Carolina Hurricanes & Dallas Stars Remain Unbeaten + Brady Tkachuk Injured Long-Term
On today’s show, we’re one week into the NHL season and we’ve only got two perfect teams. We have a number of injuries and lots of standout performances. We’ll get to them all in this week’s Locked On NHL. [Music] You’re Locked On NHL, your daily podcast on the National Hockey League. Part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello and welcome inside this Wednesday, October 15th edition of Locked On NHL. I’m Ross Levitan from Locked on Senators and as always, it’s a Battle of Ontario edition joined by Mike Dphano from Locked On Maple Leafs. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. That’s over at FanDuel over at Locked OnS. It has been a pity party over the last 24 hours with the news that Brady Kachchuck will miss at least four weeks. We’ll discuss that more later on in the show. Mikey got a rebound victory after a couple tough losses to the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto gets back in the win column, but they’re one of many storylines across the league. Most notably, we got stick taps to give out to the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars. Both perfect 3 and 0 records. Mikey, hot question right off the bat. Which one stays undefeated longer? Let me just take a quick peek at what their schedules are, I suppose. But here’s the thing. I think both of these teams like legitimately like they’re obviously both Stanley Cup contenders, but like I could see these two in a collision course for the Stanley Cup final. Like I really really could. Like these are two very well-built teams. So, the Jackets or the Stars have the Canucks, the Blues, Columbus, and and then the Kings. So, that’s kind of a difficult SKD. And then who? Uh, Carolina. Will they both Will they both be undefeated? That would be game number eight for the game. Both teams. Game eight. They’d both be seven and0. Are you calling it? The The Canes are on a long road trip. started out with a big win 5-1 last night, but they’ve got Anaheim, LA, Vegas, Colorado before ending the six-game trip in Dallas. There’s no way they’re making it through that gauntlet and making it to Dallas on the 25th without a loss to one of LA, Vegas, or Colorado on the road. There’s no way that they make it through that gauntlet without a loss. So, I just see, you know, a a a less likely scenario that the Canes can make it to that point without a loss. Dallas, yeah, I think they could take care of some business there. You know, they’ve got mostly home games, too, actually leading up to it. Just that one game in St. Louis on the weekend. Um, no back-to-backs either. It’s a pretty, you know, pretty stretched out schedule. So, I’m gonna I’m gonna say the Stars. I think the Stars have the best chance to remain undefeated as uh as we as we, you know, embark on this new season. It’s always fun to see the last one standing. I think it’ll be Dallas. A I think they’re a great team. I mean, what they’ve been able to build over there with Jim Mill is just super impressive. Um but they’re performing also and the schedule lines up for it. Yeah, it does. and this combination now of of having Ranton in for a full season and they made a few changes I think on the blue line in particular that I really liked in the off season. Obviously you get another year of experience from Thomas Harley who’s going to step up into one of the top top defenseman in the National Hockey League. Love Harley, man. I love that guy. He’s gonna make team Canada. I’m convinced of it. You think so? Yeah. I I’ve been I’ve been thinking a lot. this a bit of an aside, but everybody’s thinking about the Olympics. We’ve also gotten the the notes um so far around the league where general managers, whether it’s Bill Garren with uh with Minnesota or others in the management for USA, Canada, they’re around the NHL, they’re at the Bell Center last night scouting. So, it’s on everyone’s mind actually. Glad this came up because today the countries have to make their long lists. 42 skaters and five goalies have to be named today really for the Olympic teams. I don’t I don’t know the answer to why, but I’m excited to see some of these names that are on the long list. Interesting. I didn’t realize they had to make a long list. I thought like they had until was it like the beginning of January, end of December to name the team. That’s next. So, if someone out of nowhere turns into like the best player over the next month and they’re number 46 on that list, they can’t take him to the Olympics. No, I don’t know. Maybe if there’s injuries all of a sudden you can add to that 42. I I think it’s kind of kind of silly. Yeah, it’s outrageous. Tournament starts February 11th and we’ve got to do a cut down day October 15th. I mean, realistically, it’s probably going to be the guys who were at the the camps because there was like roughly 42 skaters at the camps, but what we were told was that, oh, just cuz they’re not at camp doesn’t mean that they won’t make the team. Y So, like especially for the Canadian goalending situation, like apparently they had spoke to many guys, but only those same three goalies got the invite to camp. But it’s a wide openen competition. There’s many other goalenders who are being uh who are being looked at. It’s like, all right, whatever. Sure. Sure, Jimmy. Sure. Yeah. Well, I think we know who the starter is going to be, right? Jordan Bennington’s leading them out for game one, no matter what happens. Yeah, totally agree with that one. And Montto’s had a nice start to his season, too. He’s he’s kind of the guy, right, as the third third stringer at Four Nations. Yeah, Logan Thompson’s, you know, started pretty good. was a snub last year. I think he’s got a shot to uh to make it this year for sure. So, yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see how that uh how that ends up working out. But in terms of the NHL, yeah, I think those are the two two of the top teams playing right now, man. Dallas and Carolina, both 3 and 0. Both undefeated on the year, but uh I think Dallas might might be the last one standing here. One of the teams that is 20 and two. So, not perfect, but perfect in regulation is the Vegas Golden Knights. They had a huge win against the Calgary Flames down two nothing 12 minutes in. Eel gets two goals and they get the 4-2 victory. Does it make it easier to watch after a Leaf’s win or does watching Marner do his thing in another jersey get to you? That does not matter. Like, I fully expected for Mitch Martyr to have success in Vegas. Like there was no doubt in my mind that Marner wasn’t going to go to Vegas and put up 100 plus points this year. It’s going to be interesting to see what he does in the playoffs. I think that’s where it’ll kind of get to some people if he all of a sudden puts together a Khan Smite worthy performance which again theory imagine that dude I’m expecting that like I that’s why I’ll be okay because I’m fully expecting when the pressure comes off his shoulders. He’s no longer in that Toronto bubble. I fully expect for this guy to to be able to to you know be a stud in the playoffs. But yeah, he’s been a star, you know, so far through the first uh handful of games out there in Vegas. I think Jack Eel, like the guy’s going to score 50 goals. Like door five might score 50 goals. That power play is stupid. Like it’s unbelievable. Um that that Vegas team, man, like that was a good get for them to to go and get Mitch Mner. They’re they’re going to be a a tough pill to swallow. And that’s another reason why like Carolina has Vegas in like couple of days. That’s that’s that’s a tough matchup for Carolina to go into Vegas at that. I don’t like their chances. I I think those that Golden Knight squad man, they’re they’re for real. They are honestly for real. Are they they might they got to be up uh their odds have to have shifted um since the beginning of the season in and Stanley Cup odds? No. Oh, they have to. And I think that a storyline, maybe it’s because the injuries in the regular season, but it felt like people thought, oh, uh, you know, Vegas, they get Mitch Marner, unbelievable, uh, for their right side, but like Mark Stone is still humming along and still at two points per game this season. He’s got six assists so far. Unreal. Never quit on your guy, Marky Stone. Dude, he’s gonna be I’m getting everyone ready. I’m getting everyone ready for Mark Stone and Drew Dowy to be on the Olympic team. Drew Dowy. Yes. Stone. No, he’s going to be on that Olympic team. We’ll see. We’ll see. Guarantee. We’ll see. Guarantee. How about How about How about And maybe we could take a break and get back back into this cuz there’s one team in the NHL that has me quite shocked at their start. You want to get back into that when we return? Absolutely. And we’ll also continue somewhat of an Olympic conversation because Brady Kachchuck if he needs surgery. That participation could be in jeopardy. We’ll discuss that next. You’re listening to Locked on NHL, your team every day. Today’s episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Monarch Money is the best if you’re looking to organize your finances. When you don’t have the full picture, you always end up leaving money on the table. Don’t do that. Get Monarch Money. It’s an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. I was just on Monarch Money this morning settling a few budget matters and it was so easy. I got a busy life and Monarch Money knows that every minute matters and if you put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on NHL at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code locked on NHL. Welcome back. Locked on NHL, your team every day. Shout out to the everydayers making us your first listen all across the locked on podcast network. for more with Mike. You can check out Locked on Maple Leafs. I’m over at Locked On Senators. And before we get to the big news out of Ottawa with Brady Kachchuck, that is going to be tough to get through. Mikey, I’m really curious. What team has you surprised? So, there’s two teams that had me a bit surprised by their starts. One in a good way and one in a bad way. You want the good news, the bad news first? Let’s start with the bad news and end with a bit of a high. All right. So, you know, I don’t know if I was just high off my rocker thinking this, but I I really thought that this might be a year where things not that they were going to make the playoffs, but at least things might might, you know, they’ll be competitive. The Buffalo Sabres, like it is a five bell alarm already in Buffalo. They’re 0 and3. They stink. Like, they got their players calling out the fans, jerseys on the ice. Like I I didn’t think that it was going to get this bad this quick. That that’s that’s what I mean by that. Not that I thought that they’re going to be good, but I didn’t think that it was going to be this ugly and to a point where it it seems like we could start seeing, you know, a fourth rebuild in Buffalo in the matter of of days, not months, days. Uh if if things continue to go south over the next week or two. So that start kind of surprises me um in a way. It just it’s so ugly. And this was the year where they had to see growth. That’s what they had talked about. They need to see growth. They need to see something different from this team. And it’s it’s been the same old same old. It’s so tough cuz you saw there was a video going viral after the the home opener where this fan he’s just seen enough going into it. Oh my. I’ve never heard so actually I have, but I’ve been to Buffalo games. There’s a lot of expletives that do get uh that do get thrown around there, but man, was he ever heavy on the expletives in that rant, wasn’t he? And how could you not be? Like, we haven’t made the playoffs since I was six years old. And to go to a home opener. Yeah. And not even see your team score a goal. It’s a true fan. It’s a true fan. I always appreciate that. some I saw some people being like, “Wow, this guy lets lets like his team get to his life.” It’s like the man’s he’s a true fan. He’s showing up. He’s going to the games and he’s hurt just like all of us. He’s a true fan. I will say that. Yeah. And the people of Buffalo deserve to see a better product on the ice. Well, especially preseason flying wins either, so they could get some wins on the ice. It’s not coming on the grid iron recently. Pretty recently we saw Elliot Freriedman mentioned Ras Dalene Tage Thompson. They want to be a part of the solution, but the time it’s ticking. Yeah. Buffalo Sabres. Tuck too, right? Yeah. And he’s like a hometown kid. Like if you can’t sell Alex Tuck on the Buffalo Sabres, you’re got to look yourself in the mirror. What team uh what team are you impressed by then with their start? Honestly, like it’s just I I’m super impressed by the fact that the the Florida Panthers, like you look at the injuries that they suffered and they’re just con like it’s not that I didn’t think this team was going to make the playoffs, but it how they consistently just show up and fill in and next man up mentality like to start out three and one, you know, and they’re outscoring their opponents 13-10. Babsky’s kind of, you know, still doing his thing. Um, you know, they’ve been able to get some offense. Like I just without Kachchuck, without uh Barkov, I kind of expected this team to struggle a little bit at the gate trying to find their identity, find themselves with those two out, but no, they’ve been able just to keep going status quo, 3-1, a top of the Atlantic division. Um, undefeated at home so far, too, this year. Still 3 and 0 at home. Like I just I don’t know. And not that I don’t think Florida’s a good team and that they’ll end up in the playoffs and and you know if they end up getting Barkov back still possibly go for uh go for a three Pete but I thought they’d there’d be some struggle out the gate and it’s it hasn’t man they’re just so good. Yeah, one of those wins came against Ottawa and their power play was just overpowering even without those guys. They went three for five in that game and they’re just they’re confident. You know, they have more swagger than anyone else in the league and rightfully so. It’s it’s just it’s like an aura when they get the puck in the offensive zone. They’re crisp. They’re on the tape and it’s just the next man up mentality that they have is extremely impressive. But there’s not a lot of teams that could have had Mackie Samuskevich as a scratch in the playoffs, right? Like he is a talented player and can add that pop. It’s not like they just have guys filling into those roles where um let’s say a fourth liner gets hurt, easier to call up a guy like they can place guys in their top nine and whether it’s because their stars are so complimentary to play with and can um like Sam Reinhardt for example drops down and all of a sudden he’s making Lost Ryan look amazing on that line. But they just have such a nice or order order of every line brings something different to the table. And um they’ve also got that enormous fourth line with Gajic and Greer just making sure that they’re protecting the investments. They’re they’re studs. I thought you were going to go with the Boston Bruins though, Mikey. Like they’ve had an impressive start. And you look at at Swayman’s been great. Like the fact that they have a 3 in1 record despite Unis Corpalo putting up an 851 save percentage in his two starts like Swayman in partication and missing camp really derailing his entire season not just parts of it. He could be a real X factor in the Atlantic division that wasn’t truly considered before the season because they still have David Pass. They’ve got their superstar that can fill the net. They don’t need to have the the depth of a Florida because if their top players are as good as they can be and you’re getting elite goalending, you can make some noise, especially as as people might count you out and say, “Hey, let’s go into Boston, get two points.” And it’s not maybe it won’t be that easy. Yeah. I mean, I I It’s only a week, right? It’s only a week, but I didn’t expect for the top three of the Atlantic to say Florida, Boston, Montreal, and then you got the Leafs at five, Tampa at six, Tampa, they I mean I they’ve given up they’ve given up 16 goals in four games. Like they were up 3-1 on Ottawa. Choked it away. Yeah. And like last night going to overtime against Montreal, they were up. They they gave that game away as well. And yeah, there’s it’s, you know, kind of a funky start for the Tampa Bay Lightning there, too. Um, but it’s it’s it’s still early. Still early. There’s still tons of time for some teams to find themselves uh get in the groove and um it’s why you play 82 games, not three or four, right? I I mean, look at what the Rangers were in the first 10 games last year. Wagons. And then how’d it end up? Not so good for our New York Rangers who again not starting out so good this year. It’s a carryover into last year. They’ve been shut out what, three times in a row on home ice. Brutal. Unbelievable. That’s so bad. I said going to the home opener, not seeing your team score. That’s tough. How about three games in a row. Brady Kachchuck injury and the three stars of the week are next. You’re listening to Locked on NHL, your team every day. The NHL season is here and FanDuel has an offer you don’t want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks. If it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. I love how FanDuel gives me so many ways to play. I built parlays, tried player props, and even follow the live lines during games. It just makes watching hockey even more exciting when you got a little something riding on the action. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanuel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. Welcome back. Locked on NHL, your team every day. We’ve gotten into this a lot on locked on sends, but just an overview because Brady Kachchuck is obviously a popular player around the league after his coming out party on the international stage at the four nations where he was arguably team USA’s best player throughout the tournament being named as one of the first six players to the US Olympic team and his first playoff experience. But Brady Kachchuck takes a hit, a shove I’ll say, from behind from Roman Yosi and kind of toe picks off of that. goes hands first into the boards, stays in the game, and then ultimately can’t finish it. He pulled the the Matthew Kachchuck, Mikey, uh from Four Nations where he didn’t want to leave his guys on the bench, just sat on the bench. But when you’re down two and have a power play with four minutes left and Brady Kachchuck doesn’t hop over the boards, that’s when the concern started to set in. and Travis Green next morning. Surgery has not been ruled out, but he will miss at least the next four weeks rehabilitating it. If it’s surgery, Olympics could be in jeopardy and even the season potentially. Yeah, it’s tough, man. And obviously like that’s that’s your senators so you have you know obviously more insight and and and how that could derail the the senators but from an outside looking in perspective. I mean you lose your captain you lose your heart and soul and I like what they’ve done in Ottawa. I think it’s a team that’s built pretty good and and you know they’ve got some depth that they have added to this team but like that’s the leader right that’s the head of the snake. He’s out for four weeks. I mean, that’s that’ll be tough for them to recover cuz we’ve seen it in the past where the slow starts have really bitten Ottawa in the ass. And if they get out to another one cuz they’re without their captain, the season might not go as swimmingly for uh for your sends as as you know, we thought from the outside of the season. Yeah, big time. And what really I mean it sucks no matter what, but they played the first three games without Drake Bathson and he’s making his season debut tonight. So you’re like finally we’ll get our full complement of forwards and then you get the news that Brady Kachuck’s out. So um the the big story for me there’s two that come out of this. Obviously number one you want Brady Kachchuck to be all right because the league’s better when he’s on the highlight pack and you know just being a a hilarious individual on the ice too with the scrums and the facial expressions. Not to mention the goal scoring and leadership abilities down the stretch. He was unreal for Ottawa. Even playing injured scoring just huge goals for the team. And I mean in the playoffs I believe he scored in games three, four, and five. So he’s a guy that or or four, five, and six it was. Um really kind of putting the team on his back. So without him, that brings me to Fabian Zetterland, who despite having a very poor offensive impact with Ottawa, does the right thing in terms of playing the body for his size and and playing defensively, but he’s put up zeros so far this season, and he’s going to be moving to that top line, left wing position that Brady’s uh departing from. Had a 20 goal year with San Jose a couple seasons ago, and Ottawa needs him to shoot the puck and score. His finishing just hasn’t been there. Put up zeros in the playoffs as well. So now that’s nine straight games without a point going back. Unfair to combine the two seasons, but Ottawa just simply needs more from him. And from a leadership perspective, Mikey, we’re about to find out, no matter how long Brady’s out, what kind of player Tim Stuts is. The offense is going to have to run through him exclusively. Maybe I mean Drake Bath’s a hell of a forward, too. But Tim Sto, this is his forward crew now. What are you gonna do with it, Timmy? They’re saying you’re a complimentary player. Are you a superstar? We’re gonna find out in the next while. He’s got to take the he’s got to take the ball run with it here and and he has to be the Timmy superstar that you know he’s been nicknamed because if he doesn’t get it going there’s just no one else who has like that alpha dog mentality who I think can kind of grab that team and go and you get off to a tough start like I said it’s bitten this team in the assumpt times and you know it’s just in an Atlantic division I expected to be very very uh difficult and extremely competitive and now like if Boston’s in the picture makes it even more competitive competitive here. So, um yeah, it’s that’s tough. It’s tough for for Sans fans obviously. Um you know, it’s we’ll see if they can kind of get through it cuz no excuses. The Florida Panthers have been able to get through their Barkov and Kachchuck injuries and they’re three in one to start. So Ottawa, I’m sure they’ll be expected to, you know, do the same thing. Next man up and let’s get some guys step up here. Starts tonight cuz they’re taking on those lowly Buffalo Sabers. You have to match if not exceed their level of desperation. Trapped game then. Like game first time wearing the red alternate jerseys. You got swept in the season series by Buffalo last year. There’s if you’re trapped by a team that’s beaten you four straight times, you don’t understand the picture. But Ottawa’s gotten out to poor starts in all three games. They’ve trailed two nothing and 3-1 in all three games. First game they were able to come back and beat Tampa, but then they lose in Florida. So, two tough games to start the season against four of the last six Stanley Cup champions. But then you come home and sure you can say Jusso stole the game, but you have to finish. And that was a problem for Ottawa last year is their finishing ability. And now you’ve lost your number one shooter in Brady Kachchuck. So, a tall task ahead this week. But if you look at Ottawa’s schedule, two of the three teams without a win in the Eastern Conference are on the schedule at Buffalo tonight, home to the New York Islanders on Saturday. And tomorrow, the sends will host the Seattle Kraken who are off to a 20 and one record. Mikey, three stars of the week. Who is the most impressive player from last Wednesday through last night’s action? Uh, for me, it’s been Jack Eel. Like I think Jack Eel is the number one star for me. Like that guy’s been unbelievable in Vegas. Mner’s been such a great compliment uh for him. Like feels like the guy’s gonna score I think 50 goals this year. I think he tied with Capri off for nine points to start the season, but uh Jack Eel for me gets my number one star. I love that call. He’s been electric in those two goals. I mean coming back against Calgary makes it even nicer the fact that or better for him I should say not nicer that um it really impacted the team winning there were high calorie um go points. Uh I’m going to go with Carl Capriov just the fact that he signed that huge ticket. What’s the encore performance from that? Are you going to have a bit of a lag from the excitement? No. Carl Capri off has been elite. three multi-point games, two three-point games so far this season, and he needs to be head and shoulders above everyone else in the league to rationalize the contract. So, I think that it’s important for him to get off to a good start, and he has. So, I’ll go Krill Capri off number two. All right, number three. I’m going to do a little cheat here. Can I cheat? Do you mind if I cheat? All right. So, for number three, I’m actually going to give it to the Minnesota Wild power play. Okay, I’m giving it to the Minnesota Wild power play. Um, if you take a look at who leads the the the league in power play points, it’s quite literally Minnesota Wild. Like, Carell Capri off has seven power play points. He’s number one. Matt Baldy, number two, was six. Zeve Buim, a rookie, number three in the league with five. Terara Senko, number four in the league with four points, tied with Jo uh Joel Erikson Ek uh his own teammate. So, and a few other players around the league, but the entire first unit power play for the Minnesota Wild are in the top five in uh league scoring. And like when do you ever see that? Like it’s just been unbelievable. uh start for them on the power play. Their 47.6% success rate through the first four games. So, I got to give a shout out to the Wild power play as my third star. And go check out Locked on Wild for a whole lot more. And locked on Vegas Golden Knights for more on how the season is underway for Mitch Marner and Jack Eel. Zam Zam this guy possible. He’s legit, dude. I wanted him for the sends. He fell in the draft. He’s a I’m just saying Calder candidate. Demod was a heavy favorite. I think William was next at like 20 to one after that, dude. Yep. Y might be worth the sprinkle sprinkle right now. Sick goal in last night’s game. What’s he at? What’s he at? Hang on. Over. Our good friends over at FanDuel. Good friends over at FanDuel. Do they not have this? What’s going on? Do they not have Oh, yeah. There is Debov plus 240. Schaefer plus 350. He’s had a good start, too. Zeb William fourth at plus 1,000. All right, go get that now. Fan duel for today. We say goodbye for Mike to Stephano. I’m Ross Levitan. This has been another edition of the Locked On NHL podcast. Your team every
Ross Levitan (Locked On Senators) and Mike DiStefano (Locked On Maple Leafs) cover all the biggest stories from the NHL.
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