Empty Netters Podcast: “The Kings Try To Save Their Season Before It's Too Late”
Hosted by Almost Friday Media
Date: March 3, 2026
Special Guest: Mark Streit
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Empty Netters crew – brothers Dan and Chris Powers, along with regular contributors – take a deep dive into the turbulent state of the Los Angeles Kings as they scramble to rescue their season after a crucial (and late) coaching change. The conversation moves through in-depth NHL analysis, a colorful interview with Swiss hockey legend and watch entrepreneur Mark Streit, trade deadline speculation, and hilarious takes on ski adventures, French onion dip, and even Jim Carrey conspiracy theories.
True to Empty Netters’ reputation, the tone is energetic, honest, irreverent, and heavily laced with brotherly banter and locker room humor.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Life Updates & Bro Banter
Timestamps: 00:00–05:10
- The episode kicks off with jokes about marriage proposals, ring tattoos, and male engagement gifts.
- Chris declares: “I might even get a tattoo of a wedding ring. Because I just don’t…I don’t like it on my finger.” [02:02]
- The crew call for giving men “engagement watches,” and push for more men to get flowers. “Give men flowers more.” – Dan [04:18]
2. The State of the LA Kings: Coach Firing & Playoff Hope
Timestamps: 05:08–14:20
- Jim Hiller Fired: The Kings fired head coach Jim Hiller. DJ Smith takes over as interim, marking the second straight interim succession after Todd McLellan.
- Late-Season Timing: Both hosts are stunned by the timing. “I am utterly shocked that this happened in fucking March, dude.” – Dan [07:57]
- Is it too late? Despite fan frustration, they claim it isn’t too late: “If the Kings win two games in a row, they are tied for third in the Pacific.” – Dan [08:10]
- Critique of the Kings System: The hosts argue the Kings’ defensive, cautious system is wasting offensive talent. “Every single one of these dudes playing such a cautious, def(ensive) style…that is what needs to change. This team needs to score goals.” – Dan [11:10]
- New Coach Bump: If Kings get a “new coach bump,” they could salvage Kopitar’s (Kopi’s) possible final season.
- “’The Kings have been pumped in the first round for the last decade straight.’ So… do something different.” – Chris [12:38]
- “It’ll be a fucking tragedy if they miss the playoffs in Kopi’s last year.” – Chris [13:39]
3. Youth Movement & Rookie Phenoms
Timestamps: 14:22–20:29
- Matthew Schaefer! The 18-year-old Islanders defenseman is smashing NHL rookie and defensemen records:
- “The most by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history…He became the youngest defenseman and sixth youngest skater in history to score 20 goals in a season.” – Chris [15:26]
- Calls for Schaefer to get both Norris (best defenseman) and Calder (best rookie) votes.
- Beckett vs. Schaefer: The Ducks’ Beckett gets a lot of praise, but the hosts think Schaefer’s impact is unmatched unless Beckett overtakes him by a wide statistical margin.
- “He’s doing Bobby Orr shit. He’s doing Sidney Crosby shit. It’s a joke.” – Chris [19:03]
- Team Standings: Ducks just a point behind Vegas for 1st in the Pacific—surprising after a huge slump.
4. Trade Deadline Mania & Bold Proposals
Timestamps: 22:39–36:43
- LTIR Rule Changes: Teams can’t stash players on LTIR (Long-Term Injured Reserve) for easy playoff re-entries this year.
- Wild Hot Take: Bobrovsky Trade:
- “Florida Panthers should 100% trade Sergey Bobrovsky to a contender…then resign him this summer when he becomes a free agent.” – Dan [24:25]
- “Go fucking trade him and get a ridiculous haul back.” – Dan [24:58]
- Stamkos Watch: Steven Stamkos says he won’t waive his no-trade clause; speculation about his love for Nashville and country music. “If you’re in playoffs… why would you wave? You’re in an awesome city, on a great team...” – Chris [28:19]
- Defenders on the Block: Rasmus Ristolainen, Dougie Hamilton, Justin Faulk, MacKenzie Weegar among names advised to move for playoff teams. “All those guys…should move.” – Dan [30:29]
- Rangers Fire Sale: Hosts suggest NY should move Trocheck and Zibanejad to re-stock around Shesterkin and youth.
- Auston Matthews Future: If Leafs miss playoffs, big shake-up could follow. “I am on 2028 Auston Matthews returns to the States watch here…” – Chris [35:33]
5. Special Interview: Mark Streit – Swiss NHL Star & Watchmaker
Timestamps: 40:01–58:44
On His Unlikely NHL Journey
- Drafted at age 26, 262nd overall: “At 10 o’clock in the morning, the phone rang…a journalist said, ‘Congrats!’ and I was like…‘Congrats for what?’” – Mark Streit [43:53]
- Attributes his break to changing NHL rules favoring smaller, skilled defensemen
- Describes culture shock from the Swiss league to the NHL's pace, physicality, and pressure.
Unique NHL Perspective
- Played both defense and forward (sometimes switching after warm-ups with zero notice).
- “As a defenseman, you kind of see everything from behind—so as a forward I just parked in front of the net and hoped for tips.” – Streit [48:39]
First Swiss NHL Captain, Islander
- Love for Long Island community & team: “It was like a real family in a tough NHL business.” – Streit [54:32]
- Candid about the frustration of being a captain on a perennial rebuild: too loyal to ask for a trade, even as the team struggled.
Stanley Cup Run & Locker Room Humor
- Traded twice in one day at the 2017 deadline—Flyers to Lightning (for ten minutes) then to Penguins; joined a Cup run at age 39.
- Classic story: “I go out for my first practice [in Pittsburgh]—wipe out, wipe out, no steel in my skates…couldn’t get up. Guys are looking like, ‘What the heck did we just pick up?’” – Streit [65:10]
- “I think winning a Stanley Cup, it doesn’t matter which role you have—you’re part of it. Your name is on the Cup.” – Streit [69:18]
Representing Switzerland Internationally
- Four-time Olympian, nine points; two memorable upsets at Torino.
- “Milano is a great city and…to play four Olympics is tough to put into words.” – Streit [73:15]
Watchmaking & Life After Hockey
- Went from ambassador to co-founding Norqain, a high-end Swiss watch brand with NHL partnerships (including Sidney Crosby’s involvement).
- “If I made it into the NHL from Switzerland, we can do this. It’s just passion, commitment, and hard work.” – Streit [77:19]
- Hosts praise Norqain’s rapid ascent and team culture.
Old Boys Club Adventures
- Annual “Old Boys Club” trips with Zurich teammates; destinations drawn at random, sometimes culturally themed (e.g. Naples, Auschwitz), often including a team doctor: “Bringing a doctor on the group trip is so smart.” [88:33]
- Both hosts are inspired to start their own annual “Old Boys Club” trips after hearing this.
6. Not-Ice: European Skiing Escapades
Timestamps: 94:24–108:46
- Dan and Chris describe their slightly disastrous, overambitious Italian Alps ski adventure post-Olympics: “I was just gassed and not talking…Some of the worst time I’ve ever had in my life.” – Dan [100:53]
- Lingering on epic ski-lodge parties, bizarre lift etiquette, and a near-fatal collision involving a child on the glacier.
- Hilarious anecdote: Dan, delirious with exhaustion on a flight, nearly walks into the cockpit after misinterpreting a flight attendant's instructions. [112:34]
7. Pop Culture Conspiracies: Jim Carrey's Clone??
Timestamps: 113:50–121:00
- The trio riff on viral rumors Jim Carrey was replaced by a right-handed doppelganger at a French awards show.
- “They cloned him. Have you ever heard of this?” – Dan [116:17]
- Discussion unravels into theories about clones, alien admission by Obama (“Aliens are real!”), and the public’s short attention span for real conspiracies.
- “Let’s talk about Obama going, ‘Aliens are real!’ – that’s a fun topic!” – Dan [120:44]
8. Beer League Hotline: The French Onion Dip Addict
Timestamps: 121:09–126:33
- A caller tells how their team’s best scorer is in crisis after being banned from French onion dip by his wife (after being caught passed out at 2am with a “tub” on his stomach).
- Consensus: "Yes, of course you keep him on the team...but just bring chips and dip to post-game; that’s where he gets his fix." – Dan [123:17]
- Chris: “This is the Beer League Hotline, not the Cholesterol Hotline.” [124:21]
9. Closing: Olympic Team USA Player Blind Ranking
Timestamps: 126:40–130:50
- The hosts rank 2026 Olympic Team USA men’s players based on their performances:
- Auston Matthews – “Captain America…won a gold medal, our leader and a winner.” [130:42]
- Jack Hughes
- Brock Nelson
- Jake Guentzel
- Vincent Trocheck (praised as a Swiss Army knife role player)
- “There are no losers on this list—literally all gold medalists.” [129:34]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Every single one of these dudes playing such a cautious, defensive style…That is what needs to change. This team needs to score goals.” – Dan on the LA Kings [11:10]
- “I think this is a brilliant idea...trade Bobrovsky to a contender and then re-sign him.” – Dan [24:25]
- “The Kings have been pumped in the first round for the last decade straight. So… do something different.” – Chris [12:38]
- Mark Streit, on switching to forward: “I never played forward...I just went to the net, got pucks off my ass, off my hands.” [48:39]
- On retiring and still missing hockey: “That’s the toughest part when you retire…the travel, the guys, the locker room…the playoffs atmosphere and that rush.” – Mark Streit [71:44]
- On creating Norqain: “If I made it into the NHL from Switzerland, we can do this...It’s just passion, commitment, and hard work.” – Mark Streit [77:19]
- On the “Old Boys Club” tradition: “We draw numbers, one guy organizes the trip, nobody knows where we’re going…You bring your bag, go to the airport, and it’s a surprise.” – Mark Streit [88:46]
Highlighted Timestamps
- [05:08] Kings fire Jim Hiller—system critique and playoff hope debate
- [14:22] Matthew Schaefer’s rookie records
- [24:25] Bobrovsky trade proposal (Panthers outsider-the-box move)
- [40:01] Mark Streit interview (begins)
- [65:10] Streit’s no-steels-in-skates “first day at Penguins practice” story
- [73:00] Olympic memories & beating Team Canada
- [77:19] Lessons from hockey applied to watchmaking business
- [88:46] Story of the "Old Boys Club" annual trips
- [94:24] Ski trip misadventures in the Dolomites
- [113:50] Jim Carrey “clone” conspiracy riff
- [121:09] French onion dip Beer League crisis
Final Thoughts
This episode delivers the full Empty Netters experience: deep, often tongue-in-cheek NHL analysis, an inspiring and candid pro hockey interview, and bizarre, hilarious asides. The show ends promising a week of trade deadline coverage and Olympic hero interviews. If you missed this episode, you missed loud laughs, hot takes on the Kings and NHL trades, revelations on old boys trips, and what could be the best advice the pod’s ever given to a French onion dip addict.
Hosts’ sign-off:
“Skate hard.”