Unpacking the Edmonton Oilers’ Woes | 32 Thoughts

Unpacking the Edmonton Oilers’ Woes | 32 Thoughts

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And while we are no Pat Summerall and John Madden, Elliot Freriedman, happy to be along. Yes. On this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Hope you’re having a great few days with your family. Hope you’re enjoying one day away from NHL action because it is going to be a smorggas board on Friday and Saturday. Shout out to Aaron Andrews. Kyle and I knew what you meant. Absolutely. We’re with you. We are with you. So Elliot, as we all know, you have your November 1st stat. Yep. There’s also the look at US Thanksgiving being four points at least within striking distance of a playoff spot. As we wake up Friday morning, only Buffalo in the East, they’re five points back. In the West, Nashville, Calgary, St. Louis, Vancouver, they’re outside that threshold. Everybody else is either in or on the outside. It just feels like there is a lot to be determined here yet. A lot to be determined as we go forward. Some teams are starting to make their case as sellers. You had the big news this week on Vancouver. We’re all wondering where things are going to go in Nashville. You’ve got some heavyweights emerging at the top half of the list. And then there’s a team like the Edmonton Oilersh who by all accounts have aspirations to finish the job that has been now three years in progress. Goalending continues to be part of the conversation and also just how the entire team is playing. Yeah. What a great way to end their road trip last weekend down in Florida. And then we saw what happened on Tuesday night against Dallas, the lone game on the NHL calendar on Tuesday night. As we sit here right now, where are you at with Edmonton and in particular the goalending conversation? So, I’ve mentioned the Gourd Stallic rule before. If you’re going to stink, stink on the road. So Edmonton violated that on Tuesday night, but they also violated a second rule. If you’re gonna stink, don’t stink when it’s the only game that everyone’s watching. That was another violation. That’s right. They committed. They should have saved it for Wednesday. That’s right. When there are 15 teams play, 15 games. That’s when you stink cuz maybe some people will miss it. Number one, I thought McDavid did the right thing post game. He did what the He was captainy. He did what the captain’s supposed to do. We stunk. Not all on Skinner. We stunk. Like, you know, I was talking about it actually with Gourd Stellic on his morning show on on Sirius XM and we were saying even if you had Prime Hashik that game, you lose 53 instead of 8 to three, right? Um and you can make the argument that you’re you’re hoping your goalie bails you out with a save. 100%. I I have no problem with that argument, but they were losing 5-3 instead of 8-3 with Prime Hashik in goal that day. I think we have gotten to the point here, Kyle. Like, I understand what the Oilers think philosophically. I get what they’re saying. They’re saying, “Look, this guy’s making 2.6 million. We’re cap tight. We don’t have a lot of flexibility here. the best thing for us is to find a way to make Skinner work at 2.6 million. They also feel very strongly that if they were going to take a shot at changing, it had to be a clear upgrade. They’ve traded a lot of assets for other things, they don’t have a ton of them. They wanted to be confident if they were going to take a shot at this, they could say it was going to be a clear upgrade. I think all of that is fair and all of that is reasonable. But speaking of sayings, my grandmother, you plan, God laughs. And now we’re at a point where I think if you’re the Oilers, you have to be asking yourselves internally, is it just the best thing to move on for everyone involved? Is it the best thing for us? Is it the best thing for Skinner? The way we are playing and and this is a a a question you really have to ask yourself when you look at some of the games that Skinner played recently and they did win an emotional one with him in goal against Florida. Are the Oilers as a team just and they are bad defensively, but are they just not confident that he’s going to be able to do it for them? It’s a really tough question to ask and you don’t have to say it publicly, but you have to say it internally. And you know the other thing too someone brought up to me and they went through this in Toronto with Marner. I think some of the reason that it didn’t work out for Marner in Toronto in the long run was just having so much around him in Toronto. He’s a Toronto guy. Yes. A lot there. And maybe going three time zones away and distancing himself from it a bit might be the best thing for him. And I know there’s starting to be some talk. Skinner’s an Alberta guy. St. Albert, which is just outside of Edmonton. Maybe the best thing for him is he goes away from that too and starts over, starts fresh. So that’s the way I look at it now for the Oilers. And you know, I don’t think Skinner’s asked for a trade. I don’t think he’s asked or demanded to go or said it’s time. I don’t think anything like that has happened. And to be honest, I’d be very surprised if he did. it’s not his way. Um, but I think that from an organizational point of view, you have to be asking the question if it’s time for everybody’s involved. Now, Kyle, it’s easy to say that. It’s harder to do that because now if you’re doing this, you’re already approaching it from kind of a position of weakness in the sense that there’s not a lot of goalies available. There’s MSleakans, there’s whatever Buffalo’s willing to do, and there’s Pittsburgh. I should have said Pittsburgh two pods ago, and someone pointed out Pittsburgh’s got four goalies there who can play. And you know, Kevin Weekes threw Jar’s name out there the other day. Everybody knows that you need to do this and it’s harder to make a trade when people see you as desperate or needing to do something. But it gets to a point where as an organization, you have to say to yourself, even if we don’t want to do this, it’s time to do it. And I and I think the Oilers have to be asking themselves that. Now, I also, by the way, Kyle, I think the other thing, too, is I wonder if the Oilers are considering other defensive help, too. Like, are they looking at Okay, it’s not just about the goalending. Are there other changes that can help our defensive makeup that we can make, too? And I said, we had this conversation kind of the first time this season a number of weeks back that it feels like and I do believe regardless of what happens this year, the wheels completely come off or Edmonton wins the Stanley Cup and Steuart Skinner the Consite trophy winner. I think the best for all involved because I think Steuart Skinner is a good goalie that this is his last year as in Edmonton Oiler and you can’t tell me that there isn’t. You didn’t say that. You can’t tell me that there isn’t another team out there that looks at their own internal metrics of how they defend and go, “Yeah, I think if we put him in our situation, things will be just fine.” You know, so Oh, I you know what, Kyle? I think you’re 100% right about that. I guarantee to you that a bunch of teams in this league are are going to their goalie coach and tell and saying, “Give me a report on this guy. Tell me what you think. If I if we get him out of the high pressure environment and bring him here, can he thrive here? I know if I was a GM, I’d be asking that. I’d be going to my goalie coach and I’d be saying, “You have a homework assignment. I know you’re not in university anymore and you thought you’d never have to do homework again, but you’ve got a homework assignment tonight. I need a detailed report on Skinner. If we bring him here, can he play for us?” Hunter, I think you’re bang on about that one. The other thing too is so we talked in the last pod you were in Edmonton and you were staying in the uh presidential suite of your hotel there and you were going to see Pickard the next day. Mhm. And we talked on that pod about how there was a feeling that when Picker played in Tampa last week on the backtoback of a tough tough uh twoame set, Washington and Tampa, they lost in Washington wasn’t good. They lost in Tampa in a 2-1 in a hard-fought game. But we had talked about that the that you got the sense that that might have been it for Pickard that he he was in trouble and they played hard for him and uh so when you talked to Pickard that came up it did. Yeah. So after we talked about it and the encouragement of D Hamley who’s the producer quarterbacking um that whole project. It’s a piece we’re working on for Hockey Day, of course, coming up in January from Monton, where Calvin Pickard was born and spent the first seven years of his life. But yeah, asked him about it. You never know what kind of answer you’re going to get. It could be an easy throwaway. It was not in this case. So, we wanted to play this now. gives you a great snapshot into what the man himself was thinking about that and the overall understanding of how much pressure is weighing on Oilers and their goalending and the team in general as they try to sort through all this. That start in Tampa last week felt like a big one for a couple of different reasons. How did you how do you look back on that night? Yeah. Um, well, I knew I was playing on Tuesday, which it was a Thursday game at Tampa. Skins was going to play Wednesday and I was going to play Thursday. Tough back toback. It’s really hard. You know, it’s tough travel. Um, you get to sleep at 3:30. You wake up and you’re thinking to yourself like, I got to have a good one here tonight. I got no excuses. Like, I need to go up go out and show up and be ready to play because you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. So, um, it was, yeah, it was kind of a weird day for me. I was I was like I was napping. I woke up and I’m like, I need a good one. But I didn’t want to put too much stress on myself. I needed to have a good one. It’s just one game, you know, like I need to have a good another good one, another good one, another good one. But I had a few tough ones in a row where um, you know, I just wasn’t playing up to my capability. I was I was honestly standing around there in the anthem looking around being like, I got nothing to lose at this point, you know? I might as well go out and just play clearminded and do what I can do. Um like a game like that, it’s almost more pressure on myself than a playoff game, you know what I mean? Like personally, so why just just personally like you say you’re up one nothing in the playoffs or whatever and you lose like I’m still going to get another chance. I’m starting a playoff game, but I don’t know if I’m going to start another game after that Tampa game, you know what I mean? So, it’s I’m probably leaving you guys too much info here, but um yeah, I was looking around during the anthem and and I’m like, I got I got no other option. I just got to go down swinging. Played a great game. It was a tough finish. Obviously, they score late. They score in overtime. But that was probably the most at peace I was all year mentally. You know, I was calm. I was seeing everything. And in the back of my mind, I knew I had a ton of pressure on myself. That’s a great clip, Kyle. First of all, great job getting that out of them, and I look forward to the piece. And secondly, great on Pickard for being honest about it. It’s there’s a couple things here. Number one, players know. You can’t fool players. They know who deserves to be on a team. They know who doesn’t deserve to be on a team. They They know when it’s going well. They know when it’s not going well. You can’t It’s like you can’t fool the person in the mirror, right? At the end of the day, I always say that to myself. You can’t fool the guy in the mirror. And one of the reasons I like being around sports is it’s in a lot of ways, particularly when it comes to teams, there’s a lot of meritocracy there. There’s always exceptions, but generally the people who deserve to be there are there. And if you don’t, you get cut. And people understand getting cut if you don’t deserve to be there. I kind of like that way and philosophy of life that you should deserve to be where you are. You know what that says to me also, Kyle? That the players consent the organization knows it can’t be status quo and net anymore. And initially they were looking at the easier option which was changing Pickard, but now they’ve got to be looking at the harder option which is changing Skinner. Where does Connor Ingram you think factor into things at this stage? Is he still an option now? His numbers aren’t sparkling, per se. I’ve heard up and down. I’ve heard up and down. Like maybe you just see it’s it’s clear to me that when they were thinking about this with Pickard, which he sensed, that Ingram was going to come up and they were going to give him a shot to see what does he look like. Like I don’t think that Edmonton’s going to look at going with Ingram and Pickard, right? Like if they were going to do this, it was going to be Ingram and Skinner. But I’ve heard mixed things about Ingram. You have to look at Minnesota. Like I’m watching Minnesota and that game against Chicago on on Wednesday night was just a great game. But Minnesota is a completely different team now with both Gustson and Walstead going like they are making saves. They’re a good duo and the team is flying right in front of them. Like that team believes no matter who’s in that right now, they’re going to win. And that attitude has completely changed their group. Right. Mhm. Edmonton right now is the reverse of that. Now to me, the the bigger question becomes where are you going to go if you’re the Oilers? Jarry, I’ll tell you what scares people about him is the health. I I you know, as scared as you are for the Oilers about making a trade where you’re going to say maybe we’ll lower our sights a bit in terms of what we’re looking at. The thing that terrifies you the most is going out and getting a goalie who can’t stay healthy because availability matters. And if you I if Jarry comes and he gets hurt or he can’t stay healthy, you’ve created yourself a new problem. You’ve weakened your depth and you’ve created yourself a new problem. That’s I I guarantee to you that’s what scares them about Jarry. Some I don’t think enough we consider that availability matters to these teams. They’ll take a bigger risk on a guy who generally tends to stay healthy, right? That’s probably part of the reason why John Gibson remained in Anaheim for so long. Yes. Trying to get 100%. It was 100% because he couldn’t stay healthy. It it scared teams away from him. You’re you’re totally right. Now, Nick Hippio in his first trade board of the year set off a hornets nest with Bennington. Bennington. I I don’t know 100%. But I feel very confident in saying he’d have to approve it. So even if St. Louis wanted to make a deal and had a deal that made sense, he would have to approve it. So that’s number one. A guy I’m going to be curious about, and again, he’s been hurt, but he doesn’t necessarily cost you anything, is Bruis. So, Leon Bis is coming back. There were some good articles. A few of the Chicago reporters did good articles on his return. He hasn’t played in two years. You know, he could have given up because those were some bad injuries, but he wanted to try. I think he’s going to be on a conditioning stint by next week at the latest. The thing about that is the the challenge for Bis’s numbers 3.3. So, you’re probably going to have to pay a little bit more in terms of a draft pick or whatever because you’re a bit of a cost. Yeah. So, you’re going to ask Chicago to keep money if you’re the Oilers. But the but the thing about him is yes it we talked about Jarry he hasn’t been healthy but he doesn’t really cost you anything to go do it right aside from a pick and it’s it’s not a heavy cost like a guy like Jarry would be heavier cost. So I I’m wondering if that’s a guy who’s now on Edmonton’s radar. Been with the organization before. Yep. Played for the Oil Kings. Lots of ties to the area. that could be he could end up being the ultimate wild card in all of this. I mean, depending on how that conditioning stint goes because there’s a guy where health aside, you’ve gotten a guy with a track record that can perform well in spot duty in thrusted to big moments, right? Vegas in the playoffs a couple years ago, but you know, fortunately, he got hurt. But, uh, that could be a real big part of all of this, too, once he gets up and and running again and playing games, man. Oh, man. And I’ll just say this too about Edmonson Elliot. I know a big focus for them going into the year was like, okay, it’s going to be a long journey again. We’ve got to enjoy the little moments along the way. We can’t be wired so tight all the time. We got a long ways until the spring. Just get the sense it’s been tough to tough to do. I haven’t been winning enough games. There hasn’t been enough little moments to enjoy to this point. So, all of it’s just adding to some of the angst you’re seeing. Got to start defending. Start this out. Of course, got to start defending. All right. We should shut out though. Edmonton continues to try to find their way. The Ottawa Senators remain the best in Canada. Big win over Vegas on Wednesday night. Wayne Scanland pointed out the last time that they were tops among Canadian clubs this far into the year, November of 2007. Now, of course, that ended up being a strange year for Ottawa where they started the season like it was compared to the Montreal Canadians dynasties. They were so red-hot uh and then I don’t even think John Paddock didn’t make it through the entire year. They made a coaching change. They just got into the playoffs and lost in the first round. So for those not they burnt out the number one line, right? Yeah, that’s right. That was the year that that Alfredson, Heatley, and Spencer got burnt out early. That’s right. So they’re hoping not a repeat of that, too. And as we talked about last pod, and now it’s all the more confirmed. Brady Kachchuck getting back in the lineup Friday in St. Louis. He did media with uh the Ottawa Reporters uh from the rink on Thursday. one of the few guys that actually was on the ice in Thanksgiving, but he looks ready to go. They did very well without him, all things considered. Do you put him back in or do you say it’s going too well right now? We need to continue to keep you out. Kidding, of course. Could you imagine? I wanted to see somebody ask Travis that question. Yeah. Do you hesitate putting your captain back in? I just remember his answer. Yeah. I’m sorry. Uh, you know, I don’t want to change a winning lineup, Brady. Yeah, we just got to just imagine they lose two in a row when he comes back. The think piece is are the Senators better off without Kachchuck. I remember in Pittsburgh at the start of their cup run in 2016. Remember Malin got hurt at the end of the year and uh and they had done well with him out. They won game one against the Rangers and I think he came back game two and they lost. the series was tied and people were like, “Are we sure the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t a better team without Kenny Malin?” Uh, the answer is no. I think they definitely rather have them have him. I can already see it now like front page of the Ottawa Sun, we don’t need you and a big like X in Brady’s like head. Oh gosh, don’t even go there. Don’t even go there. I Mendes listens to the pod. So I hope he I I would not want to be on the ice against Kachchuck for his first shift for Ottawa. Boy, fright train. He’s going to be no break. Pummeling guys. Pummeling guys. That was a great win in in Vegas the other night. You know, Vegas is not themselves right now. They’re uh they’re they got some injuries like everybody does. They’re a little bit leakier than they normally are. Um but I think anytime you win there, especially when you blow a lead, that’s a massive W. You get out of there and you say, “Let’s get to the tables. That was awesome.” Like we we’re celebrating. Um that thing with Eller too and Mner where Eller’s like chirping at Mner and Marner’s showing him the iPad. I couldn’t stop laughing at that. I thought that was I thought that was really hilarious. Um there are some guys in this league the challenge with like Mar like Sheay Weber never won a Norris, right? Never. Mhm. And it was because you know Ryan Sudter never won a Norris, right? because there was a run there of guys that were just so good and like Carlson was at his peak. Um, you know, there was there was just there was Brent Burns, there was just a run there of guys there was that were so good that you just someone’s going to get screwed. Okay. Like I look now, it’s terrible that Hayeskin has never won a Norris, but then you look at like this is the Macar Quinn Hughes era and who’s going to look and say, “Oh, those guys are undeserving, right?” But to me, it’s generally terrible that Hayesin’s never won a Norris. And he should. Sanderson. I’m curious to see when does he break through or if Hayeskin wins and I know it’s still early for Sanderson, but this is how good he is. Is Sanderson going to be a point in time in this league the best player who’s never won a Norris Trophy? Cuz right now, right now it’s Hasten. Yes. No, but but I’m talking about when you’re playing, right? Yeah. Yeah. Like Weber is one of the best ever to win the Norris, but he’s out right now. Like to me, number one is Hastenan right now. But if Hastesin wins, is it going to be Sanderson? Is he going to be the best defenseman never to win a Norris at some point in the NHL? Right. And my only point I was gonna make on Weber, I think he finished second in the voting twice, finished third one year. He’s been a finalist. But Kyle, if you’re not first, you’re last. Thank Thank you, Reese. Bobby, I live my whole life based on that. Um I I think too for Sanderson, like you’ve you can totally make the argument that this should not be the reason to make a case for or against. Of course, it’s always part of it. There needs to be at some point you pop offensively where you’re in the conversation amongst like that changes the conversation whether rightly or wrongly. I feel it just does. It just does when you’re talking Norris. Um especially if you’re somebody that like Sanderson you haven’t won it before. There seems to be the need to have that element too. And I mean a great first step Wednesday night in Vegas. what, three points in the first period alone. I think I heard Gourd Wilson say, I think it was just the third Senators defenseman in franchise history to do that. Three points in one period, but he’s a heck of a player. I remember like DJ Smith when he first came into the league, he was like, “This guy wants to be the best, looks after himself really well right from the jump.” Um, and you just sensed it was only a matter of time before the more broader recognition came in for him. Now we’re starting to see it. Chris Pronger waxing poetic. Yeah. And on and on and on. So, good for him. It’s welld deserved. You know, we talked about the Oilers and Minnesota and how different you look when you feel your goalie is going to make saves. It’s not the same thing cuz Exactly. But you can see when Sanderson’s out there that the Senators play very comfortably. Like things are going to work out here. Yes. It’s nice to have an eraser back there. Yep. Human eraser that can just not even necessarily physicality, but can kill plays and control the game. Like Warensky was that has been that for a few years in Columbus. He was incredible. Wednesday night against Toronto. Again, it felt like he had the puck for 18 minutes. Yeah. of that game. I just total game changer when he’s on the ice. So, you want to talk That’s another guy. You know what? He’s he would be You know what? He would probably be second right now behind Hasten for me. It would be Hastkin one, Worensky 2, and then we can talk about Sanderson. Yes, absolutely. But there but all those guys are in that class. Heck of a time to be a defenseman right now. Unless you want Norris votes. That’s what I mean. There’s so many so many good ones. And two at the top that unfortunately it was like like Mike Trout in baseball, right, for all those years. And there was almost this feeling among the voters, well, we can’t possibly have him as AL MVP again. I was like, “Well, you can cuz he continues to be the best guy in the league.” Seriously. But okay, so we’ve got this is another big Canadian podcast again. Hey, we got some more Canadian topics to do. Don’t worry you Americans, we’re trying to give you Thanksgiving so we don’t freak you out about any of your teams. Yes, cuz this is where we talk disasters. Yes. On the 32 disaster podcast, you know, it’s it’s a holiday and you’re focused on football. We’re not ignoring you. We’re not anti-American. We’re just trying to give you a fun week with your families. So, with that, the Maple Leafs. No, I Well, we talked about the McGra. Why don’t we do Why don’t we do Calgary? Why don’t we do Calgary first just quick? Oh, of course. Yeah. Yeah. Let’s get there. So, Craig Conroy got his extension. Eric Francis said on the broadcast in their game against Tampa that uh it’s two years. Um, and Eric suspects it’s been done for a while and I think he’s probably right. Eric’s pretty plugged in there. I always say getting closer because until something’s announced, you always wonder what exactly is going on there. I 100% believe that there’s something to be said for what um uh we talked about on Monday and I wrote on Wednesday, which is that some teams are really allergic to making positive announcements when things aren’t going very well. Um, I’ll tell you what was funny was I I got the confirmation a few minutes before I put out the tweet and so I looked at my watch and it was 7:20 and I was like, “Ah, puck just dropped.” I, you know, I I I wasn’t looking at my app. I wasn’t looking at the TV. I was just worried about the wording and I was like I’ll just I’ll just put it out probably still 000 and immediately I get a text like good timing and I go what do you mean? He goes look at the score of the game it’s 3 nothing. I’m like what it’s 3 nothing and by the time I turn the TV on and everything it’s 4 nothing. I was like, “Oh my god.” And so a friend of mine asked me, he says to me, this guy’s not in the business, he’s a lawyer. He says to me, you know, when a team is losing that badly, do they tell you that to put it out to distract from what’s happening on the ice? And I said, no. Like that’s absolutely not what happened here. I said to this guy, you know, I’m enough of a space cadet on my own that I would just do that without checking, which is exactly what happened. I should have checked. Now, if I would have checked, I don’t know what I would have done. I I I might still have put it out anyway or might have waited to the end of the game depending if I knew anybody else was chasing it. But it was just funny like the immediately a text comes to me like great timing on that one. And I had no idea. I I was like I was I I was like Dustin Wolves starting can’t possibly be that bad. And that was the other thing. This guy who texted me he said I’m reading your notes and he’s like this is the double whammy. You put it out as they’re down three nothing and you said that they can’t possibly bottom out with Wolf as he gets chased like two and a half minutes into the game. So anyway, it was Conroyy’s deserving. Um I I think the fans feel very comfortable with him. uh you know he he’s a he’s definitely a flame. Like he’s a very passionate flame. He thinks he cares a lot about the organization and don’t listen to the noise. They are rebuilding. Like you can see with what they’re doing and I don’t think the Flames are going to do anything this year to try to save their season short term. If they end up where they’re going and they get a high pick, they’ll take it and they’ll figure it out. And we should mention Vancouver, too. big win in Anaheim. First game after the memo goes out. I have no doubt that that was like an Adam foot motivational game. Guys, this is one of those games where you sort of use the front office as motivation. And I don’t even think the front office would care because coaches, they they try to do this kind of thing. They’ve given up on us. let’s go out there and show we’re better than that, that they shouldn’t give up on us. And typical of the Canucks, that was a game they could have lost, but they won. And uh they played hard again. And I know I’ve said this a few places, the guy to watch here is Sherwood. I think they’re going to have a lot of options. And to me, the only question is when when do they do it? But there’s I think there’s already teams lining up there. I mean, dirt cheap the rest of the year. Always on already on pace to smash what was a very productive season a year ago. And as we alluded to earlier, plays hard. Quinn Hughes was the one that was like, “Hey, we should be thinking about this guy.” Now, I’m sure internally Vancouver was looking at that name prior to that, but Hughes knew what was going on and he’s going to be in high high demand. All right, Toronto. I mean, we spent a good chunk of Monday’s pod dissecting everything that has gone on with them to this point. Not looking to rehash that. Joseph Wall, unbelievable on Wednesday. Uh, really the reason he’s been really great since coming back. The most stabilizing part of what they’ve been trying to do has been him. But we again, I have I have a question for you first. Okay. Okay. Did you watch Sean McKenzie’s pregame interview with Craig Barub? I did. Okay. I think I know where you’re going with this. No, you know where I’m going with this. If you were doing that interview, would you have had the courage to say, Greg, inquiring minds want to know, how’d you get that cut on your forehead? I think that would have been I would have slid that in before the cameras started rolling to feel the water. Yeah, that’s what I would Yeah, I I Hey, before we go, are you all right? What happened? Yeah. Now, do we know that’s what I would have done, too. I would I would have said just tested the water out beforehand. Yes. Clearly clearly McKenzie dropped the ball on this one. The problem is, right, if you if you do it live and things go sideways, everybody going to see it and that’s not going to happen. That’s right. That’s right. But do we know do we know what happened? I I have I have no idea. I’m sure somebody knows, but I don’t know. I’m not on the road with them, so I don’t know. Anyway, so you should see the other guy with Bub. You’d believe that. You should see the other guy 100%. Yeah. Okay. So, speaking of Where do you want to go here? Yeah. the head coach William Knander dynamic. I mean, once again, there was another can’t miss memeable shot of the two of them on the bench. I remember last year thinking it was one of the more fascinating sidebars of that Toronto season was the dynamic between Bubi and Knander because you’ve got two personalities that seem the complete opposite that in most situations in life they would not mesh with each other, but last year particular it really seemed to. The team played well. They won the division. Knander had another great year offensively. They had good naturatured ribbing kind of back and forth in the media. Like there’s the stuff early in the year of Knander going to him saying, “Hey, I need more ice time to feel better as a player.” And though you’re still seeing Knander as one of the more productive Leaf players in the early going this season, like you know, you think about how tough it’s been at times. Where would they be without him and John Tvarz? But more and more than any other point, there’s examples of Bub giving it to him on the bench. And you’re just seeing it way more frequently than any other time during Bub’s tenure in Toronto. So, let me ask you something first, cuz you’re around them more than me. What do you think? What What do you think is their relationship? I think there’s I think there’s great mutual respect because you’d see during practices when guys are just kind of doing laps, feeling the puck a little bit before the actual drills get started and they’d be chatting and there’d be laughter, there’d be like a good rapport. It felt like there. Now, I’m not in the dress room so it would be foolish to try to really hammer down on what really is going on. I just wonder because we saw it a little bit, you know, in the Amazon series, the stuff on the bench last year in the playoffs, especially as things got away from there against Tampa later on in that series. He went hard at him then at certain times. Um, for all the talk about how they’re defending and we’ve heard Bubi at various points kind of be at a loss for why this group hasn’t been doing things at a level that he would anticipate or expect. And it seems like in seeing examples that Knander certainly hasn’t been innocent from those sorts of things. Um, and I wonder now if that’s part of the reason why we’re seeing him in a public setting like on the bench during a game go after him a little more than in the past. So this is weird to see for me just as a viewer and an observer. Like the last time you really think about this was McKinnon Bednar. Right. Right. And that was a one-time thing. Really? That was a one-time thing. And and and the other thing that was interesting about that one was Landisk got involved. He’s like, “Wait a second. I’m dialing this down.” And it unless there’s something we’re not seeing on the bench because the camera isn’t always showing the bench and things get missed. I don’t know that there’s anybody else who’s stepping in there and saying between these two guys, hey, like this is enough already. So, I’m I’m curious about this. at its base, Kyle, like I always imagine what if I’m in that situation and my I wouldn’t be bothered by it if it was me as long as I knew that we both had the same goals. like as long as we knew that we both had the goals of the the making the team better and that we were both willing to take it and dish it out and anything I was saying was getting listened to. Like that’s kind of the way I am with people. Um like I understand in my job that my best and worst moments are going to be seen publicly. Like the things I do well, everyone’s going to see it. The things I do terribly and the world has seen me at my worst, I know they’re going to be public, right? And I accept that. I always tell people that who are going into media that if you can’t accept that you are going to be seen a lot at your best and your worst, don’t do it. Um, so when I watch Bub and Knander, my feeling would be if I was in the middle of that, I would be okay with it as long as a we both had the best interest of the team. Number two, I would be expected to take it, but so would the other person. And number three, that anything I was saying that was important or important to me, I felt would be being listened to. So, that’s where I come in with this. This is unusual. This is a lot. And um you know, I I think it’s really fascinating because Knander in the middle of a a really horrible start for Toronto, Knander has delivered. You know, he’s been their best player. Um you know, there’s a lot of players who haven’t been very good. He’s been really good. you could make a real argument that he’s kept them afloat. Um, and part of me wonders if Bub is going after him because he knows that this is his best player and he feels he can take it. Like other players told me that Kee used to really grind kneelander privately. Like when when Keith got the job, I remember when Kee got the job, there was someone who told me this is going to be watch really interesting watching him now with Knander at the NHL level because when they were with the AHL Marlies together, Keith went harder after him than any other player, but and it never it didn’t stop when they were in the NHL, but Knander could handle it. Now, I think Neander is a really interesting guy because, like I said, he’s played hard this year. He’s tremendously skilled. He keeps himself in great shape, but I know at times his lassair attitude drives them crazy. Um, one guy said to me once, you know, he heard me say on the pod how I’m always late and you’ve joked about uh how I’m always late. He said, “You and Willie would love each other because he’s always late for everything, too.” And uh you know, and plus he gives off the I don’t really care vibe and he does make plays out there that would make a coach insane and an organization insane. Um but you know, he’s he’s delivered this year and and I’ll say this too about him, the organization has protected him a lot. He was Shanahan’s first pick. Shanahan really protected him. He was Shanahan’s guy, his first ever firstrounder, and he had a lot invested in him. They’ve paid him very well. So, that’s the ultimate belief in him. But also in the first Amazon they did the uh the series the all or nothing there was a scene in there that the Leafs and the NHLPA and his agent all fought to have taken out and that wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to happen. Like everybody was supposed to be like it’s there. You have to say yes. But the Leafs, the players association, and the agent, it was an argument between Keefe and Knander. And those three felt strongly it made Knander look bad. And initially Amazon fought it. They’re like, “Nope.” But they put up such a stink that eventually they won their way. So, you know, this is a marriage. And I know, like I said, I know Neander drives some people crazy, but he’s been good for them and they’ve been good for him. Just watching this, I wonder where it’s going cuz it’s boiling over at a very frustrating time for the team. If it was me, I think I would be able to handle it, but I’m not seeing 100% of what’s happening, so I can’t say for sure. It’s funny you bring up that Amazon series. Whenever this type of conversation around Knander is had, I am reminded of that one line that Kyle Doo has had in that all or nothing series on Amazon. Tom, I think we have it. William Nelander has the absolute unique ability to drive you nuts in one moment and then do something in the next that nobody else in the world can do. That’s it, isn’t it? It’s It’s so well said. like that’s him. And but I think right now it’s interesting right now watching him be on the receiving end of some of this stuff because he’s been their best player. You know, you look at the way Wolves come back and he’s been fantastic, but if Knander hadn’t been the way he’s been all year, where would they be? Right? I mean, the last two games they’ve won have been off his stick in overtime. You know what was interesting about that too is that overtime for any of you who watched it when the puck was coming to him, Greavves was at his mercy. I said to myself, he’s going to score here. Greavves does not have a chance. It’s over. And then you couldn’t see the puck go in just because of the way it went in. And Neander didn’t even react. And I was like, did he miss somehow? Did Greavves stop that? And it he scored and I was like he didn’t even celebrate like he could tell it was just like that was that was like an up yours goal like up your Yes. at the end of a long shift. So maybe he was just gassed. Yeah, that might have been the case. It it’s a it’s a really fascinating dynamic because we don’t watch that play out publicly anymore. People are so sensitive about that kind of stuff. It’s rare to see it play out publicly. But at the end of the day, I I give the guy credit because in a year that’s been very disappointing for Toronto, he’s been excellent. He’s he’s like the guy you could look at it and say a grade and a big boost getting some healthy bodies back in the lineup as well on Wednesday night. Austin Matthews, Matthew N, Nick Wah among them. All right, that’ll take us to the final thought. And Elliot, yes, we need to move south of the border here and talk a little bit about what else is going on around the league. I swear to God, next week we’ll talk more American teams. Talk more American teams. The Colorado Avalanche remain just one regulation loss on the air. It’s been incredible. We have seen this version of the Avalanche. They shoot the lights out. They’ve got so so much talent that wants you to turn their games on anytime they are playing, but the growing sentiment, and you noted it in your latest uh blog edition of 32 thoughts, starting to defend a lot harder, too. So, already appearing to be a juggernaut and getting stronger each passing week. You know what, Kyle? It’s about as about time that the Avalanche are as entertaining as their TV broadcasts. It’s a high standard to live up to. Yes, they’re finally there. There’s a couple of things I I wrote in the notes and and someone had said to me that they’re committed to defending hard and a lot earlier than they have uh in years past. Um, it’s pretty clear that the Avalanche feel that after they won the Stanley Cup, they lost a little bit of that dogged determination defensively and that’s gotten back this year. I, you know, Ryan Warski had a pretty interesting quote after they embarrassed San Jose the other night where he said that it was 5 nothing and Sam Molinsky was checking their guys like it was a 000 game and You know how we talked about Anaheim and Anaheim saying we have to change this penalty differential and it became a very important internal talking point for them and they have. It’s clear that the Avalanche felt they had to change their mindset for how they defend. Um, you know, as we said, I think Landiskog is a big difference. But, you know, the other thing too, Brent Burns, really good personality around a room, unique, different, but not someone who brings sort of any negative energy. The other one someone pointed out to me was Brock Nelson. So, Brock Nelson shows up in the middle of last year. It’s hard to you you’re trying to fit in. You’re in a whirlwind, right? like your personality becomes sort of like a pebble in the ocean. Now, you know, Brock Nelson probably feels a bit more comfortable, spread his wings a little bit, a bit more of his influence there. You know, we we’ve talked about how McKinnon is is really hard and really hard driving and that’s why he is what he is, but you especially when you’re trying to put young players in there, you need people who can kind of just, hey, all right, not right now or create a bit of a buffer. And I think between Lannis Gog being back and the likes of Burns and Nelson being in there, I just think it’s a different vibe. they play much harder. You know, it it’s interesting there there generally does seem to be a feeling that the Avalanche weren’t as hard to play against as they were when they won. And they’re getting back to that and eventually they’re going to lose. Every team goes through struggles. They’re they’ll have their three or four losses in a row, but definitely to the other teams in the Western Conference, there’s a bit of a DNA change there. less of an edge off the ice, more of an edge on it. And two of the guys you just mentioned there and Brock Nelson and Brent Burns, two wellrespected guys and two guys that haven’t won yet that are on I mean Burns especially the later stages of of his career like that plays a role in it too. And I mean, you can’t say this enough, but Landiskog back in the fold just completely, you can only imagine the dynamic change now with him back there. Like we were just talking about right when McKinnon and Bedar had the blow up a few years ago. He was right in the middle of getting that all sorted out. So, in terms of getting back to an identity as a team that has them thinking, yeah, we could do again what we accomplished in 2022, captain has to play a big part of that as well. And you know what too, Kyle, you I’m glad you brought that up. It’s the motivation of somebody who’s never won again, like Bulls assistant coach Frank Hamlin. I thought it was a different name of all the names to mix up and get wrong. Oh, nothing but respect to Mr. Harter. Yeah, but you know what? I I think it’s so true. You want to win for guys like that. That’s a great motivator. It’s a great call. Totally great call. All right, that was the final thought. Why don’t we take our first break and come back with the thought line 32 thoughts the podcast continues after this? [Music] Hey you, do you like sports? Do you also like lengthy tangents about promising new sandwich ideas? I’ve got the podcast for you. It’s the distraction from Defector Media. I’m Drew McGary. Every week, me and my co-host, David Roth, break down the weekend sports lunacy, while also carving out a little extra time to answer your questions about food, life, politics, and paper towel usage. So, don’t you dare miss us or else you will die. That’s the distraction. Available anywhere you get your podcasts. Right, Roth? Yes. [Music] All right, welcome back. Time to clear the deck, also known as the thought line, Elliot. So, quick story here before I’m sure you’ve got a few things to get to. As mentioned, I was in Edmonton at the start of this week, and we’re leaving on Tuesday to head back home. Of course, the night that the Stars were playing against the Oilers and we get down to the lobby, we had the dog with us, we had the baby with us, so we had one of those trolleys to put our stuff on, right, just to make it a little bit easier with everything going on. And as we were wheeling out, there was a gentleman in another elevator that had offered to hold uh the door for myself and my wife. He didn’t realize that we were just getting off the elevator as opposed to coming on. So Dana goes, “No, no problem. It’s all good. Thank you. And I turned and I look and it was Miko Ranton. I thought, “Oh.” And of course, he wasn’t playing that night. That was the night he served a suspension. So, he was just coming back from the rink. And I thought, “All right. Had a tough couple of games, but uh nice guy in the end.” Right. He’s a nice guy. And after he said thank you, he checked Dana through the elevator. That’s right. That’s right. I just sent the stroller flying and I was like, “Oh no, there it is again. You tricked me. It’s a nice story. Did he recognize you happened? Did he recognize you? No. No. No. And I didn’t do anything to try to make him recognize me. You didn’t quickly put on your hockey night in Canada jacket or sports jacket. Hey Mo, you see anything? You remember? No. Okay. Yeah. Did not do that. All right. That’s all I had. What do you got? That’s a good story. Okay, I have a few I have a few things here. First of all, shout out Brandeep Jandanda finally off the schneide in the inseason cup. I really I couldn’t even make fun of him. That zero next to his name was so pathetic. I just I felt sad looking at it. I couldn’t even make fun of him. So, and I lived that last year, so I had nothing to get off. No, but you I could make fun of. I just, you know, I felt bad for Randy. But the Rangers won again. uh on Wednesday. So, he holds it through Friday when he plays uh Boston. And no offense, Randy, I hope you lose because I have the Bruins. Uh I also wanted to thank all the people that whenever ever since we went to that Vikings game, Kyle, whenever the Vikings lose or there is a video or a post out there ripping the Vikings, people just send them to me. Um Oh, excellent. It’s so funny. I hope you got so many of them last Sunday. Well, the the funniest ones was like when McCarthy was going through a rough stretch, there was this video of people walking on stilts and the caption was Viking receivers training to catch JJ McCarthy passes. And I got sent that, no joke, like 25 times. So, I I get a good laugh out of it. And I Hey, I’m I don’t care about how much he’s struggling this year after that game we saw in Detroit. I believe McCarthy has it and long-term he will be fine. Okay, I got some notes. First of all, there was an executive in the NHL who listened to the last pod about how quickly you can resign someone. And I have to say that this individual has total recall. He is a savant because he remembered Ilia Sroken and Ilia Sroken’s first NHL contract when he left Russia to join the Islanders was signed on July 13th, 2020. His second contract was signed the next day, July 14th, 2020. A one-year $2 million deal. And the reason that happened was because of COVID and just the way that those seasons got warped together. The Islanders had to sign him to his ELC and then that his ELC ended and he needed a new contract to play the next year. So, oh, his first two contracts were literally signed a day apart. So, that was a situation because of the uniqueness of COVID where a signing happened that quickly. So for you who submitted the question, thank you. And to the executive who had the total recall of this, thank you too. Okay, I have a few notes. I have three notes I want to read. Then a special email. Okay, first note. This is kind of a Canadian thing from Dave Stanley. Just wanted to register a complaint. It’s a hockey sweater, not a jersey. You are a Canadian. This is a long time gripe of the pod. It’s not football. Longtime listener going back lots of years. Keep it up. Especially the Canadiana. So Dave’s going to love this pod. Um, but actually Don Cherry used to always say that it’s not a jersey, it’s a sweater. He was big on that. So once in a while I need the reminder. Okay, two more here. Thomas Gage, Mr. Freriedman, Don Boprey played for Waterlue in the Intercount Baseball League. Brey, a great goalie and obviously a good ball player. Oh, inner county baseball league is good baseball. That is highlevel uh baseball in the Ontario area. And so, shout out Don Bopra. Sort of forget you. And then he continues, “And you forgot Dylan Dlo on your list of Portuguese Canadian hockey players. The large Portuguese community in London would be most displeased.” I do not want to be besieged by angry Portuguese Londoners. I have nothing but enormous respect for Portuguese Londoners. I am sorry for forgetting Dylan Dlo. Okay, Dom, this is for you. It’s from Amanda Deleno who lives in New Zealand. She opens up with Kia, which is a Mayori greeting as I looked up. Love the pod 32 thoughts is a daily Tuesday listening for me here in New Zealand. I’m a day ahead. So, can someone explain woe as in wo Canada on the next pod? Because based on what you were saying at the start of the pod, I’m pretty sure you were talking about wo wo e Canadian sorrow and not wo wo a surprise and interest. And then she says mihi, which is another local term meaning goodbye. Dom Amanda wants you to know you picked the wrong woe. I stand by my decision. S who is not surprised by how poorly the Canadian teams are doing. Okay, turn off your mic. You’re wrong. You are wrong. Amanda’s right and you are wrong. And finally, Kyle, here is the last one. And Kyle, this is for you. Okay. Oh, no. No, no, no. This This is quite frankly very interesting. Hello 32 thoughts crew. Lately, Kyle’s youth hockey past has been discussed. I went to my stat people to get some data on his career and found something I am not sure I have heard referenced on the pod or at all. Please tell me if this is new information to y’all. He actually wrote Spencer Bartlett, by the way. Spencer actually did write, y’all. Below, I have linked to the game sheet from a 2009 Richmond International Hockey tournament. The game is a matchup between the Campbell River Taes versus the San Diego Gulls under 16s. The game ended in a Campbell River victory, two to nothing. Do you remember this game? Uh, yes. On the sheet for the first goal, the game winner number nine, Kyle Bakoscus. Scroll down. Who is in net for the San Diego team? Do you know? No, I don’t. none other than Thatcher Demco. Are you serious? Um, hello. Clearly Kyle isn’t even aware of this because if he was, anytime Freiedman chimed in with, “Well, here’s the thing, Kyle.” Kyle could just say, “Excuse me, sir. Who here has scored on an NHL goalie?” Wow. If if this is new info, you’re welcome. If not, Kyle, why are you not bragging about this at every opportunity? Thank you, Spencer Bartlett in LA. And it’s he sent it. I’m looking at it. Campbell River Taes versus San Diego Junior Gulls. Monday, December 28th, 2009. Kyle Bakoscus unassisted. Josh Mcclennon unassisted. two nothing victory. One of your teammates, uh, looks like Michael Weston has some real anger management issues. He has a charging, a five minute slashing major, a game misconduct, [Laughter] but they don’t they don’t record the amount of shots, but Thatcher Demco is listed here as the starting goalender for San Diego. That’s incredible. I had no idea. First, I had no idea that that game sheet existed somewhere in the internet. Um, but that was a uh that was a special tournament for us. I mean, I think I may have hinted a few times in the past that my age group growing up in CR, we were not a strong one when it came to hockey. We would go to a lot of tournaments where we were the punching bags and you would play, you know, the home team played you first. Yes. and you would get the uh you know the the 9th 10th relegation game at like 6:00 a.m. on Sunday as kind of your last your last game and then you went home. Uh but that that tournament we we won we were in the double A division and we we won. I kind of turned our season around. I remember we kind of had a tough start. Had a players meeting in one of our guys hotel rooms and uh anyway turned it around. Went to the final. We played Langley in the final and um we’re tied going into the third period. We scored three unanswered, won the tournament there, and then ended up winning our league championship, which I had never done before. That was like team-wise the the most fun year because we actually had a bit of uh success. But I remember that game against San Diego for sure because part of it like, oh, it’s kind of neat. You’re playing a team from San Diego. No idea that that was who was in net at the other end. Do you remember the goal? I I remember it was like, if I recall correctly, it was like a jam play in tight. Like that’s typically what I was good for. Like just kind of hands around the You had a breakaway from your blue line and you undressed him. No, Elliot, if you saw me skate, you knew that I could not I could not even try to sell that on you. Could not. So, was a jam play somewhere in tight. Yeah. Um, but it’s funny. So Josh McClennon had the other goal. Like we we played on the same line together. So we our line had a good game that day. Clearly we’d uh combine on both goals. That’s incred. I had no idea that existed. But we’ve got like I I played at the Challenge Cup. I don’t know if they still do that uh in Vancouver as like a big spring hockey tournament back in the day. Um the one year I played spring hockey went there and I’ve still got the program from there that’s got all the teams listed and it’s fun going through and looking at different rosters. Who else was there? Other players like Ryan Nan Hopkins played for the BC selects in that year like things like that. I think Brendan Gallagher may have played in that tournament too uh with a different team. So they’re just names you look through and of course they wouldn’t have registered on your mind at the time. Um, and then they end up playing in the NHL. So, that’s neat. Thank you, Spencer, for sending that in. Yeah, thanks very much, Spencer. That’s that’s awesome for you to do that. And Kyle, I sent you the uh the link to the score sheet. Um, but there it is. Number nine, Kyle Bakoscus. One goal, one point, one game-winning goal. We’ll take it. Didn’t happen too often. We will take it. Okay, Elliot, you should you should print that up and you should take it to Demco and see if he’ll sign it for you. That’s a good idea. He might make you eat it. Yeah, I was going to say I may look like uh Barube only worse on Wednesday night if I tried to do that. My goodness. Okay, I said earlier I only had the one story off the top. I actually have one other thing. Someone sent me trivia to do early in the week. Oh, okay. And I would like to share it with you. That someone is friend of the show, Kyle Opposo, former player now doing work with the NHLPA. He reaches out and says, “I’ve got a trivia question for you because you’re looking at how good of a year Sydney Crosby is having. We don’t know how it’s all going to play out, but conceivably you could see a conversation towards the end of the year where you’re like, is Sydney Crosby a heart trophy candidate?” Right? So he’s wondering who are the five oldest players to win the heart trophy all time before you get started. So I got two on my own. I eventually got two others that he gave me some hints for and one I was never going to get. Okay, I gotta say this. Like I know I I actually know one of the answers cuz one of them is Eddie Shore. I know that. I don’t know if he’s the oldest, but I know he’s one of them. Was Messier one of them? No. Okay. Cuz not top five. Okay. Well, one of them has to be Gordy. How? It has to be. And it is. Yes. Okay. So I got sure how and I believe that another guy who’s kind of in the area is Hashik. He’s right there. Yes, he’s in the top five. So how and are the two that I got. Okay. Yeah. How I I just knew Eddie Shore. Like I I remember that he was always near the top. I got to think of who else would be up there. Like two other like is it any is it anyone recent? No. No. Hashik was the most recent because you know because one of the things you think like like Gretzky won one like in 90 and you’re trying to think okay he was 30. Is that close enough? That’s why I guessed Messier cuz he was probably about 32 or 33 when he won it the second time I think. So I got I was thinking that was close enough. Well, off the top of my head, I’m trying to go back like both with Montreal. Oh, one’s got to be Jacques Plant. Bingo. And the other one was again, this was the guy that once I heard the name How Plant. So, let me I’m just thinking I’m thinking of other Canadians who won the MVP like at a later point 20s long time ago. Yes. So, that’s like Howie of Morans’s uh Oral Jolia. No, I tried those. They were incorrect. Like which there were some Lons and Stewarts and Klehorns and Seabirds like there like all those guys. Is any of them won? No, Seabbert’s just outside the top five. So good point. Oh, okay. But I never would without that clue I never would have guessed that. Never. Um, try like to Blake won in the 30s. I have no idea. Ready? Yeah. Herb Gardner. You know, I got to tell you, if you had asked me to list all everyone I could think of who’d won the heart trophy, I don’t think I would have remembered Herb Gardner. That’s a great trivia question. Yeah. So, I said to him, I said that very good. Do you mind if I throw that one at Ally on the pod? He said, “Go right ahead.” Yeah. With without the clue, you’re better than me cuz I would have gotten three. I would have gotten Shaw, Hashuk, and How. I never would have gotten Gardner and uh and Plant I only got with help. Ron will be mad because, you know, Plaunt is his favorite player. So, you’ll be like, “That’s disrespect.” No, you did well. You did well. Okay. Jake from Lakeville, Minnesota. 32 thoughts team question on drafted NHL prospects. How much control or influence do NHL teams have over their drafted players? With Mason West winning a Minnesota State football championship and then the Jet Luchenko trade in the OL, do NHL teams influence what players can and can’t do or influence potential trades in junior or the CHL, etc.? Thanks for the pod and happy Thanksgiving. Yeah, same to you. Same to you, Jake. It’s a great question because the answer is they try. Um, you know, I I I think at times like Luke Shannon is a perfect example. When the Maple Leafs drafted him, they didn’t like his junior situation and that that’s one of the things reasons they kept him because they felt that his junior situation that he was leaving was not that good. Now, the team at the time got really offended at that and they fired back and kind, but it was one of the situations I I remember off the top. Um, it’s slightly different, but I remember when Curtis Lazar was playing for the Ottawa Senators. Um, you know, they he was the captain of the world junior team, they sent him back and Brian Murray told me that he did not want to send back Lazar until he knew exactly what the role was going to be. Would he be captain? um he didn’t want him buried. He wanted him to be in a prominent role. So look with the situation with Luchenko and Philly, Philly would definitely be calling and saying, “What’s your plans for this guy?” And you know, if you’re going to trade them, where are you going to trade him too? We’d like to know. Now, you can’t always control it, but believe me, these teams lean and they feel like there have been situations before where all things being equal, uh, teams have said, you know, I don’t know if I want to draft a guy out of that organization because I didn’t like the way the organization treated another one of our prospects. You know, it’s not a surprise to me that Luchenko ended up in uh Brford because number one, the Heymans have a really good reputation for the way they’re running that team and number two, Jay McKe is the coach there be and the Flyers know Jay McKe really well. So, I do think that they play a role. They try to have influence. Do they always get their way? No. But their opinions are definitely heard, right? And Breier would have played with McKe in Buffalo for a period and they interviewed him for a job this year. So they they know him well. Okay. Tyson from Edmonton. Hello Elliot, Kyle and Dom. With the recent transactions of players being put on waiverss for the purpose of contract termination. What would happen if these players were in fact claimed? Is there an unwritten rule amongst general managers to quote stay away from a claim? If for instance, Alex Gorgv were claimed by a team even after he is rumored to be departing for Russia, would the process have to restart or would the claiming team just secure his rights? All the best and thank you for the work you put into the pod. The claiming team would just secure his rights. I can’t imagine that anybody would do that. I guess somebody could. Um, but the claiming team would get uh his rights. I I just can’t imagine anybody would ever do a claim there, right? Because you know the situation. Yeah, good question though. Yes, a case like your gave in particular. Okay. Tattoo from Cayani, Finland. Wow. Hello, Dom Kyle and the third guy whose name escapes me. That’s good. Happy greetings from Cayani, Finland. Brent Burns scoring the game-winning goal against Nashville 15 seconds into the game. So, the eventual game winner got me thinking. What is the fastest game-winning goal scored on the first shot of the game in NHL history? Thanks. Keep up the great work. And let’s go Panthers. They love the Panthers in Finland. Thank you, Alexander Barov along with the rest of the Finnish mafia. You know what’s interesting about that is is that Major League Baseball and the NHL have a different way of calculating winning pitchers and game-winning goals, right? Like in baseball, if you’re winning 5 nothing and you win the game 5-3, and let’s just say, let’s say, for argument sake, Kyle, you’re the starting pitcher, your team is up two nothing, you leave the game, your team goes up 5 nothing and wins 5-3, you’re still the winning pitcher. Major League Baseball’s rule is as long as you’re ahead, the pitcher who leaves the game when you’re ahead wins. As long as you never get tied. In hockey, if you have an eight nothing lead and the team scores a garbage goal to make it 8 to one, it’s not the first goal, it’s the game-winning goal, it’s the second one. So, that can change the metric. I don’t I wouldn’t know the answer. What’s the answer? 7 seconds. Long time ago. February 6th, 1932, Charlie Coner scored 7 seconds into a game. Leafs beat Boston 6 nothing. So, that one held up as the winner. That That one held up. That That’s a great one. I never would have known that. Great pull. Great pull. Sportsnet stack, guys. Very good. All right. Good question, Tattoo. We’ll wrap up with a voicemail here from uh well, a neighbor perhaps of yours, Elliot. Anyway, let’s listen. God, I hope not. Hello, Elliot. My name is Randall the raccoon. I am a retired triangle player slash your backyard resident. I have now been promoted to head of traffic operations in Hamilton. I know your next move, Elliot. See you next time. Apparently Griffin Porter said there were a lot of Hamiltonians writing into the thought line to support and feel your anger and frustration trying to get really I’m glad to hear that. I’m really glad to hear that. I’m It’s infuriating. It is terribly infuriating. Randall the raccoon who plays Triangle and now runs traffic lights in Hamilton. Whoever you are, that’s genius, man. That is genius. Well, there’s a story about them becoming more domesticated now. They’re listening to the bloody podcast. I I could see raccoons being smart enough to play a triangle. That’s for sure. Those creatures, man, they are You cannot beat them. No, especially you. All right, we’ll wrap it there. Uh, thank you again to everyone who writes in or calls in. You can do that 1833 3113232 or you can email us at [email protected]. One final break. You’re listening to 32ths the podcast. [Music] All right, before we wrap up, wanted to give you a heads up as we always do on some games to keep an eye on nationally across the Sportsnet family of channels this weekend. Later on today, a whole slew of games on the NHL calendar as you well know by now. The Calgary Flames trying to rebound from that ugly night in Tampa a couple of days ago. They are in Florida to face the Panthers. You can catch them on Sportsnet East in Ontario as well as Sportsnet West for Flames fans in the Calgary region. That’s at 4 Eastern, 2 Mountain time. On Saturday, things get started early on Sportset. The Oilers in Seattle play an afternoon affair 4:00 Eastern, 2 Mountain for that one as well, which will lead right into Hockey Central Saturday with Ron Mlan and the gang at 6:30 Eastern, 3:30 Pacific. Just two games in our early window. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in Pittsburgh. Winnipeg is in Nashville. The late game this week, the Vancouver Conucks continuing their tour through California in Los Angeles to face the Kings at 10 Eastern, 7 Pacific. Okay, taking us out today, a track from Keegan Powell. Since 2019, Canadian musician Keegan Powell has been releasing music that explores the mystery of pain, the release of demons, and how through it all, life actually may be some kind of miracle. With a new record in the bag for 2026, Powell has made it clear he’s an unstoppable force. Produced by Peter Van Helbert of the Glorious Suns. The shine and sheer brilliance emanating from his new single Drown shows a promise of a legacy that resembles the archetype of a trouidor you could only produce in this decade. No pandering, no record label. No permission needed. Keegan has a couple of live shows coming up in January the 23rd in Winnipeg. The next night in Edmonton on the 24th. You can hear this along with all of the other songs we have featured this season on the 32 thoughts the music playlist on Spotify. Here’s Keegan Powell and Drown on 32 thoughts the podcast. Don’t be fed. Break the glass. Don’t look back. Now you’re breaking say too quick and it makes you sick to yourself. I see again you got to go to I [Music] see you [Music] [Applause] [Music] Lick your words not too soon. Don’t be fed. Break the glass. Don’t look back. Now you’re fed too quick to start. I don’t see you too slow. You got to go again. [Music] Yeah. Heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]

In this edition of 32 Thoughts The Podcast, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman begin the podcast by unpacking the Edmonton Oilers’ woes as they crumbled 8-3 against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
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0:00 – Unpacking the Edmonton Oilers’ woes.
21:55 – The thriving Ottawa Senators as they get Brady Tkachuk back into the lineup.
30:00 – The Calgary Flames who extended GM Craig Conroy.
33:16 – Canucks winning a big game in Anaheim after management sent that memo out.
35:00 – The Craig Berube-William Nylander dynamic in Toronto.
47:30 – The Final Thought focuses on the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche and their successful focus on defence
52:38 – Kyle and Elliotte answer your emails and voicemails in the Thoughtline.

Email the podcast at 32thoughts@sportsnet.ca or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.

This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.
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Growing Concern Around Canadian Teams | 32 Thoughts
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