Hour 1: 4Nations Reaction

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: 4Nations Reaction

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 1: 4Nations Reaction
• Release Date: February 21, 2025

---

1. Introduction to the Episode

In the inaugural episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into their reactions to the NHL's 4Nations tournament. The discussion centers around the intense USA vs. Canada matchup, analyzing player performances, broadcasting quality, and the broader implications for the NHL's popularity.

---

2. Overview of the 4Nations Tournament

The hosts kick off the conversation by reflecting on the excitement generated by the 4Nations tournament. Alan Hahn expresses optimism about the NHL's ability to captivate a broader audience, despite mixed feelings about the game quality.

Alan Hahn [01:14]: "So we got everything I think you could ask for, other than, of course, a US Victory."

---

3. Key Game Highlights: USA vs. Canada

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the USA vs. Canada game, which, despite being described as an "abomination" by Hahn, ended in overtime with a thrilling finish. The hosts commend the game's ability to keep fans engaged until the final buzzer.

Alan Hahn [02:34]: "How could you possibly say we could have done better? That's his. That had to be 100 out of 100."

Don LaGreca adds his appreciation for the game's drama and the passionate fan reactions within the TD Garden.

Don LaGreca [03:52]: "How could you not get goosebumps to hear Johnny Hockey being chanted among, you know, 20,000 fans inside TD Garden?"

---

4. Player Performances and Impact

The discussion highlights standout performances from key players. Connor McDavid's pivotal goal and Jordan Binnington's exceptional goaltending are particularly praised.

Alan Hahn [05:25]: "Connor McDavid wins it for Canada."

Don emphasizes Binnington's crucial saves that kept the USA in contention.

Don LaGreca [06:45]: "If Binnington doesn't just throw out, like, his pad on that one Matthew shot, it's a completely different."

---

5. Broadcast Quality and Commentary

Don LaGreca commends the broadcasting team, especially Sean McDonough and Bobby Clarke, for enhancing the viewing experience. The hosts discuss the challenges of making hockey accessible to non-traditional fans without oversimplifying the game's nuances.

Don LaGreca [29:00]: "Sean McDonough, I'm glad you mentioned it. Last year was going through a lot of. He was sick for a lot of the conference final and the Stanley Cup Final, and I think that kind of took a little juice away from him and he got criticized for it, but he was on point."

---

6. Audience Engagement and Growth of NHL

The hosts explore how the 4Nations tournament has succeeded in attracting new fans, including celebrities and non-hockey enthusiasts. They speculate on the potential for increased TV ratings and a growing fanbase for the NHL.

Don LaGreca [04:50]: "But everybody said this is a thing. It was a perfect storm."

Alan Hahn adds that social media buzz from prominent figures like J.J. Watt is indicative of the tournament's reach.

Alan Hahn [04:50]: "J.J. Watts, a hockey fan. You got J.J. watt tweeting about it... these guys are like, unabashed."

---

7. Future Implications: Olympics and World Cup

Looking ahead, the hosts discuss the upcoming Olympics in Italy and the potential scheduling challenges due to time zone differences. They express optimism about the NHL's ability to showcase its talent on the international stage.

Don LaGreca [15:08]: "This is setting up for the Olympics next year and a rematch and everything else."

---

8. Team Dynamics and Potential Trades

A notable portion of the conversation revolves around player movements, particularly focusing on Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators. The hosts debate the possibility of Tkachuk joining the New York Rangers to enhance team competitiveness.

Peter Rosenberg [46:35]: "Why would they... Ottawa should do everything, everything possible to keep that guy there forever."

Don LaGreca provides a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the financial and strategic complexities of such trades.

Don LaGreca [48:36]: "But at some point over the next three years, and certainly when he becomes a free agent, I would almost guarantee he's not going to finish his career in Ottawa."

---

9. Personal Experiences and Stories

The hosts share personal anecdotes related to hockey fandom, highlighting generational differences in how fans engage with the sport. They reminisce about classic hockey moments and the enduring legacy of iconic games like the 1980 "Miracle on Ice."

Alan Hahn [41:10]: "I will tell you what I used to do in a household that was all Rangers fans... I had to listen on radio. That's what I did."

Don LaGreca reflects on the cultural impact of past hockey triumphs on today's fanbase.

Don LaGreca [43:38]: "I was in Minnesota for the All Star Game when that movie came out. I watched it."

---

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts reiterate the significance of the 4Nations tournament in elevating hockey's profile in the United States. They express excitement for future NHL events and the continued growth of the sport's fanbase.

Alan Hahn [43:58]: "We got something special."

Don LaGreca [50:11]: "We are just a different generation."

---

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [01:14]: "So we got everything I think you could ask for, other than, of course, a US Victory."
• Don LaGreca [03:52]: "How could you not get goosebumps to hear Johnny Hockey being chanted among, you know, 20,000 fans inside TD Garden?"
• Alan Hahn [05:25]: "Connor McDavid wins it for Canada."
• Don LaGreca [06:45]: "If Binnington doesn't just throw out, like, his pad on that one Matthew shot, it's a completely different."
• Don LaGreca [29:00]: "Sean McDonough, I'm glad you mentioned it..."
• Peter Rosenberg [46:35]: "Why would they... Ottawa should do everything, everything possible to keep that guy there forever."
• Don LaGreca [48:36]: "But at some point over the next three years... he's not going to finish his career in Ottawa."
• Alan Hahn [41:10]: "I will tell you what I used to do in a household that was all Rangers fans..."
• Don LaGreca [43:38]: "I was in Minnesota for the All Star Game when that movie came out."
• Alan Hahn [43:58]: "We got something special."
• Don LaGreca [50:11]: "We are just a different generation."

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" offers a comprehensive and passionate analysis of the NHL's 4Nations tournament, highlighting its impact on both the sport and its growing audience. Through insightful commentary, personal anecdotes, and critical discussions on player dynamics and broadcasting, the hosts provide listeners with a thorough understanding of the event's significance and future implications for hockey.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like, you know to check the Jumbotron first before attempting to eat a stack of Supreme Nachos in one bite. Now, you're just a meme that everyone shares on game day. Checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Don, one day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.

[Alan Hahn]

Hahn. Huge. No, but big. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Han and Rosenberg on 8 80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app. Oh, here we go. On a Friday in New York City with Don legreco, I'm Alan Hahn. Peter Rosenberg has moved to Canada celebrating the gold medal. He can finally just embrace the maple leaf and be all in. Not with us today. No, he's on assignment. He's got some work to do this weekend. So, Don, it's just me and you. I don't know how. I don't know. Can we hold it down? You think we'll make it?

[Don LaGreca]

I think we're gonna make it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I certainly think we will. So we got everything I think you could ask for, other than, of course, a US Victory. But still, like, here's the scene. The Knick game, which was an abomination. They still found a way to win in overtime, but that game was terrible. So they win the game. I'm watching the game on my phone. People around me are over my shoulder asking, what's the score? The sideline reporter for the Bulls, Casey Johnson, a good friend of mine, I've known him forever. He actually covered the Blackhawks back in the day. He and I met that way. And he was even, like, getting updates from friends of his telling him what the score was. And he would elbow me and go. He's like, get the app. Put it on. Something just happened. Everybody in the building was talking about it. The score was in the building of an NBA game. They were updating the score in the building. And then when the game was over, every television in the arena was on that game and people were stopping. Jalen Brunson was wearing a US Jersey, walked out of. He did his post game interview in an Adam Fox jersey for Team usa. Like, that's how Much people were drawn to this game and interested in this game and for. For. For the NHL, for the sport. How could you possibly say we could have done better? That's his. That had to be 100 out of 100.

[Don LaGreca]

I. I do find it funny.

[Alan Hahn]

The.

[Don LaGreca]

You know. And listen, I know Bissonnette's trying to get a reaction.

[Alan Hahn]

What did he do?

[Don LaGreca]

You know, that, you know, we. We stomped you. We killed.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's just.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. If Bennington doesn't just throw out, like, his pad on that one Matthew shot, it's a completely different.

[Alan Hahn]

He was insane.

[Don LaGreca]

The point. I talked about it on my podcast with Anthony Pusick. Amisconduct. You can find it where you get your podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't say that fast. Just say, this is one you want to hear.

[Don LaGreca]

So make sure. It was really just almost an hour long. Just. Just us opining about just how great it was. I mean, listen, as a hockey fan, you don't get very many moments where your sport takes center stage, and all you can hope for as a hockey fan is that they put their best foot forward. It was like a sports audition for a play on Broadway, and you go up there and the producer and the director and the casting director are all there deciding whether you're going to be in their play. And then you got to go dance and sing and show everybody your best. And that's what the sport did. It was an absolutely classic game. It had everything. It had great physical play, great offensive plays, great great saves, great drama. The. How do you not get goosebumps to hear Johnny Hockey being chanted among, you know, 20,000 fans inside TD Garden?

[Alan Hahn]

Phenomenal.

[Don LaGreca]

And the way the anthems and the Canadian anthem was not booed. Maybe a smattering of booze, but. So that wasn't an issue. And everybody was fired up. And it delivered. It absolutely delivered. And the best player right now on the planet scored a great goal. So it wasn't some kind of fluke. It wasn't somebody that you never heard of or somebody that isn't on everybody's radar scoring the goal. It was the biggest name in the sport, scoring the biggest goal we've seen since the golden goal 15 years ago. And it happened early enough that I think the whole nation got a chance to see it. It didn't go our way, but from a sports perspective, from an absolute drama perspective, it absolutely delivered. We're going to take a look and see what the number is sometime before the show is over, and I'm not going to predict, but I have A feeling it's probably going to be double what you saw on Saturday. I mean, I'm watching social media. And listen, J.J. watts, a hockey fan. You got J.J. watt tweeting about it, Jonathan Pappelbon tweeting about it, John Rocker tweeting about it. I mean, and these guys are like, unabashed. I've never seen a hockey game before. This is amazing. And I don't know where these people have been because it's not like hockey has been like an OLN for the last 20 years. I mean, it's been on ESPN now four years. It was on NBC. But the thing is, if it's not in your wheelhouse, it's not in your wheelhouse. But everybody said this is a thing. It was a perfect storm. And last night the sports world was taking a look at this. And if they're able to win over a few to games on Saturday, then it's an absolute home run for the National Hockey League.

[Alan Hahn]

And if you were under a rock or doing something else last night and didn't hear it, you know, Sean McDonough, he gets a lot of criticism at times and he has been, he hasn't been at full health either throughout this season, but, man, last night he had it going. Centering pass.

[Don LaGreca]

McDavid scores.

[Alan Hahn]

Connor McDavid wins it for Canada.

[Don LaGreca]

And Jordan Bennington has done it again.

[Alan Hahn]

Inside the TD Garden. I love the fact that he laid out that, that, that the guys laid like, like Ray Ferraro knew to lay out and just let the sound happen. I love the fact that the first thing he said was Bennington's name because I know they gave the player of the game to McDavid because he had the overtime winner he has at getting that goal. If Binnington doesn't make the saves that he made, he made six saves in overtime and three of them were high quality scoring chances that against most goaltenders or in any other moment are probably in the back of the net in the US Is winning this game. What a performance he had. And the fact that this thing went to overtime, Don, like, to me, it just takes it a step further. It wasn't 3:1 with the empty net. Right. It wasn't something along those lines. It wasn't a bad goal or a soft goal.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

It was a guy made unbelievable saves and the best player in the world somehow got open in the slot and just had a laser that went to the back of the net.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, there was so much going on in that overtime.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Because as much as we love it as Hockey fans, if that had gone two, three overtimes, maybe it would have taken a little thrill away. Game ends at 1:30 in the morning. Half the country turns it off because you're falling, falling asleep. But it had so much action in overtime, you're now deep into the 11 o'clock hour. So maybe people that weren't on the game, they go to turn on the news or they're. They're hearing about this and they flip it on and they were. That would. You would have to get caught up. Opportunities almost immediately ended eight minutes in. So it wasn't that obnoxiously late. So it was. There's a. There was enough Canadian fans in the building, so there was an energy when the goal was scored.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

You could see how downtrodden the USA players were after this because they laid it all there out on the line. And I think this has to happen because the next thing is going to be all right. How does the NHL take advantage of this NHL? I know it's a tough spot. You're in a very, very difficult spot. But you've got to find a way, whether it's tnt, whether it's espn, and this team's going to be in it trying to get a playoff spot. So it's not that awful to put them on national television. They got to find a way to put the Ottawa Senators on national television. You've got to give this country more. Brady Kachuk, I'm telling you, that's the guy. That's the star. That's the breakout star, all right. That's the Al Pacino and the Godfather. Okay? That's the guy. You never heard of that. All of a sudden the world's saying, this Brady Tkachuk, man, he's amazing. But unfortunately, he plays for the Ottawa Senators, but so what? Get him on the tube.

[Alan Hahn]

He's never played in a playoff game before, which is crazy. But I'll tell you what, what you're saying, though, that does reek of some things that came out of. When you see a player on a big stage and realize, man, this guy's lost where he is. Well, what do you got to do? Not put the Ottawa Senators, they stink. What they've got to do is what the rumors were saying. You got to get him on the Rangers. You got to get like, you got to find a way to get him on the Rangers.

[Don LaGreca]

See, this is why the Canadians hate us. You think it has anything to do with tariffs? No, it has the fact that they don't want their players being taken away from Them. But no, you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Gretzky played in Edmonton. He won three Cups in Edmonton. Right. And what happened?

[Don LaGreca]

And then he went to Los Angeles, and all of a sudden, people.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, all of a sudden there were teams, right? They were teams playing in the desert, right? Think about this. We were putting hockey teams in Arizona, in Phoenix. What are we doing? San Jose hockey. What? All because of who? Anaheim hockey. All because of Wayne Gretzky, because they got him out of Edmonton and they put him in a big market and the whole. Everybody got caught up. Now, Brady Kachuk is not Wayne Gretzky. No, but what you're saying, though, you want to get guys like that, that play with the passion and the energy and all the things that can really light up a market, and you want to make sure it's on a team that can compete, and that's not the Ottawa Senators right now.

[Don LaGreca]

But that's the selling point, is that there are certain personalities that came out of this, because that's the way Brady Tkachuk plays now. Was he overly animated? Because there was so much on the line last night? But I've watched him play. I've gotten beat up for this opinion. I actually think he's better than his brother, than Matthew, I think. I think Brady's better than Matthew, but he's been stuck on a team that hasn't been able to go anywhere. I mean, him and Sanderson were the only two goal scorers last night. How ironic was this that they both play for the Ottawa Senators? Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and those are the only two guys that scored. But Sanderson's 22 years old. He's got a very bright future and all that. But the point is, is that people came away from that game. The guys that I think people came away saying they were impressed with, obviously the Kachuk brothers. But we've seen. We've seen Matthew the last couple of years in the Stanley cup, finally winning the cup last year, and he plays in Florida, so I think people have seen him. But Brady. I think Dylan Larkin had a heck of a run there, and he's on the Detroit Red Wings, and that's a team that's right now in the playoffs. So. And I think there's that. Those are two guys that kind of jump to mind. I think people kind of got to see how good Connor Hollabuk is, and he's a Winnipeg Jet, but they're the best team in the National Hockey League, along with Washington, so a lot of these didn't. Everybody's Talking about the Olympics coming up next year, a lot of these names are gonna be popping up in a couple of months of the playoffs and a couple of those guys are gonna be winning cups or have an opportunity to win cups. So keep an eye on that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And also what you gotta do is start hyping up next year's Olympics. Like you. Once you get through the Stanley cup final, you have to, as a sport, start hyping up the idea of the Olympics and the rematch. You have to. Because, Don, you know what? One thing that I was feeling, because while this was technically the final, so this was for the championship, I guess it was a tournament, you know, both teams won one game against each other head to head. Let's be honest, it's the series is 1:1. Could you imagine a seven game series? Like we talk about the Stanley cup final and how that's like the ultimate game between the two best teams in the league playing for the Stanley Cup. You take these two teams, as good as they are, as entertaining as these games and as tight as these games have been, give me a seven game series of this.

[Don LaGreca]

It would be something.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh my God.

[Don LaGreca]

And listen, both sides had their injuries and illnesses. I'm sure there's a lot of guys that were fighting the flu bug and Petrangelo was hurt so he couldn't play for Canada. And they lost Shea, Theodore, and I'm sure Makar was compromised down the stretch. And of course the na, the uh, the Americans play without Charlie McAvoy. But the big injury was the loss of Matthew Kachuk in that game last night. They were basically playing with 10 forwards because they didn't seem to trust Kreider. And I still want to know why Sullivan went with Kreider over Conner. I still don't know. The. They said it was a healthy scratch, so I guess it had nothing to do with illness. But maybe because Kreider scored in the game against Sweden and they wanted to give him the opportunity, but they basically nailed him to the bench in the third. So you had no Matthews. They were using basically Trocheck for face off. So they were really shorthanded by their own decision making, but also because of Matthew being hurt. So I wonder how that game would have turned out if Matthew was 100%. So there is a lot that is to look forward to for the Olympics coming up in Italy, but there's also a lot to look forward to the start the second half of the season. We've got a doubleheader on ABC coming up tomorrow. So you got Minnesota, Detroit, the first game. So you're going to see Larkin on Detroit, you're going to see Boldy on Minnesota. You're going to see Faber on Minnesota. You're going to see. The second game is going to be Washington and Pittsburgh. Crosby.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's the best part is Ovie and Sidney Crosby kind of.

[Don LaGreca]

There's plenty. But, you know, pump the brakes on thinking you're going to see anything that's a facsimile, what you saw last night.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the best of the sport.

[Don LaGreca]

Still, it was really just. I would just love to hear from people.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

That weren't. That aren't hockey fans. That. No interest. They didn't know what this was a week ago. And I wouldn't be mad at you for it. I wasn't sure what to expect two weeks ago when the four nations. All right. I love hockey. You love hockey, so. And I know the people that listen to the show. A lot of them do love hockey. And I'm not. Not that I'm not interested in your opinion on this. I am. But I'd love to hear the person that this was not on their radar two weeks ago and that they were invested and what they saw and what they might think could carry over because that's what the NHL is hoping for. Right. They got me and you on the hook already.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, who did you draw in from this? Who's now going to say if this is what it's like when they're competing for something. I'm checking in now and especially when the playoffs come, I don't want to miss it. 800 now, a 93776. The calls are coming in. You mentioned Brady Tkachuk and just let's hear from him before we get to the calls. Just about the disappointment of this loss because, you know, again, to the victors go the spoils. And for Canada, they can now once again. All right, well, we are supreme. You still haven't beaten us yet. Not since the World cup in 96. I mean, it's been 2002 in the. On our soil. Losing is 2010 in Vancouver losing. And then what was it? The World cup in 2016 and then this one. It's like they just can't beat this team when there's something on the line.

[Don LaGreca]

This sucks. I thought this team deserved more and we had chances there to finish it off. Just. And this is been my favorite hockey memories just playing for this team, playing with this group. And this is going to give us nice motivation for a year's time I.

[Alan Hahn]

Mean, this is setting up for the Olympics next year and a rematch and everything else.

[Don LaGreca]

And you go back to the golden gold in 2010. Well, that was in overtime.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

USA came back from two, nothing down. Remember, Zach Priestley scored late to force overtime. Right. You go back till, you know, last night, the game ending in overtime. So, hey, listen, we're close. They can flex their muscles and they beat us and all. And they did. But they have to respect where the United States is right now. It's not a miracle. I'm not sure the best team even won, maybe on paper, because they've got a lot of talented players. But you can make a case that. That overtime, man, it was really. It's really.

[Alan Hahn]

I know they had to give him.

[Don LaGreca]

Connor McDavid, but that game is over. He was. Give him credit, man. He was beaten pillar to post during the course of this. I've even said it like he's their Achilles heel.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But ironically enough, his last great moment was game seven in that building when the Blues won the Stanley cup in 2019. And he was absolutely brilliant in that game. And he's the reason. So for all the people to say, we stomped you. We're better than you. Well, you know what? If not for a Bennington pad save and glove save, the shoe's completely on the other foot. And then how would it look with two wins in the tournament instead of just the one? So I give them their flowers, man. They're awesome. But I still say you have to respect what we are as a hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. How could you not? And again, I still say it's even. It's 1:1. Like, you might have won the last game and all that stuff. It's 1:1. And the goal you didn't want was the reason why you were able to get that win. All right, 800 now with 93776. Everybody wants to talk about it. So let's talk about with you. Dave in the car. You start us off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, what's up, guys? I definitely got drawn in, even though I'm not, like, let's say a hockey fan. And I just want to bounce this off. You would. Drew me in, obviously, was the edge these guys were throwing down the other night.

[Alan Hahn]

And I was like, this is really intense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You throw in the politics, and it becomes more intense. But here's my question to you guys. You look at football and you look at the NBA. Hahn, you saw the NBA in the 90s. That was a big draw. You knew people were going to be throwing down all those all Those battles between the Heat, the Knicks, Indiana, that's not there anymore. And when you look at the NFL, go look at the greatest hits of Lewis with the Ravens. You don't see collisions like that anymore in the NFL. They're ruled out. How would you bring that to those two sports? Because that was really the catalyst, I feel that drew me into the pub with a shot of Jameson and the beer for hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

Dave, you make a great point. You know what, Don? Why is wrestling so popular? People love physicality, love confrontation. They lay. Even though wrestling is scripted, it's still. It's still like some type of physical. That's why people love boxing, why they love mma. Why is UFC so popular? There is something to be said about watching gladiators, and hockey is really the last of it. Even the NFL, there are big hits still. There is still those fights that. The line of scrimmage thing, the dominance line of scrimmage. There is still something to be said about it, but it is true. And that's why I asked Gary Bettman, we had him on yesterday about that. Like the first nine seconds when you saw three fights as commissioner, publicly, he's got to say, well, we're not about that. But privately, were you like, hell, yeah. Like, this is who we are and this is what the people want.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's not just the fighting, although it drew him in.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on. Just the hitting.

[Don LaGreca]

Physical. The hitting.

[Alan Hahn]

They hit that. Was it McAvoy who hit? No, not Brady on doughty. Matt McAvoy on McDavid is the one. That's the one that everybody really talked about.

[Don LaGreca]

More than one on Doughty. He was like.

[Alan Hahn]

The doughty one was big. Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

They just like, oh, I was just watching my son. Marco was able to give me a P period. And the way I had to get him to bed, so I DVR'd it. And he watched while he was having breakfast this morning, he watched. I showed him the Sam Bennett goal that tied it, and then he watched all of over.

[Alan Hahn]

He was a great shot.

[Don LaGreca]

He was beside himself because he did not want to see the United States lose. But there were a couple times, like, oh, like, you just see the big hit leave football. Football doesn't need anything to help its popularity.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But people do miss the hitting and there's the concussions and all that. You got to be careful.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But this is why. And again, Adam Silver didn't completely shut down the idea, if you remember when it was brought up, about allowing some more, like the fighting and letting things go in basketball that's what you grew up on as a Knick fan in the 90s. You know, where Mason or Oakley's knocking somebody into the fifth row. But there's a lot of money and guys don't want to get hurt. And what that caller is saying is, is that players cared.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, they were throwing the body around. They can get hurt, but they didn't care. They're blocking shots because they didn't care. They wanted to win that game. So get athletes to care. Unfortunately, in the regular season in sports, for the most part, players don't care at that level, but we were able to. I think the reason people were captivated is because you saw all 40 guys last night that were dressed that cared about winning that game. It might have been an exhibition in name, but in name only, those were guys going out there that wanted to win and would do anything to win. And how, if you're a sports fan, can you not get caught up in that?

[Alan Hahn]

Let's go to Lake in Spokane. Hey, Lake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey. I'm also. I'm not a hockey fan at all, necessarily. We've got a Spokane Chiefs is a local team in the area. My wife and I like to go to a couple of games, but other than that, you know, I'm not. I've never really been interested in hockey, and I don't know that necessarily the Four nations has turned me into an NHL fan, but it has definitely turned me into an international hockey fan. And so I think that while I just. Because I'm not, you know, I'm not big into the NHL, I don't know that it'll pull me in. But in further international competitions, this is something that has definitely, definitely created a fan and has kind of started to pull me into hockey. And so I really have enjoyed it.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the good news for you is, is that next year we'll have the Olympics, and then right after that we'll have a World Cup. So there's a lot of international play. But what I would say to you is, take a look at an NHL game and see if it does it for you, because I do. I can't say it's going to be at the level that it was last night, but once you get to the playoffs, we're, what, Alan, about six weeks away?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

You're going to see a lot of similarities. Now. Not everybody is going to have the players that these two teams had last night, so the skill level won't necessarily reach that height.

[Alan Hahn]

But the first round is usually like, they're really good games.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, because you're going to get a lot of teams involved and, but not every team is going to be as loaded as Canada and the United States. You're going to see guys really, you know, blocking shots and hitting and tremendous skill and goaltending. You know, I think Ottawa's got a chance to make the playoffs. I think you'll see Brady Tkachuk, but you're going to see, you're going to see the McDavids and you're going to see the McKinnon's and you're going to see some of the McDavid and Jack Hughes. You're going to see a lot of those guys in the playoffs. Now they'll start to, they'll start to fall off as you get deeper and deeper into the postseason, obviously, but you.

[Alan Hahn]

Never get two bad teams or you never get starless teams. When you get to like the final Four and the Stanley Cup Final, you're dealing with, you know, some of the best players in the league. And last year, getting to see Connor McDavid go down.03 and force a Game 7 and just be brilliant in the middle of that series, that's special.

[Don LaGreca]

And because of the, because of the circumstances, you didn't see David Pasternock, you didn't see Nikita Kucherov, you didn't see Igor Shusturkin, you didn't see Alexander Ovest.

[Alan Hahn]

How much were they chomping, right? How much do you think watching this that those guys were like, man, if we were in this, you know, like.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what, you know, what you saw, you know, some of the comments I heard from some of the players, they couldn't watch it because they weren't in it. Yeah, they're not, they're not rooting for either of these teams, right. Maybe they're rooting for a buddy or they're, you know, there's a storyline that they might want to follow. But some of the guys, the quotes that I heard, they couldn't watch it because they were just dying to be a part of it.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's when you know you definitely have something special. All right, we have something special with you because there's tons of calls on this and we're going to continue talking to you about this. We got more to get to, of course, the Knicks, last night they eke out a win. They now have a weekend which feels like a litmus test, but is it if they're not at full health? We'll give you the update on the Knicks as they go into Cleveland tonight. And the Yankees have a new policy. Why do we care? But they do. Stay with us. Don Hanna Rosenberg 8:80 ESPN when the.

[Don LaGreca]

Game tips off, the NBA action is just beginning on FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook, because FanDuel is your home for NBA live betting. So even if you miss the first few minutes of the game or want to bet on a fourth quarter comeback, you can make your picks from the first whistle until the final buzzer. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. However you want to play, now is the perfect time to Jo FanDuel customers get started with $150 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins, just visit FanDuel.com Peter to join today. That's FanDuel.com Peter for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with FanDuel, official sports betting partner of the NBA 21 and over in physically present New York. First online real money wager only $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued is now withdrawable Bonus bets, which expires seven days after receipt restrictions apply. Seat [e-mail] for up with a gambling problem, call 877-8-Open Y or TE 467369. You know what's smart? Enjoying a fresh gourmet meal at home that you didn't have to cook. Meet Factor your loophole in the laws of mealtime Chef crafted meals delivered with a tap, ready in just two minutes. You know what's even smarter? Treating yourself without cheating your goals. Factor is dietitian approved, chef prepared, and you plated. Pretty smart, huh? Refresh your routine and eat smart with Factor. Learn [e-mail] since you're new to H and R Block, we'll look at your returns from the last three years for any money your last guy might have missed for free.

[Alan Hahn]

I could get money back from last year.

[Don LaGreca]

You could. We'll find any mistakes.

[Alan Hahn]

Could have really used that two years ago when I dated that mistake for five months. Don't leave money on the table. Switch to H and R Block and get a free Second look review. Second look is included at no additional cost with the purchase of tax preparation.

[Don LaGreca]

Results vary.

[Alan Hahn]

All tax situations are different. Fees apply if you have us file an amended return. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get.

[Don LaGreca]

Your Podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, Don, I am. I am a sucker for those motivational videos.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

I love, like, when they do mashups and stuff. That video they did of. Of the Herb Brooks scene from the movie Miracle. So it's Kurt Russell playing it. But that speech that we all know and we've all heard, but in superimposing the US Players in the locker room as if they were listening to Herb Brooks, I. Man, I was like, I was so fired up. I'm a sucker for those. But that was so good.

[Don LaGreca]

The one thing. Good job by ABC about the movie Miracle, which came out in 2004, so it's already over 20 years old.

[Alan Hahn]

Not crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

I was in Minnesota for the All Star Game when that movie came out. I watched it.

[Alan Hahn]

We were there together. We were there together.

[Don LaGreca]

So we were in the theater. I was there, and I was like, I got to go see this movie. And I guess the one problem I can have with it is we're not the underdogs to Canada that we were to Russia. So the speech didn't exactly hit, you know, as far as, like, comparatively speaking. Oh, yeah, but that's the. It's still a great speech. And it actually happened talking to people that were in that room that that speech was taken was. Was. Was not exaggerated. No speech that he gave.

[Alan Hahn]

It's close to verbatim.

[Don LaGreca]

And still the better speech was the one before the game against Finland. You'll take it to your graves. Yeah, your blanking graves.

[Alan Hahn]

You lose this game, and you'll take.

[Don LaGreca]

It to your graves.

[Alan Hahn]

But Rusiani tells that story better than anyone because he says it with the Boston accent.

[Don LaGreca]

But yeah, and we lost Herb way too soon. Unfortunately, we lost Herb, like, right when they were just before that movie was released. So he never got to really bask in the glory. Not that he would, anyway. He was just an amazing guy. But that American hockey is attached to 1980. It all stems from 1980. And a case could be made where. Where we are right now as a hockey nation because of 1980. Do you know how many kids sat there with their dads and their moms watching that game?

[Alan Hahn]

Me.

[Don LaGreca]

That decided they wanted to become hockey fans or players.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, do we get Mike, Madonna, you know, you know, guys like Leach, they were already playing and 96 did, too.

[Alan Hahn]

That world cup, that meant something, too. That spurred what. What USA Hockey has become. And the. The. The, you know, The. The development program that they have and in Michigan, that. All of that is a result of what that had grown into. And the need for it. And college hockey and American hockey has just grown exponentially to a point now where, like I said, I'll tell people this, when the Frozen 4 comes around, you don't want to miss that. I mean, that's the future of the sport, too, and it's great hockey and.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sure they won over a few fans, but, you know, 1980 has been so important so for, for them to tie that in. And you know that, you know where Mike Sullivan's from. So you, you, you know where, where all these guys are from. And they're of a certain age. John Tortorella and John Hines and. And David Quinn are all of a certain age. That, that's right in their wheelhouse in 1980 and all that because they're around my age. And that was Certainly, I was 12, so a lot of those guys were young teenagers and got into the sport because of it. So. So I love the tie in. It was really, I thought we as a company did a tremendous job promoting it. I thought the game was very, very well done. Sean McDonough, I'm glad you mentioned it. Last year was going through a lot of. He was sick for a lot of the conference final and the Stanley Cup Final, and I think that kind of took a little juice away from him and he got criticized for it, but he was on point. I thought Ferrara was on top of his game because that's a difficult spot to be in because, you know, you know, it's the, it's the biggest audience that those two have ever had for a hockey game and will ever have for a hockey game, most likely. And I'm still anticipating the numbers. And you have to do the broadcast, Alan, knowing that maybe more than half don't know the sport all that well. So it seems for me, you to be redundant, though. I really need to know that. That Fox graduated from Harvard. Do I really need to know this guy plays for the, for the Vegas Golden Knights? Yeah, you got to tell me. Eichel plays for the Golden Knights because a lot of people may not know, and that's such a hard thing for an announcer to do when usually he doesn't have to worry about that. But I thought both of them, the way Ferrara was able to explain the different rules and the nuances, because that's important, too, because if people are going to start to follow this sport beyond the four nations, they got to understand what they're watching.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. And I don't need a glow puck.

[Don LaGreca]

No. No bells and whistles.

[Alan Hahn]

You remember from the 90s if Fox tried to make it watchable for people who are non traditional fans. And the glow Puck and all the different things that they did were kind of goofy.

[Don LaGreca]

Do you remember the one Fox, and it wasn't animated, but they made it an animated. It was somebody, it was somebody on the Islanders, too, got checked into the boards. They used it in the open and they made it look like he actually smushed into like a cartoon character. That almost happened last night with one of the angles they had. Did you see, like, I think it was Faber got smushed into the Glad. And I was like, this is almost reenacting that Fox open. But it's in real life, like, so we do get a little overly creative sometimes, I think, with our television angles. I, I hate, I hate the power play behind the net because I don't see who's at the.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't like the end zone?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't like it because I can't see who's at the point. Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Okay. I, I, maybe so they, they crop it too much.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel like the end zone's the.

[Don LaGreca]

Best place to watch power play, But I still think that they did a. I know it's our company and it's easy to pat ourselves on the back, but I thought they did a great job, too, for the games that they had, because they get it, you know, Fox didn't get it back in the day. If you remember, in 95 when the devils won the Cup. James Brown comes on after and, like, spent a minute thanking the CBC and Hockey Night Canada for educating them on how to do it. Like, they won the television rights and didn't know how to broadcast the game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And that was only 30 years ago. And now we've come to the point where we are now, where I think we're brilliant at it. And we've come a long way, baby.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we have. And so has the sport. And it's just great to see more people want to talk about it. Don, how about Glenn in Smithtown? Hey, Glenn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Gentlemen.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hope family as well. I didn't, you know, Alan, you know, I'm a diehard hockey fan. I didn't know if I would be into it. As soon as the puck drop, man, they get. I was hooked. I was hooked. Dylan Larkin was fantastic. I thought Jake Gunsel showed that he was more than just a pet product of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Crosby and really good. But the guy, Alan, you and I both know how good this guy is. And I think the country and the world Found out how good Jacob Slavin was. Yeah, because he's been killing us with the Hurricanes for years. So we've seen this and I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

One of the best sticks in the game. One of the best sticks in the game, man. Like he really like, just ridiculous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You talked about American hockey. I mean the guy from our neck of the woods and hot dogs gonna be the number one pick next year in James Hagens. And the last thing, if I could say something during the national anthem. I was so juiced, man, I was getting the chills and stuff. I was so into it and it reminded me of time for the islands school, don't you think, Alan? Pull a full of Washington Capitals from last year. I'm not saying rebuild. I'm talking about a retool. Guys like Nelson and Lee and Peugeot and Palmeri. I love the guys, but I don't want to just make the playoffs. I want to win the cup.

[Alan Hahn]

And they were right there though, Glenn. See, that's the thing, Glenn. They were already there. That window was there when they had Barry and they had that team. They had that identity line. They. Sorokin was, you know, a great goal of our llama. They were right there and it just wasn't good enough. And so they. You reach that moment of truth of do you sign all these guys and keep them around or do you just recognize that okay, that didn't do it. The only change they made was the coach and that was a disaster. When they, when they, when Trots left, the standard left with him. Now I really like Patrick Wa, but I'm with you. I just don't know how do you retool with contracts like these that are almost immovable and guys who have no move clauses. It's going to be really tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why you got to play, you know, you got to do the Nelson, the Palmeri. I mean Anders Lee, I know he's got another year in his contract. Maybe a page always got another year on his contract. But at some point you just gotta say, all right, it didn't work.

[Alan Hahn]

You're gonna go to that. You're gonna. The only problem is Glenn and always good to talk to you. The only problem with the Islander thing is the fact that once you make that move, you go from, hey, at least you see them as competitive and they're right there on the cusp with the playoffs. You go to suck and no one goes in the building, even the brand new Billy. No, I've been there. No one goes.

[Don LaGreca]

You are 100%. Right. Because maybe the right thing to do is, yeah, maybe we can sneak into the playoffs, but we're not going anywhere. So let's do the right thing. Let's sell off some pieces, let's rebuild. But there's value to this team sneaking into the playoffs. Of course, you know, Decky and Malkin want to be able to make that playoff money, to be relevant. That's important.

[Alan Hahn]

And you have a goalie that you never know. He's that good.

[Don LaGreca]

That's the thing. As long as you have Soroka and you have a chance to win any series. But you know what? They're not the. They're not the Rangers. They can't send a letter. All right? It's too important. And Lou's not buying green bananas, as Michael used to say, so he's going to want to sneak in. So. And I think you can't do what the Devils did. Who said, okay, you know, we'll be irrelevant for five years and we'll get all these picks and then we'll be good. When you've got. When you got a general manager in his late 70s and you got a brand new building, you want to be able to keep full. It's a tough proposition. He mentioned and the goosebumps during the anthem. And I don't know if you were surprised the way I was when I walked out of the building yesterday. I'm like, where did snow come from?

[Alan Hahn]

But remember, I was in the garden, so.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's right. That's right. So you probably didn't see.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't see it till I got to the island. And as I'm getting home, all of a sudden the clear, wet roads turned into powder on the roads. And I was like, what? And then I got to my house and the driveway was covered, so it.

[Don LaGreca]

Took a while to get home because everybody was driving slow. You know, weather was inclement. So I literally pulled into my driveway while the anthems were being played, and I was listening to it on satellite radio.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, me too.

[Don LaGreca]

And they had the Boston Pops with the music. And I'm sorry, I don't remember her name, but she's like a Grammy Award winning opera singer.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

And I'm listening to it. I'm just begging her. It's like, at some point, lay out. I want to hear the crowd sing this song. I love when they do that in Canada. And I thought, because they did it in Canada, you know, Sing the first line. I know this is your moment. You've won Grammys and you probably don't want to take a knee on it. But you know what, I want to hear those people sing this song. And I heard him a little bit in the background, like. But she was overpowering them because she had an amazing voice. But didn't. Didn't you kind of want her to lay out and just. And hear that crowd sing that song like they do in Canada? Of course I get goosebumps for stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm surprised that no one suggested it. Right. Like, I'm surprised at that. But, you know, to have the awareness. We have seen it in other arenas in the US I believe in Tampa, she does it right. Because they have a singer that she's there, she sings every year and they love her. And I think she does lay out a little bit during the song. But we'll see Rob in Long Island. Hey, Rob.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, guys. Nice to see you. Donnie was great seeing you a couple.

[Don LaGreca]

Of weeks ago, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So listen, a couple of points I want to make. First of all, the tournament was amazing. Obviously, we loved it. The problem we're going to have next year with the Olympics and it's not the NHL fault, we're gonna have a time difference in Italy. Italy, yeah. So all these games are not going to be in prime time at 8:00 here. They're going to be in the middle of the night or they'll be on tape delay. And that really sucks.

[Alan Hahn]

I see. Honestly, though, Rob, what they'll, what they'll do though, is they'll play the games in the afternoon, like they'll do. They'll find a way that you'll be able to watch it live at reason. Because I believe like, that the NBA has this all the time with when their players go overseas to play in the Olympics. And there's always a way, NBC's smart with this. They make sure, like if we've got, you know, if we've got Spain versus Team USA in basketball, you're going to see that live at some reasonable time. It's not going to be at 2am or at 10am they're going to find a way to make sure that enough people can see it.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. And I guess what's the time difference between here and Italy?

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't it for six hours?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Six hours? Yeah, Six hours.

[Don LaGreca]

So they, so they could play a game at three in the afternoon and have it be a nine o'clock face off. Right. Listen, the amount of money that NBC pays, and I believe now ctv, not the cbc, but CTV is the rights holders in Canada. They spend so much money they're gonna have a say on when these games get played. And the one good thing, Rob, is the championship game, the gold medal game will be an afternoon game. It'll probably, probably be kind of how it, how it kicks off the closing ceremony. So that'll probably be an afternoon game there. Which means we'll get it in prime time here. So it's not like Nagano where the games are on at 2, 3 o'clock in the morning or Beijing. It's not going to be that bad. But I hear what you're saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, you're going to get, you're going to get like, you know, you'll get Austria and Iceland. That'll be the game that'll have to be played.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And here's the other thing I like to bring up and obviously Don, you know, I'm not a big fan of the NBA for many years and I'm not going to go into the reason, reasons why, but obviously it's been talked about how the NBA is on a downswing now because of their all star game. Now with my marketing background and Alan, you can contract to me if you want. I want to say the core NBA fan nowadays is somewhere between a 15 year old and a 40 year old male. Would you, would you agree or disagree?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah, it is definitely a younger audience now. There's no question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now, because I know people that are my age and I'm older, we were not really big fans anymore. And if I'm the NHL and I'm in their marketing department now, now is your chance to strike.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to lean into the older.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Crowd, you do it. You go after that demographic hard and try to get that demographic to swing over to hockey. I really believe that there's an opening here right now to do that.

[Alan Hahn]

I, you know what the thing is, I think you've got that like, I don't think, I don't think you're not captivating that audience because that audience was younger, you know what I mean? Like, like, like, like our age. Don and I were just Talking about the 90s and 90s hockey where it got fun, where they got expansion teams, where things really did start to sizzle a little bit. I mean I grew up with 80s hockey where they were scoring games, were seven to six, the goalies were wearing, you know, rolled up newspapers on their knees. They weren't really wearing the pads you're seeing today. Like now the game evolved. But I do think that you have that audience. Every league's always trying to get the young audience for the obvious reason, because the younger audience means you keep them for a longer period of time. But I get what he's suggesting though, Don.

[Don LaGreca]

But we have to understand, you have the younger audience. The NBA showed you that by the digital footprint that they left during All Star Weekend. They don't watch tv, they don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

That no one watches.

[Don LaGreca]

They get caught up in television ratings. You're not going to get the kids to watch it on television. Marco came home from school and he was raving. His friend Jeremiah rooted for Canada because his mom's from Canada and his best friend Bodhi was all in the usa. But those kids aren't necessarily this weekend going to sit there and watch hockey on television. They're seven years old.

[Alan Hahn]

No, they watch it on TikTok highlights.

[Don LaGreca]

And when they get older. It's not like you and me, we didn't have options, Alan. We had to sit there and watch the games because there was nothing else to do. I wasn't going to play darts and Monopoly. And what was that big blow up, punching bag work came back at you.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Like these were our options. What are we going to do? Run around in the yard and so these kids have a million other things they can do. I will tell you, I'm sitting there and watch television, but that doesn't mean they're not engaged in the product.

[Alan Hahn]

I will tell you what I used to do in a household that was all Rangers fans. Therefore my parents would not pay for Sports Channel. So if I wanted to follow the Islanders like I did every single game, I stayed up with them. I had to listen on radio. That's what I did. And while listening on radio, I would, in my room, I had, I had, you know, a street hockey stick and a hockey ball. I would stick handles shoot while I'm listening to, you know, Barry Larkin.

[Don LaGreca]

Barry Larkin, Yeah, well, Larkin Landers Land. Barry Landers.

[Alan Hahn]

Why did I say Larry Barry Landers and Jean Potvin.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right, Barry.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And I listened to them on the call while I just sat. I would just shoot. And I had, I mean, holes in the wall from just shooting a hockey ball into it every time. But that's what I did. So we are just a different generation.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. And if you have kids and they're listening to a game on the radio, you would probably set an appointment with a psychologist or somebody will have to help. Something's wrong with our child.

[Alan Hahn]

While my parents were downstairs screaming and yelling, listening, watching the Rangers game on TV. There's someone's upstairs like it was 1942 with my ear to the radio. I love. I was abused as a child because I would not conform to their teams. Sad, isn't it? Now it explains a lot about me, doesn't it? Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. See, that's, that's, that's a name. That tune song, I think that very first note. You knew what that song was, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it's good stuff. Tom Thomas was so aggravated with me that he tweeted this twice in a row. Love, Dom. But he still doesn't understand time zones. If an Olympic hockey game is in the afternoon in Italy, it will not be in prime time. Here, it's the other way around. They're six hours ahead of us. Okay, well, I've never been to Italy, so. And I probably should know that, but you guys didn't correct me either.

[Alan Hahn]

I have. And I didn't think about it. Like, I was just. I was letting you go and I was not really, because to me it's like a year from now, so I'm not that locked in on it.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. So what can they do? So US Canada is going to play in a big game. So theoretically, I guess what they could do is what's the latest they can start it there? I guess maybe they start it there at nine and we get it at three.

[Alan Hahn]

Nine's really late, though. Like, remember when Rick was, was played for the Olympic team? It was in Torino. So he, he played in Italy when they had that, those Olympics that Rick was in.

[Don LaGreca]

And those games, I believe they were like early afternoon. So they probably played them like 7, 8 o'clock in Italy and was, you know, obviously 2 o'clock here.

[Alan Hahn]

Which sucks because again, in New York is one thing. But how. I mean, we're talking about morning in LA.

[Don LaGreca]

And you can't not. I mean, you could, you could air it later if you want, but people are.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody already knows the result. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So it's not ideal from a television rating standpoint, but I still think people. And also the gold medal game would be on a Sunday anyway, so no matter what time it would be on, people would be able to watch. The problem is having some great games that are going to be on while kids are at school and we're at work.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. But 9 o'clock puck drop is what you're looking for. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So they probably would start that game at 8 or 9 so that you would get a decent afternoon game on a Sunday here in the States.

[Alan Hahn]

800 now. 193776. Let's continue with everybody that wants to talk about this. Gino in the Bronx, though, has a problem. Gino.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Well, I feel bad. I'm always here. I yelled at Anthony when I really want to yell at Alan. But real quick on the time zones. The Euro cup and the World cup in soccer, they always start their games at nine.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they're on a three in the afternoon.

[Alan Hahn]

Perfect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. So anyway, you always do it and it drives me insane. Like, why would. Everybody doesn't have to be in New York. Everybody doesn't want to play for the Knicks and want to play for the Yankees and go to the ranks. Everybody like you. You do that all the time. Like, why would Ottawa trade Kachuk, who's actually. Ottawa's actually in a playoff spot right now and the Rangers aren't. And I know you said they stink. You're not a great team. They got some young talent. And when we get Swayman back, not Swami, the other freaking Bruin goalie. They traded Omar, but Omar, right. So why would they.

[Don LaGreca]

Why would.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And. And after the whole world seemed to Chuck's talent, what would you have to give up for him? You have to give up the farm. So who would, who would do that? Who in their right mind would trade that guy? Ottawa should do everything, everything possible to keep that guy there forever. Like everybody doesn't want. You always do it with the Knicks. Oh, hey, he wants to be a Knick. The Knicks should get him. The Range should get him. And Michael K. Everybody wants. He grew up a Yankees fan, wants to be a Yankee. What is so great about New York sports?

[Alan Hahn]

Where are you from? Gino, where are you from?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, I'm from here.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, you're from the Bronx. So you don't love New York. You wouldn't love to have New York, but you wouldn't love to have all the best things here. You wouldn't love that. And if you had the opportunity to do it, you know, you have owners that are willing to spend the money. You know, you have the biggest stage. This is the biggest stage. Why wouldn't you always say to yourself, and by the way, this isn't like out of a vacuum. There's a lot of players that would love to play, especially in hockey in this market. Why did. Why did Wayne Gretzky come here?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Two Stanley Cups in a hundred years.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand, Gino. What does one have to do with the other Gino. All I'm saying is this. By the way, for the record, I am not a Rangers fan. My family is. I'm not. I do work at the Garden. But it's. This is not like me being a fan. And Don, you can correct me because I know you, you cover the Rangers. Was there not reports about Brady Kachuk and the Rangers a couple of weeks ago? Am I making that up?

[Don LaGreca]

In fairness to Gino, whenever I would ask people about it, they'd laugh because there is no way that Ottawa would trade him. But here's the caveat. Gino, and this doesn't happen in the NHL, does happen in the NBA. Will there be a point and he becomes a free agent at the end of the 27, 28 season. So he still has another three years after this left on his contract in Ottawa. If they continue to miss the playoffs, is there a scenario where he says, you know, I don't want to be here anymore, I want to get traded so that. So there is a possibility that it could. I don't think it's going to happen now, but is there a possibility before he becomes a free. And then once he becomes a free agent? And by the way, and the Rangers.

[Alan Hahn]

Made it clear they were interested. The Rangers were like putting out all signals about how interested they were in him.

[Don LaGreca]

But there's no. They don't, they don't have the ability to do it. And Otto would be nuts to do it right now. But at some point over the next three years, could it happen? And at 28, when he becomes a free agent, then there's a very good possibility he could end up in a big market team. So I understand what both of you are saying at this particular point. May 7th is the trade deadline. It's not happening.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

But at some point during the next three years, and certainly when he becomes a free agent, I would almost guarantee he's not going to finish his career in Ottawa. It's a shame to say that, but he's an American born player. He's a star. And there's always outposts in every league and Ottawa is one of those outposts. They haven't been to the playoffs. They're, you know, they're a good young team. He's right. But at some point, if given the opportunity, he may want to try to get a chance to win a cup or at least play someplace where he can get.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, I know it's crazy for me to think that an American would prefer playing in a big American market. No I know, it's crazy. I'm out of my mind.

[Don LaGreca]

And this is not a problem. Like Auston Matthews. Maybe one day Auston Matthews will want to play in the States. He's fine in Toronto. Well, you know, it's Ottawa, and Ottawa is the capital of Canada. But I've been to Ottawa. It's. It's. It's nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's a beautiful city, but unfortunately.

[Don LaGreca]

They play 45 minutes outside the city. I've been to Kanata when they've got a beautiful hotel and there's a restaurant around the corner. That's the trip.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to stay downtown. You haven't stayed downtown. You don't stay in the. The Chateau. What is it? Chateau Laurier. You don't say there.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it's a beautiful place.

[Don LaGreca]

That's like. Like 10 minutes from the arena.

[Alan Hahn]

You never skated the canal?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I never skated the canal. But Ottawa, no lie. I was there at the Stanley cup final in 07. I've been there at least 12 times with rain.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

We stay at the same hotel, the Brook street, it's called. And I could tell you because you'd never want to stay there, not because it's not an absolutely gorgeous hotel, but that's it.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, it's. It's. There's nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

And there's no trees. There's no mountain. It's flat.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's where everybody stays. Okay. But there was one night they had to fly me early. The Rangers were in Carolina. There's a weather issue. I was. I wasn't doing the game in Carolina. I was doing the game in Ottawa, so they flew me a day early before the storm came. The Islanders were stuck at the hotel because they couldn't get back because of the storm, so they were staying there. I was staying there the extra day. I said, you know what? I've been here a dozen times. I gotta go see Ottawa proper. So I paid the $65 cab ride, went, saw Parliament, walked around. It's really nice. Yeah, but when you go into a game in Ottawa, you go from airport, hotel, arena back to the airport, and you go home.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I get it. We did the canal one time on a trip because we were there for an extra day. And then the playoff series they had was in the spring, so the weather was better. And we stayed downtown also. And it was, like I said, it was lovely, but it's not New York. The Dropkick Murphy's and Bad Religion are coming to the Stone Pony summer stage. Wednesday, August 13 ESPNYork has your chance to score tickets on the ESPN New York app. Just find the contest tile, of course, and submit your entry. It's brought to you by Live Nation. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, let me ask you something. Ever feel like you're juggling at all work, family responsibilities and still trying to keep your eye on the ball? Yeah, you're in Ander and National University gets the hustle. That's why they have flexible online classes and support services for folks who are balancing jobs and kids and everything in between. If you're ready to take the next step, National University can help you level up your education and score your goals. Check them out at nu Edu to learn more.