Every Team In The NHL Has A New Goalie and Now Canada Wins A Cup

Summary

Empty Netters Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Every Team In The NHL Has A New Goalie and Now Canada Wins A Cup
Date: July 3, 2026
Hosts: Dan Powers, Dr. Evan Watkins, CP (Chris Powers)
Podcast: Empty Netters (Almost Friday Media)

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Episode Overview

In this lively, freewheeling summer episode, the Empty Netters crew digs into the wildest NHL offseason in recent memory, with seemingly every team making a major move—especially in goal. The hosts whip through blockbusters, big signings, and shocking trades, focusing on dramatic goalie swaps, Canada’s changing Cup hopes, and the intense ripple effects for teams from Toronto to San Jose. Injecting their signature humor, brotherly banter, and sharp hockey insights, they spin off into summer shenanigans, pop culture rants, and a 4th of July-fueled spirit of sporting bonhomie. Expect plenty of hot takes, an unsparing Fraud Watch, and the classic “blind ranking” segment—this time, barbecue sides.

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Key Discussions & Segments

1. Stadium Atmosphere, International Soccer & Singing in Sports

[00:24–06:18]

• CP describes attending a US-Bosnia soccer match, marveling at the coordinated fan sections and the electric singing culture—a departure from the reserved style of most North American crowds.
• The group riffs on the need to import more coordinated chants and traditions from global soccer, especially player-specific songs.
• Memorable moment:
  “If there is one thing we need to take from international soccer, it’s the songs. ...US fans don’t sing at all.” – Dan [03:26]

2. Red Card Debate & Rules in Soccer

[06:19–11:11]

• Heated discussion about a controversial red card: Was it intentional? Is the punishment fair if a player is suspended for the next game even if the foul wasn’t malicious?
• NBA’s flagrant system proposed as a model for soccer’s disciplinary process.
• Notable quote:
  “This is your classic lose-lose. ...Why didn’t someone walk in between Bob and the Panthers and go, whoa, stop, stop.” – CP [31:19]

3. Summer Vibes & 'Missing Person' Thought Experiment

[13:14–21:45]

• Inspired by news of a natural disaster blackout, the question: would you ‘milk’ being “missing” if you were safe, just to go off-grid for a bit?
• Hilarious stories about being “missing” as kids and the old-school “milk carton kids.”
• Notable quote:
  “One of my dreams was to get on a milk carton someday... that would be so sick.” – CP [21:16]

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NHL Offseason Frenzy – Team-by-Team Breakdown

4. Florida Panthers: Risk, Loyalty, and the Goalie Dominoes

[21:50–35:22]

• Gutis returns on a ‘Marshy-style’ long-term, low-AAV contract (5 yrs, $1.5M); depth filled out with Lars Eller, Sam Lafferty, Johnny Beecher.
• Panthers’ shock: let Sergei Bobrovsky walk; trade for Jacob Markstrom (2 yrs, $6M), effectively swapping aging elite tenders.
• Debate: Did agents overplay Bob’s hand? Did Zito just “call the bluff”?
• Quote:
  “They have a Stanley Cup team here and I need a goalie. ...Bob’s camp was like, ‘Oh fuck me.’” – Dan [29:36]
• Callback: “Agents are a problem. ...If there was just a simple conversation between two human beings, they would have figured this out.” – Dan [33:43]

5. Toronto Maple Leafs: Bobrovsky Era Begins

[35:22–41:39]

• Bobrovsky signed for 3 yrs, $7M. Did the Leafs overpay for hope, or is this the cup window?
• Multiple key signings: Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul—now stacked at forward, but over cap.
• Trade rumors: Morgan Rielly, Matthew Knies as possible cap casualties.
• Quote: “If they get playoff Bobrovsky, you’re telling me the Leafs can’t make a legitimate run? They can.” – CP [36:31]

6. Edmonton Oilers: The Wire-to-Wire Bet & Massive Cap Win

[45:39–50:12]

• Darnell Nurse’s full contract shipped to San Jose; Oilers suddenly have $7.2M in cap space after years of being boxed in.
• New goalie tandem: Freddie Andersen and Tristan Jarry.
• Prediction: “Oilers and Leafs are the two best teams and it’s going to be a fun fucking year.” – CP [47:11]

7. San Jose Sharks: All-In On Cap Floor?

[61:43–66:40]

• Signed Nurse (full cap hit) and Truba (4x$8.25M), loaded up on Marchment, Sherwood for term.
• Discussion: Risky to hand out term to hit the floor when so many big young contracts loom.
• Quote: “Be careful with some of these contracts... has Greer been killing it, or has Greer been really lucky?” – Dan [63:17]

8. Philly, Montreal, LA, Rangers, Mammoth, Detroit, Tampa, Vegas, and More

[51:23–76:42]

• Flyers, Montreal, and Buffalo lauded for “quietly” superb cap/contract management.
• LA’s approach: older depth, smart-style signings, plus cap-circumvention via bonuses for Zuccarello.
• Rangers praised for shoring up the blue line with Derzy, Pettersen signings.
• Mammoth make playoff-pushing trades.
• Detroit’s Larkin situation remains unsolved; Arvidsson signing seen as underpriced for his impact.

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9. Major Unresolved Trade Rumors & What’s Next

[73:14–88:50]

• Dylan Larkin’s formal trade request; speculation that Minnesota or Boston are likeliest to land him, with Vegas losing ground due to cap.
• Hellebuyck’s market appears limited to Buffalo, Carolina, and New Jersey.
• The Zach Werenski 'trade request' drama—walks back his position after off-season reflection, opts to stay in Columbus.
• Quote (on Werenski):
  “I don’t think he ever even made close to a formal demand. ...It just got blown out of proportion.” – Dan [83:26]

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Rapid-Fire & Summer Segments

10. Fraud Watch

[91:13–109:26]

• Evan: Jeff Bridges and AI music (Suno) on Fraud Watch for claiming computer-generated art is “making” art.
  “You can’t be an Academy Award winner running around here talking about a song you made, but you just made it with AI.” – Dan [96:10]
• Dan: Live music in bars—especially “unexpected” bands during dinner/hangout hours—is a vibe killer.
• Chris: Daylight savings / Clock system—airing out a late-night theory that mornings are overrated and daylight should always extend into the evening.

11. Top Hits – Things They’re Fired Up About

[109:26–118:34]

• Chris: Grass volleyball—calling for a movement back to classic yard/barbecue volleyball tournaments.
• Evan: Radio Garden app, a free resource for streaming global radio stations—nostalgic for the internet of free, open content.
• Dan (main event): 4th of July and the World Cup collision—a uniquely joyous, inclusive atmosphere where US cultural pride is recast as a sharing experience with the world.
  • Quote: “This Fourth of July is about sharing. ...If you are an international person and you see me on the 4th, come up and party with me.” [116:18]
  • Memorable moment: “We are now hosting the biggest tournament in sports on the 4th of July on the 250th anniversary. ...Make it an international day.” [118:50]

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12. Blind Ranking: 4th of July Barbecue Sides

[121:14–130:33]

• Potato salad (underrated staple, must be homemade), grilled corn on the cob (messy but essential), chips and dip (French onion, buffalo, variety is king), baked beans, and “veggie skewers” (last place).
• Notable aside: Demand for pasta salad recipes—homemade versions remembered as “knock your dick clean off” level good.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Bobrovsky/Florida:
  “Agents are a problem... if there was just a simple conversation between two human beings...” – Dan [33:43]
• Toronto’s Cup Hope:
  “If they get playoff Bobrovsky... the Leafs could be awesome next year.” – CP [36:31]
• Oilers’ Transformation:
  “The Oilers were dead in the water, and now I’m like, you are the cup favorites.” – CP [50:12]
• 4th of July Spirit:
  “This Fourth of July is now about... sharing. That's what it's all about.” – Dan [116:19]
• Fraud Watch (Live Music):
  “Unexpected live music in bars—if there isn’t space for dancing, you can’t have live music.” – Chris [101:31]
• Lighthearted banter on AI music:
  “We're not making pencils here... If you remove people from that process, then what's the point?” – Evan [95:58]

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Language & Tone: Relentlessly informal, brotherly roasting, yet full of genuine insight and honest, well-supported hockey opinions.
• Structure: Segue-heavy, sometimes careening from lightning-fast trade recaps to heartfelt social commentary, always returning to the theme of sports as a force for fun and community.
• Utility: Even for non-listeners, the summary captures the core storylines in the NHL offseason, injects cultural flavor, and provides memorable fan barstool fodder.

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Listen For:

• Goalie carousel fallout: Why every contender is gambling on aging stars.
• Culture in sport: What North American hockey and soccer can steal from each other’s fanbases.
• The new magic of 4th of July: World Cup as “healing,” celebration as cultural “sharing.”
• Summer vibes: The case against live music at your favorite bar and the craving for a little Rockwellian grass volleyball.

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Skip If:

• You want pure analysis—the heart of the episode is community, summer, and the joys/weirdness of hockey fandom.
• You are allergic to tangents or friendly pod chaos.

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Next Episode:
Stay tuned for “Fraud Watch” and “Top Hits,” more mega signings/trades, and special guest interviews post 4th of July.

Until then: Skate hard.
— The Empty Netters

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.

[B]

Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman.

[A]

Jumbo loves playing Fortnite.

[C]

So does he.

[A]

Gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the saunacycle or was that all you did?

[B]

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

[A]

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep.

[C]

Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few Guinnesses.

[B]

Ran into you guys.

[A]

And that's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready. And we're back with another episode of the Empty Nerves podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I am your host, Dan Powers. We got Dr. Watkins on the sticks. We got CP fresh off of a seven hour drive back from San Francisco watching the US dog walk Bosnia and Herzegovina. But also shout out to all the Bosnians and the Herzegovinans for an unbelievable tournament and an unbelievable game. You met some cool people as always.

[B]

Yeah, dude. And Locks promised me that there would be no Bosnians or Herzegovinans there because he said, this is a USA game in the USA and it's gonna be a packed house.

[A]

Why would you trust the least traveled man, you know?

[B]

And then he was dead wrong.

[A]

Yeah, dude. Of course there are amazing fans there.

[B]

I bet it was actually sick. I think that it's cool that I don't know how this works really or where it's advertised or something. But I think it's cool that when stadiums go, everyone rooting for this team is sitting here.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And again, I don't know how that happens. Like, aren't they just buying tickets? They go online and go, I would like to buy a ticket.

[A]

It's similar to that thing that happened recently. It's the like when you buy online, it puts in your credit card information, shows your address, if you will.

[C]

So if you have like the bank of Bosnia.

[A]

Truly. And it does it with like out of town fans. Like if you. If you're trying to buy tickets to an. To a game at Fenway and like you have a New York zip.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's like, here are the tickets that are available to you. But I think, well, dude, Ted Lasso explains it. Yeah. In season one, when Rebecca is still anti Richmond.

[B]

Yeah. And anti Ted.

[A]

And a little bit anti Ted Higgins is like, hey, we haven't sold out all of our tickets for the final game of the year against Man City. And she's like, release them to the away fans. And he's like city fans will scoop those up. It'll be a sea of sky blue in our sand. She's like, good. And he's like, dude, fuck off. Like, no, we don't need away fans in here. So like you can literally in your systems release fans to away fans tickets to away fans.

[B]

Interesting, because I would like to, I might make this a passion of mine.

[A]

Yeah, I think it's so cool. Did you see the overhead shot in the Norway game of the Norway row? And it's, it's. I mean you're literally looking at the Norway section and it is a, it's a full on wave of red jerseys and they're all doing the row together. And it's, you know, it's how when you go to LAFC games, it's unbelievable that I'm using LAFC as an example for this, but there is like the superfan section, like, you know, it's, it's. I think it's awesome.

[B]

We should definitely too. I know this is pretty common take, but we should be singing more.

[A]

Oh, brother. It is. If there is one thing that we need to take from international soccer, it is the, the, the songs there. And it's so cool when you buy, I mean, you know this. When you buy new players and you are a fan of a club team, the super fans start writing songs for the new players and there's like new themes every year. And it's just fucking amazing because we

[B]

not only were or this isn't a not only, but also situation, but I'll say these two things. We, as in the US fans don't sing at all. At this particular game I was at, there was the occasional smattering of a USA chant, but that was it. There was no, you know, constant hype. And I know it's a lot, it's a lot of work, but in college

[C]

football fans, you gotta coordinate, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It's like you gotta know what you're gonna do going in.

[B]

And this was a fun wrinkle or a funny wrinkle more than it was fun. When you go to, when you go to a Premier League game, for example, and even if you despise the other team and all their fans are singing songs making fun of your guys, that's my guy. It's still funny and fun because I can understand them. They're singing in English and I'm like, that's a cool song. That was a clever song.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Going to international World cup games is funny because the Bosnia fans were beasts and their section was epic. And they were fucking jumping and singing the whole time. But they were just singing stuff that. I have literally no idea what they were saying, obviously. Cause it's in another language. And I was like, I bet that song's awesome.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I bet something really funny is being said.

[A]

For sure.

[B]

But you just have no clue. You're just in this international game. Like, sounds sick.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You just kind of go, yeah. All right, cool. Talking shit about you. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I love it.

[A]

It's so cool. God, I love it. I love this tournament so much. It's so freaking fun.

[B]

We beat their ass, too.

[A]

We did.

[B]

Oh, my God. Dude, it was crazy. They didn't even touch the ball.

[A]

Yeah, but they're a great team, Ed. And Jekyll's electric.

[B]

Dude, did he tear his Achilles?

[A]

I hope not, but.

[B]

Cause we're, you know. Dude, you get 0.0 information at soccer games.

[A]

I know.

[B]

No replays.

[C]

No.

[B]

Like, here's what happened. Like, when Ballo took the red, the ref was like this red card.

[A]

We were like, you guys were texting me. When we go back on hold the phone, I'm going to sit and pout that I didn't get to go. But you were being like, what happened? And I was just like, oh, yeah. You guys aren't seeing anything. You're not getting any replays. You're not getting any information. That is tough. But it's also like, you're in it.

[B]

You're in the bat.

[A]

You're in the fight.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

You know, you're. You're basically on the pitch, but I

[B]

just saw him immediately kind of grab his lower leg.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then in the 49th minute, it'd be like, sub. And I was like, oh, no, let's.

[A]

Let's talk about that red card.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It was a red card.

[B]

I disagree.

[A]

It was a red card. It's. It's. Here's the thing that sucks. I think my issue, my larger issue is the rule. Because there are a couple of ways for a red card. One, if there is momentum and action that has a intent to harm or malicious intent or anything like that. Straight red.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

If also, it is a straight red. If you do a play regardless of intent, that puts a player in danger. That play did do that. I mean, if you look at the freeze frame, it is studs up along the back of his leg, rakes down and stomps his ankle like that. There is a freeze frame where his ankle is fucking. We got a 90 degree angle.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[A]

So it's like that. That is the Situation where you look at that and I'm like, it's a red car, dude. And the way I kept looking at it is if I were a Bosnian fan, I would be screaming. I'd be like, that is a fucking. You're down one nothing. You're playing a better opponent. Like, you need that. The one thing I think sucks and is dumb about the rule, and this is like Rebecca Lowe talked about this after the game. It's like you. You have to be able to implement common sense as the VAR officials and be like, dude, don't give him a red there because now he misses next game. And that is clearly not an offense that deserves to miss next game. That's where the rule needs to change for me. Like, I genuinely. If they were like, this is a red card and he sent off for this match, but he's not missing the next match, I would have gone like this. That is 100. That is totally fair. It's exactly the result that should happen. Because it does suck if you go, I'm putting in common sense here and going, this is not malicious enough for him to have to miss next game. So no red card. It's just a yellow card. You then have the other side being like this. But that offense should make him removed from this game, which is also true.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

It's just a brutal situation.

[B]

Yeah. I think that the easy solve is the rarely do I think the NBA gets something right. But it's flagrant one, flagrant two. Like, that is a flagrant one, red card. You are out the rest of this game and that's it. Flagrant two, red card is you're out the rest of this game.

[A]

I completely agree. That's what it should be.

[B]

So that's what it should be. I also will slightly push back on this isn't what happened, but I think if I went like this, if I was running backwards to get back in the play, and then as I took my next backwards running step, someone on Bosnia was stepping behind me and I raked down the back of his leg and then his ankle went to a 90 degree angle. I would go, that is not a red card. Because I'm like, I didn't even see you there. And I think people are like, it is.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

But his ankle's in danger.

[A]

I don't think.

[B]

That's not what happened.

[A]

Yeah, okay, okay, okay, okay.

[B]

There's a version of that exact injury happens. That is not a red card. Can we agree on that? Like, there's a way. There's a malicious way, which is A horrible red card. And there's a version where exactly that thing happens to someone's leg, and it's not a red card.

[A]

I think I'm confused. No, no, no. Don't laugh at me. But like, you. You were saying a play where someone's literally running backwards and, you know, I'm

[B]

just saying, forget my example. Okay.

[A]

That act that we just saw.

[B]

Nope. A foot going down the back of someone's leg and then snapping his ankle into 90 degrees.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's a sliding scale of how that happened to that player. One of them is someone came flying in like this. Yep. And tried to kill them.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

One of them is. It was a literal, complete accident.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

This version of the accident isn't a red card, in my opinion. I think some people go, yes, it is. It does not matter how or why it happens.

[C]

No, no.

[A]

I think anyone who would disagree with that is just, like, totally wrong.

[B]

So there's a scale in here, and in my opinion, that act was still on the scale of, like. There was literally no intent to land on his leg. He's falling off balance. His foot is just coming down so he doesn't fall into a split.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

It happens to land on someone's leg.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

That's what. That's what I think happened.

[A]

Yeah. I think it was a little too. Flo was facing the play. He made an active. Like, he was trying to make a

[B]

tackle on the ball at first, and then I think he just gets knocked out of the way. Now he's just landing. Like, he has no idea where that foot's coming down.

[A]

But I think that. That the. The rule book would argue that, like, you got to be in control of your body because he does make a move, and then he gets a little out of control. Either way, it sucks. It's awful. He should not be missing the next match. And frankly, I'm gonna need government officials to get involved. Agreed. Like, we can't appeal it, but I'm like, but maybe we can, dude. How about this? Maybe we can. Maybe we go to every manager of every nation in the World cup and go, what do you guys think about this? Should he have to miss next match? And I bet that's interesting. I bet the Bosnian manager would also go, no, he should not. If it's a unanimous. Every manager in the World cup goes like this. No, he should not mix next match, then let him back in.

[B]

What about. Would you respect if the Belgian manager went like this?

[A]

Let him play, dude. Not only would I respect it, I would fucking stand and Salute him. I would be like, you're a hero,

[B]

Evan. One time when we were in college, we would go to the beach, you know, all summer.

[A]

This is. How did I fucking know you were gonna tell this story?

[B]

And there was a group of. We were like 20 something, I guess, and there was a. Of young kids that were just like us 10, 15 years ago, you know, that would just rip the same beach, right? And we would always be there and they'd be with their parents and we'd be hanging out. And then at some point during the day, like one of the kids would always come up to us and be like, you guys want to play football or soccer or whatever? And we'd be like, hell yeah. We would just play and it would be so fun. And their parents always like, thank you so much. And I was like, our pleasure, dude. Like, this is, this is amazing. And we'd always. They always wanted to do them versus us. So it's like 10, 10 year olds versus 10, 20 year olds in. 22 year olds in football, you know, so we would just like play to make it fun, you know.

[C]

You'd beat the shit out of them.

[B]

Yeah. And there was one day where they threw. We would draw lines and this one kid threw a pass 10, 15 yards out of bounds. And since I knew it was so far out of bounds, I ran over and picked it off and I pretended to like toe tap. And I was like, that's a pick.

[C]

I'm in bounds.

[B]

Just cause I wanted to rile them up.

[C]

Ye.

[B]

And the kids are immediately like, you're 20 yards out of bounds. Like everyone's screaming. And I do the quick mental math to count numbers and I realize there's six of us and seven of them. So I go, okay, fine, we're doing a vote. Everybody hands up right now. If you think that was inbounds. And I look at all my boys and we all raise our hand and one little kid goes, aw. And I was like, oh no.

[A]

It's unbelievable.

[B]

Just swung.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

We were like.

[B]

I was like, yo, dude, dude, that

[C]

kid wanted to be your friend so bad.

[B]

So bad.

[C]

So bad.

[A]

He was just. He was a man of honor and. But it was like, but you're wrong, dude.

[B]

I was like, three parking lots out of bounds, you know? He was like, yeah, I think he was in. I was like, oh, buddy, that's cute. It was amazing.

[A]

It was absolutely crazy. All right, folks, we got some fun topics today. As we've told you, Thursday eps now, especially during the summer, can be a little more free Flowing a little more fun. Doing some random stuff. Obviously tons has happened in the NHL with trades, free agency. We're going to speed round through all that hitting on all the major topics. Don't worry, it's going to be plenty of hockey talk. We're getting into a new season segment on netters called Fraud Watch and Top hits. That's going to be an absolute blast. We got a blind ranking. Some other fun stuff. I do have one thing for you guys that I want to talk about before we get jump into all the crazy signings. You've seen the news of this earthquake in Venezuela?

[C]

No, I have. Yeah. It's horrible. Horrible. A lot of people passed away.

[A]

Yeah, horrible earthquake in Venezuela. A lot of people have passed away. A lot of people are missing. Still missing. So everyone remember this is a fun comedy, light hearted show. We are not making light of that situation whatsoever. It's tragic and we hope everyone who is missing is returned safely and healthy. Yeah, it's awful. I did get me thinking. This is a topic that is completely separate from the earthquake. Okay, let's make that clear.

[C]

But inspired by.

[A]

Inspired is a thought that it was inspired by. Let's say something happened. Let's say there was a, like a blackout. Like a, like an EMP went off

[C]

and all the electricity went dead. Like all the movies in the 90s said, what happened?

[A]

Let's say you guys were like on a trip and an EMP thing happened. There was a blackout and it was a situation where some people weren't accounted for and you saw like your phone is off.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Credit cards aren't working. But then things come back online and you see Chris Powers, Dr. Evan Watkins, missing.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Would you like, would you milk it for a couple days? Stay off grid. Stay off grid.

[C]

Absolutely.

[A]

I mean, think about it. My point being in today's day and age, in this where we live, it's pretty hard to get off grid.

[B]

Fully, extremely hard.

[A]

And all of a sudden you had an excuse where you were safe, you knew you were safe. And let's say, let's remove. Nah, never mind. I was gonna say let's go with a world where you have a fiance, you have a lovely wife, we have families that care about us and friends that care about us. So now that I'm thinking about it, it would be awful because all of those people would be missing you and

[C]

they'd be so worried.

[A]

And I was about to institute a what if you were just a drifter and you had no one who was worried about you? Because then I'm like, well, what's the fucking difference? Your entire life is on you.

[B]

Off the grid already, bro.

[A]

But. So let's keep it. Let's keep that moral conundrum in there. Would you maybe take, like, a day and just stay off grid?

[B]

Okay, well, that is. I wish you hadn't brought that up, because one of our really good friends, Ev, was doing a study abroad thing or whatever. It was actually, like, over the winter or maybe summer.

[A]

I think it was winter.

[B]

Yeah. In. In Haiti, in Port au Prince, when that Earthqu which is, like, one of the biggest earthquakes ever.

[A]

Dude, it was crazy.

[B]

And we could. No one could get a hold of him. And I was like, yo. And then legitimately, like, a day went by, and then we got an email.

[A]

It was. I think it was way longer than that.

[B]

Dude, no, because that would be crazy. I know, but, like, I think we're probably exaggerating it. In my mind, the way I remember

[A]

it was at least two days, maybe, because it was. I remember checking in constantly, being like, have we heard from him? Have we heard from him?

[B]

So, like, two days go by, and we get an email from, like, a rogue email address to his mom, me, Dan, you know, just a big chunk of people that was like, hey, it's Andrew. I'm okay. Like, everything. There's no cell. Everything's down. There's no cell. No, not like, you will not hear from me again for two days, but I am alive.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

It was.

[A]

It was a Facebook message or post or something. We were like, facebook?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it was like, yeah. He eventually.

[C]

That's a smart way to blast it to everybody.

[A]

That kind of matters. He eventually got to some area that had a computer, and it was like a line, and it was like, you can use this computer to do what you will. And he was like, I think porn.

[C]

Now I'm thinking, like, now I'm thinking,

[A]

like, the model placed a couple bets.

[C]

Yeah. The modern version of that is like, okay, I got to get it on Instagram and do a story real quick.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

Just. I'm okay.

[A]

I'm good.

[C]

Smash that, like, button. I'm alive.

[A]

Yeah, Just listen. It got me thinking that getting off grid is hard these days. And if all of a sudden I woke up and someone was like, dan Powers is missing. And I knew I was fine.

[C]

I'll give you. I'll give you a caveat. For me, it's like, if I could. If. If nobody in my extended family, like, my. Because my. A lot of my family lives on the other side of the country. So my mom would be worried. But if she wasn't aware of, like, any kind of disaster, like. Like, let's say there. Let's say, like, she goes to bed and doesn't look at the TV for two days.

[B]

Yep.

[C]

And doesn't know that there's, like, a horrible disaster in California that could be. Could worry her.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

As long as my wife knew, or maybe my. I was with my wife and we were both in the same silo, I'd be fine. I totally. I'd totally be fine to, like, take two days and be like, nobody knows where we are, Dude.

[B]

Do you think that. What. What do I have access to while missing Dan? Everything.

[C]

True. Is it boring?

[B]

Yeah. Right?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, that's.

[A]

That's what I was.

[B]

If I'm just literally hiding, then I would be like, I'm here. Take me back.

[C]

Yeah, but.

[B]

But if you were like, dude, you. You have your. You have books, you have your laptop, you have Internet, maybe some video games. I, like, I might be missing still.

[A]

That. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[C]

Like, I'd be missing at home.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know. Maybe it's like. You see, it would be like, if your phone works, then you're not off grid. If you lost your phone.

[B]

Yeah, that. No, I didn't say phone.

[A]

Well, I'm. No, I'm just thinking out loud.

[B]

I just want. I want entertainment.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. What if you. What if you go to a cabin? Let's say you go to a cabin, like, up in Big Bear, and it gets completely dumped with snow. Yeah. And the power goes. The power goes out.

[A]

No cell service.

[C]

No cell service, no Internet.

[A]

But you got a bunch of DVDs.

[C]

Yeah. You got DVDs and board games. Yeah. You got water. Yeah. You got food. So, like, you're not gonna die, but you might not have all the, you know, amenities of modern day.

[A]

Well, think about it. When we go to the lake house, there's no service there.

[B]

Yeah. No, sir, but no power is what's throwing me, because then I can't even watch the fucking DVDs.

[C]

But you got.

[A]

Yeah, WI fi goes out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

There's full power. You still have DVDs, still have cable.

[C]

What if you got a generator? What if you got a generator and it's good for, like, four hours a day?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You got enough gas for, like.

[B]

Yeah, a couple then, dude, forever. Like, literally.

[A]

Loved ones be damned.

[B]

Yeah, literally.

[A]

You will show back up in a month. Yeah, I was fine. I was having a blast.

[C]

I think Chris is gonna be a hermit later in life.

[B]

One of my dreams.

[A]

I mean, Chris barely responds to texts anyway. We don't know if he's living or dead all the time.

[B]

One of my life's dreams was to get on a milk carton someday.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And that would be so sick. I was deranged. But I remember being a little kid being like, I wanna be on a milk carton, baby.

[A]

Yeah. And you see that and you go like this. I'm fine. I'm right here.

[B]

Fuck. There was a crazy story.

[C]

They don't do that anymore, do they?

[B]

No, but I worked on it. We didn't end up buy. I worked on a doc called the Milk Carton Kids that were a group of people who are adults now, but who were all on milk cartons and saved because of it. And it was like, kind of cool.

[C]

True crime stories of, like, all three of them.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Legitimately.

[C]

How many really were there, I wonder?

[B]

A great question. How many ever. Yeah, great question, dude. There's actually some fascinating shit because I also worked on a doc about Amber Alerts, which was about a girl actually named Amber Alert. And that type of stuff, like, getting information out was. It's so funny how little we did that before, you know, like, people would go missing and they'd be like, that's tough.

[C]

You know what creeps the shit out of me when it's like 11:30 at night or like late, and you're. You're sitting around, you're kind of vibing, and then your phone just goes. And it's like a fucking Amber Alert. And you're like, jesus Christ. Scared the shit out of me.

[B]

So crazy.

[C]

Oh, I hate that.

[A]

Amber Alerts are so intense.

[B]

It's also scary when you're. When you're. With. This happens at work a lot when you're standing next to 20 people. Because it all happens.

[C]

They all go.

[B]

Yeah. And you're like.

[C]

It's pretty freaky.

[A]

It's like siren. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So good.

[A]

All right, let's jump into some hockey news. I know there's a lot going on. I think we've got to start with the Florida Panthers, and I think I'd

[B]

like to do this this way.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I was. I was driving for 15 hours yesterday and at a World cup game, and everything was happening all around me, and I had no idea what was going on. So you are going to.

[A]

I'm gonna tell you everything, break this

[B]

news to me, and then I'm just going to. I'm going to knee jerk. React to everything.

[A]

That's fantastic. All right. Starting with the Florida Panthers. Also folks, this episode is coming out Friday. I know you're used to episodes coming out on Thursday, but we waited because obviously the big day was Thursday. So we're going all the way back to Tuesday. You know, there was, there's shit that has happened. Number one, we have a new goaltender in Florida. The Panthers are up to their old tricks, man. They, they went out and they got, they signed Radko Gutis to a long term deal. Crazy one, crazy one for the Panthers. Gudis, they was his number. They traded for his rights. I think he was playing at 6, he's under contract. Well, they traded for his rights from the Ducks and they got him back and they signed him to a five year 1.5 million dollar deer and.

[B]

Okay, go on.

[A]

Gudas is 36. So like this is another marshy deal where it's like they're going to be paying him till he's 41 years old. But 1.5, who cares. They also, and this one has gone under the radar. They signed a resigned a two luster rhinen to a five year or excuse me, eight year by five. That's one of the best contracts in the game. Yes, like Looser Rhineland is so good. He's 27 years old and $5 million cap hit for what he does is fucking unbelievable. And now him and Lindell are together forever and it's just fucking remarkable. But then they make a trade with Jersey. Make a trade with Jersey and they send Evan Rodriguez, Jesper, Bob Quest, Ben Steves to Jersey and they get Jacob Markstrom back. Jacob Markstrom. Two years left at $6 million. They also get Angus Cruikshank back, which is I think pretty sick that Harry Potter characters are in the NHL now.

[C]

Mr. Cruikshank.

[A]

Angus Cruikshank.

[C]

Angus Cruikshank.

[B]

Shout out. Binge mode on the ringer. Mallory Rubin, Jason Concepcion, legend. They do these deep dive pods and they do Potter and they said early and maybe someone has said. I'm sure many people have said this before, but this is the first time I've ever heard it. They would constantly credit J.K. rowling for being the best namer in fantasy writing. And Potter's my favorite series. And I was like oh wow, good call. And now that I have read 8 billion fantasy series, I could not emphasize that fact enough. It's unhealthy how good she is at naming.

[A]

It's amazing how many great fantasy books that I read that every new name I hear I Go. Can you just please just fuck off? Do a little better. These names are horrendous.

[C]

Dune, Duncan Idaho. Dude gave up on that one.

[A]

Not gonna lie.

[C]

Duncan Idaho.

[A]

I kind of love that name.

[B]

But it doesn't fucking Dune.

[A]

It is ridiculous.

[C]

Idaho.

[A]

It is ridicul. Ridiculous.

[C]

Are you kidding me?

[B]

Paul, dude.

[D]

Paul.

[A]

But Atreides is a great name.

[B]

Yeah, but why Paul?

[C]

I don't know.

[A]

Yeah, like Leto Atreides and has a son named Paul.

[B]

I'm like, oh, yeah. So yeah, the names are either boring or unpronounceable and stupid.

[A]

I almost, I almost wanted to do this in this episode. But the more I thought about it with especially some of the Russian players. There are a lot of Harry Potter names in the NHL.

[B]

Oh, that's funny.

[A]

And we're going to do that.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Probably next week, but sounds good. Marky goes to the Panthers. So that, that is a big thing to note. That's all the Panthers moves. I love every single move. But let's talk about the Markstrom thing now, which will jump us to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[B]

Okay. Well, can I knee jerk to everything?

[A]

Sure.

[B]

The Panthers Gudis is great because they. The Panthers just want to wear you down. They're paying him nothing. And like he will be a bottom pairing and will. He'll wear you down.

[A]

Yeah. And he's. We know it works there.

[B]

E2 great. The Panthers and this will perfectly go to the Leafs. I heard some stuff that they. The numbers that were getting thrown around with Bob and it was just pissing Zito off. And then they countered with a number that maybe even is what he took in Toronto.

[A]

I can't remember again, I have a lot of information on that.

[B]

Okay. And he felt disrespected. I will tell you this. The Florida Panthers I think likely lost themselves the Stanley Cup.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

Which was free.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

Like the Stanley cup was over and we were jumping ahead to the 28 season. Okay. And then because they were annoyed or based on pride, they've now lost the Stanley Cup.

[A]

I. Okay, there will be new information for you. The Panthers also brought in shout out Hath Garney, by the way.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

Hathaway signed there. But they brought Lars Eller, Sam Lafferty, Johnny Beecher, all on Vetman deals. So like they, they, they loaded up on the depth and all this and like mean death.

[B]

It's so funny that they're like we're gonna beat the wheels off you.

[A]

And it's just like it's another one of Those things like 37 year old Lars Eller there I, I look at the team that he will now be playing with and I'm like, you're probably gonna have a, a great year.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

We're going to jump to the Toronto Maple Leafs and we will get into all of their other moves of which I, I've got a couple of these for Toronto and we'll, we'll, we'll get into it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But the Maple Leaf signed Sergey Bobrovsky to a three year deal by $7 million. My knee jerk reaction and something that I posted yesterday was what, what happened? Because I believe Bob is 37, turning 38 and he signs a three by seven in Toronto. They traded for Jacob Markstrom, who is 36, turning 37, who's making, we'll call it two by six because he's got two years left. And I'm like one year, $1 million difference. You guys couldn't get over that for Bob to bring Bob back. The goalie who has brought you to three straight stand brought you two. Three straight Stanley Cups and one, two. I don't believe it. But what we have learned. According to sources, the Panthers offered Bob a four year by $6 million contract as well as a three by seven. So they offered him the exact same deal.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Neither was acceptable to Bob's camp. So Zito decided to move on and according again, according to sources, called his bluff.

[B]

Yep.

[D]

What?

[A]

I, I believe two things. And this is what we always say. When there is a successful team who had a successful player and has the money to keep said player, when they willingly let them go, I am always like, they know something we don't or they just believe something that maybe not everyone else, they're like, we don't need you. I don't believe that happened. What my. This is not a source. This is not. This is just my feelings. I think that Bob's agents fucked him. I think Bob's agents went like they offered that. And I think Bob's agents went, sergey, we are going to get way more than this from other teams. Way fucking more.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

They are fucking you. They're trying to call the bluff. They're going to sit and they're going to wait and they're going to realize they have to pay up. And they will pay up or we'll get it elsewhere. And Bob went, yeah, you're right. And then Zito went like this, I can't wait. We have a Stanley cup team here and I need a fucking goalie. And he made a trade for Markstrom. And then I think Bob's camp was like, oh, fuck me. They just made a move for a goalie and then they went and looked around and the only offer they got was exactly what they got for Florida. I. This to me is a. What I assume is right now Bob is going, are you fucking kidding me, dude? Like, when that information comes out that this offer was offered by Florida, we said no, because you promised me we could get more. And now I can't get more. And now I'm 38 years old, going up to Toronto media. Thanks a lot, dickhead. That is what I believe happened.

[B]

Okay? And dude, I will tell you after. I don't want to say who on here, but. And I wish I should have saved the fucking voice memo. I just like listened to it and then it disappears. But so what I was told is minus the agent thing a lot, what you're saying, but it was basically like Bob wanted six by six and it was just pinging back and forth. And then Florida, not low. I mean, I guess low balled them. Yes, but not in a mean way, in my opinion.

[A]

They were just like, bro, three by seven is.

[B]

I'm like, no, before that. Before. Okay?

[A]

Because I'm like, I'm fucking blown away that he's getting offered that. And frankly, I will get into it. But like, I'm looking at the fucking Zuccarello deal, I'm looking at the Ovechkin deal and I'm like, are you crazy, pal?

[B]

Yeah, so you're in Florida.

[A]

Just take one.

[B]

The offer came in, that was low. They said no, they're going back and forth. And then Florida came up to three by seven, being like, hey, okay, take this. And then it was, they said, Bob. I'm sure it was more like Bob's camp was quote unquote disrespected by that offer. So said it's crazy. Fuck you. And then I kind of buy everything that you just said. And dude, I. I just got. I guess this is overreaction season. Fuck it. I was going to be like, I don't mean to overreact in July, but dude, I just cannot fathom this from either party. This is your classic lose, lose. Because dude, think about how fucking good the Florida Panthers have been. Minus last year. They do not win either of those cups without incredible Bobrovsky performance.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

Like, think about that team. We In a BetMGM post, we said the 25 Panthers are the best team in the last 20 years.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

They lose the cup without Bobrovsky. And dude, I'm as guilty of this as Anybody but the Kemper thing, like in Colorado, he was fucking great in Colorado, so it's not like you can do this. Carter Hart fell apart and Brandon Busse was incredible down the stretch. If Freddie Anderson stayed in and kept being leaky, they probably would have lost. Like these good teams, incredible roster builds. Lose if you don't have this guy, he's obviously getting older. Who knows what's going to happen, how good he'll stay. But to have the roster that the Panthers have and dude, I fucking love Jacob Markstrom, the person. And I thought he was gonna win cups in Jersey and that went not well. And I think he's a good goalie and at times has played well enough that I believe he has a proof of concept that I'm like, if you do this during the playoffs, you could win a cup with this team. But what a dice roll when I'm like, how in fuck could you have not just gone, wait, wait, wait, everybody calm down. Like why didn't someone walk in between the Bob and the Panthers yelling and go whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, stop, stop. I know you're upset and I'm low ballgy, blah blah blah blah. What do you need to you to live in fucking Miami and just win a cup instead of going moving to Toronto in your 40s as a Russian, like I literally have no idea what's happening here. This might be the craziest thing off season thing I've ever seen for. It's like cut your nose off despite your face. That's the expression, right? Like this is fucking mental. Dude.

[A]

Dude, it is. These are the times where I'm like, agents are a problem. Because I believe if there was just a simple conversation between two human beings like Sergei Burofsky and Bill Zito, they would have figured this out. I have to believe that. And again, this is all speculation. Allegedly. But that is very much what I believe happened. And I can't believe they let that happen because I just think it is nonsense. Now Markstrom is coming off a bad year in Jersey, Bob is coming off a really bad year in Florida. But I'm always like, I chalk those up to nothing Burgers. Because Bob, I mean man, we saw it in week two of the NHL season with Sasha out and Tkachuk out, it was like, the Panthers aren't making the playoffs this year and I think a 37 year old Bob is probably like this and I'm shutting it down. Yeah, why gas yourself in that season when you know you're not going anywhere so your numbers are going to be poor. I look at Markstrom and I think that is a great goaltender. It's actually kind of a homecoming for him. He was once with the Panthers.

[B]

Yeah, very cool.

[A]

I also think him playing in front of this team, no disrespect to the Devils, I foresee him having a much better season playing in front of this team. So it's like. I think it's a little drastic, what you were saying of, like, they had a cup and now they don't because Markstrom is net. I don't think that that's true. I think easily Markstrom could be like this. I'm playing in front of this Panthers team now, and I'm nasty.

[B]

We'll see.

[A]

But to me, the story here is just like, this is crazy town that you have let this happen, and we

[B]

don't have to dig this too hard. But I love it for the Leafs. And, dude, the Leafs obviously had a fucking shit show last year, but people forget. Two years ago, I was really high on them. They win the fucking division. They take the Panthers to seven in the second round, which was fugazi.

[A]

Seven in my.

[B]

Still, though, like, they.

[A]

They took the Panthers. They literally did do it.

[B]

They took the Panthers. That Panthers team played them tougher than any team in the playoffs and were okay. And now you go, you have Gavin McKenna and you have Bob. And I'm like, dude, the Leafs could be awesome next year. And nothing would make me happier than. Cause, man, that goalie situation, I have felt like the Leafs have had pretty good goalies on paper that have just never played that well in playoffs especially. And even that year, don't forget, because it was still ours. Right? That was playing. Then got hit by Bennett, and then Joe Wall went in. That kind of felt like the swing where the goalie play dropped a little bit, and then they lost. And I'm like, dude, if they get playoff, Bobrovsky, you're telling me the Leafs can't make a legitimate run? They can't.

[A]

I just told you. I started this by saying I gave the Leafs this. And, you know, I. It's been a fucking circus this summer with the Leafs, with Chaika and everything going on. They get the first overall pick. That's amazing. Yes, dude. For me, Bob is. I mean, it's the best goaltending they've had in 10 years.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But the thing we always forget is Bob wins a couple Vesnas, goes to Florida and completely stops playing.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Then in the fucking dark of night, he, no pun intended, swaps places with Spencer Knight and beats the Boston Bruins and then goes straight to the cup and then becomes.

[B]

Wasn't it Lion? It was Lion. Spencer Knight was on. He was on that.

[A]

Good call. Swaps places and then goes to three straight cups.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Bob is about to be 38. I believe in Bob. I believe in Bob.

[C]

We don't know his real age.

[B]

Yeah, correct.

[A]

So this is the crazy thing. You could. You could literally say this about any team in preseason. Any team. So the Leafs fans don't. Don't jump down my throat. There are just. There are so many. When I look at the Leafs team on paper, I'm like, this team can go to the cup for sure. But again, it's just. It's the on paper thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I do think that there are a lot of question marks. Like, if we get halfway through the season and Bob has like an 8. 8 say 8, 889 say percentage. Are you going to be shocked? To be honest, no.

[B]

But I done.

[A]

That's all I want.

[B]

Because I don't care about regular season with him. Like, I still think he could then have a 9. 5 in playoffs.

[A]

Okay, fine. Okay, fine. To round out the Leafs, they sign Colton sissons to a two by 4.25. We're seeing fourth line players getting like bags now. Shout out Jeff Beal.

[B]

Dude, and don't you ever fucking call him a fourth line player.

[A]

Why? He's the best fourth line player in the league.

[B]

He is.

[A]

Jeff Fiel is fucking a legend. They signed Teddy Bluger to a 2 by 2.5. They also make a trade for Nick Paul, which is awesome. The Leafs did a lot. They got Bob and net. And Leafs fans are going. And here's the other thing that's crazy. The Leafs are still. They are currently over the cap just by a smidge.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But they're still talking about trading Morgan Riley. They're still talking about trading Matthew Nies. Like, I don't know what the deal is there, but people look at their top nine, we'll call it, and we see any combination of. Oh, also Jack Roslovic. Did I say that? They got Jack Roslovic as well, which I kind of. The way he's like bounced around when I'm like, this guy can score. Like, he did pretty well in Edmonton. They signed him to a two by four. So the Leafs are now over the cap, just barely. And they're looking at a top nine of any combination of NIEs, Auston, Matthews, Roslovic, Gavin McKenna, Tavares, Nylander, Dakota Joshua, Nick Paul, Easton, Cowan. A lot of people are looking at that going, that competes with any team in the league that is better than a bunch of teams in the league. I look at the Panthers top nine and I'm like, no, that does not really compare. I would maybe even look at Carolina's top nine and go, that doesn't compare. But it is really good. If Gavin McKenna has a Macklin Celebrini rookie year, a Connor Bedard rookie year, it also requires Easton Cowan taking a huge jump. Like, I love that player, but Easton Cowan needs to like, let's, let's check this out for the purposes of the argument. Easton cowan, last year, 66 games, 29 points, 11 goals. I love that from a player like, you know, that's like his first really dip into the league. He had, let's call it 30 points in 66, 70 games. If the Leafs want to be what everyone's talking about, that 30 points needs to jump to 55, 60 points. I believe it can happen. I really, really do. If it. This is what. Remember when I did this with Edmonton when they brought in fucking. They brought in Roslovic, they brought in Henrique, they brought in all these guys and I was like, if.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And then the if did not happen. So that is the. In my opinion, that is the only thing holding this Leafs team back. And I gave them two thumbs up on all these moves. I love the Bobrovsky move. It's like risky, but because now you're paying a goalie $7 million with a no move clause for three years who is 38, it's risky. But it's Bob.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And if he's Bob, you have won. So it's worth the risk. And to me, all of these moves, if you want to say some's an overpayment sum's risky. Whatever, whatever. It's the moves that you had to make. The biggest thing for me, dude, and we saw it at the draft, the fact that you managed to convince Auston Matthews to stay, that is the biggest win. I was certain he was gone.

[B]

Certain same.

[A]

And he's still there. So I'm like, dude, it was risky to bring in Chaika. It was risky to sign Bob. It was risky to sign maybe some of these older guys or some of these fourth line guys to big contracts. But I'm like, every risk is worth it. Toronto, dude, the Leafs are back. Leafs here, dude.

[B]

The Chaika Redemption arc. Chaika is made ice town in Arizona is Arizona. And now he's gonna get a fucking statue in Toronto when he brings them a Cup.

[A]

Okay. Gonna keep sticking and moving here. Bowen Byram was traded to the Blackhawks signs a deal, six years, $12.5 million. Bowen Byram is now the highest paid D man in the NHL. Thoughts, dude? And also I want to jump in and say, like, I tweeted that and people were like this for what, like a couple months? And I'm like, doesn't matter to me. Yeah, yeah, we always talk about like that.

[B]

Who's about to take it?

[A]

Well, there's rumors of like a three year extension for Quinn Hughes in Minnesota that will definitely be higher when Cale signs his extension. It will be higher, but either way, that does not matter to me. And timing does not matter to me. The facts of the matter are, if you are ever the highest paid defenseman forward in the NHL, that automatically means, regardless of timing, you are now in the top X percentage of defenseman in the league. And in this case, you are now like, you better be at least a top 10 defenseman in the league. And we love Bowen Byer.

[B]

Yes, dude, he is the fucking man.

[A]

I more just want to talk about the Blackhawks with this move.

[B]

Ridiculous, ridiculous contract, in my opinion. And dude, I'm happy for him because he's the man and I hope he. I wish they'd paid him 20 million so he could get as rich as humanly possible. Dude, under no circumstances. Under no circumstances, timing wise, is Bowen Byram ever the highest paid defenseman in the league?

[A]

Dude, what I love about this is agent of the year.

[B]

Yeah, correct.

[A]

Because you know what is sick? Chicago has fucking $30 million in cap space still.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like we're looking at the Sharks, which we'll get into. Everyone's talking about the floor. The floor. This is why they're doing this. The Sharks right now have 14 million cap space. The Blackhawks have double. So it's another one of those situations where I'm like, Chicago, what are we doing here? Like, let's get some fucking deals going out. They need to hit the floor. This is definitely a huge part of that. But that's why I'm like agent of the year. To get him traded to Chicago, knowing they need to hit the floor, knowing that you need to sign a contract and you are a young, really talented player, you are going to get a fucking bag. And what's so funny about this now too is it's just like these things always reset the bar.

[B]

Yes, dude.

[A]

So like so many defensemen that are signing a deal now, they're like this. Well, Bowen makes 12.5 and you're like, God, yeah.

[B]

And you're like, dude, obviously like that is ridiculous. But they go, I don't care. I'm as good as. I'm a 40 point defenseman. Like, yeah, what the fuck? Ridiculous contract, dude. And I am like, I just cannot

[A]

believe that I fucking absolutely love it. Okay, next up, let's go to quickly for Evan.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Penguins. We had a Caden Korzak and Parker Weatherspoon flip. 50% retained and there was a period where The Knights had 8.8 mil in cap space. And I was like, Dylan Larkin's cap, it is 8.7.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then the Vegas Gold Knights did some things that we'll talk about. You guys signed Kuzmenko 1 by 5. Sad to see cousy go.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

But love that move for the Penguins.

[C]

I'm excited as a Penguins fan.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Jumping also fired up for Parker. I was texting him after and I was like, let's fucking go, dude. And he was like, man, I'm Vegas, Vegas spot.

[A]

He had an awesome year. You guys were pretty bummed ev to lose Parker.

[C]

He had a great year. Yeah, yeah, he was. We had more depth scoring than we thought we would have when the season started. And he was a big reason for that. Him and Mantha. So it's a bummer to see him go and I hope that we can fill that gap. But good for him. He earned it.

[A]

All right now let's get into the Edmonton Oilers. They bring Babcock in. Crazy shit going on with the Oilers. There's big, big news there that we will say for the last part. But they resigned kapanen to a 1 by 2.6. Bring in our boy Matthew Joseph one by one. Love that they grab Ryan Shea five years by 4 million and then they sign Freddie Anderson one by one.

[C]

Which I said, we talked about that.

[A]

We talked about Freddie to doesn't retire

[B]

and the Oilers don't get him. That would be lunacy.

[A]

And they did it. So now we are definitely looking at a Freddie Anderson and Tristan Jari will tandem just the way Freddie and Bussy tandem this year. The big, big question I think I am now fully on your prediction a while ago of they are going to go wire to wire and win the Pacific.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And I 100% think they're going to do that. The massive now question is a year older Freddy in the playoffs. How far can you take him before you go? We have to go to Jari now and what will happen.

[B]

And dude, I will tell you exactly what's going to happen. They Will start with Freddy. He will have an incredible first round. If they are not fucking morons. They will pull him even if he's playing great, even if they first round sweep. They will pole him in the second round. They will survive the second round with Jari, maybe into the Western Conference finals. Then go back to Freddy and then I don't quite know who is winning the cup between the Oilers and the Leafs, but that 7 gamer is going to be incredible because those are the two best teams by miles.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

And Oilers and dude, strap in.

[C]

I would love to see Matthews versus

[B]

Strap in hockey world because it is Oilers Leafs in the Cup. And clip this and then I. So I can dance on your grave. Yeah, you want to dance on. You're clipping this to dance on my grave. Next year I dance on your grave.

[A]

Oilers Leafs. God, does Canada need that? Yep. I mean, fuck yeah, dude.

[C]

Especially after last year's Olympics.

[A]

Yep. Or this year's. And they got Devon Levi, too. We believe in Devon Levi.

[B]

I do.

[A]

But it's just great stuff. But the big one is the Oilers did it, dude.

[B]

They did it.

[A]

They did it. And they found a sucker.

[B]

That's mean.

[A]

It's the truth.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. They found a sucker.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

They found a sucker. Darnell Nurse is a very good hockey player and an exceptional human being and unfortunately was just on a contract that was bigger than his output in Edmonton and was the subject to a lot of ridicule from Edmonton fans for way too long. And he needed a change. But the big thing was there is no one that is going to take this full contract for nothing. Yep. Well, turns out that Mike Greer did that for them in their own division. A team on the rise against a team trending down.

[B]

Yeah. Who has run down.

[A]

As the Oilers players admitted. They were like, we are going backwards. Mike Greer decided to go, I'll take that full contract. The Oilers got Makama Dulin back, who's an RFA. He'll be signing a deal. But all 9.5 million of that contract is now in San Jose. And I actually think. I think nurse is going. Or 9.25. Sorry. I think Nurse is going to have a great year in San Jose. I think he's going to fit in amazingly with that group. That's neither here nor there. What is here is that the Edmonton Oilers for the first time in forever now have fucking $7.2 million in cap space and they have a full roster. Like, they have done it, dude. It is so exciting for them. They also. Or I talked about all those signings that they have. They've got full decor. Let's see what's going on. But, dude, now they have 7.2 mil to play with. Yep. At the deadline. Like, that's so different than what they've had in the past. And we'll see how things go with Babs. But holy shit, man. Like, the fact that fucking Greer did that is insane to me. I will never understand it ever in a million years. I actually said to Marty yesterday, I go, here's my spin zone, dude. Greer does that because of this. He goes, here's the deal, Bowman. I'm gonna take Nurse and the full contract. No salary, no salary retention under the handshake agreement that if you guys don't win this year, you have to trade me Conor. When Conor's like, I want out, you trade him to me. That's what I think happened here.

[B]

That is the only thing that would make this valuable. I'm serious. And, dude, it is actually awesome that the. I guess it's awesome that things can happen this fast. Like, the Oilers were in, man, we completely fumbled it. We sucked this year. We're going to suck even worse next year. And then Conor's gone and Leon's gone and it's all over. And now I'm like, you are the cup favorites. And dude, we say all the time, the hardest part about the Oilers issue is the goalie. Cause there's just. Goalies are not available. Like, you do not get a good goalie just by like, oh, hey, sick. I got a goalie that I can win a Cup with.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then this year, the Leafs and the Oilers signed Freddie Andersen and Bob. And I'm like, oh, whoa, you both go to the cup now? Like, in what fucking universe are two cup caliber goalies available for free agents for no money? And then they just got them both. And I was like, oh, wow, that is. That was crazy.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And dude, good forum. It's going to be a fun fucking year, dude.

[A]

It's going to be so fun. Two teams, Toronto and Edmonton, had so many question marks in the summer. Four thumbs up. It's like I'm blown away. Absolutely blown away. Ripping through some quick hitters here. And we're not skipping over teams. There's just a lot going on. I love Phillies moves. Tyson Forster signs an 8 by 7. Vladar signs a 5 by 5.5. So fucking fired up for Vladar.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

That was a great playoff run for him. He's a great goaltender. And that to me is like, they have Joe Wall and they have Wall. Dude, don't forget, Vadar is like, that's your guy. And I really love that. Vladar's only 28, Wall's only 27. But Philly, man, Philly has 29 mil as well. They've got Zegras that they need to sign. He's an rfa. Grobenkin is in rfa. They've also got Drysdale rfa, but like so much money. And they're very quietly starting to look like Montreal, who we'll get into where they've got TK at 8.7, Coutts is only at 7.7. And what a great year he had. Tippetts at 6.2, Dvorak's at 5.1, Cates is at 4, Forester's now at 7.1. And it's like, I imagine Z will probably be. I would definitely guess under 10. I'm guessing like 8. 8.5 to 9. We'll see. But it's just great management and like, all of a sudden, when Warrenski was being talked about, Philly was getting brought. And like the fact that Philly's getting brought up now for like, stars.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

It's like Philly made the playoffs, they won a playoff round. Like, it's a very exciting team all of a sudden. And I think that's fucking awesome for Philly, which is great. Zellweger, who was traded to Buffalo, signs at three by three. We love that for him. Montreal just mentioned them. They signed demidov8 by 9.1.

[B]

Great number.

[A]

Nothing to say other than phenomenal number.

[B]

Dude, what is up with the eights?

[A]

I don't even want to talk about it. Like, literally, I, I, I. We were told that no longer can eight year deals happen, but they still can for certain situations. I don't understand it, but whatever. But that is a great number for Montreal, dude. Like I again, there we. We can, we were. We're stroking off everyone right now. I love a good stroke off. Everyone's just getting stroked off. They have 14 mil in cap space, Chris. And again, you look through that team. Suzuki till 2030 at 7.8. That's fucking insane. Caulfield at 7.85 until 2031, Slough 7.6 until 2033. Now you've got Demidov 9.15 until 2035. Like, everyone is under 10 on this team. Even Dobson's 9.5, Hudson's 8.85, Matheson 6. It's just unbelievable. Unbelievable work by them. They've got a few RFAs that they need to handle. We've got the Liney situation. There's no way he's going back there, I don't think. But like 14.2 in cat. Like, they are fucking Kent Hughes, man. Absolute fucking wet bag. What they are doing, it's fucking amazing. Let's go to the LA Kings. LA Kings made a bunch of moves. Some classic Ken hall and shit. But like, the boys, the boys are old and I love it. I said I'm available. Yeah, I'll bring that number down. They go out and they bring Eric hala in at 2.3.6. I love that move because Hala has been like, so. I mean, dude, he got flipped to Jersey from Boston. Did well there, was great in Nashville and now here he comes and he's going to be with Fiala. Yeah, I think that that's. Dude, I think that's really great.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

I think Hala is like, we talk about, like, hall is a Swiss army knife guy. He can play center, he can play wing. The Kings absolutely need some depth and center. That is huge. So they bring him in. They bring in Eric Gustafson on a one by one. That's just like more depth on the blue line. We'll see. Maybe a trade there. Like, I look at that blue line and I'm like. With guys like Cease and Dumo and now Gustafson, I'm kind of like, what's happening?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So maybe a trade's coming. They bring in Matt's Zuccarello on a one by one with a big bonus, which we're going to explain in a second. They bring Corey Perry back one by one, fucking pairs back. And then the one I'm most fired about. Lots. Scott Laughton back 3 by 3.5. Also massive for the center.

[B]

Super. The belly roll stays.

[A]

Listen, a lot of older guys for the Kings, but I am kind of like, you know What? Kings have 1.8. So you got to imagine some trades are going on here, but just a lot of good depth on like one year deals. And I think you could see like a lot. Again, we'll see if we see a trade with the Dumoulin or the CC deal. Those guys have modified trade clauses, but you're kind of like, okay, something might be happening here. Either way, they're good depth moves and some of those might turn into, you're playing well at the deadline. Maybe they're flipped for something. Who knows? But. But some pretty good work. Nothing flashy there by the Kings, but a Lot of good dudes brought in too.

[B]

Would you like to say culture survives?

[A]

I am going to jump to the Washington Capitals.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because that Zuccarello deal is similar to something going on with the Caps. Big moves for the Caps. Boone Jenner signs 4 by 5.75. That was a get that they definitely really wanted. Vinnie Diernay signs a 4 by 4.2. Little Rich for me. Little rich, but I still like the move. Washington, the big one was, oh, like we. They needed to see if. And also they made that Cairo trade. We talked about that. And Tuck, they got Tuck, they got Kyru, they make those moves. And then Ovechkin signs, comes back on a $1 million base with incentives that gets him to 4.25 for his cap hit. People asking a lot of questions about how this shit works. Because Zuccarello also has a player incentive bonus, but his cap hit is only $1 million. So here's the explanation. In the NHL, if you are 35 years or older by June 30th and you sign a one year deal, you can get massive player incentive bonuses that don't hit your cap hit. Now, the difference is o signed a $1 million deal with a $3.25 million signing bonus, which makes his salary cap hit the 4.25. He is also getting incentives, but the signing bonus is why his AAV is that high.

[B]

And what are the incentives?

[A]

10 games he plays. 10.

[B]

How much though?

[A]

His is only like, I think like 500k.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Zuccarello has a base of 1 million and 0 signing bonus, which is why his AAV cap hit is 1 mil. But his player performance bonus is up to 5.5 million, including 5 million for 10 games played. So when Zucarella plays 10 games for the Kings, he gets $5 million. It's a awesome cap circumvention move. And again, it only works for players of this age. But that is the major difference.

[B]

And I wanted to bring this up because it was like Ovechkin said, Ovechkin gets 1 million in salary, 4.75 million if he plays 10 games extra. 4.75 million and then 3.25 signing bonus. So I think it's. I think it's like not 500k more. I think it's 4.75 more. Amazing. No, no, it's amazing. Which is just. I only brought it up because, remember last time I was like this. I promise you I'll. Betchkin is taking a one by nine.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then like he did just. They, they, they, they did it perfectly.

[C]

Finagled the numbers.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

They finagled it perfectly.

[C]

Do they tax the bonuses at a higher rate though? Like, because I know when I use to get work bonuses at another company, they would like you get a bonus. But it was like almost 50% tax probably. So it's like still kind of like the salary.

[B]

That's great. Probably. Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Who knows?

[A]

Who knows?

[C]

But it's a lot of money either way. He's doing fine.

[A]

It is a lot of money. So caps in a good space. O comes back. That's great. And pretty exciting times for the caps with like, with Tuck with Kyrie. Like, I'm excited to see what this team looks like. The jump Leonard takes and shit like that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So good stuff. Stop what you're doing right now and check all this stuff out. We just dropped amazing new summer merch. They're some of the coolest hoodies that we have ever made. Put a ton of effort and time into designing these and I am so fired up about all of them. We've got an amazing combination. Four brand new hoodies. We've got blue, we've got cream, we've got emerald green. They look so amazing. These are super high quality hoodies. They feel fantastic. They've got a ton of room. The designs are unbelievable. We worked on it with our merch team for months. Wanted to have a great summer launch for all of you. The banner's up right now. If you want to check it out, go to our store, go to emptynetters shop, check out everything. They are truly amazing. These are unbelievable high quality hoodies that you are going to have forever. They're stylish. You can wear them out to the bars, wear them on nice, cool summer nights and then obviously into fall and winter. They're going to be your best friend. I'm telling you. I mean this when I say it. This is my favorite stuff that we have ever made. Check them all out here, they're on our Instagram. The links are everywhere. Snag yours today. All four options are amazing if you want me to be honest. I love the green one. That is my favorite. We got the little Zamboni driver right on the wrist there. It's loop loops driving the Zamboni. It's incredible. Check it all out right here. Go to Empty Netters shop. Snag yourself a new hoodie before they sell out. These things are amazing. We love you guys. Now back to the show. Let's jump back into the Sharks. The Sharks do the Darnell Nurse move. They also signed Jacob truba to a 4 by $8.25 million deal. I was shocked by that. Yeah, nothing against. I was just like, really?

[B]

Look at the guys making eight point.

[A]

He's 32. I was really impressed that it was that high. Again, Sharks have a floor situation. Truba is a very good, in my opinion, a very good defensive guy. Has a lot of toughness. We know about the true betraying. They need D. They signed Kesselring to 4.5 after that trade. Obviously they have all these amazing young guys. Stenberg coming in is fantastic. But they also signed Mason Marchmont to a five year by $6.75 million deal. They got chief for Sherwood at I believe five years as well. $5.75 million deal. The big thing with the Sharks, with all of their young players, they have too many forwards in my opinion. So I'm curious about a trade here and then I also am curious about this question. When you have this many draft picks that you've used and frankly, in my opinion, you've drafted really, really well. Everyone in the Shark tank is so excited when Stenberg and Verhoff were drafted and Lynn were drafted. We talked about it last episode. People are like, holy shit, man. The future in San Jose is out of control. Exciting. You're also getting Couture's 8 million off the books after this year. And like, that's a nudge. That's amazing. But as we've said, they have Askarov that they're going to have to pay after next year if he continues to progress like we think he will again, he's only 24. Like, that's going to be a fucking eight year deal.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

You are also paying La la la. You're paying Celebrity and Will Smith probably this year you'll give them extension, but that's going to. So you have all these big payments that you're going to have to make. You have 14 mil in cap space right now. That's amazing. Again, you're getting that 8 mil off for couture. When you are in this situation and you need to hit the floor, yes, you do need to pay players. You got to get to the cap floor. But I'm always like, you got to be careful when you're in this situation. When you have. If you do think these young guys are going to progress the way you're going to progress, you can't pay too much to some of these older guys. You can obviously trade eventually, which you probably will. But like you got Marchmont at 31, you've got Sherwood at 31, you've got Nurse at 31, Truba at 32 that you now have like Nurse has a fucking full. No move, dude. Like it's. He's probably not going to wave again. Yeah. So it's always just like we are now running into the. Has Greer been fucking killing it or has Greer been really lucky? Because like you got kind of lucky with the second overall pick this year. Oh my God, you just missed the playoffs and you get that second pick and you get fucking Stenberg. So it's like I start to wonder sometimes. I'm like, be careful with some of these contracts. That's nothing against these players. I think they're going to have a really fun roster this year. But you just got to be careful. That's all I'm saying, dude.

[B]

Especially if you and I don't know what you think because they were so close this last year. I forget who we were. Oh, it was maybe with you, Ev, but somebody was like, sharks are in win now. And you were like, not yet. And I think they should feel like they should make playoffs this coming year 100%. But if they don't, I still don't think they care yet because I don't think they're winning the cup yet, you know, even if they make it. So I'm with you, dude. If, if you don't think, and maybe they do think, Nurse and Truba are long term answers, for example. But if you don't, which I don't, then you need to go Truba, I will give you one year by 12 to get my floor and whatever. But then it's gone. Like these need to be expiring so we can actually do something. Because I'm with you, dude. Like now all of a sudden I go, oh, all these RFAs are coming up. And now I'm like, fuck, I have two more years of Truba. I shouldn't have paid him that much or whatever. I'm just pulling a name. But I'm just saying this term needs to be way less.

[A]

That was my thought process. I agree. But again, it's like with these players, like Marchmont's probably not signing a two year deal.

[B]

Agree. But that's why I go, he's signing a 2 by 12.

[A]

And he's like, oh, do you think?

[B]

I don't know, maybe.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Some of them aren't. But someone will. I can get someone to go, dude, I will grossly overpay you for two years if you just take the money and then fuck off.

[A]

I think guys just want term, though. Like, it's. You know, even if you match the overall number, I think guys are like, I'd rather be getting that over five years than two.

[B]

Me too. But.

[A]

Which is why it just. It gets sketchy, right? Because if you go, here's two by 12, and Marchmont gets four by six, he's like, I'm gonna take that. And then you miss out on the player. And now you're like, well, you gotta pay someone. And now you're like, well, now you're paying a worse player. And now you are on a worse track than you were. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Tricky one.

[A]

It's super tricky. So I'm just saying, be careful. Yep. Another team dude, maybe surprisingly big thumbs up for me, is the New York Rangers. They make a trocheck trade to the Mammoth, and they get Dersey.

[B]

Ders is dope.

[A]

I love that pickup for them. Love that pickup. They sign Oliver Bjorkstrand, who I think is gonna be good. And then the big one for me was getting Marcus Petters. I think Marcus Pedersen is such. Such. Such a good player. And now, dude, all of a sudden, the Rangers defense, dude, they got Foxy, they got Gavi, they've got Dersey, and they've got Pedersen. And I'm like, that is a great top four. Yeah, a great top four. I think Dersey and Pedersen playing together, and then you got Foxy and Gabby together. That's a fucking really, really solid top four for the Rangers. I'm like, you get. You go out, you make the big move for Dora Fev, you get Bjorkstrand, who's going to be a really good role player. And I'm like, fucking, okay. Rangers, they've got 7.9 in cap space. You might. We might get a situation where Zibanajad gets moved. I don't know if they're making the playoffs, but all of those moves, big thumbs up from.

[B]

I agree. Great moves. I still. I'm with you. I still don't think they're that great, but I'm like, good job. This is how. This is how we build. This is how we chip away Vinnie. I thought Vinnie would only play east.

[A]

I was a little surprised going west.

[B]

And they're like, okay, you're on the map.

[A]

He's like, okay, But I mean, like, pretty psychedel.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I'm pumped for him playing with Kells now. Like, I think that's really cool. And, yeah, jumping into the Mammoth they obviously make that trade. They also signed Anders Lee 3 by 5.4. Lee said it was like, a brutal decision not to sign with Minnesota. I think Minnesota's a little bummed right now because they missed on or they lose Zuccarello. They miss on Anders Lee. People kind of wanted that bring in. And the. The big one right now is. Or the. The Jersey loss, I'm a little bummed about.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But mammoth. Those are two good ads for them, too. We. We. That was so fun last year, them jumping into playoffs. So, yeah. Detroit signs Arvidson 2 by 5. Love it. Had an unbelievable year.

[B]

Should have got more. I'm actually shocked how low that number was.

[A]

Yeah, I was like, what, dude?

[B]

Like, I'm looking at what other people are getting. And I'm like, excuse me, dude. He should have got way more money.

[A]

Detroit. Detroit.

[B]

I just like.

[A]

It sounds like Kane's gonna sign with Buffalo. You're. We'll get into the Larkin situation, but, like, just brutal days for Detroit. Yeah. Like, you. You going into this season, you kind of had to. Or this offseason, before the Larkin news, you were like, this is it. This is the last year we have to go balls to the fucking wall. And now you're about to lose Larkin, you've lost Kane, you bring in. Honestly, I think there's an argument, especially with the past years, like, is there an argument that Arvinson's a step up from Kane? I think, yes, there is.

[B]

God, he's awesome.

[A]

It's just like, tough sledding. Okay. Last couple bits here, Tampa. I did not really understand the Nick Paul move getting. I just love Nick Paul. But after Carolina does the trade, UFA trade for John Carlson's rights, they don't land them. John Carlson signs 2 by 8.5 with Tampa. Makes total sense. Respectfully, you. If you're Tampa, you go. We replaced Darren Radish with John Carlson. I think that's an upgrade.

[B]

Yep. And what. What is Radish getting? The same thing.

[A]

I believe 8.

[B]

He was getting 8. Okay.

[A]

It might be 8.5. I believe it was 8, though. Let me just look real quick. It is 8.5. Exact same.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Exact same deal. Obviously, Radish is way younger. Six years younger. But as we looked at the numbers last year, John Carlson is still a top demon.

[B]

Just watching him, dude.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And you want to talk about a fucking power play quarterback like you have, if you thought that Radish was as valuable as he was, John Carlson can do that, especially for two years. I love that move. For them. I'm still a little. I just don't, don't really know what's going on with Tampa.

[B]

Same. But they must have been really confident about this. And I would love to hear, you know, no one's tampering, but I would love to hear they gave up Brad now I'm quite sure they gave up Bradish because they were like, we are getting John Carlson because he said he doesn't want to play on the west coast. So he's definitely coming back and makes you think, man, we are getting him. And then Carolina goes, we are trading. And it was only a six rounder. We traded a pick for the rights to talk to you a few days earlier. I wonder if Tampa was like, oh shit, are we fucked? And Carlson was like, no, obviously it wasn't my choice. Like congratulations.

[A]

That's one of those things. Like, I hope no Carolina fans are upset about that. It's like, dude, GMs are starting to understand no disrespect to anyone who's become a Great player, but 6 round pick is fucking worthless. So it's like that is absolutely worth the price of. Try to convince him.

[B]

I would love to hear that conversation. Eh, like what did they say? They were like, dude, we just won the cup. Stay here. We're east coast too.

[A]

And he was like, no, Yeah, I mean I bet.

[B]

Why, why didn't he go to that?

[A]

I bet it was pretty sick. Truly. I bet he was like this, I'd rather be in Tampa Bay. Yeah, and that's fine.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, that is fine.

[A]

And frankly, I bet people in Raleigh are like, yeah, that's. I get it. You know, go hang on the beach. And then Vegas lausanne signs a six by four and Rasmus Anderson signs a seven. 8.5. I'm going to be honest, I think that Anderson deal, he just didn't play that well after the trade. You literally had to do that after what you traded.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

You said that during the cup, so many people were like, geez, his number is dropping. But we were kind of like, I don't know if it is dude, because

[B]

what are you going to do? You traded all that.

[A]

You traded so much for him. You're not getting Petro back. You kind of have to do it.

[B]

And they love him too. You just hope he bounces back, which I think he can.

[A]

The question is, Vegas is currently $8.6 million over the cap. Now we're going to see the Petro ltir again is going to change that. And then we are under the suspicion that Stoney might be on preseason LTIR.

[B]

How much is that?

[A]

9.5. Do you think Dylan Larkin is still on in the cards?

[B]

Dude, you had these like, let's talk.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. So our last topic. This is where we go to. Is the. The remaining. What the fucks is what I call it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

What? Actually, let's quickly talk about Rensky.

[B]

Oh, well, let's end with that one.

[A]

Okay, fine.

[B]

Larkin. I am with you, dude. Because. And I actually saw. I don't know if you saw this. There was an article on NHL.com that said Steve Yzerman goes, Dude, I. And you said this, but we just got confirmation. There's no guarantee I'm. I'm trading Dylan. I heard his request, I heard his teams, and I'm trying, but I'm not going to just give Dylan Larkin away for fucking free. So there's. There was a stretch where I said, no matter what, he's gone. Because it is just so awkward and weird. It's like the Jaylen Brown thing. It's so. You're like, you can't be here. It's going to fucking torpedo the locker. Dylan's a professional. He will play as hard as he can possibly can and win for that city if he's there. But I don't want to be here. You don't want me here anymore. Let's leave. So I was positive he's getting traded. I'm still pretty sure they're going to get something done, but now I'm. I'm only 75%. Like, there's a 25% chance in my brain where he's just a redwood.

[C]

Yeah. They might be separated without the divorce, which is terrible.

[A]

Yeah, it's terrible.

[C]

And

[A]

it's like, to me, Florida is off the board.

[B]

Gone.

[A]

There's just no chance they're doing a Florida deal. I think, personally, Tampa is off the board. If it was ever on. I just. I don't know what Tampa could give up that they'd be willing to give up based on what Stevie is saying. Minnesota is still in the mix as far as I'm concerned, because they. They haven't done much. You wonder if they are like, we haven't done much because we're going to make that work. I think Minnesota is probably my number one landing spot.

[B]

It was like my three at first.

[A]

Vegas was my lock one.

[B]

Yeah, same.

[A]

And now after the Anderson deal, I am really not so sure.

[B]

There.

[A]

There's just a lot that they need to do. They don't have that many picks. To me, it's like. Like Larkin is going to have to way open up his potential spots. I've said before, it's never been on the radar at all. I don't get why Boston.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

I don't get why Boston is there. McAvoy's there, Swayman is there. They love fucking American players in Boston. They have a need at center, and I think Boston has picks. They have Zaka, they have Dean Letourneau. They have. I don't think you give up Hagan's for Larkin, but. But if it's not that much other than that, to me, I think Detroit gets a good return and Dylan Larkin is in a very good spot. I am like, I can't believe that Boston isn't kicking tires. And I'm frankly, like, all Boston did. They did the JJ Paterka trade. We talked about that. They brought back Conor Clifton. I actually love that.

[B]

Yeah, me too.

[A]

Really love that move. Cliffy had his old Boston shirt on instantly when he did a quick little hit, which was. Is fucking sick. But I can't believe that's not in there. I look at Anaheim, who. I can't believe what Anaheim is doing. Like, Anaheim losing everything they've lost. Like, they trade McTavish, Truba's gone, Gudis is gone, Carlson is gone. Zellweger is gone. And I'm like, what are you doing?

[B]

Anaheim, Anaheim and the Sharks.

[A]

Are Anaheim not jumping in the mix here? Maybe they are, but it's like Anaheim, Boston. I still think Carolina. Yeah. But I think Larkin is going to need to give way more options if he wants this done sooner than later. And we are in July. It's July 2, and we talk about all the time, dude, if you have formally made this trade request, you want it to happen just as bad as everyone else. Because it's like, dude, this is uncomfortable.

[B]

Yeah, it sucks.

[A]

And for me, when you've made this type of request and like, now we'll get into the Warrensky stuff, it's like, you can't. Warrensky didn't really formally make a request. So him doing what he did, which we'll get into, is a little different. Like, this was a formal request. I don't think Dylan can go back.

[B]

No, it's terrible.

[A]

So it's like, you have to make a trade. So this is the situation. I respect the shit out of Stevie being like this, dude, I will try to do something here, but I am not getting fucking fleeced. And when all you've done as Detroit is go get Arvidson, you it's not like you've bolstered the situation where Dylan's kind of like, well, maybe I'll stay. People were making jokes like, should fucking Detroit make a trade for Warrenski and be like, stay? You guys are best friends. Fucking stay. So it's also one where I'm like, dylan, put fucking Columbus on your list. Like, go play with Zach there. Like, if Zach's like, I'm staying forever, go stay there. But, like, they don't have a goalie. Like, you know, fucking. There's just a lot in this situation. But I think a big thing is I. Again, I am the world's biggest Dylan Larkin fan. I want him to be happy. I think he is unbelievable. But I do think he needs to open to.

[B]

To.

[A]

To grow the list if there's. There's so many great options for you. Yeah, grow the list so everyone can be happy. Super, super quick on Hellbuk. I'm just curious there. The list is now dwindling. I think right now for me, it's Buffalo, Carolina and New Jersey. I think those are the only three teams. Buffalo, Carolina, Jersey. I think Jersey is there. There are some Jersey media people who are awesome out there.

[B]

Who.

[A]

I think I was like that. I'm hearing that that's getting steam. And I am hearing that some Jersey awesome people were like this. Nope, it's not. There's no steam there. And we'll see. I think it would be insane if that's not something Jersey is trying to pull off right now because would you agree the Devils are not a team who can afford to miss playoffs again.

[B]

Yes. And because it will cost you one, if not two Hughes brothers.

[A]

The Devils are like, they've got everyone, everyone signed, and currently they have Nico Dawes and Jake Allen. Nico Dawes is not your starting goaltender for next season. So for me, if the New Jersey Devils, with what they did with moving Nemech and getting those picks, if you do not make a move for Connor Hellebuck or for, at the very least, Aiden Hill, I have no idea what you're doing this season.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So that one is big on the list, but I think Carolina and Buffalo absolutely are too. The Zach Rinsky thing is the funniest thing that's ever happened to me in my entire life.

[B]

Dude, it is so crazy.

[A]

Did you see what they tweeted?

[B]

No.

[A]

Their admin tweeted. It was like, everyone, look right here. And it was the Men in Black neuralyzer thing.

[B]

That's hilarious.

[A]

What do you think happened?

[B]

Well, here's what I. I Had said to you before he. You were like, why is it after the draft? And I was like, agree. Or you were saying it should be before the draft because you should be like, yo, use the pick. Like, trade me and picks or something. You know, like, we'll figure this out. And I was like, well, it's at. Maybe it's after the draft because he's going, let's see what happens. Or I just want to see the plan. Like, what are we taking? What's going on now, granted, it's not like they were picking top three, and now, like, you can go, look who I'm getting or whatever. So it always kind of stupid, the whole argument. My whole argument was kind of stupid anyway. But I can't. I don't really have a thought as to what happened, but I think it is crazy in a way. Or put it this way. Sorry, I'm dancing around this. I just don't think he was ever saying anything but get me out of here. Like, that conversation was nothing other than, I don't want to play here. So you're right. There was no Elliot Friedman tweet that it was a formal trade request, but it was a formal trade request. Like, he was going, get me the fuck out of here. And now he's going, I'm here forever, and I have no idea why.

[A]

I completely disagree.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think the statement was actually done really well, and so I'll read it. This is a statement from Zach. It said, don and I had a very open and honest dialogue since the season ended. Ideally, this would have become. This wouldn't have become such a public thing, but that is the world we live in.

[B]

Jesus Christ.

[A]

Sorry this is so small. Are my eyes getting worse?

[C]

Welcome to age.

[A]

Don and I have had a very open and honest dialogue since the season ended. Ideally, this wouldn't have become such a public thing, but that is the world we live in now, and everything got blown out of proportion, in my opinion. I want to win, and I want to do that in Columbus. I think that is true as I've thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family. We want to be in Columbus. It has always been my home. It has been my home for the past 10 years, and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket. We have the best fans in the NHL. I love my teammates and coaches, and I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that, and I'm excited about what's to come with our team, I think. And tons of. I wanted to shout out some people on Twitter who said some awesome things, but I can't find them. I think I'm literally looking through the benches. I just can't find them. This person, shout out Sarah. She said something awesome. I don't think that there was a real demand. I think that with, like, all of these players moving, Zach just won a world World cup, just won an Olympic gold medal. I think Z was like, is there something else out there? And I think he hit up Don and was like, hey, dude, let's. I would just love to have a conversation. I think that gets out, whether it be his agent doing fucking agent things, and all of a sudden, we hear that news, they're gonna talk after the draft. Then people are like, how do you wait till after the draft? So then it's just people like us, Ch. Everybody are doing the like, okay, where could he possibly go?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I think he's absolutely right. It just got blown out of proportion.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And when he's like, sadly, that's the world we live in. I don't think he ever even made close to a formal demand. I think he was like, hey, Don, should we have a conversation? And I bet Don was like, yeah, let's. Like, if you want to do that, let's do it. But then it turns into the. Like, all of these offers are getting sent to Don, and he's being like, fuck me. Do I have to take one of these before the draft? And I think it did just get blown out of proportion. And then they finally talked, and he was like, you know what, dude? This, like, I love it here. I want to stay.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. It's like when you look in the fridge and you're not really hungry.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Sort of like. And then your mom's like, do you want a sandwich?

[B]

I'm. No, no, no.

[C]

Do you want to say, I'll make you a sandwich? No, I just wouldn't look in the fridge because I'm bored.

[B]

Yeah. I have two things to say. It's perfect. That was perfect. I have two things to say. One is a request, and one is my opinion. My opinion is this. I. Or I guess a commentary as to what I should say. Matthew Tkachuk, even before Brady, I'm just trying to think of a good team. Matthew Tkachuk isn't going, hey, Bill, can we have a conversation? Because the Panthers are good, and he is not worried about them sucking and his life. Yeah, that's so. You're right. I shouldn't have said. I think Zach was going, get me the fuck out of here. But he was going, can I have a conversation? Because he goes, hey, dude, we blow. And there's no way path forward for us to not blow. Which is correct. So there is my commentary is there is a situation there where he's going, dude, what's going on here? Because I want to win. And we. We are not winning. And we are not going to be winning anytime soon. We don't have a goalie. We don't have anything. I'm playing incredible. Like, no one has conversations unless it's things aren't good.

[A]

Well, yeah, but you're absolutely right. But I think it's no secret that things aren't good there.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, but it's just. You fair.

[C]

But they went on that heater at the end of the season, right? I mean, they were like, almost.

[B]

But they did that two years ago, too, you know, it's like they're just.

[C]

Third time's a chop.

[A]

You don't have it. The thing that sucks about this is I. Oh, I stand with Z.

[B]

10 toes.

[A]

I stand with Z. I believe everything he said.

[B]

Me too. But this. Can I say my now request?

[A]

No, because I'm still going.

[B]

Well, I said I had two things.

[A]

Fuck, he did say that shit.

[B]

My request, My genuine request to the NHL public and especially Blue Jacket fans. And you are going to fucking appreciate this because I also stand with Z. In two years, what does he have in his contract?

[C]

Z?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Two years left. 9.5.

[B]

Well, maybe that's. This is going to be slightly awkward then, but my point is, in whatever amount of time, even if he signs an extension when the Blue Jackets continue to stink, and then he goes, please trade me, you do not get to go.

[A]

You said you wanted to win here.

[B]

You said you loved Columbus.

[A]

I don't think they will.

[B]

That's what's happening to Dylan Larkin. You are allowed to go. This is my team. I'm proud to be Blue Jacket. I want to win here. And then when they don't win, you get to go. I would like to leave, please. So please be kind to him when you still stink. And then he wants to leave.

[A]

That's a great formal request, and I second it. I don't think Blue Jackets fans will feel that way at all. I think it's a little different than Dylan. But you're right, man. The facts of the matter are this. He has two years left. He's 28. Frankly, Chris, I wouldn't even be Surprised if this year goes poorly and they miss playoffs, if just next year they go, you know what, dude, let's, let's get you gone. Let's, let's get something going here. Because it's similar to Detroit where I go, you know, I look at this team, we love that Charlie Coyle deal, but like 34 year old Charlie Coyle signing a six year deal, five year deal, it's just, it's another one where I'm like, okay, Charlie's eight. I think Charlie's one of the best third line centers in the league. You go and get Val Nishushkin, what's that going to look like? I don't know. And then after that it's like you need. Fance needs to take a jump. I think he will.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

We love Adam Fantilli. I think he's unbelievable. Cole Cylinder needs to take a jump. Both of those guys need to get signed. They have 21 million cap space. Those I bet fans signs like probably similar. If not maybe no. Probably similar to like whatever Trevor Zeger assigns. They've got good defense. They, their goaltending is tough, man. Like, you're going to get an offer to Jet Greaves. But is Jet Grieves your starting goaltender? I don't think so. Mers Leakins is not. He's at 5.4. So it's like they need to go and get Aiden Hill. They need to go do the way that Kosa was traded for, like find one of these great goaltenders. Like if the Bruins didn't just trade Corp solid, which by the way was a great trade by them and now seems absolute that Michael DiPietro is going to be your backup and tandem goaltender with Jeremy Swayman. Like that's a guy that you need to go get. But like, like Columbus, you've got this one. You've got a new shot with Zach here. You've got to do stuff. You've got to do stuff because it's just to me, it's like, you have one more year.

[B]

Yeah, correct.

[A]

And that's. I have no fucking idea what I'm talking about. Like Z makes that statement. He might be like this. Yeah, dude. And next year I'm gonna sign another fucking eight year deal and I'm gonna die here.

[B]

Yeah, hopefully, dude. It's the heart of everything. He's in Ohio. Why would he leave?

[C]

Hard of it all.

[B]

Hard of it all.

[C]

Hard of it all.

[A]

Hard of it all. Yeah, maybe he retires there.

[C]

You know what's funny is that you said, hey, Dylan Larkin, but Try going to Columbus. And I'm like, that's almost the same as Detroit.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

But it's like. It's like what we were saying when we went on the Brady Tkachuk rant

[D]

thing

[A]

when Z says this. Don, ownership, it is now your job. It is your part of the bargain to do everything you can to make life great for these players and to bring people in and try to win a Cup. Yep.

[B]

All right.

[A]

That's all the crazy news there. Let's take an ad break and let's get into some fun, silly stuff. The World cup is going on, and it is the most fun thing I have ever seen. It is literally healing the relationship with the United States and the entire world. It's nothing but positive, good, happy vibes, kindness. It's everything that I believe in, everything I dream of. It's fantastic. And BETMGM is making it all even better. So let's make this tournament one to remember with BetMGM's 2 up early payout. Just place a pregame match result on any World cup match, and if your team goes up by two goals at any point, your bet is paid out as a win. That's ridiculous. That's right. You get to keep those winnings no matter what happens next. This offer is available every single match, so make sure to get in on the action. And if you haven't signed up yet for BetMgam, I don't know what you're doing. If you're a netters fan, you better be signed up for BetMGM and you can use bonus code netters N E T T E R S and you will get up to $1,500 in new player offer on your first wager. It's unbelievable. BETMGM is the way to go. Make it legendary. All right, it's time for some summer shenanigans. We are going to get into what we're calling Fraud Watch and top hits. This is where each of us are going to be able to go around. We're going to get to pick something that is on our Fraud Watch can be anything, can be topical news, can be just a hot take, but it's something that you're putting on the frog watch. We've talked about Fraud watch on this show.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Something that you're like, I think this might be on Fraud Watch. And then our top hits are going to be things we're fired up about, things that we think are awesome. I think we should start with Fraud Watch.

[B]

Great.

[A]

Evan, you said you had a lot, dude. So I want you to start.

[C]

I was salivating. I'm an angry man yelling at clouds. But, yeah, I'm gonna pick one. Jeff Bridges, you're on frobwatch.

[B]

Holy shit.

[A]

What the fuck?

[C]

Sorry. You're on fraud Watch, buddy.

[A]

Well, you went to a person.

[C]

I love Jeff Bridges. I'm gonna go on the record. I love Jeff Bridges. He's a great actor. He's been in a lot of great movies. But he was on Theo Vaughn's podcast, and he's all like, hey, man, you hear about this thing called Suno? And he's like, talking about how he's making songs with Suno. And I'm like, you can't sit here. And this is not just for Jeff Bridges. This is for anybody. I'm like, if you sit here and go like, I made a song with Suno, it's like, no, you didn't make a song. You. You literally typed three things, and then the fucking computer made you a song. And it's very ironic coming from a guy who played a fucking country star. And Crazy Heart music by T Bone Burnett, if anybody. And he's like on there going like, yeah, like, the guys in Nashville, like, they don't even have to pay money for musicians, man. You can just do it on a computer, man.

[A]

And I'm like, that's pretty awesome impression of Jeff Bruce.

[C]

Yeah, well, it's easy to do. You just gotta make your tongue kind of, like, big in the back of your throat, man. You know? And again, I love Jeff Bridges. I think he's great. But it's like, dude, he also won

[A]

an Oscar for crazy.

[C]

Yeah, I know. And like, your fucking union went on a picket line against AI taking over art. And you're sitting here going like, you got to get on. Are you hip to Suno? And I'm like, dude, so Suno's just

[A]

AI music this up.

[C]

It's AI music.

[B]

It's AI music.

[C]

Anybody that's like, I made a painting or I did a song, and you did it with. Completely with all. With AI. It's like, no, you didn't.

[B]

And what do you type in to Suno?

[C]

I think you just type like, I want to make a country song, and I want it to be about dogs and cats getting along, and then it, like, does ever. And you could be like, I want it to be kind of fast. Like, it's like this. And then there's people online. They're like, yeah, but there's like, you have to. You have to use your creativity to have the concept but, like, that doesn't matter anybody. Like, imagine if Christopher Nolan just stopped it. Like, I want to make a movie about the Odyssey and that's where it ended.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

20 years ago. That's just called a lazy dreamer.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So all these motherfuckers who like, just should be lazy dreamers are like, now I'm an artist, quote unquote. It's like, to put it in sports terms, it's like, what's the difference between Connor McDavid and you going on an NHL video game and playing as Connor McDavid and be like, I'm as good as Connor McDavid. Yeah, look, I'm like, no, you're not.

[B]

Yep.

[C]

You had a virtual reality version of Conor McDavid that played. Well, that's not you, dude. Well, that's what people keep saying. There's like, online, it's always like, some guy makes a fan made video of like, check out this AI video I made with Suno of like Darth Vader fighting Jason Voorhees. And he's like, the fucking film business is so cooked, bro.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Like, I don't know. Does anybody really want to watch that? I'm not sure. I mean, I'm. I'm an old man.

[B]

No, dude. Well, so this is. I'm probably biased about this, but I think music is more than film because I see that and I'm like, I don't care. But music, I mean, there are jokes, dude, that pops. Like, it's like gcd. Congratulations. E minor. Congratulations. Start a band.

[C]

Right, Right.

[B]

You know, because it's like, okay, dude, all your to do is every song is the same song. You just play the same pop hits. There's the same page by numbers.

[C]

There's only 12 notes. There's only a certain amount of chord arrangements. Like, I just think that, like, in general, my view on art is it's how people communicate with each other. How we. How we sow empathy with each other, how we communicate an idea of how we feel. And if you remove people from that process, then what's the fucking point? I just don't see the point of it. Like, it's fun as like a toy to play with, but, like, don't present it as like, here's a thing that I made. It's like, you didn't fucking make it.

[B]

Yeah. It's not art. It's. But it is entertainment. It remains entertainment because, like, I can listen to a Suno and be like, that's fun.

[A]

That's a. It is going to suck.

[B]

Ass.

[A]

When we hear the first bop that's

[B]

made by Suno, dude, I'm sure there are plenty. Do you think there'll be. Do you think when. When it's the whole planet is fully robotic? Will they have, like, Grammys and Oscars and stuff? Will bots give each other?

[C]

Probably, yeah. Because they're learning everything from us.

[B]

I think they will. I think they'll be like, best actors.

[C]

Yeah. It's just. I. Like, we're not making pencils here. It's like, you know, it's like. It's not like toilet paper. You just need to churn out as much because it's gonna get. It's like, it's art. Like, it doesn't need to be. Like, the only reason to use AI is because you want to do it faster and make more. And it's like, do we need more? Do we need to make it faster? I just don't see the point.

[A]

Damn, dude.

[C]

Anyway, that's my rant. I've got way more.

[A]

AI is on Fraud Watch for Evan, but through the lens of Jeff Bridges, which is because, like, actually, no, I like Jeff Bridges.

[B]

You're on Fraud Watch.

[C]

Because I love him. And it's disappointing to me.

[A]

You can't be an Academy Award winner running around here talking about a song you made, but you just made it with AI. That's fucking brutal. Bo Burnham literally made an entire country, fake country song about basically, this without AI. Like, it's already so easy to make a country.

[C]

So easy. It, like, literally, like, I'm. I'm a moron, and I've got a studio in my garage and I can record a song in, like, a day if I wanted.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But the real work is thinking about what the. Like, I sit here for a week and I smoke pot and I think about life, and then I go, oh, I can make a song about that. Cool, man. You know, that's what Jeff Bridges should be doing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Smoke more weed.

[C]

Smoke more weed, Jeff.

[A]

That's what. That's what we learned here. Jeff Bridges needs to smoke way more weed.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

You are not.

[C]

You.

[A]

You. You are becoming. You're starting to rely on the clankers, and you need to rely on the wheat, on the.

[B]

God, I wish I had a cool weed term that Ryan.

[C]

Ryan.

[B]

Clankers.

[A]

Yeah. Stankers.

[B]

Stankers.

[C]

There it is right there.

[A]

Dude, we got it so fast. You're a fucking idiot. Mine is similar to music's or in the vein of music. So I will go, okay, my Fraud watch. I think I might have, like, mentioned this to you before in my frustrations, but I've never aired it out on the pod. My fraud watch is unexpected. Live music in bars.

[C]

Oh, boy.

[B]

Dad really hates that.

[A]

I fucking hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. Now, don't get me wrong. All of you musicians who are like, dude, we rely on those gigs. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That's why I said unexpected. If I go to a bar and I know they have live music, or I'm going for the live music, I have no problem with that. But when I go to a bar or restaurant and there is unexpectedly a fucking band there playing, it is absolutely horrendous. It's so fucking annoying because I am going to that bar with the intent to sit, hang out, have some drinks with the fellas and talk about stuff. Or if I'm going to a restaurant, I'm trying to go and eat and, like, relax and enjoy my meal. And if there's some fucking band clanging and banging, it ruins everything. It's so loud. Live music is so, like, dominating. Yeah. You can't do anything. You can't think. It's so fucking loud.

[C]

I'll tell you from experience, like, when I go to a venue.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And play, like, my amp literally has to be on level. Fucking two out of ten.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

In order to. And, like, if I go any louder than that, it's uncomfortably loud in the room. So, like, it is so easy to be the loudest fucking thing in the world.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

In a restaurant. So I get it.

[A]

We're not talking Ryan Gosling in La La Land here playing background piano in a nice restaurant. I'm talking a live band fucking hammering music down my throat while I'm trying to fucking eat my.

[C]

That's inappropriate.

[A]

Pastrami Rubin.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That is bullshit, dude. It drives me insane. I can't do it. When I go to a bar and I see a live band walk in and start setting up, I'm like, I'm out of here.

[B]

Yeah. I was gonna say, yeah, I will leave.

[A]

I'll leave.

[B]

And you don't even go.

[C]

You.

[B]

Like you're saying unexpected, which pisses you off. But you don't even go to the band, to the bars that have the expected ones. You just don't go to correct, dude. Because you're like, I don't want this.

[A]

One of my favorite bars in the city. Hanano. Shout out Hanano. In Venice, when there is a live band tucked in that corner, I.

[B]

Time to go.

[A]

Get so upset.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I'm always like, I'm Going outside. We're sitting outside on the patio. Because I cannot, especially in that little bar. Those bands will make your ears bleed with how loud it is.

[C]

I just don't. I don't understand why you would have a band playing during a dinner service or in front of like dinner. Like, to me it makes sense. If there's a bar and there's a section that is just for you to sit and watch and drink.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

But if it's a band playing in front of a bunch of people eating at like 6pm that makes no sense to me.

[B]

Dude, can I.

[A]

So you're on my team.

[B]

Take that.

[C]

Well, no. Yeah, I mean, I'm on your side in the sense of like there's an appropriate time and place to do it. And I think that like, if you're not good at programming your restaurant.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Then you're annoying people. Because I also don't want to listen to loud ass music when I'm trying to have dinner. A conversation.

[A]

Yeah. To me it's like if you're. If you're a bar that has seats, people are sitting down, they're eating and they're drinking. Why do you ever have a live band there? Ever?

[C]

Unless it's like after 10.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And then it's like dinner's done being served.

[A]

If you're a bar that has a lot of dancing, then I kind of get it. Like if you're going to a bar with the intent to dance, a live DJ or a live band, it should be loud. It should be crazy. But it's like if you're a bar that's more of a lounge and people are eating and just chilling. Live music is the devil. Yeah, the devil.

[B]

I want to take this one step further in that we love. I feel like oftentimes in the show we find distinctions. Like when doit fries come with.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And it's like if you order at the counter. No, if you sit down. Yes. You know, there's things we've defined on this show. If there isn't space for dancing, you

[A]

can't have live music.

[B]

Yes. And that might be a hot take, but I'm telling you, dude, if I'm at a bar where it's just the bar.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I don't mean like hanano, where you can make it work or even like the break where we used to, like, you know, there's no dance. If there's not a space where I can then dance in front of that band. Get your fucking band out of the bar, man.

[A]

I will go even Further, it's like shout out. Jamo's down the road. If you go to JMO's in the afternoon. I went there two days ago for the Sweden game at 2pm it was glorious. There are high top tables everywhere. People sitting, eating, drinking, enjoying the game. And then after they start clearing out those high top tables because they're like, we gotta make room for the dance floor, for the live music. And I'm like, do you think that you're making more money by having some fucking. You're paying some live band? That's probably not great.

[C]

They're not getting paid much. Yeah, for me there's not a lot of money in there.

[A]

But now we have a zoo of people sardined in there who aren't even dancing. They're just standing there kind of nodding to the music. And I'm like, if you had those tables, they'd probably be spending more money because you'd have a server. They'd be able to get drinks more easily. I just. I don't know.

[C]

Yeah, this is why it has to be after people are done eating.

[A]

Yeah, but even without the eating, dude, again, this is my take. This is my fraud watch. Live music at bars. Fucking sucks. And frankly, even if it's I am done eating, it is 10pm the second that band starts rolling in, I go, time to leave, dude. Deuces. Cause you have now ruined the night.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Now I'm not going to be able to hear you when you're sitting right across from me because this fucking person is jamming Wonderwall as loud as they possibly can. And now I can't hear the conversation I'm having. I'm leaving. Live music and bars. Fraud watch.

[B]

Great, great. Mine's kind of fucking random and insane, but to be fair, you texted me this at like 12:30 at night and I was on like hour 12.

[A]

Don't add the caveat, dude.

[B]

And I was like, man, what is bumming me out? And I thought, actually I kind of reverse engineered it. And what made me so happy is it was so awesome that that game I was at last night ended at seven or whatever. And then it wasn't till like nine in the drive that the. It got dark. Like I switched my headlights on at like 8:45 and I was like, sick. It's just, I love that, like, it stays light.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then I was thinking, so I was thinking about daylight savings and how much it sucks that in the winter it gets dark. And I know one hour it like fucks with our rhythm anyway, but I Was like, I actually think now, I don't know, I don't know what is exactly on fraud watch here. Maybe the sun, maybe, maybe daylight savings in general, but I actually think we should have the sun set at 8:30 no matter what. Like we should adjust our clocks so that the sun goes down at 8:30. Just react to that first before I give you some logistics.

[C]

Wait, so you'd have to in the winter. Hold on. You'd have to wake up in the dark?

[A]

Yep. This is.

[B]

Which we do anyway.

[A]

This is a terrible idea.

[B]

Which we do anyway.

[A]

This is one of the worst ideas you've ever had.

[B]

Well, here's the thing, Daniel. Okay. You guys reacted right now. Right now we wake up and it's dark in the morning. In the winter too. But then eventually it's like an hour and then. Yeah, for an hour. So it's dark for an hour when we wake up. And then the sun sets at fucking 4:30 and it's pitch black and you want to blow your brains out. Oh, it's awful.

[A]

Well no, it's in the winter when the sun goes down at 4:30 here in LA and I wake up at 7, it's not dark. If you wake up at 6, it's dark. But if I wake up 7, 8, it's not dark.

[B]

So what should happen is the sun should come up at 12:31pm like we should live our whole mornings in the pitch black while we're just stuffed in at work. Anyway. And then right as we all step out for our lunch. God, the beautiful day is here. And we have our day.

[A]

Hey pal.

[B]

Dinner. And then you would love Sweden. And the sun goes down and then we settle in for our team.

[C]

I get ready and it'd be lovely. I, I, I. When I used to have to drive from Savannah to Maryland for like back and forth from college, it's a ten hour drive. Right. This like psychological hack that I had was that if I left at 4am and the sun didn't come up till like 6:30. Yeah. Then those like two and a half hours of darkness almost didn't count. And like when the sun came up I was like, oh, now my day started.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And then it was a, it was a seven hour drive instead of a ten.

[B]

I love that.

[C]

So like I see there's a psychological element that I'm. Because that I understand.

[B]

The morning hours are literally irrelevant. Like all we are doing is like waking up and the people who are up wicked early to gym. It's all dark anyway. Yeah. Literally just wake up it's dark. Go into your office and just sit there for three hours while it's dark and just do the job. And then be like, okay, now that you would. The first time you would ever step out ever, is noon anyway. And now I'm like, great, the sun's up. You enjoy your seven to eight hours of daylight. And then the sun will go down and you have dinner and go to bed. And I'm like, we did it. We fucking did it, dude. And then in the summer, it's just daylight, longer, and it's amazing like we have now.

[A]

So what exactly are you putting on Fraud?

[B]

I'm not sure. I'm just telling you what was happening to me.

[C]

The rotation of the air.

[A]

You were given one directive and you don't have anything to put on Fraud Watch.

[B]

The Fraud Watch is us. We are on fraud watch for not correctly moving daylight savings to the appropriate time.

[C]

He must have wildly moving. It would move so much.

[A]

This. This is such a brutal take for.

[B]

Yeah, it'd be every month, ev. Like, there's not two daylight savings.

[C]

You'd be like, okay, move your hour back.

[A]

This is such a brutal take for any morning person. Which I like, because morning person, they're

[B]

mutants anyway, and they do everything in the dark.

[A]

No, no, dude, you like, this is so wrong. And, and let me also say this. I also love it when the sun goes down later. It's amazing. Like, walking out of this office at 8 and it's still light. Makes me so happy. It feels very me. With so much joy, as it does everyone on earth. But that, yes, agree, but the implication is that nothing that happens in the morning is worth it. Like I. Yes, I love the morning. I get so much done in the morning.

[B]

And you can do it in the dark.

[A]

No.

[B]

Yes, you can do it. Yes, you can. Everything you get, tell me every single thing you get done in the morning, right now, tell me.

[A]

I walk outside and I bask in the sunlight on my face.

[B]

Okay, you couldn't do that. That's the one thing you can't do.

[C]

Yeah, dude, you could get a UV light.

[A]

I'm so mad at you for. We're trying to do Fraud Watch and you have nothing to put on Fraud Watch.

[B]

You were on Fraud Watch, dude. You were on Fraud Watch for not accepting that this is the way forward. This is the truth. When the earth burns up. You still don't even get what you're saying.

[A]

You're saying that we should just. We should change our clocks accordingly all year long so that.

[B]

And 8:30 8:30pm is our anchor. We anchor off 8:30. We don't have.

[A]

So you're putting clocks on fraud watch?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Cuz now clocks don't matter.

[B]

Yeah. Every month there's a new.

[A]

And actually maybe they matter more than ever because it's like Every day at 8:30pm the sun needs to go down.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Well, you know that the scientists have said, like the Earth is. Is it spinning faster or slower or something's happening to the rotation. Over the past few years, I think

[A]

you would be shocked how miserable your life would become if every single morning until noon it was dark.

[B]

Well, no, it would only be in the dog days of December. And I would go, who gives a fuck that it's dark in December 5th?

[A]

I think a lot of people. I think people in Sweden are like, it is brutal in the winter when it's dark all morning.

[C]

It would make walking the dog in the morning a little harder.

[B]

And to be clear, we're not. There's no. We're not losing any daylight.

[A]

I understand what you're saying. Shifting your morning, you're just shifting life. Like, because now, now everyone's sleep until noon.

[B]

No, no, no.

[A]

That would happen, Chris.

[B]

Well, good, then that would be amazing. Sleep is good.

[A]

Well, yes, it is. But this is gonna fuck up a lot of stuff.

[B]

God, it would be so perfect.

[C]

He wants everybody to be like a stoner.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Again, like mine. More pot, please.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

All right, now let's go to top hits. Why don't you start it as I will snake it.

[B]

My top hits again. I was just riffing.

[A]

Okay, here we go.

[B]

I was thinking about fourth of July, which is awesome.

[A]

I'm going to interrupt you because it's mine.

[B]

There's no universe. Where would I.

[C]

You guys are brothers.

[B]

Okay, all right, all right, all right.

[C]

Same time.

[B]

Have as your top hit. And if you do. Dude, this is the last Empty Daughters episode ever and we are quitting. Okay. I would like more

[A]

if you fuck up the directive of this as well.

[B]

No, this. What? Wait, what is this one? You just said awesome stuff.

[A]

I'm waiting. Is that what is on your top hit? What is your top hit of the week?

[B]

I want more grass volleyball.

[A]

Okay, so grass volleyball is your. Okay, sweet.

[B]

Because we were always playing beach, which is fun as hell. And then there's indoor volleyball, obviously. But when I swear, when I was younger, I would go to fourth of July barbecues, which are goaded, and there'd be a volleyball net up in the yard, and I was like, this is awesome. And then I never played that again for the rest of my life until Loop's bachelor party when we played it in the yard. And I was like, God, that's so sick. And I was like, dude, I think we're just old. So no one wants to play. No one wants to get dirty and sweaty at the Fourth of July barbecue, but I do, and I want more grass volleyball. And I am going to try to play this year.

[A]

Let me tell you something. You nailed it. Top hits is grass volleyball. I just. I wish you had just said grass volleyball.

[B]

I thought you. I thought you. The idea that you also had grass volleyball.

[C]

Well, you did both play grass volleyball, didn't you? You know, I played badminton in the grass recently also.

[D]

Great.

[C]

It's almost the same, right? It's just the net's bigger and a

[B]

little less dirty, probably.

[C]

Yeah, because you're not.

[B]

You. You know, like. Because I'm flying all over the place in volleyball, but badminton, you can.

[C]

You got the.

[B]

Yeah, you can get down. You can get down in badminton.

[C]

A little bit less shuttlecock. That's the greatest fucking thing I've ever.

[B]

Incredible. And I'd be okay with that, by the way. I'd be okay with a badminton sub.

[A]

Grass volleyball is electric. Chris, that's an amazing hit list.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

Or top it.

[B]

Yep, top hit.

[A]

Evan, what's your topic?

[B]

You said we're snake.

[C]

We were snaking.

[A]

I'm gonna last because I believe mine's going to transition perfectly.

[B]

So you're the snake.

[C]

Oh, got it.

[A]

Yes, I see.

[C]

This is a. Do you remember when the Internet just had, like, cool, free things that were not everything was trying to sell you on shit. Like, when we were growing up, it was like Ebaum's World and, like, sites where you would just like, yeah, YouTube, bro.

[B]

YouTube. And we love YouTube.

[C]

Yeah, we do. But, like, but. But. But back when it was just like, here's a thing that somebody made and whatever. Well, there is one thing that I really love, and it's this app called Radio Garden. And literally, it's a fucking globe. And you can go around the United States. You might even be able to go to other countries. And you go to a city and it shows you all the radio stations you can pick up, like, terrestrial radio. So, like, for example, if I want to hear local Pittsburgh Penguins, like, sports radio, I can zoom into Pittsburgh and find all the stations, and you listen for free.

[A]

Are you getting paid for this?

[C]

No, I'm not. I swear to God I'm not. I just think it's a cool like, it's. It's one of those things, like, man, what a. What a nice.

[B]

Those were the fucking days, bro.

[C]

Yeah. And it's still here. I mean, it's an app. I don't know how old it is, but, yeah. So that's something that I think is. Should be. People should know, dude.

[B]

Radio. Radio is the last frontier. Like, radio is like, we. They will die.

[A]

So your top hit is this app that allows you to check out different.

[C]

I just think if you're. Yeah. If you're home radio, if you're homesick like me and you want to listen to, like. I mean, it's radio, so it's like, come on. It's not that interesting. But if you want to listen to weird stations and other places, Radio Garden is like a fun, free thing. I mean, there's ads on it that you have to, like, click through. Sometimes you're like, fuck them.

[A]

God damn it, dude.

[C]

But you just listen to whatever station you want, and it's so comprehensive. It's kind of crazy. And it's cool that it's a globe that you can sort of, like, riff around.

[B]

I love that, dude.

[A]

I think this is cooler than I initially thought. Like, I'm starting to wonder if there was something crazy going on in some part of the country.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, you could, like.

[A]

You'd be able to, like. If there's a crazy tornado in Kansas. Yeah, I could go to Kansas Radio.

[B]

That's probably talking about it. I do. I think.

[C]

I don't know why you would want to do that.

[B]

Nostalgic about radio. And I feel as though the new generation, newer generations are not at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I both mean from a driving. From a music standpoint, where I'm just in the car and, you know, you put on. What was the bop in Maine? Like, 107.1.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In New England.

[B]

So you're like, okay, 107.1. And there's the guy who's gonna play the hits, the pop hits. And I'm like, great. And then also big time for me is sports, like, listening to Red Sox games on the radio.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I just think kids now are not listening to. You can get the TV feed on everything on your phone. Like, you know, you can listen to your sports tv, TV feed, and they listen to Spotify, you know, which is fine. The world changed. That's all good. But I just. I am. We. I think we are probably one of the last generations that are nostalgic about the radio.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

Evan.

[A]

I was not expecting this. And I like it.

[C]

There you go. Radio Garden.

[A]

All right, my top hit of the week. I actually had one that I'll probably save because I'm going to switch it up for a clear and obvious reason. Listen, my top hit of the week is the 4th of July in general. I'm sitting up for this. Not only is it the 250th anniversary, but I am so fired up for the 4th of July. It's going to be my top hit because of the World Cup.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I'm so excited for this fourth of July because I believe there is more love and excitement going on in this country right now than there has been in a long time. And I think you can't properly love something unless you love yourself. It's the truth, dude. You gotta work on yourself first. And right now, there's a lot of love going on. And I am so fucking fired up, dude. For an opportunity where we, along with Canada and Mexico, are hosting this World cup. There's millions of international folks who are here enjoying the us Enjoying things about the culture, enjoying the people and having so much fun. And we now get to share that with them. So I'm saying right now, if you are an international person and you're in LA and you see me on the 4th of July, come up and party with me.

[B]

Oh, hell yeah.

[A]

Because, dude, the fourth of July is so fun. It's one of our best holidays in the US and the fact that we had this awesome month of the World cup of so many people being like, wow, there's so many cool things about the US this party is about to be so fun and it's an opportunity. This is what the US Is built on, dude. Sharing cultures, welcoming people in, melting pot vibes, the land of opportunity. So to be able to have had this awesome month of sharing the US with all of these amazing people from around the world, and now we're about to get to share the fourth of July with them is so awesome. This is gonna be the best 4th of July of all time, dude. Like, all of these people from all over the world are going to be in all of these US cities and they're going to get to watch us do fourth of July celebrations. Guess what? You're in it now, dude.

[B]

That's such a great point. You're involved now that the World cup, the host, one of the host countries, their Independence Day fell during the World cup window. And everyone like that. Does that ever happen?

[A]

Dude, it fell during the World Cup. We're still in it. Canada's still in it. Mexico is still in it. All the host nations are still in the World Cup. Fourth of July on the 250th anniversary is happening. Like, this is so fun, so cool. And I just think it is such an amazing opportunity that right now we're seeing more national pride than we have in too long. And we're fucking shutting down the media, we're shutting down the politicians, we're shutting down the negativity, we're shutting down the bad narratives. And people are, for the first time in a long time, just being so happy to be from the US to be able to proudly celebrate that, and more importantly than anything, to share that. That's what it's all about, dude. This Fourth of July is now about not just a celebration, but it's about sharing. And I'm like, I am so looking forward to Saturday to be able to wear some US Gear and to find someone who's not from the US and put my arm around their shoulder and go, I'm so excited to fucking celebrate the 4th of July with you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Cause you know what's fucking awesome, dude? I have actually been out of the country the last two years in the fourth of July. I know. Two years in a row. I was in Sweden, and I was in England. And you know what? I had a fucking amazing 4th of July because everyone there.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Who knew I was from the US was like, dude, it's 4th of July and you're here. Let's do some 4th of July shit. That's what it's all about, dude. That's the fucking love and kindness that makes the world great. We are now hosting the biggest tournament in sports in this country on the 4th of July on the 250th anniversary. And we have all of these international people here. It's time to fucking make the 4th of July a. An international day. And we'll get to go like this. Hey, we're not celebrating. We're not just celebrating the US we are sharing the US with all of you and everything that's great about it. And that fires me up, dude.

[B]

This the. I got to go to the game. Yes. Yes. And Gavin and Loop were like, this is. I've never been to an international thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, whatever. And I was like, oh, you know what? I am completely spoiled because of the Olympics that we just went to. Where. Because I don't think I had really until then, but. And four nations, you know? But now I was like, oh, I've been really feeling this Pride. And the women won two. And that was fucking awesome. But I just always go back to that Jack Hughes post game when he was like, you know, he's like, tweaking on adrenaline. He doesn't even know where he is. But he was like, I'm just so fucking proud to be American. I was like, come on, that's amazing. And that is exactly how I feel too. And I want to share that also.

[A]

That's what I'm saying, dude. Cause, like, I think that emotion from him in that moment is. It's not like pride in the sin way. Yeah, it's in. I think it's gotta be about in the sharing way. Like, the way I've just felt so awesome this month.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like seeing so many people have their mind changed about the US Is again, it's what we're getting back to what it was all supposed to be about, dude. So let's keep that fucking going and have the best party this weekend. So this is my message to all of you in the US have the best 4th of July weekend ever. And share it, dude.

[B]

Share it.

[A]

Because that's what this is fucking all about. Fires me up with that. Let's close this episode with a blind ranking. We've got 4th of July barbecues coming up, and I hope everyone has the best time ever. And I hope you get to spread that love and joy and happiness to everybody year round. But we're doing blind ranking 4th of July barbecue foods.

[B]

Hell yes, dude.

[C]

I want to add a wrinkle.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Can we do barbecue sides, or have we done that before?

[B]

No, I love it 100%.

[C]

I just feel like the mains. We all know that's going to be too easy.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know what, Ed?

[A]

You can do whatever you want here. You can throw anything here. I love it.

[C]

Well, it's got to be. It's going to be four. There's all barbecue sides. Here we go. Baked beans.

[A]

Ooh, I love baked beans.

[B]

And I love them with yellow mustard. Specifically yellow. Normally I'm a dude.

[A]

Have you ever done that?

[C]

No, I've never. We're learning quickly on this podcast that mustard goes with a lot more than we think initially. But I don't deny it.

[A]

I'm gonna stand with Chris on this. Specifically yellow mustard. Cause yellow mustard gets a bad rep.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

People are like, yellow mustard is children's mustard. I think I've got love for all mustard.

[B]

You do?

[A]

Yellow mustard on baked beans is distinctly better than, like, a spicy brown, a ground mustard or something like that. So I love that move. I. I'm a pretty hands eater on Fourth of July barbecue. I like eating with my hands, not so much a fork. Now, obviously, there's great things. I probably am going low here. Also, you know what? Talking about international. Also great on baked beans is HP Sauce.

[B]

What's HP Sauce?

[A]

It's a very British. You put it on, like, a stuff on a roast or an English similar

[C]

to a one, isn't it?

[A]

It's very.

[B]

It's very similar. I know what you're talking about. Yeah.

[A]

HP Sauce and baked beans.

[B]

Ah, man, I want to go high. I actually love beans. I love. Actually, I love making beans, too. I feel like I'm. I'm in the. I'm in the West.

[A]

What do you mean making beans? You just heat them up?

[B]

Yeah, I love heating up beans.

[A]

You love heating up beans?

[C]

Like pouring a pan out, putting it in.

[A]

No, no, no. He doesn't even do.

[B]

He just opens it, puts it over,

[A]

and then put the can, sticks it in a wedge of his. Two sticks.

[B]

And then you eat out of the can. And then I go, dude, you.

[C]

You're a hobo. You're a 1930s hobo.

[A]

You watched Dennis the Menace one time, and then you were like, yeah, yeah, you're Christopher Lloyd from Dennis eating beans

[B]

up too hot, where they give someone a can of beans and they eat it.

[A]

So mud.

[B]

Mud.

[A]

Dude gives him beanie weenie. And I'm like, dude, he's just finger.

[B]

And I'm like, dude, you need to eat those beads. More cobbly,

[C]

too.

[B]

Like, it's okay, dude, make it last.

[A]

Make it last.

[B]

One.

[C]

You're putting this on One.

[A]

Holy shit. I want to go four, but I'll go three. The classic lame three. But, I mean, baked beans are great. I'm never going to be mad about baked beans being three. Okay, three.

[C]

All right. We're locking in three on baked beans. Specifically, grilled corn on the cob.

[A]

Oh, four.

[B]

Cause it's grilled.

[A]

I love corn on the cob, man. And, like, I think a lot of people don't know this. Corn on the cob is often accompanied with seafood, like a lobster bake. And we grew up with that in Maine. I love corn on the cob. Put as much fucking butter and salt on that shit as is possible. Also, you come out here, you put some, like, cotija on there. Some Tajin. Yeah. It's also fucking incredible. But corn on the cob, for me, it's just, like. Gets in your teeth so bad. Yeah. Your hands get messier eating that you

[B]

just said you're a hands guy.

[A]

I know, but your hands get like. I can eat a burger with my hands and not necessarily get messy. I eat corn on the cob. It's messier than fucking ribs. And we know how I feel about ribs.

[B]

Yeah,

[A]

I love corn on the cob, but I think I'm four here, dude. Like, that's not a one or two spot for me.

[B]

Dude. I love corn on the cob. My corn on the cob. Sometimes I feel like I am actually this is the equivalent of my corn on the cob. Imagine a plate of loose corn kernels, cooked corn kernels. And then I take a stick of salted butter and I roll that in the corn. That is essentially what I'm eating when I eat.

[A]

Yeah, and that's incredible. What you just said sounds so good. When you literally see the indentation of. Of corn on the cob in the stick of butter, that's when you know you're cooking.

[B]

I know, but you. I think you're misunderstanding me. Like you're saying you're implying that I take my corn and roll it in butter. I'm telling you, I take a stick of butter and roll it in loose corn kernels until it comes up surrounded with corn and then I eat that.

[A]

I also love that.

[C]

I also love Chris Farley.

[B]

Yeah, I will go four because I think maybe there are hammers coming, but I like it.

[A]

No, you're going four because it's right. No grilled corn on the cob.

[C]

Four potato salad.

[A]

Now we're talking.

[B]

Yeah, now we're talking big time.

[A]

Now we're talking. I love potato salad. And this is, I'm also gonna say this. Underrated. I think it's such a staple that a lot of people dismiss it. And they're like, oh, potato salad. I don't need some of the potato salad. Potato salad is so good. And you gotta like make it well.

[B]

And there's so many variations. That's why I love it.

[A]

Don't buy shitty store bought potato salad. There's really good store potato salad, but like, you can make a great potato. Potato salad is unbelievable.

[B]

Incredible. I want to go two.

[A]

And this is a fork one. So you know I like it.

[B]

Yeah, there's something that I really want at one.

[A]

Yeah, I wouldn't go one here.

[B]

Okay, let's go.

[A]

But it's definitely above baked beans and corn for me. Oh, yeah, potato salad. Let's go to potato salad, rocks.

[C]

I'm gonna say chips and dip of any variety.

[B]

Damn. Now.

[C]

So that could Be. That could be Tostitos. That could be potato bind.

[B]

Here. Now I'm in a bind.

[A]

Okay. Actually, great point. Chips and dip of any variety. I love that. Fourth of July barbecue is when French onion dip comes to shine. Like, we're not. I mean, listen, chips and salsa will be there. Yep. But Fourth of July barbecue, we're doing more creamy dips. We're doing French onion dip. We're doing, like, a dill dip with ruffles. Classic ruffles.

[C]

Ruffles are the best.

[A]

You could do like a buffalo chicken dip on 4th of July. Include that.

[B]

That's fucked.

[A]

I mean, we're doing all varieties. This might be one. Because of the variety. Variety is the spice of life. Yeah.

[B]

Because now if buff chick dip is in, then it is one.

[A]

I think it's. I mean, dude, 4th of July, and I have the. I have the entire pantheon of chip dips. That's gotta be one.

[C]

I'm.

[B]

But now my favorite fucking side is gonna be six.

[A]

You don't know that. You don't know that. It might not be said. You're not in his head.

[B]

Yes, I am.

[C]

He's in my head.

[B]

What the.

[A]

We have the entire field of chip dips. French onion dill dip, buffalo chicken dip, chips and salsa, sour cream. Okay, I mean, I just. What is going to beat every dip on the planet? Guacamole. I'm forgetting some great dips here. Please speak up, guys.

[C]

What's the one with spinach artichoke? Did we mention.

[A]

Yeah, I didn't say spinach artichoke. That's a great one.

[B]

That's incredible.

[A]

Trifle. Three layer bean dip.

[C]

Oh, three layer bean dip.

[B]

Jesus. Okay, one.

[A]

It's gotta be one, dude. We have the entire field of dips.

[B]

Yep. Yep.

[C]

You guys are gonna love this. So five. At number five is veggie skewers.

[A]

Oh, yes.

[B]

God, that's awesome.

[A]

We did it, dude.

[B]

Oh, dude.

[A]

Pimento cheese dip.

[B]

Thank God, dude. Thank God. Thank God.

[A]

Veggie skewers. Suck it.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

If you're eating a vegetable on the 4th of July.

[C]

Come on. Now, hold on. Like a. Like a pepper onion mushroom on a skewer. That's good. That's good.

[A]

Yeah, sure.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

Suck it, suck it. All of our international friends, we ain't eating veggies on Fourth of July barbecue unless it's grilled corn on the cob. Now, I will say every now and then, when I go to, like, a barbecue like that and someone has those fucking absolutely delectable skewers. Of a cherry tomato with a ball of mozzarella with a balsamic glaze on

[C]

there and some basil.

[A]

Oh, amazing. But it is a 5.

[B]

I thought it was going to be pasta salad. And pasta salad.

[A]

You thought you're sitting here and you think you're in his head. The second he said potato salad, I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew he wouldn't do two salads.

[B]

Because pasta salad is the most Fourth of July.

[C]

I love pasta salad.

[A]

It's pasta salad.

[B]

I don't eat it ever. Except at 4th of July.

[A]

Also, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna take a step above here. Okay. Pasta salad, in my opinion, is distinctly different from macaroni salad.

[B]

And I love them both. I love them both.

[A]

I love them both. But pasta salad is way better. And, dude, actually, hey, all of our listeners, I am begging you, begging you, DM me or us, your best pasta salad recipes. Because, dude, I can't tell you the amount of parties I've gone to where someone has brought a homemade pasta salad and it knocks my dick clean off my body. And I'm like, what the fuck was that? It was unbelievable. Some people's homemade pasta salad recipes are some of the best shit I've ever fucking had.

[B]

I agree, Dan. And I love them. And I love. It's something that even like.

[A]

Like, it's unreal.

[B]

Ones are good, too. Usually the deli section where it's like the made. Made in the counter.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

But those are awesome.

[A]

So goddamn good, dude. So goddamn good. That is one of the best blind rankings we've ever done. We nailed this. I. I genuinely think that that was perfect. I'm so proud of us. We are perfect.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Chips and dip, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, veggie skewers. That's the order.

[A]

I mean, nailed.

[B]

Come on.

[A]

Nailed it. That's it for today's episode, folks. Beautiful stuff. We're going to keep ripping all the World cup content, so tune in for that more NHL stuff to come. We're going to have great guests coming in the coming weeks. A lot of exciting stuff. Beautiful, beautiful action going on here. Have the best 4th of July weekend ever. Such a special thing. 4th of July landed on a Saturday. That is unbelievable. Share it. Share it. Share it. That is my message to you. Share. This amazing holiday, this amazing country, all of the amazing people with all of the other amazing people who are here, show them the best time ever. Stay safe, stay happy, stay loving, enjoy it. We'll see you next week. And until then, skate hard.

[D]

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