NHL Trade Deadline Rumors and Olympic Gold Medal Stories w/ Taylor Heise and Cayla Barnes

Summary

Empty Netters Podcast — NHL Trade Deadline Rumors & Olympic Gold Medal Stories

Episode Date: March 5, 2026
Guests: Taylor Heise, Cayla Barnes
Hosts: Dan Powers, Evan Watkins, Chris Bowers
Podcast: Almost Friday Media

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

This special edition of the Empty Netters Podcast dives into the fever pitch of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, analyzing high-profile rumors, last-minute deals, and the shifts that could define the rest of the season. Plus, the episode features acclaimed Olympic gold medalists Taylor Heise and Cayla Barnes, fresh off Team USA's dominant run in Milan, who share behind-the-scenes stories from Italy, emotional reflections on winning gold, and what it’s like pivoting back to the PWHL. The chemistry is electric as the hosts balance irreverent on-ice banter with reverence for their guests’ journeys.

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HIGHLIGHTS & KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Intro and Vibe Check

[00:00–04:00]

• Hosts return with playful bickering, celebrating Chris’s birthday and engagement.
• Lighthearted debates on hockey jersey fashion (“If you’re gonna wear a jersey, you gotta wear small ones so they fit like normal T-shirts.” —Dan, [00:50]), Los Angeles seafood spots, and the tradition of boozy lunches in the Mad Men era.

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2. The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline: Real-Time Reactions & Breakdowns

[04:48–55:56]

Hot Ice and Immediate Breaking News

• The hosts are glued to social media, reacting live to trade developments.
• Tyler Myers Traded to Dallas:
  “Tyler Myers has been traded to the Dallas Stars.” —Dan, [06:15]
  “What’d they give up?...Vancouver retaining 50%...makes him simply a $1.5 million player this year and next. Great trade.” —Dan, [25:49]

Major Trade Rumor Analysis

Key Players Discussed:

• Vinny Trocheck:
  “He is certainly getting traded. However, he has made a statement that he will not go to a West team, which just devastates me.” —Bowers, [07:43]
  • Carolina, Boston, and Tampa speculated as fits.
• Dougie Hamilton:
  “This is a complicated one…New Jersey, what are you doing?...I think they’re out of playoffs. I am eliminating the New Jersey Devils from playoffs.” —Dan, [11:06]
  • San Jose or a Western Conference team as potential landing spots.
• Nazem Kadri:
  “This is the last year I will ever bring up Kadri. Because either he’s getting traded this year or he’s just going to die on the Flames because he doesn’t care…” —Bowers, [16:19]
  • Colorado reunion and Dallas discussed as top destinations.
• Jordan Kyrou:
  “I think it’s a summer trade...but you know where I like him? Islanders.” —Bowers, [21:55]
• Ryan O’Reilly:
  “Absolutely. Moving straight to Dallas, baby. Ryan O’Reilly makes so much sense on this Dallas team. They love their old wily vets. Why not make it work with Factor?” —Dan, [23:14]
  • O’Reilly to Colorado also heavily pitched.
• Rob Thomas:
  “Rob Thomas went from being the most underrated player in the NHL to this week, becoming the most overrated player in the NHL.” —Bowers, [35:35]
  • Massive asking price; Kings and Sabres rumored.
• Jake DeBrusk, Mackenzie Weegar, Evander Kane:
  • DeBrusk to Islanders, Weegar as highly underrated, and skepticism on acquiring Evander Kane due to “baggage.”

“Draft Picks Mean Nothing” Rant

[26:09-27:29]
“Draft picks mean nothing. Prospects mean nothing…Take the talent. Take the proven talent every time.” —Bowers, [27:15]

Goaltender Carousel and Bobrovsky Rumors

[46:30–51:37]

• Florida signs Louis Domingue, fueling Bobrovsky trade rumors:
  “If Sergey Bobrovsky, after what he has done to the Oilers the last two years got traded to the Oilers and then won them a cup—they need to build a Sergey Bobrovsky statue on top of the Wayne Gretzky statue in Edmonton. I’m dead serious.” —Dan, [46:54]

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3. Olympic Gold Medal Interviews

Taylor Heise: Love, Grit, and Olympic Gold

[57:58–99:01]

• Showing Off the Medal
  “It’s heavy…Meg Keller actually just went on SNL and they had to backstage sew this because it’s so heavy it broke.” —Taylor, [58:22]

• Post-Games Whiplash
  “I literally feel like I haven’t been home…my body…I don’t really know where I’m at...” —Taylor, [60:03]

• The Emotional Climb Back from 2022 Disappointment
  “Where I was four years ago and where I am now without the gold medal…just the experiences that I’ve had and me being able to like pick myself up out of the gutter in 2022 and find a way to figure out to get here in 2026 is pretty incredible.” —Taylor, [65:35]

• Team Chemistry and Veteran-Youth Blend
  “The confidence he had in our group…we were just steamrolling…after that Canada game, I think we had that thought, as in, I don’t care who we play, doesn’t matter…there’s just not a chance.” —Taylor, [73:41]

• Inside the Gold Medal Game

  • Overcoming nerves and adversity (discussion of trailing for the first time)
    “No, I would never [say I thought the final was a blowout]. Must have been the blowouts [hair]!—the coaches got blowouts before the game for good luck.” —Taylor, [94:20]
  • Overtime winner breakdown and trust in teammates:
    “I remember…there’s a picture of me, like, staring at the net, and I see Layla shooting…I jumped so high…and at that point, I knew it. I’m like, we’re gonna win.” —Taylor, [86:25]

• Post-Victory Celebration
  “We were at a club with Snoop Dogg performing, French Montana, Amber Glenn, Alyssa Liu…running through the Olympic village at 3:30 in the morning with a Corona in hand, sprinting around jumping through the Olympic rings.” —Taylor, [97:50]

Cayla Barnes: “The Vibes Will Never Wear Off”

[100:54–128:59]

• Back to Work with a Gold
  “I don’t think it’ll ever wear off. I still wake up and see posts about it…just the momentum we’ve gotten and how exciting it’s been since we’ve gotten back.” —Cayla, [101:52]

• On-ice Atmosphere Stateside and in Milan “Our fans are so awesome…didn’t seem like there was an empty seat…for the PW, for women’s sports, for hockey.” —Cayla, [103:00]

• The Four-Year Build and Team USA Evolution “This isn’t just, like, one year. We’ve been building this team for four years…some different pieces in and out, but for the most part the core is the same.” —Cayla, [105:29]

• Leaning on Legends in Clutch Moments
  “You need people that have been in those situations. At the end of the day, Hillary really believed in this group…and when she spoke to us…there was never any doubt in her voice.” —Cayla, [109:40]

• The Relief and Joy of the Equalizer “During that TV timeout I sat down and closed my eyes and I prayed to God …‘Just give us something, we’ve earned it.’…When it went in...the energy was honestly great on the bench…that was the turning point when we said, okay, we’re gonna win.” —Cayla, [115:41]

• Family Moments in Milan “This was the first time my dad got to see me play in the Olympics… being able to see them and enjoy the experience…just so cool.” —Cayla, [122:52]

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4. Professor Puck Line: Satirical “Sharp” Picks and Parlay Banter

[129:52–143:41]

• Professorial British banter returns, with long-winded parlay selections (“Friday Fade,” “Saturday Selly,” “Sunday Hat Trick Parlay,” “Life on the Line Parlay”).
• Dry wit, poetic pick justifications, and debate over trends (“Draft picks mean nothing. Prospects mean nothing.” —Bowers, [26:42]).
• Favorite picks:
  • “It is absolutely certain that the Detroit Red Wings will beat the Florida Panthers…therefore, we will fade the Red Wings and take the Florida Panthers to win on Friday for the Friday Fade.” —Dan, [133:34]

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5. Game: Connective Tissue

[143:04–151:43]

• Hosts play their name-meld game, blending hockey player names and bios for laughs and hockey trivia.
• Example: “Kale McCar[t]er Verhaeghe” — joining Cale Makar and Carter Verhaeghe

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NOTABLE QUOTES

• “Draft picks mean nothing. Prospects mean nothing. When people lose their mind, I always go, you pray to God your prospect becomes Robert Thomas. So why wouldn’t you make that trade?” —Dan, [26:36]
• “There is no better review. That's incredible. Yeah, no, that's five stars.” —Chris on Olympic dining hall lava cakes, [71:57]
• “We were at a club with Snoop Dogg performing, French Montana, Amber Glenn, Alyssa Liu…running through the Olympic village at 3:30 in the morning with a Corona in hand…” —Taylor Heise, [97:53]
• “I don’t think it’ll ever wear off.” —Cayla Barnes on the glow of Olympic gold, [101:50]
• “If Sergey Bobrovsky…got traded to the Oilers and then won them a cup…build a Sergei Bobrovsky statue on top of the Wayne Gretzky statue in Edmonton.” —Dan, [46:54]

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TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• Trade Deadline Talk & Breaking Tyler Myers News: [04:48–06:15]
• Deep Rumor Analysis: Vinny Trocheck, Dougie Hamilton, Kadri: [07:31–18:47]
• Draft Picks/Prospects Philosophy Rant: [26:09–27:29]
• Goaltender Carousel & Bobrovsky Rumors: [46:30–51:37]
• Taylor Heise Interview: [57:58–99:01]
• Cayla Barnes Interview: [100:54–128:59]
• Professors Parlay Picks: [129:52–143:41]
• Game—Connective Tissue: [143:04–151:43]

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TONE AND STYLE

Episodes blend hockey-nerd deep dives, breaking news banter, and inside jokes—balancing irreverent, sometimes silly bro energy (“I’m going to be on X this whole episode, just seeing if anything happens.” [05:14]) with moments of genuine respect and emotion for women’s hockey and their guests’ Olympic journeys.

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SUMMARY TAKEAWAYS

• Trade deadline buzz is at a fever pitch: The hosts meticulously analyze every big name and rationalize why teams should be bold, mocking those who hang onto picks/prospects.
• Women’s hockey’s momentum is undeniable: Taylor Heise and Cayla Barnes deliver some of the most heartfelt and insightful Olympic stories the pod has ever had—full of laughs, vulnerability, details about team chemistry, adversity, and the deep familial pride felt in Milan.
• Irreverence meets reverence: The Empty Netters hosts blend relentless teasing and satirical gambling advice with deep admiration for hockey’s culture, history, and heroic moments—culminating in another brilliant, speculative, and emotional episode.

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A must-listen for Trade Deadline obsessives and all fans of hockey’s new guard—on and off the ice.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.

[B]

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

[A]

Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all you? No, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't

[B]

taken a body check.

[C]

That's kind of nice.

[A]

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few Guinnesses. Ran into you guys. And that's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready. And we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. I am your host, Dan Powers. Over here in a gorgeous, gorgeous penguin uniform. On the sticks, Evan Watkins. Talk to the people.

[B]

Hey, nice pants.

[D]

This is like a child size from the 90s.

[A]

Yeah, but that's the move.

[B]

Yeah, it is.

[A]

I'm not a jersey guy, but if you're gonna wear a jersey, you gotta wear small ones so they fit like normal T shirts.

[D]

They're too blousy. They're way too blousy. Now, this is like my Steppin out jersey. You can wear this under a leather jacket.

[A]

You're doing something with the sleeve roll, too. Oh.

[D]

Cause they won't go down all the way. I'll look like Frankenstein otherwise.

[A]

No, no, no, keep. Don't. I don't even want to see it rolled down. It looks too good.

[D]

By the way, you great turtleneck.

[A]

Hey, thanks. Listen, this is my truth. I'm a British boy. I just have decided, even in Los Angeles, I'm gonna start dressing more my truth. And if you don't like it, you can stuff it. And this is a historic week because over here to my left again. I normally insult this guy, but earlier this week, he got engaged, and now today, it's his birthday. What? Chris Bowers.

[B]

Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew, pew.

[D]

As always, happy birthday, man.

[B]

Wow, dude.

[A]

We're also getting a live look at CP's birthday tradish.

[B]

Treat myself to a little sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle. Every year on my birthday, first thing that happens when I wake up, he

[A]

also gets a maple glazed donut and watches the original cartoon Disney picture of

[B]

Peter Pan and gets a bowl of clam chowder for lunch.

[D]

Really?

[A]

Yep.

[D]

Where are you getting the clam chowder from?

[B]

Don't know. Because I feel like we're right here and there must be a good spot.

[A]

Must be.

[B]

I haven't I haven't researched yet.

[A]

There's plenty.

[D]

There's that one, like, blue.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

Place.

[A]

Blue plate taco. Blue plate taco.

[D]

No, no, no. I'm talking about, like, if the building is blue. Oh, it's called, like, Captain Jack or something. It looks like it's from, like, the 80s or 7. No, that's way too nice. This is like a. This is like a. You know, like a plastic bib place.

[A]

I once went to Connie and Ted's on, like, a Wednesday to get. I've got a good friend named Dan Shore. Shout out, Dan Shore. Shout out, Dan Shore. We always do. We do Dan days a lot. And we went and we got some drinks at Connie and Ted's and it turned into us having, like, five martinis at Connie and Ted's. We both had to leave our cars there. It was crazy.

[B]

Great. Oysters.

[A]

We got a lot of oysters, too.

[B]

Smart move.

[A]

You know how girl dinner is. Like, it's. I think it might even be a martini. But it's like a martini and French fries and, like, Caesar salad, I think. I think hot boy dinner is like, oysters and a martini because it can't be a lot of food.

[B]

That was lunch in the Mad Men days.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[D]

You wonder where they vomit and kiss all over each other by the afternoon.

[B]

Not the best guys back then.

[A]

Damn, did they have fun.

[B]

They would go to lunch and have, like, three martinis and oysters and come back ham.

[A]

Yeah. And close deals.

[D]

Well, when everybody's that drunk, it's easy, you know? It's like you're all kind of the playing field.

[A]

Actually, dude, that was the key. You would take out a client, you'd loosen them up, you'd get them a little lubricated, and then you'd close deals.

[D]

Yeah, we're not closing deals.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

Dude, they had couches.

[A]

No, you know what we've talked about a million times? Gen Z, all this new generation. No one's drinking anymore. And also, it feels like nothing's getting done. It's because we're not drunk. That is when shit got done.

[D]

True.

[A]

Everyone knows that. It's hard to argue. Listen, we've got a great episode today. It's a CP birthday episode. We've also got Olympic gold medalist Taylor Heisey and Kayla Barnes on the show. Come on. Come on.

[B]

It's incredible. I couldn't be happier to have them here. Both deck. Well, it was actually funny because Barnesy, you know, Heisey, I think she says in the recording how she's Been traveling a lot.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But at least in this moment of the recording, she's home and at peace. And Barnes is just still on the road, you know, in a hotel.

[A]

I also want to say Taylor is. Taylor's so great and so funny about, you know, she posts a lot of stuff on. On socials and does funny tiktoks and stuff like that. Kayla needs to be infinitely more famous.

[B]

Yes, agree.

[A]

Like a decorated Olympian and also just one of the best people you will literally ever talk to. I absolutely love that human being. She is. I mean, I love them both.

[B]

She's the homie. Oh, yeah. You know what I mean? Like, she is the homie. And I will save it.

[A]

We'll save it. We'll let everyone get to it. We got Professor Puck line back. The professors are finally making a return after the Olympic break. We're going to play some games. We're going to get into it. But for now, we got to get into the hot ice because, baby, it's here. By the time you're listening to this, tomorrow is the trade deadline. Lot of buzz, a lot of stuff going on. I feel like we got edged a little bit yesterday. I'm going to be on. I'm going to be on X this whole episode, just seeing if anything happens.

[B]

But.

[A]

But it does feel like we got edged yesterday. There was just a lot of stuff going on. A lot of talk. Buffalo in the news. Robert Thomas in the news. We even got some. We got some Auston Matthews sprinkles. Not by me.

[B]

Well, by not by me. In private. In private.

[A]

Not yesterday.

[B]

This might be your favorite time of year.

[A]

I love trade deadline.

[B]

You little GM bitch.

[A]

It is my. My holidays are Christmas Trade deadline. I think we might have Tyler Myers to Dallas buzzing right now.

[B]

Really?

[A]

It literally just happened. Tyler Myers.

[B]

No fucking way.

[A]

Trade it to Dallas.

[B]

I wrote this, dude.

[A]

We need a breaking news noise.

[B]

My psycho note. Where did I write this shit?

[D]

Yeah. You know, it should be the Rob Thomas Santana song.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

That would be. So when he gets.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Not even just for Rob Thomas.

[D]

No, just in general.

[A]

Just in general.

[D]

I'll find it.

[B]

That's a great get, dude.

[A]

Tyler Myers has been traded to the Dallas Stars.

[B]

What'd they give up? I thought. Because I thought he could go ducks, to be honest.

[A]

Let's see what Darren is right shot, dude. Dragger on the report. Looks like.

[B]

What?

[A]

What are we saying? Drag. Show me. Sounds like pending trade call. Tyler Myers will land in Dallas. I love it.

[C]

Me too.

[A]

I literally forgot we were live for a second.

[B]

I Was like, I see the details.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That's how horny I get for trade.

[B]

Deadly.

[D]

You just zoned out.

[A]

I zoned out so hard. I was like, I gotta. Like, I gotta fire something off. This is fantastic. Okay. What a great way. Again, this will be old news by the time you listen to this, but Tyler Myers is being traded to Dallas. As we record this episode, the details will come out. So we're reporting. We'll. We'll be reporting on it, but let's get into it. Let's get into our hot ice. We're only talking about trade deadline stuff to me. We got a list of guys that might be on the move. CPI love it when you Sherpa us through all this stuff. Okay, so why don't you take the reins here as our Sherpa and talk to us about a bunch of guys that you've got on your big board.

[B]

These are people that I thought. I did a list of people I thought could move and then I also had some thoughts.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And predictions and stuff later. Vinny Trocheck. I'm going to give you age, cap hit and term.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

For Everybody. Vinny Trocheck 30 to 5.6 mil, three years. He has announced. I say he is certainly getting traded. However, he has made a statement that he will not go to a West

[A]

team, which just devastates me because I felt as though the Minnesota Wild made a ton of sense reunite with Bill Garon after the gold medal win. Billy G. Rode so hard for him but doesn't want to go West. So let's first get into 32. Three years left on his deal. 5.1. That's just fantastic.

[B]

That's incredible, dude.

[A]

Fantastic value.

[B]

I didn't realize he was on that value.

[A]

I don't even think this is a question. I've got my answer. I feel like it's obvious. Do the old return.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

Carolina.

[B]

That's not even that far.

[A]

It's not far at all. And it's also just like, can we be real? Carolina always talking about the fact that they need another center. They need like they're 2C bump stank back to the wing. Vinny Trocheck goes contender.

[B]

He said contender too.

[A]

And that is a contender.

[D]

Absolutely. Did you hear what is. Apparently his kid said, I'm not going anywhere. You the one who got traded.

[A]

Is that. Was that Vinnie who said that little. I think that's right. That is so funny. Tr TR was like sat down, like talked to his family and he was like, hey, like there's a world where you know, this kid was like, I mean, that's cool, dude. Like, I'm in the middle of my season. I'm ripping it up with my friends. I'll. I'll see you when I see you, pal.

[B]

Yeah, just get me. Leave me the keys. Leave me the keys to the Upper west side spot, dude.

[D]

Yeah. I mean, come on.

[A]

I absolutely love that. You know what else I love? Tampa. I'm not. I'm not doing anything crazy here. I'm picking the two. I'm picking the top team in the Atlantic, top team in the. In the Met. But both could absolutely use solidification down the middle.

[B]

What if he went to Boston?

[A]

That would be very cool.

[B]

I kind of love.

[A]

I think Boston would love him. Are you prepared to call Boston a contender?

[B]

Yes. Certainly. More than the Rags.

[A]

I love that.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Now you're in. Now you're. Now you're in a playoff race.

[A]

Well, what do you mean, more than the rags? Him staying with the Rangers is not on the table.

[B]

But he's saying, get me to a contender. So the Rags can go. You can go anywhere, and you are now on a contender.

[A]

Yeah, but I mean, I'm not. I. You look at Carolina's cap space, I mean, that's like an easy deal for them.

[B]

Go to Boston. Boom. First we're in a blender, now we're saving lives. Come on. Now we're saving lives.

[D]

He doesn't have to move very far.

[B]

That's what I'm saying.

[D]

He can just take the train.

[B]

He can train to his kids games.

[A]

These are quick.

[B]

Boom.

[A]

But I mean, really.

[B]

Okay. Vinny Trocheck on the move.

[A]

Vinny Trocheck is on the move.

[B]

You say Carolina, Boston,

[D]

Tampa.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Nice. I like that.

[D]

I hit all three.

[B]

Next guy I had eyes on. Dougie Hamilton, 32,9 mil,2 year term.

[A]

All right, I'm going to be real here, Dougie. This is a complicated one because we're hearing about Kovacevich. We're hearing about Simone Nemec, which I think is. I think it would be crazy if the Devils gave up on him. And we're hearing about Dougie. We knew that they needed to make a defensive move.

[B]

I've been.

[A]

I've been saying it for years, man. New Jersey. What are you doing? How did they not do it this summer? They could have gotten better.

[B]

Yeah, they could have.

[A]

And then they. And they chose not to. And then Jack cut his hand.

[B]

Cut his hand. Are you.

[A]

Are you eliminating the Devils from the playoffs?

[B]

Maybe.

[A]

I think it's got to be more

[B]

than A maybe I just thought they

[A]

have 62 points and the second wild card team has 73.

[B]

I just think of return and then change everything.

[A]

I just. I think they would literally have to win 20 straight.

[B]

But they could.

[A]

I. I mean, yeah. I think they're out of playoffs. I am eliminating the New Jersey Devils from playoffs.

[B]

Okay, then in which case you move them.

[A]

In which case you've got to move people. And Dougie feels like a. Why wouldn't you move? And I'm sorry, I want to go back to the trade that wasn't. Why not San Jose?

[B]

Ooh. Because I know.

[A]

Why not revisit that?

[B]

They were like, I love that, Dan. And I actually think you said this is complicated. I think the world is complicated, but I don't think it is. I think the world is complicating this Dougie trade. This 9 number is not high at all.

[A]

And I will give you that. That is actually fair.

[B]

And he's 32 and has two more years. You know, like, it's not like, this is a. Oh, yeah, we like, this is. This is a. This is a very normal trade, I think. Go get that. Goodbye.

[A]

I think the problem with Dougie in. I'm going to go through his games. Last time he played 82 games was 2022, 2023. He then played 2064 last year and is at 56 this year, which is, I mean, fine, because he might get up. That could turn into 76. And that's just a great season. He's. He's kind of jumped in his spark a little bit. He's got nine goals, 16 assists for 25 points. So it's like, okay, that's not what you want from nine mil, but he's been coming alive a little bit more. He had 74 points in that 82 season when he was only 29 years old.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, is he that far removed from that? He's only 50.

[B]

He shouldn't be. And I think. I think

[A]

what an insane year that was. Sixth in North Norris voting.

[B]

He does feel like that guy. Not a Norris guy, but, like sixth in the Norris guy.

[A]

To me, Dougie should be. He's just such a. God, he's so exciting.

[B]

Yeah, he's big.

[A]

He's got hands. He's got a good shot. I mean, San Jose, it's crazy to me that Dougie has been on four NHL teams. Like, he's such a good player. I like San Jose. I kind of like a west move

[B]

for him that I'm sure the Devils would like that.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I like a west move for him. Dallas just made their move for Meyer, so they're out. I don't see Dougie in that cap. It getting to someone like Colorado. I don't see it happening in Minnesota. Vegas got Anderson. Anaheim is. We all keep asking like, is Anaheim happy with their D? Are they going to make a move on D? Is Anaheim is the only team in the top six in as. In first through third in both the Pacific and the Central that has a minus goal diff. So, like, they could improve defensively. But is Dougie the guy that makes you improve defensively?

[B]

I don't know. I don't know either.

[A]

I don't know. So maybe we roll them out Anaheim or. Excuse me, Edmonton can't afford him. What about Utah? What about the Mammoth?

[B]

I wanted the Mammoth to take.

[A]

The Mammoth are pumping in goals in their life. I know.

[B]

So do they need Dougie?

[A]

Maybe.

[B]

Doesn't the Mammoth.

[A]

You want to. You want to talk like.

[B]

Yeah, the Mammoth. Interesting Mammoth have an interesting decor.

[A]

How do you feel about Dougie on the power plant? Like, is Doug.

[B]

I like him on the power play.

[A]

Is Dougie team's power play. You know what I mean? Like, oh, here's a crazy one. Nah, I don't like it. That's crazy. I was going to bring up the Islanders. The Islanders playoff team. Tough power play.

[B]

Yeah. Need a boost. Need a boost.

[A]

Washington, tough power play. Mammoth 26th. They've got that great plus gold differential, but they're 26 in power play. Ducks 23rd in power play. I don't know. Dougie Hamilton maybe get him going on the power play a little bit.

[B]

Interesting. Mammoth's interesting. I think Dougie moves.

[A]

I don't. I think he moves. I think Dougie Hamilton. I think Devils will be dumb. I'm in my ranking of Devils moving a defenseman this deadline. I've got Kovacevich first, Nemetch second, Dougie third. I just think it's. It continues to be too complicated for them. So. I don't know. I don't see it.

[B]

Okay, next guy. I have Kadri, 35,7 mil, 3 year term. I don't hate it's happening.

[A]

You think so? I have to lead. Lead this one.

[B]

I have two. This has been a long time coming. I feel like every year we're like, Kadri, Kadri, Kadri, Kadri.

[A]

Agree.

[B]

And I now, this is the last year I will ever bring up Kadri. Because either he's getting traded this year or he's just going to die on the Flames because he doesn't care. And I don't mean he doesn't care to be a good hockey player. I just mean he's like, all good. I got my money and I'm happy, and I don't want to move again. And I think a man reaches a point where that reality that I just described sets in, and he goes, you know what? I haven't cared. But now I don't want to just. I'm too old. I'm 35. I don't want to just die here. So I am going to move right now before it's too late. And there's one team that I have a prediction for that I actually think is going to happen. But my second prediction, my 1B prediction, is this. And this is cliche, but it just does make a lot of sense, which is back to Colorado.

[A]

I know, but does that make a lot of sense?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because Kadri, to me, is too good to be on your third line.

[B]

Not he is, but what a luxury. And at this age, asking him to come in and just do that and

[A]

just win another cup.

[B]

Yes. I'm like, hey, dude, you don't hate it? I don't need you to do that much.

[A]

Don't hate it, Chris. That's fucking juicy. That is. That's a juicy thought.

[B]

Nate knows you.

[A]

Nate does know you. And that's important to Nate.

[B]

Yes, it is.

[A]

Nate likes familiarity. You gotta make. There's. There's some shuffle going on there. But again, seven mil. Not that crazy, right? Not that crazy. I could see Kadri being like, I got my cup. I like it here in Calgary. The great people of Calgary. Yeah, we're gonna, we're gonna stick it out. I'm gonna hang. Calgary continues to be such an interesting one for me. Anderson moving was a big push in the direction of. They have the vets that I love, like Cadre, Backland at a time, Anderson and Weeks, and it was like, could they figure it out with these young guys? But they. They haven't. So now it's like, okay, do we fire sale? Yeah. Cadre's obviously going to be at the top of this list, but I, I, I think Dallas makes sense, too, for Cadre. Yeah, I like that a lot with Sagan gone.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Like, that's the same role.

[B]

Right. But do you think he moves or do you think he goes? No, I don't ever move.

[A]

That's my whole. I could see Kadri moving this year.

[B]

Me too. Okay. The next one, I Wanted to flag Elias Pedersen.

[A]

I'd like to move on. I don't think he moves.

[B]

27 years old, 11.6 mil, six years of term. I agree he stays, but the rub is so we can move on. But the rub is the Canucks would give anything to trade him. They would love to. To trade him right now.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Yes, they would.

[A]

I don't think so. But they can't.

[B]

They literally cannot.

[A]

I. By the way, I feel bad for not mentioning Jonathan Huberdo in that Calgary discussion.

[B]

Yep. Fair.

[A]

But I bring him up now as to say Elias Pederson was at a time, a 100 point player. He currently has 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points in 52 games. He is. His value is so low that trading him now would be catastrophic. So I don't think that they. I don't think that they would be thrilled to trade him.

[B]

Okay, fair. Yeah, 100% fair. Because the value is low. Everyone's.

[A]

Everyone's. By the way, everyone's talking that it's a buyer's market. I think it was like, dredge. Or maybe it was. I don't know. One. One of the big J journos tweeted out like, everyone's calling it a buyer's market. It feels like fucking Groundhog Day for me when. When people go buyer's market, seller's market, the. It's based off like, one trade. That's. It's like the Panarin trade. And they're like this.

[B]

It's a buyer's market.

[A]

And I'm like, well, maybe that was just one trade. Because then we've got St. Louis out here being like, give me yo. Two first two born children for Rob Thomas. So I'm like, this. That feels like a seller's market.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I don't know.

[B]

This trade deadline is going to be a nightmare. I can already tell.

[A]

I don't think Elias Pederson moves. I think it is the worst time possible to try to move.

[B]

And it is ridiculous. The. For a team, and with all respect to Elias Patterson, because he was one of my favorite players to watch when he was absolutely buzzing. And he's a great dude.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

With. With all due respect to him, it would be insane for a team to take on that contract with that many years left.

[A]

Agree.

[B]

If with the inconsistent play. It's just such a gamble.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, Next one I had on possibles. Jordan Kyru, 27 years old, 8.1 mil, 5 year term. That's amazing.

[A]

I think it's a summer Trade Kyru also not playing that well this season. I think he's got like 33 points or something like that. Is that right? He's 8.1 is not nothing, dude.

[B]

It's not nothing, but it's not. That's not bad nothing.

[A]

It's not nothing.

[B]

Like, holy.

[A]

But you're also picking that up. He's 27. You're picking that up for five years into his age, 32. And he's playing poorly. And I don't agree with it at all. But all the language about this guy has not been great.

[B]

I know.

[A]

So it's like, what the hell are we doing? Can we start talking positively about our fucking players? Kind of all these beat writers for teams. I'm like, why are you dissing this guy?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They're like, let's gas him up. And then even if you do trade him, wouldn't it be better if you were gassing him up? Because then the team you write for gets a good return. You'll start being nicer to people.

[B]

You know where I think he moves?

[C]

Really?

[B]

You know where I like them?

[A]

Where?

[B]

You just named them?

[A]

Dallas.

[B]

Nope. Little PP help.

[A]

Oh, little PP help. For the Islanders. For the Islanders, man. Cairo.

[B]

Wouldn't that be fun?

[A]

Like a Palmeri placement.

[B]

Boom. Go to the island, play PP1.

[A]

Cairo on the island is interesting.

[B]

I love it, Dan. I love it.

[A]

Cairo on the island is very interesting.

[B]

CP I think that would be an amazing trade.

[A]

I think that there's a massive opening in the top six wings situation there. Good God, this team is doing so well for how injured they are. It's insane.

[B]

And think about that, dude, because. And I know the. The Blues have set their prices, but it just feels like the Rob Thomas price. It feel. I mean, you just said it. The Blues have soured on Kyru.

[A]

I know. But I still think they're gonna make. They're gonna make a big ask.

[B]

But I'm just saying, the Rob Thomas price, I think you almost get to get Kyru for less because of how crazy they're going for Rob Thomas.

[A]

I. Chris, It's.

[B]

I think it's.

[A]

I don't know if it's birthday juju, but Kyru to the island is sensual. I like that a lot.

[B]

I think. I think it's the. I think it's the.

[A]

There's going to be a lot of cap maneuvering going on there.

[B]

I think it's the great trade of the deadline.

[A]

Yeah, that's really, really fun.

[B]

Okay, my next one. Ryan O'Reilly.

[A]

The fact actually not that much people are done for the year for the island, they would only have to move like 2 million.

[B]

That's what I'm saying.

[A]

Go get Kyrie. I Love that. Ryan O'Reilly, 35 years, 4.5 mil, one year. Absolutely. Moving straight to Dallas, baby. I think it's literally one team, okay? One team. Ryan O'Reilly makes so much sense on this Dallas team. They love their old Wiley vets. Why not make it work with Factor? I love that idea.

[B]

I actually do too. But you know where I think he's going for. And this was my, this was my piece de resistance. Actually, Cairo to the island is my piece de resistance. But this is my second, by the way.

[A]

Factor is having an insane.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I need people to stop what you're doing right now and acknowledge this. 35 year old Ryan O'Reilly. Everyone's like, oh yeah, he's like, you know, he's a 60 point guy. He's just a great center. He's going to win draws. He's going to. He has fucking 59 points in 61 games. Like he is about to have an

[B]

80 point season, this dude.

[A]

Get this dude on a fucking head

[B]

and Dallas would be incredible. But I'm telling you, this trade needs to get done. Talk to me. I think it will and it will decide this season.

[A]

Islanders.

[B]

Yes. Boom, Ducks. I said Kadri, 35 years old, 7 mil. Ryan O'Reilly, 35 years old.

[A]

Are you going to send him back to Colorado where it started?

[B]

Boom. Ryan O'Reilly goes back to Colorado, wins a cup, 4.5 mil. Are you shitting me, dude? I can't believe they haven't already done this.

[A]

Okay, okay, but hold on. Do we need to consider the fact that maybe or not the fact, the idea that maybe he's having the year he's having because he's playing on that top line with Stammer and Evangelista flip in there on power play and stuff like that. And if you send him to Colorado and you're like, you're on the third line, it's not that good of a pickup.

[B]

Well, we don't need those 80 points. We don't need those 80 points. I just go win some draws. Yeah, I need him. I have fucking.

[A]

I need him to be a son of a bitch to play against in

[B]

the playoffs, which he's done. He's won a cup. I'm like, dude, Ryan O'Reilly back to the AVS.

[A]

He's one cup.

[B]

Literally wins them a cup of and brings him home. And they love doing that. And I'm like, what are we talking about here? And I love Kadri, but I'm like, you're trying to move money around to get Kadri. Ryan O'Reilly is staring you in the fucking face. And you can have him for free. And you win a cup, man.

[A]

I love that idea.

[B]

I cannot believe he is not already on the abs.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I hear the abs are like, we're kicking shots on Rob Thomas. I'm like, you don't need Rob Thomas.

[D]

It's like in the rom com when you have the girl with the brown hair and the glasses always go, take the glasses off.

[B]

Take the glasses off. Lets his hair down. I'm like, holy shit. He drinks. He polishes up the beard. And you're like, jesus Christ. He's a handsome motherfucker, dude.

[A]

I listen, Dallas makes so much sense to me, but I really do love this. I'm going to pause real quick cause we got the Tyler Myers details. Okay.

[B]

Okay, nice.

[A]

Tyler Myers to Dallas for a second round pick in 27 and a fourth round pick in 29. Vancouver retaining 50% on the remainder of his contract, which makes him simply a $1.5 million player this year and next.

[B]

It's a great trade. It's a great trade.

[A]

Draft picks mean nothing.

[B]

Graphic nothing. Prospects mean nothing.

[A]

Draft picks mean nothing. Prospects mean. That is the official empty netter stance. Draft picks mean nothing. Prospects mean nothing. When people lose their mind, they go, I, you. You know, Rob Thomas, for example. People are talking about Toronto with Rob Thomas and they were like, oh, yeah, Easton Cowan is a. Is one of the asks. And Toronto fans are going, absolutely not. He's untouchable. And I, I always go, I feel as though you pray to God, Easton Cowan becomes Robert Thomas.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So why would you not make that trade? Because there's. It's not a guarantee.

[B]

Here's a, Here's a comp.

[A]

They mean nothing.

[B]

I would trade. I'm being dead ass right now. I'm being hyperbolic a lot on this show. I'm being completely serious. If I was a GM and I said, hey, trade me. How old's McDavid? 28 or something? 29.

[A]

Think so.

[B]

And like Makar's like 27 or something. I would go. If someone goes, or I would go like this, I would happily go, trade me Connor McDavid and I will trade you my first round pick every year until he retires. Literally, you can have my first until he retires. And I think people would be like, you can't do that. I'd be like, I would happily do that. Who gives a fuck what my, like, late 20s, early 30s, first round pick is going to be while I have Connor McDavid bringing me to the minimum conference finals every year.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And people are like, darn picks. And I'm like, nope, take the talent. Take the proven talent every time. Next.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Braden Shen, 34 years old. 6.5 mil, 2 years.

[A]

I don't think he moves.

[B]

Me neither.

[A]

Yeah. I feel like he's just like. I think he's like a culture guy that you need if you're going to keep Monty, Which I believe that they should. I believe Armstrong wants to. I think Shen is a. Is an important person to keep around. So I don't think he moves.

[B]

Then. This one I just wrote down because I thought it was funny. No offense, but I thought it was funny because it was on the list. Evander King, 34 years old. 5.1 million UFA.

[A]

I don't. I can't believe he's toxic.

[D]

Right.

[B]

There's just no way. Like, who. There's just no way that someone right now is picking up Evander Kane to be like, this is the piece.

[A]

I don't know the man personally.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But obviously it feels as though everywhere he goes, it comes with some sort of baggage. Something happens, and I just don't get it. If this dude was like, Pat Maroon.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In that is like the big rig just went to teams and they won't. Like, he's just like the ultimate locker room guy. He is like, he knows what it takes to win. He'll do whatever it takes to win. If. If Evander was just a lucky charm.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then I'd get it. Maybe it's worth the baggage. But I just. It. It seems like I don't get it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Every time it comes up and I'm like, why would anyone do that?

[B]

Mackenzie Wegar Wigs, 32 years old. 6.25 mil, 5 years. What a fucking contract.

[A]

Weeks is. I. Weeks is a friend of the program.

[B]

Yes, he is.

[A]

Weeks is one of the better dudes we've ever met. Yep. And he is just a phenomenal player. He's having a down year. Weeks might win the Masters this year.

[B]

Yep. I mean, the Flames sink because they asked too much of Dustin Wolfe and they stunk last year.

[A]

And mackenzie Weger.

[B]

Yes. And they sunk last year. And then Dustin Wolf's, like, rookie phenom year masked how horrible they were.

[A]

Here is what I will say.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

This dude is only 32.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Five years left on his deal at 6.25. That. That number means nothing for the next five years. Nothing. And I am telling you this. If I were a team that needed a defenseman and there are teams that are going to be looking at rentals and things like that, dude, I would fucking be frothing at the mouth to make a trade for Mackenzie Weiger right now because he's having a down year for his standards. 3 goals, 18 assists in 60 games. This dude is a like 60 point defense and wants to. Is so loyal. Wants to win so bad. He's a fucking beauty. He's a locker room hero. This is a guy. This is a guy that you want on your team. And let me tell you right now, dude, I would fucking do anything to snag him if I were the San Jose Sharks.

[B]

Oh, good one, dude. This really good one.

[A]

All the Sharks need is defense. And you're telling me that you could get a vet like Weeks who is going to be good for at least 4, 3, 4 more years at that low of a hit to add some offense and just good veteran leadership to that blue line. They have all the cap space in the fucking world. I would be all over this if I were the San Jose Sharks.

[B]

All over. I love that. You know, and I don't. I don't think he moves because me too.

[A]

I think he's just so loyal.

[B]

He's like, I don't need it. I'll. We'll build it here. We'll build it. I respect him for that. I actually do. But this, I would. I'm so with you. I think you would have to be a fool to not get him right now because the getten's good. And like you said, trade every fucking pick. Who gives a shit? Yeah, dude. This team that I'm about to name is actively looking for right shot D. They have an incredible run of left shot D. Like, actually, they do. They have an amazing back end. They are actively looking for right shot D. They threw around Tyler Myers. They've thrown around wrist align and yeah, I would pay money out of my own wallet to put Mackenzie Weger on this team right now. The Anaheim Ducks.

[A]

I, I literally. Chris, I have the Ducks roster right in front of me now.

[B]

I literally. Dude, the Duck and I go, weeks. You want to build something like, we are. We are the. A new force in the NHL over the next five years. How much. What does I say his term was? He's got 6.2. He's got five years left. I'm like, dude, we do you have Any idea how good the Ducks are going to be?

[A]

The exact same situation as the Sharks.

[B]

Yeah. Yep.

[A]

Because if you add him. I love Drew Helson, but if you add him to that right side and you can move troops and Gudas to the second third pairing where they are dominant.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Play him with Jack, Jackson, Mackenzie.

[B]

We are. Dude, are you shitting?

[A]

It's I. Again, to me it's the same situation as the Sharks. They both have great cap space and they both have significant need on that right side. And it would just be such.

[B]

Go get him.

[A]

Same thing with the Sharks. Like if you. If you're now playing him with Orlov or Ferraro and he's just like your right. I mean, dude, go get. I'm getting too horny.

[B]

Same.

[A]

I am, I am, I am. It's the pattern in the pants. I wore the ple.

[D]

To the pleats of the pants.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

No, this is just a quick. This is your. This is your current fit, right?

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Where is your gun holster?

[A]

I love.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

What's. I had to check it at the gate.

[B]

Dude.

[D]

Who are you here to kill? I love it.

[B]

Okay, next one. I had Bobby McCann, 29 years old, 1.35 mil UFA rental. I think he.

[A]

Say again, Bob.

[B]

Oh, sorry. Bobby McMahon. I said McCann. Bobby McMahon. I think he. I mean, are you dead in the Leafs? There's a couple Leafs guys that I think could move. If you're dead in them.

[A]

I am debting them.

[B]

Then I think he could go. But they're not going to get that much. This is going to be like a mid pick.

[A]

It feels like a Kiefer Shearwood move to me. Like, I love players like this. Like, these are the. These are the rich peverlies of the world. They. The. You know, it's.

[B]

They make a difference.

[A]

It's an ad that could win you a cup. Honestly, I don't really know who I see as like the. That's the guy that. Or that's the team that needs this.

[B]

Yep. I have some thoughts, but. Okay. No, I. He's like.

[A]

He's having a good year.

[B]

I know, I know.

[A]

30 points. Like 19 goals. Like, this is a guy. I gotta stop saying that.

[B]

What?

[A]

This is a guy. I keep saying it too much, but that's an ad that I love in a middle six somewhere.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

I really like in a middle six somewhere.

[B]

Well, let me roll it right into this.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Blake Coleman, 34, 4.9 mil, one year. Blake Coleman won a couple Stanley Cups for a team.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And yeah. This is the most Tampa move of all time.

[A]

Yeah, it is. I was actually about to say Detroit,

[B]

bring back a Blake Coleman.

[A]

I was going to say Detroit, which is similar because Stevie Y. Was, you know, in. In. In the Tampa sphere when they were

[B]

making moves like, Tampa always does this. That's my call. This year. Tampa Bay bring. Brings back Blake Coleman, super fair offer, and then he slots right in, and they just bolster up for their cup.

[A]

Okay, so I like Bobby for Detroit.

[B]

Okay, that's nice. Next one. Rob Thomas, 26 years old, 8.1 mil.

[A]

Yes, it's coming. We have breaking moose. Oh, wait. Don't play too long, otherwise we'll get demonetized.

[B]

There we go. Yeah. And Rob Thomas, 26 years old, 8.1 mil, 5 years. It looked like yesterday that Buffalo had him.

[A]

Yeah. And then I think Buffalo was like, your ask is too big.

[B]

Which it is. You.

[A]

You. You getting too big.

[B]

Yep. Which it is.

[A]

I. I would do it now.

[B]

You would trade him?

[A]

Yeah, he's another one.

[B]

I mean, dude, if you can get anything near the stuff they've been asking, then, yes, you trade him.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Because Rob Thomas went from being the most underrated player in the NHL to this week, becoming the most overrated player in the NHL. He is the.

[A]

He is the most eligible bachelor. But here's the thing. Robbie T. Missed some time this year. He's got 35 points in 43 games. He's a zero plus minus on a tough blues team. So, like, that's nice.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

This guy, he's such a good player, and, oh, my God, I love him. I love him, and I'd love him to go to a team. I. I really. I would have loved him in Buffalo. I would have loved that.

[B]

Still could happen.

[A]

Still could happen. It is clear that teams, I don't want to say are undervaluing him, but in this buyer's market, I think teams are going. I'm actually proud of Buffalo for being

[B]

like, no, same dude.

[A]

We're not giving.

[B]

This ask is crazy.

[A]

They wanted. I think they wanted, like, a prospect, Owen Power, and a first round pick, and I think they were kind of like, no, like, what are you talking about? So I think that's good. I absolutely love Robert Thomas for the Los Angeles Kings.

[B]

Yeah, but. But that will cost them a ton, too.

[A]

It will, but I think it's like, it's almost time for the Kings to be like, listen, man, I love the Panarin move. Panarin's older. He's a winger. Like, you need centers. Kopi's gone.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

You need centers. And Robert Thomas is a young, proven center in the NHL. Like, this guy is 26 years old with five years left on his deal at 8.1.

[B]

That is. 8.1 is awesome.

[A]

That is the steal of a lifetime. If you can get 80 point, what feels like perennially 80 point, Robert Thomas

[B]

on your team, but ceiling though, right? Would you agree? Kind of like, I'm not going, oh, and Rob, you know, he's only 26. I'm going to become 100 point guy. I'm like this dude.

[A]

Since 20, 21, 22, has had 77 points in 72 games. 65 and 73, 86 and 82, 81 and 70. And right now he has 35 and 40. Like, he's going to get you 80 points every year. You're telling me the Kings couldn't fucking use that?

[B]

You're telling me anything anyone couldn't use that at 8.1.

[A]

Sometimes we get too bogged down with, like, you just said ceiling.

[B]

Why.

[A]

Why would it be a ceiling? He's 26.

[B]

Well, that's what I was asking. I'm saying.

[A]

Guess I don't think it's his ceiling.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think he can get 90 points with the right team.

[B]

I mean, he did 86, so that's,

[A]

I guess, only problem with him is he doesn't score that often.

[B]

That's all right. He's a center dude.

[A]

And I do think it's all right if you have this movement with the Kings. I'm talking too much about the Kings with Robert Thomas. But if it is the Kings, I'm a big believer, as I've said in the wings on this team, in Fiala, in Kempe, in Trevor Moore, in Panarin. I mean, Panarin is not really a score either, but he did score a lot last year. Those guys can get you the goals, have laugh. Go get you the goals and get a guy like Robert Thomas to do that.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So I love that move. It would take a lot. It would be. It would be like the big move with the Kings that everyone's talked about for years being like, are you actually going to do this or that? But I think it would be if. If they want to make a move that makes people go, holy fuck, they're going for it. That is one to do.

[B]

I think that I love what the Blues are doing because they're going to sometimes, like, Panarin had to leave, right. They were like, we need to trade Panarins. Let's figure it out. I love that the Blues are going. We actually are so fine keeping Robert Thomas for the next five years because he's great. So where if you want him, you have to way overpay. And if someone does, by all means take them. But if no one does, this isn't a bridge burn. We are so happy to keep you. I was just trying to help because we're in last.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it's actually amazing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Next one. Tyler Myers traded. Amazing. Next one.

[A]

I think Dallas. Yeah.

[B]

Michael Bunting 34.5 mil UFA. And then I'm also going to say Scott Lawton. 31.3mil UFA.

[A]

Lottie to me feels like the same Blake Coleman thing. Yeah. Like a team like Detroit. I don't actually, I don't like because I think what I like about McCann to Detroit is there is the sp. There's the goal scoring spark there.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Lottie's obviously an amazing player but like Lottie I think is more the guy that's going to solidify a team right in there on their third line or something like that. So Tampa is. Is interesting there.

[B]

Tampa's going to kick on all those guys. Even Edmonton maybe. You know, Pit Pitt would be kind of interesting actually. I don't hate that Dan. That's an interesting call.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Justin Falk, 33, 6.5 mil one year.

[A]

I love Detroit. I said this the other day. I don't like the one year there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Same that the Falk feels more like a rental to me and the 33 year old age thing is a not a concern. I think he's got three more years for sure. But that feels more like a. I mean very underrated player in the league. 32 points, 11 goals, 60 games. He feels to me like a Dallas just made their move. But more of a team like that.

[B]

Yep. All right, next one. Zach White Cloud 29, 2.752 years.

[A]

I would jump all over Whitey.

[B]

Me too, dude. And this is one of those things where if Calgary is just going to blow it up, I'm like pill for these guys and no offense to Calgary but I'm like this is a right shot D at a great number who won a cup.

[A]

Who's on the golf course by the way, for Ras. It's just such a bad look.

[B]

Agree. But that's what I'm saying. Just go fleece Calgary again.

[A]

I don't think Calgary moves him because I think it's a terrible look because I believe in Whitey.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

That's a Stanley cup winner. He's youngish. It's A great number for two years. Like, you don't move that guy.

[B]

Y Jake DeBrus, 29, 5.5 mil, 5 years. He has publicly said, I really don't want to be on this team because we stink. In so many words. Not in so many words.

[A]

I, I actually can't believe that. I, I, it feels like it is. So, I mean, that's. It was the homecoming, right?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Him going there felt like it was, everyone knew it. It felt like the obvious move. Jake DeBrusk is going to go back and play where he grew up. And it's been two years and he's already like, get me the fook out of here.

[B]

Well, because they suck. And I will say, you know, you never want to get burned when you lose a high pick like that. As I'm speaking as a Boston fan, he goes to Vancouver his first year, plays 82 games, 28 goals, career high, 20 assists, 48 points, two off his career high.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Which isn't like he lit the world on fire. But you were like, damn it.

[A]

And then I, I think this is officially his ceiling.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think Jake DeBrusk is a 45 to 55 point player. He's always going to score more goals than he has assists. And he's going to be the streakiest forward you've ever seen.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

He'll score 10 goals in 10 games and then he won't score 10. He won't score goals for 15.

[B]

But I will say at 5.5 isn't bad. When he's. No, he's so he's too often we're like, you're our first line left wing. And I was like, you are not that, sir. But he could be valuable and I don't blame him. I actually love when players are like, dude, I am not. I don't give a fuck about my homecoming. We suck. And I would rather play somewhere who doesn't suck.

[A]

But I mean, if Jake DeBrus is your third line winger and he's getting you 30, 25 goals, you know, especially

[B]

on a team, I'm not saying he's got fantastic. But on a team like Dallas, who goes, I'm just checking the lines. Who often sport third lines of like fucking Jamie, Ben and, and Wyatt, you know, they have things credible Sam Steele guys like the third line, I'm like, if you just slotted Jake DeBrusk on a third line there, I'm like, he's dangerous now.

[A]

Absolutely. You know, and to me it's like you, you, I look at Teams in the standings and their goals for. And it's like the kings are 30th.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they're in the playoff hunt still.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I mean, it's not looking great, but they're in the playoff hunt. I'm not saying that I would do that, but that is the type of team. Seattle, 25th in the league. Islanders 21. Island. You know what? New York Islanders.

[B]

New York Islanders.

[A]

That is my pick for Jake Debrusk. That he's also a good power play guy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you can, you can add 25 goals a season for. What is it? Five point. What.

[B]

He's 5.5 for five more years.

[A]

I mean, that's, that's an interesting.

[B]

If you can't get Cairo, you go to Bruss.

[A]

Detroit Red Wings, 20th in the league for goals scored. It's DeBrus. DeBrus should be the target for a team that's not going. You're going to be on our first or even necessarily second line. But it's a playoff team or a playoff bubble team that needs goals and needs power play help. That right there is the New York Islanders. That's interesting.

[B]

That's interesting.

[A]

And again, I don't think that they're going to demand a lot for that.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That. That's like a. Maybe a player in a second round, third round pick.

[B]

Yeah. Here's one that came up that I didn't. I don't think is going to move, but I just wrote it down because I thought it was so interesting.

[A]

Absolutely not.

[B]

Shane Wright, 22 years.

[A]

No way.

[B]

866K. One more year.

[A]

We got to believe in him.

[B]

I believe in him big time. But I thought it was interesting because if you could wiggle him out of Seattle.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I would definitely do it. And maybe I'm the fool, but I do believe in him and not in a way that I'm. Then the Rangers fans believe in. Laugh. Just wait. Just wait. And he's going to be 100 point guy. Shane Wright is never going to be 100 point guy. But I actually do think he could be. Laugh. And if you.

[A]

I think he'd be better.

[B]

You think so?

[A]

I do. I really do. I mean he's the, the, the Shane Wright redemption arc has been so fun to watch and obviously like this year it's, you know, it's not great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I, I think there's a player in there. Me too.

[B]

But.

[A]

But again, maybe it is. Laugh.

[B]

Yeah, but that, that's fine. That's what I mean. And I think you could get him if you could, if you could knock him loose from Seattle and get him on a super cheap deal like a seven year. But like you know, a couple million dollars and he becomes laugh. I'm like, boom. Yeah, what a win.

[C]

I mean like He's.

[A]

He's a third line center.

[B]

Kick tires, kick tires. And then Rasmus R31, 5.1 mil one year. He will, he will go.

[A]

Absolutely has to go.

[B]

One of these teams that are looking for the right shot D that we've named. He'll. He'll shake out.

[A]

And I've said it a number of times. I mean I like Detroit. I don't know how many more times I need to say Detroit needs to get a big defenseman, but I don't know if he is the one. I mean like Mackenzie, this is what I wrote down.

[B]

I was like, I swear I wrote a Dallas thing. So Tyler just went to Dallas? Yeah, I wrote that Rasmus would go to Dallas instead because they were looking for that right mid, mid money right shot D. And they have the Finnish mafia thing and I was like, they're just going to take him and it's

[A]

going to be perfect.

[B]

So that kicks out and I think, I think the Ducks will kick tires on Rasmus big time if they don't do Weeds, which I want them to do more than anything.

[A]

Mackenzie Weger to the Sharks or the

[B]

Ducks just be insane.

[A]

God, I want that so bad.

[B]

Just a couple rogue ones that I haven't already said. I love Connor Garland to the Islanders that came up yesterday. I've always loved Conor Garland and he's not the punch that a Cairo is obviously. Or, or even a Debrus maybe. Did something just happen? Gentlemen,

[D]

there you go.

[A]

The Florida Panthers have just signed goaltender Louis Domingue to a one year two way contract for the remainder of the season. Bob gone?

[B]

Where's he going?

[D]

Wait, is your. Did your prediction come true about moving Bob?

[A]

I did post that maybe they saw

[D]

it and quickly made a trade because of you.

[B]

I think he's one of the Oilers dude.

[A]

I, I would. Yeah, I think he's.

[D]

You've got to get rid of Jari

[B]

and, and they are a team that's like we. We have a massive team.

[A]

Let me tell you what if. If Sergey Bobrovsky, after what he has done to the Oilers the last two years got traded to the Oilers and then won them a cup. They need to build a Sergey Bobrovsky statue on top of the Wayne Gretzky statue in Edmonton. I'm dead serious. Yeah, like because that would be the greatest. Like, I am coming and begging at your feet to save us from the purgatory that we've been stuck in. That would be so fucking cool.

[B]

Bob gone. So where do you think it is? Because. Let me, let me read you the current playoff teams. Okay.

[D]

Wait, is it official that Bob's gone?

[A]

No, no, no, no. That's the indication. They just signed a goalie. Right. And to me that goes. Why would you fucking do that unless you were trading a goal?

[B]

Tampa here. I'm just going to read you the playoff teams. Tampa, obviously not Buffalo.

[A]

Oh, dude,

[B]

I would bomb the Buffalo.

[A]

I would not. All over this studio. So hopefully that doesn't.

[D]

I'm going to get an umbrella.

[B]

Yes. Yeah. Buffalo. Okay. Detroit, probably not. Even though I do think he would help. I just think they can't be like, well, we got Gibson and all this shit.

[A]

Gabber is so good right now.

[B]

No, Carolina I think would be amazing, but probably not.

[A]

Just they have so many goals.

[B]

Too many goalies. Busy Penguins.

[D]

Could we have a prospect, though, who?

[A]

I know, but he's not this year. Yeah, like, his.

[B]

Bob's a ufa. Just this is for the rest of the season.

[A]

You're a couple.

[D]

I don't know that they're going to

[A]

do that for Sid, dude.

[D]

I know I'd love it.

[A]

I don't know that they are good enough for Bob. Just I feel like if anyone's going to trade for Bob, you're like, we're going to win.

[B]

Yes. Okay.

[A]

And I don't think Pittsburgh can win with Bob.

[B]

They could. And Sid back.

[A]

Sid comes back.

[D]

That's a big if, but right again, I don't think I'm just ruling that out. I don't think Dubas wants to.

[B]

So Buffalo pit on the table. Islanders, obviously not Cabs.

[A]

I think it's a maybe. I think Fowler and Doves are so good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But again, the Habs are like. They are a wild card team, though. Like, is. Are the Habs going to give up their great prospects and stuff? I don't know.

[B]

I'll put them on list. Boston, obviously not. Colorado. No.

[A]

They love the Woods.

[B]

They love the. Oh, yeah, right. Dallas. Nope.

[A]

Nope.

[B]

Minnesota. Nope. Vegas, like, yes. Yeah.

[A]

Definitely yes. Definitely, yes.

[B]

Bob's Vegas would be fucking.

[A]

I, I, I, I legitimately think that the NHL world might implode if. If the Vegas Golden Knights somehow swung a trade for fucking Bobrovsky.

[B]

People would be like this.

[A]

Like, it would. It is the epitome of the Jesse Pinkman gif.

[B]

Like, they can't keep getting away with it as that. That meme of that chick who's like, no, yeah, it's that.

[C]

Like, it's true.

[B]

It's that.

[A]

It's. I mean, it would be, but, like, definitely, yes.

[B]

Ducks.

[A]

No.

[B]

No. Oilers. Yes. Yes. Mammoth, I guess. But to your point, like, I don't know that they're like, we're going to win the cup right now.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Yeah, I agree with that. And also, like, they love.

[B]

I mean, like, so really, it's Oilers nights.

[A]

I mean, Vimelka is great.

[B]

Oilers nights, Buffalo, Pitt, Habs. He's going to one of those teams tomorrow. Who do you think it is? Oilers, Knights, Pittsburgh, Montreal. Buffalo. Who?

[A]

Legitimately.

[B]

Legitimately, I think it's. I think it's.

[A]

Oh, my God. Okay, hold on.

[B]

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

[A]

It is most realistic.

[D]

Got to be Edmonton.

[A]

It's Vegas or Edmonton.

[B]

Yeah. Correct.

[A]

I look at those teams and I'm like, what do you possibly have to give up? Because if I'm Florida, I am looking at you like such a piece of shit. I'm like. I know. I know how desperate you are.

[B]

Yeah, but you're signing. You're signing him back at the end of the year.

[A]

I know, but still, like, if you. Dude, if you are Bowman and Florida and fucking Zito picks up the phone and goes, do you want Bob? I don't give a shit. If Bowman goes, you're obviously just going to resign him. I go like this. Correct. But I am literally handing you a Stanley cup on a platter. Do you want it? And he will say yes. So, like, I would ask for insane things back, because for Florida, there is no. There's. They don't need to do this.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

There's. There's. Frankly, like, this is the biggest win. Win of all time for them. Like, either someone gives them a king's ransom or they give them nothing and it's fine. And they resign him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

For, like, no money.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. So it's.

[B]

It's. And.

[A]

And then he gets rest, too. Like, they're. Florida. Yes.

[B]

Yes, He's.

[A]

Florida has the entire NHL and all of these contenders bent over a barrel. And looking at the 50 states, it is insane. I actually think. I think Buffalo would be unbelievable.

[B]

Me, too. That would be. That's my favorite. That's my pick for how awesome it would be.

[A]

And what's sad is, like, Buffalo is playing so well and UPL is great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But, I mean, it's a little tough to be like this. Sorry, dude. You're fucking dead. Now.

[B]

But I would shoot him myself if I was Tage Thompson

[A]

with your one timer.

[B]

Yeah, I saw this one is just. I wrote down because I laughed. I saw Elias Pederson to the canes and I just. There is so little chance of that happening. And I'll happily eat crow on this clip when it does. But the way they spend properly to risk that on a team that's been inconsistent on that and consistency is insane. I saw Nick Foligno back to the Blue Jackets. I actually loved that he loves it there and has said that many times. I just think I'm like, okay, that'd be a great deal.

[A]

It would also be kind of like a nothing burger. Like, you know, it would just be great for both.

[B]

Shockingly, after all the shit I talked about this finally being the year, it's starting to feel like the Wings are going to do nothing of that of significance again. I was like, this year they clearly will. And I'm like, nope.

[A]

Okay. I'm going to continue my. My positive fraud watch warnings for the Wings.

[B]

Good. Yeah.

[A]

Every time I put the Wings on fraud watch this year, they ripped off like 10 straight wins. They're in a great spot right now, so there's no need for fraud watch for the team. I. This is crazy for me. I. I am officially putting Stevie Y and the ISER plan on fraud watch if they don't do something.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

Like I've said so many times this year, it is now or never, big dog. Like drop. Drop that hog on the table and do something.

[D]

How long is he been running the show?

[A]

He's been there since while 19, I think. Is that right?

[B]

I'll check.

[A]

Maybe 2020.

[D]

And they have never done a major thing. They've not in that time.

[A]

And yes, they 2019, but not even attempted. They got Patrick Kane. Yeah, but that wasn't. You know, I don't know. I think it is Elder Millennial AI

[B]

Overview says Stevie why Hired Apr 19, 2019 Role Executive Vice president and general manager context. He is currently working on rebuilding the franchise into a contender. And I'm like, is he. Has you been doing that for a while? Yeah, the. I agree with you, dude. And I fear they're going to do nothing. And the last thing I had of they. They can't watch me watch them watch this.

[A]

No, I'm serious. I'm telling you. I know Stevie why watches this show.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm telling you right now, dude, make a trade. You can't do nothing.

[B]

They're doing nothing.

[A]

You can't do nothing. That would be insane. If the Detroit Red Wings do nothing, and I'm weeping right now for my fellow Red Wings fans because this is the year that's like, absolutely not. You can't do nothing. You can't stand pat.

[D]

Who would they. If the playoffs started right now, who would they play? Would it be.

[B]

I'll tell you. They would play the Buffalo Sabres on the road.

[D]

That's. That's a crazy. Yeah. That could go either way.

[A]

Would literally kill me.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I cannot have that happen.

[B]

It's almost certainly happening.

[A]

If the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres play in the playoffs, my soul will leave my body.

[D]

Really?

[A]

Those are my two favorite teams that are not my favorite team. And I would die. I would literally die.

[D]

Another one of those first round might be better than the rest.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Someone's got to win. Someone's going to win. That, though. That's the good news.

[A]

That is.

[B]

So that means Detroit or Buffalo, you're

[A]

on a crash course for that. Aren't we?

[B]

Yeah, we are.

[D]

Yep. Hey, there's a lot of hockey left this month.

[A]

I need. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. We just need someone, Montreal or Boston, to just jump Detroit or Buffalo and just swap that out. Yep. I can't have that.

[B]

The last thing I had. Because everything else we've already said on the way is I think. And I don't want this, but I think that the Kings.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do absolutely nothing.

[A]

But that's okay. They already got Panarin.

[B]

I know. But they on very unluckily, were dead. Got Panarin, lost Kev have had a couple other injuries, and I'm like, oh, two is meno. So now I'm like, you're still. Still dead.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you believed you were dead before, you're still dead now. And the fans with copies last year and all this stuff are being like, oh, my God, Rob Thomas do something huge. And I fear that Ken Holland is looking at this team and going, we are too dead to justify giving up

[A]

so much, which, frankly, I think is smart.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I understand if fans will riot because they're going to go, did you seriously miss playoffs and Kopi's last year? And if I'm Ken Holland, I go, I am the general manager of this team, dude. Do I want us to get in playoffs? Yes. But I am not about to make a rash trade mortgaging our future, which is the most important thing in the world now with how with Dewey's age and Kobe retiring, like, you can't be like this. We're selling it all for one more year. It's like that is not the move.

[B]

So that's my last thing. All right, stay tuned. We might get more breaking news this

[A]

episode we might get more breaking news this episode in which we will jump in and discuss it. And also we. We might go live on Friday.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. There's going to be some kind of. There's going to be something on Friday.

[A]

There'll be coverage on trade deadline day. Don't you worry. Let's take a quick ad break and then let's get into these amazing interviews with Taylor Heisey and Kayla Barnes.

[B]

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[A]

All right, well, back on the empty netters podcast, one of our favorite guests of all time, star player for the Minnesota Frost, and now Olympic gold medalist Taylor Heisey back on the show. And we, we, we made you go grab the medal. Can you just flash the metal real quick?

[C]

Let me just get it out of the case. Here it is.

[A]

Were you as shocked as we were how heavy that thing?

[C]

No, it's heavy. And the thing is, is Meg Keller actually just went on SNL and they had to backstage sew this because it's so heavy. And like this part, like it broke. It just broke off. And they had to sew it backstage.

[B]

I believe it.

[A]

I mean, the things, it's. It's thick.

[B]

I can't believe it gives you like a forward lean. You Know, like, you put that thing.

[C]

And, you know, it's funny. Like, we. Some of my teammates and I talked about it. We're like, God, we need massages. Like, the front of our necks are so sore.

[B]

God, all time.

[A]

What a problem to have. Yeah. Right?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Hey, where. Where are you? I know it's in the case, but, like, where is it in the house?

[C]

This is the case. I have a memorabilia box. So it has, like, twins first pitch and my first PWHL jersey and, like, all this fun stuff.

[A]

Is it, like, a box that's hidden away? Like, I feel like you need a shrine.

[C]

Like, it needs to. Yeah. You know, Costco has these big, like, buckets, and I just put everything in

[A]

there, like a time capsule.

[C]

And it's huge. It's got, like, this yellow top on

[B]

it, and at least that's like. That's like the house fire box. Right? You know, like, you gotta grab one thing, and you're like, okay, Costco box. Yeah.

[C]

And I make sure to label it because, like, say, were to go down, I needed to grab that one.

[A]

Oh, God. That's a funny thing to explain to the family. Like, did you get any, like, the childhood or family member building? You're like, no, but my memorabilia box.

[C]

Yeah, I do. I do need to buy a safe. That's. That's on my list of things I

[D]

need to figure out.

[A]

Yeah, that's probably smart. Probably. Yeah. Well, listen, it's been a bit. Little bit about a week or so since everything went down. Has. Has the high worn off at all, or are you still just buzzing?

[C]

You know, we took a tough el to Montreal the other day. I literally feel like I haven't been home. I was telling Parker this. I'm like, my body just feel like I. I don't really know where I'm at, and. And when we go to, like, eastern time, like, you got to be taking the melatonin because my body's thoroughly thrown off. I was in, like, five different time zones, and. But, yeah, it's. It's amazing. Obviously. Like, there's been a lot of outreach and people reaching out, and, you know, I'm still kind of sifting through certain things, but, like, it's just the experience in a lifetime. And it's everyone. Everyone talks about it. The, like, post Olympic, like, sadness, regardless if you win or lose. Like, it's real. Like, that group that was there with me, like, oh, was dynamic. And I. I was texting Hillary this morning, and she's like, that this group is, like, so special. And to Only have that amount of time together. It's so hard. And you go back and you play against them and it's like, shoot. Like, it just. It's hard.

[A]

Well, you know, something I think is so fascinating about your group is, you know, the. Everyone goes and plays in these games. It's absolute best on best. It's the most electric thing of all time. And you're so right. Obviously, it's way different for us, but, like, I'm waking up at 5am every morning. My. My internal clock is so up.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

Imagine you. But it's so cool about your group that you. You don't just go back to one league together. It's like, we've got, you know, KK and Layla are going back to college. You're back to Minnesota. You're playing Montreal, like, two days later. There are so many different spots where you're all going. I feel like that adds to the craziness of this experience.

[C]

It does, because I saw Scam. She's the only one on Montreal from the US and she was the first. We were both first ones in line after we had lost. But I gave her a hug and I'm like, good to see you, buddy. Like, it feels like it's been a while, but, yeah, we all text together. And I think Game Threads is a brand that is sending me, like, 25 shirts. And it's the Megan Keller shirt. And I'm so excited because I'm. Well, I literally feel like I'm gonna see everyone, like, once every five days because we're going somewhere. We are never home. A weekend in March, so I'm gone the next three weekends. But I'm gonna bring those to everyone and we're gonna hopefully wear them. But, yeah, it's. It's an honor. And it's definitely a weird situation, especially the ones in college. Like, I can't imagine going from the Olympics back.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Honestly, guys, imagine going to class. Like, I'll be like, are you kidding me? No chance.

[C]

No.

[B]

No.

[C]

The good thing is a lot of them are, like, not fifth year, but either fifth, fifth year, or, like, school's not necessarily their thing.

[A]

They're taking basket weaving and ballroom.

[C]

Yeah. Their major's hockey. I don't know if you know, but Abby Murphy put that on her. Her room. Her dorm room door when she was in freshman year. And Grace loves to tell the story. Like it says, Abby Murphy, major hockey.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That's kind of how I see it.

[B]

Yeah, that's good for her. Love that.

[D]

Is it.

[B]

Is it weirder? Obviously, you were all friends before and you've played in tournaments before. But is it weirder just a tiny bit, playing against each other now after this experience together?

[C]

Yes, I would agree. I even think it was more weird prior to us leaving because the last thing I'm doing is making a play that's not going to end up good for either one of us if it's a us teammate. And I. You never want to talk about that publicly. But like, if I see Hillary, God forbid I'm putting a, a bubble around her. Like I'm going to do what I need to do to get the puck back, but I'm not going to do anything weird. I honestly think it was weirder prior cuz now it's like, I'm not going to go out there and hurt someone. That's never my game. But like, you can play now more free knowing that your buddies got to live out their dream with you and you didn't. No one took that away cuz that was the anxiety. Yeah, the anxiety of that playing in the pwhl. College is college. Like, you know, there's some physicality there, but the pwhl, like the rules are skewed sometimes and they're not always going to be in your favor. And we had, I think one of our Czech players on our team, like just took a nasty hit in our last game and like, didn't come back. And all of us were like, whoa, like that could happen to anyone. And I remember like praying every night, like, please keep me safe, like I need to be there. So it's crazy.

[A]

No, that's, that's such a real thing. We always think about that because it's, you know, everyone always tells you when you're an elite athlete, it's like, don't change the way you play for fear of getting injured. That's how you get injured.

[C]

Correct.

[A]

But it's, it must be so hard not to do that because it's like, sorry, this is the most important thing in the world to me right now.

[C]

I have to think 100% and it's like you got to figure out, like, be where your feet are. And like, I was with the frost. I want to be with the frost and playing at my best. But also it's, I would say it's kind of the IQ of maybe don't go 500 miles an hour into the corner if someone's on your back. Or maybe don't try to put yourself in a bad situation or, you know, don't try to get near the goalie. Like someone's going to push you. Like, just things like that where it's not me not putting my best foot forward for the Frost, it's me putting my best foot forward for the group. And you know you're going to have people out there, they're going to back you up regardless. But it's just being smart. And that's what my parents said. They're like, don't try to like, not be you out there, but, like, be smart. Like, put your brain to work and do what you need to do.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. But listen, before we get into the ins and outs of the tournament, because it was so unbelievable, I know you don't love gassing yourself up. That's what we're for. So, you know, throughout your career, obviously so many things, you win the pack, Patty, Kaz, you go in, you're back to back Walter cup champs. But this moment has, I know, has been on your mind for years. Years and years. Forever.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. How, how monumental did it feel even before winning and then of course after winning, did it really feel bigger than everything as, you know, you kind of always expected?

[C]

Yeah. I think my number one goal for the Olympics was to come in with no expectations. I didn't expect there to be single beds. That's okay. We, we figured our way through that. I didn't know what to expect. Dining hall wise. I came in with no expectations and no complaints. I just wanted to live through the experience. I have a journal. I'm still like, on my last day, I took little Polaroids and I'm like writing down my experience and just so I can have it and obviously not forget. I'm like a picture and a video girl forever. I just feel like that's how I learn best and, you know, the experience, it was an experience of a lifetime. And to say that you don't. I wouldn't get another game that crazily important in the Olympic gold medal final for four more years is like, crazy. And to think I was four years where I was four years ago. I think that's the most important part to point out is where I was four years ago and where I am now without the gold medal or anything, like just the experiences that I've had and me being able to like pick myself up out of the gutter in 2022 and find a way to figure out to get here in 2026 is pretty incredible. And obviously I don't tend to give myself props too much when it comes to media stuff, but just proud of, like the way that I was able to kind of like lift myself up and figure out a way because at the end of the day not everything's going to go your way and you just have to figure out a way to keep digging. And my support system's huge. Like I without the Frost and without my teammates on the Frost, like pushing me every day. Like a seven month season when you're getting hit every three seconds of the game is really hard and there's injuries and there's different things. But like the Olympic experience, like I would be remiss to not talk about like the Frost and how they've helped push me forward because I wouldn't. Like not having the league would not have led me to where I'm at. Like, I just don't think that training by yourself and doing those things would have benefited me at all or going overseas. Like this is where I needed to be and God obviously made it a preference for me to be able to join the league essentially right out of college and. But the Olympic experience was so good and I think just trying to reminisce on my past four years, like feels like 10 years. Honestly. It's been, it's felt like a long time.

[A]

It's been like. I think about, you know, the first time you came on the show and just the way you talked about that 2022 experience. And just to see you here, it's like, you know, as people who, who love you, it's like very emotional for us. I can't imagine like that for four years.

[C]

Genuine crazy.

[A]

Feel like a lifetime. Holy.

[C]

There was just so much like winning, I think two world championships, losing two winning an MVP winning Patty Kaz, you know, thinking we were going to be completely out of the playoffs both years of the. With the Frost coming back, like figuring it out, having people hate our team for God knows what reason, like just having all these crazy things. Buying a house, getting engaged. Like it. I feel like I was 15 last time I talked to you guys. And I remember where I was because I remember the videos in a apartment I had downtown, like, which feels like forever ago.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But it's so cool to reminisce on like what brought me here and only my people can understand, like what I did. It had nothing to do with what I did in, in public. It had all to do with what I did in private and all the skill sessions and you know, Grace and I getting up at 6am and going to the two skates a day that people think we're crazy for, for doing. But it makes us, like, who we are, and it doesn't. It helps you to become, like, a better person, too. Like, I. I didn't just, you know, show up to the Olympics and hope for the best. I had already prepared to be there. And at the end of the day, I remember thinking when we were down zero to one, I'm like, someone's gonna do it. I just, like, hope someone does it soon. Like, I hope this does it really soon. And I'm okay with it being me, and I'm totally okay with it being someone else. Like, couldn't care less. And I think that's another mentality. Change is 2022. It was me against the world because I felt like people didn't believe in me and all that. And now I just feel like we had the country on our back and I didn't care who did it. And that's the coolest thing about the whole thing, is, like, the US Was just, like, so behind us and everything.

[B]

Yes, Taylor, the. The. After you won, because you're so right. Like, I'm jumping ahead, but you're so right because the journey for you was so awesome. I was taking so many, like, 15x zoom in pictures of you. After that, someone behind us goes, are you family? And I was like, oh, no. I just. Just really happy for. They were like, jesus Christ, dude.

[A]

It was such a lovely. Like, the person, like, put her hands on both of our shoulders and was like, that's. That must be your sister.

[C]

Yeah. And you're like, yep, that is my sister.

[A]

A real problem when I do need to know what was the best thing in the dining hall?

[C]

The lava cakes, like, they were good. No doubt. They were so good. And like, I had mentioned on a TikTok, I'm like, these are just like Chili's. And I grew up on a Chili's lava cake. Like, we would go to Rochester as a family, and I'd be like, God, can we go to Chili's? Or, like, Red Lobster? Like, the worst stuff now. Like, you think about it and you're like, yuck.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But I remember when we had won and then the men won, and we came back after closing ceremonies, and it's just Connor Hellebach in his chair with his arms up with 25 lava cakes, maybe 30. Like, just sitting on the table, waiting for his buddies to show up. And I remember, I think it was like, Murph goes, hey, are those all for you? And he goes, no, take them. Take as many as you want.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

And he goes, you guys deserve it too. So we sat there and we were, like, hanging out with them. But, yeah, I remember what an epic

[B]

behind the scenes moment that is.

[A]

I know

[B]

them.

[C]

I remember I asked, like, Brady, I think I was like, dude, like, where are you guys getting these? Like, we. I traded a pin for one. This is bogus. You guys just have 50 on the table. And he goes, yeah, we paid some guy. Like, he's on her back now. And I go, okay, that makes me feel better.

[A]

I love two things. The fact that in the. In the caf at the Olympics, there's, like, prison trading systems going on for food. Also, I love the idea of you going up to this, like, Italian pastry chef and being like, man, these are just like, chilies. You got to.

[C]

We got to figure it out. Yeah. And I remember his name was Simone, and he brought us, like, me and Gwen Phillips. Gwen Phillips does this. One of our goalies does this, like, food review. And she goes, I really need one of these. And I'm like, okay, go and tell him if we win, we can get as many as we want. So he promised us if we won, he would fill the table full if we wanted to. And we were never all in the caf together. Like, we were all on different schedules. But he finally brought it over, and she goes, that's good. Just slams the table with her fist.

[B]

There's no better review. That's incredible. Yeah, no, that's five stars.

[C]

And he was like, yes.

[A]

I love how all the goalies have their food. Like, Aaron's got her chicken salad wraps. Gwen's doing food reviews too. This is a thing. Yeah. Start a show for these gals.

[C]

I know they're. And they're so unique. It too, like. And people didn't know about the Caesar salad, obviously, but, like, everyone on our team knows, and we'd get one. And when they're catered in, they're obviously not as good, they're not as fresh. And everyone goes up to Aaron. Aaron, how was it?

[A]

Like, what.

[C]

What was your rating? And she's probably like, oh, my gosh. Like, I do this every day.

[B]

Yeah. She's like, I opened this can of worms. I can't believe this is my life now.

[E]

Correct.

[C]

She's the sweetest, and so is Gwen. We love them both. And Ava, too. Ava's just more into. She's a very, very studious, studious student and is, like, so incredibly smart. You would see her in the Coca Cola lounge like, every day for about five hours, typing away, doing her notes, doing all that stuff, like, every day, like, it was crazy.

[B]

It's incredible. That is so awesome.

[A]

At the Olympics could still be dialed in like that.

[C]

Murph goes, guess how many times I've opened my computer. I go, five. And she goes, once.

[B]

Yeah, good for her. Good for her.

[C]

And Eve was like, I've opened my computer three times today.

[B]

Like, that's incredible. Yeah. Okay, so I have so many questions about the gold medal game, but I do want to go back at first, and I kind of have a two for one, which is. You mentioned earlier that Hillary, you said it was such a special group. Obviously, you guys had the most dominant run ever in Olympics. So I'm curious if you knew, if you knew right away how special the group was, and maybe that happened as you were moving through the group stage. And then the second part of my question is, certainly you must have felt that way after the first Canada prelim game. So kind of talk to the emotions there. Yeah, yeah.

[C]

So we started training with. We've this whole quad. We call it the quad. The past four years, we've been, you know, dealing with, you know, finding the right puzzle pieces and who's going to fit that spot, and, you know, who I'm going to play with and who's Hillary's going to play with. Like, there was just a lot of question marks. And, you know, you never know who's going to be healthy. You never know who your coach is going to pick, because obviously you're not the one making the team. And we started this process, like, really narrowing it down in August. We did two weeks on in August. Then we went September a week, November a week, and played Canada, like, a few times. And, like, you could just tell from those games how special the group was. Like, we had so much fun, and winning is fun. Don't get me wrong. If we would have lost, we still would have came out on top and figured it out. But, like, we were dominating. And I just think, like, you got to give props to our coach Robo. Like, he integrated those youth, like, and me included. And I've said it to him 50 times, like, I'm just grateful to be here because I didn't get that opportunity last time. And he goes, taylor, I'm sick of hearing it. Like, you've done enough now. Like, you're good. But, like, our youth and not to. I think there was not even enough put on the youth, but there wasn't enough put on the vets. Like, we don't win games without them. Like, with us, we're like, we get down by two and we're like, ooh, we haven't felt this before. Like, how do you get past that? And you know, August and November and December comes around and I remember I keep track of all the games. I keep track of all the college games. I want to make sure my girls are doing well. And you know, Murph getting the goal record now, like, I'm texting everyone just to make sure everyone's good. And obviously our captains and everyone's doing the same as well. And you get to see everyone's having really good years. Like the PDUB was good. You know, my team felt really good. Like our girls were all like top points and you know, feeling good. And then we get into those first games and I remember the first like five minutes, I was like, whoa. Of the first game, I think we played check, check. And Robo comes in after the first period and goes, who was nervous out there? Every young player raises their hand and he goes, you, you, you, you guys just killed it out there. Put your hands down, like, counted every single person and said, put your hand out. And like, we've been here before, we've done it. The confidence he had in our group and the confidence we had, I remember we were just steamrolling like certain groups and certain like periods of the games. And once we got to that Canada game and like, things got really serious, like we were just like, there's no one that can stop us if we're at this. We're at this like pinnacle that we're at right now. And then of course our coach comes in and is like, okay, you think you're at the pinnacle, but how lonely is it up there? Yeah, like, you know, how many people die on Mount Everest? What's the highest percentage? And Gwyneth is a hiker. She goes, I feel like at the top. And he goes, no, on the way down. So then we talk about Mount Everest and how, you know, on the way down it doesn't mean you're getting less good, it just means you're getting smarter on the way down. So you can understand like things in that sort. And I remember he's like, you know, we're at the top, it's lonely up there and it, and it sucks sometimes, but this is the time where it's awesome. Like this is where you like find that moment and just frickin roll right through it. And after that Canada game, I think we had that like, thought, as in, I don't care who we play, doesn't matter. Like if we go out and play that Way, like, there's just not a chance. There's not a chance.

[A]

Yeah. What was the five goal rule with the team? Because I don't know.

[C]

Every time on the bench, like, someone misses a wide open net, someone misses this, and we're like, like, do people want to keep it at 5? Like, are we just trying to be like the rule of fives? But I. I don't know. Like, it was just. It was like a stopper. And then we got past it. I think maybe it was six. One check or something. One of the games was six and we were all like, man, if we can keep this five thing up, like, this is going to be pretty cool. The goals against, too. I'm like, oh, my gosh. This percentage crazy.

[A]

Truly insane. But so we. We talked about this a lot with, with, you know, anytime people are in the playoffs, in a tournament like this, you guys seemed like such a focused and dialed in group, even with all the youth, the youth that you just mentioned, but is there a part of you. And I want to even just go to the semis because the Sweden team was so good.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

When you're just rolling through your competition, is there a part of you that's thinking, like, I wish we had had a little bit more adversity at some point in here because you never know when one of these games is going to punch us in the mouth. Or were you just focused being like, nope, Just, you know, every game's a new game. Don't think about the past goldfish memory. Let's just go into the next one.

[C]

Yeah. It's a great question. I think I got asked probably 57 times from other news sources from other countries, like, wouldn't you want a better game? And I'm like, you know What? Ask me 364 days of every single other year that I've ever had, and sure, I'll say, yeah, this is the Olympics and this is what I've worked for for four years. I don't care if we blow people out. 100 0. Like, this is. This is what we want to win. We want to. We want to do that. And I get, yes, I agree with your question. But I think we did find those adversity points in every single game. I don't know if it was, you know, in check. We were like, oh. Like, that was the first goal that went in. And we were like, oh, shoot. Like, we want to do this for Aaron. We want to do it for Gwen. We want to do it for Ava. But there's just so Many points in those games where we had to get together and be like, guys, we got to figure this out. Like, start using the yellow. You know, our D need to get shots through. But I also think that group, like, all of us have been through adversity, and if it were to hit, no, everyone's not going to crumble. You can have a few people that, you know are teetering on the nervous end of the spectrum, but we have so many rock solid foundation blocks that, like, aren't going to care. Hillary's had five Olympics. Like, she's lost enough to know what you have to do to win. Yeah, Carp is the same. Meg's the same. Kelly Lee Kendall. Like, they're. They're unbreakable. Like, we get in the locker room in overtime, Hillary walks in, sits down, and she goes, guys, this is our time. I don't care who does it. I don't care when. It can be an hour from now, it can be five minutes from now. Someone's got to do it. Like, you have. Someone has to. And of course, she had just done it for us to get there. And. And it's not her saying, like, I can't keep doing it. It's. It's. You can't put it all on me. That's her saying, everyone in this room is capable, and we've seen it 10 million times.

[A]

Like, hell, yeah.

[C]

She's like, you've scored on her here. You've scored on her here. Like, this is how we're going to do it. But someone has to have the courage to jump out of a block, just like Meg did. And I think that that sentence from Hillary, not to say Meg wouldn't do that, but, like, the confidence you have in your group is so crazy to say that a D is going to end up on the blue line and I'm ending up on the goal line.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[C]

Like, there's. It's just. It's a weird scenario, but we had so much confidence in the group. It was. It was crazy because I've never. I've never had a team that special, and I don't want that to come off as bad or me not being grateful for the groups I've had. But it's just so. It's the best of the best, and it's so crazy to be there, because I wish I could relive that and play every game like that.

[A]

Speaking of Hillary.

[B]

Holy.

[A]

What a badass. Did you know she was hurt like that?

[B]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Yeah, we have a few people. I don't Know if you've seen the LTIR reports or anything from the pita, but we definitely had a few injuries. One of. And one of the hardest things is we wanted her to be opening ceremony flag bearer.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And when she didn't, we're like, okay, closing. Like, that's what we're doing. And we were like, hillary, you gotta keep doing rehab so you're not out there limping around. Like, we really need you to lead our group with that fear flag proudly and not be limping around. And she was dying because she ended up proposing, too. And she goes, guys, yeah. Not only did I propose over a great, But I couldn't kneel on the ground. Like, I was halfway. I was stuck. Yeah, I was stuck. So she's. She's a badass, and we love her. And I think everyone that played through an injury, it's such a hard thing and, like, to not be scared, to make it worse. People just went out there and sold their soul pretty much to, like, help our team win. And, like, that's just what you would do for everyone.

[B]

Well, you talk adversity. Point size. That first period of the final, I thought they came out flying. We had seen your. We'd seen the prelim game, and we get to the final, and I was like, holy. So, yeah, I'm curious what the chatter was in the. In that first intermission, even, because it was still zero. Zero. Yeah.

[A]

100.

[B]

What was the chatter like in that first intermission? Like, holy. They're. They're not rolling over like they did earlier.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, Robo, for example, came in, and he's like, guys, we know exactly what's gonna happen. They're gonna give us 20 really good minutes, and they're gonna lay it all on the. All on the line for those 20 minutes, because they know that if they can get up, they can try to figure out a way to stay there. And for us, we're like, we gotta weather those 20 minutes. And understandably, they're gonna give their best. And we didn't. Like, in those 20 minutes, we didn't, and they did. And usually that ends up with a lopsided score come the end of the 20 minutes. But thank God we have fantastic goaltending. And Aaron stood on our head, but, you know, we got enough for the first period. And I remember thinking, like, oh, like, this is real. Like, this isn't some throwaway game in Rochester. Like, this is. This is, like, the pinnacle of what I've always wanted. And in my head, I'm like, okay, you can sit here and think, oh, no, we might not do this. Or you can think, like, what am I gonna figure out? What am I gonna do better to help my teammates roll? And, you know, that's me talking to Bilk, and that's me talking to Murph. That's me saying, like, case, guys, like, when we play well, like, our team plays well, like, when our line is. Is rolling and we're out there, like, steamrolling people and doing all that stuff. Like, I think the second period was a major turn for us, and our coach came in, and everyone in the locker room was like, guys, calm down. Like, I remember Layla and KK were, like, looking a little bit like this, and Hillary went over and, like, put her hands on their shoulders and was like, guys, like, we're okay. Like, this is not anything different. You guys have won national titles and. And done all this and just try to, like, take what that felt like when you were there and just, like, exemplify it out there. And I think our leaders were just so great. And obviously, on the bench, Hillary's like, all right, guys, like, it's time to go. Like, it's not time to sit back and wait for someone to do it. It's, like, your time, so someone needs to figure it out. And it wasn't a. Like, a yelling. It was more of just like, all right, let's make a statement. Put a period on the end of the sentence out there that we are the best team here, because us being the best team in the tournament doesn't matter unless we win this game.

[B]

Yeah, the. So. So the shorty, it sounds like. Because I do agree, the second period, halfway through that, the ice tilted, and I was like, okay, the girls are all over them. They score. The shorty sounds like. No real panic, though. Even though it was the first time you've been down or was there a little bit, like, Jesus fucking Christ.

[C]

Yeah, I. You know, obviously, like, it's a play that we weren't proud of, and, like, that's just getting scored on. The power play is, like, one of the worst things that you can do.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And, you know, in the pw, I think of, like, the jailbreak rule where, you know, you get. That person not only gets to come out.

[B]

Think about that. Wow.

[C]

But you just got scored on.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And, you know, in that moment, we're like, all right, like, it's 1 0. It's not 2 0. It's not 3 0. It's not 4 0. Aaron does not let in more than that. Like, that's just how it is with us. And if we can come back and find a way, like, you have. Someone has to score a goal to win the game. Like, it's gonna be 10 or it's gonna be 2 to 1 or whatever. It ends up being like, someone has to score to win. So, like, let's go out there and just figure it out. And it just kind of gave us that, like, kick in the butt. Like, ooh, okay, time to go. Like, this isn't funny anymore, right?

[B]

Yes, correct. Okay, so that was kind of my next question. Where as confident as you are and how the messaging is perfect, like, stay the course. We're playing great. We're playing great. Yeah, man. That clock starts to go fast in the third. You know, as good as you're playing, you're like, holy. So as. What was the kind of thought, like, as we got to pull the goalie time, where you're like, okay, now or never.

[C]

So this is the craziest thing I've ever heard. And I learned this after the game. I'm dialed in. The fact that the goalies pulled.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Our center, Carpy, and our wing, Tessa had no idea.

[B]

Are you shitting me?

[C]

Swear to God. Swear to God. Like, I. And I'm not throwing them under the bus because still, they still played. And, like, Karp wins that face off. That's huge. Tessa doesn't throw the puck away in the corner, and I think they ended up grasping that, like, when we were, like, more in, like, a box situation, but, like, off the draw, there wasn't enough time. Like, we didn't have a time. Like, we didn't spend enough time. I go to roof.

[B]

I go after the injury. Right? Is that right? Like, yeah, because I kind of missed it, too, for a second because she

[A]

was down so long. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. Go on. That was crazy.

[C]

And then, like, I remember I asked Robo. I'm like, where am I going to be? Like, you had me written over here. But, like. And he goes, just find a spot. And I'm like, okay. That's like, a type. A person's, like, nightmare.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And we win the drawback. And I remember, like, Hillary and Layla, like, those are just two people you want out there. And I was just happy to be out there. I was like, if the puck's in the corner, I'm getting it. And I remember it wins back, like, whatever. It goes to whatever me. Keller around to Tessa and back up. And I remember there's a picture of me, like, staring at the net, and I Like, I see Layla shooting, and I'm just waiting. I'm like, if this comes off, like, I'm getting it. Like, I know it. And then it didn't have to because it already went in. And I remember there's a picture of, like, Bilka and me, and, like, we're just flying high. Like, I remember I jumped so high.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And at that point, I knew it. I'm like, I believe, like, that. That we've. At that point, everyone knew we were gonna win. But, like, you look at, like, a back check that Murph had or, like, a really good save that Aaron had. Like, those things. If those don't happen, we lose for sure.

[A]

I mean, I'm so glad you mentioned that back check. That was the most insane.

[C]

And she's the fastest. Like, we're on. I think we were. Where were we? In the locker room. And Robo goes, who's going to beat you, kk? Like, who's going to be. Who's faster than you? And she's not going to say, no one. She goes, murph. And he goes, no, but close. She's right behind you. No one else is beating you to that puck skate and go. And then he goes to Murph, who's beating you. And Murph goes, well, kk, he goes, not when you're at your fastest. When you're at your fastest, no one's beating you. And I remember after the overtime, like, I went up to her, and I'm like, dude, like, that's why you do what you do. Like, it's putting two forwards out there. It's hard sometimes because you want people to score, and it's really hard to. Like, I got stuck out there one time, and I got picked and had, like, fallen down a little bit. And I remember on that back check in your head, you're just like. You're the McDavid and McCars. You're just hoping it doesn't end up like that for you and that you're not in the background of this drone shot where you're not even moving your feet, and the puck's already in the net. Like, it's a nightmare for, like, hockey players. Like, that's a. That's a nightmare.

[A]

100%. Well, listen, we just talked about Captain America, Hillary getting that goal. But then I have to ask about overtime, because obviously, three on three, overtime was a shift for. For all of you.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And I know you practiced it a ton of. But all of a sudden, when you're in it in the Gold medal game. Was there a part of you that was like, this is fucking crazy. Like, we haven't played this enough. This is. We are all over the place because it was, for us, most entertaining thing in the entire world. Because it was truly. I feel like there wasn't the regrouping that we see in the NHL.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It was just like this.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

It was crazy. Yeah. And I think in the moment, that's how I knew it was going to be. You don't run out of energy in a game like that. Like, you just don't. And when coach was saying the pairings so special, Tessa looks at me and she goes, are we gonna do it again? And I'm like, why not?

[B]

Yeah, let's do it.

[C]

It was us out there again. And I'm like, why would we not? And, like, that confidence that she had, like, you can just tell, like, someone saying that to me, and me be like, okay. She believes in the fact that I can go out there and do it or that I can make a play and do something like that. And, like, the pairings, I was just so confident in everything that we had, and anyone that wasn't in a pairing, like, they were so pumped. It's like Brady Tkachuk talking about. He's like, all right. We knew we weren't gonna go, and I was just gassing the boys up, like, we're gonna do this. We're putting money on who's scoring. I didn't ask if anyone did that. But, yeah, like, three on three is so hard, and it's made for the fans. It really is. But in 2018, there was a shootout, and I think that's the craziest thing I've ever heard. And thank God that's out of it, because that's the dumbest. That's so dumb ever. I. I can't believe it. And anyone that played in that game, I actually would have, like, not been okay. Like, that's not. That's not anyone's dream. No one wants to end that way. And as a goalie, that's also nightmare fuel. Like, that's, like, not good. But, yeah, we got in that overtime, and we were going back and forth, and everyone on the bench is like, man on man. Like, that's all you need to know. You stick with your one person. As long as you don't get beat. You keep them in front of you, like, you're gonna be okay. But the second they get behind you, you better hindtail back there and find them. Yeah.

[A]

So true. Talk us through the stretch pass.

[B]

Yeah. Did you see Meg, or was she screaming or. Yeah. What. What happened?

[C]

I remember, like, I'm. I'm never gonna just throw the puck away. And I feel like, in three on three, that's the goal, like, you want to possess. And that's just what our coach has always said. And in the pwhl, I love doing it, too. And I remember, like, the. I had brought the puck out, I think. And I remember seeing Pooh, and I'm like, okay, she's just got fresh off the bench. She's going to end me on this side of the net. And I remember they had already changed, and Meg was. Meg said, one, I remember she, like, yelled a little bit, but I can see her in my peripheral. So I'm, like, looking. I'm like, okay, this path has to be hard enough so it doesn't get picked if someone comes off the bench. And two, I want to give her an angle to be able to go. So I ended up putting it on her tape where she could just turn and go. But I remember thinking, like, I'm going to turn this puck over, and Pooh's going to take it, and I can't. I can't have that happen. So I go, I'm just gonna send it up the wall.

[A]

We talked about. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

And I remember watching it back, like, I didn't quite see how close Pooh was. Like, Pooh's stick was, like, this far away from the puck. Like, if I didn't, like, really send it, it could have been bad. But, like, I'm proud of those moments for everyone because, like, Meg looks like, if anyone hadn't watched hockey before, they're like, yeah, she's a forward. She's a wing. Like, she's. She plays forward.

[B]

Yep.

[C]

And she doesn't.

[B]

So insane that you said earlier, role reversed. Yeah, yeah. Insane.

[C]

Yeah. But I'm so proud of her because, like, that. You don't make that play. You don't make that play in a game like that. Like, she. And even if she misses that, like, it doesn't matter. Like, you already have them on the ropes, and you're gonna find a way to. To get something else. But that's the confidence that our team instilled in. In everyone.

[A]

And I think that's your middle of the goal.

[B]

Like, when it went, oh, I didn't

[A]

see it go in.

[C]

I didn't see it until after the game. And I'm, like, looking at the coaches on the bench, I'm like, does someone have the Replay. Like, I need to see the goal. Like, I don't know. I'm like, did I even make a good pass? Did she, like, have to transition? Like, I don't know. Because, you know, what you know in that is if you're tired, you just hightail it to the bench.

[B]

Yes, yes.

[C]

And you maybe look around once or twice, but you just have your head down and you just skate as fast as you can. And I remember Murph was changing for me, and I skated so hard to the bench, and all of a sudden I see this from people on the bench, and I turn my head and Meg's, like, ripping around the corner and already has her gloves off.

[B]

Holy.

[C]

And I'm like, guys. And I remember sitting in the line waiting for our medals. And like, guys, what happened? I'm like, kendall, what happened? Like, did she just snipe? Like, what happened? They're like, well, she went forehand to backhand. And then like, I don't. Like, I don't know.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I'm like, well, it had to have been good. Like, she scored. And then I see it, and I remember talking to the media, I'm like, it was 15 times better than I could have thought. Like, I didn't dream that up.

[A]

It was. I mean, we've talked about so many times as. As Americans and as fans getting double gold from the women's and men's both in overtime is insane. And Meg scoring a goal that way. That's street hockey.

[B]

That's. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

100%.

[A]

Verbally announcing to yourself these made up hypotheticals to gas yourself up. That literally happened in that game.

[C]

Game.

[A]

It was unbelievable.

[C]

100%. It's weird. Like, it. You probably ask her now, and she would never talk like this about herself, but, like, she is such a skilled player. I've seen her do coming across five hole, like, even on Franco, like, she. She has those forward skills. She's Shifty. She's playing 30 minutes a game in the PWHL and. And still making a huge impact. You can have people out there playing 30 minutes and you're just like, all right. They're just defensive. Like, she is up in the play. I hate playing against her. Like, against Boston, I'm like, guys, wings just peanut butter and jelly. Like, find her and stay there. Like, I don't care. We will find everything else down low. Like, you just can't leave her alone.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And then you add Haley win into it. It's like, well, now it's a three on three down low. And you Just need to stay with them. But she's unbelievable. And I'm so happy for her because I think she deserves the world and, like, a moment like this, she was made for that and I think she deserved it.

[B]

Yes, absolutely. Was there. Was there. We were talking earlier, was there anything the coaching staff may have done, superstition wise, that could have. Could have added to the win there tonight?

[C]

Yeah, 100%.

[A]

Hold on, hold on. So I do have to say we. We talked about this, and let us make it clear at the top that you would never do something like this.

[C]

No, I would never.

[A]

But we saw you after the win go to one of your coaches and say something about a blowout. And we were like, did Taylor just say that she thought this was going to be a blowout? We couldn't have been more wrong. So everyone tell everyone what was going on with the blowout on the bed.

[C]

No. So Milan fashion capital, the world. You can get a blowout in the corner of Milan on your hair for, like 20 bucks. And Ellen Hughes, Jack and Quinn's mom, somehow found one on the side of the street that she really loved. She came to practice, and of course, I'm the one that notices. I'm. I give myself blowouts here and there, and I go, ellen, I'm gassing her up in the locker room. I'm like, ellen, girl, like, what are you doing with your hair? It looks so good. And she's like, guys, I got a $20 blowout on the street. And I'm like, okay. And then some of our other coaches are, like, starting to get into it. She's done it three times now. And now Katie Million, our gm, Ali Altman, our goalie coach, Sherry Dickerman, our forward coach, and Ellen all go before the gold medal game. And I'm like, okay, this is great vibes. And I turn back to them on the bench and, like, they got their. Their hair looks fresh and whatever. And ours is in a top not. It looks terrible. And I look and I go to Ali. I go, must have been the blowouts. Like, must have been, must have been. And Ellen goes, oh, gosh, I need to go get another one before I leave.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

I mean, like, there are things that you need. You're going through duty free in the airport. You got to get some olive oil. Got to get some wine. Got to get a blowout, too.

[C]

You got to get a blowout. And two. I. I'm like a Dyson girl through and through. I always use mine. Can't bring it to Europe, so you Can't. So there's nothing.

[A]

I can't fucking believe you just said that. Alice came to Milan for a few days, and, like, the first thing she was saying to me was, I can't bring my Dyson. So, like, yeah, she went on a walk to find a store, to find, like, the next best thing she could.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

It's unbelievable.

[C]

And Grace didn't have her Starbucks. And I said, grace, this is equivalent to me not having my Dyson for 26 days. I didn't even care if I went to bed with wet hair anymore. I was like, it doesn't matter. Yeah, I don't even have my favorite tool here to. To do what I need to do.

[B]

God, that is so awesome. Okay, just give us your favorite memory from the post game, either on the ice or after, because I remember talking to you a few days after, because that game was, what, Thursday? I remember being like, hey, let's link up. You know, Friday or Saturday, we'll chop it up. And. And you got. You kept being like, we're. We're still hammered. Like, we're still. There's too much going on. So. Yeah. What was some of your favorite moments?

[C]

I was not well for a bit, but definitely my favorite moment. One of them was I had the flag on. On the ice, and I remember looking at my 40 people that were in the stands, and I could just see my mom zooming in. She's got. She's bawling. My dad's got his camera, the Galaxy, just zooming in. You know, it's bad quality. Like, he's got it. And, like, everyone there, my fiancee, Parker, his mom, like, all my mom's best friends, like, they're all, like, crying, bawling, and I'm like, I did it. Like, we. Like, that was one of my favorite moments. And then the other one after is we got to go to the Starbucks winter house. And I remember Xfinity was there. They're one of my Olympic sponsors. And they had, like, these little, like, signs. They were cardboard cutouts of me. And to this day, Ali Altman snuck one back home in her suitcase. She's been sending me pictures of me in different, different areas. And she. My shooting coach, guy that I work with in the summer goes, sent me a video, and it was him opening his Tesla trunk. And it's just me, like, there.

[B]

Like, a flat Stanley. Yeah.

[C]

Super fun, too. It was flat Stanley. Like, I've been getting pictures and got to drink some apparel spritzes with my family and the girls, obviously. We had a lot of fun. Like we found we were at a club with Snoop Dogg performing French Montana, Amber Glenn, Alyssa Lou. Like we're all in the same section. It was like ridiculous. And I remember at 3am Grace and I look at each other and we're

[E]

like,

[C]

I think it's time to go. And this is one of those clubs where they put like the sticker over your camera.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. The real deal.

[C]

Hillary had gotten us in and of course we're like, holy cow. Like, this is legit. And I remember I was like, I haven't, I don't remember the last time I was at a club. And like, Hillary, Hillary's not a club person. Like that's not who she is. And you could see her. She was just like excited. Everyone was having a good time. And that was definitely one of my favorite ones. Because then we get back at like three and I remember I took a video of Murph running through the village and I'm like, who would have thought we'd be running through the village at 3:30 in the morning with a Corona in hand, sprinting around like jumping through the Olympic rings and just fun stuff like that.

[B]

That is so sick.

[A]

It's the best.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, heis, we'll let you, we'll let you jump. We got to get you back on here again as the season unfolds. But absolutely can't tell you how proud we are of you and how psyched we are for you. This was truly one of the greatest moments of all time and we're just so pumped that you got to live through it. But like I said, we'll be dialing in for the rest of your season. Can't wait to chat with you more. But thanks so much for coming on. You're the best.

[C]

Thank you. I love being on here, so thanks for having me.

[A]

Oh yeah, it's awesome. Huge shout out to Taylor. Such a star, such an amazing person.

[B]

Legend.

[A]

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[B]

All right, for the second time, recurring guest from God was that Were we in Montreal Barnes here. Were we in Boston?

[E]

Montreal.

[A]

That was Montreal. That was four nations.

[B]

Yep. And. And you're back in Canada now anyway. So we only do this when you're in Canada, but for the second time back and for the first time in Olympic gold medalist. Welcome back to the Empty Nerds podcast.

[A]

I love so much that this is our, our California gal. That's the best part about it. Like a true Southern California native. That's what we need more of.

[E]

Born and raised.

[A]

Born and raised, baby. On the roller rinks. Which is unbelievable.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So epic. We just asked Heisey this and we got to know. I mean the fact that you're in Ottawa after a game, which we'll talk about in a second because that was a, that was a monumental game in Seattle. Has the high of the gold worn off at all yet or are you just still out of your mind?

[E]

Oh, I don't think it'll ever wear off.

[A]

There we go.

[E]

I think it's, it's just always like I still wake up and I still see posts about it and you know, new followers and this and that and it's it's crazy. Just the momentum we've gotten and how exciting it's been since we've gotten back. And like, it feels like we've been back for a long time, but we've really only been back for like five, six days, so it's crazy.

[A]

Are you have. Has your internal clock reset at all or are you like all over the place with sleep?

[E]

Kind of all over the place. We. Seattle is 9 hour difference, so that was really hard to adjust to and I finally start to kind of feel normal and then boom, on the road again. So now we're time changing again and so a little bit off, but we're hanging in there.

[A]

We do have to say, Chris, when you were. When you were gone for a second, we were chatting about it. It is unreal that this happens. Gold medal is one. Kayla comes back, has to be on the ice immediately for a game. And sold out. Barn breaks the attendance record for the P Dub. And we're saying how awesome that is, but also like, it's just going to get broken again because the momentum is through the roof right now. It's unreal. How crazy was that barn?

[E]

No, it was insane. Like, I've never. I don't. Our fans are so awesome and they're so passionate and, you know, it looked. You looked out into the crowd and didn't seem like there was an empty seat, which was amazing for the pw for women's sports in general, for women's hockey. And like I said, there's a couple big games coming up that for sure will probably rival that record. And that's exciting. We want that record to keep getting broken.

[A]

Yeah. It's a good thing.

[B]

Of course. Yeah. Barnesy, what did you think of the. The two rinks in Milan, like, because that was a unique experience too. Just the vibe and the setting in there. What'd you think of those?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, it was kind of crazy, like switching back and forth. And the first rink we played at was literally a warehouse, which was a really, really unique experience with the locker room setup and the lock to the ring.

[B]

I didn't even think about that.

[E]

Yeah, yeah. Like, the locker rooms were kind of like these trailer looking things, which was really interesting. They did a good job with it, I think, like the best that they could do. And our equipment managers are awesome. Awesome. Making it feel like home and stuff. But it was. It was definitely interesting. I definitely liked playing at the bigger rink better. It just kind of felt more like real. But, you know, it was. It was a good setup at both and we got through.

[A]

Did feel like they. I mean, there was so much chatter about those rinks before the games. And at the end of the day, I'm like, all right. They pulled it together pretty well. And you're so right. The big rink did. It had a uniquely Italian feel though, you know, like it was, it was an official rank. But I was like, this is, this is an Olympic rink. You know, like, this has clearly been whipped together. But it was cool. It had a vibe. I liked it.

[E]

Yeah, it was. The atmosphere was great there. And I mean, especially at our, like, final, at all our games, really. But our final game was the push and pull from the fans and, you know, is, you know, half Canadian, half American. It was just like such a fun atmosphere. And it felt like it was a big ranked, but it felt pretty like intimate, which was really cool. So I really, I really enjoyed it.

[A]

Yeah, talk to us about the, the build up to the games because obviously it's similar with the men's. With the NHL and, and all of you with the P dubbed. There is that element of you're playing now with a bunch of people who you're playing against during the season, but there's the added element of you have the college gals coming and joining the team. Did you have a group chat going weeks and weeks before? How, how were you bonding and kind of getting ready for the trip before the games?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, we really started our process in August. We had camps every month. We met every month as a team for camps and rivalry series and stuff like that. So we had a touch point every month, which was really good for our team. But also what I've explained to a lot of people is like, this isn't just like one year. We've been building this team for four years and we've spent four years together. And obviously some different pieces are in and out, but for the most part the core is the same. So we've been building this team for four years and I think this year those touch points were great and really helped solidify our team. But everybody went back to their markets and the PW is so great for us. This is the first time we've had a professional league with the Olympics. And you know, we get to play night in and night out against the best players in the world, which ultimately helps us, helps the Olympics, helps growth everywhere in other countries as well. And then obviously our college girls are awesome. They're all on high level teams and breaking records and doing all these crazy things. So, you know, they had a Good setup when they left as well. So I think we all had a good setup. And when we met, it was, you know, all about Team usa and it was. We were really excited to be with each other.

[A]

Yeah, it's so true. And you could feel it, right? Like, we could see the chemistry with your group from the first game. And obviously we were joking around with Taylor. It's like the five goal thing. I don't know what the hell was going on with you all, but it was like, you hit five goals and you were like, we're done. Save it for the next game. But obviously, I mean, I love to hear that and I love the fans get to hear this, that this has been a really serious and significant building process for all of you. But when you're there and you're actually in the execution of it, wearing that jersey, going out on the ice, knowing that you're in Italy, was it, you know, a practice or was it that first game against Czechia that you were like, oh, shit, this group is special.

[E]

I think. I think right when we got there, like, you could just feel the vibe within our group. Everyone was so excited to be there, and we have a really special group. And the fact that, like, everyone has specific roles and everyone embraces that role and our leadership is so good that, you know, every person felt important and needed, and you could just really feel that in the group. And we were all so excited to be there and compete, and we all had one goal in mind. And I think we were so hungry to win gold, especially. There's a handful of us that were there in 22 that obviously fell on the short end of the stick. And then, you know, throughout the quad, the world Championships, you know, we've had wins and losses. So I think we were just really hungry to prove to the world, like, who we are. We're here, we're here to stay, so.

[A]

Damn right.

[B]

Yeah. Barnesy, did you get greedy? And you got to be honest, did you get greedy at all after the first Canada game when you were like, okay, we're going to roll?

[E]

No, no, not for. Not for a second. Not for a second. I. And I think that's a huge testament to our leadership, honestly. Hillary Knight, goat, absolute goat. Just like, greatest of all time. Been around the block five times at the Olympics, and she knows a thing or two, and she does a really good job of keeping the pulse of the room. And just never too high, never too low. Just as long as we stick to our game plan. Honestly, we really focus on us. We try not to focus on other teams. As much as. As long as we stick to our game plan, the rest will do the work. And that's. That was kind of our. Our vision, our game plan going throughout the tournament. And always the next game was the most important one, you know, not just Canada or not just, you know, this game or that game. It was every single game.

[A]

So how much do you lean on people like Hillary and Carpi and Megan in those moments? Like, we talked about that that gold medal game was the only time you trailed in a game the whole turn. How fucking crazy is that? But in those moments when you are such a tight group, you've all played together, you've been building this. How important is that veteran leadership in those moments when you need someone to step up in the locker room? Because it sounds like Hillary was just dialed and locked in, in that moment, keeping everyone focused.

[E]

Yeah, I mean, it's huge. You need people that have been in those situations. And at the end of the day, Hillary really believed in this group, and I think we all really believed in this group. But you could feel that in her, in her approach and the way she spoke to us. And she just knows how to command a room. And, you know, never for a second was there any doubt in her voice. You know, she was like, we got this. We're fine. Keep pressing. You know, we kind of knew, like, if we got one, like, we'd be all right. And it took us a bit longer than expected and, you know, longer than we probably wanted it to, but it all worked out in the end, so we lean on them a lot. And like I said, our leadership is so good and those voices are so important to our group.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. I meant to ask Taylor this, but I was curious if there was, because we're New England guys, right? So we Tom Brady NFL fans. And I remember hearing a story about, like, he's such a decorated NFL player, but when would you feel the most stress? The Super Bowls, whatever. And he was like, no, it's. It was that undefeated season because there was just so much added pressure of, like, you gotta win now because you were fucking undefeated. And I. I was curious if you all felt that a little bit because of how dominant you were up until the final, you know, because it was almost like it re a you Canada game should always be a toss up, essentially, but. And that it got so crazy that it felt like if you didn't win now, it would be a disaster. Even us walking into the rink, the Canadian fans we were talking to would be like, oh, you know, the US Team though, so good. It just felt like the whole rink was like, oh, the US Girls are going to win. And I was like, this is going to be a fucking brutal game. And I was wondering if you felt any of that extra pressure just because of how good you were.

[E]

I mean, I think a little bit, yeah. I think we really started to take off in the rivalry series when we, we won those games by a pretty big margin and then, you know, we beat them in the preliminary round pretty good at the Olympics. But I think our group does a really good job of never underestimating Canada. We have a lot of respect for the team in that room. And I'm not just saying this like, this is true. Like, it's true. Like we were like, you know, that team will come out and they'll give you everything they have and it can be a toss up. You know, we could, we could beat them, whatever it was, 10, three in the rivalry season. They could come out and beat us the next night. It doesn't really matter. And I think that stems a lot from our leadership. They did a really good job of keeping us kind of grounded and, you know, understanding that like, as much pressure as there, there is, like, we just got to go out and play the way we can and like I said, the rest will fall into place. But I think definitely going into that game it was like kind of, it was a little bit more stressful than the games leading up to that one. So.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, on that I, I think it was actually funny was talking to Dami and actually some of the other, talking to Aaron Ambrose on Team Canada about the rivalry between all of you and she actually mentioned how the P dubbed has. Has softened that rivalry a little bit in a sense. But you'd mentioned the rivalry series and I, I got to go to a couple games last year in la and I was blown away how intense. I mean, these are exhibition games and you ladies are trying to kill each other in that.

[B]

Those games.

[A]

And it's so, so fun to watch and it's electrifying. And in those moments you get thinking as a fan, you're like, holy, I can't wait for Olympics. So in these games, with that respect that you. You said you have and with this rivalry, I was super curious watching them. The, the Sweden team was so good this year and there was a part of me with the semi that was like, I hate, I kind of want this to be the final. It felt like you and Sweden were really the top teams. And obviously I know you have nothing but the utmost respect for that Sweden group. But because of how intense the rivalry and because of how much of a competitor I know you are, is there a huge part of you that was like, no, we need U S Canada in the final?

[E]

Oh, 100%, I think. 100%. Because, you know, because the rivalry is so big and it's so, like, it's so deep rooted. Like, I feel like if it wasn't US Canada in some way, it, I don't want to say, like, it wouldn't feel like we like fully earned it. Like it would just like, I don't know, like it just, that's what we've all imagined. And you know, I just think that to make it right in the world, it had to be U.S. canada.

[A]

Yeah, no, that makes sense.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

I love it.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

So you said earlier that the tangle might have taken a little bit longer than everyone had hoped on. Tell me a little bit just about the honest emotions of as that clock starts to tick down and now we're pulling the fucking goalie and you know, so talk me through that. And then also into when, what you remember from when it went in.

[E]

Yeah, so, I mean, six minutes left we go on the kill. So that's kind of where. Yeah, six minutes left we go on the kill. We're down one nothing. And we're like, like, we're like, you know, like, not, not like panic, but we're like, it's the, this, this kill will make her, will make the game. You, you either kill it and you survive or you get scored on and now you're down to nothing with under five to go. And you know, that's, that's a bigger hole. So we went out there and we just knew we had to get a job done and we killed it and that gave us some momentum and we just kept pushing. And you know, our. Everyone on the bench was like, we're good, we're good, we're fine. Like, keep pushing, keep pushing. It'll come, it'll come. And the energy was honestly great on the bench. And you know, I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. Like, during that TV timeout, I sat down and closed my eyes and I prayed to God, hell yeah. And I said, and I said, I said, you know, I know I probably don't come here as often as I should, but just, just, just give us something. Give us something. Like we've earned it. Like, give us, give us something and then we'll go from there.

[A]

That honesty is why they're answering when the check in to being like, listen, I know it's been a while. I'm sorry.

[E]

I love. All right, I'm sorry. And you know, and then we pull the goalie. Honestly, pretty early, but, you know, no doubt in our. Our PP groups, like, they're insane. I mean, you look at the people on those groups and then like, oh, they got it. They're fine. Yeah, yeah. Hugh, you know, like, huge shout out to Carpi for winning the Face Off. I think Tessa got in there and. And wanted back. And then, you know, you get the puck in the hands of like, Layla Edwards, Megan Keller, and good things are going to happen. And honestly, when, you know, that shot, it was like slow motion. That shot went through and then tip to Hillary. Like, if everyone could just grab bottle up the emotion that was on the bench and I could just give it to everyone, it would make bring so much joy in the world. I think, like, we were screaming. We were like, yeah, fuck, yeah. Like, hugging each other. Like, and then it was really in that moment where you're like, we're gonna win. Like, I think that was the turning point when we said, okay, we're gonna win. We got this. Whether this goes to overtime, whether this goes for the next four hours, we're gonna win. And obviously, no one better than Hillary to score that goal. Like I said, such a goat always shows up when it matters and just super happy for her in that moment. And then obviously, you know the rest of the story. You know how it goes. So.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

Awesome.

[B]

One of my favorite parts about that replay. I've watched it a bunch of times, is I. I try to watch a different person each time, whether it's the bench or Layla or whatever, because the. The there you leave your feet. Like, people are literally jumping on skates into the air when it goes in. It is such an aw. Some reaction. It fired me up. It must have been incredible to live through that.

[E]

Yeah, it was insane. The bench was crazy. Like, yeah, I think that was probably. But it was probably like, my highest vertical jump ever. I wish I would have gotten it, like, recorded for my strength coaches to take.

[A]

We were right behind you. Like, truly, that's where our seats were. Your. Your. Your knees were well over the boards.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, you were nuts. I was like, jesus Christ, Kayla's going for it here. But listen, you keep talking about this veteran group, and I know it probably doesn't feel that way for you, and we've. We've talked so much. Right after you un gold in our recap this Group is so young, it's nuts. When you're looking at 20, 30, it's a pretty similar group, which is unbelievable. But you and I, you know, I know you wouldn't say this about yourself, but here I am saying it. You're a decorated Olympian at this point. I mean, like, holy shit, man. Like, you're. You're sinking to the bottom of the ocean with these medals around your neck. And I gotta know. I mean, you. When you think about the call up in your first one, being a teenager, youngest player on the team, and now here you are, it's. It's crazy to think about, and I can't. I can't imagine how unreal it must feel for you, but how does this one compare to, you know, you. You're. You kind of had, like, a covet Olympics, it feels like, and, you know, you win the ultimate prize, then you don't win it, and now you win it again. Like, is it. Is it a mishmash in your mind, or do any of them stand out over others?

[E]

I mean, I think this one is by far the. The best one. I think, like, obviously winning gold in 2018 was an amazing experience, but I think, like, that team was amazing, and I learned so much from that team, but I think I was, like, almost too young and too new into my process to, like, really, really appreciate the experience and the team and, like, what that team went through, because I wasn't with them the whole quad. Like, I was so young that I just, like, joined them, like, three months before the Olympics. And I was like, I'm here. Like, hey, and I'm on the team. Like, yeah. And so, like. And then obviously, Covid also had a really great team, just obviously didn't swing our way. So that one's obviously going to fall a little bit deeper. And then, I mean, this one, this group is just, like. I keep saying it, but this group is so special, and I think there's just something special. Like, you know, when you have a special team, it's just something about it. You can't really pinpoint it. But that team, whatever it is, we had it, and I think it makes it so special. We just have so much fun together and the amount of trust that we have in each other and, you know, everyone just doing their jobs, and when we play together, it feels. It's, like, beautiful, honestly. Like, it's. There's nothing like it. And even being partisan, like, participating in it, it's just. It's so fun to play with that group. And I think what you know, winning and what it did for, you know, fans and the viewership and what the impact it's having is just gonna leave a lasting impact. So I think this one is definitely super special. And on top of that, the men's did it too. And we, we swept, which is an amazing, amazing thing and so fun and, you know, always like to stick it to Canada when we can, so.

[A]

Well, so I'm curious. This is, you know, as you mentioned, this is the first time that it's been this way for you or any of, any of the players. I always wonder, I think one of like the big fan questions that happen and I'm sure you've thought of this before you were on any of these teams. When there is the Olympic best on best tournaments, the feeling of how strange it must be going from this family and then back to your pro league and playing against each other immediately. Have you felt that being weird yet?

[E]

Well, we haven't. I haven't played against anyone yet. We played Toronto, so no us, no us girls in Toronto, but we have a couple here in Ottawa that we're playing against. And I think it'll, I think it'll start to feel a little bit weird. But, you know, like, we also recognize that this is just, this is our job now and this is, you know, kind of the name of the game and love seeing them in all these different cities and we, you know, we go out to dinner and hang out and still see each other and it'll be really fun to start to see people after because we all just kind of disperse so quickly, which is hard.

[B]

So that was shocking to me, Barnesy, how fast it the turnaround is. Like, you know, you, you, you, I, you guys, you get a week vacation to celebrate this. But instead they're like, no, go back to life immediately. That was crazy.

[E]

It's crazy. Yeah, we were lucky. We had, we had like three days there post our game. So.

[A]

Yeah. You don't remember those that well though, eh?

[E]

That's a secret I will never tell. No, no, we, we had some fun, that's for sure. And we made some memories, which I think we all will cherish for a while. So until we can meet again all together, you know, it'll be fun to see people in different markets and stuff like that.

[A]

So no question, no question. It's the best. Do you have any, you know, outside the rink and, you know, we talked. We've been loving the stories from the calf and you know where you're sleeping in single beds? Did you have a moment in, like, the brief moments you had, just being able to enjoy Milan, that stuck out, that you were like, oh, that was awesome.

[E]

I mean, we were there for so long, so there's so many moments. I think for me, something that was really special about Milan was this was the first time, like, my family got to be there.

[B]

Awesome.

[E]

And I've had, like, obviously, so many great moments with the girls, and we did so many things, and that was great. But I think just, like, the little moments in between with my family, and this is the first time my dad's gotten to see me play in the Olympics, and my brothers were there. I have four other brothers. They were there and their families. And so just being able to kind of see them and, you know, just enjoy the Olympic experience with them was really, like, special for me. And I think that's something that really sticks out in. In my Olympic experience this time was just having them there and, you know, feeling their support, and it was just really special.

[A]

Yeah, no, that's. I can't imagine. It's almost like, yeah, right, Chris. Like, that is such a cool feeling in general, but for you to have two Olympic experiences prior without. I mean, that makes this all the more incredible. How fast did you find them in the crowd during the celebration?

[E]

It honestly took a while, and, like, it got to a point where I was like, where are they? Like, I don't know where they are. And then I finally kind of found them, and my brothers were kind of scattered a bit, and they all finally got to one place, and they got over the railing, and there's actually, like, a really cool picture of me, like, reaching up, and my brothers are leaning over, like, yelling, and just.

[B]

Just.

[E]

Just so cool. Like, just such, like, so fun to have them there. And, you know, they're like, they're my biggest fans, and, you know, we had some tough times growing up, but, you know, I think now, you know, we are best friends, and it was just. It was awesome. So once I found them, it was kind of like tears in my eyes. My mom was crying, my dad was crying. Like, you know, my brothers were going crazy with beers in their hands. Like, there's, like, mini Coronas, you know? Yeah, the mini ones. Yeah. So it was just. Just so cool. Such a cool experience.

[B]

That is amazing. And then did you get. Obviously, you're with the girls for most of the. For the party and after. But did you get to have a moment with your family out of your gear, off. Off after the game to celebrate?

[E]

Yeah, we all went to, like, the USA house that was there in Milan. Yeah, the winter house. And everyone's families were there, so got to see our families for a bit and before we went back to the village. But that was a really fun. And everyone's family, so you got to kind of mingle around and see different people. So that was. It was great.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. God, it's unbelievable. So it took us.

[E]

It took us a while to get there, though, I'm not gonna lie. Like, with the, with the locker room and the goggles and.

[A]

Isn't that the funny thing? It's like, you know, you've got all your family and people that you want to see, but it's like the locker room is. Is the best vibe in the world.

[E]

It's like, you don't want to leave it. No. Like, you know, Hillary kept saying, gotta bottle this up. We gotta bottle this up. Because we were just like, we didn't want to leave. And then at some point we were like, all right, we got, we gotta go. Like, we got. I think at that point we'd probably run out of booze or something. We were like, okay, now it's time to go.

[B]

That's why we have.

[A]

You had done irreparable damage to the locker room and it's time to leave.

[E]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

No, that's so true. Because you do want to live there forever. Because it's just. That's the crew you went with, you know, that's the crew you fought with. And it's just. Yeah, that's what a feeling. What a feeling.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, I don't want to make you unlive all that stuff, but, you know, now it's like you said, it's what an. What an amazing opportunity to be able to come back to your professional league and a season that you're in the middle of. What are some things that are, you know, at the top of the list? Maybe some matchups or some trips that you're looking forward to most here for Seattle?

[E]

Yeah. I mean, we're in Ottawa now, and then we go home for about a week and we have a home game which will be fun. Hopefully, you know, we get another sold out crowd. Always fun to play at home in Seattle. And then we go on a big two week road trip and we get to go play in like five different markets, which will be really cool. And then we play in Chicago, which takeover games. So that will be really fun. Hopefully, you know, that game does well. And then one game I'm really looking forward to. I played for Montreal last year and we haven't been there. So I'm really excited to go back to Montreal and experience that atmosphere because obviously I played for them and it's super fun rink. Their fans are awesome. So excited to go there and play against them in Montreal.

[A]

Yeah, that'll be a blast. Are you a good two week roadie Packer, or do you struggle?

[E]

No, I. I'm pretty good. I would say. I've kind of got it. I mean, I've gone on enough road trips in my life now to I got it down to a T. I used to be a severe overpacker and, like, it was a problem. And I'd be like, well, what if I do this random thing and I need this? And I'm like, that will never happen. I don't know why I'm thinking this will happen.

[A]

Like, it's never happened. It never will.

[E]

It's never happened before. It's not gonna happen now. I don't know why I'm thinking this, but I've gotten a lot better. So I think now I've gotten it down to a science, which is.

[A]

There you go.

[E]

Which is good.

[A]

Yeah, Kayla, I used to do the same thing. I think I still am an overpacker, but I would have that same thought of like, well, what if we do this? And someone once said to me was like, well, if you do that, just buy the thing you need. And I was like, fuck. That's such a good piece of advice. Changed my life. It was unbelievable.

[E]

I've also. Yeah, I've gotten to the point too, where I'm like, I have my passport and I have my hockey here. Anything else is replaceable, it's fine. So that's really all that really matters.

[B]

So, Barnesy, we have a friend out here who says if, as long as you bring, as long as you pack a speaker and a bathing suit, you're good. Like, make sure whatever trip you go on, just bring a speaker and a bathing suit and then all things will go well for you. It's my favorite.

[E]

Everything.

[B]

Every time I'm packing, I just.

[E]

Everything will be all right.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Maybe add the passport in there, but otherwise

[E]

all right.

[A]

Well, Kayla, you're the best. I know we had some technical difficulties at the beginning of this, but thank you so much for popping on with us, giving some of your time. We know you're on the road here, you need to get some rest, but we can't tell you how much we appreciate it. And also just, we're so, so damn proud of you and impressed by everything. It's just again as fans and supporters, watching you almost jump over the bench in, in joy and celebration, it. I hope you know, it just fills our hearts so much. We're. We're so blown away with the tournament by, by all you gals. It was unreal.

[E]

Oh, thank you. And we felt the support from everyone. It was insane. So we appreciate it and thank you so much for having me. This was, was. This was fun.

[A]

I. I mean listen, it had been too long and we're not going to let it go this long again. We got to start making this more of a regular thing.

[E]

Absolutely. Sounds good to me.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Massive. Thank you to Barnesy. She is also a legend. God, what a rip the women's team had, man. Look at the stats of that. It's.

[A]

It's. We. We talked about it with both of them like the five goal run thing, the just dominance of Aaron Frankel.

[B]

I.

[A]

And I loved how Kayla was like the vibes will never wear off.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. That was a great answer. That's.

[A]

A person who already has a gold medal has a silver medal like this. It's just so cool to hear. And I also loved that Kayla wasn't afraid to be like this one was so sick.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it was just being in Milan, the way they played, it was fucking unreal.

[B]

So thank you again to Barnsy and now let's kick it to the professors.

[A]

Yes, we shall. We are back from holiday. The professors are back in session. Welcome to class. It's been a while.

[B]

It was Olympic holiday.

[A]

It was. We took a holiday to. To Milan.

[B]

We took the channel. We channel you channel across.

[A]

I'm sorry, is that correct? Are you saying channel?

[B]

Is that correct? I don't know what this is called.

[A]

I. You can take a train. Or perhaps not.

[B]

Not from the. The island, not from the uk I

[A]

assure you you can.

[B]

It goes right over.

[A]

Across.

[B]

Eh?

[A]

Why are you saying channel?

[B]

Is it that what it's called?

[A]

There's a channel between England and France. Channel.

[B]

The channel.

[A]

This is the thing underground.

[B]

It's called the Channel Chunnel. Linking Folkestone uk.

[A]

Forgive me, sir.

[B]

France. It's beneath the English Channel.

[A]

It's called the Channel because it is the tunnel under the Channel. That's terrible. That I did not know.

[B]

Gregory.

[A]

Well done, sir. Well done. Well, we did take a brief holiday and we are back discussing the professor's picks for this weekend. We have nothing to discuss of our last run. Or do we? No, no, no, no, no, no.

[B]

So we go right to the Friday Fade. Our favorite bet from the first half of the season, it shall return. We'll see if it shall stay hot. And it's an interesting slate this Friday because those unfamiliar to the Friday Fade, we find the game that that is the clearest winner in the world. And then we go the other way. We fade it. Because of course, whatever we think must be wrong and then it becomes right every time.

[A]

For my money, I believe there's only two games that could possibly be the option for the Friday Fade.

[B]

So we're looking at Cats at Wings, Aves at Stars, Canucks at Hocks, Canes at Eulers, Habs at Ducks, Wild at nights, Blues at Sharks.

[A]

And it simply must be either the Blues at Sharks or the Cats at Wings.

[B]

Interesting. You mean to imply the Cats are the fools?

[A]

The Cats have run through all nine lives. They are dead interesting, unfortunately.

[B]

They're dead interesting, Daniel. So it's the Cats. Yes. So is it clear that the Wings at home would beat the floundering dead Cats, or is it more clear that the Sharks at home would beat the hapless Blues who have traded away that entire team?

[A]

I think it is foregone conclusion that both the Red Wings and the Sharks win those games.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So we need to decide which one is more obvious, is the more obvious win and then fade that team.

[B]

Yes. Yes, Daniel.

[A]

We work so hard to make this pick, so we must get it right. Mmm.

[B]

I wonder if the Wings are better than the Sharks.

[A]

I think the. I believe they are, sir.

[B]

Why?

[A]

The larger question is, are the Cats or the Blues more abysmal?

[B]

Yes. Then the Blues. The Blues are surely more abysmal. The Blues are surely more abysmal than the Cats. But is the Delta? Because the Blues are here. But the Sharks are here. And the Cats are here. And the Wings are here. Which goes to the greater Delta, I think.

[A]

Oh, I'm not.

[D]

The Panthers play on Thursday.

[B]

The Panthers play on Thursday.

[A]

So it's a back to back interesting, sir.

[B]

So the Wings surely will beat the Panthers at home. Off the Panthers back to back, I

[A]

believe that might be.

[B]

The Wings will surely win.

[A]

So it is absolutely certain that the Detroit Red Wings will beat the Florida Panthers while at home in Detroit. Therefore, we will fade the Red Wings and take the Florida Panthers to win on Friday for the Friday fade.

[B]

Delightful.

[A]

Friday fade is back. And we're on the back of the dead Cats. Brilliant.

[B]

Now we go to the Saturday selly. For those new to the program, this is the first Saturday selly of the

[C]

second half of the season.

[B]

It's an anytime goal scorer. On Saturday, one of the games Saturday will have a goal scorer. Surely we won't have all 00 shootouts. So someone will score. We will identify them. We will find Sherlock Holmes. Here's who I have found as potential suspects. Tage Thompson, home versus the Predators. Coming off his Olympics firing in one timer.

[A]

The man is on an absolute heater right now.

[B]

Kucherov on the road at the Leafs. I don't love that. But Kuch is currently doing that I should be MVP stat pad. That he always does right around now. He's got 31 goals this year. Did you know that? He said all of a sudden he scores a billion goals. I like Kuja.

[A]

I think he has something like 79 points in his last 35 games.

[B]

Oh, okay. Oh, you're the best player again. Absolutely. Oh. Oh, it's you.

[A]

Mental performance.

[B]

Geeky or Pasta at home versus the Caps was interesting, but Pasta's not even

[A]

scoring much this year. Absolute. We've not done him yet. Yes, I Love Morgan geeky.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

30 Morgan geeky at home versus the guy I don't love because it's probably going to be Logan Thompson. Annette, but geeky cap struggling Geeky anytime goal scorer. We've not done it this year. I love that pick.

[B]

Delightful.

[A]

I absolutely love that pick. Morgan Geeky.

[B]

Saturday Selly.

[A]

Get your scoring boots warmed up. You shall be the Saturday Selly against the Caps Sunday.

[B]

Hat trick.

[A]

Brilliant.

[B]

Parlay is a hat trick. Is a three leg parlay we do every Sunday. And here's the spread. I shan't. I almost hesitate to even read it because it's such an obvious one, but I will give the listeners their picks. But the spread is wild at Aves, Bruins at Pens, Bolts at Sabers, Hawks at Stars, Wings at Devils, Blues at Ducklings, Oilers at nights. Obviously on Sunday, after the Blues have traded away everyone on their roster, impossibly including their goaltender, they travel to Anaheim who have been dominant since two professors arrived to take flight at their facility.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

The Ducks will destroy the Blues.

[A]

But you'd like the under as well.

[B]

I couldn't tell. I just think the Blues will.

[A]

You basically said they'd be playing an AHL team with six nothing. No, that's not a bad point.

[B]

Six nothing. Five.

[A]

One under.

[B]

But what do you think? Blues money? Excuse me?

[A]

Ducks. Moneyline, Ducks. Moneyline. Absolutely. You want the under.

[B]

Under six points.

[A]

So we shall take the under.

[B]

Give me a point. Give me a point. Score.

[A]

Oh, dear me. Who shall we take? Oh, you would of. We're thinking a potential shutout here.

[B]

So we're Taking a Duck.

[A]

We will be taking the Ducks. Let me see. Let me see. I would like. My mind goes to Mr. Cartago. But.

[B]

But the heart. Where does the heart truly live?

[A]

Give me Beckett. Seneca.

[B]

That's my. That's my boy.

[A]

The rookie phenom to have one point.

[B]

Ducks Moneyline under 6.5. Beckett. Seneca Point anytime. Point. Sunday hat trick parlay.

[A]

Brilliant.

[B]

Now, what was. What was Professor Watkins name again? Doctor. No. Doctor. Doctor Watkins.

[A]

Doctor Watkins. Doctor Watkins.

[B]

Yes, we do. We move now to the Saturday mega parlay live on a beach. If we bet every. We bet every money line on Saturday. Put it into a punch bowl, turn it into a parlay, and if it wins, you win a billion dollars.

[A]

Brilliant.

[B]

Brilliant, brilliant. Saturday mega parlay. Daniel, we'll start with you. Just pick us a winner. Caps at Bruins.

[A]

I will take the Bruins. Please.

[B]

Christopher Rags at Devils. I will go devils. Dr. Watkins preds at Sabers.

[A]

Sabers. Fantastic.

[B]

Daniel. Daniel. Flyers at Peds.

[A]

I will take the Pens. We're going all home teams, which is always dangerous.

[B]

Yes, I always hate that. Christopher bolts at Leafs. I will go boats. Watkins Mammoth at Jackets.

[D]

Oh.

[A]

Oh, Mammoth.

[B]

Yes. Daniel Canucks at Jets.

[A]

Oh, crikey.

[B]

I know, I know.

[A]

Absolutely disgusting. Matchup. The Jets.

[B]

The Jets. Yes. Sir Christopher Habs at Kings. New coach Bump. I would like the Kings there. I would like the Kings in that one. Dr. Watkins.

[A]

Canes at Flames. Canes.

[B]

Canes. That's the correct pick. Dr. Daniel Isles Sharks.

[A]

I will take the Islanders.

[B]

Yes, you shall. And then Christopher Sens at Spunk. I don't go Sens. In fact, there I will go Sens. An interesting pick. That will be the cherry for those at home when we are one win away and we get to that game

[A]

and the spunk get a 2 nothing ease.

[B]

You will remember Bamboozle. The Sens will come back and they shall so live on a beach. Bruins, Devils, Sabers, Pens, Bolts, Mammoth, Jets, Kings, Canes, Isles. In sense.

[A]

Fantastic.

[B]

Enjoy.

[A]

Now take us to the Life on the Line parlay. Four games.

[B]

Our lives are on the line that

[A]

we shall make a parlay for and

[B]

I will say the final Life on the Line. Before the Olympic holiday.

[A]

We won. We won. It was absolutely fantastic.

[B]

And I highly recommend we continue to win. That was fun.

[A]

Quite a lot of money on it too. I feel it was a desperation. A life on the line.

[B]

A life on the Line.

[A]

So now, this week, who would you like to.

[B]

I can't remember. Daniel, what would you say? Well, you pick.

[A]

Oh, Dr. Watkins, tell us which. Who should lead? Wait.

[D]

Who Talking about Ian?

[A]

We're. We're about to do our nice little sonnets. Who should go first?

[D]

Let's go, Christopher.

[B]

Christopher. Well done, Christopher. Leg number one. Life on the line parlay. Playing the Flames is far from laborious Playing the Flames is far from laborious the canes are better than them by miles Surely Carolina will be victorious. It's not like it's the Eastern Conference.

[A]

Oh, that's cheeky, Sir.

[B]

Gaines. Money.

[A]

Well done.

[B]

Well done, body line and leg number one.

[A]

That laborious victorious rhyme was just brilliant. Brilliant. All right. Would you like me to go?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

All right. My first. A city that sings and one that eats wings Both are sure to deliver a good time One team kind of sucks the other one Missing playoffs would now be a crime Bad vibes start to fade they might make a big trade Things are looking up in Buffalo so preds go away. I'm sorry to say it's time for

[B]

the Sabres to stuff a hoe.

[A]

Respectfully, of course. Respectfully. Of course.

[B]

Respectfully.

[A]

Sabres, money line.

[B]

Next leg. The next leg. The next leg.

[D]

Stuff a ho.

[A]

I. I felt terrible doing it.

[B]

The next leg, gentlemen. The next leg. The bullshit levels in New York have been ruthless. Bullshit levels in New York have been ruthless. While they're grinding every day the alternate captain in Jersey is gold and toothless. While he's grinding on Ms. McCrae. Wonderful, wonderful Jersey body line. Devil devil body line. Like a toothless.

[D]

He's grinding on her.

[B]

All right. Oh, yes, sir. You don't even understand. You don't understand. You don't ask. Oh, crikey.

[A]

And my final one team is the most fun and one has my son. Sharks and islanders is my own Sophie's Choice. Both in a playoff hunt. But one must be a runt. And the people on the island shall rejoice. Misa is coming alive and Makin will always thrive. But when it comes to Schaefer, I cannot be coy. So I hate to say call me Daniel Day because I've abandoned my boy Isles. Money line.

[B]

Incredible. Incredible. Canes, Devils, Sabers, Islanders. Life on the line, boys. Get it done.

[A]

Get on BetMGM. Get your picks in. The Professors have spoken and we have returned. Brilliant.

[B]

Cheerio. Always a blast with the Professors. But now it is time to close out with a little game of connective tissue. You know this game. It is when I give you the bio of two hockey players and their names meet in the middle to form one hockey player. One time, Dan gave me Brandon Carlo and Logan Couture. So it was Brandon Carlogan Couture.

[A]

Have you played this with us yet?

[D]

I have not.

[A]

No.

[B]

It's okay. Do you get it? So it's like we did one time. We did.

[A]

He gets it.

[B]

Don't, Don't.

[A]

Don't insult his.

[B]

Scott. Stevens. Stamkos.

[D]

Right. So it's the middle. Yeah.

[B]

So the names will meet in the middle. Here is your player. You can play two Ev. Now actually. That'd actually be fun. I'll give it to you guys together. We've never had a producer who.

[D]

Conor something. So many Connors in the NHL.

[A]

Hockey has a Connor problem.

[B]

We have a real Connor problem. Okay. And the hints start hard and then I can give you more as you don't know it yet. Okay. I have a gold and a silver in international play, but I wouldn't trade either of them for my one Stanley Cup. And I've won a major trophy at the NHL awards four times.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Despite only being 27 years old.

[A]

Oh my God.

[B]

Then. Which means, Ev, that now you're onto the next bio. I was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft, but I've become a clutch player in the league with a nickname to prove how good I make it look. I have been the property of four NHL teams, but the first two, I was only in the minors. And I have three cups.

[A]

Okay, so we got a gold and a silver.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Four time major trophy winner.

[B]

And a cup for that first guy.

[A]

And it's only 26.

[B]

7.

[A]

27 then. Hold on. That's some bullshit.

[D]

Are you just looking it up?

[A]

No, I'm. Yeah, typing it. I'm just typing it out so I can see.

[D]

I know, I know.

[A]

Yeah, hold on. All right, let's lock in on the first.

[D]

Dude, I am lost here.

[A]

Fine.

[D]

I don't know very many details about players lives, you guys.

[A]

I'm going to talk it out. I'm going to talk.

[D]

You talk it out.

[A]

A gold and a Silver and his 27 feels like some bullshit because our. Well, actually. Are we doing world champions in a year?

[B]

This is not. We could. We could always do women's player, but this is not. Yeah, well.

[A]

Well then I'm saying this is some bullshit because I'm like, what dude? Who. Who was playing in the Olympics who got silver? Are these Olympic medals?

[B]

No, I said I have a world. I said. I said rat gold and a silver in international play.

[D]

International play.

[A]

You were implying.

[B]

No, I was not.

[A]

You.

[B]

I would have said Olympics.

[D]

That's all right.

[B]

I would have said olympics.

[A]

Rat pig. Four time major trophy winner, 27 years old. I'm thinking, I know this person. I think he's a very good defenseman, but I'm not entirely sure. Now, the next One is a 2013 draft pick with three cups. That is fucking wild. What were the other accolades of that person?

[B]

There's a big hint in this one. I almost made it too easy, but it says I've been the property of four NHL teams. Yeah, but the first two, I was only in the minors.

[D]

Okay, interesting.

[B]

Which. And if you can. If you can read more into that hint, then you can get it.

[A]

Like.

[B]

Which means he owns. He's only if he's in a property of four, but in the Miners on two, that means he's only been on two.

[A]

Two NHL squads. Yes.

[B]

And has three Cups. Yep. Okay.

[A]

I'm not making a guess, but I feel like Kale Makar might be the first one. We know he has a silver in the Olympics currently.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

And I believe. I know he has a gold in some form of juniors.

[D]

And. And this is the one Cup, Right.

[A]

I'm trying to think his. He has one Cup, Right. And he has, I believe, two. Norris is a Rookie of the Year, a Calder, and maybe he has three Norrises.

[D]

Maybe a Lady Bing.

[A]

That might be the four. So I think it might be Kale. Can I have a hint on the second?

[B]

Yes, the second. Or this hint might not be as helpful as you think, but here's the first hint. I have two. Okay, the first hint is. I'll read the whole thing. I was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft. I've become a clutch player in the league, and I have a nickname to prove how good I make it look. I have been the property of four NHL teams, but in the minors for two. I have three Cups, and I was the first player to win a cup on two teams from this particular state.

[A]

First player to win a cup from this particular state.

[B]

On two teams from this state.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

First player ever.

[A]

So that might be Florida.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And it might be Vegas. Could be Vegas.

[D]

Yeah, I was gonna say Vegas.

[A]

Do I have the first game?

[B]

What do you mean?

[D]

Well, wait, two from.

[B]

I'm the first player to win a cup on two teams from this state.

[A]

Oh, they're both in the same state. Oh, you were saying two different states.

[B]

No, no. I'm the first player ever to win a cup.

[A]

Yeah, I heard you.

[B]

Sounds like you didn't. That's like you didn't know what I was talking about.

[A]

Well, you know, because you're like, I'm sure have heard of styling gel.

[D]

Wait, wait. So does that mean that they played on two teams that were in the same state?

[B]

Yes. And won a cup on both. And he's the first.

[D]

So now you got to narrow down to which. Which states have more than one team. So Florida, New York. That definitely didn't happen in New York.

[A]

It can't be Florida because Florida won. The Bolts won in like 2004.

[D]

Yeah, but then they won again in 2020, didn't they? Or, but, but

[A]

yeah, I know they bunch it again, but that wouldn't have been their first cup. Am I missing.

[B]

Yeah, you were having a brain aneurysm.

[A]

I think you gave a shitty hint.

[D]

I'm just confused. I'm a chaos agent. I'm confused.

[A]

I was the first player to win a cup on two. Are you saying he's the first player to have won a cup both on the Lightning and the Panthers?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay, that was a weird way of saying that.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

No, it wasn't. Yes, it was the first player to win a cup on two teams from this state. And the sentence in the bio is I'm the first player to win a cup on two teams from Florida.

[A]

You're a rat.

[B]

I think you forgot Tampa won two cups.

[A]

No, I. I absolutely did not. I thought you were saying I'm the first player to win a cup, like, ever. I'm for. For this team's first cup is what I was.

[B]

Got it. Right, right. I misunderstood.

[A]

You gave a shitty hint. So if it's as you usually do,

[D]

can the first person be the second half of the joined names?

[B]

No, no. I give. Always give it an order.

[D]

Okay.

[A]

I. I believe. I believe that my first guy is right. Okay. So I am going to. That would mean I believe it's calm a car. Which means that the second person's name is Carson or Carter. And I'm thinking of players on. Are there other names? Carl.

[B]

Carl. Carl.

[A]

Could be a Carl.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Carl Hagler was not on those teams.

[B]

No, you have said. You have said the name now. You have now said it. Yeah.

[A]

Who is named?

[D]

You said Carl.

[A]

It's not. Oh, I got it.

[D]

Well, or Carter.

[A]

I have no idea if this second person. Well, I know that this person has three cups based on the two Florida team hint.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

If that person was.

[E]

Well, at.

[A]

No, I know that person was on 10. Okay, I got it. The answer is kale, McCarter. Verhage.

[B]

Ping.

[D]

Nice.

[A]

That is a great.

[B]

Carter Verhage.

[A]

That's a great combo.

[B]

Three cups. Really good.

[A]

I feel as Though people forget Cardiffer Hagee.

[B]

I completely forgot that when I was looking it up, I was like, oh, do kale McCarter verhe. And I was going to give his bio. And then I was like, I won two cups, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, I should just make sure I'm not missing anything from him. And it was like this.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Cardiver Hagee won the 2020 cup for the Lightning and is the first person ever to win a cup on both Florida teams. And I was like, really?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

No, totally forgot that.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

A true. A true Florida man.

[B]

Yeah, True Florida in the best way.

[A]

He is a real Florida man. That's fantastic.

[B]

All right.

[A]

That's it. That's a fantastic episode.

[B]

Episode.

[A]

That was a fantastic connective tissue. Well done, cp. That's going to do it for us. Hope you enjoyed those amazing interviews. Five star reviews. Spotify, Apple, if you can. We love you. We love you. We love you. Subscribe, send it to your friends. Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the trade deadline. We'll see you Friday doing some sort of coverage of it all. Have a blast. Enjoy it. Get horny for it. You know I will. And until we see you then, stay safe. Have fun.

[B]

Happy birthday to me. And skate hard.

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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