Are the Avs the NHL’s Most Complete Team Right Now? | GS Off Ice

Are the Avs the NHL’s Most Complete Team Right Now? | GS Off Ice

Hey everybody, welcome in. It’s Friday. You made it. Congratulations. You made it to Friday. Jesse Montan going to be joined by Megan Angley here in just a moment as the ABS continue on their white hot start, solidifying that first place in the NHL, knocking off the uh the St. Louis Sabres. That’s not who they are. The Buffalo Sabres last night at Ball Arena 6 to3. Uh we’re going to unpack that. We’re going to talk a little bit about Zakar Bardikop and the article that came out uh and with an interview from him earlier this week. And also really excited Luca from Bard Down will be joining us here in just a little bit to talk about this fast start for the ABS here coming out of the gates this season. But first, want to remind you guys about our great friends over at Refi Jet. Did you know that you could refinance your auto loan? Well, with Refi Jet, you could save around $150 every single month, all which is a soft credit pull, and zero hassle. Lower payments, flexible terms, maybe even some cash back in your pocket. And boy oh boy, is this not the perfect time of year for some extra cash back in your pocket. Head on over refi.com/sports. You guys hear me say it all the time, the best way to support us and this show and what we’re doing here at Guerilla is to show some love to our supporters and our partners. So, please head on over refijet.com/sports. See if they can’t help you save a little bit of money. They are the faster, easier way to refinance. Hello and welcome in. Please do not leave your luggage unattended on the station. [Music] [Applause] Welcome to the show. Hey everybody, welcome in. Welcome to the show. I’m Jesse Montana. This is Megan Angley. We got John and Ashley behind the glass today. Uh we’re going to be joined by Luca from Barard Down in about 20 minutes. Really looking forward to that. That’s a long overdue conversation, Megan. We’ve tried to get Luke on a couple times over the last year. Uh so really excited to talk with him. Uh, but Megan, how are you doing tonight? Abs coming off another multi-goal win. I’m doing really well and I realized that I’ve been taking Mucinx the last 48 hours. Okay, so you actually already stole my punchline cuz I took some mucinex this morning and I am feeling it. Like I am like not like I’m feeling it. Like no, I’m feeling the mucinx. Yes, I’m feeling the mucinx. Fascinate. In the post game, I was really happy, bubbly, and I didn’t want you guys to think that I had drinks when I was sitting in the stands. I just had muenex and dip and dots, which might have contributed to like a sugar high. Yeah, just a little bit. I think the Gavin Brinley goal combined with dip and dots combined with mucinx produced that result. And I’m still feeling it. So, I’m in a great mood. I haven’t had and I’m I’m trying to find a photo in particular of uh exactly how I’m feeling right now. Uh and you’re going to love this once I eventually find it. Uh what kind of dip and dots did you get? I haven’t had dip and dots split. Oh, interesting. Okay. It’s my favorite kind. It actually went away from concessions for a while and it’s so back. Um I uh I really like Dib and Dots and I don’t get to have them enough. Same. It’s been years since I’ve had them. Yeah. I fell off the wagon and had them again. Fell off the wagon. Uh, this is how I feel right now. Can we get the the tight on me? That’s how I feel. I don’t know why mucinx produces a really euphoric. They Yes. They tell you when you take Mucenex that the the little mascot that’s not just the mascot, that’s how you feel when you take Mucinx. Is it Jack Hughes who’s an ambassador for Mucinx? Is he really? Yeah. Honestly, if you look at the the Hughes brothers side by side and you had to guess which one takes Mucinx, I would guess it’s Jack. I would guess that Quinn is the walking spokesperson for melatonin. Yeah, Nyquil is a good one, too. Yeah, he’s haunted by a sleep paralysis demon. Yeah, the little the little mucinx character they use. They don’t tell you the the scared look he makes. No, that’s just how you feel when you take mine next for real. Uh but hey, I feel better in here. I think everyone that I know is a little bit sick. I think everybody I know is like 5% sick. That’s one of the harsh realities about this job is we’re in close proximity to the same group of people in a pretty dense group of people every day. Yeah. So if one person gets sick in the media core, we’re all going down like dominoes. Well, and do you remember on the the cup run of 22 that cup final ended and like 50 media members got like violently ill? Thankfully, I wasn’t on that trip. I evaded it. But yes, everybody got so sick. Yes. Um and and yeah, but hey, we’re here. We’re mucinxed up and uh we’re ready to talk abs. We’re ready to talk uh NHL. Megan, this has been such a fascinating start uh in you to to the to the season for me. Like you look out east and really the Buffalo Sabres are kind of the only team that’s like out of it. Uh all the other teams are within like two points of being either terrible or at the top of their division. Uh in the West, it’s maybe starting to separate out a little bit more. You’re you’re starting to have some teams that are falling behind, but I think the best teams in the league all reside in the West. Um it’s been a really interesting start. It’s been really fun. The ABS pick up another win last night, 121 and five on the season. Uh, a little bit of a cushion. Uh, first overall in the NHL. Um, I was talking with Evan Ra last night in the tunnel as the final minute was ticking down. Shout out Evan uh from the Denver Gazette. He said, “This is starting to have 2022 vibes where you show up to the rink and it really doesn’t matter how they play, you’re expecting them to win no matter what.” It’s so true. Like talking to Kale at Morning Skate, the the question of what are you even talking about between games cuz all you have to hone in on is the little details. And what I want to follow up on is you have to be really engaged to stay locked into those conversations on the little details. Like I think I don’t know I’m not explaining this well but when it is such a narrow scope that you’re keying in on game by game, you really got to be committed to what you’re doing. And maybe I just have ADHD, but I think to keep that focus then on improving the little things, it could be a challenge at times, I imagine, instead of the bigger picture. Like I think the power play, you know, is still finding its way. um it’s gradually climbed. Like you go from one month to the next and it’s gradually climbed in terms of results. But aside from that, to get the 5v5 production that they’re getting, the depth contributions that they’re getting, the goalending, this is a really complete team. And it’s hard to nitpick then in between games. It’s situational, too. It’s like, yeah, in this game specifically, we might have given up a few oddman rushes, too many. So, we’re going to work on our rush coverage. Next game, you immediately see results. And so, it’s so interesting. Then, you find yourself going into the locker room like, what am I asking them about today? Cuz the penalty kill is still really good. And I just asked about why it’s so good and it’s still the same reasons. Well, first of all, I got a little distracted here because Moxy, member of Guerilla Sports, had to Google Dip and Dots. has never had dipping and dots. Oh, and that that distracted me in and of itself just a little bit. Is it Moxy? Where are you from? Moxy May. And they were saying that they were thinking of Fun Dip. Yes. Also a great treat. I do like dip. Dip and dots are one of Well, yeah. No, I’ll say Dip and Dots are one of one. There’s knockoff attempts that are just not the same. I’ve tried to buy the storebought knockoffs and they’re not the same. Not the same. Um, sorry. So, I just had to point that out. Dip and dots are fantastic. Uh Moxy, I hope you get the chance to try them at some point. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You mentioned the contributions that they’re getting. That game last night opens with beautiful stretch pass from Kale Mar to spring Marty Ness. Top guys getting things going. Second goal, Arturi Lechin doing what Artur Lechinan does, getting to the front of the net, finding rebounds. Top guys doing what they’re doing. Um and then as you get further into this game, Buffalo is able to climb back into this game. By the way, you and I weren’t sitting together last night, but I know you and I would have just been having a love fest over Tae Thompson. So good. I love him so much. He’s so powerful. Like, he was going toe-to-toe with Josh Manson in a puck battle, and it was a tie. It was a draw. He’s He’s so sick. That that one-timer was such a beautiful shot. Beautiful play. um they get the game tied and you know, you’re starting to see you say, “Okay, Buffalo’s made a goalie change. Their top guy just tied the game on a power play.” Uh Bowen Byum clearly got under Nate’s skin on that play. He was talking smack to everybody. I’m like, I didn’t know he was this vocal. Has he been doing this the whole time? I I think he has. I think that’s a little bit of who he is. But you sit there, you say, “All right, is this a moment where Buffalo’s going to start to feel themselves a bit? Hey, we lost last night. We have a chance to steal one here after a slow start.” And it’s Gavin Brinley elevated to the second line who comes uh down the right side. Just a beautiful shot far side. And it’s just that Megan is one of those things out of everything that you just talked about. That’s the part where I’m looking at it saying, “Yeah, this is what makes this team so dangerous is the top guys can get going and then once you figure out how to contain them and you can start to push pace, a different part of the lineup can start to make your life hell.” And and I hate to always be doing it. I hate to always be comparing back to the 22 team, but it’s a team that had what it took to go all the way. Um, and it was one that we were able to watch up close. That was what I thought it was about that team was we will play you any way you want. Uh, we’ll we’ll play you wherever you want, whenever you want, and it really doesn’t matter. We are going to find a way to win. Yeah. And you you guys could have, you know, when they went headto-head with the Edmonton Oilers, you guys might have the two best players on the ice, arguably, heavily argued, but you can’t you can’t hang with us down the lineup. Hey, you guys might have some great forward depth. You don’t have the back end like we have. And it’s just they seem right now to have an answer for everything. Well, and even the forward depth, like looking at that cup run, you didn’t really concern yourself too much with or is it Nico Sturman, is it a Kubalin, is it Alex New Hooken, whatever that rotation was, you felt a confidence in how the bottom six was going to round out. You had Burkovsky in there at times, JT Confer in there at times, and so I think this has been a good balance of skill in the bottom six, um, rather than just the depth role player guys. And so I think that’s why though we love the fourth line that could be OC, Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, you know, you want to have the skill represented in the bottom six. That’s not to say those aren’t skilled guys. I think that Parker Kelly’s off to a really hot start this year. Jack Dury’s doing a fine job at 3C. But to imagine Ross Colton somewhere in that mix, whether it’s Gabriel Landiskog staying there or Victor Olson who’s been there, Gavin Brinley’s moonlighted there, though obviously he has a top six toolkit. I think it punctuates why it was important to go back to that roster construction for the bottom six that worked because we are seeing Gavin Brinley find success and I don’t think that was necessarily like they weren’t banking on that. That’s just a nice added bonus because this is still a forward core that doesn’t have Logan Oconor in Yolk and we’re not even sure where they fit in or Bardikov where he fits in when everybody returns to full health. And so it’s a great problem to have first and foremost and it’s a testament to their depth and I haven’t even addressed the back end at this point, right? Like that’s just keying in on how deep the forward core is and that is what’s giving shades of 2022. I think the way that the back end is constructed is different um in that that third pair whatever it’s going to be cuz I don’t think this puzzle has you know it’s not the kind like when you finish the puzzle and you cement it and you can hang it on the wall. Not cement but you know whatever that shellac is. Damn. Yeah. Really? Whatever that shellac is, right? This is a a decor that hasn’t been shellacked yet. Um, and whatever that is though, that third pair can still be a scoring threat. And that’s a little bit different from the third pair in the cup run. And so to that end too, I think it’s better in ways. I don’t want to say better with a capital B, but I think it’s better in ways because I think that all pairings pose an offensive threat. And we’re seeing it like even in how the Gavin Brinley goal gets sprung. It feels as if the ABS can create offense from all three zones. And that is an exciting thing because they’re opportunistic and hungry for it too. And so it’s not just what they’re doing in the offensive zone. It’s a threat anywhere on the ice. Um and I think that is because of the depth of the whole team at that point. Yeah. Um I’m just going to mention this real quick just comment. Uh we are going to talk about the Bartikov interview that came out uh earlier this week uh as we get a little bit closer to the end of the show. So yes, we will uh we will talk about this. Also, quick side note, shout out Alex New Hook. Scary injury last night. He’s going to miss some time. Uh went into the boards really awkwardly. Uh he is going to be out for a little bit. You hope he’s uh doing all right. Um I love the call out here of better reserving a little bit of excitement better on the back end. It might be overall a little bit smaller. So, some people do assign value to that and they’re not wrong. It’s just like what amount of weight is appropriate there because where you’ve maybe lost a little bit of size, you’ve gained skill on the offensive side of the puck. Well, and and like Kalin Taves, I don’t worry about size there with those two. No. Sam Gerard, of course. Yeah. He’s an undersized defenseman, as you and I have talked about. I think Sam Gerard does a lot of things really well. Being big is one thing that he doesn’t really have much control over. He’s not he’s not big. Sam Molinsky I I I really struggle to say six foot is under size. That’s kind of like the average size for players now. But I get it back end a little bit on the smaller side. Um it’s like Kale in my eyes though. I think that he can be he’s very strong on his skates and so he’s not so easily knocked off. He might not be like in laying a hit himself. the biggest physical threat, but I also think that he can be strong on pucks um more than people realize and he’s not afraid to play the body. And so when you look at just like the overall hits, blocks for Molinsky, those numbers are pretty tops on the team. So despite being put into that category of being an undersized defenseman, there’s nothing about the analytics, the eye test that suggests this is a problem or even really true. You hear me say it all the time, Megan. Right. Sam Malinsky is diet Kale Mar light. He’s got so many of those tools in there. And I’m I’m so He even told us a big part of the reason why he came to Colorado was to be able to play with Kale Mar, learn from Kale Mar. Um because that is how he tries to model his game. I I look at this and say, and this is this is not meant to be a shot at Jack Johnson. I think Jack on that 22 run. I think Jack Johnson was good for the ABS. The the decor right now like everyone is just a level above that of where Jack Johnson was in 22 with the ABS on that back end. And again, that’s that’s me saying I thought Jack Johnson was very good for the ABS on that cover. And I just think that this entire so good they went and brought him back. Went and brought him back. So, you know, I just think that this one through six right now, everybody’s a a couple of tiers above where a guy like Jack Johnson was where I think you’re missing is Solovio. I think you want something a little bit better there that if we need to reach into that bag. I like him so much. He’s just a bit inexperienced in green. That’s really my only knock on Slovio because I think he’s got a little more speed upside than Katon Middleton had. Um, and he’s just got a couple years younger and so I don’t hate that as a depth option for the ABS. But because of that youth, there’s a little less experience and it shows a lack of trust. Yeah, for sure. And and I think they I think they’re going to address it. I think Solovia will likely eventually be waved and reassigned to Lovelin and they’re going to get an upgrade there. Um, but yeah, Megan, you know, it’s just you you look at this group and even knowing no OC last night, no Val, uh, no Kibby R. Um, up front, you look and you’re like, yeah, they’re still really deep. And that was again not only the secret sauce to the abs in 22. I think that’s the secret sauce to to a cup contender. You need to be able to have and look it was one game he looked really good. He’s got to keep doing it. But like you’ve got to be able to say, “Hey, Val came out. We’ve got someone we can plug in here. We feel really comfortable.” Art Lean in Light. Right. Right. And again, like you know, I go back Andre Burkovsky gets hurt on that cup run. Nasm Cadri breaks his hand in the Western Conference final and they just never missed a beat. Yes, you missed those guys. Yep, those are big players to be had in the lineup, but you just had guys that were able to slot in and be serviceable. And that’s what I see here for the ABS. And when I look around the league, I see a lot of good teams that are all flawed. And that’s not to say that the ABS aren’t flawed, but I I I love the way that you put it a couple weeks ago. I see a lot of teams with holes. The abs to me right now have dimples and and that’s a much better position to be in. Dimples are so cute. Dimples are so cute. But actually, they have had so many contingency plans built into how they’ve constructed this team that it’s worth noting the front office felt the sting of the Dallas series loss. And so in order to take accountability for that, they have loaded this team up with so many contingency plans. That’s a plan B, a plan C, a plan D. And that is where the depth conversation comes into play. That’s why we’re talking about Gavin Brinley right now, even with OC and Kibby R out of the lineup. And the Brent Burns addition seemed a little funky on the right side in the off season, but one that added a little bit more size that wasn’t represented there before. And the way he uses his size is different from Josh Manson, but that made up some ground and it’s really helped change the complexion of this kneecore in a positive way. So, just, you know, this isn’t me. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, right? Like, it has to stand the test of time. And that’s the biggest thing in all of this. It’s great that they’re playing great hockey right now. I think they’re really concerned with how they’re playing hockey in May and April. So, that is also though the team that I’m seeing right now, that seems to be their intent, their focus. Um, I have a lot of respect for that. And I think because of how deep they are, this should stand up well in time. Well, and you know, I asked Jared about it the other day about, hey, you guys are up nine to1 against the Edmonton Oilers with 60 seconds to go and you were stuffing the puck down their throat the whole time. Just like why why were you doing that up nine to one? And it was exactly what you just said. He’s like, we’re building habits. I don’t care if we’re up eight goals, down eight goals, if it’s the first minute, the last minute, first game of the year, last game of the year. we are building the right habits to play come April, come May, come June. Uh and and there’s a mentality that just they feels different in that room than it has the last two years. They’ve had really good teams the last two years. They’ve Yes. almost almost three straight 50 win seasons. There’s a different energy around this group right now. Yeah. Ross Colton, uh talking to him at Morning Skate ahead of the Anaheim game. Anaheim was coming in, they’d won seven straight. he really wasn’t focused on what Anaheim had been doing. And that was sort of in response to my question to him about the Edmonton game, too. It’s like they’re not so much focused on who the opponent is. It’s what they’re doing, what they’re talking about in their own room. And I think that corroborates exactly what Jared Bedar is saying. And it’s interesting because we see the beatdown on Edmonton and that carries weight in our eyes. Like that’s a Stanley Cup final team the last couple of years and you just beat them. you just smoked them. Um, I don’t, you know, I’m sure there’s some significance back of mind, but really they are not dwelling too much on who the opponent is. They are focused on themselves and that’s a mature team. Yep. Yep. It’s not about Buffalo. It’s not about Anaheim. It’s not about Edmonton. It’s about us is what Jared Bednar told me yesterday. Uh, vaguely sober in the chats wondering when the mucinx ads are going to start. And that’s a great call. I love amusement watching this show. Jack Hughes, we’re we’re in Gorilla Sports Off Ice Listener. We are in uh just, you know, just want your agent’s name. Yeah. Uh well, Megan, let’s get to our guest. I’m so excited to have him uh joining us. We’ve talked for a long time about getting him on the show. Uh and we figured a 121 and five start for the ABS. No better time. You guys know him uh from Barard Down, content creator for TSN, Luca Chabbre. Now, Luca, my first question for you, as someone who has their last name mispronounced a lot, did I say that right? Tore, it was it was pretty close. Calebre. Um, but it’s it’s on the same path. You pretty much nailed it. Okay. All right. It it was a it was a good attempt and that’s all you can ask, right? Uh, Luca, so great to chat with you, man. How are you doing? Uh, where are you? I’m doing great. Thank you guys so much for having me. I I obviously I love what both of you do and have been watching a bunch. Um, and I’m in Winnipeg right now of all. We’ve got the, uh, in in Canada, we’ve got the Gray Cup, the uh, the championship game for the CFL. So, uh, we’ve been here all week. We’ve been covering it. The Jets have actually been out of town. I was hoping to catch a game, but, uh, but they’re on a road trip. So, that’s that’s whereabouts I am right now. Okay. All right. Well, nice. Well, I I knew when you and I had talked earlier in the week, I knew you were making your way to Winnipeg. I I completely spaced Gray Cup coming up. Yeah, that’s uh uh that that uh should be a fun time. Winnipeg. We were actually talking about it earlier this week. Sneaky good food scene. You got to know the right places to go, but but it’s not bad. Uh Luca, were you able to catch that game last night for the ABS? I was able to catch it. I I also do want to know eventually what the sneaky good places to eat here are because we we’ve had a couple. Um but I I’ve also had a couple duds, so I need to need to get back in the win column there. But I was able to watch the game last night. Nice. Uh I’ll have Cory Massesac from the Denver Post. He’s got a list of like 15 from when we were there last time. I’ll get the list and send it your way of the best places to go. Um, you know, we were talking just before you jumped on that this team is starting to look a little bit like it did a couple years ago where doesn’t really matter what night of the week who they’re playing, how they look. You’re kind of just back to expecting them to win every single night. From your vantage point, what are you what are you seeing out of this uh this Colorado group here through 18 games? Yeah, I think you both said it best where the mentality and both of you have a better pulse on it than me covering the team every day, but um the mentality seems to have there’s just a shift in it. Like it just seems like they are already playing playoff hockey every single game and that’s kind of the mentality that they’re rolling with. And it’s not to say that that wasn’t the mentality for the past couple of years, but maybe it really is this uh this viewpoint, I guess, of hey, we we are a good team, but nothing is guaranteed. And so, we don’t know when we’re ever going to get back to the cup. It’s been a while. Maybe it’s the outside noise of like Jared has only been past the second round once. And that that means something to this this group and to him. And um I I just feel like when they step out onto the ice and watching them um there is just a different tone in the game that they are playing. Um and I don’t know how to fully quantify that with words, but it just seems to be a a difference in mindset and mentality and it’s it’s really showed up in their play all season long. Yeah. Luca, I think it’s great that you’re not entrenched in the ABS bubble because I want to know what the national view of this team has been. Going back to the start of the season, I think people thought that the ABS had a quiet off seasonason like, okay, Brent Burns, Brock Nelson, extension. What did this team really do? How different are they? So, I just wanted to get your take kind of on how people have been talking about the ABS from the start of the year and maybe how that’s evolved through this point. Oo, that’s a great question. I think great question. I think maybe based on the moves they made like you mentioned, I think it was like, oh, they’re going to be really good again, but I think people were probably curious what this team would look like with a full season without Mo. And I guess it was pre-nacious extension, so what that would look like, if that would be a distraction, if they were going to um get that done early on, how that would play out. and given how it kind of played out last year in the trade um would how long would they want that to kind of go into the season? So I I think generally the consensus was maybe like obviously a very good team but was the trade a good one and would we find out if they would be better off for it this season immediately? Um, I think that was kind of where people were were going with it. And now through 18 games, I think it’s shifted and you guys tell me if I’m wrong maybe, but like I think it’s shifted to like this is the best team in hockey and it’s maybe it’s maybe not even close at this point. Yeah. No, and and honestly, I’m so glad you asked that cuz I wanted to ask the same thing because we’re we’re here know we we see these guys every day and for me like as you know watching other teams that are you know coming into Ball Arena or or just you know when when the ABS are out on the road like they look like the best team to me but I also know that yeah we’re up close. I I see them every day. I see the habits. I know there’s a lot of other uh you know there’s a lot of other good teams out there, but we we were just talking like every team at this point of the season is going to have flaws, right? Things that you want to make better, things you want to correct, but like it feels to me and again as someone who’s not, you know, super up close with one team. It feels to me like the ABS are maybe the only team that aren’t like deeply flawed that have multiple changes that need to be made. Feels like just a couple tweaks for the ABS and I don’t necessarily know if that’s the case for the rest of the league. Do you feel the same way having that little bit more broad look at at at what’s going on around the league? I do for sure. It it feels like the only I guess like flaw maybe going into the season was because Blackwood was hurt like what would the goalending look like and especially given the past couple seasons like the goalending with Gorgi of last year obviously was a bit of a a train wreck at the beginning of the year forcing them to make these moves. So, could they get consistency in net without the guy that they wanted to be their number one early in the season? Um, and they answered that question pretty resoundly with a with a yes, they could get it with Scott Wedgwood. Obviously, the defensive play in front of him has been incredible as well, which I think is like the most impressive part of this for me is just the Brent Burns edition, how that has um helped them, but also doing this without Gerard for long stretches and the play of a guy like Sam Molinsky has been just so impressive to me. He he has looked incredible and so many times I’m just watching and I’m like, is that Kale? Wait, they play so similarly. It’s so funny and it it catches me off guard every time because they’re both right-handed shots. But I I would agree with you. I think like out of all of the the contenders that we’re looking at, um Florida had so many injuries coming into the season and Edmonton it was always like goalending and defense. There really isn’t anything to pick pick apart with this team. It’s it’s rare. Yeah. I wanted to follow up on the trade conversation like can they survive a full season without Mo? Are you a Marty Nas believer? What was your initial reaction to that extension? How do you think it’s going to age? I I am a a Nous believer for sure. He is He has won me over as I’m sure a lot of ABS fans with his play. He’s just so dynamic. I I didn’t realize how dynamic he was with the puck on his stick and how fast he could be and the moves he makes. And it’s obviously a different element than what Mo brought to the lineup because he was all about power, but for a powerful guy and a big guy, like he could skate still. It wasn’t that he wasn’t a good skater by any means and great in the corners, but yeah, I’m a believer. I think the contract is going to age really really well and he’s obviously a little younger than Mo, so that helps. But I I’m I’m a full-on believer now. like this 18 game stretch and even last year what he did. I’m I’m a full-on believer in what he can be and um him being a perfect fit for this system. Well, I I love what you just said there because I think it’s also the approach that his camp took and the ABS took of like, hey, last year went really well. Let’s let’s make sure that that you know we we feel good about this and we get off to a good start. Uh so, you know, what you just said there, Luca, where are you normally I know you’re in Winnipeg right now. Are you normally based in Toronto? I am. Yes. Normally in Toronto. So, let’s talk a little bit about We don’t have to get We don’t have to get too far into the Leafs, but like you know, Megan mentioned the ABS had a quiet summer and it felt like the last really since they won the cup starting that next season with we don’t really know what’s going on with Gabe and and you know, we were really early in learning what’s happening there. You have the backto-back seasons with the Val Neushkin stuff. um as someone who lives in the center of the hockey universe and and sees the chaos that follows around a team like the Maple Leafs are cuz Megan and I have talked about it a lot that we think that the quietness around this team is part of what’s been so good for them early. Do you see that have an effect on Leaf players, that organization that just so much noise constantly can take a toll and and having a a team as good as the ABS, not having to deal with that can make a difference? I I think it can. I I think like we’ve seen it with this Leafs team specifically a lot where obviously the playoff shortcomings. Um it’s it’s not to blame the outside noise on them at all, but I think when they compound and compound and compound year after year after year, there is that mental wear and tear. I think with being the center of sports in this city quite frankly um even they had a bit of a distraction when the Jays were in the World Series and going seven games to kind of mask um maybe some of their early season struggles but now that they are like again back in the spotlight um a lot of and I know Twitter’s a tough place to like judge how fan bases are feeling and like the vibe is because it’s generally not positive even if you are winning a ton of games like it’s always the sky is falling and always always negativity but we’ve already seen like I feel like the overwhelming reaction is now turned on Craig Baruub in a sense of like oh is was this the right move like we were very lucky with Dubis and Keefe because the style of play is just completely shifted from that high octane offense that possessed the puck a lot and was exciting and yeah like they had their defensive deficiencies but now it’s just like we’re playing lowevent hockey and we’re scoring a ton, but like we’re not generating a ton and we’re relying on our goalies heavily again and they are not being the goalies that they were last year and goalending is so iffy. So, I I think it definitely compounds and the media definitely makes it harder where, like you mentioned, a market like Colorado, a ton of great sports teams and the quietness of it probably does help a little bit. I I I would imagine it does anyway. Yeah, that Blue Jays ending was heartbreaking. Heartbreaking. Very much so. The other day, Jesse asked me if I have found new ways to talk about Nathan McKinnon and how impressive he is. So, I want to ask you about Nathan McKinnon because I’ve run out of different ways to talk about him. But really what I want to know too is since you do have a really good pulse on the other stars around the league, what is it about Nathan McKinnon that makes him so special and maybe different from other stars around the league? That’s a great question. I want to know how you guys continually find ways to talk about him as well after because I I am just like I’m kind of at a loss for words every time I watch him and he does something. I I guess like the comparisons of like 1 A1B to him and McDavid of who the best player in the world is have been going on for a while and the easy way to compare them I guess is like the speed. But I feel like I’ve heard players talk about it before. It’s just how ferocious his skating is. It just feels he is backing you down every single time he touches the puck to the point where I don’t know. I feel like if I was a defender I’d fall over every time. I just see him because it just feels so violent and he’s like attacking the ice and attacking your space and can still stick handle so well at that speed. I I just don’t know. McDavid is obviously very special. He’s the best player in the world, I think, for um I would take McKinnon a lot as well if I was putting money on it. But the way they approach the game is so different where it feels like McDavid is a little more finesse in his game and his skating. And it looks a lot I prettier is not the word I want to use, but it it just like it has an art form to it where Nate just seems again like it’s just so violent and so forceful. his shooting even represents I feel like those traits as well where takes those one-times where as a guy like McDavid I don’t think does that as much and that’s why you see the goal totals from Nathan. But I I want to know from you guys like how do you guys just find ways to talk about his still coming from covering him for a long period of time as well and seeing his growth and development. the the way that I talk about it most frequently to to people is I remember um you know being in middle school, high school and and talking about oh man that’s got to be so awesome for people in Pittsburgh and people in DC who get to watch Sydney Crosby every night and Alex Ovetchkin and that’s kind of what I say to people and I was like I had a moment a couple years ago I realized like oh damn that’s what I’m living through right now is I’m getting to watch Nathan McKinnon and Kale Mar every single night. Um, you know, we were talking about, uh, you know, just abs great grates and stuff like that. And I I told Megan, I said, I know people are going to wse when I say this, but, you know, work with me a bit on it. I said, you know, Nathan McKinnon is kind of like if you took Joe Sackic and Peter Forsber and stuck them together cuz like you said, he he plays with that physicality, that kind of violence, guys hanging off him kind of like Peter Forsber, but then he also has the the speed and the the the release and all that stuff of of you know, Joe Sackic. And um when you when you run out of ways to describe him, you start mashing names together, you know. So that’s really that that’s that’s kind of how it is for me. But um you know Megan Megan always gets great great response and great answers out of Jared Bedar um because he even’s like I don’t know what else to say about this. Do you have a a way that you look at it? I mean it’s nothing new from what we’ve already said. Uh he’s the embodimement of a competitor. So I think his on ice impact is obvious but I think the cultural impact away from it is what makes Nathan McKinnon very special too. Um, and I loved when we talked about Gabriel Landiskog being the heartbeat of the team, Nathan McKinnon being the engine. I think that sums it up perfectly because he is a huge driver of the success that the ABS are having. And sometimes he can take games completely in his own hands, but I think he does truly lead by example. I think that gets overused in talking about less vocal leaders, but Nathan McKinnon truly does lead by example because there’s implied consequence if you don’t meet that standard. You know, you will have to answer for it. And so because of the implication Exactly. There’s an accountability aspect there, too. But everybody loves that part of being Nathan McKinnon’s teammate. Yeah. Well, and Luca, to your point about like him verse McDavid, like I always look at as like McDavid will go around anybody. He can go around anybody. Nathan McKinnon will go around or through you if he needs to, you know, and and he’s just got that that kind of element to his game. Uh Luca, we’ll only keep it for a couple more minutes. Thank you so much. I know you you know you’ve got you got stuff you got to get to. So, we really appreciate uh you taking some time to join us here. The chat has been blowing up. People are so excited that we’ve got you on here. We’re going to have to have you back on. Um but just, you know, for you, where are you kind of at expectationwise? Like you said, we Megan and I actually have a really fun perspective on Twitter versus real life. And it’s hard to we went and did a a video a couple years ago about like let’s see how these line up and it’s nowhere near the same but um I love uh I think it’s Elliot Freriedman’s line of sometimes fans forget that you play one 82 game season and not 82 one game seasons and I even had some people last night when it gets tied at three to three that are in my mentions like oh this team this is why where are you at your expectations or or or do you you know do you have expectations or you just saying kind of you Let’s see. Let’s let it fall where it is. Just just where are you at going forward with this group? What are you looking for going going forward? Well, first of all, I could talk abs all day, so you are not taking any time. I’m very grateful and appreciative of both of you. Like I said, I love the work that you both do and love following you guys. So, likewise, just so you know. Yes, it’s an honor to be here and I’m I’m happy to come back anytime. Um, expectations are are a tough thing for sure. And that’s such a great line of not it’s 182 game season and not 82 one game seasons because yeah, overreactions and I think it’s an an all sports problem quite frankly. Um the overreactions to small sample sizes in one game are so so I don’t know it just it makes sports toxic sometimes and like totally themes because you have to enjoy the process and I I feel like given what we’ve seen through 18 games so far like the process is is what I am most encouraged by and so like expectations are always I I feel with this team like Stan the Cup and it’s tough to say Stanley the upper bust because hockeyy’s such a such a parody sport where completely agree the best team doesn’t always win or like the best team in the regular season can have a stretch of seven games where the puck isn’t going in the net and they’re generating a ton and I mean I’ve seen it firsthand with the Leafs in some of those losses where it’s like they have been the better team in some of these playoff series that the puck just doesn’t go in for their big players and best players and that’s how it is sometimes where like the NBA if you have a star player he’ll take over and you’ll win games and if he doesn’t then you’ll lose and sometimes it’s as simple as that. So, um, cup or bust is is not how I want to phrase it, but yeah, I think like Stanley Cup conference finals at the very least are fair expectations given what we’ve seen. I don’t know if you guys feel differently, but um I’m sure those are the expectations of of guys in there and it has been like that ever since they won the cup and it was probably like that for the couple years prior when this was all kind of starting and this window was opening. So that’s that’s how I feel and I’m really encouraged by what I’ve seen. Like the wins and losses at this point are what they are, but the style of play they’re playing and um just how they tilt the ice every single night. Like more often than not, you’re going to win games playing how they’re playing. And so that’s that’s an encouraging sign through 20. That was a great answer. Yeah, that’s a great reminder. It’s levelheaded. Yeah. Yeah. And have fun watching this team right now. Don’t take it for granted. Yeah. No, that was that was a great answer. I love it. Megan, do you have anything else? I Yep. I wanted to know your hockey lore. Like, why ABS? Why ABS hockey? So, um, growing up, I was I mean, I come from a a big Italian family of basically Montreal fans and Leaf fans. And when I got into hockey first, my first memories of hockey were watching the Olympics that Joe Sack won MVP at, Salt Lake City. And I’ll never forget that gold medal game where he had a couple goals, the breakaway obviously to seal it. And from that moment on, and my one of my cousins was kind of like a Leafs ABS fan, but he was he loved Joe Sack. That was his favorite player. So from that moment on, I was like, I’m a Joe Sack fan. I’m a Colorado Avalanche fan. Like this is my team. The jerseys are cool. Everything about this team is sweet. Um, my first heartbreaking ABS memory or ABS memory I can remember is is game seven against the Wild when I guess it was Patrick W’s last game. And so like that’s my earliest ABS memory I have. So it was like after the cup wins but still being able to watch these legends which was really cool. Um, the bad years were were not great but uh but that’s okay. We’re that’s that’s kind of sports and and how life goes and you cheer through all of them. But uh but yeah, that’s that’s kind of my ABS lore. Where for you guys? Like what’s uh I mean covering the team is a little different, but like did you guys grow up ABS fans? Like where what is your lore? Do you want to go first? I’ll speedrun it. Yes. I did not grow up here. I moved here in 2006, Air Force brat. And so my introduction to hockey was actually Air Force college hockey, but the minute I laid eyes on it, I fell in love. And so I said, “Well, just weekend games with a college hockey schedule isn’t enough. I need to say way more of this.” And I just turned on the TV to watch the I was like, “The local team because I could watch them the most frequently.” And that’s the short version. Oh, that’s mine was uh my family moved here from a state that had no professional teams uh when I was we moved here in 1995, so one year before the ABS got to town. and the ABS show up, kind of take the take the city by storm cuz they’re the best shot at, you know, the first pro championship. Uh, my parents didn’t really know anything about hockey. My dad got super into it. I was two and just or I guess I was about three almost and just by the time I turned four, I was carrying around vacuum hose attachments pretending they were hockey sticks uh because I just could not get enough. Um, and uh, and so yeah, so really the abs moving to Colorado is what got my whole family on it. Um, and then I start, you know, I got a pair of skates when I was four, started skating, and now I’m here. Oh, I love that. I love that so much. So, yeah. So, no, the the, you know, the the those early ABS teams. Um, you know, it’s funny like I I joke with my parents and stuff like who knew that us getting into hockey in that 9596 season would like not only set me up for like a sport that I love, but like I you know I now get to do this and uh all that stuff and and it’s it’s the beauty of hockey, right? Like it it gives us so much uh and I just I love the game so much and uh so yeah. So, no, it um it it Joe Sackic era abs are are are what got me. So, I’m right there with you. But, so I was going to say you so you started following them right after the O2 Olympics and stuff. So, that the cup from a couple years ago was extra sweet for you. Yeah, that was like first one that I’ve seen as like a fan of the team and the closest that they’ve ever been, I guess, in in my kind of lifetime of being an ABS fan. Like I remember there was like that stretch in the early I guess like oh man was it like 05 06 07 I feel like they were facing like the Stars a couple times and like I remember the the Wild series and OT goals from Stack and all of those those kind of playoff moments. But yeah, the the recent run has been like the most enjoyable experience of all time. just being able to watch these guys grow together and complete the ultimate dream and um it’s it’s just such a such a special feeling as like a fan of the team and I’m I’m in there forever now obviously like it yeah lifelong thing um but yeah that was the first cup which was was just crazy dude that’s that’s amazing and hey you know I there’s some older ABS fans who don’t like when I say stuff like this but I really do I actually think and it was part of the reason why I You know, I I was bummed for the team when they moved on from Miko Rantin last year because I really do feel like this era is getting to the point where it’s superseding the 90s, early 2000s where this team, this core, this coaching staff is if they can get one more, they can hang one more banner, I think you’re going to have a real real real argument to make of like, yeah, that act this is the glory days right now that are, you know, like I said, superseding what what happened in the early 2000s and stuff. But um so yeah, ABS fans, I know, love having you. Like I said, the chat has been lighting up this whole time. We’re gonna have to have you back on. Uh let’s see if we can make this regularly scheduled. We’ll get you on here a bunch. We’d love it. I’m I’m absolutely in. And like I said, I’m I’m just I’ll sing your praises for anyone to listen to. You guys are amazing at what you do. Very grateful to be here. And like I said, anytime I’m here, I love talking to ABS. It’s uh it’s fun not to talk leaps or like just just be in Toronto and like talk abs with other people that it it just doesn’t hit the same when you’re when you’re talking to people that also love the apps. Yeah, I I love it, Luca. Uh thank you so much for coming on. Uh Luca from Barard Down and TSN. You can find his work on both of those platforms. Uh also Luca Calebre on X. Make sure you’re following him. Uh he’s an outstanding follow. is great work, Luca. We appreciate it so much. Uh, I’ll talk to you soon. We’ll have you back on here shortly. Sounds good. Have a great one, guys. Thank you so much. See you. Awesome to have him on. That was great. He’s so great. Great. It’s one of those like since it was the first one ever, you just wanted to learn everything like so what are your thoughts on every single player on the ABS? Let’s just go through the roster. Start at the top. Numerical. Here we go. Um, we did have a super chat in there. I think I saw uh boom hit the super chat lights. Uh bring Luca back again. Love this. Also, pyramid supplies. Yes, we do have a player ranking pyramid in the works. Megan was asking to do it a little bit early, which would have been funky, which would have also been a little bit late cuz we missed the first 10 games. Yeah. So, I was like, well, let’s just do game 15 and Jesse very reasonably said game 20. So, game 20. Game 20. And and hey, no more Chloe, which makes us sad. Too mucinxed out for this. I’m going to cry. I don’t know if that’s a side effect. I I’m going to I’m going to step up and I’m going to fill the Chloe shoes. They’re They’re teeny tiny physical shoes. You got to get little Uggs. Big shoes. We do. This is a little tiny pair for right here. Uh do you think in memory of Chloe? She’s not dead. She just moved. She just moved. She just gone. Um, do you think Khloe’s watching right now? I hope so. This was a really beautiful tribute. Yeah, this was We’re going to buy Tiny Uggs in your And you know what? Let’s leave us. Hey, Chloe, text me tiny Uggs. Like those words if you watch this. That way I’ll know if you’re a real friend or not, and you still watch our show even after you. Thanks. Um, we want to talk about Bartikov and I think that’s probably a good spot to wrap up this Mucinx Out podcast. Uh, speaking of Mucinx, we got another super chat here from vaguely sober. Speaking of mucinx, our our mucinx buddy, uh, vaguely stats actually now has the name change. Jesse stole Khloe’s shoes. I didn’t do a good enough job cuz she still left. Or it’s like, you know what, I go to my workplace, they steal my shoes. I can’t handle this environment. I have to leave. It’s toxic. I Yeah. Uh I I I want to just give a quick shout out. I loved what Luca said there about when I asked about expectations. I thought that was such a good answer. It’s such a good answer because we really do need to lock in and be really present for how fun this team is right now. It is fun and it’s different on a nightly basis. It’s like, yeah, I’m sure the way that Buffalo game, the exchanging of goals after such a hot start probably felt a little funky, but they recovered and then decidedly won. So, yeah, that was cool. Well, and like you’ve heard me talk about it before, my first year, I wasn’t in the room every day, but it was my first year covering the team at a professional level was 16, 17. So, like some of y’all don’t remember those days and when you see those days and you live them and and you live through the days of 45% capacity at Ball Arena because tickets were so cheap, you guys. I was sitting lower bowl for like 13 bucks a ticket before fees. Um and and so like when you’ve lived through that I’ve actually talked to my mom about it like that loss my my parents are huge ABS fans that loss last year it’s moments like that as much as they suck and as bad as they hurt the loss against Vegas in 20 uh 2021 those are terrible. you you it sits with you all summer, but those are the moments that make the 2022 moment that much better. Yeah. So special. Like that Vegas exit ahead of the 2022 season, I think gave you the what’s the word I’m looking for? Like navigation system and how to properly appreciate what 2022 was going to be. And I think that’s going to be true of this Dallas lost from last year. Um it really did sting. So, I don’t know where the ABS go this year. It’s just don’t forget to appreciate a good team when you have it. When you have it. Um, let’s put a bow on everything by talking about naturally. Uh, hey, just wanted to park a tiny bit of time for Landisk and his goals. Oh, all right. Yes. And and truthfully, we should have even asked Luca about like what the hell? What the hell? Okay. So, I personally thought that was goalender interference. This might be controversial. I I I agreed with Jared’s assessment after. I I thought it was I I I I thought it was 50/50. I thought you had an argument that he got pushed in. I also thought there was a pretty strong argument for he made contact on his own. Well, so the way I see it is more so his presence in the crease prevented UPPL. was it still upl um from being able to do his drop. Basically, he could not come across. Um and so I even think there’s pretty minimal contact. Um it’s the fact that his foot’s in the crease when he needs to be coming across and he can’t because Jack is there. I don’t think is trying to be there. I think um you know, so it’s like in terms of egregious goalie interference, I don’t think this ranks pretty high. I don’t think that was even Directory’s intent, but I still think his sheer presence prevented UPL from being able to do his job. Um, and I I do think too like there is a little bit of a push into the crease, but the injector there’s like this split second where I don’t think he’s he’s necessarily hopping out either. Yeah. Um, like I said, I I saw the I saw the argument for defenseman had his stick on his hip pushing him. I saw the argument. I think what you’re saying is and I don’t think it’s super egregious. I think there’s even this awareness in Jack Dury’s body language of not wanting to get any closer to UPL, but the trouble is his foot was still in the crease. It’s like he needed to do more actively to withdraw and it looked like stick on pad a little bit. So that’s the other thing I was looking for is kind of like in the left skate and stick on pad. Um if kind of a smaller detail of interference was there and honestly I couldn’t come away with a clear decision on that part. It just felt like, you know, by the definition of what this is, UPPL was unable to do his job because of Jack Dury there. So, and I think Jack being there, there was a point where he was kind of pushed there and then a point where he could have withdrawn a little bit. Look, I don’t want to get too hung up on the goalie interference call specifically, but more so just the bad luck that Gabriel Landisk has had with getting some of these goals righteously. Yeah. should be five on the season for him because he does get the empty neter last night which like yeah he deserves an empty neter. Um I feel bad because I’ve seen commentary around Gabe Landiskog in the last week like he’s only got one goal man he’s not really doing much. It’s like yeah he’s also got three that were taken back. Yeah. and and the goalie interference one is the only one that you can make the real argument of like ah he received an advantage and you know but like the other two were great plays great shots uh really close the first one in particular really tickytac offside just it’s really bad luck um and hey I also give credit to Jared Bednar for that challenge like that’s for your captain you know what I mean like yeah we’ve got a I think it right now is third ranked. But yeah, we’ve got a top five penalty kill. Even if this doesn’t go our way, it’s fine. It’s the principle of it that matters more. And and yeah, I I really did now. I I I I thought it was 50/50. You could sell me on 50/50. I certainly saw the argument for and I think just sitting in the arena, everyone was like, “Ah, no.” Like, I don’t know. Yeah. Um, Bartikov, Bartikov does uh an interview um I don’t necessarily want to say in Russia, but it was in Russian um just talking about um life in North America, adjusting to being a an NHL player and um you know, all of that. And for the most part, Megan, I thought it was just interesting, insightful, and it sounds like 90% he’s doing well. He’s getting adjusted. settling in. Uh the one thing and I personally think Megan that it’s it’s been made a little bit too much of online. I I get I get it. He wants more ice time. Um and he said in the interview, “I’ve already talked to my agent about talking with management. He wants more ice time.” Um Jared Bednar said last night, “Sakar Bardikov is growing on him. I don’t think it’s going to be uh a huge issue, but just was there anything that jumped out at you from this interview uh with uh with Zakar? Yeah, let me just read this little snippet specifically. It says, “It was tough at first, but after I got my first point, things got easier. I understand what the coaches want. I won’t lie, ice time is a concern. I’ve already spoken with my agent about discussing it with the club’s management. I’m not making many mistakes, but I usually play in the first period. Then I wait. Then they put me out for a couple of shifts in the second. You come back to the bench feeling like you’ve played a whole game. In Russia, I played 15 to 20 minutes and I handled it fine. I understand this is an adaptation period, but how long am I supposed to wait? I won’t, you know, there’s more um quotes that have a similar sentiment. And I think what’s tough is Jared Benar addressed this very thing too in talking about situationally maybe they are either trying to protect what is a pretty small lead or they’ve had a lead taken away from them early in the game and so they have to manage the game then and that’s just not conducive to putting out your fourth line more necessarily. Um, and so it’s of note to me that Bartikov not only plays late in the Buffalo game, but on the penalty kill very specifically. Yeah. And he handled himself well. So I like that both sides kind of answered the call in that situation that whether Jared Bednar saw this article or not, he used him late in a game in a situation that required some trust. And I think Bardikov handled it well because there’s two sides to that, right? It’s like, well, BIOV, whose minutes are you taking, right? Where is that coming from? It’s not that I have any criticism of how Bardikov has played through this point. It’s just a question of well whose minutes are those coming from then? You know, where are you taking away minutes from to give to you more? And it’s tough because I think a lot of that it’s just understanding what a fourthline role is too and recognizing that you’re going to have to find ways to make an impact in limited minutes. And when you master that, that’s when you get a little bit more of a leash. And it’s tough too with the val injury because now less experienced guys might be getting rotated in there until Logan Oconor is healthy. And so with a Taylor Macar for example, those minutes are going to be a little bit more sheltered. It’s just going to then make finding those minutes for Bardikov just a little bit tricky. So, I think he just needs to be patient is where I’m going with this because it’s hard to really earn trust at the 4C position. I think he has done everything asked of him through this point, but the final box to tick is the reps and you only get those in time. So, I think it’s just a matter of time for Bardikov. Um, and he needs to have the right attitude about it. Um, it’s good that he wants more minutes though. I don’t think that’s a bad thing as long as he has the right attitude and understanding, you know, what needs to be done to achieve earning the trust to get those minutes. Um, and accepting his role too, like there’s a balance of both. I I also the the only part of it that I found interesting was when he said, “I played 15 to 20 minutes in the KHL and I was fine.” It’s like, yeah, this isn’t the KHL. This is a lot faster, a lot better, a lot more skilled. Um, and and like I think that ties in with like the having a good attitude, having the right perspective, like yeah, exactly. You’re going to get there. Are are you as comfortable in the NHL as you were in the KHL? I guarantee probably not. And to your point just now, you’re being asked to play a different role. Play that role. Play it to the best of your ability. Um, and and the minutes are going to come. Jared Bedar said last night, “He’s growing on me.” And I have to imagine that. I don’t necessarily know if Jared read the whole article, but I imagine it was at least like, “Hey, we’re we’re getting this from Zakar and his agent.” Yeah. You know, we just need to be aware of this. I I genuinely, and it’s it’s part of my push back on the folks who would talk about Taylor Macar getting called up just because of who he is. Um, like if there is one thing that Jared Bednar has shown time and time and time and time again that he’s going to play the guys that he trusts, that he feels have earned the minutes, and that he feels are going to give him the best chance to win. If Bartikov continues to take steps, he’s going to get more ice time. If he continues to become more trustworthy, he’s going to get more ice time. If Jared Bednar feels that playing Zakar Bardikov is going to give his team, his line, whatever, the best chance to win, that’s what he’s gonna do. Um, so I’m with you. Bikov just he’s got to continue getting better, keep some patience, have the right attitude, and I think Jared Benar really likes him. I think he likes I think he sees the upside and the potential. Um, he just got to keep going through the process. Yeah, because someone pointed out in the chat that Gavin Brinley has been able to make the most of limited minutes and it’s earned him a promotion in the lineup. You know, the production that Brinley has been able to have now two very different players. So, I think that’s worth noting. Um, but the production impact that Brinley has been able to have in limited minutes, but I think the attention to detail has earned him some favor, too, has been what has granted him some of that trust. I think in Bardikov’s case, just for example, like his ice time is average 6:26 right now on the season. He plays 852 last night. Taylor Macar 711 last night. Three shots on net, one miss shot, three hits in limited minutes. Taylor Macar made more of an impact one game to the next cuz I think his stat line was pretty similar coming out of the San Jose game. If I was reading off other call-ups that we’ve seen in the past, John Luke Foody for example, that is not how that sat line would normally read. So, I just wanted to emphasize too what you’re saying like Taylor Macar earning this callup isn’t just because of the weight his last name carries. He is also really absorbing what that role needs to be at this level and how to make an impact shift by shift. It’s not so different then from what’s being asked of Bikov. There’s a little more expected of him though because of the experience he has playing among men in the KHL and that’s what it boils down to. As long as he continues to have a fair attitude about it, I think the opportunities will come. But it was Yeah, it was just an interesting article. The uh the bit about Vanishkin yapping about discipline was pretty I thought that was so good. I get tired of hearing about discipline and process and I thought it was great. Uh, I just got a I’ll show it to you after baby sent me a text. Got anything else? Um, that’s probably good for now. My brain’s just It’s mxed out. It’s mucext. So, yeah, I’m I’m uh Oh, sorry. This is so funny. Um, if a goal gets called back, can we call it a landy? Hold on. A landy lol. So, I saw someone propose like a land trick where it’s a goal called back, an assist, and a goal. And a goal. I saw that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, I like it. I’m in. Yeah. Lanceog trick. That That sounds weird. I’m not sold on the name here. Well, because there’s Gordy How trick. So, can you do a syllables? D Gabe Landy hat trick. Gabe Landy. That’s still too many. Gordy How Gordy. Gabe Land. Gabe Landee. Okay, you guys, we don’t need to do this on on air. Um, we’ll figure it out if you guys We’ll workshop it. Someone said, “Call it a Swedish fish.” Oh, that’s really cute. A Gabe trick. Gabe trick. Why was that so weird when I said it a second? All right, I’ve got to start teared up by how funny I think all of this is. That’s going to do it. That’s going to do it. Yeah, we’re both we’re just going to be puddles of mucinx and on this studio floor by the end of it. Um, she’s Megan. I’m Jesse. Uh, we got Ashley. We got John back there. It’s f it’s it’s mucinx and it’s Friday. It’s just like it’s an off day for the ass. It’s Friday. I don’t even know. I don’t even know. I’m I’m so buzzed on Mucinx right now. There’s no way to There’s no way to tell. Uh, that’s going to do it, guys. Uh, we’ll be back uh Sunday. ABS taking on the Islanders. Jonathan Drewan, Patrick Wah coming to town. Uh, and then we’ll be back at it with a pod on Monday. Of course, she’s Megan. I’m Jesse. Thanks so much. Have a great weekend, everybody. We’ll talk to you Sunday. Bye.

Luca Celebre of BarDown and TSN joins Jesse Montano and Meghan Angley to break down the Avalanche’s scorching five-game win streak and what it says about Colorado’s early-season identity. We dive into the Avs routing multiple red-hot teams, Nathan MacKinnon leading the NHL with 33 points, and Martin Necas’s top-10 offensive surge.

With Colorado sitting four points clear atop the league and still undefeated by more than a one-goal margin, we take a closer look at Scott Wedgewood’s impact and his league-leading win total.

Plus: Bardakov’s limited usage, why Gavin Brindley looks like an instant fit next to Colton and Nelson, and the big question on everyone’s mind — did Gabriel Landeskog score or was that goaltender interference in Buffalo?

A full-table look at the league’s hottest team with Luca’s insights and plenty of Avs-specific breakdowns.

#ColoradoAvalanche #GoAvsGo #AvsNation #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #GuerillaSports #Hockey #AvalancheHockey #MileHighHockey #AvsFans #Avalanche2025 #Mikko Rantanen #AvsGameDay #NHLHighlights #DenverSports #AvalancheForever #MakarMagic #HockeyInColorado #StanleyCup #NHL

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