Did Tate McRae Ruin The Devils Season?!

Summary

Empty Netters Podcast – Ep: “Did Tate McRae Ruin The Devils Season?!”

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Dan Powers
Co-Hosts: Chris Powers (remote), Sean Buffini
Podcast by: Almost Friday Media

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Overview

This episode of Empty Netters is true to form: rowdy, hockey-obsessed, and broaching the absurd as much as the analytical. The crew dives headfirst into the midseason NHL storylines, dissecting the New Jersey Devils’ implosion (with tongue-in-cheek blame on pop star Tate McRae and more seriously on mutton ragu and organizational issues), big league blowouts, who’s hot and not, their own “midseason awards,” and some can’t-miss betting segments. Along the way, notable banter covers food gripes, life lessons, and signature games.

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Main Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. The Devastation of the Devils (00:31–14:52)

• Lead Story: The New Jersey Devils get utterly “piss-pumped” 9-0 by the New York Islanders.
• Islanders Praise:
  • Sorokin returns from injury, posts 44-save shutout.
  • Anthony Duclair gets a hat trick and five points ("natural Hattie").
  • Islanders tie a franchise record for largest shutout win margin (since 1986).

Dissecting the Devils’ Disintegration

• Despite firing 44 shots, Devils get shut out (“scoreboard tells a different story than the shots” - [02:37] Chris Powers).
• Goalie Management Debate:
  • Was it cruel to leave Markstrom in for all nine goals, or “warrior code”?
    • “If I were a goalie, I would want to stay in because getting yanked is humiliating too. I would rather die on my shield.” – Dan Powers [05:11]

The “Tate McRae Curse” Theory (07:19–10:14)

• Jack Hughes’ relationship with Tate McRae and a possibly cursed beanie/mutton dinner are blamed for the team’s midseason collapse:
  • Pre-dinner: Devils were 13-6-1; Post-dinner: 9-13-1.
  • “Is it a Tate McCrae curse, which I would hate to see? ... Or was it the beanie at dinner curse?” – Chris Powers [08:27]
  • “We love love! We are champions of love. ... But... in a season where the Devils need to get back on track, ... we don’t need distractions.” – Dan Powers [09:37]
  • “We can’t be entirely sure that Tate McRae isn’t a saboteur.” – Dan Powers [10:44]

Devils’ Organizational Outlook

• Fired up discussion on whether firings/trades are needed:
  • Dan: “Dougie Hamilton needs to be traded from this team.” [12:28]
  • Chris: "No one will be fired this year ... they will be buyers." [11:51]
  • Chris and Dan butt heads over just how close they are to a crisis:
    • “You gotta listen to me, bud.” – Dan Powers [14:04]

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2. Ducks in a Tailspin, but Keep Calm? (14:52–20:48)

• The Problem:

  • Ducks, once Pacific division darlings, lose 3 straight, give up crazy goal numbers.
  • Defensive play and young blueliners cause for concern, but correspondence is optimistic.

• Perspective:

  • “This might be just what they needed ... you wanted some adversity. ... Feed me this problem right now. … I still have them in playoffs comfortably.” — Chris Powers [16:05]
  • Dan points to Mason McTavish underperforming relative to contract/expectations [18:19], and the bumps that follow late contract arrivals.

• Trade Deadline Strategy:

  • Add depth, not stars: “Take a page out of the Lightning book ... veteran bottom six presence.” — Chris [21:26]
  • Dan: “Not sure I’m shaking that [forward group] up—when healthy.”

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3. Trevor Zegras: New NHL Villain With the Flyers (21:26–27:20)

• Zegras explodes for 2 goals vs. his former Ducks.

• Vengeance Narrative:

  • “He’s a villain. He should be a villain ... I want you to go the other way and reach your potential: become a Sith.” — Chris Powers [25:14]
  • Dan proposes maybe Zegras is a “Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you know? He’s the mischief king. ... Maybe he’s just a trickster.” [26:01]

• Interview highlights Zegras’s unfiltered postgame happiness:

  • “It felt fucking amazing. Felt fucking amazing.”—Zegras, postgame [22:58]

• Connection: Cross-conference rivalries stoked by player swaps (Cutter to Ducks, Zegras to Flyers).

• Flyers Optimism:

  • “This Flyers team is legit, man. ... They are a very, very awesome shift ... through all phases.” — Dan [27:20]
  • Goaltending question answered by Vladar’s ascendance.

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4. Rangers: Injury Woes and Should They Sell? (27:31–31:25)

• Rangers hit bad luck: Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox to LTIR.
• Dan points out cosmic irony (“karma” for Seth Jones incident [28:11]).
• Both hosts agree: time to get ahead of a “fire sale” and rebuild:
  • “I would straight up go: Shesterkin and Adam Fox, Gabe Perrault and Will Cuylle, probably the only guys that I would say are not available. Everyone else.” — Dan [30:38]

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5. Hot Ice: Dallas Stars Pee-Pee Whack Alert (31:25–36:53)

• Stars Bleeding Goals Again:
  • Giving up 4+ goals in six straight games, lost all.
• Not frauds, yet, but: “If you want to be taken seriously, ... this can’t be happening.” — Dan [34:56]
• Otter’s (Jake Oettinger’s) goaltending inconsistency is noted: “He’s been so good and so average ... back and forth.” — Chris [34:56]

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6. Midseason Awards (37:52–57:38)

Hart Trophy (MVP)

• Dan: Macklin Celebrini (Sharks) “through 42 games, 64 pts, ... plus-15, playoff spot, miles ahead of next teammate.” [38:35]
• Chris: “If McDavid goes 150 burger again, you can't take it from him.” [42:54]

Norris (Best Defenseman)

• Chris: Lane Hudson (Habs) – if he closes scoring gap.
• Dan: Zach Werenski (CBJ) “is, at the moment, feeling like the only good thing about this Columbus Blue Jackets team ... he does it every single night and defensively as well.” [45:51]

Vezina (Best Goalie)

• Dan: Jesper Wallstedt (Wild) ("The Wall of St. Paul") [49:18]
• Chris: Mackenzie Blackwood (Avalanche): “He’s lost twice this year. If he plays half the games with these numbers...they should give him the Vezina.” [51:37]

Calder (Rookie of the Year)

• Chris: Schaefer ("for actual goals ... as a 13-year-old"—exaggeration for effect—for Islanders) [51:49]
• Dan: “It’s Schaefer or Wall (Jesper Wallstedt) ... 1A and 1B” [53:35]

Selke (Best Defensive Forward)

• Both: Anthony Cirelli (“Selkie level masterclass center”) [54:03].
• Honorable: Nick Suzuki (more offensive pop).

Jack Adams (Coach of the Year)

• Chris: Rick Tocchet (Flyers) — "getting stuff out of Zegras...big turnaround" [55:40]
• Dan: Jared Bednar (Avalanche) for being so dominant in the brutal Central – "At what point do we not give him some love?" [57:11]

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7. Professor Parlay: Betting and Puck Line Picks (60:09–71:26)

• Friday Fade: Kings at Jets—Jets are the “auto-fade.” [61:08]
• Saturday Sally (Anytime Goal): Nathan MacKinnon for a bounce-back against Columbus [62:40]
• Sunday Hat Trick Parlay: Picks Caps at Preds, focus on rested Capitals and Tom Wilson point. [64:08]
• Mega Parlay "Live on a Beach": Each host picks across the schedule—general chaos and laughs.
• Life on the Line Parlay: Themed (and rhymed) explanations for their can’t-miss picks (here for the poetry!) [68:36–71:16]

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8. Not Ice: Rant About Fries with Sandwiches (71:36–80:39)

• Chris rants about being charged $5 for fries as a side with his Reuben; main outcome:
  • “If I order my entrée sitting down, I expect the fries to be included; if I order standing up, I expect to pay more.” – Sean Buffini [74:04]
• Strong opinions on tot gods, curly fry heartbreak, and Irish McDonald’s nostalgia.

9. Game Time: Connective Tissue (81:08–85:19)

• NHL Zoom Trivia: Players whose names “connect”; today’s answer: Jordan Kyrou + Roope Hintz = "Jordan Kyroupe Hintz."

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Notable & Memorable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• On the Devils collapse:
  • “Are we entirely sure this isn’t Tate McRae’s fault?” – Dan Powers [07:19]
  • “We love love! ... And I don’t want to stand in the way of that. But ... we don’t need distractions.” – Dan Powers [09:37]
• On Markstrom’s nine goals against:
  • “I would rather die on my shield.” – Dan Powers [05:11]
• On Zegras’s Flyers resurgence:
  • “He should be a villain ... I want you to become a Sith.” – Chris Powers [25:14]
  • “It felt fucking amazing. Felt fucking amazing.” – Trevor Zegras [22:58]
• On the Ducks swoon:
  • “This might be just what they needed ... you wanted some adversity. ... I still have them in playoffs comfortably.” — Chris Powers [16:05]
• On fries with sandwiches:
  • “If I order my entrée sitting down, I expect the fries to be included. If I order it standing up, then I expect to pay more for fries.” – Sean Buffini [74:04]

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Structure: Episode Flow and Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:30 – Chit-chat; Dan, Chris, Sean return, set the stage.
• 01:31–14:52 – Devils’ blowout to Islanders, Markstrom discussion, “Tate McRae curse.”
• 14:53–20:48 – Ducks’ losing streak, trades or not, keeping cool.
• 21:26–27:20 – Flyers, Trevor Zegras villain arc, intra-NHL drama.
• 27:31–31:25 – Rangers injuries, potential sell-off.
• 31:25–36:53 – Dallas Stars losing streak, defense and goaltending woes.
• 37:52–57:38 – Midseason awards; Hart, Norris, Vezina, Calder, Selke, Jack Adams.
• 60:09–71:26 – Professors’ betting picks, parlay mayhem.
• 71:36–80:39 – Not Ice: The Great Fries Rant.
• 81:08–85:19 – Connective Tissue game, episode close.
• 85:55–87:22 – Outro, sponsor messages, and ad reads.

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Tone & Trademark Vibe

Rowdy and irreverent, the Empty Netters blend legitimate hockey analysis and sharp league insight with full-throttle banter, hilarious tangents, and unfiltered, decidedly not-ESPN opinions. Relationship speculation, food rants, and philosophical musings on the NHL and life make this a must-listen for the plugged-in fan who also wants to feel like they’re on a group text with ex-juniors.

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Takeaways for New Listeners

• Devils’ season has gone off the rails—potential cause: a mutton-fueled date with a pop star.
• Islanders, Flyers are having big moments, while the Ducks are cooling but not in panic.
• Trevor Zegras is in his villain era, and no longer just the golden boy.
• Rangers appear ready for a serious reset.
• Midseason: Macklin Celebrini, Zach Werenski, Jesper Wallstedt/Mackenzie Blackwood, and Anthony Cirelli all garner “should win if season ended now” votes.
• The podcast’s betting, games, and food takes are as much a draw as the hockey chatter itself.

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Bottom Line:
If you missed this week’s episode: The Devils are a meme, fries pricing is a scandal, and the actual title for NHL MVP is up for grabs—but only if you can convince Dan it isn’t Celebrini’s by birthright.

Transcript

[Dan Powers]

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.

[Chris Powers]

Can you believe what this has become? There's a full 48 hours where I.

[Sean Buffini]

Felt like I was like literally Superman.

[Dan Powers]

Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the saunacycle or was that all?

[Chris Powers]

No, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

[Sean Buffini]

Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few Guinnesses. Ran into you guys. That's where this pod came to life.

[Dan Powers]

Ice is ready. And we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. I am your host, Dan Powers. And on the sticks he is back and he's got a belly full of shepherd's pie. Straight from Ireland, Sean Buffini, welcome back to the studio.

[Sean Buffini]

Thank you.

[Dan Powers]

God, it's good to see you.

[Sean Buffini]

It's good to be back.

[Dan Powers]

There you go. You love to see it. And coming to us, remote, his hat is as pink as his nose. He's hitting the slopes and getting sunburned, I can tell.

[Chris Powers]

Chris Powers, as.

[Allie Jackson]

Always.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, man. How is it up there?

[Chris Powers]

It's cold. It's cold. Tons of snow got in late last night, so haven't really been outside yet. But it's cold as hell when I was walking from car to cabin.

[Dan Powers]

Wow, that's special. And you're going to rip it up today.

[Chris Powers]

That's the plan, hopefully. Hopefully?

[Dan Powers]

Hell yeah. That is fantastic. Well, listen, we're going to let you get out there and we're going to jump into this episode. We got a lot to talk about today, folks. We've got tons of hot ice, lots of stuff going on the league. We've got our mid season awards we're dishing out. We've got the professors back with some puck line picks. The accents are going to blow you away as they always do. And we've got some fun games. So let's waste no time. Let's jump into it. Makes sense that it was just the Christmas season because the Devils are gone. They're out. They are absolutely toast, folks. Jersey got humiliated last night in a 90 piss pumping by the New York Islanders, their friends in the Tri state area. Unbelievable stuff. First, let's give a little tire pump to the Islanders CP I mean, my God, Sorokin, 44 saves in a shutout in his return from injury. You had big save, Dave. Just killing it for the Islanders. And then Sorokin comes back and does that. It's also shocking that in a 9 nothing win the Devils managed 44 shots. Like, that game was just an absolute barn burner.

[Chris Powers]

It's. It's the most like, what do they. What's the term for this? But it's like the game that didn't tell the story. The scoreboard tells a different story than what actually happened. Right. Like this feels like a game where the devil shot 18 times and got pumped.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

And you watch it. And I'm like, they. They were all over they. 44 shots and a lot of goals. I know we're going to get into this in a second, but a lot of the goals the islander scored were nasty. Like, it's not like you're like disgusting. He's sick. That brutal night at the office, I've never seen A tale of two goalies harder than this. Like a 44 save shutout on one end, a nine goal, no pole. No pole performance on the other end.

[Dan Powers]

It was absolutely insane. It felt like a beer league game, but one team just couldn't score somehow, which never happens in beer league. So that was just mental. Anthony Duclair, star of the night. He had a hat trick and five points on the night. Natural Hattie.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Three straight tucks for the kid. Five point night. First five point night by an Islander since 2021 when Matt Barzell did it, which is fantastic. And that's another example. The Islanders, the vibes are different. Things are fantastic. They tied a franchise record of the largest margin of victory in a shutout since 1986, where I believe they also won nine nothing against. Well, of course the. They won nine nothing but against the Penguins. So another Met opponent. Fantastic. Well, let's get to Jacob Markstrom. Like you mentioned, nine goals against was never pulled. Do we think this was a Vassi situation where Vassi is always like, when I'm getting lit up, don't pull me. I want to see the shots. I want to see everything they've got. Or was this cruel and unusual punishment by Sheldon Keefe?

[Chris Powers]

Dude, I had the same thought. And actually, while I'm answering this. Sean, can you google the biggest shutout victory in NHL history? I'm just curious. Yeah, yeah. So, Dan, I had the same thought, man. Markstrom strikes me as a guy and. And we can probably find this out. We'll call up Eddie Lack and ask him to ask Markstrom. But I. He strikes me as a guy that would want to eat the. Eat the shots, eat the pucks, you know, like, whatever, dude. Yeah, leave me in. But then his post game was a little like he. He was bummed and he was like, that was embarrassing. Like, that's all I have to say. I'm humiliated. And that kind of made me feel like he. He did want out of there. Like, at some point, he was like, yo, dude, can I get the fucking hook, please? So I'm a little worried. I would have thought he wanted to stay in, but I'm a little worried that he wanted to go.

[Dan Powers]

Listen, I'm not a goalie. I've never been a goalie. I don't know how to get in the minds of goalies. I would never do that. I would never subject myself to that type of torture. Because the mind of a goalie is a dangerous place. But I will say, I think if I were a goalie, I would want to stay in because getting yanked is humiliating, too. I would rather die on my shield. I would rather die on my shield. And I would go like this. You think this is bothering me? Ring it up.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Light me up like a Christmas tree. I don't care. I respect it when goalies do this.

[Sean Buffini]

I have. The biggest shutout victory in NHL history is a 150 win by the Detroit Red. Ring.

[Chris Powers]

Sorry.

[Sean Buffini]

The Detroit Red Wings, easy for me to say. Against the New York Rangers on January 23, 1944.

[Chris Powers]

The Rangers. The Rangers.

[Dan Powers]

Of course. Of course it was the Rangers.

[Chris Powers]

15 rip is so tough. Oh, my God.

[Dan Powers]

15 rip in an NHL, in a National Hockey League game is tough. That is a tough pill to swallow, dude. At that point, you gotta start. You gotta start gassing beers on the bench. Chris.

[Chris Powers]

I'm sure they were 1944. They were in fucking World War II, dude. We were fighting. We were fighting the Germans. I. Who gives a shit what's happening against the Red Wings, you know?

[Dan Powers]

I mean, seriously, it's like. I honestly, I would hope that some of the boys on the Devils started popping a few in the third period in this one because it's just brutal. So let's get to the Devils, a team that we all, everyone in the hockey world picked to be atop the Met this year. We wanted revenge, Jack, this season, coming back from an injury last year, and here they are. They are seventh in the wild card right now. They're four, five and one in their last 10, lost two in a row. I have a lot of questions about the devils. Number one. Actually, I'll change the order of my questions. Number one, are we entirely sure that this isn't Tate McRae's fault?

[Chris Powers]

Dan, you. You mentioned it to me, and I. And we. I referenced the national all the time, and we saw. We saw Roy Hobbs become the victim of this. So it could be anybody. It could be any team. It could be any player. And you mentioned it to me and I said, no, that's not fair. And then I went to the tape. Dan. I checked the game notes as our boys Merles and Army would say the New Jersey and Jack Hughes and Tate McCray spotted Gossip Girl style on November 21, out to dinner eating mutton ragu. On November 21, sucking, sucking down mutton beanie on. Okay, so I checked the tape. I checked the game notes before that dinner, the New Jersey Devils 13, 6 and 1. Post that dinner, the New Jersey Devils 9, 13 and 1. Now, I'm. I'm no math major. It's something to think about. But think about. Can I put it back on you really quickly? Is it a Tate McCray curse, which I would hate to see? I'm a huge fan of her. I'm a huge fan of Jack. I'm a huge fan of their relationship. I'm a huge fan of the Devils.

[Dan Powers]

I would hate to see that.

[Chris Powers]

Is there a chance it was beanie at dinner curse instead of Tate McCrae? Because those are the two things that happened. I start dating tape McCray. I wore a beanie while eating mutton ragu. I think there's a chance it was that. I think it's. I think you could maybe fix it by. By going out to a nice dinner and dressing up and doing your hair.

[Dan Powers]

Listen, I'm never going to sit here and tell you that. It's not that I couldn't. I couldn't tell you that. What I will say is this. There's too much stuff going on here, too many distractions. And also we love love. I think we are. We have. We have well established ourself in the NHL and the hockey world as the horniest podcast and the love. The loveliest podcast. We love love. We are champions of love. And I don't want to stand in the way of that. But I will say, in a time where Jack Hughes kind of needed to have a big career year, where he stayed healthy, and then he cuts his hand on a wine glass in a season where we've got the Olympics, where Jack Hughes wants to shut up the haters who were saying he didn't have the best four nations, in a season where the Devils need to get back.

[Chris Powers]

On track, where my boy Keith, who I said is a regular season, God. And it was all Toronto's fault. It was all Toronto's fault. Watch him take New Jersey to Back to back, first place finishes. I now that's not good. I now feel bad about that.

[Dan Powers]

We don't need distractions. And I just do think international pop star, voice of an angel, dancing legend, gorgeous, gorgeous gal and bowls of mutton is not what Jack Hughes needs. That's not it.

[Chris Powers]

Do you believe that if this was confirmed, if Tate truly loves Jack, she should let him go for the Devils? Like, do you think if she truly cares about him, she needs to sacrifice herself and her relationship so that the Devils can make playoffs?

[Dan Powers]

I think it's definitely something to consider. And I will also say this again. Shout out the boys. Shout out Biz Yans Wit g the Chiclets crew. Because they brought this up. We can't be entire. Listen, we can't be sure of anything, as we've said.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

We can't be entirely sure that Tate McRae, international superstar, Canadian superstar in an Olympic year, isn't a saboteur. This is one of our bright shining stars in Jack Hughes. All of a sudden, they start playing bad in New Jersey, Jack's confidence goes down, that leaks into the USA locker room. We can't have that. I'm not saying Tate's doing that. I would never say that. But I am saying it's possible.

[Chris Powers]

Think about it.

[Dan Powers]

Think about it. So my next question for you on the Devils are firings, trades, changes being needed at this point. Keefe is fine as far as I'm concerned. We need to give Keef time. But Fitz, people are wagging their finger at Fitz. People are saying, fitz, you're not doing enough. We've talked about their defense, how many defensemen they have, and then they're just getting rung up like this. I don't know. Maybe we consider. Do you trade some of these guys? Do you trade?

[Chris Powers]

Something has to be done in the positive, though, which is crazy. And they might. This might go back to bite them, but no one will be fired this year, in my opinion. And if they make moves, and they should, it will be as buyers to fix this and not sellers. Like, I don't think they're going to go, oh, wow, we up and we're firing people and we're trading off assets to, like, retool. Wrong. They are going to be buyers. They better be. And if that also doesn't work, Dan, then, yes, in the summer, we can start talking about. Then we can talk about making that love. Because, yeah, they need. They need. They do love it here, dude, real bad.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, I'm going to. I'm going to agree and Disagree, sir. I agree that they need to be buyers like a trade. And I'm talking a trade trade. Like something to shake up the tree a little bit here. They need to make a trade. I've said before, it is nothing against the player. I think the player is great. It's all about the younger guys behind him. Dougie Hamilton needs to be traded from this team. I just think that that is a. Dougie Hamilton is a really solid piece. He's a good player, and you have those guys, like I said, behind him on the depth chart that can step up into that role. And you can get a lot back for Dougie Hamilton. So I think he is one that should be high on the list of potential trades. But you got to do something. The part that I disagree with is, I assure you, someone could be fired if this team continues on this trajectory. If the Devils miss playoffs, like, if you are the New Jersey Devils and you have the players that you have and you had the expectations you have, and you miss playoffs because the Islanders and the Flyers jumped you, that is poo poo on you, sirs. And that will not be acceptable at all.

[Chris Powers]

Correct. I just think they'll wait because I don't. Unless they're. Unless they, like, truly create or Dan, and they're, like, already eliminated by the trade.

[Dan Powers]

Well, that's. That's what. That's what I just said.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Do you even listen to me when I talk to you? I just said if they stay on this trajectory. No, no, I said if they stay on this trajectory, like, dude, they're in seventh in the wild card. If in 20 games from now they are in seventh in the. Like, if they are terrible. If they continue to lose. If they dip in 3, 3 into a losing record. God. You got to listen to me, bud.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, but take some notes. You always. You always say this. Three points out is. Is like. People go, they're seven out. And I'm like, they're three points out, dude. Like, if they are, it is. Dan. If they are three points out of a wild card spot, no one is getting fired. If they are, I agree, but like.

[Dan Powers]

I said, Chris, I talked about this trajectory. 3, 5 and 2 in their. Or, excuse me, 4, 5 and 1 in their last 10. If they do that in the next 10, there'll be way more than three points out. That's my point.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Fair. They can't keep losing like this. They can't keep losing like this. Speaking of teams who are losing, we've got a flight, a new flightless bird to Add to the animal kingdom. We've got penguins, we've got ostriches. We're adding ducks. The ducks, they can't fly right now. They're flight.

[Chris Powers]

And ducks fly together. Ducks die together. And I'm sorry.

[Dan Powers]

And they might. And they might be dying.

[Chris Powers]

Currently die.

[Dan Powers]

They might be dying at a rapid rate. This might be a true epidemic going on in the animal kingdom. We've been saving the bees. We've been saving the whales. We might need to save the Ducks because they are 17 and 2 in their last 10. They've lost three straight. And they are out of a playoff spot for the first time in months.

[Chris Powers]

Months.

[Dan Powers]

And in their last six games, Chris, they have given up five goals, seven goals, five goals, four goals, five goals and six goals. Leaky. Way too leaky. Way too leaky. What do you think about the Ducks?

[Chris Powers]

I think that insane take here, but I think that they are completely fine. They are absolutely going to make playoffs. The Pacific is a joke anyway, and they are going to be all right. This sucks. And I think they. I think, Dan, this might be just what they needed because.

[Dan Powers]

Stop it.

[Chris Powers]

This team came in here, man, being the hot playoff team, and everyone was like, look at the Ducks. The Ducks were everybody's fun pick, right? Like, the Ducks are going to make playoffs this year. They might get a wild card. It's gonna be so cool. And then they. They've been in first. First in the Pacific for. For three months of the season. And all our boys who are Ducks fans were doing the jig. Everybody's happy. And I think you wanted some adversity. No joke. I think if this Ducks team waltzed into the playoffs as the 1 seed in. In a weak Pacific, I think they are in trouble early in playoffs. They don't have a ton of experience. They're not ready for this grind, all that, right? You're running into, like, the Oilers, the Kings, Vegas, like, holy fuck, this is a bad, bad stretch of hockey that they are thrilled is coming right now. And even if it leaks for another month, which is a nightmare, even if it leaks for another month, you get the Olympic break and you can kind of get some rest and reset. So feed me this. Feed me this problem right now. And I don't even care if it goes till February 11, because they're going to be all right. And I still. I still have them in playoffs comfortably as a top three seed. And I'm thank God it's now and not March or fucking April or May, worst case.

[Dan Powers]

Okay, I agree with all of that there are a few things, a few issues with the Ducks that I would like to bring up. And I, I, I do think this is not a, this is not a team I'm panicking about. Obviously they need to turn things around quickly, but Coach Q behind the bench is a perfect coach for a right to the ship situation and a don't panic situation and a little bit of adversity, as you said. I do think going in a big concern with the Ducks was their decor is pretty young. They have Truba and they have Radco obviously in there. That's great. But they're a little young and you got to take care of your goaltender, you got to take care of Dostahl and he doesn't have the best numbers right now. They're giving up, as I just said, those last six games, they're giving up way too many brutals. So we got to tighten the screws on D in a big, big way. And then there are also a couple things. You look at this team, the leaders of this team, points wise, Leo and Troy lead the way with 42 points each. Fantastic point per game players. The fact that Leo is already up there, as we've talked about a million times, a lot of these guys is fantastic, but at the same time has slowed down a bit. There was a time 20, 25 games into the season where it was like Macklin Bedard and Leo were like top five in the league. So he slowed down a bit. You've got cutter with 40. Unbelievable. And your boy Beckett, 32 points in this, you know, it's just like truly in his rookie season. This is fantastic. I do think if you are the Ducks, you are looking at Mason McTavish and you need more 26 points, 10 goals from this guy that you, you essentially traded Trevor Zegras because you were like, we know we've got Mason. Then we had the contract situation. Now here we are, he's got a new bag, he's out here and is playing at like a 50 point pace. Needs to be way better.

[Chris Powers]

And dude, this is anecdotal. Cause I'm sure everyone in the comments can find examples of the exact opposite of this. But coming off of Sway last year and McTavish this year and I would even like kind of say Luke Hughes maybe too. There's something to the like, dude, get your contract done and get in camp and get ready and get with the boys and get on the get with the program because it's a couple years in a row where it's guys and I'm not even blaming the players for not getting, like, for fighting for the deal they want, because I think everyone I just named deserved the deals they got. But there is something to be said about Ms. Getting joining late and then, like, these slow starts, these slow first years coming out of that contract, you know, I kind of. I kind of hate that.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, agree. And when I look at this team and Flyers fans, don't worry, we're about to jump into the Flyers, but when I look at this team, they. I believe this team is very good, and I believe, you know, they just slipped out of a playoff spot, but I think they are a playoff team, and I think that they should be going for it this year. They've got a lot of picks and a lot of pieces, and when you look at their forward group, Kreider, leo, Terry, Cutter, McTavish, Beckett, Harkins, Granny, Killorn, Frank Vetrano's on IR. They've got a solid fourth line with guys like Johnson and polling. I'm not sure I'm shaking that up that much, honestly, when Frankie goes back from injury. So the question is, what do you do? Do you add someone on defense? But even there is a spot where I'm like, I don't even know who you would replace, but do you think this team needs a trade?

[Chris Powers]

Not really. I hope they do, because it feels like every year at the deadline, the team's making a run, do something. But what I would. If I'm them, I take a page out of. Of the Lightning book. All those years of cup wins where it was like, add veteran bottom six presence, you know, like a great dude on the bottom six who can eat some minutes, win some draws, win some D zone draws, and kill a penalty or two. You know, I don't. If I'm the Duck, I don't think I make. I don't think I pay for a big move to bring in some top six stud or some huge defenseman, because. Because your future is so, so bright. I'm like, give me some depth. I'll pay a little bit for a little bit of depth and see what we got, because I think they're fine.

[Dan Powers]

I think you're probably right. That's. That's an interesting take. I feel like we hear names like Kiefer Shearwood all the time being brought up, and I'm like, oh, that could be a great Lightning style ad. So I like that. All right, let's jump into the Flyers. This to the team that just beat them, obviously. Big, big story here. Trevor Zegras two goals in his return. In his first return playing the ducks, he has 41 points on the season. Trevor Zegras is so back. Do you have any idea how. Do you have any idea how close I am with my lawyer? Like, come on, who do you even know here, bro? Who do you such a fucking bad guy? Listen, it feels so good, so good being a Trevor Zieger's truther. Yes, Like I. Tommy Olsen.

[Chris Powers]

Hey, Tommy. I know you're listening, you bitch.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Shout, shout out our friend Tommy from home, who's an absolute poopy diaper butthole who hated on Z, didn't believe in him, never thought he could get back. And I said, every time you're dumb, he will be back. And here he is, he's back. My favorite part about this, after the game he was interviewed and they were like, listen, your first game back. And the whole time he's smirking and he's nodding and he was like, I have been looking forward to this game for a long time. I missed it last year, but here we are. And he was like. The interviewer was like, you scored two goals. How'd that feels? And he goes, it felt fucking amazing. And then he doubled down 2.2F 1.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, he.

[Dan Powers]

Well, he went. Felt fucking amazing. Felt fucking amazing. He even emphasized the second fuck. Don't care about those fines when you score two goals against your former team. And there were a couple of little nuggets in that interview where they said, oh yeah, this team might have quit on you, you know, coming back here with a little revenge. And you saw Z nodded like, he was like, yes, I am here and I am living for this type of shithousery in the NHL. This type of Petty. Be Tom Petty in a world of Sidney Crosby's. We need more Tom Petty's in the NHL. I love this because now all of a sudden we have a cross conference rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Anaheim Ducks. And that is fantastic.

[Chris Powers]

It's incredible, dude. And, and you do pile on the cutter thing going, going the other way. You know, it's like there's, there's sick ammo there. You know, for these teams to really dislike each other because they've, you know, lost like young, young talent, superstar talent. The phone thing, which I know you're going to get to. They asked him about his phone, know he does the hang up and they go, who'd you hang up? And he was like, I don't know. I don't know who it was. I just let. Why don't we Just say, that phone call I did on the ice was about as quick as the one they gave me when they trained, dude. And I was like, this is what I'm talking about. So, Dan Shithouser I. And I. Here's my take, dude. I was so high on Z early, and I felt so bad when it was going poorly. And we were always like, believe in and believe in him. It'll be fine. And then whatever. I'm glad it was a change of scenery that saved him. But, dude, it turns out that I think he needs to be this. Like I used to say when he was struggling, I was like, oh, Zigrus is, like, listening to the media too much. You know? He's like, just play, dude. Ignore the noise. And now I'm realizing that, no, he, like, he needs to be. He's a villain. He should be a villain and be like, oh, I hear it all and everything. Every person that chirps me, I fucking go. I store all that shit and I ram it down your fucking throat as soon as I get the chance. You know? I thought he was like this golden boy, like, cover of NHL. He's like, he can't believe he flipped the puck to Sonny Milan. And I was like, oh, look at this little sweet little boy. And now I'm like, no, dude, you. You are. You are Darth Vader, bro. Like, I want you to go the other way and. And reach your potential. Becoming a Sith.

[Dan Powers]

Do you think God, Star wars references at 9:00am Come on. I. Do you think he has that in him, though? I think he's too sweet.

[Chris Powers]

I didn't think he did, but now I know he does. He tricked me. He tricked us. He tricked us. He's not sweet, dude. He's not sweet. He tricked us.

[Dan Powers]

Has he been fooling me this whole time? He tricked us. Okay, so here. Here's my thing. I. I love this. I love this take. But I wonder if it's. I wonder if it's. It's a halfway point. Maybe he doesn't go full villain. Maybe he is. Maybe he's just a trickster. Maybe he's just like a little cheeky monkey that. That. I like that. Him stirring the pot. Stirring the pot occasionally. But not being full villain could be his sweet spot, because he is. He's just such a happy boy. I don't think a villain can be that happy.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, maybe he's like Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream, you know? He's like. He's the mischief king. And Pac is exactly a cheeky Monkey. I might. Yeah, he might be Puck Zegras now. That might be his new name. And it's a perfect name. And he's the perfect king.

[Dan Powers]

Perfect crossover. He is.

[Sean Buffini]

All right.

[Dan Powers]

Trevor Puck Zegris, the Mischief King. I absolutely love it. The other thing I love, yes, I knight the. Maybe he's not a knight yet, but we dub the Trevor Puck Zegras. The other thing I love with the Flyers, dude, Vladar, you mentioned a Sith Lord, Darth Vladar. He has been fantastic. Goalie was a big question mark with the Flyers coming into this season, was last year. Vladar has come in, he's playing fantastic, and that is clearly becoming a huge difference. We've got first year talk who we're going to talk about a little bit later. But this team, this Flyers team is legit, man. They are. They have a winning record both home and away. They're a plus 11 goal differential. They've got great, great production from guys like Trevor Zegras. I think he's second on the team in points. This is a very, very awesome shift with the Philadelphia Flyers because through all phases, they've got great production going on. It's. It's just really good shit for them. I mean, you got to be fired up if you're.

[Chris Powers]

It's amazing watching some of these goalies the last couple of years. Bussey Gladar stole ours last year, more so than this year. You know, it's just. It's really cool seeing these goalies get some time and delivering. It's fucking awesome.

[Dan Powers]

It's unbelievable. Another team in the Met that we're talking about, not in a good way this time. The New York Rangers we just mentioned. We brought it back to 1944 when they got shellacked 15 nothing. Now they've got a couple more Ls. We've got Igor Shusturkin, without a doubt the MVP of the Rangers this season, probably for the last four seasons, has been put on IR and then long term IR. Adam Fox just came back from a bit of an injury. Now he's on ltir two big losses for two of the big, big players for this team. My question for you, do we think this is a little bit of karma for the Rangers trying to injure Seth Jones in the Winter Classic? I'm just saying.

[Chris Powers]

I'm not Dan. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Adam Fox doesn't make Team usa. Seth Jones does make Team usa. The Rangers try to injure Seth Jones in the Winter Classic.

[Chris Powers]

Everyone gets hurt on the now Fox, and everyone's been hurt on the Rangers all year. Yep. The Chesty. The good news about Chesty is it was looked horrible. Like they were like, oh, that could be. Yeah, done for the year and he's not going to miss that much time it looks like. But him missing because they got a bunch of games coming up before the Olympic break. Him missing half of those and then, and then Foxy missing like all of them probably. But I thought they were smoked anyway though, you know what I mean? Like I didn't. I was sure they weren't making playoffs. I don't think they're very good. I don't think they're making play. I certainly don't think they're making playoffs now.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, I think the Rangers are dead but they have a great opportunity, I believe. Do you remember what was it? Oh you know what it was. It was the Boston Bruins record breaking year and the Washington Capitals felt as though they were a wild card bubble team. Everyone was like, oh this team might sneak into playoffs. And then boom. They traded Dmitri Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins and everyone went what are you doing? You guys are in a playoff hunt. And they went like this fire sale. Yeah, they went no we are not. Give us picks and assets. And then look at the Caps now. I mean the Caps are struggling now but they were fantastic last year. I believe that they are still likely a playoff team this year. It was good for the trajectory of the Washington Capitals. The New York Rangers in my opinion started their retool last year but there are still many, many things that they can do and I believe now with these injuries, just another sign for this Rangers team. They are poised in an opportunity to sell high with a lot of these players and I think it would be foolish for them not to.

[Chris Powers]

I did, I love this, that that would be, that it would benefit them big time because those decisions are coming. It's not as bad as like the Toronto thing was but those decisions are coming. Get ahead of it dude. Control the narrative, control the story. Get ahead of it right now.

[Dan Powers]

I legitimately, I am not kidding you. I think if I look at this Rangers roster I would straight up go Shiserkin and Adam Fox. Funny that they are both on IR right now. Those two, Gabe Perot and Will Cooley are straight up, probably the only guys that I would say are not available. Everyone else is available. Everyone else and I would go let's, let's, let's get a shake up going on here. Let's finish the retool.

[Chris Powers]

I'm with you dude. Let make it happen. Let's do it. Stamped, approved.

[Dan Powers]

It's unbelievable. Okay, we've got a quick warning in in our hot ice here that we're going to wrap up with just a quick warning. People remember a little while ago we put the Dallas Stars on Fraud Watch. And for any new listeners, Fraud Watch does not mean you are frauds. It means you are on the watch. It means that we are keeping keeping an eye on you to see if we need to call you frauds. And here at the Empty Netters podcast, it often kicks teams into high gear. We put the wings on Fraud Watch twice this year, led to two winning streaks. We put the Stars on Fraud Watch went on a massive rip. The Stars were very leaky when we put them on Fraud Watch and I hate to say it, they appear to be leaky again. They lost 63 last night to the Canes. Seth Jarvis goal in his return. Fuck you, Bill Garon. That is what Seth Jarvis said, not me.

[Chris Powers]

Armstrong.

[Dan Powers]

Armstrong.

[Chris Powers]

Sorry.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, fuck you. Fuck you, Doug Armstrong.

[Chris Powers]

Dude, Billy G take absolute fucking total strays.

[Dan Powers]

I'm mixing up my GMs here. Sorry, I'm all over the place. Thank you. Fuck you, Armstrong. Again, not my words. Also not Jarvis words, but just like kind of what I would guess. Ehlers also eight points in his last four games. He is third on the team in points with 34. After the slow start that we had mentioned, Nikolai Ehlers is absolutely buzzing and that is fantastic to see. But as I mentioned, the Dallas stars give up six goals last game. They including ot losses, they have now lost six in a row and in those six they have given up six. 4, 4, 4, 4 and 4. They are a little leaky again. So we're not going to put them on Fraud Watch because they still remain in second place in the Central in the the Titanus Central Division. And they're lucky because the Kings were able to give an OT or a shootout loss and a loss to the Wild, keeping the Wild below the Stars. So we're not going to put them on Fraud Watch, but we are going to give them a little peepee whack.

[Chris Powers]

And I'll say this, Dan the you just said it about how tight they are with the Wild. If you're Dallas, you got to believe you can beat the Wild. You got to believe you can beat the avs. You know, you got to believe you're a Cup favorite or a Cup contender, but you just don't want that. We joked whoever is going to get two and three in the Central has to play Both right? Like you got to, you got to beat the other team and then you got to play the apps probably. And it feels insane that anyone could catch the apps at this point. So it's probably Dallas, Minnesota and you just want that series at home, dude. You want game seven of that series at home and to blow the lead like the Wild. I had them fucking six, seven, dude. To blow the lead when they were that. And you were like, you know, we're clearly the second best team. And I'm like, are you going to finish third in your fucking division? And it's these big slip ups. And I will say to Otter has been so good and so average this year, back and forth to the point that right before this slip up, we were talking to people, some fans at Winter Classic and shit, being like, that's Otter's net at Olympics, you know, like, he's been fucking incredible. Get hella buck out of there. And then, you know, like, and then these runs happen and you're like, God damn it, dude. So it's, it's, it's tricky.

[Dan Powers]

It's so tricky. And also I get confused by this team because when I look at the Dallas Stars defense having Essa Lindell, Miro Haskin and Thomas Harley and Nils Lindquist on this team in their top two pairings, I and Otter, Annette, I'm like, how are you giving up so many goals so many times in this crazy. I don't get it. So I'm going to need them to tighten it up big time. And they are in a tough situation where they like their cap situation is so interesting. And this team is obviously very, very good, but they're, I think they have negative cap space. Technically when you look at it like their current cap space is like 3.2, but like the projected is minus 1.2. They have not given Jason Robertson a new deal yet. And I'm like, okay, how does this team get better? Because you wonder, like this is something that people, you know, sometimes forget when you are trying to tighten up defensively in a team, if that is one of your weak spots, if you're giving up too many goals, it doesn't necessarily mean defensive ads. Like sometimes it can mean that middle six forwards, those guys who play two way hockey, that can help big time. And you, you wonder with Dallas, like if this, if you add this team, if you have this talent on this with this group and that goaltender and this defensive core, if you lose in the playoffs again because you're giving up too many goals, that is just like so unforgivable. So Dallas PP whack, not fraud. Watch, don't worry. But again, including OT six straight losses, when you are the Dallas Stars, that ain't going to cut it. When Colorado is over here and they've literally not lost in regulation at home like we. If you want to be taken seriously, if you want to be taken seriously and be given a shot, this can't be happening. So that's that. Okay, let's take a quick ad break and then we're going to jump into our mid season awards.

[Chris Powers]

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[Dan Powers]

Jumping into our mid season awards, we're starting with big daddy, the Hart trophy, MVP of the league at our quarter season. Mark CP you went Nate dog.

[Chris Powers]

And I tried to go. I tried to describe it and you kept. You kept. Well, I buzzed myself but you kept. He kept anting me and then I had to get buzzed so I stopped at Nate because you're right, it was insane. Nate was off to the hottest start ever. And I went, Nate.

[Dan Powers]

You did. I went Macklin Celebrini, my son, my blood. Now at the halfway point, Chris, do you want to make your pick first or do you want me to go first?

[Chris Powers]

I'll go first. Actually, you go first because I know what you're going to say.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, do you? Do you? My pick For MVP at the halfway point. You guessed it. No bias here. I'm sticking with Mack. I'm sticking with my son, Macklin Celebrini, through 42 games, 64 points, 23 goals, 41 assists, and he's a plus 15 on the San Jose Sharks. And also, let me tell you this. CP Let me tell you this right quick, right now and talk about something very, very special going on. The San Jose Sharks are what are a wild card team. They're in the playoffs as we speak.

[Chris Powers]

When we were doing quarter season and I was doing my bullshit where I say 10 answers and I was like, yeah, it's also Mac.

[Dan Powers]

The.

[Chris Powers]

I pray to God they give it to him, Dan. And I was just trying to pull this up for you. I don't have the exact stat anymore, but the Mac has. Oh, this is. Oh no, this is this year. How many points does Mack have? I just.

[Dan Powers]

I just said it. MACKLIN Celebrini has 64 points.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. Here we go. Okay. Yeah, got it. Mack has 64 points, dude. Alex Wenberg is next on the Sharks with points. You know how many he has?

[Dan Powers]

I would guess 25, 29.

[Chris Powers]

And they did a gap between highest point on the team, next highest point on the team and Mack leads the league by a mile. Right.

[Dan Powers]

So yes, I pray that would be different. That would be different if Will Smith hasn't had missed so many games. But the facts of the matter are Will Smith, arguably your second best player on the team, is injured. He's injured. And they're. They are in a playoff spot. Mack is still doing what he's doing. To me, this isn't even close. It's legitimately not even close. Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon are doing what they're doing. Absolutely. But again, you look at the talent on the two of their teams, you look at everyone surrounding them, you look at the expectations of the Sharks this year. You look at Macklin's age, the fact that he is only 10, 11 points behind Connor McDavid. He has this San Jose Sharks team in a playoff spot right now. The gap between the first and second place in the points scoring on the Sharks, I think it is such an obvious. Macklin Celebrini is the mvp. I don't even know what we're talking about.

[Chris Powers]

I pray to God they give it to him. I will say the only caveat is they do have to make it. I think if they just miss playoffs and I wonder what your take is on that, but I think if they just miss it's hard to give him mvp.

[Dan Powers]

I disagree passionately. If they just miss and they have a. If they are over.500 and they miss the wild card spot or playoff spot by just a couple of points, like anywhere inside five points. I genuinely don't think that matters.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. And the fact that they're right. It shouldn't. It shouldn't matter.

[Dan Powers]

The fact that they're in it. Yeah. The fact that they're in it is like everything. And what's. What's funny? My big thing, dude. I would love to hear any Edmonton Oilers or Colorado Avalanche fan arguing. Listen, and that's not to say that McDavid and McKinnon are fucking unbelievable and insane. They are. They are fantastic. Both players I love. But I'm talking about in an MVP discussion. I would love to talk to any Avalanche or Edmonton Oilers fan and be like, how can you possibly disagree with this? That's how passionate I am about this.

[Chris Powers]

I love it, dude. So just as another way, I'm changing my pick to McDavid now. I pray Nate scores 70 this year and if he does, they can't take it from him. But the way McDavid, I think they're still a game off maybe. But the way McDavid has come back has more points points than Nate and on in my opinion, a not very good Edmonton team has this Edmonton team which is worse than they've been in a long time. After playing the amount of hockey he's played in the slow start he had, Connor McDavid is about to have 155 point season and take them to first place and, and win and win the Art Ross and I'm going to be like, okay, he did it again and he hasn't had it in a while. I think sometimes they get McDavid fatigue and then now he hasn't won in a little while and then they go back to him. So I'm my Nate, Nate or Mac, please fucking do it because I would love to see a 70 or a Sharks playoff. But I think if McDavid goes 150 burger again there, you can't take it from them.

[Dan Powers]

I love it. Okay, Norris, take it away. Who is your pick? Last picks. You said Kale, I said Zach Warrensky.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

What do you got?

[Chris Powers]

And I am going to. I'm going to go. I'm going to go crazy again because God, it's hard not to just stroke Rensky every chance you get. But the way Lane has gotten, only Lane is six points off the league like league lead for D. He's six points behind Cale, I think. In the same amount of games, I think. And Kale suffers from the fatigue thing like he's the goat. Kale's like the best defenseman in the league and it's amazing. And give it to him every year if you wanted to. But if Lane gets close, if Lane finishes tied with Kale or two points behind Kale for defenseman scoring and the Habs get the one seed, I could see them going. We're giving it to Lane because he just produced the same amount of Kale on a wagon team and he took the Habs to a one seed. I could see it happening. He's six points back right now. I'm interested. Give me Lane.

[Dan Powers]

Lane Hudson. I don't know what the issue is with people and Lane Hudson. I think it's Canadian fans. Like not Canadiens, Canadian in general fans, the country. I feel like if you're not a Habs fan, you just hate him. Like Ottawa fans hate him. The, the, the, the, the discussions on X with Senators fans about Lane Hudson is. They're just like he's a second assist merchant. He's this, he's that. And listen, we've even said things like, I, I think it was the right decision him not making Team usa. Sorry, it is what it is. But it's insane how good the kid is. I mean, he is unbelievable. Genuinely. He is a point machine. It's crazy. Every single time that team scores a goal, Lane is probably going to be on it and that's nuts. Now I will say that team, despite where they are in the standings, that team is so talented. There is so much talent on that Montreal. Canadien seems especially offensive talent. So it's not shocking to me that he is able to produce when he has all of these guys that he's playing with. But that takes nothing away from it. I only bring that up as to say you talked about Cale talent around him. You talked about laying the talent around him. This is no disrespect to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but Zach weren't ski is. Not only is Zach Wenski the Norris winner, still for me, I think this guy should be getting heart votes. He leads the Columbus Blue Jackets in points. He has 16 goals. 16? Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

That's crazy.

[Dan Powers]

At the halfway mark, 29 assists for 45 points. He is, I believe, one point or so behind Kale. What's the, what's the.

[Chris Powers]

He's three behind or three points.

[Dan Powers]

Three points behind Kale. Zach Gurensky is again, no disrespect at the moment, feeling like the only good thing about this Columbus Blue Jackets team and it's the second year in a row. Row where he has been absolutely out of this world for this group. He. He does it every single night and he does it defensively as well. I, I think, you know, we talk about Quinn Hughes all the time. We talk about Charlie McAvoy's importance all time. Zach Rensky is the most important defenseman on Team usa and I don't even think it's a discussion right now with how he's playing and what he is able to do on both sides. We always bitch about the Norris trophy and how we need to. We need an OR trophy and we need a Norris trophy for my money. And I will. I want to say this. Kale Makar does this as well. Kale McCarr is phenomenal at defense. Zach Warrensky is a true Norris Trophy winner to me because he is a great defensive player and obviously a phenomenal offensive player on the board.

[Chris Powers]

If he scores 30 the year after Gale does it for the first time, you know, it'll be so sick. So I'm here for you on that. The only pushback I'll give you is the heart. Because they're so bad last year. I agree. He literally should have been getting heart votes and he. I think he did get some because he played this level D and they were nasty. And like in the playoff run till the, till the death, just being in Dare Bass, I don't think you can be like you're MVP because you're the best defenseman on the team. Literally in dead last.

[Dan Powers]

They are bad. That is very, very true. Okay, moving on to Vesna quarter season. We both gave it to lt. Caps are slipping a little bit right now. We might have a little bit of a switch up. I'm going first. I've got two that I'm going to bring up. I'm not going to do a. I'm not going to pull a U and pick them both. I'm going to pick one, but then I'm going to give some stick taps to the other. Okay, I am going Vassi. I'm going vassi.

[Chris Powers]

Interesting.

[Dan Powers]

Right now everyone wants to forget about Vasilevsky. Everyone wants to say, oh yeah, other guys have, you know, popped up the rankings above him. But Vasilevsky very quietly is just seventh in the league in goals against. And I believe he is 10th in the league in same percentage with 914. And the Bolts are top of the Atlantic with all the ups and downs. But Vassi has just emerged and yet again, he is the workload king. Like, he's just playing so many games for this team and I just think that we have forgotten about him way too often and he is quite, quite good.

[Chris Powers]

It's a cool pick by you, Dan, because he obviously has great numbers, but they're not, he's not even top five.

[Dan Powers]

They're not vassing numbers in anything.

[Chris Powers]

You know what I mean? So it'd be, it'd be a, it'd be a ballsy pick from the voters to be like, whatever, dude. I know it's not the gaudy numbers, but look at what he did. Look at their gold if shit like that. So I kind of respect that. Did you. Do you want to give your flowers too?

[Dan Powers]

I do. And in fact, I'm going to change my answer. I'm just talking about it. I'm just talking about it. My flowers were going to be for my former Calder pick. I think I've got to go to the wall of St. Paul.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

I was going to give flowers to Jesper Walstead. And listen, the big issue, the reason I think I was holding back my other flowers, by the way, are Darcy Kemper. The fact that the Kings are where they are is 100% because of Darcy Kemper. But Wallstead, my issue is he is kind of a tandem. Like, it's, you know, Gus is playing a lot like, you know, it's. He doesn't have as many games as some of these other guys, particularly a guy like Vassi. But at the end of the day, Walstead is so fucking good. I think he's like 11 and 4 on the season and he just made Team Sweden. He like, this guy's out of control. And yeah, I'm changing my pick. Sorry for the premature choice there, but I'm going.

[Chris Powers]

Walstead, get Vassie. You.

[Dan Powers]

Sorry, Vassie.

[Chris Powers]

Sorry, V. I'm going. And Dan, I, you know, it's crazy. If you made me pick like, literally, who do you think wins it by the end of the year? I think I might go. LT still. But if you're handing out mid season awards, which is what I'm doing right.

[Dan Powers]

Now, then we're midseason.

[Chris Powers]

Give me. Yep. Give me Mackenzie Blackwood. I think games, like you just said about the tandem, I think games are going to hurt him in this vote.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Don't forget he barely plays. Olmark won the Vesna the year that he was in a huge tandem with Sway. Man. Swayman played 37 games that year, but Omar's numbers were moronic, so they had to give it to him. Mackenzie Blackwood isn't going to get a lot of games, but I believe. And they should tandem the rest of the way. Wedgwood's also insane, but I believe he's going to get the majority. So he will finish the year with more than half. And right now, dude, he leads the league in goals against by a good margin, by the way. Like, he's at 2. Let me pull this up. He's at 207. I think he is 207. And Wedgwood. Wedgwood is next at 220. So that's like a decent gap there. And then Mackenzie Blackwood's second in the league and save percentage. And on the season, bro, he's 13 and 1. So I'm like, okay, like enough of the AVs lose ever. But Wedgwood has the. All the other. The other three losses, you know, so yeah, it's. Or actually, if you count the overTimes, Wedgwood has seven losses and Mackenzie Blackwood has two. So I'm like, bro, he's lost twice this year. If he plays half the games with these numbers and never fucking loses hockey games, they should give him the Vezna. Even if it's. If it's not as many wins as we normally see with like a hella buck and shit.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, I like that. Okay, going into Calder last quarter season, I had Walstead, you had Beckett, Senake. Now what do you got?

[Chris Powers]

I'm going.

[Dan Powers]

It's.

[Chris Powers]

God, it's hard. Not if he's going to win the Vesna. How do you not do it? But I'm going. Schaefer, I think Demidoff has really stepped it up. And my boy Beckett is. Is nasty. And I think if they really go and maybe hit like a 70 point mark, it could, it could get interesting. But right now it feels like a Schaefer Wall of St. Paul race. Just give me Shafe because with how many goals he has, dude, like actual goals. Not just. And not to chirp Lane again, but not like he has a billion assists. That's why he has so many points. Like, Schaefer is scoring goals from D in the National Hockey League as a fucking 13 year old. And literally what he's done with the team. We've said this in three episodes in a row, but like the actual transformation of the vibes of the New York Islanders is because of one child. And I think for that alone, I think that you got to give it to him.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, I'm. I I appreciate you shouting out Demidov because he. He really is. I mean he's. He's what, three points off of point per game. You know, in his sick dude first tech. In his technical first year in the National Hockey League. That's unbelievable. I just think it's for. Yeah, it's Schaefer or Wall for me again. Walstead's emergence is so undeniable. And I do feel like in our protect our goalies campaign. I also want to respect our goalies. Yeah. And I just don't like as good as Schaefer is. And I still think it probably is Schaefer for everything you just said, particularly the vibes and the fact that he's 13. I don't know how you don't have Walstead in this exact same conversation. I mean like this is this guy's rookie year. He has stolen the starting job from Gus. He. He got on team Sweet. He might steal the starting job from Gus on Sweden too. He probably will.

[Chris Powers]

Correct.

[Dan Powers]

Markstrom just gave up nine goals in a game. Like he's not fucking starting anybody's.

[Chris Powers]

That's everybody's net, Jacob.

[Dan Powers]

So yeah, I. I just think that they are. They are 1A and 1B and they're unbelievable. Okay, Selkie quarter season. I went Nico. He. Sure you went Leo Carlson. Both the Devils and the Ducks are on a big time skid. So halfway mark. I think we're going to the same guy here. So I'll let you take it away.

[Chris Powers]

Give me Team Canada's own Anthony Sorelli. And as much chirping as he got from me, a little bit about making that team, it was more about like the high flying goal scoring that I want in the Olympics, not the Selkie level master class. You know, like, you know what I'm saying? Like I don't want Selkie level master class in the Olympics. And that's just my opinion. But luckily this isn't the Olympics. This is the NHL. And Anthony Cirelli is a Selkie level masterclass center with. I like Nick Suzuki a lot here too, Dan, but just with the way Sorelli plays. And look at. Look at Tampa's gold if. And I know they got great D and they wet vassy and all that stuff, but look at their goal if. And the job he does competing against top top competition is absolutely elite. And you can say it was a Cooper pick all you want, but this is exactly the reason he made the Olympic team. And he's one of the best.

[Dan Powers]

Nothing more to say. My only Addition was going to be giving flowers to Nick Suzuki because he deserves it as well. And also just like, man, the way that he truly does it two ways. Because I like Nick Suzuki is much more productive offensively. And I think that that is, you know, something to be considered a little bit in the selkie, like, if you're really doing it on both ends. A guy like Bergeron, like a guy like Barkov did Jonathan Toews, Kopi, like, that is worth mentioning. And that's why I think Suzuki is definitely in that conversation too.

[Chris Powers]

Honestly, Dan, whoever wins the Atlantic should get it. Like, if. If the house should give it to Suzuki and whoever. If Tampa wins the Atlantic, they should give it to Sorelli.

[Dan Powers]

I fuck with that. Wrapping it up with the Jack Adams coach of the year. I had Coach Q at the quartermark. You had Dan Muse at the quarter mark. Who do you got now?

[Chris Powers]

Let me go. I'll say answer then. I don't want to spoil yours. But then I'll circle back. Give me Rick Talkett. Dan and I have a couple other ones that it could have been, but just to me as surprising. Again, I won't spoil. But as surprising as some other teams have been, the flyers just being 100% in the mixer and. And him getting stuff out of Zekis and getting stuff out of these big players, that is awesome because they have been such a joy. And. And they did. They did this hot start with Torts and then fella that like, wow, dude. The five was ready for the Flyers to fall off a cliff every week. And here we are, the Flyers, looking like a very legitimate playoff team. What a turnaround. Gimme talk.

[Dan Powers]

First year talk. I love it. The other one I'll say is this is not my pick, but you had this mentioned as well. Patrick. Wa deserves some answer, right? Some shouts. But again, I kind of think I give sha. Give Schaefer the Jack Adams. Like, I genuinely. I'm like, I think I put more stock in that.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Than I do. But at the same time, it's like, you see, Barzell is buzzing again. A guy like Heineman scoring as much as he is. Bo Horvat is going better than he has in a long time. WA deserves a ton of love for that. Maybe an obvious one, but I feel like it's crazy that we haven't brought it up. I feel like so often people look at Jack Adams and they go, oh, it's got to be to this overachieving, you know, team that no one expected much of. What about fucking Jared Bednar? I mean, Jesus Christ, man.

[Chris Powers]

This Colorado Avalanche team, Monty won it in 2023.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

This Colorado Avalanche team is in the best division and they have 11 points more than the second place team in their division. Like, it's. They are fucking out of control. They've not lost in regulation at home. At what point do we not given him some love, give him a little bit of a stroke off? Because God damn. God damn. The Colorado Avalanche out of control. You're right.

[Chris Powers]

It will be him if they do this. It will be him.

[Dan Powers]

It has to be. It simply has to be. All right, those are our mid season awards. We're going to take another quick ad break and get into some fun babes. We are talking about the best thing in the world of nicotine. We're talking about Lucy. Lucy is giving you an unbelievable 100% tobacco free premium nicotine pouch experience. You also got the breakers. If you want a little bit of extra flavor. Scientifically crafted, like I said, always tobacco free. Lucy is taking care of your every need. My favorite thing about Lucy, okay, whenever I need a little pick me up. Whenever I need a little bit of relaxation, whenever I need a little bit of focus, Lucy does all of that pop one in in the morning, on my walk to work, when I want to wake up, when I want to get the energy and the creative juices flowing for the podcast, boom. It's a perfect way to do it. When I'm golfing, when I'm birdie hunting and I need to focus, I need to laser in. Boom. Pop in a pouch while I'm on the course. And then, like I've said a bunch of times when I'm chilling at home, have some dinner. Maybe you don't want to have some dessert. Don't want a big full belly before I go to sleep. Want to keep those calories down, stay tight, stay fit. A perfect way to relax, melt on the couch, watch a movie, something like that. Boom. Pop in a Lucy. Also, they've got the best flavors in the game. They've got the mint, they've got the wintergreen. They're fantastic. But the espresso is my jam right now. We're in winter. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love that coffee taste. And that espresso flavor is out of this world. If you like fruity stuff, mango is fantastic. They've got tons to pick from. They've got also the milligram counts to pick from. You can go from 4 if you want to keep it light, up to 8 and up to 12 if you want a little bit harder of a buzz. No matter what your need, Lucy is the best nicotine delivery you can possibly get. The pouches are nice. They got a little bit of, a little bit of thickness, a little bit of weight to them. Doesn't feel like a piece of tissue paper in there. It's just a great experience overall. So here's what you're going to do, folks. We are going to get you Lucy products which is delivering the longest lasting on demand flavor in the game. And you are going to find your store at Lucy Co stores or get it shipped with 20% off on your first order at Luci Co netters using code netters. So make sure you get stocked up with all of these best flavors and nicotine in the game. And Luci products are only for adults of legal age and every customer is age verified. This product contains nicotine and nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Chris Powers]

Daniel, welcome back. The professors took a holiday break. We are now here to provide NHL picks that are automatic winners. There is no Meg Parlay recap and no life on the line Parlay recap to go over. Which means, Daniel, we missed zero games. We missed nothing. Which is, which is fantastic.

[Dan Powers]

Zero misses when gambling is just a fantastic feeling. And we're going to roll that feeling and that momentum into these next picks as we get back into Professor Parlay. Christopher, what are we starting with?

[Chris Powers]

We start, of course, with the Friday Fade. Now, the Friday fade options are Caps at Hawks, Kings at Jets, Blues at Mammoth. Now I hate betting on the Blues. Daniel I'd like to eliminate that one good day.

[Dan Powers]

It's simply been a disaster for us. We can't risk it. We can't. We. It's just something we need to avoid at all costs, always.

[Chris Powers]

So there were two fades screaming at me. The Hawks have been terrible lately. And the jets, the Winnipeggers are in last place. Daniel they're in last place. There was a day that the fade was the team playing the jets because the jets were so good. These days the jets are so bad, they might be the fade themselves.

[Dan Powers]

The Los Angeles Kings are without their captain, Onze Kopitar, who is day to day with an injury. Week to week with an injury, the jets are in last place. They are terrible. They're falling apart at the seams. Therefore, that must be the fade.

[Chris Powers]

Christopher they cannot win, so they must win.

[Dan Powers]

Jets Moneyline Friday Fade simple and easy. Now the Saturday Sally where we pick an anytime goal scorer. In the games on Saturday, McDavid has 17 goals in 34 career games versus the Kings. He scored every other game. That is utterly insane. He has been on fire. Now Also, Sidney Crosby, 13 goals in 23 games versus the Flames. The Penguins are on an all time heater at the moment. Nathan McKinnon. ABS have lost two straight in regulation which we have not seen all season long. After having lost only two in all of 2025, Nate has not scored in either game. They are playing the lowly Blue Jackets. Chris.

[Chris Powers]

Enticing David.

[Dan Powers]

As rich and delicious as the Conor McDavid selection feels. I like Sidney Crosby and I like Nathan McKinnon. To me, Nathan McKinnon being kept off the score sheet this much recently feels like that is the obvious decision. I would like to go Nate Dogg and I would like to lock that in. I as the Saturday celly, no questions asked.

[Chris Powers]

If I was a betting man, which clearly I am, I might go all three. But for the. For the professors, for the lecture today, I might go all three. Daniel. There's a chance. There's a chance. Goodness gracious, man. Goodness gracious.

[Dan Powers]

Calm down.

[Chris Powers]

I was rich in funds. I would bet on all three. But I am not rich in funds. I've had a long Christmas with gift giving in Turkey buying and anti scrooging. I'm low on funds. I will only bet on one. And I like you. Go back to the well. Mr. McKinney's got a billion goals. He'll score a billion goals this year. It feels too easy sometimes. It is too easy. I'm with you. I love Sid, but I'm with you. Let's go. Let us go, Nate. Dog for the win. For the Saturday Sally.

[Dan Powers]

Saturday Sally. Nathan McKinnon. Stick it in your pipe and smoke it by the fire. No questions asked. Now the Sunday hat trick parlay. We have the Devils at Jets. We have the Pens at Bruins, the Caps at Preds, the Jackets at Mammoth and the Knights at Sharks. You feel like they were speaking to.

[Chris Powers]

Me, Daniel, To Music Cities.

[Dan Powers]

You'd like to go to Music City?

[Chris Powers]

Possibly. Do you like that one? The two. There were two. I like the Music City one.

[Dan Powers]

I think I like that one as well. Caps at Nashville Predators. You like the Caps Money Line Caps to sort of. Right. The ship. Maybe the Preds to cool off.

[Chris Powers]

Preds. Preds on a back to back that night, Daniel. A back to back with the Caps arrested. I know it's on road, but the Preds are back to back. The Caps are rested. I like the caps in that case. And I love an under with lt. I love an under you know that.

[Dan Powers]

As you have said, professor sharp as a quill. Preds on a back to back Caps money line. We're doing the under. And you like Tom Wilson point.

[Chris Powers]

I surely do. After a Team Canada selection. I love a point from Mr. Wilson. I watched Castaway last night, Daniel, on cable television. And I screamed Wilson. At the top of my lungs. And he must score. He must. You must score.

[Dan Powers]

Wilson shall be on the score sheet in Music City in Nashville with the under with the caps. Moneyline. That is your Sunday hat trick parlay. Now, one of our favorite segments, we do our Saturday Mega Live on a beach parlay. We shall go through the entire team, starting with Professor Sean. Professor Feeney.

[Sean Buffini]

Rags at Bruins.

[Dan Powers]

Rags.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm just jumping into it. Sorry.

[Dan Powers]

No, I like.

[Chris Powers]

I like that.

[Sean Buffini]

I was very eager.

[Dan Powers]

He is so Rags at Bruins. Professor Feeny, who do you like?

[Sean Buffini]

Definitely the Bruins. Right?

[Dan Powers]

Brilliant. I mean, the rags are the banged up. Everyone's on ltir. How could the Bruins not win that game at home?

[Chris Powers]

Daniel Flames at pence.

[Dan Powers]

I will take the Penguins.

[Chris Powers]

Sir Christopher Jackets at aves. Jackets. Absolutely. Feeny. No, just kidding, Abs. I thought you guys would react to my lunacy.

[Sean Buffini]

I thought there might have been method to your madness.

[Dan Powers]

I was stunned. I was. I was stunned silent. Frankly, I had no idea how to react to that.

[Chris Powers]

Professor Beatty stars at Sharks.

[Sean Buffini]

Stars would be the smart choice, but I'm gonna go Sharks.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my dear, sweet Lord. Festafini. I love it.

[Chris Powers]

Daniel, Ducks. Ducklings at Sabres.

[Dan Powers]

Now, we've taken every single home team so far. And everything about me wants to say that the Ducks will find their flight yet again, but I don't believe they can. I'm taking the Sabres, keeping them on this hot streak.

[Chris Powers]

Canucks at Leafs. Leafs hot. Christopher home team again. Leafs. Professor Feeney Wings at habs.

[Sean Buffini]

Habs for sure. Habs.

[Chris Powers]

Yes, yes.

[Sean Buffini]

Gotta be Habs, right?

[Chris Powers]

Daniel Katz at Sens.

[Dan Powers]

I am, I'm sorry to say, I'm going to break the trend. I will take the Cats. I believe they can take down the Senators.

[Chris Powers]

Incredible. Christopher Boltz at Flyers. I'll go bolts. Professor Feeny sponk at Canes.

[Sean Buffini]

Spunk. Always spunk. Also, you know, canes.

[Chris Powers]

Daniel Hawks at preds.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, dear. I'll take. I'll take the Preds. I think the Preds will get one in there back to back, and I think it will be this one. I'll take the preds.

[Chris Powers]

Lovely. Daniel. Christopher Isles at wild. I will go wild. Professor Feeny Kings at oil.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm going to keep it Local. Go with Kings.

[Chris Powers]

Yes. Professor Viny and Daniel. Blues at nights.

[Dan Powers]

I will take the Knights.

[Chris Powers]

I'll live on a beach parlay. Bruins, Penguins, Aves, Sharks, Sabers, Leafs, Habs, Cats, Bolts, Spunk. Preds, Wild. Kings, Knights. Let's do it one time, boys.

[Sean Buffini]

This is gonna be so bad.

[Dan Powers]

I. I have a absolutely horrible feeling about this one. I can't see this going well for us at all.

[Chris Powers]

Now then, we better write the show with the life on the Line parlay. Dan.

[Dan Powers]

Yes, it is about time that we hit the life on the line parlay. Four games. A four leg parlay. Christopher, what are your. What are your two games?

[Chris Powers]

Okay, my two games game. Leg number one, Blues at nights. And we're going to continue with the rhymes. Blues at night.

[Sean Buffini]

For anyone.

[Dan Powers]

For anyone new here in our life on the line parlay. Chris and I write bits of poetry to amplify the vibes going into this parlay. Take us away, sir.

[Chris Powers]

Blues at night. The Knights lost nine straight. They're due for some wins and I'd love to see another Jack Tuck. Figure it out in the city of sin. Because if you can't beat the Blues, then you suck. Knights. Knights body line.

[Dan Powers]

Fucking hell.

[Chris Powers]

Leg number two.

[Dan Powers]

I put so much effort into mine and yours are so stupid. And yet they're better than mine every time.

[Chris Powers]

Leg number two. Hawks at Preds. The Preds have found their fight and the Hawks are without Connor Bedard. To pick against Nashville tonight would simply make you a moron. Pred's moneyline.

[Dan Powers]

Bloody hell, man. Jesus. All right, well, I'll take it away from there for my picks. There'll be no cannon fire where the air is much higher and the ABS simply cannot be beat. Jackets not a good bet when last place in the Met. Unlike the war, they are doomed for defeat. Cale is a freak and Nate's on a hot streak. The home record will continue to glow. Zack and Krill cannot snipe with woods in the pipes. Might as well just enjoy the snow. AVS Moneyline for the second. With Kopi Day today, I'm sorry to say the Kings will fall to a familiar foe. Sure, they've managed to score a bit more than before, but the Oilers shall deliver a blow. Conor is back on top in the league's top spot, already closing in on 100 points with him and Sidray. We simply cannot deny it will be Edmonton that victory anoints. Oilers life on the line.

[Chris Powers]

Knights Preds. Aves. Oilers. Take it to whatever bank you keep your funds at.

[Dan Powers]

Gringotts bank hopefully, that is your session with the professors. We will go enjoy a few games, and we will see you there.

[Chris Powers]

Thank you to the professors. Those were electric picks for your NHL weekend. Now, boys, I wanted to pick your brains on something. A little not ice action here. I am.

[Dan Powers]

Not ice.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, a little not ice. I'm on my way to the cabin here, and I stop for lunch, and I order a sandwich, a Reuben sandwich. And they go, fries, slaw, side salad. You know, like, what would you like with the Reuben? Yeah, And I go, fries. And they go, done. Fries come. They're delicious. I eat it, get the bill, and it says, Reuben sandwich. You know, however much it was 715 bucks. And then it says, fries, $5. And I'm like, 5. And I have a question. Should fries ever be extra? Like, there are places that are like, do you want fries? They're not included. And I'm like, why are they not included? That is ridiculous. I would like fries. Where are you at on extra money for fries with my fucking sandwich?

[Dan Powers]

In my perfect world? No. Especially at a. At a restaurant, I think, no, they should not be extra. Now, if you're going to a sub shop, a pizza shop or something like that, and they've got sandwiches, subs on the menu, and you go, I'd like some fries, too. And they're like, yeah, it's 350 extra. That makes sense to me. I'm like, yeah, cool. This. This isn't a. This isn't a restaurant with a sandwiches and burger section. I think that makes sense. If you go to. If you go to Jersey Mike's and you get a bag of chips, that's extra, that makes sense to me. If you're at a restaurant where it sounds like you were. That has a sandwiches and burgers section of the menu, I mean, you're getting a Reuben, that. That feels like a side should be included and it should not be extra. I think that that is really tough, especially if they said to you, would you like fries? Coleslaw, side salad? And then they don't go, by the way, this is $5 extra. That's something that you should be told.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. By the way, you can't pay rent this month because you have just been fleeced by the side of fries. That's how I felt.

[Sean Buffini]

I feel like if I. If I order. If I. If I order my. My. My entree sitting down, I expect the fries to be included. And if I order it standing up, then I'm expecting to pay more for fries.

[Dan Powers]

That is.

[Chris Powers]

That's really good.

[Dan Powers]

Sean. Really, John, that is such a good way to determine whether or not your fry should be included. Chris, where did you order this sandwich?

[Chris Powers]

I don't know if I should blast them. I actually don't even know if I know the fucking name. It was.

[Dan Powers]

No, no, no, no, no. Oh, oh, sorry, sorry. I meant where in your physical body were you standing on your feet or were you sitting on your butt?

[Chris Powers]

Butt in seat, Dan. Butt in seat.

[Dan Powers]

Then that's. Hey, this is hogwash. This is hogwash, friends, that those fries should have been included with the sandwich.

[Sean Buffini]

I do also love that. It's like this is where Chris starts to take an interest in economics. It's like, I mean, the last last few years have been nothing to him. But yeah, not included.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, listen, you got to pick your battle. Sometimes you have to figure out what really drives you up a tree. And this, this one, is that for you?

[Chris Powers]

So, so how much if I'm standing, Sean and Dan, if I'm standing and you're expecting to pay for fries, how much are fries in your mind?

[Dan Powers]

Okay. Can I, can I get in here? Yeah, I think if we're, if we're at an establishment that sells sandwiches, subs and the like, and you are standing, I believe there should be two portions. I think fries with your sandwich should be 350. I think fries as a side should be a little bit more fries and it should be $5.

[Sean Buffini]

I agree with that. I think that that's pretty good. Pretty good rule. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Right. I think if you're getting it as a side for your sandwich or your meal, it should be a bit of a smaller portion and it should only be 350.

[Sean Buffini]

Also, like, I'll pay more. I'll pay like a dollar more if it's like garlic fries or truffle fries additional to that.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, like curly fries.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, but for like, for basic fries, like, I think 350 is fine.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, agree. Actually, I'm going to take back what I just said. I think if you add to something like a truffle or a garlic parm or cheese, we need a little bit extra. But if you are a place that has fries, tater tots, curly fries, I think those should all be the same price. You're just picking your different version of fried potatoes.

[Sean Buffini]

Are fries always your. Your ghost go to or like, would you prefer like Tater Tots?

[Dan Powers]

I. Chris, I know, is a big tots guy.

[Chris Powers]

I'm the top God, Sean. I'm the tot God every time.

[Dan Powers]

He is truly a tot God, that is. That is very true.

[Sean Buffini]

You are kind of dirty. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Well, he's a thot God and a tot God. Chris. Chris himself is a thot. He's also a tot. I am a sweet potato fry guy. I'm also a curly fry guy. A nice kind of spicy.

[Sean Buffini]

In Ireland, they used to have curly fries at McDonald's, and they were the best. They were the best.

[Dan Powers]

They took them away.

[Sean Buffini]

They took them away during COVID That's the one thing that I can't get over from COVID is that they took McDonald's, got rid of their curly fries, and never brought them back.

[Dan Powers]

Why in the world. You know what I bet? I bet people were. I bet people were buying the curly fries to taste if they. Or to check if they had taste and smell still.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. And you know, if they're buying them, they had good taste to begin with.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

But, like, nobody gets them.

[Dan Powers]

That's devastating.

[Sean Buffini]

It's horrible. And then when I came to the US and I went to McDonald's here for the first time, and I ordered curly fries, and they were like, what kind of crack are you smoking? Like, there's no curly fries. There has never been curly fries.

[Dan Powers]

We've never had.

[Sean Buffini]

I've never felt more betrayed in my entire life.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, that's horrible.

[Chris Powers]

I'll tell you what, try Arby's.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, Arby's has phenomenal curly.

[Sean Buffini]

I still haven't been to Arby's yet. I got to try.

[Dan Powers]

Listen, I'm a.

[Sean Buffini]

Posters look kind of gross.

[Dan Powers]

You know what? I actually. I grew up loving Arby's, and I think it's. We're from New England, and, like, a North Shore beef. Roast beef is a big thing in New England, in Massachusetts in particular. So I think we just inherently loved roast beef sandwiches, and Arby's thus became a great spot for us. I will admit, in my later age, if you've never been to Arby's and you're looking at the advertisements and the posters and that fat slab of roast beef from a fast food restaurant, you're kind of like, I don't know if I want this, but I'm here to say I still.

[Chris Powers]

But you do. You do want it. You do want it. It's incredible.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. I promise. You do want it. They're fantastic.

[Sean Buffini]

It looks like the kind of place that, like, names their sandwiches, like, the Heart Clogger and stuff like that, because everything just looks so greasy and disgusting that I can never bring myself to go into one.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, listen, they're worth it. You got to do it. So, CP I think our final answer. I mean, brilliant call by Sean. If you order on your feet, you need to pay extra for fries. If you are seated, they need to come with the meal and.

[Chris Powers]

No, I'm with you, Dan. I want the same price for regular, curly and sweet potato and tots. If you want to do the truffle and whatever, garlic parm. Fine. A dollar additional. Last thought. If you're sitting, what should they come with automatically? Obviously, burger. Obviously. Any sandwich. But do they come with anything else? Or is that greedy?

[Sean Buffini]

Not, like pasta or something. That would be weird.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Powers]

But, like, if I got. If I got. If they have a sub on the menu. Like, if I'm in a restaurant that has sandwich paninis and a sub and I get the sub, I'm like, all the meatball sub. Do they go, you don't get fries with this, you loser?

[Dan Powers]

No, I think if. If you're seated, I think. I think something better come with the sandwich. But again, I think. I think if I'm seated at a restaurant with a sandwich burger section, a meatball sub would be kind of crazy, but maybe it'd be more of an artisanal one. It's a small. It's a shorter roll. Maybe some sesame seeds on it, maybe a little toasted. Just to add. If I'm sitting at a restaurant and I order a sandwich or a burger and aside is not a part of that order, I am. I am slightly affronted. I feel. I feel betrayed. I feel offended whenever.

[Sean Buffini]

When. Honestly, like, whenever I order a burger and it's like more than $9 and it comes by itself, I feel like I've been scammed.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, completely agree. Feels like something that a ski resort does.

[Sean Buffini]

Yes, right.

[Dan Powers]

You know, they go, oh, by the way, nothing's included with this. And I'm like, of course. Or like an airport.

[Sean Buffini]

I love how I so enthusiastically said yes, but I've never been to a ski res. I was like, yeah. And I'm like, I don't have ski resort money.

[Chris Powers]

I hate that.

[Dan Powers]

But that is true. That is true.

[Chris Powers]

Tender basket comes. No fries. And I'm like, what, dude?

[Dan Powers]

I mean, that is. There is no world where you've ever ordered a tender basket that doesn't come with fries. Like, I think a tender basket. The inclusion of the word basket in the order means fries come with it. And if they don't, we can't get. We can't get on tenders. Again, you're getting a knuckle. Sandwich. In return, if I order a tender basket and fries aren't in it, you're getting a knuckle sandwiches payment.

[Chris Powers]

Jesus Christ. All right, let's play a game. Dan. Let's play a game and get everyone out of here.

[Dan Powers]

Hell yeah. Let's do it.

[Chris Powers]

Okay, this game for the new listeners. In our Thursday episode, we always play a game. A little trivia style game at the end. This one is called Connective Tissue, where I give you a bio of two NHL players and their names meet in the middle. So it can be Steve Scott, Steven Stamkos, or as in Scott Stevens and Stephen Samkos. It can be Brandon Carlo and Logan Couture. Brandon Car. Logan Couture. As to get spicier. And are you ready, Dan?

[Dan Powers]

I sure am.

[Chris Powers]

Okay. I was drafted 35th overall in 2016 and I won a world junior gold medal in 2018. I didn't make my NHL club until the following season, but I've been there ever since. I made the all star game in 2022 and won the fastest skater competition. Then I was drafted 49th overall in 2015 and won a world junior gold medal in 2016. I also made my NHL club in 2018-19 and have been there ever since. I've, shockingly never made an All Star Game despite being one of the most respected centers in the league who is always in the selkie conversation. Now I have hints for both.

[Dan Powers]

Dan, give me that second player again.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. I was drafted 49th overall in 2015 and won a world junior gold medal in 2016. I also made my NHL club in 2018-19 and have been there ever since. I've shockingly never made an All Star Game despite being one of the most respected centers in the league who is always in the selkie conversation. Similar age.

[Dan Powers]

First guy. First guy. First guy.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. Drafted 35th overall in 2016, won a world junior gold medal in 2018. I didn't make my big NHL club until the following season, but I've been there ever since. I made the all star game in 2022 and won the fastest skater competition. And that is his only All Star appearance, by the way. And let me know when you want a hint for either one and that the hint's not a total giveaway. So you know, it'll be okay. Both guys have only played for one NHL team their whole careers.

[Dan Powers]

I think I know the first guy. Okay, I think I know the first guy because of the fastest skater.

[Chris Powers]

I actually forgot he won. Fast skater. That was really surprising to Me. Not that I didn't know he was fast. I do. But I was like, oh, shit, I forgot you won this.

[Dan Powers]

I don't want to fuck. Have we ever fucked this up? If the first guy is who I think it is, then I feel as though the second guy can only be one human based on his last name.

[Chris Powers]

Then you probably.

[Dan Powers]

I'm going to. I'm going to go ahead and say I don't have a clue on the second guy.

[Sean Buffini]

All right.

[Chris Powers]

You want the hint on the second guy?

[Dan Powers]

No. Well, actually, let me say this is the first guy. Currently coached by a dear friend of ours.

[Chris Powers]

Yes, he is.

[Dan Powers]

Okay, then give me a. I don't even think I need a hint because I genuinely don't think there's another human being who could fit this. Fit the name.

[Chris Powers]

It's great. It's. If I allow. If I can stroke myself off, it's great.

[Dan Powers]

It's really great. If it's okay, I'm just going to guess because I don't think there's anyone else.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

Okay. I believe our player is Jordan Kyrupe. Hints.

[Chris Powers]

That is exactly correct. Dan.

[Dan Powers]

Is it okay?

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Hell, yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Yes, dude. Cairo and Rupe. Hints. Jordan Cairo. Pay. Hints. The hint was I've never won a cup, even though my team has been one of the favorites for the last five years. And I've played in one final. And I think you. I think you would have got that.

[Dan Powers]

That was special. That was really, really special. All right. That was a special episode as well. Huge thank you from all of us. Take those picks to the bank, folks. The Professors, if you're new here, the Professors are on a heater. We're batting about 50, 500. We're hitting at 50% all season long on all of these picks, so make sure that you join in with us on those into the weekend, guys. Go to the merch store. Grab some merch. If you like, subscribe to the YouTube, follow us on all the socials. We love you. We love you. We love you. Have an amazing weekend of hockey. Have an amazing weekend of life. And when you do so, make sure to do one thing above all else.

[Chris Powers]

Skate hard.

[Allie Jackson]

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[Chris Powers]

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[Dan Powers]

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[Chris Powers]

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[Dan Powers]

Will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing.

[Chris Powers]

They'Ve got safety well in hand.

[Dan Powers]

Call 1-800-granger clickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.