stars going into this year? I I I similar to what Thomas was talking about. I you know, this is a team I I have always loved the depth. I was a huge Pete Dork. I’m sort of fascinated by his story more and more as we’ve watched how it didn’t quite work to get to the final step. Um I I’m I’m curious to see how Glenn Golatin does. I suppose, you know, obviously coming back uh to where he’s been before. Um certainly, you know, I mean, I haven’t talked to him a ton over the years. I wasn’t really covering the team when he was here as an assistant, but you know, a guy that has a I think a well- earned reputation. Uh certainly has seen a lot, been a lot, learned a lot. Um between especially, I would say probably here Calgary and Edmonton, right? like all three stories have been quite uh had quite the twists to them. Um but what what you know what has he gained? How what has he learned about himself? What is he going to do differently this time around in Dallas? And and will that be the secret sauce? I think that’s that’s the thing that’s most fascinating because God knows there’s enough talent here. Um, I you know, almost every one of those players, I know there’s questions on a few players, but I every one of those I look at that roster and I just I’m just I get excited in a a way that makes sense about each player and the way they play and what they bring. You know, Dallas Stars hockey to me has always been exciting, always been fun, relentless, in-your-face, you know, pushing the limits on the outside of the fence. I mean, there’s been some some of those fun games I’m going to say that I’ve covered in the in the seven years I’ve been covering the Conucks directly. Um, some of the most fun games that I can think of are are Dallas Stars games, win or loss for the Conucks. I just I’ve always appreciated the way the players in Dallas, uh, the way they play, the way they, like I said, they sort of push that outer limit. Um, try to turn the defense back in on itself is something I always feel like and getting inside. And, uh, the lineup is, I mean, you when you see a player like Migo Rand, you’re like, of course, that’s a Dallas Stars player. Um, Jason Roberts the same way. And so can can Gully find that sort of special bit that was lacking at the end of the day at the dance uh under Dbor despite everything that he was able to do that was positive. Uh that that to me is the biggest question. But I I’m a huge fan of this team. I think the roster is there. I I agree with Thomas. This is the this certainly is the best team in the central the deepest team in the central um and quite possibly the deepest team in the whole uh the whole conference even even more so than the Oilers. Well, I will for the sake of my colleagues not bring up Thomas Müller, but it’s been a good one so far. Patrick, thank you so much for joining us. Actually, I think three of us would love it. LS would tune out in a heartbeat, but thank you. It’s been wonderful. Love your insights and uh can’t wait to talk to you again about it later, but thank you for joining us today. Patrick, and when we make our trip to Vancouver, I’ll be reaching out for you as our tour guide. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Would love it. Just bring your pads, please. You better. I’ll I’ll give you plenty of notice. You can rest up. All right, there he goes. Patrick Johnson is the sports columnist for the province and the Vancouver Sun. And Luds, I want to give you the opportunity to tease our guest tomorrow on Friday’s DLS Stars show if you would be so kind. Well, we have a former Dallas Stars uh employee um former assistant manager, general manager, Doug Armstrong, currently the GM and not to be soon. He’s going to he’s going to pull a Bob Gayy. He’s going to move up one level. Move up. Yeah. So, Doug Armstrong will be here tomorrow at what did we say? 1:30 to 2, I believe. So, Yep. Because the one o’clock show tomorrow. I think the second half of the show, Armstrong, Army as Luds calls him for those that And we’re not going to overtime either. We’ll try to keep it on time. Uh Sean, we will mention Joe Pavvelski tomorrow. Do you want 30 seconds or less on paths and the recent news on the draw over there? I don’t. Yeah, I don’t. Okay, I’m good. No, you know why? He’s probably got school pick up. I’m ready to roll. Sean, thank you so much. Big thank you to Thomas Dance and of course Patrick Johnston for joining us today and for Tanner, our producer. He was on the money except for the Pavvelski Bell. We’ll be back tomorrow at 1:00 for our Friday edition with Doug Armstrong of the DLLS Stars podcast. Thanks for joining us. [Music] [Applause] [Music]
Our Football Club Diehard Sale is LIVE! https://alldlls.com/intro-offer-youtube
Today on our summer series “The Other 31” we head to the Pacific Northwest as we highlight the Vancouver Canucks, with special guests Thomas Drance, Canucks senior writer for The Athletic, and Patrick Johnston, sports columnist for The Province and the Vancouver Sun. The Canucks have only made the playoffs once in the last five seasons and the big question remains, will they be able to do enough to keep star defenseman Quinn Hughes happy? Or will their captain look for greener pastures elsewhere?
00:00 Intro
01:37 Thomas Drance joins the show
19:28 More with Thomas
35:43 Patrick Johnston calls in
49:10 More with Patrick
An ALLCITY Network Production
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DLLS_Sports
ALL THINGS DLLS:
WEBSITE:
http://allDLLS.com/
BUY MERCH:
DLLS Locker
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL:
Twitter: @DLLS_Sports
Instagram: @DLLS_Sports
Become a DLLS Diehard and get access to premium content, our Discord channel, discounts on merch, and a free shirt! Sign up here: https://alldlls.com/join-diehard/
Big Brothers Big Sisters 4th Annual Cigars & Conversations: https://bbbstx.org/news/dallas-big-socials-join-us/
Donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters or Sign Up To Become a Big: https://bbbs.org/allcity
Branded Bills: Head to https://brandedbills.com and use code B-B-D-L-L-S for 15% off your first order!
PrizePicks: Go to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/DLLS and use code DLLS for $50 instantly when you play $5. PrizePicks. Run Your Game!
Monarch Money: Use Monarch Money to get control of your overall finances with 50% off your first year at https://www.monarchmoney.com/dlls
Gametime: Take the guesswork out of buying concert tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code DLLS for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.
Shady Rays is giving out their best deal of the season. Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: DLLS35 for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people..
HelloFresh – Get 10 FREE meals at https://hellofresh.com/freestars. Applied across 7 boxes, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
Rugged Road: Reliable, durable, and built to be used– Rugged Road is your ultimate outdoor companion! Head to http://ruggedroadoutdoors.pxf.io/ALLCITY and use code DLLS for 10% off!
FOCO: Check out FOCO for merch and collectibles here foco.vegb.net/DLLS and use promo code “DLLS10” for 10% off your order on all non Pre Order items.
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.