THE 9 BIGGEST SURPRISES FROM THE NHL SEASON SO FAR! | BarDown Podcast

THE 9 BIGGEST SURPRISES FROM THE NHL SEASON SO FAR! | BarDown Podcast

Usually I start the podcast off with something really exciting, but I’ve been told that Pac has a prepared statement that he’d like to share with you all today. Well, today’s show is the biggest surprises of the season so far. So, I felt I I’d surprise you guys with something. I have a prepared statement I would like to begin with some nice penmanship you have there, Pac. I don’t know what this is about. Let me just clear my throat. An apology to the Detroit Red Wings. No, we’re not doing this. No, no, let me read the statement. Also, also for the record, speak for yourself. Yeah, I don’t agree with this at all. Well, I know you don’t agree with but I personally have not been nearly as hard on the Red Wings as you guys have been. I’ve stayed out of it. I’m special. Let me get to the statement. I would like to sincerely apologize to the Detroit Red Wings organization, their loyal fans, Steve Eisermanman, and the city of Detroit. Over the past few months, I’ve made several comments mocking the team’s rebuild, downplaying their progress, and Steve Eisermanman’s overall aptitude as a general manager. I spoke without giving proper respect to their on ice ability, their development, and the direction this team has been heading toward. The truth is, I underestimated the Red Wings. I failed to recognize their skill, speed, and heart that this roster plays with on a nightly basis and how they’ve come under Steve Eiserman’s leadership and Dylan’s leadership. Man, I never said a bad word about Dylan. The Red Wings are are a wellrespected historic hockey club, but their present and future deserve to be portrayed in a much better light, specifically by myself on this podcast. Rebuilding isn’t easy. And what this team has accomplished is proof of patience, smart management, and belief in a plan. The Iser plan. It’s early, man. My earlier remarks didn’t reflect that, and I take full responsibility for it. Well, the fans two sides of the paper who stuck by their team through every challenge. And to the city of Detroit, a city built on resilience and pride. I owe you an apology for not seeing what you already knew. This team is for real. Thank you. This is embarrassing. I can’t believe we just start. It’s been 10 games. Let’s relax a little bit here. They do this every year. It’s been 10 games. They literally do this every year. I know they’re they’re notorious. They did this last year. They did this the year before. No, no, no. But I was like incredibly harsh of like the plan is a joke. It still could be. Game one, they lose 5-1 to the Habs. They score a minute in. Lark and CIS like they won game seven of the Stanley Cub. They get booed off home ice. Mlen rips the team since then. They’ve been amazing. And you should have given Mlen more of a shout out, man. Like we’ve seen we we’ve seen multiple coaches go through Detroit and now like Mlen seems to be the guy that like yeah, he held them accountable and now they’ve kind of been rolling. But they the team if you look at the teams they’ve also beat every single one of their wins has come against a team that was in the playoffs last year. Like they beaten Edmonton, they beat the Leafs twice, they beat St. Louis twice. They They were down four nothing against the Blues on Saturday. They came back and won that game. What? What’s up with the Blues this year? They We’ll get another big surprise today. We’ll get to them. I I I don’t agree with the statement. I don’t agree with any of this. It’s been 10 games. It’s been such a small sample size and this is what they do every year. I’m still going to disrespect the Detroit Red Wings and their fans. So, you heard it here first. You are not getting you’re not getting anything from me. I will say they have played better as far as like I think this is probably a little more sustainable than it has been in years past based on some of the things I’m seeing. But this is the Detroit Red Wings we’re talking about. This is this is far from the franchise that is rooted in tradition and making the playoffs. Well, they were once upon a time. Yeah. It hasn’t been like that for like a decade now. Listen, I’m not I don’t want to like completely like bail and be like I’m not saying they’re going to make the playoffs, but my point is like they won the cup, but you said that the Yer plan has come to fruition. It was a prepared statement. There’s a lot of smoking music. My publicist and and the PR team that we have put this together out of this one. I know we’re going to talk about the Red Wings. Okay, a little spoiler, I guess, for uh for what we’re doing here today because we are going over the nine biggest surprises so far this season. And we’ve each come prepared with three. Not prepared statements like Pac, but we each have three. Do you want to just talk about Detroit now? Like Yeah, we could start with them as well. Wait, I feel like we need a break from Okay, we need a break. We need a break. Okay, then talk about I don’t have a lot more to say. I’ll start it off. It was a long prepared statement. Then Jesse, start us off with one of your surprises because it’s not a surprise we’re going to be talking about Detroit. And we’ll we’ll keep those viewers around for a little bit. The number one biggest surprise of the NHL season so far has without a doubt been the play of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley. We’re not doing this. This isn’t this is what we’re doing. That’s not what I’m saying. But I need to put some respect on Logan Stanley’s name. He has six points in 10 games and he he actually relates to what I’m talking about. Keep in mind, guys, we shoot these early in the morning. I thought of my three points yesterday and of course last night some things changed as to what I wanted to talk about, but I’m gonna stick with them because I think they’re still relevant. For me, I think one of my biggest three surprises so far is the fact that Conor McDavid hasn’t been scoring more goals. I mean, it’s not overly surprising. I think he just had like 26 last year, but I don’t know. There was just so much talk about McDavid over the offseason. Oh, he looks different this year. Feels different. And trust me, I know that the the Oilers are a team. they they kind of get off to late starts as well. And it’s none of this is really going to matter because when the playoffs start in April, people are going to be like, “Oh, who should I take with my number one overall pick?” And people like, “Should I take McDavid?” And like, “Oh, so no, you absolutely take McDavid. I made that mistake last year. He’s going to dominate the playoffs.” But I’m just saying right now, I I just kind of expected there to be a bit more of of a fire to him in terms of goal scoring. He has entering last night. He had less goals on the regular season than Logan Stanley and Ryan Reeves, not combined each. They each had two. He had one goal going into last night. He had a goal. He had two goals, one of which was an empty netter. I just think that if this team is going to really get going and get on his horse, they they just need McDavid to start. I want to see that 64 goal score again. I don’t know. That’s that’s just my opinion. I I I’m sure it’s coming. I know the oil the Oilers start a little late typically and that’s why it’s not overly surprising, but I don’t know. I’m just like McDavid should be a 50 goal scorer year in and year out. No question. I I think I agree with that take. I think there’s going to be a day where we kind of zoom out and look at McDavid’s career as a whole. And as much as it sucks to say a lot of times what fans do with players is, you know, you pull up their the back of their hockey card, if you want to call it that, and you just a player’s kind of held to what his numbers were in the NHL season, and you look season by season by season, and when you talk McDavid’s prime, I think this is a player with how talented he is, you want him to be scoring, like you said, that 50 goal mark, even 40 goals every single year. And I think last year, as good as he was, what did you say finished with 26 goals? like, yeah, I just think a lot of people were they felt like they were wanting a little bit more than that. Um, I was expecting that he picks up a lot of points. I was expecting more like, you know, I think feel like in the offseason like you’re hearing Leon say like, “Oh yeah, like I’ve never seen Connor like this. He’s got fire in his eyes or whatever.” And I’m just like, “Okay, come in June.” At this at the end of it, like I feel like this is an episode that we’ll look back on as the season goes and be like, “Oh, it was funny how much stock we put into that.” like people showing up here with prepared statements for the Detroit Red Wings. It’s just foolish. He said he’s hit 50 goals once. He’s hit more than 50 goals once in his career. Like I just think it’s but like he when he did it, it just seems so easy. Score 64 goals. It’s like come on. Like start scoring some more goals here. Like the Oilers haven’t been particularly great to start the season. Again, I know they’re late bloomers and like they were dead last that one year and they fired Jay Wood. Yeah. I I’m just saying like maybe it’s not that surprising because I think Conor McDavid has kind of established he’s obviously not an insane goal scorer for his specific game, but I don’t know. I was kind of expecting more. It’s fair. I can understand that. I mean, it it’s always kind of shocking not to see his name like right at the top of points leader categories as well. And like he’s at a point per game so far this season. It’s not like he’s pacewise it’s it’s been like lower than that. And like you said, he can score just buckets of goals kind at at will sometimes to make you forget that he had won through his first kind of 10 games. But I think like for for Oilers fans and for McDavid alone, I was looking at the power play numbers cuz I’m like, “Oh, maybe like that’s a correlation of like maybe they haven’t been great on the power play. They’re like top five in the NHL on the power play so far this season, 30%.” So like that unit’s going to be dangerous. I’m sure he’s going to get some more power play markers as the season goes on here. Um, and like you said, these surprises kind of might turn in a week’s time and we we might be rethinking all of them just like it kind of did last night with McDavid scoring too. It is interesting though to when you talk about him as a player. It’s like yeah, he he probably is more of a playmaker than we um we I guess think of in our minds because you you’re right like he made that 64 goal season look so easy that it was just like well he’s just going to do this every year. Yeah. but he hasn’t. And like that’s okay because he can still put up 90 assists a year and that’s more of his game. And when you’re playing with Dry Cidle and you’re just feeding him who’s more of the goal scorer of the two, then that’s kind of how that dynamic works. But I I don’t disagree with you that it’s surprising to see that he only has three goals so far. Yeah. Yeah. And like again, like he’s only hit more than 50 goals once in his career. Like it’s just I don’t know. Just surprising. It’s fair. Do you want to talk Red Wings now? I I kind of want to get it out of the way. I listen, I said what I needed to say. They have been very Red Wings fans want more than that. They like they’ve beaten good teams. They’re resilient. They’re coming from behind. They’re getting scoring down the lineup. Dylan Larkin is scoring at a rate we’ve never seen in his career. I think he’s really taken that next step as a captain. You got young players stepping up. Edmonson looks really good. EMTT Finny, we talked about him on last week’s show. These are all good storylines and they’re all good things to build on going forward. And I guess if you want a serious comment from me on this team is I’ve begun to take this team more seriously and I feel much better about them going forward and into the rest of the season. And I know they’ve started very strong for a couple years now and it’s kind of fizzled out, but I don’t know, something about them just feels a little different. They they feel like they figured it out a little bit more. And I think they’re also a much deeper team this year. um both veterans and young talent. Mason Apple now. It’s the Mason Apple. Yeah. Make it make it about the Jets. I think this year compared to other years with this Detroit team in particular is and granted it’s still not great. Um as far as their five on five play goes, but it’s kind of league average now. And I feel like whereas before it was just they’re they were looked at as like these power play merchants that were getting opportunities on the power play. You’re loading up that number one unit and they cashed in all the time and every big moment they were getting a big power play goal. They were getting a big special teams contribution and that was what kind of carried them. This year it seems they’re kind of at league average at five on five play and that might be enough with a really good power play to get them into the playoffs this time around. I’m still not sold on the goalending. I’m still not sold on the defense holding up the entire year, but I like what I’ve seen from Edmonson particularly, um, from Sandy and Pelicas. They’ve been good together. Um, they’re also very young and they’re going to make mistakes undoubtedly. Um, are they gonna be buyers at the deadline? Like that’s where you got to start. The question is, so I surprised you so far. And I think the answer is they have surprised me so far in the sense of that I I think they’re a little more real than they are a fluke, which they clearly have been in years past, and they’ve kind of crashed and burned as we’ve seen spectacularly in the past couple of years specifically. So I think that’s fair to say. I think that’s fair to say. Maybe Luka needs to release his own downfall. I I’m going to be here to to revel in the downfall for sure. But I do like what I’ve seen and especially from the young guys because I think that’s something when we did the tier list we kind of underrated their young players coming into this season like the Caspers and I I mean no one saw EMTT Finny coming but Casper and Edmonson and Sandy Pelica and even Cider like I think that’s a guy that won the Calder and his career trajectory since then has probably been downwards. Still young. What is he 23? He’s still super young and I think he’s a much better player than people probably have in their minds. And he’s also playing with like Ben Sherro most of the time and making him look pretty damn good and he’s figuring things out on the defensive end a lot more than he had earlier in his career. So, I’ll give the Red Wings some credit there. There you go. Just a little. All right. I want to hear your um first surprise. You want to hear my first surprise? Okay. Well, a team I’m not going to give credit to. No. Uh should I negative or positive first? What do you want? Let’s Let’s keep it on the negative side. Let’s keep it on the negative side. I’m going to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs then. And I’m going to be pretty negative with them. And I think people have kind of excused it a little bit being comparing it to last year when Craig Buru took over and saying, “Oh yeah, they got off to a slow start last year. Like this is just what they do.” And I I don’t think that’s an excuse. Um personally, I think watching this team, they seem very slow. no juice, not very creative outside of like Matthews, Ny, and JT and Knander. And again, those are your big four players, so like that’s fine. But the style of play is just so surprising to me, I think, is how I want to frame the conversation because at the end of the day, they thought that like lowevent hockey and dumping chase and not having mobile active defenseman and replacing Marner with players that give you a little more grit and toughness and speed for dump and chasing in your lineup was the style of play that was going to take them to the next level. And I just don’t think it is. I I really don’t. I’m not convinced that they are a better team philosophywise, personnel-wise. I know they’re not a better team right now, but if this is the philosophy going forward, I don’t even know if this is a playoff team, quite frankly, because Anthony Stallars now, you’re seeing a bit of the not, and I don’t want to say he’s a bad goalie, but I think that like he had a really good year last year. I still think the Leafs are a good defending team, but they just don’t do a lot. You watch a game and it’s kind of just like we’re gonna dump and chase and hope that our best players are gonna make a good play and that’s going to be it. But like they’re getting dominated five on five against the Calgary and the Buffalo of the world. That’s not sustainable. You’re going to lose a lot of games playing this style of hockey and it’s surprising that this is kind of the hill they want to die on. So that’s where that’s where my surprise comes in with this team. I think N has been fantastic. I think he’s probably been their best player so so far this year. Um, but the power play is also a thing where they’re it looks like they’re just overworking Matthews and trying to get him to not only enter the puck into the zone. Like he’s in charge of the zone entries, but if you watch their power play, he’s just like circling everywhere. They don’t have a quarterback now. Like that’s a big loss. Martner touched the puck so many times and was so creative with it that I think this void is just not being filled. And even last year when this defensive philosophy came in with Bub, at least you had a guy that could break the mold a little bit. I don’t know if they have that guy right now. And I think it’s really going to hurt this team in the long term. So that’s where I’m at with the Leafs. I don’t know. I’m like I’m calling crisis personally. It’s it’s very interesting. Obviously, we all live in Toronto. Um the Jays are all the buzz right now. That’s what a lot of people are talking about. But I think in a week’s time when the World Series is over, regardless of how that ends, the Leafs are going to have to face the music. And I think it might not be pretty. Yeah. because they just I don’t want to say right now they’re not feared because they still have a lot of good players, but just looking back to a couple years ago, you’d watch this team, they’d get a power play, they’d get the puck your team zone and you’re like, “Oh man, like please, please uh get the puck out, get a whistle, ice it, do something, just make this end because you could feel a goal coming.” And I think the way that they’ve been playing right now feels a little stale. Uh, not like disinterested. I feel like that’s too harsh. I don’t think there like I think it’s it’s like this is the style they want to play. Like this is how they think they’re going to win. I was really intrigued how they’d come out this year, how they would look without Mner just because with him, as good as they were in the regular season, it didn’t work. And I feel like them parting ways, it kind of needed to happen in the sense that like we’ve seen enough of it. And now it was like, is strength in numbers going to help you? Are the replacements going to give you more value than just having one star? I It’s only whatever 11 games in, but so far it just like they need a spark out there. That’s what it feels like. Couple things. First of all, welcome back Joseph Wall. Um, and speaking of a spark, I think welcoming him back is probably going to do a lot of great things for the team. You know, like we mentioned about Stallars, but Stallars, you’re kind of in a situation with the Leafs where it’s like if Walt doesn’t come back, um you’re like, what the hell are what what the hell are we doing with our backup goalending situation? Like we have who were they starting again? Been like this isn’t going to work. But now they’ve got that tandem back. I think they need to get like certain guys going like Matthews needs to get going a bit more than what we’re used to seeing. you know, obviously he’s adjusting playing without MNER, but I’m still I I agree like they’ve been underwhelming to start the season, but I think it it it does take time for new teams to kind of gel and click. I do think that this team is going to find its groove at some point in the year. I do think they’re a playoff team. Personally, I think they’ll find a way, but there’s definitely cause for concern and like you you got to think they are going to need to make some sort of trade to improve their forward group. My biggest concern truthfully is just like how they play on the back end, too. There’s just no one outside of Morgan Riley who’s having kind of like a career resurgence that I I have seen in a game just able to at least like carry the puck out of your own zone. Too many times is it up to the forwards to get the puck out, retrieve it if you’re kind of dumping it off the boards and out, then get the puck into the zone. Like it’s it’s taxing to play hockey that way. And I think you see a lot of teams and yes, it’s hard to find that number one defenseman to do that, but like the Conucks, the Jets for example, with Josh Morrisy, these guys that can exit the zone cleanly and take that onus off your forward a little, forward group a little and also join the rush and start creating a little more so that it’s not on everyone to just dump and chase all the time and your forwards are creating all offense. This team is so defensiveminded on the back end outside of again a resurgence from Riley that I think you’re just kind of playing short-handed without even it without being actually short-handed in that sense. They need Tan of too. They need Tana back for sure. That that obviously helps in their own end. But I I I think you’re right. There’s just some juice missing from this team and I don’t know where they get it from. Um, but I’m I’m just not convinced that like this is this is going to be a playoff team right now. Are Willie and Matthews going to stay on the same line? That’s I don’t know. They just got to get it. Just seems like Matthew’s not qu is not I mean, not that he’s been like bad, but like he’s just I don’t know. Ruby’s tried everything so far. Like the the amount of different line combinations that have played 10 minutes or more is 15 so far this season in 11 games. So like he is trying everything due to some injuries as well and Scott Lton still hasn’t really uh he hasn’t played at all this season I don’t think yet right no no so he when he comes back that’s another piece they can add but what’s the record right now I mean if you’re waiting on Scott Len they’re 54 they’re 5’4 and one after last night so the same as the Oilers they’re exactly but I trust the Oilers big guys right now ahead of ahead of Toronto’s and just their style of play I think is is a little more promising than than what Toronto shoulders are just let’s be honest they’re 5-4 and one but a couple Steuart Skinner tape totape passes to the other team I mean they still won that game last night against always they’re start late it’s true it’s true that it’s a long season but that’s that’s kind of what we’re thinking for the Leafs right now uh second surprise I’m just a little surprised with the Tampa Bay Lightning right now like I I kind of expected more out of them to start the year um maybe they weren’t necessarily the juggernaut that we’ve been used to seeing, but they just haven’t they’ve been very underwhelming to start the year. Uh, of course, before last night, I think they were like 28th in the league in goals, uh, four per game, uh, for their average, which is like so and I think now they’re 21st. They just beat Nashville, which 5-3, which is like not even saying that much if I’m being honest. But I look at this team and like how they’re built and and you know Brandon Hegel has been so paramount to their success. Coming into last night’s game, he had one goal to start the season. Like very bizarre. Cout’s been good. Not like the dominant player we’ve been used to seeing. Same as Braden Point. The team just hasn’t really been scoring as much. And I think that’s kind of how this team is built obviously. And I don’t know again like it’s early to start the year, but they just haven’t really been a scary team at all. I feel like we’re seeing stuff at the beginning of the year saying like should John Cooper get fired which is kind of bizarre. That’s which is bizarre. Um but but you just kind of expect more from that Lightning team. I mean at at some point teams kind of turn the page a little bit. I don’t really think that’s necessarily the case with the Lightning yet, but they haven’t really been as much of a dominant offensive force as we’ve been used to seeing. I think in this scenario, and maybe this will sound hypocritical because I was just like, “Oh, the Leafs, they don’t scare me. They don’t do this.” Why do I feel like Tampa will be one of those teams where in December, January, they’ve got like a 12game point streak and Cuchov’s just on fire and everything’s back in second place in the Atlantic. Like, I don’t feel that worried about Tampa. I don’t know. It’s just maybe that’s just more gut feeling than actually oh I can back it up with this number or whatever but well the reason why they’ve just shown me so much over the years. the well yeah I mean the reason why probably compared to a team like the Leafs is because their core is like still intact where like the Leafs obviously went through quite a bit of change and I and I and I agree that I agree that like this team it’s a matter of time before they kind of really get rolling but like I don’t know like Coojov 10 points in eight games to start the years and like I don’t know like Braden point eight points in 10 games I I know like these guys aren’t having like bad years but I just feel like we kind of expected a little I think the biggest issue for them right now is the power play. They’re only clicking at 14.3% which is so worst in the NHL. But I will say like the AS were at that percentage before last night and then they scored four power play goals against Devils. So like that that stuff can change quickly. I don’t think it’s it’s and it’s one of those things that like when it does change, this team’s going to be scoring like four a night for a stretch like you said of like six games in a row. Cutout is going to have 20 points in like 12 games and he’s going to be in the Art Ro Art Ross race and we’re just kind of going to be looking at it like oh okay there’s the Lightning. So that’s one area that if you’re looking for that goal scoring like you said probably a little snake bin right now on the power play to the point that which is surprising though it given all given all the talent they have up front like why isn’t that power play humming you’ve like it does happen you have CROV you have points you have Gensel you have like all these unbelievable goal scorers it’s like I’m just like again like I’m sure it will turn around but I’m like a little surprised that it’s their power play’s clinging at a low rate and they’re just not scoring No more goals. We’ve got five more surprises left. Let’s go to you Pac for your next one. Well, I’ve been looking a lot at the standings recently. I know we like to say quote our good friend Glenn Gutson. Have you checked the standings? And honestly, looking at the NHL standings right now, I’ve had to really focus in on the year tab on the website to make sure I’m looking at 2025 26 because the Pittsburgh Penguins are tied for the most points in the NHL right now. They’re 72 and two. That’s through 11 games. If Genny Malin is tied for the or right up top for the lead and scored 16 points in 11, completely turned back the clock. And this is the Pittsburgh Penguins that we put in the go get Gavin conversation that we put in the void conversation that we really had zero confidence in going into the season. And we talked about how difficult of a job Kyle Dubis was having navigating these Sydney Crosby rumors. And everyone felt like, yeah, Crosby will be out of there by January because of how bad this team’s going to be. And you look at some of their underlying numbers. Are they first in the in the league in shooting percentage while they’re 28th in shots on goal? Sure. Is uh Brazo and Anthony Mantha scoring at a point per game right now? Metrics that they’ve never even come close to hitting in their career? Sure. Are Jari and Sheils, two guys who really haven’t been top of the league level starters, both got save percentages over 910 and goals against in the 2.3 2.4 range. They’re just giving them great work in between the crease right now. Yes. So, all these things are true and maybe everything’s going right for Pittsburgh over a 10-ame stretch, but that’s not to downplay how great the storyline is. That’s not to downplay the narrative and all the talk going into the season and Crosby coming out with these quotes of like, that’s not the hockey I know when talking about tanking and being bad and potentially having to leave Pittsburgh because he wants to be playing competitively. I love what they’re doing right now. It’s so so exciting. And hats off to you, Pittsburgh Penguins. Another big surprise, another area where I can confidently say I was wrong because I feel like if they were 18 and two so far through the season, we probably wouldn’t bat an eye and we probably wouldn’t even talk about them as a surprise of like what’s wrong in Pittsburgh. We’d be talking about how Crosby needs to get the hell out of there. Uh but clearly maybe they should be buyers. It’s just kind of it’s just kind of interesting how like for the first time we got the sense from Sid that like maybe he would consider leaving. Like it didn’t seem like it was not saying that he was going to but it didn’t seem fully out the window the idea and as soon as he comes out and says that the team just starts rolling. And also I think Kyle Dubis actually deserves a lot of credit for drafting Ben Kindle because people thought that it may have been a bit of a reach in the draft. He’s been He’s going to be an amazing player. Like, he’s looked unreal. He’s got all the tools. He’s got size. He’s got a wicked shot. He’s so smooth, man. Like, when I’m watching this guy, I’m like, he kind of reminds me of Anzi Kopitar a little bit. Like, has that ability to slow the game down, make really smart plays. I don’t know that that was a lights out pick. And he’s been he’s been playing with them. I think he’s I could be wrong. I think he’s still with the team right now. I don’t know if he’s getting sent down at all this year, which is kind of rare to see for I I don’t know if he still can. He’s played nine games, but I think that like it’s rare to see an 11th overall pick kind of stick up with the team and perform like that. So vibes are high right now in Pittsburgh. Vibes are high. They could come crashing down though, like you said, with some of those the shooting percentage. Even if it does for sure, but it could come crashing down like pretty quickly. They’re they’re second behind Chicago and PDO, which is shooting percentage and save percentage. So right now they are everything is going in and they are getting saves on every shot and they allow a ton of high danger chances. They also generate them. So like you can go into a Penguins game and you know you’re going to watch Exactly. You’re going to watch an exciting game for sure, which at this point, I’ll take that if I’m a Pens fan cuz you’re probably going to win more than you’re going to lose in those games because you’ve got the Crosby’s and the Malcolans of the world. And if they’re in the hunt, then that’s fun. So, I’m I’m with you there. It could come crashing down, but who cares if it does? It’s going to be fun either way. Yeah. You got to be just like thrilled right now if you’re a Penguins fan. like you haven’t sniffed playoff hockey in a long time and now your team is right there in the hunt. Like they I would be freaking especially now we’re starting to talk about like are veteran players going to want to come to Pittsburgh maybe like if this team’s actually in contention to like help Sid and Malin win another cup? Like they’re just an interesting team to watch right now. They are indeed. I’m going to talk about a team now on the other end of the PDIO stat and that’s the St. Louis Blues. So, five on five, they’ve got the worst shooting percentage and save percentage. And my biggest surprise kind of is Jordan Bennington and his fall off a little bit here because what is Canada going to do in that for the Olympics? I don’t know if it’s such a clear-cut conversation as it was last year. Maybe you do just start him and the situation matters a lot, but he is sixth last and goals saved above expected so far this season. Joel Hoffer not much better in third last but I guess good news for them is the other goalies for Canada that were kind of in contention last year Sam Montbo is second last in that category only behind Lena Salmark but I think it opens the door for guys like Logan Thompson for instance Thompson’s been great it does open the door for a guy like Tristan Jar who’s having a really strong start to this season I know it’s probably hard to just go against it But I think from a Blues conversation in general, we viewed this team as kind of a playoff lock and in part because you had that consistency in net and you were excited about the young players, Kyru Thomas in particular along though with like Neighbors and Broberg and Holloway from what we saw last year. And the shooting percentage for a lot of these guys can go up and this can average out for sure and we’re having a totally different conversation. But I think the goalending one is the one that is sticking for me where it’s not as if the team defense has been really bad. It’s just the goalending has not been good enough. And so even if the shooting percentage increases like they’ve allowed five or more goals in six of 10 games this year. That is not going to get anything done for you. and you’re probably going to find yourself in the bottom of the standings if the goalending itself doesn’t get better. You can score four goals a game and that’s fine, but if you’re allowing five, it’s really not going to help you. I am a little bit shocked that this is how the blue season is going so far where you kind of looked at that tandem especially and thought yeah it’s probably one of the better tandemss in hockey I would say with Hoffer and Bennington and it has just proven to be an absolute anchor so far this season for them. What are they in goals for in the league right now? Um goals for in the league I’m not sure. They’re about average at five on five though, but like their their shooting percentage is not great. So like they’re they don’t have anyone averaging a point per game yet and I think that’s going to change. I think we’re it’s small sample size so far. Um but as far as goals against per game, they are only worse than the Sharks. And that is not a a kind of company you want to keep. Only better than the Sharks or only better than the Sharks. Sorry. And that’s that’s not a company you want to keep right now. I think as when it comes to the Olympics, I I think you got to start Bennington. like regardless, you just give him the crease and then if he’s, you know, you have a short leash on him. Uh I just think he’s done it like he was so good in fornations. I think it Thompson’s also great. I think maybe you start Bennington, but if Bennington’s showing that he has some cracks, then you go with Thompson. But I don’t know. He’s been there. He’s been on the biggest stage many times. He’s kind of a big player mo big play big moment kind of guy. And I also think that like the Blues are another one of those teams that kind of take a little bit to get going. Like similar to the Oilers last year after Four Nations, they were so good. Yeah, they were so good against the Jets in the playoffs. I actually thought they were more of a challenge than the Stars for the I’ve been on record saying that. I saying that and you got blasted for saying that. I still stick to it. Stars fans, I still stick to it. I think the Blues would have put up a better fight against the uh Oilers as well if they play in the series than the Stars. But anyways, I digress. Um, yeah, I don’t know. They’re one of those teams and I think Neighbors is injured right now, too, if I’m not mistaken. Um, but I just think that like the Blues are one of those teams that are going to take a little bit to get going. Just kind of seems like it’s always their style. But yeah, I don’t know. They’ve been off to a pretty lackluster start for sure. Third surprise for each of us. Let’s start with you, Jess. You know what? I was gonna do another negative surprise and just absolutely bury the New York Rangers and wonder what the heck is going on with I would have honestly pushed back. I think they’re gonna be fine. You you you know what, like maybe they will be fine. Um because it obviously takes time under a new coach as well. I still think that there are some pretty clearing concerns with that team though. Um I I I I think Alexis Lefrenier is just like what’s going on with that guy? like he’s been the most up and down prospect. He’s just not really been good this year. Kind of seems actually like he really just had one really good year and then got a bag. Um but you know what? I’m going to keep things a little positive here and I’m going to talk about the Chicago Blackhawks. Um I think this team regardless of what happens, you know, things could change a lot obviously during the regular season, but we’re seeing tremendous growth for this organization right now. We’re I I think like it’s kind of feels weird saying this because he’s still been good, but like Connor Bernard has arrived. Like he he’s gross. Like his he’s got one he might actually have the best release in the NHL right now. I’m not even kidding. Like his tow drag release is just disgusting. Um he the Chicago’s right now like 53 and two I think. Like they’ve showed a lot a lot of positive growth. I mean, Frank Nazar has been unreal. I think they’re getting contributions from a lot of different places in the lineup, and they have a lot of good prospects in their pipeline right now. So, if I’m a Chicago Blackhawks fan, like I’m feeling pretty damn good about the team right now. I don’t disagree. I think uh I would I would caution them. The shooting percentage, yes, guys, you can rip the pill. Not only that, I’m I’m more talking about like Spencer Knight is playing out of his mind right now. And my caution would be to Chicago management to let’s say this this sustains for another month and they’re like kind of in the thick of it. I would just I would caution you before making any trades. I don’t I don’t think they’re going to like I think I think No, they shouldn’t is what I’m saying. I think like if this continues just just enjoy the progress. No, that’s fine. I I I think I think they know that. But like I I think that like if you actually look at man like this Chicago, you’re looking at them, you’re like you look at a team like San Jose and you kind of expected San Jose to probably be almost a better team maybe before the Sharks. Like you’re like, “Wow, the Sharks already have some really good young pieces. They have a ton of draft capital. They they’re going to be good soon.” And with Chicago, I’m looking at them, I’m like, “Okay, this is a slow slow burn. They’re going to get there eventually, but like Bard is starting to enter his great years. you’re almost trying to feel like they got to get this guy some help and like you still do kind of feel that way to be honest. But I don’t know like did anyone expect Chicago to be doing what they’re doing right now? Again, things can completely turn around, but I think they’ve just been You talk about a team that’s exceeded expectations maybe more than anyone? Like maybe it’s Chicago. I think this whole year it’s just about seeing progress and seeing building blocks and feeling a lot more confident when you end this year as opposed to how you ended it a year ago. We were talking about them on our uh preseason show just like begging them to do something to surround Badar. Like how many times have we been saying he can’t play with these players? He needs better line he needs. You want the whole Leafs team to move to Chicago. But now all of a sudden in the span of 10 games, we feel confident. And a lot of that has to do with Juan Con playing a lot better than he’s shown so far. And like you you mentioned how good he’s been. His hattrick last night was one of the best hatticks. Like every single every goal was nasty. It’s like a rip. Every goal. So it’s it’s release is ridiculous. Like ridiculous confident except every time we watch Demov on the Habs, we’re like, man, imagine if he was Bard’s line. I know. Right. But Naser, like Naser has also been great. Like, you know, there was a lot of questions around his contract when he signed like, whoa, this guy’s only played like 56 games or something and they’re just giving him like around 7 mil. He’s been like point per game guy for the team this year. I know there’s just a lot of positives to take away from this team. You also mentioned Spencer Knight Luca and it’s like he’s playing out of his mind, but he was also a 12th overall pick. He’s 24 years old. Like maybe he’s turned the corner and it’s like this is what you want to see from your goal. you can’t rely on him as much maybe as they’re relying on him right now night in and night out and maybe it’s something where it’s like hey we can’t just have this guy play 70 times this season got to kind of slow it down some goalies take a while like man Spencer Knight is 24 years old like he’s that’s theoretic that is probably when some goalies like get their first opportunity to start playing I think I think we’d be talking about the Sharks in a similar sense if they had better goalending I guess is where I’m at with both of these teams in like Chicago and I I think it’s a great start. I think goalending has masked a lot of their issues so far and has allowed us to feel a little more excited about them. Whereas the Sharks like they’re getting absolutely zero from a scarov. And so yeah, we can talk about Celabbrini being great, but as a team from a team perspective, we can look at the Sharks and just be like, oh yeah, they’re they’re still the same old Sharks and they have a long way to go. So I think I think that they’re probably closer to being in the same bucket. But I’m I am happy for Chicago fans seeing the progress at least of and especially of Bard because I feel like you needed a hat-tick like that especially the timing of it was important because Cabbrini is just on this heater right now of all heaters where he’s top five in the league in scoring right now in points and he’s been on this incredible run. Just got a hat-tick at MSG fivepoint night and I’ll be on team Canada. you it felt like you needed a bard response and I think it was it was great to get one just from just from a a good vibes perspective if you’re a Chicago fan because the conversations are not going to go away comparing these two for a long long time. Um so I am happy for them in that sense. Last surprise for you Boach last surprise. Obviously the Montreal Canadians have captured a ton of storylines this season. They’re off to such a great start. They’re near the top of the standings. It feels like every night they find a new dramatic fun way to win a hockey game. What I want to focus on with this team though is what they’ve got going on in the crease right now because I think it’s been a huge surprise to say that rookie goalender Jakob Dobish is 6-0 with a 1.97 goals against and a 930 save percentage. He leads the league in goal save above expected. and his counterpart who Montreal heavily relied on last year, Sam Montbo, who was with Canada at the Four Nations, kind of showed himself as, you know, a long-term starter for this season, has struggled. He’s 2 and three. He’s got a save of, you know, below 900, 3.81 goals against, and as I mentioned, dead loss and goal saved above expected. So, it’s been two very different sides of the coin in net so far for Montreal. But I think this is a phenomenal, if you even want to call it a problem to have for the Habs because we’ve just started to see now Dobish start two games in a row, three games in a row, which before, you know, a year ago, this guy was a very, very unknown prospect, not very highly touted. He’s only 24 years old, whereas Montbo was like their guy. But having a good backup was the only reason the Habs made the playoffs last year. like Dobish being able to come in and actually win games when before that when they had Kaden Primo and they were using just other AHL level goalies could not get a win on a backto-back. Couldn’t get a win with a backup goalie. This emergence as a rookie for Dobish has been a huge surprise. the fact that he’s actually capturing starter level minutes and now it goes from okay the Habs need a backup that can only play you know once every seven games when the team is back to back it’s now an actual no I don’t even think Mont’s the backup I think he’ll still be the starter he’s going to be very important for this team down the stretch and I think he’ll bounce back it’s just the fact that they have a goalie tandem which we’ve seen so many teams especially in the modern day NHL where goalies aren’t really playing 65 70 games anymore. A tandem is very very important for team success. And I feel like when we talk about Montreal, it’s always Cfield, Suzuki, Demidov, Lane Hudson, Slavovski. Nobody’s really talking about the fact that they got a 24 year old late round draft pick in net named Yakob Dobish who’s at the top of every single goalending category right now. And he’s looked good. He’s been lights out. They’re they’re a fun team right now, the Habs. Very fun. What do you think as far as their goalending situation in general? Is it going to be the reason that this team can’t can get to where they want to get to or will it end up being a detriment as far as like a oh, you look at this team, they’ve they’ve lost in the playoffs in round one. Is it be going to be because of their goalending or is it going to be because of their goalending that they win a round like that? Where where do you fall I guess on the scale of like will it would it how does this Yeah. Will it help them or hurt them in general? It’s a good question because growing up with Carrie Price it was only going to win because of your goalie. That’s the only way you’re going to win and you’re actually going to lose because your roster is lacking in pretty much every other area. And I think the way that they’ve built this team now is you don’t need a goalender to completely stand on their head. You just need solid play. And I think that’s where a tandem is so so important because if one guy’s off, you can just clearly go to the other guy. And when you have confidence in both, it’s such a valuable asset. So I think this team’s not going to win um because of goalending, but I don’t think they’re that I don’t think that’s going to be going to lose because of it either. It’s just like it’s perfectly You have confidence in it. It’s balanced. It’s balanced and and I think that’s what’s working for them right now. whether their expect I don’t think their expectations this year like you need to win a Stanley Cup and your goalies are going to be the reason why you’re not going to do that like this is still to has been a very pleasant surprise man no question the the Canadians have been a I don’t even know if it’s as much of a pleasant they I guess it’s kind of surprising to see how good they’ve been but they’re literally getting contributions from they don’t have a weak no spot they don’t have a fourth line they don’t even have a third line it’s top line and then very good forward figure we’re after. You got to think like if you’re a Habs fan, you were just hoping that the Penguins were going to come out flat this year. You got City Crosby. We got Kirby Doc. Don’t worry. Oh, okay. I’ve heard I’ve heard some rumors. They were talking last night about they’ve apparently Pier Lebron was saying he’s like the Habs have checked in and made a list of like every center for every team that could become available either before the deadline or like next summer. and they’re they’re got all these tabs on people and he mentioned Cad I saw the Cadrey talk on TSN. The more the Flames lose the more those talks will probably intensify. That’s a great fit especially for the playoffs too. Like that’d be so sick. The the Montreal fans would love him too. Like I I there’s not been a player I I’ve been blessed to watch like a lot of great Avalanche players, but man oh man, when Cadri is on your team, you just love cheering for the guy. Like he is incred he’s he’s very much in the Brad Marshon mold of like if he’s not on your team, you wish he was on your team. And if he is on your team, he is just such a great player. He’s so underrated and he is always in your face. Like the passion that he brings, I think he’d be perfect in Montreal. Jam. He’s got jam. He’s got jam. All right, I’m going to keep it quick for the last surprise. Um before we get out of here, the Utah Mammoth, I I think we we in particular thought they were going to be good. Um we put them in the playoffs pretty confidently even after last year where they missed it by by about like seven points. So, we were we were early on them. Um but I think they’ve just exceeded even those expectations where people are talking about them now as maybe one of the best teams in the West. I think it’s a little early for those talks, but I Maybe in the league, man. Maybe in the league. I can see why they are earning that respect though already. And it starts obviously with the forwards, that group. And it’s not just the top two lines. Like they have waves of guys like Kevin Stenland and and Tan and Jets Legends, Jack McBain, and Lawson Krauss. Like these are players in your bottom six that McBain’s good. Are really good. Yeah. Um, and I would love those players in my bottom six if I were any team. But then you talk about the highend talent and Gunther and Barrett Hayden in particular are people I want to focus on because I think a couple years ago I was probably wrong about them in saying I don’t know what their ceiling is. Are they going to top out at guys that maybe are 50 60 point players and maybe second to third line contributors for the rest of their career? That was the trajectory and it’s taken a little more time for them. But these guys look like superstars. And Gunther more so than Hayden I think. But Gunther looks like an absolute star. One of the best releases in the league. 80 to 90 point guy. Like consistent 30 point 30 goal scorer is what I see from him. Could be a 40 goal scorer easily. And then you’ve got Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz and Logan Culie to add in. And you went out and got Purka who is seemingly a perfect fit for that line with Kulie and Gunther. You just needed a little more of a playmaker. Kulie is the complete package. I I watching him shoot him in the first over. He is so big. He’s so physical. He’s got a great shot. He’s a great playmaker. So skilled for a guy of his size. You’re getting the goalending right now, but I also think moves like getting Sergeev and John Marino last year to defense. Really smart and forwardthinking moves. So a lot of credit goes to Utah for how they’ve built this. Um Ryan Smith deserves the credit. An owner. He does. take a lousy lousy run organization from Arizona, you immediately move it to Utah, it’s going to I think it’s going to become a hot bed for players to want to go and actually play. And I just think that like yeah, it’s just it’s amazing what a good owner could do. One thing I will say though is like I do agree to an extent that like it is surprising, but it almost seemed like a matter of there kind of seems like there’s like a bit of a turn in the tide this year in terms of who the best teams in the league are. I don’t know. starting to see a little bit like Utah’s emerging. Um Montreal has really emerged as like a true true top of the league team. Detroit. Yeah, Detroit. Stop it. And the Anaheim Ducks have been cakes are going to look so bad in like a month. The Ducks have been holding their own. I will say though because I think we should talk about like we’ll wrap things up soon. a couple other surprises because Luga I’m curious to hear because like I I I’m just wondering like the New York Rangers I mean I they’re a team that like they have the talent to turn things around and it seems like things are kind of just going bad for them and like but but I don’t know I I I I feel like this team right now is 31st in the league in goals four per game with just 2.18. they’re not winning too too many games and I feel like we’re starting to hear chatter about players on their team potentially getting moved. I feel like there’s rumors about Paneran potentially getting traded. Uh so I don’t know like I I was kind of expecting and you again like it takes time under new coaches and we could hit a stage where the Rangers start to gel more, but I just was kind of expecting a little more. I feel like they’ve had a lackluster start to the year. They can barely what was it? They could didn’t score on home ice like the first three games. was like, “What’s up with that?” Then they scored that in the first minute of their fourth game. So they’re And then that’s the only goal they scored that game. Yeah, they’re a little tease. They’re top three in expected goals for at five on five and top six in expected goals against at five on five. So for that, I’m I’m kind of just like I’m going to ride with it for a little longer than 10 games before I give up on this team. I think their scorers right now are not scoring and that’s obviously going to be a problem. Yeah. like like like again it’s early but like it’s great having a high goals expected or goals for what sorry expected goals goals for sure but like you got to you got to bury and I feel like we’ve seen issues with this team like we’re starting to see kind of cracks in the foundation of this team like they’re getting older and like at what point are the Rangers you know unless they do turn things around and like really get on their horse which of course there’s time for and like they have the talent to to to get there but like I’m just kind of like surp I’m so underwhelmed by this team. It’s like even with those stats, it’s like you’re 31st in goals for per game. Like that’s just not acceptable with the core that they have right now. But again, it it takes time under new coaches. So, let’s give it some time. That just surprises me though. I I definitely want to give it some more time under Mike Sullivan because I still think like Adam Fox has had a really great start to the year still. Shuriken is in net and he’s playing great. Um, so I I just want to see it. I want to give it a little more time under Sullivan before I pull any panic buttons with them because based on the process, I’m like I like what they’re doing right now. I just if if it it’s still like if we’re 30 games in and this is still the conversation, then yeah, like something probably is going wrong and has to change. But they just shut out Vancouver last night, one- nothing win basically with an empty neter. I know Vancouver kind of sucks. There’s nothing to write home about. Yeah, they scored they scored one goal with They did. They did, you know, against like the Can like I don’t know. I I think they’re better. I think they’re better than what their their record is right now. And I think they’re going to score some goals. They Yeah. Like they they should be, but like I do think that there are concerns on that team. Like Lefrenier is What’s up with that? Like I don’t understand. He’s You’re surprised. What? You’re surprised. Oh, for sure. I don’t disagree. Three points in 10 games, is he not? Or three points in 10 games. I don’t disagree that there aren’t concerns. I I I think I think of course there is a poss like there’s of course a chance that they turn things around. You got to think they’re going to turn things around with that roster, but I’m just saying like through these first 10 or 11 games or whatever, I am surprised that they’re not a little better. Like it’s they’ve just been underwhelming. That’s fair. I I would be underwhelmed with the production for sure. Adam Fox leads them in points right now with nine. No forward is more than seven and that’s Paneran. Um, but it looks like we’re getting a little bit of a bounce back from Zabanagad, which is nice to see after a tough year as as far as putting the puck in the neck goes. He’s got four goals. Taylor Rash somehow has four goals, too, with three of them coming in that one game against the Sharks. But yeah, I I think the production’s going to pick up here at some point and we might be looking at this team a little differently. It better. I’m happy to wait on them though because I feel a lot better on them than I do truthfully a team like the Leafs. Like kind of similar spot record-wise. I believe in the Rangers truthfully a little more than I do the Leafs right now. Yeah. And and I think the Metro should be a little more wide open for the Rangers. Like the Devils have been really good. Carolina’s been really good. But I don’t know. I again I I agree. Like I think I think the Rangers should be better. Like I that’s why it wouldn’t necessarily be surprising if they turned it around. I’m just saying like through 11 games if you’re a Rangers fan I would be like I’m not feeling like that good about the team right now. Yeah. I can understand that for sure from based on where they are right now. Um I I would agree with that. I I think we’re we’re all surprised out. I think uh that’s all we got for this. You got a goal of the week or no? We can. Sure. Let’s give you a goal of the week. Let’s go to Edmonton where Steuart Skinner misplays the puck behind the net. That’s our boy once again like he always does and gives a gift that ends up on the stick of Barrett Hayden for an easy goal. Well, break this one down, fellas. I mean, Steuart Skinner just putting another one on the highlight reel. I feel so bad. My breakdown of this is that it’s not taking the top spot for me because Christian D’vorak, he’s just going to sit there all year. Find me a better goal and I’ll find you an AI generated video because there’s just not it just doesn’t exist. Z really needs to come back to rein us in on goal of the week because this week this is just going to be a joke of a segment. It was Z’s idea and it was such I remember when he explained it he’s like you know it’s a good way of kind of keeping like a long tally throughout the tracking the best goals and we’ve just turned it into Zack Mchuan taking a slapshot and Christian D’vorak tipping a puck into an empty net. And you know what? That’s that’s all it has to be. Z is probably surprised. Doc Mchuan with 120 mile hour slash. Z is absolutely fuming right now watching this. But if you guys enjoyed the goal of the week and the podcast, uh, leave a comment, like, subscribe. We really appreciate it. And we’ll see you on the next one.

The opening month of the NHL season is coming to a close, and it’s been FULL of surprises. The first placed Penguins? The struggling Lightning? Bedard and the Blackhawks on the rise? Jesse, Luca, and Poc discuss their biggest surprises from a crazy season so far.

0:00 Detroit Red Wings
4:38 Connor McDavid
10:05 More Red Wings
13:40 Toronto Maple Leafs
21:40 Tampa Bay Lightning
25:10 Pittsburgh Penguins
30:00 St. Louis Blues
34:20 Chicago Blackhawks
40:15 Montreal Canadiens
45:50 Utah Mammoth
48:30 New York Rangers
54:03 Goal of the Week