Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 543: Featuring Jim Nill

Summary

Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 543: Featuring Jim Nill – Detailed Summary

In Episode 543 of Spittin’ Chiclets, hosted by former NHL players Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette, along with Barstool Sports writer and producer Mike Grinnell, the conversation spans a wide range of topics from personal anecdotes to intricate NHL discussions. This episode, released on February 4, 2025, notably features an in-depth interview with Jim Nill, the General Manager of the Dallas Stars. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Golf Trip to Orlando with Bob Du Sports and Pink Whitney

The episode kicks off with the hosts reminiscing about their recent trip to Orlando alongside representatives from Bob Du Sports. This collaboration was centered around two days of competitive three-on-three sandbagger special scrambles, fueled by countless Pink Whitney shots.

• Paul Bissonnette shares:
  "I think one of our funnest collabs we've ever done with the Bob Du Sports guys. That was so fun." [01:37]

• Ryan Whitney adds enthusiasm for Pink Whitney, highlighting it as "the absolute best flavored vodka in the game." [00:21]

The trip not only strengthened their camaraderie but also served as content for upcoming collaborative videos with Bob Du Sports, thanks to sponsorship from DraftKings.

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2. NHL Salary Cap Increase and Its Implications

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the NHL's impending salary cap increase, projected to rise to approximately $117 million within three years. The hosts delve into how this escalation is poised to reshape team-building strategies across the league.

• Biz Nasty remarks on the cap increase:
  "This could add a little bit of a run this past week is rewarding, but how do you approach hockey kind of the world got lit on fire when Jim Lights came out..." [Later timestamps]

• Ryan Whitney expresses optimism:
  "I think that jacking up the cap here is going to...make it easier to acquire guys. And with the cap stopping so many deals and so many trades over all these years, I think that's going to change a little bit." [03:02]

The hosts discuss how the increased cap may alleviate financial constraints, enabling teams to pursue desired players without being as hindered by budget limitations. This shift is expected to lead to more competitive rosters and potentially more dynamic player movements.

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3. Key NHL Trades and Team Building Strategies

The trade of J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers is a focal point, analyzed in depth.

• Paul Bissonnette discusses the trade's impact:
  "From the entertainment and hockey side of it,... good for him to go to a place where he's going to be happy." [22:40]

• Biz Nasty critiques Vancouver's decision:
  "If I'm a Canucks fan, I'm furious they traded the wrong guy." [25:50]

The conversation highlights the balance teams must strike between immediate performance and long-term strategy, especially in the context of salary cap considerations. The hosts debate the efficacy of Vancouver's return in trading J.T. Miller for Drew O'Connor and Marcus Petterson, questioning the value and future potential of the acquired assets.

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4. Player Development and Burnout Concerns

Concern for young players' well-being, exemplified by Wyatt Johnson's over-scheduling in multiple hockey leagues, is another critical topic.

• Biz Nasty shares personal insights:
  "The amount of hockey that this kid is playing, it's out of control, dude. Like, he's so hockeyed out right now." [18:57]

• Keith Yandle empathizes:
  "Looking for a per diem pack. Yeah, exactly." [20:38]

The discussion underscores the risks of overcommitting young athletes, potentially leading to burnout and diminished performance. The hosts advocate for a more balanced approach to training and game participation to foster sustainable athletic development.

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5. Interview with Jim Nill: Career Insights and Management Philosophy

A highlight of the episode is the comprehensive interview with Jim Nill, the GM of the Dallas Stars, who shares his journey from an NHL player to a respected general manager.

a. Career Path and Mentorship

• Jim Nill recounts his transition:
  "Every year brings different challenges... I was hiring you to coach the team." [Jim elaborates on learning from mentors like Scotty Bowman and Kenny Holland.]

• Biz Nasty inquires about scouting:
  "How crazy it is as we do, that they fell that much?"

Nill emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with competent staff and mentors, highlighting his respect for figures like Scotty Bowman and Kenny Holland. He credits his team's successful drafting and player development to a strong scouting department and a philosophy centered on growth and adaptability.

b. Team Building and Player Relationships

• Jim Nill discusses his approach to team management:
  "I'm a big relationship type of guy. I think it's important... we have healthy discussions." [74:25]

• Keith Yandle probes into GM-coach dynamics:
  "How do you approach talking about who's in the lineup, what the lines are?"

Nill underscores the significance of trust and open communication between the GM and coaching staff. He advocates for giving coaches autonomy while maintaining collaborative dialogues to ensure the team’s objectives are met cohesively.

c. Addressing Trades and Contracts

• Ryan Whitney delves into handling high-stakes contracts:
  "And the arrest of what Nill put us through... This matchmaking happens in ways that can sometimes be surprising."

• Biz Nasty comments on NHL contracts:
  "Instead of saying like oh, and imagining how much a certain player could help a team... it’s more immediately like dollars and cents."

Nill shares experiences handling significant trades, such as acquiring J.T. Miller, and navigating the complexities of NHL contracts amid the rising salary cap. He reflects on the importance of strategic acquisitions and the long-term vision required to build a competitive team.

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6. Current Season Highlights and Team Performance

The hosts analyze the Dallas Stars' current season, noting a strong performance marked by strategic player signings and effective team dynamics.

• Jim Nill comments on team expectations:
  "We've been very fortunate... adding depth in both positions." [Discussing upcoming strategies and player acquisitions.]

• Biz Nasty and Paul Bissonnette discuss standout players like Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, praising their contributions and potential impact on the team's success.

Nill emphasizes patience and strategic depth, focusing on adding key players to bolster both offense and defense while maintaining team chemistry and resilience.

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7. Game Time and Fan Engagement

The conversation shifts to enhancing the game-day experience for fans, critiquing the current state of NHL timeouts and proposing improvements.

• Keith Yandle advocates for reducing in-period timeouts:
  "We need to put up a poll of get the fans involved... make the experience for the fan in the rinks better." [175:15]

• Biz Nasty agrees:
  "I am on board with your idea." [175:40]

The hosts express frustration with excessive commercial timeouts disrupting the flow of the game, suggesting reforms to streamline viewing and enhance fan satisfaction. They propose reallocating timeout durations to intermissions, thereby maintaining game momentum and improving overall spectator enjoyment.

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8. Closing Remarks and Final Discussions

Towards the end of the episode, the hosts touch on various additional topics, including:

• Player Achievements: Celebrating milestones like Jonathan Quick’s 400th win and reflecting on player legacies.

• Team Dynamics: Discussing the unique culture of teams like the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, alongside personal anecdotes about player interactions and team strategies.

• Hockey Community News: Addressing unfortunate events such as the passing of beloved broadcaster Sean Simpson and tragic accidents affecting the community.

• Fan Engagement and Responsibility: Encouraging responsible gambling practices amidst promotional segments and expressing condolences to those affected by losses within the hockey world.

• Acknowledging Sponsors: Brief mentions of sponsors like Jackpocket and Body Armor Flash IV, integrated respectfully into the conversation.

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Notable Quotes

• Jim Nill on Team Relationships:
  "I'm a big relationship type of guy. I think it's important... we have healthy discussions." [74:25]

• Biz Nasty on Trade Impact:
  "If I'm a Canucks fan, I'm furious they traded the wrong guy." [25:50]

• Paul Bissonnette on Player Burnout:
  "The amount of hockey that this kid is playing, it's out of control, dude. Like, he's so hockeyed out right now." [18:57]

• Keith Yandle on Game Time Reforms:
  "We need to put up a poll of get the fans involved... make the experience for the fan in the rinks better." [175:15]

• Ryan Whitney on Contract Negotiations:
  "Once the negotiations were over with, he moved on and it's time to go play." [116:53]

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Conclusion

Episode 543 of Spittin’ Chiclets offers a blend of entertaining personal stories and deep analytical discussions on current NHL trends and strategies. The highlight interview with Jim Nill provides valuable insights into effective team management, emphasizing the importance of relationships, strategic planning, and adaptive leadership in building a successful hockey franchise. Coupled with candid conversations about player development, salary cap implications, and enhancing fan experiences, this episode serves as a comprehensive resource for hockey enthusiasts seeking both entertainment and informed perspectives on the sport.

Transcript

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey Spit and Chiclets listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Barstool Sports.

[Biz Nasty]

Our white whale, Sydney Crosby. Shave his head.

[Ryan Whitney]

Shave his head.

[Keith Yandle]

Shave his head.

[Biz Nasty]

Ryan Whitney, Paul Vincent, R.A. mike Grinelli. Spittin Chicklets. How are you folks? What is going on? And welcome Back to episode 543 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast presented to you by Pink Whitney and oh my God, did we have a Pink Whitney filled week last week in Orlando with Bob Du Sports? Yes, Keith, that was us for two straight days of two straight three on three sandbagger special scrambles. An absolute time and a half and the Pink Whitney was flowing. Birdie's galore. Eagles galore possibly. And just Pink Whitney. Down the hatch. After the round, before the round, it was all over Orlando. It's all over everywhere. Hopefully it gets back to Canada. These ridiculous tariffs. I don't know what the fuck's going on there, but I digress. What the hell, Trumpet. But we got Pink with you. We got love for Pink Whitney. We got the absolute best flavored vodka in the game. So go grab yours today at a liquor store at a local bar. Do a shot, mix a drink. However you like it. However you like it. But thank you so much for your support. Biz. Keith. What's going on, boys?

[Keith Yandle]

I would probably say one of our funnest collabs we've ever done with the Bob D Sports guys. That was so fun. I mean I wasn't even drinking the Pink Whitney shooters and you guys were, you dumbered. What was that? 113 of them in two rounds.

[Biz Nasty]

I, yeah, I, I, I was told 123 and then I was told 113. Either way, five guys, 36 holes. I mean I used to be a.

[Keith Yandle]

Master Scientologist, but that's a lot, a lot of pig Whitney.

[Biz Nasty]

That was ridiculous. Not to mention that they have their drinks that have a day is very tasty. It was an unreal couple days with these guys though. Like their comedy. We, we mentioned like you they're kind of like one of the kings of YouTube Golf. We've talked about YouTube Golf and PGA Tour golf and how so many fans now I think enjoy watching YouTube golfers. So we wanted to get in the mix and lucky for us there we were kind of, I think Bob said one of the, the, the most wanted collabs he's ever had. So to get to both sides, really want to get together for a three on three and to get Keith involved with the sandbaggers. It was just a classic two days. I think that the first video is going to be for their channel. They mentioned about two weeks and then the rematch. Whatever happens on each side will be our channel. And we want to thank DraftKings too, because they put it together. It was all because of them to get us together, get us down to Orlando. Beautiful golf course.

[Keith Yandle]

The best. The best. I might get a membership. Beautiful.

[Biz Nasty]

They might move the masters there, I guess.

[Keith Yandle]

Colonial National.

[Biz Nasty]

Claremont National.

[Keith Yandle]

Claremont. Close enough.

[Biz Nasty]

So I really hope everyone enjoys that. I actually think that a lot of the people who've watched our sandbaggers are probably into Bob does, but I'm hoping they have a bunch of fans that maybe don't know about us. We can get some crossover and it should be great for us. So, Keith, what'd you think? You kind of knew those guys better than Biz and I did.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I'll just throw this at you. Did you enjoy? I enjoy the scramble element. I find it's a lot less pressure, especially me as a non golfer like you wit like most of the shots you're striping. But I really love the three man scramble. Like that to me was the best. You could worry about the chirps having fun and not as much pressure on each guy individually.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, 100%. And then when you got wit as you race in the hole, Mariano Rivera closing out whole. It was just. I thought it was amazing. I've been a huge fan of those guys for a long time and I think to do my first one with you guys with them was, you know, honestly, it was like a dream come true for something like that for me. So it was, it was amazing. Three great personalities on their side. I thought, you know, they were almost kind of like playing with some hockey guys. We were just giving it to each other back and forth from what I remember. I don't remember too much from any of the golf rounds. I'm excited to see it, but also have. Have lost a little bit of sleep over it, knowing what the hell we said on that golf course.

[Keith Yandle]

Save us in the editing, buddy.

[Biz Nasty]

No, I was. I texted Bob Does. I'm like, hey, you guys like know what to cut out and stuff, right? Yeah, yeah, we got you. I got back from the first day and we went upstairs and we were just like showering and getting dressed before we were going to meet for dinner. And I FaceTimed Bri and I was shaving and she's like, are you ok? And I mean, I was like, no, I'm crippled right now. Like, this is not good. She's like, sweet job you have. Great job. I'm. I'm here at home. I got a stomachache. One kid's screaming, crying, the other two are wrestling in the other room. So I was just like, I'm sorry. You know, business calls, sweetie. Business calls. But it was just great. And then, like, to be in Orlando, too. We were at this hotel, the Conrad. I got, I gotta say, one of the nicest places we shout out to Grinnell.

[Keith Yandle]

He booked it for us because I had us in a bit of a. I had us in, like, an AHL East Coast Hockey League hotel in Fort Lauderdale. I don't think Whit was too happy. And then G booked it, but it was actually Yan who told him to book the Conrad. So my apologies. Sorry about that, Wit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

G texted me. He goes, hey, from what I've heard about this hotel that I gotta put Wit up at for a couple nights in Fort Lauderdale, you got a better place that we can stay in Orlando? I'm like, yeah, I just stayed at this Conrad with the fam a couple months ago. It's amazing. So we walked in, it was beautiful. We had a good time.

[Biz Nasty]

Hey, I, I. So I got to Logan on Friday to fly to Fort Lauderdale. It was one of those ones. I'll never get this. They get you on the plane and then they announce a we're not going anywhere for close to two, maybe three hours. It's like, well, the pilot said, like, I just wanted to get you on the plane. So whenever this is fixed, like something with the brakes, I guess those matter when you're landing. He's like, we'll just. We want you on the plane, so right when it's fixed, we can take off. I'm like, I don't know, man. I think everyone would kind of rather chill in the terminal. Terminal beer, Top three beer in the world. And. And then I fly down. So it's a. It's huge delay. And then it took an hour and 45 minutes to get the bags out, which was crazy. I don't know what was going on in the airport. So I didn't get to the hotel till late. I pulled into that residence and. And I'm like, this motherfucker. I was like, hey, it was just, like, trying to check in. I'm like, ringing the bell for the guy. I'm like, God damn. Where are we staying in Orlando? What I thought of right away, but it was a great trip. I had a.

[Keith Yandle]

That's why I had to do my prison workout outside.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Which fucked up my back. And thank God that you guys came through, Kristen. And then, and then a few, a few of Yan's buddies brought me a few muscle relaxers. If it wasn't for those muscle relaxers, it would have been three versus two.

[Biz Nasty]

I've actually never seen a recovery like you had. Like you, you were crippled.

[Keith Yandle]

I was crippled and I was stretching my hip flexors out like 35 minutes before the round. And, and, and somehow I was able to manage through it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You said, yeah, four hour train ride. He, he stretched his hammies for three and a half hours.

[Biz Nasty]

Every. So we had the, we had the computer up with the Eagles commander's game on. And then he's like, hey, can I watch the game? And I just like turned a little and then after two minutes he wouldn't be watching. He stretches or I turn it back, I think seven times. Can I watch the game? Here you go. Turn it right back.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, you mentioned it was like playing with a couple hockey guys. So Joey Colcutts, who's a member of the Bob Does Sports, he actually played hockey and he lost all of his front jib. So he's technically is. And going over to the hockey player element. I mean, obviously Perez, Fat Perez never played hockey. I would imagine he didn't, but this guy is a fucking machine. And for those of you who don't know, this is like the modern day. In my opinion, the modern day John Daly, golfer is, is describing as, as John Daly. Not the perfect description.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a cartoon.

[Biz Nasty]

He's got the smoothest goddamn golf swing I've ever seen in my life too. By the way. I need to apologize. I get ahead of this one. When the video comes out, a lot of Pink Whitney. I was calling Joey Cold Cuts, Joey Chestnut, two straight days Chestnut. And at one point, I guess, like, I think Ticket or Jet was like one of them said, do they know our names? Like, yeah, I know your name. It was just, I don't know why. Joey Chestnut and the hot dog eating and him being on Keith's Dozen team, like, I was just messing up the Cold Cut and Chest Chestnut. But great dudes. And I think people are going to love these videos. I really do. They were, they were a blast to film.

[Keith Yandle]

And then to. To cap it all off, guys, we got to go to the Orlando Solar Bears game. Probably the last Pink Whitney event we'll do there. Maybe not sure. Maybe there'll be like a collab with the The Greensboro team. But now that we're, we're affiliated to another team, it'd be weird if we're doing business with the Orlando Solar Bears. But for the three times that we've done it, they've been first class. Uh, they end up pulling off the victory. So they're two. Oh and one in the three games that we've done. And one of the guys was bitching cause we didn't have money on the board. The captain and I was, I don't know, man. It seems like tampering to me. I'm gonna be putting more money up for Greensboro. I'm not gonna be doing it for Orlando anymore.

[Biz Nasty]

And we've been at the golf course all day. I'm lucky we, we, Keith and I got to the arena, let alone put money on the board. Also. I, I, I, I, I don't think I ever played hockey at this point. Like, I'm missing the net on these center A shots. I'm not even hitting the board. Forget getting in the little puck size hole. I'm missing the net completely. I'm getting different curves. I'm, it's just pathetic. We all stunk this time, Biz. I think you missed the net, Keith. You hit the net. But ugly showing for us. I, the fans were booing us. I, I was, I was kind of imagining it was because we own a different east coast hockey league team. I don't know. I think it was just because they were like, who are these idiots at center ice? Oh, that's the pink Whitney guy. That's why his face is pink. I guess, I guess these guys never played hockey. That's how I felt at least.

[Keith Yandle]

Did you guys watch the Grammys?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I did.

[Biz Nasty]

I, yeah. Keith was kind of texting our group at home about. I just saw the social clips, the Grammys, man. I don't know. Like the Beyonce gets the album of the year for that country album. Like, that's not Keith. That's not correct. Right? Should she be winning that?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, she came up with a country album, so yeah, I think it, I think being up for that, it is. I mean, obviously we know her as a R of the year.

[Keith Yandle]

It's not her genre.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm not dialed into the, to the, to the country music. I know nothing about country music. But I, I don't know. I, I knew one of the songs that was on there. I know she had a ton of good collaborations on that, on that cd. But yeah, album of the year. I can imagine that. Like the true, like down dirty country fans are probably not happy about it just because, you know Laney Wilson. I know she's a big star, but even post Malone, he's not a country singer. He was up for it.

[Biz Nasty]

So it's like he dropped the country album.

[Keith Yandle]

I feel like his transition in a country may be a little bit more natural than. Than Beyonce's. Not her. Not exactly her original genre here. Very.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He started as a rapper.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. With that one tune. But he kind of looks like. He looks more like a country guy with all the tattoos and always tired on his forehead. Oh, little. Little greasier, that's for sure. But very diplomatic of you, Keith, because you don't want the Swifties after you or the beehive. Because if you. If you. If you. If you badmouth Beyonce, you got the beehive after you. They'll fucking slit your throat with a razor blade. Like, you don't fuck around. So congrats on album of the year. We can move on. Not like us took home a lot of. A lot of hardware.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How about everybody singing it?

[Keith Yandle]

Everybody's saying it. And they did the. I don't know. How do you feel about that? Like, you feel like the whole music industry's turned their back on Drake like that? Like, that's Guy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't know.

[Biz Nasty]

He must, obviously, right now.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know.

[Keith Yandle]

I would imagine he was in a different country and did not have the Grammys on you. You knew that it was probably going to be not great. Probably worse than expected, given everybody was singing along as Kendrick went up and he ended up cleaning house. So, I mean, are you. Were you a big Drake guy coming up? Yance? Like, did you like all the bangers that he was dropping?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I like Drake. I thought he was a little. I'm more of like a. He's more. A little more mainstream than I. I really like to listen to for rap. But yeah, I thought he obviously has some great tunes. Got to meet him one time at the Ottawa All Star Game, which was pretty cool. He signed my stick, and it. It said oo, but I thought it said xox. And I was like, that's kind of weird. But it says ovo, which back then I didn't know what OVO stood for, but yeah, and I can't say I'm a huge.

[Keith Yandle]

You thought Drake was trying to get in your pants?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I just didn't. I. I didn't get why he signed it xox, but he didn't. It was OVO October's very own.

[Biz Nasty]

A classy, elegant, beautiful look on. On Kanye's Girl just.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, that is what. When you, when you picture, like, I want. I want to marry a woman that'll be an amazing mother. And it, like, that's what you think of, right? Just going with your titto. But like, Bonnie, enough of Barney, enough.

[Keith Yandle]

And my followed me.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I. I don't care. I. I think. I think of all.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I literally don't.

[Biz Nasty]

Women you've had on your workbench. If you end up doing that one, like, I might be out of this show. I know they might be. And Grinnelli mentioned Noah Kahan, who played at Fenway this summer. I didn't know much about him, and my dad had actually offered tickets to my wife and I. And I was like, I'm all set. I don't know who he is. Turns out the guy's unbelievable. He's got this on Spotify. His Live From Fenway concert. I'm rocking this, this, this playlist constantly. I love the guy's music. He didn't even win one Grammy. I think that was a little shocking. This guy's nasty. I think he's from Vermont. The song Northern Attitude, this is like the opposite of Keith style music. But it's great, great news.

[Keith Yandle]

He. He just posted a picture. He was in Minnesota and he was with Middleton and Middleton had his tarp off and I must have been after like postgame in the crowd.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, I saw that. Actually, I forgot about that. Yeah, Middleton's up in the stands with no shirt on.

[Keith Yandle]

No shirt.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Just concert.

[Keith Yandle]

No, no.

[Biz Nasty]

After one of his games.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, it's considering they're.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They're to the thing to see like the friends and family.

[Biz Nasty]

Yes.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. Well, it's part of the ticket promotion because they've been struggling a little bit, so they're trying to sell out. So they said they're doing a meet and greet with him. Tarps off, post game. So he ended up running into this musician that Wit's talking about. But his tunes are very upbeat, lively, positive. Like, they make you. They make you move.

[Biz Nasty]

They make you feel good. They make you feel good. So, G, you hopped on? What do you have? Biz, you mentioned Bonnie Blue earlier.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I did.

[Biz Nasty]

From what I've been hearing is she's been. She's been hearing that you've been asking about her and she left a little message for you.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, interesting.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, Biz, it's Bonnie Blue and I.

[Keith Yandle]

Just want to wish you and all.

[Ryan Whitney]

The boys in blue good luck for.

[Biz Nasty]

The rest of the season.

[Keith Yandle]

That's very classy of Bonnie. The boys she's on, she's on the Toronto paper, buddy.

[Biz Nasty]

You know, when I think class, I think of her. That is just like. So you know her and her and Kanye's girl. Anyone with, anyone with a daughter, let's strive for that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yep.

[Keith Yandle]

If she was in Edmonton for, for Edmonton Leafs in the finals, would you escort her out? The way that Kanye and his girl got escorted out of the Grammys. They kicked them out.

[Biz Nasty]

By the way Kanye got.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You think she didn't.

[Keith Yandle]

They showed up like her vagina was staring at you in the face when she was on the red carpet. What do you. So they were uninvited. And then she wears this big jacket and then she drops it and then she has that. Well, I mean, you could, I guess you could call it a dress. And then they're like, yeah, no, you gotta go.

[Biz Nasty]

Did you see the one picture of like the little kid? He's like 10 years old and he's like looking around like the corner at her.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Like, I, I, you know, I, I, I, I'm. If I'm 10, I'm probably like, oh my God. I mean, I remember at 10 I was. Or maybe not 10. That's young. Like say 12. Remember, like, the, the channels wouldn't come in, but like they occasionally would come in from the snow. And then you're just like, oh, that's a title. Like, that's kind of. If you're seeing that at the Grammys, that's a little different than Skinimax barely coming in on your cable in, in whatever 1995. But I guess we've been all over the map here. We can go back.

[Keith Yandle]

But good to know that Bonnie's on the. The boys in Blue Train. And I'll leave it at that. It's just good to.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They might not win another game this year.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, no shit. I might have to have Wyatt quit the Leafs now that she's on that train. Oh really? Literally. She could.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Literally.

[Biz Nasty]

The biz Bonnie Blue collaboration. The one thing that'll bring down spitting.

[Keith Yandle]

Chiclets and anything else happen other than hockey because, I mean, there's another big trade to announce. I mean we still got to go back and dive a little bit into the rotten and one because like some comments from him and his agent after it all ended up going down and shaking out how surprised they were. But anything else that we need to cover from this past weekend? Did you have any, any Squato stories to share? Anything crazy happening at the Whitney household? What about you, Yance?

[Biz Nasty]

Nothing really here. I, I think I made a mistake telling Squanto not to slash people in the head with his stick because ever since he did and that clip like that went viral, like, he's kind of just like, pretty timid out there. I'm like, damn, I should have just let him keep doing it. I mean, he didn't injure anyone. Now he's skating around there like, I was like, scared of my own shadow. So Ryder, I'll tell you right now. So Ryder plays on two teams. He's got a travel team and he's got the town team. The amount of hockey that this kid is playing, it's out of control, dude. Like, he's so hockeyed out right now. I can tell because. And the biggest thing is that he has practice two days a week for the travel, one day a week for the town, and then on the weekend you have like two travel games usually in one town game. This week it was two and two. It's like, no wonder he's like, they don't have the excitement anymore of like, oh, like, I got hockey this day. Right? And you're like, looking forward to it. He's like, I, I, I, I'm trying to get answers out of him. He's, you know, and as anyone, he's.

[Keith Yandle]

Looking for a per diem pack.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, he's kind of just like, oh, after school I go to hockey. So. But they did go, they, they did win all four games this weekend. First time on the travel side that the Terriers shout out this lid have won both games on a weekend. So I was like, that was nice. The kids were all fired up. That was really cool. And then, and then we won both the town gates. But yeah, the amount of hockey, it's like, holy shit, this is out of control. Like I get.

[Keith Yandle]

So why don't you just, why don't you just pull them from one of the teams? It sounds like a solution that you can.

[Biz Nasty]

Cuz I don't teach my kids to be quitters. You can't quit mid season biz. Like, you can't just quit, you know, like next year. Obviously there's a discussion like, do you want to do both?

[Keith Yandle]

Well, okay, so, so time out. So he, he, he, he went to you and said, dad, no, he said anything.

[Biz Nasty]

He hasn't said anything. So it's more just like, I can't.

[Keith Yandle]

I'm asking about like before you even signed him up for both. Like, it seems like he wouldn't be quitting. It would be you because you were the one that signed him up. Like, was he asking to be on two teams?

[Biz Nasty]

No, but, like, he's not even old enough to even, like. No, you kind of just, like, do both because you're with your buddies from town and.

[Keith Yandle]

And.

[Biz Nasty]

And you wouldn't be on two teams. I think, like, starting at squirt, that would be way too much. But might, like, the town team is your buddies from school. And. And it's not like there's no offsides. There's no icing. It's in, like, a smaller rink. And then the travel is, like, legit. Hockey rules. So he didn't really ask for both? No, he didn't. But I'm. I can't, like, just. You can't quit in the middle of the year, no matter what he ever does. Like, if he signs up for something, buddy, I don't care how much you don't like it. And he's never actually even said, I don't want to go. And every time, like, hey, you got practice. He's like, okay, good. I could just tell by, like, he.

[Keith Yandle]

Doesn'T want to let you. This sounds like you're burnt out.

[Biz Nasty]

I am a little burnt out right now. I guess it's a long season.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You were a kid, like, waiting at the door for your dad to leave the house, weren't you? You were like my brother, like, oh.

[Biz Nasty]

I never was on two teams. You never was on two teams. You know, so it's like it's one or the other. But, yeah, it's just. It's a little bit of overkill. Summer should be great, you know, getting away from it a bit. But I like. For example, I took him down yesterday. We hit some golf balls at old sandwich. Like, in the winter, there's like four bays you can hit onto the range. It's great. And getting in the car and leaving, he's like, this is going to be so fun. And I was like, oh, this poor kid has. He hasn't said that once about hockey. I'm just like, fuck. Kind of hit me hard in, like, putting him in that much at this age. It's just a craze. Like, I could go on for 30 minutes about the whole.

[Keith Yandle]

It's got him staying at the Bossa night before games. Just.

[Biz Nasty]

It's all in, taken away.

[Keith Yandle]

Take your vitamins.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, exactly. Each year, the renaissance residents in the President's in. But back to the NHL where the men get paid and you got to do your job or things will change. Enormous week in the NHL.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Vancouver Canucks involved. New York Rangers involved. Pittsburgh Penguins get in the mix. I'm wondering where you guys kind of want to start with this. Obviously, J.T. miller, we've talked about this ad nauseam, non stop when it was going to happen. And at the beginning of all of this, I believe he came out, he's like, there's no rift. There's no rift. Yeah. And Biz doesn't love Bonnie Blue. Like, there was a rift. It was pretty obvious the entire time. And it finally came to a head when like all of a sudden all these insiders who know everything was like, they're shopping Miller and they're shopping Pederson. Like they're shopping both of these guys. They had deals in place, they had possible deals. It was just crazy. But the Rangers wanted Miller. It was pretty evident, right? Chris Jury, this was his guy. I read an article that even going back to two years ago before he signed the extension with Vancouver, Chris Jury is like, I want this guy on this team.

[Keith Yandle]

No shit.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. And apparently it, you know, apparently that, that was, that was there and then he signed the deal. So everything changed. And then this year was just kind of a disaster in Vancouver from the get go. And last year he had this hundred point season. He carried them against Nashville. He played pretty, pretty amazing against McDavid. Like Barov obviously was number one against McDavid after that. JT Miller did a good job of somewhat shutting him down in air quotation.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, I think that he went pointless in three of those seven games, which was the most of any round throughout the course of all of playoffs. And I'll just state start off by saying like, we're in the entertainment business. Like, round of applause to The Vancouver Canucks, J.T. miller, Petterson, and creating all this conversation. But hey, it makes our job a lot more entertaining. Like we're speculating on trades, but at the end of the day, these are human beings. And like I'm just, I'm. I'm probably just as relieved as J.T. miller at the fact that this is all over for sakes. I felt that it even dragged out for an extra two, three weeks too long. So from like the entertainment and hockey side of it, and like all you hockey enthusiasts, like, awesome, but from the human element, like, good, good for him to fucking go to a place where he's going to be happy. He's going to play with his childhood friend who he played with growing up in Tro Check, obviously received very well on the fact that Drury had wanted him for, for years on end here. A place that he is familiar with and where he was drafted and where he's already now off to a hot start. What, four points in his first two games. His first game spoiled by the Bruins, finally showing some offense, but they end up pulling off the victory against the Golden Knights, and quickie gets his 400th win, which we'll get to. But as far as the return, the fact that they get the first rounder and then they switch it out for Pedersen from the defenseman for. For Pittsburgh, I feel like, all in all, a solid return and Heidel was the question mark because a lot of people were like, okay, this guy's one big hit away for maybe being done, you know, constantly on the ir, but has shown a lot of signs this year of. Of growth, playing good hockey. And then now even he had that big goal the other night for Vancouver. So if he can, you know, continue to be a solid piece and they get Pedersen, I. I'm happy enough with the return, given the circumstances, but I just simply don't think that, at least right now in his career, that Pedersen as. As valuable come playoff time as J.T. miller. I don't think he has that dog in him. Maybe now that the fact that this guy, who he was having issues with is gone, he can go back to being the. The player that he thinks he can be and that the organization has paid him to be, because that's a lot of fucking money to make to be calling the shots, from my understanding, in some cases, not bringing the best work ethic day in, day out to practice, and then along with, you know, being very hot and cold with his play. So as far as the return, if I'm Vancouver, I'm happy, and now you're away from this whole headache and situation, but be weary about Pedersen potentially not becoming the player that you guys hoped he once was or.

[Biz Nasty]

Or what.

[Keith Yandle]

What you once thought he could be when he put up the hundred points, and now all eyes on him. And I think that seeing a lot of the outpouring of support from. From Vancouver teammates for J.T. miller on his departure might be a little bit of an unsettling feeling for fans and people maybe on the outside being like, what exactly was going in on the inside, like, what. Where did the players. Where did the players lie on this issue? Not so much management and fans.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And obviously this deal that, you know, was talked about, what, two weeks ago, Millsy going to the Rangers then kind of got shut down for a little bit, and that's when they started talking about, you know, shopping both of the guys, and I don't like, when I think about it, like, you got to think that they called around every team about PD and probably weren't getting as much as they hoped to expect and was like, okay, we got to go back to the. The well here and trade Mills you to New York, which I think is a great fit for him going back and like you said, playing with Trocheck. But, yeah, a lot of pressure on Peterson here, and it's going to show a lot about, you know, the rest of his career, what he can do the rest of this year and, you know, putting that team on his back. And I think, like you said, b. Outpour of, you know, guys messages on Instagram, Twitter and stuff like that of. And even talk saying, you know, he's a. What was his. His quote? I think he said he was a heart and soul guy about Millsy. It's. It's. It's one of those things that, you know, Petey's got to be ready to go come puck drop every single night for the rest of the year and then for the next, you know, six, seven years, however many years he has left. But that's. That's. That's some big shoes to fill and to do it by yourself when you don't have another1 A1B is. It's going to be tough on him.

[Biz Nasty]

I. I said, I. I said long before this deal went down that if Miller was traded, like, hey, buckle up, Patterson, because now, buddy, like, you got your wish, and you're going to have to show up and play a lot better than you have been. I tweeted out last night, if I'm a Canucks fan, I'm furious they traded the wrong guy. I understand the age difference. I also see, like, the competitiveness and how one guy plays and then how the other guy plays where, like Biz said, it's hot and cold. Like, yeah, some nights Pederson's. He's involved physically, he's engaged. And then other nights, he's just, like, floating around out there. And I think Canucks fans are lying if. If they don't agree with that. And. But now. But, hey, you got. You got everything you wanted. He's gone, and let's see what you can do. I. I mean, Frank Salvari, Frank Saravelli reported that there were Canucks players in the room that were, like, sad to see him go. Now we. We may never know. And. And obviously, all of us have kind of heard different things that I would never share, like, what actually went down between those two. And if that's ever made Public by one of those two guys. We can discuss it, but that's not our place at all. I just look like I, I don't know about why Vancouver then dealt that first round pick that was included by the Rangers. So it's top, I think, is it 13G protected, top 13 pick, protected this season, unprotected next year. Like my mind, like that's like that's a nice pick to have. Because who knows what happens with the Rangers, right? Like if they don't make the playoffs this year, I don't know what happens next year. I don't see them like blowing anything up. They just signed Shusterkin. They, they, they, they have Fox sign. Like they now have Miller sign long term. But that pick, I was surprised because you get Marcus Petterson, who's a UFA. You get Drew O'Connor like a. Now you kind of have to sign Marcus Petterson. The amount of Pederson's on Vegas is out of control by the way. I think there's three of them now, including another Elias Petterson. But I think looking at Miller to the Rangers like that was a move that makes a lot of sense to me because this guy, like he is driven now. He was there before, he loved it. You mentioned Biz. Him and Trocheck are legit best friends. Like Trocheck's put out pictures. They're nine years old, like playing hockey together. That's. That's one of the coolest things you could ever imagine playing with a kid that when you were 9 and 10, you dreamed of being in the NHL. Now you're on the same team. So that's awesome right there. And the Rangers, like they had to do that. They had to go out like they're not in a time right now where they can't go try to get some help. I still think they could get in.

[Keith Yandle]

I saw, I think they can too.

[Biz Nasty]

I saw an article, 36% chance that they get into the playoffs. I bet Pasha 500 bucks that they would get in. So we'll see what happens there. But Miller's looked phenomenal the first two games they played. Like against the Bruins on Saturday, Bruins whooped him. But a huge win against Vegas on Sunday, probably one of the hits of the year by Cooley on Petri. Angelo just rocked him. And then Heg came over and fought him. But the Garden was buzzing. They had a comeback one in the third period. And I think that like looking at the Rangers, if Shusturkin all of a sudden does his thing and Miller brings what it looks like he might with energy and enthusiasm. And he threw an enormous hit on somebody in the corner too on Sunday. Like they could end up finding something here and getting in, especially considering Columbus now they got some injury problems. My guy Marchenko's out with a broken jaw. Montreal, like there's some younger teams that I feel like the Rangers with their veterans could end up overtaken for a wild card spot.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I, I wanted to ask you guys because, you know, the life, the life expectancy for GM coach. Like if I'm the GM of, of Vancouver, I'm thinking three years. I'm not thinking five years, six years. And I would rather have J.T. miller for the next three years.

[Keith Yandle]

So I agree with you Yan's and that's why I'm like, fuck, man. If like they could have probably then dealt Pederson for Nature and then imagine having J.T. miller and nature as a 1, 2 rather than Pederson and like, I guess would you consider heal their second line center right now?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, probably. And I think he could be great base. It's just the concussions are scary. Like, I think he'll probably needed like a change of scenery and, and he could be really good. But that, that like injury concerns. Dude, that's petrifying when you're dealing a star player away and you're getting a guy who like you said, it's like one hit. Like how many concussions is this guy had? It's, it's. I mean, he's missed a lot of hockey.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I'd ra. I'd rather be able to have Nature this year, next year at six and a half of on Vancouver. And then if he does pan out, end up paying him probably what you ended up paying Pederson anyway. So that to me was surprising. And then when they got off of. Of JT for what they did, that they didn't end up pulling the trigger on letting Petterson go for Nature and giving in. In understanding what the return was for, for, for Colorado and that that exchange. So I would imagine that the fact that that deal that they ended up going down was on few weeks was probably Vancouver trying to work out the Pedersen deal with Pittsburgh and, and, and making sure they could get that return to solidify their back end. Because another story ended up coming out about Zadorov basically getting what he asked for from Vancouver, but the difference in taxes was $3 million over the course of the contract. And that's why he didn't end up coming back to Vancouver. So I, I really like the way how big and how well Vancouver's back end played last year in order to put them in, you know, win the Pacific and you know, push Edmonton to seven games. So that was one element of their game that was really struggling this year that they had to help out. So I, like I said, all in all, I guess happy with the return given the circumstances, but maybe a little surprised they didn't go the nature's route given given the information now also the.

[Biz Nasty]

The people who like, like Pasha, who aren't J.T. miller fans or were dogging the Rangers pick him up. Talking about basically that I think he signed till he's 37 years old. Like I, I don't really worry about that much. One, Drury's like, his job's like sort of on the line right now in the next year or two, year two or three. I mean you can't really worry about that when you're looking at a team right now that has these like guys sign long term, you're trying to win now or next year. I still think J.T. miller, based on how, how he plays when he's at the top of his game, like I'm not worried, I'm not that worried. Like maybe the last two years of the deal.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, the numbers just came out. Projected cap and where it's supposed to go.

[Biz Nasty]

Exactly.

[Keith Yandle]

And in three years, if it's at 110 million, you're talking about below 8% of the cap for. And if he at that point he's a second line center, like he's still a dog. He's still a guy you want to go to playoffs and go to battle with. So the fact that it's jumping up that quick, I just don't think his contract is that big of an anchor. Even if there is a drop off with the way that the cap is.

[Biz Nasty]

Going up, I actually think we should get into that right now because when this news dropped this week, I first saw it from Elliot's Twitter about the, the cap and what it'll be the next three seasons. I was like holy shit. And then I find out it might even be higher. So his tweet said that next year it'll be 95.5 million. The following year 104 million. And the year after that 27, 28, 113.5 million. And then he was saying on his podcast it might actually be 97, 107, 117. So you see after this flat cap and after these stagnant years where it really hasn't Gone anywhere. Like that's how well the game's doing, which is so cool for us to be able to do this. And I think everyone listening is fans. You want to. Now I guess there's a worry for some small market teams like will people not spend up to the cap? Whereas right now even if you're not to the very end of the cap, you're still competitive enough. Nobody's that far away from the top. You get up to 117. That might change a little bit. But one thing I saw from Justin Bourne on Twitter and I want to get your guys opinion on this, which is pretty cool. Like for so long we've been talking about and, and I'm kind of like paraphrasing all this we've been talking about. Instead of saying like oh, and imagining how much a certain player could help a team, your favorite team or a team you root for, you're more immediately like oh, but the dollars and cents and the money doesn't work. And that Whereas it should be like oh, you could try to get this guy in the system and what he could do. And I think with the cap going up this much, it won't be as much of like numbers crunching and worrying about contracts and not being able to make a trade because there's just more room now where you're going to be able to acquire guys. And with the cap stopping so many deals and so many trades over all these years, I think that's going to change a little bit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I, I feel like hockey and correct me if I'm wrong, I feel like hockey and hockey fans are the only group of fans that think that it's their money. Like it's. You talk about a trade in the NBA, like whatever, guys making $50 million, no one ever mentions, like, well that's a big cap hit for this guy. Like the, the owner's paying these guys, obviously the fans are too. But it's, it's one of those things where if they want to go out and spend these money, make these monster deals like the ranting deal and get like big guys getting traded and I think it just adds so much to the league and, and you know, stuff for us to talk about the clickbait boys and I don't know, I just feel like the NHL like every, every fan base thinks that is just always talking about the dollar and cents and you know what, what it's going to do to your cap and stuff like that. So hopefully jacking up this, this, you know, the cap here is going to you know, maybe make people stop talking about it and realize just root for your squad.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, it was just getting too jammed up and it was cock blocking a lot of deals in a lot of situations. But so before these numbers came out, I would have been open to making it like a soft cap as opposed to a hard cap. But with the acceleration of where the, where it's going, like I think that the league's in a great, great place and a hard cap is fine. I do think that Canadian markets are really, really going to struggle moving forward though in order to compete. Right. Like that's just not only with the doll outside of like Toronto and I guess like Edmonton, maybe Vancouver to a certain degree because it's still a strong, strong market and they don' competition. I mean outside of that, man, it's gonna be tough for some of these and even like a small market team like Carolina. And it kind of goes back to the rat and thing where like a lot of the Carolina fans were like getting angry at me like, hey, this is my new boyfriend, like leave him alone. When I was trying to figure out how I wanted it to work out in Colorado with him. But with the news of where the caps go and like, I don't think Carolina is going to be able to afford to keep him. They ain't going to be able to front load a car. You're, you're getting a three month rental and you just gave away nature who's at six and a half for the next, this year and next year. That's why like, like I know, I.

[Biz Nasty]

Think you're gonna make a huge offer like to try to keep him though.

[Keith Yandle]

I, this was clearly about money, was it not? Because if it wasn't about money, he'd be playing with the, the, the big three him. That's why I'm so shocked by this. And I know we're revisiting it but like my whole argument about, about it being risky is being like, well, if it wasn't all about money, this guy was going to get to play with McKinnon and McCarr, he was going to make 100 grand less than McKinnon. You'd sign for 12 and a half. And I'm sure that with where the cap's going and everything, they would have figured out a way to front load it and make it very juicy on the front end and appealing. Well, by the sounds of where the cap's going, I'm sure he's probably looking at the 14 million range right now. You think, you think Carolina's you don't think a team like, like New York or a big market team like let's say Toronto doesn't end up landing Marner. You don't think they're gonna offer the moon and signing bonus over what Carolina can afford to do?

[Biz Nasty]

Yep.

[Keith Yandle]

I. That's why I think it was ridiculous. Like, hey, if he wants his money, but then the, the news afterward and why we're revisiting it was him and his agent were like, surprised how all this went down. Am I crazy to think that a guy who has the opport, the leverage and, and who he is and what he means to the Colorado organization couldn't have walked in there and made it work himself? The does he need an agent for Yance and Wit? Let me ask you this. If you were Miko Ren and you already once won Stanley cup and you have as much chemistry as you do with Nathan McKinnon and you know that your contract's up, would you not have went out to dinner with McKinnon multiple times and, and had this conversation about making it work? Would you not have yourself walked into Sakic and I forget the name of their GM now. I know that. I think. Would you not have walked in yourself and had a conversation about trying to make that work if it wasn't about the money?

[Paul Bissonnette]

From every. Everything I've heard about that Chris McFarlane is that he's like a very, you know, personable guy around the guys. And yeah, it does shock me that they didn't have those conversations, especially a guy of his stature. But I don't know, maybe at the end of the day they wanted, they wanted to get rid of him. It was maybe, you know, their time was up.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that's another thing. And, and trying to get deeper. But Biz, I think that you underestimate how much guys really, really trust and lean on their agent and totally just want to play the game and kind of, you tell me what to do, you tell me where to go, you tell me what to say or what I should ask for where I. Hey, buddy, like, you're, you're, you're, you're making that face at me. But, like, I don't think everyone's like you. And I'm not saying it's right or wrong where it's like, I can go and I can figure out, figure this out myself. And like, the superstars truly could. They don't really need agents. Like, there are some players in the league that like Miko Ranton who could go in to McFarlane and say hey, where. What are you thinking? Like this would be fair to me, this would be fair to you. But there's also guys who want nothing to do with that. They don't like, they just want to just play. And I trust you enough to tell me what to do.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay, so, so then let's say you're doing that as a player. Let's say you're in Ratnan situation and you're blown away and flabbergasted. The fact that like oh my God, I'm packing up my bags. I thought we were going to be making another cup run with this guy that I put up 100 point seasons with. Do you think that that's a failure from the agent for it to get to that place where you're now shocked as a client? That's where I'm like, I'm not saying once the season starts and he's focusing on hockey that, that that's where his mind should have been. But I feel like there should have been sit downs and conversations about this between Ronan and management at some point.

[Biz Nasty]

Like no, no, I'll say this, that if, that if, if Rontin had told his agent, hey, I'd love to be back here, I'd love to be back here. Keep me up to date with the discussions with McFarlane. All that and then all of a sudden, boom, you're dealt and it just hits you like a ton of bricks and you didn't see it coming. That, that is a failure in my eyes by the agent because you got to let the guy know, hey listen, if you're putting me in charge here like there you could get traded. Now I don't know if that was told to him or not, but if he's as shocked as everyone seems to think he was, you would think that there was some lack of communication between the two.

[Keith Yandle]

Agreed. And I guess where maybe my message that was lost about the risk element, even if he is 85% of what he was playing with Nathan McKinnon in Colorado, as he moves over from a point perspective and just overall play, I still think that in free agency he's probably going to get that 13 and a half to $14 million.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh no, I just want these. With these numbers. Fuck yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Agreed. So now with that information coming out, maybe not as much risk, but to me when you weigh the fact that and you got to remember where he ends up from a estate tax element. I know I always bring up the state tax, but I honestly thought that it would, it would have been easy for Rotten to get to a place where he was making 100 grand less than Nathan McKinnon. I don't think that they would have moved on from him if that was the number because I think that that would have been a, a slight team friendly deal. And over the course of that eight years, and mind you, if he doesn't sign in Carolina, which I'm. That is my hot take, I don't think that he's going to sign in Carolina. I think there's not a chicken dick's chance that he's going to sign in Carolina. So you go back to the last two years and the assets they've given up for a rental in Gensel and Rotten and so maybe more.

[Biz Nasty]

So they only got seven years from everyone else too.

[Keith Yandle]

That's what I'm saying. So you now you only got seven years. So when you're weighing all of it from the player perspective, it's like, yeah, you're making more per year, but you knew, you knew this situation was perfect. You were playing with the best player in the world you were going to be making. We're going to figure out what the numbers are once he ends up signing boys, but we're probably talking about a difference in 10 million bucks.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like total. Yeah, total.

[Biz Nasty]

When, when, at the end, he'll make 170ish.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I wonder if Carolina is going to be having talks with him now and if they can't get a deal done, they ship them again somewhere.

[Keith Yandle]

I would 100%. If you can't, if you can't get a deal done, I would ship him. I would not be left holding the bag like they did with Gensel. I would not.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And they got time not, not to.

[Biz Nasty]

Change the subject and go back to where we were because I forgot to say this. If Pederson doesn't like pick it up, he might get dealt too because his no move clause kicks in July 1st and maybe they may be like, all right, he's done, he's out of here. Also, just randomly, I'd forgotten to the Rangers.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. Oh yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

One thing that is, that is really cool for certain teams and maybe players are like a little upset by it. I don't think they would be. But with the cap going up, you got some guys on long term deals that are going to be one of the, some of the most amazing bargains you've seen in the NHL. Like this list right here from an article in the Athletic. This is just quick. You got Miro Heskinen at 8.45 million a year till 2029. Lucas Raymond, 8 million a year till 2032. Cole Caufield, 7.8 until 2031. Tim Stutzel, 8.35 till 2031. Jack Hughes, 8 million till 2030. It's like, holy. Now, obviously these guys got. They have security, they have enough money for the rest of their lives. But these teams are like, holy shit. Thank God we got them to sign this because these guys are going to be elite star, some superstar players and possibly be sitting at 4 or 5 on the number of, for, for what you're making on the roster. It's wild, wild to see that these young guys are going to be that underpaid as, as this, as this contract, as this cap continues to rise.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I wonder, cap, if, if, if the cap rising and McDavid having. What does he have one year after this, like he's going to get July.

[Keith Yandle]

1St he can sign. Whit thinks he's going to make 16 and a half million bucks.

[Biz Nasty]

I think it would be amazing if he comes in at 16 and a half.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. But it could be 20. Like if it's, if it's 1:17 by the time he's a UFA.

[Biz Nasty]

I know. It's just crazy to think that this is where the game's at, boys. What was, what was the cap when we came out of that lockout?

[Paul Bissonnette]

20. 23. 23 million?

[Biz Nasty]

I think it was 36 million.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Or 39 million.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, it was in the 30s.

[Keith Yandle]

I was gonna say 43.

[Biz Nasty]

You go 20 years ago, guys got 24 of their. Of their salaries chopped off the block and the cap was at 39. And right now this league.

[Keith Yandle]

Can we get the retired guys some insurance now?

[Biz Nasty]

That's what Merle tweeted out. Merle's tweeted that immediately. I just think that, like, if you look at, if you look at what, what the number it is to pay for this insurance, now you're like, come on, let's. Let's make the sensible decision here. And Glenn Healy's very open to talking about this. He's like, I get this completely. We're going to just beat this drum. This could be our biggest win if.

[Keith Yandle]

It ever happens, going back though, to Carolina. If Rotten and does sign there, I should be responsible for opening up like a tab at that bar that we went to for that pink W. Whitney event to, to show some love for Carolina fans and being wrong about my Hawk hot take. I hope that he ends up there giving up what you guys gave up and not being able to bring back back Geno. But this cap situation and where it's going I think has changed everything. So good luck signing your big man. And that's all I got to say about that. And I appreciate you guys letting me revisit and have that conversation.

[Biz Nasty]

No, I'm glad I, I, I guess you, you kind of went into it. So you, your main reason on thinking and believing he won't resign in Carolina is that they just don't have the dough to give it in signing bonus and to get as high as other teams would.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I just, I, I think that with all this information it just becomes a lot more enticing for a big market team to like front load this. Listen, I think that they offered a significant deal to Gensel and they've kind of slowly but surely came off of that mindset. But we're talking about, would you not argue the outside of Marner, who I would assume is going to resign in Toronto, the biggest free agent going into this off season.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh yeah, no doubt, no doubt.

[Keith Yandle]

I mean think of how many more teams are in play for this guy that need a legitimate top line winger who's put up the numbers that he has and you hope that those numbers will continue. Not playing around McKinnon, but also from another team though, if all of a sudden you see a 25% point drop off compared to what you're seeing with McKinnon, are you a little bit more reluctant to give him that big boy money that we're talking about?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't think so. I think, I mean he's a proven winner. He's a proven guy. He's put up 100 point seasons.

[Biz Nasty]

He's also so big like I, that like.

[Keith Yandle]

So you're going to pay off a 40 goal, 40 assist guy $14 million with a front loaded contract?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, I'm not. But yeah, someone will.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay. No, no. We talked about hockey fans, it's your money.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay. Yeah, then I am. Yeah. I would if I was a Hurricanes fan.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh man. Yeah, I guess even when you put it that way. 40 and 40 for 14. Fuck, I'll say it. I, I don't, Yeah, I don't think he's Leon Drai Seidel like and that makes me, that makes me say no, but somebody's going to.

[Keith Yandle]

Do you think, do you think he's crazy if he ends up signing for Even, let's say 13 and a half million AAV, where he could have got 12 and a half in Colorado. Do you think he's crazy for leaving that situation? Think the most, like the most insane part is is that they're going to lock in Kale Maar. I believe it's after next season.

[Biz Nasty]

What the.

[Keith Yandle]

They already have and they already have Nate Million less than wouldn't want to. Wouldn't want to be with that band for the rest of your career. I don't. That's to me is the most.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm with you on that.

[Biz Nasty]

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[Keith Yandle]

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[Biz Nasty]

So there was another trade. And Keith, I want to go into this one with you as, as you played with one of these guys with the Flyers and Flames, they made a trade. They sent. The Flames sent Andre Kuzimenko and Jacob Peltier and a second rounder and a seventh rounder to Philly in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Faraby. Craig Conroy said basically this team deserves this, what they've done this year. This Dustin Wolf kid's out of control and I think Calgary's would you guys say a top two or three shocking team this season based on what going in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

And it's been buzzing. It's a hard place to play. And he went out. Dude. I was kind of shocked by this deal. Like I, I think Morgan Frost is a hell of a goal. He scored against Seattle on Sunday. Sick.

[Keith Yandle]

I, I just don't really see the Upside for Philadelphia, outside of getting me a Russian buddy who can help translate and make life a little easier, I don't understand why you get off Frost and Farabee now. Yans, you got a chance to play with. Did you play with Frost as well? And I think that the upside on these guys is unbelievable. And this fits perfectly into Calgary's hand for younger players that could take that next step.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, and I think, I wonder if how much of that FU match that Torts and Michkov got in on the bench because then the trade happened that night to bring in another Russian maybe kind of help in. In that. What's his name, Kuzmanko, who's Menko? Seems like a, you know, fun, silly guy. So maybe he can help him. He can, you know, help him get acclimated a little bit to the North American life. But if I'm a Flames fan and Flames player, I am all in on Craig Conroy. Like he is absolutely going out. He's showing that locker room. Listen, guys, I know what I think. They're the last place in the wild card right now or the first place in the, in the wild card. So he, he's telling his team, I believe in you guys. I'm gonna go out, get two forwards that are going to help us win games. We didn't have to give up too much to get rid of them. I think Joel Farabee is going to have an unbelievable, you know, career there. I think he needed a little bit of a change. You know, just a guy that's kind of gotten lost in the weeds a little bit in Philly and maybe not being a Torts type of player. I think he's. When he's playing at his best, he's a high end skill guy. He makes a ton of good plays. I remember him making plays at the blue line like crazy toe drags that, you know, didn't happen when we first started in the game. But just the skill in the hockey IQ on Joel is, is off the charts. I think he's going to be a monster there. And then same with Morgan Frost. Frosty, he came up and can't remember if he came when AV was there, but I remember Mike, yo you know, kind of being all over him and kind of, you know, he was kind of his whipping boy a little bit and which I didn't think was fair to Frosty because, you know, he's just a young kid trying to make it in the league. And you know, and then he gets towards who probably not, you know, he's Not a type of guy but I have seen him going out there blocking shots, sliding so he tried to play that type of game but I think just deep down it wasn't his, his most comfortable way of playing the game of hockey. So I think going into Calgary, you know you got other skill guys around there with Hubie Kadri, you got Uyghur back there in the back and I think they're going to complement each other so much. And yeah, I, I, I, I tip my hap to, to Craig Conroy. First time I heard this too. I heard he got on the private plane to pick them up and to fly back with them.

[Keith Yandle]

That's unreal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

To get to know them a little bit and, and stuff like that. So.

[Keith Yandle]

Well they had the sushi platter. That's why I heard that they got the good sushi there.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah crazy though that Philly manager the Nobu Philly's first rounder Froston 17 and Faraby and 18 gone in one deal. It's like for a young team it just, it was surprising to me and I know Torts does have a lot of say it seems with the like it's he's not just the coach. Seems like he's like a part of the front office maybe I'm totally off base there.

[Keith Yandle]

I just think it's weird though because that Kuzmenko like, like defensively and maybe structurally like he's probably less sound than those two guys they just shipped out which is not that was part of the issue in Vancouver and then they, they move them. So like just the return and, and sometimes like you're, you're trying to get rid of contracts too because you only have so many under your umbrella to give out and maybe they have other moves and things set up in place but I just thought it was a bizarre thing. Now Yance, what would you, what would you hope for from a high end perspective? The way that these two players turn out. Like if a dream case scenario for comrade. Where do you think the ceiling is for those two players where they end up in the lineup?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I, I could see. I, I think they're both second line guys at worst frosty third. But a beezer can help out at your top six. Easy, easy money. I think he's a 30 goal guy when it, when it comes down to it. I think he's a guy if he's on the right situation, the power play. He can shoot the puck, he can pass the puck really well. You know he fights, he gets in the mix, you know So I, I, I, I really do. I see him as a 30, 30 guy, frosty, maybe a little bit less with maybe around you know, 20 goals, 30 assists. But yeah, I think just two guys that are really, really going to help your organization and not to mention two unbelievable locker room guys, two great teammates and they're going in there and I talked to Wigs and Hubie just you know, to look out for them just because you know, that's what we do as hockey guys. But I know they were excited to have them and you know when you have two of your best players just you know, thrilled to have two guys that they don't even know. I think that's a huge thing.

[Keith Yandle]

Back on the Calgary train, boys.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, I imagine seeing the Battle of Alberta first round. Edmonton locks up first overall in the West.

[Biz Nasty]

I don't think it's possible because Winnipeg and Winnipeg fans, I'm getting your messages. I know we haven't talked about them much. Right now they are the number one team in the NHL. I don't know if Edmonton can catch them. I think they're nine points back. Like Winnipeg, you guys are a well oiled machine. You get the best goalie in the world. Right now Scheifele's playing out of, out of this world. So is Kyle Conner, Josh Morrissey. Like I like, I really like watching your team. Winnipeg. I don't want you to hate me and say talk about Winnipeg, talk about Winnipeg. But I told you after last year's first round, I, I, I just until this playoffs happen, I can't really care.

[Keith Yandle]

That like Bonnie Blue, you just can't trust her.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm not gonna ever compare the jets to Barney, ever. Because the jets are a fun ass team to watch play hockey. But I'm sorry guys, like it's a great team. You guys got a solid roster, you're playing, you're on pace to win the President's trophy. You guys show up in the first round and you work somebody over, then boom. Then I'm into the Jets. Guys, I'm an Oilers fan, but I'll be into talking about your Jets. I'm sorry. Guys, listen to me. Do something in the playoffs. That series against Colorado, that'll turn a man off forever. You can't blame us for not talking about your team. You were money last year in the regular season, so bear with us here. We will get into more Jets. You just. We need the playoffs to happen and you guys have a. I think that.

[Keith Yandle]

That that first place seed means more to Winnipeg than any other team I think that they need a layup in the first round. You know. You know what? You know it would be a fun first round because somebody's going to go over the hump them in Minnesota because I feel like those are the two teams they always, you're always amped up them going in. They always end up letting you down. So. And the way things are going, the way that Minnesota's heading, they'd be lucky to to get that eight seed at this point.

[Biz Nasty]

Hey, when you said Kuzmenko like brought over to Philly as partly to help me and all those things it just reminds me of the, the Gonchar and Terry and it's just an all time classic where where Michelle Terry and brings Gonch and he's like you I'm talking to Gino and you're telling, you're tell him what I'm saying. And he had sat him down for turnovers and he's telling, he's telling.

[Keith Yandle]

Can I just get preface that at that point the system was is no matter who it was, didn't matter if it was Sid or Gino. When you crossed over the red line, you had to dump the puck in and Gino wasn't dumping.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No wonder why the cap was at 37.

[Keith Yandle]

So after so many turnovers this meetings end up happening. I'll hover hand it back over to you. Witty.

[Biz Nasty]

So. So he's talking and then Gaunch is talking in Russian and then Malkin's like, he says whatever back and Terrence like what do you say? He's like ah, nothing. He gets it. He gets. He's like what do you say? He's like. I say Benjamin G. Will go back to Russia. I don't dump the puck in.

[Keith Yandle]

Try it.

[Biz Nasty]

I don't even think Malkin wanted guys on his line jumping it in. Or he's like, you dump it in, you go get the thing. I'm not going to get it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And that's when the KHL was making more than us too. So he's probably like I'll really leave.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Was making 10 million a year playing home games over there.

[Biz Nasty]

Yaga left the NHL to get more money in the khl, I believe.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

So yeah, he had a rough night at the tables.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Just looking quickly as we talk about. And we have Jim Nil joining us today. Guys, what an awesome interview. This is great. Human being nail gun.

[Keith Yandle]

I didn't realize he was a nail gun back in the day.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh my God.

[Keith Yandle]

The coolest thing he said was, is like I didn't like seeing people taking advantage of my teammates. What a fucking guy this guy is.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's like biz at Houston's.

[Biz Nasty]

So right now Winnipeg would play Calgary and that, that what, what. What disgusts me is that would give Edmonton Colorado. Oh my God. Talk about a first round matchup. You don't want G had in the outline that he thought. I said that I didn't think the Wild were going to make the playoffs. I didn't say that. He must have misheard me. I don't think the Wild are going to end up a top three team in the Central. I think they're going to be the top wild card team and Colorado will overtake them as. As the third place team in the Central. So that would, that would leave. I mean, I guess that would leave Edmonton, Minnesota. I'd take that match up in a hole you think I would take.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You said they need a layup.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, you're laughing at that one.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Biz. You said they need a layup in the first round. There are no.

[Keith Yandle]

I'm saying for Edmond. If I'm Edmonton, I'm licking my chops. I'd much rather play Minnesota than go go and play la. I from my understanding is Brant Clark is on the table. I think the LA Kings are in in win now mode because of the Kopitar and Doughty situation and I heard his name floating around out there. I would not want LA over, over Minnesota. In that case. There are definitely some fun matchups that would happen like currently, right now, I think it would be the battle of Ontario as well.

[Biz Nasty]

So four points back of of Toronto for second in the Atlantic. Like Ottawa's been playing awesome. They've won four in a row now they're going on the road. But last trade to announce in a crazy week. Seems like a little bit of a pre four nations trade deadline and then we could have madness with these cap numbers after. After the four nations. Before the actual trade deadline. But the Sharks traded forward Mikel Grandland and defenseman Cody Cece to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2025 first round pick and a conditional fourth rounder. We talked about Grandlin like a month or two ago and how good he's been with San Jose. Not just this year, but last year. Awesome player. So Dallas brings him in. Dallas brings Cece in who has been a whipping boy like everywhere. And talk about getting that. I get you Cody, buddy. I've been there. It stinks.

[Keith Yandle]

But teammates loved him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Loved them.

[Biz Nasty]

I heard that when they were.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I heard Dry Seidel, basically nix the trade of him out of town was like, if you trade him, I ain't resigning here. Yeah, I just made that up.

[Biz Nasty]

It seems like. I think that. I think there's times too, you guys tell me if you disagree where. When there is a whipping boy for a team, if that's a good guy, if that's a guy teammates like and respect, like, they really almost take it a little personal themselves. Like, they're almost like they feel bad for the guy and they want to. They want to carry the guy. You remember Connor Brown talking about Darnell nursing the playoffs last year? You know, it's like we're. We're one in here. We're a family in here. And if you're. If this fan base is constantly calling out one of our guys, like you're calling out all of us, like we're gonna have our guys back. And yeah, it seems like Cody Cece is a favorite wherever he goes. But I like these moves for Dallas. Man, Dallas has been playing some great hockey. Dallas, just the market, it's quiet and their team's really good. And I think everyone talks about Stanley cup contenders and they just throw their name in there. But they don't get nearly enough love as they deserve. Neither do you jets fans. You're kind of like the Jets a little bit. Like you guys could be there at the end, but Dallas, I mean, they go to the conference finals last year and they look just as good this year. Keith had mentioned to the group chat this week that he's really actually rooting for Dallas. Because of Jamie Ben, you said?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, Jamie Ben and after interviewing Jim Neal just seems like a salt of the earth guy. But yeah, I just think of, you know, Jamie Ben and his career and playing against him. I remember him coming in as an 18 year old kid. He started on the fourth line. He was a, you know, he's one. I think he was a fourth round pick, I want to say maybe even fifth round. I could be. He could be a first rounder for all I know, but just really earned his stripes, you know what I mean? Wasn't one of those kids that can't. Fifth round. Yeah. So came in and earned everything that he's gotten started out grinding, playing with Steve Odd, getting, you know, being a piece of shit to play against and then, you know, ends up winning, you know, the scoring title one year. He. He's been a stud in this league for a long time. Really, you know, help get that organization to, you know, where they are. Obviously with the help of other guys like Madonna and such. But I just think for what he's given the league, I think he's an easy guy to root for. And, you know, I feel like there's, you know, a couple of those guys every year. Even last year with Dallas, with Pavelski, you know, there are those guys that you just want to see win a cup that, you know, you really think deserve it, that have played the game the right way for a long time and. And Jamie Ben's one of those guys for me, because nothing was given to him. Right. And he's earned everything. And, you know, I think it would be amazing to see him lift Lord.

[Keith Yandle]

Stanley and the way it was going a few years ago with him dealing with all those injuries and the way that he handled himself in the off season to get his, like, his game back to where it needed to be. I mean, we talked about it actually in the interview with Jim Neal about the peepee whack from. Who was it at the time? The president of the Gym Light. Yeah. And you know, the comments. So just. Yeah, I kind of second everything you said, Yance. And also another thing that Neil said in the interview was that, you know, the east is so jammed up that a lot of teams are holding out, thinking, hey, maybe we do end up going on a later season push and find ourselves in a playoff situation. So not a lot of sellers. So for him to go out and maybe get a Cody CC who can help out, be that sixth defenseman, fifth, sixth guy for him, you know, you. You make that move early enough and you don't have to overpay. And if nothing else ends up coming about, at least you got your insurance policy. So I think a very sneaky move. And I don't think they're done by any means. No, I just think it was the right one to make at this time. And one more big one, boys, and you might get your wish and you might get Jamie Ben Hoist hosting Lord Stanley. And is there any possibility if they go deep enough that Tyler Sagan returns?

[Biz Nasty]

I don't know. I haven't seen that.

[Keith Yandle]

Because, man, the chemistry between Duchenne Marchmont and him, that was like having another first line.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

And the way that they're. Last year they dealt with injuries as well, so they were only able to play about 40, 40 of the games together. And I remember last year at the time, like, like analytically and any way you looked at it, point, production goals, producing like they were NHL first line. So to get that type of depth back, especially With Stank Hoven and Wyatt Johnson playing the way they are, like, you're. You're a fucking wagon.

[Biz Nasty]

I remember when Sean Horf went to Dallas from Edmonton. I. I was just asking about the team. I'm like, oh, what's Ben like? And he just wrote nail gun. I was like, oh, yeah. Like, you know that playing against me. He's like, dude, he's the best guy. He's the best leader. Like, raving about this guy as a person and a player. So that. That is somebody that you. You really want to see, like, hoist. Hoist the Stanley cup because of how he's done it. Just look at when I looked up where he was drafted. Fifth round, he was drafted out of the bchl. Then the next season he played in Kelowna, had a good year, and then the following year he lit it up, and then they won the WHL championship. Either. 33 points in 19 playoff games. So I think that, like, you know, Dallas picks him and two years later they're like, holy shit, we got a first round talent. We got in the fifth round because he was in the bchl. Maybe he was a late bloomer. That's a guy we would love to interview. Seems like kind of maybe. I think he's retired.

[Keith Yandle]

Post. Yeah, post career. Let's not. Let's not forget the biggest AD they have coming back is fucking glass banger.

[Biz Nasty]

Glassbar will be out of prison. He'll be out of prison right as the Western Conference finals begin, I believe.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, wow.

[Biz Nasty]

So, yeah, he'll be able to bring Bonnie Blue to the game. He can bang Bonnie Blue while she. Bang.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, you don't think he's gonna rent her for the day?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I'm sure that'd be real expensive. So before we go to Jim Neal, Bad news for Dallas. Miro Heskinen. To me, it looked totally fluke and just a shitty break. Now I've seen it's only week to week for Heskin, and thank God, because it looked like he's. I mean, dude, the guy went down. He's grabbing his knee like you're. Oh, no. But it just says week to week out of four nations. It sucks for Finland, but I don't.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Think Mark Stone's that type of player. Like, where the old. Accidentally on purpose. I think it was a fluke play, but I didn't break it down. It was Rupe.

[Biz Nasty]

Twice it was Rupe hints he got tangled up with him. But biz, you could take a look at that as we throw it over now to one of the most respected men in the game. That is not an exaggeration at all. A guy who was an enormous part of building those Detroit dynasty teams and those four Stanley Cups and a man who kind of waited a long time and we get into it a little bit about before he became a GM and in charge of a team and just an awesome guy. So right now we're going to throw it over to Dallas Stars GM Jim Nil. Guys, before we go any further, I want to talk to you about body armor. We are so lucky to be sponsored by our body armor. The best water in the world. Right now. I'm crushing some regular water, but my guy, G, he's got the Flash iv. And this episode is brought to you by Body Armor Flash iv. G, I've seen you drinking that all so long. How good is that? What's your flavor? Oh, it's incredible. I got the fruit punch going right now, but they also have this cucumber lime, which is incredible. As you know, I was at University of Minnesota all weekend. I need the hydration. I am dehydrated, as one could be right now. And there's nothing better. There's nothing better than the Body Armor Flash iv. The Flash iv, it's real hydration. With Body Armor Flash iv. Packed with electrolyte, zinc for added immune boost and no artificial sweeteners, flavors or dyes, the Flash IV provides the rehydration your body needs. Whether you're feeling a little under the weather, just had an intense workout, or you're recovering from a long weekend like G in Minnesota, Body Armor Flash IV helps bring you back. It's the best. It tastes great. I cannot wait to taste that cucumber line one. I love it. And the regular water, also the best in the business. Get yours today at Walmart or a local grocery store near you. That's Body Armor Flash iv. Give it a shot. Your body will thank you. It's an honor now to be joined by a very special guest. Every person I asked about this man said that the one of the best people they've ever met in hockey. The 20, 23 and 24 NHL GM of the Year and four time Stanley cup champion in Detroit, the GM of the Dallas Stars, Jim Nil. Thanks so much for joining the show.

[Ryan Whitney]

Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be on your show. I follow your show all the time and I know you each individually. I've watched you guys all play. So it's exciting to kind of we can go back in some old days, back to the Owen sound days. And BU days and under 18 days and all those. So it's. It's. It's an honor.

[Biz Nasty]

We appreciate it. And. And it's been. It's been a good year for you guys. It's been a great run since you got to Dallas, and we have so much to ask you about. I guess right now we could start with this season, right? A little bit of a start that was slower. And. And things have really picked up lately. Like, how did you approach going into a year when you had such a great run last year? You know, you're one round away from the Cup Final, and then it all begins again. You've been through that in Detroit. Like, how do you talk to the players prior to the year? We got to get back to the. To the swing of things as the regular season begins.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, every year brings. Is different and brings us different challenges. And, you know, we. We start out the year. We had a great, Great training camp. Great training camp. We had that trip to Finland, which was kind of different for us. It was. It was a great trip. We didn't win any games, but still a great trip. You know, I was happy for the Finnish players and for the rest of our staff to enjoy those type of situations, but got off to a slow start. We had some guys injured. You know, Jason Robertson missed all the summer. You know, I got a phone call in July from Jason, and he had to come in and see the doctors. Ended up he had a cyst on his foot that needed an operation, and he couldn't train all summer. Didn't really start training until halfway through training camp. Finally started skating the last week at camp. So not surprising that he had a slow start to camp. And why Johnson got off to a slow start, I think a little bit of the pressure of the Four nations tournament, you know, young guy going through that. Young guy starting to live on his own. You know, there's the story about Joe Pavelski, you know, living with Joe Pavelski now, he's living on his own. He's young now, living his own, and just a lot of changes. So we had a lot of guys get off to slow starts. Then we started to get some injuries. But I give credit to the coaching staff's done a great job. We got good structure. We've brought in a lot of young players. The other night, we played seven rookies on our team, and that's not easy when you want to be a contending team. And our coach has done a great job, and the players have done a good job of adapting and getting Their games up to speed, so. But a lot of different things going on. But like I say, we're hanging in there. We will hit a little bump in the road, but we haven't lost more than two games in a row all season. And that's a compliment to our coaching staff and to our players.

[Keith Yandle]

Jim, you're known as like a player's gm and how close you become with the players when Wyatt Johnson's going through something like that. Do you like, column in the office and talk to him yourself? Do you kind of delegate that to the coaches? Like, how do you handle that as a general manager with such a young player? And you said living on his own now and going through all these changes in pro hockey?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, no, I'm a big relationship type of guy. I think it's important. You got to build a relationship. It's a different type of athlete than when I played and probably when you guys played. You know, the game has changed a lot. And so I think it's important to build relationships. That's the same with Pete. The board's the same way in his staff. And we tried to build relationships. We, we got an open door policy. So you're always talking to the player. Some of it, he has to go through it himself. It's just part of life. Doesn't matter what you're doing. We've all gone through the good times and the bad times you got to go through, and in the end it makes you stronger. So we're there to help him, but he's a really grounded young man and he knew where he had to get to and it just took him time. He had to figure it out.

[Biz Nasty]

And in all your years in Detroit, we'll get into that. It was like the drafting and finding these gems maybe a little later that, that, like, created so much success. And Wyatt Johnson's an example of a kid who, like, you're like, how did this kid go 23rd overall? Like, do you credit your scouts? And obviously you've been seen at rinks forever and you're doing a lot of that on your own. But is that just another example of a guy who maybe you saw something in them that. That other people didn't?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, then it's. I got a great scouting department, great staff. It's. It's all about the people. You're surrounded with yourself by. You know, that's the one thing I learned in Detroit. Kenny Holland, you know, Jimmy Devil, Anno, Scotty Bowman. Surround yourself with good people and they make you. They can make you look Pretty good. So I. That's one thing I learned pretty early in my career. And Joe McTinell, I got to give a credit to him, he's our head scope. The Wyatt Johnson is a great story. You know, it actually was down here in Frisco. It was during COVID and so they had the Under 18 tournament, World Championships down here. It was the only, you know, Texas, we're one of the few states that could host anything like that. So they brought their tournament down here. Wyatt Johnson hadn't played a game till he got down here. He ended up playing seven games his draft year. All seven games are played down here in Frisco. Joe McTinell and the staff. But when we scale, we do a lot of underage scouting also we do a book. And everybody when they're, you know, 16, 17, keep a track of them, see their development path. And Joe McTinel just had a gut feeling about him. He played well in the under 18, but he was really a third line type of guy. So it's not like he was, you know, the center of attraction. You're talking Connor Bedard was there, Logan Stankovin was there, McTavish and Anaheim, some really good players. And he was kind of second fiddle. But Joe had just a great gut feel for him. And I remember going to the draft, he was getting close to our pick and I said, joe, are you sure this is the guy? And he said, this is the guy, and ended up. Detroit called us to make a trade. They. They were going after their cost of the goalie and Stevie called and said we'd like to move up. So I pulled Joe aside and said, is he going to be there when we pick later? And he said, yeah, he'll be there. He just hasn't had enough exposure. And so we pulled the trade. None of that. We actually got Logan Stankovin also, so.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, Jesus.

[Ryan Whitney]

Kind of worked out well for us. But all my hat goes off to our scouting stuff. They did a great job of managing that draft.

[Keith Yandle]

And you got Haskin and Ottinger and Robertson in one year too. You guys, you must be tipping these guys out big time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, you just said, you know what, they do a great job. Sometimes you gotta be a little bit lucky and. But you just stick with it. Stick with it. We got a philosophy and, you know, a big part people kind of forget about too. You draft these kids, but there's still a process after that. And that's where I give a lot of credit to our development team. You know, we got guys out there all the time, you know, working. And after you draft a guy, they're, they're with them all the time. They're helping development. They're up in the junior teams and college teams and following them around, going over to Europe. And then it's our staff down in our farm teams down in Austin, Texas, the Texas Stars. And our coaching staff does a great job down there. We send kids down there. And I'm a big believer in you. You need to play in the minors. Unless you're a special player, you need to play in the minors. And it's a lot easier to go down there and come back up than to start up in the NHL, flying around the charter planes, staying in five star hotels and eating whatever you want to eat and then going down. So that's a big part of our philosophy is go down there, play with your own age group and sow your oats down there. And you know what? I remember when I was the Miners, it was the most fun I ever had. Everybody's making the same. Yeah, it's the best. Everybody's making the same money. Most of the guys aren't married. You're a bunch of young guys, you know, making $70,000 a year. You're making your think you're making about $7 million a year. You're living like a king coming out of junior college. And it's a great time. It's the best time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Jim, you mentioned surrounding yourself with good people and obviously you've done a great job with that. And is there a, is there a process with the draft? Because obviously you can't go out and see every player as much as the scouts. And are they helping you make that call on draft day? You're kind of letting them handle it or are you hands on with that as well?

[Ryan Whitney]

They're pretty well 100%. It's up to them. That's something I learned. I learned that a long time ago. I used to be that guy when I was in Detroit. Kenny Holland was a GM and I was the gm and there was nothing worse. And Kenny was good at it too. Kenny, let me make the calls. For me to come in and see somebody one or two games and they're seeing these guys 10 or 15 times. I might see them when they're having the worst day of their life. They might have broke up with their girlfriend that day. They might have been sick that day. It's not the right thing to do. And, and it's a, it's a lot more different here. When I was working under Detroit, I could see. I could see thousands of games. You know, you get windsor, Saginaw, Kitchener, under 18, universe of Michigan, you name it. There's. There's games everywhere down here in Dallas, I'm on an island. Everything's three, four hours to get to. And the minute I go up somewhere to scout somewhere is the. The minute that something happens down here in Dallas and I got to get back. So. So I've learned those guys are living it, breathing it every day, and I gotta trust them, and they've done a good job.

[Biz Nasty]

And you mentioned that that was your job. And like. And feeling trusted and feeling like you have that. That ability to make the pick is probably so meaningful to. To you. And then that brings us back to Detroit, and I think it was 98, 99. You get Datsuk in the sixth round and Zetterberg in the seventh round the year after. What was it about? Now, obviously, the Russia thing with. With Datsuk, maybe, but then Zetterberg goes that late. Like. Like, when you look back now, do you think how crazy it is as we do, that they fell that much? And like, what did you see in those guys? Obviously, besides the genius in their game. But what were other people missing?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Zerberg was a unique story, too. I remember flying over Hawkins, Anderson and I were in Detroit. Hawkins famous for being the scout in Sweden and Europe for Detroit all those years. And we went over to watch another guy. Actually, it was a guy the Downers end up drafting. And turned out that we, as a tournament is in Northern Finland, middle of nowhere, and watching this tournament, and there was this small little kid that just. He was a dog chasing the bone. He just was on the puck all the time, and we just liked him. And we left that tournament. I said, you know what, Hawk? You keep an eye on this guy when you go back. He did. And, you know, and it's. It's a funny business, you know, Hawk. And these players, when we were watching them, you know, everybody thinks of the finished product, and they're not. Henry Zedberg at the time was about 5 foot 8, 145 pounds. And you're sitting there trying to project what's he going to turn into. And one day you wake up three years later, they've learned how to work out, they've committed themselves to eating better. Whatever it is, it's. It's human nature, some of it. And it turns out he ends up being 6ft, 185 pounds and a great player. So a lot of things that goes into the. The Drafting and developing of these players and the projection that scouts have to have. And that's the tough part of the business. And it's a special feel that a lot of these scouts have.

[Keith Yandle]

I was just going to say we've talked to GMs in the past where you know, they go from being a scout to player development and kind of being in all those roles and how much it eventually helps when you are a gm, knowing what those guys are going through and like you said, kind of entrusting in them. When you retired, did you know that you were going to jump into being a scout? Is that what you, what you wanted? Like did you. Did you know you were eventually wanted to be a general manager?

[Ryan Whitney]

No. As we all know, we got all different paths we, we follow and stuff. I was with Detroit. The team was really starting to struggle and they were kind of going, starting at the rebuild. This was back in the late, late 80s, 90s. They're going through it. They had a tough year there. And Jimmy devilano came to me, he was a gm. I was playing in Detroit and he asked me if I'd like to go down to Adirondack. That was our farm team, Glens Falls, N.Y. adirondack Red Wings asked me. He thought I had a great. He liked how I handled myself, my leadership. And he said, would you like to go down and get into coaching? And I love coaching. And I thought, you know what, what a great way to start my career. So I went down there with Barry Melrose. Everybody knows who Barry is. Barry ended up, had success natter on deck, then moved on to LA Kings and, and went from there. And then famous TV on espn. But Barry was a great coach. I went down there for two years with him, got into coaching, loved it. And then along came expansion and Mel Bridgman Ottawa Senators Mel Bridgman became the gym. Ottawa Senators. They didn't have a franchise yet. I played with Mel in Detroit both end of our careers. And Mel said, jim, I'm. I've just been hired as a GM of the Ottawa Senators. We don't have a franchise yet, but would you like to come on board And I don't know what role, you know, you got to do some scouting. We had an expansion draft we're gonna have to do if we get a franchise. We didn't even have the franchise yet. Gotta do some amateur scouting for the draft. We got an expansion draft. So I joined Mel and what a great experience. Did everything right from. We didn't have an office yet. We're based out of Kanata. The team I give the team had didn't have a lot of money. I still remember the day they were going to do the presentation to the NHL and Mel called me and said, jim, I don't think we're going to make it. Have you got your expenses in yet? And I said no. He said, get them in because I don't think we're going to make it. They go do the presentation. It was Tampa Bay and Ottawa did the presentation of the league. It was an amazing presentation. I saw the presentation, amazing job. It was Randy Sexton and all those guys did an amazing job. Ended up getting a franchise. Didn't have the money, didn't have the rink. The rink that's out there in Canada now was not out there. And the biggest obstacle of that rink was the funding, but also the infrastructure to build the roads to get into it. It was going to cost like $50 million just to build the roads. So we're like, how are we going to get this money? You know, you got to get government support in that. So just a great experience. I went there for three years with with them. Went through the expansion draft. I went through the amateur scouting. John Ferguson was kind of my, kind of my boss. He was running the thing. And I got so much respect for John. I played for John in Winnipeg and did that for three years. Kenny Holland then got became the assistant GM in Detroit. And Kenny and I played together. He called me and said, I'm looking for a head scout. Would you like to do that? Looked at and said what a great opportunity to go back to Detroit. The rest is history. I got into the scouting a little bit more player development. Kenny became the gm, I became assistant gm and here we are today. So it's amazing how your past go. I love coaching. Other than playing, coaching is the best job in the world. You're there, you're on the bench and stuff. But I had a young family and I really started to enjoy the business side, the contractual side salary cap. I started to really get into that. And here we are today. End up down in Dallas, Texas somehow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You ever think of pulling a Lou lamarillo and and going from the.

[Keith Yandle]

No, I'm down to the divorce on the hot seat.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, no.

[Ryan Whitney]

I told people, don't worry about that. That's one thing I've learned. I probably because I got to coach a little bit. I learned that, you know what, coach. It's a tough job. Coaching is a tough job managing all these players. And I've realized that it's easy to sit up top and criticize, but when you're down in the fire. When I hire my coaches, when I hired Pete Doer, I, I said I'm hiring you to coach the team. That's not, I'm not, you know, we're going to discuss things, we'll discuss players, we'll discuss lineups, but in the end, your call is a final call or I might as well go behind the bench. You know, that's, that's why I'm hiring you. So that's, that's kind of been my philosophy.

[Keith Yandle]

How, how frequent is the contact? Like, are you guys chatting every day about this stuff or like you try to, to give them a little bit of, a little bit of leash and not, not be around them too much?

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm there almost every day. I go down, just drop in. And sometimes, I know, just drop in, say hello, sometimes get into heavy conversation, but I'm around 90% of the time. Sometimes I'm on with scouting, doing things like that. But I'm in communication daily with them pretty well and I think that it's important and I'm really there just for sounding board. You know, as I mentioned, Pete's got to make that final call. But he, he wants input too. He's, you know, it's not easy when you got to sit somebody out or you're going to take somebody off the PowerPoint. He wants my input what I think. And a lot of times he'll also say, hey, can you go talk to the player after I make this decision just to kind of calm the water. So, so we, we work together pretty good that way.

[Biz Nasty]

So 22 years in Detroit and I imagine like with all the mentors you've had, but you and Kenny Holland, it was like these two guys together have just built this dynasty of this team. And it has to do with drafting. And then you look at the O2 team, it was like hash brought in, Brett Hull's brought in. So was it more, do you think Kenny Holland, that that was the biggest thing for you and your relationship with him and helping you grow to where you're at now?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, definitely Kenny, Jimmy Devilano is a big part. And Scotty Bowman, I had three. I went to the University of Detroit hockey school. You're talking Scotty Bowman, one of the best all around coaches there is. And Scotty had, has such a great mind. He still has got a great mind. I see him every time I go down to Tampa and the way he analyzed the game, I really still believe he's the best bench boss in game action coach there is. He was so quick in the way he analyzed things. It was amazing to watch. You know, we'd go into a game, remember we're going into Washington one time, and Washington had a big, tough team. And we go in there and they, they start their top line and who does Scotty Bulma put out there? He puts Igor Larianov, Slava Kozlov and some other little guy out there. And these tough guys look down at Igor and Igor just kind of looks up at him like, what are you going to do? They drop the puck, they keep the puck for about three minutes change, and that's the game, the way they go type of thing. So it just, it's. It's amazing how I don't. People remember when we won, when we beat Philly for the Stanley cup, the big talk that was Eric Lindrose's line, the legion of Legion of Doom and talk was how, you know, who they was going to put. Who's he going to put out against him? You know, we had some bigger with Bob Rose, some bigger, heavier guys. He ends up putting Brian Rafalski and Nicholstromote against those guys. They ran around trying to hit him, never touched the puck. And it just, it ended. We won the series. I think it was four straight, but just the way he thought the game. He just so good in. In game action, how he managed it. So. So it's Scotty Bowman, Jimmy Devolano, hall of Famer. He was a draft wizard out of the, you know, out of. With the New York Islanders, came to Detroit. He really started the franchise, kind of mentored Kenny. And then I got to come on board. I was the. I was the other spoke before I spoke with these guys. So I had a great, some great mentors.

[Paul Bissonnette]

When I think of those old Red Wings teams, you think of a lot of veteran guys and then sprinkled in with some young talent and with how young the league is now. I feel like you've done a great job of bringing in, you know, older veterans and, and keeping guys too, where it seems more nowadays guys are moving off from their veterans, but you know, bringing in Pavelski, keeping, you know, Jamie Ben around for forever. Like, is that something that you think of purposely that you guys used to do in Detroit or it's just how it's. How it's rolling.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I'm a big believer in experience and veteran leadership in that. I think it's so important. It's. It's. The league is getting younger. The NHL it is a young man's league, but it's still, you know, if it's ventured, I don't want to just say veteran or it's. It's a tough league. It's not a kids league. It's still a men's league. And you've got to have. These guys have been through the wars. It's just so important. You know, that's when. When I hired Joe Pavelski, that was kind of my man mindset. You know, I came from Detroit and that's where we. I remember when Scotty brought in Fatisov and he was at the end of his career and I remember we played him the one playoffs and he was struggling. And we go down after the game and talk to Scotty and say, scotty, do you think for Teesas he's going to get. He's not going to make it. He said he'll be all right. He kept playing him and we won the cup. And there's just something that these, the veterans bring, the calming influence, the leadership. Somewhere in a. During the season and in a playoff run, the train's going off the tracks. It's going to happen. You're going to go through and you guys have lived it. You guys have all played the game yet. The trains. The train's off the tracks and you don't think it's going to come back. Those are the guys that put the train back on the tracks. They. It's the things they say. It's the young guys they grab. It's being in the hotel room and grabbing a young kid and taking. Going for a walk and buy him a beer or take him out for lunch or something. Those are the things that a coach and a GM can't do, but a veteran player can do it. And I just think it's so important to have those guys, you know, and the other part I'm big on is the younger guys. They're coming up through their career and it's. They're building a career. They've made money, but haven't made big money and they want points and everything else. And when you get these older guys, all of a sudden it's all about winning.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's not about. Maybe I'm not on the power play as much as I should be. I didn't get any points tonight, but we got the win. It's when you get to the part of your career where the two points for the win are more important than the one or two points you get personally, you know, you got a good team. And that's where you want to get to with the veteran guys. That's what they bring.

[Biz Nasty]

It's so true. And, And. And you just see it. Remembering myself as a young guy, like, oh, look, I had an assist. And you're like, dude, we lost. Like, it. It is.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's.

[Biz Nasty]

It's easier said than done. And I think people hear that and they're like, what the hell? It's all. But you went into talking about, like, Fatisov and maybe going down as the staff and being like, Scotty, I don't know. And it kind of brings up a question for me. I've always wondered. And coaches and GMs have a. Have a. Have a particular relationship, and there's times where GMs want to see a lineup that they like, and then they see a lineup that the coach likes. Like, how do you approach talking about who's in the lineup, what the lines are? Like, is that all in the coaches? Does it have to get really bad for you to go down and say, listen, like, I don't like this guy in his position? Like. Like, that's such a big relationship to have. And how do you take a step away and really give the responsibility to the coach? And when do you step in and say, hey, listen, I'm not seeing this right now?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, no, that's the, that's kind of the daily battle you live. But, you know, I get back to. I have a lot of respect for Pete and his staff, and I got a lot of respect for coaches, period. That's a tough, tough job they're dealing with. They're dealing with 20 to 24 players. Some guys aren't playing, some guys are. Some guys aren't getting the next time they want. But we have healthy discussions and we have our battles. Don't worry. Coaches and I, we have our battles. But in the end, when it's all said and done, they have to make that final call. They're the ones that have to put the player in the ice. And if I tell them, you got to play this guy, they don't believe in it. I'm taking the power of their coaching capability away from them, and I can't do that. They have to have that leverage or the power. They need that power on the bench to be able to say, the player. I got the back in the gym. Here's why I'm sitting out, or here's why you're. You're playing with this guy, whatever. They need that support. So it's healthy discussions, but I think we got a mutual respect and we know that. We'll go at it. But when it's all over and done, you shake hands and say, let's go in. Let's go in tonight and. And move on.

[Keith Yandle]

What was it like being around Stevie? Why? Like, you hear just about his intensity and how stoic he is and just like the respect he commands. Like, it must have been like. Like just witnessing what he was able to do the one year he had. Like, he was playing on one leg. Like, did you marvel at what he was able to do from just an overall perspective?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. No. Stevie's any. He was first of all amazing, amazing player, but he's an amazing person to go with that. I was fortunate. I got to play with him and then I got to be on the management side as he's still a player. And then he got. Then he ended up working with us. He got into his management side, retired and followed Kenny Nas around.

[Biz Nasty]

So.

[Ryan Whitney]

I've had a great relationship with Stevie. I respect him so much, but such a determined athlete.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

It was amazing how he. You talk about in one league. That was the Olympic year that year. And I remember it was, I think 2002, Salt Lake City, and people don't realize Stevie had his pretty well's leg cut off at the knee and they put a new knee kind of on it. They had to change the angle of it and stuff. Never been done before. It was a doctor out of London, Ontario that did it. And amazing what he. What he went through just to come back from that. But then he's playing and he's. He's pretty well in one league and he's. The Olympics are up. He's never played in the Olympics. He wants to go to the Olympics. We're sitting there saying, Stevie, let's take the Olympics off. Let's, you know, we get the playoffs coming up, so let's. Let's take that time off. He. He was going to the Olympics and God bless him, he went there and I think it was Marilynieu and him. They carried that team. That's. That's the year. I think the goaltending, I think it was Balfour or not Joseph and Brodeur, I think they had to make a decision. They started with Joseph, ended up going to Brodeur. Pat Quinn was the coach. There was a lot of controversy going on and. And Stevie and Mario put. Mario was towards the end of his career then too, and they put the team on their back, those two veteran guys, and won the gold for Canada. And then Stevie came Back kept playing. He. He was. He'd fall down and he'd have to use a stick to get back up. He was really on one leg. He was on one leg. And he did that through the whole playoffs. And it was amazing to watch.

[Biz Nasty]

That's an example of a guy you're talking about changing to wins where when you were playing with him, it's 130 points. It's. It's just this offensive wizard. And then you got to witness Bowman, I believe it's been said, like, told him, listen, like, to win a Cup, like, you need to change your game a little bit.

[Keith Yandle]

That.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is that true that you're dead on that. What I just talked about sooner. That was. Stevie was the. He was a 50, 60, 70 goals every year type of thing. One of the leading scores, and Detroit wasn't winning. And Scotty came in and kind of laid the groundwork and, And I don't want to say he, he changed Stevie's game. He made Stevie realize that. And, And Stevie wanted that, too. It's not like Stevie was fighting it. Stevie just needed that direction, and Scotty made him understand that. And away we went and reeled off those four Cups.

[Biz Nasty]

You guys were pretty early with, with, with Europeans and, and I know they, they'd been in the league, but like, there was always this idea of, like, Russians being soft or Swedes being and soft and it's, it's not true at all. But were you hearing that then when all the Russians were coming in, maybe before the Cups and after the 95 sweep, it's like our fans saying, oh, we need some more toughness. And you guys are saying, listen, it's here. Like, was that always to you, the idea of that Russians weren't. Weren't hard players to play against?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, we were more. We were into the skill and we. And now. And now I'm going to talk on both sides of my mouth. We're fortunate we had the Bob Proberts, Darren McCarty's, Gerard Galant's, Harold Snaps, Mel Bridgman. We. We had a lot of guys that weren't. Weren't carrying roses around on their own either. So we had a good mix. And, and I give Scotty credit. Towards the end when we were starting one of those Cups, he brought those guys in. Joey Kosher had retired. He. He had retired from the Rangers, and we were kind of struggling and didn't quite have enough toughness. And up. We ended up calling Joey Kosher in. Scotty had a good talk to him. He brought him back that's the year we beat Philly. Joey Kosher came back. So Scotty, as much as he loved the skill in that, and we all love the skill, he knew there was still another element you needed. And, you know, you look at our fourth line, you know, Joey Koshers, Kirk Maltby, those guys played hard. Chris Draper, you know, Brendan Shanahan, tough as anybody. We, we, we, we had a tough team. You know, Bob Rose, he brought in Bob Rose for that element on the back end. So Scotty had a good feel for that. He needed a real good feel for that.

[Keith Yandle]

You were a nail gun yourself. We were looking up your hockey DB. I think the last year junior, you had 250 PIMs. How are you so calm? Like, you seem like you were like.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Did you just snap when you played?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I, I didn't like, I, I.

[Ryan Whitney]

I didn't like fighting until I got into it. I guess that makes sense. But I didn't like when people took advantage of people. I, I wasn't the type of guy that I'm sitting in the start of the game and saying, okay, I'm gonna go and fight this guy. The guy wasn't that type of fighter. I wasn't big enough to do that. But I, I, I don't like when people take advantage of somebody or somebody's the underdog and somebody takes advantage of that. I, that used to drive me crazy and, but just I was competitive. I had to be. You know, you guys know, to get in the NHL, you got to be competitive. It's about winning battles and, and just do that, and things would happen, and away it went.

[Keith Yandle]

We noticed that you were on the 1980 Canadian Olympic team, so you were there for the Miracle on Ice. And, and Whit mentioned that you guys had lost to the Russians 4, 3 before they went on to play the States.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, no, great, great story. We, we played, we're a bunch of. I, I played junior and my last year, junior David, father David Bauer, was wanting to recreate the Olympic program in Canada again. And so he, they were starting to scout and they saw some guys in junior and stuff and said, hey, you want to go to. That was back in 78. And they said, we're starting the Olympic program over again. It's got to be amateurs. And instead of turning pro, I was drafted by St. Louis. Would you like to go to college for a couple years and try out the Olympic team? And I thought, you know what? When are you ever going to get a chance to do this again? So did that. We were A bunch of college players in Canada. Some guys are junior guys that went to college like I did. Some guys were in college, you know, talking Randy Grigg, Glenn Anderson. We had some good players, you know, Glenn Anderson's in the hall of Fame. Randy. Greg was going to University of Edmonton. He was a doctor. Paul McLean, Tim Waters. We had a. We were pretty good team. But anyways, getting to these. So we're in the Olympics and we played the US Team all the time. That's who we were kind of. That was our kind of exhibition games. And we played them about 16 times. We beat him about 10 or 16. So it. They were good matches, both good teams. But we're playing the Russians. We have to beat the Russians to get into the medal round. We'd lost the game before to the Finns. We lost on an icing call. If we beat the Fins, we're in the medal rounds. We lost to the Fins. Finns had ice the puck. There was a race for the puck. Our goalie came out to handle it and he missed it and went in the net. So now we got to beat the Russians, get in the middle round. Played the Russians, we lost four, three. Trechak was in net. Trecher got yanked against us. And that's why I think it's Michigan, I think, was the other goalie. That's why Michigan played against the US Team.

[Biz Nasty]

So it worked against you guys?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. So that's how that happened. The U.S. beats Russia. Now that wasn't for their gold medal game. They still to go beat. I believe it was the Swedes that beat to win it.

[Biz Nasty]

Finland.

[Ryan Whitney]

Amazing. I tell people, I tell people this story, that 1980 Olympics probably is the reason maybe I'm a GM in Dallas right now. 1980 hockey wasn't big in the US that's Cold War days. There was no hockey in Anaheim's and Florida's and Dallas and stuff. Hockey wasn't big in the US you had the original 60s teams, but it wasn't big, big, big. All of a sudden these young kids play the big Russian monster, beat them and it's in Lake Placid, New York. And bang, they become the. Who are these young guys, these college kids. Hockey got on the map and I, I firmly believe that got hawked. Two things that the US Team winning the gold medal game got everybody in the US Jacked up about hockey and Wayne Gretzky going down, down to la. And I really firmly believe that's why there's hockey now in Anaheim, San Jose, Florida, All Those Dallas that got hockey in the map because it was really just original six teams. It was the New York's, Boston's, a little bit of mini in Chicago. Hockey wasn't big in the US and that 1980, really, with the US team winning, it's probably a good thing they did. I think that changed the landscape of.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hockey in the U.S. do you think being on the ice with those. That. That Russian team and all the lore about that team kind of helped you later on being like, we got to take some of these Russian players. Like, I was on the ice again. They're a different breed here.

[Ryan Whitney]

They. They know they were good. They, you know, you're talking Makarov and Petrov, and so they were unbelievable. They were so good. And it made you understand how just how good they were and how strong they were. They were great, great players, and they are today. All these players.

[Biz Nasty]

We were lucky enough to have on Matty Duchenne recently, and it was a great interview. And he went into, you know, being bought out and the feelings and how, like, blessed he is to be in Dallas now. So take us through. Like, you finding out Nashville was buying him out. How did you immediately know? I want to bring this guy in and. And how. How good has that worked out? I mean, what a season he's having right now for you guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, it's worked out great for us. It. I remember we're getting ready for July 1st, and we got our kind of laundry list. You know, we've got our lists there, and it's the night before. We're getting ready to get up early in the morning, and I get up early in the morning, get to the office, and boom, I started reading the headlines, and Matt Deschenes bought out. And all of a sudden, it changed our direction, which way we're going. I said, you know what? We got to dig in here. We got to see what the options are. So I called his representatives. Yes, it was true. He'd been bought out. I knew Matt had some interest in us. We. We talked to him about five years earlier. I think he was coming out of Ottawa. He was a free agent, and we had talked to him. He had talked about maybe wanting to come down. That's when he signed with Nashville. And we didn't have the cap room at the time to sign him, so he went to Nashville. So I knew there's some mutual interest there. I was fortunate with Team Canada. I worked at World Championships. I had him there on a team and got to know him while there, liked him as A player, you know, his skill levels off the charts. And so I had a relationship a little bit through Team Canada with them, so made the call and even a little bit more relationship when I was talking about Adirondack. It's funny how things all connect down in Adirondack. And Noel Brown was one of our coaches in Adirondack. Well, New Brown is or Matt Deschene's uncle. And I remember Matt talking about how he came down at her on deck. He was about 2 years old and I remember him being on the ice skating and stuff. He was a little tight skating on the ice and stuff. So we talked about that. So it's amazing all the different connections. And so I get back, get back to July 1st, made the call. There was definitely mutual respect and we had to figure things out cap wise and we've been a factor of it ever since.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm wondering, going back to. Because things are, things are really good for, for your team right now. It's a, it's a, it's a great club. Good run last year and I expect the same this year. But, but back to 2018, like hockey kind of the world got lit on fire when, when Jim Lights came out and kind of went at Sagan and Ben a little bit and they were on these long term deals. And how did you approach that? Like I'm. Did you read that and like find out the way we did or did you know he was going to say something? And I guess you can laugh at it now with how good those guys have been. It sucks that Sagan got injured. But just take us through that day when it was kind of crazy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, it was crazy. Yeah. I got the fire extinguisher and I got a great relationship with Jim. Jim and I. Jim and I go back to Detroit days. It's kind of more connections. Detroit used to be the president of Detroit Red Wings. So Jimmy was married to Denise Ilitch and Denise is one of the Illich daughters and stuff. And so he was the president. So I got to know him then actually Jimmy Lights, getting off the topic here, Jimmy Lights was the guy that brought over Klima and Fedorov. He's the guy that got those guys. He, he's got. You ever get a chance read, read the book?

[Biz Nasty]

No way.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's the one that got Klima across the border in a car in a hidden gas tank type of compartment. And he's the guy that got Fedorov over.

[Biz Nasty]

Was that during like World Juniors or something?

[Keith Yandle]

I think he lured or Lured him with Anna Kournikova.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, yeah, it was. It was world Fedorov was world juniors. Klima was just during the time of year he was in Czech Republic. And. And actually a great story. Clement jumped. He was in a team meal. And funny how different connect. So Yuri heard Gina scouts for us. Yuri was on that team and they had a team meal after a game, and they each got one beer and they're having the meal and they looked and there's one beer left. And they said, who in the heck who has a beer? They found notes. It was Peter Klima. He'd gone out the window in another room and was waiting. There's Jimmy Lights and a guy waiting for him to take him across the border. So it's amazing some of the stories on that, but that's. So let's get back to the other part about Jimmy Lights. That's the connection with Jimmy Lights, anyways. And, yeah, Jimmy. Yeah, so that came out. I did not know it was going to happen.

[Keith Yandle]

Did Jamie Ben want to kill him? Like, Jamie Penn seems like a pretty hardcore scary man.

[Ryan Whitney]

They weren't happy, and I. I don't blame them. And, you know, the other side is they weren't playing well. They knew it. And Jimmy was getting frustrated. Ownership was getting frustrated. So those things happen, I think. You know, I've talked to Jimmy. He. He knows he probably went too far with it, but that's the emotions of our game. I guess he was trying to get things rolling and, you know, we dealt with it. I had a good conversation with both players. They understood and they knew they weren't playing well, but they handled it well. Jimmy handled it well, and we've all kiss and made up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I was going to ask you, like, obviously, obviously you can't say recent. Recent stuff, but is there any, you know, big trades maybe from your Detroit days that, you know, fell through last minute that you thought were going to be a monster deal or even something that happened recently, too?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, the big trade for us, I remember was Chris Chelios. That was a big deal. And that was a tough one because Chris, you know, he's been in Montreal, he's a local Chicago guy now. He goes to Chicago Blackhawks. And, you know, Chris, he wanted to be a Chicago Blackhawk for life. And so they were starting to go downhill, Chicago. So we called, see if he's interested in coming to us, talked to Chicago, they talked to Chris, and at first he didn't want to do it, and then he kind of said, you know, what I'm not going to win here in Chicago. You know, they were, they were, they were on the downside. So he said, you know what, maybe I got interest now. We had to get the deal done and we had to resign him. And I just remember that it was, and we had to convince the illicit to, to get on board, it was going to be a financial obligation. Had to convince them to do it. And it was, I think it was two draft picks and another guy, I think it was Anders Ericsson who was a first round pick and something else went to him. So it was a big cost. And, and, and Chris, Chris wasn't 28 at the time. I think Chris might have been. Oh, he's probably 46. Well, probably 50 at the time. But, but it said he was 35. But, but I think he was about 35, 36. So here we're making a commitment to a guy, you know, three year, I think it was a three year deal we signed him to. Giving up all these picks. If this doesn't work out, this is a disaster. Well, history has shown it was one of the best things we ever did. Amazing individual, Chris. I get so much respect for him. You know, people heard the stories, you know, Chris enjoyed life, he enjoys life, still does. But I come to the rink at six in the morning and guess who was in the gym working out. Chris Chelios. And I remember losing in the playoffs. Pittsburgh. We beat Pittsburgh the first year. Back to back finals against Pittsburgh, won the first year, second year we lost. Everybody's decimated. It was game seven. Nick Lindstrom had the one shot flurry, made the great save with about 20 seconds to go. We lost, lost game seven. And I came to the rink the next day. Everybody's just down Ike walk in there and guess what, who's in the gym again? Chris Chelios. It's seven after the playoffs, after the playoffs. He's in there working out and you hear the stories. I still tell people the stories about. I remember coming into our dressing room or workout room and the carpenter is cutting a hole in the sauna. I said, what are you doing cutting a hole in the sauna? He said I got to put a TV in here. He said, well, what are you putting a TV in the sauna for? Well, Chris Chelios puts a bike in the sauna and he'll go in there, ride for an hour in the sauna. He wanted a TV in there while he's riding. So we put a TV in the sauna for Chris Chelice. But he he puts a stationary bike in the sauna, rides it for 45 minutes to an hour. He's amazing, but, but a great guy. Just. Oh yeah, he, he would grab scouts, you know, we'd have exhibition games and fly back home after a game. And he grabbed the scouts, wouldn't tell us. Management wouldn't tell the players. Bring the scouts. He had a Celli's Bar just by the baseball stadium. He'd have Bob Seeger or somebody in there with him and they'd go sit there and play it two in the morning. Playing songs in that. Like, he just an amazing individual, great man. And I got so much respect for him and his family to just a good person.

[Keith Yandle]

I want to go back to Fedorov quick. Like, was that your first time ever experienced. He was kind of like an international superstar. Like I joked about the Anna Kournikova thing, but my understanding he was cruising around in Ferraris getting speeding tickets. Like, was that the first time you'd ever experience a player of that kind of stardom and who also maybe brought that off the ice? Not, not your prototypical hockey player, I guess.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he was one. Yeah, that was him. He, he had, he had the flare tune. Flare on the ice and flare off the ice. He did, he had, he had high end cars in that. Like you see, he had the Ferraris and that's how he lived his life. And you know, no secret, but Anna Kournikova, you know, dating her and that, but also interesting. A real quiet guy. When you got to know him, he had this flair to him. But when you really got to know him and sit down with him for a lunch or something, really a quiet, humble guy. And it was just kind of a little bit of his makeup coming from Russia, you know, kind of what he created or he, or around him he created. But what a player. Could he skate and handle it? Well, I remember the one year Scotty, Scotty played him on defense for half the year we were. Our defense was a little bit weak. And he said, I'm gonna put Federoff back there. And he'd go back there and back in those days, that's when the icing, you know, you couldn't ice the puck back then, you know, two line pass and all that. And so everybody had that neutrozone trap set up. Well, Fedorov, he just tic tac through there. He had no problem. He broke that trap down like it was. There was nothing to it going through pylons. And he was an amazing player. Play forward, play defense. Anywhere you wanted to, could you see.

[Keith Yandle]

Him as an NHL head coach?

[Ryan Whitney]

That I did not see. Yeah. You know, when you. I know he's coached in Russia and done a great job. He's been coach of the year over there. I did not see that. But he's done a great job. I. I been over there and talked to him and seen him and stuff, and he loves it. He's got a passion for it. And like I said, we all got different paths and that's. He's found his path.

[Keith Yandle]

Do you think that would transition over to the NHL? Do you think you could see him behind the bench of an NHL team?

[Ryan Whitney]

I do now. Yeah. Now after seeing what he's done in Russia.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. He's done a great job. And yet this all about the passion he's got. You know, he's. He's adjusted. He's, you know, it's a different. It's a work ethic now, too. You know, you go from being a player and coming practicing for two hours and going home, now you're a coach and you're there for six, seven hours a day. And he does that. He puts in the time. So good for him.

[Biz Nasty]

What was it like negotiating and I know it was Kenny Holland, but yourself with Pavel Datsuk and like, Fred Hall's talked a lot about one of the best players he's ever seen. And like, I've talked about seeing him off the ice. You're like, who is this guy? And he's just like bent over, but as a guy and negotiating with him, was it easy and simple and. And I guess watching him play night in and night out, you must have been just as amazed as anyone else.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Pavel's a great, great player and actually a better person. He's the most humble, one of the most humble people I know and a good family man. He's unbelievable. Got to know him. I was, you know, one of the guys that was hawking Anderson. And then we drafted him, brought him over and he was kind of. I remember picking him up the airport with my two kids, you know, didn't speak any English. And we built a great relationship and still are today. We still keep in touch and just a great man. But he was. He was tough. He knew what he wanted. Negotiations, he was tough. He knew what he wanted. But. But once the negotiations were over with, he moved on and it's time to go play. I still. I'll tell a little story about. He held out a little bit in one of the training camps, and so he came in later to training camp, we finally got him signed. It was, it was a battle. I talked about those tough negotiations. So he's got to get his, his medical done. So our teen doctors got to do the medical and stuff. And he, he puts the stethoscope on his heart to listen to it. And Pavel says, what do you hear, doc? And doc says, well, it's beating pretty good. He said, no, no, you hear ching, ching, ching, ching.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yes, that's, yes, that's Pavel's sense of humor. That's Pavel.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's. He had one of the best sense of humor. He still does. Just a great sense of humor and just a good man. But that's, that's who he was. He had the best one liners going. He, he would, I love to watch him around the media. He'd, you know, come in, the media come in to get him and stuff. They'd be all around him and stuff and he, he wouldn't understand the word English. No understand, no understand. And then he'd walk out of the room and he'd start blabbing to the players, as good English as anything.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah, typical Russians. Malcolm was the same. Oh, hey, you got to dump it in. You can't try to go one on one against the guy. Me no speak English? Yeah, no speaking or car related. He's fluid to transition it back to Dallas. Like, what do you think this team needs in order to get over the hump? Like, the west is just so tight. Like, what do you think this team needs in order to get the job done?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, you know, I'm going to be patient here. You know, I got to be careful. You know, people always hear you'd like to get things done earlier. I think we'd all like to, but right now the market's not dictating that. You know, you look at the eastern standings and you got six or seven teams are pretty well cemented in. You got another six or seven teams are all within four points of each other. So in the past, a lot of those teams would be sellers. You'd be talking to them right now. They might be buyers. Those teams right now, you know, they're for these teams that have been in the playoffs for two, three, four, five, six years to make the playoffs so important. And these teams are playing well. You know, you're talking about the Montreals, the Ottawas, the Detroit's, the Phillies. These guys, they're in a battle. So that market right now is kind of standstill. Which way are they going to go? I don't know. So. So I don't know what the market is. I've got to wait, you know, if I use my bullets up too early and all of a sudden I get two or three injuries first of March, I got nothing left to go get something I need. So we're going to be patient. We've been very fortunate. I talked about we had seven young kids, first year guys in the lineup the other night. They're getting better, they're getting experience every night. It's the best thing for us. And so to get back to what I need, I think I need to add depth in both positions. I'd like to add a forward if I can get a top nine forward, one or two top nine fours just to add some good depth. Depth. Can I add another defenseman? We'll wait and see where we are injury wise. We just brought Liam Bishell up. Our young. He's a young Swiss kid who's a first round pick of ours three years ago. Been playing great for us. We brought him up for about 10 games, sent him back down just to get some more experience. He's coming back up now. He's 6 foot 6 and really changes your back and quick. I want to Pete and I want to get a good look at him now. Let's see where he's at. Has he taken that next step? If that happens, I get less worries on the back end. So just, I just want to add some depth. Bike dad made a little bit of size. Now I say that I'm bringing Bishell in. He's 6 foot 6. Mason Marchman's been injured for the last six weeks. He's coming back. He's 6 foot 4. Rupee Hintz has been injured. He's coming back. He's 6 foot 3. So your size changes kind of quick. But really, I guess to answer really that just adds some depth. Top nine forwards and maybe on the defense. You can never have enough defensemen. But I need to wait until I get to end of February 1st of March, see what our injury situation is.

[Biz Nasty]

You brought up Mason Marchman. I was actually going to ask about him. Three years ago you signed him. He spent a lot of time in the minors including the East Coast Hockey League, wasn't drafted. And I think every good team has guys outperforming their contract and he's making four and a half. It's wild. Did you know when you signed him like, like that this guy could, could be better than, than the deal we're getting him for that. What we're paying him because the, the skill with the puck, the size he plays mean, it's like I didn't even know that much about him. And he's come on these last two years in Dallas kind of crazy.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's a great story and he's a good story for younger players that either don't get drafted or get drafted late. And got a time spent time in the east coast league and in the minors and worked away up. That's has been his path. He hardly played junior hockey. He was playing the ohl. Hardly played there really. Got a tryout probably because a little bit of his dad's name got a tryout with Toronto Maple Leafs. They bring him in, mentor him a little bit. We were fortunate to play against him. Our team down in Austin played in the finals against Toronto the one year they beat us. But he was involved there and he played well. Then Florida signs him, they actually trade for him. He's in part of a trade and end up ends up signing to Florida for a couple years and then became a free agent. And we had a good rapport. Steve Spots knew him well. Pete knows him well. I, I played with his dad actually I'm an agent myself and I played with his dad way back in Winnipeg. He was the first round picker, Winnipeg. So knew a little bit about him but he, he's come in and got to give credit to the player. He's, he's developed his skills. He's always, he's always had the size, his skating's got better. He's got great hands for a big man, great hands and he's learned to manage his game. He's always lived on the edge a little bit. Nothing wrong with that. You need that on your team. But sometimes he's on the edge too far the wrong way. He's managed to bring that back to where it should be and he's a tough guy to play against. And when we started the year it was Deshayne Sagan and him might have been one of the best lines in the league. They were unbelievable. You know, unfortunately Sagan got hurt and then Marchman got hurt. But they've been a real good combination for us.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, it's time for the Roback. Last question. Use code [e-mail] for 20% off your first purchase. That's C H I C L E T S on R H O b a c k.com 20% off all hoodies, joggers and more with code Chiclets. Jim, my last thing for you is all those years In Detroit, you're a part of this team that's building this dynasty. And I think people always wondered, like, how has he not been given a GM job yet? Like, it took a while, and now you've been in Dallas 13 years. But was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Was.

[Biz Nasty]

Were you ever wondering, like, when am I going to get the call to be a gm? Because I've done a lot in Detroit with the help of all these guys. But was it longer than you thought? You'd have to wait to be the head honcho when you look back, maybe.

[Ryan Whitney]

I interviewed for a couple jobs and, you know, when you're younger, I look back and this is good for now that I'm an older guy. It's the old wisdom story type of thing. Here I go. So probably the best thing that ever happened to me, not getting those jobs. Yeah, I probably wasn't ready. I look back now and I. Those jobs ended up being disasters for the guys that took them. And I'm sitting there saying, that could have been me and I might have been out of the business. And so in the end, I was probably the best thing for me. I was fortunate. Great ownership in Detroit, they didn't want me to leave. We had a good thing going there. Why leave? Type of thing. And ilha's compensating me very, very well. We're winning. And I get back to, I was fortunate all those years, the people I was around and what I learned from. So I knew my time was going to come a little bit. It was a family thing. I had young kids. My wife had some health issues. And so it's kind of like, you know what? When you're a player, your wife's got to follow you everywhere. Now I. Here I am, I'm still in the business, and I'm sitting there saying, you know, what she sacrificed for me. I think I need to. To be a little bit. Considered her, too, which we. Which as a family, we did. And. But then this opportunity came along. She's the one that said, we gotta go. I was sitting there saying, becky, I don't know if my wife's name is Becky. I'm like, I don't know if we should be going. She said, we're going. Here we are.

[Biz Nasty]

So, wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

Got the blessing from her.

[Biz Nasty]

It's been an amazing career for you. I wish you all the luck and congrats on all your success. It's a really cool story and people speak so highly of you. I could see why. So. So thanks for coming on the show and good luck the rest of the season.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. It's a pleasure to be with you guys and appreciate everything you guys do.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, thank you so much, Jim. Appreciate your time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Thanks a lot, Jim. Appreciate it.

[Biz Nasty]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Biz Nasty]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Biz Nasty]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Biz Nasty]

Thank you so much to Jim Nell. Awesome interview. I hope everyone enjoyed that. I mean, it's, it's, it's just really cool that G just mentioned. He said, hey, I want to get a wing, I want to get a top six winger. I want to grab a defenseman. And boom. Since we chatted with him last week, he went out and did that and he did mention, like, how all these teams in the east are involved and maybe he kind of had his eyes on like another guy, but he knew, like, hey, all these teams aren't selling Audi. So I'm gonna go get, get Grandlin, who's an awesome player and get cc. So pretty cool. And, and he also talked a lot of. What did he say? Biz The University of Detroit Hockey.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, man, they had so many legends of the game. I mean, the people that he was surrounded with, like, just him even talking about Datsuk and Zetterberg, Stevie Wise, like, dedication and willingness to win. The. The pain that he went through. You know, remember they. I think they tried to tell him, hey, take the Olympics off. And he's like, are you out of your fucking mind? Played the Olympics on one leg and then goes on to win a Stanley Cup. So. So just I couldn't imagine being around those teams for that long and just absorbing that much hockey knowledge and being around those legends of the game. And kind of cool that Detroit in the. In the midst of. Since we've interviewed him, have really taken off as well since the coaching change.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, they are buzzing. And the other thing he said too, that was awesome, is when we asked him about, you know, not becoming a GM for quite a long time, like, him bringing up his family and how important it was. Like, that's so cool. Like, it's not always about, like, chasing what.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What.

[Biz Nasty]

What's better. Chasing the. Chasing the dollar. Like, he was just very happy where he was. He. He loved where he was and he wanted to be there for his family. You don't hear that that often in pro sports, but, yeah, biz, you bring up the Red Wings and I guess, you know, for them to go out and make that move, right? And they. They get a new coach and. And he comes in and he's talking, play hockey. Guys play hockey. And they have taken off, like, dude, they just had a road trip. They beat Edmonton, they beat Vancouver. Like, like, it's just great hockey that I don't think a lot of people saw coming. I. I know that, like, you saw the skill. And I didn't know Lucas Raymond was this good. And Dylan Larkin has been an absolute steal. His contract biz. The fact we spent a couple episodes before he signed that deal, like, talking about what he's worth, like, he's worth way more than what he signed for. He ended up looking like it's going to be a great bargain. But I think Cider and Edmondson and the way Lyon and Talbot have both played in a tandem, I think that might be a worry going forward and into the playoffs. But right now they are proving a lot of people wrong who writ that wrote them off as the season began and got into the middle of the year.

[Keith Yandle]

Yance. I was pretty critical of their secondary scoring last time we had a chance to talk to him. I think that was around the time they made the coaching change, and since then they've had a few guys come on the scene. Like that Casper kid's pretty nasty and that Bergen kid. So the fact that they have these kids starting to come in and contribute offensively, taking a little bit of pressure off those big guys that we've talked about who have been lugging the mail there a long time, but you're starting to see it come through and how fitting at the fact when they make that coaching change. Stevie, why does the press conference. And he's like, listen, like, I get that this is taking a little bit longer. Now all of a sudden you're seeing the momentum starting to build, right? And. And you just mentioned the cap and these contracts. Like, there's a lot of positive things happening in, in Hockeytown right now. Chandelier.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I still think of those young guys like Cider and Raymond as young bucks. Like, they're still getting their feet wet in the league, and I think what they've done this year is proving why they got those contracts. You know, you look at the minutes, the last six games, I think Siders played either 25 minutes or above every single game and just lugging the mail for them and just being that horse that you. You need on the back end to win games. Plus player in the. In in their last six games with their. With in their win streak. And then Lucas Raymond, same thing. He's been on an. He's been on a heater playing tons of minutes. So I think when you look at a team like that and they're young guys, when they start to play more minutes, that just means they're getting more trust in their coach and their GM and the other players, because you can't lean strictly on Larkin and Kane and, you know, your veteran guys all year, you need those young guys to come up. And just because they're making that big money doesn't mean that, you know, they're going to do it every game, but they're finding their stride in this league. And I'm going to say watch out for those two, because I think what really sticks out for me is the minutes played by them. And that's just. I mean, we all know how it is. The more you play, that just means the coaches are trusting you, your teammates are trusting you, and you're getting out there, you know, almost every other shift and putting in the work. But what you touched on a little bit with the goaltending and, you know, you think back a couple years ago when Florida needed to, you know, win some games, to get back on and the Lion King came in and, and you know, won them games to get in and I think he might have even started the playoffs for them. Right against the Bruin. Yeah. And then Bob took over but, and then I, I played with Talbs in, in, in New York in the year that we won the President's Trophy. Hank got hurt and Talbs came in. He was unbelievable. And there was, was, you know, kind of some talks like do we just stick with, with Talbs here? But obviously when you have a Hall of Fame goalie in, in the waiting to get his turn again, you're going to give it to him. But I think two capable guys that can, you know, get you wins. Talbs I think has won four games in the last six and Lions won two. So you, you, you put that, you know, that you know, duo together, you're gonna give yourself an opportunity to win every night.

[Keith Yandle]

They were pretty respectable defensively with Lalon, but ever since McClellan's took it over and you go back to his comments about just play, just play, it seems like the offense is a little bit more free flowing so kind of freeing them up from a win category. But I looked before the pot, I think both guys are over a nine, ten save percentage and just around a two and a half goals again. So to have a one, two punch, that's putting those type of numbers up, giving them a chance to win every night.

[Biz Nasty]

I think cider too. Like you're, you're looking at one of the best young defensemen in the league and, and what he's doing response, like responsibility wise, he's on pace for 50 points. I mean like this guy, he's a monster. He can skate, he's mean, he, he is the complete package. Still remember when he was drafted, I think a lot of people were like who, who's this? What is this pick? And holy shit, is this guy gonna be a force for a long time. I think the, the bad news, Petrie's out four to six weeks. That sucks, right? A guy who could, you know, he's older but he could still move, he could still play big minutes. The best news out of Detroit recently though for me is Dominic Shine getting called up. I don't know if you guys saw this, but kid From Detroit, he's 31 years old, played four years at Northern Michigan in the past nine seasons. He was on the Grand Rapids Griffins and he got called up to play for his Hometown team at 31. Like that is like so sick. I mean dude, you play 67 years for the same team in the AHL. I don't know the odds, I don't know the math, but the chance of making the NHL is just really, really small. And he stuck with Grand Rapids nine years, then ends up being up with Detroit as a local. Detroit kid. Awesome story there. So very happy for him. Congratulations on making it to the National League.

[Paul Bissonnette]

One of the first guys to play his first game and have a bunch of kids there. You know, his whole family. He had like two kids.

[Keith Yandle]

It's like, whoa, holy spam reunion.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was awesome. Good for him.

[Keith Yandle]

Before we move on and. And we talked about JT at the beginning of the podcast, Grinnell reminded us of a story that you told us when we were in Orlando about you around with J.T. miller in his car.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, the Porta Potty we used to call his car. He had like a. A Durango, this guy, but just a tr. He was a true, true hillbilly when he came into the league.

[Keith Yandle]

Those are brutal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Horrible. Yeah. Substitute teacher car. But yeah, no, he. It was the year end meetings and you know how it goes. Like, the names on the list is usually by games played. And I was probably at the time say, like seventh or eighth on the list. I get to the rink and like, rick Nash, Marty St. Louis, they're all waiting outside the GM's office. I'm like, why aren't you guys in there? Like, oh, Millsy's in there. And he was a rookie, but he. He was like, I had to go home. So his car was run in the parking lot. So I jumped in the car, packed to the gills with all this stuff. He was ready to go home, get in his car, drive it down the street, leave it on the road. And Hazy comes and picks me up. Hazy comes and picks me up, drives me back. So we go into the. He comes out of his meeting, hoping to get on the road, get back to East Palestine, Ohio, and he's like, where the hell, dude? Where's my car? And then, yeah, it delayed him a few hours, so he learned his lesson.

[Keith Yandle]

Where is he from in Ohio?

[Biz Nasty]

East Palace, Ohio.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, I thought you were just joking. Like, call it like Palestine. Like, it, like, it was like that rough. A shame I didn't know that was an actual place. I was laughing when you said that. I thought you were around with where he's from. I thought he was from Pennsylvania.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's like on the border, I think.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay. Of all, actually. Yeah. Because where I was in Wheeling, West Virginia, like, you could go. You could be in Pennsylvania and Or Ohio within like a, like a 20 minute radius or whatever it was.

[Biz Nasty]

What a dream.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that's funny. Shit.

[Keith Yandle]

Just three.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The spring triangle.

[Keith Yandle]

Unreal states, guys.

[Biz Nasty]

Another team humming along and just spitting in our face. The New York Islanders, they cannot be stopped right now. They've won seven in a row.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, they lost last night.

[Paul Bissonnette]

New York, D'Angelo.

[Keith Yandle]

They lost last night to, to end the streak. Oh, sorry, sorry.

[Biz Nasty]

They had won seven in a row. You're right, you're right. And, and not only did the streak end, but Barzal's out. Lower body injury. Kick in the dick for the Islanders, but kind of shocked to see them turn it around now. I, I, I think it's fair to say that most teams, you know, you're not talking San Jose and Chicago, but even them, sometimes even the really bad teams, like you can go on little runs. Runs. Seems like everyone throughout the season has, has a little 10 game stretch where they're 8 and 2 or something like that. So I don't know what this means for the Islanders future. The problem is I, I think this is worst case scenario. If Lou's like, all right, we got a squad here, we got a chance. We're not trading Nelson. We're not trading anyone. It's like, no, no. And I, I wonder where Islanders fans maybe, maybe hop in on the, on the comments on the YouTube, like, what do you, where do you want this team to go? Like, are you down with like, like stripping this all down and figuring everything out? Or are you like, let's give it one more go here with this older group. But this just makes these decisions for Lou Lamorillo that much tougher.

[Keith Yandle]

I kind of wish that he would keep them and go down with the ship. Like, that's what I'm hoping happens. But I think if you're, you're thinking from a futuristic standpoint, you can't, you can't keep him. You need to get assets. Especially if Barzel, how, how long is he out for? Week to week? I mean, if you're losing him for like two, three weeks, man, you gotta imagine it gets a little gray again and you gotta get some stuff in return and look towards the future, man. Like even just watching this team play. Oh, like I think the Bruins are boring to watch now. Like, they're even worse. You're just waiting for something to happen. Waiting for something to happen and nothing ever does. Hey, congrats on a great run. You know, I feel like Tony D anything. You mean like the laughing at the six game stretch? Yeah. Congrats. Get him a banner. But you know, sometimes when you bring in a new guy like Tony D, I heard he's a hilarious locker room guy, so it provides a little bit more life, but you gotta, yeah, you gotta look towards the future and just fucking implode this team and start getting more exciting. Hockey being played.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You think they would move Tony? I mean, he's played, he's played. Well, if they're, If Lou's thinking, you know, you gotta. If they're gonna trade Nelson, you might as well trade Tony to a contender. Right.

[Keith Yandle]

I think that now that Islanders kind of absorb the media circus, or if that's what you even want to call it, I feel like there's a little bit of an uproar because it's Tony D. Now that, that's over and done with, now it's a lot easier for them to move him or for a team to be more receptive to adding them to the roster. I was shocked that not more teams were willing to do it. But you think that since one team kind of took the. Would you not agree with that? Like, I don't exactly think after the Mitchell Miller situation and some of the stuff the Bees have done in the past, they would have been the first guy to sign him even if they needed them. Like, do you agree with what I'm saying here? Witty?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, some teams do not want that. Like the headache that comes with. With signing a guy who like Vancouver.

[Keith Yandle]

Needed a D. I don't think they were going to get Tony D. I don't think they were prepared for that.

[Biz Nasty]

No. That. That was not going to happen. I'm looking at the Islanders, like Horvat and Anders Lee lead the team in scoring with 39 points. It's like, like they've played 51 and 52 games. Like in current NHL. It's like your leading scores.

[Paul Bissonnette]

2006.

[Keith Yandle]

Welcome to the Big deal Selects.

[Biz Nasty]

That's Noah Dobson. Needs a new contract. Like he 70 points last year. He's got 25 this year. I don't know what he's going to want. A boatload of dough because he's going to finish this year around 40. And then you got. You got 110 points the last two years. It's like, like he could, he could ask for $9 million.

[Keith Yandle]

So like I think if you pay him 9 a year, you're out of your goddamn mind.

[Biz Nasty]

I know it's just such a.

[Keith Yandle]

No disrespect to him and I know it's an off year and, and, and congrats on your 70 points. But that comes with a lot of liability in my opinion, especially from, from this year standpoint. Like defensively it's been a bit of a cluster. At least at the, at least, at least at the start of the year.

[Biz Nasty]

It was God, their, their leading scorers ages Horvat, 29, Anders Lee, 34, Paul Mary, 33, Nelson and 32. That's Simon Holst, Simone Holstrom or whatever. He's 23. But then JG Pageau 31. It's an old club there, boys. It's an absolute old, old club there. Like these guys, they're going back to the cellar, having a whiskey and just like talking about all their kids. And it's a little different, a little different being around the Islanders, an old team. But shout out New York, you've played well. You've played well. Ever since we chirped your, your building being half empty. Biz mentioned the possibility and I think this would be fantastic of a battle of Ontario and that's because the Ottawa Senators guys, holy shit. Actually before we get into Ottawa, they put a beat down on Minnesota shellacking six nothing. Ryan Hartman, I think he might have an in person hearing. Check that G. He slammed or you know, he pushed Stutzel's head into the ground off of a face off. Did you see the play Biz or Keith?

[Keith Yandle]

No.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay. So I was, I was looking for opinion Gee, maybe send them the video. I, I, I've been reading like the league's gonna throw the book at him. I, I guess it does look like dirty's pushing his head down. But like I don't know, I didn't think like right when I saw it. Yeah, he got an in person hearing. I didn't think when I saw it like holy, that's a seven game suspension. But, but it sounds like everything I'm reading he's going to get a long suspension. Wondering what you guys think about that. But Getting to Ottawa 72 and 1 in their last 10 pounded the wild like I said. And the team actually announced next year they're doing two preseason games in Quebec. And I know Michael is having a.

[Keith Yandle]

Difficult time with the government right now and I think these are threats, Biz.

[Biz Nasty]

I think they're kind of like, like tariff threats. Let's hope not. Fuck these tariffs. Holy shit. What the fuck Trump? What are you doing, buddy? But Ann Lauer, he didn't close the door for more games in Quebec in the future. And their mascot was actually wearing a half Senators, half Nordique's jersey at the press conference, Senators fans were losing their mind. I think, I think sense fan to see the team right now sitting in a spot in the Atlantic, top three spot in the Atlantic, finally winning games. And I guess though, as the owner, you're not getting help with this new arena. It's almost like, hey, here's what I could do. Like I can, I can move this team. I don't know if he actually could.

[Keith Yandle]

Hey, thanks for your patience fan base, and thanks for driving 30 minutes out to Kanata. We're gonna get you the half and half jersey on our mascot as a thank you. That's a kick in the dick. And this comes, this comes like a week after the Toronto Maple Leafs fans sold out your lower bowl in Kanata. So tough times and a bit of a distraction off the ice per se, considering what they got going on on the ice. But listen, if you're an Ottawa Centers fan, you just have to be thrilled that you're back in the playoff mix and not even a wild card right now. Like you're top three in the fucking division and looking at a Battle of Ontario first round matchup, which would be fucking awesome. I would invite that because I feel like, I feel like that that would be a, probably a six game series that would favor the Toronto Maple Leaf.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So it won't be the Battle of Ontario though. They're playing the postseason in Quebec.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, imagine Quebec loses. The Nordiques and the Aves just go on to win Stanley Cups and then got the Sens. And then the Sens went on a run. Poor Senators fans. I know we're really, we're really reaching here, but you never know. And I get an Lauer because after playing against the Senators, you're driving out there in a cornfield. You're like, what am I doing? Like, like get an arena downtown. Ottawa is a beautiful city. Get some life down there. Like I, I don't, I, I don't know. Sense fans let us know. Like you want an arena downtown, correct?

[Keith Yandle]

Oh yeah. They need something down there.

[Biz Nasty]

How could you not like get that?

[Ryan Whitney]

Get.

[Biz Nasty]

It's the capital of Canada, baby. Get that place buzzing with an arena down there and a team that's on the rise. I think the craziest thing about what Ottawa is doing right now is that it's all without Linus Olmark. This, this Levi Merlenen, this guy's on fire right now. 925 save percentage. 831 and a 199 goals against. It's crazy to see that they've been able to do this. But you know what? They've finally been healthy. Right? Like they all these years they've had all these different injuries, the Josh Norris injuries. It's just been so hard for them to get a fully healthy lineup. And then it seems like, knock on wood, they're getting lucky. One guy's going down now. Sorry, Nordique Senators. But, but Stutzel's an unreal player. I mentioned his contract. What a joke that is. You got Bathurst severely underrated. I'm kind of just going down the points. Kachuk went through that really dry spell. He's come out of that. It's an exciting team. And I think Jake Sanderson fun as hell to watch him play. It's just finally nice to see Ottawa like it was biz. They, they might have been the captains of the Viagra Viagra triangle.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, no doubt. I mean, you talked about health. I, I, I read off that stat at the beginning of the year. The amount of games that like Stutzel, Batherson and Norris had played together, their winning percentage was through the roof. But they, the problem is, is not all of them. All three of them were healthy at the same time. So you just mentioned that mix. I think that with Shabbat, having your love child now there and helping him out from an offensive standpoint has helped. You know, it's relieved a little bit of pressure off of him. I don't think that Shabbat was that number one guy. And that's no disrespect to him. Like, that's a tough role. I think that that's, like I said, helped alleviate a lot of that. Not only offensive pressure from him, but just like from a, you know, matchup and having to play. So it's been, it's been Brady Tkachuk went on a bit of a dry spell there. He seems to look a little bit more like himself offensively. But, yeah, this team was just poised to make a little bit of a run and finally get things clicking. And it seems like Travis Green has him playing and playing the right way. I think that that coaching staff's done a great job and getting them all on the same page. And you're seeing the result of it now. Once they get all Mark back, man, and if he's kicking, I get a little nervous.

[Biz Nasty]

What's so nice is like all Mark, who's battled injuries in the past, like, you got no rush right now. Like, this kid is playing so good. It takes so much pressure off. I'm not gonna say like the training Staff, but the team as a whole to not be like, dude, we need you back. We need you back. We need you back. It's like, like, hey, get healthy. Get. Then we can really ease you in with the way this kid's playing. They're going on the road now. They had some success at home. Like, you want. You want to finish top three in the Atlantic? You want to be able to continue this, like, go win some games on the road? You got to be able to perform when you're away from your building in beautiful Kannada and those beautiful cornfields in that one Italian restaurant that we all had to go to. Great. It was the only restaurant and it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Was queue right across the park.

[Keith Yandle]

I think they had moxies too, didn't they?

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, buddy, you were going there for the. For the women. I mean, we're looking for a nice Italian meal. We're going to the strip mall in Kanata and we're walking across for a blizzard after Oreo blizzard every single time. Although some people love the Reese's.

[Keith Yandle]

You never went to the Moxies, you idiot.

[Biz Nasty]

I was the Italian place. Every time, baby. Every time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Biz you can farm as long as your arm.

[Biz Nasty]

What's that resort you stay at? It's like the one nice.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Brook Street. Street. Brook Street.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, it's just all the parking lots of street. They have a. They have 13,000 parking spots. There's like six cars that are there.

[Biz Nasty]

We didn't play. We played them in the playoffs in Pittsburgh and like, remember, like Terry and say, hey, you know, make sure you're staying around here. And it's like, where are we going to go, bud? We're not going anywhere. Like, this is the Brook Street Inn we're talking about. We played. What was the game? We played. George Larocque bought the whole team on the PSPs. What was that game?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, Call of Duty.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, my God. So hours and hours and hours. Just a junkie for Call of Duty on the PSP all time move. George the Rock bought everyone. I think he bought like 15 PSPs in the game. So just battling that out.

[Keith Yandle]

He bought him with the money he won off Junior for the lava cake bets. Were you around in AZ when they were doing those?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. He used to race anyone, too. George the Rock straight ahead. He would race anyone for any amount of money.

[Biz Nasty]

I took him down.

[Keith Yandle]

You did?

[Biz Nasty]

I took him down, buddy. If we had had five more yards of ice, like, I could hear him coming like a buffalo behind me. I was like, like, I. I got a big lead off. The start, and then it was just. I was listening. Thank God Terry was out there at the end. He was like the final, like, line judge guy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then I won. And he's like, no, he won.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then I came in and I was like, grabbing my quads. I'm like, how about these calves, boys? Couldn't even call it the correct muscle because I didn't have one.

[Keith Yandle]

Outside of your golf cart? Yeah. Did you ever have a teammate buy you a gift?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, actually Cujo bought us all those PSPs probably around the same time. And we used to play on the plane. And then I got a watch for my thousandth game and the. In the golf cart.

[Keith Yandle]

Holy spoiled geez.

[Biz Nasty]

That's nice.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But I will say that just to get back to Brady Tkachuk, like young guys, take some notice of what he did when he was struggling a little bit. Did he stop running guys through the wall? No. Did he stop fighting? No. Did he bring the heat every game?

[Biz Nasty]

Yes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And just what an ultimate teammate. A guy that is a captain through and through. And you look back at, you know, if they make the playoffs this year, you look back at his stretch of games where he wasn't playing as well as he thought so but. Or thought he could, and you're like, you know what? Brady still brought 100% every single shift, and. And that's what leaders do, and that's why he's one of the best in the league.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. That's like, people put such an emphasis on points, but like you said, like, how can you. How can you make an impact when. When maybe that's not part of your game and that's lacking. And completely agree with you, Yanz. And I'm looking forward to him and Matthew playing together at the Four Nations. Like, when's the last time? I mean, when's the last time Brady Chuck played meaningful games at the pro level? Never played a playoff game before. Right?

[Paul Bissonnette]

So never.

[Keith Yandle]

And now he gets to play with his brother and go against Team Canada. Billy G. Just did an interview recently.

[Biz Nasty]

So the Bash Brothers.

[Keith Yandle]

The Bash Brothers are back.

[Biz Nasty]

I was actually surprised. We'll get into that in a little bit, Brandon. Sod. Guys, I respect the hell out of this move. Doug Armstrong told him, hey, listen, you're going down to the minors and you're going to make 5 million bucks down in the minors. And he said, please get rid of the contract. That's. Guys, everyone listening. That's how bad the AHL is. When you've been in the NHL that long. This guy, he's given back prorated 5 million the rest of the year to just not go down to the jungle. And I. I really respect it. I get St. Louis, like, not in the plans. We're going younger. They've been struggling lately, too, but. But this guy said, no, I still think I have a lot of game. And he goes out and Vegas picks him up. After the contract was terminated, Vegas decides to sign him. And I think he's going to make a difference. I don't know where he'll fit in in the lineup, but, like, that is. I mean, he's made a bunch of money, right? So it's. It's not the end of the world. But most people, like, you're going down to the AHL and you're collecting your dogs.

[Keith Yandle]

True cap circumcision. He literally cut it off.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, he cut off the paycheck.

[Keith Yandle]

That's true. That's the truest form of cap circumcision. So the Vegas Gold Knights back at it. I think he's just one of those guys when put with the right line, like, he. It's like verhagi, like, streaky. Like, he. Like, he could be a guy in playoff who ends up having 10 goals for you. I know he. And. And. And also one of those guys. It feels like with playing with the house's money, he's got, what, two cups? He went two cups with Chicago.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Two. Yep.

[Keith Yandle]

Like, he's just like, the moment's not too big for him, so it's almost like it, like, the game slows down for him in that situation. So this could end up paying huge dividends and not a big risk. So ballsy move by him to leave a little bit of money on the table. But as you said, those soggy subs are not very good down there.

[Biz Nasty]

No, dude, you think of that. You think of that 11am Kids game where Spongebob's peer like, I ain't going down there, boys. I ain't going down there.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, bring your pet parakeet to the game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, I just. I just think for him, it's like, it's been 10 years since he's won a cup. Obviously he's won two. And I think there's no amount of money that can, you know, persuade you from not wanting to give yourself a chance to win. And I think he made it clear to them he wanted to go to a contender, and obviously he's a, you know, a good guy. So they took care of him and were able to, you know, do what they did, and he. He gets to Have a chance to win another cup. And I think it just goes to show you how much winning means to, you know, these guys in the league where, you know, he hasn't. He's won two cups, but it's been 10 years and you know he wants another one bad.

[Keith Yandle]

So how much did he leave on the table exactly with like, given the proration and what he's going to make.

[Biz Nasty]

And so he signed 1.25 prorated it was at what, 5.4525. So I don't know.

[Keith Yandle]

At least a million and a half.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Yeah, probably. G says via daily face off he's playing on the third line with Brett Howden and Mark Stone.

[Keith Yandle]

Not bad.

[Biz Nasty]

The other thing is he had 26 goals last year. Like, he's probably like, I'm not done here. And it goes back to the cap. The cap going up like they were trying to trade him for a long time, but at that salary it couldn't get done. Like that might change as the cap goes up and up where like, like you can trade. That's kind of what I'm saying. You're not talking numbers, you're not talking. Figuring out the. The contracts. It's just we need this player. This player can help. So he made it happen on his own by sacrificing a bunch of dough. I'm sure if his wife does the finances, like the two week paycheck, she's like, what the. What are you doing? He's like, don't worry. Don't worry, babe. I'm gonna light it up in the playoffs. I'm gonna make it all back in free agency.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

See what happens for him before we go any further. Guys, I need to talk to you about game time. Game time. It's hockey season and we can't wait to get out to some games coming up soon. And it's all because of the help of game time, the official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports. There's no feeling like seeing a breakaway goal in person and game time can help. I want to see one of the four nations. I want to see Auston Matthews ripping down in Montreal and lighting up a Canadian goalie. USA wins. Wins. Canada loses in Canada. And I'll get to see it because of game time. We love game time and with their brand new game time picks features, they're making it even easier to get to a game. Game time picks filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of Tickets for an NHL or college hockey game near you. I was looking at tickets for the four nations coming up. 150 bucks. USA Canada. Unreal deal. All because of gametime picks. And all you got to do is pull up your chosen event on the gametime app, turn on GT Picks setting at the top of the screen, or browse the best local game Time Picks deals near you on your GameTime app homepage. What are you waiting for? I'm going to buy those USA Canada tickets right now with GameTime Picks. Take your guesswork out of buying tickets with Game time. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code CHICKLETS for $20 off. Your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code Chiclets for $20 off. Download the Game Time app today. What time is it? Game time, guys. The Buffalo Sabers watching Tage Thompson, their best player by 25 miles, get run over at center ice and not one person doing anything.

[Keith Yandle]

It made me angry.

[Biz Nasty]

It actually, Keith sent it to the group. I wasn't watching the game and I, I, I watched it on my, like, are you kidding me? And I'm gonna, I'm gonna make this perfectly clear. I hope that all the listeners know, like, I wasn't even close to a tough guy, not even remotely close, but I think I had five or six fights, and every single one of them was after a player got buried. You just, and I'm not trying to, like, call out guys on Buffalo and Lindy Ruff after the game, said there were guys that wanted to go at him right away like he had the players backs. But if you're the Buffalo Sabre sitting in dead last in the conference. Conference.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And you guys, for the last 20 years. For the last 20 years.

[Biz Nasty]

And Keith, you sent the clip. What did Tage Thompson do against Boston.

[Paul Bissonnette]

A few years ago during. I think it was the COVID year. You know, I think it was Casey Middlestack gets run by Kevin Miller, who is a killer. Kevin Miller was a tough.

[Biz Nasty]

He was a UFC fighter.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I think he broke Joe Vitale's face, right?

[Keith Yandle]

Yes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like, this kid is a bonafide killer. And Casey Middlestadt, who was not the best player on their team like Tage Thompson is, gets ran by Kevin Miller and Tage Thompson sheds his mitts and gets beat up. Cause that's what you do as a hockey player. Not one guy came to his aid. Not one guy. And I don't know if Lindy Ruffs lost his fastball a little bit, kind of, or, you know, I Appreciate him having the guys on his team's back, but someone has to do something. I don't care. And it's not like it was Kevin Miller who hit him. It was Stefan Nosen who's, you know, a hard working, tough player, but he is not a killer. And like he's not a guy that is going to punch your face in. He's going to obviously answer the bell because of who he is, but it's not a guy. It's not Ryan Reeves running. Your best player where you're a little bit afraid to get in there. You have to get in when your best player is getting his head like almost amputated.

[Keith Yandle]

Doesn't even matter, right? Yan's. If you saw the hit, like it doesn't matter.

[Biz Nasty]

The craziest part about was like watching the clip, you, you, you just like whether it's right or wrong. You see big hits now you see guys get jumped. Thompson is laying there crippled in a ball. And then you just see like Sabre's plans. If Sabres players just like skating around. It's like it was so wild to not see something happen immediately. Like it's like, oh my God, like what are you doing? Like just grab somebody even if you don't see it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I would have rather them go over to the, to Thompson on the ice, like how little kids do and like go around him and make sure he's okay than what they did and just kind of circle around and do nothing. It was, it honestly made me. I remember Shane Doane got hit by James Wisniewski.

[Biz Nasty]

I was in that game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I had to skate two zones knowing I was gonna get my head caved in by James Wisniewski, who's a lefty. I'm like, oh well, you got to do it like your best player gets taken advantage of. It's just, I didn't want to do it like you wit, I didn't want to fight, but it's just something you have to do. And the Buffalo Sabres haven't played a meaningful game in 20 years. It has to start somewhere. It has to start somewhere in when your best player, like if I'm him, I'm like, what is this organization doing?

[Keith Yandle]

Like fucking now?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Does that make you want to stay there long term biz?

[Keith Yandle]

No. I mean, well, you just talked about that Wisniewski hit on Donor. I was losing it on the bench. I actually fought Paros the next shift just as a result because I was so angry and I needed to get it out. That's the type of Lack of response that if I was seasoned ticket holder of the Buffalo Sabres, I'm saying this, man. Man, it's a broken culture. You're not gonna fight for your best player when he gets laid out. When you're sitting dead last in the. In the. Are they dead last in the league or just in the East?

[Biz Nasty]

In the world?

[Keith Yandle]

In the. Yeah, but you look at Vegas, your. Your frustration is. Is. Is warranted, man. It was just like I was. I watched the clip and I'm like. At first, when people are trying to figure something out, like figure out who did it, maybe there's like a little bit of a pause. But even after that, man, there was a lot. Just a lack of emotion. Everyone just standing on everybody kind of just grabbing a guy, being like, all right, let's just drop the puck and get this.

[Biz Nasty]

End the season.

[Keith Yandle]

Fuck you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But you look at. You look at Vegas and what's it? Petro gets buried by Cooley and Hag jumps in right away. That's a winning team. That's what winning teams do. In the history of this game, that is what winning teams do. And it has to start somewhere in Buffalo. And I'm sorry I'm so worked up about it, but I just hate to see when a young kid like that who is a. A franchise player and no one has his back. It's just. It's sickening to me.

[Keith Yandle]

I know we always go back to Florida with these types of things, but could you imagine that happening on the Florida Panthers team? There'd be. There'd be guys getting 10 game sussease because guys would be coming off the bench, could chuckle.

[Biz Nasty]

Be taking his skate off and try to replace him with it.

[Keith Yandle]

Hey. Hey. Going back to Arizona. When Radislav Cluzza got lit up in preseason, I was one leg over the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Board, jumped over the bench, Max.

[Keith Yandle]

And then I got a 10 gamer. It got reduced to three because Matt. But. But then again, Max did the right thing. Like he was coming back and then noticed that Klezler got blown up. So when I made eye contact that he was coming back, I jumped. And then he looked. Looked and then just skated over. So we ended up having too many men. But that's.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And Max was 18 and 18 years.

[Keith Yandle]

Old and probably had no pro fights under his belt. So. Just. Just disgusting behavior from the Buffalo Sabers making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

[Biz Nasty]

Once again, the Buffalo Sabers are truly the. The. The. The. Like. If you want to talk about having relegation in the NHL, like, it's. It's The Buffalo Saber, like, this is like. Like that. Keith, you're right. That was like, oh, my God. This is. This is it. This is the final straw. Like, this team. Holy.

[Keith Yandle]

And they can merge them in the Islanders. They can merge the teams, make a.

[Biz Nasty]

Competitive, then move them to Quebec. Bad news in Montreal, guys. They've lost five in a row. And they lost defenseman Kaden Gooley. He got a lacer. Lacerated quad, dude. Like, I don't know, freaky, fluky accident. It was surgically repaired, but he's. He's going to be out quite a while. And the Canadians had that big push. But I was talking our good friend Billy Ryan, scouts from Montreal, Keith and I, and he was up there. Teddy Purcell actually worked for the Canadian. So they were up there, and they were with Marty St. Louis. St. Louis and Gordon and Hughes. And St. Louis was telling Bill, like, I don't think people realize how good this Kaden Gooley is. Like, he. He can shut guys down. He skates like the wind. Can add a little offense sense. I actually asked Bill what he thought about a possible, like, comparison to Ryan McDonough. I think Ryan McDonough is more physical, but I think of Ryan McDonough as a shutdown demon who could also add a little offense. So take away, like, the physicality Mack truck part of McDonough. I think Gooley's like, that type of player. And when he went down, it's almost like, I don't know if they can kind of sustain this push they'd been on. So that just sucks to see a young demon. And it's. It was a fluke injury, too. I mean, you get cut and the quad. It's not even. Nothing you can do on that. I know guys wear the socks now and wear the wrist guards and everything. So that sucks. But.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, that's negative news for the Canadians. Some positive news for Canadians. They paused the tariffs for 30 days. I just got a text. So they've paused the tariffs. I know it has nothing to do with the Montreal Canadiens, but it does with all Canadians.

[Biz Nasty]

I saw that the. The Mexico one was paused. Like, the fact we're talking about. But is the Canada one paused?

[Keith Yandle]

It's paused 30 days. So pink Whitney will still be available at the LCBO as of tomorrow for the next 30 days.

[Biz Nasty]

I definitely don't support the tariffs. Don't really understand the. The going after Canada kind of think is of U.S. canada as, like, one big happy family. Of course, don't.

[Keith Yandle]

Don't love the tariffs until the four nations. But We. You guys get the point. Point. This is going.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They've been booing. They've been booing the anthem.

[Biz Nasty]

I know they're pissed off. We're trying to fucking ruin them with. Through their economy. I don't understand the Canadian tariffs. Let's just say you take our lumber.

[Keith Yandle]

You take our fresh water, our maple syrup players.

[Biz Nasty]

I think we need oil from you guys, I'm guessing.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, we fucking.

[Paul Bissonnette]

For whatever reason, we were all just.

[Keith Yandle]

Buying it from you. How the fuck does this all work?

[Biz Nasty]

So did I. I mean, no idea. We've been fighting together for years. This could add a little Four nation. I mean, Montreal. God damn, they're going to be crushing the anthem when we get up there for the Four Nations.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow.

[Keith Yandle]

I never even thought of that. We're going to be at that game, by the way, right?

[Biz Nasty]

We're going up there. We'll be up there. Our first game will be us, finland on the 13th, and then we'll be at both games on the 15th. Very excited to get to Montreal. I've always said Montreal feels like you're in Europe. I don't think that's the craziest statement anyone's ever heard. It's probably been uttered millions of times. A beautiful city and Four nations future ex wife. Yeah, of course. Yeah, you got a lot of those, buddy. Four nations captains. No surprise at all. Sasha Barkov for Finland. Victor Headman for Sweden. Totally makes sense. No surprise at all. Sidney Crosby for Canada. That was shocking. Couldn't believe that decision. And Austin Matthews for the United States. The only one where I'd say I kind of thought it would be Matthew Kachuk. I don't know if you guys lean that way. Austin Matthews is the best player on the team. So if you want to go that route, I would say that all four of those players, maybe. I mean, Crosby, McDavid and McKinnon has overtaken him, but Sid is captain Canada. What did you think? Any surprise for you with Austin Matthews wearing the cbiz?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I figured. He's wearing it in Toronto, the biggest market in the NHL. He can handle it with the Four nations, but I would have been okay with, with. With Matthew or even Brady having it, like, you know, I feel like Matthews isn't exactly the guy in the locker room who's like, saying a lot, especially not as much as Matthew Kachuk with Behind the Scenes and what we've seen with him in Florida. So I think that Matthew Kachuk is a leader of men. Not saying that, that Austin Matthews isn't. I would Say that maybe Matthew Kachuk is a little bit more proven being a leader of men is. Would you agree with that?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I mean, I think they're both great leaders. Obviously, two different. I mean, we've all played for some guys who lead by example and lead by, you know, vocal. I think Matthew does a little bit of both, but yeah, I have no problem with it. I think Matthew Kachuk's one of those guys. He doesn't need a letter or, you know, a CEO or an A to lead the way that he does. So I don't think there's any issue with any of those. I do. It seems like every team had like two forwards and a D as their captain, which, which I like. And obviously every guy on that team is on all those teams. Could, could be a captain of any team. So it's, you know, it's pretty much pick who you choose. And I think they all made the right decision.

[Biz Nasty]

Crazy to not see Nathan McKinnon with a letter on his shirt. But I understand Makar getting it, being one of the defensemen. Fenway Sports Group will put a minority stake in the Penguins on the market this week. Sources tell ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Kevin Weeks. Fenway Sports Group reportedly anticipates maintaining a controlling interest in the team. We actually talked about this in Orlando, how maybe they would sell the team after the next expansion fee comes in. Just kind of rumblings and rumors. You hear the Pens are in, the Pens are in a world of hurt boys. They, they, they are looking at a crazy next like 10 years possibly.

[Keith Yandle]

If, if I'm sid. I basically say, give me a percentage of the team or I'm not going to carry you into playoffs this year. Because that's what he's been fucking doing. I think he scored four, four games in a row. Now he's just lighting the world on fire. The only reason they have a fucking chicken dicks chance of even sniffing playoffs. Do you think that there's a possibility that Sidney Crosby owns a piece of the Pittsburgh Penguins and maybe that's why he's not going anywhere?

[Biz Nasty]

I don't think, I don't think currently he owns any of the Penguins. I would hope someday he does. Like they were. If they didn't get him. They were probably moving. Yeah, he literally saved the entire franchise. You'd think at the end it's like, hey, here, take 5%. I don't know, I don't know how it's going to work, but I just know that if they're looking to sell part of it now what's stopping them from selling the rest of it in a few years? I, I, I don't know. It's just bizarre, the whole thing, how they got them and then everything that's happened there.

[Keith Yandle]

Although I think it was horrible timing for them to buy that team and at what, at what price they did it for like, I just, I didn't understand the timing. You're just, you're, you know, you're about to hit the dog days. Like why, why do it then?

[Biz Nasty]

I know, I know. Very confusing. Jonathan Quick guys is a for sure hall of Famer and he notched his 400th win. I believe he's one of 14 goalies and the first ever American goalie to get to 400 wins. And it was cool. He did it in, in New York in an enormous win for those guys on a back to back after playing in Boston against Vegas. He was lights out and I think the celebration guys ran over to him and jumped on him. But the career this guy's had, it's just been so sick. And people thought like he was done, right? The trade to Columbus for two seconds and then to Vegas and then he signs with New York and he's been awesome since he got there. To see him get those 400, that 400th win, I was so happy for him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I had the chance to play against him in high school. He beat us in the finals one year, shut us out. You knew from a young age, you know, that's what, 17, 18 years old. You knew from a young age he was going to be who he is. And I think he's lived up to it and I think he's done it his way too. Like the way that he plays, the, you know, the saves that he makes, you know, the character that he is is amazing. But I saw something last night and you never really talk about hockey IQ with goalies. And end of the game last night, they're up by, I think they were up by one. No, they were up by two. Shot from the point in the middle of the ice. So he saved it in the middle of his crease. But as he saved it, he pushes himself over to the left because he knows J.T. miller's out there to take the, the draw on his strong hand side. So just little things like that that goalies can provide for your team and you don't, you don't think of a hockey IQ with goalies, but to last as long as he has and you know, to play a position where it demands so much on Your body and what he's been able to do is, is a, a true testament of his character and his hard work and you know, obviously a for sure hall of Famer and, and hopefully he has much more success. And I just, like Whit said on the chat, I just want a couple of slices of his pizza.

[Keith Yandle]

Johnny's a pizza. And like you always hope a guy who's done what he's did what he did, even like before he got traded, like he gets to go out on his own terms. And then he got pigeon tossed, called off the bus. I think they were in Winnipeg when it happened. When he got moved on from la, he goes to Columbus and then a quick turnaround, he gets to win that cup. And especially after dealing with all those like injuries and hip surgeries and you know, maybe having to like not, not like play the way that he used to. Remember how he used to get so low and when he went the vezin, like he was fucking unbeatable those years. We played them in the, in the Western Conference finals. Yan's. But to him to kind of get back to that level of play and then to get to go back to, to near his hometown in Connecticut, like, it's just awesome to see that. The way that he was able to kind of of turn it all around from that point when he got pigeon tossed off the bus to, to end up getting to where he is now, so just an incredible guy, so well liked. And along with doing all that, also now helping mentor other guys. Whether it was Aiden Hill. When I remember in one of those, those finals games, he let in a bad goal. I think actually it was in the Western Conference finals. It might have been against Dallas. And I heard the story of him pulling Aiden Hill aside. He's like, don't fucking worry about that. Let that shit go. And, and for a younger goalie to have a guy of that status to lean on and, and to be a mentor, just like an all time guy. And like you said, a, A fir. A Hall of Famer, no doubt.

[Biz Nasty]

And yeah, I think there was a time when a lot of people thought he might not get to 400 based on like how it was ending in LA. And then he goes to Vegas. It's like, I don't know if he's ever going to get there. So congrats to him. And you talk about being a mentor at the end of your career, like what Mark Andre Fleury has done for a long time now, not being like the number one guy he was for so long. And then to see it all come to a head in his last game in the province of Quebec till he signs with the Senators and then plays for the, the, the Quebec Senators. It was, it was a, it was a clinic, dude. Like I, I turned on the game and he was standing on his head. I think it was two nothing. He made this ridiculous kick save. Wild. Go down the other end, make it three nothing. The crowd went amazing. The crowd was going nuts. And then also it was cool to see all the Montreal Canadiens players stayed on the ice after shook his hand and just. I saw Alan Walsh, his agent after he tweeted out a picture. He's like, he's got to be like 11 years old. He's got his glasses on and he's just like posing in his goalie pose. And just to think like what he's done in his career and, and for him. Merle's called it on game notes. That's what's crazy. Merle's called it shut out for his last game in Montreal and he ends up pulling it off. Just a storybook ending for him in his home province.

[Keith Yandle]

I think we learned everything we needed to know about Mark Andre Fleury with the Matt Murray situation in Pittsburgh when he brought them to the Eastern Conference finals against Ottawa and handed off the reigns and just continue to be an unreal supportive teammate despite getting a Yank. And he was playing, playing great up until that point. And just an all time guy. Just like we talked about Quickie and just an incredible ambassador to the game of hockey. The way that even in the back half of his career how he's like taking all the interviews and had fun with it and you know, the fun silly pads, the prank. So I, I don't know how somebody is that good for that long and stays that focused when having that much fun off the ice with the pranking and all the, the, the craziness. So just the flower all time. They shouldn't duck those guys at the same time. Like do like a go a special goalie year when these guys retire would.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They'd have to retire at the same time.

[Biz Nasty]

I think they, I mean I maybe Quick keeps playing but Florida, I think.

[Keith Yandle]

He might play one more year.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think Quick he signed one more year. But I could be wrong.

[Keith Yandle]

Wow. He's still going. Which is like I try to. I think he's had like one or two hip or surgeries like lower body.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Every goal he get. It's like Tommy John for pitchers, especially playing as athletic.

[Keith Yandle]

The way like he relied more on his athleticism than he probably did like structure from a goalie standpoint at least early in his career. I don't know enough about goaltending to know how they've transformed their game. I would imagine he's working with that Benoit Allaire who is a goalie coach for the Rangers. So maybe he's changed change stuff. But yeah, those guys are some of the most athletic goalies to ever do it and transform the game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I just think Flower being a first overall pick and you know the pressure that comes with that and you know what he brought to the Penguins and Team Canada and and. And every fan in the NHL because you don't really see a lot of NHL guys get the swan songs that you know he's getting from, you know, pretty much every arena. And he deserves every single second of it. I'm sure he hates all of it. Like he had his mask on. I'm sure he was teary eyed and I'm sure it meant a lot to him. But I don't think hockey players are really built like that. Like he just wanted to play his game and. But he deserves everything he's getting because of what he's, you know done. Help promote this game and get the cap to 117 million.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, exactly.

[Biz Nasty]

Quick actually is a UFA. If Quick does. Does retire, I think three years from now you could see him going in in the same class. I don't know as I have two goalies ever gone in in the same year.

[Keith Yandle]

I want to say the year they did Lundquist. They had Mike Vernon went in.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that was the same season.

[Keith Yandle]

I think that. Yeah, I think that that was Luongo.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Maybe it was Luongo and Vernon.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay. Yeah. G can look that up while we.

[Paul Bissonnette]

There's definitely two goals.

[Biz Nasty]

So my question if it ever happened happened like two years ago.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Stay hot.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Might have happened this year.

[Biz Nasty]

Utah boys. They announced the next step in its pursuit of a nickname. The fans will now vote on the three finalists. Utah Hockey Club. Please know the current name. I don't. I, I don't hate it. I just don't know. I don't when. When all these soccer teams have that. I get it. When you're the only team called the Utah Hockey Club. I don't like it especially differentiate yourself.

[Keith Yandle]

That's the whole point. I think that they need to stick with it.

[Biz Nasty]

I think so. The other one is the Utah Mammoth or the Utah Outlaws. It was the Wasatch. I, I don't. I got no clue what a was.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a mountain range from My understanding. Oh, like, it's a big mountain range there or something. I hiked it one time.

[Biz Nasty]

I think the Mammoth and Biz, those possible jerseys that you retweeted, the Mammoth, sound awesome.

[Keith Yandle]

I think that they should have a creature of some sort like that as their mascot. I think they should remain as the Utah Hockey Club. That's how they came in. They are very focused on growing grassroots. I think it's cool because you talked about all those soccer teams and how like, like they have programs where, like, don't they have, like, under 10, under 12, under 14 and like, to grow the game from a new place that there's never been NHL hockey? Why not have that and then do a third jersey with that Mammoth logo and then that's your mascot so you're technically like the Mammoth or. Because they can't say YETI now, but that would be your. Your mascot and what you're known for. But the Utah Hockey Club has a nice ring to it, in my opinion. For some, it might be too vanilla. They don't like the. The soccer. Soccer type reference and the fact that they all do it. But I think Utah Hockey Club needs to be the name. Stick with it.

[Biz Nasty]

They did just release the logos as well as to which each team would be Biz. And if it was Utah Hockey Club, it would be very similar to what you just said. It would be a Utah HC with a logo like that, but it would be the YETI logo I think they originally had before.

[Keith Yandle]

I like that.

[Biz Nasty]

It's a really cool logo.

[Keith Yandle]

I like the YETI logo better.

[Biz Nasty]

You could tell they went all in on this YETI logo because it's a sick logo.

[Keith Yandle]

So use that as your third jersey, but keep the.

[Biz Nasty]

What everyone calls them, the yeti. Like, yeah, that.

[Keith Yandle]

That's. That. That's where you could maybe get away with it as. As like, similar, like, to the mascot. But I don't know. It kind of sucks. I thought that Utah YETI was the name.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay. So I don't. I. I don't like Utah Hockey Club. I don't dislike that. I just don't like seeing Utah HC like the hc. For me, it just doesn't. I don't know. It just doesn't do it for me. Like Utah Hockey Club. Yeah, that sounds pretty legit. But it'll always be hc. You'll see that, like, on the standings and stuff. And I. I don't know. I think the Mammoth are kind of cool. But, yeah, the original. The. The YETI logo that they wanted, that would be sweet. I don't know. We'll see what happens. I really, really want to get to a game out there, though. Looks awesome. Especially when that rink has all their. What do they call it.

[Keith Yandle]

Their beer, their, their, their soda pop, their swingers.

[Biz Nasty]

Guys, I'm trying. Adam Silver, the Commissioner of the NBA, he said that he's open to the NBA reducing quarters to 10 minutes and says that the viewer's attention span is more suited for a two hour experience. Baseball has gone to the, the pitch clock to speed up their games. Should the NHL take steps in somehow?

[Keith Yandle]

Yes, they should. And I've said it before, and if they don't do it, they're fucking idiots. Enough with the TV timeouts. Reduce them. Make. I think right now they have three TV timeouts during a period.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yep.

[Keith Yandle]

Sometimes the way they happen is where you'll have one and then a minute and a half later they'll have another whistle and then they'll go to another TV timeout. It's brutal. It's like going to an NFL game. So they're all. Yeah, but the commercials, the amount of money you make, buddy, make the intermissions a little bit longer. You have a little bit longer to grab a beer. And then when the game is on and it starts, you're fucking dialed in and it's moving. And then some other people make the argument like, oh, we don't come to watch the fourth liners. That gives the top liners a little bit more time to get rest. Shut the up. Let's go here.

[Biz Nasty]

That's coming from a fourth liner.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a fourth, it's a four. You not. Hey, you watch your goddamn month.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Rule change is only three lines.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

But what about, what about they. Have you seen how much snow they pick up on those timeouts?

[Keith Yandle]

So do it. You could. You can't do it with two. You can't do it with two. You need three.

[Biz Nasty]

So you're saying at. So right now it's at the 14 minute whistle, the 10 minute whistle, and the 6 minute whistle. Maybe at like 14 and 8.

[Keith Yandle]

I think you make, I think you do one at the 13 minute mark and one at the seven minute mark.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, but I don't know. I don't know. Okay, so if you want to keep these same amount of ads in the two and, and then just lengthen the intermission. I don't think we're talking about a quicker game.

[Keith Yandle]

You're talking about the attention span of when the action is on. That's it. That's what I'm trying to do here. And we're not. We're talking about subbing out three minutes of people's time and then moving it to the intermission. Can I get a. Can I get a hand count for you people listening? If you're driving right now, make sure you keep two hands on the steering wheel. But how many of you go for a beer or something during the intermission? And by the time you get back to your seats, there's been a few minutes that have gone by in the period. You need a little extra time between periods to get your snacks and your booze because some of these people who are working the canteens, it's their part time job. They're not necessarily that fast. I wish that they were faster. They had a faster system. Get them in and out. Get them in and out. They don't. It's slow.

[Biz Nasty]

Sometimes they gotta ID everyone their ID in like 70.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a brutal process. So give them an extra two, three minutes during the intermission and when the puck drops for the period. Enough with these lengthy timeouts. I don't want to see this girl with an unreal tushy, although she's an ankle bender out there clearing the snow. I don't care.

[Biz Nasty]

All right, all right. I could see.

[Keith Yandle]

Unless it's Bonnie Blue.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Isn't there enough advertisement on the boards and on the ice and on the glass that they don't even need an in a mission?

[Biz Nasty]

I don't know, guys. We're talking about $117 million cap in three years. And I think it has something to do with these TV ads.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You know what I don't with biz I don't like is which I didn't realize it. And I went to a Bruins game when I was home given Pittsburgh was playing, so went to watch Hazy. And you can't go to your seat when the play is going on, so you have to sit. You have to stand at the concourse like you're sitting there with your food and your beer waiting too long to get it.

[Keith Yandle]

And then the period starts quicker because they want to use the timeouts during the period. It's dumb. It's all stupid. I've said this before in this podcast. We need to put up a poll of. Of. Of get the fans involved in this. They're selling ads on the jerseys and the boards like you just said. They can afford to not have one extra TV timeout. They can use that between periods. No. Are you on board with my idea or not?

[Biz Nasty]

I am. I am.

[Keith Yandle]

Thank you.

[Biz Nasty]

I am on board with your idea. I know you've been saying it for a while.

[Keith Yandle]

And to go back to the original point that you made in Adam Silver, it goes back to attention. Spanish. I don't want to be sitting in my seat after I just saw a TV timeout. A minute and a half of action, two minutes of action, and then right back to a timeout that makes me feel like I'm at an NFL game. Oh, cool play. All right, let's wait another 45 seconds to the next play. Oh, quick play. Oh, let's wait another 45 seconds. Oh, we're going to a TV timeout like in the AT. Game action for the NFL is brutal. I'd much rather watch on TV. Make the experience for the fan in the rinks better.

[Biz Nasty]

Keith, could you maybe give a comparison to an the NHL version of of Luca for Anthony Davis? Now I'm not an NBA NBA guy at all. I saw this news break. I actually was one of the people asleep. I believe it was late Saturday night. I know, I know. Luca's unreal. I, I, I. People were shocked, though, shocked to see this. So I don't know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I think because of his age. He's 25 years old. He's the face of that franchise where they've had, you know, Dirk was the face of their franchise as a European guy. Then they have Luca come in, kind of take over for that. I think to give it. It probably be like, I don't know, trading Maar for.

[Biz Nasty]

Dowdy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, good one.

[Keith Yandle]

Somebody wrote the perfect example. It's like trading Joe Thornton in his prime.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, Luke, is that good?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. I think he's won one or at least at least one, maybe two MVPs. I think that this is an overthink by their management, thinking that the weight will catch up to him, that he's not.

[Biz Nasty]

He is a little chubby, buddy.

[Keith Yandle]

I went and saw him play live. He is so efficient.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was one just slows the game down. It's like he plays one of the.

[Keith Yandle]

Most magical things I've ever seen in my life.

[Biz Nasty]

Really? You were the him and the guy.

[Keith Yandle]

From the Denver Nuggets.

[Biz Nasty]

Wow.

[Keith Yandle]

Yoke just how they're. The guy from the Denver Nuggets looks taller and even actually less proportionate. He looks the guy from the Denver Nuggets. What's his name?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Jokic.

[Keith Yandle]

He just looks sloppy, like, weird. He's got no biceps. Like, his arms were brutal. The, the athleticism out of a guy that looked like that. I couldn't believe It. I just couldn't For. For the. The guy for Dallas, he looked a little bit more proportionate, but he definitely looks like he's probably about 18 to 20% body fat. That.

[Biz Nasty]

But it is.

[Keith Yandle]

But. But for whatever reason, his steps were long. He was fluid. He never got tired. He always knew the exact move to make or the play to make, whether it was pass, whether it was to sneak underneath the guy and use the backboard on a little layup. Like, it was so elegant. So for such a big 18 body fat guy, the finesse on him was just. Why you laughing? Because I'm calling out.

[Biz Nasty]

It sounds like you're talking about me.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, kind of.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Seen you shoot.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I'm not talking. But you're talking like, the body. Oh, the arms. No biceps, but just fluid and 18 body fat. I'm like, holy. This is a scouting report on me.

[Keith Yandle]

I think that. That the guy from. I don't know their names. How do you say his name? The guy from Dallas.

[Biz Nasty]

Luca. Don. Don. Chicks. And then is it Nikolai Doncic?

[Keith Yandle]

Looks like he competes at the. The Strong man competitions or the. He looks like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler in his prime compared to that guy who plays for the Denver Nuggets. That guy's body.

[Biz Nasty]

But he's way taller, isn't he?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, he's a center.

[Keith Yandle]

He's just a blob, but incredible.

[Biz Nasty]

I want to shout out as we finish up here, totally off topic off hockey, I guess. Jack Besh, he played a TCU this year. He's a wide receiver, and he played in the Senior bowl this past week. He scored the winning touchdown with no time remaining. He lost his brother Tiger in that terrorist attack in New Orleans about a month ago. And he just obviously got so emotional. He went down. He gave this speech after talking about his brother, and I guess, like, thinking of my brothers, like, it was so emotional to watch. And, like, I'm just. Now I'm, like, so invested where he gets drafted. I think he could be, like, a second, third round pick, but. But he was the Senior Bowl MVP as well. And, like, this kid, like, what he went through a month. His. It was his older brother, Tiger. It was his idol. And like, to be killed in this, like, horrific tragedy in New Orleans. And then this kid goes out, catches the game. Winner, mvp. Like, just an unreal story. You could look. Just Google up. It's spelled B, E, C, H, but it's pronounced Besh. Jack Besh. Look up Jack Besh, Senior Bowl MVP interview. And. Oh, my God, dude, get the tissues ready. So congrats to him. And we're ending on a tough note, man. Two different things. Sean Simpson was a former goalie and an Ottawa Senators radio broadcaster beloved by so many people in Ottawa and other media members. And I think he had been a real struggle for him, you know, fight fighting mental illness. And so many people had been there to help him and just love this guy. And he passed away, and it's just. Just horrible news in the hockey community. I mean, they. The. The. The outpouring of. Of supports and messages on, like, what. What he meant to people out there. It was just really, really hard news for the hockey community in the hockey world. We're thinking of his family and then also that horrific plane crash with the helicopter. There was a lot of people from the skating club of Boston on that plane. You know, young kids. It's like, can't even think about it. And we want to, you know, send our regards and our prayers to those families and those communities that were affected by that. So we're ending on some really tough news. But we appreciate you guys, you know, tuning in again this week. A lot of action this past week, and we'll be back to you next week with more and more. And we got four nations coming up and. And the trade deadline, so it's an exciting time in. In. In this part of the season. We love you all. Love both of you guys. And thank you so much for. For listening, folks. So have no.

[Keith Yandle]

Heart.